A warm welcome to author L.C. Chase joining us today to talk about new release “Waves of Winter”.
Greetings all! First, I want to give Dani a huge shout-out for having me on board today, and for putting up with my slow butt. Thank you, Dani!
Today marks my first new book release in nearly five years! It’s exciting and scary, almost like the first time, but even more so. This novella is a bit of a treat as its based in an area visited many a time, Vancouver Island’s seaside surf town of Tofino, British Columbia. For today’s post, I thought I might share an excerpt with a little taste of the island for you all. Enjoy!
KELLAN WAS right. So far Jax was loving his spontaneous decision to postpone snowboarding and spend a few days hanging out with Kellan. After the general store in Coombs, where little goats grazed on its grass-covered roof, he wasn’t sure he could be more amazed. Until the road narrowed and the trees lining it grew in height and width. Jax leaned against his window and looked up—and up and up—but the trees kept going as if they were reaching into the very heavens.
“Holy tree trunks, Batman.” He turned to Kellan, who was grinning. “Those trees are massive.”
“This is Cathedral Grove. It’s an old-growth rain forest.” Still grinning, Kellan pulled over into a small gravel lot and killed the engine. Even though it was the dead of winter and light snow-mixed rain fell from the oppressive gray skies, the parking area was almost full. “Let’s go!”
Kellan hopped out, and a shivering gust of air hit Jax in the face before Kellan closed the door. He flipped up the hood of his jacket and walked toward a trailhead, stopping at the entrance to turn around and shout, “C’mon, pokey! We’re cutting into surf time here.”
Jax shook his head and chuckled, still not so sure about this winter surfing thing but willing to give it a go. He checked to make sure there was plenty of battery left in his phone for photos, then pulled on his hat, wrapped a scarf around his neck, and slipped on his gloves. He jogged over to meet Kellan, and a fat raindrop splattered on his cheek. Cold and dry he could handle. Cold and wet was something else entirely. The warmth of Kellan’s smile, simultaneously soft and erotic, sent a hot flush tumbling below the surface of his skin and warded off the elements.
“What? Never seen rain and snow at the same time before?” Kellan reached out and gently wiped away the raindrop with a gloved finger. Jax froze, mesmerized by the ministration.
“Hush,” Jax said, his throat thick. “We get heaps of rain down under. It’s just not so bloody cold!”
“Kellan laughed. “You should be acclimated by now after three months snowboarding.”
“This is a totally different kind of cold.” Jax tugged his scarf a little tighter, righting his mental balance. “Gets right down into your bones.”
“Welcome to the rain forest, my foreign friend,” Kellan said as they began the easy meandering hike through the majestic woods. “Some of these trees are over eight hundred years old.”
Jax whistled. The trees towered over them, reminding him just how insignificant they were, how magnificent the world around them was. He felt a little like Alice in Wonderland and laughed.
“What?” Kellan said over his shoulder.
“This is amazing.” Jax spread his arms out and turned in a wide circle. “Take me to their leader.”
Kellan shook his head, his eyes bright with mirth. “And you call us Canucks crazy?”
They came to a tree that had fallen across the trail, and the obstructing section had been cut out to open the path. Its massive trunk was now part of the forest’s circle of life as ferns and moss flourished on its old bark and small mammals burrowed homes into its crevices. Jax pressed his back flat against the sheared-off end and spread his arms, unable to reach the edges. He looked up, and there was a good three feet above his head, the trunk thicker than he was tall.
“Take a photo!” he called to Kellan, not breaking his spread-eagle pose. “My mum will trip over this. Phone’s in my left jacket pocket.”
“You and your mom are pretty close, eh.”
“We’ve always been tight. Me and Mum against the world.” Jax laughed. He didn’t like when people pitied him for not having grown up with a father, so he never brought it up. His mum had made sure his life was full of wonder and opportunity, and as far as he was concerned, he hadn’t missed a single thing growing up.
Kellan studied him for a few seconds but didn’t press for more info, only walked in close, his gaze locked intensely on Jax’s. Right then Jax was certain Kellan was going to kiss him. He dropped his eyes to Kellan’s mouth, a mouth Kellan lifted into a grin as he slowly reached his hand into Jax’s pocket. Heat seeped through layers of clothing into the skin just above his hip bone from the gentle pressure of Kellan’s hand. He met Kellan’s eyes again, and Kellan took his time extracting the phone, grinning as he stepped back.
“Hell, you’re a tease,” Jax said. His words were a hoarse whisper, and his body was about two seconds from cracking an erection.
Kellan winked. “Say goat cheese.”
“Shut up,” Jax said playfully and forced himself to think of anything other than how hot Kellan was, how much he wanted to drag him behind one of those monster trees and savor those lush lips. But he wanted to send one of these photos to his mum, after all. The last thing she needed to see was her son’s fatty threatening to pop his zipper. Finally composed, he made a face and stuck out his tongue. That his mum would expect from him.
Kellan snapped a few more shots, and when he walked forward to return the phone, Jax dropped his arms but didn’t move, wanting to see what Kellan would do. Silently he challenged Kellan to pull him down and deliver the kiss he so desperately wanted now. Man, oh man. He was hot and funny and adventurous, and Jax dropped his gaze to Kellan’s lips. Again. For the millionth time since they met this morning. He lifted his eyes to find Kellan doing the same, looking at his mouth. When Kellan met his gaze again, Jax knew they were going to kiss. Right then and there and oh my God, he didn’t want anything in the world more than feeling those lips on his. He leaned forward to meet Kellan—
“Look at that one, Mommy!”
The excited yell of a little girl startled them out of their fugue, and Kellan stepped back, grinning as he hopped and turned away. Disappointed, Jax forced a smile for the kid and her parents as they approached, and then he followed after Kellan. He was going to kiss him before the day ended. There was no way that wasn’t going to happen.
The Blurb:
The west coast of Vancouver Island is one of the few places to boast world-class winter surfing, and Vancouverite Kellan Tremblay hits the waves as often as possible. On the ferry crossing to the island, he meets Australian Jax Colston. Jax is there for some snowboarding. He’s intrigued to discover that not only is winter surfing a thing, but you can surf and ski in the same day. Sensing a kindred spirit, Kellan offers to play tour guide and gives Jax a place to stay in his spare room.
The two men bond over all things surf and snow, and it isn’t long before their passion for life lands them in bed together. Neither wants the week of cold days and hot nights to end, but Jax has to go home soon. Still, Jax doubts he’ll stay away for long. The draw of fresh powder, the long hot nights and the thrill of just being with Kellan will keep him coming back for a long time….
Where to Buy:
Cover artist by day, author by night, L.C. CHASE is a hopeless romantic, free spirit, and adventure seeker who loves hitting the open road just to see where it takes her. When not writing sensual tales of beautiful men falling in love, she can be found designing romance novel covers, taking photos, drawing, horseback riding, or hiking the trails with her goofy four-legged roommate.
L.C. is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist; an EPIC eBook Awards winner for Pickup Men; a nine-time Ariana eBook Cover Art Awards winner, and Bronze winner in Sinfully’s 2014 Reader’s Choice Awards for Cover of the Year. She also won runner-up for Best Gay Contemporary Romance and Best Gay Book in the 2016 Rainbow Awards for A Fortunate Blizzard; honorable mention for Best Gay Contemporary Romance in the 2015 Rainbow Awards for Pulling Leather; and Best Gay Mystery/Thriller in the 2012 Rainbow Awards for Riding with Heaven.
The Links:
Website: www.lcchase.com
Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dadf1f743af7/lcchase-book-news
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorlcchase