1/17/2013

Crawl in Bed With Ivy Bateman




Crawling Into Bed With Ivy Bateman
____________
And a Good Book "Baby, You're Cold Inside"

Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton?

Oh dear...these are, what would you call them...technically I suppose they are flannel, but very worn cotton flannel. I'm a twister and a shaker in the sack. And by that I mean when I'm sleeping. Don't be rude Lee. I'm very twitchy, and have trouble staying comfortable in one position for long and therefore I tend to wear my sheets down to threadbare rather quickly.

What are you wearing?

I'm wearing a saucy combo of a long sleeved shirt and flannel Jammie pants that are about 3 sizes too big. They're hot and I mean that literally. Every night, at some point, I rip these bad boys off...or at least I think I take them off...perhaps that's the doing of Someone else...

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

Kettle chips with extra grease and extra salt and a side of extra dark chocolate. Oh, don't worry about your hand's Lee; just wipe the off this towel...I have beside the bed (blush) for no particular reason... but try not to get crumbs in the bed. Someone I know gets very testy about sleeping on crumbs.

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

Chaos of epic proportions! Guards for my wrists (sexy I know...and cumbersome which is why I wonder how on earth I manage to get my pants off every night while wearing these things!), spare ear plugs ( I hate my beauty sleep being interrupted even a little), pens, paper, journals that should be full of thoughts, woes and great prose but instead have lists of things I should do or calculations about what bills I should pay and when, and many empty jars of things...

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

I start out all cozy but that is usually followed by kicking the covers off with wild abandon at some point during the night and later, when I'm deeply unconscious, I apparently feel the need to pull all the covers over to my side leaving Someone with a corner of the blanket. I tell you, sleeping is an adventure.

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

Not unless you'd like a swift kick to the nether regions. :) Sorry! It's just how I roll. Plus it would not be an easy thing to do. You'd have to get past my barrier of pillows in order to even find my legs.

What are we reading?

Why, look at that! We're reading my latest book Baby, You're Cold Inside!


Excerpt:

"Oh yes, my dear, just a little bit further...come on honey...just bend over a little further. Come on now—just a little bit lower, that's it." I bite my lip to keep from screaming. "That's right keep it up, keep it up...I'm so close, yes, baby keep it up—no, no, no! Not now!"
I lean over my desk and punch the intercom. "Phillip! Get your ass in here now!"
He doesn't respond to my holler. Maybe he has the volume turned down. He's done that before, the bad boy, trying to ignore me. What kind of assistant does that to his boss? One that doesn't last that long, that's who.
I punch the intercom button again, harder even though it won't make a difference, but I'm desperate and my buzz is quickly fading away.
"Phillip! Don't ignore me! I need to see you in my office now!"
Again, he isn't doing anything! Okay that's not true. He's still doing something. He is still filing and bending over, which is a marvel to behold, but his moves are being wasted! I open my desk drawer and pull out a squishy ball. I chuck it at the mirrored glass that stands approximately twenty feet from the front of my desk. Phillip jumps and screams like a girl. He glances at the mirrored glass looking slightly shamefaced. He can't see me, but he knows I can see him. Wow, he's a good looking guy...who isn't moving!
My morning good time feeling is being quickly defeated by the anger that is starting to build up in my system. I throw a second ball against the glass. Another girlish scream erupts from Phillip, but this time he springs into action. He hot foots it to my door and opens it at top speed. He's breathless and nervous which is perfect; it's the way I like my men.
"Yes, Ms. Sinclair? Is there something I can help you with?" He runs a hand through his shiny brown hair and steps into my office.
"No, Phillip, I just like to throw things at my wall to hear you squeal. Thank you for being so obliging." I am sarcastic to the point of it being farcical, but my lovely yet sometimes a little dim assistant doesn't pick up on it even a little.
"Oh, that's fine, Ms. Sinclair. I-I-I like to squeal for you." He blushes and looks at his large, polished shoes. "I'll go back to my desk and listen for another ball. Thank you for making me aware that you like my noises." He backs toward the door, his face now the shade of a ripe tomato. It's adorable, but I don't have time for adorable.




