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Author Guest Post

Love You So Sweetly by Tara Lain: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

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Reading his future in a glass of sweet tea.

The youngest son of one of America’s richest families, Remy Merced is so busy trying to save his family company from collapse, he’s never taken time to figure out if he’s gay, much less if he’s happy. Then his meddling mama hires him an assistant who’s everything Remy thinks he doesn’t want. Cute Harper Treadwell, from rural Arkansas, is a brilliant business prodigy… and openly gay. His wit and charm could confirm Remy’s suspicions about his own sexuality almost instantly—if they weren’t both already partnered.

When Remy’s girlfriend and Harper’s boyfriend get a little too friendly, Remy finds that the path to happiness requires a long drive in an old Prius, a growing appreciation for small towns, and a whole lot of sweet tea. But before they can forge a future—they have to let go of the past.

Title: Love You So Sweetly
Series: Love You So: Book Four
Author: Tara Lain
Release Date: September 13, 2019
Category: Contemporary Romance

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Favorite Movies That Take Place in the South

Hi. Welcome. I’m so happy to be here celebrating the release of my new romance, LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY. This book starts in southern California like so many of my novels, but then moves to a rural town in Arkansas. I was actually born in the southeast, in Augusta, Georgia, although I left before I was a year old. Still, tons of southern relatives kept me very much in touch with my southern roots. You may know that I love movies second only to books so I thought I’d tie these themes together and share some of my favorite movies that take place in the south. Here they are in no particular order—

  • A Streetcar Named Desire – this old movie is worth seeking out to see the astonishing and astonishingly sexy Marlon Brando as Stanley and Vivien Leigh as Blanche Dubois.
  • In the Heat of the Night – they do call him Mr. Tibbs, and Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger make this tense and fascinating movie so timely for us today. The heat is another character.
  • The Big Easy – Dennis Quaid with a bad accent and great abs plus Ellen Barkin make this movie a sizzler.
  • The Long Hot Summer – While most people think of the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward star turn, I’m particularly fond of a 1985 made for TV version starring Don Johnson and Cybil Shepherd.
  • My Cousin Vinny – Containing one of the all-time best funny performances in movies, My Cousin Vinny can be watched over and over, especially to see Marisa Tomei.
  • Django Unchained – In Tarantino’s top 5 in my opinion, the film is (of course) tough to watch, but still brilliant and funny in its marvelous excess.
  • Gone With the Wind – No list would ever be complete without it.

There are some of my faves. There are many others, including most of Tennessee William’s plays made into movies. What are your favorite movies set in the south?

Dasher

But he and Felicity hadn’t had sex in weeks. Shouldn’t he have a set of horns that would put Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer to shame? Hell, he was in his twenties. Even if he was sleepwalking, shouldn’t he be ready to stick his cock in anything female that passed within five feet of him? Wasn’t that the way most guys felt? Shit, these questions haunted the back of his brain all the time while the front worried about the business. And it wasn’t like he didn’t know why it worried him.

He sipped coffee and glanced at John Jack, who was smiling at his wife with open lust. It’d be nice to have somebody he trusted to tell him straight if he was undersexed or asexual, or…. He sighed softly. But he and John Jack didn’t have that kind of relationship. John Jack was seven years older and was more a product of Arkansas than California. He put a lot of store in “being a man,” and Remy was scared of what John Jack would say if Remy tried to get personal. Remy worked all the time, so everyone he knew was associated with the company, and since Remy was the boss, who the hell was he going to tell his troubles to?

His mama’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen, telling Nigel she’d like some more ice cream.

Felicity turned to Remy and leaned in. “I’m going to make my excuses. I’m too tired.” She put a hand on his arm. “Sorry, dear.” She kissed his cheek, rose, said a fast goodbye to Trudy and John Jack, and was gone before Mama even made it into the room.

Remy had a pretty good idea he shouldn’t be smiling.

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters – and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her best-selling stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes — the beautiful boys of romance —  and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Likely a Gryffindor but possessed of Parseltongue, Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers. She also loves to hear from you.

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Kel’s Keeper by K.C. Wells: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and New Release Review

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Today’s Exclusive Guest Post is from K.C. Wells and she is talking about SEX!!!! Specifically, how much do you want in a book? And “boy”, is she is spot on, that author’s will never be able to please everyone. Check out the great guest post, and excerpt, and let us know what you think…how much is too much or not enough sex in a book?

When Kel Taylor’s life changes irrevocably, he finds himself alone in the world. He might have rebelled a little against his parents, but that didn’t mean he was ready to lose them. Unable to cope with his grief and feelings of guilt, he turns to booze, but before he hits rock bottom, someone dives into the murky waters to save him.

Luc Bryant watched Kel grow from the little kid whose football broke a pane in his greenhouse, into the sexy young man who sent heat racing through him. That was when Luc stopped watching and distanced himself, because he didn’t want to be that kind of a man. And that’s how things continued, until he saw to what depths the boy had sunk. Luc will be damned if he’ll let Kel kill himself. What Kel needs is a friend, and Luc’s shoulders are plenty big enough to bear his burdens.

Kel doesn’t need a friend. He needs a pair of strong arms to hold him, a broad chest to curl up against, someone to listen to him, someone who cares for him… and a whole lot more.
What he needs is a Daddy.
He just doesn’t know it yet.

A stand-alone book that contains an age gap relationship between a sexy daddy and a virgin.

Kel’s Keeper

KC Wells

M/M Romance, Daddy/boy, Age gap

Release Date: 09.01.19

Cover by Meredith Russell

Photographer by Ben Fink

Models: Adam Keith and Joe Ryan

 

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So that’s one order of plot. How much sex did you want with that?

The one thing every author knows? You can’t please everyone.

“There was too much sex in it.”

“There wasn’t enough sex in it.”

“The relationship was too slow to develop.”

“I LURVE a slow burn!”

“The age gap was too big.”

“The age gap was just right.”

You probably know where you fall in these comments.

But sex scenes can be problematic. Not writing them – although I have been known to leave them to the end on occasions, and I know I’m not the only author who does that 😉 – but deciding how many to write.

When I first started writing, I wrote a LOT of sex scenes. I recall #3 of the Learning to Love series had a few cut out, and as for An Unlocked Heart…. Yeah, a few never made it to the final edit. (Leo and Alex were like bunnies!)

But I learned. A sex scene has A PURPOSE.

It moves the story along.

