Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 2

Word Search: Styles of Handbags (Contest)

I’m no style maven. I tend to dress very casually—always. Yoga pants and leggings with T-shirts and sweatshirts. Comfort always comes first. And since I work at home, in front of computer, I don’t have to invest in a “work wardrobe.” However, I have one item I tend to splurge on. I love a nice handbag. I have too many, so they sit at the top of my closet for when I want to swap them out because I like a pop of color or need a certain size. I tend to migrate toward satchel bags with sturdy handles. I also have totes for when I want to carry around art supplies or my laptop. I have a backpack bag that I use to a carry blanket, a Stanley cup, a snack, and headphones for when I go to the clinic for my infusions. My bags are leather or canvas. If they have short handles, I love a strap I can add so I can use it as a cross-body when I’m shopping (hands-free!). The colors range from black, brown, yellow, pink, teal, green, and orange.

Right now, I’m using a very utilitarian bag, an orange canvas Dooney & Burke, for when I make a quick trip into town. It’s not that pretty, but it’s orange. I love a pop of color to cheer me up. It doesn’t have to please anyone but me.

So, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what style of handbag you prefer. Do you like neutral colors or bright ones? Leather or canvas or whatever?

The post Word Search: Styles of Handbags (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Report Card & Open Contests

Report Card

Last week…

I completed a short-fused set of edits for one author! I continued working on another author’s manuscript.I continued reading entries for the  Burn: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology !I had my immunotherapy infusion on Monday, which made me sluggish as a snail for days afterward.The doctor gave me a prescription for Lunesta, and I have been sleeping soundly although waking up groggy. (Going forward, I’ll use it only the day after I suffer insomnia to catch up on rest.)I completed no paintings but watched several Asian reels (I’m so addicted!).

This next week…

I’ll continue working on edits for one author.I’ll finish reading the  Burn: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology  entries!I’ll try to turn my attention back to Ignition and get some pages written.I’ll continue to work on organizing & cleaning up my art room.I’ll attend my local art guild’s monthly meeting where we’ll be working on making “busted canvases.”Open Contests

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

Tell Me a Story (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!Sliding Puzzle: Skyscraper Day (Contest) — Ends tomorrow! Win an Amazon gift card!Terryn Mars: Written in the Stars– Why Fated Love Stories Keep Us Coming Back (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a book and an Amazon gift card!Puzzle-Day: National Cheese Pizza Day! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!Gabbi Grey: My New Dance Partner (Contest — and F*R*E*E story) — Win a FREE book!Word Search: Your Personal Phobia(s) (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!I love words! (Contest!) — Win an Amazon gift card!Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Elephant Contemplating — Win an Amazon gift card!The post Report Card & Open Contests first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Elephant Contemplating

Happy Saturday morning to you all! I’m hoping for a lazy-ish day—after the repairman comes out to fix the dishwasher, and after the family heads to the county fair to have some fun. My daughter is carrying a big bottle of hand sanitizer with her because of all the little hands that will be touching everything. When they leave, that’s when the house gets quiet and I can be lazy without feeling any guilt. Will I binge some more on a series I’m not finished with like Psych or catch up on Strange New Worlds? Will I watch an Asian reel on my phone? Will I putter and dust some furniture? Probably not that one. But the day is mine—after the repairman is gone.

For fun, I have a puzzle for you to solve. Something to get the old brain thinking. I hope you like the image and enjoy the challenge!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what you think about the image. Do you have questions? Do you see problems with it? Just have fun!

The post Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Elephant Contemplating first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

I love words! (Contest!)

I love words. That should come as no surprise, given my profession. I’m a card-carrying word nerd. Always have been.

When I was a kid, whether at the school library or the public library, I would search for the huge dictionaries they put on pedestals and just turn the pages to read all the words. Those dictionaries were a good five inches thick, the pages were thin and delicate, and I felt like I was discovering the secrets of the universe while I flipped through the pages.

I loved not only learning new words but also reading about a word’s etymology to understand the history of a word. Those thicker dictionaries included that history. It’s why, when I had a chance to study a foreign language, I first chose Latin of all things. I took four years of Latin, starting in junior high and into high school. Reading Julius Caesar’s The Gallic Wars, in the original language, was a highlight for me. As well, Latin helped me throughout school and college because I understood the origin of words, and how certain prefixes and suffixes of our words, also derived from the Latin, changed the meaning of the root word. So if I “met” a word I didn’t understand, sometimes, I could ferret it out on my own. Of course, I later studied Spanish in college, and it was a total breeze because it also derives from Latin.

So, yes, I’m a true word nerd. I even subscribe (it’s free!) to Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day emails. Today’s word is flummox, which I already knew, but while the online Merriam-Webster provides the definition, I have to go to another site, Online Etymology Dictionary, for the history of the word. It’s origin isn’t known, but it first appeared in England, so maybe it’s an old Anglo-Saxon word. I don’t know, but I’m still curious…

Anyway, I’m wondering if there’s anyone else out there who is a “word nerd.” I’ll offer a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card for your comment below. Did you ever read dictionaries for pleasure? Do you have one or several? I have small paperback ones for quick reference, but also a hardbound dictionary that includes the history of the words on my bookshelf now. And let’s not talk about my thesauruses and Spanish, German, and Latin translation dictionaries… I’m obsessed, I guess.

The post I love words! (Contest!) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Word Search: Your Personal Phobia(s) (Contest)

I hope the photo didn’t give you distress! My apologies if it did.

We all have things that gives us the creeps or alarm us, but few things ever rise to the level of full-on panic—or at least that’s my experience. This topic popped into my mind because of an incident that occurred yesterday. I’ll tell you about it further down this post. In the meantime, I thought I’d have fun with phobias. I chose ones for the puzzle that personally impact me.

Here goes my list:

Acrophobia — Fear of heights. I can relate to this one. In the Army, I had to rappel off cliffs. I never looked down, or I would be paralyzed. So I kept my gaze on the rock face the entire time. It’s why I never, ever wanted to attempt the Australian rappel because you ran down the rock face staring at the ground the entire time. With the rappel, it was always that moment when you leaned your butt over the edge and took that first hop… I prayed and cussed the entire way down—quietly, of course, because I didn’t want anyone to know I was a pussy. I also competed for a slot while in ROTC to go to jump school (parachuting) and was never so grateful that they didn’t want to “waste” the slot on a girl.

Arachnophobia — Fear of spiders. Two of my granddaughters freak out if the tiniest of spiders crawl in their vicinity.

Bibliophobia — Fear of books. I just can’t imagine it. Are they afraid books will suck them into their stories? I wish!

Glossophobia — Fear of public speaking. This one plagued me for years. I fought it because I had to (I was an Army officer and had to speak in public often) but it wasn’t until I reached middle age that it just faded away.

Insectophobia — Fear of insects. This is one of the 12-year-old’s phobias. I have to clean out every cricket, worm, caterpillar, fly, ant, and aphid from the pool before she’ll jump into the water.

Nyctophobia — Fear of the dark. I don’t know anyone except for a couple of the kids when they were very, very young who feared the dark.

Ophidiophobia — Fear of snakes. Nothing made my mother move faster than seeing a snake, no matter if it was venomous or not or teeny-tiny.

Phonophobia — Fear of loud noises. This is the one the 12-year-old suffers from—and why she never goes to see fireworks displays. When the family lit their own in the yard, she and I would head inside and watch a movie instead, turning up the volume.

