Discover Pretty Please by Tracey Michael

Please give a warm welcome to Gwen from Pretty Please by Tracey Michael today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

Q: So tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author? Hi! My name’s Gwen. I pouted and annoyed my author until she wrote my story. I use those on Thea, my best friend, too. *giggle*

Q: What was it that drew you to your mate? She’s been my best friend, forever. I can’t imagine my life without her.

Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner(s)? My author didn’t tell anyone this, but… Thea’s desk at her garage. It was lunch time and it was quick, but it was sooooo HOT.

Q: Boxers, briefs or Commando on a man? I always thought of myself as a boxer brief kinda girl, but Thea wears these boy shorts…*grin*

Q: If your partner wants to seduce you, what's one sure fire trick they can do to seduce you? Romance would do it. Thea isn’t much of a romantic, but if she did candlelight and soft music, I’d be a puddle of goo for her.

Q: What is the one place on your partner's body that you know will drive them wild-in and out of bed? Oh, that’s a good one! Thea’s very ticklish, especially on her hip bones. One little nibble or a graze of my manicured nails has goosebumps raising on her arms and her breath hitching.

Q: What was one of the most embarrassing things your author did to you in Pretty Please? My author didn’t embarrass me, thank goodness. But she made me work for my happy ending. That’s good, though. It wouldn’t be the same if it was easy.

Q: Anything else you would like to add? I just want to thank you for having me, today. I’m very excited about the re-release of Pretty Please on August 10^th from Torquere Press!

Thank you Gwen for joining us on 'Meet the Character' day here at Dawn’s Reading Nook Blog. You can find all of Tracey Michael’s books at .

Genre: Lesbian contemporary

Pre-Order at: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_85&products_id=4705

Thea and Gwen have been best friends since they were kids. Thea will do anything for Gwen and she uses it to her advantage whenever necessary. A coerced shopping trip turns into a “date”. A few tears turn into unexpected sex. Friendship turns into love. Wait. When did that happen? And do they want to pursue those new feelings? What happens if an attempt at a relationship ruins everything? Thea isn’t sure she wants to risk it, but Gwen is sure she does. When Thea turns her “straight” best friend down, Gwen is crushed. Thea has always known she was a lesbian and she loves Gwen more than anything, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be Gwen’s experiment. That will only leave her with a broken heart in the end. Can Gwen change Thea’s mind and prove that her love is true?

Meet the Author

Author Tracey Steinbach writes anything from dystopian to contemporary to paranormal erotic romances. She doesn’t mince words when it comes to writing sex so most of her books are a three-star heat level or above. Her alternate persona, Tracey Michael, is a bestselling author in LGBT erotic romance. Between the two names, she’s published with Dreamspinner Press, Torquere Press, Siren Publishing, Liquid Silver Publishing, Rooster & Pig Publishing and self-published.

Her first published work in 2011 was a paranormal anthology piece.

Facebook

https://twitter.com/AuthorSteinbach

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5280919.Tracey_Michael?from_search=true

Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ Laid 3 by AJ Llewellyn

Title: Laid 3

Author: A.J. Llewellyn

Series Title and Number: Laid #3

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: John Bruno

Release Date: 8/3/16

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: Male/Male, Ménage

Length: 19K

Genre:Gay Romance, Menage, Police Procedural, Noir

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Synopsis

Supercop Jack Cannon’s met the man of his dreams and isn’t about to give up loving Lucky… even when the man is marked for death. LAPD Swat team member, Jack Cannon, takes on an unusual assignment, Threat Management, a new crack team created to target LA’s most violent criminals, The Hollywood Ten. Then… Jack is shot and forced to take a vacation. He flies to London to spend time with his hot and sexy lover, Lucky, in London. Jack’s man is working on an undercover assignment. Jack’s plans for a feisty little R and R don’t sit well with the hit man who’s been hired by a mysterious source to bump off Lucky. With things heating up between Jack and Lucky all over London from public restrooms to five-star hotels, Jack lures the wild assassin into their sensual web. This is either gonna be the beginnings of a spicy, feisty threesome… or a triple homicide.

Excerpt

“I see someone in the driver’s seat,” one of the bad guys said. They sounded very far away. It was the bulletproof glass. Where the fuck is Zuniga? I pulled out my phone again, texting for backup, I hated having to do it in the middle of a job but I wasn’t going to be much use to the mission if I was shot full of holes. I wasn’t invincible as much as I liked to pretend to myself that I was. I couldn’t play cowboy and take on these pistol-packing peanuts alone. Or could I? Go down in a blaze of glory? I didn’t want a life without Lucky. They’d be doing me a big fucking favor if they shot me. The message came back. Stay where you are. Don’t move. “He’s texting! He’s texting!” one of the little assholes outside yelled. “Shoot him!” the guy beside me said. I heard the one sound I didn’t want to hear. A gunshot. It bounced off the passenger window. They started to rock the SUV back and forth. Where the fuck is my backup? I drew my gun out of the holster as I heard the second sound I absolutely did not want to hear. My door releasing. And opening. I was ready for the little shit and shot him from my left hand, clear in the chest with my new, handy-dandy, state-of-the art, gazillion-watt Taser X26C gun. His eyes rolled up like escalator stairs and he flew back, billowing out on the ground, twitching with the force of the electro-magnetic impulse. “Motherfucker!” his friends yelled. They ran toward the front, shooting away at me. I blasted back, getting one little fucker in the shoulder with my state-issue .32, with my right hand. The third little bastard screamed at me. What an asshole. He jumped over his friend’s writhing body and popped off a couple of shots. One hit the driver’s door. As he neared me, I closed the door toward me and whumped him as he tried to yank at it. It smacked him in the face and I heard a satisfying crunch of bones. I let him have a little Taser juice just because I felt like it. He was on his knees calling me a pig and a honky. No manners. I closed and locked my door. We’d been had. How did he know I was a pig? And calling me a honky? He was like something out of a seventies’ blaxploitation movie. I called my supervising unit. Nobody responded. I had three prone assholes outside and an even bigger problem on my hands. Somebody had ambushed us. Keeping my eyes on the road, I realized there’d been no traffic passing by me during the entire encounter with the three guys still sprawled on the ground. Calling 9-1-1 was supposed to be my last resort but as far as I knew, my partner had been ambushed and the supervising unit was out of commission. My cell phone rang. I prayed it wouldn’t be Lucky.

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Torquere Press

 

Meet the Author

A.J. Llewellyn’s obsession with myth, magic, love, and romance might have led to serious stalking charges had it not been for the ability to write. Thanks to the existence of some very patient publishers, A.J.’s days are spent writing, reading and dreaming up new worlds. A.J. has definitely stopped Google-searching former boyfriends and given up all ambition to taste test every cupcake in the universe to produce over 200 published gay erotic romance novels. A.J. wants you to read them all. A.J. can be found lurking on Facebook and Twitter—part-time class clown being another occupation. When not writing or reading, A.J.’s other passions include juggling, kite-boarding, and spending a fortune buying upgrade apps for Pearl’s Peril and Farm Heroes Saga. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A.J.-Llewellyn/e/B002DBJBC2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1450904407&sr=8-3 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aj.llewellyn Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1914286.A_J_Llewellyn Newsletter sign-up: ajllewellynnewsletter@gmail.com Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ajllewellyn Twitter: www.twitter.com/ajllewellyn Website: www.ajllewellyn.com I’m an app! Download my FREE A.J. Llewellyn App for Android here: tinyurl.com/lkbc4wm

Giveaway

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ Alpha's Redemption

Author: DC Juris

Title: Alpha's Redemption

Series Title and Number: Alpha/omega Verse #3

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kristin Norris

Release Date: July 27 2016

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: male/male alien

Length: 17,651

Genre:Gay Romance, Science Fiction, Alternate Universe, Aliens

Synopsis

Tondreau has spent the last four years helping raise Cadajen's terminally ill daughter, Linea. Though not mates, they've carved out a happy life with each other. It all comes crashing down when Linea's health takes a turn for the worst. Together, they must face the hardest decision of their lives. Will it tear them apart? And can Tondreau put aside his fears and be the Alpha Cadajen needs him to be? .

Excerpt

Tondreau faced him, shaking his head. "You love her, and you show her that love every day, every chance you get." He frowned, his brow furrowed. "Do you know how many of us walk through life without love? How many of us would give almost anything for four years of love?" Cadajen had expected the first half of the statement. But the second half… "You're not without love." Tondreau's frown deepened and he shrugged. "I didn't mean me, specifically." "But you're not. You have to know that. Linea and I both love you. You must be able to smell it on us, at least." The Malorcian shuffled his papers, shoved them into his bag. "Should I bring home something for dinner, or did you have a plan?" Cadajen couldn't help but sigh and shake his head. "It never fails to amaze me." "What?" "You Alphas. You're supposed to be so strong and brave, but the simple things throw you." "Love isn't simple," Tondreau countered. "It's the simplest thing in the universe. It's all the mating and linking that complicates it, but that’s on us. We scramble it up. You shouldn't be afraid of love." "I'm not," he refuted. "The scrambling it up part concerns me, though." "I don't think we'd scramble it up." "There are things you don't know about me." "Nothing that would change how I feel." Red shimmered faintly at the edges of Tondreau's irises, his Alpha instincts responding to the words. Cadajen reached out but stopped short, frowning at the material of Tondreau's long sleeved coat. Wasn't that just so metaphorical? There was always a barrier between them, wasn't there? Not physical, like the clothing -- they'd been naked with each other hundreds of times. He knew Tondreau's body as well as he knew his own. But they'd never been bare together, had they? Well, Tondreau hadn't. There was always something. Some deep dark secret Tondreau feared to reveal and it kept him just out of Cadajen's reach. He looked back up. The red was receding now. Cadajen wanted nothing more than to rip his glove off and press his hand to Tondreau's skin, chase that fleeting emotion, catch it to him and hold it close. Prove himself worthy to Tondreau. Without truly thinking it through, he stepped forward into Tondreau's space. They were close; close enough to feel the warmth of each other's breath, the heat of each other's bodies, and their lips… Cadajen leaned in a tiny bit closer and stopped when Tondreau tensed. He looked up then and his heart shuddered. “Am… am I wrong?” Seconds ticked between them, the question hung in the air, and just when Cadajen was certain he’d made a mistake, Tondreau sighed softly. “You're not wrong.” Cadajen reached for him. Tondreau stepped back. "We can't." "Why?" Cadajen barely recognized the voice as his own as the word forced its way out his throat. He knew he sounded like a petulant child, but he couldn't help it. His omega instincts screamed at him to make Tondreau understand, to beg if he had to. "You said I wasn't wrong." "Daj…" Tondreau sighed again, heavy this time, and raked his fingers through his hair. "You're not…" "Don’t you dare say I'm not worthy." Not that. Anything but that. Tondreau's eyes widened and the red threatened again. "I'd never say that. That's not… It's me who isn't worthy. You don't understand." "Then explain it to me," he pleaded. "We've known each other for seven years. You've helped me raise my child. We practically live together. I love you. I'm in love with you. Don't tell me you didn't know. And don't tell me you don't feel the same. Don't lie to me like that." "I'd never lie to you." He opened his mouth to continue, but the alarm on his pager interrupted him. He glanced down at it. Cadajen recognized the alert as the 'if you don't leave now, you're really, really going to be late' tone. They'd set it up years ago, after Tondreau had lingered too long with Linea a few mornings in a row, and the Academy had slapped his wrists for it. He laid his gloved hand on Tondreau's arm. "Go. It's all right. But we're going to finish this conversation. Promise me. You owe me an explanation." Tondreau nodded. He stepped close quickly, pressed a chaste kiss to Cadajen's cheek, and fled, no doubt grateful for the reprieve.

Purchase

Torquere Press

Meet the Author

Romance author, sci-fi fan club Captain, cosplayer, reigning Queen of Monkeyland, and random menace. Yep, we're talking about DC Juris. She’s a cupcake-making, football-watching, rubber-duck-collecting, drag-show loving, full-of-fabulous-with-a-capital-F kinda gal. She's also an ordained minister and an amateur photographer. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband, three dogs, and three cats. When she's not writing, you can find her in her favorite chair watching Star Trek and Supernatural repeats on Netflix, or surfing the web for porn. Er…research. Surfing the web for research. She may speak softly but she lives and loves loudly. Just ask the neighbors. ::wink:: https://www.facebook.com/danielchristianjuris www.twitter.com/dcjuris https://www.pinterest.com/dcjuris/ @dcjuris on Instagram and Periscope http://dcjuris.blogspot.com

Giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: One winner will be selected to win an eBook copy of Alpha's Redemption.

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ Summer Lovin' Anthology

Title: Summer Lovin’

Author: LJ Hamlin, Janelle Reston, Eric Thornton, Jessica Chase, A. M. Leibowitz, Sarah Hadley Brook

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: 7/20/2016

Heat Level: ranges from 1-4

Pairing: F/F and M/M

Length: 44,000

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Gay Romance, Lesbian Romance, Anthology

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Synopsis

Back in the 1950s, leather jackets, white t-shirts, and poodle skirts were the biggest styles, and going “parking” was all the rage. Summer flings were the thing to do, whether it be with the cute tomboy that caught your eye in school, your older brother’s friend, or the hot mechanic who fixes your car just right. In Summer Lovin’, love doesn’t only have to last the summer. These six stories are penned by both seasoned scribes and new authors; the anthology provides readers with the perfect opportunity to explore offerings from their favorite storytellers as well as find a new favorite or two. Containing F/F and M/M stories from authors LJ Hamlin, Janelle Reston, Eric Thornton, Jessica Chase, A. M. Leibowitz, Sarah Hadley Brook, Summer Lovin’ is sure to have something for fifties loving readers. .

Excerpt

  “You okay, little man?” Billy startled at the deep, husky voice near his ear and turned to see his new acquaintance leaning into the car, watching him closely. He swallowed and tried not to focus on the musky scent rolling off the dark haired stranger. Fighting the urge to lean in and breathe him in, Billy’s eyes swept over the chiseled jaw, dark stubble and, oh god, those full rosy lips, before rising back up to meet his gaze. Deep chocolate eyes peered into his green ones, searching for something. Wait… He asked something, right? “Umm, what did you say?” A smile spread across his face and Billy trembled. God, he was the sexiest man Billy had ever seen. “I asked if you were okay,” he repeated slowly. Billy’s eyebrows furrowed then, and he looked down at the keys in his hand, his mind trying to process something. His eyes widened at the memory and he turned his gaze back at the stranger. “Wait! Did you call me ‘little man’?” he asked, incensed. The sexy man nodded. Billy harrumphed, his irritation obvious. “Give me your name and I’ll stop calling you that,” the greaser offered, still smiling. The dimple in his left cheek only upped his sexiness. “William Hadley. Billy,” he whispered, his cheeks heating up. “And, I’m five eight,” he huffed. Why did he say that? Why did he care what this guy thought of him? “Well, Billy,” he leaned in closer, letting his breath ghost across Billy’s face. “I’m Gene Milgram and it’s a pleasure to meet you.” “Gene,” Billy repeated, letting the name roll around on his tongue for a minute and swallowing hard when he realized Gene was still leaning into the car. “Um, I guess I need to call someone to tow it, huh? I wonder if there’s a pay phone anywhere near.” Gene grinned. “Nope. But I can help you.” Billy’s eyes widened. “You can? On a motorcycle?” He glanced back uncertainly at the small bike. “Um, yeah, I don’t think that’s strong enough to—” Gene’s laughter rumbled out into the darkness and Billy looked him as if he was crazy. Did this guy seriously think a motorcycle could tow a big car? “Sorry, Billy,” he chuckled. “No, I didn’t mean my bike. I own an auto shop and I just closed up a little while ago. Why don’t we just head back and get the tow truck and take care of things?” “We?” Billy squeaked, glancing at the motorcycle again, his heart hammering in his chest. Gene waggled his eyebrows at him, laughing. “Well, yeah, I can’t just leave you here in the dark. What if another opossum decides to pull something crazy again?” Billy felt his face heat up. He knew Gene was just being friendly, but it had been a long time since another man had made him feel so off-kilter, even though he was sure Gene was straight. He looked back over his shoulder again and wrestled with his fear of motorcycles. Something told him that he could trust this man, though. Sighing deeply, he finally nodded. Gene pulled the car door open and waited, his hand on the door handle. Once he climbed out, he felt a little lightheaded, swaying a little before Gene’s arm snaked around his waist, holding him close to his side. “Whoa, there. You feeling dizzy?” Gene’s mouth was so close his breath caressed Billy’s neck, sending a shiver down his spine. Billy nodded a little, feeling foolish. “My head hit the steering wheel, but my arms cushioned the blow. I think…I think I’m just a little dazed.” Gene nodded his understanding and helped him up the short hill to his bike, parked on the side of the road. Billy startled when he saw it up close. “That’s a 1947 Triumph Speed Twin! Is that a custom paint job?” Enthusiasm won out over his fear as he leaned in and traced his fingers along the seat. Gene’s eyes widened in amazement and he finally let his arm slip away from Billy’s waist. “You know about bikes?” “Yeah, a little. When I was a kid, I dreamed of owning one, but my mom always said they were too dangerous, of course. Then when I saw James Dean riding one, I decided to learn more about them. Last year, I finally decided to try taking a spin and I…I…” His face reddened and he looked at the ground. “I fell off the bike before I even started it,” he admitted. Gene chuckled a little, but wisely kept his thoughts to himself. Billy smiled, “Yeah, it wasn’t funny at the time, but…” He cleared his throat. “So, um, how do we do this?” The greaser handed him the helmet. “Only got one and no way am I letting you ride without one.” He grinned. “You seem a little accident-prone to me.”   From “The Great Pretender” by Sarah Hadley Brook

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Torquere Press

Meet the Author

LJ Hamlin - L.J.Hamlin is a twenty something (getting older every day) writer, who has been writing all her life, mainly in notebooks no one else ever saw. But then she found M/M groups online and was encouraged by friends to share her stories. After a while (with a lot of pushing) she got brave enough to try getting published, so she could share with more people, and she hopes to never stop. LJ loves cats, and pretty much all animals, is a collector of many things, often weird, but most of all books. Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/L.j.hamlin91 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LjHamlin Blog http://ljhamlinbooks.blogspot.com/  

Janelle Reston - Janelle Reston is a pansexual powerhouse whose F/F and queer romance has appeared in numerous anthologies. Hobbies include watching The X-Files and making sexual innuendos. She lives in a northern lake town with her partner and their black cats. Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/janellereston/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/janellereston Tumblr: http://janellereston.tumblr.com Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/jreston Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/janellereston  

Eric Thornton - Eric Thornton tends to write what comes to mind. You never know what could come from him next. He lives in the south with his spouse who supports his work. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.j.roberts.5 Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/ericbkroberts/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eric_Thornton_1

Jessica Chase - : Jessica Chase has been writing for what seems like her entire life, and finished her first short story at the age of five. It wasn’t very good. Since then, she’s improved a great deal, but writing has continued to be her passion. She loves reading and enjoys exploring the worlds of others as well as creating her own and has been involved in several writing groups. She writes all kinds of relationships and is always looking to write more, but M/M and F/F romance is something she is particularly fond of. She enjoys fantasy and horror, and loves putting her own spin on the genres and creating interesting characters and worlds. Jessica studied at Oxford University and fell in love with the city and its weird quirks and traditions. She still reads anything she can get her hands on and spends her weekends wandering around various museums and old houses, walking through the countryside looking for inspiration, or sitting in the garden and playing with her pet tortoises. She is lucky enough to have the support of some wonderful friends. Website: http://chasestories.webs.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.chase.96387 Twitter: https://twitter.com/jchasestories Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jessicachasewri/ Other Social Media: http://JChaseStories.blogspot.co.uk  

A.M. Leibowitz - A.M. Leibowitz is a queer spouse, parent, feminist, and book-lover falling somewhere on the Geek-Nerd Spectrum. Ze keeps warm through the long, cold western New York winters by writing about life, relationships, hope, and happy-for-now endings. Hir published fiction includes four novels as well as a number of short works, and hir stories have been included in anthologies from Supposed Crimes, Witty Bard, and Mischief Corner Books. In between noveling and editing, ze blogs coffee-fueled, quirky commentary on faith, culture, writing, books, and hir family. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amymitchell29 Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/UnchainedFaith/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyunchained Pinterest: https://twitter.com/amyunchained Web site: http://amleibowitz.com Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8544236.A_M_Leibowitz  

Sarah Hadley Brook - Sarah Hadley Brook lives in the Midwest and is a mother of two wonderful young men. During the day, she works in the non-profit world, but reserves evenings for her hobby-turned-passion of writing, letting the characters she conjures up in her mind take the lead and show her where the story will go. When not working or writing, she can be found reading, working on dollhouses, trying her hand at new recipes, or watching old movies and musicals. She believes in “Happily Ever After” and strives to ensure her characters find their own happiness in love and life. Website: www.sarahhadleybrookwrites.com

Giveaway

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Welcome author K. Lache and their main character from Valor, Blare Chaplynn

Please give a warm welcome to Blare Chaplynn from Valor by K. Laché today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not saving your lover?

I wouldn't say Rivet needs saving, really. He is much better equipped for saving then I am. Ha, I tend to freak out. Oh, wait, I guess, I save him emotionally, I assume that counts? Anyway, back the question: eating, definitely.

What is it about your love interest, Rivet Scalzo, that makes you crazy in a good way?

Where to start? He's a gorgeous and probably one of the most thankless men I have ever met. It's one of the many, many things I love about him, but it breaks my heart and then he does this cute little half smile, healing my heart again.

Do you sometimes want to strangle your writer? Thrash her/him to within an inch of their life? Make them do the stupid crap they makes you do?

I'm pretty sure it's the opposite. I know she wants to strangle us characters a lot of the time for forcing her hand to write what we think should happen or what feels natural to us. I almost feel bad, but then I know she's happy in the end. Of course, after all of the blood, sweat, and tears have been cleared away.

Favorite food?

I have to pick only one? How about a favorite category? I love junk food: pizza, chili cheese fries, soda. The more calories it has in it, the better I like it!

Tell me a little bit about your world. What are your greatest challenges in that world?

My world is very much like the real world. There are a lot of superficial people and while being gay isn't a huge problem in my town, not looking "normal" is. Granted, there are people who don't like the fact that Rivet and I are gay, but Rivet is scarred and came back to my town, the same town he grew up in, after about ten years. Rumors were started and believed about him, so he had to come back to rehabilitate to all that negativity.

Describe yourself in four words.

Hungry. Compassionate. Talkative. And, uh, did I mention: hungry?

What do you do for a living?

I'm a model, or, well, was a model. I stayed with local or semi-local designers and photographers. I didn't plan on being a model nor staying a model. It was just a pit-stop for me.

What do you fear the most?

Losing Rivet, now that I have him. It's sappy, I know, but when you read about our trials and tribulations together, you'll understand.

Genre

Contemporary homosexual romance

Blurb

It takes valor to support and love those who need it the most and never expected to receive it.

For Rivet Scalzo, returning to his childhood home after a decade was not on his list of places to go while recuperating. After nearly being blown up on a mission, Rivet is forced to deal with his PTSD and sudden deafness without help from Vigilance, the secret governmental agency he works for. He resigned himself to a lonely recovery, but, perhaps by chance, he met Blare Chaplynn, a model whose caring nature helps ease the horror of Rivet’s home life. As they grow closer, Rivet is burdened by the secrets he can’t share with the one man he grows to love.

If Blare knew a mild concussion was all he needed to meet the man of his dreams, he would have gladly accepted it long ago. He knew there was something special about Rivet when he first saw him at the park, but never guessed this man of mystery would be hiding so many secrets. Blare is forced to confront the fact that Rivet may never tell him everything, but is trust the reason Rivet is so close-lipped or is it something more?

Excerpt

Rivet walked over to the armoire and typed his nine-digit code into the keypad with the knuckle of his finger. The light to the scanner flickered on. He placed his hand flat and watched the string of light move up and down his hand. The doors of the armoire clicked and opened. There was a small flat-screen monitor on each door and one monitor settled in the middle. A small metal stool raised from the floor. Rivet sat, dropping his bag by his feet and pulled the keyboard from under the monitor. He held down the escape key while typing a four-character password. All three monitors flickered to life showing a plain command box with Passcode at the top and the cursor blinking below it. His fingers easily typed in a twelve-digit code.

When the computer loaded, a new message window popped up. He clicked the mouse to view it and quickly read the message:

Contact me when you get this.

—Commander D.

Rivet sighed and clicked on the contact’s name. It brought up a live video feed of a man sitting in a nondescript office, bookshelf behind him.

“Agent Scalzo,” the man’s voice was commanding and firm.

Rivet was used to the no-nonsense voice and gave him a nod. “Commander.”

“Have you settled?”

He paused a moment before answering. “Sir, civilian life and I do not agree.”

“You need to make it work.”

Rivet shook his head. “All due respect, sir, couldn’t I have been stationed elsewhere? I have told you about my family. I could have been anybody, anywhere else.”

“You are on leave and need to be who you really are, not another persona. The Council and I believed this was the best option.”

Rivet snorted bitterly and fought not to glare at his superior.

Commander Donovan narrowed his eyes. “What was that, Agent?”

He clenched his teeth. “Nothing, sir.”

He watched the commander pause a moment. “You are to pick up a package at the post office. The clerk will ask you how you are doing and tell whomever it is that you’re glad to be away from the rain in London. The package contains a secure laptop and cell phone, understood?”

“Affirmative, sir.”

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http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97&products_id=4702

https://www.amazon.com/Valor-K-Lach%C3%A9-ebook/dp/B01HKKO10C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467928568&sr=1-1&keywords=9781944449858

Discover My Zombie Cat and Enter the Giveaway!

Title: My Zombie Cat

Author: T. Strange

Series Title and Number : The Undead Canadian Series, Book 2.5

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kristian Norris

Release Date: July 13, 2016

Heat Level: 1

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 7000 words

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Horror, Gay Romance

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Synopsis

Edward Grey has hardly spent a night away from his cat, Boo, since before he was in preschool. Not even death could separate them, as Edward resurrected Boo as a zombie when he was five. Now, Boo has gone missing, and the cat isn’t in any of his usual haunts.

Excerpt

Kit was at work, and I was —miraculously—caught up on my coursework. I was full of restless energy after spending the previous day sitting on the couch watching TV with Kit, so I decided to give Boo a bath. He doesn’t groom himself very often, and when he does, he usually just makes his fur worse. He was definitely getting a little…ripe. Unfortunately, Kit came home from work partway through the bath, and I don’t even want to imagine what he thought was happening when he walked in and heard Boo’s unearthly howls and me pleading with him—loudly, to be heard over him—to hold still so I could rinse him off and it would all be over. I heard Kit shout for Winston, so he could be heard over Boo’s yowling, and then he burst into the master bathroom, holding a purring, contented bundle of blue-grey fur. Boo and I were frozen in an epic tableau of wet, reeking cat and equally wet—and, probably, reeking—medical student. Kit paused in the doorway, then started laughing. “Oh. God, I thought something was really wrong. You shouldn’t scare me like that.” “You could help,” I grumbled, as Boo got his head free of my hand, which he proceeded to bite. Hard. And not let go of. Kit looked at the…less than clear, decidedly murky…water and shook his head. “Ew. I don’t think so. Doesn’t that hurt?” “Yes, of course it hurts! Being undead doesn’t turn his teeth into…candy corn!” With a sadly practiced motion, as Boo bites me on a regular basis, I wedged my free thumb into the corner of the cat’s mouth and pried his jaws apart. My hand was white where he’d bitten me, and then each depression slowly filled with blood. “You’re not going to turn into a zombie, are you?” He’d gotten a little more relaxed about the ‘Z’ word, though last week he left his browser open to a site called the Zombie Rights Campaign. I wasn’t sure if it was a joke, or something he’d made himself. I try not to snoop on his computer. I also hadn’t asked him about it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. “Kit, if I turned into a zombie every time Boo bit me, I’d be…” “It only takes one time, Edward.”

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Torquere Press

 

Meet the Author

Strange didn't want to learn how to read, but literacy prevailed and she hasn't stopped reading—or writing—since. She's been published with Torquere Press since 2013, and she writes M/M romance in multiple genres, including paranormal and BDSM. T.'s other interests include cross stitching, gardening, watching terrible horror movies, playing video games, and finding injured pigeons to rescue. Originally from White Rock, BC, she lives on the Canadian prairies, where she shares her home with her wife, cats, guinea pigs and other creatures of all shapes and sizes. She's very easy to bribe with free food and drinks—especially wine. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tq.strange Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTStrange Twitter: https://twitter.com/TqStrange Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tqstrange/ Blog: http://tqstrange.blogspot.ca/ Tumblr: http://tqstrange.tumblr.com/

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ Independence Daze

Title: Independence Daze

Author: A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Les Byerley

Release Date: 6/29/16

Heat Level: 5

Pairing(Male/Male, Ménage): M/M, Menage

Length: 21K

Genre: BDSM, Contemporary, Menage

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Synopsis

Paul and Hamish are at it and at each other, again in the third installment of A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly’s best-selling BDSM Voyages series. Paul and Hamish may be married but that doesn’t mean their sex life has to be a snore fest. These guys always give each other exactly what they need when they can find time in their busy lives. In between feeding Hamish’s ravenous, pregnant sister, and negotiating relationships with deadbeat, rock star fathers, the lovers are always looking for ways to spice things up. This time, overworked Paul is in for it when Hamish decides to take him on a special retreat that involves a yurt, a Peruvian shaman, and some noxious liquid that wipes out all limits to the imagination. Independence Day never saw anything like this coming!

Excerpt

I walked out of the plant at two in the morning. It was at this point that I permitted myself to feel it. I was dead tired and it was chilly. I regretted not bringing a jacket but then I hadn’t expected it to take so damn long, or for the night to turn cold. I had to keep reminding myself that for a coastal state, California was desert. Outside, I put up the top of the convertible and texted the office with a reminder to bill the plant and also make a report in the morning. When I pulled up into our driveway, I turned off the engine and closed my eyes. I almost fell asleep there. I think I would have if not for who I knew was waiting for me inside. Although, I was pretty sure Hamish had conked out at this hour. With all the energy I had left, I walked up to the door and put the key in the lock. Thankfully, Hamish had left the alarm off. I walked inside, locked the door and set the alarm. As I climbed the stairs I noticed a light on in the master bedroom. Hamish sometimes fell asleep reading so I tried to be quiet anyway as I crept in. I paused, my brow wrinkling as I heard a low buzzing sound coming from the bed. My eyes widened when I saw Hamish lying flat on his back with his slave collar on. He’d attached the collar’s chain to the bed post. Two other chains with nipple clamps lay on his chest. I guess he expected me to do the honors by installing those. I smiled as I came around to the bottom of the bed. Both his legs were raised and spread wide in the air, resting on leather stirrups we’d attached overhead. A rather large vibrating butt plug protruded from his ass, and his cock was strapped nicely with a studded leather cuff. “Your hands are free,” I said, my cock stiffening as I slowly ran my gaze over him. He smiled. “I can fight if you try anything I don’t like.” Hamish used to be a boxer. No one messed with him unless he wanted it. Right now, he wanted it…badly. “So you’ve been busy.” “You told me to stay awake, remember?” “All this for me,” I said, straddling his waist and grabbing both wrists. He was breathing hard as he looked up at me. I wasn’t so tired anymore. I reached over to get the padded cuffs we had tucked behind the bed. I brought up one and attached his wrist. Hamish made quite a show of struggling. I attached the other cuff and leaned back. “My, my, all mine to play with.” “I’ll scream,” he threatened with that gleam in his eyes. “A stranger coming into my house to have his way with me. If I make a lot of noise,” Hamish explained, “the police will come.” “Not if they can’t hear you, they won’t,” I whispered.

Purchase

Torquere Press

 

Meet the Author

A.J. Llewellyn A.J. Llewellyn’s obsession with myth, magic, love, and romance might have led to serious stalking charges had it not been for the ability to write. Thanks to the existence of some very patient publishers, A.J.’s days are spent writing, reading and dreaming up new worlds. A.J. has definitely stopped Google-searching former boyfriends and given up all ambition to taste test every cupcake in the universe to produce over 200 published gay erotic romance novels. A.J. wants you to read them all. A.J. can be found lurking on Facebook and Twitter—part-time class clown being another occupation. When not writing or reading, A.J.’s other passions include juggling, kite-boarding, and spending a fortune buying upgrade apps for Pearl’s Peril and Farm Heroes Saga.

  D.J. Manly I write not only for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of my readers. I can't remember a time in my life when I haven't written and told stories. When I'm not writing, I'm dreaming about writing. Eroticism between consenting adults, in all its many forms is the icing on the cake of life but one does not live by sex alone. The story of how two people find love in spite of the odds is what really turns me on.

  Social Media Links:
  Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/A.J.-Llewellyn/e/B002DBJBC2
  Facebook: www.facebook.com/aj.llewellyn www.facebook.com/dante.manly
  Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ajllewellyn
  Twitter: www.twitter.com/ajllewellyn www.twitter.com/djnovels
  Website: www.ajllewellyn.com www.djmanlyfiction.com

Giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: One winner will be selected to win an eBook copy of Independence Daze.
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Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ Independence Daze

Title: Independence Daze

Author: A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Les Byerley

Release Date: 6/29/16

Heat Level: 5

Pairing(Male/Male, Ménage): M/M, Menage

Length: 21K

Genre: BDSM, Contemporary, Menage

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Paul and Hamish are at it and at each other, again in the third installment of A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly’s best-selling BDSM Voyages series. Paul and Hamish may be married but that doesn’t mean their sex life has to be a snore fest. These guys always give each other exactly what they need when they can find time in their busy lives. In between feeding Hamish’s ravenous, pregnant sister, and negotiating relationships with deadbeat, rock star fathers, the lovers are always looking for ways to spice things up. This time, overworked Paul is in for it when Hamish decides to take him on a special retreat that involves a yurt, a Peruvian shaman, and some noxious liquid that wipes out all limits to the imagination. Independence Day never saw anything like this coming!

Excerpt

I walked out of the plant at two in the morning. It was at this point that I permitted myself to feel it. I was dead tired and it was chilly. I regretted not bringing a jacket but then I hadn’t expected it to take so damn long, or for the night to turn cold. I had to keep reminding myself that for a coastal state, California was desert. Outside, I put up the top of the convertible and texted the office with a reminder to bill the plant and also make a report in the morning. When I pulled up into our driveway, I turned off the engine and closed my eyes. I almost fell asleep there. I think I would have if not for who I knew was waiting for me inside. Although, I was pretty sure Hamish had conked out at this hour. With all the energy I had left, I walked up to the door and put the key in the lock. Thankfully, Hamish had left the alarm off. I walked inside, locked the door and set the alarm. As I climbed the stairs I noticed a light on in the master bedroom. Hamish sometimes fell asleep reading so I tried to be quiet anyway as I crept in. I paused, my brow wrinkling as I heard a low buzzing sound coming from the bed. My eyes widened when I saw Hamish lying flat on his back with his slave collar on. He’d attached the collar’s chain to the bed post. Two other chains with nipple clamps lay on his chest. I guess he expected me to do the honors by installing those. I smiled as I came around to the bottom of the bed. Both his legs were raised and spread wide in the air, resting on leather stirrups we’d attached overhead. A rather large vibrating butt plug protruded from his ass, and his cock was strapped nicely with a studded leather cuff. “Your hands are free,” I said, my cock stiffening as I slowly ran my gaze over him. He smiled. “I can fight if you try anything I don’t like.” Hamish used to be a boxer. No one messed with him unless he wanted it. Right now, he wanted it…badly. “So you’ve been busy.” “You told me to stay awake, remember?” “All this for me,” I said, straddling his waist and grabbing both wrists. He was breathing hard as he looked up at me. I wasn’t so tired anymore. I reached over to get the padded cuffs we had tucked behind the bed. I brought up one and attached his wrist. Hamish made quite a show of struggling. I attached the other cuff and leaned back. “My, my, all mine to play with.” “I’ll scream,” he threatened with that gleam in his eyes. “A stranger coming into my house to have his way with me. If I make a lot of noise,” Hamish explained, “the police will come.” “Not if they can’t hear you, they won’t,” I whispered.

Purchase

Torquere Press

Meet the Author

A.J. Llewellyn A.J. Llewellyn’s obsession with myth, magic, love, and romance might have led to serious stalking charges had it not been for the ability to write. Thanks to the existence of some very patient publishers, A.J.’s days are spent writing, reading and dreaming up new worlds. A.J. has definitely stopped Google-searching former boyfriends and given up all ambition to taste test every cupcake in the universe to produce over 200 published gay erotic romance novels. A.J. wants you to read them all. A.J. can be found lurking on Facebook and Twitter—part-time class clown being another occupation. When not writing or reading, A.J.’s other passions include juggling, kite-boarding, and spending a fortune buying upgrade apps for Pearl’s Peril and Farm Heroes Saga.

  D.J. Manly I write not only for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of my readers. I can't remember a time in my life when I haven't written and told stories. When I'm not writing, I'm dreaming about writing. Eroticism between consenting adults, in all its many forms is the icing on the cake of life but one does not live by sex alone. The story of how two people find love in spite of the odds is what really turns me on.

  Social Media Links:
  Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/A.J.-Llewellyn/e/B002DBJBC2
  Facebook: www.facebook.com/aj.llewellyn www.facebook.com/dante.manly
  Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ajllewellyn
  Twitter: www.twitter.com/ajllewellyn www.twitter.com/djnovels
  Website: www.ajllewellyn.com www.djmanlyfiction.com

Giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: One winner will be selected to win an eBook copy of Independence Daze.
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Discover Snare and Enter the Giveaway!

Title: Snare

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: 6/22/16

Heat Level: 4

Pairing: M/M/M Ménage

Length: 26,800 words

Genre/Tags: Gay fiction, paranormal, urban fantasy, menage, M/M romance

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Synopsis

When Elliot Iverson, a municipal employee responsible for paperwork pertaining to New York City's vampire population, knocks on the door of the Gramercy warren, he wants only to resolve a clerical error. But a sudden snowstorm, a new friendship, and an ill-advised threesome force Elliot to make some big choices about his own life and death.

Excerpt

When Matthew pulls open the door, a blast of wind and snow swirls in. The snow is piled up on the stoop, and as they watch some of it crumbles onto the carpet of the foyer. The street is drifted with white and all Eli can see is billowing white globes of snow around each of the streetlamps. “Okay, there’s no way you’re leaving,” Matthew declares, pushing the door shut again and cutting off the frigid stream of air. Eli’s glasses fog up again, but only briefly, and once they’re clear he sees Matthew turn to regard him thoughtfully. “Even if the subway’s still open it’s going to take you forever to get home. Do you want to stay for dinner?” As he asks, he leans forward and puts his hand over Eli’s where he’s gripping the strap of his bag. All at once, Eli realizes that he is in a house with Dead people and vampires; that if the trains are down he has effectively no way to get home; and that he’s being propositioned. “Oh my god,” he says. This is entirely the thing his mom had fretted about, at length, when he announced his intention to move to New York. Because con-artists, homosexuals, anarchists, and vampires. It’s her worst nightmare. Maybe there are drug dealers here too. Matthew tips his head curiously. “Oh my god,” Eli says, more frantically. “Oh my god. I can’t get home.” “Yeah?” Matthew asks, nonplussed. “Horror stories start like this!”

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Torquere Press

Meet the Authors

  Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese write the LGBTQ Hollywood romance series Love in Los Angeles (Torquere Press) and the theater-based Love’s Labours series (Dreamspinner Press). Their work has also been published with Cleis Press and Supposed Crimes. Erin is a writer and blogger based in Washington, D.C. She has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Toronto, and a master’s degree in International Affairs from American University where she studied the role of social media in the Arab Spring. Racheline’s fiction, non-fiction and poetry has appeared in numerous outlets. She is also a producer and writer on Serial Box Publishing’s Tremontaine (available in print from Simon & Schuster’s Saga Press). Together, they write stories and scripts about the intersection of private lives, fame, and desire. Facebook | Erin's Twitter | Racheline's Twitter | Erin's Goodreads | Racheline's Goodreads | Erin's Amazon | Racheline's Amazon    

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ Time of Your Life Anthology

Title: Time of Your Life

Author: Erzabet Bishop, Emjay Haze, Chad Brian Henry, DC Juris, Samantha Luce, Megan McFerren and Val Prozorova, Charles Payseur, Jessica Payseur, Janelle Reston, Rob Rosen, Lynn Townsend

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: 6/22/16

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: M/M, F/F, F/F/F, M/F/M

Length: 56,000

Genre/Tags: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Contemporary, Humor, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Menage, Poly, New Adult

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Synopsis

The Time of Your Life might slip away if you don’t watch out! Tales from deep space, the open road, reality television, fantasy-academia, and contemporary life are brought together in this collection. In Jessica Payseur’s Orbits, longtime friends-with-benefits meet unexpectedly on a space station and finally sync their technology. Warren’s Peace by Emjay Haze, Duet by Megan McFerren and Val Prozorova, and A Change is Gonna Come by Rob Rosen take the reader on the road—via a Caribbean cruise ship, the railway system of France, and the California Interstate, respectively. A happy home is the goal, but when Chad Brian Henry gives two happily married men constant drooling and barking in the form of A Problem Called Travis, they unhappily realize their aim may not be as true as they thought. Two authors invite us to weddings! Erzabet Bishop and Lynn Townsend each use humor and surprise, found in the commonplace, to lead newlywed wives in First Night and two grooms-to-be in Wedding March toward discovering and remembering why they went to all this trouble in the first place. The Color of Magic, by Charles Payseur, lets us watch and learn with three university students, who challenge authority to secure the future. In a more typical college setting, a shy roommate and an outgoing roommate delight each other with A Taste of What’s to Come, written by Samantha Luce. Straight off the small screen, Food Play Extreme, by Janelle Reston, serves a platter of competition and confidence to three top chefs. And in D.C. Juris’ A Good Bargain, age and experience is indeed a good match for youth and beauty. Don’t ignore the ticking of that clock—it’s the time of your life!

Excerpt

From “A Problem Called Travis” by Chad Brian Henry Travis barked. It was a high-pitched yip that grated on Brian’s nerves. The honeymoon was over. The dog was pissing him off. “No!” Brian screamed and stomped off to the kitchen. Travis followed, prancing at his heels and barking in frustration. He set the plate on the counter a little harder than he meant to, too angry to bother eating while standing at the counter like a fool because a pushy, stubborn ten-pound lump of fur wasn’t satisfied with his own food. Leaving Travis to harass the kitchen island, Brian sat back on the couch colorfully mumbling to himself. He only had one day a week off from the shop most of the time, and he just wanted to enjoy a little me time without having to constantly monitor the brat. It wasn’t just the food. It was the accumulation of tiny frustrations that built up until Brian wanted to shove the mongrel into a sack full of rocks and toss it in the lake. Housebreaking the dog so far had been a bust. The carpet was starting to reek despite scrubbing it after every accident. They couldn’t keep the trashcan by the sink where it was convenient. Instead it had to be hidden in the pantry, away from persistent claws. And walking the mutt was a nightmare. As affectionate as Travis was around people, he became a terror around other dogs. Snarling and pulling at the leash with a strength that bordered on supernatural any time another dog wandered into view. Brian hadn’t realized how many fucking people owned dogs until he constantly found himself hiding out in crevices between buildings or repeatedly crossing the street to avoid another barkopolypse. Just let them sniff each other! He’s just shy! You need to let him socialize more! He was sick of the glib advice from people with dogs who knew how good they had it and appreciated a life of constant attention and free food. How the hell was he supposed to socialize the dog if Travis wanted to eat any furry face he saw?

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Torquere Press

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Release Blitz for Becoming Rory

Title: Becoming Rory

Author: Ashavan Doyon

Series Title and Number: College Rose Romances 4

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: 6/8/16

Heat Level: 3

Pairing: M/M

Length: 75K

Genre/Tags: New Adult, Contemporary, M/M Romance

Synopsis

Rory Graeble returns to college determined to reinvent himself. Too many years have been wasted with masks, but becoming a student leader is a step Rory isn’t sure he’s ready for. A new identity takes more than just a new nickname, and Rory knows he has to take the chances that his old self would never risk. When that chance is a party that ends with an anonymous hot skater’s tongue down his throat and a phone number in his pocket, Rory knows what he has to do.

Danny Smits never expected to see stuffy lit geek Rory Graeble trying to be out, trying to be proud, trying to be… Rory. It’s damned sexy, and too much for the entrepreneurial skater to resist. When Rory calls him back the day after the party, Danny knows Rory has changed. But will Danny’s haunted past deter Rory? Or will Rory embrace the chance to experience everything the closet had stolen away? Danny believes in keeping things real, in a brutal honesty he knows means Rory will run screaming.

