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Release Blitz: Three's the Charm by P. A. Friday

2/12/2018

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Title:  Three's the Charm

Series: Maths, Book Three

Author: P.A. Friday

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: February 12, 2018

Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male, Male/Male Menage

Length: 57800

Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, menage, college professor, musican, film-maker, promiscuity

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Synopsis

James, Laurie, and Al are settling into a surprisingly easy life as a triad. Finally, things seem to be going well for them. But when an unscrupulous journalist takes advantage of Al's blossoming film career and the men's unusual relationship to write an exposé article, cracks begin to show. Can the three survive with their love, their careers, and even their sanity intact?

Excerpt

Three’s the Charm P.A. Friday © 2018 All Rights Reserved Chapter One Al The text was brief and to the point. I hope you’re behaving yourself. L. Al glared at his phone, as if it were his boyfriend Laurie himself. Up until that point, he’d been fairly successful at forgetting that he’d been driven to the point of madness the night before by his lovers, who had made him beg and then refused to allow him the satisfaction he was craving. Okay, that ‘forgetting’ bit wasn’t entirely true. He’d managed to deal with the fact that he was absolutely fucking desperate for a wank, or to get off in some form or other. And then bloody Laurie sent that, just reminding him. Rubbing it in. Al wanted to rub one off, not have things rubbed in. But Laurie, who was not ‘just’ a boyfriend but—when they both chose—his Dominant, had ordered him not to. To wait for this evening. Scowling so hard at his phone that his boss, Fenella, asked him what the matter was (“Nothing”), he sent a one-word reply. Yes. There was silence for an hour. Laurie was probably giving a lecture at the university about filmography or something. Probably doing it well, too—Al had been to a couple of Laurie’s lectures in the past, and he was a good speaker, and knowledgeable. Al should know, as well: he was a prominent short film-maker on a minor level, though it was not a career which allowed him to devote himself to it full-time. Hence the job in the wine shop. During the text silence from his boyfriend, therefore, Al talked to various people about wine, advising them on which bottle might suit them best, and managed to ignore the worst of his frustration. Then the phone buzzed again. Are you hard? L. Al seethed. Well, if he hadn’t been before, he was now. He was bloody hard and fucking desperate. Laurie knew it—he knew precisely what he was doing, damn him. Al was tempted not to answer, to just leave Laurie hanging. But on the other hand, Laurie would be in charge once he got home. Provoking him to further teasing was a seriously bad plan. Hating his boyfriend, he sent the same one-word answer. Yes. The ‘fuck you’ wasn’t explicitly written afterwards, but Al was pretty sure Laurie would get that too. Ruffled, he texted James. James, his other boyfriend. Laurie’s boyfriend, too. Your boyfriend is a fucking sadist. Al smiled apologetically at Fen, who was looking unimpressed by the amount of texting going on in work time. “There’s no one needing serving at the moment,” he offered. She snorted and shook her head. “I suppose you’re texting your many partners,” she said, trying to sound grumpy but not quite managing it. As far as Fen was concerned—and it was fairly close to the truth—Al slept with pretty much anyone who offered. He certainly had sex with a lot of people, but not only did he live with James and Laurie, he was also in love with them, which made rather a lot of difference. And, he admitted grumpily, the sex was best with them. Partly because Laurie was the best Dom Al had ever come across, and the only one he’d thoroughly trust with the submissive part of himself; and partly because…well, (a) they were both bloody marvellous in bed, and (b) all right, yes, because he was in love with them and it turned out that that did make a difference, just as everyone claimed. Damn them all. His phone buzzed again. Needing a wank? J. Al had the distinct temptation to smash his phone hard against the counter. James was supposed to be showing a bit of sympathy. Which that was not. Fuck off. He got another hour, that time. An hour in which to calm down and to think about wine, and talk sensibly to a customer about which white wine might be the optimal choice to go with a nice fish dinner (“What sort of fish?” “Dead,” said the customer, helpfully.) It was Laurie, again, when the text came. You’re going to have to beg. L. Al hated how much that turned him on. How much he wanted to be on his knees to Laurie, pleading to be allowed to come. Hated the visions which were flooding his brain after reading it. Fen was giving him a peculiar look, and he excused himself to the toilet. Not to touch—he knew better than that—but to try to compose himself a bit. He could hardly serve customers with a raging hard-on, and at the moment all he could think about was sex. Fuck. Bloody, fucking Laurie. Fuck. Al pushed a hand firmly (painfully firmly) between his black jeans-clad legs, squeezed his eyes shut, and tried to think about other things. Awful things. Running out of money at the end of the month. Stepping in a deep puddle and getting a trainerful of water. Anything. Anything but the thought of Laurie making him beg. Jesus. Eventually, he knew he’d have to come out or face Fen’s wrath. “Sorry,” he said apologetically. “Not feeling my best.” “Hmm.” Fen’s lack of belief would have been mortifying at any other time, but at the moment, Al was too busy trying to deal with his rebellious cock. You’re hot on your knees. J. Al hadn’t even heard that text come in. He’d picked up the phone to check the time—to see how long it was before he could go home and persuade his boyfriends (his absolute bastard boyfriends) to allow him to get off. He’d not replied to Laurie’s last text—potentially dangerous in itself, but he was damned if he was going to plead over his phone. Bad enough that he knew bloody well he’d break down and do it in person the first second he saw Laurie; he was not going to humiliate himself in writing as well. And now James, too. James, who knew him too damn well, and knew what a text like that would do. Thought I told you to fuck off, he wrote. The response was quick; presumably James was home from work. Sorry. Thought you asked me to fuck you. Or was that last night? J. It wasn’t murder if your boyfriends had asked for it, was it? Al had a sudden memory of the previous evening, where he had indeed done as James had suggested. And James had acted like he was going to give in, and then not done so. Fucking tease. Al gave an involuntary moan, and Fen looked at him, eyebrows raised. “Anything wrong?” “Told you,” Al said, hoping he wasn’t blushing. “Not feeling great.” Unexpectedly, she looked sympathetic. “You can head home early if you like?” Oh, bloody hell, that was worst of all. Laurie and James would rip the piss out of him something chronic if they knew about this. Fen offering to send him home early because he was so ‘unwell’. He’d never live down the fact that he’d been so desperate for them that he hadn’t been able to finish a day’s work. “No,” he said, knowing his face was definitely red, and quite probably radish-coloured. “I’m fine. Honestly.” “Okay. Let me know if you need to leave, though, Al. Honestly, you don’t have to suffer.” Tell that to my boyfriends, Al thought bitterly. Apparently they delighted in making him suffer. “Thanks,” he said curtly. Thankfully, they left him alone for his last hour at work. Al was beyond relieved: today had been more of an ordeal than he’d ever had at the wine shop. It wasn’t taxing work, and usually he enjoyed the banter with customers; but today, with the constant erection pushing at his trousers, distracting his attention, making him need things he couldn’t have…it had been horrendous. He was halfway out of the door before the final text came. Come in, take off your clothes, and kneel by the sofa. L. Laurie had timed it deliberately for the moment he left work. It left a strangely warm feeling in Al’s chest that Laurie knew to the minute when he would be leaving the shop; he was angry with himself for getting so much pleasure from that thought, but at the same time it was very hot. The texts, he realised, showed that he’d been on Laurie and James’s minds as much as they’d been on his. They wanted him. His cock throbbed hard at the thought. When he got to the flat, there was no one in the sitting room. Obeying his instructions, he folded his clothes up and knelt naked by the empty sofa. Where were they? What were they doing? As Al got used to the sounds of the house, he realised that Laurie and James were in the kitchen. He could hear voices, and then the sloppy sounds of kisses. The noises got closer, and he glanced up to see that they were in the doorway between the sitting room and the kitchen, arms around each other, frotting up against one another as they kissed passionately. God, they were hot like that. And, Al realised, with frustrated fury, they knew he thought so. This was a show put on entirely for him…well, maybe not ‘entirely’—James and Laurie were shamelessly obsessed with each other at any time—but the fact that they were simulating sex somewhere he could see them and not be part of it… They were deliberately teasing him, even more than they’d been doing all day. A frustrated growl burst from his lips. James looked over, the faintest smile tracing his lips. “Al’s home,” he told Laurie, as if it were a surprise. “Mm-hm?” Laurie sounded supremely uninterested, going back to touching and snogging James as if there was nothing more he wanted from life. And Al was going to bloody die if he didn’t get any attention soon. His lovers were stripping each other’s clothes off, kissing any part of each other which they could reach as they did so. James’s mouth on Laurie’s nipple, Laurie’s head thrown back in pleasure, a hand behind James’s head, encouraging him. James’s hands busy on Laurie’s trousers as he sucked, pushing them down, exposing Laurie’s hard, heavy, large cock. They were distracted enough that they wouldn’t notice if Al just had a quick touch. He couldn’t bear it any longer. His left arm slid round from its required position behind him to take himself in hand, and he gave the tiniest hiss of relief at the sensation of fingers against his erection. Too quiet for anyone else to hear, you would have thought. Except that Laurie, with some psychic instinct, was suddenly gazing down at Al, a feral expression on his face. “Oh, no, Al,” he said, his voice dark and measured, his hand slipping from James’s head. “That won’t do at all. Did yesterday teach you nothing about obedience?” James turned to look at him too, and Al swore under his breath. He was so, so fucked now.

