Five Characters from A Destined Christmas Miracle
Hello all! My latest book, A Destined Christmas Miracle, was released on February 14, 2023. This book contains tough subjects, disabled characters, and a happily ever after, and is about healing after trauma, trusting the one that guides and nurtures you, and finding love. Below I will talk about some of the characters and why they’re important to the story.
Colin Jones is one of the main characters. He is sweet, kind, caring, and is looking for love. However, he’s searching in all of the wrong places, and that leads him into danger. He has a few setbacks as he navigates his new reality, but in the end, he comes out a much better and stronger man.
Fun Fact: He loves pizza, and there’s even a little banter between him and Stephen about how many slices of pizza he should consume.
Stephen Clarke is the other main character. He is confident, thorough, direct, and selfless. He is also blind, and while he worries about how he will be perceived because of his disability, he doesn’t let it define him. When he meets Colin again, it’s not under great circumstances, but he knows what needs to be done, and his first instinct is to protect the boy who he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about.
Fun Fact: He loves a mug of hot chocolate in the morning with extra whipped cream and marshmallows.
Deidra Owens is Colin’s auntie. Writing her was so much fun, because she reminds me of one of those ladies from church, the kind that’ll hand you a butter scotch or a soft mint, and the one who stands at the head of the table to say grace before every meal. She is Colin’s rock, raising him from the age of seven. When she finds out about his assault, she’s pissed, sad, and asking God why couldn’t she be there to save him. Her love for her nephew is pure and undying, even as she tries to get him to have a relationship with his estranged mother, but their bond is unbreakable.
Fun Fact: She is an interpreter and can speak over four languages fluently.
Dr. Rogers is Colin’s therapist. He is a therapist specializing in the BDSM lifestyle and his specialties include cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma, and rational emotive behavioral therapy. Throughout the book, you will see the interactions between Colin and Dr. Rogers. He helps Colin to see things differently, which helps him to reframe his distorted thought patterns.
Fun Fact: Dr. Rogers and Dr. Swanson studied at the same university but a few years apart.
Dennis Brown is a fellow Dominant and Stephen’s best friend. He actually trained Stephen in BDSM activities and domination, and he helped him to rescue Colin. After a while, their friendship ends, but Dennis is struggling. His story is up next in the series.
Fun Fact: Dennis works at Grenade Tech, which is LaMoyer Tech Firm’s sister company.
When trauma leaves you unable to trust anyone including yourself, how do you cope?
Title: A Destined Christmas Miracle (All Access Book 1)
Author and Publisher: Jaiyde Thomas
Cover Artist: Cyan Avogadoyle
Release Date: February 14, 2023
Genre: Contemporary gay romance
Tropes: Hurt/comfort, BDSM, slow burn
Themes: Learning to trust after trauma, forgiveness, finding yourself
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 136 000 words / 514 pages
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links
Amazon
Blurb
Welcome to All Access, a new BDSM club that promotes inclusivity. When you step through these doors, you are bound to find equality, acceptance, and even… love.
Colin
For the past year all I’ve known is heartbreak, and going to All Access was supposed to be a distraction from the pain. However, when I see my former play partner happy and in love, I flee the club, vowing never to return.
Leaving Ohio and travelling to Alabama for a few days should help me to clear my head and help me to forget, but no amount of beautiful scenery, hot men, and southern accents could prepare me for what awaited me at the hardcore BDSM club, Flame of Fury.
When I wake to find myself in my hotel room, I’m reeking of vomit and in extreme pain. Nothing makes sense, except for the vaguely familiar man who promises to never leave my side, even after I tell him what I remember.
As I try to put my life back together, Stephen’s loyalty, belief, and kindness never wavers, but can I trust him after all that I’ve endured?
Stephen
I’ve never allowed my blindness to hinder me, and that includes my sex life. As a Dominant, my primary goal is to fulfill the needs of my play partners.
When a heartbroken submissive asks for a scene, my instincts are on alert as I agree, but after ten spankings, Colin flees, and I’m left wondering about the boy with an ache in my heart.
A year later All Access opens, and I’m excited by the prospect of a club that caters to the disabled. More than that, I’m hoping to see Colin again. However, my joy is short-lived, because Colin is in trouble. When I see him respond to an ad that screams DANGER, I refuse to wait around. With a friend in tow I set out to rescue him, but we find him too late: He’s bruised, battered, and alone.
His injuries and trauma are too much for him to bear so I agree to help him through it, but as altruism turns into guiding, nurturing, and training, I can’t help but wonder about the future.
But can I be what Colin needs after all that he’s endured?
This book is intended for readers ages 18+
I smiled at the young man with a gold earring in his ear as he attached a wristband to my arm. They signified ranking: mine was blue, which told men I was a bottom. I scanned the bar’s main area, watching men in various activities. Sensuously groping one another in dark areas of the bar, making out, their eyes only for each other, grinding slowly to the Trey Songz song that pulsed from the speakers.
I closed my eyes as my mind wandered to the last time Josaiah and I were here. I was carrying him out of the bar, his body heavy, not just from his weight, but because of the alcohol he had consumed. I had watched as he downed glass after glass of something or other, his hands and mouth greedily taking what he wanted from multiple men.
I could hear my ragged breathing in my ears and opened my eyes. I swiftly walked to the bar, hoisted myself onto a stool, and waited patiently for the bartender, Joey, to serve me. Maybe I’ll order something strong. It’s not like I am getting fucked tonight. Although on second thought, if I were to get fucked, a non-alcoholic beverage would keep my head clear so that I could remember the experience.
“Yo, man. What can I get for you?”
“A water, please.” Suddenly, I felt like I was going to cry, and the cold beverage would help keep the tears at bay.
“I haven’t seen you since you carried Jo outta here. How is he?” he asked as he filled a cup with ice.
I lowered my eyes, a lump the size of a golf ball forming in my throat.
Please, don’t cry, not here!
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Yes,” I said softly as I took the glass from him, the coldness from the ice cooling my now warm hands. I took a long swig, set the glass on the bar, and regarded Joey. I shook my head. “I’m not sure how he’s doing.”
“Oooh, trouble in paradise?” He looked at me expectantly, awaiting my answer, but I turned my head.
It’s none of your business.
“Okay, so you don’t wanna talk? Why are you here then? You look like you’ve had one helluva week. Want something stronger?”
I dropped my head into my hands, not wanting to divulge the pain, hurt, and anger that I felt. Inhaling deeply to calm myself, I turned back toward him and shook my head.
“Suit yourself,” he muttered as he walked away to serve other patrons.
Sipping on my water, I watched the men. Some wore practically nothing while others wore leather outfits, the material hugging their muscles and curves just right. I tore my eyes away as I watched a twink with a nose ring on his knees, his Dominant’s hand tousling his hair as he reached to fasten a play collar around his neck. I squeezed my eyes shut again, wishing with all my might that I could just forget BDSM altogether.
After meeting Josaiah, I did a little more research into the subject and the different implements used for pain and pleasure. It seemed everywhere I looked, something jarred a memory or a thought of the lifestyle, and I hated it so much! Maybe it was a mistake coming back here. Slamming my glass down on the bar, I raised my hand. One more drink, and I’ll leave. I could feel the tension building in my shoulders.
“Joey!” I snapped, not caring about my tone of voice.
“What’s up?” His eyes were searching my face, concern evident in his expression.
“Another glass of water, please,” I huffed, avoiding his gaze and looked at the patrons surrounding the bar.
Most men were engaged in conversation, but others were eating, drinking, and laughing loudly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man sitting alone at the far-left corner of the bar, and I snickered. His hair is fucking purple!
I focused on his body language: how his folded, hairy arms rested on the bar, his long fingers tapped the glass that he was holding, and he seemed oblivious to the men ogling him.
Why am I looking at other men? I knew that Josaiah and I were over, and he had betrayed me, but I still felt a tug in my heart when I thought about him. Maybe this was a mistake. All I had wanted was to get away from my thoughts of Josaiah, and just be in the moment.
Jaycee’s Saloon was where I used to come and unwind after a long week, getting fucked and sucked, but now all it held were memories, both good and bad. There was nothing left for me here. As I stood to go, I took one last glance at the guy with the purple hair. He seemed not to notice anything around him.
I walked a few steps in his direction to get a better view. Holy fuck! He was hotter up close, the muscles in his arms and back taut, his hair combed back making it appear smooth, his face shaven and clean. I licked my lips and walked closer to the man. I stopped as he turned toward me. He raised his face in my direction, and I couldn’t take my eyes off his. He didn’t look at me directly, and his eyes were cloudy.
Inhaling deeply, I stepped back and squeezed my lips together. He’s blind, could he know Josaiah?
Jaiyde Thomas is a lover of words and languages. Though her heart is in Alabama, she was born and raised in Ohio. Her first experience with gay romance was when she offered to beta read her friend’s novel. Since then, she’s been hooked on the genre. Her inspirations are Gianni Holmes, K. C. Wells, and Parker Williams, and their books are the reason why Jaiyde started writing.
She loves a good story with complex characters, steamy sex scenes, and happily ever afters.
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