Monday 22 December 2014

Three More Sleeps To Christmas


Christmas is almost here, and I'm super excited. It's that time of year where I get to act like a big kid, eat too much, and feel all warm and fuzzy curled up on the couch watching TV.

I thought I'd share with you a few things that I enjoy about Christmas and what I'm up to this year.


I love my tree. I've decorated in red and gold for years.
Maybe I'll change it one year. Maybe.
1. Decorations - I love to get my baubles out :) It's become a rule that on the first weekend in December hubby gets himself up in the roof and finds out the Christmas decorations. He kind of shuns all responsibility after that and it's over to me to throw tinsel over everything, decorate the tree, hang up the fairy light, and line up the cuddly toys. Hubby really loves the ones that dance and sing. No, he doesn't. And what has been somewhat of a tradition, every year in the sales, I buy a new tree decoration for the following year. Luckily, there's still plenty of branches on the tree just yet :)
Fairy lights around my fireplace.
Just a few of my cuddly toys.
I think it's an addiction.

2. Wrapping presents - the last few days my living room has looked like an elf threw up everywhere. There was wrapping paper, bows and gift bags all over the place, and it was again time for the great Christmas Sellotape hunt. Seriously, where does that stuff go? I love buying gifts and wrapping them up, taping up every opening, and adding ribbons, bows and tags. It really does make me feel ready for Christmas.


Wednesday 10 December 2014

Guest Post - Lillian Francis - When Love Flue In

More? You want more?

Thanks to Meredith for hosting me today. I’m here to talk about my new release ‘When Love Flue In’ and additional content.

~*~

There are few words that can strike fear into an author’s heart like these from your publisher. “If you could just write an extra scene, nothing huge, 500 words or so.”

Nothing huge? Just a completely new scene for a story you thought you’d put to bed months ago. Characters you’d consigned to a little box marked Done, unless sequel strikes. And because we carry on writing while we wait patiently for that yes from a publisher, these characters have been superseded by others.

But you stuck it up because you want this to be the best story you can produce and if your editor thinks the reader will benefit from seeing the rest of that scene from the other characters point of view then that is what they will get.

“Sure. Which scene?” You send back the question, praying you don’t get the answer you’re anticipating.

But getting it regardless. “The sex scene.” No!!!

Yes, those are the actual words that strike fear into my author heart. Especially when coupled with “and I need it back in three days”. Sex scenes take me forever to write unlike some of my friends who write them with relish and gusto whenever the words won’t come or the story is blocked.

Don’t believe me?


And




Yep, my friend Therese Woodson confirming she can


But, I hear you cry, you write gay romance, of course you need sex scenes.

Why?

I don't write erotica, so why does the fact that the protagonists in the relationships in my stories are both two men automatically mean that I need to up the heat rating.

In truth, I don't. There are plenty of gay romance stories where the sex happens off the page, or where the romance is sweet and sexy but not sexually explicit. But for some reason people not actively involved in our community—and as a genre we are still small enough to be classed as such—cannot see the distinction between gay romance and erotica, to the extent that some publishers can struggle to place a gay romance with non explicit content.

But I digress. (And to be honest I don’t wish to give that publisher any airtime at all.)

Once I settled down to write the required scene I realised that my editor had got it spot on. The story needed those extra 1400+ words (yes, yes I know, longer than needed, story of my writing career, yada yada) and I just needed someone to point me in the right direction to make it happen.

So when you see the following information
Publisher's Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.
Know that in this case it is a statement not made lightly and hopefully the story is all the stronger for it.



Blurb

A soot-haired chimney sweep, an exploding flue and an uncooked turkey. It’s an unholy trinity that may make all of Dominic’s Christmas wishes come true.

Dominic is celebrating his first Christmas since his divorce, and although he’s spending it on his own, he’s determined to have a traditional Christmas morning, including a roaring fire. Unfortunately, Dominic’s chimney is blocked, which is why Reagan, a soot-haired chimney sweep, is head and shoulders up Dominic’s flue. Dominic is just lucky the man had a cancellation on Christmas Eve.

Unable to take his eyes off Reagan’s low-slung jeans and enticing arse while Reagan sets about the hearth with rods and brushes, Dominic knows five years is a long time to be obsessed with the man who sweeps his chimney every Christmas. This year there’s nothing to stop Dominic from acting on his desires—except his own insecurities.

An exploding flue provides the opportunity for more than just polite conversation and could be the catalyst for a perfect Christmas. But Dominic will need to stop hiding who he really is before a special sweep can light a fire in his heart.

Publisher's Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.

Buy Links

Totally Bound
All Romance ebooks
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Kobo

About the author
An avid reader, Lillian Francis was always determined she wanted to write, but a 'proper' job and raising a family distracted her for over a decade. Over the years and thanks to the charms of the Internet, Lillian realized she’d been writing at least one of her characters in the wrong gender. Ever since, she’s been happily letting her ‘boys’ run her writing life.

Lillian now divides her time between family, a job and the numerous men in her head all clamouring for 'their' story to be told.

Lillian lives in an imposing castle on a wind-swept desolate moor or in an elaborate ‘shack’ on the edge of a beach somewhere depending on her mood, with the heroes of her stories either chained up in the dungeon or wandering the shack serving drinks in nothing but skimpy barista aprons.

In reality, she would love to own a camper van and to live by the sea.

Find Lillian at
Website/Blog: http://lillianfrancis.blogspot.com/
Twitter: LillianFrancis_
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Lillian_Francis


At the end of the blog tour Lillian will pose a question with the chance to win a copy of the ebook - for details check out the master tour post here http://lillianfrancis.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/announcing-mini-blog-tour-and-chance-to.html





Christmas Short Story Tour ~ Jamie and Edward from Under The Sun

RJ Scott loves Christmas and she certainly isn't alone. Christmas is awesome! This year, she has invited authors to visit pairings from their previous books and write a short story about them set around Christmas/Winter. A link to her main blog post containing links to other authors' short stories is at the bottom of this post.
 
I hope you enjoy revisiting Jamie and Edward, or if you are new to the series, I hope you enjoy meeting our British wedding planner and his ex-Marine boyfriend.
 
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Jamie and Edward spend Christmas Eve with Edward's parents.


"Christ, get off me," Jamie complained.

Edward scrutinized Jamie's appearance as they stood beside the car on the snowy driveway. "You want to make a good first impression, correct?" Something just didn't feel right. What was wrong with his otherwise gorgeous boyfriend?

Jamie sighed and batted Edward's hand away. "It'll be fine. We'll all be fine." He gave Edward a firm look. "We didn't fly a million miles to have a terrible Christmas. It'll be fun."

"A million?" Jamie's comment teased a smile at the corner of Edward's mouth.

"Okay, maybe two million." Jamie looked at Edward with his beautiful, green eyes, and, as always, Edward relaxed. Just a little.

"Yeah. You're right. It'll be fun." Drinks with his parents on Christmas Eve, what could possibly be more fun than that? Everything would be fine. He had been on edge all damn day. This was the first time his parents were meeting Jamie, the first time Jamie was meeting them, and Edward just wanted everything to go smoothly. He glanced at Jamie. His parents would adore Jamie, because who wouldn't? Jamie was sweet, and kind, and bloody perfect. Edward chewed on his lip as he considered what was waiting for them inside. It was easy to imagine the worst. He expected his mother would end up having one too many sherries, and being the merry flirt that she was would be draped over Jamie by the end of the evening, his father would be on fine form reeling off awkward dad jokes, and his dry and sarcastic sense of humor would go straight over the top of Jamie's head, and then there was his brother who mostly communicated in grunts and back slapping.

We're doomed.

Thursday 4 December 2014

Cover reveal and blurb ~ Just Jack

Coming January 2015, Just Jack with Love Lane Books.
 
A contemporary romance with a supernatural twist.

Cover art by Bittergrace Art

Blurb

Can two broken men find love in the chill of Winter?

Leo is having a bad day. Finding his boyfriend in bed with another man was one thing, being the subject of office gossip another, but falling on his ass in the snow in front of a gorgeous man was the final straw.

Jack has existed in a solitary life of ice and bitterness after betrayal. He swore no one would ever break his heart again, gave up on love, and became something else; Jack Frost.

As Jack and Leo get closer, Jack is left torn and confused. Jack yearns for anything that reminds him of his humanity, but the truth is, he feels nothing, not warmth, not love, and he knows he might never be able to love Leo the way he deserves to be loved.

When the line between fairy tales and magic, and the real world become blurred, can love conquer everything?

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Spiced Apple and Cinnamon ~ Christmas Short Story

This story was previously published as part of the free anthology Christmas Delights (Christmas 2013). The complete anthology is available from Love Lane Books and All Romance
 


Keegan Jones sat in the window of his Victorian terrace and eyed the layer of snow on the back lawn. Pulling the sleeve of the jumper he wore down over his hand, he rubbed at the condensation on the window so he could see outside more clearly. He looked at the gate sitting at the end of the long garden, then checked his watch. It was a little after nine in the morning. The sun was still waking and cast an eerie glow across the world as it shone from behind cotton-white clouds. Keegan checked the gate again, willing it to open and for him to be reunited with his love.

It was Christmas morning, but Keegan didn’t feel all that Christmassy. Pulling his legs up to balance his feet on the edge of the window seat, Keegan lowered his face and slipped his chin beneath the soft material of the jumper. The timer on the heating had clicked off an hour ago, and already a cool chill had settled over the room. A smile crept over his face as he breathed in the warming aroma of his lover’s clothes. Alex was strong and muscular, his shoulders broader and his chest wider than Keegan’s slight frame. Alex was always complaining about Keegan wearing his clothes, but Keegan couldn’t help it. If he ever felt low or poorly, he wrapped himself up in Alex’s jumpers. They were so comfy and smelled damn good. Distracting himself, he inspected his feet and wiggled his toes inside the overly fluffy slipper socks. He smiled as the small bells stitched to them jingled and the red pompom standing in for Rudolph’s nose twitched. He was sure he’d grow tired of the sound at some point, but for now it was kind of comforting and the only gift he’d been given permission to open without Alex that morning.

Come home soon, Alex.

Keegan didn’t think he’d ever woken alone on Christmas morning before. He’d always been at home with his parents and brothers growing up. Then three years ago, after dating for five, he’d finally taken the plunge and moved in with Alex. The last two Christmases they’d woken together, spent a lazy morning in bed opening each other’s gifts, and then ventured out to family for lunch and present swapping. But this year was different. This year Alex’s side of the bed was empty and cold when Keegan had awoken. Alex had a job and Keegan understood that it wasn’t one that just stopped because it was Christmas, because there was a wreath on the door or a tree in the front room. Alex was a firefighter and this year he had been put on the first of the Christmas shifts—six pm Christmas Eve through to nine am Christmas Day.

God, how incredibly large their bed had felt last night. Keegan had fallen asleep after tossing and turning more than he cared to remember. Sure he worried about Alex any time he was out on calls, but this was Christmas and he couldn’t bear the thought of something bad happening on what was supposed to be one of the happiest and most hopeful days of the year. Hell, Keegan’s heart had stuttered in his chest any time the phone had rung since Alex had left for the station.

At eight pm, Alex’s mother had called asking what vegetables Keegan would like for his Christmas dinner, at eleven, Keegan’s youngest brother had phoned, wishing him an early Happy Christmas from Australia, and then this morning his mother rang to send him hugs and best wishes for a good morning and to tell him that she and Dad looked forward to seeing them both after tea time.

The sound of something hitting wood outside drew Keegan’s attention, but he was left disappointed as he watched next door’s cat walk the length of the garden fence. With a sigh, he spun in his seat and lowered his legs so his feet were on the floor. He surveyed the room. He loved Christmas and as soon as he’d woken on the first day of December he had pestered Alex about going up into the loft and getting down the decorations. In the corner of the room sat a six-foot fake tree. It had been his parents’, and though it was a little on the tired side, when covered in strings of beads and tinsel and a few dozen tree ornaments, it was good enough.

Screwing up his mouth, he checked his watch. It had only been two minutes since he looked at it last. He got to his feet and ambled across the room. He stopped beside the coffee table and picked up the scented candle sitting in the centre of the table. Taking a deep breath, he smelled the candle—spiced apple and cinnamon.

So good.

Keegan headed for the sideboard and opened the top drawer. He pursed his lips as he rummaged through its contents—old bank statements, cheque books, batteries, scissors. Eventually, he found the lighter. Neither of them smoked and he’d had it since before he met Alex. For some reason it was in a goodie bag at the Fresher’s Fair he’d attended when he’d started university. He pushed the drawer shut and went to sit on the couch. Pulling his thumb across the top of the lighter, he managed to create a flame, then lit the candle. He waited for the wick to catch light, then placed the lighter on the table and cupped the glass bowl of the scented candle in his hands. He watched the flame and the orange glow it created against his palms.

Carefully, he placed the candle on a coaster and sat back. He checked around the room and wondered if he’d forgotten anything. He’d put his presents for Alex under the tree as Alex had done last night before he headed out to work, and he’d made plans to make breakfast when Alex got home—nothing said I love you more than a bacon and fried egg sandwich.

Where are you?

He hated waiting and not knowing. What if something had happened? No. He wouldn’t think like that. With a sigh, he leaned back and took a deep breath. Cinnamon filled his nostrils and he closed his eyes. He loved the smell. It was a very warming scent and he relaxed. Opening his eyes, he stretched and pulled a blanket towards him. Settling in the corner of the couch, he picked up the TV remote and turned on the television. He flicked through the channels. He passed a few Christmas movies, a carol service, a cookery programme and eventually settled for one of the music channels and its countdown of the top fifty Christmas songs. He watched as East 17 somberly spun around in heavy white fur-lined coats. As the song neared its end, information popped up on the screen.

Nineteen-ninety-nine. Christ, I feel old.

Leaning forward, he slid the remote onto the table, then cuddled back beneath the blanket. As much as he loved the space the old house gave them, the place seemed to lose the heat really quickly. He eyed the fire on the wall. He hated the smell of it. All gas and dust. The heating wasn’t set to come on again until that evening, and it was pointless putting it back on now as by the time the house warmed back up, they’d be heading out for a day of food and family—Alex’s parents for lunch, his for tea.

The sound of his mobile phone ringing drew Keegan’s attention to the arm of the couch. Freeing his hand from the blanket, he grabbed his phone. Alex’s name was on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hey. You decent?” Alex answered and Keegan relaxed. “I could do with a hand.”

Monday 8 September 2014

August Roundup

Wow, where did August go?

So after a quiet few months, the end of July and into August saw three releases from me.


Firstly, Capture the Sun, the fifth book in the Sapphire cay series written with RJ Scott. It was nice to pick up the story of one of the characters who had a brief appearance in our very first story on the island, Follow the Sun. This series has been a joy to write, and we have one more book planned coming in 2015 that will kind of bring the story full circle and most likely bring the series to a close.

Then came Alter Ego in the middle of the month, overwhelmed by the response, getting on the ARe best sellers list and also some of the top 100 gay fiction lists on Amazon UK. I'm very proud of the story and happy to get back to a solid, contemporary drama/romance.

And then bringing up the rear so to speak, the rerelease of Dead Things with super new cover art by my friend Bittergrace. She did me a massive favour dusting off her retired copy of photoshop to make me the cover and I love it.

You can find links to all book pages here http://meredithrussell.blogspot.co.uk/p/books-by-meredith.html

I also got stuck into some cover art for Love Lane Books and some self-published authors - and as we move into September, a friendly reminder pricing has changed now :) You can catch up with Art by Meredith here or click the link above.

What's coming up?

I'm currently focusing on my Christmas/Winter story called Just Jack. It's a contemporary romance story with a supernatural twist and is currently penned in for a release date of December 5th with Love Lane Books.

Following on from there, I'm looking at writing the sequel to Dead Things, so far excitingly entitled Dead Things 2 and after that the third and final book in the Lone Wolf Trilogy with Extasy Books, and following The Good Wolf and The Bad Wolf, we will have The Ugly Wolf. It just had to be done really :)

Friday 5 September 2014

UK Meet September 2015 Registration

The UK Meet is back for 2015 and registration is open http://ukglbtfictionmeet.co.uk/2015-registration/

I went this year and thoroughly enjoyed myself, even if I was a little shy (I really am very shy). But it was great to meet new people, hear from various speakers and have a look what other people were doing. I'm still pretty new to all this so it was scary and exciting all rolled up in one, throw in some naked butlers and well, it was actually a brilliant experience.

I never got round to posting any photos of the event, so here to celebrate the return to Bristol, are a few shots of the lovely people I met.

RJ Scott and Violet Joicey-Cowen
Liam Livings and RJ Scott
Sam Higson
Max Vos and KC Wells

Lisa Worrall
 
Me and Lauren Lewis
 

Me and KC Wells, Sue Brown and Max Vos



Me and TJ Masters, Lisa Worrall and Jay Northcote
 
Me and the entertainment: naked butlers and Eddie.

Saturday 30 August 2014

Capture the Sun (Sapphire Cay #5)


Blurb

Model, Isaac Bailey wants to break into the world of fashion design. Under his father’s company name, he is set to debut his new collection—summer wear.
He has the models, the clothes, what he needs is a location. Mitch Stone is a trouble shooter. His latest client needs an exotic location and he happens to know someone with the very thing—Sapphire Cay.

Having underestimated Isaac as nothing more than an airhead model, Mitch soon discovers there is much more to the young man than he first thought. 

As the fashion shoot gets underway, Mitch has to contend with his feelings for his old love, Dylan, and the very new and growing affections he has for Isaac. 

What starts as just another job, turns out to be more fruitful and exhilarating than winning any multi-million dollar contract.

Buy Links

Love Lane Books  |  Amazon (US)  |  Amazon (UK)  |  ARe  | Smashwords  |  B&N  |  iTunes

Reviews

Prism Book Alliance - 5/5 - "....I’ve been reading the Sapphire Cay stories since the very first book; they are like coming home and meeting old friends. My oasis of calm all rolled into one. It doesn’t matter how bad my day has been a trip to Sapphire Cay has the power to lower my blood pressure and relax me like nothing else...."

"....I loved this one so much, it’s by far my favourite of the series (and long may they continue). I don’t want to say anything more about the story except to say Mitch is perfect as the uptight businessman who’s forgotten how to unwind, he wants what he finds on the Cay but he’s scared to reach out and take it, thinking that you can’t build a future on a holiday fling. I loved Isaac too; he was very sweet and quite nervous of the fashion shoot for his first collection. One touch that I loved was how the pictures of Peter and Alfie, found in Christmas on the Cay, were mentioned, that’s the type of thing that’s wonderful about these stories, each one feeds into the next, and I can’t wait to hear their story too...."

Multitaskingmommas Reviews - 4/5 - "....This was such a sweet romance, especially when Mitch kissed Isaac's worries away. The two men had their own issues to deal with and they did deal with them - together - and that just made me smile happily for them both. This does have a fairy tale feel to it though, so is kind of dreamy. Then again, I think dreamy is good, especially when I fall in love with two men I knew nothing about and made me curious enough to pick up the rest of the series...."

Excerpt


Chapter 1

Mitch Stone sipped at very weak whiskey and water and people-watched. He’d done the rounds twice already, flirted with the women, talked sports with the men, and every other cliché under the sun. Now he was hiding to give himself some time to think and staying as sober as he could while having a drink permanently in his hand.

It’s Christmas Eve, live a little.

“Why are you hiding over here?” his senior manager asked with a frown. She was looking a little glassy-eyed, and the champagne glass in her hand was nearly empty.

Mitch lifted his glass in a toast and smiled easily. He liked Doris, with all her power suits and her impossibly high heels. Tonight she appeared relaxed, and it was a good look on her. “I’m just taking a breather.” He wasn’t going to lie to her. She was uncannily quick to see through anyone’s bullshit.

“Don’t stay here,” she admonished. She grabbed a new champagne flute from one of the waiters and sipped at it. “I’m going out to find some fun. I’ll find you some while I’m at it.”

“Don’t—“ She’d gone before he could say what he wanted to say. Mitch watched her weave expertly through the groups forming around the small tables and toward a particularly gorgeous young man who had caught Mitch’s eye more than once tonight.

He must be a party favor, young guys and girls brought in to add glitter and romance, slim young girls with short dresses and scarlet lipstick who pandered to any man at a loose end in the crowd, escorts who were available if you needed them. That was how it worked at big seasonal parties like this one. Since there were women who might need that little something, this particular party also included a whole team of cute men who sashayed and mingled, with alcohol they didn’t drink and promise in their expressions. They were all included in with the party, no cost involved.

This young guy, all bright-eyed with soft spiky hair, was so slim it almost seemed unnatural, but he had a good ass, a nice handful, and he was just as happy casting glances back at Mitch. Doris chatted to him, placing a hand on the young guy’s shoulder and leaning in to say something into his ear. He laughed at whatever Doris was saying and looked over at Mitch.

Oh shit, no. Is Doris setting me up with one of the party favors? Like hell that’s happening.

The young man, who must be in his early twenties, nodded his head and spoke to Doris, all the while looking at Mitch, and Mitch ducked away before the man decided he needed an escort tonight. He was here on business, and the last thing he needed was sex.

Friday 29 August 2014

Dead Things (Rerelease)

Dead Things is back. Out today with Love Lane Books.

Blurb

When Devin Reid returned home from his final tour in Afghanistan he thought he’d seen the worst of what people could do to other people. It turned out he was wrong.

The life Devin knew is gone. A deadly virus has infected the world’s population, leaving in its wake two types of people—survivors and monsters. Devin is a survivor, a man almost as broken as the world he struggles to survive in. Devin is part of a group who have found refuge in a high security penitentiary in Kansas State. Resources for the group are limited, but outside the safety of the prison walls, the newly-made undead monsters are hungry and hunting. It's down to a handful of people like Devin to risk their lives scavenging the cities and highways to meet the demands on food and supplies.

On one fateful venture, Devin finds someone with the potential to change a dark future, destined for blood and heartbreak, into one of hope and second chances. He finds Noah Weber.

Together, Devin and Noah work to keep the monsters at bay, but do they have the strength to overcome the hurt and loss they’ve both suffered in the fight for survival? And find love in this harsh, unloving world?

Buy Links:  Love Lane  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  ARe  | Smashwords ...


Excerpt

Chapter 1

“You’re kidding, right?”

Devin Reid tapped his thumbs thoughtfully against the steering wheel of the dark Mercedes-Benz SUV. No, he wasn’t kidding. In fact, he was deadly serious. He guided the vehicle to the side of the road, and left the engine running as he considered the surrounding area. Through the SUV’s dark-tinted windows he saw the old diner set back from the highway. The place wouldn’t have seen a dime or a customer in almost nine months. The outer door hung crookedly on only one of its hinges, and the windows were filthy, covered in dirt kicked up from the highway and the strong wind that blew through the valley. Despite the few cars sitting out front in the parking lot, there was no one around. There were no lights on inside the diner or the adjoining gas station, and both buildings had an eerie stillness about them.

Aware of his partner, Lee, fidgeting in the passenger seat beside him, Devin made a decision and cut the engine. “Come on,” he said and pulled at the door handle. The door swung open and he stepped out of the car. Pushing his shades higher, he stepped back from the SUV and closed the heavy door, his hand lingering around one of the metal strips welded across the dark glass of the driver’s side window. He twisted his hand around the metal and checked the car up and down. Several similar bars secured the SUV’s radiator and wheel arches.

“Omelet?”

Devin looked across the hood of the car and frowned, silently disapproving of his young companion’s attempt to lighten the mood.

“Get it?” Lee continued, quirking his head and smirking as he nodded toward the specials board beside the door. The writing was faint, bleached by the sun, but the offer of any omelet and fries for under three dollars could be made out beneath the layer of old dirt.

Devin pressed his mouth into a thin line as his partner raised his automatic weapon and scanned it across the front of the diner. With a sigh he pushed his own gun into the holster he wore on his thigh.

“I get it,” he said flatly and turned from the diner toward the horizon. He found it comforting as he looked across the large empty plain. There was nothing but miles of dry, sandy dirt spattered with tufts of tall grass reaching out in all directions from the diner. With a crooked smile, he walked to the back of the vehicle then opened and closed the trunk quickly, appearing with two gas cans in his hands. “Let’s make this quick,” he said and started toward the gas station. “Head up to the diner. See if they’ve got any canned food in the back.”

“The diner?” There was fear in his young companion’s voice.

Looking back over his shoulder, Devin gave a heavy sigh. He lowered the gas cans and folded his arms across his chest as he turned to Lee. He watched the teenager shift nervously from one foot to the other and run a shaky hand through his short, auburn hair. The spatter of freckles across his youthful cheeks was darker than usual as his face paled.

“Lee, stop being a pussy and get over there,” Devin said firmly, and nodded toward the diner. They didn’t have time to mess around. He waited, watching Lee as he eyed the dilapidated building, the idea seemingly daunting to the teenager. He hadn’t wanted to bring the kid with him, but as he had been told, everyone needed to pull their weight. There was no easy ride in this world. Not anymore.

Friday 15 August 2014

Alter Ego (Knowles Brook 1) - Out Today

The first book in my Knowles Brook series is out. I'm so excited and hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did writing it.

Blurb

Jay James is the confident, outgoing, flirtatious, lead guitarist of a 70s tribute band. But appearances can be deceiving. Jay James isn’t real. ‘Jay’ was born out of necessity and a way for James Hall to deal with life at home after coming out. James is shy and awkward, and can’t escape the shadow of his strained relationship with his mother. As ‘Jay’, James feels indestructible, like nothing can touch him, and he can have any man he wants. But is that really enough?

When ‘Jay’ meets Danny, he views him as just another potential conquest. Danny, however, has other ideas. The barman has no intention of being just another one night stand and leaves James surprised when he rebuffs his advances.

Danny Ashton is stuck, or at least that’s how he feels sometimes. Five years ago, he dropped out of university to look after his sick mother. He was never prepared for the hand he was dealt—a house to run, bills to pay, and a teenage brother to support. Wanting more than part time bar work, Danny applies for a job at the family run hotel in the village. When he’s called for an interview, he isn’t expecting to see James there but the chance encounter gives him the unexpected opportunity to get to know the real James.

Together, Danny and James realise ignoring their problems will solve nothing, and if they are to stand any chance of happiness and living as the men they want to be, then they need to move forward. Can the two men face their demons? Or will they end up pushing one another away?

Buy linksAmazon US  | Amazon UK  |  Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | Apple iStore


Excerpt


Chapter 1

James Hall strummed the air as a moody David Essex track hit its chorus. The lyrics paused for a powerful chord, and James curled his fingers in the air, playing his invisible guitar.

He heard a short outburst outside the bathroom and lowered his volume. Whatever they were doing out there, it didn’t seem to involve him. He was glad for the few moments of peace before slapping on a smile and going out on the stage.

The Drum and Monkey pub wasn’t huge, and it was a tight squeeze to get all five members of the band and their equipment up on stage. The last time they played they had gone down well with the punters, and so here they were again. Being asked back had instilled James and his bandmates with a sense of pride and confidence. He didn’t know about everyone else, but James had needed that.

He turned the volume back up and focused on his reflection in the mirror above the washbasin. With great care, he tucked the last few strands of his own dark blond hair beneath the net of the platinum blond wig he wore. He flicked the straight, layered locks out of his eyes, and brushed the wig with his fingers as he fixed the style. He then checked over his makeup. His eyes were framed in purple, and he wore pale pink lipstick. James leaned forward, tilting his face as he wiped at the corners of his mouth and checked his teeth. He’d do. He was lead guitarist in a seventies glam cover band, not some elaborate drag act. He liked subtle, just enough of a difference to make him feel like someone else.

There was a bang on the door and a muffled call. James sighed and pulled out his earphones, turning off the music and pocketing his phone in his hoodie.

“What are you doing in there? Writing your will?”

Thursday 14 August 2014

Cover Reveal: Dead Things

Dead Things is back. Two years after its first release in August 2012, the book is back for its rerelease with Love Lane Books. Due for release on the 29th August, and with a brand new cover by the awesome Bittergrace Art who popped out of retirement from the cover art business to do me a massive favour. The zombies are back.

 
Blurb
 
When Devin Reid returned home from his final tour in Afghanistan he thought he’d seen the worst of what people could do to other people. It turned out he was wrong.

The life Devin knew is gone. A deadly virus has infected the world’s population, leaving in its wake two types of people—survivors and monsters. Devin is a survivor, a man almost as broken as the world he struggles to survive in. Devin is part of a group who have found refuge in a high security penitentiary in Kansas State. Resources for the group are limited, but outside the safety of the prison walls, the newly-made undead monsters are hungry and hunting. It's down to a handful of people like Devin to risk their lives scavenging the cities and highways to meet the demands on food and supplies.

On one fateful venture, Devin finds someone with the potential to change a dark future, destined for blood and heartbreak, into one of hope and second chances. He finds Noah Weber.

Together, Devin and Noah work to keep the monsters at bay, but do they have the strength to overcome the hurt and loss they’ve both suffered in the fight for survival? And find love in this harsh, unloving world?

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Alter Ego (Knowles Brook 1)

I am excited to announce my new release, Alter Ego, will be available from this Friday with Love Lane Books.

Alter Ego is the first story in a new series from me based around a fictional village in the Midlands called Knowles Brooks. Though the stories will pretty much be standalone, the lives of the villagers will intertwine much in a similar way to the Sapphire Cay series written with RJ Scott.

Book 1 focuses on James and Danny. Both men have their own baggage, which they need to deal with if they're to stand a chance of their mutual attraction becoming anything more than the series of chance encounters they find themselves meeting in.

I hope you will enjoy their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Over the next week or so on my blog, I hope to look at the inspiration behind the characters and the music in Alter Ego, as well as looking at the real village Knowles Brook is based on and what my hopes are for the series, which in note form, currently stands at five books.

Check back for an excerpt at the end of the week.


Blurb

Jay James is the confident, outgoing, flirtatious, lead guitarist of a 70s tribute band. But appearances can be deceiving. Jay James isn’t real. ‘Jay’ was born out of necessity and a way for James Hall to deal with life at home after coming out. James is shy and awkward, and can’t escape the shadow of his strained relationship with his mother. As ‘Jay’, James feels indestructible, like nothing can touch him, and he can have any man he wants. But is that really enough?

When ‘Jay’ meets Danny, he views him as just another potential conquest. Danny, however, has other ideas. The barman has no intention of being just another one night stand and leaves James surprised when he rebuffs his advances.

Danny Ashton is stuck, or at least that’s how he feels sometimes. Five years ago, he dropped out of university to look after his sick mother. He was never prepared for the hand he was dealt—a house to run, bills to pay, and a teenage brother to support. Wanting more than part time bar work, Danny applies for a job at the family run hotel in the village. When he’s called for an interview, he isn’t expecting to see James there but the chance encounter gives him the unexpected opportunity to get to know the real James.

Together, Danny and James realise ignoring their problems will solve nothing, and if they are to stand any chance of happiness and living as the men they want to be, then they need to move forward. Can the two men face their demons? Or will they end up pushing one another away?

Friday 18 July 2014

Art By Meredith Update

Cover Reveal for Kay Berrisford's Catching Kit, Pricing changes and Ready-made Covers - read the update here http://meredithrussellart.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/cover-reveal-pricing-and-updates.html

100 Words (ish)

A friend and I were looking to break a bit of a writing block a bit ago, so asked for a prompt to write something short, just a scene and the first thing that came to our heads. So RJ Scott kindly gave us the line...

The hairdresser leaned against the door.

Seemed innocent enough, but then my brain got involved.

100 Words (ish) 

The hairdresser leaned against the door. He fisted his hand in the front of his shirt as he caught his breath. Had they seen him? Was he safe? He flinched at the sound of screaming and quickly turned around. There was no lock on the stockroom door, nothing to secure it.

Shit.

He stared at the door, willing it to stay closed. What were those things? His stomach turned over as he remembered the spray of blood across the white wall. They looked like normal men when they came into the salon. But then they changed, all teeth and claws as they shred and tore through person after person.

He screamed as the door was ripped open and off its hinges. His cry faded and there was only the wheeze and gurgle of blood in his throat as he struggled to breathe, and the feel of his flesh being torn away from his bones as the monsters fed.




Tuesday 8 July 2014

Blurb - Alter Ego

Coming soon.

Here is the blurb for Alter Ego, the first in the Knowles Brook series and published with Love Lane Books. 

Jay James is the confident, outgoing, flirtatious, lead guitarist of a 70s tribute band. But appearances can be deceiving. Jay James isn’t real. ‘Jay’ was born out of necessity and a way for James Hall to deal with life at home after coming out. James is shy and awkward, and can’t escape the shadow of his strained relationship with his mother. As ‘Jay’, James feels indestructible, like nothing can touch him, and he can have any man he wants. But is that really enough? 

When ‘Jay’ meets Danny, he views him as just another potential conquest. Danny, however, has other ideas. The barman has no intention of being just another one night stand and leaves James surprised when he rebuffs his advances.

Danny Ashton is stuck, or at least that’s how he feels sometimes. Five years ago, he dropped out of university to look after his sick mother. He was never prepared for the hand he was dealt—a house to run, bills to pay, and a teenage brother to support. Wanting more than part time bar work, Danny applies for a job at the family run hotel in the village. When he’s called for an interview, he isn’t expecting to see James there but the chance encounter gives him the unexpected opportunity to get to know the real James.

Together, Danny and James realise ignoring their problems will solve nothing, and if they are to stand any chance of happiness and living as the men they want to be, then they need to move forward. Can the two men face their demons? Or will they end up pushing one another away?

Tuesday 1 July 2014

July Update

So what have I been up to?

Alter Ego is finally finished and is now with Love Lane books awaiting edits. The book came in at an initial 51K and is the story of James and Danny (Danny at the front, James at the back)

Also, Love Lane Books has taken on a couple of new authors, so somehow I've been given the title of Art Director by RJ Scott (Sounds proper posh). I completed a cover for Sue Brown, currently in the final stages of a mock for Kay Berrisford and sent out an initial contact email to Liam Livings. RJ Scott has also sent requests for her 6th Texas book and 3rd Bodyguard book that I'm sure her fans will be pleased to hear about.

Other art at the moment includes work for Nic Starr, Beany Sparks, Amber Kell and Sue Brown.

***

In terms of writing, my next focus is to work on my chapters for the 5th Sapphire Cay book, Capture the Sun (stay tuned for a special giveaway over at Amber Kell's blog later this month).

Blurb
Model, Isaac Bailey wants to break into the world of fashion design. Under his father’s company name, he is set to debut his new collection—summer wear. He has the models, the clothes, what he needs is a location.

Mitch Stone is a trouble shooter. His latest client needs an exotic location and he happens to know someone with the very thing—Sapphire Cay.

Having underestimated Isaac as nothing more than an airhead model, Mitch soon discovers there is much more to the young man than he first thought. As the fashion shoot gets underway, Mitch has to contend with his feelings for his old love, Dylan, and the very new and growing affections he has for Isaac.

What starts as just another job, turns out to be more fruitful and exhilarating than winning any multi-million dollar contract.

The book is expected to be released mid-August.

***

My next solo focus will be getting Dead Things ready for rerelease and planning the sequel. New cover art is being made by my friend Bittergrace, who is dusting herself off and popping out of retirement this one time. I appreciate her doing so and this will give me the time to focus on writing the book.

That's it for this update. You can keep up with day to day news on my facebook and twitter accounts.

Thursday 10 April 2014

Autism Awareness Month

Autism Fact: Autism training is not routinely provided as part of police training in the UK


I'm an ex-teacher so I have worked with a variety of children including those on the autistic spectrum. I was a maths teacher in a mainstream school and previously a learning support teacher working with a small group of children who couldn't deal with the classroom environment. There were issues, sure, but as a whole my experience I guess had always been a watered down version of what Autism was.

Then I met RJ Scott and not too long after I met her son Matthew. Now, if you're expecting me to say how terrible it was and how I never went back, then you'd be wrong. RJ can't get rid of me these days. At the time, I think RJ was more worried than me, though to be fair as she worried about what I'd think and how Matt would be with me, I then started to panic as I really didn't want to be a reason for upsetting him and what he was used to.

As it turned out, because I'm apparently 'relaxation' personified, meeting Matt actually turned out to be quite fun. And one reason it was fun is...

Friday 4 April 2014

Going forward - My Writing.

What does the rest of 2014 have in store?

Well, let me tell you :)

In order...

1. Currently, I am working on Alter Ego. The book is set in England, in a village based on where my grandparents lived as I was growing up. It is the first in a series of romance/dramas and I look forward to sharing these men's stories with you all. The first characters you'll meet are James and Danny and I hope you will love them as much as I do.

2. Also this month, RJ Scott and I will be starting work on our fifth Sapphire Cay book - Capture the Sun. Expect more romance, sun, sea, and drama.

Following those, I have two books to edit/rework.

Let's rewind to Summer 2012. *wibbly flashback lines* I'd just had my first releases with Silver Publishing and the future was full of promise, wonderment, and exciting things.

Most of you are aware of the situation faced by authors at Silver for the last... wow, I don't even know when it all began, it feels like it's always been there just looming off camera. I'm not speaking for other authors or their situations. I made my decisions about what I was going to do so I could keep moving forward and have releases with new-to-me publishers in this last year, Totally Bound and Extasy. As things are changing at Silver, my books have been removed from sale and I've now had my rights returned to me for Sex and Cocktails and Dead Things.

3. Sex and Cocktails - originally this was written for a summer short story call. With that in mind, the story was written from a single POV. So my plan is to expand the story and hear more from Ty before republishing.

4. Dead Things - until I reread it I'm not sure how much work I intend to do on it. I know there are things I want to add in or alter slightly but I have always been pretty happy with what I had as a story, so certainly nothing too crazy will be changed before republishing.

5. Dead Things 2 - yep, that's right. With the rights back in my hands I am planning on finally getting round to sorting out a sequel. I've always wanted to but with things how they were it was never going to happen until the story and its world were mine again. And now they are. Expect more Devin and Noah, new survivors, and more zombie gore.


6. The Ugly Wolf - Well, we've had the Good and the Bad so I couldn't back out now :) This will be the last book in the trilogy featuring Dr Oliver Anderson who made an appearance in The Bad Wolf. His story has a different feel to it, not so violent and bloody, dare I say gentler? Guess we'll see later this year when I get stuck in.

7. There will be a seven eventually but I should probably see how I get on with the above first and where that takes me up to this year. :)

So, there you have it. Those are my current writing plans, along with the odd piece of cover art for my lovely authors, for 2014. It's going to be a good one.

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Blog Life

Okay, how are we at April already?

At the start of the year I was filled with good intentions. I was going to get out more, see friends, do the garden and clear out the spare room, I was going to start (and stick with) that diet that I must have started a hundred times over in my life, I was going to write my wee heart out and start turning my ideas into full blown stories, get them out there and published.

I was going to blog more.

As it turns out, I've kind of sucked at all of the above.

Being an author isn't exactly the most active or social occupation and I do struggle to make myself step away and go out and do other things. It's so easy to sit and stare, some times even write, most of the time look at amusing videos of cats, and you forget the world is still turning and that you should probably be out in it just as much as you are shut away in your little writing world.

Saturday 1 March 2014

New Release: The Bad Wolf

Book 2 in The Lone Wolf Trilogy

Blurb:
The journey to become a better man isn’t easy, especially when there’s something worth fighting for.

Evan has been alone since Kaine’s death, moving from place to place, and for the most part, keeping to himself. He never expected to cross paths with Mason and Niall again. When he gets caught up in something bigger than himself, he is left injured, scared, and with nowhere else to turn.

Michael is like no wolf Evan has ever met before. Born a werewolf, Michael is stronger and faster, but has yet to truly tap into his abilities. Taken in by Mason and Niall, Michael struggles to come to terms with the horrific events in his past and the loss of his family. In Evan, Michael finds an unexpected focus. And despite warnings of Evan’s own dark past, Michael finds Evan to be someone worth fighting for, and someone who can help him understand exactly what he is capable of.


Buy Links:  Currently unavailable



Excerpt

Prologue


Nine years ago.

“Mr Roth? Can you hear me?”

Evan fought against the hands of the people holding him down and desperately clawed at his face. Where was he? What the fuck was going on? He felt like he was being smothered. Something covered his mouth and nose, confining and hot against his skin. His vision blurred. A bright light disoriented him, and all he saw were black spots bursting across a white background.

“We need to get him stabilized…type and cross-match…get a line in.” Barely hearing the jumble of orders shouted over him, Evan focused on the key words.

Was this a hospital? Was that where he was?

In a brief moment of clarity, he looked around. A sea of people frantically moved about him, passing objects over him. They were dressed in white and green, and it became clear to him he was in the ER.

What the hell had happened? He’d been at a nightclub called Shiver, all dark, close spaces full of too many hot bodies. He remembered drinking, dancing, some guy feeling him up. Evan had been out with friends. It was supposed to have been a night of fun and catching up. It had been too long since they’d all met up and done something together as a group.

Am I dying?

Pain knifed through him as he struggled to sit up. He wanted out. He hated hospitals. He hated the smell and the cloak of death that hung around them. His father had been in and out of the hospital, helpless and wasting away from colon cancer that had been caught too late.

“Mr Roth, can you hear me?” Evan stopped struggling and looked up into the clear blue eyes of the young woman standing over him. She held his head and he focused his gaze on her. She must be an angel. Was this it? Was this how his life was going to end, bleeding out on some ER table?

“You need to let us help you,” she continued. “Don’t fight us.”

Evan swallowed awkwardly, the taste of his blood metallic and bitter in the back of his throat. He didn’t want to die.

“Do you understand?”

Nodding, Evan reached out and grabbed her wrist. He understood. “Please,” he managed from behind the mask. His hold weakened as the room darkened around him, a vast black space sucking him in. Please don’t let me die.

 

Help me!

The desperate plea caught in Evan’s throat. Opening his eyes, Evan tried to sit up. His heart beat madly in his chest and pain shot through him, forcing him to give in. He fell back against the pillow and steadied his breathing. It took a moment for him to realize where he was, and he slowly curled his fingers in the starched white sheet of the hospital bed. The bed was solid and real and he thanked God he was alive.

Last night was a blur of blood and pain. If he was honest, he wasn’t sure he wanted to remember, though little flashes of memories were slowly knitting together to form a terrifying picture. From the nightclub, he’d foolishly thought walking home was a good idea. Yes, shit happened, but shit happened to other people, not him. He was happy in his little world of Evan, safe and sound. But last night, he’d been terribly wrong.

The path through the city park was poorly lit. It had been for years, despite the handful of petitions to the city council. Evan had walked through the park what must have been a hundred times before, and not once had he ever considered himself in danger or potential fodder for some serial killer. He was a strong young man. Guess he’d learned his lesson. The attack had started with the simple sense of being watched. He recalled strange growling and the rustling of leaves, the hair on the back of his neck standing up, and then the blur of motion before he was dragged from the path and into the bushes.

Teeth, claws, pain—how was he even alive after that? A wolf. It had been a wolf. He remembered now. A large, black-furred wolf with pure white eyes. Uncomfortably, he scratched at his bandaged hand and fingered the line in his arm. His breathing became ragged, and he wondered where to find a nurse. He wanted the line out and to put on his clothes. He wanted to get out of there.

“You shouldn’t play with those,” someone said from the corner of the room.

Evan looked fearfully to the shadows, surprised to find a man standing in the dark. Had he always been there?

The man stepped forward. “You should rest. Looks like you had one hell of a night.” The man wore his long dark hair back from his face and the overhead fluorescent light reflected in his eyes, making them seem almost silver in color.

Friday 14 February 2014

Be My Valen-Tone

Happy Valentine's Day to my lovely readers. I will be celebrating the evening with my husband, a nice steak dinner and a very classy pint of cider ;)

And for you amazing lot, a sweet short story for Valentine's.




“Here,” Tom said, passing one of the Swiss balls. “Squats next.”              

His client gave a weary sigh as he spun the large exercise ball over in his hands. “I hate squats,” Luke Adams complained.

“How does your leg feel?” Tom stepped back and examined how Luke was standing.

Luke shrugged. “It’s okay.” He rested his chin against the ball, his dark hair pasted to his damp brow. “The rest of me though. I can’t believe how out of shape I feel after just a few months.”

“A broken leg, sitting around, and no exercise will do that to you,” Tom said with a nod. Luke had booked the hour to work out a program to ease him back into regular exercise and Tom was on hand to help. He picked up the other Swiss ball and tilted his head as he checked out all six-four of Luke. “All those firm bits start getting squishy.”

Luke arched one of his neat eyebrows. “Are you checking out my squishy bits?”

“No,” Tom protested and folded his arms. He tensed his arms but totally wasn’t flexing his muscles right now. Tom ducked his head, grinning when he noticed Luke had settled his gaze on his chest. He glanced around the Valen-Tone studio. It was six in the evening and the usual post-work patrons had filled up the treadmills, bikes, and weights. He looked back at Luke who wore a goofy grin.

Pursing his mouth, Luke looked beyond Tom and to the other side of the gym. “Is the boss watching? Is that it?”

This is my job. This is me being professional. Tom looked over his shoulder and at his boss. The man met his eyes, smiled, then waved him over. Tom raised a finger, indicating he just needed a minute. Turning around, he straightened when without warning Luke dropped the ball.

“Woops. Silly me,” Luke teased as he bent over, pointing his ass in Tom’s direction as he retrieved the ball.

Clearing his throat, Tom looked away in an effort to keep his rising erection in check. He’d seen plenty of guys in short shorts and tight Speedos, sweaty, muscular men with arms bigger than his head.

“So, squats?” Luke sounded disappointed by Tom’s lack of interest.

Tom turned back and was met with an encouraging smile. “Erm, yeah. Two reps of fifteen to start.” He ran his hand back through his shaggy blond hair and watched Luke position the exercise ball between him and the mirrored wall. He waited, allowing Luke to complete a couple of squats before interrupting.

Thursday 13 February 2014

Dead Things

Blurb

A deadly virus rages indiscriminately across the United States and then beyond. The survivors face a new terror--the undead creatures created in the wake of the infection.

Devin Reid is part of a group surviving out of a high-security penitentiary near Kansas City. Resources are limited and it's down to a handful of people like Devin to meet the demands on food and supplies. The newly-made monsters are hungry, and the survivors risk their lives scavenging the cities and highways.

On one fateful venture, Devin finds something, someone, with the potential to change a dark future, destined for blood and heartbreak, into one of hope and second chances. He finds Noah Weber.


Buy Links: This title is currently unavailable as the rights have been reverted back to me. It will return within the next few months so please check back for news about this release in the furture.


Reviews to follow...


Excerpt:

Chapter 1


"You're kidding, right?"

Devin Reid tapped his thumbs thoughtfully against the steering wheel of the dark Mercedes-Benz SUV. No, he wasn't kidding. In fact, he was deadly serious. He guided the vehicle to the side of the road, and left the engine running as he considered the surrounding area. Through the SUV's dark-tinted windows he saw the old diner set back from the highway. The place wouldn't have seen a dime or a customer in almost nine months. The outer door hung crookedly on only one of its hinges, and the windows were filthy, covered in dirt kicked up from the highway and the strong wind that blew through the valley. Despite the few cars sitting out front in the parking lot, there was no one around. There were no lights on inside the diner or the adjoining gas station, and both buildings had an eerie stillness about them.

Aware of his partner, Lee, fidgeting in the passenger seat beside him, Devin made a decision and cut the engine. "Come on," he said and pulled at the door handle. The door swung open and he stepped out of the car. Pushing his shades higher, he stepped back from the SUV and closed the heavy door, his hand lingering around one of the metal strips welded across the dark glass of the driver's side window. He twisted his hand around the metal and checked the car up and down. Several similar bars secured the SUV's radiator and wheel arches.

"Omelet?"

Devin looked across the hood of the car and frowned, silently disapproving of his young companion's attempt to lighten the mood.

"Get it?" Lee continued, quirking his head and smirking as he nodded toward the specials board beside the door. The writing was faint, bleached by the sun, but the offer of any omelet and fries for under three dollars could be made out beneath the layer of old dirt.

Devin pressed his mouth into a thin line as his partner raised his automatic weapon and scanned it across the front of the diner. With a sigh he pushed his own gun into the holster he wore on his thigh.

"I get it," he said flatly and turned from the diner toward the horizon. He found it comforting as he looked across the large empty plain. There was nothing but miles of dry, sandy dirt spattered with tuffs of tall grass reaching out in all directions from the diner. With a crooked smile, he walked to the back of the vehicle then opened and closed the trunk quickly, appearing with two gas cans in his hands. "Let's make this quick," he said and started toward the gas station. "Head up to the diner. See if they've got any canned food in the back."
"The diner?" There was fear in his young companion's voice.

Sex And Cocktails

Blurb:

Daniel Rawlings is happy with his nine-to-five life in Chicago. He has an office job, a mortgage, and he's about to turn thirty. He's happy, or so he thought. During the last night of a sun-filled vacation in Miami, he meets wild-haired, free-spirited Ty. With the help of some summery cocktails, Daniel and Ty embark on a passionate one night stand, though neither man really wants it to be just one night.

With a thousand miles between cities, it may be harder than either man could have imagined. In the end, Daniel and Ty have a decision to make: Is what they have when they're together worth the heartache of saying goodbye over and over again?
 
Buy Links: This book is currently out of publication due to rights being reverted to me. More news to follow.
 
Excerpt:

Kermit juice, Daniel Rawlings mused as he stirred his drink with a fluorescent pink drinking straw. He stared at the huge cocktail and admired its color. It was green, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. What made a drink green? He must be insane. It was the sun. That was it. He was suffering from one too many days of lying on the beach and the sun had finally fried his brain. He was sitting in some club with a cocktail mostly made up of straws, umbrellas, and crushed ice, and talking to some guy he didn't even know.

Shit. Said guy was looking at him again.

Ty, Daniel told himself, his name's Ty. Maybe. Definitely Ty or something close. Trey? Troy?

He'd possibly had one too many green drinks, a couple of purple ones too, and should probably have stopped drinking two cocktails ago. Daniel narrowed his eyes as he sucked the ice-cold drink through the straw, and stared over the shoulder of the guy sitting in front of him and out toward the exit. It was definitely Ty, he decided. The guy was okay, but Daniel was supposed to be out with friends. He wasn't entirely sure how he lost the three of them, but somehow he'd ended up alone with this guy. This all seemed incredibly irresponsible of him and them. He glanced at Ty. Okay, so the guy was better than okay, all sun-kissed skin and tangled hair. Daniel smirked. He was totally having naughty thoughts about the guy. Focusing on his drink, he considered why he was in Miami. In a month he would turn thirty, and his friends somehow came to the conclusion the best way to see out his twenties was in a glorious blaze of sex and alcohol. Their one mission seemed to be to hook him up with some hot guy. Sure he hadn't been laid in nearly a year, but it seemed a greater concern to them than it did to him. As the alcohol in his glass slowly disappeared, Daniel began to think that this might just be the worst idea in the history of ideas.

Subtly, or as subtly as he could after drinking several cocktails, Daniel looked around the room. The club was one of the nicer places they'd been in. The music was mostly recent, with the occasional crowd pleaser thrown in for its more stereotypical gay patrons. The interior was painted in bright colors and yet still retained the Art Deco feel of the South Beach area. He followed the painted line running around the bar--the sun and beach theme had a refreshingly modern and quirky feel about it.

Taking another drink, he tried to spot his friends. He was slightly annoyed they had abandoned him so easily. Rick and Steve had vanished first. He should have known better than to head out with those two. They were as a good as married, and somehow they'd managed to make the so-called honeymoon period last into a seventh year. He rolled his eyes fondly. They were probably fucking in the bathroom as he sat here being eyed up by good old Ty. He wondered about Neil. His friend had quickly disappeared in search of some female attention. The lucky bastard had found a bachelorette party. The girls were probably trying to turn him straight. If only they knew.

"Pterodactyl," Ty interrupted.

Did he just say...? Daniel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Either the guy just called out the name of a flying dinosaur, or it was definitely time to stop drinking.

"What?" Daniel slurred and released the straw as he sat back in his seat.

Ty grinned as he seemed to realize just how confused Daniel was. "Thought that would get your attention." He looked out from beneath his sweeping, dark bangs, and Daniel just wanted to reach out and brush them to one side. "Did I get it?"

Daniel rolled his eyes and leaned forward, catching the straw between his lips. Sucking hard, he filled his mouth with more of the sugary liquid. He savored the taste before swallowing and looked across the table. Ty had gotten his attention, Daniel admitted to himself. The way the guy just kept staring back at him was kind of weird. Did he have something on his face? Instinctively, Daniel raised his hand and wiped at his mouth and cheeks. He met Ty's lustful eyes, admiring their beautiful shade of brown with golden flecks.

Amber, Daniel guessed at the color.

"It was always my favorite dinosaur," he continued, "with its big wings and a beak that could peck your eyes out."

Now there's a pickup line, Daniel thought, and quirked an eyebrow. This guy was nuts.