LGBT Fiction Event Day 29 : Who Doesn’t Love a Wedding? by Kimber Vale (Incl. $25 gift Card)

Posted April 29, 2014 by Nix in Active Giveaway, Events, LGBT / 10 Comments

 

Okay, I’ll raise my hand right now and say I’m pretty pessimistic when it comes to weddings. True, my hubs and I have been married for almost twelve years and we’re still alive and kicking. But, generally speaking, the weddings I’ve attended—and left with my pockets significantly lighter—haven’t fared quite so well.

Let me get out my paper and do some math.

I was a bride’s maid in three weddings. Two of those are now defunct. Of the eleven weddings I attended as an adult, six are hits and five are misses. Did I think those now divorced couples would eventually be signing paperwork and divvying up assets while I was doing the Electric Slide? Well…let’s say that some would have been a sure bet. Others? Eh…maybe.

Me? I’m definitely of the mindset that repeat wedders shall not be gifted the next time around. That’s like having a baby shower for your third kid. Totally bogus. That ship has sailed, my friend. If you want me to come and toast your second time at bat, I’ll be there with my flask if you can’t afford the open bar. I’ll get up and sing karaoke, dance my butt off, and even give a drunken speech if you’d like. You will absolutely have my blessing and heartfelt good wishes. But not my cash. You got that the first time around. And please, for the love of all that is blessed and holy, do not ask me to be in your wedding party. Good God, I’m glad those days are almost over (full disclosure, I’m the second of five girls—two still unmarried).

In my book “Double Takes,” there is a matrimonial undercurrent, to be sure. My rocker-turned-reality-TV-star, Gio, is going through a nasty divorce. But, we also get to see the flip side of the spectrum—the happy, tender, ever-hopeful event that is a wedding. Yes, Chance and Alex from “Forever is Now” tie the knot in “Double Takes.”

How would I place my bet on those two, you ask? I’d say they are forever, without question. Does a member of the wedding party give a shit-faced speech? You bet your sweet ass she does.

And just for the record, if you haven’t read “Forever is Now,” you can still read “Double Takes” without missing a beat. Of course, if you enjoy Gio and Lance’s story, you may want to backtrack and check out Chance and Alex’s tale, too.

———–

Blurb:

Ah, the life of a rock star. Everyone thinks it’s nothing but sex, drugs, and rock and roll. 

Not for Giovanni Savale.

For the lead singer of Three Deaf Mice, a band that reached its pinnacle in the late nineties, it’s nothing but an ugly divorce with a custody battle, money trouble, and now the nightmare exposure of starring in a reality television show. When his producer decides to cash in on an infamous interview Gio did years ago, and give the self-confessed bisexual rocker an onscreen boyfriend, things really hit the fan. Gio is certain his sexual experimentation back in his drug-abusing days meant nothing — after all he’s been married for nine years, clean and sober for nearly as long, and he has a son. And Gio is not remotely attracted to Kyrie, the funny, flamboyant actor they choose for his love interest. Of course, Lance Garrett, the mysterious and sexy owner of the local antique shop, Double Takes, is a whole different story. The guy has Gio planning out a future he never imagined. With the threat of losing all custody of his ten-year-old son, ghosts from the past returning for revenge, and the cameras rolling, can Gio keep his head above water and his heart from getting broken?

 

Excerpt:

 

Lance’s hand on top of his stopped Gio from silencing the irritating voice.

Gio sat down heavily next to Lance, one hand still burdened by his dinner plate and the other sandwiched between Lance’s palm and the remote. He didn’t dare pull it away, and Lance apparently wanted to see the entire commercial because he kept Gio trapped there until it finished.

What was that all about?” Lance’s warm fingers slid from Gio’s, leaving his hand cold.

Ah, it’s dumb. The world’s most degrading way to make a paycheck.”

I wouldn’t be so sure.” Lance stared at something past Gio’s shoulder.

The producers took some stupid poll and found out the viewers want to see me…” Gio paused in search of the right word. What the hell did people want to see? “They wanna see me squirm. They want to see a supposedly bisexual man drowning in the same-sex dating pool. It’s all bullshit—just for ratings.”

So, you’re not really dating that guy?”

No! Well, yeah, I have to for the show. But not really. It’s just a publicity stunt, you know?”

So, you aren’t bi, then?” Lance cocked his head and skewered Gio with those intense hazel eyes.

Yeah! No! I mean … it’s not like I…” What the fuck was he even trying to say? You’ve screwed around with guys before, ass munch.

The confused squint of the eyes staring back at him—moss-green with spikes of brown radiating from his pupils—told Gio his answer didn’t exactly make sense to Lance, either.

I always wondered if those rumors were true before you got married.” Lance made it sound like a question.

Well, you know how it is … when you’re young, and you party too much. Sometimes you do shit you wouldn’t normally do if you weren’t fucked up, right?” Gio gave a weak laugh.

Lance’s face was introspective and finally he shook his head. “When I was young and I partied too much, I never ended up in bed with a woman, so no … I don’t know.”

Hold the fucking phone. Something skipped inside Gio’s chest. It was nauseating and exhilarating all at once. Like a rollercoaster when it crests the top of a hill. He knew he was about to drop, he craved the intoxicating free fall, but was scared shitless at the same time.

Lance placed his dinner on the coffee table and turned to Gio.

What is going on? How do I even respond to that?

So…?” Gio began, but then Lance’s right hand wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer to those amazing eyes, his mouth closer to Lance’s flawless one.

Lips, soft yet firm and unbelievably full, pressed to Gio’s and his eyelids dropped like they were weighted. Fingers carded the hair at the back of his head and lured him to kiss back. Or maybe it was the faint spicy smell Gio now associated with Lance that made his lips pucker and nibble against the other guy’s delicious mouth. Gio detected a hint of lemon poppy seed dressing as he sucked a voluptuous bottom lip between his own.

Lance’s tongue darted out to lick Gio’s closed mouth, and Gio opened to suck in a surprised breath. Gio’s tongue had a will of its own. It touched Lance’s wet tip and they swirled together, exploring each other’s taste, marking new territory in the other’s domain.

A low rumble came from somewhere; Gio wasn’t sure if it was he or Lance who groaned. He wanted to grab the man sitting next to him, wanted to slide his hand up the inseam of his jeans and stroke his dick into dripping hardness. Gio’s own cock was filling, twitching against the constraints of his pants with each meeting of their tongues.

Oh my God, what the hell am I doing? Nothing about this kiss—hot slippery tongues meshing and soft bristles tickling his cheeks—nothing about it was like his memories of other men. Those were hazy and unreal and this was vibrant—electric. His conscience had long ago associated those fleeting, drugged sexual acts with perversion. He had swept them under the carpets of history along with his ancient addictions. But this kiss didn’t make him think of sinfulness and mistakes. It felt right, like nothing before ever had. It flooded his senses and his prick and had him aching for more, everything Lance had.

Gio pulled away from his thoughts and from Lance’s lips. His breath came in shallow gasps that exposed him as much as the bulge in his pants did. Lance slid his warm hand off Gio’s neck and took a shaky inhalation. Gio swallowed hard as he swiped his hair back with trembling fingers. His plate was still in the other hand, tilting precariously but fortunately not dumped all over the floor. He set it down on the table just as a cheer went up on the television.

The Red Sox had scored a home run. I only got to first base, but man I was close to dropping to my knees and knocking this one out of the park. What the fuck?

Lance took a long pull off his water. Gio watched him out of the corner of his eye while he pretended to be enraptured by Big Papi jogging the bases. He had no clue what he should do or say. I’m not really into guys didn’t seem at all right anymore. Lance made it easy for him.

Hey, sorry about that. I didn’t mean to freak you out. Just wanted to give you something to think about and you can get back to me on it.” He gave a half smile that was sexy as hell.

 

Bio:

Kimber Vale writes romance of all stripes, from hot hetero stories to mouthwatering men falling in love (under the name K. Vale). Keep up with Kimber’s news and follow all her tour stops on her blog: http://www.kimbervale.me and friend/follow her on

Facebook and Twitter @KimberVale. Come for the sex. Stay for the story. http://www.authorkimbervale.com

Find Double Takes:

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Double-Takes-Shooting-Stars-Vale-ebook/dp/B00JTNT4MO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398126095&sr=8-1&keywords=Double+Takes+K.+Vale

At Liquid Silver Books: http://www.lsbooks.com/double-takes-p901.php

Watch the Double Takes book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBF5EZ2Qcrk

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Kimber has a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner’s choice) up for grabs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1251e92/

For the Grand Prize Giveaway, I (Nix) will be giving away ten of my top LGBT books. These books will be gifted via All Romance as the books are available to readers on all the types of eReaders (you just need to sign up for a free account to access the books and you can send them directly). If you have any of the books and you win the prize, speak to me and I’ll see what else I can do. All of the posts have prizes atatched and a list of these can be found here

The books are (and there are substitutions available for people who have copies)…

  • With a Kiss by Kim Dare (MM)
  • Hot Head by Damien Suede (MM)
  • By the Book by Scarlett Parrish (MM)
  • The Dom With a Safeword by Cari Silverwood (FFM)
  • Starfish and Coffee by Kele Moon (MM)
  • How Sweet it is – Melissa Brayden (FF)
  • Fatal Shadows – Josh Lanyon (MM)
  • Faith and Fidelity – Tere Michaels (MM)
  • How to Love – Kelly Jamieson (FMM)
  • Cut and Run – Abigail Roux (MM)

Recently added

  • Paperback Tread Marks & Trademarks by SA McAuley
  • A eCopy of Bite Me Tender by Kate Lowell

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 responses to “LGBT Fiction Event Day 29 : Who Doesn’t Love a Wedding? by Kimber Vale (Incl. $25 gift Card)

  1. Christine LaCombe

    You are a new author to me, so I haven’t read your first book yet but they sound great. Thanks for the giveaway. BTW, my husband and I have been married for 39 years this May.
    lacombejc at suddenlink dot net

    • Nice! I hope I haven’t offended you, Andrea! I’ve definitely been soured by the weddings I’ve had experiences with. I have a cousin who cancelled her wedding the day of, and she kept the present I sent.. If she ever ends up doing it for real, I’m not gifting her again. No way in hell. I’m pretty sure her parents aren’t paying for round two, either, since it was cancelled way too late to get any of their money back. 😉 My sister is on her second husband. I didn’t bring my check book for number two. Think I gave her some lingerie she would never wear, though…

  2. Trix

    I agree with you 100% about repeat gifts! I’m still a perennial attendee so far, but my folks were married 47 years before my dad died, so I have hope…

  3. Antonia

    My parents have been married nearly 42 years, so there’s definitely hope. I’m a romantic, so I enjoy weddings despite the financial burdens on being in them. Thanks for sharing the excerpt. This book sounds great!

  4. Lisa G

    Fun post! I’ve not been in too many weddings that haven’t lasted – I guess my sisters and friends got lucky! I have not read this series but it sounds so good I’m adding it to my wishlist. So far marriage has worked out pretty well for me- we are celebrating 32 years in September.

  5. Jbst

    I think that repeat weddings should suggest gifts if so desired to be given, be to worthy charitable organizations.

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