A Lover’s Lament by K.L.Grayson & B.T. Urruela-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

A LOVER’S LAMENT by K.L.Grayson and B.T. Urruela-Review, Book Tour and Giveaway

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A Lover’s Lament
by K.L. Grayson & B.T. Urruela
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
Release Date October 6, 2015

A Lover's Lament

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 6, 2014

In a matter of seconds my entire world changed, and it was in that moment that I stopped living and simply began to exist.

In my grief, I sent a letter to the first boy I ever loved. I hoped in writing it I’d find some peace from the nightmare I was living, some solace in my anger.

I didn’t expect him to write back. I wasn’t prepared for his words, and I certainly wasn’t ready for the impact this soldier would have on my life. A deep-rooted hate transformed into friendship, and then molded into a love like I’d never known before.

Sergeant Devin Ulysses Clay did what I couldn’t: he put the shattered pieces of my heart back together, restoring my faith in humanity and teaching me how to live again.

But now that I’m whole, I have a decision to make. Do I return to my life as I knew it and the fiancé I left behind, or do I walk away from it all for the only man to ever break my heart?

***

I’ve been living in hell, but you won’t hear me complain.

These men depend on me, as I do them, and this brotherhood is the only family I’ve ever known.

The Army saved me from a callous mother and a life on the wrong side of the tracks that was quickly spiraling out of control. So unlike most of the men in my platoon, going home wasn’t something I longed for.

I was content overseas, spending my days defending this country that gave me my life back. Fighting became my new normal … until her.

A letter from Katie Devora—a letter that I almost didn’t open. Her words put a fire back inside of me that I didn’t know I’d lost. She gave me hope during a time when I was fighting every day just to stay alive, and now it’s time I fight for her.

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: A LOVER’S LAMENT is a contemporary, adult, romance storyline co-authored by K.L. Grayson, and first time author/ and veteran amputee B.T. Urruela. This is nurse Katie Devora, and US Army Sargeant Devin Clay’s storyline.

Told from dual first person points of view (Katie and Devin) A LOVER’S LAMENT is a second chance storyline that covers ten years and a lifetime of friendship between Katie and Devin using flash backs, memories, letter, emails and phone calls. Katie and Devin have been best friends since childhood but at eighteen years of age Devin and Katie’s lives were thrown into turmoil when Devin moved out of town without saying goodbye. Fast forward ten years and our hero, a Sargeant in the USA army, currently stationed in Afghanistan discovers that his new ‘pen pal’ is the woman he left behind but has never forgotten.

A LOVER’S LAMENT follows the rekindling of the relationship between Devin and Katie revealing the heartbreak, the pain, the betrayal and the never ending love between two people whose lives were destroyed when Devin’s mother moved away taking our hero along for the ride. Devin’s earlier years were mired in abuse and neglect, and without any means of communication or support Devin was unable to stay in contact with the woman that he loved. Life moved forward pulling Devin and Katie in opposite directions until the fateful day Devin opened a letter from Katie wherein she revealed her anger, her heartbreak and the hatred she’s held for many years.

The storyline is co-authored by Grayson and Urruela, and in this, the dual first person points of view, are expressed in uniquely different tones and emotions. Katie’s character and view point meanders through the daily grind back home; seemingly lost in life’s boredom and the what ifs and whys. Katie’s stressors find our heroine reliving the accident that killed her father, and the anger, of which she is unable to let go. Sargeant Devin Clay is caught up in the horrors of war and the potential for death to come knocking at any moment. With Devin’s POV comes the graphic and foul language, and military jargon appropriate to war and the stresses of life. First time author BT Urruela’s experiences and sacrifice in the Middle East are stark reminders of the building blocks for our hero’s point of view.

The world building is told through flashbacks, memories, letter and emails wherein we relive the earlier years between Katie and Devin: their growing love; the support they give to one another; and their undying declaration of together, forever. But we also see the ugly side of war; the death, the destruction and the toll on the lives of the men and women who have served, and the people they have left behind.

The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive; there is no graphic imagery or over the top erotic component. The visual imagery of war is tempered; there are no analytical or descriptive details of death and mutilating injuries. A LOVER’S LAMENT is an emotional tale; a story of romance, regret, and second chances that doesn’t get lost in the explicit or visible horrors of war but the loss of life and devastating injuries are present-none the less. Each chapter is highlighted with a song title that serves to set the tone.

A LOVER’S LAMENT is an encouraging and inspiring storyline. The characters are passionate; the romance is tender if not a little too sweet; the happily ever after a promise for the future.

Click HERE for our interview with BT Urruela at The Reading Cafe.

Copy supplied by the tour promoter.

