Nicolas by Dianne Hartsock #Erotic #Romance (M/M)

 

Dianne will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Betrayed by a lover, Jamie rents an isolated cabin on Lake Huron, wanting only to be left alone. Instead, he is pulled from his solitary existence as an artist and tumbles headlong into the legend of Saint Nicolas.

As a young man, Nicolas accidentally killed a man intent on murdering three children, only to have the man’s malicious spirit rise up against him. Fleeing through the centuries from the Krampus, the evil troll-like creature that dogs his steps, Nico finds refuge with the young artist who takes him into his home and bed. But Jamie has questions. Who is Nicolas, and why does the Krampus want to destroy him?

When the Krampus begins to torment and torture anyone Nico comes in contact with to punish him, Jamie’s life is put in danger. And Jamie isn’t sure whether he can help Nico defeat his nemesis or if he’s merely a pawn in the Krampus’s game.

EXCERPT

Nico looked at the deserted bungalow as snow swirled violently around him. “I’m coming,” he warned. Not waiting for the others, he strode to the front of the house. Mounting the porch steps, he wondered in a small recess of his mind what horrors Piter would have waiting for him. The rest of his thoughts he sealed off. He couldn’t allow Krampus inside his head if he hoped to save the boy.

He turned the handle and the door opened into a shadowy living room, lit only by the dim sunlight creeping through the snow-caked windows. A small gasp escaped him when the Christmas tree in the corner suddenly flashed on, colored lights reflecting on the tinsel and bright ornaments. An ache touched his heart before he could control it, his shyness and insecurity after his parents’ death flooding through him. His uncle had been kind, but distant, and his childhood had been lonely.

He had found comfort in the rigors and rituals of his faith, and even now attained solace in prayer. But his strong devotion had kept him isolated, and it wasn’t until adulthood that he would go out into the village. He quickly became aware of the poverty of his people and did what he could to help: food and care, a coin now and then where needed.

His village had taken him as their spiritual leader and he’d been happy in that simple life. Before the wondrous, terrible day when he had saved those young boys from a butcher. The day his long torment had begun.

Nico rolled his shoulders, the burden he carried heavy today. He hadn’t meant to kill the butcher. He would never willingly have taken another’s life. But he had killed and deserved his fate. But the children the Krampus terrorized didn’t. Tears burned his eyes for those young souls. He had to end this.

“Piter, I’m here, where you wanted me.” Nico cleared the hesitation from his voice. He had to hurry before the others came inside, saying more firmly, “Let the boy free and I’ll do anything you ask of me.”

“Seems I’ve heard that before, Nico.”

Nico’s sharp gaze searched the room. Andy wasn’t present, but his eyes landed on Piter where he leaned against the doorframe leading to another part of the house. Piter watched him, his wide lips lifting into a leer. “Come here, baby. Stand next to the tree.”

Nico curled his hand into a fist but complied, wondering how far Piter would take this. The creature could be exquisitely cruel, burrowing until he found Nico’s deepest insecurities and brought them to daylight. He tried to keep his mind blank, but a noise at the door sent his pulse leaping and Jamie’s precious image sprang to the forefront of his thoughts. Piter’s amused laughter turned to a growl.

He approached Nico, touched his face, his green eyes gleaming with hate and lust. “I see young Jamie has taken my place in your dreams,” he purred, lowering the zipper on Nico’s coat. “No matter. I know what you need.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, m/m romance, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diannehartsock

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4707011-dianne-hartsock

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dianne-Hartsock/e/B005106SYQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1361897239&sr=8-1

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dianne-Hartsock-Author-107985445959828/

NICOLAS buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nicolas-Dianne-Hartsock/dp/163476188X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473111182&sr=8-1&keywords=dianne+hartsock

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nicolas-dianne-hartsock/1123118053?ean=9781634761888

ARe Books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nicolas-1937566-143.html

Dreamspinner: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/nicolas-by-dianne-hartsock-3760-b

 
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