Thrill by Kristian Parker #kindleunlimited #giveaway

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Thrill (Pleasure Seekers, Book 1)

Author and Publisher: Kristian Parker

Cover Artist: Kelly Martin

Release Date: April 5, 2024

Genre:  Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Friends with Benefits to lovers, workplace romance

Themes: Resolving family issues. Trigger warning – deals with historical suicide attempt

Length:  50 040 words/ 214 pages

Heat Rating:  5 flames

It is not a standalone story, but does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

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Blurb

Tyler Jones is celebrating hitting his mid-thirties with a new job and it’s unlike anywhere he’s ever worked before. Pleasure Seekers is an sex toy retail company based in the seaside resort of Brighton. 

On his first day, Tyler finds himself in a very sticky situation with the drop-dead gorgeous Danny Healy. This man is next-level handsome. When Danny offers to help Tyler become personally acquainted with some of the items the company sells online, the heat truly blasts off. 

But Tyler has never been one for meaningless sex. When he gets to know Danny, he finds so much more than he ever expected. What could happen if the lines of their arrangement were blurred a little?

Trigger warning – discussion of historical emotional struggles and attempted suicide.

 

SERIES BLURB

Pleasure Seekers is the online store for the nation’s naughty needs. It caters to all tastes from edible underwear to lube to things that are a little more niche.

Based in Brighton on the South Coast, Pleasure Seekers’ mission is to revolutionise Britain’s sex life. 

But what kind of person works in a company like this?

Meet Tyler, Eddie and Scott. Three men who are about to have the summer of their lives. 

Who says taking your work home with you is a bad thing?

 

Excerpt 

Taking the opportunity to study his new colleagues, he was excited. Everyone seemed as though they were enjoying one another’s company. Tyler couldn’t wait until he was one of them properly. In his old place he’d largely kept to himself.

Things are looking up.

“Attention, everyone,” Eddie said, clapping his hands together. “Thank you for taking time out of your busy days. I won’t keep you too long. We’ve been given six samples of lube but we’re only taking one. Two at a push. All you have to do is, in pairs, smell the scents and rate them out of five. Easy as that. When you’re done, there’s a free doughnut here for you.”

“I doubt I’ll fancy a glazed ring after sniffing this lot,” a man piped up.

“Thank you, Scott,” Eddie replied. “Helpful as ever. Grab a seat, folks.”

Tyler sat at the nearest table. As the others took their own chairs, it became apparent, to Tyler’s horror, that they were an odd number. No prizes for guessing who the Billy-No-Mates would be.

He’d gone from hero to zero in less than a minute.

Anticipating everyone turning to stare at him, Tyler tried to force a smile on his face.

Then one of the most handsome men Tyler had ever set eyes on walked in. Medium height with a dark brown crew cut and tan skin, he stood in the doorway like some overalls-clad sex god. Tyler was mesmerised.

“Danny,” Eddie said. “Good to see you.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

He looked around the room until his gaze rested on Tyler. A lopsided smile crept onto his face. Tyler suddenly felt very warm.

“No worries,” Eddie said. “Why don’t you go and join Tyler?”

Boom, things were on the up again.

“Lucky Tyler,” Scott added.

Tyler wasn’t easy to embarrass. Yet he could feel his face burning. He nodded at Danny, who slumped down in a chair.

Mercifully, everyone else set about the task in hand.

“Tyler. New starter?” Danny said, giving Tyler a once-over.

“Yes,” Tyler replied. “The Head of Procurement.”

There came the lopsided smile once more. It seemed to mainline straight into Tyler’s gut. And lower.

“How about you?”

Danny tugged at his overalls. “Warehouse.”

Suddenly, the door flung open. A red-faced Barry stood there.

“What do you think you’re doing? No one told me about a lube testing.”

“I didn’t know I had to,” Eddie replied.

“Of course you do,” Barry spluttered. “Then I can put protective coating on the floor. If anyone drops one tiny bit on my new carpet tiles, I will personally supervise you getting it out.”

Not waiting for a reply, he slammed the door shut.

“Please be careful, guys,” Eddie said. “For my sake.”

A ripple of amusement swept through the room.

“Poor old Barry,” Danny said. “Always wanting perfection. He’ll give himself an ulcer one day.”

“He should sample some of the products. There’s a man who needs a prostate massager and no mistake,” Tyler replied.

Danny covered his face. “Don’t put pictures in my head.”

 

About the Author  

I have written for as long as I could write. In fact, before, when I would dictate to my auntie. I love to read, and I love to create worlds and characters.

I live in the English countryside. When I’m not writing, I like to get out there and think through the next scenario I’m going to throw my characters into.

Inspiration can be found anywhere, on a train, in a restaurant or in an office. I am always in search of the next character to find love in one of my stories. In a world of apps and online dating, it is important to remember love can be found when you least expect it.

 

Author Links

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The Long Journey to You by Vincent Traughber Meis #giveaway

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Long Journey to You

Author: Vincent Traughber Meis

Publisher: Spectrum Books

Cover Artist: Vincent Meis and Andrew May

Release Date: February 17, 2024

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, Literary Fiction

Tropes: Age-gap relationship, friends to lovers

Themes: Survival, overcoming tragedy

Heat Rating: 3 flames       

Length:  97 000 words/350 pages

It can be read as a standalone, but the protagonist also appears in my novel, The Mayor of Oak Street (ages 12-21). The main story of this book takes place 40 years later and we find out what happened to him in flashbacks. 

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Nathan’s traumatic past challenges but cannot stop the arc that brings him to Mateo.

 

Blurb

Nathan doesn’t know how to stop dwelling on the failures and tragedies that have plagued him since he was a twenty-one-year-old happily in the arms of the handsome young doctor he had pined for since he was twelve. Many years later after the latest tragedy, who could mend Nathan’s heart? If not a handsome young doctor, would an ER nurse do? After a chance meeting with Mateo, a lot of Nathan’s reminiscing is now devoted to how that encounter made him feel. Will he seize the day or continue wallowing in the past, having lunch with his best girlfriend from high school, and writing poetry?

 

Excerpt 

“Are you okay?” he asked in a slight Spanish accent. His questioning eyes moved directly to the stain on my T-shirt where the juicy tomato from my lunch had squirted. Looking like blood?

I became acutely aware of my attire: baggy sweats that may have had other stains, a baseball cap with a tattered rim, and faded crocs. He wore neat magenta scrubs that matched the color of his full shiny lips. His nametag said Mateo.

The scenario must have been embarrassingly clear to him. I had wandered off from one of the many senior facilities that dotted the landscape of the neighborhood. If I exaggerated the confusion that I, in fact, frequently felt, he might take my arm, walk me back to the facility, put me in a bath, gently wash my back, and tuck me into bed. The more I looked into his onyx eyes, the more I wanted him to do just that.

“I mean, you looked a little lost…and sad.”

“Don’t worry, Mateo.” His eyebrows separated and bounced at the sound of his name. Then he smiled and touched his nametag, realizing how I knew it. “I’m lost in a memory is all.” I chuckled. “I suppose I do fit a profile.”

“You’re okay, then?”

“Yep.”

“My bad. I didn’t mean to profile you. I have experience with that, and it’s no fun.”

I imagined that he was doubly profiled, first for the color of his skin and then a second time when people caught a hint of his accent. 

“No harm done. I appreciate your concern.”

“It’s kind of my job. Sometimes it is difficult to switch out of that mode when I leave work.” He lowered his eyes, making me realize I must have been staring intently. How could I have not? He was an amalgam of all the men I had been attracted to my entire life: Mediterranean, Black, Latino, shorter than me, rectangular solid frame, soulful eyes, thick hair. But with an added twist. A dusting of freckles graced his cheekbones and the bridge of his nose. 

In a thoughtful gesture, he stared at the sidewalk and raised his hand to his chin, rubbing his index finger over his left cheek, revealing another physical trait that rang my buzzer: little tufts of black hair between his major and minor knuckles, a tiny forest to let my tongue wander through. 

Thank God, he couldn’t read my thoughts. Or could he?

“I should let you get on your way,” he mumbled, still not looking at me. He stared at the smashed apricots on the ground with, I imagined, quite a different take than mine.

I wasn’t ready to let him go just yet. 

“Do you work in one of these facilities I might have escaped from?”

“Now, look, I didn’t mean…” He took a step back in what appeared to be a desire to flee.

“I’m teasing. I haven’t seen you around the neighborhood.”

He tapped his nametag and twisted his neck to look at it. “Kaiser. It says right here. Kaiser Permanente.”

“I have trouble reading fine print.” I let out a small laugh, but he didn’t join me. 

He took another step back. “Just moved here less than a year ago.”

I guessed he was mid-thirties, and with his Spanish accent and African features, maybe Puerto Rican? Cuban? I imagined he lived with a wife and multiple niños. They spent Saturdays having barbecues in the park and Sundays from dawn to dusk at church events. He looked far too sweet to be anything but a family man. Now I was profiling.

“From?” I asked.

He let out a protracted sigh, as if the conversation had gotten way more involved than he had intended. His forehead crinkled again, hesitating to give me an answer. 

“The city. Getting too crazy over there.” 

Then he raised his head and his eyes met mine with the twinkle of a forest elf. Perhaps he wasn’t annoyed with me after all. Perhaps I had been wrong about sizing him up, though my conclusion that he was a family man was much easier to handle. Yet, he wore no ring.

 

About the Author

Vincent Traughber Meis is a fiction writer, a world traveler, and a former ESL community college teacher. When he’s not traveling, he divides his time between writing and working in the garden. Most of the characters in his novels and short stories come from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum and are racially and ethnically diverse. He has published eight novels: Eddie’s Desert Rose, Tio Jorge, Down in Cuba, Deluge, Four Calling Burds and The Mayor of Oak Street, First Born Sons, and Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year. Tio Jorge, Down in Cuba, and Deluge have all won Rainbow Awards. The Mayor of Oak Street and First Born Sons have won Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards. His short stories have appeared in several collections both in print and online, and have reached finalist status in several short story contests. A collection of short stories, Far from Home, was published in October 2021. He lives with his husband in San Leandro, California and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

 

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Crushed Ice by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Crushed Ice

Author: Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Release Date: February 6, 2023

Genre: Contemporary MM Sports Romance

Tropes: Friends to lovers, teammates to lovers, rookie/veteran, age gap, workaholic/slacker

Themes:  Coming of age, learning to accept and ask for help, self-acceptance, independence, pressure on professional athletes, injury, romantic comedy

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 99 844 words/ 302 pages

This is a part of the Hockey Ever After series, but all the books in the series can be read as standalones. 

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

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Defensemen can score too.

 

Blurb

When Liam Belanger gets a professional tryout with the Miami Caimans, he’s hoping to land a roster spot that’ll keep him from bussing tables. If he can make the team and score a tryout in bed with Russ Lyons, the veteran defenseman who’s appointed himself Liam’s mentor, that would be the icing on the sweet hockey cake.

Living life by a strict set of rules has worked out well for Russ. He has a great career, great friends, and a great family, even if they do keep setting him up with hometown honey traps. But he can’t stop time, and now, despite all his planning, he’s looking at his last year with the Caimans before the uncertainty of free agency. Maybe that’s why he finds sunny, free-spirited Liam so attractive. 

He’s still not going to sleep with his rookie.

Probably.

Liam starts the season in the minors, but it’s not long before he gets a shot at the Big Show. His year is shaping up to be a dream come true—even before Russ picks up on Liam’s passes and proves defensemen can score too. 

 

Excerpt 

The last time they ran through the set play, Yeti dumped Liam on his ass. Baller and Jonesy hooted with laughter as Liam’s gloves and stick went yard-saling over the ice.

Typical way to welcome a new defenseman. Russ snowed to a stop next to his temporary partner. “How you doing down there?”

Liam muttered a handful of French-Canadian expletives. He reached up with a bare hand and Russ hauled him to a sitting position. “I feel like I got hit by a truck.”

“Yeti’ll do that to you. You good?”

Liam shook his head. “I’m good.” He got to his feet. “Jesus. How much does he weigh?”

“Significantly more when he’s moving that fast.” Russ clapped Liam’s shoulder as they skated off to let the next groups practice. They were done for now, so he had time to give Liam a little more feedback. “That’s something you’ll have to get used to.”

“What?” Liam pulled himself up on the half boards.

“Checking.” When Liam looked at him, Russ elaborated, “You flinch.”

Liam’s mouth dropped open. “I do not!”

“Twenty bucks says the video review shows otherwise.” Russ had seen it before with guys who came up through the college system, which focused on speed over hits, since they wanted their players to keep their brains unscrambled long enough to graduate. “It’s fine. You’re not the first. You’re going to have to work on it, though.”

“Not a lot of guys in college are Yeti-sized.” Liam’s mouth twisted into a wry smile, but he seemed genuinely upset, like the root of the problem bothered him.

Russ snorted. “Not a lot of guys in the NHL are either. Or outside of it.” Yeti was six foot nine and built like a linebacker. “Are you trying to bulk up for the season?”

“Was that a hint?” Liam grabbed his water bottle from the bench and waggled it. The joker was still there, but Russ was pretty sure he meant the question. “Think I should fill one of these with Ensure or something?”

God. “That’s one way to make sure no one ever steals your drink.”

“Seriously, though.” Liam put the bottle down. There was a smudge of blue at the corner of his mouth. “Do you think I’m too skinny?”

Russ must’ve given him a look that broadcast his thoughts, because Liam rolled his eyes and amended, still more than half serious, “For hockey. I’m not asking you to compliment my figure. I know I’m hot.”

“I think you’re a kid.” At that age Russ could’ve eaten his body weight in M&M’s and barely gained a pound. “Putting on weight at your age when you burn calories like we do isn’t easy. But you could work with the trainers on some exercises that’ll help you stay upright when someone his size hits you. Or when you hit them.”

Liam made a sad noise. “I always used to think those videos were funny. You know, tiny forward tries to check an absolute monster like Mikhail Kipriyanov, then ends up on his ass.”

“You’re going to be one of those videos,” Russ assured him. Maybe he shouldn’t inflate the kid’s hopes, but if he did his time in the AHL, he’d make it. It wouldn’t take long.

Liam straightened his shoulders like that was a great compliment. “I’m going to be one of those videos.” He shook his head and more of his usual humor returned. “I’m not even tiny. Just tiny compared to him.” He looked sideways at Russ and his voice dropped and took on a suggestive tone. “And you. You’re big. What do you eat?”

Russ glanced over and found Liam watching him with trouble written all over his face.

Surely he couldn’t be serious. He didn’t even know Russ was gay.

Which meant he was being a little shit. Russ shouldn’t encourage him, but he couldn’t let him get away with thinking he had the last word either. “Anything within range.”

This kid’s sass was going to cost him so much money if he officially joined the team. He hopped off the boards again and leaned close enough to put himself directly into Russ’s space. “Sounds like you have a pretty healthy appetite.”

Good grief. Russ had to laugh, because there was no way Liam was trying to pick him up with a game that bad. “Do these lines really work for you?”

Undaunted, Liam grinned and cocked his hip so his ass stuck out. “Don’t usually need ’em.”

Between Liam’s body, the slight dimple in his cheek, and the unruly curls, Russ could see why, but he wasn’t going to pump his tires. “Well, kid, welcome to the Big Show. Get used to putting in another level of effort.”

Then he skated off to the next drill before Liam could decide he should start putting in that effort now.

 

 

About the Authors

Ashlyn Kane likes to think she can do it all, but her follow-through often proves her undoing. Her house is as full of half-finished projects as her writing folder. With the help of her ADHD meds, she gets by.

An early reader and talker, Ashlyn has always had a flair for language and storytelling. As an eight-year-old, she attended her first writers’ workshop. As a teenager, she won an amateur poetry competition. As an adult, she received a starred review in Publishers Weekly for her novel Fake Dating the Prince. There were quite a few years in the middle there, but who’s counting?

Her hobbies include DIY home decor, container gardening (no pulling weeds), music, and spending time with her enormous chocolate lapdog. She is the fortunate wife of a wonderful man, the daughter of two sets of great parents, and the proud older sister/sister-in-law of the world’s biggest nerds.

Morgan James is a clueless (older) millennial who’s still trying to figure out what they’ll be when they grow up and enjoying the journey to get there. Now, with a couple of degrees, a few stints in Europe, and more than one false start to a career, they eagerly wait to see what’s next. James started writing fiction before they could spell and wrote their first (unpublished) novel in middle school. They haven’t stopped writing since. Geek, artist, archer, and fanatic, Morgan tends to pass their free hours with in imaginary worlds and people on pages and screens—it’s an addiction. As is their love of coffee and tea. They live in Canada with their massive collection of unread books, where they are the personal servant of too many four-legged creatures.

 

Author Links

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Bad at Being Good by A.L. Morrow #giveaway

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Bad at Being Good

Author: A.L. Morrow

Publisher: SourGirl Books

Cover Artist: Morningstar Ashley Designs

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M romance, new adult

Tropes: brother’s best friend, friends to lovers, first love, bad boy

Themes: coping with grief, forgiveness, hurt/comfort, found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames  

Length:  73 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Available on Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, B&N, and Smashwords

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No one is good all of the time. Especially me.

 

Blurb

Six years ago, I promised my friend Kellan that I’d never mess around with his little brother. I accepted it. I didn’t regret it, and I didn’t think twice about it. Milo Sterling—the good student, perfect son, and promising dancer—was off limits.

But that was before.

Before we went away to college. Before Kellan died. Before I flunked out of school.

Now, I’m back home, and Milo’s different. He’s quieter and colder, no longer a boy but a man. And that hurt in his eyes? I put it there the night I failed to save Kellan. I have a lot to make up for. Falling for Milo, no matter how much I want him, would be one more thing to add to my list.

But promises are meant to be broken, and if there’s one thing I’m bad at, it’s being good.

Bad at Being Good is a best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend (dual POV) M/M romance featuring hurt/comfort, found family, coping with grief, and—of course—a happily ever after. Readers are advised to check the Author’s Note for content sensitivities.

 

Excerpt 

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

I ignore the next person who tries to talk to me, exactly like I did the last. Dad’s eyes bore into me. When there’s a break in the people approaching, he steps closer and leans over my shoulder.

“Milo, stand up,” he scolds. “These people are here to support us. Snubbing them is rude.”

Mom comes between us immediately. She places her hand on Dad’s arm, but her gaze is warm when it turns toward me. “David, leave him alone. He’s going through enough right now. He shouldn’t have to worry about other people, too.”

At least Mom gets it.

Dad frowns but stands straight again. Sighing, he looks out across the church.

Then, he scowls.

“I can’t believe that piece of shit showed up.”

I glance over my shoulder in the direction of his stare, and I see him.

“Benji?” I whisper.

Our eyes lock, and I can barely breathe.

He came. I texted him the other night to make sure he knew about the arrangements, but he never replied. Still, he’s here, standing way in the back where people light votive candles. His hands are shoved in his pockets. He’s dressed in black. And although he’ll always be my idea of gorgeous, right now he looks like hell. Gauze is stuffed up his nostrils, and a bandage covers his nose. His bottom lip is split, and he’s got stitches by his hairline and bruises on his cheeks. My dad really did a number on him.

“How did he even find out about the service?” Dad grumbles.

Because I told him. I knew you wouldn’t, so I did.

“David, let it go. He was Kellan’s best friend. He has every right to be here.” Mom hooks her arm through Dad’s and takes his hand, holding him back before we have a repeat performance of their fight in the ER.

But she doesn’t stop me.

I’m on my feet, making my way to the back of the church before the next note on the organ plays. Unfortunately, Benji moves just as quickly. He beelines toward the door, knowing he’s been spotted.

“Benji, wait!” I call.

Dad’s voice echoes behind me. “Milo, get back here. They’re about to start. Milo!”

Fuck that. Kellan would want Benji to feel welcome. He’d want him to know he doesn’t blame him for what happened. He’d want him to be all right.

And you know what? I want that, too.

I move faster, jogging down the aisle, taking off after him, but he has too much of a head start. The door to the church swings open. He almost knocks over one of Kellan’s former coaches, but he doesn’t excuse himself or stop.

“Benji!”

I know he can hear me. I know he saw me. If only he would hold still for a second and give me a chance to explain, to apologize for my dad …

I follow him through the front door and make it down the front steps of the church in time to watch his Range Rover pull out of the parking lot.

“Benji …”

No, he can’t go. He can’t leave me here. I have too much to say.

He needs to know it’s not his fault.

He needs to know I love him—that I’m in love with him.

But he’s gone.

 

 

About the Author 

USA Today bestselling author A.L. Morrow enjoys dreaming up steamy scenes and spectacular settings—often along with a touch of magic or myth. She believes that love is love and likes reading and writing various genres of romance.

In her downtime (what’s that?), A finds delight in scouring for secondhand designer fashions. She briefly lived in a haunted mansion, once took a flight to visit Scotland for a day, and is prone to meeting minor celebrities in random hotel elevators. She resides in the eastern US.

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The Bastard Prince of Versailles: A Novel Inspired by True Events by Will Bashor

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: The Bastard Prince of Versailles: A Novel Inspired by True Events

Author:  Will Bashor

Publisher: Diderot Press

Cover Artist: Will Bashor

Release Date:  September 6, 2023

Genre: Historical gay fiction

Tropes: Forbidden love, friends to lovers, coming of age

Themes: Love, war, redemption 

Heat Rating: 2 flames    

Length:  95 000 words/ 330 pages

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

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 In The Bastard Prince of Versailles, a factually based historical novel, a disowned gay prince struggles to redeem himself through heroism and self-sacrifice at war in 17th century France. 

 

Blurb 

Author Will Bashor portrays the intrigues of the 17th-century French court with fantastic detail and a passion for atmosphere, filling every page with rivalries, betrayals, and political maneuvering. The character of Louis is sensitively drawn, and readers witness his struggles with identity, love, and the demands of royal life. The Chevalier de Lorraine’s manipulation and the gay society subplot add depth to the narrative, highlighting the complexities of sexual identity and society’s prejudices of the time. As Louis is exiled and later given a chance at redemption through military service, the novel delves into themes of heroism and self-sacrifice with some deeply compelling emotional scenes that tug at the heartstrings and help us relate to human beings from centuries ago on a modern personal level. Overall, The Bastard Prince of Versailles is a compelling historical novel that not only entertains but also educates about a lesser-known aspect of French history, and I would not hesitate to recommend it. 5 Stars.

Readers’ Favorite – K.C. Finn

 

 

Excerpt 

PROLOGUE

Château of Versailles, October 1682

The gathering of nobles and courtiers in the marble-tiled courtyard gasped when fifteen-year-old Count Louis of Vermandois collapsed after the final blow of the whip, his body dangling from the ladder’s frame. King Louis XIV, his expression grim, raised his hand to end the spectacle and motioned for his son’s lifeless body to be carried away.

Hours later, in a dungeon cell reeking of rat urine and pipe smoke, Count Louis woke up on a cot with vermin-infested straw prickling his bare stomach. Despite the sounds of vicious dogs growling and drunken jailers cursing in the corridors, his mind wandered back to his idyllic youth, trying to understand how he ever ended up in a dank, dark prison cell.

 

CHAPTER ONE: The Dance of Faeries

Château of Sceaux, January 1674

In a peaceful country château, far from the constant intrigue of infidelity and adultery that tarnished the Palace of Versailles, lived a young prince who, despite all that he’d ever been told, was not a true prince. Even though his father, King Louis XIV, had named him Louis de Bourbon and ennobled him under the titles of Count of Vermandois and Admiral of France, he was still not a true prince. Not yet.

From his chambers on the second floor, seven-year-old Louis gazed out of one of his two large windows encased with leaded panes and carved wood, overlooking an imposing courtyard. The enchanted château and its seven pavilions were linked by ornate galleries with gardens, a basin showered with waterfalls, and a grand canal flanked with trellises of greenery. The view always offered Louis a sense of harmony and serenity.

But today was different. His foxlike, deep brown chestnut eyes were wider than usual as he waited anxiously at the window for the first of the royal coaches to appear. His mother, Duchess de La Vallière, and the king rarely visited but were expected to pay a visit to Sceaux on this twenty-eighth day of January. Even though the king had legitimized him and his sister, Mademoiselle Marie-Anne de Blois, at an early age, recognizing them as his natural children, Louis never understood why they didn’t live at Versailles. Still, he dreamt of one day living at the fairy-tale palace and maybe even inheriting the crown. What he was too young to understand, however, was that a decree of legitimization only ensured him a certain number of limited rights.

Louis’ foster family, the Colberts, also chose this visit for a special event—his breeching. Like most princes before the age of seven, Louis had grown up in the company of women, and as such, court tradition required him to wear a girl’s gown. Until today. Today, the valets in his chambers were meticulously laying out his crisply pressed chemise with ruffles, embroidered breeches, and silk stockings in preparation for his rite de passage.

When Madame Colbert entered Louis’ room to check on their progress, Louis, after wiping the foggy window with his sleeve, looked up at her with an innocent smile. He knew there was something in his brown eyes that could melt any woman’s heart. He’d often admired himself in the mirror and his eyes offered him a sense of solitude. Or was it loneliness? With his parents living at Versailles, and the beautiful and graceful eight-year-old Marie-Anne caring little for her younger brother at Sceaux, he often felt quite alone.

Madame Colbert ran her fingers through Louis’ hair. In the window’s reflection, he noticed how his hair spilled down his neck like ink on a tilted piece of parchment. The subtle rays of light reflected an indigo blue on his curly locks, contrasting with the moonbeam paleness of his face. He remembered courtiers who’d visited Sceaux and found themselves speechless when searching for words to describe him, often deferring to “pretty” or “lovely.”

“Stop wriggling, Count Louis,” said Madame Colbert. “Remember, you have royal blood running through your veins.”

Still, he thought, Madame Colbert never really treated him any differently than her other three sons. Her youngest, the impetuous Jules-Armand, was only four years older than Louis and, unlike his older brothers, still lived at Sceaux. Jules-Armand often invited Louis to play with him and his friends, but Louis had nothing in common with Jules-Armand. Instead, he preferred playing on his own in his chambers, shying away from the rough-and-tumble diversions in the courtyard. Because Jules-Armand’s bedroom was just across the hallway from his, he could sneak into Louis’ bedroom at night to play games. Or at least Louis thought they were games.

 

 About the Author 

From Columbus, Ohio, Will earned his Ph.D. from the American Graduate School of Paris, where, in his spare time, he read memoirs and researched the lives of royals and their courtiers. He hopes to share his fascination with the Bourbon dynasty and its quirky inhabitants and, at the same time, weave the historical record with creative fiction. He has written articles for the Huffington Post, Age of Revolutions, BBC History Magazine, and Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book.

 

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Wayward Stripper by JB Buell

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Wayward Stripper 

Author: JB Buell 

Publisher: JMS Books 

Release Date: August 19, 2023 

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, Omegaverse 

Tropes: Omegaverse, Male Strippers, Alpha/Alpha, Friends to Lovers, Meet Cute

Themes: Finding love, Strippers, Trans Man, Trans Character

Heat Rating: 5 flames  

Length: 25 659 words 

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. It’s Happy Ending. 

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

JMS Books  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

 

Jake is a stripper on the run 

Blurb

Jake is a stripper on the run, in need of a new job. He happens to find one in New York City, at a club called The Apollo Lounge. That’s where he meets another stripper named Tristan who’s tall and gorgeous, and also a really nice guy.

They hit it off almost immediately, but Jake is unsure about starting something new. He’s had it rough and is wary about opening up, but maybe with Tristan his luck has finally changed.

 

Excerpt 

Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

“This place looks great,” he said, and he meant that. “I hope it works out for me. I’d love to dance here.”

“Great!” Tristan looked thrilled. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. Shall we get you started? I just need to go through the dancing rules with you, and the extras, and then you’re all set. You want a table dance demo, or are you good?”

Jake made a little noise of surprise, unable to hold it back. A demo? Really? He was about to get a dance from this hunk?

“Sure,” he said, adding, “A demo would be great.”

“Okay.” Tristan got his phone out and started some music, something slow and sexy, setting it on the table. “So, pretend you’re a customer,” Tristan said, getting to his feet. “I’m your dancer, and you’ll have to use your imagination that I’m in my underwear.”

Jake suppressed a smile. “Right.” He opened his legs to give Tristan room to stand close, one leg either side of his knee. Tristan started by holding onto the back of his chair and caging Jake in with his thick, muscled arms. He leaned in just enough that Jake caught a hint of his alpha scent.

“So a table dance for downstairs is one full song,” Tristan said, all casual as he began dancing, slowly undulating his body to the beat. “Depends on the length, of course.”

“Mm-hmm,” Jake replied, eyes glued to Tristan’s slim hips. He was watching for technique and style, yes, but he couldn’t help notice how great Tristan was at dancing, too. Clearly he knew what he was doing, and he had a fantastic body.

“No touching in the downstairs lounge,” Tristan went on, dipping his crotch low and almost rubbing it over Jake’s thigh, just shy of touching. “Tease as much as you want, but it’s a no contact dance.”

Jake nodded. “And in this room?”

Tristan caught his eye with a grin. “Well, up here it’s kinda do whatever you want, short of full sex. It’s up to the dancer how far you wanna go. In the private booths, that is.”

“Not out here on the floor?” Jake joked.

Tristan laughed lightly. “No, just mild touching out here. There’s one camera on the main floor here for the stage area, but none in the booths. If the customers want any scenting or necking, it has to be in the booths because it can get messy real quick.”

“Sure,” Jake agreed. “Sounds reasonable.”

Tristan smiled at him as he leaned in closer, tilting his head so his nose was between Jake’s neck and shoulder, and Jake had the same access to Tristan’s neck. He couldn’t help inhaling, just a little. Tristan smelled good: a strong and clean alpha scent. Just the sort of enticing smell Jake would expect from a young, fit alpha who looked after his body.

“Your hair smells good,” Tristan said, then pulled back to grin in amusement. “That wasn’t part of the dance, sorry.”

Jake smiled. “It’s the conditioner. But thanks.”

“So, where was I,” Tristan joked with a laugh. “Alright, so, obviously do a lot of scenting in the dance, the omegas really like that.”

Jake liked it too, but he kept quiet and nodded along.

“They wanna feel like you’re super into them,” Tristan went on, “like you wanna claim them and mate. That’s the impression you need to give off. Sometimes I grab the back of their chairs like this…” He demonstrated by gripping the chair’s back and shaking it a little, tensing his arms so the muscles bunched as he leaned in and looked Jake in the eye.

Jake was starting to feel aroused himself at the display of alpha manliness. Like he wouldn’t mind so much if Tristan threw him down for real and played a bit rough. Jake would be into it for sure.

He couldn’t afford to get a crush, though. Not with a colleague. Jake made himself nod politely, treating this as business, nothing more.

“Thanks,” he said, when Tristan got off his lap. “That seems straightforward enough.”

“If you got any questions tonight,” Tristan said, giving Jake a friendly smile, “just ask me. I’ll be on the floor and I’ll help out with whatever you need.”

He was just too sweet, Jake thought.

 

 

About the Author 

J.B. Buell is a non-binary writer (they/them) of m/m romance and gay rom com stories. They are a cat person, and can’t decide if they’re more of a coffee or tea person but is quite happy to drink both.

 

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |   Twitter

 

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The Game by Beth Bolden #giveaway

RELEASE BLITZ

 

Book Title: The Game (Charleston Condors Book 2)

Author and Publisher: Beth Bolden

Cover Artist: The Book Brander Boutique

Release Date: August 9, 2023

Genre: Contemporary MM sports romance

Tropes: friends to lovers, unrequited long-time crush, Vegas wedding

Heat Rating: 4 flames  

Length: 100 000 words

It is book number two in a spinoff series. 

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

 

Micah Rose arrives in Charleston, ready to finally get his man and The Game is on.

 

Blurb

Micah Rose is ready for a clean slate. He might’ve messed up his rookie year with the Miami Piranhas, but being traded to the Condors is the best way to put all that behind him.

 The Condors are rebuilding, too. New owner. New coach. New players. New rules.

 But one rule hasn’t changed: don’t marry your ex-best friend in Vegas.

Beckett West isn’t looking forward to seeing Micah again. Back in college, they shared not only a ride-or-die friendship, but a ton of unresolved sexual tension.

That was before Micah pushed him away.

Still, Beck’s never forgotten their last drunken night together. Not only did they finally confess their feelings, they both promised if the day ever came when they played on the same team again, they wouldn’t waste the chance to be together.

But Beck didn’t expect that day to ever be this day.

He certainly didn’t expect to wake up in bed with Micah’s ring on his finger.

Or that he’d never want to take it off.

But it turns out the only man for him is the one man he could never forget. The one man he’s always wanted to make his.

 

Excerpt

“There you go.” Scott sounded smug. “So you’re gonna let yourself have this. You’ve made amends. You’ve apologized to Beck. You’re gonna be his friend.”

“Yeah.”

What if I want to be more than just his friend?

But Micah didn’t say it. He probably didn’t need to, the way Scott kept hinting that there might be something more between them.

“Listen, you’re a good friend, so just be that guy I know who’s under those ridiculous suits, and you’re gonna be just fine.”

“My suits aren’t ridiculous.”

They were extra not ridiculous, especially after he’d worn his new camel plaid suit the other day, on the way to Toronto, and he’d been far too aware of Beck’s eyes skimming over him when they’d been boarding the plane.

He looked good, he knew he looked good, and it had felt satisfying that Beck had been forced to acknowledge just how good.

Especially when he was still so caught on how Beck looked.

“Son, they’re ridiculous, but it’s alright. It’s your thing. I’m just glad you’re expressing yourself now.”

Scott didn’t have to say it bluntly because Micah already knew what he really meant: you’re not too afraid to express yourself anymore.

“Thanks.”

“So you’re gonna fix things, huh?” Scott continued.

“I apologized, yeah. And he said he wanted to be friends again.”

“What’re you gonna do about that?”

“Geez, Dad, ask an easier question,” Micah retorted.

Scott laughed. “And here Asa thinks our only kid is Beau.”

“You’ve got an entire team of kids,” Micah pointed out.

“Plus one more.” Scott’s voice was warm.

And while Micah had known he wouldn’t lose Scott’s friendship—or Asa’s respect—when he left Miami, it felt good to hear it, too.

Clearing his throat, Micah tried to change the subject. “What do you mean, what am I gonna do about it? We’re friends.”

“Friends spend time with each other, Micah. You gonna invite him over? Meet him out for a drink? How about what you’re gonna tell him? He’s going to want to know why you left Miami.”

“I don’t know. Some of those, I guess.” Micah could admit he hadn’t thought that far. He’d been pretty stuck on just getting the apology out—and hoping Beck listened to it.

“You should tell him.” Scott’s voice was knowing.

“About what happened with Sebastian? Hell no.”

He knew how he’d feel if Beck told him about some guy he’d been attracted to. Because it had happened more than once, and Micah had hated it every single time, even though he’d refused to do anything about it.

“You can’t just talk to me, no matter how much it warms my heart to know you don’t think I’m some old, washed-up, uncool dude,” Scott teased.

“Fine, fine, I’ll talk to him about some of it.” Not about Sebastian, and why we didn’t get along. That’s way too far.

“Invite him over for a beer,” Scott suggested, “and then when he’s there, get close on the couch—”

“Enough!” Micah yelped. He stood and started pacing. How had being just friends with Beck been so easy before and now felt impossible? “You’re supposed to be helping me be his friend.”

“Come on, Rose, we both know that’s not what you really want.”

“It’s all I’m gonna get.”

“It’s all you’re gonna get if you don’t make it clear you’re crazy about him.”

“Maybe I’m not.” He knew how stubborn he sounded.

Scott scoffed. “Don’t lie to me. Especially not when it’s so freaking obvious. You’re absolutely head over heels for that guy. Don’t do either of you the disservice of pretending otherwise.”

“He probably doesn’t—”

But Micah didn’t get the rest of it out.

“You’re never gonna know if you don’t say anything. But, that said,” Scott said with a chuckle, “maybe try to be friends for a little while first. Get used to each other again.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“You keep calling me that like I’m gonna hate it, and so far, not so much,” Scott teased.

 

 

About the Author 

A lifelong Pacific Northwester, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She has published over forty novels and novellas.

Author Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |   BookBub

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Giveaway 

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Tattered Allegiance: MM Fantasy Romance: A Luminia Novel by Lee Colgin

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Tattered Allegiance: MM Fantasy Romance: A Luminia Novel 

Author and Publisher: Lee Colgin

Cover Artist:  RJ Creatives

Release Date:  July 27, 2023

Genre: MM Fantasy Romance

Tropes: friends to lovers, found family, only one hayloft

Themes: standing up for your loved ones

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length:  50 000 words/ 190 pages

It is a standalone story and also book 1 in new series. It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links  – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

 

A pure blood faerie and a human/faerie halfling grow from boyhood sweethearts to spicy fated mates destined to stand up for the underdogs who need them.

 

Blurb

Turmoil is brewing in the southern lands. Hushed voices whisper of war. When humans revolt against Fae authority, which perilous path will a young mixling choose?

Rahz

I love Jindal with all my heart, but he’s full fae and I’m only a mixling. He doesn’t grasp how much harder life is for me. As the chasm yawns between us, I’m afraid we’ll lose everything we’ve built.

Jindal

Rahz is my world, and whether he believes it or not, I’d do anything for him. Even when we struggle, my fealty is true. And so is my love. I refuse to let anything tear us apart.

Danger arrives in a royal carriage, gilded with jewels and trailing colorful silks. A loathsome pledge. A demanded oath. A cursed registry.

Can Rahz and Jindal weather the oncoming storm, or will a tattered allegiance break their vows and shatter their hearts?

***

Tattered Allegiance is the first book in Lee Colgin’s new Luminia Series. Surrender to an enchanting tale of friends-to-lovers romance. Immerse yourself in Rahz and Jindal’s fantasy world full of apricot pastries, mischievous bullies, young crushes, mysterious gatekeeping bogeymen, and lots of spicy times in the hayloft. A steamy MM paranormal love story in which being queer is normal and accepted, being a bully is uncalled for, and being childhood sweethearts is one in a million!

 

Excerpt

“What is it?” Rahz asks. His hazel eyes glitter with concern.

I sniffle. “Nothing.”

“It’s definitely not nothing.”He lets go of my hand and wipes the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. Then he slings an arm around me, drawing me in. “Don’t be afraid. We’re safe here together.”

Warmth floods my chest. I stare at his mouth. We’re so close. If I leaned in, just a little, I could—

Rahz kisses me, bridging the gap between us and pressing our lips together gently. A quick peck. There and gone. In that second, my entire world rearranges itself.

My body alights with a tingling rush of sensation that curls my toes and flutters my wings. I lick my lips to taste him there and nearly moan at the sensation.

His cheeks are pink, and he’s turning away.

No, no, no.

I grab his face and bring it back to mine. This time, when we kiss, the touch lingers. Soft and warm. Our mouths pressed together, parting slightly to fit even closer. I breathe through my nose so I don’t have to pull away. Tasting sweet apricots and sugar, I’m swooning, floating, even though my wings lay folded on my back.

I don’t know what to do—this is my first kiss, er, well, second if I count that little peck he just gave me—I only know I never want this moment to end.

Rahz’s hands are hot on my waist. Mine cup his nape under the silky-soft weight of his silver hair. I chase him as he pulls away, and both of us grin.

“Feel better?” he asks shyly, his cheeks still pink as fresh peaches.

Whatever upset me is a distant memory that pales compared to his lovely, shining lips. “Mm-hmm.” I dart in to kiss him again, but he stops me with a hand braced on my sternum.

“Jindal, slow down.”

I search his face and find no answer. “Why?”

Rahz stands. He’s so much bigger than me. I want to climb him and cling like a sloth, press my nose into his hair, and breathe him in. My best friend. My crush. My Rahz.

But the vulnerable look to his expression concerns me. Maybe he doesn’t feel the same way I feel after all. My heart sinks. Was that kiss only to make me feel better? Is there no deeper meaning?

I wring my hands in my lap, stewing over my next words carefully. “Sorry I tried to maul you.”

A slow smile lifts his lips and shoos away my undue worry. “It’s not that. I liked that.”

 

About the Author 

Lee Colgin has loved vampires since she read Dracula on a hot, sunny beach at 13 years old. She lives in North Carolina with lots of dogs and her husband. No, he’s not a vampire, but she loves him anyway. Lee likes to workout so she can eat the maximum amount of cookies with her pizza. Ask her how much she can bench press.

 

Social Media Links

Blog/Website   |  Facebook Group  |  Twitter

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Giveaway 

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4 ebooks and a $10 Amazon gift card, total value, $50

 

 

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Food Truck Warriors Box Set Part Two by Beth Bolden

NEW RELEASE

 

Book Title: Food Truck Warriors Box Set Part Two

Author: Beth Bolden

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood Designs

Release Date: July 26, 2023

Genre: Contemporary MM romance

Tropes: bodyguard/protector romance, friends to lovers, roommates to lovers, bad boy romance

Themes: found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 242 858  words

It is part two of a two-part box set. It includes books 4, 5, and 6.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |   Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

 

 

Blurb

Welcome to the Food Truck Warriors, a Los Angeles-based, queer-friendly food truck lot. You’ll experience delicious food, even more delectable men, and the most mouthwatering spice of all, unexpected and undeniable romance.

Full Speed Ahead: Ash’s past is full of secrets, and to his frustration, someone’s not only discovered them, but is determined to reveal them to the whole food truck lot. Ex-military bodyguard Lennox is totally addicted to both Ash’s food and the man, so how can he say no when Ash needs his protection?

Wheels Down: Ross doesn’t like needing help but he can’t pretend anymore that he doesn’t. His food truck is struggling, he’s overworked, and there’s no relief in sight until Shaw, the local bartender, offers him a place to stay, then his friendship, and finally, so much more.

Ride or Die: Ren is used to being desired. He knows what men are looking for from him, and he enjoys them right back, whenever he gets the urge. But what he doesn’t want is a relationship—until Seth starts hanging around the food truck lot, and refuses to agree to Ren’s offer of a no strings night together. Seth wants more, and is willing to risk everything to get it.

 

 

BOX SET PART ONE ALSO AVAILABLE

 

Book Title: Food Truck Warriors Box Set Part One

Author and Publisher:  Beth Bolden

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood Designs

Release Date: July 19, 2023

Genre: Contemporary MM romance

Tropes: boss/employee, fake boyfriend, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, bisexual awakening

Themes: found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 280 861 words

It is part one of a two-part box set. It includes books 1, 1.5, 2, and 3.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |   Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

 

 

Blurb

Welcome to the Food Truck Warriors, a Los Angeles-based, queer-friendly food truck lot. You’ll experience delicious food, even more delectable men, and the most mouth-watering spice of all, unexpected and undeniable romance.

Drive Me Crazy: the toughest part of Lucas’ new job isn’t the long, hot hours he’s working to make fish tacos in such a tiny space, it’s his new boss. Who just happens to be totally irresistible.

Kiss & Tell: Jackson, bar owner and professed workaholic, is ready to let loose this New Year’s Eve, and the only person he wants to kiss at midnight is Greek food truck owner Alexis. But what happens when he discovers he wants more than just a single, soul-scorching kiss?

Hit the Brakes: Tate’s tried for years to get over his high school crush on football player Chase, but he’s struck out every single time. But when Chase shows up at his food truck, ready to help save it from closure, and offers to be his fake boyfriend in the bargain, how can Tate say no?

On a Roll: What happens when two food truck owners name their truck the exact same thing? Sparks fly when Gabe and Sean meet but grow hotter still when they try to convince each other to back down and change their name. Maybe there’s a way they can both win this game.

 

 

About the Author 

A lifelong Pacific Northwester, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She has published over forty novels and novellas.

Author Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |   BookBub

Instagram  |  Newsletter Sign-up

 

Giveaway 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $10 Amazon gift card.

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Food Truck Warriors Box Set Part One – Beth Bolden

NEW RELEASE

 

Book Title: Food Truck Warriors Box Set Part One

Author and Publisher:  Beth Bolden

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood Designs

Release Date: July 19, 2023

Genre: Contemporary MM romance

Tropes: boss/employee, fake boyfriend, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, bisexual awakening

Themes: found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 280 861 words

It is part one of a two-part box set. It includes books 1, 1.5, 2, and 3.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |   Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

 

 

Blurb

Welcome to the Food Truck Warriors, a Los Angeles-based, queer-friendly food truck lot. You’ll experience delicious food, even more delectable men, and the most mouth-watering spice of all, unexpected and undeniable romance.

Drive Me Crazy: the toughest part of Lucas’ new job isn’t the long, hot hours he’s working to make fish tacos in such a tiny space, it’s his new boss. Who just happens to be totally irresistible.

Kiss & Tell: Jackson, bar owner and professed workaholic, is ready to let loose this New Year’s Eve, and the only person he wants to kiss at midnight is Greek food truck owner Alexis. But what happens when he discovers he wants more than just a single, soul-scorching kiss?

Hit the Brakes: Tate’s tried for years to get over his high school crush on football player Chase, but he’s struck out every single time. But when Chase shows up at his food truck, ready to help save it from closure, and offers to be his fake boyfriend in the bargain, how can Tate say no?

On a Roll: What happens when two food truck owners name their truck the exact same thing? Sparks fly when Gabe and Sean meet but grow hotter still when they try to convince each other to back down and change their name. Maybe there’s a way they can both win this game.

 

 

Excerpt

From Book 1 in the Food Truck Warriors series, Drive Me Crazy:

 “Hey,” Tony said, leaning over the counter where Lucas was putting the final touches on a few plates of fish tacos. “Hey, I just thought of something.”

“Hmmm?” Lucas gave the tacos a final sprinkle of chopped cilantro and slid them onto the window ledge. “Fish tacos for Marcy!”

“How are we going to stake out the truck?” Tony said softly. He was clearly trying to keep their investigation from Jeremy, which Lucas was happy about. Maybe he didn’t think Jeremy was the problem, but it made sense to keep quiet about it.

“I don’t know,” Lucas said, sliding another serving of battered fish into the fryer for the next order. Fish tacos were a big hit tonight. “We stake it out?”

“How?” Tony hissed.

“What do you mean how?” Lucas asked. Tony was kind of weird, except it was in this endearing way that Lucas didn’t think he’d tolerate in someone who had shittier hair or was slightly shorter or even worse, had less natural charm.

“Like, I drive a motorcycle,” Tony said. “How are we supposed to stake out the truck on a motorcycle?”

Lucas glanced up. He didn’t know if he loved or hated the frisson of heat that sparked through him when he thought of riding with Tony, plastered to his back, the engine roaring between their thighs. “I have my car,” he said.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had a car,” Tony said.

“What do you think I do? Skateboard around town?” Lucas retorted. “Of course I have a fucking car.”

“Okay,” Tony said. “What about snacks?”

“Snacks?”

“Snacks and binoculars,” Tony said. “We need both of those things for a stakeout.”

Lucas actually didn’t know what they needed—he hadn’t thought this through any further than suggesting it. “Do you own a pair of binoculars?” he asked.

Tony appeared to be trying to figure out if he did. “Uh, no?” he finally admitted. “Do you think they’re a requirement?”

We’re not going to be catching anyone; only spending several hours pressed up together in my tiny-ass car, a situation which I am already regretting. “No,” Lucas said. Because the chance of anyone trying to break into the truck was so slim that getting a pair of binoculars just for this seemed silly.

“I think we can just look really hard, you know,” Tony said. “But the snacks, those are non-negotiable.”

“I have some of my energy bars,” Lucas said. “Is that snack-like enough for you, Mr. Stakeout?”

“I think so,” Tony said, nodding enthusiastically. “I’ve been wanting to try them.”

“Spin class and now energy bars. Give it a few more weeks, and you’re going to actually be . . .” Lucas gave a faux shocked gasp. “Healthy.”

Tony smacked him on the back as he turned towards the window and an approaching customer. It wasn’t quite low enough to be anywhere near his ass, but Lucas felt the sting, and wanted, even as he tried to push the temptation so far out of reach that it’d stop bothering him with everything he couldn’t have. Because even as he acknowledged that he shouldn’t have Tony, he slid further down the slippery slope of rationalization.

Maybe they were just fucking inevitable.

 

COMING SOON – AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

 

Book Title: Food Truck Warriors Box Set Part Two

Author: Beth Bolden

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood Designs

Release Date: July 26, 2023

Genre: Contemporary MM romance

Tropes: bodyguard/protector romance, friends to lovers, roommates to lovers, bad boy romance

Themes: found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 242 858  words

It is part two of a two-part box set. It includes books 4, 5, and 6.

Goodreads

Pre-Order Link 

 

 

Blurb

Welcome to the Food Truck Warriors, a Los Angeles-based, queer-friendly food truck lot. You’ll experience delicious food, even more delectable men, and the most mouthwatering spice of all, unexpected and undeniable romance.

Full Speed Ahead: Ash’s past is full of secrets, and to his frustration, someone’s not only discovered them, but is determined to reveal them to the whole food truck lot. Ex-military bodyguard Lennox is totally addicted to both Ash’s food and the man, so how can he say no when Ash needs his protection?

Wheels Down: Ross doesn’t like needing help but he can’t pretend anymore that he doesn’t. His food truck is struggling, he’s overworked, and there’s no relief in sight until Shaw, the local bartender, offers him a place to stay, then his friendship, and finally, so much more.

Ride or Die: Ren is used to being desired. He knows what men are looking for from him, and he enjoys them right back, whenever he gets the urge. But what he doesn’t want is a relationship—until Seth starts hanging around the food truck lot, and refuses to agree to Ren’s offer of a no strings night together. Seth wants more, and is willing to risk everything to get it.

 

About the Author 

A lifelong Pacific Northwester, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She has published over forty novels and novellas.

Author Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |   BookBub

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Giveaway 

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New Release and Series Tour – Love on Page Six by Claerie Kavanaugh

NEW RELEASE and SERIES TOUR

 

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Love on Page Six (Entertaining Love, book 2)

Author: Claerie Kavanaugh 

Cover Artist: Cath Grace Designs 

Release Date: June 26, 2023

Genres: Sapphic Contemporary Romance 

Tropes: actor /performer, Celebrity/Socialite/Model, Hollywood, movie set, Friends to Lovers

Themes: Against All Odds, Character w/ Disability, Coming Out, Femme / Femme

Interracial / Multicultural Relationship, Slow Burn

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 60 000 words/ 240 pages

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Amazon US   |  Amazon UK

 

An actress with a secret, a journalist with a dream, and forbidden love that could change everything.

 

Blurb
Desperate to save her family’s dying magazine, love is the last thing on 26-year-old Daphne Fernandez’s mind when she agrees to go undercover as a makeup artist to scoop a juicy story on the city’s most popular telenovela star. But a spur-of-the-moment kiss makes it more complicated. A cheating boyfriend might not be Bombshell Bridget’s only secret.

Bridget Blake has only ever wanted one thing in her life: to be herself. But her overbearing momanger insists showing the world who she really is would mean the death of her blossoming career. So when the new makeup artist fights her way under Bridget’s perfectly moisturized, paparazzi-proof skin, it’s everything she can do to keep the façade in place. Until one spontaneous kiss turns her world upside down. With Daphne, Bridget is the brave, fun-loving, take-no-prisoners girl she’s always wanted to be. But embracing her new self may mean leaving behind everything she’s ever worked for. Is love really worth it?

Book two in the standalone sapphic celebrity romance series Entertaining Love.

 

Excerpt 

The Meet Cute 

A movement catches my attention as I hesitantly reach for a shimmering eyeshadow palette young woman with black curly hair and gold-rimmed glasses browses the store with ease. Her hands expertly select items from the shelves as she navigates the space in her manual wheelchair. 

She looks up a second later, and her brown eyes meet mine with a flicker of recognition. She freezes, pursing her lips before finally rolling towards me with a warm smile.

“Hi there.” Her voice is soft and melodic with a hint of a Hispanic accent.. “Welcome to the Mystic Beauty. I couldn’t help but notice you look a bit lost. Can I help you find something?”

I adopt an affected Southern drawl. The last thing I need is for my stupidity about something as simple as make-up to be splattered all over the tabloids. “I, um, I’m just looking for some makeup…” Well, duh. I mentally facepalm myself. Why else would I be here? I pluck one from a nearby display and hold it up with an exaggerated flourish. “Clearly, I’m a bit lost.” 

“Of course!” she replies, wheeling next to me and holding out her free hand. “I’m Daphne.”

“Nice to meet you, Daphne,” I say. “I’m… Sarah.”

“Sarah” is the first name that comes to mind, and I hope it’s generic enough not to invite suspicion. Daphne’s hand is warm and steady as she shakes mine, and I can’t help but be grateful for her genuine kindness.

“Alright, Sarah,” she says, releasing my hand and gesturing toward a display of eyeshadow palettes. “Let’s find you something that suits your style.”

As we navigate the aisles, Daphne explains different products and techniques easily. After a few minutes, I no longer feel like an idiot for asking one too many questions I should definitely already know the answer to after so many years in the film industry. But rather someone just trying to take the time to learn a new trade. The longer we wander through the aisles, the more. I find myself becoming intrigued by this mysterious woman who clearly has a passion for her craft.

“Can I ask about your makeup?” I ask, admiring the delicate lines of gold and silver that frame her brown eyes. “It’s stunning.”

“Thank you,” A blush colors her cheeks and I bite back a smile of my own. She’s cute when she’s flustered. “I’m an aspiring special effects makeup artist. I love playing with different styles and trying new things.”

“Wow,” I exhale softly. “That’s really amazing.” It’s not just her skill that impresses me, but the genuine joy in her expression. Just saying the word seems to light up the room, and I can’t help craving more of it from her. As we continue our conversation, I slowly lower my sunglasses, allowing Daphne to see my green eyes.

“By the way, if you ever need any help or advice in the future, feel free to reach out to me,” She hands me a small business card with her contact information. “You seem like someone who could use a friend.”

I take the card with a grateful smile.

“I may just have to take you up on that.” I wink, and we share a laugh. My heart skips a bit, and my chest as a blush pinkens her cheeks.

“Great!” Daphne smiles warmly as she expertly navigates her wheelchair down the aisles, pointing out more products and explaining their uses. I listen intently, absorbing every word like a sponge. “Primer is important for long-lasting makeup,” she explains, handing me a small tube to examine. “And don’t forget about setting powder!”

