Tag: M/M Romance

Guest Post | A Festive Gathering at Chelsea by Ellie Thomas

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

The lovely Ellie Thomas is back on the blog, and today you have the chance to get one of her stories for FREE if you act fast!

A Festive Gathering Promo 5

Thanks, lovely Ofelia, for having me as your guest again! I’m Ellie, I write MM Historical Romance novellas, and this is my release day blitz for A Festive Gathering at Chelsea, the seventh story in my Twelve Letters series of Regency romp novellas with an ensemble cast. 

19 - Ellie Thomas - smThis 12k-word novella is a free download today only, Tuesday, December 19th at JMS Books as part of their fantastic Advent Calendar event with a free newly released book each day from December 1st -24th. 

Get your free copy here! 

https://www.jmsbooksllc.com/advent-calendar/ 

Twelve Letters, the first book in this Regency series sparked two romantic relationships. The first was between Jo Everett, MC of that story and tailor Daniel Walters due to a mix-up of letters. Then Ben Harding, Jo’s best friend, decided not to challenge young Edward Stephens to a duel and fell in love with him instead. 

As the series continues, more couples in my ensemble cast find true love. By the end of Queer Relations, the second book, social butterfly Percy Havilland clips his wings to settle down with sensible older man, Nathan Brooks. In book 5, The Misfit, musician Luc Gerrard (who appears as a side character in book 4, Gentlemen’s Agreement) re-encounters his actor lover Harry Kent for a lasting reunion. 

The theme of romantic consolidation continues in book 6, May Wedding, when Jo and Daniel, now living together above a tailor’s shop on London’s Tottenham Court Road decide to have an informal celebration to pledge the rest of their lives to each other. 

So in my new story, it was lovely to have all my couples, plus assorted guests, gathering together for some pre-Christmas hospitality at Little Chelsea. Percy’s playing host with the most, with Nathan patiently assisting. Jo is delighted to be able to go to a social event with his beloved Daniel, a rare occasion since they come from different classes. Luc is providing some musical accompaniment while Harry is his charming self. And as for Ben and Edward, well, not every couple can enjoy perfect harmony! However, there’s nothing like some seasonal reconciliation at Christmas. 

Blurb:

afestivegatheringatchelseaSequel to May Wedding

In early December of 1817, shortly before the ton retires to the countryside for the winter, Percy Havilland decides to hold an informal Yuletide afternoon party for his companions and family.

Within the unconventional social array of guests are Percy’s closest friends, the four couples consisting of gentlemen and working men who meet for supper each Thursday evening at The Golden Lion tavern. 

Percy’s aims are supported by his long-suffering and ever-reliable lover, Nathan. Meanwhile, gentleman Jo Everett relishes that he can proudly attend a social occasion with his life partner, the tailor Daniel Walters. And musician Luc has a private plan for Christmas to reveal to his actor sweetheart, Harry.

But amongst these happy couples, all is not well between Captain Ben Harding and Edward Stephens. Can Ben’s best friend Jo intervene on Edward’s behalf? Or might Ben have already reached a decision, leaving Edward heartbroken?

Excerpt:

Jo found Edward and his friends in the hallway with several other groupings, engaged in a long-winded and unhurried leave-taking. 

“Are you going so soon? Daniel and I planned to take the next conveyance, so unless you’re in a rush, you can come with us. That way we can dismount at Piccadilly together.”

Edward’s usually unguarded expression grew wary. 

“Thank you, but there’s no need. I’m staying with Davies on Holborn Hill. It’s very convenient for the hospital.”

At that information, Jo’s vague disquiet sharpened to genuine alarm. Despite plenty of opportunity, Ben hadn’t mentioned this new and worrying arrangement. Jo wasn’t the sort of fellow to meddle in other people’s private business. But Ben was his oldest and closest friend. Also, Jo had played a significant role in uniting Ben and Edward in the first place, so he had a vested interest in their connection.

He angled his body away from the other men to give him and Edward some scope for a private conversation.

“Edward, is there anything amiss between you and Ben?”

“I’m not sure.” Edward looked utterly downcast. Nearly four years rolled back, and rather than an up-and-coming doctor, he resembled the wide-eyed medical student who had been hopelessly enamoured with Ben. 

“I’ve barely spoken with him since my return to London. He’s been very withdrawn all autumn. At first, I thought his foot was paining him or he was occupied with his charitable endeavours. Then it occurred to me that he was distancing himself from me. I’ve tried to speak with him to no avail. I’ve concluded that he intends to let our connection dwindle to nothing.”

Jo frowned. That doesn’t sound like Ben.

His friend was undoubtedly hot-tempered and pig-headed but he was steadfast to the core. Once he’d made up his mind about a person, they were a friend for life. Ben conducted his romantic affairs on similarly straightforward terms. Jo remembered Ben’s devastation at the loss of Aubrey, his first love and lieutenant, killed in battle during the Peninsular Campaign, to the extent Jo feared Ben might never rally. 

During his relationship with Edward, Ben had seemed utterly devoted to his second strong attachment. Jo felt a surge of guilt. Have I been too caught up in my joy with Daniel to notice that Ben is unhappy? Surely, in their almost daily conferences about the charity, Ben would have dropped a hint about his feelings. Unless he was deliberately concealing them from Jo.

“Perhaps it’s my fault,” Edward said, ever eager to take the blame, his fine-boned face shadowed with sorrow. “I’m absent from London for weeks on end and when I am here, I’m often distracted by my studies at the hospital. No wonder he’s tiring of me.”

Jo could counter that Ben was long accustomed to Edward’s periods of absence. The elder Doctor Stephens’ insistence on Edward’s involvement in the family practice, effectively separating him from Ben in London, had caused the couple much heartache. 

Yet they had weathered the storm patiently and had been rewarded by Edward’s advancement in medical research at Barts Hospital. This post met with his father’s approval and also enabled Edward to divide his time between Ben’s Piccadilly home and Trowbridge. Ben had gladly accepted this compromise and was proud of his lover’s growing reputation. So what on earth has gone wrong?

Like a gleam of light through darkness, it dawned on Jo that Ben’s withdrawal might be tactical, in true military fashion. 

By his own admission, Edward was stretched thin, professionally and personally. So perhaps Ben had retrenched in an ill-considered bid to lighten Edward’s load. Such misplaced gallantry sounds exactly like Ben, Jo thought grimly. 

“Has he said anything to confirm your suspicions?”

Edward shook his head sadly, tousling his reddish curls. “When I try to approach the subject, he refuses to communicate. From that, I can only assume that he no longer requires me.”

“And are you in accord? Or do you want to remain with Ben?”

“As much as ever,” Edward’s expressive green eyes reflected his conflicted emotions. “My sentiments are entirely unchanged.” He looked crushed. “I know I’m overwhelmed with work, but Ben’s presence is a help rather than a hindrance. Despite the challenges of juggling my research with caring for my patients, I look forward to my time in London because of him.”

“Have you told him this?

“I’ve tried but he doesn’t pay attention. He cuts me off before I can explain.”

“Might it help if I had a word with Ben?”

“Would you?” Edward’s face brightened with a glint of hope.

“Of course, as long as you don’t think I’m intruding.”

“If Ben will take heed of anyone, it’s you.”

Jo grimaced. “I wish I shared your conviction. What’s the worst that can happen? If he tries to shoot me, I can always summon you to patch me up.”

“Thank you, Jo. I simply want to glean what’s in his heart. If he intends to reject me then I must accept that. This uncertainty is wearing me to a shred.”

“Totally understandable.” Jo inwardly cursed his block-headed friend. “Leave it with me.”

A Festive Gathering Promo 3

Book Links:

Publisher:

https://www.jmsbooksllc.com/advent-calendar/

Bio:

Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.


Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

Website: https://elliethomasromance.wordpress.com/

Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8308047409266947

Twitter: @e_thomas_author

Bluesky: @elliethomas.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19835510.Ellie_Thomas

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ellie-thomas

Guest Post | Christmas Below Stairs by Ellie Thomas

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 2 Comments

Today, we have the lovely Ellie Thomas back on the blog, and this time with a Christmas story! Welcome, Ellie 😊

Christmas Below Stairs Promo 1

Thanks, lovely Ofelia, for having me as your guest again! I’m Ellie, I write MM Historical Romance novellas, and I’m here today to chat about my new story Christmas Below Stairs, currently in the 20% new release sale at JMS Book until December 22nd.

Christmas Below Stairs is the story of two servants, Joseph and Eli, who start to fall in love during the festive period when left to their own devices in the London townhouse where they are employed. I enjoyed the complementary differences and similarities between these two men as they became close.

Joseph is an orphan and man of colour who has risen to the prestigious position of a footman at a house in Bloomsbury’s Bedford Square by the age of twenty-three. He’s a young man who has come from nothing and takes advantage of his height and build (footmen were meant to be around six feet tall and strapping) to fulfil his role. Privately, Joseph has dreams that go way beyond remaining in service for the rest of his days.

Eli is almost a decade older, yet still young for the privileged position of a gentleman’s valet. He’s worked hard to get to his comfortable station but recently found that his ambition has faded. He can’t even raise the energy to seek out a new position when his master leaves him behind in London for Christmas.

Eli and Joseph have noticed each other around the corridors of the house but have never had the opportunity to act on that attraction. I enjoyed writing about the slow burn of mutual interest and liking, describing how these two have so much more to offer each other than a passing fling.

Christmas Below Stairs

christmasbelowstairs

At the age of twenty-three, Joseph Paul has come a long way from an abandoned foundling to the dizzy heights of a position as a second footman in London’s Bedford Square. But Joseph doesn’t want to remain in service forever and harbours ambitions to be his own master.

Eli Turner might have become a valet by his thirties, but he is weary of his profession and lacks direction. He can’t even summon the energy to seek out a new position in a more prestigious household.

Under ordinary circumstances, working as servants for the same family, these two men might not have the chance to exchange more than a few words, let alone confide their feelings. But when they both remain in the virtually deserted townhouse over Christmas, they take the opportunity to talk as equals and explore their mutual attraction.

Is this just a short-lived holiday fling? Or might it be the start of a long-standing romance?

Excerpt:

On a particularly damp, raw day, Joseph went to the chandler’s on the Strand to make an order to replenish the household’s supplies of candles. On the way back, nearing lunchtime, Joseph impulsively bought a couple of hot pies from a stall as he was passing, one for himself and the other for Tilly who looked like she could do with a hot meal. 

The teenage serving girl’s eyes widened at such largesse. “For me?” She squeaked as though she had been offered the Crown Jewels rather than mutton and gravy wrapped in pastry. 

She’d fallen upon the meal like she hadn’t seen food in a week. Not that they went short in this household. The cook kept them well-fed and in her absence, basic supplies of fresh food were still delivered to feed the surplus servants. It was more that as the youngest, lowliest and least regarded servant in the pecking order, Tilly was accustomed to being of no regard. 

Joseph might be robust, but he remembered being small and overlooked, where a treat took on a huge significance. He sat at the table and started on his hot pie as Tilly devoured her food. He paused when he saw Mr. Turner enter the room.

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Turner,” he said, aware that the air was redolent with the savoury scent of the pies. “I didn’t realise that you would be here for lunch.”

For a moment, Mr. Turner looked austere and Joseph wondered if he would be scolded for sullying the cook’s domain with offerings from a street vendor. But after some consideration, Mr. Turner smiled, suddenly appearing youthful and approachable. Joseph admired the transformation.

