Today I am so pleased to welcome Tere Michaels to Joyfully Jay. Tere has come to share an excerpt from her latest release, Truth & Tenderness, the final book in her Faith, Love & Devotion series. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving Tere a big welcome!
Thank you so much for having me! I’m excited to share this exclusive excerpt from my new release, “Truth & Tenderness” – the final book in the Faith Love & Devotion series. It will be available from Dreamspinner Press on May 1st. Saying goodbye to the boys – Matt and Evan, Jim and Griffin – wasn’t easy but I feel like this is a fitting end to all the stories in this world.
Excerpt
A door slammed overhead; then the clatter of footsteps began. Shane
angled himself like a paparazzo at the bottom of the staircase, jostling against Katie like he was jockeying for best position.
It escalated quickly, the neat row of Cerelli children school photos shaking against the wall.
“Oh God, the pictures are going to be blurry,” Miranda huffed from behind them.
The mock fighting stopped as Evan stepped into view—and Matt let a flirty wolf whistle fly. The blush on his boyfriend’s cheeks made it even more worthwhile.
“Wow,” Matt said, low and as sexy as he was capable of making his voice.
Evan smirked as Matt easily pushed his way between Shane and Katie, then closed the distance between them. “Like something you see?” Evan asked quietly.
But not quietly enough, because retching noises began behind them, led by Helena.
As Evan paused on the last step, Matt ignored them all, sweeping an arm around Evan’s middle.
“Whatever dirty thing you’re going to say, shut up,” Evan muttered as he leaned down to kiss Matt on the mouth—quick, fleeting, but sweet enough to make Matt behave.
“Oh, that’s a nice shot. That’s the cover of our Christmas card right there,” Katie said loudly as Elizabeth giggled.
Evan leaned around Matt’s embrace. “Can we start making our way out to the car? We’ll take pictures after the ceremony.”
“Yes, sir!” That was Helena. Then all the kids echoed her sarcastically, even Miranda and Kent.
“They’re not moving, are they?” Matt asked, sneaking his hand down to pinch Evan’s ass under his jacket.
“No,” Evan answered as the corners of his mouth began to twitch.
“I got this.”
Matt moved quickly because he knew Evan knew what he was going to do—Matt wasn’t subtle. Ever.
Matt surged up to plant a wicked kiss on Evan’s mouth—tongue, a bitten lip. It sounded wet and dirty, and from the squeals behind him, it looked it too. The door slammed a few seconds later, the hooting and hollering trailing behind the kids a second after.
Evan pulled away, finally. His mouth looked lush and gorgeous, his eyes were a little unfocused, and a faint hint of perspiration was forming at his hairline.
And at some point, he’d dropped his hat.
“That cleared the room,” Evan said, a tiny bit out of breath.
“We’ll have to remember that after we get back from the ceremony,” Matt said with a smirk, so wicked that Evan shook his head.
“The uniform, right?”
“Well, it helps that you’re wearing it and I’m specifically tuned to want to jump you in any and all clothing.” Matt adopted a solemn expression. “That’s probably a good thing, or this could be an especially uncomfortable ceremony in a room with that much blue polyester.” The joking helped, even if Evan’s face was doing that painfully sympathetic thing.
So Matt kissed him again, bringing one hand up to touch his face gently.
The gesture said, I’m fine.
Evan took a deep breath as he came up for air. He nodded, his gaze never leaving Matt’s face.
That said, I know.
Blurb
Newly promoted police captain Evan Cerelli takes command of his own precinct as Matt Haight’s security business begins to expand at a rapid rate. Both of their careers require more and more of their time—away from home and each other. When his most famous clients, Daisy and Bennett Ames, suffer a traumatic breakup, Matt is drawn into a dangerous and dramatic situation. With attentions diverted, Evan and Matt’s tight-knit home life begins to unravel.
As Griffin Drake’s movie nears final edit, his thoughts turn toward building a home with his new fiance, Jim Shea—and maybe even starting a family. Before he can think of a new family, Jim is caught up in his past. The possibility of putting Tripp Ingersoll in jail once and for all beckons, and Jim wants the closure that has long eluded him. As a new lead spurs him on, Jim begins to lose sight of the future by chasing an old ghost.
Both couples struggle to remember that “happily ever after” requires hard work, trust, and tender, open hearts.
Bio
Tere unofficially began her writing career at the age of four when she learned that people got paid to write stories. It seemed the most perfect and logical job in the world and after that, her path was never in question. (The romance writer part was written in the stars—she was born on Valentine’s Day.)
Six years ago, she stumbled into the world of writing gay romance with her first book, Faith & Fidelity. The series, and her career, grew rapidly. She is a member of RWA, Rainbow Romance Writers, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.
Nothing makes her happier than knowing she made a reader laugh or smile or cry. It’s the purpose of sharing her work with people. She loves hearing from fans and fellow writers, and is always available for speaking engagements, visits and workshops.
Find her at:
- Website: http://www.teremichaels.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tere.michaels
- Twitter: @TereMichaels
Giveaway
There has brought an ebook copy of Truth & Tenderness to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Friday, May 1st 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. 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.
Greta excerpt. I’ve only read the first book in the series and loved it. I decided to wait till the series was complete to read them all in a row. I’m really looking forward to getting reacquainted with Evan and Matt. Thank you for sharing.
Congrats on the upcoming release of Truth & Tenderness.
I can imagine that after six books saying goodbye is bittersweet. Thanks for sharing their story with us 🙂
Thank you for the giveaway and please count me in.
I love this series! I’m sad to see it end, but can’t wait to read the final book!
I like this series a lot, thanks for the giveaway!
Great series, am very much looking forward to reading the final book in the Faith, Love & Devotion series. Thanks.
I love this series. Have done so many rereads! Can’t wait for this book!
Thanks for the excerpt! I have not started this series yet, but the public online library here has all of them except this last one, so I will probably read them all in a row. Heard lots of good things about all the books.
Thank you for the excerpt!! Love-love-love this series!! 🙂
Loved the excerpt, need to check out this series.
Congratulations on the new release! Looking forward to reading it!
The series is one of my favorites and I am so excited to be getting more of this story! 🙂
I’ve only read the first 2, will have to pick up the rest!
OMG!!! I’m both STOKED that there’s a new book coming out and completely devastated that the series is ending. I could read about Matt and Evan FOREVER.
I would love to win a copy of Truth & Tenderness!!! I have read all of the others and I can’t wait to read this one! I didn’t read the excerpt because I know it will be good and I don’t want to know anymore than what I’ve read from the blurb! Thanks for the giveaway.
I’m so excited about this! Truth and Tenderness sounds like it’s going to be a great wrap-up for the series.
Love the series, excited about the book but sad to see the series end…
Wow, I didn’t realize there was going to be another book. One the best series that I’ve ever read. I would love to win the final book.
Me want!!!
Faith and Fidelity was one of the first m/m books I ever read. I would enjoy reading the end of the series, even though it will be bittersweet.
I am sad that this will be the end of the series but I have very much enjoyed the previous books and I can’t wait to read the conclusion.
Congratulations on the last book in this series. I really want to read this series. I have it on my wishlist.
Thanks for sharing the great excerpt!
Please, please count me in!!!!
Have been waiting for this book for years!! Please count me in!!
Congrats on your upcoming book release! I haven’t read the series yet but I keep hearing good things.
I love this series. Matt is one of my all time favorite characters!
Many thanks for the excerpt and the giveaway! I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve read in the Faith, Love and Devotion series.
I thoroughly enjoyed the excerpt! I can’t wait to read it!
Please count me in. Thanks.
Some of the first M/M books I read are from this series, sad to see it wrap up. Matt/Evan are still one of my favorite couples.
Please count me in for the giveaway!
I’m excited for this book to come out. Please count me in.
Loved the excerpt! Really looking forward to Truth & Tenderness but sad this is goodbye to some much loved characters!
Thank you for a chance to sadly win the last book in the Faith Love & Devotion series, I wonder if it is the end as perhaps there might be sequels, spin offs… 🙂
Who won?
I haven’t picked a winner yet. I will do that in the next few days and notify the winner via email, as well as post the information in a blog post.