Thursday, September 30, 2021

#BookBlitz...Metro Gen216 Roulette...@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #Roulette #CarinaAlyce #Romance


A Strong Woman Medical Romance

MetroGen After Hours Book 4

Romantic Suspense, Multicultural Romance, BWWM, Medical Romance

Date Published: September 30, 2021


She’s only spoken to him online. He’s used to making crazy plays. Will they bet on passion’s winning numbers?

Kyra Washington has always prided on order. For her, working as a nurse in the busy neonatal unit at MetroGeneral Hospital, order saves lives. The most chaos she ever tolerates is her football team’s perpetual losing record. On a whim, she agrees to meet another super-fan from a message board on a girl's trip to Vegas.

Ryan Yates thrives on pressure and craziness. An ER doctor who embodies all things adrenaline in the emergency room, he's used to making bold decisive decisions. Too bad his favorite football team can't show any of the same skills. However, he has a pretty good feeling about fellow fan, Kyra, after they meet in Sin City.

Throwing the dice like this is something Kyra has never done before, and she fears the stakes could lead to heartbreak. When they end up working together at MetroGen, can Ryan convince Kyra that being together is winning the jackpot?

So bet big on your favorite team in the fourth book of the MetroGen After Hours series and fall in love with these opposites attract superfans. Buy Roulette today!

All Books in the MetroGen After Hours series:


Wildcat: A Strong Woman Firefighter Romance

MetroGen After Hours Book 1

She’s not looking for Mr. Forever – just Mr. Right Now. He’s aiming for the city’s first football championship in forty years. Neither were betting on love.


Embers: A Strong Woman Firefighter Romance

MetroGen After Hours, Book 2

When her firefighter brother disappears, Abby is determined to find him. Will she find love too on her journey to the ashes in NYC?


Burn Card: A Strong Woman Firefighter Romance

MetroGen After Hours, Book 3

She plays her cards close to the vest. He hides from himself. Will a few drinks and a quick Vegas wedding change everything?


Roulette: A Strong Woman Medical Romance

MetroGen After Hours, Book 4

She’s only spoken to him online. He’s used to making crazy plays. Will they bet on passion’s winning numbers?


Unchecked: A Strong Woman Medical Romance

MetroGen After Hours, Book 5

Coming November 30, 2021

Sometimes girls just wanna have fun, so dating three guys isn’t bad . . . unless someone gets their heart broken.

Amazon




About the Author. . .

The Author is a full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after 20 years in the trenches of health care. She's done it all from candy striper (needed a wheelchair driver's license) to nursing home aid (mastered wheelchair driving) to hospital barber for neurosurgery (they rated her skills as subpar.). She promises she never had sex in a call room - the mattresses are not comfortable - or had a fistfight with a patient - though she did work as a fight doc at the Octagon. Her stories are sexy, snarky, and real with all the romance and drama of the lives of our first responders.

She writes the MetroGeneral Downtown series that tackles the personal and professional challenges facing our front-line providers. Her stories have the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the comedy of Scrubs, the sexiness of Outlander, and the medical details of Forensic Files. They feature fast, witty dialogue, strong women with goals, and quirky ensemble casts because the hospital is full of smart weirdos who are willing to save your life.

When not working or writing, she is a brown belt in judo, an avid reader, and an attending surgeon in stuffed animal veterinary medicine for her six kids. (No one trusts her husband's medical skills because he's just a lawyer.) You can follow her at carinaalyce.com

Contact Links

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Tiktok

BookBuzz

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

Google Play

iBooks

 Brought to You By:

RABT Book Tours & PR

#BookBlitz...A School of Daughters...@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #AschoolofDaughters #KateReneMacKenzie #WomensFiction


Women's Fiction

Date Published: 12/28/2020

Publisher: Red Lace Books

It's funny how things sneak up on you...

After 22 years of marriage, Kate Willoughby loves her husband, Brian, with an even greater passion than when she spoke her vows. “My world spins on his axis,” she admits. But when Kate finds a love letter to Brian from “Micky,” she’s torn between proving Brian’s innocence and nailing him to the wall with his guilt.

Seeking comfort and guidance, Kate turns to the one constant in her life: her animals. No surprise since Kate’s a champion for throwaways—discarded dogs and cats, abandoned horses bound for slaughter, and all creatures great and small. But she never imagined she would become a throwaway herself.

Yet few things are as they seem. Finding evidence that Brian still loves her, Kate is at a fork. Will she follow her human heart…or animal instincts?


