Didn't get to RT in Orlando this year? Let award-winning romance author Leigh Ellwood send you the best of RT! Enter today and you could win all the promotional goodies collected over the week. Tote bags, signed cover flats, pens and calendars, and of course free books are yours for the taking. The bag giveaway drawing is available to US residents - a second drawing will be held for our international friends to receive a $20 gift certificate for Phaze Books!
No purchase necessary to win. Due to the nature of some of this promo, you must be 18 or over to be eligible for either drawing. To enter, visit http://tinyurl.com/LeighsRTBag and fill out the form completely. A winner will be drawn Sunday night, May 3. Good luck!
NOW IN PRINT!
Now Available!Two seats, a dime apiece, and Jim chose one of the last rows in the back of the theater, away from the shrieking kids that threw popcorn and candy at the screen. He waited until I sat down, then plopped into the seat beside mine, his arm draped casually over the armrest and half in my lap. "Do you bring Betty here?" I asked, shifting away from him. Better to bring my sister up like a shield between us in the drowsy heat and close darkness of the theater to remind me why I was there. Betty trusted me with her latest beau, even if I didn't trust myself.
Jim shrugged, uninterested. As the lights dimmed and the film began, he crossed his legs, then slid down a bit in the seat, let his legs spread apart until the ankle rested on his knee. His leg shook with nervous energy, jostling the seat in front of him and moving at the edges of my vision, an annoying habit, distracting, and when I couldn't stand it any longer, I put my hand on his knee to stop it. As if he had been waiting for me to make the first move, Jim snatched my hand in both of his, threaded his fingers through mine, and pulled my arm into his lap. "Jim," I whispered with a slight tug, but he didn't seem to hear me and didn't release my hand. I tried again -- he just held on tighter, refused to acknowledge that I wanted him to let go. Leaning closer so I wouldn't have to raise my voice, I tried again. "Jim --"
He turned and mashed his lips against mine in a damp, feverish kiss. I shouldn't -- my mind started, then I can't, then Betty. Then his tongue licked into me, softer than I had imagined and so much sweeter than a man had the right to be, and I stopped thinking altogether. I was a whirl of sensation and every touch, every breath, every part of my world was replaced with Jim. Betty isn't getting him back; that was my last coherent thought before I stopped fighting him and gave in.
Later that evening, my sister was waiting when I got home. "Well?" she wanted to know.
I shrugged to avoid meeting her steady gaze. "Do you really think he's right for you?"
"Me?" she asked with a laugh. "Not at all. But Henry, isn't he just perfect for you?"
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J.M. Snyder
http://jmsnyder.net
I am packed and ready to go! This week I'll be at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in beautiful Orlando, Florida. If you're heading over for the party, be sure to stop by Club RT on Thursday or Friday and say hello to me. I'll be helping out with the Phaze Books table, where you'll find lots of goodies to take home. We're bringing a selection of overstock books to give away - one per reader, please - and we'll have a lovely basket in the raffle, so definitely sign up for it.
Phaze Books sent over copies of More, More, More! to the book goody room this year, so be sure to grab a copy and I'll be happy to sign it for you. The story features my Dareville BBW short, Daringly Delicious, but I think the entire book is yummy. There are also a few free copies of Truth or Dare at the table this year, but they may go quickly so visit early.
Now Available!
Now availableBuy the e-book or paperback today!
BLURB:
Sixteen year old Jacob Smithson has quite a temper. He’s picked on by other kids because he likes boys, and recent fighting has kicked him out of public school. As a last resort, his parents have placed him in the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Boarding School for Boys.
It’s at his first mass at St. Thomas where he sees Avery Dendritch, a senior who serves as altar boy during the service. When they meet, the attraction between them is hard to deny. The two become fast friends, and as the school year progresses, their friendship deepens into something more. For the first time, Jacob has found a place where he belongs ... and someone with whom he’s falling in love.
But the other students gossip about their growing relationship, and while Avery can ignore them, Jacob cannot. As the rumors and slurs start up again, can he curb his temper, or will his penchant for fighting get him expelled from St. Thomas, as well?
EXCERPT:
In the vestibule only a few students remain, mostly upperclassmen who don't have morning classes or who work in the church before lunch. Jacob stares straight ahead to keep from looking at anyone, and he's almost made it outside when someone steps up beside him. "Hey, there."
Jacob whirls around and finds himself face to face with Avery, that wicked half-smile on the boy's lips again. Avery is only a few inches shorter than Jacob. When he looks up at Jacob, light shines deep in those crystalline eyes, making Jacob catch his breath. He's never seen eyes that pretty, ever.
