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Operation Green Card by G.B. Gordon: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Arkady Izmaylov is a family man. He’s also gay. In Russia. His sister Natalya has been telling him to get out for years, but it’s only after an attack in the street that he finally concedes and says yes to her desperate plan of him marrying a stranger for a green card.

Jason Cooley was taught from birth that he’s no good to anyone. Then the military taught him he was good enough to save other lives, but that purpose got amputated along with his leg. He’s now working security at Wolf’s Landing and sending monthly checks to his ex for their daughter’s education. When Natalya asks him to marry her brother, Jason knows right away he’ll do it more for the mission than the money she’s offering. But when he actually meets Arkady, his mission turns complicated.

Jason quickly discovers he’s not as straight as he thought. He’s also the man of Arkady’s dreams. Arkady must convince Jason that he’s worth loving, and that Arkady won’t disappear from his life like everyone else. Because Arkady has always wanted a family of his own, and he’s not letting go of this one.

Amazon

Riptide Publishing

I won’t lie, I am going to miss the Bluewater Bay series by Riptide (last book is out next week!). There have been some really great books in this series. This was a good one in the series, for sure. I like that it was one of the last two, going out in style! 🙂

Green card marriage is a trope which if you grew up reading Harlequin romances, you likely came across a time or two. And this one is based around that trope. However, I did like how this one came about. With as much as you hear in the news about how gay men are treated in countries such as Russia, this makes more sense than not.

There was an instant connection on both sides for these men. Arkady knowing he was attracted. Meanwhile, Jason, never having considered himself to be bisexual, gave himself a ton of excuses, yet didn’t have any problem with it once he realized that he was attracted.

I loved that Arkady was free with his love. He loved his family and friends that he moved from, and wanted to have a new family and friends in his new life, throwing himself fully into loving and caring for the people around him as much as possible. Even down to wanting to do renovations for Jason. The reader could feel that it wasn’t just boredom, but a need to do something for someone who meant something to him.

Jason’s lack of belief in himself, didn’t start with his amputated leg, but as a child, and carried through his adult life. His belief that he couldn’t trust anyone to stay, or to appreciate him, not just himself made it difficult for Arkady to get through. So, he did it in small ways. Whether beers on the couch, or shooting at nuts on a log, he worked his way into Jason’s subconscious minute by minute.

I loved that their moment of realization came while sitting in a government office, it seemed so poetic. Another good entry into this fantastic series.

4 pieces of eye candy

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!

G.B.Gordon worked as a packer, landscaper, waiter, and coach before going back to school to major in linguistics and, at 35, switch to less backbreaking monetary pursuits like translating, editing, and writing.

Having lived in various parts of the world, Gordon is now happily ensconced in suburban Ontario with the best of all husbands.

Connect with Gordon:

To celebrate the release of Operation Green Card, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 16, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Masked Heart by Chris McHart: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, Giveaway

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Benedict, Duke of Lexerton, faces a problem. After his brother’s sudden passing, he is confronted with the necessity to find a spouse.

Trying to fulfill his obligation at the events of high society, he repeatedly encounters a strange woman. Who is this mysterious Madame P. and how is she connected to his brother’s death?

A gay historical thriller about forbidden passions, power and a deadly secret society.

Title: Masked Heart

Author: Calli Hall

Release Date: November 28th 2017

Publisher: RAWmance Publishing

Genre: Gay romance, Historical

Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

“What is it about me that you find so repulsive? It can’t be my appearance. I share that with my brother.”

She didn’t lift her head, but only shook it quietly.

“You’re not Adam.” It was little more than a whisper in the silence of the room.

“So it is my character.” He needed all his self-control not to shake her.

“Your eyes are more blue than his. They look like the ocean on a stormy day. When you are angry, one could even mistake them for black. Your hair is blond like honey, not wheat like his was. Your face is harder and your skin is a shade of bronze. You smell like the ocean, Your Grace. Adam always smelled like perfume.”

