Book Spotlight: Stranded





Stranded
Anthology
Wayward Ink Publishing
M/M Various Genres
Release Date: Oct 10 2014

Stranded contains thirteen stories from a range of sub-genres. We have dystopian futures, historicals, contemporary romances, sci-fi and paranormal. We have angels, time travellers, and Vikings. We have it all! Our contributing authors in order of appearance: Alina Popescu, Michael P. Thomas, Kim Fielding, Asta Idonea, Rob Colton, Nephylim, Lily G. Blunt, Eric Gober, Nikka Michaels, Louise Lyons, kirifox, Sarah Hayes, & jn olsen.

DEFINITION:

adjective

(of a boat, sailor, or sea creature) left aground on a shore.

"a stranded whale"

left without the means to move from somewhere.

"he offers a lift to a stranded commuter"

The boys in this collection of short stories have most definitely been left STRANDED!

They’ve been shipwrecked and abandoned.

Marooned and cast away.

And left helpless and high and dry.

But you should never underestimate the tenacity of the human heart...

STORIES INCLUDED:

CRAIVING STAINS BY ALINA POPESCU

Trapped since birth in a sterile, hospital-like apartment, Wynn longs to break free to experience the world.

Enter Doyle.

But is Doyle real, or is he just a figment of Wynn’s imagination?

SAY CHEESE BY MICHAEL P. THOMAS

Sitcom sensation Felix Medrano, America’s Sweetheart, throws a star-studded surprise party for his sweetheart, beanpole barkeep Grover Shepherd.

It’s a smash, save for one detail: Shep is a no-show.

Who’d have thought it would be so hard to pop the question?

STANDBY BY KIM FIELDING

Who’d have thought being stranded at the airport could possibly have some long term benefits?

Certainly not Tom.

But then he hadn’t bargained on meeting Rafael…

THE RAIDER BY ASTA IDONEA

The gods truly do work in mysterious ways as Thorstein found out when he was left for dead on the battle field of a foreign land.

THE BUCKLE BY ROB COLTON

One ditching and one rescue later, Hayden discovers the use of a telephone isn’t the only offer that’s on the table…


ARI BY NEPHYLIM

Benji and Ari have spent their lives feeling lost and alone, stranded between genders.
Can they help each other stop unravelling?

OPPOSITES ATTRACT BY LILY G. BLUNT

Chris and Andreas are opposites in character.

Both fear the other wants to move on.

Can being stranded on a mountainside resolve the doubt that is threatening to tear them apart?

OUT OF ORDER BY ERIC GOBER

Rob was the one who got away.

Trent stumbles upon him during a trip to San Francisco…

Right before a deadly earthquake…

DATING FOR DEAFIES BY NIKKA MICHAELS

If Evan York keeps hiding from the world behind his laptop he might miss out on something special.

Will he find the courage?

ONE SNOWY NIGHT BY LOUISE LYONS

One snowy night, Keith Brambles learns that appearances can be deceptive.

THE CLIMB BY KIRIFOX

Jessie went camping with friends expecting to have some fun and maybe drink a little beer.

Instead, he found his perfect man…

but is he real or just a dream?

DID YOU LEAVE ANY FOR ME BY SARAH HAYES

Two ex-lovers, one hotel room, and one random act of technology.
Will they fall out or fall back in love?

SWEETNESS AND STRENGTH BY JN OLSEN

Miles makes one seemingly small and inconsequential decision that turns out to be not so small and inconsequential after all.

PRE-ORDER NOW!

Get your copy of Stranded by pre-ordering it on the WIP website.



Book Spotlight: Worth Waiting For by Bea LaRocca


Worth Waiting For
by Bea LaRocca
M/M Contemporary Erotic Romance
Heat Level: Scorching
Available from Siren Publishing
http://www.bookstrand.com/worth-waiting-for-larocca

Blurb:

Marcus Anderson has wanted Nick Stevens since the second that he'd lain eyes on him, but he soon learned that Nick is already taken. Determined to keep his feelings to himself, he maintains a polite, professional relationship with his coworker. Until the night that he runs into Nick alone in a crowded bar. Now he must learn to put his personal desires aside in order to be the friend that Nick so desperately needs...

Excerpt:

Marcus woke suddenly, blinking several times until he cleared the sleep out of his eyes. It took him a few seconds to recognize Nick’s living room and he realized that he must have fallen asleep while he’d been waiting for him to get out of the shower. Which, under the circumstances, was preferable to spending that time picturing him in the shower.

He stood up slowly, realizing that Nick must have covered him while he slept. He couldn’t resist the urge to bring the blanket up to his face, inhaling the subtle scent of the expensive cologne that Nick wore.

He smiled slightly, shaking out the blanket and folding it, before he set it back on the end of the sofa. Nick was nowhere in sight but he thought that he heard some sounds coming from the room that had been furnished as an office, so he headed off in that direction.

He found him in the office, packing some of those law books into a cardboard box. His reaction to seeing Nick dressed so casually caught him by surprise. He grew hard as his eyes ran over his muscular physique, clad in a pair of faded jeans and an old T-shirt. The man was devastatingly sexy in those expensive, tailored suits that he wore to work every day. Confident, self-assured, he exuded crisp professionalism at all times. But he seemed so much more approachable dressed like this, more comfortable.

He longed to be more comfortable with Nick, longed to run his hands over the soft, well-worn fabric before he explored the contours of the well-defined muscles that were hiding underneath those comfortable-looking clothes…

Snap out of it! Marcus fought for control over his own body and he achieved it soon enough. After all, he’d had a lot of practice learning to control the physical reactions that Nick aroused in him, and he was relieved to admit that he was getting pretty good at it. Well, when I’m awake at least, he reminded himself with a grin.

***

Visit the author at:

Book Spotlight & Giveaway Tim on Broadway by Rick Bettencourt





Tim on Broadway: Season One 
The Complete First Season 
Books 1-5
Rick Bettencourt
Genres: New adult, gay fiction, LGBT, 
humor, paranormal, show business, personal growth, 
M/M Romance
Publisher: Bettencourt Concepts and Beaten Track Publishing
Number of pages: 268
Word Count: 75,000

Book Description:

Carolyn Sohier, the Greta Garbo of divas, is giving a once in a lifetime concert that Tim can’t afford to attend. Tim—an overweight, twenty-something virgin—regrets lending the hunky bag boy at the grocery store money that could have bought him a ticket. Tim needs to call in his debts, but money isn’t the only thing holding him back.

he first time Tim met Javier, he was blown away by the attention. He didn't often—actually ever—get a guy, let alone a hot one, pay attention to him. The problem, Javier is straight; yet he gives Tim mixed messages. Tim can’t get Javier off his mind, unless he is pursuing his love for theater—or talking with his best friend, Julia, about the “unattainable” crushes they share on some of the guys back home.

With the Carolyn Sohier concert fasting approaching, Tim struggles to get tickets. If he hadn't lent Javier the money to, well, have his way with him in the beer cooler at the store they worked at together, maybe Tim wouldn't have lost his job, and would be able to see Carolyn perform. But Tim’s learned his lesson from all this…or so he thinks.

Available at Amazon | Smashwords | iTunes | Kobo | Scribd | BN | Inktera

The entire first episode (over 70 pages) is available for free at Amazon


***

Excerpt:

Chapter 1: America’s Got Divas

I put down my doughnut, picked up my iced coffee and took a sip. The extra-extra cream and extra-extra sugar gave me a nice little rush. It wasn’t quite as good as Starbucks’ but being unemployed I had to make the best of my homebrewed pot.

I had my cell phone cradled in the crook of my shoulder, talking to my best friend Julia. “With my Kindle,” I said, “I can read them without people staring at me on the subway.”

“I still can’t believe you like girly romance books,” Julia said. I could hear her slurping her own coffee, probably an iced Double Mocha Grande, being that she was at our old Starbucks in Salem. “You’re the only guy I know who has every Chippendale Publishing book ever released.”

I didn’t really but I didn’t want to quibble over details. “Oh my God,” I said, as a bit of powdered sugar sprayed from my mouth and landed on the blanket I had covered over me. I was getting ready to watch TV.

“I almost forgot to tell you.”

She slurped some more of her coffee. “What?”

“Guess who’s doing a comeback concert?” I brushed the sugar dust off the blanket.

“Who, Cher?”

“No,” I said, raising my voice.

“I don’t know. You got me,” she said, and from her muffled speech, I could tell she was eating, probably a slice of carrot cake or a blueberry scone. I know what Julia likes. When she eats desserts, she usually goes for something that has a vegetable in it or some antioxidant fruit, because, of course, they’re healthier than my powdered doughnuts.

I pulled the blanket closer to me. “Carolyn Sohier,” I said. “She’s finally coming out of seclusion and doing a concert.”

“Carolyn, who?” I heard the clinking of the fork against the plate. Carrot cake, I bet.

“Carolyn Sohier― you know, the singer who was in Witches of Salem, that movie we saw the night I slipped on the ice in Danvers? And she was also on Broadway in―”

“Oh, her. That movie was terrible.” I could practically hear her nose wrinkle in disgust. Julia was brutally honest.

"Well, I liked it,” I said. “She’s an amazing singer.”

“She didn’t even sing in that movie,” she said, with her voice trailing off at the end.

“Well, it wasn’t a musical. But she did sing the theme song. Remember, we saw her on last year’s America’s Got Divas. She was the guest judge.”

“I suppose you’ll want me to go with you,” she said.

I clicked the remote control. “We’ll see. Tickets are expensive. She’s decided to come out of seclusion, out from her Greta Garbo cocoon. It’s a one-night only performance up in Bar Harbor.”

“Maine? Who the fuck gives a comeback performance in Maine? Bar Harbor, nonetheless. What, is she going to come out on stage riding a moose?” She laughed.

My neck was beginning to ache. I rubbed it. “I guess that’s where she lives. It’s a benefit of sorts.”

“So are you going to take the train or bus your ass up here to see her?”

By here Julia was referring to New England, where we had both grown up.

“You wanna go?” I asked.

“You mean will I go?” Julia wasn’t a huge fan of divas like I was, but she knew I had no one else to go with and wouldn’t travel alone.

“C’mon, you like her,” I said. “You even said her rendition of that Barry Manilow song was better than his.”

“Is that the song she sang when she shit herself on stage?”

“Whatever,” I said and tossed the remote onto the seat cushion next to me. Julia was referring, of course, to Carolyn’s fairly well-publicized stage fright. Carolyn had suffered a particularly bad spell several years back and, well, embarrassed herself on live television. It was pretty sad. Julia thought it was funny.

I turned as an ambulance’s siren rang out from the street below, followed by a blare from its horn. I hated the sound of ambulances. I got up to shut the window as it took a turn down Charleston Place.

“Five floors up and it sounds like the cops are right next door,” she said. “I don’t know how you can stand living in New York City.”

“It was an ambulance and I’m in Brooklyn.”

“Whatever.”

I looked at the wall clock, a gift I bought myself. It had logos from nearly all the big Broadway shows over the past two years. “Shit. It’s almost time for America’s Got Divas and I haven’t even set the DVR.”

“Alright, I’ll let you go. Besides, I should check the dryer.” She was at our old Starbucks across from the Laundromat. “Oh and how are you going to come up with the money to buy tickets for this reclusive diva? Didn’t you just get done telling me you’ve already spent this week’s and next week’s unemployment check?”

I didn’t want to get into it. “Javier,” I said. “This week, he’s finally going to pay me the money he owes me.”

“Oh, God. Not Javier.” I knew her well enough to know that she was probably rolling her eyes as she said it.

“Shut up,” I said, with no real force behind it. Julia could be such a bitch. She was always reminding me of the things I did wrong, which were plenty, and the things I should be doing to better myself, which, quite honestly, were spilling out of my inbox.

