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Contest & Excerpt - Protective Mate

18/1/2014

60 Comments

 
So, I'm not sure if any of you guys are interested, but I have this book coming out. Protective Mate is book 3 in my Holland Brothers series and is set for Re Release on Saturday 25th January. Like the first two this book has been revised and expanded and has gone from 25k to 50k. This makes it my longest book yet.
Simply leave a comment and let me know which of the brothers is your favourite. You don't need to tell me why. :)

I'll draw two lucky winners on Friday and once again you get the choice of PDF, ePub or Mobi formats. 
Picture
BLURB:
Life isn't meant to be easy, but for Zachary Bennet the
last two years have been downright hell. The one shining light in his life, his
precious daughter, Hayley. Deciding he needs a clean break, Zack gets a new job
in a small town called Leyburn in the hopes they can settle down and live a
peaceful life.

Between worry over one
brother's increasingly erratic behaviour and constantly walking in on the other
two making out with their mates, Simon Holland is ready to pull his hair out.
All he'd ever wanted in life was a mate and a family. When his wish is finally
answered with Zack's arrival, Simon finds out firsthand how far hate and bigotry
can drive some people. But life wasn't meant to be easy and Simon would protect
what was his to the end.


EXCERPT:
Prologue
 
First day of high school and Zack was still feeling
overwhelmed by everything. He'd been at the top of the food chain in primary
school, a big kid. Now he was starting at the bottom again. High School had not
only a completely different feel to it, but also a different program and Zack
knew it was going to take some time to get used to
it.

Zack shouldered his school bag and headed in the
direction of an empty table across the quad so he could sit in peace and eat his
lunch. Luck wasn't with him though as just as he was about to sit down he was
nudged in the side by someone else trying to sit in the exact same
seat.

 Zack looked up expecting to find a bigger kid about to
tell him to buzz off. Instead he found himself staring at a pair of the
brightest green eyes he'd ever seen, a cute nose and a smiling
mouth.

"Sorry. I didn't see you there," the girl said waving her
book at him. Zack understood. He'd been looking in his backpack for his lunch
and wasn't paying attention to what he was doing
either.

"Me too," Zack said as he turned to start walking
away.

"Hey, you don't need to go. The table is plenty big for
the both of us." She waved at the remaining empty
chairs.

"I wouldn't want to disturb you." Zack
said.

 "Nonsense. Name's Sarah Stewart. Who are you?" she asked
as she took a seat and stared at Zack, waiting for him to sit down and start
talking.

 "Well, I'm me, obviously," Zack replied with a straight
face.

 Sarah giggled and the ice was broken. By the time the
bell rang to signify the end of lunch they had become fast friends and by the
end of the week they were
inseparable.

 Their high school years flew past with the two of them
sharing everything. Including Zack's biggest
secret.

The evening of the first full moon after Zack turned
sixteen he and Sarah were lying on the floor in the lounge at his place, doing
their homework. Zack's entire body heated, like his blood was boiling, then his
arms started sprouting fur. He'd looked over at Sarah, saw her wide eyes staring
back at him and said the only thing he could think
of.

 "Please don't scream." He hadn't expected this to happen
quite yet and he hadn't planned on his human best friend being there when he
changed forms for the first time in his life. He really hoped Sarah could deal
with what was going on because he couldn't lose her as a
friend.

Sarah's eyes widened even further as his words
registered, then his bones started to reshape, Zack's face elongated and before
he knew it, he stood on all fours tangled in his jeans and shirt and staring at
his best friend as she looked back at him in complete wide-eyed
shock.

"Holy shit!" Sarah said
breathlessly.

 Zack's mother came through from the kitchen. "Honey,
would you two like—" her question cut off when she noticed Zack. His mom stopped
in her tracks, mouth hanging open. Gathering her wits quickly she looked at
Sarah to gauge her response to what she'd just witnessed. "Sarah, honey, are you
  okay?"

 "That is so fricken' cool!" Sarah turned and quickly
picked up her homework before waving it in front of Zack's face. "Come on Zack!
Be a good boy and eat this for me. That way I don't have to do it and I'll have
such a good excuse."

 Sarah broke into a fit of giggles as Zack took a playful
bite at the hand holding her
homework.

"Zack!" His mother scolded. Gentling her tone a little
she said, "Go on up to your room Zack until you can shift back. Sarah and I need
to have a nice long chat."

 Zack looked between his mother and best friend a couple
of times, but not seeing any anger or worry from either of them he did as his
mother directed and padded out of the room. 
 

Sarah tried to get him to eat her homework several more
times after that day, always laughing at her own joke, Zack just smiled at his
friend indulgently.

After that everything else seemed like a piece of cake.
Zack confided in Sarah when he realised the boys at their school held more
appeal to him than the girls. Sarah simply hugged him and kissed him on the
cheek, said being gay didn’t matter, and she would always love
him.

 "You have to tell your parents," Sarah said as she pulled
back from the hug.

"But what if they stop loving me?" Zack asked, biting his
lip. Zack also didn't want his folks to be disappointed in him and he was afraid
if he told them he was gay, they would
be.

 "Zachary Thomas Bennet!" Sarah scolded him. Zack cringed
  slightly at the tone in her voice. "Your parents love you to death. There isn't
a single thing you could tell them that would change that fact. You remember how
wonderful they were to me when I found out your big
secret?"

Zack sighed. Sarah was right. He knew his parents loved
him. It didn't stop him from being scared
though.

 That night he sat down in the lounge room with him
parents. Zack took a deep breath and wiped his hands on his jeans, he was
sweating so much. He picked up the remote and muted the
television.

 "Zack?" his dad looked at him with a furrowed
brow.

 Zack took another deep breath and then just blurted it
out, "I'm gay."

 His mum surprised him. "Oh honey, I already knew that…
Well I didn't know, but I'd suspected for a
while."

 Zack stared at her like she'd grown another head. His
mother just smiled brightly at
him.

 Zack's dad stood from the chair he had been relaxing in.
"Come here, Zack."

His tone firm. Zack stood and slowly made his way to his
father, he didn't think his dad would hit him, that wasn't the kind of man he
was, but people had been known to do things they wouldn't normally when emotions
ran high.

 When Zack stood in front of him, George Bennet pulled
Zack roughly into his arms and hugged him. Zack stood stiff for a moment in his
father's arms before he relaxed and hugged his father back. After a time his dad
pulled back, but kept hold of his shoulders. "Your mother and I love you, no
matter what. As long as you're happy then so are
we."

 Zack nodded, a lump caught in his throat as his eyes
started to fill.

"Now, enough of this, can we get back to watching the
news?"

 Zack chuckled and nodded. "Sorry," he said lightly as he
  stepped away and turned the sound back
on.

"Nothing to be sorry about." Zack knew his dad really
meant that. He really did have the greatest parents in the
world.

 Sarah, however, kept the knowledge of Zack's
homosexuality from her parents until after they'd graduated from high school and
moved into an apartment together. Her parents, being the religious, God-fearing
people they were, were adamant Sarah have nothing further to do with Zack once
they were told.

Sarah refused and they informed her God would punish her
for associating with him. The sneer directed in Zack's direction as he
stood there and looked on was something he'd never experienced before. The utter
hatred these two people had for him was mind-boggling. All because of the sex of
the person Zack wanted to spend his life
with.

 "You can take your God and go and get stuffed." Sarah
told her parents before she turned, took Zack's hand, and pulled him out of the
house.

Zack didn't even want to contemplate what their reaction
would have been had they known he was a werewolf as well as being gay. They'd
probably have keeled over in apoplectic fits. Zack chuckled at that idea and
continued to follow his friend.

 When they got home to their apartment, Zack walked inside
and noticed a collar and lead hung beside the door. He stared at them for a
moment, they hadn't been there when he'd left that morning. Zack turned as Sarah
exploded in laughed in laugher. He stood there and watched as his best friend
doubled over in glee before he raced down the hall and slammed the bathroom door
closed. Zack shook his head, he knew after this afternoon Sarah had needed the
laugh and he didn't mind being the instrument behind that. He loved Sarah and he
had to admit the collar and lead were kinda
funny.


 
60 Comments
Jessica
17/1/2014 08:26:27 pm

Alex is my favorite brother :3

Reply
Monique
17/1/2014 08:37:39 pm

I love it. Finally get to meet Zack's parents bad Sarah. Yeah yeah yeah. Can't wait to read it

Reply
Raine
17/1/2014 08:52:30 pm

Love love love Rick!!

Reply
Imeida
17/1/2014 09:54:01 pm

Alex

Reply
Demetra
17/1/2014 10:04:24 pm

Ooo can I be greedy and say all 4?

Reply
Jessica Canoto
17/1/2014 10:22:34 pm

I love all the Hollands but I have a weak spot for rick I can't wait for the expanded version of all of them ;)

Reply
Traci Kurtz
17/1/2014 10:46:53 pm

Alex is my favorite so far.

Reply
Rhonda Wolf
17/1/2014 11:33:54 pm

I love them all but if I have to pick one, I'll go with Rick.

Reply
Helen Smith
18/1/2014 12:00:28 am

I love all four of the brothers but I'll say Marecus since he was the first brother and got me hooked on the series

Reply
Talia Smith
18/1/2014 12:55:08 am

I love Alex :)

Reply
Leona Perry
18/1/2014 02:11:24 am

alex is my favorite

Reply
Danielle
18/1/2014 02:31:21 am

I love them all!!!!!

Reply
Denitra
18/1/2014 02:52:31 am

Alex

Reply
Bethany
18/1/2014 02:58:39 am

I love the Holland Brothers-- cannot wait to read bk3!!! :D

Reply
Deborah H
18/1/2014 03:11:32 am

I love this book! I would love to read this version of it.

Reply
Lana
18/1/2014 03:30:37 am

I love the Holland brother's, but Alex is my favorite.

Reply
Brandi
18/1/2014 04:19:46 am

Rick is by far my favorite!

Reply
Lisa
18/1/2014 05:02:56 am

Love them all but if I have to choose it would be Alex

Reply
slmort
18/1/2014 06:11:11 am

I love all the books and can't wait to read the new revised version of this book. I hope you tell us soon where we can preorder it so I can get my order in.

Reply
Kim
18/1/2014 07:20:25 am

Do I really have to chose a favorite? I loved all of these books! I can't honestly say that 1 was better or more interesting than the other so I chose ALL OF TE ABOVE... Sorry Toni.

Reply
Janet Hobbs
18/1/2014 10:31:50 am

I love alex the most so far

Reply
Trudi
18/1/2014 11:02:57 am

Rick

Reply
Rita
18/1/2014 01:06:34 pm

Alex is my favorite

Reply
Laurel
18/1/2014 02:18:08 pm

My favorite brother is Patrick.

Reply
Paula H
18/1/2014 03:50:21 pm

I think it would have to be Rick, for me too, even though I love all of them.

Reply
NicStar
18/1/2014 05:12:32 pm

I'm going to go with Alex but I've only read the first two because I've been waiting for the revised editions! Congratulations on the release of this one!

Reply
Dani
18/1/2014 09:46:08 pm

I love all of them but Patrick so far is my favorite brother.

Reply
Miranda P
18/1/2014 10:49:31 pm

Alex

Reply
Melissa J
18/1/2014 11:00:28 pm

Alex

Reply
Carrie
19/1/2014 10:10:06 am

I like Patrick.

Reply
Sue
19/1/2014 11:09:17 am

Marcus

Reply
shaughn cannon
19/1/2014 03:34:31 pm

I just got my first holland brothers book. So I dont have a fav yet but I love werewolves!

Reply
Jodie
19/1/2014 04:05:01 pm

I like Alex. He's strong but sensitive. Loyal and loving. To not only his mate but his family too.

Reply
KarenJ
19/1/2014 04:11:53 pm

I love all the brothers but Alex is my favorite.

Reply
Eline
19/1/2014 05:34:01 pm

Rick

Reply
Deanne
19/1/2014 09:27:47 pm

How do I choose? They all awesome in their own way! How do a copy now or do I have to wait til the 25th?

Reply
Linda A
20/1/2014 07:15:37 am

Patrick

Reply
Sammantha Hobbs
21/1/2014 07:19:05 am

Patrick is my favorite.

Reply
rose
21/1/2014 09:06:13 am

I like them all. However, Marcus and Rick are my favorite

Reply
Miri
21/1/2014 01:35:14 pm

I love the Holland Brothers series, and I haven't read it in the past, so I'm real happy to hear book 3 is coming soon :)

My current favourite is Alex, but it can change at any moment, because I realy like them all

Reply
berryblu
21/1/2014 02:46:11 pm

I love all the books, but Marcus and Patrick are my favorites right now. :)

Reply
Debra
21/1/2014 09:44:23 pm

simon

Reply
Sophie P
22/1/2014 06:42:21 pm

Alex and his tattoos :)

Reply
Sandy B
22/1/2014 07:16:04 pm

It's a hard choice, but I think I have to go with Alex. :)

Reply
polly
22/1/2014 07:33:32 pm

i like Marcus and was so pleased when he got his head out of his a** to mate Brian but to be honest i do love them all and i am so glad your revising them.

Reply
Elayne
22/1/2014 07:49:56 pm

CHOOSE? CHOOSE? How can you choose just one? No not happening.

Reply
Danny
22/1/2014 07:51:00 pm

I simply can't choose. Love them all, each of them is special in his own way.

Reply
JR Loveless link
22/1/2014 08:28:46 pm

Marcus! First one to get me into the series, but then I've always had a love for shifter stories. :D

Reply
Monique
22/1/2014 08:31:34 pm

I love the Holland Brothers, the Alteron pack is next and then come the Thompson family. Woman how do you do it.

Reply
Amilyn Lina
22/1/2014 09:23:18 pm

Patrick!

Reply
Tanya
22/1/2014 09:45:39 pm

Rick is my favorite, he endured and came out better at the end.

Reply
ELy
22/1/2014 10:05:04 pm

My favorite has to be Marcus, mostly because he was what sucked me into the series in the first place. So glad they're being expanded :D

Reply
maria beeching
22/1/2014 10:51:47 pm

I can't choose I love them all.

Reply
Felicia
22/1/2014 11:07:12 pm

I have to say Rick is my favorite just because of the wait he had to go through with his mate. I can't wait to read their story (again).

Reply
Cinders
22/1/2014 11:33:54 pm

Can I have my name thrown into the bowl please.
I cannot wait to read the extended version.

Reply
Brenda
22/1/2014 11:54:18 pm

Alex

Reply
maggie
23/1/2014 12:11:38 am

Patrick

Reply
Angel Tanaka
23/1/2014 01:06:17 am

Such a hard choice! I love ALL of the Holland Brothers and their mates! But if I have to choose only one then it will have to be between Alex and Marcus. Hmm Alex,Marcus,Alex,Marcus...I can't choose just one. That's not fair. I guess I'll just go with Alex for this.

Reply
Zeneida
23/1/2014 01:06:46 am

Alex is my favorite.

zeneida
zeneidaypaco@comcast.net

Reply
Anna
23/1/2014 04:17:18 am

Rick!!!!

Reply



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    Picture

    Toni Griffin

    Toni  Griffin lives in Darwin, the smallest of Australia's capital cities.  Born
    and raised in the state she's a Territorian through and through.  Growing up
    Toni hated english with a passion (as her editors can  probably attest to) and
    found her strength lies with numbers.

                                      
    Now, though, she loves escaping to the  worlds she creates and hopes to continue
    to do so for many years to  come. She's a single mother of one and works full
    time. When she's not  writing you can just about guarantee that she will be
    reading one of the  many MM authors she loves.

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