Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

new release

Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert: Exclusive Author Guest Post and Interview, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

A lasting connection needs more than simply surviving a winter together—they’ll have to outsmart danger, let down their defenses and open their hearts.

Owen Han has a fresh lease on life—he’s kicked cancer’s ass and is roaring through his bucket list. The former investment banker hopes to find his next challenge in Alaska, volunteering alongside park rangers and fulfilling his childhood dreams of snowy winters and rustic life. Of course, those dreams did tend to feature big strapping mountain men in vivid detail…

Ranger Quilleran Ramsey would like to be anywhere other than dealing with newbie volunteers. And really, the only thing he needs less than a green volunteer “partner” is the flirty attentions of a buff city boy who doesn’t look ready to last a week, let alone an Alaskan winter. They’re all wrong for each other, even if Quill’s traitorous body enjoys the flirting more than it should.

As the weeks pass, the two snowbound men give in to temptation. But can their seasonal romance last until spring? For them to have a future together, each will have to trust the other…while hoping that the harsh elements and omnipresent dangers don’t destroy what happiness they’ve found in the moment.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

This book is approximately 89,000 words

ARCTIC HEAT by Annabeth Albert

Series: Frozen Hearts #3

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date: Sept. 23 (ebook/audio), Oct 1 (print)

Length (Print & Ebook): 89,000 words

Subgenre: m/m contemporary romance/ action adventure m/m romance, interracial romance

Warnings: None.

Amazon

Audible

B&N

Kobo

Google

iBooks

Goodreads

 

 

Hi! I’m so thrilled to be here on Two Chicks Obsessed, one of my favorite blogs! I’m here with some Q&A  about ARCTIC HEAT, my newest release in the Frozen Hearts series set in Alaska. As with the other two books in the series, this one stands alone fine—there’s only the briefest of mentions of the prior books’ couples and no spoilers. This is my opposites-attract, odd couple roommates, snowbound romance as a seasoned ranger finds himself paired with a newbie volunteer for the winter season where they’ll be snowed in together at a remote Alaska state park. Quill and Owen were so much fun to write, and I can’t wait for readers to meet them! Got other questions for me? Be sure and hit me up on social media! I love hearing from my readers!

  • Where did you draw inspiration for an Alaskan series from?
    • I’ve always loved the Arctic setting, and I have a fond place in my heart for the old-school Alaskan romances from authors like Nora Roberts and Debbie Macomber and other category romances taking place in Alaska. When I was brainstorming a new series, I wanted to capture that feel—big scenery, rugged terrain, real dangers, isolated settings—but in a modern way that welcomed some LGBTQ pairings and reflected changes, both in Alaska itself, but also in the romance genre. I wanted romances that felt fresh and real but still had all the appeal of some of my favorite Alaska tropes, like snowbound and close proximity!
  • How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?
    • For this series, there was a ton of background research. Maps. Biographies. Websites. Message boards. State documents. Documentaries. I tried to really immerse myself in the world as best I could and then started fleshing out the plot from that point. While completely fictional, I did try to ground the series in reality, basing locales on actual places I discovered in my research and trying to make the plot points feasible. I also do a lot of characterization work before I start writing, really digging deep into conflict, motivation, wants, need, and desires for each character.
  • When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
    • Each book in the Frozen Hearts series has a different couple with unique background and unique hurdles to their HEA. This keeps things fresh for me because each character needs different things and as a result, each book is very different. I also kept things fresh by doing different times of year—Book 1 is Summer into Fall. Book 2 is Late Spring into Summer. Book 3 is Fall into Winter. Also the tropes vary from book-to-book within the series. Book 1, ARCTIC SUN is very much an opposites-attract, hurt/comfort romance. Book 2, ARCTIC WILD is a May/December romance with a plane crash at its center. Book 3, ARCTIC HEAT, is a fish-out-of-water, close proximity, snowbound romance. Varying the tropes kept me on my toes, and I think it also lets each book stand on its own with readers. I also tried for not too much crossover between books so that each truly can stand alone and reader can read in the order that they prefer.
  • What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
    • Writing from Oregon, my biggest challenge was in not being there! Absolutely, not being able to take a weekend trip to explore a locale in the book was a big issue for me throughout the series. I had AMAZING beta readers for the series who were from Alaska, and I owe a huge debt to them.
  • What’s your favorite scene from this book?
    • Without giving away too many spoilers, I have to say that while this isn’t a holiday romance, the Christmas scene is probably my favorite romantic moment in the book, but there were so many little moments and scenes I loved!

