Connection (Evan and Jeremy #1) by Brigham Vaughn
Cover Artist: Brigham Vaughn
Publisher: Two Peninsulas Press (Indie/Self-Published)
Goodreads Link
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Brigham Vaughn here today to talk about her novel, Connection, and the inspiration behind it. Welcome, Brigham. Tell our readers about Connection and the series its linked to.
When I began writing the novella “Equals” I never dreamed that almost two years later it would become a 4-novella series with a 2-novel spin off. I loved Russ and Stephen–the couple in the original series—but Evan and Jeremy slowly but surely stole my heart.
Jeremy was a side character in the first book. An ex of Stephen’s whose crippling car accident fifteen years prior set Stephen up for a host of relationship issues and created one of the main conflicts between him and Russ in “Equals”.
Evan was a throwaway character, originally written into “Partners” to give Stephen’s hometown of Putnam a more sympathetic face and depth. He was a lost, lonely young man, aching to find gay men to look up to and found in role models in Russ and Stephen. Russ caught a glimpse of that and a very tentative friendship was formed, leading Evan toward a future in Atlanta.
By the time I finished “Partners” I knew I needed to tell Evan’s story. My betas strenuously agreed. As I tossed around ideas of who I would pair Evan with, Jeremy popped into my head. At first it seemed preposterous; Jeremy was thirty-six, mentally and physically scarred from the accident, and bitter and jaded by the idea of dating. Twenty-one-year-old Evan—despite his shyness and insecurities—was wide-eyed and optimistic. He longed for a relationship and the security it would bring. They had nothing to offer each other.
Except, I’d just written a May/December romance where the age difference between Russ and Stephen worked. They balanced each other out. What if Jeremy’s brashness was the perfect counterpoint to Evan’s shyness? What if Evan’s optimism softened Jeremy’s pessimism? What if they gave each other the strength to work through their own fears and insecurities? What if they were better together than they could ever be apart?
With those thoughts, the idea of the story fell into place. The characters fit together like puzzle pieces in my head. It wouldn’t be an easy road to get them to that point, but once I did, I knew they’d be perfect for each other.
The first book, “Connection,” was released last October. The second half is called “Trust” and it is available today. The books will take you from Evan’s arrival in Atlanta and through the next year of his life as he and Jeremy meet and build a relationship.
If you’re new to the “Equals” world, you can read “Connection” and “Trust” as standalone novels. But if you’d like to start at the very beginning, pick up a copy of “Equals”. It is available for free.
I have no doubt you’ll love all four men as much as I do.
Blurb
After a lifetime of being told he’s worthless, shy, sheltered Evan Harris is forced out of the closet and kicked out of his home. Friends in Atlanta give him a place to stay while he gets on his feet, but despite his eagerness to explore the city, it isn’t exactly what he expected.
Physically and emotionally scarred from a devastating car accident, Jeremy Lewis struggles to reconcile the brash, outgoing man he used to be with the social recluse he’s become.
Loneliness draws them to each other, but a strong mutual attraction isn’t enough to overcome their pasts. In order to be together, Evan must discover his own worth and Jeremy must trust someone to see past his scars.
Series and Number: “Connection” Series Book 1 of a 2-part series
Excerpt
“So how do you know the grooms?” The man he was pretty sure he recognized from the sporting goods store dropped onto the stool to his left, and Evan jerked, spilling some of his drink on the bar.
“Oh, um, I met Russ and Stephen last fall when they were in Stephen’s hometown. I worked at the funeral home there when they buried his father.”
The guy frowned. “So you’re just visiting Atlanta then?”
Evan shook his head. “No. I moved to Atlanta in February. When we met last fall, Russ was nice enough to kind of”—he struggled to find the right words as he mopped up the spill—“take me under his wing, I guess. Once I moved here, Russ and Stephen helped me get settled and find the guts to go off on my own.”
He chuckled and nudged Evan’s elbow with his. “I dunno, seems like you must have had some guts in the first place.”
“Maybe.” Evan blushed. “I’d like to think so.”
“How do you like Atlanta?”
“It’s lonely,” Evan said, surprising himself with his candor. The drink he was working on must’ve loosened his tongue. “I mean, it’s fine, I guess. I just haven’t met anyone yet.” In his head, Atlanta had been a gay man’s paradise where there would be available guys everywhere he looked, but it hadn’t worked out that way. At least, not for him.
“Amen, kid.” The guy raised his glass and clinked it against Evan’s. “What’s your name, anyway?”
“Evan Harris.” He glanced at the guy out of the corner of his eye.
“Nice to meet you. Jeremy Lewis.” He narrowed his eyes at Evan. “Wait a minute, you came into Johnson’s sporting goods a while ago, didn’t you? You needed running shoes, I think.”
“I … yeah,” Evan replied, shocked but flattered that the guy—Jeremy—had remembered him. “I did. Russ suggested I go there, actually. Um, thanks for your help, by the way. The new shoes are much better. The fit specialist did a great job.”
Jeremy grinned. “Glad to hear my employees know what they’re doing.”
Evan wasn’t sure what else to say about running shoes that wouldn’t make him sound like an idiot, but he didn’t want Jeremy to stop talking to him, so he changed the subject. “How do you know them?”
“Stephen and Russ? I just met Russ a few months ago, but Stephen’s my ex.”
“Really?” Evan gaped at him for a moment before all the pieces fell into place. Stephen had mentioned his ex’s car accident. That explained the limp and the scar. “Oh.”
“Mmmhmm. Stephen’s always had a thing for younger guys. We met when I was twenty, and he was … oh, must have been about thirty-two, thirty-three, maybe? Hell if I can remember. It’s been fifteen years.”
Which meant Jeremy was in his mid-thirties now. Up close, Evan could see the lines around his eyes when he smiled. Evan liked them.
“You’re not jealous of Russ?” he blurted out, then bit his lip, hoping Jeremy wasn’t offended.
“It’s complicated,” Jeremy said with a sigh as his lips twisted in a bitter smile. “I know Russ is a hell of a lot better for Stephen than I ever was, and I’m glad they’re happy together. It’s … it’s not that I want to be with Stephen, and, hell, I’m not a relationship kinda guy, but something about seeing them together makes me envious, you know?”
“Yeah, I know.” Evan sighed.
Jeremy nudged him with his elbow again. “Come on, kid, I’m sure you can’t have any trouble picking up guys.”
Evan sputtered, nearly choking on his drink and wondering how the guy knew he was gay. Am I obvious? he wondered. “Umm, I haven’t exactly ever done it before …” he muttered into his glass, embarrassed to confess his lack of dating experience but unable to hold his tongue.
“Don’t tell me you’re a virgin?” Jeremy’s gaze was disbelieving, and the tips of Evan’s ears went red-hot.
“Okay, I won’t then.” Evan tilted his drink back and shook an ice cube into his mouth, crunching down on it. He refused to look at the guy next to him for fear he’d turn tomato red.
Jeremy whistled quietly. “Kid, if you go into a gay club it’ll be like waving a steak at starving tigers. They’ll be all over you.”
“I think you’ve had too much to drink,” Evan protested. “I’m nothing special.”
“Oh, Jesus, you have to be kidding me.” Jeremy stood with a groan. “Okay, unless you’ve got somewhere you need to be, I want you to come have a seat with me at a booth over there. My leg is fucking killing me, and we need to have a long talk about why you don’t realize you’re the kind of pretty little twink who makes gay men cream their jockstraps.”
Evan blushed, but he followed Jeremy toward the cozy booths anyway, embarrassed, terrified, and completely intrigued by the gorgeous guy who had called him pretty.
Series and Number: “Connection” Series Book 1 of a 2-part series
Trailer:https://youtu.be/ZDdF89vL7ak
Publication Date: October 16. 2015
Word Count /or Page Number: 62,216 words/ 189 pages
Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | All Romance |Barnes & Noble | iTunes |
Kobo | Smashwords
About The Author
Author Bio:
Brigham Vaughn is starting the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.
Social Media Links:
Genre: Contemporary
Couples: M/M
Rating: Adult
Publisher: Two Peninsulas Press (Indie/Self-Published)
Publication Date: October 16. 2015
Word Count / Page Number: 62,216 words/ 189 pages
Equals (Equals #1) by Brigham Vaughn Goodreads link free at Amazon etc.
Being Released Today:
Evan Harris thinks his relationship with Jeremy Lewis is going well. But when Jeremy bolts, Evan is left nursing a broken heart. Jeremy loves Evan, but his inability to trust holds him back from facing his past head on and building the future he desperately wants. Evan’s patience is at the breaking point, and he struggles to decide if Jeremy deserves another chance.
Scarred by his own parents’ treatment of him, Jeremy doesn’t trust Evan’s mother’s motives when she reappears in Evan’s life after his father lands in jail. The ensuing disagreement about his concerns puts further pressure on their developing relationship.
Unless Jeremy can learn to trust and Evan can let go of past hurts, they’ll miss out on the relationship they’ve both been searching for.
Buy It here at Amazon
Like this:
Like Loading...
Justin Cuevas is going through a rough patch. A broken relationship, a scandal, and the demise of his band have shaken the aspiring rock star’s confidence. Working two jobs and sleeping on his friend’s sofa isn’t ideal, but Justin isn’t ready to give up yet. With a little luck, he’s hoping to re-launch his music career in LA with his new band, Zero. The key is to stay focused, and not get distracted by his past…or the sexy songwriter he can’t get out of his head.
Romeo Bradly and Julius Shepherd moved to Blissville for the same reason: a fresh start. Romeo was looking for a school district where he could make a real impact in the lives of students and faculty, and Julius was eager to teach one of his passions to the best and brightest at a school with a nationally ranked science program. But the sleepy little town offered them much more than they’d bargained for—quirky people, unlikely friendships, and an all-consuming attraction that turns them inside out.
Forty-eight-year-old Ben Thompson is a librarian, a passionate book lover, and a man who embodies the definition of a bear. He’s also lonely after the loss of his long-term partner. Young ex-gymnast Jason Barnes piques his interest, but Ben quickly realizes there’s more to Jason than his good looks. While Jason visits the library almost every day, he never checks out a book.
