Hello everyone! I am so pleased to welcome Keira Andrews to the blog today! Keira is here to talk to us about her new ice skating romance, Cold War, just in time for the Olympics! Β I reviewed this one the other day and really enjoyed it! She has also brought a super hot excerpt, and a copy of the book to give away. So please join me in giving Keira a big welcome!
What is it about male figure skaters that makes them so attractive? Is it their:
a)Β Β Β Β Tight pants
b)Β Β Β Athleticism
c)Β Β Β Β Artistry
d)Β Β Β Did I mention the tight pants?
Iβm going with all of the above! Iβve been a huge skating fan since the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. I was a kid then, and I loved the sparkly costumes and beautiful routines. But as I got older I discovered a whole new side of skating to love: the hot, hot men.
Iβve always had a soft spot for pairs skaters in particular, since these men tend to be taller and broader, what with having to throw and lift their partners in the air and make it look effortless. Female pairs skaters are teeny tiny, but it still takes a lot of muscle to get them overhead.
I attend skating competitions whenever I can, and two years ago at Skate Canada in Toronto I saw Russian Maxim Trankov in person for the first time. He was wearing tight black leather. Needless to say, it was an extremely enjoyable day! Maxim was the physical inspiration for Misha, one of the stars of my new sports romance Cold War. The physical inspiration for Dev was actor Sendhil Ramamurthy, who is obviously not a figure skater, but is also obviously smokinβ hot.
I canβt wait to watch all the hot men in tight pants take the ice in Sochi this month. While there will probably be less sweaty sex in the locker room than there is at my fictional Olympics in Cold War, a girl can dream, right?
Whoβs your favorite hot skater? Can be anyone β past or present. Iβd love to know!
An excerpt from Cold War
After dinner in the buzzing dining hall, Dev left Baileyβstill gossiping, and he had to admit heβd really enjoyed the story about the dressing room diva throwdown after one of the Canadian women cut the other off just before a jump in practice. He returned to the apartment block, and as he walked into the lobby, his heart skipped a beat.
Looking long and lean and utterly fuckable in jeans and a Henley, Misha leaned against the wall near a seating area, tapping at his phone. He glanced up as the door closed behind Dev with a soft thud. When he met Mishaβs hungry gaze, Devβs pulse rocketed. He stopped in his tracks. Should he go over? Should he run to the elevators? Should I slap myself because Iβm acting like a teenage girl?
Without a word, Misha turned and headed for the two elevators on the far side of the lobby. He pressed the button.
Devβs feet moved, and a moment later he stood next to Misha, watching the numbers tick down as one of the elevators neared. There was a foot between them, but Dev could feel an electric heat skittering over his skin. A few other people fell in behind them as they boarded the elevator.
When Dev moved to press the button for his floor, Misha caught his wrist before Dev could raise it. His touch burned, and Dev glanced at him, but his face was impassive. Keeping his gaze forward, Misha raised his other hand and slowly, with purpose, pressed the button for his floor.
Devβs breath stuttered.
Get off on my floor. Press the button now before itβs too late. Press it. Press it!
Dev watched his floor go by without any regret. Anticipation roared through his body and his heart pounded as he followed Misha off the elevator and down the hall. He held his breath, hoping they wouldnβt run into anyone who knew them. Mishaβs teammates were all likely housed nearby, and if they saw themβ
But they didnβt, and a moment later they were inside Mishaβs room with the door closed. It was identical to Devβs, but on the opposite side of the building. Dev leaned back against the door. It was dark in the room, but the blind was up, and moonlight cast them in a silvery glow. Misha stood by the far bed near the window, watching Dev silently.
βYour roommateβ¦β
βGone to dinner with his girlfriend. Spending the night at her hotel.β
βOh.β Dev was breathing shallowly. βOkay.β
Misha peeled off the Henley and popped the button on his jeans. βOkay,β he repeated.
Dev wanted to lick Mishaβs dark nipples and run his hands across his broad chest, down to his cut abs and lower. There was nothing left to say. Pulse thundering, he closed the distance between them and took Mishaβs head in his hands. He traced Mishaβs lips with his thumb, and Misha opened his mouth and sucked it in slowly.
They kissed deliberately, exploring each otherβs mouths, hands roaming until the need was too much and Dev had to be naked. Evidently Misha felt the same, and he tore at Devβs shirt and ripped it over his head before rubbing their chests together.
Both moaning, they stripped off the rest of their clothes in a fevered rush, kissing and touching and grinding against each other like dogs in heat. Dev was going to get off soon just like that, standing there by the bed, but then Misha broke free and snatched a small bottle of lube off the bedside table. A box of condoms sat there as well, and Dev realized Misha had prepared for thisβhad waited in the lobby and enticed Dev back to his room.
Devβs stomach clenched. He wasnβt sure how to feel. Angry? Flattered? Was this all a game? Was he being played? He searched Mishaβs gaze and found only heat and longing there, open desire in his parted lips as Misha slicked his long fingers and climbed on the bed.
As Misha moved onto his hands and knees, Dev stared, mesmerized. The lean muscles in Mishaβs back and arms gleamed in the moonlight, his thighs flexing as he reached back with his right hand to spread his round ass. His hole exposed, he started fucking himself, a breathy moan escaping his lips. He looked over his shoulder to where Dev stood, frozen.
If this was a game, Dev couldnβt do anything but play.
Copyright Β© Keira Andrews
Can Dev and Misha put their searing attraction on ice as they go for gold? Find out today in Cold War!
Bio
After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, fantasy and paranormal fiction, andβalthough she loves delicious angst along the wayβKeira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, βThe good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.β You can find out more about Keira and her books online at herΒ website, Facebook and Twitter.
Giveaway
Keira has brought a copy of Cold WarΒ to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Sunday, February 9thΒ at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, youβre confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number.Β No purchase necessary to win. Β 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.
- 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. Β 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.
Great review! Thank you, Jay!
Thanks for your interest, Angela! π
Wonderful excerpt!
Count me in,
Thank you, Kassandra!
I can’t wait to read this please count me in for the Giveaway………..Thank you
ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk
Thank you for your interest, Shirley Ann!
p.s. Check your email. π
Thanks for the great excerpt and the chance to win!
Glad you enjoyed it, Antonia! π
Sounds good. Β Count me in.
Thanks, Kim! π
Dont really follow the ice skating enough to have a favourite at the moment – but being British, When i was growing up there was John Curry, Robin Cousins and good old Torvil and Dean!
I’m really liking the winter sports books at the mo and this one does sound delish!
Thanks, Suze! John, Robin and T/D were so fabulous! Steven Cousins was great too. π
Maxim Trankov just became my favorite figure skater ever, because, damn does he push every button I have. *drools*
Hee! He is so gorgeous, isn’t he? π
Thanks for commenting!
Loved the excerpt! Thank you for the giveaway.
Thank you so much, Allison!
I’ve always loved Russian skaters but my all time favorite isΒ Artur Dmitriev.Β
Thanks for the giveaway!Β
Dmitriev was fabulous! With both partners. π
Thanks for commenting!
I don’t follow figure skating (or any sport really) close enough to have a favorite. Β But, I do love reading stories about different types of athletes, so this book sounds great. Β Thanks for the giveaway!
You’re welcome, Jen! Thanks. π
It’s funny, I never really watched the guy figure skaters (though I just looked Trankov up, and he is adorable), but I definitely notice the skating abilities and attributes of my favorite hockey guys. Torrey Mitchell is always so quick (though knee injuries have hampered him on breakaways somewhat), and that’s always fun to watch. And I’m amused to notice that Scott Hannan doesn’t skate pigeon-toed when he backchecks anymore. (I also used to always be able to tell where he was on the ice because, well, his butt was so recognizable, but the new NHL uniforms have robbed me of that ability.)
Hockey guys are always great to watch. Darn those new uniforms! *shakes fist*
Thank you for commenting!
Tight stretchy pants…great excerpt. Please count me in.
Hee! Thanks, Laurie. π
Figure skating is one of my favorite events to watch in the Olympics – great timing on this book. Really looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
You’re welcome, and thank you so much!
Viktor Petrenko is my all time favorite ice skater. I loved his attitude and presence on the ice and his kindness to Oksana Baiul. I’m looking forward to the ice skating and dancing more than any other Olympic events.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I loved Petrenko! He was dreamy, and I did love his sweet relationship with Oksana. π
You’re welcome — thanks for entering!
I have to agree that the tight pants are a definite plus! Β I always enjoyed watching Elvis Stojko back in the nineties. Β He was pretty cool. Β Thanks for the giveaway!
I always loved Elvis! π
Thanks for entering!
Please Β count me in too, thank you for the chance and the excerpt.
You’re welcome, Loren. Thanks! π
Count me in please. I am going with all of the above for my answer.
A woman after my own heart! π
Hot excerpt!!! Thank you for the chance to win! I haven’t watched ice skating in ages but this book might change that π
Thanks so much, Stormy! π
There are many I admire, but Sergei Grinkov of the husband/wife team Grinkov and Gordeeva was so handsome and beautiful to watch. The two of them together…magical. Kurt Browning is another one. I loved when he’d ham it up to Brickhouse.
G/G were totally magical. The best pair of all time, in my humble opinion! And Kurt is another fave. That routine is a classic!
Thanks for sharing. π
Please count me in. Thanks. Great timing with the Olympics starting.
Thanks, Karl! Yes, I thought it would a fun time to release the book! π
Great excerpt. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Thanks, Lynette! Good luck. π
Ice dancing is my favorite sport. Thank you for the chance!
I love ice dancing too! Can’t wait to see Davis/White and Virtue/Moir square off in Sochi. Thank you for commenting! π
This is the first m/m figure skating story I’ve come across. I love watching figure skating and wish I had more time to do it, especially during the Olympics. Thanks so much for the giveaway =)
I hope you’ll be able to watch during the next couple of weeks, H.B. Thanks for commenting, and good luck! π
This sounds SOOO good! Please count me in.
Thanks so much, Courtney! Good luck. π
Please count me in. Thanks!
Thanks, Gigi! π
Thanks for the opportunity to score a copy of your work! The story sounds very interesting and, from the excerpts I’ve come across, the characters are certainly engaging. I look forward to reading it in its entirety.
Thank you so much, Sarah Dawn! π
I love your writing, Keira. The last one I read was the Christmas one, Where the Lovelight Gleams.
Loved it, and would like a chance to win this.
Thank you so much, Sue! You made my night. π
Good luck!
My goal for this year is to read more books by author I’m familiar with and I would like chance to start with this book. So please count me in.
I like that goal, Taya! Good luck in the giveaway. π
I actually meant Β to type “read more books by author that I’m NOT familiar with.”
No worries — I figured that’s what you meant. π