Book Title: Running Lines
Author and Publisher: Jeris Jean
Cover Artist: Jeris Jean
Release Date: January 26, 2021
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Tropes: Celebrities, Workplace Romance
Themes: Overcoming the past, self-confidence, defying expectations
Length: 55,000 words/ 142 pages (ebook)
It is a standalone story and is the first book in a series.
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
Onscreen chemistry. Offscreen action.
Blurb
Finn may look like a Romeo + Juliet-era Leo, but he’s out to prove he’s got what it takes to break the teen heartthrob mold. Grayson is a serious actor, with “serious” as the operative word, so he’s not thrilled to find himself hopelessly attracted to his young new co-star.
Starring on a teen soap may have made Finn Everett Hollywood’s latest “it” boy, complete with the 10 million Instagram followers to show for it, but does he have the chops to cut it as the newest cast member on television’s biggest drama, Frost Manor? Finn’s determined to prove himself as more than just as sex symbol and win the respect of his co-star, Grayson Winter.
Grayson is gorgeous, talented, and the celeb Finn has been secretly crushing on for years. Grayson is dedicated to his job. He has big aspirations to be Hollywood’s best leading man, and he’s willing to make personal sacrifices to get there. When his new scene partner is the charismatic and intensely distracting Finn Everett, Grayson is shaken loose from his single-minded ambition.
When Finn and Grayson start running lines, their off-the-charts chemistry has them wondering if big things are in store for more than just their careers.
Running Lines is an MM Romance featuring hot TV stars, Hollywood drama, and a sweet and sexy gay love story.
Finn stepped out of the black limo’s back seat to a frenzy of flashing cameras, a sea of evening-gown and tuxedo-clad bodies, and frantic screams as he took his first few steps out onto the red carpet. He took in a deep breath of the warm Los Angeles air and then flashed his boyish, swoon-worthy grin toward the crowd. This wasn’t his first time on a red carpet. In fact, even at the age of 22, he was an old pro, having walked them for the last three years due to his success as the lead on the hit teen soap Luna’s Cove. It was, however, his first time on the red carpet as a cast member of the biggest period drama in television history. Frost Manor was a worldwide phenomenon, and this premiere of its second season was a star-studded event of much larger magnitude than even Finn was used to. Silently taking in the pandemonium for a few seconds, Finn braced himself to make it through the carpet’s media gauntlet and, more importantly, make a good impression on his new Frost Manor colleagues.
Sensing Finn’s slight hesitation, his agent, Kayla Hudson, ushered him along as she whispered, “You’re the hottest star on this carpet, Finny. You belong here. Just look at all the screaming teenagers here tonight. Who do you think they’re here to see?” She nodded at the stands of fans behind the fences that kept spectators away from the media members lining the edges of the red carpet. She gave him a quick wink, and he smiled at her in thanks as he made his way to the first designated photography stop. He stood tall in his custom designer suit, which fit his trim frame closely. The black suit was covered with a grey velvet floral print, a nod to Finn’s whimsical style while still looking elegant and displaying his runner’s body to full effect. He turned his brilliant smile at the shouts of “Finn, over here,” “We love you Finn!” and “Who are you wearing?” He didn’t mind the attention one bit.
Falling into the rhythm of the carpet wasn’t difficult, and he was soon smoothly maneuvering from photo ops to the fences to sign autographs for fans during back-ups on the carpet. One of the leads on Frost Manor, Lydia Mason, was directly in front of Finn on the carpet. She was arguably an even bigger star than Finn, so she stopped longer at some spots, showing off all angles of her slinky silver dress. She was full of personality, giggling, blowing kisses over her shoulder at the crowd, and charming anyone in her vicinity. Finn grinned at her antics, amused. He suspected he’d get along well with Lydia, and he looked forward to getting to know her.
About half-way down the carpet, as Finn waited for the next entertainment news anchor to finish interviewing Lydia, Kayla put a hand on his arm and said, “This next one is for MajorTV, and you’ll need to answer a few questions, but you’ll do great. You know the drill.”
She moved a few strands of his blonde hair around, no doubt ensuring his artfully tousled look was still intact. Then she was wandering off chatting with another agent, presumably, because the woman was dressed similarly to Kayla in a no-nonsense black pantsuit, distinguishing them from the starlets in organza and silk dresses. When Lydia finished her interview with the MarjorTV anchor, she passed by Finn where he was waiting for his turn. When she saw him, her eyes got big and bright, and she launched herself at him, drawing him into a tight hug. “Finn Everett! I’m so happy to meet you,” she practically squealed. “We are going to be best friends. Seriously. You have no choice. I insisted that your trailer be next to mine. I am a HUGE fan of Luna’s Cove. I cannot believe you are on our show.” At this point she was giggling as she squeezed Finn one last time. Her own agent was dragging her away along the carpet before Finn could even respond.
Finn stepped up to the waiting MajorTV anchor, whose name was Bennett Orion. Finn gave a winning grin as Bennett said, “Finn Everett, Great to see you buddy.”
After a quick handshake, and a “Happy to be here” from Finn, Bennett was firing questions.
“So, Finn, how does it feel to have wrapped Luna’s Cove? Your fans are sure sad to see the series end,” Bennett said.
“It was a great run and I’m so thankful for the years I spent on Luna’s Cove. It was an excellent experience, and now I’m ready to take on new challenges,” Finn answered.
“Indeed, you are,” Bennett said, smiling a little wickedly and taking a minute to look Finn over from head to toe and back up again before continuing. “You’ve certainly entered the big leagues by joining the cast of Frost Manor. This is the biggest, most popular show on television right now. Are you nervous to be the new guy on set of such a beloved show?”
Finn fidgeted just the slightest bit with his cuff link and chuckled slightly, going for good-humored, before responding, “Not nervous, exactly. I’d say I’m more excited than anything.” Finn tried for his most self-assured smile. From the corner of his eye, he saw that Kayla was back now, listening to the interview and giving him a thumbs-up.
Jeris Jean is a life-long Minnesotan with an obsessive love of books. She has a master’s degree in English Literature but didn’t write her first novel until she was in her mid-thirties. Something just “clicked,” and all fell into its rightful place.
Jeris is a lover of cats, coffee, binge-watching tv shows, her bffs, puzzles, knitting, white sunglasses, black nail polish, purple hair, and reading and writing like it’s going out of style, especially mm romance.
She lives with her husband, two sons and their cat, Fluffy Cat Love, in a lovely little suburb of Minneapolis.
Social Media Links
Blog/Website | Facebook Group | Instagram
Newsletter Sign-up | Pinterest | Goodreads Profile
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win
a $25 Amazon Gift Card
Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here