We’re so pleased to have author Alex Whitehall joining us today on the tour for their latest release, Hard Truths. We’ve got a great guest post to share with you today, all about family, as well as a giveaway, so be sure to check out those details below.

Welcome, Alex!

On Family

Family is complicated for everyone. For LGBT+ people, it can be more complicated, even when we grow up and move out. Just because you’re no longer under their roof, doesn’t mean that family, especially parents, aren’t important. For Isaac, the main character of Hard Truths, coming out to his parents isn’t about losing the roof over his head, it’s about losing his family. And although his family kind of sucks, they are his family, and he was raised that family is important.

And it is, of course. But as Isaac’s friends try to point out, family isn’t just those you’re related to. You’ve maybe heard of the phrase “chosen family” or “found family” and often it’s referring to LGBT+ folk who have been cast aside by or left their biological family. That’s not the only time we have chosen family, though. To some degree, the spouse(s) we take, the children we might have, are also chosen family. Those, unfortunately, are given higher regard in society than what LGBT+ folk might form as chosen family. For instance, I have a brother with three kids. No one questions when I say they’re family. But two of my friends have a kid–and I consider him family too. Going to his birthday party is just as important to me as going to my brothers’ kids’ party. Because his parents are just as important to me as my nephews/niece’s parents.

Society doesn’t really prep us to think of our friends that way though. Oh sure, they’re important, but they aren’t family. Family is something different, something better (somehow), even though a good chunk of television (especially when I was growing up), loved to portray dysfunctional families. It’s rather confusing.

Isaac has to face what society expects (or at least what he learned growing up), and has to figure out for himself what family means. With a little help from his friends.

About the Book

He can’t have the family he wants, but he may get the love he deserves.

Isaac didn’t expect to find love at his family’s Christmas dinner, but that was before he met his sister’s new fake boyfriend. Tall, muscular, and tattooed, Logan is what Isaac would love in a partner—and also everything his parents would hate in one. Not that they know Isaac’s gay.

That doesn’t stop him from dating Logan—unbeknownst to his parents, and with his sister’s approval after she fake dumps him. The pair dive into a whirlwind romance of motorcycle rides, cheesy puns, and hot sex. They meet each other’s friends and fill their time with happiness and laughter. It’s all perfect.

Until Isaac suggests they move in together, and Logan asks Isaac to come out to his parents. Isaac wants to, but he’s scared; he doesn’t want to lose his family. Unfortunately, he can’t see that his real family has been right beside him all along.

Available from Riptide Publishing

About the Author

If there are two types of people in the world, Alex Whitehall probably isn’t one of them, despite being a person. Their favorite pastimes include reading, horseback riding, sleeping, watching geek-tastic television, knitting, eating, and running. And wasting time on the internet. And spending glorious evenings laughing with friends.

While Alex prefers sleeping over doing anything else (except maybe eating), sometimes they emerge from the cave to be social and to hunt for food at the local market. They can be found blogging, reading, and tending after their aloe plants.

Connect with Alex: Twitter || Email || Blogging || Tumblr

The Giveaway

Commenting Below Will Give You a Chance to Win This Mug!

This mug appears in Hard Truths as one of the first presents that Isaac buys Logan. It’s similar to a mug I have myself (that my friend bought me and that might have inspired the gift)! The order will be shipped directly from the buyer, so you have to be willing to share your physical address with the buyer and myself. You can choose either size and any of the fox images.

Due to prohibitive shipping costs, this prize is only open to within the US. For international readers, indicate as such and you’ll have a chance to win a digital copy of your choice from my backlist.

Contest closes October 6. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave a means of contact!