Today I am so pleased to welcome Jaycee Edward and Helena Stone to Joyfully Jay. Jaycee and Helena has come to talk to us about their latest release, Strangers in the Night. They have also brought along a great giveaway! Please join me in giving Helena and Jaycee a big welcome!
CITY MOUSE / COUNTRY MOUSE
Helena:
In Strangers in the Night one of our characters, Callum, lives in the middle of nowhere. While I’m nowhere near as isolated as he is I do know what living miles away from any amenities is like from first experience. That wasn’t always the case though. I was born and raised in Amsterdam and am still convinced that city is one of the best places in the world to be a teenager or student. When my (Irish) husband brought our family to Ireland we first lived in Dublin. But, for the past 10 years or so we have been living in the Irish countryside with the nearest shop about four miles away.
Living away from a town and other people both has its advantages and complications. I love the peace and quiet and can’t imagine having to go to sleep listening to traffic anymore. I wouldn’t give up our beautiful view for any amount of money and cherish being able to walk out the door with the dog to go for a long walk without the need for a leash.
As for the downsides, I had to learn how to be efficient about my shopping. You don’t want to make an eight mile round trip just because you’ve run out of milk if you can possibly help it. But other than the lack of local shops I’m hard pressed to come up with disadvantages to my address for most of the year. Our life does get somewhat complicated whenever we experience a (relatively rare) cold and snowy winter. There is about a mile between our house and the first road busy enough to get treated, and we live on top of a rather steep hill. Once the snow or frost gets severe we are pretty much stranded. It’s no longer safe to take the car down the hill while driving it back up the hill is a near impossibility.
All in all I love living where we do and I can’t see myself ever moving back into a town or city again. I treasure the privacy, the beauty of our uninterrupted view and the stunning images it treats us to on an almost daily basis. As far as I’m concerned, Callum had the right idea when he moved away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Jaycee:
I live in northeast Ohio. I guess I’m the City Mouse to Helena’s Country Mouse, although I’ve never lived in a big city. I’m more of a Suburban Mouse, I guess. I grew up saying I was going to move to Aspen, Colorado the day I turned eighteen. Why Aspen? No clue. I’ve never been there, but John Denver sang about Starwood in Aspen and to an adolescent girl, it sounded romantic. As it turned out, I’ve never left the town I was born in. The house I grew up in is five minutes from where I live now.
My husband’s always wanted a farm – or a log cabin in the woods. We’ve found a few places we almost bought, but when push came to shove, we always decided to stay put. First, because we had aging parents and wanted to be close. Now, because our kids and grandkids are here. Our city’s EMS boasts a response time of 3 minutes or less. My husband had a severe asthma attack several years ago. I’ve never been so scared – he wasn’t breathing. The paramedics were at my door in less than two minutes and, before I could get my shoes on, they had him loaded and on the way to the hospital. When someone you love can’t breathe, one or two minutes can make the difference between life and death. Suddenly, living ‘out’ somewhere lost its appeal.
Am I jealous of the gorgeous view Helena has from her back door? Oh, yeah…. I even used Google Earth while I had her on Skype one day to take a virtual drive around her place. But I’m used to the convenience of being able to run to the store to grab an ingredient I’ve forgotten, and I adore my neighbors. In the summer, I hang over the fence and chat with them while they have dinner. In the fall, we help each other rake leaves.
Trick-or-Treat is a major event – a last chance to visit before winter has us all hibernating. Yesterday morning I found a package with two donuts hanging on my door with a card that said, “Thanks for being our neighbors. Enjoy these with your coffee this snowy morning!” So, whenever I get the urge to live somewhere remote, like Callum, I think about what I’d have to give up and I realize I’m right where I’m meant to be.
Excerpt
The golden eyes stared into his. “Are you okay, lad?”
He wasn’t sure where his voice had gone, so he simply nodded his head. The skin around those beautiful eyes wrinkled as the big man tried not to smile. “You know better than that. I want to hear you say it.” The order was clear yet the voice was soft and compassionate.
“Yes, sir. I’m okay.”
“Good lad.” Callum wiped the tears from his cheeks, his fingers rough on Slade’s skin. Slade leaned into the touch. His breath stilled as Callum’s face came closer. He was afraid to move. He wanted this… needed it so badly.
Slade only released his breath when Callum’s lips touched his. The kiss was chaste and gentle, meant to comfort, not arouse. Callum sat on the bed and opened his arms. Slade hesitated.
“It’s a normal thing to do after a scene. We call it aftercare, but if you’re not comfortable with it, that’s okay.”
Slade considered it for about a second before sliding into those big, welcoming arms. As they wrapped around him, his tears came unbidden. Under any other circumstances, he’d have been mortified at his current situation—nude and sobbing in another man’s arms, a man he barely knew—but it had been so long since he’d been held by anyone. Callum pulled a blanket over him and stroked his back, whispering calming words to him in his now-familiar Scottish brogue.
When his sobs subsided, he lifted his head to be graced with Callum’s kind smile.
“Tell me how you’re feeling.”
“Better. Much better. Thank you, sir.”
Callum chuckled. “I thought you might. You can drop the ‘sir’ now.”
“Does it bother you? When I call you ‘sir’?”
Callum smiled. “Quite the opposite. It’s common practice for a submissive to call his Dominant ‘Sir.’ It shows respect.”
His Dominant.
Several minutes passed with neither man speaking. Slade lowered his head back to Callum’s chest. Callum continued to stroke and pet Slade’s back, and Slade had no intention of asking him to stop. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this inner peace. He wondered how long it would last, especially since he knew staying here wasn’t an option.
Blurb
When Army veteran, Slade, stumbles upon an isolated cottage on a cold, dark, night, the young man finds more than just the shelter he’s seeking.
Former club Dominant Callum is surprised to find a handsome stranger knocking at his door but invites him in despite his reservations. A nightmare reveals Slade’s deep-seated emotional issues, and Callum knows he needs to get creative if he’s going to help Slade leave the past behind.
Neither man is prepared for the feelings Slade’s introduction into the world of BDSM will unleash, and thirty-six hours will either be enough to bind them, or they will remain forever strangers in the night.
You can find Strangers in the Night on Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble, or Goodreads.
Bio
Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.
The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.
Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.
Helena Stone can be found in the following places: Twitter, Facebook, Website, Pinterest, Goodreads, or by email.
Jaycee Edward is no longer seventeen years old but don’t tell her that. She’s actually a tad older and lives in northeast Ohio with her handsome husband and one, big gorgeous dog. She has two grown stepdaughters and is proud to be the ultra-cool Nana to two amazingly incredible grand-teens. Jaycee loves pistol shooting and is has earned her Bar 7 Sharpshooter status in the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program and hopes to someday reach the level of Expert Marksman. She is the token liberal and constant source of fascination to the other members at her gun range. Jaycee knows way too much about the inner workings of Walt Disney World and anything related to One Direction. She’d love to pull you into the rabbit hole with her. All you have to do is ask. Find her there or contact her through social media.
You can find Jaycee Edward in the following locations: her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.
Giveaway
Jaycee and Helena have kindly donated a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner! Enter through the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.
Contest Begins: March 11, 2015
Contest Ends: March 21, 2015
Rafflecopter giveaway
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- 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.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Thank you so much for hosting us on our Release Day! <3
Thank you so much for hosting us today.
Congratulations on your book release you two! Lovely to have a look around your dwellings…I use google maps to be nosey /sorry investigate too Jaycee 🙂
Hey, now! I was Skyping with her as I did it! She and Dermot were even helping me navigate. Google even managed to capture Dermot’s dad out tending their well so I got to see him too! Ha! Gorgeous country with big open spaces! I hope to maybe see it someday!
I can’t wait to show you around, Jaycee.
And Beverley, if Google maps made you curious, you’re always welcome to come and visit.
Don’t enter me in the contest. I just wanted to stop by, say hello, and let everyone know they should check out this book! I need all of your support in getting Helena and Jaycee to share more about these guys! 🙂
Ha ha! Thanks, Allison! We are working on it and think you’ll really like what we have in store!
Thank you Allison and yes, we are working with our men again to give you more of their story.
Congratulations Jaycee and Helena on your new book. I’ve added it to my TBR list. Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.
Thanks and good luck!
Thanks and good luck
Congrats on the new release.
What’s your favorite BDSM kink? I don’t actually have a favorite.
Thanks, Marilyn! I’m biting my tongue here to restrain myself from making #research comments. Helena’s husband swore he recorded our conversations during our Skype sessions while writing. Perhaps you could try bribing him… ;o)
*finishes Duct taping husbands hands and mouth* “I’m sorry,Marilyn, what was the question”
*laughs* Um… I think you just answered it. ;o)
No favorite BDSM kink, but love reading about them.
Enter the Rafflecopter, Laurie! If you win the gift card you can buy more BDSM books! 🙂
Congratulations on the new release! No BDSM kink here either! Just love to read about them!
Thank you, Julie! ;o)
Congrats on your release! I really enjoyed it, although a little short for my taste. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
And I’m not sure about BDSM kinks but I like to read about men tied up. 😛
LOL, so do I, Serena! Glad you enjoyed it.
I definitely enjoy reading about male subs!
Me too, Trix, and, oh my gosh, if I do say so myself, Slade is my idea of the ultimate male sub. 🙂
Thanks for the post and the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by, Antonia.
No kink here, pretty vanilla. Love all the comments, though. Y’all are hilarious. Congrats on the release.
Nothing wrong with vanilla – it’s my favorite flavor! Well, after chocolate, of course! ;o)
Congrats on the new book. I’m not really sure about a favorite BDSM kink.
We didn’t ask anyone’s status, so vanilla is very much welcome! ;o) Thanks!
Congratulations on the new book! It sounds like it’s right up my alley. In my personal life, I’m not really into it, but I sure do love reading about it in books. I’m not sure that I have a favorite kink in my books either…as long as it works for the MCs, that’s all I care about. I can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the post and giveaway chance.
Oh, it works quite nicely for our main characters! Callum is quite experienced and… shall we say, creative? And Slade, well… you’ll have to get to know Slade to see how/where he fits into the scene. ;o) Thanks for commenting!
Congratulations on the new book. I’m not into the lifestyle myself but find it fascinating. There are so many different ways to be in the lifestyle. I love to read about spanking. Both as discipline and as punishment.
Thanks, Denise! It is a fascinating lifestyle. I find the psychological aspect of it is actually more intriguing than the physical.
FYI… Helena and I didn’t actually ask anyone to tell us anything personal about themselves, so please don’t feel as though you need to do that! An early commenter asked US a question, but please – don’t anyone feel they need to tell us about their sex life – unless you want to, of course, and then – you know… we’re all ears. Haha! ;o)
We’d love to know if you’re a City Mouse or a Country Mouse though!
Thanks for the great blog post – I’m a country mouse myself – loved all the pictures.
Thanks, Lisa! Can’t remember my backyard looking like that, actually! It’s been covered in snow for soooo long.
Thanx for the giveaway…and as for fav kink…well *thinking really hard*…I like D/s aspect the most. I’m not that into physical pain or humiliation and etc…
Just saw that this is the Rafflecopter question so THAT explains why y’all are confessing your deepest, darkest sexploits to us! LOL! I love the D/s aspect as well. Think humans always find that opposites attract.
Well,I wouldn’t agree on that…I mean I would,but in D/s relationship it’s the matter of complement,harmony and balance,it’s not mere “opposites attract”. And yes,humans always find that opposites attract,and that may be true in relationships based on D/s,but in non-D/s relationships,from psychological point of view (and empirical as well -personal and of the people around me),things don’t work out more often than they do. But at least that notion will never get old with romance writers 🙂
Hahaha! Opposites are more interesting. Maybe that’s what the saying *should* be. 🙂
I’m catching up with this blog tour and am enjoying reading a bit more about you two. I’m a City Mouse, love the hustle and bustle. Though, like Jaycee, I’m a Suburban Mouse for the time being. I’m too much of a wimp to live in the country, having to drive snowy and icy roads is not for me.
Woot! Something in common! See? I knew we’d find it!
What’s up, just wanted too say, I loved this post. It was inspiring.
Keep on posting!
Thanks for your comment, Salvatore!
I find it sooo funny that you end up not knowing that you’ve asked people about their fave kink 🙂 I can just imagine your faces: O.O why?!?
At the moment there’s no kink in my life – but I’ll gladly welcome it 😉 and until mr Kink shows up, I’ll just get my fix from good books!
LMAO!!! Yes, we were confused for a bit. Bwahaha! The Rafflecopter was set up by IndiGo so we weren’t aware of the question. It’s been fun, though and just goes to show how diverse we all are!