Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

blog tour

Ghost Light Killer (London Podcast Mystery, #2) by Dahlia Donovan: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Several months after their first brush with death, Dannel Ortea and Osian Garey are back with a thrilling murder investigation in the second London Podcast Mystery Series novel.

While helping their flamboyant neighbour with his play, Dannel and Osian discover more than a ghost haunting the stage at the Evelyn Lavelle theatre. It’s all fun and games until a friend is found kneeling over a dead body.

Is he the murderer or an unfortunate witness?

When one body turns to two, then to three, will the killer ever be found?

As Dannel and Osian work together to solve the mystery, the murderer focuses on them. Their drive to clear their friend’s name puts them centre stage. But not everything under the glow of the bright lights glimmers.

Will anyone be left when the curtain falls?

Author: Dahlia Donovan
Title: Ghost Light Killer
Series: London Podcast Mystery, #2
Genre: M/M Cosy Mystery
Release Date: August 7th
Word Count: Approx. 60k

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Cosplay Killer (book 1)

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“Not you two again.” Detective Inspector Haider Khan had pushed through the throng of onlookers, coming to a halt when he spotted Dannel and Osian. He pinched the bridge of his nose for several seconds. “Why am I not surprised?”

“We’ve got witnesses. It wasn’t us,” Dannel insisted immediately. “Definitely not us.”

“Inside voice.” Osian bent forward to whisper.

“Sorry.” Dannel grabbed Osian’s hand. “We were definitely not in the room where it happened.”

Haider narrowed his eyes on them when Osian muffled his snort of amusement against Dannel’s arm. “Small mercies, I suppose.”

Surveying the room and the crowded hallway, the detective inspector waved over the constables who’d come with him. He dispatched them to herd the witnesses out into the auditorium. His partner, Detective Inspector Powell, joined him; her eyes widened when she caught sight of Dannel and Osian.

Dannel didn’t want to risk unnecessary attention. He’d seen before how that almost led to Osian’s arrest. “We’ll join the other witnesses.”

“Not so fast.” Haider glanced around the room. Archie still stood in the far corner, pale and shaking, watching the paramedics finish up and step aside for the coroner. “While DI Powell speaks with your friend, why don’t we move down the hall and you two tell me what happened?”

I cannot and will not give anything away about this book. It is a mystery after all. 🙂

What I will say is Os and Dannel are at it again. They are kind of pulled into investigating, despite telling Haider “no we will not!”, the murder of one of their friends’ mother. It goes downhill from there, of course. But the enjoyment of the reader only just begins.

I love these two together. They are smart and funny, and just know each other so well. Os does what he needs to to take care of Dannel when he needs time to be away. And Dannel, while he doesn’t really understand Os’s grief, and how that progresses, he respects it, and does what he can to honor it. They are just great together, both funny and sensitive. It’s the relationship that works best for them, and hits the readers heart.

Something that really struck me with this was the author did not leave the PTSD for Os back in book 1. She carried it through here, giving him options for how to deal with it, how to move forward and even help other emergency responders deal with their own grief and PTSD. I appreciated that so much, because PTSD doesn’t just “go away”, and carrying this through, acknowledges that.

There is the fun cast of characters. A “ghost” that appears and shuts and locks doors when you least expect it. We get to see more of Ian, who is the neighbor that we all want in our life. And of course the mystery that only Os and Dannel can find the clues to. They may bumble right in to solving it.

Another well done book in this series, and I’m certainly ready to read more of their antics in London. 🙂

4 pieces of eye candy

Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Website: http://dahliadonovan.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108750876162947/
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Publisher Website: https://www.hottreepublishing.com/book-author/dahlia-donovan/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dahliadonovanauthor/

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Jaywalking (In Step, Book 1) by Rachel Ember: Release Day Review

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Second edition. This novel was previously published as a novella of approximately 30,000 words. The second edition is roughly twice as long.

Emile leads a quiet but contented life as a university professor, with a perfect dog, comfortable home, and loyal friends. Maybe there’s something—or someone, missing. But dating is hard enough for vanilla people. Emile doesn’t just have to find someone he wants to date—he has to find someone he wants to kneel for.

Jay likes playing soccer, reading poetry, and handsome men in tweed vests. Men like Emile, who Jay can’t forget after they connected on a rainy July night. Their encounter awoke a powerful urge in Jay to take, command, and control that has haunted him ever since. Jay had hoped that starting college would distract him, but that hope died when he showed up for the first day of his literature class and discovered Emile was his professor.

When Emile tells Jay they can’t be together, Jay is still determined to figure out a way for the two of them to explore what they share. And Emile craves Jay’s gentle dominance too much to resist him.

Jaywalking includes an age gap, a professor-student relationship, BDSM, a very polite dog, explicit sex, and a happy ending

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Preorder on Amazon

Before I start talking about the book, take a look at the cover…it’s super adorable, isn’t it? And notice book 2, just as cute! I’ve said it a million times, a cover can absolutely produce a sale. It doesn’t have to have a naked torso on it (although those are nice too)…but when you find the cover the tells you several things about the book, and it draws you in. That’s the cover you need. I had never heard of this book, and the second I saw the cover, I knew I wanted to read it.

And now I am likely going to gush even more. 🙂

This book was so well done. It was sweet, lovely, had some heat, and a good pet to round it off. It really did tick many boxes for me. It had age gap, which with the age of Jay, did make it a bit weird for Emile, but Jay didn’t question it at all. I really felt that Jay found confidence in himself, by just acting confident. It was a case of “fake it till you make it with him”. He did seem to do that also with the BDSM side, but it was fairly light BDSM, so I wasn’t concerned. If it had delved much deeper, I would have questioned it much more with a lack of training.

However, I think Emile appealed the most to me. He was confident in his job, enjoyed his life, had good friends, and a sweet dog. His ex…well that was not as good, but definitely paid off in the end. Life, for Emile, was going fairly well, and then he has this attraction dropped out of nowhere that was inappropriate and against all his ethical standards. (As it should be.) In this case, love conquered. Emile struggled to keep the two sides of his life separate, but as we all know, that can only be held for so long.

I absolutely loved this book. And I can’t even say how much I am looking forward to book 2, Oliver, Blake and Cujo’s story. That one is going to be a wild ride, I think. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Soon to be college freshman Jay, and definitely not a college freshman Emile, meet at a poetry reading. Sparks fly, but Emile bails. Life goes on. Until Jay walks into Emile’s Literature 100 class.

This book is a mix for me. Emile is a sub, Jay thinks maybe he is a Dom? Maybe? But this book is SO not BDSM at all. Just because Emile likes to kneel at Jay’s feet does not a sub make. And Jay’s childhood neighbor, who is a Dom (but they never discussed going to the same college or comparing schedules) brings him to an invite only demonstration. Which was completely fade to black so we have no idea how Jay felt in the situation.

Both men are adorable, in a stereotypical way. Emile in vests, cords and bow ties and Jay in track pants and tshirts. And they seem to have a lot of time for each other even though Jay is in school full time, plays soccer for school AND took on a part time dog walking gig.

Overall it is readable, but it absolutely has a crisis of character not knowing what to be. Is it YA? Is it BDSM? Is it age gap? All of those? Jay is awfully confident for someone who has little experience. Just didn’t seem to fit. And the thing with Jay’s college roommate? So odd.

3 pieces of eye candy 

Rachel lives in the Midwest United States with her family, which includes an ever-growing menagerie of pets. If she isn’t writing (or reading) she enjoys riding and traveling to competitions with her horses.

A Case for Christmas (The Lords of Bucknall, Book 2) by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

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He loves no-one and never will.

Lord Christmas Gale is a genius and a misanthrope, and, quite to his disgust, adored by all of Society for his capacity to solve mysteries. When a man approaches him seeking help in locating a lost dog, Gale rebuffs him. But what begins with a missing dog ends in murder and intrigue–two of Gale’s favourite things, if it weren’t for the orphan that comes attached to them. Oh, and Benjamin Chant.

He has sworn to never love again.

The Honourable Mr. Benjamin Chant isn’t sure how he got swept up in Gale’s mad investigation, but there’s something intriguing about the man–a vulnerability that most of the world doesn’t notice, but which captures Chant’s interest, and his sympathy, from their first meeting. After a disastrous love affair in the past, Chant has sworn to never give his heart away again. Especially to a man who does not want it.

But it isn’t just their hearts at stake.

When their investigation takes a dangerous turn and their lives are threatened, both Gale and Chant are forced into the realisation that perhaps two imperfect men might fit perfectly together–that is, if they can outwit the killer who is intent on seeing them both dead.

A Case for Christmas is the second book in the Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance.

A Case for Christmas

The Lords of Bucknall, Book 2

By JA Rock and Lisa Henry

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

A Husband for Hartwell (The Lords of Bucknall Club Book 1)

A Rival for Rivingdon (The Lords of Bucknall Club Book 3) (Release Day 9/14/21)

Chant put an arm around Gale’s shoulders as comfortably as though they were the oldest and dearest of friends. They sat in silence for a moment. Then Chant’s hand drifted up, his fingers threading through Gale’s hair. Gale stiffened. Forced himself to take measured breaths. What on earth… ? Chant carded the strands gently, and Gale felt a strange but not unpleasant prickle go up his spine. Chant’s fingers brushed the hair at Gale’s temple, and then his nails dragged very lightly to the back of Gale’s scalp where they dug in just a little. This time, Gale’s whole body seemed to jump like a candle flame.

He swallowed hard. “What… what are you doing?”

“Shall I stop?”

“No. I—I just don’t understand what…” He trailed off.

“Have you truly never known the pleasure of having your hair stroked?” There was a smile in Chant’s voice, but a sadness in his tone that made Gale at once defensive.

“I… I’m sure I…” But he could think of no instance where anyone had run their fingers through his hair this way. The room grew completely still, until there was nothing but Chant’s gentle touch, and Gale’s awkward pattern of tensing, then letting go, and then tensing again as he tried to acclimatise himself to the sensations. “No,” he muttered finally as though conceding a great defeat.

“Do you dislike it?”

“The only thing I dislike about it is that I am perpetually dreading the moment you’ll cease,” Gale snapped.

“Well, then I shall never cease.”

Gale snorted in spite of himself.

“If you will indulge me, I’ll arrange you so that it is easier for both of us.”

“Chant…”

Chant seemed to be waiting for the rest of whatever Gale had to say. But Gale did not have more to say. He inhaled and then released his breath, trying to slacken his body but to little avail. “All right,” he whispered.

I absolutely love historicals, especially the Elizabethan era. And because m/m historicals are challenging to find, I usually gobble them up right away. (As an example, I was supposed to read three books before I received this arc…as soon as I received it, it jumped to the front without question). I also love stand-offish, snarky characters, and enjoyed Christmas Gale so much in book 1. He could never remember (wink wink) how many sisters he had, or their names. He just made me laugh. So, this was an instant read for me.

Gale is a reluctant hero, who once again gets caught up in mysteries and his detective work. And his banter with Chant was fantastic. It allowed their personalities to shine through, both the grumpy of one, and the sunshine of the other. However, they really seemed to be a great couple together, offsetting each others’ quirks.

The side characters were fantastic, and it just made the book that much more fun, but was still interwoven with a mystery to be solved.

I’m not sure I could have enjoyed this book more, and I’m ready for book 3.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

About JA Rock:

J.A. Rock is the author of over twenty LGBTQ romance, suspense, and horror novels, as well as an occasional contributor to HuffPo Queer Voices. J.A.’s books have received Lambda Literary, INDIEFAB, and EPIC Award nominations, and The Subs Club received the 2016 National Leather Association-International Novel Award. 24/7 was named one of the best books of 2016 by Kirkus Reviews. J.A. lives in Chicago with an extremely judgmental dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

https://jarockauthor.com

About Lisa:

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

To connect with Lisa on social media, you can find her here:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Bookbub
Twitter

She also has a Facebook group where you’ll be kept in the loop with updates on releases, have a chance to win prizes, and probably see lots of lots of pictures of her dog and cats. You can find it here: Lisa Henry’s Hangout.

Flawsome Explorations (Suite Dreams, Book 2) by Ariella Zoelle: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Unexpected sparks fly when a shy, straight, nerdy sweetheart meets a flirtatious, sexy, older Frenchman. Is Zio brave enough to take a chance on Armand?

Fabrizio “Zio” Revello
I embrace the philosophy that nobody is perfect by studying the art of imperfection. But then I meet Armand, forcing me to completely reevaluate my world view. From his gorgeous face, teasing sense of humor, and a French accent to die for, everything about him makes me forget one very important detail: I’ve never been attracted to a man until him. I shouldn’t let him tempt me, but the glimpse of the real Armand behind his playful flirtations makes him impossible to resist.

I’ve never been the adventurous type, but Armand makes me want to be brave and daring. Isn’t a lifetime of happiness with a person who understands me worth the risk?

Armand Bellamy
I approach Zio in search of a no-strings-attached evening of fun to kick off my business trip to Hawaii. But I get way more than I bargained for when I discover a shy, nerdy sweetheart who finds beauty in my flaws. He even accepts the parts of my heart that I hide from the world. It makes me want to make him mine—not just for one night but for every night of the rest of our lives.

He says he’s straight, but when have I ever let that stop me from getting what I want?

Flawsome Explorations is the second book in the Suite Dreams series and part of the Sunnyside universe. This novel features a bisexual awakening, shy/flirt, age gap, instalove, opposites attract romance. If you love cute sweetness, sexy fun, and no angst stories that will make you laugh and swoon, you’ll enjoy this satisfying HEA without cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series in order.

Flawsome Explorations

Suite Dreams, Book 2

By Ariella Zoelle

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Chapter 5: Armand Bellamy

“You’re very confusing.” Zio’s eyebrows furrowed as he studied me. “Like, really confusing.”

I tilted my head as I regarded him. “In what way?”

“You’re impossible, but you’re real. You act as if you want me, but there’s no way in hell that’s true.” He scoffed as if it were the most ridiculous notion he had ever heard before.

The confirmation that he was at least aware I wanted him helped me judge where I stood with him. “Why not?”

“People like you don’t want guys like me.” After hearing about how his parents rejected him, his disbelief was more understandable. I was about to speak when he continued. “And guys like me aren’t supposed to want people like you.”

“Why not?”

He bit his lower lip as he hesitated. “Because you make me want things I shouldn’t, which is so damn confusing.”

“Such as?”

He gave me a pointed look. “You. I’m not supposed to want you. But you keep making me want you, and it’s fucking with my head, not gonna lie.”

“What if I want you to want me?” My question made him flush bright red. “What if I desired that very much?”

He touched the back of his fingers against his cheeks to check if they were as flushed as they felt. “It’s against the rules.”

“What rules?”

“The ones that say I play for the other team,” he mumbled without looking at me. “But you cause me to question the ethics of switching teams, which is scary. It’s not worth it for one game, but…”

Hearing he was straight explained a lot about his scared reactions to being attracted to me. “But you still want to?”

Hiding his face in his hands, he groaned. “But what if it’s not just for one game? What if I end up wanting to sign on for a permanent transfer?”

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“Only if you were playing for keeps. But that’s not what this is about.” He sighed heavily, avoiding my eyes. “I’m not even sure that’s what I’m hoping for. I’m so confused, I’m using sports metaphors, for fuck’s sake. I don’t know anything about sports.”

“Zio, look at me.” I waited until he obeyed before I continued speaking. “I’m not interested in playing a game with your heart.”

He fidgeted under my gaze. “I’d disappoint you by being an awkward virgin with a man.”

“There would be nothing disappointing about that,” I reassured him. “I’d take very good care of you.”

My words sent a visible shiver through him that made my ego purr. “I’m not saying no. But I need a little more time to sort my thoughts out about this before I can say yes.”

His comment gave me hope I still had a chance with him. “Take all the time you need. I have no intention of pressuring you into something you’re not comfortable doing.”

“Which is a huge tick in the column of why I should give in to you.” His wry grin was adorable. “For what it’s worth, the voice in the back of my mind is very vocal about letting you introduce me to a whole new world of pleasure. You don’t make it easy to tell it no.”

“Whatever it’s promising you, reality will be better than you can fathom.”

I could see the chills on his skin my words inspired. “That’s an awfully big promise.”

“Non, it is a guarantee.”

I’ve enjoyed a few of this author’s books now, for their sweetness, hotness, and the characters that are varied in their lives and loves. This book had themes about learning to love yourself, as well as being open to love when you had no idea that was ever on your radar.

This book was pure sweet insta-love, from page 1. Zio didn’t quite understand where it was going, since he’d always thought of himself as straight. Meanwhile Armand, surprisingly, didn’t seem to have any issues, despite having always felt that he was just going to be a playboy, unable or unwilling to find one love.

Zio’s work passion was so intriguing that I had to look it up myself. It’s beautiful. I loved that Zio received such fantastic support from Armand, but also from his brother with regards to not just his sexuality, but his schooling and work as well.

This book was just gooey, sweet, adorable as well as a visual feast of the land around them.

Very enjoyable, with characters that steal your heart.

4 pieces of eye candy

Ariella Zoelle adores steamy, funny, swoony romances where couples are allowed to just be happy. That means she writes low angst stories full of heat, humor, and heart. But sometimes she’s in the mood for something with a bit more angst and drama. And if you are too, check out her A.F. Zoelle books.

For real time updates on her writing progress, please join her Facebook group for exclusive teasers or follow her on Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter to gain access to bonus chapters, previews of upcoming books, exclusive visual guides, and more.

Connect with Ariella:

Website: https://www.ariellazoelle.com/
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King of the Titans by J.K. Jones: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Revenge.

Resentment. Malevolence. Desire. It wraps around him like a familiar cloak.

Like a second skin. Years of war hardened his heart into something unfathomable. For centuries he knew nothing but retribution and the ruthlessness of death and decay. His clan lost the war. They were decimated, their way of life stripped and sold to the highest bidder.

Now he finally has a chance to take back everything he lost.

To kill the King of Titans, assassin Julian White pretends to be a courtesan.

Falling in love with Lucious Rex, the man that tortured and killed his family is an unfortunate complication.

King of the Titans
By J.K. Jones

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

The moment the arctic demon stepped near; a thrill ran down his spine. It was so sharp and sudden he nearly buckled. His knife weighed heavily in his pockets, and his hands itched to thumb the blade and plunge it into the demon’s neck. Yet amid his blinding hatred, something else settled inside him, a spark, quick and strident, something profound.

Ocean-blue eyes made him dizzy as if he were swimming in warm sun-lit currents before being pulled under. That face, he knew that face. For many years, Julian had meditated on it. The night that had brought hellfire and destruction right to his doorstep.

I will set you free. The day he’d taken pity on the worthless Þrælar had been his undoing. They’d been friends once. Julian stopped that thought before it could begin before it could even form and spiral into a well of self-loathing and despair. He went to bed soon after, his mind in disarray. What exactly did the demon want? Why go through all the trouble to scent him and mark his territory if all he wanted to was talk? None of it made sense.

Julian tossed restlessly throughout the night. In the morning, he awoke groggy and disgruntled, wishing he could close the curtains and go back to sleep. The threat of Madame Zelina barging into his room forced him to get up. No matter what, he wasn’t going to incur her wrath. He dressed simply, putting on some pants and his signature coat.

He tied his hair into a low bun, then went downstairs. Madame Zelina stood near the bar, her dress bright red with vines weaving up and down the hem.

I love fantasy when it’s well done, and this was really well done. Classic enemies to lovers. Basically the humans had ruled and treated the wolves like scum for years to the point of rape, torture, and starvation.

Julian (a human) years ago as a boy hears screams in his father’s house night after night and eventually plucks up courage to investigate. He finds a wolf (in human form) bound, starving, and tortured. He doesn’t find out until he’s an adult that his own father was raping the wolf as well.

Julian takes pity on him, lets the wolf go assuming he will escape, but instead the wolf frees other captive wolves and they slaughter the humans and eventually some years later take over and rule.

Now the wolves are in charge but they descend to the same levels of depravity as the humans once were at, except the King–the wolf Julian released all those years ago–doesn’t like what his wolves have become.

The world building, the writing, is amazing and that earns four stars all on its own.

The plot is tight and moves along at a good pace and the last betrayal was well set up and something I didn’t see.

My problem is the ending. They have an enforced three year separation which is never properly justified and then in the last few paragraphs the King sends for Julian and they have maybe three sentences worth of I love yous.

That isn’t enough for me.

After all that death, bloodloss, execution, murder and death I want to wallow in a happy ending. I want declarations of love and devotion that go on for days, and I didn’t get that.

But that’s me. It was a good book, I just wanted another chapter of smoochiness!

4 pieces of eye candy

J.K Jones is a University Graduate with a B.A in Sociology, also a TESOL certificate for teaching English as a Second Language. Literature is in my veins and the words pour out of my blood. Message me privately to join the mailing list. I like my artys with a bit of fartsy. I love Sundays spend drinking massive amounts of coffee and lingering over whichever book I am currently enthralled with. Favorite movies: American Beauty. Duh. What can I say? It’s a classic. Favorite place: The fort I built in my basement which my mom forced me to take down. Favorite food: Cheetos. Puffs. I don’t know what everything is crazy about the crunchy ones are crap.

Connect with Susi:
Website: www.jkjonesauthor.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/j.kjonesauthor
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Center Court (Order of Play, Book 1) by Brook Edwards: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

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The world of men’s professional tennis has been ruled by the same six men for more than a decade. There have been a handful of shock upsets and victories snatched by underdogs, but they’re few and far between. Now, the next generation are done being denied and have come knocking.

When the time comes, Soren Norgaard knows that the world expects him to lead the charge and take his place at the top of his sport. He’s focused and lethal on the court, until he isn’t. Sometimes the past, no matter how comfortable and familiar, doesn’t fit anymore and needs to be left behind. Soren’s past doesn’t want to let him go, but his future is coming fast whether he’s ready or not.

Elias Engström has been in love with Soren for as long as he has known him. The race for titles, for glory and their day in the spotlight has always been less all-consuming because he knows that there is an entire life stretching out when he leaves the court for the last time. A life that, for the first time, might include Soren in the way Elias wants him. Everything he wants is within reach, if Elias is willing to fight for it.

Center Court

Order of Play, Book 1

By Brooke Edwards

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Packing up to leave another place, another tournament finished without finding something of Matisse’s in with his things… it feels less like a loss than a new beginning.

Soren hasn’t missed the glances from Theó and Angeline, watching him like he is as fragile as the glass trophy he won four years ago in Florida at the Delray Beach 250.

Soren still isn’t entirely sure what the glass trophy is supposed to resemble, but he’s never felt less breakable.

His grandmother had been fond of a story about a young palm tree and an old oak tree. He had heard it many times over the years, no two retellings exactly the same, and her ever-changing mix of Danish and English garbling any recount he might give. But the meaning had stayed with him.

It doesn’t matter how strong the mighty oak stands or how deep his roots may go—there will always be a storm with winds that can bring him down. The palm who is built to bend? Now, he will survive the storm that felled the oak.

“Bøje, elskede,” she had whispered, like it was the deepest, darkest secret she had ever kept. “Bend so you do not break.”

Soren had always tried to live by it, but he understands it now like he hadn’t ever before. It had felt like he’d broken for a moment there, bent so far that it seemed impossible to ever stand upright again beneath the weight of the wind and the darkness. When the wind had eased and the clouds had cleared, he had stayed bent for a moment longer, not believing it was gone.

Now, upright and basking in the sun again, the next storm does not seem half as frightening.

The sun is always there just behind the clouds, after all.

Today the sun is filtering through the curtains of his hotel room, and Paris awaits.

Brooke Edwards is an Australian LGBTQ+ author and dreamer who got her start in fanfiction, and then started listening to the people in her head and writing up the incident reports afterwards. She’s a disaster masquerading as a functional adult, addicted to coffee and hopelessly obsessed with her dog.

Connect with Brooke:
author.to/BrookeEdwards
http://www.brookeedwardsauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/brookeedwardsauthor
www.facebook.com/groups/brookescoffeeshop/
Instagram: @brookeedwardsauthor
Twitter: @brookeedwardsau

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