R.J. Jones's Blog, page 7

LGBTQ Push Back Giveaway!

 

Want to give back to the community and possibly win a free book? Want to give to a charity and help a LGBTQ worthy cause?

Read on to find out more…

It started when my sister Sarah overheard me talking to my boyfriend on the phone. That afternoon, under the football stadium bleachers, Jonathan and I had our first kiss, and I told him how much I liked it, how I wanted to do it again. I didn’t notice the click of another phone in the house being picked up, but I sure heard it when my parents yelled my full name.

“Elijah Michael Goodman, come here right this second!”

“I gotta go,” I whispered to Jonathan, and hung up before he could say anything. My heart was in my throat as I went downstairs to the living room to see my mother and father standing there, looking for all the world like they’d swallowed lemons.

“Who were you on the phone with?” Dad asked.

“Jonathan,” I answered truthfully. They thought he was my best friend. “Why?”

“What were you talking about?” Mom demanded, her voice shaking.

I squirmed and did the only thing I could with no time to think. I lied. “A test in Algebra tomorrow.”

“That’s not what Sarah heard,” Dad challenged, eyes flashing.

Oh shit, I thought, but would never say out loud. My parents would tan my hide if I swore in front of them, then take me to confession.

My silence made them angrier. Dad’s face turned red. “She said you kissed Jonathan.”

There was no way to refute that. I wasn’t a good liar. All I could do was take a deep breath and nod, hoping they’d see the pleading in my eyes.

“Are you gay?” Mom demanded. Another nod.

The rest is a blur. My mother began screaming about my soul and salvation, and they wouldn’t listen when I tried to tell them I tried not to be interested in guys, but it was impossible. My dad went quiet, which was scarier than if he’d yelled, or even taken out the belt.

Roughly grabbing my arm, he marched me up to my room, got out a duffel bag, and threw three changes of clothes in it, grabbed my deodorant from the top of the dresser, and shoved my shoes at my chest. Then he dragged me back downstairs, twisting my ankle in the process, and threw me out the front door, the duffel landing beside me on the dry, brown lawn.

“Don’t come back. You’re not our son anymore.”

My heart, having never left my throat, exploded, taking with it my ability to breathe. What did he mean? Don’t come back, ever?

That’s how it started. By the time I’d walked to Jonathan’s, my parents—no, Mr. and Mrs. Goodman—had already called his parents, and his mother met me at the door with crossed arms and a stern expression, telling me Jonathan wasn’t home, and that he wasn’t allowed to see me. As I’d walked away shivering, tears stinging my cheeks in the cold November air, I’d looked back. Jonathan was at his bedroom window, holding an ice pack to his eye and looking miserable. He gave a tentative wave, which I returned.

I had no choice. I had no money. I didn’t have my coat. No phone. And no one to call anyway.

That first night, I slept in the doorway of a shop downtown. Maybe I could shovel driveways for money when the snows hit. I didn’t think anyone would hire a fourteen year old to work as a busboy or store clerk. I’d been trying to talk my mother, I mean Amanda, into letting me get a job, but she’d just kept telling me to be a kid as long as I could, that I was too young to get a job in Indiana anyway.

For two days, I went up and down the stores on Main Street, but no one needed help, and the ones that did said I needed a work permit. To get one, I needed my birth certificate to prove my age. I couldn’t get it without my guardians’ help, and I had no guardians.

By day three, I was so hungry, I gave my first blowjob for twenty bucks. The guy was a trucker at the local diner, and the cab of his rig smelled like B.O. When he was done, he patted my head like I was a good boy. My face burned with shame. Hating myself, I tried not to cry when I walked to the Goodwill store to buy a coat with my dirty money. That left me five dollars to get something to eat.

In a way, that first week was hard, but also easy. I still looked like a normal kid, if a little dingy around the edges. People still served me if I had the money to pay. No one said I couldn’t loiter. The hard part was when I stopped trying to survive long enough to think about my dad’s—George’s—last words to me. You’re not our son anymore. I ached at those words.

A couple weeks later, I saw Sarah coming out of the stationery store with her friends. Her eyes got huge when she saw me, but she didn’t speak or wave. Didn’t tell me if my—her—parents regretted what they’d done. She did, however, look back at me one more time before they got on their bikes and rode off. Her face was wet.

