Tragic
JA Huss
Series: Rook and Ronin
Published on May 20, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, New Adult, Romance, Romantic Suspense
Rook is homeless, jobless, and down to her last ten dollars when she stumbles into a once in a lifetime opportunity—a chance to model for the internationally famous photographer, Antoine Chaput, in a campaign called TRAGIC.
After years of struggling and abuse, Rook is wary of making new friends and she keeps her past life close. But sexy and seductive supermodel, Ronin, latches onto her heart and never lets go. Soon she’s drawn into a world of beautiful people, deep dark secrets, and more exposure than she can handle.
She’s on a wild ride—life is exciting, sex is selling, and the money is flowing. But there might be more to this world than she ever imagined. There might be more to these people than she ever imagined. Because no one, and nothing, is exactly what it seems.
DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN TWO SIGNED COPIES OF TRAGIC (both covers) AND A $15 GIFT CARD
What started innocently as one sexy new-adult book turned into a three-book series, a four book spin-off, and entire new series based on the spin-offs, a NYT bestseller, the darkest book I’ve ever written, and now, as we near the end of this amazing journey that started with one girl who took a chance on a guy in the smut business – the final book, Wasted Lust.
When people ask me “What book did you write?” I don’t know what to say. I was asked this question in the Dallas airport last Sunday. I had some time to kill, so I was in this fancy purse store looking for gifts for my mother and daughter. They like fancy purses. As the salesperson was wrapping up my purchases, she asked me why I was in Dallas.
Well, I was there for the RT convention. If you’re not familiar, that’s a big deal in the romance world. It’s for readers, blogger, authors, and publishers. Just a way to catch up, network, and have some fun all in one place.
So of course, when someone finds out you’re an author they ask you “What book did you write?” And I always have the same problem. Which book do I talk about?
I’ve written a lot of books. I have an entire new-adult post-apocalyptic dystopia series (I Am Just Junco – Clutch, Fledge, Flight, Range, Magpie Bridge, Return). I have Tragic, of course. And the two books that deal with the relationship between Rook & Ronin, Manic and Panic. I could tell them about those two series.
But there are so many more books! Ford and Spencer each have two books (Slack and Taut and Bomb and Guns, respectively). And the Dirty, Dark, and Deadly series has three (Come, Come Back, and Coming For You)
Plus there is my NYT Bestseller, Three, Two, One (321) and the psychological thriller spin-off of DDD, Meet Me In The Dark.
I told the salesperson about 321, obviously.
It’s my bestselling book. But all this began two years ago, to the day, with Tragic. And if anyone really wants to see what my stories are about, they start there. Because I like to connect the dots. And I’ve been connecting the dots in every book listed above since the beginning.
I like complicated stories. I like to weave the plots in a way that leaves you breathless. You can read all those books above, pick up Tragic, and find something new in there on the re-read that pertains to another book in my catalog, that’s how much I like to connect the dots. (example – Antoine’s studio in Tragic is in the same downtown Denver neighborhood as Ark’s boss in 321)
And it’s kinda hard to see where I’m going when I’m in the middle of it. Slack was the first book (the Ford novella that released December 17, 2013) that I really started to get into the Easter egg business. In case you’re not familiar, an Easter egg is an intentional inside joke, hidden message, or feature in a work such as a computer program, video game, movie, book, or crossword puzzle. (source: Wikipedia).
I love the Easter egg hunt. Stephen King does them very well. Anne Rice, George RR Martin – anyone who writes epic stories loves to plant the Easter egg. I am no different. So in Slack I planted an egg named Merc. His book released last month (Meet Me In The Dark) a year and a half after I made him up. A lot of people didn’t “get” that Slack book at the time, but once you realize it was nothing but an egg (yes, the whole book was an egg), and you continue reading (Taut, Bomb, Guns, Come, Come Back, Coming For You, 321, and MMITD) you start to realize what I did. Because I also planted an egg named Sasha.
I identify the most with Rook, the main character in Tragic, Manic, and Panic. But my favorite female character to date is Sasha. She is never what she seems. And when I started to write Wasted Lust (The Sasha Book – A Dark Suspense Spin-off) I wasn’t sure if I should try to get new readers and keep things simple or reveal all the eggs I had hidden in previous books. You can probably guess which one I chose.
Of course, this is superfan stuff. Casual JA Huss readers are not interested in eggs. They just want what they want. But chances are those people probably give up on me in book two, Manic. I don’t think I have a lot of casual readers as fans.
Tragic is also nothing but an egg. You meet a guy who looks a little bit like a prince. You have high hopes for him. He’s the real deal. But then in book two things take a turn and suddenly you’re not quite sure what’s going on.
Rook is this tragic girl. A victim on the outside but a warrior on the inside. And you get to book three and suddenly she’s not so squeaky clean anymore. But aren’t we all that way? I don’t know any squeaky clean people. I know a lot of people who struggle, make mistakes, find success, make new mistakes, fine more success, deal with loss… all of this is the story of human nature.
I love the fact that Rook and Ronin start out as erotic models and end up where they go in the final spin-off, Guns. It’s an epic tale. It’s worthy of all the eggs. And if you like a story filled with romance, suspense, real-life problems, smart characters, and twisted plots that leave you shaking your head at the end – this is the book I wrote.
So to the salesperson at the Brighton store in the Dallas airport who asked “What book did you write?” – here they are. And if you read them in order from beginning to end, you will be immersed in a story filled with love, lust, crime, punishment, loss, regret, revenge, sadness, elation, surprise, tears, laughter, and every other human emotion you can think of.
Because I don’t write books, I tell stories. And this one is epic from the first word in Tragic to the last word in Wasted Lust.
Tragic is not a book, it’s a story that takes you on a journey of a lifetime and it all starts here:
Rook and Ronin
Tragic
Manic
Panic
Omnibus Edition
Rook and Ronin Spinoffs
Slack: A Day in the Life of Ford Aston
Taut: The Ford Book
Bomb: A Day in the Life of Spencer Shrike
Guns: The Spencer Book
Dirty, Dark, and Deadly
Come
Come Back
Coming For You
A Dark Suspense
Three, Two, One (321)
Meet Me In The Dark
A Dark Suspense Spin-off
Wasted Lust (Coming 6-24-15)
About JA Huss
JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.
You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).
If you’re interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.
Michelle
My favorite Rook moment is when she keeps the card that will ultimately change her life. Happy Anniversary to Tragic!
Jennifer O'Connell
I read it a long time ago, so I don’t recall a favorite moment, but I recall loving the whole thing!
Kimberlee Wertens
My Fav Moment was when she got Ford to read to her during the painting sessions!
Ginelle Blanch
I love the scene for the shoot that they do in the rain…where Ronin is staring right at the camera and Rook is lost to Ronin’s…ahem…hands 😉
Tessa
Thanks for the chance!
Clare Flack
There are so many parts i love, and i love when he named her Gidget too. Thank you for the chance.
Wendy LeGrand
My favorite Rook moment was when they were in Ronin’s apartment and they were handing the orange back and forth and Ronin stuck his foot in his mouth talking about how he takes his “dates” or girls to a room in the building to have sex…and Rook just looks at him and walks out, leaving him standing there wondering how the whole day changed because he was talking about fruit baskets.
Lauren
The photo shoot under the Cherry Tree
Michelle Tan
One of my favorite moments is when Ronin kisses Rook and then Rook says “Roninn Flynn, you might undo me.” And Ronin say “I’m already undone Gidge. I’m just hoping you’ll stick around long enough to put me back together.”
Christine Stalker
My favorite moment is when Ford reads to her while she is being painted.
Christine Stalker
My favorite moment is when Ford reads to her.
Claudia
Absolutely love the series with passion as much as I love James & Harper’s Series, 321 or any of your awesome stories! Got them also for my daughter and my fav nice! Would you ever planning to have a 24 hour sale on this amazing series? Thank you for those awesome stories that take me away to another world where nothing can’t touch me! You are AMAZING!
Kristy Petree
I loved all three books, but it has been a while since I read them (and all I can think about is Spencer 😉 ). So I’ll go with the Cherry Tree photo shoot. Thanks!
Kristy
The part i loved was when ronin was pushing rook on the swing under the trees on the terrace was a pretty & descriptive scene well all your books are very descriptive like body painting in manic i freaking loved that but in tragic it was this scene i loved it was sweet & innocent
Lisa Cauley
I definitely need to do a re-read. I remember their first photo shoot being HOT!! And I fell hard for Ronin.
Veronica
Happy Anniversary My fav part is when Rook and Ronin first meet
Dee Swan
The Cherry tree photo shoot.. Thanks!
Staci Pope
I loved Ford reading to her….*sigh*
Alana Daniels
Mine was the scene in the rain…
Hannah
I haven’t read it yet, but it is on my list!!
Maria
I haven’t read the book yet, thank you for the chance!
Sheesh4
I have not read this series yet, but I’ve heard great things about it and I love all of J.A. Huss’s books
Lori Mitchell
It’s been awhile since I read it, but the scene in the rain stands out.
Melissa Jones
I’ve had this on my kindle for some time and am sad to admit that I haven’t read yet (hangs head in shame), authors need to quit releasing new books so I can catch up lol. Thanks so much for the giveaway!! Happy Book Anniversary!!!
Jules
So many great scenes to choose from! I love the first photo shoot with Ronin and Rook.
Margay
I have a lot of favorites, but I kind of like when she had to go to the diner the first time and tell them she belonged to Ronin so she could eat.
Maria Theresa Santos
i love the first kiss between them
Marie Jocke
I’m not entering because you know I already have all your books signed. But you know how much I love your books and it all started with Tragic at the beginning. I fell in love with Rook and Ronin when they shampooed each other’s hair and became Gidget and Larue. And then you gave me Spencer. And then Ford. And I will love you always for that.
angelina
I love the cherry tree moments
Mary Preston
No favorite yet.
Teja K.
I haven’t read it yet, cannot wait to read it though.
Tammy Marie
Love all your books!
Diana Freeman
Thanks for the chance.
Julie
Rook & Ronin series is my favorite of all your series.
Donna Reynolds
I loved Tragic I can’t pick just one favorite moment, it’s in my top 5 books ever!
Tammie D
It’s been a while since I read it, but one of my favorite scenes is the cherry tree scene.
marika
When Ford reads to her
Carolyn J
Have not read but its on TBR
Valerie Spearman
I have not the book. I would like to. Thank you for the chance.
Deb P
I have not read the book yet. Hope too.
Marija Josevska
thanks for the chance, I love her books
Diana Doan
I loved that scene, but the scene in the rain is also a favorite!
Irma Jurejevčič
I haven’t read it yet. Only Ford from this series.
Priscilla Slone Thacker
I love every book of yours I have read. I love their photo shoot but I love the scene you are talking about as well <3
Christina Riggs
I haven’t read any of her work yet. But I plan to.
rachelle
Happy Anniversary ❤❤❤❤
lea
when Ford reads to her…
Betul E.
I havent read it yet!