An Island in the Stars
Page 24
“We’re really here,” Marcus whispered, his gaze aimed at the distant white obelisk.
Sam had no words. He was too stunned to speak. The view was breathtaking.
And beyond the valley, on the far horizon… giant trees were walking.
More from Susan Laine
To prove to his annoying older brother that he’s a man, well-to-do sculptor Rupert Pemberton tries to repair his broken toilet. But he has no knack for practical tools and no know-how. After a flood of biblical proportions, he has no choice but to call for help.
A gorgeous hunk of a plumber named Paul Cooper shows up at Rupert’s doorstep with a ready toolbox and a sexy smile. With Paul at his side, Rupert realizes he wants more than a quick fix. After a couple of cozy dates and a few bouts of steamy sex, Rupert wonders how he can keep Paul around for good.
A Before… and After Story
Romance novels always end with a happy ever after. Right?
Evan and Adam are best friends, but they don’t know everything about each other. For one thing, Adam doesn’t know Evan writes and publishes gay romance novels until he discovers one while snooping on Evan’s laptop.
This revelation changes their relationship in ways neither could’ve imagined. Adam’s reaction to reading Evan’s stories is not what he expected, nor is the new way he’s looking at his lifelong pal. After all, Adam is straight, or so he’s always thought, and that is what Evan believes about Adam as well.
When Evan admits he might be bisexual, Adam suggests he try dating girls to find out for sure, but when Evan follows his advice, Adam is caught off guard by his feelings of jealousy. And when the date proves Evan isn’t bisexual, but gay, Evan’s request that Adam find him a guy might be the last straw.
How can Adam admit he wants that guy to be him? His epiphany will either end their relationship—or change it into something wonderful in their very own friends-to-lovers romance.
A Before… and After Story
A kiss is just a kiss. It doesn’t have to mean anything. Does it?
At seventeen, Merry’s never been kissed. Since he doesn’t want to disappoint his prom date, he asks his more experienced best friend, Boone, for some pointers. Surprisingly, Boone agrees to give him a hands-on lesson.
But they have no idea what they’re getting into.
They explore hundreds of ways to make out, but somehow it isn’t enough. A week later, they’re back together for another session. This time things go further than either of them planned, and their relationship becomes awkward and uncomfortable.
Have they learned enough to salvage their friendship and help it evolve? Their lessons have come to an end. They can either part ways forever… or share a true love’s kiss.
The Wheel Mysteries: Book One
Magic is in the air when Gus Goodwin, a pagan shopkeeper and owner of the Four Corners’ occult shop, meets a Niall Valentine, a mysterious PI investigating the disappearance of a local witch named Joy. What starts out as harmless flirting and information gathering soon turns into a partnership, with both men determined to solve the case.
Then bodies begin to pile up. Someone is using fire and water to kill witches associated with Joy, and it is up to Niall and Gus to find out what’s going on. But when their friendship blossoms into something else, the unknown dangers looming ahead become even more frightening. If they can’t solve the murders soon, they’re going to get themselves killed.
Sequel to Sparks & Drops
The Wheel Mysteries: Book Two
A month and a half into their relationship, PI Niall Valentine and his occult shopkeeper boyfriend, Gus Goodwin, are hoping for a little time alone, but they’re thrown into another murder mystery.
Niall’s client, Angelina Talbot, is certain her new husband attempted to kill her, ambushing her in their bedroom, half-naked and covered in blood. Scared out of her mind, Angelina hit him with a lamp and ran away. Florian Talbot lies dead in the bedroom, his head smashed in with a lamp—but the door is locked from the inside. Is Angelina truly an unwitting murderer, or are more sinister forces at play?
With a family of eccentrics, borderline criminals, and Satanists, the real killer could be any number of people wandering the mansion that night under the cover of darkness. The entire Talbot clan thrives in secrecy. Still unfulfilled and utterly perplexed, Niall and Gus are tasked with shedding some much-needed light on the shadowy case.
Readers love Susan Laine
Kissing Lessons
“I really, really enjoyed this and recommend it highly.”
—The Blogger Girls
“I loved this novella. LOVED it. The well-developed characters, their friendship, the actual lessons. Completely full of smiles and sweet happiness…”
—Jessie G Books
After the Romance Novel
“…After the Romance Novel is a solid read with a cute cast.”
—Alpha Book Club
“This was a wonderful short story about two young men coming into their own.”
—Gay Book Reviews
The Disciple
“Love murder mysteries? How about romance too? Here’s a whole series to gobble up! Start at the beginning and work your way through until you reach The Disciple. I highly recommend them all.”
—Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
SUSAN LAINE, an award-winning, multipublished author of LGBTQ erotic romance and a Finnish native, was raised by the best mother in the world, who told her daughter time and again that she could be whatever she wanted to be. The spark for serious writing and publishing kindled when Susan discovered the gay erotic romance genre. One of her books, Monsters Under the Bed, won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Paranormal Romance.
Anthropology is Susan’s formal education, but she has set her long-term sights on becoming a full-time writer. Susan enjoys hanging out with her sister, two nieces, and friends in movie theaters, bookstores, and parks. Her favorite pastimes include pop music, action flicks, and doing the dishes, while a few of her dislikes are sweating hot summer days, tobacco smoke, and purposeful prejudice.
Website: www.susan-laine-author.fi
E-mail: susan.laine@hotmail.com
By Susan Laine
Falling for Rain
Flushed
Haunted Heart
An Island in the Stars
Sage Advice
Sauna Lover
The Sensualist & the Untouched
The Witching Hour
BEFORE… AND AFTER
After the Romance Novel
Kissing Lessons
HEROES AT HEART
Yellowbelly Hero
Yellow Streak
Code Yellow
Good as Gold
ISLESHIRE CHRONICLES
Lofty Dreams of Earthbound Men
Wishing Wings
LIFTING THE VEIL
The Wolfing Way
Genie’s Wish
Hunter’s Moon
Monsters Under the Bed
Love of the Wild
Stealing Dragon’s Heart
SECOND CHANCES
Accidental Chemistry
Twice by Chance
SENSES AND SENSATIONS
Love in Plain Sight
A Luminous Touch
Sensible Commitments
Sounds of Love
The Sweetest Scent
THE WHEEL MYSTERIES
Sparks & Drops
Devil’s Own
Fireworks & Wild Cards
The Disciple
The Wheel Mysteries: Books 1 & 2 (Print Only Anthology)
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiousl
y, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
An Island in the Stars
© 2017 Susan Laine.
Cover Art
© 2017 Anna Sikorska.
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
ISBN: 978-1-63533-632-0
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-639-9
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017900362
Published June 2017
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America