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A Piece Of Ourselves by Tray Ellis: Anthology Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

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Traditional Winter Holidays can be tough for a variety of reasons—family pressures, finding the right gift, homesick longing, and haunting memories to name a few. This collection showcases eleven queer short stories, from tender contemporaries to sweet paranormal to far-flung space tales, all designed to make you want to reach for your hot cocoa and your favorite snuggly spot. Come join us for A Holiday To Remember.

Authors: Various – See the individual book blurbs below

Publisher: Mischief Corner Books

Release Date: Varies – See the individual book blurbs below

Format: eBook short stories

Price: .99-2.99

Story Type: Novel

Word Count: 6-17k each

Cover Artists: Catherine Dair, Freddy MacKay

Genre: Contemporary, Holiday, Science Fiction, Paranormal

Pairing: M/M, M/NB, F/F (varies)

Tropes: Holiday

Keywords/Categories: gay, transgender, non-binary, asexual, lesbian, bisexual

Collection Name: A Holiday to Remember

A Piece Of Ourselves

Tray Ellis

12/23/2017

Balancing holidays between two families can make cheerful celebrations into chores. Carson Benedetti’s mom has overscheduled the Christmas holidays and she’s more than insistent that boyfriend Tynan Harris come into the family fold. There’s so much to do Tynan can’t find time to bring Carson over to his own family and he feels like they are being left in the dust.

​After dating for nine months, and with their relationship becoming more serious, Tynan’s patience is sorely tested by the multitude of Benedetti family traditions keeping them busy. Tynan needs to figure out how to find some breathing room, split their time more fairly, and make Christmas more than just tradition by rote.

 

 

Mischief Corner Books

Amazon

Books 2 Read

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Tynan Harris realized there would be a serious problem concerning Christmas scheduling as he tipped down the gravy boat during Thanksgiving dinner and Carson’s mom casually mentioned attending midnight mass.

“Wait,” Tynan said. “What?”

Carson’s mom, Dodie, frowned at him. She had a round, chubby face that was usually full of smiles but at the moment looked particularly perplexed. “You really like gravy, don’t you?”

Tynan looked down and realized he’d poured an overly thick puddle of gravy all over his potatoes. The gravy ran in rivulets down the potato mountain to leak in-between the green beans, like a marshy flood in spring. He liked gravy, but he’d emptied half the gravy boat’s contents onto his plate. Eating all of it would be a bit much. Throwing it out after taking it would be worse. One option made him look like a glutton and the other like a wasteful fool.

Tynan wanted to stay in Carson’s family’s good graces. They’d been dating for nine months and things were getting serious. He’d met Dodie and Henry Benedetti, Carson’s father, during the summer at a few barbeques and it had taken all summer for them to warm to him. This was the first meal they hadn’t been politely reserved with Tynan and had actually opened up and joked around a little.

“Your gravy is so good. I can’t help myself,” Tynan said. He would eat every last damn drop of gravy if he had to sop it up with half a loaf of bread to do it. Or spoon it straight into his mouth. Overenthusiastic sounded like a better label than glutton and Tynan would do his best to sell it hard.

“Well, bless your heart,” said Dodie. Tynan couldn’t tell if the smile she flashed at him was sincere or fake.

Tynan set the nearly empty gravy bowl down on the table. “I didn’t quite hear what you’d said about Christmas?” He made the statement into a question at the end.

Across the table, Carson looked like he wanted to slither down in his seat and hide beneath the tablecloth. Carson’s right eyebrow noticeably twitched and he pressed a forefinger on it for a moment.

“Oh, that’s right,” said Dodie. “You haven’t done a Christmas as part of the family yet. We have the most wonderful traditions.” Her smile grew truly genuine. “The first two weekends after Thanksgiving are dedicated to cookie making. I freeze them so they’ll stay fresh until the cookie swaps. There’s a community singers concert on one of the weekends. My sister is a soprano in the group and I always make sure we go to support her. The weekend after that we all take a trip to the tree farm to pick out our Christmas tree and we stay up late into the night to decorate it. I make real hot chocolate on the stove and serve lemon meringue pie.”

“It’s the only time of the year I get lemon meringue,” Henry added, sounding a little bitter about the lack of pie throughout the rest of the calendar. “My favorite pie and I get it once a year.”

“I don’t buy store-made. I make it from scratch,” Dodie said. “It’s one of those fussy pies. Besides, nobody makes them in the summer. The meringue won’t set when it’s humid. I’ve told you that, dear.”

“Hnnh,” said Henry. It almost sounded noncommittal, but contained an edge of dissatisfaction. “Winter lasts longer than a month. Doesn’t get humid until April.”

 

Tray Ellis grew up across from an empty field, where she spun a lot of imaginary adventures, helping to prepare her for a lifetime of writing. When she isn’t writing, she stays active by hiking, cooking, stacking the odd cord of wood in the shed, baking, and being too busy to keep her home in any semblance of order. Currently she tries to find a balance between the logical way she thinks and the flights of fancy she often daydreams about. Mostly, the daydreams are winning.

For more information about Tray, please visit:

Website: https://trayellis.dreamwidth.org

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564767.Tray_Ellis

 

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12 Days of Kissmas N.R. Walker: Exclusive Guest Post and Giveaway

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The last day of 12 Days of Kissmas is here! How did that happen so fast? Our final author this holiday season, N.R. Walker, is one of the most generous people…as you will see with her post. She is giving and caring, and passionate about the LGBTQIA+ Community. Not just her readers, but those that may never see her name in print. Check out her post, and check out the organizations she supports. She has a generous giveaway for you, too! A HUGE welcome to N.R. Walker!!! (And a hearty thank you to all the authors and readers for supporting this fun holiday event we do!)

 

I cannot believe it is this time of year again!

December has been a crazy-busy month for me. I’ve had two new releases, one re-release, and one translation that will be out on Christmas Day!

The holiday season is always a double-edged sword, and if I’m being completely honest, it’s not something I personally enjoy. Families are such a complex dynamic, aren’t they?

But for most, Christmas, Hanukkah, and the holidays is a wonderful time. Many people celebrate with families, eat too much food, give and receive lovely gifts, and feel very loved.

Some people aren’t so lucky. Some people don’t get gifts, don’t have special dinners, and they don’t have family. Some people are disowned and shunned, simply because of who they fall in love with.

It’s important to remember as we read LGBTQIA+ books, and we swoon over cute pictures of kisses, that there are serious hardships, especially at this time of year.

I don’t want to be a downer on your Christmas mood, but in the spirit of Christmas, this is the perfect time of year to think of others. And if you can, give a little something for those who aren’t so lucky.

 

Some wonderful organisations you can help:

Trevor Project

One n Ten

SAGE (for our LGBT elders)

It Gets Better

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things…but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

For more info on N.R. Walker, you can find her at:

Website

Facebook

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Instagram

Google +

Amazon

Audible

Bookbub

Email: nrwalker@nrwalker.net

 

I’ll be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner, and another lucky winner will receive their choice of ebook from my backlist (any title). And in honour of this post, I’ll be donating $25 to TwentyTen, an LGBTQIA+ support centre in my state here in Australia, and $25 to ACON, an organisation specialising in LGBTQIA+ health, also in NSW.
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Color of You by C.S. Poe: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Bowen Merlin—yes, that’s his real name—accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after-school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority….

Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring scars that could end their budding relationship when someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers.

If Bowen is to survive the holidays, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.

Hello, everyone! I’m C.S. Poe, and welcome to the final stop on the Color of You blog tour, here at Two Chicks Obsessed. We’re only a few days away from Christmas and the release of my first novel-length contemporary romance. I’m so excited, and I really hope you all enjoy Color of You.

I’m happy to introduce you to the main characters at each stop of the tour, and be sure to check out the unique giveaway at the end!

