Hello, ya’ll. It has been really cold in my neck of the woods. I hope you are staying warm and safe. Here is a little novella to curl up in a warm place with your favorite hot beverage. I read it and thought it so good I would invite Jamie Lynn Miller over to tell us about it. Hello Jamie!
Hello everyone! Many thanks to Cathy for hosting me today to announce my new release, Love and Poison!
2020 is here and a new year brings new resolutions. I’m usually pretty good at accomplishing the goals I set out for myself, so I’m hoping that this year is no exception. I’ve always liked making lists and checking things off. It motivates me and makes me feel accomplished.
So here’s what I’ve set out for myself this year…
1.) Writing-wise, I have but one goal. Last year my husband lost his left leg. It’s been a life-changing experience for both of us. I want to channel all of our ups and downs and emotions into my most personal book yet. Since I write about men in uniform, “You Make Me Whole” will focus on two soldiers, best friends since childhood who join the Army together. Three years in, one of them loses his leg in an IED explosion in Afghanistan and the other is wounded. The book will chronicle their lives back in civilian life and the difficulties they face, all while growing closer and falling in love. There aren’t nearly enough m/m books out that deal with disabilities, and I’d like to shine a light on that. Just because you’re no longer a “whole” person doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve love.
Personally, I have a few more goals…
1.) Travel. Besides the amputation, my husband is going blind. Now that he’s been fitted with his prosthetic he’s much more mobile, so we’re planning at least two vacations this year. We want to make the most of whatever time we have left.
2.) Unplug more. The amount of time I spend on my computer, phone and tablet is just too much. This year I’m unplugging on Saturdays and Sundays. Spend time going places with my husband, reading, getting outside to walk around the lake behind my house and leaving the electronics turned off.
3.) Become more confident. One of my biggest issues is that I say “Yes” to too many things, not wanting to disappoint anyone. In the process, I let people take advantage of me. This year I’m going to say “No” more often and not feel guilty about it.
4.) Learn something new every day. My husband is a big fan of Jeopardy (and he’s good at it!) and he’s started recording the shows for us to watch in the evening. And I’m really enjoying learning random facts every day.
5.) Strengthen personal relationships. I’ve spent the last year working from home as a caregiver for my husband and it’s isolated me a bit. I’ve lost touch with co-workers and friends and this year I’m going to be better about sending emails and making phone calls. I miss my friends.
Whew! That’s quite the list now that I look at it! But like I said, I love lists and completing each task. So wish me luck that by the end of 2020 they all have checkmarks next to them! And I wish all of YOU luck on whatever goals and resolutions you’ve made for yourself. We can do this! Let’s make 2020 a good one!
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A bit about me: I’ve lived in the suburbs of Chicago my entire life, but would much rather be living in Vancouver, Canada. I’ve been married for 25 years to my amazing husband, John. And our children are of the furry, four-footed kind. I work professionally as a graphic designer, but would rather be writing!
I started writing m/m fan fiction back in the mid-’90s and in 2008 a friend challenged me to go pro. And here I am! Since I was a kid I’ve been interested in law enforcement and first responders. I’ve taken countless citizen police and fire academy classes and I’ve been volunteering with my local police department for the last five years. So it seemed natural that my books would feature the brave men in these professions, with my academy and volunteer work giving me a unique, inside perspective. I have books about cops, firemen, paramedics, and soldiers, and my tag line is “Men in Uniform…and Out”.
My latest release is Love and Poison, featuring two Portland PD detectives—Bryce and Caleb. I love putting my characters through life and death situations and this book is no different. Bryce and Caleb have found happiness with one another, planning a future together when the unthinkable happens—Caleb is targeted and poisoned and given only a day to live.
Interested? Then read on for an exclusive excerpt!
TITLE: Love and Poison
AUTHOR: Jamie Lynn Miller
PUBLISHER: LuLu Press
COVER ARTIST: Jamie Lynn Miller
GENRE: M/M Contemporary Romance Mystery/Suspense
WORD COUNT: 30,000
A microscopic killer. A deadly diagnosis. The man you love has only 24 hours to live. What would you do?
There’s no denying the attraction between Detective Caleb Donaghue and his new partner Detective Bryce Anderson. At first, they battle their growing desires, but then tragedy brings the two men closer than ever before. United in their shared grief, they seek solace in one another. Walls come down, lines are crossed, and they finally give in to their hearts’ desires.
But only six weeks in, their happiness is shattered when Caleb is poisoned—and given only 24 hours to live.
In a life-or-death race to save their new-found love, they must find the unknown assailant and the antidote before Caleb’s time runs out.
Exclusive EXCERPT:
Ten minutes later Bryce was lying naked in Caleb’s arms under the sheets in his partner’s large bed upstairs. Bryce’s eyes had just drifted closed, Caleb’s fingers lightly brushing up and down his arm lulling him to sleep, when Caleb’s quiet voice had his eyes opening again.
“Did we make a mistake?”
Bryce’s forehead furrowed, his thoughts immediately going back to Rivera and the events earlier in the evening. He lifted his head to look at his partner in the semi-dark. “Caleb, it wasn’t you—”
Caleb cut him off with a shake of his head. “No.” He pinned Bryce with a look of utter seriousness. “I mean this. Us. Getting involved with one another.”
Bryce’s chest clenched with Caleb’s surprising, unexpected words and he sat up as his partner continued.
“We made a promise that we wouldn’t put each other ahead of our jobs. But watching you deliberately throw yourself in the line of fire tonight—”
Angry, Bryce cut Caleb off this time. “And I’d have done the same damn thing if that same situation had happened an hour after we first met!” He took a calming breath. “You’re my partner. We protect one another, whether we’re sleeping together or not.” He let his heartfelt words hang in the moonlight, watched as the truth of them settled on Caleb. Then he let a smirk slide across his face. “Though if I’m going to be a superhero, I really need to work on my form. That tackle was hardly graceful. My high school football coach would be mortified.”
Caleb huffed out a laugh and a smile, complete with eye roll, breaking the tension.
Bryce smiled in return, but then let it slide away as he reached out and took Caleb’s hand in his. “Seriously, though. Can you tell me that you wouldn’t have done the same thing if our positions had been reversed tonight?”
Caleb held his gaze for a moment before glancing away, his silence all the answer Bryce needed.
Bryce squeezed his hand and Caleb looked back at him. “Us sleeping together isn’t a detriment to our partnership. It’s making us stronger.”
Caleb dropped his eyes down, then back up. “I was positive I was going to die tonight,” he confessed, his voice wavering. “And the thought of leaving you…”
Bryce’s throat threatened to close up with emotion and he had to swallow hard. “Listen to me,” he said, putting a smile back on his face. “The only leaving that’s happening is when you leave me sleeping here to go down to the bakery to get breakfast in a few hours.”
Caleb chuckled, the atmosphere lightening once again. “Oh, is that right?”
“Yep,” Bryce nodded. “I saved your ass. I deserve a donut.”
Caleb chuckled again. “Guess I can’t argue with that.”
“Nope,” Bryce grinned, settling down against the pillows again, tugging Caleb to him. “Now less talking, more sleeping.”
Caleb leaned in and kissed Bryce gently, a long, slow press of their lips before easing back and resting his head on Bryce’s chest, his arm draped loosely over Bryce’s waist. Bryce’s arm came around Caleb’s shoulders as his partner closed his eyes.
But Bryce lay awake, looking down at him, still marveling that he was lying in bed with Caleb. Wondering if they’d be together like this if not for the death of a young boy, looking for comfort in their shared grief. His, especially. He’d let his emotions bring down his walls and Caleb was there and Bryce forgot all about maintaining a professional partnership.
Because that’s what Bryce had promised himself the day he and Caleb met, a little over a year ago now. Him, the new kid on the block in Major Crimes, freshly promoted to Detective at only twenty-six years-old. The youngest in the division. And Caleb, four years older, in need of a new partner after his previous, long-term one had retired.
He and Caleb were a good fit from the get-go. And Bryce wasn’t going to screw it up with his instant attraction to his new partner. Getting involved just wasn’t an option. He had a lot to learn about being a detective from Caleb and he wasn’t going to ruin it by making an advance. Because if things didn’t work out, it would be unbelievably uncomfortable for both of them. And if you couldn’t be absolutely at ease with one another, to be able to rely on your partner to be there, to always have your back… One of you was going to end up hurt. Or dead.
But it looked like his fears were unfounded. Because here they were, six weeks later. And there was no place Bryce would rather be. Because he was falling harder and harder for Caleb each and every day.
Bryce sighed and closed his eyes. Question was—was Caleb falling just as hard?
~~~~~~~~~~
BUY LINKS:
PAYHIP: https://payhip.com/jamielynnmiller
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/30sEo45
KOBO:
SCRIBD:
BARNES AND NOBLE:
Also available in the iBookstore!
Information on all of my backlist books (pictured below) can be found at my website:
BIO:
Jamie Lynn Miller has been writing fiction since childhood and decided to take the plunge and go pro in 2008, finding to her amazement that people truly enjoyed her love stories. She’s a romantic at heart, and her tales reflect the desire we all have to find “the one,” persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending.
Jamie has a degree in fine arts and has spent the last twenty-five years working as a graphic designer, though she’d much rather be writing. She was born in Chicago and still lives there today with her husband and their two furry, four-footed children, er… cats.
If she’s not brainstorming story ideas, you can find Jamie at a sci-fi convention, in front of a furnace doing glass blowing, or on a mat twisted into a yoga pose.
CONTACT INFO:
Email: jamielynnmiller@live.com
Blog: http://www.jamielynnm.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamielynn.miller.3
Twitter: @JamieLynnAuthor
I had the privilege of reading this one and wow I loved it. (Here are links to my review in case you want to check that out) TTC Books and More; http://www.ttcbooksandmore.com/2020/01/cats-review-of-love-and-poison-by-jamie.html Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2P8RXZV7G57J6?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp Goodreads (add it to your shelf while you are there!) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3129306326?
Do You Need To Unplug? What One thing can you do this year for yourself?
5 responses to “Take Time to Unplug @JamieLynnAuthor #Newrelease #mysterysuspense #LGBTQ”
I’ve lived in both Chicago and Vancouver — and like you, I’d choose Vancouver.
I have visited Chicago and I loved it. But I am sure living there would be very different. I would love to visit Vancouver.
I’ve visited Vancouver SO many times. It’s a city that just…speaks to me, if that makes sense. It’s my goal to retire there, if possible!
[…] both writing-wise and personally. Stop by to find out and read an excerpt from Love and Poison! […]
It’s an expensive place to retire, unfortunately. Not as expensive as California, but still expensive.