About the Author. . .

Kate René MacKenzie spent her childhood overseas, the daughter of US diplomats. Attending college in Illinois, she volunteered at the local humane shelter, eventually becoming director. While earning a BA in Art and then an MBA, Kate worked at various jobs including go-go girl, bartender, and teaching assistant. At 26, she sold her 280Z and packed her dog and cat into a Ford truck and drove the Alcan Highway to Alaska where she spent 23 years exploring The Last Frontier in a single-engine Cessna. A vegan and animal rights advocate, Kate provides a sanctuary on her Arizona ranch for all creatures great and small. Every year, like the Gray Whale, Kate returns to Alaska. Kate Rene’ MacKenzie is the women’s fiction alter ego of romance novelist and Golden Heart nominee Maggie McConnell. Visit Kate’s website at KateReneMacKenzie,com.



Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

 Brought to You By:

RABT Book Tours & PR

#BookTour...Find Beauty Within Darkness...#Inspirational #Autobiography #Giveaway

Find Beauty Within Darkness:

Stopping the Pattern

by Giselle McNab

Genre: Inspirational Autobiography

At age fourteen, Giselle McNab was on her own. Grieving the loss of her childhood, Giselle wrestled with the events of the past and the bleak promise of her future. Where is there to go when you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom? In this intense and emotional retelling of events in her life, McNab weaves and incredible story of triumph and overcoming every odd stacked against her. She explores the family dynamics, financial struggles, and emotional trauma that perpetuated a cycle of abuse in her childhood and even into her adolescence. Moving through her mother’s history in the Bronx, New York, and then being passed around to different relatives, McNab chronicles the feelings of abandonment and isolation she experienced as a child. Find Beauty Within Darkness is the harrowing story of a survivor. A woman who has not only survived but is now thriving. McNab compels each of us who have experienced trauma to try things a different way—to push past the pain to finally reveal the beauty within us all.

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * B&N

Giselle McNab has been figuring out life on her own since the age of fourteen. Her young life was marred by a disturbed, troubled, and volatile childhood. This rocky beginning led to years that spiraled with uncertainty. Despite that, she found the strength and courage to recreate her life, in order to better herself and the life of her daughters. Upon receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, Giselle worked her way up to a senior position in finance for a Fortune 500 company, and is Six-Sigma certified, specializing in improvement methodologies. She uses her free time to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity and coordinates One Blood drives. She also volunteers at non-profits that focus on helping women escaping domestic violence situations. Hearing the stories of others who have fought for their survival fuels her passion for helping others overcome and rise up from rock bottom. Giselle finds her inner peace at the ocean but her true happy place is at home, where she enjoys cooking and gardening. She and her husband reside in Tampa, FL, and share a happy, blended family of six children

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$15 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brought to You By:

#BookTour...Beauty in the Beast. . .#Fantasy #Fairytale #Retelling #Giveaway

Beauty in the Beast

by Stevie Rae Causey

Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

What lies are hidden behind the legend of the Beast?

A motorcycle accident leaves Belle alone in the woods, where she discovers the one monster she can't outrun is the one of her own making.

A short retelling of Beauty and the Beast

Goodreads * Amazon

I write MG and YA Epic Fantasy that explore real-life themes. I believe that fantasy and fiction create a safe space for young people to explore the ins and outs of the world we live in and I aim to write the kind of stuff that entertains as well as fosters introspection.

When I'm not writing or speaking to teens, I'm usually chasing my kids, going on wilderness adventures, and posting pictures of my pets on Instagram.

Website * Podcast * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon giftcard,

Audiobook of choice from author,

- 1 winner each!


Brought to You By:

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

#BlogTour...Blink...#MM #Supernatural #Suspense

BLOG TOUR

Ghosts always remember. Mobsters never forget.

Book Title: Blink: MM Supernatural Suspense

Author: Morgan Brice

Publisher: Darkwind Press

Cover Artist: Lou Harper

Release Date: September 2, 2021

Genres: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy M/M Romance, action/adventure, romantic suspense

Tropes: Second chance love, hurt/comfort, true soulmates, psychic, medium, witches, ghosts, haunted theater, Mafia, mobsters, ex-cop, ex-Interpol, resort town, starting over

Themes: Learning to trust, taking a chance, making a commitment, daring to dream, letting go of the past, being haunted by the past, established relationship, ex-cop/PI, former art fraud investigator, mobsters, medium with a ghostly lover, haunted theater, awesome and heroic food truck, mystery, cold case

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 65 000 words/228 pages

It is part of series but could be read as a stand alone. It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads 

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  

Blurb 


Plans to renovate a historic old theater stir up dangerous ghosts and revive interest in unsolved Mob hits. The curse of a murdered witch strikes a close friend, old movie props reveal clues to long-ago crimes, and a shakedown scheme sends Ben’s cousin running for cover.

