Nicola’s Sunday Shoutout: Matt Burlingame
Today’s Sunday Shoutout goes to the lovely and talented Matt Burlingame, whose wonderful new M/M romance Catch a Falling Star is now available from Amazon and other purveyors of romance. And now, here’s Matt!
A therapist once told Martin Stevens that being gay was the only thing that saved him from being the most boring man alive. He spends his daytime working a dead-end job and his nights still pining after the ex-fiance who left him five years ago. When his older brother Daniel takes him to see a touring musical, a mishap sends superstar performer Alec Jameson flying off the stage right into Martin’s lap. It’s love at first sight.
But can that love withstand the scrutiny of the press, a shock-jock radio personality bent on causing trouble, and the return of Martin’s overbearing ex-fiance?
Story Excerpt
Everything about Martin Stevens was average. He lived in an average town in an average house and worked an average job. He was an average height, average weight and wore average clothes. The only thing about him that wasn’t average was that he was gay, which his former psychiatrist once told him saved him from being the most boring man on the planet.
On the day Martin turned 33 years old, his coworkers—none of whom really knew him—gave him a card with his name misspelled. His mother left her annual voice message complaining about his “lifestyle choice” before handing the phone to his dad who told him what a disappointment he had turned out to be.
The only glimmer of hope to bring a smile to Martin’s usually complacent face was his older brother Daniel who was taking him out that night.
When his brother arrived, he gave Martin a card with a nude man on the front making a joke about blowing out his birthday candle, and a bottle of aged whiskey. Since they were taking a cab to get around, Daniel demanded they have a few shots before heading out—a destination he was still keeping a secret.
The two brothers had always been close. Daniel was the first person Martin had come out to, and had always supported and protected him—even from their own father who had once threatened to “beat the gay outta him if need be.”
“So you get anything fun for your birthday?”
Martin shrugged and held up Daniel’s card and the one from his work.
“Who’s Morton?”
Martin pointed to himself and gave a fake smile, then dropped the card into the trash bin.
“That’s it? What about your friends?”
“I don’t have any friends.”
Daniel swallowed his second shot and shook his head. “There’s gotta be someone you hang out with.”
Martin scoffed. “Just Jack and Karen.”
“Work friends?”
“My fish.”
Daniel chuckled. “Ah, little bro … what happened to you? You used to have a lot of friends. What about that girl you were friends with in school? Tracy?”
“Stacey. Haven’t seen her in years.”
“And all the people who came to those parties you and Derrick had when you were together?”
“Derrick’s friends.”
“But you always had people from school coming over.”
Martin took a shot, held it while giving his brother a sideways look, then swallowed hard. “That was the yearbook committee and they only came over because they had crushes on you. Once you graduated, I was kicked off. You were voted most popular. I was the one voted most likely to die alone and be eaten by his cats.”
Daniel couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “You were not!”
“I was! That’s why I have fish. Face it, my life has not exactly been a success story.”
“But you have a steady job, a nice house… fish. You should find a good guy and—”
Martin interrupted, “Adopt some kids, get a divorce, go to a support group.” He rolled his eyes.
“Okay, okay.” Daniel poured them a third shot. “One more before we go.” He raised his shot glass. “Here’s to my little bro on his birthday. May he meet the man of his dreams and have a long and happy life together.”
“Cold day in hell, Dan,” Martin said as their glasses clinked together.
Daniel’s phone beeped. “Ride’s here.”
“You never said where we were going.”
“Didn’t I? Huh.” Daniel headed toward the door.
Where To Buy
About the Author
Matt Burlingame is an award-winning journalist and playwright, living in Northern California. After 20 years of working for for various LGBT newspapers, websites, and even cohosting a late-night radio show, he has retired from his aspirations of being the gay Murphy Brown to pursue his love of fiction writing. His first book, the self-published dark comedy Sorry Charley, was released in 2012.
He has written and cowritten over ten critically acclaimed plays including Recovery Mode, Poughkeepsie Porn Co., Countess Dracula, and the controversial Paperclip Messiah. His plays have been produced nationally, most notably in New York, and St. Louis.
He has been a well known LGBT podcaster for over 10 years and produced and cohosted shows focusing on comedy writing, world events, comedy, theater, gay sex education and positive body image. With the support and encouragement of his gay cat, and lifelong friend Nephi, he has now immersed himself into the wonderful world of M/M romance.
Shifter Woods: Howl now available for pre-order #PNR #NewRelease
Woohoo! My spandy new paranormal romance novella Shifter Woods: Howl is now on Amazon for pre-order at only 99¢, and will be available on Kindle Unlimited for the next three months.
Some deets: Shifter Woods: Howl will release on 4/18 (aka Tax Day, if you need something to take away the pain) and is the first in a four-part series set in fictional Esposito County, New Mexico which is home to coyote, bear, cougar, and eagle shifter clans. The next novella, Shifter Woods: Roar, will be out in a month or so. Once all four novellas are out, I’ll combine them into a box set and a print version. Ooh, I’m so excited about this, and I LOVE the fact that I finally get to use that male model on a cover (I’ve been faunching over him since Empress of Storms).
Laurie wants a news story. Caleb just wants to be left alone. But when the coyote shifters’ paths cross in New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains, Fate steps in and gives them something they never expected—each other.
Reporter Laurie Rivera is on the trail of a white slavery ring when she’s forced to run for her life in the foothills near Sandia Crest. Widowed sheriff and Alpha coyote shifter Caleb Lynch comes across the exhausted reporter and discovers to his shock that Laurie’s also a coyote shifter—and his new heart’s mate.
But Caleb never expected to have another chance at love, and Laurie has a good reason to fear being claimed, especially by an Alpha. As a snowstorm traps them in the sheriff’s cabin, Caleb must find a way around the barriers surrounding Laurie’s heart, and Laurie has to confront her past—and the humans who want her dead—if she wants a chance at her very own “happily ever after.”
Fabulous Friday Reads: Coywolf
TGIF! Let’s kick off the weekend with Gale Stanley’s hot new M/M paranormal Romance On The Go™ Coywolf, now available from Evernight Publishing, Amazon, and other online retailers of fine erotic romance. Take it away, Gale!
In a world where reproduction is the number one priority, a gay wolf shifter could never be an alpha. So Logan hides his secret from the pack and resigns himself to a life without love.
Then one night, he finds his true mate and he’s forced to make a choice.
Story Excerpt
Logan set Rory on the wood floor. It would do, he’d slept on worse. Logan opened a cedar chest and took out a thick quilt. He laid it on the floor under a window. “It’s late. You can sleep here.” Logan pointed to the coverlet.” If you decide to shift, you can share my bed. It’s big enough for two.”
No thanks. But Rory couldn’t deny that he was tempted as he watched Logan undress. The man was sex on a stick with his strong jaw, straight nose, and dark intense eyes. Why were alphas always so damn good-looking? And straight as an arrow? Probably so they would attract the best bitches in the pack. Rory sighed. Logan looked even better with his clothes off. He had sexy chest hair and a dark curly bush that Rory wanted to bury his nose in. He imagined himself licking that half-hard dick to erectness. Down boy! He was tempted to shift, but good sense won out. If he didn’t stay in his fur, he would really be fucked.
Logan flopped onto the bed and lay flat on his back. He tugged on his cock until it stood straight up like a flagpole. Rory’s penis came out of its sheath and he whimpered. Thankfully, Logan was too busy jacking off to notice.
The Alpha bent his muscular legs and continued stroking his thick cock. The head flushed purple and pre-cum leaked from the slit. The musky scent drove Rory crazy. Slithering on his belly like a snake, Rory inched toward Logan’s dirty clothes on the floor. Rolling on them as best he could, he took comfort in Logan’s scent. But his gaze remained fixed on the man.
Panting now, Logan worked his cock harder and faster, tugging his balls with his other hand. His heavy breathing and the sound of his fist moving up and down his shaft made Rory hot and horny. Logan’s thighs went tense, and his hand moved so fast it blurred.
Rory’s anticipation built as he watched Logan stroke his hard length one final time. Thick threads of cum burst into the air. Rory ached to lick the creamy white liquid off Logan’s chest.
