Elin Gregory

Today I’m really pleased to feature a new book from an old friend. Welcome JB. Wishing you and your new books all the best wishes in the world.

Book title: The Boyfriend Trap
Author: JB Buell
Genre: Gay Contemporary Romance
Length: 23,965 words
Heat rating: Moderate

Summary:
Male stripper Jamie has been seeing his boss, club owner Luke, for a while now. Jamie wants a more committed relationship, but Luke is dragging his heels about getting more serious with Jamie or introducing Jamie to his daughter, Sofia.

But Sofia has had enough waiting around to meet her dad’s not-so-secret boyfriend, and devises a plan to get them together.

In this sweet rom-com, two grown men find themselves outwitted by a precocious eight-year-old.

Author Interview

Question 1:
So JB, can you tell me what your new book is about?

Answer 1:
‘The Boyfriend Trap’ is a story about Jamie, his boyfriend Luke, and Luke’s young daughter Sofia, whom Jamie meets for the first time on a day out.

Jamie is a male stripper slash mud wrestler, and he’s perfectly fine with that. He’s also been seeing his boss, Luke, the club’s manager. Jamie thinks they have a future together, but Luke is hesistant to introduce Jamie to his young daughter, Sofia, and include Jamie in on family time.

This has left Jamie feeling shut out from Luke’s life, and he can’t help but wonder if it’s because his lifestyle isn’t what Luke wants after all. So Jamie gives Luke an ultimatum: either they’re serious about each other and spend more time together, including meeting Luke’s family, or Jamie walks.

Then Sofia, Luke’s eight year old, surprises Jamie with a phonecall out of the blue, and invites him to their family picnic.

Jamie suspects that Luke may be unaware of this invitation, but he goes along anyway because he loves Luke and wants to be part of his life.

It turns out that Sofia has arranged a surprise picnic date for them (Luke is certainly surprised), but Sofia seems so thrilled about meeting Jamie that they can’t be mad, so they go along with her scheme and end up having a fun day together.

Maybe a little family day out is just what they all needed!

Question 2: Stripper/mud wrestler is a wonderful profession. I have to ask, what kind of research did you do?

Answer 2: My interest and love for clubs, nightlife, and what could be viewed as unconventional professions started from a young age watching movies, TV procedurals (like Law & Order), and American wrestling. What I like showing about characters who may have unusual jobs or careers is that they’re also regular people too, and this story in particular is mostly focused on the home, domestic and family side of things.

Jamie is concerned that his job and his background are what’s stopping him from having a committed relationship with Luke, so showing Jamie in a very normal setting like a picnic in the park on a family outing, and then baby-sitting for the first time on his own, was kind of throwing him in the deep end of family life. But it all turns out okay!

Question 3: One of the most important characters in the book is Luke’s daughter, Sofia. How did you tackle writing someone with that young point of view?

Answer 3: My inner child is louder than my inner adult, so it was no problem for me.
Lol, joking. (But not really.)
I don’t often write young characters, but it was fun writing Sofia who is bright and bubbly, in contrast to her dad, Luke, who has a very dry sense of humor and could even be described as grumpy at times. That was a fun dynamic, and then bringing Jamie in seeing Luke and Sofia interact for the first time, he gets to see a softer side of Luke in dad-mode.

EXCERPT:

“Who’s Jamie?” Sofia asked.

Luke coughed into his glass, trying not to choke on the orange juice he’d been drinking. He looked around to where Sofia was sitting at the table, homework all spread out. His cell phone was there too, screen up on the table, and Luke cursed his own stupidity.

“What?” he said, acting nonchalant as he wiped OJ off his chin.

Sofia gestured at the phone with her pencil. “It’s lit up three times with the name Jamie. Who’s Jamie?”

“He’s someone daddy works with.” Luke swooped in and grabbed his phone. “You finish your homework and I’ll get started on dinner in a minute.”

Sofia was quiet, watching him closely. Luke felt his flush intensify under her gaze, then thankfully she changed the subject.

“Can we have pasta?” she asked.

“Sure,” he agreed with relief.

When Sofia turned back to her homework, wriggling excitedly at the prospect of food, Luke opened his phone’s lock screen to read his messages.

4:13 Jamie: Hey

4:25 Jamie: I miss you. Can we talk?

Luke sighed inwardly. He’d better try get this straightened out.

* * * *

Sofia was feeling nosey.

Her dad was great, but he could be so secretive and squirrely about things.

She quietly left the table and tip-toed through the apartment, right up to her dad’s bedroom door. She put her ear close, and listened.

“Yeah, of course I want to see you,” her dad was in the middle of saying. “Well, no… You gotta give me a chance here, Jamie …”

It sounded like he was placating the other person, using his patient and quiet tone of voice.

Sofia frowned, trying to place the tone. It almost reminded her of a mommy and daddy talk, when they’d tried to keep quiet and talk about something in another room so Sofia wouldn’t overhear.

But her parents were divorced now, and her mom had a boyfriend who was very nice.

It was kind of sad that her dad always seemed to be on his own. He needed someone nice too.

Sofia listened, heard him say, “I promise I’ll talk to her. Of course I want you to be involved, Jamie, but you gotta give me a chance to tell her. There hasn’t been anyone since her mom, okay? This is a big deal…”

Sofia’s breath caught as her eyes widened. Was he talking about her? He had to be. So, did that mean…?

Sofia grinned to herself.

Her dad had found someone. Finally.

* * * *

Available from Saturday 28 September with JMS Books

Buy link: http://www.jms-books.com/jb-buell-c-224_405/the-boyfriend-trap-p-2905.html

Author bio: JB Buell is a non binary writer (they/them, or he/him) of m/m romance and gay rom com stories. They are a cat person, and can’t decide if they’re more of a coffee or tea person but is quite happy to drink both.