Mini Blog Tour ~ Surfacing by A.L. Bates ~ (Review, Excerpt, Trailer + Giveaway)
Title: Surfacing
Author: A.L. Bates
Series: The Ariel Series, Book Two
Genre: Gay Romance, Science Fiction
Length: Novella
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing
Synopsis
A few weeks following the events that concluded DEEP, Book One: The Ariel Series, Captain Joel Riley is struggling to adjust to his new relationship with his medic, Sean, and when a face from Sean’s past sets out to destroy Joel and his ship, Joel faces an impossible decision: Sean or Ariel.
Sensing Joel’s dilemma, Sean makes the decision to leave. He does so knowing he must confront his past and the abuse he suffered. Subjected to the same trauma again, this time at the hands of his brother, he uses the strength Joel taught him to take his future into his own hands.
For Joel, life without Sean proves unbearable and he comes to the realization that he needs more than just his ship. He sets out to bring Sean back… whatever the cost.
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Book Trailer
Excerpt
JOEL LAY IN bed listening to his alarm go off. He was cold, and having the bed to himself had put him in a foul mood. Before Sean he’d been practiced at stifling his libido, but two weeks of rampant, hot sex had given him an insatiable appetite. He’d tried to ignore his arousal, using the last of his whiskey to help get to sleep. There hadn’t been enough to get drunk. His only consolation was the bars that awaited him when they docked. In a couple of hours he could get smashed; pick up a girl, maybe.... He closed his eyes. The last thing he wanted to do was pick up a girl, or a guy, or anyone. What he wanted was Sean pressed into his mattress, whimpering and whining and calling out his name. He wanted the door to open and for Sean to drop down on his knees, his expert mouth…. Joel groaned as the blood pooled in his groin.
It would be so easy to go next door, dive into bed with Sean, and fuck him until neither of them could walk. Sean would let him too. The boy was always so willing and compliant.
But he wanted more. He deserved more. And a part of Joel wanted to make Sean’s life better.
He wanted to create something good after all Sean had been through. But children? That was a step too far. What did the boy think, that he was going to give up Ariel to settle down into parenthood? It was never going to happen. And yet, his empty bed was going to be unbearable next season. He ran his hand over the space. His longest relationship before now—outside of being a regular at some of the local brothels—lasted eight days. When he thought of his future, it was always him and his ship, alone. Sean was right, things did change, and maybe crew members would come and go, but he would be a constant, just like Ariel was. And maybe sleeping with Sean was a complication neither of them needed.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
This is the second book in the series, and they have to be read in order. If you want to read my review for book one, Deep, you can find it here.
Sean and Joel are slowly adjusting to being together, even if they're not sure what it all implies in the long run. However, once they make it to the surface, and they're confronted with someone from Sean's past that he'd rather not ever see again, the decision of if they'll remain together or not, might be taken out of their hands for good.
I loved Sean as much as I did in Deep. He's such a great character, strong and selfless, despite all the bad things that happened to him before he got to the Ariel and some after. While I liked Joel, I have to admit I kind of wanted to slap him a bit during the first part of this book, I'm glad he got much better in the second half.
I loved seeing the rest of the Ariel's crew and I absolutely hated Sean's oldest brother. He was horrible and I was glad to see him get what was coming to him.
All in all, this was a fantastic sequel, as it provided closure from some of the things we'd learned in the first book and Sean and Joel's relationship as they finally admitted to their feelings for one another.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
Giveaway
Prize: $5 WIP Gift Card
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Start reading the series with book one!
Deep
Fleeing from a troubled past that left him feeling tarnished and used, Sean finds work as a medic aboard the deep sea mining ship Ariel, on a distant planet.
Under the leader ship of the infuriating, yet charismatic, Captain Joel Riley, Sean settles into his simple, but dangerous, new life. It’s a life he soon comes to love; albeit one in which he conceals his sexuality and avoids intimacy.
But Sean’s new world is turned on its head when an old face threatens to expose him for the man he used to be.
With Joel’s help, will Sean learn to come to terms with his past and become a man he can be proud of?
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About the author
A.L. BATES has a keen interest in Sci-fi and adventure novels and enjoys writing stories with strong characters in imaginative backgrounds. Although an avid writer, Deep is the first published novella by A.L. Bates.
A.L. Bates can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralbates
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