Hello!!
I’m really happy to be here to talk about my latest release entitled: Bishop: A True Lover’s Story. Bishop’s story is my twentieth book I’ve written, and even as I type that, I still can’t quite believe it. Writing gay romance has been an amazing experience and I’m far from stopping.
This current story touches on a topic that is very close to me and that thousands of people in the world contend with everyday. Illiteracy. I’m eager to see the reaction to two MCs that are both far from imperfect and that are not living the ‘good life’. These men have insecurities and worries that society tend to overlook or consider insignificant. Edison and Bishop have definitely touched my heart deeper than any other character I’ve written. And I hope they do the same for you.
I hope you’ll enjoy it.
xxxxxx
Adrienne V.
I am celebrating my writing anniversary in the best way! Which means showering my readers with gratitude gifts and tons of love letters. Without you all, my words would be unheard. For a chance to be adorned with love and appreciation, join my lively Facebook group and party with me. You can drop in anytime for some mature MM fun. https://bit.ly/2Ku4jAx
Edison hoisted his rustic brown messenger bag farther up his shoulder and made his way down the ten steps of their building’s entrance and onto the darkening pathway. He took his keys from his pocket and prepared to deactivate his car’s locks when a tall figure standing in the far corner of the lawn caught his eye. Who is that? All he could see was full shoulders tapering down to nice hips in worn jeans. The man stood stiffly with his feet shoulder-width apart, and Edison thought maybe the guy’s arms were crossed over his chest. He couldn’t be sure because he was standing with his back to him. He didn’t appear to be an employee, not dressed in dingy jeans and construction boots. Maybe he’s lost something? The man was just standing there staring across the raggedy, unshaped bushes that surrounded the building.
Despite his better judgment, Edison approached the stranger. It was still kind of light outside and there were other people around, so he wasn’t worried. Maybe the guy was homeless and disoriented. Edison was sure he could point him in the direction of the nearest shelter. If a cop circled around, he’d could be picked up for loitering in this area. Edison cleared his throat so he could project his voice. He wasn’t a screamer. “Excuse me. Can I help you?”
He watched the man’s shoulders stiffen before he turned to face him slowly.
Oh shit. Edison immediately knew he’d made a mistake. The guy was built as heck, his chest, his stomach, his thighs, all muscle. Damn. But what had him concerned was the way the man was scowling at him. Edison took a couple of steps back at the sight of dark eyes boring into him. “I, uh.” Edison pointed to the top of the building. “I work here. I was just wondering if maybe you’d lost something.”
When the stranger didn’t answer, Edison felt his pulse spike and he checked around to see if anyone was watching them. Nope. As he’d gotten closer another staggering realization made itself known. Not only was this guy big and badass-looking, but he was way taller than he’d thought. At least four or five inches over him with a towering strength that emanated from him. Edison swallowed hard, feeling the sweat gather under his pits and at the center of his back. The man could easily wrap one of those big biceps around his throat and drag him around the side of the building and have his nasty way with him. Freakin heck, Edison. Stop being ridiculous. Why would anyone want to do that to you anyway? Oh snap! What about money?
“I’m Bishop Stockley. I’m the new landscaper. I start on this job next week,” the man finally said, pointing at a logo on his large right pec. His voice was throaty and deep as if he hadn’t uttered a word in hours.
Edison released a relieved breath, then suddenly felt like a moron for being afraid in the first place. Even for one second. Gosh, had he been stereotypical? Fudge! Had he been profiling because of the way this guy was dressed? Edison shook his head. “Of course. I’m sorry. Right, right. I should’ve known. I just approved the invoice earlier this week for Stockley Lawn Service to be sent to accounting. Wow, I heard you guys put together an impressive proposal. Congratulations. We had a ton of bids.”
The guy—Bishop—didn’t open his mouth again, not even to accept the praise for their contract. Edison wasn’t sure what his deal was but it made his body warm with the way he glared down at him. There was an uncomfortable pause as Edison stood there staring at the man’s chest because he was unable to meet his dark eyes. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it.” Edison turned on his heels and hurried to the pathway and into the parking lot.
He started his car and cranked the AC as high as it would go. He hated that he sweated like a farm pig anytime he was edgy. He grunted and tugged at the knot of his tie, yanking it farther down so he could breathe. Edison looked up to see the new lawn guy had walked in the opposite direction, heading towards a white pickup with a magnet on the door advertising the business name. Edison had missed all of that and he knew why. He’d been drawn to that big, looming figure with tunnel vision. Bishop. That was his name. Man, he was intense.
At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. His gang was his family, the streets his home. Until the crew he’d always called his brothers betrayed him. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad’s trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he’s no longer the alpha—a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can’t read or write. Illiteracy had never been an obstacle for him on the streets, he didn’t need to know how to read Moby Dick to survive, he needed to know how to read people… and that was a hustle he’d learned hard and fast. Now, he had to change his life.
Bishop’s only support system was a young, inexperienced dad who’d insisted he call him Mike all their life—since they looked more like brothers than father and son. And his hot-tempered, childhood, best friend from ’juvie, Trent. Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn’t hesitate to come to his defense… a man that saw past Bishop’s grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn’t intimidated by his stern features and his silence.
Edison hadn’t grown up the way most of his peers had. He’d been raised by a single father who’d owned an old-fashioned barber shop where Edison was taught how to not only shave with a straight razor, and shine shoes, but also how to treat others, to not judge, to be a gentleman, to be respectful and speak without profanity. But, the biggest lesson he’d learned, was to always be himself. His lack of friends and a social life wasn’t his fault. No matter how much weight he gained, no matter how many times his staff called him a square, Edison did not need to change.
Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He’d made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn’t expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did—as if Bishop was somebody. Mike and Trent warned him not to mix business with pleasure and he didn’t intend to.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a very, very HFN.
Warning:
This book is a M/M contemporary romance, a hardened man’s struggle to find real love. There are no police chases or doors being kicked in, in this one. But, don’t worry. Bishop is still intense enough to keep you on the edge.
A.E. Via has been a best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for five years now, but she’s no stranger to MM. She’s been an avid reader of gay lit for over fifteen years before she picked up her laptop to place her own kiss on this genre. She’s also the founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books, having published a couple great new up and coming MM authors.
A.E. has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue collar workers who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying career… but another path called to her. Writing.
A.E.’s writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
Now that she’s gotten over her 10 books published hump, she’s kind of known now for her hardcore, play rough and love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her comfort zone, exploring different tropes, but she won’t push herself into a whole other genre. She’s head over heels for gay romance and she has tons of more hot stories to tell.
Be sure to visit Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never miss another release date! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak at upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.
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