Beautiful Mistakes by Felice Stevens - Cover Reveal

Title: Beautiful Mistakes

Series: Second Chances #3

Author: Felice Stevens

Genre: MM Romance

Cover Design: Reese Dante

Photo: Unity2021Media

Model: Sean James Galvin

Release Date: August 25, 2021

BLURB

The opposite of Loathing is Lust...

or Love

 

Wolf:

Desire: What Wolf struggles with from the moment he sees Spencer Hawkins the first day of college.

Fear: Not a word in Wolf’s vocabulary except when it comes to facing his feelings for Spencer.

Lust: What he gives in to that changes everything between them. And his life forever.

Denial: Something Wolf is all too familiar with—denying who he is and who he wants. It’s better this way, even if it’s tearing him and his friendship with Spencer apart.

Spencer

Hide: What Spencer does best. He hides from everyone, especially himself and the crazy attraction to Wolf he can’t shake.

Walls: Spencer throws them up to protect himself from all the hurts life heaps on him—his mother’s death, his father’s indifference, and the men who share his bed and walk away.

Betrayal: Not by just anyone. By Wolf. The one man he can’t forget. Or forgive.

Want: Spencer wants to live in the moment, but he can’t stop thinking about that night. And it doesn’t help that he and Wolf keep knocking heads…and locking lips.

Love: What these two idiots need to realize is happening between them. What started out as their ugliest regret could end up being the most beautiful mistake they ever made.

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AUTHOR BIO

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, Her characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love. 

She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe yet can't stop buying "just one more pair" of black pants. Felice is a happily addicted Bravo and Say Yes to the Dress addict and proud of it. And let's not get started on House Hunters. Her dream day starts out with iced coffee and ends with Prosecco, because...why shouldn't it? You can find her procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice's Breakfast Club.

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The Elven King's Forever by Devon Vesper - Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway:
The Elven King's Forever
By Devon Vesper

Fated Elves, Book 4

Can two enemies work together to save the one person they both love?

After all this time, Dustin’s transformation is nearly complete, and his happy ending is so close he can almost see it. His wedding is fast approaching, and he’s about to start school. He has his future, his lover, and his friends, and he at last believes that he can truly have it all.

Meanwhile, their old nemesis lurks in the shadows, ready to destroy any happiness Casersis might have. They knew Bradley is dangerous, but no one is prepared when he makes his move and kidnaps Dustin.

In order to rescue Dustin, Casersis must work with his old adversary, Erastus. They both love the almost-elf in very different ways, and if they can’t set aside thousands of years of hate, it’s Dustin who will pay the ultimate price.

Universal Link

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Add Fated Elves Series on Goodreads

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Excerpt:

Casersis gave me a beautiful grin that made me want to take him inside and do naughty, dirty things to him. He must have seen my thoughts cross my face or felt it over our soulbond because his cheeks flushed scarlet, and he gave me the filthiest grin.

Yeah. We were going to have fun real soon.

“Get on with your practicing, my alpha,” he crooned. “I want what that look promised, but not until you’ve finished with all thirty shots.”

I had twenty-nine more bolts to go through, and I didn’t know if I could function after blowing through them all, especially since I was rushing, much to my omega’s amusement if his snickering was anything to go by while I hurriedly pulled back the bowstring and loaded another bolt.

I’d never run through that many bolts that fast before. It nearly killed my arms and hands, but I managed to get every single one of them into the target, and not in the forest. Which was great because it meant I didn’t have to waste time searching for the fucking things in the dense undergrowth.

“You did well,” Casersis said breathlessly. “Now, let’s go get your reward.”

Snorting, I stepped up to him and hooked the crossbow onto my belt. “You mean your reward for not molesting me while I was trying to practice?”

Casersis bit his lip.

“I thought so.”

Laughing, he pulled me to him, and I claimed his mouth like I owned it. But, then again, I might as well own it because I owned him as much as he owned me. And I was under no illusions that he owned me, body and soul. But I loved every minute of it.

As I kissed him, tongue and teeth and breathing each other’s foggy breaths, I kneaded his ass to make him squirm against me as I shoved a knee between his legs for him to grind on. God, I couldn’t get enough of him. His taste sent me into a hormonal tailspin. His scent made me want to devour him. And the feel of him rutting against me was so decadent that I just wanted to stand there for hours making out with my soulmate.

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the finale, we are giving away 2 e-sets of the Fated Elves Series!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author:

If there’s one thing Devon likes most, it’s chaos. She has a chaotic mind, messy house, and throws her characters into every calamitous situation possible. When she isn’t writing, she’s editing or formatting other authors’ works, building websites, creating graphics, reading, playing video games, or watching Fortnite streams on Twitch. She likes to stay busy. So yes. Chaos.

Starting in 2003, Devon turned her writing bug away from poetry and online role play in chat rooms to write her first novel. Yes, it was trash, but the process of learning to edit that piece of garbage spurred her to learn more and more. By 2013, she read an author by the name of Raythe Reign, and somehow, Raythe’s stories finally made all that learning in Devon’s mind click. She wrote her first semi-salable book in two weeks. The next in ten days, and by the beginning of 2014, had seven books written.

Were they all trash? No, but she’s in the process of rewriting them, and has already written one, turning Duty and Sacrifice into three books of a nine-book series, The God Jars Saga. Those three books were followed by more, and the last two books in the series will be published in the first quarter of 2019.

Born on a Navy base in Patuxent River, Maryland, Devon has traveled the world, living in Sigonella, Sicily for three years, and visiting many European countries before moving back to the states around the age of seven. She’s lived in Florida for sixteen years, Oklahoma for a year, and Pennsylvania for the rest. She graduated from surgical technology school near the top of her class in 2004, and uses her medical and worldly knowledge to enrich her books whenever possible. Being the worldly woman she is, and having spent most of her teens as a broody goth, Devon has four tattoos, nine piercings, loves techno, electronica, dubstep, and similar music genres, and has an incurable internet addiction.

She builds her own computers, can’t stand Mac-anything unless it’s to format books in Vellum, and purple and black are her favorite colors, though that can change to burgundy and gray depending on the day. Since she has bipolar disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, general anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and has trouble leaving her house due to all that, Devon works full time as an author and editor, and spends as much time as she can talking to other authors and her readers.

Connect with Devon:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDevonVesper
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DevonVesper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/devonvesper/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/devonvesper
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/devon-vesper
Amazon: http://author.to/DevonVesper
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17032698.Devon_Vesper

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One Trick Pony by Eli Easton - Release Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Release Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway:
One Trick Pony by Eli Easton

Clyde's Corner, Book 3

Forgiving yourself is the first step toward finding true love.

Henry Atkins is determined to turn around his no-good, sorry life and prove to the residents of Clyde’s Corner that he’s not the town bad boy anymore. If going to church every Sunday with the Ladies Society is what it takes to polish his reputation, he’s all in. But when every secret fantasy in his head walks into the stables at Muddy River Ranch, the straight and narrow path he’s on takes a wild detour. It never felt so good to be so bad.

Micah has been one of the biggest porn stars in the world for five years, but he’s burned out. His body won’t cooperate to film even one more scene. A month’s vacation with his old friend Ben in Clyde’s Corner, Montana is just what his jaded heart needs. He wants rest, fresh air, and to not be recognized by a living soul. He sure as hell isn’t looking for a fling, and he wants nothing to do with Henry, the fanboy who works at Ben’s ranch.

The two men are both seeking a fresh start, an escape from the demons of their past. Fly fishing lessons on the river uncover the surprising number of things they have in common and forms a heartfelt bond that might save their weary souls. Only Micah’s past isn’t through with him yet.

Universal Link

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Excerpt:

Micah

Joshua started the line moving. Micah was working up his nerve to get on his horse when Ben rode up. "Hey. You wanna stay behind and help Henry clean up?"

Micah blinked. He noticed Henry was over at the grill, spreading the coals out. "Uh… sure."

"Good stuff. Charlie'll take Ranger and Clive back, so y'all can bring the truck along when you're ready. Happy trails." Ben winked at Micah and rode off, taking the rear position in the line of horses. Within minutes, they were out of sight, and it was just Micah and Henry.

They'd already packed the leftover food back into the coolers in the truck bed. Micah wiped down the tablecloths, folded them, and put them in the truck. They dumped the leftover ice and put the few leftover drinks in the truck too.

"What else do we need to do?" Micah asked, hands on his hips.

"Just take care of the fire." Henry took a shovel out of the truck and went over to the campfire. It was still going pretty good.

"Wait. You're gonna put it out?" Micah asked.

"Yup."

They both looked at the fire.

"Kind of a shame," Micah said. "Wanna hang out for a minute? Or do you need to get back?"

"Nah. Everyone's probably left by now. We can stay for a spell if ya want." Henry hadn't looked at Micah much as they'd cleaned. Now his Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed, highlighted in the flickering firelight. Micah liked that Henry was a little nervous. A tingle of anticipation stirred in his belly. It was a good feeling, one he hadn't had in a long time.

"Let's stay," he said quietly.

"Okay." Henry tossed down the shovel and sat on the closest log to the fire. Micah sat down next to him.

"It's nice out tonight," Henry said hesitantly. "Did ya like the ride-and-dine?"

"It's the best. Are the guests always so nice?"

Henry thought about that. "Pert much. Once in a while, you get a guy who gets a little drunk and rowdy. But nothin' Joshua can't handle."

"Hmm."

"Wanna beer?" Henry asked.

"Yeah. That sounds great, I was eyeing them earlier," Micah admitted with a grin.

"Well, we're off duty now." Henry got up and fetched them both two cold bottles. When he came back, he sat closer than before.

The first swig struck Micah's throat with an icy, bubbling hit that was pure pleasure. "Fuck. That hits the spot."

"I've given up a lot of things, but beer? Never gonna happen," Henry said.

They drank their beers, the night quiet around them except for the crack of an ember now and then. The fire died down until it held just enough glow that it wasn't pitch-black out. But it was pretty dark.

There was something comforting and intimate about the dark. The air was soft and warm, curling around Micah like a caress. Henry's presence was large and solid on his left. He couldn't make out many details, though, which meant Henry couldn't see him well either. At the thought, excitement sparked in Micah's belly and a slow heat spread through his groin.

Shit. Why was that such a turn-on? Who cared? It was just nice to feel anonymous. To be just a body, just a man. A man who was young and healthy and hadn't been attracted to someone like this in a long time.

The heat grew and spread. He was hard. He was horny.

He was no one at all.

"Henry," he said, his voice a croak.

"Yeah?" Henry sounded breathless. Did he feel it too?

Micah reached out his hand and found Henry's thigh. It was thick and warm under the denim. Micah laid his palm on it, brushed his fingertips along the inseam. Stopped.

His heart was pounding. Henry could shake him off if he wanted. Get up and walk away.

Henry shifted toward him. There was a hint of his eyes in the dark, a flicker of movement as he licked his lips.

"Wanna make out?" Micah asked, trying to sound casual.

"Hell ya." Henry's voice was so deep he didn't sound like Henry anymore.

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate Eli's new release, we are giving you a chance to win 1 of 2 e-sets of the Clyde's Corner Series (so far)!

Enter through the rafflecopter below!

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About the Author:

Coming from a background in computer game design, Eli has written over 35 books in m/m romance since 2013. The Mating of Michael (2014) and A Second Harvest (2016) both won The William Neale Award for Best Gay Contemporary Romance, and Eli’s books have won many awards from the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Reader’s Choice Awards. She is best known for her Christmas romances, the Howl at the Moon series of rom coms featuring dog shifters, and her Sex in Seattle series, which revolves around a sex clinic in Seattle.

