Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 77
October 2, 2023
Brenda Margriet: Too Good for Words (Pre-order Now!)
My guest today is author Brenda Margriet. You may remember her. She wrote a fan-favorite short story for my Silver Soldiers collection.
Operation Purple Sparkle Diamond by Brenda Margriet – A resolute Afghan veteran deploys on his most desperate mission yet—wooing the hesitant heart of his daughter’s kindergarten teacher.
I knew the second I read the title of her story that I had to have it. Now, she’s back with a new book that releases on October 12th. Do you love silver fox stories? Ex-con bikers? Well, read on! ~DD
Too Good for Words
Ride hard or stay home…
A phony friendship between an ex-con biker haunted by his past and a suburban mom with an uncertain future shifts gears with startling consequences.
After more than two decades as a stay-at-home mom, Penta Potter’s life is at a crossroads, her future stretching emptily ahead. When her youngest son vandalizes a local motorcycle mechanic’s garage, confronting the forbidding yet compelling owner sparks deliciously wicked longings.
Since his release from prison twelve years ago, Cash Rylance keeps his head down and his nose clean. He has no business aching for a fiercely protective, sweet-lipped, divorced mother of four. If he promises to keep his hands to himself, maybe she will help him be the dad his estranged daughter deserves.
A fake relationship between these two restless hearts seems the perfect route to take…until their improbable plan detours toward a totally different destination.
Brenda Margriet writes savvy, slow-burn, contemporary romances with ordinarily amazing characters. Readers call her stories “poignant,” “explicit and steamy,” “interesting, intriguing and entertaining,” and “unlike any romance you’ve read before.” She lives in northern British Columbia with her husband, various finny and furry pets, and has three grown children.
The post Brenda Margriet: Too Good for Words (Pre-order Now!) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.
October 1, 2023
Sunday Tarot & Open Contests
It’s Sunday—and the beginning of a new month! So, I pull this card before I begin adjusting my plans…
Oh, what does this mean? I do know who the two characters on the card are: Daedalus, who is the father of Icarus and a very clever and talented guy, and King Minos of Crete. See the bulls depicted in the art on the walls behind them? That’s a huge hint at the king’s identity. Now, I’m remembering how these two were entwined in mythology… Daedalus and his son built the labyrinth that housed the minotaur—you remember, the half-bull, half-man? The minotaur was the progeny of Minos’ wife and a bull (not her fault at all—this was Poseidon’s revenge for Minos cheating him of something). The minotaur had a taste for human flesh, so Minos served him men and women every nine years to keep him satisfied.
In the picture, it looks like Daedalus is begging Minos for the gold he’s holding (the six pentacles), but that can’t be right. Minos would have paid him for building that fantastic, huge maze, so maybe this is just how you get paid—on your knees before the king.
What does this mean for me and this week/month? I can hope it means I get paid for my efforts. Good sales, maybe?
I’ll consult the book… Yay! We’re in sync for once. The Mythic Tarot says the Indvidual is “the recipient of another’s generosity.”
Whew, all that to say I have a payday coming up.
Open Contests
September 30, 2023
September into October (Contest)
Work-related:
I completed work on Book #2 of We Are Dead Horse, MT — Hard Knox — and released it!I wrote over a third of my upcoming book, Gunn’s Mission ! (Have you pre-ordered your copy?!)I revised and published an erotic/menage short story that was originally published by Harlequin Spice years ago— Eye of the Storm .I completed 6 editing projects for other authors in September.Health-related:
Swimming ended for me after my trip to my sister’s place in North Arkansas because I came home to a green pool.Through medicines and some diet tweaking, I’ve managed to keep my blood pressure down to 130-150. I haven’t had a bad spike in a while.Happiness-related:
I have been working on and making more great progress organizing my art room, getting ready for the next push for art shows and reopening my Etsy store. I have accumulated the supplies I need to begin painting in encaustic wax BUT HAVEN’T DONE IT YET because I’ve been buried in work.As for making new art, again, work has kept me too busy to do much. I attended the monthly art guild meeting, and as a group, we worked on sketching cats. The only piece of art I completed this month was this cat, which I watercolored yesterday because I wanted SOMETHING to share…
October
For work-related, I plan:
To complete writing Gunn’s Mission , a Brotherhood Protectors story, which releases on October 17th!To begin & hopefully complete work on a standalone story I’ve been dying to write for years and years, called Little Green Dreams . We’ll see.To complete 5 editing projects in October!For health related, I plan:
To not make promises about counting points for my Weight Watchers diet, because it’s that time of year and I know I’d be setting myself up for failure. However, I will try to make healthier choices!To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas).To acquire and begin using a treadmill.To do more housework because my art room isn’t finished! Cleaning is exercise, too.For happiness-related, I plan:
To work on art and jewelry-making to get ready for the Art Festival this month!Contest
Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in October…
Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
September 29, 2023
Puzzle-Contest–Let’s Celebrate National Coffee Day!
Saturday is usually my puzzle day, but tomorrow’s the end of September, and I have other plans for my blog.
I found a fun picture to help celebrate a very special holiday…National Coffee Day! Okay, so maybe you’re tired of my obscure holiday celebrations, but my point is that you can make any day a reason to celebrate. Since I’m a coffee lover (it’s my favorite beverage!), and this is my blog, I get to celebrate whatever the hell I want. 
My daughter and the two youngest girls are in Ireland at the moment, so the house is very, very quiet. You’d think it would mean I can get a ton of work done, but that’s not how I work. I guess I do better in the middle of chaos. I’m working on a story you will see very, very soon. It’s been fun to write because it’s set someplace I really have to use my imagination to describe. You’ll see.
Anyway, Happy National Coffee Day!
Solve the puzzle, then tell me what your favorite beverage is for a chance to win $5 Amazon gift card!
The post Puzzle-Contest–Let’s Celebrate National Coffee Day! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.September 28, 2023
A Short Story! FREE in KU!
I have a short story on Amazon that was released today! It was originally written for Harlequin Spice and published by them years ago. It hasn’t been available for a while. If you love erotic romances and menage stories in particular, this one’s for you. It’s only 5,000 words, so a very quick read. Perfect for a lunch break. Better yet, it’s FREE in KU!
The post A Short Story! FREE in KU! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.A woman returns to the island where her heart was put back together by one special man to find that he’s ready to make her…theirs.
September 27, 2023
La Sirène–it’s her day! Plus, Open Contests!
I have a book that talks about the Spirits or Saints of the Day. Today’s intrigued me. She is La Sirène. In Haitian Vodou, she is a Loa, a god or spirit, and is the consort to the Lord of the Water, Agwe. She holds a mirror (vanity is one of her characteristics), which is a portal into the mystical world, and of course, she has the most beautiful singing voice. Another of her symbols is a horn, and if you happen to find it on the shore, you’ll be guaranteed a rich life. If you decide to give her offerings for her favor, she loves seashells, desserts, and champagne.
Open Contests
September 26, 2023
Word Search: Types of Pancakes for National Pancake Day! (Contest)
Today’s National Pancake Day! Woohoo! Excited? No? Too mundane? Then you haven’t tried all the kinds of pancakes there are out there! I limited my list of favorites to just ten, but if you don’t know what some of them are, go Google them! You’ll find recipes for some very yummy dishes!
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me which intrigue you and which are your favorites!
The post Word Search: Types of Pancakes for National Pancake Day! (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.September 25, 2023
Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Sarah Boone – An Improver Not Just an Innovator (Contest)
Sarah Marshall was born into slavery in 1832. She married James Boone in New Bern, North Carolina, when she was fifteen. Sources are unclear how they obtained their freedom, but they were able to relocate to New Haven, Connecticut before the start of the Civil War. There, they raised eight children. She worked as a dressmaker. He laid brick until his death in the 1870s.In her work, she saw the need for an ironing board that would aid in her care and maintenance of women’s dresses. Before the invention of the ironing board, women simply ironed clothes either on a board laid across the backs of two chairs or a table. At the age of 60, dressmaker Sarah Boone’s invention was created “to produce a cheap, simple, convenient and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies’ garments.”
While she did not create the ironing board, her device improved upon it by adding a padded surface and a smaller rounded end. It was also collapsible, so you can see how her improvements led to the ironing board in use today. The wording of the patent indicates that the invention had the potential to be adapted for men’s clothing. She received her patent in 1892 making her the second African-American woman to receive a patent.
She lived in New Haven not far from Yale University for the rest of her life and attended the Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church. She died in 1904 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. This PBS station did a very nice piece on her. You can view it here: https://www.pbs.org/video/engineering-behind-ironing-board-dqh4ly/.
A slave at fifteen. A patent holder at sixty. When you hear people harping on age being detrimental instead of an asset, tell them about Sarah Marshall Boone.
For a $10 chance at an Amazon gift card share your thoughts on Sarah’s life or ageism.
Better To Marry Than to Burn
Freed Man seeking woman to partner in marriage for at least two years in the black township of Douglass, Texas. Must be willing and able to help establish a legacy. Marital relations as necessary. Love neither required nor sought.
Excerpt:
“Our children?” She swiveled in her seat. “You made no mention of wanting children, just marital relations as necessary. I understood that to mean intercourse.”
“I wrote I wanted to leave a legacy.”
“A legacy. Not a dynasty.”
“Legacy. Dynasty. Is there really so sharp a distinction?”
“To my mind there is. I understood you meant to affect future generations—endow schools, found churches, create civic associations. I didn’t realize that meant children. I agreed to having sex, not having children.”
“Of course I want children.” His brows grew heavy as he frowned. “Doesn’t having sex lead to having children?”
“Not with the right precautions.”
His frown deepened. “Precautions?”
“There are many ways to prevent your seed from taking root, Mr. King.”
“I want children, Mrs. King.”
Her lips twisted and her brow furrowed, but she kept her silence.
“All right,” she said. “You can have children with any woman you like. I won’t stop you. I free you from any claim to fidelity.”
“Legacy—or dynasty if you will—means legitimacy. No bastard will carry my name, not when I have a wife to bear me children.”
“I see.”
Her tone signaled she didn’t.
Buy link: https://amzn.to/2KTaGPH
Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/106e6b05cdfe/michal-scotts-newsletter
Website: https://www.michalscott.webs.com
September 24, 2023
Deb Robinson: Keep Everything! (Excerpt+ FREE READ!)
Something I’ve learned as a writer is to keep EVERYTHING you write. Even if you think it’s crap, it might be of some use or provide inspiration in the future.
I find myself scribbling down lines of dialogue, ideas for storylines, and traits for my characters. I’ve written in notebooks, on ripped-out pages and once, I scribbled something on a napkin when I was eating lunch. I think the guy at the next table thought I was going to leave him my number… Hmm, that gives me an idea…
Anyway, when I was hunting through my notes, I came across a sweet short story I wrote for a competition run by Harlequin back in 2007. The theme was Valentine’s Day. In those days, I was a subscriber to their newsletter, and I’d look forward to reading all about the new releases and picking out which ones I’d buy. I was more of a reader and less of a writer in those days so of course I was chuffed when I received a letter informing me that I was one of two winners. And I was so excited when a box of books turned up on my doorstep as my prize.
I thought I’d share this five-minute fiction with you as part of your Sunday morning reading.
Kate’s special day
Today had been an important day in Kate’s working career and thankfully it had been successful. Her presentation had impressed her boss and Kate arrived home feeling on top of the world. Even the thought of cooking dinner, washing dishes and sweeping floors couldn’t dent her happiness.
Kate was surprised to see her husband, Brett standing in the hallway waiting for her. She grinned at him, a little confused. “Why are you looking so handsome?”
Dressed in a pale blue shirt and black trousers; Brett’s dark hair was slicked back and still damp. In his hands was a small bouquet of red roses.
“You know why,” he replied, with the smile that Kate had fallen in love with the moment they met five years earlier. He handed her the bouquet as their lips joined in a passionate kiss.
“Thank you.”
Before she could question the situation, Brett spoke. “You had better move. We have reservations for dinner in one hour.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Now go!” he commanded, patting her bottom playfully.
Kate did as she was told and in record time of forty minutes she’d showered, applied fresh make-up, styled her hair and put on a rose print dress.
After checking her appearance in the mirror one last time, she went into the kitchen where Brett was waiting for her.
“Wow! You look totally gorgeous.”
“Thank you, honey.”
“Would you mind finding the cooler bag? There’s a bottle of champagne in the fridge for the restaurant.”
“Sure,” replied Kate.
All this and champagne! She really was being spoilt. Kate wondered what had sparked Brett’s sudden burst of romance and then she spied the note on the fridge. REMEMBER FEBRUARY 13TH
She had put this note up two weeks earlier to remind herself about the presentation and Brett must’ve remembered how important this was for her. With champagne in hand and a smile on her face, Kate joined her husband in the car.
At the quiet restaurant they were seated at a nice table, each holding a champagne filled glass.
“To my beautiful wife…” Brett raised his glass in a toast.
“Thank you,” replied Kate.
“And to us!”
They clinked glasses and Kate waited for the rest of his speech as Brett sipped his champagne.
“Thanks for the note. We deserve this treat and you know how forgetful I am about these things…anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Kate’s hand flew to her mouth to hide her amusement but seconds later the laughter spilled from her.
“Hey, what’s so funny?” asked Brett, a curious expression on his face.
“Oh nothing…” Kate stammered between bursts of laughter. “Just something at work.” Kate didn’t have the heart to tell Brett the real reason for the note on the fridge. She was certain he’d discover the truth tomorrow.
Right now, she’d enjoy her own private Valentine’s Day.
Now for a hit of spice… And it’s FREE…
Mister Tradie
Hollie Leigh has declared she’s off men. Every last one.
She has other plans for her future. Plans that don’t include a brazen, flirtatious tradie with a BIG mouth, no matter how good looking he is.
Self-proclaimed floor specialist, Scott Morgan, is hit by the smokin’ hot babe effect, the instant he lays eyes on Hollie.
But her death stare and acerbic wit, tell him he’s got his work cut out for him.
On a whim, he offers her an arrangement. Three weeks. With him.
As a PA for a law firm, Hollie knows to check the fine print and this deal will allow her to walk away once the three-weeks are over.
Fun. Flirty. Sexy. Dirty. Mister Tradie has all that and more in his toolbox. But will it be enough to show Hollie their connection is deeper than just flirty banter and hot sex?
Want more spice?
The first three novels in my 5 Shades of Brothers Browne series are available for $1.49 each on Amazon or Free with KU.
Happy reading!
About Deb RobinsonDeb’s just a humble little writer who loves what she does. She lives with her lovely husband in their little haven in Melbourne, Australia. She loves all things romance and believes it takes many forms. Her current catalogue consists of hot, contemporary romance under two series: 5 Shades of Brothers Browne and A Sexy Tradie Novella.
Follow Deb Robinson on her official Facebook page
Follow on Twitter @DRobinsonbooks
Follow on Instagram @debrobinsonbooks
And on TikTok @debrobinsonbooks
September 23, 2023
Saturday-Puzzle Contest: Fall is here!
Fall is here. 
(I miss my pool.)
We don’t have much of one here. We had 93-degree weather just a couple of days ago, but the temperatures are definitely falling. Our nights are in the low 60s now. Leaves are falling, but we don’t get that lovely gradual process of leaves changing colors and drifting to the forest floor. Ours wither from the heat, drop into the pool, and then it’s winter. So, Fall colors are nice in pictures, but we don’t get them here!
I’m sharing a wistful,Fall-themed picture in today’s puzzle. I hope you enjoy it. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what Fall is like where you live!
The post Saturday-Puzzle Contest: Fall is here! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.
