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Erotic Romance, Evernight Publishing, L.D. Blakeley, Parker’s Profile

My guest blogger today is fellow Evernight Publishing author L.D. Blakeley, who’s talking about her latest book, Parker’s Profile. Take it away, L.D.!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today to talk about Parker’s Profile! I can’t wait for everyone to meet Parker and Lane as I’ve become quite fond of them since the day they sprang to life.

The boys first appeared to me last December when a certain viral video was making the rounds. You know the one I’m talking about. The one where the impossibly beautiful Brock O’Hurn teaches the ridiculously adorable Zach Kornfeld how to be sexy? Yep, that video. And because it’s the way my brain works, my first thought was, “oh, what if it were two slightly different men in that situation?” And thus sprang forth my story idea.

And, while I did envision Zach and Brock initially, it didn’t take long before Parker and Lane were two fully-formed characters with their own ideas about how their story needed to be told. So I listened. And I hope you enjoy.

Parker’s Profile by L.D. Blakeley
Available: April 4, 2016
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-77233-795-2

Parker Knowles needs a date. No, really. If he can’t find one by Valentine’s Day, he’s agreed to let his sister fix him up. And quite frankly, he’d rather chew off his own arm than go out with someone of his sister’s choosing.

Internet phenom, Lane Steadman, has offered to show Parker the art of the perfect selfie. After all, an outstanding dating profile is useless without a topnotch photo, right?

Can love really be found on the Internet? Or is a real-world connection closer to Parker than he thinks?

EXCERPT:

“What we need to do is get you wet.”

“Pardon?” Parker squawked.

“Yeah. Aside from that video Seth posted, my most popular pics are the ones at the beach or in a pool,” Lane explained.

There’s a shocker, Parker thought.

“I smelled chlorine in the lobby. I’m assuming there’s a pool in your building?” the other man continued.

“Yeah, there is, but…”

“Perfect.” Lane hopped up and slid his phone into his back pocket, giving Parker both the means and opportunity to ogle. And ogle, he did.

Until he realized Lane meant to take pictures of him in a bathing suit, and all ogling ground to a screeching halt. Oh, hell no

“I’m not sure if it’s such a good idea,” was what he actually said.

“What’s not a good idea?” With perfect timing, Seth strolled into the living room and handed them both a beer.

“Me posing in a pool.” Parker searched for a reason that wasn’t I don’t want to pop a boner near Lane that I can’t hide in a bathing suit.

“Maybe being in the pool will relax you,” Lane added. “Because I don’t think the beer is doing the trick.”

Parker knew the gorgeous man was trying to be helpful. Reluctantly, he nodded.

“Fine. Can I grab my trunks first?”

“Unless you’d prefer to be naked.” Lane winked and Parker felt his kneecaps liquefy.

He knew Lane hadn’t intended to come across as flirtatious. Unfortunately, his brain was having a tough time comprehending that. Pull yourself together, you drooling idiot. This guy is doing you a favor. The least you can do is behave like a sane, rational adult.

Too bad his id was projecting horny, teenage boy.

Pushing aside his inappropriate and misplaced lust, Parker headed into his bedroom and quickly changed his clothes, swapping out boxer briefs for swim trunks. He could do this.

As he headed back into the living room, he grabbed the security swipe card off the key rack by the door. “Okay, let’s get it over with.”

Lane and Seth followed behind Parker and kept up a constant chatter as the three of them rode the elevator to the lobby. Parker waved a quick hello to a neighbor as they exited and made their way toward the pool. When he heard voices coming from the direction of their final destination, however, he started to have second (and possibly third and fourth) thoughts.

“There’s people in there.” He faltered outside the glass doors that led to the pool. “Maybe this isn’t such a good—”

“Nope.” Seth grabbed the swipe card from Parker. “You’re not bailing on this.”

“M’not bailing. Just … can we do it when there’s nobody around?” He was prepared to start begging when the two older gentlemen who had been swimming laps, climbed out of the pool and started gathering up their belongings.

Seth had already unlocked the door and was holding it open for Parker and Lane to join him on the deck of the now-empty pool. “C’mon, stud. Let’s take some pictures.”

“Oh God.” Parker cringed at Seth’s choice of words. As they made their way around the perimeter of the pool, he looked to Lane, who had his phone out and looked keen to get started.

“Should I just…”

“Strip, baby.” Lane’s eyes crinkled in mirth as his mouth curved into a wicked grin.

“I hate you both,” Parker muttered as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.

WHERE TO BUY:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

L.D. Blakeley is a pragmatist with a romantic soul & a dirty mind who’s a fan of horror movies, hot sex, and happily ever afters. Easily distracted by shiny things, L.D. is a slightly neurotic, highly ambitious dreamer who enjoys dabbling in photography & pretending she can carry a tune.

In another life, L.D. was a newspaper reporter, an entertainment & music writer, travel writer, website content editor, and a marketing shill. Now she prefers to spend her time writing hot, steamy fiction (with a healthy dose of romance) about intriguing, sexy men.

Although she dreams of living some place isolated with an endless supply of wine and an infinite number of titles on her eReader, she currently lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and their rock star cat.

Find L.D. online:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

I want just to put something out there in encouragement for other struggling writers. When I was younger, a family member frequently told me I would never amount to much, that I was lazy, selfish, careless and self-centered. Someone I adored said crap like that to me on a daily basis. If you tell a child those kinds of hate repeatedly, they eventually believe it, no matter that this is a form of abuse. People who love you and are healthy never tear you down to make themselves feel good.

I believed those words, felt so unlovable, so worthless that my life became mired in depression. Fortunately, for me, I managed to survive that abuse, the abuse of a first marriage and found counselors and doctors who saved me. I was whole enough to find the man of my dreams, marry him, have two fantastic sons.

My message to you is keep searching for people who accept you as the beautiful person you are, who embrace all the loveliness and goodness in your heart. Don’t give into the darkness that says you’re less, that you don’t deserve happiness. That there’s no one out there for you. Life is full of crazy, mean bullies, and you never have to put up with them, even if they are family, even if they claim to be a friend but hurt you.

Writing began as a way to explore the fantasy world I escaped to get away from abuse, until I let someone take even that away. Now I use my writing to create worlds where people overcome sadness and defeat, not with magical axes or mirrors, but with love and hope.

I hope and wish you find the muse you own, not to let the bullies and unbelievers take away your joy. Be the hero of your life and keep fighting for what makes you happy. Write in every scrap of a moment you can steal, find like-minded other writers who can help on the journey, protect the creative fire that burns brightly within you, and put words down no matter what.