BABY QUEEN

The Court Series – Book Three

by Charlie Novak

Dual Cover & Excerpt Reveal

Release Date: May 23, 2024

Model & Discreet Cover Design:






Natasha Snow Designs



Photographer:



Wander Aguiar Photography

Model: Beau

Genre: M/M Romance Standalone

Trope: Friends to lovers, mentor/mentee, slow burn

Synopsis

Note to self: falling for the new queen you’re mentoring will only lead to trouble.

Being broke, single, and homeless after winning the UK’s biggest drag show wasn’t how my life was supposed to go. I’m meant to be the one with everything, but thanks to an unscrupulous tour company I’ve got nothing but my image and a mountain of debt.

Moving back home with my mum and taking the first gig I’m offered in a local drag panto is supposed to help me get back on my feet, but meeting Colin tangles me up more than ever.

Colin desperately wants to start doing drag and suddenly I’m helping a baby queen find her feet while falling head over heels for the man behind the lashes.

We all know mixing these power dynamics is a recipe for trouble, but my life is already a mess. Will falling for Colin really spell disaster or is he the only thing keeping me upright in my seven-inch heels?

Excerpt

“Nice to meet you,” I said as Bitch Fit walked over to me and shook my hand. “Thanks for having me.”

“My pleasure, seriously, I’m so fucking glad you’re here.” He beamed at me, his eyes roaming over me. “God, you really are stunning. Mercy said you were gorgeous but I think she undersold you.”

I perked up at his words. Egotistical as it was, I’d always loved it when people complimented me. Out of drag I was pretty hot, but in drag I looked fucking stunning. And sure, half of it was padding and the rest was make-up, but I was sexy and I knew it. It was sweet of Maddi to say so too.

“Thanks,” I said, giving him my perfected-for-TV smile and a little shimmy. “I couldn’t resist getting a little dressed up. It’s been a while, especially with the move and I needed to get everything out of boxes.”

“God, moving is such a fucking nightmare,” Bitch said. “I don’t know what’s worse—the packing or unpacking.”

“I’m going with unpacking. Mostly because I can’t remember where I put half of my stuff. At the end, I was just shoving things in boxes and telling myself I’d find it later.”

“This is why I’m never moving house again,” Bitch said, beckoning me to follow her towards the stage door. “I’m simply going to…” He trailed off, glancing over my shoulder as a door behind me swung open. I turned, my gaze following Bitch’s to see another man stepping through The Court’s front door. He wasn’t in drag, and there was an air of nervousness clinging to him.

But fuck me, he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.

He had waist length red hair that was the colour of fire and rippled as he moved, soft doe eyes, a sweet, puckered mouth, and high cheekbones that could cut glass. The pin-stripe trousers he was wearing looked tailor-made for his willowy frame, and the black waist corset over a white shirt highlighted his narrow waist. He almost looked like a haute couture model crossed with a baby deer, and I was instantly obsessed with it. If he was one of the drag artists who performed here regularly, then I’d be begging for a spot on their roster.

“Hey,” Bitch called, giving the man a wave. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, hi, sorry I’m late. I’m Colin, er, Bubblegum Galaxy said I could pop down to meet people and maybe get some pointers. On starting drag.” He smiled awkwardly as he spoke, sounding so formal it was like he was here for a job interview. It made him even cuter.

“Oh, the baby queen! Come in! Sparkles said you were coming down. You’re Rhys’s friend?”

“Yes, we do pole dancing together.”

“Awesome.” Bitch beamed and stepped around me to shepherd Colin towards the stage door like he was a lost duckling. “I’m Bitch Fit, this beautiful babe is Barbie Summers. Come with me, and we’ll head backstage.”

There was a flash of recognition in Colin’s eyes, but he stifled it quickly and smiled instead. “Hello,” he said softly as Bitch ushered us through the door.

“Hey,” I said, as charmingly as I could manage. I might be queen of hot messes, but I was a charismatic one. “Don’t worry, I promise we’re not that scary. I’m not, at least, I can’t speak for the rest of them. They might all be a bunch of psychopaths. Or people who put milk in their tea first.”