We’re so pleased to have author DJ Jamison dropping by on the tour for her latest release, Hearts and Health: Vol. Two. She’s here to chat about finding balance in themes, and there’s also a giveaway so be sure to check out the Rafflecopter widget for entry details.

Welcome, DJ!

Balance: Serious Themes with Sweet, Sexy Romance

I’m happy to be here at The Novel Approach to tell you about the release of Hearts and Health: Volume Two (a box set of Books Four-Six in the series).

The series, since it started in late 2016, has spanned a lot of tropes in the romance genre. The themes in this set include everything from young gay adults who are experiencing their first love to exploring bisexuality later in life. The set is balanced well between heavier topics and light, sexy reading.

Room for Recovery, Book 4, is about two young adults (18+) who have to work to accept themselves before they can love each other. The book includes homophobia, coming out, and other heavy themes, but it’s also a sweet, slow-burn romance with an uplifting ending.

Surprise Delivery, Book 5, in contrast, focuses on a doctor and a hospital administrator in their thirties and forties, respectively. The overarching theme in this romance is living life to the fullest. Dr. Casper Rollins lost the love of his life years before, but his boyfriend taught him to be spontaneous and live in the moment. It’s a lesson he tries to share with Dr. Eric Holtz, who has workaholic tendencies, but Eric has a few lessons of his own to impart, such as the importance of a heart open to new love.

Orderly Affair, the final book in the set, is a sexual discovery story. Ian, a hospital order, is recently divorced and finally able to explore a side of himself he’d always ignored. He uses a hookup app, and to his surprise, the guy is Callum Price, a geeky but cute lab tech at the hospital. The two have plenty of sparks, but they have to figure out if they want a fling or something more.

All three stories bring different elements of romance to life. The first three books of the series are also boxed up, if you haven’t yet read them. They include Heart Trouble, about a sexy nurse with trust issues; Bedside Manner, a doctor/patient age-gap romance; and Urgent Care, a second-chance romance between a doctor and nursing student.

About the Book

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Length: 220k words approx.
Blurb: Room For Recovery – Book #4

When Beau James is 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. But Wade is carrying a heavy burden that makes it tough to open up. With Beau’s help, he 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.

Surprise Delivery – Book #5

Dr. Casper Rollins knows how to have fun. The love of his life, Kage Myers, lived every moment to the fullest before he died. Now, Casper goes on adrenaline-soaked adventures when he wants to feel closer to his lost love. Dr. Eric Holtz is married to his work, so much so his last partner left him. When his niece arrives, pregnant and in need of an ally, he has family again. Then her obstetrician suggests breaking Eric of his workaholic tendencies, and a fun and sexy fling ensues. But it’s not long before feelings are in the mix. If these two want a future, they’ll have to embrace the lesson Kage taught Casper long ago: You only live once.

Orderly Affair – Book #6

When Ian Connolly installs a hookup app to explore his long-suppressed attraction to men, he doesn’t expect to connect with anyone he knows, especially not lab tech Callum Price. But from their first scorching encounter, he’s hooked. Callum hasn’t had the best luck with love, and he’s suffocating under a pile of responsibilities. But when he sees an opportunity to blow off steam with Ian, he takes it. If Ian can be honest with his family about loving a man, maybe Callum can admit his own truth: He wants a man he can count on, a man just like Ian.

Excerpt: Surprise Delivery

Leaning against the wooden safety railing in front of them, Casper gazed out over the rippling lake. The far shore had a beach, and Eric could see a dock with a couple of kids sitting on the end, two small boats and some swimmers in the shallows by the shore. It was far enough away, he couldn’t make out details, just the shapes of people.

The little inlet directly below him and Casper was isolated.

“I’m surprised no one’s over here,” Eric said.

“It’s one of those well-kept secrets,” Casper said. “Access to the water from here is practically nonexistent, and the lake is more developed on the other side. I’ve been here a few times, but I’ve never run into anyone.”

“Nice.”

“You know what would be fun?” Casper asked with a mischievous look in his eye that Eric was just coming to recognize meant trouble.

“What?”

Casper pulled off his T-shirt and kicked off his shoes. “A nice, brisk swim.”

Eric gaped. While he stared, at a loss for words at this latest insanity, Casper stripped off his shorts and tucked his thumbs under the waistband of his boxer briefs.

“What do you think?”

“I think you’re crazy,” Eric said with a laugh.

And gorgeous.

Eric’s eyes were drawn again to the ink on Casper’s body. Still, even with that intriguing splash of color, Eric’s gaze drifted down. Casper’s stomach was hard with muscle, and his obliques were clearly defined, creating a drool-worthy V-line Eric couldn’t help following to the bulge in Casper’s boxer briefs.

He kind of wanted to drop to his knees right there out in the open. That would be spontaneous, right?

“Eric,” Casper said with a hint of amusement in his voice. “How about you get undressed too?”

“No, thanks. I’m good.”

Casper dropped his underwear, and Eric fought the good fight and lost. Casper didn’t give him much time to ogle his nicely cut body, though. He turned, giving Eric a flash of white ass, and went to the end of the railing. There was a gap where the barrier railing ended and the trees began, and Casper stepped up to the very edge of the bank. One hand was on the railing, and before him, nothing but the wide, blue of empty sky.

Eric had visions of the dirt and grass crumbling away, and Casper falling, falling, falling.

“That can’t be safe,” he said uneasily.

“Come on, Eric. Live a little!”

Casper grinned, his eyes bright, and with the flex of muscle that rippled through his whole body, he was gone. He’d jumped. The crazy man had flung himself over the edge when Eric was busy worrying he might fall.

Casper shouted joyously on the way down. A splash followed.

Eric ran to the spot Casper jumped from and gazed down, searching the water for signs of life. Anxiety clawed at his chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Come on,” he whispered. “Casper, you idiot!”

It wasn’t safe to jump in a lake like that. There could be a rock lurking beneath the surface. Casper could break his neck or hit his head and pass out underwater. He could be drowning right this moment—

Casper burst through the surface, bellowing a loud laugh and slinging water from his hair as if he were a dog.

“You fucking lunatic!” Eric shouted.

Casper grinned up at him. “Come be crazy with me, Eric.”

God help him. He couldn’t resist that siren call.

About the Author

DJ Jamison is the author of more than a dozen m/m romances, including the Ashe Sentinel series and the Hearts and Health series. 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. DJ grew up in the Midwest in a working-class family, and those influences can be found in her writing through characters coping with real-life problems: money troubles, workplace drama, family conflicts and, of course, falling in love. DJ spent more than a decade in the newspaper industry before chasing her first dream to write fiction. She spent a lifetime reading before that, and continues to avidly devour her fellow authors’ books each night. She lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, two fish and, regrettably, one snake.

Facebook Author Page || FB group || Mailing list! || Follow me on Twitter || Find me on Goodreads || Check out my Book Bub profile!

The Giveaway

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Follow the Tour

July 26 – The Novel Approach, July 30 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, August 1 – Gay Book Reviews, August 2 – Joyfully Jay, August 3 – Bayou Book Junkie