Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers have the chance to jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published book.
For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, here is a teaser from Blessed, book one in The Matawapit Family series now 30% off when you purchase directly from eXtasy Books.
A mixed-blood Catholic seminarian struggles to discern his true calling: the priesthood or his ex-lover, a proud but damaged Ojibway man.
It’s been ten years since Emery Matawapit sinned, having succumbed to temptation for the one thing in his life that felt right, another man. In six months he’ll make a life-changing decision that will bar him from sexual relationships for the rest of his life.
Darryl Keejik has a decade-long chip on his shoulder, and he holds Emery’s father, the church deacon, responsible for what he’s suffered: the loss of his family and a chance at true love with Emery. No longer a powerless kid, Darryl has influence within the community—maybe more than the deacon, and he intends on using his new-found power to destroy Deacon Matawapit and the church.
Hoping to save the church, Emery races home. But stopping Darryl is harder than expected when their sizzling chemistry threatens to consume Emery. Now he is faced with the toughest decision of his life: please his devout parents and fulfill his call to the priesthood, or remain true to his heart and marry the man created for him.
Genre(s): Multicultural, m/m contemporary romance, adult, LGBT, inspirational.
Heat Rating: Level 3
Publication Date: July 6, 2018
Publisher: eXtasy Books
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The loud crash jolted Emery. He scrambled to sit up. Someone must have broken into the rectory. Light flickered for a second. Dark eyes peered at him. Another loud boom echoed through the bedroom.
They’d fallen asleep after eating. He was at the Keejik house. “What are you doing?”
“Watching you,” Darryl whispered.
Another flash of lightning bathed them in ice white, and then darkness claimed the room. Thunder boomed.
Darryl reached out and stroked Emery’s cheekbone. “Can’t sleep.”
“C’mere.” Emery settled against the pillow. “I’ll help you sleep.”
Darryl nestled against Emery’s chest. Comforting. This was how they’d snuggled ten years ago, arms wrapped and legs tangled.
“Everything okay?”
“No.” Pain lingered in Darryl’s muffled reply.
“What’s wrong?”
Emery should smack his ignorance. Darryl was probably worried about tomorrow’s meeting. He had a big decision to make. Then there was Annie’s health and surgeries. She’d have to remain in Thunder Bay to receive dialysis, unless he had another place in mind to move to. Wherever he and his aunt relocated, Emery would follow.
“No matter what happens, I love you.” He pecked the top of Darryl’s head. “I mean it. This is about the community and your position as a band councilor. You do what you think is best. I know your aunt—”
Darryl stiffened. “Is that all you can think about after what we did?” His sharp words matched the angry silver light streaking the sky.
This was what Emery deserved for second guessing a complicated and sensitive man. “What did I say—?”
Darryl sat up. He flung aside the covers. When he rose, the bed creaked. He paced the room.
Emery twisted his fingers into the blanket. Don’t assume the worst. His earlier performance between the sheets couldn’t have been that horrible. Although he was out of practice, having sex was natural—at least he’d assumed everything he’d done had come naturally.
“I don’t know how to say this. I don’t even wanna say it.” Darryl huffed back and forth, pushing hair from his face.
For a man quite vocal about his feelings, being unable to speak his mind meant Darryl had something horrific to say. Emery tugged at the threading on the blanket.
“First, you believe your god wanted our quest to happen, right?” Darryl kept pacing.
“Yes.” The humidity had returned, but wet chills peppered Emery’s skin. He wouldn’t say anything else. Hearing out Darryl was important to him, no matter what came from his mouth.
“Second, what we did tonight means everything to me. I mean everything.” Darryl stopped and turned.
Ten years ago, Emery had said the same thing. A week later, Darryl had bolted for Winnipeg. This was worse than being stabbed in the heart. God must be punishing Emery for his earlier actions.
“Don’t.” Darryl thrust his finger forward. “Don’t even go there.”
“G-Go wh-where?” Emery reached for the leftover glass of water on the nightstand. He gulped down the last of the drink.
“I know what you’re thinking. What we did wasn’t wrong. You told me you felt it here.” Darryl tapped the lower left side of his chest.
“I did.” Hand trembling, Emery set aside the glass and resumed tugging at the blanket threading.
Although Darryl smiled, the reddish-brown color of his skin drained away. He set his hands on the mattress, leaning in slightly. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“And it’s why I have to say this.” Darryl lowered his head.
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Maggie Blackbird 