Padme's Library: Blog Tour: Heart 2 Heart Anthology

Monday, February 19, 2018

Blog Tour: Heart 2 Heart Anthology

Title: Heart 2 Heart Anthology

Authors: May Archer, Charlie Cochet, Poppy Dennison

Alison Hendricks, Sloane Kennedy, Lucy Lennox, AE Wasp

Ruthie Luhnow, Lily Morton, Chris Owen, Hailey Turner

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: February 7, 2018

Cover Design: AngstyG

Anthology Editor: Leslie Copeland

Summary:
Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… What if a dating app that guaranteed you a love match broke down just in time for Valentine’s Day? What if you found yourself on a blind date with a random guy who might be your opposite in every single way? It could be a disaster. Or… When the code breaks down, fate just might take over.

Eleven of your favorite gay romance authors have joined forces to light up your Valentine’s Day with a collection of sweet, sexy, silly, and hot short stories, featuring a wacky cast of characters chosen from your reader suggestions! Morticians and magicians, superheroes and spies, lawyers and lobstermen, will all learn that love has nothing to do with algorithms… and sometimes you find it in the least-likely places.

And the best part? All proceeds from this collection will go to the authors’ favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

⌛⏰⏳It will only be available for 90 days, so Tuesday, May 8th will be the last time you can purchase this anthology.⏳⏰⌛

CHARITIES

We are pleased to be donating 100% of our proceeds to 3 wonderful charities:

The Trevor Project / Bisexual Resource Centre / One n Ten

We encourage all readers to learn more about these groups and

consider making a donation of your own. Every little bit helps.

What began as a random idea quickly turned into a collaborative and completely voluntary effort from 11 authors, more than 130 readers, cover designer, 2 proofreaders, and one cat herder to keep it all together.

Readers were asked to submit ideas for characters, both typical and off-the-wall, and from that list, each author picked 2 seemingly mismatched guys and helped them find love.

The Baker and the SEAL by May Archer

The Assassin and the Dog Walker by Charlie Cochet

The Electrician and the Event Planner by Poppy Dennison

The Professional Gamer and the Paranormal Photographer by Alison Hendricks

The Florist and the Lawyer by Sloane Kennedy

The Uber Drive and the Phone Sex Operator by Lucy Lennox

The Lawyer and the Lobsterman by Ruthie Luhnow

The Tattoo Artist and the Writer by Lily Morton

The Criminal and the Sommelier by Chris Owen

The Superhero and the NSA Agent by Hailey Turner

The Magician and the Mortician by AE Wasp

The Superhero and The NSA Agent by Hailey Turner
“Still no movement,” FBI Agent Christopher Morris announced over the radio.

The lead FBI agent was someone Shane had worked with on several cases before over the years. They’d bonded over their shared hatred of the Dodgers, the lone Angelinos in their departments that didn’t support the local team. Shane’s parents had been transplanted Chicagoans and the Cubs were the only team worshipped in his family.

“I doubt they’d miss the pickup. Their bosses wouldn’t take too kindly to that,” Shane replied as he absently ran a hand through his sandy blond hair, scratching at his skull.

“They better. I got a date with my wife tonight and if I miss it, she’s gonna kill me.”

“You can take her out tomorrow.”

Christopher gave him an exasperated look. “Today is Valentine’s Day.”
Shane shrugged. “And?”

“Don’t let him fool you, Morris. Shane has a date tonight he’s just trying to get out of,” NSA Agent Laura Tavers said.

Christopher’s gaze zeroed in on Shane like a shark sensing blood in the water. “Is that so?”

Shane tossed his empty to-go coffee cup in the trash can and peered at the surveillance video of the warehouse distribution center running across numerous computer screens.

He pretended to ignore his traitorous partner’s gleeful cackle and Christopher’s curiosity.

“I don’t know what the big deal is,” he muttered.

“You haven’t had a date the entire time I’ve known you, Mr. I Don’t Have Time For Other Humans,” Morris replied.

“I don’t have time to date.”

“I stole his phone yesterday between meetings,” Laura said cheerfully from where she sat at a borrowed desk, eyes glued to the surveillance video. “Downloaded Heart2Heart because they’re having a promotion for a free dinner blind date. First one hundred new users get their meal paid for by the app. Guess who won a spot at midnight?”

“I didn’t agree to the illegal hacking of my phone,” Shane retorted.

“It’s not illegal if you give me your passcode.”

Hailey Turner, author of The Superhero and The NSA Agent

Can you tell us a little bit about your characters?

Damian is kind of a quiet, nerdy, hot guy who likes making kids smile and is a fixture on the cosplay convention circuit. He wants to find someone who will love him for more than just his pretty face, and who won't think any less of him for his daily nerdgasm over comics and superhero movies.

Shane is a federal agent who has put his career first for years and is only vaguely thinking about wanting a relationship. That's not to say he wouldn't say no if the right guy tripped into his life, he's just not actively looking. Shane is a kind of no-nonsense, get shit done kind of guy who doesn't have a lot of room for nerdy, whimsy things in his life--or so he thinks.

The characters you had to choose from were reader’s submissions, correct? Were there any other characters you considered writing about before you chose this couple?

I kind of, maybe, shoved my way to the front of the line to get the superhero character. I thought reeeeeally hard about going for the assassin, which Charlie ultimately picked, and I love what she did with him, so I'm happy I chose the NSA agent instead.

What were some of the reader submissions that stood out to you, and why?

The Lobsterman! I thought that was so unique.

How did you come to be involved in the Heart2Heart Anthology?

Leslie said I was going to be part of it and I always listen to Leslie.

Have you ever been involved in a group project like this before? What were some of the challenges you had to face?

No! It was a blast from start to finish. I think Leslie had a more challenging job than I and the other authors did. We just had to write the stories. She had to wrangle all of us.

What do you think of the line-up of authors? How does it feel to be in such great company?

Oh my god, it's kind of a wow moment? All of these authors are amazing and I've made several new friends, which is so fun. I think the best part is that all of us, no matter our level, wanted to do this for charity, and we all were determined to make it happen.

Have you ever been set up on a blind date? If yes, how did it turn out?

No, I've never been on a blind date.

If Heart2Heart were to match you with someone, who do you think you'd get paired with?

Hopefully someone who likes books and action movies as much as I do.