Drew in Blue [Kindle Edition]

J.M. Kelley (Author)

Book Description

Drew Doyle’s done a lot of stupid things in his life, but the biggest mistake by far was not paying attention to that 2% failure rate listed on the back of the condom box.

Drew in Blue is the story of a thirty-six year old loner unexpectedly saddled with the task of raising a baby while trying to sort out his mess of a life. Problem is, he just keeps making things worse for himself. It’s a running theme in Drew’s life, considering he never does anything the easy way. The River’s View, Pennsylvania gossip mill is watching each misstep as Drew juggles a price-gouging babysitter, a major case of artist’s block, and a best friend with an opinion to share on every bungled choice he makes.

His love life isn’t faring much better. Despite a long history of relationships that never really get off the ground, he falls head over heels for someone new, hoping that she might be the one to end his romantic bad luck streak. Things finally start looking up for Drew, until he finds out (the hard way, naturally) that this new love interest isn’t the one for him after all. Turns out, it’s actually lifelong pal, and high school girlfriend, Kristina Moser.

Drew’s feelings for Kris intensify as he witnesses her growing bond with his son, and he finally realizes where he belongs. Now all he has to do is convince Kris he’s right… and she’s just not buying it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J.M. Kelley, a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, is a writer of love stories, a painter, a painfully bad knitter, and a photographer – if the pursuit is artistic, chances are she’s dabbled in it. After a lengthy break that included adventures in accounting and coffee distribution, she returned to her passion for writing with that old adage write what you know whispering from the deep recesses of her mind. She realized that she knows how to read a book on a moving skateboard, that if you’re riding shotgun in a pick-up truck, ‘mud’ can be used as a verb, Amish traffic jams can wreak havoc on your morning commute, and Hog Maw is not to be experienced by the faint of heart. While this list of knowledge seemed random and borderline nonsensical, it led her to one rock-solid conclusion: life in the Keystone State is a rich and endless source of inspiration. And so, she sat down in front of her laptop and began to piece together a story about life in small-town Pennsylvania – something she knows a thing or two about. The result of this epiphany is Drew in Blue, a contemporary love story set in the fictional Appalachian town of River’s View, Pennsylvania, and filled with quirky characters that pay homage to the real life characters she’s had the pleasure of knowing all her life. She's a member of the Romance Writers of America (PRO), The International Women's Writing Guild, Pennwriters, and the South Carolina Writer's Workshop. Her short story, Killing Me Softly, earned a first place finish in the In Other Words Competition at the 2010 Pennwriters Conference, and her non-fiction piece, Anniversary, earned a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Award at the 2010 South Carolina Writer's Workshop Conference.

Product Details

• File Size: 462 KB
• Print Length: 268 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1612580556
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: LazyDay Publishing; 1 edition (November 30, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004E1142O
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,821 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It has it all--a well-structured plot, a beautifully detailed setting, and at its heart, a unique and beautiful love story! February 1, 2011

By Carole "The Romance Reviews"

Format:Kindle Edition

I adore this book. So much so that I read it twice before sitting down to write this review. Simply put, it has it all--a well-structured plot, a beautifully detailed setting, a winning supporting cast, and at its heart, a unique and beautiful love story.

Drew Doyle has no desire to be a parent, and no trust in his paternal instincts. Having grown up in a series of foster homes following his mother's sudden death, he has never had a good model for how to raise and nurture a child. Which isn't a problem--until he finds himself with a son. Following an unplanned pregnancy, his ex-girlfriend leaves four-week-old Nick on Drew's doorstep and drives away. Seeing another little boy who has been abandoned by his mother, Drew vows to care for the baby, even though he has no clue where to begin. In desperation, he turns to his best friend, Kristina Moser, a fellow artist, his first love, and best friend for advice and support, relying on her to bring a sense of normalcy back into his life.

But Nick's arrival changes everything. Drew no longer has the luxury of thinking only of himself. His time and his future are now tied up in Nick--and any potential relationship Drew might pursue has to be with someone who is willing to take on the role of mother as well as partner. He sets out to find the perfect woman to fill the role, but eventually comes to realize that the person he has been looking for might be the one who's been there all along...

The relationship between Kris and Drew is brilliantly written. They are close enough to be honest with each other, even with some very painful subjects. They understand each other--sometimes even better than they understand themselves, and love each other even though they are completely aware of their shortcomings and weaknesses. In Drew's narrative, there was something that felt off, or lonely somehow, when he was alone with Nick or dealing with other characters. When Kris is around and part of his life, however, there is a sense of completion about both characters that is magical to read. When they finally do come together, it makes for one of the best scenes I've read in a very long time.

