Blurb:
Back in the 1950s, leather jackets, white
t-shirts, and poodle skirts were the biggest styles, and going “parking” was
all the rage. Summer flings were the thing to do, whether it be with the cute
tomboy that caught your eye in school, your older brother’s friend, or the hot
mechanic who fixes your car just right. In Summer Lovin’, love doesn’t
only have to last the summer.
These six stories are penned by both seasoned
scribes and new authors; the anthology provides readers with the perfect
opportunity to explore offerings from their favorite storytellers as well as
find a new favorite or two.
Containing F/F and M/M stories from authors LJ
Hamlin, Janelle Reston, Eric Thornton, Jessica Chase, A. M. Leibowitz, Sarah
Hadley Brook, Summer Lovin’ is sure to have something for fifties
loving readers.
Excerpt
from “The Great Pretender”:
“You okay, little man?”
Billy startled at the deep, husky voice near his ear and turned to
see his new acquaintance leaning into the car, watching him closely. He
swallowed and tried not to focus on the musky scent rolling off the dark haired
stranger. Fighting the urge to lean in and breathe him in, Billy’s eyes swept
over the chiseled jaw, dark stubble and, oh god, those full rosy
lips, before rising back up to meet his gaze. Deep chocolate eyes peered into
his green ones, searching for something. Wait… He asked something,
right?
“Umm, what did you say?”
A smile spread across his face and Billy trembled. God, he was the
sexiest man Billy had ever seen.
“I asked if you were okay,” he repeated slowly.
Billy’s eyebrows furrowed then, and he looked down at the keys in
his hand, his mind trying to process something. His eyes widened at the memory
and he turned his gaze back at the stranger. “Wait! Did you call me ‘little
man’?” he asked, incensed.
The sexy man nodded.
Billy harrumphed, his irritation obvious.
“Give me your name and I’ll stop calling you that,” the greaser
offered, still smiling. The dimple in his left cheek only upped his sexiness.
“William Hadley. Billy,” he whispered, his cheeks heating up.
“And, I’m five eight,” he huffed. Why did he say that? Why did he care
what this guy thought of him?
“Well, Billy,” he leaned in closer, letting his breath ghost
across Billy’s face. “I’m Gene Milgram and it’s a pleasure to
meet you.”
“Gene,” Billy repeated, letting the name roll around on his tongue
for a minute and swallowing hard when he realized Gene was still leaning into
the car. “Um, I guess I need to call someone to tow it, huh? I wonder if
there’s a pay phone anywhere near.”
Gene grinned. “Nope. But I can help you.”
Billy’s eyes widened. “You can? On a motorcycle?” He glanced back
uncertainly at the small bike. “Um, yeah, I don’t think that’s strong enough
to—”
Gene’s laughter rumbled out into the darkness and Billy looked him
as if he was crazy. Did this guy seriously think a motorcycle could
tow a big car?
“Sorry, Billy,” he chuckled. “No, I didn’t mean my bike. I own an
auto shop and I just closed up a little while ago. Why don’t we just head back
and get the tow truck and take care of things?”
“We?” Billy squeaked, glancing at the motorcycle again, his heart
hammering in his chest.
Gene waggled his eyebrows at him, laughing. “Well, yeah, I can’t
just leave you here in the dark. What if another opossum decides to pull
something crazy again?”
Billy felt his face heat up. He knew Gene was just being friendly,
but it had been a long time since another man had made him feel so off-kilter,
even though he was sure Gene was straight. He looked back over his shoulder
again and wrestled with his fear of motorcycles. Something told him that he
could trust this man, though.
Sighing deeply, he finally nodded. Gene pulled the car door open
and waited, his hand on the door handle. Once he climbed out, he felt a little
lightheaded, swaying a little before Gene’s arm snaked around his waist,
holding him close to his side.
“Whoa, there. You feeling dizzy?” Gene’s mouth was so close his
breath caressed Billy’s neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
Billy nodded a little, feeling foolish. “My head hit the steering
wheel, but my arms cushioned the blow. I think…I think I’m just a little
dazed.”
Gene nodded his understanding and helped him up the short hill to
his bike, parked on the side of the road. Billy startled when he saw it up
close.
“That’s a 1947 Triumph Speed Twin! Is that a custom paint job?”
Enthusiasm won out over his fear as he leaned in and traced his fingers along
the seat.
Gene’s eyes widened in amazement and he finally let his arm slip
away from Billy’s waist. “You know about bikes?”
“Yeah, a little. When I was a kid, I dreamed of owning one, but my
mom always said they were too dangerous, of course. Then when I saw James Dean
riding one, I decided to learn more about them. Last year, I finally decided to
try taking a spin and I…I…” His face reddened and he looked at the ground. “I
fell off the bike before I even started it,” he admitted.
Gene chuckled a little, but wisely kept his thoughts to himself.
Billy smiled, “Yeah, it wasn’t funny at the time, but…” He cleared
his throat. “So, um, how do we do this?”
The greaser handed him the helmet. “Only got one and no way am I
letting you ride without one.” He grinned. “You seem a little accident-prone to
me.”
About
the Authors:
L.J. Hamlin is a
twenty something (getting older every day) writer, who has been writing all her
life, mainly in notebooks no one else ever saw. But then she found M/M groups
online and was encouraged by friends to share her stories. After a while (with
a lot of pushing) she got brave enough to try getting published, so she could
share with more people, and she hopes to never stop. LJ loves cats, and pretty
much all animals, is a collector of many things, often weird, but most of all
books.
Janelle Reston is a
pansexual powerhouse whose F/F and queer romance has appeared in numerous
anthologies. Hobbies include watching The X-Files and making sexual
innuendos. She lives in a northern lake town with her partner and their black
cats.
Eric Thornton tends to
write what comes to mind. You never know what could come from him next. He
lives in the south with his spouse who supports his work.
Jessica Chase has been
writing for what seems like her entire life, and finished her first short story
at the age of five. It wasn’t very good. Since then, she’s improved a great
deal, but writing has continued to be her passion. She loves reading and enjoys
exploring the worlds of others as well as creating her own and has been
involved in several writing groups. She writes all kinds of relationships and
is always looking to write more, but M/M and F/F romance is something she is
particularly fond of. She enjoys fantasy and horror, and loves putting her own
spin on the genres and creating interesting characters and worlds. Jessica
studied at Oxford University and fell in love with the city and its weird
quirks and traditions. She still reads anything she can get her hands on and
spends her weekends wandering around various museums and old houses, walking
through the countryside looking for inspiration, or sitting in the garden and
playing with her pet tortoises. She is lucky enough to have the support of some
wonderful friends.
A.M. Leibowitz is a
queer spouse, parent, feminist, and book-lover falling somewhere on the
Geek-Nerd Spectrum. Ze keeps warm through the long, cold western New York
winters by writing about life, relationships, hope, and happy-for-now endings.
Hir published fiction includes four novels as well as a number of short works,
and hir stories have been included in anthologies from Supposed Crimes, Witty
Bard, and Mischief Corner Books. In between noveling and editing, ze blogs
coffee-fueled, quirky commentary on faith, culture, writing, books, and hir
family.
Sarah Hadley Brook lives in
the Midwest and is a mother of two wonderful young men. During the day, she
works in the non-profit world, but reserves evenings for her
hobby-turned-passion of writing, letting the characters she conjures up in her
mind take the lead and show her where the story will go. When not working or
writing, she can be found reading, working on dollhouses, trying her hand at
new recipes, or watching old movies and musicals. She believes in “Happily Ever
After” and strives to ensure her characters find their own happiness in love
and life.
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