It reveals something about one or both of the MCs.

When I wrote BFF, I wanted their first time together to be written differently. And I love how it came out.

“When we reached the point where we wanted more, I had to laugh when it turned out we’d both been shopping for condoms and lube. Great minds, huh?

And that’s when things got really serious. Because we’re talking fingers, slick fingers going where nothing had ever gone before. Mind-blowing discoveries, like “What the hell did you just do?” and “For God’s sake, do it again, and again, and again.” Moments that almost stopped my heart, like when he looked me in the eyes and told me he wanted to see my face while I was inside him.

Inside him. Sweet Jesus Christ, I was inside him, and it was tight, and hot, and so, so good.

Oh my God. Slow rocking into him, feeling him tighten around me.

His legs wrapped around my waist, heels digging into the swell of my ass as he urged me to go deeper.

That feeling of being connected, the one that nearly broke me, when I was as deep inside him as it was possible to be and his arms were around me. I swear my soul wept to see that look in his eyes. The look that said “I love you,” and “I’m yours,” and “You’re a part of me now.”

Because I was. God help me, I so was.”

The sex scenes in BFF were right at the end of the book. And some readers felt it wasn’t a romance.

In Truth Will Out, there were none. I literally closed the bedroom door. And you know what? It was right for that book. The romance took a back seat to the mystery. Of course, by book #2, they’ve loosened up a bit. 😉

Now, when I wrote the Damon & Pete stories, under the name Tantalus, there was a LOT of sex. With those stories, the sex came first, then the character development. By the end, Damon and Pete were fuller, more fleshed out, and you cared about them, because you got to know them.

Pride & Protection had maybe two or three sex scenes, but I had so much fun writing them. Standing up, over a desk….

And that brings me to another important point. Research.

Yes, I watch porn. You’d be amazed what’s going on inside my head when I do, however.

‘How do I communicate that look? That noise? That sigh?’

I don’t watch scenes that have no emotion. I want to see a connection.  And sometimes you come across a scene that takes your breath away, because it is SO GODDAMN BEAUTIFUL and Holy hell How do I write that?

When I was writing Kel’s Keeper, I was spoiled for choice. Too many inspirational scenes, too little space to write them. In the end, I wrote more sex scenes in this book than in anything I’ve written in a long while. Before I started writing, I asked readers who read a lot of Daddy kink for their thoughts on what they expected to see in a sex scene. And you can bet I referred to these thoughts when I was planning the scenes.

And how did readers react?

Some loved it. Some skimmed the sex scenes because there were too many.

Some loved the emotion portrayed between Luc and Kel. Some said there wasn’t enough.

Which brings me right back to my first point:

You can’t please everyone. (But you can sure try 😉 )

The time for worrying about Kel had long past. Luc had to do something.

After the funeral, he’d kept his promise and checked in on the boy regularly, and at first it had looked like Kel was coming through this. At least, Luc assumed he was. He didn’t get to see Kel all that much, but their brief conversations over the property boundary were proof that Kel was alive and well, if looking a little thin.

Then the conversations dwindled, as did the phone calls. Kel politely refused Luc’s invitations to eat with him. He refused Luc’s offers of assistance. And lately there had been far too many occasions when Kel didn’t answer his phone. No reply to texts. When Luc had ventured across to knock at the door, there had been no answer. Of course, he could have been out, but somehow Luc doubted that. When April gave way to May, Luc’s disquiet increased.

There were signs of life at the house next door, however. Walmart trucks came and went, and more than once, Luc dashed out to catch Kel before he closed the front door, but he was never fast enough.

Almost as though the boy was avoiding him, which if it were true, would be extremely ironic.

The day arrived when Luc wasn’t content to sit back anymore and wait for something to happen. It was time for the last resort—and that meant Christine’s spare key, the one he’d never gotten around to giving back to Kel. Thank God.

Luc grabbed it from the hook in the kitchen where he kept his keys, and went out of the house. Kel’s car was in the driveway, and judging by the state of the ground beneath it, Kel hadn’t moved it for a while. That only added to Luc’s sense of foreboding.

He went around to the front door, not bothering to ring the bell. After weeks of his knocks going unanswered, there seemed little point. Luc inserted the key into the lock, praying there wasn’t a chain attached on the other side. Thankfully, the door opened, and Luc stepped quietly into the silent interior. He peered into the sitting room, then the dining room, but there was no sign of Kel. When he entered the kitchen, the sight was enough to stop him in his tracks.

Dishes were piled high on every countertop. The dishwasher door was open, and Luc peeked inside. It was full of dirty dishes. The sink was full too, and the trash looked like it hadn’t been taken out for weeks.

Luc noted the pizza boxes and take-out cartons. At least he’s eating something. It was only when he took a closer look at one corner of the kitchen that the full extent of the situation hit him.

Bottles. Lots and lots of empty bottles. And most of it was the hard stuff, Luc was dismayed to see. There were empty cans and bottles of hard cider, and bottles of wine too. It appeared as if Kel had drunk his way through the contents of a bar.

Dear God, what state is he in, if he’s drunk all that?

Luc checked the rest of the first floor, but there was still no sign. He paused at the foot of the stairs, his nostrils flaring. The smell of stale alcohol was very noticeable. Luc mounted the stairs, his heart pounding. This is not good. This is way worse than I thought. Already he was kicking himself for not charging in sooner.

When he reached the door to Kel’s room, Luc paused, steeling himself for whatever lay beyond it, and praying fervently that the boy hadn’t choked to death on his own vomit. He pushed open the door and heaved an internal sigh of relief at the sight that awaited him.

Kel was in his bed, only the top of his head visible above the comforter, but he was clearly breathing. The room was in semidarkness, and the reek of alcohol was at its strongest, accompanied by the smell of stale sweat. Luc crossed the floor, put his hand to the lump beneath the covers, and gave Kel a light shake.

Nothing.

Luc gave him a stronger shake, and Kel’s groggy voice shattered the quiet. “Wha?”

“Kel,” Luc said urgently. “It’s Luc.”

“Go ’way.”

Like Luc was going to do that. “No, I’m not going anywhere. Remember?” He slowly drew back the comforter, only to have Kel seize it from him and pull it back over himself. Half-closed brown eyes regarded him with incredulity.

“How’d you get in here?”

“I have a key. You mom gave it to me. Remember, she asked me to check on the house?”

