I want to thank fans and author friends who joined me for my birthday month. This has a been a hard month for me. I had so many great plans of all the things I would go out and do to celebrate my 50th birthday, but with the pandemic none of them were possible. Now I’m done with my self-indulgent whine đ
December is next and I hope to be back to writing full force. I spent a lot of this month working on story ideas and hope to bring new ones to you soon. I’m getting super close to finishing something (I know you’ve heard that before).
Let’s get through December and hope 2021 is a much better year! If you have questions for me I am always available at amberkellwrites@gmail.com.
Happy Birthday month to Amber! Thanks you Amber for letting me come and join the fun. Yay! Let’s party.
Iâve written a little interlude featuring characters from my Zander Oaks series. Birthday Photo Shoot By Talia Carmichael An Zander Oaks Interlude November 2020 Genre: Contemporary Series: Zander Oaks Length: Interlude
Turner smiled as he heard him approaching through the door. He lifted his camera and got ready. The front door opened and he took his first shot. âThat is priceless.â He laughed as he lowered the camera. Jaxx scowled and his light grey eyes were stormy. âWhat the heck are you doing?â âTaking your picture.â He lifted his camera and took another shot. âAnother priceless shot.â âWhy are you taking my picture?â Jaxx scowl deepened. âTo make this wonderful day that you get older.â He said cheerfully. Jaxx sighed. âI knew he was an alien. Mama said not to get involved with people from out of space.â Turner smirked at his words. It had been one of the first things he asked him when they meet, if he was an alien. âYou should have known better than to let stranger into your house like that. Now youâre stuck with me.â âYeah I know.â Jaxx sounded disgruntled. âHush you know you love me.â âMust have lost my mind.â He grumped. âNo need to be pissy.â Turner paused then. âJust because itâs your birthday and youâre getting old.â Jaxx glared at him. âThatâs not what you said last night.â Turner eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Jaxx closed the door and sauntered over to him. When he was standing before him he stopped then put his finger under his chin and gently closed his mouth. Turner rolled his eyes. Jaxx smirked then leaned down and kissed him softly before he nipped his lip. âHey.â Turner protested as he licked his lip. âThatâs for the old crack.â Turned opened his mouth. âAnd no jokes about that.â Jaxx held up his finger in warning. âCome on you laid it right out there for me.â Turner said. âSo grumpy when you get older. Come on I have something to sweeten your mood.â âNo party.â Jaxx narrowed his eyes. âLater.â Turner interrupted already seeing he was about to argue. âBut before I have our own way of marking this occasion. You, me and this camera.â âLook Mister big shot photographer who is in such demand.â Jaxx crossed his arms over his chest. âYou donât need to take my picture to butter me up to go to a birthday party. Iâm not going.â âOhhhâŚbutter.â Turner headed for the kitchen. Jaxx followed him. âWhy do you need butter? Never mind. I am not going to whatever cockamamie party you have cooked up.â Turner ignored him and went to the fridge and grabbed the butter. âCome on.â âNo.â Turner pushed past him and headed to his studio they had set up in the house. âTurner you are not listening to me.â Jaxx followed him. Turner turned and walked backward as he took some more shots of him. Jaxx strode toward him. The strength and raw masculinity was all on display. âStop taking my picture.â âNope.â Turner lowered the camera. âThese are for the party so I can show in public.â He lifted his hand with the butter. âThe others will be between us.â Jaxx looked at the butter then him. âI see that devious look and Iâm not sure if I want to know what you have planned.â âTwo words.â Turner turned and walked to the door of the studio paused and looked over his shoulder. âBirthday Suit.â Jaxx eyes darkened and he smirked. âNaughty photographer. What would people say that Mister Award Winning Photojournalist is taking nude shots?â âLucky Man.â He stared at Jaxx then narrowed his eyes. âBut I might change my mind since someone is being all grumpy birthday boy.â He turned and went into his studio. Turner turned to the door and waited. Moments later Jaxx strode into the doorway. Turner blinked. âDamn how did you get naked so fast?â Jaxx put his hands on his hips. âIâm an alien.â Turner laughed. Jaxx came toward him and pulled him into him. He rested against his naked body. âNow as for this photo shoot.â Jaxx leaned close to his ear. âI hope Iâm not the only one who will be in their birthday suit.â âIf you go to the party without complaining.â Jaxx snorted. âtoo much. I might be persuaded too.â Turner smoothed his hand over his side. âYou know this is going to become a birthday tradition.â Jaxx kissed the side of his neck. âBirthday suit.â âIâm hoping it will.â Turner whispered. âDefinitely.â Jaxx turned his head to him. âAnd for your birthday I will be the one behind the camera. And,â He paused. âWe wonât be having an indoor shoot.â Turner breathed out. âWell damn. If I knew I could get you to agree to take some shots outside I so would have done that.â âNever said for me.â Jaxx stroked his finger down his cheek. âYouâd look good spread out in the sunshine.â âI so would.â âMister Modest.â Turner laughed. He pulled Jaxx closer and kissed him. He was one lucky man. A birthday suit photo shoot with this man who he loved. It was the best way to spend a birthday. And yep heâd make sure it would become a birthday tradition. Copyright Š Talia Carmichael, 2020. All Rights Reserved.
To see how Turner and Jaxx got together check out Fall Into MeâŚ
Here is the blurb: Fall Into Me By Talia Carmichael Series: Zander Oaks, Book# 3
When a man who doesn’t like disorder meets a man who embraces it they find they are made to fall into each otherâŚ
Jaxx Coulter doesn’t like change. He’s used to things a certain way and in its place. When a man comes to his ranch and shakes up his orderly world, he’s not in the mood to deal with it. But this man doesn’t seem to get he’s not one to mess with. He challenges him and Jaxx is surprised he finds himself drawn to Turner who is unlike anyone he knows.
Turner Black doesn’t follow anyone’s rules. He walked away from a fortune because he refused to be dictated to. Now he’s here on a ranch at the request to help out a friend. Yet when he arrives, he finds that he’s not expected and confronted by a man who needs to loosen up. A man who pushes all his buttons. Now it’s time to show Jaxx that sometimes disorder can be a good thing. You just needed to embrace it.
