Jocelynn Drake's Blog: Announcements, page 15
April 2, 2018
Understanding the Dorian in Deadly Dorian
It was quite by luck that I picked up and read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I’ve done most of my classical reading in high school and college thanks to a literature degree. But Dorian was never on the curriculum.
If you don’t know the story, let me give you a brief summary:
Dorian Gray was a naïve and innocent young man in London who agreed to sit for a portrait by an average artist named Basil. Dorian was the epitome of beauty and youth and innocence. Basil was inspired by Dorian so completely that in led Basil to create some of his greatest work of all time.
When Dorian saw the finished painting, he cursed it as it will stay forever young and beautiful while he will grow old and more haggard with each passing day.
Through Basil, Dorian met a debauched and reckless lord by the name of Henry who told Dorian that he should live purely for pleasure. That he should think only of himself and do whatever gave him joy. No responsibility. No thought to others.
Dorian took Henry’s instruction to heart and he went down a reckless, dark path of pleasure and sin. Dorian pursued every pleasure, every vice. But such a debauched life never took a toll on his body. The sins and waste appeared on the painting that Dorian hid away in his shame. Dorian’s beauty and youth remains as fresh as the day the painting was completed.
Let’s say the book doesn’t have a happy ending for Dorian or Basil.
But Rinda and I didn’t pick Dorian for its grim ending. Actually, I liked it for the story of Basil and his love/inspiration from Dorian. There are several parts where Basil is describing Dorian to Henry.
I think Marc can agree that Royce is "absolutely necessary."
There are little bits where Basil shares his thoughts about Dorian that make me think of Marc and how important Royce becomes to him in Deadly Dorian .
Marc is an art gallery owner and art dealer. But at his heart, he is an artist. The problem is that he has never been able to take his talent to the next level. He searching for that one inspiration that will push him.
Meanwhile, because of Dorian, Basil was able to pour himself into his art, creating great beauty.
For Marc, Royce is able to become that inspiration. He give Marc the strength to tap his own skill and passion for life and love.
But in the end, Dorian becomes a threat to Basil.
While there was no happy ending for Basil and Dorian, I am happy to report that the ending is quite different for our Marc and Royce in Deadly Dorian .
We are less than 11 days away from the release of Deadly Dorian . You can pre-order your copy now. We can't wait for you to meet Royce and Marc.
If you don’t know the story, let me give you a brief summary:
Dorian Gray was a naïve and innocent young man in London who agreed to sit for a portrait by an average artist named Basil. Dorian was the epitome of beauty and youth and innocence. Basil was inspired by Dorian so completely that in led Basil to create some of his greatest work of all time.
When Dorian saw the finished painting, he cursed it as it will stay forever young and beautiful while he will grow old and more haggard with each passing day.
Through Basil, Dorian met a debauched and reckless lord by the name of Henry who told Dorian that he should live purely for pleasure. That he should think only of himself and do whatever gave him joy. No responsibility. No thought to others.
Dorian took Henry’s instruction to heart and he went down a reckless, dark path of pleasure and sin. Dorian pursued every pleasure, every vice. But such a debauched life never took a toll on his body. The sins and waste appeared on the painting that Dorian hid away in his shame. Dorian’s beauty and youth remains as fresh as the day the painting was completed.
Let’s say the book doesn’t have a happy ending for Dorian or Basil.
But Rinda and I didn’t pick Dorian for its grim ending. Actually, I liked it for the story of Basil and his love/inspiration from Dorian. There are several parts where Basil is describing Dorian to Henry.
‘Tell me more about Mr. Dorian Gray. How often do you see him?’
‘Every day. I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him every day. He is absolutely necessary to me.’
I think Marc can agree that Royce is "absolutely necessary."
There are little bits where Basil shares his thoughts about Dorian that make me think of Marc and how important Royce becomes to him in Deadly Dorian .
Marc is an art gallery owner and art dealer. But at his heart, he is an artist. The problem is that he has never been able to take his talent to the next level. He searching for that one inspiration that will push him.
Meanwhile, because of Dorian, Basil was able to pour himself into his art, creating great beauty.
“It is not merely that I paint from him, draw from him, sketch from him. Of course I have done all that. But he is much more to me than a model or a sitter….Unconsciously he defines for me the lines of a fresh school, a school that is to have in it all the passion of the romantic spirit, all the perfection of the spirit that is Greek. The harmony of soul and body…”
For Marc, Royce is able to become that inspiration. He give Marc the strength to tap his own skill and passion for life and love.
"He is never more present in my work than when no image of him is there. He is a suggestion, as I have said, of a new manner. I find him in the curves of certain lines, in the loveliness and subtleties of certain colors. That is all."
But in the end, Dorian becomes a threat to Basil.
While there was no happy ending for Basil and Dorian, I am happy to report that the ending is quite different for our Marc and Royce in Deadly Dorian .
We are less than 11 days away from the release of Deadly Dorian . You can pre-order your copy now. We can't wait for you to meet Royce and Marc.
March 22, 2018
The Unbreakable Bonds/Ward Security Tour of Cincinnati: Part 2
At the end of February, I wrote an article that gave a “walking tour” of Cincinnati that would allow you to visit many of the locations that appear in the Unbreakable Bonds and Ward Security books. (To read part 1 of this series, click here.) Today, I thought we’ve cover another part of Cincinnati that makes several appearances within the two series.
Assuming you’re on Day 2 of your Cincinnati vacation, we are going to be wandering around Eden Park today just outside of downtown Cincinnati.
Eden Park served as a little haven for me when I was living in
Cincinnati so it seemed only natural that the boys would return to the area a few times for me.
We are starting at the Cincinnati Art Museum, which is one of the oldest art museums in the country with more than 67,000 pieces spanning 6,000 years. General admission is free and it’s a great place to wander through. It is also the site of the charity party that Lucas attended with Andrei as his bodyguard in Shiver . As they escaped the museum, Lucas and Andrei took Hollis on a high-speed chase through Eden Park and along the expressway.
From the Cincinnati Art Museum, you can hop in your car or wander to the other end of the park, past Mirror Lake (which appears in the car chase) to Krohn Conservatory. This is hands down one of my favorite places in the world.
