Today I am so pleased to welcome the fabulous Rhys Ford to Joyfully Jay. Rhys has come to talk to us about her latest release, Hanging the Stars (Half Moon Bay #2). She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving Rhysย a big welcome!

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Thank you for following the Hanging The Stars blog tour! I was very excited to return to Half Moon Bay and well, deliver West Harris his comeuppance. For this tour, I wanted to share a bit about the relationships the characters have with one another and just a bit of every day stuff as they prepare for their Christmas holiday.

As I am sure many of you are preparing for your holidays.

Iโ€™m going to keep this short and sweet because wellโ€ฆ thereโ€™s a bit of story beneath this. But I do hope you stop by Half Moon Bay and catch up with West as a bit of his past returns in the form of Angel Danielsโ€ฆthe one man who broke his heart and took the pieces with him.

And be sure to enter this blogโ€™s Hanging The Stars giveaway! The winner gets a $25 dollar gift certificate to the online vendor of their choice!

Half Moon Holiday 7

The ocean was a choppy, icy silver crumple stretching from Half Moon Bayโ€™s sheer cliffs to the thin dark thread of clouds laying claim to the horizon. A cold wind, scented with salt and seaweed, rushed up over the sands, its harsh kiss scraping the last bit of warmth from West Harrisโ€™ cheeks. With the sun clinging to the sky, the beach below should have had at least a few of the local diehards making good use of the remaining light despite the chill in the air.

But it was Christmas Eve and Half Moon had already rolled up her shores for the coming stretch of holidays.

โ€œYouโ€™re going to be late, boss.โ€ For a large man, Marzo should have made a racket stepping across the gravel and broken shells lining the cliffโ€™s edge but he was a sneak at heart, silently approaching West from behind. West was used to his bodyguard-driver-slash-friendโ€™s stealthy ways but heโ€™d barely caught his start of surprise when Marzoโ€™s voice boomed in his ear. โ€œAnd donโ€™t look at me like that. You hate being late.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m looking at you like that because I hate being called boss.โ€He gave the ocean one last look, drinking in its chaotic darkness. Up until a few weeks ago, West would have said his life was going exactly as heโ€™d planned it. So the uneasiness eating through his thoughts perplexed him. โ€œWhy do we do this, Marzo? Whatโ€™s the point of shoving ourselves around a table to share a meal with people we either see all the time or hardly at all?โ€

โ€œReally? Youโ€™ve got to ask that? Sheesh, youโ€™re more screwed up than I thought, West.โ€ His friendโ€ฆone of his few friendsโ€ฆ loomed over him, a stupid grin pulled over his broad face. West waited, letting Marzo stew in his own thoughts. โ€œYou know, I didnโ€™t know your dad but Iโ€™ve got to say, he didnโ€™t do you or your brother any favours. You need what Langโ€™s gotโ€ฆ a good guy and a nice family to come home to.โ€

โ€œCan you really see me with an auto mechanic?โ€ He lifted an eyebrow, daring Marzo to challenge him.

โ€œMaybe thatโ€™s what you need then. Someone whoโ€™s had to worry if theyโ€™ve got enough eggs to feed everyone that morning.โ€As usual, the other man quickly rose to the attack and West kept a smile from stretching over his face. โ€œAnd donโ€™t go all Cheshire cat on me. Iโ€™m serious. Your biggest problem is that the only thing youโ€™ve had to work for are relationships and you suck at them.โ€

โ€œThen why do you work for me?โ€ The conversation went serious as Marzo sighed heavily.

โ€œBecause for all the shit-ass things you are, deep down inside youโ€™re an okay guy. You just make some shitty decisions and then act all high and mighty when everything goes to crap around you. Sure, you can make a buck like it was as easy as breathing but do you have anyone you really want to spend all that money on?โ€

โ€œYou donโ€™t spend money, Marzo. You make it work for you,โ€ West corrected. โ€œItโ€™s a stepping stone to bigger and better accomplishments.โ€

โ€œReally? Because after knowing you?โ€ His friend snorted. โ€œItโ€™s less of a staircase and more of a wall youโ€™ve built to keep people out.โ€

***

It was odd standing in his grandmotherโ€™s living room and not seeing her holding court in the massive red wingchair by the roomโ€™s river rock fireplace. The chair was still there but instead of an imperious looking grand dragon of a woman directing her grandsons on what they should do with their lives, a different kind of dragon sat cross-legged on the plump cushions, reading a thick book to a pair of disgruntled looking cats.

Okay, West studied his niece, so the cats are the same and if he took everything he knew about his grandmother and Zig, the dragons were as well.

โ€œUmโ€ฆ Lang went out to grab some peas,โ€ Deacon said from the doorway. โ€œWe kind of had an incident. Should be back soon. Whereโ€™s Marzo?โ€

โ€œHe went to one of his sisterโ€™s placeโ€ฆ or maybe his cousinโ€™s. I canโ€™t remember.โ€ He tried to piece together the conversation heโ€™d had with Marzo before they pulled up to the house. โ€œTruthfully, heโ€™s got a huge family. I think they just all find the nearest stadium, throw down a few hundred picnic tables and eat until they pass out. He said heโ€™d pick me up tomorrow.โ€

His carry-on sat in the hallway behind Deacon and West blinked, realizing he didnโ€™t even know where heโ€™d be sleeping that night despite having practically grown up there. He tried explaining away the pang in his chest as heartburn or even a virus. Anything other than regret his grandmother handed Lang the keys to everything important in her life without giving West a second thought.

โ€œShe liked him better than you, asshole,โ€ he muttered to himself. โ€œYou reminded her of Dad and wasnโ€™t he her biggest regret.โ€

โ€œLet me take this up. Lang said to tell you youโ€™re in the blue room.โ€ Deaconโ€™s expression flickered between confusion and resignation for a second. โ€œDonโ€™t understand why he calls it that. Roomโ€™s painted something Iโ€™d call celery.โ€

โ€œIt used to be blue. Well have blue wallpaper. Grandma hated it so we took it down one summer.โ€ Sheโ€™d let him choose the colour for the walls, assuring him heโ€™d always have a placeโ€”that roomโ€”in her home if he needed it. โ€œLang had the one down the hall. That was purple before we got to it.โ€

โ€œYeah, heโ€™s stillโ€ฆweโ€™re in that one.โ€ His brotherโ€™s husband hefted the suitcase up before West could stop him.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry about the bag. Iโ€™ll take it up,โ€ he said softly. โ€œYou donโ€™t have to wait on me.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m not. Heading upstairs anyway. Hell, you know this place better than I do probably and just to keep things straight, youโ€™re not a guest. To me, youโ€™re a part of Lang that broke off and drifted away for a bit so donโ€™t think youโ€™re getting out of dishes or anything.โ€ Deacon screwed his mouth up into a grimace. โ€œOkay, maybe not putting you to work but you can keep the kid entertained and out of my hair. Sheโ€™s got opinions about everything, including what goes into dinner.โ€

โ€œConsidering her favourite food is canned peas with mayonnaise. Iโ€™d not trust her culinary suggestions.โ€ West drawled. โ€œI shall go do my due diligence and entertain the niece.โ€

โ€œThanks. And for the recordโ€ฆโ€ Deacon paused at the foot of the stairs. โ€œWeโ€™re glad youโ€™re here. Itโ€™ll be nice to have you this week. Langโ€™s really looking forward to it.โ€

The cats didnโ€™t even look up when West entered the room but Zig broke into a wide smile, scrambling carefully out of the chair to launch herself at her uncle. He endured the hug, squeezing her briefly then letting her go to study her very serious face.

โ€œWhatโ€™s the matter? Did the Wicked Witch of the West forget to send you a flying monkey for Christmas?โ€ He rubbed at a bit of something on her cheek. โ€œAnd who taught you how to eat? Thereโ€™s crumbs all over your face.โ€

โ€œBah, I had some of those puffy mints. Theyโ€™ve got like chalk on them or something.โ€ Zig tugged on his hand. โ€œCome here. Iโ€™m finishing up the book. You can listen to the last chapter.โ€

โ€œWhat are you reading?โ€ West sat down in the chair opposite of her, shaking his head at Zigโ€™s scowl. โ€œDonโ€™t make that face. You look like Deacon and you donโ€™t want to go through high school with that kind of ugly on you. Now, bookโ€ฆ.readingโ€ฆwhat?โ€

โ€œThe Princess Bride.โ€ She picked up the book after settling down again between the slumbering cats. โ€œItโ€™s about true love. And well, stabbing people.โ€

โ€œNeither of which I know anything about,โ€ he confessed. โ€œAnd probably never will if Iโ€™m lucky.โ€

โ€œIt sucks when no one loves you. I know.โ€ Zig studied him, her gaze peeling back layers of his emotional armour until West felt like he lay bared soul before her then she murmured, โ€œAnd you should get a boyfriend. Maybe youโ€™ll be happier because right now, you kind of suck.โ€
_____________

Hanging the Stars Blog Tour Stops

Nov 30: Itโ€™s About the Book (http://itsaboutthebook.com/)
Dec 1: Boy Meets Boy (www.boymeetsboyreviews.com)
Dec 2: Love Bytes (http://lovebytesreviews.com/)
Dec 3: Prism Alliance (http://www.prismbookalliance.com/)
Dec 4: Sinfully Gay Romance (http://sinfullymmbookreviews.blogspot.com/)
Dec 5: The Novel Approach (http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/)
Dec 7: Joyfully Jay (https://joyfullyjay.com/)


Blurb

Hanging_The_Stars_Book

Angel Daniels grew up hard, one step ahead of the law and always looking over his shoulder. A grifterโ€™s son, heโ€™d learned every con and trick in the book but ached for a normal life. Once out on his own, Angel returns to Half Moon Bay where he once foundโ€ฆand then lostโ€ฆlove.

Now, Angelโ€™s life is a frantic mess of schedules and chaos. Between running his bakery and raising his troubled eleven-year-old half-brother, Roman, Angel has a hectic but happy life. Then West Harris returns to Half Moon Bay and threatens to break Angel all over again by taking away the only home he and Rome ever had.

When they were young, Angel taught West how to love and laugh but when Angel moved on, West locked his heart up and threw away the key. Older and hardened, West returns to Half Moon and finds himself face-to-face with the man heโ€™d lost. Now, West is torn between killing Angel or holding him tight.

But rekindling their passionate relationship is jeopardized as someone wants one or both of them dead, and as the terrifying danger mounts, neither man knows if the menace will bring them together or forever tear them apart.

Purchase Hanging the Stars (Half Moon Bay #2) at: Dreamspinner, Amazon, and ARe .


Bio

Bioheadshot_Rhys-Ford

Rhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and was a 2016 LAMBDA finalist with her novel, Murder and Mayhem. She is published by Dreamspinner Press and DSP Publications.

Sheโ€™s also quite skeptical about bios without a dash of something personal and really, who doesnโ€™t mention their cats, dog and cars in a bio? She shares the house with Yoshi, a grumpy tuxedo cat and Tam, a diabetic black pygmy panther, as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird and enjoys murdering make-believe people

Rhysโ€™ Blog: www.rhysford.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhys_Ford

Rhys Fordโ€™s books can found at Dreamspinner Press (http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com), DSP Publications (https://www.dsppublications.com/) and all major online book stores.


Giveaway

gift_CertificateRhys has brought a $25 gift certificate toย theย online site of the winner’sย choice give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Sunday, December 11th at 11:59 pm EST.

  • By entering the giveaway, youโ€™re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • Winners will be selected by random number.ย No purchase necessary to win. ย The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
  • If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
  • Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
  • Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
  • All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Readers may only enter once for each contest. ย Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
  • Void where prohibited by law.
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