Kel propped himself up on his elbows, and the comforter slid lower, revealing…

Well, I certainly didn’t expect that.

KC Wells has written some pretty good books dealing with kink of all sorts. This one missed the mark for me though.

Kel is 24 and in the closet. Because his father and grandfather are preachers and he was brought up to believe it was wrong. He knows it isn’t really wrong, but he just doesn’t have it in him to come out. And then an accident means he doesn’t have to.

Luc has been Kel’s next door neighbor as long as he could remember. Always a nice guy, but his parents didn’t really socialize with him being that he wasn’t in the church. But the exchanged pleasantries. Those pleasantries turned into helping Kel when his parents died.

For a guy who was brought up hardcore Christian, he didn’t seem to struggle all that much with, well, anything. There were moments, but nothing like other stories I have read.

It’s a very slow burn. Mostly because neither wanted to admit their attraction to the other. But once they finally do- holy hot, they are all in. Although vanilla, they are having sex everyday, twice a day. Which is just fine. Except the blurb calls it a Daddy/boy book. And there is a little bit of Luc calling Kel “boy”, it’s more out of habit than anything else. Kel is kind of clueless.

So if you are looking for a Daddy book, this really isn’t it. They don’t embrace that until basically the end of the book. Total disappointment.

I honestly wish it hadn’t been labeled that way because without it I think I would have liked it a lot more. But I kept waiting…and waiting…and waiting for Luc to talk about his kink. And there were plenty of opportunities.

I did love the dynamic between the two. The way Luc immediately started taking care of Kel. They were loving and caring right from the get go. Add in the steamy sex and they were a great couple. But kinky Daddy and boy, no.

I’d go up a full star if they had embraced the Daddy/boy kink WAY sooner in the book. But as is…meh

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

K.C. Wells started writing in 2012, although the idea of writing a novel had been in her head since she was a child. But after reading that first gay romance in 2009, she was hooked.

She now writes full time, and the line of men in her head, clamouring to tell their story, is getting longer and longer. If the frequent visits by plot bunnies are anything to go by, that’s not about to change anytime soon.

If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT

You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:

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Stained Hearts by Parker Williams: Exclusive Character Interview, Excerpt and Giveaway

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Today, Parker Williams is here, talking about his new book Stained Hearts. And I have to say, if you don’t shed a tear or two at the character interview and excerpt, I will be very disappointed! This is book 3 in the series, and so touching! (I really enjoyed books 1 and 2 as well). So, check it out, and make sure to leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway.

Can two hearts stained by past pain find healing together?

Tom Kotke held his husband of twenty-five years on the day he died and spent nearly a year adrift. Determined to force Tom back into the world, his family takes him to the Park View Diner, where he meets young stained-glass artist Aiden Dawson. For a brief moment, Tom doesn’t think about his deceased husband—a terrifying prospect.

Slowly, Aiden draws Tom out of his shell and helps him feel alive once more. But Tom isn’t the only one who has suffered. Aiden fears no one sees beyond his wheelchair. Even if Tom can convince him he’s different, they’ll still have to overcome their age difference and a secret that could destroy their future together.

Title: Stained Hearts
Series: Links in the Chain: Book Three
Author: Parker Williams
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Category: Contemporary Romance

Word Count: 67,000

Book Categories: Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, Hurt and Comfort, Loss and Redemption

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Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

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Good morning! Today we’re going to be talking with Tom from ‘Stained Hearts’, the third and final book in the Links in the Chain series.

 

“Tom, thank you for taking the time to meet with us.”

“Sure, no problem.” He glances around. “Wait, when did I agree to do this?”

“Oh, your mom set it up. She said you needed a break after dealing with the loss you did.”

The sheen of tears was obvious, and I immediately felt like an ass for reminding Tom of what he lost.

“I’m sorry about that. My mouth usually engages a day or two before my brain does.”

“That’s…fine. We can talk about it if you want.”

“Are you sure?”

Tom nodded.

“Okay. So Brian was the love of your life.”

Tom’s gaze took on a dreamy quality. “He was. From the day I met him, no one could ever hope to catch my eye. He was such a tiny thing, but his presence filled any room he was in, no matter how large. Though he’d deny it, Brian captured the attention of everyone, and he held them in his web, because once Brian approved of you, you had a friend for life.”

“Was falling in love hard for you?”

Tom chuckled. “Oh, no. Falling in love with Brian was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. One look into his eyes, and I want him to know that I would do anything to make him happy. And I spent nearly twenty-five years doing just that.”

“And then he got the diagnosis.”

“Yeah… That was the worst fucking day in the history of ever for me and my family. Brian gathered us all together an told us in no uncertain terms he had cancer. The doctors told him he was on borrowed time, but he told me he would outlive any expectation they had. And he did. But I watched as the fucking disease consumed him. That healthy glow paled, his bright eyes dimmed, and that beautiful hair became brittle and fell out in clumps.” Tom gave a pained smile. “He told me he would understand if I didn’t look at him the same. He was wrong, though. His beauty was never on his outside, it was the inside I was in love with.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

“What are your plans now?”

There was a moment of uncertainty. “I’ll be honest, I’m trying to take everything one day at a time. After he died, I fell apart. Mom and Dad dragged me out of the house and did their best to push me to become part of the living again. I kicked and screamed the entire way, but they were right. I needed it.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I don’t think Brian would want you to be alone.”

“He doesn’t…didn’t. But I’m okay with it. I’m not looking for anyone else, and I really can’t see myself finding anyone who could hold my heart like Brian did.” He checked his watch. “Is that it?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Sure, no problem. I’m not sure why you wanted to interview me, but I appreciate you coming by.”

I stood to leave. “Have a good day, Tom.”

“Thanks. I’m heading over to the diner to see Noel and Lincoln. You’re welcome to come if you’d like.”

I smiled at him, because I knew what was about to start unfolding. “Nah, it’s fine. I think this trip will be memorable for you. Take care.”

I left Tom’s house and, while sad for his loss, I realized that sometimes we have to lose something we love in order to grow strong enough to find a new thing that we’ll hold onto. Tom’s journey to healing would start today.

There is a moment, just as twilight gives way to total darkness, when everything over the lake is still. It’s like the world is holding its breath, waiting to see what’s going to happen. It’s during this one, singular moment when I feel… free from the memories. Of course, like they always do, they surge back when I realize I can’t cling to that magical second any longer.

