lgbtq

The Chocolate Works by Geoffrey Knight: New Release Review and Excerpt

July 13, 2020 by Denise

Henry Dawson knew that Levi Jones was his complete opposite from the moment they met. After all, what on earth could a nerdy, slightly neurotic risk assessment analyst like Henry possibly have in common with a wild, passionate and sexy chocolate-maker like Levi? The answer is, more than Henry could ever have imagined.

Henry Dawson lives a quiet life of perfect order and routine. His job as a cross-checker at a Chicago-based risk assessment firm means there’s no detail unmissed, no error unfixed and no room in his world for curve balls. That is until the day he loses his job, finds out his apartment building has been condemned, and receives an inheritance from an uncle he never even knew he had.

Now with no job, no home and no hope for the future, Henry suddenly finds himself in the tiny dead-end town of Los Encantado in the middle of the New Mexico desert, ready to sell the small roadside diner bequeathed to him by the uncle he never met. Given the circumstances, what choice does he have but to offload the diner—operated by waffle-loving Doris Day fan, Gracie Garcia—in an effort to try and fund his way back to his old life in Chicago?

But Henry was never planning on the arrival of wild, passionate and incredibly sexy Levi Jones. Nor was he ready for Levi’s crazy plan to turn Gracie’s Diner into the greatest Chocolate Works the world has ever known. For Levi claims to be the country’s finest chocolatier… or is he?

Before he knows it, Henry is pulled into Levi’s plan to create the most delicious, irresistible, mouth-watering, knee-buckling chocolates the world has ever imagined. At the same time Henry finds himself falling head over heels for the reckless, romantic allure of a man who is the complete opposite of everything Henry holds sacred.

Will Henry succumb to the charms of a handsome stranger despite every instinct warning him that Levi is nothing but a snake oil salesman? Will the secrets of Levi’s past destroy Henry’s hopes of ever finding true romance?

Or is Levi destined to melt Henry’s heart as he discovers that chocolate truly is the food of love?

The Chocolate Works is a mouth-watering 85K-word standalone opposites-attract gay romantic comedy. Warning: Reading this book WILL make you crave your absolute favorite chocolates and demand you indulge in them while you read… one delicious, delectable, discipline-crushing mouthful at a time.

Title: The Chocolate Works

Author: Geoffrey Knight

Series: Standalone

Genre: Gay Romance

Tropes: Opposites Attract, Romantic Comedy, Foodie Romance

Release Date: July 10, 2020

Formats Available: Ebook, Paperback, Kindle Unlimited

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Chocolate, like the tender and tangled entwine of two lovers, must be many things—

It must be sweet and delicate, yet knowing of the power—and sometimes the balance—that its own darkness and bitterness can bring;

It must grant us the illusion, if only for a moment, that we are made wealthy by its richness, wicked by its decadence, and forgiven of all our sins in its utter purity;

It must be solid and firm, yet versatile enough to soften its edges and melt with grace when the moment is right;

It must bring comfort in hard times, abundance in lean times, and happiness in lonely times;

It must be made with hands that are strong yet gentle with their touch, watched over by eyes that are observant and careful in their measurement, and created by souls that have known and will never forget a need that must be fulfilled.

But most important of all—chocolate must be made with love.

For chocolate is love.

And love conquers all.

These are the things I learned from Levi Jones, a man as reckless and wild as he was passionate and kind; a man whose creative genius was matched only by his mystery; a man who added the dash of hope, the dollop of love and the sprinkling of surprises that would change my life forever.

Geoffrey Knight is a new author to my reading list. And I have to say I did enjoy this one.

Poor Henry…I mean how much bad luck could one person have in a day. He was sort of a caricature of himself. Nobody remembered his name, except Levi. He lost everything he had in one day, but also gained something he didn’t know he had on that same day.

Levi was a mystery, and one that Henry had no desire to solve. Henry definitely did not like change. Meanwhile, Levi was the epitome of change, a drifter with only the cash in his pocket, but a positive attitude towards all he saw.

They develop an opposites attract relationship, along with trying to turn an empty town around. The banter between the two is funny and endearing as they work on finding a place for everyone, as well as an HEA. But also it was a “treat” to see someone as closed off as Henry find his way out of his shell. And the side characters, delightfully delicious. Just like chocolate! 🙂

4 pieces of eye candy

Geoffrey Knight is the author of more than 30 gay fiction novels, novellas and short stories, ranging in genre from gay adventure, gay romance, gay suspense and gay comedies.

The heroes of Geoffrey’s books love to spend their time jumping off the page, seeking lost treasures, unraveling mysteries or falling in love.

Geoffrey is the recipient of two Rainbow Awards including Best Mystery Winner and Best Overall Gay Fiction Runner-up. His work has been featured in several anthologies including Best Gay Erotica 2013, and he appeared as Guest of Honor at the inaugural Rainbow Con in Florida, 2014.

Geoffrey has worked in advertising, politics, journalism and event management, but nothing is as fun as telling stories. He lives with his partner, their young daughter and their small furry family in a rambling old house in North Queensland, Australia, where the paint is fraying and life is good.

Social Media Links:

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Single Omega Dad (The Omega Misfits, Bk 4) by Wendy Rathbone: Excerpt and New Release Review

July 9, 2020 by Denise

My new financial guardian, Mathias, is a cold, self-centered, rude-ass Alpha, and the son of one of the wealthiest men in the country. To him, I am a burden on society, only fit to live on a chattel farm.

It doesn’t matter that I’m drawn to him, to his ominous presence and chiseled jaw, his muscular body in his fitted silk suits. I’m a single dad with kids and responsibilities –I don’t have time for that rich bastard.

He keeps coming by the house so I can sign documents, fine. But then he’s got cute gifts for my kids. It’s got to stop. I don’t have time to fix him. Don’t have time to fall in love with an Alpha right now.

A non-shifter Alpha/Omega love story with mpreg, a single widower Omega dad, an Alpha who cannot knot, emotional issues, two adorable identical twin boys, and an HEA.

Some characters from “Trust No Alpha” make appearances in this novel, however, this book is a standalone read.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

He moved up in the bed, his mouth kissing along my ribs and then latching onto one of my hard nipples. His tongue and lips caressed it, leaving me still writhing as he finally took me into his arms and found my mouth with his own.

Tongues collided.

I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t care.

I had a craving to touch myself again. Apparently I hadn’t had enough.

My ass leaked with ‘honey’ as most Alphas had called it.

As he kissed, I reached between us, feeling his big, firm erection.

I leaned back. “Fuck me,” I said.

“Insatiable and demanding.”

“Fuck yes,” I agreed. “But it is your turn, too.” I sat up.

“Are you sure in your condition?”

“It told you. It’s okay. Really. Have you never been with a pregnant Omega?”

He shook his head.

“It’s actually good for us hormonally to have this, uh, this sort of affection. And stretching is good. All the way up to the birth.” My face heated at the words.

I could see his cock bobbing in the shadowy dimness. Big and fully hard. Thick like I liked them when I was young on the chattel farm and serviced Alpha Burns.

At the root of his cock, Mathias wore a silver ring. I had heard of cock-rings, of course, but never seen one in person and on an actual man standing before me. The idea that he wore it, and had had it on all this time, turned me on even more than I already was.

I don’t read a ton of omegaverse books. I tend to read more in the contemporary genre, but every once in a while, I grab one. I haven’t read anything in this series, or even anything from this author, so I was going in blind. I definitely wasn’t disappointed. It also seemed like having read the previous books was not a requirement for enjoying Single Omega Dad.

I liked that even though Saber lived in a society that did not value omegas, and had children, with more on the way, that he didn’t wallow in self-pity. He had always taken care of his children, and himself on his own, so losing his Alpha didn’t change much other than having to have someone approve his financial life.

Mathias was a study in contrast. Most definitely an asshole, who didn’t care much for anyone, except one of his brothers. He seemed to connect quickly with Saber, and even his children-although it seemed one child more than the other. However, he still carried a grudge to one of his other “litter mates”, his other brother, that I didn’t ever quite understand the complexities of it. It had something to do with their father, and a heat, and Mathias blaming his brother when he should not have. But this just didn’t really make sense to me fully. It could have been something explained in a previous book, though so I set that aside as I was reading.

I was personally turned off as a reader by a couple of things, although not everyone would be.

I did though really like how the relationship between Saber and Mathias progressed. Simple dates, with the children, these are often missed in romance books, because of all the other things going on in the story. It allowed the characters to grow and love each other, and for Mathias to connect with the kids. Even with Mathias’ “problem”, at some point, that was dealt with to ensure that happy ending we are all after.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Read Wendy Rathbone where… imposters and outcasts, princes and lost boys always find love and a happily ever after!

Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cqDVcX
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Currently, I write all male/male romances.
For many years it has been my first love and is my focus.

If you are not sure which of my books to try first, pick a genre. If it’s contemporary, you will enjoy The Foundling Trilogy: Rescue Me, Sacrifice Me, and Remember Me where a billionaire underworld businessman rescues an amnesiac man at sea.

If you love fantasy, The Imposter Prince and The Imposter King tell the story of a double for a prince who must continue in his role after the prince is secretly killed. How can it get worse? He falls for an enemy prince!

Or you might enjoy stories set in present-day Earth where the owning of pleasure slaves is legal, in which case you can start with The Slave Palace.

All my books are available in Kindle Unlimited. Happy reading!

Connect with Wendy:
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Shoot the Moon by Jacqueline Grey: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

July 8, 2020 by Denise

I’m so excited that Jacqueline Grey is joining us today with a TCO exclusive author Guest Post about her latest book, Shoot the Moon!! Her post is about BDSM, and it’s use in her book. Check it out, along with the excerpt and there’s a giveaway at the end, so don’t forget to enter!

All Adam Kern was looking for when his best friend dragged him to the club Harte was some good dancing and a little flirting to distract him from his troubles. He never anticipated meeting the club owner, Jesse Harte, and having a whole new world of experiences opened up to him. On an impulse, Adam follows Jesse to the upper, kinkier floors of the club where an informative tour ends in a steamy scene that both men are looking forward to repeating. The attraction between the two is scorching and over the next few weeks their adventures into kinky sex are nothing short of daring.

Adam loves the thrill of sex with Jesse but soon a gnawing fear sows doubt into his mind about the possibility of a relationship with the other man. Though he loves every moment he spends with Jesse, he fears what these sexual explorations may mean for him. Jesse is successful, an entrepreneur, and a well-known Dominant in the BDSM community, but Adam cannot see himself as a submissive. What sort of future could they have if he is unable to give his lover what he needs?

Title: Shoot the Moon

Series: Suit of Harte’s, Book Two

Author: Jacqueline Grey

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: June 29, 2020

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 27700

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, BDSM, romance, contemporary, gay, sex industry, prostitution, D/s

Amazon

NineStar Press

Goodreads

Thank you so much for having me here today and letting me share the re-release of Shoot the Moon, the second book in the Suit of Harte’s series. As the series is a romance centered around BDSM, I thought I’d talk to you today about my love of kink, particularly the mental aspect of it.

I am an avid believer that for sex or kink to be fun the brain needs to be engaged just as much as the body. No one wants to be intimate with someone who’s trying to remember if they turned the stove off before they left the house. Or worse, being the person who’s bored enough to think about the stove when they should be having a great time!

When it comes to kink, it’s not just about the physical. Sometimes it’s the brain that’s responsible for the pleasure more than what’s happening with the body. An example of this would be what I like to call hidden exhibitionism. Most definitions of exhibitionism mention performing sexual acts in public or being naked in public. Being watched is what turns the exhibitionist on, but for some it is the idea that matters more than the exposure. These people enjoy the idea of being observed or the possibility of being caught despite not wanting to be seen. The latter is what I mean when I say, “hidden exhibitionism”.

In Shoot the Moon, Jesse incorporates this kink when he has sex with Adam against a window above a dance club full of patrons. Jesse teases Adam with the idea that everyone could look up and see them. Even though they are both aware of the fact that the window is one-way, the idea turns Adam on. In this case the thrill of the kink comes from Adam’s mind more than the physical act.

Our minds and the fantasies and ideas they can create are powerful. I find the use of the mind in sex and kink fascinating and I love reading stories that incorporate it. What do you think about the mind’s power when it comes to kink? What are some books you like that utilize this aspect of BDSM and kink?

“We’re going to Harte.”

Ash said this as if Adam would know what the hell he was talking about.

“Where?”

Ash waved the question away with a flick of his wrist and an expression that clearly said it didn’t matter. “You’ll know when we get there. Now, come on.” He linked their arms and half dragged Adam out the door.

On the taxi ride to wherever they were going, Adam tried to get more details, but all Ash would tell him was that Harte was a local nightclub.

“You didn’t let me get dressed.”

“Why do you think I lent you that shirt to begin with? You look fantastic. Trust me.”

The crowd outside the club wrapped around the side of the building and back again. Thankfully, it wasn’t too cold out, or they would have frozen solid before getting inside.

