K.M. Jackson's Blog, page 17
January 9, 2014
It’s Complicated… Guest Post from author Reese Ryan & a giveaway!
Today I’m thrilled to welcome to ye old blog as a guest author, the super fab, Reese Ryan here to talk The Complicated Character and her latest work Love Me Not out from Carina Press. Take it away Reese!
The Complicated Character
I’m a complicated girl. It’s okay. I’ve come to terms with that. At this stage in my life, I heartily embrace it. Not surprisingly, I’m fascinated by other complex characters; both real and fictional. Of course, living with a complicated person can, at times, be taxing. (Just ask my husband.) But peeling back the layers is part of the fun. Like unstacking one of those Russian nesting dolls or finally getting to the center of a Charms Blow Pop.
Jamie Charles, the heroine in my latest release, Love Me Not, is definitely a complicated character. In response to her difficult upbringing, she’s developed a tough outer skin. Like a callous that forms to protect the raw, damaged layer underneath. She can be bristly, judgmental and sometimes downright mean. Yet, she’s bright, talented and fiercely loyal to her adopted family, the Gordons.
She’s made a conscious choice not to get emotionally involved with anyone, believing that she is incapable of ever being that girl. The kind that falls in love and stays with someone forever. But when Miles Copeland comes along, he doesn’t buy that for a second, and he’s determined to prove her wrong.
Miles is also a multi-faceted character. Though in many ways, he’s the exact opposite of Jamie. Her past has driven her to put an electrified fence around her heart, but deep down she has a capacity to love deeply. Miles is all sunshine and charm, but below the surface he is dealing with a painful past of his own.
Jamie can certainly be hard to love. After all, it’s the one thing she believes she doesn’t want. However, Miles is determined to show her that he’s just the man for the job.
Do you like complex characters in books, television and movies? If so, tell us who your favorites are in the comments below. If complicated characters drive you crazy, tell us why. Then be sure to enter the Rafflecopter contest below for your chance to win the tour Grand Prize: $25 GC for your e-reader; $10 Starbucks e-card and a digital copy of my Bad Boys Gone Good Series.
Summary
Tortured artist, Jamie Charles’ life is a careful balance between flashes of brilliance and self-loathing. Her art is as dark and dramatic as her painful past. Her resentment of the biological parents—who were too preoccupied with their addictions to bother with her—fuels her ambition to succeed as an artist, but also takes a heavy, personal toll.
Miles Copeland climbed to the top of his advertising agency because he isn’t afraid of taking risks and because he has something to prove to the father who betrayed his family. But when he falls for a moody, Gothic beauty with zero interest in anything but a purely physical relationship, he finds himself in dangerous territory.
Jamie prefers living hard and fast without the complications of love, but finds it impossible to resist the stunningly handsome, yet incredibly sweet man who is determined to have every piece of her–including her heart. Miles shows Jamie the beauty of being loved madly and deeply, but is it enough to make her finally learn to love herself, and open her heart to him?
Love Me Not Excerpt
“You’re not the only person who can read people, mister.” She crossed her arms and stared at him.
“Okay, so maybe I can afford pricey shoes and—”
“A black BMW.”
His mouth gaped open. “How’d you—?”
“It’s a gift,” she said proudly, leaning in a little closer. “I could tell you were a BMW guy two minutes after we met. Took me another fifteen minutes to figure out you’d probably go for classic black, probably a high-end five series…maybe the six series. Definitely not the seven, ’cause that’d just be flaunting it.”
He let out a low whistle and ran his fingers through his hair. “No way. The valet must be acting as your secret informant.”
“Nope. I told you, it’s a gift.” She rested her elbows on the bar and leaned even closer to him. Her voice was a husky whisper. “Don’t look now, but the older guy coming in the door with the chick in the tiny sequin skirt who’s young enough to be his granddaughter…bet he drives a wee little Corvette in some wildly inappropriate color like lemon yellow.” She backed away from him and headed to the other end of the bar to refresh another customer’s drink. When she was done she returned to Miles and whispered, “So whadya think? You think I’m right?”
He had that ridiculously sexy grin plastered on his face again, the wattage decidedly turned up a notch. “That guy is staying at my hotel. You’re only half right, though. He drives a nineteen sixty-five Corvette Stingray, but it isn’t yellow, it’s Incredible Hulk green.”
Jamie shuddered. “Even worse. And the guy should be taken behind a woodshed and beaten for mutilating an American classic like that. Not to mention the fact that he’s corrupting a minor.”
“Agreed.”
They giggled like naughty schoolchildren making fun of the substitute teacher’s ten-buck toupee, and something about it felt good. Familiar. Like having an inside joke with an old friend.
“You’re a bad influence on me.” She swiped underneath her eye with the heel of her hand, careful not to ruin her makeup. “I shouldn’t be making fun of the customers.”
“You’re telling me you wouldn’t have slammed that guy’s superhero-inspired midlife crisis on wheels if I wasn’t here?” He smiled at her. “Then I’m really glad I came. Face it, you might not want to talk about it, but you needed a good laugh tonight.”
Bad Boys Gone Good Series
Love Me Not explores the story of Jamie Charles and Miles Copeland. When these characters were introduced in Book #1–Making the First Move–they were already a couple, and Jamie had undergone a transformation. In that book we were given glimpses of what led to that change. Love Me Not steps backward, to tell the story of how Jamie met Miles.
If you haven’t already read Making the First Move…don’t. Read Love Me Not first.
Comment on this post, follow this blog, or choose one of the other available options to enter the Love Me Not blog tour contest below for your chance to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card, a $10 Starbucks e-Card and both books in the Bad Boys Gone Good series to date–Love Me Not & Making the First Move.
Bio:
Reese Ryan writes sexy, contemporary fiction filled with colorful characters and sinfully-sweet romance. She secretly enjoys torturing her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, revealed secrets, and the occasional identity crisis, but always rewards them with a happily ever after.
Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Central North Carolina where she has happily declared herself a Bohemian Southern Belle. Visit Reese online at ReeseRyan.com. Follow her on Twitter @ReeseRyanWrites. Connect with her on Facebook or Goodreads.
Love Me Not Blog Tour Grand Prize
$25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card
$10 Starbucks e-Card
Digital copy of Love Me Not by Reese Ryan
Digital copy of Making the First Move by Reese Ryan
Thanks so much for being here Reese!
All the best,
KMJ
P.S. Don’t folks don’t forget to enter my BOUNCE contest running throughout this month!
January 7, 2014
Bouncing into 2014 with a Giveaway!
Happy New Year once again friends (ok I’ve taken my tree down and it’s been a week so I don’t think we can say that much longer). Anyhoo!!! So here we are and still we’re not all flying about in our Jetsons like cars (now there’s a bit of a letdown for you from the old Saturday morning cartoons). Oh well, if that’s all we have to complain about with the flipping of the calendar, I’d say we’re pretty lucky. As it is I’m sure we could each go on with lots but I’m feeling like now is the time to celebrate, count blessings and look to the future or BOUNCE to the future. Kicking the old to the curb and welcoming the new.
2014 should be quite the busy and exciting year with my 1st self-published novel: BOUNCE just released and come February I will have my final book in my Crimson Series called THREADS OF DESIRE out (can’t wait for you all to read that one).
Yep, so there is much to celebrate going forward and I want to share the joy of my new ventures with you my friends and followers with a BOUNCE with me into 2014 Gift Card Giveaway! So click away for your chance to win.
Entering is easy. Just click away for easy entries, you can tweet about it, follow me on Facebook, sign up for my newsletter to keep up with my happenings for another and answer the question: what are you Bouncing towards in 2014 for another.
Please share this link and tell all your friends about my BOUNCE giveaway. I hope you’ll take a chance and give BOUNCE a try. It’s an exciting new voice for me and I can’t wait to share Sabrina’s story with you all.
Bounce
Growing up as a young girl, Sabrina Jacobs could only dream her life would be this good. She has a successful career, a famous sexy husband, two children, a house in an affluent Westchester suburb and a shoe collection worthy of a magazine spread. Too bad it’s all a façade.
It has been almost a year since her husband admitted he had an affair with a younger and bouncier coworker. Follow Sabrina as she tries to rein in her out-of-control life by kicking her husband out on his rear, chucking her career and even firing her too-cute-for-the-job nanny. But how will she survive as a stay-at-home mom in the land of designer clothes, designer kids’ parties and designer babies? Hmm… maybe the hunky young French teacher, who has been flirting shamelessly with Sabrina, is just what she needs to take her mind off her problems. Well, not if her husband has something to say about it. Will Sabrina be able to forgive and still be true to herself?
Now let’s BOUNCE into 2014 with a renewed pep in our steps!
All the best,
KMJ answer
Bundle up… and read
Bundle up peeps it’s a cold one…
But of course keep it Klassy. Tell me how are you keeping warm on this cold, cold day or are you one of the lucky ones is shorts and flip-flops and some tropical local? Come on make me jealous. It’s ok. I’ll still love ya.
And Happy 123rd Birthday to literary pioneer Zora Neale Hurston. I’m thinking bundling up with a classic like Their Eyes Were Watching God would be great way to spend this cold day.
All the best,
KMJ
image from Vintage Everyday
January 4, 2014
December 31, 2013
Tomorrow…
Tomorrow is it.
A new beginning. 2013 has been quite a roller coaster year. Full of ups and downs (thankfully more ups than downs) ending with the debut of my 1st self- published book: BOUNCE. I’m hoping for a breakout year in 2014 with more smiles, more laughs, more words and more love.
My wish to all of you, as always, is peace, blessings and happiness.
Thanks so much for all the continued love, encouragement and support.
Here’s to Shiny New Page in 2014!
All the best,
KMJ
image from we heart it.
December 26, 2013
Happy 6th Blogiversary to Me!
I hope all who celebrated had a Very Merry Christmas. Mine was wonderful with family coming over and a fun time of food and festivities had by all. I want to thank each of you on your well wishes with the debut of BOUNCE. I’m so grateful to each person that commented here, on Facebook or on Twitter. It means so much to me. This has been quite a year, a total speed rollercoaster ride and honestly if I had my way I’d do a little re-wind bringing it back to September or October where my heart tells me the calendar should be set. But, alas it is what it as and I’m ever so grateful to be where I am today. Now a published author of 1,2… 3 books and a 4th on the way!
Latest release!
My mind can hardly get around it. But I know I have so many of you to thank for where I am now. Thank you.
Cheers from me and The Jackster and here’s to a fabulous 2014!
All the best,
KMJ
candle image from here
December 24, 2013
Bouce Your Merry Way!
It’s now official, as of yesterday, I am an indie publisher.
Whee! BOUNCE is live and for sale! Talk about a long time coming and what a way to have myself a Very Merry Christmas and welcome in 2014 with a Rousing Cheer.
I can’t express how excited, nervous and all around feeling every emotion a person could possibly feel in the moment. It’s like I’m standing on the edge of the highest cliff imaginable with nothing below me but green, ocean, sky and possibilities and nothing to guide me in my flight but my little hand painted wings that I’ve fashioned out of children’s kite material and some string.
Ok, so maybe I’m being a little dramatic here. I’ve know I’ve got a lot more behind me than I think I do, I just have to convince my gut of it. Right now it’s just a belly full of butterflies and no net to be had. But really I know I’m lucky. I have family and friends, critique partners, beta readers, formatters, loop groups, cheerleaders and boosters all there, puffing up my wings and watching to make sure I don’t spin out of control. Oh the joy! I am one happy woman.
All that said… I hope you’ll give BOUNCE a try. I have a feeling being a hybrid author in 2014 is going to be a wild flight.
Growing up as a young girl, Sabrina Jacobs could only dream her life would be this good. She has a successful career, a famous sexy husband, two children, a house in an affluent Westchester suburb and a shoe collection worthy of a magazine spread. Too bad it’s all a façade.
It has been almost a year since her husband admitted he had an affair with a younger and bouncier coworker. Follow Sabrina as she tries to rein in her out-of-control life by kicking her husband out on his rear, chucking her career and even firing her too-cute-for-the-job nanny. But how will she survive as a stay-at-home mom in the land of designer clothes, designer kids’ parties and designer babies? Hmm… maybe the hunky young French teacher, who has been flirting shamelessly with Sabrina, is just what she needs to take her mind off her problems. Well, not if her husband has something to say about it. Will Sabrina be able to forgive and still be true to herself? … Find out in BOUCE
BOUNCE can be found at Amazon here and at Barnes and Noble here.
Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Cheers to more Happy Writing in 2014!
All the best,
KMJ
image from here
December 23, 2013
Trimmed!
Happy Monday! The tree is finally trimmed. Now if I can only scoot Jack over and get a few presents under there…
Wishing you a great start of the week!
All the best,
KMJ
December 19, 2013
Wish List…
Happy Friday! Just a few more shopping days until Christmas and I’m kicking myself over not putting a new ironing board on my wish list. Oh well maybe next year. Here’s hoping you get all you want this year. Tell me what’s on your wish list?
All the best,
KMJ
P.S. Just 2 days left to get Seduction’s Canvas for the Amazon Big Deal price of $.99! Don’t miss out!
image from here
December 18, 2013
Bounce with Me!
Excitement, nervousness, cold sweats? Yep I’ve got em’ all! Why you ask? Well because:
1. Christmas is a week away and I have 1/2 a tree up, 1 twin to still pick up from school, no gifts and nary a card sent out. And…
B. I’m preparing for my debut… first ever…. never done by me before… self published novel release due out as an e-book later this year!
Gulp and oh my, but let’s add in there a exuberant hooray! I’m thinking this this will be some thrilling way to end 2013 and start out 2014. Yesterday I had an exclusive cover reveal over at the wonderful Heroes and Heartbreakers blog and now I can share the amazing cover designed by Mae at Cover Fresh Designs I hope you like it.
Ladies and Gents…. BOUNCE…
Growing up as a young girl, Sabrina Jacobs could only dream her life would be this good. She has a successful career, a famous sexy husband, two children, a house in an affluent Westchester suburb and a shoe collection worthy of a magazine spread. Too bad it’s all a façade.
It has been almost a year since her husband admitted he had an affair with a younger and bouncier coworker. Follow Sabrina as she tries to rein in her out-of-control life by kicking her husband out on his rear, chucking her career and even firing her too-cute-for-the-job nanny. But how will she survive as a stay-at-home mom in the land of designer clothes, designer kids’ parties and designer babies? Hmm… maybe the hunky young French teacher, who has been flirting shamelessly with Sabrina, is just what she needs to take her mind off her problems. Well, not if her husband has something to say about it. Will Sabrina be able to forgive and still be true to herself?
All the best,
KMJ
