Premiere is the first-ever anthology to be released by Romance Writers of America and edited by New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day. Today I’m featuring Flying in the Face of Convention by Lex Valentine.

Flying in the Face of Convention 

Flying in the Face of Convention is a gay romance, a friends to lovers tale of two men who were secretly each other’s’ crushes in college. I wrote this story to show that the same themes used in conventional romance books could be used in a gay romance. With romance, it’s not really about gender but about emotion, about love. This is a story of two ordinary men who most people wouldn’t recognize as being gay. There’s no flamboyance. No caricatures of what a gay man is supposed to be. Just two masculine guys, both in law enforcement, both former football players who have very deep feelings for one another that they’ve never gotten over.

Set in Seattle, where two of my siblings live, I was inspired to write this story because of my high school sweetheart who married his long-time partner this year. Looking at them, they’re just two ordinary guys and all the preconceptions and misconceptions people have about gay men just fly out the window when you look at them because what you see isn’t two gay men, but two people in love.

EXCERPT:

“Fly in the face of convention, Trey.”

Jordan’s low growl filled Trey’s ears, causing him to shiver and vibrate like a tuning fork. The scent of the other man filled his nostrils, and the rough silk of his skin heated Trey’s palms where they rested against Jordan’s ribs.

“I know we haven’t seen each other in years, but in my heart, I’ve always wanted you, always had very deep feelings for you. You were the one dream I could never give up. Being a cop was a dream I could’ve given up. I could’ve done something else and probably been content, but I couldn’t give you up. It’s why I moved back here.”

Stunned once more by the man beneath him, Trey raised his head, and their gazes met. Jordan’s expression held a gravity Trey couldn’t ignore.

“It’s true. Casey told Alex you’d moved back. Alex called me, and I started hunting for a job here the moment I hung up the phone. It took months, but they finally offered me a job at Seat­tle PD as part of the SWAT Team. I haven’t even checked in yet. They’re expecting me on Monday.”

Jordan touched Trey’s cheek with the back of one hand, and Trey leaned into it, unable to deny his feelings for the man whose touch lit a fire in him like none he’d ever experienced.

“What do you mean about flying in the face of convention?” he asked, noticing how breathless and excited he sounded despite trying his damnedest to be cool and in control.

“Let go. Of your inhibitions, your caution, your skepticism.”

Jordan’s soft words, accompanied by the fiercely passionate expression in his eyes, held Trey riveted.

“Just believe, Trey. Believe that I want you. Believe that your feelings are reciprocated. Believe that a crush that lasts this many years has got to be something more.”

Mesmerized by Jordan’s words and touch, Trey knew he wouldn’t be able to resist the man. Whatever Jordan wanted of him, he would give without reservation.

“What do you want from me?” he whispered.

Hard hands tightened on his hips.

“Everything.”

Premiere Synopsis

From Romance Writers of America® comes a never-before-published collection of tales that showcases the breadth and complexity of the world’s most popular genre of fiction!

New York Times bestselling authors Cindy Gerard and Allison Brennan bring the thrills in their tales of romantic suspense.

New York Times bestselling authors Sabrina Jeffries and Courtney Milan take you on a trip back in time with lush stories of historical romance.

New York Times bestselling authors Vicki Lewis Thompson and Joan Johnston show the wonder of contemporary romance, while New York Times bestselling authors Monica Murphy and Laura Kaye’s New Adult romances delve into the evolving Millennial perspective.

And editor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day’s tale of angels and sizzling desire takes readers to the edge with paranormal romance.

From the first love of Young Adult romance to tales of second chances, LGBT romance to the realms of the supernatural, contemporary to historical, suspense to inspirational, the genre of romance has a story for every reader and this blockbuster inaugural collection from Romance Writers of America showcases it all!

Plus tales from:
Lila Bell
T. L. Costa
Diane Kelly
Amber Lin
Katy Regnery
Erica Ridley
Regina Scott
Harper St. George
Lex Valentine

For release worldwide on February 9, 2015

About RWA

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA ® (RWA) is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy. Founded in 1980, RWA has grown to one of the largest writers associations in the world. RWA represents more than 10,000 members who live in 38 countries. RWA provides programs and services to support the efforts of its members to earn a living from their writing endeavors. If you are interested in becoming a part of this diverse and growing community, visit www.rwa.org for more information.

About Lex Valentine

Award-winning author Lex Valentine writes across genres from contemporary to urban fantasy in M/M, M/F and M/M/F. A native of California, Lex lives in a canyon in Or­ange County with her long haired, tattooed husband and a bunch of cats she collectively calls “babies.” She loves loud rock music, builds her own computers, works for a 100+ year old cemetery, and has a propensity for having very weird, vivid dreams about Nikki Sixx, although he’s never naked in them to her great disappointment. A member of the Ro­mance Writers of America, Lex is active in her local Orange County chapter.

Lex loves to hear from her readers. Her door is always open at lex@lexvalentine.com or on her Facebook author page.

Connect With RWA

Website: http://www.rwa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/romancewriters
Twitter: https://twitter.com/romancewriters
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9203237-romance-writers-of-america

Connect With Lex Valentine

Website: http://lexvalentineauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexvalentineauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexvalentine
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2747860.Lex_Valentine

Purchase the Book: http://bit.ly/romancepremiere