Everyday History by Alice Archer
Publisher: Shine Even If
Release Date (Print & Ebook/Audio): January 30, 2020
Length (Print & Ebook/Audio): 318 pages
Subgenre: Contemporary gay romance
Tropes: Age gap romance
Book blurb:
If you woo, win, and walk away, a second chance is going to cost you.
Headstrong Ruben Harper has yet to meet an obstacle he can’t convert to a speed bump. He’s used to getting what he wants from girls, but when he develops a fascination for a man, his wooing skills require an upgrade. After months of persuasion, he scores a dinner date with Henry Normand that morphs into an intense weekend. The unexpected depth of their connection scares Ruben into fleeing.
Shy, cautious Henry, Ruben’s former high school history teacher, suspects he needs a wake-up call, and Ruben appears to be his siren. When Ruben bolts, Henry is left struggling to find closure. Inspired by his conversations with Ruben, Henry begins to write articles about the memories stored in everyday objects. The articles seduce Ruben, even as Henry’s snowballing fame takes him out of town and farther out of reach.
Everyday History, a romance told with Alice Archer’s unique style and lush prose, was named a Top Book of 2016 in the HEA USA Today column Rainbow Trends.
Standalone romance, HEA.
Originally published in 2106 by Dreamspinner Press.
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The lights reflected on the swaying water and the still, cool air feel like the perfect antidote, reward, and prescription to lighten the heaviness of the past few hours.
By a fluke we nab a prime table at the far back corner of the deck, right up against the pub. Ruben flops into the chair next to me. We sit with our backs against the wall so we can survey the scene. I hunch into my thick wool coat and muffler and my hat with the dorky earflaps, glad to be warm again.
Way down below the noise of music and voices, I feel my heartbeats.
A countdown ticking inside my chest.
Perhaps because we’re in a social situation, or in public, or doing something other than being intense and alone together—or all of the above—Ruben’s sparkling energy seems extravagant. He’s all exuberance and smiles and charm as he launches into a funny story about a tryst that he botched with a guy at a bar a few weeks earlier. His eyes flash, his hands fly, and his face and body act out all the parts, flinging signs of life into the air around us… and causing men and women to steal glances at him above their glasses of wine and beer.
Ruben seems so confident in his skin, even with his newly revised sexuality. He sees me notice he’s being checked out, but only winks at me and goes on telling his story.
That guy over there with the ponytail needs to close his mouth soon, or bugs will get in. It’s comical, and I can’t help but laugh out loud.
“What?” Ruben says with a wide grin, a hand paused aloft in midsentence.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to interrupt, but your potent pheromones are driving the locals into a hot-blooded tizzy. For example…” I nod toward the guy with the ponytail.
Sure enough, Bug Mouth takes Ruben’s glance as an invitation and saunters over. “Hi there,” he says to Ruben with a bright grin.
“Hi,” Ruben says, his smile open and warm.
“This seat taken?” the man asks. He rests a hand on the back of the chair next to Ruben, and his face is hopeful behind his attempt at coolness.
“Thanks for the thought,” Ruben says with what appears to be genuine gratitude, “but not tonight.” The man stares awhile longer. He seems unwilling to take no for an answer until Ruben lifts his feet onto the empty chair. Then the guy nods and walks away.
With a shake of his head, Ruben says, “It’s still so new it takes me by surprise.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You flipped my switch, Henry. It’s only in the past few months that I’ve been getting hit on by men too.” Ruben scoots closer to Henry. “It’s pretty fun, actually.”
Alice Archer has questions. Lots of questions. Scheming to put fictional characters through the muck so they can get to a better place helps her heal and find answers. She shares her stories with the hope that others might find some healing too. For decades, Alice has messed about with words professionally, as an editor and writing coach. She also travels a bunch. Her home base is Eugene, Oregon.
Connect with Alice: Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Join us as we celebrate the release of Everyday History by Alice Archer and enter to win 1 of 2 ecopies of the recently re-released EVERYDAY HISTORY.
