Nora Phoenix's Blog, page 3

What’s Next?

Care (White House Men 5) was released last week, so that means it’s time for the usual question: what’s next? I’ve already started working on the next book, as always, so let me tell you a little about what my plans are going forward.

Upcoming Releases

The book I’ll be releasing next is the Dirty Daddies Pride Anthology, which will come out June 25th. Make sure to preorder it!

I also have several translations coming out:

16 June: Enflammer – French translation of Ignite, preorder here.19 June: Levs Gehorsam – German translation of Alpha’s Obedience (Das Hayes Rudel 7), preorder here.25 June: Ranger – Italian translation of Ranger, preorder here.26 June: Une Main de Fer – French translation of Firm Hand, preorder here.26 June: Burkes Veränderung – German translation of No Surrender, preorder here.3 July: Sivneys Macht – German translation of Omega’s Power (Das Hayes Rudel 8), preorder here.Next English Release

My next English release will be…White House Men 6. I’m already 25k into this book, and man, I’m having fun. Our next pairing will be Branson aka SpookyBigDick and the nerdy forensic accountant, Ryder. Branson is a player, flirty, social, and easy going. Ryder is a major geek and social skills are not his strong point…but he’s no pushover, much to Branson’s surprise. These two are well-matched as they butt heads. Who will win?

I’m not gonna spoil too much yet, but buckle up for a wild ride. We’ll also get a lot of answers in the suspense plot…

Stay tuned for a title and cover reveal soon! The expected release date is early August. I’m expecting to release the seventh and final book in this series in September.

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Interview with Warrick Duvall

This week, I have a special guest. Professor Warrick Duvall is one of the main characters of Care, the fifth book in the White House Men series, that came out last week. Care tells the story of how Warrick fell in love with Kenn Shafer, President Shafer’s son. I’m elated that Warrick agreed to chat with me today.

Professor Duvall, thank you so much for being willing to talk to me.

My pleasure. And please, call me Warrick.

Has the informal attitude of this White House rubbed off on you?

[laughs] I suppose so. I have to say I appreciate it, though. It’s a welcome change after spending many years in the military and in academia.

Even the president told you to call him Del. How’s that working out?

I try, but it’s hard. Using titles is so ingrained for me by now. But the president’s point that it would make things easier for Kenn is the main reason why I will try it, though. Kenn doesn’t like the constant reminder that his father is the president, and I can certainly understand that.

How have things been since we last spoke for your book?

Good. really good. Being with Kenn is… It’s an amazing experience, once that I never thought I’d be a part of.

Let’s start with a rather obvious question. How could you not know you were a Daddy?

[nods] I can understand why it would seem impossible from the outside, but I genuinely didn’t. You have to understand that I’d never been in a serious relationship. Hook ups, yes, though even those had been minimal the last few years. I had never been in a position where a long term relationship seemed an option for me. Even though the military has repealed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, homophobia was still rampant when I served, making it hard for me to be out. I’m grateful it’s getting better now with a new generation of soldiers who care far less about who you love…or who you sleep with.

But whatever the reasons, I’d always been single, and kink had never even been on my radar. Until I met Kenn. I think our relationship just grew organically in that direction, so for me it was more of a discovery that what I wanted with Kenn and who I wanted to be for him had a name, a label. Everything clicked into place, for me and for Kenn. He’d been long aware he was submissive, but the exact way in which he wanted to express that hadn’t crystallized either. So for both of us, it was like finding out who we were, like coming home in a sense.

Some readers wondered why you asked for the president’s permission, even though Kenn is and was an adult.

Yeah, I know that others might not have made that choice. Of course I didn’t need Del’s permission and neither did Kenn. But I wanted it. First of all because the man had hired me as his son’s tutor, so for me to start a relationship with Kenn would be a gross breach of that implicit trust, and I would never do that. But the circumstances played a role as well. Kenn was vulnerable and grieving, and I wanted to make crystal clear I wasn’t taking advantage of him, wasn’t preying on him. I wanted it to be open and honest, and when I discovered I wanted to be his Daddy, that seemed like something Del should know as well. Not so much asking him for permission as, again, him knowing that it was consensual…and out of love.

Your relationship is still hidden from the public, though.

So far, yes, and Del has asked us to keep it that way…if we agreed that it was the best course of action. I know that if this leaked, it would cost him approval points and it would certainly affect his reelection campaign. It shouldn’t, but the reality is that it will. Del is already the first openly bisexual president, but to have his son not only come out as gay, but be in a relationship with his tutor who is much older, let alone the whole Daddy-boy aspect is… People would have strong opinions. I don’t want that for the president, but I don’t want to subject Kenn to that either. Once he’s reelected, we’ll reevaluate, but for now, I’m perfectly okay with this.

