#Guestpost – ‘Behind the Characters’ by Nic Starr #LGBT #Spotlight #RGRGiveaway

We are super happy to host Nic Starr and her new book ‘Rustic Moment’ (Rustic Book 3) on Rainbow Gold Reviews. The author brought a wonderful guestpost with her, talking about the oppositions she has played with in her books. She also brought an exclusive giveaway just for you. Every reader who comments on this post has the chance to win one eBook copy of ‘Rustic Melody’ (Rustic Book 1). More details below 😉

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Betrayal, heartbreak, and financial ruin are only the beginning.

The last few months have been tough on Grant Parnell. He discovered his boyfriend was having an affair and it’s taken its toll, both emotionally and financially. With his business facing ruin, Grant could lose everything.

Dave Monroe is excited to start a new phase of his life. He’s following his dream and pursuing an exciting career opportunity. When Grant visits his friends in the country and finds out Dave might be moving to Melbourne, he offers him a place to stay. For Dave, life’s looking good.

Dave had only met Grant a couple of times before moving in with him, but the simmering sexual attraction is undeniable. As he settles into Grant’s home, deeper feelings develop. It’s hard not to fall for Grant’s gorgeous exterior, but it’s the strong man underneath who captures Dave’s heart.

Grant always craved success. His business and his home are testament to just how far he’s come, proving his family wrong and making something of himself—or he had. Now everything is falling apart. As Grant’s world spirals out of control, Dave is the one sure thing in his life.

But if they are to have any chance at happiness, Dave will need to teach Grant what’s really important. 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | ARe | B&N | Kobo | Add to Goodreads

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Behind the Characters

Guest Post by Nic Starr

Opposites attract. We’ve all heard that expression, and it’s a theme that has reoccurred throughout my Rustic series.

In the first book, Rustic Melody, Adam and Joey are very different young men. Adam is from the city, and he’s been raised with money. He has attended university and obtained a degree. On the other hand, Joey is a country boy. His family have struggled financially, first on the land, then with their pub. Joey finished high school, but didn’t get to pursue his chosen career because he placed his family first. But with all their differences, they are both struggling to work out their future path and find they have shared dreams.

Rustic Memory brings together two men who were raised in the country, but where Mac is content with his home and life, albeit looking for that special someone to share it with, Ty is wounded and doing everything in his power to avoid falling in love. Emotionally they are in very different places.

In the final installment, Rustic Moment, city and country are once again paired. Down-to-earth cabinet maker, Dave, finds his happiness with interior designer and business man, Grant. Grant is all about appearances – beautiful home, nice clothes, the ‘right’ friends – and it takes Dave’s friendship and love, to show him what’s really important in life.

Building realistic characters, with all their strengths and their flaws, is part of crafting a good story. I love to pair my characters, balancing the opposite characteristics, that build a strong couple. During the process of planning the book, I complete a high level character outline. There are many templates available for doing this, but I keep mine fairly simple. I do note the physical attributes of the protagonists, but focus more on their backgrounds and their personality. How and where did they grow up? What experiences made them into the men they are today? How does their personality reflect how they behave? How would they react to certain situations or specific people? How does all this impact their dialogue and the plot?

During this process, the characters become real to me. I save an inspiration picture of each character too, so I can look at them while I’m writing. Over the course of writing the book, the characters become people I know well and love.

I hope you enjoy meeting the characters in my Rustic series, and seeing them get their happy endings.

Happy reading,

Nic

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“I said no.”

Grant’s voice was loud enough to travel down the hall. Dave immediately tensed at the tone. He couldn’t tell if Grant was angry or just being firm, but his words were clear. “This is the last time I want to have this conversation. You aren’t welcome here anymore.”

“I just want to know what you said to Douglas.” The answering voice was menacing, and Dave’s hackles rose.

Who on earth is that?

Dave placed the milk bottle on the benchtop and edged closer to the doorway. Grant could no doubt take care of himself, but Dave wanted to be close at hand. Just in case.

In case of what?

It didn’t matter what, it only mattered that Dave make sure Grant was okay, and the stranger’s voice didn’t sound anywhere near okay.

“What are you talking about? I haven’t spoken to Doug in weeks. In fact, if you know how to contact him, maybe you can tell him to call, and that I need to speak to him and sort out some crap.”

“I know you’ve said something. He told me you were trying to shaft him and get rid of him from the business. Then he went overseas, and now he’s come back and doesn’t want to see me.”

“So he’s back, then?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t already know.”

“I’m not pretending anything. How many times do I have to tell you I haven’t seen or spoken to Doug? We haven’t exchanged so much as an email. Okay, well, maybe that’s not quite true. I’ve sent him emails and letters, but he hasn’t replied. If he doesn’t want to see you, John, that’s between you and him. It has nothing to do with me. I’ve told you before—you’re welcome to each other.”

“Don’t you dare—”

“Get your hands off me.”

Dave didn’t wait to hear any more. Before he was even conscious of moving, he was striding down the hallway, and was bloody glad he’d done it. Grant was shoved up against the wall. A guy—John, the ex-boyfriend?—gripped him by the upper arms and yelled in his face.

“Hold it right there. Get your fucking hands off him,” Dave growled.

Shocked eyes met his as John looked his way and instinctively dropped his hands. “I… ah….”

“Step away. Now.”

John hesitated for a moment, looking between Grant and Dave.

Dave didn’t take his eyes off John, watching the man’s every move. “I said now.”

*****

Rustic Series: Details

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Rustic Melody (book #1): Book details including buy links

Can a boy from the country and a guy from the city ever make it work?

Adam Chambers has never seen eye-to-eye with his father and is reluctant to take over the family’s property-development company. To clear his head and work out what he wants to do with the rest of his life, Adam leaves his responsibilities in the city and heads out to see the country.

He isn’t much closer to deciding what to do with his life when he arrives at one of Australia’s largest events, the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and meets Joey Callaway.

Since Joey’s father’s tragic death left Joey the family’s debt-ridden pub, Joey has struggled, desperate to turn the business around and give his mum the life she deserves. A break away from the pressures of running the pub is just what he needs, and a hook-up with Adam is the perfect way to forget about his troubles.

The one-night stand might just be an opening act. If Adam and Joey can follow the music in their hearts, perhaps they can heal each other and create a melody that will last a lifetime.

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Rustic Memory (book #2): Book details including buy links

Third time lucky is too much to hope for. Isn’t it?

Tyler Samuels had his reasons for leaving the country town where he grew up. He moved to the city, established a home and a career, and found love. Now Ty is in his early thirties, and as his life takes another tragic turn, he finds himself returning to the place he first ran from.

Mac McGrath has lived in Armidale all his life. He loves his family and his job as an electrician, running the family business. The only thing missing in his life is a relationship. When Ty, his teenage crush, arrives back in town, maybe he has found someone to love at last.

What starts as friends with benefits quickly turns to more for Mac, but Ty will need to let go of his memories if he is to learn to love again. But can Mac wait that long?

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Leave a comment on this post for the chance to win one e-copy of ‘Rustic Melody’ (Rustic 1) by Nic Starr

You need to be 18 years or older to participate in this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Etc.

This giveaway will end on April 24th at 11:59 PM CDT. Good Luck!

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Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!

When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family-an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters, and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.

You can find Nic on Facebook, Twitter and her blog. She’d love it if you stopped by to say hi.

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