Deserves to Be Adored by T.A. Chase

Joey Santiago works for his uncle, the de facto leader of the Santiago crime family. His usual job is to drive escorts to and from their appointments with high-paying clients. He likes his duties well enough and doesn’t judge the escorts for making money off sex. So when his uncle asks him to check on the welfare of Raleigh Patterson, one of the male escorts, Joey does as he’s ordered without question, especially since he’s grown fond of the attractive man.

Raleigh has been an escort for the Santiagos since he turned eighteen. They treat him well and he’s even been able to put himself through college with the money he earns. But now that he’s in his thirties, he worries that getting older will soon hurt his livelihood since many clients prefer young twinks. Plus, he’s having difficulties with his homophobic family insisting he return home to Louisiana and take his place as the head of his mother’s coven. When Raleigh refuses their demand, they resort to violence, kidnapping, and witchcraft to force him to change his mind.

When Joey discovers that Raleigh has been beaten, he can’t stop himself from getting involved in the man’s troubles. Even as the attraction between them grows, Raleigh and Joey must figure out a way to save Raleigh from the ruthless plots of the coven. And if they don’t find a solution soon, Raleigh could lose everything he’s come to cherish...including Joey.

Genres: Gay/Contemporary/Fantasy/Witchcraft/Magic/Paranormal

Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (28k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...Joey headed toward Raleigh’s apartment, hoping nothing bad had happened to the guy. Joey liked Raleigh, though he didn’t see him often. Raleigh was one of the older escorts, and he had his own designated driver when he went out. He also had a set list of clients and rarely took new ones. The Santiagos charged a lot of money for a night with Raleigh. From what Joey heard, he was worth it.

The women and men who worked for the Santiagos were treated well. They actually got to keep a good portion of their earnings. Mostly because Lorna believed that people who were good at their jobs should be paid what they’re worth. Even if they’re whores and rent boys. It kept them happy, and happy workers meant less hassle for the family.

After leaving the car in the parking complex a block from Raleigh’s building, Joey strolled up the steps to the intercom, then pushed the button for Raleigh’s apartment.

A few minutes later, Raleigh said, “Hello?”

He smiled at the faint accent in the man’s voice. Raleigh had moved up north when he was sixteen, but he still had a slight Southern drawl.

“Hey, Raleigh, it’s Joey Santiago. Uncle Frank sent me over to check and make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine, Joey. You tell Frank I’ll call him tomorrow.”

Joey’s gut didn’t like how Raleigh rushed out those reassurances. “Ah, you know it doesn’t work that way. He’ll just keep sending me back here until I lay eyes on you. So you might as well let me in this time.”

Raleigh’s tired sigh came over the intercom, and Joey wanted to wrap the man up in a tight hug. Which was weird because Joey only tended to hug the girls and would never presume to touch Raleigh in that way. Not because he was a guy or anything like that.

Hell, Joey’d fucked a couple guys when he wanted to get his rocks off and there weren’t any girls around. He’d never thought about whether he was straight, bi, or gay. Sex was sex, no matter who he did it with.

No, that wasn’t why he’d never thought about touching Raleigh. There was something elegant and regal in the way Raleigh carried himself. A way that said he might sell his body for money, but he’d never sold his soul. His self-worth wasn’t tied up in what he did for a living, though Joey wouldn’t be shocked if Raleigh wasn’t damn proud of how he’d paid his way through college and could support himself rather well with this job.

Raleigh never seemed ashamed of who he was and what he did. It was that self-acceptance and confidence that both scared and attracted Joey, and caused him to treat Raleigh differently from the others.

“All right, Joey. I’ll let you in.”

The buzzer sounded, unlocking the door. After Joey entered the foyer, he waited until the door shut and relocked, not wanting someone who didn’t belong there to slip in behind him. He’d seen enough movies and TV shows to know that was one way bad guys got into places they shouldn’t.

Once the entrance was secure, he wandered to the elevators, then punched in Raleigh’s floor. While riding up, he pulled out his phone and sent a text to Candice about getting Rocky to come pick her up when she was done. She was a good girl and wouldn’t complain since Rocky was a cool guy.

Uncle Frank had to be careful about hiring guys to drive around the escorts. A lot of the drivers seemed to have the idea their job meant they could get free pussy. Joey and Rocky talked to each new hire, letting him know the escorts were off limits, unless the girls—or guys—themselves said it was okay.

He knocked on Raleigh’s door and waited.

“Is that you, Joey?” Raleigh called through the wood.

“Yeah, Raleigh. It’s me.”

His smile disappeared when Raleigh opened the door, revealing a split lip and black eye...

The Cookie Said "Red" by J.D. Walker

Cisco Boyd, an outgoing thirty-five-year-old, believes in fortune cookies and horoscopes. Despite his lack of success in finding a steady boyfriend, Cisco never doubts the stars will eventually lead him to the man of his dreams.

One day, Cisco reads the fortune inside a cookie that says, “Red is the color of your heart’s desire.” So when Cisco’s date turns up wearing a red shirt, he’s ecstatic. But things don’t go as planned. After the date turns ugly, Cisco finds himself locked in his bathroom and calling the front desk of his apartment building for assistance.

Benjy McCrae, head of security, comes to his rescue. Cisco has always appreciated the hotness that is Benjy McCrae, but the man’s stern demeanor has never invited too much speculation...until now. Suddenly, Cisco sees Benjy with new eyes, including the part of the man’s security uniform that’s always been there—his red tie.

Perhaps Cisco’s “heart’s desire” has been right under his nose all along. But are the stars finally aligned in his favor?

Genres: Gay/Contemporary/Interracial/Multicultural

Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Amber Kiss (13k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...I decided to gather my nerve and test the waters. What could it hurt? I had just narrowly escaped a bad-news date, and my savior was before me, as scrumptious as ever. Maybe my “heart’s desire” was closer than I thought, and had been all along, long before I’d ever read that stupid fortune cookie. Hell, I was curious at the very least, though that had killed many cats before me. I was never one to pass up an opportunity for love.

“Am I so hard to get along with?” I asked, walking to where Benjy stood next to the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room. I saw him try valiantly to not notice the extra oomph I added to my hips as I approached. He was definitely interested, but trying to be a gentleman. Score.

His expression turned wary as he watched me. “Not at all, Mr. Boyd.”

I stopped a foot away from him. “So, why don’t you call me Cisco?”

“It’s easi—”

I cut him off. “You said that. Why, Benjy?”

He turned and walked to the door, his firm stride getting him there quickly. “I have to get back to work. Paperwork, you know.” He opened door and headed down the hall with a purpose.

I went in hot pursuit and got ahead of him at the elevator. “Not so fast, mister. I know you’re man enough to face me.” I blocked the DOWN button by standing in front of it, staring him in the eye. “Am I so hideous that you can’t give me a straight answer?”

“God, no!” he burst out. “You’ve got to know you’re hotter than—” Benjy clamped his mouth shut and leaned to the left to press the button hidden behind my back.

I smiled. “Now we’re getting somewhere. So, you don’t think I’m ugly. You think I’m hot, and you want to keep things professional because it’s easier.” I waved away the nonsense of those words. “I don’t see why we should. You don’t work for me, you work for the building. And”—I stepped closer and placed a hand on his finely made chest—“if it helps at all, I read a fortune cookie the other day that leads me to believe you may be my heart’s desire. Who are we to argue with the universe, right?”

His eyebrows raised at that, and then he blinked. Benjy fought a grin before saying, “A fortune cookie, huh? Well, I suppose that says it all, doesn’t it?” He shook his head and let out a gusty sigh. “I’m still on the job. Perhaps we should discuss this over breakfast. I’m working the night shift for one of my security guards. I’ll be off at seven o’clock. Too early for you?”

“Nope, I’m usually up by six, even on a weekend.” I placed my other hand on his chest and smoothed my way down to his waist. Fuck, there wasn’t an ounce of fat anywhere. Very nice. “What will you be in the mood for, besides me?” I teased as I slid my arms around to caress his back.

“Coffee and eggs, if you got ’em.” Benjy gently removed my hands from his lovely person.

“Done. How about a quick kiss to hold me over?” I asked, fluttering my eyelashes.

Benjy’s eyes danced at me. “You move fast, don’t you? I’ve seen you work that magic on many a man, Mr. Boyd, but while you are a very tempting morsel, I’m still at work. Patience, Cisco.”

He didn’t leave me hanging, though. Benjy took my hand and turned it palm-up to kiss my inner wrist, causing me to gasp in pleasure. “That should hold you over.”

The elevator dinged, and Benjy walked around me to enter it, his face back to being the bland professional, as was his usual demeanor. “Until the morning, Mr. Boyd...”

Knight Moves Giveaway Winner

It looks like the new year is off to a great start! Thanks so much for being a part of our release this week. But now it's time to pick the winner for giveaway, and the winner is...

Sula!

I have your email, so expect to hear from us soon.

Don't forget to stop by in February for our Something's Coming pax, five stories all about tarots and fortunes. See you then!

Tender Is the Knight by K-lee Klein

I had never written any sort of historical story before I wrote Tender is the Knight, and to be perfectly honest, I was more than a little intimidated. I'm not afraid of research or trying to get my facts straight, but obviously historical accuracy is very important in undertaking a specific period in time.

Details can make or break a story whether it's contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc., so adding aspects like food, color, material and specific names for clothing, are always important. You'd think that doing research would be a breeze on the Internet with so many options, so many sites, and so many supposedly official opinions, but sometimes too many sources can be detrimental.

One of the most difficult things for me was figuring out how my characters would talk—the words they'd use, the ones they wouldn't, how they would address others, even how they would speak in a more intimate situation. It got to the point where I felt hopelessly stuck before I even began. Eventually I pulled on my big girl panties and sought out a source that, though not the right country or even time frame, was somewhat similar in formal speech and very familiar to me—anything and everything to do with Alexander the Great.

You see, I became hopelessly addicted to the great Alexander and his childhood friend and lifetime lover, Hephaistion, when I saw the movie then started reading fanfiction. Eventually I wrote some of own, but I also enjoyed the research part of it. I devoured anything to do with Xander and Phai, and in some strange way, my addiction got me over the hump in dealing with Tristan and Clayne in Medieval England. And it really wasn't such a chore to have to watch Colin Farrell and Jared Leto speaking to each other. Rawr.

Despite all my new and old research, I did cheat a little. Tender is the Knight is set in a universe similar to Camelot and King Arthur so I did get to play with some of the facts just a wee bit. Hopefully it all came out good in the wash, and my first semi-historical story will find someone who enjoys it. Cheers.

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Tender Is the Knight 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!

He’s Out of his Mind and… Out of Time by A.J. Llewellyn

I have always loved knights. Like many kids, I grew up watching classic movies and one of the first I can recall was Ivanhoe. I adored Robert Taylor both in the TV series, The Detectives, and as the knight Ivanhoe, shunned by his father, but ultimately the hero of the story.

When my grandma took me to the movies for double-features each Saturday, I enjoyed the cartoons that came on first, but loved the intense costume dramas that followed. I fantasized I was Rebecca, the Jewish woman Ivanhoe really loved (played by the luscious Elizabeth Taylor), but would have settled for being the Lady Rowena, the one traditions at the time dictated he should marry.

Ah, love. Knights! Honor! 

In 1982, while the rest of the world swooned over the amazingly successful Brideshead Revisted series and its teddy bear-hugging star, Anthony Andrews, I obsessed over his TV version of Ivanhoe. Once again I wanted to be Rebecca, but by then two things had happened. I’d begun to realize the men I picked were all deeply flawed and if my track record ran true to form I was more likely to land myself Wamba, the king’s court jester than Ivanhoe, or even the deliciously wicked Count de Bracy.

I’d also noticed that the racial tension had been toned down considerably in the apparently more conservative 1980s. Rebecca’s feelings had become one-sided, but still, knights just floated my boat. I even bought an odd little self-help book some years later called The Knight in Rusty Armor, thinking it would fan the chain mail flames in my heart. But it didn’t. 

This led to a friend giving me a copy of Slay Your Own Dragons.

She was definitely trying to tell me something.

I felt passionately about the Knights of the Round Table, especially in the movie Excalibur. Lord I loved that movie! I also adored a few of the other knights who popped up from time to time - such as the wonderful medieval knight played by Jean Reno who accidentally gets transported to the present in the hilarious French film The Visitors. But for years I’ve wanted to write my own story. I liked the idea of a modern day man transported back in time where he discovers he was a knight and has somehow lost all his powers. 

When Amber Allure suggested the Knight Moves PAX anthology, I jumped at the chance to write Out of Time.

I loved being able to research nineteenth century Mexico during its brief time of royalty and since it’s just over the border from California, I made a weekend trip down there to learn as much as I could. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did writing it!

Here is the synopsis:

Biologist Arlo Perez has spent his whole life avoiding decisions, confrontations, anything concrete. Anything resembling a commitment. When his lover, Miguel, dumps him, a depressed Arlo decides to put down roots in Merced, a small California town nestled between Yosemite and the old gold-panning country region. There, he secures a new fellowship at a college and looks forward to adventure and fun.

But just as he’s getting used to normal, he gets a whole lot more than he bargained for.

One day when his car breaks down, Arlo winds up at the mercy of a deranged garage owner in Port Hueneme. And somehow, he finds himself tossed back in time to an era of knights, dragons, and pit fights. Suddenly, he’s in Mexico, 1867, and there’s only one way out—fight or die.

Can Arlo get himself out of this horrible and confusing mess? Can he stop feeling out of place and out of his senses? Or is he completely out of time?

For Purchase and/or excerpt please click this link: 

http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/2111-Out-Of-Time.aspx

But who is your favorite knight either in fact or fiction? I’d love to know! For the chance to win a copy of ALL FIVE Amber PAX™ Knight Moves stories, please post a comment to enter the draw to WIN!

Aloha oe,

A.J.

Oh, What a Knight by Christiane France

The excerpt below is based on an idea that just dropped into my head one day. I thought it would be intriguing to open a story with the main character literally caught in the middle—the past is behind him and his future a completely blank page.

Blurb:

Following the death of his employer, Harvey St. Onge—a local gay man with a reputation for attracting handsome young men and throwing wild parties at his country estate—Griffin Andrews is literally on the outside looking in. Harv had promised to take care of Griff, but when the lawyer shows up and Griff is paid off and shown the door with the rest of the staff, he figures Harv “forgot” his promise. Now, Griff may be stuck in the country, miles from anywhere with no transportation and no proof of Harv’s promise, but he’s a survivor. So he packs what he can carry and starts walking. 

Partway into his journey, however, a handsome motorist stops and offers Griff a lift. Shane Walker says he’s just going as far as Peninsula Heights. But by the time they get there, Griff’s life has done a fast one-eighty. He has a new friend, the promise of a job, and a place to stay. It all sounds too good be true. 

Now Griff has to wonder—is Shane really Griff’s proverbial “white knight in shining armor” riding to his rescue, or something else?

Excerpt:

The steel security gate clicked shut behind me. The good life I’d had was over and here I was, stranded on a stretch of dusty country back road. In spite of all that I wasn’t particularly worried. When one thing ended another turned up. It always did. It might take me a little time and patience to get resettled, but I had both in abundance. What I no longer had was a chauffeur-driven limo at my disposal or enough cash to keep me going for more than a month, six weeks absolute tops. I’d have to rely on my feet to get me to my next destination, or hitch a ride, which in this cruel, uncertain world was something I avoided like the plague. All of which made my first priority finding another job, fast.

I adjusted the straps of my backpack and settled it comfortably in place while I considered my options. A right turn and a five-mile walk would take me to Peninsula Heights. Turn left and about thirty-five miles later I’d reach the steel mills of Hamilton. Two small blue-collar towns that didn’t promise much in the way of lucrative employment opportunities. At least not the kind I had in mind. For those I had to head somewhere a tad more sophisticated and cosmopolitan.

Another forty miles on from Hamilton was Toronto, where I’d met Harvey, my most recent and now late, lamented employer. In the other direction, less than ten miles beyond Peninsula Heights, lay Niagara Falls, tourist mecca and home to a couple of world class casinos.

A fast, two-second internal debate, and I turned right. The Falls was the closest. A week or so checking out the action should get me back on track moneywise and from there I’d figure out my next move. Montreal? New York? L.A.? Or if my luck was really in, maybe a trip to London, Paris or Rome as a change of pace.

Oh, sure. Like that would happen. But right now I needed to think big. And the bigger the better.

Cool mysteries and hot romance - http://www.chrisgrover.ca
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http://christianefrance.blogspot.ca/

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Oh, What a Knight 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!

The Lusty Knights of Blaze by D.J. Manly

Knights and the ideals of knighthood appeared often in medieval and Renaissance literature, and have a sizable niche in literary romance. Some notable examples would be The Song of Roland by Geoffrey Chaucer, and Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote. 

Who can forget the Knights of the Roundtable?

A Knight was expected to be a brave warrior and to always act in a courteous and professional manner in military affairs. Knights were accorded respect even from their enemy. When knights were captured as prisoners of war, usually they were given comfortable accommodations until exchanged for ransom, unlike a common soldier. 

Chivalry was a characteristic of knighthood. It went hand in hand with professional ethics and military service to the king in exchange for landed property. Knights were expected to be brave and heroic but were not your run of the mill soldier. They were noble and gentile, and were often intellects and avid horsemen. They were respectful of others, even those who were their enemies. 

In the Lusty Knights of Blaze, Dustin Porter is one such knight. He represents the romantic notion of the knights of old, possessing nobility that speaks to honor and duty. 

I set the story in a time unknown in a fictitious land because I wanted Dustin to be a shining example of what we’ve come to expect from a Knight.  Dustin embodies all the romance and bravery that comes with his station in life, and I’m sure the reader will fall in love with him right along with Karnal.

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Lusty Knights of Blaze 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!