Release Blitz - Gamer Boy: The Complete Series by Lauren Helms
Set in the heart of Chicago, Author Lauren Helms brings you Gamer Boy: The Complete Series. This nerdy-meets-flirty box set is perfect for readers who love relatable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and love stories you can’t put down.
Blurb
Welcome to the world of Team NoMad, a group of professional gamers who are fierce in competition—and even worse at keeping their hearts out of the game. Set in the heart of Chicago, this nerdy-meets-flirty romance series is perfect for readers who love relatable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and love stories you can’t put down.
From first love to friends-to-lovers, second chances to secret relationships, there’s a book boyfriend here for every mood and trope you crave.
“Refreshing New Adult read.”
“Original, fun, sexy and emotional.”
The perfect balance of drama, angst, humor & heart.”
Featured Titles:
Level Me Up–*Dex & Morgan* A First Love Romance
One More Round–*Simon & Gia* A Second Chance Romance
Game All Night–*Link & Ruby* A Friends to Lovers Romance
Win My Heart–*Bernie & Wade* A Secret Relationship Romance
Fall for the gamers of Team NoMad—just don’t be surprised if they steal your heart one level at a time.
Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Excerpt: Level Me Up
Copyright 2025, Author Lauren Helms
He smiles like a cat that is about to eat a bird. "Nope. That is incorrect," he says, and he points to my shirt and gestures for it to come off. I move up onto my knees on his bed, wobble a bit as I start to lose my balance. Great a spaz moment instead of sexy time would be perfect right now. I scoot back a little, so I don't fall off the bed and fall face first on the floor. So much for a sexy strip tease. Slowly, I pull my shirt up over my head and mentally high-five myself for bringing the sexy back. I don't think he even noticed the wobble. I still have a spaghetti strap tank on so I can see a flutter of disappointment in his eyes. It's quickly replaced with determination, however. "Question four - How many installments of CoB are there, and when was the first one released?" Shoot. I know there are a ton of them, and they come out every year. "Umm, thirteen and the first one came out in 2003?" I say with uncertainty. "I'm impressed, but you're wrong. There are only twelve games in the main series. Now take something off." I crawl off the bed, stand and unbutton my jeans. I slowly shimmy out of them, leaving them in a pile on the floor between us. Then I climb back on his bed and return to my previous position. He watches with intense interest, then clears his throat before he says, "Name four different video game genres." "First person shooter, fighter, racing, and..." I bite my lip and look up at the ceiling, pretending to think, "Hmmm...RPG," I say with an innocent smile. "Funny," he says as he shucks off his jeans. I can't help but lick my lips as he stands there in only his boxers. "You're not cold are you, Dex?" I ask sweetly. "Not in the least, babe." He moves to stand right in front of me. "The next question is all or nothing." "Ok," I reply, quietly. "What is the best gaming system of all time?" he asks. I try to keep my face as blank as possible. I know what he wants me to say, that it's the Sega Dreamcast. He's gotten into this debate with Link and Simon before. He says that it was the most advanced system of its time, but due to crappy decisions by management, it didn't pick up the needed market shares. He is staring down at me like he is mentally trying to urge the right system out of my mouth, but instead, with the sexiest look I can muster, I raise up on my knees and pull off my tank and toss it at his feet. His pupils dilate, and I reach around to the back of my bra and unclasp it as he slowly moves closer to the bed. "Man, Dex, that really is such a hard question," I say, moving my arms in front of my chest, to hold my bra in place. I slowly move one strap down my arm and continue, "I mean, it's such a subjective question that any answer would be correct, technically." I move my hand over to the opposite strap, and he drives a knee to the bed. In a deep, demanding voice he says, "Answer the question, babe." I give him one more thoughtful look as I let the bra drop to the bed and say, "GameCube." At that exact moment, he pounces on me as I let out a shrill giggle and fall back onto the bed. From above me, he says, "You play dirty, Lawson." Then the whole tutoring session is forgotten as he leans in and nips at my ear and then trails hot, wet kisses down my neck. While he continues down to my shoulder, he palms one of my breasts, and I let out a soft moan. I've never really been into having my breasts fondled during sex, but when Dex does it, it makes me forget everything I thought I did and didn't like. He takes my moan as an invitation and moves his mouth to mine. The kiss is the opposite of sweet; it's almost punishing. I bite his lip as I hook a leg around his waist and pull him into me as he lets out a deep growl. Electricity shoots through my body at the sound.
Excerpt: One More Round
Copyright 2025, Author Lauren Helms
"No, why would I be jealous of two boobs on legs? I've got a brain," I snap. "So, the real answer is yes. Yes, you are jealous of Lindsey," he muses. "Oh, is that her name? I was calling her a dumb booth babe in my head." OK, so the liquor is starting to do the talking. He barks out a laugh. I roll my eyes. He leans back, and I can feel the cold air swirl in between us. He crosses his arms and gives me a challenging look. "Why do you think she's dumb and why are you calling her a booth babe? She's not, by the way. Dumb, that is." I reach for the water that I don't remember ordering and take a sip. Wait, how did this get here? "Have you heard anything that has come out of her mouth tonight or do you only care about what goes into it? Because, Si, that girl is dumber than a box of rocks," I say, swirling the straw in my mouth. He coughs and tries to smother a laugh. "Oh, and I call her Booth Babe because isn't that where you pick up girls? At your video game events? Isn't that what they call the girls the video game marketers hire to stand around at them? To look all hot and draw the male attendees into the booth? Am I right, or am I right?" "You're cute when you're jealous," he says. "Nope. Wrong again," I say, then catch the bartender's eye. "Another!" "Gia, it's probably a better idea to stick to water," he says. "And it was probably a better idea for you to have stayed away. But here you are, out of nowhere. So ... one more round."Two new shots appear, and I push his shot and salt toward him. "I'd offer to let you lick me, but we wouldn't want Little Miss Booth Babe to get jealous."Yes, I heard what I just said. I'm ignoring, remember? Once more I take a shot, not caring if he took his too. I stand from the bar, faster than I should, then grab ahold of the bar just as quickly. I gather myself, smile and turn to Simon. What I see makes my head start to spin again. Heat. Pure heat fills his eyes and all amusement has left his face. I continue my exit attempt when I hear his low reply."I'd do it." I stop for a split second and look over my shoulder. I manage to avoid meeting his eye before I keep on walking. Holy shitballs.
Excerpt: Game All Night
Copyright 2025, Author Lauren Helms
We are sitting on the tarmac, waiting for more passengers to board, so I’m doing one last email check before I switch to airplane mode. It's a five-hour flight, so I’ve got a couple movies I plan to watch, and the newest Shawn Mendes album downloaded to my phone from Spotify. Look, I’m secure enough in my manliness to admit I have a man crush on the dude. His music is damn catchy, and he seems like an all-around great guy. He’s a couple years younger, but I’m thinking he’d be fun to hang with. And if I just happen to find out he enjoyed video games, then you bet your ass I’d have him on the channel. Actually, I need to find this out. I shoot an email off to my PA to do some Sean Mendes sleuthing when someone flicks me in the head.
“Hey,” I grumble as I look up to find Simon leaning over his seat staring at me.
“Dude, I’ve got news,” he says.
“I’ve been with you for the past hour, how do you suddenly have news?”
“It wasn’t like I could just walk over and tell you. We’ve been with people.”
He’s being an idiot.
“So, you couldn’t come and whisper it in my ear?” I ask.
Rolling his eyes, he says “No, you cheesedick, I’m not going to come and whisper shit in your ear. We are fucking adults, man.” I hear Gia’s husky laugh beside him.
“Do you want to know the fucking news or not?” He sounds peeved. If anyone should be peeved, it’s me. For one my forehead still stings from being flicked from short-range and two, he’s apparently got some juicy news that he’s been holding back from me.
“I’m listening,” I say, absentmindedly rubbing my forehead.
“Ruby dumped the sports douche,” he whispers with a huge grin on his face.
I narrow my eyes at him. “When?”
“A couple days ago.”
“Why?”
“Why? ’Cause he was a ball-licking douchecanoe,” he says, and I hear Gia whisper-shout, “Simon, seriously.”
“And I care, why?” I totally care, but I don’t need them all to know I do.
He scoffs at me this time, “Right, man. You care big time. Anyway, just thought you’d want to know.” And with that he turns around and slides back into his seat. I can see through the small space between the seats Gia leans over and punches him in the arm and I hear him grunt. I smirk. Serves him right.
My thoughts immediately bounce back to Ruby though. So, she finally broke up with that gameless schmuck. I know he didn’t treat her all that well. And I know she wasn’t having stimulating conversation with the guy either. Good. Good for her. She needed to dump the trash. She’s better off.
As the plane takes off, I can’t help but wonder again if the play I made on her birthday had anything to do with it.
We made out a few years ago, but she stopped us from doing anything we’d regret. Her words, not mine. She said we were only meant to be friends, nothing more. I agreed to disagree.
She told me not to bring it up; to act like it didn’t happen. And I’ve done as she wished against my better judgement. But I never promised not to think about what happened. Oh, no, I’ve thought about those pouty red lips and what they felt like, where I’d like to feel them, and what they tasted like, so many fucking times until my dick aches nearly every time I see her apply her red glossy lip shit.
I adjust myself discreetly in my seat. Fortunately, my seat mate hasn’t boarded yet.
Last week, after overhearing her conversation with Mason, seeing her hide the tears, then her reaction to the birthday gift I got her, I couldn’t hold back the words.
“He doesn’t deserve you, Ruby. I would try my damnedest to never make you cry.”
I put it out there. I planted the seed. My goal wasn’t to get her to break up with the scumbag, but I can’t say I’m disappointed with the results. Suddenly, I’m looking forward to this trip for a whole new reason.
About half way through the flight, I’m listening to some music and staring out the window. My seatmate never showed up, so I’ve got plenty of space to myself. Suddenly, I feel someone beside me.
Lifting my head, I look to my right and can’t help the smile that grows across my face.
Ruby sits next to me and is gesturing to my earbuds.
“You want to listen?” I ask as I offer her the right bud.
“Yeah. I want to know what’s got you bobbing your head like a fool,” she laughs.
She put the earbud in her own ear and the giant grin on her face makes my heart skip a beat.
“Shawn Mendes? I love it,” she tells me without pulling out the earbud.
“Yeah, he’s my jam right now.”
“I can’t get enough of his new album either.”
“Yeah? This is my favorite song on the album right now,” I tell her while he croons about falling in love when it wasn’t expected.
We listen to the rest of the song and then I pause my playlist because I would much rather talk to her before she heads back to her seat with Bernie than sit listening to music.
“So, what’s up, Rubes?” I ask, and she hands me back my earbud. I pull the other one out of my ear to give her my full attention, because a woman like Ruby deserves no less.
“Oh, I was just stretching my legs and thought I’d come say hey. You got lucky and ended up without a seatmate, I see.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve gotten lucky yet, but I’m on the road to a happy ending now that you are here.” I smirk.
“Oh my god, you are horrible,” she laughs and pushes my arm.
“Just speaking the truth, Rubes.”
“About not getting lucky or getting a happy ending? ’Cause I can tell you now, neither of those are happening with me involved.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “We’ll see, Rubes,” I say.
“Yeah, okay, Link.” She gives me a playful eye roll in return.
I’ve never been so forward with my flirting before, but she seems to handle it well and isn’t put off by it. I think I’ll push a little more this week, see if I can’t get something going between us. I think it’s about time we move this past the ‘just friends’ stage.
Excerpt: Win My Heart
Copyright 2025, Author Lauren Helms
I want so badly to intertwine my fingers with hers, but I can’t, and she drops my hand before reaching for pretzels.
“O.M.G. It just hit me how hungry I am.” She shoves food into her mouth, and I can’t help but chuckle at her.
“Did you not eat dinner?” Leaning into the bar, I watch her with fascination.
“I did, but I was wearing a dress.” She offers this up as if it’s common sense.
I snort. “I don’t understand what that has to do with anything.”
She giggles and rolls her eyes. “Let me school you in some basic female knowledge.” She shoves more food into her mouth. If she wasn’t drunk, she’d be embarrassed at the way she’s acting. I find it endearing.
“Mkay. By all means, Bernie, educate me.”
She makes a face, and I’m not sure what I said that threw her off, but then she tells me. “If you’re gonna use a nickname, it’s Benny now.” She scoffs.
Confused, I just shake my head. I’ll admit, I don’t use her shortened name often. Way back in the day, she introduced herself to me as Bernadette, so it just stuck. I’ve always kinda liked that I’m the only one to use her full name, but I’m not on my game tonight. Between her being drunk and overly flirting with me, the new knowledge I possess about her, and the douche-waffle thinking he has a chance with her, I slip and use her nickname.
“Anyway, what do you have to teach me, oh wise one?” I smirk, getting her back on track.
“Ohh, I like that. But I think you’re making fun. I digress. When a woman is wearing a fancy dress, there are two rules. One, don’t make a mess. And two, don’t stuff yourself silly or your food baby will show.”
A deep belly laugh erupts from me. Between breaths, I ask, “Food baby?”
She’s soaking up my laughter, and she nods vigorously. “Yes, you know when you eat too much and it just sits there in your gut, and it looks like you’re about fifteen weeks preggo? Ergo, food baby. You don’t do that in a fancy tight-fitting dress.”
My laughter under control now, I tell her, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this before, Bernadette.” I chuckle, taking in her carefree, easy demeanor. Her eyes flash with something.
“Like what?” She hiccups.
“Drunk,” I deadpan.
Her eyes widen. “Oh, then I’ve done my job.”
I quirk my brow, “Do you get drunk often and hide it?” She giggles. “Well, shit, do I need to stage an intervention?”
Her pure happiness sets my blood on fire, and it takes everything in me to not reach out to touch her.
“Stop, I’m not a closet drunk. I mean, you don’t see me drunk because I don’t get drunk. In public or alone.” She tries her damnedest to make a serious face, but the attempt ends up just amusing her, and her eyes sparkle.
My own grin grows. “You’re fun like this. Carefree.”
She’s being hilarious right now. I know she doesn’t need alcohol to make her funny. She’s always fun to be around. But I realize now that I don’t have a lot of one-on-one conversations with her. I’m going to start craving this connection.
“I’m not normally fun?” She pops out her bottom lip, leaning forward slightly. Her scent fills my lungs. I take in a deep breath and lean in closer to her.
“No, you’re fun, Benny.” My voice is deep. Her eyes glitter at the use of her new nickname.
She attempts to be serious, but fails. “Just more fun when I’m wasted, yeah?”
“Nah. But normally, you don’t let me get close enough to have fun.” I don’t know why I said that, but it’s out there now.
Her eyes widen, and her mouth forms a little o. I let the silence envelop us. The ball is in her court now.
“Well…” She closes her mouth, opens it again, and then closes it.
I offer a soft laugh. She seems to gather her thoughts and says, “Well, you know where I live. So if you want fun, you know where to find me.”
Well. Fuck. Me.
I gulp, taking in her words, and before I can reply, she’s walking—no, running—away. Gia drapes her arm over her as the girls pull her into the conversation. I’m looking at her, still processing the gauntlet she threw down, and she peeks at me over her shoulder, gives me a little smile, then turns back to the group.
Damn, she launched that fucking ball right back into my court, didn’t she?
Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
About Lauren Helms
Lauren Helms is a romance author her nerdy and flirty contemporary words. Lauren has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best--video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and write her first novel, Level Me Up. Several published novels later, Lauren created PR company, Indie Pen PR, to help other authors promote their books.
Lauren lives in Indianapolis, Indiana sharing her love of books and video games with her own Gamer Boy husband and three young kid nerds who will hopefully grow up to share the love of things that united Lauren and her husband on their own happily ever after.
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