Love Bytes says hello and welcome to author Mickie B. Ashling joining us today on her blog tour for new release “Open House”.
Welcome Mickie 🙂

Hi everyone! Thank you for stopping by to help me celebrate the release of Open House. I’m here to share an exclusive excerpt and give you a chance to win a few giveaways. Open House is the direct sequel to Open Seating. These books should be read in order to be fully enjoyed.

As always, I’d like to thank Love Bytes for hosting today’s visit, and my wonderful publicist J for her excellent help in organizing my blog tour.

ABOUT OPEN HOUSE

Author: Mickie B. Ashling

Series: Open Trilogy #2

Release Date: October 24, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Length: 200 pages

Cover Artist: Catt Ford

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

BLURB

By the time Seth and Bryce return to Chicago, they’re halfway in love. They decide to move in together to see if their feelings can survive in the real world.

Seth receives word that a mandatory autopsy was performed on his late partner because his death was a suicide. The medical examiner’s findings are disturbing and leave some doubt as to the underlying cause of death.

Because of the suicide clause, life insurance benefits had been denied, but in light of these new findings, Seth’s lawyer advises him to appeal. The insurance investigator turns out to be the man who broke Bryce’s heart twenty-five years ago. The guy has fallen on hard times, and when he sees how successful Bryce has become—and how large Seth’s potential payout might be—he decides he wants a piece of the pie. Bryce and Seth’s new relationship is severely tested in this second novel in the Open Series.

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“Nobody wants to move in the middle of the school year,” Bryce said. “As soon as spring rolls around, people start thinking of new houses, jobs, locations; that’s when they start looking.”

“You’re like the handbook of home sales.”

“I’ve been doing this a long time, babe.”

“I’m not sure I can advance all the money you’ll need,” Seth confessed. “There’s not much left in my savings.”

“Hand over what you can, and I’ll cover the rest. You can pay me back after the house sells.”

“Are you okay with that arrangement?” Seth asked. “I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage.”

“Shut up,” Bryce said. “You’re my boyfriend, remember?”

“I’d like to stay in your good graces.”

“You worry too much.”

“Bryce—”

“Be quiet.” He cut Seth off with a kiss.

It was much easier to go with the flow rather than waste time on discussions revolving around the mighty dollar. Money had never motivated him, although his current lack of funds was a concern. Seth was far happier leaving this aspect of life to people like Bryce who had a passion for numbers and turning a profit—something Seth would never comprehend. As long as he had a roof over his head and a laptop at his fingertips, he was content.

When they finally broke apart, Seth suggested they get on with the inspection. Moving from room to room, Bryce zeroed in on problem areas while Seth jotted everything down in the little notebook he’d brought along for this express purpose.

On the staircase landing, Seth hesitated. Mark had committed suicide in the master bedroom, and afterward, Seth had moved downstairs to the guest room until he’d left for his trip. Their room would be stuffy, like the rest of the house, but more importantly, Seth would relive that terrible morning, and he couldn’t take another step. The coroner had removed Mark’s body within the hour of his phone call, but Seth was a writer with an imagination that went beyond the vivid. He’d walk into that room, and not only see the beds, he’d see the body.

“I’m sorry,” he said, holding back. “You’ll have to go up there by yourself.”

Bryce nodded understandingly. “No problem, babe. Wait for me in the living room.”

Seth waited in his office, seeing it again through fresh eyes. Compared to Bryce’s cheery room, it was a dump. Instead of dwelling on the negative, he emptied out his desk, throwing everything into two Bankers Boxes purchased at Office Depot on their way over. His books would have to wait until he knew where to place them, as well as the framed cover art hanging on the walls. Seth could only deal with so much at one time. Already, he felt like a homeless person, living out of suitcases and boxes. Bryce had urged him to put his clothes away, after clearing several shelves for him, but Seth had resisted for some reason.

Perhaps he needed this final push to accept that his life with Mark was over and done. As soon as they returned to Bryce’s apartment, he’d unpack and try to make himself at home. Taking one last look around, he picked up the two boxes and walked out. Depositing them close to the front door, he went to the kitchen to hunt down his favorite coffee mug. It was as much a part of his writing ritual as his computer, and he needed to surround himself with the familiar if he hoped to resume his writing career. There was a kernel of dread growing in the pit of his stomach regarding his inactivity for the last month. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d put his writing on pause for so long. Did this mean he had writer’s block? He’d heard the term used over and over by his contemporaries, but he’d never been plagued by the condition. Setting up Bryce’s office in a way that would make him feel like he belonged might boost his creative juices, and the stories would pour out of him. Hopefully.

Bryce walked into the kitchen and looked quite normal.

“I guess you didn’t see Mark’s ghost or anything else remotely creepy,” Seth remarked, feeling like a fool. “I’m sorry I bailed on you.”

“No big deal. Ready to go?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll grab those boxes at the front door,” Bryce said. “You need to find a grocery bag for all your mail.”

“Crap, I forgot.” Seth opened the drawer containing spare bags and whatnot. “I’ll take care of it right now.” He pulled one out triumphantly.

“Take your time,” Bryce said. “We’re not on a clock.”

“I’m ready to go home,” Seth said.

Bryce smiled. “I like hearing that.”

“What?”

“You’re calling the apartment home already. That’s a good sign.”

“Is it too presumptuous?” Seth asked in a panic.

Bryce rolled his eyes. “No.”

Mickie B. Ashling is the pseudonym of a multifaceted woman who is a product of her upbringing in multiple cultures, having lived in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East. Fluent in three languages, she’s a citizen of the world and an interesting mixture of East and West. A little bit of this and a lot of that have brought a unique touch to her literary voice she could never learn from textbooks.

By the time Mickie discovered her talent for writing, real life got in the way, and the business of raising four sons took priority. With the advent of e-publishing—and the inevitable emptying nest—dreams of becoming a published writer were resurrected and she’s never looked back.

She stumbled into the world of men who love men in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from their ongoing struggle to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world. Her award-winning novels have been called “gut wrenching, daring, and thought provoking.” She admits to being an angst queen and making her men work damn hard for their happy endings.

Mickie currently resides in a suburb outside Chicago.

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Win a $20 Dreamspinner Press gift certificate or an ecopy of Open Seating by Mickie B. Ashling. Two winners! Contest open internationally. Must be 18 or older to enter.

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