Tag Archives: degrees of separation

Atonement (#Dos Part Three) by Allyson Young and Lydia Michaels

AtonementThrough passion and betrayal, forfeit and loss, Austin, Ember and Cord are finally ready to face reality and atone for their sins in the conclusion of this emotionally charged, erotic trilogy, Degrees of Separation…

Beaten but not defeated, Austin faces his demons, encouraged by the return of his wife, December, and his best friend Cord’s constant presence. While accepting December’s feelings for Cord, Austin discovers some unprecedented emotions of his own… Pandora’s Box doesn’t close as easily as it opens.

Cord has kept a lifelong secret. But as his non-traditional love for Austin is exposed, he’s unprepared to trust his friends’ affection. Released from a self-imposed, emotional prison, he’s rewarded with both the man and woman of his dreams—yet he still harbors reservations.

December attempts to find a balance in her departure from conventional life and discovers new degrees of happiness intimacy in the non-traditional. With two men to love, her every need is met. But is she woman enough to satisfy their demanding hearts?

WARNING: This book contains subject matter suitable for mature reading audiences. Some content may be offensive to sensitive readers. Degrees of Separation is a MMF ménage trilogy with many emotionally graphic encounters and challenging situations that break the rules of traditional romance.

*****

Excerpt:

Cord shoved up from the bed and faced him. “Is it out of your system?”

“Is what out of my system?”

“Whatever you felt last night—and this morning.”

His mind halted at the fork in the road. Go right and everything went away, no therapy needed, no repeat performance. Turn left and… This time his mouth cooperated and the truth emerged. “No, it’s not out of my system.”

Cord drew back, surprise and something else written on his face. “Really?”

He dropped his gaze, unable to match Cord’s steady stare.

Although he commanded his household and ran several crews on the job, he couldn’t seem to out-master Cord when it came to this. This new dynamic between them he’d yet to name.

It wasn’t a simple step down from the top either. Every time he deferred to Cord it scraped and bruised, though maybe not as much as he might have thought. Sort of like a new pair of boots, uncomfortable at first, but with the promise of more support later.

Though he was still processing, he could at least confess he wasn’t giving up. “Really.”

His heart jogged into a gallop as Cord stepped closer, the soft press of his rough fingers on Austin’s chin made him flinch.

“Easy…”

Austin breathed through his nose as Cord leaned closer. How was he so natural about this? He held his breath as warm lips traced the stubble of his jaw. And damn his dick for firming up the second he breathed Cord in.

The heat of his friend’s body warmed him, his mind cataloguing every nuance. The wiry feel of another man’s chest hair. The sheer breadth and height of him. His earthy scent, so unlike Ember’s. His pure masculinity was suddenly alluring, when a day ago it was merely admirable.

Fuck.

His neck stiffened as Cord’s hand fit around his nape.

“It’s okay,” Cord whispered, leaning closer.

At the first brush of his lips, Austin panicked and made to jerk away but Cord’s steady gaze and strong grip calmed his instinct to flee. The heated press of his firm kiss slipped past his guard and Austin’s eyes drifted shut.

A dark, throbbing need took hold as he wrestled to deny how right it felt to taste another man. Not just any man. Cord.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

*****

Lydia Michaels

Lydia Michaels is the award winning author of 30 romance novels. Her novels from the darkly compelling Surrender Trilogy were iBooks Bestsellers and her work has been featured in USA Today. In 2015 she was the winner of The Best of Bucks Award and she has been nominated as Best Author in the Happenings Magazine two years running [2015 & 2016]. She is a four time nominee for the prestigious RONE Award. Her books are intellectual, emotional, haunting, always centered around love.

Allyson Young

Allyson lives in cottage country, Manitoba, Canada with her husband of many years and numerous pets. She has written for many years and after reading an erotic romance, quite by mistake, decided to try her hand at penning one. A best selling Amazon author, she has now published three series and several stand alones in contemporary, sci fi, fantasy and suspense genres, as well as several novels under a different pen name. Allyson will write until whatever is inside is satisfied, until the heroes man up and the heroines get what they deserves. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson favours the darker side of romance.

www.LydiaMichaelsBooks.com 

www.AllysonYoung.com

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Lost Together (#DOS Part Two) by Lydia Michaels and Allyson Young (@Lydia_Michaels @AllysonYoung45)

Lost TogetherThe second novel in the emotionally compelling trilogy, Degrees of Separation—three lost souls determined to find balance again…

December has vanished. Rejected by her troubled husband, Austin, and pushed, at his insistence, into the arms of his best friend, Cord, she’s uncertain what the future holds. She loves her husband, regardless of his addiction, but she also loves his best friend. At odds with everything she believed to be her traditional reality, she flees the only home she’s ever known.

Heartbroken, Cord does the right thing and confronts his reluctant betrayal of Austin after losing the woman they both love. He takes charge, dragging Austin back from the edge of oblivion, only to find himself plunged deeper into a life of heartache.

On a path to redemption, Austin must not only confront personal truths, but consider the sacrifices necessary to save his marriage and his friendship with Cord.

An unexpected reunion and exposed secrets will either derail or establish their future as one.

WARNING: This book contains subject matter suitable for mature reading audiences. Some content may be offensive to sensitive readers. Degrees of Separation is a MMF ménage trilogy with many emotionally graphic encounters and challenging situations that break the rules of traditional romance.

*****

Excerpt:

The second she was gone the asshole in the room spoke up. “You’re wasting your time fighting it.”

His fork clattered to his plate. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Stop shoving me at your wife!”

Austin stared past Cord, his face filling with concern.

Shit. Ember stood in the doorway, eyes wide, frozen in place, clutching a white frosted cake heaped with strawberries.

Goddamn Austin and his stupid ideas. “Ember—”

“I…I forgot the knife.” She quickly placed the dishes on the table, her steps faltering, and fled to the kitchen.

“Great,” Cord snapped, bunching up his napkin and tossing it on the table. “Enjoy your fucking cake. I’m out of here.”

Austin opened his big mouth, but Cord was done talking to him. Reasoning with Austin was like trying to discuss physics with a chimp. “Shut it, Austin.”

He detoured to the kitchen, unable to take his rage out on her. “Ember, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay.” Her fingers twisted into a dishcloth and then she dashed away a tear.

Fuck. Tears. Not tears! His concern shifted into panic. “It’s not okay. I don’t know what Austin told you—”

“I know what he’s up to. I told him not to do this.”

She fucking knew her husband was messing with him? It didn’t make any sense. “Why is he doing this?”

Now she shrugged. “He’s Austin. Once he gets something in his head…”

Cord rubbed his palm over his face and squeezed. “What does he expect to gain from this? He’s just making an uncomfortable situation worse.”

“He’s trying to fix it. He doesn’t understand, because he wasn’t there. He thinks if we put everything out in the open the guilt will go away. He thinks it’s best to deal with it.”

“Deal with it how?” He wasn’t a fucking puppet Austin could place in whatever position he wanted.

“I don’t know. I barely understand what I’m feeling right now. I can’t pretend to understand what he’s going through. Or you, for that matter.”

All thoughts of her husband vanished as he focused on the ‘f’ word, for his sins. “What are you feeling?”

Her face tightened and her hand pressed into her chest, her eyes betraying her show of bravado. “Here. It hurts. I don’t know how to make it stop, Cord.”

“Hurts how?” He took a slow step closer, keeping his voice low.

Eyes pleading, she looked up at him, her mouth tight with worry. “When I’m near you, my heart beats so fast I’m afraid it’ll explode. But I know I can’t… I can’t express what’s inside of me. Then this unbearable ache takes hold. It just…hurts.”

Buy Links:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lost-together/id1199632693?mt=11

https://www.amazon.com//dp/B01N37N5Z4

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/lost-together-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-together-lydia-michaels/1125546032?ean=2940154198889

*****

Author Bios:

Lydia Michaels

Lydia Michaels is the award winning author of 30 romance novels. Her novels from the darkly compelling Surrender Trilogy were iBooks Bestsellers and her work has been featured in USA Today. In 2015 she was the winner of The Best of Bucks Award and she has been nominated as Best Author in the Happenings Magazine two years running [2015 & 2016]. She is a four time nominee for the prestigious RONE Award. Her books are intellectual, emotional, haunting, always centered around love.

Allyson Young

Allyson lives in cottage country, Manitoba, Canada with her husband of many years and numerous pets. She has written for many years and after reading an erotic romance, quite by mistake, decided to try her hand at penning one. A bestselling Amazon author, she has now published three series and several stand alones in contemporary, sci fi, fantasy and suspense genres. Allyson will write until whatever is inside is satisfied, until the heroes man up and the heroines get what they deserves. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson favours the darker side of romance.

www.LydiaMichaelsBooks.com 

www.AllysonYoung.com

Sign Up for Lydia Michaels Newsletter

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https://www.facebook.com/LydiaMichaels

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@Lydia_Michaels

@AllysonYoung45

Forfeit by Lydia Michaels and Allyson Young (@Lydia_Michaels @AllysonYoung45)

(#DOS Part One)

The debut novel of a masterfully emotional, high stakes trilogy that will have readers forfeiting tradition to gamble with love…

December and Austin have a traditional, storybook marriage complete with defined roles. Married young, they’ve shared nearly a decade of passion and love. December’s submissive nature is perfectly suited for her husband’s authoritative, yet adoring response and he seamlessly holds the indisputable role as head of the household.

But Austin harbors secrets, and the pressure of losing his job makes those festering skeletons impossible to ignore. Turning to alcohol instead of his wife, Austin finally drives December away and into the arms of their closest friend, Cord, despite her intense loyalty.

Cord has loved December since the day they met. His moral compass is challenged and lines are blurred when Austin steps aside and insists Cord take his place.

Forfeiting all, Austin must face a harsh truth. Take control of his life, or forever lose the woman he loves.

WARNING: This book contains subject matter suitable for mature reading audiences. Some content may be offensive to sensitive readers. Degrees of Separation is a ménage trilogy with many emotionally graphic encounters and challenging situations that break the rules of traditional romance.

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

iBooks

Kobo

*****

EXCERPT:

It was like he no longer saw her, just looked right through her, when she used to be all he could see in the whole world. No matter what she did, he stayed away—alone—wandering through the house at night and sleeping all day. She had pride too, and he’d been chipping away at it, scarring her with deep tattoos of doubt.

Something happened to a woman when her husband no longer touched her. First there were the superficial frustrations of unrequited desire, but then it became something worse. The insecurity, fear, and uncertainty ate away at her insides.

Her self-esteem fractured, perhaps beyond repair. Tiny little shards of self-worth were all she had left. Even if he came to her now, begging and full of apologies, she feared someone might get cut.

This rut seemed to get deeper and darker every day. She was losing sight of the light and worried she’d never see herself out. She needed to feel alive, feel something. She needed to reclaim control and pull herself back to her feet, which was why this job with Cord was imperative.

*****

AUTHOR BIOS:

Lydia Michaels

Lydia Michaels is the award winning author of 30 romance novels. Her novels from the darkly compelling Surrender Trilogy were iBooks Bestsellers and her work has been featured in USA Today. In 2015 she was the winner of The Best of Bucks Award and she has been nominated as Best Author in the Happenings Magazine two years running [2015 & 2016]. She is a four time nominee for the prestigious RONE Award. Her books are intellectual, emotional, haunting, always centered around love.

Allyson Young

Allyson lives in cottage country, Manitoba, Canada with her husband of many years and numerous pets. She has written for many years and after reading an erotic romance, quite by mistake, decided to try her hand at penning one. A best selling Amazon author, she has now published three series and several stand alones in contemporary, sci fi, fantasy and suspense genres, as well as several novels under a different pen name. Allyson will write until whatever is inside is satisfied, until the heroes man up and the heroines get what they deserves. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson favours the darker side of romance.

www.LydiaMichaelsBooks.com 

www.AllysonYoung.com

Sign Up for Lydia Michaels Newsletter

www.LydiaMichaelsBooks.com/newsletter/

Social Links:

https://www.facebook.com/LydiaMichaels

http://www.facebook.com/Allyson.Young.54

@Lydia_Michaels

@AllysonYoung45