Built in 1933 with exquisite Art Deco accents, Krohn Conservatory holds more than 3,500 plants and usually has a special seasonal exhibit. My two favorite exhibits are the Butterfly Show that usually runs through April and May, and then the holiday display that usually goes up around Thanksgiving. I love spending time wandering through the various rooms, learning about the plants and just soaking in the quiet, relaxing atmosphere.
Krohn Conservatory makes an appearance in Dantès Unglued when Shane and Quinn go to speak to one of the volunteers about the mayor’s wife. I’m working on including the Conservatory in future books.
From the Conservatory, I’ve got two small side treks. There are a set of steep stairs off the back parking lot. Up those stairs, there is another smaller section of the park that the Twin Lakes. That section of the park includes an overlook where you can see the Ohio River and the bridges. From that overlook, you can see the location we chose to build Snow and Jude’s house, which first appears in Unbreakable Stories: Snow . (If you can’t take those stairs, you can drive up to that section of the park. (If you’re a fan of Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, the bridge for the Twin Lakes also figures into one of her books.)
Also, directly across the street from the main entrance into Krohn Conservatory, you will find another set of stone stairs leading up into a wooded grove. (Yes, there are a lot of hills in Cincinnati.) At the top of that climb, you will find yourself in the Presidential Grove, where a tree has been planted for each of the U.S. presidents. This is the grove where an unknown person led Shane and Quinn on a fast-pace chase through the park in Dantès Unglued .
While you’re on the east side of town, I’d suggest jumping into your car and heading over to the Cincinnati Zoo. It is the second oldest zoo in the country and one of the greenest. They have amazing exhibits, including a chance to see hippo Fiona and the Cheetah Run. While the zoo hasn’t figured into the series yet, I feel like you can’t miss a chance to visit this phenomenal zoo.
That’s your Cincinnati tour for today. I’d say that you’re likely exhausted at this point. Go find some Cincinnati chili or Graeter’s ice cream to chill out. Two local favorites. I’ll be back with one more tour article to pick up some strangler locations.
Assuming you’re on Day 2 of your Cincinnati vacation, we are going to be wandering around Eden Park today just outside of downtown Cincinnati.
Eden Park served as a little haven for me when I was living in
Cincinnati so it seemed only natural that the boys would return to the area a few times for me.We are starting at the Cincinnati Art Museum, which is one of the oldest art museums in the country with more than 67,000 pieces spanning 6,000 years. General admission is free and it’s a great place to wander through. It is also the site of the charity party that Lucas attended with Andrei as his bodyguard in Shiver . As they escaped the museum, Lucas and Andrei took Hollis on a high-speed chase through Eden Park and along the expressway.
From the Cincinnati Art Museum, you can hop in your car or wander to the other end of the park, past Mirror Lake (which appears in the car chase) to Krohn Conservatory. This is hands down one of my favorite places in the world.
Built in 1933 with exquisite Art Deco accents, Krohn Conservatory holds more than 3,500 plants and usually has a special seasonal exhibit. My two favorite exhibits are the Butterfly Show that usually runs through April and May, and then the holiday display that usually goes up around Thanksgiving. I love spending time wandering through the various rooms, learning about the plants and just soaking in the quiet, relaxing atmosphere.
Krohn Conservatory makes an appearance in Dantès Unglued when Shane and Quinn go to speak to one of the volunteers about the mayor’s wife. I’m working on including the Conservatory in future books.From the Conservatory, I’ve got two small side treks. There are a set of steep stairs off the back parking lot. Up those stairs, there is another smaller section of the park that the Twin Lakes. That section of the park includes an overlook where you can see the Ohio River and the bridges. From that overlook, you can see the location we chose to build Snow and Jude’s house, which first appears in Unbreakable Stories: Snow . (If you can’t take those stairs, you can drive up to that section of the park. (If you’re a fan of Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, the bridge for the Twin Lakes also figures into one of her books.)
Also, directly across the street from the main entrance into Krohn Conservatory, you will find another set of stone stairs leading up into a wooded grove. (Yes, there are a lot of hills in Cincinnati.) At the top of that climb, you will find yourself in the Presidential Grove, where a tree has been planted for each of the U.S. presidents. This is the grove where an unknown person led Shane and Quinn on a fast-pace chase through the park in Dantès Unglued .
While you’re on the east side of town, I’d suggest jumping into your car and heading over to the Cincinnati Zoo. It is the second oldest zoo in the country and one of the greenest. They have amazing exhibits, including a chance to see hippo Fiona and the Cheetah Run. While the zoo hasn’t figured into the series yet, I feel like you can’t miss a chance to visit this phenomenal zoo.
That’s your Cincinnati tour for today. I’d say that you’re likely exhausted at this point. Go find some Cincinnati chili or Graeter’s ice cream to chill out. Two local favorites. I’ll be back with one more tour article to pick up some strangler locations.
March 13, 2018
Deadly Dorian Cover Reveal & Pre-Order
Rinda and I fell in love with Royce Karras and Marc Foster from the very first moment they stepped onto the page. We love all of our boys from both the Unbreakable Bonds series and the Ward Security series. But sometimes, you just meet characters that reach right down to your soul. They speak to you in a way that you don't expect. They have a story they are so desperate to tell that they grab you and won't let go until all the words have come pouring out.
That's what happened with Royce and Marc in Deadly Dorian.
We can't wait to share their story with you. But first... a cover.
I don't like to play favorites, but I think this one might be my new favorite for the Ward Security series.
And now a quick description:
I hope you're as excited as I am!
The book will be available Friday, April 13. You can pre-order now for Amazon here. It will also be included in the Kindle Unlimited program along with the Unbreakable Bonds series and the first two Ward Security books.
Happy reading!
That's what happened with Royce and Marc in Deadly Dorian.
We can't wait to share their story with you. But first... a cover.
I don't like to play favorites, but I think this one might be my new favorite for the Ward Security series.
And now a quick description:
Someone is trying to kill Marc Foster.
Attempted poisoning was bad enough, but when the would-be killer messes with the brakes on Marc’s precious Porsche, the art dealer admits he needs help. He just wasn’t expecting help to be quite so dark and sexy.
Royce Karras loves his job at Ward Security. He’s making up for a lifetime of bad decisions and a bloody past he’d rather forget. But Marc isn’t the spoiled rich boy he thought he’d be protecting. Sticking close to Marc as his “boyfriend” gives Royce insight into his toxic family, but it also reveals a brilliant, compassionate man who completely disarms Royce. Against his better judgment, Royce finds himself falling.
But can they find a way to make it work when Royce’s past threatens to tear their lives apart? Their future hinges on a lost Renaissance painting, six Bichon Frises, and a pornographic Robin Hood.
No worries, right?
I hope you're as excited as I am!
The book will be available Friday, April 13. You can pre-order now for Amazon here. It will also be included in the Kindle Unlimited program along with the Unbreakable Bonds series and the first two Ward Security books.
Happy reading!
February 10, 2018
The Bounty of Bundles
Rinda and I are staying busy with the recent launch of
Dantès Unglued
as well as writing the next Ward Security book,
Deadly Dorian
. If you missed it, I let out a little sneak peek to the book in a blog post over the weekend. You can catch it here.
If you are just now catching up to the crazy world that Rinda and I have created, I’ve got to say that your timing is excellent.
Not only are there 2 books out for Ward Security, with another on the way very soon, but there are 8 books out for Unbreakable Bonds.
I’ve seen that some people like to have their ebooks in bundles so that they can just read from one book to the next, in the right order, without stopping. I get it. I’ve picked up a few bundles myself because I got addicted to characters or an author’s storytelling style.
Well, I’ve got good news.
Rinda and I have created a couple bundles for the Unbreakable Bonds series.
The Unbreakables: Volume 1 contains:
Shiver
Unbreakable Stories: Lucas
Shatter
It is the exact same content as the individual books. They are just packaged together for your ease.
The bundle is available only on Amazon and only as an ebook. Click here to get your copy.
The Unbreakables: Volume 2 was released last week and contains:
Unbreakable Stories: Snow
Torch
Devour
The bundle is available only on Amazon and only as an ebook. Click here to get your copy.
The only stories that are not currently placed in a bundle are Unbreakable Stories: Rowe and Unbreakable Stories: Ian. But don’t worry. You can still get those collections individually.
Plus, I may have a plan in place for a final Unbreakables bundle, but that won’t be out until much later in the year.
If readers like these bundles, Rinda and I will look into bundling some of the Ward Security books once we get more released.
Now it’s time to get back to writing.
If you are just now catching up to the crazy world that Rinda and I have created, I’ve got to say that your timing is excellent.
Not only are there 2 books out for Ward Security, with another on the way very soon, but there are 8 books out for Unbreakable Bonds.
I’ve seen that some people like to have their ebooks in bundles so that they can just read from one book to the next, in the right order, without stopping. I get it. I’ve picked up a few bundles myself because I got addicted to characters or an author’s storytelling style.
Well, I’ve got good news.
Rinda and I have created a couple bundles for the Unbreakable Bonds series.
The Unbreakables: Volume 1 contains:
Shiver
Unbreakable Stories: Lucas
Shatter
It is the exact same content as the individual books. They are just packaged together for your ease.
The bundle is available only on Amazon and only as an ebook. Click here to get your copy.
The Unbreakables: Volume 2 was released last week and contains:
Unbreakable Stories: Snow
Torch
Devour
The bundle is available only on Amazon and only as an ebook. Click here to get your copy.
The only stories that are not currently placed in a bundle are Unbreakable Stories: Rowe and Unbreakable Stories: Ian. But don’t worry. You can still get those collections individually.
Plus, I may have a plan in place for a final Unbreakables bundle, but that won’t be out until much later in the year.
If readers like these bundles, Rinda and I will look into bundling some of the Ward Security books once we get more released.
Now it’s time to get back to writing.
February 3, 2018
Thank You for the Adventure
Dantès Unglued has been out for just over a week now and readers have fallen in love with Quinn and Shane. And what’s not to love? Shane is oh-so-sexy and Quinn…God Quinn is just too cute. I love our little gamer and our cocky PI.
But now that the dust has started to settle, I wanted to take a moment on behalf of Rinda and myself to say Thank You!
Thank you to all the reader who have supported us through 10 books now. Thank you to all the readers who have enjoyed the car chases, explosions, fires, punches, and shootouts. We’ve gone through duct tape, gauze, pain killers, lube, condoms, and soooo much freaking alcohol.
But you’ve also been there for first kisses. First times…
Those first I-love-you’s even if they didn’t always go how the guys would have liked.
You’ve been there for the first proposal. And as Rinda and I keep writing, I hope that we will get to see a few more along with some other firsts.
We hope that you’ve loved the Unbreakable Bonds series and we hope that you’re enjoying the Ward Security series. We’ve still got many more books planned for the future.
At the moment, we are hard at work on
Deadly Dorian
, book 3 of the Ward Security series. We are aiming for a spring launch – likely sometime in April. We’ve got about half the book written and we’re enjoying the exploration of Royce and Marc’s story.
The first teaser was actually at the end of Dantès Unglued, as we gave you the first chapter of the new book.
Rinda has also give this snippet to our Facebook Group, Unbreakable Readers.
Hope you enjoy it!
The sheer agony that flashed through Marc’s features managed to crack through a wall Royce had spent years strengthening. His fingers tightened more without him even realizing it until Marc sucked in a soft breath and dropped his gaze to Royce’s mouth.
“The way you’re looking at me,” Royce whispered, unable to disguise the hint of anger in his voice. It came from his utter inability to resist. “You have to stop.”
“I can’t,” he whispered back, staring at Royce’s lips. “I know what I said in my office, but I didn’t mean it. I want you.”
“This is dangerous game you’re playing.” He narrowed his eyes. “I’m not an easy man. Not a…gentle man.”
“It’s not a game.” Marc slid his hands up Royce’s chest. “And gentle is the last thing I want.”
Royce’s eyes snapped shut as he fought the most animalistic urge surge through his entire body. He wanted his hands and his mouth all over this man, consequences be damned. He jerked him close, felt a rush of hot breath over his lips, and he tried to gather what was left of his control. “I’m not looking for anything more than a fuck.”
“Neither am I,” Marc breathed into his mouth. “This is happening, Royce. I want you to fuck me. Bad. Stay right here.” He leaned in and bit Royce’s lower lip, sucked it into his mouth, then let it go with a pop. “Don’t move while I grab a quick shower.”
