Sue Brownย released aย new book on 4th February. I have been lucky enough to be provided with a great excerpt as part of her blog tour. Make sure you check out the excerpt, details of the book, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway.
The Next Call
by SUE BROWN
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
COVER ARTIST: Christy Caughie
Blurb
Mark Grayson volunteers for an LGBT helpline, the same one that helped him through his teenage years. One day he takes a call from โRicky,โ a suicidal man being forced into a marriage he doesn’t want. For weeks Mark talks to Ricky and provides support, but heโs frustrated by the lack of information Ricky provides and the decisions heโs making. In the meantime, Mark starts a relationship with another volunteer. Then tragedy strikes and Mark takes time away from the helpline, but when he comes back, Ricky is waiting. Mark realizes Ricky is stronger than before and their relationship changes, but Mark isnโt sure what their future holds if their relationship is destined to be at the end of the phone.
Excerpt
May 2009ย
โNOT TODAY, please not today. I havenโt got time.โ It wasnโt true. Mark Grayson had all the time in the world today as he had a day off from his IT job, but some days he just didnโt want to take on the worldโs problems. Today heโd promised himself a drive in the countryside and a pint at a pub.
There was no reason for the man to attract Markโs attention. It wasnโt unusual to see people staring over the valley, and the view was spectacularโrolling, verdant hills in the foreground bisected by a long, rambling river. The road went over the river and then followed its path on the other side before it reached the next village.
Mark lived on the outskirts of Greater London, but he worked forty miles from home and preferred traveling by the country roads rather than sitting in endless traffic jams on the M25. He used the bridge on his way to work and bypassed tourists nearly every day, sometimes almost knocking over oblivious ones as they stepped back to take photos.
As Mark drove past, the man was standing stock-still, but he wasnโt looking at the view. He had his hood pulled up, so Mark couldnโt see his face, but the man had leaned forward and peered down at the forty-foot drop to the river and jagged rocks below, and that alone made the hairs stand up on the back of Markโs neck. The temptation just to drive by was strong, to avoid making it his problem, but Mark was never one to pass on the other side. He sighed and parked his car close to the barrier, considerate enough to allow other cars to pass by. He walked back to where the man stood, not wanting to startle him and force him into a hasty decision.
The man didnโt glance up, didnโt acknowledge Markโs existence until they were five feet apart. โGo away.โ His voice was raw and strained. He wasnโt orderingโhe was begging.
Mark stayed where he was, but he didnโt retreat. The instinct that had made him stop the car was screaming at him even louder this close to the man. He recognized the slump of the guyโs shoulders, the set resolve in his voice. He sounded so young. Twenty? Twenty-one? Too young to be standing there.
โI donโt think I can do that,โ Mark said softly.
โItโs not your business.โ
โThatโs where youโre wrong. Itโs very much my business.โ
โJust drive on and forget you ever saw me.โ The man drew in a shaky breath. โIn a few minutes, it wonโt matter anyway.โ
โHow long have you been standing there?โ Mark asked.
โAn hour.โ
โThatโs a long time to be making a decision.โ
โI made it a long time ago.โ
Mark shook his head. โI hate to disagree with you, friend, but if youโd really made it, you would have jumped by now.โ
โYou donโt know that.โ
โYes, I do.โ
The man turned to look at Mark for the first time, but the hood and large sunglasses obscured his face. โIโm going to do it. Itโs the only choice I have.โ
Mark didnโt bother to argue or tell him he always had options. When you were that far down the road, you really didnโt care. โWhat is your name?โ
โRichard. My name is Richard.โ
He still cared enough to have an identity. That was a good sign. Some of the people he dealt with had lost everything, including their souls.
โRichard, Iโm not going to stop you jumping.โ
โYouโre not?โ
Mark shook his head. โIโll stay so I can call the emergency services. Itโs not fair that some poor soul has to find whatโs left of you.โ
โDo you think theyโll find me? Wonโt I be washed out to sea?โ
โNot this far up.โ Mark smiled a little. โLet me take care of you.โ
Buy Links
Dreamspinner Press
Giveaway
Because two of her book tours (for The Next Call and Stolen Dreams) are going to run simultaneously, we have decided we would have a common giveaway for both the tours! It makes for an awesome giveaway as youโll see ๐
There will be FIVE winners chosen from this contest:
- First Winner will get a $20 Amazon Gift Card.
- Second Winner will get a paperback copy of Stolen Dreams. (The contest is open for everyone and not limited to a specific region!)
- First Runner up will get e-copies of The Next Call and Stolen Dreams
- Two Second Runners up will win an e-copy of either The Next Call or Stolen Dreams.
Contest runs from 26th January, 2015 toย 28th February, 2015
ย Click here or the image to enter the Rafflecopter
About the Author
Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two children. When she isn’t following their orders, she can be found plotting at her laptop. In fact she hides so she can plot and has gotten expert at ignoring the orders.
Sue discovered M/M erotica at the time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. The series was boring; the kissing was not. She may be late to the party, but she’s made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture out into the world of original fiction.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: http://www.suebrownstories.com/
Blog: http://suebrownsstories.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/suebrownstories
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/suebrownstories
TOUR ORGANIZER:
CREATIVE MINDS PROMOTIONS
https://creativemindpromotions.wordpress.com/
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