Building Forever by Kelly Jensen Blog Tour
Building Forever is the first in a series of standalone novels focused on older characters who think love has passed them by. I loved writing these second chance romances, and I hope you enjoy reading about the books—especially this one because Charlie and Simon will forever be the characters who started me on this journey. About Building Forever
A new town, a new neighbor, and a new chance to build a forever.
Charlie King is doing fine. Sure, he’s a widower raising a teenage daughter who just got her first boyfriend, his book series isn’t writing itself, and he has a crush on his new neighbor — the guy next door. But everything’s just fine.
Simon Lynley is doing better. He moved to Bethlehem to fall out of love and rebuild his career. An affair with his neighbor isn’t part of the plan, but the attraction between them is too hard to ignore.
But when Simon’s ex follows him to Pennsylvania seeking reconciliation, and Charlie’s life starts to feel like a video on repeat, everything comes apart. Charlie worries that he’s failing as a father, and Simon is a distraction he can’t afford. Meanwhile Simon doesn’t know if he could survive being left again, and he hasn’t come all this way to make the same mistakes. But despite their fears, it’s only together that they’ll find the strength to slay old foes and build the forever they’ve been waiting for.
Now available from Riptide Publishing!
About the This Time Forever Series
Small towns and second chances.
This time it’s forever.
This series includes:
- Building Forever — releasing October 15, available now!
- Renewing Forever — releasing November 12, available for preorder!
- Chasing Forever — releasing December 10, available soon!
About Kelly Jensen
If aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories about the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.
Kelly is the author of a number of novels, novellas, and short stories, including the Chaos Station series, cowritten with Jenn Burke. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
Connect with Kelly:
- Website: kellyjensenwrites.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kellyjensenwrites/
- Twitter: twitter.com/kmkjensen
- Tumblr: kmkjensen.tumblr.com/
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kmkjensen/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kellyjensenwrites/
Giveaway
Who Is Simon Lynley?
When I finished writing the first draft of Building Forever, I loaded it up on my
Kindle and read it back through. I do this with every project and my primary
goal is to see if the story works: pacing, plot, subplots, the romance arc, and
character consistency. For this project, I also wanted to know if Simon had a
voice, or if he’d been seriously sidelined by the louder and more colorful
Charlie.
To my surprise (and gratification), I discovered that Simon
did indeed have a voice. It was quiet, but surprisingly strong. His character
felt real and solid, his motivation and story arc clear, his presence as
implacable as his temper. Charlie was all over the place and obviously needed
work—which makes me laugh, because that is just so Charlie. Simon, though—he
was there. Fully integrated and invested.
Because he’s quiet, I was concerned that he’d be
overshadowed by Charlie. I didn’t worry too much, though, because while
quieter, his story is just as powerful, and will actually continue (in a small
way) throughout the series. Each book is a complete standalone romance, but
with Simon, Frank, and Brian being friends, the story for each of the three starts
in Building Forever.
Simon’s story begins when he breaks away from the familiar
to start again, at forty-seven years of age, and it’s significant because he’s
leaving behind a relationship he’s invested more than a decade in. In the past,
he’s forgiven his ex, Brian, a number of infidelities. But finally, after
twelve years, he’s had enough. That his career wasn’t exciting him anymore is
also significant—because Simon isn’t a particularly demonstrative man. So even
though he seems to present a clear visage on what he wants, inside he’s deeply
unsettled.
What I love about Simon’s story arc is how he responds to
the challenge of Charlie. He’s attracted to his new neighbor at first
meeting—even with Charlie spluttering through cheesy cracker crumbs and
generally making a fool of himself. Simon has never met anyone so utterly
unabashed and it’s a memorable experience. He’s drawn to Charlie’s color and
noise. It’s almost as if Simon realizes Charlie is who he’s been missing all of
his life—which is essentially the truth of their romance.
Simon is neat and organized, in appearance and personality.
He has his own hobbies—old buildings and architecture being chief among them.
He plays piano and appreciates a fine scotch. He’s always well dressed and
groomed. But, otherwise, he gives very little away. But with Charlie, he finds
himself talking. Laughing. Living. He almost dares himself to be with Charlie.
Simon is recovering from a heart broken so gradually, however, he’s still not
sure where all the pieces are, and so when he demonstrates the fact he needs to
be pursued, Charlie does so beautifully.
And when it’s Simon’s turn to do the pursuing, he has a lot
of baggage to sort through—stuff he’s only hinted at to the reader. But throughout,
his actions speak louder than all the words he keeps to himself.
Simon is everything Charlie needs, but the reverse is also
true. Charlie is the man Simon has been waiting for, and I loved that he was
brave enough to not only realize this, but to do something about it.
To view my inspiration for Simon and the other characters
and settings in Building Forever,
visit my Pinterest
board for the book.
Comments
jlshannon74 at gmail.com
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
Trix, vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
serena91291@gmail(dot)com