“I’ll just have to share with Tilly, then,” he joked as the kitchen girl put the final scrap of pastry in her mouth. “Don’t worry about me, Joseph. I’ll get something cold from the pantry. No, no,” he added as both of the younger staff started to rise. “Finish your meal. I’m perfectly capable of serving myself. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”

But why are you still here? Joseph thought, not daring to ask the question aloud. Tilly remained for the essentials of housekeeping, including clearing, lighting and tending the kitchen fire. She’d confided to Joseph that she was also a foundling. The poor scrap has nowhere else to go. 

But well-paid senior servants like Mr. Turner had diverse options. Joseph had assumed that like the cook and butler, Mr. Turner would take advantage of his employer’s absence by visiting family.

 It’s not for me to speculate, Joseph thought. Not that I’m complaining. When Mr. Willars was in residence, Mr. Turner remained near his master’s quarters, in keeping with his position, but from the glimpses he’d caught of the valet around the house, he liked his looks and bearing. Joseph reckoned he was young for a valet, and comely with it. He assumed the dignity of his position without any pomposity. He might be distant in manner, but he was always polite to more junior staff as well as his equals. “Such a pleasant gentleman,” the housekeeper opined and the staff seemed to agree. 

Height and muscle might be a prerogative of a footman rather than a valet, but Joseph thought no less of Mr. Turner for his lesser build. He had an economical way of moving and Joseph liked the sheen of his red-blond hair against his customary black coat. 

If Joseph had come across the likes of Mr. Turner in a Covent Garden tavern, he wouldn’t have hesitated in striking up a conversation to see where it led. However, being employed in the same house meant that that route was firmly closed.

But seeing Mr. Turner, smiling and relaxed in a fitted brown coat that suited his complexion, Joseph’s interest was renewed. Especially as he had caught an unmistakable glance of appreciation from the valet at Joseph’s bronzed forearms displayed by his rolled-up shirt sleeves, resting on the table as he ate. 

Buy Links:

Amazon :: Books2Read :: JMS Books :: Add to Goodreads :: Add to Bookbub

Christmas Below Stairs Promo 2

About Ellie Thomas

Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.


Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

Website: https://elliethomasromance.wordpress.com/

Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8308047409266947

Twitter: @e_thomas_author

Bluesky: @elliethomas.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19835510.Ellie_Thomas

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ellie-thomas

Release Day | The Vessel

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

Free Today Only

It’s release day!!! 🥳 The Vessel is out today… or tomorrow depending on which shop you check.  

There is an advent calendar over at JMS Books. I hope you haven’t missed it, but even if you have so far, there are plenty of days left. Every day, from 12:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM, EST one not previously published book will be free, then the day after it’ll be published wide.  

Two years ago, I wrote a story called The Ruby Tooth which is about a werewolf bounty hunter and a human who has no idea supernatural creatures exist, at least not until he’s attacked by an evil vampire.  

The Ruby Tooth is the name of the nightclub where Ilya, our human, first meets Ulric, our vampire-hunting werewolf, and it’s a special kind of nightclub. It’s been approved for mixed clientele, meaning werewolves and whatnot have permission from the supernatural council to get drunk among humans.  

The reason the council has approved the nightclub is that it’s divided into two different parts. One side is for good-hearted people, and the other is for the not-so-good-hearted. And the reason they know if someone is good or evil is that every night, a veritas is working the door.  

A veritas has the ability to look into your soul and see if you’re naughty or nice.  

It’s been two years, but the idea of veritas never left me, so for this year’s Advent calendar, I wrote a story set in the same nightclub, but this time it’s about Sadek, our veritas doorman. It’s also about Dei, a human who’s run away from the witch who has kept him as a familiar.  

You can read the first chapter below or you can hop on over to the JMS shop and grab it for free. But it’s only free today, so hurry up! 

The Vessel

thevessel

Welcome to The Ruby Tooth, the only nightclub the supernatural council has approved for mixed clientele. Here the pure-souled are shown to the bar on the left, and the rest to the one on the right.   

