Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 10

August 11, 2025

Krysten Lindsay Hager: How Summer and Lake Towns Inspired My YA Summer Romance Book (FRE*E in KU!)

I’ve loved reading novels set in cute beach and lake towns for as long as I can remember. Show me a book set at a lake cottage and I’m one-clicking on it faster than you can imagine. These books serve as a getaway vacation for my mind, body, and spirit as I mentally transport to the town I’m reading about. So when it came to writing another book set in a beach town, this time I decided not to use a town I had visited, like in my Star Series, which is set in Grand Haven, Michigan. Instead, for Summer of Possibility, I decided to create my own lake town with everything in it that would make it my ultimate calming and fun vacation destination.

Welcome to Bloomington Shores, a lake town inspired by the many vacation destinations where I spent my summers over the years. There’s a little of the Great Lakes beach towns I went to in Michigan over the years like Holland, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, South Haven, and Charlevoix. There’s also a bit of Praia da Vitória in Portugal. You have the pier from Grand Haven, and the ice cream shop in Saugatuck and the adorable shops in downtown Holland, Michigan along with everything I need to make a beach town a destination I’d want to go to—like a bookstore!

The bookstore was inspired by a library in Holly, Michigan that had an amazing fish tank as well as lots of cozy nooks to read in, as well as a library in Mackinac Island, Michigan. I remember spending time in both those libraries and knowing one day they’d find their way into a book. I put a fireplace in that I had seen at another bookstore over the years. And Stargazer island, from the writing workshop Cagney goes to in the beginning of the book, that is Mackinac Island.

Aunt Emily’s lake cottage is a mix of all the cottages I’ve fallen in love with reading lake cottage magazines over the years. The wrap-around porch came from an Instagram photo. The cottage was my mental getaway when I was going through a tough time. I’d pull out my notebook and start writing as a way to escape the very scary reality and go someplace calmer at least for a little while. I hope you find solace and calm at Aunt Emily’s lake cottage, too. You can read an excerpt to get that cozy feel below!

Summer of Possibility

Cagney Innes thinks all her dreams are about to come true as she’s accepted into a prestigious summer writing workshop with her boyfriend. It softens the sting of the fact she was wait-listed by almost every college she applied to. Everything seems perfect until the workshop head dashes her dreams during a critique session. Her Aunt Emily invites her to the family lake cottage where she can relax at the beach and think over her plans for the future.

In Bloomington Shores, Cagney finds a tight knit community that supports one another and a bookstore that needs saving. The owner of the bookstore’s grandson, Max Brazil, is a college freshman hockey player who Cagney starts off on the wrong foot with, but ends up becoming the guy she starts falling for. Max is dealing with a reoccurring injury that threatens his playing days. He’s trying to figure out if there’s life without hockey if his injury doesn’t properly heal. The two begin a friendship and become each other’s biggest supporters. Then Max leaves for a summer hockey program and the two continue talking long distance. With her family and Max’s support, Cagney’s got a new lease on life and her writing. However, her ex comes to town just as Max comes back early eager to see Cagney.

Not only does her ex complicate things, but then Max is offered a position covering hockey overseas, which might be the perfect solution for him if he can’t play anymore. Right as Max is making his decision, Cagney gets accepted by two of the colleges she was wait-listed for—her dream school that’s across the country as well as the school Max currently attends and is closer to her aunt and Grandpa in Bloomington Shores. Cagney needs to make the decision to either stay near her family and focus on her writing (and possibly her relationship with Max if he stays), or take the chance to attend a prestigious university that will open doors for her in the big city. Will Cagney follow her head or her heart?

Excerpt:

After dinner, I sat with a cup of mint tea on the enclosed part of the porch. A storm was coming, and I loved listening to the water. There was something beautiful about a storm on the lake with the unpredictable surface of the rough, crashing waves and dark skies. It was magical to watch, and it gave me a good reason to stay indoors and get cozy all day.

Aunt Emily walked over. “Well, it’s a perfect night for some hot chocolate, a bowl of popcorn, and a movie. Tonight we’re watching a classic and one of my favorites. It’s Agatha Christie’s first Miss Marple movie and, fun fact: Agatha wasn’t sure about the casting choice, but she ended up loving the actress in the role.”

“Sounds like the perfect movie for tonight.” I got up and followed her into the living room where she had the popcorn and hot chocolate ready.

Aunt Emily handed me a blanket. “It’s always cool in here at night, but I’ve grown to love the changing temps. Although I admit I’m not always so thrilled when it gets muggy the farther we get into the summer, and the mosquitos make a buffet out of me. For years I’ve wanted to get a dog, but on hot days it wouldn’t be fun having to take a puppy out for walks with the bugs. Although now I have you here for companionship, so no need for a pet.”

I scrunched up my face. “Um, I’m going to take that as the compliment that I assume you meant it as.”

She laughed. “You know what I meant. It’s just that I like solitude, and houseguests have never been my favorite thing, but I love having you here because of how we just mesh so well. We like the same shows, and you take time to yourself so my introvert side never feels tired. In fact, I plan to destroy your suitcase if you ever attempt to leave.”

I laughed. “This is the most comfortable I’ve been in years. Honestly, the only time I ever feel truly at home is when I’m in Bloomington Shores.”

She smiled. “That’s exactly how I felt when I’d come here to visit my parents. There’s something about this cottage, but not everyone appreciates it the way we do. Your mother just sees mismatched furniture, wonky floorboards, things that need fixing, and thinks it all looks old.”

“But that’s part of its charm. How could you not love this place? It’s like a cozy, quiet oasis away from the loud and chaotic world.” I pulled the blanket tighter around me.

She nodded. “I thought the same thing when I came here as a kid. I never wanted to leave.”

Pick up your copy of Summer of Possibility here. It’s free in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCDYZZLN/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236013030-summer-of-possibility
Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@krystenlindsay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

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Published on August 11, 2025 03:44

August 10, 2025

BBB–Burn Anthology Update, plus Report Card & Open Contests!

UPDATE — Burn: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology

I’m running behind schedule, but I’m making progress. I hope to finish reading and making decisions about the stories I’ve received by the end of the month!

Report Card

Last week…

I continued working on edits for two authors.I continued reading entries for the Burn: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology !I swam every day, at least once!I had an appointment with my cardiologist, and he said, Everything is going great! Don’t need to see you for another year.I completed #the100dayproject!

This next week…

I’ll complete edits of manuscripts for two authors.I’ll continue reading the Burn: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology entries!On Monday, I’ll have my every-three-weeks immunotherapy infusion. Blech.I’ll start rising at O-dark-thirty on Wednesday to help get kids off to school!I’m going to work on organizing & cleaning up my art room.I’ll swim every day the weather cooperates!Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs

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Published on August 10, 2025 07:10

August 9, 2025

Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Fantasy — Hero or Villain?

It’s Saturday! The last weekend before the kids start school. What have I been doing? Enjoying at least one daily swim—the pool temperature is still optimal! Puttering through some housecleaning and organizing. I’ve been toodling at work, mostly editing during the mornings. When I need to rest due to fatigue, I curl up with my two cats on my recliner and watch TV. Yesterday, I started rewatching my favorite Sherlock Holmes version, the one with Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s been a few years, so it feels brand new. If you’ve never watched it… Well, it’s pretty fabulous. I rewatched Hidden Figures the other day. I just love that movie. I do love ones based on true stories. One of my all-time favorites is Temple Grandin—another recommendation for you. The 11-year-old and I are obsessed with Cynthia Erivo and recently watched Harriet together. She gave it her stamp of approval! If you have suggestions for other biographical movies we should try, let me know!

Anyway, I’m rambling. You’re here for the puzzle and the contest, right?

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me who he is. Is he a hero or a villain? What made him the way he is?

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Published on August 09, 2025 08:27

August 8, 2025

Gabbi Grey: When the unexpected happened… (Contest)

Hello, Delilah! Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my new short story in a great anthology!

Signed, Sealed…Deceased isn’t the kind of anthology my readers are used to finding me in. I write romance; therefore, I tend to contribute to romance anthologies — there’s a logic there. So let me share this story with you.

I’m in a Facebook group where publishers put out calls for authors to submit their works to publications. I sort of skim the lists now and then. Truthfully, I’m so busy, I rarely have time to take on any other projects. I noticed a call from a Canadian publisher for short stories. I have Canadian friends and shared the link with them. The first anthology coming up was a cozy, while a romance anthology is coming next year.

Me being me, I left the tab open in my browser for almost a month, intending to note the information about the romance anthology.

As you can probably guess, I have a ton of tabs open in my browser. When I checked this one, I realized the deadline for the cozy mysteries was just a day away. Since I didn’t write cozies, I didn’t think much of the date. And yet…I read the call again, and inspiration struck. I had a story come to me nearly fully formed. I call moments like those thunderclaps. Just BOOM. Here’s what you’re going to write.

The next morning, I sat down and wrote. I wrote a 5k-word story in five hours. The words just flowed. Everything worked. The ending felt a little rushed, but I had a strict word limit. I mentioned the story to my freelance editor, and she offered to do a quick pass — if I could get the story to her within the next hour. I did my self-edit pass and sent it to her. She returned it less than an hour later. I polished it up, and to my immense pleasure, I had it submitted hours before the deadline.

Phew!

The next morning, I received a conditional acceptance.

I’ll admit, that was a new one. They said barring any unforeseen issues, I was in.

My first thought was wow, they didn’t have many people submit. My second was, wow, they must’ve been reading them as they came in. My third thought was yeah, but writers are notorious procrastinators (see above with my submission going in with only seven hours to spare). Finally, I wondered which time zone the editor lived in.

My last thought was hey, maybe I just wrote a fricking awesome story.

Turns out the anthology had more than thirty submissions from around the world. I was chosen as one of the twelve. Six of us are Canadian authors and six are international.

That was it. For a half day’s work, I was going to be in a cozy mystery anthology.

Phew!

I had a blast working with the editor to get my story into pristine condition. I’ve had fun sharing news of my release. I’ve taken pride in telling a story within the confines of cozy mystery but adding a subtle LGBTQ hint.

Only after I finished the story did I remember I’d seen something similar on the news recently. Well, a letter being delivered almost 100 years late. I put my own twist on it — including a murder mystery.

I love this story sooooo much that, I think, when the rights revert next year, I might transform it into a novella or even a novel. There’s so much I didn’t get to explore. There’s also a ton in this story that’s close to my heart, including Leonard’s relationship with his grandmother. Made me miss my “nannies” even more.

I hope readers will snag the anthology and read the twelve very diverse stories!

Thanks, Delilah, for allowing me to share today.

Contest: As a thank you to your readers, I would like to offer a prize! Either a copy of my latest MM novel Gideon’s Gratitude or a copy of my Love in Cedar Valley novel The Making of Marnie Jones. Both books are really close to my heart and have parts of me in them — much as If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered does. Please leave a comment — if an author veers not just into another subgenre, but an entirely new genre, would you consider following them? Or do you stick to the genre you first found them in? One commentor, chosen by Random, will win a book. Good luck!

Signed, Sealed…Deceased Anthology

When the mail arrives, murder follows.

From mislabeled 1940s love letters to rare stamps worth killing for, these twelve mysteries prove that the most dangerous deliveries are the ones you never expected.

What awaits you:
A mail carrier discovers Prohibition-era treasure and modern murder on a remote islandA wheelchair-bound historian uncovers deadly stamp fraud in historic Quebec CityThreatening letters reveal organized crime secrets in New OrleansTime capsules, missing packages, and messages from the past—each hiding deadly secrets
Perfect for fans of Louise Penny, Agatha Christie, and Elizabeth Peters.

Twelve international stories spanning Canada to New Orleans, featuring amateur sleuths, postal puzzles, and the cozy mysteries readers crave. Whether it’s a retired teacher’s embroidery circle solving cold cases or a postman’s impossible delivery to a haunted house, each tale delivers murder, mystery, and satisfying solutions.

Your special delivery of murder and mayhem awaits.

Authors:
Andrea Barton – Death by MemoirMelissa Behrend – Lab’s Labours LostRachel Desiree Felix – The Tiffin-Box Thief of Rue des JasminsDaniel Fox – The Stork Brothers ThingGabbi Grey – If You Read This, I Have Been MurderedAlbert N. Katz – The Road TripDenise Landry – Stamped, Sealed and DuvalDaisy Landish – Dead Letter DayIris March – The Mystery of the Missing MerchantFlora McGowan – The Postman Always Delivers…Eventually!donalee Moulton – Bon AmiAndrea Tillmanns – A Letter from the Past
The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/vqvm3dauvh
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHDSRFH2
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238656419-signed-sealed-deceased

If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered by Gabbi Grey
Inside Signed, Sealed…Deceased!

What happens when the postal worker delivers a letter 100 years late?

When Leonard is handed an envelope sent to his great-grandmother by his great-great uncle, he’s not sure what to make of it.

He races to his centenarian grandmother for answers.

As they delve into the contents of that letter, they discover a past that will lead them to an uncertain future.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

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Published on August 08, 2025 08:19

August 7, 2025

Word Search: Back to School Supplies (Contest)

Today’s going to be packed! This morning, in just a few minutes, actually, I’ll head to my semi-annual checkup with my cardiologist. I don’t expect anything alarming to happen there, just a check to make sure my meds are still doing their job. This afternoon, the high schooler and middle grade girls will be attending Open House to get their schedules, meet their teachers, and get any last-minute supply lists. My dd should have that covered. She keeps a large plastic bin of pens, pencils, glue, notebooks, etc., just as a matter of habit because they always need replenishing. The 11-year-old may be meeting with the band teacher. We have to make arrangements to obtain a clarinet for her. Yes, she’ll be a band nerd, and she’s looking forward to it. (I played clarinet, too!)

Anyway, I have to grab my purse and get out the door!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, let me know if you have school supplies to purchase, and if the list of things I have in the puzzle sound about right. If you have suggestions for more items we should get, let me know!

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Published on August 07, 2025 07:20

August 6, 2025

A Memory of Misspent Youth? (Contest)

I’m going to tell on myself here. If you can believe it, I was a nightmare as a tween/teen for my parents to raise. I was always rebelling.

Well, it started early. I ran away from home for the first time when I was maybe five. I put my most precious toys and my brother into a Radio Flyer wagon and left the house to wander down the road to another family’s house, where I figured I would live. My mother and I had had an argument. I told her I was going to run away from home, and she told me to go ahead. I took that as permission. When she was busy taking care of the younger siblings (there were two others), I packed up and left. Later, when her friends called to say we had arrived at their place, both my mother and father were pretty angry because they’d been looking for us. I got pretty bent out of shape when I was disciplined (spanked!) because she’d told I could go. Yeah, I was that kid.

Anyway, back to the picture.

When I was fourteen, I think, I ran away again, this time with three friends in the dead of winter. After drinking some wine one of the kids took from their parents’ fridge, another one of them “borrowed” his parents’ station wagon and off we went, leaving Abilene, Texas, where our fathers were stationed at the Air Force base, and we headed west. Our plan, if you can call it that, was to head to the Grand Canyon and live in a cave until spring when we would emerge and get jobs and take care of ourselves. I didn’t say we thought this through. It was a whim. We did make it to Flagstaff and got a motel room to hide out in until daylight when we would head to the park. And now, I think back on this and just shake my head, but I always wanted to be somewhere else and independent.

Well, the cops showed up in the early morning hours, due to an APB that went out describing the vehicle, and we had a knock on our door. Two of us decided we weren’t going to be taken so we squeezed out of the bathroom window into a snowdrift behind the motel, only to look up and see a police office, fingers tucked into his belt, standing at the corner of the building and shaking his head at our stupidity.

Did I mention that I left Texas without shoes? Yes, I jumped into a snowbank barefoot.

Well, long story short, we were sent to juvie jail, and our parents had to make the drive from Texas to Arizona to pick us up. While driving back home, my mother told me, “No more running away. If you want to leave home, you can when you go to college.” That was my inspiration to finish up high school early—I dropped out after my junior year because I had sufficient credits to apply for college, took the CLEP examinations and earned 21 hours of credit (I was just three credits shy of being a sophomore!). So, at 16, I was accepted into college and moved out.

Again, back to the picture.

After my trip to Arizona, where I never got to see the Grand Canyon, much less hole up in a cave until Spring, my parents decided I shouldn’t go back to school to be among that “bad crowd.” They drove me up to Spokane, Washington, to stay with my grandparents. It turned out to be the exact thing I needed because they were old and amused by my antics. They were so chill—a balm to my angry spirit. On Sundays, they’d let me have a beer and eat peanuts with them while we watched Lawrence Welk. They got me enrolled in high school for the second semester of my sophomore year. They encouraged me to volunteer at the nursing home down the street with them. I was kept busy, and they never had to raise their voices at me to get me to help around the house. It was a blessed respite.

While there, Spokane hosted the World Expo. They didn’t have much money, but my grandparents got me tickets to see Gordon Lightfoot and Three Dog Night at the Expo. At least, I think I saw Three Dog Night. It’s a little hazy, but I have more vivid memories of Gordon Lightfoot on stage. It was magical.

So, while we were up in Northern Arkansas this past week, we hit flea markets. One afternoon, when I decided to stay home with my sister, my daughter headed out to another antique shop. This morning, she unpacked the bag of items she’d purchased. She’d picked up this little trinket dish because of the artwork. We collect mid-century George Briard dishes. They’re not exactly valuable, but we love the gold artwork. When she looked at the dish today, she vaguely remembered that I’d said I’d been at the ’74 Expo, so she gave it to me.

And oh, the memories. My rebellion, my wild ride to the Grand Canyon, my time spent with my grandparents… Gordon Lightfoot….

I didn’t mean to go on for so long, but that was quite an adventure—one of many in my life. Remember, it was the ’70s. Youthful rebellion was “in.” I wore tapestry headbands, bell-bottom jeans, had long, blond hair, and loved the music of the era. Freedom was ours to take if we were bold enough.

Do you have a story of misspent youth to share? You might win a $5 Amazon gift card if you share your story in the comments!

