Today, I have author AG Meiers in the interview chair. We’re discussing her latest release End of the Line, book one in the Jake’s Bar series, a m/m romantic suspense.
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1. Hi, AG. First off, readers have an idea of the writer you but what about the everyday you? Can you share about your personal life?
AG: Most days my life is a whirlwind of activity. I’m balancing a full-time job, family and friends with being an author and there are never enough hours in a day, but luckily I’m married to an awesome guy, who is my rock whenever it gets too crazy.
2. I’ve been perusing your Goodreads page and see you are drawn to m/m romance with some suspense. Why romantic suspense?
AG: It’s a classic case of ‘write what you love to read’. I love to read stories were the stakes for the main characters are high and the heroes are thrown together to solve a mystery or go on a quest for justice. So, these are also my favorite books to write. Sure, my focus is the romance. I love to put my characters through a lot of challenges, conflict and heartbreak, before allowing them to find their happy-ever-after, but I like to throw in a dash of suspense to add to the story.
3. Your latest release is End of the Line. Can you tell me what inspired you to create this novel, and how you came up with the title?
AG: End of the Line is an “opposites attract” romance jumbled up with a fast-moving suspense plot. Basically, two men falling in love while dodging bullets and chasing bad guys. It’s the first story in a new series around a pub in South Boston called Jake’s Bar.
Incidentally, the very first scene was the earliest words I wrote: Con running in the rain trying to escape. And then he turns into a dead-end. He’s is stuck with no way out…
I pretty much had the title in my head after finishing the first chapter.
4. Can you share your writing process through End of the Line?
AG: I used to be more of a plotter, but all my Jake’s Bar books are pantser stories. I have the characters in my head and then I sit down and simply see where the story takes me.
5. Let’s talk about the main characters. What do you love most about Jake Devlin and what makes you want to shake him?
AG: That’s a fantastic question. I think my favorite part about Jake is that he has no patience for hate and/or prejudice, and he’s fiercely protective of his bar and the people he cares about…but make no mistakes, there are precious few. Jake is a loner. He is guarded. He keeps his past and his secrets close to his chest. And that makes him a little frustrating.
Also, he struggles with change, all and any kind of change. He’s maybe not the most likeable character at first.
6. The same for Detective Miguel Conway. What do you love most about him and what makes you want to shake him?
AG: Con is impulsive, emotional and has something to prove. Con is like a firestorm racing through the defensive walls and barriers of Jake’s heart. But, I also equip Con with some solid communication skills… if you like your heroes to have an adult conservation every now and then, besides sizzling hot attraction, you’ll like End of the Line.
9. If a reader asked you why they should read End of the Line, what would you tell them?
AG: As I said, I like putting my characters through a lot of trouble, before I allow them their happily-ever-after, so ‘opposite attracts’ and ‘enemies to lovers’ is my jam. Jake and Con are very different in temper and personality. They shouldn’t be perfect together, but somehow they fit. And then there’s love. Love is worth a little trouble, right?
10. You can only recommend one of your novels to a reader, which would you choose from the books you’ve written so far, and why?
AG: For anybody who likes romance with a twist of suspense, I’d recommend ‘Promise Me’. Two guys are thrown together to untangle an unexpected inheritance.
And, of course, there’s a second Jake’s Bar book coming out later this summer: Crossing the Line.
Broken Trust doesn’t give Second Chances…
Holden Wright had it all—and lost it.
Brent Northwood has it all—except the man he loves.
The two men forge a volatile truce to stay one step ahead of danger, but is it enough to mend the broken trust between them?
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Title: End of the Line
Series: Jake’s Bar
Author: AG Meiers
Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance Suspense – Two men falling in love while budging bullets and chasing bad guys.
Tropes: Mistaken identity / opposites attract / lone wolf meets stubborn pretty boy / age gap / found family
Themes: Falling in love / chasing bad guys / overcoming trust issues / finding balance and letting go of other people’s expectations
Length: 77 672 words
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Release Date: July 7, 2022
Publisher: Painted Hearts Publishing
Opposites Attract…T R O U B L E…
Blurb: Jake Devlin knows trouble when he sees it and he wants no part of it. His quiet, peaceful life is a hard-fought dream. And the man who stumbles through the backdoor of Jake’s bar—beaten to hell—he is trouble with a capital T. The last thing Jake needs is to get involved with the sexy and secretive stranger. He definitely shouldn’t offer him a place to stay. But…he does…
Murder and mayhem follow Detective Miguel Conway. One minute he’s working a case, and the next, his cover is blown and he barely escapes with his life. Con didn’t expect Jake to offer help when he needs it most. And he definitely wasn’t prepared to fall for the grumpy ex-Marine. But…he does…
Attraction sparks as the two men are thrown together to figure out who wants to keep Con quiet and why. Well, at least Con is trying to solve his case. Jake is mainly trying to protect the young, impulsive cop. Midnight stakeouts, a celebrity wedding, and passion-filled nights—can Jake and Con find the balance between taking risks and keeping safe? And turn attraction into happily ever after?
But none of that matters if they fail to get the target off Con’s back…
Series: End of the Line, Book 1 in the award-winning Jake’s Bar series, is a steamy, M/M romantic suspense featuring a rainbow-colored bar full of quirky characters, and all the romance you can handle. It’s a place where you can always find support (and a cold beer) when life spins out of control. So, download today, and get ready to fall in love with Jake’s Bar.
Note: It is a standalone book and is the first in the series to be published. It does not end on a cliffhanger. Suspense and Romance is complete, but there’s a 2nd book with a new couple and a continuation of the suspense plot.
Purchase at:
A gay bar. Thank you, Jesus. A fucking gay bar. Loud and proud. Con’s kind of place, but none of Murphy’s men would be caught dead in here. Con’s body hurt all over, but they hadn’t found him. He’d given his pursuers the slip and was out of the rain.
About an hour ago—close to two in the morning—Jake had flipped the lights on and kicked everybody out. People barely dared to finish their drinks when the big, bulky man with his booming voice told them to go the fuck home. Con would be surprised if any of them would come back. Damn, Jake was something else. Con had a thing for guys who took charge and thinking of it sent sparks down his spine.
Jake had offered Con to call it a night as soon as the last guest had left the place. Clearly, he hadn’t missed that Con was moving slower and slower as the night progressed. And fuck, his ribs hurt something fierce. Still, he had declined Jake’s offer to leave right away. The bar owner had raised an eyebrow, but much to his relief, Jake had started to put the chairs up himself while Con got a broom. And every time he tried to do anything but sweep, Jake had thundered at him to stay out of the way.
“Are you trying to dig a hole with that broom? I think that corner is clean enough,” Jake said quietly from across the room, his tall frame propped against the bar—arms crossed—watching. Jake’s calm focus sent chills over Con’s body as he forced himself to relax with a few more long inhales and exhales. His overtired brain fired some images of being at the receiving end of Jake’s laser sharp attention under different circumstance—with a whole lot less distance between them, and fewer clothes. Jake was hot in an angry, pissed-off way. Square. Solid. A force to be reckoned with.
Loud tapping of Jake’s fingers onto the bar brought Con back from his wayward thoughts. For a moment, the impatient rhythm was the only sound, then Jake let out a huff of air and said, “Listen, I’m not sure how to ask this, but—do you have anywhere to go tonight?”
“Yes, of course, I—” Con’s answer had been a reflex, but he actually had no idea how to end this sentence.
“You can stay here if you have nowhere safe to go.”
Nowhere safe. How did he know? Con’s heart skipped a beat and then started to race again in his chest. His eyes shot over to the front door. How the fuck did he know?
“Hey, calm down.” Jake pushed himself up from the counter and walked a few steps closer but then stopped again. “You have no defensive wounds. And, well, you’re a big dude, so I wonder what happened to you tonight.”
Three against one. I never had a chance.
“It’s fine. You’re safe. Is it okay if I touch you?” Jake was suddenly by his side, his voice soft. Gently, a hand came down on his shoulder. “It’s okay. Why don’t you just stay on my couch tonight?”
The warmth of Jake’s hand seeped through his skin. Con gritted his jaw to steel himself against the sudden need to lean in. Any other time, he’d have given Jake crap for treating him like a wounded animal, but his beat-up body was starting to give in on him. “That would be great,” he managed through clenched teeth.
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Eighteen years ago, AG Meiers came to the US for adventure and stayed for love. Currently, she lives in New England with her husband and two awesome kids—balancing work, friends and family, and writing.
When she has some free time, her favorite thing to do is travel and visit new places. Her past trips have already brought her to a variety of countries on four continents. She never passes up an opportunity to experience different cultures, diverse people and amazing locations.
Even though she has been dreaming up stories all her life, she has only recently started to write them down and share them with the world. As a writer she loves to put her characters through a lot of challenges, conflict and heartbreak, before she allows them to find their happy-ever-after.
Follow AG: Blog/Website | Facebook | Instagram
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Maggie Blackbird 