Time is running out to lift the curse. The Russian Mob wants revenge on Erik, and the Newark Mob is gunning for Ben. A grieving ghost seeks justice. Secrets, lies, and deception unravel in the blink of an eye.

Erik and Ben were planning for happily ever after. But unless they can outwit witches, wraiths, and wise guys, they could go down in a hail of gunfire and a blast of dark magic—and see their plans go up in smoke.

Blink is a suspenseful MM paranormal romance mystery-adventure filled with second chance love, hurt/comfort, true soulmates, awesome food trucks, dangerous secrets, restless ghosts, psychic visions, powerful witches, angry mobsters, and a very haunted theater.

Excerpt 



Alessia owned the Spirit of the Sea gift shop and had married into one of the old Cape May families, but right now what mattered most was her role as the head of the local coven and the powerful magic she had inherited from her Sicilian mother.

“Right this way,” Jaxon said, brandishing the key. “The Arts Council officially owns the building, so we don’t even have to sneak in.”

He unlocked the door to the convenience store, which was a shell of its past self. All of the fixtures had been sold off, but the faded signage around the top of the walls remained, directing customers toward soft drinks, sundries, and restrooms.

They followed him inside, and Jaxon locked the door behind them. Then they headed toward the back, past the break room and offices to an unmarked door.

“The store was here for over twenty years, and most people never knew that the Regent Theater lay behind it,” Jaxon said. He gestured toward the area they had just navigated.

“Imagine coming through the big glass doors, past the ticket booth,” Jaxon said, pointing back the way they had come. “You’d enter a high-ceiling lobby with a bar, concession stand, and seating for patrons who came early to see and be seen. Then you’d move farther inside, and there would be double doors leading into the actual theater.”

Erik looked behind them, struggling to imagine the way it had once been. A grid of acoustic panels hid the original molded plaster ceiling several feet higher that he had seen in photographs. The plain walls and stained tile floor made it difficult to picture lush red carpet, velvet rope swags, cocktail servers, and a concession stand that not only had popcorn but according to the stories Jaxon shared on the drive over, also served foie gras.

Jaxon opened the door and reached inside to flip on a light. Erik hesitated to get a psychic read on the space ahead.

“Definitely haunted,” Alessia said, staring into the distance with a glazed look that told Erik her attention lay elsewhere.

His own touch magic worked differently. To get a strong reaction, Erik usually had to be in physical contact with an object. He had avoided touching anything since they had arrived, but even so, the theater itself gave off unmistakable vibes. Both he and Alessia had extra perception which included seeing ghosts, although neither was a full medium able to summon or speak with the dead.

“Bad things happened here.” Erik found himself speaking before he realized it. “Dark magic. Death. Cursed.”

Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.

On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.

Series include Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!

