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Today I’m excited to bring you an Interview with Mia Kerick. I’m a fan of her writing and a big fan of Mia as a person. She’s been an unabashed supporter for everyone’s rights and is using her platform as a best selling author to portray various gender situations in positive ways. So, please take a moment to read the interview and then enter the giveaway for a really cool and different prize.

An Interview With Mia Kerick

Welcome Mia!  Since this the first time I’ve had a chance to interview you, tell readers about yourself.

Hi Andrew, and readers! I’m thrilled to be here today in promotion of my new release “A Hard Day’s Night”.  So, who am I? In a nutshell, I’m an at-home mom with an imagination that works overtime. My top priority is raising my four kids—from my oldest, a senior at Georgetown University, to my second, a dancer at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, to my third, a senior in high school, and finally, my youngest and only son, a sophomore in high school. And then there’s my husband. I’m not raising him, but I try to give him some attention, too. But my hobby and my career are one and the same; to write LGBTQ romance.

One more important Mia Kerick fact: I am a major proponent of size acceptance. My fear is that once we, as social activists, rid the world of most of the other stereotypes and prejudices and inequality, we will be left with one. It will be a judgment against fat people, because fat people supposedly brought the discrimination upon themselves through laziness, poor eating habits, and lack of self-discipline. I firmly believe that people come in all colors, sexualities, and sizes. I also want to widen the rigid notion of what is perceived as beautiful, especially in terms of size.

My first Mia Kerick book was, Beggars and Choosers—which I very much enjoyed. What was the first book you wrote?

Beggars and Choosers was actually the first book I wrote, Andrew. And it may have been published when I was in my late forties (age spoiler alert!) but I wrote it first when I was a teenager. All of the main characters were members of the band Queen, and I of course, was Cory, the character I most identified with. (I was a fan of big hair bands and rock opera.) In junior high and high school, I used to sit on my bed at night and write stories in spiral bound notebooks, and the storyline of Beggars and Choosers was the first I came up with and it stuck with me.

So how did it go from a M/F with a female lead character to an MM romance?

I never really thought about it that way, Andrew. One of the two main characters involved in the romance was me, and I’m female, but before I wrote the book I had been reading only MM romance and had been thinking a lot about the issue of gay marriage, and so my character became Cory, the boy, instead of Cory, who was me, the girl.

You’ve written books in a wide range of sub-genre’s. Talk about those for a minute.

I have written a wide array of romance dealing with the LGBTQ spectrum. My philosophy may seem simple—love is love—but to me this premise is indescribably important. I truly believe in the right to love who you want to love with no rules about who that person should be, unless it is hurting someone (by this I mean legal adults with legal adults or young adults with young adults). Before marital equality was law in this country, it bothered me to no end knowing that if I had fallen in love with a woman, in many states I would not be able to marry her. And practically speaking, I wouldn’t be able to be placed on her insurance plan, as I would if we were a conventional couple. So when it was time to start a family, I’d be forced to work outside the home if I wanted to receive health benefits, when I truly wanted to stay home and raise my kids. Knowing this type of situation exists I deemed it important to write romantic stories of same-sex couples, to show that their love is as valid as any M/F couple’s love.

Within the LGBTQ spectrum, I have written YA novels- f/f- Come to My Window, m/m- Intervention, Not Broken, Just Bent, The Red Sheet, Inclination, m/m/m- Us Three, gender fluid- Love Spell, and I am currently working on a transgender teen story. My new release, “A Hard Day’s Night” is a YA m/m novella, which is a first for me.

And I have written what is considered New Adult, m/m- Here Without You, Beggars and Choosers, Unfinished Business, Out of Hiding, and an m/m…f (with a very significant female character) called A Package Deal.

I have even written an m/m adult called Random Acts.

I like to cover a lot of bases, but all of my stories are contemporary romances (my web site theme is “Love is what I See”) dealing with current societal issues.

Do you have a favorite? Or one you’ve not explored but want to?

I’m currently doing research on experiences of transgender teens and on the medical aspects of transition because I’m planning to write a story about a transgender teen. I’m not rushing this research, as I want my story to be authentic.

How do you keep the voice of your YA characters current?

I have several secret methods of keeping current… First, having three teenagers and a twenty-one-year-old who all Facebook message me, text me pictures of their outfits, and call or sit down in the living room with me to discuss their challenges, keeps me up to date on teen issues and language, as well as what is cool and not so cool. My second way of staying current is… that I’m an inner fifteen-year-old. This is the secret part of the answer, so please don’t mention it to anybody. I like what teenagers like—the shows on TV, the music, the clothes. One of my daughters recently commented on my attire—an oversized button down army shirt, a rainbow tank that reads Vampire Weekend, black Doc Martens boots, and seriously ripped boyfriend jeans—saying she has the only mother in town who looks like a badass Indie grunge band member. I can also be very preppy when I want to be, for the record.

Do you let your children read your books before you publish them to check to see if your voice is accurate?

One of my daughters has read almost all of my books and she coaches me on current language, popular culture, and even clothing. I have dedicated a few of my books to her!

Recently I saw an article that said despite far more people coming out earlier, the number of homeless LGBT teens has skyrocketed. Do you think we paint too rosy a picture in our YA novels?

I don’t think that I do, and I do not see an overly rosy picture portrayed in the type of YA novel that I read. In my YA novels, I deal with a lot of the hard stuff that kids are faced with. In my YA and New Adult novels, I have looked at sexual abuse, neglect, body image issues, religious conflict, bullying, death of a parent, depression, gender questioning and more. I have a book that is due to be released in December that deals with teen drug and alcohol abuse. I use humor in many of my books with serious topics, as I believe that it is most effective to get people to really think about what you are saying as an author when you speak to them in a style to which they can comfortably listen. Humor feels comfortable for many people.

Before we get to your latest book, I want to ask about Love Spell. There aren’t many gender fluid books, YA or otherwise. What inspired you to write Love Spell.

I attended a National Honor Society induction of a relative and was very intrigued by a boy who wore a beautiful sleek suit and very high black pumps for the occasion. I asked my young relative about this boy, who is gender fluid, and how the other students and teachers at school reacted to him, and the answer further inspired me. That is when Chance César, with all of his haughty attitude and creative vocabulary and fabulous view of life, was born. But on a more serious note, I feel that every child (teen) should be able to go to the bookshelf at a local library or to Amazon.com and find books that he/she can truly relate to.  Kids whose gender identity is unclear or unconventional deserve to be able to find themselves in books. I am working on making that happen.

Can you share and feedback you’ve received as a result of your work? Anyone contact you to say thanks?

Interestingly, when I first started writing I established my [email protected] address and put it in the back of my first few books. And then I promptly forgot all about it. In fact, I didn’t check it for months and months and when I finally checked it, there was a lot of fan mail that I had essentially ignored. (I did get back to these readers and I apologized for my huge oversight. But I will admit it was shocking to actually have fan mail!) And some of my beta readers are actually readers who have reached out to me to let me know how much they enjoyed my work. They have become friends and I consider them mentors.

Let’s talk A Hard Day’s Night. Tell us about that.

I fell in love with each member of the Beatles, individually, when I was in high school. My biggest crush was on John Lennon. I wanted to write a book that remembers the awesomeness of the Beatles, and in particular, the worldview of John Lennon. And I wanted to attack this book as a twenty-four hour slice of life—reminiscent of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. And so Lennon and Fin together experience a journey of sorts: a very hard day, capped off by an even harder night.

“A Hard Day’s Night” is a book about exploring and accepting one’s identity. Lennon, the main character in whose perspective the story I told, has long found his identity in the persona of John Lennon. He goes so far as to wear his hair long and shaggy like his idol, and of course, wears round, wire-rimmed glasses. But Lennon has come to believe that he is gay, and to complicate this, he is fairly sure that he has fallen in love with his best friend, Fin. Fin (Beaumont Finely Danforth ll) has a different kind of identity to nurture. Former prep school student, preppy as a summer day is long, from a wealthy and successful family, he is somewhat trapped by high expectations.

As I stated, “A Hard Day’s Night” is a story about identity, and relating to this, there is an important lesson that the two boys learn, and it is about stereotypes. The boys think that in order to be gay, you have to be a gay stereotype. And so they explore many of these stereotypes close up. They learn a lot about a gay man’s identity in the process.

Where did you get the premise for spending twenty-four hours being gay?

I was enchanted by the book Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. It was raw, it was real, and it honestly displayed the insecurities and inner feelings of teenagers. And it started and ended in a set time and space, like a trip.

I also think a lot about stereotypes. And I am fairly certain that teenagers do, too. Stereotypes scare teens, as they are nothing but exaggerated caricatures of people, and they are not designed to flatter. So why not have my two main characters take a trip, a one day trip (Day Tripper, yeah) like Nick and Norah did, to explore the truth of the stereotype that scares them and intrigues them most—a day long trip that will lead Lennon and Fin to the truth of their identities.

What part of the book was the most fun to write and why?

The hair salon scene was Fun. Capital F. I laughed out loud when I created the stylist, “Chard”, when I decided upon the name of the salon, “The Best Little Hair House in Westfield”, and when I created the boys’ reactions to being beautified. However, later in the scene there is a touching moment, which enhances the earlier humor. In my humble opinion.

What part made you struggle the most?

Choosing which Beatles songs to include was very difficult for me, as I love so much of their music and so many of their songs deal with the topics relating to the themes of “A Hard Day’s Night” such as understanding your identity, falling in love, and dealing with emotional angst. All are perfect subjects to enhance a teenage romance.

Maybe a series that uses different Beatles songs?

That is a fantastic idea. If I use it, I will credit you!

Tell us something interesting that is not in the blurb?

I wish I included more about the fact that sometimes it isn’t a huge step from friends to lovers when you allow yourself to open your mind, because Lennon and Fin are so made for each other, and they couldn’t embrace it because it wasn’t what they expected of each other.

Since there is always another story to tell, what are you working on now?

I am exploring the idea that two people can fall in love regardless of their sexual orientation. I am not crazy about the expression “gay for you” but the book I’m working on will take a look at two college men who helped one another through a difficult time in their lives and find that they do not want to live without each other. And they want to be committed to each other as a couple, not just in a close friendship. So, in essence, the book asks the question, can deep love and true need and a profound bond produce romantic love?

I also have a YA transgender story for which I am doing research.

If you could meet any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Remember I said I was an inner fifteen-year-old? Well, I meant it. I would love to meet Twilight’s Stephenie Meyer and ask her to please complete Midnight Sun, the Twilight story she was writing from Edward Cullen’s perspective.

Besides reading and writing, what else do you enjoy?

Ali

Demi

Sisi

Chris

And Randy

(My kids and my husband, and every thing they do.)

And true crime on the Investigation Discovery Channel. Can’t forget that.

And the Boston Red Sox. (But more so when we’re not in last place.)

Blurb:

High school senior Kalin (Lennon) Macready knows several facts for certain: John Lennon is his hero. Beaumont Finley Danforth (Fin) is his best friend. And—this is the complicated one—he feels more for Fin than mere friendship.

For weeks, Lennon pesters Fin, who like Lennon admits to questioning his sexual orientation, for a commitment to spend twenty-four hours together exploring “the gay side of life.” Fin reluctantly agrees. Each boy will seek to answer the daunting question, Am I gay? Lennon pre-plans the day, filling the hours with what he assumes “gay life” is all about: shopping for fashionable clothing, indulging in lavish dessert crepes, boogying to Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off”, and yes, listening to show tunes.

