Release Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway:
How To Live
By Susan Hawke
LOVESTRONG, Book 7
Take one clueless, spoiled guy with notoriously bad luck…
When Derek Leigh is diagnosed with breast cancer at twenty-four, it’s the final straw in a lifetime of bad luck. If he’s going to die, it’ll be on his terms… with one helluva party that packs a lifetime’s worth of fun into whatever time he has left. To make this happen, Derek blows up his life: dumps the long-term boyfriend in the worst way possible, borrows money he can’t repay from a loan shark, and heads to Atlantic City… where his luck unexpectedly changes, giving him fresh hope.
Add one easygoing tattoo artist with a big, open heart…
Asher Matthews has dealt with a lot in his thirty-five years: he and his twin were born addicted to heroin and abandoned at birth… until Mama Maisie added them to her brood of lost boys. ADHD and dyslexia didn’t keep him from following his dream of opening his own tattoo shop, especially with his family’s support. With all that he’s been given in life, Asher makes a point of giving back where he can.
To equal two men who instantly connect in all the best ways.
Derek is shocked to not only survive his cancer treatment, but to come to the end of it in great health. Too bad he’s blown through all his money, lost his car, and has nowhere to turn. On a whim, he goes for a free tattoo. Asher takes one look at the sexy twink who’s down on his luck and offers him a room, a job, and even better, a friend. If they have a little no-strings fun along the way, it’s fine. It’s not like anyone is looking to fall in love, right?
This 55k novel is the seventh book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Watch out for ridiculous amounts of money won and lost, a butler who takes everything in stride, and a scruffy dog you’ll want to cuddle. This is an mm romance full of all the fun, laughter, and sweet feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.
Possible trigger for anyone currently fighting cancer or closely related to a breast cancer patient. The book is low angst and the experience is gently handled, but the subject matter is present.
Universal Link
Amazon
Lovestrong Series on Goodreads
Once I was on my feet, I started snickering. “No worries, Grover. I’m feeling all over the place. My fault for getting distracted. Thank you for packing my things, especially the money. I’ve never had so much on hand before. I had a bit of a winning streak.”
He smiled at my confidential comment, somehow managing to look both friendly and like he was taking me seriously at the same time. “Yes, I had heard something to that effect, sir. I hope I haven’t rushed things. I trust you will let me know if you’ve decided to prolong your stay.”
Thinking longingly of the spa, and the massages and luxury treatments awaiting me there, I marshaled the strength to shake my head. “No, if this is the day I originally scheduled to check out, I have to stick with it because I’m having surgery tomorrow morning in Indiana. I wasn’t taking it too seriously before, but I’m starting to think maybe I shouldn’t have questioned my luck as quickly as I did. I should probably go, shouldn’t I?”
Grover seemed appalled I was even asking the question. “Sir, if a surgery has been prescribed, I daresay it would behoove you to be there.”
Hugging myself, I glanced around the room again. “I was lucky here. I won a big pile of money. I can be a survivor, right? People beat the odds every day—why not me? Maybe… I don’t know, maybe I should have hope. At least for the surgery. Find out what happens and reassess.”
“Most assuredly, sir. Let’s see what we can do to help you get checked out so you make it on time. The clothing you purchased has been packed in this luggage set, along with your shoes and accessories. I had taken the luxury of ordering it for you, intending to charge it to the room, but Mr. Arlotta has asked for you to keep it with his blessings. A thank you, if you will, for your business.”
Mr. Arlotta… oh! “Is he the manager who arranged for my upgrade? I never got his name, so I didn’t know who to thank.”
Grover’s smile turned impish. “Yes, sir. I daresay, you made quite the impression on Marco, the gentleman working on his protection detail who had the misfortune of standing in the wrong place, from what I’ve heard.”
“Yeah, it was awkward. Mostly terrifying, but also embarrassing. It is never a good idea to accidentally punch someone bigger than a refrigerator. He was nice about it, though. He seemed to find it funny, if I remember right.”
“Most definitely. Marco has a new favorite story to tell at parties.” Grover’s eyes twinkled, but he was too polite, or too British, to actually laugh to my face.
Looking back at the suitcases, I registered something he’d said. “Grover, did you say my luggage set was filled with my purchases? Including shoes and accessories? Did I, by chance, do any more shopping after my original visit to the boutique where I found my fabulous boots? It’s possible I drank more than I realized, but I don’t remember buying any other shoes.”
Grover’s poker face was gone in a flash, his head back as he hooted with laughter until he was blotting tears with a handkerchief. “Oh dear, how amusing. You must forgive me. Yes, you did a lot more shopping. After your big win Saturday night, you had an ongoing party here in the suite, with the occasional breaks for purchases. You made quite the impression on our employees with your generous tipping practices.”
At least his explanation held water. Losing an entire day was scary, but comforting to know I hadn’t forgotten my core values. “I was brought up to always respect the service staff because you take care of us, which includes leaving good tips.” After glancing back at the overnight bag, I scratched the back of my head, trying to figure out a quick solution to my obvious problem.
Clearing his throat to subtly get my attention, Grover discreetly glanced at the bag of guns and money. “I hope you know you can ask me to do more than help you put your things away. I am quite literally here to solve your every need.”
Wow, if only I could take him home with me. “I don’t know where those guns came from, but I’m guessing I can’t take them on the plane. Especially with a big wad of cash. I’ll get a TSA pat down from hell. And I have to figure out how to get to the airport in the first place. I might have too much luggage for an Uber now.”
“The ride won’t be an issue, sir. The hotel provides limo service for guests of your caliber. I daresay the guns will be a problem on the plane, although I will be happy to research whether or not it’s possible for them to be checked. The one item of concern is not knowing where you got them because you likely don’t have a permit or proof of ownership.”
“Hell no. I swear, when I woke up this morning and found them on the bed, it was the first time I’ve ever seen those guns in my life.”
His implacable expression didn’t show a reaction. Grover simply winked, tapping the side of his nose with his pointer finger. “Let me see what I can find out for you, sir. I’ll take care of this while you get dressed for your trip. We can’t have you missing your surgery tomorrow, now can we?” As he spoke, he lifted a neatly folded stack of clothing from the suitcase he’d been packing.
Once I took it from him, I realized I’d been standing here stark naked this entire time. Thanking him, I returned to the bathroom to get dressed, trying not to laugh. Grover must have been used to seeing anything if a naked guy with too much cash and a pair of mystery guns hadn’t fazed his ass.
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About the Author
As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I’d care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I’ve found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that’s what I try to bring to every tale I tell.
I’m a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown “kids of my heart.” I’m more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.
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