Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 25

Drink For It, release day

It’s here, it’s here! Drink For It is here!

What happens when two people just can’t stay away from each other? When coincidences bring them together? When neither of them can say no?

Heather was hurt when Luke left her the first time they were together. She thought their relationship was going somewhere. That he was as into her as she was him. But when he ran, she knew she was wrong.

Falling in love scared the shit out of Luke. It wasn’t possible to fall in love in a couple weeks, he knew that, but the way he felt for Heather was not normal. He was not the kind of guy who imagines weddings and kids and all the things that came with it.

When her best friend’s wedding is supposed to take place at his pub, the two of them are thrown together to plan the event while the bride and groom are working. Everything is fine until Heather wants more.

Just sex she promises. No dates or commitments or emotions.

If only it were that simple…

Excerpt from Drink For It

“Heather,” he whispered the same moment Allison turned and shouted the same word. His voice was drowned out by Allison’s, something he was more than grateful for when he heard the needy tone of his.

He had to get his shit together.

Dragging his eyes from her hazel eyes and pink cheeks did no good. They scanned the rest of her, from her long hair the color of the craft beer he hoped to produce one day, offset by the white of her puffy jacket that did nothing to hide the curves he’d lost himself in for far longer than he ever should have, to the legs that held him where she wanted him when they were together. Just the memory of the way she’d responded to him, the way they’d fit together like they were made for each other, was enough to make him hard.

And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

“Heather,” Allison said again, beckoning her best friend closer. When she walked past him, she ducked her eyes from his but her scent remained, teasing him with everything he ached for and couldn’t have.

Luke stifled a curse and faced the threesome with what he hoped was a grin.

“Heather, this is Luke Bradford. Luke, this is my best friend, Heather Jones.”

Luke knew he was supposed to say something, but for the life of him couldn’t figure out what. When Heather looked back up at him, he saw a silent plea in her eyes. Allison didn’t know anything about them.

He was her dirty little secret, not even worthy of sharing with her best friend.

Well, that was just fucking great.

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Merry Christmas!

Christmas is always a day of reflection for me. A chance to think back over the year and be thankful for all the things I’ve done. It’s also a good chance to think about the things that didn’t go the way I’d hoped and decide if I still want the same things, and if so, what I’ll do differently to get it.

But mostly, Christmas is a day for me to be happy. A day to enjoy time with my family. A day to see the joy on my kids’ faces when they find presents under the tree and get to open them all. A day to remember what life is like when we were kids. A day for fun.

Please go enjoy your Christmas. Be a kid again. Celebrate all the good things in life.

From my family to yours… Merry Christmas!

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Drink For It, in the past

The final book in the Better In Bed series, Drink For It, will be out in a week! I’m looking forward to sharing Luke and Heather’s story with you.

Luke and Heather shared a few weeks together. A few weeks that Heather thought were leading to more. A few weeks that scared Luke into running.

Now, months later, Heather is helping her best friend plan her wedding at none other than Luke’s pub. Neither want their past to interfere, but neither can deny they want the past to stay only in the past.

Excerpt from Drink For It

“I think we should sleep together again,” she said, still facing the brewery beyond the glass. She could hear the low rumble of the tanks and the heaters keeping them at the right temperature.

But the noise on the other side of the glass did not hide the hiss Luke made when he sucked in a breath.

“Why?”

Heather shrugged. “The sex was good. Damn good. We both still want each other. Working together is going to be impossible. Why not take the edge off and just agree to sex until the wedding?”

“Until the wedding?”

Heather grinned to herself. He didn’t say no.

She schooled her lips into an impassive expression and turned to him.

“Sure. The wedding will be a good time to put an end to things. We’ll have a few weeks together, but we’ll have a definitive ending. No hurt feelings. No misunderstandings. Just sex for a few weeks.”

“That’s it? Just sex. For a few weeks.”

Heather nodded as though it was a perfectly logical arrangement. Inside her heart pounded and her pulse raced as though her whole life depended on his answer. In a way it did. She hadn’t had an orgasm worth a damn since he left. She’d given it a try, but he did something to her. Something that changed her. Broke her. And she’d been horny and pissed off since.

She needed him.

It had nothing to do with wanting him. Luke wasn’t hers. He never would be. He’d made that very clear.

“No one else. Just us. At the wedding, you can pick up whatever woman you want. But before, I want it to be just us. When one of us wants a quick fuck, we go for it. No sleepovers. No bedrooms. No dates. Just sex.”

