Title: Red Zone
Authors: TS McKinney & Shannon West
Genre: M/M Romance, BDSM, Sports Romance
Release Date: March 15, 2019
Publisher: Painted Heart Publishing
From the outside, it looks as if college football quarterback Kingston Bentley has it all—good looks, outstanding athletic ability and a 4.0 average in his classes. But looks can be deceiving. Kingston is battling inner demons that are jeopardizing his safety and slowly driving him to more and more acts of desperation. Everywhere he looks, he’s got nothing but trouble, and when he loses his coveted first-string position on the football team, he goes back to the one thing he can count on—cutting to relieve the pressure and the emotional pain.
The gorgeous new quarterback on the team, Memphis Sabine, is the Coach’s son, and under enormous pressure of his own to lead his new team to the national championship. For that, he needs Kingston’s help, and they soon become an unbeatable force both on the field. But when Memphis discovers Kingston in the act of cutting, he uses his forceful nature and all he knows about being a Dom to take Kingston in hand and ensure his welfare. Kingston loves the pain, but he rebels against the idea of being Memphis’s sub. As Kingston begins his training, however, Memphis discovers just how fragile their relationship really is, and how desperately he needs to help Kingston deal with the secrets from his past.
I took hold of his wrist and held on, squeezing a little. “Who’s in charge here, fireball?”
I could see it trembling on the tip of his tongue to cuss me out and tell me to go to hell. His eyes got stormy and his face sullen, but I waited him out, pressing his wrist harder. “I’m waiting for an answer. I thought we’d already decided this last night. Now who’s in charge here?”
Finally, after what seemed like hours, but was really only a few, long seconds, he dropped his gaze. “You are,”he said, grudgingly. I loved his little hesitations. They told me this was hard for him, but he was doing it anyway, because I’d told him to.“That’s right,”I said, my voice soft and coaxing. Sometimes it felt like I was encouraging some wild animal to come out of its hiding place in the shadows. “And what is it you have to worry about today?”
He looked up at me, a little blank at first, and then he got a nervous look in his eyes, like he’d forgotten something. I sighed and said, “The answer is nothing. You don’t have to worry about a damn thing because I got this for both of us. I’m making the decisions now and all you have to do is go along for the ride.”
T.S. McKinney: Wow. It’s very, very hard to list favorites (cause I have so many!). I love Kora Knight’s Upending Tad series, any Kindle Alexander and A.E.Via, Reese Knightley, TA McKay, SJ York, and Aimee Nicole Walker. Like I said, this list could go on forever. I read (and write) according to my mood, so it often depends on how naughty I feel at the moment. Oh, and I love the Beautiful Monster books by Jex Lane.
Shannon West: I have so many favorites. To name a few--Josh Lanyon--particularly her Holmes and Moriarty Series., KJ Charles’s Magpie Lord series, Abi Roux’s Cut and Run series, and Harper Fox’s Tyack and Frayne series. Anything by John Wiltshire and JC Owens. And Andrea Speed’s Infected, which in my opinion are among the best shifter books out there.
If you were approached to have your book made into a film, who would you cast?
T.S. McKinney: Eeks. This is tough. I don’t watch a lot of movies or television programs. Let me see...I agree with Shannon on Chris or Liam for Memphis. For Kingston - I’m not sure there’s one out there for him. He’s so precious in my heart! Yep, nobody good enough for Kingston!
Shannon West: Chris or Liam Hemsworth for Memphis (whoever’s available. I’m not picky) and Dylan Sprayberry as Kingston, because he’s adorable.
It's often asked what is your favorite part of being a writer but what is the easiest or most natural part of the creative process for you?
T.S. McKinney: Exactly what Shannon says!!! I have a computer loaded down with stories that never made it past the 20,000 word mark! Ugh - I hate when I hit that wall.
Shannon West: Getting started is the easiest--getting an idea and being excited about it and putting it down on (virtual) paper. The hard part comes about 20k in when you realize you have no idea what to do next or where to go from there.
Is there any one character you've created that is most like you? If yes, who and why?
T.S. McKinney: Well, I think it would have to be my Guppy in Gasping for Air. So, so many things had happened to him. He needed around the clock hugs to make up for the sad and cruel things in his life. Yet, he was still so fucking strong. Can I say that? I cussed.
Shannon West: Blake in the Mate of the Tyger Prince Series. He’s funny, crazy about his children, though they get on his nerves, loves to be in the thick of everything and always in trouble.
If you could go anywhere(finances, time, & obligations not an issue) where would you go and why?
T.S. McKinney: Australia. Beauty country, lovely accents, hot surfers, and some special book friends that live there!
Shannon West: Iceland. Gorgeous country I went to about three years ago, and would love to go back. It’s terribly expensive though, so finances couldn’t be an issue. I’d love to go and buy beautiful clothes and see the Northern Lights.
I have spent my entire life reading, reading, and reading some more! I love to get lost in the land of fantasy where I can be as naughty as I like without facing too many penalties! Earlier this year, I decided that maybe I should try writing my own naughty stories. That way I can do wickedly delightful things to my imaginary boyfriends without serving any serious jail time! My publishing company, Dark Hollows Press, has been awesome and most patient when dealing with their newbie.
Shannon makes her home in Georgia and North Carolina with her husband and family. She believes that love is love, no matter the gender. Shannon mostly spends her days at the keyboard trying to elude housework, which stalks her relentlessly.
TS McKinney
KOBO / B&N / SMASHWORDS
Shannon West
