Excerpts, Us Again

Us Again excerpt

Two weeks until the release of Us Again, and I thought you might want to read an excerpt? It’s a different one than will be used in the release blitz (starting on October 6), so be sure to check out all the blogs that have so graciously signed up to participate if you need to read a little more before you decide if you want to buy it or not.

What am I saying? Of course, you will want to buy it! I love Alex and Sammy, they might be my favorite couple yet 😉😁

usagain blub releasedate cover

Available for pre-order now:

JMS Books (20% off) | Amazon

add to goodreads

Excerpt

“Alexander?” Sammy’s hoarse whisper pulls me out of my walk down memory lane, and I lift my head and look at him.

“I’m here.”

His eyes are little more than narrow slits, and he squeezes them shut and opens them again slowly, as though he’s making sure I’m not a hallucination. He turns his hand and laces his fingers with mine, making my breath stutter to a halt.

“What are you doing here?”

“David called me.”

“David called you.” It’s not a question, more like an unsurprised statement. “Why?”

I sweep my thumb over the back of his hand. “Because you’re in the hospital.” I keep my voice low.

His eyes flutter closed, and a sigh escapes him. “That’s not a reason.”

“Seems legit to me.”

Gently, he releases his grip on me and wiggles his hand free, hiding it under the blanket. “I told you to leave and never come back.”

My hand flies to my chest and I rub over my heart. Fuck. “I remember.”

He twists his upper body away from me and reaches for a glass of water on the bedside table. I hurry around the bed, so I can give it to him.

“Thank you,” he mumbles and gulps down the contents in one go before giving it back.

“More?”

“No.”

I sit in the chair previously occupied by his brother and move it closer, but don’t touch him. I want to. Oh, fuck, do I want to, but my gut tells me I need to give him time. To let him come to me. My gut is usually right when it comes to Sammy; I just hope that today isn’t the first time it will fail me.

“What are you doing here? I yelled at you. Screamed terrible things. Why would you even care about me enough to visit me in the middle of the night?”

My hands twitch and I shove them under my thighs. “I needed to make sure you’re okay.”

He sighs. “That makes sense. It’s who you are. Care Bear with the huge heart.”

The sound of his old nickname for me makes my eyes and throat burn. I try to swallow it down and close my eyes, but the image of him snuggling against my chest, his fingers playing with my fur as he presses kisses to my skin, whispering, “You’re so cuddly, Care Bear,” pops up on my retinas, and I force myself to look at him or I’ll definitely start bawling.

“Now that you know I’m okay, you can go. Thanks for checking up on me.” His chin wobbles, but he doesn’t look away, trying so hard to convey confidence and assurance, and he’s so fucking brave I fear my heart will explode.

“You want me to go?”

He throws his arm over his eyes. “Yes,” he says in a barely audible voice.

“If that’s what you really want, I’ll go.” The words taste like vomit in my mouth, and I want to rush to the sink and rinse it with water. “But you have to look at me and say it. No hiding. Straight-shooting.”

Everything stops. Time. My heartbeat. Rational thought.

This is it. What the fuck do I do if he tells me to go?

Slowly he lowers his arm. His lips quiver and moisture leaks from his eyes, but he does it.

He says the words. “I need you to leave, please.”

Coming Soon, Us Again

Cover reveal and pre-order: Us Again

usagain

Will a late-night phone call lead to a second chance at love?

When Alex gets a call in the middle of the night, telling him is ex-boyfriend is in the hospital, he only hesitates for a second before rushing to Sammy’s side. But the Sammy in the hospital bed is fragile, and not the same man who told Alex to leave seven months ago.

Alex wants to help Sammy get better and is desperate to find out what went wrong between them. Maybe even get a second chance with the man Alex hasn’t been able to get over.

But will Sammy let him back into his life?

Release date: October 6, 2018

hearts border

Us Again is a short M/M contemporary story, app 9500 words, about second chances and finding a way to become “us” again.

Available for pre-order now.

JMS Books (20% off) | Amazon 

Book Reviews

Sunday review

book review banner smaller

therecruitAlbert Manlii has walked this earth for more than two thousand years, but survival on his own was never easy. Now he leads a faction of highly organized vampires who carefully guard the secret of their existence. Unlike the old days, potential recruits are carefully selected and presented with an offer.

Phillip Brewer has weeks to live—if he lets his disease run its course. He doesn’t want to die, but given a choice, will his desire to live outweigh his concerns about the vampires’ ethics?

When the new recruit’s missteps are cause for concern, can Albert control the fallout, or will Phillip’s life once again be torn apart?

I’ve been a lover of vampire stories my whole life. It started in my early teens when I discovered Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and I’ve read and re-read it so many times I’ve lost count. Not only because of the vampires, but also because of the epistolary format (love epistolary stories!) The love continued with Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and even Twilight. (Yes, I liked it, the first book at least. No, I don’t have a problem with vampires glittering in the sun.) And with them, countless other vampire stories over the years.

So when Addison Albright, my dear friend and one of my favorite authors, decided to write a vampire story, I jumped with joy.

I had the honor of beta reading The Recruit way back when. Last week, I finally read the finished version, because I also had the honor of beta reading The Choice, which is the sequel (yay!!), and I needed to be up to speed on what happened in The Recruit, especially considering that Addison added several thousand words after I read it.

That was a great way of spending an hour on a lazy Sunday afternoon. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know by now that I’m a fan of Addison’s writing, and The Recruit is no exception. I like her no-nonsense style. I like that her guys are regular guys (even when they are vampires, though maybe not Albert in this story 🙂 ). I like her restrained yet emotional way of writing love stories.

The Recruit ticks all those boxes.

But what I like the most is her unique take on vampire lore. She’s created a completely different world than you’d come to expect (i.e. vamps dressed in flowy capes, sleeping in coffins in dusty old houses). Instead, Addison has brought the vampires into the 21st century. They use technology and other advancements to their advantage. They are organized and resemble a spy organization more than an ancient secret society. They are smart, clever, and even though they still need to drink blood to survive, they don’t attack humans, drain them and leave them for dead. In short, they’re civilized, while they still have that romantic glow vampires tend to have.

The Recruit is worth reading only for the interesting world building. But then there’s all the other good stuff like a cherry on the ice cream sundae, and what you end up with is a delicious read that I warmly recommend. Very warmly.

And it’s currently available on KU.

Also: if you’ve already read The Recruit, you will definitely want to read The Choice when it’s released. Trust me on this, I know. 🙂

Buy links:

JMS Books | Amazon 

 

 

Writing Update

Update

It’s been two months since I last wrote an update on what I’m doing, so maybe it’s time again? Whaddaya think? 🙂

hearts border

In July I was on a vacation on the tropical island Gili Air, Indonesia (which you know if you follow me on Instagram) and it pretty much looked like this for four glorious days:

gili

My daughter and her boyfriend was here for a visit, so I prioritized cuddles and quality time with them over writing. It’s safe to say that July was an awesome month.

hearts border

In August I wrote like a fiend to catch up with lost time. I finished my first ever fantasy story, Snowed In: Nen and Anani, and submitted it. It will be released in January 2019. I’ll tell you more details when I have them.

Blurb:

”It is time to go to my son.” Nen waited for fifteen rotations to hear those words, since that time the snow wouldn’t stop falling. But now that he’s about to meet Anani, the love of his life, again, he’s afraid. What if Anani doesn’t feel the same anymore?

Anani, the guardian of the water element, was only seventeen when he was banished from his mother’s court. Heartbroken that he couldn’t be with the one he loved, he lost control over his emotions and his power. No matter what he tried, the snow wouldn’t stop and as a last resort he was sent away.

When they finally meet again, Anani is hopeful but disillusioned. The law that kept them apart hasn’t changed. How will they be able to find their happily ever after?

And what happens when the snow starts falling again?

hearts border

Kris T. Bethke and I have started book 2 in our Family Found series, titled Diving In. We’ve only written a couple chapters so far, but at least we’re working on it. I’m sad to say that I’m the one who’s behind on this project, but sometimes life happens and when it does, it’s great to have an understanding writing partner like Kris. Really. She’s the best.

hearts border

I’m trying to decide whether I’m gonna write a Christmas story or not. I have an idea, but I haven’t started yet. The deadline for the submission call is September 30. Like I said, life interfered with my writing and I haven’t had time to do everything I planned. Or maybe I just haven’t prioritized right?

Anyway, I can probably manage in time. But I have to decide like yesterday. Ugh. Maybe I’ll just dust off my Spotify Christmas playlist and see if the mood strikes? I’ll let you know.

hearts border

Speaking of Family Found series. If you’re a regular follower of my blog, I’m sure you haven’t missed that the first book, Falling Into Love, is out now. So if you’re in the mood for something “sweet, fast paced, low angst” to quote Kat at Love Bytes, may I suggest Liam and Austin? 🙂

fallingintolove

Liam O’Donoughue is happy with his life. He runs V Wilderness Adventures with his best friends, his chosen brothers, and gets to spend his days hiking in the gorgeous Adirondacks. What’s not to love? But when he meets Austin on a hike, he thinks he’s found something he didn’t even know was missing.

Austin Jock is content with his work as a radiology tech and playing bass in a cover band. Someday he wants to find his forever person but doesn’t believe in romantic fireworks and isn’t sure it’ll ever happen. Then Liam comes crashing into his life, igniting sparks. Huge, life-altering sparks.

The connection between the two men is instant, and things move fast. But Austin isn’t sure what to do with everything he’s feeling inside. Can Liam convince him falling in love is the easiest thing in the world?

Buy links/Add to Goodreads

JMS Books | AmazonAmazon UK | Kobo iTunes Google Play | B&N | Smashwords

add to goodreads

 

 

About Nell, Release Blitz

Release blitz and #giveaway: Year Two (Would It Be Okay To Love You #4) by Amy Tasukada

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Length: 113 pages
 
Would It Be Okay To Love You? Box Set (Books 1 – 3) – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb
 

An ex-playboy. A robot geek. Can their love last when the whole world finds out?

Robot fanboy Sato has spent too much time alone hiding the love of his life. But when Sato comes out to his parents, it doesn’t end well. He no longer wants to conceal their relationship, but he doubts his boyfriend is ready.

Aoi might spend all day moaning as an erotic voice actor, but he doubts his legion of fangirls will approve if he comes out. With his career on the line, Aoi feels like Sato has pushed him to the breaking point.

As Sato opens up to more people about his sexuality, can they find a compromise that will make them both happy, or will it be too much for Aoi?

Year Two is the fourth book in the gay romance series Would It Be Okay to Love You? If you like Japanese culture and sizzling romance, you’ll love this year-in-the-life anthology collection.

Buy Year Two to confess your love today!

Amy Tasukada lives in North Texas with a calico cat called O’Hara. As an only child her day dreams kept her entertained, and at age ten she started to put them to paper. Since then her love of writing hasn’t cease. She can be found drinking hot tea and filming Japanese street fashion hauls on her Youtube channel.

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions