Guest Post and Giveaway: Guns N’ Boys by K.A. Merikan

Religion and violence can go hand in hand. Some of the fiercest wars have been fought over differences in faith, even though most major religions claim their doctrine is one of peace. At the end of the day, religious texts are interpreted by people from all walks of life, and even criminals don’t have to be technically godless.

Some of the ceremonies performed as new members are accepted into Italian mafia organizations are rooted in Catholicism. In one of the rituals, the new mafioso stains a picture of a saint with a drop of his blood and then sets it on fire. He then proceeds to vow his allegiance to the Family as the burning picture is passed around. This symbolizes that the new member accepts the organization as an authority higher than God.

Domenico, the main character of Guns n’ Boys remembers this moment when he’s torn between absolute loyalty and an urge to follow his heart. He considers himself a deeply religious person and so, in a way, this event was a traumatizing experience for him. But still, as a good Catholic, Domenico attends mass on a regular basis, always wears a cross on his chest, he prays every day, and doesn’t consume meat on Fridays. Despite having performed a sacrilegious act during his initiation into the mafia Family, he feels that his devotion to religious rites and values shields him from harm. He also assassinates people and has gay sex, though, to his credit, at least he doesn’t do condoms. A man has to draw a line somewhere.

A show of the upstanding citizen, Domenico Acerbi:

Seth wanted to lean down for a kiss, but before he could reach Dom’s lips, a snowball hit the side of his head so hard, he wobbled to the side. “Hey!” His eyes instantly spotted a small boy, who was already making another snowball, laughing as if he had just made the funniest joke ever.

A woman in a colorful jacket, who had to be his mother, was standing next to him and loudly pleading for him to stop without actually touching her child. It was so surreal Seth wasn’t sure what to do.

“Hey, boy,” called out Domenico with that cool, authoritarian tone that sent chills down Seth’s spine. “You will put that back and apologize, or I will be forced to discipline you.”

The boy’s mother looked up at Dom with an expression that mirrored Seth’s. Eyes widened, lips open without a word. “You will not be disciplining anyone!” she finally choked out. “Who do you think you are?”

“I’m a Catholic. Strict discipline makes a man out of a boy,” said Domenico, straightening up.

Blurb: — Love is sour like a Sicilian lemon. —

The Family is always right.
The Family doesn’t forget.
The Family pays for blood in blood.

Domenico Acerbi grew up in the shade of Sicilian lemon trees ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.
When Seth, the younger son of the Don is kidnapped, it’s Domenico who is sent to get him back. The man he finds though, is not the boy he knew all those years ago. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer.

Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when the Family pulls him right back into its fold after his mother’s death. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate in the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, the venom changes into an aphrodisiac that courses through Seth’s veins.

Domenico knows his life is about to change when he gets the order to train Seth up to the role of future Don. Seth isn’t made for it. He isn’t even made. But a man Domenico knows he would never have to fear might just be someone he’s always needed.

If Seth is doomed to follow in his father’s footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself–with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime

Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller

Erotic content: Explicit gay sex, coercion

Length: ~110,000 words

WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.

Order at: Amazon

About the author: K.A. Merikan is a joint project of Kat and Agnes Merikan, who jokingly claim to share one mind. They finish each other’s sentences and simultaneously come up with the same ideas. Kat and Agnes enjoy writing various kinds of stories, from light-hearted romance to thrillers. They love creating characters that are not easy to classify as good or evil, and firmly believe that even some villains deserve their happy endings. It is easiest to find them in galleries, restaurants and historical sites, always with a computer or notebook, because for Kat and Agnes, every day is a writing day. Future plans include lots of travel, and a villa on the coast of Italy or a flat in Paris where they could retire after yet another crazy venture, only to write more hot homoerotic stories.

As K.A. Merikan, Kat and Agnes have published a number of books, which cross genres while always staying homoerotic.

Contacts: Email | K.A. Merikan’s author page | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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