The Jazzy World of E's Bookshelf: Male Author Showcase: BT Urruela

Author BT Urruela is in today's Male Author Showcase Spotlight. BT released his debut solo novel, Into The Nothing, in June and it has since received great reviews from readers. He has also co-authored, A Lover's Lament, with KL Grayson in October of 2015. Today, we'll take a closer look at BT, learning more about him and his books. It's my pleasure to introduce to you today's Male Author Showcase, BT Urruela.

Meet BT Urruela

BT Urruela was an infantryman in the US Army from August 2004 until February 2011. At the end of a year long tour to Baghdad, Iraq, 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 a 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 for VETSports, a veteran community sports nonprofit he co-founded in 2012. He also conducts motivational speeches, works as a cover and fitness model and he's a personal performance trainer. He co-wrote the military romance novel A Lover's Lament and released his debut solo novel, Into the Nothing, on June 21st, 2016.

Books by BT Urruela

Into The Nothing

Synopsis

Xander Evans has been on the road for many years. Never settling. Always moving from one place to another, unable to let go of his past. He lived a tragic childhood, spending most of those years in foster care. He's never felt like he's had a home. That is until he stops in the small town of Truman Valley, Missouri, where he meets a woman who will change everything he's ever known.

Paige Watson has it all. A loving family, beautiful home, and a great career. The only thing she's missing....is love. After escaping an abusive relationship, she opens her heart up to a stranger. He is unlike any man she's ever met. He came into her life and turned it completely upside down. Everything is perfect. That is, until one fateful night.

A night that would tear the Watson family apart, never to be put back together again.

A night that would send Xander away to prison for life.

Excerpt 1

"He was over here for like five hours last night drinking and talking with Dad. You think I like him? My dad's in love. And the way he didn’t hesitate to put Benji in his place, I just think Dad’s got a good feeling about him."

"Shit, I've got a good feeling about him too... and it's in my panties." She laughs and motions toward her crotch. "If I had been working and saw him do that to Benji's fat ass, I would've let him fuck me right on top of the bar…and I would’ve let everyone watch."

"Brandi!"

"I'm serious. Fuck it!”

"You're ridiculous."

"Paige, don't tell me you didn't notice that anaconda stuffed into his jeans?"

"What?! What the fuck are you talking about? Anaconda? I wasn't looking at his damn jeans." I laugh, finding it hard to not to love this girl who has become like a sister to me. She's the craziest bitch I know, but she's got my back no matter what. She's had it since day one."Why wouldn’t you look at his jeans? That’s where his dick is!”

Buy Into The Nothing

Buy Links for ebook & Paperback:

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/ITNAmazon

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/296SkEG

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/298YAAw

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/296ScoS

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/29iv9v7

iBooks: http://bit.ly/ITN_iBooks

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1sNAyQY

Scribd: http://bit.ly/ITN_Scribd

Into The Nothing Extras

Songlist on Spotify: http://bit.ly/2970kFO

After reading ITN, Join the Spoiler Discussion Group on FB: http://bit.ly/2aLz0nq

A Lover's Lament

Synopsis

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.

Excerpt

Come to find out the shots were fired by a bunch of frightened IPs in response to the explosion. This let the checkpoint down the road to assume the other one was being overrun. Sure, why not fire blindly toward another checkpoint based solely on assumption?

After helping the IPs load the dead and wounded onto new trucks that arrived, we eventually made our way back to base. The whole mess took the lives of fourteen Iraqi Police and one dedicated suicide bomber. It stole six hours of our day. As we quietly cruised the road back to base, I couldn’t help but wonder which of those made me more upset. I’m a little ashamed of that.

After reaching base and debriefing from our mission-- and getting my ass chewed out by Dixon for taking matters into my own hands- my squad and I took up our usual spots on lawn chairs around a fire pit as it is a giant ashtray, since protocol dictates that we can’t have fires at night.

A smattering of blue chemical lights cast a glow around us. The moon dominates the night sky, shining flawlessly with the absence of pollution. We have canteens full of oversweetened Kool-Aid and a carton of cigarettes between us. We won’t smoke them all, but after missions we wish we could forget, we certainly give it a valiant effort. The Army owns almost every hour of every day we spend in this place, but this time… this is ours.

About two canteens deep, my squad’s conversation turns to ‘sickest anal stories,’ but I tune them out. I’m lost in the moment. I’m lost in that shining freckled orb in the sky. I’m wondering who else could be looking at it too...at that very moment. With my legs outstretched and hands behind my head, I nearly forget I’m even in a combat zone. I lose myself in thought as the conversation flickers around me. I shut my eyes and drift far, far away.