excerpt

Because of Ben (Star Crossed, Book 2) by Lisa Henry: RB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

January 11, 2022 by Denise

Marco Chase is the lead singer for Static, one of the world’s most famous and successful rock bands. Marco’s bad boy rock star image isn’t just one he’s cultivated for his fans—it’s Marco all over. Marco’s past is full of one night stands, bad decisions, and blackouts. Marco never saw a cage he didn’t want to rattle—and from the moment he lays eyes on him, he really wants to rattle sweet, innocent Ben Selden’s cage.

Ben Selden comes from a fundamentalist Baptist family. Ben is struggling under the weight of knowing that he’s gay, and a lifetime’s teachings that tell him that his God will condemn him, and his family reject him, if they ever find out. With a future he doesn’t want already mapped out for him, Ben’s at a breaking point when he meets Marco.

Marco’s teasing, flirting, and obvious interest awakens a hunger in Ben, and he knows this might be his only chance to act on his attraction to a man—if he’s brave enough to risk his future, and his family, to take it. He doesn’t expect Marco to be his savior, but maybe a savior isn’t what Ben needs—maybe he just needs someone to believe in him enough that he’s willing to save himself.

Because of Ben is the second book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

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Catch-up on the series with Book 1:
Not Until Noah

Carter Westlake is on the brink of being Hollywood gold. Cast as the lead in a highly-anticipated sci-fi trilogy filming in Australia, he’s primed to be the next A-list action hero: all-American, hot as hell, and straight. The problem is, Carter can only check off two of those boxes. But that’s okay—his bisexuality can remain a secret until these movies are behind him.

Childhood educator Noah Jones has a plan. Work as a nanny for six months, make some extra cash, and move to the UK to teach. He doesn’t expect his new boss to be a Hollywood star. And he certainly isn’t prepared to fall for the guy.

One kiss sends them tumbling into a secret relationship, even though they both agree it can be nothing more than a fling. Carter needs to stay in the closet for the sake of his career, and Noah’s leaving. But when their feelings continue to grow into something deeper, Carter has a decision to make. Knowing that exposing his sexuality could cost him his career, would he rather carry on living a lie, or risk it all to stand tall in his truth?

Not Until Noah is the first book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

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Marco was playing around with the bridge of the song when his room phone chimed. He set the guitar aside and climbed to his feet—he liked working on the floor and always had—and crossed to the bedside table to pick up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Mr…McClintock,” said someone who very obviously knew that wasn’t his name, “this is Hannah calling from reception. I have a young man here at the front desk who says you’re expecting him.”

Ben. Thank fuck for his recording software because he immediately forgot everything he’d been working on for the past few hours.

“Yeah,” he said. “Thanks. Let him know I’ll come down and see him.”

And to slide a fifty across the front desk with a thanks to Hannah for being discreet. Not that he’d ever cared who knew he sometimes invited pretty things up to his room, but Ben wasn’t some enthusiastic fan who’d be screaming it from the rooftops himself.

He grabbed his room card and wallet and headed downstairs.

The elevator took an age to arrive, and Marco shared it with a couple of parents who were too preoccupied with their gurgling baby to pay him any attention. He held the doors for them when they reached reception so they could get the stroller and their suitcases out.

Ben was sitting in one of the comfortable chairs scattered around reception, shoulders hunched in, one sneakered foot tapping anxiously against the floor.

Marco veered quickly past the front desk to thank Hannah and leave her a tip, and then he walked over to Ben. Ben watched him approach with wide eyes, like a rabbit frozen under the stare of a predator. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Ben echoed.

“You want to come up to my room?”

Ben opened his mouth to reply, and maybe the words got stuck because he gave a jerky nod and pushed himself to his feet.

They headed back to the elevators, and once they were inside, Marco hit the close button. He didn’t want to share this ride.

“Come here,” he said when the doors rolled shut. He held out his hand.

Ben’s hand was shaking when he took it.

“Nothing’s gonna happen that you don’t want, okay?” He tugged Ben forward, relishing his gasp as they collided gently. “Is this okay?”

