Five Book Kindle Countdown

 

In honour of Pride month, I'll have five novels on sale each week. This week I'm offering 3 series starters; Horizons, Cutting Cords, and Fire Horse. If you're in the mood for a twentieth century historical romance set in Pakistan and neighbouring Iran, check out Reluctant Royal. Last but not least is My Semana Grande, a M/M/M romance set in the beautiful Basque country.

You can find them all here: Mickie B. Ashling Author Page.  

Valentine's Day Excerpt

 “Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”

Khalil Gibran 1883-1931

“What if,” I suggested, “you wake up in the next few weeks and decide you want to leave this all behind. How would you do it?”

“It’s not going to happen, Grady.”

“Humor me, Kam. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared, right?”

“Put your Hollywood dreams back in your camera,” he admonished.

Determined to play this out, I continued with my questions. “Could you get to Europe in this thing?”

“How do you think it got here?”

Ignoring his sarcasm, I asked. “Where’s your passport?”

He shook his head. “In my safe at home.”

“Which home?”

Sighing, he grabbed my head between his hands and planted a big wet one. “It’s here in Karachi, but this crazy notion of yours needs to stop, Grady. As soon as you board the plane to New York, I’m going back to Tehran, and I’ll be married within two weeks.”

“What’ll happen to the yacht?”

“We’ll put it in dry dock for the winter, and then Jon and Gus will go home for a much-needed break.”

“Where does it dry dock?”

“Right here at the boat club.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Why?”

“’Cause it’s not there,” I said. “You can’t very well escape if they impound your boat.”

“You should really become a writer instead of a cinematographer,” Kam noted, shaking his head. “What an imagination you have.”

Ignoring him, I asked, “How long is the car ride from Tehran to here?”

“Grady, stop this,” Kam said irritably.

“Answer me.”

“It’s a little under three thousand kilometers door to door. A full day at least, maybe less if we drive straight through.”

“What about gas?”

“What about it?”

“Won’t you need to stop? What if they put some kind of embargo on gasoline?”

“Who’s they?” he asked, voice rising.

“I don’t know,” I spat out. “The king of fucking Siam!” I choked on this last bit and buried my face in my hands. Without warning, I was crying and felt every bit the teenager I was. How could I expect this man to take my advice? I was a child compared to him and a crybaby to boot.

“Hey,” he said softly.

I couldn’t see his face, but I could tell by the tone of his voice that he’d banked his anger. Apparently my tears were far more effective than my logic. I looked up at him, no longer ashamed of my emotional outpouring. I wanted him to know this impending marriage was breaking my heart. I knew I had no right, but it wouldn’t hurt for him to see how much I cared.

“Come here,” he said, reaching for my hand and drawing me onto his lap.

I straddled him and stuck my face in the crook of his neck, continuing to snivel like I was ten. “I can’t stand the thought of you being so miserable,” I murmured when I could finally speak. “Living a lie will shrivel your soul, Kamran. You’ll turn into a bitter old man long before your time.”

His spoke softly against my ear. “Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”

“Exactly,” I said, straightening up. “I agree with Gibran. I know you’re terribly conflicted about a lot of things, and I’ll never know what it’s like living in a culture where you have to follow orders blindly because of tradition, but you do have resources to fall back on should you choose to follow your heart. I want you to know that I’ll support you any way I can, and if my father can help, he will. You just need to ask.”

Excerpt from my novel Yesterday. 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ACZE6JI 

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7256

Blog Tour: Day 8

I'm over at MM Good Book Reviews today. Read another exclusive excerpt, a new review, and another chance to win a giveaway.

https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/yesterday-by-mickie-b-ashling-blog-tour-excerpt-review-giveaway/

Blog Tour: Day 4

I'm over at Charlie Cochet's blog today sharing another exclusive excerpt of Yesterday. Don't forget to throw your name in the Rafflecopter widget for a chance to win.

http://purpleroseteahouse.charliecochet.com/blog-tour-exclusive-excerpt-and-giveaway-yesterday-by-mickie-b-ashling/#comments

Release Day, Review, and Blog tour: Day 3

To celebrate today's release of Yesterday, I'm  at a few different locations. First stop is Diverse Reader ( http://diversereader.blogspot.com/2016/01/blog-tour-yesterday-by-mickie-b-ashling.html)     where you can read another exclusive excerpt and a wonderful release day review.

Another stop on my blog tour: http://www.multitaskingmommas.com/2016/01/blog-tour-excerpt-giveaway-yesterday-by.html

I'm also over at Clare London's blog: ( http://clarelondon.com/2016/01/22/birthday-blog-month-jan22-mickie-b-ashling/) sharing another excerpt with a chance to win a gift certificate.

Finally, at the DSP blog after 1:00 P.M.Eastern Standard. (http://bit.ly/1UghL8P) where I'll be discussing the series of events that inspired Yesterday.

Blog tour-Day 2

I'm over at The Novel Approach today sharing another exclusive excerpt of my novel Yesterday. Check it out!

http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/exclusive-exerpt-and-giveaway-yesterday-by-mickie-b-ashling/

Blog tour-day 1

Today I'm at Hearts On Fire Reviews. Read an exclusive excerpt and try for a freebie by throwing your name in the Rafflecopter widget.

http://heartsonfirereviews.com/mickie-b-ashling-yesterday-tour-with-giveaway/

Blog Tour: Yesterday

Hi all! Here's the schedule for the tour. Stop by any one of these awesome blogs to read an exclusive excerpt and throw your name in the hat for some freebies.

Tour Schedule
Jan. 20 - Hearts On Fire
Jan. 21 - The Novel Approach
Jan. 22 - Diverse Reader
Jan. 22 - Multitaskingmommas
Jan. 25 - Charlie Cochet
Jan. 26 - On Top Down Under Book Reviews
Jan. 27 - Love Bytes
Jan. 28 - Prism Book Alliance
Jan. 29 - MM Good Book Reviews
Feb. 1 - Rainbow Gold Reviews
Feb. 2 - Sinfully

Mayon Redux

My historical romance set in post-World War II Philippines has undergone major edits, as well as a beautiful new cover, created by Catt Ford. The second edition will release on February 23,2016 under the DSP Publications imprint. Here's a short excerpt for your entertainment. It's available for pre-order on the DSPP site as well as Amazon.

Excerpt

He grazed the smooth shoulder resting right below his chin with a soft kiss and jerked in surprise when Greg stirred and mumbled, “What are you doing?”

“I’m… sorry,” John stammered, “I must have been dreaming.” There was no way to hide the erection pressing against Greg’s buttocks, so he embraced the lie. “It’s been a while since I’ve woken up with anyone in my arms, so you’re stuck with my morning wood,” John mumbled and quickly rolled away. He got up and headed toward the stream, praying Greg wouldn’t follow. The thundering of his heart and the beads of sweat dotting his forehead were precursors of imminent danger, a feeling he’d been all too familiar with throughout his stint in the Pacific. Flirting with death had been much easier than fighting the attraction threatening to unman him in front of Greg. Jesus, if this got out, Ignacio’s offer would be rescinded. He squeezed his traitorous member, willing the stubborn organ to retreat instead of surrendering to his carnal needs. He relieved himself against a tree, gratified to feel his body subsiding to a normal state. Walking around in a state of arousal was not only embarrassing, it would give Greg ammunition in case he decided to sabotage John for honing in on his job.

Glancing over his shoulder, he could see Greg watching him with a wary eye. Christ, what must he be thinking? Did he buy into his sorry excuse for what just happened? Greg walked up to him and released his own organ unselfconsciously. He hit the high grass with a steady stream of morning urine. John could smell it from where he stood, and instead of turning him off, he felt the arousal creeping up again. There was something so basically male and primal about sharing a morning piss in the middle of nowhere. Dear God….

“Why did you kiss me?” Greg asked after he’d tucked himself away. He looked John in the eye without a trace of anger.

“I told you,” John explained. “I was dreaming about a girl back home.”

“Then how come you’re still hard?”

John glanced down at the bulge in his pants and grinned sheepishly. “My dick’s got a mind of its own.”“Does it?” Greg asked. “Perhaps you should do something about it.”

“What do you suggest?” John asked in a strangled voice. The morning sun was starting to creep over the horizon, and the golden rays peeking through the lush vegetation dappled across the hard planes of Greg’s smooth chest. He’d removed the wife beater the night before, casually mentioning he preferred sleeping without it, but the chill in the air had raised goose bumps and turned his dark brown nipples into stiff nubs. Greg’s face was partially hidden in shadows, but the hunger in his green eyes was clearly visible, and John was aroused by the blatant scrutiny. The dawning light played tricks on his imagination, turning Greg into some ethereal being. He was temptation personified, and John felt like Adam succumbing to the lure of the luscious apple. Years of discipline and a rigid moral code were no match for the power of the sexual tension drawing them together in their private Eden.

Greg pointed at his own growing desire. “Your problem seems to be contagious.”

John snorted. “We can always rub up against each other like dogs in heat.”

“Is that what you do in the Marines?”

“Hell no,” John protested. “If anyone got caught in that kind of situation, it would be the end.”

Blurb

2nd Edition

The Philippines, 1946

After being discharged from the Marines, John Buchanan is offered a position as overseer for plantation owner Ignacio Saenz. The offer is unexpected, considering he knows nothing about coconut farming, but the presence of Mount Mayon, an active volcano within sight of the property, tips the scales in Ignacio’s favor. Finally John has a chance to put his lifelong passion for vulcanology into practice.

Gregorio Delgado, the current overseer, takes exception to this turn of events. He views John as an interloper and Ignacio’s offer as a thinly disguised excuse to marry off one of his six daughters. What neither of them expects is the powerful physical attraction that simmers between them. Could John be a kindred spirit, or is he just using Gregorio for his knowledge of farming to ingratiate himself with his potential father-in-law?   

As John and Gregorio begin a tour of the haciendas, John discovers he has far more in common with his new acquaintance than he thought possible. Torn between honor and desire, John struggles to define who he is and what Gregorio could mean to him. Like the unpredictable volcano, equal parts beauty and danger, Gregorio becomes an obsession that could erupt at any minute and destroy them both.   

1st Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2012.

Pre-order Links:

https://www.dsppublications.com/books/mayon-by-mickie-b-ashling-211-b

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AGK2J3E

Giveaway!

There's a giveaway going on over at Stumbling Over Chaos. Click on the link and leave a comment for a chance to win an e-copy of Yesterday which releases on January 22.

More details here: http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/28625

Now Available

Did you know that Mayon volcano is surrounded by deep coconut forests and rice paddies?  Because of the rich volcanic soil, farmers refuse to leave the area, despite the ongoing danger of a possible eruption.



Excerpt

Gregorio waved at a group of women washing clothes by a riverbed. John asked him to pause for a minute so he could watch them beat the cloth with flat boards against the river rocks. It looked like backbreaking work, and they were soaked with soap and water, but appeared to be enjoying themselves by laughing their chores away.

“Haven’t you ever seen this before?”

“Not really,” John admitted. “Back home we use washing machines.”

“How can a machine do as good a job as a human being?”

John shrugged. “I never really thought about it; my mother does the laundry.”

“I can’t imagine the clothes would get any cleaner that way.”

“You’re probably right,” John said. “Shall we move on?”

“We should stop and eat soon. Aren’t you hungry?”

“You don’t need to persuade me to eat,” John said, smiling. “What do you have?”

“They packed us a picnic lunch,” Gregorio said, kicking his horse forward. He headed toward a large mango tree in full bloom, more than able to provide the shade they would need. After he hopped off the mare, he began to unload some of the items he’d managed to stuff into the saddlebags without weighing them down. He pulled a folded mat from one bag and spread it out on a flat surface. It was large enough to sit or sleep two adults comfortably.

“That’s convenient,” John said. “What’s it made of?”

“The banig?”

“Yeah,” John said, pointing at the multicolored spread.

“Some kind of grass the women weave together. People sleep on them all the time.”

“On a mattress?” John asked.

“No.” Gregorio laughed. “On the floor.”

“Bet it would be uncomfortable without any kind of cushion.”

“It’s better than sleeping on dirt.”

“I suppose so. Do you sleep on one every day?”

“No, I have a bed.”

“Lucky for you.”

“More than you know,” Gregorio explained. “I had grandparents who took care of my mother and me. A lot of tisoys have to fend for themselves.”

“Tisoy?”

“It’s short for mestizo. That’s what they call half-breeds around here.”

“Your father?”

“Was a Spaniard. He died before I was born.”

“That explains it.”

“What?”

“Your height and the pine-colored eyes.”

“What’s a pine?”

“Haven’t you ever seen a Christmas tree?”

“Only in pictures.”

“What do you people use to decorate during the holidays?”

“Paper lanterns and nativity scenes.”

“Oh. Pine trees are tall and willowy, much like you, in varying shades of green.”

“I’m not that tall, and I’m certainly not green,” the Filipino stated bluntly. “Get your eyes checked.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my eyes,” John said gruffly, “I see you clearly. You’re at least five inches taller than most of the men around here.”

Gregorio blinked several times, trying to figure out if there was any meaning to this conversation. His brain said no, but his body didn’t agree. The redhead’s piercing gaze was doing funny things to his stomach. Moving before John realized how he was affecting him, Gregorio reached for more bundles from another bag and began to spread out their impromptu feast. There were several pieces of cold chicken, slices of breakfast ham, and wedges of hard cheese. John watched his guide grab a pandesal, the soft roll they’d had earlier, and break it in half. He stuffed it with ham and cheese and then handed it to his guest. “Eat,” he said.

“Thanks.” John took the proffered sandwich and shoved half of it in his mouth. “This is good,” he garbled.

“You want something to drink?”

“What do you have?”

“Nothing yet.” Gregorio stood and pulled a large knife out of another saddlebag, kicked off his sandals, and headed toward one of the coconut trees.

John watched him scramble up the tree like a monkey, reaching the top in no time. He hacked at a few branches and the nuts dropped like bombs. The man was barely winded when he came back down. He lopped off the top of one coconut and then pierced a hole in the hard shell. Putting it up to his lips, he began to drink the liquid while John stared, captivated by Gregorio’s bobbing Adam’s apple and the juices overflowing down his chin. He stopped drinking and licked his full lips. “What’s the matter?” Gregorio asked.

“Aren’t you planning to share?”

“Sorry,” he replied, embarrassed by his lack of good manners. “I got thirsty climbing.” He replicated his movements with the second coconut and handed it over to John. “Here, drink up.”

“This is fucking convenient, isn’t it?”

“If you can climb.” Gregorio grinned. “You would probably die of thirst.”

“You jerk.”

He loped away before John’s open hand connected on his arm.

Laughing, he began to climb up the much easier mango tree.

“Now what are you doing?”

“Getting our dessert!”

He grabbed a plump yellow mango and twisted it off the branch, sending it whistling through the air like a torpedo. “Catch,” he screamed at John, who moved reflexively and caught it without a problem. Gregorio twisted off another and hurled it toward John’s waiting hand. When he was back, sitting cross-legged in front of John, he stuck his knife into one end of the mango and began peeling back the skin as if it were a banana. After it was completely denuded, the plump yellow flesh exposed, he pushed it toward John and said, “Take a bite.”

John reached for Gregorio’s hand, overlaying his stout fingers over the slender ones holding up the mango. He bit into the meaty fruit, all the while staring into the green eyes that watched intently. The juices erupted, flooding his mouth with sweet nectar. Gregorio turned the mango slowly so John could bite into another side, ignoring the liquid running down his fingers in sticky rivulets. He was hypnotized by the hunger flaring in John’s striking blue eyes, not quite sure what to make of it, but unable to look away. After John got his fill, Gregorio put the seed down and began licking the juice off his fingers.

He took his time and sucked on each digit, pulling them in and out of his mouth, deliberately employing his tongue in a provocative way, making the American fidget. Gregorio was empowered by his effect on the redhead and felt his own body reacting to the moment. He wanted this to go on forever; on the other hand, he was disturbed by the physical attraction between them. What in God’s name was happening? The Marine had been handpicked by Ignacio for one of the girls. He was a man’s man and had the right medals to prove it. Still, the yearning in John’s eyes belied everything Gregorio believed to be true about him. The consequences of making the wrong assumption could be the biggest mistake of his life.

Finally, John choked out, “Are you done?”
****************************************************************

Mayon is now available here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3401