Friday, October 8, 2021

Friday snippet #teaser from #romcom #fantasy #romance Stone Kisses


Two gods left over from ancient times, trapped in a game of love.
Down the centuries they play the game until someone breaks the rules.

18+ contemporary, fantasy, romantic comedy

Read a teaser

Stella was surprised to see Justin arrive. She hadn’t expected him until after seven, but it was lovely all the same. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

Justin held her and moved his face for a kiss on the lips. Then he hugged her tight.
“I’m sorry about Mercury,” he whispered against her lips.

Stella nodded.

They walked into her house, and she offered Justin coffee, but he pulled her close and leaned against the kitchen table with her standing between his legs.

“When did you discover him gone?” Justin asked, because he wanted her to talk through her sadness.

“This morning when I went out there with my coffee to talk to him he’d vanished. I called the police and they came about an hour later. They don’t hold out much hope of getting him back for me, although they were kind.” Stella’s sigh rang with sorrow.

Justin hugged her. He put a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed it. Then he kissed her lips gently before he answered. Faced with her sadness he felt wretched about stealing Mercury away from her.

“We’ll get you something else, and in fact I’ve brought you something already to cheer up the empty place where Mercury used to be. Come out to my car. Let’s get it.”

Stella smiled softly at him. “Justin, that’s so kind of you.”

He got the big frog out of the back of the SUV, and the pot of pink daisies, which he gave to Stella to carry as he closed the back of the car up.

“Justin, this is lovely. Flowers and a frog” Stella smiled in delight and kissed him before they walked down the side path to her back garden.

Once there, Justin placed the frog next to the pond, and Stella put the big pot of pink daisies on her patio paving before she walked down to the pond. She watched Justin angle the frog so that it looked as if the frog was leaping into the water.

He looked at her for approval as he stood back.

Stella went to him and put her arm around his waist. “Justin, thank you this is such a kind thing to do. The frog and the flowers are lovely,” she told him again.
Justin turned to her and crushed her against him because he loved her, and he was so sorry about what he’d done to Mercury.

Copyright T. Stokes,  Traveling Stars Entertainment, Publishing



The Ruthin Trilogy is now out of print

 The Ruthin Trilogy

All books are now out of print

Thank you to past readers 







Friday, December 11, 2020

Out now #gayromance from E. D. Parr and @evernightpub, Night Song. #MMromance #teaser #LGBTQ A #gay love story for Christmas

 




Twenty-five year old Oliver Honeycutt has no idea how handsome he is. He’s creative, brilliant at his job, and underused in the designer fashion store where he works. Behind the scenes, Oliver takes special care with orders for customer, rock star, Zane Highwood. When Zane is to be the main attraction in the store’s Christmas party, fashion show, Oliver hopes Zane will notice him

Multi-millionaire, twenty-five year old, Noah Somersby, made his first million before he was twenty-one and now owns a number of casual-chic menswear stores. He’s a designer, gorgeous, and desperate to find a man who will love him for himself and not see dollar signs as they kiss.

 Noah doesn’t often take the train into the city, but one rainy day he does, as he settles into a seat opposite Oliver, the two men exchange interested glances.

In fact, Noah is super attracted to Oliver and Oliver thinks Noah is gorgeous.

As the store holiday season party approaches, can serendipity bring them together?




Read a  teaser

Noah ran for the early express the following morning. He leapt into the third carriage where the handsome man usually sat eating what Noah guessed was his breakfast. He raked the car with a hopeful gaze. Yes, there he was. The hot guy held his paper cup of coffee and, to Noah’s delight, stared at him with eyes full of attraction.

Noah swayed to the vacant space beside the man as the train pulled out of the station. He dropped to the seat and ran a hand through his damp hair. He propped his umbrella against the seatback in front of him. Noah tried to calm his heartbeat that raced along. He closed his eyes for a few seconds as his elbow briefly touched against the guy’s arm. It sent a spike of feeling through him, and Noah turned to the handsome man. “Still raining, huh?” How lame.

“Yes. It’s a nuisance getting wet every morning.”

Noah relaxed a little because the guy had answered. “I’ve seen you on this train before. You must work in the city.”

“Yes.”

Noah took a deep breath. He had no idea what to say next. He straightened and gazed ahead. “I should let you drink your coffee.” He isn’t eating today. The observation gave Noah another thing to say. “No Danish today, huh?” He cast a sideways glance at the man, hoping for more interaction.

The guy looked at him just as Noah did this. His blue eyes held interest and amusement.

“No.”

Noah knew disappointment would be in his eyes at this one-word reply again. He smiled gently. “Sorry, I don’t monitor you. I’m just being friendly.”

“It’s fine … yeah, good.” The guy smiled.

Noah took a few seconds to appreciate the smile. It made the guy even more handsome. Charmed, Noah smiled in return. “My name’s Noah.”

The man’s smile broadened. His eyes filled with affectionate mirth. “Noah … okay, you’d be comfortable with all this rain then.”

Noah laughed. He liked the comment. “Do I get to know your name?” He flashed the guy a look filled with hope and attraction.

The train slowed as it approached the city station.

Noah gazed at the handsome man. Come on, tell me your name, at least. You are so gorgeous…

His fellow traveler stirred, ready to depart the express. “Oliver. My name’s Oliver.” He gave Noah a gentle smile. In his eyes, Noah read loneliness.

An urge to take Oliver’s hand and draw him close gripped Noah. He squashed it and nodded. “It’s great to meet you, Oliver.”

The train stopped.

People rose from their seats.

Oliver stood.

Noah looked up at him, knowing he had to move so that Oliver could leave. He stood. He gazed into the blue eyes and then at Oliver’s lips. He’d been right. Oliver tilted his head only a little, but enough for warmth to rise in Noah’s lower stomach as he wished he could kiss Oliver. He stepped away, knowing it wasn’t appropriate. “Have a good day,” he murmured.

Oliver nodded. “You, too.” Then he’d gone.

Noah gathered his wits. He had to take a different route into the city the next morning, but after the weekend, he’d be back on this express looking for Oliver. He is hot.

Copyright E. D. Parr, Evernight Publishing 2020

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Friday, May 1, 2020

Author E.D. Parr talks about character, Owen, from #gayromance recent release, Shower You With Love @parr_books @evernightpub Read a sizzling #teaser #MMromance


Owen’s waited for Chris many years … someone who can see him, see his world—the world his spirit inhabits. Destiny leads Chris to discover Owen. He’s the one able to free Owen’s spirit and set in motion the life magic that will lead Chris to Matthew. Who is Matthew really?
The similarities in the character Matthew and Owen are sprinkled throughout the last half of this love story purposely because Matthew has an uncanny connection to Owen, in fact for those who believe in soulmates, Owen might well be Matthew. You decide.

E.D. Parr

Chris Everhart attends his best friend’s weeklong wedding festivities. He meets handsome, enigmatic, Owen, and in a haze of attraction ignores the strangeness surrounding Owen. Convinced he’s falling in love, Chris spends every moment he can with Owen, until on the final day of his best friend’s celebrations he discovers a heartbreaking and shocking truth. He and Owen can never be together.
Traumatized, lonely, Chris can’t settle into another relationship, and then, after two years of wishing he could feel the way he felt for Owen with another man, fate intervenes. He meets gorgeous, gentle Matthew.
Spooked, Chris is about to run from Matthew who reminds him so much of Owen, but Matthew asks Chris to dance with him.
In Matthew’s arms, Chris can’t ignore the feeling of belonging that rushes over him.
Will he take the risk to love again, or continue to yearn for a ghost?
Read a hot teaser


The pretty song playing was thankfully slow. Matthew took Chris into his arms.