Ben closed his eyes, his breath shuddering out of him. He nodded, and Marco slid an arm around his waist and turned him so that they were both leaning on the wall of the elevator, their sides pressed together. A casual pose for Marco, but he could feel Ben vibrating with tension like a guitar string wound too tightly. He didn’t try to move away, though, which meant they were on the same page here. Ben knew what Marco wanted, and he’d come looking for it. He could work with that. Hell, even if they didn’t end up doing anything, lunch had been a lot of fun. It wasn’t as though spending time with Pretty Boy Ben was any hardship, even if neither of them got off. All the same, Marco was definitely hoping to see Ben shiver apart as he came. He was just so fucking gorgeous.

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
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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.

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Hard Chrome by Anna Kensing: RB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

January 10, 2022 by Denise

Neither time nor distance is on their side…

Twenty years ago, Dylan and Sebastian weren’t ready for the feelings between them, but the death of Dylan’s father has brought them back together. Dylan lovingly restores classic cars and he’s not keen on sharing his shop with his much younger lawyer stepbrother from the big city. But he doesn’t want to dishonor his father’s dying wish.

When Sebastian returns to Maine and learns of his inheritance, their passion flares into something neither of them is ready for.

Love requires sacrifice, but will either give up the life he’s built for a new life together?

Hard Chrome is a second chance, small town romance with an age gap between a hot-tempered mechanic and a cool-as-a-cucumber lawyer, competence kink (on both sides), a 1955 Ford Thunderbird in need of restoration, meddling best friends (and former best friends), a cat named Simone and a dog named Giles, at least three hundred houseplants, and car sex.

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Dylan’s got his hand curled around Sebastian’s neck, and his fingers are in his hair, nails scratching lightly at his scalp. He tugs on the strands wrapped around his fingers, and Sebastian shivers.

“Oh, you like that, huh?” Dylan says against Sebastian’s lips. Sebastian retaliates by muscling him onto his back. He sits up on his knees between Dylan’s legs and plants his hands on Dylan’s chest, just below his collarbones. He strokes firmly with both hands, down Dylan’s chest, over his nipples. Dylan arches into his hands as his palms catch on the tight buds.

“Oh, you like that, huh?” he echoes, and grins down at Dylan’s heavy-lidded eyes.

“Shaddup,” Dylan says, but he’s smiling, so Sebastian does it again. Dylan arches into his hands again, and then he gets to the fly of Dylan’s jeans. He finishes unbuttoning them and tugs at the waistband. Dylan obligingly lifts his hips, and Sebastian peels the jeans off him, tossing them over his shoulder to the floor.

Dylan’s wearing black boxer briefs that cling to his muscular thighs and strain over his erection. There’s a wet spot blooming just under the waistband. Sebastian brushes his knuckles over it, and Dylan pants, “Come on, man.”

He peels the damp fabric off as slowly as he can, until Dylan is naked and sprawled before him, and Sebastian thinks he’s never seen anything so gorgeous. His own erection is about to bust the zipper of his pants, but he ignores that for the moment and dips his head to meet Dylan’s dick.

He flicks his tongue at the slit, getting his first taste. Dylan’s dick jerks against his lips, another bead of fluid welling up, and there’s a groan somewhere above Sebastian. He finally takes pity and engulfs the whole thing in his mouth, and there’s a long, drawn-out “yeah” in Dylan’s deep voice.

Dylan’s not small, and the heft of him fills Sebastian’s mouth perfectly. He goes down as far as he can, then sucks as he comes back up for air. He spares a glance at Dylan, whose pupils are blown wide. There’s a pink flush blooming on his neck and chest.

“Holy shit,” he says, a little breathlessly, and Sebastian grins at him, making sure to show his teeth. Dylan’s head drops back to the pillow, and he stares at the ceiling, as if watching is too much for him.

“Whatever you want, man,” Dylan says breathlessly, his hands clenching at the sheet. “Just get the fuck on with it.”