Baby, You're Cold Inside is my third book with Breathless Press.My first release with Breathless Press, Between the Lines, was released in January, 2012. This was followed by The Fifth Story in September, 2012.

Breathless Press Website: http://www.breathlesspress.com/

I have a blog. To see what's going on in her world and follow along with her musings go to:  http://ivybmisbehavin.blogspot.com/

Or follow me on Twitter:

Like my page on Facebook:

Or drop me a line at:
 ivybmisbehavin@gmail.com

Thank-you so much Lee for joining me in my bed. Now get out before Someone gets home and throws you out in the snow!

1/14/2013

Blog Tour....Donovan's Deal


Goddess Fish Promotions is organizing a Virtual Blurb Blitz Tour for three new releases from Breathless Press, all GLBT Romance stories. The tour will run January 14-18, 2013.

Breathless Press will be awarding a $20 Breathless Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so make each stop each day to maximize your chances fo winning! 

Books featured this tour are:

Jan 14:  Full Moon Dreaming
Jan 14:  STOP 2  Decadent Delights
Jan 15:  Wicked Readings by Tawania
Jan 16:  Dawn's Reading Nook Blog
Jan 17:  My Odd Little World
Jan 17:  STOP 2  Of Ink And Quille
Jan 18:  Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess



1/11/2013

Perusing the back-list: Lucky 7 - Loving Jacob




Here are the rules:

1. Go to page 77 (or 7) of your  ms
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. 


The original rules state that you should tag 7 other authors...I'm passing that up this time around, because I just wanted to take a few minutes to share a bit of an excerpt with my readers, and this seemed like a fun way to choose the excerpt. 






Okay Page 77  of Loving Jacob- 



 You have no right to be proud of his accomplishments. He is here today in spite of you, not because of you. He scowled fiercely, taking in the sight as best he could from the distance through the alcoholic fumes of his own breath.
"And so, I stand before you here today, no longer a child, or a young adult, but a man, ready to step forth and claim my destiny. And I want to thank the people who made this moment possible, my parents, especially."
           Malcolm swore those brown eyes, mirror images of his own, locked fiercely onto his despite the 

distance between the stage on which his son stood and the seats he and his wife occupied in the middle of 

the bleachers of the football stadium. He couldn't look away. 


You can pick up your copy of this mm romance at




1/10/2013

Crawl in Bed With Danny Johns


Crawling Into Bed With Daniel B. Johns
And a Good Book … WINTER HEAT


Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton?
Cotton, I am your basic Tennessee country boy here. Nothing fancy about me.

What are you wearing?
Look under the sheet and see for yourself…lol

Ah ha! I suspected as much! Too bad all these folks out there can't see....lol. What are we snacking on in bed while we read tonight?
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls and a cold glass of milk.

Mmm. Bringing out the good stuff, huh? If I open this nightstand drawer, what will I find?
How embarrassing! A notebook with notes for part 2 of my MIRRORS story, my ereader, and a bottle or two of lube.

Hey...I've seen worse. Do you roll up in the blankets like a burrito, or kick the covers off during the night?
I will have to say both on this one. Keep in mind that I share this life with my wonderful partner, Ben.
We are both hot natured guys, but Ben is a spooner.
Saying this, I feel like I am wrapped in a burrito when we go to bed, but during the night we go our separate ways, and once a leg is out from under the covers, I cool down enough for a comfy sleep…. even on the coldest night.

Can I put my cold feet on your calves to warm them up?
Why not, Ben does it all the time!

What are we reading?
WINTER HEAT , with my very first story, MIRRORS IN THE ATTIC… a paranormal short about a psychic, a demon, and a handyman.




1/09/2013

LRC Best of 2012 Nominations


Time to celebrate! 


I'm pleased to announce that I have been nominated in three categories at the Love Romances Café Best of 2012 Awards.

This year, I was nominated for best series for the Truth or Dare series, up against some wonderful series such as Hank Edward's Venom Valley books.


My first paranormal, Saint's Curse, was nominated as Best GBLT book of the year.

Most surprising of all, I find myself in exalted company as Hank, Em and I were all nominated as best GBLT author alongside the likes of TJ Klune, Amy Lane and Tom Webb!

It's such an honor to be nominated, and I am so thrilled to be included in such wonderful company.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, read, or purchased my work this year. 2012 was a fantastic year for me. 

1/08/2013

Crawl in Bed With Kimber Khan



Crawling Into Bed With Kimber Kahn
____________
And a Good Book Fated in the anthology Winter Heat: Erotic Stories to Warm Your Life

Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton? While I love silk, I can't do it on my sheets. I mean, they're cotton.

*blinks* Can't do what on your sheets? Oh...I see what you meant there...What are you wearing? a pair of comfy shorts and my Team Klarvin t shirt that my Danny made for me.

What are we snacking on in bed while we read tonight? LOL Would you believe me if I told you Special K?

If I open this nightstand drawer, what will I find? *leans around Lee* I have a nightstand? When did that get there? *blinks* No, really I don't have one. But if you want to be nosy, check under the pillow. There's a bottle of KY warming, a pen, a notebook, and a blood pressure cuff...yeah, don't ask.

*eye roll* Why do they never want me to ask about the most interesting things? Fine. *replaces pillow* Do you roll up in the blankets like a burrito, or kick the covers off during the night? Kind of a combination. I have to have one foot out or I get too hot, but the covers have to be tucked in around the rest of me or the thing under the bed can get me.

Er...The thing under the bed? Does he have a name? *bends down to peer under the bed* I think that's abotu the biggest damn dust bunny I've ever seen. Can I put my cold feet on your calves to warm them up? Why not? My kids do it every chance they get.

What are we reading? Today we're reading Fated. It's my contribution to the anthology Winter Heat: Erotic Stories to Warm Your Life. Fated is the first story I've had published. I'm so green I could give Kermit a run for his money. LOL

Blurb-
Home. Family. To most, those words bring thoughts of safety and joy. To Ryan Daniels, they bring guilt and pain. Returning to the place he grew up, the place he left behind, he finds something he never bargained for and didn't know he was missing until the afternoon he bumped into Stuart Vaughn.

Excerpt-
The man smiled, a slight lifting at the right corner of his mouth. Ryan thought a circus family had taken up residency in his stomach. The family appeared to be practicing their aerial act. He broke eye contact and the spell weaving around him. He listened to the rest of the man’s rendition of “Desperado” by the Eagles keeping his focus on his coffee.

Consumed in thought, he didn’t register the song end. He was trying to rationalize the attraction he had to this total stranger. Was the attraction purely physical? Laying his hand in his lap, he rearranged the boys. Definitely physical. Been a long time since that’s happened. I’m acting eighteen instead of forty.

“Hey. I hope you liked it.”

“It?” Ryan asked. He looked up into the most attractive face he had ever seen. Christ on a crutch!

He hadn’t noticed when they ran into one another earlier. He had been focused on his destination and his slight embarrassment over walking into him. Now, his brain short circuited. He was trapped by the ruggedly handsome good looks.

“The song.” The hint of an impish smile played on his lips. “The one I finished mere seconds ago.” He half turned, never looking away from Ryan, he pointed to the stage.

“Uh, yeah, the song.” Ryan fought for control of his wayward thoughts. Please let the floor open.
“It, uh, was great. You did a great job.” He felt like an idiot. He figured he sounded like one as well.

“I’m Stuart. Stuart Vaughn,” the man said, his hand on the back of the only other chair at the small table. “Mind if I sit?”

“Yeah. I mean No.” He straightened from his slouch, groaning. “Please.” He waved toward the chair. “Help yourself.” Good God, now I sound imbecilic!

“I saw you watching me when I started my song,” Stuart commented. “You an Eagles fan?”

“Oh, uh, yeah,” he replied. “They-,” he cleared his throat. “They’re an awesome group.”

“Do you need another coffee? I’d be happy to get you one,” Stuart offered, pointing toward the counter.

Ryan tilted his disposable cup. “I can get it.” He raised his eyes, nearly drowning in the warmth shining from Stuart’s gaze.

“Not a problem.” He stood, adding. “I need one myself.”
Stuart stopped him as he reached for his wallet. “Put your money away.” He gestured over his shoulder. “My mom owns the joint.”

“Your mom.” He shook his head, the hint of a smile upon his lips. “Sure.”

Thanks for letting me crawl into bed with you Lee!

Find Winter Heat at:




Facebook: Kimber Kahn

Twitter: @Kimberkahn2012

1/04/2013

Take A LOOK at the Backlist: Loving Jacob


Look! A Writing Challenge!
 This is revised from a challenge that was circulating in 2012. 
The Rules are:
 Find the word LOOK in one of your back list books, and then post the three paragraphs surrounding it. Post your favorite three, the ones that are most intriguing and then tag three other authors who might like to share their back-list. 


LOVING JACOB 
Available at 


"Well, that's all I'm offering. Take it or leave it." Malcolm drew his hand down the length of his cock, which had pulsed to aching life during that elevator trip. Jacob wore light spicy citrus cologne that seemed to linger in Malcolm's nostrils long after any encounter between them had ended, and being in the elevator with the sexy younger man had a predictable effect on his dick.
"Look, I'm very busy. I have a few minutes for you now, but..." He let his arousal-roughened voice trail off, waiting to see if Jacob took the bait. Jacob's purple eyes locked on his hand gliding up and down, pressing against his throbbing cock behind the zipper of the black dress pants he wore. That gaze was an added caress that fired his blood even hotter, and he swore softly. "Fuck. You want it. I can see it in your eyes, feel it in you every time you come near me."
Jacob licked his lips, but remained silent. Malcolm flipped open the button of his pants and began lowering the zipper carefully. The metallic clink of the zipper filled the spaces between their harsh breaths. He spoke harshly. "I have a meeting with a client in ten minutes. I need to take care of this. You can watch, or you can help; take your pick."

12/31/2012

Story Orgy Presents: Holiday Flashes #3 Les Winter, pt. 2


Good morning! 

Ready for the conclusion to Les Winter, the final Holiday flash of 2013? 

And, well....After the post there's a kind of important announcement. 

As usual, we're letting Hank say it, because he says it best... 

You remember the prompts for this post were from Christopher who suggested: 

Santa & an elf, North Pole, Slave Collar


He'd attended the very first Christmas party that Tobias had arranged, the very first ever Winter and Sons Christmas party. Thirty years ago today, in this very room, after the last of the employees had left with their white Christmas bonus envelope in hand, Les had caught himself a Christmas elf under the mistletoe, and kissed Tobias.
And in that moment, with that kiss, Tobias became a little less mythical, and Les became a little less human. They exchanged more than passion, as parts of their souls became intertwined. So many years later, Tobias couldn't explain how their clothes had disappeared, he couldn’t quite remember the order in which caresses had been exchanged, but he'd never forget the feeling of having Les inside him for the first time.
At last the cleaning crew trotted out, white envelopes clutched in their gloved hands, faces beaming with joy. Les strolled over to the tree and knelt to turn off the twinkling lights.
"Come out. I know you're here." Les's voice rang with mirth.
Laughing, Tobias leapt from the tree, shedding his disguise and embracing his lover. "How did you know?"
Les smiled down at him, older yes, than when he'd seen him last, but happier, too. "I didn't just see you. I felt you; I've always felt you, here." He took Tobias's hand in his and pressed it over his beating heart.
Tobias savored that throbbing beat, closed his eyes and soaked in the presence of his beloved. Les's heart was full of life, intelligence, joy, love. Tobias filled his heart with all the things a man needed to thrive, and even in his exile Les had built the spark into a conflagration that would consume them both. His eyes were still closed when the rhythm of the heartbeat sped, when his lips were captured by Les's mouth in a firm kiss.
He kept them closed when he parted his lips, when Les swept his tongue inside, when heat melted away the vestiges of uncertainty and replaced them with passion. Tobias opened his heart and mind and melted into Les's embrace, reveling in the touch and scent of the man he loved.
When Les pulled away to press his lips to the smooth skin of Tobias's jaw, Tobias moaned softly. "I missed you, my love."
"Missed you, so much." Les licked along his jaw, up to the fine delicate shell of his ear, a searing path of sensation setting Tobias atremble as his cock stirred to life. Les bit the fragile ear lobe, breathed hotly across the delicate hairs, then sucked. Tobias shuddered, and arched, bringing their groins together.
"Oh, yes. Toby, I need you now."
He was all for that. The answer to his question was almost certain, so he could delay. "I need, too. Les." Their hands were rough, clumsy, and the shedding of garments was no graceful thing, but Tobias felt only pleasure at every careless touch from Les's hands, at every accidental contact that stripped them both of their clothes.
And when he was at last stretched out naked, breathing heavily, across the long break room table, he could finally take a moment to study Les's thin body. He'd aged, ti was true, but his form was still very similar to the young man that Tobias had last seen him as. Fine muscles, taut abdomen, sparse white chest hair, arrowing down in a tiny sparkling trail to a fine cock, long and thick above plump, tight balls.
Pale and lovely with a faint rosy hue, Les's cock glistened with droplets of pre-cum and Tobias whimpered, spreading his thighs and beckoning his love forward. "Come to me, Les."
And then he was there, in the place that had ached for him in the long years apart, rubbing the tiny opening with spit slick fingers before pushing slowly in. Catching a tight breath, Tobias forced himself to relax, to remember the hot pleasure of this act that would follow the sting of pain.
Les stilled, staring down at him in wonder and Tobias nodded. He focused his attention and bore down, facilitating the inward slide of his lover's prick. When Les tugged him close, and wrapped his thighs around his waist, Tobias felt him full and deep and shuddered anew.
They remained, thus wrapped about each other, gazing into one another's eyes for long moments, and Tobias didn't need the magic of his people to feel the things that flowed between them were more than bodily passion and desire.
When Les's hand closed over Tobias's prick, stroked him from root to tip and back, spreading the slick fluid that seeped from his tip, he groaned. Each gentle thrust sent him flying higher, each stroke of Les's fist pushed him further, until he couldn't hold back the explosion of sensation any longer.
His body tensed, clenching around Les's prick, as he froze in place, heat pooling then rushing outward as orgasm overcame him. Les shuddered, jerked, and his insides were bathed in warmth that soothed the faint burn of possession.
Les recovered himself, raised him up and held him in a tight embrace as their breathing slowed to normal again.
It was time. Time to ask the question again, the one he'd been yanked away from Les before he could get his answer to thirty years before. "Will you come to the North Pole with me Les, and be mine for all eternity?"
Nodding solemnly, Les replied, "I will. But you should know," A troubled frown crossed his lover's face. "Humans don't live for all eternity, Tobias. I see you here today, looking as young and fit as when we last met, thirty years ago, and you have to know that I'm fifty-two years old, Tobias. I'm not young any more. We can have thirty years or so together. It's a long time, and I'll treasure every moment, but it's not going to be eternity."
Tobias chuckled. "Did you think I've wasted my years away? I've spent my time well, petitioning on your behalf. Santa is agreed, that if you come to the North Pole with me, of your own free will, he will extend to you the rights and privileges that are mine by birth. If you accept a collar, you will be granted life everlasting, as long as you remain in service to his cause."
Les tilted his head to the side, studied Tobias with those bright blue eyes. "You didn't mention that before. I'm not sure I understand you."
"You would be mine, my mate and together we would work for Santa."
"Listening to the children in shopping malls?"
"You would likely start there, yes. I'll have a different assignment, but the point is that we will be together, and for most of the year, there is very little to do but love one another."
"It's enough, isn't it? Loving one another?"
"It's everything."
 The End...

Skip over to the other blogs....

Em Woods' story: http://authoremwoods.com/



Announcement


Hello faithful orgiasts who bounce between our blogs every week… we love you. We really, most whole-heartedly do. You are the reason we six became a group in the first place! We wanted to post free gay fiction that was sometimes spooky, often smexy, and always romantic, and we have done some pretty amazing things in the last two years. The Story Orgy has self-published three anthologies—And the Prompt Is… Volume One, And the Prompt Is… Holiday Edition, And the Prompt Is… Road Trip—and one anthology through Breathless Press, Word Play. We've donated hundreds of dollars to charities from the sales of these collections, and all because of you! On our blogs, we've posted thousands and thousands of words, introduced you to dozens of characters and any number of dramatic scenarios, not to mention lots and lots of hot, steamy sex scenes. Oh yeah, can't forget the steamy sex scenes!

And so, with the start of a brand new year, your Story Orgy writers have to admit something. We're tired. Really tired! We've been writing so hard and so fast to keep our weekly posts interesting and sexy and surprising, that often times we don't have time to write other stories for our publishers. Some of us have Evil Day Jobs (EDJs) that eat up a lot of our time as well, and then we need to make time to spend with families and friends, as well as a bit of sleep now and then. So, yeah, we admit it: we're a little used up.

Which brings us to the classic line: It's not you, it's us. You see, a little while ago, the Story Orgy met in our secret Story Orgy room and hashed some things out, and we've decided that we're not going to post weekly reads on our blogs for the foreseeable future. We know! It was difficult for us to say it ourselves! However, while there will no longer be guaranteed weekly posts, keep an eye out for posts from time to time as we try out new stories or characters, or ask for prompt suggestions from you for a new anthology, or maybe even let you know about some fantastic give aways. This new arrangement will also give us more time to work on some exciting new Story Orgy anthologies we hope to have available throughout the year.

So, while the weekly Monday posts will no longer be there waiting every week at 6:00 AM, we certainly won't forget about you, our faithful readers. We hope you'll still comment on our Facebook posts and follow each of us not only in our future Story Orgy collaborations, but also our individual publishing events as well.

Thank you, you wonderful readers who have come to feel like family to us, for an amazing two years of fun and hot, sexy stuff. We look forward to expanding on the Story Orgy name in the years ahead and hope you're as excited about the things to come (hee hee) as we are.

Much love,
The Story Orgy

12/22/2012

Holiday Dessert Blog Hop

Alright then... I have two of these posts to write tonight, so no messing about, hey!

This is the Holiday Dessert Blog Hop...

I'm going to share my favorite Christmas cookie recipe with you...and then you'll have the chance to win copies of my two new holiday stories... (See Below for details!)
This recipe is one my grandma made every year. It was a favorite in her house, and now I make it every holiday as well.
Spritz Cookies
1 pound butter
1 cup of sugar
1 well beaten egg
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour

Preheat oven to 400. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat together. Add vanilla. Sift flour into the mixture. Beat well. Put dough through cookie press into desired shapes. Bake four 4-5 minutes on ungreased cookie sheets. Cookies are done when bottom is browned. Makes roughly 100 bite size cookies.

Now...you know you can change that up. Use lemon or almond instead vanilla...dip cooled cookies in chocolate...sprinkle tops with cinnamon sugar... oh the varieties are endless...

Ahhhh...Don't forget... you need to skip down below and leave me your favorite recipe or a link to your favorite, to be entered to win these two books!


The Interview
When Ben learns his lover's business travel means he'll be gone for the holidays,
he begins to rethink their relationship.
Ben's family steps up to keep him busy,
 but does he dare ask Cris to put him before the job?


EXCERPT

"Hello." I should have checked to see who it was before I answered. It was Cris, and I had to pretend to be cheerful and brimming with Christmas spirit when I was anything but.
"Hey Ben, I just called to remind you to get the tree after work today. You said last night that you hadn't gotten it yet, and I know it's one of your favorite things to do."
With you. I held the guilt inducing words back. With Cris, shopping for the perfect tree was my favorite holiday tradition. We made an event out of the whole thing. A thermos of hot cocoa with marshmallows in hand, we would wander through the tree lots looking for the perfect vehicle to display the antique and handmade ornaments that I inherited from my grandmother. We measured the distance between branches, studied every Scotch pine and every blue spruce, knowing all the while that we'd settle for a fragrant Douglas or red fir with its sturdy, widely spaced branches to show off the ornaments better.
I wasn't so much looking forward to finding a tree alone. Or decorating it alone. Hanging crocheted snowflakes, tinsel, and Grandma's vintage glass bird ornaments wouldn't have the same appeal without Cris's firm grip guiding my hand to the perfect spot on the tree. He tried very hard, my Cris, not to let his obsessive demand for symmetry and order mar the holidays, but the twitching always got to be too much. I confess, I deliberately placed an ornament or two in an awkward spot just to feel his hand on mine, the heat of his body close behind me.
"Yeah. I'll go when I get done here. Can you call me around four?" It would be a little bit better if I could talk to him about the choices, maybe send a photo of the final product.
"Ummm. I'll try, but I can't promise anything."
So I probably wouldn't even get that solace. "Okay. Call if you can. I have to go. Work awaits."
I hid in the stacks all day, shelving cart after cart of books, losing myself in the scent of leather and old paper. It beat working the counter where the aroma of pine from the decorative evergreen boughs—genuine, despite fire codes—and the peppermint of the candy dish just screamed Christmas. It beat smiling cheerfully and wishing sleep deprived teenagers a happy holiday—because it is a state funded school and Merry Christmas is just too politically incorrect.
In the end, I didn't bother with the measuring tape or the cocoa, just pointed my 67 Mustang straight for the nearest tree lot. Go in, pick a tree, go home and set it up so the branches could drop. I could do this, I didn't need Cris holding my hand to choose a tree.
And
Donovan's Deal, Truth or Dare #6
Making a family is harder than keeping house. Donovan's patience is wearing thin, but Mischa needs time to make things right.
Will Christmas bring heartache or compromise?

Mischa Blake needs the relaxation of the Blake brothers' weekly poker games now more than ever as he feels the pressure of his responsibilities as a parent, partner, and student multiplying. When one of his siblings proposes reviving their game of Truth or Dare, Mischa revolts. Instead, they all agree to share a truth, and Mischa has to decide how much of his domestic situation to share with his family.

The frantic pace of life is overwhelming, and Mischa has begun to let things slide. With the holidays just around the corner, he figures his current situation is a temporary thing. When he misses one of his son's soccer game that Donovan left work early to attend, time runs out.

Upset by the hurt in their son's eyes, Donovan decides that something must be done. He's worried that he's pushed Mischa into doing things at the wrong time, pushed his dreams on his young lover, just pushed too hard for too much in general.

In a desperate attempt to get Mischa to think about what he wants instead of what Donovan wants, Donovan issues an ultimatum. He sends Mischa away with orders to think about his priorities.

All you have to do is leave a copy of your favorite Christmas cookie...or a link to the recipe and you'll be entered into the drawing!
The fine print...
You must leave an email address to be eligible to win. Prizes must be claimed within 7 days. Winners will be notified by email after being announced on this page on Dec 24th. Only two winners will be drawn.


Be Yourself

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955
The Romance Reviews