Category Archives: Works

Updates on works by Jordan McCollum

Find great reads on sale this Valentine’s Day

Apparently there’s a holiday this week? Hm. Also—book sale!

Whether you’re in love, looking for love, or most decidedly NOT, you can find 99¢ clean romance books here to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day Singles Awareness Day.

Hope you have a fun Valentine’s Day!

99¢ price effective 2/10/14 through 2/14/14

Last week of the launch sale!
Spy Noon by Jordan McCollum
Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and JordanMcCollum.com!

Canada’s the last place you’d expect to find an American spy, but CIA operative Talia Reynolds has problems piling up higher than a Canadian snowbank. When Elliott Monteith, her ridiculously handsome new coworker, shows up, Talia decides it’s game on. She’ll be the first to track down a dangerous counter-spy, and she’ll give Elliott an unforgettable souvenir of his time in Ottawa: some humble pie.

Her plans don’t work as well as she expects, though. Elliott’s over-the-top flirting dredges up too many painful memories for Talia and undermines the confidence she’s worked hard to regain. To do her job and keep her integrity intact, she’ll have to keep her personal feelings at bay. Now Talia must find a way to work alongside Elliott—and maybe even trust him—to outsmart the enemy

And more great reads, all 99¢!



This Very Moment by Rachel Ann Nunes – Click here to purchase

Bill Dubrey is a sought-after plastic surgeon for LA’s prestigious and wealthy, and an equally sought-after bachelor. On the surface it appears he has it all—money, respect, and fame. Yet behind his aloof exterior lurks a tragic past that prevents him from finding lasting happiness.
All that changes on the day Kylee Stewart reenters his life. She alone knows Bill’s secret agony, and she is determined to help him face his past. During the years they’ve been apart, Kylee’s own life has been far from easy, but unlike Bill, she has turned to God in her need, finding a faith to which she desperately clings.
The tentative friendship they begin has Bill rethinking his stark future, yet he keeps his heart in check—afraid to commit, afraid to lose again. During Kylee’s darkest moment, when she needs him most, will he be there for her?

Tomorrow and Always by Rachel Ann Nunes

Click here to purchase

Anyone would think that Karissa and Malcolm have the perfect life. Young and successful, they’ve built their dream home on beautiful Kodiak Island in Alaska. But behind closed doors it’s a much different story. Unable to have children and inactive in their religion, Karissa and Malcolm’s marriage is beginning to fall apart.

When Jesse and Brionney Hergarter move to Kodiak, Karissa senses a kindred spirit. With Brionney’s friendship and support, Karissa feels a growing desire to return to activity at church. But this means confessing the one sin that has haunted her for years—the one sin that could drive Malcolm away forever.


A Portrait for Toni by Annette Lyon – Click here to purchase

Toni has no idea what she’d do without her best friend, Carter. Who else would she be able to vent to about her parents, her job at the dance studio, or her latest relationship woes? When Toni’s father lands in the hospital, Carter, as always, is there for her.

That is, until he starts questioning Toni, saying he thinks she has an eating disorder. Then she starts dating Clint, the hot new guy at the studio, and somehow that puts a deeper wedge between her and Carter. When she’s hospitalized after an on-stage collapse, and Carter stupidly starts in with advice about food and weight, she sends him away—then instantly regrets it.

One night after a performance, Toni tries to mend the hurt between them. Instead of finding Carter, she stumbles onto proof that he has feelings for her that go way beyond those of a friend. Toni is left with the very real prospect of losing Carter forever, unless somehow she can return his feelings—but that’s impossible. Isn’t it?

A New Dance by Lucy McConnell

Click here to purchase

For most people, letting go of a “what if” can be difficult – for Kiley Roberts it’s almost impossible. As her final semester of college begins, a past relationship prevents her from fully opening her heart to Brandon, her almost fiance. When TJ unexpectedly drops back into her life as an assigned dance partner, Kiley’s sure that it’s a sign. Only she’s not sure if it means she should put their past behind her or try for a future with the man with the broken heart.


Snowed Inn by Heather Horrocks – Click here to purchase

Mystery buff Vicki Butler plans to kill someone this weekend. Nothing personal, just business.

The killer grand opening weekend at her new Who-Dun-Him Inn is all fun and games—until an unplanned dead body makes an appearance.

With a murderer running loose, young widowed mom Vicki is forced to keep her family, guests, and actors safe while searching for clues. Her author guests, also the prime suspects, try their hand at solving this real-life whodunit, in the process hindering the investigation by local law enforcement officers. Things really go downhill when her twin Liz shows up, trailed by flamboyant Grandma Ross, who announces she’s seeking a boy toy among the suspects. When both a local younger man and an out-of-town newshound start sniffing around the inn—and her—Vicki realizes she’s got more than just a murderer to worry about. Can she solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? Or will this case of opening-night jitters prove to be terminal?


Bah, Humbug! by Heather Horrocks – Click here for a free copy

Lexi Anderson is an up-and-coming, Martha Stewart-type TV hostess whose two kids love the Jared Strong adventure novels, which happen to be written by their new neighbor, Kyle Miller. For the first time in his writing career, Kyle has writer’s block–until he sees the snowman on his lawn and realizes it’s the perfect solution to his plot problem. He digs in and discovers two things: one, his villain’s weapon will fit inside a snowman’s body, and two, this particular snowman was supposed to be the backdrop for Lexi’s next show. From this improbable beginning comes friendship, but can there be a happy ending for a woman who is afraid to get close again and a man who has shadows from his childhood? Families join together and hearts are healed as this couple goes walking in a winter wonderland.

Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips by Cindy M. Hogan

Click here to purchase

VL. Virgin Lips. You may not have heard of it, but where I live, it’s a thing with a card, even if it is a figurative card. I was Brooklyn Hamlin, certified virgin lips, and I planned on clinging to that figurative card with all I had–while dating as many of the hottest guys at school as I could.

Maybe that’s a bit strange. I mean, what teenage girl isn’t interested in kissing? Locking lips definitely interested me, but the drama that came with it didn’t. No kissing, no drama. Simple.

But on my sixteenth birthday, on my first real date even, the drama found me. His name was Luke Graham–cute, funny, and bad news for the whole female race.

The Princess Problem by Diane Darcy – Click here to purchase

In real life, she’s given up on the fairy tale ending…

After having her heart broken twice, Alicia Dayne has sworn off men, decided to concentrate on her career, and is delighted to win a lucrative contract to make a commercial for Highborn Mattresses.

She could make the most awesome fairy tale commercial ever–except for Jonas Highborn, who isn’t exactly thrilled with her Princess and the Pea ideas, and really doesn’t want a prince in tights representing his company.

Though he’s trying to keep his grieving mother happy by letting her have charge of the commercial shoot, and though Alicia’s trying to keep in mind that this annoying guy is her boss for the moment, they can’t seem to keep from clashing.

Throw in an overly-handsome prince, a matchmaking mama, and a stunning rose garden, and maybe, just maybe, Alicia can be convinced they have a chance at something real.

Because while she might not be a real princess, sometimes an ordinary girl’s got to take a chance, even when it seems too good to be true.

When did Happily Ever After become so complicated?

Steal His Heart by Diane Darcy – Click here to purchase

What if keeping your job depended on keeping a secret?

Daisy Manning has been testing security by shoplifting in Worthingtons Department store for five months. Not once in that entire time has she been caught by security personnel. Until today.

Kent Whitaker is disgusted by the beautiful thief he’s caught red-handed, and even more disgusted by his attraction to her. While he won’t allow himself to become romantically involved with a thief, he can certainly help out a friend by curing his daughter of bad habits.

They both fight their growing attraction, Kent because dishonesty is the one trait he cannot tolerate, and Daisy because Kent is directly interfering with her long-range career goals.

But when an unskilled matchmaker tries his hand at getting them together, the unexpected happens to them both as Kent gets distracted and Daisy steals his heart!

Gifts and Consequences by Daniel Coleman

Click here to purchase

Jonathan decides to honor the wish of his dying wife – that he give away his fortune – but his methods are dangerously unconventional. He takes extreme measures to witness human struggle and watch the discovery of hidden strength. But when Jonathan goes too far, he faces consequences of his own.


The Colony by Cami Checketts – Click here to purchase
To protect her sons from the mistakes of her past, Brinlee Trapper escapes to a secluded mountain home. But there are dangers lurking in the mountains she has never encountered. The little family is saved from injury by Jed, a mysterious hunter. Brinlee is drawn to him, but she worries about his involvement with a peaceful commune hidden deep in the mountains behind her property.