“Good to know,” I muse, turning the tub between my fingers. “You know my makeup artist was recently fired,” I confess quietly, glancing around and relieved to find out the store is mostly empty. “It’s been really frustrating trying to find someone new who understands my style.”

Daphne’s features soften with sympathy. “I’m sorry to hear that. What kind of look were you going for?”

I hesitate, dipping my head down and running my hands along my arms. “I’m… honestly not sure. I don’t know as much about makeup as I probably should.” 

Her eyes light up, and she squeezes my hand. That’s OK. We can figure it out together. I actually have some ideas if you’re interested.”

“Really?” My heart flutters with anticipation. “I would love that.”

As we continue to explore the store, Daphne’s passion and creativity spark my own. I can’t help but feel drawn to her, her talent and kindness shining through with every word. The longer we talk, the more amazed I am that this woman barely knows me has already offered me more understanding and support than most people in my life.

“Thank you, Daphne,” I murmur, briefly taking her hand in mine. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“Of course.” As we stand between shelves of sparkling eyeshadows and vibrant lipsticks, I watch Daphne’s deft fingers pluck an iridescent shade from its perch. The glittering powder dusts her fingertips as she swipes it gently across my hand, creating a shimmering arc of color. “This would look amazing on you,” she says, grinning. “It’ll bring out the green in your eyes.”

“Wow, that’s beautiful,” I breathe, captivated by the way the light dances across the tiny flecks of pigment. “Do you really think I could pull it off?”

Daphne smiles bashfully and flicks her hand through the air. I’m sure you could pull anything off.” She laughs, and I can’t help but feel a flutter in my chest. The way her eyes crinkle at the corners and her lips curve into a smile… it’s all so enticing. 

For the rest of the afternoon, Daphne guides me through the store, picking out different shades and colors for me to try on. 

Daphne’s face lights up as we pause by a display of elaborate prosthetics. “I love special effects makeup,” she confesses as she gently fingers one of the masks. “It’s such a powerful way to transform someone and tell a story.”

“Really? Did you study it?”

Daphne nods, but her smile dims. “I did, but finding work has been difficult, especially because of my disability. Some people just can’t see past the wheelchair.”

A pulse of anger flares through me, but I stamp it down. This woman is a stranger. I remind myself. Still, I hate how judgmental people can be. “I’m sorry, Daphne. That’s so unfair.” 

“Thank you.” Her brown eyes meet mine and my throat dries up. “But I won’t let it stop me. I know what I’m capable of, and someday, the right opportunity will come along.”

Her determination and resilience never cease to amaze me. Nodding I plant my hands on my hips. “I know it will.” Suddenly, an idea takes root in my mind. A bold, daring idea that could change both our lives. “Daphne,” I begin, my voice wavering with nerves. “I have a proposition for you.”

She tips her head to the side and I grin. 

“Would you consider being my personal makeup artist?” The words tumble out before I can second-guess myself. “I know it’s not special effects, but I think together, we could create something amazing.”

The faint scent of lavender fills my nostrils as I watch Daphne’s eyes dart back and forth. Her fingers tap the armrest of her wheelchair, betraying her uncertainty.

“I… I don’t know, Bridget,” she hedges, looking down at her lap. “I’m so honored, but… I can’t I just started down at the warehouse and I can’t just abandon my crew.”

Oh. My heart sinks. “Of course. But if you change your mind…”

“Gracias.” Daphne smiles weakly, the gold rims of her glasses catching the store’s fluorescent lights. 

“De nada,” I murmur softly, warmth blossoming in my chest. 

“Now, let’s get back to finding the perfect makeup for you, shall we?”

The corners of her mouth lift into a genuine smile, and I watch as her hands deftly select products, her fingers moving with practiced ease despite the tremors that sometimes betray her. Her passion for her craft is evident in every gesture, and it only strengthens my belief that she’s the perfect person for the job.

“Thank you, Daphne, “I say as she bags up all my purchases a few minutes later. 

She smiles, and my pulse speeds up again. “You’re welcome, Sarah. I’m just glad I could help.” She folds the last of my purchases into the bag and hands it over to me with a nod.

Daphne’s cheeks flame scarlet as I scrawl my number on her hand. “Here,” I say, trying not to let my embarrassment show. “If you ever change your mind, feel free to call or text any time.”

Her gaze flits between the numbers and me. Finally, she gives a small nod and murmurs her thanks. As I back away, feeling oddly proud of myself for taking such a risk, Daphne watches me go with an intensity that leaves me slightly breathless.

 

CHECK OUT THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Book Title: Love Among the Stars (Entertaining Love, Book 1)

Author: Claerie Kavanaugh 

Publisher: Half Caff Press 

Cover Artist: Cath Grace Designs 

Release Date: March 19, 2023 

Genre: Contemporary F/F Romance

Tropes:  Matchmaker, Celebrity 

Themes: Coming out

Heat Rating:  3 flames

Length: 40 000 words/ 250 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

 

Hollywood’s best matchmaker may have finally met her match.

 

Blurb 

Genevieve “Eve” Davis is Hollywood’s best, most sought-after matchmaker. Just about everyone in the City of Angels owes her for their happily ever afters. She’s been in the business for ten years and has never made a false move. The only person she hasn’t been able to hit with Cupid’s arrow? Herself.

Then Jemma, Hollywood’s most recent “it” girl, appears on her doorstep. But rather than having an extra bounce in her step, she looks like a dog just crapped all over her brand-new designer boots. The date Eve set up for her was anything but a fairy tale beginning. In fact, it was a downright disaster. The first bad review Eve has ever had. If she can’t fix this, her perfect reputation will be torn to shreds.

Even worse, the deeper she digs for that secret ingredient that will help her find Jemma’s perfect match, the harder she falls.

Book one in the standalone sapphic celebrity romance series ENTERTAINING LOVE

 

 

Love Beneath the Stars

A Matchmaker Wedding Novella

Book Title: Love Beneath the Stars: A Matchmaker Wedding Novella 

Author: Claerie Kavanaugh 

Publisher: Half Caff Press 

Cover Artist: Lauren Dombrowski

Release Date: April 26, 2023 

Genres: Contemporary F/F Romance

Tropes: Age gap, celebrity, matchmaker, wedding 

Themes: Coming out, forgiveness

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 30 000 words

It is a standalone story in the Entertaining Love series.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

 

They say love conquers all, but what if getting it means losing your family?

 

Blurb 

After years of searching, a job gone wrong finally led Hollywood’s most famous matchmaker Eve to her soulmate in up-and-coming starlet Jemma Mason. For a year, they had pictured their perfect destination Valentine’s Day wedding. But when Jemma’s family arrives from Montana, they quickly learn perfection is hard to come by.

Jemma’s conservative brother has always been distant, but when he meets his sister’s fiancée, who is seven years her senior, he worries she’s moving way too fast and refuses to come to the wedding, let alone keep his promise to walk her down the aisle. Can love really conquer all, or are there some wounds that simply run too deep to be buried?

Eve and Jemma’s Wedding Novella. Sequel to LOVE AMONG THE STARS in the standalone sapphic celebrity romance series ENTERTAINING LOVE. 

 

About the Author 

Claerie Kavanaugh has spent most of her life telling stories, but she never imagined herself writing romance. In fact, she used to think it should only be reserved for Hallmark movies. It wasn’t until college, when she discovered fanfiction, that she learned what romance was truly about: not just fluffy relationships and happily-ever-afters, but human connection, the desire to push one another to be better, and create hope that somewhere, somehow, everyone has someone.

When she’s not writing, she loves to travel and explore new cultures, helping other authors polish their works as a freelance editor, and singing while doing so. Broadway musicals are her soul-food, something her mother and sister know well. She constantly blasts the newest soundtrack through the halls of their Missouri home, much to the chagrin of her very sassy and spoiled cat.

 

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Newsletter Sign-up

 

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Take the Plunge by Colette Davison #kindleunlimited #giveaway

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Take the Plunge

Author and Publisher: Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Morningstar Ashley Designs

Release Date: June 22, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Forced proximity, best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend, friends to lovers, bisexual exploration

Themes: Learning to trust

Heat Rating:  3.5 – 4 flames

Length: 65 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

 

One weekend could lead to forever if Jett can take the plunge.

 

Blurb

Jett didn’t expect to spend the weekend trapped in a remote holiday house with his best friend’s brother. As they try to pass the time, Kian’s bright enthusiasm starts to break through Jett’s gruff defences. When Kian offers to help Jett explore his desires with no strings attached, everything changes.

Fooling around when your heart isn’t on the line is one thing, but when the weekend ends, neither man wants their casual arrangement to end. Past betrayal has made Jett wary of trusting anyone, but even though Kian’s patience seems to be never-ending, Jett knows it’s only a matter of time before ‘no strings’ turns into ‘goodbye’.

Can Jett look past his fear and make the man who’s claimed his heart his?

Take the Plunge is a standalone contemporary M/M romance where a jaded man with a permanent storm cloud over his head falls for a sunshiny optimist. There’s forced proximity, an interfering best friend, swoony moonlight swimming, bi-sexual exploration, and lots of first times.

 

Excerpt 

My head is fucking killing me. My mouth feels like it’s been stuffed full of mothballs. I’m lying on my right side, and that arm is numb. A click echoes through the house. Was that someone closing a door? I wipe my left hand over my face and open my eyes. It’s too dark to see anything.

What the fuck happened last night?

Something whines. Door hinges?

Oh, right. I’m at Rufus’s holiday home in the middle of nowhere. Okay, so it’s not actually his. The house belongs to his granddad, but Rufus is allowed to use it when his granddad isn’t here fishing. The front door hinges have needed oiling for as long as I’ve been coming up here with Rufus and his family.

When we were kids, his family invited me here for a week every summer. Rufus, his younger brother, Kian, and I would go wandering for hours, exploring the woods, chasing each other through meadows of long grass and flowers, and sitting by the lake with our legs dangling in the water. I have lots of good memories of this tiny corner of Scotland.

But reminiscing won’t solve the mystery of my aching head.

The door closes. It’s either the middle of the night or so early the sun hasn’t come up yet, so I’m unsure who’s going where.

I, Rufus, Kian, and some of our friends are here for a weekend of drinking and lazing around. Well, they can laze around. I have work to do as soon as I find some paracetamol and a gallon of water to shift this headache.

A car engine turns on. What the fuck? Tyres crunch over gravel, and then it gets quieter. I try to turn towards the window, but something pulls against my right wrist. Someone groans. I try to move my arm again. Clink. Rattle. Something hard but also soft circles my wrist. What. The. Actual. Fuck?

I twist and flail around, groping for a lamp or a light switch. My neck clicks, and my back aches with the effort. Another groan, a little louder than before. I skid my fingers over a piece of paper before finding a bedside lamp. I flick it on. A golden glow fills the room, and I shut my eyes against the harsh light.

Another groan. “Well, that’s bright.”

Hold up. I recognise that voice.

My right wrist is tugged to the side. Clink.

“Huh,” the voice says.

I rub my eyes and prie them open. I’m lying face-to-face with Kian. Our right hands lie on the pillow between us. Pink fur circles our wrists.

“Huh,” Kian repeats. He lifts his wrist, pulling mine with him. “This must be someone’s idea of a joke.” He kneads his forehead with his fingertips. “So this is what a hangover feels like. I don’t recommend it.”

“Too late.”

“That sucks for us both.” He yawns and closes his eyes.

“Who the fuck would do this?”

Kian shrugs. “Probably Rufus. He never matured past sixteen.”

I sit, dragging Kian upright with me. “Where’s the key?”

Kian tugs me down again. “We can look for it after we’ve slept off these hangovers. Rufus will have it.”

I grunt. “I don’t want to go back to sleep. I want to get these damn things off. What the fuck are they anyway?”

“Handcuffs.”

“I can see that.”

“Why’d you ask, then?”

“Why are they pink? And furry?”

 

About the Author

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

 

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook Page   |  Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

BookBub   |   Twitter  |   Goodreads  |  Instagram: @colettedavison

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Giveaway 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $10 Amazon Gift Card

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House Full of Twinks by Carter Carson

RECENT RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: House Full of Twinks

Author: Carter Carson

Publisher: USA Indie Press

Release Date: April 19, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, Erotica

Tropes: Friends to lovers

Themes: Twink lovers

Heat Rating:  5 flames  

Length: 76 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

 

Sometimes love leads to sex and sometimes sex leads to love.

 

Blurb

From the hottest new voice in gay erotica, Carter Carson.

Jon grew up in a small town in the foothills of South Carolina. He knew what he was at 14 years old, but also knew his small town and his mom would never accept the real Jon. His best friend in school was a girl who had a brother two years older that he thought was cute. But, the social structure of high school meant they rarely spoke to each other. That all changed one summer when Jon turned 20.

When his best friend’s brother, Jake, called home after moving to Myrtle Beach, she told him Jon was having trouble getting a job. Jon said he could get him on where he worked and offered to come get him. His sister didn’t know Jake worked at a nightclub in Myrtle Beach that was the hottest gay hangout with scantily clad go-go boys and that all the dancers lived in an enormous beach house with all expenses paid for by the owner of the club. Within days of moving in, Jon was in sensory overload in a house filled with hot guys. He would also begin to fall hard for his best friend’s brother and they would share some incredible nights. Would they last?

Here is Carter’s best book yet, filled with suspense, erotic scenes and more.

 

Excerpt

2 – Myrtle Beach, Here I Come

Considering I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I can’t believe how excited I was for Thursday to hurry up and get here. When it did, I was packed and ready to go. My mom wasn’t wild about the idea, especially since I wouldn’t tell her any details about the job I was getting. Plus, she knew who was coming to get me and worried I was just being told I was getting a good job so he could get in my pants.

Jake finally arrived about 3:30 in the afternoon. When I opened the door, it took me a minute to speak. I didn’t remember him being so damn cute. On top of that, he had a nice tan and had died his hair blonde. With his almost hypnotic blue eyes, he looked like somebody out of a twink porn movie. He was also in really good physical shape, a lot better than he was when he lived here. With the tight T-shirt he was wearing, I could see his six-pack and nice smooth chest.

After Jake spoke briefly to my mom, whom we both could tell wasn’t interested in talking to him much, we packed up his car. As we

were about to leave, my mom asked him, “You’re not taking Jon down there and get him into some drug thing that’s dangerous, are you?”

“No, ma’am,” Jake said. “I’d never do anything to put Jon in danger. He’s my sister’s best friend.”

My mom had no response. I went over and gave her a hug and told her I’d call when we got to Myrtle Beach. Within a minute, we were on the road for the three-hour drive. On the way down, he started telling me stories about what it was like in the beach house. He called it “a house full of twinks.”

I just hoped it was as great as he claimed. I don’t want to give too much away, but it was going to be even better than I could fantasize, at least for a while.

 

About the Author

Carter Carson lives in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he enjoys watching British crime dramas and writing about his fantasies.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website

 

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New Release – From the Universe to Me by Scott E. Garrison

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: From the Universe to Me

Author: Scott E. Garrison

Publisher: NineStar Press

Cover Artist: Jaycee DeLorenzo

Release Date: April 11, 2023

Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: friends to lovers, coming of age

Themes: age gap, college, family drama, in the closet, mental illness, new adult, teaching

Length: 59 500 words/220 pages

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Publisher  |   Amazon US   |  Amazon UK

  

Learning to accept himself is not the only lesson the universe has planned for him.

 

Blurb

Eighteen-year-old Tobias Gavin is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. For many years, the what-ifs of coming out have swirled around his head, so he has chosen to live a lie to keep from disrupting the “normal” life he has created with his family and friends.

That is until he meets Gareth David the day he enrolls for his first semester as a college student. He feels an immediate connection with Gareth…a connection that pushes Tobias to question the way he has been living his life. When Gareth coincidentally becomes Tobias’s History professor, Tobias is forced to confront his feelings and confront the universe.

Tobias must come to terms with his depression, anxiety, heartbreak, and his sexuality before he can even begin to heal his wounds. He believes that everything happens for a reason, but he learns that some experiences are meant to teach even if they cause heartbreak. Once he comes to terms with himself, he might find his knight in shining armor.

Tobias must learn to trust himself and those around him if he wants to find happiness.

 

Excerpt 

I’m startled out of my thoughts when I hear doors open, but to avoid any more agonizing contact with Anna, I don’t glance over until I hear the deep voice of a man talking to Anna.

I glimpse Anna out of the corner of my eye and notice her entire personality has changed. She appears more alive and filled with energy. She twirls her hair between her pointer and middle fingers, flirting with the man, which goes unnoticed by him. He is standing there exchanging pleasantries with her. When he turns to look in my direction, my heart literally skips a beat.

He is beautiful.

Wow. Drop-dead gorgeous isn’t even the best phrase to describe the man standing before me. The stylish brown hair rising in waves from the top of his head looks natural and void of any hair products, like he rolls out of bed looking like McDreamy from Grey’s Anatomy on a daily basis. His light brown skin and dark brown eyes shimmer, reminding me of silky, smooth milk chocolate. Everything with me always goes back to chocolate, which is why I can’t stop looking at him as he stands next to the receptionist’s desk talking to Anna.

He isn’t ridiculously muscular, but his biceps look statuesque underneath his tight plaid button-down shirt. Dark Levi’s accentuate every muscle and curve his lower body has to offer. My mind immediately drifts to what his legs would look like if he set them free with short shorts or even his underwear. What is wrong with me?

Without even moving, he exudes confidence I only wish I could have. My mediocre body isn’t nearly as memorable as the physique standing before me. Anyone would want to talk to him, to be near his gorgeous face…touch his toned body. This man hit the gene-pool lottery when whatever higher being or the masters of the universe made him.

“Hello… Hey…. Is somebody in there?” he asks, waving his hand near my face.

My eyes adjust to his waving hand, and I realize I have been staring at him with an open mouth, looking like a brainless buffoon.

“Uuhhhh…what?!” I say like a blubbering fool.

“I asked if you are here to meet with me,” he responds with the sweetest expression, ignoring my inability to carry a conversation, which makes my cheeks burn red.

“Hahaha… I wish.” I freeze… What the fuck did I say? Oh my god, I could die. I should run out the door and lay down in the street, praying someone will take pity on me and end my suffering. I’m positive I have turned as red as the couches I’m sitting on.

