
Thanks to Lisa for letting me drop by to talk about the re-release of my short story Rivals. I’m excited to be here discussing a story that’s set in the holiday season, starting at Thanksgiving and ending for Christmas. In the spirit of the season I’d like to give away a free copy of the ebook to some lucky commenter on this post.
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED
For Mitchell and Alex, reconnected at the holidays is the opportunity to explore something they’d ignored years before. Of course it’s not easy to admit the feelings you’ve got while in high school. Regardless of the type of relationship you’re trying to have—girl/boy, boy/boy, girl/girl—even in the most accepting and safe environment it can be difficult as a teenager to admit you’ve got a crush on someone. These two had the deck stacked against them, not only was neither of them out during high school, but they played hockey for opposing schools.
When they meet again as college graduates, most of the rivalry’s gone, but for Mitchell there’s the years of lust he felt for the guy he stared at over the face-off dot every time they met up for a game. Finally they can start to make up for not talking during high school, or even connecting during their college years.
It’s one of those instances where people just don’t take the chance to talk to someone they’re interested in. Your mind can concoct a million reasons not to do something. Even Alex admits during their catch up that he’d thought about reaching out to Mitchell during college because he was covering the team Mitchell played for. Alex just never had the courage to go for it. So, in this case, fate brought the two guys together Thanksgiving morning. Now that fate’s done its work, it’s up to the guys to sort out the way forward.
Below is an excerpt, showing how they spent a little of that Thanksgiving Morning. Not surpassingly it happens at an ice rink where Mitchell and his younger brother Trevor are catching up with each other with a little one-on-one competition. Alex walks in for an early skate and Mitchell’s old feelings are quickly rekindled.
EXCERPT: I took the puck off Trevor’s stick and started skating around in random patterns. “Come on, Trev, “ I said tauntingly, “get the puck.”
“You’re on!”
As soon as he started to skate, I turned on the backwards speed and put some distance between us. We kept at it for a couple minutes before he finally faked me out and claimed the puck.
“And Mitchell Turner has the puck stripped off his stick by his persistent younger brother, Trevor.” A man stood on the first level of bleachers, applauding.
“Holy shit, Alex Goodman,” I said, louder than I’d intended.
I hadn’t seen Alex since my senior year of high school hockey ended. We were cross-county rivals then. I had a wicked crush on him, too. He’d gotten even better looking during the past four years—a red goatee now accentuated his blazing red hair. The tight, long-sleeved workout shirt showed off his chest in eye-popping detail. I sprinted to the boards where we bumped fists and shook hands. “I didn’t think we’d run into anyone else this morning. What’re you up to?”
“Came down to get a skate in before spending the day with the family,” he said. His deep voice was incredibly sexy. I didn’t remember him sounding like this. “Man, it’s been forever. I don’t think we’ve seen each other since you guys knocked us out of the race for the state championship our senior year.”
I thought about that for a moment. “I think you’re right.”
Alex was built—all I wanted to do right now was feel up his biceps. His green eyes were as mesmerizing as ever. I’d had a hard time concentrating on face-offs against him because all I wanted to do was stare into his eyes and get to know him.
The one time I’d seen him away from a rink was during the summer between our junior and senior years. I ran into him at the mall. I don’t remember what we talked about, but seeing him in shorts, which exposed his muscular, lightly hairy legs, and how his t-shirt clung to his chest made that day perfect. It was jack-off material for months as I imagined what was under those clothes and what I’d like to do to him if I could get him naked.
“What’re you up to these days?” I asked, keeping the conversation appropriate as Trevor skated around behind me.
“I cover sports for the Free Press—Michigan and Red Wings hockey during the season and then whatever they assign me to in the off. What about you?”
“Working in sports marketing out in San Francisco.”
“Nice. Sounds like a sweet gig.”
“It’s pretty good. We do a fair bit with the Sharks, so I like that part a lot.”
“I wrote about you quite a bit while I was interning during school. You certainly earned your keep with the Wolverines.”
My face got hot. I must have turned several shades of red. His eyes were working on me just like they used to, making it hard to focus.
BLURB: Mitchell Turner and Alex Goodman squared off over a face-off dot throughout high school. Their schools were cross-country rivals. Those face-offs were tough on Mitchell because he harbored a huge crush on Alex. High school, and college, are behind the guys and they meet unexpectedly on Thanksgiving Day, once again on the ice. Mitchell is home for the holidays and is thrilled to see his crush all grown up.
Alex asks Mitchell out for coffee to catch up. Could this be the start of something magical for the holidays … and beyond?
BIO: Jeff Adams caught the writing bug in middle school and finally became a novelist with the Hat Trick series, which will conclude in 2015. He’s also written a number of m/m romance shorts. Jeff and his husband, Will, left the hustle and bustle of New York City to return to the more peaceful lifestyle of Humboldt County, California, during the summer of 2014, which allows more time for him to write. Extending his love of hockey beyond novels, Jeff covers the Detroit Red Wings, as well reviews books that feature LGBT hockey players, for PuckBuddys.com. To learn more about Jeff, visit jeffadamswrites.com and follow him on Twitter at @hockeyguynyc.
Sounds interesting! Thanks for the chance to win.
sounds so good! please count me in
Hi Jeff, thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of Rivals. Wishing you a happy holiday season.
Hi Ardent, you’re welcome! I hope you have a very happy holiday season as well as a spectacular 2015!
Loved the excerpt!! Love finding new to me authors!
Hi KP, Glad you found me. :) I hope you enjoy my stories.
Ooh, they went to high school and college in my old stomping grounds! I went to hockey games because I had a crush on a player, so (other than gender) I can relate!
Hi Susan, with both “Rivals” and the “Hat Trick” series (when the guys get to college) ended up at Michigan. I grew up in Flint and am a major Red Wings fan so I’ve sent people there a lot.
Great excerpt, thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds great, count me in, please
Thanks for the chance to win. I’m always looking for new authors.
Also happy to find new readers :)
Hope you find a book of mine (or several) that you enjoy.
The face-off does seem like it could be fraught with sexual tension! (Wonder what it’s like for the linesman…)
I think it’s different for the linesmen because while they are getting ready to move depending on the faceoff, there’s not the hunched over, fighting for position and dominance that happens between the centers. I was a center for a couple seasons before I moved back to defense and there could be some wonderfully tense moments.
I would love to win a copy! This books sounds interesting! Great excerpt! Thanks for the giveaway :)
Awesome! Thanks for the giveaway!
The book sounds great. Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway.
Great post & giveaway!
Thanks for the offer, and the excerpt. :-)
Thanks for the post and excerpt. I love hockey, so you’d think I would have read more books with it in them. :-)
This is my favorite theme.
Sounds like a wonderful read. Thank you for the opportunity to win and happy holidays =)
The books sounds great. Loved the Hat Trick books. Cant wait for the next one Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Big fan of hockey stories, so I’m really looking forward to reading this one! Thanks for the chance to win!
I really liked the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!
Really liked the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by so far. It’s cool seeing so many interested in the giveaway! Best of luck to you all and Happy Holidays!!!
This book sounds so cool! Count me in, plz
Congratulations on your new release! Sounds like a good one. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the excerpt and thank you for the chance. Happy Holidays:I
Thanks for the post and excerpt!
Lovely chance to meet a new author (to me, at least). Thank you for the chance to win and happy holidays to everyone
I loved the Hat Trick series so I can’t wait to read this new one.
Count me in, please and Merry X-Mas and happy holidays my friends <3
And Merry Christmas to you as well Starry! I hope you enjoy “Rivals.” Also, be on the look out for a new “Hat Trick” short story on January 11!
I’m so in love with Jeff’s books…can’t wait for this one! Count me in pls and happy holidays to everyone out there! MUAK!
Thanks, K13. That comment means a lot! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season!
Sounds good, thank you for the chance!!!
Not many books are written with sports theme and I’m glad Jeff wrote this book which sounds so interesting. Thank you for doing that, Jeff! Much luck to you on your newest release! And Happy Holidays!
taina1959@yahoo.com
Seasons greetings, everyone! Thanks so much for participating in Jeff’s Rivals e-book giveaway. The contest is closed and today’s lucky reader is
Denise Dechene
Congratulations, Denise! I’ve just emailed Jeff with your contact info, so expect to hear from him soon.