Author Links

Website  |  Audible Profile  |  Amazon profile

Facebook Group  |   Facebook Page

  Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail)  |  Twitter    

 BookBub  |  Instagram

Sign up for my newsletter and never miss a new release

Read a copy of my Badlands short story Restless Nights here for free

Giveaway 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win 

your choice of ebook from Morgan's backlist

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

#BookTour...Love Is Coming to Town...#Christmas #Romance #Anthology #Giveaway

Love Is Coming to Town
A Small Town Christmas Romance Anthology
with stories by
Rebecca Barton, Dawn Luedecke, Danielle Pays, Alexa Rivers,
Kaci Rose, Megan Ryder, Bell Splendor, Kate Stacy, Claire Wilder
What’s a small town Christmas without a little romance?
Fake relationships, second chances, friends to lovers, and sexy brother’s best friends.
Mix in some small town gossip, meddling matchmakers, and Christmas magic and you have a perfect holiday escape.
Finding His Cheer by Claire Wilder
He loved and lost. She’s just lost. This Christmas, will love be the thing that finds them both?
Operation: Christmas Seduction by Megan Ryder
A sexy bartender seduces his crush of Christmas trees, gifts, and cookies. But when the season ends, will their romance too?
Second Chance Christmas by Alexa Rivers
Breaking down outside her ex’s bar wasn’t part of the plan. Could a Christmas reunion reignite their old spark?
Love At Frost Sight by Bell Splendor
When two enemies come together, will it be steamy heat, or a melting iceberg of disaster?
Captivated by Danielle Pays
Needed: One fake boyfriend for the holidays. She never expected her brother’s best friend, aka her crush, to volunteer.
Twelve Days by Kate Stacy
She’s missing her usual holiday spirit, until a secret admirer gives her twelve days of Christmas she’ll never forget.
Christmas at La Villa Rosa by Rebecca Barton
Two creatives clashing on a joint project…surely it’s too cold to shut each other out, especially on Christmas Eve?
Her Second Chance Christmas by Kaci Rose
Her best friend’s Christmas wedding. A family reunion and the man she never thought she’d see again.
Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe by Dawn Luedecke
The only person who can put Sexy Santa in his place is a pain in the butt, and the perfect Mrs. Claus.

**Only .99 cents!!**

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * Books2Read

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon


Brought to You By:

#BookTour...Dark Fae: Black World #Book 1...Dark #PNR #Giveaway

New World

Dark Fae: Black World Book 1

by Quinn Blackbird

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

A new black world, ruled by deadly dark fae, and even deadlier bargains.

Fans of Laura Thalassa, C.N Crawford and Amelia Hutchins will love this!

Some families in this eternally dark village are fortunate; their ancestors - the first surviving humans after the Last War - made bargains with dark fae royals and warriors.
My family is one of the lucky ones.
Or so I thought...

The seventh prince of the realm comes to collect his yearly bounty. And what he wants to take is no longer the midnight apples from the field we harvest.
He wants to take me--
April, a sickly human of no use to anyone, let alone a dark fae prince.


Black World is a part of the Dark Fae universe. This is the third series in that universe.
It's a novella rapid-release series designed for KU readers. Box set options are available for the purchase-to-read readers.

PAPERBACKS AVAILABLE ON THE BOX SET PRODUCT PAGE

**PLEASE READ CONTENT WARNINGS**

**Get it FREE!!**

Goodreads * Amazon

Fae's Captive

Dark Fae: Black World Book 2

One dark fae prince, one sickly human, and one deadly bargain.

Fans of Laura Thalassa, C.N Crawford and Amelia Hutchins will devour this series!

I must pay the price of my family's bargain to the seventh prince of the dark realm. When the offered bounty failed his expectations, he stole me away from my home and brought me to his castle for a year of slavery.

Now, I must survive in a new, black world where the dark fae lurk in every shadowy corner. That's my only plan--to serve, survive and get back home.
But that's proving to be unlikely as the unpredictable, snarky prince lands his eyes on her.

With his hot-and-cold attention, I need to fast learn how to navigate the dangerous prince who watches me too closely, as well as avoid the wicked dark fae who roam the halls of the twilight castle.
But my plan is quickly deteriorating when the prince steals away forbidden moments with me in the shadows.
I'm in danger of falling victim to a dark fae prince. Whether my heart and soul or flesh and bones.


Black World is the second book in the rapid release Dark Fae: Black World series. Box sets will be available for purchase once the series is complete.
PAPERBACKS AVAILABLE ON THE BOX SET PRODUCT PAGE

Goodreads * Amazon

Her Villain

Dark Fae: Black World Book 3

This brutal dark prince has his hooks in me.
Shifting between warrior and lover, his changing moods have me addicted.
To fall for a dark fae is a dangerous thing. Even more dangerous is when they start to fall for you--a sickly human.

FANS OF LAURA THALASSA, AMELIA HUTCHINS AND C.N. CRAWFORD WILL LOVE THIS SERIES!

Prince Daein has kept me captive for two months.
Two months of harsh moments in the shadows, pinning me to his bed, muttering strange words against my mouth as though they hold all the secrets I need for answers.
I should be a mere house slave. Now, he's made me his lover.

I have one final month of slavery in his castle, but I'm beginning to worry that he might never let me go.
If he doesn't, he puts my life at risk.
His brother's growing attention is casting new dangers over me. The illra - a political sisterhood born to protect the purity of the royal bloodline - are watching me too closely. And each day that passes brings a fresher fear that my existence will be cut short before I can make it home.
But the longer I stay in Daein's arms, feel his mouth on mine, the caress of his fingers over my human body, the more I worry ... a growing part of me might not want to go home in the end.

