Amber Kell is TESTING ARTHUR! What's Your Fave Male Name? You Got It!

Hi everyone--
Today it's my pleasure to welcome my friend, Amber Kell, to the blog. She's bringing her very  sexy sounding book, Testing Arthur, and she'll be giving away a copy of this book or any book from her backlist if you leave a comment telling her your favorite male name. Remember to leave your email address too! Here's Amber--

Thank you Tara for having me on your blog.

I don’t really know what to talk about when visiting blogs. Half the time I don’t know what to write about on my own! Sometimes people ask me what the hardest part of writing is and I always say the same thing ­— naming things. I have the worst time coming up with what to call books, series and even people. I finally had to make a spread sheet after I used the name James three times in various books.

Today I’m going to promo my book Testing Arthur. Contemporaries are especially hard for me because reality is tougher than making stuff up in my head. Way harder so I hope you enjoy the excerpt. I will be giving away a free copy of Testing Arthur or one of my books from my back list if you post your favorite male name.

Excerpt for Testing Arthur:

He needed to keep it together. Throwing up on his living room floor would be the icing on his fucked-up-life cake.

Exhaustion wore him down and his throbbing leg had him gritting his teeth against the pain. Too close. No more. He was done. His last case had lost him his partner and almost his life. It was time to re-evaluate what he wanted for his future. It was time to hang up his white hat and enjoy his time on this earth. Maybe he could enjoy it with Patrick…if he could get the man to take his calls. Begging might be involved. If he could manage to get down on his knees without screaming it would probably help his case.

Patrick had probably found a new man by now. Arthur couldn’t imagine his ex-lover alone for long. The idea haunted Arthur even as he imagined his replacement. No doubt a gorgeous, successful man who had no problems escorting his boyfriend to a party. Memories of how they’d separated threatened to make him queasier than flashbacks of his partner’s death.

After almost two years of secret meetings, Patrick had had the right to want more. Arthur might have left the Army for Patrick, but he hadn’t been able to come out completely. It was too risky. They might say all the right things on the books about acceptance for all, but everyone knew you couldn’t legislate equality. It might be the law, but people will feel how they feel and nothing was going to change that.

Depression pressed like a weight on his chest. Everyone from the doctor to his physical therapist said Arthur would get better with time and therapy, but he knew he’d never be the same. Nothing could ever bring his leg to function at the same level it did before. There would be scar tissue build-up and he already had pins in his right knee from previous damage.

He hobbled over to the fridge for a glass of water, opened the door and found it completely full. Dozens of containers with clear labels explaining the delicious goodness inside covered every shelf.

Callum.

His chef brother had obviously come over and made sure Arthur had enough food to subsist on until the end of time. Someone had spilled the beans about his injury. More than likely Sinclair, his brother-in-law, had flagged Arthur’s name.

At least Callum hadn’t stayed to hover over him. He was glad his brothers respected his privacy. Despite their discretion he knew he was living on borrowed time. His older brother William had his family to take care of, but Callum only had his lovesick mercenary husband, Sin. The hard-ass soldier would cave like a popped balloon if Callum insisted on coming over to hover and fuss over Arthur.

Arthur hoped to keep his brother away for a bit until he healed more. He didn’t want Callum to see the extent of his wounds. After working so hard to keep the ugly parts of his life from his brothers, he didn’t plan to slip up now. They might have a theoretical knowledge about his job as an Army Ranger and then an FBI agent, but they didn’t need to know of his recent man hunt to find a serial killer. Arthur had no plans to tell them about the case. To share how he still had nightmares and had almost died.

Millen Brown had murdered six women and Arthur’s partner before Arthur had stabbed him with his own knife and ended his life. At night, in his dreams, Arthur relived the gory sight all the way down to the sticky, sweet smell of splattered blood.

Grunting from exertion, Arthur tumbled onto—rather than sat on—his favourite leather couch as his crutches slipped out from beneath him. Pain flared up his leg like wildfire as his ungraceful landing jarred his wound.

“Crap!” he cursed. Even as his temper spiked, Arthur knew he’d have to get used to being off balance. Frankly, he just hoped to eventually walk without too much of a limp.

Exhausted and half asleep from painkillers, it took Arthur longer than usual to realise the soft sound he’d heard meant he wasn’t alone. Arthur tensed. Damn, he’d hoped to have more time before his brothers arrived. Hand shaking from stress and exhaustion, Arthur clicked the table lamp on.

“Hello, Arthur,” a familiar voice spoke in the dim lighting.

Arthur’s heart skipped a beat when he recognised his visitor. Of all the possible scenarios he’d had about seeing Patrick again, he hadn’t expected his ex-lover to show up in his living room.

Buy link

You can check out more of my work and free blog stories at www.amberkell.com

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Thank you so much, Amber! I must confess, i LOVE naming things, especially titles. One of my favorite men's names is one i used for a favorite character, Roan. Sigh. 

So come on everyone. What's your favorite name? And remember to leave your email. : )