Hi everyone! Today I am so excited to welcome author Charlie Cochet to Joyfully Jay! Charlie is here as part of her blog tour for The Impetuous Afflictions of Jonathan Wolfe. I loved this one and am crazy for the series. Charlie is sharing more about one of the characters from the book, as well as including a great excerpt. She also has a tourwide giveaway going on so be sure to check that out. And please join me in giving her a big welcome!
Hello! I’m Edmund. I’m here with my brother Connor. He doesn’t really talk all that much, except when he’s fighting with Gideon, but he’s the best big brother ever. Connor helps Henry in the infirmary and sometimes even goes with him to visit sick folks who need help. Connor likes helping people. The fellas at the manor are all so swell! Chance is really funny and Jacky is the bestest. Henry is the nicest of all. He’s posh and always smiles. Johnnie doesn’t smile as much, except when Henry’s around, but Johnnie’s smashing good fun! He teaches us how to play rugby and American football, boxing, and he even let me sit on his motorbike once! He and Chance are always fighting, but not real fighting because Chance ends up laughing most of the time. I think they’re just teasing each other like brothers do. The fellas take good care of us and now it even feels like home. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Connor feels the same, but he still worries a lot even when I tell him not to. Like about Oliver.
Oliver’s my best mate! We have so much fun together. He’s not posh and a lot of people think he’s trouble because of how he talks and where he came from. He does swear an awful lot sometimes, but he’s really very nice. He’s always nice to me. One time I fell when I was climbing one of the big trees in the garden and I scraped my knee. I didn’t want to go to Chance or I’d get a dressing down. Chance said me and Elliot were not allowed to climb trees unsupervised, even though I’m thirteen and not a little kid like Elliot. I was worried, so I went to find Oliver who was in the stables grooming the horses. When he saw me, he looked so worried! I told him I didn’t want Chance to find out, so Oliver sneaked into the infirmary and came back with supplies, and he fixed my knee up good as new! He was a bit cross with me for climbing the tree by myself. I think I scared him. Now we climb the tree together. He’s always looking out for me and even gives me his biscuits at tea time because he knows how much I love them. I don’t think Gideon would ever share his biscuits with Connor. I don’t know why they fight so much.
Connor says Gideon just likes the attention, so he does his best to ignore Gideon. I don’t think that works so well. I think it makes Gideon mad and then he does things to annoy Connor, like hide his things or put them up where Connor can’t reach them. He once glued Connor’s cricket bat to the floor. Connor was so very cross with him! He chased Gideon around the house until Chance kicked them both out and told them to chase each other outside, which they did. Connor never caught Gideon, though I don’t know why because he runs much faster than Gideon. I think maybe Gideon is just sneakier. Sometimes it’s fun to watch them fight because they can be so silly. Um, Connor says it’s not fun or silly. Well, we have to go now. Connor has to help Henry and I’m going to go find Oliver. He promised to show me how to groom the horses! Next stop, Johnnie’s back!
Blurb
Eight years after leaving the deserts of Africa and the French Foreign Legion behind, Jonathan Wolfe has settled into life at Hawthorne Manor in the English countryside. Johnnie helps his adopted family run the manor and provide a safe, loving home for a new generation of “brats”: boys mistreated and discarded for their homosexuality—something all too familiar to Johnnie.
Although no longer an unruly youngster, Johnnie is as stubborn, foul-mouthed, and troublesome as ever. His recent rash behavior becomes a concern for those closest to him, especially Dr. Henry Young, the only man ever to capture Johnnie’s heart. Instead of soothing him, their closeness brings Johnnie’s insecurities from an unsettling past to the surface, and leads to an explosive situation that threatens to tear them apart. Then Henry’s past catches up to them….
Excerpts are in the form of a serial.
Read Part 11 at Elin Gregory’s Blog
Excerpt Part 12
I scooped up some of the frosting with my finger and put it in my mouth, licking and sucking, watching the way his eyes moved to my lips, how he licked his own bottom lip before moving his gaze back up to mine, his eyes narrowing and his voice low.
“You are a heathen.”
“I know.” I wriggled my brows and scooped up some more frosting, ready to put it in my mouth when Henry caught my wrist and put my finger in his mouth, sucking the frosting clean off before releasing me. Thank God he had his back to the women and was blocking me from them, or my reaction would have had them calling the medics or the coppers for sure. I was rather certain I had stopped breathing.
“Turnabout is fair play, darling.” With a wink, Henry turned and started chatting to the two women as if he hadn’t just stood there and sucked my finger in the middle of the bakery. Then a terrible realization struck. Good God, the man had one-upped me! When had Henry become so… debauched? I could only put it down to my influence on him. I liked it.
“Johnnie, are you all right?” Mrs. Henley asked worriedly.
“I uh, I beg your pardon, I’m just….” My gaze went to Henry and I blinked, my brain having completely vacated the premises.
“He’s fine. Sugar’s gone to his head,” Henry explained, a wicked gleam in his eyes. Something had gone to my head all right, but it wasn’t the sugar.
Soon we had our baked goods and were on the road back to the manor. I still hadn’t managed to shake off what had happened back there. When I glanced over at Henry, he was grinning smugly.
“You fink.”
“Why, Mr. Wolfe, what’s the matter? Can’t stand to lose at your own game?”
“You know what?” I held his fairy cake up and stuffed the whole thing in my mouth, warbling at him while I chewed. “My cake now.”
Henry laughed out loud. “It’s astounding.”
“What?”
“How charming you can be when you fancy it.”
I almost choked on my cake. “What the hell are you talking about?” I could say with a fair amount of confidence that I was being anything but charming, the chocolate frosting smeared over my lips providing further evidence. “You must be confusing me with someone else.” I started searching my jacket pockets for my handkerchief.
“There are different ways to be charming, Mr. Wolfe.” Henry reached into his own suit jacket and handed me his. It was blue and gold with his initials monogramed elegantly in one corner. I shook my head.
“I’ll get it dirty.”
Henry took it back and put it away. “Well, then.” He reached out, and with his thumb wiped the chocolate off the corner of my mouth. When he put his thumb into his mouth, I was grateful I had finished swallowing because I surely would have choked at that moment. I spent the rest of the car ride staring straight ahead, too stupefied to talk. Henry spent it smiling.
Whatever was happening, I was in big, big trouble.
Blog tour finale & the devilish duo on Nov 26th over at Mrs. Condit & Friends
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Available in ebook and print from Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4362
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Comment prompt: What was one thing you were told not to do while playing as a child that you ignored?
About the Author
Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!
Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
Website: http://www.charliecochet.com
Blog: http://www.charliecochet.com/blog
Email: charlie@charliecochet.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecochet
Twitter: @charliecochet | http://www.twitter.com/charliecochet
Giveaway
1st Prize: $15 Amazon gift card + Impetuous Afflictions signed swag pack + signed 8×10 art print.
2nd & 3rd Prize: Impetuous Afflictions swag pack + signed 8×10 art print.
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To Enter
Just leave a comment on any of the blog posts along the tour, along with a contact email address. **If you would still like to enter the contest but don’t wish to leave your email address in the comment, you can also enter by emailing charlie@charliecochet.com.
Winners will be chosen at random and posted on Charlie’s blog at http://www.charliecochet.com/blog on Monday, December 2nd. Winners will then be notified via email.
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Contest ends
Sunday, December 1st at midnight, Eastern Time.
Tour stops:
11/9 – Welcome to Hawthorne Manor [Excerpt 1] – The Novel Approach
11/11 – Billiard Room Brouhaha [Excerpt 2] – Author Sue Brown
11/12 – A Trip to the Town of Aylesbury [Excerpt 3] – Author Kim Fielding
11/13 – Time for Tea [Excerpt 4] – Author Lex Chase
11/14 – Stopping for a Pint [Excerpt 5] – Author Andrew Q. Gordon
11/15 – Visiting the Furry Hat Man [Excerpt 6] – Author Eden Winters
11/18 – Meet Gideon Brooks [Excerpt 7] – Author Michael Rupured
11/19 – Meet Rori Curti [Excerpt 8]s – Author Shira Anthony
11/20 – Meet Aubrey Jepson [Excerpt 9] – Attention is Arbitrary
11/21 – Meet Oliver Darling [Excerpt 10] – Hearts on Fire
11/22 – Meet Elliot Young [Excerpt 11] – Author Elin Gregory
11/25 – Meet Connor & Edmund Grey [Excerpt 12]- Joyfully Jay
11/26 – The Devilish Duo [Finale] – Mrs. Conduit & Friends
Thank you so much for having us over at Joyfully jay!
Always a pleasure Charlie!
I have the first one ready to go on my Kindle. Looking forward to reading it.
debdeege(at) optonline (dot) net
Hi Debra! Thank you so much. Hope you enjoy Chance and the rest of the fellas. 😀
Count me in please.
kimandpete (at) me (dot) com
Absolutely! Thank you so much for stopping by, Kim!
I have Auspicious and would love to have this one. Please count me in.
andreams2013 at gmail.com
Hi Andrea! Hope you enjoy The Auspicious Troubles of Chance. Thank you so much picking it up and for stopping by!
I have so fallen in love with these characters. I really enjoyed the first book and am looking forward not only to this one but to any future books.
Thank you for the post and the giveaway.
Hey Allison! Thank you so much for following the tour, it’s been great having you! I’m sp glad to hear you enjoyed the first book as well! 😀
I would have choked too! And he’s definitely a charmer when he wants to be, whether he realizes it or not.
Hi Ashley! Henry certainly has a naughty streak. Just what Johnnie needs. 😉 Thank you for dropping by the tour!
I love all of these guys from the first book!!! I can’t wait to read this one!
If you love this gang, I think you will really enjoy this book b/c there is lots of good time with all the “brats” (both the grown ones and the new kids). The interplay between all of them is fabulous.
So glad you loved Chance and the fellas! Hope you enjoy Johnnie’s story just as much! 😀
I love these posts by the guys, there’re so fun!
Thank you, Laurie! It’s been a wonderful tour, and thank you for following it! 😀
I have really enjoyed meeting all the characters in this series of blogs. Looks like tomorrow is the last one. 🙁
jen.f {at} mac {dot} com
Aw, don’t worry, Jen, I’m sure it won’t be the last you hear from the boys. 😉 Thank you so much for following. I’m really glad you’ve enjoyed it!
Count me in, please! 🙂
Of course! Thank you so much for stopping by, Verena! 😀
I was told not to cross the street and stay close by along with the rest of my friends, but we always found our way across the street and going to the local store.
lenikaye@yahoo.com
Hi Leni! I remember being told something similar. Only to the end of the block. But the candy shop was just around the corner so we’d sneak away to get out 1 cent red jelly fish. 😀
I can’t think offhand–probably had something to do with cooking. I also wrecked one of those Fresh ‘n Fancy make-your-own makeup kits at my 8th birthday party because I couldn’t wait for instructions…
Hi Trix! I’ve lost count how many things I did that I was advised not to do when I was a kid. Like climbing and jumping off stuff. Like having the genius idea of wearing roller skates and hanging onto the back of my brother’s bike. Still have the scar on my knee. lol
Hmmm, probably playing with the boy across the street but I really liked him a lot. As I got older I got more daring. Don’t remember being specifically told not to hitchhike but I always waited till I was out of sight of the house to stick out my thumb. This was in the 1950’s and early 60’s; not as many serial killers then.
Hi Nancy! I can’t imagine hitchhiking. As I got older I became more of a wimp. lol. Too afraid of getting in trouble. Though in high school I did sneak out a few times and skip. During one incident, one of our mom’s happened to be driving by as we walked to the bowling alley when we should have been in class. We weren’t entirely sure it was her, so we went on with our fun. Of course when we got home and all our mom’s were waiting, we knew we’d been caught after all. They’d WAITED all day for us. I laugh about it now, but at the time, it was pretty scary. O_o lol
I love stories with food in them 🙂 And licking and sucking food from fingers is oh so sexy! ^_^
oops. email addy is penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
Mm, me too! And you can’t go wrong with a little chocolate! Thank you so much for stopping by! 😀
Great excerpt. I loved it. Should we answer your question? I used to go into this alley where we were not to trespass, but there was not to go and get frigs if we did not.
Hi Debra! I definitely did a lot of trespassing as a kid. Sneaking into parking lots to play. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Ooh, I would love to win this! That excerpt was adorable! I love how playful Henry seems (:
kit_singer@hotmail.com
Thanks!
Hi Kit! Thank you so much for dropping by. I loved writing Henry. He’s just a genuinely sweet, caring, and strong man. Oh, and certainly naughty. 😉
Love stories with some culinary art in it.
As a child I use to be told not to jump on things (table, plastic chairs, etc) and for good reason. I use to break them easily and get into so much trouble.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
Hi H.B. I was the same. I have a scar on my eyebrow from when I was little and was jumping on the bed when my mom told me not to. Fell and banged my head on the radiator. The first of quiet a few pigheaded injuries. lol
I usually ignored the don’t climb trees rule my mother had when I was little. I just could not stay out of them >.<
Kassandra
sionedkla@gmail.com
They were just too much fun! Or walking across fallen logs despite the fact they’d most likely roll away from under you. lol Thank you so much for dropping by, Kassandra!
Playing with fire – never listened & still thinks it’s beautiful (not pyro, though)
Ninnadh@gmail.com (forgetful – smh)
Hi Ninna! My brother was the one who never listened on the matches front, though it was always outside and nothing to crazy. We were too afraid our mom would catch us. lol
This excerpt is making me want cupcakes! Such a wonderful book – I’m with you Jay. I’m really loving this series.
sxswann(at)gmail(dot)com
Aw, thank you so much, Sadonna. I’m really glad to hear that! I love writing these fellas, so I’m hoping to continue the series for a few books more.
I have the first one on my TBR pile just waiting for me. It would be awesome to win…
Thanks, Michelle
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much, and thank you for dropping by the tour! 😀