However, Lennon quickly realizes that in creating his plan he has succumbed to the most common and distorted of gay stereotypes. Can he be gay and not fit them? And more importantly, is it possible that spending one very hard day and night together will help Fin accept that he’s gay, too? If so, maybe Lennon has a shot at winning the heart of the boy of his dreams.

“A Hard Day’s Night” is an amusing young adult contemporary romance about two boys who seek to discover if they must fulfill stereotypes to be together.

In the end, maybe all you need is love.

Publisher: YoungDudes Publishing

Publication Date: 1st September, 2015

Cover Artist: Louis C. Harris

Buy Links:

Amazon:

ARe:

About the Author:

Ms. Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five non-pedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty-two years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships, and she believes that physical intimacy has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping.

She is thankful to CoolDudes Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press, and CreateSpace for providing her with alternate places to stash her stories.

Mia is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights, especially marital equality, which is now the law of the land in the United States—woot! woot! Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Where to Find Her:

gmail: [email protected]

Mia’s Blog www.miakerick.com

Goodreads, http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6474518.Mia.Kerick

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Mia-Kerick/e/B009KSTG9E/ref=sr_ntt_srch_link_2?qid=1410298098&sr=8-2

FB: https://www.facebook.com/mia.kerick

Tour Stops:

Tour Dates & Stops:

31-Aug

Bayou Book Junkie:

SA McAuley:

1-Sep

TTC Books and More:

My Fiction Nook:

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews:

2-Sep

Hearts on Fire:

MM Good Book Reviews:

Up All Night, Read All Day:

3-Sep

V’s Reads:

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents:

4-Sep

Cathy Brockman Romances,

Mikky’s World of Books,

Jessie G. Books

5-Sep

Kimi-Chan,

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

7-Sep

Amanda C. Stone,

Inked Rainbow Reads

8-Sep

Velvet Panic,

Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves,

Divine Magazine

9-Sep

Because Two Men Are Better Than One,

Parker Williams

10-Sep

Prism Book Alliance

11-Sep

BFD Book Blog,

Ogitchida Book Blog

Giveaway:

Mia is running two different contest in conjunction with her book tour:

1. Each stop on the tour will give away a free eCopy of A Hard Day’s Night. To enter, leave a comment. (Also, for more changes to win be sure to stop by the different stops on the tour)
2. There is one Grand Prize: Three Beatles memorabilia jigsaw puzzles.  The winner will be chosen from all comments on all stops.  The winner will be chosen using giveawaytools.com. 

 

 

 

 

Blurb:

Living is the easy part.

Agent Lucky Lucklighter and his partner escaped Mexico alive, only to plunge into bureaucratic fallout from their mission. Hell, maybe Lucky should have stayed south of the border. Especially when the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau places Bo into rehab, and Lucky’s facing both therapy and an inquiry into a fatal shooting. Watching over his shoulder for a vengeful drug lord or a cartel don calling in favors leaves him scarcely able to imagine a future for them as agents, or as a couple.

Bo Schollenberger once had a vision for their life together, but he’s bowed beneath the weight of his undercover work. Lucky’s hanging on by his deeply chewed fingernails, clinging to hope by making Bo’s dreams of a home into reality. The last thing he needs is a phone call from a dangerous man who knows too much, summoning him back to Mexico for “an early Christmas present.”

Not when the SNB brass asks tough questions, like “How well do you know your partner?”

Diversion—Book: Five

(Series should be read in order as events take place that are referenced throughout the story.)

Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Release Date: August 8, 2015

Excerpt:

“What’s your current credit rating?”

Lucky didn’t often use credit. After getting out of prison to work for Walter, he’d bought his car from a police auction for cash, and lived a low-key lifestyle. Before that, Victor Mangiardi had taken care of him. A nice way to live, but other than a car stereo in his teens, he’d never made payments on anything. And he’d been Richmond Lucklighter then. He’d only been Simon Harrison for a short time, and although he’d used credit cards to make expense reporting easier when on assignment, he paid them off every month. “I’m not sure.”

“Then let’s see.” The woman tapped on her laptop and whistled. “Mr. Harrison, I don’t think we’ll have a problem getting you the loan.”

He owed Walter one hell of a lot of those frou-frou coffee drinks from Starbucks for giving him a credit score to make a loan officer whistle.

An hour later Lucky fought to hide a grin from a woman who’d put the Energizer Bunny to shame. “Now, I’m familiar with the house you’re considering. Offer 180. Trust me.” She winked and handed him the phone.

He pulled a dog-eared card from his wallet and dialed.

“Mr. Harrison?” The Realtor didn’t sound too happy to hear from him, not that he blamed her. She’d been working hard for her commission. That’s why she got commission.

“Is that house still available? The fixer-upper in the gated neighborhood?”

“Y… yes.”

“I want to make an offer.”

Now what was he gonna tell Bo?

Sales Links:

http://wp.me/p3EiBX-d4

 (Bonus link: Check http://rockyridgebooks.com/334/ to get Diversion, the first book of the series, for .99!)

About the author:

Captivated young by story-telling, Eden Winters’ earliest memories include spinning tales for the family’s pets. Her dreams of writing professionally took a sojourn into non-fiction, with a twelve-year stint in technical documentation.

She began reading GLBT novels as a way to better understand the issues faced by a dear friend and fell in love with the M/M romance genre. During a discussion of a favorite book, a fellow aficionado said, “We could do this, you know.” Good-bye gears, motors, and other authors’ characters; hello plots and sex scenes.

Somewhat of a nomad, Eden has visited seven countries so far. She currently calls the southern US home, and many of her stories take place in the rural South. Having successfully raised two children, she now balances the day job with hiking, rafting, spoiling her grandchildren, and stalking the wily falafel or elusive tofu pad Thai at her favorite restaurants. Her musical tastes run from Ambient to Zydeco, and she’s a firm believer that life is better with fur kids and Harley Davidsons.

Find Eden’s other works at http://edenwinters.com or contact her at [email protected]

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdenWinters

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eden-Winters/300380906658065

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenWinters1

Blog: www.edenwinters.com

E-mail:[email protected]

Tour Stops:

Parker Williams, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, BFD Book Blog, Mikky’s World of Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Bayou Book Junkie, The Hat Party, Jessie G. Books, The Jena Wade, Christy Loves 2 Read, Inked Rainbow Reads, Molly Lolly, TTC Books and More, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Iyana Jenna, Andrew Q. Gordon, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Ogitchida Book Blog, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Reviews by Jessewave, Velvet Panic

Giveaway:

Click the Rafflecopter link below for a chance to win an e-Copy of Redemption

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Please note, this is a mixed anthology. Strictly Professional is an MM Romance, but most of the stories in the anthology are MF.)

Blurb:

 

As the only senior graphic designer at Downey Handbags, Zane Kotsky expected to become the head of the creative art department when the company planned to expand its business. His hope crashed when it turned out that the company wanted someone from outside to be the manager. Knowing that, Zane planned to leave the place at once, but that was before he met the man who would become his boss, Joachim Wessling.

 

Publisher: Iyana Jenna

Cover Artist: Renee George

 

 

Excerpt:

“I don’t know, but…” He sighed and began telling her everything that was said in the meeting, including his own thoughts and self-promise not to go. He also asked her not to tell anyone.

“Of course I won’t. But I agree with you. You can’t leave. You have to show them how good you are and how wrong they are not to pick you.”

“Thank you, love.” He sniffed and sank his fork into his warm, moist muffin. It looked tasty enough that it helped him forget about the meeting though only for a second.

“Still, there’s a chance you might like this new guy.”

Huh? Zane’s head whirled up so fast he got dizzy. “I thought you were on my side.”

“I’m not taking sides. I’m just thinking of what’s best for everyone. For you, for the company.”

“Then you must think I’m not good enough to be the art department manager.”

“I never said that.”

“No, seriously.” He set his muffin aside and folded his arms on the table, facing her straight on. “What do you think I need to improve? Like I told you earlier, the management people thought I wasn’t mature enough.”

“I don’t think there’s something wrong with you. I said something about the new person because I think finally you’ll get someone equal to you. Someone you can argue with about a design and who can argue back. You realize that no junior designers dare say anything against you, right?”

“I, err…” Zane didn’t know what to say. He always thought he treated them fairly. He wasn’t a tyrant.

“You can be childish sometimes.”

“See? You think there’s something wrong with me.”

Mira sighed. “Come on. It’s for your own good. If you behave properly, management will see that you’re serious. That newcomer is an outsider anyway. He won’t know shit about our company.”

“Whoa.” He had never heard dirty words out of her mouth before. Then he shrugged and took a sip of his caramel macchiato.

“You promised yourself you’d show Downey they couldn’t get rid of you easily.”

Zane still said nothing. She nudged at him, almost tipping over the contents of the cup he was holding.

“Hey.”

“Promise me.”

“Okay, okay.”

About the author:

Iyana writes M/M short stories and novellas. Her works have been published by Evernight Publishing, JMS Books, Books to Go Now, Torquere Press, Bitten Press, Leap of Faith Publishing, Breathless Press, and Alfie Dog Fiction.

Iyana lives in Jakarta, a city famous for its traffic jams, a lot of cars and motorcycles, and people selling stuff on the roads. You can spend two hours on the road going to a place you can reach in half an hour in a normal situation. Thanks to the traffic jams, though, Iyana can come up with a lot of stories, mostly shorties, as she prefers to spend the time during her trips writing into her cell phone rather than sleeping.

Where to find the author:

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

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/books.by.iyanajenna

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IyanaJenna

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/iyanajenna/

Blog: http://iyanajennaauthor.wordpress.com/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/iyana-jenna

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=263934975&trk=hp-identity-name

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6996391.Iyana_Jenna

Publisher: Iyana Jenna

Cover Artist: Renee George

Tour Date: June 20, 2015:

Parker Williams, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, BFD Book Blog, MM Good Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Up All Night, Read All Day, Havan Fellows, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, Multitasking Mommas, Inked Rainbow Reads, Cate Ashwood, Bike Book Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, My Fiction Nook, The Hat Party, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Bayou Book Junkie, Andrew Q. Gordon, The Novel Approach, Divine Magazine, Kimi-Chan, Foxylutely Book Reviews

Giveaway:

Click the Rafflecopter link for a chance to win a $5.00 gift card:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blurb:

Workaholic Nate Erickson is a successful real estate developer who thrives on long hours and stress. When a Los Angeles project prompts him to relocate to Santa Monica, he welcomes the change of scenery. Nate has always considered romantic entanglements trouble, but his sexy next-door neighbor isn’t easy to ignore. Which makes no sense, because Nate is straight… or so he’s always thought.

Alex Reyes is a retired professional soccer player turned West Hollywood business owner with an insatiable lust for life. He loves his family, friends, and work. But there’s one life challenge left to accomplish: coming out publically. Respect for traditional Latino values has kept him in the closet, but Alex begins to think he and his new neighbor might help one another combat their fears. As Alex and Nate forge a strong friendship, they soon realize facing their personal demons will take more courage than either man bargained. The reward is immeasurable… if the timing is right.

The Right Time; by Lane Hayes

 

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Release Date: June 26, 2015

Excerpt:

I hadn’t worked out with a professional in years, and it felt foreign to wait for someone else’s direction.

“Any issues with your shoulders or arms? Any injuries I should know about?” he asked, handing me the weights.

“No, I’m good.”

“Great. Start with your palms facing your thighs, lift them both over your chest, then lower the left. Good. And now the right.”

He stood over me diligently, making slight corrections when needed. My supine position gave me an interesting perspective. When I looked up, I noted how his strong brow offset his twinkling eyes. I swallowed uncomfortably and turned my head, only to find myself staring at his crotch. His dark shorts seemed to hint they were covering a generous package.

Holy fuck.

“You doing okay?”

“Uh yeah. Hey, weren’t you going to tell me about your Friday night?” I needed him to talk. I didn’t trust my thoughts anymore, and I was stuck in my current position crazily aware of a man in a way I hadn’t been in over fifteen fucking years. Diversion in any form was welcome.

Alex snorted. “I already told you. I went dancing, and oh yeah, I did get lucky.”

He added the last part with a hearty chuckle, no doubt catching my wide-eyed expression. I hadn’t expected that.

“Oh.”

“You asked.”

“Right.” I did? The strong flash of jealousy took me by surprise, but I pressed on. “Did you go back to the beach to get those girls’ numbers last weekend?”

He looked confused for a second, but a slow cocky grin soon spread across his handsome features as he crouched so his face was close to mine.

“No, I told you they weren’t my type.”

I gulped and watched his eyes lower to my throat. He licked his top lip and reached out to adjust my wrist.

“Lift ’em both at the same time, Nate. That’s it. Push it. Harder.”

I sent up a quick prayer I wasn’t sporting a tent in my shorts. Alex’s voice, touch, and yeah, the unintentional innuendos were making me nuts. And horny. I felt terribly out of my element. I wasn’t sure what we were talking about anymore, but the potent silence made me more uncomfortable than speech. Keep talking, I thought.

“So a dance partner?”

“What? Oh. Yeah, I think so. I can’t remember. It was just one of those things, you know? Sit up. Let’s give your arms a break.”

“Just one of those things?”

“Yeah. One night. No numbers exchanged. No hassle, no fuss.”

I had no words. Literally.

Alex chuckled gleefully as he led the way to a leg machine. He gave instructions and stood back to observe me for a moment.

“It’s not necessarily my favorite kind of sex, but hey….” He shrugged his shoulders with his hands outstretched as if to say “what’s a guy to do?”

I recognized this cue. It was my opportunity to commiserate about the trials and tribulations of being a single man with a healthy sexual appetite. Now was my chance to admit it was nice every once in a while to have sex of the nonsolo variety with someone who knew the score. But I was tongue-tied and equally aware of a completely different undercurrent. One I wasn’t brave enough to explore.

“You can stop having fun at my expense any time.”

Alex squeezed my shoulder and smirked playfully. “You’re easily rattled.”

“How so?”

“You seem like someone who has a place for everything and likes everything in its place. You have a routine, and you don’t appreciate any deviation. I should be flattered you came to the gym with me at the spur of the moment.” He paused, running his tongue over his plump bottom lip. “If you’re not careful, I’m gonna think you like me.”

The air between us crackled. Alex leaned forward so his handsome face was mere inches from mine. His proximity alone seemed to issue a challenge. Daring me to confess I was more than I appeared to be. I doubt he expected any revelations, but his intent was certainly to… how had he put it, rattle me. And damn, it was working.

About the Author:

Lane Hayes is finally doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a fews ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel, Better Than Good, was a 2013 Rainbow Awards finalist. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and their very old dog in an almost empty nest.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: Lane Hayes 

Facebook Author Page: Lane Hayes Author

Twitter: @LaneHayes3

Tour Stops: 

Parker Williams, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Carly’s Book Reviews, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, 3 Chicks After Dark, Andrew Q. Gordon, Chris McHart, Cate Ashwood, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Love Bytes, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, TTC Books and More, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Molly Lolly, Charley Descoteaux, Divine Magazine, Velvet Panic, The Hat Party, Mikky’s World of Books, My Fiction Nook, Carly’s Book Reviews

Giveaway:

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This Book Blast is a Pride Promotions event.  

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DSP Publications is taking part in the 8 Year Anniversary Celebration that Dreamspinner Press is having. THis week and this week only, you can get 25% off all DSP PUblications, including the first two books of the Champion of the Gods series if you purchase them from the DSP Publications website.

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And here are the direct links to my DSP Publication books: