Coming up in September

For the first time since the blog launched, we will not have a monthly pax release at Amber Allure. That does not mean we won't have fun here, though! Instead of specific pax promotion, we'll have author interviews, behind the scenes information, as well as cover reveals and reviews.

Know what else? There's also a giveaway! One lucky reader/commenter will be getting a $25 gift certificate to Amber Quill Press. There will be ample opportunity to comment, from the interviews to our reader polls that will be going up next Tuesday. We want to hear what you have to say.

See you in September!

New reviews

New reviews for recent pax releases!

At Top 2 Bottom Reviews, Susan gave Truth or Lie by Lynn Lorenz 5 kisses, calling it a "great little story with believable characters, snappy dialogue, and a few plot twists."

The Crimson Cat by A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly got 3 1/2 hearts from Pixie at MM Good Book Reviews, who calls it a "great little thriller that has an interesting twist."

Crissy at Joyfully Jay gave Family Obligations by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed 4 stars, calling it a "beautiful, wonderfully written story."

Deirdre O'Dare's Dark and Stormy received 3 hearts from Vivian at Hearts on Fire Reviews, who said it was "amusing" and "a fun read."

If you liked the Dream Man collection...

One of the best parts about the AmberPax collections is the wide variety of stories that can arise from a single theme. If you liked the Dream Man collection, there's even more at Amber Allure that might interest you.

Rich Man, Poor Man is a collection of five contemporary m/m stories, all centered around men from different classes who fall in love. Stories include:

Between the Moon and the Deep Blue Sea by KC Kendricks

Class Distinctions by Rick R. Reed

Crossing the Line by Christiane France

Homeless in Heaven by Deirdre O'Dare

Kissed by God by T.A. Chase

The collection is currently 25% off, which means you can get all five stories for only $16.50. What a deal!

Dream Man giveaway winner

What a great week from everyone! Since it's Saturday, that can only mean one thing. Time to pick the winner for the Dream Man pax!

And the winner is...

Anne!

If you could please email me at vivien_dean@yahoo.com, we'll get that to you as soon as possible!

Baby, You Can Drive My Car by A.J. Llewellyn

Early last year I visited the Paramount Studios lot to visit a friend of mine who was working as a script supervisor on a TV series. The first person I happened to see down on the backlot furtively smoking cigarettes with a couple of crew guys was actor Daniel Craig. I've loved this guy ever since I saw him in an obscure British movie, The Mother, ten years ago.

It was no surprise to me that he became James Bond and has more than capably filled the super-spy's custom-made slip-ons. He smiled and nodded to me. And then he said hello. I fell down. 

Boy, was I embarrassed. My friend came running, and it only got worse. Of course, I was tongue-tied and grinned like a simpleton at Daniel Craig. He had the grace to look away and puff on his smoke.

If I could do it all over again, I would. And if I could really make this scene work to my romance writer's heart, I'd turn it into a book. And I did!

Snow Drive!

To be honest, I wasn't quite sure exactly what to do with this nugget of an idea until I had coffee with my friend Dan, an unusual man who adores traveling the world by train. It's his passion. He recently returned from Switzerland, where he showed me some photos from a vacation package I never knew existed. He flew to Zurich and from there, traveled by train to St. Moritz for a luxury two-day vacation driving Aston Martins in the snow.

Oh, baby! My character for Snow Drive began to take shape. He'd take the trip, drive the spy's car...and get his own man too.

When Amber Allure's team of talented authors began tossing out ideas for PAX anthology stories, I signed up for the Man of My Dreams one. I am not afraid to laugh at myself...as long as a happy ending is involved.

And in my world, they always are.

Here's the blurb for Snow Drive... 

Hollywood script supervisor Pippo Baker has always been unlucky in love, therefore, he enjoys his fantasies. His idea of a dream man is James Bond. So when the opportunity arises to test out Aston Martins in a snow drive in St. Moritz, Switzerland, it doesn't take much for his roommate, Michael, to persuade him to throw caution to the winter winds and go. Pippo is excited about accompanying Michael on the luxury two-day extravaganza promoted by the European car company. The only drawback is that Pippo realizes too late that his holiday on ice has labeled him a "spectator only." It's the story of his life.

But then something happens, something magical and quite fitting with his dreams. He meets Scottish race car driver, Kethin Teague, on the flight to Zürich and their mutual attraction is instant. Now Pippo discovers that sometimes real men are better than the dream ones. And he's about to find out just how much better they really are in the snow-kissed mountains on his very first snow drive. 

For an excerpt and/or purchase, please click this link: 

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/SnowDrive.html

Aloha oe,

AJ

*_*_*_*

Snow Drive by A.J. Llewellyn is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

London Calling Series by Christiane France

I started this series with RAINDROPS AND ROSES:

A few hours before his flight home, Drew meets Englishman, Michael Dawson. There’s chemistry between them and lots of it. But is it real or not? With no time to find out, Drew decides to enjoy the moment. After all, they’re just ships passing in the night, right?

