Today I am so pleased to welcome D.J. Jamison to Joyfully Jay. D.J. has come to talk to us about her Hearts and Health series. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving D.J. a big welcome!
It’s taken a year, but I’m finally continuing my Hearts and Health series this spring!
Heart Trouble, Bedside Manner and Urgent Care were released within six-month period, but it’s taken me a bit longer to continue the romance series that focuses on sexy nurses with trust issues, overconfident doctors coping with harsh reality checks, and hard-working students.
The fourth book, Room for Recovery, was released this month. Book 5, Surprise Delivery, is coming March 22, and Book 6, Orderly Affair, is planned for an April release. So, this seems like a good time to recap the series for readers who haven’t yet discovered it.
Heart Trouble
Fresh off his latest heartbreak, nurse Ben Griggs is wary when one of his patients shows an interest in him — especially when that patient showed up in the ER after a motorcycle accident. Ben isn’t the kind of guy who can hold the interest of Gage Evans for long, or so he thinks. If he can’t find a way to trust Gage with his heart, they may be destined to have a fling that goes nowhere.
Bedside Manner
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Dr. Paul Johnston can’t get a set of dark, somber eyes out of his head, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Zane Kavanaugh came through the ER, a victim of a hate-fueled assault, and Paul can’t forget him. But under review after a complaint, he also can’t afford to fall for a patient. Paul is afraid to start a relationship, and Zane can only handle so much more rejection. Paul may have to make a choice: His career or the first man to capture his heart.
Urgent Care
Dr. Trent Cavendish made a huge mistake when he walked away from the love of his life at age 18. When his best friend suddenly dies 12 years later, it rattles Trent into seeing how empty his life has become. He returns to his hometown, hoping to make amends to the man he left behind. Instead of the sweet but tame guy he remembers, Trent runs into a smoking-hot Xavier James dressed in bits of lace and silk at a gay nightclub. His plan to earn Xavier’s forgiveness immediately shifts to lust, and love’s not far behind.
Room for Recovery
Beau James isn’t out, but he’s not fooling anyone. When he’s cornered by two bullies, he’s rescued by none other than the broody Wade Ritter, who he’s crushed on from afar. Despite their family connection, Wade has resisted all of Beau’s attempts at friendship — until now. His protective streak gives Beau an opportunity to get past Wade’s prickly exterior. Wade has stayed in the closet ever since his first attempt at coming out went all wrong, but after years off the rails, he realizes there’s room for recovery. If he can face hard truths about his sexuality and love himself, he might be able to love Beau too.
Excerpt
“You kissed my sister.”
Beau looked at Wade, bemused. “Pretty sure she kissed me.”
“Still. My little sister …”
Wade was irrationally angry — and not because Beau kissed his sister, but because his sister kissed Beau. Because he wanted to be the one kissing Beau. Not Miles. Not his sister. Him.
“I can’t believe that was my first kiss,” Beau said with a laugh. “A girl. But hey, you could always kiss me,” he said in a teasing voice. “Then I’d have all my bases covered.”
Wade didn’t respond, unable to find words as a wave of want hit him, and Beau was beginning to babble nervously, which wasn’t helping Wade fight the urge taking root inside him. Beau was seriously cute when he babbled.
“The whole Ritter family. I could be like the kissing boy. You’ve heard of the whipping boy? I’ll just be the boy the whole family kisses. Except not your mom because— You know what, I’ll just shut up now.”
Why not kiss Beau? He broke up with Anna. He was single and free to kiss whoever he wanted. Beau wants it too, so what’s the harm of one kiss?
“You want me to kiss you?” Wade asked, his voice sounding distant to his own ears, as if he were speaking in a tunnel. His heart rate kicked up in his chest as the idea took hold.
“Um, Wade, I was just kidding,” Beau said nervously. “I know you’re dating Anna.”
“Anna and I broke up,” Wade said.
“Oh,” Beau said, “that’s … I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Wade shook his head. He didn’t know much, but he knew he didn’t want to talk about that break-up speech, or the vague suspicions Anna had about his friendship with Beau.
Anna already thinks you’re gay, a voice whispered in his mind. What harm could kissing Beau really do at this point?
Decision made, Wade turned right at the next corner, then drove up the street until he spotted an alley.
“Where are you going?” Beau asked in an apprehensive voice. “School is the other way.”
“You want to kiss me, so let’s do it. What the hell?” he said as he whipped into the alley and slammed the car into park.
Beau spluttered something incoherent, and Wade left him to it as he opened his door and got out. He paced back and forth in front of the car, wondering if he’d lost his mind. He ran nervous hands through his hair, then thought, screw it.
He opened Beau’s door. It was a sign of Beau’s trust that he hadn’t locked it, even as Wade acted like a crazy person.
“I’m sorry,” Beau said, eyes wide. “You don’t have to—”
Wade bent down and clasped his face. He met Beau’s startled eyes.
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“Okay,” he whispered.
Wade closed his eyes and bridged the distance between them. His lips brushed over Beau’s.
They were soft, softer than he imagined. Wade traced his plump bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, and Beau’s mouth parted in a gasp.
He drew back. “Still think my sister was your first real kiss?”
Beau wordlessly shook his head and pulled Wade back to his mouth. Beau kissed him eagerly, making breathy little sounds as their tongues met, and Wade had trouble breaking away.
Beau wasn’t his first kiss; he wasn’t even his first kiss with a boy. That honor went to Carlos Mendez at age fourteen, before his life went to shit. But Wade had forgotten how different it was to kiss a guy. He’d fooled himself into thinking lips were lips, but there was something to be said for an underlying attraction. What he felt for Beau surpassed any feelings he could drum up for Anna. For that matter, what he felt for Beau went much deeper than the crush he’d had on Carlos.
The kiss was everything he wanted, and nothing he should have.
Bio
DJ Jamison is the author of more than a dozen m/m romances, including the Ashe Sentinel series and the Hearts and Health series. She writes a variety of queer characters, from gay to bisexual to asexual, with a focus on telling love stories that are more about common ground than lust at first sight. DJ grew up in the Midwest in a working-class family, and those influences can be found in her writing through characters coping with real-life problems: money troubles, workplace drama, family conflicts and, of course, falling in love. DJ spent more than a decade in the newspaper industry before chasing her first dream to write fiction. She spent a lifetime reading before that, and continues to avidly devour her fellow authors’ books each night. She lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, two fish and, regrettably, one snake. DJ is active on social media under her pen name as well as her real name, Davina Jamison. She’s a member of the Queer Romance Freebie/Fan Club on Facebook with more than a dozen other m/m romance authors and posts regularly in her own FB group DJ and Company. She also offers exclusive giveaways and other bonuses through her newsletter.
- Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DjJamison
- Twitter: @Dj_Jamison_
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/DJ_Jamison
- Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/dj-jamison
- Newsletter: www.tinyurl.com/djandcompany
Giveaway
D.J. has brought a winner’s choice of one of the first three Hearts and Health ebooks, Heart Trouble, Bedside Manner or Urgent Care, to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Tuesday, March 20th at 11:59 pm ET.
- 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.
- All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
- 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.
This whole series sounds very good.
Welcome, D.J., and best wishes on the upcoming release of further Hearts and Health books,
Love the sound of this series!
I really like this series!
I have not read this one yet. My list keeps growing.
I love DJ’s books, though I must recognise I have not read this series yet. Thank you for the chance