Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 47
July 20, 2024
Saturday Puzzle-Contest: A Grizzly Beginning (Contest)
Yes, I’m pitching another book—meaning, I have a new one coming out on Tuesday that I hope you’re going to love. I certainly do.
Cyrus and Milly were so much fun to write. You’ll think it’s crazy writer fantasy stuff when I say that characters reveal themselves to me rather than I create them. I wait for inspiration to tell my fingers what to type. Often, I see the story appear like a movie reel in my head, and I’m simply the person typing as fast as I can to capture what I see and hear. I pay attention to the clues, as they appear, about what makes my characters unique. I don’t like writing the same book with the same hero and heroine, just changing the names. And I may be starting a new Montana Bounty Hunters series, but I’m hoping the stories inside the stories are just as unique for every book as the two main characters.
Cyrus wrote himself. In the beginning, we meet him, and he’s not much of a team player. He’s irritated that MBH is moving into West Yellowstone and contemplating moving on to the greener pastures. Working with MBH doesn’t really change him. It’s meeting the one woman in the world who was meant to be his other half that convinces him to stick around. You’ll see. Milly is… You’ll see.
The adventures they both have together and apart keep the story moving along and add a lot of the humor and excitement. This story is stuffed with stupid criminals doing criminal things. That will be familiar to you if you’ve read other MBH stories. The takedowns are always fun.
I knew the day when I sat down to write the “meet-cute” scene, that Cyrus and Milly were going to meet. *duh* However, I didn’t know how they’d cross paths until this guy appeared. And yes, I had to find the words very quickly to describe this facial expression.
That’s all I’m going to say. The scene didn’t end the way I thought it would. Let’s just say, Milly made quite the impression on Cyrus. 
That’s all I’ve got for today, folks. I hope I piqued your interest enough you’ll go pre-order Cyrus. Here’s the link to make it even easier: PRE-ORDER CYRUS HERE. See that? Super easy.
Puzzle-ContestSolve the puzzle then tell me about any memorable wild animal encounters you’ve had for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card. If you can’t think of one, make one up! Your story does not have to be long or even any good. Just have fun.
The post Saturday Puzzle-Contest: A Grizzly Beginning (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.July 19, 2024
Gabbi Grey: Something a Little Different (Contest)
Hello Delilah! Thank you for welcoming me here today! I’m happy to share news about my latest anthology project. Protect My Heart has brought together a dynamic group of authors writing romantic suspense stories! The premise for these short stories is simple—heroes and heroines. Who doesn’t love a good hero or heroine story?
Naturally, I had to put a twist on that.
Probably not surprising to anyone who knows me and has read my stories—especially the newer ones.
I summoned my Plot Whisperer (and dear friend) and offered her the parameters—some kind of bodyguard/cop/firefighter…something like that. 15k words. I wanted to write a gay romance. I write these because I’m pretty good at it and because I love inclusion. Love is love. Love Without Limits is my personal tagline.
Plot Whisperer…did her magic. And I wound up writing a rom-com with a dash of suspense. It’s not what readers might expect, but it’s certainly something I hope they enjoy! After all, a bodyguard tasked with protecting a Ming vase on a film set isn’t an everyday story. Throw in a designer who doesn’t have a brain-to-mouth filter and sexy times ensue.
Protect My Heart
Protect. Defend. Love?
What do firefighters, bodyguards, marines, and Texas Rangers have in common? They do whatever it takes to keep us safe.
But when Cupid has them in his sights, our protectors land neck deep in trouble. They willingly risk their lives, but dare they risk their hearts?
Protect My Heart is a steamy collection from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by The New Romance Café.
Authors:
Kalli Dean
Sharon Michalove
Rubi Jade
Chelle Pimblott
Bella Paige
Harper Michaels
Angela Breen
Bonnie Poirier
Heather Osborne
Lisabel Chretien
MacKade
Angelica Kate
Amy Stephens
Annee Jones
Serafina Jax
Ryleigh Sloan
Gabbi Grey
Toni Denise
Sophia Vincent
Elizabeth Salo
Michelle Moncrieff
Emma Marie Cormier
The anthology will only be available for a limited time.
No Rough Handling by Gabbi GreyHallstein
Here I am, a highly-skilled professional bodyguard who’s never lost a client, guarding…a vase. That’s right, home decor. It’s Ming Dynasty and worth a cool three-million, but this TV-show assignment has me bored out of my skull. The set decorator, however, has definitely caught my eye.
Myles
Adding a real Ming vase to my set was brilliant, bringing my legendary flair into play. Of course, the cost of the vase requires a stuffy, all-business, unfairly hot and attractive bodyguard. The urge to tempt Hallsy into some shenanigans is irresistible. Question is, can he resist me?
Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/TNRC2024ProtectMyHeart
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Protect-Heart-Protector-Anthology-Collection-ebook/dp/B0CJ8PG4M8
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199017137-protect-my-heart
Anyway, I love writing these shorts—something to keep my mind occupied between the longer books—of which I write plenty as well. I really hope readers will nab this limited time anthology and smile as they read the huge variety of books.
Thanks for hosting me, Delilah. I’d love to give away a $5 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. What’s your favorite setting for a book? Or, what setting would you love to see more of? I’ll randomly select one commenter for a prize!
About the Gabbi Grey
USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.
The post Gabbi Grey: Something a Little Different (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.July 18, 2024
Caviar and Frogs…whuuutt? (Contest)
Today is one of those days when I have no plan for what I’m going to talk about. Some may wonder, why bother? But I have a ready answer. Yes, my blog is my way of connecting with people, hopefully readers, but in the end, friends. I’m a solitary person by nature. Yes, I spent years in the Army, years in the corporate world, I taught, I worked at a non-prof. All those jobs required me to interact with enthusiasm with people. And I do like…people. However, I really, really, really like my mole hole office with my big white screen that’s empty until I fill it with words. Sometimes, I know, I’m talking to myself, but the act of opening a screen and just letting my fingers connect to my brain without much interference from me is my therapy and my way of priming the pump before I start to write. *takes a deep breath because those were a lot of words to simply say I like my solitude*
So, the daily habit of opening my blog each day is part of my writing habit. Wow, I could’ve just started with that, right?
I usually have some notes about what I want to do, a place to start. I didn’t do that for today. I just visited one of my favorite idea-generating websites, “Fun Holidays,” but today’s “Caviar Day” didn’t generate any thoughts except for a memory of my one and only trip to Russia shortly after The Wall fell. The group of U.S. tourists I was with were served caviar and champagne at every meal—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And wouldn’t you know it, the only person in our 10-person cohort who loved caviar was me. So, every meal, they’d send their little plate of caviar down the table for me to gorge on as much as I could manage to eat. I can only imagine the hundreds of dollars I scraped onto my plate every meal. And I prefer red to black caviar by the way because it’s generally larger and you can press it against the roof of your mouth and make it pop.
But that’s not enough for a blog and not all that interesting, right?
So I went to my favorite photo site and typed in random words, starting with “cringe” thinking I could generate something from a picture. Nope. I eventually typed in “animals” and found this picture.
He’s so cute. Which reminded me I’m the frog whisperer of the house. We live in the country, and while letting dogs out to do their business, bugs and little critters can find their way inside. If it’s a bug, we yell for the 15-year-old because she loves to prove she’s braver than anyone else in the house. When it comes to repatriating frogs or toads back into the wild, they call me, because I don’t mind picking them up, no matter how slimy or bumpy they are. I love them. In fact, just last night, I rescued a tiny, 1-inch-long baby toad and was able to catch his fast little self before he hid under something.
But I’m rambling again, and I’ve written enough about nothing at all, right? My fingers and my mind are all limbered up, ready to tackle The End of my story. So, how can I make this about you and not me?
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you’re a fan of caviar or frogs? Do you have a personal story to share?
The post Caviar and Frogs…whuuutt? (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.July 17, 2024
Word Search: Things to See in Yellowstone… (Contest)
Wrapping up the story coming to you next Tuesday, I’ll have to say I’ve done as much research into Yellowstone and its surroundings as I have archeological digs in the Yucatan jungle or research facilities situated on an ice floe in the Artic. I hope you have the book pre-ordered, because I think it’s going to be a fun addition to my bounty hunter world. If you haven’t, follow this link: Pre-order Cyrus
I thought all that research might be worth at least a fun puzzle, so here goes…
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift car, solve the puzzle, then tell me what sights you have or would love to see in Yellowstone National Park!
The post Word Search: Things to See in Yellowstone… (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.July 16, 2024
Delta Fire, Book #2 is out! HOTTER WITH A POLE is available now!
First, the big news (for me)! We have AC! Yeah, the repairman finally brought out the new compressor and installed it yesterday afternoon (I was nice to him, promise). It took hours to cool the house down from 85 degrees, but we all got to sleep in our own beds; the slumber party was over. I slept like a baby last night, and a good thing, too, because I have a book to finish before Thursday! Wish me luck.
In the meantime, another story in the Delta Fire series was released late last night! It’s a gay romance—and another erotic romance with BDSM elements. I know, I don’t do those often unless there’s a woman involved somewhere, but Noah and Hoyt were perfect for each other and needed each other very much. They were both suffering from a loss. Happy reading! ~DD
Hotter with a Pole
Order your copy now! | Read an excerpt!
The post Delta Fire, Book #2 is out! HOTTER WITH A POLE is available now! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.
Noah Turner hopes buying the classic ’68 Camaro from a fellow firefighter’s widow will ease some of the grief weighing down his heart. When a noise under the hood sends him looking for a mechanic, he finds so much more. Big and burly Hoyt grabs Noah’s attention right off, and not just because of his bad-boy biker looks and ice-blue eyes. The fact Hoyt is a Dom and a member of Club LaForge certainly interests Noah.
Hoyt Freeman never thought he’d feel that rush with a man again after his partner died, but his body certainly reacts to meeting Noah. LaForge seems like the perfect place to meet and work off some energy and explore this sudden flood of desire. The heat between them starts to burn through their emotional barriers, whether the men are ready to make a deeper connection or not.
Note: This book was previously published.
July 15, 2024
Gabbi Grey: Avoiding the Middle Book Slump (Contest)
Hello Delilah! Thank you for inviting me here to share news of my new release! Cole’s Reckoning is the second book in my Bonded By Love trilogy, and I’m thrilled to tell your readers all about it!
Initially, this trilogy began as one book—Caressa’s Homecoming. Pretty early on, though, I realized I couldn’t tell Caressa, Cole, and Michael’s story in just one book. The best friends-to-lovers story deserved more than that. The three grew up in horrific poverty and came from abusive homes. Their lives diverged in huge ways—and Caressa suffered more trauma. Trauma she never shared with her best friends. Because of some of that, she went overseas as a nurse to volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders). She came back to Canada even more traumatized.
Her best friends saw that. And Michael was there first—to both comfort and to admit his feelings had changed for her. In turn, she realized her feelings for him had deepened as well. Friends-to-lovers is a tricky trope. The evolution has to feel like it works—like the progression is natural and was always meant to be. I tried to portray it as accurately as I could.
Cole, however, didn’t want to be left behind. Because when Caressa left, he realized he loved both his best friends. He’s bisexual (although in the closet about his dalliances with men). Michael’s straight. This set up an interesting dynamic for me to work with. Oh, and Cole’s into BDSM—something Caressa and Michael know nothing about. Caressa’s Homecoming ends with Caressa having discovered Cole’s dungeon and confronting Cole…after he and Michael have exchanged some pretty steamy kisses.
This second book was a challenge for me. I needed a pivot point. Something that would push their relationship along. Something that wasn’t artificial. I realized early on what that would be. I wrote the story and then sent it out to my editor and proofreaders—asking them to read the story blind—without having read the synopsis. All three admitted they didn’t see the twist coming. All three admitted it made sense and, as I’d hoped, deepened the dynamic of the relationship between the members of the triad.
I’m excited to release the book because I’m hoping readers will enjoy the twist. Will find the book isn’t the saggy middle novel of a trilogy—which can sometimes happen. Often, readers read a trilogy and think, “That could’ve been two books instead of three.” Now, I have a different throuple for my conclusion—so stay tuned.
Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me. I love sharing my books, especially the ones that pushed me. MMF definitely does that! I’d love to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to a commenter chosen by random. Have you ever read a good menage book? One that stuck with you? If not, is it something you would consider, or are you happy with just a couple? Let me know and you might win!
Cole’s Reckoning
Three inseparable friends—now three insatiable lovers?
Actor Cole Hamilton has finally convinced the two people he loves most in the world, Caressa Klein and Michael Dubois, to move in, join him in a throuple relationship, and set his bed on fire. But he fears his secrets—his real self—will drive them away.
Michael is stressed by his latest engineering project, but his two best friends turned hot lovers worry him more. Cole is too reckless, and Caressa keeps him guessing.
Caressa adores her two sexy men, but her past and tragedies in her nursing profession haunt her.
Can their love and friendship survive secrecy and the reopening of old wounds?
Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/ColesReckoning
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Coles-Reckoning-Bonded-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B0D3KCG7QG
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coles-reckoning-gabbi-grey/1145488881
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/coles-reckoning/id6502349359
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cole-s-reckoning
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213029211-cole-s-reckoning
USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.
Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
July 14, 2024
Report Card & Open Contests!
There will be no heat-whining today. I’ll refrain. However, I will say the beast will remain leashed inside if the repairman shows up with the part tomorrow. ‘Nuff said. This coming week is going to be a bear as it is, work-wise. I have to hunker down and keep focused on what’s important!
Report Card
Last week…
The big news was all the stuff that wasn’t work-related—the severe Hurricane Beryl-relate weather, the fried AC compressor, the excessive heat in the house… No whine.I continued work on Cyrus .Today, I’ll finish work on one editing job for another author.I continued editing the Secret Identities short stories for the anthology.I swam every day, sometimes twice a day!I continued, despite all the fast food runs we made (no one’s cooking in a mid-80-degree kitchen!) Weight Watchers and have lost a total of 5 pounds. It’s sooooo slow…This next week…
I’ll finish, revise, format, and upload Cyrus !I will work on another author’s manuscript!I’ll finish editing stories in the Secret Identities anthology. Then I’ll begin to compile the stories into the anthology!I’ll finish my short story for SI!I’ll continue swimming and counting those points on Weight Watchers!Open Contests
July 13, 2024
Saturday Puzzle Contest: I’ve been through the desert…
I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name…
I don’t know why that song is playing through my mind today. Okay, so maybe because it’s so dang hot in this house. I’ve stopped looking at the thermostat. Only, this heat isn’t desert-like. It’s swamp-like. I should’ve hunted for a swampy picture for the puzzle.
Since I’m still whining today, you know that our AC hasn’t been fixed. The repairman tells us it will likely be Monday. He’s not my favorite person right now.
I’m tired of the slumber party every night in the 20-year-old’s room. The girls are lovely—my favorite people and wonderful chaos, really. But I’m ready to be a hermit and retire at night to my own bedroom. I was up at 3-ish this morning and tried to go back to sleep, but everyone, including the 20-year-old’s cat, was snoring. So, I snuck downstairs to my office, turned on every fan, and pointed it toward my desk, and here I shall remain until the heat fogs my mind, and I have to throw in the towel. Probably just after noon.
Whine-whine-whine. Whine some more. Okay, I’m done.
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me something uplifting today. A quote. A funny story. Your choice!
The post Saturday Puzzle Contest: I’ve been through the desert… first appeared on Delilah Devlin.July 12, 2024
It’s getting hot in here! (Contest)
What a hellish week!
On Monday, the remnants of Hurricane Beryl barreled through Arkansas in the evening. We were under a Tornado Watch then a Tornado Warning. Everyone had their phones tuned to weather watchers, and even though we had some terrible thunderstorms, we dodged that bullet in my area.
Or so we thought. By midmorning the next day, we knew we had some issues with our AC. It took until Monday night, when we could finally find one of those 24-hour guys who charges an arm and a leg for house calls to come out and assess our problem. It appears Hurricane Beryl’s lightning caused a power surge which fried our compressor—so not a quick or cheap fix. We had to wait a day after that to hear whether our AC unit is still under warranty. Thankfully, it is so it’s only going to cost a $1000 to repair it. The bad part of that is that the manufacturer has to ship the replacement part.
So, here we are, it’s Friday, during a horrible heat spell, and we have no AC! And it looks like a real possibility we won’t get the part in until Monday!!!!!!
How are we coping?
The 20-year-old has a converted garage bedroom with its own mini-split. So, the three girls and I are sleeping in there at night. My dd and SIL broke down and bought a window unit for their bedroom yesterday. My office is in the basement, and for the first couple of days with every fan I could run, it stayed acceptably warm. But the heat has been building down here. I set my alarm for early morning and work as long as I can—usually until early afternoon—before I have to head up to one of the oases of cool in the house. Which means, my work schedule is hosed! And did I mention we have 4 inside cats and 7 dogs we have to keep cool, too?!
The pool has been a godsend. Mid-morning, we hit the water, and the mid-80s water feels like an ice bath. In the evening, once the sun is off the pool, we swim again, and that helps lower our body temperature so we can feel comfortable for the evening in our rooms. There’s been no cooking going on! Tons of takeout—because turning on a stove in an already stuffy 85-degree kitchen is unbearable.
So, I’m whining. The girls have been troopers. They roll with everything. The nights spent in the 20-year-old’s bedroom are like a slumber party. My dd and I are the ones doing the most complaining. The constant heat is very wearing. Especially for me, being of a certain age. The house stinks with no circulating air. Wah-wah-wah.
So, I’m sure others out there have faced trials like this. I’d love some ideas for how to cope with the heat. Comment for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
The post It’s getting hot in here! (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.July 11, 2024
Krysten Lindsay Hager: New Release! FALLING FOR A STAR IN THE CITY—FREE in Kindle Unlimited
I’m excited to share my new release, Falling for a Star in the City. It’s a standalone book that’s part of the Stars in the City interconnected series. Each book can be read on its own, but the characters all exist in the same world in New York City. Check out the blurb:
Paige thought she had it all: a job on the soap opera Charmed Lives and a boyfriend who was trying to get discovered as a singer/songwriter. Then her part on the show is reduced to reoccurring status and her family pushes her to leave her acting dreams behind to major in journalism—what they call a “real job.” Her relationship with her wannabe pop star boyfriend, Walker, ends only for her to find out he signed a recording contract right after their breakup. Then she reads online that his new album is about their relationship.
She gets an internship in the sports department at the TV station where she meets a college hockey player named Viktor who has trust issues from a past relationship. Now with Walker’s pop star dreams taking off, it leaves her questioning her own play-it-safe tendencies, her acting career aspirations, self-worth, and relationships. Everyone else seems to have it together but her.
Paige and Viktor begin to confide in each other, which soon leaves them falling for each other, but Paige worries their worlds are too different for them to work as a couple. Plus, there’s the issue of Walker trying to back together with her, but has fame changed him?
Meanwhile, Paige has a minor accident which leaves her questioning if she ever really wanted a flashy lifestyle or if it was what she felt she was supposed to want. Now she must figure out what she really needs to be happy and fulfilled in life. Can Paige find both her purpose & true love?
***Free in Kindle Unlimited ***
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CVXHF8DL
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208865198-falling-for-a-star-in-the-city
New review: Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers’ Favorite
Falling for a Star in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager follows Paige, a young woman navigating the highs and lows of her acting career and personal life in a bustling city. Paige is driven by her dreams of acting success and haunted by a recent breakup with Walker. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she starts an internship at a TV station, initially performing menial tasks but eventually impressing the sports department. Paige faces professional and emotional challenges, encountering Viktor, a hockey player, and seeing her ex, Walker, whose music career was inspired by their split. The story captures Paige’s inner conflicts and resilience as she navigates her evolving relationships with Walker and Viktor, culminating in moments of personal growth and professional achievements. Falling for a Star in the City is rich with themes of love, career ambitions, and personal discovery.
Krysten Lindsay Hager carefully shows the ups and downs of Paige’s feelings and choices, helping readers understand her successes and failures. The writing is both engaging and straightforward and the use of humor and introspection maintains intrigue and emotional resonance. The descriptive language and relatable dialogue enhance the characters and their experiences. The setting is the vibrant backdrop of the city, and the tone is a blend of lightheartedness and emotional depth; both capture the protagonist’s optimistic yet sometimes uncertain outlook on her future. Paige is a well-rounded character. Her interactions with Walker and Viktor are key to the story, revealing different sides of her personality and helping her grow emotionally. The other characters, like her friends and coworkers, enrich the story by showing the importance of friendship and support. The title itself aptly captures the essence of the story. The word “star” hints at Paige’s acting career and her romantic interests, giving the title an intriguing double meaning. This sets the stage for the themes of love, ambition, and self-discovery that unfold. The book also gives a clear message of resilience and being true to yourself. It highlights the importance of real connections and having the courage to chase your dreams, no matter the obstacles. Falling for a Star in the City is a compelling narrative that resonates with its authentic portrayal of personal growth and relationships.


