Jocelynn Drake's Blog: Announcements, page 16
October 21, 2017
Are You Ready for a Psycho Romeo Excerpt?
We have less than 6 days until
Psycho Romeo
is finally released!
That means that Rinda and I are way overdue for an excerpt to this book.
Would you like to get a little glimpse of the first book of the Ward Security series? Yeah... that's what I thought.
Enjoy!
“I checked all the rooms before I left,” Geoffrey said.
“But if he has a key, he could have returned while you were gone.” He paused again and looked over his shoulder at Geoffrey. “You will stay behind me until I clear the entire house.”
Geoffrey’s grin returned and he pointedly looked down at Sven’s ass. “That’s not a hardship.”
Sven could feel the blush fill his cheeks as he jerked his head back around to face the door. He wouldn’t allow himself to say anything, not that he could even begin to think of what he could say to something like that. Rowe would have some cheeky remark and probably give a little wiggle of his ass, while Andrei would probably have some appropriately chilling comment that would have put the boundaries firmly back in place. Clenching his teeth, Sven opened the door and led the way through the house with Geoffrey following. Geoffrey only spoke to label each room—guest bedroom, office, master bedroom, media room, Finn’s room, and so on. While his focus was on checking every potential hiding place and window, he noted that the entire house had a free and open feeling to it. The furnishings were mostly whites, tans, and pale grays. There were even more windows at the back of the house, looking out on a courtyard with a swimming pool. And the entire property was surrounded by trees. No way of easily seeing anyone who might be out there watching the house.
“We need to secure the house,” Sven announced as they returned to the living room. He watched Geoffrey flop down on the sofa, his arms resting along the back and his head tilted so he could stare at Sven from under some of his thick blond hair.
“I was going to call a locksmith to install some new locks, but I wanted to wait to see if you had some suggestions.”
“You need more than locks.”
Geoffrey dropped his arms and shifted to the edge of the sofa, his eyes narrowing. “What do you want to do to my house?” he asked softly.
“You need an entire home security system, Mr. Ralse,” Sven said, proud that he managed to remember to use the client’s last name.
“And what does that entail, Mister Larsen?” It sounded like Geoffrey was grinding his last name between his teeth.
“It’s more than locks. You need a home security system on all the doors and windows. You need motion-sensor lights on the front and rear of the house. Considering the threat and the fact that you don’t know who it is, we would be wise to also place a few video cameras on the exterior of the house that can be monitored. We—”
“Are you shitting me?” Geoffrey yelled, launching to his feet. He paced away, moving in front of the large windows and doors that led to the courtyard. Sven flinched, fighting the urge to put his larger frame in front of Geoffrey’s as he moved. “Cameras? Motion-sensor lights? What’s next? An electrified barbed-wire fence? Or maybe a few guard dogs to patrol the grounds? Oh! Wait!” Geoffrey swung back toward Sven and threw his arms up as he spoke. “A fucking moat!”
“Mr. Ralse—”
Geoffrey ignored him, pulling his phone out of his back pocket. “Let me just call for the backhoe now. We can break ground on the trench before it gets dark. We could even fill it with salt water and get a few sharks to swim in it.”
“Mr. Ralse, I’m only thinking of your protection,” Sven said, keeping his voice low and even.
“Exactly! I’m the fucking victim here whether you or Rowe or the cops want to believe it, but you’re turning me into a goddamn prisoner like it’s my fault.”
“I believe you,” he whispered.
Those three words seemed to stop Geoffrey short. He stood in the middle of the living room, his eyes filled with confusion and surprise as he stared up at Sven. “What?” he said, but Sven couldn’t actually hear him. The word was more of an expulsion of air than sound.
Cursing himself, Sven gave in to the temptation to finally close the distance between them and put his hand on Geoffrey’s shoulder. “I believe you,” he repeated with a little more force. He squeezed, his mind briefly marveling at the feel of strong, tense muscles wrapped around slender, delicate shoulders. He wanted to let his hand linger.
“Why?”
Sven opened his mouth, but no words came out. He couldn’t explain why he believed Geoffrey’s story of the stalker and being drugged at the club. He wanted to say that he knew Geoffrey wouldn’t fabricate something like this or something more profound, but he couldn’t.
He didn’t know this man. Not really. He came in a couple of times a week for an hour or two of self-defense training. He flirted and joked, but there was a kindness behind it all. A hidden sweetness that was buried under all the sexual innuendo and bluster. But he couldn’t explain how he knew, at least not so that anyone would understand or believe him. So he kept his mouth shut.
Have you pre-ordered your copy of Psycho Romeo yet? It's not too late to lock in your copy. Click here to order yours.
Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Keep up on all our news and latest announcements. Click here to sign up now!
That means that Rinda and I are way overdue for an excerpt to this book.
Would you like to get a little glimpse of the first book of the Ward Security series? Yeah... that's what I thought.
Enjoy!
“I checked all the rooms before I left,” Geoffrey said.“But if he has a key, he could have returned while you were gone.” He paused again and looked over his shoulder at Geoffrey. “You will stay behind me until I clear the entire house.”
Geoffrey’s grin returned and he pointedly looked down at Sven’s ass. “That’s not a hardship.”
Sven could feel the blush fill his cheeks as he jerked his head back around to face the door. He wouldn’t allow himself to say anything, not that he could even begin to think of what he could say to something like that. Rowe would have some cheeky remark and probably give a little wiggle of his ass, while Andrei would probably have some appropriately chilling comment that would have put the boundaries firmly back in place. Clenching his teeth, Sven opened the door and led the way through the house with Geoffrey following. Geoffrey only spoke to label each room—guest bedroom, office, master bedroom, media room, Finn’s room, and so on. While his focus was on checking every potential hiding place and window, he noted that the entire house had a free and open feeling to it. The furnishings were mostly whites, tans, and pale grays. There were even more windows at the back of the house, looking out on a courtyard with a swimming pool. And the entire property was surrounded by trees. No way of easily seeing anyone who might be out there watching the house.