Anna Kensing writes steamy paranormal historical romances that flirt with taboo. Her characters are often weird, mostly queer, and always get their happily-ever-after. Eventually. She’s obsessed with octopuses and the tv show Supernatural, listens to classical flute duets and heavy metal music while writing, and loves her scotch and Irish whiskies. When she’s not thinking about writing, she’s usually thinking about her next tattoo.

Connect with Anna:
https://linktr.ee/annakensing

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On A Midnight Clear by Lily Morton: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

January 7, 2022 by Denise

It can safely be said that Lord Barnaby Greenwood is not having the best of Christmases.

He’s penniless, up to his eyeballs in debt, and about to lose his estate. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that when a local property developer offers a lot of money to buy King’s Wood from him, Barnaby is very tempted. But his father had always impressed on him that the green wood was sacred and must be protected at all costs, so he finds himself saying no.

He knows this will result in the loss of his home, but duty comes before everything. However, that fateful decision leads instead to a magical Christmas for Barnaby, complete with an old god who grants him a favour, and a beautiful statue that comes to life.

Cosmo is perfect for him. He’s funny and kind and completely enraptured with Barnaby, and for the first time in his life, Barnaby falls in love. But how can this lead to anything but heartache, when on the last stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Cosmo will go back to being a statue and take Barnaby’s heart with him?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a truly magical romantic comedy.

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I shake my head. “This is real, isn’t it?”

He looks steadily at me. “This is magic, Barnaby Greenwood. It is the furthest thing from reality that can be.”

I bite my lip. “It’s incredible. Nothing like this ever happens to me.”

“Well, that is sad. Good people deserve good things.”

“How do you know I’m good?”

He throws his head back and laughs merrily. “Oh, Barnaby. Do you forget your youth so easily?”

I flush. “Oh my god, you were listening to me? You could hear me?”

He winks. “I was. Statues can hear and understand. Apart from one exception per day, we are marble and granite, bronze and alabaster, but we can still hear and understand. And nothing interested me so much as your tales of school woes and your terrible crush on the games teacher.”

I rub my nose awkwardly. “He was rather good-looking. That’s fairly mortifying and rather boring for you. I do apologise that you had to lie unable to move and just listen to my adolescent angst, although that does make you an ideal companion for a teenager.”

“Barnaby, I have lain in this house as a statue for hundreds of years. I have seen generations of your ancestors be born and die, and nothing has caught me as much as you. So many pass through this room and they look, but their glances are brief, and their eyes move on as quickly as bees to flowers. You would come and sit and talk to me as if I were human, and I found that extraordinarily pleasing. So, I kept an eye on you for that, and what I saw saddened me.”

“Why?”

His mouth turns down at the corners. “Because when you were young, you burnt bright as a flame. You were sweet and happy, and to see that youthful fire and energy dissipated by money problems and grief is saddening to me.”

I sigh. “There isn’t much that I can do about that, I’m afraid.”

He watches me for a long moment, his pale green eyes intent and warm. “There is a lot that we can do.” He stands up. “Let us go.”

“Go?” I echo, staring up at him. “Go where? Have you missed the fact that you’re bloody naked?”

“We have much to do,” he says, ignoring me. He clicks his fingers at the dog, and he jumps down, taking a position at his master’s foot, a pose similar to the one he adopted as a statue. “And very little time to accomplish things.”

I gape at him and then have to scurry to catch up with him as he sweeps out of the room, his canine shadow at his heels. “Wait. Where are you going?” I pant. “What do we have to do?”

He doesn’t reply, making his way down the long corridor instead.

To me at least, Christmas is the most magical holiday. Starting when we are kids and most of us grew up believing in Santa and the decorations and lights and food and family. So a book, set at Christmas with LITERAL magic in it? Yes, yes, yes.

This is not the first book that Lily Morton has written that is set at an old estate that was formerly owned by a duke or a something or other with great status. And as it is passed down through the generations, people no longer make money by status alone and the estate is starting to fall into disrepair.

But this estate is bordered by woods that are, apparently, filled with magic. And when Barnaby (owner of the estate) is being pushed into selling those woods, magic comes to light. In the form of Barnaby’s favorite statue. Who comes alive. He will only be alive until the stroke of midnight on Christmas and while Barnaby has no idea how a now living statue can help him financially, he was going to take advantage of his dream man being a living, breathing man.

Cosmo not only shows Barnaby magic, but also love. Being treasured and loved for who he is. And with Barnaby being in his early 40’s, it is a perfect example of how not everyone is a well built 20 something as a main character. 40 something, kind of broke and perhaps a bit soft in the middle are worthy of love.

Cosmo also helps Barnaby figure out how to save his estate.

This was such a fun, magical romp. Statues that come to life for an hour. Statues that come to life for more than an hour. History and secrets and Christmas. Townspeople and employees and…magic.

This is must read and I think it might be a reread for me next year at Christmas.

4 pieces of eye candy

Lily is a bestselling gay romance author. She writes love stories filled with heat and humour.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

Lily has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – Chocolate Baileys.

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Winter of the Owl (Seasons Of The Likoi, Book 1) by Iris Foxglove: Release Blitz, Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

January 7, 2022 by Denise

Sava has the best house in all of Lukos. He built it himself, dreaming of the day when he and Milan, the man he loved, could live there and brave the harsh winters of Lukos together—only to be devastated when Milan was found dead in the spring. Fraught with grief, Sava resigns himself to spending his winters alone.

Then a stranger appears on his doorstep, and everything changes.

Victor is a scholar from Gerakia, a land known for its long summers and vibrant history, and he has never been more unprepared in his life. Abandoned on the inhospitable island of Lukos after a disastrous relationship, Victor has to adapt quickly to survive. It helps, of course, that he’s taken in by Sava, who has the biggest heart of any man Victor has ever known. Victor and Sava start to make a home together, growing close as snow falls outside, but the true danger of a Lukos winter is closer than they suspect…

Winter Of The Owl

Seasons Of The Likoi, Book 1

By Iris Foxglove

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“I must be the worst submissive in Lukos. Can’t cook, can’t start a fire, scared of ghosts—” He jumped again as the wind howled outside, and Sava raised a hand as though to steady him before drawing away again.

“I don’t know why you say these things about yourself,” Sava said. “When you just started a fire, and you’ve shown yourself to be clever and eager to learn.”

“Sorry.” Victor wrapped his arms around himself. “Can you believe I used to be too confident?”

Sava frowned slightly. “Did something happen to change that?”

“More like someone.” Victor sighed. “As long as we’re talking about unpleasant things. You know I spoke of a … mate, before. Someone I thought would be one.”

“The one who sent you here. You don’t have to speak of him.”

“I know. But I should.” Victor huddled under the blankets. “He was my teacher, I guess. I took a class with him, on … we call it philosophy. It’s where a lot of people argue about how to think.”

Sava narrowed his eyes. “Don’t they already know how?”

“Yeah, you’d think so. But David taught it, and he always left these really critical notes on my papers. Usually—in my other classes—I got top marks, so I was mad about it. If I failed, I’d have to go home, so I went to his office. Where we could talk alone. And he offered to give me lessons, and I … oh. Oh, no.”

Sava sat up as Victor covered his face with his hands. “What? Did he force you?”

“No. It’s that I’m embarrassed at the thought I’ll now be a cautionary tale to other students, about the dangers of seducing your professors.” Victor groaned into his hands. “But I thought I loved him, and then when I became too much trouble for him, he got rid of me. He said there was a trip planned to visit Lukos, and he’d arranged for me to join the group. So. Well. Fuck.”

“He thought you were trouble?” Sava’s voice was colder than Victor had ever heard it. “So he sent you here to die? You?”

“You say that like it’s surprising.”

“Is he the one who did this?” Sava leaned closer, and Victor fell back, catching his breath as Sava lifted his chin with one hand. “Made you feel small?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Yes. I think so.” Victor was finding it rather hard to think with Sava radiating warmth over him, holding him still. “I didn’t think about it at the time, but he was always saying how, you know, ugly I was, and—”

Sava made a sound so close to a growl that Victor shivered. “I do not know this man, but I know you enough, Victor, to know he is a liar. If he were in Lukos, he would be punished for breaking our laws and casting aside a man like you. I would cast him out myself if I could.”

