Plus a little something special. I'm taking part in Amber Kell's annual birthday party, and my contribution this year was a little "birthday" snippet with Elliot and Tucker. You can read that here -- just scroll down the page a bit.
Meanwhile, you can order Fair Play at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, iTunes and of course directly from Carina Press.
Fifty years ago, Roland Mills belonged to a violent activist group. Now, someone is willing to kill to prevent him from publishing his memoirs.
When ex-FBI agent Elliot Mills is called out to examine the charred ruins of his childhood home, he quickly identifies the fire for what it is—arson. A knee injury may have forced Elliot out of the Bureau, but it’s not going to stop him from bringing the man who wants his father dead to justice.
Agent Tucker Lance is still working to find the serial killer who’s obsessed with Elliot and can’t bear the thought of his lover putting himself in additional danger. Straightlaced Tucker has never agreed with radical Roland on much—“opposing political viewpoints” is an understatement—but they’re united on this: Elliot needs to leave the case alone. Now.
Tucker would do nearly anything for the man he loves, but he won’t be used to gain Elliot access to the FBI’s resources. When the past comes back to play and everything both men had known to be true is questioned, their fragile relationship is left hanging in the balance.
What a lovely snippet. Thank you. Looking forward to Monday. Have a relaxing weekend while I head over to the parties. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Have a lovely weekend -- I hope you win some prizes. Actually, I hope you win some MORE prizes, because you seem to be doing pretty well! ;-)
DeleteYeah, I'm collecting them so I can start my own business selling them on eBay...;-)
DeleteOops, I just realized my mistake. I WAS JOKING. I am NOT selling...
DeleteLOL
DeleteLove, love LOVE Elliot and Tucker!
ReplyDeleteI did really enjoy revisiting Elliot and Tucker.
DeleteYay for snippets! Also, you can pre order at ARe too!
ReplyDeleteCan you? Because I have heard from a number of readers that the book is not on ARE. I haven't had a chance to check yet.
DeleteHi Josh,
DeleteI checked on ARe and FP is listed. :)
Whew!! Thank you, Susan.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous cover photo celebrating the richness of the fall season. Can't wait until Monday-Try and relax before the release! Love the fan parties-the gifts are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that beautiful? Granted, we don't get autumn like that around here. But that is my perfect imaginary autumn.
DeleteI loved that scene. I love Tucker and Elliot. I am sure you are busy with last minute release day stuff. Take a moment every once in a while to take a deep breath and just bask. You are making your fans very happy. This has been a wonderful year. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori. There's always a weird letdown when a book goes live. You work so hard for so long, and then it's out there and out of your control. It's a strange thing. But there's also a great relief. It's done. It's on its way.
DeleteHave had it pre-ordered since August! One of a few GOOD reasons for winter! Impatiently waiting in Alaska!
ReplyDeleteAugust! Wow. :-)
DeleteI love this snippet, thank you Josh. Monday will be a very short workday, because I have to read Fair Play first! I am looking forward for the parties. :) , that will shorten the time, before the book is on my kindle.
ReplyDeleteI admit these parties floor me. So much thought and imagination and generosity. They're wonderful. I am so grateful to my readers.
DeleteAwww!
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Josh!
Thank YOU for reading, Antonella.
DeleteWhat a sweet snippet. Thanks, Josh for always going that extra mile for your readers. It's so very appreciated....now, I'm ready for Monday! Actually, I've reread Fair Game twice already, so I guess I'm more than ready. :D
ReplyDeleteTwice!? Yes, I would say so.
DeleteSo sweet! I love it. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear.
This brand new snippet calls for a partyyyyyy! And cute, cuddly Fair Play teddy bears! :-D
Lifelike cuddly teddy bears!!! :-D
DeleteI also pre-ordered since August. Planning to read Fair Game again this weekend as a refresher. Your books are fantastic and thanks for the great "Snippet" too. Marilyn A 11/7/14
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind. Thank you.
DeleteOooohh, very nice. Why do I have to work on Monday?
ReplyDeleteDamn government!!!
DeleteOh wait...
Yes, very sweet. I appreciated Elliot's attention to cues. We have Tuesday off this week, so starting Monday evening could extend to an all-nighter. : )
ReplyDeleteWelll, in my experience, that's better than using sick days to be sick! I would far rather use those days for something enjoyable. ;-)
DeleteI just re-read Fair Game and now I am ready for Fair Play. The snippet is lovely, but while it's nice that Elliot is good at cues, it would be nicer if Tucker could ask for what he needs. Poor boy (I can hear Tucker snorting in laughter as I say that). I am also curious to see what kind of s*** Roland has fallen into and how the boys save his bacon.
ReplyDeleteSee if you still feel the same after you read the book. I'm pretty sure they are both asking and receiving. ;-D
DeleteI've had Fair Play on preorder for months, and am looking forward to getting it tomorrow. Meanwhile am relistening to Kit and JX and thinking happily about the audio of TBWTPT coming out before too long. Hope you're having a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo the good news is, I've just listened to the first 15 minutes of the audio and Kevin is at the top of his game.
DeleteGot my copy today at Carina, can't wait to read, now when can I get it in paperback??? :)
ReplyDeleteWellllllllll....
Deletewoot books here! here come the allnighters reading again. I wouldnt change a thing lol
ReplyDeleteNo? Not even a couple more sleeping hours? ;-)
DeleteGot my copy while flying back into Washington and it made for a beautiful "welcome home" read!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteThank you for not only having one but two novels out back to back for your fans, as well as, the early bird discounts. I definitely appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteAww. You're very welcome!
DeleteSorry Josh, where have you feisty characters like Adrien English, who show some self respect, gone? Your last stories ( Stranger on the Shore, All I know, H&M3, and now this one) seem to be about Victorian Damsells in Distress waiting to be rescued. That is so - not - doing it for me. Your storytelling is good als ever, so I keep hoping for stronger main characters.
ReplyDeleteGerry
Uh huh. I know anonymous slams are kind of par for the course, but you really need to occasionally READ the books, Gerry. Coz this is just funny. :-D
DeleteApologies for the anonymous entry, but no dispespect meant. I think it's just the dominance thing that's not doing it for me. And I do read, really :)
DeleteWell, it's a shame you don't like the books, but I don't expect every reader to enjoy everything I do. Honestly, I'm writing for me. And it's great that so many readers do love what I do. And happily for those that don't, there are plenty of other authors and books out there. So we all win. :-)
DeleteElliot is prickly, but he loves Tucker so much. Tucker is insecure, but he loves Elliot so much. It's great how different, but no less lovable, your characters are. Imagine the criticism if you kept cranking out Adrien-clones. I think I can handle reading about Elliot and Tucker for a couple (or 10) more books. Roland, on the other hand, will have to crawl on glass to get back on my good side...grrr.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet Roland is sincere and always follows his conscience. :-)
DeleteThank you for the kind words. As much as I love Adrien and Jake, I would have to stop writing if all I was permitted to write was A&J-type characters. :-)
I´ve just read “Fair Play”. I was captivated by this book, even more than "Fair Game", first I was intrigued by the suspense, hungry for trying to fit the pieces of the mystery together every moment, and for the relationship between Elliot and Tucker (now my favorite couple) sometimes tense, for the role of alpha in both of them, yes both, at different times. And Roland, I really like him particularly, because I think he is a very consistent character with his convictions. A great book, great story, an extraordinary couple, thank you. I´d like many, many books of Elliot and Tucker ???? Please???
ReplyDeleteWell, there will be one more book. That's for sure. :-) And thank you for the kind words.
DeleteWow it was...the best... That sunroom scene... It wasn't about sex... It wa about Tucker showing Elliot he was safe and loved...and Elliot figuring out that he wasn't weak because he needed to submit to Tucker. Loved it can't wait to dind out what happens next...please.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for saying so, Kim!
DeleteHey Josh!
ReplyDeleteJust finished reading Fair Play, it was simply AMAZING! I want to thank you so much for your decision to continue this series.
Each character, relationship and mystery you write just become so complex and interesting and Fair Play has certainly stood out among them all. I just love the dynamic between Elliot and Tucker and both of them are truly marvellous written characters. It was impossible to stop reading once I started.
So once again, thank you for this wonderful book. You are and will always be one of the best authors of all time.
You are WAY too kind, but thank you very much. :-)
DeleteJosh - I posted this review on Amazon and Good Reads. A bit long for a blog comment, but here it is anyway:
ReplyDeletePoutine? There’s always something new for me in a Josh Lanyon story. I had no idea, but it’s a recipe - for heartburn. French fries covered in brown gravy, topped with cheese curds over bratwurst. Seriously? There are other tasty and digestible recipes in Josh’s stories, but this one takes the cake, to mix metaphors.
There’s plenty of figurative heartburn in “Fair Play” as well: two headstrong people trying to find the trust and forbearance to forge a solid relationship; and the heartburn of sorting out the ethics of radical activism. Oh, and a murder mystery besides. Plenty to digest here, for sure.
The story sure as heck doesn’t read like a philosophical treatise - attempted murder by modern cross-bow; a nail-biter armed show-down, among other action elements - but ethics and philosophy are the very interesting subtext of this story about how the actions of old 60’s radicals back in the day can haunt their current lives.
It reminded me of an excellent 2012 movie by Robert Redford, who played an “retired” radical in “The Company You Keep.”
So, “Fair Play” asks, what is the right thing to do when you think injustices or wrongs are being committed by institutions or individuals; when you think they’re not playing fair? Edmund Burke, the 18th-century statesman is quoted: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Then one of the characters reflects that “you can’t fill the heads of your children with ideals like equality and peace, convince them that those are the things worth fighting for, and then not expect them not to take up arms to defend what they believe in.” How do the characters choose to resolve that dilemma?
Does this issue have any contemporary relevance? Hello: do you follow the news? In a piece of superbly written and entertaining “genre” fiction, Josh Lanyon explores some serious ethical and philosophical questions. That’s why I think “Fair Play” is one of best and most interesting stories he has written to date. Do you think the consequences faced by the story’s characters amount to fair play? You should read the book.
Thank you, Tony, for sharing these thoughts. And I admire the thematic metaphor of heartburn. :-D So true.
DeleteI certainly think the topic is relevant. I don't know how anyone could claim to follow current events and not see the parallels. And this is a period that has always fascinated me. It is history, but it is recent history and the wounds are still raw for many. Just mention Jane Fonda's name in a mixed group and you'll get some very interesting -- and often quickly heated -- responses.
I figure if the book makes people think -- even if all they end up thinking is I-hate-to-think-when-I'm-reading-romance! then I've done my job as a writer. ;-)
"Right On"
Delete