Tachophobia — Fear of speed. I can relate to this one but only when combined with acrophobia. I tried skiing. But, even on the gentlest incline, the moment I sped up—that was it. I’d take a dive into the snow rather than continue down the slope because I was sure I was going to have a heart attack. Dear God, the story I could tell about accidently getting on a black slope on the top of an Austrian alp… Let’s just say pointing my skis did not slow my momentum, and it involved a dive into the snow and a subsequent trip down the mountain in a basket pulled by a very handsome rescuer…

Trypanophobia — Fear of needles. Just yesterday, the 21-year-old had her first adult doctor check-up, and she sat in the parking lot before her appointment hyperventilating while talking to her mom because she was afraid they’d draw blood. They didn’t, but I wondered how many people would’ve had to hold her down to accomplish it. It took four nurses to hold her down for shots when she was a kid.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me about your personal phobia! If you need a more comprehensive list, click on this link: List of Phobias: Common Phobias From A to Z.

The post Word Search: Your Personal Phobia(s) (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Gabbi Grey: My New Dance Partner (Contest — and F*R*E*E story)

Hello, Delilah! Thank you for welcoming me here to share my new release! A Furever Home is the final book in my Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue series and my first cowritten book.

You might be asking why, after having written almost fifty books, did I decide to cowrite a book?

Well, it’s a story.

Kaje Harper and I have known each other for years.  She’s been writing professionally and publishing stories for far longer than I have. In fact, my freelance editor suggested I read Kaje’s books and aspire to achieve that kind of brilliance in writing. (Now, my editor didn’t actually expect me to be Kaje level good — but she thought I could do better than I was. And she was right — my writing has improved greatly.)

At the suggestion, I nabbed all of Kaje’s audiobooks and listened.  I enjoyed them all, but most especially Into Deep Waters. Still, to this day, I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a really good MM romance.

Later, I plucked up the courage to invite Kaje to a writer/reader chat.  I was still a reader at this point.  She politely declined.  But she stayed in my DMs.  I believe the next interaction might’ve been when she published an audiobook.  I asked for a review code as I review for an LGBTQ blog.  She generously provided me one.  Now, I could go back over our chat log, but what fun would that be?

We started talking.  About all kinds of stuff. Oh!  I asked if I could dedicate my second published novella to her — Catch a Tiger by the Tail.  She said yes!  She even read it!  My little baby writer heart was thrilled.

I started publishing audiobooks, and we kept chatting.  And chatting.  And chatting. I remember the day she asked me for advice. I nearly died of joy.

When I found an opportunity to join a shared world, I encouraged Kaje to join me.  That was the Single Dads of Gaynor Beach.  She wrote one book.  I wrote three.  I have a problem corralling all the ideas in my head once I get started.

Then she told me she was participating in Rocktoberfest 2023 — her second year.  I found the courage to approach the organizer, and I was in! The twelfth author in a roster of 12.

One day, sort of out of the blue, the Gaynor Beach group chat blew up because someone asked about a rescue animal shelter.  Within a couple of hours, the organizer of the Gaynor Beach world had the spin-off series set up — Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue.

Naturally, I asked if I could write the first book.  The organizer said sure.  I’m pretty certain I asked if Kaje could write the next book (she was offline that day).  The organizer said sure.  Then I asked if I could write the final book in the series.  The organizer said sure.

I had a plan.

When I chatted with Kaje the next day to bring her up to speed, she was super excited.

Then I did one of the most audacious things I’ve ever done — I told her we were writing the final book together.

She said she didn’t cowrite books.

I said I knew that, but she was going to write this one with me.

She provided several very valid arguments why it wouldn’t work.

I said I knew that, but she was going to write this one with me.

After a moment, she said yeah, she guessed she was.

Thus was born a plan.

The single dads series was great, and many of the authors worked hard to include characters from other books, but there wasn’t a through line.  Kaje and I decided we’d create a through line for the Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue series.  Basically, Arthur, the guy who had a house full of rescues and was always asked to take more, would get the opportunity to open a shelter — his dream come true. And in the final book, he would get his happily ever after.

Kaje and I met virtually and hammered out what the series arc would look like.  We put everything on paper, and shared it with the group.  Everyone agreed we’d have cute titles. We were ready to go.

My first book, Love Furever released a year and a half ago.  Kaje’s Impurrfections released next.  Meredith Spies’ Iguana Me to Love You was out next.  Then I had to jump in because I accidentally set up a couple in my first book.  So Husky Love came next.  Roan Rossier’s Ruff Start released with the cutest pooch on the cover.