Victor couldn’t speak, and Sava looked him in the eye, his calloused fingers firm but so gentle on Victor’s chin. “You forgot how valuable you are, little owl, but you can learn again.”

A sweet fantasy story about a young orphaned scholar who fancies himself in love with an older more powerful man and is tricked when the other man decides he is a nuisance to be gotten rid of, and is basically dumped on what appears to be a frozen wasteland and left to die.

The native people there are honorable and take in the young man. He goes to live with Sava who has lost his mate so lives on his own.

It’s not difficult to imagine they fall in love despite the obvious baddy who resents Victor for taking Sava who he considers is his.

I honestly didn’t feel the dominant/submissive angle did anything to the story, either the plot or the characters and could easily be ignored.

Having said that it was an easy uncomplicated read when you’re in the mood for one.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Iris Foxglove is a shared pen name between two authors, Avon Gale and Fae Loxley. Together, they’re writing fantasy with an emphasis on biological imperative kink (“BDSM alternate universe” or “D/s-verse”), complex worldbuilding and unforgettable characters.

You can follow Iris on twitter @irisfoxglove, or sign up for Iris’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrhA6z

Iris is also on Patreon! Check it out for extras and all sorts of goodies here: https://www.patreon.com/irisfoxglove

Playing Our Song by LA Bryce: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

December 29, 2021 by Denise

Jase is famous around the world, and Garrett’s well-known in his neighborhood. They’re two singers. One is living his dream, and the other is living his brother’s.

Jase’s boyfriend’s hostility has increased toward him, making their relationship toxic, but too focused on his band, Jase lets it slide, causing him to almost miss out on the kind of love that lives in his fantasies.

Garrett made a promise to his brother when he passed. But a mistake in its interpretation almost causes Garrett to live out his brother’s dream instead of reaching for his own.

Can these men spot and remove the obstacles stopping them from making beautiful music together before it’s too late?

Amazon

Jase tells Garrett about his writers block and suggests they write together

“Hey. What are you doing here?” Garrett’s smile told Jase he didn’t mind Jase just stopping over.

The knot in Jase’s stomach untied. “I grew stir crazy at home. Needed a fresh space.”

Jase handed Garrett a beer, then pulled a chair over.

Garrett took a swig of the beer, and his body relaxed. “How are things with the new album?”

Jase hesitated for a moment. Maybe he needed this. To talk to someone concerning the rut he’d been facing. Gain insight into what he was missing. He squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath, then opened his eyes. “Shitty,” spilled from his lips.

Garrett leaned forward, his brows furrowed, and a frown marred his face. “What do you mean?”

“I’m trying to come up with new material. In two months, we’re back in the studio, and I’m working with nothing.”

“What’s the problem?” The concern emanating from Garrett helped Jase share his fears.

“I don’t have a clue. I had a couple of decent days, and now I’m stuck. Everything I write turns into the same tune. There’s nothing else. I keep hitting a wall.” Jase’s shoulders sagged, and the usual nerves he’d been dealing with came crashing back, causing an ache in his stomach.

“What do you think’s holding you back?”

Jase scrubbed his eyes. “I have no idea.”

“Has this happened in the past?”

“No. Maybe.” Jase’s gaze moved to his fidgeting hands. “Back when I first started writing for the band. When I first started having deadlines—the stress would block my brain. But since then, no, I haven’t had a problem. I have no idea why whatever is happening is happening now.”

“I can see the stress being a problem,” Garrett said. “If I sit, ready to write, I have the hardest time. It’s once I’m busy doing something else that the ideas come to me. That’s the reason I’m always traveling with a notebook.”

“Me too,” Jase agreed. “But right now, the pages are blank. The flow’s dried up.” Jase took a drink. Both men sat silently—Jase with too many thoughts. Then one pushed forward, and with no filter, Jase blurted out, “We should do something together.”

Garrett twitched. “What?”

“Shit. Why didn’t that come to me sooner? We should write something together.”

“Yeah, right.” Garrett smiled and rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, right. It’s a wonderful idea.” Goosebumps covered Jase’s arms. “Your style is just what the band needs.”

“I’m sure something’ll come to you.” Garrett peeled pieces of the label from his beer, no longer looking at Jase. “I don’t think you need my help.”

“That’s exactly what I need,” Jase insisted. “You’re really good.”

“Thank you.” A flush swept across Garrett’s face.

“I’m serious. Your songs rock.” The urge to shake Garrett was strong. “Together, we could do something great.”

Garrett continued to pick at the beer label. “I’m sure whatever you write will end up awesome, but I’m not sure I could add anything to it.”

Jase fisted his hands and whispered, even though he wanted to shout. “Bull shit.” Jase had had enough.

“Your songs are as impressive as any I’ve written.”

Garrett’s laugh sounded hollow. “I’m not too sure about that, but thank you!”

“You need to cut yourself a break.”

Garrett just shook his head.

I’m a fan of rock star romances. I love seeing the behind the scenes stuff, how they live, etc. But this was just…boring. There was nothing really WRONG with it (except the whole lack of management, record companies, photo shoots…), it was a nice story, but there was no real heat or passion. It was just forgettable.

Jase, rock star extraordinaire, is with a crappy boyfriend who ignores him constantly, whines when they are together, doesn’t answer calls and blames everything on his career. HELLO! Red light dude! Jase just comes off as a doormat. Who puts up with that?

He meets Garrett when he stops into a restaurant and Garrett is the entertainment. Jace is immediately drawn to the music, and obviously to Garrett but somehow he doesn’t see it. They end up writing some music together but Jace is hot and cold. Mostly because of the stupid boyfriend.

I’m sure you can see where this is all going…

The book was fine. The story was fine. The sex scenes were fine. But just fine isn’t good enough for me.

2.5 pieces of eye candy

L.A. is a contemporary M/M romance author who loves her men to work hard, play hard, and love hard.

She’s always lived in the northeast and has recently stretched her boundaries and moved farther north — the more relaxed lifestyle giving her more time to write — in theory anyway.

Among the things she loves besides writing and her family are her friends, those she writes with and those she writes about, reading, games (the kind with boards, not in love), her dogs, Nutella and Bok Choy, and the men and women from the military, past and present, who keep us safe.

When she finds herself stuck at the keyboard, her fingers refusing to move, her characters refusing to talk, she likes to take a break, blast some music, and dance like no one is watching her or sing her heart out into her hairbrush microphone.

She’s living her happily ever after and wants the same for all her characters. L.A. believes love comes in all different packages and each should be wrapped in a ribbon and cherished.

Connect with LA:

https://labryce.com/

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https://www.instagram.com/labryce_author/

https://www.pinterest.com/labryce_author/

To celebrate the release of Playing Our Song, LA Bryce is giving away a awesome Kindle Fire 10!!

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Find Me in July by Christie Gordon: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

December 22, 2021 by Denise

Troy lives to be a teacher. Jessie knows teachers can’t be gay. These facts could rip them apart.

It’s the summer of 1978. Troy Larson is only one university-year away from living his dream as an elementary school teacher. In the meantime, he’s heading to his family’s annual, month-long vacation at a Northern Minnesota lake resort. He’s looking forward to time with his best friend, Jessie, and finding out what happened to him. This year was odd. They hardly spoke on the phone and Jessie didn’t come home for the usual breaks. When they meet, it’s clear something’s off with Jessie. One day in, Troy secretly stumbles upon Jessie in an illicit act with another man. The incident triggers questions about Jessie’s sexuality and confusion about his own.

Jessie Smith is set to take over his father’s Minneapolis foundry when he graduates from a New York university next year. But the time in New York has taught him how to accept his sexuality and his newfound freedom is not something he’s willing to give up. As the families meet for their vacation, it’s clear that Jessie is different. After the first day, Jessie sees an abrupt change in Troy, and it’s baffling. The changes in Troy cause a lifetime of repressed feelings to surface in him.

