We’re so pleased to welcome author L.A. Witt and the tour for her latest release, Rabi and Matthew, to TNA today. We’ve got an exclusive excerpt from the book to share with you as well as a giveaway, so be sure to check out all those details below.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

About the Book

A queer retelling of Romeo & Juliet, except no one has to bury their gays.

A decades-old family rivalry is reaching a boiling point as the patriarchs vie for a seat in Congress. Democrat vs Republican, Muslim vs Christian, Hashmi vs Swain — the Midwestern town of Arbor Hills is one spark away from an explosion of violence. So when two men find themselves irresistibly drawn together at a party, only to discover they were born on opposite sides of a bloody battle line, Matthew Swain and Rabi Hashmi know they should leave well enough alone.

The pull between them is magnetic, though, and it’s too strong to ignore. Unable to resist, they meet again in secret. Generations of hatred can’t temper the passionate love growing between them, but two men falling for each other in the middle of a war zone can’t hold back the inevitable clash.

And when decades of political, religious, and personal strife finally come to a head, there will be blood.

Now available from Riptide Publishing

The Excerpt

Rabi reached his truck, and just to be safe, he circled the block a couple of times, then circled another one. Satisfied no one had followed him, he let the GPS directed him to the place Matthew had sent him.

That place turned out to be another park. A much smaller one than where the rally had been held—just some grass and bushes around a single fountain ringed by a few benches.

Rabi parked in front of a dry cleaner that was closed for the night, then walked across the street. The benches were empty, but he saw someone standing near the fountain, looking at his phone.

Cautiously, he called out, “Matthew?”

The man turned around, and yes, it was Matthew. And holy shit, it was tempting to break into a run.

Rabi kept his cool exterior, though, and hurried closer. “Hey. Sorry I took so long.”

“It’s all right.” Matthew smiled as he slid his phone into the pocket of his jacket. “I didn’t creep you out, did I? Showing up at your dad’s rally?”

“Not at all.” Rabi stopped when he was maybe an arm’s length from Matthew. “Made it kind of hard to sit through the speech, but . . .”

Matthew laughed, shifting Rabi’s pulse into instant overdrive. As their gazes locked, Matthew sobered, and it was hard to tell if the blush came from the chilly wind or something else. He broke eye contact. “Listen, I know it’s crazy. We had like two minutes, and suddenly I’m . . .” He swallowed. “I just can’t stop thinking about you.”

Rabi’s heart thudded hard against his ribs. “Neither can I. If we hadn’t been interrupted . . .”

This time, there was definitely some blushing going on. “Yeah, sorry about that.” Matthew laughed and rolled his eyes. “My friend likes to shoot off his mouth and poke at frat boys.”

Rabi chuckled. “Oh, he’s that type.”

“Uh-huh. I just wish he wouldn’t do it when I was trying to—” Matthew’s teeth snapped shut as he met Rabi’s eyes again. He cleared his throat and dropped his gaze to the ground at their feet. “When I’m talking to someone.”

“No kidding. I was rather enjoying our—”

Footsteps made Rabi tense up, and he looked to see a middle-aged couple heading their way. They didn’t seem to be paying any attention to Matthew or Rabi, but even still, Rabi instinctively put some more space between him and Matthew, and Matthew seemed to do the same. The couple didn’t notice them at all, but as Rabi warily watched them continue across the park at a brisk pace, a whole new set of nerves coiled in the pit of his stomach. He’d finally made contact with Matthew, and they were finally in the same place, but . . . now what?

Matthew cleared his throat. “Shit. Too many people in this town know our faces.”

“I know.” Rabi’s heart sank. They exchanged uneasy glances. He could hear the maybe this isn’t such a good idea coming from a mile away. Even if the couple walking past hadn’t noticed them, that didn’t mean the next person wouldn’t. But he’d reconnected with Matthew, and like hell was he going to let him go again, so he blurted out, “We could go someplace else.”

Matthew’s eyebrows shot up. “Like where?”

“Anywhere.” Rabi shook his head. “Just drive out into the country or whatever. I really don’t care.” I just want to be with you. He held that last bit back; he didn’t want Matthew to think—well, know—how desperate he was.

Matthew chewed his lip for a moment. “That could work.”

Renewed hope surged through Rabi. “We’ll text. Set something up. I know it’s risky and everything, but I really want to see you again.”

“Me too.” Matthew smiled. “I was hoping we could spend more time together tonight, but . . .” He frowned in the direction the couple had gone.

“I know. Same here. But once we get out of town . . .”

“Definitely.” Matthew moistened his lips. “I’ve got your number now. I’ll text you tomorrow?”

“Yes, please.”

They shared a long look, and then all too soon, they were heading in opposite directions again. Damn. Rabi had wanted to—

“Wait.”

He turned, expecting Matthew to say something more.

Instead, Matthew doubled back and stepped close, right up into his space, and touched his cheek. “Before you go . . .” Matthew’s eyes flicked to Rabi’s lips. Back to his eyes. To his lips again.

Rabi swallowed. Something in Matthew’s eyes made his pulse soar.

You kiss me right now, he wanted to say, there’s a good chance we won’t get out of here anytime soon.

Then Matthew drew back a little, as if either shyness or caution—maybe both—had made him think twice about taking this any further. Rabi barely contained a sigh of both relief and frustration.

Clearing his throat, Matthew smiled. “I’ll, um, see you soon.”

“Yeah.” Rabi smiled back. “See you soon.”

But not soon enough.

About the Author

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut . . .

Website || Author Blog || Personal Blog || Twitter @GallagherWitt || Facebook || Goodreads

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Rabi and Matthew, one lucky person will win a $10 Riptide gift card. Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 10, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!