Release Blitz, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway:
I’m Not in Love by Mia Kerick
Don’t Let Go Series, Book 1
I’m not in love…
I’m not in love…
I will never let myself fall in love with Tristan Wilder.
And maybe if I tell myself this a thousand times, I’ll believe it.
Having lost his parents to a tragic accident when he was a child, wealthy hotel heir Remi (Julian Remington III) refuses to form intimate emotional bonds, fearing a repeat of the crushing loss that destroyed his youth. This means no deep friendships, no heartfelt family ties, and God forbid should he ever fall in love… Well, it’s safe to say he’ll never let that happen.
However, as a senior at the most prestigious art college in Garner City—his last year of freedom before he’s required to take his place at the top of the Remington family empire—Remi freely explores sexual intimacy with “distractingly” beautiful men. And he does so with enthusiasm—how better to distract himself from the temptation to experience tender human connection?
Remi’s plans for emotional isolation are shook up when he meets Tristan Wilder, a nude model for his life drawing class. Stunningly beautiful from head to toe—and in his heart, as well—Tristan struggles to scrape together enough money to support his twin sister, Tara, and her three young children. Like Remi, “Uncle Tris” is unwilling to enter a romantic relationship—his responsibility to family is all-consuming. As the men take a chance on casual friendship, Remi comes to admire Tristan’s devotion to his family. And with Remi’s surprisingly doting attention to Tara’s children, he works his way into Tristan’s heart.
Tristan is finally all in, but can commitment phobic Remi lower his walls enough to allow Tristan—and the entire Wilder family—into his heart?
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“Professor Santini, I… I apologize for being late,” I blurt, hesitating in the front of the classroom. “I had a family problem this morning.”
“May I suggest, then, that you waste not a minute more of our valuable time with vague excuses?” His voice is sharp.
Feeling as if I’ve been slapped, I wince. “Yes, sir.”
“Well, go ahead.” He nods at the screen. “Prepare yourself for class… and make it quick.”
I nearly knock over the folding screen in my hurry to yank off my clothes. When I open my bag, I realize that in my mad dash to get the boys out the door, I forgot to take my robe out of the dryer. I’m forced to wrap a towel around my waist—it’s that or strut out in front of the class stark naked. I slide my feet into my moccasins and pull in a deep breath, hoping to calm myself before I start to work. Then I step out from behind the screen to face the music.
“Better late than never—isn’t that what they say?” Professor Santini asks the class to lighten the dour mood in the room. The students chuckle politely. He refuses to look at me. It’s as if I’ve personally insulted him.
I shrug and let the towel fall to the floor. Then I kick it underneath the chaise lounge and cast my gaze toward the floor as I wait for him to inform the class of his plans. And once again, I feel more naked than I usually do… when I’m naked.
“Today, class, I’d like to try some experimental exercises that will help you recognize your drawing rhythm.” The professor walks past me as if I’m not here, stopping by the wall at the far side of the room. “Tristan, of course, is an exquisite subject. So much so that we may be tempted to try to copy him on the paper before us. But that is not your task. Your task is to capture the essence of his pose.”
I scan the classroom briefly to evaluate the mood of the students. They don’t appear overly put out by my tardiness, which is a relief. I allow my gaze to briefly linger on Remi. As he listens to the professor’s instructions, a tiny divot forms in the space between his eyebrows. Like he’s annoyed.
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About the Author:
Award-winning gay romance author and mother of four, Mia Kerick, knows that a satisfying romance novel is riddled with challenges. For true love to prevail, the leading men are going to have to put in some effort. But the HEA is oh-so rewarding.
From Jane Eyre’s Mr. Rochester to Brokeback Mountain’s Ennis and Jack, Mia has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature. Her contemporary gay romance focuses on such steamy tropes as hurt/comfort, forbidden love, and enemies/friends to lovers. She firmly believes that sometimes a lover has to break his heart to save him. In Kerick’s books, the course of true love truly never does run smooth.
Mia’s books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine. They have won a 2019 IPPY GOLD award for Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction, a 2018 YA GOLD MOONBEAM Children’s Book Award, a YA Readers’ Favorite Award, several Gold Rainbow Awards in YA and adult categories, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, a YA Indie Fab Award, a First Place Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, a First Place Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award, a Bronze Medal for Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Romance, and more.
Mia cheers for each victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
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