Thank you so very much for having me! I hope you check out ARCTIC HEAT!

“Tea for everyone. Then a hot shower and lots of blankets,” Owen declared as they entered the building, bossy streak making a blessed reappearance right when Quill really needed to not be the one thinking. If Owen had a plan, so much the better because Quill wasn’t good for much besides stripping off his gear, stowing his piece, stomping upstairs, and flopping into a kitchen chair. Owen draped one of the blankets from the couch around his shoulders before doing the same for himself, wearing it like a cape as he made tea. “Bourbon in yours? I found a bottle in the cabinet the other week.”

“Yeah.” Quill didn’t often imbibe, but he needed the burn of the liquor even more than any warmth-giving properties. The bourbon was there exactly for nights like this one where Quill had done his best and it still hadn’t been enough. Fucking universe and its random acts of cruelty.

After adding a healthy glug of liquor to each of their mugs, Owen shoved a cup at Quill. He also put a plate of cookies from the batch that got baked on the table. “Here you go. Eat something so the alcohol doesn’t hit too hard.”

“Feels like I should be the one taking care of you,” Quill admitted after he’d had a few sips of tea, let the warmth and burn work past the tightness in his throat and chest.

“We can take care of each other,” Owen countered, pulling his chair close to Quill’s. “That’s what we’re here for, right?”

A few hours ago, Quill would have argued that being alone was the best way to cope with something like this—find a way to push through and on to the next day either with the aid of some strong drink or just a restless night spent replaying the events until sleep did its thing, softened the edges of the awfulness. But when Owen grabbed his hand, squeezed, and looked at him with such compassion in his eyes, Quill couldn’t find it in himself to pull away.

“Yeah,” he said, even as he knew that he shouldn’t let himself come to need Owen like this, to lean on him. He and Hattie had always tended to retreat to their own corners after a hard shift, and he prided himself on being a strong man. Sure, accidents like this affected him as they would anyone, but he’d always tried to handle those emotions on his own. Harsh memories of his father’s comments about men who showed their feelings didn’t help any, but lately all those memories, all the family drama, seemed more distant. Less sharp.

And funny how without that mantle of a painful past, his present seemed somehow more hopeful, old wounds and past fears no match for Owen. In fact, they’d been on the verge of another disagreement when Owen had dropped everything to come help. And now here he was, taking care of Quill yet again. Owen simply didn’t seem to have it in him to hold a grudge too long. Quill would be a fool to pull away now, even if he knew the next night like this, the inevitable one after Owen left, would hurt that much more. But that moment, all he wanted to do was hold Owen close, take every comfort he offered from Christmas lights to hot toddies to underdone gingerbread to that strong hand of his, holding on when Quill needed it most.

Sweet, slow burn, opposites attract. It was….nice.

The third in the series she set in Alaska, this time we get the introverted park ranger and extroverted volunteer. Of course they are paired together.

I really loved the story- Owen the volunteer trying so hard to at least be friends with Quill. Hearing about all that they do as rangers and volunteers. The Northern Lights, the super short days, the cabin fever.

I just didn’t really feel the heat with Owen and Quill. And even though I really liked Owen, I just didn’t see him living a remote life like that. Several times in the book he stated he was going crazy from not having anyone to talk to.

The story is definitely readable- especially if you are a fan of the author and/or Alaska. I’m just not going to put it in her top ten.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #FrozenHearts, #OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.

To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.

Connect with Annabeth:

Website: http://annabethalbert.com/

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/Nb9yv

Fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/annabethsangels/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6477494.Annabeth_Albert

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Annabeth-Albert/e/B00LYFFAZK

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnabethAlbert

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annabeth_albert/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard by Charlie Cochet: RB, Excerpt and New Release Review

by

Prince Owin

Being a fierce predator—not at all adorable, despite my graceful stature—the last thing I needed was a bodyguard. Especially a wolf shifter, whose presence alone was an insult to my princely principles. As Prince of the Ocelot Shifters, I prided myself on my infallible feline instincts, uncompromisable dignity, and flawless fashion sense. If having a canine follow me around at all times wasn’t bad enough, I now faced the most important moment of my entire life. The time had come to prove I was worthy of my crown. If only I could find a way to get rid of the pesky bodyguard.

