Archive for December, 2010

Male-on-Male Romances in the Mainstream

No, you didn’t misread that title. M/M romances by small publishers have made it to the attention of the American Library Association. On December 16, 2010, the article “Bodice Rippers without the Bodice: Ten Male-on-Male Romances for the Core Collection” appeared in LibraryJournal.com (http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/newslettersnewsletterbucketbooksmack/888366-439/
bodice_rippers_without_the_bodice.html.csp) In that article, the author chronicles the rise of gay characters in other media outlets, citing Brokeback Mountain and Queer as Folk but also slash fanfiction, although she missed the Kirk/Spock fiction of the early 70s. She then went on to list ten titles she considered a good start for building a collection of m/m romances in a library.

I have to admit it. I squealed like a kid at Christmas when I saw the article. Yes, I’m a little biased since one of Dreamspinner’s titles was included on the list, but even if it hadn’t been, I still would have been excited. I remember as an adolescent the thrill of crossing into the “adult” section of the library for the first time and being allowed to check out books labeled “adult.” Now, for the record, adult in my library’s system dealt as much with the reading level of the books as it did with the content. Stephen King’s books were classified as adult right along with the Harlequin romances. My first paid job was working in the library shelving books. So I have a reverence for libraries that makes this article all the more special for me. Those hallowed halls have taken a look at the kind of books I write, the kind of books my employer publishes, and have approved.

I can hear the naysayers now pointing out that having books on a list in an online publication doesn’t change anything. The list is not a mandate; the American Library Association doesn’t work that way. Libraries are independent entities, and each library’s acquisitions director, or whatever title the person bears at each library, will have to decide for himself or herself whether to add any of these books to their collection. Some of them probably already have. Some of them may have even done so before this list came out. Others probably never will. The very fact of the article’s existence is a step in the right direction, though. Unlike a number of recent articles on m/m fiction, this one doesn’t question the
validity of the books because of the gender of their authors, and the list includes books by both men and women. The only caution it gives is the fact that much m/m romance is explicit and so librarians should consider their audience in selecting which books to purchase, but even that is a statement of fact, not a criticism.

Libraries’ collections reflect the directions of interest and acceptance from their patrons. Indeed libraries are often the first places to provide resources for special interest groups within a community because they have a mission to serve all areas of that community, unlike a bookstore which must worry constantly about what will sell. This article is proof that the American Library Association continues to follow the trend that began with such authors as Maupin, Warren, Forster, Renault, and others.

Change is never instantaneous, however much we would like it to be, but for me, and for a good many others, I hope, this article is proof of the changes that have occurred in publishing over the past few years and will continue to occur.

- Ariel Tachna

Dreamspinner Press… Where Dreams Come True …
Publishers of Quality M/M Romance Novels, Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Happy Hogmanay!

By Kimberly Killion

You read it right…Happy Hogmanay!
Only one nation in the world celebrates the New Year or Hogmanay with such revelry and passion – the Scots!

It is believed that many of the traditional Hogmanay celebrations were originally brought to Scotland by the invading Vikings in the early 8th and 9th centuries. These Norsemen, or men from an even more northerly latitude than Scotland, paid particular attention to the arrival of the Winter Solstice or the shortest day, and fully intended to celebrate its passing with some serious partying.

When the clock strike midnight on 31st December, fireworks explode in Scotland. Crowds gather and the party begins to the tune of Robert Burns’ Auld Lang Syne.

Traditions and superstitions related to Hogmanay:

One should clean the house on December 31st (this includes taking out the ashes from the fire).

One should clear all your debts before “the bells” ring at midnight.

One should welcome friends and strangers with warm hospitality and a kiss and to wish everyone a Guid New Year. It is verra important to clear out the vestiges of the old year before you welcome in a young, New Year.

“First footing” is still common in Scotland. To ensure good luck, the first person to enter your home should be male, dark (believed to be a throwback to the Viking days when blond strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble) This male should bring coal, shortbread, salt, black buns and whisky.

“Handselling” is the custom of gift giving on the first Monday of the New Year. So be sure to present your loved ones with a Hogmanay gift this year.

Huzzah!
Kimberly Killion

We can’t let Kimberly get away without pimping her books… She has 3…yes 3…coming out!

His Magick Touch is a sensual novella set on the Isle of Barra in the 16th century Scotland. This story releases January 4th in paperback and ebook and will be part of the Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance. Read more about it here: http://kimberlykillion.com/hmtbooks.asp

http://kimberlykillion.com/eabooks.asp

Educating Aphrodite is a Victorian ménage a quatre novella set in London. This story releases January 5th in ebook from Ellora’s Cave. Read more about it here: http://kimberlykillion.com/eabooks.asp

Taming a Highland Devil is an erotic Scottish novella. The cover alone should hook you on this story. It’s just stunning! This story releases February 9th in ebook from Ellora’s Cave. Read more about it here:http://kimberlykillion.com/tahdbooks.asp

Find Kimberly online: www.kimberlykillion.com | Facebook | Twitter

Careful What You Wish For

by Elizabeth Coldwell

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Careful What You Wish For by Elizabeth Coldwell

Review by Missy

4/5 Whips from the Backseat

Hmmm… It does not seem like Josh needs to be careful, his wish does not go all that wrong.  He seems rather lucky really.  I am getting ready to head to the attic with my candles in the buff right now.  This is a hot read for sure.  Fun, certainly – not really very suspenseful, but in such a short read that can be hard.  Roommate crushes are a little over done, this one being a little less believable than some others, but high marks for having a complete and interesting story in such a tight little package.  Did that last sentence sound a little naughty?

- Missy

Buy the Books – http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1849

Knowing it by Hart

by CB Conwy

Publisher: Torquere Press

Brit’s life is exactly how he wants it: neat, ordered, and disciplined, the way it needs to be if anybody is going to take a thirty-two year old CEO seriously. If that means being so discreet that you’re basically in the closet, then so be it.

Then, at a charity dinner, he meets the good Mr. Hart. A very drunken Mr. Hart. Who gives Brit the kiss of his life. That’s all that happens, of course; Brit has got a reputation to protect. Only, he can’t get Mr. Hart out of his head, and he realizes that it might be time to make some changes.

Knowing it by Hart by CB Conwy

Review by Jasmine

4.5/5 Whips in the Backseat

Knowing it by Hart is certainly sweet.  It is a sweet and nice story of two men who seem like a really great match.  Both a little constrained by their jobs.  Mr. Hart gets a little drunk and decides to recite the sordid past of classical music.  Or maybe I should say the naughty proclivities of the composers.  Watching Brit step out of his shell enough to get closer to the musical historian is heartwarming.  The speed with which this happens though skimmed the depths of Brit’s decision.  Still Knowing it by Hart by CB Conwy puts a smile on your face and that is worth a lot.

- Jasmine

All Over The Guy

Review by Jaime Samms

Hi there! Glad to join you tonight to talk about a favourite movie of mine, All Over the Guy. Yes, writers have movie obsessions, too. This is definitely one of mine and I’ve been talking about it since way back when. Heh. What can I say? A tough, cute, self-destructive main character is like candy to me. I’ll eat him up and ask for more. Why do I bring this movie up? Well, because I just watched it again. Also, because as I was watching it, I began to see a few similarities between the main character in the movie, Tom, and the main character I’m currently fighting with…er…working on, Jimmy.

Tom’s a lovely bundle of issues with a sharp wit and acerbic mouthiness. He likes to be the top dog, and he does it by snapping of a sharp retort, making a crude joke, and just generally being a PITA. Long before anyone thinks of actually getting close to him, he’s put them off, and he’s happy that way. At least, he thinks he is. And I just can’t seem to get enough of him, which explains a) why I watch the movie at least once a month, and b) why I’m wrting a character just like him in this latest novel.

