Tag: M/M Romance

Guest Post | Alien Tails by Holly Day

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 1 Comment

Alien Tails FB

I haven’t told you about Alien Tails here! July 2nd is World UFO Day, so we figured it would be fun to do something. Holly has three stories with aliens in them, so we bundled them up to celebrate the day 😊

They’re all fated mates stories. There Will Be Aliens is a Mars needs women kind of book, only the captain doesn’t want a woman, he wants Carlo. Most of it takes place on a spaceship. 

How to Soothe a Dragon takes place here on Earth, but aliens have invaded and use mind control to rule the humans. Some of the aliens can turn into dragons. It sounds pretty dark, but they’re allergic to lemons, so there is a way to defend oneself 😁

The Devil Will Care takes place on a moon turned into an intergalactic prison. Who doesn’t dream about finding love in prison? 😳

Despite what one may think they’re all pretty light-hearted.

Alien Tails

alientailsboxsetWould you travel to another planet on the off chance of finding your soulmate? 

Alien Tails is a set of three MM romance novellas about tail-waving aliens who travel through space and find their human destined mates in the most unlikely of places. But once they’ve found them, will they be able to convince their mates to see past their differences and accept that they’re meant to be? 

Contains the stories: 

There Will Be Aliens: Carlo is having a bad day, and now he’s seeing aliens too. After a futile struggle, he finds himself on a spaceship leaving Earth. Zenon doesn’t know what it is about the earthling male. They’re to get females, but he’s claiming the male as his payment for the mission. Can he keep Carlo safe from all the dangers lurking along the trip? He has to because Carlo is his, and he’s not letting him go. 

How to Soothe a Dragon: Long before Derek was born, the planet was taken over by a mind-controlling alien race, and everyone is affected except for him. Ocren is obsessed with his human neighbor, but four years of chasing him up the stairs in their apartment building has Derek refusing to speak to him. Until he accuses him of having broken into his apartment. How will Ocren make Derek believe it wasn’t him? 

The Devil Will Care: What would you do if the devil claimed you were his destined mate? Khaal isn’t really the devil. He’s a red-skinned, horn-wearing, tail-waving, eight feet tall alien who claims Azrail is his mate. Azrail has read about mates, but it can’t apply to him. He’s human. But when Khaal plans to escape, Azrail is ready to go. Being mated to the devil can’t be worse than being locked up in prison, can it?  

Buy links: 

Gay alien romance: 95,819 words 

JMS Books :: Amazon :: books2read.com/AlienTails 

Excerpt:

(From There Will Be Aliens)

Zenon grew dizzy from all the back and forth. One second the female was taking care of the male, the next the male was taking care of the female, and then they switched again. There were so many emotions, he grew confused.

“Ghurva, wash the male.”

Ghurva widened his eyes. “I don’t—”

“I don’t need anyone to wash me. Show me where the shower is, and I’ll be fine.”

“You’re not showering alone. What if you fall, get dizzy, vomit again? You can’t—”

Zenon held his breath for a second. “So, you’ll wash your mate.”

“No!”

“No!”

He looked at Ghurva. Mates didn’t wash each other? Zenon hadn’t had anyone wash him once he’d grown old enough to do it himself, but he figured mates did if there was a need for it. He’d always imagined showing a softer side to his mate if he ever found his. No one did anymore. He believed, maybe as they’d grown more emotionless, the ability to mate had been erased. It was as if they were unable to connect with another being.

An ache spread in his chest again. He must be ill, must have gotten something while on the strange planet.

“Trust me, he doesn’t want girl cooties.”

Zenon didn’t recognize the word, but it had to do with sickness, that much he understood. “Is it contagious?”

“Very.” The female… laughed? Zenon believed it was a laugh, but he’d never heard one other than from a sound file they’d been given before the mission.

“No.” The male shook his head, winced, and grew, if possible, paler. “Bucket?”

The female looked around, spotted the small laundry basket in the corner, and dived for it. Zenon didn’t stop her. He didn’t think she could hurt them with a basket.

She held it up in front of the male and he retched. Negudade didn’t retch, but he’d seen animals do it. The stench intensified again.

The male grimaced. “Oh, fuck me.” He scrunched his face, and the female gently guided him down on the cot.

“Be careful what you wish for. These guys look mighty frisky to me.”

“Do they? I didn’t notice.”