Name: Stephen Kelly

Nickname: n/a

From: Boston, Massachusetts

Current location: Lancaster, New Hampshire

Age: 45

Hair: White with hints of black

Occupation: High school accounting teacher

Hobbies: Reading

Favorite holiday: Valentine’s Day

Favorite piece of clothing: Socks

Summer or winter: Winter

Coffee or tea: Coffee

“I can’t wait to:” Meet someone

Interesting fact: Has always wanted a Dalmatian

Quote: ‘Never order the turkey, meatloaf, or chili.’

 

“Bowen,” he repeated. “I’m Stephen Kelly. Accounting and school newspaper advisor.”

Stephen had a pleasant green voice and a sort of Anderson Cooper thing going on. Nice. And definitely why I’d caught a passing group of girls staring.

“Not me,” he stated.

“Huh?” Stephen smiled and nodded at the girls after they put some distance between us. “A young, cute, new teacher. They were staring at you.” He held out a hand. “Can I carry those for you? I’ll walk you to the music room.”

“Thank you,” I said, offering Stephen the folders before collecting my instrument case and following.

“I used to get those dreamy looks from students…. You know, twenty years ago.” Stephen gave me a wink.

I laughed but felt my cheeks getting warm and hoped I wasn’t blotchy. “Ha-ha… well, I’m definitely not looking to relive acne, long division, and learner’s permits. Nothing is more attractive to me than maturity.”

Stephen chuckled. “Mortgages and worrying when that thin spot will suddenly become a bald spot.”

I stood on my toes to inspect Stephen’s hair. “Nah. Looks full to me.”

He grinned, eyes crinkling in the corners. “Better watch it, Mr. Merlin, or you’ll have more than just fantasizing sixteen-year-old girls hanging around outside your classroom.”

If you read the tagline for C.S. Poe, it is “Murder. Romance. And the bizarre.” And she never fails to slip something bizarre into her books. In this, a contemporary romance, one of the MC’s has a condition that I had never heard of, likely most people have not, synesthesia. For Bowen, that means sound to color synesthesia. He SEES sounds as color. I’d say that qualifies as a bit bizarre. But he is also an incredibly caring and (as this author always seems to do) entirely unique character. And I loved him. I loved all of the characters! Well, except… 😉

Anyway, the sweetness of this is offset by a dynamic that shows the reader that looks can be deceiving, and stereotypes are often miscalculated. And can bring some hotness and fun to your screen! J One of the best moments was with Felix’s son, Alan, as they went to cut down a Christmas tree for Bowen.

“Closer. On your knees,” Felix said.

“Hey.” I looked at him. “I say that.”…

“I can hear you,” Alan stated from nearby.

“Pretend you didn’t,” I called back.

I laughed so hard at that little scene. It showed that Bowen was never afraid to be himself, even at the discomfort of his boyfriend’s teenaged son.

As always, C.S. Poe brings intrigue, humor, sexy scenes and such clear descriptions that I felt like I could understand what it was like to have synesthesia. The characters were wonderfully drawn and clearly, undeniably themselves. And take a good hard look at that beautiful cover, it is so appropriate for this book. It tied it all in together. What a joy to read!

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Tour:

12/18 – Bayou Book Junkie

12/19 – Open Skye Book Reviews

12/20 – Sinfully Gay Romance

12/21 – Love Bytes Reviews

12/22 – Two Chicks Obsessed

 

 

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Barnes & Noble

GooglePlay

iTunes

Kobo

Goodreads

C.S. Poe is an author of gay mystery, romance, and paranormal books.

She is a reluctant mover and has called many places home in her lifetime. C.S. has lived in New York City, Key West, and Ibaraki, Japan, to name a few. She misses the cleanliness, convenience, and limited-edition gachapon of Japan, but she was never very good at riding bikes to get around.

She has an affinity for all things cute and colorful and a major weakness for toys. C.S. is an avid fan of coffee, reading, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best on a daily basis to sidetrack her from work.

C.S. is a member of the International Thriller Writers organization.