He started to walk away but Royce clutched his arm and tugged him back, locking his eyes with startled blue ones. “Just so you know, I like calling the shots. Hurry.”
The shiver that wracked Marc’s frame was so subtle he would have missed it if he hadn’t been paying such close attention. And that wasn’t the only thing. A hint of vulnerability, of unease, flashed over his features. There and gone so fast, it gave Royce pause as he wrestled with the simultaneous needs to fuck and to comfort. This comfort thing he kept feeling was a real problem—one he had decided to never feel again years ago—so he shoved it away, let go of Marc, and began to slowly unbutton his shirt.
That jump-started Marc into motion. He disappeared into the master bathroom and the sound of the shower started fast.
Royce kicked off his shoes and slowly took off his clothes, anticipation blazing through him, burning like an inferno in every inch of his body. He knew, he just knew, that Marc was going to feel magnificent under him as he draped his jacket, shirt and slacks over the chaise. He sat, eyes still locked on the bathroom door as he removed his socks. He stood and slipped off his boxers, then stood in the middle of the room.
When Marc opened the door, he started cursing under his breath as he stared. He seemed to be stuck in the door so Royce motioned him forward. “Lose the towel.”
When that strip of black cotton hit the floor, Royce’s jaw wanted to follow it. Fuck, the man spent his life hunting for beautiful works of art and here he was, walking around as the finest one Royce had seen. At just over six feet, his slim body was a mix of heady, sleek muscles and endless, graceful legs. And his cock. Long and slim like the rest of him with an elegant, slight curve. Royce knew his skin there would be satiny and warm. As his mouth watered, Royce bit down on his lip so he didn’t do something stupid like tell the man how beautiful he was, how he wished he could sculpt in clay because he’d give anything to have that body captured as it was in this moment.
“You’re beautiful,” Marc said, his voice low and rumbly.
He’d read Royce’s mind because there was no way he was talking about his tough, wiry form. Hot, maybe, if someone was into scars and hard edges—but anything other than a thing of beauty.
Thank you so much for reading!
But now that the dust has started to settle, I wanted to take a moment on behalf of Rinda and myself to say Thank You!
Thank you to all the reader who have supported us through 10 books now. Thank you to all the readers who have enjoyed the car chases, explosions, fires, punches, and shootouts. We’ve gone through duct tape, gauze, pain killers, lube, condoms, and soooo much freaking alcohol.
But you’ve also been there for first kisses. First times…
Those first I-love-you’s even if they didn’t always go how the guys would have liked.
You’ve been there for the first proposal. And as Rinda and I keep writing, I hope that we will get to see a few more along with some other firsts.
We hope that you’ve loved the Unbreakable Bonds series and we hope that you’re enjoying the Ward Security series. We’ve still got many more books planned for the future.
At the moment, we are hard at work on
Deadly Dorian
, book 3 of the Ward Security series. We are aiming for a spring launch – likely sometime in April. We’ve got about half the book written and we’re enjoying the exploration of Royce and Marc’s story.The first teaser was actually at the end of Dantès Unglued, as we gave you the first chapter of the new book.
Rinda has also give this snippet to our Facebook Group, Unbreakable Readers.
Hope you enjoy it!
The sheer agony that flashed through Marc’s features managed to crack through a wall Royce had spent years strengthening. His fingers tightened more without him even realizing it until Marc sucked in a soft breath and dropped his gaze to Royce’s mouth.
“The way you’re looking at me,” Royce whispered, unable to disguise the hint of anger in his voice. It came from his utter inability to resist. “You have to stop.”
“I can’t,” he whispered back, staring at Royce’s lips. “I know what I said in my office, but I didn’t mean it. I want you.”
“This is dangerous game you’re playing.” He narrowed his eyes. “I’m not an easy man. Not a…gentle man.”
“It’s not a game.” Marc slid his hands up Royce’s chest. “And gentle is the last thing I want.”
Royce’s eyes snapped shut as he fought the most animalistic urge surge through his entire body. He wanted his hands and his mouth all over this man, consequences be damned. He jerked him close, felt a rush of hot breath over his lips, and he tried to gather what was left of his control. “I’m not looking for anything more than a fuck.”
“Neither am I,” Marc breathed into his mouth. “This is happening, Royce. I want you to fuck me. Bad. Stay right here.” He leaned in and bit Royce’s lower lip, sucked it into his mouth, then let it go with a pop. “Don’t move while I grab a quick shower.”
He started to walk away but Royce clutched his arm and tugged him back, locking his eyes with startled blue ones. “Just so you know, I like calling the shots. Hurry.”
The shiver that wracked Marc’s frame was so subtle he would have missed it if he hadn’t been paying such close attention. And that wasn’t the only thing. A hint of vulnerability, of unease, flashed over his features. There and gone so fast, it gave Royce pause as he wrestled with the simultaneous needs to fuck and to comfort. This comfort thing he kept feeling was a real problem—one he had decided to never feel again years ago—so he shoved it away, let go of Marc, and began to slowly unbutton his shirt.
That jump-started Marc into motion. He disappeared into the master bathroom and the sound of the shower started fast.
Royce kicked off his shoes and slowly took off his clothes, anticipation blazing through him, burning like an inferno in every inch of his body. He knew, he just knew, that Marc was going to feel magnificent under him as he draped his jacket, shirt and slacks over the chaise. He sat, eyes still locked on the bathroom door as he removed his socks. He stood and slipped off his boxers, then stood in the middle of the room.
When Marc opened the door, he started cursing under his breath as he stared. He seemed to be stuck in the door so Royce motioned him forward. “Lose the towel.”
When that strip of black cotton hit the floor, Royce’s jaw wanted to follow it. Fuck, the man spent his life hunting for beautiful works of art and here he was, walking around as the finest one Royce had seen. At just over six feet, his slim body was a mix of heady, sleek muscles and endless, graceful legs. And his cock. Long and slim like the rest of him with an elegant, slight curve. Royce knew his skin there would be satiny and warm. As his mouth watered, Royce bit down on his lip so he didn’t do something stupid like tell the man how beautiful he was, how he wished he could sculpt in clay because he’d give anything to have that body captured as it was in this moment.
