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Shift Work (Night Shift, Book 1) by TA Moore: Blog Tour, Exclusive Short Story, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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You’d think the werewolves would be the worst thing about the Night Shift; you’d be wrong.

All Officer Kit Marlow wanted was a cup of coffee and some downtime before his next night shift. Instead, he got a naked man in the elevator and an unaccounted-for dead girl in the morgue. He’s going to need to deal with both before he can head for his bed.

Or anyone else’s. Although not much chance of that.

Reluctantly partnered with the acerbic security consultant Cade Deacon—last seen naked in the elevator—Marlow delves into the dead girl’s life. Between them, they uncover a new crime scene with the whiff of old corruption. A corruption that, five years ago, nearly took Marlow’s life and ended his career.

Finding out who killed the dead girl on the slab might only be the start of this investigation. Oh, and it’s the second night of the full moon. So 80% of the city, including Cade, will turn into werewolves in the middle of the case.

So, there’s that.

Title: Shift Work

Publisher: Rogue Firebird Press

Release: March 19

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Coming April 19, 2021

Split Shift: Night Shift: Book Two

First of all, thank you so much for having me! I’m thrilled to be here with my new release, Shift Work by TA Moore. It’s a novella. It’s a longish novella, but still a novella. It’s the first book in a three book series that will be coming out over the next….three months. So that’s easy! Well, for you. I’m going to have no nails left.

For the blog tour I’ve written a short story set in the Night Shift world. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Five

She was blind.

Temporarily at least. As Marlow watched, the blisters were absorbed back into the skin, and the burned tissue stitched itself into shiny scar tissue.

Home-made flamethrower probably—it was a popular self-defense for nulls that had to be out. It didn’t work well, and they’d been lucky she was young. Once someone shifted, they weren’t a person anymore, but they weren’t a dumb animal either. Werewolves were smart enough; they just didn’t think like people. Werewolves were smart enough; they just didn’t think like people or want what people wanted. Annie would forget her blistered eyes when she woke up. The wolf wouldn’t. This wouldn’t work again.

Drool splattered on the floor as Annie swung her head around and snorted at the air. Her ears twitched on top of her head, first one way and then back toward Marlow. She took a step forward, down on all fours, so the muscles bulked in her heavy shoulders, and licked the air.

Marlow didn’t try to hold his breath. It just made your heart beat faster, louder, and eventually you’d have to suck in some air. He just kept his breathing slow and steady, his heart rate calm, as he slid backward on his ass.

The stack of boxes at the end of the aisle were old-fashioned scales. $50 a pop. Marlow hoped he wasn’t going to have to pay for damages. He kicked them over on top of Annie. As the wolf reared back in surprise, he used the time the distraction had bought to scramble to his feet.

“There’s a whole city out there, Annie,” he said as he jogged backward ahead of her. “Deer. I heard they released some pigs.”

She crushed the boxes underfoot as he stalked him. Her eyes were gunked with pus, but the glaze of cataracts had faded. When he shifted direction, she turned her head to track him.

One step back.

Another.

Marlow mentally plotted his route through the department. He needed to keep her away from Beth. They might have been friends in the daylight, but the wolf wouldn’t care if she smelled blood.

Suddenly something crashed against the floor on the far side  of the store.  Three men, backpacks on their shoulders and kitted out in half-assed body armor, kicked over some of the shelves and stitched a spray of bullets down the aisle. The tiles splintered and shattered in divots and chunks until one of the projectiles caught Annie in the shoulder.

She threw her head back and roared in pain as the metal punched through flesh and bone. The next bullet docked her ear, the point shredded off in a spray of bloody hair, and then Annie threw herself out of the way and disappeared into the darkness.

“Idiots,” Marlow snarled. He gestured back the way he’d came—toward Beth—but hopefully, they’d more sense than to indulge a grudge now. “Get out of here.Go.”

One of them shot at him. It missed, punched into the shelves behind him, and then they ran.

Annie snarled, a low, wet sound, and then lunged out of the darkness.

Read the rest of the story on https://bit.ly/2Ojm6jQ!

This novella is set in a new world, and I had a bit of a time trying to understand what a few of the words meant initially (still not sure I understand what a null is 🙂 ) However, it is easy to catch up and figure out where things were headed.

I’m glad to see there is a second book with these MC’s, because I definitely want to know more about Kit and his past. That was piece that was revealed very slowly, in little chunks, and I want to know more!

There’s a bit of a murder mystery that sneaks into a lot of TA Moore’s books, and to give you a heads up there are definitely a few gory details that you might expect along with a murder among werewolves, but it definitely keeps you guessing.

I enjoyed the interactions between Marlow and Cade, but in many ways, I enjoyed their internal conversations with themselves almost as much. They kept trying to talk themselves out of their crush on the other, and it was such a back and forth it made me laugh.

I am looking forward to seeing how these things play out in the next book.

4 pieces of eye candy

TA Moore is a Northern Irish writer of romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and contemporary romance novels. A childhood in a rural, seaside town fostered in her a suspicious nature, a love of mystery, and a streak of black humour a mile wide. As her grandmother always said, ‘she’d laugh at a bad thing that one’, mind you, that was the pot calling the kettle black. TA Moore studied History, Irish mythology, English at University, mostly because she has always loved a good story. She has worked as a journalist, a finance manager, and in the arts sectors before she finally gave in to a lifelong desire to write.

Coffee, Doc Marten boots, and good friends are the essential things in life. Spiders, mayo, and heels are to be avoided.

Website: www.tamoorewrites.com

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

Twitter: @tamoorewrites

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads |

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Stumble (Outback Boys Book 1) by Becca Seymour: Quick Review

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Trey has a problem he’s worked hard to manage. It involves not turning into a bumbling mess while around a gorgeous brown-haired man who’s way out of his league. Eight months’ practice from being part of the same LGBTQI+ adventure group, Outback Boys, means he’s perfected the skill.

That’s until an epic stumble makes his head spin and he throws all caution to the wind. But there’s no turning back now, especially since a snow-filled trip means they’re forced to spend even more time together.

Mark has no concerns about the changes unfolding between him and Trey, the giant of a man who’s adorably reserved. He’s been crushing on him for so long that he’s eager to explore more. But when their latest adventure is over and they fall back into the real world, balancing work, life, and a relationship proves more challenging than he envisioned.

Something has got to give, and neither man knows the best way ahead without upsetting the status quo. Can the two Aussies work their way through their new connection, or will they stumble at the first hurdle in their way?

Outback Boys is a sweet and sexy low-angst M/M romance series complete with bruised butts, rope burn, and overworked muscles… all in the pursuit of adventure, of course!

This title was originally part of the Winter Wonderland Giveaway. The Amazon version, however, includes new bonus content–two extended scenes and a must-read epilogue.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Release Date: March 27, 2021

Preorder Now!

Hello, hot cover, I’d buy this book for you alone! In saying that… Trey and Mark were also adorable, so I definitely recommend!

Mark and Trey are regulars with the Outback adventure group and though they’re about as opposite as two people can be, their attraction to one another is obvious.

I love how open and assured Trey is, how he might be a tiny bit self-conscious or shy, his personality isn’t one to dwell on it and it makes for some pretty entertaining moments with Mark, who he not only has a crush on, but it’s made worse when an extra-long flight to the US has Mark going into protective mode and wanting to be there for Trey because he knows he’s afraid.

I loved how sweet and attentive Mark is even from the beginning. Having been on plenty of ski trips that his wealthy life has provided him, he didn’t mind a bit to stay on the easier slopes and watch Trey attempt to try to learn without hurting himself and he just enjoyed spending time with Trey, no matter what they were doing.

Another thing I loved is Mark’s easy-going and laid-back nature. Money wasn’t a problem between them, though it could’ve been and so often is when there’s a good gap in income, what with stubborn male pride and all that, but there was none of that here. It was perfectly handled, I think, where Trey just took everything with a good humor and didn’t make it a big deal either. I like that.

I also liked Mark’s family and accepting they were of Trey, and though there is an ex that pops up a time or two, I liked that he basically stayed in the background and the story stayed low-angst and just sweet.

I haven’t read any story by this author that I didn’t adore, and this one was no different. Such a sweet ending too, I cannot wait to see what happens with Pete, I really hope the next story is about him!

Overall, a great start to what I know will be an amazing series!

5 Pieces of Eye Candy 

The Last of the Mousakkas: RB, Exclusive Author Guest Post, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Max Bergmann is Europe’s hottest drum and bass DJ. From the outside, his life is a whirl of glamorous vodka-fueled parties and casual hook-ups, whilst inside he craves the one thing he can’t have – his Greek childhood friend, Georgios Manolas.

Following a disastrous PR stunt and one drunken hook-up too many, Max realises the time has come to reassess his life choices. Returning to his childhood home on the Greek island of Aegina, if he wants any chance of having Georgios permanently in his life, he has to delve into the mystery of the longstanding hatred of the Bergmann’s by Georgios’s family.

Georgios is a chef and has spent his whole life on the tiny Greek island of Aegina. He has held the family restaurant together since he left school, with very little reward, and dreams of one day running a restaurant of his own on the island. Yet if he acknowledges his feelings for Max, he runs the risk of losing not just his traditional Greek family but also his livelihood.

As Max slowly uncovers the secrets of the past, he is left wondering whether a little Greek girl’s heart-breaking wartime diary could not only hold the key to his family’s history, but could it also unlock his and Georgios’s future together?

The Last of the Moussaka’s is a light-hearted, warm romance about two men’s quest for the truth about the past and unlocking a path to a future together.

Title:  The Last of the Moussakas

Author: Fearne Hill

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 03/08/2021

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 74900

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, contemporary, gay, Greek island setting, Greek culture, celebrity Friends to lovers, In-the-closet/coming out, soulmates, humorous, chefs, musician, chef, second cousins, family drama

Amazon

Nine Star Press

Goodreads

Most of this story takes place in Aegina, an island just off the coast of mainland Greece. It’s still largely undiscovered by international tourism – certainly compared to islands such as Santorini and Mykonos, and has maintained its rustic, simple charm.

I have visited the island many times and my inspiration for this book came from coming across frequent reminders, such as the abandoned lookout posts, of its German occupation during WW2. In addition, the decrepit old civic building mentioned in the book does indeed stand on the waterfront and has been for sale for years.

I can’t mention Aegina without mentioning the colours – Greece has shades of blue unlike any blues anywhere else in the world. Secondly, the food. Oh my goodness, the food. Visit Mykonos or Santorini or Corfu, and yeah, you’ll taste some traditional Greek dishes. But travel to Aegina and you’ll never want to eat anywhere else again.

Towards the end of the meal, a tinkling but insistent bell rings from inside the house, and I groan inwardly. I swear that woman can smell visitors. Either that or she has hidden CCTV installed.

“Go and say hello to Noni, Maxi,” says my mother, giving him a tired smile. “She’s been looking forward to your visit.”

We all know that’s a blatant lie, but obediently, Max rises from the table, and I go with him, like a pair of lambs to the slaughter. He’s probably wishing he’d downed a few more glasses of red wine when he had the chance. How can a defenceless wrinkly old woman instil such fear in two grown men?

Noni pretends she hasn’t heard us as we open the door, even though I know full well there is nothing wrong with her hearing. She commandeered the front parlour about twenty years ago and hasn’t budged since. Considering how long she’s lived in this room, she has very little clutter and very few possessions apart from the necessary, such as the commode chair and a low table holding an assortment of medicines and a small fan. There is the huge old telly, of course, permanently switched on, but no photographs and only one book—a tatty old black atlas that is falling apart and that we’ve never been allowed to touch. The hot fug of the room is cloying, a mixture of stale wee and dead flowers. I try to take shallow breaths.

She’s in her usual pose, bundled up under hideous crocheted blankets and propped on a pile of cushions, with the TV remote, a little brass bell, and a jug of water within reach next to the bed. Her thin white hair fans out on the flowery pillow behind her, two bony hands neatly lie across her chest. A grubby tissue pokes out of one of the tiny clenched fists. Max hovers nervously at my shoulder, and not for the first time as I tiptoe over, I wonder whether she’s dead—the frail skin drawn across her face is so chalky, her thin lips so bloodless. Two watery eyes stare sightlessly at the silent episode of Lampsi playing out on the television.

“Noni, it’s me, Georgios,” I say tentatively and will myself to cover one of those clawlike hands with my own.

The suddenness of her gaze jerking in my direction takes me by surprise, and I involuntarily pull my hand away. “I’ve brought Max to say hello. You remember Max, don’t you?”

Painfully, she inches her head in Max’s direction. (There’s not much wrong with her neck either, but from the way she hams it up, you would think her head is about to drop off). Finally, her eyes take in the handsome specimen of masculinity standing at my shoulder. She stares at him coldly for a few uncomfortable seconds before bringing the tissue up to her mouth and spitting into it with elegant disdain.

“I see him” is all she says in a hoarse whisper, but the hand holding the tissue trembles.

“Hello, Noni,” offers Max gamely, shuffling forwards. “How are you? You’re looking well.”

I had no idea he was such a good liar; she looks like she’s been sleeping in a coffin for the last hundred years. One of the claws darts out and seizes him by the wrist, and she pulls him down so that his face is closer to hers, making no attempt to hide a look of intense dislike. “You are more like him every time I see you,” she hisses, not letting him go.

Oh God, not this again.

When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it. I was excited to read a book based in Greece and I love the childhood friends to lovers trope. However, I was not prepared for the history and the crying (not a lot, but enough for a couple tissues). I was very happy though to read this and enjoyed it from beginning to end. I loved the descriptions of the island, the people on it, as well as the history behind the island and the Nazi occupation.

Little spoiler…if you have a trigger warning for suicide you may want to avoid this book (it’s sort of off page, but still could be shocking to some).

That being said it was well written. I loved having two narratives…the main characters as well as a surprise about a quarter of the way into the book. Max and Georgios, the two MC’s, were friends from childhood and their families had bad history dating back generations. Yet, they had always been in love with each other.

It took an event that could have been tragic for Max to finally figure out that what he needed in his life was Georgios.

There isn’t much drama between the two main characters. In fact I was expecting some because Georgios was not out of the closet but that never really materialized. But there was definitely a lot to be said for the history between the two as well as the family. I loved how easy Max and Georgios were with each other once they got past the initial issue of Max saying he was in love with Georgios. They had been in love and just never acted on it. So when they decided to act on it, they just loved each other, as simple as that.

I would definitely recommend this book. I would also recommend having a tissue or two handy for a couple of parts. But in the end a happy ending for the two main characters who found their lives with each other and the place they both wanted to be.

4 pieces of eye candy

Fearne Hill lives deep in the southern British countryside with three untamed sons, varying numbers of hens, a few tortoises, and a beautiful cocker spaniel.

When she is not overseeing her small menagerie, she enjoys writing contemporary romantic fiction. And when she is not doing either of those things, she works as an anaesthesiologist.

Author Links

Website: http://www.fearnehill.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fearne.hill.50/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/FearneHill

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

Email: fearne.hill@fearnehill.com

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Pretty Poison (Sinister in Savannah Series, Book 3) by Aimee Nicole Walker: Blog Tour, Excerpt and New Release Review

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Redemption seeker. Chameleon. Damaged heart.

By day, Rocky Jacobs is a private investigator. By night, he produces Sinister in Savannah, a true-crime podcast, with his two best friends. Rocky’s life revolves around three principles: possessing skill is better than having luck, a man’s reputation is everything, and there’s no sacrifice too great for those you love.

Is Tess Hamilton pretty poison or just unlucky in love?

That’s the question the trio of trouble will try to uncover. This investigation strikes a little too close to home for one of them. Tess, a woman accused of killing her three husbands, has been tried and convicted in the media, something Rocky knows all too well. When their investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, Rocky will keep digging. Is it because he believes in her innocence? Or does Rocky hope to find redemption for himself by achieving it for Tess?

A stagnant case turns out to be the least of his problems.

What happens in Vegas never truly stays stay there. For fifteen months, Rocky has been running from a tragedy that shattered his life and countless others. The most painful casualty was the destruction of his marriage to Asher Dunleavy. When the sexy federal marshal turns up in Savannah, Rocky is reminded of his greatest love and deepest regret. Every minute spent in Asher’s presence makes him yearn for the life they lost. Will Rocky drown in the sorrows of what might’ve been or fight for what could be?

Sinister in Savannah series is a fictional podcast exploring the city’s most nefarious crimes with Southern-fried snark. The books explore friendship, love, loss, and the irrepressible human spirit. Pretty Poison is book three of three. While each novel is written about a different couple, the series should be read in order due to continuing storylines. Sinister in Savannah is an LGBT romantic suspense series with mature language and sexual content intended for adults eighteen and older.

Trigger warning: the main character struggles with PTSD resulting from an investigation involving a murder-suicide. While the content is not overly graphic, it could still cause emotional harm to some readers. One of Rocky’s side effects is anxiety, which may trigger similar reactions in those battling the disorder. As with the murder-suicide scene, I avoided being too graphic with his attacks.

Pretty Poison

Sinister in Savannah Series, Book Three

Aimee Nicole Walker

LGBT Romantic Suspense

Release Date: 02.20.21

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Setting the aluminum pan on the counter, Rocky pulled the mixing bowl from the cabinet and a whisk from the drawer while Asher pulled out ingredients from the refrigerator. 

“How old is this ham?” Asher asked. 

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Sniff it.” 

“You sniff it.”

Rocky crossed the room. Asher lifted the deli bag up, and Rocky took a deep whiff to see if the contents were still fresh. “It’s good.” 

“Forgive me if I doubt your food freshness test.” 

Rocky shrugged. “It’s never let me down before.” 

“They say there’s a first time for everything, but I’ll happily go the rest of my life without experiencing food poisoning.” 

They locked eyes and started to laugh because it was a conversation they’d had many times during their short marriage. Rocky reached inside the deli bag and tore off a hunk of meat and popped it into his mouth. Asher’s eyes dropped to Rocky’s lips and he seemed mesmerized by their movement. And maybe Rocky chewed the tiny piece longer than necessary before swallowing and declaring it safe enough for Asher to eat. 

“Where do you keep your skillets?” Asher asked. 

 

Rocky crossed his arms over his chest. “And you claim to know me so well.” He muscled Asher out of the way and opened the oven door, then gestured to the pots and pans stacked neatly inside. “Tah-dah.”

Book 3 of the trilogy when Rocky gets his happily ever after.

This was a satisfying conclusion to the series. Although we didn’t get a big case to try to solve along side the guys, seeing Rocky reconnect with his soon to be ex husband as well as finally work through his trauma with a therapist was a happy conclusion.

(Spoilerish)

It does start out with a mystery. Did a woman kill her previous husbands or did they die of natural causes as stated. There were a few leads that made you think maybe this, maybe that. But ultimately it was a bust and they dropped their investigation.

Rocky, Jonah and Felix all grew closer and we got quite a bit of Marla time. How can you not love Marla? She is just amazing and she was much less of a caricature in this installment as she wasn’t the center of attention.

And Asher. YUM! Rocky’s soon to be yummy ex husband who got transferred to Savannah. Convenient. We find out their back story, how and why their split happened and how they are trying to fix things.

Everything was wrapped up neatly with a bow. Not much angst or mystery, but like I said, a very satisfying conclusion.

4 pieces of eye candy

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day. I’d love to hear from you 

https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

Golden Dancer: A Gay Awakening, MMM, Romantic Suspense (Dangerous Dancers) by Tara Lain: New Release Review

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How does a guy who doesn’t know he’s gay wind up in bed with two men?

Mac’s obsession with world-famous ballet dancer, Trelain Medveyev, is shared by billionaire art collector, Daniel Terrebone.

Trelain won’t choose.
Neither will Mac – and suddenly gay virgin Mac’s in a passionate menage.

Big problem. Mac’s an investigative journalist, who can make his career if he proves that Daniel’s really an art thief.

What would you do when three-way love meets three-way lies?

GOLDEN DANCER is a gay awakening, romantic suspense, three-way-love, MMM romance – in tights.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

This is a rerelease of a book that came out 10 years ago. It was one of the author’s firsts. There isn’t any additional content and/or editing. Just a new cover. I will say, if you are rereleasing one of your first books, it is the perfect time to clean it up. As is, it reads like one of the author’s first books.

Moving on. The relationship of the three together is actually quite good. It’s not easy to write a MMM when the relationship progresses organically. Many times it seems forced or convoluted. But this was well written.

I also enjoyed the secondary story of whodunit in regard to a piece of art. While it was cool, more detail would have been fun. How did it happen? How did he evade detection? Would it happen again? Has it happened before?

As with the secondary story, I wanted more. More depth of character- especially Daniel. His past and family are sort of glossed over. Trelain got more of a back story, but I was still left wanting a bit. Mac definitely got the most backstory which helped understand his psyche and why he never considered that he was gay before.

Overall, enjoyable. Certain things bugged me. I cringe when the word butt is used in a sex scene. Not sexy. Trelain always had silk shirts on. He was also often referred to as “the dancer”. Meh. But, as you know, I am super picky.

I had read this long ago (sucker for dancers, I am) and I don’t regret reading it again. But not adding or changing content was a missed opportunity.

3.5 Pieces of Candy

How To Live by Susan Hawke: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

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Take one clueless, spoiled guy with notoriously bad luck…

When Derek Leigh is diagnosed with breast cancer at twenty-four, it’s the final straw in a lifetime of bad luck. If he’s going to die, it’ll be on his terms… with one helluva party that packs a lifetime’s worth of fun into whatever time he has left. To make this happen, Derek blows up his life: dumps the long-term boyfriend in the worst way possible, borrows money he can’t repay from a loan shark, and heads to Atlantic City… where his luck unexpectedly changes, giving him fresh hope.

Add one easygoing tattoo artist with a big, open heart…

Asher Matthews has dealt with a lot in his thirty-five years: he and his twin were born addicted to heroin and abandoned at birth… until Mama Maisie added them to her brood of lost boys. ADHD and dyslexia didn’t keep him from following his dream of opening his own tattoo shop, especially with his family’s support. With all that he’s been given in life, Asher makes a point of giving back where he can.

To equal two men who instantly connect in all the best ways.

Derek is shocked to not only survive his cancer treatment, but to come to the end of it in great health. Too bad he’s blown through all his money, lost his car, and has nowhere to turn. On a whim, he goes for a free tattoo. Asher takes one look at the sexy twink who’s down on his luck and offers him a room, a job, and even better, a friend. If they have a little no-strings fun along the way, it’s fine. It’s not like anyone is looking to fall in love, right?

This 55k novel is the seventh book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Watch out for ridiculous amounts of money won and lost, a butler who takes everything in stride, and a scruffy dog you’ll want to cuddle. This is an mm romance full of all the fun, laughter, and sweet feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

Possible trigger for anyone currently fighting cancer or closely related to a breast cancer patient. The book is low angst and the experience is gently handled, but the subject matter is present.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Lovestrong series – Books 1-6

I stepped aside to allow him by, refusing myself the stolen pleasure of letting his body brush against mine. As he leaned in to see, Derek wasn’t shy. But then, neither was Marlena, a trait common among cancer survivors. I guess it was par for the course going through what they had, constantly poked and prodded and denied basic modesty because saving your life was way more important.

She showed him the surgical scars, now hidden by the tattoo. Marlena acknowledged me with a wink, complimenting my skills with both line and shading. I was just glad she liked it and couldn’t wait to see how it looked when it healed and settled in.

While they chatted, I finished cleaning my tools. Marlena left after putting on her shirt and giving me a careful but grateful hug. Derek watched her leave, his expression both stunned and excited.

After the door closed, he snapped out of it, turning to me with those vulnerable eyes again. “Can you really help me? Give me something to make me feel normal again when I’m naked?”

“Absolutely. I can give you anything you want. But first, you need to define normal because it’s relative. I’m liking your style, a little bit fem but with enough masculinity to convince me it’s part of your style but not necessarily how you identify. I only say so because my sibling-in-law is nonbinary, but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.”

A sex kitten emerged as he batted his lashes with a sexy little smirk. “Don’t worry, honey. I identify as completely male. There’s no law against dressing up pretty, so I do what I can with what I was given.”

“Yeah, you do.” With a kick of my foot, I pushed off on my rolling stool, wheeling myself back a few feet to my computer and drawing supplies. “Sit down, cutie. Let’s get to know each other some more so I can give you the kind of tattoo you deserve. Can I see the canvas I’ll be working with?”

Biting his lip, he glanced around nervously before nodding almost shyly and immediately pulling the shirt over his head. I rolled over and took a good long look at his chest, design ideas already sparking in my head.

“I can definitely give you something to make you feel good naked. Your scar tissue hasn’t faded as much as I’d like, so it’s hard to say how invasive it might be in the future. But if I tattoo over them today and make them part of the design, you won’t need to worry. The only item of importance is creating a design you can happily live with because you’ll have it forever.”

“Isn’t that kind of the idea?” The haughty tone was back, and damned if it didn’t turn me on. “What kind of design are we talking about? I don’t exactly want to seem like I’m wearing a bra. A sexy lace cami, maybe, but I don’t want to get stuck with a color. How does anyone decide this? It seems too hard.”

Normally, I would want a new client to wait and sleep on it before putting any ink on their body. But in Derek’s case, it seemed urgent for him to find a way to connect with his body again. And if his looks were closely tied to his self-worth, as would be expected in a young, hot guy like this, ink was the obvious answer. Now it was simply a question of picking the right design.

Fortunately, I was good at my job.

“I could do a cami with cutouts displaying three-dimensional nipples incorporated in the design if you want to go with something more common. But if you trust me, I can do something freehand to represent you as a person and be totally unique without feeling like underwear. Stick to getting your clothing at the designer boutiques. Let me give you some artwork you’ll be proud to show off when you get naked.”

Derek’s eyes lit up. “Yessss, I want something unique and totally me, definitely nothing common. Does this face deserve common?”

“Definitely not, but I’m at work, so I’m not going to follow my line of thought.” Winking, I ran my tongue between my lips. “Quit distracting me, cutie. Let’s get the design done first. Once I have a plan and the basic lines put down, you’re welcome to flirt all you want. Do you have anything you absolutely do or do not want?”

He simpered before taking it seriously. “I wouldn’t mind something natural, like flowers or leaves or whatever. As long as these deep slash marks are hidden, I’m good. Wait… I don’t want anything freaky. Nothing scary, no creepy bugs or skulls. This is probably where I should warn you, I suck at making decisions, and giving me too many choices is a bad idea.”

“I hear you. You’re talking to a guy with ADHD. Too many options will have me bouncing off the walls. I can seriously lose entire days waffling if I let myself.” Grabbing an art pad and pencil, I tapped the end of the pencil against the paper while I considered how to proceed. “How about this? You said you want something natural. Close your eyes and give me the first thing that comes to your mind when I ask you these questions. No thinking. I’m seeking gut reactions.”

Derek wiggled his shoulders, giving a little clap. “Sounds fabulous. I’m totally in.” He closed his eyes, lifting his chin expectantly as if waiting for a kiss. As tempting as the idea was, I still had a job to do.

Dammit.

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I’d care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I’ve found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that’s what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I’m a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown “kids of my heart.” I’m more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Connect with Susan:
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Reader Group: www.facebook.com/groups/TheHawkesNest
Website: http://www.susihawke.com

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