Today we’re so pleased to welcome author Grace R. Duncan on the tour for her new novel, What Bout Now. Enjoy the excerpt she’s brought along to share with you, and then be sure to check out the Rafflecopter giveaway.
And now, here’s Grace!
Welcome to the What About Now book cruise (tour)! Thanks to The Novel Approach for welcoming me today. I hope you’ll follow the entire tour. Lots of chances to win a signed paperback copy of What About Now, $10 at Dreamspinner Press or an audiobook copy of Choices!
Each cruise (tour) stop will feature an excerpt from the story related to where the characters were for that day. Check the Rafflecopter at the end of the post to enter your answer to the question related to the excerpt for the chance to win a backlist ebook for each stop.
Today stop is the fourth on our cruise and sees our couple in Nawiliwili, HI (Kauai). Let’s see what the boys got up to…
Rafe opened the cab door for Braden and waited until he slid over to the other side of the seat, then climbed in behind him. When the door was closed, he asked, “Do you know where the Starbucks is?”
The driver turned, looked at him through the rearview, and smiled. “Do you want Starbucks specifically? Or good coffee and better Internet access than on the ship?”
Braden and Rafe exchanged amused looks. “Are we that obvious?” Braden asked, smirking.
The driver shrugged a shoulder, still smiling.
Rafe laughed. “Coffee and Internet. The ship’s Internet is….” Rafe shuddered.
“I get it. There’s a great nonprofit coffee bar with free Wi-Fi. Why not check out something local?”
Rafe glanced at Braden, who nodded. “Sounds good,” Rafe agreed and sat back.
The trip was short and filled with little tidbits by the native driver, Ahe. As they rounded the first corner, he pointed to a colorful green and yellow building to his right. “If you are around for lunch, that little place has shave ice and some of the best burgers on the islands. Though Ha has pizza and sandwiches.”
Rafe watched the scenery go by, marveling at how, though most of the architecture was plenty similar to their Southern California home, it seemed different enough to draw his attention. He was certainly used to palm trees, but the ones in LA always looked a little sad, though Rafe knew that was likely a by-product of his knowledge that they were transplants like so much else in California. And yet, in all the exotic scenery, he couldn’t help chuckling at the trappings in every city: hardware stores, car dealerships, and strip malls.
They pulled into the parking lot of one of these, and Ahe parked in front of one end. Braden had money out and handed it over the seat in front of him. “Mahalo!” Ahe handed a business card back to Braden. “If you want to stop at Kalapaki before you go back to the ship, call that number and ask for me. I’ll pick you up and we can stop on the way back!”
“Thanks,” Braden said, sticking the card in his pocket.
“Yes, thank you,” Rafe said, waving as he climbed out. “Take care.”
“Aloha!” Ahe said, waving his hand out the window as he turned the car around in the parking lot.
Rafe watched in amusement as he left, then turned to Braden. “Well, shall we?”
Braden nodded, and they stepped up to the door. Rafe held it for Braden; then they both moved into the little cafe.
The center part of the room held long wooden tables with matching long benches on either side. Smaller tables for two lined the windows, with the exception of a few tables for four. On one end of the large, open room, there was a grouping of comfortable-looking overstuffed chairs with low tables. And across from them, a long high counter—a bar—with stools lined the back wall. Customers occupied several of the two-seater tables already, as well as several spots on the longer tables. Two of the stuffed chairs were also already filled.
“Wow, busy,” Braden muttered.
Rafe nodded and pointed to one of the tables for four to the right not occupied. “How about there?”
Braden turned and nodded too. “Yeah, that works.”
They set their bags down, and Braden turned to the counter. Rafe touched his arm. “Let me get the first round?”
Braden shrugged a shoulder. “Okay. I’ll get the laptops out. You bring a mouse?”
Rafe raised an eyebrow, and Braden laughed.
“Of course you did. Gaming without one, right?”
Rafe grinned, glanced around, but paused. He wasn’t sure what the prevailing attitude was on the island and didn’t want to be greeted with hostility. “I’d kiss you, but….”
Braden held up a hand. “No, it’s cool. I get it. Go on. I need coffee.”
With a nod and chuckle, Rafe went to the counter. He considered the menu, written on rolled brown butcher paper and hanging behind the register. When he’d put in their order for coffee and two focaccias—one Hawaiian-style breakfast and one Portuguese sausage and egg—he went back to the table.
Braden had both their computers out and plugged in, mice set up, and Rafe’s on the login screen.
Rafe put in his password and went through the process of connecting to the Wi-Fi. “So… what do you play now?”
“Hmm. I’ve got decent characters for LOTRO and WoW.”
Rafe pursed his lips. “I’ve been out of WoW too long. It’d take me too long to remember how to play. Let’s play LOTRO? I’ve kind of missed Middle-earth, anyway.”
Braden grinned. “Me too. Who do you have?”
Thanks for reading! Remember to keep up with the whole cruise for a chance to win at each stop. And each entry will give you an opportunity to be entered to win one of the three big prizes!
Blurb
Five years ago, everything went wrong. Braden Kirk and Rafe Jessen’s long-term relationship started unraveling. They stopped talking, fears mounted, then Braden walked in on Rafe and another man, completely misreading the situation. Without giving Rafe a chance to explain, Braden walks out. Out of their home, their relationship, and the game development company they started together in college.
After months of therapy to deal with the attempted rape Braden walked in on, Rafe begins to understand that his dominant tendencies in the bedroom aren’t a bad thing and that Braden’s submission is likely what scared his partner into silence. But Rafe isn’t ready to let go of the man he loves more than life itself. He arranges for himself and Braden to end up on the same charity cruise, knowing Braden won’t let his phobia—terror of vast, deep waters—rule him.
With a plan and twenty-eight days, Rafe is determined to get Braden back, make him see there’s nothing wrong with being submissive, and find a way to get Braden to stay with him when they get home to LA.
Dreamspinner Press * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * All Romance eBooks * iTunes * kobo
Follow the Tour
What About Now Blog Tour Cruise
About the Author
Grace Duncan grew up with a wild imagination. She told stories from an early age – many of which got her into trouble. Eventually, she learned to channel that imagination into less troublesome areas, including fanfiction, which is what has led her to writing male/male erotica.
A gypsy in her own right, Grace has lived all over the United States. She has currently set up camp in East Texas with her husband and children – both the human and furry kind.
As one of those rare creatures who loves research, Grace can get lost for hours on the internet, reading up on any number of strange and different topics. She can also be found writing fanfiction, reading fantasy, crime, suspense, romance and other erotica or even dabbling in art.
Find Grace here: Website ◊ Facebook ◊ Twitter ◊ Youtube ◊ Goodreads
The Giveaway
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