Hi! Thank you so much for having me! My latest, BETTER NOT POUT, stars a cranky solider about to leave the service and a much-younger man intent on giving him a good holiday. This one stands completely alone, so if you’ve been waiting to try my military romances, this is the perfect time to try! And it’s out now in audio and paperback as well. The paperback release has me particularly thrilled because holiday paperbacks hold special significance to me.
Fifteen years ago, I was brand-new to Oregon. I didn’t know hardly anyone, didn’t yet have family in the area, and my old demon depression was rearing its head in a big way. The days were dark and rainy and the nights were long and lonely. Then around Thanksgiving, a big box arrived from my mother. It had shipped at the book mail rate, and the package looked like it had gone to war and back.
But what it contained was nothing short of a holiday miracle. She’d spent the previous year collecting holiday books for me at used book sales, and the box was chock full of paperbacks. Shiny, glittery paperbacks promising seasonal happy endings. Sexy stores. Heart warming stories. Stories of families. Single people looking for New Year’s eve dates. Dozens of books, representing a smorgasbord of my favorite tropes.
I wasn’t yet looking to write novels of my own, didn’t know about the greater romance community, and e-readers were still a dream for me. What those books represented for me was hope. Tangible, physical hope. Hope that I would make it through the season. Hope that I’d get another holiday with my family someday. Hope that I too could have a “happily ever after.”
I averaged a book a night between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and by the end, when I carefully packed the books away post-New Year’s, I knew that I’d make it through the winter, and that indeed, I could look forward to a new tradition of holiday reading each years. I took the box with me from apartment to rental to first house purchase. She sent more books the following year, and the box grew. I was tempted to arrange them like trees and string lights around them, but fire hazard risk kept them confined to a place of honor beside my bed.
Years past. Babies came. Family moved into the area. New holiday traditions were born and old ones resumed. E-readers were purchased and stocked. Lean years had me at the library and flush years had me browsing nightly, but one thing remained, my tradition of holiday reading. And I kept that box, up in the attic now, next to the other essential holiday items.
To be sure, e-readers are convenient, but there is something wonderful about a physical book to have and to hold and to gift. I’ll never forget my amazement opening that box, how each book felt like a treasure, a present just for me. I lined them up and stacked them and took pictures of them (long before Instagram!). To say it’s one of my all-time favorite presents is a vast understatement. So it’s no wonder that I am THRILLED to see Better Not Pout in paperback, to know that my story may end up under someone’s tree or tucked into a stocking. And maybe, just maybe, I can be to some reader somewhere what those books were to me all those years ago—a lifeline and a beacon of hope.
BETTER NOT POUT really is my love letter to the holiday season, and I hope you check it out! Thank you so very much for having me! Do you have a favorite present? I’d love to hear about it!
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Book Synopsis:
One hard-nosed military police officer.
One overly enthusiastic elf.
One poorly timed snowstorm.
Is it a recipe for disaster? Or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for holiday romance?
Teddy MacNally loves Christmas and everything that goes along with it. When he plays an elf for his charity’s events, he never expects to be paired with a Scrooge masquerading as Santa Claus. His new mission: make the holiday-hating soldier believe he was born to say ho-ho-ho.
Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki doesn’t do Santa, but he’s army to his blood. When his CO asks an unusual favor, Nick of course obliges. The elf to his Kris Kringle? Tempting. Too tempting—Nick’s only in town for another month, and Teddy’s too young, too cheerful and too nice for a one-night stand.
The slow, sexy make-out sessions while Teddy and Nick are alone and snowbound, though, feel like anything but a quick hookup. As a stress-free holiday fling turns into Christmas all year round, Teddy can’t imagine his life without Nick. And Nick’s days on the base may be coming to a close, but he doesn’t plan on leaving anything, or anyone, behind.
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Annabeth Albert says that, “BETTER NOT POUT is a male/male holiday romance featuring endearing characters with a fun, flirty plot that will remind readers of their favorite holiday rom-coms.”
Order at:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/better-not-pout-annabeth-albert/1128809456?ean=9781335924841
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Ki8Xl0
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Excerpt:
“Food is good.” Nick nodded at his now empty bowl. “You tell your mom thanks for me.”
“She’ll be happy someone enjoyed her cooking—she always says she’s happiest when she’s got a packed table for dinner.” Teddy cleared their trays to the kitchen, then returned to regard Nick carefully. He was confounding and grumpy and far, far too appealing. And he was only in town for another month. It was now or never in terms of forging a friendship or anything else for that matter.
Nothing ventured, nothing lost.
“So what do you want to do now?” he asked Nick, coming to stand in front of him, reveling in the warm blast of the fire. “It’s a bit early for bed, but I’ve got all the various streaming services for the TV or a cupboard of board games or…”
“Or?” Nick looked up at him expectantly, taking the bait beautifully.
“Or, I sit on Santa’s lap and tell you exactly what I want under my tree this year.” Teddy didn’t wait for a response, straddling Nick’s blanket-covered lap in a fluid move. “I figure we can unwrap each other’s packages a little early. What do you say, Saint Nick?”
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About Annabeth Albert:
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.
To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.
Connect with Annabeth Albert:
Website: http://annabethalbert.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6477494.Annabeth_Albert
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annabethalbert?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabethalbertauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annabeth_albert/
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Fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/annabethsangels/
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