Logan stilled for a few minutes, and then glanced around the room. His eyes lit on Rory humping his jeans. Caught, Rory froze. A sly smile seemed to dance on Logan’s lips. His voice was low and sexy. “Pleasant dreams, boy.” Then he rolled over and promptly fell asleep.
Rory’s canine libido was in overdrive. A little more rubbing action on the denim and he shot his load. Then he settled down on the jeans, and in a few minutes his eyelids grew heavy, and he felt himself drifting off to sleep, too.
Where to Buy
Evernight | Amazon | Bookstrand
About the Author
Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and pencil.
Some things never change.
Wicked Wednesday Reads: Undeniable
Whee, it’s Wednesday! Which means it’s time to feature the lovely Ravenna Tate and her pyroclastic new romance Undeniable (Tortured Love 4), now available from Evernight Publishing, Amazon and other online retailers of fine erotic romance. Enjoy!
Rosanna Selim can’t recall almost two years of her life, but it hasn’t stopped her from loving her job as a paralegal with one of the top defense firms in Cleveland, Ohio. It also hasn’t affected her relationship with sexy, charming homicide detective, Houston Cassidy. Until he tells her about a twelve-year old case. As images invade both her waking and dreaming states, she’s certain that uncovering the truth means losing Houston.
Houston has been unlucky in love because of dedication to his job, so he’s determined not to screw things up with Rosanna. She’s sexy, beautiful, and the most easy going woman he’s ever met. He adores her. But when she tells him about the images, and as she works with a therapist to recover her memories, Houston has to come to terms with the possibility that she’s the killer in a case he’s been trying to solve for twelve years.
Story Excerpt
“I love it when you do that.”
“Are you sure?” He raised his brows. “I can wait a long time.”
“Oh yeah?” She shoved her hand between them and caressed his erect penis. “Doesn’t feel that way to me.”
The laugh she loved so much filled the space around them. “Appearances are deceiving.” Shivers ran up and down her spine as he kneaded her breasts. Even with her clothes still on, the effect was intoxicating. She massaged his shaft, aching for that dick to be inside her.
“You’re going to wait for it, babe.”
“Even with me doing this?”
One finger traced between her breasts, over her abdomen, and landed on her clit, where he rubbed hard. The movement forced her hand off his cock. “Now you can’t reach me.”
“Tease.”
“I never tease.” He massaged her swollen bud through the jeans, but she definitely felt it.
“So what do you call this?”
“Payback.”
“For what?”
“For being too damn sexy for your own good.”
“Weak, Houston. Very weak.”
“Oh yeah? Who’s the one squirming and begging right now?”
When he clamped his mouth on her groin through the denim, Rosanna cried out in pleasure. He was right. He’d nailed her. How the man had so much self-control was a mystery to her, but she loved it. She loved the teasing and she loved the way he made her so crazy with desire she wasn’t above begging him to fuck her.
“I’ll bet your hot pussy is soaking wet right now.”
“Why don’t you take off my jeans and find out?”
“Oh, I’ll take them off, but I’m not fucking you just yet. There’s something I keep promising you but haven’t delivered.”
“And what might that be?”
A wicked, sly grin had her wondering if she should have asked. Houston yanked off her jeans, taking her panties with them. He removed her socks and shoes, but instead of returning to what he’d been doing with that magic mouth a second ago, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her over one knee.
“Houston…” She was so surprised, she had no idea what to say.
“I’ve been threatening to spank you for weeks.” She gasped as he swatted each cheek, hard. He pinned her thighs with his right leg and held her across the lower back with his left hand. She couldn’t move, and the effect was so deliciously dominant that she nearly came.
“Tell me you’ve been a bad girl.” One more stinging smack on each cheek forced another gasp from her. “I want to hear you say it.”
“I’ve been a bad girl.” Her voice came out all breathy and low, but honestly, how could she help that? This was so over the top intoxicating that her clit began to throb.
“Yes, you have.”
“Oh my God!” He delivered five more blows to each cheek, alternating, and now they burned like fucking crazy. Each swat built on the next one, until she couldn’t distinguish the pleasure from the pain. The combined into one sweet, torturous sensation that sent shivers down her spine, and tiny contractions to her soaking wet pussy.
“Had enough yet, bad girl?”
“I don’t even know how to answer that.”
Houston rubbed the wounds he’d made, which forced loud moans from her as the intensity of the burn increased. “Not quite yet. You can take a bit more.”
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | BookStrand
About the Author
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads
And that’s a novella done
Yay, just finished Shifter Woods: Howl and sent it off to the betas to read. It’s only 23,000 words so I should be able to polish it this week, get the cover finalized over the weekend (I am SO happy to be using this one male model that I’ve been lusting after since Empress of Storms), put everything together and have it up on Amazon by next Tuesday.
And since I don’t remember if I explained the concept behind this one, Howl is the MF coyote shifter story, to be followed by its MM bear shifter companion piece Shifter Woods: Roar. There will be two more novellas set in the same world (Claw and Scream, respectively), after which I’ll compile them all into an ebook box set and a print version.
In the meantime, back to work on Uncertainty Principle I go!
Marvelous Monday Reads: Rescued by Love @EvernightPub #fairytale #romance
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, pumpkins! Today I’m featuring Jules Dixon and her hot new fairy tale romance Rescued By Love. And now, here’s Jules!
Aurora Jessen lives a life that would make a princess envious, but will her prince ever find her with her overprotective father hovering? When the infuriating Drexel Mason returns to town, his ability to get her to almost spontaneously orgasm while simultaneously making her want to stab him fascinates her, but a deadly accident reiterates the lack of control over her own life.
Drexel Mason’s childhood was more a scene from a nightmare than a tale of fated love. The memories make him cover his pain with a secret elixir, but Aurora’s kiss confiscates the lingering ache. When she accidentally takes his pain-killing potion, he’s given an opportunity to slay the dragon of his cruel past and release the prince hiding inside.
Will Drexel save his princess or will she continue waiting for true love in her ivory tower?
Story Excerpt
I rested my cheek against his shoulder and my nose brushed carelessly against his neck. His body stiffened and I wondered if it was from the touch or something else. I could hear his heart beating fast in his chest and the sound was comforting. I inhaled a deep breath and smirked.
His cologne isn’t that bad. Just takes time to get used to it.
“Drexel?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Yeah, I didn’t kiss you, Princess. You kissed me.”
I’ll show him Princess!
As if he knew I was going to try to get away, his hand pressed on my shoulder blade to hold my body to him.
I adjusted my head so I could look up at him again. “No, you kissed me, Drexel.”
“Now, Aurora—”
“Don’t say my name like that,” I said through gritted teeth.
His lips grazed my ear. “Ah-roar-ah.” He pulled the life from every syllable until I needed the next one like the oxygen in my blood. “We both know that was an impulsive and uncontrolled Aurora kiss. It wasn’t a Drexel kiss. When I kiss you, it’s different than that kiss. I’m sure you remember what one of my kisses feels like, right?”
I ignored the question. To remember brought back memories I didn’t want to forget, but I’d pushed them down to move on with life like he had.
“You can’t tell me you didn’t like that kiss,” I hissed back.
“Didn’t say I didn’t like it. I’m saying I didn’t start the kiss, and I was only participating in being molested by your tongue because you seemed to be enjoying it.”
“I seem to remember your third leg was molesting me and would lead me to believe you were enjoying it.”
“Whatever.” He chuckled and my rising blood pressure made my face flush.
“Did you just ‘whatever’ me?”
“Just trying to speak your language.” His hand lowered and slipped into the open slit on the back of my dress. With his hand spread across my lower back, I could feel the tip of his pinkie just resting at the top of the split of my butt cheeks, sliding under the lace of my thong. Skin on skin.
I wiggled and shout-whispered in his ear, “Drexel, your hand!”
“Uh-huh, nice thong.” He was an excellent dancer, swaying our bodies in unison to the dreamy but sultry beat. He spun us at just the right moment, compelling the breath to exhale in excitement from my lungs. “What about my hand?”
My breathing shallowed and my body betrayed me, hardening my nipples. “Please, your hand.” A moan escaped my lips.
Drexel rumbled a soothing, manly murmur of appreciation in response. “Now, why can’t you be this Aurora all the time? So peaceful and graceful, and not pissing me off?”
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Bookstrand | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
About the Author
Fuzzy sock collector, martini connoisseur, baseball fanatic, and dandelion lover, author Jules Dixon is a living testament to the genius of sugar and caffeine being able to keep a human alive. She’s addicted to everything related to the amazing emotion of love, probably instigated by her own happily ever after of 25 years with her beer-brewing hubby. Their own love story created a sassy, artistic daughter and a computer genius but ultra-sarcastic son.
Jules explores the rich psychology of sexuality, choices, and conflicts of high school, college, and young adult characters with sizzle and humor in her novels and novellas. She’s a busy writer, and she loves it!
Owned By the Alpha from Evernight Publishing @evernightpub #PNR
Coming to Evernight Publishing April 24th:
OWNED BY THE ALPHA ANTHOLOGIES
The Alpha lives for the hunt…
Driven by instinct, an Alpha shifter recognizes his fated mate from one scent, one touch. He’ll pursue his woman, regardless of the cost, and anyone else would be smart to get out of his way. He won’t stop until he takes possession of his prize.
Although the hunter doesn’t need convincing, his mate certainly does. The Alpha will have to prove himself as a lover and convince his woman that he plays for keeps.
OWNED BY THE ALPHA
Scent of Destiny by Rose Wulf
Taken Mate by Sam Crescent
Finders Keepers by Stacey Espino
The Hunt by Doris O’Connor
Alpha at Altitude by Lily Harlem
Fated to the Razorback Demon by Maia Dylan
Running Home by Michelle Graham
Alpha’s Sunshine by Elyzabeth M. VaLey
Checkmate by Wren Michaels
Frozen Heart by Beth D. Carter
Wolf Hunter by Elena Kincaid
Returning to the Coyote by Roberta Winchester
OWNED BY THE ALPHA: MANLOVE EDITION
A Tiger’s Luck by Maia Dylan
Last Alpha Standing by James Cox
Mooncrest by Jules Dixon
His Guardian Panther by Elena Kincaid
The Scarf by L.J. Longo
A Matter of Trust by Pelaam
Conflict of Interest by L.D. Blakeley
Degree of Resistance by Nicola M. Cameron – Review
Woohoo — five star review for Degree of Resistance!
Review by KJ Van Houten
About Degree of Resistance
A perfect society hiding a terrible secret. An innocent man condemned to cyborg slavery. A brilliant woman determined to set him free.
Freelance tech Evie Contreras belongs to the Employee class of the Pacifica Protectorate, the “perfect society” that rose from the ruins of the West Coast. But Evie knows about Pacifica’s festering core and the secrets that keep it in power. And when she discovers that Pacifica has turned her long-lost love Ben into a cyborg slave, she will risk everything to rescue him.
Saving Ben is the first step in a deadly game between Pacifica and a shadowy resistance group known as Rubicon. In return for Rubicon’s help, Evie must retrieve a hidden artificial intelligence that may hold the key to protecting Earth from a deadly new disaster.
Assuming the protectorate doesn’t find Evie first…
*********************
Review of Degree…
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Wicked Wednesday Reads: Always
Woohoo, we hit the hump day! Which means it’s time to feature the lovely London Saint James and her smouldering new romance Always (Two Hearts, One Soul Duet 1), now available from Amazon and other online retailers of fine erotic romance. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for having me on your blog to share a little bit about my new release, Always.
Some of you may remember this story as The Heart of Winter which was originally published in 2011 as a four book continuing series, Enchanted, Requiem, Revelation, and Eternal. While I have written many stories since then, Winter’s story was my first published set of novels. They say you never forget your first love and that’s true. Winter remains one of my favorite heroines and has always held a special place in my heart.
When the contract for this set of stories ended and the publishing rights came back to me, I knew I needed to retell it. Freshen it up. Add new content. So I stepped back into Winter’s world and made changes. Her entire story will be retold in a two book duet of novels.
I hope this new version of Winter’s story with bonus scenes will be one you fall in love with as much as I have.
XoXo
London
International bestselling author London Saint James’ first installment from Two Hearts, One Soul Duet is the epic tale of abiding love, heart-wrenching loss, and an astonishing bond that will find a way to endure.
Winter Perri never truly understood love until she met Austin Carlyle—the man who would rock her world to its foundations and give her something to believe in. But the night before they were to be married, the fairy tale shattered.
Thirteen years later Winter is pulled out of her seclusion only to have a painful past confront her, and when it does, she’s left questioning reality, because the impossible is looking back at her with the face of a destroying angel, and piercing eyes in too familiar shades of blue.
Book Trailer
Story Excerpt
We were never going to get out of California!
“Looking at a five-hour delay,” the pilot said. “Bad weather at LaGuardia.”
Fantastic.
Austin put his arm around me, pulled me close, and whispered, “Do you have any idea how stunning you are when you’re mad?”
His tempting voice broke through my irritation like a sledgehammer, and without any control to stop it a smile crept over my face. “No, I don’t. Why don’t you tell me?”
“I only have five hours to tell you, so we better get started.”
I rolled my eyes. “I doubt it will take five hours to explain.”
Austin laughed his low musical laugh then tapped the tip of my nose with his index finger. “I know. I’ll need more time.”
If Austin hadn’t been with me, I would have been upset the entire time; however what could have been a taxing event was as usual made better by his always calming presence. He took me by the hand, without protest on my part, and led me over to a more secluded area of the airport, scurrying past an onslaught of people, baggage handlers, flight attendants, and airport security as if we were the only two people in the world.
He sat down, propped his back against the wall, and nestled me between his legs. I leaned my head against his right shoulder with my two hands resting on each of his denim clad knees as he talked in a low murmur into my ear. The sounds of the airport faded away. The footfalls of strangers left. The bustle of baggage being moved disappeared. The overhead announcements completely vanished, while Austin described to me in detail why he found me beautiful.
He told me about my mouth, the way it moved when I talked, the way my eyes flashed when I got irritated, or excited, and how my face looked when I was mad or jealous. He described the curve of my eye, the arch of my brows, the furrows that gather between them when I concentrate. He told me about the color of my eyes, describing them as emeralds cut with sparkling facets of light. He spoke of how I bite my bottom lip. How he loved to hear me sing to the radio in the shower, the sound of my laugh, and the way my face looked when I was happy—luminescent and bright. He even told me he loved it when I argued with him, watching that little huff of displeasure I made right before I caved in.
I smiled because he was right. He had the ability to make me cave no matter how ticked-off I might be.
Austin told me how he loved to watch me sleep—the peaceful expressions—the sound my heartbeat made as it thrummed. He spoke about my body, the way I moved, the sounds I made when we made love—the warmth of me. Then he threw in some hot, juicy details about his body and mine that made me blush.
This started another line of conversation which prolonged the rosy red sensation to my cheeks.
Then, Austin delved deeper. He told me how my fragility showed through my strength, my insecurities through my courage—how I’m more than body, more than flesh. He spoke of me as the essence of desire, beauty, intelligence, grace; more than a single truth, a single word, a single caress, or a simple breath. He explained I am a girl, a lover, a daughter, a friend, a woman, and someday I will be a mother. He expressed his longing to have children with me, saying he couldn’t wait to see my belly rounded with our child.
“I want a little girl with your eyes, your lips, and your smile,” he said.
“Maybe I want her to have your eyes, brilliant blue that shifts into silver,” I countered.
“All right then. We’ll have both. A compromise. One with your eyes and one with mine.”
“Don’t you want a boy?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said. “How about you?”
“I would love to have your son and watch him grow up to be a heartbreaker just like his father.”
Austin’s laugh vibrated across my cheek. “It’s settled. Two girls and a boy.”
As he combed his fingers through my hair, Austin told me who I am, and who I will always be to him. He held a mirror to my soul, allowing me the reflection of the woman I should be, the woman he has made me, the woman I have become—the simple complexity of me.
Where to Buy
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Goodreads
About the Author
London Saint James has lived in many places, but never felt ‘at home’ until she met the real-life man of her dreams and settled down in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. London lives with her husband and their fat cat who thinks he owns them.
As an award-winning, international bestselling author, London is living her childhood dream. She knew all the scribbling she did, that big imagination of hers, and all those clamoring characters running around in her head would pay off someday.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Monthly Newsletter
Wicked Wednesday Reads: Atonement
Welcome to another edition of Wicked Wednesday Reads, angels! Today I’m here with Lydia Michaels and Allyson Young’s smouldering new ménage romance Atonement (Degrees of Separation 3), now available from purveyors of fine erotic romance. Take it away, ladies!
Beaten but not defeated, Austin faces his demons, encouraged by the return of his wife, December, and his best friend Cord’s constant presence. While accepting December’s feelings for Cord, Austin discovers some unprecedented emotions of his own… Pandora’s Box doesn’t close as easily as it opens.
Cord has kept a lifelong secret. But as his non-traditional love for Austin is exposed, he’s unprepared to trust his friends’ affection. Released from a self-imposed, emotional prison, he’s rewarded with both the man and woman of his dreams—yet he still harbors reservations.
December attempts to find a balance in her departure from conventional life and discovers new degrees of happiness intimacy in the non-traditional. With two men to love, her every need is met. But is she woman enough to satisfy their demanding hearts?
Story Excerpt
Cord shoved up from the bed and faced him. “Is it out of your system?”
“Is what out of my system?”
“Whatever you felt last night—and this morning.”
His mind halted at the fork in the road. Go right and everything went away, no therapy needed, no repeat performance. Turn left and… This time his mouth cooperated and the truth emerged. “No, it’s not out of my system.”
Cord drew back, surprise and something else written on his face. “Really?”
He dropped his gaze, unable to match Cord’s steady stare.
Although he commanded his household and ran several crews on the job, he couldn’t seem to out-master Cord when it came to this. This new dynamic between them he’d yet to name.
It wasn’t a simple step down from the top either. Every time he deferred to Cord it scraped and bruised, though maybe not as much as he might have thought. Sort of like a new pair of boots, uncomfortable at first, but with the promise of more support later.
Though he was still processing, he could at least confess he wasn’t giving up. “Really.”
His heart jogged into a gallop as Cord stepped closer, the soft press of his rough fingers on Austin’s chin made him flinch.
“Easy…”
Austin breathed through his nose as Cord leaned closer. How was he so natural about this? He held his breath as warm lips traced the stubble of his jaw. And damn his dick for firming up the second he breathed Cord in.
The heat of his friend’s body warmed him, his mind cataloguing every nuance. The wiry feel of another man’s chest hair. The sheer breadth and height of him. His earthy scent, so unlike Ember’s. His pure masculinity was suddenly alluring, when a day ago it was merely admirable.
Fuck.
His neck stiffened as Cord’s hand fit around his nape.
“It’s okay,” Cord whispered, leaning closer.
At the first brush of his lips, Austin panicked and made to jerk away but Cord’s steady gaze and strong grip calmed his instinct to flee. The heated press of his firm kiss slipped past his guard and Austin’s eyes drifted shut.
A dark, throbbing need took hold as he wrestled to deny how right it felt to taste another man. Not just any man. Cord.
Where to Buy
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Authors
Lydia Michaels
Lydia Michaels is the award winning author of 30 romance novels. Her novels from the darkly compelling Surrender Trilogy were iBooks Bestsellers and her work has been featured in USA Today. In 2015 she was the winner of The Best of Bucks Award and she has been nominated as Best Author in the Happenings Magazine two years running [2015 & 2016]. She is a four time nominee for the prestigious RONE Award. Her books are intellectual, emotional, haunting, always centered around love.
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Allyson Young
Allyson lives in cottage country, Manitoba, Canada with her husband of many years and numerous pets. She has written for many years and after reading an erotic romance, quite by mistake, decided to try her hand at penning one. A best selling Amazon author, she has now published three series and several stand alones in contemporary, sci fi, fantasy and suspense genres, as well as several novels under a different pen name. Allyson will write until whatever is inside is satisfied, until the heroes man up and the heroines get what they deserves. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson favours the darker side of romance.
Nicola Cameron Writes 