Grimmwolf

When the King of All Shifters asked me to guard Prince Owin, I admit I had no idea what to expect. Cat shifters tend to be a little intense, not to mention kinda cranky. Owin was no exception, though he seemed crankier than most. Being his bodyguard was proving to be one of the greatest challenges of my life—but not nearly as great as convincing him there was something special between us. When Owin is faced with a perilous quest to prove his worth, I was determined to keep him safe, even if the same couldn’t be said of my heart.

Title: The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard

Series Title: Paranormal Princes Book # 1

Author: Charlie Cochet

Length: Novella

Genre: Paranormal Shifters

Word Count: 31, 417

Release Date: September 19th, 2019

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“What the—” Grimm dropped the orb, and we both jumped back. To my utter disbelief, it spread upward and sideways until it was roughly the size of a large doorway, a forest appearing inside. “Hmm. What do you know? A portal that will take us where we want to go.”

How cross would the king be with me if I accidentally pushed Grimm off a cliff? Or left him with the Cù Sìth? Not like he didn’t have plenty of wolf shifters. What was one less in the grand scheme of things?

Grimm narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not leaving me behind.”

How did he do that? “Are you sure you’re not a seer wolf?”

Grimm didn’t look impressed. “You’re right. I’m a seer. My curse is that I’m limited to visions of you being a jerk.”

I opened my mouth to respond, then thought better of it. “Can we just go?”

“As you wish, Your Highness.” He bowed and motioned for me to go ahead. Clearly, he thought I was an idiot.

“What if it’s a trap and I step through and burst into flames? You go first.”

“Your generosity knows no bounds, my liege. Fine. I’ll go first, but if I meet my demise, my blood is on your hands.”

I shrugged. “I’ll get over it.”

“So mean.” He shook his head at me and stepped through. On the other side, he turned and held his arms out. “See? All good. Wait….” He gasped and clutched at his chest. “What’s happening to me? It burns!”

“Grimm?” My heart lurched in my chest, and I stepped up to the portal.

“I can’t,” he gasped, falling to his knees. “I can’t….”

“Can’t what!” Oh my Goddess, oh my Goddess. I never expected him to actually burst into flames! I flailed around feeling utterly helpless. “What do I do? Is it flames? Are you bursting into flames?” I frantically looked around. “I don’t see a fire extinguisher!” Not that I knew how to use one. I’d just have to toss it at him and hope he could do it himself.

“I can’t….” He gasped for breath. “I can’t… believe you fell for that,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m going to kill you!” I darted into the portal, ignoring his laughter as he took off, his long legs putting him out of my reach in a heartbeat. “I hate you!”

“Admit it! You were worried about me,” he called out from across the field.

“Worried you’d die and I wouldn’t be able to pry the magic purse off your cold, dead, dog-smelling corpse!”

“It’s a satchel!”

A new shifter series by Charlie Cochet! YAY!

Trust me, this ain’t THIRDS. Yes it has shifters and snark and witty dialogue, but that’s where the similarities end.

In this world there are all sorts of shifters, magic, a King, many princes, alphas and don’t forget the Hellhounds. At first I thought it would be complicated to follow along in a different world, but really the story is so focused on Owin and Grimm with different magical creatures being introduced one at a time, so it was no big deal. Ok, that makes it sound like I can’t follow a book. I can, I promise. I am just more of a contemporary reader so the otherworldly thing is just different for me.

Back to it. Prince Owin is tasked with a quest by the King of all shifters to prove his worthiness. He is allowed to bring his bodyguard, who is an Alpha in a wolf pack, with him. Grimm, the wolf, pretty much sees right through the King’s ruse, but Owin is a bit bratty and doesn’t.

So we follow along on Owin’s quest which brings him to different places meeting different magical creatures. With Grimm loyally by his side.

Did I mention that Owin is also a shifter? An ocelot. Which is just awesome. There are dog and cat jokes a plenty.

Read it. If you love Charlie’s other work- especially THIRDS, you will love this. All the shifting, all of the snark, all of the sexy times without the drama.

 

Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.

Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Website: www.charliecochet.com

Email: charlie@charliecochet.com 

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/CharlieCochetNews

Facebook: http://facebook.com/charliecochet

Facebook Reader Group: http://facebook.com/groups/charliecochet

Twitter: http://twitter.com/charliecochet

Instagram: http://instagram.com/charliecochet

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charliecochet

BookBub: http://bookbub.com/authors/charliecoche

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/CharlieCochet

Amazon: https://bit.ly/CharlieCochetAmzn

Save Me: An Omegaverse Story (Finding Free Book 1) by A.M. Arthur: New Release Review

by

Alpha Gaven Freel was taught by his doting beta parents to protect and respect omegas, and he sees those parents as shining examples of how to love his future mate. Except he’s only nineteen and still a university student, so Gaven has plenty of time to find his omega bondmate—but fate has other plans, and he scents his omega from across a crowded waiting room. Too bad his bondmate is the son of his parents’ oldest enemy.

At twenty-two, omega Frey Porter has already gone through multiple heats without an alpha. He’s desperate to find a mate, but his sire Monte Porter won’t settle for just any alpha for his only omega son. Frey will one day access a sizable trust fund—no gold diggers allowed into the wealthy Porter family. When Frey insists younger alpha Gaven Freel is his bondmate, Monte is skeptical about the pairing. And Gaven’s parents are skeptical right back, worried Monte might use the situation to punish Gaven for decades-old hurts.

Monte surprises everyone by negotiating a fair financial agreement that limits Gaven’s access to Frey’s trust fund and by allowing them to mate. Gaven has no interest in money, only in being the best alpha possible to Frey, and with Frey’s next heat months away, they have plenty of time to date and get to know each other. Frey is intimidated by Gaven’s huge extended family, but he also adores their camaraderie and genuine love for each other. Frey wants his future to be with the Freels.

Gaven is busy making plans for their life together when the unthinkable happens—Monte serves Gaven with papers dissolving the mating agreement. Papers Frey signed, too, and stands by. Devastated by losing his bondmate, Gaven sinks into a deep depression even his best friends can’t get him out of. But Frey also has a terrible, life-altering secret he’s keeping from Gaven, and he’ll have to learn to trust in the strength of the mating bond in order to save them both from darkness.

SAVE ME is the first book in the brand-new “Finding Free” omegaverse series, which is a spin-off of the fan-favorite “Breaking Free” series. This is an original universe featuring mpreg, A/B/O dynamics, heats, knotting and an alpha-dominated society that is starting to see advances in omega rights. Content warnings for dark themes apply. See interior blurb for additional warning.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I never read an Omegaverse book before Am Arthur put out her first called Saved. It sucked me right in and I pretty much devoured the series as they were released.

Well, lucky us, but she has done a time jump for a new series based on the kids of the guys in the first series! Whee! I am going to say you really don’t need to read the first series if you want to read this book. I mean, you should, duh, but you don’t have to. She really takes the time to explain who everyone is, how they are connected, who their children are, etc, etc. It is A LOT of information and you can just as easily gloss over it and lose nothing. It’s like meeting a whole room of people at once. You need a few times before the names truly click.

So, first of up Gaven, adopted son of the betas Dex and Serge. I loved Dex and Serge from the first series. I think because they are beta and didn’t have the whole “bondmate” thing. Gaven is happily in college wanting to become a nurse like his father. And then at the opening of a clinic, he scents and meets his bondmate.

Frey is an “older” omega at 22. The way these books hearken back to the traditional gender roles of our parents or grandparents is rather eye opening. Frey is afraid that the 19 year old Gaven will reject him because of his age. But really the issue is Frey’s father, old school, old money and lots of rules.

After lots of promises and a few concessions, Frey’s sire agrees to let them date.

And it was so sweet. They had to actually date each other- with chaperones! Most of their dates consisted of dinners or brunches at one or the other’s house, or a party, but always with a chaperone. (see what I mean about gender roles, etc?)

Frey is super shy but Gaven is always right there to protect him. *swoon* Plus there is like a foot height difference I think, which also makes me swoon.

There is a bit of a secondary story that the author is torturing, I mean teasing us with. Peyton and Layne. Best friends who might be more. But Peyton has a so far incurable blood disease that could disable him at almost any time. I super love them together as well. Even though they are alpha and omega, Layne hasn’t had his first heat yet to emit pheromones to attract his bond mate. So they are just a cute, kind of awkward sort of couple right now.

There is actually more than one conflict that Gaven and Frey must deal with. The first I was pretty surprised with, not totally, but I can’t say. Because spoilers. The second was almost expected, kind of? But I am glad that it was resolved rather quickly.

The story is wrapped up well, with time taken to finish out plot points (except the tease of Peyton and Layne) without just a “tah dah!” and things are fine and dandy immediately. I hate that. Thought and feelings were put into it all.

So yes, I am completely sucked right back into this world and cannot wait for book 2.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Flash Rip: MM Gay Romance by Keira Andrews: RB, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

The most dangerous current is between them.

Training to be a lifeguard at an Australian beach is tough work, but Cody Grant loves a challenge. He spends long days in the sun and surf rescuing swimmers from treacherous rip currents while trying not to lust after senior lifeguard Liam Fox—who is deeply, painfully closeted.

Liam was supposed to be a football legend. Now in his mid-thirties, it’s been over a decade since his dream shattered along with his knee. Fans still recognize him regularly, and he’s terrified his sexuality will be discovered and his conservative parents will reject him. He has strict rules to protect his secret and keeps everyone at arm’s length. Liam never acts on his need to surrender after being shamed for it years ago by the first and only man he trusted.

Out and proud Cody fascinates Liam—and tempts him to break all the rules.

Cody is practically half Liam’s size and age, but has the confidence and compassion to take charge and give Liam the release, affection, and acceptance he desperately craves. But how long can a secret affair satisfy their hearts? As if saving lives isn’t hard enough, Cody faces his greatest challenge yet convincing Liam to trust him and find the courage to live out loud.

Flash Rip is an M/M gay romance from Keira Andrews featuring a slow burn, an age gap, scorching first times, and of course a happy ending.

Length: 290 pages

Cover Design: Wicked Smart Design

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I love books that are set in a country other than my own (the US) and they don’t Americanize the language at all. I love reading books with native slang, etc. And this had plenty! What’s better is that one of the MCs is from Canada originally, and while he uses a lot of the slang, some of it still makes him chuckle- or cringe. Like nicknames.

Cody is a lifeguard trainee at a very popular beach in Australia. With their busy season 9 months of the year, but the other three still attracting hardcore surfers to the water, it can be a year round career.

Liam HAD a career, as a player for the AFL. Until a nasty knee injury ended it far, far too soon. Now his career is on the sand, but his personal life is firmly in the closet.

I usually get mad at characters who are adamantly in the closet. ESPECIALLY if it is because of bigoted family. But for some reason, Liam really tugged at my heart strings. The poor guy was so afraid of being outed, that he wouldn’t even hook up with anyone in his own country. He would literally vacation alone in a different country and hook up with strangers who he was pretty sure wouldn’t recognize him from his time in the AFL. It was bordering on a phobia he was so afraid of being found out.

And it wasn’t just his bigoted family- it was the fact that he was famous, in a very masculine sport, that had no out players. So he would be the first. And he would definitely be front page news.

Cody has wanted to be a lifeguard on the beaches of Australia almost since he moved there with his family as a kid. In fact, when his family moved back to Canada, he stayed. His family of academics don’t understand why he wants to be a lifeguard, and he is sick of trying to explain. The fact that veteran lifeguard Liam is gorgeous is just a perk. A big perk.

There’s quite a bit of not even really flirting by either guy. Liam is so tightly in the closet that Cody doesn’t even think he is gay. But they definitely start to become friendly with each other. When Cody does finally make a move, poor Liam is just terrified. Ugh, it broke my heart.

So much internalized homophobia on Liam’s part. Not only hiding it, but the memory of his father making a horribly homophobic remark is burned into his brain. The poor guy doesn’t even know any gay people.

Cody slowly draws him out of his shell, but only in private. And while Cody swears he will never out him, never force him out, he is getting frustrated. Mostly about how Liam thinks he “should” be.

I won’t spoil anything, but the big conflict was definitely not what I was expecting. I love when a book goes off formula a bit. It was a nice change of pace.

So, I’ll say that I loved the Aussie slang, didn’t love how much of it was explained (because I feel a lot was pretty self explanatory within context) and Liam and Cody in bed together was really hot. Hello take charge Cody! And there was story in there. What they actually did as lifeguards, how they reacted, saved people, kept a watch and even helped locate missing kids. It was obvious the author spent some time at the beach.

