Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers can jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published books.
For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, I give you a teaser from Real Warriors, the fourth and final book in the When We Were Young series, a m/m contemporary, new adult romance. Be sure to check out other participating author posts here.
The courage of a warrior is a must on their new path, or they’ll never grasp their happily ever after.
Blurb: Just when eighteen-year-old Billy Redsky believes he’s holding his happily ever after in the palm of his hand, he must practice what he’s learned in ceremony to face two more tests—share with the world his love for René, and let go of the past.
But that’s not so easy. René is terrified of exposing their secret to anyone else but his family. As for Billy’s brother, he has no intention of changing his criminal ways.
Only a miracle can help Billy reach his final destination on the red road his Ojibway ancestors once walked. For his dream to come true, he must look deep inside of himself and trust the creator he follows.
Genre(s): Multicultural, M/M Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ+, First Nations Romance, New Adult.
Heat Rating: Level 3
Publication Date: August 13, 2021
Publisher: eXtasy Books
René shoveled down his breakfast. Soon he was in his truck, driving Billy to the ceremony site. “How’d your prayer go?”
“It went well. I asked Creator for strength, as always.” Billy sat straight and stared ahead. “You’re not wearing your sunglasses.”
A flash of embarrassment clambered onto René’s face. “I… I don’t need them yet.”
Billy turned his head. “You sure? There’s something you’re not telling me. Like, how’d your sweat go?”
If René owned the truth, he’d be labeled batshit crazy. No, this was Billy, who believed in the power of the universe.
A travel coffee mug nestled between René’s legs. He lifted the cup and sipped. A niggle of guilt flecked the back of his neck because Billy’s only refreshment was water. “I… I saw myself. Two-t-t-t-two of me.”
“Huh?” Billy squinted.
“Inside the lodge. I had no clue what I was doing.” The words sputtered from René’s mouth. “Not one clue. Then the next thing I know, Grandpa asked me to drum because the heat was getting to me. I was on the verge of passing out.”
“Y-you dr-drummed?” Billy blinked more than a warning red light at a four-way traffic stop. “You?”
“Yeah. Drummed. I didn’t know what I was doing.” René wasn’t one to speak fast, but the words kept zooming from between his lips. “No clue. S-somehow I figured it out…”
A shudder of cold shimmied down René’s spine. He’d figured out how to sing and drum once he’d relinquished control. When he let whatever was there guide him, he’d sung, he’d drummed, he’d prayed, and he’d had a vision.
He squeezed the steering wheel. No way would he let his logical self plant doubt in his head. Science was on the backburner.
“Well?” Billy still hadn’t turned his head.
“I… I saw me. An old me.” René regripped the steering wheel.
“What? Were you older than Grandpa Chases?”
“No. No.” René shook his head. “Not an old me. An old me from the past, dressed like our ancestors used to. I was content standing there. Then me appeared. Me as I know me. The old me didn’t like the other me. He wanted to… fight the other me.” Dammit, someone might show up with the straitjacket.
“Holy shit. Really? You weren’t sleeping? You weren’t dreaming? It just happened?” Billy’s mouth hung open.
René quickly nodded. “Yeah.”
“Geez, man, you had a vision. I’ve been waiting forever for one, and all I get is a bunch of dumb dreams about Hoyt. Or thoughts about him.” Billy reached over and cuffed René’s arm.
“Hey.” René quickly whipped his head in Billy’s direction, who toothily grinned. “What? You believe me?”
“Yeah, of course I do. Go on.”
“I… I started fighting with myself. Grandpa Chases told me my two spirits are at war. The old me held a tomahawk. The other me held a baseball bat. Before we could duel, Grandpa broke it up… in the dream… vision… whatever you wanna call it.”
Billy reached over and palmed René’s hand resting on the stick shift. “I’m glad you told me. I really am. D’you know how long I…” He stared out the passenger window. His palm remained over René’s hand.
“How long you what?”
“Wanted you to believe? To practice our culture? Ned told me not to push you. He said in time you’d find your path—the path that’s right for you.”
“I already found my path.” René’s heart swelled. “And I’m walking it with you. Don’t ask me who’s leading. We seem to be taking turns on this journey.”
“It is a journey. The red road,” Billy murmured.
CHECK OUT OTHER BOOK HOOKS HERE FROM PARTICIPATING AUTHORS
Maggie Blackbird 
This is amazing, Maggie — the fight between his two selves! Wonderful insight.
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