On August 18 the next book, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, was released:

Cal and Rob met as teenagers, hoping to make it in Hollywood. Rob became a major star; Cal a reporter for an entertainment magazine. When Cal caught Rob with another man, he threw Rob out. Now, after two years’ silence, Rob calls, wanting Cal to interview him for his magazine. Breaking up is hard, but making up can be even harder. Is it even possible?

ONE PERFECT NIGHT

This is my favorite of the four stories and will probably be released late November 2013. No cover as yet, but here’s the blurb:

Paul knew Nico was special the moment they exchanged that first glance at Termini station in Rome late one hot summer afternoon. And when it was announced their train had been cancelled and travel suspended until further notice, they explored their feelings over dinner and a night of passion in a nearby hotel. 

Early next morning, when Nico found a flight cancellation and took off, all Paul knew about him was his first name. 

Two years later, Paul hasn’t forgotten Nico and when they meet again at another train station in London the chemistry is still there. Nico believes Fate brought them together. He’s ready to close his eyes and jump. Paul believes they need to be sensible. Check the water first and then take it one step at a time.

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS ENDING is the fourth and final book and the second half of the story that started with RAINDROPS AND ROSES. It will likely be released early December 2013. Drew and Michael are still together, but only just. Michael has a couple of major problems to deal with, but rather than allow Drew to help he puts pride first and insists on doing everything his way. There are cameo appearances from Paul and Nico (One Perfect Night) who assist in solving one of the problems.

*_*_*_*

Simply Irresistible by Christiane France is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

Behind the Scenes with Carolina Valdez

Dark blue wool uniforms and white caps during the winter were a common sight on the streets of the Navy town I grew up in. Once I was the only female dining  aboard a destroyer with young officers in their summer dress whites.

My high school boyfriend was the son of a Naval commander, and I had other friends who were sailors. One football season, another senior girl and I were hired as a cheerleaders for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot team. That only lasted one season because, unlike high schoolers, they didn't cheer when we led the yells.

When I was in college, a group of friends, including sailors, drove several hours to hear me the day our concert choir performed. It was a sailor who took me on base to the Navy Exchange to purchase my first watch for nursing school. It no longer works, and these days there are better timepieces out there, but it's still in my drawer of treasured momentos.

Later, when I was in nursing school in northern California, a sailor who'd been transferred from my home town to the duty station there came to visit me.

I may have married Air Force, but perhaps you can understand why the Marines and the Navy hold a special place in my memories. And why the exploits of the Navy's SEAL teams have captured my romantic fantasies. They make the perfect heroes, don't they?

In preparing to write Make Mine A Bad Boy, I read and listened to non-fiction books written by men of SEAL Team Six, watched two SEAL interviews on TV, researched weapons and customs, and turned to the official Navy SEAL website. There I found their mottoes, which I've used in my story because they reflect the Navy's beliefs and attitudes toward these modern day warriors. These heroes among heroes.

*_*_*_*

Make Mine A Bad Boy by Carolina Valdez is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

Erupting Sexual Chemistry Between Nathaniel and Elijah by Adrianna Dane

In Knave of Hearts, Elijah and Nathaniel seem very different from each other. Nathaniel is high-powered and all about business and the end result. Elijah is all about emotion and people. Elijah’s guardian, Charles, the head of a very thriving business empire,  is dying of cancer. Elijah, a sound engineer, has returned to Seattle to be with him during his final days. He could care less about the business, he’s here for Charles, and is dealing with a range of emotions concerning the loss of his only family.

Nathaniel seems almost a mirror of Charles in that he also is the head of a thriving business. He’s come to Seattle to help assure the security of Charles’s empire as a transition of leadership must occur without incident. Nathaniel is all about the business and emotion does not play into his life. Not that he hasn’t had his share of lovers. But lovers in Nathaniel’s world usually involve an ulterior motive.

The twelves steps of intimacy rears its head at a most inopportune moment. At least for Elijah it is. His focus in on Charles and his guardian’s needs during these final days. His emotions have everything to do with love for his guardian, and nothing to do with sex or have a short-term affair to ease tensions. Until the night of Charles’ birthday party–his last. And everything changes when one man walks through the door of the hotel ballroom.

Chemistry is what erupts. Eye to body. When Nathaniel first lays on Nathaniel, not even knowing his name he is intrigued. Eye to eye. Interest sharply deepens when they come face to face a little later in the evening, but not close enough to speak. Yet eye contact is achieved. The eyes can say a great deal. Voice to voice. And when a moment of respite from the party brings Elijah to the reception area for a moment of quiet, he gets anything but peace when Nathaniel finally initiates a conversation between them.

“You’re with Charles Ballard.”

Elijah’s head shot up. He must be dreaming. He blinked. Nope, the image didn’t go away. He got to his feet in order to face the gorgeous stranger. No socialite clinging to his arm. He was making conversation with Elijah. Elijah took a deep, shuddering breath. Oh, shit. Had he ever been less prepared for an encounter than this? 

“Uh, yeah. I am.” Now what did he say? This was not the impression he wanted to make. Where was the brunette? Was he maybe just being polite by dancing with her? Oh, man. “Are you a business associate of his?” 

“You might say that. I just arrived in Seattle. I received the invitation and thought I’d stop in to the party for a bit. But as I said, I’ve only arrived in town. I was just getting ready to go back to my hotel.” 

“Oh.” Too bad. “Will you be in Seattle long?” Perhaps the question was a bit too eager. 

“A while. A few weeks at least. Perhaps a month. It will depend.” 

Too bad Elijah was leaving with Charles, so it was kind of a moot point. Though he would have liked to get to know this man better. Then a desperation to not lose the connection kicked in. He needed something normal…like a little flirtation, to keep him sane. He saw a discarded cocktail napkin on the table. He pulled a pen out of his jacket pocket, and scribbled his name and cell number. This was not something he did every day, but these seemed to be unusual circumstances. He had no idea if the guy was interested or not. If his business had anything to do with Charles directly or not. Whether he was just trying to make small talk or find out more about Charles. Frankly, it didn’t matter. Not one whit. 

“If you happen to find yourself at loose ends, why don’t you give me a call?” 

The stranger glanced at the napkin, then back at Elijah. “But you’re with Charles.” 

Elijah nodded. “Yeah. I have to leave or I’d ask if you wanted to go for a coffee. Charles is getting a little tired and he needs to get home. But maybe another time, while you’re in town. You gotta name?” 

The stranger seemed to be sizing him up. He reached out for the napkin. “I do have a name.” He glanced down at the phone number, then slipped the napkin into his breast pocket. “Elijah.” The way he said it was slow and drawn out. His tone was low, his voice soft and deep. Elijah recognized the tone. He gave Elijah a mysterious smile. “And if I decide to call, perhaps I’ll give it to you. Goodbye for now.” And then he turned and strolled away toward the front door of the hotel.

That Nathaniel, he is a smooth one all right. But don’t underestimate Elijah. He’s no pushover and he’ll give Nathaniel a run for his money–just as soon as he finds out the damned man’s name. And we still have like nine steps of intimacy to go. Oh, boy, was this story fun to write. Find out more about Knave of Hearts, part of the “Dream Man” Amberpax collection, new this week at Amber Allure.

*_*_*_*

Knave of Hearts by Adrianna Dane is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

Kentucky 98 Proof by KC Kendricks

Victor Carter knows his grandfather only from a handful of black and white photographs, so his surprise when the man’s will is read is genuine. What’s he going to do with seventy acres on the side of a Kentucky mountain? More importantly, how’s he going to survive living there for a year to satisfy the conditions of the will so he can sell the property? Even worse, it’s not like the hills of Kentucky are teeming with gay companionship.

Boone Mosely is Kentucky born and bred with a proud family heritage he can trace back to his home state’s founding. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Boone’s in his second term as sheriff of Four Points. He takes the job seriously and doesn’t suffer fools—or crime—in his town.

When city slicker Victor Carter arrives on Shepherd Mountain, Boone knows he’s got a whole new brand of trouble to deal with. And this time, the badge isn’t going to help him at all. 

Genres: Gay/Contemporary
Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Novella (34k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...Boone dropped the pickup into gear, gave the powerful four-wheel drive some gas, and swung the nose up the hill before allowing the truck to coast back onto the surface of the lane. He knew better than to try to back out the lane in the snow. “Can you feel your feet?”

“I’ve got a few pins and needles in my toes, but I’m fine. Honest. And thank you for coming to my rescue.”

“It’s my job.” Boone hoped Carter wasn’t about to get all sappy. He hated sap. It wasn’t manly. He stopped at the end of the lane, glanced at his passenger, and froze.

The blue lights of the dashboards danced in Vic’s glittering gaze as he studied Boone. That obvious speculation wouldn’t do. He’d prefer to battle his attraction to Vic without Vic correctly concluding he was gay. Getting involved with Carter was out of the question.

He was the sheriff here, with an image and a reputation to uphold. People in Four Points were in a lot of ways traditional—not intolerant, just old-fashioned. Boone wasn’t ready to come out, even though he suspected his constituents wouldn’t bat too many eyes, but if he spent a year happily screwing this guy, people would notice.

His was a high-profile position. He respected the badge he wore and the people he served. It didn’t matter how attractive Victor Carter was or that his cock was so stiff it likely had zipper marks imbedded in it right now. He’d be damned if he’d throw away a dozen years of hard work just to get his dick sucked.

Boone pressed his lips together, then snapped at Vic, “But it’s not my job to keep hauling your ass out of trouble every time I turn around. If you’re gonna be here a year, you’d better figure out a few things, and fast. And the first thing is, when I give you some advice, you need to fucking listen up.”

Vic stared at him for a few short heartbeats. “I’m sorry, Boone. You’re right.”

Boone glared at him. That was too easy. Carter was going to be in trouble every time he turned around. He checked to make sure the pickup was in four-high and third gear and drove forward into the swirling snow.

Give the man credit, Vic didn’t chatter at him while he drove through the squall. Visibility was low, and he needed to concentrate. Even though he knew the roads and where the intersections were, he still had difficulty seeing. Carter would have gotten himself well and truly lost driving around the mountain in this weather. Boone slowed as the lighted sign of the motor lodge glowed red in front of him.

“Which room are you in?”

“Last one on the end. Better for the dog.”

Huh. That made sense. Boone took his foot off the gas pedal and drifted into the parking space. Vic jumped out before he had the truck in park, slipped and landed flat on his ass.

The idiot.

Boone cut the engine and climbed out of the cab at a safer speed. With one gloved hand on the front end of the truck, he walked around to the passenger side and found Vic leaning against the front tire. “You okay?”

“My pride is severely bruised.”

“I can just imagine.” Boone reached out to give Vic a hand up.

As Vic got to his feet, he brushed his jeans off.

“Thanks.”

“You said that. Get inside before your dog starts to bark and the manager yells at me.”

Vic’s gaze seemed focused on the motel office. “The room has a coffee pot if you want to come in and warm up.”

Holy mother of… Wouldn’t that be the stupidest thing he’d done in years?

“Sure. I could do with a cup.”

Who the fuck said that?

Vic looked surprised and straightened. “Ranger needs to…”

Boone recovered a bit of his equilibrium. “I’ll take him around the side of the building. You get your ass inside. I want a good look at your head, and if I say we’re going to the clinic and wake up Doc Martin, you’re not going to argue with me.”

“Yes, sir. I hear you loud and clear.” Vic opened the side door of the pickup, and Ranger leaped to the ground. As soon as his paws hit the pavement, he jumped and hit Vic square in the chest. Boone lunged to catch Vic before he fell again, but ended up in the snow with him. Could this man be more trouble?

“I’m sorry, Boone! Ranger! Leave off!”

“Sorry my ass, Carter. Sorry ain’t good enough for this little misadventure...”

*_*_*_*

Kentucky 98 Proof by KC Kendricks is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

LATEST PAX RELEASE - Dream Man

Visit the links to take advantage of our

Dream Man An AmberPax™ Collection of Gay Erotic Romance by Various Authors  Genre: Gay (M/M) Erotic Romance  Cover Copyright ©2012 by Trace Edward Zaber

Included in this collection of erotic romance...
(For more information on each title, or to purchase separately, click on the book covers below!)

Kentucky 98 Proof by KC Kendricksz Extended Novella (Gay)

Knave of Hearts by Adrianna Dane Novella (Gay)

Make Mine a Bad Boy by Carolina Valdez Novella (Gay)

Simply Irresistible by Christiane France Novella (Gay)

Snow Drive by A.J. Llewellyn Novella (Gay)

  In conjunction with our newest release, we will be having a giveaway! Starting tomorrow, leave a comment on any post made during the week (8/19-8/23), and you'll be eligible to win the entire pax collection. A winner will be picked at random on Saturday from all comments received.

Snow Drive by A.J. Llewellyn

Hollywood script supervisor Pippo Baker has always been unlucky in love, therefore, he enjoys his fantasies. His idea of a dream man is James Bond. So when the opportunity arises to test out Aston Martins in a snow drive in St. Moritz, Switzerland, it doesn't take much for his roommate, Michael, to persuade him to throw caution to the winter winds and go. Pippo is excited about accompany Michael on the luxury two-day extravaganza promoted by the European car company. The only drawback is that Pippo realizes too late that his holiday on ice has labeled him a "spectator only." It's the story of his life.

But then something happens, something magical and quite fitting with his dreams. He meets Scottish race car driver, Kethin Teague, on the flight to Zürich and their mutual attraction is instant. Now Pippo discovers that sometimes real men are better than the dream ones. And he's about to find out just how much better they really are in the snow-kissed mountains on his very first snow drive. 

Genres: Gay/Contemporary/The Arts/Action/Adventure
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (21k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...Our tickets turned out to be the cheapest ones Michael could possibly have bought. I tried not to mind, but I did. The carriage itself wasn’t bad. It was quite elegant and the huge windows indicated we’d been seeing some scenery on our way. I hoped. I wondered how nice the more expensive carriages were and was surprised when the steward allowed us to pay for an upgrade to the first class carriage.

Otherwise we would have been traveling third class! I’d begun to think of Michael as being my own personal Fred Mertz. Yeah. Ricky and Lucy had entrusted him to book their European train travel and they’d wound up in a tiny row of seats with Ethel sleeping across them.

We quickly changed carriages. This was a lot more like it. I made a mental note to one day take the trip I’d always planned, on the Orient Express. We had a wonderful compartment and the seats here were roomy and lush and, oh joy, we could eat. Our steward told us restaurant reservations were full, but we could order from our seats. We each wanted coffee, croissants and fruit. The menu featured images of a local TV chef called Studi. Apparently, the food items were his creation. If he had anything at all to do with hot, buttery, flaky croissants we demolished then he’d just won himself two new fans.

We knew the train trip would be broken into two segments. We’d travel to Chur, where we would stop for about an hour, then the last hour and a half to St. Moritz, our steward assured us, was the most picturesque in the whole of Europe.

I didn’t have much with which to compare it, but I had to say I’d never seen anything as stunning as the snowcapped mountains and rolling meadows that we saw. It made me want to burst out singing “The Sound of Music.”

We moved about the carriage, trying to get the best view. We were like a pair of little kids. I was so busy staring at the passing scenery I didn’t notice Kethin until I bumped into him.

“Well, well, well,” he said. “The disappearing man.” He caught me in his arms and hurtled me into a compartment beside us, closing the door on the world. He slammed me against the wall.

“Where did you get to last night?” He was staring at my lips and I kept hoping he’d kiss me.

“You fell asleep.”

“I was tired and you took too long in the bathroom.”

“True. I thought about staying.”

“You should have woken me.”

“I tried.”

“How hard?” He was grinning now, dipping in, giving me sweet little kisses. He made me think of hummingbirds.

“Not very hard. You seemed so peaceful.” I grabbed his head and held him to me. “I’ll try and do better now.” I saw the surprised look in his eyes as I planted a big ol’ kiss on him. He recovered quickly, moving his hands up my sweater. Boy, we were moving fast.

He broke off our embrace. “Do I have you to thank for that supersonic shower this morning?” he asked against my lips.

I burst out laughing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to fix it.”

“You’re not sorry.” He fumbled with the top button on my pants. “I could have drowned. And then you’d have nobody to drive with tomorrow.” He kissed me again.

“I’m a spectator only.” There, I’d finally said it.

He frowned, then concentrated on undressing me. He seemed frustrated by the time he reached the zipper and began lowering my nice, sexy black cords.

“I’ll make sure you do more than watch,” he said, yanking down my pants. I felt his breath as he got to his knees. I could see Switzerland flying by in a blur... 

Simply Irresistible by Christiane France

When Cal and Rob first met, they were star-struck, wet-behind-the-ears teenagers who thought all it took to make it in Hollywood was a great body and good looks. Cal eventually gave up the dream and became a reporter for an entertainment magazine, while Rob went on to become a major motion picture star.

Over the next few years, they broke up and got back together a dozen or more times. Then Rob hit a bad patch when Cal caught him with another man and kicked him out. Now, almost two years have passed without a word. Cal has no idea if Rob is even dead or alive, until Rob calls Cal’s boss out of the blue and offers to do an interview—on condition that Cal flies to England where Rob is living so they can talk face-to-face.

Because of their personal history, Cal knows he’s the best person to interview Rob, and so does his boss. But since Cal is still in love with the man, will the trip to London result in even more heartbreak?

NOTE: This story is part of the London Calling series.

Genres: Gay/Contemporary/The Arts/Series
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (19k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...My back was to the door, and I didn’t hear it open. The only the warning I received of Rob’s presence was a whiff of his signature cologne. I turned to find him standing less than a foot away. I had no idea how long he’d been there.

He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and I noticed he’d put on weight since the last time I saw him. Back then, he was thin as a rail, so the extra pounds were a big improvement. Apart from a few strands of silver in his otherwise dark brown hair, he looked pretty much the way he had before he’d started drinking liquor out of the bottle instead of a glass. For that I was glad.

“Hi.”

We both said it at the same time, then laughed. In spite of everything and my determination to keep my distance, I hoped he’d close the gap, take me in his arms and hug me as long and as hard as I wanted to hug him. I couldn’t believe it didn’t happen, and I didn’t understand why.

What was he waiting for? Rob and I were soul mates; two halves of a whole.

A tic started in my neck. My chest felt tight, I was having trouble with my breathing, and my cock was making its wants known by pressing hard against the zipper of my pants. This was ridiculous. The feelings were still there between us as hot and as strong as the day we first met. No matter what had happened in the past, or what promises I’d made about not getting involved again, I knew it wouldn’t take long before we forgot the unimportant things. We still wanted one another. No matter how we might pretend otherwise, it was as simple as that. We wanted to rip off our clothes, jump into the nearest bed and fuck our brains out.

At least that’s what I thought, until I noticed the tight, humorless smile on Rob’s face. The smile that said hell would freeze over before anything like that happened between us.

Then I remembered this was business. I was here in my professional capacity and at his insistence. If he’d brought me here for any reason other than the interview, it would be up to him to make the first move. And that showed no sign of happening any time soon.

My joy at seeing him again and every emotion I’d felt dissipated, fast. I should have expected something like this. It was almost two years since we’d split for good, and life moved on. His certainly had. He was back in England, living what appeared to be a very nice life in a better than average house. At a guess, I’d say he’d found someone new. He’d never liked living alone. But whatever! His personal life was no longer my concern.

I watched as he trailed a finger along the edge of the library table and wondered what he was thinking.

“So, when did you arrive? I expected you this morning.” His tone was cool, polite, and slightly chiding, like a doctor or a teacher letting you know you’d failed them in some way.

I explained about the unexpected length of the stopover in New York and then sleeping in until noon. I didn’t feel like apologizing, so I didn’t. None of it was my fault.

“Well, at least you’re here now.”

Rob hesitated, as if he didn’t know what to say next. Our final parting had been far from amicable. Things had been said that weren’t easily forgotten. In spite of that and the fact I was here on assignment and not as a friend, a brief hug would have cleared the air a little. But the moment had passed, and it was too late for that now.

“It’s nice to see you, Cal. I appreciate you coming over. How have you been? Well, I trust.”

I took a mental and then a physical step back. I hadn’t expected this to be easy. I knew meeting again was bound to feel a little awkward, maybe even downright difficult. If Rob thought we could avoid all that by keeping things formal, I wasn’t about to argue. Going by our history it was probably for the best... 

Make Mine a Bad Boy by Carolina Valdez

You Were Born To Excel. Permission Granted is the enticing invitation on the Navy SEAL website. Lieutenant Shane Powell took that permission at face value, proving his excellence and earning a place on the foremost of the counter-terrorism special warfare SEAL teams. When traumatic physical injuries sustained in battle robbed him of the hard-earned excellence necessary for his job, however, he left the Navy. He slipped away, cutting ties with everyone he knew there to wrestle alone with his emotional turmoil.

Lieutenant Michael Fremont, Shane’s SEAL teammate and secret lover, is deeply hurt by the sudden silence and unexplained, abrupt end to their personal relationship. His search to locate the man he loves to demand answers turns up nothing, until a chance encounter brings about a reunion Shane resists.

Mike would be satisfied with a simple return to a platonic friendship if Shane isn’t up to anything more. But SEALs never leave a buddy behind, and Mike will not allow his former lover to withdraw from the wider world.

But considering Shane’s resistance to him, Mike’s success is up for grabs... 

Genres: Gay/Contemporary/Action/Adventure
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (21k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...Judging from this guy now, if he was military, he was due for a regulation shave and haircut. If he was Delta, it wasn’t surprising these partiers were drawn to him. They were responding to a confidence and bearing that tagged him as a leader; a man’s man—the kind every man wanted to be, but too many were not. Since presence on any of the counter-terrorism teams was top secret, no one here except Shane would guess what he did for a living.

“Hey, bartender, you awake or what?”

The waiter was waving an order ticket under his nose. Mango shots this time.

“Sorry, had a mind fuck.”

On impulse, he pulled two dark, frosty bottles of a certain light beer from the refrigerator, popped the lids and slid the drinks, without napkins, to the waiter. “While I make these shots, take these to the man in leather who just hit the door.”

“He hasn’t ordered anything.”

“Tell him compliments of the bar.”

“Woo-hoo,” the waiter said, as he raised his eyebrows.

“Not what you’re thinking. I don’t even know the guy. I’m guessing I may know something about him, though.”

“That he’s gay? Well, that would be a major surprise.” He rolled his eyes.

Zekeal glared at Shane like he was stealing from the till.

He dug in his pocket, pulled some bills out of his money clip and handed them over. “On me.” Then, in response to the big question mark in his look, he shrugged. “His response will answer a question for me.”

“Shit, maybe you’ll let me in on it sometime,” Zekeal said.

“May be.” Shane made it two words as he smiled and reached for the mango ingredients. This was fun, and his pathetic life could use a little more fun.

“Aren’t you gonna pour them?” the waiter asked.

“These aren’t draft, and you think he’s a glass kinda person? I’ll lay you a bet he drinks straight from the bottle. You watch. If he sends you back for a glass, I’ll slip you a ten.”

“Shit, I get the feeling that’s a wager I don’t need to take.” He laughed as he loaded his tray and swung away.

This was a big party, and the orders rolled in faster and faster. Shane forgot about the man in leathers wearing the special boots. It must’ve been almost an hour before he noticed they’d run out of lemon and lime slices. As he crouched down to pull fresh ones from the small refrigerator below the bar, he heard bottles clunk down on the black marble top above. He rose, ready to ream out the waiter for not depositing them in the recycle basket, when he heard a voice, rich with surprise.

Memories of tumbled sheets, heat and sweat after sex flooded Shane. He straightened and looked up.

Time stopped.

The throaty voice said, “Son of a bitch. That you, Ace?”

His heart constricted and his gut clenched so hard he thought he’d lose his dinner. His hands shook with fine tremors. It was all he could do to set down the glass bowls filled with the citrus slices without breaking them.

Zekeal’s voice cut through his shock. “I think maybe the guy’s talking to you, Shane.”

Shane looked into the smiling face of the man who light years ago, it seemed, had always had his back and who eventually saved his ass. He’d also been his secret lover... 

Knave of Hearts by Adrianna Dane

Nathaniel Diamond, head of a corporate restructuring consultancy firm, is as hard as his last name suggests when it comes to sealing the deal. In his personal life, broken hearts are nothing more than collateral damage, and business is his sole priority. Until, that is, he meets his new client’s right-hand man, Elijah Gentry.

Elijah returned home to Seattle out of love and respect for his guardian, Charles Ballard, head of Ballard Holdings Worldwide, who is dying. Charles hired Nathaniel to help secure his financial legacy, and Elijah is expected to aid him. Although Elijah has a grasp of the business, his true passion lies in Los Angeles with his sound editing career, not with Ballard Holdings. Eventually, he plans to return to L.A., away from the world of high finance and dog-eat-dog corporate politics.

When Elijah and Nathaniel first meet, they are strangers. Well, almost. Nathaniel knows Elijah’s type, and he plans to use the man to get intimate and necessary information Elijah might not share otherwise in order to do his job. But Elijah is not quite the easy target Nathaniel expects, and soon the games begin.

Sex and power quickly tangle in this high-stakes game of corporate politics. Will either man emerge heart-whole from their encounter? Or does destiny have another set of plans for these two very different men? 

Genres: Gay/Contemporary
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (21k words) 

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...“Something on your mind?” Nathaniel asked.

Elijah’s gaze raked over Nathaniel. Nathaniel found the look surprisingly arousing. There was business, and then there was…something else.

“Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

“I thought you knew. And that you were just trying to play coy,” Nathaniel responded.

“I’ve been busy. I didn’t take time to look up your picture. I read your company prospectus and reviewed your CV. There are other people to check out the specifics.”

“I expect so,” Nathaniel said noncommittally. He sensed Elijah’s rising anger. The flush in his face could have been easily taken for some other emotion. And frankly, that excited him.

“You tried to play me that night and I don’t appreciate it.”

“Tell me, Mr. Gentry. Would you want someone less…vigilant to be working with your…guardian? I need to know everything about everybody attached to him and this company in order to do my job properly.”

“That doesn’t include coming on to me.”

“Doesn’t it?

The flare of color deepened to bright red in Elijah’s cheeks, his eyes licked fire. He was a passionate man, not quite like Charles at all. Charles was more like Nathaniel. He understood the need for level-headedness in business. One couldn’t get emotional. Elijah was different. Very different. And very attractive exuding all that passion.

“Don’t try to use me, Mr. Diamond. I don’t use well. Don’t underestimate me.”

“I never underestimate anyone. Now, how about dinner tonight?”

Tables turned. Always expect the unexpected in the business world. Elijah’s gaze widened.

“What?” The invitation seemed to have taken Elijah completely off-guard. And that’s the way Nathaniel liked things.

“If you don’t have other plans, of course,” he said mildly, keeping a reasonable, even tone. “There are questions I have and right now I want to get acclimated to your offices. I need to meet with members of my team who are flying in today. But later, I’d like to sit down with you and go over a few things, like your organizational chart and your opinion on several of the satellite companies. I’d like your take on those in line for the CEO position.”

Nathaniel saw a war of emotions cross Elijah’s expression. Keeping him off-center might take some work, but he already knew from Saturday night, the man was interested in him sexually.

“I don’t quite know what your game is,” Elijah said. He eyed Nathaniel silently for a moment. And then he folded. Nathaniel saw the acceptance in his eyes, the frustrated sight, the slight sag of his shoulders. “All right. I’m here to do what Charles needs done and to make it easier for him. If this is the way you want to play it, all right then, that’s how we’ll do it. Dinner tonight.”

Nathaniel nodded. “The Sorrento at eight, shall we say?”

“Fine. At eight. You have a phone directory accessible to you. If you need anything or anyone to help you get set up, you can call my assistant. She’ll handle it. I’ve got things to attend to.”

“I’ll call you if I need anything.” He didn’t remind Elijah that he was already in possession of his private cell number, from the napkin the other evening. No point in rubbing it in at this point.

Elijah stopped up short before getting on the elevator. He pivoted back to look at Nathaniel. It was an appraising look that Nathaniel couldn’t help but appreciate. He was certainly no pushover. Charles had taught him well. “You do that.”

He turned and stepped into the elevator and the doors slid closed. The confrontation had Nathaniel’s blood pumping in a very similar manner as to when he was about to attack a new, especially exhilarating project. But he’d never felt that way on acquiring a new lover. This was different. Stimulating in a way he wasn’t used to experiencing.

He certainly looked forward to his next encounter with Elijah Gentry, and couldn’t help wondering if negotiations would end up finding them in bed together before the night was over.