Lance, Brinlee’s attentive neighbor, has his own troubled history. Between his obvious attraction to Brinlee and his developing love for her children, Brinlee finds it more than difficult to guard her heart against this tender intrusion.

While Jed offers a life of excitement and freedom, Lance holds the key to the family Brinlee always wanted. When it comes time to choose, she learns that both men have secrets that could shatter her fledgling trust in men and the wrong decision could leave more than her heart exposed to danger.

Blog This by Cami Checketts – Click here to purchase

Will protecting children throughout the world cost Natasha her own family?

Devastated by the loss of her brother, Natasha Senecot works to expose the dangers of Matthew Chrysler’s violent video games, succeeding in bankrupting and humiliating him.

Chrysler retaliates and sends a hit man after her. Natasha is forced to fake her own death to protect her children, but after witnessing another tragedy, Natasha won’t hide any longer.

In a race against time, can Natasha expose Matthew Chrysler before his assassin murders her family and shatters her world?

All Fall Down by Julie Coulter Bellon – Click here to purchase

Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes we all fall down . . .

That simple rhyme turns negotiator Claire Michaels’ current hostage situation into an international incident. Claire just wants to help get everyone out safely, but as the crisis escalates she realizes she’s dealing with an al-Qaeda operative who has the means to become another bin Laden—with the potential to attack America. Claire has her own personal reasons for wanting to stop al-Qaeda, but time is slipping away as negotiations break down. Can she overcome her scars of the past in order to get the hostage out alive and possibly stop an assault on U.S. national security?

Navy SEAL Rafe Kelly is on leave to recover from a knee injury he suffered during his tour in Afghanistan and he doesn’t expect to be fighting terrorists on his home turf. But when he is taken hostage and his brother is kidnapped, Rafe teams up with a hostage negotiator in order to stay alive and get his brother back. The terrorist is always one step ahead of them, however, and the situation quickly turns from desperate to deadly. Will Rafe be able to save himself and his country without anyone he loves getting caught in the crossfire?

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson – Click here to purchase

Luke Carney has no idea what possessed him to move back to Shelter Springs, Colorado, to set up his veterinarian practice. His parents had long since left, the small farming community is on the brink of extinction, and only one close friend from his childhood remains–Taycee Emerson, his best friend’s little sister, who isn’t so little anymore. Then there’s the matter of Shelter’s Bachelorette, an online reality dating show created to raise some much needed funds for the town.

Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Taycee Emerson wants out. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it’s up to the viewers–not her–to decide which bachelors stay or go. Coerced into participating, Taycee does what any self-preserving girl would do. She launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. Unfortunately, Luke’s an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she’s up to, it means revenge.

Fair Catch by Cindy Roland Anderson – Click here to purchase

Ellie Garrett never planned on being a divorced, single mother—she also never planned to get married again. Ever. Her ordinary life changes when the house across the street is sold. The new owner is Nick Coulter—quarterback and MVP for the Sacramento Defenders. Oh yeah, he’s also one of People magazine’s top 100 most beautiful people and America’s most eligible bachelor. So why would she pick him to have her first crush on since her divorce?

Recently retired from the NFL, Nick is more than ready to find a wife and start a family. He’s tired of his high-profile lifestyle and moves to Pleasant Wood, Colorado, hoping to finally settle down and focus on his foundation Kids Come First. It would just feel nice to be a normal guy. Of course being rebuffed by Ellie the first few times he meets her makes him feel a little too normal.

As Nick and Ellie become acquainted, their mutual attraction is hard to ignore. But Ellie’s been hurt before by her womanizing ex-husband. She’s not sure that Nick has left behind his playboy reputation. Can she risk falling in love with the celebrity football player or will she miss her chance at scoring big in the game of love?

Romance Through the Ages (7 Book Romance Boxed Set) – Click here to purchase

The price will jump to $9.99 on Thursday or Friday, so snap up your deal while it lasts!

*7 Romance Novels, 7 Bestselling Authors, 1 Amazing Price* 99¢ Romance Boxed Set for a limited time only!

