Tour Stop, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: Chasing Forever by Kelly Jensen

Chasing Forever is the final book in the series This Time Forever. Brian and Mal’s story is special in all sorts of ways. Even though these books all standalone, Brian has been there since the beginning–as the character everyone loved to hate in the first book, and the character who seemed to have more to him in book two. In this final story, I share who Brian really is, and hope you’ll all come to love him as much as I do. Then there’s Mal, his other half, my serious soldier who has been waiting all his life for a challenge like Brian. Sometimes we have to be knocked lower than ever before in order to reach that high, and Mal’s journey is one I treasure. I hope you enjoy reading this story of redemption and learning to live out loud.

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Title: Chasing Forever by Kelly Jensen
This Time Forever Series Book Three
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Gay, Romance
Length: 353 pages/Word Count: 86,900

Summary:

Old wounds, new directions, and a forever worth chasing.

Malcolm Montgomery was a history teacher and track coach until an accident left him with two broken legs. He’ll recover, but life has knocked his feet out twice now. He’s not sure if he’s ready to try again, especially when it comes to love—and slick guys like Brian Kenway. Still, he needs help mentoring the school’s LGBTQ society, so he asks Brian to take some responsibility.

Brian has been hiding behind his reputation as a liar and a cheat for so long that he actually believes he’s that guy—until his nephew, Josh, turns up on his couch, tossed out for being gay. Brian has never considered being a father, but he knows all about being rejected by loved ones. Now Brian wants to be more: a partner for Mal and a role model for Josh.

But when Mal’s recovery is set back and the sad truth of Brian’s past is revealed, the forever they’ve been chasing seems even further from their grasps. It’ll take a rescue effort to revive their sense of worth and make Brian, Mal, and Josh into a family of their own.

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Purchase Link: Riptide Publishing

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Exclusive Excerpt

The Cozy Circle

In this excerpt from Chasing Forever, Mal has returned to teaching after a long absence and is being encouraged by his friend and sister-in-law, Rachel (who is also works at the same school) to head up the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) this semester. Mal doesn’t see himself as a group leader, but Rachel can be pretty convincing.

This is a scene I didn’t have on my outline, not really. I had notes to the effect of: find something for Mal to do at the school that isn’t coaching track. I love that the GSA club not only becomes a major plot point for the book, but something that draws both Brian and Mal together.

~*~

“Mal, there you are. Come in, have a seat.” Rachel stood up behind her desk, gesturing toward the small arrangement on the other side of the office, the cozy circle she kept for the students she counseled.

Mal knew, first hand, that his students preferred to sit on the other side of the desk from her. They found the “cozy circle” intimidating—as though they were expected to divulge all their secrets.

Rachel was a smart woman.

Mal leaned his crutches against the wall and hobbled over to the circle.

“How’re the legs holding up?” Rachel asked.

“Just.” Mal answered with a grimace that tried to be a grin.

It was his second week back at work. The first had been exhausting and exhilarating as he’d pushed himself to limits he hadn’t outside of physical therapy. The long halls were less daunting this week, but his whole body ached with the effort of keeping pace with his students. Today he’d reluctantly brought both crutches, knowing he’d need them by the afternoon.

He got himself settled and stretched both legs out with a relieved sigh. “I should be back to one crutch next week. Under my own power the week after.” God willing.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Rachel said.

Mal forced his instinctive bristle to retreat. If there was one thing he’d become good at over the past several months—aside from using crutches in ice and snow—it was forcing himself not to react to people who meant well, even when they didn’t know what they were talking about.

“So, I’m guessing you know why I wanted this meeting?” Rachel continued.

“If it’s to talk about the fact I won’t be coaching the track team this semester, save your breath. I knew that coming back. I can hardly walk.”

Rachel smiled. “I’m not your guidance counselor, but I am your sister-in-law. We can talk about it if you want.”

“I don’t want.” Talking about it would only remind him of what he was missing out on.

Having to give up football had always stung less when he ran. Then running had become his thing. Jogging at first, to simply feel physical again. Then competing. Running faster and farther. Training for marathons. They’d asked if he’d like to coach football when he came back to Morristown High. He’d asked for the track team. Mal wasn’t ready to dwell on what losing another direction meant, yet.

“I wanted to talk about the Gay Straight Alliance,” Rachel said.

Mal leaned forward in his seat. “How so? You aren’t going to cut funding for the club, are you?” It was vital, especially now.

“We’re not cutting it. You know the club has always had the school’s full support.”

He let out a breath. “Then what’s the issue?”

“I want you to lead it.”

“But it’s Cheryl’s thing. She started it.”

“Cheryl’s leaving us next week. Moving out of state.”

“Huh.” Why hadn’t she said anything? Then again, when would she have? Mal hadn’t extended his crutch practice far beyond his classroom at lunchtime. Still, she could have called. “I don’t know, Rach. I’m not a group leader. I’m always happy to help out, but I’m not sure I’m the right one to lead a group. Some of the kids need a lot of guidance. Someone to look up to. Someone who has fought the good fight and won.”

“Someone like you, you mean.”

“What? No. I’ve had it easy. My parents have always loved me, so I’ve never really had to think about my sexuality.” The falseness of that statement swirled around his gut even as it left his lips. He did think about it. Often. The current political climate made sure of that. But he’d never been in a position where he had to fight for something he wanted—not really. His life might have been very different if he’d continued to play football, but Mal had always assumed he’d find a way around whatever stood in his path. That was what a wide receiver did, after all.

While he asked himself why he didn’t remember that fact more often—like when he was asking his cat to cheer him up, Rachel demonstrated that she felt differently.

“Mal, you know I tell it like I see it, and I’m telling you that you are an asset to this school. We love having you here. You’re every principal’s dream. Returning sports hero, and a good teacher who is well-liked by his students. You’ve always been open about who you are in a manner that’s perceived as healthy. The students and staff respect you. Sure, we’ve had the odd parent who has other opinions, but you’ve always had the support of this administration because you’re good at what you do.”

“And I don’t make waves.”

“If you had a sideline as Miss Bacon, things might be different.”

“You’re not going to tell me—”

“You know I’m an advocate and an ally. Before that, I’m your friend, our relationship to Donny aside. And I’m asking if you’ll consider heading up the GSA club. We need it, especially now. Our young people need you. And, with coaching being out of the question at the moment, you’ll have the time.”

Thanks for the reminder. But what else was he going to do—stand on the sidelines and tell the kids to keep running?

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About the This Time Forever Series

Small towns and second chances.

Simon, Frank, and Brian think love has passed them by. Each is facing down his fiftieth birthday—Simon in a few years, Frank next year, and Brian soon enough. Each has loved and lost. But for these men, everything old really is new again, and it’s only when they return to their roots that they’ll find their second chances and the happily ever after they’ve been waiting their whole lives for.

This time it’s forever.

This series includes:
Building Forever — released October 15, available now!
Renewing Forever — released November 12, available now!
Chasing Forever — released December 10, available now!

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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.

Author Links: Website * Tumblr * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Pinterest * Instagram

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Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Chasing Forever one lucky person will win a $25 Riptide Publishing gift card and a swag pack of stickers, art cards, and bookmarks! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 15, 2018. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!