“Just sex,” he repeated again.

“The way you like it,” she goaded him.

His eyes darkened, but he didn’t argue.

“When do we start?”

Mission accomplished.

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Q&A Sunday: Inspiring Authors

If you’ve been here a while you probably already know the answer to today’s question. Susan wants to know…

Is there an author who inspired you?

Yes! Many authors really. 

My number one inspiration is Jill Shalvis. Her book, Simply Irresistible, was the first romance novel I read. Before her, I thought they were all horrible stories about men taking advantage of women who wouldn’t fight back. I am so happy I found Jill! Her books changed my world, literally. It opened my eyes to a whole new genre of books that has given me a career, new friends, and so much inspiration, it’s crazy!

There are a lot of authors who’ve inspired me though. Some, who I won’t name, inspired me to be a better writer because I knew I could write a better story than they did. Most though, they wrote in ways that made me want to be like them.

Bella Andre is another one I’m constantly inspired by. Her stories are so magnetic that I can’t help but be drawn in by them. Not to mention she’s a self-publishing genius!

Melissa Foster paints such amazing pictures and creates families you want to be a part of. I love reading her books.

And then there’s my friends. Writers I know. Some published, some not, who work so hard to craft stories that draw me in without fail. I love reading stories by people I know in real life. People who I can picture sitting down and writing. People I love talking to and feel like reading their books is like having a conversation with them. They inspire me every day to keep going, to push through the hard times, and to share my voice with readers. I have them to thank for a lot of things!

I think it’s important to find someone who will inspire you. Or many someones. I get inspiration from everywhere – my kids, my family, situations I’m in, everything. I take it and run with it. Hopefully it’s entertaining!

Thanks so much, Susan, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!

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Q&A Friday: Favorite Characters

Have you noticed I haven’t had a guest author in a little while? Well, with the holidays, people are all crazy busy. So, through the end of the year, I’m just answering questions. This week’s question I figured I’d answer on Friday since I spent Sunday at the Bills game!

So, Aliana wants to know…

Of all the characters you’ve created, which is your favorite and why?

This question has taken me a long time to answer. I’m still not totally sure, but I have an idea. It’s as hard picking a favorite character as a favorite kid… well, not as hard, but it’s tough.

I’m going to cheat a little with this question and pick more than one, but let me explain.

My favorite couple is definitely Carrie and Drew from Husky & Hot. I loved Carrie’s sassiness and her confidence, but also her soft side. She wanted to be a mom so badly and I loved that she wasn’t a career woman. She still wanted to make a difference.

And Drew… Well, how can you not love Drew. From his dirty mouth to his broken heart to the way he loves… He’s definitely a fantasy guy!

When you put the two of them together, it was fireworks from the very beginning. I loved that.

I’m always plotting new books. I’m going to cheat because there are two characters coming in my new series, Raise A Glass, that I’m really excited about. They’re going to be like Drew and Carrie in a lot of ways – a lot of heat, a lot of spunk, and some brokenness that’ll make you love them even more.

So since, Aliana asked me, I have to know… Which of my characters are your favorite? 

Thanks so much, Aliana, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!

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Please Raise A Glass

I love all my books. They are all truly works of my heart. But this new series is one that I’ve been anticipating for a really long time. I had the idea for these books the same time I started writing Big & Beautiful. A good friend suggested writing Big & Beautiful first, and I’m thrilled that I did. These new books are going to take on a life of their own and they’re a bigger challenge for me. Much bigger.

So, wanna know about them?

My new series is Raise A Glass! It follows nine cousins who are given control of their family’s vineyard. For the first time ever, there will be a prequel. The prequel, Love The Wine You’re With, will be available February 6 as part of an anthology. As soon as I get the final details, I will share them with you. Right now, I know the anthology will be $0.99 and all proceeds will go to March of Dimes. I’m really excited to be a part of it and to help such an awesome organization.

The anthology will only be available for three months and then I will release Love The Wine You’re With on my own, again with proceeds going to a charitable organization – likely changing which one every few months.

The second book, Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, will be available March 7. Both stories follow the same couple. Alyssa and Jake first meet on her eighteenth birthday. They fall in love over the summer and promise to be together, but things don’t always go as planned. When she returns, fifteen years later, they have to decide if they want to try again.

Each story, with the exception of Love The Wine You’re With, will also have a secondary love story. Another couple that is falling in love also. I’ve always wanted to write a series like that. A series that follows more people. They are longer stories with both storylines, but I think you’ll love this family, and the people who surround them, as much as I do.

So, come visit me in Bereton, New York, where the wine is sweet, the vines are ripe, and the people are loving, even if they are a little crazy, too.

Welcome to Bereton!

Excerpt from Love The Wine You’re With

When she went back into the room, there was a man standing in the middle of it. Alyssa dropped the cleaning bin she was holding and screamed. “Ah! Holy shit! Who the fuck are you?”

He held up his hands and immediately backed up. “Whoa! Sorry! They said this was my room, ma’am. I’m sorry. There’s been some kind of a mistake. Just calm down.”

Alyssa’s hands went to her hips as her attitude snuck back in. She raised an eyebrow at him. “Did you just call me ‘ma’am?’ How old do you think I am?”

Her response threw him. His dark eyebrows knitted together. Alyssa took a second to appraise the man in front of her. He was big, at least six inches taller than her own 5’7”. His dark hair was cut short, giving him a dangerous edge. His face was covered in stubble just long enough that it would scrape her skin if she kissed him.

Which she was suddenly desperate to do.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said. “I don’t mean any disrespect, honest. I’ll go back downstairs and see what’s going on with the room.”

Alyssa shook her head. “What’s your name?”

“Jake Monroe, ma’am.”

She sighed. “You’re in the right room. I work here. My name is Alyssa. I was just cleaning the bathroom. I didn’t know you’d be here when I came out. I was trying to finish up before you got here. I apologize for being in your way.” She bent to pick up the supplies she’d dropped. When she stood again, she forced herself to look in his hazel eyes when she added, “And for swearing at you.”

Excerpt from Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride

Tears sprang free from Alyssa’s eyes and emotion clogged her throat. She’d never been so hurt, even under Brent’s hands, as she felt at that moment. Understanding how her cousins all felt about her was painful. She had no intention of letting them down, but Alicia was right, she did have her own agenda. She was there to hide and she didn’t want any of them to know it.

With her heart in her throat she turned to run from the house and ran straight into someone.

Alyssa knew it was Jake. She knew his scent, a mix of fresh grapes and something else that was unique to him. His arms closed around her and she froze when she realized she wanted nothing more than to lean into him and take comfort from him.

“Please let me go,” she whispered, not wanting her cousins to find her there.

Jake eased back from her, his hands sliding down her arms and holding her firmly in place. He ducked down to look in her eyes, but she refused to meet his. She looked toward the kitchen where her cousins were, then quickly looked away, and right into his face.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly with a glance to the kitchen.

“Just let me go, Jake. I need to get out of here.”

He finally stepped to the side and she blew past him heading straight for the front door. She heard him blow out a breath behind her but she didn’t care what he was thinking, she just needed to get the fuck out of there.

Alyssa ran down the front steps of the porch and darted out to the open space toward the fields beyond. The party was still in full swing but no one was paying attention to her. Her tears started to fall freely as the words of her cousins ran around in her head. She heard heavy footsteps behind her and knew Jake was coming with her.

The last thing she needed was to have him see her that way. She already felt vulnerable enough, and she wasn’t prepared to have him watch her fall apart. Their earlier conversation proved he didn’t think much of her, but she could put him out of her mind. She’d had plenty of practice with that.

Alyssa ducked into the shadows and picked up her pace. She had to get away from him, to hide, if need be, so she could avoid him.

The big tree was ahead of her. It had been her tree growing up, but she’d shared the spot with Jake when they’d known each other before. It was under that tree that she’d given her eighteen year old self to him, told him she loved him, and promised she’d come back to him after her first year of college.

Except she didn’t return to Bereton, to Jake. She ran.

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Others coming soon.

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Wish For It, wanting more

The hardest part of a relationship is when one person wants more than the other. But what if they both want the same thing and one is afraid of it?

Excerpt from Wish For It

Allison didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. She’d never been so free with a man in bed. So trusting. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. Allison knew he could sense something. Not that he knew exactly what was going on with her, but he pulled back every time he cornered her, every time she tensed, and damn if that didn’t make her trust him.

Cole held her against his chest until her breathing slowed and her body sagged into his. She knew she should slide off, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave his warmth. To leave him.

But she had to because he wasn’t sticking around. And she didn’t want him to.

“Well, that was a good way to start my day,” Allison joked, rolling off him.

