Today, I have award-winning author Addison Albright in the interview chair. We’re discussing her latest release Luck of the Draw, a m/m fantasy romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.
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1. Hi, Addison. It’s great to have you at my blog today. Before we get started, can you share with the readers about the everyday you?
Addison: Hello and thank you so much for having me on your lovely blog today! Everyday me is a homebody…on the shy side if I don’t know you, very introverted, and undiagnosed (since that wasn’t really done back in the day) but per online testing taken at the urging of my kids, I fall on the autism spectrum. I watch my eight-year-old granddaughter every day after school and all day when school isn’t in session, so I play a lot of Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Go Fish, etc when I’m not reading, writing, or walking (I’m not so good at sitting still for long stretches of time, so I frequently do laps through the house).
2. I’ve been to your Goodreads page. I see you enjoy using humour in your stories. Can you share why?
Addison: I’ve always been attracted to stories that contain humor. Not necessarily full-blown comedies (though that’s fine, too), but with subtle humor injected throughout. I suppose that’s why I wanted to inject some into my stories. Turns out, it came fairly naturally. The amount of humor included in my stories varies. My short story, “Of Rats and Cats,” is fully a comedic romance. My novella, “Weekend at Bigfoot’s” has humor laced throughout while also dealing with some heavier issues. Many of my characters have a sense of humor that’ll shine through even when the story isn’t heavily comedic.
3. Let’s start with the main characters. What do you love most about Prince Obren and what makes you want to shake him?
Addison: I love that Prince Obren is reasonable and wants to do the right thing for his realm—all three of the affected realms—rather than run from his responsibilities no matter how much he dislikes it. He might have to talk himself down from the ledge, but in the end, he knows what’s right and what’s wrong. And I love that he tries so hard to look past something he learns that upends his world and to see both sides of the story. I kinda want to shake him into standing up to his father more, but on the other hand, that wouldn’t be entirely reasonable even if it would be satisfying.
4. The same for Prince Dukan. What do you love about him and what makes you want to shake him?
Addison: I love Prince Dukan’s mischievous personality. It’s subdued a bit at first as he works through some inner turmoil but comes shining through in good time. There’s a climactic scene toward the end that I don’t want to spoiler, but I would have liked to shake Dukan into reacting a little more quickly and decisively, but then again, that wouldn’t have been quite as exciting.
5. Without giving away any spoilers, what was your favourite scene to write?
Addison: I’m going to go with the scene where they reveal their “dark secrets” to each other. It combines a bit of action with strong emotion, and it flowed easily.
6. What makes Luck of the Draw different from other male/male fantasy romances?
Addison: One thing that’s different than the norm is that it’s very “light” on the fantasy. It’s set in a made up, fantasy-like world but has no magical elements or dragons, etc.
I also veer a bit from other against-their-will-arranged-marriage stories in that the MC doesn’t run from his fate and have to be chased down by the other MC then fall for him despite himself. I’ve read and enjoyed a number of those, but I also like to see MCs facing outside drama without making irresponsible choices we want to shake them for right out of the chute.
7. If a reader asked why they should read Luck of the Draw, what would you tell them?
Addison: If you enjoy likeable characters dealing with heavy emotional issues while striving for a happy life, you’ll enjoy Luck of the Draw. Like drama? I throw in a monarch that hates one of them and will stop at nothing to deny him that happy life he’s striving for.
8. You penned quite a few books. Which one was your favourite to write and why?
Addison: I’m torn between To Love and To Cherish and Weekend at Bigfoot’s for this. Both were just so much fun.
How can you not have fun writing a marriage of convenience complicated by a case of amnesia rebooting the MC back to before he’d become jaded, so of course he’s going to assume his relationship is a love match, right?
And how can you not have fun writing about a tabloid reporter who, of course, doesn’t actually believe the nonsense he writes falling for a twinky Bigfoot shifter (not that the tabloid writer knows this at the time) when he’s on a weekend assignment?
9. Can you share what you’re currently working on? Readers love hearing about works in progress.
Addison: “Working on” might be a bit of a stretch. I’m in the bouncing ideas around in my head phase, but possibly a double bi-awakening between best friends? Or maybe one (or both) will already know they’re bisexual but not be out about it? IDK. We’ll see.
10. I enjoy doing random questions, so humour me:
- What’s your favourite movie?
I’m going to cheat and name two. An oldie that fascinates me with all its twists and turns: The Game (starring Michael Douglas) and more recently The Avengers Endgame. Maybe I have a thing for twists and turns, eh? - What book is currently in your e-reader?
I’m filling this in about a month before the tour, and at this time I am reading Death at the Deep Dive by Josh Lanyon (Secrets and Scrabble book 7). I adore this series! - Who’s your favourite musical group?
That’s a tough one because I’m not sure I can name one group that stands out. I like a lot of songs, and in years gone by I’d have named ABBA, The Beatles, and any number of other bands from that era and/or the 80s. I just enjoyed listening to a couple songs by The Civil Wars on a playlist in my car, so I’ll name them as my fave at the mo’. - What song puts a smile on your face?
Happy by Pharrell Williams. It’s perfectly named, and I love the song. I even featured it a bit in a couple scenes in one of my books (When Are You?). When I promise that story has a “happy ending,” it’s not only literally true, but it’s also a play on words, since they’ll all be dancing to that song in a scene near the end.
11. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Addison: Thank you again for having me on your lovely blog!
If any new-to-me readers are wondering what I might recommend they start with among my books (other than with this new release, of course), I would probably suggest ’Til Death Do Us Part. It’s in KU (not exclusive) and in Kobo Plus as well as at distributors everywhere. You should be able to download it through Hoopla with your library card, too.
I’ve created a handy list on Books2Read with all my books organized by different categories for readers’ convenience: https://books2read.com/rl/AddisonAlbright
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Title: Luck of the Draw
Author: Addison Albright
Genres: M/M Light Fantasy Romance, Gay/Bisexual
Tropes: Peace Treaty, Arranged Marriage
Themes: Accepting Fate, Dark Secrets, Forgiveness
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 25 700 words
Release Date: July 22, 2023
Publisher: JMS Books, LLC
Drawing the short straw is bad luck…isn’t it?
Blurb: A treaty between three warring realms calls for a mass wedding ceremony amongst their eligible princes and princesses to solidify the peace. But since the number of males and females differ, one of the marriages must be between two of the princes.
Prince Obren of Canna draws the short straw, sealing his fate, and Prince Dukan of Butari volunteers to be the other half of the nontraditional marriage. The two princes fought nobly in the years-long war and are willing to do whatever it takes to finalize the treaty, ending the conflict that took the lives of their loved ones…Obren’s brother and Dukan’s lover.
Each harbors a dark secret, and King Rogan of Canna has long nurtured a deep hatred of Obren, blaming him for bringing home the deadly virus responsible for the untimely death of his much-adored wife. Obren and Dukan can’t deny their chemistry, but can they overcome the ugly truths complicating their path to a friendly, respectful, and—dare they hope—loving relationship? Will King Rogan stop at nothing to dash Obren’s chance at happiness, or does that short straw represent good luck, after all?
Note: It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.
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Obren, a prince of Canna, had drawn straws many times in the past, but never had the stakes been so high. This time it was not about who would go first or last either in childhood games of years gone by, or in sexual liaisons from more recent years. It was not about who would help pitch the army tents versus dig the holes for the latrine. Or fill them in, later, when breaking camp.
This time, the rest of his life was at stake. Not life or death itself, but the direction his life would follow and its potential to bring him happiness.
Obren’s stomach twisted into a knot as his father, King Rogan of Canna, offered his closed fist. Obren drew in a deep breath, understanding, to the marrow of his bones, that any plea to avoid this choice was pointless. A straw must be drawn, and as the older of the two brothers, he would draw first.
Not that the order of drawing mattered. Whether or not he drew the short straw would be down to luck. The luck of the draw would decide his life’s path. His hand twitched as he checked a nervous impulse to smooth down his already neatly styled blond hair.
Obren closed his eyes, shut out the sounds of his father’s heavy breathing, and focused on preventing the quiver building in his gut from reaching his hand as he lifted it. He paused and opened his eyes. Was there any possible stratagem he could employ to boost his chances?
“Just pick one,” Lale hissed. “Let’s get this over with.” Lale, being Obren’s younger brother, was as invested in the outcome as was Obren.
Obren swallowed, squared his shoulders, and snatched one of the two straws sticking up from Father’s fist. He stepped back and stared at the stick, but it gave him no information.
No useful information, anyway. Length could be both absolute and relative. He could see that the absolute length of his straw was about six knuckles long. But it was the length relative to the straw remaining in Father’s hand that would give the answer.
Lale strode swiftly forward and grabbed the remaining straw. The brothers stood staring at one another for ten solid beats before slowly raising their hands to compare straws.
Obren stared blankly at them, but it was the slow grin spreading across Lale’s face that came into focus first. Lale held the longer of the two.
Heat suffused Obren’s face as he snapped his straw in half and let the two pieces drop to the floor.
“Enough of that.” The king used his regal tone, usually reserved for court. “You will do your duty, and you will do it without displays that should have been left behind when you graduated out of the nursery.”
Obren clenched his jaw. He shouldn’t say anything more, but his mouth ran on unheeded. “I’m older. It wouldn’t have been out of order for you to have decided based upon our ages.”
“Your sisters are older still. You’re not even the spare, let alone the heir. You don’t matter.”
Lale snorted, and Obren shot a glare in his direction. But Lale was looking at their father with an unwise expression of disgust. The snort hadn’t been directed at Obren; it had been in response to Father’s unkind remark about both of their worth.
Obren softened his own expression, and when Lale returned his gaze to Obren, Lale swallowed, and said, “Obren’s right. Neither of us wants this, of course, but it should be me.”
The two brothers had never been the best of friends. Their personalities didn’t align well for that. But they’d always felt the bond of brotherhood, and here, Lale probably felt a sense of duty to repay Obren for saving his life amidst a fierce battle in the final year of the war.
Obren wasn’t entirely sure if his conscience would have allowed him to let Lale take this burden upon himself after winning the draw—probably not, impulsive comment notwithstanding—but that option wasn’t on the table. “Nonsense. The selection was fairly made,” the king said with a glare of his own directed at Obren. “I expect you to behave like a rational adult at both the reunion dinner this evening and the ball tomorrow night.”
Obren held in his retort and gave a curt nod before turning on his heel and striding, with as much dignity as he could muster, from the room.
Anger roiled through his belly as he raced through the castle hallways to his suite of rooms. His footsteps clicked on the stone floor and echoed through the empty passages. A lingering whiff of the sausages they’d eaten at breakfast still hung in the air.
It was an understatement to say that Father preferred Lale. Had done since Obren had been a schoolboy. In fact, Obren wouldn’t be surprised to learn if Father had somehow manipulated the straws to ensure Obren picked the shorter of the two.
Father had never forgiven him for his mother’s death. As if Obren had deliberately caught the jumping spotty fever. He certainly hadn’t been aware enough during the height of his illness to influence his mother to stay away from him. She’d nursed him, as a loving mother would do, and she’d become ill herself, succumbing to the disease whereas Obren had recovered.
Once in his suite, he flopped face down onto the bed and screamed into his pillow.
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I don’t delve into fantasy that often, but I loved the premise, so I was in for reading and reviewing. Although this was a short read, the world-building was impeccable. The author did a great job feeding to the reader the war, the laws, and the players for the short story while bringing together the two main characters. The secondary characters provide depth of a real world and add friendship except for Obren’s father.
I enjoyed the two main characters Obren and Dukan. Told in Obren’s POV, he draws the short straw, and his horrible father forces him into a marriage. I won’t say the secret Obren is harbouring, or the secret Dukan is hiding.
What makes this novel special is the communication between the two. From the start, they bare their secrets. I won’t say what happens as a result of this, but it did surprise me, and in a good way.
There is a lot to pack into this short story, and the author did a great job fleshing everything out. Would I have liked a bit more tension between the two? Yes. I’m a sucker for that. Still, the path the two take is perfect for their characters.
Do yourself a favour and get a copy. The author is a solid writer and provides great dialogue, great settings, and a world rich in culture.
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Rainbow Award winning author Addison Albright lives smack dab in the middle of the USA. Her stories are gay romance in contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction genres. She generally adds a subtle touch of humor, a dash of drama/angst, and a sprinkle of slice-of-life to her stories. Her education includes a BS in Education with a major in mathematics and a minor in chemistry.
Addison loves spending time with her family, reading, popcorn, boating, French fries, “open window weather,” cats, math, and anything chocolate. She loves to read pretty much anything and everything, anytime and anywhere.
Follow Addison: Website | Facebook Page | Facebook Profile | Twitter | BookBub | Instagram | Newsletter Sign-up | Pinterest | TikTok | Mastodon
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Maggie Blackbird 