Definitely give this one a read. You won’t be disappointed.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, fantasy, and paranormal fiction and — although she loves delicious angst along the way — Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said:

“The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Secrets We Keep by Rick R. Reed: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt, Giveaway

by

Jasper Warren is a happy-go-lucky young man in spite of the tragedy that’s marred his life. He’s on a road to nowhere with his roommate, Lacy, whom he adores, and a dead-end retail job in Chicago.

And then everything changes in a single night. Though Jasper doesn’t know it, his road is going somewhere after all. This time when tragedy strikes, it brings with it Lacy’s older, wealthy, sexy uncle Rob. Despite the heart-wrenching circumstances, an immediate connection forms between the two men.

But the secrets between them test their attraction. Will their revelations destroy the bloom of new love… or encourage it to grow?

Title: The Secrets We Keep
Author: Rick R. Reed
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Category: Contemporary Romance

Length: 195 pages

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Design: Reese Dante

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Universal Link

It’s always exciting for me, both as a writer and as a reader, when the two main lovers in a book first meet. In THE SECRETS WE KEEP, that first meeting is at a funeral home wake, for someone both men loved deeply (and for whom many of the secrets in the book are kept).

***

When he stepped out of the bathroom, someone was waiting for him. An older man.

Jasper tried to thread his way around the guy. “Did you want to go in?” Jasper gestured toward the open bathroom.

“No. I was waiting for you.” The guy eyed him. He was probably a good twenty years older than Jasper, but as inappropriate as it was at a time like this, Jasper couldn’t help noticing how sexy he was. Trim, a little on the short side, it was obvious, even in his impeccably tailored black suit, he was in very good, and very powerful, shape. Jasper was certain those weren’t shoulder pads testing the seams at the tops of his arms.

He had kind eyes. And they were the most amazing shade of pale gray. Jasper had seen a husky once with eyes like that; he couldn’t say he’d ever seen anything like it on a human being. Those eyes were mesmerizing, arresting, and chilling, framed in long, black lashes.

His hair was silver, shorn close on the sides with a bit more on top, spiked with some gel.

He wore a fashionable five-o’clock shadow that Jasper couldn’t deny he wanted to feel—either with his fingers or against his own smooth cheeks.

“For me?” Jasper smiled. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

He simply smiled enigmatically. “Probably not. But I bet I know you. You’re Jasper, Heather’s roommate, right?”

“Yeah. And you are?”

“I’m Robert. Robert Burroughs.” He extended his hand.

Jasper gripped the warm hand, slightly soft and a little damp. He didn’t take his eyes off Robert the whole time, and the “whole time” was much longer than the duration of a handshake for most guys. It sent a shiver through Jasper.

“Burroughs?” Jasper had a terrifying thought. What if this is her dad? Good Lord, I’m flirting with Lacy’s dad! At her funeral! The very thought caused beads of sweat to pop out on Jasper’s forehead. He held in a giddy burst of laughter. “Are you, um, related to Lacy? Er, Heather?”

Please don’t say you’re her father.

“I’m her uncle Rob. Did she never mention me?”

Jasper wracked his brain. One thing neither of them did much of was talk about their respective families. They liked to believe they were each other’s family now, “chosen family” was the term they used. The idea, the memory of this, brought a lump to Jasper’s throat, bringing home for real that his best friend was gone. “I’m not sure.”

“It’s okay if she didn’t. I hadn’t seen her in quite some time. My schedule doesn’t afford me much opportunity to see family, as much as I might want to.” He smiled, and Jasper noticed the sadness around his eyes despite it. Robert went on softly, “I wish I’d had one more chance to talk to her, to tell her how I loved her. I’m afraid she didn’t know.”

Jasper nodded. “Me too. If I could just talk to her one more time, maybe we wouldn’t be here.”

Robert cocked his head. “No?”

Jasper didn’t want to disabuse him of the notion that Lacy had not killed herself, if that was what he was choosing to believe. So he simply said, “Who knows?”

“Heather used to write sometimes, a long time ago. She’d shoot me a text, you know, a birthday emoji or a holiday one. We were close when she was a kid. I used to take her places with me whenever I could. Her parents never really got her, you know?”

“Oh, I know.”

“They were always trying to change her. Like, she was left-handed naturally, and they worked and worked and worked on getting her to use her right. They tried to get her to hang out with what they deemed the popular girls. They bought her American Girl dolls when all she wanted was a set of paints and a good book, preferably horror. I could stand here all day and tell you how little my brother and sister-in-law knew their girl. But I won’t.

“I just wish I’d stayed in better touch with her. Once my career took off, back when she was just becoming a teenybopper, I kind of got preoccupied and we lost touch.” He paused and Jasper noticed the tears standing in his incredible eyes. Unexpectedly, he laughed. “When she was a little girl, and I mean like three or four, she would sigh and say, ‘Woe is me.’ What little girl says that?”

“Lacy. It so figures.”

“You call her Lacy. Why?”

“That’s how she referred to herself. She was even thinking of legally changing her name. She hated Heather.”

Robert nodded. “I get that. I never thought of her as a Heather. I’m glad she found something else.” He glanced over his shoulder into the viewing room. “I wish they’d respected that.”

I do too. Jasper felt, suddenly, even sadder. For his own loss, sure, but more for Lacy’s loss. The rest of her life. She could have done so much. She could have been happy. He just knew it.

He placed his hand on Robert’s shoulder. “Look, I intended to stay longer, but I need to get out of here. This place is too oppressive. And it honestly feels like someone else is being waked, not the girl I know. So I’m gonna book. But it was nice to talk to you.”

Robert nodded. “Will you be at the funeral tomorrow morning?”

The funeral was set for one of Rogers Park’s Catholic churches. Then they’d fly the body back to California for burial in the family plot.

It was all wrong. All not what Lacy would have chosen.

Jasper shook his head. “No. I don’t think so. This isn’t her. I think I’ll just remember her as I knew her.”

Jasper turned away, feeling on the verge of tears. He didn’t want to cry in front of Lacy’s uncle—or anyone else gathered at the funeral home, for that matter.

As he reached the door, Robert’s voice stopped him.

“Jasper?”

He turned.

“Would you mind if I came with you? I need to get out of here too.”

 

Real Men. True Love.

Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. He’s the award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction and is forever at work on yet another book. Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” You can find him at www.rickrreed.com or www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA with his beloved husband and their fierce Chihuahua/Shiba Inu mix.

FIND RICK ONLINE

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rickrreedbooks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/rickrreed

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RickReedWRITER

Blog: http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/

Website: www.rickrreed.com

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rick-r-reed

Email: rickrreedbooks@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kickflip by Christina Lee: New Release Review

by

Tattoo artist Cory Easton has been going through the motions—taking care of his grandmother and his dogs while working long hours—and staying busy enough to keep the noise in his head at bay. Until he lays eyes on the quiet and aloof skateboarder Jude York, who is so unreadable, unreachable, and unlike anyone else, he arouses Cory’s curiosity.

As captivating and complex as his ink, Jude is a mystery, and Cory falls fast and hard under his spell. But rumors about Jude’s past overshadow him, whispers of secrets keeping him under the thumb of a local motorcycle club. As Cory digs deeper, he begins to wonder how much he really wants to know.

Except their connection is magnetic, and Jude’s loneliness seems to mirror Cory’s own. Against his better judgment, Cory longs for another opportunity to make the guy smile, even if peeling back too many layers scares the hell out of him. Because Jude has awakened something inside him that’s been buried far too long—and losing him as well might just be Cory’s undoing.

**PLEASE NOTE: This book was formerly titled There You Stand before a rights reversion from the publisher. It’s been newly edited, with bonus material added, plus a new cover and title.

**This standalone is essentially a prequel to my Roadmap to Your Heart series, the first two books focusing on the MC club mentioned in Kickflip. You can also find some characters from my MF Between Breaths series and Golden Arrow Casino series, if you’re curious

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Such a sweet romance…

Cory watches Jude from afar. It seems that everyone in town is intrigued by Jude. The mostly silent and mysterious skateboarder. And then Jude comes in to get a tattoo from Cory.

They are seemingly opposites. Cory, who never stops talking to hide how lonely he is, and Jude who talks as little as possible, but that also makes him lonely. It’s interesting to see how much Jude can say without talking.

Anyway, their chemistry is immediate and while each of the guys has a back story, neither seems willing to share it. Add in a motorcycle club, a couple of cute dogs, an awesome grandma and some interfering friends and it is a recipe for a good story.

There could have been a lot of angst here. Both guys have difficult histories. But both are talked about and addressed without being super dark or emo. They were just two broken guys who need each other.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy