Bridging Hope (Bridging Hearts Series, #1) Contemporary M/M Romance by Greyson McCoy Book Blitz with Guest Post
Book Title: Bridging Hope (Bridging Hearts Series, #1)
Author: Greyson McCoy
Publisher: DreamSpinner Press
Release Date: March 26, 2024
Genre: Contemporary M/M romance
Tropes: Hurt/Comfort, forced proximity, small town romance
Themes: New dads
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 58 pages
It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger. It’s a HEA
Buy Links
DreamSpinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Blurb
When workaholic Pierce Simms’s sister passes, he suddenly finds himself unemployed, back in the hometown he fled, and raising his niece and nephew. Despite that, he’s confident he has things under control—at least until his sister’s high-school sweetheart shows up.
With his teaching grant ended, Dalton O’Dell is at loose ends and tight purse strings. Just as the world crashes down on him, he learns his ex-girlfriend has passed and named him guardian of her two young children. Chaos ensues when he and her brother, Pierce, are forced together to raise the toddlers in Pierce’s family farmhouse.
Nestled in the enchanting beauty of the farm, Pierce and Dalton bond over the challenges of co-parenting and their shared grief as unexpected love blossoms. Love might not be enough, however, if they can’t learn to bridge the gap between their different worlds and overcome the trauma of their pasts.
Excerpt
“Let’s discuss how to proceed,” Pierce’s attorney, a short, businesslike woman, said. For thirty minutes, Pierce kept the baby occupied while his attorney and Uncle Tim discussed the details of the will. I sat watching Pierce.
The little girl kept bringing her uncle toys that had been left in the office for kids to play with, and each time, he’d smile or ask her questions. Eventually, the baby boy settled and snuggled sleepily in his arms. That’s when my heart melted. This wasn’t an absentee uncle. Clearly, he was important to them and vice versa. It made me question whether a custody fight was prudent.
“Why did Lizzie want me to raise her kids instead of you?” I blurted, interrupting our attorneys and surprising myself.
A pained expression crossed Pierce’s face as he spoke to me for the first time. “When she made her will, she probably figured I’d never come back. We were… estranged,” he said, voice gruff.
“But you’re back now, and these two seem to trust you. How long have you been taking care of them?”
His pained look morphed into one so grief-stricken I felt tempted to hug him. “About six months,” he whispered.
I nodded in thought. “Do you have a job? Are you married? What’s your wife like? Is she on board with helping raise them?”
My uncle cleared his throat, signaling to me to let the lawyers handle the questioning, but I couldn’t help myself. For a moment, Pierce looked a little stunned by the sudden barrage, but he answered. “I’m recently unemployed, but I received a good severance package. I’m set for at least a few months before I need to work full-time again. I’m not married.” He hesitated then, his face resolute, before spinning the question back around. “You?”
I shrugged. “Unmarried and recently unemployed as well.” Ignoring his challenging stare, I continued honestly. “I see these two love you, depend on you. I don’t understand all this, but I trust Lizzie had her reasons for naming me their guardian. I won’t relinquish that responsibility. Not without knowing for certain they’re in good hands.”
Pierce nodded, and his expression softened a little. “I’m not stepping out of their lives without knowing the same thing. Frankie and Max have already been through too much for two little kids. I’ll be here until they don’t need me.”
“So we’re at an impasse,” I said.
Uncle Tim cleared his throat again. “Or maybe it’s an opportunity. Mr. Simms, may I call you Pierce? I understand you inherited your father’s farm?” Pierce glanced at him and nodded. “And Dalton, you’re looking for a place to stay. Why don’t you boys combine forces? Dalton, your farming experience might be of great help to Pierce, and you’ll both have time to get to know one another and observe the other’s parenting style.”
I looked at my uncle, aghast. “Uncle Tim, that’s probably not a good idea. Mr. Simms, surely you have a girlfriend or something? I couldn’t impose—”
Pierce barked out a laugh, nearly waking baby Max, who’d fallen asleep in his arms. “I’m gay and single.” He glanced down at his nephew, then over to his niece, Frankie, before refocusing on me. “I understand you work with kids, but do you feel comfortable caring for kids this young?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t have much experience being around kids this age. In my previous job, they already knew their ABCs when they came to me.”
Pierce appeared lost in thought before he sighed and his shoulders dropped, as if he were giving up the fight. “Honestly, I could use the help. When Lizzie got sick, friends and neighbors helped, but that tapered off. Now it’s just us. I could use another pair of adult hands, especially at night.”
“And there’s room at your house?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m staying in my sister’s room, which has an adjoining area where the kids sleep. You could take the main bedroom right across the hall. But fair warning,” he said, a mischievous smile forming on his lips, “if you move in, you’ll have night duty too. Max only sleeps four or five hours, which means 1:00 a.m. diaper-changing time. You up for that?”
I could tell he was testing me, and screw him. I slept like the dead, but I could set an alarm.
I nodded. “I’m up for it if you are.”
We both looked at our attorneys, who wore matching grins. “Well, then,” Uncle Tim said, “sounds like we’ve got a plan.”
When did you first realize that you
wanted to be a writer?
I came to writing later in life. In
fact, I didn’t finish my masters degree when I found out that I had to write a
thesis (something I was previously told I wouldn’t need.)
Writing is cathartic to me, and I’ve
found it’s a much better way to handle a mid-life crisis than buying a
convertible. I’m rather fair skinned and tend to burn easily.
How long does it usually take you to
write a book?
The books I’ve written thus far
haven’t taken too long. What takes forever is all the editing that takes place
after the draft is completed. Here’s the surprising and fun reality though. I
have developed quite a passion for it.
How did you come up with the idea for
your book?
Interestingly enough, I’d already
written my book when I saw that Dreamspinner had advertised they were looking
for submissions regarding single fathers. I took that as a sign that I should
take the plunge and submit.
Often I am lying in bed as the plot
bunny plays in my head. With this book, I knew how it would begin, what would
happen, and how it would end before I got up (at 2am) and began writing.
That’s not how all the books I’ve
written have worked out, in fact, the one I just submitted and hopefully will
have accepted took months just to figure out where the plot was going. Those
are less fun to write.
Who are your favorite authors?
I have several, and before I began
writing, I made myself read a lot of books in the MM world. Lily Morton’s Blue
Billings series rocked my world. I love a good ghost story. Of course, you’ll
get a touch of that in my books. I didn’t want them to be all out ghost
stories, but I did sparkle a few spectral about.
J.P. Jackson’s Skin Series is a
naughty delight. I most certainly don’t write as explicit as him, but my
goodness that’s a fun read.
Andrew Grey is another one I’m quite
fond of. I think mostly because we share a love/interest in small town
romances.
Is there anything you find
particularly challenging in your writing?
Editing sucks. I grew up in the rural
south, and I write like I speak. That’s not a good thing when you’re trying to
write books.
Luckily, I’ve got a fantastic team of
editors who are willing to help me walk through the process of turning my gibberish
into something you all will enjoy. I hope!
When you develop characters do you
already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop
as you go?
As I mentioned earlier, sometimes
yes, I have the story completely mapped out before I begin writing. Bridging
Hope certainly was that way. My next book, not at all. I saw the first scene in
my head, after that, it’s been one long struggle to force the characters to
give up their story.
Ugh, sometimes ol’ farmers can be
quite a pain to deal with.
What is the easiest thing about
writing?
Most of the time, the easiest thing
about writing is the drafting process. I love to read, and I love it when I’m
drafting and the story is playing out in my head so quickly that it feels the
same as if I were reading the book.
Do you use your experiences in your
books?
Of course, to some extent, I think
all writers do. As we travel across the United States, I see so many derelict
farms and mourn for their passing. Having grown up playing in the woods and, if
my mom could find me, working in the fields, I know how sweet that life can be
for a young kid.
Bridging Hope, certainly brings some
of those feelings to the table, and I’m pleased with how the MCs come up with a
clever strategy to bring the old farm back to life.
What do you think makes a good story?
I just love a good mushy romance. I
want all the feels. I love to get weepy when a character finds himself, or when
relationships are mended (especially in families.)
However, I think a good story must
have a tough antagonist. Not all antagonists need to be trying to kill the MCs
or causing that kind of havoc, but I do think the best stories have angst for
the protagonists to bounce off of.
I seldom make my antagonists people,
most of the time it’s a situation, or circumstance that is impeding the MC’s
progress.
Regardless, I think a well-placed
antagonistic element to the story is essential to make all the feels come to
the surface.
What do you do when you’re not
writing?
It depends on where we are. This
winter, we were in Arizona at a park designed for snow birds (people who travel
to the south for the winter.) While here, I developed a new interest in
jewellery making.
I don’t generally wear jewellery, but
oh my, I did love the process of making it. Another thing I can now do, that I
didn’t know I had a passion for.
Do you like music or silence when
your write? Do you outline or do you just write?
I have to have silence. Not perfect
silence, but enough that I’m not distracted and pulled out of the story. FYI,
my husband is the biggest distraction in my life. I tend to only be able to
work when he’s at work or asleep!
No, I don’t outline, usually. I tend
to be a pantser when it comes to writing.
What is your next project?
I’m spending a significant amount of time in the small town where
Bridging Hope is set.
I have drafted three more novels based around the town and now I’m
working on writing a series about restaurants and such.
In all the books I’ve drafted thus far, the food is less than
wonderful. Of course, if a bunch of younger families are setting up their lives
there, good food is a must!
About the Author
Greyson McCoy loves to travel. After years of being tied down to a life of kids, work, running a small farm, and all things domestic, he and his husband have taken full advantage of their empty nest to travel the world.
The joy of writing came to Greyson late in life. While completing his master’s degree, he found himself fighting between desperately wanting to write fiction and finishing the homework and papers he’d been assigned.
After his master’s was finished, Greyson decided to shirk his life of responsibility and pursue his dream of writing full time. His stories reflect many of the locations he and his husband have visited over the years.
Author Links
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