Today I am so pleased to welcome Liv Rancourt to Joyfully Jay. Liv has come to share the cover and chat with us about her upcoming release, Tested. She has also brought along some great giveaways.  Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

 

It’s time! I’m so (SO!) excited to share the cover of Tested, book 2 in my Soulmates series. It’s been ready for a couple of months, and I’ve had to sit on my hands not to show it off before now. It’s a special cover, though, and I wanted it to have a special reveal.

So, I asked Jay, and here I am. Thanks so much for having me, Jay!

When you put Tested next to Soulmates, book one in the series, you might see some differences in the two covers. The branding is consistent – as is the story, if I do say so myself – and when I put the covers side-by-side, I see more similarities than I do differences.

But.

We went with three different cover models.

And while I don’t expect there’ll be all that many readers who think, “Wow, different dudes? I’m out,” I still want to offer a bit of an explanation.

I had a huge stroke of luck when I found the Soulmates cover on Kanaxa’s premade cover page. Kanaxa does most of my covers and I love her use of color and the depth and emotion she brings to the images. She made one change to the premade, and honestly, if we’d started out making the cover from scratch, it couldn’t fit the book any better.

But.

When it came time to make the cover for Tested, we went in a different direction, in part because after spending another book with the guys, I knew them better. I got to choose models who are closer to my mental image of the characters.

Kanaxa sent me some options, and after I’d narrowed them down, I put the models to a vote on the FB page I share with Irene Preston, After Hours with Liv and Irene. So, rest assured that the final cover model choices passed both my own test and the critical eyes of a special subset of my readers.

Right now I anticipate using the Tested models for subsequent books in the series, unless we can’t find the right images or poses. I think. We’ll see. (LOL) At any rate, keep reading for the blurb and an exclusive excerpt from Tested. Thanks again, Jay! And happy reading to all of you!

tested cover

 


Excerpt

We put it off for two nights, maybe three, giving Connor time to recover from the injuries he denies having. He didn’t have obvious damage, but he still moved like everything hurt. I occupied myself with convincing Lawsuit Lawyer that he’d be better off spending his time harassing other small business owners. His blood tasted the way cell phones smell – and they don’t – so he tasted like nothing. I also planted a thought that I hoped would lead him toward more socially conscious choices, and I took his card so I’d remember his name if he turned up in the news for helping an old lady save her home from Big Business.

David used the time to shop for Connor’s next car.

“Hey, Connor. This place is open till ten.” David pointed at the laptop screen from his perch on the end of the big sofa. Beyond him the window showed the last fading dregs of sunset smeared across the horizon. Connor sat on the couch’s opposite end, while I had a chair furthest back from the window.

Connor leaned over to take a look at David’s laptop. “Really not sure how practical a Porsche would be.” He settled back into the sofa cushion. “I’m looking for something electric.”

“Tesla, here we come!” David laughs at his own joke and starts tapping the keyboard.

Connor catches my eye and groans, and I chuckle, too. The energy between us is calm, comfortable.

So, I toss a grenade into the room. “If we’re close enough to choose each other’s cars, maybe we should figure out what we’re not comfortable with.”

Straightening slowly, Connor gives me an appraising look. David’s eyes are wide and his hands freeze on the keyboard.

“I mean”—if vampires could blush, I’d be doing it now—“the other night I needed blood, and since you weren’t home, David and I…”

David is blushing hard enough for both of us. “I was going to tell you, but you’d wrecked your car and I figured that was enough drama for one night.”

Connor shifts his gaze from me to David. “It doesn’t upset me if Trajan feeds from you without my supervision.”

Damn. I cross my arms, ready for battle. “Sarcasm makes it sound like you do mind.”

“Okay, it does bother me that you waited three days to say something.”

David rounds on him. “Did you hear what I just said? You’d totaled your car, and since then you’ve been walking around here like a strong breeze would knock you down. Forgive me for not adding to the burden you’re obviously carrying.”

That’s my saucy wolf. “And we’re telling you now.”

Connor closes his eyes, hands fisted in his lap. “Okay.” He shakes himself, as if letting go of whatever bad humor had had hold of him. “You’re right. I appreciate that you gave me time to get my head out of my ass. I do mean it, though.” He gives me a meaningful glance. “If you’re hungry and I’m not around, it won’t bother me if you feed from David.”

“Would it bother you if I had sex with David?”

The wolf in question gives a little squeak.

Connor’s expression relaxes. “Would it bother you?”

Suddenly on the spot, I drop my gaze and do my best to consider the question honestly. “I don’t think so. You’re both important to me and I want you to be happy.”

David clears his throat. “I don’t think it would bother me, either. You both have done so much for me – are doing so much for me – that I don’t have room to complain.”

Connor and I both protest that. “You absolutely have a right to how you feel about this,” Connor says.

“Besides, a youngster like you shouldn’t be trapped by two old geezers like us.” Somehow putting those words together makes me more nervous than talking about who sleeps with who.

“Aw, Tray, come on. You’re not a geezer, and neither is Connor.” David’s smile is tinged with sadness. “Without you two, I’d be dead.”

Again we pelt him with a chorus of protests.

“I’m serious, though.” He shouts us down. “And even if you hadn’t stepped up to be my de facto pack, I’m old enough to know what I want.” He clears his throat as if he’s nervous. “And what I want is you, both of you, for as long as you’ll have me.”

We’re all silent, David’s words wrapping around us, filling me with warmth. It’s Connor who breaks the spell.

“It’s going to take work, this relationship,” he says. “Circumstances are going to change, and feelings are going to change. We’re going to have to be honest with each other, maybe more honest than we’ve ever been.”

It crosses my mind that I could challenge his honesty by asking what had really happened the night he wrecked his Prius. Instead, I take a different route. “So here’s something I’ve been wondering about for a while.”


Blurb

tested coverThere’s no easy way to come back from the dead…

…and Connor MacPherson is living with the consequences. He may be back in Trajan’s life – and in his bed – but the trust they once shared is gone.

Some days it feels like David is the only thing holding their threesome together.

When Trajan and David stumble over a murdered kitsune, Connor is drawn into the investigation. He uses that murder to cover a second inquiry, one he’s bound by his oath to the Elites to keep secret – specifically from Trajan.

Then David uncovers his covert search, and if Connor’s own internal conflict is painful, seeing how it hurts David makes it even worse.

But they don’t know the secret Trajan’s keeping, a command that could destroy everything. Trajan’s maker has ordered him to kill, and if they don’t rebuild their damaged trust, this time death will be permanent.

BUY LINK
The series is in KU and here’s the buy link in case you need it.  Available now at your favorite digital store!

Bio

liv Rancourt bioLiv Rancourt writes romance of all kinds. Because love is love, even with fangs. 

Liv is a huge fan of paranormal romance and urban fantasy and loves history just as much, so her stories often feature vampires or magic or they’re set in the past…or all of the above. When Liv isn’t writing she takes care of tiny premature babies in the NICU. Her husband is a soul of patience, her kids are her pride and joy, and her dogs – Trash Panda and The Boy Genius – are endlessly entertaining.

Liv can be found on-line at all hours of the day and night at her website, on Facebook, or on Twitter. For sneak peeks and previews and other assorted freebies, go HERE to sign up for her mailing list or join the Facebook page she shares with her writing partner Irene Preston, After Hours with Liv & Irene. See you soon!


Giveaway

Liv is offering a copy of Soulmates & Tested to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment on the blog to enter. The contest closes on Tuesday, September 7th at 11:59 pm E.T.

Also, Liv and Irene Prescott are also offering a $25 gift card running till the end of September. Follow the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

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