Several books were scheduled to be released — but those never materialized.

I had another book inside me, so wrote and published Yorkie to My Heart on Christmas Day.

More time went by.  More anticipated books didn’t happen.  I was super excited when Abrianna Denae’s A Furry Thing Called Love came out.

By then, Kaje and I had cowritten our book.

Wow, what a process.

Kaje asked to write Arthur — which was fine with me.  He’d always been her character.  We created Brooklyn and tossed ideas back and forth for months.  She helped me include him in the Yorkie book so readers would have been exposed to the new-in-town doggie daycare owner.

As agreed, Kaje wrote the first chapter.  I made editing suggestions then wrote the next.  She reviewed what I’d written, made corrections, wrote her chapter, made suggestions on what came next, and sent it back.

By unspoken agreement, we worked quickly.  The actual writing process took just over two weeks.

We had 80k words.  We had a book.  We had (to my eyes, anyway) a really good book.

I wince at editing, so tried to contribute, but Kaje’s deft hand smoothed out the rough edges.  We sent the manuscript to our freelance editor, and she returned it with relatively few suggestions.

We had a book.

I contacted our formatter, and I sent the manuscript off to Michael Ferraiuolo to do the audiobook.

Since then, we’ve waited.

Kaje has gone on to write two hockey books — Changes on Ice and Against the Odds.

I wrote Finding Noah for the Foggy Basin series, Voice to Raise for Road to Rocktoberfest 2025, and have started my next Daddy/puppy book.

We’ve waited.

Now the time has come to introduce Arthur and Brooklyn to readers.  A Furever Home has plenty of cameos from earlier books in the series, but also a strong storyline for our men.  Even a bit of suspense.

That’s the story.

Thank you for having me here today, Delilah.

Contest: As a thank you, I would love to give away a copy of Love Furever, the first book in the series. Either ebook or audio. If the winner has that, they can choose another book from my back catalogue.  Just let me know – is there an element of a story or trope that will always bring you back?  I write many small-town romances with rescue animals.  Kaje writes a wide variety of books, but she has a shifter series I highly recommend.  Leave a comment and Random will pick a winner! Good luck!

A Furever Home 

Arthur

When I was squeezing seven rescue dogs and a horde of cats in my small house, all I wanted was to not turn away a pet in need. Opening the Safe Haven Pet Rescue was a dream come true. But when I get hurt, standing between a man with a gun and a stray dog, I realize I still can’t do it all.

My injured leg, a concussion, having to lean on my friends, and realizing how helpless I feel, throws me back to my childhood when nothing I did ever seemed to be enough. But there’s one silver lining. Brooklyn West. He’s the kind of guy who holds a stranger’s hand in a crisis. He’s great with my dogs, even cranky little Chili, and really seems to want to help the shelter. I like watching him be a protective big brother when his sister turns up on his doorstep, even though I think there’s pain underneath his sunny smiles. But as we move toward friendship, I keep looking for the strings, for the catch, and wondering how I’ll pay him back, because nothing in my life can be that sweet, or that simple.

Brooklyn

I went through a slice of medical hell, and came out the other side with enough money to move to the opposite side of the country and start the doggie daycare business of my dreams. The cherry on top of that good luck is meeting Arthur Bjornsson. Big, wild-bearded, soft-voiced Arthur is the kind of guy my family would’ve ridiculed. He’s warm-hearted and willing to throw himself into harm’s way right in front of my eyes to save one pathetic stray dog.

He’s the kind of guy who gives me back some faith in humanity. But when my underage sister Cheyenne shows up on my doorstep, on the run from the family I thought I’d escaped, my old life and new collide. I want to help Arthur, get to know him, and, as he heals, I want more than just friendship. But Cheyenne brings legal risks, a teen on the other side of my bedroom wall, and the threat of retribution from our family. The simple relationship I thought Arthur and I were building is suddenly messy as hell. I don’t know how we’ll get through this to reach the furever home I so desperately want.

A Furever Home is a fur-baby-filled, hurt-comfort, small town romance between two men whose only chance at a family is to build one themselves.

Links:
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/AFureverHome
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FD8NX9DT
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-furever-home/id6751341547
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-furever-home-3
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=K7Z_EQAAQBAJ
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-furever-home-kaje-harper/1148093812
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1837744
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236558097-a-furever-home

About Gabbi Grey

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.

Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/

About Kaje Harper

I get asked about my name a lot, but it’s not something exotic. “Kaje” is pronounced like “cage” — it’s an old nickname; my pronouns are she/her. My books are primarily M/M romance, often with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi, paranormal… I also have a few Young Adult stories.

After decades of writing just for fun, my husband convinced me I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts and teachers who speak their minds, and I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received. I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks, print, and some audio, including Amazon bestseller The Rebuilding Year and Rainbow Awards Best Mystery-Thriller Tracefinder: Contact. A complete list with links can be found on my website “Books” page.

All my social media links can be found at https://linktr.ee/kajeharper

And if you like FREE SHORT STORIES, check out the weekly Sunday Stories on my FB Group – Kaje’s Conversation Corner – https://www.facebook.com/groups/208207893795147/

The post Gabbi Grey: My New Dance Partner (Contest — and F*R*E*E story) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Open Contests!

Open Contests

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

Favorite Romances You’ve Watched Recently (Contest) — This one ends tomorrow! Win an Amazon gift card!Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Cold Pool — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!August into September (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!Tell Me a Story (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Sliding Puzzle: Skyscraper Day (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Terryn Mars: Written in the Stars– Why Fated Love Stories Keep Us Coming Back (Contest) — Win a book and an Amazon gift card!Puzzle-Day: National Cheese Pizza Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!The post Open Contests! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Krysten Lindsay Hager: What Music Inspired My Pop Star Fake Dating Romance Novel (F*R*E*E in KU!)

When I was writing When Stars Collide in the City, listening to music was a huge part of the process. The book is about Olivia Macomb, an influencer and heiress who is part of the business tycoon Macomb family and is reeling after a public breakup. The book starts out with her friend. Paige set her up with her ex, Walker Vinton, to go to a party to prove Olivia’s just fine after being publicly dumped. Walker is an indie pop star who just signed a record contract but is trying to pick up the pieces after his breakup with Paige. So we have two lonely, broken-hearted people trying to get their lives back together, and Olivia starts the night off having an anxiety attack in front of this cute singer. However, it ends up bonding them, and they become close. Pretty soon, they end up in a fake relationship where real feelings develop. I had so much fun writing the funny banter scenes and the music video they shoot together, which starts to show the real feelings front and center.

Naturally, a book about a pop star is going to have a lot of musical inspiration, so here are a few of the songs that inspired me and why.

When Stars Collide in the City Playlist

Lewis Capaldi – Before You Go: This one feels like a song Walker would have written himself. This song sums him up so much. I won’t tell you how many times I played it in a row…

Lewis Capaldi – Wish You The Best: This is another song that feels like something Walker would sing and write. It’s an emotional one about an ex and you can feel the pain.

Halsey – Without Me: This one channels the anger Olivia feels toward her ex who not only broke her heart, but took her brand opportunity away. Played this one a lot.

Intro (End of the World Ariana Grande: This song shows the uncertainty and insecurity you can feel when falling in love with someone.

Ed Sheeran – Beautiful People: This one shows how Walker is starting to get jaded with the music industry and fame. He is getting his priorities right and seeing things in a new light.

Samantha Ebert – Overthinking: Olivia is a big overthinker and this song just jumped out at me when I heard it for the first time.

NF – Let You Down: This one was on repeat as I was writing the scene where Olivia realizes she misunderstood Walker. And yes, it got me soooo emotional.

El Debarge – Broken Dreams: This is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. It fits how Walker sees relationships. This song is also been on replay for me recently as I’m writing my current novel, so stay tuned.

Howie Day – Collide: This song fits so well and it’s funny that I had the word, “collide,” already chosen for the title when I heard this one.

Shattered Dreams – Johnny Hates Jazz: The perfect song to listen to after a breakup. I imagine both Walker and Olivia singing along to his—especially Walker with his saltiness— haha!

James Arthur – Let Me Love the Lonely ft. MaRina: I can picture Walker singing/writing this one about how he sees Olivia and how he’s falling for her in a deep way. It’s an emotional one and I like this version with both James and MaRina as she’s a favorite of mine.

Selfish – Jon Connor: I’m a big Jon Connon fan and this song is one I can see Walker listening to after his breakup.

Here’s the link to the playlist so you can listen for yourself. (Some of the songs aren’t on Spotify, but there’s a playlist on there, too.)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrFxW3TeFT5s1GU9wMy7ogxY0lBTLcVDp&si=ThpJq5UFajfZ76oY

When Stars Collide in the City

From the outside, Olivia Macomb looks like she leads a charmed life. She’s an up-and-coming influencer who is an heir to the Macomb family fortune, and about to start a lifestyle brand with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff. Then her world gets blown apart by her longtime boyfriend leaving her the morning of their website launch. Not only has he left, but the business she created is all in his name and she’s been left with nothing to show for all her hard work. Now she has to pick up the pieces and find out who she is on her own.

Enter Walker Vinton, the indie pop star who used to date Olivia’s close friend, Paige. When their school throws a big event, Paige asks Walker to be Olivia’s date to give to the gossip bloggers something else to talk about other than Olivia’s broken dreams.

Walker ends up coming to Olivia’s rescue in more ways than one at the party, and a twist of events leads to the two embarking on a fake relationship. Walker and Olivia wind up becoming best friends and she realizes he’s the boyfriend of her dreams. He helps her build both her brand and her self-esteem back up. Walker even helps her start a new business. However, the lines begin to blur as Olivia’s feelings for Walker are very real. The two share intimate conversations and dreams, but what’s real and what’s fake in this starry world?

Check out the rest of the series! Like second chance romance and sports romances? Book one in the series features a teen soap star named Valeria who runs into the ex she never got over who happens to be a college basketball player who transferred to a university in the city.

Like hockey romance? Book two has a soap star named Paige who winds up doing a TV sports internship and meeting a college hockey star while she’s trying to get over her pop star ex (who is featured in book three).

Find the whole series here. It’s Free in Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVXPN4DF
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CVXPN4DF
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CVXPN4DF
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CVXPN4DF
Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0CVXPN4DF

From the Author…

I write YA and contemporary novels with hope, humor and happily ever afters, as well as dealing with self-doubt and finding where you belong.

Keep up with Krysten here:
Website: www.krystenlindsay.com

The post Krysten Lindsay Hager: What Music Inspired My Pop Star Fake Dating Romance Novel (F*R*E*E in KU!) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Just sharing news about our warrior girl…

As if my family doesn’t have enough to deal with…

If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know I have a granddaughter who has faced cancer three times—to the point she had to have the major bone in her left leg removed and replaced by a cadaver bone, which was reinforced with a metal rod and screws. Already at just 16, she has had to deal with the lifelong limitations that have ensued—no running, jumping, foot pain, leg pain, etc. Did I also mention she has severe dyslexia? The girl is already as unlucky AF. This pic was taken at school years ago with a teacher. They’re wearing their “Team Colleen” T-shirts during The Relay for Life.

Does all this keep her down? No. She fights hard to make passing grades. She’s one of the highest-ranking “officers” in her ROTC program. She’s constantly having to tell military recruiters Thanks for wanting me, then lifting her pant leg to show them why she’d never pass the physical. Joining the military was her lifelong desire. That’s closed to her. Period.

