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Marketing for Romance Writers is a peer mentoring group for authors. It was founded in 2006 by Kayelle Allen.

Meet the heroine of Crystal Clear Truth #SciFi #Romance #MFRWhooks

Meet the heroine of Crystal Clear Truth #SciFi #Romance #MFRWhooks

Shohn Lexius is a Kin, a catlike alien who looks mostly human. She's been in multiple books, but always as a supporting character. She has a major supporting role in A Stolen Heart, the first book in the Antonello Brothers series. It seemed fitting she should get a starring role in the final* book of the series.

This is her first time having a point-of-view role, and she was full of surprises.

In this excerpt, we meet her at the start of her journey in Crystal Clear Truth.
*"Final" subject to character approval 😉

Excerpt edited for most current content - Mar 2022

Though she ached to slam it, Shohn Lexius eased her office door shut, then took a civil and polite step back. Hissing, she swiped the air with her claws and stuck the smallest ones straight up.

Claws retracted, she stalked to the narrow window, braced her hands on the sill and pressed her forehead to the glass. The spring sun offered no heat. And why? Because on human worlds, builders installed special glass so their precious little sun wouldn't hurt their precious fragile skin.

Humans. Honestly.

Oh, all right, she'd admit human skin was sleek. Nice to stroke. She even liked its smoothness against her tongue, but come on. Would it hurt so much to let in a little heat?

Humans protected themselves from such trivial 'dangers' as sunbeams. On this world, indoor temperatures never fluctuated. And forget opening a window.

Not on the seventieth floor of the city's tallest building.

She laid back her ears, aching for the fresh air of her homeworld. The freedom of a hynder beneath her, galloping full speed in sunshine along the beach. Charging through the forests, cantering in the rain. A purr rumbled in her chest at the memories.

Working up an honest sweat mucking out stalls, tending the stock, shoulder to shoulder with family, everyone laughing and singing. Accepting her word that when she asked for something, she should get it. No one telling her how much money she could spend or asking why she needed it. She reined in her thoughts. That was her old self talking.

The person of privilege her family had reared her to be, not the fighter for equality she'd become. Sometimes, though, living off-world rankled. Here she was, a Kin warrior with the honor blade at her side to prove it, stuck working in a human-oriented office on the capitol planet of what she'd once considered her people's enemy.

Well, she'd brought this on herself, hadn't she? She'd left her homeworld of her own accord. It was her fault she spent every day with round-eyed humans whose ears could hear a third less than her own. A race oblivious to the overpowering reek of its own species.

Not that humans stank, individually. At least, not once they shed themselves of the cloud of cleaners and so-called deodorizers that added more scent to what was already there. But put a crowd of 'clean' humans in a room?

She hissed at the thought.

A Kin's sense of kahlah caught the scent of human lies no matter how small. A handy skill during interrogations. She knew before a human spoke if they would try to pull a fast one, and they all tried. As for the tartness of their fear, well, a clawed Kin had better get used to that pretty fast, because a fanged smile was no help whatsoever.

A knock at the door pulled her back to here and now. She picked up a notereader tablet and fanned herself, dispersing any scent of frustration she might have released.

After straightening her green-and-black uniform jacket, she squared her shoulders. "Come."

Here's the blurb so far for the new book. I plan for this to be the last book in the Antonello Brothers series. We'll see! Sometimes characters have other plans.

Crystal Clear Truth - Antonello Brothers series #5

His entire life, Joe worked for this moment: Terraforming Specialist First Class, assigned to the firestorm planet. Yet tragedy mars the day with the accidental death of both parents. Grief-stricken, he plods through family decisions and moves forward, surviving day by day. While reading his mother's handwritten diary, he discovers a folded flatpic of a teenaged girl and the cryptic words, "our son's mother." He searches for details, determined to know more.

When a friend asks Shohn to help a locate someone, she jumps at the chance. She's researching the firestorm planet for her employer, who seeks access to eyes-only information. Helping Joe might be her opportunity to uncover long-hidden secrets.

A window on a new world. Sneak peek at Crystal Clear Truth #SciFi #Romance

As their unexpected friendship deepens into more, each mystery they solve reveals yet another hidden layer. The truth they seek could immobilize interstellar commerce in the empire. To protect the Empire they both love, they must solve the riddle behind the elusive young woman in the picture, and trust one another.

But how can they trust when the "truth" they've been fed is a lie?

A slow-burn, forced proximity romance set in the far, far future in an empire full of treachery, mystery, and long-hidden secrets...

Antonello Brothers

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Romance


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.


Box? What box? Excerpt from Jawk #MMRomance #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Box? What box? Excerpt from Jawk #MMRomance #SciFi

Excerpt from the Complete Set of Tales of the Chosen Series

When you live forever, mortals who learn the truth can prove deadly.

Read this three book series of erotic gay sci-fi romance and pick up a bonus book as well.

In this scene, Jawk and Luc have come aboard Luc's new ship, the Crossfire.

 

The ship itself hadn't been visible from the ramp area, so Jawk had no clue to its size. Once aboard, Luc stopped in front of a panel showing the vessel's layout.

"Here, Jawk." Luc picked up a small lapel pin. "Put this on whenever you're outside your cabin. It'll help you figure out where you are."

He dropped the backpack and attached the tiny pin to his jacket the way Luc did. Two small blinking lights appeared near the bottom of the ship outline. A bubble appeared above each.

Luc touched one. "That's us."

Jawk leaned down to get a better look. "That means this thing's huge."

"Crossfire is a sleepliner-sized vessel. Once it's through trials and gets commissioned, it'll transport seven thousand passengers."

"Seven thou--" Jawk flicked back one ear. "Listen, I only have three years of NETway engineering classes behind me, but I know what kind of power it takes to launch something this big. How does it get off the ground without tearing itself up? Shouldn't you keep it on the lunar station where there's less gravity?"

"Jawk, this ship is all about convenience. Not having to take a shuttle to get to the lunar starport. Not having to use fuel to lift off. This ship produces no pollution, and doesn't damage the ecosphere."

"No fuel?" Jawk blinked, ears straight up. "But physics laws are immutable. There has to..."

Luc held up a hand. "I've spent five years creating this ship. I risked more capital than you can imagine to put it together, and I don't risk anything lightly. For want of a better word, the 'fuel' this ship uses is reproducible and eco-friendly."

Jawk chewed the tip of a claw.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"Haven't seen anything yet to convince me it works, whatever it is." With one foot, he nudged the backpack. "I'll say one thing. You sure think outside the box."

The man gave him a smug look. "What box?"

Tales of the Chosen

Pick up Wulf for $0.00 -- This book is permafree on all retailers.
Then pick up Alitus and Jawk to claim the entire Tales of the Chosen series.

These books are in the same universe as the Antonello Brothers, and Antonello Brothers: Immortal books.
Click the cover for a universal buy link.

Wulf

Wulf: Tales of the Chosen #WriteLGBTQ #SciFi #Romance

AlitusAlitus: Tales of the Chosen #WriteLGBTQ #SciFi #Romance

Jawk

Jawk: Tales of the Chosen #WriteLGBTQ #SciFi #Romance

Set

Complete Set - Tales of the Chosen #SciFi #WriteLGBTQ #MMRomance

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

How to discuss a book with an author #Read #BookReview

Surrender Love by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MMRomance

StoryOrigin has a new way for authors to share their work with readers
-- even before it's published.
We get feedback and you get sneak peeks.
It's a win-win.
Come try out Beta Reads with one of these books.

Review Ring of the Dragon by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #Fantasy #MMRomance

What is Beta Reads

The StoryOrigin Beta Reads program is an online application that lets readers give feedback and discuss books with authors. The author posts a chapter. The reader reads it, and answers a question or two. Some authors want general feedback, and others want more detail. Overall, it's a way for readers to get deeper into the book and even ask questions.

What would I get out of it?

If you like the program, you can choose to take part in new "beta readings" of books I'm writing. That means you get to read new books even *while* they are being written. Talk about inside information!

Is it expensive?

The cost is covered by authors. Readers pay zip.

What does it take?

In this case, read a chapter of Surrender Love, and then tell me if the material is engaging, if there were typos, or anything made you go... wait, what?

Currently, there are 3 chapters in the test program. Each one has a short two-question questionnaire. I ask things like "what emotion did you feel the character was showing here" or "which character seemed more alien?"

There are no wrong answers. I'm asking for opinions.

Authors rarely get the chance to have such honest input directly from readers. I'm asking questions because I want to improve, so please tell me what you really think, including if you loved or didn't care for a specific part of a chapter.

I'm afraid of offending you.

Trust me. I've learned to deal with negative reviews (because not everyone loves everything I write), and I can take honest feedback. You won't tick me off by being true to yourself.

How long does it take?

That depends. How fast do you read? You can do one chapter, or binge on more. No more than two questions in between.

Can I download it and read it later?

One of the security features is that it can only be read on StoryOrigin. This protects unpublished work. No one may download. However it's only one chapter at a time, so it shouldn't take long. There's no rush. Look at it this way. It's a source of free books that won't clutter up your ereader, computer, or phone.

Who will see what I say?

Only me. Readers cannot see what others thought, which means it's truly a unique viewpoint. I'm the only one who has access to your answers.

Will my feedback make you change anything?

Obviously, if you find a typo, I'm going to fix it. And if more than one person has questions about a detail, I'm going to be taking a good look at it.

Anything else I have to do?

Nope. Just read and say what you think. It helps me (and any author who uses it), and gives you a chance to share your opinion.

If this works as well as I hope it does, I'll share books *as I'm writing them* and give you a chance to help shape the story.

What do you say? If you're ready to give it a try, here's where to sign up.

To read Surrender Love, click this image

He's been alone for centuries. This time, when he falls in love, will it be forever? #WriteLGBTQ #SciFi #MMRomance Read Surrender Love
He's been alone for centuries. This time, when he falls in love, will it be forever?

To read Ring of the Dragon, click this image

Antonello Brothers: Immortal - Because Romance Lives Forever #SciFi #LGBTQ #Romance
For millennia, they fight side by side. Now one king faces a lonely quest.

 


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How the Review Team works

Review Sci-Fi & Sci-Fi Romance

No self-respecting Kin male would come here #Excerpt Jawk #SciFi #MMRomance #MFRWhooks

Jawk, Tales of the Chosen

In this scene, Luc has picked up Jawk at work and is taking him somewhere in a long, black hoversine.

All he knows is that Luc wants to have dinner before heading to the starport.

Excerpt

Jawk stayed on his side of the car as the long hoversine drove through Top Tier.

For dinner, Luc chose the Chocolate Works, a male strip club. 

Although the club catered to male clients one night a week, tonight was most definitely not the night. A line of women wrapped halfway around the block by the time the hoversine arrived.

Jawk shrank against the seat. Was this Luc's way of punishing him for being aggressive? No way any self-respecting Kin male would walk into a male strip club. No way in seven shades of Kin hell. Not even one who was bi.

"Relax, Jawk." Luc smoothed the front of his jacket. "I have a private entrance and a private box. No one will have any idea we're even here."

Jawk scrunched up his shoulders and then forced them to relax. At the sting of his own claws pricking his palms, he opened his hands and rubbed his neck.

In the private dining room, the service proved excellent, as good as anything Batchelors provided. The waiters were handsome, dressed in immaculate evening clothes, and wore white gloves. Aside from their faces and necks, not an inch of skin showed. The entire wall over the dance floor and catwalks was one-way glass. The Kin menu was full of raw meats.

"I'm surprised Kin eat here." Over the menu, he caught Luc's pleased grin.

"I called ahead and asked them to put together a dinner menu for you."

Leaning back in his seat, Jawk dropped the menu. "You called ahead?" Printed on heavy paper and bound in leather, the menu could hardly have been created in one afternoon at the whim of a wealthy patron. "When? We just met yesterday."

Luc folded the menu. "I'd had you investigated long before I extended my first invitation. I'm very careful who I let close to Wulf." He opened the menu once more. "But to be specific in my answer, I called them today."

"And if I hadn't agreed to join you?"

One side of the man's mouth lifted. He raised his head. With those solid black eyes of his, no damn telling where he looked. Luc's smile widened. After a brief pause, he gave a small shrug. "I would have gone to plan B."

"Which was?"

He tilted his head back down. "I'd have come up with something."

No doubt. Jawk toyed with the menu. "Kin males wouldn't come here," he murmured in his native Felis.

"That's true. They don't. Except to work."

"Pardon?" Jawk stiffened. Had he said that in Etymis?

Luc closed the menu and set it down. "Kin males don't come here," he responded in Felis. "Although a great many perform. Female Kin are frequent guests. Apparently a group of Kin ambassadors came here not long ago, and it turned into a boisterous affair." His Felis sounded like it came from a native speaker. Every sibilant and breathy accent was perfect. "Two of them had to be escorted out by security." He patted one finger against his lips. "But you didn't hear that from me."

"So, you speak Felis." Wilting on the inside, Jawk considered what he might have said around the man. Had he given away any hint of his true purpose for allowing Luc to seduce him?

Jawk swallowed. Luc is seductive and wily, his former master had told him. Do not trust him. And never let him see you sweat. Jawk rubbed at his neck again.

"They didn't tell me you spoke Felis."

"So..." He leaned both elbows on the table, hands folded in front of his chin. "Someone told you about me?" He switched back to speaking Etymis.

Jawk set his ears downward. "A couple of the guys at Batchelors saw me get into your car the other night." Purposely, he raised his head and met Luc's gaze, letting him see his discomfort. "Next day, they warned me you take advantage of boys like me."

One eyebrow twitched upward. "Oh, they did, did they? What did you say?"

He released one claw. "That I'm no boy."

Luc steepled his fingers. "Did they cause you any trouble?"

"No." Jawk played with the flatware next to his plate, lining it up so the ends of the utensils were in a straight line. He chewed his lower lip. "I'm a private person. I don't like others knowing about me. Besides, if my mother had any idea..."

Luc threw back his head and laughed, one hand against his chest. He stood and went to retrieve a bottle of wine from a low rack across the room. "I never broadcast information about my sex partners." He uncapped the wine and poured some into Jawk's glass. "Relax."

He tightened and released his shoulders, took a few deep breaths. He'd appeased the man enough to avoid suspicion, but he must never let his guard down again. "I never expected to come here for dinner."

The man chuckled. "I see." Luc set down the wine, studying him for a moment. "I have an idea." Making motions to stay seated, he came around behind him. "Relax. I'll massage your shoulders."

Jawk stiffened, head turned to one side, but the heat of the man's large hands against his shoulders won a small moan of pleasure. Jawk closed his eyes. The combination of pressure, deep massage, and a kneading motion along his neck and the top of his shoulders melted his resistance. "You're good at this."

When Luc leaned down close to one of Jawk's ears, the warmth of the man's breath made it twitch. "I'm good at a lot of things."

[bctt tweet="No self-respecting Kin male would come here #Excerpt Jawk #SciFi #MMRomance #MFRWhooks https://books2read.com/jawk-chosen" username="KayelleAllen"]

Tales of the Chosen

Pick up Wulf for $0.00 -- This book is permafree on all retailers.
Then claim Alitus and Jawk to enjoy the entire Tales of the Chosen series.

These books occupy the same universe as the Antonello Brothers, and Antonello Brothers: Immortal books.
Click the cover for a universal buy link. Click the title for the book page on this website.

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.



JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

Download a printable book list or a list of trigger warnings for all books. Claim your immortality by signing up for my newsletter

Immortal Reviews Rock & Rule - Join the Review Team


~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.


He feared this would get much worse #Excerpt #SciFi #MFRWhooks

This will get much worse #Excerpt #SciFi #MFRWhooks

In this scene from Alitus - Tales of the Chosen, the hero gets news he feared would come.

Betters are enhanced humans whose pheromones can addict and whose voices put a human in thrall.

Now regulated by the imperial government, they must wear an electronic veil that alters their voices and removes their pheromones. Protests have broken out around the Empire. As the Minister of Imperial Intelligence, Alitus must be kept apprised of the situation.

Excerpt

"Alitus." Byrin beckoned to him. "Her Majesty sent word. She needs you immediately."

He joined Byrin, who walked with him toward the elevator. "What's wrong?"

Byrin used the call button. "Three Betters protested outside Parliament by burning their veils. When police moved in, things got out of hand. Seven of them were killed."

Alitus stepped into the elevator, holding the doors open. "I thought you said there were three Betters."

"The Betters were working together to prevent the police from moving them. When their pheromones combined, it killed seven of the cops."

The impact of that event would have far-reaching consequences. "One Better alone can kill. We've seen that. Ganged up? Byrin, this is going to get much worse." He stepped back from the door.

"There's a full-fledged riot going on down there." Byrin put out his hand to stop the doors from closing. "Hey."

Alitus met the man's grim gaze.

"Watch your back."

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[bctt tweet="Alitus is addictive. He must touch no one. But how long can he deny his heart? https://amzn.to/33rN3pI #SciFi #MMRomance " username="KayelleAllen"]

Tales of the Chosen

Pick up Wulf for $0.00 -- This book is permafree on all retailers.
Then pre-order Alitus and Jawk to claim the entire Tales of the Chosen series.

These books are in the same universe as the Antonello Brothers, and Antonello Brothers: Immortal books.
Click the cover for a universal buy link. Click the title for the book page on this website.

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.



JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

“Why I like you is beyond me” #Excerpt #SciFi #MMRomance #MFRWhooks

"Why I like you is beyond me" #Excerpt #SciFi #MMRomance

In this scene from Alitus, Tales of the Chosen, the spymaster Alitus is in the Stable, a harem of male pleasure slaves kept by the Empress. After a brief altercation with Rudy a few days before, Alitus has come to apologize. The groom who oversees security is waiting outside, having warned Alitus not to resort to violence.

Read the previous part of this scene.

Imperial Palace, the Stable
Keeper Wing

As the door opened, Alitus turned to face it, lowering both hands to his sides. If he released his pheromones now, it would lower Rudy's resistance. The pheromones gave Alitus a distinct advantage. Using them to coerce, however, was not in his nature.

The man stood in the doorway, blocking the groom's entrance behind him, and made a small gesture. "I got this, Byrin." The door shut behind him.

Alitus steeled himself for confrontation, hyper-aware of Rudy's stillness, like the motionless menace of an animal poised to strike.

Rudy took three steps into the room and halted. He wore gym shoes, socks, loose shorts, and a white towel around his neck. A white headband held dark hair out of his eyes. A fine sheen of sweat covered him. Rudy was built like Alitus, but more athletic, his muscles more defined. Alitus was blond; Rudy brunet. Both blue-eyed, Alitus's were ocean dark, Rudy's, sky pale. Alitus had been bred for intellect, and Rudy for natural earthiness and sensuality.

"How you doin', Alitus?" The man lifted a corner of the towel and wiped his face, dabbing at his nose, which had a bluish tinge on its left side. The color had seeped into the area below his left eye as well.

"This will never work." Alitus shook his head. "We're far too different."

"Yeah, well, nice to see you, too, you smartass." Rudy jerked open the door.

Outside, Byrin stood like a guard dog off its leash, waiting for a finger snap from its master.

"Wait." Alitus held up one hand. "I'm sorry."

No answer at first. Rudy studied him. "For what? That I'm leavin' 'cause I don't have time for your bullshit? Or that you didn't break my nose?"

"Neither." Alitus gestured for him to shut the door, which Rudy did. "I'm sorry we got off to such a bad start. I should have begun this conversation by saying I was sorry."

"Oh, yeah?" Rudy folded his arms. "That supposed to make it all 'better,' Better?" Before Alitus could answer, Rudy put in, "Let's get something straight right up front. I'm doing this for Her Majesty, not you. I don't need your apology or want it, so if that's all you came for, you can go. I'll fill in for you because she asked me to. I don't need another reason."

"Fine, then."

"Fine." Rudy jutted his chin upward.

Neither spoke. Neither looked away.

Alitus let out a long sigh. "Damn it, Rudy, I was a smartass."

A grin stole across the man's face. "You've got a mean right hook, you bastard."

"If it makes you feel any better, my hand still hurts."

The two men met in the middle of the room and shook hands, Alitus still gloved. When Rudy squeezed, Alitus winced

The other man didn't let go. "What the hell were you thinkin', man?"

Alitus withdrew and rubbed his hand. "She makes me crazy. I didn't think."

Rudy cuffed him on the shoulder. "If I used an excuse like that I'd get thrown out of here."

"Haven't got one better."

"Punny." Rudy wrapped his hands around the ends of his towel. "You do realize what a problem this veil thing is going to be for droid security, don't you? I've been reading up on them. The stuff that keeps the pheromones inside makes it so droids can't read through them to know who's who. An assassin could walk right up to Her Majesty and no one would be the wiser until it was too late."

"I know. That's why they're limiting Better access to her. We won't be able to get an audience until we've been screened. Another way to screw us."

"On a different note, how am I going to get from the Stable to your office without being seen in that Veil thing?"

He lifted one shoulder. "Use the passageway from the Stable to my old office and then go from there. It's the one right outside hers."

Rudy gave him a puzzled look.

"You know." Alitus gestured. "The passage you use when she calls for a Jade during the work day." When no response came, Alitus sighed. "You mean she's never summoned you for a quickie?"

"You bastard." Rudy twisted his mouth in a sardonic grimace. "I'll bet she called you. Which is another reason for me to dislike you."

Alitus rocked on the balls of his feet.

"You smug son-of-a-bitch. Why I like you is beyond me."

[bctt tweet=""Why I like you is beyond me" #Excerpt #SciFi #MMRomance" username="KayelleAllen"]

Tales of the Chosen

Pick up Wulf for $0.00 -- This book is permafree on all retailers.
Then pre-order Alitus and Jawk to claim the entire Tales of the Chosen series.

These books are in the same universe as the Antonello Brothers, and Antonello Brothers: Immortal books.
Click the cover for a universal buy link. Click the title for the book page on this website.

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.



JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

That feeling when you have to apologize for being right #Excerpt #SciFi #MMRomance #MFRWhooks

That feeling when you have to apologize for being right #Excerpt #SciFi #MMRomance

 

In this scene from Alitus, Tales of the Chosen, the spymaster Alitus visits the Stable, a harem of male pleasure slaves called Jades kept by the Empress, whom he serves.

The night before, a physical altercation with Rudy, one of the Jades, resulted after the Empress suggested Rudy could fill in for Alitus.

Betters -- enhanced humans like Alitus -- are now required to wear a veiled garment, so having the "normal" Rudy replace him set off the temper of the usually placid Alitus.

This moment takes place the next day.

Imperial Palace, the Stable
Keeper Wing

 

Alitus presented himself at the Stable groom's office.

Byrin Arual oversaw the literal army of identical androids involved in caring for the Jades. The middle-aged human was handsome enough to be a Jade himself, yet Byrin's relationship with the Empress always seemed professional. She'd never shown the least interest in him.

Byrin welcomed him and gestured to a chair in the small office. "Sit. Great to see you again, Alitus. Is this imperial business?"

"Personal." He started to strip off his gloves, decided against it, and smoothed them back over his fingers. "I came to see Rudolf Brakovsky."

Byrin perched against the edge of the compact desk. Monitors filled the opposite wall, revealing the Jades in various activities. "If this is about the bloody nose from the other night it's my duty to remind you that any provocation between Jades is prohibited. I know you're no longer a Jade." He held up a hand to prevent interruption. "But Rudy is. I don't want to put him in a compromising situation."

"I won't touch him." Alitus crossed his legs. "I owe him an apology."

Byrin studied him a moment, his expression grave. "If you didn't represent Her Majesty the way you do, I wouldn't permit this. Rudy's a good guy."

He resisted the urge to hang his head and instead, met the man's unflinching gaze. "Yes, he is. Which is why this is important."

"I never expected violence from you, Alitus. When you lived in the Stable, you were the one everyone looked up to, even though you were the youngest. From the first day you entered the Stable, they called you 'Mr. Perfect.' When you were out of earshot, of course, but the guys like you despite the fact you were special to Her Majesty."

"I..." Alitus tugged his gloves on a little tighter. Liking him was an after-effect of his pheromones, but Byrin didn't need to know that.

Would Alitus ever have a true friend? One who liked him without being influenced?

Byrin stared as if waiting for a reply.

Alitus cleared his throat. "Thank you. I don't know what to say."

"Hell, man." Byrin threw out his arms. "She created the 'Lover' level so she could put you above the Keepers. No one else has ever been in it. You know how crazy that makes these guys? Yet not one of them would say a single bad thing about you. And that isn't because of the rules here. You know that?"

Alitus lowered his lashes.

"What the hell got into you?"

"I'd rather not discuss it, Byrin." Alitus smoothed the crease in a pant leg. "Consider it a momentary lapse of reason and let it go, please. Her Majesty has. I'm here to ask Rudy for forgiveness. Isn't that enough?"

Byrin glared as if about to argue, but then brushed off his pants, and stood. "All right. Suit yourself. Take it easy while I go find him. At this hour, he's working out." Byrin searched the bank of monitors for a moment before he excused himself and left.

Alitus thrust himself to his feet and paced. He could do this. Get it over with and get back to work. For two days, he'd done nothing but argue with himself about coming here. Time to put it in the past and move on. How could he have doubted Her Majesty's intentions?

She had not chided him. Although she had not told him to apologize, she had to expect it. "Jealousy does not become you, Alitus. You know you have my respect. You know that. I would never dishonor you."

Clasping his hands before his mouth, he tapped them against his lips. He must control himself. He was going to need Rudy's help.

Tales of the Chosen

Pick up Wulf for $0.00 -- This book is permafree on all retailers.
Then pre-order Alitus and Jawk to claim the entire Tales of the Chosen series.

These books are in the same universe as the Antonello Brothers, and Antonello Brothers: Immortal books.
Click the cover for a universal buy link. Click the title for the book page on this website.

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.



JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

How long can he deny his heart? #Excerpt Alitus by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MFRWhooks

How long can he deny his heart? #Excerpt Alitus by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Alitus is addictive. He must touch no one.

But how long can he deny his heart?

Excerpt from Alitus, Tales of the Chosen

In this scene from Alitus, it's late at night, and Wulf Gabriel is on his way to a secret rendezvous.

 

Wulf let himself into the apartment and double-locked the door. He didn't need to turn on the lights. Although his tenant had brought in her own furniture, the layout remained the same, and he could find his way around blindfolded. He pulled off his shoes and set them aside to protect the new white carpet. He'd had it installed last week, which was the least he could do, considering he'd been the one who'd ruined it. Who knew body paint could do so much damage?

It was kind of her to still let him use it when she was out of town. Where else could they go?

Emptying his pockets onto an antique table in the foyer, Wulf shrugged out of his jacket, hung it on a chair, and headed for the bedroom. When he opened the door, the heady scent of peaches wafted to him. Candles lit the sumptuous bedroom, illuminating the warm, inviting colors. It was a woman's room, soft, appealing, yet strong.

At the foot of the bed stood a serving cart draped with linen. A silver bucket of ice held an open bottle of his favorite black vodka, and to one side, a single martini glass with a white chocolate truffle inside. Picking up the bottle and glass, Wulf followed a trail of petals from the ornate iron bed to the open bathroom door.

There, in a tub of bubbles, lounged his blond and beautiful lover. With a faint blush, Alitus rested his head against the tub. The bathwater's steam rose around him.

The sight made Wulf's breath catch. Damp and curling, tendrils of Alitus's pale hair clung to his jaw and throat. His face looked innocent, but the ocean-blue gaze was far from it.

Wulf bit into his lower lip and fought the carnality threatening to overwhelm him. He almost broke the fragile glass stem. "It was so hard tonight, seeing you at the palace and having to pretend you weren't the most important person in the room."

"Same here." Alitus gave him a lazy smile, and trailed a wet fingertip along the edge of the tub. "When you defended me, and then looked my way, I feared every person in the room would know we were lovers."

Alitus, Tales of the Chosen releases July 23, 2021.

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Tales of the Chosen

Pick up Wulf for $0.00 -- This book is permafree on all retailers.
Then pre-order Alitus and Jawk to claim the entire Tales of the Chosen series.

These books are in the same universe as the Antonello Brothers, and Antonello Brothers: Immortal books.
Click the cover for a universal buy link. Click the title for the book page on this website.

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.



JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

Weekend read: A new Sci-Fi Anthology #MFRWhooks #SciFi #Anthology

Weekend read: A new Sci-Fi Anthology #MFRWhooks #SciFi #Anthology

For Sci-Fi Lovers!

This anthology is a collection of twenty new science fiction stories written by fourteen authors in four countries. All are members of the Science Fiction Novelists Facebook group, as are the two professional editors.

Be prepared for adventurous wonder.
· Bits of terror
· Aliens
· Twisted reality
· Dystopian dust
· Whispers of fantasy, and
· Hard science.
Gun play? Yes, there's some of that too.

Pick it up at any location you prefer: https://books2read.com/u/4jLdeY
The internet is both a wonderful and, at times, horrible place, a thing that can evoke the full spectrum of human emotion.

However, we all know of a few places that bring out the positive points in being human without social vitriol and hyperbole. For us, that place is Science Fiction Novelists Facebook group, where science fiction writers congregate, challenge, share, and compare. A place where no one cares whether Star Wars is better than Star Trek. Movies are not our thing; writing, imagining, and hope for mankind are—though a few of us may have destroyed the universe a few times.

As the group’s administrators, we challenged our members to submit short stories for this anthology. It is our first, and hopefully not the last.

Science Fiction Novelists

Join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/science.fiction.novelists

Authors with Amazon Pages

Kayelle Allen, Claudia Blood, Caleb Fast, Marc Neuffer, EJ Runyon


 

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JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

The Road to Immortality Starts Here #SciFi #MFRWhooks #Immortals

Take the first step toward immortality with the Citizen's Journey

Start Your Immortal Journey

Become a Citizen of Tarth. Sign up for my newsletter and begin now.

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Once you become a citizen, you'll be qualified to begin your immortal journey, which brings you inside info from Pietas* himself.

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About Lights Out

 

Read Lights Out by Kayelle Allen

Join the Ghost Corps, they said. You'll live forever, they said. You'll save mankind, they said. They didn't say that to do it, first he had to die.

When Tornahdo signs on the dotted line, he puts his life into the steady hands of the mighty Ghost Corps. Three grisly deaths and three agonizing resurrections later, he's assigned duty on the space station Enderium Six.

He's facing his most dangerous mission yet, the very reason the corps exists.

Do they expect him to win? Fat chance. Tornahdo and his team are already dead and this mission is codenamed "Lights Out." No, there's more to this than he can see.

To discover the truth, he must face an unbeatable, unkillable enemy, and this time--somehow--find a way to keep himself alive...

Get this book plus a starter set of four illustrated books, free when you join one of Kayelle Allen's reader groups. Includes exclusive members-only cover featuring Six's dragon tattoo.

Hear the blurb for Lights Out read by the author, Kayelle Allen.

* It's really just me. WiFi between here and Tarth is killer expensive! Pretend, okay? 🙂


 

Check out the other authors in this weekly blog hop!


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.