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter |

 

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12 Days of Kissmas Victoria Sue: Exclusive Excerpt, Guest Post and Giveaway

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The author for day 9 of 12 Days of Kissmas is Victoria Sue, and she brought the cutest darn picture!!! Victoria stops by once a month for a guest blog, and always brings the most fun stuff, so make sure you check it out. In the meantime, her first contemporary m/m comes out in February…and I don’t think anyone is randomly preggers. lol You never know with her books. 😉 Check out the awesome excerpt, and don’t forget to enter ALL the giveaways, there are still quite a few open. 🙂

 

In February I’m releasing a new series called Rainbow Key. The stories take place on a fictitious island off the west coast of Florida – think white sandy beaches, blue sparkling ocean, swaying palm trees. Paradise.

Except nothing is ever that simple, right? Poor Joshua can’t even pay the electric bill because the hotel’s out of money, has barely any paying guests, and he’s rapidly running out of options.

In steps Daniel – owner of a multi-national hotel chain, and obviously that isn’t as simple as it sounds either.

Here’s an exclusive excerpt:

He looks tired. Josh stood for a second and took in their new guest. Even standing with his back to him, Josh could see the tall, big shoulders that seemed to be hunched in and noticed he was leaning on the window frame as he looked out. His shirt was tucked into a narrow waist. Too narrow. The pants were being held up by a belt that was cinched in so much he would imagine the expensive tailor that had made the obviously hand-made Italian suit—Armani, if he wasn’t much mistaken—would be weeping into his chianti. Daniel Morgan was something important in New York. A high flyer of sorts. Josh didn’t know in what exactly, but it hardly mattered to him. The money he could get from this would finally get a new compressor for the A/C. Angie had been keeping the thing going on sticky tape and optimism for months and if they were going to have a proper season next year they would need it.

If we are still open.

Matt had collected their guest and a small suitcase. Angie said he hadn’t said much, but then Matt, complete with his inked skin and piercings, had probably scared the guy to death. He’d caught a glimpse of their new guest as he’d walked up from the jetty with Matt. He’d worn a jacket on the crossing that was casually slung over the chair now. November—even in Florida—had been quite cool. His jet black hair was tinged with a few silver streaks.

“I have your coffee, sir,” Josh spoke before the man turned around and saw him gawking. As predicted, Mr. Morgan turned and eyed Josh, smiling politely.

“Thank you.”

Wow. Josh gave himself a mental shake. Deer in headlights much? The brief glimpse of a few minutes ago had in no way prepared him for the gray, almost silver eyes looking at him and the killer smile.

Josh hurried into the cozy room, to cover his seeming inability to think of anything intelligent to say. The phrase, How are you? Welcome to Rainbow Key suddenly seemed crass and immature. At least the newly finished décor looked good, and he was especially pleased with how the painting had turned out. Pale cream walls except the one with the beach mural on it. Charlie was talented, and the full wall showing the breathtaking sunrise beyond the jetty was awesome. They’d finished the room off with pale brown shutters and matching comforter. Some dark chocolate-colored throw cushions completed the look. He’d gone for soothing in this room but they’d already started on the family suite at the top of the stairs, and Charlie was excited at doing a children’s mural in there.

Josh took a breath, realizing he was staring. “The cookies are walnut and banana. Fresh this morning.”

Mr. Morgan looked down at them as if he wasn’t sure what Josh meant, and Josh suddenly felt like an ass. The man was probably used to staying at The Four Seasons, and here he was blathering on about home-made cookies. He’d baked like a mad man after getting the phone call yesterday from Alan Hunt. He was sending a patient, a businessman overloaded with stress and in need of some down time to relax. Alan had also insisted on paying for four weeks upfront himself, and not to tell Mr. Morgan. Actually, Alan had referred to him as Daniel, but obviously Josh couldn’t be that unprofessional.

Mr. Morgan came over to the comfy two-seater that Josh had found in an estate sale in Tampa and sank down gratefully. Well, he seemed to appreciate the softness, anyway. Josh’s keen eyes took in the slight tremble as he reached for the coffee cup. Josh hoped he didn’t notice it was decaf. Alan had been quite strict about his patient’s caffeine intake.

