All posts by Julie

LGBTQ+ fiction, Mitch Rebecki Gets a Life

Mitch Rebecki Gets a Life

Blurb: Investigative journalist Mitch Rebecki loves his job and loves New York. He doesn’t mind making enemies, either. When a crime boss threatens retaliation, Mitch’s editor sends him out of harm’s way to Sydney. In exile and resentfully working on lifestyle pieces, Mitch is miserable. But he makes a friend or two, meets a man … and discovers that Australians do organized crime, too, in a small way. Mitch soon finds himself in too deep on all counts, and trying to head home again seems the only solution …

Genre: gay fiction; contemporary; crime drama; novel

Click here for an excerpt of text, and here for the reviews.

Word count: 49,000

Awards: An Honourable Mention in the Rainbow Awards 2015.

Available in ebook and paperback formats from:

Reader sites:

First published by Manifold Press on 1 February 2015. Revised edition released by LIBRAtiger on 1 March 2019.

Mitch Rebecki Gets a Life

reviews: Mitch Rebecki Gets a Life

There’s no denying that Mitch hasn’t been quite as enthusiastically received as his creator might wish, but I’m very glad and grateful for the thoughtful responses that have been coming in from readers and reviewers.

Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance: 4 stars from Mark

Introduction: I feel the most important thing to say upfront about this book is that it’s not a traditional M/M romance. It’s there but really only plays a very minor background role in the overall story. Knowing this beforehand then you can sit back and enjoy the story for what it is; a story about investigative journalism and how Mitch has a nose for digging up the dirt on people no matter where he lands up. This is what intrigued me and I have now read a number of books where the MC(s) are gay but that’s it; they just are.

Mark also kindly asked me to do a guest post, so I wrote about the ‘fish out of water’ theme. Do drop by and share the love with Sinfully!

Boys In Our Books: 2 stars from Susan

Excerpt: There were still flashes of the Bozza writing that I really enjoy. But the story as a whole and the way that it was put together really did not work for me.

Love Bytes: 3.5 stars from Dan

Excerpt and conclusion: This was an interesting read and take on a reporter’s life. … I enjoyed the book. It was well edited and I would say the writing is above average. It was an interesting afternoon’s read.

Rainbow Awards 2015: Honorable Mention

Judge’s comments: Enjoyable story with interesting characters. Loved the different perspective on Australia and Australians, and the ending was realistic, rather than cliché.

Mitch on Goodreads:

Currently 18 ratings, 10 text reviews, and an average of 3.50 stars.

  • Ije gave it 5 stars, and said: If I had to describe this story I would call it ‘slice of life’ – ‘a story telling technique that presents a seemingly arbitrary sample of a character’s life.’ Although I don’t think this sample of Mitch’s life could be described as arbitrary. Another way of describing this would be to borrow from my mentor Viv Thomas and describe this as a story of a ‘second choice life.’ A slice of second choice life. … This is a great book, kind of philosophical and a really refreshing change from my usual magic, murder, mayhem and mates.
  • Seventhdevil gave it 4 stars, and said: Overall I wish the book was longer, and fingers crossed there’ll be a sequel.
Mitch Rebecki Gets a Life

excerpt: Mitch Rebecki Gets a Life

This is from the first chapter of the novel. Investigative journalist Mitch has been making a bit too much trouble for a crime boss – who makes threats, but not so seriously that the police can do much about it. In any case, Mitch’s editor Tom has a better idea.

♦

The next morning, Mitch arrived at work to find a note on his desk – in Tom’s own handwriting – directing him to Tom’s office ‘ASAP’. This was followed, in the typically understated Australian way, with three exclamation marks. Mitch shrugged, put his satchel down on his desk, and went to obey.

If Mitch had expected Tom to be angry and concerned about the bomb that hadn’t after all been a bomb, he was disappointed. Instead Tom seemed to be bubbling over with excitement. His eyes were sparking, so much so that Mitch worried vaguely about electrical fires. Tom even stood from his desk, and came to usher Mitch to a seat, before closing the door.

“I’ve got an idea,” Tom announced. “A great idea, a wonderful idea …”

Continue reading excerpt: Mitch Rebecki Gets a Life →

M/M romance, The Butterfly Hunter Trilogy

The Butterfly Hunter Trilogy

Books 1-3 of the Butterfly Hunter Trilogy, in a boxed set

Blurb: Dave Taylor is an Aussie tour guide specialising in trips through the Queensland Outback. In some ways, however, Dave himself feels lost. He has been alone this past year, since his childhood sweetheart Denise left him and married another man. Change comes via Dave’s latest rather unexpected client, Nicholas Goring, the youngest son of an English earl. Nicholas is on the hunt for an undiscovered species of butterfly, and has hired Dave to help guide his quest. Although the two men are from very different backgrounds, they become friends, and soon their relationship grows into something more. But how easy will it be for an Australian and an Englishman to find common ground?