His body responded enthusiastically to that intriguing possibility. But he tamped that down, shut the emotional tap off and turned to the business at hand. And that was something he was very good at doing. Turning toward the office, he noticed Gloria was on the phone and waving to him frantically.

Elijah Gentry would be no match for him. Nathaniel was certain he’d soon have the man exactly where he wanted him... 

Kentucky 98 Proof by KC Kendricks

Victor Carter knows his grandfather only from a handful of black and white photographs, so his surprise when the man’s will is read is genuine. What’s he going to do with seventy acres on the side of a Kentucky mountain? More importantly, how’s he going to survive living there for a year to satisfy the conditions of the will so he can sell the property? Even worse, it’s not like the hills of Kentucky are teeming with gay companionship.

Boone Mosely is Kentucky born and bred with a proud family heritage he can trace back to his home state’s founding. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Boone’s in his second term as sheriff of Four Points. He takes the job seriously and doesn’t suffer fools—or crime—in his town.

When city slicker Victor Carter arrives on Shepherd Mountain, Boone knows he’s got a whole new brand of trouble to deal with. And this time, the badge isn’t going to help him at all. 

Genres: Gay/Contemporary
Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Novella (34k words) 

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...Boone dropped the pickup into gear, gave the powerful four-wheel drive some gas, and swung the nose up the hill before allowing the truck to coast back onto the surface of the lane. He knew better than to try to back out the lane in the snow. “Can you feel your feet?”

“I’ve got a few pins and needles in my toes, but I’m fine. Honest. And thank you for coming to my rescue.”

“It’s my job.” Boone hoped Carter wasn’t about to get all sappy. He hated sap. It wasn’t manly. He stopped at the end of the lane, glanced at his passenger, and froze.

The blue lights of the dashboards danced in Vic’s glittering gaze as he studied Boone. That obvious speculation wouldn’t do. He’d prefer to battle his attraction to Vic without Vic correctly concluding he was gay. Getting involved with Carter was out of the question.

He was the sheriff here, with an image and a reputation to uphold. People in Four Points were in a lot of ways traditional—not intolerant, just old-fashioned. Boone wasn’t ready to come out, even though he suspected his constituents wouldn’t bat too many eyes, but if he spent a year happily screwing this guy, people would notice.

His was a high-profile position. He respected the badge he wore and the people he served. It didn’t matter how attractive Victor Carter was or that his cock was so stiff it likely had zipper marks imbedded in it right now. He’d be damned if he’d throw away a dozen years of hard work just to get his dick sucked.

Boone pressed his lips together, then snapped at Vic, “But it’s not my job to keep hauling your ass out of trouble every time I turn around. If you’re gonna be here a year, you’d better figure out a few things, and fast. And the first thing is, when I give you some advice, you need to fucking listen up.”

Vic stared at him for a few short heartbeats. “I’m sorry, Boone. You’re right.”

Boone glared at him. That was too easy. Carter was going to be in trouble every time he turned around. He checked to make sure the pickup was in four-high and third gear and drove forward into the swirling snow.

Give the man credit, Vic didn’t chatter at him while he drove through the squall. Visibility was low, and he needed to concentrate. Even though he knew the roads and where the intersections were, he still had difficulty seeing. Carter would have gotten himself well and truly lost driving around the mountain in this weather. Boone slowed as the lighted sign of the motor lodge glowed red in front of him.

“Which room are you in?”

“Last one on the end. Better for the dog.”

Huh. That made sense. Boone took his foot off the gas pedal and drifted into the parking space. Vic jumped out before he had the truck in park, slipped and landed flat on his ass.

The idiot.

Boone cut the engine and climbed out of the cab at a safer speed. With one gloved hand on the front end of the truck, he walked around to the passenger side and found Vic leaning against the front tire. “You okay?”

“My pride is severely bruised.”

“I can just imagine.” Boone reached out to give Vic a hand up.

As Vic got to his feet, he brushed his jeans off.

“Thanks.”

“You said that. Get inside before your dog starts to bark and the manager yells at me.”

Vic’s gaze seemed focused on the motel office. “The room has a coffee pot if you want to come in and warm up.”

Holy mother of… Wouldn’t that be the stupidest thing he’d done in years?

“Sure. I could do with a cup.”

Who the fuck said that?

Vic looked surprised and straightened. “Ranger needs to…”

Boone recovered a bit of his equilibrium. “I’ll take him around the side of the building. You get your ass inside. I want a good look at your head, and if I say we’re going to the clinic and wake up Doc Martin, you’re not going to argue with me.”

“Yes, sir. I hear you loud and clear.” Vic opened the side door of the pickup, and Ranger leaped to the ground. As soon as his paws hit the pavement, he jumped and hit Vic square in the chest. Boone lunged to catch Vic before he fell again, but ended up in the snow with him. Could this man be more trouble?

“I’m sorry, Boone! Ranger! Leave off!”

“Sorry my ass, Carter. Sorry ain’t good enough for this little misadventure...”