Tour Stop, Excerpt & Giveaway: Enforcing Emory by Mickie B. Ashling

Kathy, thank you for giving me some time on your wonderful blog to share an excerpt of my new release Enforcing Emory. This novel is set in a brand new universe (I had so much fun with this one!) which means no catching up necessary. I bring freebies which you’ll find listed in the Rafflecopter. Click on the link for a chance to win.

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Excerpt

When they stepped outside, the snow was coming down hard and the busy street was almost deserted. The few brave souls determined to drive were crawling down the road as visibility grew more and more restricted. Sidewalks easily spotted earlier were covered with at least three inches of snow, and slogging home through the mounds that were forming would be a challenge. Nik tried to remember if there had been any mention of an impending blizzard on the news last night, but if they had issued warnings, he’d missed them.

Silently, they tramped back to his place, taking twice as long as they had earlier. Heavy snowflakes whirled around them, whipped up by an increasingly strong wind, which went right through their heavy parkas. The “mild” January they’d been promised was rapidly turning to shit, and it was obvious Father Winter had returned to Chicago with a vengeance.

If they’d hopped in a car and zoomed down the road to Nik’s apartment, they might have been able to sustain the sexual tension that had prompted their exit, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the case, and by the time Nik unlocked his apartment door, lust had retreated, cooled off by frigid temperatures and common sense.

Emory stood on the threshold, looking hopeful, but Nik merely shook his head. “I think you’d better go.”

“Why?”

“This was a mistake.”

Emory shouldered past him, determined to gain entrance. The move was so unexpected, Nik stepped back, and before he knew it, the guy was dropping his gear, loosening his scarf, and unzipping his down jacket. He left the sodden outerwear in a heap on the floor, raked damp hair away from his face, and looked Nik in the eye. “What are you so scared of?”

“I’m not.”

Emory moved closer.

“Don’t,” Nik entreated. “This isn’t a good idea.”

“Why?” Emory asked again.

“I’m not gay.”

“Never said you were.”

“Stop hitting on me.”

“I’m not doing anything you don’t want.”

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Title: Enforcing Emory by Mickie B. Ashling
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance
Length: 226 pages

Summary:

Olympic figure skater Emory Lowe falls in lust the moment he lays eyes on his new neighbor, hockey player Nikolai Vetrov. On the surface, Nik is a typical badass enforcer, intimidating and dangerous, on and off the ice. The only son of Ukrainian immigrants, Nik has been groomed from childhood to fulfill his father’s dreams of seeing him in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Igor guides his son toward that goal with a controlling—and abusive—hand, steering him clear of anyone who might ruin his chances.

Although Emory is the US National Figure Skating champion, he’s in-your-face gay, and his audacious persona rubs Nik and his family the wrong way. Raised by supportive and loving parents, Emory is Nik’s polar opposite in every way but one—his desire to succeed. Underneath the fluff and glitter beats the heart of a fierce competitor, and this side of Emory’s personality begins to close the distance between the two athletes.

While the attraction is one-sided in the beginning, Nik finds himself responding to Emory’s flirting. But before the incongruous pair have a chance at any sort of relationship, they must survive the pressures of career, separation, and most importantly, Igor’s ruthless homophobia.

Add to Goodreads.

Purchase Links: Dreamspinner Press * Amazon * ARe

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Author Bio

Mickie B. Ashling is the alter-ego of a multifaceted woman raised by a single mother who preferred reading over other forms of entertainment. She found a kindred spirit in her oldest child and encouraged her with a steady supply of dog-eared paperbacks. Romance was the preferred genre, and historical romances topped her favorites list.

By the time Mickie discovered her own talent for writing, real life had intruded, and the business of earning a living and raising four sons took priority. With the advent of e-publishing and the inevitable emptying nest, dreams were resurrected, and the storyteller was reborn.

She stumbled into the world of men who love men in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from their ongoing struggle to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world. Her award-winning novels have been called “gut wrenching, daring, and thought provoking.” She admits to being an angst queen and making her men work damn hard for their happy endings.

Mickie loves to travel and has lived in the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East but currently resides in a suburb outside Chicago.

Connect with Mickie

Email | Facebook | Website | Blog | Goodreads and Ask the Author

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Giveaway

Using Rafflecopter below, enter to win one of these prizes (contest open internationally): a $20 Dreamspinner gift certificate, one of five ecopies of Enforcing Emory, or an audio copy of Fire Horse.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the rest of the tour:

May 25 – The Novel Approach

May 25 – Garrett Leigh

May 26 – Charlie Cochet

May 27 – Emotion in Motion

May 28 – BA Tortuga

May 29 – On Top Down Under Book Reviews

May 31 – Diverse Reader

June 1 – Prism Book Alliance

June 2 – Book Reviews & More by Kathy

June 2 –  Cup o’ Porn

June 3 – WoW…from The Scarf Princess

June 4 – Love Bytes

June 5 – Divine Magazine

June 8 – MM Good Book Review

June 9 – Sinfully…Addicted to All Male Romance

June 10 – Hearts On Fire

 

Tour and materials organized by PAS Promotions