Today I am so pleased to welcome Kate Hawthorne and J.R. Gray to Joyfully Jay. Kate and Gray have come to talk to us about their new release, May the Best Man Win. They have also brought along a copy to give away. Please join me in giving them a big welcome!

Kate and Gray have shared some questions and answers with us today…

What was it like writing with each other?

Kate – Writing with Gray was a totally different experience from writing with EM Denning, for one. I think co-writing can be a really tough exercise, because you constantly have to be thinking of how the other author is going to want to move the plot forward, not just your own ideas for it. Gray and I have different styles too, so it was challenging to be writing my character falling for a character I couldn’t easily predict, but so much fun and I think that shows in the story

Gray – I think writing with Kate was fairly easy. We have been friends for awhile and both have pretty chill personalities. I’ve never co-written anything before so I don’t have a ton to compare it to, but I really enjoyed feeding off Kate’s creativity and humor. She writes humor extremely well and I think we bring those things out in each other.

What is your favorite trope in the book?

Gray – My favorite trope by far is: there is only one bed. Hearing that trope in a book is an instant buy for me, and I’ve always enjoyed writing it in the past, so when we came up with our ‘Unfixable’ flip on the trope I was really happy to be able to bring one of my favorites to readers in a new way.

Kate – Oh, definitely enemies to lovers. It’s one of my favorite tropes to read, and I’m actually writing one right now for my solo series. I love building up the tension and finding a way to take something mental and make it tangible, and then blow it all up with some furious kissing and against the wall fondling.

What can we expect next from each of you?

Kate – I am all set to publish Reckless, which is the first book in my new series, Room for Love. The second (out of five) will be coming this spring.

Gray – I’m nearly done writing Unscripted 2.

Excerpt

“Scoot over.”

“What the fuck?” Jasper asked.

“My bed is wet from us rolling around on it,” I claimed, a smile on my lips.

“Like three fucking drops. We were mostly dry.”

“I can’t sleep on a wet spot.” I tossed my pillow on the bed he was in.

“There has got to be extra sheets in here some place.” He started to get up.

I climbed onto the bed. “Lay back down.”

He narrowed his eyes at me but did as he was told.

“I’ll call down and have them come change the bed,” he said, his tone playful, like he was trying to get me to admit that I wanted to be in the same bed with him.

“The bed is unfixable and I’m about to smother you with a pillow.”

“Is that what you’re into?” he asked, so nonchalant.

I threw the pillow at him, but didn’t answer. Because I was. I’d love my fingers wrapped around his throat while I owned his ass. My cock ached in my shorts. I wondered how many of the guys would notice if we fucked while they were passed out in the other rooms. It might be worth the risk even if they ragged us the rest of the time I was here.

“I noticed your non answer.”

His fucking smirk. I wanted to smack it off his face. Or better yet cock smack it off his face.

Blurb

I hate Jasper Marshal.
Hate is a visceral and terrible word, but it’s the right one.

This guy is everything I’m not.
Jock.
Sports ball obsessed.
Testosterone fueled.
Jacked up.
He’s also sexy as hell with a submissive side I discovered by accident.
Definitely an accident. If you want to call him on his knees in my kitchen an accident.
He pushes all my buttons good and bad.
And to top it off, he’s my best friend Sam’s brother.

I’d become really good at avoiding Jasper since high school, but then Sam asked us both to be the best men at his wedding. Now, not only do I have to work with him to plan a bachelor party in Vegas, we need to survive a destination wedding…in Hawaii.

It’s hard enough to be civil so we don’t ruin the wedding, but on top of that, I have to resist the urge to drag Jasper into every back room I can find and show him how much I hate him, all while trying not to get into a fist fight.

One of us isn’t going to survive this, so may the best man win.

May the Best Man Win is an enemies to lovers romance with the promise of pineapple bushes, tit-glitter (whatever that means), and one definitely unfixable bed.

Bio

Gray is a cynical Chicago native, who drinks coffee all day, barely sleeps, and is a little too fashion obsessed. He writes realistic and damaged characters because everyone deserves a happily ever after.

Connect with J.R. Gray online at www.JRGrayBooks.com

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Born and raised in Southern California, Kate Hawthorne woke up one day and realized she had stories worth sharing. Now existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate writes stories about complicated men in love that are sometimes dirty, but always sweet. She enjoys crafting hard-fought and well deserved happy endings with just the right amount of angst and kink.

From estate sale shopping to shoe worship, there’s something in at least one of her books that’ll tickle your fancy. Visit her website at www.katehawthornebooks.com

Giveaway

Kate and Gray have brought a copy of May the Best Man Win to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Wednesday, February 26th 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.