Zenon didn’t know what they were talking about. Judging by the information snippets the language chip provided him with, he guessed they were talking about copulation, but it seemed like a strange moment. Unless the female was in heat. He pulled in a deep breath, but all he could smell was the sour stench of sickness. Did Earthlings go into heat? Negudade didn’t, but some animals did.

“Rest.”

“I’d really like to wash up. And brush my teeth.”

The female caressed the male’s forehead and pain spread in Zenon’s chest when the male closed his eyes.

A few seconds later, the female stood and walked over to Ghurva. Zenon took a step forward. He didn’t think she’d attack, but better to be prepared.

“Look.” She spoke so low, he held his breath to hear better. “He has a concussion.”

“What is it?” Ghurva glanced at him, but Zenon didn’t move a muscle.

“When someone hit his head—” She gave them both a narrow-eyed stare, “—his brain was hurt, and now it’s swelling.”

“He’ll die?” The tightness around Zenon’s ribs was back. Had he killed the male? With one small slap? Were they that fragile?

“I don’t think so. It’s not too bad. But he’s had them before, and it gets more and more dangerous the more you have them.”

“He’s had them before?” Who had hit the male? Zenon’s claws dug into the palm of his hands as he curled his fingers into fists.

“Look. He needs a calm place to rest, preferably a dark place without any harsh lights.” She gestured at the spotlight in the ceiling. “He’ll be tired and will want to sleep, but someone needs to wake him up every hour to make sure he isn’t unconscious.”

“You’re his mate.” She should do all those things.

“We’re friends, yes. We grew up together, but Carlo is… He doesn’t want people taking care of him.”

“Carlo?” She’d mentioned it several times, but it didn’t translate into anything.

“Carlo.” She gestured at the male. “His name is Carlo.”

Oh… Part of him wanted to look away, but he changed nothing in his expression and didn’t move a muscle. He should’ve understood it was a name. “What’s your name?” He didn’t know if he’d be able to distinguish her from the other females. They all looked the same, but it would be good to know her name.

“Grace.”

Her name translated as elegance—a strange name. She was small, but all of them were, and she was thin and fine limbed, but, again, all of them were. “You’re Grace and… Carlo is your… brother?”

“No, not brother… okay, let’s say he’s my brother, it’s close enough.”

“You’re not mated?” Ghurva studied her with interest.

“Mated as in… married? No, Carlo is gay. You people are okay with queers, right? Or maybe you’d want to turn around and drop us off on Earth?” The look she gave them was hopeful.

Zenon didn’t know what gay or queer was, but they weren’t turning back.

Spotlight Post | Findley Black and the Reaper of Shivelly Park by Amy Spector

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

Findley 2

Today, Amy Spector has agreed to share an excerpt from Findley Black and the Reaper of Shivelly Park which is the second story about Findley Black

The first story is called Findley Black and the Ghosts of Printer’s Devil and if you like book shops, ghost stories without any real ghosts, and weird old houses, you should check it out. Really, if you’re into weird old houses you should check out all of Amy’s books! There is always some hidden door somewhere LOL

Findley Black and the Reaper of Shivelly Park

Findley Black and the Reaper of Shivelly Park Halfsize

Sequel to Findley Black and the Ghosts of Printer’s Devil

Findley Black knows a little something about serial killers. What he doesn’t know is why anyone would want to reenact a series of murders that took place more than ninety years ago, which he’s read a great deal about as part of his annual Halloween ghosts tours. Unless, of course, it’s not a copycat at all and the Reaper of Shivelly Park is back for vengeance.

Owen Key never considered himself much for domesticity, but the last two years with his boyfriend Findley have him reevaluating his priorities. His family at The Printer’s Devil is growing, he has a new book on the way, and he wants nothing more than to make Findley an honest man. And what better time to pop the question than on Halloween, the second anniversary of their sort-of first date?

But the night has other plans, and Findley and Owen will find themselves with something more pressing than a romantic evening. The ghost of the Shivelly Park Reaper is on the loose. But when no one believes them, they have no choice but to take matters into their own hands. Because, well … the Reaper might just get away with it if not for Findley, Owen, and the kids. And Bella. You can’t forget the cat.

Buy links:

Contemporary gay romance: 13,223 words

JMS Books :: Amazon

Excerpt:

Owen didn’t know how long he’d been asleep or what had woken him up, but the sky was still dark and his hair was still damp from the shower, so he knew it couldn’t have been very long.

Findley slept soundlessly next to him, the duvet pulled up so that only his hair was showing, and Bella had disappeared from the foot of the bed.

He got up, padded out into the hall and into the bathroom, and on his way back caught sight of Bella sitting on the windowsill, the bell on her collar a faint jingle with every flick of her tail.

“Is it another cat?” He pulled the curtains, peeking out at the street and the park across from the house, catching site of what had caught Bella’s attention. Balloons.”

“What are you doing?” Findley asked from the bed, and Owen shushed him.

“There’s someone in the park.”

“There’s always someone in the park.”

“No, it’s some weirdo.”

“Yeah, there’s always some weirdo in the park.”

That made Owen laugh, and he let go of the curtain and climbed back into bed, throwing his leg over Findley’s and laying his head on his shoulder and his hand on his chest. Owen always slept in a t-shirt, but Findley never did, and he liked the feeling of Findley’s warm skin under his fingers and the spattering of hair there. He found it so much more appealing than waxed chests and boys who were barely old enough to drink alcohol. “Happy anniversary.”

“You remembered.”

He could hear the smile in Findley’s voice, and he was hit with that contentment again. It was like when you were young, and you’d get a kitten or a puppy, something so cute you’d be overwhelmed with the momentary desire to hug it so hard it fused with you. But you knew you couldn’t, because it would destroy this thing you loved so completely. It made him think of the ring he’d hidden in his dresser drawer the moment they’d gotten home. “Are you happy?”

“You know I am.”

“Like this, I mean.” Maybe his desire to put a ring on Findley’s finger was like that compulsion to squeeze the life out of something fragile. “Are you happy the way things are? With us?”

“I have never been happier. The way things are is perfect.” Findley was looking down at him, and as if he could sense Owen’s odd, almost melancholy mood, lifted his chin with his fingers, so that Owen looked him in the eyes. “I’m happy. I don’t want anything to change.”

Owen pushed up to kiss him. The energy he’d been sorely missing after a long day at the bookstore making a reappearance after a little sleep, and he could feel the moment Findley caught up with that fact, taking the kiss deeper and pulling Owen completely on top of him.

Findley was more muscular than he was, which was probably one of the reasons Owen found him so nice to look at.

“You’ve been working out.” Owen kissed his neck, working his way to his shoulder. “I can feel it in your arms.”

“Yeah, this way I won’t feel the need to flex when you touch my biceps.” Owen smothered a laugh in the crook of his neck, and Findley rolled them both over, pinning Owen under him. “Plus, it makes it easier to hold you down.”

“Trying out a new kink?” Owen grinned, and struggled a little, testing out how easily he could flip them back over again.

“Maybe. What do you think?”

“It has merit.”

Findley kissed him again, leaning up on his elbows, and rocked his hips.

Findley was an excellent kisser. The kind of kisser that could make a grown man write a romance novel before catching himself and steering it back to a book about a local historian that catches a serial killer, like he’d planned in the first place.

Yeah. That good.

“Remember our first date?” Findley asked, pressing his lips to Owen’s ear.

“When you made me hunt ghosts?”

“Well.” Findley rocked his hips again. He was hard and Owen wasn’t far behind. “I was thinking after that, when you put out.”

“On a first date?” Owen scoffed. “Doesn’t sound like me at all.”

“I think you just need a reminder.”

Findley 1

Guest Post | Lucky John by Ellie Thomas

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 2 Comments

Today we have the awesome Ellie Thomas back on the blog. She’s here to talk about the newest story, Lucky John, which is one of the JMS Books’ anniversary stories. Be on the lookout for stories published during the month with some form of luck in the title – they’re all stories to celebrate the anniversary 🥳

Lucky John FB Promo 1

Thanks so much, Ofelia, for having me as your guest again! I’m Ellie, and I write MM Historical Romance novellas. I’m popping in today to chat about my new story Lucky John, which is released today! It’s currently in the 20% off new release sale at JMS Books until July 7th.

Lucky John was written for JMS Books’ Lucky 13 submission call to celebrate the 13th anniversary of JMS Books. I’ll be very interested to read all the other July releases to learn how all the other authors taking part interpreted the “lucky” theme. I’m not sure why it immediately made me think of 17th-century England on the cusp of the Restoration of King Charles II!

My initial idea was to have an MC derisively called “lucky” and regarded as a nuisance at best and a liability at worst, which was how John came into my mind as the put-upon serving lad at a remote Oxfordshire inn. Every downtrodden character deserves their hero, and Owen Montgomery, a disillusioned ex-soldier and Royalist messenger bursts into John’s drab world to rescue him from his miserable existence.

Of course, life and relationships are never that simple, and Owen, from whose point of view the story is written, regards himself as far less than heroic. Like much of the population during the English Civil War (or any war), his life has been turned upside down. He regards himself at best as an aimless, landless drifter, with only his duties as a messenger keeping him from becoming a highwayman.

With the backdrop of a country in chaos, my focus in this story was on the central relationship and how these two very different men could find some middle ground as equals and lovers. Despite his downtrodden life before meeting Owen, John has a capacity for happiness and acceptance that Owen is sadly lacking. And in turn, by opening up to John, Owen learns to forgive himself and realise his capacity for love.

Lucky John

luckyjohn (1)Owen Montgomery has been a landless drifter since the Royalist defeat at the Battle of Worcester nine years previously when he was seventeen. Since then, he has lingered abroad as an insignificant follower in the retinue of exiled King Charles.

In the spring of 1660, Owen travels across England as an envoy on behalf of the King. Despite this important diplomatic mission, Owen regards himself as little better than the highwaymen he encounters on the lawless roads.

During a brief stop at an obscure roadside inn, he encounters Lucky John, a bullied skivvy with a sweet nature who makes a lasting impression. When Owen impulsively rescues John from his unkind employer, he has no idea of the impact the lad will make on his lonely existence.

Will Owen reject this chance to open up and share his life? And can Owen be convinced that he deserves John’s love?

Excerpt:

Owen heaped a pile of straw for his billet with his pack roll in place of a pillow. He was about to blow out the light, intending to wrap himself in his cloak to sleep, when he heard the patter of ill-shod feet coming across the cobbled yard.

John appeared at the stable door, clutching a few blankets. “I thought you and Bess might be cold overnight.” Owen was touched by the thoughtful gesture. The boy was a touch of sweetness in a harsh and cruel world. All the more remarkable when he was regarded as an object of mockery and derision by his employers and their patrons.

“Thank you,” Owen said as John designated the most worn blanket for Bess. Using his cloak as an under-blanket, Owen now had the luxury of spreading the rest of the blankets on top. Satisfied with his work, he sat on his makeshift bed to remove his high riding boots.

“Let me help you,” John said, sitting on his haunches on the stable floor. One boot slipped off easily, but the other was more stubborn. After several efforts, with one last tug, it came away abruptly. John fell backwards, laughing, with the boot in his hands. His laughter was infectious, making Owen grin. John’s innocent delight was disarming.

It was growing cold in the unheated stable. Owen removed his hat, coat, and belt, and keeping his precious messenger bag and small arms close by, he scrambled into the straw bed, expecting John to depart, taking the lamp with him.

Instead, the boy blew out the flame, shucked off his pattens, and attempted to get under the covers. “What in hell are you doing?” Owen snapped, sitting up and glaring at John in the darkness.

The boy was unrepentantly. “You have all my blankets. I didn’t think you’d mind sharing.”

Owen had survived war, skirmishes, and the machinations of great men. But he had never met anyone as disconcerting as this skinny slip of a lad.

“Very well,” he conceded, settling back down. But rather than keeping a careful distance, the boy snuggled up to him like a puppy. At first, Owen tolerated this simple need for warmth on a chilly spring night. He didn’t object to John’s tentative touch on his shirt-covered chest, but when one hand started to drift downwards towards the waistband of his breeches, Owen tensed.

“No,” he said, halting John’s progress firmly.

“I thought you might want to. You’ve been nice to me.”

“Not beyond common courtesy. You don’t have to repay me. Especially in that way. You haven’t even learned my name.”

“I know. But you seemed lonely and I wanted to comfort you. And I noticed you didn’t give our serving maids a second glance.”

Owen was startled by the lad’s unexpected perception. How could he have guessed? Even during their long exile together, his own brother hadn’t suspected his preferences, mainly because Owen had been careful to conceal his indifference to women. Excuses were easily arranged by indulging in a stupefying excess of liquor like the rest of the exiled court.

Over the years, there had been fleeting encounters, catching a man’s attention in whatever province or country he’d passed through. But there’d been at least some conversation to establish a mutual attraction, usually over a few glasses of wine or ale. John’s instant, correct assumption wrong-footed him.

“I like you and I thought you liked me. It’s not as though I haven’t been with men before,” John added helpfully. “And you are quite handsome, especially when you smile.”

Buy Links:

JMS Books :: Amazon :: books2read :: Add to Goodreads :: Add to Bookbub

Lucky John Promo 2

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

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

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