My 2014 Christmas story "Unwrapping Hank" is now in beta. It's always a sense of relief to finish a story, especially one that's important to you. "Blame it on the Mistletoe" did well last year, so I really wanted to do something good for Christmas this year. The jury is out until it releases, but I hope you'll like it! Love would be okay too. What's it about?
Like Mistletoe, "Unwrapping Hank" is set on a contemporary college campus, this time PSU--Pennsylvania State University.
Greg Sloane, aka "Sloane" is a freshman who has just rushed a frat, the Delts, lured by the super hip and laid back Micah Springfield, the frat's president. The one guy in the frat who voted against Sloane's membership was Hank, who turns out to be Micah's younger brother, and also turns out to be a majorly muscled, tattoo'd, and butch guy who sparks Sloane like kindling the first time he lays eyes on him in the frat house kitchen.
Here's my idea of Sloane (photo Googled off the web, I do not own):
Sloane is fairly sophisticated for PSU, having lived in major cities around the world with his two psychologist parents. He's also something of a smart ass and he LOVES a good mystery. Sloane figures people out easily--until he meets HANK. Hank is a conundrum. He's looks like a bad ass but he has the softest eyes. He acts like he's dumb but he's majoring in philosophy. He appears to be straight as an arrow, but then why does Sloane feel chemistry whenever they're in the same room?
Hank Springfield (stock image-- imagine more beard and tatts)
Hank is a loner whose gruff exterior puts off a lot of people. He's into body building and he's into his studies. The one thing he is most DEFINITELY not into is Sloane, aka "Frenchie", the stuck-up, sophisticated, gay guy absolutely no one else in the frat has a problem with. Hank doesn't want anything to do with Sloane. So why does fate (and his interfering brother Micah) keep shoving them together?
First, he has to plan the frat's Christmas party with Sloane, a partnership that will either tear the house down or produce the best party ever, and then Micah invites Sloane home with them for Christmas. What the fuck?
There are family wounds that have made Hank and Micah what they are. If Sloane can unwrap this mystery, maybe he can unwrap the man of his dreams too.
This is an Enemies-to-lovers story, sort of GFY and sort of not, with some humor and some hotness, particularly of a certain kind that readers have been asking me for. Done.
There may also be a quaint Pennsylvania Dutch country Christmas and a bulldog named Grinch. And pies. Lots of pies.
Oh, and thanks to Jamie Fessenden for coming up with the title for this story!
Length: 40K
Due out: Nov 14, 2014
Reese Dante is working on the cover now, and I'll share it when I have it!
Eli