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
Billy pulled up at the district jail. After Hoyt had been apprehended, he’d been taken to the police building on the rez where he’d sat in the overnight cell that didn’t allow for visitors. Then he’d been transferred to this place to wait on his hearing, which was standard procedure. Lonn and Dylan had been charged with harboring a fugitive.
If not for the Oshawees and Atitises, maybe Billy would’ve ended up in jail, too. Instead, in June, he was finishing his secondary schooling. He’d been accepted into Lakeside University’s criminology program.
He got out of the truck and made his way to the building. Once he flashed his ID and was searched, he went to the visiting window and sat. For all he knew, Hoyt might stay in his cell and holler he didn’t want to see his traitor brother. Word was getting around Billy’d fingered Hoyt’s hiding spot, rumor courtesy of Lonn and Dylan.
The door opened. Hoyt emerged in the standard shade of orange. His cold gaze settled on Billy, who raised his chin.
Hoyt cussed at the guard and plopped in the chair. A window with bars stopped them from touching. “The fuck do you want?”
“I thought I’d see how you’re doing.” The flatness of his own voice surprised Billy.
“It was you, wasn’t it? Lonn and Dylan said they saw you outside the gas bar in the royal spare’s sissy wagon. Next thing you know, one of the chief’s minions shows his face, along with two other cruisers, telling me to come out with my hands up.” Hoyt spit on the floor and shook back his shoulder-length hair. He smirked. “Must’ve scared ‘em why they had to bring out the full patrol.”
“I’d say they were being cautious, considering what you did to René.” Billy gritted his teeth.
“Cautious?” Hoyt snickered. There was pure evil in his dark eyes that held no regret. “You little fucker, this isn’t over between us.”
“Be careful. You know they’re monitoring us. If they hear you making threats—”
“The fuck do I care?” Hoyt’s voice was mocking. “I’m up shit creek without a paddle.”
“You’re pleading guilty then?”
“What I’m doing is none of your fucking biz, you cock-sucking piece of shit.” The amusement vanished. Hoyt’s countenance became his familiar colder-than-ice stare. “Leave it to you to turn in a member of your fam. First, you kill our mother, and now rat on your own bro. I guess blood means nothing, hey?”
“Blood means something if I’m shown respect. From the start, you did nothing but use me and kick me around.”
“Yeah? Maybe ‘cause I knew it’d end this way.” Hoyt scoffed. “I knew you were the weak link from the first time you ran to the door crying for Mommy to come back. You don’t got it in you to tough it out and take a little shit. That’s what makes a man a man.”
“No way. You got it all wrong—”
Hoyt leaned in. Hate flared in his eyes. “You think I went crying to the police when the ol’ man beat on me? I know how to keep my trap shut. You don’t. You sold out your fam to live with the royals. You sold your body to that fudge-packing faggot to drive around in his truck. You sold your very soul to be what I knew you always wanted to be—an Oshawee.”
The horrible accusation cut straight into Billy’s heart. He kicked aside the chair and pressed his hand on the glass.
CHECK OUT OTHER BOOK HOOKS HERE FROM PARTICIPATING AUTHORS
Maggie Blackbird 