Phetra H. Novak

NOrdic tales that will
​seduce you.

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4/15/2017

Release day Love of the game

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Release Day!#LoveOfTheGame #ALoveOfNovel  ~~~ Special Excerpt just for today!
Cover handpainted by Ian Brown of IB's Art Studio.

#Blurb
Johannes is starting his new life as a rookie in the best hockey league in the world, the NHL. His new home for the next four years is Montreal, Canada, and he's excited to get to his destination when a storm arrives, stranding him in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France.

In the airport lounge, he tries to amuse himself the best he can. He's nursing a lukewarm beer, and about to head back to join his parents at their table, when the most gorgeous man he's ever seen, with piercing green eyes, buys him a drink. He swears he has never been so instantly turned on as he is in that moment. The man flirts openly with him, making no secret of what he wants from Johannes as he invites him to meet in private. Not being out only makes Johannes hesitate for a moment before accepting the beautiful stranger's come-on.

Charlie, a cocky and opinionated, ex-submissive and reporter is leaving Paris after being on vacation when the studly jock just happens to appear out of nowhere - served on a silver platter. Charlie sees no reason to deny himself a last rendezvous before he gets on his plane back to Canada.

What he doesn't expect is this stranger to see the real him. Charlie's normal plan of attack is to take charge. But when it backfires, and the studly stranger not only takes control but makes him want more, Charlie does the only thing he feel comfortable doing. He runs!

Get Your Copy Here
http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/?n1=publications&id=265



#Excerpt

“What is that cologne you wear?”
“Wh…What?” Did Charlie just stutter? Was he nervous? Johannes smiled, loving the effect he had on the otherwise confident man.
“You smell good. What is it?” Johannes knew he shouldn’t, but he let go of the doorknob, leaving the door to slowly swing open, and ran the back of his fingers over Charlie’s nape. Charlie shivered but he didn’t jerk away. That had to count for something.
“It’s especially strong right here,” Johannes murmured.
“I don’t know… Maybe my body wash?” Johannes wanted to taste that spot where Charlie’s neck met his shoulder, so he did, right there in the hallway where anyone could see. He leaned in and twirled his tongue over Charlie’s skin.
“It has a hint of vanilla in it,” Charlie offered.
“That’s it. Vanilla…and you. It’s a good mix.”
“If you say it’s girly, I’ll kick you in the nuts,” Charlie threatened.
“Did you hear me complain?” Johannes chuckled, shaking his head. Charlie was an expert on running hot and cold. He was one of a kind, a man with many layers, and Johannes wanted to discover each and every one of them.
He whispered in Charlie’s ear, “Better than vanilla ice cream.”
“Are you trying to seduce me with sweet talk?”
“You bet I am. I’m sure you’re fully aware of your own sex appeal.” He pushed Charlie gently but firmly through the door, closing it behind him.

“I know what I want, yes. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Charlie said as he looked around the large open-plan living room and kitchen. “Nice digs.”
“Thanks, and no, there’s nothing wrong with that at all, as long as you are honest with yourself and don’t try to convince yourself you want something else.”
“Was that even English?” Charlie smiled, a real genuine smile, and Johannes thought he might melt.
“Shut up,” he laughed, toeing off his shoes and hanging up his jacket. “You want a drink? I don’t have any beer or anything. Just some diet soda and water. Juice, maybe?”
“Any diet soda is fine, thanks. Who decorated your place?”Johannes went around the kitchen island, keeping Charlie in his sights as he took two diet Cokes from the fridge and poured them into large glasses.
“I did mostly, with a little help from my mom and dad.” He made a face and then winked.
“Aww, a mama’s boy.”
“Probably more of a daddy’s boy, if anything.” He wrinkled his nose as Charlie laughed. “That sounded really bad, didn’t it?”
“Yes, it did.” Charlie was still laughing.
Johannes held out one of the glasses, making sure their fingers brushed as Charlie took the drink from him. The spark between them was instant and undeniable.

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4/9/2017

book Review: Last Winter's snow by hans hirschi

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Last Winter’s Snow by Hans Hirschi is the tale about Nilas and Casper. Their story starts in the early eighties when being gay was still an abomination, even here in Sweden and when HIV and AIDS were making itself a horrendous name and became the huge gay disease (the punishment for choosing to be gay as it was called then). 

I remember in secondary school I did my final paper on HIV and AIDS, this was in the late 90s, and I had the privilege to get to talk to several people who were living with HIV then, men and women alike I might add. It was right around that time, in the mid-90s when research hit home and developed the good meds, which finally gave HIV positive person a chance and it no longer was a death sentence. Well, at least if you lived in a country like Sweden or had money. So, when Hans described what happened during that time, even if I was too young at that time myself to have any own memories, I did recognize the society he was describing in Last Winter’s Snow. It was partly the same of what I had been told too when talking to people for my research. It feels like a hundred years ago but in reality, it was only some odd thirty plus years ago. 

Nilas and Casper meet in the midst of this horror of not really knowing what AIDS is, how you get it and also the slander of being the cause of it, once more having to prove you’re not the devil because you love someone of the same sex (when I think about how people were treated and still because they LOVE not HATE, but love someone else it makes me want to punch something.) They fight the general masses opinion and stick together and their bond grows stronger because of it not spite of it. Hans did this so very well to describe the hype and the general feel of it, the disgustingness around it and how they treated people, especially, gay men. 

The first thing I thought during and after reading Last Winter’s Snow is one of the first things Hans said the first few times we met, especially, the first time. He told me repeatedly, I don’t know how many times at that first meeting: “I don’t write romance” or “I am not a romance author” or “the books I write are not romance”. He was very clear that he didn’t write romance books. At that time I hadn’t read any of his books today I have read several, not all but several, and all of them have had romance in them and Last Winter’s Snow is the epiphany of romance, with a twist. And by romance I don’t just mean two people meeting and falling in love, I mean romanticizing a culture (the Sami culture that sure needs some fine romanticizing so we Swedes can get our heads out of our asses and see the beauty in the culture our nation has right under our noses). Then the way he writes about Nilas’ and Casper’s life, in general, the way he keeps Casper’s family a bay for most of the book and focusing more on the good from Nilas’ family. That is all romance in a way too. 

I have to say I love Nilas pretty much immediately, what’s not to like, he’s gentle but no pushover, kind and considerate, smart. He’s faithful to his homelands, and the fact that he’s Sami is a huge bonus since that is Sweden’s native people and very much a huge part of our history, one that we do not cherish as much as we should. I am sure they are very proud to have been featured in a Swedish author’s book too, and have such a huge part of the story which is why Hans (at least I think) decides to have the very descriptive fauna and landscape description so that the reader truly can get a feel for what Lappland landscape, or Sápmi, look like.  