After that, I walked by what used to be my home. Maybe Sarah would help me. Maybe she could get my birth certificate. The next time I saw her, she pretended I wasn’t there.

For months, I ghosted around town, trying to stay away from cops, who’d realized I wasn’t just some kid, and that I was up to no good. I tried to keep going to school, but I didn’t have my backpack or my books or my school supplies, and the lunch ladies wouldn’t give me food without my account being paid up.

It was the day I saw my face on a Missing Person’s poster outside the local diner that I met Brandon. I started to retreat, but he spoke, and his voice didn’t carry the disdain I’d become used to.

“They do that, sometimes,” he said, standing next to me as I stared at the smiling kid I’d once been. “Parents will tell the truancy officers you’re a runaway so they get out of trouble when you drop out of school too young. How old is that picture?”

“Three years.”

He nodded sagely. “You’re what, fourteen, fifteen?”

“Fifteen,” My birthday was a month ago. I’d celebrated by doing three blowjobs in one night, then buying myself a new pair of shoes because the ones I’d been wearing had pinched my growing feet. Sucking guys off for money was the only work I could get. I had what they called “cocksucker lips” and as sick as it made me, I used them to my full advantage.

“Puberty changes you enough no one will recognize you even if they look at the photos on the notice boards,” Brandon continued.

“How did you?” I asked suspiciously.

“The look on your face.” He turned and stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Elijah Goodman. I’m Brandon Maxwell.”

I didn’t shake his hand immediately. What does he want? He wasn’t bad looking, and frankly, he smelled a lot better than my last customer.

He chuckled and gripped my wrist with one hand, then closed his fingers over my palm with the other, pumping it twice. “Have you eaten?”

Not since I’d scavenged some soggy tacos from the trash behind a fast food restaurant two nights ago. The last one was lunch the day before. “It’s been a few hours.”

“Come on.” He led me into the diner, and the waitress who’d thrown me out last week started to yell again, until Brandon shut her down with a look. We sat in a cracked vinyl booth and he passed the laminated menu over. “Order as much as you want.”

There had to be a catch, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to fill my belly. I’d grown a few inches since the day of the First Kiss Phone Call, and I was always hungry, and conscious of my wrists and ankles protruding from my clothes. Ordering a burger, two chili cheese dogs, fries, a Coke, and a piece of pie, I barely spoke as Brandon talked, telling me about the shelter he and his partner ran for kids like me.

I was one of the lucky ones, finding help after only months on the streets. I hadn’t resorted to riskier behavior for money. I hadn’t been attacked, though many of the street kids I knew had been. I hadn’t gotten pneumonia or hypothermia during that long winter, and when Brandon found me, there was a bed available right away.

I will never forget the pillow beneath my head the night he brought me to the shelter. The comfort of blankets. How warm felt. Sleeping without worry of being jumped. I knew what I had lost, but not how to get it back. All because of a phone call about my first kiss, and the Goodmans’ conviction I was an abomination.

Thanks to Brandon, in the three years since being tossed out of my home for being gay, I’m back on track. Got my GED and my important papers. In a few months, I start college. Thanks to the generosity of kindhearted donors to Brandon’s shelter, who accept LGBT people as human beings, I survived.

 

While Elijah’s story is fiction, here are some facts. LGBT people make up less than 10% of the overall population, yet 40% of homeless kids in the U.S. identify as LGBT. Of them, 68% cited family rejection for the reason they were on the streets. Studies have repeatedly shown that homeless LGBT kids are more at risk of being attacked, robbed, and raped than their heterosexual counterparts, more likely to engage in prostitution or survival sex, more likely to turn to drugs or alcohol, and more likely to attempt or commit suicide. Despite this, less than 25% of homeless shelters cater for or specifically target LGBT kids, leaving them at the mercy of individual organizations who can pick and choose who they help and who they abandon on the streets. Laws such as Indiana’s SB 101 enshrine the legality of refusing service—including such basic assistance as food and shelter—to people specifically because they’re LGBT.

This isn’t about pizza. This is about creating a climate in which LGBT individuals feel isolated from and rejected by the rest of society. It’s about creating a climate in which parents feel justified for kicking their kids out on the street. It’s about cutting off any and all support networks which might otherwise be available to prevent kids from ending up on life’s scrapheap because of how they were born.

 Want to read a happier ending?

Changing laws and attitudes takes time, and right now there are LGBT people in need who can’t afford to wait. The sooner we can help them, the better, and the more resources we have, the more help we can offer.

That’s why 224 authors, review bloggers, and publishers have got together to offer something wonderful: a reward for people who do a little bit to give back to charity. Instead of spending $5 on a book in the next two weeks, give that $5 to an LGBT charity of your choice, tell us about it in the comments, and go into the draw to win a book from one of our participating donors. And because it’s not all about money, if you can’t make a donation then please take a moment to share a charity’s links and tell us about that instead.

Three fundraisers have been set up to counter the hateful effects of Indiana’s SB 101. #Pizza4Equality is aiming to match the money raised by *that* pizza parlor, with all donations going to Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund. Another fundraiser is aiming to raise $100,000 for Indiana Youth Group. Finally, Planting Peace is trying to raise $100,000 to provide beds for homeless LGBT people.

Please consider giving to one of these deserving fundraisers, or any other LGBT charity anywhere in the world. We’re not telling you where you should donate your time and money, only asking that you do. The smallest things can make the biggest difference, and together, we can do something incredible.

Go here: 
http://diversereader.blogspot.com/2015/04/lgbtq-push-back-charity-giveaway.html 
to enter the giveaway to win, not only a copy of my novel, Out of the Blue, but one of a number of books being offered. There’s over 200 authors involved, giving away free books in exchange for a little kindness to someone who really needs it.

 

*First Kiss is a work of fiction copyright 2015 by AJ Rose and any resemblance to actual places or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

 

A couple of thoughts from a busy couple of weeks.

I’ve had quite a busy couple of weeks.

First there was the release for Out of the Blue and my stomach was in knots waiting for the first review. Well, the first one wasn’t great, but as far as bad reviews go, it was pretty good. From what I can tell, the story just wasn’t for her. That’s cool, we can’t like every book we read. Since then, I’ve had some lovely comments and have made new friends who seem to friend me on Facebook just to say how much they enjoyed the story. That, right there, makes my day. To know a story that came out of my brain has touched so many people is just so awesome I can’t put it into words. It’s been quite humbling to know that Cam and Jake have been embraced by so many.

I had a few problems (I use that term loosely; the original release date was January) in the creation of this story and those near to me know how close I came to ditching the entire thing in the bin and not letting it see the light of day. I dedicated the book to the one person who had more faith in me than I did, and for that alone, I will be eternally grateful. I love you. You know who you are.

To everyone who has bought my book and took a chance on a newbie, indie author – there’s a ton of love coming your way. I’m very humbled.

There’s been quite a few questions about a second book, or what I’m working on at the moment. So at the mention of a second book, yes. Black and Bluhe will be coming your way soon. I have a tentative date set for June but it will depend on how my edits and real life treat me. This will be Kris’s Story (remember the hot blond bisexual, Cam works with?)  Uh huh. Thought you might.  Here’s my image of him:

Hot right? As soon as he showed up in Out of the Blue, I knew I had to give him a happy ever after. But… he has to work for it. His story won’t be as heart wrenching as Cam’s, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to have it easy either. Keep your eye out for it. I’ll announce a cover and blurb closer to the date. Stay tuned for him.

I’ve also just finished a short sequel to the story that featured in the Encore Anthology. If you read The One That I Want, you’ll know that Jason and Paul got their HEA in the form of a proposal. Want to know how the wedding goes and what the reception would be like? You’ll have to wait a little while. The MS is currently with my beta’s then it goes to my publisher. I’ll let you know how it goes. :)

That’s all from me for now. I have the house to myself as the boys have gone camping. I need to bask in the serenity while they’re gone.  :)

RJ

 

Encore Anthology release day!

Synopsis

An anthology about musicals

Ö

with a twist.

Who can resist a musical?

We at Wayward Ink certainly can’t!

Boys and Girls, go don your tux. Slink into your gown. Strap on your heels. Dust off that tiara and wrap yourselves in a feather boa!

Come celebrate the extravaganza with us!

Waltz through ten short stories inspired by some of the worldís most popular musicals.

Book Trailer

Buy Links

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U1QZSJ6/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00U1QZSJ6/

Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00U1QZSJ6/

WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/encore/

B&N: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-encoreawaywardinkpublishinganthology-1758654-166.html

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-encoreawaywardinkpublishinganthology-1758654-166.html

***Buy your copy from the Wayward Ink Publishing website by the end of March and take advantage of the 25% discount on all WIP titles!

Stories Included

What’s Up Pussycat?

by Louise Lyons

Heartbroken Finley fears heíll never recover from the loss of his lover, Andrew, who was a star of the Cats musical.

But then Finley has an ideaÖ

What if her were to take Andrewís part in the musical and hopefully make his man proud?

Over The Rainbow

by Lily G. Blunt

Dorian has been cast as Dorothy in his schoolís production of The Wizard of Oz.

Like his character, Dorian is about to discover whether dreams really do come true.

Broadway Devils

by Eric Gober

A geek and his flashy rival . . .

A leading man they both love . . .

A starring role they both want . . .

All’s fair in love and Broadway.

May the best diva take it all!

Angel in the Wings

by Asta Idonea

When handsome Phantom, Christopher Keane requests Marcus as his dresser, the action in the wings could be just as exciting as anything taking place on stage

My South Pacific

by Taylin Calves

British born Callum has given up on love.

Will he find it again among the Hawaiian reefs?

Or will there be more sharks



Enjoy The Show

by Lisa A. Adams

Dylan Ruckerís online dating adventures landed him the perfect match.

When ìMister Rightî stands him up at the dinner theater, Dylan wants to crawl home defeated.

But, the night is young

With an unexpected flirtation with the lead actor, Dylan must decide.

Hold out for his Mister Rightî?

Or, sit back and enjoy the show?

The One That I Want

by R.J. Jones

“What, you don’t think Danny’s hot?”

“I prefer Kenickie. He can pin me against a wall anytime.”

A Touch Glamour

by Alina Popescu

Tudor has big plans for New York City.

Ditch his homophobic colleague. See a musical. Definitely check out the go-go boys.

Meeting one Phantom on Grindr wasnít in the script.

Tudor gets caught up in a whirlwind when his favorite musical character steps off the stage and into his life.

A Man Who Measures Up

by Cecil Wilde

When you’re in musical theater, love is just a jump to the left and a step to the right.

A Night at the Opera

by Vanessa Clark

Rick never cared for opera.

He thought opera singers were old, outdated, and fat. That was until he met Giovanni, an opera singer who’s far from that!

No. Giovanni is statuesque, young, refreshing, and beautiful.

Giovanni opened Rick’s mind to a new world, and Rick’s first ever opera experience definitely wasnít going to be his last.

But little does Giovanni realize that Rick will open his mind to a new experience too

Grease’s The One That I Want – Metal version

If you were lucky enough to see my last post with Angus and Julia Stone’s version of the song, then you’ll see this version is the complete opposite. I’m having a hard time deciding how I feel about this one. On one hand it’s OOT 80’s style which is an era in history that should never be repeated IMO, (except some of the music rocked) but on the other hand it’s well done and not what I expected.  Make sure you watch to the final bit. I thought they were going out of the room for some private time ;)  Well, I guess she did needed privacy.

Don’t forget, Encore’s release is just 2 days away!

RJ

Out of the Blue is coming in two weeks and there’s a giveaway!

Out of the Blue

By

RJ Jones

Release: March 27, 2015

Release day is looming and to say I’m nervous would be a gross understatement. Sleep has become non-existent and my stomach’s all twisty. Out of the Blue. We all like free stuff, right? And they say giving is much better than receiving. :)

The Blurb…

When everything happens Out of the Blue…

Lt Cameron Cooper has been with the San Francisco Fire Department for fifteen years. He’s seen and dealt with a lot of horrifying situations. He’s always considered himself mentally tough, but when he attends a multi-vehicle accident and sees a dead boy with features remarkably similar to his long-time boyfriend, his mental health takes a hit.

All Jake Montgomery wants is to propose to his boyfriend on their ten-year anniversary. He’s already bought the perfect rings, but when Cameron struggles to look at him after a tragic accident, he has doubts about their future. Cam is withdrawing, and Jake doesn’t know why.

With heated arguments and cold shoulders, Cam and Jake’s life starts to fall apart. Just when Cam thinks he can overcome his issues and finally talk to Jake, memories from Jake’s past threaten to push them apart forever.

The Excerpt…

I turned on the shower without stepping in and waited for the water to warm up. I looked in the mirror above the sink, I looked like hell. Yeah, it was a tough night—one of the worst—and my body ached all over. The mirror fogged up as I stared blankly at myself, which was my cue to move. I adjusted the temperature and stepped into the shower, bracing my hands against the tile. I closed my eyes as the warm water sluiced down my back, offering relief to my aching muscles. All I wanted was to shower and climb into my comfortable bed with Jake’s nice warm body.

I’d never needed anybody as much as I needed Jake. He kept me grounded when my job made me want to fall apart, like it did last night. Being a firefighter in a large city could take its toll on your mental health sometimes, and I’d seen some things that no one should ever see. From car wrecks to suicides, house fires to machinery accidents, some images never left you.

I felt Jake’s presence before I heard him. I knew he stood outside the shower and watched my shadowy form. I’d always been able to tell when he walked into a room, always sensed when he was near, even when I couldn’t see him. Ever since the first time I saw him on campus over nine years ago, the awareness had never gone away. And after almost ten years, my heart still skipped a beat every time I saw him. Every time.

I heard Jake’s footsteps a second before he opened the shower door and climbed in behind me. I didn’t move. Jake wrapped his body around mine, pressing his sculpted, hairless chest to my broader back. Tightening his arms around my waist, he rested his cheek against my shoulder blade.

“Hi,” he whispered. “Bad night, huh?”

I didn’t say anything. My voice had left me, and all I could do was hang my head lower and release a quiet sigh. Grabbing one of his hands, I entwined our fingers together, letting them rest on my flat stomach. Jake held me for a long minute, and I relished the feel of his body against mine. Jake sighed and tried to release my hand, but I didn’t want to let go—he’d always been my anchor and I needed his touch to ground me.

“Let go, Romeo. I’m not going anywhere, just let me take care of you before I go to work.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click on the image to win a copy of the e-book on release day!

Buy Links…

ARe   Amazon  Smashwords

RJ

Promo and Excerpt! Opposites Attract by Lily G. Blunt

BY
LILY G BLUNT

Contemporary M/M Erotic Romance

Length: 14 000 words

RELEASE DATE: 12th March

Blurb…

Chris and Andreas are opposites in character.

Both fear the other wants to move on.

Can being stranded on a mountainside resolve the doubt that is threatening to tear them apart?

Excerpt…

WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT

“THAT’S IT, babe. Look at me.” I raked my fingers through Andreas’s hair and yanked his head back. Still leaning over the sink, he obediently stared at me in the bathroom mirror. Our blue eyes connected, pupils fully dilated with arousal. He loved it when I treated him rough like this. I tilted forward over his back and nipped on Andreas’s ear lobe. “Keep your eyes on mine as I enter you,” I purred, my breath long and moist against his heated skin.

Andreas, as usual, complied. He loved eye contact when we made love. Pulling back slightly, I stroked my cock along his crease, poised and erect, ready to push into him. Lining up with his well-prepared hole, I returned my gaze to his and eased in gently. With each inch, his eyes widened a fraction, his jaw dropped lower, and he gasped louder.

I kissed along his shoulder. “Oh yes, babe. You feel so good.”

His eyes remained fixed on the mirror—on me—as I moved in and out of his warmth. Deep, slow thrusts, accompanied by my slaps to the smooth, pale skin on his ass, resulted in groans from deep within his chest.

“Yes, harder, Chris.”

I obeyed his wish, and made Andreas yelp with pleasure.

He wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked fast. “Gonna come soon!”

Grunting with each forceful push, I gripped his hair tighter, holding his head in place, and squeezed his now pink rump. Two more thrusts and I came hard inside him, moaning. My heart pounded against my ribcage, and waves of heated pleasure ebbed through me.

“Oh my God, I’m coming.” His voiced echoed around the small hotel bathroom.

I grinned. What must the people in the next room be thinking?

Andreas stood upright, his hand moving rapidly over his cock. He shot his load into the sink and squirted over the marble surround. The third and fourth jets sprayed up on the mirror and trickled down.

Despite panting loudly, we managed to giggle. “Oh babe, you’re so hot when you come like that.” I kissed his neck and eased out of him. “And being so noisy too—I love it.”

I dropped the condom into the bin and stepped into the bathtub. “Need to get a move on.” I turned on the shower and soaped myself down.

Andreas wiped the remaining lube off his crack, had a piss, and returned to the bedroom, wiggling his ass at me on his way out. I grinned at the red marks still evident on his naked butt.

I dried myself down with one of the fluffy white towels, and then joined Andreas. Now sporting a pair of shorts, he sat on the balcony with his feet perched on a chair, a book in his lap. I loved him dearly, but he seemed to have his nose in a book twenty-four seven these days. Every time I came home from work or back from one of my sports clubs, he’d be there reading. Either that or engrossed in his decoupage craft, or whatever his latest hobby was.

After dressing in my cycling gear, I packed up my rucksack with the provisions I needed for the day, and then went to join him on the balcony.

“Mmm… looks like it’s going to be another warm day.” I looked out across the hotel pool and gardens, to the mountainside beyond. The sky was clear and blue. Wispy clouds drifted around the snow-covered peaks in the distance. Lush green grass and woods filled the lower slopes near the resort. Cable cars, looking like dots in the distance, moved slowly upward. Summer season in an Alpine resort was my idea of heaven: outdoor physical activity, plenty of fresh air, and hot sex when I returned to the hotel in the evening. Pity Andreas didn’t share my passion—apart from the sex, that is.

Andreas glanced up from his book. “You should have a nice day for exploring.” He returned his gaze to the page, seemingly oblivious to the scenic view in front of us. “Rain is forecast later this evening, but you should miss that.”

A cool breeze blew around the damp hair at the base of my skull. “That’s good. Can you put some sunscreen on the back of my neck, hun? It’s stinging a little today.”

“Mmm… sure. It looks a little red.” Andreas leaned over and grabbed the tube from the patio table. He wiped the moisture from the back of my neck and applied the cream thoroughly.

I turned to face him, and he coated my face, neck, and the skin exposed above the vee of my T-shirt. A sad look crossed his eyes.

I stroked a wayward hair out of his sight. “You’ll be okay on your own?” I felt a little guilty, but he could have come with me if he wanted.

In the distance, cowbells chimed and a motorbike sped past the front of the hotel, spoiling the early morning peace and quiet.

Andreas sighed. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Got plenty to keep me occupied here all day. I’m used to keeping myself busy anyway.” His voice trailed off on the last sentence.

“I’ll see you later this afternoon, then.” I kissed him swiftly. “Have a good day.”

“Yeah, you too. Make sure you grab some breakfast on your way.” Andreas pulled me in for a hug. “Take care. Love you.”

“Love you too. Later.” I scooped up my rucksack, checked for my phone in my pocket, and marched out of the hotel room without a backward glance.

After retrieving my mountain bike from the hotel’s bike park and buying a meat-filled pastry from the local bakery, I cycled to the cable car station at the edge of Saalbach. Pleased I’d made it before the manic tourist rush, I managed to grab a gondola for myself with plenty of room for the bike.

I took out the still-warm pastry from its wrapping and wolfed it down. Most guests would be eating their breakfast in hotel dining rooms throughout the resort, as would Andreas soon—alone. I liked getting out and about early to avoid the crowds. Andreas preferred to take his time and stay in the hotel for most of the day. Sometimes I thought he might be agoraphobic, but then he’d go shopping for our food, and he’d spend time with the people in his craft and book clubs. He wasn’t particularly fond of sports. Our friends always commented on how different we were, personality-wise. Some even called him a wimp and a sissy. I responded with my clichéd science statement of opposites attract to shut them up. Andreas was perfect for me. We got along well, hardly ever argued, and the sex was always hot and steamy. Yum! Just like this morning’s session.

Spending time apart doing our own thing only added to our closeness when we were together. We didn’t get jealous or possessive, and didn’t push our interests down each other’s throats. He was happy doing his own thing while I got on with my adventurous pastimes. I’d never get him to paraglide or canoe, but then I wouldn’t knit or weed the garden.

Andreas was drop-dead gorgeous. People always asked if we were brothers, which I took as a compliment. We had the same dark hair coloring, were of similar height, and I was only more muscular because of all the physical activity I took part in. My sexy Andreas managed to keep in good shape: he was in charge of the food shopping and cooking in our house, and made sure we both ate healthily.

I brushed the greasy pastry crumbs off my T-shirt and grinned, knowing he’d scold me later when I told him what I’d eaten for breakfast.

The cable car moved swiftly up the mountainside, giving fabulous views of Austria’s Hinterglemm valley. I turned around and looked back toward the hotel and to the mountains behind, where I’d spent the previous day exploring. I spotted the hut where I’d stopped for lunch—a small speck of brown surrounded by shades of green—and the winding tracks I’d followed on my way down. I wished Andreas could share the fabulous views and enjoy the ride alongside me. I’d take photos from the top for him, but that wouldn’t be the same as experiencing it for himself.

As the gondola approached the highest cable car station, I positioned my bike. As soon as the doors opened, I shot out. I checked the time of the last returning gondola, noting I had over seven hours to explore—plenty of time.

The panoramic view from this height was breathtaking. I wheeled the bike with one hand and stood on the viewing platform, taking photos with my phone. I selected a selfie and sent it in a text to Andreas.

Spectacular views. Wish you were here. Later. Xx

~O~

BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon AU / WIP / B&N / ARe

OPPOSITES ATTRACT is also part of the STRANDED Anthology

~O~

REVIEWS FOR

MM GOOD BOOK REVIEWS

 

OPPOSITES ATTRACT by Lily G. Blunt ♥♥♥♥♥

 Another absolutely beautiful story! Both Chris and Andreas are such interesting characters! This story was well written and suspenseful. I was on the edge of my seat to see how this came out and really wanted more!

*****

RAINBOW GOLD REVIEWS

I loved this story. It began with Chris and Andreas, who are as different as chalk and cheese. Chris is the sporty outdoor person, and Andreas comes across as someone who is quiet and an introvert, together on holiday. Andreas thought the holiday was so they could spend some time together, but Chris had decided to book himself on excursions and continue his sporty outdoor pursuits, so this meant Andreas was alone in the hotel room every day. This then gave Andreas time to think about his relationship with Chris, and this in turn gave him very grave doubts. Chris just assumed everything in their life was rosy, until something happened to him, that made him take a good long look at his life and how he treated Andreas, and he soon realised he could be in jeopardy of losing Andreas forever…….. do they manage to be honest with each other, and talk things out….. I’m not saying, but what I will say is that this is quite a hot read.

*****

MULTI TASKING MOMMAS – for the STRANDED anthology

This was just a fantastic book from the first short to the last short. I usually don’t give 5 Stars to anthologies on the grounds that I am reading a huge book containing short stories, but this was different.

The best news of this collection was that each one was so well written, I had no cause for complaint.

*****

Lily G. Blunt writes contemporary gay romance and erotica. She loves to explore the relationship between two men and the intensity of their physical and emotional attraction. Angst often features in her stories as she feels this demonstrates the depth of the men’s feelings for each other. Lily is forever writing imaginary scenes and plots in her head, but only a few ever make it to the page—there never seems to be enough hours in the day despite having left the teaching profession to concentrate on her writing!

Lily discovered the wonderful world of m/m romance novels four years ago via fan fiction and went on to write stories in her spare time. With the encouragement of her friends and readers she decided to publish some of her work.

Lily has several self-published stories available on Amazon. She is also published with Torquere Press and Wayward Ink Publishing.

Easily distracted from her writing, Lily makes videos using clips from gay-themed movies and posts gorgeous pictures of men kissing or making out on her tumblr and Facebook pages. Lily is also an avid supporter of GLBTQ rights and advocates equality for all.

Lily lives in central England with her rather bemused husband, two twenty-something children, and a ‘mad as a bag of frogs’ Shetland Sheepdog.

LINKS AND CONTACTS :

Facebook

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Twitter

Amazon

Amazon UK

Pinterest

The One That I Want – Check out this version of the song

My short story The One That I Want is coming in Wayward Ink’s anthology Encore. Release date is March 20th.

My story is based on the musical Grease so I went searching the net. Check out this version of the song by Angus and Julia Stone.

Julia’s got a fantastic voice and this is such a lovely version of the original.

Enjoy

RJ

Encore Anthology Cover Reveal!

WAYWARD INK PUBLISHING

presents

Encore

(Release date – March 20th)

An anthology about musicals… with a twist.

Who can resist a musical?

We at Wayward Ink certainly can’t!

Boys and Girls, go don your tux. Slink into your gown. Strap on your heels. Dust off that tiara and wrap yourselves in a feather boa!

Come celebrate the extravaganza with us!

Waltz through ten short stories inspired by some of the world’s most popular musicals.

 

BUY LINKS…

Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon AU  Amazon DE

ARe  Wayward Ink

BOOK TRAILER…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXoeSF0NtwA

 

STORIES INCLUDED…

What’s Up Pussycat?

Louise Lyons

Heartbroken Finley fears he’ll never recover from the loss of his lover, Andrew, who was a star of the Cats musical.  But then Finley has an idea …  What if he were to take Andrew’s part in the musical and hopefully make his man proud?

Over The Rainbow

Lily G. Blunt

Dorian has been cast as Dorothy in his school’s production of The Wizard of Oz.  Like his character, Dorian is about to discover whether dreams really do come true.

Broadway Devils

Eric Gober

A geek and his flashy rival . . .  A leading man they both love . . .  A starring role they both want . . .  All’s fair in love and Broadway.  May the best diva take it all!

Angel in the Wings

Asta Idonea

When handsome Phantom, Christopher Keane requests Marcus as his dresser, the action in the wings could be just as exciting as anything taking place on stage …

 

My South Pacific

Taylin Clavelli

British born Callum has given up on love.  Will he find it again among the Hawaiian reefs?  Or will there be more sharks …

Enjoy The Show

Lisa A. Adams 

Dylan Rucker’s online dating adventures landed him the perfect match.  When “Mister Right” stands him up at the dinner theater, Dylan wants to crawl home defeated.  But, the night is young…  With an unexpected flirtation with the lead actor, Dylan must decide.  Hold out for his “Mister Right”?  Or, sit back and enjoy the show?

The One That I Want

R.J. Jones  

“What, you don’t think Danny’s hot?”

“I prefer Kenickie. He can pin me against a wall anytime.”

A Touch of Glamour 

Alina Popescu

 Tudor has big plans for New York City. Ditch his homophobic colleague. See a musical. Definitely check out the go-go boys. Meeting one Phantom on Grindr wasn’t in the script. Tudor gets caught up in a whirlwind when his favorite musical character steps off the stage and into his life.

A Man Who Measures Up

Cecil Wilde

When you’re in musical theater, love is just a jump to the left and a step to the right.

A Night at the Opera

Vanessa Clark

Rick never cared for opera.  He thought opera singers were old, outdated, and fat.  That was until he met Giovanni, an opera singer who’s far from that!  No. Giovanni is statuesque, young, refreshing, and beautiful. Giovanni opened Rick’s mind to a new world, and Rick’s first ever opera experience definitely wasn’t going to be his last.  But little does Giovanni realize that Rick will open his mind to a new experience too…

Meet Wayward Ink’s salesman, March. SALE!

 

We love March. Not only does he appear to have a decent size pecker (just look at the measuring tape) but he brings with him 25% all Wayward Ink’s titles.

 

The sale covers all titles, including COMING SOON. (I should mention that it includes the Encore Anthology which features my sweet and sexy short The One That I Want.) It also covers the WIP T-shirts.

The sale runs for the entire month of March, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Click here to purchase any title by Wayward Ink Publishing. 

(Discount will be taken off at checkout.)

When you can’t figure out what to write for a blog post…

Ever find it difficult to come up with a blog post topic? Yeah me too. That’s why you don’t hear from me very often.

It wasn’t until I took my boys to register for this years season of football (yep, there goes my Sunday morning sleep-ins from now on :( ) that we took a wander around our local park and I thought I would share some pics of where I live.

Isn’t it pretty? We call this ‘The Duck Pond Park’ for obvious reasons. I have no idea what the actual name is despite living around the corner for the better part of ten years.

While we were there the local flock of cockatoos were in town. Yes, they’re a lovely looking bird, but they’re really a pain in the ass. Look what they’ve done to this tree:

You probably can’t see it too clearly, but half the tree is bare; stripped completely of its leaves. And they’re noisy. Seriously, a flock of this many birds screeching is enough to have you abandon the park and going for the ear plugs.

But there are some good points about these types of native birds. They’re cute for one, and they can talk and do tricks if you get one as a pet. But be prepared to fork out $$$ for a hand-reared baby. Their life span is long enough they’ll probably still be doing tricks at your funeral.

I saw these three (below) and thought about me and my two sisters. See the middle one is screeching and squawking and generally being a bitch, making sure we know that even though she’s the middle sister (not as cool as the older sister and not as pretty as the younger sister – read me) she’s still an integral part of the family.

 

But my favourite shot was of these two:

 

I watched them for a while and at first they were bickering back and forth like an old married couple, then the one on the left must have won the argument because she got a snuggle and groom from her partner. I can almost hear the aww’s.

I love living here.

RJ