Hello everyone! I am so pleased to welcome the fabulous Taylor V. Donovan to the blog. Taylor is here to talk to us more about her new release, Hearsay. Â She has also brought a great giveaway. So please join me in giving her a big welcome!
Confessions… by Taylor V. Donovan
Hi, all! Thank you so much for stopping by to read a little about my first release in nine months.
Hearsay  is Book 1 in a trilogy featuring Derrick Swain and Roman Bradford, and pretty much the beginning of their journey towards happiness.
As the title suggests, rumors run rampant in this installment, with one in particular having the potential to destroy the career of one of our main characters. Our other protagonist, in turn, is dealing with the aftermath of a past relationship gone bad, and convinced he has to give up the love of his life as a result. Here is where things get interesting for Roman and Derrick.
For all of you familiar with my work, I’m pretty sure it won’t come as a surprise that I kept it real with these two guys. Once again there are no miracles in my story. There’s love, though, love of epic proportions, at that. But my characters are flawed. They make mistakes. They have to work for their relationship quite a lot.
I used to wonder why I insist on complicating my life by bringing characters to the page that are so… difficult. Everything would be so much simpler if I didn’t. Not to mention, some people use their reading time to escape from the harsh realities of our world, and I often incorporate those into my work. But, a while back I realized I didn’t want to write fairy tales where everything is awesome at the end. I want to write about real-feeling people, with real problems, reactions, and the works. At the end of the day, I want to write about hope. I want to use my characters to show everyone that, even when life craps on us, true love will see us through. That, although our significant other most likely won’t be a cop, firefighter, FBI agent, Special Forces dude—I’m sure you catch my drift—he/she/they will still walk to hell and back for you. See? Hope.
In Hearsay, our main characters’ happiness is hanging on Derrick Swain’s willingness to walk to hell for Roman, and possibly stay there. Wondering what I mean? You’ll have to read the story and see. I don’t want to spoil it for you.
In the meantime, I’d like to ask you this: Would you stay in a relationship if you found out there’s a chance your significant lover won’t be around for the lifetime you always imagined, or would you walk away and save yourself the heartache?
Share your thoughts in the comments session for a chance to win a copy of Hearsay and a title from my back list.
Happy reading!
Taylor
Blurb
Senior associate attorney Derrick Swain wants it all: a loving husband, a fulfilling career, and a couple of kids. After years of hard work he’s on the fast track to a promotion. He’s also met the man of his dreams. A week of daily lunch meetings in Central Park provides the perfect setting to get to know him better, and Derrick thinks it won’t be long before they take the next step and go on a date. But instead of asking him out, the object of his affection stops showing up without explanation, leaving him to wonder what went wrong.
As part owner of one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City, Roman Bradford knows that professional success isn’t the be all end all. Although he’s been lucky in life, true love has eluded him for the most part. One too many failed relationships have caused him to be leery of trying again, until he meets a man that can only be described as temptation personified. A few conversations is all it takes for Roman to start believing things will be different this time around. It doesn’t matter that they are boss and employee, or that he’s feeling too much, too fast. Not when he can see the same emotions in Derrick’s eyes. Then life turns on a dime, and Roman has no option but to let his chance at happiness go.
A battle of wills ensues when a life-altering case brings them together a year later. Roman wants to do the right thing by not letting anything happen between them, and Derrick is determined to prove they’re meant to be together. Evidence will be presented and final arguments will be made. Will they be able to come to an agreement, or will they opt to have their potential relationship dismissed?
BioÂ
Taylor V. Donovan is a compulsive reader and author of gay romance and suspense. She is optimistically cynical about the world; lover of history, museums and all things 80s. She is crazy about fashion, passionate about civil rights and equality for all, and shamelessly indulges in mind-numbing reality television.
When she’s not making a living in the busiest city in the world or telling the stories of gorgeous men hot for one another, Taylor can be found raising her two daughters and their terribly misbehaved furry baby in the mountains she calls home.
For more information please visit www.taylorvdonovan.com
Giveaway
Taylor is offering up a copy of Hearsay and a book from her backlist to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment for your chance to enter. Â The contest closes on Sunday, May 18th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Â Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
I can’t wait to read this one!
Add me too, please, sounds interesting…
I think if you are truly in love with someone I think you would stay but it really does depend on the circumstances.
This sounds good. Â Please count me in.
I need this book! I yearn for it, please include me in the contest.
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I’m so excited for this book to come out! I would love to win a copy! Thanks!
I don’t know. There’s always a chance that life will take the person you love away from you unexpectedly anyway (my dad’s parents lived well into their 90s and sometimes beyond, so none of us expected him to die of cancer much sooner than that). But having that advance knowledge could make a difference. I admit I’m not super-eager to marry someone in a high-risk career or something like that, because I’m definitely a worrier. But if I fell in love with someone, I guess all bets would be off. 🙂
I did walk through hell for someone only to have them leave me, which made me very bitter, so I would never do it again, sadly.
That is a very difficult question. Not having had an SO (what can I say, I’m picky), it’s hard for me to answer! I’d like to say that love means never walking away, but until I’ve been there… *shrugs*
Hi T, as one of your loyal and devout fans Congrats on this book. Very excited for you and can’t wait to read it. <3
Love is inevitable. You really can’t say when you will give up or not. Its a difficult question, yes. Every people has choices, and they have to choose one. Everything had to sacrifice the other choice, and face the consequence. It’s really a matr of choice.
This story intrigues me, count me in!
Ohhhh, throw my name in this race!
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.
This sounds great! Can’t wait to read it!
Must check this one out, sounds good. Please count me in!
Wow, this story sounds amazing ! I’ll keep my fingers crosed !
It sounds really good, Taylor! I love stories with a bit of confilct in them. Count me in!
That is a hard one. I hope that I would have had the strength to share my life with them if only for a short time, but I think until you are in the situation it will be impossible to know.
I think I’m the type of person that would stay if I truly loved someone, but it really depends on the circumstance.  I will be married 25 years this August and there have definitely been plenty of ups and downs during this time.  Glad I never gave up.  🙂
Look forward to reading Hearsay. Â Thanks for the giveaway!
Please count me in. Thanks.
Please count me in.
I’m a big fan – can’t wait to read this one and the next one in the Degrees series. I would go the distance even knowing it might not last – there is always risk in loving someone!
I’d risk the heartache to have the love. Interesting topic! Thanks for the giveaway, please count me in.
I think the chance for love is worth a lot I would take the risk. please count me in.
I am in LOVE with that cover!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the sound of this book! Can’t wait to read IT!!!!
Can’t wait for a new read from one of my favorite authors!
To answer the question: absolutely yes. I would always take a chance, than walk away.
Oh, yes, please… Count me in. Thanks!
Recently read Disasterology, so would loveto read another!
Love Taylor’s books!! Can’t wait for this one!
I am not sure I would walk away. Â Where there is breath, there is hope and things change.
Yes, I would stay. Most definitely. There are never guarantees in any relationship. I’m looking forward to this book. 🙂
Gosh sounds really good. Please count me in!
It sounds very interesting, and I like that it’s first in a trilogy. I always like more than one book about favorite characters.
It would depend on the person, the circumstances and the chemistry between us. If they’d make me very happy for the period we’re together (in the sense that I felt their presence truly enriched my life and helped me grow as a person, not that there wouldn’t be any problems), I would stay in the relationship for as long as it made sense.
I would stay, I am a very loyal person and it takes a lot for me to turn my back on a relationship.
Thanks for the giveaway
jasdarts at hotmail dot com
I can’t wait to read this book, loving the tour!
I’m looking forward to reading this, Â so please include me in the draw. Â ThanksÂ
Thank you all so much for sharing your opinions and entering the giveaway! Also, my apologies for not replying to your individual messages. I was a bit sick and staying away from the internet, but I really appreciate your interest in Hearsay. <3