Cover Reveal: Love's Trials by Janice Jarrell

Title: Love's Trials

Author: Janice Jarrell

Series: Revolutionary Heart #2

Genre: M/M Romance

Expected Release Date: October 12, 2018

Cover Design: Robin E. Vuchnich

Summary:
After half a lifetime spent in short-term liaisons that allowed no intimacy, charismatic Irish police officer, Colin Campbell, found the love of his life. Dark-eyed, steady Joshua Abrams burned through Colin’s emotional barriers and taught him to look at life through new eyes, eyes that made room for the love and closeness he had always denied himself. Deeply in love and completely happy, their life together remains idyllic and their fiery passion for each other seems limitless.

They survive the Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' riots, though not without scars. But later that month Colin’s position with the campus police force places him in charge of an informant program designed to crack a dangerous drug ring. Fully aware of the risks, he swears to Joshua that he will oversee the program without becoming directly involved. But Colin's promise begins to crumble when he becomes the only one who can save a young Nigerian exchange student from a deadly drug lord.

The morning of the 'Unite the Right' riots in Charlottesville.

Joshua poured a cup of coffee and took the seat next to Colin. "I damn joined the counter-protesters last night."

Colin wheeled to face him, his eyes narrowed to dark slits. "Do not do that!" He grasped Joshua's arm in a tight grip. "I mean it, Josh. Do not come down there!"

"It was a fleeting impulse which David immediately quashed. He told me he'd stop me if he had to tie me to a chair."

"Thank god," Colin said, still gripping Joshua's arm tightly. "Josh, I mean it. Please stay home. I understand why you want to join the counter-protestors and fight these Nazi bastards and I love you for it. But it's going to get ugly down there today, Josh. Very ugly. Especially for someone with your ethnic heritage. Knowing you’re safe at home is the only way I’ll be able to do my job."

Joshua frowned, but nodded. "I understand." He leaned forward to kiss Colin's cheek. "If you promise to hang onto your phone and to call me when you can."

"I will," Colin told him. "But don't worry too much if you don't hear from me. I suspect I'm going to have my hands full."

"How bad could it get today, Colin?" Joshua asked.

Colin’s brow furrowed. "You know what we’re dealing with. I’m afraid it could get very bad today."

A rustling at their back door startled both of them, and they turned to see David and Nate walking through their utility room carrying bags obviously filled with food.

"We brought breakfast!" Nate told them, setting the bags on the table. "Get some plates."

Colin rose. "I can't stay, I'm due at the station." He bent over the table and sniffed the contents. "Smells good though!"

David took Colin's hand in both of his. "Please be safe."

Colin nodded but did not speak then turned to accept Nate's hug. "Thanks," he whispered.

"Don't worry about Josh. We'll be with him."

Colin nodded then turned to Joshua who stood watching, teeth clenched against the dread that filled his mind and heart.

"Gotta go, babe," Colin said.

Joshua walked to his side, wrenching his mind away from his fears, resolved that Colin's last view of him today would reflect his faith in the man he loved and the courage to face whatever this day might bring.

They embraced tightly but neither man spoke. Then Colin drew in a deep breath and kissed Joshua lightly... briefly. "Chin up, bud," he said. "Be home later."

"Please be safe," Joshua said, his voice a hoarse whisper.

"Always my intention," Colin replied with a quick grin, then his expression grew grim. "Remember what I said, Joshua. No matter what you see… stay home!"

Joshua hissed out a breath, his mind burned with reservations. But he couldn't bring himself to add to the stresses already weighing on his lover and gave a tight nod. "Got it."

Colin bent toward him, his lips brushing Joshua's ear. "Ta`mo chori istigh ionat," he whispered, Gaelic for 'my heart is within you', a phrase Joshua knew well.

"Ani Ohev Otcha," Joshua choked out, responding with the same words in Hebrew.

Without another word, Colin wheeled and strode out the back door. He didn't see Joshua sink into a kitchen chair and collapse forward, the heels of both hands pressed to his forehead.

