Lisa: We’re so pleased to have author Avril Ashton joining us today on the tour for her latest release, Kiss Your Scars, book three in the Loose Ends series. Welcome, Avril! Why don’t we kick things off with you telling us something about yourself that most people don’t know?

Avril: LOL I wish I could think up something, but honestly, I’m a pretty open book. What you see is what you get: a silent introvert who eats cake, reads books and laments having to ever wear pants.

Lisa: Oh my god, pants tho… LOL. Let’s talk a bit about Kiss Your Scars. What’s your favorite scene in the book, and what makes it a fave?

Avril: I have many favorite scenes regarding LowRenzo, but I’d have to say there’s a particular kitchen scene that takes my breath away every time. It has some of my favorite things: filthy loving and men not giving a f*#k. It’s kinda my aesthetic ;-)

Lisa: Having read so many of your books, I can attest to that, for sure! Tell us, if you could spend some real-life time with one of the characters in the book, who would you choose and why?

Avril: I’m in love with Renzo Vega. He’s a man who speaks his mind, goes after what he wants, and is as delicious as can be. Also deadly. And he’s been through some things, I’ve been through some things. Renzo and I are soul mates.

Lisa: Okay, on the flipside, which character would you probably least get along with? Why?

Avril: Ha! Probably Low, ’cause he’ll see that I want Renzo for myself. My men are kinda (definitely) territorial.

Lisa: Let’s take off your author cap and put on your reader cap for a minute: what do you look for in a book, what sort of protagonists do you love, and do you have a favorite genre/sub-genre?

Avril: I’m a fan of romance. I read anything if there’s an HEA. Right now I’m very much into taboo and all that stuff society tells us should be off limits: Give me age gaps, teacher/student, father’s best friend, Daddy Kink. Give me all that paired with compelling and complex characters who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable yet hard. Who don’t care too much about what’s nice and what’s right, but are willing to work—and get dirty—for who they love. Also, don’t be scared to filthy up the sex. How else will you know if it’s being done right?

Lisa: Filthy up the sex is probably the best writing advice I’ve ever heard. LOL. What are your least and most favorite things about being an author?

Avril: My least favorite thing is the beginning of the writing process. The first page. Conversely, my favorite is the last page. Getting to type “The End”.

Lisa: Have you ever written a line, paragraph, or passage, and thought, “Darn, that’s pretty amazing, even if I do say so myself”?

Avril: What was it? All the time. Every line in any of my books. I pride myself on delivering quotable books.

Lisa: What’s the one genre/sub-genre you haven’t written yet, but would love to? What’s kept you from it so far?

Avril: Sports romance. I’m a huge MMA fan, and I hope to eventually write an M/M MMA romance. But, I just feel like there are authors out there bodying the Sports Romance game, doing it so much justice. I think maybe I should just fall back. They’ve got it handled, so for the moment I’ll just be a fan and read it.

Lisa: Let’s talk tropes now: do you have a few favorites that you enjoy both writing and reading? If so, what are they and what makes them your faves?

Avril: All the tropes. Give me all the tropes. Toss in some of that sex the way I like it, along with an HEA, and they’re all my faves.

Lisa: I mean, what would romance be without all the tropes??? How about if you could choose one of your books to be adapted for the silver screen: Which would you choose? Why do you think it would translate well to film?

Avril: Any Avril Ashton book you close your eyes and choose can be on the big screen. I give you everything you could possibly need between those pages: Action, adventure, romance, peril, heartbreak, danger. Sex. I mean…

Lisa: The Run This Town series? I would kill to see those books in movie form, for all of the guys but Lucky and Elias especially—love, love, love them so much. Lord, but then there’s Syren Rua, too… Okay, let’s say I were to interview any of your MCs, what would they say about you?

Avril: They’d say I leave them on their knees too long. (I tend to take forever and a day to finish a sex scene). They’d say I break their hearts, but I also break mine in the process. They’d tell you I hurt even as I hurt them. They’d tell you no one loves them like I love them.

Lisa: What books and authors would you say influenced you to become a writer yourself?

Avril: Every single author who wrote romance influenced me to want this.

Lisa: How long did it take to write Kiss Your Scars, and what was the most difficult part of the writing process (i.e., dialogue, plot or character development, pacing, etc.)?

Avril: It takes forever! Used to not take as long, but I fell ill and I can’t go hard the way I could in the beginning. The most difficult part is writing sex. It is never something I look forward to writing, and for me the monotony is as painful as pulling teeth.

Lisa: What would you say was the most intimidating thing about publishing your first novel?

Avril: Um, actually waiting to see if anybody would buy it? LOL I think some people did. So thank you very much :)

Lisa: Avril, it’s been so great to have you with us. Let’s wind this down with an inspirational question. What’s the best piece of writing/author advice you’ve received that you’d pass on to someone else just getting started in the business?

Avril: Read. Read often. Read.

About the Book

Title: Kiss Your Scars

Series: Loose Ends: Book Three

Release Date: 20 February 2018

Buy Links: AMAZON US || AMAZON UK

Blurb: Being the king of Atlanta’s underworld used to have its perks, but lately all undercover agent Renzo Vega has seen is the downside. Someone is auctioning off women in his city, and he’s damn sure not about to let that offense stand. Just as he’s set to make a move, Renzo’s club is ambushed and he’s shot. Unsure of who to trust, he turns to the one man he definitely knows wants him dead.

Yanked from his bed, blindfolded and spirited away in the middle of the night, Lowell Scott is shocked to find the darkly gorgeous Renzo bleeding and in need of his help. The very last thing he wants is to come to the aid of the man responsible for his cousin’s death, but the knife at his throat doesn’t give Low much options.

Close proximity doesn’t temper the hatred Low harbors for Renzo, it only brings up new problems. Like the vicious attraction Low struggles to control, and bullets that won’t stop flying. It’s a tough sell to believe there’s anything good in a man as unapologetically dangerous as Renzo. And even if Low could forgive the unforgivable, Renzo is still shadowed in secrets. When they’re exposed, those secrets will bring far-reaching consequences that could sever not just their shaky bond, but Low’s family ties as well.

This is book three in the Loose Ends series, but can be read as a standalone.

Warning: Contains references to subjects that may be triggering. Please read with caution.

Tour Excerpt

Everything about him was magnetic and dangerous, and he moved like a rogue wave on an abandoned beach, wiping away your foundation before you had a chance to prepare for the hit.

Right now his gaze devoured Low, making it hard for him not to squirm.

“There is something between us.” Renzo put his hands in his pockets. Low tried not to notice the way that action tugged his pants waist lower and rucked up his shirt. “You and I both know that.”

“No.” Low held up a hand when Renzo took a step forward, but that didn’t stop him from coming closer. “I have a boyfriend.” So yeah, he’d upgraded Chance. “I don’t want you.”

“Yes.” Renzo got in Low’s space, trapping Low between him and the locked door. “You have a boyfriend but here you are, sneaking off to see me. Why are you at my club? Are you here looking for love? Looking for a fuck?”

Low’s eyes widened and Renzo touched him, a slide of his knuckles down his cheek. That touch. He’d thought about. He’d fantasized about it. He’d grieved for the loss of it.

“Doesn’t matter which. I’m good for either one.”

Low jerked his head up and slid closer. He couldn’t help it, couldn’t fight the coil in his belly that pulled tighter with every word Renzo spoke, bringing them together until their bodies made contact, front to front.

Step away. He should step back. But Renzo kept him right there with his heat and the smell of him. Low leaned forward slowly, seeking more of it.

The heat.

The scent.

His lips brushed Renzo’s neck.

Renzo groaned. Low’s entire body clenched.

Have mercy. “Leave me the fuck alone,” Low whispered. But there was no force beyond that plea. Just empty words mocking him, because the truth was he wanted Renzo closer.

Renzo grabbed him by the arm and pushed him up against the mirror overlooking the main area of the club. They could see out, but no one could see them as they stood, Renzo at Low’s back, humping him, sliding his hardness all over Low’s ass. Slowly.

Fucking painfully slow.

“Watch him,” Renzo murmured at his ear. “Watch your boyfriend. Does he know he’s your second choice, Low?”

He shuddered, panting, but he still held his head high, squirming as he tried to get away from Renzo’s hold. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Renzo laughed. “You know.” His tongue slid over the shell of Low’s ear.

Low’s breath hitched as he locked his knees to keep from falling. Renzo melted him. He destroyed Low and he remained in that grip, loving their destruction.

“Where does Chance think you are, Low? Men’s room? Outside getting some air? When you leave here, will you tell him where you were, I wonder?” Renzo nipped at his earlobe and Low gave him everything. Every shudder, every gasp. “You gonna tell him you were rubbing your ass all over my cock, Low?”

“No.” He moaned. God. Fuck. Low gave up his moans, too. “Please.”

“You gonna tell him you can’t stay away from me? That you only brought him here to make me jealous?”

“I don’t want you.” His voice was an embarrassingly thin thread of sound that wavered under the weight of Renzo’s touch, like a ribbon wrapped around a tree branch, fighting against a heavy wind.

“Doesn’t matter how much you tell yourself you hate me,” Renzo whispered. “You still close your eyes when Chance touches you and pretend it’s me.”

The stark truth in those words buried him. “No.”

Renzo ignored his weak protest. “Does he know what you like, huh?” He touched Low, one hand at his chest, lips at his ear. “Has he fucked you lately?”

“Renzo.”

“Yes.” Renzo moaned, too, the sound hitting Low in the balls. “The way you say my fucking name.” He pressed closer, rocking against Low. He clasped Low’s throat, tilting his head against his shoulder. “Good?” he asked, voice turned husky. “He fucks you good, Low? The way you want, the way you need?”

“I don’t…” Low choked, but he was moving with Renzo, on him, sliding up and down, riding the hard ridge of Renzo. Unable to stop. Just for a second. He’d forget himself just for however long it took for this hunger to work its way through him.

“Does he eat you out? Lick it up?” The hand around Low’s throat tightened. “Does he tell you you’re the best?”

Low sobbed for him, trembling, fingers clinging to the hand Renzo had splayed over his lower belly. Done, he was fucking done.

“You’re the best I’ve ever had, Low, and I haven’t even fucked you yet. Let me get that.” He touched lower, cupping Low’s erection through his jeans and squeezing. “Let me tear it up while you call me Daddy. Let’s stay here, like this, you riding me till we both come.”

“No!” Low wrenched himself away, stumbling as he glared at Renzo as arousal crawled along his spine. “You killed my cousin.”

Renzo shrugged. “Did I?”

About the Author

A Caribbean transplant, Avril now lives in Stone Mountain, GA. with a tolerant Spousal Equivalent. Together they raise an eccentric daughter who loves reading and school (not so much school anymore). Avril’s earliest memories of reading revolve around discussing plot points of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys with an equally book-minded mother.

Always in love with the written word, Avril finally decided to do the writing in August of ’09 and never looked back. Spicy love scenes, delicious heroes, and wicked women burn up the pages of Avril’s stories, but there’ll always be a happy ending; Av remains a believer of love in all its forms.

A lover of cake, the ID Channel and the UFC, Avril writes Erotic and GLBT Romance.

Connect with Avril: WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || TWITTER || PATREON || AMAZON AUTHOR

The Loose Ends Series

The Loose Ends Series Is Available at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js