“You’re beautiful,” Marc said, his voice low and rumbly.
He’d read Royce’s mind because there was no way he was talking about his tough, wiry form. Hot, maybe, if someone was into scars and hard edges—but anything other than a thing of beauty.
Thank you so much for reading!
January 25, 2018
Dantes Unglued Is Now Available!
Yeah, Rinda did it. She pushed the button early. Dantès Unglued is now available on Amazon and in Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. I will be finishing the final tweaks on the print edition this weekend so that the print edition will be available at the beginning of next week.
If you haven't checked out the book yet, here is a quick description:
When private investigator, Shane Stephens, is hired by the mayor of Cincinnati to track down the hacker who has been threatening him, Shane is sure this is the opportunity to launch the Merleau Detection Agency into the big time. He even convinces Rowe Ward of Ward Security to loan him one of his best IT specialists, Quinn Lake.
Shane, a man who prefers casual intimacy, is surprised by his attraction to the moody computer geek, but when Quinn suggests they have fun for the month he’s on loan, Shane happily agrees. Both men are expecting nothing more than a good time.
But the investigation takes an unexpected turn and they quickly discover they are facing more than a hacker out to ruin the mayor’s re-election chances. And as they spend more time together, they realize their relationship may be a lot more than just a good time.
With only weeks until the election, Shane and Quinn race to gather the proof they need while dodging bullets and possibly…falling in love.
This is the second book within the Ward Security series. It is a stand-alone book so you don't need to read the series in order. But now is a great time to read Psycho Romeo , book 1 of Ward Security, right now. Both are in Kindle Unlimited.
Rinda and I had a lot of fun working on
Dantès Unglued
. In
Psycho Romeo
, there is a rather infamous scene against a door, and now
Dantès Unglued
has a rather interest scene involving an office chair.
And we are now hard at work on the third book in the Ward Security series, Deadly Dorian. We don't have a release date yet but we are aiming for early spring.
We hope you enjoy Shane and Quinn's story!
Happy Reading!
If you haven't checked out the book yet, here is a quick description:
When private investigator, Shane Stephens, is hired by the mayor of Cincinnati to track down the hacker who has been threatening him, Shane is sure this is the opportunity to launch the Merleau Detection Agency into the big time. He even convinces Rowe Ward of Ward Security to loan him one of his best IT specialists, Quinn Lake.
Shane, a man who prefers casual intimacy, is surprised by his attraction to the moody computer geek, but when Quinn suggests they have fun for the month he’s on loan, Shane happily agrees. Both men are expecting nothing more than a good time.
But the investigation takes an unexpected turn and they quickly discover they are facing more than a hacker out to ruin the mayor’s re-election chances. And as they spend more time together, they realize their relationship may be a lot more than just a good time.
With only weeks until the election, Shane and Quinn race to gather the proof they need while dodging bullets and possibly…falling in love.
This is the second book within the Ward Security series. It is a stand-alone book so you don't need to read the series in order. But now is a great time to read Psycho Romeo , book 1 of Ward Security, right now. Both are in Kindle Unlimited.
Rinda and I had a lot of fun working on
Dantès Unglued
. In
Psycho Romeo
, there is a rather infamous scene against a door, and now
Dantès Unglued
has a rather interest scene involving an office chair.And we are now hard at work on the third book in the Ward Security series, Deadly Dorian. We don't have a release date yet but we are aiming for early spring.
We hope you enjoy Shane and Quinn's story!
Happy Reading!
January 19, 2018
Sneak Peek of Dantès Unglued
We are only a week away from the release of Dantès Unglued, book 2 of the Ward Security series. I thought I'd offer up two pieces of fun, good news today. First, if you have not tried the first book in the Ward Security series,
Psycho Romeo
, it is now in the Kindle Unlimited program. If you are part of Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free here. That's plenty of time for you to get ready for the release of Dantès Unglued.
And the second bit of good news is that I've got a little preview of all the goodness that's tucked away in our next book. ENJOY!
Shane sat next to him and put his feet on the small wicker coffee table. He rested the back of his head on the couch and looked at the sky, too. “It’s a beautiful night.”
It was. Stars twinkled like gold and white glitter in the clear sky and it was still warm enough to be comfortable out—though he wouldn’t mind snuggling under a blanket out here. With Shane. His nerves had left. Shane might excite the hell out of him, but he had a welcoming, easy-going nature that put Quinn at ease, too. He rolled his head to look at the man and found him watching him.
And like that, the nerves zapped back to life. The man might talk of no-strings fun, but his dark eyes probed constantly, making him feel like Shane wanted to know everything about him—down to his deepest secrets.
Not that he had that many. He was just an ordinary guy whose life mostly consisted of a great job and caring for his mother in a ridiculously expensive home.
Shane chuckled, breaking into his thoughts. “I’ve developed a strange fetish over your glasses.”
Quinn lifted his eyebrows. “My glasses?”
“Yeah.” He leaned closer, his breath ghosting over Quinn’s lips. “They complement your face perfectly, and I like the way they match your hair. But you know what?” He sat up, plucked them off, and gently placed them on the table. Then he grabbed two fistfuls of Quinn’s shirt and pulled him down on top of him on the couch. “You’re just as gorgeous without them. Your eyes are so blue.”
But Shane was the gorgeous one. With his long, lean and tight body and his dark hair. A hint of scruff had grown on his cheeks and chin, and it looked so good on him. Quinn could never grow any facial hair. He buffed his cheek on Shane’s chin, loving the hint of burn.
They had to shuffle around to fit and finally, Shane opened his legs so Quinn could lie between them. He held his breath as every nerve in his body jumped into a higher state of excitement. “You feel good. Shit, Shane.” He rubbed his rapidly filling dick against the man underneath him, feeling the softness of his balls behind the jeans.
“Yeah,” Shane breathed. “Move on me.” He gripped both globes of Quinn’s ass and squeezed, grinding up into him. One of his hands slid up Quinn’s back to his neck. “Kiss me.”
Quinn didn’t hesitate to slash his lips across Shane’s. Again, he marveled over the way they fit together like perfect puzzle pieces. No matter how he moved his head, Shane followed in sync. Long, drugging kisses followed, one after another, and the whole time Quinn rocked his hips, loving the hard grip of Shane’s long fingers on his ass. He wedged his hand down until he could run it down the side of Shane’s chest, feeling tight muscles and a hint of ribs. Shane’s tongue twined with his and he sucked on it, then remembered what he’d wanted in his mouth earlier.
He pulled back from Shane, loving how the man followed him up, not ready to let go of his lips. He could guess what he looked like, lips swollen, eyes glazed, but however he looked, Shane seemed to like it because his breath caught as he stared. It stopped Quinn a moment as he looked back, something low in his body growing warm.
Less than 7 days from the planned release. Don't miss a second. Sign up for our newsletter. We've got a special giveaway planned this month! And you can catch up on all the fun in our Facebook Group, Unbreakable Readers.
Happy reading!
And the second bit of good news is that I've got a little preview of all the goodness that's tucked away in our next book. ENJOY!
Shane sat next to him and put his feet on the small wicker coffee table. He rested the back of his head on the couch and looked at the sky, too. “It’s a beautiful night.”
It was. Stars twinkled like gold and white glitter in the clear sky and it was still warm enough to be comfortable out—though he wouldn’t mind snuggling under a blanket out here. With Shane. His nerves had left. Shane might excite the hell out of him, but he had a welcoming, easy-going nature that put Quinn at ease, too. He rolled his head to look at the man and found him watching him.
And like that, the nerves zapped back to life. The man might talk of no-strings fun, but his dark eyes probed constantly, making him feel like Shane wanted to know everything about him—down to his deepest secrets.
Not that he had that many. He was just an ordinary guy whose life mostly consisted of a great job and caring for his mother in a ridiculously expensive home.
Shane chuckled, breaking into his thoughts. “I’ve developed a strange fetish over your glasses.”
Quinn lifted his eyebrows. “My glasses?”
“Yeah.” He leaned closer, his breath ghosting over Quinn’s lips. “They complement your face perfectly, and I like the way they match your hair. But you know what?” He sat up, plucked them off, and gently placed them on the table. Then he grabbed two fistfuls of Quinn’s shirt and pulled him down on top of him on the couch. “You’re just as gorgeous without them. Your eyes are so blue.”
But Shane was the gorgeous one. With his long, lean and tight body and his dark hair. A hint of scruff had grown on his cheeks and chin, and it looked so good on him. Quinn could never grow any facial hair. He buffed his cheek on Shane’s chin, loving the hint of burn.
They had to shuffle around to fit and finally, Shane opened his legs so Quinn could lie between them. He held his breath as every nerve in his body jumped into a higher state of excitement. “You feel good. Shit, Shane.” He rubbed his rapidly filling dick against the man underneath him, feeling the softness of his balls behind the jeans.
“Yeah,” Shane breathed. “Move on me.” He gripped both globes of Quinn’s ass and squeezed, grinding up into him. One of his hands slid up Quinn’s back to his neck. “Kiss me.”
Quinn didn’t hesitate to slash his lips across Shane’s. Again, he marveled over the way they fit together like perfect puzzle pieces. No matter how he moved his head, Shane followed in sync. Long, drugging kisses followed, one after another, and the whole time Quinn rocked his hips, loving the hard grip of Shane’s long fingers on his ass. He wedged his hand down until he could run it down the side of Shane’s chest, feeling tight muscles and a hint of ribs. Shane’s tongue twined with his and he sucked on it, then remembered what he’d wanted in his mouth earlier.
He pulled back from Shane, loving how the man followed him up, not ready to let go of his lips. He could guess what he looked like, lips swollen, eyes glazed, but however he looked, Shane seemed to like it because his breath caught as he stared. It stopped Quinn a moment as he looked back, something low in his body growing warm.
Less than 7 days from the planned release. Don't miss a second. Sign up for our newsletter. We've got a special giveaway planned this month! And you can catch up on all the fun in our Facebook Group, Unbreakable Readers.
Happy reading!
January 3, 2018
Happy New Year: 2017 in Review
Happy New Year! 2017 was an amazing roller-coaster ride. I'll have to admit that I'm always glad when the year ends, no matter how good it was. I'm always reading to move on to the next big thing. To push myself to do better next year, to be stronger or braver than I was the year before.
But it never hurts to look back on the year and review all that was accomplished.
The big thing for Rinda and me was saying "goodbye" to the Unbreakable Bonds boys. We released the first book, Shiver, in October 2015 and we had no idea if anyone would read the books or even if we would make it to the final book.
By the time we finished Shatter and Torch at the close of 2016, we were already both wondering how in god's name we were just going to walk away after finishing Ian's book, Devour. We had both fallen in love with Lucas, Snow, Rowe, Ian, and their men so completely. We could hear their voices in our heads and we knew their unique reactions to all the little and big things in life.
So, it was somewhat bittersweet to release Devour in April, which was then followed by Unbreakable Stories: Rowe in June and Unbreakable Stories: Ian in August. It was important to us to have all the boys in a happy place when closed that chapter of their lives.
But we also had a plan.
And that plan was Ward Security.
I think we've batted the idea around for a good chunk of 2016, keeping the possibility of a spin-off series on the back burner. I didn't want to think too much about it until we had Rowe and Ian settled. We knew their stories were going to be complicated and we needed to focus on them to make sure their stories turned out great.
I think we knew before we even finished Torch that the man who was never supposed to get more than one appearance in Shiver was going to end up with his own book.
Geoffrey Ralse was Rinda's creation and he was born larger than life. Every time he stepped onto the page, he just shined. You wanted to know what made him tick, what made him laugh, and who he would eventually fall in love with.
So it was an easy choice to launch the Ward Security series with Psycho Romeo, featuring Geoffrey and Sven, in October. I think we both fell hard for Geoffrey while working on that book. There was so much more to Geoffrey than anyone expected and we loved watching him snag Sven.
And then, of course, the door scene.
Also, in 2017, Rinda and I attended our first GRL Retreat, which was an amazing experience. We met so many wonderful and lovely readers and authors. We laughed and shared secrets. It was an experience that I will never forget.
Looking Ahead to 2018
Naturally, Rinda and I are pushing to surpass all the awesome of 2017 with more books in 2018. And first up is:
Dantès Unglued !
As a New Year surprise, I thought I would share a quick description of the book. This is not the final description.
We are aiming to have the book out in late January if possible. We are not doing a pre-order. As soon as it's ready, we're pushing the button! So you don't miss the release, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. You can also keep up with all the news, snippets, and secrets on our Facebook Group, Unbreakable Readers.
Since we're done writing Shane and Quinn's story, we have already started the third book in the Ward Security series, which is going to be titled...
Deadly Dorian
Seeing a theme here? Yeah, literary characters. Rinda and I are book nerds. We can't help it.
I'm not giving away a book description yet but Rinda and I will admit that this will be Royce's book. Rinda has thoroughly fallen in love with Royce, and I've got to admit that I've kind of fallen head over heels for the man that's going to melt Royce.
If we stay on schedule, Deadly Dorian will be released in late March/early April.
And yes, we know who gets the book after Royce.
No, I'm not telling.
But Rinda already has planned who he's getting matched up with.
So for 2018, we are planning to at least release
Dantès Unglued, Ward Security #2
Deadly Dorian, Ward Security #3
Unnamed Awesome, Ward Security #4
and a super special project....
And maybe some other things, but these are the known projects for the time being that I'm willing to be sneaky about.
So Rinda and I would like to say, thank you for an amazing 2017. Thank you for reading our books. Thank you for falling in love with our boys. Thank you for a year of laughs and happy tears. We hope the new year is amazing for you, filled with love, laughter, friendship, and so many amazing books.
But it never hurts to look back on the year and review all that was accomplished.
The big thing for Rinda and me was saying "goodbye" to the Unbreakable Bonds boys. We released the first book, Shiver, in October 2015 and we had no idea if anyone would read the books or even if we would make it to the final book.
By the time we finished Shatter and Torch at the close of 2016, we were already both wondering how in god's name we were just going to walk away after finishing Ian's book, Devour. We had both fallen in love with Lucas, Snow, Rowe, Ian, and their men so completely. We could hear their voices in our heads and we knew their unique reactions to all the little and big things in life.
So, it was somewhat bittersweet to release Devour in April, which was then followed by Unbreakable Stories: Rowe in June and Unbreakable Stories: Ian in August. It was important to us to have all the boys in a happy place when closed that chapter of their lives.
But we also had a plan.
And that plan was Ward Security.
I think we've batted the idea around for a good chunk of 2016, keeping the possibility of a spin-off series on the back burner. I didn't want to think too much about it until we had Rowe and Ian settled. We knew their stories were going to be complicated and we needed to focus on them to make sure their stories turned out great.
I think we knew before we even finished Torch that the man who was never supposed to get more than one appearance in Shiver was going to end up with his own book.
Geoffrey Ralse was Rinda's creation and he was born larger than life. Every time he stepped onto the page, he just shined. You wanted to know what made him tick, what made him laugh, and who he would eventually fall in love with.
So it was an easy choice to launch the Ward Security series with Psycho Romeo, featuring Geoffrey and Sven, in October. I think we both fell hard for Geoffrey while working on that book. There was so much more to Geoffrey than anyone expected and we loved watching him snag Sven.
And then, of course, the door scene.
Also, in 2017, Rinda and I attended our first GRL Retreat, which was an amazing experience. We met so many wonderful and lovely readers and authors. We laughed and shared secrets. It was an experience that I will never forget.
Looking Ahead to 2018
Naturally, Rinda and I are pushing to surpass all the awesome of 2017 with more books in 2018. And first up is:
Dantès Unglued !
As a New Year surprise, I thought I would share a quick description of the book. This is not the final description.
When Private Investigator, Shane Stephens, is hired by the mayor of Cincinnati to track down the hacker who has been threatening him, Shane is sure this is the opportunity to launch the Merleau Detection Agency into the big time. He even convinces Rowe Ward of Ward Security to loan him one of his best IT specialists, Quinn Lake.
Shane, a man who prefers casual intimacy, is surprised by his attraction to the moody computer geek, but when Quinn suggests they have fun for the month he's on loan, Shane happily agrees. Both men are expecting nothing more than a good time.
But the investigation takes an unexpected turn and they quickly discover they are facing more than a hacker out to ruin the mayor’s re-election chances. And as they grow more intimate, they realize their relationship may be a lot more than just a good time.
With only weeks until the election, Shane and Quinn race to gather the proof they need while dodging bullets and possibly... falling in love.
We are aiming to have the book out in late January if possible. We are not doing a pre-order. As soon as it's ready, we're pushing the button! So you don't miss the release, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. You can also keep up with all the news, snippets, and secrets on our Facebook Group, Unbreakable Readers.
Since we're done writing Shane and Quinn's story, we have already started the third book in the Ward Security series, which is going to be titled...
Deadly Dorian
Seeing a theme here? Yeah, literary characters. Rinda and I are book nerds. We can't help it.
I'm not giving away a book description yet but Rinda and I will admit that this will be Royce's book. Rinda has thoroughly fallen in love with Royce, and I've got to admit that I've kind of fallen head over heels for the man that's going to melt Royce.
If we stay on schedule, Deadly Dorian will be released in late March/early April.
And yes, we know who gets the book after Royce.
No, I'm not telling.
But Rinda already has planned who he's getting matched up with.
So for 2018, we are planning to at least release
Dantès Unglued, Ward Security #2
Deadly Dorian, Ward Security #3
Unnamed Awesome, Ward Security #4
and a super special project....
And maybe some other things, but these are the known projects for the time being that I'm willing to be sneaky about.
So Rinda and I would like to say, thank you for an amazing 2017. Thank you for reading our books. Thank you for falling in love with our boys. Thank you for a year of laughs and happy tears. We hope the new year is amazing for you, filled with love, laughter, friendship, and so many amazing books.
November 21, 2017
New Release: Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe
It's time! It's time to finally start talking about the holiday season because Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe is finally out! It's release day, which is naturally the best day of the week.
I am excited for the world to finally meet Oz and to learn more details about John. John Sullivan was first introduced as Spenser Roland's best friend in Walking on Thin Ice .
After writing Spenser's story, I knew I would have to circle around and give all the details about John and how that wicked, fun man fell in love ... and then lost that love.
If you haven't heard all the details for John's book, here's a quick description:
John Sullivan is escaping to Denver. Even with a massive snow storm on his heels, he plans to hide away in his cabin in the mountains and ignore Christmas. It’ll be just him and a bottle of whiskey until the new year when he must return to Cincinnati for his best friend’s wedding.
At least, that’s the plan until he runs into Oz at the airport.
Oz … the man who should have been just a fling. The man who was fun and laughs but quickly turned into so much more before he completely kicked John out of his life.
Oz who desperately needs his help…
John is ready to leave Oz stranded at the Denver airport in the coming blizzard, but he finds himself possibly staring down at the reason Oz pushed him away, and John can’t say no.
Second chances don’t come around often, but John is willing to fight for one with Oz.
If you would like to pick up your copy, please click here.
In the meantime, Rinda and I are hard at work on the second book for the Ward Security series. We hope that you enjoy Psycho Romeo as well as the books of the Unbreakable Bonds Series. I may have even sneaked out a special short story for the boys regarding someone's engagement announcement.
Once we finish Shane and Quinn's book for Ward Security, I'm going to start plotting next year's Christmas novella. It will be my last one, finishing out my holiday trilogy, and then I'm off to make some new mischief.
Happy Release Day! Happy Reading!
I am excited for the world to finally meet Oz and to learn more details about John. John Sullivan was first introduced as Spenser Roland's best friend in Walking on Thin Ice .
After writing Spenser's story, I knew I would have to circle around and give all the details about John and how that wicked, fun man fell in love ... and then lost that love.
If you haven't heard all the details for John's book, here's a quick description:
John Sullivan is escaping to Denver. Even with a massive snow storm on his heels, he plans to hide away in his cabin in the mountains and ignore Christmas. It’ll be just him and a bottle of whiskey until the new year when he must return to Cincinnati for his best friend’s wedding.At least, that’s the plan until he runs into Oz at the airport.
Oz … the man who should have been just a fling. The man who was fun and laughs but quickly turned into so much more before he completely kicked John out of his life.
Oz who desperately needs his help…
John is ready to leave Oz stranded at the Denver airport in the coming blizzard, but he finds himself possibly staring down at the reason Oz pushed him away, and John can’t say no.
Second chances don’t come around often, but John is willing to fight for one with Oz.
If you would like to pick up your copy, please click here.
In the meantime, Rinda and I are hard at work on the second book for the Ward Security series. We hope that you enjoy Psycho Romeo as well as the books of the Unbreakable Bonds Series. I may have even sneaked out a special short story for the boys regarding someone's engagement announcement.
Once we finish Shane and Quinn's book for Ward Security, I'm going to start plotting next year's Christmas novella. It will be my last one, finishing out my holiday trilogy, and then I'm off to make some new mischief.
Happy Release Day! Happy Reading!
October 27, 2017
Psycho Romeo: Happy Release Day!
It has been a long wait but it is finally here! It is release day for Psycho Romeo!
Actually, October 27th is an incredibly important day for several reasons.
It's the release of Psycho Romeo - your chance to catch the full story of Sven and Geoffrey.
It's the official launch of the new Ward Security series, which we hope has many more books in the future.
And... it is the two-year anniversary of the release of Shiver , book 1 of the Unbreakable Bonds series. Shiver is the book that started it all. It's the first book that Rinda and I wrote together. It's the first book that I've ever attempted to write with anyone. It's my first gay romance. And it's the first book to bring the Unbreakable Readers into my life.
Now... fast-forward two years and we've got five full-length novels out and four short story/novella collections out. And we're already hard at work on the second book in the Ward Security series.
But today is Geoffrey and Sven's day!
Have you picked up your copy?
If this is the first you're heading of Psycho Romeo, here is a quick description:
Sounds like a lot of fun, right?!?!
You can pick up your copy here:
[button link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075QFW9FL/"] Amazon[/button]
[button link="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/psyc..."] Barnes & Noble[/button]
[button link="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/psyc..."] iBooks[/button]
[button link="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/psyc..."] Kobo[/button]
In the meantime, Rinda and I need to get back to writing. We are hoping to release the next book in the series this winter!
Happy reading! And happy release day!
Actually, October 27th is an incredibly important day for several reasons.
It's the release of Psycho Romeo - your chance to catch the full story of Sven and Geoffrey.
It's the official launch of the new Ward Security series, which we hope has many more books in the future.
And... it is the two-year anniversary of the release of Shiver , book 1 of the Unbreakable Bonds series. Shiver is the book that started it all. It's the first book that Rinda and I wrote together. It's the first book that I've ever attempted to write with anyone. It's my first gay romance. And it's the first book to bring the Unbreakable Readers into my life.
Now... fast-forward two years and we've got five full-length novels out and four short story/novella collections out. And we're already hard at work on the second book in the Ward Security series.
But today is Geoffrey and Sven's day!
Have you picked up your copy?
If this is the first you're heading of Psycho Romeo, here is a quick description:
Geoffrey Ralse is known for being the life of the party. He loves the club scene, hanging with his friends, and flirting with whomever catches his eye. He certainly isn’t going to stop living his life just because some would-be stalker starts sending him threats.
But it all changes when Geoffrey is drugged and wakes up half naked in his own home with a new message from his stalker.
He needs help and there’s only one person he trusts…
Protective Agent Sven Larsen has been fighting Geoffrey’s flirtatious advances for months, even though he’s impossibly drawn to the man. There’s no way he can be around him twenty-four/seven and not finally crack. But one look at Geoffrey’s haunted eyes, and he knows there’s no way he’s letting Geoffrey walk out of Ward Security without him.
Even if it means breaking his own rules, he will keep Geoffrey safe.
Sounds like a lot of fun, right?!?!
You can pick up your copy here:
[button link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075QFW9FL/"] Amazon[/button]
[button link="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/psyc..."] Barnes & Noble[/button]
[button link="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/psyc..."] iBooks[/button]
[button link="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/psyc..."] Kobo[/button]
In the meantime, Rinda and I need to get back to writing. We are hoping to release the next book in the series this winter!
Happy reading! And happy release day!
Announcements
A place to keep updated on the latest happenings in my world.
- Jocelynn Drake's profile
- 2872 followers