I didn’t want to be reminded of the humiliating experience I had had with Javier, the bagger at the Good Barn, my former place of employment. In short, he got me fired. “He’s getting money from his student loan,” I said. “He is going to pay me back on Wednesday.”

“We’ll see about that. Didn’t I tell you not to give him that money? Didn’t I tell you you’d probably never see it again? But no,” she said, holding onto the vowel a bit longer than necessary. “You still went off and gave it to him after giving him a BJ in the beer cooler behind Produce. He’s going to ruin your wholesome, good-natured reputation.”

***

About the Author:

Rick Bettencourt is the author of Tim on Broadway, Painting with Wine and Not Sure Boys. He lives with his husband and their little dog, Bandit, in the Sarasota area of Florida. Rick originally hails from Boston’s North Shore where he learned to speak without pronouncing the letter “r”— and say things like “tonic” when he wanted a Coke, or “bubbler” when getting a drink from the park’s water fountain.

A few years ago, Rick was adopted by a Cairn Terrier named Bandit. Recently, Bandit moved Rick, and his husband of several years, to Florida to escape the New England winters and avoid being engulfed by snow drifts when going about their business.

When Rick is not being walked around the block by Bandit, he might be found working on a story about an underdog character triumphing over adversity. Or you might catch Rick watching The Walking Dead or Once Upon a Time, reading something like Running with Scissors or some personal development book, or writing to a group of folks on his mailing list.

In addition, Rick enjoys theater, art, old postcards, and amusement parks. He also loves to hear from his readers.

You can follow Rick on Twitter @rbettenc or subscribe to his mailing list at www.rickbettencourt.com

Media kit: http://rickbettencourt.com/media-kit/

Mailing List: http://rickbettencourt.com/signup/

Twitter: @rbettenc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RickBettencourtWriter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/rickbettencourt

***

Tour giveaway

1 copy of Tim on Broadway: Season One (The Full Season) in any eBook format winner desires

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/Re-Release/New Cover Reveal: Drama Queens and Love Scenes


Review copy from Bewitching Book Tours 
Drama Queens with Love Scenes 
Re-Release Oct 1
by Kevin Klehr 
Wilde City Press
M/M Romance/Paranormal/Comedy
Wilde City Press Author page 
New Book Trailer 
The Sequel Drama Queens and Adult Themes will also be released on Oct 1.

Blurb:

Allan is in love with his best friend, Warwick, but Warwick has fallen for cock-sure playwright, Pedro. As Allan tries to win back his friend's heart, he also must come to terms with the fact that they are all dead.

Close friends Allan and Warwick are dead. They're not crazy about the idea so to help them deal with this dilemma are Samantha, a blond bombshell from the 1950s, and Guy, an insecure angel.

They are soon drawn into the world of theatre - Afterlife style, with all the bitchiness, back-stabbing and ego usually associated with the mortal world.

Allan also has a secret. He has a romantic crush on his friend, Warwick, but shortly after confiding in his new angel pal, his love interest falls for the cock-sure playwright, Pedro.

Not only does Allan have to win the heart of his companion, he also has to grapple with the faded memory of how he actually died.

Review:

This was a fun-filled romp through a theatrical afterlife, or as Guy the angel puts it, The Limelight District. While Allan pines for Warwick from afar, they both become involved in the theatre productions, where there is just as much jealousy, backstabbing and bitchiness as on the mortal plane.

The book is in first-person from Allan's point of view, so we only got to see Allan's opinions of the other characters. I wanted to be in some of the other character's heads for a while, especially Guy, the orphaned angel who was never taught how to fly, I really adored him.

I wouldn't necessarily say the characters were true to life, most were flamboyant and over the top, but maybe that's what a lot of theatre people are like and I just haven't met them. The world building is good, with lots of different districts from different eras of Earth history, but the characters wander about to the other ones at will. There were also some little mysteries to solve such as how Allan and Warwick died and who is trying to sabotage the plays.

The path to true love never did run smooth, but the author has made Allan's journey to not only find love, but to find himself a very engaging tale.

It's a fun little read, well over 70K words is not that little, but I got so engrossed in the story and the characters that the pages flew by.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby

Release Day Blitz: Dakota Skies by Taylin Clavelli

Title: Dakota Skies
Author: Taylin Clavelli
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing



Picture1

Synopsis

Born in the wrong time…

In 1875 Dakota, Sheriff Jamie Carter has to hide his interest in men, even from his gutsy twin sister, Anna. On a good day, the truth can mean a bullet between the eyes, and on a bad, one in the back.

A man on a mission…

Jamie leaves Anna in charge of Blackrock and he hits the bounty hunting trail, along with his faithful equine companion, Houston. Five territories, scores of ‘Wanted’ posters, and many bullets later, his path unexpectedly converges with that of enigmatic loner, Kit Brooks.

Two men with one soul…
Will the smoldering fire between them rage into an inferno and break down protective barriers, allowing them to find love? Or will it separate and kill them?

Beneath Dakota skies…

Jamie and Kit’s story is a sweeping saga of cowboys, Indians, persistent broads, and vengeful villains, where the cowboys aren’t always the good guys, and love can’t be taken for granted.

Book Trailer


Buy the book:

http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/dakota-skies/

Amazon | Amazon UK


About the author:

Taylin Clavelli lives in the United Kingdom, about 15 miles south of Birmingham, and a short journey from the world famous Cadbury’s Chocolate factory. She’s married with children and loves her family with all her heart.

Her love of books has been a long standing affair, with Taylin liking nothing better than to lose herself in an imaginary world.

Until she met Lily Velden, she never considered trying her hand at writing. However, after talking ideas, Lily encouraged her to put pen to paper—or rather, fingers to keyboard. Since, with a few virtual kicks in the right place, she hasn’t stopped. Her confidence eventually led to her writing an original work for submission.
Her first published work was Boys, Toys, and Carpet Fitters, developed for the Dreamspinner Press Anthology – Don’t Try This At Home.

Now she absolutely adores immersing herself into the characters she creates, and transferring the pictures in her brain to paper, finding it liberating, therapeutic, and wonderful.

Outside of writing, her interests include; martial arts (she’s a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-do), horse-riding, all of which facilitates her love of a wide variety of movies. Her action heroes include Jet Li and Tony Jaa—finding the dedication these men have for their art combined with their skill both amazing and a privilege to watch. If pressed, she’ll admit to thinking that the screen entrance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean – Curse of the Black Pearl, and Shadowfax in LOTR, to be the greatest screen entrances ever. Her all-time favorite movies are Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

The simple things in life that make her day, putting a smile on her face are:
Laughter – especially that of her children.
The smell of lasagna cooking – it makes her mouth salivate.
The dawn chorus – no symphony ever written can beat the waking greetings of the birds.

Social links:

Website: http://www.taylinclavelli.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005234535413
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taylinclavelli

Author Interview: Kelli A. Wilkins


Zipper Ripper Interview with Romance Author Kelli A. Wilkins
www.KelliWilkins.com

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

Sure! My latest gay romance is titled A Secret Match. It’s my third erotic M/M romance with Amber Quill Press. Here’s the book blurb and link:

A Secret Match

Everett Kinkade is a world-famous professional wrestler and the sexy heartthrob of millions of adoring female fans. But Ev has a secret he doesn’t dare share with anyone. He’s gay.

After years of being Ev’s secret lover, Josh is tired of hiding in the shadows and wants Ev to openly acknowledge their relationship. Coming out is the last thing Ev wants and fears it will ruin his career.

One night in a moment of truth, Everett outs himself on live TV. There’s no going back, and his announcement sparks a firestorm of problems – both personally and professionally. He’s forced to come to grips with who he really is while facing down a tag team out to destroy him.

Torn between living a lie and losing the man he loves, Ev has risked everything… can he find a balance between his career and his heart?

Order a copy here: http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/2022-A-Secret-Match.aspx
Coming soon to Amazon and B&N in e-book and paperback!

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

Once I have an idea for a book, I write everything down in a rough outline. From there, I start writing. A Secret Match was a different kind of book to write. It’s sort of the follow-up to my M/F romance, A Perfect Match. Ev is a secondary character in that story, and I always knew “one day” he’d get his own book, but I never put much thought into it. Then, back in December, I was driving to work and Ev showed up with a four line book summary. About an hour later, I had the whole story outlined and started writing.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Yes, sometimes characters like Ev (and a few of my other heroes) try to take over the story. In those cases I’ll write scenes for them and delete them later if they don’t work or if they’re not a good fit for the plot. I think it gets the characters’ needs out of my system and I treat those scenes like writing exercises.

Do you write in other genres besides M/M? What drew you to the M/M genre in particular?


My romances span nearly every genre: historical, gay, contemporary, fantasy, and paranormal. I go where my story ideas lead me, so I’m not married to one romance genre. I wrote several same-sex and mĆ©nage scenes for my historical/fantasy trilogy (A Midsummer Night’s Delights, A Midwinter Night’s Delights, and Ultimate Night’s Delights) and then just naturally progressed into M/M. My first M/M book, Four Day with Jack, is about two best friends (one gay, the other “straight” but questioning…) who go away for a long weekend together.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I can be both! Sometimes I’ll stay up late (going out, writing, watching a movie), but then other times I get up early (to write, go to flea markets, or visit friends, etc.). I don’t need much sleep!

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I’ve been fortunate enough to do a lot of traveling and I love the UK. (My husband and I just had a trip to Ireland and Wales.) I’d like to visit Europe (Rome, Hungary), Greece, and one day go to Easter Island and see the moai. I’m adventurous and want to see as much of the world as I can.

Do distant places feature in your books?

Sometimes. I’ve set a lot of my historical and fantasy books in the UK—or UK-like places. My M/F romance, The Viking’s Witch, was set in the Orkney Islands. My M/M romance, Four Days with Jack took place in a tropical island resort. I never really know what my next book will be about or where it will take place until I start writing.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Yes, when I’m writing a book I have on instrumental or New Age music. When I’m typing up the manuscript, I put on loud rock music to motivate me (and make me type faster). Music plays a big part in two of my M/F romances, A Perfect Match and Trust with Hearts. In A Perfect Match, I used songs to convey the characters’ moods. The hero in Trust with Hearts is a country singer, so music is the central focus of his world.

What are three words that describe you?

Imaginative, unpredictable Capricorn.

List of previous books:

My two other M/M romances are:

Four Days with Jack – available here:
Amazon | Amber Quill Press

Killer in Wolf’s Clothing – available here:
Amazon | Amber Quill Press

And I have 15 other (M/F) romances! Excerpts, reviews, and summaries for all of them are on my site: www.KelliWilkins.com

Thanks for letting me visit! It was fun sharing my thoughts with readers. I invite everyone to visit my site (www.KelliWilkins.com) to read excerpts, reviews, and summaries of all my romances. I welcome feedback from readers and you can contact me with questions or comments. You can sign up for my newsletter, Kelli’s Quill, here: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb


ABOUT KELLI A. WILKINS

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 90 short stories, 18 romance novels, and 4 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels. Kelli had three romances published in 2014: A Secret Match, Wilderness Bride, and Dangerous Indenture. Look for her story, “Home for Halloween” in the upcoming Moon Shadows horror anthology. Preview it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N232UEG

Kelli publishes a blog: (http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com) filled with excerpts, interviews, writing prompts, and whatever else pops into her head. She also writes a monthly newsletter, Kelli's Quill, and posts on Facebook and Twitter. Kelli invites readers to visit her website, http://www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about all of her writings.

Catch up with Kelli on the Web:

Website: www.KelliWilkins.com
Blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/
Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kelli-A.Wilkins/e/B001JSAB24/
Amber Quill Press Author page: http://www.amberquill.com/store/m/149-Kelli-A-Wilkins.aspx
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/@KWilkinsauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1123678.Kelli_A_Wilkins
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelli.wilkins1


Book Spotlight: Backstrokes by Dylan Madrid


Backstrokes
by Dylan Madrid
Gay / Contemporary Romance
Bold Stroke Books
Date Published: June 15, 2014
Amazon | BN | Walmart

Blurb:

After almost being expelled from a prestigious Chicago music conservatory for a prank gone wrong, twenty-two-year-old pianist Crawford Paul returns home to Northern California for what he predicts will be another boring summer. Concerned his scholarship is now at risk, Crawford accepts the only job he can find: accompanying a glamorous seven-year-old named Isabella to a community swimming pool for lessons. There, Crawford is befriended by a nanny named Nina, an aspiring fashion designer who finds it difficult to hide her disdain for children.

When Crawford meets Armando Leon, a lifeguard and Isabella's swimming instructor, he accepts Armando's offer to help him overcome his fear of water by way of private swimming lessons. As friendship turns into a summer affair, their lust for one another turns to love. When Crawford receives a chance of a lifetime audition, he is torn between returning to Chicago or staying in California to start a new life with Armando. As the end of the summer inches closer, Crawford and Armando fear they will be separated forever.

***

An excerpt from the novel Backstrokes by Dylan Madrid
Published by Bold Strokes Books

Crawford arrived five minutes past midnight. The temperature had dropped, a slight chill in the night air.

Armando was standing in the center of a circle of light, a white moonlike glow cast from a streetlamp outside of the pool building. He smiled when he saw Crawford and was still

smiling as they met in the ring of light.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” Armando said.

“Then you don’t know me very well,” Crawford told him.

“I’d like the chance to change that.”

“What do you have planned?”

“How daring are you?” Armando asked.

“Be careful,” Crawford said. “The last time I was dared to do something I was almost expelled from school.”

Armando smiled. “Have you always been this rebellious?”

Crawford laughed a little. “I’m actually not,” he said. “Until I spray painted a wall and got caught, I’d never done anything wrong or rebellious in my life.”

“I don’t want to be a bad influence on you.”

Crawford stepped forward. He kissed Armando’s neck and said, “Too late.”

Minutes later, they crawled through a hole in the fence near the pine trees. Except for moonlight and spill-off from streetlamps, the pool area was dark.

This place looks completely different at night. Creepy.

“You look scared,” Armando said.

“You know how I’m afraid of water?” he said. “I have a similar fear of dark places.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”

They stood together on the edge of the pool, staring down at the deep end at their feet. To Crawford’s surprise, Armando started to undress. Within seconds, he’d stripped down to nothing but a pair of boxers.

Crawford kicked off his shoes and peeled off his socks. He wiggled his toes against the cool concrete. He slipped off his jean jacket and then his T-shirt. All that remained were his favorite pair of khaki shorts.

“What are we going to do?” Armando asked.

Crawford was confused by the question. “About what?”he asked.

“Us. The end of summer,” said Armando. “It will be here before we know it. Everything worked out for you. I know you’ll be going back to school soon.”

Crawford nodded. “In five weeks.”

He could hear the hurt in Armando’s words. “That’s all we have left together?”


***

About the Author:

Dylan Madrid is the bestselling author of the gay romance and suspense novels Mind Fields, Love in the Shadows, Backstrokes, and Star Dust Lullaby. A California native, Dylan grew up in the Bay Area. He opted to backpack through seven countries before heading to college and spent a year living in Europe, primarily on the Greek island of Ios. When he's not dreaming about living on the Italian Riviera or running away to Belgium, Dylan teaches college courses in writing and the arts.

Website: http://www.dylanmadrid.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadridDylan
Twitter: @4DylanMadrid
Blog: http://dylanmadrid.blogspot.com
Instagram: @AuthorDylanMadrid

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Spotlight/New Cover Reveal: The Prince's Guard


To celebrate my new cover, the story is available at a discount from allromance, less than a dollar :)


The Prince's Guard
by Annette Gisby
M/M Fantasy/Erotic Romance/Light BDSM
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: 5
Cover by Melody Simmons of ebookindiecovers

Blurb:

Prince Dashan has been used to getting things his own way, with servants to cater to his every whim. As the crown prince, it is essential that he is protected and he is followed everywhere by his bodyguard, Ryland. Dashan can't even head to a tavern with his friends without Ryland somehow turning up and spoiling his fun.

Dashan disguises himself as a peasant one night and sneaks off to the brothel that he's heard rumours about - a brothel that caters for men who like men. The prince finds it difficult to admit to himself what his true desires are - he yearns to submit his will to someone else. And Ryland is just the man to show him what that truly means.


Excerpt:

Prince Dashan surveyed himself in the looking-glass, turning this way and that to see if the disguise would hold out. If he’d paid more attention to his magical arts studies, he could probably have used a glamour, but he didn’t know any of the more complex incantations, so he had to rely on more old-fashioned methods. He’d dusted his fair hair and face with ash from the fire, although there wasn’t much he could do about the bright blue hue of his eyes, he just hoped with the hood of his cloak drawn over his head and the dirt on his face it would be enough.

The leather trousers and jerkin he wore were grimy with dirt and creased with age, so much so that their colour was indeterminate. A rough, home-spun shirt and a pair of scuffed brown leather boots completed his ensemble.

“How do I look?” Dashan turned to his little brother, who was staring at him, mouth agape and eyes agog at Dashan’s transformation from spoiled prince to peasant in such a short space of time.

“You’re not really sneaking out tonight, are you?” asked Aniel. “What if Captain Ryland catches you again? Father won’t be happy with you.”

“I’ve no intention of getting caught this time. Why do you think I’m wearing this disguise?” Dashan’s face darkened as he thought of Captain Ryland. Just because he was captain of the King’s men-at-arms, he seemed to think that meant that he was the boss of the princes too. Officially, he was Captain of the Guards, unofficially he was Dashan’s bodyguard and Dashan railed at that fact. Everywhere he turned, there was Ryland getting in his way and preventing him from having any fun. Dashan couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his friends or even visited a tavern without Ryland tagging along or turning up. He put a pall on everything, like a mourner mistakenly turning up for a wedding feast rather than a funeral.

“What about the Alradai? If there are any of their spies about, you could be in serious trouble. That’s why Father wanted you to have a bodyguard in the first place. You could start an international incident if you get kidnapped. The Alradai would love to have the crown prince as a hostage. They’d like nothing better for us to be at war again.”

“No one’s going to know I’m a prince,” said Dashan, frowning. “I’m just an ordinary peasant out to enjoy an evening at the tavern.”

“And maybe a wench or two, eh?” Aniel winked at him.

“Maybe,” Dashan agreed, although he knew he was lying to himself and his brother. For a long while he’d suspected that the female form wasn’t where his interest lay. Instead of spying on the maids like his brothers sometimes did, Dashan was often to be found watching the soldiers and men-at-arms at their drills. He much preferred it in the summer when they would remove their armour and shirts, practicing their arms in little more than their kilts. It was strong, firm chests Dashan dreamed of, not flowery scents and softness. He wanted someone strong, someone forceful, someone so passionate that they forgot he was a prince and just ravished him. The trouble was that the only person he could imagine being as forceful as that was Ryland. Dashan scowled, he doubted Ryland had a passionate bone in his body. He was just annoying. Dashan couldn’t wait to be rid of him. Ryland riled him like no one else could.

No one thought it odd that the crown prince spent so much in the men’s company, after all once he was king, they would be his men to command and his father just thought he was being friendly to the men who would serve him. The trouble was, Dashan wanted to be more than friendly. He wanted much more, but the castle was a hotbed of gossip, so there was no one he could approach without word of it getting back to his father. He’d heard that in the lower city there were places you could go to, pleasure houses that catered to every patron’s whim, male or female.

Dashan knew what he wanted and tonight he was going to get it.

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