Last Winter’s Snow is huge in its history and Hans most definitely make sure you get to see all the things there is to see, even here the words are romantic, the feel of the scenery he describes are majestic. I never been to the northern part of Sweden but I could see it too and most definitely want to go and see it for myself, the northern lights, the midnight sun, all of it. 

One other thing, I think, I’ve realized about Hans after reading his last few books is, either he must be thinking a lot about death and dying or he’s terribly afraid of dying, because there’s a lot of action around dying even in this book just like in the Jonathan books, his short stories… well, let’s just say, all his books have death in them. The only book I’ve read by him so far that there’s no death is Ross Handyman. So, there’s a complaint I have, if to call it that, do people really always have to die to not be around? Yes, death is part of life but really Hans my dear friend what’s with the constant dying?

The story of Nilas and Casper is absolutely lovely, it’s serene for the lack of a better word. There’s never any doubt what they are all about or what they are to each other. They are both strong in their own person but together they are rock solid. I’d love to have learned more about Casper, I felt that we didn’t get to know him quite as intimately as Nilas but this was after all Nilas’ story so in a way, I am not that surprised. The two ending chapters were magnificent and double bonus that it was a Swedish setting, that made this even more special or rather it is what makes it so special, to begin with. 

I recommend Last Winter’s Snow to anyone who is interested in reading a great but different book, it is not for those who expects an American setting with fluff. This is a Swedish book, with very Swedish characters and settings. I know from personal experience where my own books have been questioned or rather misinterpreted because it isn’t Americanized and the characters don’t act like Americans do because let's face it a lot of books have that point of view even if taking place elsewhere. I want more books like this one and what Hans has done is to give a little bit of Sweden to the world. 
​

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4/2/2017

Cover Reveal: Love of the GAme! Release day April 15th!

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The Cover Artis of this great piece of art is my friend and the very talented Ian Brown,
IB's Art Studio! Ian came up with the idea from reading the novel at a very rough stage and did magnificently. I couldn't have asked for more, Thank you very much, Ian! 


Love of the Game is my third full length novel and also for me the most complicated book I've written because as usual there's always a hidden meaning or purpose for me to write it. It is just not another story and it especially isn't just another BDSM story. 

Love of the Game is there to portray what I to me BDSM is about, and just to warn you there's not a single flogger, playroom, dungeon, or kneeling event that takes place and also it is just the beginning of a journey for all the characters introduced.

I hope you will like it spite its different on take on a very popular subject.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb:
Johannes is starting his new life as a rookie in the best hockey league in the world, the NHL. His new home for the next four years is Montreal, Canada, and he's excited to get to his destination when a storm arrives, stranding him in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France.

In the airport lounge, he tries to amuse himself the best he can. He's nursing a lukewarm beer, and about to head back to join his parents at their table, when the most gorgeous man he's ever seen, with piercing green eyes, buys him a drink. He swears he has never been so instantly turned on as he is in that moment. The man flirts openly with him, making no secret of what he wants from Johannes as he invites him to meet in private. Not being out only makes Johannes hesitate for a moment before accepting the beautiful stranger's come-on.

Charlie, a cocky and opinionated, ex-submissive and reporter is leaving Paris after being on vacation when the studly jock just happens to appear out of nowhere - served on a silver platter. Charlie sees no reason to deny himself a last rendezvous before he gets on his plane back to Canada.

What he doesn't expect is this stranger to see the real him. Charlie's normal plan of attack is to take charge. But when it backfires, and the studly stranger not only takes control but makes him want more, Charlie does the only thing he feel comfortable doing. He runs!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:


Storm
Johannes Alm was in Paris, not so much the city itself as stuck at the damn airport, which was not anywhere near as much fun as being able to enjoy the city of love firsthand. They—his parents and himself—had left Gothenburg that very morning, with the sun standing high, a blue sky floating calmly above them, no indication that thunderstorms were coming their way. Now, a few hours later, shortly after they’d arrived at the French airport, it had grown dark, and apart from the numerous flashes of lightning decorating the sky, there was no light to be seen. It was frustrating no end, and hell, he was bored, too. He was supposed be flying across the Atlantic, not being stuck at Charles de Gaulle.
He knew he was acting like a five-year-old child pouting over not getting a new toy, but Johannes couldn’t help but to let out an annoyed grunt. Usually, he had no problem hanging out with his parents, especially his dad; he’d done it a lot during the past twenty years. His dad was one of his best friends, but now, even that was a no-go. Pulling out his phone from the back pocket of his jeans, he called the one and only person he wanted to talk to when he felt like this: Adam.
Finding the number for his former lover, and still best friend, he hit the dial button, hoping to God Adam wasn’t busy. They’d officially called off their “relationship” a few months ago. It had been a mutual decision, and one that had just needed a confirmation out loud, because they hadn’t been sleeping together for a month, if not more, when they finally broke it off.
The reason: they’d never fallen in love. It had never been anything earth-shattering in that sense; it had always just been great friends having amazing sex, and the closer Johannes had gotten to the big day of moving overseas, the more his focus had been on hockey and his new life rather than getting off. But they were still friends, and that would never change.
“Stud muffin! What a surprise to hear from you. Did something happen?” Adam’s cheery voice boomed through the phone and into his ear. The simple sound of his voice, and the ridiculous nickname Adam had for him, soon had him grinning wide.
“You know, you’ll have to stop calling me that when you find yourself a real boyfriend. Actually, I’d suggest you stop calling me that so you can get yourself a real boyfriend.” He smiled into the phone, immediately feeling much more relaxed. That was what he loved the most about Adam. He had this way about him that just made everything seem better somehow. Nothing ever brought the guy down.
“Hush your mouth! Don’t use the B-word around me,” Adam scolded playfully. “He might hear you.”
Johannes quirked a brow. “You’re telling me you don’t want a boyfriend? You used to bitch and moan how you hated the fact there was nothing more between us than good sex.”
“Great sex, muffin. Great sex,” Adam corrected him, luring out another laugh.
“Fine, great sex.” Johannes rolled his eyes.
“Remember that, so when you meet all Mr. All-Canadian-Boy, you can tell him you learned all your best tricks from me. Oh, fuck it, just tell him I taught you everything you know.”
Johannes couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of him. It was in moments like this that he agreed with Adam. Too bad there wasn’t an inkling of chemistry between them beyond the “great sex.”
“Now, answer my boyfriend question,” Johannes prompted. He was like a bloodhound when he got a whiff of something. He seldom—OK, never—let anything slide, and he usually got his way. He knew Adam loved his more dominant side, and that was what had made what they’d shared between the sheets as good as it had been: Adam’s endless research on the internet and Johannes’ willingness to try it on Adam. The Train Station incident was just one of many scenes they’d played out, and the most public.
“If you answer my ‘what happened’ question,” Adam replied immediately.
“Storm happened. I’m stuck in fucking Paris. Mum and Dad are doing the wine-and-dine-yourself-to-a-coma, and I’m stuck here at some schmuck VIP lounge, looking out a damn window…”
“…wishing I was there,” Adam finished for him, causing him to crack up with laughter and making near bystanders turn to give him funny looks.
“Yeah, I sort of do. We could’ve done a repeat of the train station.” That had been hot as fuck and risky as hell, but damn, he could still rub one off thinking about their sexcapades at the train station, and it would make him come like a freight train without brakes every time.
“I’m not flying to Paris to fuck you,” Adam pointed out.
“Since when do you do me?”
“Oh, screw you. But I do ride well, don’t you think? Save-a-horse-ride-a-cowboy good,” Adam retorted.
Johannes cracked up again, a little less loudly, but still. It felt great to laugh. “You do. You’ll make a great permanent rider for some cowboy someday.” They were getting corny, and the conversation was getting out of hand. “Thank you for this,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Anytime, stud muffin, anytime. You know that. Before you go, can I give you a piece of advice?”
“What?”
“Johannes Alm, you’re in Paris, the city of love and mad sex, with nothing to do and time to waste. Go sit that fine ass down by the bar and let some Jean-Claude twink pick you up and ride you both into sunset.”
“You know you’re a complete and utter whacko, right?”
“Yes, well, my mother dropped me on my head one too many times as a child. Besides, you love me just the way I am, whacko and all.”
“I do, man, I really do.”
“See?” Johannes heard the grin that Adam was sporting at that admission. He’d made him smile, too. Rock on. “Now, bar, beer, twink, a good ride. Chop-chop!”
“All right, I’ll go for the bar and beer, at least. The rest? We’ll see.”
“Don’t be such a party pooper. Live a little.” Then Adam hung up, and Johannes was left with a dead phone pressed against his ear, not that it was that unusual when dealing with Adam, but at least he was in a much better mood than before.
Shaking his head and still smiling, Johannes turned back toward the bar.
With no Adam in sight, he’d have to make do with what he had, which was very-little-to-no sex games, a lukewarm half-drunk beer, and a bad French talk show. Maybe he just needed something stronger to drink and his current situation would start looking up.
But hey, it was all good. His life was changing for the better. He was going to Montreal; he was going pro in the NHL. Hell, his number one goal on his bucket list was finally coming true. If anything, he should be celebrating. At the age of twenty-three, it was finally happening. He knew he wasn’t old, but some of the guys he’d be playing with had already been in the NHL for at least two, maybe even three years. However, he’d made the choice, together with his dad, who was also his manager, a few years back to go easy and not rush overseas, to take his time and develop his technique in the SHL—the Swedish Hockey League—and give himself time to mature as a player.
Like a jack-in-a-box, the bartender suddenly appeared before him, all smiles and with a fresh beer that was put in front of him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t order this…” The protest was more a formality than an actual objection. He was ready for a new one, but how could the bartender have known that?
“With courtesy from the gentleman at the other end of the bar.”
Johannes followed the direction of the bartender’s discreetly pointing finger, his breath catching in his throat the second his gaze locked with the most amazing green eyes he’d ever seen. A storm of butterflies erupted in his gut, making all of him tingle, and even if he wanted to, he couldn’t look away.
It wasn’t often that he was awestruck by a man’s looks, but this one was such a fine specimen it was impossible to not take an interest. The way those green eyes bore into his, the suggestiveness there, it was clear what was on the table, and that he wasn’t the only one looking.
The stranger’s eyes roamed down over his body like a hot touch, taking in every inch, it felt like. The soft-looking, full lips that were twirled into a cocky smirk rather than a smile made him want to reach over and grab the man by the front of his shirt and kiss that smirk away. The impulse to do just that surprised him.
Hannes, get a hold on yourself. It takes more than a pretty face to get you all ecstatic.
But there was no hiding it. He was excited by the guy and the open proposition on the table, maybe, or solely, because of what Adam had suggested on the phone just minutes ago.
“May I make a suggestion, sir?” the bartender said with a friendly smile.
He already knew what he was going to do. Adam’s words rang loudly in his mind, but to humor him, Johannes nodded.
“Perhaps you should flip the napkin around?”
Johannes made a face, doubt rushing through him. No way had this guy sent him a note on a napkin. What was this? Junior high? “I don’t—”
“Oh, just do it already!” the bartender interrupted, seeming more excited than he should be.
Quirking a brow at him, Johannes flipped the napkin over, and there, written in neat block letters, it said, Meet me by the men’s room. Don’t make me wait!
Johannes snorted out a laugh. Was this guy serious? He didn’t take orders, especially not from strangers in bars who obviously needed taking down a pin hole or two. But he was interested—his prick was surely taking notice—and he wanted to go see what this beautiful man wanted. The fact he’d sent a note instead of coming up to him proved, at least to Johannes, that he feared rejection.
Sure, it wouldn’t be his first time in a public situation, but really, his game of hide-and-seek with Adam at the train station didn’t count. It had been with Adam, who, at that point, had been his steady lover, not some random guy.
“You’re going, right?” the bartender urged.
Johannes lifted his glass to his lips and took a sip, giving himself a moment to ponder and to keep the nosy bartender on his toes. “No, I wasn’t planning to,” he lied.
The bartender laughed and then quickly covered it up with a fake cough. Johannes popped a brow, and gave him a mock glare. He wasn’t really upset, but at the same time, he didn’t like people telling him what to do.
“Isn’t it quite arrogant to assume I would? How do either of you even know I’m into men?” Johannes asked easily.
“I mean no offense, sir. The truth is, I don’t know what you’re into, and frankly, it really isn’t any of my business. But if you don’t mind me saying, the look on your face when you saw him pretty much said everything. No words needed.”
The grin on the bartender’s face made him look like one huge, smug bastard. But Johannes had to chuckle. He imagined he looked like a man who’d just walked in on another man in a shower, naked and on his knees, waiting for him to appear, because the attraction had been instant.
“And what was that, exactly?”
“That you wouldn’t mind getting a piece of that ass.” The bartender’s grin widened.
Johannes half-choked on his beer in a spit of laughter. “Really? You saw all that?” he managed to say between laughing and clearing his throat. “You’re one observant bartender.”
“Hey, it comes with the job.” He shrugged lightly. “What also comes with the job is, I see nothing, hear nothing, and tell nothing. But between you and me—” he put his arms on top of the bar, leaning in a little closer “—if there was ever one man out there worth taking a swing in the other direction for, that one would be it.” He winked with a nod in the direction of the restrooms.
“Do you always encourage your customers to have rendezvous in airport facilities, or should I feel special?” Johannes accused playfully.
The bartender’s grin turned sheepish as his shoulders rose and fell in a slight shrug. “You’re at an international airport where thousands of people pass through every day. No one will ever know anything about it. Besides, Mother Nature is not letting any of you leave anytime soon. Do you have something better to do with your time? You’re young. Live a little.” He waggled his eyebrows, making Johannes snort out yet another laugh.
It was the second time in less than an hour he’d been given the advice to go have sex. One-track minds, the lot of them, but who was he to say he didn’t like the idea?
If he was being honest, he wanted nothing but to kiss that overly confident smirk off Green Eyes’ lips, to go to him and take what he wanted, and Johannes would bet his best hockey stick that it was what Green Eyes wanted, too. To be taken and devoured.
It sort of surprised him how badly he wanted to do this, but the idea of seeing Green Eyes climax, to be the one to make him come so hard his legs turned to jelly, to be the only thing keeping the lovely man from falling to a heap on the floor… He liked that idea a lot. The guy would look even more beautiful without the smug look on his face and in ecstasy.
Taking a last taste of his beer, Johannes headed for the restrooms.
“S’amuser!” the bartender called after him.
Johannes didn’t reply, but understood enough French to know it meant “enjoy yourself.” And no doubt there, he would make sure that they both did, and were left very happy and satisfied.