“We need to secure the house,” Sven announced as they returned to the living room. He watched Geoffrey flop down on the sofa, his arms resting along the back and his head tilted so he could stare at Sven from under some of his thick blond hair.
“I was going to call a locksmith to install some new locks, but I wanted to wait to see if you had some suggestions.”
“You need more than locks.”
Geoffrey dropped his arms and shifted to the edge of the sofa, his eyes narrowing. “What do you want to do to my house?” he asked softly.
“You need an entire home security system, Mr. Ralse,” Sven said, proud that he managed to remember to use the client’s last name.
“And what does that entail, Mister Larsen?” It sounded like Geoffrey was grinding his last name between his teeth.
“It’s more than locks. You need a home security system on all the doors and windows. You need motion-sensor lights on the front and rear of the house. Considering the threat and the fact that you don’t know who it is, we would be wise to also place a few video cameras on the exterior of the house that can be monitored. We—”
“Are you shitting me?” Geoffrey yelled, launching to his feet. He paced away, moving in front of the large windows and doors that led to the courtyard. Sven flinched, fighting the urge to put his larger frame in front of Geoffrey’s as he moved. “Cameras? Motion-sensor lights? What’s next? An electrified barbed-wire fence? Or maybe a few guard dogs to patrol the grounds? Oh! Wait!” Geoffrey swung back toward Sven and threw his arms up as he spoke. “A fucking moat!”
“Mr. Ralse—”
Geoffrey ignored him, pulling his phone out of his back pocket. “Let me just call for the backhoe now. We can break ground on the trench before it gets dark. We could even fill it with salt water and get a few sharks to swim in it.”
“Mr. Ralse, I’m only thinking of your protection,” Sven said, keeping his voice low and even.
“Exactly! I’m the fucking victim here whether you or Rowe or the cops want to believe it, but you’re turning me into a goddamn prisoner like it’s my fault.”
“I believe you,” he whispered.
Those three words seemed to stop Geoffrey short. He stood in the middle of the living room, his eyes filled with confusion and surprise as he stared up at Sven. “What?” he said, but Sven couldn’t actually hear him. The word was more of an expulsion of air than sound.
Cursing himself, Sven gave in to the temptation to finally close the distance between them and put his hand on Geoffrey’s shoulder. “I believe you,” he repeated with a little more force. He squeezed, his mind briefly marveling at the feel of strong, tense muscles wrapped around slender, delicate shoulders. He wanted to let his hand linger.
“Why?”
Sven opened his mouth, but no words came out. He couldn’t explain why he believed Geoffrey’s story of the stalker and being drugged at the club. He wanted to say that he knew Geoffrey wouldn’t fabricate something like this or something more profound, but he couldn’t.
He didn’t know this man. Not really. He came in a couple of times a week for an hour or two of self-defense training. He flirted and joked, but there was a kindness behind it all. A hidden sweetness that was buried under all the sexual innuendo and bluster. But he couldn’t explain how he knew, at least not so that anyone would understand or believe him. So he kept his mouth shut.
Have you pre-ordered your copy of Psycho Romeo yet? It's not too late to lock in your copy. Click here to order yours.
Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Keep up on all our news and latest announcements. Click here to sign up now!
September 29, 2017
We’ve Got Gear and Swag
Rinda and I are taking a short breather. (I promise it’s really, really short!)
In 2017, we finished Devour, Unbreakable Stories: Rowe, Unbreakable Stories: Ian, and Psycho Romeo – the first book in our new Ward Security series.
We’re finalizing all our prep for the GRL Retreat (OMG! We’re bringing so much stuff!)
I personally put the finishing touches on my next Christmas novella, Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe .
My brain wasn’t ready to jump in and plot the second book of Ward Security. (But I’m getting there.)
So while Rinda and I were letting our brains cool off from all the crazy, we decided to leap into a brand new crazy project.
When we were working on the Unbreakable Bonds series — and now the Ward Security series — we often said that the characters and their world feel real to us.
Ian has these crazy aprons and we want them. I want a little something with Shiver’s logo on it so I could feel like I hung out at the nightclub one night with Lucas and Snow.
The first step was making the Ward Security T-shirts. (And I feel like Rowe would be proud of those.)
But we wanted more…
So we opened a storefront on Zazzle and offer some Unbreakable Bonds and Ward Security swag.
And it was like kicking open Pandora’s box … but in a good way.
We started Drake & Elliott, which offers a diverse collection of Unbreakable Bonds and Ward Security items.
Now you can have a Ward Security T-shirt.
Or one of Ian’s aprons.
Or a keychain with Shiver’s logo to prove that you were there before it burned down.
Or a wine bottle stopper from Rialto to prove that you’re a fan of Ian’s cooking.
Don’t worry. We’re not going to quit our “dayjob” of writing books. We’ve got sooooo many books planned. We’re going to be supplying readers with sexy romance and explosions for quite a long time.
But if you want a little piece of the boys, here’s a way to keep them with you all the time. We hope you like the swag we created.
Check out Drake & Elliott.
And we sure to come back often in October. We’ll be sharing secrets, insights, and snippets from Psycho Romeo as we get closer to the release date of October 27!
In 2017, we finished Devour, Unbreakable Stories: Rowe, Unbreakable Stories: Ian, and Psycho Romeo – the first book in our new Ward Security series.
We’re finalizing all our prep for the GRL Retreat (OMG! We’re bringing so much stuff!)
I personally put the finishing touches on my next Christmas novella, Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe .
My brain wasn’t ready to jump in and plot the second book of Ward Security. (But I’m getting there.)
So while Rinda and I were letting our brains cool off from all the crazy, we decided to leap into a brand new crazy project.
When we were working on the Unbreakable Bonds series — and now the Ward Security series — we often said that the characters and their world feel real to us.
Ian has these crazy aprons and we want them. I want a little something with Shiver’s logo on it so I could feel like I hung out at the nightclub one night with Lucas and Snow.
The first step was making the Ward Security T-shirts. (And I feel like Rowe would be proud of those.)
But we wanted more…
So we opened a storefront on Zazzle and offer some Unbreakable Bonds and Ward Security swag.
And it was like kicking open Pandora’s box … but in a good way.We started Drake & Elliott, which offers a diverse collection of Unbreakable Bonds and Ward Security items.
Now you can have a Ward Security T-shirt.
Or one of Ian’s aprons.
Or a keychain with Shiver’s logo to prove that you were there before it burned down.
Or a wine bottle stopper from Rialto to prove that you’re a fan of Ian’s cooking.
Don’t worry. We’re not going to quit our “dayjob” of writing books. We’ve got sooooo many books planned. We’re going to be supplying readers with sexy romance and explosions for quite a long time.
But if you want a little piece of the boys, here’s a way to keep them with you all the time. We hope you like the swag we created.
Check out Drake & Elliott.
And we sure to come back often in October. We’ll be sharing secrets, insights, and snippets from Psycho Romeo as we get closer to the release date of October 27!
September 20, 2017
Let's Not Talk About Christmas Yet
It’s too early to think about Christmas. I totally agree. I’m sitting in South Florida and we’re still regularly hitting 90 degrees each day. I haven’t even considered my Halloween costume yet and I’ve got at least two months before I have to stress about what gifts I’m buying this year.
It’s too early to think about Christmas … but I have to.
You see, I have to plan ahead if I’m going to hit certain deadlines.
Like many authors, I’ve still got a dayjob where I put in a solid 50+ hours each week.
And I’ve got the nightjob of writing books, such as the Unbreakable Bonds series, with Rinda.
And of course… I like to write a few side projects of my own because really… who needs sleep?
So in January, I start plotting out that year’s Christmas novella. By March, I start actually writing little bits here and there with the goal of hitting around 40,000 words. By summer, I schedule the editors because their time is filling up. And by the end of summer, I’ve ordered the cover from my designer.
I work to get all these ducks in a row so that I can hit the release date of Thanksgiving week.
Why?
Black Friday.
Yep. By Black Friday, people have started to accept the fact that Christmas is coming. They want to watch holiday movies. Buy gifts. And read holiday books.
So while it’s early… I’ve got this year’s Christmas novella all set up plus an extra surprise.
This year’s novella is called: Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe . It is slated for released on Tuesday, November 21.
I am particularly happy with the cover this year.
And here is a quick description of the book:
If you read last year’s Walking on Thin Ice, you have already met John. He is Spenser Roland’s best friend.
And if you haven’t read Walking on Thin Ice , now is a great time. I have just placed the book in the Kindle Unlimited program. You can read it for free before grabbing John and Oz’s story.
While it’s too early to think about Christmas, you can always pre-order Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe now and then it will appear on your reader when it releases… like Christmas magic.
It’s too early to think about Christmas … but I have to.
You see, I have to plan ahead if I’m going to hit certain deadlines.
Like many authors, I’ve still got a dayjob where I put in a solid 50+ hours each week.
And I’ve got the nightjob of writing books, such as the Unbreakable Bonds series, with Rinda.
And of course… I like to write a few side projects of my own because really… who needs sleep?
So in January, I start plotting out that year’s Christmas novella. By March, I start actually writing little bits here and there with the goal of hitting around 40,000 words. By summer, I schedule the editors because their time is filling up. And by the end of summer, I’ve ordered the cover from my designer.
I work to get all these ducks in a row so that I can hit the release date of Thanksgiving week.
Why?
Black Friday.
Yep. By Black Friday, people have started to accept the fact that Christmas is coming. They want to watch holiday movies. Buy gifts. And read holiday books.
So while it’s early… I’ve got this year’s Christmas novella all set up plus an extra surprise.
This year’s novella is called: Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe . It is slated for released on Tuesday, November 21.
I am particularly happy with the cover this year.
And here is a quick description of the book:
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 read last year’s Walking on Thin Ice, you have already met John. He is Spenser Roland’s best friend.
And if you haven’t read Walking on Thin Ice , now is a great time. I have just placed the book in the Kindle Unlimited program. You can read it for free before grabbing John and Oz’s story.
While it’s too early to think about Christmas, you can always pre-order Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe now and then it will appear on your reader when it releases… like Christmas magic.
August 4, 2017
Unbreakable Stories: Ian Is Now Available
Did you hear the amazing news?
Unbreakable Stories: Ian is finally available! Yep, the Unbreakable Bonds series is now complete with the release of this short story collection.
Unbreakable Stories: Ian is a collection of short stories following the ups and downs of Ian Pierce and Hollis Banner has they navigate their new relationship and the unique complications of dating with a brunch of overprotective “brothers” determined to guard Ian’s heart.
This collection is more than 38,000 words and contains short stories such as:
Midnight Perp
No Boyfriends Allowed
A Night Off
Taking It Slow
This is Us
And a very special bonus.
Rinda and I made sure to include all the guys in the novella, This is Us, so that you have one last chance to visit with all the boys.
If you haven't picked up you copy yet, you can get the collection at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
iBooks is coming soon
But don't worry. Rinda and I have a lot more books planned in the future. We are currently hard at work on the first book in the Ward Security series, which we are hoping to release this fall. With Ward Security, you'll get glimpses of the characters from the Unbreakable Bonds series plus get a whole lot more fun.
Unbreakable Stories: Ian is finally available! Yep, the Unbreakable Bonds series is now complete with the release of this short story collection.
Unbreakable Stories: Ian is a collection of short stories following the ups and downs of Ian Pierce and Hollis Banner has they navigate their new relationship and the unique complications of dating with a brunch of overprotective “brothers” determined to guard Ian’s heart.This collection is more than 38,000 words and contains short stories such as:
Midnight Perp
No Boyfriends Allowed
A Night Off
Taking It Slow
This is Us
And a very special bonus.
Rinda and I made sure to include all the guys in the novella, This is Us, so that you have one last chance to visit with all the boys.
If you haven't picked up you copy yet, you can get the collection at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
iBooks is coming soon
But don't worry. Rinda and I have a lot more books planned in the future. We are currently hard at work on the first book in the Ward Security series, which we are hoping to release this fall. With Ward Security, you'll get glimpses of the characters from the Unbreakable Bonds series plus get a whole lot more fun.
July 16, 2017
Last Day of Book Sale
Time is running out!
To celebrate the upcoming release of Unbreakable Stories: Ian, Rinda and I decided to put Shiver and Shatter (books 1 and 2 of the Unbreakable Bonds series) on sale for only $0.99.
Now is the perfect time to start the Unbreakable Bonds series! Do you have a friend who has been considering the series? Do you know someone who hasn’t tried the series yet?
Tell them to jump on Shiver and Shatter today!
On Monday, we will be lifting the price of Shiver back to $4.99.
Shatter will go back to $4.99 later in the week.
If you haven’t read Shiver, you are missing moments like….
And if you haven’t read Shatter, you are missing moments like…
Maybe you have read both the first two books and you’re wondering: HOW CAN I GET MORE OF THE UNBREAKABLE BOYS RIGHT NOW?!?!??!?!
We can help. The series is nearly complete now. Here is the reading list
Shiver
Unbreakable Stories: Lucas
Shatter
Unbreakable Stories: Snow
Torch
Devour
Unbreakable Stories: Rowe
Unbreakable Stories: Ian – coming in August
But that’s not everything. Later this fall, we will be releasing the first book in the spin-off series, Ward Security. We have not announced a title or a release date yet, but here is a quick description:
There’s still so much to come and read.
To keep updated, check out our Facebook Group – Unbreakable Readers – where we post inspirational images, sneak peeks of upcoming books, and just have fun.
You can also sign up for our newsletter. We send it out only a few times a year to announce the release of new books, give important updates, and other great news. Click here to sign up for the newsletter.
To celebrate the upcoming release of Unbreakable Stories: Ian, Rinda and I decided to put Shiver and Shatter (books 1 and 2 of the Unbreakable Bonds series) on sale for only $0.99.
Now is the perfect time to start the Unbreakable Bonds series! Do you have a friend who has been considering the series? Do you know someone who hasn’t tried the series yet?
Tell them to jump on Shiver and Shatter today!
On Monday, we will be lifting the price of Shiver back to $4.99.
Shatter will go back to $4.99 later in the week.
If you haven’t read Shiver, you are missing moments like….
And if you haven’t read Shatter, you are missing moments like…
Maybe you have read both the first two books and you’re wondering: HOW CAN I GET MORE OF THE UNBREAKABLE BOYS RIGHT NOW?!?!??!?!
We can help. The series is nearly complete now. Here is the reading list
Shiver
Unbreakable Stories: Lucas
Shatter
Unbreakable Stories: Snow
Torch
Devour
Unbreakable Stories: Rowe
Unbreakable Stories: Ian – coming in August
But that’s not everything. Later this fall, we will be releasing the first book in the spin-off series, Ward Security. We have not announced a title or a release date yet, but here is a quick description:
Geoffrey didn’t take much in life seriously. He liked hitting the clubs, partying, and laughs. That’s why the idea of a stalker seemed so ridiculous. Why would anyone stalk him? But when he gets drugged while out partying with friends and wakes up in his own bed, almost naked, with no memory of who got him home, he realizes that he needs help fast. The only problem is getting someone to believe him. After being blown off by the police, Geoffrey turns to Ward Security.
Sven has been with Ward Security for less than two years. He loves his job, thinks he has a great boss, and enjoys teaching the self-defense classes. But he doesn’t want anything to do with the slender young man with sexiest mouth he’s ever seen.
However, he’s willing to put his own fears and discomfort aside to help protect Geoffrey as they uncover who is threatening his life.
There’s still so much to come and read.
To keep updated, check out our Facebook Group – Unbreakable Readers – where we post inspirational images, sneak peeks of upcoming books, and just have fun.
You can also sign up for our newsletter. We send it out only a few times a year to announce the release of new books, give important updates, and other great news. Click here to sign up for the newsletter.
July 6, 2017
The Many Voices in My Head
Judging by the title, you’d think this was a conversation about my need for better medication. But that’s just boring.
No, this is about the characters that come whispering to me about new story ideas, and since Rinda and I have written the Unbreakable Bonds series, the noise in my head has gotten quite loud… but only because the boys love to argue.
I can’t tell you where my ideas come from. Sometimes I’m flipping through a magazine, sometimes I’m taking a walk, and other times I’m flipping the channels on the TV. It could be an image or a phrase that I hear that’s enough to spark an idea.
This time, it was an avalanche of information pouring through my brain.
It started as a new Unbreakable Bonds spin-off series idea, but to make it happen, I needed two other books to happen first in Ward Security, and insanely enough, I had two book plots pop into my head to meet that need.
So at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, I started writing. I wrote a 3,000-word pitch that gave an overview of two new books for Ward Security along with a new series. It was 2 a.m. when I finally stopped writing, but I’m happy to say that the pitch included:
"..., they fall in love, you let me shoot something or set it on fire, yadda yadda…HEA"
This is why I love Rinda. She lets me shoot characters and set things on fire.
But the pitch for the new series started with Lucas Vallois telling me a story of a secret meeting.
Yeah, I wrote Rinda a story.
Because that’s how I saw it first.
It was the birth of a series and I wanted Rinda to be a part of it too, and the easiest way, the most fun way to do it was to tell it as a story.
To start, this idea was Lucas whispering to me about a meeting, about secrets, danger, and a future that I can’t wait to see.
But Lucas is my “big idea, make a tight plan” kind of guy.
There has to be trouble. Things have to go wrong. Shots have to be fired. That’s where Rowe tends to step in. Rowe starts whispering in my ear about car explosions, kidnappings, and shots fired. (Of course, Noah is never far away, stirring the pot if Rowe isn’t being bombastic enough.)
Snow is my angst boy. He’s the one telling me to say “fuck it all” and walk away from the relationship when things feel hinky. The “we’re better off on our own, can’t trust anyone” guy.
And finally, Andrei is my voice of reason (when he’s not trying to seduce Lucas).
So… when I’m plotting, it kind of sounds like this in my head:
Lucas: There’s a meeting called by someone that I definitely don’t trust. He knows too much about our past, but I think he has a proposal that could be worth hearing out — something that could make a huge difference.
Rowe: Shoot him first. Totally don’t trust this dipstick. Shoot him now.
Lucas: I’m not killing him just because I don’t trust him.
Rowe: I didn’t say kill. I was thinking kneecap. Ooooo! The shoulder! Then he can’t shoot you. He’ll be in pain and tell you everything. And don’t forget the duct tape! Oh never mind, I’m coming along.
Lucas: (rolls eyes) You’re not coming. No shooting. No duct tape.
Noah: You’re right. We’re both coming with you and I’m bringing the rainbow duct tape.
Lucas: Fuck.
Snow: Don’t go. You don’t need to hear out his proposal if he’s starting with blackmail. We don’t need him.
Lucas: I’m going. I think he’s got a good point.
Snow. Fuck him.
Rowe: I hate to agree with, Frosty, but he’s right. Don’t go or just shoot him.
Snow: Shut up, Rowan.
Andrei: Go to the meeting and take Noah.
Lucas: I—
Andrei: Noah will set up across the street as a sniper. He can provide cover just in case and this guy will never know. Noah will make sure you come home safe to me.
Lucas: Love you, baby.
Andrei: Love y—
Snow/Noah/Rowe: (groan in unison.)
As you can see, plotting isn’t exactly fast, but it’s entertaining. Jude will occasionally pop in to temper Snow. Ian and Hollis don’t talk to me too much yet, but that’ll change.
But long story short… Rinda and I are hard at work on the first book in the Ward Series featuring Geoffrey and Sven. We are still aiming for an autumn release. We are hoping to write several books for the Ward Security, which will undoubtedly include cameos of the Unbreakable Boys.
And then, we have a potential second spin-off series waiting in the wings for just the right timing.
If you were worried that Rinda and I were done following the completion of the Unbreakable Bonds series, don’t. We’ve got many more books coming…
Happy reading!
No, this is about the characters that come whispering to me about new story ideas, and since Rinda and I have written the Unbreakable Bonds series, the noise in my head has gotten quite loud… but only because the boys love to argue.
I can’t tell you where my ideas come from. Sometimes I’m flipping through a magazine, sometimes I’m taking a walk, and other times I’m flipping the channels on the TV. It could be an image or a phrase that I hear that’s enough to spark an idea.
This time, it was an avalanche of information pouring through my brain.
It started as a new Unbreakable Bonds spin-off series idea, but to make it happen, I needed two other books to happen first in Ward Security, and insanely enough, I had two book plots pop into my head to meet that need.
So at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, I started writing. I wrote a 3,000-word pitch that gave an overview of two new books for Ward Security along with a new series. It was 2 a.m. when I finally stopped writing, but I’m happy to say that the pitch included:
"..., they fall in love, you let me shoot something or set it on fire, yadda yadda…HEA"
This is why I love Rinda. She lets me shoot characters and set things on fire.
But the pitch for the new series started with Lucas Vallois telling me a story of a secret meeting.
Yeah, I wrote Rinda a story.
Because that’s how I saw it first.
It was the birth of a series and I wanted Rinda to be a part of it too, and the easiest way, the most fun way to do it was to tell it as a story.
To start, this idea was Lucas whispering to me about a meeting, about secrets, danger, and a future that I can’t wait to see.
But Lucas is my “big idea, make a tight plan” kind of guy.
There has to be trouble. Things have to go wrong. Shots have to be fired. That’s where Rowe tends to step in. Rowe starts whispering in my ear about car explosions, kidnappings, and shots fired. (Of course, Noah is never far away, stirring the pot if Rowe isn’t being bombastic enough.)
Snow is my angst boy. He’s the one telling me to say “fuck it all” and walk away from the relationship when things feel hinky. The “we’re better off on our own, can’t trust anyone” guy.
And finally, Andrei is my voice of reason (when he’s not trying to seduce Lucas).
So… when I’m plotting, it kind of sounds like this in my head:
Lucas: There’s a meeting called by someone that I definitely don’t trust. He knows too much about our past, but I think he has a proposal that could be worth hearing out — something that could make a huge difference.
Rowe: Shoot him first. Totally don’t trust this dipstick. Shoot him now.
Lucas: I’m not killing him just because I don’t trust him.
Rowe: I didn’t say kill. I was thinking kneecap. Ooooo! The shoulder! Then he can’t shoot you. He’ll be in pain and tell you everything. And don’t forget the duct tape! Oh never mind, I’m coming along.
Lucas: (rolls eyes) You’re not coming. No shooting. No duct tape.
Noah: You’re right. We’re both coming with you and I’m bringing the rainbow duct tape.
Lucas: Fuck.
Snow: Don’t go. You don’t need to hear out his proposal if he’s starting with blackmail. We don’t need him.
Lucas: I’m going. I think he’s got a good point.
Snow. Fuck him.
Rowe: I hate to agree with, Frosty, but he’s right. Don’t go or just shoot him.
Snow: Shut up, Rowan.
Andrei: Go to the meeting and take Noah.
Lucas: I—
Andrei: Noah will set up across the street as a sniper. He can provide cover just in case and this guy will never know. Noah will make sure you come home safe to me.
Lucas: Love you, baby.
Andrei: Love y—
Snow/Noah/Rowe: (groan in unison.)
As you can see, plotting isn’t exactly fast, but it’s entertaining. Jude will occasionally pop in to temper Snow. Ian and Hollis don’t talk to me too much yet, but that’ll change.
But long story short… Rinda and I are hard at work on the first book in the Ward Series featuring Geoffrey and Sven. We are still aiming for an autumn release. We are hoping to write several books for the Ward Security, which will undoubtedly include cameos of the Unbreakable Boys.
And then, we have a potential second spin-off series waiting in the wings for just the right timing.
If you were worried that Rinda and I were done following the completion of the Unbreakable Bonds series, don’t. We’ve got many more books coming…
Happy reading!
June 20, 2017
Happy Unbreakables Stores: Rowe Release Day!
It's here! It's finally here.
Happy release day for
Unbreakable Stories: Rowe
!
While Devour might be the final book of the Unbreakable Bonds series, we still have short story collections to give us little glimpses of the boys lives together after all the bullets have stopped flying and the buildings have stopped burning. Of course, it's always hard to walk away from any of the Unbreakable Boys, and Rowe and Noah are definitely no exception.
For this short story collection, we have included previously released short stories: Gotcha (now sexier), Piece of Pie, and Mistletoe (also made hotter).
As for the brand new stories, you will be getting:
Haunted - this short story takes Noah and Rowe to a little town in Alabama where Noah grew up with his grandmother. You'll finally get a better look at Noah's childhood and some of his early heartbreak.
Screw the Dragon - Noah decides to target Andrei at work for a practical joke and has to pay the price for it. Yet...I don't think he minds the outcome too much.
The Color in Noah's World - Noah is stuck on a job overnight, taking him away from Rowe, but the two men find a way to make a connection even though they are miles away from each other.
And, of course, the novelette - There Goes the Security Deposit. This time, we've put the boys on a boat for a short vacation and, naturally, shenanigans ensue. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on superglue and midnight skinny dipping.
Don't miss a second of the fun this release day! Click here to grab your copy of Unbreakable Stories: Rowe. It is currently available in both ebook and print formats.
After you've read Unbreakable Stories: Rowe, you can also join our Facebook Group Unbreakable Readers, where everyone will be chatting out their favorite parts of the series.
And don't forget that later this summer, we will be releasing Ian's collection of short stories: Unbreakable Stories: Ian.
We've already released the first free short story, Midnight Perp. We will be releasing the second one later this week. You can catch up on all the free short stories and all the details of the Unbreakable Bonds world here.
Happy release day and happy reading!
Happy release day for
Unbreakable Stories: Rowe
!While Devour might be the final book of the Unbreakable Bonds series, we still have short story collections to give us little glimpses of the boys lives together after all the bullets have stopped flying and the buildings have stopped burning. Of course, it's always hard to walk away from any of the Unbreakable Boys, and Rowe and Noah are definitely no exception.
For this short story collection, we have included previously released short stories: Gotcha (now sexier), Piece of Pie, and Mistletoe (also made hotter).
As for the brand new stories, you will be getting:
Haunted - this short story takes Noah and Rowe to a little town in Alabama where Noah grew up with his grandmother. You'll finally get a better look at Noah's childhood and some of his early heartbreak.
Screw the Dragon - Noah decides to target Andrei at work for a practical joke and has to pay the price for it. Yet...I don't think he minds the outcome too much.
The Color in Noah's World - Noah is stuck on a job overnight, taking him away from Rowe, but the two men find a way to make a connection even though they are miles away from each other.
And, of course, the novelette - There Goes the Security Deposit. This time, we've put the boys on a boat for a short vacation and, naturally, shenanigans ensue. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on superglue and midnight skinny dipping.
Don't miss a second of the fun this release day! Click here to grab your copy of Unbreakable Stories: Rowe. It is currently available in both ebook and print formats.
After you've read Unbreakable Stories: Rowe, you can also join our Facebook Group Unbreakable Readers, where everyone will be chatting out their favorite parts of the series.
And don't forget that later this summer, we will be releasing Ian's collection of short stories: Unbreakable Stories: Ian.
We've already released the first free short story, Midnight Perp. We will be releasing the second one later this week. You can catch up on all the free short stories and all the details of the Unbreakable Bonds world here.
Happy release day and happy reading!
June 8, 2017
Safety Net Reading
Life gets chaotic.
I’m a planner. I have to be if I’m going to get anything done in the go-go-go lives that we’ve made for ourselves. That’s not to say that I’m a “do or die, gotta stick to the plan” kind of person. (No, I married one of those so I get it.) I’m flexible. I know that not everything is going to go according to my plan and that I need to have contingency plans or just make snap decisions on the fly.
I have a day job that it rather time consuming as a manager within a financial publishing company. I ride herd on writer, editors, and various marketing types all day. I make plans. Make contingency plans. And then back-up plans for my contingency plans when everything gets blown out of the water. Then try to get others to follow my plan so we can meet deadlines. I love my job.
I am married to an extrovert, which means that I have to crawl out from my introvert rock and interact with people after interacting with people at my day job. I love my husband.
And then I write books. Some books I write with Rinda and some books I write solo. I love Rinda and writing books.
But when things blow up too much or I get stretched too thin… there are always books.
However, I’ve noticed that when it gets to be all too much and I need to recharge, I’m less willing to start a new book, even if it’s by an author I love. A new book offers risk. I don’t want to risk it being not what I want or I don’t want to risk being emotionally wrecked when I really need to be coddled.
When I’m struggling to get back on my feet again, I fall back on my “safety net” of favorites – those list of characters who are just there when I need them. I’ve re-read the books so many times that I can practically recite certain scenes, but they are comforting.
Today, I want to share some of my favorites in no particular order:
Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban – Everyone has their gateway book. That one book that got them hooked on gay romance. I can thank Rinda for handing this one over to me. Ty and Zane are my gateway drug. As soon as I read the first book, I knew I was hooked for this genre. I love Ty and Zane so much. They are warm and funny and safe. I think I re-read several of the books in this series at least once a year.
Crossroads series by Riley Hart – I cannot even guess at how many times I read Nick and Bryce’s story. I love this book so hard. I’ve read the entire series and adore each of the characters, but Nick and Bryce have a special place in my heart.
Atonement by Sloane Kennedy – I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for the entire Protectors series, but when it comes to re-reads, I always go straight back to Dante and Magnus, though Tate and Hawke from Retribution are a very close second. I just go completely mushy over Dante. And Tate….sweet Tate.
Sooo… Tell me, who are your go-to re-reads when you need a little help getting back on your feet?
I’m a planner. I have to be if I’m going to get anything done in the go-go-go lives that we’ve made for ourselves. That’s not to say that I’m a “do or die, gotta stick to the plan” kind of person. (No, I married one of those so I get it.) I’m flexible. I know that not everything is going to go according to my plan and that I need to have contingency plans or just make snap decisions on the fly.
I have a day job that it rather time consuming as a manager within a financial publishing company. I ride herd on writer, editors, and various marketing types all day. I make plans. Make contingency plans. And then back-up plans for my contingency plans when everything gets blown out of the water. Then try to get others to follow my plan so we can meet deadlines. I love my job.
I am married to an extrovert, which means that I have to crawl out from my introvert rock and interact with people after interacting with people at my day job. I love my husband.
And then I write books. Some books I write with Rinda and some books I write solo. I love Rinda and writing books.
But when things blow up too much or I get stretched too thin… there are always books.
However, I’ve noticed that when it gets to be all too much and I need to recharge, I’m less willing to start a new book, even if it’s by an author I love. A new book offers risk. I don’t want to risk it being not what I want or I don’t want to risk being emotionally wrecked when I really need to be coddled.
When I’m struggling to get back on my feet again, I fall back on my “safety net” of favorites – those list of characters who are just there when I need them. I’ve re-read the books so many times that I can practically recite certain scenes, but they are comforting.
Today, I want to share some of my favorites in no particular order:
Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban – Everyone has their gateway book. That one book that got them hooked on gay romance. I can thank Rinda for handing this one over to me. Ty and Zane are my gateway drug. As soon as I read the first book, I knew I was hooked for this genre. I love Ty and Zane so much. They are warm and funny and safe. I think I re-read several of the books in this series at least once a year.
Crossroads series by Riley Hart – I cannot even guess at how many times I read Nick and Bryce’s story. I love this book so hard. I’ve read the entire series and adore each of the characters, but Nick and Bryce have a special place in my heart.
Atonement by Sloane Kennedy – I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for the entire Protectors series, but when it comes to re-reads, I always go straight back to Dante and Magnus, though Tate and Hawke from Retribution are a very close second. I just go completely mushy over Dante. And Tate….sweet Tate.
Sooo… Tell me, who are your go-to re-reads when you need a little help getting back on your feet?
May 16, 2017
Cover Reveal for Unbreakable Stories: Rowe
We might have released the final full novel of the Unbreakable Bonds series, but that doesn't mean that we are anywhere close to being done with our boys! Yes, we have some more tales to tell and trouble to stir up for these characters. Rinda and I are having way too much fun to walk away just yet. (Particularly when I've got Rinda whispering in my ear and sending me naughty pictures of what could be.)
Now that you've read Devour - and we've taken care of business - it's time to have a little fun.
And our first stop?
Rowe and Noah - the stars of Torch and everyone's favorite pranksters. While the Unbreakable Boys are generally magnets for trouble, Rowe and Noah like to go looking for it.
That's why we are happy to present readers with Unbreakable Stories: Rowe . The short story collection focuses on Rowe and Noah's relationship with include sexier, longer versions of "Gotcha" and "Mistletoe," as well as a new short story that finally reveals some key bits of Noah's childhood and a new short story that looks at the repercussions of Noah's pranks on Andrei. There are a total of six short stories AND a novelette where we put the guys on a boat. If you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet, I've got 3 important words for you:
Midnight Skinny Dipping
Yep... we went there. You're welcome.
But first...what you've been patiently waiting for while I ramble. The cover for Unbreakable Stories: Rowe :
Do you like it? Are you excited to see more of Rowe and Noah? And well... the rest of the boys, because you know when you spot one, the others are close by.
Be sure to pre-order your copy now! The collection will be out on Tuesday, June 20.
Now that you've read Devour - and we've taken care of business - it's time to have a little fun.
And our first stop?
Rowe and Noah - the stars of Torch and everyone's favorite pranksters. While the Unbreakable Boys are generally magnets for trouble, Rowe and Noah like to go looking for it.
That's why we are happy to present readers with Unbreakable Stories: Rowe . The short story collection focuses on Rowe and Noah's relationship with include sexier, longer versions of "Gotcha" and "Mistletoe," as well as a new short story that finally reveals some key bits of Noah's childhood and a new short story that looks at the repercussions of Noah's pranks on Andrei. There are a total of six short stories AND a novelette where we put the guys on a boat. If you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet, I've got 3 important words for you:
Midnight Skinny Dipping
Yep... we went there. You're welcome.
But first...what you've been patiently waiting for while I ramble. The cover for Unbreakable Stories: Rowe :
Do you like it? Are you excited to see more of Rowe and Noah? And well... the rest of the boys, because you know when you spot one, the others are close by.
Be sure to pre-order your copy now! The collection will be out on Tuesday, June 20.
May 9, 2017
Books, Puppies, and Painting: Jocelynn Updates Everything
It’s has been a busy few weeks. Lots of good and a little bad. I thought I would just check in with all the crazy. Give some personal updates as well as some book news.
First and of course foremost, Devour is out! Yes, readers have been chomping at the bit to finally get their hands on Ian’s book and we are happy to deliver it. Ian’s story ties up the four-book long story arc that we were creating. We’re grateful to all the readers who’ve stuck with us through the series. (See! We were headed somewhere very specific.) Rinda and I have had so much fun writing this series and falling in love with the various characters right along with you.
If you’ve enjoyed the book, there are two things that you can do to help us.
Leave a review either on the site where you bought the book or on Goodreads. It doesn’t have to be a long review. Just a few quick words to tell other readers what this book meant to you.
Tell a friend. Word of mouth spreads the love of books faster than anything that Rinda or I could do. Shout it on a reader group or just on your own Facebook. Next time your friend is looking for something good to read, remember the Unbreakable Bonds series. Spread the love and that reader will thank you for the find.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news. My husband and I recently lost our puppy, Max. We discovered that he was born with undersized kidneys and he suffered acute renal failure from which he could not recover.
He was the sweetest, smartest dog I have ever known. Everyone who was lucky enough to meet him fell in love. He lived in Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Florida. He loved car rides, laying in the sun, fortune cookies, and snuggling. Max was with me to work on roughly 10 books over less than five years and working on another book without beside me has been tough.
A day doesn’t go by when we don’t think of him. We’ve begun the process of finding another rescue dog to welcome into our family, but the question in the back of our minds is always whether this dog would have gotten along with Max.
But I’ve had friends who have helped to lift my spirits. In fact, I recently enjoyed an outing of wine and painting with a group of friends. We are all big fans of Beauty and the Beast so we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to paint the infamous rose.
This is the first time I did a wine and painting event. The first lesson that I learned was that multiple glasses of wine help get rid of painting nerves. I might not be too bad with a blank page and a keyword, but visual art is definitely not my strong point.
However, that being said, I don’t think my first attempt at wine and painting turned out too bad. I am looking to get the group to head back for another wine and painting event soon. I’ve got a home office that I’m determined to decorate with art that I create.
And since summer is starting here in South Florida, it was definitely time to cut off all my hair. I enjoyed a quick trip to the salon this past week and my hair is mostly gone now. I am ready to tackle the summer heat and get some work done.
Speaking of work, Rinda and I have finished the stories for Unbreakable Stories: Rowe and the collection has been handed off to our editors. Stephen is working on the cover. He’s sent us some very promising mock-ups and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to reveal the cover by next week at the latest. The book is slated for release on June 20. Click here if you’d like to pre-order your copy now.
In addition, I’ve turned in one of the short stories for Ian and Hollis and I know that Rinda is hard at work on others. We’ll have the first free short story for Ian and Hollis available a little later this month with another to follow in June. I am hoping that we can have Unbreakable Stories: Ian out by late summer or early fall.
And then…. We are also working on the first book in the spin-off series, Ward Security. In case you missed the announcement at the end of Devour, here is a quick description:
We don’t have a release date for this book yet. Right now, all I can say is fall. When we get more of the book done, we should be able to fine-tune the date. Rinda and I will have more updates soon.
First and of course foremost, Devour is out! Yes, readers have been chomping at the bit to finally get their hands on Ian’s book and we are happy to deliver it. Ian’s story ties up the four-book long story arc that we were creating. We’re grateful to all the readers who’ve stuck with us through the series. (See! We were headed somewhere very specific.) Rinda and I have had so much fun writing this series and falling in love with the various characters right along with you.
If you’ve enjoyed the book, there are two things that you can do to help us.
Leave a review either on the site where you bought the book or on Goodreads. It doesn’t have to be a long review. Just a few quick words to tell other readers what this book meant to you.
Tell a friend. Word of mouth spreads the love of books faster than anything that Rinda or I could do. Shout it on a reader group or just on your own Facebook. Next time your friend is looking for something good to read, remember the Unbreakable Bonds series. Spread the love and that reader will thank you for the find.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news. My husband and I recently lost our puppy, Max. We discovered that he was born with undersized kidneys and he suffered acute renal failure from which he could not recover.He was the sweetest, smartest dog I have ever known. Everyone who was lucky enough to meet him fell in love. He lived in Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Florida. He loved car rides, laying in the sun, fortune cookies, and snuggling. Max was with me to work on roughly 10 books over less than five years and working on another book without beside me has been tough.
A day doesn’t go by when we don’t think of him. We’ve begun the process of finding another rescue dog to welcome into our family, but the question in the back of our minds is always whether this dog would have gotten along with Max.
But I’ve had friends who have helped to lift my spirits. In fact, I recently enjoyed an outing of wine and painting with a group of friends. We are all big fans of Beauty and the Beast so we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to paint the infamous rose.
This is the first time I did a wine and painting event. The first lesson that I learned was that multiple glasses of wine help get rid of painting nerves. I might not be too bad with a blank page and a keyword, but visual art is definitely not my strong point.
However, that being said, I don’t think my first attempt at wine and painting turned out too bad. I am looking to get the group to head back for another wine and painting event soon. I’ve got a home office that I’m determined to decorate with art that I create.
And since summer is starting here in South Florida, it was definitely time to cut off all my hair. I enjoyed a quick trip to the salon this past week and my hair is mostly gone now. I am ready to tackle the summer heat and get some work done.
Speaking of work, Rinda and I have finished the stories for Unbreakable Stories: Rowe and the collection has been handed off to our editors. Stephen is working on the cover. He’s sent us some very promising mock-ups and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to reveal the cover by next week at the latest. The book is slated for release on June 20. Click here if you’d like to pre-order your copy now.
In addition, I’ve turned in one of the short stories for Ian and Hollis and I know that Rinda is hard at work on others. We’ll have the first free short story for Ian and Hollis available a little later this month with another to follow in June. I am hoping that we can have Unbreakable Stories: Ian out by late summer or early fall.
And then…. We are also working on the first book in the spin-off series, Ward Security. In case you missed the announcement at the end of Devour, here is a quick description:
Geoffrey didn’t take much in life seriously. He liked hitting the clubs, partying, and laughs. That’s why the idea of a stalker seemed so ridiculous. Why would anyone stalk him? But when he gets drugged while out partying with friends and wakes up in his own bed, almost naked, with no memory of who got him home, he realizes that he needs help fast. The only problem is getting someone to believe him. After being blown off by the police, Geoffrey turns to Ward Security.
Sven has been with Ward Security for less than two years. He loves his job, thinks he has a great boss, and enjoys teaching the self-defense classes. But he doesn’t want anything to do with the slender young man with sexiest mouth he’s ever seen.
However, he’s willing to put his own fears and discomfort aside to help protect Geoffrey as they uncover who is threatening his life.
We don’t have a release date for this book yet. Right now, all I can say is fall. When we get more of the book done, we should be able to fine-tune the date. Rinda and I will have more updates soon.
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