Reviewed by Sandy

Devin Teaser

excerpt

NOTE: Excerpt contains strong language and is recommended for readers 18 years and over

 

I wake before the sun has checked in for the day and scan the tent, noting my men still sleeping heavily. My morning ritual, at least the days I have time to do it, requires a bit of privacy, and I make certain I have it before I begin. Most of these clowns will just jerk it from their cots in the middle of the night with the rest of us passed out around them. There’s always been something odd about that to me. On a regular basis, I’ve woken up to the sounds of heavy breathing and skin slapping skin, and it pisses me the fuck off. If I’m not dog-tired, they’ll get a boot heaved in their direction, aimed straight for the dick and with the express purpose of putting them out of business for a while.
No, jackin’ the beanstalk in public isn’t for me. Unfortunately, that leaves only one other place to do it—the Drop Zone. Porta-shitters, as we like to call them, sit for weeks without being emptied and capture every bit of the sun’s heat. It’s like a fucking greenhouse in there, and one breath in that motherfucker while beating off and your dick is in full retreat.
So there’s a trick to doing this just right; you have to prep him first. You get him up and going, and then you quickly finish in the shitter. For most of these guys, the bikini-clad chicks above their cots or the porno mags stashed in their bags are a necessity for a proper jerk-off, but I’m an imaginative guy. I close my eyes and my mind becomes like a time machine of fuck. Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot … bam! … cum everywhere. Farrah Fawcett in her iconic red swimsuit bent over the counter … set the time machine and go.
This time my mind goes for none other than Jackie O. She’s spread-eagle, with my tongue lightly flicking her throbbing clit while she’s begging for my dick. And, of course, I’m making her call me Mr. President. I laugh at the last thought but notice it’s at least gotten the job started. Since my dick is half-mast and ticking its way to full form, I slink my way to the tent’s entrance.
Stepping out, I’m met by the sun creeping softly over the tops of the barriers, and I hurry toward the porta-shitters, positioned just past the Humvees in front of the eastern wall. This two-hundred-yard walk is the most important part of the process. You have to walk with speed but not urgency, in hopes that you don’t attract attention from the few others also awake—all while the imagined porn still reels in your head.
I manage to make it into the shitter undetected and quickly go to work on my shaft while my left hand pinches my nose like a vise and my eyes squeeze tightly shut. Only this time it isn’t someone famous that I picture. It’s Katie.
Even as early as it is, the Drop Zone is like a sauna, and beads of sweat collect on my forehead. I try desperately to hold in my breath as the seconds tick down. Just as my lungs begin to demand air and my body stiffens, I toss my head back with a stifled groan. My body recovers from its high much quicker in this setting, but at least the job is done. Two weeks of combat stress gone, just like that.


 

About the Author

KL Grayson

K.L. Grayson
resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Grayson/1403900879892076?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorklgrayson
IG:@booksbyklgrayson
@booksbyklgrayson

 

BT Urruela 8Taylor Urruela was an infantryman in the US Army from August 2004 until February 2011. At the end of a year long tour in Baghdad, IQ, his vehicle was hit by two roadside bombs, which took his right leg below the knee and the life of his commander. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds, an Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He medically retired from the Army in 2011 and moved to Tampa, FL where he currently works as a Director and Brand Ambassador of VETSports, a veteran community sports nonprofit he co-founded in 2012. He also conducts speaking engagements and he’s a personal trainer for Tampa Sports Academy.

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/BTUrruela?fref=ts
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/BTUArmy
IG: @BTUrruela

 

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Interview with B.T. Urruela-Model, Athlete & Personal Trainer

Interview with B.T. Urruela-Model, Athlete and Personal Trainer

BT Urruela 8 TRC: Hi BT and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the recent cover of Lexi Buchanan’s SINFUL.

BT:  THANK YOU!

Follow BT Urruela: Facebook /Twitter/ Instagram/

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Click HERE for B.T’s complete story.

B.T: I am of Sicilian and Cuban descent. I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri before joining the Army at 18 and shipping off to infantry basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. From there, I went to my next duty station in Baumholder, Germany, then to Kuwait, and eventually to Iraq. October 22nd, 2006, just two and half weeks before my 21st birthday, my vehicle was hit by two improvised explosive devices and would eventually be sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to rehabilitate from my injuries.

TRC: Aside from the obvious, how has your life changed upon reentry into civilian life?

BU Urruela 2B.T: I had a really tough two years transitioning due to lack of support and dealing with the side effects of PTSD. Team sports and helping others is the only thing the pulled me out.

TRC: What do you do when the stress becomes overwhelming?

B.T: My dogs relieve a lot of stress and the gym is my go to!

TRC: Do you believe enough is being done to help returning and injured soldiers reintegrate back into society or get the help that they need?

B.T: I believe we have a tremendous amount of work to do. The VA is inundated with patients and many health care providers in the system could care less about the patients they are treating. The VA needs a major overhaul. Much of the burden is put unto the shoulders of non-profits. Without Veteran Service Organizations around to help, it would be so much worse.

TRC: Would you please tell us about VETSports. How many VETS have benefited from your work?

Click HERE for the VETSports website

B.T: I co-founded VETSports in 2012 with two other combat wounded vets. It was our goal to assist in the transition of veterans back into civilian life through team sports and community involvement. We have served over 2,000 veterans in six states and that number continues to rise.

TRC: What were your dreams and aspirations growing up?

B.T: I always wanted to be an “army man”, musician, professional athlete, or cop/firefighter.

