Today I am so pleased to welcome Lane Hayes to Joyfully Jay. Lane has come to talk to us about her latest release, Starting From Scratch. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Excerpt

Charlie didn’t do quiet well, but I gave him credit for dropping the “you should talk it out” discussion. He fiddled with the satellite radio, switching channels and skipping over a few of my favorite songs. Not a big deal, I reminded myself when he bypassed Radiohead, Queen, and Pearl Jam in quick succession before pausing at a Sade oldie. Halfway through the song, he turned the station again.

“Wait. I liked that one,” I said with a frown. “It’s got a killer bass line.”

He switched it back to “Ordinary Love” before twisting in his seat. “I can’t hear the bass, but I do love this song. It’s so romantic.”

“The bass is the song. And there’s nothing romantic about it. It’s a stalker song.”

“Stalker? I don’t think so. She sounds so perfectly wistful and dreamy…romantic.”

“Yeah, real romantic. Like she’s wondering if the high-powered binoculars she bought will be strong enough to see into her ex’s bedroom window,” I snarked, slowing as we entered the residential area near my place.

“Ugh. You make it difficult to be nice to you, Ky,” he sighed.

I let out a half laugh as I turned left on 2nd Street, pulling into an open spot a block away from my building. I put his BMW in park, then unfastened my seat belt and gave him a crooked smile.

“I don’t want you to be nice to me. You’re never nice and that’s cool ’cause I hate phony nice. It’s annoying as fuck. I’m gonna be really pissed off if you start acting funny around me because of anything Mona said tonight.”

Charlie huffed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Good. Forget about it, Char. Forget all of it.” I hiked my thumb in the general direction of my place and reached for the handle. “I’m gonna raid my liquor cabinet and hang out on my balcony, getting drunk and stoned. You coming?”

“Yeah. But to clarify…when you say ‘stoned,’ do you mean smoke pot? ’Cause I haven’t done that in years. The last time I got a serious case of the giggles and the munchies. Laugh-crying while shoving handfuls of Cheetos in my mouth is not a good look on me. I came home with orange shit all over my face and mascara running down my cheeks.” He shivered theatrically, then gave me a blank look that made me think he’d forgotten what he’d asked in the first place.

I chuckled softly. “I don’t have any weed. Sorry. I have a case of Corona, some Jack, Stoli, and tequila.”

Charlie hummed thoughtfully. “What are your mixers?”

“Mixers?” I repeated.

“Yes. Do you have triple sec, Coke, margarita mix?”

“I’m not sure. I usually just drink the beer.”

“I don’t care for beer. I suppose I could do a tequila shot or two.”

“You’ve already had wine and a martini. Two shots of tequila will throw you over the edge.”

“Says who? I can hold my liquor. I bet I could drink you under the table.”

“Char, I can fit you in my pocket. There’s no way you can drink me under the table.”

“Maybe, maybe not. But I won’t fit in your pocket either. Your jeans are too tight. I suppose if your dick is small enough, I could squeeze into your front pocket, though.”

“As you know, my dick is fucking huge,” I boasted like a moron.

He batted his eyelashes lasciviously. “Really? I forgot.”

“Forgot?”

I banged my head on the steering wheel until he giggled, marveling at how easy he was to be with. Don’t get me wrong, Charlie was a lot. He was sharp edges with boundless energy, but there was something fluidly charming about him that stopped me every other time he opened his mouth.

“I’m kidding. I remember it well.” He leaned across the console and bit my jaw. “Just cut me off at three shots. Patrón makes me horny.”

“No tequila for you. I’m not holding your hair back while you pray to the porcelain gods.” I opened the car door and met him on the sidewalk.

When he stumbled against my side, I put my hand on his waist to steady him. Charlie smiled at me, then hooked his fingers in my belt loops and drew me close.

“I’m not a damsel in distress, Ky. I can hold my own hair.”

He kissed my cheek, then licked it before pulling back with a lascivious lopsided grin. I swiped at my face irritably and headed up the path with Charlie cackling behind me. I had a brief thought that this might be a mistake. But I quickly dismissed it. I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I’d hung around him a little longer than necessary for a reason. He frustrated me, but he calmed me too. And I wasn’t ready to let him go.


Blurb

Charlie Rourke is an ultra fabulous human whirlwind on a mission to launch the next biggest band in the world. However, he might have taken on more than he could handle when he signed on to manage Zero. Promoting a rock band and finding gigs shouldn’t be hard. They’re a talented group with a ton of star power. If Charlie can find the right record label, he’s sure he can help them get to the next level. The only problem is the skater boy slash bassist with a quirky sense of humor. He’s annoying and silly, and he’s exactly Charlie’s type. Except he’s straight.

 

Ky Baldwin isn’t afraid to switch things up. He loves a challenge as much as anyone, but Charlie doesn’t make things easy. Zero’s manager is a force of nature with a razor sharp tongue, a quick wit, and a no-nonsense attitude. Ky can’t stop thinking about him. Winning over Charlie becomes Ky’s pet project. But when the ice between them thaws, neither is prepared for the intensity of going from enemies to lovers. They’ll have to decide if they’re willing to start from scratch and take a chance on the unexpected.


Bio

Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and won First Prize in the 2016 and 2017 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.


Giveaway

Lane has brought a $10 Amazon gift card to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Sunday, November 3 at 11:59 pm ET.


  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. 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.  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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