Love Bytes is delighted to host the exclusive cover reveal of author Shira Anthony her upcoming release: “”Chasing the Story”.

Check out the cover, the blurb and exclusive excerpt and have a chance to win a backlist ecopy by Shira!

Thank you Dani and Love Bytes for hosting the cover reveal of the second book in my new Coastal Carolina series, Chasing the Story. Coastal Carolina novels focus on men who live and work in and around the North Carolina coast. I’ve spent a great deal of time exploring and sailing at the Carolina coast, learning about the area both on and off the water. Chasing the Story, like the first series novel, The First Step, features Wilmington, North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Florence, and picks up Zach Caldwell’s story (the newspaper editor who appears in The First Step).

 

When Zach first meets Brand Josephson, a reporter for a Wilmington TV station, the last thing Zach wants is a relationship. But Brand is attractive, charming, and incredibly patient. The two men get to know each other while they’re working on a story together. But there’s another story to be revealed: why Zach left New York City and a promising career as a national TV anchor. Both of these stories will put Zach and Brand’s relationship to the test.

 

Here’s a first-look at the cover and the  book with an exclusive excerpt! Hope you enjoy it. – Shira

 

Blurb: A Coastal Carolina Novel

When TV reporter Brand Josephson attends an industry awards dinner in Charlotte, North Carolina, the last person he expects to bump into is the man he’s idolized since he was a high school student. Back then, Zach Caldwell was a New York City anchor riding terrific ratings to a prized spot on the national news. But when Zach disappeared before taking the job, he left many people, including Brand, wondering what happened.

Since leaving New York for North Carolina four years before, Zach’s kept to himself and avoided relationships. He tells himself he’s happy with his reclusive life as editor of the local Wilmington newspaper, but when he and Brand end up chasing the same story of industry corruption, Brand’s romantic charm and all-around good nature sneak past his defenses and into his heart. Brand’s discovery of the scandal behind Zach’s hasty exit from broadcast television puts their newly fledged relationship to the test, but the story they’re working on together puts their lives on the line….

Preorder Chasing the Story here: Dreamspinner Press

 

Exclusive excerpt from Chasing the Story:

 

Zach glanced out the window. He couldn’t decide if it was easy or difficult to focus on Brand. Why the hell was someone so obviously charismatic looking for a job in print media? With his good looks and poise, Brand Josephson was perfect fodder for broadcast TV. But Zach hadn’t been in the business for years. Maybe it was tougher than it had been when he’d gotten his first gig.

“How long’ve you been in town?” Zach asked after the waitress brought them their lattes.

“About a year. You?”

“Four years, give or take.”

Brand raised an eyebrow. “There’s a story behind that answer.”

Why had he set himself up like that? He knew better. “Could be.”

Brand seemed unfazed. “How many people work at the paper? When you’re fully staffed, I mean.”

“Three. Me, my admin, and a reporter.” Reed Barfield, who’d also come to Wilmington via New York City and decided to stay, had signed a contract for the beat reporter gig the week before. “Reporter’s on a sailing trip with his boyfriend, and Shirley’s out a few more weeks with the baby.”

“Sounds rough.”

“I’m handling it.” At least he had been. Now things were starting to pile up, and he’d barely had enough time to finish proofing one of the articles for next week’s edition.

“Sounds like a drag compared to broadcast TV. Why’d you leave?”

“Why does everyone ask the same question?” Zach shrugged. “Just wasn’t my thing.”

“Fair enough.” Brand didn’t sound convinced, but he didn’t push the issue.

“How about you? How’d you end up here?” Not that Zach cared, but he was still a reporter. Asking questions came naturally.

“Me?” Brand shrugged. “Work.”

“Things fell apart? Is that why you’re looking now?”

“About that.” For the first time, Brand didn’t look Zach in the eyes. “I’m not exactly in the job market.”

Zach set his drink down so quickly, he nearly spilled it. “What?” How the hell had he misread the situation?

“That work I mentioned?” Brand ran a finger over the rim of his cup.

“Yes?”

“I’m still working there.”

“But you’re looking to leave.” Seemed like a good explanation.

“No. Not really.”

“What the…? You chat me up at the awards ceremony. You come around the paper like some lost puppy dog. And now you tell me you aren’t looking for a job?”

“I never really asked for a job.” Brand was damn cute when he grinned.

Zach scratched the back of his neck. Brand was right. He’d assumed Brand was looking, but Brand never said the words. The blinding smile interfered with Zach’s reporter’s instincts. “You didn’t say you weren’t looking,” he pointed out.

“That’s true.”

“Mind telling me why I’m sitting here with you having coffee, then?”

Brand offered him a tentative smile. “Because I’m good company?”

“How’s that explain anything?” He eyed Brand over his glasses and tapped his forefinger on the tabletop.

“Not very well?” Brand didn’t seem too concerned.

“What kind of work do you do, Brand?” That niggle at the back of Zach’s brain finally propelled him to ask the one question that might clear the entire situation up.

“I….” Brand took a slow breath, then seemed to rally. “I’m a reporter with WCBN.”

Perfect. Zach stood. “Thanks for the coffee.” The last thing he wanted was a wannabee anchor looking for a mentor.

“What?” Brand stood, blocking Zach’s way. “You’re leaving?”

“Brilliant observation. You must be good at your job.”

Brand’s lips parted and he looked… hurt?

Not possible. They always want something.

“Fine. I’m ready. Hit me with the spiel.”

“Spiel?” Brand frowned. “I’m not—”

“You know, the one where I tell you how I made it in TV? Or maybe you want me to put you in touch with someone higher up at BeaconCorp. Which is it? Both?” Zach braced himself. He’d been through this before. It didn’t matter if Brand seemed like a decent enough guy—he obviously wanted something.

Brand paled. “It’s nothing like that.”

“Suit yourself.” Zach forced a smile and made his way around Brand. “Thanks again for the coffee.”

Brand maneuvered his way between Zach and the door. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually so bad at this.”

Zach eyed Brand over his glasses and waited.

Brand glanced briefly at the floor. “Have dinner with me?”

For a moment Zach just stared at Brand. How the hell had he not seen that one coming? He shifted on his feet and realized the question had not only taken him by surprise, it made him supremely uncomfortable. “Look,” he said in an attempt not to sound like a complete asshole, “you’re obviously a decent guy. Attractive too.”

“I hear a but coming.” Brand’s expression was unreadable, as if he’d been anticipating the brush-off.

“But I’m not in the market.” Not now. Not ever.

 

About Shira: Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer in her last incarnation, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. You can hear Shira sing an aria from a live performance of Puccini’s Tosca by clicking here: “Vissi d’arte”

Shira’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle. When she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. Her favorite place to write is at the Carolina coast aboard Prelude, a 38’ catamaran sailboat, with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.

Whether contemporary romance, high fantasy shifters, or time-traveling vampires, Shira writes what she loves and never writes a story without a HEA. Her Mermen of Ea trilogy book Into the Wind was named one of the best books of 2014 by both Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words and Hearts on Fire Reviews, and was a finalist in the 2014 Goodreads M/M Romance Member’s Choice Awards. Her Blue Notes series of classical-music-themed gay romances was named one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words’ best series of 2012, and the most recent book in the series, Dissonance, was named one of the best books of 2014 by Hearts on Fire Reviews. Her book A Solitary Man, coauthored with Aisling Mancy, won a 2016 Rainbow Award Honorable Mention for Best Gay Mystery/Thriller.

Have a chance to win a DSP backlist ecopy by  Shira Anthony

a Rafflecopter giveaway