Will Jaxx be able to release his need for control and embrace what Turner has to offer?
Contest: From the comments below, 1 winner will be selected at random from all the comments and the prize for winner will be a $5 Amazon egift card! (This is open to all. Note you will need to be able to get an egift card from Amazon)
The contest will go until 11:59 pm Eastern time on November 30, 2020, so you have time to enter. Please enter an email address when you post your comment below. Once I announce the winner your email is how I confirm I am sending the prize to the person who commented below for the contest.
I will post winner and instructions to claim the prize on December 1, 2020 on my blog here http://taliacarmichael.com/blog. Good Luck!
I have some party favors for you all. Here are 3 free books that are part of my Palmer Series. â .¸¸,.âśÂ´.¸¸,.âś FREE BOOKS âśÂ´.¸¸,.âśÂ´`´*â Maximum Exposure Palmer, Book # 1 It will take an exposure of a maximum kind for them to admit what they want. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/a00vqfn9mf ââNote: This book is set in Palmer.
Forever His Fake Palmer, Book # 2 What happens when two men afraid to take a step to get what they want enter into an arrangement â fake boyfriends with real dates for practice? https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5ha4ptlhd5 ââNote: This book is set in Palmer.
Risk Everything Palmer, Book # 3 To get what he wants he’s willing to reveal to his good friend how he feels and risk everything for a chance at making him his. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/4xpyhxhr10
ââNote: This book is set in Palmer.
Bio: Talia Carmichael is a romantic who believes that family, no matter if it is by blood or those you choose as family, is integral to who you are. She is an author who writes sexy stories in a variety of genres. She believes in creating stories that encompass all that falling in love or lust entails, from the highs of that first blush of attraction to the lows of not knowing if you can make your coming together as a couple work, and then finally to the acceptance of the reality of making a life together. It’s all about the journey.
Among her books you’ll find contemporary, futuristic, fantasy, and paranormal settings with M/M themes that will have a happily-ever-after. Her books are passionate, intense, and real⌠to fill the craving.
“Roses red, violets blue, sugar sweet and so is you, but roses wilting, violets dead, sugar lumpy, and so is you head. So is you head. You head. You head. Lumpy you head.” “No lumps this time, Bug.” “Eeep!” I jumped back, pressing a hand to my heaving chest. A man who stood six and a half feet tall should not be able to sneak up on me like that. I pointed a threatening finger at Bear. “You no scare Bug!” Bear chuckled as he drew me into his arms. “I wasn’t trying to scare you, Bug. Promise.” “What you want?” “I can’t just come to see you because I want to?” I thought about it and then shook my head. “You working. Bug no bother you. Boss man get mad.” “Well, I just so happen to be done working and thought we could go for a ride.” “Mate ride or club ride?” There was a difference. “It’s not a club ride because it will be just you and me, and if it was a mate ride, we’d be headed upstairs.” I wasn’t opposed to that. “Mate ride good.” Bear chuckled again. “How about we go for a ride on my bike now and then come home for a mate ride?” I didn’t even have to think about that one. “Okay.” Bear leaned down and brushed his lips across mine then gave me a little swat on the ass. “Go get your gear.” I hurried upstairs to our room and grabbed my heavy riding jacket, gloves, and helmet. Bear never let me ride without them, not even in the summer time. Something about not getting road rash or a broken skull if we crashed. Considering how much I loved being on the bike behind Bear, it wasn’t worth arguing, even when it was so hot I felt as if my skin was going to melt right off. Bear was waiting for me out back, straddling his bike. It wasn’t until I climbed on behind him that I realized Bear’s bike was the only one in the garage. “Where everyone?” “Oh, Ryder took them for a ride,” Bear said. “I wanted to ride with you.” I was pretty good either way. I enjoyed the rides Ryder, the Soldiers of Fortune road captain organized, and I enjoyed the rides I took with just Bear. I just liked being on the back of Bear’s bike. I didn’t care who else was along for the ride. Once we were on the road, we had to make it through weekend afternoon traffic before we reached the outskirts of the city and then it was nothing but hills and valleys and trees. Lots and lots of trees. When we stopped at a four way stop and Bear turned right and started following the road that went along the river, I smiled. I knew where we were headed. “Bear play chase?” It was one of Bear’s favorite games. He’d bring me up to this spot in the woods, I’d go hide, and he’d track me down. If he found me within a certain amount of time, he got to do whatever he wanted with me. More times than not, I purposely made noise so he’d find me. Still, it was a fun game for both of us. “Not today, Bug,” Bear replied through the comm. unit built into our helmets. “I have something else planned for you today.” I was intrigued. But I was also confused when Bear pulled onto the dirt road that led to the camp spot used by the club and not the one he usually took me to when we played chase. That was a little farther up the road. “We miss meeting?” It was the only way I could think of to explain all the bikes parked in front of the trail that led down to a large wooden park pavilion where we had our outdoor meetings and get-togethers. “We in trouble?” Bear parked next to the other bikes then turned the engine off. He grabbed me and pulled me around in front of him. One of my favorite spots. “No, Bug. I promise we’re not in trouble.” “We miss meeting?” I asked again. “There is a meeting, but we didn’t miss it.” Bear lifted me up in his arms and climbed off his bike. I groaned when he released me and I slid down his hard body. “In fact, they are waiting for us.” “Why?” Yes, technically, I was a member of the Soldiers of Fortune MC. Butch had given me the patch right off his own cut. That didn’t mean I was involved in every aspect of the club. There were some things Bear didn’t want me involved in. Other things I just didn’t understand. “How’s your tummy?” Bear asked. I frowned. It acted up when danger was about. Since it wasn’t acting up, I figured I was safe. “Tummy okay.” Shouldn’t it be fine? Bear grinned. “Good.” “You being weird.” Considering I was talking to a bear shifting biker, that was saying a lot. “What wrong?” “Nothing is wrong, mate. I promise.” Promises were important. Bear gripped my hand and gave it a little tug. “Come with me.” I’d follow him anywhere. He led me down the trail that led to the through the trees to the wooden pavilion. I loved this spot. Not only was the pavilion right next to the river so we could go swimming, but it was set in the middle of a small field. Bear and the other members of the MC could shift and lay about in the sun or play in the river or just hunt for berries. I could hear music playing and people talking before we reached the field. When we broke through the trees and I saw the small crowd of people, I could help feeling a bit apprehensive. “We not in trouble?” “No, babe.” Bear’s arm settled on my shoulders. “We’re not in trouble.” “What meeting for?” I don’t remember anyone saying anything about there being a meeting. “Soldiers of Fortune,” Butch shouted out. “Front and center.” Uh oh. I swallowed tightly when every patched member of the club lined up next to Butch. Tex even stepped into line, and he was still a prospect. Bear stopped me several feet in front of the line of men and stood behind me, his hands on my shoulders. “We don’t know exactly when you were born, Bug, so Butch and I decided to pick out a birthday for you, and that day is today, so happy birthday, Bug.” One by one, the men standing in front of us brought out a present they had been hiding behind their backs. They all had grins on their faces, even Tex. “Bug birthday?” I didn’t remember ever having a birthday. “Yeah, baby. This is all for you.” It was good to be me.
To learn more about Bug, Bear, and the Soldiers for Fortune, check out their story in:
FORGIVENESS Soldiers of Fortune 1 His name was Bug. I assumed it was because he was nuttier than a bed bug until he saved me when I was attacked. For reasons known only to him, Bug thought it was his duty to keep me safe. I was the sergeant-at-arms of the Soldiers of Fortune MC. I didn’t need saving, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him so, especially not after I discovered he was my mate.
His name was Bear. It fit. He was tall and scary and built like a bear. He was also my savior, even if he didn’t know it. When I saw someone attack him in an alley one night, I knew I had to save him. When everyone brushed off my concern for his safety, I knew I was the only one who could save him. But, when he started talking about mates and bear shifters, I had to wonder if he was even crazier than I was.
When troubles comes for the Soldiers of Fortune MC, convincing Bear and his club brothers to listen to the whispers I hear from the shadows might be harder than accepting the fact that shifters are real and I’m mated to one of them.
EXCERPT: ~ Bear ~ “Roses red, violets blue, sugar sweet and so is you, but roses wilting, violets dead, sugar lumpy, and so is you head. So is you head. You head. You head. Lumpy you head.” I cracked an eye open and looked up at the man softly singing as he stroked his fingers through my hair. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on. The world around me was a bit fuzzy, all except the man hovering over the top of me. Pale skin, a thin face with high cheekbones, hollow, sunken eyes, and a wicked looking scar that went from his cheekbone back into his hairline. Long, stringy hair that might have been blond if it hadn’t been so matted and dirty. But it was the pale moss green eyes that held my attention the most. There was a world of pain and anguish in those little green orbs. I frowned when a flower was placed on my cheek. When I went to reach for it, the grungy little man gasped then scurried back several feet. He stayed crouched on the floor, hunkering down as if trying to make himself as small as possible and covering his head with his arms. “Lumpy, lumpy, lumpy,” the man whispered, but maybe he was more of a boy. I couldn’t quite tell. I started to sit up then groaned when shards of pain sliced through my skull. When I reached up and felt the nice sized egg on the back of my head, I suddenly understood what the man had meant by lumpy. No wonder my head ached so damn much. I sank back down onto the cold concrete and closed my eyes. I breathed in through my nose then out through my mouth, trying to calm myself enough to get through the pain slamming into me. I opened my eyes again when I heard a scraping noise. The man moved closer, once again placing flowers on my face and down my neck, then over my chest as if the last thirty seconds had never happened. He started chanting that stupid rhythm again. “What is your name?” I asked. The man froze. He didn’t even blink. He might not have even been breathing. “What is your name?” I asked again, in the softest tone I knew how to make, which wasn’t easy. I didn’t exactly have a soft tone, but I didn’t want to scare him. “Bug. I’m Bug. I scurry around and hide in dark, so yeah, I’m Bug. Not bad Bug. Not cockroach Bug. Good Bug.” He held up a handful of flower petals. “Maybe ladybug, but not lady. No, no, not lady. Boy Bug. Boy Bug. So, I’m Bug.” Okay then. “I’mâ” “Bear.” Bug nodded and started with the flowers again. “Bear. Bear. Big, bad Bear. Teddy Bear.” Bug patted my chest just open the collar of my shirt. “Furry Bear.” Okay, apparently he knew who I was. “Where are we, Bug?” It was dark and all I could see were shadows cast by a sliver of light coming in through a crack in the wall. “Hole. Hidey hole. Small little hidey hole.” Bug’s brow flickered. “No bad guys here. No. No. Safe here. Bug keep Bear safe.” Bug shot up and hurried over to the corner. I watched as he dug into a pile of stuff stacked on the floor. It looked like garbage, but what did I know. When he came back, he set a gun down on my chest then held his closed fist out. When I opened my hand, he dropped a handful of bullets into my palm. “Safe. Yes, Bug keep you safe. No more wilting flowers. No more lumpy.” I moved slowly when I sat up, trying not to scare Bug, but he still scurried out of arm’s reach. I checked over the pistol. It wasn’t mine. I had no idea who it belonged to. “Is this your gun, Bug?” For some odd reason, it didn’t sit well with me thinking that Bug needed a gun to protect himself. “No, no.” My eyebrows shot up when Bug laughed. “Bug no like guns. Guns hurt. Guns loud. Guns make people go away. Guns bad.” All of that was true. “Where did you get the gun, Bug?” “Mmm,” Bug hummed to himself as he tapped the side of his head with his fist. “Bad man, bad, bad, bad man. Hurt Lumpy. Hit Lumpy. Make Lumpy bleed. But Bug got him, yes he did. Bug make bad man go away. Bug keep Lumpy safe.” Holy shit!
The vicious bite of an enemy, a shout, a cry in the dark. A lover’s touch, the whisper of a kiss. A sigh, a groan, heart beating faster, desire surging through a body. Love words spoken in the shadows. The yearning for a soft caress. I’m a writer of fiery passion in all its glorious forms. Paranormal, Contemporary, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, MM Romance books. There is no limit to my imagination.
Everyone who entered did a great job. I picked the ones I thought I could make a cute short out of. Winners should contact my assistant Sheri at authoraccomplice@gmail.com. Thank you for entering!
For those who participated in the Storymatic contests the winners are:
#1 Jessica Parsons Ever since becoming a ex-super hero i have lost count the number of times i have been stood up just because i no longer did any hero stuff and wanted to enjoy my dream job at a aquarium. Even my lucky underwear couldnât help with my dating prospects unless you counted the sea creatures feeling me up when i wore them.
#2 dejamaw
It served him right. It should have been just another one night stand. One night with the most beautiful man he had ever met. He had spent one glorious night with him and then left for the mission at 0 dark hundred. He should have claimed him; instead, he had left his unclaimed mate to finish his mission. He was supposed to be back in just a few days. He had promised.
Instead he was sent on a mission that lasted 7 months with no contact stateside. As soon as he was back, he went to Marcusâs apartment and received his first shock of the night. His apartment was empty. Marcus didnât live there anymore. In fact, Mrs. Kravitz, the neighborhood tattle-tale took great relish in telling him all about how âthat boyâ had been gone for over 6 months. Just packed up one weekend and left without a forwarding address. All that was left behind was a small package that had arrived for Marcus. With dismay, he realized Marcus had never received his contact information. Marcus would think he had abandoned him. Mrs. Kravitz was more than happy to give it to him when he said he would deliver it. His second shock arrived after he had to call in few favors from his old team, and found that Marcus had been admitted to the hospital. Now, he was sitting in the waiting room at OHSU with the unexpected box for Marcus containing his plans for their life together waiting to find out if his mate-to-be was suffering from separation angst or pregnant. Either way, he had some âsplaining to do. Now all he had to do was wait, and survive the grilling that awaited him from Marcusâs guard dog of a best friend. He always cut to the chase, and never shied away from asking the questions no one else would dare ask an alpha.
#3 gameistress77 there he sat, all by himself â ostracized, ignored â yet you could tell it didnât matter to him. his confidence surrounded him, filling that empty corner of the cafeteria where he alternated between eating, tapping away on his laptop and scribbling in his notebook. that thick sandy blonde hair kept just long enough to start to curl a bit in waves and dark wire rimmed glasses still made me feel things I knew I shouldnât, couldnât allow myself to feel. if only i hadnât made those promises to my father before I met him, hadnât said Iâd follow thru on the agreements father and his business associate had entered into to unify their companies via marriage between their heirs. if only I was truly free. when he raised his head and looked straight at me, it was as if he could read my thoughts from across the room. looking into his deep blue gaze, even from that distance, it brings back all the feelings to the fore front, making me long to return to those secret meetings where it was just the two of us and reality could be forgotten. how will i ever manage to be happy again?
#4 Maria Ellner with “Casey was down on his luck after the mishap in the laboratory. The only thing between him and poverty was the heirloom that he was getting readyt to pawn. Thatâs when he saw the poster announcing the beauty contest. The prize was $50,000.00!!! With that money he could do something! He would have to dress as a woman, but that was no problem for him. He loved to dress up. Did he dare?”
First, I wanted to offer my gratitude to Amber Kell for allowing me to be a part of her celebration, as well as wish her a very Happy Birthday!
Secondly, I guess I should introduce myself. Iâm Arden Steele, and I write both contemporary and paranormal M/M romance. To find out more about me, including a list of my available titles, check out www.ardensteele.com.
In the spirit of giving, I wanted to offer a little something to everyone! Just click the link to get your FREE copy of my short story, Only You. (Please note that signups for my newsletter are appreciated when claiming your free book but are completely optional.)
And now, without further ado, I give you Asher Dare and Cameron Stone. If you want to read more about them and find out where it all started, check out the beginning of their story in Flirt. (Side note: the third and final book of their trilogy will be releasing next year!)
Fortune
Copyright Š 2020 by Arden Steele
Darkness had settled over Mission Grove, blanketing the sleepy, Texas town in shadows. The music, laughter, and conversation from the boardwalk across the lake had faded away, leaving only the frogs and crickets to serenade the night. A singular streetlamp outside the two-bedroom bungalow filtered through the slats in the blinds, casting skewed rows of amber across the hardwood floors.
Seated on his worn, but perfectly comfortable sofa, Cameron Stone flicked aimlessly through the channels on his television. Finding something to watch might have been easier if his attention hadnât been constantly drawn to the clock in the corner of the screen, the numbers mocking him as they silently inched toward midnight.
It was tradition, and it had been ever since heâd first left home for college. Even when he had to wake up at an ungodly hour for work, he still stayed up every year on this day until the clock struck midnightâthe official beginning of his birthday.
Precisely after the clock changed over, his phone would ring, and his mother would be on the other end of the line, always the first to wish him happiness and good fortune in the coming year. Then, sheâd pass the phone to his father, who usually interspersed his congratulations with some tidbits of âdad wisdom.â
It was something Cameron looked forward to every yearâŚuntil now.
âHappy Birthday to me,â he muttered under his breath when the display finally showed twelve oâclock. Picking up his cell phone, he held it ready, waiting for it to ring. And it did. Right on time. Sighing, he connected the call without really looking and brought the phone to his ear. âHi, mom.â
âNope,â came a familiar yet unexpected voice. âIâm hijacking her call this year.â
âAsher?â Cameron sat up straighter, all traces of weariness gone.
Warm, rich laughter drifted over the line. âOf course, itâs me.â
âHey, Ash.â Cameron couldnât help but smile at the edge of cockiness in Asherâs voice. âHow are things going there?â
Heâd known from the beginning that he would have to share Asher with the world. Such was the price of being in love with a successful author who had more than a dozen bestsellers under his belt. Even if that meant Asher was in California, on the set of the film adaptation of his latest mystery novel, instead of home for Cameronâs birthday.