Connect with Eli:
www.elieaston.com
Facebook: Eli Easton
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164054884188096
Twitter: @elieaston

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Dear Mr Brody by A.M. Johnson - Release Blitz with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Dear Mr. Brody by A.M. Johnson

For Him, Book 3

Parker,

I never meant for any of this to happen, to fall for you. It doesn't matter that we're both adults, or how much we want this to work. The college policy is clear. I can't see a way around this without one of us getting hurt. If I would’ve known who you were when we met online, I would have never pursued a relationship. I'm new to all of this, and besides my daughter, getting to know you has been the best thing to ever happen to me. But I can't make you hide again. I won't. It's not fair to either of us.

Deepest regrets,

Donovan

****

Dear Mr. Brody,

You're right, we are adults. I'm twenty-four years old, and I think I can decide for myself what's best for me. If this is about you losing your job, I'll walk away. But if this is you trying to protect me, then you're an idiot. I want you. I care about you. My past isn't an issue. What we're doing… it isn't the same thing. If we have to hide, so be it. I'm not ready to let you go.

Your Lost Boy,

Parker

Universal Link

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Special Release Excerpt:

With Anne only a few feet away inside, I should have stopped him. But my heart was all over the place, the adrenaline in my system overriding my common sense. He cupped the back of my neck, his firm fingers releasing all my anxiety as his lips tasted mine. I fisted my hand in his t-shirt, closing the space between us, and he backed me into the door, smiling against my mouth when I groaned.

“Hi,” he whispered before pulling my bottom lip through his teeth. “As much as I love a good public display of affection, are you going to invite me in sometime tonight?”

I rested my forehead against his. “My daughter is here.”

“No shit?” He dropped his hands from my waist and nearly fell off the porch as he tried to put as much space between us as possible.

“Lanie tried to call me, but I was in the shower, and I didn’t check my phone.” I raked a hand through my hair. “She has to work, and her parents are sick. I didn’t know what to do, and I wanted to call you, but—”

“Breathe,” he said, his lips lifting into a lopsided smile. “It’s not the end of the world.”

“You’re right… We can have dinner another time.”

But now that he was here, I didn’t want him to leave. Why did my life have to be this goddamn complicated?

“Oh… sure, yeah… another time,” he said, shoving his hands into his back pockets.

“Wait… do you want to stay?”

“Why would I want to leave?” he asked, his smile playful. “I’m capable of keeping my hands to myself long enough to have dinner with you and your daughter. I’m not a total heathen.”

“I thought…” I stuttered. “Isn’t it too soon?”

“To meet Anne? That’s up to you.” He exhaled, his hands falling to his sides. “I can’t make that decision.”

When Lanie and I had separated, I worried Anne would get attached to her mother’s boyfriends. Not in a jealous way either. I didn’t want a revolving door of people coming in and out of her life while Lanie and I tried to live our own lives. But Anne didn’t have to know the specifics of my relationship with Parker. She was ten. And as long as Parker and I were appropriate, she’d think he was one of my friends.

“I’m not ready to come out to Anne,” I said. “But, if you’re okay with being in the friend zone while she’s here, I’d love for you to meet her.”

“I can handle that.” Parker took the bottom hem of my shirt between his thumb and forefinger, his candid blue eyes searched mine. “Can I be honest?”

“Please.”

“I love kids, don’t get me wrong. But I’m nervous. What if I do something I shouldn’t, like swear or—”

“I swear all the time. Lanie and I have never been PG-parents.”

He laughed and leaned close enough I could feel his breath on my lips. “It’s going to be hard not touching you tonight.”

“It’ll be good practice for tomorrow when we're in class.”

“Can I kiss you again before we go inside?”

Pulling me into his strong arms, he pressed his chest against me as I nodded. My heart thundered, a shiver spreading over my skin as his mouth melded to mine. The kiss was messy and fast, and when he pulled away, I licked my lips, savoring the sweet taste he’d left behind.  

“Do you like mushrooms?” I asked and he laughed, the deep rumble of it vibrated against me.

“Not particularly.”

“What about waffles?”

“Who doesn’t like waffles?”

I smiled, his answer lifting the weight off my shoulders.

“I think you and Anne will get along just fine.”

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Dear Mr. Brody, Amanda is giving away:

• a signed set of both the Dear Mr. Brody Versions (Amazon & the Exclusive Illustrated version) - for a US Winner
• an e-set of the For Him Series so far (3 ebooks) & a swag pack for an International winner

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author:

Amanda is an award winning and best selling author of LGBTQIA and contemporary romance and fiction. She lives in Utah with her family where she moonlights as a nurse on the weekends and hikes in the mountains as much as possible.

If she’s not busy with her three munchkins, you’ll find her buried in a book or behind the keyboard where she explores the human experience through the written word, exploring all spectrums and genres.

She's obsessed with all things Hockey, Austen, and Oreos, and loves to connect with readers!

Stay up to date by signing up for her newsletter here: http://bit.ly/NewsLetterAMJBooks

Connect with her Online
https://www.facebook.com/AMJOHNSONBOOKS/
Instagram @am_johnson_author

Connect with Amanda:
www.amjohnsonauthor.com
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IG @am_johnson_author

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King of the Titans by J.K. Jones - Release Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Release Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway:
King of the Titans
By J.K. Jones

Revenge.

Resentment. Malevolence. Desire. It wraps around him like a familiar cloak.

Like a second skin. Years of war hardened his heart into something unfathomable. For centuries he knew nothing but retribution and the ruthlessness of death and decay. His clan lost the war. They were decimated, their way of life stripped and sold to the highest bidder.

Now he finally has a chance to take back everything he lost.

To kill the King of Titans, assassin Julian White pretends to be a courtesan.

Falling in love with Lucious Rex, the man that tortured and killed his family is an unfortunate complication.

Universal Link

Goodreads

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Chapter One Excerpt:

Reykjavik, Iceland

 

The Age of Barbarians

He wasn’t here.

Julian’s frown deepened, turning into a bitter sneer as he lightly stroked his harp. They said he would be. He plucked the strings with a little more force than necessary, gazing around the room.

It was sophisticated, cultured, with many of the high courtesans bringing food to the men. Music was played with transcendental skill and grace. Even the poetry was read with eloquence, brought to life by dancers so fluid they moved hearts and spirits alike.

Madame Zelina would expect nothing less.

Yet he wasn’t here. The arctic demon. Rumor had it that his tastes were more sinister. The brothels entertained nothing more than seedy inhabitants, built for the gaudy Þrælar soldiers and filled with wicked men, no doubt a haven for all Þrælar.

Fucking bastard. Julian struck his chords violently, tugging expertly on the strings to bring the attention in the room back to him. Julian’s body was angled, hands and neck relaxed, as it connected to the soundboard that braced against the tension of the strings.

The chatter stilled. All the soldiers turned to him in awe. Even in silence, the harp was divinity, a musical instrument that called to men like sirens in the abyss. They said the harp was the voice of angels, created by Zathos, god of the stars. To Julian, it was the serenity of the forest, the light through the boughs, the everlasting sweetness of his mother’s smile.

The sound was soft like flower petals, vibrant hues heard by the soul. Julian moved his hands over the instrument, imagining himself as an artist with a palette and brush, creating clusters of explosive color, bursts of exceptional rays of assimilated beauty.

The arctic demon. A tumultuous mane of blond hair and blond freckles on skin that was as white as a new page. He was a dream from an Icelandic gem, born of the green lands and wheatfields. A demon at best and a wayward barbarian at worst. A stark killer feared by everyone in the Titan Vale.

And he wasn’t fucking here.

Julian clenched his teeth, strumming the chords with his eyes closed in fake rapture. Damn him. After all the work they had gone through, it had been all for nothing. The song slowed, trailing off like a raging fire simmering into ambers.

The soldiers looked stricken, their gazes wide, enchanted, as Julian stood from his seat and gave a short, stiff bow. They applauded him immensely, showering him with praise and admiration. Julian swallowed the shouts as he would hot coals.

