Contemporary MM Romance

RELEASE BLITZ: “Fauxmance in the Falls” by J.E. Birk. $10.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway Included!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Fauxmance
in the Falls

Author: J.E. Birk

Publisher: Maple Mountains
Press

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood

Release Date: April 20,
2023

Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance, small town romance

Tropes: Fake relationship, small town, age gap, alpha doctor,
grumpy/sunshine

Themes: Redemption, coming out, found families

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: Approx. 92 000
words and 331 pages

It’s the first book in the series
and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle
Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Never date your dream
doctor

Blurb

I’m here to destroy this town. How did I end up in a fake relationship with its hero?

I’ve spent my life proving to my grandpa and dad that I’m
more than just the Lewis family mistake. So when Grandpa sends me to Devon Falls, VT to
take some ridiculous leaf festival to court, I head straight there and get to work.

But Dr. Jack Lancer keeps getting in my way.

He’s everywhere.
Helping me out with my migraines, making me dinner, insisting people be nice to me even
though I’m the enemy. Who is this guy? The next thing I know I’m pretending to be Jack’s
boyfriend to get him out of a bind. I swear he’s putting kindness pills in my food or
something.

Jack thinks he can fix me the same way he fixes everyone
else. But I’m not broken. This podunk town will be when I’m done with it, though. And Jack?
Well, he’s about to learn the meaning of the term “collateral damage.” Because I’ll do
anything to win this case and end this festival.

Even if it means losing something that feels an awful lot like
love.

Fauxmance in the Falls is an age-gap romance featuring a small town full of quirks, a grumpy lawyer and a
charming physician, a fake relationship gone wild, some inappropriate use of a doctor’s
office, and a healthy mix of humor and angst. It stars Benson Lewis, who first appeared in
the book Counterpoint.

Excerpt

Benson stands before us, looking as wrecked as I could ever
imagine seeing him. He’s barely standing upright, and there are dark circles surrounding his
sagging eyes. He’s wearing a wrinkled pair of jogging pants and a shirt that looks like he’s
sweated through it, and his facial expression screams of absolute misery. I simultaneously
feel extremely guilty for knocking on his door and extremely glad that I did. “Benson,” I say
softly. “Migraine?”

He nods, immediately wincing at the head motion. And that
tiny little movement is all the cue I need to start taking charge.

“Elijah, I need you to run to the drug store,” I tell him
quietly. I list off a series of items that Benson likely needs.

“Be right back,” Elijah whispers, though I never warned him
about being quiet. He’s far more astute than his grandparents give him credit for. He runs off
down the hall and I step into Benson’s space, examining him with my eyes. “How long?” I
ask.

“Since the Thai restaurant.”

Shit. Almost twenty-four hours, then. “Have you taken
anything?”

“Just aspirin.” He winces at the ray of light peeking around
the door from the hallway. “Don’t have anything else,” he mumbles. I’m going to make sure
we correct that the second he’s well enough for conversation. But right now, all I want to do
is make him feel better.

“Okay,” I tell him gently. “We’ll fix it, Benson. I’ve got you.
You’re not on your own anymore.”

He stares at me, squinting, and I notice his eyes are wet.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” he says hoarsely.

I startle slightly. I know Benson well enough by now to
know those probably aren’t words he says often.

I guide him gently into the apartment, which is a small
studio with a double bed in one corner and a combination kitchen/living room taking up
most of the space. The curtains are closed tightly. They’re mostly light-blocking, at least. I
surprise him, I think, when I guide him over to the sofa and help him lay down there. “I’m
going to get you some water and change your sheets,” I whisper. “Have you been able to
keep food down?”

He shakes his head slightly.

“Well, I sent Elijah for applesauce and electrolytes. We’ll
see if we can fix that.” I can feel his eyes track me as I make use of what his small space has
to offer. I find a glass of water and help him sit up long enough to take a few sips. When he
shakes his head at me, I don’t push for him to drink more. I find clean sheets and quickly
make his bed, then grab some sweatpants and a Burlington U Law shirt from his dresser.
“C’mon,” I urge him. “Let’s get you into some more comfortable clothes.”

He holds onto my shoulders as I help him step out of his
pants. I look away to give him as much privacy as possible, but Benson draws my attention
back to him when he says, “this isn’t really how I envisioned you getting in my pants for the
first time.”

The corners of his lips are turned up in a hint of a wry grin,
and my heart speeds up. Has he really had those thoughts too? Now is not the time for that
conversation, unfortunately. “Me either,” I tell him, keeping things light as I help him into the
fresh pants and shirt.

I change the sheets on the bed and get him settled into it
before I dampen a washcloth with cool water. Some migraine patients are sensitive to any
kind of touch when they have episodes like this, but Benson sighs with happiness when I lay
the cloth across his forehead.

I sit down gently on the side of his bed. “When Elijah gets
back we’ll try food and more water,” I tell him. “Get excited for that applesauce.”

Benson grimaces. “I’ll try it,” he promises. “I already feel
better than I did. Thank you, Jack.”

I gently take one of his hands, and when he doesn’t object,
I hold it while I rub my thumb against his palm. “Thank you for what?” I ask. I’m not sure
what I’m being thanked for. Changing someone’s sheets and getting them some water when
they’re ill are about the most basic things you can do for another human.

“No one’s ever really done this before. You know. For me,”
he mutters. “Not lately, anyway.”

“Do you get migraines often?” I ask him.

He sighs. “I used to get them a lot more when I was
younger. I thought they were going away. But lately they’ve been getting worse.”

“Who used to take care of you when you got them?” I
ask.

He shrugs into the sheets around him. “I think my nannies
did. Well, some of them anyway. Until they… couldn’t anymore.” Benson grimaces again,
and I decide this isn’t the best time to have this conversation.

“You’re going to be okay,” I tell him. It’s a universal line I’ve
used a million times in my career. Some patients believe it. Some don’t. From Benson’s
expression, I can’t tell where he stands.

“It was worse last night,” he replies. “In the middle of the
night. It was so bad. They’ve gotten worse lately, like I said. I was here, in this bed, and the
pain was so awful I started to wonder if I was going to live through it. And I kept thinking…
kept thinking that I didn’t want to die by myself in a studio apartment. Alone. All by myself.”
He closes his eyes against pain I can’t see, and suddenly I need to be holding more than just
his hand.