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Meet the Author

P.A. Friday fails dismally to write one sort of thing and, when not writing erotica and erotic romance of all sexualities, may be found writing articles on the Regency period, pagan poetry, or science fiction. She loves wine and red peppers, and loathes coffee and mushrooms.

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Rainbow Snippet February 10-11

2/10/2018

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It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your tbr. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+.

I promised to share another glimpse of something new, so this week I have the first six sentences of the next Tournai book for you. This is Faelen and Maxen's story and will be out from NineStar Press in June. It hasn't gone through edits yet, so be warned. (Note: Alexander is Faelen's twin.)
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​In the last decade, Faelen had been on the grounds of Tournai’s royal palace three times, if he included today. It was the same number of times he’d been back to Tournai since his father was appointed ambassador to the kingdom of Teilo. The relief, happiness, and utter sense of home flooding through him as soon as he stepped off the boat had been shocking in its intensity, but not surprising otherwise. Sometime in the middle of the journey, he’d been hit with the bone-deep certainly that he needed to be back in Tournai. He’d only mentioned it to Alexander, who’d admitted to feeling the same—which Faelen was happy to hear from his twin, even if it did make the whole thing stranger. 

​
He tried not to dwell on it, which was made a bit easier because of his discomfort that they were arriving unannounced and uninvited at the palace.

For anyone who is interested, today is the last day of Dreamspinner's paperback sale. All of my DSP paperbacks are 30% off through today. Thanks for stopping by and reading!
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January Reads

2/9/2018

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January was a busy month for me with writing/revising deadlines, so I didn't read as much as I usually do, but I still have some books to share with you that I enjoyed: 

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee: I loved this historical YA novel (which I started last year and finished in January). I adored the characters and the portrayal of setting and life in the time period. The romance was swoony and the adventure fun.

It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian: I loved this book. It made me so happy. A historical romance between a grumpy navy captain and a happy vicar, a bunch of children performing some crazy antics (who are wonderful characters too)...so good. Go read, and then join me in wishing for the next in the series.

Spun! by JL Merrow: This is the latest in Merrow's Shamwell Tales series, though I don't think you have to read the others to get this one, though you will get more background on the main characters if you do. I always enjoy this series. It's very British and lots of fun. This book is sweet, and I just adored David.

How to Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall: I took far too long to read this book, but I found it delightful. As always, Alexis Hall's writing is lovely, and Arden is a wonderful character. It was so much fun to be inside his head. I'm looking forward to continuing the trilogy and seeing where the author's take on this trope goes.

No Rulebook for Flirting by Laura Bailo: Laura sent me an ARC of this story, which has two competitive guys meeting and falling for each other at a board game convention. Super cute and sweet.

​What have you been reading lately?

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Release Blitz: Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume Two

2/7/2018

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Title:  Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume Two

Author: Jennifer Cosgrove, Sara Codair, Emmalynn Spark, K.S. Trenten, Lina Langley, Rebecca Langham, Sita Bethel, Tray Ellis

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: February 5, 2018

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male, Female/Female

Length: 125366

Genre: historical, paranormal, contemporary, LGBT, fantasy, magic, royalty, lesbian, lawyers, family, contemporary, captivity, immortality, historical, friends to lovers, criminals, trans, dark, dystopian, political

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Synopsis

Your favorite stories from childhood have a new twist. Eight fairy tales of old with characters across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Coming Home by Jennifer Cosgrove – No one ever expects to be Prince Charming. Snow Fox by Sara Codair – Jealous Queen E’s attempts on Snow Fox’s life are trending. Deathless by Emmalynn Spark – Love means finding new ways. At Her Service by K.S. Trenten – Dancing to her true desire. Shattered Glass by Lina Langley – The resistance was never ready for this. Finding Aurora by Rebecca Langham – Setting out to save the sleeping princess does not go as planned. Master Thief by Sita Bethel – He became the greatest thief in the world so he could steal his squire’s heart. The True Love Curse by Tray Ellis – True Love would be wonderful, but the curse keeps getting in the way.

Excerpt

Coming Home by Jennifer Cosgrove Scott Prince has everything, but it doesn’t mean that he enjoys all the responsibilities that come with it. It is, at times, a lonely life. But things start looking up one evening when, at an obligatory social event, he meets a handsome man while stepping out for some air. But then the man disappears. Scott and Molly, his best friend, find him again in a very unexpected place, and the mystery deepens. A tale of an evil stepmother and horrid stepsisters versus a man who is fiercely independent, and a Prince that will do whatever he can to help him escape his situation and come home. Snow Fox by Sara Codair Working at a fast food chain and photo blogging about her transition, Rosa Nieves, known to the internet as “Snow Fox,” is just trying to pay for nursing school. But when her photos go viral, Queen E can’t tolerate the idea that there is a badder bitch than herself, and sets out to murder Snow Fox. Can Rosa survive the wrath of a jealous, rich bitch with an enchanted smartphone? Or will one woman’s vanity be her doom? Deathless by Emmalynn Spark Prince Ivan has never been particularly good at being a Prince, so when he comes to rescue his wife from the evil wizard, he ends up offering himself in her place. Vanya soon learns that, while Alex may be an evil wizard, he’s a hell of a whole lot more. But the Prince kills the evil wizard, right? There’s no way the Prince and the Evil Wizard could love each other instead? Sometimes, love means writing your own happy ending. At Her Service by K.S. Trenten Cinders would much rather fondle her mistress’s bony feet than go to a ball. Magic whisks her away, in spite of herself to a night of lights, dancing, and mystery where she discovers her true heart’s desire. For nothing is what it seems where enchantment, fairy godmothers, and princes are concerned. Shattered Glass by Lina Langley Kai Axelsson is on the most dangerous mission of his life. A timely twist of fate. A clever deception. And suddenly he’s found himself a place among the staff at Sandheim Palace, entrenched among the people bound to serve a despotic queen. Kai’s only job is to feed the propaganda machine while staying out of sight–yet when he catches the attention of the queen’s brother, what began as an information gathering mission becomes a battle for Kai’s very soul. Powerful. Magnetic. Immortal. With a breath of frost and a sliver of glass, the crown prince Alexander weaves his spell around Kai, intent to claim him forever and draw him into the darkness of their world. Yet where Alexander’s heart is made of ice…it’s the fire in Johann’s that could be the key to bringing Kai home. Johann never wanted to let Kai go on this mission. And now a fatal misstep could mean losing the only man he’s ever loved. Only Johann can break the spell entangling Kai’s heart in thorns of darkest glass. Before the dark prince’s corruption claims him completely, and Kai is lost forever. Finding Aurora by Rebecca Langham Aurora Rose slumbers in the city of Oldpass, a cursed kingdom once allied with Grimvein. She is powerless to control her own fate. At least, that’s how the story goes. Now, as Grimvein faces attack, Prince Amir has been tasked with the life-threatening rescue of Aurora, his parents hopeful that he will marry the princess and secure safety for their kingdom. Talia, the strongest spellcaster in the known lands, protects and guides the prince in his quest to save a woman that threatens to change their lives forever. In finding Aurora, the pair will realise the truth about themselves and each other, coming to understand just what – and who – they really want in life. Master Thief by Sita Bethel Tyv grew up hungry and cold in a shack boarding the property of a noble family. His father could never provide enough food, clothing, or warm shelter, but there was one important thing he gave to his sons- the choice to go find their own destinies. The True Love Curse by Tray Ellis Widow Clara Hammond doesn’t have time to worry about misfortune befalling the royal family when she has a house to repair and stepsons to feed, but on her way through the forest she encounters Queen Almarine. The queen is searching for a cure for her ill son, Prince Roald, and Clara can’t refuse helping her. The more time they spend together, the more Clara likes Almarine, and the more it seems that Almarine likes her back. Henryk Hammond is struggling to finish his law degree when the whole university is shut down in a city-wide search for a solution to Prince Roald’s illness. While waiting in the long line to offer his own meager knowledge an old woman gives him a magical cloak and gains him audience with the Prince. Henryk’s watchful night takes him on a wild ride of dancing and feasting as he follows the Prince out of the palace. As morning arrives, Henryk realizes that to save the Prince they’ll have to confront the enchantress together. There’s only one way up the tower to the witch’s lair, but Henryk is determined to end the curse.

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Release Blitz: Speedbump by Charli Coty

2/5/2018

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Title:  Speedbump

Author: Charli Coty

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: February 5, 2018

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 68200

Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, contemporary, bisexual, trans, genderqueer, non-binary, #ownvoices, musician, disability, drinking/some drug use, multicultural, small town, Oregon, some violence, illness/disease, Alzheimer’s

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Synopsis

Ezra Cook is sole caregiver to older brother Tray, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in his forties. They live outside the small town of Drop, Oregon, on property Tray bought with his Microsoft settlement money. For years, Ezra has been going on and off low doses of testosterone to maintain a comfortable level of androgyny. Ezra spends most days juggling Tray’s needs and the work required to survive in rural Oregon on a small income, ignoring their own needs, especially companionship and sleep. Ellred “Red” Long escaped Drop at seventeen but returns to his hometown in disgrace after his band dumped him on the streets of LA. Coming back doesn't seem like such a dead end, though, after he sees a guy walking along the side of the road in the rain and gives him a lift. Ezra and Red’s chance meeting begins an uncomfortable friendship neither had expected, and both allow fear to keep it from escalating into a hookup, or worse, a romance. Red never meant to return to Drop and doesn’t want to get stuck there again, while Ezra’s protective walls may be too strong to breach, from either side.

Excerpt

Speedbump Charli Coty © 2018 All Rights Reserved Chapter One It had been a while since the last time a moving vehicle hit me, but I wasn’t in the mood to take chances. The night was dark—no moon and only a smattering of stars peeking between the clouds. At least the rain had finally stopped. The county road I was walking along was flat, but I’d just passed a turn when headlights flashed behind me, coming up fast. A blind turn the locals had been known to straighten now and then, especially when the weekend and low visibility coincided. I ran toward the neighbor’s patched fence, toward safety in the form of a boulder guarding the apex of the turn, hoping whoever sat behind the wheel didn’t mean to run me down. The way my luck was going that night, with the unexpected rain and Granddad’s truck quitting, it surprised me when the car stopped and I was still standing upright. The GTO—the 1964 stock GTO that I knew to be deep purple but looked black right then—rocked gently and then settled. It rocked again when he leaned across the seat to roll the window down. Even if he’d seen my truck, he wouldn’t know who I was. He’d left town before we moved here, and only one thing about me is at all noteworthy anyway. Everyone knew the day he’d come back to town. Red Richardson—also known as Ellred Long, the name he got the day he was born. Back from Los Angeles where he’d never really made it, but he’d come close enough to be a Big Man in this little backwash town of five hundred (give or take). What he was doing so far off the highway or any of the main roads, I had no clue. “Hey,” he shouted. Even only hearing him shout, you couldn’t help but know the man could sing. “Let me give you a lift. It’s starting to rain again.” Slowly, to give myself time to figure out what was going on, I approached the passenger side of the car. I didn’t want to get in—that was trouble waiting to happen if I’d ever seen it—but I wasn’t looking forward to walking for another two hours either. I bent and looked in the window, a safe four feet between me and the car. A blast of warm air hit my face, and I tried not to look too hard at him. He always wore nice button-down shirts, in videos or going to the Mini Mart in Drop—jewel-tone red, purple, black—that looked like silk. “Where are you headed?” “Nowhere. Just out driving.” Even in the dark, I could see his brilliant smile. He probably paid good money for that whiteness. I couldn’t see his long black hair or whether he was clean-shaven or had that short patch of beard he sometimes wore on his chin, but the smile did me in on its own. “Where are you headed out here on foot in the middle of the night?” Red asked. “Home.” A few steps closer won’t hurt. Maybe. “My truck quit a mile back.” “The white International? That’s a shame. Cool old truck.” We stared at each other another minute, sizing up the situation, and then he reached across and opened the door. He saw a dirty guy, obviously the one who’d filled the bed of said truck with firewood. A filthy, wet, and tired guy who only wanted to get home. He has no idea. I brushed off my pants as best I could and slid onto the seat. “Thanks. I’m up the road a couple of miles.” Red Richardson extended a hand and introduced himself. As though he needed to tell anyone who lived within a fifty-mile radius who he was. I gripped his hand for as short a time as I could get away with and nodded. “Ezra. Ezra Cook.” “Good to meet you, Ezra Cook.” Red looked me over, and I could’ve sworn he was wondering how much trouble he could whip up for the both of us. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought he wanted me to pay for the ride with a blow job. Or maybe he was only trying to figure out who I was related to. That would take a very long time and end the same way as his music career: in disappointment. I adjusted myself on the seat, pulling my filthy jeans lower across my hips and turning said hips away from him. He shouldn’t be flirting with men, and if he kept it up, I wasn’t above pointing that out. He could get himself killed doing that out here. Red cleared his throat and gunned the engine. It sounded amazing. His father and brothers had kept the car on the road, probably figured he’d never be back to claim it. Probably prayed he’d never come back to claim it. That GTO was the nicest ride in three towns. Or maybe I liked the whole package—the sexy washed-up musician driving a fifty-year-old muscle car. He pulled back onto the road, his headlights illuminating a whole lot of nothing in front and to both sides. The silence stretched out too long, something that wouldn’t have bothered me any other time or place. “You’ll see a big red mailbox on the right.” Red chuckled. A quiet rumbling, tuned to perfection like the car. “Your folks live out here long?” That got my hackles up, but no sense in going down that road. “No. We moved to Drop in the early aughts.” He darted a look in my direction—at least that’s what it probably started out as. Red couldn’t tear his eyes off me, which should’ve felt more like trouble than it did. Denial. It’ll get you every time. “Aughts? What’s that?” “You know. The first decade of the twenty-first century. Aught one, aught two…” When I realized I’d actually been speaking to him like he was anyone else—like we were two regular guys in a car, nothing unusual, nothing out of the ordinary to see here—I caught my tongue between my teeth and bit down. Not hard, I’m no masochist, just hard enough to remember why I should shut the hell up. “How old are you?” He chuckled again. Damn him. “My father says that, but I didn’t think anyone under sixty used that term.” “We’re all old out here.” “Interesting. Because I’ve always heard the opposite. About me, anyway.” “Opposite?” “That I’m immature. A hopeless man-child.” He laughed and took one hand off the wheel. My attention fixed on that hand as he rubbed his thigh and then gripped it. His laugh sounded embarrassed and like he was bragging at the same time. I needed to get out of that car before I got myself in trouble. “You can drop me anywhere. I don’t want to put you out.” “I’ll take you home. It’s no trouble.” Red rubbed the thigh of his jeans again, maybe to dry a sweaty palm, and then returned his hand to the wheel. His concentration seemed to focus on driving and the road outside the windshield instead of on me. Disappointing, but for the best. Even if he did keep flirting—if that was really what he’d been doing—it wasn’t like it would have gone anywhere. Rock stars didn’t get involved with…people like me. I’d just raised my hand to point out the mailbox when he slowed to take the turn. His cocky grin made me want to adjust my pants again, but I was afraid we’d end up in the ditch if I did. Red roared down the half-mile stretch of dirt and gravel that passed for our road but stopped the car without making any ruts. He might be cocky, but he was no asshole. Great. I’d sort of hoped he was. He stopped in the turnaround near the front porch, and before I could even say thanks, the front door burst open. My brother stormed out and didn’t stop, yelling at the top of his lungs about something. All he wore were battered and ripped jeans—the hair on his head and chest looked white in Red’s headlights and wild like he’d been asleep on the couch. His enormous feet were bare. I jumped out before the car had stopped rocking. “It’s me—Ezra,” I shouted over him. “Tray, the truck broke down, and Red here gave me a lift home.” Tracy stopped and glared at the car, both hands locked in fists. He didn’t move or say another word, which was probably for the best considering he’d been woken up by headlights to find out I hadn’t made it home. I closed the car door and looked at Red through the open window. “Thanks for the ride.” “You going to be okay?” He looked between Tracy and me a couple of times. Clearly, he thought the answer was no. “Yeah. It’s my brother. The car must’ve woke him up. We don’t get a lot of traffic back here, that’s all. Thanks again.” I stepped back and gave him a little wave. When he didn’t head out right away, I took Tray’s arm and started up the porch steps. Tracy didn’t make it any easier—he twisted at the waist to look back, no doubt trying to figure out who was crazy enough to drive down his road. Even FedEx and UPS had Tracy Cook’s place listed as a no-fly zone, so we had to drive over an hour into Portland to pick up any packages. When we got any packages, which didn’t happen much. Nobody would’ve sent any presents to the Cooks’ two black sheep, even if they had found us again.

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Meet the Author

Charli Coty misspent a large chunk of her youth on the back of a Harley, meeting people and having adventures that sometimes pop up in their fiction. Mx Coty writes everything from contemporary to paranormal, always with a happy ending. Charli has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.

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Rainbow Snippet February 3-4

2/3/2018

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It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your tbr. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+.

This weekend, I'm sharing a snippet from The Dragon's Devotion, a quiet scene between Bastien and Corentin.
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​Bastien could have 
stayed exactly where he was forever. Corentin lay curled around him in the nest of blankets they’d made in the middle of the bed, and Bastien drowsed, warm and sated and comfortable. He’d moved as far into Corentin’s embrace as he could, burrowing down into the blankets, and it was as close to perfect as he could imagine. Certainly it was the most relaxed, the most...protected, perhaps, that he’d felt in a very long time. An odd thought. He let it slip away as he drifted, eyes blinking slowly but taking in little of the fire-lit room. Every so often Corentin laid a soft kiss on his hair, and that was lovely too. 



If you'd like to know more about The Dragon's Devotion, you can find it here. Also, today is the last day to paperbacks of my Dreamspinner titles 30% off. If you're a paperback lover, don't miss out! Thanks for stopping by today!
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Writing Updates, News, and JeRoWriMo 2018!

2/1/2018

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This is an incredibly delayed update post, for which I apologize. January has been ridiculously busy. I've had so many deadlines that I mostly kept my head down and tried to get through it. The first thing I worked on were revisions for Tournai 6. The release date for that book was moved up to June 4th, so it's coming to you a little sooner than I originally thought (yay!). If you missed it, I shared a snippet before Christmas. I'll share some more soon as I get into edits.

I also had revisions on the first book in the new series, which I also shared a snippet of a little while back, if you missed it. This one will be in your hands on September 3rd. I've also been writing its sequel, which will hopefully reach you not too long after that (because I left some plot points unresolved, though not the romance—Arden and Edmund end the book in a very happy place). A synopsis and the first five chapters just went out to my editors, so fingers crossed that she likes it as I keep writing. 

February is NJRW's Jersey Romance Writer's Month, and I'm participating again. The goal is 30k words in February, but I'm hoping for more than that. I need to get this sequel written! Once I do, Tournai 7 is next up on the writing schedule, though that's a little ways out yet. I usually try to start JeRoWriMo well rested and with a clean apartment...with the way January went, none of that is true this year, but I'm pushing on anyway! I'll keep you posted.

In other news, I will be at this years Liberty States Conference this year in Iselin, NJ in March. If you're there, please say hi, and even if you're not attending, you can come to the book fair on Saturday March 24th. I'll have copies of all my books with.

Finally, Dreamspinner is having a paperback sale now. If you're a paperback fan, you can get 30% off my DSP books for the next couple days.

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    Antonia is a writer and a reader and a copy editor/proofreader. She loves books, travel, art, photography, baking, pasta, and shoes.

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