What Are AmberPax™ Collections?

Simply put, AmberPax™ Collections are groups of five stories centered around a specific theme. Each story within an AmberPax™ is released individually, on the same day as the others, and can be purchased separately, but these five stories can also be purchased as a single unit (the full AmberPax™) at a discount, currently 25%. Generally, an AmberPax™ is similar to an "anthology" of stories, but instead of the titles being released in only a single volume (file), they are also available individually. These AmberPax™ Collections are sold exclusively through our website and only in electronic format.

THIS BLOG is for news about the Pax Collections - follow it to keep up with releases, find early news of the upcoming collections, and share Pax fun and chat with the authors!

All Amber Paxes can be bought at Amber Quill HERE.

Saturday 26 July 2014

Risky Business giveaway winner

Thanks so much for hanging out with us this week, but since it's Saturday, t's time to pick the winner for the Risky Business pax!

And the winner is...

Lee Todd!

Please contact me at vivien_dean@yahoo.com, so we can get your books out to you.

Don't forget to check back with us in August when our winter-themed pax, Winter Games, will be all ready to heat you up. See you then!

Friday 25 July 2014

Dancing on the Edge of a Blade by Sean Michael

I have to admit, I was watching the winter Olympics when Isaiah showed up in my head, dragging Braxton along with him. The speed skaters have always fascinated me with their skin suits and their speed. I love the way they let their bodies become almost horizontal to the ice when they go around the corners. 

It’s a sport where all it takes is one slight slip-up, one touch to another skater and boom an eight man race suddenly has only two in contention for the top spots. You can go from last place to first in the blink of an eye, whether from a fall or through sheer staying power. 

And let’s face it, I do love how all those muscles are on display in those skin-tight aerodynamic bodysuits they wear. And I love how they are called skin suits, because they do fit like a second skin.

Isaiah and Braxton are world-class speed skaters. Barely spending a moment apart, they train together, eat together, and fool around together. Both on and off the ice, they’re each other’s biggest rivals and best friends.

When a nasty accident leaves Braxton unable to skate for at least six weeks, he becomes Isaiah’s biggest supporter. But more than that, the accident also opens their eyes as to how they really feel about each other, and just maybe it’ll give them more than it takes away...


Somewhat Naughty Excerpt:

“Mmm. My turn.” Ice grabbed his hand, licked his fingers clean.

The licks went straight to his cock, making him groan. Okay, so there were some definite advantages to having sticky fingers.

They pushed the containers away, then leaned in together, sharing a sloppy, lazy kiss. They weren’t going to get up to any sort of acrobatics, not as tired as they both were, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have fun getting each other off.

Ice settled along the back of the sofa, and Brax ended up on his back, Ice against his side. Sucking on Ice’s tongue, he tugged at the tight turtleneck, pulling it out of Ice’s jeans.

“Mmm.” Ice’s leg rubbed against his.

“Uh-huh.”

His fingers finally found flesh, sliding on Ice’s amazing abs. God, Ice was ripped. He wanted to lick his way down and worship every inch. Another night, when he hadn’t skated his ass off. Tonight, he just wanted to touch and rub off and fall asleep tangled up with his best friend.

Ice moaned and wrapped his hand around his package through his jeans, the touch slow and easy.

“Oh yeah.” He nodded, fingers sneaking up to pull at Ice’s nips in thanks.

“Mmmhmm. Jeans now, Doll.”

“Pushy.” He dragged his fingers back down along Ice’s body.

“Shit, I just know when I shoot I’ll be all stupid.”

“Only when you shoot?” Brax couldn’t resist the tease, but he knew there wasn’t a selfish bone in Ice’s body—not even the one between Ice’s legs.

“Shut up.”

His laughter caught in his throat as Isaiah’s leg pushed between his, nudging up against his balls.

“Love how you smell, Doll.” Isaiah said those kinds of things and they made his balls ache.

Brax swore softly. “Fuck.” He got their jeans undone, open, his fingers fumbling badly, like they’d forgotten how to work.

“Uh-huh.” Isaiah pulled his shirt off, and that amazing red hair that had been hidden beneath tracksuit and winter hat all day suddenly went wild.

Brax wrapped one hand in it, pulling Isaiah down for another kiss, this one with a little more energy behind it. He loved the little surprised sound, the hungry groan. He pushed up, their cocks sliding together and hitting denim and zippers, too. Oh yeah, jeans open was not the same thing as jeans off.


Sean Michael
smut fixes everything
www.seanmichaelwrites.com

*_*_*

Silver Edges by Sean Michael 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!

Thursday 24 July 2014

Rainy Days and Mondays by A.J. Llewellyn

Readers always ask me where I get story ideas. I've made no secret of the fact that I strip-mine my own life and that of any friends and family members who'll let me (and even the ones who don't). 

In January of this year I went to my beloved Hawaii to meet three generations of my family. I couldn't have gone at a more expensive time in the islands. I had no idea that Martin Luther King Jr. Day was bang-slap in the middle of an extended four-day holiday and booking accommodations was impossible.

I'd never seen the island of Oahu so packed. In fact, the traffic in Waikiki is getting worse by the day. It took me close to an hour getting from one end of the town to the other. Normally it takes maybe fifteen minutes.

By the time I found my rented room, it was slim pickin's on the island.

I have to explain here…I booked and paid for a place in plenty of time but it was an Internet scam. Yep. I lost all my money. Never thought it would happen to me. I share a house in Hawaii with my two cousins but the place has been rented for some time now so that wasn't an option. Neither was my brother's hotel - the $1,000 a night Trump Waikiki. My family members all had lush digs. My 83-year-old aunt called the sumptuous Moana Hotel home for the holiday.

Me, I found a place in Hawaii Kai on AirBnB that was so horrendous I not only became deathly ill with a recurring bout of bronchitis but I still have nightmares about the landlady.

On the surface, the place was clean but that was the problem. I wasn't allowed to touch or use anything, especially the TV and the kitchen. I went cold turkey on the idiot box. I may never get over the knowledge that I am addicted to that damned thing.

The landlady was such a crackpot obsessed with teak and with spying on her tenants, that she seemed to begging to be ripped to shreds in a book. She had a particular fetish with i comings and goings - especially when she found out I write romance novels. When I went to speak at a Sisters in Crime meeting I was afraid she would turn up and embarrass me.

But she was too busy punishing the other tenants in her condo.

During my 11 days with this weirdo, one of her guests vanished. I called the police and the ensuing investigation and all the stuff that went on provided huge fodder for Rainy Days and Mondays, my contemporary mystery just released with Amber Allure as part of the "Risky Business" Amber PAX™ Collection.

It was the perfect backdrop, all of this to my angsty tale…

When Mike deCosta arrives in Honolulu in search of his missing brother, Luca, his own life is a mess. His ex-boyfriend still has a hold on him, and Luca seems to have made the same mistakes with his abusive ex-lover, Greg. Not only did Luca take Greg back into his life, but moved to Honolulu with him in search of Greg’s dreams. And now, Luca’s been gone for four days and it was the couple’s crazy, drug-addled landlady who reported him missing. Not Greg. And now, Greg has vanished, too.

Keanu Māhoe is a private investigator and former cop whose specialty is tracing people who’ve come from the mainland and slipped through the cracks of Hawaiian society. He’s immediately attracted to Mike when they meet on the flight from Los Angeles, and the man’s haunting sadness makes Keanu want to reach out and help him. Keanu wants to show Mike the aloha way of life, the value of rainy days and Mondays...the other side of paradise.


Excerpt: 

...Keanu grinned suddenly. “Greg might be an ass, but he’s got good taste in music. We’re meeting at the Melissa Hotel to hear John Cruz performing. He’s a really great Hawaiian musician.”

That gave Mike some comfort. Maybe Greg would be forced to cough up what he knew.

What a pity that the rack has been outlawed. I would love to torture the truth out of that guy…

The ad really bothered him. “It just doesn’t sound like my brother. He’s a romantic, like me. He isn’t the type to go looking for a threesome, or a rich guy.”

“Does it sound like Greg?” Keanu asked.

“Yeah, unfortunately it does.” Mike tried not to brood.

The waiter rushed over, bringing everybody’s checks, and gave Mike a sweet smile. “Your breakfast is on the house. We all wish you much aloha and good luck finding your brother.”

Mike thanked the man and left him a huge tip. Maybe he’d get to like this island after all…

He drove with Keanu once more, the others following in their carpooled vehicles. Mike made a quick call to the Jensen car rental agency and they let him know his car was safe, but he’d still be charged whether he drove the car out of there or not. He hadn’t expected not to be charged.

With a pang, he remembered that Liam had texted him. He hadn’t returned the message.

Being here gave him the freedom not to feel the need to jump every time Liam contacted him.

“You okay?” Keanu asked as they joined the flow of traffic onto the H1 Freeway. Within a few short stops he saw a sign saying Pali Highway and they left the freeway. It turned out to be a pretty, wide-spaced, verdant street with majestic trees on either side and a towering set of emerald green cliffs ahead of them.

“That’s it. The Nu’uanu Pali,” Keanu said.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yes it is. It has quite a presence to it, in spite of its deadly history.”

“Or maybe because of it,” Mike remarked.

“Quite possibly. It’s interesting that you say that. I have an uncle who conducts ghost tours of the island every night and he brings folk up here. All tourists of course. The other night I came because I had a date who wanted to go.” He suddenly blushed. “Well, the guy freaked out when we got to the Pali Lookout.”

“Why?”

“Well, I always thought Uncle’s tours were a joke, but we stood at the lookout and I swear he was taking photos with his cell phone camera and all these blue dots floated across the screen. Uncle said they were paranormal ectoplasm. When the photo came out, we saw the distinct image of a young woman’s face.”

Mike stared at him. “For real?”

“Yeah. Killed the romantic mood.”

For some reason this made Mike the happiest he’d been in days. Keanu was a sexy man. Definitely his type. Meeting under these circumstances was lousy as hell, but sheesh, if he had to be here searching for his missing brother, what a hot guy to be doing it with.

Mike experienced feelings of attraction he hadn’t had for a long time...

*_*_*

What was the worst vacation YOU ever had? I'm keen to know. Please leave a comment. At the end of this week one lucky reader will win a copy of all five stories in the "Risky Business" Amber PAX™ Collection.

For more information and/or purchase, please click this link: http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/1999-Rainy-Days-And-Mondays.aspx

Aloha oe,
A.J.

Wednesday 23 July 2014

Never the Perfect Moment by K-lee Klein

Never the Perfect Moment is a love story about best friends who just happen to work together. Friends to lovers is a trope I really like. I think it's the fact the characters have previous history other than romantic so know each other's little quirks, annoyances, and possible eccentricities already.

It's a different kind of intimacy when a love relationship starts with so much knowledge and can be a very familiar, comfortable transition. But at the same time there is the fear that should the romantic aspect of the relationship fail, something even more important may be lost—the friendship. That apprehension can also be compounded and more confusing when one friend has never been with a man before.

Those fears and concerns are exactly what Bryan has to deal with in Never the Perfect Moment. He loves Chrys as his SWAT partner and the best friend he's ever had. But he feels an even more powerful love, as well, the kind he's pushed to the back of his mind and heart, at least until a near tragedy occurs. 

Sometimes almost losing what you hold closest to your heart makes you realize fear is no excuse for not taking a risk in order to get what you really want.

*_*_*

Never the Perfect Moment by K-lee Klein 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!

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Adventures in Fan Conventions by Jamie Craig

Eight years ago, Pepper and I "met" online. We'd known of each other for several years, but it took an online roleplaying community for us to start interacting and become friends. What kind of roleplaying was it? 

The kind generated by a cult TV show. Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

So when Pepper came to me with the idea about writing a story that takes place at a fan convention, I jumped at it. Being fans is what we know best. We've both attended fan cons, just like Ryan in Between the Shadow and the Soul, though unfortunately not together. We've both had the chance to sit in on Q&As about our favorite TV shows, stand in long lines in wait for that thirty seconds of seeing our celebrity crush in person, and congregate with other fans to dish about all our favorite parts of the show. Getting into Ryan's head was easy.

Because fan conventions? So much fun. Being surrounded by people who love something as much as you do is always intense, and when you toss in the adrenaline created from the anticipation of getting up close and personal with the stars, your weekend gets even more memorable. The first time I met James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy, I was tongue-tied. If it hadn't been for my husband standing behind me, I would've walked away without ever uttering a word. 

Pepper's first experience was far better than mine. She met Danny Strong, Jonathan from Buffy. He was just sitting in the general signing area with some girl, charging for autographs but not for pictures. Pepper said, "I'm really nervous," at which point he laughed and said, "Don't be, she's just like you and me." At which point he agreed to take a picture, because yes, he really is that sweet.

Ryan's first introduction to Johnny is just as memorable. He arrives in Tahoe for the first annual Shadows and Souls convention to discover the con hotel has lost his room registration. Unwilling to try a different hotel and miss out on a lot of the socializing he's looking forward to, he waits in the lobby in case something opens up. When Johnny, his favorite star from the show, arrives and says he only needs one of the two rooms he had reserved, Ryan leaps forward to make sure he doesn't miss out on the chance to snag the empty suite. That starts them on what turns out to be a weekend filled with hot kisses, angry ghosts, and reeling passions, but if you want to know the specifics, you'll have to read the story and find out.

So tell us. Have you ever been to a fan convention? Is there an actor or celebrity you're dying to meet? Share your best fan stories in the comments!


*_*_*

Between the Shadow and the Soul by Jamie Craig 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!

Monday 21 July 2014

Gothic literature and more from Andre by D.J. Manly

The idea of eternal love spanning centuries, despite all the odds against it is pretty hard to resist for the reader, as well as for the writer. Add a couple of hot males, some devious witchcraft, a curse, and whoa…you've got the makings of a great story. Did I mention hot sex, passion, and a pretty impressive vampire? The Gothic, the dark, the beautiful, the haunting, the sex, and the tragic, Andre has all those elements.

So, just what is Gothic literature anyway and why is it so seductive?  Loosely, it is a literary style characterized by gloom, the grotesque, and the supernatural. It became especially popular in the late 18th century. More specifically, gothic horror is fiction that combines horror and Romanticism. Its origin is attributed to an English author named Horace Walpole. In 1763, he published the novel The Castle of Otranto. The Gothic was very popular among readers in the second half of the 18th century and also in the 19th as witnessed by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Not to mention, around this time, came Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The name Gothic refers to the (pseudo)-medieval buildings in which many of these stories take place. Even though the genre's height of popularity lies in the past, the Gothic is still alive and well. Take the recent television series Penny Dreadful, for example, which draws on all these gothic elements.  Penny Dreadful is actually named for a series of stories.

I've always loved Gothic literature, be it combined with the paranormal or simply melodramatic romance, like in Bronte's Wuthering Heights. I love vampire movies and Dracula, especially when the stories are given a twist of the modern. I've been a fan of all the vampire and paranormal series on television and still am.

I want to believe there is some undetected magic out there. I like the idea of living forever. I feel for the creature that is different, the outsider, with magical powers, feared, misunderstood, and uncelebrated, hunted for acts that are beyond his/her control. I don't believe the Gothic influence will ever entirely disappear from popular culture.  Characters like the Frankenstein monster and Count Dracula are deeply engraved on the collective unconscious, a reflection of the human condition. Writers will most likely continue to reinvent the Gothic, thanks to those like Shelly and Stocker. I look forward to the next spin on the Gothic and I hope you enjoy mine.

From the moment he sees a photograph of Dalton Manor, a 17th-Century estate located in the picturesque English countryside, Joel Howard knows he must stay there while on vacation, in spite of the lack of nightly distraction to be had in London’s gay village. After arriving in England with his friend Shelley, Joel immediately arranges to visit the grand estate, and during a tour, he sets eyes on the portrait of the handsome Patrice Dumont and his lovely young bride, Rosalie, the owners of the manor three hundred years ago.

Joel cannot explain the emotion he feels as he stares at the portrait, or his particular obsession with an ash tree he views on the property later that night. He also can’t explain why the ancient estate seems to talk to him, literally, or why the ghostly voice coming from inside the walls keeps calling him by the name of Andre.

As the moments tick by, Joel comes ever closer to the edge of danger and soon learns the answers to his questions...in every horrifying detail...

*_*_*

...“This place is incredible, isn’t it?”

“Beautiful,” she said. “Good move telling them I was your sister so we could have a double room. The rooms are really expensive.”

I smiled. The price wasn’t a problem but Shelly said she didn’t want to stay in a room alone because these old places could be “spooky.”

“You are my sister except for the blood thing.”

She jumped on the bed and gave me a kiss.

I laughed and pushed her off. “Don’t get all mushy now.”

“Can’t believe how old this place is, seventeenth century. Wow.”

When I surfed the Internet for possible places to stay in London, the minute I saw a picture of this place, I fell in love with it. Something about the old Dalton Manor called to me.

Shelly had been shocked when I showed her the pictures and suggested we stay there. We had five days in Britain, and she’d been sure I’d want to stay in London and frequent the gay bars in Soho.

“What are you going to do there?” Shelly had asked. “It’s on the outskirts of London. There are no gay bars there. What about your promise, to visit a gay bar in every European city before you die?”

I shrugged. “I can still go into London one night when we’re there.”

“So,” Shelly was saying now, “what do we know about the place?”

“I know it was built by a Lord Dalton,” I said, reclining on the bed and getting comfortable. “He was apparently a favorite in the court of Queen Elizabeth. It was passed down in the family, and finally Lord Chance Dalton, a prominent figure in the court of Charles the Second, gave this place to his only daughter as a wedding present.”

“Oh look,” Shelly said, skimming the brochure we’d been given when we checked in. “It says Rosalie Dalton married Patrice Dumont, who was rumored to be the illegitimate son of the King of France.”

“Louis the Fourteenth,” I murmured. “That’s interesting. Patrice Dumont. It’s a nice name.” My eyes were closing with that name on my lips. “Patrice,” I whispered. I had a case of some wicked jet lag all of a sudden and it was dragging me into sleep.

The last thing I heard was Shelly saying something about going downstairs for coffee, and then I drifted off. The smell of roses was suddenly heavy in the air, although I didn’t remember there being any roses in the room. I inhaled deeply and the perfume drew me down the paneled hallways with the flagstone floors to a large room with exposed oak beams and a roaring fireplace.

I saw a man in the room. His back was turned to me. He was tall and broad shouldered, his jet-black hair tied back at the nape of his neck. I almost said hello but something was off. He was there, yet…he wasn’t. He looked like he’d stepped out of another time.

The man turned and smiled at me and I caught my breath. Beautiful. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. His soulful dark eyes looked right at me, or were looking right through me? It had to be a dream. The way he was dressed was really unusual. A long, brocade coat pulled tight at the waist flaring out over his hips, and black pants tied just under the knees and met by white stockings. His shoes were black with square heels and decorated with fancy buckles. They were a weird shape, surely designed by some New York designer. Sanderson or Aquazzura?

No. The guy had to be an actor the manager had hired to create period ambience at the hotel. I was about to ask the man if he were a tour guide, but the image faded away right in front of me.

I shook myself and blinked several times. I looked around. What a strange dream...

*_*_*

Andre by D.J. Manly 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!

Sunday 20 July 2014

LATEST PAX RELEASE - Risky Business

Genres: Gay (M/M) Erotic Romance

The titles listed below comprise the Risky Business AmberPax™ Collection. Buy all five together and receive a 35% discount! To purchase any of the titles individually, click on the covers below to go to the books' separate pages. 

Andre
Andre
by D.J. Manly
Novella
(Gay)
Between the Shadow and the Soul
Between the Shadow and the Soul
by Jamie Craig
Extended Novella
(Gay)
Never the Perfect Moment
Never the Perfect Moment
by K-lee Klein
Novella
(Gay)
Rainy Days and Mondays
Rainy Days and Mondays
by A.J. Llewellyn
Novella
(Gay)
Silver Edges
Silver Edges
by Sean Michael
Extended Amber Kiss
(Gay)

 
In conjunction with our newest release, we will be having a giveaway! Any comment made from today throughout the week (7/20-7/25) will be eligible to win the entire pax collection. A winner will be picked at random on Saturday from all comments received.

Friday 18 July 2014

Silver Edges by Sean Michael

Isaiah and Braxton are world-class speed skaters. Barely spending a moment apart, they train together, eat together, and fool around together. Both on and off the ice, they’re each other’s biggest rivals and best friends.

When a nasty accident leaves Braxton unable to skate for at least six weeks, he becomes Isaiah’s biggest supporter. But more than that, the accident also opens their eyes as to how they really feel about each other, and just maybe it’ll give them more than it takes away...

Genres: Gay/Contemporary/Sports/Athletes
Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Amber Kiss (13k words) 


Read a short excerpt...


...Isaiah finished getting suited up and followed Doll out onto the ice, taking off his skate guards before stepping onto it. Skating his warm up laps, Doll grinned at him, then took off like a shot, thigh muscles working as he pushed himself through over the ice.

Isaiah warmed up more slowly, taking his time and building up speed, letting his muscles loosen. The sound of the ice beneath his skates was hypnotic, soothing. He sped up, building on that rhythm, his legs working as he flew.

Doll lapped him a few times, nothing but a bullet, moving around the track, and when Isaiah was warmed up, he went for it, hitting his stride as Doll caught up to him again, his best friend shooting past him even with him now at full tilt as well. It didn’t matter, though. Doll would fade back and Isaiah would take over. It was inevitable.

He just needed to be patient. Sure enough, a few dozen laps later saw him beginning to catch up to Doll’s long strides. Then another few laps and he was ahead, feeling strong. He could hear Doll increasing his strides, trying hard to catch back up. Isaiah was in the zone now, though, digging in, holding his ground.

Doll nearly made it, almost had him. He could feel the labored breaths just behind him for almost two laps. Then Doll faded back off. And that was why he excelled in the ten thousand while Doll ruled the shorter distances. The five thousand was where they really fought each other.

Coach called out to them. “Okay, boys. Let’s run it again. Five more times before lunch and then you’re on the bikes.”

“Hardass.”

It took less time for Isaiah to catch up the second time, but a little bit more the third time, Doll pushing really hard, like he’d caught a second or third wind. When they were done, they slowed, upright now as they took easy strides across the ice.

Looking over, Doll smiled at him. Isaiah grinned back, breathing hard, chest working like a bellows.

“One of these days I’m not going to let you overtake me.” Doll was winded, but not so much he couldn’t smack talk.

Isaiah could smack talk right back. “Yeah, and one of these days I’ll stop letting you win the short track.”

“Promises, promises.” Doll turned, skating backward for almost a whole lap.

Show off. Still cooling off was cooling off, he guessed. Maybe.

They made a few more laps, then came off the ice, putting their skate guards back on.

Doll crowded him a little. “Hope that bicycle seat isn’t too hard in your…condition.”

“Fuck you. I hope you choke on your protein shake.”

Doll’s eyes narrowed. “What did you do to it?”

Nothing, but Doll didn’t know that. “What? You worried?”

“Man, I Ben-Gay-ed your lube—I’d be stupid not to be worried.”

Isaiah gave Doll a patently fake wide-eyed look.

Doll glared, but anything he might have said was forestalled by Charlie telling them to get their asses into gear.

Okay. Okay.

Maybe this didn’t suck too hard.

Maybe...

Thursday 17 July 2014

Rainy Days and Mondays by A.J. Llewellyn

When Mike deCosta arrives in Honolulu in search of his missing brother, Luca, his own life is a mess. His ex-boyfriend still has a hold on him, and Luca seems to have made the same mistakes with his abusive ex-lover, Greg. Not only did Luca take Greg back into his life, but moved to Honolulu with him in search of Greg’s dreams. And now, Luca’s been gone for four days and it was the couple’s crazy, drug-addled landlady who reported him missing. Not Greg. And now, Greg has vanished, too.

