BLURB—Purple Method
An up-and-coming heavy metal singer and a martial artist desperate to join a top MMA gym must decide how hard they’re willing to fight—for their dreams and each other.
Max Diaz is firmly in the closet, and as unbearable as that’s becoming, he can’t risk his only remaining family—his brother, Tony—or his band Purple Method’s chance to make it big.
Rick Bernstein dreams of rising in the ranks of the MMA circuit and securing a training career at a top gym, but with rejections coming thick and fast and his financial future in dire jeopardy, starting a relationship is the last thing on his mind—especially with someone who isn’t out.
But when Purple Method returns to Elfinbrook after a six-month tour, one kiss changes everything. Now Max and Rick face decisions that will change both of their lives forever.
Tony sat next to Max and tucked into the waffles. “You didn’t make these, did you? Wouldn’t have thought you’d feel up to it after last night.” Tony chuckled and pulled out his cell phone. “I got some great footage of you.” He thrust his cell into Max’s face. It was a video of Max, naked and dancing on the kitchen table. “What’s it worth for me to not put this on the internet?”
Max’s cheeks burned. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Na, maybe not.” Tony flicked through his cell some more. “But this one’s fair game.” Tony showed them a picture of Max, still naked, passed out, and being carried upstairs by Rick in a fireman’s lift.
“Oh God. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Tony let out a huge belly laugh. “Zoe and Lisa tried and failed to carry you up, didn’t you, darlin’, but you’re a heavy lump when you’re passed out, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to do it while you had no clothes on. Luckily, Rick offered, otherwise you’d have been sleeping here on the kitchen table. I got the perfect caption too—”
“Tony,” Pete said, “remember we talked about the line that shouldn’t ever be crossed? Posting naked pictures of your brother on the internet is about as far across the wrong side of the line as it gets.”
Tony sighed and chuckled, giving Max a squeeze before turning his attention back to his food. “You’re too easy to fuck with. As if I would.” He glanced up. “Maybe—”
“How would you like it if Max crept into your bedroom, took a picture of you before you’d had a chance to shower, and—”
“He wouldn’t dare. That would be a terrible thing to do.” Tony draped his arm over Max’s shoulders.
“Try me.” Max took a sip of coffee and shrugged Tony’s arm off. “And I’d make sure all your fancy creams and hair products were in the shot as well… and your straighteners with the skulls on them.”
Tony gasped. “He doesn’t stick on this side of that fucking line you’re always harping on about, Pete. See what I have to put up with?” Tony gently swatted Max around the head. Max ducked, and wished he hadn’t as his head began to swim.
Pete took their plates and loaded them into the dishwasher. “You both do what you like, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Zoe snickered. “You have straighteners with skulls on them? That’s so cute.”
“Shut it, you.” Tony reached around Max and playfully punched her arm. “Sian got them for me last Thanksgiving as a joke.”
“Yeah,” Max said, “but he’s been using them ever since. Haven’t you noticed how silky smooth his hair is now?” Tony glared at him.
The front door slammed, and Lee’s whistling traveled down to the kitchen.
“What’s that tune?” Pete stood with his head tipped to one side as he listened. “I recognize it but can’t for the life of me think what it is.”
“It’s Defeated Nightmare’s new one.”
“Mm.” Pete hummed the tune. “Yeah, that’s it. Thanks, Tony.”
“Hi, everyone,” Lee said as he wandered into the kitchen, his arms loaded with groceries. Pete cleared a space for him next to the refrigerator, and Lee put his bags down before stacking his groceries into his cupboards. They all fended for themselves, although Max often decided to cook for all of them. “Finally up, then?”
Tony winked at him. “You must have been getting up about when the rest of us turned in.”
“Fuck off, Tony. Not all of us need as much beauty sleep as you.”
“Oh, I wasn’t sleeping.” Tony grinned at him.
Lee shook his head, putting the last few groceries away and mumbling, “Of course you weren’t. Why do you think I got the hell up?”
Max chuckled. Lee had the room beneath Tony, and he did feel sorry for him. Lee was always complaining about the noise.
“Lee, do you want some waffles? I think there’s enough left,” Pete said.
“Yeah, that’d be nice. Thanks.” Lee sat at the table, and Max got up to make himself another coffee. “How are you feeling today, Max?”
“Why does everybody keep on asking me that? I’m fine.”
“Freaked out yet?”
“Freaked out about what?” Zoe asked Lee.
“You haven’t said anything?” Lee asked Max, who caught his eye for a second before turning back to his coffee. He’d forgotten Lee had witnessed him kissing Rick.
“Said anything about what?” Zoe asked again.
Max knew he had to make a decision right then. Should he claim that the alcohol had wiped his memory of the kiss, or should he own it and brush it off as if it was no big deal? He wanted to brush it off, knew that was the best thing to do, but….
“Said anything about what, Lee?” Max raked his fingers through his hair. “What did I do this time? My memory’s pretty much blank from when we got back after the gig. I hit the tequila as soon as we got home.” He clenched his hands around his mug to stop them from shaking while he waited for this to play out.
Meet Max and Rick in a fun and entertaining summer read about a bunch of crazy-ass heavy metal musicians, a martial arts expert, and loads and loads of really delicious food. Purple Method is out on 9th July!
Are you ready to join the party?
Victoria Milne discovered fiction writing relatively late in life, back in 2012, and has loved every second of the journey. Her belief that life is one big adventure to be experienced to the max has stood her in good stead, but it has resulted in rather a lot of plot bunnies that don’t give her a minute’s peace!
A firm believer that consensual love should come without labels and without prejudice, these themes often appear in her stories, as do Victoria’s passions for martial arts, cooking, yoga, and loud music. It was no surprise when these subjects began to resonate in her writing, frequently taking center stage, and rather than fighting it she’s learned to accept and enjoy that these will always be indispensable elements in her work.
Although Victoria appreciates that stories don’t always have to have happy endings, hers always do—because everybody deserves to find their true love(s).
In 2016, Love Unlocked—the anthology in which her story “Writer’s Lock” was published—was a Rainbow Award finalist. The experience fueled her desire to learn as much about the mechanics of writing as she could. In 2017 Victoria completed her training with the Society for Editors and Proofreaders and became a full-time freelance editor. Victoria has always loved reading, and still can’t quite believe she’s been lucky enough to not only create books of her own but also help other writers perfect theirs too!
Website: www.purplemethod.net
Facebook: fb.me/victoriamilneauthor
Twitter: @victoria_milne_
