You’re not bored with Christmas reads yet, are you? Today, Diana Waters is here to talk about her upcoming release Third Time’s the Charm.  

---

As an empath, Alek is ironically used to shutting people out—until, several days before Christmas, a one-night stand forces him to let someone in.

While I don’t typically write holiday-centric stories, I was inspired to write this short (approx. 6,400 words) as a bit of a change of pace. I adore fictional world fantasy M/M romance, but I also dabble in paranormal M/M – namely, present-day happenings set in modern times but with a bit of the otherworldly thrown in. At its heart, Third Time’s the Charm is about two young men meeting for the first and, by arrangement, supposedly only time. One is an artist who has learned out of habit and circumstance to engage only in short-term and emotionally-devoid relationships. The other is a college student who, despite his relative inexperience, knows enough to realize he’s in need of something more than his previous encounters have offered. Sparks fly in this short but sizzling December story, now available for pre-order with eXtasy Books.

Thank you for reading and happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, or anything else to all who celebrate!

– Diana

Excerpt

When Jasper, his voice sounding strained even to himself, asked for his wrists to be bound, Alek used a silk wrapping from a deck of Tarot cards on a shelf above the bed. It looped around Jasper’s wrists once, twice, three times before it became short enough to attach to the wrought iron bed frame.

“Are you sure you want this?” Alek didn’t sound worried, exactly—more like he just needed to be absolutely certain that Jasper understood, that he really didn’t want to back out at the last minute.

Despite the almost painful pounding of his heart, Jasper was sure. Alek was still half-clothed, his bare chest glowing richly in the lamplight. The tattoo curling over his left shoulder blade seemed to take on a sinuous life of its own. He was pale and long-limbed and self-assured, and here Jasper was, splayed beneath him naked and exposed like a sacrificial offering, arms stretched out over and behind him. Helpless. He was helpless, he reminded himself. The thought was at once both disconcerting and arousing.

Oh, Jasper was nervous all right—his heartbeat so rapid it was already making it hard to breathe—but even so, he knew exactly what it was he wanted. This time, it finally felt right.

He opened his mouth.

“Yes.”

---

Being an empath is a lonely business, and Alek’s one-night stands do little to ease that feeling, even if he isn’t looking for anything more. He prefers to bury himself in his artwork anyway, or so he tells himself. That is until a young man named Jasper appears on his doorstep one December evening, threatening Alek’s careful control and making him want more than he’s ever dared ask for. Meanwhile, Jasper’s only two previous sexual encounters have made him more wary than hopeful—but tonight, he, too, may be getting more than he bargained for.

Third Time’s the Charm is now available for pre-order exclusively on the publisher’s site, eXtasy Books. It’s scheduled for release December 25, 2020 and will become available on Amazon one week later. https://www.extasybooks.com/diana-waters/978-1-4874-3137-2-third-times-the-charm/

About Diana

Diana is a New Zealand M/M romance author currently residing in New York. However, she has also lived and worked for several years in Japan and several months in Thailand. She has no idea where in the world she’ll be this time next year and is pretty okay with that. Other than reading and writing, her main passions include international travel, amateur photography, and competitive swimming.

Author Website: https://www.dianawaters.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Waters/e/B07T61DMGX
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/diana-waters
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/diana_waters
Queeromance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/diana-waters/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diana.c.waters

Dianne Hartsock is guesting us today. She’s here to tell us about her story, Nicolas. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Krampus, I’ve mostly come across the creature in horror stories, but keep on reading, and you’ll learn more.

---

Hello! Thanks for stopping in. Today I’d like to tell you a little about my story NICOLAS. First off, it’s not your usual Christmas story, unique in that I didn’t use the well-known legend of Santa Claus and his elves. My story involves the Krampus, the terrible creature who chases St. Nicolas through the centuries. I have to say, when I first heard the legend of the Krampus, I was intrigued. It’s not Santa Claus who keeps a list of naughty children. It’s Krampus.

Instead of sweet, magical elves helping Santa deliver toys and goodies to everyone, my Nicolas has this dark troll at his side, haunting his steps, bringing nightmare and terror in his wake. In the legend of the Krampus, he’s the one who punishes the children when they are bad with switches and lumps of coal. He’s the dark side to Nicolas’s goodness.

I twisted this legend a little, having my Nico fleeing from this dark entity. He only wishes to be left alone, to continue spreading God’s word of unity and peace to the world. But the Krampus won’t let him be. Long ago, Nico had stopped him from murdering three children, accidently killing the man the Krampus had been in the process. But the man’s spirit returned as the Krampus. who will never forgive him.

The Krampus uses Nico’s feeling of guilt against him, destroying every relationship Niko tries to have by making him feel unworthy of love. But then Nico meets Jamie, an artist who has given up on love. They come together against the Krampus, but will their love be enough to defeat him?

NICOLAS is the story of fear and guilt, love and redemption. It’s a legend brought to life, with a dark twist and a promise of a happy future. But first Nico must learn to forgive himself, the hardest task of all.

---

Betrayed by a lover, Jamie rents an isolated cabin on Lake Huron, wanting only to be left alone. Instead, he is pulled from his solitary existence as an artist and tumbles headlong into the legend of Saint Nicolas.

As a young man, Nicolas accidentally killed a man intent on murdering three children, only to have the man’s malicious spirit rise up against him. Fleeing through the centuries from the Krampus, the evil troll-like creature that dogs his steps, Nico finds refuge with the young artist who takes him into his home and bed. But Jamie has questions. Who is Nicolas, and why does the Krampus want to destroy him?

When the Krampus begins to torment and torture anyone Nico comes in contact with to punish him, Jamie’s life is put in danger. And Jamie isn’t sure whether he can help Nico defeat his nemesis or if he’s merely a pawn in the Krampus’s game.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nicolas-Dianne-Hartsock-ebook/dp/B0881HXTY7/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=dianne+hartsock&qid=1589140003&s=books&sr=1-3

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nicolas-dianne-hartsock/1123118053?ean=9781646564002

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nicolas-9

JMS Books: https://www.jms-books.com/dianne-hartsock-c-224_445/nicolas-p-3257.html

---

Excerpt:

Jamie startled awake. “What?”

He had trouble breathing, the crushing weight on his chest seeming to have followed him up from his dreams. But that couldn’t be right. He’d rented the cabin for its isolation. No one should be there. Did he still dream?

A warm breath brushed against his cheek, sending a shiver of dread and strange anticipation through him. “Easy, baby,” a silky voice whispered in the darkness. Sharp teeth nipped his earlobe and pleasure and pain sparked along his nerves. His eyes adjusted to the moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains, and he stared in amazement at the man gazing at him with wild green eyes, long pale hair, high cheekbones and a slender neck he craved to run his tongue along.

The stranger laid his weight on him, driving the air from his lungs and making Jamie struggle for every breath. Shifting position, the man sealed his full lips over Jamie’s, drawing a long groan from Jamie when an impossibly large cock slid against his. In sudden panic he reached to shove his unknown visitor away and touched hot skin and lean muscles. Of their own volition his hands roamed lower, following the curve of the stranger’s back to the rounded swell of his ass. He drew a quick breath and the man laughed into his mouth, pushed his tongue deep, thrusting inside to match the movement of his hips as he ground against Jamie’s aching dick.

Heat pooled in Jamie’s stomach. God, what was happening? The thing in his bed looked like a man, but his every instinct shouted otherwise. His skin was warm when it should have been cold from being outside. And how had he gotten in? All the windows and doors were locked tight against the winter storm. It was as if he’d just materialized in Jamie’s bed. “Who—”

He cried out when a hand pushed between them and grabbed their cocks, stroking them together until he lost the ability to think. So close! He grabbed onto the man’s firm ass and yanked him tighter against him, rising up to shove into his strong grip.

The triumphant hiss in his ear shot ice through his veins. “So naughty.”

“No!” Jamie struggled to sit up, scrambling back against the headboard. He blinked, finding himself alone in the room, only his ragged breaths disturbing the silence of the cabin. A forgotten anxiety knotted his stomach. Naughty. He hated that word, tossed about by the boys he once knew in school. The ones he’d suck off behind the gym, desperate for a gentle hand in his hair, balm against his loneliness. He’d been terrified his parents would find out he was different, that he liked girl things and found boys much more exciting than he should. They would know he was gay and there would be hell to pay for their freak of a son.

He scrubbed a hand over his face. God, that had been ages ago. The last shreds of the dream dissipated, and he reached for the bedside light, fumbling in the darkness for the switch. Low light stung his eyes and he blinked at the empty bedroom, unable to believe the attack hadn’t been real.

---

About Dianne:

Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. She lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee warming her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diannehartsock
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dianne-Hartsock-Author-107985445959828/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4707011-dianne-hartsock
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dianne-Hartsock/e/B005106SYQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1361897239&sr=8-1

Birthday Presents:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076C5XNDD/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507823212&sr=1-3&keywords=dianne+hartsock
Less Than Three Press: https://lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=90&products_id=1453&zenid=3ghdqc3p4kqgu5lb4rcb2gk4l6
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/birthday-presents-2

Today, A.M. Fox here to talk about the years he’s had and his first published book, Heathcliff and the Sexy Whippet. Take it away, Mr Fox.

A blog post about Heathcliff and the Sexy Whippet, by A.M. Fox

When I was lucky enough to get a blog spot on Ofelia Grand’s blog Island of love, I was rather worried.

What to say about books during a pandemic?

How to come across as neither dismissive of the state of the world, or crazed with anxiety?

You know how it is.

I started writing Whippet as a way of blocking off everything going on outside. Writing is my panacea; my support and comfort. The only thing that keeps me (almost) sane. This year, I’ve written around 200K. One and a half novels, a novella and some shorties, which constitutes a lot of manic brain cells and ear tugging.

I love Wuthering heights. Have you read it? What a twisted, fucked-up book it truly is, all the more so because of when it was written. First time I read it, I was a teenager, too young to comprehend the abyss of abuse and bitterness it depicts. Now, I know better. It’s hardly a romance but it is haunting. In some weird way, it has stayed with me through the years, knocking on my window.

Sexy Whippet is a far cry, being romantic, happy and contemporary. The main character, Sean, lands up with a job he’s not prepared for. That’s happened to me a few times… He’s still busy with the film but agreed to let me interview him for this blog. Of course, he’s doing my hair as we speak and Heath wanted to be here too.

Sean, can you tell us what you first noticed about Heath?

Your hair is a mess! I’m just going to untangle these knots so excuse if I tug. It might hurt but it won’t be agony. No pain, no gain! Heath? Ur, well. First time I saw him, he was dressed to kill in a cloak and riding boots. I think he was carrying a crop!

Is that what caught your eye?

No, no it wasn’t. To tell you the truth I’d forgotten my glasses so I couldn’t see too well anyway. I could make out his shape, but it was only when I wrestled him to the floor that I smelt him.

Wrestled him to the floor, you say?

Um. Yeah. Sounds harsh but it was necessary! He moaned but I was more worried about Daffodil, the huge doggy.

So what did you notice?

Heath smelt of olives and so I knew he was in trouble and needed my help.

Sean has bounded off and so I’m turning the interview over to Heath, who sits in the corner reading.

How about you, Heath? What did you first notice about Sean?

I’d like to say it was his smile, which, as you’ve no doubt noticed, is gorgeous? But it wasn’t. The very first thing I noticed was the suit he wore for the interview.

It was nice?

No. Absolutely horrible and made for someone three times the size of Sean. He looked as if he was hiding inside. I felt sorry for him, until he had me on the floor crawling on hands and knees. Then I—felt something else.

Heath has wandered across to Sean and we leave them, kissing.

When was it released? December 4th!
Where is to for sale? All the normal places.

books2read.com/HeathcliffAndTheSexyWhippet

Excerpt:

I fetched some products and instructed him about their use. ‘Smells very clinical. I think it’s best if I wash your hair and bathe you, from now on,’ I said, ‘you need to feel the experience of being the patient, rather than the doctor. I don’t mean a full body bath,’ I hastened to explain, hotly. ‘You could keep underwear. If you absolutely insist.’

‘I’m not going to argue,’ he said, ‘you’ve got magic hands. I don’t know what it is but you make me so calm. Help yourself. Actors don’t mind nakedness.’

He leaned back against the sink while I died a silent death, arranged his tresses and wished for the millionth time that he did not already have a boyfriend. I had heard about people clicking from the first meeting, but it had certainly never happened to me before. When he was around, I was able to chat and share in a way that was unfamiliar and alluring. ‘Just relax.’

I showered and lathered, massaged and played. Heath closed his eyes and I got perfect opportunity to examine his masculine jaw and neck. I’m not sure where I got the confidence but I began soaping around his neck and ears, too, and then down onto his chest. I caressed, pouring all my care into my fingers and hoping it went onto him. I spent a long time on his nipples and stomach. When he moaned, my trousers became tight.

‘Jeez,’ he murmured. ‘Don’t stop.’

Thank you, Ofelia, for inviting me here, and thank you for the Mince Pies!
A.M. Fox

---

A Christmas feel-good tale of snowy, cobbled streets, unfulfilled desires and the sexiest whippet in Yorkshire!
When bubbly Sean Miles applies for a job with a film company, little does he realise what he’s getting into. As an experienced dog groomer, he’s great with fur and claws and loves a poochie cuddle, but has never offered human treatments. Until now.
Heath Mailer is playing the character of Heathcliff. Dark, brooding and intense, the lead actor can scowl aplenty but when he’s in trouble he doesn’t know how to ask for help. Who’s going to offer a hand to Mister Moody?
Forced to work together, Sean and Heath discover some unusual techniques that not only aid the production but also get to the heart of what ails the lead actor. Whoever said dog therapy can’t work on people?