âEverything is fine, but I donât want to talk about me. Itâs your day.â His tone took on a more subdued quality. âTell me what youâre thinking right now.â
âI miss you,â Cameron blurted before Asher had even finished speaking.
âI miss you, too.â There was a long pause, then, âHey, I got you something.â
âOh?â All he wanted was Asher, but the guy was trying, so he did his best to feign enthusiasm. âSomething from the movie set?â
âIn a manner of speaking,â Asher said around another chuckle. âIt should be there. Check your front porch.â
Cameron looked over his shoulder toward the windows that bracketed the front door, his brows drawn together. It was far too late for a delivery, but then again, it wasnât the most outrageous thing Asher had ever done.
âOkay, one second.â Taking the phone with him, he made his way to the door, unlocked it, and pulled it open. âWhat exactly did youââ
His voice cut out abruptly, the last word still stuck in his throat as he gaped at the man standing in the circle of light cast by the porch lamp. He was dressed casuallyâwell, as casually as he ever wasâin fitted jeans and a lightweight shirt the same color blue as Cameronâs eyes. He looked tired, and maybe a little thinner than the last time Cameron had seen him, but the smile on his face seemed to light up his entire being.
âWhat are you doing here?â The last heâd heard, Asher had another three weeks left in Hollywood before he could return home.
Reaching across the threshold, Asher grabbed him around the waist and pulled him into a crushing hug. âYou really didnât think I was going to miss your birthday, did you?â With a finger under Cameronâs chin, he tilted his head up for a hard, heated kiss. âI love you.â
Being with Asher meant fame and fortune were forever a part of their lives. Cameron had no interest in fame, but the lifestyle suited Asher. As for fortune, he enjoyed living comfortably, but heâd give it all up just to be in Asherâs arms. That was all the fortune he needed.
âI love you, too. Iâm glad youâre here.â
âMe, too.â Taking his hand, Asher led him into the house and closed the door quietly behind them. âItâs good to be home.â Then, he caught Cameron up in his arms again and planted another kiss on him that made his head spin and his knees tremble. âHappy Birthday, sweetheart.â
Night and Fae
Blackhaven Manor, Book 2
Colorful and eccentric, Leelan Rivers knows heâs a little too âextraâ for some people. Since those people are exceedingly boring, he couldnât care less about their opinion. Yet, when a night out leads him right into the arms of fate, he never expected the broody vampire to deny the connection between them.
Wealthy and powerful, Sebastian Delgado is used to people wanting things from him. Heâs not even surprised at the lies theyâll tell to get them. So, when Leelan claims to be his mate, heâs skeptical to say the least. Leelan might be beautiful and enchanting, but Sebastian has been disappointed too many times in the past not to be suspicious.
All it takes is one bite to reveal the truth but claiming Leelan comes with its own set of problems. Especially when he realizes heâs not the only vampire at Blackhaven Manor interested in the faerie.
âNo need to play hard to get. You know you want it, or you wouldnât be dressed like that.â
While true Leelan had been hoping to attract someone to take back to his room for the evening, that didnât mean he lacked standards or self-respect. âI really think you should leave.â
Too fast for his eyes to follow, the vampire reached across the table, grabbing Leelanâs wrist and squeezing it roughly. âI think you should be nicerââ
âNow, now,â a smooth accented voice interrupted. âIs that any way to behave?â
Leelanâs eyes rounded as the most gorgeous specimen of male heâd ever seen stepped up behind his date and wrapped a hand around the back of the vampireâs neck. Dressed impeccably in a tailored black suit that molded to his broad, muscular frame, the stranger looked like he could have stepped right off of a runway.
No visible tattoos marked his tawny skin. He had no piercings, wore no jewelry, not even a watch. His dark hair was cut short and styled in a conservative though fashionable side part. While not really the type Leelan usually went for, he still somehow managed to embody every wet dream Leelan had ever had.
But that wasnât why he couldnât stop staring.
âGet your fucking hands off me,â the vampire growled as he struggled against the hold on his nape.
The new guy stroked the side of the maleâs neck with his thumb. âEven a limited vocabulary doesnât excuse poor manners.â As he spoke, his thumbnail grew, lengthening nearly two inches before ending in a sharp point. âNow, apologize.â
While he spoke calmly, danger practically radiated from his very being. The vampire must have felt it, too, because he subsided in his chair and lowered his head in obvious submission.
The guy seemed far less inclined to offer Leelan an apology, but he eventually lifted his head just enough to meet his gaze. âSorry.â He winced when the sharp claw dug into his skin. âIâm sorry for being such a dick.â
The other vampireâLeelan was pretty sure the newcomer was a vampire as wellâturned his dark, penetrating stare on him. âWell, it wasnât very eloquent, but will that suffice?â
Leelan nodded numbly.
âVery well.â Releasing the younger maleâs neck, he grabbed the collar of his tank top instead and dragged him to his feet. âOff you go.â
The guy wasted no time getting the hell out of there, and honestly, Leelan really couldnât blame him. That had been simultaneously the sexiest and most terrifying thing heâd ever witnessed.
âThank you,â he blurted. âFor, wellââ He waved his hand vaguely toward the exit. ââyou know.â
âOf course.â Lowering himself into the now vacated seat, he reached across the table with another of those oddly chilling smiles. âSebastian Delgado.â
Leelan took the proffered hand and shivered as a jolt of electricity raced up his arm from the contact. Distracted by the sensation, as well as the misty haze of pure golden light that surrounded the vampire, he lost all train of thought.
He knew he should say something, but by the fae, he couldnât even remember his own name. Everything in his brain had been shunted to the side, allowing just one word to repeat on an endless loop.
Mine.Â
Thanks for letting me entertain you for a bit! Before you go, donât forget to grab your FREE copy of my short story, Only You. (Please note that signups for my newsletter are appreciated when claiming your free book but are completely optional.)
Hi everyone and Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US! Most of all, HAPPPPPPY BIRTHDAAAAAY Amber! I hear itâs a significant one. 39, right? I must confess to having been 39 for a while now (sort of in the sense that Edward Cullen has been 17 for a while. LOL). Youâll love it.
To celebrate, Iâd like to give a $5 Amazon (US) GC and the winnerâs choice of any ebook from my backlist to a winner chosen at random. Just leave a comment with birthday wishes for Amber!
In honor of Amberâs birthday, all of your fortunate guests like me were asked to share a birthday scene or memory. Funny thing. Iâm re-releasing this week one of my cowboy books that happens to begin on the heroâs 30th birthday. The hero is a world champion bull rider, so 30âs not good news for him, since itâs a very young manâs sport, but the universe compensates by introducing him to the guy who totally changes his life. Quite a birthday present. I decided to share with you the scene of my heroâs reluctant birthday celebration.
The book (and my new re-release) is COWBOYS DONâT SAMBA. This scene takes place right after my hero, Maury, has beaten his detested rival by a fluke —
They hurried through the fast-dropping temperatures of a Texas February, climbed in Earlâs rented SUV, drove for about two minutes, and pulled into a crowded parking lot, full of trucks for the most part. Maury glanced around. âI donât know, Earl. Iâm not crazy about seeing every cowboy from at least two countries tonight.â
âNo help for it, man. Canât get a drink in Texas without a cowboy.â He sighed. âOkay.â
Cowboys and their girls were walking into the bar, some of the men with the compact bodies and athletic roll to their walk that said bull rider. If a rider was over six feet, he was pretty much a giant in that business. When Earl held the door and Maury walked in, a few guys looked up, and a couple started to clap. Not really what heâd wanted, but Maury gave a smile and touched his hat brim.
A pretty dark-haired waitress either recognized Maury or got a misimpression he was important from the reaction because she hurried over. âIâve got a good table for you right back here.â
âThanks, maâam.â
They followed her to what was a really good table away from the band and the crush at the bar. Wonder who she chased away to give it to us. Maury took the corner seat facing the room and ordered a beer.
Earl put a hand on his arm. âDonât you want a margarita or something? Come on, itâs your birthday.â
Maury shook his head. âGotta ride.â âNot tomorrow.â
Maury shrugged.
Earl raised his eyebrows. âOkay, guess Iâll have a beer too.â
The waitress grinned. âOkay, two beers. And happy birthday.â She waggled her fingers as she walked through the crowd toward the bar. Maury stared around the room, nodding toward men he knew. In the opposite corner of the big room, a group of Brazilian riders sat around a table together. He couldnât hear them, but he knew they were chattering in Portuguese since some of them didnât speak much English. No matter what language they spoke, the Brazilians still won a helluva lot.
Earl punched his arm. âHey, man, whatâs the big deal about having a birthday? Youâre young. I mean, Iâm gonna be thirty-five. You know what they say. Birthdays are better thanââ ââthe alternative. Yeah, I know.â
The waitress brought the beers and a plate of french fries that sheâd managed to bury a birthday candle in. âHappy birthday to youâŚ.â
She sang off-key, but people from a couple of surrounding tables picked it up, and pretty soon half the room was singing. Hell, a lot of them probably had no idea whose birthday it was. Enough beer would do that. He wanted to say, âFuck that fucking song,â but he didnât. He smiled, blew out his candle with only the wish that theyâd stop singing, picked up a fry, and waved it in the air before taking a big bite that got laughter and applause.
Someone yelled, âSpeech. Speech.â No effing way. Maury shook his head. âCome on, Garcia. Tell us how it feels to get oldâer.â That came from Andy OâHara, one of the ranked riders who never managed to beat Maury.
âI guess what they say about getting better must be true, right, OâHara? How else can you explain it?â The girl sitting with OâHara gave Maury a smile. âBetter. Definitely better, baby.â
OâHara glared at the girl, but he kept smiling at Maury. The front door of the bar opened. Maury looked over. Oh shit.
BREATHING. BREATHING would be good.
Maury watched XesĂşs Silva swagger in the door, but he wasnât alone. Behind him came another guy. Young. Dark hair, pale skin. And probably the most gorgeous human Mauryâd ever seen. Not that he noticed guysâ looks all that much, but hell. This dude set new records in plain beautiful. He also resembled Silva, who was, after all, a pretty handsome man if you didnât count his soul.
Silva made a straight line to the table where the Brazilians were sitting. Some of the men definitely didnât look thrilled, but a couple of other guys hailed him. People moved aside, and someone pulled over two chairs.
Silva straddled the chair in that hypermacho way of his. The other guy? Holy crap. Poetry. Loose-hipped and graceful, he slid into the open chair and crossed his legs. Most of the Brazilians were squeaky clean-cut, but this dudeâs inky hair hung down to his neck and curved around his ears. He was a little taller than usual for a bull rider and lean rather than the more compact build of a lot of the PBRA competitors. Of course, he looked young, so that might explain the lanky body.
âThatâs the younger brother I told you about.â Earl helped himself to a french fry.
âHavenât seen him ride, but I hear good things.â
âLetâs drink up and get out of here. I, uh, need some sleep.â Maury pushed back his chair with a scrape.
âUh, boss, itâs five fifteen.â Earl grabbed for his wallet in his hip pocket. âLet me pay the check.â Maury stood and started toward the door. Just need to get out before I meet the asshole again.
âI hear itâs your birthday, Wetback.â
Usually Silva was subtler, but he yelled this halfway across the room. âNo wonder the judges felt like they had to let you cheat to beat me.â
Maury plastered on a smile and turned. âNo one has to cheat to beat you, Silva. Little kids can do it.â He said it like a joke, and a few people laughed, but the serious competitors, especially the Brazilians, looked uneasy.
Silva stood at his chair. âIâve got the baby that can beat you, Garcia.â He reached down, took the young manâyoungerâby the arm, and pulled him to his feet. âThis is TristĂŁo, and he can ride the butt off any bull and defeat a herd of American cowboys. Heâs a Silva.â
Maury gave the young guy a direct gaze. Almost too much for his eyes to take. Like looking straight into the sun. âHey, Tris, good to meet you. Welcome to American cowboying. Good luck with that whole winning thing.â He flashed a smile, but the guy didnât return it.
TristĂŁo yanked his arm from his brotherâs grip. He said nothing. Probably didnât speak English. Maury dragged his eyes from TristĂŁo, glanced around, and waved a hand.
âThanks for the best wishes, everyone.â He thrust a fist into the air. âGo PBRA.â
With a collective breath, people went back to their conversations. XesĂşs took a step forward, but Maury walked straight to the door and out into the rapidly cooling evening. He tensed when the door opened behind him, but Earl walked up, stuffing his wallet in his jeans.
âMan, that dudeâs a piece of work.â Maury nodded. âAnd now I go to California.â He sighed.
Maury Garciaâs a world champion bull rider whoâs always been attracted to guys –but never done crap about it Thatâs because his lucrative career feeds his huge family â and he wants to stay alive. His brother learned that the hard way. Besides, Maury likes women well enough and nobodyâs ever tempted him to change that.
Hello temptation.
TristĂŁo Silva sure as hell came all the way from Brazil to drive Maury insane â perfect face, sexy samba hips, gentle, kind nature. But TristĂŁoâs the brother of Mauryâs biggest enemy and together they could rob him of all that Mauryâs given up everything to achieve.
Any chance these alpha males can survive machismo and make their love last longer than an 8 second ride?
COWBOYS DONâT SAMBA is a gay-for-you, enemies-to-lovers, gay bull riders, macho males, totally dysfunctional family, death-by-homophobia, MM romance.
Thank you so much to Amber for inviting me. I hope everyone is enjoying this gateway to the season and, despite the challenges of the year, have joyous holidays! Hugs and love!
Babyâs first Christmas featuring Sean, Asher, and Mia from Single (Single Dads book 1)
Set between Single and Today (Single Dads book 2)rjscott.co.uk/read-always
ASHER
Capâs nose was sticky with frosting as he finished off Miaâs entire birthday cake on the kitchen floor. It would have been cute to see if it wasnât the cake Iâd only finished decorating a short hour ago. Hell, it would have been cute if not for everything else that conspired to ruin Miaâs first birthday. Like the fact that, for some inexplicable reason, it was raining on what was supposed to be a hot San Diego day, and also that artfully arranged helium balloons were deflating and bobbing on the floor. Also, Sean was stuck at work because the ER had been inundated after a car-meets-storefront accident. Not only all of that but Mia was red-cheeked and fretful, cutting a tooth and chewing her fist, all while clinging to me like a limpet. What did I do first? Did I shout at Cap and stop him eating? Was there any point in salvaging the cake? It was nearly two-thirds gone, smeared up the cupboard and as I watched in numb shock, the black lab bit off the frosty castle that had sat on top of the grand Frozen-themed cake, then swallowed it whole. No point in shouting now. I couldnât stop the rain. I couldnât fix the humidity that was messing with the balloons. I couldnât stop Mia from teething, or make the pain go away. That just left Sean, and unfortunately for him, he answered the phone on the first ring. âIâm just leaving,â he sounded out of breath, as if heâd been running, âIâm nearly at the car.â Just hearing his voice was enough to make things better. Clever, capable Sean was going to come home and fix everything, and everything that had gone wrong spilled out of me in one long breath. âCap ate the entire cake, the balloons are dying, and itâs raining, Miaâs unhappy, and I wish you were here!â I said all of that in a run-on sentence that would have confused even the best of men. Add to that, Sean was coming off a fifteen-hour shift, and I bet none of what I was saying made any sense at all. âIâm coming home now, babeââ âCap ate the cake! The entire fuâfudging cake, Sean. Why is Cap even here in our house?â I wasnât angry, or pissed, I was just⌠done with today. âBecause Leo is away on that training course andââ âThat was a rhetorical question,â I said miserably, and slumped to the sofa, with Mia curled into my neck. All my textbook plans for the absolutely picture-perfect birthday had been destroyed in an instant. When Iâd gone upstairs to change Mia, the balloons had been hanging perfectly over the bright blue cake, the garden was filled with sunshine, and Iâd expected Sean home at three. Somehow, Iâd forgotten to lock up Cap whoâd been eyeing the cake ever since I finished the work. It didnât look exactly the same as the expensive one Iâd seen in the window of Kellyâs Cakes but it wasnât so bad that I would make it into an episode of Nailed It. Iâd been proud of it and everything was going so well. But in the space of an hour it was the opposite of going well, in fact it was bad. âIâm in the car,â Sean advised, and I heard the noise of the engine. âIâll be home soon.â âDrive safe.â âLove you,â he added, and then the line was dead. As I stroked her back, Mia finally slept, curled up against me, blissfully unaware that her first birthday party was even happening, let alone ruined by the weather and a dog named Cap. Talking of the devil dog, he slunk into the front room, tail between his legs, hugging the wall, and then darted past me and out into the yard. If he thought I was going to chase him then he was mistaken. It was my faultâI should never have left the cake where he could reach it, or in fact let Cap anywhere near the kitchen at all. I was too tired to careâdeadlines messed with teething, and this week had been so busy that sleep had been low on the list. Sean, Mia and I were on vacation from tomorrowâfive whole days in a villa with a poolâand Iâd tried to clear the decks of everything. Overdone it as usual. I just needed five minutes to close my eyes and get my head straight before I fixed the mess, but after getting hardly any sleep last night, the moment I closed my eyes I was dead to the world.
