Delaney Diamond's Blog, page 6

Free 2024 Book Tracking Sheet

As we’re about to step into 2024, the new year causes us to think about resolutions and goals. I met my writing goals for the year, but on the reading front, I’m not sure I met my goals. Mainly because I didn’t do a very good job of tracking what I read.

There are a number of book tracking sites out there for book lovers. Goodreads is my preferred site, but I’ve heard good things about Storygraph, which came on the scene in 2019 and touts itself as the Amazon-free alternative to Goodreads.

Despite being a user of Goodreads myself, I didn’t keep up with my book list, and to be honest, I wanted something simple to track books that I’ve read and wanted to read. Something that would give me an overview of my progress and was easy to sort.

I’m an Excel fan-girl, and I found a solution: a book tracking sheet to stay on track. I’m still going to post reviews on Goodreads, but this sheet will be a handy little companion to monitor my progress. If you’re feeling the need to get better organized as well, grab your FREE copy using the button at the end of this post.

How it works

There are actually two sheets.

The first sheet is the reading list, where you enter the author, title, and series name, like you see below [Note: You can overwrite the cells with your own data when you download the sheet].

The format, source, status, genre, and month read options can be chosen from a drop-down list. Enter a book rating, and the stars will auto-populate, and you can use the Notes column to write what you liked or didn’t like, tropes, etc.

On the second sheet, enter the number of books you want to read for the year, and the sheet will calculate how many more you have to read to achieve your goal. It also keeps track of how many pages you’ve read, your top 3 most read authors, book formats, audiobook listening hours, etc.

I hope you find this useful! Happy reading in 2024!

Click the button to download your free book tracking sheetDownload

The post Free 2024 Book Tracking Sheet appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Laugh out loud: In search of witty heroines-share your favorites!

A few weeks ago, a guest author in the Readers Lounge mentioned the importance of seeing all types of Black women falling head over heels in romance novels. Several of the Diamond Divas brought up what they’d like to see more of.

You know what I mentioned? Funny heroines. Not the clumsy, tripping-over-nothing, coffee-spilling caricature we often see in rom-coms. I’m talking about legit hilarious heroines. I want dry-witted, sarcastically funny leading ladies who drop zingers and one-liners that have you laughing out loud.

Thing is, while I’m sitting here with my thinking cap on, I can’t think of a single heroine who fits that bill. But I know they’re out there, hiding in the pages of books. So, if you’ve got any recs, spill the beans in the comments. And authors, if you’ve penned a heroine like that, drop the deets.

My one-click finger is itching and ready to buy!

Happy 13th anniversary to me!

I can’t believe it. It’s my anniversary, and I’ve officially been an author for thirteen years! The Arrangement was my very first published novel, released by a small e-press back on November 12, 2010.

I started writing when I left my job because I was miserable. As a kid, I used to make up stories in my head all the time, and I did some fiction writing and won contests, but writing professionally was an experiment. I figured once I found a full-time job, maybe it could become a part-time gig. However, The Arrangement and the subsequent books in the Latin Men series did so well, I abandoned my plans to find another job and embarked on a brand new career as a full-time author.

The influence of Harlequin Presents

The Arrangement was heavily influenced by Harlequin Presents romance novels, books I had been reading for years. I loved the fantasy of the characters’ opulent lifestyles and how the heroines would have these alpha men, often of Latin heritage, falling madly in love with them.

Back then, all the heroines were white. Since I enjoyed those stories so much, I decided to write the same type of story, but with a Black heroine. Just like many of the Harlequin Presents books, the hero in The Arrangement is Brazilian, wealthy, and alpha male to the tenth power.

Eventually, I left the e-press and started self-publishing my own books and expanded the Latin Men series into a seven book series. The storylines are varied—secret baby, a heroine traveling the world and falling in love with an artist in Ecuador, a billionaire proposing a mistress arrangement, enemies to lovers, and a virgin heroine.

New readers

I recently placed the Latin Men series in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon and have been reading the positive reviews cropping up. To have readers say they’ve never read a book by me before but it’s a “Good story!” or “I’m a new fan!” is extremely gratifying. If you’re unfamiliar with The Arrangement, below is an excerpt.

Excerpt

This is a marriage in trouble romance, where Leonardo has forced Alexa to temporarily resume their marriage. This scene takes place at their friends’ anniversary party, which they attended together, and Leonardo is not shy about letting Alexa know about his “expectations” at the end of the night.

Joan rose from the chair, but before she walked away, she said, “We need to get together for lunch one day to catch up. And definitely before that husband of yours whisks you away in two months to spend the next three years in Brazil.”

Alexa’s hand with the glass froze halfway to her mouth. “The next three years?”

“Yes. While he’s setting up the Latin American headquarters for Radiant Communications, darlin’,” Joan said matter-of-factly, as if it were common knowledge. Perhaps it was, but this tidbit of information was news to Alexa.

As Joan hurried away, Alexa scanned the room in search of Leonardo.

Leonardo was moving to Brazil for three years?

The sound of a metal fork clinking against glass drew Alexa’s attention to the center of the room, where Joan was standing, staring up adoringly at her husband. All conversations ceased, and the guests faced the couple celebrating another year of their happy marriage.

Russell Simpson lapsed into one of his stories, and Alexa half listened as she pondered what Joan had said. Leonardo was leaving for Brazil in two months. Sixty days.

A round of applause shook her from her ruminations and forced her to concentrate her attention on the celebration taking place in the room. She saw Joan bent back across Russell’s arm as he planted a passionate kiss on her lips. The romantic gesture made Alexa feel a twinge of jealousy, wishing she and Leonardo could have reached the thirty-year milestone in their marriage and share the kind of love Russell and Joan did.

She started. What was she thinking? She and Leonardo couldn’t share that type of relationship because their marriage was doomed almost from the beginning and was over even now. The excitement of being married to a powerful, rich, sexy man waned under the reality of day-to-day life.

He was no longer charming and playful. With work consuming all his time, her role became one of hostess and bed partner. There was nothing in between. The times she spent alone were a constant reminder of the mockery of a marriage she saw between her parents, and she had been determined she wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes.

The guests began to mill about again when the kiss ended. Alexa lifted her glass from the table to take another swallow before getting to her feet.

Intuitively, she sensed Leonardo’s gaze on her, and she caught sight of him near the entrance to the balcony. He was watching her, though he should have been engrossed in the conversation with the two other people with whom he was standing, one of which was the redhead. Even from that distance across the room, she could sense his desire for her, and there was an answering pounding of the blood in her veins as their gazes locked.

Maybe it was the kiss between Russell and Joan and the romantic notion of long-lasting love, but Alexa found her thoughts straying to memories of sharing passionate kisses with Leonardo. She carefully placed her glass of wine on the table before it slipped from her damp fingers and crashed onto the expensive white carpet. She felt nervous and jittery because she knew the reason for Leonardo’s smoldering scrutiny. She was fully aware what was expected of her, and she found herself breathlessly anticipating the end of the evening.

Leonardo came toward her, his lithe, graceful walk a surprise for a man of his size. The tuxedo jacket hugged his broad shoulders and fit his muscular frame like a glove. As he neared her, Alexa realized she was holding her breath. The undercurrent of sexual tension flared between them.

“Are you nervous?” Leonardo asked.

“Why would I be nervous?” Her voice came out breathy, husky. She cleared her throat.

Leonardo smiled knowingly. He must feel the same charge, know that she longed to be kissed and touched, despite being coerced into resuming her role as his wife.

He didn’t answer her question. “You haven’t eaten a thing all night.”

It was true, but how could he possibly know that? She didn’t have an appetite for much except the tall, dark man standing before her.

“I’ve had my eye on you all evening,” he said in response to the unspoken question.

The thought that he’d been watching her even during the periods when they were separated generated tiny little shivers across Alexa’s skin. Her fingers tightened around the clutch in her left hand. “I’m not hungry.”

The knowing smile widened. “You should eat something,” he said. His dark gaze lingered in appreciation on the split in her dress. “You’re going to need your energy.”

53 books and counting

I now have 53 published works across several series and have expanded beyond contemporary romance to include romantic suspense releases. Most of my interracial romance novels include Latin heroes with South American, Mexican, and Cuban roots. I also have black romance books with Black heroes and heroines—my most popular being the wealthy Johnson Family of Seattle.

I’ve also been blessed with amazing author friends and get to chat online with romance-loving readers who always make my day whenever they shout out my books or write a glowing review.

To be honest, I never imagined I could make a living as a writer, but I’ve been lucky enough to do that for thirteen years. Wow. I can’t wait to see what the next thirteen years have in store!

Writing update…what’s next?

Boyfriend for Hire

The Men for Hire series has received so much love, which I greatly appreciate. Thank you so much for the enthusiastic reception to Montez, Drevon, Jet, and their lady loves!

My contribution to the series was Boyfriend for Hire, and it’s my last release for the year. One of the most fun things I did was participate in a character interview, where I answered questions from the viewpoint of Montez and Desiree. This was the first time I’d done that, and I thoroughly enjoyed the exercise. You can read the interview on the I Love Diverse Romance blog. You’ll get the same humorous, sexy vibes that you did from the characters in the story, and you might even get to know them a little better.

Now that I’m done with releases for the year, I’ve started working on projects that will be release in 2024.

Family Ties series

I started research for Bruno, the fourth book in the Family Ties series, which I hope to have ready sometime in the spring. Bruno is a chef and restaurateur, so I’ve started researching his profession. The last restaurateur I wrote about was Esteban Galiano in More Than a Mistress (Latin Men series). I’ve pulled out my old notes to see if there’s anything I can use there, but there are also new avenues I’m looking into so I can incorporate the details of Bruno’s work into the story. One idea I have is to watch the movie Burnt, starring Bradley Cooper, about a former top chef who lost his career due to drugs and alcohol abuse. If you’re aware of any more chef or restaurant-themed movies, let me know in the comments.

The Cordoba Agency series

I booked a date with my cover artist in January so they can work on the cover for the next book in The Cordoba Agency series. This one will be about Alejandro Sanchez, the explosives guy. Remember he made an appearance in Almost Perfect, pretending to be a drug dealer who brought his “wife” (Alissa) and “mistress” (Sable) to the party in France? I found a photo of a guy that I think is purr-fect to represent him on the cover. He has the exact amount of bada$$ery I envision for Sanchez, and I’m excited to see the final work. That book probably won’t be released until the late summer or fall, and I’ll show the cover first to the Diamond Divas in my Readers Lounge.

Oh, by the way, if you’re on Facebook, stop by the post where I asked readers for suggestions on where I should set Sanchez’s story. It’ll take place in the United States, and I’m getting lots of great suggestions for a location. I’ll make a decision soon so I can share it with my cover artist.

Quicksand series

Finally, I have an idea for a standalone that’s been running around in my head. I’ll probably add it to the Quicksand series, which is where I tend to drop books that aren’t technically part of a series. This one won’t require a lot of research, but I do need to set aside time to write it because I’d like to release it by February. It’s an interracial with a Latin hero, no title yet though. It’s a throwback to some of my earlier work with my Latin heroes, which means you can expect some big a$$hole energy from this guy, but I promise you’ll still love him.

That’s all for now. Don’t forget to let me know about any chef-themed or restaurant-themed movies in the comments.

Have a great day!

A love letter to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

I’ve written books with settings in the U.S., countries around the world, and even made up countries (like in the Royal Brides series). Forever Again in The Cordoba Agency series is the first book I’ve written with the Virgin Islands as a setting, and it’s long overdue.

Though I’ve lived most of my life in the United States, I have fond memories of growing up on the small island of St. Thomas, where you can stand on just about any elevated point and see nothing but beautiful blue water in the distance. I walked to school with my sister and our neighborhood friends, and walked home in the afternoons—navigating through the thousands of tourists who visited the islands on any given day while taxi drivers stood on the sidewalk yelling, “Back to the ship!”

During Carnival time, we perched on our usual spot across from the huge post office downtown and watched the troupes go by. At night we went to the Carnival “village” and ate our bellies full of food from vendors selling delicious plates of local cuisine. Then we danced off all that food to the sounds of soca and Calypso music.

At home we ate pate, dumb bread, sugar cake, curry chicken, stewed oxtails, and peas and rice (red beans and rice to everyone else). In our yard we had a papaya tree, mango tree, peas tree, fig tree (figs are what we call our small, sweet bananas), coconut tree, and my father had a garden at the back of the house where he grew herbs, sugar cane, and whatever else his green thumb could master.

We didn’t have much, but in retrospect, it was idyllic. I talk a lot about some of my favorite places in the world—Paris, Miami, Rome. But nothing beats the serenity and beauty of St. Thomas. Sometimes I get nostalgic and toy with the idea of moving back there at some point. Maybe I will. Who knows what the future will bring.

Until then, Forever Again is more than a romance between Hossam and Alissa as they catch the bad guys. It’s my love letter to the place where I was born and grew up. Like Dorothy said in “The Wizard of Oz,” there’s no place like home. For me, that place is the most beautiful island in the world—St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Book Blitz & $15 Giveaway for Forever Again!

So far the feedback for Hossam and Alissa has been great, and one reader even said she is now cheating on Raheem, from Heart Stealer, LOL. I’ve also seen where readers have enjoyed learning about my birthplace, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Thank you for all the positive feedback and every written review. Keep them coming!

WOW! You did it again! It was a VERY GOOD book! 

Comment on Facebook

Action packed fun!

Goodreads review by @reads2love on Instagram

Book was AMAZING

Comment on Facebook

Also, be sure to enter this giveaway. Xpresso Book Tours has organized a blitz for Forever Again, and one lucky winner will receive a $15 gift card. Thank you to all the participating bloggers and authors who’ll be posting about my book all week. I appreciate you!

Readers, enter the giveaway via the link or widget below. Best of luck to you!

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251235546/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Copies of Forever Again can be purchased here

Signed paperbacks: https://bit.ly/3stxcXv

Amazon: https://amzn.to/45vy3pq

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/3R2mDoS

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/47V2Jlt

B&N: https://bit.ly/3YTjIRb

Apple: https://apple.co/3QXyzYH

Google Play: https://bit.ly/45Uh7c1

Kobo: https://bit.ly/45GUMP0

Book Merch Giveaway!

I launched a store with bookish merch for romance readers and authors, and I’m having a giveaway! Two winners will receive $50 each of book merch, which includes mugs, T-shirts, and stickers, and I’ll be adding more designs. As a book lover who was teased as a “book worm” growing up, I love creating items I can wear or display to show off my love of reading. I’ll be picking a winner soon, so make sure you enter for a chance to win.

Use the widget below or use this link to enter

Visit the shop to see the designs

Quicksand box set giveaway: $15 gift card + reader’s choice of a signed book!

I’m very excited about the release of the Quicksand series box set! The collection is comprised of Night and Day, What She Deserves, and The Friend Zone. The books are not only some great romance, they highlight the strong friendship between the three heroines in the stories. Here’s what readers had to say about the individual titles that make up the box set…

The beginning hooks the reader in and then you’ll be like…nah, am I seriously rooting for these characters to get together? And so quickly? Yup, you will, because Delaney Diamond writes in such a way that makes them work. So, yeah, I loved Anton’s cool demeanor and Tamika’s spontaneity. These opposites totally worked! Another great book!

5 star review on Amazon review about Night and Day

I wasn’t ready for this book to end. Loved reading about Layla and Rashad’s second chance story. They had broken up years ago and accidentally run into each other. This time, Rashad was willing to open up to Layla. Very good and truly enjoyed it! Now onto Omar and Dana.

5 star review on Amazon about What She Deserves

Wow! I loved this story! From best friends to lovers! They make the best relationships. Dana and Omar knew everything about each other! I wish they had gotten together a lot sooner. This book was everything!

5 star review on Amazon about The Friend Zone

Be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the $15 gift card and a signed copy of your choice of one of my print books. The tour is organized by Xpresso Book Tours. Thank you to all the participating bloggers and authors who’ll be posting about my book all week. I appreciate you!

Enter the giveaway via the link or widget below. Best of luck to you!

Copies of the Quicksand series box set can be purchased here

DD Store (10% off with STORE10 coupon): https://bit.ly/3ooUr3i

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3MM4Xen

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/3olIEmw

Amazon CA:  https://amzn.to/43igOGq

BN: https://bit.ly/45xkLcu

Apple: https://apple.co/43lJ3UP

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3Iv8ueL

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3otOOAV

To enter, click this link or enter using the Rafflecopter widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Delaney Diamond Presents: An interview with Sheryl Lister

In this episode, I interview Sheryl Lister about her romance novel, A Table for Two, an enemies to lovers foodie romance about neighbors in a small town who fall in love, one meal at a time. Sheryl talks about how kidnapping her husband is part of being an exceptional wife for almost 30 years, her favorite TV shows, reads an enticing excerpt from the book, and tells us how the recipes in the book are pulled from her own life. This was a great interview, so you don’t want to miss it!

Other books mentioned in this episode: A Touch of Love and A Perfect Pairing.

Use the icons to share this interview with a friend.If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of A Table for Two!Listen to more interviews at podcast.delaneydiamond.com.

The important role of fathers in romance novels

Last month I wrote about mothers in romance, so this month I have to show the fathers some love.

The first Father’s Day in the United States was celebrated on June 19, 1910, but it wasn’t until 1972 that the day became a nationwide holiday. With Father’s Day arriving on Sunday, I considered the roles that fathers play in romance novels.

Nowadays, it’s common and expected for men to have a more active role in their children’s lives. They’re an important part of their children’s development and are no longer allowed to stay on the sidelines when it comes to caregiving. In romance we often see them in similar roles as mothers—as nurturers and protectors. But I’ve also seen them overwhelmed but well-intentioned, which we don’t see as often with mother characters.

Let’s look at examples of all three.

The Nurturer

Nurturing fathers show tenderness and offer emotional support for their children. Compassionate and understanding, they’re a safe space for kids who need guidance and comfort. By interacting with their kids in a positive way, they’re able to teach important life lessons and instill values—enhancing the storyline and showing they could be good mates for the heroine.

You see an example of this in my novel, Without You, a second chance romance. Terrence Burrell was a rapper who’d lost his wife because he cheated on her multiple times during their marriage. As heroes go, he wasn’t a very good one, so how to redeem him? By showing what a great father he is.

There was no mistaking his love for their kids. He’d accepted his wife’s son from a previous relationship as his own, and during the story you saw examples of him caring for all three kids. In the opening scene he’s returning from a short trip to Florida with them, you find out he spoils his daughter—the “princess”—and he had a heart-to-heart talk with his eldest son, giving him a safe space to talk about his concerns about college. Terrence gave him advice to put his mind at ease. Through these interactions, you see how he nurtures his kids and how, potentially, his damaged relationship with his ex-wife could be fixed.

Another example of a nurturing father is in Sharon C. Cooper’s novel, Vindicated, where Hamilton Crosby proves he’s one of the most nurturing fathers in the literary fiction world. His ten-year-old son, Dominic, is not only wicked smart, but also inquisitive, and Hamilton’s patience with him is endearing. Throughout the story, the teachable moments with his son will have readers smiling and then laughing out loud. You can pick up copies of this novel on Amazon and Apple.

The Protector

Male leads who are fathers in romance will sometimes demonstrate a protective streak. They have a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to ensuring the emotional and physical well-being of their children and might even put themselves in danger to shield them from harm. This portrayal of protectiveness can really resonate with readers, because it taps into our desire to feel safe and loved, both in romantic relationships and within the family unit.

In Princess of Zamibia, part of my Royal Brides series, Prince Kofi is such a father. No surprise, since he’s descended from a warrior tribe. I don’t want to give spoilers, but there’s a point in the story where he’s not only determined that no harm will come to his son, he risks bodily harm to ensure it.

Overwhelmed But Well-Intentioned

The overwhelmed father is the one we see most often in those sigh-worthy single dad stories. These dads demonstrate the challenges of balancing their roles as fathers with other responsibilities and personal struggles. But despite moments of uncertainty or self-doubt which make them feel ill-equipped to handle fatherhood, the love for their children remains steadfast, driving their actions and decisions. For that reason, we empathize and understand what is essentially universally known—that being a parent means accepting the highs and lows of parenting and finding a way to successfully manage them both.

In my novel That Time in Venice, a second chance romance, Reed Stewart is a great father, but you see him struggle with how to care for his daughter, Brielle, as a single dad. Her tantrums leave him perplexed and drained, and he worries that uprooting her from her extended family after her mother died had been the wrong decision. His struggle is summed up in these words: “I’m still figuring out this father thing. I’m never really sure if what I’m doing is right, but I try to put her first and hope everything else falls into place.”

Reed’s love for Brielle is indisputable, and his intentions are clear—he wants the best for his daughter and despite his struggles, he’ll continue to strive for that goal. The heroine, Anika, provides much-needed help along the way.

Another book with an overwhelmed but well-intentioned father is Down Too Deep by J. Daniels, available on Amazon. Nathan was struggling as a single father with a baby girl, but lucky for him, Jenna came along to help out. She has two kids of her own and took on the job of being a nanny to his little one.

I truly adore the characters in this novel. In my Goodreads review, I mentioned that the story “was so freaking sweet and sooo heart-tuggingly adorable. I fell in love with this blended family.” Watching Nathan learn to be a better father to his little one and be a father-figure to Jenna’s kids—since their trifling daddy was a deadbeat—was very enjoyable. I gobbled up every scene. I highly recommend it for the sweet factor.

Conclusion

Just like being a mother, being a father is no easy task. Based on the number of single dad romance novels published each year, we definitely like seeing our heroes in the role of nurturer and protector, and fall hard for the ones who are overwhelmed but have good intentions. They add depth to the stories and enhance the characterization of the heroes.

To all the fathers and father figures, I hope you feel appreciated and celebrated on your day.

Have a wonderful Fathers Day! 

__________

Can you think of other romance novels that show heroes in similar fatherly roles?