Title: A Summer’s Day: Shakespearean Anthology with a Twist
Authors: Nephy Heart, Louise Lyons, Rebecca Cohen, JL Merrow, Charlie Cochrane, Asta Idonea, Dianne Hartsock, Rory Ni Coileain, Kathy Griffith, M LeAnne Phoenix, Phetra H Novak, Rian Durant
Genre: Gay Romance/Fiction
Length: Anthology, 115 K
Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art
A collection of 12 stories celebrating the Bard’s legacy with modern retelling of some of his works and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.
There is gentle YA romance next to hot sexy stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.
We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.
There’s fun, drama, tears, joy and, above all, lots of true love.
All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.
Buy Links:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AUS
Blurbs
Find the blurbs at the end of the post or
on the books’s Facebook Page, where you can also some pictures the authors thought will go well with their stories. 🙂
Giveaway
Hello! Welcome to my little corner of A Summer’s Day Book Tour! It’s always surprising to me how often I hear Shakespeare being quoted in everyday life. It’s so fun! And he has so many great quotes. Here’s a few of my favorites:
- To be, or not to be: that is the question. (Hamlet)
- Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. (Twelfth Night)
- I am one who loved not wisely but too well. (Othello)
- We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. (The Tempest)
- Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Okay! I could go on forever. I first met Shakespeare in fifth grade, hearing aloud for the first time those epic words, “Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Romeo and Juliet) I didn’t know any better at the time and envisioned Juliet on her balcony calling into the night for her lover. Yes! I know it’s the wrong interpretation, but I was only ten. And, oh sigh! The romance of it! I pictured myself on the balcony calling out for Billy, my curly haired crush at the time.
Since then, I’ve considered Shakespeare to be the height of romance, even when some of his characters make me laugh out loud, cry with them, or sometimes infuriate me.
TWO GUYS FROM VANCOUVER
Valentine has been watching Preston date man after man with never more than a brotherly hug for him.
Finally, despairing that Preston will ever love him in return, Val moves away to college, where he meets the glorious Silver, a man with problems of his own, who just might be his answer.
Torn between his attraction to Preston and his growing desire for Silver, Val wonders if he’ll ever find love or will his life become as tragic as any of the Shakespearean plays he loves so well.
(“The Two Gentlemen of Verona”)
EXCERT
Val took a long drink from the thermos, enjoying the cool bite of lemon and vodka on his tongue, the alcohol content exactly enough to send a pleasant tingle along limbs already lethargic from hours in the sun and sea air.
“Hey, share.”
“Sure.” Val handed over the bottle, his gaze lingering on his best friend, his heart rushing. Preston’s skin was bronzed from months in the summer sun, his board shorts hugging muscular and the large cock Val knew lay hidden under the bright fabric. He wanted to lick a path down Preston’s glistening chest, knowing he’d taste of sweat and sea salt.
Preston swallowed a mouthful of the Lemon Drop and sputtered, laughing as he licked the stray drops from his lips. “Shit! That stuff’s potent.”
A shiver ran through Val. If he moved only a few inches he could be kissing the mouth that had been driving him wild all summer. And by the gleam in Preston’s brown eyes, he wouldn’t object, either. A shout on the still air shattered Val’s dream and he pulled away, scowling at the bottle Preston handed back to him. Julian approached them up the beach; Preston’s latest boyfriend, lithesome, lightly tanned, with gorgeous blond hair cascading to his shoulders.
Val hated him. Problem was, Julian was great, always laughing, genuinely kind. If it wasn’t for the fact he was fucking Preston, they would most likely be good friends. Julian plopped down beside Preston and Val sighed. Probably for the best he was moving from Vancouver to Portland in the morning. The two cities were only nine miles apart, but it would take him out of Preston’s orbit.
A wave crashed with force on the shore and Val turned his attention to the ocean, shining golden with the setting sun. A hot guy jogged by, seagulls cried on the still air. Still not enough to distract him from the couple chatting beside him. When they began to kiss, he’d had enough. Climbing to his feet, he strolled down to the water’s edge. A wave broke and he watched the foaming water climb the beach, shivered when it reached his toes. It had been a fantastic day; warm and lazy, hours spend in idle conversation or contented silence with his best friend while the sun crossed the sky. Now he felt tired and achy, with a two hour drive home ahead of him.
“They do not love that do not show their love,” he murmured, and scowled at the lowering sun. He and a group of friends, including Preston and Julian, had studied Shakespeare last term and he found himself frequently quoting the bard.
He cursed under his breath when footsteps sounded behind him and Julian clapped him on the back. “Didn’t mean to drive you off, but you know how Preston is.” He shrugged, face rueful. “Come back. We’re going to get a fire started and cook up some hamburgers.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll go. I still have some packing to do and want to get a good night’s sleep as well. It’ll be a stressful day tomorrow.”
Julian lifted a brow, knowing he was lying. “I’ve ruined your last day with Preston. I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have come at all, except he insisted. I should be the one to go.”
Val had to bite hard on his tongue to keep from agreeing with him. “Don’t worry about it. The house I’m moving to is only about a twenty minute drive from Vancouver. You guys will have to come see me once I’m settled in.”
DEEPER THAN DID EVER PLUMMET SOUND
Clarence Limont is a slowly fading star of the London stage; convinced his great performances are all behind him, he nevertheless agrees to play Prospero in an off-off-Broadway production of The Tempest helmed by an old friend.
Jaymes Stafford is the production’s starry-eyed Ariel, waking feelings Clarence had thought long dead and buried.
But the poisonous jealousy of other members of the cast may steal the stars from Jaymes’ eyes, and even put paid to Clarence’s illustrious career.
(“The Tempest”)
A FINE LINE BETWEEN
Louise Lyons
When Romeo runs into Julian on the beach, he’s the last person he wants to see as he’s grown up hating him due to his parents’ aversion to Julian’s dad.
Forced to rescue Julian from the sea, Romeo is surprised by his grudging attraction to the other young man.
When simple lust becomes something more, the pair ignore their parents’ anger, but family fights drive the lovers away from home – into a horrifying incident. Will it make the Montgomerys and the Caplins rethink their feud?
(“Romeo and Juliet”)
THE DEVIL AND THE LION
Asta Idonea
Caius Martius and Tullus Aufidius have long been enemies.
Then Martius arrives on Aufidius’ doorstep, seeking a military alliance. Aufidius accepts; however, he wishes their partnership to extend from the battlefield to the bedchamber.
His lust for Martius is one of the reasons he spares his life, but his jealousy will soon have terrible consequences.
(“Coriolanus”)
KISS ME, KADE
Nephy Heart
Kade is in trouble, negotiating a dangerous path between an authoritarian father and wayward sister.
Then Pete storms into his life and tries to take over.
It can only end in disaster.
(“Taming of The Shrew”)
IF MUSIC BE…
Charlie Cochrane
Rick Cowley finds himself taking up am-dram once more, thinking it’ll help him get over the death of his partner.
He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have reveled in.
Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?
(“Twelfth Night”)
TWO GUYS FROM VANCOUVER
Dianne Hartsock
Valentine has been watching Preston date man after man with never more than a brotherly hug for him.
Finally, despairing that Preston will ever love him in return, Val moves away to college, where he meets the glorious Silver, a man with problems of his own, who just might be his answer.
Torn between his attraction to Preston and his growing desire for Silver, Val wonders if he’ll ever find love or will his life become as tragic as any of the Shakespearean plays he loves so well.
(“The Two Gentlemen of Verona”)
WHEN I LOVE THEE NOT
Rian Durant
Desmond, the heir of a business owner is outed in the media after a hot night with his lover, Olvin, who also happens to be the company’s best negotiation expert.
This is only the first step in Ian’s plan to get back at Olvin for choosing Michel Caswell as a main assistant for the latest merger instead of him, a plan in which he’s moving everybody around like pawns on a chessboard, bending the rules.
Will Ian drive a wedge between Desmond and Olvin and get the position he wants or will he realize that there’s something more important that stops the world from turning into chaos?
(“Othello”)
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE BEACH
Kathy Griffith
Tony and Bartholomew have been friends for years, but his latest request is a little much.
Bart needs a loan to impress Porsche Keller, a personable billionaire, but the only cash available is from banker and raging homophobe Sherlock Palmer, who has a devious plan for them.
Will our heroes find love and get their happy ending?
(“The Merchant of Venice”)
A HERO’S LAST BATTLE
Phetra H Novak
Claudio is happy to be home after serving his country as a soldier for over fifteen years being stationed mostly abroad ready to settle down.
Hero is still living at home, together with his father, trying to do what is expected a young man his age is supposed to do, work and live every day like it is your last.
The two men meet at a family wedding, realizing they share a mutual dream of finding love and starting a family but evil lurks amongst them. Will these two lovers find a way to be together?
(“Much Ado About Nothing”)
NOTHING LIKE THE SUN
JL Merrow
Hollywood darling Jerome Winter always defined himself by his looks—until a fire destroyed them.
His oldest friend and still-loyal manager, Sam, has long carried a torch for him, but with his looks—and earning power—gone, what does Jerome have left to offer?
(Sonnet 130)
THE SUN OF TOMORROW
M LeAnne Phoenix
When actor Koray Shepherd rescues writer Winter Sirois from the brutal hands of his supervisor, Winter never would have believed the beautiful Turk would share his love of The Bard.
When Koray asks Winter out on a date, Winter takes center stage in his very own tragedy, determined to end his play for today with a happily ever after.
Screwing his courage to the sticking place, Winter sets his sights on the future and Koray… but when the horrors of yesterday resurface, will he crest the waves of fear and despair, or will he be heard no more?
(“Macbeth”)
MUCH ADO ABOUT LADY MACBETH
Rebecca Cohen
Competition for roles is always high when the King’s Men put on a play, but David seems to come up against Jacob time and time again, no matter what part he is auditioning for.
But now they both want to be Lady Macbeth and it’s more than simple rivalry that causes the sparks to fly.
(Shakespeare’s Theatre)
Dianne Hartsock 