In October, Brian and I bought a cabin near Crivitz, Wisconsin. A quiet, peaceful tract of land where we could lay together and love each other as much as we could. I had a company come in to fix it up, so after we shared Thanksgiving dinner with our family, we could pack up our things from our home in Milwaukee and move into the cabin. The place was beautiful, but I don’t know how much of it Brian really saw. Each passing day he got weaker and weaker, and each day I wished I could freeze time.

When January came around, we went home to Milwaukee for a little while. Brian told me he wanted to go back and say goodbye to our friends and family. The trip was awful, what with my mother and father spending hours locked away with Brian, and him wanting some alone time with my brother, Robert, and his lover, Galen. After finally meeting with Lincoln and Noel, Brian also asked to go to Lincoln’s diner alone so he could sit and talk with Noel. It hurt me to have him away from me, but I understood his need to be by himself for a time. It still sucked.

I remember the night clearly. There was a haze over the lake, and the clouds obscured the moon. Around us, the night air filled with sounds, like the animals were doing whatever it took to make Brian happy. We sat there, holding hands in our little bit of paradise, where nothing bad could happen. Only… it could. Brian wanted to stay here because he didn’t intend his last days to be spent being fussed over by our friends and the family we’d created. The thought that they pitied him made his heart hurt, because Brian was the healer. He needed to make everyone else feel good. And now it was he who needed the healing, but we both knew it wasn’t going to come. The doctors had given him less than a year. He swore to me that he would prove them wrong, and he did. Being the fighter he was, Brian stretched it out to five. But every hourglass runs out eventually.

One night, just as twilight was giving way to total darkness, he reached for my hand.

“I love you.”

My throat seized. I knew what he was doing, but I wasn’t ready. Not yet. “I know.”

“You have to let me go.”

I jumped out of the chair and spun to face him. “How the hell do you expect me to do that? Since that first day in college, I have been in love with you.”

It was true. When this young Asian man knocked on the door to the dorm room, my tongue stopped working. He was so goddamn beautiful, it hurt to see him and not be able to touch his flawless skin. But that was 1993, and things were still kind of closeted. Hitting on your roommate was probably the stupidest thing you could do, despite what the porn videos said.

“I’m Brian Chen.”

His voice sent ripples of pleasure through me. I was hit hard by lust and longing, and the only thing I could think of was that it would be a very long four years.

“Hi. I’m Tom Kotke.”

He held out his hand, and after I took it, I was reluctant to let go. He smiled at me, showing off pearly white teeth, with one just a little crooked. I wanted to kiss that mouth and let my tongue explore that tooth. I’d never had sex before, but right then I wanted to drop to my knees and show this man the pleasure one guy could give another. Or, at least what I’d seen in porn.

He chuckled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tom Kotke. Might I have my hand back?”

It was then I realized I still held his hand in mine. I let go of it, instantly regretting having done so. “I’m sorry.” I worried that now he’d think I was some kind of freak. “I’m not a weirdo.”

And saying that out loud seemed to prove the opposite.

He gave the barest of smiles. “No, I never thought that.”

And that was our first meeting. Over the next two months of living together, Brian spent every night at home, in front of his laptop. Secretly I was grateful for that fact, because seeing him with another person would have hurt. It wasn’t too much longer before I had to admit to him that I was gay, because having him be uncomfortable around me was definitely not what I wanted.

“I figured that out when you held my hand that first day. If I’m honest, I wish I hadn’t said anything and you had continued.”

My heart beat a little faster. “You mean…?”

His grin slid into place, and my heart went pitter-pat. “Yes, Tom, I’m gay as well.”

And that sealed the deal for me. I was in love with him.

Before those memories could swamp me, a wheezed breath dragged me back to the here and now.

“I watched you every night, pen in your mouth, as you worked on one paper or another. I dragged you up to bed on nights when you told me you needed five more minutes. I sat in the audience as you stood up there, diploma in hand, and told our class that they were responsible for the world they were entering. That they had to choose kindness over money. And the day I asked you to marry me….”

“And I said no.”

I couldn’t swallow past the lump in my throat. “You said no.”

He quirked his artfully plucked eyebrow. “And why did I say no?”

“Because you didn’t want me to have to choose between you and a career. You thought you were doing good by me.”

“And I was wrong. The day you slid that ring on my finger, I finally understood what it meant to be whole.”

“Right, and now you think I’m supposed to just let you go and move on? I won’t be whole anymore, so how the hell do you think I can pick up and forget you existed?”

“Sit down.”

“No.”

He gave me a weak smile. “Tommy, sit down.”

When he called me Tommy, my knees wobbled. It was a nickname that only he could use. I wouldn’t accept it from anyone else, not even my family. From him? My heart always thumped a little harder at hearing it in his soft voice, as his light brown eyes held me captive. I sat on the bench beside him, and he put a hand on my arm.

“I’m not saying you have to do it now, but you can’t keep living for me. I won’t be here in anything more than a memory. If you really want to honor that, then you need to live. You’ll have to do it for both of us. Take that trip and go parasailing like we always said we’d do. Trek across the desert on the back of those humped nightmares. Ride the scariest roller coaster in the world. Do that, and your heart will race harder than it’s ever done before.”

“No, it won’t.” I turned my hand over and wrapped our fingers together. “The day you said ‘I do’? Nothing will ever be more thrilling or terrifying than that.”

He coughed, his body shuddering. He reached up to cover his mouth. When he pulled his hand away, dots of blood coated his palm. The inevitable had finally happened, and I was about to lose my heart.

“It’s been twenty-five years, baby. The best anyone has ever had, but—”

“Shut up.” I leaned over and put my head on his shoulder. “Please. Just stop talking. Let’s sit here and enjoy the quiet.”

He laid his head against mine. “Okay.”

The moment was perfect. A reminder of why I loved him so very much. We sat there for an hour, and when the coughing started again, worse this time, I reached for my phone. He shook his head.

“Don’t. You’ve got to let me go. It’s time. I don’t have it in me to fight anymore.”

My heart broke, knowing what was coming. “But I can’t…. I don’t want to.”

“I know, but no one can stop time, and mine has come. You need to accept that.”

My eyes filled with tears, and I scrubbed a hand over them.

“Do me a favor?”

“Anything, you know that.”

“Hold me, so I won’t be so afraid.”

God, my heart tore in two. “Okay.” I wrapped my arms around him, the body that had always been delicate but was now thin and fragile. He put his head on my chest, and his wheezing grew harsher.

“I’m always going to love you, Tommy. And if there’s an afterlife, I’ll be waiting for you in the park under the big oak tree. Will you look for me?”

That was where we had our first date. Him sitting there, his face tilted up at the sun, looking so fucking gorgeous. “I swear, I won’t look for anything else.”

“Okay.” He coughed, harder than before. “I’m going to miss waking up and seeing your smile every morning.”

I squeezed him tighter. I no longer had words. In my mind, I was wishing I could die along with him, because being alone? I couldn’t see how that was possible. The man I clutched to me was my life.

“You’re going to be okay. You know that.”

I started to disagree but stopped myself. He needed it to be true. He didn’t want to die with the regret of leaving me alone. “I’ll be okay.”

“Stop lying to me. You’ll cry, grieve, and try to hide away from people. When we went home, I told our family not to let you do it. They’re going to hound you. They’ll force you to go out and meet new people.” He reached up and put his hand on my chest. “And one day, I hope you’ll find love again, because there’s too much in your heart not to share it with—” Harsh coughs wracked his slight frame, and I knew the time had come.

“Rest. I’m going to be right here for you.”

“You always were. And when the time comes that you need comfort, you know where to look, right?”

“Sure.” I really had no idea, but I just needed him to be at peace.

I’m not sure when Brian passed away, but the night had gone dark. As if sensing my mourning, everything around us was still. Taking out my phone, I called the hospital and told them that he had died. They sent an ambulance, and the EMTs found me still cradling the body of my husband. A numbness sapped any strength I had, and I was grateful to the men who took me to the hospital, because I wouldn’t have been able to get there on my own.

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of calls and letters, the funeral—Brian had asked to be cremated and wanted his ashes laid to rest in his favorite place in the whole world, Yellowstone National Park. He loved the beauty and tranquility of the place. Of course, I would follow his instructions to the letter, but I wasn’t prepared for what I found when I opened his urn. Brian was always so full of life. He personified grace and beauty in all things. And now? My husband was nothing but a white powder, like something I cleaned out of our fireplace. Upon seeing what was left of my Brian, I broke down in tears. Still, I sucked it up and did what he asked, burying his ashes beneath a tree that he’d carved our initials on decades ago.

Going home—to the house we had bought together a lifetime ago—was bittersweet. I could sense his presence everywhere, and more than once the memories of the life we shared overwhelmed me. Stupid things, like sitting down to watch a favorite TV show, became hollow and empty without him next to me. Going to bed, knowing his side would stay forever cool, had me moving out onto the couch. Not comfortable by any means, but still a damn sight better than rolling over to wrap my arm around him and finding him gone. Again.

Parker Williams began to write as a teen, but never showed his work to anyone. As he grew older, he drifted away from writing, but his love of the written word moved him to reading. A chance encounter with an author changed the course of his life as she encouraged him to never give up on a dream. With the help of some amazing friends, he rediscovered the joy of writing, thanks to a community of writers who have become his family.

Parker firmly believes in love, but is also of the opinion that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (plus a little hurt and angst, too). The course of love is never a smooth one, and happily-ever-after always has a price tag.

Website: www.parkerwilliamsauthor.com

Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641

Email: parker@parkerwilliamsauthor.com

Leave a comment for Parker about this new book, and his guest post and excerpt and you could win one of his backlist ebooks!

Hearts of Blood (Chevalier Book #2) by Kay Doherty: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

by

Omega wolf shifter, Vance, and the rest of his small pack have finally found an Alpha willing to take them on and were still trying to regain their footing when the McBane Pack attacked them. When a vampire appears in front of him, Vance realizes he’s looking into the ice-blue eyes of his mate, and the fact that his mate is something other than wolf scares him.

Sakima knew the wolf shifter was his destined companion the moment he scented him at Elysium, but claiming the gorgeous young Omega wolf is a dangerous proposition. Vance and his unconventional pack have attracted the attention of the vampire coven. As the owner of Elysium, Sakima has been asked to use the club to gather information on the powerful interspecies pack and its Alpha.

Unfortunately for Vance and Sakima, the vampire coven and the continued attacks by the McBane Pack are only a portion of their problems. Amidst concerns over Alpha Tanner’s abilities growing with Sakima’s addition to the pack, a spurned ex targets Vance in an attempt to remove him from Sakima’s life, and Elysium becomes a hot bed for interspecies mingling where anyone could be an enemy.

Title:  Hearts of Blood

Series: Chevalier, Book Two

Author: Kay Doherty

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: July 29, 2019

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 42000

Genre: Paranormal, LGBT, wolf shifters, dragon shifters, bonded mates, Elementals, businessmen, vampires, gay

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A few days ago I came across the question, “what do you do and why do you do it?” After thinking about it for a bit, I can to one conclusion. Making stuff up. That has got to be the best part of being an author. I can do whatever i want on those pages. That’s why I enjoy writing this series so much. Creating a fantastic world that doesn’t exist, giving my characters extraordinary abilities, and then writing it in such a way that makes readers think, “what if…” I like playing with reality in a way that allows me to escape it, deal with it, make sense of this insane world we live in. Writing these stories gets me out of my head, out of my rigid way of thinking, so I can escape. “What if…” can be so much fun if when you let yourself bend all the rules you can’t change in real life.

Sakima

Sakima glanced around the yard at the wolf shifters, both in human and wolf form, before settling his gaze on the one he’d come for—his destined companion. He had waited hundreds of years for this creature to arrive. The beautiful golden-brown wolf whined and took a small step back, crouched in wariness, tail tucked.

“What do you want, vampire?” the Alpha asked.

“My name is Sakima Hawke, and I want him,” Sakima answered as he took in the tawny wolf.

The wolf began to shake, making Sakima’s skin itch. This creature was his destined companion; he should never be fearful of him. Sakima squatted so he was eye level with his wolf, his gaze never straying from him, in an attempt to show through action he was not a threat. He’d known the moment the tawny-haired man had brushed against him at Elysium they were meant to be together, but the place had been packed that night and the wolf shifter had quickly melted away into the throng. Sakima had searched the club, attempting to pick the man out from the crowd, but the wolf shifter had turned out to be quite elusive. He’d lost the wolf’s scent for weeks before finding it again quite suddenly moments ago while on his way home.

It was an act of the fates Sakima had decided on a leisurely stroll rather than traveling home at hyperspeed after visiting one of his oldest friends: a human donor who was declining in health. Excitement he’d not felt in decades thrummed through his veins at the sight of the wolf now crouched before him. The sharp tang of fear wafting from him increased Sakima’s discomfort. Perhaps the wolf wasn’t aware of what they were to each other yet, though it was more likely he was simply uneducated about vampires. Sakima was well aware of the fear his kind generated. Too many rumors, myths, and misunderstandings circulated about vampires.

Many believed they were the walking dead, that anyone they fed from would become a vampire as well, but that was all fallacy. Sakima was no more dead than anyone else present, though he knew he appeared to be with his pale skin, long white hair, and ice-blue eyes. He could love, mate, and feed from his partner without changing the beautiful creature. Sakima would take great care in helping his destined understand he was no more of a threat than the Elemental, dragon, or Alpha he kept company with, each of whom had their own myths and rumors.

Desire to touch the gorgeous animal before him had Sakima extending a hand. He did so with extreme caution, so as not to frighten the wolf further, but was unsuccessful. The wolf curled into himself, becoming as small as his bulk would allow, crouching lower to the ground on shaky legs, ears flattened to his skull. Sakima lowered his hand to the grass but otherwise remained still. Instilling trust with a shifter while they were in animal form being ruled a great deal by their animal instincts was difficult. This would be far easier if the young man would shift back to human, though Sakima understood why he wouldn’t do so at this moment. When the man shifted, he would be naked, which the shifter may view as a vulnerability in his human form.

“You must know I won’t hurt you,” Sakima said softly. “We are destined companions.”

The wolf whined and turned to the pack leader. If Sakima understood wolf shifters well, there was a bond between his wolf and the Alpha that allowed them to speak telepathically. He’d never been jealous of such a thing before, but he didn’t like his fated companion being able to communicate telepathically with anyone other than him. Unfortunately, the telepathic bond was an inevitable part of being in a wolf pack. And if he wanted to claim this wolf shifter, he would have to accept the pack as a whole because there would be no removing his companion from them. Not safely. Sakima rose to his feet, his heart sinking a bit when his wolf scurried away to hide within the house. He gave no reaction outwardly, but he gave a mental sigh as he turned to face the Alpha.

“My apologies,” the Alpha said. “I asked him to go inside for a moment. He’s a bit overwhelmed.”

“Frightened, you mean,” Sakima corrected.

The Alpha wasn’t concerned with semantics. “We’ve all been through quite a lot recently, and this is a bit of a surprise. I’m sure you understand…Sakima? May I call you that?”

Sakima inclined his head in acceptance. “And you would be?”

“Tanner McBane. I’m the Alpha, and Vance is a member of my pack.”

Vance. A unique name for a uniquely beautiful wolf. Sakima scanned the “pack,” his gaze drifting from a gray wolf to a gray-and-brown wolf to a dragon to a white wolf with wild eyes to an Elemental, finally coming to rest once again on the Alpha.

“Quite the unconventional pack, if I may say.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Word has spread through the paranormal ranks of a pack of outcasts who have gained more power than is considered safe or wise. I feel I should be concerned for the welfare of my destined companion being bonded to such a pack.”

The statement was met with several growls and a strong wind that only affected Sakima, whipping his long hair in every direction. Sakima smiled. Vance was clearly cared for and protected. Tanner glanced at the dragon on his left.

“Have you ever heard of a wolf mating a vampire? Chevaliers aside.”

“No,” the dragon answered. “But I’d never before heard of a wolf mating an Elemental either. Or a dragon.”

The expression that passed between dragon and Alpha was not missed by Sakima. The name Chevalier shook him, but he pushed the memory aside—a centuries-old mistake best left to the dust of time.

“So, the rumors are true,” Sakima said.

“What rumors?” the Elemental asked.

“Of same-sex, interspecies matings taking place openly. I had hoped, given what I now know of my own destined companion, but had remained skeptical,” Sakima answered.

By way of introduction, Tanner said, “The dragon shifter is Luca. He’s my mate. The Elemental is Deacon and his mate is the white wolf, Ross. The gray wolf is Ean, and the grayish brown wolf is Theran. If you truly plan to claim Vance as your mate, you, too, will be an openly mated interspecies couple. You need to be comfortable with that if you’re going to become part of the pack.”

Sakima showed plenty of fang when he spoke. “Oh, I have every intention of claiming my fated mate, Alpha, but I said nothing of joining your pack.”

Movement at the patio doors drew Sakima’s attention. Vance in human form was as handsome as his wolf was beautiful; golden-brown hair and the lithe, toned physique all wolf shifters possessed. Those hazel eyes showed fear and hesitation, but also recognition, making Sakima believe Vance knew they were destined companions. Vance simply wasn’t accepting it, yet.

“You would risk his safety and sanity by taking him from his pack, severing his pack bond? What kind of mate would do such a thing?” Deacon asked through clenched teeth.

Sakima was surprised by the vehemence and animosity coming from the Elemental. He’d made the simple suggestion that claiming his wolf did not necessarily equate to him joining the pack. Nothing more. Though perhaps removing his destined companion was something to consider, given the volatile nature the pack exuded.

“I won’t leave my pack,” Vance said softly.

His voice was melodic to Sakima’s ears. Despite the fear and uncertainty, Vance’s words didn’t waver. They were strong and decisive, despite the fact the wolf was still hiding behind the pack. Vance had donned a pair of shorts and a tank top, leaving his toned arms, legs, and feet bared to Sakima’s perusal, and he soaked in the sight.

“I know what I’m about to suggest will be difficult for you,” Tanner said. “But I think you should leave. Perhaps stay away for a few days to give Vance time to acclimate to the idea of having a vampire for a mate.”

“Not as difficult as you might think,” Sakima said.

He’d been living a solitary life for nearly forty years, and he planned to use the time apart from Vance to prepare for the wolf to join him. He moved with vampiric speed past the pack to stand before Vance. While he was willing to leave for a short time, he wouldn’t allow his companion to put the pack between them. When he stopped, he stood face-to-face with his beautiful man. Vance yelped and jumped back, but Sakima caught him with an arm around his waist, aborting any attempt at escape. Heat immediately seeped through the cloth of his shirt, warming his skin.

“Until next time, pet.”

Sakima placed a chaste kiss on Vance’s lips so as not to cut him with his fangs. Not yet. He would draw blood from Vance only after they became lovers, and Vance demonstrated his willingness. As quickly as he had appeared before Vance, he disappeared, leaving the outcast pack and his destined mate behind. It was a temporary situation, after all. Now that he knew where his wolf companion was, he felt far more relaxed and willing to let things progress at a pace comfortable for Vance.

Kay Doherty is an omnisexual/polysexual who lives in Colorado with her poly-family, Mike, Keri, and Tigz. Her house is overrun with cats and dogs. Family is important to her so there are daily texts, frequent visits to her parents, and constant banter with her brothers. She happily suffers a severe addiction to coffee and Mexican food. She loves to read and write and can easily become consumed by it for hours, much to the dismay of Mike and Keri (Tigz is an enabler). On occasion she can be convinced to venture out into the world of the living despite being annoyed by the sun shining in her face.

Website | Twitter | Pinterest

http://www.kaydohertybooks.com/

http://www.twitter.com/kdohertyauthor

http://www.pinterest.com/kdohertyauthor

 

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Paint It Black (Beneath the Stain Book 2) by Amy Lane: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

by

A Beneath the Stain Novel

Everybody thinks Mackey Sanders’s Outbreak Monkey is the last coming of Rock ’n’ Roll Jesus, but Cheever Sanders can’t wait to make a name for himself where nobody expects him to fill his famous brothers’ shoes. He’s tired of living in their shadow.

Blake Manning has been one of Outbreak Monkey’s lead guitarists for ten years. He got this gig on luck and love, not talent. So hearing that Cheever is blowing through Outbreak Monkey’s hard-earned money in an epic stretch of partying pisses him off.

Blake shows up at Cheever’s nonstop orgy to enforce some rules, but instead of a jaded punk, he finds a lost boy as talented at painting as Mackey is at song-making, and terrified to let anybody see the real him. Childhood abuse and a suicide attempt left Cheever on the edge of survival—a place Blake knows all too well.

Both men have to make peace with being second banana in the public eye. Can they find the magic of coming absolute first with each other?

Title: Paint It Black
Series: Beneath the Stain: Book 2
Author: Amy Lane
Release Date: August 13, 2019
Category: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Pages: 322

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And the Children Shall Lead Us By Amy Lane

So I admit it—this story has nothing to do with the actual plot of the book I’m pimping but it might make you laugh, and that’s good too.

When I wrote Beneath the Stain, I chose all of the chapter titles from classic rock songs—I had a browser open to Rolling Stone’s top 500 rock and roll songs for about two months, and boy, did I fall down some rabbit holes. For Paint it Black, I figured since it was a smaller story than Beneath the Stain, I would only focus on one artist for the chapter titles, to maybe help me narrow my focus. The title was one of the Rolling Stone’s most iconic hits, so I went with the Stones.

So for a month and a half, all my family heard–in the car, at my desk, when I was doing the dishes—was the Rolling Stones. In particular, “Paint it Black.”

My son, ZoomBoy, was particularly enthralled. “What is this music, Mother? How might I get me some of that on my Spotify account?”

And suddenly it wasn’t just me, it was both of us. And for a little while, I thought that was fine. I had my family with me, right? I mean, he learned to whistle so he could whistle the riff! That was awesome!

And then, one night, after I’d finished the book and had moved on to the next Fish, his father and I were sitting, watching television, and I heard… well, I wasn’t sure.

“Mate—hit pause!”

We frowned at each other.

“What is that?” he asked.

“It’s ZoomBoy—does he need anything?” I said.

“Forget does he need anything—is he sacrificing small animals and singing an unholy hymn?”

I listened for another moment. “Mmmaybe…”

Both of us listened again. “What in the furry hell?”

“Do you think we’re safe in our sleep?” I asked.

Mate laughed uncomfortably. “Sure. I’ll be sure to wake you if he comes after us with a knife.”

Now, before anybody sends sage to burn, or an exorcist to my address, I want you all to look up the lyrics to “Paint it Black.” Dark stuff, right? Painting shit black? Serial killer fantasies? Now imagine that song being sung by a tone-deaf fifteen-year-old in the shower, echoing through three rooms in a small house.

Yup. Scared the shit out of us.

And then ZoomBoy came out of the bathroom, still humming, and Mate and I met eyes again—and started laughing our asses off.

“I blame you,” Mate said.

“Go ahead—I’m still having nightmares about satanic cults and live sacrifice!”

“That’s fine—you can always write another genre,” he told me, and then hit play, and we went back to our regularly scheduled programming.

But that song has stuck with us. Right now? As I was writing this? I turned on the song, for old time’s sake.

When the song ended, ZoomBoy was still whistling along.

It sticks with you—as I hope Blake and Cheever will stick with you too. I know those boys ripped my heart out in the good way, and not in the live sacrifice way. But they put it back in again, and that’s why it’s romance instead of horror.

We’ll save the horror for ZoomBoy.

Before we go any further, two things.

1. Read the first book Beneath the Stain. Rock stars and angst galore. And you have to read book 1 to really understand book 2

2. These books are a committment. Book 1 is over 650 pages. This book is 500 pages. Just giving you a heads up.

Moving on to the review, let’s assume you’ve read book 1, mmkay?

Approximately 10 years has passed between books. Our boys are old, wiser, still sober, husbands and fathers. Mackey and Grant have gotten married and he still manages the band. And now the focus is on Cheever, the youngest Sanders brother. too young to join the band at the time, he focused on art. He is about to graduate college, but a harsh review of his art makes him snap and he sets out to destroy himself.

Blake, always feeling like the outsider in the band and Cheever, the outsider with the brothers bond and bond quickly. Together they work to not only validate each other but also to validate their places in the band, in the house and in the family.

Ugh they poor boys are so damaged. And they held most of that damage inside for 10 years. While I am not surprised it took Cheever that long to snap, I am surprised that Blake held it in so long.

Throughout the book we see not only Cheever and Blake fall in love, but Cheever accept the love of his brothers again. He was so closed off he had no idea how much they wanted him in their lives. It was sweet but also really sad.

I do think that Cheever and Blake were a bit codependant with each other. Especially Cheever. Not for nothin, I don’t care how rich you are, they aren’t going to let someone who isn’t in treatment spend the night with you in rehab.

I really loved seeing the band, Grant and the wives so settled into their lives. They were grown ups! Ok, the wives did kind of really fulfill gender stereotypes that wasn’t totally necessary. Sorry, boys. Kick in and help in the kitchen a little more.