He sat on the side of her bed and tugged her back between his legs. “It was, but you don’t have to brush it off.”

Allison ran her hands through his hair and rested her head on top of his. “It’s not like this was the beginning of anything. Even if you end up here, I’m not stable. I don’t mean mentally, just that I’m gone all the time. I fly five days a week most weeks. If you’re here, you’re gone just as much. Let’s not try to make this something more than it is, Cole.”

“I’m not trying, Allison. I just don’t want you to pull back from me. I told you I don’t do relationships. I meant it. I’m not asking you for that. But when I move here, I’d like the chance to see you.”

“You’re moving here?”

He nodded. “That’s what this whole weekend was about. Negotiating my new contract. Clarence and I spent most of the day yesterday with the team. I have a week and I’ll be back here next weekend. To play.”

“Congratulations,” Allison said, meaning it. She was happy for him. That he’d gotten what he was after. Allison knew next to nothing about baseball, but if he was sought after by the Dugouts, he was good. And he deserved a good shot at a career.

“Thanks. What about the rest of it?”

The rest of it. Seeing him again. The beginning of a relationship?

Allison had never been in a relationship. She intentionally chose men who wouldn’t get attached. Who she wouldn’t want to get attached to. She kept everyone at arm’s length, even her own sister. She’d rarely slept with a man more than once. Did she really have it in her to agree to… something?

Buy it now!

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Q&A Sunday: Hobbies

Babs has a question for me today that can help explain why I’m answering it so late!

Gosh hmmm what hobbies outside of writing do you like to do?

At risk of sounding like a total nerd, I love to read. It’s why I became a writer to start with. I loved reading so much that I figured writing my own stories was a reasonable leap.

But aside from reading, I spend time with my family. My kids are six and eight and still want to spend time with us. We have pancake and movie night most Fridays. Saturday has become game night. On Sundays, well, we live in Buffalo. It’s football day.

Weekdays, after school, we’re busy with homework and gymnastics and the gym when we get motivated.

In the evenings, hubby and I watch TV. We’re addicted to Lucifer and Supergirl and Scorpion and Pure Genius and This Is Us and Hawaii 5-0 and The Big Bang Theory. I’m also hooked on Arrow and The Flash.

I also love going to see movies and getting together with friends. For drinks or dinner or playdates with the kids. Which really means a reason for the moms to hang out and drink wine while the kids run around like crazy for a while.

Really, I think I’m a pretty boring person, but I guess we all think that about ourselves!

Thanks so much, Babs, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!

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Strokes on a Canvas by H. Lewis-Foster

Please welcome H. Lewis-Foster here today. Dive right in and say hi!

It’s lovely to be here at Mary’s blog to tell you a little about my latest novella Strokes on a Canvas. It’s set in 1920s London and tells the story of Evan, a bank clerk who finds himself in a more bohemian world when he meets artist and former soldier Milo. Like many of my stories, it’s a historical romance about two men from very different backgrounds. Evan is used to keeping his sexuality secret, and it’s quite a surprise to meet Milo and his artistic circle, who take a far more liberal attitude in such matters. As Evan and Milo grow closer, not only do they have to overcome their social differences but also figures from the past who threaten their burgeoning romance. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this story of true friendship and love, and do hope you’ll enjoy reading it too.

Strokes on a Canvas is now available at Amazon.

Blurb

London, 1924. Bank clerk Evan Calver is enjoying a quiet pint and notices a man smiling at him across the bar. While the Rose and Crown isn’t that kind of pub, Evan thinks his luck might be in, and he narrowly escapes humiliation when he realises the man is smiling at a friend. Eavesdropping on their conversation, Evan discovers the man is named Milo Halstead and served as an army captain during the war.

The next day Evan goes to the British Museum, where he bumps into Milo again. This time Milo introduces himself, explaining he’s an art teacher and would like to paint Evan’s portrait for a competition. Evan can’t believe an upper-class artist would want to paint the son of a miner, but he agrees to sit for Milo. Their acquaintance blossoms into friendship, and Evan hopes it might become more, but when a dense smog descends over the city, their future is as unclear as the London sky.

Excerpt

On the opposite side of the cabinet, a man was gazing intently at Evan’s favourite amphora. Evan doubted he was having the same thoughts as himself as he scrutinized the naked athletes, but he seemed transfixed by its sporting design. The dark-haired man was wearing a brown pinstripe suit, the kind seen in newspaper photographs of famous actors and royalty, and which Evan could never hope to afford. The stranger looked born to wear his stylish attire, his confident posture showing the suit’s fine cut to full advantage. Then he raised his eyes, and Evan saw the man was not a total stranger. His hair was smooth with brilliantine, and he wasn’t wearing his gold-rimmed glasses, but he was unmistakably Captain Milo Halstead.

Evan was about to make a hasty exit, when he realised the former soldier was smiling at him through the glass. He may have looked smarter than he had last night, but his smile was still as warm and kind as one of Miss Nightingale’s nurses. Evan didn’t imagine the captain remembered him, but he smiled back, thinking it would be impolite not to, then turned to walk away. To his surprise, Evan’s action was mirrored on the other side of the cabinet as Captain Halstead moved in the same direction. He was still looking at Evan, still smiling, and as they both reached the end of the cabinet, Evan wondered what would happen next. Would words be exchanged? And what would those words be? If Milo remembered him from last night and wasn’t the genial man he seemed, they might hint at blackmail or violence.

Evan was tempted to put his head down and make a run for it, but he didn’t want to attract the attention of the museum guards. He took a breath and steadily stepped forward, only to find Milo standing in his way.

“Excuse me. Could I get past?”

“Of course, but…” Milo’s smile was uncertain now, but he didn’t move from Evan’s path. “It was you I saw in the Rose and Crown last night, wasn’t it?”

Evan lowered his eyes and weighed up his options. He could admit he was at the pub and ask to know what business of Milo’s it was. Or he could deny being anywhere near the place, or even knowing of its existence. The latter seemed the most sensible choice, avoiding all confrontation, but when Evan looked up and saw Milo’s blue eyes sparkling cheerfully back at him, he was overwhelmed by a longing to spend a few seconds more in his company.

With no idea of Milo’s intentions, Evan answered, “That’s right. I saw you there too.”

About H. Lewis-Foster

H. Lewis-Foster lives in the north of England and has always worked with books in one form or another. As a keen reader of gay fiction, she decided to try writing herself and is now the proud author of several short stories and a debut novel ‘Burning Ashes’.

H. creates characters that are talented, funny and quite often gorgeous, but who all have their faults and vulnerable sides, and she hopes you’ll enjoy reading their stories as much as she loves writing them. H. has also ventured into playwriting and was thrilled to see her first play performed at the Southend Playwriting Festival.

Website: http://hlewisfoster.wix.com/books

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HLewisFoster

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLewisFoster

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Wish For It, release day

I’m so excited to finally share Wish For It with you. It’s a book that I struggled with a few times, both with the subject matter and how to present it, but I’m really happy with how it turned out. I hope you enjoy the sparks that fly between Cole and Allison and love them as much as I do!

Enjoy!

Excerpt from Wish For It

“Are you okay?” he asked, unsure what else to say.

Allison flashed him a strained grin and nodded curtly. “Of course. Thanks, but I think you should go.”

Cole shook his head and stepped closer. “I don’t want to go.”

“Why not?” she asked, her voice breathy and unsteady.

“Because I haven’t even kissed you yet.”

She laughed on a huff. “Who said you could kiss me?”

Cole took another step, bringing him close enough to feel her breath on his face. “I was hoping you would say I could.”

“What makes you think I’d want you to kiss me?” Allison asked, her eyes sparkling and her chest surging with each unsteady breath.

Cole moved even closer, so he could feel her body against his, her breasts caressing his chest, her stomach against his erection. She tilted her head back to look at him and he leaned down, close enough to capture her lips, but not doing so.

“I have no idea if you want me to kiss you or not. I’m just hoping you do.”

Allison’s lips curled into a grin before she lifted up on her tiptoes and pressed her body, and her lips, to his. Cole didn’t hesitate once she offered herself up. His arms closed around her back, tugging her tighter to his body. He moved to control their kiss, but she resisted his advances, not relinquishing her power over him.

Her hands toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck. Her body teased him with the pillowy soft feel of her against him. Her lips drove him crazy as she kissed from one side of his mouth to the other then forced her tongue into his mouth and demanded everything he had.

But none of that compared to the sexy little noises she made. The whimpers when he tried to take over. The moans when she gave in for a second and he stroked his tongue over hers. The sighs when neither of them fought and they both enjoyed the kiss.

He was going to lose it with her.

Get it today!

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