“I don’t seem to be able to get Wi-Fi.”

Josh pinked slightly and noticed the expensive laptop unpacked on the bed. That makes two of us. It had been a choice between paying the electricity bill and paying for broadband. The electricity obviously had won over. “My apologies, sir. I believe Dr. Hunt explained we were doing some remodeling? We won’t have any service until next week.” Josh crossed his fingers behind his back and pretended he didn’t see the frown that marred the gorgeous gold skin under the black hair.

Josh quickly put a brake on his thoughts immediately. Thoughts like that were what had got him into trouble, and there was no way he was putting himself there again. Even if he was ever ready there was no way some good-looking business man would be interested in the likes of him. “There’s a lovely walk to the beach, sir, if you’re in the mood; or if you wanted a nap I’d make sure you weren’t disturbed until lunchtime.” Josh nearly groaned aloud at that one. Now he sounded like May-belle.

But Mr. Morgan laughed shortly. “I must look worse than I thought.” He glanced up at Josh and smiled. “Mister?”

Josh tried not to stare, but fuck when the man smiled he went from attractive to drop dead please take me to bed. Josh knew he looked stupid, but he couldn’t help grinning back. “Please call me Josh.” Please undress me and let me lick you all over.

What the hell? Josh put a break on his errant thoughts. Maybe it was hormones. Maybe it was the company of his own hand. Maybe it was knowing he was safe in his daydreams because no man that looked that hot would ever be interested in Joshua.

And maybe, let’s face it, you would be too chicken even if the stars somehow realigned and he was interested. No, Joshua told himself sternly. Good-looking—make that stunning—rich business men weren’t interested in fat boys like him. His shoes were probably Gucci. Josh’s were K-Mart.

The man sipped his coffee and leaned back. “Look, its fine. I know I’ve been dumped on you and you’re busy with a remodel. I’m only expecting to be here for a few days, so I’ll keep out of everyone’s way.”

“Oh, no sir,” Josh hastened. “Please don’t think you are an inconvenience. We’re glad to have you; it’s just I’m sure Rainbow Key isn’t the standard you are perhaps used to.” Josh noticed the quick calculating glance he got and wondered what he’d said to put it there.

“Well, I’m here to relax,” and as if he wanted to prove it he reached out for a cookie and took a bite. His eyebrows rose as he swallowed quickly. “Wow, these are so good. My compliments to the chef.”

Josh felt his face heating again. “Thank you, sir.”

“You made them?” Mr. Morgan took another bite.

“Yes, sir,” Josh answered, pleased.

Mr. Morgan swallowed again. “Call me Daniel,” he said, and then looked as surprised at the words he had spoken as Josh was.

Josh smiled and took a backwards step. He knew instantly the offer for Josh to call him by his first name was a spur of the moment comment that Mr. Morgan was immediately regretting. If one thing his previous employment had taught him, it was reading people’s body language. “Lunch will be at one unless you prefer another time, sir. You can either eat downstairs in the greenhouse or up here. Sorry,” Josh added, realizing what he had said. “I mean we have a Florida room overlooking the beach. You could eat there. That’s a conservatory,” he added lamely in case Daniel didn’t know what a Florida room was. May-belle called it the greenhouse.

Daniel was smiling again. His silver flecked eyes seemed to pop when he laughed. Stunning. Realizing that he was in fact staring once again, and calling the man Daniel even in his head wasn’t a good idea, Josh smiled politely and hurried out of the room.

Joshua’s Rainbow will be released in February. For all news, excerpts and regular competitions check out my facebook group – Victoria’s Secrets https://www.facebook.com/groups/1182647028418709/?ref=bookmarks

Thank you and Happy Christmas 😊

Wrote her first book on a dare from her hubby two years ago and he says he has regretted it every day since. Loves writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—especially with either a paranormal or a historical twist. Had a try at writing contemporary but failed spectacularly when it grew four legs and a tail. Loves her wolves!

Is an English northern lass but is currently serving twenty to life in Florida—unfortunately, she spends more time chained to her computer than on a beach.

Loves to hear from her readers and can be found most days lurking on Facebook.

Leave a comment for Victoria Sue, and you will be entered to win an ebook from her backlist.


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Roger by SJD Peterson: Release Day Review with Giveaway

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Texas native Colt Burrow isn’t happy about his third cold, lonely Christmas in frozen Michigan. But when fate sends him a gift in the form of an abandoned puppy, he can’t keep his heart from melting. With the puppy’s companionship, he doesn’t feel so isolated anymore, and the holidays don’t seem as bleak. He even finds enough Christmas spirit to take Roger tree shopping. But just when Colt’s starting to hope Roger’s owner doesn’t show up… he does, and Colt doesn’t want to say goodbye.

Will Roger end up being Colt’s Christmas heartbreak… or his Christmas miracle?

Title: Roger
Author: SJD Peterson
Release Date: December 20, 2017
Category: Holiday
Pages: 51

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Christmas and pets are two things I’m a sucker for, so Roger by SJD Peterson sounded like the perfect read. Colt finds a lost dog who winds up thawing his cold heart and brings love to his life. Sound great, right? Well…

Now, don’t get me wrong, the book was cute. I chuckled when Colt caught himself talking to Roger. Thought it was amusing that the dog was a chick magnet, not the best trait for a gay man. But as the pages turned, I grew unsettled. More than pets, I love stories about people falling in love during the holidays. And maybe Colt did fall in love. With the dog.

Unfortunately, this is where my issue comes in. Animals are easy to love. People, not so much. And other than their mutual adoration of the dog, I’m not sure why Killian and Colt will make a good couple. Colt went from being upset with Killian for being so irresponsible to adoring him so fast it gave me whiplash. And then it’s over. It’s a year later and they’re hopelessly in love. How? Why?

Short stories are tough. There’s a fine line and, unfortunately, this one missed it.

3 pieces of eye candy

 

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New Hand by L.A. Witt: Exclusive Excerpt, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

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Months after his husband’s death, Garrett Blaine desperately needs a fresh start. He sells his house in Seattle, leaves his accounting job, and starts bartending in Bluewater Bay. There he meets a man who wakes up his nearly forgotten libido.

Jesse Connelly’s friend with benefits bolted after Jesse disclosed his HIV status. Stood up and stinging, Jesse tries to drown his sorrows . . . and finds an unexpected connection with a lonely bartender.

Jesse and Garrett quickly bond over a shared love of comics and card games, and they can’t get enough of each other between the sheets. Not even a bumpy start and a fifteen-year age gap can derail them as they go from strangers to lovers, then friends, then much more.

But as Garrett’s feelings for Jesse deepen, so does his grief for the man he lost—especially as he sees hints of his late husband in his new boyfriend. Now Garrett has to figure out if Jesse is his second chance at true love, or if Jesse’s just filling in for the man he’s never fully grieved. And he needs to figure it out soon, because Jesse’s starting to wonder the same thing.

 

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Riptide Books

I helped him carry the books to the cash register. As I rang them up and he pulled out his wallet, Garrett did a double take. “Holy shit. Magic: The Gathering?” He picked up one of the starter decks off the rack. “They still make this game?”

“You know it?”

“Yeah. One of my roommates in college taught me to play.” He hung the deck back up. “I can’t even remember the last time I played. I’ve probably forgotten everything.”

“You’d be surprised. I know guys who learned when it first came out in the mid-1990s, then picked it up again years later and played it just fine. I mean, as long as you know the basic rules, you just follow the directions on the cards.”

He seemed to consider that for a moment. “True. I don’t remember it being all that complicated.”

“Well, it didn’t use to be. They’ve, uh, added to it.”

“Yeah? You play?”

I nodded. “We have tournaments here, actually.” I nodded toward the tables, which were currently empty. “I play in them whenever I’m not working.”

Garrett glanced at the tables, lips pursed. Then he tossed a starter deck and some boosters on top of the books.

As I scanned them, I said, “If you ever want to play, say the word. I’ve got plenty of decks at home.” And why did my heart start pounding as soon as I’d asked? It wasn’t like I’d suggested we go on a date or something.

But as he always seemed to do when I’d said something that sounded stupid to me, he smiled. “I might take you up on that.” He paused, then added, “If you don’t mind me being a little rusty.”

“Sounds like fun. I’ll go easy on you.” I very nearly cringed. Every other thing I said to him came out sounding like it could be seriously misconstrued.

God help me, but the man winked. “You don’t have to do that. I’m pretty sure it’ll come back to me.”

“Yeah. We’ll see.” I chuckled, hoping he didn’t notice how jittery I suddenly was as I rang up the cards and books. If he did, he didn’t say anything.

After he’d paid and I’d bagged everything, I handed it all over the counter.

“Thanks,” he said. “This should keep me busy for a while.”

“You’d be surprised—most people blow through Wolf’s Landing in no time.”

“We’ll see.” That hint of shyness materialized again in the slight dip of his chin. “I’m, uh, not that fast of a reader.”

“Well, at least you can stretch it out for a while. I blazed through the first four books in two weeks, and had to wait months for the next one.” I sighed dramatically. “It was torture, I’m telling you.”

Garrett laughed. “I’m sure. Okay, well, I’ll let you get back to work.” He paused. “You coming by the bar tonight?”

I am now. My heart sped up. “You want me to?”

Our eyes locked. For a few seconds, we were both silent, the awkward tension of an unspoken dare hanging between us.

Then he swallowed. “It’s always good to see you.”

I moistened my lips. “I’ll be there after my shift, then.”

His face lit up. “Looking forward to it.”

You and me both.

He left, and before the door had even swung shut behind him, Dexy appeared beside me, craning her neck to watch him go. “That your new boo?”

“My ‘new boo’?” I rolled my eyes. “Seriously?”

She smothered a giggle and elbowed me. “I’m kidding. We both know he has to be your insatiable sex toy for a few months before he gets upgraded to boo status.”

“Dex!”

A gruff laugh from behind us turned me around, and I found Simon smirking at me.

I wagged a finger at him. “Not a word.”

“What?” He put up his hands and batted his eyes. “I said nothing.”

“Uh-huh.”

Dexy snorted. “Simon says . . .” She pointed at the window. “That dude is Jesse’s new boo.”

Simon laughed harder. Dexy giggled.

I just rolled my eyes. “I hate you both.”

But deep down, I kind of hoped they were onto something.

 

About Bluewater Bay

Welcome to Bluewater Bay! This quiet little logging town on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula has been stagnating for decades, on the verge of ghost town status. Until a television crew moves in to film Wolf’s Landing, a soon-to-be cult hit based on the wildly successful shifter novels penned by local author Hunter Easton.

Wolf’s Landing’s success spawns everything from merchandise to movie talks, and Bluewater Bay explodes into a mecca for fans and tourists alike. The locals still aren’t quite sure what to make of all this—the town is rejuvenated, but at what cost? And the Hollywood-based production crew is out of their element in this small, mossy seaside locale. Needless to say, sparks fly.

This collaborative story world is brought to you by eleven award-winning, best-selling LGBTQ romance authors: L.A. Witt, L.B. Gregg, Z.A. Maxfield,  Heidi Belleau, Rachel Haimowitz, Anne Tenino, Amy Lane, SE Jakes, G.B. Gordon, Jaime Samms and Ally Blue. Each contemporary novel stands alone, but all are built around the town and the people of Bluewater Bay and the Wolf’s Landing media empire.

Check it out at Riptide Publishing!

 

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut . . .

Connect with L.A.:

To celebrate the release of New Hand, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide credit and their choice of two ebooks off LA Witt’s backlist (not counting New Hand)! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 23, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!