Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts

November 1, 2016

Release Day Review! Detective Fox & The Christmas Caper by Isobel Starling


Every good Dick needs a sidekick…

Actor Tom Lewis’s world came crashing down when a honey trap and tabloid expose outed him and put pay to his flourishing career. The housewives favorite was most well-known for his role as ‘Detective Fox’ in the quaint British series 'Malmesbury Murders'. But after the media speculation about his sexuality, the show is in hiatus and Tom hasn’t worked six months.

Now things are getting serious, money running out and Tom needs a job desperately. So when his agent offers him a seasonal acting job, he reluctantly agrees… and takes on the role of Santa for a top London department store.

This decision changes Tom’s luck. When Tom overhears two unidentified store workers discussing a "job to get a little Christmas bonus”. He realizes the 'job' is of the illegal sort. Now, Tom could call the police, but then again, wouldn’t it be great for his flagging career if Detective Fox saved the day?

So Fox is on the case, and as every good Dick needs a sidekick, Tom decides a sexy young elf named Eli Mason will fit the role, in more ways than one.”

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Oh, God! Where do I start? This novella was all kinds of fun. 

Beggars can’t be choosers and Tom has realized this after he was outed as gay and is facing unemployment. 

He’s an actor and he loves it but, he has reached the point where he can’t allow his pride to win and refuse a well paid job just because it might make him look silly.

If this means playing Santa Claus for one of London’s top stores, so be it. He’s still not ready to give up being Detective Fox though and, when the opportunity presents itself for him to get into character on more time, he grabs it with both hands. 

There’s a bonus, too. The detective’s sidekick is one hot elf who knows how to handle whatever is thrown his way and more. Things are about to get messy.

Add Isobel Starling and mix with humor, mystery, action, suspense and sprinkle of drama, and you’ll have an explosive story which will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions from beginning to end, and leave you breathless and asking for more. 

Follow Eli and Tom’s story as they try to save the day, and navigate what is the beginning of a tentative relationship, all while playing Santa and his elf for hordes of over excited children and exhausted parents the week before Christmas. 

I cannot wait to read the next book because this has got to be a series. Right, Ms. Starling? You cannot spring two smart, sexy and fun as hell men on me and leave it at a novella. It’s not fair. 

Thank you for another awesome and entertaining read. You rock, as always!





Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art. She relocated to the UK and, faced with the dreaded artist’s creative block, Isobel started to write and found she loved it more than making art.

Isobel’s first novel “Fall Together” was a bestseller in the GLBT-Bisexual genre on the ‘All Romance e-books’ site. Her second novel “As You Wish”(Shatterproof Bond #1) is an Amazon bestseller, and its sequel “Illuminate the Shadows”(Shatterproof Bond #2) was awarded a bestseller star on All Romance too. She has just completed her eighth book and signed French and German, translation and publishing rights deals for the whole Shatterproof Bond series. 

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Please sign up to my newsletter at https://isobelstarling.wix.com/books



May 17, 2016

Teasers, Excerpt & Giveaway! The Spiral Down, The Fall Up #2 by Aly Martinez


I was afraid to fly.

He made me soar.

After years of climbing the ladder of success in the music industry, I finally had everything I could want. 

Yet I still found myself wandering through life alone.

Captain Evan Roth was the one man I never saw coming. 

Tall, dark, mysterious… Straight. 

We were both damaged beyond repair and searching for something so elusive we weren’t sure it even existed.

But, when two broken souls collide in midair, falling is a given.

I just never expected to crave the spiral down.






Henry


“How about you and one of your girls come out to my show in L.A. next week? My treat. Dinner, drinks, the whole deal. Evan and I would love to take you two beautiful ladies out for an evening.”

“Excuse me?” he exclaimed, cocking his head to catch my gaze.

I leaned back into my seat and lifted a hand to massage his shoulder. I was barely able to suppress a moan when the angle of his firm trap muscle met my palm.

Fuck, this guy was built like a brick wall. And I was going to love every second of watching him crumble for me.

“Oh, come on, Evan. It’s the least we can do. Double date.” I winked at Jessica. “You can fly them out! My plane should be ready by then.”

Jessica’s eyes jumped to Evan’s. “You’re a pilot?” Her smile spread irritatingly wide.

Back off, Ginger Spice.

Snapping my fingers in her direction, I corrected, “He’s my pilot.”

Subtlety was not a virtue I possessed. Was subtlety a virtue at all?

“Your temporary pilot,” he amended before shaking his head and then tipping his beer to his lips for a long pull.

“Anyway. Do we have a date?” And, by date, I meant feeding her dinner while I attempted to work my way into Evan’s pants.

She pressed one finger to her lips and then nervously flashed her eyes around the cabin.

“Oops. Sorry.” I shrugged sheepishly. Lifting my drink to my mouth, I discreetly passed her my cocktail napkin and then not-so-discreetly brushed my forearm against Evan’s chest as I pulled away.

He offered her a tight smile just before she disappeared.

I grinned proudly.

“What the fucking hell was that?” he whisper-yelled at me.

“That was me getting a woman’s number.”

He arched an eyebrow. “A woman. Really?”

“What? Is that not allowed?” I feigned innocence.

He clenched his fist in his lap, and it made me suddenly aware that my own hands had stopped trembling—and in record time, I should note. Evan seemed to be quite useful in the art of distraction.

He leaned closer. “Don’t bullshit me. I looked you up. You’re…” He stopped, unwilling to say the big, bad “G” word.

“I’m what?” I taunted.

He rolled his eyes and chugged the rest of his beer.

We went back to silence until Jessica came back by with another drink, complete with her phone number written on the napkin.

“I’m not going on a double date,” Evan said as I tucked the napkin into my pocket. “You want me to fly them out? Not a problem. Schedule it with Jackson. But that’s the extent of my professional responsibilities. And, since I’m off the clock right now, I’d also like to mention that I think whatever play you’re planning to run on that woman is fucked up.”

My head snapped to his. “I’m sorry. Play?” I asked with more attitude than I had originally planned.

“Yes. Play,” he sneered.

I stirred my drink. “Let me get this straight. I’m offering to fly her out in a private jet, feed her dinner at one of the best restaurants in the city, and put her front row at a concert that has been sold out for over a year. That doesn’t seem like a play to me. It sounds like I’m trying to do something nice for a woman I was rude to earlier.” I casually leaned back in my seat. “My conscience doesn’t ‘play’ when it comes to apologies.”

“Right. Well, maybe you should have a chat with your conscience, because she looks like she just won the date of a lifetime. Meanwhile, you don’t even like women.” He stalled, no doubt looking for just the right word to express his disgust without sounding like a bigot. Judging by his gentleness when we’d taken off, he wasn’t the type of guy to go for the fag bomb.

I watched him intently, excited to see how he was going to handle this.

“You’re gay.”

I frowned at his lack of creativity. “Not that it’s any of your damn business. But I’ll have you know I love women.”

It wasn’t a lie. I adored women. Especially Levee and Robin.

I just didn’t like pussy. Meh. Semantics.

He gaped. “You’re bi?”

“And I’ll repeat: None of your damn business. But yeah. Do you have a problem with that?”

Again, it wasn’t necessarily a lie.

Was I bisexual? Fuck no. My cock was in no way an equal opportunity employer.

I was somewhat bilingual though. I knew how to ask for a blow job in English and Spanish. I pretended that was what he meant.

Chupame la verga.





Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.



April 5, 2016

Audiobook Tour & Giveaway! Better Than Safe, Better Than #4 by Lane Hayes


Written by: Lane Hayes
Narrated by: Tyler Stevens
Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins 
Series: Better Than…, Book 4
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-07-16

Paul Fallon is a fashion advertising guru. He's a genius at dealing with difficult editors, art directors, and designers alike. He thrives on the chaotic atmosphere and constant challenges. But in his personal life, he's hoping for peace and stability. Settling down with a nice doctor or lawyer sounds perfect. Anyone but an artist. He's been there, done that, and he doesn't want to relive the heartache.

Seth Landau is a model, occasional guitarist, and aspiring painter. He's quirky, flighty, and wise beyond his years. Life has taught him some tough lessons, then given him opportunities he never dreamed of. He's learned to appreciate the fragility of life and to express it in his work. Seth's flare for the absurd combined with a supple mind and a beautiful body are too alluring for Paul to ignore. Against his best intentions, Paul is drawn to the younger man whose particular brand of crazy challenges Paul to accept that things aren't always as they seem. Sometimes taking a chance is better than being safe.

©2015 Lane Hayes (P)2016 Dreamspinner Press




Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions in the 2014 and 2015 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and the coolest yellow Lab ever in an almost empty nest.



March 14, 2016

Excerpt & Giveaway! University of Southern Georgia: Dan & Billy by Heath Greenfield


Some people know exactly who they are. As a matter of fact, some people can’t help being who they are even if it doesn’t fit into a conventional world. Other people struggle to figure out what that even means. Dan is the first. Billy is the second. Together, they are exactly what each one needs. 

When a horrible roommate forces Dan—a theatre major and the apple of his family’s collective eye—to desperate measures, he turns to Billy to save him. What he doesn’t know is that Billy needs him just as much. Billy, the staunch, upright, gay Republican who has secrets of his own, is bowled over by the bright, forthright Dan, and finds himself inconveniently in love. Dan adores a man of conviction, and he’ll force himself to settle for friendship if he must…but as fate has it, things are about to change…




“Billy! Billy, boy!” It was that crazy freshman from one floor down. “Darlin’ Billy! I need your help.”

The guy threw himself at Billy, and if Billy hadn’t reached out and grabbed him, the kid would have hit the floor hard.

“Uh…what’s going on?”

The thought that the kid was cute, but a little overdone, flashed through Billy’s mind. Wait, Billy corrected, not my type.

“Yes, uh, Danny?”

“Dan. My name is Dan…not Danny.”

“Right, Dan. Uh, how can I help you?”

“I knew if I came to you and threw myself on your tender mercies you could not deny my plight.”

“What plight?”

Dan straightened up and plopped himself on the bed across from Billy’s.

“Billy, I need you to provide me safe shelter in these troubled times.”

“Safe shelter? You want to, uh, stay here? With me?” he was confused. “Why?”

“Because, dear Billy, I have found myself with the most dreadful creature on our good God’s green earth.”

“What’s that?”

“A hater.”


Heath Greenfield lives in Port Orange, Florida with family, assorted dogs, cats, and other animals. Having recently taken up gardening to meet with a food obsession and daydreams of urban farming, Heath binge watches documentaries on organic growing and hatches wild schemes to build garden boxes in his down time.




February 8, 2016

Book Promo! The Consequences of Seduction, Consequence #3 by Rachel Van Dyken



From New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken.

Reid Emory has never had reason to question his luck with the ladies. As the owner of a lethal set of aqua-blue eyes and a devastating grin, this Hollywood heartthrob always brings his A game…but lately his luck seems to have run out. The actor is in need of some help, and there’s only one person he can trust to take his love life—and his career—to an explosive new level.

Jordan Litwright’s newest client is trying her patience. As a publicist, she’s more than content to stay in the background and let others shine. But when a publicity stunt backfires, she suddenly finds herself thrust into the spotlight—as Reid’s new love interest. And while other men usually overlook her, Reid is focusing in with laserlike intensity. There’s no denying they have serious chemistry.

But once Reid breaks into the big time, can they turn their made-for-the-media romance into a forever love?




Jordan’s body responded to my every single touch and caress.

“Now I know why you’ve never had to ask a girl on a date.” She hooked her legs around me and wrapped her arms around my neck, her tongue intertwining with mine, sucking, so. Damn. Hard that I couldn’t help but keep moaning. The things that woman could do with her mouth.

I deepened the kiss, my hands reaching for the clasp of her bra. I flicked it off. Jordan immediately froze. Her hands quickly covered her breasts.

“What are you doing?” I tried prying her hands free.

“Too fast.” She nodded, her cheeks staining with color. “You know for our, uh, date night.”

“Move your hands.”

“No.”

“Jordan.”

“Reid.” She laughed nervously.

“Fine.” I nodded. “I didn’t want to have to do this.”

Jordan frowned.

I raised my hand.

She frowned harder.

I flipped her onto her stomach and slapped her ass. Hard.

“What are you doing?” she yelled.

“Why, sweetheart . . .” I kissed her ear. “I’m taming.”

“The hell you are!”

“You like it.” Another swat. “And I’m barely spanking you, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Cover them up again and I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

“But—”

I flipped her back around. “But what?” I honestly wanted to know why a girl that gorgeous would cover up.

“It’s just that—” Jordan chewed her lower lip. “I’m the lights-off girl.”

“Lights off?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged a shoulder as more color stained her cheeks. “You know, the girl you don’t really notice right away until you’ve had one too many, then you take her home and have your way with her—in the dark.”

Horrified, I could only stare in shock. “Please tell me that hasn’t actually happened.”

“Reid.” She shoved me away and started to get to her feet. “Look, I’m not stupid, okay? And I’m not even that insecure anymore. I know how guys think, all right?”

“Oh, yeah?” I stood, pulled her flush against my very hard body. “What am I thinking about right now?”

“ESPN?”

“Damn.”

Her shoulders deflated. “See?”

I burst out laughing. “Honey, we have a pretty big problem if ESPN gets me this excited, don’t you think?”

“Hey, sometimes baseball just does it for people.” She gave me a sexy-as-hell smile. “It’s not your fault you like balls.”





“I can’t believe you just challenged my manhood when it’s saluting you like that. Damn, woman, I’m basically giving you the equivalent of a high five and a home run all in one and you’re making jokes?”







Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. 

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866! 


December 14, 2015

Excerpt & Giveaway! Destined Prey, Wild Ones #1 by Bailey Bradford




All Jack Tucker wanted was to come home for a little while and try to figure out where his life had gone wrong. Moving from Wyoming to New York hadn’t turned out the way he’d thought it would, and a bad breakup leaves him bruised in more than just the emotional sense. 



He doesn’t expect to be glad he’s back on the Double T Ranch with his brother, Rhett, and he sure doesn’t expect to find the place crawling with coywolves, wolves, and coyotes. There seems to be some kind of animal-warfare going on, and he and Rhett are caught in the middle of it. 

Coywolves—the hybrid of wolves and coyotes, hated by both, and more predatory than either. Add in the fact that all the battling species are shifters, and there’s bound to be trouble. 

Ben Akers is part of his brother’s pack. The only coywolf shifters in existence, they find themselves under constant attack from wolf and coyote packs determined to make the Akers pack extinct. But coywolves don’t die out so easy, and when Ben’s life takes a surprising turn in the form of one sexy human named Jack Tucker, they’re both in for surprises, danger, and, if Destiny rules, an abiding love that most people—and shifters—only dream of.

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~*~
Thank you for joining us! This book was written as a fundraiser for Peyton Hollingsworth, a family friend of Bailey's who has been diagnosed with cancer.

*All proceeds and royalties from this book will be donated to help pay the medical bills for Peyton Hollingsworth. While he is currently being treated at St. Jude’s for Ewing’s Sarcoma, and treatment there is free, there are accumulated bills from his treatment and diagnosis before being sent to St. Jude’s.




About Peyton:

Peyton is a funny, loveable 10-year-old boy. He loves playing outside, riding go-karts, and Batman.

This morning we found out he has cancer.

Peyton's mom, Cherri, took him to the hospital yesterday for trouble breathing. They were told he had a collapsed lung. After testing and labwork Cherri was told this morning (4/21/2015) that Peyton has a mass in his lung, back, and its spreading. They are now at St Judes waiting for the biopsy to take place. 

I am a family friend who is very close to Peyton's family. Any and all donations made will go towards travel, medical, and housing expenses so that his family can stay close. His parents, Dave and Cherri, will most likely be missing work to stay with Peyton. 

I will keep updating this as we get more information. We should know more within a few days, but I wanted to go ahead and get a jump start on this, so that we can help his family finincially, so this will be one less thing that they have to stress about.

If you'd like to help, a Go Fund Me campaign has been set up: https://www.gofundme.com/okwdr0

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and donations.

~*~
Jack Tucker watched his brother retrieve the rifle from the gun cabinet in the office. “Um. Rhett? What’re you doing?”

Rhett didn’t even glance back at him as he loaded the gun. “What does it look like I’m doing? You been living in the city so long you forgot how a Wyoming rancher lives?” Then he did look over his shoulder at Jack, and Jack kind of wished he hadn’t.

He hated seeing that judgment in his brother’s eyes, and knowing he’d never be good enough for Rhett, never be the man his brother was. “No,” Jack mumbled, “I didn’t forget.”

Rhett sighed and turned until he faced Jack. “Look, that was uncalled for. I’m… I’m sorry, okay?”

Jack was so startled by the apology that he gulped and couldn’t think of a word to say.

Rhett grimaced. “Yeah. Well, okay. Gotta check on some tracks Eddie said he found leading from his property to ours. I’ll be back in a few hours.” He left, striding from the room without seeming to hesitate.

Jack groaned and closed his eyes. Of course Rhett didn’t hesitate—he never had. Rhett always knew what to do, and how to do it, and who he was, and that he was right… Except, he apologized to me, and it screwed my head right up.

“Worse than it already is,” he muttered. Jack couldn’t stop himself from touching his left side, where his bruised ribs throbbed as the pain meds wore off. He was lucky, very lucky, that Rhett hadn’t pushed him on the accident that had sent Jack running home from New York, and possibly into the unemployment line. His boss hadn’t been happy with Jack taking off, even with a medical note as an excuse. Jack hadn’t told Rhett much about any of that. As far as Rhett knew, Jack had fallen down some icy steps, and that was all he was going to ever know about the incident.

Jack replayed his brother’s apology in his head and somehow it mingled in with Alex’s. Cold fear trickled down Jack’s spine and his gut cramped hard enough to make him worry about the dinner he’d just eaten.

After several minutes of trying to calm himself down, Jack stood and left. He’d wanted to sit and talk with Rhett about finances and try to decide if he should offer to let Rhett buy him out. Jack wasn’t made to be a rancher. He wasn’t made to be a New Yorker, either.

Jack didn’t know what he was supposed to do in life, and at the age of twenty-seven, he kind of thought he should have an inkling.

His cell phone was ringing when he stepped into his bedroom. Without looking, he knew it was Alex calling. “Who else would it be?” he huffed. It wasn’t like he had any friends left.

Rather than check to see how many times Alex had called and how many texts he’d sent, Jack turned the phone off, then stuck it in the nightstand. He eased himself onto the bed, then took a couple of prescription pain meds and washed them down with the rest of the water he’d brought in earlier.

The glass was old and familiar, and he felt a pang of regret as he looked it over after he set it down. Green glass, nothing special about it, yet he remembered so much as he stared.

He could see his mom in the kitchen, fixing a pitcher of tea, talking to him, and listening as he told her about his day at school or the chores he’d had to do around the ranch. She’d always been so kind and understanding, Jack had to believe she’d have been okay with him being gay. He’d spent many afternoons in the kitchen, helping her prepare meals or just basking in her presence. Losing her had almost broken him.

For a few more minutes, he let his mind go back to happy childhood days. His dad wasn’t in nearly as many of those good memories, but Chauncey Tucker hadn’t been a bad man. His dad had been more like Rhett—stoic, focused on the ranch and less on the people around him.

Jack ran one finger around the rim of the glass. He was surprised, really, that there were any of the old things left.

The sound of gunshot startled him so badly he jerked and nearly sent the glass flying.

“Shit!” He winced as he pushed it back, then stood as quickly as he could manage.

Another shot rang out, then a third, and fear quickly overtook every other sensation he’d felt until then.

Rhett had always been an ace shot. If he’d had to use three bullets, then there was something bad outside—a bear or a whole pack of wolves.

Jack didn’t like guns, but he went and got one from the gun cabinet anyway. He loaded it as he walked to the front door, and hoped like hell Rhett wasn’t hurt.

As soon as he stepped outside, the fine hairs at his nape seemed to stand up and vibrate, like some kind of primitive survival instinct warning alert system. Jack froze, his back to the door as his heart slammed hard against his ribs.

Another shot sounded, and it jolted Jack into action. “Rhett! Rhett!” He rushed down the steps and toward the direction the shots had come from. “Rhett! Are you okay?”

When Rhett didn’t immediately answer, Jack ran, careless with the gun, aware of that but unable to make himself do anything other than find his brother as soon as possible.

“Rhett!” He stumbled over something on the ground and almost fell before he managed to flail enough to keep himself upright.

Pain tore down his injured side, but he ignored it as he called out for his brother yet again. He cursed himself for not thinking to grab a flashlight. The sky was overcast and there was no moonlight to assist him in his search, and once he was past the barns there was no light coming from the house or other structures, either.

Jack realized that the cattle in the closest field were making enough noise to drown out his voice or Rhett’s, making it impossible for them to hear each other.

The sounds of the gunshots must have scared the cattle. Jack worried about a stampede, but he’d never seen any of the critters take out a fence, so he dismissed the idea.

“Rhett!” His throat burned as he hollered again.

Lightning streaked across the sky, blinding Jack for a moment, then thunder followed and he couldn’t contain his startled yelp as his ears rang from the sound.

Or his shriek when six pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared between him and the fence line.

“Shit!” Jack skidded to a halt and hoped he could steady his hands, and force himself to do what he had to do.


~*~ 


A few things about me…

I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.

And it’s really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I’ll just let y’all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there’s something specific you’d like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio.


November 20, 2015

Happy Release Day! Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: Fate by Rob Rosen



Eddie is in love. The problem is, Eddie’s in love with four men... four men simultaneously, that is. But who does Eddie love more? And can the heart feel for that many men equally? Ah, but it does have four chambers, so four seems the most logical choice... at least, of course, to Eddie.



Paula is Eddie’s famous mom. One by one, each of his lovers comes to work for her, their lives so connected that if one of them itches, another one scratches. But who will wind up with whom in this hysterically funny tale of life and love and friendship? In the end, it’s up to fate to decide what none of them could possibly have seen coming.

~*~
He didn’t say anything. There was a pause, and then he pushed himself up until his face was just above my own. I stared up into his eyes. The room was dark, but I could still make out the faintest shade of blue. “Say it,” he whispered.
“Say what?” I whispered back.
“Say that you wanted me to kiss you.”
His face moved in even closer. The room was hot, hotter still by the sheets and the blanket and him hovering above me. “I wanted you to kiss me because we were best friends and you were leaving me forever.”
He chuckled, the vibration travelling through the bed and up into my chest. “Not so forever though, huh?”
And then there was that kiss again. Only it wasn’t the kiss from before. Brian wasn’t seven anymore and this wasn’t a fleeting goodbye. In fact, this was more of a hello, nice to see you, let’s stay like this until our lips need a crowbar to pry them apart. And, guess what? There were no crowbars in the minifridge. Not even a fingernail clipper. Nope, all there was, was me and him kissing as if nine years hadn’t even been nine seconds and he didn’t have a girlfriend and our mothers weren’t in the next room.
If that previous kiss all those years earlier had been my first kiss, then the second one was one hell of an encore. My mom would kill for such an encore, in fact. You see, among everything else in the universe, it was unique and perfect and wouldn’t ever be forgotten, not when I was thirty, not when I was eighty.
When at last he broke free, his face still above mine, he smiled. “And why did you let me kiss you this time then?”
I pulled my hand up above the sheets and blanket and ran it through his thick mane of hair, just like I’d always wanted to do. “Because we’re best friends.”
His lips again touched down on mine before he resumed his position. “Are we?”
My hand caressed his cheek. There was a light stubble there. I wondered if he could grow a beard, or if he would in a year or two or six. “I don’t know what we are. It just felt like the right thing to say. Does that make sense?”
He nodded. “Do you believe in fate, Eddie?”
My body suddenly tensed and then relaxed. There was that word again: fate. It felt as if he had hit me with it. “You think fate brought us together again, or that it brought us together the first time?”
His hand also rose from beneath the covers before finding its way through my hair, his fingers lightly raking across my scalp, sending a million little goosebumps up my arm. “When I saw you standing in the parking lot earlier tonight, that’s the first word that popped into my head.” The kiss repeated. I was shocked that it was even more amazing than the last. “So do you?” he asked, when again he moved his lips away.
My eyelids fluttered open. “Do I what?”
“Believe in fate?”
Yes, I did in fact. Though I was scared to admit it. Scared that I’d be tempting it. I was sixteen. This was all new to me. And so I replied, “Well, my mom is pretty damned funny, but not worth travelling all the way from Pittsburg to see.”
“So that’s a yes then?”
I pulled him in, my arms wrapped tightly around him. I kissed him in reply. That felt safer than a yes. That felt more honest, at any rate. That felt, like I’ve said, perfect.

~*~


Rob Rosen is the author of the critically acclaimed novels, Sparkle: The Queerest Book You'll Ever Love, the Lambda Literary Award Nominated Divas Las Vegas, which was the winner of the 2010 TLA Gaybies for Best Gay Fiction, Hot Lava, Southern Fried, the Lambda Literary Award Nominated Queerwolf, Vamp, Queens of the Apocalypse, Creature Comfort and the Lambda Literary nominated Fate. His short stories have appeared in more than 200 anthologies. You can find 20 of them in his erotic romance anthology, Good & Hot. He is also the editor of Lust in Time: Erotic Romance Through the Ages, Men of the Manor, Best Gay Erotica 2015 and Best Gay Erotica of the Year, Volume 1. Please visit him at www.therobrosen.com and on Facebook


November 19, 2015

Happy Release Day!! Exclusive Excerpt: New York's In Love by Isobel Starling



**Limited edition FREE READ to be released on 20th November 2015, accompanied by 18 Polaroid style paintings of the characters, by the author**

When do you know you have found the right moment to share your heart?
This funny, filthy, heart wrenching PREQUEL tells the story of Gay male model Simeon Duchamp and his Bisexual best friend Pieter Bayer. Simeon coverts many addictions. His main drugs of choice are booze, pills and sex. But, Sim's most torturous addiction is for his best friend. Longing is an ever present ache in Sim’s gut. And now that Pieter is in New York City for a month of modelling assignments, Simeon decides to tag along. Sim hopes that a month living with Pieter will be enough time for him to find the courage to tell him how he truly feels. But that is easier said than done! If Simeon tells Pieter, he risks destroying their friendship. But if he doesn't, he may lose his mind.

Pieter's M/M,M/F Love story continues in the book 'Schonling' (Pretty Boy 1) Simeon's M/M Love story continues in the sequel 'Sweet Thing'(Pretty Boy 2) to be released in Feb 2016


~*~
“Oh Sim, you are crazy, but I love you!” Pieter chuffed affectionately. 

Simeon froze and his heart swelled in his chest. He glanced over his shoulder, eyes wide and expectant, hoping to meet Pieter’s blue-grey gaze, hoping for a ‘moment’ that he could run with. But Pieter had stood up and turned his back to make tea. The joy churned into confusion in Simeon’s belly. Had he misheard or was Pieter just being a cock-tease? Simeon couldn’t speak. The feelings seemed to crush his lungs with their enormity, and Sim was torn with indecision. Was this the right moment? Should he just say “I love you too Peety, and I want to show you just how much.” 

In his minds eye, Simeon could see himself,

…moving to stand behind Pieter at the kitchen counter, his hands snaking round Pieter’s waist, as his cheek rested on Pieter’s solid back. He held his best friend in a warm embrace for moments, his own breath catching Pieter’s rhythm and mirroring the rise and fall of his friend’s body. And then Sim was pressing his crotch to Pieter’s ass. Pieter dropped the teaspoon and his hands moved to grip the edge of the counter. He sighed out a breath, shifted a little, pushing back, moulding into Simeon’s curves and the hardness growing between them…

“Are you drinking your coke from the can, or do you want a glass? SIM…SIM?” Pieter’s raised voice woke Simeon from his fantasy. The moment of action had been lost, and Simeon blushed at being caught day dreaming by the man he was having inappropriate thoughts about.

“Um…glass…thanks,” Simeon stuttered. He tucked his phone into his jeans pocket and moved to retrieve the vodka he kept in the freezer compartment. Simeon needed to press mute on the mischievous inner voice, urging him to push Pieter against the fridge and claim his pretty mouth. He couldn’t do it, not yet, not until he was sure. He just had to be sure.”


At heart Isobel Starling is a romantic. She is fascinated by the psychology of attraction and the intricacy of relationships. Isobel has lived in many countries and worked her way through numerous jobs ranging from confiscating camera's from Madonna fans at Wembley stadium in the '90's to Nannying for Models in New York City. Isobel went on to study Fine Art and has worked in the Arts,Theatre and Film for nearly 20 years.
Isobel writes M/M and occasionally M/F and Fantasy. Her characters are always broken in some way.(Aren't we all!) She loves discovering their past and working out where their lives went wrong. Most of all Isobel loves watching her characters grow and heal when they meet that special someone! She is a sucker for a HEA!