He chuckles and gives me a bright and warm grin, revealing his perfectly whitened teeth. He towers over me, holding out his hand. “My name is Gareth David. I’m Dr. Richard’s teaching assistant. Who are you?”

Suddenly, an overwhelming urge to jump into his arms and put my hand through his radiantly manicured hair skips jauntily through my mind. That is perfectly acceptable for people to do, right?

I grab his hand, applying enough pressure to give an adequate handshake, so I look less like a dope.

When our hands meet, a rush of warmth spreads throughout my entire body. He glances at our hands and back into my eyes, giving me that perfect grin again. I can’t help but wonder if he observed the same jolt of energy when our hands met. The way he is looking at me makes me feel something I can’t put my finger on, but I don’t want the erotic energy to end.

After gaining my composure, I respond, “My name is Tobias Gavin. I’m here to meet with Dr. Richards about setting up my schedule for the fall semester.”

An Adonis-like smile spreads across his face, and I melt again. “Are you a freshman? I haven’t seen you around or in any of my classes.”

I look at him confused. “Didn’t you say you’re her assistant?”

He chuckles. “Teaching assistant. However, I teach my own classes and cover her classes when she is away. I know it seems weird, but Dr. Richards has taught me well. Besides, I’m almost finished with my graduate degree. I turned in my thesis a few weeks ago.”

His voice exhibits pure kindness that sends warmth through by body, helping me relax.

“May I have my hand back?” He laughs.

Shit.

My body going tense again, I realize I’m still holding his hand. I hesitate for a millisecond—my body wanting our embrace to continue—before letting go of his hand.

“I’m so sorry. I was listening to you talk and forgot to let go.” Kill me. Someone, please hire a ninja assassin to come kill me now.

 

 

About the Author

Scott E. Garrison is a debut author, who wants to share new, queer stories with the world. He currently lives in the Oklahoma City, OK area.

Alongside writing, he has a Masters in Library and Information Studies and works as a Librarian for an Oklahoma-based library system. He spends his free time reading, baking, watching movies and TV shows with his husband, and cuddling with his dogs, Jarvis and F.R.I.D.A.Y.

 

Author Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook  |  Twitter 

Instagram  |  TikTok

 

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Serial Investigations Series Tour by Rhiannon D’Averc #giveaway

SERIAL INVESTIGATIONS SERIES TOUR AND NEW RELEASE

by

Rhiannon D’Averc

Book 12 is due to be released on April 16.

Series Description

If you’re a fan of extreme slow-burn friends to lovers romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty gay men, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Jump into the action from the very beginning with Bloodless, the first book in a series you won’t dare to put down.

 Genre: M/M Crime/thriller

Trope: Slow burn friends to lovers

The stories should be read in order. Each one ends on a cliffhanger.

The stories have been updated and re-released in January 2023.

Overall Heat Rating for the series: 4 flames     

Goodreads Series Link

Amazon Series Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

 

BOOK DETAILS 

BOOK 1

Book Title:  Bloodless 

Length: 73 000 words/ 250 pages

Themes: Identity struggle, murder, unrequited love, casual sex

Goodreads  |   Buy Links

 How do you solve a murder… 

… When you’re the prime suspect?

 

Blurb 

A body cut up into pieces and left in Highgate Wood. It sounds like the most exciting case that private detectives Ram and Will have had to deal with since leaving their FBI training and returning to the UK.

As each new body is piled up amongst the trees, the stakes get higher – and Serial Investigations London embraces their first real challenge.

But Ram’s rock star lifestyle – staying out all days of the week, drinking too much, and having hot gay sex with a different man every night – soon catches up with him when the police realise there’s just one link that connects the bodies.

And it’s him.

Will faces a battle around the clock to prevent his best friend from being put away for life – and while the two of them face their own demons, there’s a secret hanging over their heads that might just bring it all crashing down. And while he fights to keep it together, the one thing Will can’t bear to face is the fact that he wishes his best friend was something more.

If you’re a fan of extreme slow-burn friends to lovers romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty gay men, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Jump into the action from the very beginning with Bloodless, the first book in a series you won’t dare to put down.

 

BOOK 2

Book Title: Blood Evidence

Length: 64 000 words/ 259 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Goodreads  |   Buy Links

 A missing person’s case…

… A murder investigation?

 

Blurb 

Private detectives Ram and Will got their name in the news by catching a high-profile serial killer, and now they’re getting more clients. When they’re hired to find a missing person, all they’re worried about is having to spend a night away from home. They go to check his last known sighting in Kent, staying in a quaint country inn.

Little do they expect that Serial Investigations London are about to get thrust into a new murder investigation – one that happens right under their noses.

A confession seems to solve the case, but is it genuine? With suspicions running high, the duo still have to find time to sniff out the whereabouts of their client – and avoid getting arrested themselves.

Add Ram hitting the bottle harder than ever and Will fighting to stay in control, they might be about to lose more than just the case. And that’s all to come after they manage to get through the torturous temptation of spending a night in the same bed!

 

 

BOOK 3

Book Title: Blood Alcohol

Length: 64 500 words/ 241 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Themes: Coming out, murder, inner demons, virginity

Goodreads   |   Buy Links

A horrific torture case with a ticking clock.

All he can see is the bottle.

 

Blurb 

Private detectives Ram and Will thought they’d wrapped everything up when they found Ray Riley’s body in Sevenoaks. But it turns out that things aren’t what they seemed – and Riley may be the latest victim of a torture-happy murderous duo.

For the second time, Serial Investigations London are called in to assist as civilian consultants with DI Alex Heath’s team at the Met – but they have their own personal problems getting in the way of clear thinking.

Will has something to get off his chest, and it’s related to that kiss they shared – the one they both tried to forget. But Ram can’t stop drinking to push away the confusion, and this time he’s going to land himself in more trouble than ever before.

Can they get over their issues for long enough to stop another murder – or even keep themselves alive?

 

 

BOOK 4

Book Title: Blood Sucker

Length: 235 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Themes: Conflict, murder, trust and loyalty

Goodreads  |   Buy Links

 A dead body posted on social media.

A vampire stalking the streets of London?

 

Blurb 

Will and Ram’s private detective partnership seems to be unravelling. After they ended up having sex for Will’s first time, the attraction and tension between them is at an all-time high – and the unsolved Simon Shystone case is haunting them and their police contacts.

DI Alex Heath normally wants their help, but when a murderer posts images of his victim on social media, the chase is on to trace his digital footprint. With his superiors breathing down his neck, he might not be able to bring Serial Investigations London in on one of the biggest cases of their career.

They should be focusing on the artist who seems to have disappeared without a trace from his home studio. Could his latest commission have something to do with it? And will they be able to handle finding another client turned up dead?

Things are spiralling out of control for Will and Ram – and this time, they might not have each other to rely on.

If you’re a fan of extreme slow-burn friends to lovers romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty gay men, you’ll love Serial Investigations. The story continues with Blood Sucker, a devilish tale of a man who claims to be a myth – and a disappearing act as strong as any magic.

 

BOOK 5

Book Title:  Blood Sport 

Length: 219 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Themes: Murder, kidnap, vanquishing the big bad

 Goodreads   |  Buy Links

 A copycat killer who knows every detail.

A locked room with no escape.

 

Blurb 

Serial Investigations London is officially closed for business – with private detectives Will and Ram still not talking to one another after an explosive argument. Even when a copycat killer springs up, seemingly targeting only their own cases, they can’t see eye to eye.

Little wonder, given that they both have something more important on their minds. Someone knows about San Francisco – about the man who died on a rooftop at their feet. Who has discovered their deepest secret? And what will they do to keep it buried?

That’s when another mystery piles up on top of the rest: a traditional trope that every seasoned detective must face, the locked room. But this one has a deadly twist, and if they don’t come to terms with their differences and work together, one of them might not live to regret it.

Will and Ram face the most pressing and personal danger yet – but the question is, who’s behind it? And will they realise they’ve been set against one another before it’s too late? Or can they admit their love for one another and use it to become stronger than ever?

If you’re a fan of extreme slow-burn friends to lovers romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty gay men, you’ll love Serial Investigations. The story continues with Blood Sport, a nail-biting series of twists and turns that will have you questioning how they’ll ever survive.

 

BOOK 6

Book Title:  Blood Diamond

Length: 223 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Themes: Family relationships, shyness and outness

Goodreads  |   Buy Links

 Was it a thief…

… Or his family?

 

Blurb 

When a private client asks Ram and Will to track down a stolen yellow diamond, they quickly realise the suspects may be closer to home than he expects. Two adult children with serious issues, a jilted wife, and a young lover – and that’s just the beginning.

As what should be a straightforward case turns into a murder investigation, Serial Investigations London have to team up with their old friend Alex Heath – and an old enemy…

With Will in recovery and Ram staying on the wagon, everything seems to be looking up in their personal lives. They’ve even finally managed to admit their feelings for each other and turn casual sex into a real relationship, but that doesn’t mean the road ahead is without rocks. Will’s shyness around their relationship may just turn into the hurdle they fail at, with Ram feeling unwanted and pushed aside.

After an uncomfortable confrontation for Will, and with calls from their families becoming harder to ignore, the boys are going to need to work harder than ever to ignore their own issues if they want to get to the bottom of this crime – in which nothing is as straightforward as it seems.

If you’re a fan of hot gay romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty Londoners, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Start a new chapter with the boys in Blood Diamond, a mystery with a sharp and bloody twist.

 

BOOK 7

Book Title:  Blood Pressure

Length: 232 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Tropes: new relationship/closeted relationship, unwillingly outed

Themes: Family relationships, domestic abuse, claustrophobia/trauma, locked room murder mystery

Goodreads  |  Buy Links

A victim locked in a closet.

A detective trying to get out.

 

Blurb 

Ram has spotted his dream locked room mystery case on the news – and he’ll stop at nothing to get himself involved with it. The problem is, newly-minted DCI Alex Heath isn’t too happy about it – and neither is his successor as DI…

An invitation to go home and visit family should be a happy occasion, but for Will, it’s quite the opposite. Spiralling into doubt and fear about Ram outing him to his parents, Will risks pushing his boyfriend away entirely. And when he does go home, things aren’t going to be plain sailing. Will’s father is an ex-Ambassador, and he’s got many years of finding out secrets behind him.

As both are rocked by revelations about Will’s past and his present, Ram and Will have to contend with doubting policemen, ugly habits rearing their heads, and the struggle to trust one another. And there’s the question of how Harry got that black eye…

If you’re a fan of hot gay romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty Londoners, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Try to keep your cool in Blood Pressure, a mystery with lashings of anxiety and an ending that might just blow a family apart.

 

BOOK 8

Book Title:  Blood Sacrifice

Length: 209 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Themes: Trust, ritual murder, hidden identities, romantic vacation

Goodreads  |  Buy Links

A romantic trip to Paris…

… A dead body at a famous landmark.

Blurb 

A romantic trip to Paris for Ram’s birthday was never going to go smoothly. It should have been a week of sex and sightseeing, but fate has other plans. From the second he spots a police presence while exploring a monument and learns there’s been a murder, he’s chomping at the bit to get involved – and when he’s recognised by a fan, he gets his chance.

With Will sucked into the investigation as well, this should a chance for them to enjoy an international reputation and solve a case for the Paris police. But as more bodies appear and the case gets more complicated, their unfamiliar surroundings could turn around and bite them.

Locked out of their hotel, with their cash stolen and an unfriendly police force shutting them out, Ram and Will might just come up against their biggest opponent yet. Are they embroiled in a conspiracy that could overtake them entirely – or are the shadows in the corners of Notre-Dame really just shadows?

If you’re a fan of hot gay romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty Londoners, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Try to stay alive in Blood Sacrifice, a mystery set in the city of love – where red is now the colour of blood, not romance.

 

BOOK 9

Book Title:  Blood Magic

Length: 242 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Themes: Occult/psychic abilities, secret society, family relationships, trans struggles

Goodreads  |  Buy Links

A psychic prediction of death…

… That ends up coming true.

 

Blurb 

Ram and Will aren’t exactly believers in the occult. When a medium comes to them and claims to have heard rumours of death from the other side, they laugh her out of the door. But when her prediction comes true, they have to consider that something more serious might be going on here.

A missing person case turns out to be more complex than they could have imagined, and with the lines between life and death becoming blurred, they both have to confront their own feelings about what happened to them in Paris. The fears, the doubts, and the worry for Capitaine Varon haven’t gone away – and every hint of danger is enough to make Ram want to wrap Will in unwanted cotton wool. That doesn’t help when they’re sucked deep into the turmoil of national politics, and the seedy underbelly of big business.

With a trip home for Christmas impending, and the invitation to the mysterious Black Dragon still looming, Ram has a lot on his mind. But with Harry and Alex both having their own reasons for staying quiet, Will has to find a way to keep him steady on his own. What’s awaiting them will make them wonder – and rattle some of their core beliefs to their foundation.

If you’re a fan of hot gay romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty Londoners, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Search for the truth in Blood Magic, a tale of death and corruption that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

 

BOOK 10

Book Title:  Blood Trail

Length:  232 pages

Release Date: This edition January 2023

Themes: Gaslighting, serial killer, trust, red herrings

Goodreads  |   Buy Links

A cold case heating up…

… A secret coming out.

 

Blurb 

Ram and Will have a secret, and only three people in the world know it. The two of them, and JM Coil. So, with Ram seeing Coil – who must still be in prison – at every turn, and the FBI turning up to investigate a cold case, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before their secret is out.

The Thames Valley Stalker is Will’s pet serial killer, and now it seems like he might be active again – both at home and overseas. What should be a dream case turns into a nightmare as he realises his very involvement puts Serial Investigations London at risk of everything being found out at last.

Alex is still on bereavement leave, right when they need a friend at the Met the most. They’ll have to put up with assistance from a very unlikely source instead – someone who is supposed to be dead, turning up like a ghost on their doorstep. And with one more secret to try to keep from the FBI, it’s not long before Ram is eyeing the bottle again like it might be the answer to all of his problems.

The question is, can he stay on the wagon, keep his cool, and help solve the case? Or will the serial killer of the century finally be the undoing of the private detectives who have weathered every storm until now?

And what will happen when they take their suspicions into their own hands and confront their suspect in the flesh?

If you’re a fan of hot gay romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty Londoners, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Fight for justice in Blood Trail, a twisting tale of clues, suspects, fake deaths, and new leads that will have you reaching for the red string.

 

BOOK 11

Book Title:  Blood Work

Length: 240 pages

Genre/s: M/M Crime/thriller

Themes: Gaslighting, serial killer, trust, hidden domestic abuse, forced proximity

Goodreads  |  Buy Links

Two friends in danger…

… Two cases to solve.

 

Blurb 

Getting arrested on suspicion of killing the latest victim of the Thames Valley Stalker seemed like it might be a big deal. But that’s the least of Will and Ram’s worries when a bad week turns even worse.

Capitaine Varon saved their lives in Paris, and all they want is to do the same. But with the French policeman determined to get out of their tiny apartment, and the FBI now aware of his existence, it’s starting to feel impossible. Keeping him alive might be more than they can handle, with limited resources at their disposal and threats coming from every direction.

Harry’s excuses are starting to wear thin when he turns up covered in bruises yet again, and Will’s determined to find out who his elusive, controlling boyfriend really is. But when Harry pretends everything is fine, how can Will make him see he’s in danger? And will his warning come too late?

As if being pulled in two different directions wasn’t enough, the private detectives soon find themselves pulled in four. Running under all of their worries for their friends are two cases – one concerning the Thames Valley Stalker and one connected to the Black Dragon. Both of these cases are more than just jobs – they’re personal.

Can they save Varon and Harry before it’s too late? Can they catch the Thames Valley Stalker – or convince the FBI to do it – when the suspicion is falling on their own heads? Can they solve the murder of a prominent Black Dragon member without falling into a trap set by JM Coil himself?

And, most of all, can they handle all of this pressure without falling off the wagon?

If you’re a fan of hot gay romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty Londoners, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Race against time to get all the answers in Blood Work, a tension-driven tale that will leave you not knowing which way to turn.

 

BOOK 12

Book Title:  Blood Pumping

Length: 228 pages

Release Date: April 16, 2023

Tropes: sexy bet, shy power bottom

Themes: Lockdown, anxiety, alcoholism

Pre-Order/Buy Links

One hot bet…

… Three cases to lose.

 

Blurb 

Two months of lockdown, and already Ram and Will are tired to death of it all. The same four walls. Seeing the city, but not being able to go out into it. The only diversions available either tire Will out or leave Ram unsated.

The solution?

A hot bet from Will that convinces Ram to take on a new case – one that they have to solve remotely.

Then Alex calls with another one.

And then the FBI want to speak to them about Kit Anderson.

The tension is piling up, so Will surprises even himself when he gets hot enough under the collar to pull Ram into the bedroom and take control. But with Harry still locked down with his abusive boyfriend, a video meeting with Coil on the cards, and a lot of awkward questions from international law enforcement, it might just take everything Will can pull out of the bag to win that bet.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not going to try.

If you’re a fan of hot gay romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty Londoners, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Resist the urge to spiral in Blood Pumping, a lockdown mystery that will leave you poring over maps and going down rabbit holes.

 

Excerpt from Bloodless

Hiro stirs as I drag my jeans up over my thighs, and I groan inwardly. He’s awake. I wasn’t supposed to wake him. I was trying to get out of here clean.

“Where are you going?” he asks, a sleepy voice that would almost sound cute if you were into that kind of thing. 

“Home,” I tell him. I could lie or whatever, but I’m tired. This is why I usually just sneak out. I’m not good at coming up with believable excuses.

“It’s the middle of the night,” he says, sitting up slightly to squint at me.

“Night Tube,” I tell him with a shrug. Yes, thank fuck once again for the Night Tube.

“I’ve got something else you could ride,” he says, waggling his eyebrows. 

I stare at him for a minute, cocking my head.

“Alright,” he says, as if conceding a point. He ducks his head just a little, down onto his own arm. “I’ll ride you. I guess that’s the only way you like it.”

I’m about to leave, but I look at him there with his head dropped down, looking up at me through faux-shy eyelashes. He has that sleek, black hair that most Asians have, falling just into those eyes. In the dim light like this, he could be from somewhere else. China. Or Korea, even.

