Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 371

Where did August go? And a look at September!

August was crazy busy! Tons of new releases as you can see below! Besides writing up a storm, which is always a given, I started working as an editor for hire. I barely hung out my shingle when jobs started coming in. Thanks to the authors who had belief in me! I wrote most of the next Lone Star Lovers book, Family Values, and completed revisions of Knight in Transition (which is coming out in the next few days!). Doesn’t sound like much, for me, but there were so many distractions—all family related. If anyone’s been following our saga, the 6-year-old who had the cancerous tumor removed from her leg is going in for a full body bone scan and CT on Wednesday, so your thoughts and prayers would be very much appreciated!

Click to enroll!

September’s going to be horribly busy!

On the non-writing side of things, I have to work on art and jewelry for fests and an art tour in October. I already have an editing job lined up for the beginning of the month. AND I have the Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp beginning on September 7th. If you’re an author or an aspiring author, be sure to check it out. The class lasts a month and is filled with authors’ tools you can use beyond the bootcamp!

On the release-front, I hope to have five releases—and all of them will be in Kindle Unlimited, so if you have a subscription, you can read them for free! See the covers/teasers below. A couple are already on pre-order.

So far as actual writing goes… I’ll be working on the next Uncharted SEALs book; writing a proposal for a major publisher; beginning the next Beau Reve Coven story; wrapping up Bad Moon Rising; writing the next Stepbrothers Stepping Out short story; and reading a ton of sexy short stories for my next collection, tentatively titled, Rogue Hearts. Wish me luck and be sure to drop by to nag me so that I know you’re paying attention.

August Releases

(Click on covers to purchase!)

12-Alarm Cowboys (includes Controlled Burn)

One high school prank gone wrong shouldn’t define the rest of Carly Lohan’s life. But setting fire to Caldera Canyon isn’t something townsfolk will ever forget. As the last part of her final act of restitution, she’s among the group of volunteers assigned to keep a prescribed burn of underbrush and grass from “running over the rim” into the ranches ringing the park.

Local rancher and volunteer firefighter Jeremiah McCord doesn’t trust the reformed firebug anywhere near the canyon’s controlled burn. Determined to keep her on a short rein, he’s everywhere she is, watching her. His distrust and determination sparks a plan for some sexy revenge–one that will get them both too close to the flames.

Buy Link

~*~

Through Her Eyes

Ex-SEAL and expert sniper, Wolf Kinkaid, is taking a little downtime while he considers his options. Being wooed by two elite black ops groups, he’s enjoying Charter Group’s beach house while he considers his options. A loner by nature as well as occupation, he wonders if he’ll ever really connect to the people around him. Afraid his loner nature will sentence him to spending his life alone, he’s not sure he wants to continue looking down a scope, even if the pay’s good.

Bounty hunter Piper Ames loves the adrenaline rush she gets from her high-stakes hunts, but now, she has time on her hands as she waits for her collar to pop up his head so she can take him down. While she’s waiting, it doesn’t hurt that a big, buff, ex-military type is staying right next door. Not the least shy about going after what she wants, she’s surprised when he’s equally as aggressive. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the sex is the hottest she’s ever had.

While Wolf and Piper connect in the only way their independent natures allow, danger lurks. When her target comes, guns blazing, they have to pull together to make it out alive.

Buy Link — In KU, for free!

~*~

Hotter With A Pole

When your heart is stuck in the wrong gear, a quick fix isn’t going to cut it.



When Noah buys a classic ’68 Camaro from a fellow firefighter’s widow, he hopes it will ease some of the grief crushing his heart. But the grinding noise under the car’s hood sends him straight to a mechanic. Something about the burly, imposing Hoyt sparks Noah’s interest, and it’s not just Hoyt’s ice-blue eyes and bad-boy biker looks. It’s the mutual interest they have–Club LaForge.

After losing his partner to cancer a year ago, Hoyt never thought he’d feel the same kind of rush with another man. But his reaction to Noah throbs deep in his body like the rumble of his Harley.

LaForge seems like the perfect place to meet and work off some sorrow, to feel alive again. But the flood of desire quickly gets hot enough to melt their emotional barriers into unexpected connections. Connections Hoyt isn’t sure he’s ready for…especially since history has a scary way of repeating itself.

Buy Link

~*~

Her Next Breath

Ex-SEAL Jackson Keller’s first mission with the Charter Group’s spec ops unit is a bust. Instead of capturing a drug lord in his Mexican compound, he finds a beautiful, naked woman. But she may have information they need to nail the narco-terrorist, so he takes her, sealing his fate. She’s his to watch, his to “manage” until the op’s done.

Suri McAnally’s made some mistakes—mainly trusting her college roomie who just so happens to be the son of one of Mexico’s most dangerous drug lords. If Jackson can save her, she’ll do whatever he says, mirror his moves, and try to keep her insta-lust under control. Her next breath depends on it.

Buy Link — In KU, for free!

Coming in September

Knight in Transition — 9/2/15

A member of an elite police unit sworn to hunt vampires, Joe Garcia’s life is turned upside down when he’s transformed into one. On a quest for a cure, Joe’s search brings him to New Orleans in a last-ditch effort to recover his humanity.

Professor Lily Carlson, a renowned expert in vampire lore, has a condition of her own. Her sexual libido has been in hyper-drive for months. Her only defense is to hide behind her glasses and tweed suits and stay as far away from men as possible. However, she’s thrilled to discover vampires really do exist when Joe shows up on her balcony.

Although Joe deflects her attempts to make him a case study and confirm a few vampire statistics, he is drawn by her powerful allure. When werewolves join the chase and track her through New Orleans, Joe’s cop instincts tell him there’s a mystery to solve. Intent on protecting her, he must seek help from the last vampire on Earth he wants to ask. While his hopes for deliverance from his fate dwindle, Lily’s life is forever altered by an unexpected inheritance.

In KU, for free!

~*~

Controlled Burn — 9/4/15 (Pre-order Now!)

One high school prank gone wrong shouldn’t define the rest of Carly Lohan’s life. But setting fire to Caldera Canyon isn’t something townsfolk will ever forget. As the last part of her final act of restitution, she’s among the group of volunteers assigned to keep a prescribed burn of underbrush and grass from “running over the rim” into the ranches ringing the park.

Local rancher and volunteer firefighter Jeremiah McCord doesn’t trust the reformed firebug anywhere near the canyon’s controlled burn. Determined to keep her on a short rein, he’s everywhere she is, watching her. His distrust and determination sparks a plan for some sexy revenge–one that will get them both too close to the flames.

In KU, for free!

~*~

Stepbrothers Stepping Out: With His Boss — 9/18/15

No blurb yet (I haven’t written the story—give me a minute! ), but you know this one’s going to be hot. I’m combining two of my favorite, naughtiest themes for this short story: stepbrother lust and menage!

Think step-brother and sister caught in a compromising situation by his employer at a party, then some sexual blackmail they all enjoy. I love these short taboo stories!

~*~

Wolf in Plain Sight — 9/22/15 (Pre-order Now!)

Amazon says this story’s very, very short, but that’s only because I haven’t uploaded the final version. It’s over 35k, so no worries you won’t get your money’s worth!

To Super-cop Max Weir, the only good vampire is a dead one. Since his special police unit integrated with vampires, he’s had to suppress his natural hatred to work side by side with the undead to hunt down and terminate the deadliest killers. Now the unit’s hot on the trail of a new menace in town, a pack of werewolves prowling for vampires who don’t care whether humans get in their way.

When a stakeout goes awry, Max enters a bar looking for a fight or woman to help him blow off a little steam. What he finds is a winsome siren whose sexual appetites match his own.

Vampire Pia D’Amato is on a secret mission to take out Max—either by seduction or turning him. He’s become a liability to the Masters’ Council setting up jurisdiction in southern Florida, and she’s not leaving until she’s done the job. But Max is more man than she bargained for with a deadly secret of his own.

In KU, for free!

~*~

Bad Moon Rising — 9/29/15

On a whim, romance author DiDi Devereaux decides to travel to remote Louisiana bayou country to take possession of a house she inherited from a reclusive relative. But before she reaches her destination, she drives her car into a ditch to avoid a large animal that leaps into her path. Rescue comes in the form of a sexy sheriff, whose gruff demeanor seems to hide a feral attraction. As DiDi settles into her new home she finds herself torn between her attraction to the sheriff and the raw, handsome bad boy whose offer to help her renovate her home is a little too convenient and tempting.

Nothing in Bayou Noir is what it seems. When strange things begin to happen, her natural curiosity leads her into danger…

In KU, for free!

Qwillia Rain: Hazards of Being A Character-Driven Writer

Hazards of Being A Character-Driven Writer

(with a dash of perfectionism)

First, I want to thank Delilah Devlin for letting me hang out here today. I have a day job, so I’ll try to check in as much as possible throughout the day.

There are so many things I love about writing. The characters, the setting, research, talking to readers, talking to writers, the 24-36 hour writing binges that leave me wrung out and exhausted, but oh so satisfied. There are also the things I don’t necessarily hate, yet wish I didn’t have to deal with, although I have no intentions of ever giving them up. (I know, I’m a sick, twisted puppy, but hey…I was a great masochist in past lives!)

Below is a list of six “things” that my perfectionist, over achieving, OCD writer needs to fall back on when writing feels more like the ninth ring of Hell rather than the Elysian fields:

Don’t put out crap

One glance at the number of revisions I’ve put out for each book, screams that I’m a bit manic about writing the best damn story possible. I mean, I can write rather quickly – once I know what’s going on in a story. But I don’t want to put out a story that I wouldn’t pay good money to read. So, go ahead, shoot me now for my perfectionist tendencies. But, go ahead and love me because I respect my readers, my characters, and myself way too much to put out crap.

Who’s driving this crazy train?

The characters

The determination not to put out crap is driven by my characters demanding I get the story right.

Don’t believe me? Well, check this out. I’ve got a book I’ve been working on for four years, yeah, I said four years. I have about 5 versions for a grand total of about 800,000 words and you know what my characters do? They keep nagging me. “You got that wrong.”  “You Dommed when you should’ve subbed, and subbed when you should’ve Dommed.” “You completely got the motivation wrong, but hey, you got the kink right. Thank you, RopePlay(dot)com.” And I’m telling you, that the taunting, teasing sing-song voice they like to use when they point out my mistakes grates on the nerves. If I weren’t so emotionally invested in this project (and if I didn’t know at least half a dozen people would string me up by my thumbs) I would give up. Tear up all that I’ve written. It wouldn’t help though…the characters are persistent, over-achieving nags.

Quality vs. Quantity

This particular rule goes right back to #1. I recognize there are some writers out there who complete full-length novels in the same amount of time it takes me to mow my lawn and weed my garden. (Sure, this looks like an exaggeration, but I live in the South and it’s been summer. So, go with me on this one, okay?) I am not one of those writers. I work at my own pace, which is usually at my characters’ pace and they let me know when they think a scene needs tweaking. Rushing them does no good and only tends to irritate them…kinda like poking a bear with a stick. Enough said, and I have the scars to prove it.

Follow the rules…

Rules Schmules, but spellcheck you better believe it – abou tit, inot, organisms not orgasms (or is that the other way around?)

You think I’m joking about the examples? I’m not. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone through a manuscript to find my “into”s have become “inot”s and that “about it” has morphed into “abou tit.” And the last little gem was courtesy of a friend of mine who discovered, only after she’d sent the report out to her main supervisors for comment and feedback that all the “organisms” in her report had morphed into “orgasms”. And while there’s only a difference of an “n” and an “i” in the words, it makes a huge difference when you consider your audience. So, while I’m not a big fan of all the writing rules, like, introducing the hero within the first three pages so the heroine is introduced to him as well, I do recognize that spellcheck can go a long way to making a writer appear professional.

Serial Commas? Oh, yeah I totally love serial commas!

I don’t know if it’s because of the editor I had at my publisher, or the fact that those are the rules I was given when I was in grammar school, but I will always put a comma before the conjunction (Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?…sorry, just had to say it). I’ll try to follow as many grammar and language arts rules as possible, once I understand them… like dangling participles and misplaced modifiers. Conundrums like sneaked and snuck – I’m still trying to figure that one out. But I’ve totally got em and en dashes. (Yay me!)

The real hazard, the one that really, really gets to me…

Readers who care

While I absolutely love to hear readers are looking for my next book, it’s like, “oh, yeah, no pressure” when they ask, “When is your next book coming out?” So, here’s me copping to it. I suck when it comes to deadlines. And I’m not talking mediocrity level sucking. Oh, no, we’re talking OCD, perfectionist level. I’m a professional at it. And for good reason. Because not being able to answer my dear readers’ question with the absolute truth inspires me to lay prostrate across the rails while the proverbial guilt train comes a chuggin’ on down the line. And that sends me to the ninth ring of writing Hell. So, here’s my pat answer to all those dedicated readers, “It’s coming out…SOON.” Which makes the heroine in my current manuscript pipe up and scream, “Yeah. Soon. Right after me. So, would you go ahead and finish this scene already?”

So, I’m putting it out there to you…

Authors, what hazards do you experience as a writer?

Readers, what hazards do you wish authors had respected before they published their books?

Qwillia Rain

Reminder! Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp — September 7 through October 2

Click to reserve your spot!

FOR AUTHORS!

Just pimpin’ the Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp. It starts September 7th, and there are still slots available. Reserving your place is a good idea for a couple of reasons:

1) Ever wanted to know how to write a logline? How to construct a premise statement? What character roles you need to “people” your story with and what function they serve? Why is that important? Ever heard of GMC? And hey, most of you have heard of the Hero’s Journey, but do you know about the Novem plot structure (my favorite and more intuitive, IMHO). And then there’s that scene-by-scene build for your book. Sometimes, it’s helpful to have a coach and cheerleader pushing you until you’ve got that well-structured plot nailed.

2) Sometimes, we need a little brainstorming support. Guess what? I’m very good at reading between the lines of what you mean/want and helping you pluck those ideas just hovering there, not yet fully formed. Want a live conversation to help that process?

I’ve been teaching this process for a long time now. You’ll get a well-seasoned eye, a supportive soundboard, and a kick in the butt to keep you going. But don’t worry. This is a self-paced workshop. Do you have a killer day-job work schedule? You really can complete this course at your own pace, as you find time. I won’t go away before you’re finished.

Both newbie and seasoned authors can benefit. In fact, I’ve had authors run through the course multiple times when they want a sounding board and a structured process before they start their next project.

For many of us, September is the perfect time to start a new project. The kids are back in school. NaNoWriMo is staring us in the face. Want to smash through NaNoWriMo in November? If you have a plan, you’ll fly through those 50,000 words!

Sound intense? It can be. But I provide a nurturing learning environment. And you can’t beat the price. $50 for a month-long class with individualized support. See you there!

To sign up, click on this link: Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email me at email hidden; JavaScript is required!

Vivi Anna: Wild

I love shifter books.  I’ve written wolves, and jaguars, but when I saw all these amazing werebear books out, I knew I had to write one. Well, I’m writing several.  Wild, part 1 is the first in a series called Bear Essential Billionaire, about 3 brothers (Alex, Riley and Lee) who run an extreme adventure wilderness camp in the wilds of Northern British Columbia,  a place I’ve come to admire and love myself.  Here, they try and keep to themselves, having guests maybe four times a year, but soon they will find they can’t hide for long. Especially not when love comes calling.

I hope you will enjoy the first of what I hope is a long thrilling adventure into the wilderness of men and beast.

Here’s the book…

Wild, part 1 out for only 99 cents.  Part 2 is also available.  Part 3 will be out Sept 24, 2015

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Bear-shifter Alex Torben likes the quiet life.  He and his family run an adventure camp in the Northern British Columbia wilds, with guests four times a year at most. Away from civilization and complications, it’s the life Alex has always wanted.  It’s a life he’d go to extremes to protect.  All that changes when he finds a tormented young woman with a lot of secrets hiding in his boat…

Running. That’s all Sylvie can think about.  She needs to get as far away as possible before he can find her.  Nothing can protect her from his wrath.  There is no safe place.  But when Alex finds her and offers his help, she thinks maybe there could be some salvation after all.

  

Best,

Tawny/Vivi

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author

http://www.vivianna.net

http://www.tawnystokes.com

FORBIDDEN: THE OTHER BROTHER, part 1

TABOO: THE OTHER BROTHER, part 2

ILLICIT: THE OTHER BROTHER, part 3

DAHLIA BY DESIGN – Tawny Stokes – coming soon

THE OTHER FIGHTER – part 1, 2,3 -coming May

Mia Hopkins: COWBOY VALENTINE (Recipe and Contest)

Hey, there, Delilah fans! I’m so happy to be a guest on the blog today. Two days ago, my debut book was released by Samhain.  It’s an erotic romance called Cowboy Valentine. Cora is an 18-year-old honor student with a full ride scholarship to an Ivy League university. Caleb is her longtime cowboy crush, a local rancher’s son. The book is about the ultra-sexy fling they share the summer before Cora moves away.

Cowboy Valentine is set in a small town in the Central Valley, California’s rural heartland, home to many farms and orchards. One of the hottest love scenes in my book takes place in Caleb’s truck while he and Cora are parked in his family’s almond orchard! (Ooh la-la!)

Here’s what an almond orchard looks like when it’s in bloom.

I love to bake almost as much as I love to write. To celebrate the release of Cowboy Valentine, I’d like to share a recipe with you. This is a variation of old-fashioned peanut butter cookies but made with almonds and almond butter.  The cookies are soft and not too sweet. You can find the recipe below.

But wait! There’s more!

How about a contest? I’d like to offer a free e-book download of Cowboy Valentine and a $10 Amazon gift card to one randomly-chosen reader who answers this question in the comments below: What is your absolute favorite go-to dessert?

Please include an email address where I can reach you. Contest ends at midnight, PST, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. I’ll announce the winner by special newsletter first thing on Monday morning.

Thanks, everyone!

Wishing you good reads (and good eats),

Mia

XOXO

Cowboy Valentines

a.k.a. Almond Butter Cookies

Adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction

Makes about 16 cookies

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup almond butter

1 cup almond slivers

Whisk the first four ingredients together in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, using a handheld mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter and both sugars on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes.
Add egg and vanilla extract to sugar mixture and beat for 1 minute, scraping down sides as necessary. Add the almond butter and beat for 1 minute. Slowly add the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until combined. Using a large spoon or spatula, gently fold in the almond slivers.
Roll the dough into balls, about 3 tbsp of dough each. (I use my ice cream scoop.) Put the balls on a tray or large plate, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze until firm, two hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place the balls on the cookie sheet about 3 in apart.
Bake each batch for 12-13 minutes until very lightly browned. The cookies will look soft—that’s okay! Let cool on cookie sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Share with your favorite cowboy or cowgirl. Or don’t share. I won’t tell.

About Cowboy Valentine

 

Forget chocolate and flowers. This homegrown honey is all the sweetness he craves.

Small-town life is nothing but a waiting room for eighteen-year-old honor student Corazón Gomez. Work and school leave little time for love, but with a full-ride Ivy League scholarship and a one-way ticket out of the boondocks, who needs it?

The answer appears on Valentine’s Day when her old cowboy crush ambles into the ice cream parlor where she works, inviting her to go on a late-night ride in his truck. For the first time she wavers between staying on the straight and narrow, and going off-road with the handsome heartbreaker.

After four years working on ranches all over the country, Caleb MacKinnon is back on the family farm helping out his mom and brothers while his father fights cancer. The one bright spot: smart, funny, and wickedly sexy Cora.

From the start, they both know this blazing-hot love affair can’t last. But when autumn comes and Cora has to leave for the East Coast, Caleb must find a solution to keep himself—and his heart—from falling apart.

Reviews:

“Mia Hopkins’ sexy cowboy hero and sassy bookish heroine burn up the pages from the moment they lock eyes.” — Cat Johnson

“Beautifully descriptive…hot, sexy and full of yearning!” — Delilah Devlin

Buy the book!

Kindle

Nook

Samhain

Books-A-Million

Kobo

iTunes

Google Play

About the Author

Mia Hopkins writes lush romances starring fun, sexy characters who love to get down and dirty. She’s a sucker for working class heroes, brainy heroines and wisecracking best friends.

When she’s not lost in a story, Mia spends her time cooking, gardening, traveling, volunteering and looking for her keys. In a past life, she was a classroom teacher and still has a pretty good “teacher voice” and “teacher stare.” She lives in the heart of Los Angeles with her roguish husband and two waggish dogs.

Connect with Mia!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest |Google+

August Kert: Love’s Image

First, let me thank Delilah for hosting me.

What is love supposed to look like? I asked my seven-year-old niece, who is obsessed with Disney Princesses, what she thought love was. Her answer? You’re supposed to like each other. Simple enough, and in all honesty not a bad answer. Growing up we all had that fairy tale that we would meet that special someone, fall in love, and live happily ever after. Love is much more complicated than that. Anyone who’s ever been in a relationship can attest to how much work they are. Compromise, fights, financial troubles, children… And just when you think everything has been worked out, something goes wrong. I know my marriage has been tested.

In paranormal romances things look a bit different, especially if one of the people is a creature. Can you imagine finding out the person you’re falling in love with is a shifter or a demon? When I was growing up, I wanted to be a mermaid, like Ariel. Or marry the Beast. Neither happened (Yay!).

In my newest release, Lyric never thought she’d find a man. Zombies have taken over. She has to do some less than desirable things just to eat. It definitely isn’t the life she’d pictured when she was young. When it comes to boyfriends, the last one she’d ever imagined herself with was a zombie. She’s more used to putting a knife between their eyes than staring into them for hours. Anson is different, and even though he isn’t what she would have chosen, he’s what she loves. For both love was never supposed to be a human and a zombie, but it’s what happened.

So my seven-year-old niece’s answer didn’t apply to Anson and Lyric in the beginning, but in the end they’d give their lives for one another.

-August Kert

Links

Blog: augustkert.blogspot.com

Facebook: facebook.com/augustkert

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bring-Me-Life-August-Kert-ebook/dp/B00WYTF3AM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433142563&sr=8-1&keywords=august+kert

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bring-me-to-life-sat-aug-01-00-00-00-cdt-2015-kert/1121848545?ean=9781619229907

Samhain: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5547/bring-me-to-life

This ‘n’ That & Three Questions (Contest)

Okay, I’m up way too early. Must have been the dream I had about having to go back into the Army but none of my uniforms fit, and I didn’t have time to even TRY to get into shape… Nightmare!

So, I’ve been up since 4 AM, mostly reading all the trash talk on Twitter about Fear The Walking Dead. Did you see the first episode? Of course, some folks are saying it was way too slow, but I had another experience. I had this slow-building sense of dread and true fear as I watched. I think they nailed it. AND we get to see what happened while Rick Grimes slept!

My sis has been working on new covers for the Uncharted SEALs. I loved the Through Her Eyes cover so much, I asked her to redo the first two. They aren’t set in stone just yet. What do you think? I really wasn’t that fond of the sweet covers before. And now I’m hearing the theme song to Two and a Half Men: “Men, men, men, men…”

  

Folks are signing up for the month-long plotting workshop that starts September 7th. If you’d like more information, head here: Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp

Sis and I are working on another project, too. We co-wrote a time travel novel that Ellora’s Cave released as Jacq’s Warlord. We’re refurbing it and thinking about adding some sequels. What do you think? Are you ready for some time-traveling fun? If so, what time frames would you like to see? We started with a modern-day girl heading back to 1100’s Britain. But the way we worked the actual traveling, we could go forward or back…

Answer the three highlighted questions, and you’ll be entered to win your choice of any of the Uncharted stories—with the new covers! Which means, this contest will continue until I get the reformatted books back!

Have I rambled enough? Jumped around enough? That’s me without enough sleep. 

Heather Long: River Wolf

Wolves of Willow Bend

River Wolf

Releasing August 25, 2015

Brett Dalton, Alpha of Hudson River, isolated himself from his pack mates after one betrayed him. The once, easygoing Alpha has become taciturn, remote and unforgiving. His pack worries for him, but they too have suffered a devastating blow. When several members leave to join Three Rivers, the pack faces the threat of dissolution until Brett’s best friend and Lone Wolf, Luc Danes returns to Hudson River accompanied by a beautiful young human—or is she? Something about the woman consumes Brett. Has Luc come home to help or to take the pack from Brett?

Colby Jensen wrapped up thousands of hours of community service working at the hospital in Maine when an injured Luc Danes rolled through the door. The impossible patient drove the nurses crazy, but when Danes offered her money no strings attached to drive him to New York, she agreed. The last thing she expected was to arrive in the small Westchester County town and to meet the craziest collection of residents—especially the devastatingly sexy Brett Dalton. Part of her wants to hit the road, the rest wants to make him smile and he keeps making excuses for her to stay.

Then she sees the wolves…and is exposed to a world she can barely imagine. When Brett discovers a secret about her, nothing will be the same again. Now she will find herself torn between a world she isn’t sure she can understand and the man who has taken her heart hostage…

Find excerpt for Heather Long’s River Wolf below

River Wolf

Release Date: August 25, 2015

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1KC6H4P

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river...

iTunes:  https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/river-wolf/id1024860627?mt=11

Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...

Focus on Willow Bend

Series Reading Order:

Wolf at Law (Prequel)

Book 1: Wolf Bite

Book 2: Caged Wolf

Book 3: Wolf Claim

Book 3.5: Wolf Next Door

Book 4: Rogue Wolf

Book 5: Bayou Wolf

Book 6: Untamed Wolf

Book 6.5: Wolf with Benefits

Book 7: River Wolf

Book 7.5: Single, Wicked Wolf (releasing in October)

Book 8: Desert Wolf (releasing later in 2015)

About the Author:

National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.heatherlong.net

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Excerpt of River Wolf by Heather Long:

Brett had been on a call when the car pulled into his drive. His pack knew to let themselves in, and he didn’t have time for strangers so he’d ignored the knock and the doorbell ring. The unfamiliar feminine call of ‘hello’ alerted him to the stranger entering his house. Surprise followed by fury rushed through him. Then she called again, but he missed the rest of her sentence thanks to three people talking at once on the conference call. Ending it, he informed his executives he’d call them back.

Her “Hallelujah!” beckoned him.  Silent, he stalked through the house to the kitchen and discovered the young woman dripping water on the tile floor as she lifted the handset from the cradle. Instead of dialing, however, she stared at the phone with a troubled expression.

Everything about her assaulted him—her fresh raindrops on blades of green grass aroma occluded by the scent of gasoline, male wolf, and injury. The male he identified almost immediately, despite the troubling mixture. Luc.

“What the hell am I doing here?” she asked aloud. The last word came out more heyah than here, but he understood.

“That’s a very good question.” No artifice disguised her shock. She flung the phone at him and he caught it. The force of the throw impressed him, as the phone slapped against the palm of his hand. Her pulse beat a frenetic pace and her eyes widened as she locked gazes with him.

Close enough to touch her, he stilled. If she were Luc’s ride, she might have a reason for being present—then again where the hell was Luc? Zeroing in on the flare of her dilating pupils, his wolf surged beneath his skin. The rush of his animal powered through him. Inhaling a lungful of her scent, he tested what he’d already learned about her and couldn’t identify what agitated the fuck out of his wolf.

Not discounting his wolf’s intuition, he narrowed his focus. Strangers were all suspect until proven otherwise. “I’ll only ask you nicely once. Who are you and what are you doing here?” Stephen warned him when she and Luc stopped at the service station, but he’d been under the impression Luc was awake.

“I…” She choked on the word, paling beneath her natural skin tone. No tan would give her the look of brushed amaretto though the deep black of her hair and the natural slant of her eyes suggested an Asian origin. All fascination with her appearance aside, she still hadn’t answered.

Raising his eyebrows, he held her gaze. More impressive, she didn’t look away. However, her fascination didn’t provide him with a response any quicker.

“I’m—I brought Luc.” The stutter underscored her honesty. Point to her.

“Where is he then?”

The second question managed what the first failed. She shook off her stupor. With a blink, she jerked her gaze from his. “He’s in the car and he’s unconscious. I was calling for an ambulance.” The shaken tone vanished to be replaced by one far more capable. “He needs assistance. This whole fool’s errand has endangered him.” Reclaiming the phone, she muttered. “Damn man got me into this mess…”

“Put the phone down.” Her irritation satisfied him. No one else he knew could engender equal parts of affection and irritation as Luc did. “We’ll help him here.”

“Did you not hear me? He’s unconscious.” Worry tinged the words.

After narrowing the distance between them, he took the phone from her and replaced it in the cradle. “I heard you. I’ll take care of him. You’re damp, and you seem a bit cold. Come, we’ll get him inside then you can warm up with a fire.”

Her scent offered more confusion—hope flared beneath layers of disbelief and annoyance. “He needs a doctor.”

Enough. “We have what we need.” His wolf roused to the challenge in her eyes when her gaze clashed with his, but neither he nor his wolf backed down. Impressively, neither did the woman. Who the hell was she?

“Look, I’m not a doctor. I didn’t even finish my certification for registered nurse, but I’ve worked in enough hospitals. He put himself through hell in the car to get here—stupid man—and he needs real medical assistance.” Fear spiked through her scent. Whether it was fear for Luc or fear of him, Brett didn’t have time to parse. One thing was certain—she had no idea about wolves.

“Miss…” Goddammit, he didn’t know her name.

“Colby. Colby Jensen. We need to call…”

“Colby,” he tested the name on his tongue, and he liked the way it formed. Locking gazes, he relied on his strength as an Alpha. Her pupils dilated then contracted to pin points. “We will take care of him. Go sit down. I’ll get Luc from the car.”

Cupping her elbow, he ignored the bite of static electricity that jumped from her skin to his. The woman needed to be managed and, when Luc was safe, he needed a good thump in the head. What the hell was he thinking bringing a human into the middle of the mess?

The softness of her skin teased his wolf, and the animal within him prowled forward. It wanted a bite, to test and taste. She needed to go. His pack had experienced enough trouble. They didn’t need a human…

“Colby,” he repeated her name more for himself than for her. She was a person—a living, vibrant woman with a life, and a history and a purpose. “We can argue about care and treatment later, but we need to get him from the car.” He needed to get a grip. They didn’t eliminate potential threats before they actually became threats. The weather had the potential to suck; it didn’t mean it did.

“Okay,” she exhaled. “Good point.” Tugging her arm away, she strode toward the door and Brett followed, palming his cell phone along the way. He fired off a text to Owen alerting he and Gillian to Luc’s arrival in Hudson River. The mated pair were due to return the following evening, and unless Luc was critical…

Owen answered almost immediately. Critical?

He replied, Unknown. Standby.

Arriving at the door a step ahead of Colby, he opened it for her. The skies continued to pour a dreary rain. “Stay on the porch,” he ordered. No sense in both of them getting soaked.

“You might need me. He’s got heavy casts on and we don’t want the plaster to get wet.” Then without waiting for his response, she strode out into the rain. Her white cotton shirt, already moulded to her like a second skin, turned virtually transparent. Her black hair slicked to her neck and he hurried after her. Instead of opening the passenger side door, however, she opened the backdoor and withdrew an umbrella. Popping it open, she held it over their heads and met his gaze. “Are you sure you want to take him out here? We might be better off transporting him to a hospital or at least calling the ambulance before we take him out.”

“I’m sure.” He nudged her to the side so he could open the passenger door. Luc’s eyes fluttered open, the yellow-gold of his wolf glaring at him. A snarl issued from his throat as his gaze darted once to Colby then to Brett again. Despite his injuries he surged forward and the skin on his cheeks rippled. “No.” No pretense and no denying the order in his voice, Brett gripped Luc’s jaw. His wolf would obey, pack mate or not. His wolf knew him, and the beast snarled but Brett didn’t retreat. “I’m going to take you into the house and you’re going to keep it together, got it?”

“Got it.” The words were ground out between his teeth.

“Damn, you have the bedside manner of an ogre.” Colby’s disgust echoed behind.

“Hush,” Brett said. He had no time to soften his manner. Luc’s wolf was rising and it wanted out. The injuries were severe and he should have long since shifted, but in the human hospital he couldn’t. A lot of he should haves rolled through Brett’s mind and he ignored them all. Should have, would have, could have—what mattered was what he’d chosen. Freeing the seatbelt, he slid an arm beneath Luc’s injured legs and then around his back.

Though his friend was a big man, Brett matched him in height and had more in bulk around his shoulders. He could carry him for miles if necessary. As gentle as he could, he lifted him. Colby winced, but the arm holding the umbrella over them remained steady. Luc let out a low groan.

“I have you,” he told him. Agony contorted Luc’s features, but Brett kept his gait steady. “Shut the door.” Colby nodded and pushed it to then kept pace with him to the porch. She swept aside the umbrella and shook it off. Not waiting for her, he carried his friend into the house and then up the stairs. “You’ve put on weight,” he told Luc. If his friend was even a little aware of him, he’d appreciate the lie of the joke. If anything, Luc had lost a few pounds.

In the guest room, he set him down slowly. Luc released another pained exhale. The casts were the first things that had to go. “Give me a minute,” he told the wolf watching him from within Luc’s eyes. “We’ll get the casts off.”

“That’s a bad idea. He’s got some severe breaks.” Colby challenged him as she came into the room. Water dripped from her long black hair.

“I understand,” he told her. His phone rang and Gillian’s number flashed on the screen. Perfect. Answering it, he said, “Gillian, I have Colby Jensen here. She brought Luc from a hospital in Maine. I’m going to pass her over so she can fill you in on his condition.” Read between the lines, little wolf.

“You need to assess him, and she doesn’t know he’s a wolf.”

Damn, she is good. “Yes, please.” The addition of the last word earned him a pause from Gillian.

“I’ll take care of her. Should we head back today?” They’d left only a few hours before and couldn’t have had very long at Niagara.

“I’ll let you know.” He glanced Colby as he extended the phone to her. “Dr. Chase is our personal physician. Can you fill her in on everything.” It wasn’t a request.

“Of course.” Despite her unease with him, she responded with professionalism. Her fingers brushed his as she took the phone and another static crackle raced over him. His wolf lunged forward and Luc’s low, almost sub vocal growl gained intensity. “Don’t take the casts off.” The order glanced off him and he could hear Gillian’s laughter as Colby carried his phone from the room and the quiet, steady murmur as she recited Luc’s condition.

“Whatever you do,” Luc growled in a low voice. “Don’t let her leave.”

“You need to rest. You’re in way worse condition than you let on.” His nose told him infection existed somewhere in Luc’s blood. The mixture of sweat and musk didn’t hide the sour scent of sickness. “And you need to shift.”

“She can’t see the wolf yet. She’s not ready.” Despite the strain, he reached out to grasp Brett’s arm. “Keep her here.”

Yes. He would kidnap the human. Gripping Luc’s hand he gave it a gentle squeeze. “Lie still.” Reinforcing his will into the sentence, he set Luc’s hand down then went to the first cast on his arm. Splitting it as carefully as he could, he removed it. These weren’t the first casts he’d ever seen. “You know,” he spoke, keeping his voice low. His ears told him Colby had moved to the stairwell. Whatever Gillian did, she kept her busy. “The first time I had to break a cast was your fault, too.”

Erin Bevan: Cannonball or Inch by Inch?

While spending the week in Florida with my family, I attended a few spin classes with my husband.

Yes, we are the weird-os that work out on vacation.

And while I was spinning away, I learned something about the spin instructor. For the sake of the blog post we will call her Instructor 2. Instructor 2 was the queen of quarter turns. A quarter turn, for those of you who aren’t spin class savvy, is literally a quarter turn on the resistance nob. A quarter turn to the right (harder) or to the left (easier). Most of our turns, of course, were to the right!

Instructor 2 was good, and even though the classes were only thirty minutes, my husband and I worked up a great sweat. But, Instructor 2 was much different from my normal instructor in Houston, who we will call Instructor 1. I’m working a little backwards on my numbers, I know.

If we were comparing 1 and 2 to swimming, Instructor 1 is like the cannonball kid. You know the child that runs as fast as her legs will take her, tucks her knees to her chest, and plows right into the water, no matter the temperature, sending a huge splash covering everyone in her wake? You’ve all seen that kid. That would be my Instructor 1. Her ways are slightly unconventional, but once you leave her spin class, you know you’ve left every ounce of energy behind on your sweaty bike seat.

While, Instructor 2 has a more slow approach with the quarter turns. I would compare her to the adult who sticks their toes in the water a little at a time, allowing their body to adjust to the temperature versus the total body shock of submerging yourself completely. Her ways are a bit slower, but when it’s all said and done, you’re pretty dang sweaty at the end of your thirty minutes.

No matter which teacher you choose, the jump in head first kind of gal, or the inch by inch, turn by turn instructor, you’re end product is the same. A great workout.

Same with authors. Some authors you purchase because you know you will get something steamy. Delilah Devlin would be a great example of steamy. Others you know you will get something sweet. If I pick up Nicholas Sparks, I know I’m in for a tearjerker. If I pick up a Mary Kay Andrews book, I know I’m in for Southern charm. Tracy Brogan, I’m in for a good romance with a few laughs, and Janet Evanovich, well I just need to grab a Depends because I laugh so hard sometimes my bladder threatens to lose control. And while each author goes about their stories in different ways, at the end of the day, the result, every author hopes is the same. You, the reader, are left with a great story.

So, what’s the point? Pick up a book from some author you’ve never read, try a new spin instructor, or a new cuisine. You never know what might be your next favorite, or who might pleasantly surprise you.

Erin Bevan

www.erinbevan.com

Ellie Childs isn’t looking for love. She’s looking for an AC repairman for the Forest Wood Senior Center. But when the repairman happens to be tall, dark and handsome, David White, he has the goods to make her change her mind. Unfortunately, he’s taken by a blonde Barbie.

David moved to the small town of Cupid, Arkansas to be closer to the woman he loves, his grandma, and as far away as possible from his ex-fiancée. Not thinking his broken heart would ever work again, he’s proved wrong by falling for Ellie, a good-looking redhead. She’s the farthest thing from his ex as he can get, but as luck would have it, she’s taken, and the guy she’s seeing’s a real jerk.

When David’s grandmother, Mary Costanza, see’s the instant attraction festering between David and Ellie, she calls on the help of her three friends. Together they form Cupid’s Angels. Their mission, to bring David and Ellie together. Despite their best efforts, the Angels’ plans backfire and push David and Ellie farther apart and into the arms of others. Or so they think.

Will the Angels’ good intentions win out, or will their plots and schemes be the end of David and Ellie before the could even begin?

Buy at Amazon!

Quick Note for Authors, Then a Question for Readers… (Contest)

Readers, skip to the question below for a chance to win a copy of any of my self-published titles.

Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp — Sep. 7 thru Oct. 2

For you authors and aspiring authors, it’s that time again! The ROSE’S PLOTTING BOOTCAMP will kick off September 7th! Yes, I’ve posted the notice everywhere I could think, so sorry if this is the hundredth time you’ve seen this. We usually start advertising a month in advance, but sis had some server issues… Anyways, what is the plotting bootcamp?

It’s a class my sister and I have taught, in person and online, since 2004, I think. Forever, anyway. And we’ve had tons of authors, newbies and multi-pubs, who’ve been through it, many returning again and again, simply because it’s a very methodical process for pulling together a richly detailed plot. There are lessons and exercises, and the bootcampers get feedback and brainstorming support every step of the way. Oh! And it’s self-paced, so don’t worry if you have something in September that you think will interfere.

It’s a month of support, covering topics like theme and premise, characterization and character roles, CONFLICT, setting, story arc, and plotting. I won’t tell you it’s not hard work, but you can do it bits at a time over the month. And besides feedback you’ll get directly from me via email, I’ll set up chats for anyone with issues to join me and talk through it—live brainstorming.

Are you a pantser and think you don’t need a plotting bootcamp? I’m a pantster. My sister’s the plotter, but when I get stuck (usually at chapter three when I’m heading into the saggy middle), I pull out tools and go to work. I guarantee, that if you do the work, you will take away something from this workshop. Probably a lot of somethings.

That’s my pitch. I hope you’ll join me. I’ll be doing this one solo in September. Sis is buried in deadlines, so won’t be able to pop in, but hey, we’ll have fun anyway!

If you’re interested, here’s the link: Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp

The Question

My daughter, son-in-law and I have these late evening conversations where we talk trash. The other night we got into a debate about who we thought was our greatest living male actor. My answer was Russell Crow. My dd’s was Geoffrey Rush, Matthew McC (I’m not even trying to spell it!), and several others, because she couldn’t make up her mind. And my SIL’s was so silly I can’t even remember what he said.

So for a chance to win one of my self-published titles, my question to you is…

Who do you think our greatest living male actor is?