Hi! I’m Tara Lain and I write the Beautiful Boys of Romance. I’m so happy to be here today to celebrate the release of my new romance, Sinders and Ash. You may know that I primarily write contemporary romance (with some furry paranormals thrown in). Sinders and Ash is a contemporary – with a twist. If you read my books, you know that they have very strong happy-ever-afters! My guys end up together and in love –often married – at the end of my books. Fairy tale romances, you might say. But a couple years ago, I wondered what it would be like to try to interpret actual fairy tale themes in a contemporary story. What if a young guy actually had to work cleaning fireplaces and what if he fell in love with the modern world’s version of a handsome prince? That line of inquiry led to the creation of The Pennymaker Tales, which explore the place of glass slippers, poison apples, beautiful princesses, wicked stepmothers, evil queens and even fairy godmothers in a contemporary setting. The stories could happen – and oh, we so wish they would!

Sinders and Ash, as you might guess from the title, is loosely based on the universal themes of Cinderella. The archetype of Cinderella is described as one whose attributes were unrecognized, or one who unexpectedly achieves recognition or success after a period of obscurity and neglect. We also tend to think of it as rags to riches and the persecuted heroine. The story of Rhodopis, the slave girl who married the king of Egypt, is considered the earliest variant on the trope having been published in 7BC!

The first European version of Cinderella is thought to be that of Giambattista Basile in his story Cenerentola published in 1634. The name “Cenerentola” comes from the Italian word “cenere” – tchenere (ash – cinder). It has to do with the fact that servants and scullions were usually soiled with ash at that time, because of their cleaning work and also because they had to live in cold basements so they usually tried to get warm by sitting close to the fireplace. This version of the story features a wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters, magical transformations, a missing slipper, and a hunt by a monarch for the owner of the slipper – all the basics. Later, a very popular version of the tale by Perrault added the pumpkin, the glass slipper, and the fairy godmother.

There are thousands of variations on this universal and archetypal story – I’m honored to have added to the list. I hope you enjoy Sinders and Ash and will look for the next one of The Pennymaker Tales coming for pre-sale on October 26^th and release on November 25^th. It’s called Driven Snow.

His heart hammered. He cradled Mark’s face, his fingers overlapping the knit of the cap. Mark’s breath smelled like coconut, and his lips looked more delicious than the crème brûlée. Okay, be gentle. Don’t scare him. Gently he laid his lips against Mark’s. One second. Sweet. Two seconds. Exploration. Three seconds. Hot! Oh God, heat crept from that soft contact up to Ash’s head and straight down to his cock. Whoa. Down, boy. He pulled back. Needed more control.

Before he got an inch away, Mark grabbed his head and pulled him back until his tongue pressed like a hot intruder into Ash’s mouth. Oh yeah. Ash slid his hands down Mark’s round butt and tugged him close. Hmmm. Got a nice moan on that one. Mark ate at Ash’s mouth, sucking in his lips. His tongue pressed deep. Wow. This guy was not kidding. Had Ash just thought he should go easy?

Mark pulled back a little and sipped at Ash’s lips, then ran his tongue over the bottom one. First outside and then… oh God, he slipped his tongue inside Ash’s lip and caressed that soft, sensitive skin.

Sweet Jesus, he couldn’t stand up. Ash leaned back hard against the counter, but he knew his knees were crumpling. Strong hands reached around and smoothed over his ass, and then a finger pressed against the crack of his butt like Mark was tracing the seam of the denim—up and down. Jesus, Ash’s cock throbbed. Too much blood in there. Too long since that cock had any exercise. He wanted to rip his pants down and let that finger do its business where it belonged.

Like Mark had read his mind, one hand moved to the front and began to unfasten the buttons on Ash’s fly. Shit, he couldn’t help it. His hips pushed forward, forcing his cock against that hand like a puppy looking for milk.

Mark murmured, “Yessss.” He undid the last button, slipped his hand into the top of Ash’s boxer briefs, and found the promised land. Hand met cock. Why had Ash ever thought this guy was shy and virginal? Dear God, he was hot!

Mark’s fingers were callused, a little scratchy, but so nice. The slight abrasion on his sensitive cockhead about sent Ash into the sink in a good way. “Oh God.”

There was a smile in Mark’s voice. Ash couldn’t quite open his eyes to see it. “You want more?”

Ash nodded. Nothing happened. “Yes. Yes, I want more.” That gasping was not cool. He didn’t care. This was too good.

His jeans began to move down his hips, to his thighs, and then they fell to his knees. The boxers got ripped down after.

“Hmmmm.” The sound came from around his knees.
Shit, what did that mean? Hmmmm bad or hmmmm good?

“Is it okay to suck without latex? Am I safe?”

Suck. God, he was going to get sucked. “Oh, uh, yes. I’ve been ridiculously careful. Part of my paranoia, and actually I haven’t had very many partners.”

“Good.”

Ohhhhh God! No prelim. Just cock into hot mouth in one delicious, fantastic, mind-bending swallow. Every nerve flashed hot. He giggled. “I almost came.”

Mark popped the cock from his mouth. “Wanted to be sure you were awake.”