Hello and welcome to the blog tour for Thaw! This F/F romance is the second in my “Seasons of Love” quartet, but stands alone– though readers of Whiteout may recognize some familiar faces. Thaw features an asexual librarian from Brooklyn, who meets an ice-cold super model from Canada, and I hope you’ll read on to learn more about Abby and Gabrielle’s romance.

 

Of course, don’t forget to drop a comment on this post… one lucky winner will get a $10 Amazon gift card!

 

About Thaw

 

Abigail is content with her quiet life as a librarian. But when she’s invited to a high-profile charity auction, she finds herself dancing with one of the most beautiful women she’s ever met. Abby’s sure she’ll never see her again, but then Gabrielle calls and asks her on a date. And soon after, another.

 

Supermodel Gabrielle Levesque has a reputation as the Ice Queen—cold and untouchable—except she warms up whenever she’s with Abby. Only Abby isn’t interested in the heat between them; she’s asexual, and she’s worried that admitting as much to Gabrielle might spell the end of their blooming romance.

 

They’re two different women from two very different worlds, but Abby knows she can love Gabrielle. Her passion for books, travel, and theater prove there’s more to the Ice Queen than meets the eye.  But they’ll have to overcome Abby’s fears—and Gabrielle’s own threatening secrets—in order to find their way to love.

 

Available at:

Riptide Publishing

Amazon

 

Gabrielle answered the door, and Abby was suddenly too stunned to remember to be nervous.

 

“Abigail.” Gabrielle gave her a small smile, but her eyes were heated as they raked over Abby from head to foot before returning to meet her gaze. “I’m so glad you could make it. Please, come in.”

 

Abby tried not to stare too hard as she walked in. A short hallway led to a massive open sitting room and kitchen, all chrome and dark marble; the apartment was so big that Abby’s own shared housing could fit inside with room to spare. But the most eye-catching feature was Gabrielle herself, wearing a lacy red blouse that revealed hints of tantalizing tanned skin and black jeans so tight that her legs seemed to go on for miles.

 

“You look beautiful,” Gabrielle said, turning to give Abby another smile.

 

“Me?” Abby blinked. “You look . . . incredible. Gorgeous. I feel so plain in comparison.”

 

Gabrielle frowned. “I wish I could show you what I am seeing. But I think even a mirror will only show you what you want to see about yourself. So I hope you will trust my words at least when I say that you are radiant.”

 

Abby flushed and glanced away.

 

When she turned back, Gabrielle was still watching her with a strange intensity. “You are not what I expected,” she said quietly, as though speaking to herself. She shifted, and suddenly the Gabrielle from the restaurant was back, polite smile in place. “We should eat before the food gets cold. I hope you enjoy Ethiopian?”

 

“I’ve never had it,” Abby said honestly. She followed Gabrielle and the scent of spiced meat to the small table next to the kitchen area. Gabrielle had set out plates and glasses, and there were platters between them with enough food to feed half a dozen people.

 

“I wasn’t sure what you might like, so I chose a variety of options. This is injera,” she pointed to a spongy bread that was rolled up neatly on a plate, “and you use it as a spoon of sorts to pick up the other foods. Do you mind spicy food?”

 

“Sure,” Abby said. “It smells heavenly.”

 

“The flavors are incredible,” Gabrielle agreed. She pulled out a chair for Abby. “Please sit.”

 

The meal was surprisingly pleasant. Abby had expected stilted conversation similar to their first date at Printemps, with Gabrielle alternating between icy and warm. But she seemed more comfortable in her own home, smiling and talking easily as she explained kik alicha and doro wat.

 

“Have you been to Ethiopia?” Abby asked as she refilled her glass of wine.

 

“No. Perhaps someday.” Gabrielle turned her focus on her plate.

 

Another dead end. Abby tried again. “Is this your favorite cuisine? It’s so good, I could probably eat it all the time given the chance!”

 

Gabrielle seemed to think about this question. “It is a food associated with good memories for me,” she said. “My mother’s family was from Ethiopia, and she made food like this when I was little. My father, he did not approve of cuisine like this, so she would only make it when he was not at home.”

 

It was the most Abby had learned about Gabrielle so far. “Is your mother a good cook?”

 

“She was.” Gabrielle exhaled. “She passed away many years ago.”

 

Gabrielle didn’t seem upset, but Abby felt terrible. “I’m sorry. Does your father still live in Canada, then?”

 

But Gabrielle was clearly done talking about her own life for the time being. She shrugged off the question and asked Abby to pass the injera instead. “What kind of movies do you enjoy?” she asked, managing to look prim and elegant while using her fingers to scoop up the food on her plate.

 

“Um, just about anything,” Abby said. “Do you have a movie in mind?”

 

About the Season of Love Universe

 

New York is the city that never sleeps: where everything can change in the blink of an eye, and where anything is possible—especially romance. In the bitter cold of winter or the impossible humidity of mid-summer, your own happily ever after might be right around the corner.

 

The people of New York come from all walks of life, and the relationships are just as diverse. So whether you’re a waiter or an aspiring actor, a banker or a model, falling in love can happen quicker than the seasons change.

 

Check out Seasons of Love!

 

About Elyse Springer

 

Elyse is an author and world-traveler, whose unique life experiences have helped to shape the stories that she wants to tell. She writes romances with LGBTQ+ characters and relationships, and believes that every person deserves a Happily Ever After. When she’s not staring futilely at her computer screen, El spends her time adding stamps to her passport, catching up on her terrifying TBR list, and learning to be a better adult.

 

She’s always happy to chat with other readers, and you can find her online at:

• Website: http://elspringer.com
• Twitter: @ElyseSpringer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elysespringerwrites

 

To celebrate the release of Thaw, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on April 29, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!