Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Out the Window

July 24, 2016 by Alexis Duran

Happy Sunday, Merry Summer, Good Day. Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where a bunch of really awesome writers share their work in ten sentences or less. I barely made the deadline today, being all caught up in weed pulling and edits, which are kind of similar if you think about it. No? Maybe I’ve been out in the sun too long.

And so to the business at hand. I’m sharing from my upcoming release, Gryffon Hall, an m/m fantasy inspired by the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. I’ve jumped ahead from where we left off. It’s the morning after the feast and Wryler, still in his bed, is feeling the affects of too much wine. Unbeknownst to him, the wheels of his fate kept turning while he slept it off.

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The door burst open and Wryler’s father marched in, followed closely by his first minister, Fenwale Cook. They were both smiling, which made Wryler want to leap from the bed and throw himself out the window. No good ever came from his father smiling.

“Still lounging in bed, I see,” Lord Glimmerveen said in a booming voice. “You did well at the feast last night, so I won’t hold it against you, not on this fine morning. Isn’t it a fine morning, Wryler?” Lord Glimmerveen stood with his hands on his hips, breathing deeply on the wide-sodden funk of Wryler’s room.

“I wouldn’t know, Father, for as you noted, I’m still in bed.” He glared at the intruders, but they didn’t seem to notice. Instead they drew closer and hovered over him as if he were sitting on a couch in his father’s study, dressed and presentable instead of miserable in his nightshirt.

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Gryffon Hall ~ Release date August 30, 2016

Useless fourth son of the Lord of Glimmerveen, Wryler dreams of getting married and escaping the rustic confines of his father’s castle. A wealthy merchant’s son seems to hold the key to Wryler’s safe if somewhat dreary future. However, the arrival of a mysterious stranger on the eve of Wryler’s betrothal sends his plans into disarray and Wryler finds himself traded off in marriage to one of the most notorious rogues in the land.

Is Lord Aeric Rouchet the barbarian he appears to be, or is he something much worse? Separated from his family and thrust into a strange and dangerous new life at the foreboding Gryffon Hall, Wryler must unravel the secret of his husband’s shadowed life and defeat the curse which threatens not only his growing affection for the barbarian in his bed, but the lives of everyone the Lord of Gryffon Hall is sworn to protect.

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This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ A Warning Bell

July 17, 2016 by Alexis Duran

Greetings Readers, Writers and Random Internet Wanderers! It’s time for another installment of Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where a bunch of really awesome writers share their work in ten sentences or less. This week I’m wrapping up the scene I’ve been sharing from my upcoming m/m fantasy romance, Gryffon Hall. Last week, Wryler rashly gave in to the impulse to make his betrothed-to-be, Lennox Arsbury, jealous by giving all his attention to Lord Rouchet. This might not have been the smartest thing Wryler has ever done.

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Wryler could pretend that Rouchet had just flirted with him—he’d never been any good at such things himself.

“Do you live alone in that vast place?” he asked.

“My cousins are only visiting over the winter, so yes, I am mostly alone, a situation I seek to remedy.” Rouchet leaned so close his breath tickled Wryler’s ear and whispered, “It is not only stags and beasts I hunt.”

Wryler shivered as a warning bell clanged somewhere in the back of his mind, but he was too wine-sodden to make much sense of it. He lifted his glass.

“I wish you luck in your quest, Lord Rouchet.”

They clinked glasses and drank, Rouchet grinning in a way that had Wryler thinking of predatory cats who roamed the night. He sneaked another glance at Lennox, who was now red-faced and fuming. Wryler couldn’t have been more pleased.

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Gryffon Hall ~ Release date August 30, 2016

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Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Monsters and Shadows

July 10, 2016 by Alexis Duran

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where a bunch of really awesome writer share excerpts from their work in ten sentences or less. Hi everybody! I fell off the edge of the earth for a couple weeks into the maw of family, holiday and too much work, but I’m back and it feels good. I’m picking up from where I left off in Gryffon Hall, my soon-to-be-released m/m fantasy inspired by the tale of Beauty and the Beast.

In the last snippet I shared, Lord Rouchet revealed that he spends his free time battling beasts and generally keeping the world of man free from the intrusions of these troublesome creatures. FYI, Lennox is Wryler’s betrothed-to-be, and he’s been flirting with someone else at the state dinner they’re all attending, while Wryler has been forced to make conversation with the mysterious Lord Rouchet. Rouchet speaks first:

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“Gryffon Hall is at the crossroads of nothing; it is a terminus, a bastion against the dark mysteries of the past.” Rouchet took another large swallow of wine. “But I don’t mean to frighten you or make you think it’s all monsters and shadows where I live. There is much a man can do to brighten his days and warm his nights.” He looked directly into Wryler’s eyes and lifted an eyebrow. A strange tingle traveled from Wryler’s scalp to his toes. Something about the words ‘warm’ and ‘night’ and the way Rouchet looked at him, calmly confident, assessing Wryler with more than friendly interest, or so it appeared, quickened his pulse.

But you’re drunk. He glanced over his shoulder at Lennox, who stared and scowled at them. Good, serves him right.

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Gryffon Hall ~ coming in Summer 2016!

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Schloss Meersburg

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Seductive Studs ~ A More Obedient Husband

June 19, 2016 by Alexis Duran

Time to start the week off right with Seductive Studs, the blog hop that celebrates m/m romance. This week, I wanted to share some tender love scene, but I have this tendency to keep my guys at odds, no matter how much they love each other. So here’s Wryler and Aeric from Gryffon Hall making up after their first fight. Aeric speaks first ~

“Now it’s time for your first lesson in docility. Take your clothes off.”

“Now? By myself?”

“Yes, now and by yourself. I’m going to sit on the bed and watch.” Aeric walked to the high mattress, plopped down and crossed his arms.

Wryler plucked at the buttons on his shirt. Although Aeric frequently told him he was beautiful, Wryler didn’t believe it and still felt shy about his slender body. Wryler preferred to have Aeric peel his clothes off in a tight embrace, preferably beneath the covers.

“You want to embarrass me as punishment?” he asked.

“You should not be ashamed of your lovely body. I want you to get over your shyness.”

“That will never happen,” Wryler said as he undid his cuffs. He kept his eyes down as he unhooked his high collar and pulled off his vest. He expected to shrivel in dismay but when he glanced up and saw the hungry look in Aeric’s eyes, his body flushed with heat. Just his luck he would be to the liking of a monster.

“But I hope you never get over your tendency to blush,” Aeric said, voice husky. Wryler tottered a bit removing his boots and some of his earlier pique returned. Why was he submitting to Aeric when he should be down in the library learning how to defeat him? He hurried his motions, pulling off his shirt and stepping out of his trousers with impatience.

“There. Happy?”

“Very. Uncross your arms and stop scowling. Ah, Wryler, I will never get tired of looking at you.”

“But I will get tired of standing here naked.”

“Hmmm. While you stand there, think about how you can be a more obedient husband.”

Wryler snorted and thought about the opposite, about how he might be the one in control someday.

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Gryffon Hall ~ coming in Summer 2016!

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For more sexy romance, don’t forget to continue the hop at Seductive Studs, where love wins, every week.

Seductive Studs ~ A Very Logical Impulse

May 15, 2016 by Alexis Duran

What better way to kick off the week than a little juicy m/m goodness? Welcome to Seductive Studs and our new Monday launch time. I received the contract for Gryffon Hall this morning, so I thought I’d celebrate with a snippet. Gryffon Hall is a fantasy inspired by the fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. In this scene, Wryler has married his beast and is suffering through the wedding feast on pins and needles, anticipating the night to come.

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Wryler mostly ignored the conversation and jokes. His mind was consumed by what awaited him that evening. Every nerve was so tightly wound he couldn’t tell if he was terrified or stirred by a level of lust he’d never experienced before. He hadn’t been jesting about wanting to tear his clothes off and found himself desperately anxious to see Rouchet undressed.

He told himself this was a very logical impulse to put everything into its proper perspective, to put to rest the ridiculous stories he’d been told, and get the whole thing over with. He drank too much too fast, which unfortunately fueled his impatient flames and made his hand want to creep along Rouchet’s thigh. He was in a fight against this impulse when Rouchet leaned against him and whispered, “Time for us to depart.”

Wryler hiccupped. “So soon?” He looked around and noticed many of the candles had burned down more than half way, but the servants were too drunk to change them out. Several guests slumped over their plates, snoozing loudly. Here and there cousins had simply stretched out on the floor. Dancers stepped over them most incautiously, laughing as they kicked or stepped on their insensible relatives.

Rouchet chuckled and helped, or rather, lifted Wryler to his feet and led him away toward the side door the servants used. “Let’s depart without fanfare,” Rouchet said after the deed was done.

“Yes, let’s.” Wryler struggled to walk steadily and match Rouchet’s stride. He tried not to cling too tightly to his husband’s muscular arm or lean on him too noticeably. Determined to keep his dignity, he met the long curving staircase with stern resolve.

“Would you like me to carry you?” Rouchet asked, an annoyingly sober twinkle in his forest green eyes.

“What? No!” Wryler released Rouchet’s arm, took two steps up and fell forward onto his hands and knees. He barely had time to curse before Rouchet wrapped an arm around his waist, pulled him to his feet and then lifted Wryler into his arms.

~~~

Unofficial blurb:

Gryffon Hall

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Seductive Studs offers a range of m/m fiction, ranging from sweet to smexy and everything in between. Don’t forget to check out the rest of the hop at www.seductivestuds.blogspot.com

Seductive Studs ~ Tempted

February 12, 2016 by Alexis Duran

Hello and welcome to the Seductive Studs blog hop! This week I’m celebrating the nomination of Blood of Salar by LR Cafe for Best Fantasy/Steampunk romance in 2015. Blood of Salar is the second book in the Masters and Mages series, but it can be read as a stand alone. This excerpt is from the first chapter, when M’lan and Jamil are reunited after a long separation. M’lan has been taking an early morning dip in one of the hot pools surrounding the temple where he is headmaster.

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M’lan emerged dripping and retrieved his clothes from the burn bush he’d draped them over. When he pressed the cloth to his face to wipe the water from his eyes, all the fine hair on his bare skin stood on end. He sensed a presence, and it was not Amara.

He took a step forward to flee via the pool, but iron fingers gripped both his arms and pulled him back.

“Your senses are improving,” Jamil whispered in his ear. “You actually detected me before I touched you.”

M’lan shuddered as relief and anger rolled through him in alternating waves. He gritted his teeth against an onslaught of curses that leaped to his tongue. When his heartbeat softened, he said as calmly as possible, “You…startled me.”

“Good. Maybe you’ll act more sensibly.” Jamil enfolded M’lan in his arms, and his warm, rich voice tickled M’lan’s ear. “Lolling about nude, alone, while rebel troops swarm around the mountain in droves. My god, M’lan, even someone more honorable and upright than myself would be tempted by the sight of you.” Jamil continued to crush him against his broad chest, and M’lan struggled halfheartedly to escape, still angry at being taken by surprise. He knew he was angrier with himself than Jamil.

Blurb:

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, for he knows that only his love can master the mage.

Blood of Salar on Amazon Loose Id All Romance eBooks Barnes & Noble

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Don’t forget to continue the hop at the Seductive Studs home page. Lots of steamy m/m goodness goin’ on.