Aren’t you afraid someone will talk? The relationship between Milan, Asher, and Denali leaked as well.

[sighs] That was rather unfortunate, but that leak didn’t come from the White House Staff. A disgruntled coworker of Asher and Seth tipped off the press, someone whop was upset about the preferential treatment Asher and Seth received. They’re in a tough spot, the both of them.

Let’s talk about your career. You started out as a West Point candidate and now you’re a law professor. How did that happen?

Life happened. We can plan all we want, but life has a way of throwing a wrench in things. In my case, I had expected to spend a long career in the military. I worked hard to get into West Point, and my years there were the toughest time I’ve had in my life, but worth every second. But then I was injured due to an IED and that changed everything. My injuries were such that a return to active duty was not possible, not even after long revalidation. I would have never passed the physical test, what with the constant pain in my lower back and my thigh, and so I was honorably discharged. It’s gotten better since then, but the doctor who told me the news was right back then. I’m grateful for his honesty because it forced me to let go of that dream and find a new one.

A switch to going to law school doesn’t seem like a logical choice.

[laughs] I suppose not. All I knew when I was recovering was that I needed something to distract me, something to sink my teeth into so I wouldn’t go crazy. I’d always been interested in the law, so I decided to study it. And once I did, I discovered that I truly loved it.

Yet you didn’t become a lawyer.

No. I did pass the bar in Virginia, where I live, as well as in DC, and I volunteered for a law clinic for low income families for a few years, but I never became an official lawyer. Never pleaded a case in court or anything like that. I liked the theory of the law better than practicing it, and so I kept on learning more, specializing on social justice and the law.

What does the future hold for you now?

For now, I’m content tutoring Kenn, which I still do on a daily basis. The salary I receive is earned, and as muddy and complicated as it is, I do try to keep that separate from being Kenn’s boyfriend and Daddy. I can’t, of course, not entirely, but I do try. He’s an eager student and when he decides to return to college for his last year, I’m sure he’ll decide to go to law school after…and he’ll sail right through. He has a passion for the law, as well as a sharp mind. I could see him become a justice…maybe even a Supreme Court Justice.

You would have no problem with that?

No, why would I?

Because a career like that for him will affect you, will close certain doors for you.

If and when that happens, that’s a price I’d be willing to pay. I want him to fly as high as he can and wants to, and I will do whatever I can and need to to support him.

Sounds like love to me.

[smiles] You know, I’ve always been pretty good with words. But oftentimes, I fall short of finding the right ones to describe what I feel for Kenn. My love for him is so big and all-encompassing that it defies descriptions. Being Kenn’s Daddy is the single most important thing I will ever do with my life, and if I do that well and make him happy, I’ll know that my life meant something.

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The Working Man

I’ve been participating in some themed promotions lately, like the family/found family one, and I love these. Sometimes, you’re just in the mood for certain books, and promotions like this help you scratch that itch. This time, the theme of the promotion is The Working Man.

In some books, character’s jobs are unimportant and play a minor role. But sometimes, you want to read about a man who actually works, whether it’s being a cowboy, a first responder, a rent boy, or in my case, two men who work on a cruise ship. Check out all the books in the The Working Man promotion here.

I haven’t read all of them, but I absolutely loved Garrett Leigh’s Strays, which is set in a restaurant kitchen and has wonderfully developed characters. If you like my kind of characters that come with a past, this will be right up your alley. Homeless, by Cara Dee, is also a favorite of mine, featuring a homeless single dad and a history teacher who takes in strays. It’s sweet and tender and hot, and I promise you all the feels. And let’s not forget Riven, by Roan Parrish, about two musicians. I absolutely love their writing, and that book sucks you in right from page one.

Captain Silver Fox

My entry is Captain Silver Fox, which is a summery, high heat MM romance set on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Brantley has a scorching hot one night stand with a super sexy older guy the night before he starts his new job on a cruise ship. But when he shows up for work the next day, his one night stand turns out to be the captain of the ship, aptly nicknamed Captain Silver Fox. Oops.

Still, it shouldn’t be an issue because Brantley doesn’t do coworkers and Fox is known for being strict as hell about not dating employees. That should make things easy, if not for that pesky attraction that keeps flaring up whenever they’re in the same room. Or on the same ship. What the hell do they have to do to get rid of that?

