Serving Him by L.M. Somerton - Release Blitz with Review

Book Title: Serving Him – The Retreat #1

Author: L M Somerton

Publisher: Pride Publishing

Cover Artist: Cherith Vaughan

Genre/s: MM BDSM

Length: 57,670 words/151 pages

It is a standalone story 

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Buy Links: Pride Publishing | Global Amazon link | Amazon US  Amazon UK

Blurb

An escape from the real world can only ever be temporary.

Rowan Stanton knows he is submissive. He loves to look after people but the country hotel he works at can’t quite fulfill his need to serve. When he succeeds at getting a new role as houseboy at The Retreat, an exclusive BDSM hideaway in the New Forest, he believes it’s his dream job. Inexperienced in many ways, he soon realizes he’s not as prepared as he thought for the demands placed upon him.

Lorcan Wilder is young, rich and successful. He’s also haunted by nightmares and has sacrificed a decade to his business. Selling it gives him the freedom to explore his Dominant side and four weeks at The Retreat are the start of a new life. He doesn’t expect the young submissive employed to serve him will have such a profound effect on him. Exploring and pushing Rowan’s boundaries is exactly what Lorcan needs to separate himself from his past.

Lorcan makes full use of The Retreat’s facilities, from the genuine dungeon to the secret toys concealed in every room. He rediscovers his energy for life and gradually re-engages with the world. However, his efforts to compartmentalize the past ultimately fail and he comes to realize what he’s always known—that true submissives have an inner strength he can only envy.

By the end of his stay, Lorcan can’t let Rowan go, though he thinks he must. What will convince him that he’s allowed a happy ever after, and will he find the courage to accept it?

Excerpt

“Who’d have thought there would be so many applicants for a role where the job description includes nudity and a willingness to get your arse whipped?” Carey Hoffman leafed through the pile of paperwork in front of him. “This is a lot harder than recruiting for club servers.”

“Relax, Sir. It’s important we find the right people. The more applicants we get, the better chance we have of finding someone perfect.” Alistair Easton, Carey’s submissive, kneaded his Master’s shoulders. “Our first paying client deserves the best.”

“That’s so good.” The tension melted from Carey’s shoulders as Alistair loosened knotted muscles. “Maybe we should go upstairs for an hour so that you can relieve other parts of my anatomy.”

Alistair giggled. “Not a good idea if you want to invite people in for interviews this week. We have work to do.”

Scowling, Carey turned to his friend and bar manager Harry Croft. “What’s a Dom to do, Harry, when his sub takes charge?”

“Generally,” Harry replied, “I find it’s best to do what I’m told.” He ruffled his sub’s hair. Kai Smithson was seated on the floor between Harry’s legs. “You can always spank him later, but for now, Alistair is right. We have to get through all these applications this evening. We only have one post left to fill, don’t we?”

Alistair knelt at Carey’s side, hands folded in his lap, his serenity in complete contrast to the noise and activity going on all around them. The Underground was always busy, but Friday nights tended to be hectic. Carey had sequestered a quiet corner for their discussion. A low table held paperwork and drinks, and cushions softened the floor for Alistair’s knees and Kai’s backside. Carey still found it hard to concentrate. He blamed Alistair for looking so tempting in leather trousers and a sheer silk shirt. He imagined removing the shirt, exposing Alistair’s smooth skin inch by inch, then watching his lover wriggle out of the trousers…

“Carey?” Harry brought him out of his daydream.

“Sorry, I got a bit distracted. Where were we?”

“The last vacancy—if you can keep your mind on recruitment and off whatever it is you’re planning to do to Alistair?” He shared a conspiratorial grin.

“Oh, yes. Right. Well, I’m thankful Mr. Wilder’s requirements are not too onerous. Tor Halvorsen will act as executive chef. He cooked for Joe and Heath when they had their taster weekend with Olly and Aiden and their reviews of his cooking were first rate. Olly said, and I’m quoting here, that Tor’s double chocolate brownies were better than an orgasm after two days in chastity.”

Alistair and Kai both burst out laughing.

Harry rolled his eyes. “Olly would be proud. He can create chaos even when he’s hundreds of miles away. That’s two extra strokes for you tonight, young man.” He gave Kai’s hair a gentle tug. Kai sucked on his lower lip but his eyes sparkled and he rubbed his cheek against Harry’s thigh.

“Tor has recruited two kitchen assistants, both, I might add, stolen from here at The Underground,” Carey said. “As Mr. Wilder is traveling alone, Tor says that will be more than adequate to cover his stay and allow for days off for each of them. Tor intends to work through and take some time off in between clients. He’ll also take on training Benjy and Frank. Going forward, I think we should consider rotating the junior kitchen staff through The Retreat. Then they’ll all get experience of different kinds of catering.”

“That’s a great idea. At least they won’t be shocked by anything they see at The Retreat.” Harry grinned. “Right. Goran has sorted all the drink supplies, so Mr. Wilder won’t starve or go thirsty.” Goran was Harry’s very capable deputy bar manager. “He can always take a quick trip down there if Tor needs him for anything. It’s always possible that the client will want to throw a party while he’s staying. Goran’s already offered to run the bar for events like that.”

Carey nodded. “Excellent. Then we have Luke Redding as general manager. He’s ex-forces, like Tor.”

“The Retreat is going to be run like a military campaign,” Harry said. “Tell me about Luke. I know he’s a member here but not much else.”

“He’s a well-respected Dom. Kept up his membership even when he was overseas on active duty.”

“Well, you do give service personnel an excellent discount.”

“I do, and they deserve it. Whereas Tor was in the army, Luke is ex-Navy. Served fifteen years then took an honorable discharge to care for his father who died last year. Mother passed when he was a child so his dad brought him up. He told me at the interview that he gave himself to his career, then to his father, now it’s his time. He was very open. He doesn’t have to work for the money but needs a purpose. He’s a very experienced manager and won’t take shit from anyone. He’ll be perfect for mentoring the young men that will be working at The Retreat, as well as the contractors. Management of the house and garden staff as well as all the arrangements related to housekeeping and maintenance will sit with him, and if our guests want any training in a particular technique, Luke can either handle it himself or bring someone in from the club if he doesn’t feel qualified. He knows the area well too—he was based at Portsmouth for many years and the New Forest was a favorite daytrip destination.”

“I hope I’ll get to meet him one day,” Harry said. “I’m surprised I’ve never come across him here.”

“I’m sure you will. I intend to have post-stay debriefings with The Retreat’s management team here at the club.”

“Good idea. So, when you Skyped with Mr. Wilder…”

“Lorcan. He prefers to be called Lorcan.”

“When you Skyped with Lorcan, did he have any special requirements for other staff?”

“I think he’s going to be a low maintenance client—he was reserved, but friendly. The stay is a personal reward for selling his business. From what I could make out, he’s done little else but work for many years. He’s had some training as a Dominant and has excellent references from a couple of clubs I know in the U.S. He wants to see whether immersion in the lifestyle is what he wants because, as he said, he thinks it is but he’s never had time to prove it to himself.”

“Sounds like he has his head in the right place.”

Nodding, Carey flicked through a few applications. “I’ve done a full background check. There was an incident in his late teens, which I won’t go into here because it shouldn’t cause any issues. It marks him as a survivor. He plays hard when he has the time but that isn’t often. He admits to a preference for blonds. Smaller than him and not too muscled.”

“How tall is he?” Harry asked.

“Six feet one.”

“That rules out three of these—all within an inch of that height. There are also several brunets and one redhead in here so I’ll put them aside. That still leaves six possibles.”

“Whoever we choose has to be prepared to be very flexible.” At Harry’s feet, Kai giggled. “Not that kind of flexible, brat,” Carey chided. “Lorcan wants one man to be his personal assistant, valet and submissive. He doesn’t want a lot of people around the place because his break is about getting some breathing space, so this man will be at his beck and call twenty-four seven. Experience isn’t needed. I think Lorcan wants someone he can mold to his requirements, so we’re looking for a relative innocent—but one who knows what he’s getting into.”

“And who understands the difference between furniture wax and candle wax.” Harry rolled his eyes. “Talk about mission impossible.”

“The housework will be light, just Lorcan’s bedroom and bathroom. The contracted cleaning service will handle the rest. We’ll need someone bright enough to be an effective assistant…”

“And who doesn’t mind taking notes naked, with a plug up his arse.” Harry laughed. “Sorry, I’m being facetious.”

“You may not be that far off the mark. Nudity and minimal dress are non-negotiable.”

“Well, that helps us narrow the field a bit more. Two of these applicants are house subs here. I know them both and I don’t think either of them could be called sweet and innocent—they’re a pair of brats. Of the remaining four, two have university degrees and one went to work straight from school but got very good grades at A level. The last one seems to have drifted from job to job but does have waiting experience.”

“Drop him for now and ask the other three to come in. When we have time, I want to see all the applicants we’ve rejected for this job in case they’d like us to hold their details for future opportunities. It would be nice to be able to offer clients a portfolio of staff to choose from rather than having to go through this process all the time. That way we can also broach the subject when we recruit staff for The Underground. Whoever we choose this time will be permanently employed, but The Retreat is fully booked for months. We’ll need to alternate between clients so that the houseboys can take some time off and that means we need to line up someone else for the next booking after Mr. Wilder. We can cover unexpected illness or, God forbid, walk-outs, with staff from the club in the meantime.” Carey caught Alistair’s eye. “What do you think, love?”

“The catalogue is a brilliant idea. I’d be happy to take pictures for it, but maybe you should ask some of the members what they think, too? You have an instant audience for research here.”

“You’re right, of course.” Carey surveyed his club. The Underground was his pride and joy and he fully intended to make The Retreat just as perfect. “I’ll leave the interview arrangements to you, Harry. Time for me to make sure my members are happy. I think the boss giving his sub a public spanking might go down well tonight, don’t you?”

“You know it will.”

At Carey’s side, Alistair shivered. Carey stroked his hair. “Would you like that, sweetheart?”

“If it makes you happy, Sir.” Alistair kept his eyes downcast but Carey could see he was smiling.

“Oh, it will, you can be sure of that and if you’re very, very good you might even get to come. Emphasis on the might.” Carey raised his glass. “A toast. Here’s to finding someone for Lorcan Wilder who lives up to our exacting standards.”

Harry pulled Kai onto his lap. He clinked his glass against Carey’s. “Bottoms up!” He avoided spilling his drink by the narrowest margin as Kai shook with laughter.

“They soon will be.” Carey chuckled while Alistair tried, unsuccessfully, to conceal a groan.

Review

Serving Him is a wonderful combination of sweet and sexy and very low on angst (YAY). Rowan is such an adorable young man, he captured my heart from the very first page. He takes such joy in serving, and that’s before he discovers all the delights that come with submitting to a Dom who knows what he’s doing and cares about his sub’s needs.

If I’m honest I have to admit that I found it harder to get to the core of Lorcan. While Rowan was more or less an open book (pun very much intended), Lorcan remained somewhat of a mystery, even after the reason for his nightmares had been revealed.

But, enigma or not, Lorcan was perfect for Rowan and together they make a most wonderful couple. Their needs perfectly matched, and it was clear, right from the start, that these two men were made for each other and that Rowan’s career in The Retreat might be short-lived.

Anybody whose read my previous reviews of L.M. Somerton’s books will know that I adore her stories, the way she writes them, and the men she creates. While Rowan and Lorcan didn’t quite capture me in the same way as the men from Tales from the Edge, I have to admit that I resented every single time real life forced me away from their story and couldn’t wait to get back to it when I had a few free moments.

And while we're on the subject of Tales from the Edge this new series is not unrelated, so don't be surprised if you come across one or two familiar faces and names. Personally I'm a huge fan of favourite characters making a reappearance in a new story/series. Because there are some characters I hope to never have to say a real goodbye to.

The Retreat as created by this author, has to be any BDSM practitioner’s dream come true. I loved the descriptions of the various rooms and the sexy delights they held. For a reader like me, who loves losing herself in well written BDSM stories by an author who clearly knows what they are talking about, this book is a wonderful addition to my ever growing library on the subject. I’m over the moon that L.M. Somerton created this new series and can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next in The Retreat.

About the Author 

LM lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.

She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She's fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and some not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.

LM is winner of the National Leather Association’s Pauline Reage Award for best novel and the 2016 Golden Flogger Award for best BDSM novel in the LGBT category. She has received multiple Honorable Mentions in the Rainbow Awards and won the Action and Adventure category of Divine Magazine’s Book Awards in 2015.

Social Media Links: Pride Publishing | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Pinterest | Amazon Author Page | Queer Romance Ink

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Don’t Ask Don’t Tell by Miski Harris - Pre-Release Post

110 pages

Release Date: August 8, 2018

Buy/Pre-order links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

This title will also be available through Kindle Unlimited

I’m delighted to welcome Miski Harris and her debut novel, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to my blog today and even happier she’s agreed to answer some questions for me. I hope you’ll enjoy this opportunity to get to know this author better and can’t thank her enough for taking the time and effort to satisfy my curiosity.

Interview

Welcome to The Way She Reads, Miski and congratulations on the release of your first book! I’m delighted you agreed to answer a few questions for me. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is eager to get to know you better. So, without further delay, let’s get started.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is your first novel. Has writing always been a dream of yours or is this something recent?

I started writing before I knew how to spell.  Laughing   Seriously though, when I was a child I used to write stories in marble composition books and up into my teen years had my own little library of sorts. One of them, the story of a girl who became a medical wizard and cured her ailing mother, made my mother cry when she read it. I used to dream that one day I would become a famous writer and hire a doctor who could cure my mom. I did become a nurse, but my mom was already gone.

When my mom died, someone took all my books and threw them in a barrel with the rest of our belongings, and they were destroyed.  I stopped collecting the notebook stories, but the dream stayed with me until I began to befriend, advise and beta for a few authors who encouraged me to give it a shot.

Could you tell us about your writing process? Are you a panster or a plotter? Do you set yourself writing goals or do you go with the flow?

The first time I heard those terms I had to look them up.  I would say I’m a combination of the two, so a planster (?). I start out with a planned sketch, but I let the characters fill in the details.  I’m not fast but when I am done the story says everything I want it to say.  I used this method all through college and it always worked well for me.

With Don’t Ask Don’t Tell I was inspired by events I watched unfold during my military career and after. Once I got started I learned what it means to have characters talk to you in your head.  Mine never shut up.  I’ve taken to carrying a small notebook in my pocket to jot things down.

I have developed a new element in my planning process – creation of a timeline.  Tricia Kristufek, my editor, and I had many, many discussions about the incongruity of my initial timeline.  So now, that element will forever be an essential part of my planning process.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

With Don’t Ask Don’t Tell I was inspired by events I watched unfold in the service and in the world as it related to servicemen in particular and the LGBTQ community in general.  I wanted to tell the stories of the hidden injuries no one ever brought up then back then. Without giving away too much, Clinton may have thought he was doing a good thing with Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but he really made it worse. The homosexual men and women who served weren’t in the closet, they were shoved into a footlocker.  In the mental health community there is a saying. Secrets make you sick. For a serviceperson, these problems didn’t disappear even after discharge.

I am further inspired my aunt.  She was my best friend and my biggest supporter, and she was an out and proud lesbian when it was so much harder than it is today. She taught me to always be proud of who I am and what I do, not by telling but by showing me pride in action.  I like to think she is very proud of the woman I’ve become.

I    I don’t know a lot (if anything) about the military in general and the American armed forces specifically, but to me everything I read in your story felt authentic. Can you tell us where your knowledge comes from?

I was on active duty for eleven years.  My first taste of the military attitude toward homosexuality came during basic training, when a heterosexual girl in my flight confessed to being a lesbian so she could invalidate her enlistment and go home. Overnight they treated that girl like typhoid Mary.  I was interviewed for over an hour as to whether or not I (the Dorm Chief) witnessed any “kinky, mannish” mannerisms from her.  My Flight Chief didn’t believe her story, but she wouldn’t retract her claim. She was still there when we graduated and moved on.  I returned to the same base after technical training school and she was just then out processing.

To be clear, because I know this is a thing sometimes. I am heterosexual. I have, throughout my enlistment and life developed friendships and relationships with people whose stories, my own included, are represented in Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Military service isn’t easy. Back then if you were different in any way it was tougher yet. I have a whole different level of respect for those men and women with whom I served as I shared and kept their secrets. I hope I have done them proud with EJ’s story.

Now that I’ve read your first book I can’t wait for what you may come up with next. So I’d love to hear what your writing plans for the future are.

As I was finishing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell a supporting character popped into my head demanding his story be told. So, my next book will be Collateral Damage and is the story of Jordan Washington, EJ’s friend. When we hit a target, we never consider the aftermath of the destruction. The damage is there just the same.

6   And finally, I wonder if your writing was inspired by (an) other author(s)? And, if yes, who may that be?

Oh yes. AJ Rose, Amy Wasp-Winberger, K.C Wells, Parker Williams and Edmond Manning. These people write the kind of stories that make you search the newspapers because you just know this is a true account of something that happened somewhere. I have such respect for the way these authors write that I have beta’d, advised and/or ARC read for them all. Each one has done something to set me on my current literary road and I really hope I ‘ve done them proud.

AJ Rose was the first to hear me dream-spin about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which I then called A Kiss from A Rose. Back then I was her military advisor on her apocalyptic story The Long Fall of Night.  Digging up all the things I knew and had experienced set a fire in me for my own story.  I told her about it and her advice was go for it.

Amy Wasp lived through every single word, rewrite by painful rewrite, from beginning to end. She got me to start the book by taking the NaNoWriMo challenge and freely gave me so many of the tools that I used to help me stay on track.

Before I release you again, here are a few quick-fire questions for you to answer so that we may get to know you a little better:

         Early bird or night owl? yes

  Sweet or Savoury? Both, ask my friends.

  Cats or Dogs? Dogs always. I am allergic to most cats, though I really want to meet Professor Waffles (Edmond Manning’s cat) and Punky (Parker Williams’ cat)

City or Countryside? Countryside girl at heart.

  Favourite season? Spring – It’s the time when the earth presses reset.

If you could anywhere in the world, where would you go? England, Australia, Greece and Venice are all on my bucket list.

Describe the perfect kiss in three words? Tender, passionate, consuming.

What is the most delightful word you can think of? Love – because it covers a multitude of ills.

  What is the first thing about someone you notice when you meet for the first time? Their eyes. Eyes reveal everything.

What is your favourite song?  In All My Wildest Dreams by Joe Sample.  I literally purchased the album just because of that song.

                                                  

****

Thank you for those fascinating answers, Miski! Now, without further ado, let’s get on with the blurb and my review.

Blurb

Staff Sargent Elijah Jackson, EJ to his friends, joined the Air Force hoping for refuge from the mess his life had become. For almost ten years he enjoyed new life, success, and love, in spite of the closet he was forced to hide in by the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell military policy.  One day it all comes crashing down around him. Now he’s back home with serious decisions to make and a very short time to decide how to salvage his life while healing his heart.

Betrayed by his lover and partner, Dr. Dale Chenault left California and his fledgling practice behind. In Sayville, he’s found a home for his counseling service, and on the surface, seems to have his life in order. The truth is some of the decisions Dale made have become a stumbling block in his ability to rebuild the breach in his heart and by extension, his life. 

When Dale and EJ meet the chemistry between them is hot but the pain of past betrayals is strong, and trust seems impossible to build. Will they be able to move past what has been to create a future together?

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is a story of love, trust, betrayal and second chances with an HEA.

Review

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is a charming little story as well as a good, and at times disturbing look at how things used to be before DADT was withdrawn. It is also the tale of two men who have been burned by love in the past and slowly find their way towards trust again.

Poor EJ. While we are a good bit into the story before we find out what exactly happened to not only break his heart but also upset and derail all his plans for the future, it is clear from the start that he has been devastated. So much so that he can’t even bring himself to confide in his best friend or his always supportive parents. Dale’s heartbreak is less openly visible when we first meet him. It lies further in the past and at first he comes across as self-assured and confident.  But, his romantic history has left him cautious and wary of jumping in too soon.

It takes time, getting to know each other and discovering that their instant attraction doesn’t diminish over the weeks they spend together for the two men to see that they could be more than good friends. EJ opening up to Dale and explaining exactly what has happened to him is a pivotal point in their coming together, and a heartbreaking moment to read for the reader.

I liked that we had two not quite young men dealing with pain in a realistic and ultimately satisfying way. I found myself drawn to both men and rooting for them from the moment they first met. And to say their form of happily ever after left me with a huge smile on my face would be an understatement.

It was clear that the author knows her business when it comes to military/Air Force matters, and she managed to share her knowledge in such a way it was an integral part of the story rather than a lesson in all things military. I always enjoy learning new stuff while blissfully unaware I’m being taught anything.

Personally I wouldn’t have minded if the author had taken a bit more time/words with the aftermath of EJ and Dale starting their relationship. An awful lot happens there in what felt like only a few pages. But, that minor concern didn’t diminish my reading enjoyment or satisfaction when I finished the story at all.

I’m rather impressed with Misky Harris’s debut story and am eagerly awaiting what she may come up with next.

The Author

Miski Harris was born and raised in New York City with her younger brother and sister. She became and worked as a critical care nurse, served in the military, raised five amazing sons and traveled to other countries, sometimes, all at the same time. When Miski sets her mind to achieve something there is no force on earth that can stop her. 

Through all the organized chaos that has often defined her life her one constant has been her love of books. Reading has always been a mainstay in her life and she is rarely seen without her Nook on which she has reportedly downloaded over 2,000 books. A woman of boundless imagination, she has always desired to give life to the characters who maintained residence in her imagination. With that in mind, she has finally put pen in hand to fulfill a lifelong desire to write books of her own.

Ask anyone who knows Miski to use one word to describe her and they would say fierce. A prior military commander once defined her as a “tender warrior”. Friends, patients, and associates have always found a strong advocate in this woman who is not afraid to speak her mind.

Miski believes three things: challenge is just another word to define worlds to conquer and lines to cross; love and faith are the most powerful forces in the universe, and the only thing that hinders success is to fail to try. With that in mind, she invites you to join her in a world where love is second to nothing and life is the greatest adventure of all.

Miski can be found here: Facebook | Twitter

Brave for You by Crystal Lacy - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 86,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Jay Aheer

Blurb

Less than a year after moving to Hawaii, construction foreman Nate Ellison’s wife leaves him and their infant son for another man. Months into single-fatherhood, Nate meets Andrew “An” Hoang and is slowly drawn into An’s life. Through An’s friendship, he finds himself finally enjoying his new home in paradise.

An Hoang hasn’t had a real relationship in years. With his pediatrics practice and a niece to care for on his days off, he doesn’t have the headspace for more than a simple roll in the sack. But when he meets Nate—who just happens to be the gorgeous construction worker he encountered in the lobby of his apartment building—something about Nate makes it impossible for him not to care. When Nate needs An’s help with his son, An doesn’t refuse.

What happens when Nate’s past and An’s old-fashioned parents interfere just as the two men begin to fall for each other? Will they find the means to be brave and give their love a chance to flourish?

Excerpt

He stared at the sweet curve of Nate’s lips on his screen and felt his cock twitch in his hand. His other hand must have twitched in response, too, because the very next thing was that he could hear Nate’s voice on the other line, “Hey,” followed by a slower, “Hello?”

An sucked in a sharp breath. He’d answered the phone. Nate was on the phone and An's cock was still hard in his hand. He brought the phone up to his ear, the glass casing cold and slippery against his cheek acting as a welcome shock to his system.

“Hi.”

“Hey, man.” Nate’s voice was warm and cheerful, as though he’d been waiting all day to hear from An. An knew that wasn’t a possibility, knew this was probably just how Nate sounded to everyone over the phone, but it didn’t keep his body from responding automatically. His face split into a wide smile and then, An noted rather ruefully, his cock pulsed against his palm.

Picking up the call had been a mistake, and An would have to rectify that mistake any moment now, make some kind of excuse and hang up on Nate. He had been about to seal the deal with whoever it was on Grindr, and he didn’t need to be on the phone with his neighbor at this moment. Not when Nate was only a few steps away. Not when Nate was unavailable.

Tell him you’ll call him back. Hang up.

He cleared his throat, swallowing thickly before speaking. “Hi,” he said, and realized this was a repeat of the last words he’d spoken. Embarrassment, he discovered, did not cause him to lose his erection. “What can I do for you?”

“Oh, I wanted to check if you guys were doing anything next weekend. Going hiking again, or…” Nate sounded unsure. “Am I interrupting something? You seem kind of… Are you sick?”

“No, no. A little cold. I was in the process of getting dressed.” Not technically a lie. It was chilly in here from the central air and he would have to get dressed eventually if he wanted to drive to wherever he was meeting Jay. An forced his hand away from his own cock and ran it through the hair on his head in an effort to calm himself. He needed to focus on the question Nate was asking and not on how intimate Nate’s voice sounded so close to his ear. This was the first time he’d heard from Nate all week, though Nate had left the car on Saturday with a promise to be in touch.

“Dai mentioned she wanted to go down to the Halona Blowhole look-out point,” he managed to say without losing his train of thought. “Walk down to the cove. Swim. Do you know the place?”

“Never been.” Was it wishful thinking or was that hope in Nate’s voice?

“If you’d like to tag along, we could carpool. Perhaps have a picnic. Let the children play.”

“We’d love to, if you don’t think we’re imposing.”

“How could you impose when I’m the one who suggested it? Dai will be very pleased. If there’s nothing else you have planned for next weekend.”

“No. No plans.” Nate’s laughter rang golden over the phone line. “I’m kinda pathetic, aren’t I? Calling you up and forcing you to make plans that include me.”

“We were going anyway,” An lied, feeling touched by the easy vulnerability of Nate’s words. “You didn’t force me, I promise. I’ll text you the details once I find out when we’ll be ready to go. I’m not sure if I’ll have Dai on Saturday or Sunday.”

“Oh, yeah… I’ll let you get back to—to what you were doing.” There was a shyness to Nate’s tone that made An smile, made him pretend that maybe Nate had remembered that An told him he was getting dressed, and maybe that made Nate think about An talking to him on the phone in a state of undress. An reached down again, passing a hand over the hard length of his cock, holding the phone away from his mouth so the quickening of his breath wouldn’t reach the microphone.

“It’s fine.” He spoke a little louder so Nate could hear across the distance of his mouth and the phone. “I’ll talk to you later about next weekend. Or text you.” They said their goodbyes. Nate wished An a “nice weekend” and then the call cut off. An’s display was back on the Grindr chat window.

Show me urs was still the last message on the chat log, right underneath Jay’s dick pic. An swiped up to the camera app. He snapped a quick shot of himself, hard and heavy in his own hand, leaking a drop of clear fluid at the tip. Then he deleted it.

An: Sorry, something came up tonight. Maybe another time.

The Author

Crystal Lacy lives with her loving family in Hawaii, where it is always either drizzling or sunny and never snows—which is a shame, because she prefers being cold to being damp and hot unless it’s for Very Good Reasons. She writes queer romance, mainly M/M, but also some F/F. She has aspirations to one day write a YA novel about cats.

Crystal is a long-time fangirl and writes slash fanfiction for the Harry Potter and NBC Hannibal fandoms. She has a deep love for fandom culture, and can be frequently spotted on Twitter and Tumblr reblogging pretty fan art.

Join Crystal's readers group on FB for sneak peeks, bonus content, and ARC opportunities or subscribe her newsletter for monthly book giveaways, recs, news, and more! You can also follow Crystal on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. 

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Hearts & Health Volume 2 by DJ Jamison - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 220,000 words approx.

Blurb

Room For Recovery - Book #4

When Beau James is cornered by two bullies, he's rescued by none other than the broody Wade Ritter, who he's crushed on from afar. Despite their family connection, Wade has resisted all of Beau's attempts at friendship -- until now. His protective streak gives Beau an opportunity to get past Wade's prickly exterior. But Wade is carrying a heavy burden that makes it tough to open up. With Beau's help, he realizes there's room for recovery. If he can face hard truths about his sexuality and love himself, he might be able to love Beau too.

Surprise Delivery - Book #5

Dr. Casper Rollins knows how to have fun. The love of his life, Kage Myers, lived every moment to the fullest before he died. Now, Casper goes on adrenaline-soaked adventures when he wants to feel closer to his lost love. Dr. Eric Holtz is married to his work, so much so his last partner left him. When his niece arrives, pregnant and in need of an ally, he has family again. Then her obstetrician suggests breaking Eric of his workaholic tendencies, and a fun and sexy fling ensues. But it's not long before feelings are in the mix. If these two want a future, they'll have to embrace the lesson Kage taught Casper long ago: You only live once.

Orderly Affair - Book #6

When Ian Connolly installs a hookup app to explore his long-suppressed attraction to men, he doesn't expect to connect with anyone he knows, especially not lab tech Callum Price. But from their first scorching encounter, he's hooked. Callum hasn't had the best luck with love, and he's suffocating under a pile of responsibilities. But when he sees an opportunity to blow off steam with Ian, he takes it. If Ian can be honest with his family about loving a man, maybe Callum can admit his own truth: He wants a man he can count on, a man just like Ian.

Excerpts

Room For Recovery

Beau James was trashed. Eyes glazed, words slurred, inhibitions gone, full-on trashed.

He balanced on the orange-and-brown plaid couch in Barry Gleason’s basement, a cup of beer sloshing in one hand as he tried to dance to rap blaring through Barry’s speakers. Tried to dance, as in, couldn’t dance to save his life. It was painful to watch — Beau thrust his slender hips completely off-beat — but it was also hard to look away.

It was hot in the small room with so many bodies crowding in, and Beau’s curly hair was frizzing into a halo around his flushed face. A halo for the angel, Wade thought sarcastically. A sheen of sweat made Beau look as if he were glowing. Or maybe that was the huge smile on his face, beaming his care-free, drunken joy to everyone in the room.

Even Wade wasn’t immune.

That smile did squirrely things to Wade’s insides. It always had, which was why he worked so hard to make that smile disappear when they were together.

He’d known Beau was gay from the moment they met three years before. With puppy dog eyes full of adoration, Beau’s crush on Wade hadn’t been subtle. Wade tried to keep his distance — because annoying or not, Beau was cute — but that was easier said than done when their families were intertwined. Wade saw Beau for Sunday dinners with the James family, for Thanksgiving and Christmas and birthdays in between.

And now, as the drunken star of Barry Gleason’s party.

Barry’s parents let kids drink, so long as none of them drove, so his house was the go-to party spot. Wade didn’t often come to these parties, but Anna had dragged him out and promptly disappeared to gossip with her friends on the cheerleading squad. He tried not to feel too relieved about that. He wasn’t in the mood to have an armful of girlfriend.

Glancing around, he noticed a couple of guys holding up phones, taking pictures or videos. Beau was going to be embarrassed come Monday morning.

“Take it off,” someone called.

“Strip show!”

Beau laughed and fluttered his eyelashes. “I don’t get naked with a guy before the second date!”

“Knew he was gay,” Jeremy Krantz said. “Fucking gross.”

Wade was afraid things might get ugly if Beau didn’t get home soon. He had perfected the art of avoiding Beau, so he searched the room for someone who might know him. Beau mostly hung with the same two friends. Wade scanned the room and spotted Beau’s friend, Nathan something, near the television, where a video game was under way.

Nathan was tall, with dark, messy hair and skinny as a skeleton. Wade mostly remembered because of his height-to-weight ratio. Taller even than Wade, he towered over Beau when they stood side-by-side. Usually a cute, freckled blond girl stood between them, but he didn’t see her.

Nathan held a game controller, and Wade realized he was one of the players. Two others were seated in gamer chairs low to the ground.

“Dude!” a familiar voice said. “I didn’t know you could do that!”

Wade wasn’t surprised to see Shane tucked away in the gamer’s corner. His best friend was addicted to video games. He was more surprised to see Anna in the other chair, fumbling with a remote.

“How do you fire? I forgot which button to hit.”

Shane leaned over and nudged her index finger onto the A button. His hand lingered on hers a fraction longer than necessary, and Wade narrowed his eyes. Was his best friend trying to make a move on his girlfriend?

He wasn’t jealous, exactly. He’d been relieved not to have Anna all over him tonight. It was more the principle of the matter. He shelved his irritation for the moment and turned to Beau’s friend.

“Hey, man, uh … you hang with Beau, right? You’re Nathan?”

The guy was focused on the game, and it took him a minute to respond.

“I go by Nate.” He spared a look at Wade, then did a double-take. “Why?”

There was a hint of suspicion to his voice that made Wade wonder what Beau had said about him.

“Uh, well, Beau’s pretty smashed.”

Nathan hit the pause button, and Anna protested loudly, before she noticed Wade standing there. She smiled brightly and jumped up.

“Hey, you. I thought I’d lost you to a love affair with the wall.”

Wade rolled his eyes. She thought she was funny. She was, which was part of her appeal. If only the rest of her appealed to him. Try as he might, he couldn’t get excited about the thought of the make-out session they’d have before he dropped her off at home later.

“Beau’s wasted?” Nate said, sounding incredulous. He turned, taking in the room, and his eyes popped wide. “Holy crap!”

He rushed off, and Wade watched him intercept a guy trying to hand Beau yet another beer. There was laughter and boo’s as Nate coaxed Beau off the sofa and led him toward the door. Wade couldn’t hear their words, but he could tell Nate was pissed as he flipped off someone and pulled a stumbling Beau out the door.

Disaster averted. 

★★★★★★★★

Surprise Delivery

“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when you asked if I wanted to have fun,” Eric said, gasping for breath.

Casper laughed, one hand clutching his stomach and his other gripping Eric’s wrist and tugging. Eric was having just a bit more difficulty than Casper in climbing from the top of a trash bin to a tree to the roof of the downtown library.

Thankfully, dusk had fallen, and they were on the backside of the library, where they were less likely to be noticed. He’d never live it down if he was arrested for loitering on the roof of a public property. It was hardly the kind of publicity a medical director needed to generate.

Eric finally heaved himself onto the mostly flat, asphalt roof with Casper’s assistance. He dropped down on his back and stared at a sky painted with the pink and orange streaks of sunset. The sun, still a molten ball in the sky, dropped slowly behind puffy clouds that were beginning to look more like cotton candy, all pink and soft around the edges.

Casper settled beside him, crossing his arms under his head. “It’s worth it now, though, right?”

Unlike Eric, Casper had jumped from trash bin to tree to roof with the agility of a teenager. Lying as he was, with his arms folded behind his head, his triceps bulged. Eric found that a prettier sight than the sunset.

“You know, the hospital’s taller. I have a key to the roof. We could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble and had a great view of the sunset.”

“You can just go up the stairwell and right onto the roof?”

“Yep,” Eric said, a bit smugly. “The helipad is up there, so there has to be access. It’s rare for us to receive a life flight, but it does happen.”

Casper made an obnoxious buzzing noise. “You’re venturing awfully close to shop talk, and besides, where’s the fun in walking up some stairs?”

Eric huffed a rueful laugh. “It’s more fun than a broken ankle.”

“No ankles were broken,” Casper chastised. “Now look at that gorgeous sky and enjoy yourself.”

Eric reached out and traced a blaze of orange inked on the pale skin of Casper’s bicep. “I’d rather look at this.”

Casper twitched, but he didn’t pull away. His head swiveled, light blue eyes fixing on Eric. “They always like the ink,” he murmured. 

★★★★★★★★

Orderly Affair

“Take off your shirt.”

Ian’s eyes went wide, and he glanced over Callum’s shoulder toward the bathroom at-large. Right, public place. Callum squeezed into the stall, latching the door behind him. It left about an inch between their bodies.

“You said you’d prove it was your pic,” he said.

Ian scoffed. “You know it was my pic. You know me.”

Callum blinked, making his eyes innocent. “How do I know that?”

Ian turned red, which was kind of adorable. Here was this older, buffer dude going shy. Then Ian’s eyes skimmed over Callum’s button-down shirt, fitted to his slender form, and he licked his lips.

Callum’s insides fluttered. Was Ian attracted to him?

People who knew Callum in his daily life thought he was smart but geeky. His work uniform of dress slacks, button-down shirt, and glasses didn’t do a lot to dispel that impression. Nor did his interests: science, space exploration, Star Wars and comic book movies. He wasn’t even one of those “cool” geeks who built apps or kicked ass while gaming.

Callum could pull off twink when he needed, though. His ex-boyfriend Doug was big on telling Callum he was lucky he had a tight ass. That shit was annoying, if true. When he went out, he didn’t have much trouble landing a guy as long as he dressed in skintight clothes and toned down his nerdy inclinations.

Not possible with Ian. The man knew he was a medical lab tech. Didn’t get much geekier than that.

“We’ve played basketball together,” Ian said. “I’ve taken off my shirt before.”

Foiled.

Callum tapped his lips, unable to concede the point.

“I must not have been paying attention,” he said. “So, I’m going to have to insist. It’s a pretty tight fit in here, though. How about I help you?”

“Wha—”

Ian’s voice cut off with a strangled garble as Callum grabbed the hem of Ian’s scrub top. He’d shocked him. He only hoped it was a good shock, and he didn’t get knocked on his ass for being too forward.

“Lift your arms,” he said, projecting as much confidence as he could as he pushed Ian’s shirt over those delectable abs. The man was seriously cut. That picture was no lie.

Ian obeyed, and a moment later he was shirtless. Holy muscles, Batman!

Callum stared at Ian’s broad, hairy chest, heaving with nervous breaths. His nipples, a dusky rose, tipped impressive pecs. His body was strong and defined, his stomach not just flat but rippling with muscle. Callum wasn’t sure he’d ever seen a man this built in person. He’d seen Ian without a shirt at the basketball court once or twice, but Callum had been preoccupied with trying to pass the ball without tripping over his own feet. Clearly, he’d missed an impressive sight.

“Well? Satisfied now?” Ian asked impatiently.

Callum was about to answer in the affirmative when his gaze dipped below Ian’s waistband and he saw the tent the man was pitching under his pants.

“Holy shit,” Callum said, and impulsively reached out to curl his fingers around Ian’s thick cock. “You’re hard.”

Ian groaned. “Cal ...”

“Are you hard for me?” Callum whispered in wonder. Dragging his eyes up Ian’s body, he met a heated gaze. Ian’s dark hair, stubbled jaw, and sculpted lips were seriously sexy, a fact that Callum couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed before now. It wasn’t often you found both a good-looking face and a hot, built bod. He’d done enough online hookups to know. He’d hit the jackpot.

“Take off your shirt,” Ian said hoarsely. 

Author Bio

DJ Jamison is the author of more than a dozen m/m romances, including the Ashe Sentinel series and the Hearts and Health series. She writes a variety of queer characters, from gay to bisexual to asexual, with a focus on telling love stories that are more about common ground than lust at first sight. DJ grew up in the Midwest in a working-class family, and those influences can be found in her writing through characters coping with real-life problems: money troubles, workplace drama, family conflicts and, of course, falling in love. DJ spent more than a decade in the newspaper industry before chasing her first dream to write fiction. She spent a lifetime reading before that, and continues to avidly devour her fellow authors' books each night. She lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, two fish and, regrettably, one snake.

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