Release of Felice Stevens' Beyond the Surface (The Breakfast Club #1) + GIVEAWAY

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Title: Beyond the Surface

Series: The Breakfast Club #1

Author: Felice Stevens

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: August 17, 2015

On 9/11, firefighter Nick Fletcher’s world changed forever. He's unable to rid himself of survivor’s guilt, made worse by the secret he hides from his family and co-workers. Nick's life is centered around helping burn victims, until he is reunited with the man he’d once loved but pushed away. Now he has a second chance at a love he thought lost forever.

For fashion designer Julian Cornell, appearances mean everything. His love affairs are strictly casual, and the only thing he cares about is making his clothing line a success. A chance encounter with the man he loved long ago has Julian thinking for the first time in years there may be more to life than being seen at the best parties and what designer labels to wear.

When Julian’s world takes an unexpected turn, it's Nick who helps him regain perspective on what matters most in life. Julian, in turn, helps Nick accept who he is and understand he isn’t responsible for tragedies he couldn't prevent. Lost love found can be even sweeter the second time around and after all the years apart, both men learn to look beyond the surface to find the men they are inside.

Julian was in the kitchen, sitting on one of the stools by the counter. He had a glass in front of him filled with what Nick presumed was vodka, having spied the Grey Goose bottle.

“Would you like a drink? I have beer, wine…anything you’d like.”

Nick shook his head, regret piercing his heart as he watched the hope drain from Julian’s eyes.

“I don’t think so. I’m going to head home. I want you to know how much I appreciate what you did for Jamal tonight.”

Julian stood abruptly, kicking the stool away from his feet.

“Don’t treat me like I’m some fucking stranger, Nicky. You owe me. It’s been eighteen years; you think I’m going to let you walk out on me again like you did before? After what just happened between us? After you fell apart? No fucking way. I’m not that same person and neither are you, obviously.”

Taken aback by Julian’s anger, Nick remained mute.

“What the hell is going on with you? One minute you’re tongue fucking me into the next century and the next you’re freaking out. I know I’m a damn good kisser, but this isn’t about us, is it? It has nothing to do with our past and everything to do with you and the shit that’s floating around in your head.”

Julian stepped closer to him and Nick, who normally couldn’t stand people near him, was rooted to the floor, unable to move.

“Talk to me, Nicky. Tell me what happened to you.”

He was so tired of holding himself together, feeling like at any moment he’d shatter into a million tiny pieces, leaving nothing behind but a pile of dust.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

The words poured out of him, flowing unchecked this time. “It should’ve been me. We all went to the Towers to save them. It was my day off, but I went anyway. I heard and couldn’t stay home; I had a duty to help, you know? But I lived and they all died. Why, Julian? Why did I live and they didn’t?”

“Oh, Nick.” Julian held him close. “I don’t have the answers for you. No one does. But I’m going to be completely selfish and say I’m so thankful you did make it and we’re here together after all these years.”

Unflinching green eyes gazed back at him. Clever, beautiful eyes that Nick could never stop dreaming of. Eyes that at one time had held the promise of forever, until Nick ruined everything with his cowardice and shame. Unable to maintain Julian’s scrutiny, Nick broke away and ran to the elevator, his chest heaving, eyes stinging with tears.

“Let me out. I need to leave here. NOW.”

I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started reading traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that my interest in romance novels became renewed.

But somewhere along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a juicy Historical romance, I began experimenting with newer, more cutting edge genres and discovered the world of Male/Male romance. Once I picked up her first, I became so enamored of the authors, the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I knew I wanted to write my own.

I live in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

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Release of Sandra Owen's The Duke's Obsession

The Duke's Obsession

by Sandra Owens

Genre: Historical Romance - Regency

Release Date: August 19, 2015

Christian Fallon, the Duke of Aubrey, has never forgotten the woman he fell in love with six years earlier. Forced by his father to marry another, he endured a miserable marriage. Now a widower, he arrives in London with the intention of vanquishing his enemy, a man who is set on destroying Christian’s family. When he finds that his enemy is courting the woman Christian tried for years to forget, he conceives of a plan to take everything away from the man, including Katherine, the widowed Duchess of Westervly.

Katherine has intentionally caught the eye of the Viscount of DeWynter, a man she can barely tolerate, but her stepmother is missing, and clues lead to the viscount as having a hand in her disappearance. When Christian appears on the scene, she is torn between the two men; Christian, who has held her heart all these years, and DeWynter, whom she believes can lead her to her stepmother.

As Christian turned to leave, he bumped into a woman.

“My pardon,” he said, then stilled. Katherine.

“Your…Your Grace.” She placed her hand over her heart, and her cheeks paled.

Percy stood behind Katherine, the same maid she’d had when he was courting her. At the time Percy had been a coconspirator in helping them find time alone. From the glare the impertinent maid gave him, it didn’t seem to deter her that he was now a duke. She’d probably like to stick a blade in his heart, and he couldn’t deny it would be deserved.

“Katherine, a pleasure to see you. It has been a long time.” Six years, eight months, and one week to be exact. When he had ended their courtship, she had married the Duke of Westervly almost immediately, and the two had left London for Westervly’s family seat. That she’d married so quickly had been a hard blow to his heart, even though he had lost his right to think anything where she was concerned. That her new husband had been elderly hadn’t mattered. All he knew was that she was truly lost to him.

“Please, I would prefer Your Grace or Duchess.”

Had he detected a tremor in her voice? “Of course, Duchess. Again, my pardon.” Her gaze stayed just below his chin, and he wanted her to look up, wanted to see into those beautiful green eyes to learn if there was any regard for him. Stupid that. He had broken her heart, over six years had elapsed, and the word was that she was as good as betrothed to DeWynter. There would be nothing in her eyes for him. She didn’t even want to hear her name from his lips.

She tilted her head, her gaze on the package he held. “It appears you are in a mood to read.”

Because he expected to be dismissed, it took a moment to realize she’d given him the opportunity to spend a few minutes with her. He lifted the paper-wrapped books. “These are for Mother.” He didn’t include mention of Theresa, as he didn’t want to answer any questions concerning his sister.

“Oh, is she in Town?”

Ignoring the glare Percy was still sending his way, he put his hand on Katherine’s elbow and steered her to a spot away from the door, regretting that he wore gloves, that he wasn’t touching her skin to skin. “She doesn’t come to London. Ever. Believe me, I’ve tried to get her to leave Rosemont, if only for a few days.”

Words were spilling from his mouth that were of no concern to her, but he couldn’t seem to stop them. If he didn’t speak, she would leave. Finally she looked up at him, and he had to force his lungs to keep breathing in air. How had he forgotten that her eyes reminded him of the leaves of a forest tree after a rain? Dark green and luminous.

“I’m sorry. I had hoped to hear that she…”

When she trailed off, he finished her sentence. “That she was happier after His Grace died, doing the world a favor?” Pink stained her cheeks, confirming he had guessed right. “Don’t be embarrassed, Duchess. I had hoped for the very same thing.”

He was relieved she hadn’t offered condolences on behalf of his bastard of a father. Also he hated having to address her as Duchess or Your Grace. She would always be Katherine to him. “As we are speaking of being sorry, my sympathy for the loss of your husband.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. I miss him terribly.”

At the tears pooling in her eyes, Christian wanted to break something. He shouldn’t want to believe her marriage had been one of convenience, but she had obviously loved Westervly. Until he had seen Katherine again at last night’s ball, he’d convinced himself that she was simply a fond memory. How different would his life have been if he had married her? Would they still be happy, still be in love?

She glanced at Percy, then returned her gaze to him and touched her fingers to his. “I hope you are happy, Christian. I truly do.” Without giving him a chance to respond, she walked out the door without looking back. Percy did, however, giving him one last glare.

He couldn’t move, could only stare at the fingers of his glove where it seemed warmth lingered from her touch. She had called him Christian. He had heard her speak his name in his dreams, but to hear it from the living, breathing her made him want to weep for what he had lost.

A best selling, award-winning author, Sandra Owens lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her family and friends often question her sanity, but have ceased being surprised by what she might get up to next. She’s jumped out of a plane, flown in an aerobatic plane while the pilot performed thrilling stunts, has flown Air Combat (two fighter planes dogfighting, pretending to shoot at each other with laser guns), and rode a Harley motorcycle for years. She regrets nothing.

Sandra is a 2013 Golden Heart® Finalist for her contemporary romance, CRAZY FOR HER. In addition to her contemporary romantic suspense novels, she writes Regency stories.