There are differences, of course. The movie writers weren’t nearly so cruel to Tom as I am to Jimmy. My Jimmy is messed up in a lot of terrible ways. Still, they both have a self destructive streak about a mile wide. That can be hard for a person to love.

Enter Eli, Tom’s love interest in the movie, or, in my case, Cliff, who loves Jimmy in all his self destructive, mouthy, aggressive glory.

That’s the theme that moved me to create my own take: love is about more than just boy meets boy and all is right with the world. In this book, it’s about a man coming to terms with his life and himself and deciding to let someone else love him; deciding he’s worth loving.

Now, if only my book could have something like the spiffy soundtrack that comes with this movie!

Here’s hoping my Jimmy sees the light when his man Cliff decides to flood him with love.
*goes off humming….*

May I have the Pleasure?

One of the interesting phenomena of the last few years has been the renewed interest, worldwide and across all age-groups, in ballroom and Latin-American dancing. ‘Proper’ dancing as your grandmother might have called it, as opposed to doing the twist or jiggling your parts about to pop music. Dancing that took a particular form, which had pre-ordained steps, to which you could add your variations but to which you could always return. Dancing where everyone knew where they were and what they were doing, almost a microcosm of society. I digress…

 The revival of interest has been, I guess, prompted by films like Strictly Ballroom and then by extraordinarily popular shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars and their many spin offs around the world. So what’s the appeal, apart from the ubiquitous vote-off formula? Is it the gorgeous costumes, the music and glamour, the handsome men and beautiful women gyrating around the floor…actually do we need any other appeal? Maybe the question is why did ballroom dancing ever lose popularity?

 Maybe some of the revolt can be linked to those tongue in cheek comments in the first paragraph. Perhaps young people – who always feel the need to rebel against what their elders like – wanted something freer, something less formulaic and restrained. With disco you can just get up and dance and no-one can say you’re doing it wrong. Certainly developments and changes in the nature of popular music changes mitigated against ballroom. Ever tried doing the cha-cha or foxtrot to Led Zeppelin? Likely to end up with a ripped Achilles’ tendon.

 And maybe it simply wasn’t really as glamorous in the past. I can remember watching Come Dancing on the BBC (in glorious black and white!) and the guys weren’t as good looking as the ones on these celeb dancing shows. In fact, look at this Pathe News clip http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=40285 and you’ll get the idea. Love the frocks and the tail coats, but the participants on Come Dancing always seemed to have stepped straight out of the local factory or office, bless them. Not the stuff stardust dreams are made on. Maybe nothing looked that glam in black and white or with old fashioned production values.

 Mind you, professional dancers have always looked good ‘in the flesh’ – I went to see the Oxford vs Cambridge ballroom dancing competition (sort of like the Boat Race but less wet) which was fun in itself. We had the better costumes; in fact our team had matching costumes and they didn’t at all. Har har. Sorry, digressing again, it’s the thought of hot men doing the tango, of which more anon. Anyway, there was a pair of professional dancers at the event, doing an exhibition of Latin-American dance, and they wouldn’t have looked out of place on Strictly.  This was back in the seventies, so the glam was always there – it was just waiting to be found.

 So, hot men and tangos. There are various videos on YouTube of men dancing together, and I’ve chosen just two to flag up here. You’ll have to wait awhile to get to the dancing on the first one, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTvJdpkdLiw   and when it comes it’s brief, but it’s beautiful. And features one of the most romantic kisses I’ve seen in a long time. Almost as good as the two Captain Jacks on Torchwood.

 For  the real thing, two hot blokes doing the tango, I’ve chosen a clip from the biopic of Valentino, dating back to 1977, around the time I was watching that ballroom dancing competition. Pretty naff film, but pretty sizzling tango, Rudolph Nureyev and (I think) Anthony Dowell. Cor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRlWUaIbTco.

I feature the tango (an early one but justifiable as a continental import) in Lessons In Seduction, where Orlando Coppersmith has to swallow his pride, stiffen his shirt front and pose as a professional dancing partner at a posh hotel in order to solve the murder of an ex-mistress of the king. (And end up with a lot of heartbreak because he’s separated from his lover, Jonty Stewart, in the process.) It was fun researching this, although I wish I could have had some practical input, dancing with some handsome young chap who looked like he’d stepped out of that Valentino biog. Ah well, back to the daydreams…

Bio: As Charlie Cochrane couldn’t be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice – like managing a rugby team – she writes. Her favourite genre is gay fiction, predominantly historical romances/mysteries, but she’s making an increasing number of forays into the modern day. She’s even been known to write about gay werewolves – albeit highly respectable ones.

She was named Author of the Year 2009 by the review site Speak Its Name but her family still regard her writing with a fond indulgence, just as she prefers.

Charlie’s Cambridge Fellows Mysteries Series, set in Edwardian England, is available through Samhain, and she has stories in the anthologies ‘Encore Encore’, ‘Past Shadows’, ‘I Do’ and ‘I Do Two’ (MLR), ‘Queer Wolf’ (Queered Fiction) and ‘Speak Its Name’ (Cheyenne).

Learn More about Charlie Cochrane at http://www.charliecochrane.co.uk   http://charliecochrane.livejournal.com/    Or get your copy of Lessons in Seduction http://samhainpublishing.com/coming/lessons-in-seduction-print

Wolf’s Head Inn

by John Simpson

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press, 2010

Genre: M/M, Erotica,Mystery

Dale Stewart just inherited six million dollars from his now passed penny pinching aunt Ruth. With such sad yet exciting news Dale cannot wait to tell his life partner Terry Cooper they are now millionaires! The happy couple now have to decide the best way to invest such a large amount of money. An advisor suggests investing in property which they consider purchasing a hotel on an island. When the couple visits the Wolf’s Head Inn they see a lot of potential and realize this will be a lot of hard work which they are willing to put into it so they go ahead and purchase their first hotel.

As winter approaches Dale and Terry have a great idea of having a murder mystery celebration for the guest staying at the Wolf’s Head Inn over the holidays. One problem though the guests are actually getting murdered and no one knows who the murderer is! To make things even worse a snow storm has trapped everyone inside the inn with no power making it even easier for the murderer to strike again. Can Dale and Terry find out who the murderer is before it’s too late?

Wolf’s Head Inn by John Simpson

Review by Steph M.

2.5/5 Whips in the Backseat

The beginning starts off interesting with Dale inheriting six million dollars.  Terry quitting his job was funny because this is pretty much every body’s dream, winning a large some of money and telling your boss to shove it! So I was really into the story, but then it started to fizzle, getting too wordy about explaining things.

I hate to say it, but I started to become uninterested in the story. The idea was interesting: a murder mystery celebration that actually turns out to be a murdering spree! That could have been creepy and suspenseful, but it kind of fell flat and started to get predictable. Even some of the erotic scenes were not quite steamy enough compared to other M/M I have read.

Still, I would not give up and continued to read on, but each interaction seemed dull except for Micheal and Mervin’s relationship which was more interesting then the main characters Terry and Dale. Although this may not have been my favorite book, if you like mystery and some M/M erotica, then I say it’s worth taking a look. If you like mostly paranormal romance, then this would not be for you.

http://www.johnsimpsonbooks.com/

Twinkle, Twinkle
by Josephine Myles
Part of the Dreamspinner Press 2010 Advent Calendar
ISBN – 978-1-61581-774-0
Buy from Dreamspinner Press

Recently moved back to his home town alone, Dr. Tom Berriman isn’t looking forward to Christmas. The only decorations he appreciates are the attractive pair of legs belonging to the electrician working on the emergency room ceiling. When the electrician comes crashing down and requires treatment for electric shock, Tom’s mortified to realize the legs belong to a guy he most definitely wasn’t friends with at school. But newly hunky widower Vince seems willing to bury the hatchet—and Tom starts to think maybe the holiday won’t be so lonely after all!

***

“Vincent Draper.” It should have been a question, followed by a brief rundown of his current condition. Instead, it came out as an awed whisper. Last time he’d seen Vincent, he’d been a ball of blubber squeezed into a school uniform. Plastic-rimmed glasses—the cheap, NHS issue ones—had obscured his eyes, and a melancholic aura had set him even further apart from the rest of the grammar school lads. They’d picked on him mercilessly. Called him VD and made filthy jibes about his mum. They’d shoved him around, safe in the knowledge that VD didn’t have the guts to fight them off.

And then that last time… that last time things had gone too far.

Tom gulped, trying to ignore the hot shame that threatened to engulf him. It was just dilated capillaries. He could bend them to his will. He stared down at the clipboard, holding it in front of him like a shield.

“What happened?” the man croaked, seeming not to have heard Tom’s whisper.

“You appear to have had an electric shock. You’ve sustained a second-degree burn to your hand, but otherwise everything seems fine. Any aches or pains?” Proud of the way his bedside manner had returned, Tom risked a brief glance up at Vincent, whose brows contracted quizzically.

“That’s never—” Vincent’s eyes dropped to Tom’s badge, and it was too late to try and conceal it. “No way! Tom Berriman! What on earth are you doing back in this dump?”

Tom gestured down at his green scrubs, too stunned to come up with a better answer.

“Yeah, I heard you went off to medical school. Fair play to you, mate. You’ve done well for yourself.”

Vincent’s smile seemed genuine, and Tom’s shoulders started to relax.

“And what about you? I didn’t recognize you at first.” Tom watched Vincent push himself up, wincing as he put the weight on his injured hand but managing to get to a sitting position with his legs dangling off the bed. Although he tried really bloody hard not to ogle him, Tom wasn’t convinced he’d succeeded.

“Oh yeah, I was still fat when you last saw me, wasn’t I? You’re looking great, though. I could tell it was you straight away.” Vincent’s gaze swept down Tom’s body and up again.

If that wasn’t a once over, Tom didn’t know what was. But he must be mistaken, must just be seriously in need of a good seeing to if he was starting to fantasize that this great hunk of a man would be interested in him. Scrubs, foam-rubber clogs, and a receding hairline just weren’t a sexy combination. He started the standard list of questions for electrical shock victims and asked Vincent to flex his fingers, noting the wedding band on his ring finger. Yeah, he was bound to be married. The best ones always were.

“You’re a lucky man, Vincent. Apart from the burn, everything seems to be in perfect working order.”

“Please, call me Vince.”

Vincent—no, Vince—gave him another winning smile, one that Tom couldn’t help answering with one of his own. He should get out of there, really. The nurses could deal with the rest, but something kept him rooted to the spot.

“So… it was good to see you again, Vince.”

“Likewise.” Vince beamed. “Never dreamed I’d ever clap eyes on you again. Listen, what time do you get off work?”

Tom gaped. For a moment he couldn’t remember what shift pattern he was currently on. “Uh, eight thirty.”

“Perfect. I’ll be busy at ten, but how about a drink down the Bell first? We can catch up on the last couple of decades.”

Tom found himself agreeing to meet Vince, then took his chance to escape when the nurse hustled in and began tutting at Vince for having dared to sit up so soon after his shock. The last he heard, Vince was roaring with laughter and telling her it would take more than a low voltage arc flash to keep him down.

After his shift, while pulling his clothes from his locker, panic washed over Tom. This was a huge mistake, surely? Okay, Tom had never been the ringleader, but Vince must remember how Tom’s friends had teased him… and worse. Was this some kind of trap? Was he going to get to the pub, only to be set upon by a gang of muscle-bound thugs, desperate to avenge their friend? Not that Vince would need to call in any help; the man was clearly capable of trouncing Tom all by himself. Tom looked down at his long, skinny limbs and delicate fingers. He wouldn’t stand a chance.

But his feet refused to listen to his brain and carried him off into danger, his whole body thrilling with nerves.

An Uncommon Whore

By Belinda McBride

Publisher: Loose ID

“As a general rule, you won’t find the love of your life while you’re on your knees under a table.”
– Helios Dayspring

Pasha is a slave, whoring for travelers at the most dangerous bar on Warlan. He has no memory, no future of his own, yet deep inside Pasha knows that that he is meant for better things. The day that Pasha spots the dangerous pirate in the bar, he knows that he mustn’t let the stranger slip away, regardless of what he must do to attract his attention.

Captain Griffin Hawke spent the greater part of a decade searching for his lost king, only to find Helios Dayspring crouched between his knees, swathed in the robes and shackles of a whore. Though he is appalled by the downfall of his king, the hardened officer finds himself falling for the allure of the sensual creature who has taken his place. Returning Helios to his position on the throne is the only right thing to do, yet Griffin knows that in doing so, he risks losing his lover forever.

“A whore is a whore is a whore, unless he’s something else completely. I guess I must be an uncommon whore.”
– Helios Dayspring

Publisher’s Note: This book contains male/male sexual practices.

An Uncommon Whore By Belinda McBride

Review By Missy

2.2/5 Whips in the Backseat

An Uncommon Whore by Belinda McBride is sadly not so uncommon.   A prince or princess in a lowly position unaware of being lost royalty.  This novel is just a naughtier version then most.  The naught parts of this book are done very well.  Though you do need to be willing to read some raunchy parts, to find the romance. 

I discovered this title on another blog, which also posted an excerpt.  I was hooked.  Since I had not read the blurb Pasha’s princly history came out of no where.  Disappointed expectations can come from a lot of things in a story.  I was very interested after reading the excerpt to see why this warrior wanted Sasha more permanently.  What could make that attraction move forward between these two men?  That seems a harder question to answer then the discovery of a prince and former lover. 

Setting this aside, the story is half a story.  Really, this book is half of the story.  Or maybe only one third.  Pasha and Griffin’s time in the bar and on the alien planet of Warlan is well paced and engaging.  Then we enter the second part of this story.  Traveling back to the planet they come from and that is in need of their new King.  It is Blah Blah Blah we travel across the skies.  Blah Blah Blah lots of time flies by that we do not get to engage in with the characters.  All of the emotion built between our heros is lost going into the last pages.  Or are they the last pages?

Slight Spoiler – They get to the planet and so ends act I.  There is no ending, nothing is wrapped up.   We are left hanging, will Pasha/Helios and Griffin make it together?  What happens now that the King has returned?  Do I care?  I will be very practicle on this.  If I had paid $5.99 for this book I would be pissed.  That is the price of a full length mass market paper back.   This is an e-book, on the short side – 122 pages, and only half of the story.  I feel no burning desire to read the second part if there is one, I might have been driven to contact the publisher informing them that I felt cheated had I purchased this one.  It is very rare to feel this strongly about the worth of the book compaired to the price being charged.   I will keep a look out for more work by Belinda McBride because I enjoyed the tone of her work and she is very talented. 
- Missy

Perchase your copy of An Uncommon Whore here http://www.loose-id.com/An-Uncommon-Whore.aspx

The Reason for the Season

by Chrissy Munder

Available from Dreamspinner Press
Purchase this Title

The Reason for the Season: All

college student Adam Everett is trying to do is get to his sister’s house for holiday break. First his car breaks down, then his ride takes off to Vegas with his gas money, forcing Adam to come up with a Plan C. His last hope is a campus ride exchange, where he endsup with the reluctant Michael Brennan. When a “snowpocalypse” forces them to share a motel room, they soon find out there’s more than one reason for the chance happenings of the season.

Excerpt:  Readers 18+

“DON’T do this to me, man.” Adam Everett stood in the lobby of his dorm, a small duffel bag at his feet, and stared at his cell phone in disbelief. Ridiculous as he couldn’t see the face of his friend in the matte black surface, but sometimes instinct won out over sense. “I’ve been waiting for almost an hour.”

“Sorry.” Jim’s laughter after the apology proved the words false. “But she gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse, or at least one hell of a blow job.”

“Don’t tell him that!”

Adam heard the indignant squeal in the background, the faint slaps and giggles audible over the crappy college radio station Jim listened to and thought made him cool. Enough to grasp that Jim’s girlfriend didn’t appreciate the comment. But he found it hard to be concerned about Lori’s injured feelings when not only would he bet the statement true, but he ended up being the one left hanging.

“What am I supposed to do now?” Adam didn’t know which made him madder: himself for whining, or Jim for screwing him over once again. He kicked his duffel to the side, trying to stay out of the way as the few remaining residents rushed around him, eager to head out and away from the grind of the semester.

“You can get a ride with someone else. Everybody goes home for Christmas break.” Jim’s voice sounded slow and lazy. Probably stoned again, and he had promised Adam he wouldn’t get messed up and drive.

“Yeah, and everybody’s already left.” Adam paced, his boots scuffing across the tile floor, and struggled to keep his anger from bleeding through into his voice. He should have known better than to count on Jim. They were the last ones out of their circle of friends still on campus, all because Jim had promised to pick Lori up after work. Mentioned how this would be his only chance to see her for two weeks, and she didn’t care to drive in the snow. Well, then why did she choose a college in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula?

“S’not a big deal, just offer to pay for gas like you did me.”

A trio of girls pushed past him, bundled against the weather in colorful skiwear and talking a mile a minute. The blond on the end hit Adam with her bag, knocking him in the shoulder as she passed, and she waved rather than stopped. “Sorry,” she called out, pulling a knit cap down over her curls. They climbed into the SUV waiting in the front circle and drove off. The vehicle’s tracks were quickly erased by a fresh powdering of snow.

“That’s the problem, asshole.” Frustrated, Adam ran his hand through his hair. Easy for Jim to act like this was no big deal. “I paid you already. I need my money back.”

“You snooze, you lose.” Jim laughed again, overpowering Lori’s voice, faint and questioning over the fragile connection. “The tank’s full and we’re on the road.”

“The car’s big enough for all three of us.” Adam hated having to ask, and didn’t want to be a passenger when the driver was under the influence, but he had promised his older sister, Sherry, he’d be home this holiday, and he couldn’t disappoint her. Of course, that had been before the transmission on his car had gone out, and he’d had to scramble for a ride. Maybe he’d be able to talk Jim in to letting him drive, at least until he came down. “Come pick me up.”

“Not happening. I’m a one-woman man, not a one-man man like you. Aren’t I, baby?” Adam fumed, forced to listen while Jim and Lori exchanged sloppy kisses. “Besides, change of plans. We’re heading west, not south. Leaving all this winter wonderland crap behind.”

“Vegas, here we come,” Lori yelled enthusiastically into the phone. “Woohoo.”

“Jim,” Adam had to shout over her voice. “Don’t you hang up on me. Jim?” Lori kept hollering even as Jim disconnected and left him hanging on to dead air. “You asshole.”

Special note to readers: Be sure to take advantage of the 20% Holiday Discount from Dreamspinner Press available now through the end of the year. Enter the following code at checkout:
HolidayDreams (without the cool colors).

The Reason for the Season by Chrissy Munder
Available from Dreamspinner Press individually and as part of the Naughty or Nice 2010
Advent Calendar
Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/
product_info.php?cPath=55_128&products_id=2092

To learn more about Chrissy Munder and her work:
Website: http://www.chrissymunder.com
Blog: http://
chrissymunder.livejournal.com/
Facebook: http://
www.facebook.com/chrissymunder
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChrissyMunder