Bree Cariad is visiting today to talk about Light in the Dark Night, and share an excerpt. Welcome, Bree!
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If I could be Brecker’s son, that would be the best thing in the world.
When a plot bunny strikes, an author must listen. 13 months ago, the voices of Reverend Jonathon Neiland and Court Brecker, as well as teenager Aiden began to course through my mind. Their personalities were compelling, their plight heart-wrenching. I couldn’t not write their story.
Besides the love story that flows throughout, this is also a story about the teenagers that live at Jonathon’s LGBT shelter. Aiden, a trans boy that Brecker finds in an alleyway, finds himself there, amongst people who get him. After all, we all want a place where we fit in, don’t we?
Light in the Dark Night is the 1st novel in the Love Conquers All series. I classify the LCA series as Love Stories instead of romances as they don’t necessarily follow romance tropes.
Besides the love story that flows throughout, this is also a story about the teenagers that live at Jonathon’s LGBT shelter. Aiden, a trans boy that Brecker finds in an alleyway, finds himself there, amongst people who get him. After all, we all want a place where we fit in, don’t we?
Light in the Dark Night is the 1st novel in the Love Conquers All series. I classify the LCA series as Love Stories instead of romances as they don’t necessarily follow romance tropes.
Excerpt
(In this snippet, Brecker has just brought Aiden to the shelter. Jonathon is doing his best to get to know the scared kid.)
“So how did you meet?” he asked politely.
Aiden winced and inched a little closer to Brecker. Jonathon could understand the movement. Brecker had that all-around aura of being the kind of guy you could rely on. When Brecker didn’t speak, Aiden looked at him and then shyly met Jonathon’s gaze. “A couple guys were giving me trouble and Brecker saved me.”
“He’s a good one for coming to the rescue,” Jonathon agreed with warmth. “Are you okay? Any cuts or scrapes that need attending to?” Aiden blanched a little and put a hand up to cover the right side of the T-shirt collar he wore. Ah. Most likely yes, but unwilling to be a problem yet. He could deal with that. “Did Brecker tell you what we do here?”
“He said you run a youth shelter.” Aiden’s voice was so quiet, it was almost non-existent. “You….” He glanced at Brecker and then back at Jonathon. “You don’t fix people, do you?” The earnest gaze along with the trembling lips made Jonathon want to cry. The kid had been threatened with one of those places. He wished he could put them out of commission entirely.
“No,” he said, keeping his voice modulated even though he wanted to vehemently deny that he would ever do anything so heinous. “My boyfriend in college was sent to one. He died there. I’ve made this house a haven for those of us who have nowhere to go. A place where we can always be who we are.”
Aiden’s mouth dropped open. “Brecker said you were gay but I didn’t believe it. You’re really gay?”
With a soft chuckle, Jonathon nodded. “I am. There are thirty-six teenagers who live here currently, all of them under the great LGBT rainbow.” Aiden’s eyes glistened and the hope in their depths was a look he was used to. “Thomas, our Nurse Practitioner, is queer. Rolf, our cook, is bisexual. And the counselor we have who comes in to talk with each of our residents is trans.” Before he could say anything else, tears poured out of Aiden’s eyes. Jonathon leaned in and reached across the coffee table. He’d been through this with each resident in the home and knew what it felt like to suddenly find acceptance. It was a hope that was almost impossible to believe. “And there’s a place for you if you want it.”
Aiden grasped hold of his hands. “I-I’m a boy,” he whispered through trembling lips. “I’m a boy.” That nailed it. Jonathon knew the kind of teasing and bullying the boy would have received for most of his life because of the difference between physical and emotional gender. He wondered how often Aiden had been able to admit that out loud. Probably not much and when he did, the reaction was most likely negative.
Jonathon squeezed his hands. “Of course you are. I’m assuming someone told you that you weren’t?” Aiden nodded frantically. “Sorry, Aiden. There are a lot of people out there who don’t understand. But we do. Would you like to see the place before you make a decision?”
“So how did you meet?” he asked politely.
Aiden winced and inched a little closer to Brecker. Jonathon could understand the movement. Brecker had that all-around aura of being the kind of guy you could rely on. When Brecker didn’t speak, Aiden looked at him and then shyly met Jonathon’s gaze. “A couple guys were giving me trouble and Brecker saved me.”
“He’s a good one for coming to the rescue,” Jonathon agreed with warmth. “Are you okay? Any cuts or scrapes that need attending to?” Aiden blanched a little and put a hand up to cover the right side of the T-shirt collar he wore. Ah. Most likely yes, but unwilling to be a problem yet. He could deal with that. “Did Brecker tell you what we do here?”
“He said you run a youth shelter.” Aiden’s voice was so quiet, it was almost non-existent. “You….” He glanced at Brecker and then back at Jonathon. “You don’t fix people, do you?” The earnest gaze along with the trembling lips made Jonathon want to cry. The kid had been threatened with one of those places. He wished he could put them out of commission entirely.
“No,” he said, keeping his voice modulated even though he wanted to vehemently deny that he would ever do anything so heinous. “My boyfriend in college was sent to one. He died there. I’ve made this house a haven for those of us who have nowhere to go. A place where we can always be who we are.”
Aiden’s mouth dropped open. “Brecker said you were gay but I didn’t believe it. You’re really gay?”
With a soft chuckle, Jonathon nodded. “I am. There are thirty-six teenagers who live here currently, all of them under the great LGBT rainbow.” Aiden’s eyes glistened and the hope in their depths was a look he was used to. “Thomas, our Nurse Practitioner, is queer. Rolf, our cook, is bisexual. And the counselor we have who comes in to talk with each of our residents is trans.” Before he could say anything else, tears poured out of Aiden’s eyes. Jonathon leaned in and reached across the coffee table. He’d been through this with each resident in the home and knew what it felt like to suddenly find acceptance. It was a hope that was almost impossible to believe. “And there’s a place for you if you want it.”
Aiden grasped hold of his hands. “I-I’m a boy,” he whispered through trembling lips. “I’m a boy.” That nailed it. Jonathon knew the kind of teasing and bullying the boy would have received for most of his life because of the difference between physical and emotional gender. He wondered how often Aiden had been able to admit that out loud. Probably not much and when he did, the reaction was most likely negative.
Jonathon squeezed his hands. “Of course you are. I’m assuming someone told you that you weren’t?” Aiden nodded frantically. “Sorry, Aiden. There are a lot of people out there who don’t understand. But we do. Would you like to see the place before you make a decision?”
Heat Rating: Low
Age range: 16+
Blurb:
Reverend Jonathon Neiland gets his wish a decade in the making and finally the Paul D. Regelo Center for LGBT Youth is up and running. He knows things will never be easy, but then he never expects them to be. All he asks is that the Lord be on his side while he takes care of his kids.
Court Brecker has been through his own brand of hell and strives every day to be the best he can be, but he never expects to find a runaway on the streets, nor to take him to Jonathon's center. Never one to get in too deep with anyone or anything, to his surprise he finds himself enjoying his time both with Aiden and Jonathon. They develop a deep friendship and for the first time in his life, he has someone to rely on who also relies on him.
While Brecker tries to understand the new feelings he’s battling, Jonathon runs into more and more stress, especially when Aiden is removed from the shelter forcefully. He’s never doubted that the Lord has a plan for them and when they are attacked from without and everything seems dark, He opens the door to show them the light.
Buy Links:
A Thia Thing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Smashwords
Age range: 16+
Blurb:
Reverend Jonathon Neiland gets his wish a decade in the making and finally the Paul D. Regelo Center for LGBT Youth is up and running. He knows things will never be easy, but then he never expects them to be. All he asks is that the Lord be on his side while he takes care of his kids.
Court Brecker has been through his own brand of hell and strives every day to be the best he can be, but he never expects to find a runaway on the streets, nor to take him to Jonathon's center. Never one to get in too deep with anyone or anything, to his surprise he finds himself enjoying his time both with Aiden and Jonathon. They develop a deep friendship and for the first time in his life, he has someone to rely on who also relies on him.
While Brecker tries to understand the new feelings he’s battling, Jonathon runs into more and more stress, especially when Aiden is removed from the shelter forcefully. He’s never doubted that the Lord has a plan for them and when they are attacked from without and everything seems dark, He opens the door to show them the light.
Buy Links:
A Thia Thing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Smashwords
About the Author:
Bree is a best-selling inspirational & sweet romance author. Xe identifies as non-normative, multi-gender and believes in love in all forms and that happily ever afters come in many ways. Whether in a romance or a non-romance, in xys stories, love conquers all.
While xe enjoys the xe, xys, xem, xemself pronouns, xe isn't sussed about it. Call Bree she, he, or xe. As xys gender identity is fluid, odds are you'll get it right some of the time ;)
Find Bree Online:
Website / Blog / Newsletter / Facebook / Author Group / Twitter / Pinterest / Tumblr
While xe enjoys the xe, xys, xem, xemself pronouns, xe isn't sussed about it. Call Bree she, he, or xe. As xys gender identity is fluid, odds are you'll get it right some of the time ;)
Find Bree Online:
Website / Blog / Newsletter / Facebook / Author Group / Twitter / Pinterest / Tumblr
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