We all know that attraction is an odd thing. In real life, I can remember being “just friends” with somebody for many years, not finding them particularly attractive at all, and then KAPOW—sudden chemistry. Why? He was making me laugh really hard, and the attraction took me over.
Chemistry. It’s not all about looks. It can be about personality. It can be about connection to another. Have you ever fallen for somebody NOT at first sight? Has a gorgeous person opened his/her mouth and become ugly? A quiet person shared something intimate and become beautiful? I know that it has happened to me.
In my upcoming release, The Only Guy, I thought it would be fun to play with a character who is pretty confused about who he is and who he wants. Aaron is not instantly attracted to the other MC, which creates tension, because the MC is desperately in love with him. The poor angst for Jesse! We all know what it is like to really fall for somebody who may be oblivious to us. Sigh. For Aaron, though, the attraction is a slowly developing. He’s barely aware of the chemistry building until it explodes on him. And then, boy, does it explode!
It’s a bit of an ugly duckling story. Aaron falls for the “ugly duckling,” and he is truly beautiful all along, not only physically, but also emotionally. I root for Aaron to want that “ugly duckling.” I hope you will root for them too.
Excerpt:
The road broke open a little and sunlight filled his window. All along the road now were gently rolling hills of the softest green. A handful of sheep and a few cows looked at him with big, soulful brown eyes as they wandered closer to the road. Aaron stopped driving a moment to simply watch them. Something deep inside him loosened a little as he looked at the animals and heard nothing but the rustle of the wind and the occasional birdcall.
Aaron turned onto another road that had a simple mailbox sitting there in the middle of nowhere that read J. Ross. It was a completely secluded spot, no neighbors anywhere in sight, and all along the unpaved driveway, the trees were lush with leaves, bursting full of vivid reds and oranges and yellows. The sky was inviting, clear and cloudless. Aaron had to admit—
It was so beautiful it almost hurt.
He saw a pretty log cabin nestled at the foothill of a small mountain. Two freshly painted barns stood nearby. He hoped his father had remembered to call Jesse. He’d offered to take care of it, and Aaron hadn’t much cared.
“Oh, well, Jesse. Hope you like surprises.”
Aaron checked himself in the mirror. He thought he looked pretty good. He got out of his dad’s Audi and went to the sturdy wooden door and knocked. Dogs barked wildly, both high yippee-sounding barks and deep low growls, and then the door swung open and a man loomed in front of him.
The words of greeting died on Aaron’s lips.
The man looked completely, late-night, B grade, stalker-movie crazy. Aaron took an instinctive step back.
Wild tangles of blond hair hung down to his shoulders, and his clothes were splattered with what looked like blood. He had an ugly scar that hooked downward from the top of his cheek to where it met the bushiest beard Aaron had ever seen. Only his eyes were familiar, intelligent and fierce, a stormy combination of dark blue with a steely gray ring, staring back at him.
“Jesse?”
“Hi, Aaron,” he said quietly. He opened the door wider for Aaron to enter.
THANKS FOR HOSTING ME!
BIO: Skylar M. Cates loves a good romance. She is quite happy to drink some coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Most days, however, Skylar is chasing after her husband, her kids, and her giant dog, Wasabi. Skylar dreams about spending her days writing her novels, walking along the beach, and making more time for her good friends. On a shoestring budget, Skylar has traveled all over in her early years. Although, lately, the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar still loves to chat with people from all around the globe.
Blurb: Aaron Weiss knows how to escape. Years ago, he ran from a romantic disappointment and impulsively joined the Army. Now, he’s forced to take a medical discharge and readjusting to life at home proves a challenge.
Jesse Ross knows how to hide. He realizes he’s an oddball, and that he’s an outsider within his own family. He also knows his secret love since childhood, Aaron, only wants his good-looking, favored older brother. Yet Jesse could never completely abandon his intense feelings for Aaron. Over the years, Jesse was a faithful pen pal to him. Still, he’s shocked to his core to find Aaron on his doorstep.
As long-buried secrets and past hurts take center stage, the two are overwhelmingly drawn to each other. But it’s their future that may force them to risk everything.
Buy links: Dreamspinner Press
THE GIVEAWAY: THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED
please count me in
Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway!
This looks an intriguing read, so please count me in. Even though it looks like Aaron starts to develop feelings for Jesse (his faithful pen pal) I wonder if Jesse will think that his interest is only because he cannot be with the preferred older brother (in other words if you can’t have what you want you might accept a less perfect alternative)?. When in fact Aaron has had an epiphany and realised the quieter, not so debonair or good looking of the brothers, is really the one he should have been looking at all along?
Looks like a great read. Will be buying anyways.
HAve The Guy from Glamour in my tbr pile, so looking to add this one too! Count me in the comp please
Sounds interesting. Count me in!
Count me in too.
Please count me in. Would love to read this.
Sounds like a wonderful story! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Love the sound of this one, please count me in. And thanks for the chance to win.
This sounds great! Thanks for the excerpt and the chance to win!
One of my favorite kinds of stories, someone finding the beauty that they hadn’t seen in another at first.
Thank you for the chance!!!!
Please count me in! I’m really looking forward to this book after reading the first one.
I’m really looking forward to reading this and the Guy From Glamour – sounds like a great series. Thanks for the excerpt and chance at winning a copy.
This sounds irresistible!
Great post & giveaway!
This sounds really good.
Oh, I’m definitely looking forward to this one. I just recently read The Guy From Glamour and loved it. Please count me in. Thanks!
You are a new author for me. The blurb and excerpt sound really good. Thanks for the chance to win
What an entrance! Sounds like The Only Guy is going to be a winner.
Cannot wait for this book! Loved first one.
This sounds really good! I love the concept. Thank you for a chance to win a copy.
Angst and tension sound good to me! Thanks for the chance.
I love this kind of story. I hope I win a copy :)
Please count me in. Thanks!
Please count me in for a chance to win this intriguing book. =}
I’m so looking forward to this one. I just loved The Guy From Glamour, so I’m glad this series is continuing. Thanks for the chance to win it!
Although the book blurb only stirred mild interest, the excerpt above convinced me to add “The Only Guy” to my Wanted list. I would love to win a copy, but am happy to buy one later if I do not win.
Sounds like a good book, count me in!
Please count me in :)
Good morning, everyone, and thanks very much to all of you for stopping by to enter Skylar’s The Only Guy giveaway. The winner’s been selected, and an e-copy of the book goes to
Deborah H
Congratulations, Deborah! I’ve already emailed Skylar with your contact information, so expect to hear from her soon.