Faking It by Christine d'Abo - Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

Hello, my name is Christine d’Abo and I’m so happy to be here today.

I’m a firm believer that the good friends are the family members that we get to choose. The get us on a level that sometimes our biological family doesn’t. When I came up with the idea of Ringside Gym and the men who were involved with it, I wanted to make sure that their relationships reflected that feeling.

Max would be the “middle” child of the trio of heroes. He’s my peacemaker, the one who wants to make sure everyone and everything is okay. But Max has a problem – he doesn’t know what to do when he’s not needed. Zack no longer needs him now that he has Noland in his life, and their other friend Eli has been MIA due to his MMA career. Max’s life begins to drift and he questions not only what he wants, but also who he wants in it.

When Grady Barnes shows up on the scene, Max is equal parts intrigued and annoyed. Here is a man who seems to have it all, but is seemingly at the whim of his father.  When Grady asks Max for help, he takes a leap of faith and agrees. What Max doesn’t anticipate is how quickly Grady will work his way into his heart.

All Max needs to do is find a way to prevent Grady from being forced into a marriage he doesn’t want, while not giving in to his impulse to sweep Grady into his arm.

Simple, right?

You can visit Christine at her website www.christinedabo.com, and chat with her on Facebook and Twitter. Want to keep up with Christine’s new releases? Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free book!

About Faking It

Max Tremblay should be happy. His nightclub, Frantic, is one of the most popular gay clubs in Toronto, and his childhood refuge, Ringside Gym, is well on the way to reopening. But when he finds yet another drunk in the alley beside the bar, Max isn’t sure this is the life he truly wants.

Grady Barnes has it all. He’s rich, famous, and wants for nothing. Well, nothing but a good relationship with his father. When he discovers that his father is going to force him into an arranged marriage, Grady has had enough. He tracks down Max, the man who got him to safety after a night of overindulgence, and makes him a proposal: pretend to be his fiancé for two weeks and he’ll invest in Ringside Gym.

When the pair travel to Vancouver to attend a family wedding, the flames of their mutual attraction ignite, and they discover that the only difference between pretend and reality is how well they can fake it.

Now available from Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/faking-it

Excerpt 

Max was reaching for the door when it opened. Grady grinned and leaned against the doorjamb. “Hey, sexy.”

“Hey, smart-ass.” Something in his chest warmed. “Finally had to break the seal?”

“Nope. Was wondering where you’d gone off to.”

“Had to take a call from my dad.”

“Everything okay?”

Now wasn’t the time to get into his family challenges. Grady had more than enough of his own to deal with. “Everything’s fine.”

“Good.” Grady let the door close and crossed the space between them in a single stride. He put a hand on Max’s shoulder, leaned in, and kissed him hard. “Thank you.”

Max wasn’t a man prone to sappy emotions. He’d always prided himself on being a steady rock. But the way unexpected butterflies fluttered in his gut, he might have to rethink that. “For what?”

“For not telling Lincoln and Serena about that night.” Grady stepped back, but kept a hand on Max’s arm. “Lincoln has thought for years that I drink too much. It’s gotten me into more than a little trouble. The last time I did something stupid, he suggested I get some help.”

Max nodded. “I own a bar, and I’ve seen a lot of people struggle with drinking. There’s nothing wrong with needing or asking for help.”

Grady’s hand fell away. “Don’t start.”

Max knew a losing battle when he saw one. “I don’t have any right to. And you are the only one who knows if things are a problem or not. Your brother clearly loves you, and I’m sure he’s just got your best interests at heart.”

From on the look on Grady’s face, Max knew he was pulling back. If they were going to continue with this charade, then there couldn’t be any distance between them. He stepped close, enjoying the slight advantage he had in height, and cupped Grady’s face. Surprise shone in his eyes, and his lips parted slightly. Max had seen a lot of attractive men, he’d even slept with more than a few of them over the years, but there was something about Grady that spoke to him.

The richness of his brown eyes amplified the gold circle that rimmed the outside of his irises. They were like a screen to his soul, projecting every emotion that swirled inside him. The way his black hair curled and fell on his head, begging Max to push his fingers through it, to stretch the curls out. The high cheekbones and strong jaw that seemed to contradict one another, masculine and feminine battling for space.

God, and his lips.

Max ran his thumb across Grady’s bottom lip, the moist skin catching on his dry digit. They were full and soft, a contrast to the rough stubble that covered his chin and cheeks. Max knew he shouldn’t do anything, that he’d promised himself he wouldn’t get too wrapped up in this game they played. He’d promised himself that this obsession with Grady was little more than a passing fancy that would disappear the moment they went back to Toronto.

Fuck it.

About the Ringside Romance Universe

Deep in the heart of Toronto lies Ringside Gym. Once a safe haven for troubled teens, Ringside has gone derelict, a forgotten memory of past days. Until a group of friends set out to do what they can to bring life back to the ring and create a new home for LGBT youths.

But when their lives threaten to pull down their dreams, each man must turn to others to help make it a reality. Winners take all—but there are no losers in love.

Check out Ringside Romance. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/universe/ringside-romance

About Christine d’Abo

A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

Connect with Christine:

• Website: christinedabo.com
• Blog: christinedabo.blogspot.ca
• Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorChristinedAbo
• Twitter: @Christine_dAbo
• Tumblr: christinedabo.tumblr.com
• Pintrest: pintrest.com/christinedabo
• Goodreads: goodreads.com/christine_d_abo

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Faking It, one lucky winner will receive a $25 Riptide credit. Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on May 13, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!