Elizabeth Noble is here today promoting her first
Hello, I’m Elizabeth Noble and thank you for joining me and a big thank you to everyone at Boy Meets Boy Reviews for hosting me today.
Every romance novel has one common denominator. It’s imperative that people meet. First the main couple must meet, of course. However, there are others during the story that encounter the main characters. Family, friends and coworkers become a part of the story of a new couple’s journey to their happily ever after.
Meeting the parents and friends can cause strife or be a wonderful blessing to a newly formed couple. Disapproving parents can threaten a budding relationship, or cement it. It’s not always easy to say to mom and dad, “this is my boyfriend, we’re together. Accept it.”
However, this is what one of the characters, Neal, in High Test faces. His parents not only try to deny their son is gay, but heartily disapprove of his choice when Neal meets Hayden. Another hurdle faced is the fact there are differences in culture, religion and financial status between the two men. Neal not only finds ways to integrate Hayden into his life, but he must navigate what his parents don’t like about him—or Hayden! He’s partially assisted by the fact he’s in his forties, and has a little different perspective than someone younger. His life experiences give him the fortitude to stand up for what he wants and say, “This is my life, not yours.”
Hayden’s family is the opposite. They not only accept the fact Hayden is gay, but embrace the thought he’s got a new-found love. Hayden isn’t without worries, though. He is desperate for his family to not only approve of his new relationship, but genuinely like Neal, despite their age difference.
With each meeting of family and friends, the bond between Neal and Hayden grows and strengthens. Even those meetings aren’t matches made in heaven.
Blurb:
Hayden Owens is just your typical graduate student working his way through school as a barista for the Owens Coffee Company—no relation. But he keeps the “no relation” part to himself when he meets dashing, older Neal Kirchner, a successful architect from an old-money family. Hayden doesn’t exactly lie, but he figures it can’t hurt for Neal to believe he’s a rich kid. After all, Hayden doesn’t want Neal thinking he’s a gold digger.
The closer they become, the harder it gets for Hayden to come clean. Something always seems to get in the way. When a company bankruptcy and a jilted, vindictive woman threaten to expose his charade, Hayden thinks it’s all gone down the drain. Luckily Neal is ready with some innocent trickery of his own.
Excerpt:
They were waiting on their after-dinner coffee when Hayden spotted Maeve. Neal’s back was to her, and Hayden hoped she wouldn’t notice Neal and him. She was making her way through the tables and looked as if she was heading for the restrooms. Ducking under the table would probably be too obvious, so he sat as still as possible. Hayden was about to breathe a sigh of relief when Maeve stopped and turned to talk to someone seated at one of the many tables. As she did so, she looked directly at Hayden.
They made eye contact. Damn.
Maeve’s eyes narrowed, and her eyebrows pulled together. Hayden watched as she drew herself up almost as if she were going to begin a fight. As she started walking across the room to their table, Hayden was sure she was going to start a verbal sparring match with him. He tried not to allow his panic to show. There was no way Hayden could make a decision about how to react—or not react as the case may be—before Maeve got to their table.
Neal picked that instant to glance sideways. He groaned. “Incoming,” he whispered. Hayden stifled a laugh. The toe of Neal’s shoe gently stroked up and down Hayden’s shin a few times, and he smiled softly. Hayden realized those were meant to be gestures of comfort since Neal likely had his own ideas of Maeve’s intentions. Hayden wondered how many times Neal’d had to deal with her actions.
“Neal! We keep running into each other. What a wonderful surprise,” Maeve announced as she put one arm around his neck and pecked at his cheek. She turned and took a chair from a vacant table near theirs and dragged it over, placing it close enough to Neal she could lean against him.
He scooted his chair away and said, “Hayden and I were just about to enjoy some coffee. We’re catching up after not being able to spend as much time together as I would’ve liked to this week.”
Maeve regarded Hayden. It was all he could do to concentrate on not bolting from the restaurant. “What was it you do at the university? I didn’t catch your exact title the last time we met.” She cocked her head and leveled a glare at Hayden.
“Maeve….” Neal’s voice sounded like a warning.
“There isn’t a Hayden recorded on the list of professors in the automotive design department.” She leaned forward and rested her elbow on the table and her chin against her knuckles.
“I… uh… I’m not on the faculty. I simply work with the students.” Hayden wanted to turn his gaze to Neal, but at the same time he was terrified he’d be met with disapproval and disappointment. Besides, he didn’t want to appear as if he needed defending.
“You’ve never heard of volunteering?” Neal’s voice was terse, close to snapping at Maeve. “Whatever you think, you’re wrong.”
Warning sirens went off in Hayden’s head. That was an odd thing for Neal to say. “It’s okay,” Hayden said softly.
“No, it’s not.” Neal turned to face Maeve fully. “What goes on between the men—and let’s be clear, I’m interested in men—I date and me is no one’s business. I don’t need permission to see anyone, and I certainly don’t need your approval. Now if you’d excuse us, as I’ve already said, Hayden and I haven’t had much time together this week, and I’m trying my damnedest to make up for that.”
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Mystery, action, chills, and thrills spiced with romance and desire. ELIZABETH NOBLE started telling stories before she actually knew how to write, and her family was very happy when she learned to put words on a page. Those words turned into books and fan fiction that turned into a genuine love of M/M romance fiction. Being able to share her works with others is really a dream come true. She has a real love for a good mystery complete with murder and twisty plots as well as all things sci-fi, futuristic, and supernatural and a bit of an unnatural interest in a super-volcano in Wyoming.
Elizabeth has three grown children, two grandchildren, and is now happily owned by an adorable mixed-breed canine princess and her sidekick tabby cat. Elizabeth lives in her native northeast Ohio, the perfect place for gardening and winter and summer sports (go Tribe and Cavs!) and stargazing all year long. When she’s not writing, she’s working as a veterinary nurse, so don’t be surprised to see her men with a pet or three who are a very big part of their lives.
Elizabeth has received a number of amateur writing awards. Since being published, several of her novels have received Honorable Mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Jewel Cave was a runner-up in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category in the 2015 Rainbow Awards. Ringed Love was a winner in the Gay Fantasy Romance category of the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
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Enter to win a backlist ebook from Elizabeth! Two winners will be chosen. Giveaway ends December 23rd! Good luck!
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Congrats, Elizabeth, on your new release. It sounds great. For me, I'll always remember my first kiss with my husband. We met at Mardi Gras, I walked into the bar and saw him ordering a drink. I was attracted right away, we talked, we smiled, we touched, we kissed ... we fell in love. - Purple Reader,
ReplyDeleteTheWrote [at] aol [dot] com
Hahaha...Cracky Fluff....you guys are so funny! Thank you for hosting me today!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new book!
ReplyDeleteMy very first kiss was from a friend who I didn't realize wanted to date me. He gave a very sweet kiss and we dated briefly.
Congratulation on the release, Elizabeth. My very first kiss was a bit of a disaster, better not to think about it. I remember with a lot of affection the first kiss I shared with a Brazilian boy a met during a year abroad... we had been gravitating towards each other for some time, and when he kissed me at last it was kind of magical. I wonder where he may be today...
ReplyDeleteI remember my first kiss with my husband. It was after our first date. He was kind of shy so dropped me off and was just going to leave. So, I kissed him. :-) Needless to say after many, many years of marriage, he is no longer shy.
ReplyDelete