Instantly, comfort blanketed Chris. He held Matthew and closed his eyes. It only took seconds before he rested his forehead on Matthew’s. The melody flowed over him. The vague fragrance from Matthew’s cologne, soft, and like summer sea breezes filled his head. He relaxed in the intimacy of being hip to hip with the gorgeous man.

Matthew’s murmur teased gently on his lips. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

Soothed by the physical contact with a man after long months of not dating and keeping his head down with work, Chris let the pleasure guide him. He soaked up the feel of Matthew’s strong shoulders under his palms. He closed his eyes to bask in the sheer masculinity radiating from Matthew. The lure of brushing his lips on Matthew’s in a gentle exploratory kiss tugged at him. Surprised by this reaction after he’d been willing to leave the bar, Chris drew his face a little away from Matthew’s.

Matthew looked into his eyes. “I’m desperate to kiss you.”

Chris’s stomach tightened. He tensed with the sexual need that rippled through his body. He kissed Matthew and lingered against his mouth, merging his lips with Matthew’s in one kiss after another as a delicious feeling of desire and belonging coated him.

Matthew returned the kisses, and murmuring soft sounds, he swept his hand down from Chris’s back to his ass.

Passion rose in Chris, his cock thickened, and he pressed his lower body onto Matthew’s.

The gorgeous man in his arms smiled onto his lips. “I want you. I know you want me. Come home with me.”

Chris burned with longing. He couldn’t resist. “My car’s on the side street. I’ll drive us.”

Copyright E. D. Parr 2020, Evernight Publishing

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Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Author H K Carlton talks about her #historicalromance set in 1307 in Scotland The hard part was, how to present my hero in a way that would still endear him to readers because he is hell bent on revenge. Read a #teaser @AuthorHKCarlton

The Medieval Bad Boy is Back
The Devil Take You, is set in 1307, during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Braelynn Galbraith wants peace for her beloved Scotland, marriage to her childhood sweetheart, and a house full of children. In that order. But evil incarnate, in the form of Gard Marschand, turns her life inside out and destroys all hope of a decent marriage.

Known in the Highlands as the legendary devil, Gard Marschand raids his way across Scotland and England amassing power and property in his malevolent wake. He will stop at nothing in his pursuit to regain what is lost— even conceal his true identity and associate with his enemies. His determination is all-consuming until he and his men lay siege to Ross-shire holding and one feisty Scottish lass obliterates his single-minded purpose.

Can Gard abandon his deep-seated need for revenge for a love that just might save his rotten soul? Or will he succumb to the demons that hound him and surrender to the devil within?

I believe your stay in purgatory has only just begun…

Hear from H K Carlton 
Thank you so much for having me back to your blog. I'm so excited to once again share Gard and Braelynn's story with readers. After a brief hiatus, The Devil Take You, has found a new home.

I love a good historical romance, don't you?


Before I started writing; historicals were my go-to reads. I read every Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Kinley MacGregor, and Jude Deveraux book I could get my hands on—long before e-readers. And then I discovered the phenomenal Karen Marie Moning!

So, when I decided I was going to try my hand at writing I thought I was going write strictly historical romance. The experts say write what you know. 

And well, there's also that other saying about best laid plans... LOL

It was both interesting and hard work, getting back into this story and revisiting these characters. What hadn't changed was how much I love them. And not only Gard and Braelynn, but also the secondary characters who helped bring this story to life. It also reminded me, how much I enjoyed doing the research for the historical component, and the precarious political climate of the time as well.

I wanted to create something a bit different. So I started with a villain and I made him the center of the story. He is severely flawed and cruel, driven by anger and hell bent on revenge.

Then the hard part was, how to present him in a way that would still endear him to readers.

That was the fun part of writing this book. It was challenging right from the beginning and I knew that I had to create the right woman with a combination of strength, resilience, and an overabundance of, if not understanding, at the very least acceptance, for a man who had no remorse for any of his wrongdoings and with no inclination or desire to change. Braelynn Galbraith began as the woman in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she eventually evolved into a character that could stand toe-to-toe with the devil and hold her own.

