Exploring the Backlist: Trapping Drake FREE this weekend!

This offer has expired! Thanks to all those who picked up Trapping Drake and Setting the Trap this weekend! 

TRAPPING DRAKE

Available from: All Romance eBooks     Amazon     Bookstrand     Barnes & Noble

FREE This Weekend from BREATHLESS PRESS

Drake Fallon's impulsive decision to stop and help a stranger change a tire leads to intriguing possibilities. 

What he doesn't know is that there are two J. Cahills.

After miserable years looking for love in other places, Jesse and Jay Cahill have accepted that for them, illicit passion is the only one. They've built a life, a home together.

A chance encounter on a rainy night brings something Jesse never expected- an attraction for another man. Still, he's committed to the love he has for his twin, Jay, and he pushes Drake Fallon away.

Drake is intrigued by the vulnerable man he met in the downpour. Though Jesse claims to be involved, Drake is certain the relationship can't be fulfilling or Jesse wouldn't have returned his kiss with such passion. Jay Cahill is devastated when his lover whispers another man's name in his dreams.

 When Drake calls, how can Jay resist meeting the man who's crept into his twin's dreams?

Excerpt

With a breathy whimper, Jesse's mouth opened slightly and Drake took full advantage. He swept his tongue inside, tracing hungrily over smooth velvety surfaces, teasing and massaging Jesse's timid tongue with his own. The sweet flavor and delicious heat, the residual taste of raspberry and dark chocolate intoxicated him, and he wanted more. He moaned loudly and pulled Jesse closer, pressing his mouth open wider, coaxing a response from the trembling man in his arms.

A sudden flash of bright light from a passing car startled him and Jesse shoved him away, breathing heavily. "Oh my God," he whispered, huge eyes locking on Drake's face. "I can't."

"Jesse? I'm sorry I got carried away. It's just...you're so damn sexy. I know I overstepped. Look. It's late. Can I see you again?"

"No. No I can't sleep with you. I want to. But I can't. There's someone else."

Drake jerked back as if slapped. "Someone else? And you couldn't call him to help you, I suppose?"

"You assume it's a him?"

Drake snorted in response. He damn well knew the someone else was a him. No straight man wore three-inch heels in the rain, no matter how fucking short he was. Not to mention, he'd likely have been punched square in the jaw at the first touch if Jesse weren't gay.

"I know it's a him. Just like I know you can't be all that in love with him if you can kiss me like that."

Just Released:  Setting the Trap 

You can purchase Setting the Trap at Breathless Press or All Romance ( Amazon takes a bit longer, but I should have that link soon) but if you get it at Breathless, you can pick up the first book, Trapping Drake FREE this weekend only. 

New Release: Setting the Trap

Setting the Trap

Sequel to Trapping Drake

"I’m not the kind of guy who lets someone else control my life, Jesse."

As much as Jay has come to care for Drake Fallon, he can't let go of the bitter emotions aroused by seeing his twin with someone else. He knows his jealousy isn't rational, but can't dismiss it either.

Jesse isn't in any hurry. He feels what they have is worth taking the time to figure out. Learning to be together, getting used to a relationship between the three of them can only lead to a stronger, more solid relationship. 

Drake's tired of feeling like an outsider, like an interloper though. He wants in. He wants to be trusted, to be loved for who he is, just as he loves the twins for who they are.

It all hinges on Jay's ability accept someone else in Jesse's heart, something he doesn’t seem to handle very well.

Until a work related injury leads Drake to issue an ultimatum that forces Jesse to choose a side. Then, it's an all-out struggle for power that could make or break this fragile relationship.

EXCERPT 

In between selecting essays, poems, short stories and novels to drive his point home, he had begun preparations for a dinner that would be easy on Drake's stomach and filling. The home made chicken noodle soup simmered on a back burner, and Jesse sat peeling apples into lemon water for a fresh apple crisp. Served with ice cream it would be the perfect dessert.

"I thought you were making a chocolate pie?" Jay slung two grey plastic bags from the grocery store onto the counter.

Frowning, Jesse dropped his apple into the water bowl and began to unpack the bags. "It's too rich; it'll upset his stomach with the drugs, won't it? Why didn't you use the recyclable bags?" They had a stack of environmentally approved re-usable grocery bags in both cars.

"Didn't have the jeep. I had to take what they had. Just use them to reline the trash cans." Jay leaned over the counter and kissed Jesse softly. "Missed you. How is he?"

Flicking a glance at Drake, who hadn't stirred for at least half an hour, Jesse pulled Jay back for a deeper kiss. "Mmm. I think he's okay. He's just been out of it all afternoon."

Jay's thin fingers curled around Jesse's jaw and his sweet breath just hinted at the acrid taste of tobacco as it rushed over Jesse's mouth. "The codeine might make him queasy. Chicken soup was a good meal plan."

Jesse stared into his brother's blue eyes, so pale and intense. "You were worried about him and me here alone?"

Color rushed into Jay's cheeks and he ducked his head. "No. I... Jesse, I have to tell you something."

Puzzled, Jesse pulled his chin from Jay's hand and seated himself on a stool. "Okay. Do you mind if I peel while you tell me? I'd like to get this baked and cooled for dinner."

Jay nudged aside one of the stools to make room at the counter then leaned to the center to draw another paring knife from the butcher block. "I'll help. I could use something to do."

He resisted the urge to protest. Jay wasn't inept in the kitchen, Jesse was just a little bit of a perfectionist. "How about you peel and I'll slice? Try not to peel too much fruit with the skin, okay?" That way he could control the size of the slices and... "Shit. I'm sorry. I'm such a control freak sometimes. The crisp will cook more evenly if the slices are all the same thickness, Jay. That's all."

Startled blue eyes met his. "Huh? I didn't say anything. I'm happy to peel." And Jay began peeling, long thin ribbons of pale green apple skin coiling around his fingers to fall to the table. Jesse watched those strong hands, their nimble movements sure and unconsciously sensual. He shook off the allure and picked up the apple he'd peeled right before Jay arrived. He sliced it into neat, even pieces for the filling.

"You said you wanted to talk?" He prodded when Jay sat concentrating on his apple peeling.

"Drake came to see me for lunch today." The fine fingers trembled a little, slowed in their motions.

Some odd note in Jay's voice brought Jesse's gaze to his face instead of his hands. His twin's cheeks were flushed, his eyes downcast. He swallowed hard, and Jesse thought it must have been a painful gesture, because his lips tightened and thinned.

"I know, I told him to, remember?"

"He brought me Indian food." The splash of the apple Jay had peeled landing in the bowl of ice water followed the moody comment.

Jesse paused in his slicing. "You like Indian food." Why did it matter?

"Yeah. We didn't eat it."

Indignation on Drake's behalf sparked. "Jay! When a man goes to all the trouble—"

"Because we were too busy fucking like bunnies in the supply closet." Jay threw the knife on the table and Jesse couldn't guess what it cost his brother to meet his eyes at that moment.

You can purchase Setting the Trap at Breathless Press or All Romance ( Amazon takes a bit longer, but I should have that link soon)

Crawl in Bed With Avril Ashton

Crawling Into Bed With Avril Ashton

And a Good Book

Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton? 

Cotton sheets

What are you wearing? A pair of Mr A's boxers and a t-shirt.

What are we snacking on in bed while we read tonight? 

Crackers and cheese. Or Cheez Doodles and beer. Either way, crumbs are all over the place.

If I open this nightstand drawer, what will I find? 

Fyah! (Kindle if you're nasty), a pink vibrator named Stanley, batteries, cookies. Chocolate. Mostly edible ish.

Do you roll up in the blankets like a burrito, or kick the covers off during the night? 

I roll up in them, if Mr A hasn't kicked them off both of us.

Can I put my cold feet on your calves to warm them up? 

Ha! No, you may not. That is my job. I do that to Mr A. I keeps me some frozen toes. Keeps him on his toes.

What are we reading?

Sinner, Savior [Brooklyn Sinners #2]

BLURB

Sinner or Savior? Each man has a choice to make. It should be simple. It never is.

Gun runner Pablo Castillo has cemented his reputation in the gun trade as callous and cold-hearted. Personal feelings no longer matter, not with everyone out to make him a sacrifice on their way to the top. He remains untouchable, until a meeting with a rival gang leader and a new deal brings him face-to-face with temptation.

Dev is the right hand to a sadistic bastard out for blood and glory. He hides his true feelings of distaste for his boss, not the least of his many secrets. He could’ve sworn those secrets were safe, but after meeting Pablo he’s not so sure. The two men come together in a heated affair neither can deny, battling themselves, each other and a deadly enemy bent on spilling blood. Pablo and Dev will have to stick together or walk away from a love neither man expected to find. The choice should be simple. It never is.

EXCERPT (R)

“Fuck! What happened?” Dev pushed his way in and grabbed Pablo’s wrecked hand. “You’re bleeding.”

Pablo frowned and yanked his hand away. “What?”

Dev gestured. “I—You’re bleeding. There’s blood on your head and neck—” He lifted his hand and Pablo flinched away.

Dev blinked. “I heard about what happened.” He licked his lips and Pablo’s body clenched. “York knows and he’s looking for any way to exploit it.”

His lips were moving, but Pablo couldn’t fully process what Dev was saying. The plain white tee he wore hugged the muscles in his forearms and the distressed jeans were snug, covering shit Pablo suddenly salivated to see.

“Hey.” Fingers cupped his jaw, warm and rough. “Castillo, you okay?”

What the fuck was with all the concern? Pablo couldn’t bear it. He yanked Dev’s hand away from his skin and pushed him up against the locked door. Satisfaction settled in his gut, hot and addicting when Dev’s eyes widened and those Goddamn lips parted.

Dev’s movements stilled.

“If you want to talk, this ain’t the place.” He watched as his breath rustled the hair brushing Dev’s forehead.

“I want your mouth for something else,” he rasped. “Wrapped around my dick.”

Dev’s throat worked. His pupils dilated and Pablo rubbed against him, swallowing a moan. His prick ached with the contact but it wasn’t enough. Visions of Dev on his knees, mouth stretched wide around him, eyes bulging, sped up his hips.

Shit. He indulged in one last sweet grind before pulling away. Dev’s cheeks were flushed, eyes over-bright as his chest heaved. Pablo kept his gaze on him and palmed his own crotch.

“Get on your fucking knees.”

BUY LINKS: Ellora's Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/sinner-savior.html

Amazon: http://amzn.to/SV7T5D

AllRomance: http://bit.ly/VypOO1

B&N: http://bit.ly/TnFVBq

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Well, it's a good month for sales! I nearly forgot, but ALL GLBT titles are 20% off this month at the Breathless Press publishing site! That includes pre-orders on titles like Setting the Trap! 

Breathless Press

Recipe Theme of the Month: Bite Size Nibbles : Crab Filled Crescents

This month I'm doing recipes that are fun, finger sized, and delicious. Appetizers and snack bites form elegant to whimsical, but always tasty treats to fuel the creative writing process. 

A friend once pointed out that there's a lot of food in my books, and I have to admit that is very true. It's hard to separate people from the food they eat, and the meals a couple shares can define their relationship. 

What happens when the junk food junkie falls for the chef de cuisine? 

hmm... that might be an idea for a future project. 

Today's recipe is so simple, it will probably find a spot in a future book, (last week's recipe will make an appearance in 50/50 Chances Are in May!) 

Crab Filled Crescents 

(This recipe appears many places on the web, but I've used the Pillsbury site recipe as a base) 

Ingredients

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls 1

3 oz softened cream cheese

1 cup chopped crab meat (I use the fake stuff…I like the texture better)

1 green onion, minced

2 T mayo or yogurt

Season with salt and pepper, or cayenne if you like it spicy ( I don't)

Directions

1.      Heat oven to 375°F. Line baking pan with parchment paper. Unroll dough on work surface (if using crescent rolls, pinch seams to seal); cut into 6 rows by 4 rows to make 24 squares.

2.      In small bowl, mix cream cheese, crabmeat, onion and mayo with seasonings. Spoon about 1 teaspoon crab mixture in the center of each square. Starting with same corner, fold dough over filling, and tuck end tightly underneath filling; continue rolling to within 1/2 inch of opposite corner. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining squares and filling. (The Pillsbury site recommended using an egg wash to seal the crescents. I forgot, and guess what? They stayed sealed just fine. So add that step in if you want, but I found it unnecessary.)

3.      Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Possible Variations:

I'm going to try this with smoked salmon and dill instead of the crab next time.

Can you think of any fun varieties we could try with this simple recipe?

Well, it's a good month for sales! I nearly forgot, but ALL GLBT titles are 20% off this month at the Breathless Press publishing site! That includes pre-orders on titles like Setting the Trap! 

Breathless Press

On Writing: Or the Lack Thereof

One of my favorite distractions from writing is British television...

Unfortunately, I only have two seasons, six measly episodes of Sherlock on Netflix. Benedict Cumberbatch is the most intriguing interpretation of Sherlock Holmes I've seen in a long time. He's got the whole asexual, egotistical, genius thing down perfectly. 

I need more. 

I think I'll get back to writing now, I don't like the look on his face- it seems I've displeased him, and that can't be good. 

"The heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight. But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night."

- Thomas S. Monson

So even if you only add a few hundred words a day, keep at it. Message received. Back to work on 50/50 Chances Are and Rake #4. 

Well, it's a good month for sales! I nearly forgot, but ALL GLBT titles are 20% off this month at the Breathless Press publishing site! That includes pre-orders on titles like Setting the Trap! 

Breathless Press

Top 5: The Eagles songs to Inspire Your Writing

I keep a constant stream of music playing in the back ground when I write, and one of my favorite bands for getting in the mood  to write is The Eagles (they're also pretty awesome for folding laundry ;) ) . Now, it's tough to find a decent You Tube link for the Eagles, because they're very stringent about guarding their copyrights, and as a writer, well, you know I can't really complain about that. 

So, in no particular order these are the Eagles songs that I find myself replaying over and over...

1. Lyin' Eyes
2. Witchy Woman
3. Take It Easy
4. Desperado
5. Life in the Fast Lane 

Well, it's a good month for sales! I nearly forgot, but ALL GLBT titles are 20% off this month at the Breathless Press publishing site! That includes pre-orders on titles like Setting the Trap! 

Breathless Press

Don't Miss This: Come Unto These Yellow Sands by Josh Lanyon

Don't Miss This..

Don't Miss This is a new effort by a few of us in the writing community who wanted to dedicate a little bit of our time to combating the negativity that seems to overwhelm us at times. Every Sunday on Face book we post a link with a snippet of a book, blog, new release, award...anything, as long as it is NOT ABOUT Self promotion. We'd like to show our appreciation for other writers, bloggers, readers, anyone.

I'm expanding that to my blog because I think it really is an awesome idea to let people know when they've touched you. So this week, I'm sharing one of my perennial favorites and go to re-reads:

Come Unto These Yellow Sands

Contemporary Mystery, Amateur Sleuth

THE BURB 

Once a bad boy, the only lines Professor Sebastian Swift does these days are Browning, Frost and Cummings. When a student he helped to disappear becomes a suspect in a murder, he races to find the boy and convince him to give himself up before his police chief lover figures out he's involved.

Max likes being lied to even less than he likes sonnets. Yet his instincts --and his heart -- tell him his lover is being played. Max can forgive lies and deception, but a dangerous enemy may not stop until Swift is heading up his own dead poet's society.

Click the title for an excerpt- but suffice it to say that this portrayal of a reluctant sleuth, a man with the sense to hide behind his cop boyfriend rather than race into danger, is a fascinating glimpse into addiction and the recovering mindset as well as a neat little mystery. 

I hope you love it as much as I did! 

Well, it's a good month for sales! I nearly forgot, but ALL GLBT titles are 20% off this month at the Breathless Press publishing site! That includes pre-orders on titles like Setting the Trap! 

Breathless Press

Breathless Press GLBT Sale

Well, it's a good month for sales! I nearly forgot, but ALL GLBT titles are 20% off this month at the Breathless Press publishing site! That includes pre-orders on titles like Setting the Trap! 

Breathless Press

Paranormal Hunting Kit

Fascinating, hm? 

I'm plotting out a few stories with the characters from Encounter, by request from a few readers. 

I stumbled across this fascinating item and many more along the same lines. 

I think I have to build a story around... something macabre and Poe-like, I think. Probably not at all related to Encounter... I mean, this clearly screams of more than ghosts. It's vampires, or demons, or something truly terrifying.