Kelly Jamieson's Blog, page 19

Warning!

So you know those cute warnings Samhain books have at the end of the blurb? Here’s the first one I wrote for Reward of Three:

“Warning: This is not a romance, as in, two (or even three) people falling in love. Also, this is not a full-length novel. This novella contains three people in a committed relationship, love and laughter, sorrow and anger, and hot and sweet M/M/F sex.”

My editor nixed that version because it sounded like I was anticipating snarky reviews the book would get. Which I totally was! So it’s not surprising to me to see comments about Reward of Three from readers surprised that this book isn’t a romance. Hello? It’s the third book in a series about three people in a committed ménage à trois relationship—why would anyone think this is going to be a typical “romance”  - as in boy-meets-girl, they fall in love, HEA kind of romance?

It is a love story—as I said, about three people in a relationship where things go wrong and they make mistakes and almost lose their way…but find each other again.

Also, this story deals with a really difficult scenario that many couples can relate to. Some readers might not enjoy reading the story because of that, if it brings back too many memories. I’ve heard from other readers, though, that they enjoyed the book because they could relate to what the characters are going through.
Also, not every couple who experiences this tragedy has a “happily ever after” ending like Reward of Three does. And I truly feel for those couples. Real life doesn’t always have happy endings. In real life, the people we love don’t always love us back. In real life, we make mistakes and sometimes we can’t fix them. That’s why I love reading and writing romance—because we know there will be a HEA. 
Of course everyone experiences tragedy differently and I totally respect that, and I totally respect anyone who might choose not to read Reward of Three for that reason. But although this subject might trigger painful feelings for some readers -- that doesn’t mean it's not a good story.

Here's the official warning for Reward of Three: :-)

Warning: Our sexy threesome is back for their happy ending. Keep extra tissues on hand for tears, a fan on standby for hot sex, and a post-it note to remind you to take a deep breath. It’s time to find out if the juice is really worth the squeeze.

Rule of Three memories in Chicago

So hey, I'm in Chicago, where all the Rule of Three books are set. I've been exploring places that are in the book. Saturday afternoon I was at the Oak Street Beach. Remember this scene from Rule of Three:

The next afternoon, Dag met Chris and Kassidy at the beach, lazing away a sunny June Sunday on the shore of Lake Michigan, people watching, but mostly watching each other, Kassidy in a tiny bikini that exposed maximum flesh to the sun for it to turn it a deep golden hue, gleaming with the sunscreen Dag and Chris helped her apply with tantalizing strokes of both their hands.

This is where that took place:



On Sunday, we went to a White Sox game. In Rule of Three, Chris and Dag go to a Cubs game (the Cubs are away while we're her) but  here's a snippet from Rule of Three when Chris and Dag go to the Cubs game...

Chris and Dag walked in, bringing the smell of fresh air and sunshine with them. Their eyes sparkled, their faces were tanned from sitting in the sun all afternoon at Wrigley Field and they looked like they’d been laughing.

“Hey, sweetheart, sorry we’re late,” Chris said, hugging her and kissing her mouth. He smelled like beer. Not obnoxiously, like he was drunk, just as if he’d had a few.

“It’s my fault,” Dag said from behind him, and she met his sexy dark eyes. Once again that little current of electricity jolted her as their eyes met and held. “These are for you.”

He held out a cellophane cone full of pale pink and fuchsia gerbera daisies, all bright and cheery. She’d been ready to be annoyed, but the sweet gesture softened her up, even though she totally recognized it as sucking up.

“Thank you.” She moved to take them from him. He opened his arms for a hug. She hesitated. For some reason she did not want to touch him. But she moved toward him anyway and gave him one of those superficial, barely touching hugs you give a near-stranger or an uncle you haven’t seen for years.

But that wasn’t good enough for him, and he pulled her in and gave her a quick squeeze that pressed her breasts into his chest and sent fire licking over her. It was over in a second but she had to swallow and clasp her hands tightly around the flowers. She focused on them instead of Dag.

“They’re beautiful,” she said. “I love them.”

Dag smiled, his dark eyes crinkling and warm. Both he and Chris were bright-eyed and suntanned and happy, and her heart swelled at seeing Chris so relaxed and cheerful. A surge of gratitude toward Dag rose inside her, gratitude for coming back to see his old friend, for bringing such a smile to his face and a sparkle to his eyes. Not that Chris had been miserable. She just knew this meant a lot to him. So she sent a warm smile Dag’s way, and once again their gazes hooked together and hung there, suspended, as if she couldn’t look away.



And Monday all the pretty little patio restaurants reminded me of this scene from Rule of Three. This lunch that Dag and Kassidy had is the first time they spent alone together...Dag's talking about his idea for a new business venture and getting to know Kassidy,and we have a tiny foreshadowing of things to come in Reward of Three...

Their lunches arrived and they ate as they continued talking, asking each other questions and throwing out suggestions, and the interest and excitement built inside her as if she’d caught it from him like a virus. A good virus.

“So, that’s what you want to spend your money on?” she finally asked.

He smiled. “Well. I haven’t decided for sure. I didn’t plan to start off right on the ground floor with something, I was kind of looking for something already established that I could invest in. But man, I’m pumped about this.”

“It’s a lot of work.”

“Yeah. But I think I have enough connections that I can find the people I need.” He lifted a brow. “Wanna come work for me, Kassidy?”

Her mouth fell open and she stared across the table at him.







“Are you serious?” she asked, blinking rapidly at him.

He laughed. “Yes and no. I’d love to have you, but I’m nowhere near ready.”

“You don’t even know me,” she protested. “How do you know I’m any good at my job?”

“I know you’re good.” He winked at her and watched her cheeks bloom with color. Christ, she was gorgeous, all animated during their discussion. Once she’d gotten what he was talking about, her quick mind had thrown out things he hadn’t even thought of—good ideas, but also barriers he hadn’t anticipated. Problem solving with her was a rush.

“What made you go into training and development as a career?” he asked.

“Well, I actually thought of becoming a teacher. All through high school, that’s what I intended to do.”

“You like kids?”

She blinked at him, but smiled. “Yeah. I love kids.”

“Me too. Not that I’ll likely ever have any,” he added. “Anyway, go on.”

“I started working at my first part-time job in this office that had really horrible management, and I had all these ideas how they could improve the place. I got interested in how businesses work and making things better. So then I wanted to go into business, but since I like the aspect of teaching, I decided to specialize in training and development.”

“Cool.” He had a sense from those words “make things better” that she also liked to make people better. Maybe sometimes whether they wanted it or not. Which was admirable but could also be annoying. He smiled at her, liking her sense of purpose. “Anyway. You’re probably happy where you are. But you never know, one day if things work out…keep it in mind. Maybe in the meantime, though, you can be a sounding board for me. Hey, I know—I could pay you a consulting fee.”

She opened her mouth then closed it. Then opened it again. “Great,” she said, glancing at her watch. “You owe me…two hundred dollars for the last hour.”

Laughter burst from his lips and he shook his head. “Nice try.”

News!

I'm happy to announce that I have just signed a contract with Entangled Publishing!

Flutterby is the first of a planned series of four novellas about four female friends living in Chicago.  I don't have many details as of yet since the contract was all just signed, sealed and delivered yesterday, so stay tuned!

Just over a week to release day!

DONE!! The WIP is done! Hockey book #2 (still need a titl...

DONE!! The WIP is done! Hockey book #2 (still need a title, hmmmmm...) is finished! I wrote a book!

NHL Awards 2014

My thoughts on the NHL Awards last night...I was struck by the humble and modest responses of every single award winner, whether in their acceptance speech or when interviewed - all give credit to their teams and their families for their success. 

(JOHN LOCHER/AP)

I was so moved by Dominic Moore getting the Masterson Trophy after what he has been through. 


Also, I predict P.K.Subban has a future career as a broadcaster. 

Some red carpet pics... 


 

This weekend only! Rule of Three is only $1.99 at Barnes ...

This weekend only! Rule of Three is only $1.99 at Barnes & Noble - along with these other great books!

RULE OF THREE is on SALE!

Right now Barnes & Noble has Rule of Three on sale for $1.99 - not sure how long this will last, maybe just this weekend, so if you're a nook or ePub reader and haven't yet picked up Rule of Three - now's your chance!

REWARD OF THREE - available for pre-order

Available for pre-order
Amazon
B&N
Kobo
iBooks

Now available - Heart of a Champion!

I've joined up with several other sports romance authors to offer you this boxed set, starting off at .99 until June 20, 2014. It includes my book Offside - if you've already read Offside, still a good chance to try out some other sports romance authors, and if you haven't read Offside, great chance to get it cheap! It is Book 5 in my Heller Brothers Hockey series but it can totally be read as a standalone.

Don't you love the cover? Thanks to Scott Carpenter for such a great job! I love that pic. :-)



Amazon
He’s impossible to resist…with a ripped body and a heart of a champion…Valued at over $20, take advantage of the introductory price - just .99 thru 06/20/14.
Romance and athletic heroism combine in this ultimate boxed set containing five full-length sports romances by popular authors Cassandra Carr, Kelly Jamieson, Morgan Kearns, Roz Lee and Chanta Rand.


Enjoy football, baseball and hockey heroes in Should've Known Better, Offside, In It To Win It, Inside Heat and The Highest Bidder.
 
Should've Known Better (Storm Series, #1) by Cassandra Carr - Sarah Jenkins, a math geek and hockey fanatic, is thrilled when the NHL hires her as an advisor for the Buffalo Storm. She meets Sebastian St. Amant, a young hockey player looking to make the jump from the minors to the big leagues. When Sarah and Sebastian meet, sparks immediately fly. A relationship is out of the question—Sarah’s an influential staff member and Sebastian’s a player, not to mention over ten years her junior. But the impossible becomes the necessary when they can no longer fight their attraction. Will they weather the storm, or should they have known better? 


Offside (Heller Brothers, #5) by Kelly Jamieson - Honey Holbrook’s attention-grabbing antics were tabloid fodder for years. Now she’s trying to leave her past behind her and make a new life for herself. Matt Heller is recovering from a serious injury that changed his whole outlook on life, determined to resume his hockey career. Neither of them are happy to be working together again after their wild and wicked fling eight years ago ended badly...
 
In It To Win It (Deadlines & Diamonds, #2) by Morgan Kearns - Back in the day, ‘Plain Jane’ Alexander blended into the background, content to watch from the sidelines while Grayson Pierce soaked up the spotlight. Content until he broke her heart. Bitter, she did the college thing, came out of her shell, and never looked back. Grayson loves baseball. It was his pastime in high school, his passion in college, and now…his career. However baseball isn’t the only thing in Grayson’s heart. He likes fast cars, loose women and expensive liquor. When her job as a Sportscaster sends her to Grayson’s doorstep, she realizes that not everything is as it appears. 


Inside Heat (Mustangs Baseball, #1) by Roz Lee - Jeff and Jason are at the top of their game. Jeff is the Texas Mustangs’ closer, revered throughout the Major League for throwing inside heat, while his twin brother Jason is the team’s starting catcher and star hitter. The two have always shared more than their identical DNA, so when they meet Megan, it’s no wonder they both want her. 

Megan doesn’t know baseball, but she does know a sexy guy when she sees one - or two. When a potentially career-ending injury sidelines Jeff, his ego takes a hit, too. Megan finds herself on the outside – the dirty little secret. It doesn’t help that Jeff has gotten the wrong impression about her and his brother. It’s all fun and games until someone falls in love. 
 
The Highest Bidder by Chanta Rand - Quarterback Tristan Rexford is a hunter both on and off the football field. With a seven-figure income, a dazzling smile, and a body resembling Michelangelo’s David, he’s every woman’s fantasy. 

But Doctor Alexa Kennedy barely has time for her patients, much less fantasies. When it comes to men, she’s short on patience and long on disappointment. When one of the hospital’s board members attends a charity benefit and ends up with the winning bid for a date with Tristan, Alexa is chosen to escort him. 

They share a night of passion before Tristan retreats to his glamorous world, leaving her aching for more. Alexa tells herself it was all in the name of charity. She’s too sensible to fall for someone like Tristan. Or is she?