Friday, March 31, 2017

Friday Previews


Impacted is the first book in the Bay Area Professional Series. It was my second novel published with Dreamspinner Press in 2009. I remember how excited I was to find the perfect cover for this story. I still love it after all this time. 

Blurb

Bay Area Professionals

On his way home from vacation, Scott Gregory, a closeted sub, hooks up with the gorgeous Red, a flamboyant Dom, for a thrilling one-off at a BDSM bar. They part ways after a satisfying scene... but meet again when Robin Kennedy—Red—arrives at his new job as a dental hygienist and discovers one of his two bosses is Scott.

Robin and Scott embark on a journey of exploration into their kinkier sides and discover they're more than compatible—they're a perfect match. But keeping employer/employee and Dom/sub separate at the office presents difficulties, and to make matters even more complicated, the owner of the dental practice is an acknowledged homophobe.

They fall in love, but Robin chafes at all the secrecy, refusing to live in the shadows. Scott isn't as brave; he's desperate to protect his job and his future. Will they be able to find some middle ground... or will their entire relationship fall apart because of fear?



Preview

     Scott entered a small room with a desk and a filing cabinet, and he waited for Robin to walk through the door and stand before his desk, looking down at him with a bemused look on his face.
     “Close the door, please.”
     Robin pushed the door shut and said, “Dude, I had no idea!” He waited for Scott’s reaction, convinced he’d be fired on the spot.
     “Hey, relax will you? I’m trying to process this as well. Have a seat.”
     Robin sat on the edge of the seat, waiting for the ax to drop. He stared at his employer, who looked beautiful in his doctor’s gown, almost as gorgeous as he looked naked and begging. Robin rubbed his face and a small groan escaped his lips.
     Scott started to chuckle, the laughter bubbling out of him as he thought about their situation. Robin looked surprised, but he started to smile as well, finally giving in to the hilarity of it all, and the sounds of their voices reverberated in the small office. They laughed so hard tears rolled down their cheeks. “What are the fucking odds that this would happen?” Scott paused in the middle of it all, trying to get it together.
     “It’s pretty unbelievable, isn’t it?” Robin replied, wiping his eyes with the back of his hands.
     “I thought your name was Red?”
     “It’s my nickname. Does Morris even know that you’re gay?”
     “Hell, no!”
     “And a pain slut.” Robin grinned.
     “Shut up!”
     “Why are you in this practice?”
     “It’s a long story… one I’d rather get into over dinner. You want to meet tonight?”
     “Ya think? Do you have any idea how many times I’ve jerked off with a vision of you handcuffed and begging?”
     “God,” Scott moaned, running his hand through his hair. “Stop it, or I’ll disgrace myself and, we’ll both get fired.”

     “Sorry,” Robin replied. “Or not.”

You can pick up Impacted! at Amazon or the Dreamspinner Store. Links are on the sidebar right under my profile. By the way, how do you like my blogs new look? Feedback would be welcome.  



Friday, March 24, 2017

Friday Previews



Cutting Out is the final book in the series. Once again, Anne Cain created this beautiful cover. It'll resonate with readers who've been following the story. 

Blurb:
Sequel to Cleave

Hours after stepping off the yacht where they had their mock wedding, real life intrudes, and arguments arise between Sloan Driscoll and Trent Hamilton.  Seeking relief at his BDSM club, Trent bumps into an old army buddy who tells him things are different now that DADT has been repealed.   Meanwhile, Sloan receives a frantic call from ex-lover, Cole Fujiwara, who tells him that his twins and ex-wife have been kidnapped. Cole asks Sloan for help but makes him promise not to include Trent in the rescue attempt.

Trent considers the opportunity to resume a career cut short, and despite Sloan's threat to postpone the wedding, he leaves for the Middle East as an independent mercenary while Sloan rushes to aid Cole.

In Tokyo, disturbing revelations draw the former couple together, and old feelings are rekindled. Despite this new understanding, neither man makes a move.  Sloan is focused on rescuing Cole’s family without jeopardizing his relationship with Trent, while Cole must prepare himself to survive disappointment if Sloan chooses to segue into married life as a military spouse.


Preview: 

BEFORE LEAVING Cole’s apartment, I had a double shot of vodka to calm down and then brushed my teeth to get rid of the vile combination of booze and vomit. I would have had a cigarette as well, except I’d given them up again a few months ago and Trent would smell the tobacco before I even lit the damn stick. Way back when, I would have resorted to weed, because there was no way I’d be able to carry this off sober. Then again, I doubted I’d succeed despite whatever chemical aids were handy. Trent would see right through my lies, and in all honesty, I wanted to tell him what was going on. The only thing stopping me was the idea I’d be responsible for three lives that would surely be jeopardized by his interference or, worse yet, that Niki and Keni would be sold to the highest bidder because I couldn’t keep a secret. Christ, this was a goddamn mess.
     And what about the wedding scheduled ten days from now? Cole couldn’t wait around until then. We’d have to move on this as soon as possible or those gangsters would send Cole another care package. I didn’t love Noriko, but we’d found a comfortable truce after Cole’s suicide attempt and got along on a superficial level. She was the children’s mother, after all, and I didn’t want her maimed any more than she’d already been. I wondered if they had given her some sort of anesthetic before they’d lopped off her finger. The very thought of that scene made me shudder.
     Trent was already home: the music was on, and votive candles were lit in the living room. He’d planned a seduction to make up for his earlier tirade. Normally, I’d already be sporting wood, but my mind was too occupied with Cole’s current situation to get into the scene laid before me. Trent had the familiar tools handy, and this time, when I saw the blade, I winced. My sympathy for Noriko’s missing digit overtook the lust that usually swamped me when I knew we were about to do some knife play. Tonight would be the first time in our relationship that I’d balk at Trent’s implied suggestion.

                                              

If you've enjoyed the previews of the Cutting Cords Series and would like to purchase all four books at once you can find the box set at Dreamspinner Press for $9.99. 

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/cutting-cords-bundle-by-mickie-b-ashling-6871-b

Friday, March 17, 2017

Friday Previews



Cleave is the third book in the Cutting Cords Series. It follows right after Vessel (wherein the big break-up occurred) and Cole's father has just died. Now we deal with the aftermath of his machinations. 

Here's a preview. 

     We headed toward the cluster of people near the open casket. I averted my eyes because I had no desire to look at Ken in death. I was still angry at him for manipulating Cole and destroying our relationship. Now it was too late to call him a conniving son of a bitch, and I refused to give him more than a passing glance. I was here for only one reason. Cole was facing his dad but turned toward me the instant he felt my presence. 
    “Sloan?”
     “I’m here,” I said, reaching for his hand. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
     Cole’s stoic façade fell apart as soon as he heard my voice. He could barely croak out the words of acknowledgment. It broke my heart to see him in such pain, and every protective instinct was immediately resurrected. I enfolded him in my arms and held him tightly against my chest.
     “There’s a small room over there,” my dad said, motioning toward a door marked Private“Why don’t you guys see if it’s unoccupied?”
     “Thanks, Dad.”
     I held Cole’s hand and gave Freddie, his guide dog, the signal to stay. Fortunately, Freddie still recognized me and obeyed. We headed toward the room, and when we stepped into the privacy of the small office, Cole broke down completely. I knew how strong the bond was between him and his father, and there was nothing I could say to make this any easier. All I could do was support him and let him grieve. My tears fell in sympathy as I listened to him sob. Finally, he broke away and apologized for falling apart. I noticed a few new streaks of silver weaving through his dark hair and a frown line that hadn’t been there before. He was only thirty-four, but today, he looked closer to forty.
     “I’m sorry,” Cole mumbled, wiping tears away with the back of his hand. The gesture was so childlike it resonated, tugging on my inherent need to protect him. I drew him back into my arms and held the trembling body that felt much thinner than I remembered. Everything about Cole seemed different today except for my feelings, which arose like a phoenix.
     “You’ll be okay,” I said, whispering words of encouragement.
     “I didn’t want you to see me like this,” Cole said, sniffling against my shirt, “but I’ve missed you so much. You have no idea.”
     “Shogun….”

DSP Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/cleave-by-
mickie-b-ashling-3689-b

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cleave-Cutting-Cords-Book-3-ebook/dp/B0082CA2F6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


Friday, March 10, 2017

Friday Previews




Sequel to Cutting Cords. 

Five years into their relationship, Sloan Driscoll’s peaceful existence is suddenly upended. His lover, Cole Fujiwara, gives him an ultimatum: agree to a surrogate birth or break up. Noriko Evans, a beautiful woman of Japanese/American descent, is handpicked by Cole’s father to be the surrogate. At the same time, Trent Hamilton, model and established Dominant, sets his eyes on Sloan, offering him another life choice.

Sloan is thrown off balance by this series of events he can neither understand nor control. He’d thought the topic of children had been laid to rest years ago, but with the advent of a new form of genetic testing, Cole’s fear of passing on retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that leads to blindness, has been greatly reduced. Noriko’s abrupt appearance threatens Sloan, as does Sloan’s attraction to Trent and a side of the BDSM world he’d never thought to explore.

Will Sloan be able to muster the inner strength he’ll need to deal with one shocking revelation after another, or will he succumb to a dangerous coping mechanism?  His decisions will either lead to salvation... or hasten the end of the relationship that literally saved his life.

Preview

IT DIDN’T take but a minute, and Cole was in my face hissing, “Why
did you walk out?”
“Would you have preferred that I stay and make a scene?
Really, Cole,” I spat out furiously, “did you hope that announcing the
arrival of the Virgin Mary in front of an audience would make me
jump up and down with joy? How fucking stupid do you think I am?”
“Sloan, please don’t go off on me. Let me explain.”
“There isn’t much to explain, is there? You and your parents
have obviously arrived at a decision without consulting me.”
“Please,” Cole said, reaching out for me. I stepped back,
hardening my heart even as he groped for me. I moved left to walk
out the door, but I underestimated his internal radar as he pounced in my direction and held me tight.
“Don’t pull away again.”
 He begged this time, and I had no choice but to stay and listen.
“I never told you about Noriko because I didn’t know. Mom and
Dad showed up with her tonight and presented her to me like a fait
accompli. I had no say in the matter.”
“What a crock of shit, Cole.”
“It’s the truth, however stupid it may sound.”
“Who is she, anyway? Does she live around here? Does she
surrogate for a living?”
“She’s from Japan… Kyoto, to be exact. And, no, she’s not a
professional surrogate. My father talked her into coming to America and doing this for us.”
“Where did he find her?”
“I don’t know.”
“How can you not? That is the most basic question.”
“Sloan, she’s here to help us start our family.”
“Us? You mean she’s here to help your father, don’t you?”
“Sloan, please….”
“I haven’t agreed to this plan, and last time I checked I’m your
partner and have equal rights in this decision.”



https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/vessel-by-mickie-b-ashling-6076-b

https://www.amazon.com/Vessel-Cutting-Cords-Book-2-ebook/dp/B005TKZGZ0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Friday, March 3, 2017

Friday Previews




When Sloan Driscoll and Cole Fujiwara become reluctant roommates, neither man is willing to share too much. Sloan is instantly attracted to Cole but knows it's a hopeless cause; Cole has a steady girlfriend. But one night they share a joint, and Cole opens a window neither anticipated.

A relationship may be impossible—both men are living with heart-breaking secrets. While Sloan is smart, sassy, and a brilliant graphic artist, he’s also a pothead with severe body image problems. Cole, a former major league pitcher, has his own personal crisis: he's going blind. Sloan and Cole are suffering on so many levels, they might not realize that the ultimate salvation could be within each other’s arms.

Preview:

Cole spent his Saturday practicing how to be blind. He was well aware his limited sight could last for years at this level, but he had to face the reality that tomorrow everything might change.

He started by putting on a sleeping mask, one that Juliana had left the last time she'd slept over. She hated the morning sun and always wore a mask to bed. 

Learn to rely on your other senses. He kept hearing his doctors words, as if they would make it all better and act like the magic wand he needed. The sense of touch is a lifesaver. He thought about Sloan as he put the mask in place.

His hands had told him a lot about his roommate. He knew from touching his face that he was a good-looking man. His lips were well formed, his skin clear, his hair abundantly full. He had long eyelashes that tickled Cole when he pressed his face close or nuzzled his neck. His sense of smell told him that Sloan was inherently a clean person and that he had good teeth, because his breath was always fresh. His touch confirmed that he was more lean than fat, and he had some dry patches of skin on his legs and arms that needed to be addressed. His touch had also told him when Sloan was aroused. 

Cutting Cords is book one in the Cutting Cord Series. 

Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press (currently on sale for 25% off) 

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/searchresults?q=mickie+b.+ashling