Thankfully, it was over now.

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of King of the Titans, J.K. Jones is giving away $10 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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---

About the Author:

J.K Jones is a University Graduate with a B.A in Sociology, also a TESOL certificate for teaching English as a Second Language. Literature is in my veins and the words pour out of my blood. Message me privately to join the mailing list. I like my artys with a bit of fartsy. I love Sundays spend drinking massive amounts of coffee and lingering over whichever book I am currently enthralled with. Favorite movies: American Beauty. Duh. What can I say? It's a classic. Favorite place: The fort I built in my basement which my mom forced me to take down. Favorite food: Cheetos. Puffs. I don't know what everything is crazy about the crunchy ones are crap.

Connect with Susi:
Website: www.jkjonesauthor.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/j.kjonesauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkjones9/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/meandmrsjkjones/

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The Prince and the Ice King by Amanda Meuwissen - Release Blitz with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: The Prince and the Ice King

Author: Amanda Meuwissen

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Fantasy M/M Romance

Tropes: Fated love, enemies to lovers, cursed, slow burn

Themes: Destiny, fate, redemption, legend, overcoming prejudice

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length: 300 pages

It can be read alone but is the first book in a series. 

This is book 1 of Tales from the Gemstone Kingdoms.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

Dreamspinner

Only true love can melt a frozen heart.

Blurb

Every Winter Solstice, the Emerald Kingdom sends the dreaded Ice King a sacrifice—a corrupt soul, a criminal, a deviant, or someone touched by magic. Prince Reardon has always loathed this tradition, partly because he dreams of love with another man instead of a future queen.

Then Reardon’s best friend is discovered as a witch and sent to the Frozen Kingdom as tribute.

Reardon sets out to rescue him, willing to battle and kill the Ice King if that’s what it takes. But nothing could prepare him for what he finds in the Frozen Kingdom—a cursed land filled with magic… and a camaraderie Reardon has never known. Over this strange, warm community presides the enigmatic Ice King himself, a man his subjects call Jack. A man with skin made of ice, whose very touch can stop a beating heart.

A man Reardon finds himself inexplicably drawn to.

Jack doesn’t trust Reardon. But when Reardon begins spending long days with him, vowing to prove himself and break the curse, Jack begins to hope. Can love and forgiveness melt the ice around Jack’s heart?

Excerpt 

“Jack, is it? Far better than ‘Ice King,’ I suppose.”

The king frowned.

“I’ll call you Majesty until we trust each other. But on that day, I will call you Jack.”

“Is this a game to you?” The Ice King straightened. Reardon stood almost directly before the throne now, chilled and shivering but without any creeping frost on his hair or clothes. “What do you hope to accomplish?”

“My father is wrong for what he does, but seeing this curse on you makes me wonder if he is right about magic’s corruption, despite all the wonders it can do.”

“Magic alone did not curse us!” the king roared. “One person who wielded it did, and I brought her wrath upon me myself.”

That gave Reardon pause. There was so much he didn’t know. “You could tell me your story.”

“It is a long one, little prince, and I grow weary of your presence already.” He stood, crunching down the steps between Reardon and the throne and bringing a gust of icy wind with him.

Reardon sensed how close he was to death but stood his ground. “I only want to bring my people home.”

“And where are they supposed to go? Home, you say. The thief who almost lost her hands because she was starving, the man who lusted after the wrong noble’s son, your friend who has visions—do they have a home to go back to when their own people cast them out as villains?”

“I didn’t.”

“Good for you. You only cared once it finally affected someone you knew.”

Reardon’s fists clenched to be called a heartless coward, but he’d called himself worse this past year.

He also couldn’t overlook the example of a man and a noble’s son.

“I suppose you’ve taken in all the corrupted, haven’t you?”

“You call them corrupt”—the Ice King stomped another clawed foot closer—“yet ask for leniency?”

“I only speak as I was taught. I don’t agree with it. I don’t believe they’re corrupt. Not any of them. I don’t want to. If my father understood—”

“He’d still keep up the status quo. Your kingdom shuns what they don’t understand because of my curse, yet they don’t even remember the time before.”

“So tell me! Let me know the truth so we can learn from our past instead of continuing to repeat it.” Reardon stepped forward—too close, he knew—but like before, instead of reaching out and ending him, the Ice King backed away. “You’d really let them all go, wouldn’t you? If they wanted it?”

“They don’t, but you are welcome to ask them, including your friend.”

“Then I am not a prisoner either?”

“That is up for debate.”

If Barclay had seen Reardon’s death in his vision, it couldn’t be now. Not yet. “Give me the chance to prove I will go back and change things for the better. I’ll stay for as long as it takes, but once you believe me, once you know me and I know you, let me go.”

“And what if I never believe you? You’re the prince. You could bring an army to my door after learning my secrets.”

“If you never believe me… then you either have another servant or another statue to crush. But that means you take an audience with me every day.”

The king scoffed, turning to stomp back up to his throne and throw himself onto it with an elegant ease that should have been impossible. “Sounds frightfully dull.”

“Yes, I can see your calendar is quite full.”

He rumbled with laughter like a brewing winter storm.

For a long stretch of minutes, he stared at Reardon with his uniquely human eyes—different from his companions. The Ice King was more tied to his humanity, even if he’d lost the feeling of it in his heart, and more cursed and tortured because of it, perhaps.

Yet still he said, “Fine. But make no mistake, little prince, if you prove unworthy or attempt to betray me, I will not hesitate to turn you into frozen rubble like that thief.”

All Reardon could do was return his stare and wonder—What was this curse? Why had it been cast? And what had the king been like before it changed him and his kingdom? He had to know, even if a mysterious and frightening future stretched out before him.

Love, death, and blue eyes in a sea of white.

Whatever that might mean.

“You have a deal, Your Majesty.”

About the Author 

Amanda Meuwissen is a bisexual author, with a primary focus on M/M romance. As author of the paranormal romance trilogy The Incubus Saga and several other titles with various publishers, Amanda regularly attends local comic conventions for fun and to meet with fans, where she will often be seen in costume as one of her favorite fictional characters. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, John, and their cat, Helga.

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Out For the Holidays & Out for Gold by Lane Hayes - Release Blitz with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Title: Out for the Holidays/Out for Gold

Series: Out in College, Book 9

Author: Lane Hayes

Publisher: Lane Hayes

Release Date: July 26

Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 30k

Genre: Romance, Contemporary MM Romance, Sports Romance, Bisexual, College Romance

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Synopsis

Out for the Holidays

A Dream Come True…

Derek-

This is it! I’m finally opening my own bistro. I’ve spent the last two years getting ready for this moment. I can’t decide if the holidays are the perfect time to begin a new venture, but I’m excited. It would be nice if my family were on board too.

Gabe-

I play water polo. I don’t know anything about the restaurant business, but I want to make sure Derek’s grand opening goes according to plan. I’ll rally our friends, send out invites, and yeah…I’ll even deal with his mother. He’s my number one person and I’ll do whatever it takes to be sure we’re out for the holidays.

Out for the Holidays is a low-angst MM romance featuring Derek and Gabe from Out in the Deep…and a host of friends from the Out in College books!

Out for Gold

Chance of a Lifetime…

Gabe-

Winning a spot on the Olympic water polo team is my lifelong goal and guess what?...I made it! Of course, nothing goes smoothly. This is a bad time for a shoulder injury and an even worse time for my dad to show up out of the blue. I might be doomed.

Derek-

Family isn’t easy. Trust me, I know. But in my experience, ignoring obvious issues only makes them more challenging in the long run. I can’t solve Gabe’s problems with his dad, but I’ll help if I can. Win or lose, my man is going out for gold.

Out of Gold is a low-angst MM romance featuring Derek and Gabe from Out in the Deep in a full-circle quest for the ultimate prize…love.

*OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS was originally featured in the holiday collection, Gifts for the Season. Since the anthology is no longer available, I wanted to publish it on my own and add new content. OUT FOR GOLD is a brand-new novella that really brings the whole story full-circle, featuring Gabe and Derek from Out in the Deep.

Excerpt

The early July air was balmy with just a hint of chill. We changed into sweats and rode two blocks to the deserted beach. We spread a blanket and sat facing the ocean with our bare feet in the cool sand. Stars glittered above us and a crescent moon did its best to cast some light, but the darkness was kind of therapeutic. And there was something poetic about the roar of the Pacific and the silent beach. I could almost imagine Mother Nature had been waiting for us.

“This is nice. We haven’t done this in a while,” I commented, crossing my arm over his as I leaned back to watch the waves breaking in the distance.

“We’ve been busy.”

“It’ll get better, Der.”

“I know…”

“But?” I prodded when he didn’t continue.

“You need to talk to your dad, Gabe.”

“I talk to him all the fucking time lately.”

“You let him talk at you. You need to tell him how you feel.”

I groaned. “That’s the last thing I need.”

“It’s exactly what you need. You’ve given him rent-free room in your head. No…you’ve cleaned out space and invited him to take a little more from you. I get it. He’s got a strong personality, and he’s your father. You’re confused, but excited too, and you’re grateful, but you’re also still pretty damn angry with him. And not dealing with those feelings is wearing on you.”

What could I say? It was true.

“Yeah. It is.”

“Sharing your experience is one thing, but giving it away is another. You don’t owe that to him or your mom or me or anyone. <em>You </em>worked your ass off for this chance. <em>You</em> did it, babe. It was all you,” he whispered fiercely.

I didn’t expect the prick of tears behind my eyes. I blinked wildly and squinted at the horizon.

“He’s not easy, Der. He’s not a villain, he’s not my enemy. I’ve talked to countless therapists and I’ve conquered the worst of my anger, but I wasn’t prepared for this. I need to read the handbook about what to do when the guy who abandons you as a kid returns with a vengeance when you’re twenty-fucking-six,” I huffed derisively. “The thing is…he isn’t going to change. He won’t suddenly turn into Dad of the Year. And if he does, it’ll be for half brothers I barely know. How is that fair?”

Derek leaned into my side. “No one said it was fair, Gabe. But he can’t fix what he doesn’t understand. And maybe he’ll never get there. That doesn’t mean you should lose sleep over old pain or worries. Let that shit go. For your sake. For your sanity.”

I gave a humorless half laugh and nodded. “You’re right.”

“I’m pretty smart,” he boasted playfully. “And I have some experience with pushy parents.”

“Your mom is nothing like him. She loves you so much she can’t see straight sometimes. And my mom is like that too…to a less obsessive degree.” I teased.

“True.”

We chuckled, then let the silence fall like a gossamer blanket. I didn’t want to break it, but now that the cork was off my emotional bottle, I couldn’t help voicing one of my greatest fears.

“I don’t want to be like him, Der. If we ever have kids, I just…please let me know if I—”

“Stop.” Derek shook his head vehemently as he shifted to face me. “You are not your dad. You’re not going to turn into him the day you become a father. You know that. Someday, we will have kids, and they’re going to be really damn lucky to have two dads who love them unconditionally. You’ll probably be the fun dad who lets them get away with everything, and I’ll be the uptight one who keeps track of bedtimes and homework assignments.”

I caressed his jaw lovingly and bit his bottom lip. “Is it crazy that I’m not even a little freaked out that we so casually talk about having kids? Like it’s a foregone conclusion.”

He kissed me and rested his forehead against mine. “It is. You’re going to the Olympics, and then one of us will propose. We’ll close escrow on our house, get married, and talk about starting a family. Sound good?”

My heart was practically bursting at the seams, but I played it cool. “Yep. Sounds perfect. How many kids do you want?”

“Two. At least.”

“Same. And how will we know who should do the proposing?”

Derek smiled. “We’ll know.”

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Meet the Author

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, and 2018-2019 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a not quite empty nest.

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