Bayou Book Junkie: The Wrong Man by Lane Hayes ~ Keep Me In Mind Tour, ARC Review, Excerpt, Author Interview, Giveaway

Successful owner of an upscale boutique in fabulous West Hollywood, Brandon Good swears by his personal edict to “live in the present.” After a bad break-up, he agrees to dog sit to keep his mind off his ex. Never did he expect the dog to belong a man from his past, the only man to ever truly break his heart.

When Jake Westley relocates to join the WeHo fire department, the last thing he anticipates is reuniting with his secret high school love. Thrilled with the prospect of reconnecting with Bran, Jake feels no guilt in using his charming old dog as an unwitting matchmaker. As they rekindle their friendship, it becomes clear the intense attraction they once felt is stronger than ever. But as hard as they try to leave the past behind, painful memories resurface. Bran will have to confront his fears and consider the possibility that the man he swore was absolutely the wrong one might be perfect after all.

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt:

Again, I questioned my sanity. Something was odd in my world for sure. My heart was beating double time when he finally turned onto my street. A quick escape was my best bet. I had my fingers wrapped around the car door handle and was ready to rip my

other hand from his grasp when he slowed down. He must have sensed my intent to bolt, because he held on to me until I was forced to give him a “what the fuck?” look.

“Let me walk you to your door.”

“Jake, let’s not do this. Please. I really don’t want this evening to get any weirder than it already has been. Thank you for tonight. For dinner and pretending to—”

“Hey, nothing is weird here. It’s dark, and I’m walking you to your door—”

“I’m a big boy. I’ve got this.” I detached my hand from his grip and opened the door.

“Thanks again.”

When I reached the sidewalk, he was waiting for me. The man obviously was hard of hearing.

“You are stubborn.” I gave him my best evil eye before I trudged up the path ahead of him.

“Me? You’re the difficult one. I’m trying to be nice—”

“You don’t have to prove you’re nice to me. I get it. That doesn’t mean—suit yourself.”

“Humor me.”

I fished my key from my pocket as I approached the well-lit front porch.

“Here I am, safe and sound. No need for worry,” I said flippantly as I turned to Jake.

“You ca—”

I swallowed my words. He was closer than I expected. Much closer. I felt the warmth from his body but wasn’t prepared for the hunger I saw in his eyes. I licked my bottom lip nervously. I knew what was going to happen, and though I wasn’t sure it was a good idea, I wasn’t going to stop him. He bent slightly and brushed his nose against mine. I felt his breath on my lips as I waited for him to close the distance between us. Neither of us moved. He smelled delicious, that intoxicating combination of soap and a hint of musky cologne I’d noticed the morning he hugged me in my kitchen. I could have happily buried my nose in his shirt or in the curve where his neck met his shoulders. I closed my eyes and leaned in the tiniest bit closer, expecting him to take over. He still didn’t move.

“Aren’t you going to ki—”

And then he pounced. He crashed his mouth over mine and snaked his arms around my waist, fusing our bodies together. His hands traveled up and down my back while he licked a sensual line across the seam of my lips, requesting entry. I heard myself moan as his tongue danced and collided with mine in a lustful assault. I arched into him instinctively. Jake lowered his hands to my ass, drawing me in tightly as he thrust his hips forward. The friction was hot, and his demanding kisses had my head reeling. This was nothing like our frantic make-out sessions years ago.

Just as that errant thought surfaced to remind me whom I was grinding against like a teenager on my front porch, Jake turned his full attention to my mouth. I was painfully hard, but he was right. We shouldn’t be doing any of this. But I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I bit at his jaw and then licked my way to his ear, flicking the lobe gently with my tongue until I felt his teeth at my neck. I made a strangled sound and went limp in his arms. He was overpowering in a subtle, almost unexpected way. I was two seconds away from ripping his shirt when a car went down my street blaring hip-hop music at an obscene volume. I pulled away and rested my forehead against his shoulder. We stood quietly catching our breath for a moment.

Then Jake pressed a soft kiss on my cheek and stepped away. “Good night, Bran. Thank you for… well, just thank you. I’ll see you soon.”

I stared after him like an idiot, watching him open his door and start the SUV. I heard the familiar hum of distant traffic and smelled the fragrant sweet star jasmine from my neighbor’s garden. Everything looked and seemed to be in place, but something was different.

Tracy's Review:

4.5 Just Right Stars

*This book was provided to me by the author/publisher via Pride Promotions in exchange for an honest review*

We met Brandon, Luke's best friend in "The Right Words". Brandon owns a boutique, where he sells home goods in West Hollywood to the rich and sometimes famous. When Brandon is asked by his employee Liz to help her out by dog sitting Mack, her neighbor, a hunky fire fighters, dog, well to say Brandon is less than pleased is an understatement.

When said hunky fire fighter shows up to get his dog, Brandon is shocked to discover, Jake is non other than his old high school love. His first love. The person that hurt Brandon 12 years ago, the person that broke his heart so badly, Brandon hasn't tried to offer it to anyone since.

Brandon tries to keep Jake at arms length. Bran has rules. You never revisit old boyfriends. You move forward, not back. His efforts are futile. He can't resist Mack, and eventually he can't resist Jake anymore. The two establish a friendship that goes on to eventually rekindle the romance they had in high school.

I didn't care for Brandon's character in "The Right Words". I thought he was too over the top, so I was extremely pleased when I picked this book up and saw how much Lane toned him down. He seemed so shallow in book one, but she shows us just how deep a person Brandon really is. He is sweet, funny, a loyal friend, and employer. He is tough, maybe not in the physical sense, but he has been though some tough times and come out a stronger man. Funny thing is, I loved this book so much more that the first one. I liked the characters, and I fell in love with Mack. He was magical. He literally brought two people together and let them find the love they thought they lost so many years ago.

These characters had chemistry and passion. The book flowed well and at a realistic rate. It felt like something that you would see in real life. Lane kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop. THEN she tried to give me a heart attack, but in the end she succeeded in writing a beautifully woven tale of getting a second chance with a first love!

I have never actually met Lane, but we have conversed quite a bit on Twitter, over the last year, and I never realized how much I knew about her, until I picked up this book. I got to see not only the characters, but bits and pieces of Lane show through as well. She is one of my favorite m/m authors and I can't wait for more in the future!

About the Author:

Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles both be men! Lane discovered the M/M genre a fews ago and was instantly hooked. Her first novel was a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards and her third received an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Rainbow Awards. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and the coolest yellow lab ever in an almost empty nest.

Finding Lane around the Web:

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Email: mailto:lanehayes@ymail.com

Author Interview:

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find inspiration in everyday things. I've based my books in cities I love and I've found that little pieces of my real life have made their way in each story. For instance, Mack in The Wrong Man is actually my 13 yr old yellow Lab who also happens to have diabetes. Writing about my old dog with a serious health condition has helped me process the unpleasant reality that he won't be here forever. And as Bran learns in the story it's wise to cherish what we have rather than worry about eventual heartache.

Do you pay attention to literary criticism?

No. It's too distracting. Generally I read a few critiques then leave it alone. I think it's important to hear an honest review from a trusted source because, let's face it, no writer is perfect. Feedback is necessary if you want to improve your craft. However, no one will ever be satisfied with everything you write and there is no point in trying to please everyone. As long as I feel I've written the story I intended, I'm happy.

What's the hardest part of writing your books?

Editing! I write 30K more words on average than I actually end up using in a book. It's a tedious chore but editing is crucial!

How much of the book is realistic?

All of it! :) In The Wrong Man, Jake shows up in Brandon's store after a 12 year separation because his neighbor, who works for Bran has agreed to dog sit for him occasionally. It could happen! Everything having to do with Mack is directly from personal experience. And everything in between yep! It could all happen. Honestly, this is why I write contemporary romance. I'm a sucker for a realistic love story. If I can't believe in the premise and feel the characters are somewhat relatable, I won't enjoy it as much.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I write books in a series, which is its own particular challenge. It's not easy to remember tiny details from every book, but it's important to try. I'm a reader first and foremost and I'm a stickler for detail. I notice when an author says the address is 120 in one book and changes it to 210 in the next. Not okay! I find myself having to research my own books to make sure I'm keeping things straight! LOL.

Tour Stops/dates

9-Feb

11-Feb

Because Two Men Are Better Than One

Sinfully Sexy

16-Feb

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Bayou Book Junkie