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New Tricks
Two damaged souls on a collision course. When friendship ignites the promise of passion, will they help each other to heal, or lose everything in a reckless gamble to find a happily-ever-after?
Nora Bailey grew up too fast, an icy rebel grasping for anything that might numb the pain of a childhood filled with loss. She narrowly escaped disaster with a brutal man who went to prison, and bad choices which nearly cost her life. Five months after starting over, she meets angsty Jasper on a work trip to England.
Jasper Blackham, in his own words, was "just a bastard kid from Birmingham with a dead drunkard father," until fame found him in the 1990s as the lead singer & guitarist of internationally acclaimed rock band Cane. Recovery from addiction turned him into a recluse, and a devastating accident broke his body – and possibly his spirit.
When Nora and Jasper tumble headfirst (and heart first) into a steamy love affair sparked by shared context – despite a two-decade age-gap – will what happens in London stay in London?
Nora Bailey grew up too fast, an icy rebel grasping for anything that might numb the pain of a childhood filled with loss. She narrowly escaped disaster with a brutal man who went to prison, and bad choices which nearly cost her life. Five months after starting over, she meets angsty Jasper on a work trip to England.
Jasper Blackham, in his own words, was "just a bastard kid from Birmingham with a dead drunkard father," until fame found him in the 1990s as the lead singer & guitarist of internationally acclaimed rock band Cane. Recovery from addiction turned him into a recluse, and a devastating accident broke his body – and possibly his spirit.
When Nora and Jasper tumble headfirst (and heart first) into a steamy love affair sparked by shared context – despite a two-decade age-gap – will what happens in London stay in London?
- GenresContemporary
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2022
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Josie Juniper
15 books108 followersJosie Juniper writes high-steam romance featuring hot, angsty men who are dirty talkers with hearts of gold, and smart, snarky women with hilarious foul mouths. She works in mathematics and has been a staff writer and/or editor for four publications, winning awards for her sharp, funny, iconoclastic writing. She lives in Portland, OR and loves rain, swearing, lost causes, tattoos, F1 racing, and prime numbers.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 24, 2022
This is a fabulous quick read. The characters are very well written. They feel like your best friend or someone you used to know. The steam was great, but the growing relationship sealed the deal for me. Josie Juniper writes REAL, relatable romance, and I'm here for it!
July 4, 2022
This story is magic from the opening chapter when Nora and Jasper first meet on a dark London street. More than an aging former rock star with aging rock star issues, Jasper is a sensitive poet with a big heart and an accent, an irresistible mix of swoony sweet and sexy as hell. In her early twenties, Nora is already hardened from a traumatic past and determined not to let herself get hurt again. Despite their age gap and living on different continents, they instantly bond over similar struggles and an undeniable attraction, which leads to a whirlwind affair and feelings they never saw coming.
A brilliantly-written read with scorching between-the-sheets scenes, complex characters, and the love story we all crave, New Tricks is another 5-star slam-dunk for Josie Juniper!
A brilliantly-written read with scorching between-the-sheets scenes, complex characters, and the love story we all crave, New Tricks is another 5-star slam-dunk for Josie Juniper!
July 15, 2022
For New Tricks by Josie Juniper. If you think the name sounds familiar it's because I've been ranting about her book An Exhaustive proof of love for the last three months. I love it. I love this. And three's the charm and GiGi's story is gonna drop and then boom, Josie will officially own my heart!
•Let me just start with what a complete package Jasper is. If I had it my way I'd describe Jas's eyes, his hair, his voice, the length of his toenails and his doubtlessly massive erm, package in great detail.
He. Is. British. (Yes with the accent, come on now)
•NORA BAILEY, is everything. Rough & tough, baddie who thinks love isn't for her while Jasper is a lovesick little feminist puppy with good taste in music.
•My favourite part was the ending where it's an HEA no doubt but the kind that makes you feel so happy for the characters that it makes you want to gouge your eyes out.
•I love their definition of a family. It's perfect. Josie could've gone with the general trend but she said, nah, we do this in a cool way.
•I just love Hypatia. That woman is everything!
•Mild mentions of suicide, drug use and recovery, domestic abuse. They are the only possible triggers I found.
•I hope Eli chokes on a avacado seed. Even that's a mercy.
•Omg the spiceeeee. It's so hawt. So hawt. Literally scalding.
••••
Age gap
HEA
Feminist man who I'll call daddy if given a chance.
Strong-ass female character who would set worlds on fire if debuted in YA fantasy.
Hot stuff.
Opposite of slow burn. Fast freeze. This is fast freeze
•Let me just start with what a complete package Jasper is. If I had it my way I'd describe Jas's eyes, his hair, his voice, the length of his toenails and his doubtlessly massive erm, package in great detail.
He. Is. British. (Yes with the accent, come on now)
•NORA BAILEY, is everything. Rough & tough, baddie who thinks love isn't for her while Jasper is a lovesick little feminist puppy with good taste in music.
•My favourite part was the ending where it's an HEA no doubt but the kind that makes you feel so happy for the characters that it makes you want to gouge your eyes out.
