The Rainbow Connection Novels

Published by Torquere Press
Roll, published February 25, 2014
Blues, publish on January 29, 2015
Classic, September 2, 2015
All that Jazz, pending
Punked Up, pending

Roll

Roll Buy Links: Torquere | Amazon Kindle (top 10 in genre!) | Amazon Paperback | Barnes and Noble | All Romance (bestseller)

A farm boy from Tennessee, Beau Watkins spent high school living the dream: the cute girl, the popular, jock lifestyle, a loving family. As a freshman at an out-of-state college, he's determined to find out who he really is behind the Fake It 'Til You Make It attitude. He joins Rainbow Connection, the gay student alliance, hoping to find himself. Instead, he finds Vin Reyes. Raised by his grandparents and heir to a prosperous company, Vin has been out of the closet since he figured out what that meant. He has it all: fashionable clothing, fancy cars, huge houses, a real party lifestyle, and even a bodyguard. Most of all, he has a secret.

Uncomfortable with Vin's generosity, Beau fights his growing attraction for the president of Rainbow Connection, chasing instead a series of shallow affairs. Vin's never been denied anything that he wants, though, and now he wants Beau. But it's not until an old rival puts Beau in the hospital that Vin realizes that Beau means more to him than a simple love affair. Can the two of them bridge the gap between their worlds and roll with the all the punches life will throw at them?

Blues 

Buy Links: Torquere | Amazon Kindle | Amazon paperback | Barnes & Noble | All Romance 

Rising sophomore Beau Watkins gave up everything to be with his boyfriend, Vin. Beau is disowned by his father, tormented by his brother, is rapidly running out of money, and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. On top of that, his boyfriend seems to see Beau as little more than a live-in maid. Troubled by word of his missing father and fighting nightmares of his own, Vin Reyes turns to alcohol to drown his pain. What's worse, a handsome transfer student is a little too interested in Beau. Vin throws away everything that's made him happy with both hands, terrified of his own feelings of inadequacy.

When Vin and Beau's happily-ever-after turns into a train wreck of drinking problems, resentment, insecurity, jealousy, and violence, they both try to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. Their mutual friends, Hector and Ann-Marie, try to help the two young men as best they can, but neither want to listen. Beau accepts a morally questionable job offer to pad his finances and Vin starts a downward spiral of self-destructive behavior that sends him right for rock bottom. Can Vin and Beau win through doubt and guilt, jealousy and recklessness, to find their place in the world? 

Classic - Coming Fall, 2015

Buy Links: Torquere | Amazon Kindle | Amazon paperback | Barnes & Nobles | All Romance

Once you lose everything, you still have to rebuild. Beau Watkins and Vin Reyes have mended their differences, but that doesn't mean that everything is back the way it was. When Beau's teenage niece shows up with her son in tow, Beau is thrown unexpectedly into a world of adult responsibilities and adult decisions, all of which could have disastrous consequences. Reconciliation with his family is complicated by an overseas internship with a predatory business woman.  

Vin still struggles with his alcoholism, with finding his place in a world after college, and establishing relationships with his newfound father and sister. The last puzzle piece of Vin's mysterious past is clicked into place when he comes face-to-face with his mother's ex-fiance. His relationship with Beau has never been stronger... until an unexpected email threatens to topple everything they've build together. 

All That Jazz (preliminary planning)

This is Hector Lange's story, everyone's favorite boyslut returns with a novel of his own. Everyone loves Hector... well, everyone except Finn Reardon.

Punked Up (preliminary planning)

The snarky lesbian gets her own novel at last. Ann-Marie Darlan returns at last... a third grade teacher, Ann-Marie has moved on with her life, putting her past behind her and concentrating on her career, until she runs into her ex and everything gets turned upside down.

Before the Party & After the Party

short stories in Whetting the Appetite

These stories take place with alternative characters around the beginning of All That Jazz. Hector has a small cameo mention.

Crank It Up - Free Read

short story, takes place near the end of Blues 

This story takes place just before Chapter Twenty... after Beau has called his mother to get his passport paperwork mailed to him at his new address and before the party at Screech where everyone gathers to watch the pilot episode of his cousin, Kate's, television show.

Wedding March - Free Read, blog tour

forthcoming in Time of Your Life anthology

Reviews

Roll, the first book in a projected series, does the best thing a romance can do – it makes you care, not just about the protagonists, (though, of course, it’s nearly impossible not to) , but about the supporting characters too. The support network of friends and family that Beau and Vin enjoy gives the whole thing a warm, sweet, inclusive tone, one that makes you wish you went to college with these kids.  -- Amazon review, ***** five stars

Lynn Townsend knows her craft! Straight away, I was pulled in by the character's dialogue and immediate presence. (I felt like I was reading "The Outsiders" again.) To categorize this book as merely an m/m story, seems inadequate. "Roll" has got so much more to offer readers than the typical m/m novel and I think there are a lot of authors out there who are missing the boat on what it actually takes to create a compelling, believable story because they just want to write a steamy man-on-man sex scene and call it good. -- Amazon review ***** five stars