This boxed set contains the novels Butterfly Hunter, Of Dreams and Ceremonies, and The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring, as well as the (free) short story Like Leaves to a Tree.

Genre: male-male romance; contemporary; novel

Awards:

  • Nomination in the M/M Romance Group Members’ Choice Awards 2014 on Goodreads, in the category Favorite All-Time M/M Series.
  • Nomination in the M/M Romance Group Members’ Choice Awards 2018 on Goodreads, in the category All-Time Favorite M/M Series.

Word count: 161,500

Available in ebook and paperback formats from:

Reader sites:

First published by Manifold Press on 1 December 2014. Slightly revised edition published by LIBRAtiger on 15 September 2018.

The Butterfly Hunter Trilogy

reviews: The Butterfly Hunter Trilogy

Readers on Amazon:

Phase58 gave it 5 stars on Amazon UK and said: I didn’t want to finish this book cause that meant leaving Dave and Nicholas and their wonderful world. Even big bad mining companies couldn’t dissuade them from doing what was right. I loved this, it brought Australia into my living room and all its wonders along with it. Well written, no typos and great Aussie words like doona and Akubra and another word which I can’t remember which is basically a spork lol. The tale of two completely different worlds and how they join together seamlessly. I refuse to give the story away, just read the book and enjoy it as much as i did.

Readers on Goodreads:

Neet gave it 5 stars and said: What a wonderful trilogy of novels (including a short story by Julie Bozza). I took my time reading this beautifully written novel not wanting it to end. … David & Nicholas story is one that is funny, romantic, heartbreaking, and just plain enjoyable. I enjoyed reading about this couple and their wonderful friends and relatives. I hated for it to end, but plan to read again and again. It’s highly recommended and a good read!!!

M/M romance, The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

Book 3 of the Butterfly Hunter Trilogy

Blurb: Dave and Nicholas, married for seven years now, are happily settled together – but as an Australian prime minister once observed, “Life wasn’t meant to be easy.” An unexpected threat to their beloved waterhole forces Dave to try asserting his unofficial custodianship of the Dreamtime site, and a visit from Nicholas’s nephew Robin doesn’t help as he brings his own surprises. And there’s always the question of Nicholas’s health hanging over their heads …

Genre: male-male romance; contemporary; established relationship; novel

Awards:

  • Nomination in the M/M Romance Group Member’s Choice Awards 2014 on Goodreads, in the category Best Established Couple.
  • An Honourable Mention in the Rainbow Awards 2015.

Click here for an excerpt of text, and here for the reviews.

I’ve received queries! So, if you are concerned about how this series ends, and don’t mind spoilers, you can click here for a bit of info.

Word count: 55,500

Available in ebook and paperback formats from:

Also available in French from MxM Bookmark:

Reader sites:

First published by Manifold Press on 1 November 2014. Re-released by LIBRAtiger on 15 September 2018.

The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

reviews: The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

I’m happy and grateful for the response to this third volume in my Butterfly Hunter series. Thank you to everyone who is accompanying Dave and Nicholas through the last chapters of their journey together!

Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews: 5 stars from Mark

Introduction: OMG, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. It is of course no secret that I have just loved this series so far but the third and final book just brings everything to a close of what has been just one gorgeous and exquisite story from beginning to end.

Mark also asked me to do a video for the Sinfully Sexy site, so please go check it out! I make a fool of myself, but hey it’s all for the best cause – that is, True Love!

Boys In Our Books: 3.5 stars from Susan

Excerpt: I love the care with which Julie Bozza writes David and Nicholas. She’s very deliberate in the ways she progresses their story, their relationship, their interactions and as someone who’s taken this journey with them through the series, I appreciate it so much.

Rainbow Awards 2015: Honorable Mention

Judges’ comments: A really engaging story that was easy to follow despite being the 3rd book in a series I had not read. … Very heartfelt, with a poetic, enchanted feel to it. The slow pace works for this particular story. Having read the first two books in the series probably would have helped, but wasn’t necessary, which is always the sign of a great read.

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words: 4.5 stars from Stella

Introduction and conclusion: I have to say I’m very sorry to see the end of the Butterfly Hunter series, I can ‘t have enough of these characters. I would like to read a whole book/series about Robin, or another one on Simon, or Charlie, I would even read a het novel about Denise and Vittorio love. Not just them, all the persons I met during the amazing adventure reading this series was, caught my interest, they made me curious to know so much more and honestly I think it’s something it happened to me very few times. …

Julie Bozza has confirmed to be one of my favorite authors, her writing so poetical, lyrical and mystical is unforgettable, I can’t wait for her to release new stories.

The Thousand Smiles on Goodreads:

  • Kaje gave it 4 stars, and said: I love established-couple romances, and this one was smooth and lovely to read.
  • Kat gave it 5 stars, and said: This makes me happy, the perfect ending to a wonderful series.
  • Don Bradshaw gave it 4 stars, and said: Written perfectly in Ms Bozza’s descriptive style the reader feels as though they have discovered something magical
  • Niki gave it 5 stars, and said: The writer could not have ended this series in a better way. Dave and Nicholas have come a long way as this 3rd book revisit them 7 years later.

Readers’ Responses

Dianne listed it in her Best of ’14 and said: Gorgeous writing. The perfect, beautiful love and understanding between Nicholas and his Davey is once again delivered in stunning form. The series story arc is delivered full circle in reverent prose. The sublime Australian outback and culture plays a crucial and unforgettable role. When I read this book, this series…I am right there with them. I’ll never look at a blue butterfly again without thinking of these two men.

The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

excerpt: The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

This excerpt is from the first chapter of the novel, which is set seven years after Dave and Nicholas were married. They are at the Brisbane airport to meet Robin, Nicholas’s nephew, who is coming to stay with them during the English summer.

♦

_MG_1349The next morning saw Dave and Nicholas at the airport early to collect Robin. They joined the line-up leaning on the waist-high barriers, greeted with nods and friendly monosyllables from the drivers and tour operators and such, some of whom had known Dave since he was a kid. “Brought the missus with you, then?” one of them commented to Dave.

Nicholas snorted with quiet humour, but Dave answered seriously enough. “Yeah, his nephew’s coming to visit for his summer holidays. Well, you know … it’s winter here, summer up there.”

“Got everything arse-about, them Poms.”

“You just wait,” Nicholas muttered darkly. “The magnetic poles will reverse, and then where will you be?”

“Still in God’s own country, mate!”

“So you will,” Nicholas happily responded. “And so will I!”

There was a general round of laughter, and then everyone fell back to their earlier silence or desultory talk. Nicholas nudged Dave with an elbow, and indicated the cold hard floor on the other side of the barriers. “That’s where I was when I saw you for the very first time.”

Continue reading excerpt: The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring →

The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

goodies: The Thousand Smiles of Nicholas Goring

Thousand Smiles 00

Thousand Smiles 02

Thousand Smiles 01

Haven’t done this for a while… (Well, it amuses me, anyway!)

Please feel free to share, if you like, including credit for the lovely images.

  • The first photo is of a ‘Yowah nut’ – and very possibly one of the most beautiful things I will ever see – Opal from Yowah, Queensland, Australia (2009) by JJ Harrison. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
  • The second photo is Wolseley-Siddeley limousine and chauffeur, London c1906-1907 supplied by William Creswell (original photographer probably unknown). Source: Wikimedia Commons and Flickr.
  • The third photo is Purple Sky (2007) by Jes. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
A Threefold Cord, M/M romance

A Threefold Cord

Blurb: Grae Edwards and his co–stars Chris Willoughby and Ben Clyde work together well. Maybe they even have a chemistry. Certainly they are friends and Grae is tempted to ask for more … After the beautiful tart Chris has the temerity to turn him down, Grae settles into a comfortable loving relationship with the more chivalrous Ben. But the idea of Chris never quite goes away – and when Chris finally suggests the three of them spend a night together, Grae glimpses a solution he hardly dares hope for.

Genre: male-male-male romance; contemporary; threesome; novel

Word count: 57,500

Click here for an excerpt of text, and here for the reviews.

Awards:

  • An Honourable Mention and a Finalist in the Gay Contemporary Romance category of the Rainbow Awards 2014.
  • Nomination and a Finalist in the M/M Romance Group Member’s Choice Awards 2014 on Goodreads, in the category Best Polyamorous (theme).

Available in ebook and paperback formats from:

Available in audiobook format, narrated by Christopher Preece, from:

Also available in French as “Nous” from MxM Bookmark:

Reader sites:

First published on 1 May 2014 by Manifold Press. Re-released by LIBRAtiger on 1 June 2018.