Troy’s pursuit of the truth brings him closer to Jessie than he ever thought he would want to be. He struggles to understand what’s going on between them and how his best friend is turning into more, way more. With the gay rights movement facing legal challenges from Save our Children, can Troy convince Jessie he’s willing to fight along side him and face whatever consequences may come together?

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Troy sat in the black vinyl passenger seat of Jessie’s blue Trans Am, peering ahead of him at the convenience store. He had to stay focused and figure this thing out. So far Jessie was acting completely normal. So, he must not know that he saw him. Maybe it was best if he didn’t say anything. Saying something would only embarrass Jessie and that’s not cool. But is he gay?

“So, we’ll get some beer and snacks and then go and get the boat at the marina.” Jessie slapped Troy’s arm. “You hearing me?”

Troy jumped and blinked. “Yeah, I heard you.” Damn, he had to pay attention. He got out of the car and met him at the glass doors to the store.

Jessie opened the door and swung his arm. “After you.”

“Thanks.” Troy stepped inside and perused the rows of snacks and sundries, the tall, glass refrigerated drink coolers at the back. His gaze caught on a rack of skin mags at the front of the store. That’s it. He should get one. They could look at it together and he’d see how Jessie reacted to it. If it gave Jessie a hard-on, then he’d know he wasn’t gay and whatever he saw was…whatever. He could put it to rest. But could gay dudes get boners from nude chick pictures? No…this will work. He furrowed his brows.

Jessie walked through a row of snacks, picking up a bag of potato chips. “I’ll grab us some sandwiches. You want Schlitz beer again?” He stepped to the coolers.

“Sure.” Troy strode to the skin mags and searched over the titles. Playboy, too tame. He needed something more erotic than that. He had to be sure it would be enough to give him a hard-on. He picked up a Hustler in one hand and a Penthouse in the other, attempting to peek under the wrapper, hiding the image on the front.

Jessie came up behind him and rested his chin on Troy’s shoulder. “What you looking at?”

Troy startled and turned around, facing him. “Uh, just thought, you know, we could have some fun with these while we’re out.” Would he buy it, or think it was too weird?

Jessie peered at the magazines. “Somebody horny?” He gave him a coy grin and lifted a brow.

Troy released a choked chuckle. “N-no, I just thought it would be fun to look at while we’re out. That’s all.” What would he think about this? If Jessie didn’t want to bring the magazine, would that mean he was gay?

Jessie’s gaze fell to Troy’s mouth and he licked his lips. “Sure. Get the Hustler. That one’s better.”

“Okay.” Troy slid the Penthouse into its place on the shelf. Okay, so he must look at these if he has a preference, right? That would make him not gay. Then why would he let a dude blow him? He pursed his lips.

“Troy.” Jessie stood at the counter with a female cashier in a red t-shirt, their food now bagged. “Get over here with that, so I can pay.”

“Yeah, sure.” Troy walked to the counter and set the magazine on it, then stared out the glass doors of the store, heat flushing his face.

The cashier rang them up and Jessie paid.

Jessie came close, whispering in his ear. “Your face is redder than her shirt, man. You embarrassed to buy a skin mag?”

“Stop it.” Troy forced a smirk and grabbed bags from the counter. “You bought ice, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll get the beer, you grab the ice.” Jessie seized a twelve pack from the counter and strolled out the doors of the store, snickering.

Christie Gordon started writing gay and M/M romance fiction after becoming preoccupied with anime and in particular, the boys love and yaoi genres. She’s always had stories in her head and always enjoyed writing, so she took up fiction writing classes at a local community college and published her first book with eXtasy Books back in 2009. Christie likes to write complicated characters with painful pasts that refuse to be ignored until the characters are forced to face them head on. Angst? Yes. Happily ever after? Always. It’s the struggle to get there that counts.

Christie’s day job is in the high-tech industry with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration. She currently lives in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area and enjoyed eight years in the Bay Area of California but grew up in Minnesota. She shares a home with her partner of twelve years, a musician by night and a coder by day, who is currently in three bands, giving her plenty of time to keep writing. She is also a mother of two sons, one currently in college for engineering and the other preparing for nursing college. Her one-eyed, rescue pug is always by her side, snoring the day away.

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