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Published on August 06, 2025 06:58

August 5, 2025

Flashback: Watch Over Me (Contest — Two Winners!)

I love doing flashback highlights! It’s not only a reminder to you but also to me of the many stories I’ve written. Did you know that before I wrote bounty hunters, I had this entire series of SEAL-hero stories? Yup—twelve of them. With Book # 10, Big Sky SEAL, not only was the story part of my sister Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors world, but it was also the book that kicked off my Montana Bounty Hunters series.

So, if you’re looking for something to binge, a complete series to enjoy, start with Watch Over Me. Enjoy an excerpt from the opening of the first Uncharted SEALs book!

Enjoy! ~DD

*~*

Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Between a SEAL and a Hard Place

*~*

Click on the covers to learn more about these stories!

Contest

Win your choice of one of my Uncharted SEALs stories! There will be 2 winners! All you have to do to enter is answer me this…

What author’s older series have your recently discovered and devoured? Spread some love!

Watch Over Me

When Deke Warrick accepts an unsanctioned detail to keep tabs on a congressman’s niece while she vacations in the Caribbean, he expects the only dangers he’ll face are sunburn and a rum hangover. Determined to keep his distance, his resolve is challenged by a chance encounter with the beautiful Nicky Martir—and then shattered when she’s snatched from their hotel room.

Excerpt from Watch Over Me …

Deke Warrick pushed his sunglasses down his nose to peer at the woman stretched on a chaise not five feet away. She laid face down, her head turned away, thick brown hair held in place by a clip. From the slowness of her breaths, he knew she was dozing. And since he figured she wouldn’t be leaving the beach anytime soon, he relaxed, forcing his fingers to stretch around the teak wood arms of his lounge chair.

After two connecting flights and a short leg in a specially chartered puddle-jumper, at last he had eyes on Nicky Martir. He knew the woman was her because a hotel staff member he’d bribed had pointed her out. Assistance he’d needed because at the moment she didn’t look anything like the air-brushed Facebook photo he’d been given. After finding her, he’d checked out the hotel’s parking and lounge area, all entrances and exits, the stairwells, and then greased the palms of the concierge and wait staff. His initial recon over, he now had time to focus on his target.

From his vantage point, he’d already determined his former commander’s “little girl” was all grown up. In fact, she was a very well-proportioned woman with lush curves above and below a narrow waist. Must have taken after her mother, he mused, because her father’s frame didn’t sport an ounce of excess flesh. At the moment, her bottom was most prominent—rounded, firm, and displayed all too well by the narrow thong bisecting her cheeks. Not that he wanted to notice, but hell, it was right there, and with more than enough curve a healthy, hetero man could well imagine his hands gripping each mound as he…

“Señor, would you like another drink?”

Deke jerked. No one had managed to sneak up on him in a long time, which said a lot about Nicky’s attractiveness.

The cabana girl’s voice held a note of irritation. Her dark brows were drawn into a frown, her lips pursed in disapproval. But not because he’d been ogling a sleeping girl. He’d claimed a spot beneath a thatched umbrella at the edge of the small tiki bar’s outdoor seating area, and he had yet to deliver on the promise he’d made with his smile when he’d asked for this prime piece of real estate. The seat with its attached table provided a perfect view of the beach, as well as the private gated entrance of the hotel parking lot. More importantly, the chair was situated near Nicky. Not close enough to touch, but from here, he could watch over her, amidst the other sunbathers.

Giving the waitress an equally irritated glance, he reached into his pocket and took out several bills, more than enough for five drinks and a generous tip. “Bring me a virgin mojito,” he murmured quietly. A ruse to disguise the fact he hadn’t had a sip of alcohol, because he was on the job—even if this mission was strictly off the books and a favor to a man he admired.

His gaze swung back to the dozing woman. She’d turned her head while he’d been talking to the waitress and was facing him now, a dark fringe of long lashes resting against her cheeks. Yeah, her photo hadn’t done her justice. Sure, he’d known she was pretty, but this close, he could see a smattering of freckles across her nose—a feature she must hide beneath makeup, but which he thought was cute. Made her seem more approachable. Her mouth was full, the bottom lip a little puffier than the top and wide. A mouth made for kissing.