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2/25/2017

Book Review: Jonathan's Legacy by Hans Hirschi

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Jonathan’s Legacy by Hans Hirschi, is the 3rd and last installment of the Jonathan Series. The man who never writes a follow up on a story, wrote two follow ups to the first book Jonathan’s Hope, which should tell you all something about this trilogy of books. I’ll tell you this upfront, there are few things from my point of few that can measure up to Jonathan and Dan and that’s not saying that Marc, Parker, Cody, Adam aka Hwan or any of the other characters of this story doesn’t matter or aren’t likable, or annoying for that matter, they all are and they bring the story to its completion.


I read Jonathan’s Legacy a while back, but life hasn’t allowed me to have the energy to put words to paper, so even though the story isn’t fresh in my mind I think it has given me some time to reflect on a few things. What I like most about Jonathan’s Legacy is that it is a continuance of the two prior books, what happened back then is still very much a huge part of this story and in this case Mark who the books is foremost about isn’t all back to peachy normal and unaffected by what happened in the last book. It would be so easy to make it years later or what not and just let live. But I think my dear friend, Hans Hirschi, is very much like myself a bit of a masochist when it comes to writing stories, he loves feeling the pain of his characters as a tool to write and that is also why his books are so emotionally grabbing, for the lack of a better word.

Another thing that I loved about this story was the the part were Parker and Cody together with Marc and Adam starts helping street kids, I simply love Josh and the connection he finds both with Marc and Adam but especially with Adam. There you see the hint of the sun about who Adam really is, and I don’t know how else to put it “the life inside of him”. Parker and Cody are fantastic characters and together they are magic. This brings me to Marc, I’ll be honest at first I had a hard time for Marc, not so much that I didn’t like him but he was so damn indecisive and that drove me nuts, this when he met Jonathan. But that disappeared pretty quickly when you just continued reading Jonathan’s Promise, and got to know him and Hans really allowed us to get to know him well. Now I love Marc and it broke my heart when things ended as they did. Again the ending of Jonathan’s Promise another proof of Hans Hirschi’s masochistic or maybe it is sadistic side, (winks).

Now to my one and only problem with this book, Adam. I like him, I do, I even think he’s a great guy for Marc just because he’s so caring about both Marc and Josh, wanting them to have everything so they can be happy. He’ll bend over backward for those he loves, but damn someone needs to get this man off the prozac, because really he’s so controlled all the time! Nothing affects him, he doesn’t get mad at anyone ever when the rest of us would have a hissy fit the size of Texas, he doesn’t get upset not even at his parents for treating him like crap, he forgives everything, understands everything and everything that hits him is very kumbaya. I know he’s Asian, and the stereotypical view on them, is that they are very controlled, and well mannered, but boy there were a few times when I wanted to shake him and just tell him to wake the hell up! He just sort of is. He exist.

But the beauty of this book is that even though Jonathan is gone, Dan is gone and even Sean is gone since long time ago, they all, all three of them live on in this last book too. It is all about them actually in the end and that is what makes this book so remarkable. Must read for anyone who loves a great story that takes you for a roller coaster ride through life!

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1/29/2017

Will Americans start immigrating to Europe?

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I'll honestly say that I been pretty quiet as of late in regards of what is going on overseas, not because I don't care but because quite frankly I'm scared. I'm afraid of what it means to have a sociopath, narcissist, destructive, religious fanatic, racist and bigot in the most powerful seat in the world. It scares me because Putin and Xi Jinping (President of China), and every Middle Eastern country run by a tyrant, are celebrating the fact that now they can rule the world in benefit of themselves and their believes not in benefit of the people. 

I have to say I feel helpless and sorrow filled because I don't know what to do to help people I know, people I care for, people who I never met because I can see where Donald Trump, this new found dictator is taking their lives, locking them up and throwing away the key and no one does a thing to stop him. To all my American friends who didn't vote for Trump who now have to live their lives being suppressed and persecuted to an extent, now sit and watch their rights being stripped from them.  


It's like going back 100 years, or even 200 years, where women couldn't vote or make decisions over their own bodies and lives, where being LGBTQ/SAGA was equal with criminal act (and that is how it is for people still today all over the world). We can say that anything where you are not a white, straight, male in the age of 50 is non acceptable and should be exterminated or treated like a slave, and follow the rules set to you by a small, a very small majority of the people.

I'm sorry but wasn't this why the immigrants left Europe to begin with? Because Europe was to much of a Russian dictatorship? Because the Government decided to much? Has to much power?

Now Trump is in bed with Russia trying very much like the Islamic state (ISIS) to rule the US by religious laws instead of secular laws. This is why I'm thankful each day that I live in Sweden, we are far from perfect politically but at least religion does not rule our country. It's funny because when the Democratic side in the Senate bring up Sweden as an example of good democratic believes and governmental structure the Republican side always call us communists and claim: We as Americans are free men, we will not surrender to communism and being imprisoned by the state, that is their response. What they mean is that we are to harsh in our way of living and to tightly govern by the state, we have to little freedoms and the government has to much power. It's so funny, because in Sweden you love who you want to love and do so openly right there at the town center, few to no one will bat an eyelash. We wouldn't dream of taking away a woman's right to decide over her own body, we wouldn't dream of letting religion make any decisions on how our country is run, we wouldn't dream to tell you what God to believe in or to believe in god at all, we wouldn't dream of demanding a political leader to swear in to office by holding a hand on a bible. Does that sound like a communist country or a dictator run country to you?