"Hey, yourself," he sighs. This was the real reason he came back. He hoped Avery would still be here.
"How do you know my name?" Avery asks. Jacob feels his cheeks heat up and he shrugs. "What year are you?"
"Sophomore," Jacob whispers.
Avery takes his arm and steers him from the church. Outside Jacob blinks in the bright daylight. "Is this your first year at St. Thomas A-Queer-Ass?" Avery asks.
Jacob laughs. His whole body tingles beneath Avery's touch because neither of them have pulled away. "Yeah." They head for the main school building, walking slow as if they have all the time in the world. Even though Jacob's going to be late to class, he doesn't care.
Avery is looking at Jacob, his gaze drifting over Jacob's wavy bangs and the rest of his facial features to settle on the curve of his smile. He stares at Jacob's mouth and when he licks his lips, Jacob thinks he's going to fall into those endless eyes. "What did you do to deserve this?" Avery asks with a grin.
"Whole bunch of things," Jacob admits. Even though they're no longer in church, his voice is still low. He's afraid this might be a dream and if he talks any louder, Avery will disappear. "Mostly cut up in school. I get in a lot of fights."
"You?" Avery grins as if he doesn't believe it. His hand tightens on Jacob's arm. Jacob thinks now is a good time to start swooning. This close he sees how flawless Avery's skin is and wants to catch those full lips between his own, kiss them swollen. When Avery winks, Jacob's smile widens. "You don't look like a bad boy to me."
"You don't know how bad I can be," Jacob replies, pleased that he manages to sound coy and unaffected when his whole body is screaming for Avery's touch. "You don't even know my name."
Avery laughs. "I'm hoping you'll tell me."
They've reached the school building now, but Jacob doesn't want to go to class. He wants to run off into the woods behind the school, Avery in tow. He wants to tumble to the ground, Avery above him, the crush of their bodies so sweet it's almost painful. He has no clue how he's going to make it through the day with that thought in his head.
Avery holds the door open for him. "You gonna tell me?" he asks. "Or do I have to guess?"
Inside, the school building's as dismal as the church, and musty like old books. The hall is clogged with students and Jacob's class is on the other side of the building -- he's already late so he's not going to rush. Hell, now that Avery is finally talking to him, he doesn't want to leave.
When he doesn't answer immediately, Avery's grin slips a notch. "Joseph?" he asks.
Jacob realizes he's staring. "What?"
"Bradley?" Avery asks. "I'm guessing."
Jacob laughs. "It's Jacob."
"Jacob," Avery breathes. For a moment his eyes slip closed as if he's savoring the name. Another squeeze on Jacob's arm and Avery lets it go. "Well then, Jacob." He says it like a prayer. "See you around."
As he walks away, he shoves his hands into his pockets. Jacob watches the way Avery's khakis pull taut around his buttocks with each step he takes.
Even after Avery vanishes into the crowd, Jacob stands there, still smiling just slightly. Is he falling? He thinks he is.
Buy your copy today!
In the midst of traveling for the Easter holiday and the #amazonfail brouhaha, I had a new release:
The Dares That Bind
Phaze Books, $3
BDSM, Contemporary, Series
Click here to order.
Book 1.5 of Dareville!
Victoria Robeson is content to live at home and work her dead-end job, despite dealing with her overbearing mother, just as long as she has time to write. When she meets the handsome and mysterious Alton Weiss as Dareville prepares for Brady Garriston's big concert, Vic is unnerved and intrigued by how well he knows her personality and desires.
Alton introduces her to a world of sensuality and submission, encouraging her to become a new woman. But is Alton merely a weekend distraction, or the promise of a better life?
This story is set around the same time as Truth or Dare, and the characters will figure into the upcoming Dare Devils. In the meantime, I'm working on a non-Dareville work to satisfy my commitment to Loose-ID (and I hope that work will spawn a series, too), and a Darevile quickie freebie, as well as a few shorts I'd like to send out to a few anthologies. Jolie du Pre's call for cougar stories has me inspire to write one.
Also, a possible story for Phaze's Raven line. I have a great title I HAVE to use for it.
Celebrate romance with the Customer Appreciation Sale at Phaze Books! For a limited time get 25% off your next order, eBook or print, at Phaze.com. Use the code PHAZEWIN to get the discount, but don't wait. We don't know how long this sale will last.
Speaking of great deals, for a limited time you can download for FREE a copy of Leigh Ellwood's Gaylactic Spectrum Award shortlister, The Healing! What better way to spend the forthcoming week of tax preparation than with a story about vampires! Head over to Phaze.com to download the story today.
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Go beyond the usual, instead take the unusual that stretches the boundaries and find romance with Sapphire Phelan's aliens, werewolves, vampires, fairies, and other supernatural/otherworldly heroes and heroines.
Now availableBuy your copy today!
BLURB:
Greg Chennault has been a golf fanatic since he was a kid. When he was twelve, he managed to sneak onto a local golf course in search of a job ~ there he met Trevor Johns, who taught him the sport. Greg caddied for Mr. Johns all throughout his high school years, and still recalls his time with his former employer fondly. His memories of Mr. Johns' young son Junior, four years younger than Greg, aren't quite as rosy. The boy annoyed Greg, and once he stopped caddying for the father, he promptly forgot about the son.
Ten years later, Greg works at the Hermitage Country Club, which hosts an annual Mid-Atlantic Gold Tournament each Memorial Day weekend. When Greg notices Mr. Johns' name on the roster of registered guests, he thinks it'd be nice to see the old man again. But the young golfer who takes the JOHNS nametag is hot, sexy, and not at all who Greg expects.
Trey Johns was once "Junior," and is now all grown up. His first crush was on Greg, his father's caddy, and when they meet again, he's quick to inform Greg that he's still as smitten as he was before. But Greg has reservations ~ he finds it difficult to resolve the memory of a gawky teenage Junior with the confident man Trey has become.
Greg's conflicting emotions almost blow the first chance he has with Trey. Will he get another?
EXCERPT:
Greg feels a touch on his hand and a man behind them speaks. "Excuse me. I believe that's mine."
Greg turns. He's been leaning back against the table, his hand resting on it to steady himself, and now finds an attractive young man pointing at the nametag under his fingers. For a moment, Greg can only stare. The man is a few years younger than himself, with broad shoulders that fill out a loose-fitting polo shirt and a narrow waist accentuated by crisp khakis cinched with a leather braided belt. The flat plains of his chest and stomach hint at a band of thin muscle hidden beneath that shirt. His hands are large, his arms strong and tanned, the hair faint as if bleached by long days spent in the sun.
Eye contact, Greg reminds himself, forcing his gaze to rise from the front of those khakis, up over that firm chest. A thin gold chain winks in the open collar of the man's shirt. Above that, his face is smooth, giving him a boyish appearance, and something about him pings Greg's memory. That thin top lip that curves back when he smiles, the pert button of a nose, the warm eyes like twin pools of melted milk chocolate. Greg knows him somehow, or has met him before, maybe at an earlier tournament. Somewhere. Sweet Lord, how could he ever forget a face like this?
The guy smiles as he plucks his nametag from Greg's nerveless fingers. He lowers his head, holding the lanyard open wide to get it on over the baseball cap he wears. His hair is dark and long, brushing the back of his collar, and he flips it up to get the lanyard situated. Greg's gaze drops to the nametag and he gasps.
JOHNS.
"Wait, I'm sorry." This isn't Mr. Johns, at least not the one Greg knew. Nodding at the tag, he asks, "Is that yours?"
The guy picks up the nametag and turns it around to read it. "Yep. Thanks." He flashes Greg another of his winning smiles, then falters when he really gets a good look at Greg. One hand reaches out, forefinger extended, pointing. "Oh, my God. Greg? Gregory Chennault? Is that really you?"
Confused, Greg nods. Who is this guy? Should he know him? Hell, can he, please?
The hand opens, offered. When Greg doesn't move, he finds his own hand grabbed in both the stranger's own and pumped vigorously. "I'm Trevor's son."
"Junior?" Greg can't believe it. Trevor Johns Junior had been a gawky, awkward kid of fourteen when Greg saw him last. He'd never thought that shy, clumsy boy with the skinny legs would grow up so damn sexy.
"It's Trey now." The hands holding Greg's have grown warm but don't relax in the slightest. Instead, Trey covers Greg's thumb with one palm, encasing his hand completely. Greg is very aware of the heat generated between them, and the faint touch of Trey's fingers where they rest along his wrist. "God, it's good to see you. How the hell have you been?"
With a self-conscious shrug, Greg murmurs, "Oh, fine." Then, before he can stop himself, he gushes, "You look amazing."
Buy your copy today!
http://FantasticDreams.50megs.com
www.myspace.com/SapphirePhelan
http://SapphirePhelansPassionCorner.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SapphirePhelansParanormalNewsletter
Go beyond the usual, instead take the unusual that stretches the boundaries and find romance with Sapphire Phelan's aliens, werewolves, vampires, fairies, and other supernatural/otherworldly heroes and heroines.