Deke winced and glanced away, feeling guilty over lusting after Commander Martir’s daughter. He was here to do a job. Although Martir had retired from the navy and now held a seat in congress with special oversight of the administration’s war on drugs, he had maintained close ties with the SEAL community, working with his contacts inside the Drug Enforcement Agency to find positions for several of Deke’s friends when they’d started the next phases of their lives. Their special skill set had been a perfect fit for the spec ops work the agency did, and Martir wanted men he could trust working there—disciplined, honorable men. Martir had promised Deke he’d keep a spot open for whenever he was ready to leave DEVGRU/SEAL Team 6, something Deke had automatically refused a year ago. But after his last deployment in the sandbox, he was having second thoughts. Martir’s timing, approaching him the day after Deke set boots back on the tarmac at Oceana, VA, had seemed like a sign.

Deke answered a summons to his present commander’s office and instead found Martir standing with his back to the door as he stared out across the green, hands clasped behind his back. Other than the gray at his temples, Fred Martir looked exactly as he had when he’d been the one in charge here.

Deke entered the room and shut the door behind him. “Sir,” he said, coming to attention—out of respect for a former officer who had been a SEAL himself.

When the congressman turned, he raked his gaze over Deke, dressed in a fresh uniform, but still looking scruffy due to the beard he kept while deployed and the non-reg hair he’d let grow well past his collar. “At ease, Deke. Callahan,” he said, referring to the team’s present commander, “tells me you’ve accumulated leave which you refuse to take.”

As he narrowed his gaze, Deke slid his hands behind his back and braced his feet apart, wondering where that statement was leading. “I didn’t exactly refuse, sir. I prefer sticking close to base.” That he didn’t have family to visit or a girlfriend to spend time with was no one’s business but his own. And no one needed to know how uncomfortable he’d come to feel wandering outside his close-knit community.

The older man’s gaze locked on Deke. “This last rotation—I hear things got pretty rough.”

Deke straightened his shoulders. Not a secret, but definitely not something he wanted to discuss. “We lost two good men. Happens.” And while his words were spare, maybe even a little too nonchalant, he couldn’t keep the gravel from his voice at the thought of Sting’s death, or the fact he’d been the one to gather what was left of Mark’s body before he’d humped it back to the helo.

“Callahan says your OIC would prefer you take a break. But since I know you’re a stubborn son of a bitch, I have a proposition for you. Something that’ll get your commander off your back. A job. Strictly off the books. Something personal.” He cleared his throat. “For me.”

Deke met Martir’s gaze, steady as always, but noted there was a hint of worry there, a tension reflected in the deepened lines of his face. Whatever his reason for being here had to be pretty important because he’d never seen that expression on the older man’s face. “I’m listening.”

Deke learned that Martir had received death threats from a drug cartel unhappy with recent crackdowns he’d helped orchestrate. And while his ex-wife and daughter lived well-away from DC and out of the public eye, he was worried about their safety.

“I have eyes on my wife, but my daughter…” He shook his head. “She has vacation plans she’s refused to postpone. And she wouldn’t accept my offer of a bodyguard.” Martir winced. “If you haven’t guessed already, we’re not on the best of terms. She tends to do the exact opposite of anything I suggest.”

A situation that almost made Deke smile—the thought that anyone would stand up to the tough old bird. And just as quickly, he decided this “job,” even if it was a boondoggle, was an assignment he needed. A purpose to focus on beside the sorrow and guilt that weighed him down. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

Just a day later, he’d managed to track down his former commander’s daughter on this little speck of an island in the Caribbean. Despite Martir’s fears his family might be targeted due to recent media leaks, Deke doubted Nicky Martir was in any serious danger of retaliation. Not here. The island was too small—both in size and in population—for any group to infiltrate undetected among the small tourist population. But Martir was picking up the tab for this working vacation, so Deke would keep frosty.

Not that doing so required effort. Deke had forgotten how to relax. The attitude was one he had to force himself to try because he knew his constant edginess wasn’t healthy. Might even be a sure sign of some nasty issues he’d never admit to, but that could wind up biting him in the butt if he didn’t handle them on his own. A vacation in the Caribbean should have fit the bill. Not that an island getaway would have been on his short list of places he’d want to chill after a long deployment. He was sick to death of heat, even if a light sea breeze made the hot sunlight bearable. Still, the view wasn’t bad.

Again, he shifted in his chair, trying not to stare too long at Nicky’s lovely ass. Dressed in Hawaiian-themed swimming trunks, the only style he’d found in the hotel gift shop other than skin-tight bikini Speedos, he worried he couldn’t hide his growing interest in the pretty brunette’s many assets. She was off-limits. Any woman would be, because he wouldn’t allow any distractions. Even if this mission was a cake-walk, he’d give the work a hundred-ten percent of his attention. He was a SEAL; after twelve years on the DEVGRU team, mission focus was part of his DNA.

A movement caught his eye. Small hands slid up the side of the chaise, going for the bow securing her bikini top.

Deke gritted his teeth. As the ribbons loosened and the bra fell away, he had a glimpse of pretty white breast, just the side, but the swell was generous. Now he was imagining a full frontal view. Would her nipples be pink or brown? Once he’d dated a girl with pale beige nipples that had turned a lovely rose when…

“Dammit,” he said under his breath and looked away again, breathing deeply as he willed his body not to tighten. He scanned the other chaises and then looked out to the ocean, counting through the approach of three sets of waves.

When he glanced back at the chaise, he spotted those pink-tipped fingers reaching to the ground and scooting a bottle of sunscreen across the sand. Toward him.

His gaze shot to her pretty cognac brown eyes, and he caught her small, one-sided smile.

“Do you mind?” she asked, her voice a little raspy, like a woman might sound when she first woke in the morning. Like maybe he was the first person she’d spoken to today.

What the hell? Some covert operator he was—he hadn’t managed to hide his attraction. If he didn’t act on her question, she might come to the conclusion he was a perv or a stalker. Better to make a move, but he’d keep it light.

Slipping off his chair, he strode toward her, bending to snag the bottle. “Just the back?” he asked, keeping his tone amused.

“And anywhere you think needs it,” she said, her voice breathier this time.

Deke blew out a long stream of air then turned back to where he’d been seated, carefully placing the rolled-up towel he’d brought that hid the compact Beretta Nano the pilot on the puddle jumper had provided beside him. Then kneeling, he dribbled creamy liquid that smelled of coconut and Shea butter across her shoulders and gently laid his hands on her hot, golden skin. Under his fingers were firm muscles cloaking her slender frame. And tension knotting her shoulders. “Relax. I can’t get too fresh. Too many people around, anyway.” He smoothed the thick liquid over her shoulders, fingers wrapping around the tops to give her a light massage. “How’d you know I spoke English?”

“I heard you talking to the waitress.”

“Oh.” He’d tried to keep his voice lowered so he wouldn’t attract her attention. Either he was slipping, or she had super-power hearing.

“You here on vacation?” she asked.

Why would she think otherwise? He pressed his thumbs against the knots at the back of her neck. “I am.”

“Alone?”

“Yeah.”

“My dad send you?”

His hands stilled, then he massaged again, but he figured she couldn’t have missed his immediate response. So, the question hadn’t been stupid after all. “How’d you guess that?”

“You have a SEAL’s body.”

He grunted, not giving her verbal confirmation, but then, he didn’t have to. Nicky Martir was as smart as she was pretty. Now that his cover was blown, he wondered how far she’d let him continue his casual massage. Irritation at having been made so quickly gave him an itch to turn the table on her, make her squirm, but only just a little. He rubbed her back, moving downward, fingers wrapping around her sides, touching the sides of those creamy breasts.

Her breath hitched, lifting her body a scant inch. “Careful there.”

“Just being thorough.” A smile tugged at his mouth, but he moved down again, leaning over her, kneading the small of her back.

Her breaths deepened. So did his. When he paused to drizzle more hot lotion over the tops of her exposed buttocks, she chuckled—a soft, choked sound. But she didn’t reach back to shove away his hands, so he guessed she was okay with him getting fresh.

Her ass was toned, the skin a smooth tan. When he shifted the top of the sea blue thong, a pale line betrayed the fact her immodesty wasn’t something she reserved for only when she was on vacation. Something he liked in a woman—courage, confidence, and an animal sensuality.

He kept his hands on the tops of her cheeks, fingers well away from the crease bisecting her anatomy…although the temptation to follow the deep curve was there.

“Don’t be shy now,” she whispered. “I’ll have a pink stripe down my butt.”

He shook his head, his grin widening. “You this bold with every stranger you meet?”

“Since you’re here at my daddy’s request, I figure you’re safe to flirt with.”

“Think I won’t take advantage?”

Her head turned, one eye raking his frame, then clinging to his face. “It’s not taking advantage since I asked.”

The thing he’d fought from the moment he’d first spotted her nearly nude body happened. His cock stirred, thickening. “Damn,” he said, his fingers curving, smoothing lotion into the sweet divide. “I’ll have to borrow your towel.”

“You could always lie down beside me, seeing as you have to keep watch over me anyway.”

“Gonna rub lotion on my back?”

“And anywhere I think needs it,” she said in an amused drawl.

“Lady, anyone ever tell you you’re a tease?”

She smiled and came up on an elbow, rolling onto her side and exposing her lovely breasts. “I don’t tease.”

Pink. Her nipples were pink. “You trying to get us arrested?” he whispered due to a suddenly dry throat.

“No one cares.” Her glance went to his rigid cock. “No one except you.” And her mouth curved into a cat-like smile.

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Published on August 05, 2025 06:24

August 4, 2025

Gabbi Grey: When Visiting Someone Else’s Town (Contest)

Hello, Delliah! Thank you for inviting me to visit today and to share my newest release! Finding Noah is part of Foggy Basin Season 2. Foggy Basin is a fictional town in Northern California. Small town, mostly friendly folk, plenty of queer people to go around.

The multi-author series is in its second year, and I was asked to join. I didn’t hesitate. I love shared worlds and, of course, I write gay romance. Most specifically, I tend to write small-town gay romance. I’ve been part of several other series (Gaynor Beach, Deerbourne Inn, The Haunting of Pinedale High, to name a few), so the concept isn’t new to me. Still, every time I embark upon one of these projects, I worry.

Once I get over that stress and actually settle down to write my book, I do investigations. I read previous books (if there are any), and I ask questions. I try to find ways to connect my book to previous or future ones. I did that with Finding Noah. In particular, there’s a character who will be in a later book this season. I coordinated with that author, wrote my couple of scenes, and then had them read over what I’d written. They were thrilled. I did something similar with two other characters, although they were more passing references than in-depth dives.

In the end, I believe I’ve told a story that is both true to the town and the series, as well as the characters I borrowed from. I have, I hope, made connections that will intrigue readers and make them want to pick up other books. Most of all, I had fun. That’s what it’s all about, right?

I will continue to sign up for these projects because I want to expose my readers to books beyond just my own. I’m grateful they’re willing to give me a shot, and I’m even more pleased when they branch out.

That’s it! Pretty simple. I’m in two more shared worlds coming up — back to Rocktoberfest for my third kick at the can – and I’ve co-written the final Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue book with a friend. Details of both of those projects are coming soon!

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me. I would love to hear from your fans.

Contest: Do you enjoy shared worlds? How important is it for authors to make connections between the books? Let me know! Leave a comment. Random will pick one winner who will receive a copy of Yorkie to My Heart – my latest contribution to the Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue series. Good luck!

Finding Noah

Noah

I need a fresh start, and Foggy Basin, California, is the perfect place to begin my new life. The accepting small town is such a contrast to the large town I came from. Making a success of my dog-training business—Tricks, Tips, and Backflips—is important to me, and I totally lucked out when my straight best friend, Christian, decided to move with me. He makes my life easier. I just hope he’ll be as happy here as I am.

Christian

Following my best friend to Foggy Basin was a no-brainer. I’ve been in love with him since we were five years old. Problem is, I’ve never had the guts to say so, and while he’s out and proud, I’m still in the closet. Somehow, I need to find the courage to make a move before he finds someone else in this gay-friendly town, but Noah thinks I’m straight, and I’m not sure what he’ll do when I tell him that’s not exactly true.

Finding Noah is a 44k small-town, friends-to-lovers, interracial, gay romance with fresh starts, well-meaning but nosy neighbors, and some special critters who are along for the ride.

Welcome to Foggy Basin, Season Two. Just passing through? No problem. Here to stay? Well, better find your place. Sit back, relax, and get to know the townsfolk. They love hard and play even harder. Each book is a standalone, but why not stay and get to know us and read them all?

Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Noah-Foggy-Basin-Season-ebook/dp/B0DZRZ3XHV
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/FindingNoah
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/229030712-finding-noah

About the Author

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

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Published on August 04, 2025 07:45

August 3, 2025

Open Contests! Enter while there’s still time!

I just arrived home after a visit with my sister! I have to unpack and get organized, but I thought I’d go ahead and post something quick about open contests before it’s too late for you to enter! ~DD

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

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Published on August 03, 2025 14:36

August 2, 2025

Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Lazy Dog

This is the last day of my mini-vacation.

The visit has been lovely. We’ve shopped. We’ve eaten lots of great food. We’ve had many, many laughs. We swam! Tomorrow morning, we’re packing up and hitting the road to get back home. I’ll miss my sister, niece and nephews, but I’m ready to sleep in my own bed.

I’m holding up well, though I do have a nagging backache that my daughter thinks was caused by laughing so hard when I fought the floatation device in the pool on the first day. Sounds like something that would happen to me.

Anyway, I’m going to do the most with the time I have left here with sis. I think we’re hitting Hobby Lobby and maybe Outback Steakhouse today. The 11-year-old sure perked up when I mentioned that possibility. I need a cup of coffee and to get moving this morning, so I’ll leave you with another puzzle.

The picture, when you finish it, will be me when I get home tomorrow. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what you’re doing today!

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Published on August 02, 2025 03:38

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