Wow. The month of October was pretty much eaten alive by GRL, but I'm back, baby! And today’s the day: my first Dreamspinner story is out, and it’s a part of their States of Love collection.  Honeymoon Their Way is also my first Rom Com, and since I have a few snarling plot bunnies snapping at my heels, I’m considering writing more stories in this genre. Be warned that no whips or chains were harmed in this story due to the fact that there is no kink! *gasp* But there are a lot of shenanigans which lead up to a sweet and sexy HEA for our lovers. Now let’s take a little pictorial tour through Chad and Raudel’s world, shall we?

When author LE Franks and I did our road trip to GRL, we made it a point to stop in South Lake Tahoe and Fallon, NV. Both of these locations play a big role in Chad and Raudel's story. Fallon, which is currently the location of the Top Gun training academy at Air Force Base Fallon, is a small, dusty town in the middle of Nevada. I’m sure there are many lovely people living there, and I hope they find a way out soon. However, this is where Chad and Raudel were born and raised, and they’ve figured out that their futures no longer lie in Fallon. But what about their futures together? Our arrival in Fallon
Our hasty retreat from Fallon Fallon's Top Gun claim to fame on the main drag through town. I can picture Chad growing up somewhere in Fallon like this, with his mom's horse, Sassy, running around.

The bulk of the story takes place in South Lake Tahoe where Chad’s bridezilla of a sister is getting ready to be married. During the week-long festivities leading up to the nuptials, Chad plans to do everything he can to avoid running into his high school crush, Raudel, who’s in sister Lindsey’s wedding party, because of an incredibly embarrassing moment that occurred between the two of them way back when. But Lady Love has other plans for our boys, and despite the madcap chaos, they find their way to love amidst the backdrop of nutty family members, an evil chocolate fountain, and desperate, stolen moments together.


This place we drove past is perfect as the location of the Tux shop. It's within walking distance of the casinos where our boys seal the deal on their burgeoning love.  This is the view from the 'tux shop'. They alternate going from Harvey's To Harrah's right across the street. But they eventually end up here *grin*
Here's an exclusive excerpt from Honeymoon Their Way:
The next few minutes were taken up with Chad navigating them until they turned off the main drag. They landed in the practically empty parking lot of a building the size of some small islands in the South Pacific. An air-dancing tube clown wiggled and flapped from atop the two-story structure, the maniacal expression of the balloon’s circus character the stuff of young children’s nightmares. If the Party Planner Emporium didn’t have a chocolate fountain, no one would.Raudel pulled up close to the front entrance, then shut off the engine. For reasons Chad couldn’t name, the loss of the sound of the car, the motion, the feel of it beneath him made being alone with Raudel much more difficult. Almost as if the Honda had been a buffer between them.Fountain. No thinking. Stay on task.His mom had given him a lot of useful advice over the years that he’d largely ignored. But there was no time like the present to finally embrace it.Raudel angled his body toward Chad, his demeanor that of someone who was about to speak on an important subject.Nope. Chad hastily scrambled from the car. Don’t need to get into any chats about high school antics.He’d have to remain alert. Avoid any moments that might afford Raudel the chance to talk with him privately.The chirp of the car alarm was quickly followed by the sound of Raudel’s footsteps.Chad rushed into the store, then froze. Raudel halted next to him, similarly pasted to the floor. The woman behind the long glass showcase counter had jerked her head up at the noise of the door chime, her visage bizarre and frightening enough that Chad wondered if she was dressed in a Halloween costume.Except that it’s April.A thick white powder covered her skin, almost as if she’d woken up that morning and decided she should look like a geisha doll. The rest of her heavily made-up face appeared petrified. Her wide-eyed stare was only slightly less disturbing than her large, painted-on eyebrows, which were raised almost to her hairline. Her silver-streaked, black-helmet hair gave the impression that an F5 tornado wouldn’t dislodge even one strand, and some sort of pink, fur-like scarf was wrapped around her neck multiple times as if she were being strangled by a fuzzy boa constrictor. She still hadn’t said anything, and Chad was too petrified to speak.Raudel took one for the team. “Do you carry chocolate fountains?”Chad widened his eyes, his jaw going slack as she spoke without her lips moving.“Rent or buy?”Botox is not this woman’s friend.“Buy.” Raudel turned to him. “Right?”“Uh….” She wasn’t a train wreck. More of a fiery plane crash.“Chad?”“Huh? Oh! Yes. Buy.”She pointed to the rear of the building with one finger, its long, sharpened claw leading the charge.Raudel gave her a warm smile. “Thank you, ma’am.”Chad had to admit he was impressed. He was still trying to wipe what he was sure was a look of horror off his face.She didn’t react to Raudel’s smile but simply kept staring. Chad could sense the hatred pouring off her. He wasn’t sure whether it was because of her job at a crappy, run-down, cheap party place, or that she hated all of humanity because she’d worked the past fifty years at a crappy, run-down, cheap party place.A vision of his future flashed before his eyes. Only it was yogurt replacing the paper streamers and white folding chairs. “Oh God.”“Come on. Let’s see what they—Chad? Are you all right?”Chad jerked his head toward Raudel. “Do you think it’s too late?” He had to get a grip. He was only twenty-two, for chrissakes.Raudel furrowed his brow. “Your mom said not to worry about getting back until later.” He laughed, his beautiful eyes shining back at Chad. “Besides, we just left the house about thirty minutes ago.”Chad nodded, giving himself a mental shake. “Yeah. Silly me.”Raudel indicated for him to go ahead. “Shall we?”Chad forced himself to move forward even though his legs weren’t interested.They traversed the gaudy displays and hodgepodge aisles filled with old, sad silk flower arrangements, outdated karaoke machines that featured the use of cassette tapes, and other elements that boasted of parties from a bygone era.They halted when they reached a white lattice-board archway. Beyond it lay all the large shit the store couldn’t shove onto the expanse of dented metal racks. Everything from Greek-style columns to banquet table setups graced the fake turf that made up the rear of the warehouse. At one side was their Holy Grail—fountains. They were both drawn to them at the same time.Chad sucked in a sharp breath when he glanced at the first price tag. I’ll be working at the yogurt shop until I’m a hundred and seven to pay back Mom for this. Primarily due to the fact that five dollars a week was the amount of his disposable income.He shuffled over to a less gargantuan and ornate one.“Chad?”He glanced at Raudel who’d shuffled right along with him. Chad did one more shuffle as Raudel creeped up on him a bit too close. He struggled to keep his breathing even.Never show your fear when facing the enemy.The task at hand had temporarily allowed him to push aside the harsh reality that he was still at risk of being humiliated by Raudel.Chad’s nemesis spoke up. “I just want you to know how glad I am that I was able to make this trip.”He waited for Raudel to continue, but all he did was stare, a slight tug at the corner of his mouth.Chad swallowed hard, his mouth too dry to ease the way. “Uh.” He croaked it out. “Yeah. Lindsey was superexcited that you could make it.” He licked his bottom lip to moisten it.Raudel glanced down, then back up again so quickly Chad wondered if he’d hallucinated the whole thing.“It’ll be great to see her again. But I’m very happy that you’re here too, Chad.”To have your chance to mock me? The heat that bloomed in Chad’s face had to be turning his white skin scarlet. He was infuriated that blushes came so easily to him, and on top of that, were so pronounced.Raudel smiled wide in what Chad imagined was victory. He snapped his head forward and snatched up another price tag.Shit. I’m fucked all the way around. He dropped the tag then crossed his arms angrily.A long pause followed, and Chad shifted uncomfortably on his feet. His curiosity got the better of him, and he stole a glance at Raudel. Chad widened his eyes at Raudel’s expression. Raudel appeared to be contemplating whether or not he should say something.Oh God. This is it.
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