A very cheerful welcome to author Amy Aislin, who is celebrating the release of her latest novel, The Nature of the Game. The new book is one for sports fans, and fans of second chance romances… which places me firmly in the must-check-this-out queue. Join me to welcome Amy’s men, and don’t forget to check out the deleted scene she’s brought with her…
Thank you for joining me to celebrate the release of my newest m/m sports romance, The Nature of the Game.
The Nature of the Game is a second chance romance. Six years ago, the main characters—Ash and Dan—were in a relationship that didn’t end well. They haven’t spoken since then and now, all of a sudden, they’re back in each other’s lives.
Normally, by the time I’m done writing a novel, I don’t have many—if any—deleted scenes to share. And that’s because, from the get-go, I want every scene in the novel to have a purpose. However, The Nature of the Game has about 10 deleted scenes, and that’s because several elements of the plot changed as I was writing.
The one I’m sharing below was originally in the last third of the book. It’s a really sweet scene and I was kind of bummed when I had to get rid of it. Some changes needed to be made to the ending of The Nature of the Game in order to tie the entire storyline together, and unfortunately, some of those changes meant sacrificing some scenes that were no longer needed. I’m so happy to be able to share it with you because it’s one where you can really see Dan and Ash’s commitment to each other.
For context: in my original draft, Dan was in Florida with Ash. He needed to head back to NYC for a quick trip, but was very reluctant to leave Ash behind. This is their goodbye scene before Dan heads to the airport.
The Nature of the Game
Length: 280 pages
Genre: Contemporary / MM Romance / Sports Romance
Buy at: Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | B&N
Blurb
Six years ago, an ultimatum forced Dan Greyson to make a choice that cost him everything he loved most. One of those things? His boyfriend, hockey player Ashton Yager. Now that they’ve crossed paths again, Dan isn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. Ash’s reappearance in his life is just the catalyst Dan needs to escape the rut he’s fallen into…and win back Ash’s trust and love.
Ashton Yager, once burned and now a little bit shy, didn’t mean to publicly come out as bisexual. But now that he has, he’s got to deal with the consequences, including the fact that it might’ve cost him his NHL contract. With his job on the line, he needs to keep his head down, work hard, and play the best hockey of his life. Rekindling things with Dan? That’s not exactly keeping a low profile. It’s also never going to happen, not after Dan walked away once without an explanation.
When a hurricane forces Ash to seek shelter out-of-state, he and Dan find themselves in the same B&B, where old feelings resurface. But with everything Ash has on the line, does he dare play with fire again?
Excerpt from The Nature of the Game
On Wednesday morning, when it came time to leave, Dan said goodbye to Ash at the door.
“I’ll see you Friday,” Dan said after tearing his mouth away from Ash’s.
“Yeah.”
Ash’s lips were downturned and his eyes were sad. Dan hugged him tight. “I love you, you know.”
“I love you too,” Ash said into Dan’s neck. His arms were unyielding around Dan’s back.
Dan didn’t want to leave, and once he returned he had no intention of going anywhere without Ash ever again. But he needed to do this before he could move forward.
Pulling back, he kissed Ash, then said, “I gotta go.”
“I know.”
Dan picked up his small duffel bag and opened the door, shooting Ash a smile over his shoulder. “Have a good game tomorrow.”
“You’ll be watching?”
“Of course.”
Halfway to his rental car, he stopped. It was sunny out, the sky bright blue, the grass green and dewy from last night’s rain, and it smelled fresh and clean.
Everything was wrong.
He could do this by himself. But he didn’t need to. Scratch that, he didn’t want to. And thinking of Ash here all alone worrying about him while he was a thousand miles away, doing what he should’ve done six years ago?
Turning, Dan headed back the way he’d come, his suitcase bumping behind him, opened the door—
And found Ash waiting, backpack on, light jacket flung over a forearm, airline ticket in the other hand.
“You knew I’d come back for you.”
Ash’s smile made everything right again. “I hoped.”
Nose burning, Dan squeezed his eyes closed. How the hell did he ever get so lucky?
Ash wrapped him in his arms and kissed his temple. “Come on. Let’s go break up with your mom.”
With a wet laugh, Dan led the way outside.
About Amy
Amy Aislin started writing on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class was forced to stay inside for recess. Tales of adventures with her classmates quickly morphed into tales of adventures with the characters in her head. Based in Oakville, Ontario, she’s a marketer at a large environmental non-profit in Toronto by day, and a writer by night. Book enthusiast, animal lover and (very) amateur photographer, her interests are many and varied, including traveling, astronomy, ecology, and baking. Amy loves live theatre (especially musicals), the CW’s DC comic shows, Julie Andrews, the Backstreet Boys, anything to do with Scotland and Ireland, and her hometown of Oakville.
Connect with Amy
Website | Facebook author page | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Instagram | Goodreads
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