Guest Post and Giveaway: Forgive and Forget by Charlie Cochet

Hello all! Thank you so much for joining me here today at The Novel Approach for the final stop on the Forgive and Forget blog tour! Today is release day, and I’m so excited! Forgive and Forget is the sweet story between a shy, awkward pie maker, and the mysterious man with amnesia he finds out cold, face down in his garden. In this story there’s humor, danger, action, drama, sexy times, and more! I had a great time writing these two fellas and their adventures in romance.

I had so much fun writing Joe with all his quirks and eccentricities. Joe’s not the most eloquent, confident, or–Heaven help us–the most graceful, but he has a big heart. In this scene, Bea has decided now that Tom isn’t a serial killer, he’s just what Joe needs, and Joe doesn’t quite know what to do with himself around Tom.

“I’m telling you, Joe, that man looks at you the way people look at your pies. He wants to take a bite out of you, and I sure do hope you let him.”

“That’s been my plan this whole time,” Joe whispered conspiratorially. “That’s why I’m rushing you out, because we’re going to sit on the couch like a couple of teenagers and you don’t want to be around when the groping starts.”

Bea arched an eyebrow. “No one likes a smartass.”

“But you love me, I know you do. Good night and thank you.” He kissed her cheek and gently shoved her out the door. Once the door was closed, he dropped his head against it with a heavy thud. Thank God, the worst was over.

“They’re really nice. A little… odd, but sweet.”

“Sweet Jesus!” Joe gave a start and spun away from the door, tripping over his own feet in the process. He was getting to know his carpet pretty well these days. With a groan, he rolled onto his back, his eyes shut tight, mostly because he felt Tom kneel down beside him, and he couldn’t find the nerve to face him just yet.

Why was it that when a guy tried his hardest not to look like a complete loon, fate decided to prove that’s just what he was? His life used to be so calm and uneventful. Now there was a tall, sinfully handsome man with no name and a magnetic force strong enough to pull in a cruise ship staying with him. Why did Joe get the feeling he was about to enter deep waters? Two words sprang to mind.

Man overboard!

“Joe? Are you all right?”

Tom’s voice was laced with genuine concern, and when Joe opened his eyes, Tom’s expression was overflowing with it.

“Mm?” was all Joe could muster. He was too enthralled by what he thought he saw to string coherent words together, not to mention Tom’s nearness was sending his pulse soaring like a rocket.

“Thank God. Sorry I scared you. You’re kind of jumpy, aren’t you?”

What was he supposed to say to that? Yes, yes he was. Heat rose to his face. He was blushing, which, thanks to his fair skin and freckles, would be a lot more obvious. Swell. He was grateful when Tom pulled him to his feet.

“Tom, I, um, I should probably warn you. I’m always like this. I’m fidgety, talk to myself, stick my head in ovens and trip over things because when I haven’t got my head stuck in an appliance, it’s up in the clouds somewhere. I run on coffee, and when the coffee’s run out, I still act like I’m running on coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Even when I’m sitting still, my mind’s going at full speed. I’m just telling you this so you don’t think you’re staying with some crazy twit. I’m not crazy or a twit. I know I probably sound like it right now, but I’m pretty certain Jules would have said something if I was certifiably ready for Bedlam, and if you haven’t guessed, I ramble too. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Tom chuckled and led Joe over to the couch, pulling him down with him as he sat. He was grinning from ear to ear, and Joe couldn’t figure out what he’d done to be on the receiving end of such a smile. Now that the craziness had somewhat ebbed—or spread—it was too soon to tell—it was a little strange sitting here on his usually empty couch in the middle of his usually empty living room, holding hands with a complete stranger and liking it. Maybe Bea had whacked him a little too hard on the head and he was the one lying facedown with a concussion.

“Joe, you don’t have to explain yourself, or be anyone other than you. Not for anyone else and certainly not for me.”

Joe eyed him skeptically. “Yeah?”

“The way Elsie, Donnie, and Bea jump to your defense, shows how much they care about you. Even if you are a little crazy.” Tom laughed softly at Joe’s pout, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Lucky for both of us, I happen to be a guy who doesn’t mind a little crazy.”

“Ah, but you don’t know that,” Joe pointed out, tapping Tom lightly on the head. “You might not like it at all.”

Tom smiled warmly. “If that’s the case, you’re well on your way to changing my mind.”

READ THE FIRST FULL CHAPTER OF FORGIVE AND FORGET HERE.

Thank you all so much for following the tour! Happy Reading!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Genre: Gay Contemporary Category Romance
Length: Novel, 194 Pages
Published: April 1st, 2016
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Ebook ISBN-13: 9781634770170
Paperback ISBN-13: 9781634770163

As the owner of Apple’n Pies, Joe Applin leads a quiet, uneventful life, content to spend his days serving customers who come from all over to eat his delicious homemade pies. Along with his motley crew—Bea, Elsie, and Donnie—Joe couldn’t be happier in his little kingdom of baked goods and java.

Experience has taught Joe that love is overrated—and at times dangerous. He has no intention of repeating past mistakes. But then he meets a mysterious, handsome man with amnesia, and Joe can’t deny something sweet is in the works. He isn’t one to take risks, not with his heart and certainly not with his life, but the more time he spends with the man he knows as Tom, the closer he is to losing both.

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PURCHASE LINKS

Dreamspinner Press eBook | Dreamspinner Press Paperback
Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Barnes & Noble

OUT NOW!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

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GIVEAWAY

[Each tour stop has its own exclusive giveaway. That’s five chances to win a nifty prize! ]

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TOUR SCHEDULE

March 28th – Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
March 29th – Love Bytes Book Reviews
March 30th – Prism Book Alliance
March 31st – Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance
April 1st – The Novel Approach