Books That Make You Cry

Last night I read a book that had me in tears. I was crying so hard I had a hard time reading. I went to bed, still crying.  When an author can pull that emotion from you, you know they are great at their craft. Some day I would love to have that kind of impact on a reader. To know that they connected so much with my characters they feel their pain.

Now you probably want to know what book I’m talking about. It is by one of my top favorite m/m authors, DJ Manly. This is the third book of his that I’ve read (not counting the four I’ve read that he co authored with AJ Llewellyn) and all of them are so full of emotion, but this one…this one broke my heart.

Arsenic and Rio by DJ Manly. Here is a blub from the eXtasy site:

When Marshall met Hal, it was a match made in hell. Hal is a first class con man and manipulator. Marshall is the perfect pawn, a young guy who has been abused all his life, with no self confidence. Hal is pure evil, and he recognizes gold when he sees it. Marshall is handsome, gay and desperate to be loved and accepted. Hal is a former resident of the detention center where Marshall is living. He knows the unscrupulous director, who is deeply in debt with the mob. When the director is asked to do the mob a favor, a job that will set Hal up for life, Hal recruits Marshall to help him carry out his diabolic scheme.

When Marshall meets the handsome young owner of a coffee plantation, his job is to seduce him, and secure the plantation for the mob. Marshall doesn’t truly understand that Angelo will have to die. Marshall is completely unprepared for Angelo, and completely unprepared for love, something in his sad life, he has never known.

Passion and despair reign as Arsenic and Rio sweeps the reader away to a coffee plantation high in the mountains of Brazil, and to the warm sands of Rio.

If you’d like to read an excerpt here is the link: http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=3941&category_id=12&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

So, have you read any books that have made you cry?

The Janitor by Jan Irving

 I was wondering what I would post.  I don’t have a new book coming out, I’m still working on the same story and I was at a loss.  I was over at the Loose Id site looking up Z.A. Maxfield because I’d just read a couple of hers that I REALLY liked.  Drawn Together and The Long Way Home. So while I’m there I happen upon The Janitor by Jan Irving. The cover itself was worth a second look.  So…I looked. I still liked it so I looked at the blurb.  Here is what I read:

I’m a naturally optimistic type of person, you know? Yeah, I think good things will happen, only they usually don’t. Take Noel: even though he’s educated and rich and he don’t think he’s even gay, I want to belong to him. I want him to take me completely—Dane Connelly

Dan Connelly is a gay janitor and boxer with a soft heart and a simple outlook—he wants to meet the right man, someone who will look past his macho sport and put him in the place of a submissive. He wants to fall in love and belong to his partner.

On the surface, Noel Atherton, an intellectual, shy and sexually repressed university graduate student with a crippled leg, could not be the dominant lover that Dane longs for. But after their first meeting, when Dane disables the fire alarm in the library and lights a cigarette, Noel is drawn from his shell.  Soon, Noel needs to touch Dane, exploring his sexuality for the first time. And both learn that looks can be deceiving.

However, Noel’s controlling father is appalled by the relationship and quietly arranges to get Dane out of the way and punish him for daring to love a man so far above his station.

I thought…okay, I can wait until payday. No problem.  But then…I made a mistake. I was showing the book to someone and they asked if it was first person. I wasn’t sure, so I went to look at the excerpt.  BIG MISTAKE!  It drew me in.  I went back and forth and said…I have to.  I bought the book and I was not disappointed.

Jan has such a way with words. I wish I could write the way this woman does. I just want to hug Dane and keep him close, away from harm. I love that man and so did everyone, well almost everyone, who met him.  I know I’ll be reading it again.

Seeing Dane’s story made my heart happy. He’s not your typical hero at all, but he shines. Man, Dane sure does shine.  Noel needs Dane just as much as Dane needs him. They are great for each other and flawed. My kind of heroes for sure.

Okay…now I need to go read it again.  🙂

Writing Slump

Kinda sorta.  I’ve been doing a lot of reading.  I think it started when I was in such a rush to finish my story Magnus. I entered it in a contest and there was a chance I could be asked for a full and it had to be 80k.  Well, I reached 46k and I’m on the down slide of Mag when I stopped.  I realized I would have to REALLY get into Mag’s emotions.  His woman was kidnapped and tortured. How would he deal? How could he deal?  I have NO idea!  lol I couldn’t write. I was stuck. He got her home from the hospital and then…and then…I got nothing!  So…I went on a reading binge.  It helped and I went to try for Mag again and I thought…okay…where do I go from here? What’s next? How do I wrap up the story?  So I sent it to a beta.  Found out…she thought it was too violent.  Okay…now what?  I sent it to another beta to see if SHE thought it was too violent too.  She’s still looking at it so I don’t have a verdict yet. 

Let me tell you a little about Mag.  He is a Marine.  Ho-rah! He has a small elite team that he takes on missions for the government. He is introduced to his first female recruit and is told she will go on missions with the team. He is NOT happy.  Especially when she keeps screwing up!  Not to mention the sexual tension between the two.  It’s off the charts.

Now let’s talk about his woman. She is more then he knows.  Emily is an undercover NCIS agent.  She is sent in to find out if Mag and his team are behind the kidnapping of woman and children in third world countries and selling them into the sex trade.

So Emily is a tough character and a great match for Mag, but…what happens when she’s hurt?  I guess I’ll have to find out!  lol

I don’t have to reach 80k now. Mag didn’t make the Editor’s Choice and I was never contacted about a full so he’ll be as long as he needs to be.  UM…heehee.  You know what I mean.  lol  I’ve decided to pitch him at Lori’s to Samhain!  We’ll see what happens.  🙂

Yummy Goodness

Heather: Have you seen all the yummy goodness floating around?  That isn’t even counting the new guy, but he is HOT!

Jambrea: He is easy on the eye and has something we both love…tattoos.

Heather: *sigh* Tattoos. He looks like such a bad boy. Hmm…I wonder what ever happened to Raven. I haven’t seen his cute butt in a while.

304 yrs old and half bad and he's into all the lastest fashions trends.

Jambrea: So when did you actually see his butt?

Heather: I’m not telling or you might drug me again. There is good in that man and I’ll help find it.

Jambrea: I thought you were focused on Matthias and his yummy tattoos?

Heather: That’s only because Raven has been missing. *pout* Matthias is more your style anyway. *wink* Speaking of dreamy men, tell me about the new man in your life, Ben Davies.

Jambrea: Now it’s my turn to sigh. We’ve introduced the next marine in Magnus’ story. His friend Ben Davies will be the next man in the Semper Fi series. Well…you’ve talked to him more then me at this point because I”m still trying to wrap up Magnus and Emily. I do know that Ben’s woman is the sister of one of his oldest friends. They’ve know each other for a while, but Maribeth is about to shake his world up. Kind of like Forever Guy, but this one will NOT be sweet.  Mari is going to rock Ben’s world.  He doesn’t even see it coming. I would say ‘poor guy’ but he’ll love every minute of it. Mari is a school librarian who has a few on line friends helping her plot to make Ben hers.

Heather: Can we start this one now?

Jambrea:  Sorry Heather, we need to finish Mag and Em first. Then we’ll look at Ben and Mari’s story.

Heather: *pout* You are just no fun this morning.

Jambrea: No, I’m just focused.

Heather: *sigh* Well, you go back to focusing and I’ll go look for Raven. 

Jambrea:  Now Heather…

Heather: *giggle* Okay, I’ll go now.

<i>Jambrea shakes her head as she watches Heather leave.</i>

Jambrea: That muse is going to be the death of me yet.

Jambrea

Pandora’s Box…the Muse

“Kersten, I need to talk to you so stop being stubborn.”

“Heather, I am a little busy right now.”

“Too busy for me?”  Heather pouted.

“Now don’t give me that face.  Tia does not like it when I upset her friends.”

“I just need to talk to you about your story.  My writer is having problems and how that is my fault, I’ll never know, but I promised her I would do a little one on one with you and Tia, if she is available.  I don’t think my writer understands how busy I am.  I have a lot of people to meet and introduce her too.  Where does she think I get all these ideas?”

“It is ok Heather.  I will talk to you about whatever you wish.”

“Thank you, you are such a sweetie.  I really don’t know why Tia killed you the first time.”

“Well, she is a Goddess and I was just a lowly human in her eyes.  Plus, she didn’t really know me yet.”  Kersten said with a wink and a smile.

“You are just so dreamy,” sighed Heather.

“HEATHER!”

“Sorry Tia, but it is the truth.  I just knew my flirting would bring you out too.  So, why did you kill Kersten the first time?”

“I really do not want to talk about that time.  It hurts me to think I could have lost him in my arrogance.”

Kersten reached out for Tia and pulled her into his embrace.  Heather sighed at the love the two radiated.  She was so glad she had introduced the couple to her writer.  Their story of love and loss really needed to be told.  Of course the world would have ended if the two had stayed apart so my writer just had to help them.

“I’m sorry Tia.  I know you had a rough time, but I love to hear how the two of you came together.”

“Well, we really can not give too much away because if we did that, then who would read our story?” Kersten reminded Heather.

“I know, you’re right, but I just love to hear it and I could listen to it over and over again.  You two were really fated to be together.  Zeus really…”

“Heather, remember we do not talk of Zeus.  Bad things can happen when we start talking about him.  No one is to know of my relationship with him.  And why should they, I only found out recently myself.  My mother is good at keeping secrets.”

“I’m sorry Tia.  I always seem to be apologizing to you.”

“That is all right Heather.  You just do not understand how we Greek Gods work.  Being Fae, you do not have to deal with our power struggles.  It is a rough road.  I really did deserve my punishment for killing Karsten.  I am just thankful that my mother loved me enough to try and return me to my home in Olympus.  If not for her I would still be stuck in the world by myself.  Hope really would have been lost.”

Tia was looking at Karsten as she finished talking.  Heather once again felt a little envy. 

I wonder when I will find my one true love.

Tia turned away from Karsten and took his hand.

“Heather my sweet, we hate to run, but, ummmm Karsten and I have something we need to, well, we have some where we need to be.”

Heather gave the couple a wink.

“Don’t let me stop you.  I’m sure we’ll talk again.”

Heather sighed again as she watched the couple leave hand and hand.

HooRah!

Mag: What the fuck are you doing here?

Emily: I’m taking a break with Heather

Mag: A break! Why do you need a break?

Emily: Why do you think I need a break? It’s been a rough couple months. I think you can agree with that.

Mag: I guess.

Emily: You GUESS!

Mag: Fuck, I don’t know. It just another day for me.

Emily:  You…you…you’re such a Marine!

Mag: You love it.

Emily: *smiles* Maybe a little.

Heather: You two want a room now?

Mag: Shouldn’t you be writing?

Heather: I needed a break. You two are enough to wear a woman down! Why don’t you go play at the Playground? It’s WIP day over there.

Emily: WIP day?

Heather: It’s a day where authors can show what they’ve been working on.

Mag: Will Jambrea be there?

Heather: I don’t know. You guys have been keeping her up trying to get your story finished. She hasn’t had time to work on anything else.

Emily: I’ll bet she’ll be happy to get rid of us.

Heather: Oh, I don’t know about that. *giggle*

Mag: Let’s go take a peek Em and then head home. *looks at Heather and winks*

Heather: Be good you two.

Emily: I don’t know if we can. *laugh* Jambrea just wrote a VERY steamy scene and I think Joe and I might need to have a reinactment.

*Mag walks to Heather and kisses her on the cheek*

Mag: Try not to work too hard.

Heather: *giggle* You either. Buy guys!

*Mag and Emily leave*

Heather: They are so dreamy.  Hmmm…I wonder how Ross and Jayme are doing?

*Heather walks off with a thoughtful look on her face*

Bad Girl

Heather:  You’re a bad girl.

Jambrea:  Why do you say that?

Heather:  Because you’ve been away from the Playground for a while.  Your characters are getting nervous.

Jambrea:  Did you tell them I’ve been working away?  Magnus has been talking and I’m trying to get his story down so I can work on some other stuff.

Heather:  *pout* I told them. But…I don’t think you’ve even shared your new cover with everyone either.  Molli and Dev want to show off and you’ve been ignoring them.  And poor Matt.  He just wants his story told and you’ve left him hanging.  Also Zeke is a little worried. He said something about an overhaul.  I’m doing what I can to keep them calm, but YOU should say something to them.

Jambrea:  How about this.  I’ll show off Molli and Dev’s cover.  Unseen Path.

 

Jambrea: Does this help a little?  Also…I talked to Matt a little this morning. He should be fine.  As for Zeke…um…well, he might not like who I was talking to, but someone is talking and I think Zeke will be happy with his story once I finish up Magnus.

Heather: I hope it’s soon because I don’t know how much longer I can hold this bunch in.  I’m just warning you that you could have a headache coming on soon from all the talking. You have to know it’s bad when SUNIE starts trying to get to the front of the line.

Jambrea:  Oh no!  If I can get my words in on Magnus, let them know I’ll try working a little with them as well.  Okay?

Heather:  Okay.  Could you give them a hint on what’s going on.

Jambrea: Well…let me tell you about Zeke’s story Love by Design. I short changed the poor guy and now I get the change to really give him the story he should have. I’ve been reading a certain Doctor’s journal and let me tell you…she has a lot of explaining to do. 

Heather:  That’s it?

Jambrea:  I can’t give too much away.  Plus…um..*blushes* I didn’t write anything down yet.  It’s there, I just had to get ready for work and I wanted to stop here as well because it’s been a while, like you said.

Heather:  Okay.  Go relax.  They can hold for a little bit longer.  Maybe you should post a couple excerpts over at the yahoo group. It is WIP Wednesday. That might tide them over.

Jambrea:  I won’t promise anything, but I’ll see what I can do.

Heather:  Thanks!  I’ll go tell everybody.  *waves bye*

Jambrea: Bye Heather.

I hope she can keep them silent for just a little bit longer. Jambrea bites her lip and looks off into the distance.

Jambrea: Stop glaring at me Magnus, I’m coming. Keep your cover on! *mumbles as she leaves the playground*

 

WIP Wednesday

Today at our yahoo group is WIP Wednesday. Jambrea thought it might be a good idea to post something here that she is working on. Of course it isn’t something she is supposed to be working on. *giggle* Magnus wouldn’t stop talking and as you’ll see in the excerpt I’m going to post he likes to use the F word and I’m not talking about food. *giggle* We hope you like Mag. He is very yummy and his bark is MUCH worse then his bite. We like it when he bites. *giggle*

Untitled, Unedited WIP:

“Get the fuck outta my face, right now you maggot, before I skin you alive and wear your ass as a hat. What the fuck do you think you’re doin’” Sergeant Joe “Magnus” Rivers yelled at the recruit.

“Simmer down Sergeant.” His gunny tried to calm him.

“Fuck that shit. She got Benny shot! This is why women shouldn’t be on the front fuckin’ line. Fuck!” Magnus ran a hand over his face. “No fuckin’ way is this going to work.” He turned to walk back to the barracks.

“Sarge, Benny wasn’t really shot.” His Gunny Sergeant rushed to keep up.

“I know that Gunny. It’s the principle of the matter.”

“Oh, he knows another word besides fuck.” The words were almost too faint to be heard, but they reached the Sergeants ears.

Magnus whipped around and rushed back into the recruits face. In a quite whisper he addressed the woman.

“What did you just say?”

She stared straight ahead, and didn’t look him in the eye.

The only smart thing this bitch has done so far. I don’t know what the General was thinking. Take a deep breath man. Calm down. No one was really hurt and you know she isn’t really a bitch.

Reasoning with himself sucked, but lucky for the recruit he was able to leash his anger.

“Not so tough now that you have to face me, huh Patterson? Drop and give me twenty.”

She didn’t hesitate but dropped to the ground and started counting out her pushups. Magnus would expect no less and all his recruits new it. He turned back to his gunny and gestured for the man to follow him to his offices.

“Roberts, I don’t think I can keep this up. What was the General thinking? This woman doesn’t belong here. She’s some rich girl on holiday. How are we supposed to make her into a solider?” Magnus sighed.

Gunny Roberts looked back at the woman doing pushups.

“I don’t know sir; it looks like you’re doing a good job to me.”

Magnus looked back and waved his hand, “Physical exercise does not a solider make. You saw her at the range.”

“Mag, it’s only been a few weeks. Give her a break.”

“I can’t. I wouldn’t let the guys get away with that shit. No fucking way am I giving the wanna be warrior a break. She’ll do it my way or her ass is back to daddies faster than I can say give me twenty. We’re supposed to take her on a mission, a fucking mission. She’s going to get someone killed.”

“We have a month to ge—”

Mag glared at the gunny and he shut up. With out another word he entered the building trying to forget the woman doing pushups in the yard.

Trouble with a capital T is what that one is.

A Playground Visit

Butch: Hello! Is anyone here?

Mitch: Maybe they aren’t open yet.

Butch: I thought the Playground was ALWAYS open.

Mitch: Are you sure you have the right day?

Butch: Yes, I’m sure. Heather said to be here today.

Mitch: We could be early.

Butch: Hmm..Heather? Are you here?

Heather: I’m here! I’m here. Sorry. I was talking to Sunie and Gage and lost track of time. They are getting ready to have a small issue and I wanted to let them know that things will be okay.

Butch: That’s okay Heather. We just thought we were early.

Heather: Why don’t you guys sit down and I’ll get you something to drink. It’s a little slow around here. Everybody is working away, but I wanted to see how the two of you were doing. I know your book just released so you must be excited.

Mitch: I really didn’t think it would ever be finished so it’s nice to be done with it.

Heather: *giggle* You think its finished?

 Butch: What are you saying Heather?

Heather: Why do you think I asked you here?

Mitch: I thought it was to talk about our story and to introduce us to the other people here at the Playground.

Heather: Oh no. Well, I’m sure that will happen too, but that isn’t way I asked you to come visit today. *giggle*

Butch: Are we going to like this?

Heather: Well Jambrea and I have been talking and the reviews she got for your story were so good that she is going to write more. I just wanted to let the two of you know.

Mitch: More, like what?

Heather: We don’t know yet. There are a few other stories that need to be told first, but she put you on her list.

 Butch: I don’t think I’m going to like this at all.

Mitch: It’ll be okay babe. What more could she do—”

*Butch slaps his hand over Mitch’s mouth*

Butch: Do NOT finish that sentence! Have you not read some of these books our dear author is into?

*Butch drops his hand and pulls Mitch close*

Mitch: It really doesn’t matter Butch. I’ll always be here for you.

Heather: Guys! You’re going to make me cry. *sniff* don’t worry. I’ll take to her. Why don’t you two settle in? I’m sure the others will be here soon. I’m off to talk to a few other people. Make yourselves at home. *blows them both a kiss*

If you would like to hear more about Butch and Mitch you can buy their story here:  Runaway Man

*Pout*

Heather:  Everyone is so busy.  Gideon is gone, Brig is off somewhere and those two new muses are just a little scary.  Even you have been too busy to play.  And what the heck happened to You Rang? 

Jambrea:  I’m sorry Heather.  Things have been crazy.  You know that.  I think I’m done with You Rang?, its a good story, but every time I sit down to add more I just can’t. 

Heather:  Some of that could be my fault.  I guess I was having fun with Butch and Mitch.  I really like those guys.

Jambrea:  I do too.  Did you hear that they got a good review?  If you want to read it you can go here:  http://debsbook.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/runaway-man-by-jambrea-jo-jones/  I know you were worried about our first solo story, but so far things are great.  We had more good news.  Did I tell you?

Heather:  *pout*  No you didn’t.

Jambrea:  The One Touch, One Glance Anthology that Kensi and I are in won this:

Isn’t it lovely?

Heather:  *squee*  Yes it is! 

Jambrea:  I’m glad I could make you a little happier.  Why don’t you try to find Brig.  I think she is still a little upset about Ares.  Cheer her up while Lil keeps CJ busy.  Did you see the new story?  We WANT no NEED it to be finished. 

Heather:  Okay, I’ll go find Brig, but you need to get to work.  Didn’t you leave Sunie ready to cook a meal for Gage?  You should probably get back to them so Sunie doesn’t burn her house down.  I think you also left Matt and Sal alone too long.  Matt keeps asking when you’ll visit.

Jambrea:  Don’t worry, I’ll get to work tonight.  PMan will be gone this weekend so I should be able to get more done.  I promise.  🙂

Heather:  I’m off.

Jambrea:  Bye Heather.  I’ll see you tonight.