Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Takes
A Closer Look at….
Chyna Doll by Mickie B. Ashling
Publisher Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Anne Cain
Thank you to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting my Chyna Doll blog tour visit. Although this is the fourth novel in the Horizons series, it can be read as a stand-alone. We’ve moved ahead several years and Grier’s son, Luca, who was seven when the series started, is now almost fifteen. I’ve brought an excerpt to share, as well as some goodies to give away, so stay tuned to see what you can win!
Blurb
Lil Lampert’s forty-fifth birthday turns the effervescent architect into a brooding mess, and his partner, Grier Dilorio, takes him to Italy to help him regain his zest for life. The timing is bad—almost-fifteen-year-old Luca has just started high school, and his mother and stepfather are also traveling. Luca is left in the care of Chicago Bear, Clark Stevens, and his partner, Dr. Jody Williams.
Growing up with two dads and two gay uncles has given Luca a unique perspective on gender roles, but not all the answers. He’s had a secret crush on his straight best friend, Chip, for years. Suddenly, Luca finds himself attracted to Chyna, Chip’s twin sister. Now he’s wondering if this means he’s bisexual.
Born with a sexual development disorder, Chyna should have been raised as a male, but due to an epic parenting fail, is being raised as female. Hiding the truth becomes more difficult when Chyna hits puberty, and crushing over Luca adds another element to Chyna’s struggle to fit in.
Is Luca’s moral compass strong enough to guide him successfully through this period of discovery or will he succumb to peer pressure and shatter Chyna’s dreams for happiness?
Excerpt
LIL GROANED when he opened his eyes and shut them instantly. Lancing pain behind his right eyeball was an unwelcome reminder of last night’s overindulgence. He could practically see his arteries clogging up and exploding thanks to the appetizing array of decadent finger food he’d popped into his mouth at regular intervals without a second thought. He’d washed down the high-calorie goodies with one champagne flute after another, and he moaned in dismay when it dawned on him that he might have overdone it.
“Are you all right?” Grier asked sleepily.
Lil sat up and clutched at his head like it was about to fall off. “Please tell me I didn’t make a fool of myself,” he lamented, envisioning wild scenes in a swimming pool with a handful of nubile young studs.
Grier snorted. “I saved you from that fate.”
“Thank God,” Lil said, sinking back down on his pillow. “There’s no fool like an old fool.”
“Don’t start….”
“Can I get a blanket dispensation for anything stupid I did last night?” Lil asked. “I don’t remember much after that fifth round of champagne.”
“I’m starting to wonder if they slipped you a roofie.”
“What? Why would you say that?”
“You were insatiable,” Grier explained.
“Truly?”
“We fucked three ways from Sunday and then did it all over again. I can’t recall the last time I had so much fun.”
“Are you being sarcastic?” Lil asked defensively.
Grier got up on an elbow, scrubbed his thick morning growth, and smiled down at Lil indulgently. “You wore me out.”
Lil grinned. “I hope I was fabulous.”
“Don’t you remember any of it?”
Lil’s eyes widened. “Do you think I’m getting Alzheimer’s?”
“Now I’m sure you were drugged by those assholes up the hill.”
“Could be,” Lil said, “or I was just shitfaced.” He wiggled his butt around and moaned. “I’m sore, lovey. What unspeakable thing did you shove up my ass?”
Grier laughed. “Other than my dick?”
“It feels like half the town was down there paying me a visit.”
“You may have asked for a toy or two before we got down to business.”
“Oh? Did you fist me?”
“You seem to have that on your mind lately, but no, I didn’t.”
“It’s been a while—” Lil broke off.
“Is that a request?”
Lil smiled shyly. “You know I’d never turn that down.”
“It’s not something we’ve done on the spur of the moment.”
“It won’t take me long to get ready.”
“Why don’t we plan to revisit in a few days.” Lil nodded. “In the meantime, I’ll pave the way, so to speak.”
“How can anyone so amazingly abandoned in the sack be so uptight about everything else?”
“Good question,” Lil said. “Perhaps my sensible side keeps warring with my inner child on principle.”
“I’m the Gemini, not you.”
“And yet you’re far less mercurial.”
“I like it when your Mercury shows up.”
“He is rather fun, isn’t he?”
“A blast from the past,” Grier said, nuzzling Lil’s neck. “What say you junk cautious-Lil for the rest of the trip and let the boy back in?”
“Are we negotiating here?” “You were intrigued by the offer of an orgy last night. Was that the booze talking, or are you in the mood for some group sex?”
“Would you be shocked if I said yes?”
More About Mickie B. Ashling…
Mickie B. Ashling is the alter-ego of a multifaceted woman raised by a single mother who preferred reading over other forms of entertainment. She found a kindred spirit in her oldest child and encouraged her with a steady supply of dog-eared paperbacks. Romance was the preferred genre, and historical romances topped her favorites list.
By the time Mickie discovered her own talent for writing, real life had intruded, and the business of earning a living and raising four sons took priority. With the advent of e-publishing and the inevitable emptying nest, dreams were resurrected, and the storyteller was reborn.
She stumbled into the world of men who love men in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from their ongoing struggle to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world. Her award-winning novels have been called “gut wrenching, daring, and thought provoking.” She admits to being an angst queen and making her men work damn hard for their happy endings.
Mickie loves to travel and has lived in the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East but currently resides in a suburb outside Chicago.
Connect with Mickie
Email | Facebook | Website | Blog | Goodreads and Ask the Author
Purchase Links
Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe
Giveaway
Using Rafflecopter below, enter to win one of these prizes (contest open internationally): a $20 Dreamspinner gift certificate, one of five ecopies of Chyna Doll, any two ebooks from Mickie’s backlist, or a signed paperback of Chyna Doll. Must be 18 or older to enter.
Tour Schedule
March 2 – The Novel Approach
March 3 – Cup o’ Porn
March 4 – Hearts On Fire
March 5 – WoW…from The Scarf Princess
March 6 – MM Good Book Reviews
March 7 – Book Reviews & More by Kathy
March 9 – Prism Book Alliance
March 10 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
March 11 – On Top Down Under Book Reviews
March 12 – Sinfully…Addicted to All Male Romance
Tour and materials organized by PAS Promotions
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