Title: Beastly Businessmen and Guitar Gods
Author: Asta Idonea
Genre: Gay Romance, Contemporary Romance
Length: Short Story Collection (novel length)
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing
Synopsis
Fairytales and Myths for the Modern GayThe modern age is devoid of magic.
Or is it?
How else could a stolen guitar or a lost shoe lead to love?
What but magic could spark romance at a workplace assessment?
Or turn a mean-spirited monster into a man?
Six fairytales and myths are given a contemporary MM twist in this collection of stories, proving that sometimes the mundane can be magical too.
DRAGGED INTO LOVE (Þrymskviða)
When Theo’s landlord steals a prized guitar in lieu of rent owed, he informs Theo he will return the instrument on one condition: he wants a date with Theo’s twin sister.
LOVE’S CODE (Ariadne and Theseus)
Andre must pass the examination if he wants to keep his job.
However, he is distracted by his unspoken love for fellow programmer, Eren.
GUESSING GAMES (Rumplestiltskin)
Sasha told a little white lie in his job interview and it won him the role.
Only now he is faced with a pile of work he doesn’t know how to complete.
ASSIGNATIONS AND ULTIMATUMS (The Strange Elopement of Tinirau)
Hunter and Ross are in love, but Ross’ father keeps trying to set him up with undesirable, yet powerful, older men, the latest of whom happens to be Ross’ boss.
Cillian is dreading the work masquerade ball, but once there he finds himself romanced by a dashing stranger, only to flee when he discovers the man’s identity.
A DEBT IS A DEBT (Beauty and the Beast)
Dunstan Griffin is not a man to let a debt slide, so when debtor Alfred Siskin offers the EA services of his son, Wynn, in lieu of payment, Dunstan accepts.
Excerpt
—Lost and Found
“There’s an office party at the weekend.”
Trisha spun around to give whatever was in the saucepan another stir. “That hardly seems like the end of the world. Free food and drink?”
“Yeah, all night. But everyone’s gonna to be there, Trish. Country wide. You know how I feel about socialising in big crowds. Besides, to make it worse, it’s bloody fancy dress. A masquerade.”
“So don’t go. Come down to the theatre if you like. You can sit with me in wardrobe and listen to the opera. Mozart this weekend. Your favourite.”
“Wish I could, but it’s like compulsory or something, and I don’t want a black mark against my name, not with the biannual performance review looming.”
Trisha switched off the gas and carried the saucepan to the sink. She proceeded to ladle the contents into two deep pasta bowls while Cillian opened the cutlery drawer to find them some forks. “That does suck a bit. I guess this is the part where you tell me you need a costume, hmm?”
“Could you, Trish? I’ll love you forever.”
“I thought you already loved me forever for fixing the hems on your trousers the other day.” She picked up the bowls, carried them to the table, and settled down in one of the wooden dining chairs, accepting a fork from Cillian. “Don’t worry though, I’ve got you covered. Ooh, am I going to get you into a dress at last?”
“No dresses, no way!” Cillian put on his best expression of horror, though it quickly descended into a laugh as he sank into his seat and set about eating.
“Shame. You have such gorgeous legs. What do you want then?”
Cillian finished chewing a mouthful of pasta as he considered. “I don’t know. Nothing too flashy. The invite was silver, black, and gold. I just want to blend into the background without making an arse of myself.”
“Black and gold? I can work with that. What about a ballet th—”
“No tights!”
Trisha laughed. “Spoil sport. I wasn’t going to say tights anyway. I was thinking along the lines of fitted black trousers with some gold trim, a loose white undershirt, and a black and gold jacket. Then we could make you a matching mask, one that just covers the eyes so you won’t feel too suffocated. What do you reckon?”
Cillian let out a puff of air he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. “Thanks, Trish. You’re the best. Just let me know how much I owe you for material and such.”
“Don’t worry about that. I have plenty of odds and ends around the place. You can even get dressed at the theatre so you don’t have as far to travel in the costume.” She forked a couple more pasta spirals and grinned at him. “You know what? I’m practically your fairy godmother.” She waved her fork in the air like a wand. “Cillian Ellison, you shall go to the ball!”
Book Trailer
Buy Links
Don’t miss the March Sale! All Wayward Ink Titles titles are 35% off on the WIP website, 30% off on AllRomance, and 30% off on Amazon.WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/beastly-businessmen-and-guitar-gods-by-asta-idonea/
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CUNOSB6/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CUNOSB6/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01CUNOSB6/
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B01CUNOSB6/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-beastlybusinessmenandguitargods-1997418-149.html
Audio Excerpt
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review.***
This was a fascinating collection of short stories all based in legends and fairytales with a modern twist. Each of the stories is interconnected in some way in the small universe of DunGriffinCorp.
DRAGGED INTO LOVE (Þrymskviða)
Theo's landlord takes Theo's guitar since he's late on the rent, and when Theo confronts him he tells him he'll return the guitar on the condition that Theo's twin sister has dinner with him.
This was a fun story. At first I wasn't too sure where it was going, but the 'date' twist was pretty neat and the only thing I would've liked more was to see more of Graham and Theo.
LOVE’S CODE (Ariadne and Theseus)
Andre has to pass the 6-month exam if he wants to keep his job at the IT department at DunGriffinCorp, although he has more than one reason to want to remain there, as he's in love with his co-worker, Eren, even if he's never spoken with him. But that may be about to change!
This was a sweet story. I really enjoyed the test as a whole and how the author integrated the myth into it. Andre and Eren were amazing together, too.
GUESSING GAMES (Rumplestiltskin)
Sasha didn't think telling a white lie in his job interview would blow up in his face, but when on his first day he's informed that he was solely hired because of that, he's beyond stressed. When a mysterious young man offers to help him out with it, he jumps at the offer. But is he prepared to pay the price "Jack" will ask him to pay?
I adored this take on Rumplestiltskin! It was one of my favorites. Sasha and the mysterious Jack were awesome and it was a nice way to give a modern twist to this fairytale.
ASSIGNATIONS AND ULTIMATUMS (The Strange Elopement of Tinirau)
Ross is in love with Hunter, but while his parents know he's gay, he's not had the courage to tell them of his lover. When his father makes another attempt at setting him up, and the man turns out to be Ross's boss, he finally stands up to his father, with some dire consequences.
I really enjoyed this little story, it was very intriguing and had some pretty neat twists!
LOST AND FOUND (Cinderella)
Cillian is happy being nearly invisible at his work place, and he's not too excited over the upcoming mandatory Masquerade he'd have to go to. Once there, he finds a dashing knight that dances the night away with him. When Cillian discovers who the man is, he escapes from the ball.
Mark never imagined he would find the man of his dreams at the Masquerade and sets upon finding him, even if it might mean he risks losing his job.
Very enjoyable, with many surprises along the way!
A DEBT IS A DEBT (Beauty and the Beast)
I love Beauty and the Beast, and while this was a bit of a condensed version, it was a really good one.
All in all, the stories were very well-written and while some felt more complete than others, they were all very enjoyable!
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
Giveaway
Prizes: 2 x $6.99 WIP Gift Carda Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author
NICKI J. MARKUS was born in England in 1982, but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.Nicki launched her writing career in 2011. She published works through Wicked Nights Publishing and Silver Publishing before both companies closed their doors. She is now self-publishing some of her works, including the novella Time Keepers and the fantasy novel The Ragnarök Chronicles.
Nicki also writes M/M fiction under the alternate pen name of ASTA IDONEA and has had several short stories published by Wayward Ink Publishing. She is currently working on her first M/M novella.
Nicki works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys: music, theatre, cinema, photography, sketching, and cross stitch. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling, and travel.
Social links:
Website: http://www.nickijmarkus.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickiJMarkus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NickiJMarkus
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