  • RUNNING BAREFOOT by NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Amy Harmon! *Over 260 4 & 5 star reviews*
  • MASQUERADE by Janette Rallison, who has sold more than 1 million books!
  • THE RELUCTANT BACHELORETTE by Rachael Anderson, Amazon Bestseller! *Over 230 4 & 5 star reviews on Amazon
  • PRIDE AND PRECIPITATION by Heather Horrocks, Amazon Bestseller!  *Over 80 4 & 5 star reviews on Amazon*
  • MY OWN MR. DARCY by Karey White, Amazon Bestseller! *Over 120 4 & 5 star reviews on Amazon*
  • SHE OWNS THE KNIGHT by Diane Darcy, Amazon Bestseller! *Over 50 4 & 5 star reviews on Amazon*
  • HEART OF THE OCEAN by Heather B. Moore, Amazon Bestseller!

(Clever title about Spy Noon) (I got nuthin)

It’s the last day of the blog tour for Spy Noon, and all my cute stories and things are at the last tour stops today:

I Love to Read and Review Books with a review & giveaway!

The Stubby Pencil with Mary Ann Dennis

Spy pickup lines at Tressa’s Wishful Endings, another giveaway and a review!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the blog tour! Back to our regularly scheduled writing programming tomorrow.

The true story (sorta) of Spy Noon

Every story borrows something from real life. Spy Noon borrows a little bit from mine. I’ve never had to work with a super-flirty coworker, but I did once know someone who reminded me just a little bit of Elliott.

Once upon a time, a guy asked me out on a date. His name was Ryan. He invited me to go hiking. In November. In the Utah mountains. Not being one to back down from a challenge (or a friend, as Ryan was), I accepted the invitation.

I didn’t own boots (yes, I lived without boots in Utah—still do), so I ended up wearing tennis shoes. Ryan picked me up in his truck, then stopped by his brother’s apartment to pick up . . . his brother Sean. We headed to a sandwich shop, and I think Ryan was offering to get me something, but I’d packed a lunch at home.

Sean, left, and Ryan, brothers.
Sean, left, and Ryan. See the resemblance?
At this point, I’m sure Ryan felt the date was going reeeally well. (When I asked his permission to post this, Ryan said, “I don’t know why you insist this was a date.” Yep, really well.)

It only got better.

We drove up in the canyon and stopped at a recreational area. Ryan, who loved camping, hiking, and all that, was very prepared. Sean had just recently moved to Utah, and yet he was still better prepared for hiking than I was. In the knee-deep snow. In tennis shoes.

Again, I do not back down from a challenge easily, so we went forth. Ryan broke the trail, I walked in his footsteps, and Sean played caboose. After a little while, Ryan was a few feet ahead, and Sean reached up to knock me over sideways.

Apparently still being about nine years old, Sean found this hilarious. I remembered the schoolyard lesson that you should ignore your tormentors, and I wouldn’t let Sean get the best of me, so I popped up as quick as I could.

This delighted Sean to no end because he realized he could bug me without me whining about it. So every ten or twenty feet—while we are still hiking in the snow and snow is slipping into my shoes with every step—Sean would knock me over. I wouldn’t acknowledge him and got up before Ryan saw.

But Ryan knew something was happening with the devilish delight in his little brother’s grin. After a while, we turned back and headed to the car to enjoy our sandwiches. Now that he couldn’t knock me over, Sean found other ways to bother me.

It took a long time, but at some point, I’d had enough of Sean. I don’t remember exactly what he did to push me over the edge, but eventually I’d had enough. He did one more thing to bug me, and I turned to him and said, “Shut up, Sean!

I think one reason I’d held back for so long was that I was worried I’d offend him, and in the split second after I’d finally had it, I really didn’t know how Sean would react.

But I didn’t need to worry. A slow smile grew across his face, like all he’d wanted all along was to get a rise out of me.

I wished I’d told him to shut up sooner.

But it was then I realized that Sean was the brother I’d never had. And never wanted. (When I told him that, he was a little offended, I think.)

That worked out perfectly in the end—because I married Ryan. (And he did give me permission to post this.)

weddingphotos
Diptych from our wedding reception: Look at how excited I am for my turn. To that point in his life, no one could have ever been so excited to get a hug from Sean. Until, of course, he ripped out my veil. (He maintains this was an accident.) (Okay, it actually was an accident.)

Oh, and I know you’re wondering: yes, that is my husband in a kilt.