Author Bio:
My name is Janice Jarrell. I am a retired grandmother who lives in Seattle, WA. I have two children and three grandsons. I’ve been writing gay romance since I was twelve years old, only back then it wasn’t called ‘gay romance’. In fact, it had no name at all. It was the fifties, and it was worth your life to admit to being gay, let alone confess to being a girl who constantly fantasized about relationships between gay men. Hell, I didn’t even know what a homosexual was. I lived on a farm out in the sticks in a tiny Michigan village and I’d never, to my knowledge, even heard the word. I just knew I loved the thought of boy on boy romance. I just knew that there was something hot going on between Tom Corbett and his Space Cadets and all those guys on ‘Combat’.

I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.

Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my own characters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.

I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling, walking, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and weaving.

I'm very excited about the upcoming release of my second contemporary gay romance novel, Love's Trials. Those of you who fell in love with Joshua and Colin in Love's Magic are in for a treat because they are the STARS of Love's Trials, though they may not thank me for it given the very difficult 'trials' they are about to face.

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Release Day Blitz: Ride or Dye by Aimee Nicole Walker

Title: Ride or Dye

Author: Aimee Nicole Walker

Series: Curl Up and Dye Mysteries #6

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: September 12, 2018

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Cover Design: Jay Aheer at Simply Defined Art

Summary:
Gabe and Josh Roman-Wyatt have been living life in the fast lane. Demanding jobs, precocious twin toddlers, an ever-growing circle of friends, and a menagerie of pets means their home is filled with love and laughter but very few quiet moments for the happy couple. Gabe’s solution is to plan a surprise vacation at a perfect hideaway where the two of them can slow things down and reconnect.

Tarlington House, a historic home located on Edisto Island in South Carolina, hosts an annual murder-mystery event which will allow Josh to use the skills he learned from his all-time favorite television detective to solve the case. The serene setting is perfect for fun days in the sun, passionate lovemaking under the stars, and a healthy wager between husbands to see who can plan the best date. But when the other guests arrive, the guys find themselves surrounded by liars and cheaters who will say or do anything to win, reminding them there’s no place like Blissville.

When a guest is killed during a vicious storm that knocks out the power and phone lines, Josh and Gabe’s murder mystery role-playing becomes a real-life whodunnit. Serve and protect will take on a deeper meaning for Gabe when he’s torn between upholding the law and protecting his husband from a ruthless killer.

Ride or Dye includes sexy sunrises, snarky banter, and swoon-worthy romance. It is the sixth and final book in the Curl Up and Dye Mysteries, which must be read in order. Ride or Dye contains sexually explicit material intended for adults 18 and older.

I followed Josh into our bathroom and undressed while he turned on the faucet to let the water heat up. “Let me,” I said when he reached for the hem of his T-shirt. Baring his skin never got old, and I knew it never would. Once he was naked, Josh adjusted the water temperature then put the stop in the drain so the tub would fill. I kept my hands on his body the entire time then pulled him to me for a kiss while we waited for the water to rise.

“I love the way you cherish me,” Josh whispered against my lips. “I appreciate all the thought you put into this vacation. I adore being just us again.”

“I do love and cherish you, Sunshine. It feels like these last few years have flown by like a speeding train. At least at this moment with you, life doesn’t feel so damn hectic and insane.” I reached around to glide my hand over his taut ass. “I want to slow it down and soak up every second I have with you.”

Josh reached over and shut off the faucet. “We’ll start with a soak in this amazing tub.”

“That’s borderline cheesy, Sunshine,” I said, stepping into the tub. The water temperature was perfect, but Josh always knew just how I liked everything. “We are a snarky family, not a cheesy one.”

“I believe I came up with that rule,” he reminded me.

“Well, you nearly broke it.”

Josh waited for me to get settled before he stepped over the side of the tub and sank down in the water between my parted thighs. “Oh, hello there, Captain.”

How could I not be rock hard with his glorious ass pressed against my cock and balls? Thoughts of soaking my body turned into rowdy fucking. “Turn around and straddle me,” I whispered in his ear. Josh must’ve liked the husky timbre in my voice because he shivered deliciously before doing as I requested.

Josh let his head fall back as soon as our hardened cocks pressed against each other. I took advantage of his exposed neck, knowing how sensitive it was and how horny my kisses made him. The urge to fuck grew stronger every second he was in my arms, but why rush? We were on vacation. We didn’t have to set alarms to be up early for work nor would our kids wake us at some ungodly hour. I could kiss and savor him in ways I hadn’t in a very long time.

I left no part of my husband’s body untouched, and he did the same to mine. I relearned all the types of kisses that made him shake with want and need. Neither of us let up on our sensual attack until we both trembled against each other. As much as I wanted to be inside Josh, I took my time drying his body then mine before we kissed our way to the bedroom. Turning the bedside lamps off wasn’t even a consideration because I didn’t want to miss a single expression on his face when we joined our bodies.

I loved the way he reached for me, trusting his heart, body, and soul in my hands. No matter how desperate my lust became, I took my time stretching him open with lubed fingers because I only wanted cries of pleasure crossing his parted lips. I pressed my mouth to Josh’s, tasting the passionate cries escaping him when I finally slid home and was fully seated. Josh wrapped his arms around my shoulders and hooked his legs around the back of my thighs, making sure every part of him enveloped every part of me. Just like that, my plans to love him slow and tender evaporated.

Author Bio:
I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I'm a girly tomboy who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees.

I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever-after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.

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Blogger Review: Everything I Know by Josh Lanyon

Summary:
Connor loves teaching. He loves working with kids, he loves feeling like he's making a difference. And the kids -- and parents -- seem to love him. Until the afternoon he makes a small error in judgment, and an angry father's thoughtless comments start the kind of rumor that destroys careers. And lives.

Now everything Connor thought he knew about himself and his world is in doubt. But sometimes help comes from the most unexpected direction.

Connor makes a snap decision when one of the children in his care is injured and in doing so his life is turned upside down.  When Wes Callahan makes a comment in anger and fear, and even though the inferred rumor is only known to two or three people it has a lasting effect on Connor's life.  Will Wes be able to make it right?

I'm going to start by saying that Everything I Know has been on my Kindle since June 2014, that's right, for over four years this little gem has been sitting there in my hand and yet it went unread.  How you ask?  I have no answer for that because Josh Lanyon is one of my favorite authors and one of only a handful I call "1-clickers".  My only excuse is that it just kept getting pushed down, down, and down on my TBR list.  Well, I read it now and I loved it!

Connor is the kind of teacher we all want for our kids(even those of us who don't have kids), he's attentive, he's encouraging, he's friendly but not a pushover, and he dispenses wisdom all while still letting kids be kids.  Wes is a single dad with a wonderful relationship with his daughter's mother but unfortunately he lets his fears run his mouth in a single, emotional moment without realizing what he has set in motion.  As this is a novella, I won't say any more about the plot but I do want to say that even though what sets the story in motion is heartbreaking and can leave the reader almost angry I found the story as a whole to be uplifting and simply put entertaining and still can't believe it took me over four years to read.

I just want to say that the title says so much and is so true, Everything I Know, and then you turn the page to see the rules most of us learned in kindergarten that the title refers to:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life-Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.

It's a shame we don't continue to follow the lessons we learned as we started school, life would be so much better for so many of us.  Having said that, don't think Everything I Know is about teaching the reader a lesson but at the same time if you walk away having realized something about yourself than all the better.  Truth is this is just a lovely, frustrating-at-times, entertaining read that made me smile and I can't ask for more.

RATING:

Con was talking to Dr. Li when Wes Callahan arrived.

