Blurb:
On 9/11 firefighter
Nick Fletcher’s world changed forever. He's unable to rid himself of survivor’s
guilt
made worse by
the secret he hides from his family and co-workers. Nick's life is centered
around helping burn victims until he is reunited with the man he’d once loved
but pushed away. Now he has a second chance at a love he thought lost forever.
For fashion
designer Julian Cornell appearances mean everything. His love affairs are
strictly casual
and the only
thing he cares about is making his clothing line a success. A chance encounter
with the man he loved long ago has Julian thinking for the first time in years
there may be more to life than being seen at the best parties and what designer
labels to wear.
When Julian’s
world takes an unexpected turn it's Nick who helps him regain perspective on
what matters most in life. Julian in turn helps Nick accept who he is and
understand he isn’t responsible for tragedies he couldn't prevent. Lost love
found can be even sweeter the second time around and after all the years apart both
men learn to look beyond the surface to find the men they are inside.
Pages or Words: Approximately 78,000
words
Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance
Excerpt:
Julian was in
the kitchen, sitting on one of the stools by the counter. He had a glass in
front of him filled with what Nick presumed was vodka, having spied the Grey
Goose bottle.
“Would you like
a drink? I have beer, wine…anything you’d like.”
Nick shook his
head, regret piercing his heart as he watched the hope drain from Julian’s
eyes.
“I don’t think
so. I’m going to head home. I want you to know how much I appreciate what you
did for Jamal tonight.”
Julian stood abruptly,
kicking the stool away from his feet.
“Don’t treat me
like I’m some fucking stranger, Nicky. You owe me. It’s been eighteen years;
you think I’m going to let you walk out on me again like you did before? After
what just happened between us? After you fell apart? No fucking way. I’m not
that same person and neither are you, obviously.”
Taken aback by
Julian’s anger, Nick remained mute.
“What the hell
is going on with you? One minute you’re tongue fucking me into the next century
and the next you’re freaking out. I know I’m a damn good kisser, but this isn’t
about us, is it? It has nothing to do with our past and everything to do with
you and the shit that’s floating around in your head.”
Julian stepped
closer to him and Nick, who normally couldn’t stand people near him, was rooted
to the floor, unable to move.
“Talk to me,
Nicky. Tell me what happened to you.”
He was so tired
of holding himself together, feeling like at any moment he’d shatter into a
million tiny pieces, leaving nothing behind but a pile of dust.
Ashes to ashes,
dust to dust.
The words poured
out of him, flowing unchecked this time. “It should’ve been me. We all went to
the Towers to save them. It was my day off, but I went anyway. I heard and
couldn’t stay home; I had a duty to help, you know? But I lived and they all
died. Why, Julian? Why did I live and they didn’t?”
“Oh, Nick.”
Julian held him close. “I don’t have the answers for you. No one does. But I’m
going to be completely selfish and say I’m so thankful you did make it and
we’re here together after all these years.”
Unflinching
green eyes gazed back at him. Clever, beautiful eyes that Nick could never stop
dreaming of. Eyes that at one time had held the promise of forever, until Nick
ruined everything with his cowardice and shame. Unable to maintain Julian’s
scrutiny, Nick broke away and ran to the elevator, his chest heaving, eyes
stinging with tears.
“Let me out. I
need to leave here. NOW.”
About the
author:
I
have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough,
there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started reading
traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then life and law
school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of Bertrice
Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that my interest in
romance novels became renewed.
But somewhere
along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a juicy Historical
romance, I began experimenting with newer, more cutting edge genres and
discovered the world of Male/Male romance. Once I picked up her
first, I became so enamored of the authors, the character-driven
stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I knew I wanted to
write my own.
I live in
New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat
of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or
two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a
beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love.
Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is
always guaranteed.
Where to find the author:
Twitter: @Felicestevens1
Publisher: Felice Stevens
Cover
Artist: Reese Dante
Tour Dates & Stops: July 28, 2015
Parker Williams, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Bayou Book Junkie, Jessie G. Books, Bike Book Reviews, BFD
Book Blog,
Charley Descoteaux, Molly Lolly, Amanda
C. Stone,
Bookaholic Confessions, Havan Fellows, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Inked
Rainbow Reads,
Ogitchida Book Blog, 3
Chicks After Dark,
Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and
Eye Candy,
Reviews by Jessewave, Christy
Loves 2 Read,
MM Good Book
Reviews,
Prism Book Alliance, Velvet
Panic,
Happily Ever Chapter, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies,
Oh My,
Because Two Men
Are Better Than One,
Love Bytes, Multitasking
Mommas,
Scattered
Thoughts & Rogue Words,
Michael Mandrake, It’s Raining Men, Mikky's World of Books, Divine Magazine, Andrew
Q. Gordon
Rafflecopter
Prize: E-copy of ‘Beyond the Surface’
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