This author has been on the blog a few times before, and has multiple titles with eXtasy Books. Please welcome Charlie Richards! Be sure to stick around for her contest and to find out about Beguiling his Timid Waiter–A Paranormal’s Love: Book #25!
What is your favourite Christmas song?
The Grinch Song
What food do you most look forward to over the holidays?
Flavored cheese spreads & crackers (I don’t buy them any other time of year. They’re a treat for me. =D )
Do you have a holiday beverage you like? Alcoholic or non-alcoholic?
Egg Nog – Most ways I can get it. I love to cut it with a bit of fat free milk and adding a bit of rum is yummy, too.
Is there a book you like reading at this time of year?
No.
Do you participate in Boxing Day shopping? Is Boxing Day a tradition in your country?
No, I prefer online shopping. I avoid the crowds and chaos at all costs. Ha ha.
Do you get your shopping done in advance or leave it to the last minute?
In advance – online shopping is my friend. ;-D
What’s your favourite Christmas movie?
Krampus – Everyone knows I love creature movies, right? He he he
When do you decorate your house?
Normally the 2nd weekend of December I drag my hubby into the woods to cut down a scrawny ‘Charlie Brown’ style Christmas tree. I put on some old cassette tapes (yes, you read that right) of Christmas songs that remind me of childhood & decorate the tree.
When you were a child what was the best Christmas gift you remember receiving?
My stuffed animal – Starlight (that’s Rainbow Brite’s horse). I was only four or five when I got him (Yes, I loved horses even back then), and I still have Starlight even today. He’s a little dirty & frayed, but well-loved.
Is there a unique holiday tradition your family keeps?
Hiking through the forest to cut down our Christmas tree. Making sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches on English muffins for lunch on Christmas day.
When do you open Christmas presents?
Christmas Day. My husband & I don’t have kids, so it happens whenever we get moving. We’re pretty low key.
What’s your favourite outdoor winter activity? If it doesn’t snow where you live what makes it feel like Christmas to you?
Horseback riding in the snow. A bit chilly, but so very gorgeous!
Contest!
Comment on the blog for your chance to win one of Charlie’s books. Winner will get to choose one of Charlie’s books (even an upcoming release if the winner already has all of Charlie’s current works). A winner will be selected on December 31 and will have one week to be in contact for their prize.
Blurb:
Into the Paranormal World: While seeking out his brother to resolve family conflict, a gargoyle brought up to be a warrior discovers the opportunity for a little fun in his life.
Kinsey has watched for centuries as his father’s bigoted views tore his family apart. Seeing the rift between his parents grow wider than ever, he does the only thing he can think of to fix it, even knowing it could very well cost him his enforcer position. Sneaking into Falias clutch territory, Kinsey searches for his estranged brother, Conchlin. He finds him at a bowling alley. Once he gets in there, the scent of another quickly distracts him—the human Jimmy. For the first time in Kinsey’s life, he puts his own desires first. With some help from Conchlin, he meets Jimmy and slowly begins to woo him from the shadows. Just when Kinsey prepares to reveal the existence of paranormals and that he’s a gargoyle, his worst fears manifest—his father discovers where he’s been going and beats Kinsey to sharing the truth with Jimmy—terrifying him in the process. To top it off, his father offers Kinsey an ultimatum—stay out of Falias clutch territory forever or be labeled rogue. Can Kinsey find a way to fix the damage done by his father, or will he lose not only his family, but Jimmy as well?
Excerpt:
Kinsey tipped his head and peered from beneath the brim of his fedora. Spotting a lithe figure bending over a nearby rack containing a bunch of lane balls, he sucked in a harsh breath. The human, in a word, was beautiful.
“Oh.”
The soft gasp was out of Kinsey’s throat before he could stop himself. His heart thudded wildly in his chest as his pulse rate spiked. Staring at the young man, he felt his blood heat in his veins, and need thrummed through his body.
“Uh, Kinsey?”
Even hearing the questioning tone in Conchlin’s voice, Kinsey couldn’t tear his gaze away from the slender, muscular form of the nearby male. He admired the flex of the man’s slim arm muscles as well as the way his dark-brown hair hung around his lean face. Even the way the man’s deep blue eyes flashed in the dim light, intermittently highlighted by the cosmic bowling strobe lighting, created a need in Kinsey to gaze into his eyes and study them.
“Please introduce me. I’ll do anything.”
“Uh, what?”
Realizing he’d blurted out the words without thought, Kinsey tore his focus away from the entrancing young human. “The human standing at the ball rack there.” He cut his gaze to the right for just an instant for emphasis before again staring at Conchlin. “Do you know him?”
Conchlin nodded. “Yeah. That’s Jimmy.” His voice was soft. “You know. I mentioned him on the phone. The birthday boy?”
“Gods.” The way Jimmy’s voice had caught his attention, had called to him, even soft and in the background…it suddenly all made sense. “I need to scent him fully.”
“Shit. You don’t think—”
“I do.” Kinsey found it satisfying to cut off his brother for a change. Meeting Conchlin’s gaze, he whispered, “I think Jimmy is my mate.”
For a long moment, Conchlin just stared at him with a wide-eyed stare.
Kinsey had never begged for anything in his life, but to meet Jimmy, he would.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to.
“O-Okay.” Conchlin glanced Jimmy’s way, then met Baron’s gaze. “Where do you think? How?” He was obviously asking for his mate’s advice.
Baron glanced around. “Everyone should have a shot at meeting their mate,” he mumbled as he gave Conchlin a wry smile. He then tipped his chin toward a nearby doorway. “I’m going to take Kinsey into the arcade. You get Jimmy and tell him your brother thinks he’s hot and wants a couple words. Okay?”
Conchlin nodded slowly even as he leveled a hard stare at Kinsey, the look appearing all the more fierce since he had to look up at him. “Don’t you fucking hurt him,” he hissed before turning away.
While Kinsey felt stricken that Conchlin would accuse him of such a thing, he knew why his brother did. Their folks weren’t a great example of mated bliss. Still, Kinsey wasn’t stupid. He could learn from other peoples’ mistakes…and his father was making a huge one.
Kinsey vowed not to do the same as he followed Baron down the short stretch of the half-lit bowling alley and into the arcade. The space filled with video games, even despite the flashing of brightly lit screens, was somehow even dimmer than in the main bowling area. Finding an especially dim area, since the game on the left was dark—a piece of paper was taped to it reading out of order—Kinsey turned and waited.
“I understand why Conchlin warned you, but I don’t get that vibe from you,” Baron stated softly, cutting a side-eyed look Kinsey’s way. “I get it that you’re different than your father and brother.” Kinsey’s parted lips or lifted brows must have betrayed his surprise, for Baron chuckled. “You wouldn’t be here trying to mend a family rift if you were a self-centered asshole like Festian.”
Before Kinsey could come up with a response, Baron tipped his chin in the direction of the doorway. “Here they come.” He bumped Kinsey’s upper arm with his fist. “Good luck.”
“Thank you,” Kinsey whispered, surprised at how having someone’s support caused his chest to warm. Deciding to respond in kind, he admitted, “Seeing as no one in my own clutch has found a mate in almost eighty years, I’m certain I’ll need assistance.” Kinsey met Baron’s dark-eyed gaze. “Guidance would be appreciated.”
Baron chuckled softly, his expression softening. “And that right there is exactly why I know you’re nothing like your father or brother.” Then he smirked and lifted his left shoulder in a half-shrug. “No offense.” Turning toward the approaching couple, Baron knocked his shoulder into Kinsey’s upper arm. “I’ll help any way I can, and I know Conchlin and everyone else will, too.”
Kinsey nodded once, knowing Baron would spot the move out of the corner of his eye. Turning his attention to Conchlin, who was still whispering into Jimmy’s ear and gripping his upper arm, Kinsey tried to read the human’s expression. While Jimmy held his body tensely, he tapped his free hand against his thigh. His gaze darted around the space, and he nibbled his bottom lip.
To Kinsey’s relief, Jimmy smelled of excitement and anticipation.
He’s looking forward to meeting me.
Fighting back his own excitement in favor of finding his tongue, Kinsey watched Baron wrap his arm around Conchlin and urge him toward the doorway of the arcade. He focused on Jimmy, finding himself alone with the man Fate had made just for him…other than the dings, bells, whistles, and electronic voices and music coming from the machines.
Gods, what do I say?
Keep it simple.
“Hi, Jimmy,” Kinsey greeted quietly. “I’m Kinsey. I know I’m taking you away from your party, and I’m sorry for that.” He rubbed the back of his neck, searching his brain for more. “I just really wanted to meet you.”
Jimmy nodded even as he dipped his head and drew close enough to meet his gaze under the down-turned brim of Kinsey’s fedora. “So, uh, you’re Conchlin’s brother,” he murmured softly. “I-I noticed you, too.”
Buy Links:
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2395-7-beguiling-his-timid-waiter/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GWWQ189/
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