Like I said, Sweden have issues, Scandinavia and the Nordic Countries all have huge issues, we have to face and deal with. We have politicians not facing problems in regards to ie. honor violence, equality issues, integration of newly arrived immigrants and refugees, but at least here your are safe, you have your human rights and your life matter and that goes for Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) and the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland) as a whole.

Where does this leave us, because yes I think this is an US problem not just an American problem we are in this together. Personally, I think that if things doesn't change soon and that is drastically change, I think abroad living Europeans will start leaving the US and return to their native countries, and in the end I also think American citizens who can will start to immigrating back to Europe. I'm not saying that they want to leave the U.S. because its their home, just like Sweden is mine, but between freedom and persecution I don't think the choice will be that hard and Trump is not indicating in anyway that he has any interest in doing anything that is best for the American people but what is best for white, straight, american males who already have power to gain more power. 

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10/21/2016

Book Review: Wes' Denial by Joseph Lance Tonlet 

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​It’s funny this thing that reviewing books is, at least for me. The more a book affects me the harder I find it to review. If Grif’s Toy was difficult to review because there were things in that book that just had me going through every human emotion possible then reviewing Wes’ Denial is bordering impossible to review. This review has taken me close two months to master.
 
Those of you who read my review on Grif’s Toy and who happened to catch some of my comments on Facebook while reading it knows very well my reaction to that book. In all honestly when picking up Wes’ Denial I was in doubt how the hell Joseph Lance Tonlet was going to pull this off, first, because Grif’s Toy was not only a really great book pure fiction wise but the message in that book was so loud and clear. Grif’s voice was strong and there were no doubts left at the end of the book about who Grif was or who was truly in charge in that relationship and (pardon my French) it sure as fuck wasn’t Wes. I was afraid that I was going to read a doublet of Grif’s Toy but from Wes perspective together with having Tonlet tying up a few lose ends like the big significance of Wes tattoo and who Henrik was. Even if my worry was slight, there had been no need for it slight or other. Wes Denial is just as good and I would say even better than Grif’s Toy for no other reason than the end.
 
Books like this touch me, because not only have the author, Joseph Lance Tonlet, managed to convey a magnificently emotional story but like I’ve said before managed to convey a message, or several messages, in a subject matter that is very complicated for most of people to understand, especially those of us who don’t live in the BDSM lifestyle or anywhere near it. Yet, we all tend to have a lot to say about it. Funny how that is, isn’t it?
 
One of the issues I have when reading MM books in general, if to generalize for a bit, is that I find a lot of them to be all about sex and I’m not talking about how many acts of sex there are. There can be a book with 5 scenes with actual sex acts but not have very much to do with sex or vice versa. You following? The clichés of BDSM books with the dark clubs, whips and chains, dungeons (and I am sorry but it doesn’t matter how much white or yellow painted walls you have in these dungeons they are still play rooms set out for one thing to “play” to indulge in whatever play it is that get a certain couple off), sex and more sex, child/parent play as I call it, which is about the dominant telling the submissive what he/she needs like they don’t have a clue themselves about that because first they need to be saved, it is all the typical encounters when reading a BDSM book. It might seem a bit harsh but it’s true, and I’m not saying they are bad books just that because of this they become very one sided or people who don’t tend to question things they know little about get the wrong idea.
 
Like so many other “things” BDSM is in my opinion over sexualized, it is the desire of having great sex that is the drive to seek out the BDSM lifestyle and that fact alone gives people a somewhat skewed view of what it's really about. After reading Wes’ Denial, not reading Grif’s Toy, but reading about Wes and what experiences forms his life I can finally say there’s one more book (to a very short list of books) that desexualize and, lack of a better words, re-humanize the BDSM lifestyle and makes it out to be what it’s meant to be a way of living your life together and getting your needs/interests met in more than just your sex life because it has to do with a state of mind and emotional needs that many times have a physical way of being satisfied.
 
Wes has this confident way about him but at the same time he has secrets and things that makes him vulnerable. Through life he finds out things about himself that in many ways disturbs him and makes him feel like a freak and like I said in my review on Grif’s Toy, it isn’t until he meets Grif that he truly understands himself or rather allow himself to do so. You learn throughout the book how he finds out what he is and what that means and how he struggles to find acceptance in being him. Thomas and Henrik are two of those people that he meets and two people who seen sides of him that are both good and bad. There are things in Wes’ past (that I won’t go into that are dark and to the point of cruel) that he’s shamed by, things that forces Grif to take on a role that is not his typical role for no other reason than to help the man he loves to deal with his past. Does this remind you of anyone you know? It does, doesn’t it, because we all do it at times to help others deal with things buried in their past, we shoulder tasks or situations, accept the burden of crosses not really ours to bear for no other reason than to help the people we love. Tonlet says himself that submission are gifts given from one person to another and I agree but Tonlet taught me something else too, that no matter how many labels we put on people or on ourselves in the end we are all the same. We bleed the same, we love the same, we want and need the same thing for those we love to accept us for who we are.
 
Wes’ Denial is about everything but sex, and there’s plenty of sex scenes in this book. Wes and Grif shows us it’s about the same thing every other relationship is about, which is love and commitment, about helping your partner through the worst thing they experienced in their life so they’ll be able to move on. Wes’ Denial is not a repeat of Grif’s Toy, nor is it an easy story to read both because there are scenes in it that are very graphic both in violence but also when it comes to the D/S structure of things.
 
Mostly it’s a hard book to read because of the emotional journey, Wes journey is so completely gripping and heart twisting at times it is hard to read because of the tears you shed. What Wes’ Denial really is about is finding and forgiving yourself, it’s that easy. It is about accepting yourself for who you are, good and bad, with the good choices and bad choices you’ve made, that you are not a weak man or less dominant because you need help and that being turned on by what you are turned on by isn’t wrong if with the right partner, the yin to your yang. On the contrary, Wes’ over and over again kills the stigmas of BDSM not being abuse, it isn’t just about sex, it isn’t weak or mean but it is just about two consenting adults, loving each other as much as the next couple, doing everything they can to make each other and themselves happy and also being openly proud of the life choices they made. Wes’ Denial is really a Cinderella story about true love and fighting evil for that love. Finally, this is a book that says all the things that every BDSM conversation should start with: Once upon a time there was a submissive boy who fell in love with a dominant boy…. And then they lived happily till it was their time. There’s a quote from Wes’ that I like to share from the book that is so spot on about what is about. To as the author says he done for himself and his own life too, the important question isn’t why (and trust me I am a very why asking person), the important question is, Are you happy? Or possibly, What makes you happy?
 