For about a year now, she’s been dealing with increasing pain in her joints, hands, and feet. She was on a long waiting list for an appointment with one of a very small handful of physicians in this state who can diagnose and treat the problems she’s been having. It took many, many months for her to get in while her local provider gave her pain meds to get her through her days.

She had an appointment this past week, finally. We thought it was going to be the first of many to figure out what she has, but it turns out, after a battery of blood tests and X-rays of every joint in her body, she had a very quick diagnosis—Juvenile Arthritis, which, when she hits 18, will be rebranded Rheumatoid Arthritis. She has to take weekly chemo meds, pills, thank goodness. She’s scheduled for injections in her joints, which already show effusion and demineralization of the joints. They’ll put her under to do those because it’s painful as hell. She will be biopsied when she goes under, and they’ll aspirate the elbow because of the excess fluid. She may still face infusions, too, depending on how she responds to the other treatments, because her condition is already so severe.

The doctor recommended a school 504 plan so that, on days when the pain is too much, she can stay home without worrying about her absences—not that she’s likely to take advantage of it. The girl loves school. Even with her dyslexia, she’s there to help the kids in her class when they’re struggling with assignments. Funnily, her teachers either love her or shiver when she enters their class. She doesn’t keep her opinions to herself, is stubborn as hell, but she’s a loving girl who is always willing to pitch in. She’s kind to her friends, some of whom are in the special education classes. She won’t tolerate a bully. This past week, a child went missing in a neighborhood, and the community showed up to walk miles to find him. Our Colleen was right there, not complaining, even though the hours of exercise had to be hell on her joints and feet.

Here are a couple of recent photos of our girl. They make me laugh. The first is “authentic” Colleen, ready to leave for school. Her hair is wet, not dirty, and she doesn’t wear a hint of makeup. Her clothes are usually vintage grunge, band T-shirts (heavy metal—she’s my girl). In the second, she’s wearing a dress—under duress because she never wears dresses, but her mother wanted photos of her three girls in summer dresses, so she grumpily complied. No makeup though. The “if looks could kill” glare shows you just how much she detested this entire “production.”

So, my dear, beautiful warrior has another battle to fight. Our family is tight. We’ll surround her with all the support and love we can give. If you’d say a prayer for our girl, offer good wishes, I’d appreciate it.

The post Just sharing news about our warrior girl… first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Afton Locke: Letty’s Ever After — Released Today! (Excerpt)

I first came face-to-face with PTSD when visiting my boyfriend’s house as a teenager. His father was a Vietnam veteran. When something made a loud noise, he dived under the nearest table. My next encounter was much later, in a restaurant. I’d inadvertently triggered it one of the other diners. Next thing I know, he’s standing beside my booth, his hand shaped like a gun, his index finger about an inch from my nose. If he’d held a real weapon, I might not be here today. Luckily, he snapped out of it, and a healthy discussion followed.

PTSD is real and it’s serious. In World War II, unfortunately, no one knew much about it. People swept it under the rug and struggled to regain their “normal” lives. At the most, it was called “shell shock” and soldiers were often sent back to the field after a few days of rest. After researching the basics, I read a firsthand account of a Navy SEAL’s experience in Afghanistan. That really helped me understand the impact of PTSD on veterans and their families.

In my story, Jean-Luc and Letty wrestle with it, a challenge that will either make or break their relationship.

Letty’s Ever After by Afton Locke – Book #6 Oyster Harbor Series

Oyster Harbor ~ where passion and race collide

Order it now on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLWLNDSF/
other vendors: https://books2read.com/u/4XMPrv
Oyster Harbor series: http://www.aftonlocke.com/OysterHarbor.html

Her past peppered with losses, showgirl Letty St. Claire only wants to finish her sentence so she can reunite with her newfound family. When Jean-Luc O’Neill, the fun-loving chef from her hometown, faithfully visits her every week, friendship grows into love.

With WW II raging, Jean-Luc’s first priority is bravery. Upon his enlistment, he and Letty plan their happily ever after, but the war has other plans. While the British Channel confronts him with the terrors of death, Letty wrestles with her own demons on Oyster Harbor’s tumultuous home front.

Then, when the Pacific destroys his mind and soul, Letty and his family struggle to pick up the pieces. Jean-Luc has become a stranger. Their happily ever after, shattered. Can they build something new from the losses, or will their love be another casualty of war?

Playlist:

Let’s Stay Together – Tina Turner
https://youtu.be/4rFB4nj_GRc

Make Believe – Toto
https://youtu.be/3WlRcAGbkpw?si=XmvqUU5RSswME_pb

In the Mood – Panama Francis & the Savoy Sultans
https://youtu.be/a3FRSRuxVPo?si=7QHVpZwldcePlue9

Excerpt (explicit)…

Letty’s Ever After – Copyright © Afton Locke, 2025

She stopped at her door, hoping it would look familiar to him.

“I’ll say good night here,” he told her. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to kiss me.”

“Come in, just for a moment. Please.” She opened the door, led him in, and closed it behind her.

He studied the room with interest, his gaze lingering on the bed, but no remembrance flickered in his eyes.

“And you’re wrong,” she said.

“About what?”

“About wanting to kiss you.” She stroked his cheek. “Because I do.”

She looped her arms around him, forcing herself to go slow. Savoring the fit of his body against hers.

“You feel nice,” he whispered.

Not as good as you.

As soon as she attached her mouth to his, she forgot all about how fragile he was. She didn’t care. The need in her body sure didn’t. She’d been without this man for way too long, and they had a lot of lost time to make up for.

At first, she reveled in the familiar feel of his lips. They’d always been a little rough cut, like a man’s. His service in brutal terrain had made them more so. She studied each new fissure and rough spot with her tongue, getting to know him all over again.

But, eventually, the passion faded. He’d responded at first, but there must not be enough fuel on his end to keep the fire burning. She was doing all the work. Until, the passion in her died, too.

It stood to reason. While she kissed someone she loved deeply and missed even more, to him, she was merely an attractive stranger.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember you,” he said. “I can see in your eyes how much it hurts you.”

She traced the sun damage and a new tiny line on his cheek. As if she needed a physical reminder of what he’d been through.

“It’s okay,” she said. “If you’re meant to remember me, someday you will. I can wait.”

He kissed her again, rubbing his pelvis against hers. “I still want you, though.”

His hardness made her breasts swell, filling the soft cones of her brassiere. Other parts of her steamed up her panties. Oh, how she’d craved this man for so many long, lonely months. She eyed her bed, itching to tumble into it with him. Have him fill her, again and again until they both found joy again.

But inserting himself inside her wouldn’t fill her up. Not completely. Not the part that needed him most.

She dropped her hands and took a step back. “I think we’d better say good night.”

He gave her a light kiss. “Thank you, Letty. Tonight was like…heaven.”

She didn’t agree, but the fact that he said it touched her heart. It also gave her an idea of how awful the battlefield had been for him. They’d begun their relationship when she was in prison. Then the war had gotten in the way. Maybe they just needed some normalcy.

Their next date would be smoother. A new relationship with Jean-Luc would be better than none at all. So why did she curl up on her bed and cry after he left?

Because, no matter what she told herself, her heart still ached for the man who’d walked out several months—not minutes—ago.

Where readers can find me…

Newsletter: http://www.aftonlocke.com/mailing-list.html
Website: http://www.aftonlocke.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/aftonlocke
BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/afton-locke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AftonLockeAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Afton_Locke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aftonlocke/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aftonlocke/
X: https://x.com/aftonlocke
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/aftonlocke

About the Author

Afton Locke is a USA Today Bestselling Author who prefers romantic fantasies to everyday reality. Fantasies take her to different times, races, places, and beyond. She lives with her husband, several unnamed dust bunnies, and a black cat that can be scary or cuddly, depending on the current book. When she’s not writing, Afton enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and watching retro T.V.

The post Afton Locke: Letty’s Ever After — Released Today! (Excerpt) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.