Thursday, May 25, 2017

New Release - THE MONET MURDERS (Art of Murder Book II)

So, remember when I mentioned falling off a mountain (okay, it was just a little mountain, but still) and had to push the release of The Monet Murders back another month because I'd injured my back and was medicated and things were really not going well?

Well, I did finally manage to finish the book and it released yesterday. That's the good news. The bad news is, in my panic to get the file uploaded before the deadline, I somehow (see above: two kinds of prescription pain medications were in play) grabbed the wrong damned file. And because I'd already waited to the last minute, there was no way of updating until the book went live.

Which it did. Missing about 15,000 words. And necessary words, at that.

The correct version is available on Smashwords, Kobo...and shortly Nook and iBooks, but it sounds like it's still going to be another (possibly) 24 hours before the correct edition is live on Amazon. Which means roughly 3000 people got that wrong version.

This is embarrassing. I CANNOT APOLOGIZE ENOUGH. I am sincerely sorry. I know how disappointing it is when you've been waiting and waiting and waiting and then the thing you've been waiting for arrives broken in the box.

(And, by the way, thank you to those of you who have been so very kind and understanding about the mix-up. My first ever mix-up, I want to point out, in all these years and all those books. )

Most of the people who pre-ordered through Amazon will not see this post, or any of my other posts on social media, so...if you should hear someone cursing my name down through the ages, it would be very kind of you to let them know what's happening. If their Kindle account is not set for automatic updates, it's unlikely they'll know to click that Updates Available button.

Anyway.

BLURB:

The last thing Jason West, an ambitious young FBI special agent with the Art Crime Team, wants—or needs—is his uncertain and unacknowledged romantic relationship with irascible legendary Behavioral Analysis Unit Chief Sam Kennedy.
And it’s starting to feel like Sam is not thrilled with the idea either.

But personal feelings must be put aside when Sam requests Jason’s help to catch a deranged killer targeting wealthy, upscale art collectors. A killer whose calling card is a series of grotesque paintings depicting the murders.

EXCERPT:

For a time he was occupied in playing shuffleboard with the buses and delivery trucks and taxis clogging the crowded streets, but inevitably his thoughts circled back to the passenger in the seat beside him.
Given how irate Jason had been at being conscripted into Kennedy’s investigation, it was odd that what he mostly felt now was a sense of letdown, even disappointment, that Kennedy would not be returning.
But wasn’t it normal that his feelings should be confused? The situation was just…so strange. All those months. And when they finally did get together…
Nothing.
Worse than nothing. It was like they had never met. Never made lov— Oh, hell no. Not that. Never had sex. That’s what he meant.
His anger faded, leaving him depressed, disheartened. What the hell had happened to change everything? He just couldn’t understand it. He was baffled.
Yeah. Baffled.
The traffic lurched to a sudden standstill. Jason’s phone vibrated. He ignored it. Around them, a few impatient drivers vented their frustration with honks, but the seconds continued to tick by. Pedestrians in every size, shape, and color crowded the sidewalk beside them, darting around the cones and sawhorses and hoses of the workmen tearing up the pavement with jackhammers. The pound of the pneumatic drills was not as loud as the silence stretching between himself and Kennedy.
In disbelief, Jason heard his own voice—hesitant, slightly strained—break the silence.
“Look. Did I…do something?”
“No,” Kennedy said at once. And that was a relief. A relief that Kennedy did him the courtesy of not pretending he didn’t understand. In fact, it was as if he had been sitting there thinking the same thing as Jason. “It isn’t you. It’s nothing you’ve done or didn’t do.”
He didn’t elaborate, though, so Jason—who already felt like he was out on a very flimsy limb—had to stretch still further.
“Because I don’t understand.” Excruciating to have to put this into words. His face felt hot, and his heart was pounding as though this was a high-risk situation. He was not used to it. Not used to…caring so much. It wasn’t that he’d never been turned down before or even been dumped. It always stung, but it hadn’t hurt. Not really. Not like this.
Kennedy didn’t answer immediately, and Jason couldn’t bear the silence.
“Is it the promotion? Are you thinking that I would somehow trade on our friendship? Or that other people might think I was trading on our friendship?”
“No,” Kennedy said, again adamant. “I don’t think that. And I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks.”
So what the hell was it? Because he was not wrong, not imagining things. Kennedy was confirming it was over. But he wasn’t telling him why, and that really was the part Jason needed to understand. They’d talked two weeks ago, and there had been no hint that everything was not…
Was not what?
Okay? Fine? Normal? None of that applied. They’d had a long-distance relationship that was more like phone tag. In other words, they’d had nothing.
And kudos to Kennedy for recognizing that fact and breaking it off.
Although this was more like passive resistance than breaking it off. But whatever. Over. Done. Finito. Let it go, West. It only gets more embarrassing from here.
A couple of excruciatingly long seconds passed while he tried to think of a way to change the subject, scrabble to the solid ground of…anything, for the love of God. How about them Cubs?
The traffic ahead of them crept forward, and Jason eased off the brake, letting the Dodge roll a couple of inches.
Because I care about you, Jason. More than I thought I could.
His eyes blurred.
Jesus Fucking Christ. Was he about to cr—tear up over this? No way. And sure as hell not when Kennedy was sitting right beside him. For God’s sake.
Kennedy said suddenly, “I…like you. Nothing has changed.”
Right. Except everything.
Jason made a sound in the back of his throat that was supposed to be…not what it sounded like. Which made him angry and enabled him to get out a terse, “Right.”
“But it isn’t…practical to try to…” Kennedy was picking words as painstakingly as somebody gathering shards of glass. “It’s not enough to…build on.”
Wow. Maybe he was misremembering, but getting shot three times hadn’t hurt this much. And anyway, what the hell did that mean? It’s not like Jason had been pushing for more. He had accepted Sam’s terms. Not that Sam had really given him terms.
He wanted to say something to the effect of what he had said in Kingsfield: Whatever. It was just supposed to be a fucking date.
But of course it wasn’t just a date. Not anymore. Somehow they had managed to move beyond that never-to-be date to something more. Something deeper. And yet less concrete than even a date.
It made no sense for him to sit here like his heart was breaking when they didn’t even know each other. It was ridiculous. Pathetic.
“It’s okay,” he said flatly. “You’re right.”
He felt Kennedy look at him, but he kept staring straight ahead. He shrugged.
“I should have told you sooner,” Kennedy said. “Made my position clear.” Had it been anyone but Sam Kennedy, Jason would have said there was guilt—regret?—in his tone. “But I like talking to you.”
“Yeah. Well.” He was relieved his voice had steadied again, because inside he was a churning mess of confused emotion. Mostly pain. “I liked talking to you too.”

Neither of them had anything to say after that, and the nearby crush and crash of broken cement filled the distance between them.


Buy it!
Barnes and Noble
Amazon (but maybe you should wait until tomorrow -- seriously)

132 comments:

  1. I hope the people who were THISQUICK to post negative rants on Amazon or elsewhere are also as quick to rescind their comments. Such a shame they didn't think a mistake could have been made and given it some time before getting out there...hope you are doing better with your injury.....
    RDAFAN7

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It's my experience that people who leave one and two-star reviews never revise, no matter what the circumstances.

      I'm so much better! I've cut out almost all the pain meds and am down to muscle relaxants only. Progress! :-D

      Delete
    2. Mistakes happen and nobody is perfect. Would be boring, right!? ;-)

      Is the complete version now on amazon.de? My book still ends with chapter 20 despite the Kindle account setting for automatic updates. :-(
      And I can't wait to know what happens in the end.

      Delete
    3. According to Amazon's Customer Service department, the update IS there.

      But there or not, it seems like an awful lot of people cannot get the update to go through.

      I think the best thing to do is give Amazon a quick call -- or use their chatline. People seem to be getting the best results that way.

      Delete
    4. Oh wow, so glad I saw this. I preordered and finished (I thought) last night. Was so puzzled by why mystery wasn't solved. Excited to finish for real now.

      Delete
    5. I deleted my review after I learned of the mistake, no problem. I think the passion came from having such a great book end abruptly. I usually don't write reviews at all. So....thanks fellow fans for the extra shaming for having an honest response. I may just wait a year and then read the whole thing again without all the baggage. I will recover and still enjoy everything you write.peace.

      Delete
    6. I know. Sympathy. Sometimes my honest response is to want to punch people in the face, but it's usually better to wait, cool down, maybe verify I have all the facts, and THEN punch people in the face. ;-)

      Delete
    7. Today is May 31st in Australia... after a lengthy 'chat' with amazon yest and another phone call with amazon today, the reps say 'the author has not uploaded the revised edition yet', so no way to update file, suggested I wait a few days... bit of a nightmare indeed - any advice Josh Lanyon???

      Delete
    8. Oh, how frustrating! The correct file is uploaded and I've had readers in AU assuring me they've been able to get the updates, so I'm not sure what the solution is. If ou want to email me a copy of your order, I can send you a copy of the mobi file? You should be able to send that directly to your kindle.

      Delete
  2. You are only human ! And you're still getting better! No one is going to blame you! Hope you can rest a little bit better now that this is over.

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    1. You're so kind, artemicia. Thank you! :-)

      Delete
    2. It seems I was a little bit hasty on assuming no one will blame you/ accuse you but as your reader I feel they should know this abrupt ending isn't your style (or I at least am not familiar with it). Patience and giving the other the benefit of doubt seems to be two practices that are getting extinct.

      Delete
    3. It's a certain type of mentality that chooses to rant rather than find out what's actually going on. But yes, the idea that I would suddenly throw a half-finished book out and be okay with it -- and expect readers to be okay with it -- is ridiculous.

      Delete
  3. Haha, I'm so glad I read your blog, because I was absolutely baffled by the "ending". I thought "...that can't be it, right?" And apparently I was right ;)

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    1. Right? :-D

      I am floored by the number of people who think I'd throw an incomplete book out there and be okay with it.

      Really?

      Delete
    2. Honestly I was like ... I guess the mystery goes until the next book? :) Am on the phone with Kindle Support and they can't figure out help...

      Delete
  4. Do extra 15,000 words come after final scene? I will be frantically updating my kindle all day today in anticipation ... I do love this series ... and I'm glad there's more ... the wait until The Magician Murders (book 3) seems so excruciatingly long ❤❤❤ ...

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    1. Hahahahaha. Good question!

      Yes. A lot of those words do come AFTER that scene. The truth is I keep tweaking the book until the point I actually upload, but most of the word count follows that scene.

      The final word of the final copy of the book is "excuses."

      (And how appropriate is that?!) :-D

      Delete
    2. I got Amazon CS to push update to kindle yesterday as per your recommendation. Super easy, super fast! I started reading from Chapter 20 again and noticed that there were things added that were not there before. So this is a perfect excuse to re-read the entire book again ... which honestly, I would have done anyway! I love this book and this series. The characters are compelling, as is the story. I'm glad we don't have to wait until The Magician Murders for resolution (not that it makes the wait any easier). The actual ending is so lovely and I'm glad it is not the angsty cliffhanger that I originally read in Chapter 20 ;) ...

      I hope you feel better soon. For my sciatica, I find keeping a gel back in the freezer helps ... whenever I feel an attack coming on I use it on my lower back to reduce inflammation and allow my body to heal naturally.

      Thank you again ... I absolutely loved this book/series. I'm a huge, huge fan of your work!

      Delete
    3. Thank you so much for letting me know! I've been so concerned with people getting the correct version, I haven't had time to consider how anybody likes the book! :-D

      Delete
  5. Reading the excerpt from the book has made it VERY hard to wait until tomorrow, but I'm a believer that truly, good things come to those who wait!

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    1. YAY. It looks like the correct version is now on Amazon, so if you haven't yet purchased, you should be good. :-)

      Delete
    2. Just a note that I haven't received an update here in the US and when I chatted with Amazon and they pushed a new version out to me, it still wasn't complete. They weren't seeing an update so pushing it out to me wasn't likely to work but they tried!

      Delete
    3. That's...confusing. I would have to say that is going to be pilot error on the part of that customer service person because I bought the book myself, it's the updated version, so it is absolutely there.

      I heard all day yesterday from people who quickly got the help they needed from Amazon's CS team, so I really do think that was just that particular customer service person.

      I'm so sorry about this.

      Delete
  6. Sounds like it's just people who like to throw a hissy fit. If I'd gotten to the end and wondered what was up, I'd have asked you.

    If you're like me, you have at least half a dozen copies at various stages in several folders on something like DropBox. I had to update one of my books on Amazon because I'd grabbed the wrong one. Fortunately, it was only the extra stuff at the end that hadn't made it.

    I'm only about 50% in at this point. I promised myself that if I buckled down and got some more words into Save a Horse, Dive a Cowboy (STILL your fault), I'd reward myself with the rest of the book. I guess I'll be writing until Amazon catches up. Maybe that's a good thing for the WIP.

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    1. It's clear that a couple of those reviewers could tell it was a mistake, but their instinct is to be unkind in public. Which...that's about them, not me and not the book.

      Delete
  7. One time after Miss Butterwith had cleaned the window, and I thought the window was open, because it was so clear, and I walked right into it. So I just pretended like I meant to do it, and then sat down and had a thorough washing and everything was fine.
    Maybe you should try that.
    Meow.
    ps. Even Miss Butterwith makes mistakes sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Everybody can make an error, can miss a deadline and can forget to buy coffee. Yes, Hans it is possible! We say in Germany "Einmal ist keinmal"(one time is not once). BUT, that is not appropriate for murder.

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  9. Hi Josh.

    Will it be out in paperback also and if so when?
    Looking forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. Probably within the next week.

      And it will be in audio, it sounds like end of August/early September.

      Delete
    2. Hi Josh.
      Sorry to bother you Again, but the paperback has yet to be listed on amazon. Do you have a new date for the release or another place where one can by the paperback edition. I absolutely LOVED the book by the way.

      Delete
    3. Hi Maya! So glad you enjoyed it. The paperback version is now available on Amazon, in case you missed it. http://amzn.to/2triznk

      Delete
  10. I can wait until Amazon figures it out. Especially for a Josh Lanyon book! No worries on my end. Hope you healed well.

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    1. Thank you, Blake!

      I'm getting there, thank God. It was a little bit of a shock not to immediately bounce back, but in the last couple of weeks, I feel like I turned the corner.

      Delete
  11. Yikes, I'm sorry you have to deal with this on top of an injury!

    How many Chapters is the updated version? I'm trying to figure out if my copy "updated" yet. Do you know if the new version is up on Amazon.ca?

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    1. I don't think it is yet. :-(

      You should have 24 Chapters.

      Delete
    2. Thank you! I'll keep checking :)

      Delete
  12. I really enjoyed both versions. And yes, the final cut is really amazing. I had to contact Amazon to get it so they would manually update my kindle... and I learned that I brought the book two times XD...

    I'm really happy to have seen Jason and Sam again. <3

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

      It's so frustrating that people are having to ask Amazon to manually update. This should not be happening.

      Delete
    2. How do you get amazon to update a kindle version? Mine isn't updating despite re-downloading (amazon uk).

      Delete
    3. I'm hearing different things from different readers.

      The simplest thing may be to simply chat on line with Customer Service and get them to push the updates through.

      Some people have had good luck by deleting the file and then redownloading.

      I don't think the Update Available button is showing yet for most people, so the option is probably customer service or deleting and then waiting a bit to download again.

      Delete
    4. Now having just said that, a friend tells me she just got an email from Amazon saying an update was available. So it looks like the updates may be starting to come through now.

      Delete
    5. I personnaly choose to bother Amazon by going with the chat option because I didn't want to wait.

      I honestly think the most frustrated and anxious one is you, Josh -and for a good reason-. As an avid reader of your work, I honestly didn't mind the mistake. I felt more impatient and childish than frustrated. (I was like a kid going back to the christmas tree to see if there was gifts beneath the branchs.)

      ... And I think I will go even more crazy when Kit and J.X will be back. I'm far too crazy about those two. Your books are christmas all over again multiple times a year. o/

      Delete
    6. That one should be a fun book to write. Kit is such a nut. :-D

      Delete
  13. That's rough. I'm always terrified I'll upload the wrong version to Amazon, even when I'm not doped up on pain meds. :-)

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    1. To be honest, I've done it before, but always with time to correct. This time I was down to the wire, and when I realized what had happened, it was too late. Argh.

      Delete
  14. Not being known for my patience, I just went over to IBooks and bought it again rather than waiting for Amazon. Totally worth it!! I'm glad you're on the mend :)

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    Replies
    1. You're one of my "one-click authors," so that was a no-brainer! 2018 does seem very far away right now ;) I know good things come to those who wait, but I believe I already mentioned I lack patience! Thanks for another great read!!

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much! I have to say, after the marathon of this one, 2018 feels like it's breathing down my neck. :-D

      Delete
  15. Amazon UK has the full version (I'd lost track of the date so forgot to pre-order!).
    So after wincing that we really are nearly halfway through the year already at least I have a good book to look forward to!

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    Replies
    1. :-) Thank goodness. Last I checked, the changes had still not made it to Amazon Canada.

      Delete
  16. Hi Josh,
    let me start by saying that I read and loved nearly all your novels and novellas. I also enjoyed reading your new book yesterday and finished it this morning or so I thought until I read your post. And now I have very mixed feelings about your revelation. On the one hand it is funny because I really thought you meant the open ending. Sure I was a little bit surprised but then I thought you wanted to try something new and the crime plot will be very complex and evolved since you need two installments to tell it ;) And one could say I should be happy right now knowing there is more to come but at the moment frustration prevails. Although having preordered the book I now have to wait who knows how long until Amazon updates it also on the German Website. It was definitely the last time I preordered a book. Sorry but that is how I feel.
    Susan

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    1. Mistakes happen, Susan.

      I agree it seems unfair that readers who preordered--which is something I appreciate--got penalized this time.

      I don't know that I will do preorders on Amazon in the future because their system is ridiculously inflexible. And with no real justification, since no money changes hands until the book goes live.

      But anyway, I cannot regret the "revelation." People had the wrong book, and deserved to know that.

      Delete
    2. Of course, not doing preorders means those readers will not have the opportunity to buy the book at the reduced rate. Which is awkward too.

      Delete
  17. Ah - this explains it! Was completely baffled by the abrupt ending. Amazon UK hasn't updated yet so I'll try again in a bit. I'm hoping the extra 15,000 words directly follow-on as opposed to being missing from various chapters as, in guessing that would be a different experience when reading the book.
    So glad I came wondering by here, phew!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Are you not on the newsletter? Everyone on the newsletter got the explanation this morning. :-)

      Mostly those 15,000 words follow where the book ends, but it's a mystery and inevitably I am always going back and weaving clues in and tightening stuff, so...it is really frustrating because even I can't remember now how much changing of earlier sections I did. I know for sure Chapter 20 was expanded, but after that it's all a blur.

      Delete
    2. Ah, nope, not on the newsletter. I've drifted away from the m/m genre (can't remember the last time I read some), been mostly reading off the mainstream book charts but I can't not read a Josh Landon novel so I pre-order your works as standard :)
      Looking forward to reading the updated version.

      Delete
    3. What a nice compliment. Thank you.

      If those updates don't show up pretty quick, I'd get on Amazon's CS chat line and ask them to push them through.

      Delete
  18. On Amazon, the novel doesn't seem to be updating but a quick call through their 'contact' link and they can do a push to update it.

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    1. Thank you! This seems to be the simplest and most effective approach.

      Delete
  19. Well then... lol.. no worries ..I loved even the shorter version and once my amazon account updates I'm sure I'll love the extra 100 pages that are missing. I did check to see if I had the correct version and I still don't.. went to amazon to see if I could update and while it seems to have the longer version now.. for some reason mine isn't corrected. Weird. Anyway, I'll try again hopefully I will be able to get it soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Make sure you've got that automated updates button checked. But if the updates don't show pretty quick, I would contact customer service. They've got a chatline.

      Delete
    2. I had the same problem. Looked for a way to update, deleted it from my reading device, tried to send it again to my device etc. Nothing worked. I asked amazon (Germany) via chat and when they send it to my device it finally worked. Although they said it should have worked when I deleted and send the book again myself. Technology... 😵
      But the 2 minutes chat were more than worth it. Loved the book!

      Delete
    3. It may also have to do with the versions of kindles that people have. They may not all update the same way.

      I have a very old (though still reliable) Kindle and when I went in yesterday to see how to explain to people what to do, I saw that I had a BUNCH of available updates on books! I had no idea. I assumed that just happened automatically.

      Delete
  20. I couldn't wait so I went to smashwords to buy it 😃 Now I have three copy's. The one I pre-ordered, the review one and the one from smashwords. Totally worth it!!!!!!!!
    I love the book!!!!
    And even tho I hated J.J. in Adams Book I am now confusingly fond of him. Want to pinch his cheeks everytime he rants 😂😂😂 can't wait for the third book ❤️❤️❤️
    Oh and I hope your better!! Have a great weekend!

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    Replies
    1. Oh my gosh. :-D :-D :-D

      Well, you get a first hand look at how I work, comparing those files. :-D

      It did go through my mind at one time to knock Russell off, but then I thought what a waste of a potentially amusing character.

      Delete
    2. He. is. so. hilarious!
      :-D
      Now I have all these How-to-annoy-J.J.-fantasys :-D

      Delete
  21. Thank you for being so honest and quick with letting us all know the mistake and seeking to get it corrected :) A person should never be judged for the mistakes they make, but for how they seek to correct them, and frankly I think you've done an excellent job and handled this very well.
    I've just sent a message to Amazon Australia, so hopefully my NEW download will be available soon :) I admit, like other people, it's another reason to become even more leery of pre-ordering (after the All Romance drama, I'd sworn off pre-ordering but make exceptions for handful of authors - one of them is YOU! - because I trust them to do right by me if anything goes completely wrong). I'm not sure what impact that could have - do m/m authors rely on pre-sales at all to ensure publication of future works?
    - Katherine

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    Replies
    1. I do pre-orders because, according to Amazon and Smashwords, overall we sell more books that way. I don't know that that is actually true now days because the preorders don't count toward bestseller rankings. And showing up on the lists seems to sell more books than anything else.

      So it may be just as well to end the preorder process. At least with Amazon, given the limitations of their system.

      What was handy about it was it gave three months of advertising -- and I was able to extend a special preorder price to readers who bought early.

      It means doing more promo, I think. Thinking more about my marketing strategy.

      I just don't want to go through this kind of a mess again.

      Delete
    2. Plus, you make another good point about the All Romance fiasco. I suspect a lot of readers are uncomfortable with preorders now.

      Delete
  22. Now I really am sad... no update on amazon. I see it supposedly has the longer version of 311 pages and instead of updating, because it wasn't working... I decided to return and then re purchase at a higher price ... guess what.. it download the same version..no corrections..no 311 pages. Boohoo.

    Well Josh, I'm not going to blame you or anyone really.. things happen. Just crossing my fingers that amazon will one day update my book so I can read the entire story.

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    Replies
    1. I know the updates are there and live because I've heard from Amazon's customer service department, and they verified the updates.

      It's confusing because some customers can delete and re-download without issue. But some, like yourself, the updates are not showing up, no matter how many times you download.

      Do you have the Automatic Updates button checked? Maybe it won't update without that?

      If nothing else is working, I think you'll have to contact Amazon -- you can do it by chat or by phone -- and ask that the update be pushed through for you. I've heard from a lot of readers who said this worked best and only took a couple of minutes.

      Delete
  23. They were confused because they have it listed as update. But once I explained the issue they quickly fixed my copy.

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    1. I've been talking to Amazon's customer service, and I think that is part of the issue. They're asking me to specify where the updates are...expecting it to be a few typos or something like that. It's like a third of the book is missing.

      I'm hoping once they understand, they'll be able to do some kind of universal update. It sounds like they do have that capability.

      Delete
  24. Josh, hi!
    I'm a huge fan of your books, I often buy them in english, then in italian (if they are translated to italian), and also the audiobooks in english, just because... yeah =). And I'm really sorry for your back pain and the problems you had uploading this last book. I can only imagine your dread when you found out about the mistake!! But, otoh, I'm so frustrated right now... I couldn't update the version I bought on Amazon.com a while ago, so I returned the book today aaaand then bought it again minutes later. And, one more time, I got the same version!!! It ends with Sam saying "it will" and has 20 chapters. And, damn, I'm kind of a techtard and I have no idea how to turn my amazon account to "update" automatically! Should I just keep pushing that update button??

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    Replies
    1. It seems to me you've tried everything, so at this point I would contact Amazon customer service and ask them to push the update through. From what I'm hearing from so many readers, this seems to be the fastest way to get results. The updates are there, they're just not coming through for a lot of people without help from customer service.

      They do have a chat line and it seems to be a pretty quick fix.

      Delete
    2. Oh, thanks for responding! That's what I did. That chat line helped a lot and I got the book pretty fast!

      Take care!!! =-)

      Delete
  25. First, I want to compliment you on the novel. Getting lost in all this drama about the download is that it is a very fine book, and I am now madly in love with Jason and even Sam, and cannot wait for the Book III. So, congratulations!

    Yesterday was my birthday, so reading the last four chapters on my birthday was a special treat.

    One quick phone to Amazon resolved the download issue since I was a pre-order customer. I recommend continuing with the pre-orders since they are a customer convenience and just have a friend/spouse/do-gooder check your upload. (We have the same type of problem in our work and it can be resolved with another set of eyes).

    My best to you, Josh, and congratulations again!

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    1. Thank you, Clary. I really do appreciate hearing you enjoyed the book. It's been a weird release week in that sense. The book itself did kind of get lost in the excitement over its delivery problems.

      Delete
  26. Quelle drague about Amazon, especially because I know how meticulously you chose those missing 15,000 words. I'm a Nook man, myself.

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    1. And the good news is I did select the right files for Nook and Kobo and Smashwords. Only Amazon got the wrong file, so at least it wasn't chaos across the board.

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  27. I'm so glad you posted this, thank you. I had to contact Amazon but they got it sorted quickly.

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  28. Thank you so much for posting this. I hadn't made it to the end yet. I had to contact Amazon but they got it sorted quickly.

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  29. Like some other avid JL readers, I just ordered another copy from iBooks. I'd read through Chapter 8 on my pre-ordered Kindle version. Decided I'd leave that version intact... as a collector's item, or just to get a glimpse of your editing process, or because I was too impatient to wait... ; )

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    1. iBooks is doing quite well out of this! :-D Thank you, Karen. I have a feeling the comparison has some funny moments.

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  30. I loved the book!

    I'm gonna love it even more with those last four chapters! :)

    Thanks for sending the email/posting about the issue. I contacted Amazon via chat and got them to push the update - quick and easy fix.

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    1. Oh my God. I wish I found this as funny as so many of you do. :-D :-D :-D

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    2. You'll laugh later.

      Maybe a lot later.

      I once forgot to turn off my cell phone before going into court to testify as an expert in a criminal trial. Someone from my office decided to call me, and the theme from I Love Lucy was audible all over the courtroom...over and over again. My hands were shaking too hard to turn it off. The jury laughed. My coworker laughed.

      And I'm laughing, now, thinking about it - but it took a long time for that to be funny.

      So I get how you're feeling.

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    3. Oh, TJ I love you right away for this comment. I am all grin, but can very good imagine how you have felt.

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    4. Holy...moly.

      Now that would be great to use in a book.

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    5. LOL, you can also have that unforgettable moment of walking toward a crime scene with all your peeps, large and in charge, looking back to hear what your commanding officer is saying to you...and getting clotheslined by crime scene tape in front of every news camera in town...another of Hallmark moment that I thought I would not survive.

      I read the last four chapters last night. Great ending - left me all verklempt. Thank you for the book!

      Sabine, thank you :)

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  31. I appreciated your email and the detailed instructions. I wound up talking to amazon and they pushed out the update. No worries.

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  32. So I *think* read the complete novel on Amazon but I'm not sure. Just to be safe, can you share what the last word in the novel is supposed to be?

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  33. Ah thank god it was just an incomplete version! I just "finished" the book and was like: what a cliffhanger. I'm sooo glad I found this blog, thanks for posting the issue! Mine did also not automatically update but the chat with amazon sorted it out really quickly.

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  34. I could use some help with this, if anyone would be so kind? I was one of those who pre-ordered and received the incomplete copy. I've tried deleting and re-downloading, and also returned for a refund and buying again, but still Amazon UK keeps giving me the same version. Any ideas on how I can get my hands on the real book?

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    1. At this point, you've got to contact Amazon's customer service department and ask them to push the update through to you. They have a chat line or you can phone. Just about everyone who has gone that route has had success, and it usually only takes a couple of minutes.

      I'm so sorry about the inconvenience!

      Delete
    2. Thank you, I did as you suggested, and the lady I spoke to was an angel and sorted it out for me within moments (despite my ineptitude for all things technical!). With regard to the less than favourable reviews, I think it has a bit to do with just where the incomplete version ended - with a 'happy for now' moment for the boys - as well as the knowledge that another book in the series will be forthcoming, altogether made the possibility of a cliffhanger not entirely implausible. I'm sure once word filters down, those reviewers will change their opinions. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to give me advice, and I enjoyed the book. :)

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  35. Have a drink...or two, or three (beware your meds)!! I didn't realize the book was "short" until I saw some reviews (I was only at 30% at the time), but I would never have left a 1 or 2 star because of that! It pained me to read through the reviews, really really sorry that some people felt they needed to do that. I am glad, however, that some are revising their words and bringing the ratings up (where they belong).

    I loved it, going to read it a second time this holiday, and will love it all the more. Can't wait for the next one, or another Kit & JX, or Perry & Nick, or "dare I say" Adrien/Jake. Keep 'em coming!!!

    - Tiffany (aka Masselyn)

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    1. Thank you, Tiffany. :-)

      Yes, people are...interesting. I especially like the "Vine Voice" who learned her review was incorrect, but left it anyway.

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  36. I did as many of you suggested, including Josh, and finally got the entire book by chatting with amazons customer service. Josh, you are a wonderful writer.. loved the book even more once I got to the real ending. Lol.. no real harm done... and well worth it ... can't wait for the next one.. simply love Sam and Jason

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!

      The customer service people have, by en large, been stellar at getting the correct version to people.

      Delete
  37. Thank you for posting this on your blog (which showed up on Amazon). I was wondering why it ended abruptly. I had to get Amazon to push the update through but it's fine now. Thank you for hard work and I hope you are feeling better.

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    1. Thank you for letting me know!

      And thanks for the kind wishes. I've spent way too much time sitting at my computer this weekend, but other than that, I'm in about a thousand percent better shape! Such a relief to have the book done and over.

      Delete
  38. I had an Amazon pre-order and am not on your mailing list, so didn't know what was going on or to look for a revised version. I did receive an email this morning from Amazon about a "significant" update, so don't worry - pre-orders are being notified! Off to read the end of the mystery now... :)

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    1. Thank GOD. There is just no way of reaching most of those preorders through social media and email. Though, thanks to kind readers spreading the word, I had a longer reach than I would have.

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  39. Honey no need to worry, I know it is annyoing and embarassing, but no one died so... where's the problem? :)
    I pre-ordered the book on amazon, and with just a few clicks I downloaded the updated version of the book. Easy-peasy :)
    I hope you recovered and your back isn't giving you any problem. A huge ~ but very delicate ~ hug.

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  40. I'm so glad I clicked on the link to your blog from today's Amazon notice that the book was live. I literally downloaded the book at midnight ET last Wednesday and read it all by Thursday evening -- and thought, huh, I guess Josh is trying a new HFN ending with an extended mystery into book 3! Oftentimes your books do end slightly ambiguously (which I don't mind) so I didn't think the novel was incomplete. I never would have realized it was the wrong version until I came to the blog. If Amazon allows this, perhaps you should adjust the blurb on the Amazon page? I had to call Amazon help, and it turned out the solution was to UNCLICK the "automatic updates" button in my settings and then CLICK it again while the Kindle was connected to wifi. That seemed to do the trick. Now I'm off to read the actual novel. So excited there is more to savor in book 2!

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  41. I was one of the pre-orders who devoured it the day I got it, not realizing the error. The funny part is I still really liked it! but was left thinking, boy way to make sure we have to buy the next novel, as this one leaves an awful lot hanging! Then saw the Amazon notice of a "significant update" and realized right away what must have happened. So no harm, no foul, and I get to look forward to reading the final version tonight! And still salivating for your next (and next, and next... no pressure ;) )

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    1. Well, other than the fact that the mystery is not explained or resolved, that particular scene does read like a possible ending, so I can see how readers were confused. :-D

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  42. Glad you are doing better w/o the pain meds! I am looking forward to adding TMM to my paperback collection, will it be available soon?
    RDAFAN7

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    1. Hey there! Yes, it is available now in print through Createspace and Amazon itself.

      http://amzn.to/2sO34Fi

      Delete
  43. I know what Heike S means about JJ. Boy, would love to get a window into what Sam is thinking during some of the scenes. I wanted to smack that man upside the head a number of times while also feeling bad for him, which is a testament to your writing I think!

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    1. LOL Well, I like the fact that Sam evokes emotion from readers, yes. He's a difficult character, which is why *I* enjoy him so much. :-)

      Delete
  44. Hi Josh
    I pre-ordered your this one too but what I tend to do with your 'treasures' is hold off until the weekend when I can devour the entire book like a box of chocolates I have been hiding in the back of the kitchen cupboard. The anticipation is intoxicating! I sat out in the back garden on Saturday morning with my coffee and was just about to begin when your email came through. I sent off a quick email to amazon customer support thinking I would probably have to wait to read another day but before I had even put my phone down on the table, it rang. It was Amazon and they were so helpful that I have to admit I was pretty shocked when less than 2 minutes later I had the correct version!
    Aaah, feet up, hot coffee still in hand, Josh Lanyons latest book - bliss!!!
    Don't stress, it's so easy to push a wrong button nowadays.
    BTW - absolutely loved this book. Jason is such a sweety!

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  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  46. Oops I think I may have pressed the button too many times, See it can happen to anyone. Lol.

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    1. LOL Because of spammers, I've started utilizing the moderation feature, so that throws long time posters.

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  47. First of all, thank you for your wonderful writing and your wonderful stories. I have so enjoyed your entire body of work. You are such a good writer. It is a pleasure to read and reread your work. Had some trouble getting all 24 chapters but Amazon finally came through. I have read the book twice! 5 stars! Enjoy Sam and Jason. THANK YOU.

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