Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 366

Cover Reveals and a New Release!

It’s me! Seems like forever since I had a day I could visit my own blog. And I come bearing news! I have two books from two exciting series that are up for pre-order now. And I have a brand new short story I can’t wait for you to sample.

I hope all is well with you. I’m working on a cold—stuffy nose, scratchy throat. Had to have been all that fresh air I got this weekend sitting at my table during the artists’ tour. Our weather turned the first day of the tour. On Thursday, temperatures hit just shy of 90 degrees. On Friday, we maybe got to 72 degrees. And the mornings this weekend were cold! I had to bring an afghan for my daughter and me to huddle under. Turn out wasn’t great, so I’m going to have tons of new pieces to post to the Etsy store—when I get time. Ha!

Enjoy the sneak peeks! And what do you think of the covers? My sister, Elle James, did every one of them.

Next in Uncharted SEALs

After losing her partner and lover in a shootout, New Orleans police officer Aislin Dupree is tormented by memories of the past and the day she lost Marc LeBrun. At her darkest hour, she discovers that Marc had planned a romantic getaway on a Caribbean island before his death . All expenses paid. She decides to take the trip, hoping the island getaway will help her come to terms with her sorrow. Instead, she meets a man, a friend of Marc’s from his past when he served as a Navy SEAL.

Sam Blalock is like Marc in so many ways that he makes her ache for what she once had. Strong, rugged Sam is her rock, holding her when she breaks, encouraging her to move on, because he knows about the pain of loss and the horror of violence all too well. She soon finds her waking hours consumed by Sam while she roams her dreams in search of Marc. As the time approaches for her to go home, she’s afraid to let go of the connection she’s found, and she fears she might be holding onto Sam for all the wrong reasons while she imagines another reality where dreams do come true.

Free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers**Pre-order Here

Next in the Night Fall Series

After the death of one of the members of the super-secret police unit aligned with the Vampire Council in southern Florida, werewolf Max Weir becomes the chief suspect. Sure a greater villain has used a were-clan’s hatred of vamps to strike against the unit, Max travels to the mountains of North Carolina to seek the truth and hopefully renew the centuries-old truce between the weres and vampires.

Alec Weir has a problem on his hands. The new sheriff on Dark Mountain must walk a fine line between upholding were-clan laws and saving his vamp-loving brother from certain death. Alec must find the traitor in the clan responsible for the attack on the vampires or watch his brother die. If that wasn’t enough, his chosen mate, Stasia McGwyre, seems to still hold a candle for Max.

Free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers**Pre-order Here

Brand New Release!

A Viking jarl tricked into marrying a shieldmaiden sets out to tame his fiery bride…

Free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers**Order Here

*~*~*

Excerpt:

“That creature is a Jarl’s daughter?” Left unsaid in Lothar’s wide gaze was the fact she would also beTorvald’s wife.

Given the sight that beheld their eyes,Torvald might have felt it unfair to chastise his companion, but he couldn’t overlook the disrespect. So he jerked his elbow backward and up, neatly breaking Lothar’s nose. While the man groaned and bent at the waist to keep the blood streaming toward the rushes covering the rough dirt floor,Torvald stepped deeper into the taproom.

The brawl was well underway. His bride seemed to have things well in hand. Something that might have amused him in his younger days, but he had a position to uphold and ambitions beyond his own jarldom. Bringing back such a wife to his holdings could prove a hindrance to his plans.

Not that she wasn’t a handsome woman. Beneath the dirt on her cheeks and the blood smeared on her chin, her face was nicely formed and her eyes a direct and chilling blue. Her hair was such a pale shade as to be nearly white, and so thick it escaped her braids to fly about her back and buttocks like a wild mare’s mane. And she had surprising strength and stamina in her tall robust frame, which admittedly intrigued him.

As he watched, she turned sideways, gripped the edge of a table, and flipped over it, planting her feet in the center of a large, brutish man’s belly to topple him. The man went down with a roar then kicked out his feet, pulling himself to stand in a single, astonishingly graceful motion.

His bride glanced up the big man’s frame then planted both fists on her hips in a fearless stance. “I tipped a bull once. He thrashed a bit, but didn’t get back to his feet nearly as quickly as you.”Her words were brusque but admiring, and her expression gave away her cheeky lack of contrition.The red-headed brute glanced down at her, nostrils flaring, his cheeks so flushed Torvald feared he’d pop a vein–and then suddenly, he tossed back his head and laughed.The sound was large and loud inside the small, ale-saturated room. He clamped his arm around the woman’s shoulders and turned her toward the bar. “Mead for the lady,” he roared.

The brawl ended in an instant. Laughter and loud claps to shoulders filled the room.

Lothar sidled up beside Torvald, a cloth pressed to his nose as he stared through bruised and swelling eyes. “Will you break something else if I say she’s not exactly the woman Hagar promised?”

Torvald blew out a breath and nodded. “It can’t be the same woman. A sister, perhaps.”

Hagar, the chieftain of the neighboring jarldom, had promised a girl so fair roses blushed in dismay. A woman as slender as a reed, as graceful as a soaring falcon, with hair as dark as midnight, skin as pale as snow.

This harridan’s tall angular frame and blonde hair were the exact opposite of what he’d been promised, and her ruddy complexion was berry brown from exposure to the sun and weather.

“Is it a trick to save his treasure for a higher bidder for the beauty’s hand? This one’s more skjaldmær–shieldmaiden–than bride.”

“I don’t know, but this…” Torvald said, pointing toward the sturdy figure dressed in a man’s breeches and kyrtill wasn’t an acceptable trade. “This will never do.” No matter that she appeared strong and would likely birth warriors full-grown. She’d never stand up to the scrutiny a future queen would face.

Taking a deep breath, he indicated to Lothar to watch the door and strode toward the woman who’d raised a full horn of mead and drank it like water. He tapped her shoulder.

Her gaze swung toward him, a scowl digging a crease between her cold blue eyes.

“Are you Solveig, Hagar’s daughter?”

She set down her empty horn with a thump. “And who is asking?”

“Torvald Haroldson. I have come for you.”

Roni Loren: 5 Reasons to Give a Sexy Submissive Hero a Chance

I’ve been writing kinky stories for a few years now. I love writing the male dominant hero and can’t resist that uber alpha character. However, for a while now, I’ve been itching to flip the dynamic and write a story with a female domme and a male submissive. And when my character Gibson showed up on the page in an earlier book, I knew I had to write his story.

It’s always a risk to write this reverse dynamic because many readers think—a submissive hero? Nah, not my thing. But I’m here to tell you that there’s a whole lot to love about a submissive hero. And I promise, Gibson Andrews is no less alpha than any of his dominant friends. In the boardroom, he rules. But when the doors close, he has a different craving.

So what’s so hot about a submissive hero?

He wants to please. – The man wants to give his partner pleasure. He actually gets off knowing he’s driving her wild and is willing to do almost anything to get her to that lovely, sexy place. What’s not to love about that?


He’s strong. – Like I said, Gibson is alpha in the rest of his life. But beyond being physically strong, it takes a hell of a lot of guts to turn the control over to someone and leave yourself vulnerable. This is actually part of his journey in BREAK ME DOWN. He doesn’t want to be submissive even though he craves that dynamic, so he’s going to have to find the inner strength to embrace that part of himself. (And Samantha is looking forward to helping, lol.) And as a side note, we often point out in BDSM books how strong the woman has to be to submit. But for some reason, when it’s a guy submitting, we have that knee jerk reaction that this somehow makes him weaker. Submission takes strength no matter what the gender.


He’s confident enough to flout gender expectations. – Gibson does not start in this place. But in general, any guy who is willing to embrace a submissive side has to be really confident and brave to give the middle finger to society’s gender expectations. That takes a lot of spine.


He’s protective. – No one is going to be more protective of a woman than her sub. Just see what happens when someone tries to mess with Samantha when Gibson is around.


The lady gets to call the shots. – Okay, so yes, the fantasy of not having to make decisions and handing over control to a sexy dom is a fantastic one. However, I was surprised when I started writing how fun it was to get into Sam’s head and wield all that power over the sexy Gibson. We all have a little evil side that would have some fun coming out to play, right?

So after writing BREAK ME DOWN, I know I’ll have to revisit this type of story again. It was way too much fun to write not to do it again.

So have you ever read a story with a submissive hero? Any favorite books to recommend? What are your thoughts on that dynamic?

About Roni:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her cooking, watching reality television, or picking up another hobby she doesn’t need–in other words, procrastinating like a boss. She is a former RITA award nominee and is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

About BREAK ME DOWN:

Samantha Dunbar needs to forget Gibson Andrews. When he trained her to be a domme, she experienced just how hot things could get with the sexy executive. She was ready to hand him everything–including her heart. But Gibson backed away, declaring them incompatible. He’s a dominant, and Sam’s no submissive.

But after an attack shakes Sam to her core, Gibson tracks her down at her family’s rundown farmhouse and makes her an offer. He’ll stay the week and be hers in every way–a helping hand for the renovation and a willing lover in her bed. He swore he’d never give up control to anyone again, but he hasn’t been able to touch another woman since Sam. Maybe a week alone with her will cure him of his relentless craving. 

But one taste only makes them want more, and Sam and Gibson are drawn in deeper than ever. The man who won’t give in has just met the girl who won’t give up…

Excerpt:

He banged on it again before she could reach it, so when she swung the door open, his fist was still hovering in the air. He blinked as if surprised she’d actually appeared, and then blatant relief descended over his features. “Thank Christ.”

Her jaw clenched, and she had to force it to relax to speak. “What the hell are you doing here?”

His gaze skated over her, a deep line appearing between his brows as he ignored her question. “Shit, Sam, you look . . . baby.”

She had a good idea what she looked like. She was sweaty, covered with wood dust, and between the attack last night and all the crying, her face probably looked like she’d been hit with a wet bag of rocks. Goddammit. This was the last thing she needed Gibson to see. And the fact that he’d forced her into letting him see her like this pissed her off even more. “Don’t you dare call me baby or look at me like that. You’re not supposed to be here. I didn’t invite you.”

His blue eyes flicked upward, rigid determination there. “You don’t need to be alone right now. And you damn well shouldn’t be alone out here in the middle of nowhere.” He swung a hand toward the door. “A stiff wind would knock this thing down. What are you thinking?”

Well, that just punched all her bitch buttons. “Thanks for stopping by. It’s been fun. I’m alive and fine. You can go home now. Buh-bye.”

She moved to shut the door, but his hand flew out to block it from closing. “Oh, no you don’t. You can be pissed at me all you want. But if you think I’m leaving you out here like this, let me alleviate you of that notion. Not gonna happen, sunshine.”

Her grip on the door tightened. “What? You gonna drag me out kicking and screaming, Gib? I’ll fucking fight you.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked and he took a step forward. “You know I’m not going to put my hands on you like that. But you either come willingly or you’re going to be staring at my ugly mug until you do.”

Ugly mug was about as far from the truth as possible. Even with dark shadows under his eyes, his hair disheveled from raking fingers, and a wrinkled shirt, he looked like he’d just fallen off the stage of some hot man revue. But she was too ticked off to care about how hot he was. Mostly.

“Leave, Gib.”

“Not unless you come with me.” He ducked under the arm she had braced on the door and strode inside.

“Oh my God.” She spun around, the door swinging shut on its own behind her. “Boundaries, dude. Ever heard of the word?”

“Yep. Can spell it and everything.” Gib crossed his arms over his chest and peered around, examining the place. His gaze landed on the sander and the stripped floor of the adjoining dining room. “Is this what you’ve been up to?”

She groaned. He wasn’t going to go away. That much was clear. And she wasn’t going with him. He really would have to fight her for that. She’d waited too long to take this week off. And she wanted that week spent here. If she could knock out the list of projects she had, she’d be that much closer to having this place livable. “I’m renovating. Despite what ideas you have in that tetosteroned brain of yours, I didn’t run out here because I’m freaking out over what happened last night. I had a vacation planned. I’m going to spend the week here—alone. I just left a few hours early. And I’m fine. I come out here all the time. I have a gun. I have Darcy. No serial killers have bothered me yet.”

“Yet. There’s a key word for ya. Friday the 13th Part Thirty-Five could be set here.”

“Gib.”

“Look, I get that you don’t want me here. But you’re not going to convince me everything’s peachy. Your argument would hold more water if it weren’t obvious that you’ve been crying, that you haven’t slept, and that you were completely freaked out when you bolted at the Ranch.”

She gritted her teeth, hoping her steely gaze would make him back the hell off. “I’m. Fine.”

But instead of backing off, he stepped closer, his eyes softening and his hands cupping her shoulders. “I don’t think you are. And that’s cool. Feel whatever you need to feel. You don’t have to hide that from me or be embarrassed. But I need you to forget for a second that you’re mad at me. Forget all that shit at the Ranch. And remember that before anything else, I’m your friend, Sam. And if this were my brother or Pike or Foster acting like a hardheaded, reckless jackass, I would call them out, too. Would you let Tessa do this? Stay out here alone when she’d just been through something f**king traumatic?”

His palms on her shoulders were almost too much. She’d die if he could feel her trembling. But the touch was somehow grounding, too—settling. And she hated to admit he was right. She’d never let Tessa do this. She could come up with ten arguments for why it was a dumb idea. But she couldn’t leave. If she left, her attackers won. They would successfully steal her vacation, change her plans, alter her life. She met Gibson’s gaze, needing him to understand, needing him to hear her. She put her hands over his. “I can’t go, Gib. I won’t. I get what you’re saying, but . . . I need this. Maybe more than anything. I need to be here.”

Buy the book: Nook | Kindle | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

Thanks for letting me stop by! : )

Jen Crane: New Fantasy Series Descended of Dragons (Giveaway)

Remember when you had time for movie marathons? You could watch five straight episodes of Gossip Girl or True Blood guilt-free and uninterrupted. Can you even recall the days when you could watch an entire movie in one sitting? (Without folding laundry.) Or maybe you have free time now, but miss your old shows—reality TV just doesn’t do it for you.

These days I have less and less time for television. Don’t get me wrong—I still make time for my favorites. There’s no way I would miss Outlander or Game of Thrones or House of Cards. Thank the TV gods for DVR’s and Netflix! But aside from the obvious benefit of unlimited access to shows and movies, my video on demand service has provided a bonus: I’ve learned a lot about myself from my queue.  According to my viewing history, my TV preferences are dramatic, exciting, emotional shows that are sometimes dark, and often feature girl power. Spot on! That’s what I love to read, and it’s a fantastic description of the new fantasy series I released this month.

The Descended of Dragons series is a whole new spin on shifters. I released Books 1 & 2 in this fun, sexy new series this month. The books are getting great reviews, and were even selected by the staff at iBooks/iTunes as an “Our Pick” for Fantasy/Sci-Fi.

**Sign up for my newsletter at http://bit.ly/Jen_Crane_Newsletter and enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Rare Form (Descended of Dragons, Book 1).  The winner, chosen from subscribers, will be announced in my next newsletter set to go out November 1.

Rare Form

Descended of Dragons, Book 1

Amazon: http://bit.ly/RFAmazonBuylink

B&N: http://bit.ly/RFBNBuylink

iTunes: http://bit.ly/RFiBooksBuylink

A Secret Past

Fiery redhead Stella Stonewall can’t decide between a margarita and a manhattan.

The rest of her life? Please. Stella has never really fit in, and her pretty world comes crashing down when she learns it was never her world at all.

Rowan Gresham is domineering, brooding, and as sexy as chocolate-dipped sin. When he transports Stella to the magical realm of her parents she recognizes her rightful place immediately. Gresham’s motivations are less clear.

A Scorching Chemistry

The enigmatic Gresham aids in Stella’s metamorphosis and their chemistry ignites, though a long-time girlfriend and a significant age difference stand in the way.

A Battle for the Rest of Her Life

Stella’s life fast-tracks to extraordinary when she enrolls at Radix Citadel for Supernatural Learning, an enchanted college whose students turn furry on the regular. As Stella learns to navigate the magical new world of Thayer she must also find her animal form, a task as elusive as her ancestry. Stella soon faces an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn to manipulate an animal form she never knew she possessed.

Origin Exposed

Descended of Dragons, Book 2

Amazon: http://bit.ly/OEAmazonBuylink

B&N: http://bit.ly/OEBNBuylink

iTunes: http://bit.ly/OEiBooksBuylink

A Dangerous Secret

In fiery redhead Stella Stonewall’s new world magic and shape-shifters are everyday life. Scales, sorcery, shifters—no big. Stella has learned she’s not only descended of dragons, but of powerful skin changers. She struggles to keep this rare form a secret, even from her closest friends.

A Bitter Betrayal

Stella turns to her mentor Rowan Gresham for help. The charming but enigmatic Gresham forms a plan to improve her troublesome public image. The problem? The plan revolves around betraying the only family she has left.

A Potential for Something Real

When Gresham’s motives come into question Stella must rely on the new friends she’s made at a college for magical shifters. The feral bunch helps set Stella’s inner beast free. As these friendships flourish, so does the magnetism she’s always felt toward fierce and noble Ewan Bristol. But it’s so strong it threatens to overwhelm her.

Can Stella afford to open her heart now, when her entire future’s at stake, or is it bolted shut for eternity?

About the Author

Though she grew up on a working cattle ranch, Jen Crane has been in love with fantasy and science fiction since seeing a bootleg tape of Quantum Leap in the 90’s.

She has a master’s degree and solid work histories in government and non-profit administration. She’s been published in reputable newspapers and magazines.

One day, though, she said, “Life’s too real for nonfiction. I’m gonna write about love and magic.”

Jen is happily living out her dream in The South with her husband and three children, striking that delicate balance between inspiration and frustration.

Find Jen Crane online

Website: www.JenCraneBooks.com

FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest: JenCraneBooks

Gemma Juliana: My Muse Is Back!

This blog post could be about how an author tried to live a normal life when her muse abandoned her for an entire year. Instead, I’ll focus on the positive. She and I renegotiated our contract and she is back on the job! She demanded that more play time, more chocolate, more aromatherapy bubble baths, and an occasional glass of champagne are added to her contract. She also insisted ‘we’ travel more for inspiration, even just a day trip at times. She’s tired of humdrum routines and old patterns.

Who am I to say no? So, we’re back in the writer’s chair and enjoying it more than ever.

To kick it all off, we’re in three anthologies—two are releasing right now, with the third in November. And then there’s a fourth that is in the early stages of planning for Spring 2016.

I’d never been in a multi-author boxed set before but am loving it. There’s something special about joining up with author friends and shooting for the stars in a group effort.

Now, if you’ll indulge me—and my muse—we’ll do just a little shameless self-promotion. Yesterday was my first Facebook party ever and it was way more fun than I expected. We’re asking for Thunderclap support and would be ever so thankful for yours—the more the merrier. And I support all Thunderclap campaigns if asked. If you are so inclined, here’s where to go: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/32904-entice-me

 

And, if you are a Pinterest nut like me (my muse really, really loves Pinterest, per chance to dream), you may enjoy browsing the Entice Me Pinterest board:

https://www.pinterest.com/denysebridger/entice-me-~-multi-author-anthology/

And here’s my Riviera Rendezvous Pinterest board:

https://www.pinterest.com/gemmajuliana/riviera-rendezvous/

Thanks so much from us all!

ENTICE ME: Luscious Love Stories

by 9 of the 20 member authors of Romance Books ‘4’ Us

 My novelette, Riviera Rendezvous, takes us on a fast ride in a shiny sports car with the mysterious and magnetic Xandros Xenakis from Genoa, Italy—where Amalie Pallas abandons ship after a scary encounter—to a fairytale wedding in the sleepy town of Èze on the French Riviera. She’s a damsel in temporary distress; he’s a knight in a shiny Aston Martin coupe with the perfect solution—a win-win offer she can’t afford to refuse. Can a weekend turn into a lifetime?

The second boxed set is of a totally different nature. It’s a compilation of recipes and tips from busy authors. It’s available now for pre-order on several platforms and will be available in both ebook and hard copy. Can’t beat it for .99 and a portion goes to charity. What a fine gift this holiday season.

We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips

Last but not least, please take a peek at Autumn Masquerade, my autumn story that works for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the harvest season in general.

http://amzn.com/B01638N5PO

Anna Spencer learned long ago that she must separate her corporate career and her psychic gifts. Her boss is the one person she fears will find out. Richard Bentley, a wealthy widower, has come to mean more to Anna than she wants to admit. When Anna agrees reluctantly to fill in as a psychic at a masquerade ball, her secret world collides with her daily reality. Communicating with the dead is her greatest gift, and lands her in a huge predicament when Richard’s deceased wife shows up for a chat.

http://amzn.com/B00G0KY77Q

Thanks for listening to my shameless self-promotion! I wish each and every one of you a delightful season of gratitude and reflection, and lots of reading and writing!

GEMMA JULIANA is a multi-published author who writes love stories of all kinds, from contemporary to paranormal. She has a penchant for romantic international settings, whether real and fictional. Gemma lives in a cozy cottage in Texas with her very own hero, teen son, and a dog who rules them all. Chocolate and coffee nourish her muse and fuel her creativity. She enjoys traveling for research and spending time with family and friends. Gemma loves hearing from readers and making new friends.

AUTHOR WEBSITE & BLOG:

www.gemmajuliana.com

www.amazon.com/author/gemmajuliana

http://www.gemmajuliana.com/blog/

www.twitter.com/gemma_juliana

www.facebook.com/gemma.juliana

https://www.pinterest.com/gemmajuliana/

Jennifer Kacey: Aslan’s Stranger Cover Reveal and #Giveaway

So right at this very moment I’m writing….umm….three books and somewhere in the process of editing/publishing….err….four more I think. Could be five…

Whichever it is, I have a lot of irons in the fire and a whole lotta characters swimming in my head. And I’ve been tossing around the idea of a series containing nine novellas. Cause I don’t already have enough to write!!

Each of the novellas is based around the same two people. Aslan and Zeke. So not just one MORE book to add onto my writing schedule but nine. I know length wise they’ll all add up to the same big book, but I want each of the stories to more or less stand on their own.

The series name is Fantasies A-Z because of their names, and the first story I’ve written is Aslan’s Stranger. I brought along the cover made by the amazing Syneca Featherstone and decided no better place to share the smexy. Here it is!!! What do you think?

I absolutely love it! It’s so fantastic, and I can’t wait to share the start of their journey with all of you!! Here’s a little something to whet your appetite until I have pre-order links to share!!

Aslan’s Stranger

Kinky sex with a stranger. One of Aslan’s deepest fantasies. To fulfill it, only one man will do. Her husband.

Wanting more, needing it, craving a kinky edge to sex is exactly what Aslan lives with every day. Days and months and years of unfulfilled fantasies filtered down to one life-altering decision.

Approach the sexy man sitting at the bar or walk away? Keep trying to fit into the mold she’s been told to conform to or find herself lost somewhere in the gray? Close the seemingly insurmountable distance between wishes and reality or let her dreams go? Once and for all.

Everything she’s ever hungered for sits within her reach if the one man she trusts to take her there will finally let his monster free.

Her Stranger. Her fantasy. Her husband.

To find her forever she must give it all to him. Her fears, her power and her consent. One night is all she’s asking for but what she gets in return will change their lives…forever.

Soooo to make room for all that awesome above — I have a HUGE bag of conference swag to give away! Print books, a bag, bookmarks, pens, buttons and maybe a few naughty somethings throw in to make your heart go pitter pat!! How do you enter to win? Easy!

Just comment below and let me know something you’ve done to keeps things nice and spicy in the bedroom!! Could be your SO or a one night stand with a stranger or a spouse or yourself. Hey I’m not picky!! I’ll pick a random winner tomorrow or the next day. Good luck!!

Decadently Yours,

Jennifer Kacey

Need something to cream your twinkie while you wait to see if you won goodies??

May I suggest a delicious bite out of the Members Only series……..

The books in the Members Only Series can be found here…

Together In Cyn

Haleigh’s Ink

A Very Ménage Christmas

Duke’s Valentine

Orgasm University

Accidental Voyeur

Roman’s To-Do List

Jenna’s Consent

Laila’s Lies

Stand Alone

Buried Permission

Beneath the Pages

Nico’s Curse

Elite Metal

Final Surrender

Violet’s Shadow in Romancing the Wolf Anthology

Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her family in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.

Website – http://www.jenniferkacey.com/

Newsletter – http://jenniferkacey.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=f09bd32b8c279cebcc930950e&id=2a45c210e8

Blog – The Decadent Divas – http://www.thedecadentdivas.blogspot.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.kacey.7

Facebook Author Page – https://www.facebook.com/jenniferkaceyauthor

Twitter – https://twitter.com/JenniferKacey

Amazon Page – http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Kacey/e/B00GXHUB30/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d9_al1?_encoding=UTF8&refinementId=618073011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0G8ZPDQJVKJPKXNBRY10&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6941549.Jennifer_Kacey

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/jenniferkacey/

Kathy Kulig: Hauntings at Ancient Ruins & Excavations

Many ghost stories and hauntings begin in old houses where people have lived and died, often tragically through illness, accident or murder. If you believe in the existence of ghosts or at least accept the possibility, then you must also accept the possibility of their presence in ancient ruins.

If people from ancient times lived and died there, shouldn’t there be ghosts too? Then perhaps archaeologists work at potentially haunted job sites. Do they ‘stir’ up the dead when they do their work to uncover mysteries?

When I did research for my book His Lost Mate, I spoke with an archaeologist who had worked over 30 years in the field and he agreed about the presence of haunted ruins. He spoke of a dig in upstate NY near a river that a colleague of his was on. No one was around, but she heard voices like women and children playing and washing clothes in the river, and men catching fish with spears. She even smelled the fish being smoked over fires. But there were no campfires burning anywhere. Haunted? Or imagination?

Here are a few famous haunted places in the world:

Gettysburg Battlefields – in Pennsylvania. So many died at one time and so many reports of ghosts. A popular spot for ghost hunters.

Aokigahara or Suicide Forest in Japan – many people for unknown reasons commit suicide there. Considered a haunted forest.

Bhangharh Fort– a 16th Century fort in India said to be cursed. It is forbidden to stay there after dark.

Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania – was abandoned in 1971 and is said to have a lot of paranormal activity.

Pennhurst Asylum – another place in Pennsylvania it was opened in 1908 and is now an attraction http://pennhurstasylum.com/history/

Stonehenge – in Wittshire, England is more known for its mysteries and possible powerful energies, but ghosts have also been sited there.

Berry Pomeroy Castle – Devon, England. Pick pretty much any ancient castle and the locals will report a ghostly presence or two.

There are way too many ancient haunted places to list. I’m sure with a little research you could find a haunted place or two in your own neighborhood!

In my book, His Lost Mate, such a ghost haunts an ancient pyramid in the jungle. He’s a Mayan shaman. Back in his time, their king was desperate because of a long drought, food was scarce and human sacrifices were made to the storm god in hopes to appease him so the rains would come. This Mayan shaman knew his daughter was next in line to be sacrificed and could not convince the king to spare her. So he begged a warrior to take her out of the city and escape into the jungle to save her. His daughter and this warrior who were lovers were lost and died a tragic death.

Reincarnated hundreds of years in the future, these two lovers have a chance to find each other again. The ghost of the shaman returns to help his daughter because there are new dangers that threaten the couple again. They don’t even know they were the lost lovers from ancient times. But the heroine is now an archaeology student and also a psychic. She’s reliving bits of that life in visions and dreams. The warrior is now the lead archaeologist and professor and doesn’t believe in the esoteric world or ghosts. It’s a little like an Indiana Jones adventure and love story. They have more to overcome than their differing beliefs, while their love life heats up and becomes more passionate, the dangers threatens them and their team. Unless they both discover the secrets in the jungle in time, they could again be lost forever.

If you’d like to check out the book, here are the links:

KindleUS: http://amzn.to/1PFavkz

KindleUK: http://amzn.to/1J4XMrP

KindleCA: http://amzn.to/1IPPjpr

KindleAU: http://bit.ly/1MMOy1b

Find more info. about Kathy:

Website: www.kathykulig.com

Amazon Page

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kathykuligauthor

Twitter: @kathykulig

Blog: www.TheLustyView.com

Goodreads

And please sign-up for her newsletter for monthly prizes, news and fun stuff.

Carol Braswell: Justin’s Gamble and Halloween

Thank you Delilah for inviting me to your blog. It is an honor and pleasure to be here.

It’s October. One of my favorite months. The colorful leaves are falling like a slow rain, air has cooled off, and the grandkids are getting excited for Halloween.

We are big on Halloween in my house. We start looking for scary costumes in August. The scarier the better. On the big day, the little guys show up around four to wow me. Of course, I pretend to faint from fright and then invite them in for pizza. By six, we head through the neighborhood to trick or treat every house that has a light on.

I’ve often wondered what the kids would do if the resident asked them to do a trick first. Anyway, when the bags are full and my feet are ready to fall off, we come back to grandma’s house to check out the loot and have dessert. The kids love it. I do, too.

Besides spending time with my hubby and grandkids, I love to write. In the last three years I have published three books in a series. All three are stand-alone. The final book in the Garrett series, Justin’s Gamble is a sexy, fast-paced, suspenseful romance.

An annual veterinary convention in Las Vegas turns into anything but routine for Justin Garrett. Bored, tired, and a little too much to drink, Justin left the ho-hum conversations in the Blue Room to get fresh air before going to his room for the night. His short walk for a break is interrupted by a beautiful damsel in distress. He learns pretty quick she’s not what she seems when he is ordered to perform a service for a biker gang and their leader who is running an illegal dog fight. When his expert doctoring fails, he believes his life is over. He is beaten unrecognizable, and shoot trying to hide from the evil men. Unable to locate him, the bikers believe he is dead or dying and leave him for the buzzards. It didn’t matter. He’s lost, bleeding, and alone in a remote area. He was going to die, anyway.

Mara had been on the streets of Vegas since she was sixteen. She had seen a lot of things but nothing compared to the gentle hands and medical skills of the handsome vet. He had worked tirelessly to save the wounded animal. She had to find him and see if he was still alive. She watched the bikers leave the secluded desert and fired up her Harley. Even though she finds and saves him, she underestimated the threat of her ex-boyfriend and his gang of bikers.

They have to get out of Vegas and back to the safety of Justin’s ranch in Texas. Around every corner the pair have to run for their lives.

Buy at Amazon

I’m excited about the next few months, discounting cooking Thanksgiving dinner and shopping for Christmas. My next book is titled, My Name is Grace.  It is totally different from the Garrett Series. It is a love story that is an emotional rollercoaster. Grab your tissues. Faith, hope, and belief is all Grace has left after waking up on a railroad track, bruised and battered, with no memory. Of course, there is murder and crime involved that leaves a tall, sexy, small-town sheriff scratching his head. The book ends with a huge surprise. I can already hear you saying, “I didn’t see that coming.” I will have it out within the next couple of months. Watch for it.

Carol Braswell

www.carolbraswell.com

Elle James: MONTANA SEAL (Contest)

I love Montana. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s like the contemporary version of the wild west with wide-open spaces, big, blue skies and mountains so rugged they pierce the horizon. My grandmother’s family is from Montana and many of them still live there. Her grandmother crossed the prairie in a covered wagon to stake a claim on the grasslands with a view of the Crazy Mountains in their back yards. My great-uncle was the sheriff of the small town where they grew up. He was also the mail man. When there were only so many people to do the jobs, you had to double up to get them done. The ranchers and farmers who still live there are as rugged as the hills and take care of their own.

I couldn’t think of a better place for my SEAL Hank Patterson to call home. He knew hardship and discipline before he joined the Navy and trained to become a SEAL. His upbringing made him the man he is. Now he’s back and starting a new life in the place of his birth. Saddle up and come along for the ride.

MONTANA SEAL

Brotherhood Protectors Series Book #1

Coming November 17, 2015

Free on Kindle Unlimited. Preorder now!

Amazon  | Amazon UK

Former SEAL and shining Hollywood starlet struggle against their burgeoning desire while trying to stay alive in the crosshairs of a murderous stalker.

Hank “Montana” Patterson never thought his call to duty would force him to leave his band of brothers in the Navy SEALs to return to the family ranch in the foothills of Montana’s Crazy Mountains. News that his father was shot, sends him rushing home to take over the reins of the Bear Creek Ranch. His forever belligerent father refuses his help, insisting Hank find the person who shot him. What Hank learns is the bullet was meant for the neighboring ranch owner, a Hollywood celebrity, a beautiful actress who once stole Hank’s heart.

Hometown girl, now a Hollywood temptress, Sadie McClain shot to fame and fortune on the big screen, earning her star on the walk of fame and a stalker who won’t back off. Escaping to her ranch in Montana, Sadie hopes to avoid her stalker, only to be hunted there as well. In need of a bodyguard with combat skills, Sadie hires her old flame, Hank to do the job.

Together they struggle to overcome their rekindled desire while fighting to stay alive in the crosshairs of a madman.

About the Author

Join my newsletter for a chance to win this great prize. Only subscribers are eligible for the drawing. I’ll choose a winner on Nov 1st when my next newsletter comes out.

Elle Jame’s Newsletter

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author ELLE JAMES also writing as MYLA JACKSON is an award-winning author of stories including cowboys, intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edges of their seats. With over eighty stories in a variety of sub-genres and lengths she has published with Harlequin, Samhain, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington and Avon. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories.

Elle’s Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Page

Lindsay McKenna: How the Delos Series Was Created

My husband and I took the Celebrity ship, the Solstice, on a cruise that took us to Istanbul, Turkey for two days and a day in Kusadasi, Turkey.  I went to the Blue Mosque that was built in Istanbul by the Moslems five hundred years earlier.  It was beautiful, deeply peaceful feeling and all the people who visited it from around the world, fell in love with it.  You didn’t have to be of one specific religion to appreciate the beauty of the architecture, the respect and humbleness of all those who set foot inside (without shoes), to feel that incredible ambiance.  I sat there with a scarf over my head thinking that if only I could take the utter love within this mosque and spread it around the world, we really could have peace on this poor war-torn planet of ours.

On that same cruise, we sailed to Greece.  This was a lifelong dream fulfilled for me.  I wanted to go to the Acropolis, Pallas Athena, goddess of wisdom, temple.  I got to go there and sit and admire the incredible beauty of the alabaster columns in the sunlight, knowing that where I walked, Athenians over two thousand years before, had walked.  The Greek people were welcoming, warm, playful, and in love with life.

I wanted to take these incredible experiences I had and create a global family saga. I created Dilara Culver, the mother of Tal, Matt and Alexa, her children.  She owns and runs the largest charity in the world: Delos.  The nurturing qualities of the Turks, their fierce love of family, of supporting and being responsible toward the community, were all a part of her.  And because she came from one of the wealthiest family’s on the planet, she wanted to give back to those who had little or nothing.  Delos charities were born.

I took all the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the scents, the textures and colors of these two countries and decided that I wanted to build a family saga out of them.  Turkey sits between two huge continents….Europe and Asia.  It is a cosmopolitan, forward-looking country.  Dilara Badem fell in love with handsome USAF Captain Robert Culver.  When they married, they brought three continents together between them with their love.  And from that love came three children, Tal, Matt and Alexa.  They were fifty percent American, forty percent Turkish and ten percent Greek.  They mirrored our world that we live in today.

To find out more about them?  Just go here: About the Delos Series

I had to make family trees of the far-flung family.  And I had to go back several generations especially in the Turkish family, which was a lot of fun.

There is the American tree, the Turkish tree and finally, the Greece tree: The American Family Tree

You can also download Dilara Badem-Culver’s Greek and Turkish family tree here: Greek and Turkish Family Tree

Nowhere to Hide

Releases October 13th!

Lia Cassidy left the Army scarred physically and emotionally after a vicious attack by two fellow soldiers. She turns to helping others, working at a Delos Home School Charity in Costa Rica that aids abused women and children. But when the deadly drug lord, La Arana, attacks the school, Lia finds herself on the run for her life. The only person she can trust is the ex-SEAL sent to protect her.

Cav Jordan is strong, honorable and gorgeous…and intrigued by Lia. He knows she has suffered pain in her past, and he is determined to break through her barriers and earn her trust. But as Cav slowly chips away at the walls Lia has built, ghosts from her past threaten to destroy their fragile relationship.

Caroline Clemmons: Bride Brigade

Fall is my favorite time of year. In addition to cooler weather, the excitement of the approaching holidays crackles in the air. Spring colors enchant me; Fall creates electricity which enlivens my imagination.

My latest flight of imagination is a new western historical romance series called BRIDE BRIGADE, and JOSEPHINE is the first release.  Eventually there will be seven books in this series. Names of the diverse heroines to follow are Angeline, Ophelia, Cassandra, Lorraine, Rachel, and Prudence. Due to fitting these around other scheduled projects, Bride Brigade books will be spaced out over the next six or seven months. I hope you’ll read each one.

I have to admit I love the name of my fictional town, Tarnation, located in the Palo Pinto Mountains of North Central Texas just north of present-day Interstate 20. Every state has numerous unusual town names. This one makes me smile every time I use the word but I know why the town is called by that name. You have to read JOSEPHINE to find out.

Here’s the synopsis of JOSEPHINE:

Josephine Nailor is desperate to escape a terrible situation. When the opportunity arises via a newspaper ad, she and her best friend slip away from their oppressive fathers and head for Richmond.  Neither can relax until they’re far away from their tiny hometown. With wealthy young widow Lydia Harrison’s help, Josephine and six other young women have a new life waiting in Tarnation, Texas.

Michael Buchanan is fairly content running his mercantile and being mayor of Tarnation. The town is dusty and tiny, but it’s growing. He believes it holds all he needs to be happy—except a wife. There are no available women in town, but he hopes Lydia Harrison’s Bride Brigade will offer a woman he can wed. He is immediately attracted to Josephine.

But Josephine has every reason to mistrust men in general and politicians in particular. Will her misgivings ruin her chance at happiness?

Here’s an excerpt from JOSEPHINE:

Josephine stepped from the stage and stared at the men assembled. Every muscle and bone in her body ached from the long ride from Fort Worth. A breeze swirled dust from the street without cooling her skin.

She thought she’d been prepared for a small western town, but Tarnation shocked her. There were only a few stores. Surrounded by low hills she learned were called the Palo Pinto Mountains, the town must not have over two hundred residents.

One of the tallest and most handsome men she’d ever seen stepped forward and removed his western hat to display thick dark hair. His electrifying blue gaze locked with hers until she pretended to check her purse.

He said, “Welcome to Tarnation, ladies. Nice to have you back, Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Gaston.”

Lydia brightened in spite of her exhausted appearance. “Girls, this is our mayor, Michael Buchanan, who owns the mercantile. The man beside him wearing a badge is Sheriff Adam Penders.”

Inwardly, Josephine cringed. Barely off the stage and already she encountered the mayor and the sheriff. While they were both nice looking and neither leered, she certainly wouldn’t trust either man. She’d hoped to reach a safe haven where no one knew her and she’d be free of her father and crooked politicians.

Josephine had no intention of being at the mercy of any man ever again. She’d look for some means to earn her own way. Glancing around the businesses, she realized her choices were severely limited.

The other men pressed forward and Josephine took a step backward. Mayor Buchanan raised his arms. “Gentlemen, please don’t crowd. You’ll all have a chance to meet the ladies soon. They’ve had a long journey and are doubtless tired. Give them time to get settled. In the meantime, give a hand with the luggage.”

In an instant, the trunks and cases that weighed down the stage were unloaded and hefted. Lydia led the girls, many of whom chattered excitedly. Following behind, men joked and talked while they carried the women’s belongings.

Lydia turned in at a neat gray clapboard home trimmed with white and wine. A painted picket fence surrounded the front yard. The house was huge, by far the largest in sight. Josephine believed this home would have been elegant in Virginia before the War. In this dusty Texas town, the effect was astonishing.

Lydia smiled graciously. “Thank you for your help, gentlemen. I’ll be sending each of you an invitation to our social events later.”

*~*~*

Buy Links include:

Amazon http://amzn.com/B015M4FJUY  in print or e-book

Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1041863831

Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/josephine-25

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/josephine-caroline-clemmons/1122676778;jsessionid=93795F25673A572EB3B4D1AC1378BDCA.prodny_store01-va10?ean=2940152308112  in print or e-book.

Caroline Clemmons is an Amazon bestselling and award winning author of historical and contemporary western romances. A frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, she has taught workshops on characterization, point of view, and layering a novel.

Caroline and her husband live in the heart of Texas cowboy country with their menagerie of rescued pets. When she’s not indulging her passion for writing, Caroline enjoys family, reading, travel, antiquing, genealogy, painting, and getting together with friends. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest. Subscribe to her newsletter here to receive a FREE novella.

Thanks to Delilah for sharing her blog with me today.