The prince might break me or break my heart and soul. In truth, I don't know which one is the worst of fates anymore.


**READ ME**
Please read series content warnings. These books include graphic violence, dub-consent, and other triggering content.
THIS EDITION IS A RAPID RELEASE FOR KU READERS. FOR PURCHASE-TO-READ, PLEASE SEE THE BOX SETS.
As with all my works, paperbacks are available on the box set product page.

Goodreads * Amazon

Fae's Concubine

Dark Fae: Black World Book 4

A desolate human trapped with a lethal bargain--and no way out. A deadly dark fae prince who holds all the cards to April's fate. And a forbidden love brewing between them that throws April in a whirlwind of danger. FANS OF LAURA THALASSA AND AMELIA HUTCHINS WILL DEVOUR THIS SERIES

Dreaded revelations from the first prince and the iilra leave April in the bleakest spot she's ever experienced. Before those heart-wrenching and lethal words were spoken to her, her only ambition was to finish the last few weeks of her slavery under Prince Daein and get home.
Now, she's got other worries to consider.
And she might not survive all the threats building up around her like a fortress. Her choices are just as bleak as her circumstance.
1. Stay and risk being killed by Prince Daein
2. Return home and die of her sickness
3. Flee with the help of the iilra and hopefully survive long enough in the light lands to fulfil what she's started, to protect her most precious love from the vicious Prince Daein.

April knows as much as her only companion Terry does. It's not looking good. But all she has is hope, so she'll hold onto that until her dying breath.

**4th book in the Dark Fae Black World series. For box set and paperback, please see my list of works!**

Goodreads * Amazon

The Light

Dark Fae: Black World Book 5

One dark fae prince, one sickly human, and one deadly bargain.

THE FINALE IN THE EPIC MINI-SERIES, BLACK WORLD!

April's heart is as miserable as the day Daein married her. Navigating the dangers of dokkalf politics with the protection of her fae husband and the resentment of her daughter, April is soon forced to face the truth of her ancestry - where exactly did she come from, and how does that help the light fae who entice her?

Elden, suspicious in April's growing relationships with the light fae in the newly formed Lesser Courts, sends the sisterhood to spy on her - and find out exactly what his old enemy is up to behind her husband's back.
But then, when Daein gifts Elden with a special human concubine plucked from a light prince's harem, Elden's whole world is flipped upside down and his priorities are in danger of muddying along with his once-sharp and devious mind.

Daein does all that he can to keep the love of his life in his arms. But with each passing day, April's sadness grows and she draws further and further away from him.

It's not just the royal dark fae who are facing threats to their stabilities. It's the darkness, too. The power of the dark ones...
The light of the wastelands is spreading.
No one knows how to stop it. Or, if they do know, they make no efforts to fight the spread.

With the light strengthening, her pain growing, and her family fracturing, April learns how much more she must sacrifice for herself ... and the greater good.


The Light is the 5th book in the series Dark Fae: Black World series. Box sets are available for purchase.

PAPERBACK AVAILABLE ON THE BOX SET PRODUCT PAGE

Goodreads * Amazon

Quinn Blackbird loves an anti-hero.  All of her villains stay submerged in 'dark' so expect little redemption. She thinks them up over hot coffees and warm cups of tea on the porch. When not writing, Quinn is either tackling a new face mask or snuggling with a book on the couch with her two pups.

After living in Scotland most of her life, Quinn then moved around the world writing for a few years, visiting distant family. Though she loved Australia the most--only in summer!--she has decided to put down some roots in Paris once everything has settled down.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brought to You By:

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

#BookBlast...One Thousand Cranes...#Gay #Thriller

BOOK BLAST

When a body goes missing, a young Yakuza’s life hangs in the balance…

Book Title:  The Yakuza Path: One Thousand Cranes

Author: Amy Tasukada

Publisher: ‎ Macarons & Tea Publishing

Release Date: December 12, 2017

Genre: Gay thriller (not a romance)

Tropes: Bad boys, tragic hero 

Themes: Mafia, betrayal 

Heat Rating: 1 flame    

Length:  130 pages

It is book 3 in The Yakuza Path series and can be read as a standalone but it's worth reading the previous books to follow the ongoing storyline.

This book does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Amazon US  | Amazon UK

Kobo  |  Apple Books  |  B&N  |  Google Play  |  Books2Read  

Blurb 


Aki is tasked with disposing of his friend’s corpse, but there’s one problem: the body is missing. As body parts surface around town, it’s only a matter of time before the police piece together the clues. But keeping one step ahead of the cops may not matter if Aki can’t solve the mystery before his cold, unforgiving godfather boss does…

One Thousand Cranes is a pulse-pounding thriller in the ongoing series of Japanese mafia stories. If you like gritty settings, page-turning whodunits, and accurate portrayals of Kyoto traditions, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s gripping tale.

The Yakuza Path Series

BOOK 1 - Blood Stained Tea

BOOK 2 - Better Than Suicide

BOOK 3 - One Thousand Cranes

BOOK 4 - The Deafening Silence

BOOK 5 - Flowers of Flesh and Blood

BOOK 6 - Releasing in November

Excerpt 



“We got to find a place first.”

“There should be one up another block.”

The streets were quiet, except for trash workers, but they avoided even glancing toward Aki and Shoda. Even without the inward-facing arrows of the Matsukawa crest pinned on their shirts, they could never lose their yakuza swagger.

“I’ve been trying to suck up to the ward leader in the redlight district,” Shoda said.

“You think the ward leader will move you there when your apprenticeship is over?”

“I think so, but who the fuck knows. I do everything they want, and I still feel like I haven’t gotten anywhere.”

“It hasn’t gone unnoticed. There have been a few times Father Murata talked about how he wished all the recruits were as dedicated as you.”

Shoda tugged on his ear. “I just gotta spend another six months cleaning toilets. Then probably another doing the same thing at one of the Kyoto wards. I joined the yakuza, not a maid service.”

Aki laughed. “I felt that way, too. It takes time. People have to learn they can trust you before they hand over bigger duties.”

“Is that so?”

“Wherever you go, I wish you the best. You’ll make a name for yourself.”

Even with the good wishes, Shoda’s face remained tight. “It was easier for you.”

The two passed through a narrow alley reeking of rotting fish and piss. The yellow trash bags took up so much space they had to walk single file.

“Maybe if I’d taken it up the ass, too, I would’ve gotten a cushy job answering phones by now,” Shoda said.

“I don’t just answ—”

“So you still have to suck his dick, too? Maybe we could both take turns. The fag might want some variety.”

Aki’s mouth slackened. “Shoda, you’re drunk.”

“And more clearheaded than ever before.”

Shoda snatched a handful of Aki’s chin-length hair and jerked him back. The world spun, and the first of the sun rays blinded Aki. Then Shoda’s fist connected with the side of Aki’s

face, and he fell onto the stuffed trash bags.

“Shoda!” Aki cried out while all the hours of training he put in at the boxing gym fluttered away like a paper trapped in a whirlwind.

“B-but we’re friends,” Aki managed to say. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

Shoda grunted and drew his arm back again. “Huh? High school grad can’t figure it out? You think you’re better than the rest of us, don’t you?”

Aki held up his arms, covering his face, but Shoda delivered a blow to his wrist that sent a shock wave of pain throughout Aki’s body. But it didn’t hurt as much as their breaking friendship.

“No! I never thought that,” Aki pleaded.

“I’m going to fuck you up so bad Father Murata won’t want to look at you. You two-toned freak!”

Another punch landed on Aki’s stomach. The beer sloshing in his gut churned up his throat. His thoughts swirled as he slid down the trash bags and vomited. It splashed back onto his white hands.

Shoda kicked him in the ribs. A trail of acid followed the rest of the contents of Aki’s stomach. Even with the copper taste of blood mixing with acid in his mouth, Aki knew the scuffle had to be a misunderstanding. They were best friends. Shoda just got a little hotheaded.

Aki wiped his mouth as Shoda stumbled back. Sure, Aki trained on a punching bag, but he never sparred with an actual person, let alone struck his best friend.

“Sho…”

About the Author. . . 

International best-selling author Amy Tasukada writes thrilling times of crime, love, and gore. Readers who crave diverse characters, unique settings, and edge-of-your-seat action will devour her Yakuza Path series. Readers who seek less blood and more love will swoon over the Yakuza Path Romance and Would it Be Okay to Love You? Series. Amy is an atheist, queer author who enjoys drinking tea, Japanese street fashion and visual kei music. Her calico cat, O’Hara, is never far from her side. Amy lives in North Texas, but is always planning her next trip to Japan.

Author Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |    Instagram   

 Newsletter Sign-up  (FREE chapter of an exclusive story sent every month)

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions