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How Came Upon a Midnight Clear is just like a HQN Presents
By Katie Porter
Well. Maybe not just like, but there’s some striking similarities.
Kyle from Came Upon a Midnight Clear is super sexy (naturally) and rich. Really rich. He might not be a billionaire, but that’s probably just because he’s relatively young. And just like some of the young ingénues in HQN Presents, Nate is doing his best to make his young company into everything he’s dreamed of. (Also like some of the Presents heroines, he’s a wee teensy bit inexplicably farther along than exactly makes sense, considering the cut-throat world of Hollywood. But of course he is. He needed to have a little bit more equal power to someone as impressive as Kyle.)
Kyle has also used his power as a man-about-the-world to bring Nate into his own sphere. He’s engineered Nate’s stuntman company into position to be used on the movie he’s producing. That’s such a tycoon sort of thing to do, moving people around like chess pieces for his own wants.
Between Nate and Kyle both, there’re old hurts that have completely colored their way of thinking. They’re not in Big Misunderstanding territory, I promise. But they’ve both made major mistakes and they’re carrying around the scars from those. Totally Presents like!
And then there’s the way that Kyle likes actually spending the money he has. Gotta love a man who’s not afraid of using what he’s got:
Kyle nodded before returning to the nearest case, which contained nothing but opaque stones—malachite, lapis, carnelian, tiger’s-eye. And opals. He waved a short, dark-haired jeweler over and requested one particular piece.
“A lovely choice, sir,” the man said.
Kyle held the bracelet beneath a high-intensity table lamp. The gorgeous creation was gold, with twelve fire opal cabochons stations. Each flawless, nearly translucent stone looked like sunset over the red soil of the Outback, but with flashes of blue and green. He didn’t blink at the price tag. Steph would love it. She didn’t have anything like it in her collection.
“Yes, this is perfect.”
***
The brass-handled front door of the jewelry store pushed open, revealing Kyle—gorgeous, smiling like a cat with a canary under its paw, and dressed in a suit that made him look like a prince among men.
Enough to make Nate’s chest light up with warmth.
Kyle wrapped an arm around Nate’s waist and kissed him while the world stilled and the snow dusted them. Like a goddamned Gene Kelly movie.
He pulled his mouth away from Kyle’s temptation. “What did you find that has you so pleased?”
“The perfect present for Steph.”
“How much did you spend on her?” The question didn’t have the same sting it might’ve once had.
Kyle’s mouth quirked. “You sure you want me to answer that?”
“Sure, why not.” With their arms linked together, they started to walk.
“Five thousand.”
Nate only shook his head, chuckling as they went, because the other option was to cringe at further proof that leaving the next day was a damn good thing. “You said a bonus thing. Didn’t you already get her something extravagant?”
Kyle shrugged. “I did. I’m sending her to Bora Bora. Maybe she’ll hook up with a surfer.”
Don’t you just love a guy who throws around cash? For the record, Steph is his business partner. You should see what he buys for Nate. Of course, like every good Harlequin Presents heroine, Nate has every legitimate reason to get pissed about the overly expensive present Kyle gets him. It almost breaks them. Except they’re meant to be together, just like the best Presents heroines are the only woman in the world who can melt their tycoons.
(And by the way, that’s an exclusive excerpt, never seen anywhere else.)
Thanks again to Under the Covers for featuring Katie Porter and Came Upon a Midnight Clear!
Lights, lovers…action! Born to old Virginia money, film producer Kyle Wakefield’s conservative upbringing kept him in the closet. Only once did he venture outside: for a tempestuous teenage affair with Nathan Carnes. When Nathan’s self-destructive streak landed him in prison, Kyle slammed the door on youthful hopes. Despite Hollywood successes, he still hides his true self.He thought he’d moved on, until his production company hires Nathan and his Second Chances stunt crew to work on the London set of a big-budget action flick. Watching Nathan risk life and limb with fellow ex-cons looking for a fresh start makes it tough for Kyle to keep his desires hidden.Thirteen years have passed since Nathan’s teenage self-doubt led him to sabotage any chance of a future with Kyle. He’s come a long way since then, but despite their explosive sexual chemistry, Kyle treats their attraction like a deep dark secret.Their matched Hollywood ambitions and a pain-in-the-ass director make cooperation essential. As the London holiday season casts its spell, the two men find themselves on the verge of falling in love again—even as old secrets and pain keep them shackled. The only hope of unlocking their hearts is a Christmas miracle.Warning: This book features a snowy London Christmas, sex on a pool table, a hot-and-dirty gay nightclub, and naughty references to candy canes.
For more about Katie Porter, the co-writing team of Carrie Lofty and Lorelie Brown:
Don’t forget about our “Amazing Race to a Kindle” contest, which is going on now. Review Double Down on Amazon for your chance to win a gift certificate or even a Kindle Fire!
In January, Lead and Follow will launch the five-part “Club Devant” series of erotic romances set in a glitzy New York City burlesque club. RT BookReviews gave Lead and Follow 4 Stars and raved, “Fans of erotica will be left breathless as they cha-cha straight into a cold shower.”
Where to find us:
http://KatiePorterBooks.com
Twitter: @MsKatiePorter
Or individually: @carrielofty and @LorelieBrown
We’d like to give away a copy of CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR in any digital format. Just answer the question: What is your favorite holiday treat?
FUDGE!! If its not CHOCOLATE – WHY bother? is my motto
I have a tshirt – give me chocolate or give me death!! 🙂
My favorite holiday treat are my mom’s Scandinavian Almond Bars…yummy! Oh and Lemon Pound cake too….yum!
My favorite treat is Peppermint White Chocolate bark. Yum!
My favorite holiday treat is anything with chocolate. Although, when I was little, my mother would make these delish peanut butter chocolate balls –they remind me so much of home.
Great post. I’ve already had this book mared as a TBB–after Francesca’s rec!
My favorite is Cranberry Cheesecake bars.
Frosted sugar cookies from a bakery in the town I live in. We love them.
Chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. Maybe even some chocolate covered chocolate!
I don’t know if you have it in America but my favourite Christmas treat is White Christmas,
My favorite holiday treat is fudge and homemade carrot cake. Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
I love Christmas cookies!!!
Homemade pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting.
My favorite Christmas treat is the coconut clusters/puffs that my mom makes for Christmas.
I do love plum pudding & custard.
Favorite holiday treat is homemade fudge…I made my first batch last year and loved it. Cornflake candy is next.