I hope readers will enjoy Gard and Braelynn's story, as much as I did writing it.


Read an excerpt

Brae kept her back to Gard, too ashamed to face him.

He grabbed her by the arms with enough force to bruise her flesh, and he spun her around. He paused momentarily, his gaze darting about her tear-stained cheeks.

“You will not do that again!” he roared.

“I dinna e’en ken wha’ I did!” she retorted.

Gard bared his teeth and flung her away.

Losing her balance, she hit the wet pallet.

With as much dignity as she could muster, she stood, then brushed herself off.

Anger like she had never experienced burned in her belly. 

Brae did not consider her actions, she ran at him with this newfound fury. She hurled herself at his chest. When he reached to steady her, she raised her hand, then struck him with all her might. The blow landed on his chin.

He reared in shock.

“I willna do it again. Because ya willna touch me again! Do ya hear me? Dinna touch me!” she screamed, standing toe-to-toe with him. She would not concede. Even if he retaliated, he would have to look her in the face to do it, and she would not cower. She slapped indiscriminately. “Dinna e’er come ta me like tha’ again! Not unless ya be man enough ta finish it!”

His black eyes gleamed with fury as she struck him again and again.

“I canna take it anamore! Ya willna treat me this way! I willna have it!” Tears fell in earnest as she continued to scream like a madwoman. “I have done nuthin’ ta ya, Gard, ta deserve your rough treatment, day after day.” She punched his shoulder. “If I dinna seem like Braelynn Galbraith anamore, ya be a’righ’. ‘Tis all your fault. Ya drag me further and further inta your murky world o’ wretchedness, evra damned nigh’ ‘tis the same.”

She slammed her palms into his abdomen so hard that he took a step backward before bracing his legs apart to accept more of her attack.

She fisted her hands and pummeled him. “Ya canna stand me durin’ the ligh’ o’ day, but ya come ta me in sleep. Your unconscious desires me.” She continued to assault his person, uncaring if he would retaliate. “Ya turn ta me. Ya put us both in a state o’ bein’ tha’ I didna e’en ken existed.” She hammered at him. “And then ya leave me! And ya seek oot someone else ta expend your want.” She clenched her teeth at the pain it caused her, then she released her pent-up angst with her fists. “How do ya think tha’ makes me feel? Oh aye! I ken! Ya dinna care. Ya do wha’ ya wish. Ya are the great and powerful Gard Marschand and ya treat people abysmally and ya beat children and ya seize things tha’ arna yours. Ya kidnap women from their homes and ya ruin their lives, but as long as ya are content bein’ miserable, all is a’righ’ wit’ the warped and twisted world ya have created, built on anger and revenge!”

Crying openly, she punched him. “Ya willna do it ta me anamore. Do ya hear me? No more will ya turn me inside oot. Ya willna touch me again, Gard, fore if ya do I will turn your own dirk on ya. See if I dinna!”

* * * *

Her fists slowed.

Gard was incensed by Brae’s audacity, but he was also oddly pleased, if not extremely stimulated by the assault. Grown men did not stand up to him like she just had.

He took a moment to harness his anger. “‘Twas always the plan,” he explained, “if you have forgotten, for you to be able to defend yourself against me. And now that you truly hate me, you may just be able to bring yourself to do it.”

“God kens ’twould be a lot less agonizin’ for me if I did!” She stomped her foot, then planted her hands in the middle of his chest and heaved with all her might. While he recovered his balance, she made for the exit, and ran for her life.

Copyright © 2019 H.K. Carlton

I hope you enjoyed the extract!
If you'd like to sample another snippet, head on over to my blog Pick a Genre Already for another sneak peek
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About H K Carlton

H K Carlton is a multi-genre Canadian author of romance, with over thirty titles in publication. From naughty to nice, historical to contemporary, time travel to space travel, and everything in between.

Variety is creativity’s playground—It’s where you’ll find me

Author Links
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