JL Merrow

I’m visiting the lovely Charlie Cochrane at her blog today, where as part of her series commemorating WW1, I’m blogging about conscientious objectors, and asking the question: courageous, or cowardly?

You can find my answer at Charlie’s blog.

…by John A. Connell over at The Big Thrill, the e-zine of International Thriller Writers. If you’d like to know what I’ve been reading lately, or would like to hear a fun fact about To Love a Traitor, you can find the answers to these questions and more at the interview post.

Want a chance to win an e-copy of my upcoming novel To Love a Traitor? Then head on over to Stumbling Over Chaos and leave a comment on the giveaway post to be in with a chance! Good luck!

Wounds of the heart take the longest to heal.

When solicitor’s clerk George Johnson moves into a rented London room in the winter of 1920, it’s with a secret goal: to find out if his fellow lodger, Matthew Connaught, is the wartime traitor who cost George’s adored older brother his life.

Yet as he gets to know Matthew—an irrepressibly cheerful ad man whose missing arm hasn’t dimmed his smile—George begins to lose sight of his mission.

As Matthew’s advances become ever harder to resist, George tries to convince himself his brother’s death was just the luck of the draw, and to forget he’s hiding a secret of his own. His true identity—and an act of conscience that shamed his family.

But as their mutual attraction grows, so does George’s desperation to know the truth about what happened that day in Ypres. If only to prove Matthew innocent—even if it means losing the man he’s come to love.

Warning: Contains larks in the snow, stiff upper lips, shadows of the Great War, and one man working undercover while another tries to lure him under the covers.

Due out in ebook and print from Samhain Publishing 15th September 2015

Now available to pre-order:   Samhain | Amazon US | Amazon UK | ARe

Note: this novel is an expansion of the previously published novella Dulce Et Decorum Est, (now out of print) with a substantially different storyline.

My author copies of To Love a Traitor arrived today –

aren’t they pretty?  

It’s not due out until September 15th, but I’ll have some copies with me at UK Meet for anyone who fancies grabbing a copy a few days early.

Actually, I’m wondering just which books I should bring along to the Meet – I’ve got copies of all of ‘em, I think, but I’m assuming peeps will be most interested in the ones that’ve come out since last UK Meet. Which is kind of enough to be getting on with in any case – I *think* that’s Relief Valve, Heat Trap, Caught!, Played! and To Love a Traitor. Oh help, there’s Fall Hard as well, isn’t there?  At this rate, I’m going to end up with a suitcase full of books. And only one outfit to wear all weekend…

If anyone has a particular book they’d like me to bring along for them in dead tree format, feel free to let me know via comment, email, pm, carrier pigeon… Actually, maybe not carrier pigeon. The cat is nothing if not ambitious.

Haven’t worked out prices yet, but they’ll definitely be under a tenner.

Well, this made my day! 

5 kisses from Gabbi at Top2Bottom Reviews:

To Love a Traitor is a unique and truly lovely romance that will live in your heart long after you’ve finished the book. I loved every minute I spent reading it and look forward to reading more historical romances by JL Merrow in the future – Highly Recommended

Blurb:

Wounds of the heart take the longest to heal.

When solicitor’s clerk George Johnson moves into a rented London room in the winter of 1920, it’s with a secret goal: to find out if his fellow lodger, Matthew Connaught, is the wartime traitor who cost George’s adored older brother his life.

Yet as he gets to know Matthew—an irrepressibly cheerful ad man whose missing arm hasn’t dimmed his smile—George begins to lose sight of his mission.

As Matthew’s advances become ever harder to resist, George tries to convince himself his brother’s death was just the luck of the draw, and to forget he’s hiding a secret of his own. His true identity—and an act of conscience that shamed his family.

But as their mutual attraction grows, so does George’s desperation to know the truth about what happened that day in Ypres. If only to prove Matthew innocent—even if it means losing the man he’s come to love.

Product Warnings

Contains larks in the snow, stiff upper lips, shadows of the Great War, and one man working undercover while another tries to lure him under the covers.

Due out in ebook and print from Samhain Publishing 15th September 2015

Now available to pre-order:   Samhain | Amazon US | Amazon UK | ARe

Note: To Love a Traitor is a novel-length expansion of my previously published novella, Dulce et Decorum Est, with a substantial reworking of the storyline. I’m really excited about this new edition: it’s got added spies & traitors, a cast of secondary characters I love even if nobody else will, and I got to read all kinds of fascinating stuff while researching the expansion.

Previously published as Good Company, a Torquere Sip, it’s got a shiny new cover and a new title, and it’s out today from JMS Books!

As usual with JMS, it’ll be exclusively available from the publisher’s website at a discounted price for a week, and from July 19th at all good e-tailers.

Free Ride (short story)

There’s no such thing as a free ride. Aidan may be only twenty, but he’s already learned that the hard way. Hitch-hiking up from London to Glasgow to keep a promise, Aidan’s fully prepared to offer payment in kind for his lifts. He’s not expecting a good-looking older bloke to pick him up in a Mercedes—nor that he’ll find John such good company. After a few short hours together Aidan’s already starting to care what John thinks of him.

When slow traffic forces them to get a room for the night, Aidan’s not sure what to do. Putting out as a thank you to a stranger is one thing, but can he really go through with it with the first person he’s come to care for since he made that promise?

And what’s going to happen when they reach their destination?

(Approx. 5,000 words)

JMS Books

Author’s Note #1: it’s had a quick wash and brush-up, but Free Ride is substantially the same story as that previously sold under the title Good Company.

Author’s Note #2: there’s a micro-sequel free to read on my website here: On the Beach

Author’s Note #3: in case you can’t remember if you’ve read the original story, the fact that the working title was Deep Fried Mars Bar may jog your memory!

No, not Mr Wickham, or even Willoughby; I’m talking about Henry Crawford, who was so nearly redeemed by love, over at Joyfully Jay today on the final stop of the Played! blog tour. Why not pop along and see how he inspired Tristan from Played! – and let me know if you like your boys good or bad!

Remember to leave your comments on the blog post to be in with a chance of a prize!

You can find links to previous stops on the tour here:  https://jlmerrow.com/my-books/contemporary-mm/played/played-blog-tour/

The Played! blog tour isn’t over yet, but already several kind people have said they’re hoping for more Shamwell Tales – and in particular, one with a starring role for Patrick from Played! So I thought I’d let you know that yes, it’s going to happen!

Out! – #3 in The Shamwell Tales

When the costs are added up, will love land in the black?

Mark Nugent has spent his life in the closet—at least, the small part of it he hasn’t spent in the office. Divorced when he could no longer deny his sexuality, he’s sworn off his workaholic ways and moved to Shamwell with his headstrong teen daughter to give her a stable home environment.

His resolve to put his love life on hold is severely tested when he joins a local organization and meets a lively yet intense young man who tempts him closer to the closet threshold.

Patrick Owen is an out-and-proud charity worker with strong principles—and a newly discovered weakness for an older man. One snag: Mark is adamant he’s not coming out to his daughter, and Patrick will be damned if he’s going to start a relationship with a lie.

Between Mark’s old-fashioned attitudes and a camp, flirtatious ex-colleague who wants Mark for himself, Patrick wonders if they’ll ever be on the same romantic page. And when Mark’s former career as a tax advisor clashes with Patrick’s social conscience, it could be the one stumbling block they can’t get past.

Warning: Contains historically inaccurate Spartan costumes, mangled movie quotes, dubious mathematical logic and a three-legged pub crawl.

Due out from Samhain Publishing 5th January 2016.

Over at MM Good Book Reviews today, as part of the Played! blog tour, where I’m talking about Con’s struggle with literacy – why not check it out, and remember to leave a comment on the blog post to be in with a chance of winning!

For previous stops on the tour, see: https://jlmerrow.com/my-books/contemporary-mm/played/played-blog-tour/