A few days ago, #PictaBook was released, but I have one more excerpt I wanted to share. Jules and Nix are doing a buddy read of Jaeger’s Lost and Found.
At this point in the story, Nix hasn’t discovered the beauty of books, but he’s starting to. He’s overcome most of the anxiety the thought of reading brings on and is starting to reflect over what it is he’s reading.
From the beginning, Jules has been throwing books in different genres his way in hopes of him finding something he loves. It’s not Jaeger’s Lost and Found, but they’re getting there LOL
Excerpt:
While he ate, he checked PictaBook. FluffyPink had commented on Nix’s review, and so had KyleRichards. Jules took another bite of food and tried to ignore the disappointment blooming in his chest. He clicked the private messages.
ReadingInACorner: Sorry about earlier.
He hesitated before sending it, but he needed to say something about the day. The reply was instant.
SexyDoornail69: It’s cool. You had to work, I understand.
ReadingInACorner: Yes, but I could have… I don’t know, I guess I was shocked to see you. I had no idea you lived here.
SexyDoornail69: It’s okay, Jules. You were busy with all those kids.
Jules smiled and slumped back on the sofa. He loved the children. How adorable, funny, creative little children could grow up and become people was a mystery to him.
He loved children, but couldn’t stand people.
ReadingInACorner: Saw that you’ve gotten a comment from Kyle on your review.
SexyDoornail69: Yeah, and I’ve almost listened to the entire other book you suggested.
Oh? Jules sat up straighter, took a bite of Lo Mein noodles. The story, another paranormal, was about a guy with some social anxiety Jules could relate to and a vampire about to die unless he could reconnect with his coven.
ReadingInACorner: And what do you think?
Jules ate several mouthfuls and had almost given up on getting an answer when the phone finally buzzed.
SexyDoornail69: I like the world, but I would’ve wanted to know more about it. Is it a series? I don’t have much left at all, and there is no way we’ll get to know more about why it rains all the time or what they do to grow food and things when it’s always dark and rainy. And I like the finder and his friend, but I don’t know about the vampire. And was that all the sex? It was nothing.
Jules laughed and looked at Booksy. “He’s a little insane, I think.”
Booksy lifted his gaze from his paw for a second to look at him, then he went back to grooming.
ReadingInACorner: So more sex is what you’re after in your books, but also more world building?
Perhaps it was time to pick a contemporary story. He could ask Nix to read the lumberjack stories he’d read, so they could finish the series together.
SexyDoornail69: Sex, yes! But I don’t know what you mean with the rest.
ReadingInACorner: You want the world described better.
SexyDoornail69: Not too much. I hated when I had to read a page and all it had was a description of something boring.
Jules nodded and took another bite of food.
ReadingInACorner: But now you’re listening to it, so a page wouldn’t be too hard to get through.
SexyDoornail69: Huh, didn’t think of that.
Delicate little bubbles spread in Jules’ chest. Nix was discovering books, and Jules yearned to show them all to him. There were so many worlds, so many adventures, and so many love stories waiting for him.
SexyDoornail69: I’m going to hit the gym, talk to you later.
The gym? Jules grimaced in distaste, but he remembered what Nix looked like. A body like his didn’t come from reading on the couch. Jules had tried it for years and no washboard abs had appeared.
ReadingInACorner: Okay, be careful!
He stared at the words after he’d sent them. Nix would think he was insane, but the gym was a scary place—lots of strangers and strange machines.
Jules Rose leads a quiet life working as a librarian. He’s happy to spend his spare time reading books and talking to his homicidal cat. What more could he wish for? But when his cozy Friday night is shattered by a friend request on his book community app, politeness gives him little choice but to accept. Jules doesn’t want to talk to anyone, but he can’t be rude. Besides, if he had to talk about something, books is the topic he’d pick.
Phoenix Ford is dyslexic and avoids everything that has to do with the written word, but when the colleague he’s trying to impress calls him stupid, he decides to convince the other man, he’s mistaken. All he needs is the right book to make him look smart, a perfect balance between intelligent and short. And who better to ask for help than a guy who loves books so much, he labeled one boner-worthy on a book app?
When Jules finds out Phoenix never has read a book from start to finish, he’s on a mission. He will find the right book, the book that will make Phoenix fall in love — with reading. Phoenix’s plan might have been to listen to the book Jules picked for him to impress his colleague, but that was before he got to know him. Talking about books is a sure way to Jules’ heart, but is it enough for him to agree to go on a date?
Ofelia Grand 