Today’s tour stops

Read the scene inspired by this story at Getting Your Read On, and find out three of my guilty pleasures (gulp) with Lisa Swinton, Queen of Random, and (I think) find out what Cami Checketts thought of Spy Noon!

Why novellas rock

I’ll be honest: even at 99¢, my novella never sold as well as my novels. (At free, of course, it soundly beats them in numbers.) While lots of people out there are very excited about the apparent revival of shorter or mid-length fiction in the e-reader revolution, I’m still MrNiceSpy_CVR_LRGskeptical. I wrote my first novella because I wanted to be able to launch with more than one book, and because I wanted to be able to give away a freebie.

Um, that sounds pretty mercenary of me.

It’s worked, however—to an extent. I’ve given away thousands of copies of Mr. Nice Spy. Obviously I don’t know how many of those free books have actually been read, and what fraction of those readers went on to buy my novels, but . . . it hasn’t seemed like a ton have.

So why did I bother writing another novella?

I almost didn’t.

But the story really intrigued me. As soon as I knew what type of circumstances Elliott and Talia met under, I wanted to know the full story. Because it sounded like fun. I desperately needed fun.

SpyNoon_CVR_LRGSo I blocked out some time—crazy short time— and sat down. And the story just flowed.

I’m a plotter by nature, but I went really really loose for this outline. Like, “In chapter 4, we have a chase of some kind. Or not.” And yet with such a short piece, the threads came together really quickly. Within just a few days, I had a really solid first draft—and possibly my best-ever spy plot.

Another advantage? Editing is so fast. You can change major story elements just by editing a few scenes. You can hold the whole story in your head really easily and jump around as needed. Beta readers get back to you super fast. Proofreading takes one morning.

As an indie publisher, I get to set my production schedule, and I set the bar too high last year (and quite possibly again this year). And yet I still managed to squeeze in this story in a day here and a weekend there.

Will I write another novella? I have one more prequel novella bouncing around in my brain, and now I think it really needs to be shared. But only if I can have fun with it 😉 .

What do you think? Have you ever written a novella? Why or why not?

Today’s Tour Stops

Go visit Jae Randall & Rebecca Shelley!

Spy Noon is here!

But before we get to that—AMAZING NEWS.

whitneyI know January was filled with all kinds of great news for me, but the end of the month brought the best. The 2013 finalists for the Whitney Awards—prestigious awards for all LDS authors—were announced.

And I, Spy is one of the five Whitney Award finalists for Mystery & Suspense.

And so is Spy for a Spy.

Sometimes it sets in and I get excited and humbled and flattered and thrilled. Most of the time, I’m still just . . . stunned. I worked so so so hard on these books, but still . . . I don’t know how this happened. I’m not entirely convinced it did.

Another fun fact of going up against myself: I have double the chance of winning, yes (if it were statistical, which it isn’t), but no matter who wins . . . I will also lose. Which also means I’m guaranteed the traditional Whitneys loser pie!

Now, somehow, I have to move on from that amazing announcement for another. Spy Noon is here!

We’re celebrating the launch of Spy Noon, a prequel novella to I, Spy! You can also find Spy Noon at the special 99¢ launch discount through Singles Awareness Day (Feb 14) on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and JordanMcCollum.com!

It’s the day a significant proportion of the population dreads—a day they are reminded of everything they don’t have—a day that lives in infamy. You may know it as “Valentine’s Day,” but if you’re unattached, a better name might be . . . Singles Awareness Day.

On the other hand, there are worse fates than being alone, even on Valentine’s Day. For example, a totally hot guy you can’t seem to get away from, pursuing you when you’re really not interested—and he can’t take a hint. CIA operative Talia Reynolds doesn’t do romance, but her new coworker doesn’t care.

About the Book

Canada’s the last place you’d expect to find an American spy, but CIA operative Talia Reynolds has problems piling up higher than a Canadian snowbank. When Elliott Monteith, her ridiculously handsome new coworker, shows up (and shows her up), Talia decides it’s game on. She’ll be the first to track down a dangerous counter-spy, and she’ll give Elliott an unforgettable souvenir of his time in Ottawa: some humble pie.