Yes, I am a picky bitch. Sue me.

I still really enjoyed this book. Not as much as the first, but so worth the read.

4 Pieces of Candy

Amy Lane lives in a crumbling crapmansion with a couple of growing children, a passel of furbabies, and a bemused spouse. She’s been nominated for a RITA twice, has won honorable mention for an Indiefab, and has a couple of Rainbow Awards to her name. She also has too damned much yarn, a penchant for action-adventure movies, and a need to know that somewhere in all the pain is a story of Wuv, Twu Wuv, which she continues to believe in to this day! She writes fantasy, urban fantasy, and gay romance–and if you accidentally make eye contact, she’ll bore you to tears with why those three genres go together. She’ll also tell you that sacrifices, large and small, are worth the urge to write.
Beneath the Stain Free Extras: https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/YeFYLUdH

World Turned Upside Down by Elyse Springer: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

by

 

Today is National Book Lovers Day, a perfect day to check out this novella by Elyse Springer. I am reading it right now, and am loving the descriptions of Antarctica that Elyse has in her book. I’ll have a review later, but I am super excited to have Elyse here for her book release TODAY! Check out her awesome guest post. I live in the cold of the Midwest, and totally get this entire post, as our winters can get down to close to these numbers, (although not for an entire winter). And she has a fantastic giveaway for you, as well. Check it all out below!!!!

 

After three winters in Antarctica, Simon Bancroft is an old hand on the ice. The harsh weather and extreme isolation aren’t for everyone, but he enjoys the tight-knit community at McMurdo Station… and lately he’s enjoyed watching the hot new researcher, Asher Delaney, who’s recently arrived to study the aurora. But Simon’s just a janitor. Asher doesn’t even know he exists.

When Simon’s friends propose a wager, he gets a chance to introduce himself to Asher at last. But Asher defies all of Simon’s assumptions, and suddenly he finds himself reevaluating everything he thought he knew about Asher, himself, and falling in love at the bottom of the world.

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

Title: World Turned Upside Down
Author: Elyse Springer
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Category: Contemporary, World of Love
Pages: 90

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Dressing for Antarctica

Antarctica is cold.

That seems like such an obvious statement, but the bitter iciness of Antarctica is something most people in the world will never even get close to experiencing. While I was at the South Pole, the average summer temperature was about -30°F, but the temperature in winter can drop to -100°F.

McMurdo, where Simon and Asher spend the winter, is a little more tolerable. Winter temps range from about -20° to -50°F… though it did hit -85°F with windchill for a couple of days when I was there!

So how on earth do people survive that? Answer: Clothing. Lots and lots of very high-tech clothing.

 

There was a running joke in Antarctica about sex—

First he took of her jacket. Then he took off her sweater. And then he seductively slid her coveralls off her shoulders and down her legs. And then he stripped off her thermal shirt, and her jeans. And then she lay before him on the bed, wearing nothing but her base layers, wool socks, and hat.

Simon huffed out a laugh, thinking about it, and propped his elbow on the table so he could rest his chin in the palm of his hand.

 

That’s the opening scene of World Turned Upside Down, and Simon is absolutely right to laugh. The number of layers residents on ‘the Ice’ have to wear is frankly ridiculous!

Based on my personal blog, here’s what I wore on August 19, 2011. The temperature was -67°F with windchill:

  • three shirts – each one is wool or silk and pretty thin, so I can remove layers while inside
  • three pairs of leggings – again, silk or wool
  • fleece sweater
  • thick wool socks
  • leg warmers (fuzzy and colorful!)
  • Carhartt overalls – these are standard issue and lined for wind protection… everyone wears them!
  • another fleece sweater
  • a jacket shell
  • “Big Red” – the standard-issue fluffy red parka that all contractors and scientists wear
  • heavy insulated boots
  • two neck gaiters – one for the bottom of my neck, and one to cover my ears/cheeks
  • base layer thin hat and a thick wool hat
  • goggles
  • wool glove liners
  • wool-lined mittens

Suffice it to say, getting dressed (or undressed!) can be an ordeal, but after a few days you get pretty good at getting the layers on (or off!) pretty quickly.

This links from a NASA scientist in Antarctica gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the standard-issue ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) gear that’s issued to every employee and researcher: https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/archive/tiger/ecw.html

But sometimes you just don’t want to bother with all the stuff. It’s not uncommon to see people dashing between buildings in jeans and sneakers, trying to spend as little time in the cold as possible.

 

Simon gave a little shimmy in front of the mirror, turning to the side to study the way his clothes clung to his flat stomach and round ass. This was the outfit he’d worn back in the Real World when he wanted to pick up at a club; maybe it was overkill for a night out in Antarctica, but at least Simon knew that he looked good.

Once he was satisfied with his appearance, Simon grabbed his jacket, zipped it up tight, and made his way down the hallway from his dorm room. He hovered at the door leading outside, enjoying one last moment of warmth. Then, with a deep breath, he opened the door and darted outside.

Holy shit it’s cold. Negative twenty wasn’t really that bad by Antarctica standards, but wearing just jeans and a T-shirt beneath his jacket meant he could feel every bitter cold sub-zero degree. His breath pooled in front of him as he darted between buildings, careful where ice had formed, and rushed to the old wooden shack that housed the bar.

 

Yes, I absolutely did get a little bit of frostbite once because I went outside without being properly dressed.

Of course, as Simon and I both will tell you, the trade-off for bearing these unbelievably cold temps is well worth it! Check out World Turned Upside Down to learn more about Antarctica, or feel free to shoot me a message on Twitter.

Elyse is an author and world-traveler, whose unique life experiences have helped to shape the stories that she wants to tell. She writes romances with LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships, and believes that every person deserves a Happily Ever After. When she’s not staring futilely at her computer screen, Elyse spends her time adding stamps to her passport, catching up on her terrifying TBR list, and learning to be a better adult.

You can find Elyse online at:

Website: http://elspringer.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ElyseSpringer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elysespringerwrites

To celebrate the release of World Turned Upside Down, I’m giving away a t-shirt from McMurdo Station, Antarctica (yes, actually purchased in Antarctica!) and an e-copy of WTUD in the format of your choice. Two additional winners will also receive an e-copy of World Turned Upside Down in the format of their choice, or an e-copy of any book from my backlist.
Contest is open to anyone worldwide over age 18. Closes 8/21 at 11:59 PM EST.