âIs he alive?â The murmured words woke me slowly. Eric. âHeâs definitely alive,â a second voice added. Leo âWe should poke him to see,â Eric added. âIâm not poking him, thatâs Seanâs job.â Leo sounded horrified. I opened an eye to find Eric and Leo standing over me with matching shit-eating grins. Sean pushed past them to take Mia from my arms, and stole a kiss from me while he was at it. âUp and at âem sleepyhead,â he said and offered a hand to help me stand. I took the help, ignored Eric and poked Leo in the chest. âYour dog⌠your⌠dogâŚâ I didnât have all the words in my head yet, but I knew what I meant. âCap didnât mean it,â Leo said, and stared pointedly at Cap sitting at his side acting as if butter wouldnât melt. âDid you, Cap?â âHeâs a menace to cakes everywhere,â I muttered, but scratched his ears as I followed Sean through the kitchen, stopping when I saw what was in the middle of the table. A cake just like the one in the window of Kellyâs Cakes, all blue and white and perfect. âI ordered it last week as a surprise, but then Sean said you were going to make one, so I put it at our place with no plans what to do next, although Jason and Daisy have had their eyes on it. Good job they hadnât started on it.â Leo laughed as he spoke, and I him a glance and he bit his lip. He was more serious. âSo anyway, itâs the least I could do to bring it over, and Cap is really sorry.â âThank you,â I murmured. âAnd I fixed the balloons,â Eric added helpfully. Emotion welled inside me. The cake was nearly the same size as Mia, and the balloons were indeed bobbing gently in the breeze from the ceiling fan. âThanks guys,â I said, and then offered fist bumps and bro-hugs before going up to find Sean and Mia. âYour best friends are idiots but theyâre good idiots,â I announced as I watched Sean change Mia from a now drooled-on sleeper to the tiny party dress weâd bought. âBelieve me, I know that.â He threw me an amused glance and then scooped Mia up and danced around the room humming the tune to Stevie Wonderâs âHappy Birthdayâ. How had I got so lucky to have Eric and Leo in my life, not to mention Cap the ever-hungry dog? And what miracle had happened that Iâd met Sean, and we shared Mia, and I was so in love that it hurt? âI love you,â I stopped him dancing and hugged him and Mia close. âI love you both so much.â Sean held me and Mia, then kissed the top of my head. âAnd we love you more.â He glanced out of the window, âYour family is here, ready to go down?â âAs Iâll ever be.â We exchanged a quick kiss and then headed downstairs. Who needed a three-tier princess cake, perfect balloons, and sunshine? As long as family and friends were there, all you really needed was love.
The story of long nights in a wintry mountain hotel, a baking show with secrets, a snowman called Jeremy, and finding the greatest love of all.
After winning season four of ratings hit the Worldâs Best Baking Show, Brody Thomas had become a sought-after cake maker to the stars. Happily married, he dreamed of a bright future, but his perfect life imploded when he discovered that his husband had done nothing but lie to him. A year later, Brody is mid-divorce, and his life has been turned upside down, so being part of the WBBS charity event is excellent timing. Heâs sure it will give him time away from home and space to get his head straight, only he never expected to meet the man of his dreams in a snowy Alberta.
Winning season one of WBBS gave Justin Mallory a chance to outrun the demons of a childhood lost in the foster system. Heâs a social media influencer, with millions of followers, and works every hour to make money that equals security for the rest of his life. His marketing team signs him up for the WBBS Christmas charity show, but heâs convinced heâll fall at the first hurdle. Only, after a few days in the competition, his worry isnât that heâll be the first to leave, itâs that heâll lose his heart to a rival baker, Brody.
Iâm BA Tortuga, and Iâm here to wish Amber Kell a happy birthday. I love that I get to do this with her, and I hope youâll stick around to read a little birthday extra in the Wrecked universe, which I co-write with Jodi Payne. Iâll have all the information after what I know youâre here for! The birthday story!
Parker fucking hated birthdays.
They meant that he wasnât a kid anymore. They meant that the bulls were better and meaner and smarter, and the other cowboys called him things like âPopâ.
Him.
Like he was the same age as Sky or something. Shee-it.
He wasnât fucking old. He was a spring chicken. He was a stud.
He was thirty. Fuck.
Sky and Beck were at their house in Vermont, recovering from Christmas. Momma was in Mexico doing some damn missionary work. Parker was sleeping in his fifth wheel on the road in âJesus Christ there ainât nothing here but coyotes and the biggest fucking ravens on earthâ New Mexico.
January was a shit month to have a birthday.
Cold. Dreary. Nobody wanted to be festive no more. Riding didnât start âtil damn near February.
He sighed dramatically, and flopped down on his little bed, snorting as the trailer rocked.
âFuck birthdays. Fuck them hard, with a chainsaw.â
A knock came to the door of the trailer, scaring the living fuck out of him. He sat up with a frown, shaking his head. âSeriously? Iâm having a pity party, and I didnât invite no scary serial killers.â
Still, Parker answered the door, because he was curious as all get out. ââlo?â
A gorgeous son of a bitch stood there in the snow at the bottom of the steps, smiling at him, black eyes like holes burned in a blanket. He held up a little bitty cake, a six-pack of beer, and a wee container of ice cream. The paper on top said, âHappy birthday, buddy. Sky and familyâ.
There was a rainbow bracelet on his wrist.
Well, heâd be goddamned.
âI got a delivery for you â white bull rider named Parker?â
âThatâs me.â
Mr. Pretty blushed dark and the pointed chin ducked. âI know. Iâm a fan.â
Huh. Interesting. âWant to come have a beer? I apparently got cake.â
âI do. Ed Begay. Iâm Ed Begay. You signed my hat in Vegas.â
He opened the door wider and took the beer. âWell, Iâm glad to meet you. Come on in.â
He so owed Sky a thank you.
Happy birthday to him.
I hope yâall love Parkerâs happy birthday. I had a ball writing it for you. Wrecked is Sky and Beckâs story, which is here https://amzn.to/3pVkCKX, and they had a second book out today, Special Delivery which is here https://amzn.to/35WbygP!
Bounces
Special Delivery
And baby makes three?
Itâs fall in Vermont. The holidays are coming, the leaves are turning brilliant colors, and Skyler and Beckett are expecting a baby! Theyâre picking out furniture and paint colors for the nursery. Theyâre looking at ultrasounds and choosing names.
But nothing is ever simple for these two, and something theyâre not expecting throws a wrench–or a great big crowbar–into Beckâs carefully planned paternity leave and Skyâs nursery decorations. But is it a disaster, a blessing, or both?
As with all deliveries, theyâre at the mercy of fate and mother nature. Theyâll be adding to their family for Christmasâbut theyâll be doing it in the most chaotic way possible.