“Is this place always so crowded?” Adam asked as they took their place at the end of the line.

“Packed like sardines,” Ash confirmed. “Best place in the city for good drinks and dancing.”

A man in skintight leather pants and what Adam guessed was a harness walked by. “Varied crowd,” he said.

Ash spotted the man and did that wrist-flick thing again. “He’s headed around back for the upper floors.”

“The upper floors?”

“Yeah, the nightclub is only on the first floor. It’s got three dance floors, each with their own bar, and a backroom, which was most likely meant to be a bathroom but is usually otherwise occupied. Upstairs is the kinky stuff. From what I hear, Harte has the best dungeon in the city, and he’s known to be top-notch on safety. It’s pretty well-known despite being members only up there. The entrance to the second floor is in the back, though, because there’s a difference between exhibitionism and indecent exposure.”

“Huh.” Adam had never been to a kink club. Granted, they didn’t have plans to head upstairs, but this was the closest he’d ever been to one.

Eventually, they made it inside. With the beat of the music and the press of sweaty bodies grinding around him, it was easy for Adam to be distracted from thoughts of the upper floors. It wasn’t long before he’d lost Ash to the throng as well. His friend tended to sidle toward the nearest hot guy before passing him up for the next one on the dance floor. It gave him more exercise than the dancing itself. When he wanted a break, he’d pop up next to Adam as if finding someone in a crowd was the simplest thing to do.

Tonight, Ash’s method fit Adam’s mood. He scanned the floor for someone to dance with. It didn’t take him long to find what he was searching for.

The man was dancing alone and, apparently, without a care in the world. He seemed lost to the music, his body moving with enviable grace and confidence. He was lean with boyish good looks and the kind of face that would still look thirty when he was fifty-five. His light-brown hair was just long enough to be spiky, and though his clothes were casual, he dressed stylishly.

When the dancer turned his head, he caught Adam staring. A jolt ran through Adam, but he couldn’t look away. Even from a distance, the man’s pale eyes had him trapped, and Adam found himself moving through the crowd as if pulled by an invisible string. When he was close enough, he reached for a seductively swaying hip. The touch of a hand on the back of his neck encouraged him to move even closer.

They moved together for a while, sliding their bodies against each other but in no hurry to make it anything more than dancing. They simply let the pleasure of touch build on itself. The feel of his partner’s body against his was electric.

Adam was about to ask if they should find the “bathroom” when the man asked, “Care to go upstairs?”

Adam hesitated. “Isn’t it members only?” He figured that was a simple way to change the subject without having to turn the guy down.

“I can bring a guest if I want to.”

There went his easiest excuse. His reluctance must have shown on his face because the man asked, “Not your thing?”

“Not really,” Adam admitted.

“Ah” was the only reply, but Adam heard the disappointment in the word.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Truthfully, Adam had never given kink much thought. He’d heard about it, read a little online, but he’d never considered putting what he’d read into practice.

Jacqueline Grey currently lives on an island on the east coast of the United States. She spends her time outside her day job juggling her many interests which include reading, writing and drinking tea. She loves M/M romance, usually focusing on stories that include BDSM themes to one degree or another.

Jacqueline has always been driven by characters. She loves a good plot, but it’s the characters that pull her into a story. She loves romance and believes everyone has a right to be happy. She enjoys seeing her characters find that happiness for themselves.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

http://jacquelinegrey.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineGreyBooks

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https://www.pinterest.com/Jacqueline_Grey/

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Redemption: Second Chance Gay Romance by Garrett Leigh: RB, New Release Review and Giveaway

July 6, 2020 by Denise

Reformed gangster Luis falls hard for his boss. When friendship turns to love, it’s up to Paolo to convince him second chances are worth the pain.

Luis Pope is back on the street after a six year stretch in prison, but life on the outside seems just out of reach, especially when the whole neighbourhood knows his face for all the wrong reasons.

Paolo’s temper makes it hard to keep staff, and he knows Luis’s rep all too well. But his nonno believes in redemption, and Luis isn’t the tough guy Paolo remembers. Prison has left its mark, inside and out, and all the kindness in the world can’t fix the three inch scar on Luis’s skull.

And it can’t keep ghosts locked up. Luis’s the best worker Paolo’s ever had, and Luis’s happier than he’s ever been. But his old life doesn’t want to stay in the past. Trouble comes to call, and when it makes him an offer he can’t refuse, keeping Paolo safe hurts the most.

Redemption is an angsty, standalone MM romance novel, with second chances, found family, friends-to-lovers, and buckets of hurt/comfort themed loveliness.

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

What do I like? Broken main characters! What is better than one? TWO!

So yes, this book sucked me RIGHT in. And let me tell ya, I needed it after reading 3 bombs in a row. I actually started it 10 minutes after I finished a book because I needed good writing in my brain.

Luis walks out of prison after 6 years with nothing. He was a member of his brother’s gang and when he got caught stealing, he admitted it and did his time. It also cost him most of the hearing in one ear. (more on that later)

He is restless without the schedule he had to follow in prison and wanders into a local cafe to inquire about a job. Paolo, owner of the cafe, recognizes him immediately from when they were in school together and later from the rumors about the gang. Paolo is a mess as well. Running his grandfather’s cafe, literally by himself, 7 days a week is killing him slowly. But he needs the money to take care of his grandparents who raised him. He doesn’t trust Luis, but he will give him a chance.

Ugh, Luis. He is like that puppy in a shelter who was beaten daily by his previous owner. He broke my heart. He just wants to live his life. He expects nothing. He doesn’t want what little family he has and all of his “friends” are tied up with that family.

Paolo just plods on. Day by day, doing what he needs to do, never really thinking about the future. These two broken men belong together.

They very quickly fall into a routine, and become hesitant friends. Until the booze comes out. Then perhaps more than friends?

Watching them slowly open up and trust each other and begin to fall in love is swoony. There are no great declarations. So huge romantic gestures. Because they are just 2 guys, working 7 days a week because they have to. Spending time with Paolo’s grandparents when they aren’t working.

Back to Luis’ hearing loss. I am deaf in one ear and everything she described is so spot on. From not being able to hear at all if someone is on the “wrong” side to being overwhelmed with too much sound. Including anxiety attacks because of it. Kudos for that. I think this might be the first character I’ve read that was hard of hearing in the same (or similar) way that I am and I really appreciate the representation.

4 pieces of eye candy

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer.

Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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Freedom (F-Word Book 5) by E. Davies: New Release Review

July 6, 2020 by Denise

Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. But Henry’s junk does.

Agoraphobe Jaden shouldn’t have let his big brother put a ticket in a blind date raffle for him. He wasn’t expecting to win. And certainly not an overnight trip to the Grand Canyon with a gorgeous stranger—and his total opposite, a hunky wilderness guide.

Henry’s excited to meet a guy he clicks with, having finally finished bottom surgery. He’s been living stealth as the man he is for years, but he’s growing tired of hiding his past. Jaden not only accepts him, he captivates Henry, who resolves to be courageous and vulnerable in the rest of his life.

Back home in Denver, Henry starts to take pride in reconnecting with the trans community, while Jaden pushes himself out of his comfort zone. But freedom always comes at a price. Can they take the plunge into their wide open future together?

This novel is loosely based on “Denver” from the Heart2Heart 2 anthology. It has been significantly revised and expanded into a novel with a happily ever after ending and no cliffhanger. It takes place after Forever in the F-Word series, but almost completely stands alone.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Blind date raffle winner could have seemed sort of forced, but I like the way that their relationship quickly progressed. Both of them were open and ready to find someone and none of those pesky “walls” were up that needed to be broken down.

My biggest point of contention with the book was the portrayal of agoraphobia. Jaden is agorabphobic and has difficulty leaving his house. He makes it to this bar where the raffle is but not without panicking a bit. But he does. But then he wins and the date is flying to the Grand Canyon. A biking in the Grand Canyon. And staying at a cabin, In the GRAND CANYON. Sorry, but there is no way an agoraphobe who can’t even do his own grocery shopping is doing that.

And then when the date is over and they are back in Denver- Jaden is back to not being able to go out really. Freaks out at a local hiking trail and doesn’t leave the parking lot. So you see what I’m talking about.

Anyway, Henry is not without his issues. He is a trans man, but being in Denver, everyone only knows him as a man. They have no idea that he is trans. And Henry is starting to feel like his life pre-transition is in the closet.

Henry and Jaden together are adorable. They are open and honest with each other without silly arguments about misunderstandings. They are each lucky to have someone else on their sides. For Jaden it is his brother and for Henry it is his coworker and best friend Trip.

If you don’t know a lot about trans men, you will definitely learn a thing or two. Henry explains things to Jaden (and us) in a way that isn’t preachy and just informative.

I’m going to call this a good beach read.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Fakers by Lucy Lennox & May Archer: RDB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

July 2, 2020 by Denise

Brooks Johnson’s Words To Live By:

When returning to Licking Thicket, TN, for the first time in ten years to reunite with your nosy neighbors, heart-broken ex-girlfriend, and matchmaking mama who never quite believed you were gay, it’s best to bring a fake boyfriend as backup…

Just don’t be surprised when your ex-girlfriend does the same.

And when her incredibly hot fake boyfriend becomes the one island of calm in a sea of bovine-based insanity, it’s best to exercise caution… especially when he pushes you up against the rough barn wall to check you very thoroughly for splinters…

Just don’t be surprised if you fall head-over-hooves in love with him.

Cover Designer: Cate Ashwood

Universal Link

Goodreads

After this lovely dinner with the family—and by lovely, I obviously meant horrific—I was counting down the minutes until I could give my excuses and scurry back to the blessed solitude of my arboreal guest house. Before the last ear of corn had been gnawed to the quick, however, Ava’s dad put me under the interrogation lights.

“You’re going to win this race for her tomorrow, right, son?”

I snuck a glance at Ava in hopes she’d be holding up a cue card with a little guidance on what the heck he was talking about. Instead, she was happily stripping a drumstick like a starving teenager biting into a turkey leg at a medieval festival.

“Do you mean metaphorically, or…?”

Mr. Ivey’s eyes narrowed. “The Lope. We need this. The Ivey family has won every Lope that’s been run without a Johnson. Just because Brooks is back this year and Elliot’s not competing doesn’t mean they get to take the title away from us.” He sat forward, pushing his dinner plate off to the side where Mrs. Ivey scrambled to clear it to the kitchen. “It’s one thing for that boy to win the race when he was in top shape as the QB for the Bovines, but I’ll be damned if some pencil pusher from New York City is going to embarrass the Iveys. Do you understand what I’m saying, son?”

I was pretty sure he was saying the Thicket’s high school mascot was a cow, but that should have been obvious. It certainly explained the random moo shouts I’d heard earlier today when Brooks had walked into the planning meeting. At first I’d thought they were heckling the poor guy, and then I’d assumed they were making a comment about his “pencil pushing” physique. Which, honestly, was pretty damned fine if you asked m—

“Malachi!”

I jumped at Mr. Ivey’s bark. “Yes, sir. I mean, I can try. I do run fairly regularly.” I glanced at Ava again, who, if I was keeping track properly, was enjoying her sixth ear of buttery corn.

She nodded. “Yes, Daddy. It’s like I told you. Mal runs when he’s upset which means he’s in really good shape.”

She made me sound like I had an anger management problem. “That’s not—”

“Good,” Mr. Ivey said, sitting back and clasping his fingers over his belly. “That’s real good, son. I knew we could count on you for something.”

How was it possible to feel like I’d both impressed and disappointed him at the same time?

“You’re… welcome?” I glanced toward the kitchen, both hoping there might be dessert to soothe my hurt feelings and hoping there wasn’t dessert so I could leg it the fuck out of there.

Mrs. Ivey came in carrying a cake with lit candles. “Mal, dear, why don’t you lead us?”

I glanced around the table hoping someone, somewhere would tell me what the hell was happening. Was it someone’s birthday?

“Um… I don’t…” Several expectant faces beamed at me, and it was worse than the interrogation lights. “Happy Birthday,” I began singing and thankfully everyone else joined in immediately.

After enjoying creative writing as a child, Lucy didn’t write her first novel until she was over 40 years old. Her debut novel, Borrowing Blue, was published in the autumn of 2016. Lucy has an English Literature degree from Vanderbilt University, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the years and years of staying up all night reading tantalizing novels on her own. She has three children, plays tennis, and hates folding laundry. While her husband is no shmoopy romance hero, he is very good at math, cooks a mean lasagne, has gorgeous eyes, looks hot in his business clothes, and makes her laugh every single day.

Lucy hopes you enjoy sexy heroes as much as she does. Happy reading!

May is an M/M author who lives in Boston. She spends her days raising three incredibly sarcastic children, finding inventive ways to drive her husband crazy, planning beach vacations, avoiding the gym, reading M/M romance, and occasionally writing it. She also writes MF romance as Maisy Archer.

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