But Drew and Kris are not the only love story in this book. This is also the story of Drew and his son Nick. And, again, the story of these two lonely characters feels wonderfully honest. Here, there is the awkwardness of a new relationship, the overwhelming fear of failure and the humor of the unexpected. Also, for Drew, there is the need to learn how to deal with the loss of his mother and his own role in Nick's life. At a critical moment in the story, Drew finds a letter that his mother wrote to him when he was a baby that sheds light on the person she was and all that life could have been for them together. While the scene itself is absolutely heart wrenching, it leads Drew to want to get to know his son--to cherish him as well as care for him. And from there, it only gets better. Watching the bond between dad and son grow is a complete joy, and as fulfilling as the scenes between Drew and Kris.

I loved the fact that this book was told from Drew's point of view. It was fascinating to get in the head of the man in the story and see the world through his eyes. It's a perspective that I haven't seen in many romance books, and one I certainly haven't seen done so well in a very long time. Drew manages to be strong, capable and still vulnerable, and reading his story as he tells it was refreshing and really moving. His revelations about child rearing are both hysterically funny and hauntingly emotional, and the way he describes his love for Kris made my heart skip a beat.

As I said before, I love this book. It made me laugh and made me cry, which is something that almost never happens. I fell in love with Drew, Kris and Nick from the start and couldn't put the story down until I had made the entire journey with them. The story felt so real and so honest, and was told with such genuine feeling and love that, to be honest, I can't wait to read it again!

Reviewed by Bridget
for The Romance Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Review will be posted at Everybody Needs a Little Romance January 28, 2011

By Heather Brewer

Format:Kindle Edition

Drew in Blue by JM Kelley
* I received this ARC/book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Drew in Blue is about so much more than the brief glimpse we get in the synposis. Drew grew up in the small ltown of River's View and even though he moved away for awhile, he decided to come back home to set up roots. He's an artist with severe writer's block and hopes something will stir his creative juices because his money is about to run out.

When his ex drops off his son and says "here you go" he is dumbfounded and doesn't know what to do. He grew up in foster care and is determined to be a father to his son, no matter how many times he screws up. With the help of Kris, his best friend, he bumbles his way through it.

Kris falls in love with the Nick a little more each day. She is there whenever Nick and Drew need her, no matter what. She and Drew have been best friends since they were little kids and she would do anything for him, except date him again.

Drew is a very complex character, even though it doesn't seem that way when you first meet him. He doesn't have any family and has a handful of friends. He displays his artwork at the studio in town that Kris owns and he lives a simple life. He is forced to grow up and take stock of where he is in life when Nick becomes his responsibility. He fumbles through it like any new dad would but finally gets the hang of it.

His has bad luck with relationships but manages to remain friends with his ex girlfriends. When he meets Valerie, he is sure things will be different this time, but they're not. While on vacation with Nick, he does a lot of thinking about his past relationships and why they didn't work out. He draws one conculsion, none of the girls measure up to Kris. Now he just has to convence here that she is the one for him.

There are so many wonderful moments in this story. It's filled with humor, love, and heartache that tug on your heart strings. One of my favorite scenes was when he was reading the letter and Kris was there to hold him through it all, it just broke my heart.

The turn around in Drew was the other thing that impressed me about his character. He grew so much throughout the book and became a man focused on providing for his child rather than feeling sorry for himself. Kris was so much fun to read, I love her ability to dish it out with the best of them. She's a strong female lead that knows what she wants out of life and the perfect complement for Drew.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and was really surprised by the whole thing. I highly recommend it, it's a great contemporary love story from a new author. I give Drew in Blue 4˝ Flaming Hearts.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great first novel! April 12, 2011

By Marie Nicole

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this story. I'd call it a page-turner, but in reality for me it was a page-clicker. A great romance without the wishy-washy harlequin style. It's basically a best friend become amazing partners thanks to a totally unexpected event. I recommend this book to anybody. Such a fun read!

More About the Author

After one too many Snowmaggedon shoveling catastrophes, J.M. Kelley, a native of Pennsylvania, loaded her car with all of her belongings and moved to sunny South Carolina. A year later, she finds herself shivering when temperatures dip to fifty degrees, and battles against the slight Southern accent she seems to be developing. When not toiling away at her day job, she can be found huddled over her laptop in a quiet corner of her favorite coffee shop, slurping a caffeine-laden milkshake as she writes.

J.M. Kelley is a proud recipient of a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Award. Drew in Blue, her debut novel, was nominated for Best Contemporary of 2010 by The Romance Reviews, and is a TRR and Night Owl Reviews Top Pick. Her second novel, Daddy's Girl, will be published in January 2013. Her short story, Siren Song, is included in the anthology Foreign Affairs, from Turquoise Morning Press, available August 8, 2012.

Visit www.jmkelleywrites.com for news and information!