A New Normal

By Carol Lynne

You never forget your first love, but what if your first love never forgot you...and orchestrated an unconventional reunion?

Less than a year after the death of his wife, musician Charlie Foster agreed to perform at a convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He thought getting away from New York for a few days would be good for him, but he didn't expect to see the first person he'd ever fallen in love with.

Jake Pierson gave his heart to Charlie when he was barely fifteen years old. As best friends, Jake believed he and Charlie would be together forever, but when Charlie took the easier path in life, Jake was left to deal with a future without the man he loved.

Jake knew tricking Charlie into performing at a conference he'd helped organise was low-handed, but he had a promise to keep and a future to build.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Dec 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781781841730

Carol Lynne

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. While writing her first novel, Branded by Gold, Carol fell in love with the M/M genre. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. With well over one hundred releases, one thing is certain, Carol loves to keep busy writing sexy cowboys, shifters, bodyguards, vampires and everything in between. Although series books are her passion, Carol enjoys penning the occasional stand-alone title. As founder and President of GRL Retreat, Inc., Carol helps organize the annual GayRomLit Retreat. Now in its sixth year, GayRomLit is an annual retreat that brings together the people who create and celebrate LGBT romance for a one-of-a-kind, must-attend gathering of dynamic, informal, and diverse fun.

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A Total-E-Bound Publication

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A New Normal

ISBN # 978-1-78184-173-0

©Copyright Carol Lynne 2012

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright November 2012

Edited by Sue Meadows

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2012 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-sizzling and a sexometer of 1.

This story contains 32 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 8 pages.

A NEW NORMAL

Carol Lynne

You never forget your first love, but what if your first love never forgot you…and orchestrated an unconventional reunion?

Less than a year after the death of his wife, musician Charlie Foster agreed to perform at a convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He thought getting away from New York for a few days would be good for him, but he didn’t expect to see the first person he’d ever fallen in love with.

Jake Pierson gave his heart to Charlie when he was barely fifteen years old. As best friends, Jake believed he and Charlie would be together forever, but when Charlie took the easier path in life, Jake was left to deal with a future without the man he loved.

Jake knew tricking Charlie into performing at a conference he’d helped organise was low-handed, but he had a promise to keep and a future to build.

Dedication

For Ethan, Theresa, Damon and J.P., thank you for making the hundreds of hours spent organizing GRL worth it. I love you all and couldn’t imagine working with a better group of people.

And for my dear friend William Neale. We miss you and always will.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Outlander: Diana Gabaldon

New York Mets: Sterling Mets, L.P.

Hard Rock Café Hotel and Casino: Hard Rock Café International, Inc.

Forget You: Cee Lo Green

Friends in Low Places: Garth Brooks

Suburban: General Motors

Chapter One

Charlie Foster loosened his tie as the plane took off. He hated flying almost as much as he hated being shoved into a seat made for a small child. Why didn’t airlines understand that grown men were also forced to fly on occasion?

With a sigh of resignation, he closed his eyes in an effort to escape pleasant banter with the older woman seated next to him. It had been a mistake to take the piano gig. What the hell had he been thinking? Travelling across the country less than a year after Jen’s death just to play at some convention was stupid, even if he was doing it as a favour to his manager.

He often wondered how different his life would’ve turned out if he hadn’t met Jen in college. It had been a confusing time, and falling in love with Jen had brought a sense of peace to his life—so much so he hadn’t regretted a moment of their time together.

Can I get you something to drink?

Charlie opened his eyes and stared up at the attendant. I’m fine, thanks. The conversation over, Charlie went back to feigning sleep, only to be nudged by the bony elbow of the woman

Reviews for A New Normal

[serenayates · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A New Normal is an interesting concept that carries a lot of appeal to anyone who has ever been frowned upon as not "fitting the mold", "being different", or plain not fitting in. In this story, "normal" is being straight, and one of the main characters needs to learn how to redefine his "normal" so that it fits the fact that he is gay.

Charlie has been running from the fact he is gay and in love with his best friend, Jake, ever since he fell in love with Jen in college, Yes, it wasn't as easy or quick as that, but you'll have to read the story to find out the details. The twist is connected to what and how that happened, but the result is that Charlie turns away from Jake. He is a musician, and playing music is his emotional outlet.

Jake has never forgotten Charlie, or stopped loving him. He has tried to contact him many times after Jen's death, but Charlie thinks he isn't ready. Jake pours his love into writing romance novels, but the moment he sees an opportunity to get Charlie to perform his music at a romance novel convention, he grabs it with both hands.

Charlie is angry. Jake reveals the truth, risking everything. But at least the two are talking again... If you like stories with a twist, if you enjoy characters who feel deeply for each other, yet lost touch, and if you're looking for a short read about a reunion, you may like this book.



NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review.