As if she too didn’t know why she was listing the differences, her voice trailed off. In doing so, the aristocrat wondered if all of this counted for or against him. Likely the latter, as she continued to avoid his gaze.

Baffled, he stared at her black head. He couldn’t force another person to reciprocate his affections, even with power, money, or a title. For even if he could tell that she attracted him, to her he was still the brother of the man who had broken her heart.

Hurt, disappointment, and the feeling of helplessness replaced the warmth her laughter had put in his heart only a few minutes ago.

“Stop that. It’s dangerous.” He gently tried to stop her from picking up the shards by squatting down next to her and enveloping her hand in his.

“If you were your brother, then I could at least despise you, but as it is…”

The fragile hand, in which she had collected the broken glass, closed. Her knuckles were white as blood ran down her snowy white skin. However it was her eyes that pulled him into the abyss. Sorrow and despair were written in them, tears shimmering like precious diamonds. Benedikt pulled her face to his, pressing his mouth against hers. He tasted the salt on her lips, removing the traces with his tongue. He wanted to take her every teardrop from her. To his surprise she didn’t fight back, didn’t push him away, but rather she allowed it.

Something stuck out in his mind. He wasn’t kissing her like a lover, but rather possessively. As if he had to assert his claim at that exact moment. He was marking her with his kiss just as an animal would.

 

Ever since Calli was released into the world in 1986, she’s  been driving everyone around her crazy. She spends the nights in a bed of books, fighting with her dog Toby for the blanket. As she lost the fight once more, she started writing, because the TV program at 3 am is simply awful. She’s a huge fan of Gay Romance and Yaoi Mangas, so she knew exactly what she wanted to write about, and her sister Carla reads the midnight creations pretty willingly. However, if the guys don’t get their happy ending, she’ll beat Calli until there’s enough sugar in the story (and the happy ending). Covered in bruises and tired, she hopes you’ll enjoy her books as much as Toby enjoys his place in Calli’s bed.
Links: Calli: https://www.facebook.com/calli.hall.92
RAWmance Publishing: www.facebook.com/rawmance

 

 

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Monthly Guest Post Victoria Sue: Exclusive Excerpt, Guest Post and Giveaway

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Take Your Alpha To The Beach!

That’s where I’m gonna be anyway on the 22nd February. Coastal Magic is my fave bookcon. Its small, friendly, and set in Daytona, Florida. The con runs from Friday to Sunday – lots of author interaction if that’s your thing, or lots of alcohol if it isn’t 😉

This year I’m teaming up with Charlie Cochet, Mary Calmes, and Poppy Dennison to host a cocktail party on the Friday night where there will be lots of books, prizes and author shenanigans to be had.

The registration for this fabulous weekend includes:

Welcome Bag with goodies from authors and publishers, all daytime and evening events including Damon Suede’s famous Cinema Craptastique, and the lunch with an author on the Saturday.

I will also be bringing copies of my new enhanced series release—Beneath This Mask—to the weekend!

Gael Peterson has spent years hiding behind the enhanced abilities he wears like a mask, even though he is an important, confident member of the FBI’s exclusive H.E.R.O. team. The hurt and betrayal of his mom’s abandonment and his father’s fists are secrets buried deep beneath the ugly scars on his face, and he doesn’t trust Jake, his new regular human partner, with any of them. In a world where those with special abilities like Gael’s are regarded as freaks and monsters, it won’t be easy for him to rely on Jake to have his back, especially when the abilities of a vulnerable, enhanced, nonspeaking child make that child a murder suspect.

Tempers rise and loyalties are challenged, and when the serial killer targeting the enhanced finally sets his sights on Gael, not only will Gael have to trust Jake with his secrets, he might have to trust him to save his life.

And because I’m too excited to wait here’s an exclusive excerpt:

As the truck came to a stop, Gael jerked awake in a panic. He’d trained himself to sleep lightly, and even though it had been years since his bed had been a few cardboard boxes, it still took nothing to wake him. What shocked him was that he had fallen asleep in the first place.