“Thomas had taught me there was nothing about either—sadism or masochism—which made either of us better or superior to the other. We were what we were; I was simply Wes and he was simply Grif.” From Wes’ Denial by Joseph Lance Tonlet
 
Joseph Lance Tonlet didn’t only give us an amazing and hard story telling us about Wes but he also gave us the most magnificent ending (and don’t think I don’t see the raised eyebrows because I do). But even though as I sit there and realize what is going on, there on the last pages and wanted nothing else but to yell at the author for being so damn cruel, I can’t picture another ending for Grif and Wes, because this end is the ultimate proof of how much Wes and Grif really loved each other and how deep that love truly goes. That nothing about them or their life together was driven by anything else but respect and love that they felt for each other’s. So, Mr. Benson move over the throne now belongs to Mr. De Luca!
 

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10/2/2016

Book Review: The Wag and The Scoundrel                         by Debbie McGowan 

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I love books, I love to read, I love the written word and I love to read in a lot of different genres. I read everything from classics of Kafka, Brontë, Austen, Shakespeare, to horror or crime such as John Grisham and Dean R. Koontz and so on and so forth to contemporary romance novels. There’s not much I don’t read, or many genres I can’t find authors to love.

However, there's one thing I’ve noticed with the LGBTQ community of authors, including myself, is that very few just write books. Books for the masses books about people who just happen to be something other the standard straight, white, christian. This thing we call sexual orientation is very important in the quest of not having it be so important. Mind you now I’m not saying this is always a bad thing, talking about matters will defuse them and eventually whatever made a hype out of one thing will be gone and commonly accepted, I’m just claiming it is how many people in MY oppinion write . Nothing wrong with it it’s just how it is.


With Debbie McGowan’s books, sex and sexual orientation is something distant, it’s not this huge statement or discussion, sex is something everyone has so it's like "knock yourself dead" and sexual orientation, it’s who you are no matter what that is so what's there to discuss. I am not saying it isn’t important factor in McGowan books but she has a way of wording things that makes them so acceptable that you just sort of nod and goes along with whatever she says. It's all the norm.

In the Wag and the Scoundrel Debbie McGowen’s characters are diverse but yet familiar that it doesn’t matter what their sexual orientation is or gender or color of their skin or political views they could all be you in one way or another. Gray, the widower, Rob the soon to be divorced, Will, the animal rights activist and ex banker gone surfer, Aaron and Naomi are so freaking brilliantly done I might actually have whooped a little; but they are all regular dudes and dudettes with very much of the same type of problems. Debbie McGowan is one of a small group of authors I'm currently reading that truly know how to make, all those things we all want to be non issues, into just that a non issue. That is a gift in itself.


When it comes to The Wag and the Scoundrel it’s a suspense and crime story, and I love those kind of stories, I prefer them when reading in a way, or rather I prefer stories that are about more boy meets boy or girl, I like stories about real life. Just like John Grisham, McGowan, focuses the drama on the actual case of “who’s done it” instead of the act of violence of seeing the crime being committed. That doesn’t just cause the story to become more of a suspense story because she as a writer can focus on more calm details in the investigation instead of the hard quick actions in the crime moment.

What I like most about this particular book are two things, one, the flow between keeping the pace of the actual case of investigating the murder going, so it doesn’t stagnate and sort of just flimsy out around in the course of getting people together as couples or sorting their personal lives out. The story is the crime committed that involves a lot of people whose life are intertwined. That is the second thing I love about this book, all the different characters that we get to follow and their personal lives as a side story to the crime investigation. It is a nice side step from the crime story, to say it lightens it up maybe a bit over exaggerated because damn these people got issues the size of a small European country, I am not jealous but we get to follow them on their personal journeys as well and I liked that a lot. I can tell you this I usually don’t spend too much time dwelling on who will end up with who, because let’s face it most romances are pretty easy to figure that one out, but since this isn’t a romance and that was pretty clear from get go I was muttering quite a lot and was ready to kick ass if Gray didn’t get his head out of his arse.

In all, Debbie McGowan write books for the masses, they are not simply LGBTQ books, well they are but I hate labels, books are books, and if I want a crime I look there and there’s where this book fits in. The Wag and the Scoundrel will have you turning that page after page till you come to the last one, because you just want to know who one done it and what the heck happens to everyone and I’ll tell you Debbie is goooood at keeping you on your toes! Finally what I have to say is move over John Grisham there’s a new crime author in town!

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You can find Debbie at: 

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Beaten Track Publishing

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9/3/2016

Crashing into Love by Gregory Jonathan Scott

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Crashing into Love by Gregory Jonathan Scott is a romantic comedy in the literary sense of the word. This is the kind of book you can read over and over again because the witty humor and the snarky sarcasm and banter between Sean and Kale is spot on.

The first time I read this book was back in January 2015, and since then I’ve read it two or three more times because it is a “feel good” book. The first thing that I thought about when starting to read it back then was how it reminded me of a movie that came out some odd 18 years ago with Harrison Ford and Anne Heche, a romantic comedy at its best, with a very snarky, sarcastic and energetic Anne Heche and an equally snarky, sarcastic and eye-rolling Harrison Ford, who is in a storm and yes crash lands on an island where shit goes south and then even more south when they stumble on something that they shouldn’t, pirates. Movies like this is the only romance kind of movie I like, because the banter is if done well and with to characters and actors that are well planned out and with chemistry, they kick ass. After watching it you feel energized, happy and yeah, you can do anything, the sky's the limit.

This is exactly the feeling you get when reading Gregory Jonathan Scott’s, Crashing into Love, you feel happy, empowered and ready to kick ass! Sean, oh dear Sean, he’s so wound up he’s like a fence wire ready to snap at any minute and damn those thorns can scratch up up bad if you’re not careful. You sort of have to know when to pull and push him, just like that wire, but also know when to back off and let it, him, move as it please for a bit and then get back at it. Kale, chuckles, doesn’t have a serious bone in his body and also he got a mouth on him that isn’t always connected to his brain, meaning he tends to say things before his brain has caught up and at times pushes people, in this case Sean over the deep end. The back and forth is fun, quick and easy and keeps you in a constant happy place. I adore Sean to the point of no return because he’s so damn difficult, by choice! *winks*

Now, the biggest misconception about good romantic comedies, no matter if they are movies (which even I’d agree is a tad bit easier because you have the visual aids helping you out, in books the author is the storyteller and is required to write in such a way that the reader creates his or her own visual aids and that my friends is much harder). Anyway, the biggest misconception about this genre (when done well) is that people assume it’s easy, that it requires little to no research, that it is predictable to the point of boring, that anyone with half a brain can whip one out on a lunch break, when in reality (at least from one point of view) it is one of the hardest genres to write in. Firstly, because of the fact that it is so looked down upon, almost mocked, so at the starting out point to you’re starting on minus, you have to prove yourself as an author. Secondly, you actually have to have a sense of humor (that not only you laugh at) to be able to do this and trust me far from everyone know’s how to write with the right kind of humor. The right kind of humor being a mix of Monty Python meets Mr. Bean and invites Benny Hill to party (to translate that we need sarcasm, subtle/clueless and sexy to the point of sexist humor). Gregory Jonathan Scott proves has all three of these, the sarcastic humor I’d say is spot on.
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Both Sean and Kale are characters you like from the minute you meet them, they are like night and day but yet the same, when Sean pulls Kale comes snapping like one of those old key change wires, when Sean runs Kale goes running after, it’s heat meeting passion, it’s the cherry on any good Sundae, it’s fun and light, it’s Harrison Ford and Anne Heche in “Six days, Seven nights” and it’s fabulous! I laugh a lot reading this book, each and every time I read it.

Crashing into Love is a story about love, most definitely so, it’s about overcoming obstacles, about friendship but mostly Crashing into Love is about Murphy’s law, that if shit can go wrong it will and if you can keep a good sense of humor about it you’ll be so much better off. It’s a book that serves the great purpose of entertaining you with witty sarcastic dialogue, and trust me it will make you laugh it will make you snort coffee up your nose (or whatever drink you might be indulging in while reading) when Kale time and time again with his sarcastic straight forward humor makes Sean flip yet another gasket. This is the book to bring with you to the beach, it’s the book to read out loud with others it is the book to pick up when life has dealt you lemons. Your spirit will be lifted I guarantee you!

You can find Gregory Jonathan Scott at the following sites:

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8/28/2016

Grif's Toy by Joseph Lance Tonlet

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Grif’s Toy by Joseph Lance Tonlet, oh boy, this will be one of the strangest, longest and most likely one of the most philosophical book reviews I’ve ever written, be prepared.

If you research about what people fear the most, one of the most common things people fear in this world is death. The reasons why can differ immensely depending on who you ask but generally they fear leaving their loved ones, which is a legit fear, I don’t doubt but I don’t have it, (I know appalling) how I don’t fear death. If I die I won’t be here, I’ll be dead nothing to fear when there’s nothing to feel. I don’t control dying, all I know is that one day my day will come and that will be it. Death is a part of life, it happens and we all know it, so why try to control something that isn’t in my power to control.

What I do fear is living, living a life that isn’t quite what I expected, and knowing that while I walk around living this “bland” life, (it really isn’t as bad as I make it sound, but I’m trying to make a point), I'm not fulfilling my dreams because we are not here to fulfill our dreams we are here to be good girls and boys and do what is expected. (And no, I didn’t have overly harsh parent, on the contrary, my parents, especially, my mother encouraged me to go out there and experience life. The cliche: If I known what I know now about myself back when I was 20 a lot of things would have been different.) Reading books such as Grif’s Toy, and even learning a thing or two about the author himself, makes those bells of unfulfilled dreams rings mighty high right about now, but also make you understand, well at least makes me get why people come to the point and say screw the world I'm going to live my life for me no matter what other people think because I need to be happy. That's what Grif's Toy is about, being happy and doing everything you can to live a rich fulfilled life. So, while the rest of us (again not everyone of course) putter around and only do what is expected of us, there are those who go after their dreams and live them.

When I started reading Grif’s Toy, I’d read the blurb, seen some reviews and I believe I had a fair idea of what I was getting myself into. Well, boy was I wrong, about halfway through, at what I call the piercing part I was ready to chuck my kindle into the wall, even though, up to that point I’d really liked the book even if there were elements in it that I couldn’t grasp and fully understand.

First of all, Joseph has created main characters such as Weston Wes De Luca, Tate Diaz, and lets not forget about Marcus Grif Griffin that are real, and as for Grif he is accomplished, smart and has great confidence about his person and know very well what he wants and needs (even if I didn’t see it at first), he’s no victim or a person with a rotten self-esteem, not at all. He’s the ultimate force and drive in this story and a positive one of those. Even secondary characters, such as  Matthew Smithton and Pavel Alexander are not just some filler roles, they are fleshed out and bring their own set of quirks, stories and facts to the book to why they are there, without them the story wouldn’t have been complete.

Secondly, Joseph is a damn good storyteller, he has a way with words that just magically pull you in and then bam the world as you know it is translated into the world he has created. I know for a fact, that I told my kids at one point to hush it because I was reading and I usually don't do that.  Also, this story is told in a way that it sort of brings you from the past into the present and that is a tricky thing to do so it turns out well. I is important that you tell enough to get the reader to keep going and also understand what happens, when and with who, so when the end comes it makes sense. There was no issues with that here, Joseph rounded it off at then end really well and there weren't any loose ends left dangling, and the the light-bulb went on and I was home so to speak. 


So, there I was ready to chuck my kindle in the wall and it took me forever to get through that chapter because I could only read a couple pages and then I had to let it rest for a bit and then go back to it. I didn’t understand, and I always have to understand where a person come from, it is a driving need in me, to understand why and to understand where people come from. It has nothing to do with me, that I have to want or need the same things, it has to do with understanding others and knowing that ultimately they are happy, ok, getting what they need, no matter what that is, maybe that I’m not turning my back to someone who needs my help, whatever. And usually, mind you now when I read BDSM books even if they are good books they always leave one thing unclear, or where I go “OK, I see what you are saying and I’m sure he/she’s happy but…” there’s always a but, a but containing that the submissive is portrayed as the person who has to be convinced by the more dominant part of what they need, like a child that needs a parent to explain why they need to brush their teeth. There’s always that aspect of hint of “parent, child” behavior (for the lack of a better comparison) and that drives me absolutely bonkers. I don't claim to be an expert on anything, especially not BDSM, but you don't convince someone to "do" BDSM you agree to do it together because you both want to and then discuss the do's and don't's.

This isn’t the case with Grif’s Toy, yes, I will admit you do have to read the whole story, from first word to last word to get the full feel of this, to understand it all and see this, but Grif is in no way shape or form not in control, or unsure of what he wants, needs or elsewhere confused. As a young man, he’s like any other young person, not fully fleshed out and 100 % secured in himself, but who is at that point, but as the book grows so does Grif and he’s kick ass. No doubt about it and here is the icing on the cake, Wes, he is not perfect! I’ve only read books by one other author that manages to do this, Wes, who’s the dominant part (if that is really how you can describe him because Joseph Lance Tonlet all through the book have Wes/Grif and Tate/Grif as equals and never strays from it) has insecurities of his own and this is also shown in a very soft and gentle way. I would even go so far to say that Weston doesn’t find his full confidence until he meets Grif, meeting Grif is what makes Wes blossom and fully believe he’s not “the freak” (to use Grif words) he think he is but that there’s a yin to his yang out there and more importantly,  Grif is his yin.

Grif’s Toy, has given me a lot to reflection on, and that the best part about reading certain types of stories, even if I agree with the author that fiction is to be read as fiction, I still think a good book of fiction has so much truth in it that a good fiction book can help change lives. Grif’s Toy is such a story, it's about self discovery, about accepting yourself for who you are and in that acceptance maybe even learn to love yourself because of those “flaws”. That no matter what we all have our faults, our limits, but more so what may first come off as the most horrendous, unfair and dreadful thing in the world might be the one thing that later on takes you on the most valuable journey you could ever have taken, and without that one “flaw” you would have missed out on the one thing that helped changed your life, for the better.


You can find Joseph Lance Tonlet on the following:

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8/5/2016

A Summer's Day Anthology for                                       YA Youth Across the World

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A while back, in early March to be exact, I was asked if I would be interested in contributing a short story, based on something written by Shakespeare, for an anthology, which I was happy to do. This anthology was to celebrate the 400th birthday of Shakespeare but also to contribute something back to society. 

What you'll find in this book is 12 story's by 12 author and their interpretation of something Shakespeare have written, you'll find happy endings, sad endings, humor, tragedy, but foremost love. 

All proceeds of this books will go to, It’s get Better Project, an organization set on helping LGBT youth around the world. 



Thank you to all authors who partook in this project!

Authors:
Louise Lyons, Rory Ni Coileain, Nicki J Markus / Asta Idonea, Cheryl Headford, Charlie Cochrane, Dianne Hartsock, Rian Durant, Kathy Griffith, Phetra H. Novak (that would be me), JL Merrow, M LeAne Phoneix and Rebecca Cohen.

To Petra Howard for all her hard work in editing this book, thank you.

And thank you very much to Jay Aheer, from Simply Defined Art, for the amazing cover.
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A Summer’s Day Anthology  

Foreword

We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.

There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.

We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.

There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.



Blurbs

Deeper Than Did Ever Plummet Sound
Rory Ni Coileain


Clarence Limont is a slowly fading star of the London stage; convinced his great performances are all behind him, he nevertheless agrees to play Prospero in an off-off-Broadway production of The Tempest helmed by an old friend.

Jaymes Stafford is the production’s starry-eyed Ariel, waking feelings Clarence had thought long dead and buried.

But the poisonous jealousy of other members of the cast may steal the stars from Jaymes’ eyes, and even put paid to Clarence’s illustrious career.

(“The Tempest”)

A Fine Line Between
Louise Lyons


When Romeo runs into Julian on the beach, he’s the last person he wants to see as he’s grown up hating him due to his parents’ aversion to Julian’s dad.

Forced to rescue Julian from the sea, Romeo is surprised by his grudging attraction to the other young man.

When simple lust becomes something more, the pair ignore their parents’ anger, but family fights drive the lovers away from home – into a horrifying incident. Will it make the Montgomerys and the Caplins rethink their feud?

(“Romeo and Juliet”)

The Devil and the Lion
Asta Idonea


Caius Martius and Tullus Aufidius have long been enemies.

Then Martius arrives on Aufidius’ doorstep, seeking a military alliance. Aufidius accepts; however, he wishes their partnership to extend from the battlefield to the bedchamber.

His lust for Martius is one of the reasons he spares his life, but his jealousy will soon have terrible consequences.

(“Coriolanus”)

Kiss Me, Kade
Nephy Heart


Kade is in trouble, negotiating a dangerous path between an authoritarian father and wayward sister.

Then Pete storms into his life and tries to take over.

It can only end in disaster.

(“Taming of The Shrew”)

If Music Be…
Charlie Cochrane


Rick Cowley finds himself taking up am-dram once more, thinking it’ll help him get over the death of his partner.

He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have reveled in.

Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?

(“Twelfth Night”)

Two Guys From Vancouver
Dianne Hartsock


Valentine has been watching Preston date man after man with never more than a brotherly hug for him.

Finally, despairing that Preston will ever love him in return, Val moves away to college, where he meets the glorious Silver, a man with problems of his own, who just might be his answer.
Torn between his attraction to Preston and his growing desire for Silver, Val wonders if he’ll ever find love or will his life become as tragic as any of the Shakespearean plays he loves so well.

(“The Two Gentlemen of Verona”)

When I Love Thee Not
Rian Durant


Desmond, the heir of a business owner is outed in the media after a hot night with his lover, Olvin, who also happens to be the company’s best negotiation expert.

This is only the first step in Ian’s plan to get back at Olvin for choosing Michel Caswell as a main assistant for the latest merger instead of him, a plan in which he’s moving everybody around like pawns on a chessboard, bending the rules.

Will Ian drive a wedge between Desmond and Olvin and get the position he wants or will he realize that there’s something more important that stops the world from turning into chaos?

(“Othello”)

The Merchant of Venice Beach
Kathy Griffith


Tony and Bartholomew have been friends for years, but his latest request is a little much.

Bart needs a loan to impress Porsche Keller, a personable billionaire, but the only cash available is from banker and raging homophobe Sherlock Palmer, who has a devious plan for them.

Will our heroes find love and get their happy ending?

(“The Merchant of Venice”)

A Hero’s Last Battle
Phetra H Novak


Claudio is happy to be home after serving his country as a soldier for over fifteen years being stationed mostly abroad ready to settle down.

Hero is still living at home, together with his father, trying to do what is expected a young man his age is supposed to do, work and live every day like it is your last.

The two men meet at a family wedding, realizing they share a mutual dream of finding love and starting a family but evil lurks amongst them. Will these two lovers find a way to be together?

(“Much Ado About Nothing”)

Nothing Like The Sun
JL Merrow


Hollywood darling Jerome Winter always defined himself by his looks—until a fire destroyed them.

His oldest friend and still-loyal manager, Sam, has long carried a torch for him, but with his looks—and earning power—gone, what does Jerome have left to offer?

(Sonnet 130)

The Sun of Tomorrow
M LeAnne Phoenix


When actor Koray Shepherd rescues writer Winter Sirois from the brutal hands of his supervisor, Winter never would have believed the beautiful Turk would share his love of The Bard.

When Koray asks Winter out on a date, Winter takes center stage in his very own tragedy, determined to end his play for today with a happily ever after.

Screwing his courage to the sticking place, Winter sets his sights on the future and Koray… but when the horrors of yesterday resurface, will he crest the waves of fear and despair, or will he be heard no more?

(“Macbeth”)

Much Ado About Lady Macbeth
Rebecca Cohen


Competition for roles is always high when the King’s Men put on a play, but David seems to come up against Jacob time and time again, no matter what part he is auditioning for.

But now they both want to be Lady Macbeth and it’s more than simple rivalry that causes the sparks to fly.

(Shakespeare’s Magic)



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    About Phetra 

    Dreamer, Writer, Reader and Metal Head.

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