•I love their definition of a family. It's perfect. Josie could've gone with the general trend but she said, nah, we do this in a cool way.
•I just love Hypatia. That woman is everything!
•Mild mentions of suicide, drug use and recovery, domestic abuse. They are the only possible triggers I found.
•I hope Eli chokes on a avacado seed. Even that's a mercy.
•Omg the spiceeeee. It's so hawt. So hawt. Literally scalding.
••••
Age gap
HEA
Feminist man who I'll call daddy if given a chance.
Strong-ass female character who would set worlds on fire if debuted in YA fantasy.
Hot stuff.
Opposite of slow burn. Fast freeze. This is fast freeze
September 24, 2022
Nora had the worst year ever, but she’s on a huge upswing after landing a fantastic job and living life beyond her wildest dreams. Nothing will deter her journey to healing – she’s given up all of her worst vices… including men. That shouldn’t be a problem with her new jet-setting job, right? Let’s find out!
Read if you like: Contemporary romance, spice, age-gap, second chances at love, stories about recovery, healing, instant connection, friendship first, and lots of character growth with a London backdrop.
Nora is fine with being boring. She’ll take reading over a party any day… well at least these days. She knows all too well how bad life can get when you’re living fast and searching for the next high. In a nearly unbelievable turn of events, she now has a second chance to make something of her life and nothing, nothing will jeopardize that. Until a handsome, older, Brit strikes up a conversation with her and their friendship kindles quickly. So fast that Nora isn’t sure she would be able to control the flames if they ever let it begin to burn.
Jasper is a former rockstar of the 90s. As the frontman of Cain, the band found worldwide fame. But fame wasn’t kind to Jasper. Reformed, he’s been living in relative seclusion for the last few years. Until he spots a charming girl at a party that he just has to talk to. With a bit of courage, he finds that they share an undeniable spark and he’s not quite sure if he should hold on tight or let go…
Let me be honest, I don’t particularly love an age gap. I think its my incredible vanity combined with my pragmatic thinking… life expectancy discrepancies and all that. *hmmm* I might be okay with a cougar romance though... ANYWHO!
I don’t usually like age gaps but I love this book. I love Nora. She’s maybe not your go-to leading lady. She was hard to like and harder to get a read on when we first met her in ‘My Secrets to Surrender.’ But she’s honest and strong and so deserving of a second chance. Jasper is exactly how you would AND wouldn’t expect a retired rockstar to be. He’s a bit jaded with the music scene and exudes the swagger, but instead of arrogance he has a salt-of-the-earth outlook that has helped him overcome all the many hardships life has handed him. They both have enough growth and grit and have worked on their issues so that when their lives collide, they don’t get swept up in each other’s pasts. You get a great couple who still have work to do but who can ultimately weather the storm as individuals and find themselves strengthened instead of caving to the needs of the other.
Also! It’s really fun. They have great banter. There’s travel so you can feel like you had a nice vacation. The romance and spice are so sweet and so lovely. And you get more of Hypatia, AKA, the best side character ever, as well as updates on our friends in Wylde. The character building is great. We get a lot of insight to both our MCs (and Hypatia). A fast-paced and truly delightful read when you need romance with good helpings of humor and drama.
Read if you like: Contemporary romance, spice, age-gap, second chances at love, stories about recovery, healing, instant connection, friendship first, and lots of character growth with a London backdrop.
Nora is fine with being boring. She’ll take reading over a party any day… well at least these days. She knows all too well how bad life can get when you’re living fast and searching for the next high. In a nearly unbelievable turn of events, she now has a second chance to make something of her life and nothing, nothing will jeopardize that. Until a handsome, older, Brit strikes up a conversation with her and their friendship kindles quickly. So fast that Nora isn’t sure she would be able to control the flames if they ever let it begin to burn.
Jasper is a former rockstar of the 90s. As the frontman of Cain, the band found worldwide fame. But fame wasn’t kind to Jasper. Reformed, he’s been living in relative seclusion for the last few years. Until he spots a charming girl at a party that he just has to talk to. With a bit of courage, he finds that they share an undeniable spark and he’s not quite sure if he should hold on tight or let go…
Let me be honest, I don’t particularly love an age gap. I think its my incredible vanity combined with my pragmatic thinking… life expectancy discrepancies and all that. *hmmm* I might be okay with a cougar romance though... ANYWHO!
I don’t usually like age gaps but I love this book. I love Nora. She’s maybe not your go-to leading lady. She was hard to like and harder to get a read on when we first met her in ‘My Secrets to Surrender.’ But she’s honest and strong and so deserving of a second chance. Jasper is exactly how you would AND wouldn’t expect a retired rockstar to be. He’s a bit jaded with the music scene and exudes the swagger, but instead of arrogance he has a salt-of-the-earth outlook that has helped him overcome all the many hardships life has handed him. They both have enough growth and grit and have worked on their issues so that when their lives collide, they don’t get swept up in each other’s pasts. You get a great couple who still have work to do but who can ultimately weather the storm as individuals and find themselves strengthened instead of caving to the needs of the other.
Also! It’s really fun. They have great banter. There’s travel so you can feel like you had a nice vacation. The romance and spice are so sweet and so lovely. And you get more of Hypatia, AKA, the best side character ever, as well as updates on our friends in Wylde. The character building is great. We get a lot of insight to both our MCs (and Hypatia). A fast-paced and truly delightful read when you need romance with good helpings of humor and drama.
July 1, 2022
What’s not to love about this slow burn, age-gap rockstar romance between two destined soulmates with tender vulnerabilities and sophisticated vocabularies? I fell in love with the pairing of Nora and Jasper from their first meet. She’s wise and world-weary beyond her years and he’s… well, a sighworthy and complicated poet. Both have holes in their hearts where the other precisely fits - only they don’t know it yet.
Josie Juniper once again demonstrates the art of building real tension as she crafts her MCs entirely believable relationship, slowly revealing their imperfect perfection while bridging any perceptible distance and difference to bring them together. I felt what they were feeling throughout, making for an entirely satisfying read.
Josie Juniper once again demonstrates the art of building real tension as she crafts her MCs entirely believable relationship, slowly revealing their imperfect perfection while bridging any perceptible distance and difference to bring them together. I felt what they were feeling throughout, making for an entirely satisfying read.
August 30, 2022
An awesome age gap romance. Steamy, Swoonworthy and a Spicy Read!!
Loved Jasper and Nora.
Am not much into age gap romances but if written well, I can read them without any cringe. This book was tastefully written and I loved every bit of it!!
Loved Jasper and Nora.
Am not much into age gap romances but if written well, I can read them without any cringe. This book was tastefully written and I loved every bit of it!!
March 11, 2023
I loved Jaspers character from the start! Our middle aged rock star living on his royalties, and with a rescue dog that was the oldest and sickest the shelter had. He's patient, kind, well spoken and always took Nora's feelings into consideration. Been there done that, but still always a gentleman.
I'm torn when it comes to Nora. She's 5 months clean and sober. Just out of an abusive relationship, where her ex is now doing time. Yes she's much younger than Jasper, but she's done the same hard living. I found her mean and hurtful to Jasper at times when he didn't deserve it. Yes she's trying to protect herself and doesn't really know what love is. Still, he took all her moods and was never miserable in return.
I was happy with the way this story ended. It was a good read.
I'm torn when it comes to Nora. She's 5 months clean and sober. Just out of an abusive relationship, where her ex is now doing time. Yes she's much younger than Jasper, but she's done the same hard living. I found her mean and hurtful to Jasper at times when he didn't deserve it. Yes she's trying to protect herself and doesn't really know what love is. Still, he took all her moods and was never miserable in return.
I was happy with the way this story ended. It was a good read.
July 17, 2023
Josie Juniper always writes such great characters, and this is certainly the case with Jasper and Nora from her novella New Tricks.
Birmingham, England born rock star Jasper stole my Duran Duran loving heart (IYKYK!) while Nora—both strong and yet incredibly vulnerable—had me longing for her HEA.
I loved how this story is both gritty and sweet. I also find it exceedingly impressive how Josie manages to pack in so much character development and character arc into the condensed format of a novella.
Hypatia had me longing for a spin-off of her own. (She’s so badass!!)
I’m not sure what took me so long to read this one, but it was well worth the wait!
Birmingham, England born rock star Jasper stole my Duran Duran loving heart (IYKYK!) while Nora—both strong and yet incredibly vulnerable—had me longing for her HEA.
I loved how this story is both gritty and sweet. I also find it exceedingly impressive how Josie manages to pack in so much character development and character arc into the condensed format of a novella.
Hypatia had me longing for a spin-off of her own. (She’s so badass!!)
I’m not sure what took me so long to read this one, but it was well worth the wait!
July 27, 2022
NEW TRICKS!
This one wasn’t as good as Exhaustive Proof of Love but I still enjoyed it!
All the aground got a little repetitive and annoying but love that they were open and honest with each other!
Great writing by Josie :)
This one wasn’t as good as Exhaustive Proof of Love but I still enjoyed it!
All the aground got a little repetitive and annoying but love that they were open and honest with each other!
Great writing by Josie :)
August 9, 2022
I great read
It was a enjoyable read, with main characters that raw and complicated. The struggles within their personal lives and relationship are well written. And hole hot, the spice was nice.
It was a enjoyable read, with main characters that raw and complicated. The struggles within their personal lives and relationship are well written. And hole hot, the spice was nice.
July 21, 2022
Was drawn in immediately from the first paragraph of this book. Josie Juniper has an amazing talent in characterisation, I absolutely adored Nora and Jasper. It's always amazing to read a romance where you feel like you get to know both characters equally. This is also my first age gap romance and has ensured that I will be reading more of these in the future.
As well as writing amazing characters the author has an interesting writing style which both manages to draw out the story while telling you everything you need to know
It doesn't hurt that this novella includes an adorable dog!
As well as writing amazing characters the author has an interesting writing style which both manages to draw out the story while telling you everything you need to know
It doesn't hurt that this novella includes an adorable dog!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews