QSFer Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus has a new MM space opera out (bi, gay): Hoverballerino.
Back on his home planet Floor, Rene has settled into a cosy topside job as a barista, serving tea and cake to hone his social skills. Hoping for some quiet time to finalise his decision to become a travelling agent of the Circle, Rene finds himself entangled in the glitzy world of celebrity hoverball players in an unexpectedly personal way.
Kidnappings, crushed career dreams, evil spirits, and rituals gone confoundingly awry will require all his cunning to figure out. Fascinating mysteries aren’t just found among the stars; sometimes, they are right on your doorstep – both the mysteries and the stars, in this case. With a bit of luck and courage, he might even find the love of his life…
Written by award-winning authors Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus, Hoverballerino is a vibrant adventure romance novel about friendship, love and charting your own path. It is the third book in the ‘Dr Laurent’ series.
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Giveaway
GIVEAWAY
Excerpt
It was getting late and Rene started seriously considering closing the cafe early, when the door banged open and a whole group of people spilled in, flooding the place with laughter and chatter. Five of them were disconcertingly beautiful young women in a great variety of high-fashion clothing, all of which had been chosen to best present their physical assets.
The last was a man who towered over all of them by a head. With wide shoulders, but slim hips, he managed to look like a walking fortress – which was only fitting. It was Frederick Moravia, one of the two bulwark players of Floor’s planetary hoverball team, the ‘Floorsweepers’, which made him a genuine celebrity. The very one he and Riccardo had watched play in that exhibition match against the Lorelei Lumberjanes the day before the Belligra had left. Up close, Frederick looked even bigger than expected, even without his armour and wearing instead casual slacks and a long-sleeved t-shirt.
“See? I told you they would have real cake!” one of the girls exclaimed, gesturing dramatically at the counter.
Tiffi gathered up her books and executed a strategic retreat into the kitchen at an amazing speed, while the arrivals tried to sort themselves out, all crowding the counter. Minus the hoverball star, who stayed at the back of his flock of girls, looking simultaneously amused, bored and a bit embarrassed.
It didn’t take Rene long to extract from the excited chatter that it was Janet’s – the blondest of the girls – birthday and that they had celebrated by going to the cinema and having dinner at a fancy restaurant which had deeply disappointed them by not serving any cake. So an emergency cake solution needed to be found and here they were and wow did that cake look good.
The girl who had suggested the ‘Tea Cup’ – a redhead named Fiona – attempted to cash in on her brilliant idea by taking control of the situation, but was quickly silenced by the birthday girl herself who ordered her entourage to sit down at the large table with the bench. She waited until Frederick had sat down as well, barely fitting onto the narrow seating, before draping herself all over him. So he was the trophy boyfriend?
With everyone more or less settled, Janet turned her attention to Rene and waved him over with an imperious gesture. He briefly considered politely informing her that they needed to order their food and drinks at the counter and pick them up themselves. He decided against it. It would have seemed spiteful considering there were no other customers in the cafe and it was her birthday. Yes, she was behaving like a bitch so far, but it wouldn’t cost him anything to be nice anyway.
He headed over to the table, putting on a welcoming smile. “What can I do for you folks?”
“It’s her birthday,” Fiona made another attention grab, “and we…”
“We want cake,” Janet interrupted her, making a point of slinging her arm around Frederick’s neck possessively. Definitely a trophy. A trophy who didn’t look very docile or happy at the treatment, but luckily Janet wasn’t noticing. “And champagne. We can have champagne, can’t we, darling?” She turned to Frederick who quickly fixed a smile to his face. So the trophy was expected to pay as well.
“I’m afraid we only serve tea, miss,” Rene interjected.
Janet made a face and her flock of girls quickly echoed disappointment with unhappy exclamations.
“Not even wine?” Fiona tried again.
“Only tea,” Rene repeated patiently.
“It is called the ‘Tea Cup’,” Frederick added, trying to sound just as patient but Rene noticed a certain amount of glee at the misfortune.
“Well, I do want cake,” Janet set the priorities straight, “so we will have tea.” She was about to pick up the menu when she spotted the large advertisement sign the bubble tea company had insisted they put up. “Bubble tea, perfect. We’re having blue and green. We’ll sort it out when you bring it. As for the cake, I want the creamy one with the red berries. For everyone.”
At least that was an order easily filled. “Certainly, miss. Coming right up.”
A quick glance into the kitchen showed him that Tiffi was pouring the tea. The bubble tea came in big canisters from which it was poured into the mugs and heated in the microwave. In truth it wasn’t tea at all, more a hot energy drink, but it sold well and people kept asking for it, so it was on the menu even though everyone who worked at the ‘Tea Cup’ despised it with a passion.
He set about cutting six slices of the creamy cake with berries, making them extra generous. These were likely their last guests tonight and whatever was left over, tomorrow’s morning shift would have to throw away anyway since it wouldn’t be nice enough to sell anymore. Tiffi helped him serve the cake and tea and then they both retreated to the kitchen to watch the group from a safe distance.
“That’s Frederick Moravia, isn’t it?” Tiffi whispered excitedly.
“Pretty sure it is.”
“He looks mighty fine.”
Rene hadn’t studied him from that perspective, but he had to agree with her. For a man his size, he was very well proportioned. Putting a picture of him next to the definition of ‘sexy, youthful athlete’ would have been fitting. Dark blonde hair cropped short and a bit of stubble on a strong jaw made him look just the right amount of manly. Rene cautiously extended his senses to cop a feel of his body, expecting to find a mix of drugs and overstressed muscles and bones. Much to his surprise, he found a deep, warm glow of health which instantly made him want to get closer to bathe in that aura.
“Mighty fine, indeed,” he agreed, sounding more husky than he had expected.
Author Bio
Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus are a couple currently living their happily ever after in the very heart of Germany, under the stern but loving surveillance of their three black cats.
Both of them are voracious but picky readers, love telling stories and drinking tea, good food and the occasional violent movie. Together, they write novels of adventure and romance, hoping to share a little of their happiness with their readers.
An artist at heart, Beryll was writing stories even before she knew what letters were. As easily inspired as she is frustrated, her own work is never good enough (in her eyes). A perfectionist both in the best and worst sense of the word and the driving creative force of their duo.
An entertainer and craftsman in his approach to writing, Osiris is the down-to-earth, practical part of the duo. Broadly interested in almost every subject and skill, with a sunny mood and caring personality, he strives to bring the human nature into focus of each of their stories.
| Author Website | https://www.brackhaus.com/ |
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