Counting on You (Counting Series book 3) by Kelly Jensen | Tams Review, guest post & #giveaway @Dreamspinners @kmkjensen

Counting on You

book 3 in the Counting series

Henry and Marc can’t seem to catch a break. They’ve had two disastrous dates—the first trapped in a car during a blizzard and the second locked in a basement—followed by nearly two months apart. Even though they work for the same firm, their relationship is held together by flying visits, phone calls, and text messages. A joint assignment in Washington D.C. might be more togetherness than they can handle, however.

Henry is still battling insecurity, and this assignment is too important to his career to mess up. Marc is committed. He’s falling for Henry and looks forward to having him permanently on his team and at his side. But the real test isn’t the assignment. When Marc finally lays his heart on the line, can he count on Henry to be there for him, in every way that matters? And can he do the same for Henry when Henry needs it the most?

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Tams gives this one 5 Stars...

Thus far Henry and Marc have been stranded on the side of the road during a blizzard and stuck in a basement on New Years Eve. Oddly, it's actually the most alone time they've really had to get to know one another. With Marc away on business more often than not, Henry is left to miss his company, and stress over whether or not their relationship will go the distance. 

I have really enjoyed each story in this series, getting to know these men as a couple and as individuals. Their conversations when stranded and when stuck were honest and sincere and, in my opinion, solidified their relationship. Their personalities couldn't be more different, but that is exactly why they work. I love how Marc grounds Henry in a way and how Henry has shown Marc what it is to be truly loved and wanted. 

Definitely a must read but you have to start with the first book as each book is a continuation of the last. 

Get caught up the Counting Series...

Author guest post with Kelly Jenson

The Vengeful Genie

Even before I finished writing Counting Fence Posts (Counting #1) I knew I’d be writing a follow up from Marc’s point of view. His character mostly developed on the page and he grew from someone I’d dreamed up to fit opposite Henry, challenge him, into someone who fascinated me. I wanted to know more about him and so I wrote Counting Down (Counting #2). In that second novella, I got a chance to explore Marc’s thoughts—about Henry, about his sexuality, and in a limited fashion, about his family. And once again I knew before finishing that I’d be writing a third book. Not only did these guys need a date that didn’t end in disaster, but Marc needed to find a way forward. Momentum is important to him and being stuck in place was driving him a little crazy.

Of course, Marc being Marc, the road forward wasn’t direct. He had some turns to navigate and one of them would result in the scene I’m sharing with you. This excerpt is from about halfway through Counting on You (Counting #3) and it was right here that his character fully coalesced for me. We can write as much backstory as we like for our characters. Define their likes, dislikes, and hobbies. But it isn’t until we write them that they really come together. I knew Marc had a temper, but I hadn’t known quite what he could do with it.

I hope you enjoy the excerpt. If you’re new to the Counting series, this is a great time to start as the first two novellas are currently discounted at all retailers, including the Dreamspinner Press store.

Thanks for following my tour! At the end of every post, I’ll be asking a question. Leave a comment with your answer (and your email address), and complete the Rafflecopter to enter! There are two prizes, both available internationally. One winner will receive $15 (US or equivalent) to spend at the Dreamspinner Press store. A second winner will receive the entire Counting series in ebook format, gifted through the Dreamspinner Press store.

Q: Do you have a temper? (Quick strike or slow burn?)

(Excerpt – 514 words)

He’d fucked up. His temper had left the bottle like some vengeful genie and wreaked havoc on the best and worst aspects of his life simultaneously. Except he couldn’t blame an apparition for his mistakes. A Winnamore didn’t hide behind excuses.

Standing on a street corner that was at once familiar and not, Marc had never felt less like a Winnamore. He looked across the road at the strip mall he’d frequented as a teen. His memory of summer—the only time he’d really been home—fit over the dreary February afternoon like a mismatched slide. He almost couldn’t picture himself at fifteen, his legs suddenly too long, shoulders wider than the day before. An awkwardness inside and out, only accentuated by his determination to be someone. Misjudging a doorway with his new frame had not stopped him. Every time he needed new clothes, the old set became a skin he’d shed on the way to….

Here, apparently. A miserable Saturday afternoon in February.

The deli across the road was closed. He’d probably ordered and eaten a hundred plain cheese sandwiches from the place. Half a pound of Muenster on rye with a pickle on the side. When Marc closed his eyes, he didn’t picture a sandwich. Instead he saw the guy behind the counter. Amal? Amman. He remembered watching Amman’s hands as he folded slice after slice of cheese onto the bread. His eyes, fringed with thick, dark lashes. Soft and doe-like. His smile.

Marc opened his eyes.

Why was he remembering this now?

The world tipped and swayed. Marc reached out blindly, seeking balance, and found a pole next to him. A parking sign. The cold metal bit into his palm. He gripped the pole tighter, breathing in short, sharp gasps.

Winnamores didn’t vomit in public.

But why should he care what a Winnamore did? He didn’t feel like one anymore, and if he were truly honest with himself, he never had. He’d spent his life trying to fit into a suit that wasn’t his. What he’d called determination was fear. His forward momentum? A headlong run in the opposite direction to expectation.

Eyes burning with the threat of tears, Marc pulled his hand from the pole and stuck it in his pocket. He looked back across the road. The office supply place next door to the deli had given way to a tanning studio. The variety store was gone, taking endless dusty rows of useless knickknacks into the ever after. He didn’t recognize the rest of the shops. Couldn’t remember any beyond the three he’d liked. That one remaining piece, though, closed and shuttered tight, felt like an omen.

Marc turned away from his childhood and started up the sidewalk toward Old Georgetown Road. If memory served—hah!—the Metro station was up that way, on Wisconsin. He’d walked this far; he could stand a few more blocks. Maybe if he walked all the way back to DC, his mind would go numb and he’d stop thinking. Stop hearing the echo of his father’s voice as he ordered him to leave.

If aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.

Kelly is the author of a number of novels, novellas and short stories, including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.

Connect with Kelly: Twitter | Facebook | Website

Thanks for following my tour! At the end of every post, I’ll be asking a question. Leave a comment with your answer (and your email address), and complete the Rafflecopter to enter! There are two prizes, both available internationally. One winner will receive $15 (US or equivalent) to spend at the Dreamspinner Press store. A second winner will receive the entire Counting series in ebook format, gifted through the Dreamspinner Press store. NOTE: the question for this post is above.

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