But this time Rory isn’t running.

Excerpt

It was quiet. Rory knew that wasn’t normal. He gazed out the windows. The angle of the building meant that one side was faced toward the campus, a miniature city full of towering buildings scattered in clumps, the other faced the mountains and woods. Two contrary images. It appealed to his poetic soul. That was a part of Lawrence he had no intention of letting go. It spoke to his core, that love of words.

Rory opened a window against the heat. Wentworth was an older building, and Rory half expected in winter that he’d have to keep the window open just to breathe. For now though, with no air-conditioning and a fan that did nothing except when pointed at bare skin, an open window was a welcome reprieve from the late August heat. There wasn’t enough of what he wanted Rory to be, not yet, for him to be comfortable with naked skin—at least not his naked skin.

His dorm room was taking shape. The books were on the bookshelf, two deep. An index card on the end of each shelf cataloged the books on the back row. They were books he wouldn’t want often, but when he wanted them, they’d be easy enough to find. Each shelf had a theme. On each shelf his favorites were in alpha order in front, and those he’d brought only out of fear his dad wouldn’t… Rory closed his eyes and took a long breath. There were reasons for his rebirth as Rory, and not all of them were here at school.

The boxes for the books were broken down and in the back of the closet. His clothes were hung up or carefully folded and in drawers. They spoke of Lawrence, not Rory, but they were what he had. It would be easy to fall back into wearing these. He’d have to for a little while. Clothes cost money, and for the first time in his life, Rory was not confident a call home would yield any more, not even for clothes. Especially not for clothes. What’s wrong with the clothes you’ve got? It’s what his dad would say. Probably his mom too.

With three beanbag chairs, the chair for his desk and the bed, that meant seating for five, at least. Anything over ten was considered a party. Not that he had any real hope of filling even the five spaces he had. Rory chuckled at himself. He could hope, but it wouldn’t happen. Still, he might get Stacy and Barry to join him. He walked up against the window, pinned between the steady whir of the fan and the tiny breeze from the window. It was comfortable. Well, not yet. Not really. But it would get more so over the course of the semester. He had to believe that.

On the desk next to his laptop, too hard to ignore from where he stood at the window, was his student leadership packet. The college had found some money somewhere. The portfolio wasn’t the cheap paper folder he’d expected. The mock-leather portfolio marked with the school seal—embossed on the cover, not just ink—had come with a lapel pin and a school pen. Okay, so the pads of paper inside were cheap, but that the school had done that for all the student leaders who arrived early? The communications major in him couldn’t help but analyze it for the message, and it wasn’t hard for him to guess. Take this seriously; they want us to take it seriously.

Rory wondered if they knew that the fledgling leaders were coming back in an hour as the sun finished its descent with the makings of a party. He wondered if Barry knew. Bronzed. Fit. Popular. Of course Barry knew. Rory glanced at the door he’d left open. He tried to pretend it was for something as mundane as airflow, but in his heart where the dull ache of the afternoon’s discussion still sat like a leaden brick, he knew better.

“This is where you do something stupid, Lawrence,” he whispered to himself. He knew what he wanted to do. Want is a strong term. Maybe it’s just the only way you know how to deal with it. And your name is Rory, dipshit. Lawrence is dead.

He looked again at the pile of leadership materials. How had Aidan talked him into this again? Oh, right. There was no one else. Aidan and Michael, they were gone. John Simmons was gone. All they had was a scattered and broken community.

Rory looked out at the slowly illuminating lights in the buildings across campus. It wasn’t like it would be when classes started. Right now it was just dots of light here and there. Athletes. Student government. Student organization leaders. It was getting dark. The party would start soon. As a leader, he’d been invited, quietly, with everyone else. Would the athletes be there to make him feel inadequate? Rory let out a breath, slow. Lawrence would never have gone. Maybe that meant Rory needed to.

He sat down at the desk and quickly flipped through the packet. Even on a cursory glance it was clear that the real requirement was to be present for the workshops throughout the week. The administration had scrupulously left the evenings to the students. It was a kindness, he noted, they had not extended to the residence life staff. He’d seen Becky and Barry earlier, making door tags for each of the residents. It would take them hours to do, and he’d wondered at the time why they’d started so early. But if Barry knew about the party… Rory sighed. Why did it matter if Barry was there? He wasn’t interested.

He’s comfortable. I’ll know someone. It’ll be bearable.

Rory closed the portfolio and pushed it away. His thoughts turned to how he could almost see skin under that too thin shirt of Barry’s. Also pretty uncomfortable.

He stood up and walked over to his closet. They were nice clothes, but they all fit into a particular mode. He pushed the hangers aside one by one. White shirt. Blue shirt. Pastel shirt. All of them button fronts. Then cardigans. One after another. Trousers and corduroys. Tweed jackets. Two business suits his parents had bought him for interviews. At least one of them was sleeker and more modern.

“They’re all Lawrence. All of them,” he muttered. He rested his forehead in one hand, massaging his scalp with his fingers to try to stall the oncoming headache. His eyes opened wide. “Maybe…”

He went back to the desk, trying to stay calm, and pulled out his laptop. Two quick searches and he’d found it: what good-looking fashion models could do with a cardigan. It wasn’t Lawrence at all. That was good. But could Rory pull it off? He was no top model.

He looked back at his closet. “Better than locking myself into being Lawrence again all year.” He combed his fingers back through his hair and closed his eyes again. “I can do this. I can choose to be Rory.”

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Torquere Press

Meet the Author

Ashavan Doyon spends his days working with students as part of the student affairs staff at a liberal arts college. During lunch, evenings, and when he can escape the grasp of his husband on weekends, he writes, pounding out words day after day in hopes that his ancient typewriter-trained fingers won’t break the glass on his tablet computer. Ashavan is an avid science fiction and fantasy fan and prefers to write while listening to music that fits the mood of his current story. He has no children, having opted instead for the companionship of two beautiful and thoroughly spoiled pugs. A Texan by birth, he currently lives in New England, and frequently complains of the weather.

Ashavan went to school at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, getting his degree in Russian and East European Studies, with a focus in language and literature. He has two incomplete manuscripts from college that he goes back compulsively to fiddle with every so often, but is still not happy with either of them. He still loves fantasy and science fiction and reads constantly in the moments between writing stories.

Ashavan loves to hear from readers and can be reached at ashavandoyon@gmail.com.

Social Media Links: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Website

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