“You’re not alone,” I tell him. I lean over farther and graze
his cheek with the fingers of my other hand. It’s a test to see if my touch hurts, but all he
does is lean farther into it. And just like that, I know I’m doing the right thing. “You’re not
alone right now,” I repeat. “And you never have to be alone again. Not if you don’t want to
be. You have me now. Me and Elijah.”

Benson has settled his cheek deep into my hand at this
point. He’s almost nuzzling it. “Not forever,” he mumbles. “Just for now. Just for
pretend.”



About the Author

J.E. Birk was raised in
Vermont and is now adulting in Colorado with intermittent success. She is a long-time lover
of stories, and she writes and reads in worlds where imperfect characters find their happily
ever after. Snag free bonus content and stay up-to-date on J.E. Birk’s news and releases by
signing up for her newsletter.

Social Media Links

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RELEASE BLITZ: “Sweet as Pie” by Beth Bolden. $20.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway Included!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Sweet as
Pie

Author and Publisher: Beth
Bolden

Cover Artist: Morningstar
Ashley Designs

Release Date: April 13,
2023

Genre: Contemporary MM romance

Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, small town

Themes: Family responsibilities, necessary change, unexpected
love

Heat Rating: 4
flames

Length: 80 000
words

It is a standalone
story.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US |
Amazon UK

Blurb

Luca Moretti is grumpy—and he wouldn’t have it any other
way.

Wrangling six—Italian—siblings and the family’s

restaurants would make anyone cranky. But when his mother requests that he save his
aunt’s struggling Italian deli in charming, picturesque Indigo Bay, he has no idea that he’s about to overdose on sweetness.

Luca expected his aunt’s stubbornness—she’s a
Moretti, isn’t she?—and his cousin’s resistance to actual work, but the last thing he expected
is the absolute ball of sunshine known as Oliver Billings.

Oliver loves Indigo Bay. Loves owning his small
artisan bakery, Sweetie Pie’s. Helps nice old ladies cross the street. Even volunteers for the
local Sweethearts Festival.

Sweet isn’t really Luca’s style, or so he thinks. But
when he discovers Oliver can be a little spicy too, his prickly exterior begins to crumble like a
well-baked crust.

If Luca isn’t careful, he’s going to develop a taste for
sweets—and a particular baker’s pie.

And one or two servings will never be
enough.

Excerpt

“Ah, they sent the fixer out.” Oliver sounded amused
again. “I can see it. You’re definitely more of a fixer than a baker.”

Luca shrugged. “I run my family’s four restaurants.
They do not typically need fixing.” Don’t be arrogant, don’t be arrogant. “But
Nonna’s Deli here, it is . . .an investment of ours. Not directly under my control. So I’m not
here to order changes but to . . .suggest them. Nicely.”

“Which is how they’ve managed to underperform all
these years,” Oliver said with another of those smirks. They shouldn’t have been so
frustratingly attractive. But Luca felt them deep down, stirring him up in a way he hadn’t
expected.

Oliver was definitely a very attractive package, one
he’d love to unwrap.

Would he be as sweet as promised? Or a little salty
too? Maybe even a bit spicy?

“You could say that,” Luca said. “Part of the proposed
changes are aligning the menu more directly with our other restaurants. And that includes
fresh bread, daily. Nonna’s here doesn’t have the staff, the resources, or the equipment to
do this, but you do.”

“I do,” Oliver conceded. “My schedule’s already pretty
packed, but I suppose I could fit you in. French bread? Sourdough bread? Focaccia? Rolls?
Loaves? How many dozen per day?”

Luca liked every part of Oliver he’d seen so far. He
was charming and sweet and undeniably adorable. Then there was how goddamned sexy he
was when he got down to business.

“I’m not sure yet,” Luca said. “In fact, they may not
need any at all. Giana and Enzo have my proposed changes, but they are not required to
accept all of them—or any of them, actually.”

“You must hate that, not being able to actually
impose your control over them.” Oliver said it casually, like a true control-freak business
owner, like he understood.

How did Oliver know how much he hated it? Was it
that obvious? Was it written all over his face that he’d love nothing more than to march
down the street and tell Giana and Enzo exactly what to do?

“Yes,” Luca admitted.

“Nonna’s isn’t just an Italian affectation, is it? Was
there actually a Nonna?” Oliver asked.

“My grandmother.”

“Ah, well, there you go.” Oliver leaned back, grinning.
Luca wanted to chase him, but he stayed on his side of the table, with what he thought was
pretty admirable restraint.

“So why does Enzo dislike you so much?” Luca
asked.

“That’s a long story. And I’ve got to tend to these
rolls. If they overproof . . .” Oliver shrugged. “I’m a perfectionist, what can I
say?”

“If he supposedly turns against you every chance he
gets, what’s he going to say,” Luca said, deploying the most persuasive smile in his arsenal,
“when he finds out I want to hire you to bake our bread? I need the insider info. Need to be
able to convince him it’s a good idea.”

“It’s not going to help you, and you’re not
going to like it,” Oliver said. “Though, you sorta look like there’s plenty of things you don’t
like.”

But I like you. “You’re not wrong.” It was hard to admit it, but there it was. He was particular, okay?
Particular and more than a little arrogant about his particularity.

Maybe it was good Oliver knew that now, even if all
they ever had was a date and a night—though even that was still up in the air.

“We dated,” Oliver said. His watch beeped, and he
stood, just as he’d left Luca speechless for another long moment. “Well,” he amended, with
a cute little shrug. “It was one date. But still. He wanted to continue. I did not. And that’s the
story.”

“That wasn’t a very long story,” Luca managed, and
was he trailing after Oliver in his own bakery like a lost puppy looking for his owner? Yes, he
was, a little.

About the Author

A lifelong Pacific Northwester, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with
her supportive husband. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just
as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first
foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope
springs eternal. She has published over forty novels and novellas.

Author Links

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Facebook | Twitter |
BookBub

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up

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BLOG TOUR: “A Case of Madness (Or the Curious Appearance of Holmes in the Nighttime)” by Yvonne Knop.

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: A Case of
Madness (Or the Curious Appearance of Holmes in the Nighttime)

Author: Yvonne
Knop

Publisher: Improbable
Press

Cover Artist: Ksenia
Spizhevaya

Release Date: March 20,
2023

Genres: Adult Contemporary M/M Rom-Com

Tropes: Opposites attract, Emotional scars,
Grumpy/sunshine

Themes: Coming out, friendship, mental illness, love

Heat Rating: 2 flames

Length: 82 000 words/272
pages

It is a standalone book and
does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Publisher | Amazon US | Amazon UK

A world-weary Sherlock
Holmes scholar loses his job and his sanity when the great detective materializes in his flat
to help solve a mystery that involves a handsome male stranger. What ensues is a thrilling
adventure in literature, London, and love.

Blurb

Andrew Thomas just got sacked. He’s permanently drunk.
He’s got cancer. Is inescapably gay. Was hit by a bus. And he’s fallen in love with a stranger
whose life he saved.

As a newly-unemployed Sherlock Holmes scholar, Andrew
knows only Holmes can help him untangle the madness his life has become, but Holmes isn’t
real. Except he absolutely appeared in Andrew’s house, told him he’s in love with a man he
just met…and then in a fit of pique Andrew sent him away.

Sure Holmes is probably a hallucination or a specter or a
ghost, but now Andrew desperately needs his help. So to find the answer to his case and the
man of his dreams, Andrew takes to chasing a fictional character through London with his
very own Watson.

Excerpt

While strolling amid the students and scholars rushing into
the University of London, I ignored the urge to check my pocket watch.

If there was ever a day to dawdle, it was today. The first day
of summer that actually felt like the season it claimed to be. And the day of my personal
disaster.

It wasn’t a ‘this train will split at the next station and you
just sat down with your meal deal’ disaster, but it was equally inconvenient. After decades of
laboring in academia, I was about to become involuntarily unemployed. Apart from that –
and this might be even more important – I was also going to die.

To delay the confrontation a bit longer, I looked for a
shaded place to smoke and then took long, luxurious drags on my cigarette. A cough
struggled to tear itself free from my chest, but I suppressed it. Not now. Focus.

Few people knew my name or my publications. But some
such people existed – people who were as fascinated by a very specific man as I was, and
who seemed to value my works more than I did. The man I wrote about lived in Baker Street,
and he was partly to blame for my situation. Though I liked to think of myself as a charmingly
anachronistic gentleman, I increasingly felt I was just a dafter in a fine suit who lurked
around public buildings. Instead of engaging in modern life, I was immersed in the world of
Sherlock Holmes and all things Victorian, with the natural effect of many acquaintances
leaving or going extinct. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the company of others; it was that I
struggled in the company of others. And they struggled in the company of me.

You see, the fact that I knew my dearest detective had
appeared on-screen in over two hundred and twenty adaptations did not give me much
hope I would find out what people did for fun. But what of fun? What about achievement?
Holmes is the most filmed novel character of all time – among humans, at least; Dracula has
been filmed even more often. This connection filled me with joy, and I believed it could be
combined in a curious way. Dracula Holmes: he investigates at night because he’s not just a
detective, no – he’s also a vampire. Greedy for blood and knowledge.

I finished my cigarette and stepped from the shadows only
to immediately collide with a young man in the most colorful trainers I’d ever seen. In a split-
second knockout victory, he fell to the ground covered in the flyers he had been holding in
his hand just seconds before.

I bent down immediately to help him. “I’m so sorry,” I said,
quickly picking up his flyers from the pavement. At least those which hadn’t fallen into the
grey puddle right next to us.

“It’s okay,” he said, and he looked at me. His blue eyes
seemed friendly though his gaze was intense.

I quickly looked down again. To my surprise, the flyers
weren’t gig announcements or takeaway adverts. In fact, they were promoting something
very dear to my heart. “I like theater,” I said, handing him back a few of the flyers. “I thought
theater was dead for young people.”

He smiled. “Most young people get run over by perfect
strangers.

That’s why so few make it to the stage. Anyway…I’m still
alive.”

That he was. Alive, handsome, and holding a slim stack of
remaining flyers. Slightly crumpled.

“I’m far from perfect,” I remarked, thinking of the trouble I
had caused him.

About the Author

Yvonne is a bi and nonbinary
writer who dedicates their free time to extending the secret Gay Agenda – in part through
their debut novel A Case of Madness.

Although born and raised in
the north of Germany, Yvonne’s passion for Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who, their sassy
humor, and aversion to talking on public transport made them suspiciously British from early
on.

As a natural matter of cause
and effect, Yvonne moved to London in 2014 and started to write (a novel for the drawer).
No word was written until 2017 when the sudden question of ‘What if I could talk to
Sherlock Holmes?’ came up to them.

Conducting PhD research in
the world’s most extensive Sherlock Holmes collection, located in Minneapolis, USA, was a
great help for answering that question. The result was not a PhD, but their debut novel
A Case of Madness,
originally written in German and in a bold move translated by the author themselves when
nobody in Germany understood a word they were saying.

Author Links

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Continue ReadingBLOG TOUR: “A Case of Madness (Or the Curious Appearance of Holmes in the Nighttime)” by Yvonne Knop.

SERIES TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW: “Two Tribes Series” by Kristian Parker

SERIES TOUR and AUTHOR
INTERVIEW

Two Tribes Series by Kristian
Parker

The mean streets of
Manchester are the scene for a blood thirsty gang war. But with battle lines drawn, three
heroes find themselves falling in love at the worst possible time.

The war for supremacy has
begun.

 

BOOK 2 – NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Everything
Changes

Author: Kristian
Parker

Release Date: April 11,
2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope: Close proximity

Themes: Gangster, action

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 50 578
words

It is not a standalone book,
but does not end on a cliffhanger

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

First for Romance | Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Blurb

Fear can open doors we never dreamt
possible.

Shaun Moseley is in a trap and it’s all his brother, Liam’ s
fault.

Living a normal life running a B&B in Blackpool, he
finds himself right in the middle of a gang turf war in Manchester. Shaun is an alien in this
horrifying new world of drugs, guns and violence.

Shaun rebels against everyone, isolating himself in the
process. But a terrifying experience opens his eyes to gang member Enzo Ponti. Shaun may
be trapped for the time being, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a little fun along the way,
right?

He dismissed Enzo as just another hired killer but when he
scratches the surface, he finds much more there.

But evil gangster, Jonny Wellingham, wants revenge on the
gang and has set his sights on Shaun. Can he live long enough to find just how deep Enzo’ s
waters are?

 

Excerpt from Everything Changes

They stood side by side, watching some birds flocking over the
reservoir.

“When I was in a yoga retreat in Kathmandu, they had all sorts
of gay-coloured birds,” Shaun said. “All we have are shitty brown things.”

He kicked a stone.

“I’ve seen you doing your yoga,” Enzo said. “Did you learn it on
your travels? You should come and do some weights with me and Giovanni. It would be far
more beneficial than getting yourself into silly poses.”

“Have you been perving over me then?”

Enzo reddened. “It’s not a big house. You can’t help it.”

Shaun regretted his big mouth. Enzo had done something kind
for him and he should make an effort not to shoot him down every time he tried to speak.
They wandered a little farther down the path.

“It’s weird to think that my whole childhood was spent in that
place,” Shaun said, nodding to Manchester in the distance. “Where did you grow up?”

“I grew up in Rome. Well, a little village about an hour out of
the city. I was very lucky in a lot of ways, but…”

Shaun glanced at him. He found him difficult to read, but there
was definite pain there.

“But what?”

“Being attracted to men was not part of that world. Not until
Uncle Z came. He changed everyone’s view.”

Shaun whirled around. “You’re gay?” he asked in
astonishment.

Enzo raised an eyebrow. “Is it so surprising? Marco. Uncle
Z.”

“Bloody hell,” Shaun said. “My gaydar is way out of sync.”

“Perhaps if you’d spoken to me once in a while, you’d have had
a better chance of figuring me out,” Enzo said.

His words weren’t spiteful but simply stating a fact. A fact
Shaun couldn’t even begin to deny. Embarrassment burnt over his skin. He had been
behaving obstructively since coming to the farm. Now he could see himself through Enzo’s
eyes and he didn’t like it. “Have I been such a bitch?” he ventured.

Enzo glanced over at him and winked. Shaun had noticed that
Enzo was handsome—it was impossible not to. But he hadn’t taken the time to see his dark
brown eyes or the way they crinkled at the sides when he smiled. Whether it was the fact
he’d just saved his life or something deeper, Shaun imagined staring into those eyes and
losing himself.

“We should get back,” he said. “I need to finish tonight’s
dinner. I know my place and I don’t fancy being shouted at by Marco for not doing it.”

“And there he goes,” Enzo muttered. “Back into his shell. You
would find this whole experience a damned sight easier if you were a little nicer to those
around you. We are not all villains, you know.”

Once again, a flash of rage blew through Shaun’s system. He
didn’t want to be schooled in how to be a gangster. Not by anyone, no matter how deep
their eyes were.

“Thank you for the advice on how to survive a fucking gang
war that I want nothing to do with,” he snapped. “I was terrified today, Enzo. Do you
understand what that means? I can’t just toe the line and chuckle while my brother or any of
you go out there time and again. If I get to know you, like you, it just adds to my fears. I can’t
do it. I won’t.”

He was babbling now, but his mouth couldn’t seem to stop. To
his amazement, Enzo came over and wrapped his arms around him. Shaun fitted perfectly,
his head nestling in the crook of Enzo’s neck.

Enzo’s strong arms instantly calmed him and the shivers he had
been battling since he got in the car simply disappeared.

“I get terrified too,” Enzo said softly.

“How do you stand it?”

“I have no idea. You’re not the only one in the whirlpool, I
suppose.”

Shaun looked up just as Enzo stared down at him. Their lips
were almost touching, but then reality hit Shaun like a sledgehammer. Having an affair with
a gangster had put his brother in the hospital. He had no intention of spinning that particular
bottle.

He broke away, trying to ignore the hurt on Enzo’s face.
“They’ll be missing us now,” he said, smoothing down his jacket.

 

 

 

START THE SERIES WITH BOOK 1

Book Title: Fool’s
Gold

Author: Kristian
Parker

Publisher: Pride
Publishing

Cover Artist: Erin Dameron-
Hill

Release Date: March 14,
2023

Genre Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Forbidden love, opposites attract

Themes: Gangster, action

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 52 069 words/233
pages

It is not a standalone book,
but does not end on a cliffhanger

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

First for Romance | Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Falling in love can
be a deadly business.

 

Blurb

Liam Moseley has been living a lie ever since he joined
Manchester’s notorious crime boss Jonny Wellingham ten years ago. Liam is gay, and that
could get him killed in the deadly world he has fallen into.

When he meets handsome Italian Marco Ponti, Liam’s
whole world is turned on its head. Marco is in town looking for business opportunities for
his uncle in Rome, and makes Liam see his life in a brand-new light.

But all is not as it seems, especially when Marco shows
Liam the past isn’t always as it appears and the future can change in the blink of an eye. In a
dangerous world where each job could be Liam’s last, he finds himself fighting for love as
well as survival.

Liam will have to put everything he holds dear on the line
to make his dreams come true.

 

Excerpt from Fool’s Gold

“So you’re Manchester born and bred?” Marco
asked.

“Can’t you tell by the accent?” Liam replied.

Marco beamed. “I love the Manc accent. It’s
so…expressive.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard it called that before,” Liam
said. “I’d rather have an Italian one.”

“You find it sexy?”

Marco’s eyes dared him to answer honestly. Something
about this guy gave Liam confidence. No man had ever had this effect on him. “Yeah, I do,”
he replied before glancing down.

“Why do you do that?” Marco asked, leaning forward, his
elbows on the table.

“Do what?” he asked.

“Break eye contact every time you say something. Are you
ashamed?”

Liam shifted uncomfortably. “No, it’s not that.”

“Tell me what it is, then?” Marco asked, his voice soothing
and sincere.

“I guess I don’t think I have anything to say worth listening
to,” he replied, eventually.

To his astonishment, Marco’s foot connected with his leg.
The pressure told him it was absolutely on purpose.

“I respectfully disagree, Liam. I think I’d listen to you.
Whatever you had to say.”

He had that burning sensation on his neck again. It had
made him so paranoid at school.

“Sorry, I have made you blush,” Marco continued.

“Don’t worry about it. I always bloody blush. They called
me Po at school because of it.”

Marco frowned. “What?”

“The red Teletubby?” Liam expected him to burst into that
laughter again. Most people did when he confided this, but instead, Marco just shook his
head.

“Kids can be so cruel. But who cares? They are in your
past.”

“Yeah, they’re probably sweeping up shit in the hospital
now. Serves them right.”

This time Marco did seem amused. “Said with true passion.
I like it. So, what do you do, Liam?”

Here it came. The inevitable question. He could hardly say
he was a lackey for one of the biggest gangsters in the northwest of England, so he reverted
to his stock answer. “Oh, you know, bit of this, bit of that. How about you?”

“As I said, my uncle works in shipping. I’m over here seeing
if there is any potential to expand to Manchester.”

Liam nodded. “The city is booming. You could do a lot
worse.”

“That’s what I thought. I like what I see more and
more.”

The look which followed that statement practically oozed
with intent. This time, Liam forced himself to meet Marco’s gaze. “I’ve never been to Italy,
but maybe I should,” he replied. “Rome seems pretty good from where I’m sitting.”

“Ah, you definitely should,” Marco said, leaning back. “It is
beautiful. I’ve been the length and breadth of it with my job. I worked in Venice recently.
Bellissima.”

Liam had seen pictures of the water world on television.
“Better than the canals in Manchester. They’re just full of shopping trolleys and used
condoms.”

Marco laughed again. It was so loud and carefree that Liam
had to stop himself from looking around to see if anyone noticed. But he forced himself to
relax and ended up giggling along with him. It had been so long since he’d done something
like this.

“This is better,” Marco said.

“What is?”

“You are relaxing. You seemed very tense earlier,” Marco
said. “I thought perhaps you’d changed your mind about me.”

“Oh, nothing like that,” Liam said hurriedly. “It’s just that
I’m not out, you see. I don’t normally do this.”

Marco’s stunning eyes widened. “Who isn’t out these
days?”

Shaking his head, Liam took a swig of his drink. “Me,” he
said, placing the drink down. “In my line of work, it isn’t the done thing.”

A group of lads banged through the door. Liam frantically
scanned each face but didn’t recognise any of them.

“Wow. I can’t imagine being in the closet. At my eighteenth
birthday party, I came out. I figured if I had to enter adulthood, people should know what
they were dealing with. Although I like to make a statement now and then. It keeps them on
their toes.”

The lads were being quite rowdy. Even the barman
appeared nervous.

“You’re very brave,” Liam said.

“Not really. My uncle is gay too, so it was a well-beaten
path. No one in our family cares as long as you’re healthy and happy.”

“Sounds perfect.”

Marco chuckled, but Liam couldn’t relax. He watched the
group of lads out of the corner of his eye. He could spot trouble a mile off, and these lads
were desperate for it.

“We’re a long way from perfect, believe me,” Marco said.
“But we get by.”

Liam drained his glass. “You want another?”

Marco shook his head. “There are a lot of things I’d like
from you, Liam…but another drink is not one of them.”

The change in tempo took Liam by surprise. Heat crept over
his face and he didn’t know what to say in return. He had never been any good at the whole
game-playing thing. “Just nipping to the loo,” he managed before bolting for the
door.

 

BOOK 3 – COMING SOON – AVAILABLE FOR PRE-
ORDER

Book Title: Don’t Look
Back In Anger

Author: Kristian
Parker

Release Date: May 30,
2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope: Second chance love

Themes: Gangster, action

Length: 50 123
words

Heat Rating: 4 flames

It is not a standalone book,
but does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads Series
Link

 

Available for Pre-Order

First for Romance

 

Blurb

Revenge is best served cold, yet old embers can burn hot.

Lorenzo de Luca has come back to Manchester with revenge on his mind.

Supposedly killed by evil gangster Jonny Wellingham’s hitmen fifteen years ago, Lorenzo has
waited a long time for this. He has to stay focused. And he does…until a past lover comes
back into his life.

But old embers can spark a flame and the couple pick up where they left off—but the war
has only just begun, and everyone is fair game…and Lorenzo’s distraction gives Jonny the
opportunity he needs to strike a deadly blow.

Torn between his burning need for vengeance and the scorching heat of love, which will
Lorenzo sacrifice?

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence, murder, organised crime, sex
work, and drugs trafficking. There are also instances of homophobia.

 

 

About the Author

I have written for as long as I
could write. In fact, before, when I would dictate to my auntie. I love to read, and I love to
create worlds and characters.

I live in the English
countryside. When I’m not writing, I like to get out there and think through the next scenario
I’m going to throw my characters into.

Inspiration can be found
anywhere, on a train, in a restaurant or in an office. I am always in search of the next
character to find love in one of my stories. In a world of apps and online dating, it is
important to remember love can be found when you least expect it.

 

Author Links

Blog/Website
| Facebook | Twitter

Instagram | Newsletter Sign-
up

 

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signed paperbacks of
each book in the series.

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Continue ReadingSERIES TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW: “Two Tribes Series” by Kristian Parker

RELEASE BLITZ: “Playing Dirty” by Beth Bolden.

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Playing
Dirty

Author and Publisher: Beth
Bolden

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood
Designs

Release Date: January 12,
2023

Genres: Gay contemporary
sports romance

Tropes: Bisexual awakening,
roommates to lovers

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 41 000
words

It’s the prequel novella to my
Miami Piranhas series.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle
Unlimited

Universal Link |
Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

All Wade Lewis wants during rookie preseason camp is to
play great football and to make it to the final fifty-three man roster.

He absolutely does not want Tristan
Nicholson.

His complete and total opposite.

His teammate.

His competition.

And his roommate.

During the day, Tristan unexpectedly proves to be
helpful on and off the field, but at night, when the lights go out, Tristan also becomes the
only man he can’t resist.

First, he’s a friend, then astonishingly, he becomes a
lover.

And then he becomes the last thing Wade ever
expected: everything.

This novella was previously published, and some light
editing has been done, but no new content has been added.

Excerpt

Tristan had nearly found Beau and asked if he could
switch rooms, but the problem with that was that he likedsharing a room with Wade.
He was a good roommate, conscientious and kind, and apart from this inconvenient
attraction stuff, he was becoming a good friend.

And he’d already been around the NFL long enough to
know that friends didn’t exactly grow on trees.

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, then, that as
soon as the light went out, after this long-ass day, when both of them should have been
exhausted and immediately falling asleep, Tristan couldn’t help himself and instead of being
safe and smart and careful, like he had been all day, like he’d used all that safety up, he
asked the question himself.

“You ever kiss a guy before, Wade?”

Wade was quiet for such a long time that Tristan
wondered if maybe he had actually fallen asleep.

He found himself holding his breath, barely able to
breathe, his lungs clogging, as he waited for Wade to answer. Listening, way too intently, for
even the minutest change in Wade’s own breathing.

Why did he even need to know?

Why did it matter so much that the answer be
no?

Finally, Wade let out a deep exhale, like he’d been
holding his own breath too. Like he’d made a decision.

“No,” he said. “No, I haven’t.”

Tristan dug his fingertips into his bedding. It was no
less dangerous to kiss Wade in this dark, private room than to do it in the middle of the day,
in the middle of the Piranhas weight room, but it was easier to justify because if they did it
here and now, nobody would ever know.

But you’d know,
Tristan reminded himself. And Wade will know.

It was those two things that kept Tristan in his own
bed, instead of joining Wade in his—and showing him just how great kissing a guy could
be.

“Is . . . is that what that was earlier? You were . . .”
Wade hesitated for so long that Tristan, hanging on every single word, every single syllable
echoing through the darkness, nearly got up and went to his side and demanded to know
what it was he was supposedly doing. Finally, though, Wade finished his sentence. “Testing
me?”

It made no sense. Why would Tristan be testing him?
He already knew Wade was bisexual. Wade had told him himself. Tristan might have tested
Wade if he hadn’t been sure. If he hadn’t been entirely sure how his flirtation would be
received.

But he definitely hadn’t been testing Wade
earlier.

He’d been irresistibly drawn to the man.

It felt unfair to pay Wade’s honesty back with a lie, no
matter how dangerous the truth was.

So Tristan told him the truth.

“I wasn’t testing you. I was . . . if you have to know, I
was . . . I find you attractive, Wade, and I wanted to kiss you. As stupid as that was. I
shouldn’t have been thinking about it. You’re not out, and there were other guys around,
and on top of that . . . it’s a huge, massive distraction that could get us both released. You
know, teams don’t really like their players hooking up.”

Don’t really was
an understatement.

It was technically allowed because it couldn’t be
not allowed but it certainly wasn’t encouraged. All the Piranhas needed was a really
good reason to cut Tristan, and this would be it.

“You wanted to kiss me?” Wade’s voice was full of
wonder.

“I guess you missed the rest of that,” Tristan teased.
“You know, the part where it was—it is—a bad idea.”

“Sorry.” Wade actually sounded apologetic. “I got
stuck on that one bit. I just never thought . . . you and me. You’re so . . .”

It was playing with fire to ask.

Tristan knew it.

He asked anyway.

“I’m so what, Wade?”

“You’re so hot and confident and sure of yourself.
You’re a beacon of hope to so many closeted guys, guys who think that you can’t be gay and
play football. And then there’s me . . . not really ashamed but not open either, and not
experienced . . .”

“None of that matters,” Tristan interrupted him,
because he couldn’t listen to another moment of Wade putting himself down. “I can’t tell
you how much none of that matters.”

“It doesn’t?”

“Wade, you’re fucking gorgeous and you’re sweet,
and you’ve got this smile that lights up . . . well, it lights up everything around you. Including
me, okay?”

Wade was silent for a long time again, like he was
digesting what Tristan had just admitted to.

Like he was weighing the danger of it, the inherent
risk of it, with the reward.

But how could he, Tristan thought, dying over in his
own bed, when he didn’t know what he was really missing? He’d never kissed a guy before.
He didn’t know.

“Why,” Wade said, his voice rough, “are you still over
there, then?”

About the Author

A lifelong Pacific Northwester, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with
her supportive husband. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just
as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first
foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope
springs eternal. She’s published twenty-three novels and seven novellas.

Author Links

Blog/Website |
Facebook | Twitter |
BookBub

Instagram | Newsletter Sign-
up

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RELEASE BLITZ: “My Friend Tyler” by Shea Swain.

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: My Friend
Tyler

Author: Shea
Swain

Publisher: SSW
Publications

Cover Artist: Shea
Swain

Release Date: January 4,
2023

Website page dedicated to book

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Forbidden love, friends to lovers

Themes: Coming out, forgiveness

Heat Rating: 3 – 4
flames

Length: 71 487 words/ 133
pages

It is a standalone story and
does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Universal
Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Tyler Morales is a friend by association. So, when my
inebriated ass stumbles into his bedroom after a party and see him bare, face down, and
blindfolded in some sort of sensory play, I’m speechless. And when his partner removes the
earplug in his ear and asks him if I can join in, with a nod of Tyler’s head, my body moves
before my brain can catch up.

Initially, I want to forget that night. Tyler never saw me and
his partner doesn’t know me. But that proves difficult because I dropped something inside
Tyler’s room. He traces the item back to me but it doesn’t matter. I want him even though
I’ve never considered dating a guy. Problem is, Tyler hasn’t come out and it seems he comes
with his very own stalker. None of that shit matters. I want what I want. So, tell me, what’s a
guy to do?

Excerpt

Chapter One

When your life changes, it is always
unwelcomed…

Damian

Tyler Morales is a “friend” by association. When my friends
meet up, we end up hanging out. Aside from being acquainted with some of the same
people, we attend the same college and currently share a class. Like me, Tyler ranks at the
top of his class so if I need a partner in a class and he’s available, we link up.

He’s someone who’s easy to get along with. He’s modest
yet, he doesn’t fade into the background, which is what I try to do. Fading probably isn’t
possible for him. To be honest, he’s pretty as fuck, in a masculine way if that makes sense.

Let me explain…

He’s probably a couple of inches shorter than my six feet
four inches. Girls constantly orbit around him, gushing over him enough for me to know
details like how soft his curly brown hair is, how long and how dark his lashes are, or that his
hazel eyes have evergreen specks. Tyler is also pretty active on campus and I’m sure I’ve
seen him in a sports uniform before. Plus, he seems like good people and though I’m not a
social butterfly, it was nice of him to invite me to one of his rare get-togethers.

I push myself up off the floor. For several seconds, I comb
through my memory, trying to figure out how I ended up asleep in Tyler’s guest bathroom.
When I open the door, I see no one. I realize the small party/gathering is over. Half-awake
but groggy, I get the idea that I’ll just let Tyler know I’m leaving.

So, I stumble down the hall, realizing I’ve never been in his
place before now. It’s nice. When I trip over nothing and hit the wall, I know I’m not only
sleepy but a little lit so I’ll be sleeping in Tyler’s parking lot till morning. I wonder if he’ll let
me use his couch. That’s what I’m thinking when I stagger into the first door that’s ajar. If I
say I wasn’t ready for what I see, it’s an understatement.

I wasn’t fucking ready.

Tyler is on his knees, face down with his naked ass up and
blindfolded. His arms are stretched out with his wrists bound to the bed posts. At this angle,
I see some device in the ear. But what has me frozen and speechless is a guy I’ve never seen
before pounding into Tyler’s ass with abandon.

The sounds they are making…

The sounds Tyler’s making…

When I recover from my frozen shock and can bring myself
to move, I jump forward, grab the guy by the arm, and yank him away from Tyler. The guy
nearly crashes into an upholstered chair that’s in front of a window but somehow avoids it
and falls to the floor. I look back at Tyler who is breathing heavily and has fallen to his belly
as if exhausted.

I look back at the rapist, his eyes are wide and he’s righting
himself. I’m seeing red. The need to beat his ass bloody is becoming stronger with every beat
of my heart. But…I’m also finding it hard to breathe because my anger is mixing with
something I’m ashamed to admit. I am so fucking turned on that my dick is rock hard and
bucking against my jeans for release. This makes me even angrier.

“What the fuck!” the guy yells. “Look, man,” he says as he
stands and holds his hand up to stop me from advancing. “Tyler never said he had a
boyfriend.”

I pause, frowning.

Boyfriend?

“You should know we’ve been fucking for a couple of
months now. He asked me to tie him up and fuck him like this?”

The guy exhales as he rubs his hand over his hair.

“Gene? Gene, what’s wrong?” Tyler whispers.

I can hear apprehension reflected in Tyler’s tone. It’s not
what I expect. It dawns on me that his mouth isn’t stuffed with anything and if he needed to,
he’s capable of screaming for help. Help isn’t what I was hearing from him.

“He asked you to do this to him?” I ask. My voice cracks.

“He did. I’m sorry but how could I resist?”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Tyler isn’t gay, as far as I
know. I think we’ve even hooked up with a couple of the same girls.

I look at the guy. He’s ass naked too yet, I find nothing
appealing about him which is a relief. I sigh as I focus my gaze to his eyes and face.

About the Author

Shea is a woman who
believes that love is life’s greatest gift so it’s no wonder she writes Romance Novels. She lives
on the east coast of the United States with her family. A romantic to her core, Shea reads
and enjoys watching anything with a love story. She especially likes binging on Romance TV
around the holidays.

She enjoys spending time
with her family, meeting people, reading, chatting. Collecting Barbie dolls, toys, and Funko
Pops makes her happy. But she’s addicted to watching anime, k-dramas, movies, and playing
The Sims games. Shea also loves music and has mentioned that she writes better when she
has music playing as white noise in the background.

This exciting author writes
Adult Romance in the sub-genres of Contemporary, Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal,
Sci-Fi, and Erotica.

Social Media Links

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| Facebook

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Continue ReadingRELEASE BLITZ: “My Friend Tyler” by Shea Swain.

RELEASE BLITZ: “Deep Waters” by Thom Collins. Rafflecopter Giveaway Included!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Deep
Waters

Author: Thom
Collins

Publisher: Pride
Publishing

Cover Artist: Kelly
Martin

Release Date: December 27,
2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, thriller and suspense

Tropes: Murder mystery, small town, coastal romance

Themes: Secret lives, seeking justice, danger at sea

Heat Rating: 3 – 4
flames

Length: 61 740 words/ 262
pages

It is a standalone story. The
third book in a linked Jagged Shores series
but can be read alone.

It does not end on a
cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle
Unlimited

Universal
link | Publisher |
First For Romance

In search of a story, he
found murder and romance.

 

Blurb

Author Christian Costner is researching material for one of
his dark thrillers and Nyemouth seems like the perfect setting for his next book. The small
seaside town has witnessed plenty of trouble over the years, and Christian thinks it will
provide him with the inspiration he needs.

He hires local tour guide and fisherman Harry Renner to
help him explore the coastline for a couple of days. Harry is knowledgeable and mature
beyond his twenty-eight years. Handsome too, though Christian thinks Harry is far too young
for him..

As the weather worsens, Harry cuts short their first sight-
seeing trip. Heading back to shore they spot a figure in distress in the water. A difficult
rescue is made far worse when they discover the casualty has a knife wound to his abdomen
and dies before they reach the safety of the harbour.

United by the trauma, Christian and Harry find comfort in
each other, but when another murder comes to light, they find themselves at the heart of a
dangerous mystery and the target of a killer more ruthless than they could ever
imagine.

 

Excerpt

Harry went to the bar. He didn’t know the bartender so
didn’t have to face another barrage of questions about Niko’s death. “Two of whatever these
were,” he said, holding up the empty tumblers. “Make them doubles.”

He glanced over his shoulder as he waited. Christian gazed
into the fire, looking lost in his thoughts. What was it about him? Just this morning Harry
had dismissed him as being far too old, but the more time he spent with him and talked to
him, Christian’s appeal grew stronger. He can’t
be that old, anyway, he reasoned. Ten, maybe
eleven years older than he was. It wasn’t like fancying someone his dad’s age.

Of course, Harry knew what really drove this new attraction
to Christian.

Death.

He’d learned from his time in the lifeboat how sex and
death went hand in hand. He had taken part in three failed rescues when he was a member
of the crew and afterwards he had always wanted sex. It wasn’t unusual. He’d even read an
article about it—how sex helped people to feel alive after a clash with mortality.

Is that what this is? Do I only fancy him because we
didn’t save Niko?

As he carried the drinks back to the fire, Harry realised just
how much he did want Christian. They had been through a gruelling experience. What better
comfort could there be than each other’s bodies? He didn’t want to go back to his flat on his
own and wondered whether Christian felt the same about his lonely hotel room.

Fuck it. One more drink and I’ll ask him. The worst he
can say is no.

Christian lifted his gaze from the flames when he returned.
Their eyes connected and, just for a second, a hint of a smile. “Thanks,” he said, accepting
the drink.

“Is this your favourite tipple? Whisky?” he asked, sitting
down.

“Sometimes. It depends on my mood. But at the end of the
night, when I want to unwind, it’s the best. I always bring a bottle with me when I’m working
away—for a nightcap.”

Their eyes locked again, and Harry wondered if there had
been a hint of an invitation in the last remark. Or
is it just wishful thinking?

He had never been good at reading signals.

“What’s your hotel like?” he asked in a rush. “I’ve had a
drink at the bar in Quay House, but I’ve never been upstairs.”

Christian’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Oh shit. I’ve judged this all wrong.

Then he smiled. “It’s nice. I’ve got a good-sized room that
overlooks the harbour. Actually, it’s pretty great.” He sipped. “You’re welcome to come up, if
you’d like to look around. I could also give you that nightcap.”

Harry’s pulse quickened, and a stiffness developed in his
groin. “I’d love to.”

This morning he’d been so dismissive about Christian
because of his age, and now there was nothing he wanted more than to spend the night in
his protective embrace.

 

 

About the Author

 

Thom Collins is the author of
Closer by Morning, North
Point and the Anthem Trilogy. His love of page
turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie
Collins book and confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

Thom has lived in the North
East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County
Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-
busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many
titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new
recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he
realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook, The Night.

 

Other links

Twitter:
@thomwolf | Instagram: thomcollinsauthor | Newsletter Sign-up

 

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Continue ReadingRELEASE BLITZ: “Deep Waters” by Thom Collins. Rafflecopter Giveaway Included!

RELEASE BLITZ: “Star of the Game” by Amy Aislin.

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Star of the
Game (Stick Side #6)

Author and Publisher: Amy
Aislin

Cover Artist: Natasha
Snow

Release Date: December 27,
2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M sports romance

Tropes: Best friends to lovers, roommates, hockey

Themes: using your voice/platform for good, mental health, friendship,
taking risks

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 94 000 words / 360
pages

It is book 6 in the Stick Side series, but can be read as a standalone. It’s not necessary to
have read the previous books in the series.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Amazon |
Apple | B&N |
Kobo

 

The previous book in this series, Two-Man Team (Stick Side
5),

is on sale for $0.99 on all platforms from December 20-
January 3

Amazon |
Apple | B&N |
Kobo

 

 

Blurb

Felix only wants two things:
1. To make music.
2. His best friend, Emery.

But he’s not willing to risk two decades of
friendship for something more. Besides, a bout of writer’s block is preventing him from
creating new material, and he’s got deadlines to meet. He doesn’t need any
distractions—and Emery is the biggest distraction of all.

Emery only wants two things:
1. To play hockey.
2. His best friend, Felix.

He’s ready to risk it all for a shot at being together.
While he should be concentrating on playing his best hockey so his team will grant him a
contract extension, there’s no reason he can’t multitask.

With their careers at a crossroads, the timing for
romance couldn’t be worse—but when Felix is forced to move in with Emery, will Emery
finally convince him to take a chance at becoming the stars of their own game?

 

Excerpt

Music was his heart and soul. It would never not be a part
of his life. But he was ready for something different, whatever that “something” looked like.
It was a vague, nameless something that poked at the back of his brain like a child lazily
poking at a drum set.

He had tour dates and venues for this summer to firm up
with his tour manager, and although he loved performing, the thought of touring made him
slump back against the wall.

Twisting open the bottle cap, Felix chugged half his water,
mopping up a drop that spilled onto his chin with the back of his hand. Fuck, he couldn’t
wait to get home, even though Vancouver in January was as dreary as Henryk Gorecki’s
Symphony No. 3. He had a house in LA too, in Playa del Rey, but Vancouver was home. He
wanted to sleep in his own bed, visit with his parents and younger sister, help out at his
mentor’s after-school musical theater program, and spend time with Emery.

His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket. Well,
speak of the devil. Emery Stanton
read his caller ID next to a photo of his
childhood best friend’s face, and Felix’s heart skipped a beat, an automatic smile pulling his
lips upward despite his exhaustion. Felix remembered snapping that picture. “Smile,” he’d
said one day when they—along with their other best friend, Kris—had been strolling along
Vancouver’s Seawall a couple of summers ago, and instead Emery had made a kissy
face.

“I was going for pouty and sexy,” Emery had explained, but
the result was that he looked like he’d eaten a lemon.

Felix swiped to answer the video call. “Hey, Em.”

“Oh, hey.” Dark eyes flared in what Felix wanted to believe
was pleasure but was probably surprise. “I thought you were still doing the show. I was going
to leave you a message.”

See? Surprise.

“We just wrapped up,” Felix said. “What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

Felix waited out a whole ten seconds of silence where they
did nothing but stare at each other. Emery scratched his bristly jaw. Felix sipped more water.
Amusement tickling the back of his throat, he finally said, “What was your message going to
be about, then?”

“Oh, nothing. I was going to ramble on about the latest
movie I saw with the guys just so you didn’t forget the sound of my voice.”

The guys
being his friends on his NHL team.

Felix rolled his eyes. “I haven’t been gone that long.”

“It’s been two weeks, Fe. You disappeared right after New
Year’s. I miss your face.”

Felix did not let that go to his head—or his heart.
This was just Emery being Emery. “You were in Winnipeg playing a New Year’s game, and
then in New York, then Colorado. If I’d have been home, we wouldn’t have seen each other
anyway.”

Emery scowled. “That’s not the point.”

“What is the point?”

“The point is that it’s the middle of January and I haven’t
even said ‘Happy New Year’ to you in person yet.”

“Oh, the horror.”

“Sarcasm is unbecoming,” Emery quipped, quite
primly.

 

About the Author

Amy’s lived with her head in
the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages
means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade
when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates
eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She
writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the
planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert,
Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with
readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to
early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

 

Social Media Links

Blog/Website |
Facebook | Instagram

Newsletter Sign-
up | Facebook Group

 

 

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Continue ReadingRELEASE BLITZ: “Star of the Game” by Amy Aislin.