These were dangerous times for gay men, but what many folks don't realize is that during the 20s and 30s, the gay community was very much alive and thriving. In the 1920s, thanks largely in part to Prohibition, something called 'the Pansy Craze' swept through large cities like Manhattan, and the gay community was no longer as hidden as it had once been, with everyone from the Rockefellers to the Vanderbuilts attending some of the biggest drag balls around. These balls attracted folks by the thousands. Times Square had some of the biggest names in gay entertainment.
Sadly, with the end of Prohibition and the beginning of the Great Depression, the gay community was once again pushed back into the shadows, and new laws were passed, making the 1930s the start of even tougher times. Being a fan of pulp novels, I was always left heartbroken by the imminent demise of its tragic gay characters, which is why in my stories, my fellas always get their men, and their much deserved happily ever afters. Here's a little blurb and sneak peek from my latest novel, The Auspicious Troubles of Chance.
A highly respected commandant with a soft spot for hard luck cases, Jacky is the kind of guy who would go to war for you, and the three equally troubled youths from his unit he’s more or less adopted feel the same way about him. Suddenly Chance starts to think that his life doesn’t have to be as desolate and barren as the wastelands around him.
But even after their escape, with the promise of a future with Jacky to buoy his spirits, or maybe because of it, Chance can’t stop making mistakes. He disobeys orders, lashes out at the boys in Jacky’s care, and blazes a trail of self-destruction across the desert—until someone makes him realize he’s hurting more than just himself.
Excerpt:
The fella was serious about his privacy,
and with a stark-naked me sprawled
seductively on my stomach in the middle of his bed, he should be.
I quietly hummed to myself an old romantic ballad as I ate some dates from a little clay bowl and skimmed through the pages of June’s Motion Picture Magazine featuring Gloria Swanson on the cover. I had gotten in the habit of stealing Jacky’s newspapers so I could keep up with the latest motion pictures and Broadway productions. The papers didn’t quite make it back to him in the same pristine state I found them in, so he somehow managed to procure me my favorite magazine. The issues were usually about five months behind, but I didn’t gripe. Hey, I wasn’t that much of a jerk. I could only imagine the trouble he went through so I could read about the pomade Valentino used in his hair. June’s tagline read: “Should you marry your opposite?”
From the corner of my eye, I watched as Jacky slipped into the tent and came to an abrupt halt.
“Hello,” he said with a little hitch in his voice as he took a cautious step toward me, like I was some timid doe that might sprint off at any moment. I sure as hell wasn’t timid, and with my freshly plugged leg, I definitely wasn’t doing any sprinting.
“Hello.” I went back to eating my dates and reading my magazine, fully aware of his eyes caressing every curve, every inch of skin on my body. The temperature in the joint suddenly went up. I generally wasn’t in the habit of getting naked and displaying myself, but I had come to discover that making Jacky lose that oh-so-calm reserve was quickly becoming my favorite sport.
“You still mad at me?” He sat down on the bed beside me, already stripped down to his undershirt and shorts. You had to love the guy’s enthusiasm, but I wasn’t about to make it that easy for him.
I cast him a sideways glance. “Someone’s hopeful.”
“You’re naked and in my bed,” he murmured.
Boy, he had amazing legs. Powerful thighs, strong calves. I turned my attention back to my dates, giving one in particular a whole heap of attention as I licked and nibbled and sucked it. “I was hot and uncomfortable. You know, on account of getting shot.”
“I see. So… you are still mad at me.”
With a moan, I licked my fingers. “These are good.”
“Chance.”
My name was nothing but a low growl in his throat. I put the bowl to one side along with my magazine, and rolled back onto my side, propping myself on my elbow, and facing him in all my naked glory. Thank God I had been shot in my left leg. Though even if it had been the other leg, it would have been worth the pain just to see the look on his face. I had to summon up every acting skill I possessed not to laugh at the very serious pout going on while his eyes took in my somewhat aroused state. I didn’t need to look to know he was just as hard.
“This is because I wouldn’t give you any M, isn’t it?” He had the most wretched look on his face, like I had taken the most magnificent ice cream away from him after he had managed to have a taste. “You’re cruel.”
“Who was the one denying his lover a way to ease his pain?” I asked, slowly running my hand down my chest.
He swallowed hard, meaning all manner of naughty things were going through his mind. “It was for your own good. Besides, you wouldn’t have been shot if you had listened to me, obeyed orders like you said you would. Remember?” His gaze shifted to my face, and he had me there. Time to turn on the charm and make him forget all about that.
Available from Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | All Romance eBooks
♥ ♥ ♥
About Charlie: Charlie Cochet is a passionate author of M/M Historical Romance who loves to get lost in eras long gone, specifically the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties. From bootleggers to hardboiled detectives, speakeasies to swanky nightclubs, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!
Website: www.charliecochet.com
Blog: http://charliecochet.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/charliecochet
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/charliecochet
Twitter: @charliecochet
I quietly hummed to myself an old romantic ballad as I ate some dates from a little clay bowl and skimmed through the pages of June’s Motion Picture Magazine featuring Gloria Swanson on the cover. I had gotten in the habit of stealing Jacky’s newspapers so I could keep up with the latest motion pictures and Broadway productions. The papers didn’t quite make it back to him in the same pristine state I found them in, so he somehow managed to procure me my favorite magazine. The issues were usually about five months behind, but I didn’t gripe. Hey, I wasn’t that much of a jerk. I could only imagine the trouble he went through so I could read about the pomade Valentino used in his hair. June’s tagline read: “Should you marry your opposite?”
From the corner of my eye, I watched as Jacky slipped into the tent and came to an abrupt halt.
“Hello,” he said with a little hitch in his voice as he took a cautious step toward me, like I was some timid doe that might sprint off at any moment. I sure as hell wasn’t timid, and with my freshly plugged leg, I definitely wasn’t doing any sprinting.
“Hello.” I went back to eating my dates and reading my magazine, fully aware of his eyes caressing every curve, every inch of skin on my body. The temperature in the joint suddenly went up. I generally wasn’t in the habit of getting naked and displaying myself, but I had come to discover that making Jacky lose that oh-so-calm reserve was quickly becoming my favorite sport.
“You still mad at me?” He sat down on the bed beside me, already stripped down to his undershirt and shorts. You had to love the guy’s enthusiasm, but I wasn’t about to make it that easy for him.
I cast him a sideways glance. “Someone’s hopeful.”
“You’re naked and in my bed,” he murmured.
Boy, he had amazing legs. Powerful thighs, strong calves. I turned my attention back to my dates, giving one in particular a whole heap of attention as I licked and nibbled and sucked it. “I was hot and uncomfortable. You know, on account of getting shot.”
“I see. So… you are still mad at me.”
With a moan, I licked my fingers. “These are good.”
“Chance.”
My name was nothing but a low growl in his throat. I put the bowl to one side along with my magazine, and rolled back onto my side, propping myself on my elbow, and facing him in all my naked glory. Thank God I had been shot in my left leg. Though even if it had been the other leg, it would have been worth the pain just to see the look on his face. I had to summon up every acting skill I possessed not to laugh at the very serious pout going on while his eyes took in my somewhat aroused state. I didn’t need to look to know he was just as hard.
“This is because I wouldn’t give you any M, isn’t it?” He had the most wretched look on his face, like I had taken the most magnificent ice cream away from him after he had managed to have a taste. “You’re cruel.”
“Who was the one denying his lover a way to ease his pain?” I asked, slowly running my hand down my chest.
He swallowed hard, meaning all manner of naughty things were going through his mind. “It was for your own good. Besides, you wouldn’t have been shot if you had listened to me, obeyed orders like you said you would. Remember?” His gaze shifted to my face, and he had me there. Time to turn on the charm and make him forget all about that.
Available from Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | All Romance eBooks
♥ ♥ ♥
Website: www.charliecochet.com
Blog: http://charliecochet.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/charliecochet
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/charliecochet
Twitter: @charliecochet
Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog!
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