If you’re in the mood for a super sexy, low angst read, this is your book.

Stack that TBR Pile

I hope you’ll add some amazing books to you TBR pile through this promotion. With books by A.D. Ellis, Annabelle Jacobs, Anyta Sunday, BA Tortuga, Cara Dee, Clare London, Con Riley, David C Dawson, Elizabeth Noble, Emy Calirel, G.R. Lyons, Garrett Leigh, Jamie Lynn Miller, Jay Hogan, Jay Northcote, Jodi Payne, K-lee Klein, Kaje Harper, Lane Hayes, Lillian Francis , Nic Starr, RJ Scott, Roan Parrish, Susan Scott Shelley, Talia Carmichael, V.L. Locey, Victoria Sue, and me of course, you’ll be sure to find some awesome new reads. Make sure to check them all out!

 

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Interview with President Delano Shafer

For the first time, we have an interview with a character who has not had his “own” book. Yet. Please welcome President Delano Shafer from the White House Men series. If you haven’t read the series yet, please be aware that this interview may contain spoilers!

President Shafer, thank you so much for making the time in your busy schedule for an interview.

My pleasure, Nora. I was delighted with the books you wrote with the stories of my staff members. I think you did a phenomenal job catching their characters and their stories. I got very emotional reading through them.

It’s been quite the rollercoaster.

Yes. I’ll admit that when President Markinson asked me to become his vice president, I never expected this.

Did you expect to become president?

I certainly hoped so. Conventional wisdom says that you have a good shot at becoming president if you’ve been vice president, though history would disagree. Over the last decades, vice presidents have not been successful in their presidential bid that often. That being said, I never expected to become president in the way that I did. President Markinson had his faults and weaknesses, and he was far from perfect, but he dedicated his life to public service, and he didn’t deserve to die like that. No one does.

Was there even a moment of doubt to accept the presidency at that time?

No. Otherwise I shouldn’t have become vice president. That responsibility was mine, and when the time came, I took it.

How big is the difference between being vice president and president?

Big. I think it also depends on how much power the president delegates to his vice president. President Markinson didn’t entrust me with as much as I could have handled, so for me the transition into the presidency came with a steep learning curve. I couldn’t have done it without my fantastic staff, especially Calix. And let’s not forget Levar, who skipped several rungs on the ladder himself and was thrown into the deep end as White House Press Secretary. I have nothing but admiration for the way he handled that.

What was it like for you to see your best friends, Calix and Milan, find love?

I can’t put into words how happy I am for them. Calix thought he’d had his big love with Matthew, and to be honest, I thought so too. I loved Matthew, and he and Calix were perfect together. When he died… I didn’t think Calix would ever be able to get past that. But Rhett changed that, and when I see the two of them together, I get emotional at times. Seeing Calix smile again, seeing that old spark return to his eyes, I’m beyond grateful fate had granted him a second chance at love.

And Milan… [laughs] Of course he ended up with two guys. I mean, how could he not? But I think out of all of us, he’s changing the most. Denali and Asher bring a softness out in him that’s wonderful to see. It’s always been there, but he’d perfected the art of keeping up a certain image. I’m so glad to see him open up more, to make an effort to reach out to people. He sucks at it, but he’s trying, and it means a lot to all of us. I just wish… I wish Sarah could’ve seen it. She loved her brother so much, but she also worried about him. She would’ve been elated to see him happy and settled.

I’m so sorry for your loss, Mr. President. The First Lady was not only good at what she did, but a great mom and wife as well. I know you and Kenn must miss her terribly.

We do. We really do. [stares into the distance for a moment] You know, when Matthew died, I saw Calix’s grief up close and personal. Hell, I grieved for Matthew myself. But it never prepared me for going through it myself, which is a thousand times harder than I had ever imagined. And Kenn… God, I am so grateful for Warrick. Without him, Kenn would’ve been lost. I might’ve ended up resigning to be there for him.

Would you have done that?

In a heartbeat. I take only one thing more seriously than being president, and that’s my son. If Kenn had needed me, I would’ve walked away from it all to focus on him. He’s… He’s so special. Warm, kind, sweet, smart. He’s his mom, and every time I look at him, I see sarah and I’m reminded that she’s still with us through him. I don’t want him to feel that he has to live a certain way just because he’s a lot like her, but I do want him to know how beautiful she was and how amazing he is.

Your own parents are very different.

[Sighs] Yes. My father is an old school politician, shaped and molded by his father, who was also in politics. It’s the family business, and from a young age, it was made clear that it would be my destiny as well. I would never, ever put that kind of pressure on Kenn. Hell, I don’t even want him to go into politics. His heart is way too tender.

You did go into politics.

I did, but for my own reasons. When I decided to come out as bisexual, my father was furious. He though I was throwing away my future for no good reason. He didn’t understand why this mattered so much to me, but I needed to be open about who I was. The fact that I’m married to a woman doesn’t make me any less bisexual. The bi-erasure is real, and I wanted to take a stand. And I never regretted it.

How did your wife feel about it?

Sarah fully supported me coming out. She’s known I was bisexual from the start. I never hid it from her. But she was never threatened by it. She understood it was who I was, but that it didn’t diminish my love for her.

Did she know about your…close relationship with her brother, once upon a time?

[Groans} Yes. One of the most awkward conversations I ever had in my life, let me assure you. But I knew it would come out at some point, if only because Milan has zero filter, and I wanted her to hear it from me. She was…a little shocked, but then she understood. And to her credit, she also understood that it was in the past. I’m loyal to a fault, and once I’d met her, she had my heart and my fidelity. I would never cheat on her, and she knew that. So Milan and I stayed close friends, and it’s never been an issue. I do want to make clear we never slept together, though. It shouldn’t matter, maybe, but it’s still an important distinction for me to make. Oral sex, that was it.

What does the future hold for you?

I think the presidency will keep me plenty busy. I’ll have to start campaigning for my re-election soon, and I won’t even have time for anything else.

No new relationship?

God, no. I still consider myself married, and the idea of someone else is just… No. I’m not gonna say never because I’ve seen what happened with Calix, but the chances of me finding someone else are…very low. I wouldn’t even have time to date, let alone for a relationship. Besides, can you imagine the president of the United States dating? [laughs] The press would have a field day with that…

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Dirty Daddies Pride: Preorder Now

It’s Pride Month, which to me is much more than waving a rainbow. It’s both a celebration of who we are as a queer community, what we have accomplished…and how far we still have to go. One special way to celebrate is with this special Pride Anthology organized by the Dirty Daddies party room on Facebook. I’m so proud to be a part of this fantastic anthology that features 11 stories across the rainbow. It will release on June 25th on Amazon and in KU, but you can preorder now!

Dirty Daddies Pride

Love is Love and romance comes in all shapes, sizes, and pairings. So do Daddies.

Eleven authors. Eleven brand new stories. Eleven Dominants that prove being a Daddy is about more than just your gender identity or who you desire. They have the attitude, the need to protect and provide, and a certain someone they can’t wait to make their own.

With stories from some of the top authors in the genre and pairings of MM, FF and MMF, Dirty Daddies Pride is sure to put a smile on your face, a spring in your step, and rainbow-colored-stars in your eyes!

The Daddies are waiting. Get your copy today!

The Dirty daddies Pride Anthology includes the following stories:

Dirty Hand (MM) by Nora Phoenix

Sculptures and Snuggles (MM) by Della Cain

Butcher’s Babygirl (trans FF) by Siobhan Smile

Van: Dr. Richards’ Littles® #32 (MMF) by Pepper North

Dirty Deed (MM) by Gianni Holmes

Daddy, At Your Service (FF) by Eden Bradley

A Leap of Faith (MM) by M.A. Innes

Daddy’s Rent Boy (MM) by Chara Croft

Slippery When Wet (MM) by Morticia Knight

Daddy Abroad (MM) by P.D. Carter

Secrets and Princess Dresses (MMF) by Jamie Merrick

Dirty Hand

You may have noticed that my story is called Dirty Hand…and some of you may have wondered if it’s perhaps connected to my Perfect Hands series. Why, yes it is! If you’ve read Healing Hand (Perfect Hands 5), you may remember George, Gale’s friend. He was a guy who loved rough sex with lumberjack types…and that’s exactly what he finds with Jack. But when Jack confesses he’d love to be a Daddy, George offers to be his test subject. The sparks that fly between them grow into something else, something much deeper…

Dirty Hand is a high heat novella (25k) featuring a dirty boy who loves to be used and a new Daddy who’s the perfect match for him.

You do not want to miss this story, trust me. It’s got some super duper hot scenes, haha. Preorder this fantastic anthology now!

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Super Special Early Access Sale

I’m excited to announce that Care (White House Men 5) will release on June 10th. I had to push back the release date by a week because I couldn’t make the earlier deadline, but we’re good to go now. It’s already been sent out to my patrons and ARC readers…but if you can’t wait to start reading, I have a super special early access sale for you.

Once Care goes up on Amazon, it will cost $5.99. These are super long books (this one clocks in at 97k words…), so that’s a fair price. That’s also because Amazon takes a cut of my royalties. But…

There’s a way around that. If you want to start reading right now AND you want to support me by buying directly from me, you can get Care right now…and at a discount. For just $4.49, you can read the sweet and sexy story of Kenn, the president’s son, and his tutor today… With an age gap and daddy kink plus a first time gay, this story has all the feels.

This offer is only valid for a few days! Once the book is for sale on Amazon, I can’t sell it anywhere else anymore. So grab it now for just $4.49 and start reading now!

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Interview with Milan Bradbury

I’m excited to finally sit down with Milan Bradbury, a veteran NYPD detective and the First Lady’s brother and the president’s brother-in-law. You can read more about him in the White House Men series, especially in book four, Serve. Milan, thanks for making the time for me.

Sure. I just wanna point out that the delay was not on my part.

Nope, that was all me. I had a little too much going on, sorry.

Nah, it’s fine. [sighs] I miss those days, you know?

What days?

Where I’d be busy from sunup to sundown.

You have a job now, don’t you?

[snorts] If you call that a job. It’s more of an honorary thing, a necessary evil to get me access into the investigation. And sure, I help Coulson and Seth wherever I can, but it’s not a real, fulltime job…and it’s certainly nothing compared to the workload I had as a detective.

What did you mostly work on for the NYPD?

Organized crime. There’s still a lot of that going on, you know. The golden days of the Italian mafia may seem over, but the underbelly of the city has always been seedy…and that won’t change. We’re getting better at catching them, but they’re getting better at evading us. I work closely with the FBI. That’s a more recent thing, I’ll admit. NYPD can get pretty territorial, but I’ve built good relationships with the Feds. They have great expertise in setting up undercover agents. It’s slow as fuck to get that set up, but they’re great at what they do. We can do some small stuff ourselves, but those guys ain’t dumb. They have pictures of a lot of NYPD officers so they can recognize us. We’ve had a few agents who were made on undercover stints, so we’ve become careful.

[groans] fucking hell, listen to me ramble. You’d almost think I was desperate to talk to someone.

Are you?

[lets out a sigh] Kinda. Asher and Denali both do have fulltime jobs, and both pick up extra shifts when necessary as well. I understand and I would never complaint, but… Actually, I do complain because I’m selfish like that, but I don’t give them too hard a time about it. But with Del and Calix, my best friends, being equally busy, I’m feeling a tad left out at times.

I’m sure your men make it up to you when they have the chance…

[laughs] They sure as fuck do. My baby boy especially is always eager to serve me, and that in itself is such a turn on. I’ve been a Dom for a long time, and I’ve had plenty of pretty boys on my c*ck, but no one like him. He’s so…so into being submissive. It’s who he is to his very core, and nothing makes him happier than taking care of me and Asher, preferably at the same time. We double stuff him regularly, and it’s ecstasy for him. I never thought I could find someone who would be enough for me, but those two are.

Why were you so convinced you’d never find love?

I didn’t think I was the type for it. I’m by nature not an easy man, and that’s an understatement. I’m dominant to my core, arrogant, stubborn, cocky, and rude as hell. And I just don’t care about a whole lot of things that are important to others. So given all that, I didn’t see how anyone could ever love me. Or how anyone could ever be enough for me, what with my high sexual drive and needs. But those two… For reasons that pass understanding, they love me. They really do, and it’s a goddamn miracle.

You love them as well.

Yeah, another miracle. I didn’t think I had it in me, that I even had the capacity for love, but here we are.

When did you realize you were in love?

In hindsight, things are much easier to pinpoint, but with me such a blind idiot, it took me way too long. The explosion in Camp David, that was when I realized I was in love. The thought of something happening to Denali… My god, I couldn’t breathe. Asher had to practically physically restrain me from leaving that room and finding out where Denali was. I just needed to know he was okay. That opened my eyes to the truth, which had been staring me in the face for a while, if I had been willing and able to see it. Denali is… He’s so special. He’s this ray of sunshine, so bright and happy and positive. And he’s so strong. Del likes to tease me that I was brought to my knees by an itty-bitty boy, and he’s not wrong. No man has ever managed to make me kneel except for him. I’d crawl over broken glass for him if necessary.

And Asher?

[laughs] Again, hindsight, you know? I never did repeats. Or rarely, I should say. Maybe within the club setting, so the rules were clear, but never outside. No matter how great the sex was, I didn’t want a second time. Asher was the one exception. Something about him made my break my own rules. He’s so… Look, there’s not a man more perfect on the planet than Asher Wylie. He literally turns heads wherever he goes and add to that the fact that he’s a Secret Service agent, and he could have his pick of partners. And yet he chose me and Denali. I asked him a few days ago why he picked me, and he just smiled and patted my head. He said that one day, I’d be able to see myself the way he and Denali see me. Not much of an answer, but he wouldn’t say more. But he loves me and he says he has for a long time, which I guess is true for me as well. I just didn’t realize it since love wasn’t something I was familiar with. Not love like this.

What does the future hold for the three of you?

I honestly don’t know. We’re taking it day by day because thinking about the future brings up so many questions and complications. My job is in New York, while the two of them have a life here in DC. I’m still grieving Sarah, and I know that even if I could, I’m in no condition to go back to work. I talked to my captain in New York, and he knows. We go way back, and he says I can come back when I’m ready. I just don’t know when that will be. As selfish as I am, even I understand that I can’t expect Asher and Denali to pack up and move to New York. It wouldn’t be fair to ask them to sacrifice their careers for me. I’ve been with the NYPD for twenty-three years. Maybe…maybe it’s time for a change. I don’t know. Asher says I shouldn’t make decisions right now when everything is so emotional, and I guess he’s right. He’s a smart one, he and Denali both. But not having enough to do has provided me with a lot of time to think. I promised my men I’d do my best to change, to become Milan 2.0 as Calix calls it. Change is hard, man. It hurts and it confronts you with things I would’ve much rather kept hidden. But it’s also brought me Asher and Denali. It’s brought me love and happiness…and maybe if I want to hold on to that, it’s me who needs to make the sacrifice and quit my job. The fact that I’m even considering it tells you how much I love them and how much their love means to me, because there’s no one in this whole world that I would leave New York for…except them.

That’s a big decision.

It is, and I’m not ready to make it yet. We have to see this investigation through till the end first. And that’s another reason to stay here, by the way. The idea of leaving Del doesn’t sit well with me. He needs his friends now more than ever, and for some reason, he’s rather fond of me.

Between him, Calix, Sarah, and now Asher and Denali, you’d almost think you may not be as unlovable as you’d imagined…

[blinks] I’m… I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that. Yup, head in the sand. Always works for me.

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Nora’s Mini Reviews: Four Recent Reads

It’s time for another edition of Nora’s mini reviews. I read some great books lately, so I thought I’d share them with you all. No rhyme or reason to what I read. I just pick whatever I’m in the mood for…

Roommate – Sarina Bowen

I loved this relatively low angst story that combines a roommate situation with first time gay, coming out, some family drama, and incredible chemistry. Her writing style is just so effortless, and I got immediately sucked in. Roommate had great secondary characters and setting as well.

Right as Raine – Lucy Lennox

I can already tell this series will be amazing. I read Right as Raine and Sweet as Honey (the second book in this series) back to back, and I loved the world Lucy created. Right as Raine is the story of a football player who falls for his coach’s son, and it’s a wonderful combination of friends to lovers, with a bit of a forbidden element (coach’s son), but it has so much more. Wonderful chemistry between the characters, the small town Lucy describes is one I wanted to move into right away, and the emotions were so real. Sweet as Honey was just as good, so I’m hooked on this new series.

Unnatural – Alessandra Hazard

Alien omegaverse, I think it’s the best description for Unnatural, and I drank it in like water (well, more like Coke in my case, haha). If you’ve read her Calluvian Royalty series, it’s set in the same world (though on a different planet). We get just enough details to picture the world without it becoming too much. It’s an enemies to lovers with crazy chemistry story, combined with some suspense. Fans of my Irresistible Omegas will love the plot twists about true identity (I don’t want to reveal too much…).

THIRDS series – Charlie Cochet

I’ve been rereading the THIRDS series again, and I’m in awe all over again. This series of ten books is just so freaking addictive. It’s got shifters, hot alpha men, humor, amazing characters, suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat, super hot sex scenes, found family, and more. It’s definitely high angst and quite the adrenaline rush, but so good. I’ll be Dex and Sloane fans forever (the main couple in the series).

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Cover Reveal White House Men 5

I’m super excited to show off the cover for the next book in the White House Men series. I’ve been working my ass off the last few weeks to get this book done, and of course, it’s another long ass books because this series just can’t be told in shorter books, haha. There’s so much to tell! Book five will be called Care, and it will feature Kenn, the president’s son, and his law tutor, Professor Warrick Duvall.

Blurb

Let’s start with the blurb (it’s not the finalized version yet but it will be close, I think. Blurbs are awfully hard to write…)

Kenn wants Warrick to be his teacher, his boyfriend…and his Daddy

Being the president’s son was never something Kenn wanted, but it’s the reality nonetheless. Home from college with nothing to do, he’s elated when his father hires a tutor to prepare him for law school.

Professor Warrick Duvall is kind, smart, and he has time for Kenn when no one else does. When the unthinkable happens and Kenn’s world is rocked to his core, it’s Warrick who is there for him, and the friendship with him is the only thing that keeps Kenn going. Warrick takes care of him, helping him find his footing again, and they grow even closer.

When others start to notice and warn him, it’s time for Kenn to be honest with himself and with others about who he is and what he wants. But how will his father react when he learns Kenn doesn’t want Warrick to be merely his teacher and his boyfriend…but his Daddy?

Care is a slow burn MM gay romance with an age gap and daddy kink (no age play), featuring a Daddy who doesn’t know he’s a Daddy and a needy boy who soaks up all Daddy’s care. It’s the fifth book in the White House Men series, a continuing MM romantic suspense series set in the White House that needs to be read in order. Care ends with a happily ever after, but the suspense plot ends on a cliffhanger and will be continued in the rest of the series.

I loved writing this story. It’s what I would call a Daddy-awakening book because Warrick has never been a Daddy, nor did he ever want to be one, but Kenn evokes that instinct in him. And Kenn is new at all of it, so he doesn’t know what he’s doing either. It’s a slow burn for sure, but their journey is so beautiful…

By the way, some of you have asked how many books this series will have. After Care, we have two more books to go, and that’s it. By the end of book seven, everything will be wrapped up and all the main characters will have the happiest of happily ever afters, I promise.

Cover Reveal

Now, it’s time to show off the pretty cover, made by Vicki Brostenianc. The photographer was Eric McKinney, and the model is Josh T. Isn’t it gorgeous?

The preorder isn’t up yet, but the tentative release date is set for June 2. I can’t wait for all of you to read this book!

 

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Interview with Levar Cousins

This week, we sit down with Levar Cousins from Press (White House Men series 1). Interestingly enough, he’s the only one of my characters who was interviewed before, though that was not for Character of the Week and it was a more formal and less personal interview. We talked about him being a part of President Shafer’s “Gay Squad”, his ambitions for the future, and more. Make sure to read it!

Levar, thanks for making the time for me. I know you’re crazy busy.

My pleasure, Nora. And yes, I am, but that’s nothing new. It’s all a matter of time management and priorities.

What are your priorities?

[pauses for a moment] You know, even a few months ago, I would’ve said that my job as press secretary was my first priority, but that has changed. It’s still the most important thing I’ll ever do in my life, I suspect, but it’s no longer my first priority. That would be Henley, with my family and friends in second place and my job only third.

What changed?

Our interview for Character of the Week this week is with Levar Let’s just say that I’ve been reminded of how fragile life is…and how important it is to prioritize relationships over anything else. And I know President Shafer agrees. My job is crucially important, but nowhere near as important as Henley or my family and friends. You can never get the time back that you didn’t spend with them, and I don’t want to look back on my life one day and regret that I chose the wrong thing. Henley is… He’s my everything.

I bet he’d say the same about you.

[smiles] He would. In fact, he has, and he’s proven his love for me by quitting his job. Even though he may not have been completely happy anyway, walking away from one of the most coveted jobs in journalism was as they call it in movies, the ‘grand gesture.’ He’s made a sacrifice, and not a day goes by where I’m not grateful for it, because without that, we would’ve never been able to be together.

So things are going well between you?

[his smile widens] Very well. I love everything about him, and funny enough, he feels the same about me. We’re both enjoying getting to know each other even better. He’s met my family by now, and they loved him, of course, and we’re close with his mom as well, who is amazing. We try to spend as much time together as we can…and every now and then, I’ll come home and find a sexy surprise for me, like some new lingerie he wants me to model for him. It’s a hardship, of course, but one I’ll happily suffer for him [laughs]. Henley has officially ended his lease and moved in with me, and we both couldn’t be happier. He was at my place all the time anyway, so it made little difference in reality, but emotionally, it was a big and important step for both of us. Making it official mattered, and it was time.

Knowing that Rhett was taken care of must’ve made a difference.

Yes. If Rhett and Calix hadn’t ended up falling in love, the process would’ve been different. Henley has always understood how close Rhett and I am and that he needed me. I would’ve never forced him to move out, not in a million years. Not that Henley would’ve ever asked me to. I think in that case, Henley may have still moved in, but Rhett would’ve been there as well…and we would’ve made that work. Henley and Rhett get along great, though, and now with Calix in the mix, we hang out as much as we can with the four of us with all of our jobs.

What is it like for you, seeing Rhett with Calix?

A little weird [laughs]. Calix is still my boss, so it’s always a bit complicated. But I think he and I have both gotten very good at separating professional and personal. It helps that we genuinely like each other and get along well, but we’ve never had a professional argument spill over into our personal lives or vice versa. Seeing how much he loves Rhett and how well he takes care of him… I would’ve moved heaven and earth to support that. He’s exactly what and who Rhett needed, and Rhett is changing as a result. He’s becoming more confident, his anxiety has lessened, and you can tell he’s found where he belongs. I’m so, so happy for him. I’ve been worried about him for a long time.

And with reason.

Yes. You know, Henley and I have been talking about this a lot, how differently people react to a traumatic event. There’s this weird thing people do where they compliment someone for not being bothered by something traumatic, as if it somehow means being stronger or better. It doesn’t. What we went through…it was traumatic, and no one should feel weak or guilty or less for struggling with those memories. Rhett didn’t leave the house for a full year afterward, and even though I didn’t have that problem, I understood. He wasn’t weak, and he didn’t need to learn to be stronger. His body and brain were trying to protect him after experiencing something deeply traumatic. That’s a normal reaction, and as Henley’s psychologist pointed out, even a desirable one. Pushing through mental pain is not necessarily a good thing. In some cases, we have to allow our body and brain to protect us until it’s found a way to cope with it.

None of you walked away unchanged.

Exactly. It has manifested in different ways because we had different experiences and because we are different people. President Shafer, for example, who was still a senator at the time, had already seen some things in combat from when he’d served. That made him respond differently. Calix’s husband died in his arms. That made his trauma focused on that very specific moment, whereas I, Henley, and Rhett reported on it, each in our own way. The pictures Rhett took… Some of them still haunt him. For years, he had nightmares about what he saw through his lens. That doesn’t make him weak. It makes him human. And the same is true for Henley, who’s only now coming to terms with his losses. It’ll take time.

In the previous interview we did, you were still assistant press secretary to the vice president. You said that your goal was to make it to the big stage one day, to become the White House press secretary. You reached that goal much quicker than you had expected…

I did make career a hell of a lot faster than anticipated…and not under circumstances I would’ve chosen either. It’s been one hell of a learning curve, getting thrown into the deep, but I’ve found my footing now, I think. I’m grateful to the president and Calix for their belief in me, but I also have to give credit to the White House press corps. As much as we complain sometimes about them, they really took it easy on me those first weeks, despite the circumstances. They were understanding of me not having all the answers yet, of the new administration still getting into place, and about things getting lost in translation. It took us a while to get fully up and running in the Communications Office, and they were very understanding and never tried to take advantage of it. That built a lot of goodwill with me.

Do they still go easy on you?

[laughs] Hell, no. But they’re not supposed to. Their job is to be critical of what I say and to ask questions. I don’t resent them for that, even if it frustrates me at times.

What’s the most frustrating part?

That I know the truth about a lot of things, but I can’t tell it. I can’t share what I know because it’s classified and not ready to be shared with the public yet, and I sometimes struggle with that. I don’t lie to the press, but I do evade and redirect a lot, or simply refuse to answer. Those moments are not fun.

What’s the next step for you?

I don’t know. Most press secretaries don’t last much longer than two years, and I can see why. The pace of this job is brutal, absolutely unforgiving. I promised Henley that I would do one full term at the most, and after that, we’ll see. Honestly, I’m not even looking that far ahead. I’m taking it day by day, and who knows what the future will bring.

A family, maybe?

[laughs] Right now, I couldn’t do it. It’s just impossible with this job and the hours I make. But in a few years? Yeah, I could see us adopt a kid or two and become parents. I think I’d like that…

 

PS Did you know that Levar’s story, Press, is also available in audio? John Solo did a fantastic job narrating it. The other books in the series should be coming soon!

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