Keanu Māhoe is a private investigator and former cop whose specialty is tracing people who’ve come from the mainland and slipped through the cracks of Hawaiian society. He’s immediately attracted to Mike when they meet on the flight from Los Angeles, and the man’s haunting sadness makes Keanu want to reach out and help him. Keanu wants to show Mike the aloha way of life, the value of rainy days and Mondays...the other side of paradise.

Genres: Gay/Contemporary/Mystery/Detective/The Arts
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (24k words) 


Read a short excerpt...


...Keanu grinned suddenly. “Greg might be an ass, but he’s got good taste in music. We’re meeting at the Melissa Hotel to hear John Cruz performing. He’s a really great Hawaiian musician.”

That gave Mike some comfort. Maybe Greg would be forced to cough up what he knew.

What a pity that the rack has been outlawed. I would love to torture the truth out of that guy…

The ad really bothered him. “It just doesn’t sound like my brother. He’s a romantic, like me. He isn’t the type to go looking for a threesome, or a rich guy.”

“Does it sound like Greg?” Keanu asked.

“Yeah, unfortunately it does.” Mike tried not to brood.

The waiter rushed over, bringing everybody’s checks, and gave Mike a sweet smile. “Your breakfast is on the house. We all wish you much aloha and good luck finding your brother.”

Mike thanked the man and left him a huge tip. Maybe he’d get to like this island after all…

He drove with Keanu once more, the others following in their carpooled vehicles. Mike made a quick call to the Jensen car rental agency and they let him know his car was safe, but he’d still be charged whether he drove the car out of there or not. He hadn’t expected not to be charged.

With a pang, he remembered that Liam had texted him. He hadn’t returned the message.

Being here gave him the freedom not to feel the need to jump every time Liam contacted him.

“You okay?” Keanu asked as they joined the flow of traffic onto the H1 Freeway. Within a few short stops he saw a sign saying Pali Highway and they left the freeway. It turned out to be a pretty, wide-spaced, verdant street with majestic trees on either side and a towering set of emerald green cliffs ahead of them.

“That’s it. The Nu’uanu Pali,” Keanu said.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yes it is. It has quite a presence to it, in spite of its deadly history.”

“Or maybe because of it,” Mike remarked.

“Quite possibly. It’s interesting that you say that. I have an uncle who conducts ghost tours of the island every night and he brings folk up here. All tourists of course. The other night I came because I had a date who wanted to go.” He suddenly blushed. “Well, the guy freaked out when we got to the Pali Lookout.”

“Why?”

“Well, I always thought Uncle’s tours were a joke, but we stood at the lookout and I swear he was taking photos with his cell phone camera and all these blue dots floated across the screen. Uncle said they were paranormal ectoplasm. When the photo came out, we saw the distinct image of a young woman’s face.”

Mike stared at him. “For real?”

“Yeah. Killed the romantic mood.”

For some reason this made Mike the happiest he’d been in days. Keanu was a sexy man. Definitely his type. Meeting under these circumstances was lousy as hell, but sheesh, if he had to be here searching for his missing brother, what a hot guy to be doing it with.

Mike experienced feelings of attraction he hadn’t had for a long time...

Wednesday 16 July 2014

Never the Perfect Moment by K-lee Klein

Bryan Monroe has always catalogued his life in terms of moments—right moments, wrong moments, perfect moments. But when his best friend and partner on the police force, Chrys Delos, is shot in a raid gone bad, it’s one of the worst moments of Bryan’s life.

Bryan’s been secretly in love with Chrys for years, and the shooting is a wake-up call that it might be time to tell Chrys the truth. The problem is, Bryan’s never been with a man before, so in addition to worrying about Chrys’ injuries, he’s an indecisive wreck over the future.

But with the help of two unlikely matchmakers, Bryan knows it’s time to find the courage, and the perfect moment, to tell Chrys exactly how he feels...

Genres: Gay/Contemporary
Heat Level: 2
Length: Novella (26k words) 


Read a short excerpt...


...Overwhelming emotion held him hostage as he leaned over Chrys’ shuddering body.

“Where’s the fucking bus?” Bryan shifted his position so his captain could adjust the torn shirt he was pressing to Chrys’ shoulder, tipping back his head to shout orders as he did so. “Get the goddamn ambulance!”

Bryan found his voice, a mere squeak compared to John Stanton’s shouting growl. “The perp…”

“Mills took him down. He’s alive but unconscious—lucky bastard, as far as I’m concerned. Are you hurt, Monroe?”

Bryan shook his head. He loosened his grip on Chrys’ hand, moving his own to rub lightly over his partner’s cheek. “Chrys? You’re okay, man. Can you hear me? Open your eyes, partner. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Chrys breathed loudly through his nose, opening moist brown eyes to stare up at Bryan. “Did he…anyone else hurt?”

“No, just the dumbass I’m talking to. Dammit, Chrys. What the fuck were you—”

“I need you to move out of the way, sir.” An EMT laid a gentle but firm hand on Bryan’s shoulder, and someone else seized him under the arm, forcing him to his feet. “Are you hurt, sir? I can get Fran to take a look at you.”

“No. No. I’m fine. Just take care of Chrys.”

John was immediately at Bryan’s side when he stumbled backward. He wrapped an arm around Bryan’s shoulders, leading him through the broken door and out into the crisp morning. “I’m taking you to the other bus to get checked over. He landed pretty hard on you.”

“I said I was fine!” There was too much going on, too many things bouncing around in Bryan’s brain. “Sorry, Cap. I just, I think I need to sit down.”

He was quickly escorted to one of the ambulances, perching his backside on the edge of the tailgate, both hands flattened against the cool metal. How many times did he have to go through this with Chrys? Just how many goddamn times would it take for his partner to gain some control and lose his lone wolf attitude? This time was the worst. He hadn’t given himself over to the gunman to save a hostage or a child; instead he’d stepped in front of a bullet that Bryan hadn’t even known was coming. Dammit, Chrys, you’ll be the death of me yet. How ironic was that?

The trip to the hospital took forever, or it sure seemed like it from behind the vehicle holding such precious cargo. Bryan rode in his captain’s car, John speaking loudly into the hands-free cellphone on the dash. He barked out orders to the others on the team, instructing them to take charge, to push back the group of civilians who were rubbernecking to see what was happening. Bryan sat still, quiet, his hands fisted around the helmet in his lap.

The whole day would be filed under perfectly fucking awful...

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Between the Shadow and the Soul by Jamie Craig

Ryan Jackson doesn’t expect too much from his weekend at the Shadows and Souls fan convention in Tahoe—he wants to meet his online friends, engage in a few heated debates about the plot for the upcoming season, and maybe shake the hand of the TV show’s star, Johnny Marlowe. But his weekend goes off course almost immediately after his arrival. First, the hotel loses his booking. Then Johnny Marlowe talks to him like they’re actual friends. And while his head is still spinning, a ghost attacks him in the elevator.

Despite fighting ghosts every week on television, Johnny Marlowe does not believe in the spirit world. He does, however, believe he should get to know Ryan better. Fan or not, the man is not only gorgeous, he’s down-to-earth, fun, and makes Johnny forget about the fake life he’s forced to lead and the ex-boyfriend who refused to participate in the charade. Unfortunately, every time Johnny tries to get close to the handsome ginger, something explodes or the earth shakes or lights blink out—and none of that is as sexy as it sounds.

Johnny doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he knows he has to get to the bottom of this haunting if he ever wants to get close to his biggest fan.

Genres: Gay/Paranormal/Ghosts/Hauntings/The Arts/Suspense/Thriller
Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Novella (37k words) 


Read a short excerpt...


...The elevator had been installed at least forty, if not fifty, years earlier, and it was quite narrow. It shrunk even more as soon as Ryan stepped inside the tiny car, his head suddenly full of the smell of Johnny’s cologne and leather jacket. He tried to keep a respectable amount of space between them—an impossible task given Ryan’s large frame and the confines of the car. The walls were mirrors, but it didn’t give the illusion of space. It made Ryan dizzy as he stared at the repeating image of his idol.

“It’s a good thing I’m not claustrophobic.”

Ryan’s face instantly flushed red, but when he risked a glance at Johnny, he saw the other man was trying for lighthearted banter, not some sort of accusation.

“Thank you again. What you did for me is…really cool. I mean, I always knew you were really cool, but this is just…you know….”

“Cool?” Johnny supplied with a grin.

“Exactly the word I was looking for.” Ryan could have stared at Johnny’s smile forever, but his pleasure was very abruptly cut short when the slow moving car came to a screeching halt. It sounded like the end of the world and Ryan braced himself for the sudden plummet to the ground—are we high enough to die?—but the car remained frozen. Ryan had time to see the needle hover between three and four on the old-fashioned dial before the lights flickered out.

Shit.”

“You’re not scared of the dark, are you?” Ryan meant the question to be light, but his voice sounded thin, the words shaky. Maybe you’re not afraid of the dark, but apparently I am.

“Um, is there a phone or something in here?”

“I don’t know, let me…” He reached out, intending to feel along the panel, but instead of cold buttons, he touched something very, very warm. And instead of pulling his hand away immediately, he let his fingers linger.

“That’s not—”

“Oh, sorry.” He jerked his hand away. “I’ll check my cell.”

“Good luck. I haven’t had any reception for the past hour.”

Ryan had no idea what his reception was like. He fumbled through the side of his bag, finally closing fingers around the ancient Nokia. He held down the power button until the screen flashed, surprisingly bright in the confined space. He heard Johnny on his right, breathing in a slow, even rhythm, felt his body heat against his arm. All of his senses were attuned to the man to his right.

And yet, there was clearly a man standing directly to his left.

Ryan stared without blinking, waiting for the apparition to fade, or for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. It was just a reflection. It had to be. Except the only light in the elevator came from his phone, and that was barely enough to light a few inches away, let alone outline the dark shape beside him. He shouldn’t be able to see anything at all.

“So?”

Ryan jumped at Johnny’s question. “What?”

“Do you have reception?”

“I…do you…”

“Do I what?”

Ryan shook his head, remembered Johnny couldn’t see him, and muttered, “Nothing. No, I don’t have any bars.”

“How long do you think it’ll be until we’re missed?”

Ryan barely heard the question. The figure had moved, was now standing directly in front of him, so near he should’ve been feeling breath fan across his lips. He’d never been claustrophobic, but the walls were moving in tighter, and Johnny felt closer than ever, and Ryan needed a drink. Water. Whiskey. Something. Sweat poured down his brow and the back of his neck, clustering in giant, itchy beads.

“Hey, buddy? You okay? Don’t freak out on me, okay, big man?”

“I’m not.” He rasped the words, too busy freaking out to realize how freaked out he actually sounded...

Monday 14 July 2014

Andre by D.J. Manly


From the moment he sees a photograph of Dalton Manor, a 17th-Century estate located in the picturesque English countryside, Joel Howard knows he must stay there while on vacation, in spite of the lack of nightly distraction to be had in London’s gay village. After arriving in England with his friend Shelley, Joel immediately arranges to visit the grand estate, and during a tour, he sets eyes on the portrait of the handsome Patrice Dumont and his lovely young bride, Rosalie, the owners of the manor three hundred years ago.

Joel cannot explain the emotion he feels as he stares at the portrait, or his particular obsession with an ash tree he views on the property later that night. He also can’t explain why the ancient estate seems to talk to him, literally, or why the ghostly voice coming from inside the walls keeps calling him by the name of Andre.

As the moments tick by, Joel comes ever closer to the edge of danger and soon learns the answers to his questions...in every horrifying detail...

Genres: Gay/Dark Fantasy/Vampire
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (23k words) 


Read a short excerpt...


...“This place is incredible, isn’t it?”

“Beautiful,” she said. “Good move telling them I was your sister so we could have a double room. The rooms are really expensive.”

I smiled. The price wasn’t a problem but Shelly said she didn’t want to stay in a room alone because these old places could be “spooky.”

“You are my sister except for the blood thing.”

She jumped on the bed and gave me a kiss.

I laughed and pushed her off. “Don’t get all mushy now.”

“Can’t believe how old this place is, seventeenth century. Wow.”

When I’d surfed the Internet for possible places to stay in London, the minute I saw a picture of this place, I fell in love with it. Something about the old Dalton Manor called to me.

Shelly had been shocked when I showed her the pictures and suggested we stay there. We had five days in Britain, and she’d been sure I’d want to stay in London and frequent the gay bars in Soho.

“What are you going to do there?” Shelly had asked. “It’s on the outskirts of London. There are no gay bars there. What about your promise, to visit a gay bar in every European city before you die?”

I shrugged. “I can still go into London one night when we’re there.”

“So,” Shelly was saying now, “what do we know about the place?”

“I know it was built by a Lord Dalton,” I said, reclining on the bed and getting comfortable. “He was apparently a favorite in the court of Queen Elizabeth. It was passed down in the family, and finally Lord Chance Dalton, a prominent figure in the court of Charles the Second, gave this place to his only daughter as a wedding present.”

“Oh look,” Shelly said, skimming the brochure we’d been given when we checked in. “It says Rosalie Dalton married Patrice Dumont, who was rumored to be the illegitimate son of the King of France.”

“Louis the Fourteenth,” I murmured. “That’s interesting. Patrice Dumont. It’s a nice name.” My eyes were closing with that name on my lips. “Patrice,” I whispered. I had a case of some wicked jet lag all of a sudden and it was dragging me into sleep.

The last thing I heard was Shelly saying something about going downstairs for coffee, and then I drifted off. The smell of roses was suddenly heavy in the air, although I didn’t remember there being any roses in the room. I inhaled deeply and the perfume drew me down the paneled hallways with the flagstone floors to a large room with exposed oak beams and a roaring fireplace.

I saw a man in the room. His back was turned to me. He was tall and broad shouldered, his jet-black hair tied back at the nape of his neck. I almost said hello but something was off. He was there, yet…he wasn’t. He looked like he’d stepped out of another time.

The man turned and smiled at me and I caught my breath. Beautiful. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. His soulful dark eyes looked right at me, or were looking right through me? It had to be a dream. The way he was dressed was really unusual. A long, brocade coat pulled tight at the waist flaring out over his hips, and black pants tied just under the knees and met by white stockings. His shoes were black with square heels and decorated with fancy buckles. They were a weird shape, surely designed by some New York designer. Sanderson or Aquazzura?

No. The guy had to be an actor the manager had hired to create period ambience at the hotel. I was about to ask the man if he were a tour guide, but the image faded away right in front of me.

I shook myself and blinked several times. I looked around. What a strange dream...