Her plans don’t work as well as she expects, though. Elliott’s over-the-top flirting dredges up too many painful memories for Talia and undermines the confidence she’s worked hard to regain. To do her job and keep her integrity intact, she’ll have to keep her personal feelings at bay. Now Talia must find a way to work alongside Elliott—and maybe even trust him—to outsmart the enemy.

More about Spy NoonAdd Spy Noon to Goodreads! 

Read an excerpt from Spy Noon now!

The Spy Another Day series

I, Spy
Book One
Spy for a Spy
Book Two
Mr. Nice Spy
FREE Prequel novella
To save her secrets and her country, CIA operative Talia Reynolds must sacrifice the man she loves. Talia’s new boss is her ex-boyfriend. And that’s the just beginning of her problems. Elliott Monteith must choose between his fiancée and his fellow spy. Cake.
Chronologically, Spy Noon is the first in the series.

Praise for the series

A fast-paced, crisply written story with entertaining plot twists, told in a first person, wryly self-deprecating narrative voice. . . . I, Spy is a well-crafted romantic suspense with humor, heart, and a uniquely engaging heroine.

— Vanessa Kelly, Love Rocks column, BarnesAndNobleReview.com

 

I knew by the first page that I was going to love [I, Spy]. I absolutely loved Talia’s inner voice. . . . The plot is enjoyable and I loved the action! I really could not guess what was going to happen next. There were so many surprises at the turn of each page, especially during the climax, it didn’t matter what time it was, I had to finish.

— Mindy Holt, LDS Women’s Book Review
One of her top reads of 2013

 

The series has this great combination of sarcasm and wit in the MC, great chemistry and dialogue between her and her love interest, and then a whole slue of spying, deception, intrigue, and danger. Especially of that last one. . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed [Spy for a Spy]! I would definitely read it again and I am highly anticipating the next book that Jordan McCollum writes! If you enjoy action-adventure, suspense, or books about characters who are spies and some romance, then I would definitely recommend this.

— Tressa, Tressa’s Wishful Endings

 

About the author


An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Email newsletter 

Today’s Tour Stops

Readalot Rhonda + review
Shooting Stars Reviews

Announcing Spy Noon

Cover reveal & other fun news!

Today, my self-publishing nuts-and-bolts column premieres at Janice Hardy’s blog, The Other Side of the Story! Come find out if you’re good enough: evaluating whether you’re ready for self-publishing!

Many thanks to everyone who voted in New LDS Fiction’s 2013 Mystery/Suspense Cover Contest—I, Spy won! And the competition was awesome! Today is the last day to vote for the best cover overall, so go choose your favorite!

I, Spy was reviewed by BarnesandNobleReview.com columnist Vanessa Kelly, and her kind words have kept me dancing for two days! Plus the review was picked up on the Nook blog.

Due to technical difficulties, the linky for the Indie Author Resources Blog Fest malfunctioned. I’ll keep it open a while longer for anyone who tried to participate but couldn’t!

And on to today’s biggest news!

It’s the day a significant proportion of the population dreads—a day they are reminded of everything they don’t have—a day that lives in infamy. You may know it as “Valentine’s Day,” but if you’re unattached, a better name might be . . . Singles Awareness Day.

On the other hand, there are worse fates than being alone, even on Valentine’s Day. For example, a totally hot guy you can’t seem to get away from, pursuing you when you’re really not interested—and he can’t take a hint. CIA operative Talia Reynolds doesn’t do romance, but her new coworker doesn’t care. Spy Noon, an “anti-romance” and a prequel novella to I, Spy, is coming February 3, 2014!

Already know you’re going to read it? Add Spy Noon on Goodreads.

Today, I’m especially excited to reveal the cover and give away an ARC! But first, a little more about the book.

About the Book

Canada’s the last place you’d expect to find an American spy, but CIA operative Talia Reynolds has problems piling up higher than a Canadian snowbank. When Elliott Monteith, her ridiculously handsome new coworker, shows up (and shows her up), Talia decides it’s game on. She’ll be the first to track down a dangerous counter-spy, and she’ll give Elliott an unforgettable souvenir of his time in Ottawa: some humble pie.

Her plans don’t work as well as she expects, though. Elliott’s over-the-top flirting dredges up too many painful memories for Talia and undermines the confidence she’s worked hard to regain. To do her job and keep her integrity intact, she’ll have to keep her personal feelings at bay. Now Talia must find a way to work alongside Elliott—and maybe even trust him—to outsmart the enemy.

And now for the cover!

The Spy Another Day series

I, Spy
Book One
Spy for a Spy
Book Two
Mr. Nice Spy
FREE Prequel novella
To save her secrets and her country, CIA operative Talia Reynolds must sacrifice the man she loves. Talia’s new boss is her ex-boyfriend. And that’s the just beginning of her problems. Elliott Monteith must choose between his fiancée and his fellow spy. Cake.
Chronologically, Spy Noon is the first in the series.

Praise for the series

A fast-paced, crisply written story with entertaining plot twists, told in a first person, wryly self-deprecating narrative voice. . . . I, Spy is a well-crafted romantic suspense with humor, heart, and a uniquely engaging heroine.

— Vanessa Kelly, Love Rocks column, BarnesAndNobleReview.com

 

I knew by the first page that I was going to love [I, Spy]. I absolutely loved Talia’s inner voice. . . . The plot is enjoyable and I loved the action! I really could not guess what was going to happen next. There were so many surprises at the turn of each page, especially during the climax, it didn’t matter what time it was, I had to finish.

— Mindy Holt, LDS Women’s Book Review
One of her top reads of 2013

 

The series has this great combination of sarcasm and wit in the MC, great chemistry and dialogue between her and her love interest, and then a whole slue of spying, deception, intrigue, and danger. Especially of that last one. . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed [Spy for a Spy]! I would definitely read it again and I am highly anticipating the next book that Jordan McCollum writes! If you enjoy action-adventure, suspense, or books about characters who are spies and some romance, then I would definitely recommend this.

— Tressa, Tressa’s Wishful Endings

 

Win an Advance Reader Copy!

Enter to win an electronic Advance Reader Copy of Spy Noon!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author


An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Email newsletter 

Add Spy Noon on Goodreads today!

Many thanks to everyone helping out with the cover reveal today: Mindy Holt, Tressa’s Wishful Endings, Julie Coulter Bellon & Emily Gray Clawson!

The time my critique partners made me cry

This entry is part 11 of 13 in the series All my novels

After nine novels, you’d think you know what you’re doing. Well, sometimes you’re wrong. And not just a little wrong. Wrong on every level. Fractal wrongness.

Fractal wrongness

Oh, book. Book, book, book.

The book stats

SpyForSpy_CVR_LRGTitle: Spy for a Spy.
Genre: Romantic suspense
Inspiration: I don’t . . . really know. I think I was brainstorming ideas for what I’d like to see Talia take on next, and playing the what-if game, figuring out who the worst, messiest antagonist would be, and how I could make it worse from there.
Writing dates: January? to July 2013.
Length: 70,000 words in the first draft; 88,000-ish in the final version.
Back cover copy:

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. And it was the last place CIA operative Talia Reynolds expected to run into fellow operative Brand Copley. AKA her new boss. AKA her ex-boyfriend.

Just the guy every woman wants to face in the middle of planning her wedding. Once again, Talia’s lying to the man she loves, but this time, to protect his heart.

After Brand takes over Talia’s latest case and steals her newest agent, he assigns her to spy on her old boss—who’s suddenly giving her every reason not to trust him. With only weeks until the big day, planning falls by the wayside as she goes into damage control mode. But when Talia discovers Brand’s real motives, fighting him is the only option, no matter what the personal and professional cost.

What I learned from this book

For a long time, I had no idea what to put here, except for this story:

From the beginning, I knew where I wanted this story to go. I knew why the bad guy was bad, I knew what I wanted to do with the main characters, I knew how I wanted the romance to play out. But then, somehow, it just . . . didn’t. It didn’t quite come together.

Naturally, it didn’t help that I had to interrupt the writing of this novel to have a baby, launch I, Spy, move, and recover. It also didn’t help that because of time constraints, I had to start this novel through my critique group when it was only about 2/3s done. I finally finished the last third not long before I had to send it off, and by then I was starting to get a handle on it, but still. When we started working with my book, it became obvious there were problems that ran deeper than repeating the same paragraph practically word-for-word in six place in the book. (What the heck, brain?!)

Finally, in one meeting, one of my critique partners flat-out told me: “[Bad guy]’s motivation needs to be X.”

And I nearly cried. I don’t think Emily and Julie noticed, but I really did tear up at that moment. Not because my CP was hurting my feelings—but because that was the exact motivation I’d hoped to use, hoped to get across, hoped to convey. Somewhere along the way, I’d lost hope of being able to do that effectively. But to have her point it out not only restored my faith that I might actually be able to do this whole writing thing, but also showed me that I must have done something right in setting it up, and all I needed to do was go back to where the story got off track.

And add another 10,000 words. And edit the whole thing to death. Then send it out to my editor. And edit it again. And again. And then format the ebook. And then typeset the print book.

Kinda hated the book at that point.

As hard as this whole experience was, and as fresh as it is, somehow, I’m already starting to see the good. In just the last few weeks, I’ve managed to stop hating it. Seriously, there were moments as recently as last week where I considered pulling the plug on publishing this novel—or on publishing in general.

But I figured I owed it to the six people who cared (kidding), and I’d already put in all the work (sunk cost is a logical fallacy, self—well, sort of . . . I mean, if I didn’t hit publish, I’d definitely never recoup my investment, right?). The reviews on my blog tour have been so wonderful & so kind, it’s really changed my perspective on what ended up being a somewhat bitter experience to something that I’ve come through a stronger writer and a better person—and a book I might even like.

Speaking of the blog tour! I’ve got some catching up to do on sharing the stops!

Today’s stops!
Lindzee Armstrong + My top 10 ways to FAIL as a spy
I Love to Read and Review Books + a wonderful review!

Saturday’s stops!
Getting Your Read On + an amazing review!
Read a lot Rhonda with a great review!

Friday’s stops!
Westhoff Family Using your spy skills for . . . awesome.
Colorimetry Interview: find out what my favorite scenes in this book were . . . sort of 😉
Ranee` S. Clark Interview: I spill the truth about my past as a spy + Spy tips for . . . potty training? + a fantastic review. Ranee`’s got it going ON!
Lisa Swinton Spy tips for your next RenFaire. I’m totally not kidding.

Promoting my books has never been so fun! PLUS we haven’t even gotten to tomorrow’s Facebook/Twitter launch party!! Come join us!

Photo credits: fractal wrongness—the mad LOLscientist

Spy for a Spy Blog Tour Begins!

We’re celebrating my new novel, Spy for a Spy! Read on to get a cool spy tip for your daily life, free & discounted reads (I, Spy is 99¢!), and enter to win some great prizes! You can also find Spy for a Spy at the special $3.99 launch discount on Amazon, Kobo, and JordanMcCollum.com!

About the Book

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. And it was the last place CIA operative Talia Reynolds expected to run into fellow operative Brand Copley. AKA her new boss. AKA her ex-boyfriend.

Just the guy every woman wants to face in the middle of planning her wedding. Once again, Talia’s lying to the man she loves, but this time, to protect his heart.

After Brand takes over Talia’s latest case and steals her newest agent, he assigns her to spy on her old boss—who’s suddenly giving her every reason not to trust him. With only weeks until the big day, planning falls by the wayside as she goes into damage control mode. But when Talia discovers Brand’s real motives, fighting him is the only option, no matter what the personal and professional cost.

More about Spy for a Spy | Add Spy for a Spy to your Goodreads to-read list!

Hone your spy skills

Spy skills can come in handy in the most unusual situations, like this one . . .

Further hone your spy skills by reading Spy for a Spy!

Join the party & enter to win!

As part of the debut of Spy for a Spy, I’m co-hosting a launch party with Julie Coulter Bellon, author of Pocket Full of Posies. Join us November 12 on Facebook (Jordan’s and Julie’s pages) and Twitter (follow Julie and Jordan) for drawings throughout the day, and enter to win more fabulous prizes here!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special deals!

Spy for a Spy is a sequel to the novel I, Spy, available for 99¢ at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ny site this week only!

To save her country and her secrets, CIA operative Talia Reynolds will have to sacrifice the man she loves. More about I, Spy.

Also, as a free gift this week, I’m giving out free e-copies of the prequel novella, Mr. Nice Spy, on Amazon and here!

Today’s tour stops

Shooting Stars Reviews

Tressa’s Wishful Endings—My top 10 spy tricks for your every day life, and an awesome review of Spy for a Spy!!

Lots more fun spy tips, interviews & reviews coming up!