Con did not know Lizzy’s father well. Every morning and every afternoon they exchanged a few polite words as Callahan dropped off and picked up his daughter. It had been no different that morning. The exception had been on Back to School Night when they had spoken for nearly five minutes. Con had told Lizzy’s dad what a great kid Lizzy was–and he’d meant every word. She was funny, smart, a little precocious, and a total charmer. Lizzy’s dad had told Con how much Elizabeth adored Mr. Connor. Men like Callahan did not use the word “adore,” but that had been the gruff gist of it.

Basically that was Con’s entire experience and understanding of Wes Callahan. A courteous and concerned parent who looked better in his usual jeans and T-shirts than most of the dads did in their suits and ties. That, and Wes Callahan was the biggest VIP of all Sunshine Cottage’s VIPs. Callahan was Sunshine Cottage’s only millionaire dad. In other words, handle with care.

And it was very obvious from Con’s first glimpse of Callahan striding through the sliding glass door of Pediatrics, that kid gloves would be required. Lizzy was an only child, and both her parents doted on her–their natural protectiveness heightened by the fact that Lizzy had been a frail and sickly baby.

Through the glass of the reception area, Con watched Callahan pause at the front desk. Callahan’s face was white, his brown eyes seemed to blaze with emotion. Instead of his usual jeans and T-shirt, he wore a dark suit–a very nice dark suit–which probably explained why he had been unreachable by cell. Some kind of conference, maybe a power meeting with prospective clients.

“Here’s Dad,” Dr. Li said, smiling as Callahan barged through the communicating door that separated the waiting room from the examining rooms.

“Mr. Callahan.” Con took a step forward.

Callahan yelled, “Who the hell do you think you are, dragging my kid around town without my permission?”

Con stopped in his tracks. “I’m sorry?”

“You will be. I’ll make damn sure of that.”

“I was trying to get Lizzy medical attention as quickly as possible. I do have your written permission on fi–“

“If you wanted to help, you’d have done your job and made sure she wasn’t hurt in the first place.” He jabbed his finger at Con’s chest for emphasis. “I’m holding you personally responsible for this, Myers.”

Con was speechless.

“OH-kay.” Dr. Li opened the door to the examining room. “Mr. Callahan, if I could have you step inside here.”

“Daddy! Daddy!” Lizzy squeaked from inside, and relief flooded Callahan’s colorless face.

“Is she okay?” he got out.

“She’s going to be just fine,” Dr. Li said, throwing an apologetic look at Con.

Con couldn’t have responded to save his life. He had anticipated Callahan being upset, worried, alarmed. He hadn’t expected fury. Let alone fury directed at himself. It felt like he was watching this play out from a distance. Not far enough of a distance, unfortunately.

Everyone, from the girl at the front desk, to the toddler and his teenaged mother playing with blocks on the floor of the waiting room, were staring open-mouthed at him.

It wasn’t like that. That’s what he wanted to say. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been watching, hadn’t been paying attention, hadn’t been doing his job. Accidents happened. Sometimes they happened out of arm’s reach. But how did you explain that to someone who didn’t have firsthand experience of supervising over twenty active children on a small playground? Anything he said was going to sound like an excuse. But that was the excuse–or explanation, at least.

“Mr. Callahan,” he finally managed to croak, as Dr. Li ushered Callahan into the examining room.

Callahan rounded on him, his expression so contemptuous that Con broke off.

“I don’t want to hear it. What kind of normal grown man makes a career out of hanging around little kids?” Callahan’s voice was scathing. He turned his back on Con and went into the examining room.

Author Bio:

Bestselling author of over sixty titles of classic Male/Male fiction featuring twisty mystery, kickass adventure and unapologetic man-on-man romance, JOSH LANYON has been called "the Agatha Christie of gay mystery."

Her work has been translated into eleven languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first male/male title to be published by Harlequin Mondadori, the largest romance publisher in Italy. Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan's annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list).

The Adrien English Series was awarded All Time Favorite Male Male Couple in the 2nd Annual contest held by the Goodreads M/M Group (which has over 22,000 members). Josh is an Eppie Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist for Gay Mystery, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads Favorite M/M Author Lifetime Achievement award.

Josh is married and they live in Southern California.

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Monday's Mystical Magic: The Enchanter's Flame by Michele Notaro

Title: The Enchanter's Flame

Author: Michele Notaro

Genre: The Ellwood Chronicles #1

Genre: M/M Romance, Paranormal, Magic

Release Date: August 18, 2018

Summary:
Strange things are happening all around Brinnswick. Things that remind me of a piece of my past I’d rather forget. Girls are being killed, drained of blood, and left with strange markings on their bodies. When I finally connect the cases together, a specialist is called in—though, what he’s a specialist of is beyond me.

When the chief assigns him as my new partner for the case, I can’t help but groan on the inside. Why of all people would I be assigned to Ailin Ellwood? The man is a disaster waiting to happen and a jerk to boot. A sexy jerk, but a jerk nonetheless.

What will Sebastian think when he discovers Ailin’s specialty? Will he make a run for it or will he stick around and discover a world of magic hidden beneath the city’s surface?

***The Enchanter’s Flame is the first book in the Ellwood Chronicles. It’s a paranormal romance that contains explicit material and is intended for mature adults 18 and over.***

I needed to pee, so I set the cat on the floor and went to take care of business. The thought of jumping in the shower while Ailin was out crossed my mind, so I pulled the shower curtain back, but yelled out in surprise. Holy shit! There was a fucking snake in the tub! “What the fuck?” I ran out of the bathroom and scooped up Seraphina so she wouldn’t go investigate the bathroom and wind up hurt, then I ran straight for the phone to call the front desk to take care of it. I had no idea what kind of snake it was or how it’d gotten in there or whether or not it was venomous or whatever. But I didn’t want to take the chance of trying to grab it myself. If it was venomous, I could end up in the hospital.

I picked up the phone and dialed the front desk, but just as the girl picked up on the other line, Ailin slammed the door open and boomed, “What’s wrong?”

I blinked at him as a huge rush of wind came in through the door, blowing the loose side of his hair. I lowered the phone a little and answered, “There’s a snake in the tub.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Who are you calling?”

He looked… terrifying. It was like the wind coming through the door was playing off his emotions. I knew that wasn’t really happening, but he looked as stormy as the weather behind him. “I-I was calling the front desk to come get it.”

“Hang up the phone, Seb.”

“Wh-what? Why?”

“I’ll take care of the snake. They’ll probably just kill it. I can grab him and release him outside.”

I stared at him for several seconds before hanging up the phone. I could see how serious he was, and I knew he was right, that the front desk girl would likely just kill the animal. It seemed like Ailin’s love for animals knew no bounds.

He glanced at me, then noticed the cat in my arms, and his gaze softened a little. “You saved Sera.”

“Of-of course I did. I didn’t want her to get hurt.”

Some of the wind died down. “Thank you.”

He headed straight into the bathroom, so I got up and followed him, holding the kitten tight to my chest. I stood in the doorway to watch him. He made a few sounds, like hissing, and I swear the snake hissed back, then Ailin spoke under his breath, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“How are you going to get—”

I cut myself off when Ailin reached a hand into the tub, and a second later, the snake was slithering up his arm. I took a step backward and stared in disgust. What the fuck is he doing? That thing is going to bite him! Ailin stood and the snake wrapped around his arm, then around the back of his neck.

“Ailin, it’s going to bite you,” I whisper-yelled.

Ailin shot me a cocky smirk. “It’s nice to see that you care, Sebastian, but I guarantee he won’t hurt me.”

“How can you possibly say that?”

He shrugged and I frowned as the movement caused the snake to shift so its head was near Ailin’s throat. “He’s just lost.”

I blinked at him. “Okay, well, go… throw him in the parking lot or something.”

Ailin frowned at me. “I’m going to help him find his home. I think he comes from the same woods we’re heading to, anyway.”

“That thing is not coming in my car!”

Ailin huffed. “You and the car rules again! How can I possibly keep up when you keep adding more and more rules?”

I closed my eyes and my nostrils flared in irritation. “I’m not changing the rules. I told you before I didn’t want a cat in my car, so it’s the same rule… it applies to all animals.” Sera hissed a little at me, and I mumbled down to her, “You don’t count. I like you.” Okay, so I guess Ailin isn’t the only one that talks to her.

“But you changed your mind and let her in. Why would it be any different with George?”

“Did you seriously just name that snake ‘George’?”

“No, that was his name already.”

I had no words for that. “You… you’re not bringing George into my car!”

“Then I guess I’m walking to the crime scene.” He clenched his jaw, then shouldered past me out of the bathroom as I tried to scramble away from the snake. “And you think I’m the mean one.”

Who are some of your favorite authors and/or books to read when you need to relax?
I actually don’t reread books too often because I love going on new adventures with new characters, but when I do it’s usually the same few. A couple rereads that I love include Alexa Land’s Tinder Chronicles (because I love a good vampire book), Jaclyn Osborn’s Noah’s Song (because I love YA), Jaymin Eve (an MF author and great at world building), SJ Himes’s Beacon Hill Sorcerer series (who doesn’t love magic?), and I reread many of my close friends’ books as well.

If you were approached to have your book made into a film, who would you cast?
I actually saw a random picture of Dallas Wade a long time ago, and he inspired the main character in The Enchanter’s Flame, Sebastian. And I think I would pick Taylor Kitsch for the other MC, Ailin.

It's often asked what is your favorite part of being a writer but what is the easiest or most natural part of the creative process for you?
I absolutely love world building. I love thinking about what the entire world looks like, then taking a small piece of that world that the MCs will exist in. But another part of writing that I love and comes naturally to me is when I have a blank piece of paper (or Word doc in this case) right in front of me. The possibilities are endless and when I get a small idea in my head, it just grows as the characters take over. I love that feeling.

Is there any one character you've created that is most like you? If yes, who and why?
Every character that I write has a little bit of me in them. Harley from my second book, A Little Bit Broken, has a lot of my characteristics, and Symon from my MMM, Love, Never-Ending, does as well. All of them have pieces of me, but those two are probably the most like me.

If you could go anywhere(finances, time, & obligations not an issue) where would you go and why?
Ireland because it looks beautiful and I’ve always wanted to go there. I live in a city, so the thought of all that gorgeous green land makes me smile. And I would love to learn more about the history of many of the places there, so I think it would be a lot of fun.

Author Bio:
Michele is married to an awesome husband that puts up with her and all the characters in her head--and there are many. They live together in Baltimore, Maryland with their two young boys and two crazy dogs. She grew up dancing and swimming and taught dance--ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, & modern--for ten years before her kids came along. Now she stays home to write about the sexy men in her head and does PTA everything--as long as coffee is involved. Two other tattooed moms run the PTA with her, and though she wants to rip her hair out from it, she still loves it.

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Week at a Glance: 9/3/18 - 9/9/18

Monday's Memorial Moment: The Artist by Bonnie Dee

Release Blitz: Summit by Louise Lyons

Blog Tour: The Billionaire's Wedding by Geoffrey Knight

Release Blitz: In this Iron Ground by Marina Vivancos

Blog Tour: Time for Love by Lynn Michaels

Release Blitz: New York Nightwings - The Complete Collection by VL Locey

Blog Tour: Looking Forward by Michael Bailey

📘🎥Friday's Film Adaptation🎥📘: I am Third - The Inspiration for Brian's Song by Gale Sayers & Al Silverman

Saturday's Series Spotlight: DS Billings Victorian Mysteries by Olivier Bosman Part 3

Sunday's Short Stack: His Grandfather's Watch by NR Walker

Sunday's Short Stack: His Grandfather's Watch by NR Walker

Summary:
It was just an ordinary day for Alex Harper at Harper's Antiquities, until Callum Winters walked in with a watch.

"It was my Grandfather's. I was hoping you could tell me something about it."

A love story of two couples, generations apart.

***Second Edition. Earlier edition released in 2012. No additional content has been added.***

Re-Read Review September 2018:
I really can't think of a single thing to add to my original review that would express how wonderful this novella is other than, it's shortness may be in the number of pages but not in the quality of the story.  His Grandfather's Watch had me even more teary-eyed now than it did when I first read it three years ago.  It is rare that you get two heart felt love stories in a novella but that is exactly what this little gem brings to the table.

I chose to re-read this now in honor of Grandparents Day but whenever you decide to pick it up you won't regret it and I highly recommend reading this one because not only will you be entertained but you might also learn a thing or two about understanding your family's past.  I know I can honestly say that had I not already been deeply invested in my family genealogy this story would have had me itching to discover my family's past.

Original Review July 2015:
This novella may be a short quick read but it is more powerful than many full length novels I have read.  I was sitting in my front yard under the shade of my maple tree and was so glad I had sunglasses on because otherwise I probably would have scared the children playing across the street when the tears started running.    The blend of contemporary and historical is perfect for the emotional buildup for the story the watch represents.

The historical part of the watch's tale touched my heart a bit more but I am a bit of a history buff so stories of the past usually do.  As my mother's 24/7 caregiver for the past 20 years, when Callum said "My life hasn't been about me in a long time" really struck a chord because in those 10 words she summed up what every caregiver lives not to mention the kind of man Callum is and the fact that Alex understands it also goes a long way in describing his character as well.

I rarely give novellas a full 5 bookmark rating just because my heart prefers full length stories but this is such a powerful emotional ride that nothing short of the full 5 is fitting.

RATING:

Chapter One
Sitting in the back room at my desk, with a dismantled 1901 Newman's clock, I heard the bell that chimed every time a customer walked through the door. My dad was behind the counter, and I heard him greet the customer, making small talk, discussing whatever antique it was they'd brought with them.

It's what we did.

My father's love of all things antique grew into this business, Harper's Antiquities. Dad was the expert and Mom did the research, but they both traveled, scouring the globe for their life's passion. My brother Scott did antique furniture restoration, but it wasn't something I ever saw myself doing. Then I started helping out when I was a kid at school, and I found a love of clocks.

It’s my specialty.

I could hear Dad talking to the customer, but didn't pay them any mind until I heard my name.

"Alex?"

Putting down the part in my hand, I walked through to the showroom where I found my father and the customer he was talking to. Very different from my pale skin, black hair and grayish eyes, he was a good looking guy, similar age to me, but with sandy brown, kinda longish hair, tanned skin and blue eyes. He was holding a pocket watch in his hand.

"This is my son, Alex," Dad explained. "He's the expert on watches like yours."

I extended my hand in professional courtesy. "Hello."

"Callum Winters," he said by way of greeting, putting the watch on the counter before shaking my hand. There was an accent, Southern I thought, but I wasn't sure.

Dad waited for us to let go of each other's hands, then he looked at me and smiled. "Callum was just telling me he'd like to know more about this watch."

I looked at the silver watch casing and fob chain, then at its owner. I reached my hand toward the watch, but before I touched it, I asked, "May I?"

"Sure," he nodded.

Picking it up, I could tell a few things from a visual inspection. "This casing was a popular design in the 1940's," I told him. Gently, I opened the casing to reveal the quartz face. "The dial is Hamilton, but I won't know dates or maker for certain, unless I take the back off and look at the movement."

"Could you do that?" he asked. His accent was definitely southern. "I was hoping to know as much about it as I could."

I smiled. "Sure. I'll need to grab some details, and I should be able to look at it in about two days. Then I can tell you everything I know."

Callum nodded. "That'd be great." We looked at each other for a little too long, and I couldn't help but wonder if this cute, Southern man was gay.

Dad seemed to think so, because with a cheeky smirk, he handed me the register log, looked between us and not-so subtly said, "Callum, I'll leave you in Alex's very capable hands." He pointed behind us, "I have... stuff... I need to do out the back."

Callum politely thanked him, and I considered kicking my father in the shins. We were behind the counter, so it's not like Callum would have seen me do it. But Dad must have picked up on the look I gave him, because he smiled, turned quickly and disappeared through the door.

I grabbed a pen, handed Callum the register and asked him to fill in his details. I picked up the watch, turning it over in my hands. It was a nice piece, and I couldn't help but ask, "What do you know about the watch?"

He looked up from the paperwork. "Um, it was my grandfather's. That's about all I know."

He handed me the completed form, and I told him as procedure, I required some ID. Taking out his wallet, he handed me his driver's licence. His Texas driver's licence.

"I just moved here," he said. "I've got my change of address receipt here somewhere."

He started looking through his wallet, and I stopped him. "No, its fine. I just need to sight photo ID, that's all."

He smiled kindly and nodded. "So, two days?"

"Yeah. I'm half way through another job. Then I can look at this, and I'll give you a call when I'm done," I told him. "Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

He shrugged one shoulder and shook his head. "No, not really. Just dates, make, model... to be honest, I'm not really sure."

As I was putting the watch and paperwork in a paper envelope, I asked him, "Would you like a valuation?"

"No," he said simply. "Monetary value isn't important."

He thanked me, I told him I'd be in touch and he left. When I walked back into the workshop, Dad grinned at me. "He was a nice young man," he said.

"Mom!" I yelled to the upstairs office, where my mother would have undoubtedly had her head in a catalogue. "Dad's trying to set me up again."

She yelled back, "Was he cute?"

Oh for crying out loud.

He was actually, but that's not the point. Dad chuckled at me.
Ignoring him, I sat the pocket watch on my desk and turned my attention back to the clock I was working on.

I managed to ignore both my parents and their comments about cute, brown-haired watch owners until they got bored and left me alone. And I managed to push the thoughts of the pocket watch and its handsome Texan owner out of my mind until it was time to go home.

*****

I arrived back at work a little before nine in the morning and headed straight for my desk, which was more like a workstation, when the paper sleeve holding the pocket watch caught my eye.
I picked it up and took the watch out, feeling the cool, heavy weight of it in my hand. I didn't hear my dad come up behind me, and his voice startled me. "How's Mr. Yeo's clock coming along?"

"Oh, shit! You scared me," I said with a laugh, clutching my heart. Then looking back to the clock I had half done, I told him, "Um, it should be ready by lunchtime tomorrow."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I think you should do the watch instead."
I looked at the pocket watch I was still holding. "Why?"

"Because Mr. Yeo is a collector," he replied with a shrug. "To him that clock is just something else he acquired. Even old Mr. Yeo will tell you that. But this," he pointed to the watch in my hand, "this means something."

Dad smiled at me. "Mr. Yeo can wait a day or two. He won't mind. I'll even phone him myself."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

He nodded. "He wants me to go with him to look at an 18th Century hand-carved Italian rococo centre table he'd seen at an auction house anyway, so I need to speak to him."

"Okay," I agreed. Within twenty minutes, I had Mr. Yeo's clock itemized and put away and the silver pocket watch in front of me.
I made my usual notes as I proceeded detailing. There was nothing remarkable about it, until I removed the back casing.

Because what I found hidden in the back of the pocket watch was unlike anything I'd encountered before.

I took out the client form with Callum Winters' details on it and picked up the phone. "Callum Winters? It's Alex, from Harper Antiquities. I'm calling about your watch."

"Yes?" he answered, unsure.

"Can you come into the store?" I asked. "There's something you need to see."

Author Bio:
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don't let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She's been writing ever since...

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