Not that that makes a difference.

But I find I’m palming myself lightly through my underwear instead of doing up my jeans, and the thought of fucking Hiro again before I leave does have a nice ring to it. “I don’t know,” I say anyway, wanting to tease him, wanting him to beg me for it. “I think I need a little more convincing.”

Hiro fixes me with a naughty look that I can make out even in the dimness of the room, his eyes practically sparkling. He doesn’t need asking twice. He practically springs up and towards me, landing on his knees in front of me.

“You don’t need these,” he says, nosing at my boxer briefs for a moment before using his teeth to pull them down. Once they’re far enough for my already hard dick to spring loose again, he stops and puts his mouth to better use, closing it over my head immediately.

I groan, throwing my head back to the ceiling. I grip onto his hair, silky under my fingers. He feels good – warm and wet, his tongue flicking over my head on each stroke like he’s some kind of fucking clarinet player. With my eyes closed and that hair in my hand I can almost believe he’s – 

Fuck. I should not be thinking about my straight roommate and best friend while getting off. For one thing, it’s pointless. And it’s not like I’m drowning in rejections over here. I can get any hole I fucking click my fingers at. 

“I want to fuck you,” I growl at Hiro, pulling him back from my dick by his hair. It leaves his mouth with a sucking pop, sending a shudder down my spine.

“Yes,” he murmurs, both an agreement and a cheer, and he climbs up on the bed in front of me on all fours. Ready. He reaches back to play with his own hole, moaning lightly, while I slip a new condom on. He’s still fucking open from last time. He probably gets a lot of good results from other guys playing the slut like that, but for me, it’s less of a turn-on. I get so much dick, I would kind of prefer it sometimes if someone actually made it a challenge for me.

I line myself up behind him and push forward, feeling how his ring sucks me inside. He groans long and low, the same way he did earlier. I’m close enough already and I don’t see much point in dragging this out. I do want to get home. I let go, pumping into him hard and fast for a few long moments before I feel my balls draw up. I come with a shout, pumping inside him for the last few bursts of pleasure, milking everything out of it. 

“Ohhh, yes,” Hiro says, pulling himself off me and turning to look, on his knees still. He’s still hard. I guess he didn’t come. Sort of sounds like his problem, not mine.

“Alright,” I say, tucking myself back into my jeans and continuing to dress. “Now I really have to go.”

“But, baby,” he pouts. He tugs himself a few times, keeping himself going. “We’re not done.”

“One ride and I’m going,” I remind him. “That was the deal.” I shrug my shirt on over my head and grab my leather jacket. “Sorry, mate.”

I don’t call him baby. For some reason, it makes my stomach turn. 

Maybe I just know that I would like myself even less if I pretended I really liked these men and got their hopes up that way. 

I sweep out of his home and back onto the road, heading for the Tube with the precision of a sniffer dog, well-trained at seeking them out. A cold walk and Tube ride home, and I might get a few hours sleep in my own bed. 

 

 

About the Author 

Rhiannon D’Averc is a romance, crime, and young adult fiction author based in the UK. She also writes true crime.

Trademarks of her work include dystopian fiction, LGTBQ+ themes, and explorations of the horror genre alongside experimental short story formulas, with a lick of wry humour.

She is available as a ghostwriter, for live readings, speaking engagements, and workshops on any and all topics to do with writing and publishing. As of January 2023, Rhiannon has had 85 books published under her own name and under others.

Rhiannon lives in East Sussex with her husband and son and is probably squirrelled away as you read this in her home office, hunched over a keyboard and trying to resist the temptation to stop working and start crafting.

  

Author Links

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Giveaway

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Starboard by Ava Olsen #kindleunlimited #giveaway

RECENT RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Starboard (Voyagers Book 2)

Author and Publisher: Ava Olsen

Cover Artist: Angela Haddon

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, collaborators to lovers, close proximity, second chances, bisexual rep

Themes: coming out – bisexual rep, second chances, redemption

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length: 262 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

 

Dylan Aylmer is a Hollywood actor struggling to make a comeback.

Falling in love with his ghostwriter wasn’t part of the script.

 

Blurb

Dylan: I’ve lived my adult life under the Hollywood spotlight, but no one really sees who I am. I’ve gone down the dark path of drinking my anxiety away, along with my career, but now I’m searching for the light again. My struggle to stay sober has me releasing long held secrets. 

 A contract to publish my autobiography means laying everything in the open. When I meet Max, my ghostwriter, I’m not sure how our collaboration is going to work. He’s a university professor from New York with more degrees than I can count and I’m a guy from West Texas that barely finished college. And he may be my ghostwriter, but Max is anything but invisible. 

 Intimate confessions lead to heightened emotions and an unexpected love that fills up all my empty places. I don’t know what the future holds, but I want Max to be a part of it. 

I’m done hiding in plain sight. It’s time for this star to finally shine. 

Max: I’m an established university professor and a celebrity ghostwriter. Why ghostwriting? Because it pays. And I need the money. My ex-husband likes to threaten me with legal battles over custody of our daughter and while he has family reserves, I don’t. 

 So I take a summer ghostwriting contract, a celebrity tell-all. I expect to meet another self-absorbed actor, but Dylan Aylmer doesn’t fit any pre-conceived mold. His eyes are so haunted that I can’t look away and now I’m curious to unlock all his secrets.

What I find is not only a man trying to mend his broken soul but a beautiful person that is so much more than outward appearances. I swore I’d never be vulnerable to heartache again, but Dylan has me breaking all my steadfast rules. 

 Am I chasing a shooting star, soon to be gone, or is our love the kind that shines forever?

 

Excerpt 

“My part in this book deal is supposed to be kept confidential. There’s a reason it’s called ghostwriting. I hope to hell that reporter didn’t get my photo.”

The worst-case scenarios ran through my mind, but I forced myself to remain calm. We arrived at the gate and after we provided our ID, we were escorted to a private waiting area. At least in this section, there were two security staff on standby. Neither of us were in the mood for small talk and sat quietly until Warren entered the room a few minutes later.

“I had security escort that guy out of the airport. It’s all under control.”

“Are you sure about that? Did he get any photos?” I asked, concerned that my anonymity was no more.

“He didn’t, Max. And we’ve done our best to ensure your name is kept out of the press. That’s part of the reason why you’re working on a yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean instead of downtown New York. But Dylan is still a celebrity, and he gets attention, and yes there is always the possibility of news leaking. You’ve done this kind of work before, so why the concern now?”

“Usually everything is done virtually.”

“The in-person request was my idea,” Dylan replied. “Mainly because of the timing with my film and for other privacy reasons.”

“I agreed to the contract. It’s just that I have a thirteen-year-old daughter.” I ran an agitated hand through my hair. “You see where I’m going with this.”

“I do, but again, there’s no reason to be worried,” Warren replied. “It was one reporter and he got nothing.”

“If my ex-husband sees my name or my daughter’s in the tabloid news, he’ll flip out.”

“Husband?” Dylan asked with a raised brow.

“Ex. Is there a problem?” I said, turning in my seat to face him. Dylan better not have any issue with my sexuality, or I would walk out of the airport right now, contract be damned. 

“Nope,” he shook his head and smirked at me. “Just nosy.”

I let out a surprised laugh, despite my growing anxiety. 

“An honest answer from someone in show biz.” I placed my hand on my chest. “I’m honored.” 

Dylan’s smirk faded as quick as it came, and I could sense the shift in his mood. “I can tell that you really don’t want to do this, and I won’t blame you if you want to back out. You have priorities you need to consider.” 

The look of resignation on Dylan’s face touched something in me. That was highly unusual. My ex often accused me of being unfeeling because I didn’t let my emotions get involved in certain decisions, and maybe he was right. I tended to be more rational and analytical. So why this man, a stranger, should spark my empathy was beyond my comprehension. 

“I’m going to hit the head before we board. Thanks for seeing us off, Warren.” Dylan shook his hand and walked away, leaving a vacuum of sorts. Like he’d taken all the oxygen along with him. 

Warren motioned to the exit. “Time for me to get going. And stop worrying, Max. Focus on the book. That’s the priority.” He paused and shook his head. “Look, I won’t bullshit you. There’ve been many times when I wanted to kick Dylan’s reckless butt to the curb. But he’s worked hard for a fresh start. He’s got a new movie role. And the book. I want to ensure both succeed, and Dylan along with it.”

“I’ll do my best,” I responded as Warren nodded and walked away.

Part of me wished I’d never have to work with Dylan, but the bigger part of me called me a liar. I didn’t even know the man and yet I was intensely curious about him, and that right there made the writer in me stand at attention. There was more to Dylan Aylmer than a model pretty face and a salacious past. 

It was those sad, hypnotic eyes. He’d cast a strange kind of spell on me, and I was determined to find out why.

 

 

About the Author 

Ava Olsen writes steamy and dreamy contemporary romances filled with heartwarming characters, cheeky banter and swoony moments. 

 

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Adjoining Rooms by Alex Winters

RECENT RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Adjoining Rooms

Author: Alex Winters

Publisher: JMS Books, LLC

Release Date: March 4, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Friends to lovers, Second chances, Unexpected reunion

Themes: compassion, comfort, safe landing

Heat Rating: 4 flames   

Length:  18 694 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

JMS Books  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

 

One knock could change their lives forever…

 

Blurb

Knox Townsend can hardly believe it when he walks into Playgroundz Café Store #57 to find his old high school crush, Trevor Channing, working the cash register. Once upon a time, the two had shared a smoldering, passionate, once in a lifetime kiss while their prom dates were passed out and… never spoke of it again. Suddenly, Knox is Trevor’s boss and back in tiny Seaside, Florida for the next week to convert his cold brew coffee machines to the upgraded model. But suddenly, the only thing Knox really wants to upgrade are his feelings for Trevor, long simmering but suddenly reignited. This time, Knox hopes, for good! 

Trevor hasn’t seen Knox in four years, ever since he left town right after graduation without so much as a backward glance, let alone anything as civil as a goodbye. Suddenly he is Trevor’s boss, in town for a whole week to oversee his franchise café’s equipment upgrades and staying at the same hotel where they’d shared their first, and only, kiss: the Seaside Inn. What Knox doesn’t know is that one of the front desk clerks is his regular customer at Playgroundz Café’ and, for a few free gift cards and extra soy whip on his daily latte, Trevor has just checked into the room next door to Knox’s. The room with the adjoining doors he plans to keep unlocked all week, just in case!

 

Excerpt 

Knox slid close, if only to breathe in Trevor’s vaguely innocent scent and feel the heat wafting from his lean, tempting body. “You know what I have in mind, tease.”

“Listen, let’s not rush things,” Trevor chuckled wryly, enjoying his time in the cat bird seat. “I mean, you’re here all week, right?”

They stood halfway between the sushi bar and the hotel lobby, Trevor’s Jeep—at least, Knox assumed it was his Jeep, owing to the half dozen Playgroundz Café stickers littering the bumper—the only car left in the otherwise empty parking lot. “Fine, sure, if you’re playing hard to get or whatever, I get it, but you’ve still had, like, three carafes of sake, so…why not stay the night and drive in tomorrow when you’re good and sober, you know?”

“Hmmm, tempting,” Trevor teased, digging his hands in the front pockets of his faded salmon cargo shorts while gently drifting from foot to foot in the empty parking lot. “Even if I’ve only had two carafes and I could probably, maybe, kinda drive tonight.”

“Why risk it, old pal?” Knox murmured, clutching a handful of Trevor’s casual sea foam T-shirt in his grip and tugging him toward the stairwell that led to his room on the second floor. “Besides, second chances, right?”

Trevor rolled his eyes even as he followed dutifully. “Good thing the old Seaside Inn still has two queen size beds in every room,” he muttered, still playing coy even as Knox found it harder and harder to walk with every step toward the possibility of another dreamy kiss with his first, and most powerful, boy crush.

“Jesus, Trev, when did you become such a prude?”

“Hmmmmm, not sure,” Trevor mused as he drifted up the steps a pace or two in front of Knox. “Maybe the day you left town without a second glance, let alone another word. Probably then, Knox, is when I became such a prude.”

Trevor stood on the second-floor landing, turning slightly to make room for Knox. They stood, face to face, nearly the same height, and Trevor’s full lips, glossy and thick, aglow beneath the dim light just above. “This feels weird, right?”

Knox snorted, dragging the old school hotel room keychain from his pocket, the key dangling from the vaguely Christmas tree shaped plastic that still had the room number printed under the faded Seaside Inn logo: 224. 

“Which part?” He drifted down the hallway toward his room, the air warm and soft on their skin as Knox slowly followed. “Me showing up in your café this morning? Me being your boss? Me being in town? Me drinking too much sake? Or, oh yeah, me staying in the same hotel where we first, you know…”

They were at his door now. Knox’s heart was pounding, his palms sweaty and hands trembling as he struggled to slither the key into the lock. It finally stumbled in, but they didn’t, the door only partly open as Knox felt Trevor still had more to say before finally coming inside.

“Kissed?” Trevor finished for him. “You can say it, you know? It happened, right? It wasn’t just a dream of mine?”

Knox nodded, voice soft and low to match his confessional gaze. “It happened, Trevor. I wanted it to happen. Wanted it to happen since that first time I saw you in homeroom.” He drifted closer, so close, on the empty walkway. Trevor was leaning back against the wrought iron railing across from the half-open door, as if waiting for something. Knox wasn’t sure what. Maybe even Trevor wasn’t sure what. Both of them, it seemed, were grasping at straws, cocky in ways neither of them truly felt, and shy in others. It felt like starting over, and Knox was as nervous as he’d ever been.

“Phew, okay, because…we never talked about it, you know?”

“I’m tired of talking about it,” Knox grunted, inching closer as he put a hand on either side of Trevor’s along the weathered upstairs railing. 

Trevor swallowed. Hard. And loud. Loud enough for Knox to hear. “Me too,” he squeaked, involuntarily licking his lips. “So, what are we gonna do about it?”

Knox leaned gently in, winked and gave Trevor a soft, smooth, aborted kiss. With another wink he stepped back and reached for the doorknob. “Come inside, Trev, and find out.”

 

About the Author

Alex Winters is the pseudonym of a busy restaurant manager whose curious young staff would love nothing more than to follow him around the dining room reading his steamiest, most romantic passages aloud! When not writing romantic holiday stories of various heat levels, he enjoys long walks with his wife, scary movies and smooth jazz. Visit him at www.awintersromance.com to see what stories are brewing up next!

 

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Camboy (My Kinky Housemate Book 6) by Colette Davison

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Book Title: Camboy (My Kinky Housemate Book 6)

Author and Publisher: Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Covers by Jo

Release Date:  March 10, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: MMMM, friends to lovers, age-gap, found family, kink

 Length: 107 000 words

Heat Rating:  4.5 flames

It can be read as a standalone, but works better as part of the series. It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Book 1, Sugar Bunny, will be on sale at 99c/99p on a Kindle Countdown deal until the 15th March.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Having a foursome is a dream come true, but navigating a relationship is more challenging.

 

Blurb

Being a camboy is great, but I’m bored of performing solo. I’ve invited myself to be adult film star Lyric Steele’s co-star for the day, and I’m taking my partner-in-crime and soon-to-be-housemate, Rubin, along as my chaperone.

 It doesn’t take long to realise I’m attracted to Lyric. And to his flatmate, Toby, a talented director with a firm hand. And to Rubin, who I’ve been flirting with forever. A steamy night proves the four of us have chemistry, but taking our relationship out of the bedroom won’t be easy. 

 Lyric and Toby have their hands full with my bratty ways, and Rubin’s no angel either. Will good communication be enough to turn sexy fun into something strong and lasting?

Camboy is an MMMM friends-to-lovers, steamy, age-gap romance with two Doms, two bratty subs and found family. It’s the sixth and final book in the My Kinky Housemate series. While it can be read as a standalone, it’s better to read it as part of the series.

 

Excerpt 

I take my turn. “Have you ever had sex in public? Not unless you count sucking off that jock in empty classrooms.”

Rubin frowns. “Haven’t you had sex in the stacks at The Library?”

“No.” I smile stiffly. “But I’d like to. I also want to do it somewhere more risqué.” I smirk. “Like sucking someone off in a restaurant or having a quickie in a lift on the way to the top floor of a tall building.”

“I told you he had at least twenty sexual fantasies.” Rubin pulls me to him and kisses my hair. “And I know I’ll enjoy listening to all of them.”

I wave my hand. “At least twenty. I could list them all right now if you wanted me to.” I run my finger over my bottom lip. “They might turn you on, but that’s okay, isn’t it?”

Lyric shudders. “We’re playing a game.”

I let out a dramatic sigh and then knock the Jenga tower over.

“Why did you do that?”

“Game over. Oh no. Maybe we should fuck instead.”

“He did it because he’s a brat,” Toby says. His voice is firm, but there’s an underlying hint of amusement ruining the effect.

“A brat who wants to be fucked. Or spanked. Or allowed to suck off one or all of my men.” I flutter my lashes. “I’m not fussy.”

Lyric laughs. “I’m sure you’re not.”

I return to Rubin, put my hand on his nape, and stare into his eyes. “Kiss me?”

He obliges, devouring my mouth. I moan and whimper around his tongue and rub my chest against his. Eventually, we have to break to breathe.

I flutter my lashes at Toby and Lyric. “Please, Sirs, can we watch you fuck?”

They glance at each other, eyes sparkling.

Toby rubs his thighs. “They did ask nicely.” His earlier hesitance seems to be gone. Thankfully.

“All right,” Lyric says. “On one condition.”

Rubin and I stare at him expectantly.

“You’re not allowed to touch yourselves or each other.”

“What?” Rubin asks.

Lyric smiles. “You heard. You’re not allowed to touch yourselves or each other.”

“We’re not even allowed to kiss?” I ask, horrified.

His smile morphs into a grin. “Nope.”

“That’s…torture.”

“I know. Take it or leave it.”

 

About the Author

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

 

Social Media Links

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Light My Way Home: A Treasure Trail Novella by Morgan Brice #giveaway

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Book Title: Light My Way Home: A Treasure Trail Novella

Author: Morgan Brice

Publisher:  Darkwind Press

Cover Artist: Adrijus Guscia

Release Date: January 25, 2023

Genres: Paranormal MM romance, urban fantasy

Tropes: Hurt/comfort, second chance, age gap, friends-to-lovers, misunderstood ghost, lonely lighthouse keeper

Themes: Working up the courage to love, getting over old betrayals, fighting the odds to stay together, forbidden love (medium and ghost)

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 22 000 words/ 74 pages

It is a standalone book and is the prequel to the series.

It does not end on a cliffhanger

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

 

A love strong enough to transcend death.

 

Blurb 

A shy lighthouse keeper who can talk to ghosts. A lonely ghost mourning the losses of the past and hoping for justice. A love strong enough to transcend death.

Monty Clark is the new park ranger for the Cape May Light. He hoped to find someone to love who can accept his ability as a psychic medium.

Jon Richards was a movie stuntman murdered on the beach in the 1950s. When the new lighthouse keeper strikes up a conversation and invites him in to watch TV, Jon discovers that a beating heart isn’t required to fall in love.

Light My Way Home is an MM paranormal romance with a shy park ranger, a protective ghost, unsolved murders, a dangerous shipwreck, supernatural ninja nuns, vintage movies, old secrets, and love bigger than life or death.

 

Excerpt 

“And that concludes today’s tour of the Cape May Lighthouse. Don’t forget to stop by our gift shop and tell your friends if you had fun today.” Lighthouse keeper

Montana “Monty” Clark watched his guests troop toward the shop and followed close behind so he could ring up their snacks and souvenirs.

“What is that big thing out on the beach?” a lady who reminded Monty of his grandmother asked as he ran her credit card for a lighthouse Christmas ornament, some post‐ cards, bottled water, and a bag of gummy worms.

“That’s Battery 223, built to survive an air strike, and back during the Second World War, it protected the coast with guns that could fire shells miles out to sea,” Monty said with a smile as he carefully wrapped the ornament and bagged her purchases. “Of course, the guns have been gone for a long time. It’s part of the park now, but it’s closed up, so unfortunately, no one can go inside.”

“I bet it would be a popular tour if you could get that changed,” she replied. “Is it haunted? Seems like everything in Cape May has ghosts running around, or at least that’s what our last guide said.”

Even more than you know, Monty thought, although his grin never wavered. “People claim to have spotted some ghosts nearby, but I don’t think any of them were soldiers. The bunker’s guns never fired, and it didn’t come under attack.”

“You did a nice job with the tour,” the lady said. “Tonight we’re taking a ghost tour. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see some spooky stuff.”

“Good luck,” he answered and hoped he sounded sincere. Monty had been able to see and talk with ghosts all his life, and he knew that most people had no idea what they were asking for by seeking out restless spirits.

She gave him a cheery wave as she left, and several more customers kept him busy until the last of the cars drove away, and the lighthouse was peaceful again.

Monty liked the quiet. He enjoyed spending time with close friends, but being alone didn’t bother him. When he had read a book about a lighthouse keeper as a kid, he’d known right then what he wanted to do.

Unlike the lighthouse in that book, the Cape May Light wasn’t on a desolate, windswept rocky island accessible only by boat. As part of a state park in a touristy beach town, it had plenty of visitors in summer and lots of walkers and birdwatchers strolling the grounds off-season. School groups and tours came to learn about the town’s seafaring history, and Monty loved showing them around the building, answering questions, and tossing in unusual facts.

But at the end of the day, the quiet grounds and empty beach soothed Monty’s soul. He bustled around the public areas of the building, making a quick check for trash or lost items. Then he locked the doors and headed for a stroll on the sand to enjoy the sunset.

 

About the Author

Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.

On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.

Series include Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!

 

Author Links

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Fall of the Pathfinder (Kessler Effect Book 1) by L. C. Lowe #giveaway #kindleunlimited

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: Fall of the Pathfinder (Kessler Effect Book 1)

Author and Publisher: L. C. Lowe

Cover Artist: Lance Buckley

Release Date: December 19, 2022

Genre: Science Fiction M/M Romance

Tropes: Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers

Themes: Finding yourself outside society’s labels

Heat Rating:  1 flame

Length: 75 448 words/284 pages

It is not a standalone story.

The book ends on a soft cliffhanger (ie. the story is resolved but larger plot-lines are left hanging)

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited 

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

 

The company controls his life, but not his destiny.

 

Blurb

Working for ARC in the depths of space, 17-year-old Julian Sastre has struggled in the mines for two years to make the family name mean something again. He is a Pathfinder – the most dangerous and elite job in the mines, seeking out the richest growths of C6.

When he is blamed for an explosion that causes a collapse, he flees into the ruins of Old Easton, the city his father’s mistake destroyed a decade ago. The only ally Julian has there is Garret, a charming thief with secrets of his own.

ARC is determined to capture him, and the Wasters who live in what’s left of the city are more than they appear. Will Julian decide to protect what he truly cares about and find his own path?

Get the first book in the Kessler Effect series, Fall of the Pathfinder, and find out today!

Fall of the Pathfinder is a slow burn queer science fiction romance.

 

Excerpt 

“I don’t—” Another crack. The window made a sound like breaking stone. Kernels of clear plastic pelted Julian’s right side. His HUD flashed a bright red damage warning.

“Big guy?”

“I’m all right!” Julian said.

Something hit Julian’s back. Hard. He couldn’t swallow down the grunt of pain. Another warning flashed across his HUD. He ignored it and kept his eyes focused on the map. “Left again. One de— Half of the last turn.”

The driver’s eyebrows slashed downward, but the smile didn’t quite leave the man’s face. 

They flew over the sand and the rover spent at least as much time in the air as it did on the ground, leaving Julian’s stomach behind each time it rose.

More debris clanged against them. The rear window cracked. It pelted his back. The debris overwhelmed the map with flashing red warning messages, but it didn’t matter. He was past the point of being helpful. If he’d let his teeth open, the only thing that would come out would be a scream.

The driver’s eyes never flicked away from the windshield, and his fingers never left the wheel. Not even to wipe away the blood rolling down his cheek.

Everything in Julian’s HUD lit up bright red, then it went dark. He looked down.

A rod of rusted metal was jutting through his side, just to the left of his belly button.

The pain hit him like it was waiting for him to notice it.

He ground his teeth together. The scream scorched his tongue. His arms shook. Sand streamed past his shoulders and into the rover. Julian pressed hard against the space of the window. It was the only way to keep himself from dropping forward into the seat with each bump. The pressure shoved the metal rod deeper, and spots of color danced across his vision.

The driver’s grip on the wheel was so tight that it made his knuckles white, but the guy was still smiling.

The roar of the storm was everywhere. It was filling up the world, and there was no room left for any other sounds.

The darkness was thick enough to feel. It pressed against Julian’s skin and sucked up the warmth. There was nothing but the dark, the scream, the pain, and the driver’s tight expression lit by the displays on the dashboard.

“Hold on!”

Laughter bubbled out of Julian. Holding on was the only thing he could do.

The rover hit a bump, and he flew. His head hit the roof. The world started spinning and flickering.

Julian bit the end of his tongue to keep the sounds locked inside. Another bump made him bite too hard, and his mouth filled with the metallic taste of his own blood.

They stopped.

His hand slipped, and he smacked the front window hard enough to make his vision flare red and then black. For a second, Julian was sure that he was going to pass out. He wanted to pass out.

Julian’s eyes cleared, and he got a look at the spot his rescuer chose to get them through the storm. It was a stretch of desert locked away inside a blacked-out Wall. The darkness of the storm had been bad, but the shadows that had pooled where they were now were something else. They were the thick, living kind that he’d only ever seen inside the mine.

The rover entered the space at an angle and the headlights caught on strange shapes and crumbled walls. It was impossible to see anything beyond the cones of light they cast in the heavy darkness, but Julian didn’t need to see to know where they were.

They were in Easton. The town his father destroyed.

 

About the Author

L. C. Lowe lives in Kansas City, where she spends most of her time trying to convince a very needy dog to let her pay attention to anything but him. She loves stories in all forms, be it books, movies, video games, or a car commercial that may or may not have made her tear up one (ok, maybe more than one) time.

 

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Fire & Ice by Robin Lynn #giveaway

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: Fire & Ice

Author: Robin Lynn

Publisher: Idle Winter Press

Release Date: December 1, 2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Friends to lovers, mutual pining, firefighters, workplace romance

Themes: BDSM, self-acceptance, communication, trauma processing

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 160 000 words/433 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Ko-fi

 

Fire & Ice is the queer exploration of domination and submission, friendship, love, and lust you’ve been waiting for! Grab your safeword and come along for the ride as two best friends discover BDSM, themselves, and what it really means to burn.

 

Blurb

“What’s your safeword?”

Firefighter Tripp Truett has somehow tumbled headfirst into a whole new kind of relationship with his quirky paramedic best friend, Leander. What was only meant to be mutual relief from their high-stress jobs is quickly developing into something more, but with all the missed signals and crossed wires, can these two ever figure out that they’re so much closer to being on the same page than they think?

 

Excerpt 

The air is chilly, the wind outright brisk, and Leander can’t help but reflect back on his earlier ponderings regarding the likelihood that his sweatshirt wouldn’t be warm enough tonight. He was right, but there’s nothing to do about it now. 

He’s dazed. So much so that he doesn’t realize he’s been standing in the middle of the parking lot, staring blankly at the engine for several embarrassingly long minutes. It’s not until the side door opens and someone gets out that Leander even makes an attempt to blink himself back to reality. 

Tripp, clad once again in only his bunker pants and a fucking t-shirt, hits the ground moving and strides towards him with a worried look on his face. Despite everything, Leander can’t help but smile at Tripp’s stubborn stupidity, his ridiculous predictability, and his lack of simple common sense. It’s inane, and Leander loves him for it.

“You look cold,” he comments smugly, but Tripp isn’t fooled, reaching out to grab Leander by the bicep and yank him into his chest, hugging him fiercely and clapping him firmly on the back, twice. Tears burst violently into the corners of Leander’s eyes, and he chokes and gasps a little while doing his best to force them back. 

“I know,” Tripp says gruffly, rocking them both from side to side as Leander clings.

“I really need you,” he mutters, soft and rough, and Tripp gets it immediately, pulling back and holding him at arm’s length, but in a reassuring, possessive sort of way. 

“You’ve got me,” he replies, looking Leander straight in the eyes. “I promise. Tomorrow night, soon as we get off shift, I’ll be there.” Tripp squeezes his shoulder while Leander works to put his emotions in check and his face back in order, searching for the right thing to say. Tripp is a miracle, and Leander already owes him so much. What would he have done if they hadn’t gone down this road? That’s not even something he’s capable of contemplating at the moment, so he shoves the thought away.

“Thank you,” he settles on saying, his voice coming out used and gritty. He swipes roughly at his eyes and nods. “Tomorrow, then.” 

The fire engine revs and rumbles behind them, like someone has stepped on the gas without first releasing the brake. Clearly, the crew inside isn’t trying to be obnoxious or insensitive, but someone wants them to get a move on. 

“Text me,” Tripp says, pointing a finger in Leander’s direction as he walks backward towards the waiting truck. With a last nod and a wave, Leander agrees, and lets him go. 

When he returns to his own truck, parked carefully in-between the next set of white lines beside Zosia and Echo’s, the patient compartment is nearly back to its formerly pristine state. “Thank you, Marley,” Leander says quietly, thumbing through his paperwork and the patient demographic information that Marley has kindly retrieved from registration. 

“Dude, I should be thanking you,” Marley quips, zipping up the first-in bag and plopping it on top of the stretcher for next time. “If you need—”

“I don’t,” Leander cuts her off quickly and then offers what he hopes reads as an appreciative look when she glares back at him disapprovingly. “I’m fine,” he assures her. 

“Oookay, if you say so,” Marley concedes, shrugging as she hops down out of the truck and makes her way to the driver’s seat. Before Leander follows, he takes a second to poke his head into the back of Zosia’s rig, only to find Echo doing the same cleaning routine as Marley. 

“Hey,” he says. “You should text Chloe. I don’t know how much she may have seen, but I thought she looked…” Leander trails off and presses his lips together. Echo will understand—she’s been dating his niece for over a year now and knows the interminably stubborn Chloe better than just about anyone. In some ways, the two of them remind Leander quite a lot of him and Tripp: complementary pieces that shouldn’t fit together, but somehow do. 

Except, of course, for the fact that Chloe loves Echo back, and she shows it openly. 

“Thanks for the heads up,” Echo replies sincerely, stopping what she’s doing to lean an elbow against the cabinets and eye Leander with concern. “And you? You don’t look so good.”

“I’m fine,” Leander grumbles, ducking back out of the box and heading for his own truck. “Besides having to reassure everyone else that’s the case.”

“That’s what Chloe always says when she’s not fine,” Echo yells after him.

“It’s what everyone says when they’re not fine, Echo,” Leander shoots back, noncommittal and evasive as ever. He slides into the cab of the ambulance and motions for Marley to get going before Echo can so much as reply (or before Zosia can show up and pile on him, too). That’s the last thing he needs right now. He is fine. Or at least, he will be. 

Tomorrow night. 

 

About the Author 

Robin Lynn is a 36-year-old queer, autistic mother of two, an unabashed fangirl sometimes known as “Wings,” and a disabled former firefighter, paramedic, and registered nurse. She writes for queer audiences with the goal of reflecting and centering the lgbtqia2s+ community in more media, because everyone deserves to see relatable, imperfect main characters who mirror themselves simply existing and getting their happy endings.

Find out more and follow Robin for additional content and future projects

 

 

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Third Time Lucky by Aurora Crane #kindleunlimited #giveaway

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Third Time Lucky

Author and Publisher: Aurora Crane

Cover Artist: Cormar Covers

Release Date: January 28, 2023

Genre: Contemporary MM romance

Tropes: Friends to lovers, bi-awakening

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length: 80 000 words

It is part of the Chain Reaction universe but can be read as a standalone. It is a HEA

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

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Blurb

Trust didn’t always go both ways, and Grady Donehue learned that the hard way. He hadn’t learned better after the first betrayal, but he wasn’t going to make the same mistake a third time. Striking up a strange friendship with the equally strange—and straight—soldier, Lake, who had sunshine in his eyes? Grady could do that. He could even handle helping Lake figure out he might not be so straight after all, in a very hands-on way. But falling in love? No, thanks.

Lake McKenna has spent his whole life absolutely confident in who he is and what he wants. Even when the picture-perfect future he’d always envisioned seemed further away than ever, none of his plans included another man. But the more time Lake spends with his new friend: grumpy and sneaky-sexy detective, Grady, the more he thinks that maybe what he really needs is something different to what he always imagined.

Neither man was prepared for the other, but Lake is nothing if not flexible. Doubt isn’t part of his make-up. He knows how much more incredible they could be together; if only Grady could see it too. Grady has to decide if Lake is worth risking his heart again, and whether he’s brave enough to see if it really is third time lucky.

Third Time Lucky is an 80,000-word MM romance. It is a bi-awakening, friends to lovers romance with low angst and high feels. It is set in the Chain Reaction universe but can be read as a standalone.

 

Excerpt

“Is there a reason you don’t like your house?” Grady asked.

It was a fair question, since they hadn’t spent a lot of time in the last few months at Lake’s, even though they’d spent so many evenings together.

Lake didn’t answer at first, staring out at the dozens of people milling about like ants with a purpose. “It’s empty,” he said quietly. “I bought it when my grandpa died about ten years ago, from my half of the inheritance. There was a lot of space for a family, and a pool, and a big yard for a dog. I fixed it up using money I got from a really long deployment.” He stared down at his hands. “I guess I thought it would be filled by now.” He couldn’t quite smother the feeling of failure when he thought about all the personal accomplishments that he hadn’t ticked off yet. As though his life were nothing more than a checklist that he had to work his way down. He knew that wasn’t right, but it slithered in there, anyway.

“It’s okay to not have found the person you want to make a family with yet,” Grady said softly. “Sometimes it takes longer than we’d like, but when it’s right, you’ll know.”

“I would never have pegged you for such a romantic.”

“Don’t tell anyone. And stop trying to dodge.”

Lake sighed. He knew, logically, that Grady was right. And he had dated a few people over those years that he’d thought maybe, but nothing had ever panned out. “It just feels big when I’m there by myself. Even with the TV on the silence gets to me. I like your house.” He shrugged. “It’s small, and cosy, and it has you in it.” He didn’t know if that admission was allowed, or what it even meant, when it felt like so much more than he could find the words for.

“Lake…”

“I know we haven’t known each other long, but friendships are like that sometimes, aren’t they? I like being around you.”

Grady didn’t respond and Lake awkwardly fiddled with the beaded and leather bracelets around his wrist.

“Do you have food at your house?” Grady asked, eventually. That hadn’t been what Lake had expected him to say. He’d been bracing himself for rejection. Lake had gotten too clingy, wanted to spend too much time with him, and it was time to part ways. Lake would have understood. He knew that he was a lot to handle and sometimes he figured the only reason Felix and Zach had stuck around so long was that they’d had so long to get used to it.

“I guess it depends on what you mean by food?” Lake replied. “Why?”

“Because I like your house, Lake,” Grady said patiently. “And you shouldn’t have to feel like you can’t be there.”

“I—what? You like my house?”

“Well, yeah. It’s big, and it’s inviting, and it has you in it.” He paused and then turned to Lake with a grin that had Lake’s mouth going dry. “And it has more than one bed. Just in case.”

“All of my spare beds are being fumigated,” Lake said, hoping he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt. He didn’t give a fuck if it was weird; he liked waking up next to Grady, liked how big Grady was and how much space he took up on the mattress, the heat that radiated off him in waves. There was no mistaking he wasn’t alone when Grady was with him.

 

 

About the Author 

Aurora Crane is an Australian author with a particular love for books featuring poly relationships. You can always find a healthy serving of banter, snark and heat in her books, along with impossible men falling in love, even if sometimes it takes them a little while to get there! She has an appreciation for men in suits and frequently spreads that love in the Facebook group she shares with her muse, fellow Aussie, and co-writer Briar Kearney. When not in the writing cave—a rarity to see this author out of her natural habitat—she can be found playing video games, building Lego sets, or hanging out with her fiancé and their menagerie of animals. 

 

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Two Truths and a Lyle by DJ Jamison #kindleunlimited

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Title: Two Truths and a Lyle

Author: DJ Jamison

Release Date: January 26, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: friends to lovers, oblivious to love, small town, demisexual awakening, new adult

Themes: figuring out where you belong, home/community, friendship

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: approx 31 500 words

It is part of the Games We Play series, but it works as a standalone. It does not end on a cliffhanger.

This is a prequel novella. Its release also means the series is complete.

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Blurb

Two Truths and a…wait, what?!

What happens when drunken idiots, aka your friends, use a silly drinking game to sideswipe you and your BFF with the truth bomb that you’re actually in love with each other?

Truman: You impulsively kiss the best friend you’ve been in love with for ages…then wake up with a hangover—and regrets.

Lyle: You freak out because you’re not gay or bi, before realizing the kiss wasn’t *actually* bad. Then you begin to wonder…should we do it again?

Two Truths and a Lyle is a cute, low-angst M/M romance with two oblivious best friends who are perfect for one another, a town full of quirky residents who get in everyone’s business, and a sweet sexual awakening.

 

This novella was previously published as part of a promotion, but some new content has been added. 

 

Excerpt

“Okay, the game is Two Truths and a Lie,” Kevin announced. “Who’s first?”

Calista and Darren put their heads together, conferring quietly. Then Darren straightened, gesturing to Calista. “Ladies first.”

“I’ve never been accused of being a lady before,” Calista said to a round of laughter. She was gorgeous, with curly hair that was a little wild and curves that attracted her a steady number of boyfriends. But she was also one of the crudest people I’d met, always down for a dirty joke or reckless adventure. “But sure, I’ll go first. Okay…two truths and a lie. Hmm. Oh, I’ve got it! Here goes: I’m a Scorpio. I once wrecked my dad’s car. And my two best friends are in love with each other.”

“You’re not a Scorpio,” Tru said.

“Wait, aren’t all the truths supposed to be about yourself?” I asked.

At the same time, Evan said, “I thought I was your best friend. I’m not in love with anyone!”

And that’s when it hit me.

She was talking about me and Tru.

“Drink up, Calista!” Kevin called. “They busted you on the lie. You’re not a Scorpio.”

I noticed no one was suggesting she told more than one lie. Or calling her on the fact she’d told a supposed “truth” that wasn’t her own.

“I’ll go next,” Darren announced gleefully.

My gut clenched. Somehow, I knew what was coming. I glanced around the group playing the game, all ranging in age from about eighteen to twenty-two, all long-time acquaintances or friends. Was this some type of organized effort? Evan hadn’t seemed to know it was going down. So maybe it was just Calista and Darren. But that was still too much.

“Maybe we should head out,” I said to Tru.

“Why? We haven’t even played yet.”

Before I could answer, Darren was announcing his truths and a lie. “I’m a Scorpio. I’m a virgin. And my roommate and his best friend totally need to bone because they are in luuuurrrve.”

There were shouts of laughter, and Calista smirked. “I know you’re not a virgin.”

Hold up now. Calista and Darren? Surely not. At the ooohs and ahhs they started to get, Calista flipped off the room. “Dude, he’s a slut. I don’t need to screw him to know.”

I dragged a hand down my face.

“Wait, hold on,” Tru said. “Ly is your roommate.”

Darren smirked. “Yep.”

“And…his best friend is…?”

Darren raised his brows. “Don’t you already know the answer to that?”

Tru frowned, glancing between me and Darren. “I thought I did. Now, I’m just confused.”

“Join the club,” I muttered, though I suspected we were confused about different things. My stomach was squirming with discomfort as half the eyes in the room fixed on Tru and me. Fucking Darren. I knew he was behind this. I didn’t know why, but I’d find out.

Part of me wanted to jump up and tell him to knock it off. The other half wanted to sink into the sofa and disappear rather than draw more attention to myself.

“Ah, I think I get this game now,” Evan said. “Can I go next?”

Sweet Evan. Sweet, naïve Evan. I sighed with relief. Finally, the game would move on, and everyone would forget Darren and Calista’s entirely deluded suggestions that Tru and I were anything but good friends.

Hell, I wasn’t even gay. Or bi. So how could I be in love with my male best friend? I barely dated women, much less men. I was too busy working my ass off, trying to prove myself at the construction company Truman’s dad had built from the ground up while my dad did his best to drink himself into an early grave.

I’d always thought Truman would be right there by my side on the crew, making the back-breaking labor more fun. He had a way of turning everything in life into a big laugh. I hadn’t even realized how much he made me smile until he was gone and every day was just one dreary slog after another.

“Two truths and a lie,” Evan said. “Okay. I’m creating my own app.”

That was undoubtedly true. Evan was a classic tech geek, and at eighteen, he already did freelance work for a handful of companies. He didn’t need a degree, evidently, because he’d taught himself everything he needed to know in his spare time.

Evan continued, “I’m dating a girl.”

There was an immediate snort of laughter. Evan had been out as a gay boy for years.

“And…” He glanced guiltily in my direction. Oh no. Not him too. “Lyle and Truman are totally couples goals. If they could only see it for themselves.”

“Et tu, Evan,” I said.

Beside me, Truman gasped. “Evan, you’re dating a girl?”

Evan looked floored. “What? No?”

“The game is two truths and a lie,” Tru said. “If you’re not dating a girl, you told two lies.”

Evan shook his head. “Sorry, guys. But I’m still gay.”

“Well, I’m not,” I said shortly, standing and dragging Truman up by the arm. “I think it’s time to call it a night.”

 

 

About the Author

DJ Jamison writes romances about everyday life and extraordinary love featuring a variety of queer characters, from gay to bisexual to asexual. DJ grew up in the Midwest in a working-class family, and those influences can be found in her writing through characters coping with real-life problems: money troubles, workplace drama, family conflicts and, of course, falling in love. DJ spent more than a decade in the newspaper industry before chasing her first dream to write fiction. She spent a lifetime reading before that and continues to avidly devour her fellow authors’ books each night. She lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, one snake, and a sadistic cat named Birdie.

 

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The Queering by Brooke Skipstone #kindleunlimited #giveaway

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Book Title: The Queering

Author and Publisher: Brooke Skipstone

Cover Artist: Cherie Chapman

Release Date: January 19, 2023

Genre: Contemporary F/F Romance, Historical F/F Romance, YA LGBTQ+

Tropes: Friends to lovers, Coming of age

Themes: Coming out, finding love late in life

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length:  92 000 words/ 318 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Trapped between a homicidal brother and a homophobic podcaster eager to reveal her lesbian romance novels, a seventy-year-old grandmother seeks help in Clear, Alaska.

 

Blurb

Editor’s Pick Booklife Reviews: A fast-paced yet thoughtful romance of coming out and finding love in later life in Alaska

5 Star Clarion Reviews: A riveting novel . . . about love, courage, and solidarity

Trapped between a homicidal brother and a homophobic podcaster eager to reveal her lesbian romance novels, a seventy-year-old grandmother seeks help in Clear, Alaska.

Suffocating in a loveless marriage and lonely existence, Taylor MacKenzie lives only through her writing, using the pen name Brooke Skipstone, her best friend in college and lover before her death in 1974.

Afraid of being murdered before anyone in her family or community knows her life story, Taylor writes an autobiography about her time with Brooke and shares it with those closest to her, hoping for understanding and acceptance.

Accused of promoting the queering and debasement of America by a local podcaster, Taylor embroils the conservative community in controversy but fights back with the help of a new, surprising friend.

Can she endure the attacks from haters and gaslighters? Can she champion the queering she represents?

And will she survive?

 

Excerpt 

NO ONE in the world is actually named Brooke Skipstone. 

Not for almost fifty years. 

Taylor Baird MacKenzie, a long-term substitute teacher in Clear, Alaska, knew her secret had already begun to unravel. Brooke wrote novels about lesbian liberation, fierce coming-of-age stories full of high family drama. Her readers probably pictured an author in her thirties with tattoos and a gender-fluid appearance.

Certainly not a seventy-year-old grandmother with long, thick hair—still more brown than gray—wearing lined leggings and an oversized hoodie that covered her butt. And unhappily married to the same man for over forty years. 

Much too old and too obviously straight to be writing such novels.

Soon, everyone would know the truth—she was the author Brooke Skipstone. How big would the shockwave be? 

Taylor had long feared the repercussions and kept her pen name secret. What would her kids say? And her grandkids, who hardly knew her because she lived so far from them. And saw them even less than usual because of Covid. At times the thought of discovery had seared her guts, but the liberation of writing what she wanted, revealing the characters living in her mind and the love and pain in her heart, had become her main reason for existence.

While at her keyboard, Taylor lost herself in her secret world—vibrant, passionate, full of laughter and turmoil and utter joy. Not like her real world of silence and numbing isolation, where she couldn’t talk about what mattered most to her.

Keeping the source of her greatest happiness a secret had suffocated her life.

Taylor stood at her classroom door before her last class of the day, while students thumbed phones and talked as they sat at a picnic table in the center of the Commons area. The same kind of table she and Brooke sat at in the spring of 1973.

 

Soon after Taylor’s college roommate and fellow theatre major, Brooke Tobolovsky turned twenty-one, Brooke changed her last name. Though she didn’t have the internet to check, she said she had never heard of anyone named Skipstone, so claimed it for herself. She thought it sounded cool. Much better for the stage and screen. Besides, she’d always hated the sound of Tobolovsky.

Regardless of her name, no one could ever forget her. Long, thick, cinnamon-colored hair; high forehead; deep-set blue eyes; and the biggest smile Taylor had ever seen. She could play Lady Macbeth just as easily as Juliet and belt out a song like a combination of Cher and Stevie Nicks. She was the natural lead, while Taylor was the utility player—competent actress, writer, composer, and organizational queen.

Once all the legal papers were complete, they celebrated with a pitcher of beer at The Hangout a few blocks from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. They sat at a picnic table under canvas stretched between oak trees, blocking the March sun. Brooke carved her new name on the bench as they pushed flip-flops through pea gravel and peanut shells.

“Does this mean I can’t call you Tobo anymore?” Taylor laughed and snorted beer.

Brooke scoffed with a quick flash of her eyes, “I’ve put a curse on that name, as you can see. Say it at your peril.” She cocked an eyebrow.

Taylor coughed this time, spewing beer on her shirt.

“I always knew you couldn’t hold your liquor.” Brooke wiped Taylor’s chin with a napkin.

“That word will never cross my lips again.”

“Which word?” Brooke teased. Her tongue peeked out the side of her mouth as she dabbed the snot from Taylor’s upper lip. “Hmm?”

Flashing a smile, Taylor said, “From now on, you’ll be BS to me. Nothing but BS.”

Brooke narrowed her eyes and tightened her mouth. “You’d better be referring to Brooke Skipstone.”

Taylor raised her hands and cocked her head in a perfect expression of amused innocence. “Certainly.” She tried to swallow the guffaw rising from her gut. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

They stared at each other for three seconds, each holding her pose until Brooke broke into a smile. “That’s BS and you know it.”

Taylor’s guffaw erupted, and in their laughter-filled haze, they both knocked their glasses to the ground. No matter. They drank from the pitcher and later started a burping contest. Taylor conceded when Brooke burped the chorus of “I Am Woman,” earning a standing ovation from the crowd of hippie students and locals that had gathered around them. The girls walked home, Taylor’s arm around her friend’s neck; Brooke’s around the other’s waist.

They were known as B&T because they were inseparable. They’d shared the ground floor of a small rental house since sophomore year but spent most of their time acting, hanging lights, building sets, and running shows at the Owens Art Center. If one of them wasn’t around the other, people would invariably ask, “Where’s ___?” with a little frown and gasp.

Taylor wrote and directed plays and musicals mainly for teens, while Brooke snagged major acting roles every year. Taylor was involved in every one of Brooke’s shows, while Brooke sang and acted in each of Taylor’s studio productions. 

They were two promising women, determined to make their own way in the world and support each other’s careers in theatre—Brooke as an actress at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and Taylor as a drama teacher at a private school in a nearby city. After breaking up with their casual boyfriends and graduating in 1974, they headed west in a very used VW Camper Bus adorned with painted flowers to cover the rust. 

They loved each other completely as friends and had only become lovers two days before Brooke’s death.

 

About the Author

Brooke Skipstone is a multi-award-winning author who lives in Alaska where she watches the mountains change colors with the seasons from her balcony. Where she feels the constant rush toward winter as the sunlight wanes for six months of the year, seven minutes each day, bringing crushing cold that lingers even as the sun climbs again. Where the burst of life during summer is urgent under twenty-four-hour daylight, lush and decadent. Where fish swim hundreds of miles up rivers past bear claws and nets and wheels and lines of rubber-clad combat fishers, arriving humped and ragged, dying as they spawn. Where danger from the land and its animals exhilarates the senses, forcing her to appreciate the difference between life and death. Where the edge between is sometimes too alluring.

The Queering is her fifth novel. Visit her website at for information about her first four novels—The Moonstone Girls, Crystal’s House of Queers, Some Laneys Died, and Someone To Kiss My Scars.

 

 

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My Friend Tyler by Shea Swain

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Book Title: My Friend Tyler

Author: Shea Swain

Publisher: SSW Publications

Cover Artist: Shea Swain

Release Date: January 4, 2023

Website page dedicated to book

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Forbidden love, friends to lovers

Themes: Coming out, forgiveness

Heat Rating: 3 – 4 flames

Length: 71 487 words/ 133 pages 

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

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Blurb

Tyler Morales is a friend by association. So, when my inebriated ass stumbles into his bedroom after a party and see him bare, face down, and blindfolded in some sort of sensory play, I’m speechless. And when his partner removes the earplug in his ear and asks him if I can join in, with a nod of Tyler’s head, my body moves before my brain can catch up. 

Initially, I want to forget that night. Tyler never saw me and his partner doesn’t know me. But that proves difficult because I dropped something inside Tyler’s room. He traces the item back to me but it doesn’t matter. I want him even though I’ve never considered dating a guy. Problem is, Tyler hasn’t come out and it seems he comes with his very own stalker. None of that shit matters. I want what I want. So, tell me, what’s a guy to do?

 

Excerpt 

Chapter One

When your life changes, it is always unwelcomed…

Damian

Tyler Morales is a “friend” by association. When my friends meet up, we end up hanging out. Aside from being acquainted with some of the same people, we attend the same college and currently share a class. Like me, Tyler ranks at the top of his class so if I need a partner in a class and he’s available, we link up. 

He’s someone who’s easy to get along with. He’s modest yet, he doesn’t fade into the background, which is what I try to do. Fading probably isn’t possible for him. To be honest, he’s pretty as fuck, in a masculine way if that makes sense. 

Let me explain…

He’s probably a couple of inches shorter than my six feet four inches. Girls constantly orbit around him, gushing over him enough for me to know details like how soft his curly brown hair is, how long and how dark his lashes are, or that his hazel eyes have evergreen specks. Tyler is also pretty active on campus and I’m sure I’ve seen him in a sports uniform before. Plus, he seems like good people and though I’m not a social butterfly, it was nice of him to invite me to one of his rare get-togethers.

I push myself up off the floor. For several seconds, I comb through my memory, trying to figure out how I ended up asleep in Tyler’s guest bathroom. When I open the door, I see no one. I realize the small party/gathering is over. Half-awake but groggy, I get the idea that I’ll just let Tyler know I’m leaving.

So, I stumble down the hall, realizing I’ve never been in his place before now. It’s nice. When I trip over nothing and hit the wall, I know I’m not only sleepy but a little lit so I’ll be sleeping in Tyler’s parking lot till morning. I wonder if he’ll let me use his couch. That’s what I’m thinking when I stagger into the first door that’s ajar. If I say I wasn’t ready for what I see, it’s an understatement.

I wasn’t fucking ready.

Tyler is on his knees, face down with his naked ass up and blindfolded. His arms are stretched out with his wrists bound to the bed posts. At this angle, I see some device in the ear. But what has me frozen and speechless is a guy I’ve never seen before pounding into Tyler’s ass with abandon.

The sounds they are making…

The sounds Tyler’s making…

When I recover from my frozen shock and can bring myself to move, I jump forward, grab the guy by the arm, and yank him away from Tyler. The guy nearly crashes into an upholstered chair that’s in front of a window but somehow avoids it and falls to the floor. I look back at Tyler who is breathing heavily and has fallen to his belly as if exhausted.

I look back at the rapist, his eyes are wide and he’s righting himself. I’m seeing red. The need to beat his ass bloody is becoming stronger with every beat of my heart. But…I’m also finding it hard to breathe because my anger is mixing with something I’m ashamed to admit. I am so fucking turned on that my dick is rock hard and bucking against my jeans for release. This makes me even angrier. 

“What the fuck!” the guy yells. “Look, man,” he says as he stands and holds his hand up to stop me from advancing. “Tyler never said he had a boyfriend.”

I pause, frowning. 

Boyfriend?

“You should know we’ve been fucking for a couple of months now. He asked me to tie him up and fuck him like this?” 

The guy exhales as he rubs his hand over his hair. 

“Gene? Gene, what’s wrong?” Tyler whispers. 

I can hear apprehension reflected in Tyler’s tone. It’s not what I expect. It dawns on me that his mouth isn’t stuffed with anything and if he needed to, he’s capable of screaming for help. Help isn’t what I was hearing from him. 

“He asked you to do this to him?” I ask. My voice cracks. 

“He did. I’m sorry but how could I resist?”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Tyler isn’t gay, as far as I know. I think we’ve even hooked up with a couple of the same girls. 

I look at the guy. He’s ass naked too yet, I find nothing appealing about him which is a relief. I sigh as I focus my gaze to his eyes and face. 

 

About the Author

Shea is a woman who believes that love is life’s greatest gift so it’s no wonder she writes Romance Novels. She lives on the east coast of the United States with her family. A romantic to her core, Shea reads and enjoys watching anything with a love story. She especially likes binging on Romance TV around the holidays. 

She enjoys spending time with her family, meeting people, reading, chatting. Collecting Barbie dolls, toys, and Funko Pops makes her happy. But she’s addicted to watching anime, k-dramas, movies, and playing The Sims games. Shea also loves music and has mentioned that she writes better when she has music playing as white noise in the background. 

This exciting author writes Adult Romance in the sub-genres of Contemporary, Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Erotica.

 

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