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🌟 Please join me in welcoming author Ann Grech to Stories That Make You Smile. Ann is here today celebrating the release of book two in her My Truth series, In Safe Arms. She’s brought along a generous giveaway, an excerpt. Pull up a chair and join the conversation as Ann shares the playlist that inspired so much of this story with us! 🌟
In Safe Arms by Ann Grech
Will he risk it all to be in safe arms?
Series: My Truth (book #2)
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Cover Artist: Soxsational Cover Art
Release Date: September 21, 2019
Length: Long Novel / 100k words / 304 pages
Pairing / Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance, LGBT, friends to lovers, slow burn, healing, interracial
Warnings: violence, rape
It is not necessary to have read book 1 first, but it doesn’t hurt. 😉
Book Blurb
When a damaged man stumbles on a second chance, it’s all too easy to turn and run. It takes a determined photographer to convince him risk is worth it all.
People deserve a second chance, right? How about a third or fourth?
But what if I can’t even admit to myself who I am? I was truthful once before. I came out to one other person, and he left me broken and scarred. He destroyed the boy I was. I don’t even use the same name anymore; I go by Trent now. But I survived the streets. I got lucky and I made something of myself. I’m happy, sort of.
It’s Angelo who lights up my life. He’s my world. My rock and my family. He’s always there for me. But I keep hurting him. I say stupid things, and I always keep him at a distance. Still, he knows me better than anyone.
And I want him. But I can’t let myself go there. Not again.
I’ve lived in denial for so long and it’s killing me. In my weakest moments, I reach for Angelo and when he slips into my arms, I can breathe. He’s my solace. Selflessly, he’s there and he never expects anything in return. No judgment, not even an explanation. Having him in my arms is everything, and it’s getting harder to push him away. I’m not sure I want to anymore.
He doesn’t date, but he deserves to be loved. Cherished. Then he drops a bombshell—he’s found The One. I wish he’d fallen for me. I need that second chance to tell him. I need to risk it all because in his arms, I’m safe. I’m me.
Excerpt
“The cat you’re minding?”
“Yep.” He nodded. I bit my lip trying not to laugh. It wasn’t funny. He was telling me about some shit that’d gone down that had upset him, but come on. How was I supposed to react? He’d used needing food for the cat he was sitting as an excuse to get out of a date. And the cat’s name was Dodge? You couldn’t make that shit up. I snorted, unsuccessfully trying to stifle my laugh, and wiped my eyes, tears welling from the effort. Trent paused and looked at me, confused, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I laughed and shook my head, holding my hand up to him.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh at you, but seriously?” I sucked in a breath, my side hurting because I was laughing so hard. “Cat food? For Dodge?” Trent’s lips twitched, and I could see him fighting the smile. I looked at him again and laughed once more, nudging him with my shoulder. “You didn’t even realize how it sounded until now, did you?” When he shook his head and finally let that smile loose, I sucked in a breath, happy for a whole other reason. It was his story and he’d told it, but he was smiling and I couldn’t help but take a little pride in that.
“Fuck me. She looked so damn horrified when I said that, but all I could think about was getting out of there.” He chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m such a dumb ass.”
“Nah, you just didn’t think.” I nudged his shoulder playfully, letting him know that it wasn’t all bad. “At least tell me you got the food.”
He nodded and sobered up. “I couldn’t wait to get out of there, but I didn’t want to go home either. Figured you would have been busy, so I stopped by the sports bar. Watched a footy match. Haven’t done that by myself in years, and I hated every minute of it. Suppose I had too many drinks.”
My heart clenched, and I wanted to reach out to him. Instead I leaned closer, my side pressed against his, and asked, “You didn’t drive home, did you?” I wasn’t sure whether I was begging him or scolding him for being so damn stupid. If he’d been drinking and driving not only could it be the end of his career, but more importantly, he could have killed someone. And it was all because he didn’t call me.
“Nah, I walked it. The night air sobered me up pretty fast.”
Thank God. I let out the breath I was holding, relief winning my emotional tug-of-war.
“So what happened yesterday and today? You just kept drinking?” It was none of my business, I knew that, but I didn’t care. I needed to know.
“Something like that,” he muttered. This was him shutting down. A noncommittal answer followed by either a subject change or him going quiet, but I couldn’t do it. I needed him to be able to talk to me.
“Look, I’m not going to push you, but maybe it’ll help if you spoke about whatever is bothering you. I’m here. I’ll listen, and I’ll do my best to help, but I can’t unless you talk to me. If not me, then pick someone else. I’m worried about you.”
“Some bad shit happened when I was younger. This time of year always drags it back up, but I’ll get through it.” He paused and added, “This—walking and being outside, spending time with you—it’s helping. You’re helping.”
☆ Guest Post ☆
A note from Ann Grech: In Safe Arms is my most recent novel. Ten in total, and my fifth inspired by a trip to Queenstown. This story means the world to me. It’s more than words on the page. These boys truly have my heart. I fell for them the moment they started talking to me. Trent’s brash and angry and hurting. Angelo is like a balm, healing him. Trent doesn’t understand how strong he is. It takes Angelo to show him. Best friends through thick and thin, their story is one of redemption and healing. Of kindness overcoming darkness. Of love strengthening the strong of heart.
The playlist inspired so much of the story: angsty and pained then finally openly loving.
Watch the playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWL10azyDhLSFKfxMVceWEwSWja-wDZcb
Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
Sam Smith – Stay With Me
Alessia Cara – Scars To Your Beautiful
Rita Ora – Let You Love Me
Tom Walker – Leave a Light On
Jessica Mauboy – Fallin
Amy Shark – Adore
Lukas Graham – Love Someone
Two songs on this playlist are really special and absolutely fit Trent and Angelo’s personalities. Shawn Mendes’ song is about his struggle with anxiety. His fame was overwhelming and isolating and not many people understand what it’s like to be him. He wanted an escape and found strength through his music. For Trent, his sexual assault caused him to withdraw. To run. He was overwhelmed and isolated. He didn’t think he had the strength to survive, but he did. He grew into a good man, one who struggled with his own image of self. And that’s when Angelo came in. He loved Trent unconditionally, and they healed together. Lukas Graham’s song is purely and simply about love, exactly how our boys feel about each other.
Meet the Author
Giveaway
Ann is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour. For a chance to win, enter via Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I LOVE reading about playlists that inspired the writing or was important for the story. It’s my two favorite things combined: books and music!! 🙂