“Would you like a coffee or a beer or something?” The words were out before he knew he was going to say them. “That’s if you don’t want to go to bed.” Shit. “I mean, you might be tired and want to go home.” He groaned and thunked his head back on the seat.

A low chuckle had him opening his eyes again. Jake’s eyes were… dancing, for want of a better word, and Gael grinned.

“Open mouth, insert foot.”

It took a second and Jake pulling in a sharp breath before Gael realized his last comment, while not as suggestive as the first, could also make his brain go somewhere else. He gave up and opened the door. He didn’t know what to think when Jake cut the engine and opened his own door.

Gael picked his way through the various trash littered on the sidewalk, barely gave the truck a second glance, as he had no idea what to do about it, pulled his door key from his pants pocket, and took the two steps to the door. He cringed at the peeling paint and the general feeling of drabness and quickly keyed in the code to silence the alarm after he had opened the door. Gael flicked on the light and stepped into one of the three rooms in his ground-floor apartment.

He looked around critically, not sure why he wanted Jake to like the space. The two massive recliners suddenly screamed “old man” when they had always meant lazy Sunday afternoons catching a game. The large flat-screen seemed to shout that he had nothing better to do, and the beige-and-chocolate color scheme looked boring.

“Nice,” Jake said with what seemed to be genuine admiration in his voice.

Gael waved him to a seat. “Coffee or beer?”

“What you got?”

“Wild Night,” Gael said without thinking, then wished for lightning to strike him where he stood when Jake grinned.

“I meant beer, but whatever.”

Heat flushed through Gael at rocket speed, and he strode to the refrigerator in case he was likely to spontaneously combust. Jake is gay? “It’s a local Florida brewery, Swamp Head,” he rushed out in explanation. “Midnight Oil, Stump Knocker, Wild Night.”

Gael looked up when Jake didn’t reply to find him studying his music collection.

“Eric Darius?” He turned over the CD.

“Local to Tampa actually,” Gael supplied, grabbing the bottles and an opener. “Saxophonist,” he added by way of an explanation.

Jake nodded and put the CD down, then took a bottle from Gael. “I like Mindi Abair. Did you hear her record with Aerosmith?”

Gael smiled in delight. “You like jazz?”

“I like most things to be honest. Not so much heavy metal, and I don’t like full orchestra, but people don’t have to sing for me to like their music.” Jake eased down into one of the leather recliners. “How long have you lived in Ybor?”

“I grew up in Charlottesville and eventually moved to Tampa. Got a job on the docks and met Talon there. I roomed with Talon for a while, and then I got this place.” Gael gazed around the room. “It’s small, but there’s only me.” Shit, could he sound any more pathetic?

“You have a brother, right?”

A warm feeling spread through Gael. “Yeah, Wyatt. He’s just graduated from Georgetown.” He couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice, but he didn’t care.

“You got any other family?” Jake asked.

The temperature suddenly took a drop in the room, and Gael’s blood seemed to prick his skin from the inside. Smooth warmth had been replaced with brittle cold. Gael lurched to his feet. “You want another one?”

Jake looked down at his bottle. “No, I’m good,” he said slowly.

Gael was grateful Jake didn’t point out that he’d barely had time to take more than one swallow from his still mostly full bottle. He moved back to the fridge, not really knowing why, because he hadn’t drunk any more than Jake. He turned around to face Jake, to offer some sort of explanation for his shitty mood, but Jake was there behind him. How had he not heard him move?

Jake drew a hand through his thick black hair, and Gael watched as his fingers trailed through it. “Maybe this was a bad idea,” he said slowly.

Gael tried to process the words, but his eyes were fixed on the pink lips they were moving through. He swallowed. “Because?”

Jake stared into Gael’s eyes. Gael took a breath, then another one as Jake seemed to swallow all his oxygen. “Because,” Jake whispered, taking a step closer, his hand sliding around the back of Gael’s neck, “I want to do this.” He breathed the word out as his lips ghosted over Gael’s.

Gael leaned forward, his chilled body seeming to know it needed Jake’s heat and seeking it out. Gael ignored the whimper from his own throat and slid his hands up Jake’s back, feeling the hardness, the strength. He opened his mouth, and Jake instantly pushed his tongue in, stroking, exploring. Teasing every shudder out of Gael, his arms clutching him tighter to show he liked it. On and on the kiss went, demanding, domineering, until the only thing keeping Gael balanced was the heavy hand threaded through his hair as Jake leaned him back. For a second Gael’s brain went fuzzy, and he suddenly wrenched his mouth away for oxygen. He had been so lost he hadn’t realized he needed it. Jake immediately moved his lips to Gael’s throat and gently mouthed the skin. Gael wobbled. He’d always thought going weak at the knees was a cheesy line until he actually felt it.

“How about I stay, and then I can give you a ride to work again tomorrow?” Jake panted, as though words were an effort.

But they were the equivalent of a cold shower. Gael stepped back, and it was Jake’s turn to stumble. He bit his lip, and Jake searched his gaze until Gael dropped it.

Jake gave a little sigh. “Maybe you’re right. We could probably both do with an early night.” He took a step back with a slight shake of his head, as if to clear it. “I don’t think we have anything going on early tomorrow, so I’ll be around at eight thirty unless we get a call or something.” He hesitated. “Unless you need help getting your truck anywhere tonight?” He looked at his watch. “What did the insurance guys say?”

Inexplicable temper flared in Gael, and he scoffed. “Insurance?”

Jake looked puzzled. “Yeah. Do you need a police report? Maybe we can ask Vance—”

“You’re really clueless, aren’t you?” Gael bit out. “Enhanced don’t get insurance. I only get mine because I have an approved job.”

“Gael, buddy—” Jake sounded apologetic.

“I’m not your buddy,” Gael nearly yelled, not wanting to be patronized. “You want to work with us, you should have done your homework. My so-called insurance only covers me for damage to other cars. It’s taken out of every pay check automatically as a condition of employment, and I pay $600 a month for a crappy piece of paper that means I will only ever get to live in a dump like this,” he roared finally, the volume increasing with every word.

Jake opened his mouth and closed it without saying a word.

“Get out.” Gael thought he was going to have something—someone—of his own, but this would never work.

“Get out?” Jake parroted in disbelief. Then, with sarcasm dripping from every word, he said, “Wow. You were right when you said I hadn’t done my homework. Tell me, where does it say that all enhanced are assholes?”

Gael lunged before he thought better of it, and Jake sidestepped, whirling around and grabbing Gael by his neck. In a second he had his arm around his throat and a hand to the back of his head. Gael held his breath, stunned at how fast Jake had moved. He could snap Gael’s neck. Jake blew out a short breath and stepped away, releasing Gael instantly. He didn’t even bother with a backward glance as he strode to the door and yanked it open. Gael couldn’t help the wince as Jake slammed it shut behind him.

“Fuck,” Gael spat out into the silence, sliding down with his back against the wall. What the hell had just happened? Jake was right—when had he become such an asshole?

Beneath This Mask is available for pre-order now at Dreamspinner Press.

Dreamspinner Press

 

Comment on this post, and you can win an ebook copy of any of Victoria Sue’s backlist.

Cruising By Cate Ashwood: FREE novelette Release Day Review

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Best friends Dylan and Jake have been inseparable since college, but Dylan has one secret he can’t bring himself to share with Jake—he’s completely, utterly in love with him.

Jake’s friendship is the most important thing in the world to Dylan, so as much as it hurts to see him with other people, Dylan keeps his mouth shut about his true feelings. When Jake wins a cruise to Alaska, he asks Dylan to go along, but what Dylan doesn’t know, is that there’s more on offer than a dream vacation.

Can Dylan and Jake sail off to their happily ever after, or are they cruising toward disaster?

Release Date: December 8th, 2017
Word Count: 13,000 words
Publisher: Cate Ashwood
Genre: Contemporary m/m romance
Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood

Cruising is FREE via Instafreebie, so go check it out!

This was not a long story by any means, but it definitely spoke volumes about the relationship of these two men who had been in each others’ lives for so long. One in love with the other since college, while the other only realized it a short time ago, and decided to woo his man and win him over.

Well, Cate won me over with this one. I normally don’t read short stories, other than holiday ones, a second time. But this one, I will bring back, because it was just a fun romance that brought these two together in a way that was meaningful and still told about their past, their present, and even their future. See? Sounds like a holiday story to me! 🙂

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Shiver by Christi Snow: Pre-Release Review

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A year ago Corey Abbott’s life entered the realm of the bizarre when he discovered the things that go bump in the night are real. But working for the local vampire council didn’t prepare him for were-deer shifters.

Nine months ago Dare Buckley’s herd abandoned him. Now, he’s slowly going mad from Lyme disease…something that doesn’t hurt normal deer, but for were-deer is fatal.

On one snowy, sleet-filled night, the two collided…literally.

This Christmas two men find love in the most unexpected place…a lonely, desolate highway.

It’s definitely not your typical meet-cute, but it’s a twist of fate that would even make Santa happy.

genre: paranormal romance (deer shifter)…m/m
length: ~18,000 words
release date: December 8, 2017

Amazon

Everyone else

 

The thing about short stories is this…the reader gets a taste of what you are looking for, romance, relationship building, but quite often not enough to satisfying the craving. However, in a pinch, it does what it’s supposed to do, give you that small taste, while still leaving you wanting more. As a general rule, Christi Snow does that for me anyway, whether it’s her full length novels, or a short story about deer shifters.

This one definitely left me wanting to know more about Corey and Dare’s relationship after their Christmas “romance”. I put “romance” in quotes, because it wasn’t as much of a romance as it was a meeting in a rather unconventional way, and a mating that was very strong. Nevertheless, when you have that kind of instant bond, and combine it with a short story, it is always interesting to wonder whether they could work things out as life moves forward. The connection between the two had to be immediate, in order to develop that bond, and the author did a good job of making even the MC’s seem shocked and confused at the instant attraction and bond they developed.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried a little at this one. Christi doesn’t write sweetness too often, and there were parts of this that had me wincing, crying, and wondering how I’d get any sort of happy ending. Yes, it’s a short story, but there was more than one powerful punch.

Recommended for when you want a quick read (because sometimes you just do) and you still want a little agony to go with your HFN/HEA. But as always there is a definite HEA with Christi’s stories.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

The Solstice Prince by SJ Himes: Exclusive Guest Post, Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

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Rescued from slavers, healer novice Jaime Buchanan finds himself alone and free in Pyrderi, a kingdom of magic, mythical creatures, and a culture as open and kind as his homeland was cruel and close-minded.

Despite his rescue, Jaime is not left without scars, both mental and physical. Traumatized by his experience and hiding his gift, Jaime struggles to earn his place in the kitchens of Angharad Palace, the heart of Taliesin City. His former life as a student of the healing arts leaves him at a disadvantage in the kitchens, and his damaged state is becoming more apparent by the day.

One day, when necessity and fate intervene, Jaime meets someone unexpected—Prince Maxim, youngest son of the Pyrderian king, a sword master and a devastatingly kind man. Unaccustomed to powerful people with compassion and heart, Jaime flees. A cascade of events reveals Jaime’s hidden talents of healing, and he finds himself not in chains, but at the beginning of a new life.

This swift change of fortune opens Jaime up to new possibilities, including a smitten prince who cautiously courts Jaime, easing him away from his fears and reminding him that compassion and love can make him strong. The winter solstice is quickly approaching, and Prince Maxim shows Jaime the enjoyment and excitement to be found in a land that embraces the ice and cold, and the mysteries of all things magical. He learns to see the man under the royal mantle, and Maxim is more than even Jaime suspected.

The winter solstice is nigh when tragedy strikes, and Jaime learns that his past of grief and sorrow can be a pillar of strength for his solstice prince. If there is one thing that Jaime believes above all else, it is in the healing power of love.

The Solstice Prince Realms of Love Book #1

SJ Himes

Gay Epic Fantasy Romance

Release Date: November 24th, 2017

Cover Illustration and Design by Sarah Jo Chreene

 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Goodreads

 

“Once upon a time…” by SJ Himes

A long time ago, longer than this author wants to admit, a young girl was trapped in a life she didn’t quite fit. She found comfort in books, especially fantasy, and the new worlds and environments she encountered soothed the boredom and misplaced feeling she carried around.

As you can guess, that young girl was me. I know, I know! Not all that original a beginning to my tale, but this is kind of a chaotic topic for me as I have no clear answer. What’s the question?

World building and how I do it. Does “I see the story like a movie in my head and just type what happens” count as an answer?

Short answer? I get distracted by the pretty events in my head and they’re Vivid. Read on for the long answer.

I’m a dreamer. The worlds I create are daydreams, a bad habit of youth I’ve turned to a craft. I was always bored in school, and in some classes, so far ahead of my peers that I would be listless and needing an outlet. The only class I got away with reading my personal books in was math—I’d hide the paperback under the math textbook and pretend to be learning something. (I wasn’t, as my grades would attest in that class.) When my teachers eventually noticed, and resorted to searching my bag for a paperback before entering the room, I went back to my old daydreaming habit. I got so good at it that daydreaming, for me, is akin to a meditative state where I can zone out totally—and I mean totally. I won’t hear, see, register anything except what’s going on in my head. Ever get that way when reading a really good book? I get that way when I’m daydreaming.

I began writing at an early age, but in sporadic lengths of time. A few years as a kid, a few years as a teenager, then nothing until I was about 28 years old and life was too damn soulless I went looking for an escape, and fell back into writing. One thing though that remained constant was my love for reading and my propensity for daydreaming. I still do it now, have all my life, I’ll be talking, doing something, whatever, and I’ll get distracted, or have a random thought, and then I’ll have to force myself not to slip into that daydreaming lassitude/fugue state I’d experience as a kid when avoiding life.

One of the ways I’ve turned this escapist habit into world-building is that when I was a kid, I would always rework a daydream or fantasy over and over until it felt ‘right,’ until it gave me the mental and emotional stimulation I was lacking in my real-world environment. Any situation, a phrase, a place, an event, I would replay it mentally over and over in my head until I got what I needed from it. And since my favorite genres as a kid were fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal, that’s what I daydreamed about.

I didn’t realize until I was two books into this new career that my mental habit of reworking daydreams repeatedly was world-building. I just do it from longstanding practice, a bad habit turned into something useful. The downside to this practice of mine is that I forget that what I’m typing isn’t going to be as 3D, as REAL, to the person reading the story as it is for me—they cannot experience it like I do, so I must go back, again and again, and add details. Texture, sounds, smells, physical sensations. The touch of sunlight on skin, the way the leaves of a tree sound in the wind, the scent of cologne. Everything I experience in my head, I must find a way to put on paper. I lose a lot in the translation, and that is my one regret in writing—that no matter how good something looks in a scene I’ve just written, it can never match what’s in my mind.

I guess you can say that is a goal for me. To write a book that matches the dream inside. I have to say that of all my books, The Solstice Prince comes the closest. It is a Love Story, with caps intended. This book is very much a departure for me—I focused as much as I could on the unfolding love, the relationship, as possible, and without the horrible conflicts and danger and death in my usual books, I was able to flesh out the world around Jaime and Maxim into something that is nearly perfect.

The Solstice Prince is a grand experiment, and something very simple. It is just a romance, sweet and true, and holds a special place in my heart. The rest of the Realms of Love series will be darker, heavier, the books full-length 80k monsters of plot and characters and my typical fare. Not that Jaime and Maxim are shallow—I just don’t give them a murder mystery to solve. Just life after trauma, and the heartbreaking certainty that we are all mortal, and that the best way to live this life is to do it with love.

At some prearranged signal, the crowd began to quiet, faces turned towards the canopy where the royals sat. Janis stood and moved to the rail, lifting a hand to the crowd. The people cheered, clapping and shouting the crown prince’s name. Prince Janis was popular with the people if he garnered that kind of reaction— this was not the forced greeting given to a leader that was feared or despised. Jaime still did not know who the king was of Pyrderi, but the future King was well-liked, perhaps even loved.

The people quieted and Janis shouted, his words echoing through the cloud air. “Greetings citizens of Taliesin City! On behalf of the royal family and my father, the king, I welcome you to the first official day of the Solstice Festival! Today is cold and the wind is sharp, so I’ll not waste any time! Would the priests please light the solstice fire, and let the festivities begin!”

The crowd roared in approval and there was a burst of smoke across the square. Two men and a woman dressed in gray robes were standing at the base of a large metal structure about the height of a tall man. The woman was cradling something in her hands that billowed out dark gray smoke and she tossed it into the weird structure. Bright orange flames promptly rose and the crowd cheered again. The royals clapped in approval and Jaime hurriedly copied their example, though he had little idea of what was going on.

Maxim leaned down and spoke in his ear. “The priestess is a Magi and she lit the torch with her magic. The torch represents how life endures even in the depths of winter. The winter solstice is in a few days with the festival ending with the grand ball at the palace. The winter festival here in Taliesin City draws in celebrants from around the country and even from some of the islands in the Straits.”

Jaime blushed when Maxim pulled back and gave him a swift wink and a charming grin. “Janis needs to stay and let the people see him for a while, but the twins are about to escape the cold and we have a tour to finish. The first day of the festival is just the opening ceremony since a lot of people are still arriving. Do you want to stay or would you like to finish the tour?”

“The tour sounds like fun, if you’re sure we won’t be missed.” Any time alone with Maxim was worth the icy chill.

“You two should escape while you can,” Janis said, having overheard Maxim. “I’ll be here until the cold gets too much, talking to courtiers and the like.” The crown prince stood over Jaime who blinked back up at him in surprise. For such a large man, he moved with surprising subtlety. Janis motioned to the lower levels of the stands, and the courtiers below were indeed standing and heading for the stairs that led to the royals’ box. “Unless you want to stay and get fawned over by the masses, Maxim?”

“I’ll save that for you, dear brother. Enjoy your day, and welcome home.” Maxim helped Jaime to his feet. Jaime was at a loss for how to respectfully say goodbye to the crown prince, but Maxim solved this by tugging him away with a casual wave to his brother and the twins, who hardly paid them any heed, tossing back small waves of their own before they went back to talking. Janis grinned at them both and tipped his head towards the stairs.

Maxim took hold of Jaime’s hand and took off for the stairs. They hurried downward until they came back to where the sleigh had dropped them off originally. There was a sleigh waiting for them pulled by the same strange creature Maxim called an oryx. Maxim helped Jaime up into the carriage and jumped in behind him. The driver snapped his whip, and the sleigh jerked into motion.

Their visit to the festival might have been quick, but Jaime didn’t mind. The way Maxim held his hand, tight and firm, like he never wanted to let go, filled Jaime with warmth and a slow burn under his skin, heating his cheeks in the chilly air. The prospect of spending the next few hours in Maxim’s company was incomparable to anything he’d experienced in his short life. Not better than the day he was freed from the slavers, but it was close.

Falling in love felt like learning how to live again.

 

Jaime was brought to the King’s castle in Pyderi several months ago after being rescued from a slave ship. When he sees Prince Maxim for the first time, it’s love at first sight, for both of them. Jaime was a top student at the Healer’s Academy before he was kidnapped and enslaved during his final year at school. He spent months in captivity before being freed and is soon apprenticed as a healer. He begins to find value in himself again as a healer and a man, and finds love with Prince Maxim, who is kind and nurturing to Jaime. Jaime quickly finds favor with the King himself with his bedside manner, easy going manner and obvious healing talents. While the King is terminal, Jaime strives to give him care that will ease his pain during his final months. The relationship between the prince and Jaime is very sweet. I will say that one thing that I did not like is the cover art and illustrations, as the heroes depicted are so very young — they look like children, which is not true to the characters in the story. Our heroes are young men, so no squick factor there, thank goodness.

This was a perfectly lovely happy read, with virtually no angst. Seriously, nothing bad happens in it, except for a bit of Jaime’s back story. There are no love triangles, evil antagonists, or real danger. And with two, possibly three, heirs to the throne ahead of him, Maxim is given the blessing of his father, the King, to pursue Jaime. Sometimes you just need nice and stress-free reading, and if that’s where you’re at right now, this is for you. If that’s not what your looking for right now, save this one until another story’s angst has you on the verge of destroying your Kindle.

3 pieces of eye candy

I’m a self-employed writer who stresses out about the silliest things, like whether or not I got my dog the best kind of snack and the fact my kindle battery tends to die when I’m at the best part in a book. I write mainly gay romance, erotica, and urban fantasy, with occasional forays into contemporary and paranormal. I love a book heavy on plot and character evolution, and throw in some magic, and that’s perfection. My current series are: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, Bred For Love (as Revella Hawthorne), The Wolfkin Saga, and the epic fantasy romance series Realms of Love. My last two novels in the Beacon Hill Sorcerer won 3rd Place in the Gay Fantasy category for the 2016 Rainbow Awards.

I live in New Orleans, where the personalities are big and loud and so are the bugs! New Orleans is rich in cultural history, and the flavor and music of the City is impossible to hide. Before that, I lived all over the United States: Tampa, Western Massachusetts, Indianapolis, and on and on…. I’m a nomad, and I’ve yet to find a place that calls to me strongly enough to become home. My faithful travel companions are my dog Micah, the numerous voices in my head who insist they all get put on paper, and the wind at my back.

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

Website: https://www.sjhimes.com/en

 

Sarah Jo Chreene/Cover Artist

Sarah Jo Chreene is a 23-year-old resident of Dallas, Texas, where she works part-time in an antique shop, which is one of her dreams jobs. Sarah Jo delights in meeting new people, interesting personalities, unique restoration projects, and the atmosphere of the shop inspires her muse. Her other passion, and one she devotes most of her time to, is her art. She sold her first piece at the age of 17, and hasn’t stopped since.

Her professional portfolio includes the self-titled album cover for the popular Texas band, Thieves of Sunrise, and will be working with the band again on their third album cover. Sarah Jo has worked with international best-selling romance author Riley Hart, doing a wide range of projects from promotional artwork to interior illustrations, and artwork for Hart’s alter-ego, Nyrae Dawn, in the YA novels The Weight of Destiny, and Turn the World Upside Down. Sarah Jo’s most recent collaboration is with urban fantasy author SJ Himes, creating the cover art, design, and interior illustrations for The Solstice Prince, the first novel in The Realms of Love epic fantasy romance series. Sarah Jo will also be creating the interior artwork for the remainder of the series, a project for 2018 and 2019.

Sarah Jo loves to work in a variety of mediums, including digital painting, Photoshop, charcoal, pens, pencils and freehand sketching and painting in a wide range of styles from anime, sketchy, realism, and cartoons. Sarah Jo ranks Norman Rockwell as a primary influence for his evocative use of emotion and his beautiful portrayals of humanity.

Between professional commissions, Sarah Jo delights in creating private artwork based on personal requests, from original characters, to portraits, and has brightened the walls of many patrons over the last eight years of selling her work.

For examples of her work, Sarah Jo is on Instagram, DeviantArt, and Facebook. She is accepting commissions for a wide variety of projects, and can be reached through social media and the following platforms:

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

sarahjochreene@aol.com

Facebook: facebook.com/sarahchreeneartist

dwightyoakamfan.deviantart.com

 

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