The End
Hello, I’m Chris T. Kat, visiting The Novel Approach again. :) I’m here to talk about my new release, Swordplay (A Jeff Woods Mystery). Swordplay is the third and last book in the Jeff Woods Mysteries series, and was published by Dreamspinner Press on December 22nd. The release was like an early Christmas gift. :)
In Swordplay, readers will become reacquainted with Jeff Woods, the main character, and his younger boyfriend Alex again. There’s also Sean, Alex’s seven-year old, disabled brother. Jeff, Alex, and Sean have become a family—even though Jeff never set out to build family of his own—and to their extended family also belong Parker, Jeff’s ex-partner on the force, and Parker’s boyfriend, David.
In Attachment Strings, Jeff lived in Atlantic City and worked as a police detective. In Sacrifices, he still lived in Atlantic City, but had exchanged his dream occupation for becoming a radio talk show host. Now, in the third book, he’s changed work again. He’s now a private investigator and lives in Washington DC.
I knew right from the beginning that I wanted this series to consist of three books, and that Jeff and Alex would have to go through some major life changes. I love reading these kinds of stories because they feel real to me. Most of us have gone through some sort of change, or we’ve made the best plans but had to adjust to whatever happened in our life. That’s what happened to Jeff too. Sure, he didn’t seek out a family, but he’s happy that he found Alex and Sean nonetheless.
Alex and Sean have undergone their own changes. Alex had to learn to trust Jeff, and while it’s still difficult for him to be open about his insecurities, he’s gotten better at it. Part of this is due to the events in Sacrifices. Sean is still the most important person in Alex’s life, and no matter what gets thrown in his way, he’ll always be happy as long as Alex and Jeff are there for him.
All the characters have grown on me, and it feels strange not to write another story about them, but their journey feels complete to me, which is why I ended the series with Swordplay. I admit that I love long series to pieces. One of my favorite series is the Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling, and I had a meltdown (short, but still I had one) when I found out she wouldn’t continue with the series.
How do you feel about book series? Do you want a series to go on forever or do you prefer a certain number of books in a series? Feel free to tell me what’s your favorite series ever, maybe I haven’t read it yet. :)
Blurb:
After leaving his dream job as an Atlantic City detective, Jeff Woods has moved to Washington DC with his life partner Alex Fisher and Alex’s disabled little brother Sean. Parker Trenkins, Jeff’s ex-partner on the force, has made the move as well, along with his significant other David. Jeff and Parker partner up once again, but in a new way, as owners of their own detective agency.
Life is difficult at the best of times. Sean loses sight in one of his eyes, a direct result of being pushed into the Atlantic by a homicidal maniac a year ago. In his struggle to deal with everything, a restless Alex enrolls in Tai Chi classes at a nearby school.
As it happens, a murder case Jeff and Parker take involves the head of that very Tai Chi School, Charles Cooper. Cooper is a suspect in the murder of a financial corporation official. He appears to have motive. Jeff and Parker’s investigation arouses the real killer’s interest, and if they don’t uncover his identity soon, it may be too late for them.
Buy links – Dreamspinner Press: Ebook | Paperback
Excerpt from Chapter Eight:
“We’re coming!” Alex shouted back. He rose to his feet in a graceful, fluid movement. For a moment, the bulging muscles above his knees distracted me and I simply stared. Alex broke the spell when he said, “I’ll get Sean’s stuff.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier for us to eat here?”
I rose to my feet much less gracefully. In my defense, I had Sean in my arms. He leaned his head on my shoulder, and I cupped one hand around the back of it. By now, we’d perfected the art of me carrying him without either of us hurting important body parts.
“It’s just the cutlery, the bib, and his sippy cup. Parker already got his chair up earlier.”
“Oh.”
Alex reappeared from the kitchen, grinning. “Don’t worry, you’ll be allowed to carry his chair downstairs after dinner.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sean giggled and saliva dribbled through my shirt. Another one for the laundry.
Alex snatched the keys from a hook in the tiny hallway and opened the door for Sean and me. We passed him and went ahead, climbing the small staircase with careful, measured steps. I really didn’t need to stumble and crash up or down the stairs with Sean in my arms.
David was carrying bowls to the table when I placed Sean in his chair. My stomach growled.
“Hungry?” David’s mustache quivered.
“Yep.”
“What about you, Sean?” he asked. David always addressed Sean, unlike other people, who seemed to excel at ignoring him. A year ago I’d been one of them. It still irked me at times how skewed my perceptions had been.
Sean told David something in a lengthy string of garbled noises to which David nodded in understanding. I, of course, had no clue what he’d just said. When I glanced up from my task of strapping Sean into his chair, I caught Parker looking from David to Sean with open bewilderment. He became aware of me staring at him and mouthed, “What did he say?”
I shrugged and heeled out a chair for myself. Before I had a chance to take my place, Alex sat down on it. Without sparing me a second look, he said, “I’m feeding Sean so you can eat in peace. This is not up for discussion, but if you’d rather make a ruckus about it, get it out right away so the food won’t get cold.”
I opened my mouth, but no words left it. I clicked it shut, watching Alex bind a bib around Sean’s neck and pull his chair closer to the table.
Neither David nor Parker moved. Actually they seemed frozen in place, David bent over the table with a dipper poised above a bowl of steaming stew and Parker clutching the back of a chair.
Alex glanced over his shoulder and winked at me. “No argument? Great. Now sit down.”
He patted the chair next to him, and my body cooperated without my conscious consent. Alex gave me a quick kiss, but before he could withdraw completely, I clasped a hand around his neck and held him close. “Pushy today, aren’t we?”
“I’m just being reasonable.”
Parker laughed. “Yes, and you brought up your reasons in a very… distinctive way.”
Alex grinned. “I just cut the impending argument short.”
I couldn’t prevent the smile on my own face either. “You’re all crazy.”
Sean protested with a loud trill, and David clucked his tongue. I amended, “Okay, maybe not all of you.”
Chris T. Kat:
Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.
Links: Blog | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon author page
Giveaway:
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED
Here’s the list of participants:
December 23rd: The Novel Approach
December 27th: Love Byte Reviews
December 30th: The Blogger Girls
December 31st: Joyfully Jay
Chris will pick the winner on January 3rd and contact the winner via e-mail. Winner has 48 hours to respond. Good luck!
I like book series. I really enjoy them. I do not care how long they are, as long as I am enjoying myself. But some series just seem to string things out forever, just to take advantage of their success, and it is then when I start getting distracted and losing interest. And some other times you just wish they would go on forever, because you like them so much..
Thank you for the excerpt and the giveaway. The Jeff Woods Mystery series seems like the type of series I would love.
;)
Thanks a lot for stopping by, Susana! I’m with you–as long as I enjoy myself I’m good. :)
I have enjoyed this series so far. Can’t wait to read this one.
Thanks a lot, Debby. I hope you’ll enjoy Swordplay!
I love series. I have read quite a few. Some have ended but others are into their 30th book. Sometimes it nice to see old friends again when a series ends.
I love series too, Denise. Thanks a lot for stopping by. :)
I haven’t read the Jeff Woods Mystery” series (Attachment Strings, Sacrifices and Swordplay) yet and would love a chnace to win. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
this series sounds great! I’d love to win them!
Good luck in the draw!
This series is completely new to me but I loved the other books of yours, Chris. Thank you for the terrific giveaway. Count me in, please.
Happy Holidays!!
Thank you so much and happy holidays to you too. :)
This would be a great belated Christmas’ present to win this prize. Count me in please. Thanks and Happy holidays
You’re very welcome. Good luck!
I enjoy series, as it gives the reader a chance to get to know the characters in more depth (if if it a good series). I think a trilogy works well for most plot lines. I’ve given up on longer series just because there are only so many times the MC can be in danger w/o it being ridiculous.
I love series too but not all of them keep my interest. Thanks so much for participating. :)
I love good series . Adding this one to list.
Good luck, Cornelia!
Lovely post and giveaway. Count me in, please:)
Wish you a lovely Christmas
Thank you very much. Merry Christmas to you too!
Thanks for the great post and giveaway. I find that I love series, but if they seem to string along too long, I lose interest. I had read one series up to book 11, but certain characters weren’t dealing with major issues for books (and years) and I got tired of the conflict that never got dealt with. I think that series is in book 20 something now. I love the Cut & Run series though and we still have another book to go in that one.
You’re very welcome. I hear you–some series could go on forever for me but others should have ended after the third or fourth book. Good luck in the draw!
I think I have a love and hate relationship with series. Sometimes I want a series to be longer and other times I wished the author had just kept it a shorter series than like 23 books and ongoing. I love the Cut & Run series, Psycop series and a good amount of Mary Calmes stuff.
I really need to give the Psycop series a go, I’ve heard great things about these books. :)
I loved Attachment Strings and didn’t realize there was a series, so I appreciate this chance to win all of the series! I have mixed feelings about series. I love them because you get to see more of your favorite characters. However, it can be difficult if you didn’t start at the beginning, since there might be spoilers of earlier books. I don’t think that there is any set number a series should be to keep the reader’s interest. When I love a series, I just want it to continue. Some of my favorites are KJ Charles’ Magpie series, and all of Mary Calmes’ and Cardeno C’s series.
I’m very glad you liked “Attachment Strings”. I usually love series because it’s like meeting your favorite people again and again but sometimes later books don’t have the same feeling, so I definitely understand about the mixed feelings.
I’m a huge fan of series so pls, count me in. Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays to you too! Good luck in the draw.
This last book sounds as terrific as the other 2. Keeping my fingers super crossed. Happy Holidays!!
Thank you very much and good luck in the draw! :)
This is pretty cool!! Count me in, Chris :-)):-)):-)):-))
hope you had a funny Christmas:-))
Hiya! <3 Yes, I had a lovely Christmas and hope yours was a good one as well.
Congrats on your new release, thank you for talking about the series and the giveaway!!!
Thank you, Loren, and good luck in the draw!
Hi Chris, congrats on the third book in your “Jeff Woods Mystery” series, I look forward to reading them. Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.
Good luck in the draw!
I love your avatar! Best of luck with the latest release, and have a great New Year’s Eve.
Thank you, I’m rather fond of my avatar. Have a great New Year’s Eve as well. :)
As much as I would love some series to go on forever, I think there comes a time where things have to end, but as long as the stories remain fresh I’ll keep reading! Congrats on the new release!
debdeege (at) optonline (dot) net
I feel the same way, Debra. Thank you for stopping by! :)
The series sounds great!
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks, Trix! Good luck in the draw!
Loved the post