Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: Stupid Love by S.J. Carter
Five Foxes Romance, Book 1
Face to face with an old grudge.
Riley Chase escaped the drama of Five Foxes High School when he went away to pursue his dreams of Broadway. After returning home to help a friend in need, now the only drama Riley can handle comes from his students on stage. But to keep drama club funds, Riley is forced to work with his old nemesis—the guy he’s hated since senior year.
Colton Effing Landry.
That old grudge is also smoking hot…
Since his senior year a decade ago, Colton has tried to make amends for his past mistakes—lying for a homophobic bully first and foremost. He never thought he’d be back at the school with so many bad memories. Still, he needs the job. But Colton’s first day as Five Foxes High’s new girls’ JV coach hits him with bad news. Two of his athletic teams are on the chopping block due to budget cuts.
And that’s where he finds Riley Chase.
Riley Chase, the guy he had a crush on back during high school. The same Riley Chase whose last words to him during their senior year were I hate you.
Not the way to kick of a new job.
A stormy past could lead to a nightmare of a fall semester.
Now they have to work together to raise the money to save their programs. It’s either that or let their kids down.
Can Riley really trust the guy who betrayed him all those years ago? And can Colton prove to Riley he’s not the same dumb kid he was back in high school?
Can hate really turn to love?
Stupid Love is a gay romance novel with some sensual heat, a touch of angst, and a tear-jerking HEA with no cliffhangers.
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Special Exclusive Excerpt:
Riley was backstage on Friday as the students began filing into the auditorium. He peeked out from behind the curtain like a nervous actor right before his big premiere. He’d been in that position before, not necessarily as the star, but he did play Judge Brack in Hedda Gabler during college at Stony Brook in New York, so he was familiar with the feeling. But this time, he was really just looking for Colton. He’d seen Colton only a few times since their dinner, and he was surprised at how much he wanted to see more of him. Hard to think a little over a week ago, he was intent on keeping things as they were and hating the guy. And now, he was hoping maybe he’d bump into him in the teachers’ lounge or pass him in the hallway between classes. But he also still avoided him a little bit. Maybe? There wasn’t any lingering bad blood. He found it surprising how those old resentments lost their grip once he heard Colton’s side of what happened that year. If only he’d talked to him sooner. God, all the things that could happen with Colton. Just the way his body moved, sleek and powerful. Even now, he found himself wiping his mouth as he gave that body some serious thought. The thought of seeing Colton set his pulse pounding. “Hey.” The resonant male voice came from behind Riley. He whirled around to find Colton standing there. Today he wore a pair of black sweat pants and a zip-up hoodie over a t-shirt. The hoodie was open just enough that the tight t-shirt gave a good hint of the pecs underneath. And he thought his heart pounded before. “Well, hello there,” Riley said as he hugged his iPad close to him. He had a feeling he was grinning like an idiot, and the look on Colton’s face said he wasn’t wrong. Colton took a step closer. “How have you been? I haven’t seen much of you all week.” “I know.” Riley shifted his weight like a nervous schoolboy. “It’s been a crazy week with auditions and planning for this musical. I did catch a glimpse of you a couple times. In passing. In between classes.” “Okay, I fibbed,” Colton said. The way his lips spread into a grin of his own made Riley take a deep breath. He moved another step closer. “I did see you a couple times too. You kind of make me lose my train of thought.” Riley met Colton’s stare. He looked into Colton’s blue eyes, eyes he hadn’t realized were such an amazing shade of blue before. Almost otherworldly in the dim light backstage. “Yeah,” Riley said, breathless. “Me too.” Then Riley laughed. “You make me a little nervous.” Colton’s eyebrows knitted, even as he maintained his open-mouthed smile. “Nervous?” “You know, going over the possibilities.” Colton’s smile broadened. “Ah, yeah. I’ve been doing a lot of that too.” He reached out and put a hand on Riley’s waist. “I do like what those possibilities look like, not going to lie.” Riley was so close now he could smell Colton’s cologne, a masculine spice. He reached up and put a hand on Colton’s heart, beneath the folds of his hoodie. So warm. Then he lifted his gaze to look into Colton’s eyes. Colton was about an inch taller than Riley, a fact that made Riley like him even more. “I can’t believe I hated you a week ago,” Riley said. Colton laughed. “You were kind of scary.” Riley’s eyes widened. “Scary is a new one. I don’t think anybody has ever called me scary before.” Riley moved his hand without thinking from Colton’s chest and placed it on his bicep. The biggest thing on his mind right now was imagining how those solid arms would feel wrapped around him, making him able to plant his face in Colton’s neck so his world became that intoxicating spice of cologne and the scent of Colton’s skin underneath. Did it smell the same as the cologne, or was it something stronger, more heady and masculine? He wanted to find out. “What do you think of me now?” Riley lifted his gaze to meet Colton’s. Colton took a shuddering breath. “I think I want to—” “Oh shit. Hi!” Colton stepped back quick and raked a hand through his hair. Riley moved back too and turned around to find Mia standing in the space between the curtain and the proscenium. “Sorry,” she said. “No. It’s okay. Um, we were just…” He shot a furtive glance to Colton. “Just going over some notes,” Colton said.
Enter the Giveaway:
To celebrate the release of Stupid Love, S.J. Carter is giving away a signed copy of Stupid Love (US Winner) & an e-copy and swag bundle for an International Winner!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
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About the Author:
S. J. Carter writes usually steamy, often heart-tugging, sometimes tear-jerking gay romance novels with characters who are head over heels for one another, and sometimes they fight against the odds for their happy ending. After obtaining a master’s degree in writing, S.J. broke from the traditional publishing wheel to write the stories of the heart.
Connect with S.J. Carter: Website: https://www.sjcarter-author.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjcarterauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebcarter91/
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