Love Bytes is delighted to have back to their blog author Alex Standish, who is here to promote the release of her novel “Changing Tides”.
Alex introduces us to the book and shares an exclusive excerpt.
Welcome Alex 🙂
Hi, guys!
A huge thank you to Love Bytes for hosting me again. I think this blog will always have a special place in my heart, since it hosted my first cover reveal ever. <grin>
So, Changing Tides is a pirate novella, and I was asked recently why I chose to tackle a theme that entails such a degree of historical accuracy. Two words: Errol Flynn. <grin> I must’ve seen Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk a hundred times as a kid. I was fascinated by that world and by that dashing pirate sailing across the Caribbean Sea with a smile and a quip.
Fast forward a few years, and Changing Tides was born. I had such a blast writing it, and I’m going to miss Devon and Brett, and the universe that I created for them. I hope you enjoy it as well.
Blog Tour Schedule
August 9 – MM Good Book Reviews
August 14 – My Fiction Nook
August 15 – Alpha Book Reviews
August 16 – Happily Ever Chapter
August 17 – Love Bytes
August 18 – The Novel Approach
August 21 – Open Skye Book Reviews
August 22 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
August 23 – Dreamspinner Press Blog
– Blurb –
While most pirates sail in search of riches, Captain Devon Hall, the infamous Phantom of the Caribbean, is driven by vengeance. Devon has sworn to put an end to the corrupt governor of Jamaica and break the ruthless man’s stranglehold in the Caribbean.
When Devon is wounded and stranded on land, an unlikely rescuer comes to his aid. Brett Campbell is nothing like his uncle, the governor, and his goals are not so different from Devon’s. Brett longs for freedom, but his obligations to protect those under his uncle’s control keep him from fleeing. Throwing in with Devon might increase both their chances of success—and survival.
When the governor’s attempts to destroy Devon escalate and place Brett in danger and in the hands of the ruthless and depraved pirate Captain Blackburn, Devon must risk everything to save the man he loves and repay his enemies.
All Devon’s ever wanted is his ship, his freedom, friends who stand by his side through thick and thin, and someone to love. But facing dangers at sea and on land, Devon wonders if they will live to enjoy it all.
Buy links
Alex Standish lives in Lisbon, Portugal, a beautiful and sunny country in Europe. She loves to read, travel, listen to good music, rock the vacuum cleaner like Freddie Mercury, and hang out with her friends. When she’s not at her day job or trying to win the lottery, she’s typing away at her laptop, Probie, writing homoerotic romance. She’s a multigenre author, striving to create engaging plotlines and characters that could stand on their own and hopefully tug at one’s heartstrings. In the last eight years, Alex has written one short story and three novels.
Social media info: http://www.facebook.com/xanderstandish
When in the middle of the night there was a knock on his door, Devon had yet to go to sleep. He jumped out of the chair in a flash and opened the door. Brett appeared at the entrance to the room, two black men, both armed to the teeth, accompanying him.
“Brett, what’s wrong?” Devon asked, frowning at the armed men.
“I just got word my uncle is on his way back to the plantation.” Brett’s green eyes locked with Devon’s. “I’m afraid it is time for you to leave. Come with me.”
“What about you?” Devon asked as they rushed through the corridors.
“I’ll be fine,” Brett said, although Devon would swear there was a note of hesitation in his voice.
They went into the drawing room. Its walls were covered with a wide variety of modern weapons. Brett rummaged through one of the desk drawers and grabbed a set of keys.
“There is a horse waiting outside,” Brett said a little breathlessly. “He is fast, resilient. He will be able to take you far from here. Certainly far from my uncle’s clutches. Take any weapons you want.” Brett moved closer to Devon. “I would only ask one thing of you.”
Devon swallowed, touched by the intensity of Brett’s gaze. “What?”
“Take Elijah with you?” Brett asked softly, handing him the keys to the shackles.
Devon reached for the keys, then held Brett’s hand captive, making no effort to release him. “Come with us. Your uncle will turn on you when he finds out what happened.”
Brett smiled sadly. “Perhaps. But I can handle him. You know why I can’t leave.”
Devon clenched his jaw. There was little he could do besides trying to drag Brett with him. He grabbed a couple of pistols. “These should do the trick.”
Brett nodded, expression grim. “Then you better leave. Come.”
“Thank you,” Devon said.
“What for?”
“For… everything,” Devon said, repeating the words he had once said.
Brett smiled. “You are most welcome.”
They ran out of the house, and Devon freed Elijah while Brett waited by two magnificent black horses. Elijah mounted the second horse while Devon took the reins of the other animal.
“You sure I can’t change your mind?” Devon asked Brett. “About coming with us?”
Brett shook his head. “I would love to. But I can’t.”
Devon nodded, and then acting on impulse, he hugged Brett tightly to him. “You are one hell of an amazing man, Brett Campbell,” he whispered around the lump in his throat.
“So are you, Captain Hall,” Brett said, his own arms going around Devon. “You better go.”
Devon hesitated, wanting to say more, do more. “Brett, I—”
“Go!” Brett snapped, sounding almost angry.
Without another word, Devon jumped on his horse and together with Elijah took off at a gallop, his mount whinnying in protest at the sudden departure. Devon looked back one final time, watching as Brett and the plantation drew farther way until they vanished under the thick cloud of dust lifted by the horses’ hooves.
I saw this on another blog! Such a beautiful cover and a great historical topic. Love it!