Take a bow and blow a kiss as the curtain falls on love. Or does it?

From London’s West End to a New York drag bar and onto the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, three couples rediscover the passion that once burned as brightly as the stage lights.

Their plays might be over, but the show goes on. For these players, the heart discovers that just when you think a love story has come to its end, if you have the courage to turn the page then love will make a return to the stage.

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MUCH ADO – JET MYKLES

Someone was watching him. That wouldn’t be so odd if he was onstage, but he was in a deserted dressing room. Shawn stopped mopping cold cream from his face and looked toward the dressing room doorway.

Ms. Tyken stood there in all her sequined glory. Without the bouffant wig and the three inch heels, the drag queen was five- feet even if she was an inch but once she started talking, you’d swear she was all of six foot. Tonight she wore a vivid yellow and black evening gown that brought to mind a shimmering bee. The black wig atop her head had been threaded through with yellow ribbons and had even been fashioned to a stylized curved point high above her head to resemble a stinger. Heavy makeup almost disguised the fact that Ms. Tyken was no longer a young queen.

Once seen, she put on a broad smile and sashayed into the room, carrying a cloud of jasmine scent with her. “Shawna, darling, did you mention once that you used to date a director?”

Inwardly, Shawn fought the immediate memories that filled his head. Had he mentioned it to her? He didn’t think so. But he probably did mention it to the other girls. He shrugged, turning back to the mirror then lifting a new tissue to wipe off some more cold cream. “That’s ancient history.” (continue reading…)

Blazing hot stories to warm the cold days from four authors who know how to turn up the heat! Join manlove authors Maura Anderson, Kimberly Gardner, Jet Mykles and Luisa Prieto for toasty romantic tales to comfort and inspire a little bedtime snacking!

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Haunted Gingerbread House

2 sticks butter, room temp. 1½ tsp baking soda

1 C molasses 1 C brown sugar

½ tsp cloves 1 tsp kosher salt

6 C flour 2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp ground ginger * 2 tsp candied ginger *

¼ tsp nutmeg

Fight the temptation to just throw all of the ingredients together and stir. Think of this as a spell you’re casting. You do not toss the eye of newt into the cauldron without first putting in the bog water.

I’m kidding about the newt and the cauldron. (continue reading…)