Photo:Michael Stokes Photography

BT Urruela 10TRC: You were first brought to our attention through the amazing photography of Michael Stokes. How has the exposure through these images affected your personal and private life?

B.T: Michael is a wonderful man doing amazing things for veterans. He has allowed me to share my story on a much larger scale, and the love and respect I’ve felt from the public has changed my life drastically in the most positive of ways.

TRC: What first sparked your interest in modeling? Is there a defining moment where you knew that modeling was something you were interested in pursuing?

Photo:Michael Stokes Photography

B.T: Seeing Michael’s photos of Alex Minsky first sparked my interest. I was impressed by his ability to bear his scars with class and bravery. He made me want to do the same. It took a year to do it, but I owe him a lot for instilling in me the desire to reach for the stars despite my disabilities.

BT Urruela coverTRC: When not modeling or doing person training, what are your other interests?

B.T: I love team sports. I play flag football once a week and softball twice a week. I’ve also gotten into acting and really enjoy it. I like to read too and writing is truly a part of who I am.

TRC: Have you ever had a photo shoot that went completely wrong?

B.T: Never! All three of my shoots have been absolutely amazing experiences!

TRC: Nudity in modeling or acting can be controversial. Some pictures can cross the line between sensuality to pornography. What would you tell young models/actors /body builders just entering the business about nude modeling and photography?

B.T: I think you’re exactly right. There is a very fine line between art and just being blatant for the sake of exposure. I personally think things should be left a bit to the imagination. I’ve seen some recently with exposed pubic hair and the obvious, and intentional, outline of the penis. I don’t hold anything against those that model or shoot those kinds of shots, I just believe it’s crossing that fine line. It’s not something I would ever do.

BT Urruela 1TRC: In the past, there has been a ‘stigma’ surrounding the male model and the romance-cover industry but the popularity of the romance storyline has skyrocketed in the last few years especially with the erotic and sensual cover images. What is your opinion about the recent popularity and the very busy industry of the ‘romance cover model’?

B.T: I think EL James did SO much for the industry, and more specifically, for the independent authors within it. Pornography is rampant in our society and consumed by the masses, yet there is a stigma surrounding the romance/erotic novel industry. Sex is a part of our everyday lives. I like novels that are real and true to life. Why cut sex out of the equation? I respect the authors and models in this industry and I wish for nothing but the best for everyone moving forward. It’s refreshing that it is finally getting the respect and notice that it deserves.

TRC: Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, expect to be on the cover of an erotic romance storyline?

B.T: NEVER! But it is thrilling, humbling, mind blowing, amazing, and absolutely awesome all rolled into one! I never saw myself here, and having gone through what I have, it makes this very long road so worth the travel!

Photo:Michael Stokes Photography

BT Urruela 9TRC: Do you know the number of novel covers that your image has appeared?

B.T: Right now it sits at three. I am booked for three more including my own novel that I’m co-writing coming out this fall and I truly hope to continue this work moving forward!

TRC: Do you have a favorite cover-romance image or otherwise? (e.g. magazines, ads, Michael Stokes, etc)

B.T: Aw, you know I can’t do that 🙂 I love all of my photographers and they have all taken photos that are near and dear to my heart! Michael Stokes was my first, so obviously those shots hold a special significance, but I feel as if I fall in love with each new image that comes out. I have been so blessed to have worked with each of my photographers!

TRC: Would you please tell us what you do to relax?

B.T: I love to put a good comedy on Netflix and relax in bed with my pups.

TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?

B.T: I would like to see my name with KL Grayson’s on the cover of our novel, A Lover’s Lament, I would like to act in a movie or television series, and I would like to have 30+ clients who I get to help reach their fitness goals every single day.

BT Urruela 6TRC: What is something that few, if anybody, knows about you?

B.T: I don’t speak to my mother and I haven’t in three years. My brother and I had a very trying and traumatic childhood due to her and my stepfather’s actions and lack of love and, though it has made me a stronger person today, it will never be forgotten.

TRC: On what on your currently working?

B.T: A Lover’s Lament with KL Grayson, future covers with Harper Sloan and Kristen Proby, motivational speaking, and building my client base as a personal trainer with Tampa Sports Academy.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

B.T: A big fat THANK YOU to everyone for their unconditional love, respect and support. I am overwhelmed by you all each and everyday, and it means the absolute world to me! I am so insanely blessed!

Men's Health cover

 

 

 

** VOTE BT Urruela for the MEN’S HEALTH Guy Search cover HERE

 

 

 

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Italian, Pizza and Sushi

Favorite Dessert
Ice Cream Cookie or Brownie Sundae

Favorite Movie
Independence Day, Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, The Way, Way Back, and
Silver Linings Playlist…but there are soooo many more!

Favorite TV Show
The Office, It’s Always Sunny, King of Queens, Seinfeld, Friends, and Parks and
Recreation

Last Movie that you saw
The Interview and St Vincent

Secret Celebrity Crush
Jennifer Aniston

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Milk or White Chocolate

Last Vacation Destination
St Louis… I don’t do many real vacations unfortunately. Once things settle though!

TRC: Thank you Brian for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all of your success and THANK YOU for your service to your country!

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