Guest Post, Excerpt, and Giveaway: Room for Recovery by DJ Jamison

We’re so pleased to have author DJ Jamison with us to celebrate the release of the newest book in the Hearts and Health series, Room for Recovery. She’s got an exclusive excerpt from the book for you as well as a giveaway, so be sure to check out the Rafflecopter widget for details.

Welcome, DJ!

I didn’t originally plan to write my latest release, Room for Recovery. The two primary characters, Wade and Beau, appeared in my book Urgent Care, but only in the periphery of the story.

But here is where the power of readers comes in. More than one reader asked if Wade and Beau would get a story. And, while authors can’t custom deliver stories by any means, my subsconscious whispered, what if … 

Those readers may not have imagined just where Wade and Beau’s story would take me. Room for Recovery is a book with serious themes that young LGBTQ people still wrestle with all too often. I don’t consider it a dark or depressing story, but it’s not sweet fluff. Reviewers have described the book as emotional and poignant without ripping your heart out.

While Room for Recovery has YA/NA themes, with Beau and Wade being in their final year of high school, the Hearts and Health series will return to characters in its usual age ranges (twenties and thirties) with my next release, Surprise Delivery, coming March 22.

I hope that my foray into YA fiction does a small bit of justice to what young queer people face in conservative places like Kansas, where the book is set. Sexy, romantic reads are great, but it’s important we also remember the struggles many LGBTQ individuals face.

About the Book

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 considers Beau to be a quasi-cousin. He’s been careful to keep Beau in that box because he is too tempting to a gay boy determined to remain in the closet after his coming out went all wrong. But when Wade sees bullies harassing Beau, he offers to help. Little does he know this small crack in the walls around his heart is the opening Beau needs to move in and change Wade’s life.

After years off the rails, Wade 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.

[zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B07B3Z3MPZ?d” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Available at Amazon/Kindle Unlimited [/zilla_button]

The Excerpt

“I’m still not what you deserve,” Wade said. “I didn’t come to you today because I’m magically healed and ready to come out of the closet.”

He chanced a look at Beau’s face, worried how his words would be received. Beau didn’t look devastated by the news, so that was good.

“I don’t want us to be apart anymore. I don’t want you to wait, because I don’t know if I’ll ever really be ‘fixed.’”

Beau crawled to the foot of the mattress and wrapped his arms around Wade from behind. He’d held Beau this way, but he’d never experienced the reverse.

Beau rested his chin on Wade’s shoulder and pulled him back until he sagged back into his embrace. “Let me be strong for you this time.”

Wade shuddered, not understanding how much those words would mean to him but feeling such relief when he heard them.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” Beau said. “I’m here, I’ve always been here. You don’t have to handle everything on your own.”

“But I’m still not the best boyfriend option.”

“You’re the only one for me,” Beau said. “I love you, Wade Ritter. You may not be perfect, but you don’t need to be ‘fixed.’ I don’t need you to come out until you’re ready. I only need you to let me in.”

Wade shifted, turning his face to catch Beau’s lips in a sweet kiss. “I can do that.”

“And swear to me you won’t push me away again,” Beau ordered, “because I don’t think my heart can take it.”

“I swear.”

They turned, flopping onto their sides on the bed, and kissed again. Wade touched Beau everywhere he could, relearning the feel of his body next to his. At some point, the clothes came off, but Wade couldn’t stop kissing Beau long enough to coordinate blow jobs. He rolled on top of Beau’s slender frame and braced his weight on his arms, letting their skin slip and slide, and he thrust his hips. Beau joined him, and they found a rhythm, a push-and-pull that dragged their cocks and sent electricity racing up and down Wade’s spine.

Unable to break the kiss even to breathe, they gasped against each other’s mouths, rocking together, until they came in a sweet rush between their bodies.

Wade rolled to the side, and Beau used him as a pillow, resting his head on Wade’s shoulder and his arm across his ribs as they caught their breath. Wade looked down at him, a naked guy cuddled up against him, willing to accept him flaws and all.

He loved being naked with Beau. He loved the kissing, the touching, the physical connection. It felt real. And how could real be bad?

I’m gay, he thought, and it’s okay.

About the Author

DJ Jamison is a contemporary M/M romance author with more than a dozen titles to her name. 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. She grew up the literal embodiment of a red-headed stepchild in a working-class family in Kansas. Determined to build a successful career, she earned a degree in journalism and worked in newsrooms for more than ten years before pursuing her dream to write fiction. DJ is married with two sons, two glow-in-the-dark fish, and regrettably, one snake.

DJ’s Newsletter || DJ’s FB group || DJ’s FB page || BookBub || Goodreads

The Giveaway

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