By Tara Lain
Blurb:
How can you be twenty-five and not know you’re gay? Billy Ballew runs from that question. A high school dropout, barely able to read until he taught himself, Billy’s life is driven by his need to help support his parents as a construction worker, put his sisters through college, coach his Little League team, and not think about being a three-time loser in the engagement department. Being terrified of taking tests keeps Billy from getting the contractor's license he so desires, and fear of his mother's judgement blinds Billy to what could make him truly happy.
Then, in preparation for his sister’s big wedding, Billy meets Shaz—Chase Phillips—a rising star, celebrity stylist who defines the word gay. To Shaz, Billy embodies everything he’s ever wanted—stalwart, honest, brave—but even if Billy turns out to be gay, he could never endure the censure he’d get for being with a queen like Shaz. How can two men with so little in common find a way to be together? Can the Stylist of the Year end up with the Knight of Ocean Avenue?
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Paperback from Dreamspinner
Excerpt
“This is a nice place.”
Rhonda nodded. “Yes. Shaz is a master of all things stylish.”
The voice came from behind Billy. “Master, did you say, darling? Ah, call my name and I am there.” The high, musical voice danced up Billy’s spine, and he remembered the tune.
Why was he scared to turn around? Slowly, he shifted and looked over his shoulder. Holy blessed shit. It was the same guy from the coffee shop, which made sense since the place was only three blocks from here—but still. If ever there was a guy who deserved to be called Shazam, this was the one. That was the word of a wizard, and Billy just got turned to fucking stone.
How did you get hair that color? The blaze of fire surrounded his face and fell well past his shoulders in spikes on top and undulating waves below. And his face. If somebody turned a cat, a Siamese cat, into a human, there he stood. Huge eyes with an upward tilt dominated the widest part of his face above cheekbones so high they could cut glass, and a pointed chin. Maybe a
girl would have called his face heart-shaped. Like a cat.
Their little army of three stood. The guy floated over and kissed Rhonda on the cheek. “Never fear, Rhonda dear, Shaz is here.” He laughed at his own rhyme. Music. This guy was so far over the top he had his own cloud cover.
He extended a hand delicately and Mitch took it, more a touching of fingertips than a true shake. “Hello, Mitch darling.”
Just like the day before, his clothes were wild. Skintight jeans, in brilliant pink this time, hugged very long, lightly muscled legs. Billy knew about the muscles because they were on display in those pants. Above the pink he wore a white silky-looking shirt and a wild floral kimono thing over the whole outfit. Hoops glistened in his ears and a diamond nestled in the side of his nose. He was his own holiday. Christmas and the Fourth of July rolled into one.
He turned with a swirl of the kimono to Billy. “And this must be our emergency.” He stepped back. “Don’t we know each other, darling?”
Billy’s mouth opened and then closed. There were no words.
Rhonda put a hand on Billy’s shoulder. “Shaz, this is my brother, Billy Ballew. We’d like you to use your magic to give Billy a bit more style.”
Shaz looked up at Billy, his eyes widened, and he smiled, then reached out his hand again. Jesus, he wore fucking black fingernail polish. “Hello, Billy. So glad to meet you. Don’t be put off by my excesses. I’m not as dangerous as I look.” He popped his hip. “Well, maybe almost as dangerous,”
That would be damned fucking dangerous. Billy swallowed. Give me strength. With one swoop, he swallowed that graceful hand in his giant paw and squeezed. Surprisingly Shaz didn’t even flinch. He squeezed back, and that pressure rippled up Billy’s arm and set up sympathetic vibrations in his belly. What the hell? He wanted to sit back down and catch his breath. He didn’t move. “Coffee shop.”
“Excuse me?”
“I saw you yesterday evening at the coffee shop on PCH.”
Shaz nodded, his eyes never leaving Billy’s. “Yes, I remember, of course. I wasn’t sure if I should mention it.”
Rhonda looked back and forth between them. “You know each other?”
Shaz shook his head. “We didn’t meet, but your brother defended me against a would-be asshole who I feel quite sure would have punched my lights out given a chance.”
“Dear God. Why? What happened?”
Shaz raised an eyebrow. “Nothing happened. More a matter of being. The asshole felt I was not allowed to be.”
Rhonda grabbed Billy’s arm. “Oh my Lord, did you get in a fight?”
Shaz gazed up at Billy. “No, he didn’t have to. His mere presence was enough to dissuade the attack. My hero, for sure.”
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her bestselling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.
She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!
You can find Tara at
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