some 5 star reviews on Amazon

JOCK 2 gets a few 4 1/2 & 5 star reviews. (Maybe more to come.)

A great second entry in the JOCK series

By Stephanie A. Ellison on December 20, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

I read the first JOCK series book earlier this year and loved it, so when I saw the second book was out, I bought it without hesitation. As with My Roommate's a Jock (book 1), Wade Kelly continues giving us a wonderful, character-driven story. We even get to visit with Ellis and Cole (in all his funny science t-shirted glory) in a supportive role.

I won't re-hash the blurb, which is spot-on, or give away spoilers, but I will say that I think this book is more about healing and self-discovery or even self-recovery, as opposed to a coming-of-age story. Chris and Alonzo are diametric opposites and yet so perfect for each other. As another reviewer mentioned, this is not an insta-love story. Yes, there is attraction but Chris and Alonzo have to work for it, but the progression is natural and these guys have great chemistry. Chris' joie de vivre and confidence helps coax out Alonzo's true self, with a little help from some gummy bears.

Kelly's writing continues to be clean and as error-free as you can get in today's publishing. The characters are solid and well-defined; no cardboard cutout people here. I will warn that, as mentioned in the book blurb, Chris's father has a weird cheerleader hang-up. While I find it strange—and towards the end a bit creepy and irritating—you kind of have to take it with a grain of salt...or a handful of gummy bears. I challenge you to read this book and NOT be dying for a bag by the end!

Highly recommend. You can read it as a stand-alone, but if you haven't read Ellis and Cole's story, you should check it out. When/if book three comes out, it'll be another instant buy.

Great continuation of the series! Looking forward to Jock 3!

By Dan Mitton on December 21, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

(Originally Reviewed for Love Bytes Same Sex Book Reviews. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars)

I finished reading Wade Kelly’s newest Jock installment last night, and I’ve got to say…I quite enjoyed it, as usual for a Wade Kelly book.

The characters in this one had some flaws which made their story more interesting in some ways, and maybe one which touched me in an irritating way. I’ll share both as I go along, rather than just pointing out either side. Chris is this perfect son, sexy soccer player that all the cheerleaders have chased for years. But he hasn’t been caught by any of them, because he isn’t at all interested in females, or cheerleaders. His Dad is completely insistent that Chris find a big boobed blond cheerleader to carry on the family tradition, because ALL the men in the Jackson family marry cheerleaders and have for something like 4 generations!

Then one day Chris notices a guy dressed all in black, including a black trench coat, sitting in the stands watching one of their soccer team practices. Did I mention it is late summer in Maryland? Black trench coat? Chris is instantly intrigued. When he sees the guy in the cafeteria the next day, and starts a conversation, he realizes that the cheerleader thing might be completely off the table after gazing into the deep brown eyes of the guy, Alonzo.

Alonzo Martin has just received a scholarship to attend the school, but he is from Podunk, Nebraska, and has never seen the world beyond his small homophobic town. And he has some heavy baggage tying him to his past. Is he ready to date? When the sexy soccer player comes over and introduces himself…could he be interested?

I really liked the characters. Alonzo has been broken by events that happened back in Nebraska.

An emotional coming of age story.

By Tams (TTC Books and more) on December 19, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

Chris Jackson and Alonzo Martin couldn’t be more opposite; they come from completely different backgrounds. Chris was raised by very loving, hands on parents and his family is still pretty close, even if his father is a little mental. While Alonzo comes from a broken home in a small town where being convicted of murder would be more acceptable than being gay. These two give new meaning to the term ‘opposites attract’.

Chris is intrigued and infatuated from the start; Alonzo however, takes a while to warm up to the jock with the open, kind personality and a slew of friends. Alonzo’s past makes him wary of not only trusting people, but caring about anyone as well. Slowly but surely, one layer at a time, Chris works his way into Alonzo’s world, and eventually his heart. But an innocent mistake sends Alonzo into a tailspin, bringing back painful memories of the past.

I liked that Chris and Alonzo shared this instant connection, but it wasn’t an insta-love type story. Chris has this infectious personality and it’s hard for people not to like him, but Alonzo is hiding under years of pain and sorrow, so if they had instantly fallen into each other, the story would have suffered. Chris had to show Alonzo that he cared, and not just with words. He basically courted his man, showered him with affection and proved to Alonzo he could be trusted. Still, when you have the type of darkness in your past that Alonzo has, it isn’t easily washed away.

Chris wasn’t without his shortcomings though. He was overly critical and harsh at times of his friends, and boy does he have a jealous streak five states long! But I think that was a byproduct of his upbringing. As I said, his father is a bit mental. Speaking of… I didn’t translate the whole cheerleader thing the way I’ve seen some other reviews discuss it. I think what Kelly was doing with that aspect of the story is translating one person’s ridiculous viewpoint into the story. Chris’s parents didn’t give a rats backside he was gay, but his boyfriend isn’t a cheerleader. I read this as a way to show people how ridiculous it looks to others when they hold onto archaic beliefs, like blind, unwarranted hatred of homosexuality. But that is just my take on this part of the story.

Jock 2 is a coming of age story I think, a story about loving who you are and being the person you want to be, not the person everyone else thinks you should be. It was passionate, emotional and I was engrossed from start to finish. I also loved that Kelly gave Ellis and Cole an integral part in the story; I do love when the ones that started the series get to stay involved. I’m very excited to see whose story Kelly decides to tell next. I’m hoping for Doug, but we shall see.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Blog Tour for JOCK 2

Hello, my wonderful people. Did you know I was giving away stuff?

 YUP!

As a thank you for hopping with me to the different blogs on my tour, I have several giveaways. Leave a comment on this blog for a chance to win an Amazon gift certificate. I am going to take all the names from all the comments from all the blog stops and put them in a drawing. I have 8 stops including this one. The more comments you make then higher your chances of winning. I will have 3 winners of a $10 Amazon gift certificate, and for those who comment on ALL 8 STOPS, I will enter each of them into a grand prize drawing good for:

1 An eBook from my backlist of your choice, 


2 A $10 Amazon gift certificate,


3 A Wade Kelly Spoon in the colors of your choice ☺, and


4 One autographed paperback copy of the novel of their choice (Includes all the books in my back list, as well as JOCK 2 AND Bankers’ Hours coming up in March)


Note: I am willing to mail things to other countries so don’t let that stop you!

So far I've been on:

GGR – for a cover reveal

RGR - Writing What I know: Emotion

Jeff Adams – I talk about Finding a Muse

The Novel Approach – Writing My Own Experiences

Multitasking Momma – I explain how Every Character Has a Job! (just like mine, lol)

And today I'm over at Love Bytes Reviews talking about my STRIVE to IMPROVE! :) Everyone needs to improve, right?

I hope you can stop by one or more of these posts and leave a comment to be entered to win. I pick the winners next week after the tour ends :)

Thank you in advance for helping make JOCK 2 a best seller! TODAY (Dec 18th) JOCK 2 is #12 on Dreamspinners Best Seller List, and #35 on Amazon's top Gay Fiction.

Currently, on GOODREADS (a place authors shouldn't go sometimes) JOCK 2 has these ratings:

|  5 stars (8)  |  4 stars (22)  |  3 stars (7)  |  2 stars (2)  |  1 star (0)


I do hope you will give this novel a try. I do my best to write believable characters, which means they often have flaws. Real people HAVE flaws, right/ No one is perfect.

Cheers,

Wade

Where Have I Been??

I just realized with all the blog posts I’ve been writing that I haven’t updated my ACTUAL BLOG! There are probably some of you who ONLY see what I post here and have no clue as to where I’ve gone and what I’ve been doing.

I’ve been BLOG HOPPING for my JOCK 2 tour!

I started with the cover reveal at GGR. Click here: GGR – cover reveal

Then on Monday, December 7^th I officially started the blog hop tour to talk about my new novel: No! Jocks Don’t Date Guys

I was over at Rainbow Gold Reviews talking about  Writing What I know: Emotion! In that post, I let readers know about a giveaway and I’ll fill you in here too.

As a thank you I have several giveaways. Leave a comment on this blog for a chance to win an Amazon gift certificate. I am going to take all the names from all the comments from all the blog stops and put them in a drawing. I have 8 stops including this one. The more comments you make then higher your chances of winning. I will have 3 winners of a $10 Amazon gift certificate, and for those who comment on ALL 8 STOPS, I will enter each of them into a grand prize drawing good for:

1)  An eBook from my backlist of your choice,

2)  A $10 Amazon gift certificate,

3)  A Wade Kelly Spoon in the colors of your choice J, and

4)  One autographed paperback copy of the novel of their choice (Includes all the books in my backlist, as well as JOCK 2 AND Bankers’ Hours coming up in March)

Note: I am willing to mail things to other countries so don’t let that stop you!

These comments must be made on THOSE blog hop posts to enter. I’m telling you about them here so those who don’t normally read about my happenings elsewhere you’ll be able to hop over the other posts and comment to win.

On Monday the 14^th, RELEASE DAY, I’ll be over on Jeff Adams’ blog. Jeff Adams – Finding a Muse

As soon as I have links to the other posts, I’ll write another post here on MY blog to point you where you need to go. I am talking about writing on these blog hop posts, so there is no need to worry about spoilers.

Love and hugs to you all. 

No! Jocks Don’t Date Guys Comes out on MONDAY, Dec 14^th!

Amazon pre-order

Dreamspinner Pre-order

All Romance eBooks pre-order

Remember, If you haven’t read JOCK 1.5, it is up for FREE on All Romance eBooks.

Or, you are welcome to email ME and I’ll send you a copy. writerwadekelly@gmail.com

JOCK 2 contains different characters than JOCK 1 and can be read on its own, but for the best experience it is better to read JOCK 1, and JOCK 1.5 before reading JOCK 2.

JOCK 1 - My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap!

JOCK 1.5 – Oh, Crap! This Jock's Getting Married

JOCK 2 - No! Jocks Don’t Date Guys

Blurb:

What is a sexy soccer stud supposed to do when “following family tradition” falls 180 degrees opposite his closeted ideal?

From birth, Chris Jackson has been schooled on how to land a cheerleader. After all, his father married one, and his father’s father before him. Heck, even his older brother married a stereotypical cheerleader the summer before Chris went off to college. For two years, Chris dodges invasive questions about relationships by blaming his lack of female companionship on grueling practices and heavy coarse loads. But his lack of interest in girls should’ve given his family a clue. It isn’t until Chris mentions meeting a boy that his father’s synapses short-circuit.

Alonzo Martin is anything but a buxom blond. From his black hair, combat boots, and trench coat to his nail polish and guyliner, the mysterious introvert isn’t easily persuaded to date. Alonzo’s insecurities keep Chris at arm’s length, but Alonzo’s painful past might meet its match in the charismatic jock’s winning smile and sense of humor.

When opposites attract, only cheerleaders and gummy bears can help overcome fear and family tradition.

FYI, I will be attending the 8^th annual Rainbow Book Fair in New York on April 9^th. I will have paperback copies of all my books. I hope to see you there!  

Cover reveal on GGR-Reviews

Hello my people.

So I did a big "Cover reveal" over on GGR-Reviews. (HERE)  On Scott Burkett's site, I talked about the cover and my feelings on making covers. (Um, it's hard!) I also talk a little about the cover model and why I chose that particular guy.

I am posting my cover in places like my blog on the sidebar and on my website on the banner and such. I'll post it here in another post next week.

For now, I'm letting you know JOCK 2, No! Jock's Don;t Date Guys, is available for pre-order on Dreamspinner's coming soon page. HERE is the link.

Not too long ago I ran a contest about the pub date. Someone named WICKED won, as the date is December 14. So, Wicked, please email me or comment your e-mail address. As soon as I can get a copy of JOCK 2, I'll send you one!

I am going to be busy in the next few weeks setting up a blog tour for JOCK 2 and finishing up writing JOCK 3.

I'll be back soon!

Lots of love,

Wade

Playing Catch-up

Hello all you lovely, PATIENT, people. I am thankful for that patience as I have not had anyone show up at my house and throttle me for new material, or remind me that I haven't blogged forever! I have no excuses you haven't already heard before a hundred times. We'll just chalk it up to being a terrible blogger and feeling as if I have nothing interesting to say.

What's Been Going On:

I went to San Diego for the GayRomLit conference. THAT WAS FUN! It was so nice to see so many people I love and also make new friends. Meeting people in person whom I have only known online is a thrill! I love to hug. Not that I HAVE to hug because there are people who are not as "touchy" as I am, and I'm okay with that. I just like people. I find this funny because I often say I "don't like people," but I suppose that has to do with the crappy things people do to each other. People backstab and judge. People cut others down. People complain and bitch. I am sure I've been in those categories, because hey--I'm a person! And while I might hate the things people do sometimes, I DO like to be around MY PEOPLE. I love so many of the fans I've met. I love so many of the other authors I've met. I love so many of the bloggers, and reviewers, and actors, and such I've met. So I can't just say I hate people. Not really. I have made some wonderful friends. Even friends who drive 9 hours to come visit me!!!! That's the kind of thing that makes a person feel pretty special!