Sadek Verity works as a doorman at The Ruby Tooth. His job is to look into the soul of each club goer and determine if they belong on the naughty or the nice side. It’s an easy job until Dei shows up. Dei doesn’t belong on either side, and Sadek doesn’t know what to do about it.   

Dei Vessel shouldn’t have run away from his master. For twenty-six years, he’s been the familiar of a slightly deranged witch, but when the opportunity shows itself, he walks out the door and into the city. He finds himself in a nightclub with a hot but scary doorman. When his master comes looking, Sadek helps him escape. But will he let Dei hide out with him forever, or will Dei have to find his own way? 
 

 

Grab it here: 

Paranormal gay romance: 17,553 words 

JMS Books Advent Calendar 

Chapter 1

Sadek Verity stood unmoving as a man about his size stumbled in through the door. Sadek wasn’t small, and few humans were as big as he was. You didn’t work as a doorman in a nightclub like The Ruby Tooth if you couldn’t handle yourself, and size helped diffuse some conflicts. The Ruby Tooth was the only chain approved by the supernatural council to have a mixed clientele—shifters, vampires, witches, and humans were welcome.

The humans didn’t know there were other species than them, or most of them didn’t know, at least. He suspected the one who was looking him up and down right this moment did. Their gazes met and Sadek’s heart gave a double beat.

The man was nothing special, dark hair, dark stubble on his cheeks, his clothes loved rather than fashionable, but his eyes… His eyes held a thousand sorrows, and the energy around him crackled.

Sadek didn’t have a developed sense of smell, nothing like a shifter, but the small room between the doors to the two different sides of the nightclub filled with the scent of ozone. He took a steadying breath as he prepared to look into the man’s soul. He’d been convinced the man was human, but ozone… only magic users smelled of ozone.

The man gave him a flirty grin at odds with the look in his eyes. The grin slipped away as Sadek reached into his soul—good or bad? He sifted through the turmoil of emotions, impressions, and urges. Evaluated his impulse control and delved deeper. For a moment, he didn’t know where he ended, and the man began. It was harder to climb out than it normally was, and Sadek suppressed a shudder. “To the right.”

The man nodded and swayed before stumbling toward the right. There was something wrong. Sadek couldn’t see what it was, and that was disturbing. He could always see. It was what he did. He looked into people’s souls and knew if they were good or bad. It was his job, but also what they did as a species. He was a veritas. He saw the truth. He was always certain. It only took a second. One quick dip inside, and the answer was right there… except something was wrong here.

The man’s energy had been doused in an oily, sinister substance. Not a substance, exactly, but it left Sadek with an oily, uneasy feeling. Which meant he had to go to the right, but he wasn’t… evil. And yet there was something evil.

The moment the door closed behind the man; indecision curled around him. Veritas didn’t feel indecision. It was why the council had agreed to allow a nightclub chain of mixed clientele. A nightclub wasn’t allowed to open if they didn’t have a veritas doorman on duty.

He and his fellow veritas looked into the souls of the club-goers one at a time and told them which door to walk through. Pure-souled people went to the left, the not-so-pure went to the right.

Shifters and vampires almost exclusively went to the right. Some witches belonged on the left side, but there were black witches, and for some reason, they outnumbered the white witches by far. Power corrupted.

Humans mostly went to the left. It didn’t mean all humans were good, far from, but few of them had any plans of using physical strength or magic to control those around them. As a general, humans were more mild-mannered, and some even had a dash of altruism. Refreshing.

Should he have shown the man to the left? No, he couldn’t risk it. But could he risk the man being on the right side? He hadn’t been able to pinpoint any power source within him, and yet there was magic. Could he be a crossbreed of some kind? A human and a witch who’d had a child, and the power was dormant? He’d always believed the magic took over, and if a witch had a child with a human, it would be born a witch.

He’d have to ask Marilla, who worked in the kitchen. She was a magic user and was familiar with most other magic users in the area. Since Sadek never had seen the man before, he might not be from the area, but…

The door opened and a young human woman in a pink dress far too thin for the December cold took an uncertain step forward. He only took a quick dip into her soul before plastering on a smile and showing her to the left.

Three other young human women followed—one at the time. It was another rule, there was only one other person allowed in the room with him. This was so he couldn’t be distracted. The council didn’t understand veritas if they believed any of his brethren would be, but he appreciated not having to take on a group of shifters if they were displeased with which side he sent people.

More people trickled in, and he did his job, but his mind was still stuck on the man. Perhaps he should peek inside the right side to ensure the other club-goers hadn’t eaten him.

He’d most likely come to meet up with friends and was having a great time, safe and sound. And yet a persistent niggle remained in his mind.

* * * *

Dei Vessel found an empty spot in one of the corners. He hoped the shadows would hide him from everyone in the room—he never had much luck, and several people kept glancing in his direction. As long as they didn’t approach, he’d be fine.

There would be hell to pay once Cornelia found him. This was only the second time he’d gotten away since his parents—if they were his parents—had sold him to her twenty-six years ago.

He didn’t have any money, had never owned any money, but if he had, he’d have bought a drink. Cornelia had a weakness for whiskey, and he had developed a taste for it. Not for the taste in itself, but the warm, buzzing relaxation that followed. It took the edge off the pain.

He shuddered. Today’s session had been one of the worst. Cornelia believed she could embody the power of the moon with the right spell, and the closer the full moon came, the more dedicated she got.

Today, she’d sucked all his energy into herself. He’d collapsed, blacked out, and yet she’d kept going. Screams had echoed in his mind despite the blackness he’d lived in. He didn’t recognize them, but since his throat still hurt, he suspected he’d been the one screaming.

It had been a practice run for when she planned to bring the energy of the moon down, or rather, that was what she’d said. The gleam in her eyes made him unsure if he could trust her to tell him the truth. Sometimes he suspected she only wanted to feel the power run through her.

He gritted his teeth at the memory of invisible knives carving out his insides, turning him into an empty vessel, a human-looking shell. It had taken him hours to scrape himself off the floor. She had been too high on his energy to notice when he crawled out of the kitchen, when he pulled himself to his feet, using the stairs leading to the upper floor. He hadn’t gone upstairs, though. He’d swayed and stumbled until he reached the front door.

He shuddered and pressed his back against the wall to remind himself of where he was—out of the cabin, in a room full of people. It was only a matter of time until she came down enough to realize he was gone. He should make the effort to be back before then, but he couldn’t face it. Not yet.

If she was practicing to harbor the power of the moon, he feared she’d suck him dry again.

For years, he’d managed to stay positive. He’d done his best to care for her. Love was all a creature needed, right? Enough love, and they’d turn good. He’d believed it for a long time, but he’d done everything in his power. He’d been kind, forgiving, devoted. He’d shown her respect and obedience, had served her in any and every way he could, but it hadn’t been enough.

He didn’t think anyone was born evil, but he feared she’d turned so. Part of him hoped the power of the moon would kill her. No living being was strong enough to keep the power of the full moon within themselves, and it didn’t matter if she stripped him over and over again. The power living within a human being was nowhere near what she planned to channel. If she could. He wasn’t sure it was doable at all, but he didn’t know magic. He only surrendered his energy to it.

“Buy you a drink?” A pale-skinned woman with long copper-colored hair sat next to him. He hadn’t noticed her approaching. Maybe he was more out of it than he’d believed.

“Oh… I don’t know.”

She grinned and sharp fangs became visible. Vampire. Maybe he hadn’t noticed her approach since she’d moved too fast?

“One drink doesn’t hurt anyone.” She winked, and he wasn’t sure if she meant a drink from the bar or a bite.

“I… eh… should get back to my master.”

Her grin stretched. “Where is your master?” She made a show of looking around. “Maybe he’d let me borrow you for the night if I ask kindly.”

“She hasn’t arrived yet.” Though he suspected it wouldn’t be long now. How long had he been here? She’d track him down easily enough.