I didn't see as much of San Diego as I would have liked, but I hope to go back again in the future! I also didn't get to meet Beth in person, so I HAVE to go back! I tried tagging all the people I talked to and had fun with in SD, but Facebook kept UN-tagging them as I typed. It was probably my internet. IDK. I also kept forgetting names until someone commented, and then I was like "OH YEAH! I forgot to mention that person!" I'm sorry of I didn't name you specifically. It wasn't intentional. So many wonderful people and so few brain cells.

Mailing List:

At the moment, I DO NOT HAVE a mailing letter, per se. What I have is a "Subscribe" section on my blog and this allows for blog posts to be delivered right to your inbox. (Normally the next day.) I subscribe to Matt & Brad's blog this way and I don't miss any posts. I don't always have time or internet to go online and read the post when Matt shares the link on Facebook, but I CAN open my mail and see the exact post in my inbox and read what one of the guys had to say. I think it is a handy feature. The down side is that I can not respond to the post/ email because it is not FROM Matt or Brad, but from FEEDBURNER. If I want to respond, I have to go TO their post and write a comment. (Not hard.) You all can do the same thing with MY BLOG! Just go to the right and find the spot that says "Follow by Email" and type in you e-mail address. I WILL eventually get a MAIL CHIMP newsletter mailing list, but until then, this is not a bad way to keep up with what is going on with me. If you would rather me get my tail moving on the Mail Chimp style newsletter, then please comment below and tell me! :)

Latest News:

I have contracted CHRIS PATTON to do the narration on the audiobook of Misplaced Affection. Things have just not worked out for the past year to get this AUDIO made, but I am very optimistic that it will happen by December! He is the voice behind the Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon, for those who don't know. He auditioned for my production last week and made me weep. He IS the voice of Flynn Brewer! In the past year while trying to get Misplaced Affection produced as an audiobook, I have met some really cool people. Everything is a learning experience and I hope (and see) that this has been a positive thing overall. Was it frustrating? YES! Do I think it was for the best? YES! And now I have the amazingly talented Chris Patton. I am grateful for the way things have turned out. I'll update you with the progress of this project and reveal the "cover" when we get closer to a release date. Thank you all for your patience! And if you like to cry and have your heart ripped out, Misplaced Affection will do that, and the AUDIO might just feel even more like it is all happening to you! IDK. Just guessing. For me audiobooks suck me in. I love them. I've listened to the AUDIO of JOCK 8 times because I love t, even though I wrote it. Jason Lovett does such a great job he has me laughing out loud often! My hope is that Chris Patton will deliver a killer performance that will make listeners crumble to their knees. :)

Planning Ahead:

I have a HUGE list of things to do and characters to write! The next 12 months will test me as an author and either kick-start a huge jump in my career or show me I am not cut out for this and I need to get a "day job." My hope is that THIS is my day job. My HOPE is that I can keep up the writing schedule that will help me be productive and successful. Part fo success is writing well, and part of it is understanding what sells. I don't want to give-in to popularity, and yet I have to understand as an author that some subjects are not going to have as many sales as others. --i.e. suicide is NOT a huge selling point! If ALL my books were like When Love is Not Enough then I cannot rightfully expect to make writing a career anytime soon. Am I glad I wrote it? You're damn right I'm glad. For those who have read it, I can not tell you how many e-mails of personal thank yous from fans/readers I've gotten explaining the significance and impact it had on them. For those people, I am glad I wrote it. I hope to always write meaningful things and write about gay culture and social issues that impact people on a personal level. Names Can Never Hurt Me has some really good concepts that readers have appreciated, yet that book too hasn't been very popular at all. Why? I don't know. Some books sell, some don't. I did say in the beginning that I see myself as a slow burn. My writing is fairly new to the scene and for the most part My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! is holding my entire career together. Why? Because it's fun! People like fun. People like light. People like and escape that makes them feel good. As an author who wants to WRITE as a career and not a hobby, I need to keep this in mind as I move forward. Will I write more stories like When Love is Not Enough? You bet I will! The final installment of the Unconditional Love Series is in my writing queue. (I have one of those now!) Darian's story has been a long time coming, but it WILL get written! I promise. But then next few publications will be light and fun and cute. I need to build my audience!

Next Up:

The next novel to be published will be the second book in the JOCK series. No! Jocks Don't Date Guys is the sequel (if you will) to My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! It is not about the same couple. JOCK 2 has a new couple of guys to fall in love with, but the older characters from book 1 do make an appearance! I don't have a publication date yet, but when I do I'll reveal the cover and attach a link for those who like to pre-order. I expect the galley proof soon and once I "okay" it, the link will go live on Dreamspinner's "coming soon" page about two weeks later. The pre-order link is about 4 weeks from the pub date. It should come out in December! Let's have a survey! Post to me below YOUR GUESS for the pub date. I'll keep guessing open until November 6th. Closest to the pub-date gets a free eCopy of JOCK 2. How's that? If two people guess the same date, then I'll give a copy to the first person who chose it. I realize this limits the amount of participants, but my blog doesn't get lots of traffic anyway and I'm only going to do this here for those who are loyal fans. :) I may do other contests in a blog tour, but I don't have any planned right now.

Blurb:

What is a sexy soccer stud supposed to do when “following family tradition” falls 180 degrees opposite his closeted ideal?

From birth, Chris Jackson has been schooled on how to land a cheerleader. After all, his father married one, and his father’s father before him. Heck, even his older brother married a stereotypical cheerleader the summer before Chris went off to college. For two years, Chris dodges invasive questions about relationships by blaming his lack of female companionship on grueling practices and heavy course loads. But his lack of interest in girls should’ve given his family a clue. It isn’t until Chris mentions meeting a boy that his father’s synapses short-circuit.

Alonzo Martin is anything but a buxom blond. From his black hair, combat boots, and trench coat to his nail polish and guyliner, the mysterious introvert isn’t easily persuaded to date. Alonzo’s insecurities keep Chris at arm’s length, but Alonzo’s painful past might meet its match in the charismatic jock’s winning smile and sense of humor.

When opposites attract, only cheerleaders and gummy bears can help overcome fear and family tradition.

PLUS, as an added bonus, I am giving away copies of a new short story I wrote for GRL (GayRomLit). JOCK 1.5 - Oh, Crap! This Jock's Getting Married. I wrote it for my fans and I wrote it FAST because I can never think of these things well in advance. I have it available online at ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS, or e-mail me for a copy, OR post a comment below and tell me what file type you'd like. Mobi (for Kindle), ePub (for Nook), or PDF. I ALSO LISTED it on Barnes & Noble AND iTunes, however the link hasn't shown up yet. Sorry.

On The Horizon:

As I said, I'm trying to make writing my career. With that in mind, I have a writing QUEUE for the first time in my life. I also have deadlines!!!!!! This is both exciting and scary! They say that busy people get things done, well I hope that is true. As I have particular stories to write because of deadlines, I also have new character yapping in my head. Great! Thank you, random characters, for making my life harder! (I say this with a note of sarcasm) I'm glad I have new characters yapping as I don't want that moment when they all dry up and go silent. A day of silence is more terrifying than one where I have too many things to write and too little hours in the day to write them.

What's coming up:

December 2015 - No! Jocks Don't Date Guys - from Dreamspinner Press
March / April 2016 - Banker's Hours - from Dreamspinner Press

In the writing queue:

Back Off! That's My Jock - JOCK 3 (I'm half way done)
His Boyfriend's a Jock? Oh, Phooey! - JOCK 4 (Next in line after JOCK 3 is submitted!)
Seducing His Secretary (a Dreamspun Desires novel I promised to Poppy.) 50k. It's like half a novel. Lol. 
My Lover Sucks! (Vampire horror comedy)
Love, Trust, and Learning to Live Again (book#3 of the Unconditional Love series.)
How I Became a Groupie (my rocker novel! I am finally going to write one!!!)
The Honorary Tooth Fayrie (The dental hygienist / dentist story) 
Only Skin Deep (book#2 of the Self Esteem series. Comes after Names Can Never Hurt Me)

And somewhere in there I am writing a novel with Jeff Adams!

Plus, the new characters who are yapping are a part of a new series I am planning to write about a group of artists at an all Jock school. (Sort-of) *wink, wink, Amelia Vaughn*

So yeah! I have my work cut out for me. If I'm not online I HOPE to tell you I am writing because I better darn well be writing! Too many stories and too little time!

So please, comment below or e-mail me. writerwadekelly@gmail.com

1) Tell me your guess for the pub date for JOCK 2 to enter to win a free copy. Contest runs Today - November 6, 2015.

2) Comment below for a free copy of JOCK 1.5! Written to gear you up for the release of JOCK 2. Email address and file type.

3) Comment about a "real" newsletter via Mail Chimp.

4) Tell me if you are as excited as I am about CHRIS PATTON!

And as always, refer to the "Wade Kelly Scale" of angst before reading one of my books. You need to prepare yourself!

As Jason says,
Hugs and Kittens!
~Wade