Caitlin Ricci's Blog, page 9

Guest blogging and an excerpt of Taming the Lion Tamer

I'm a gust blogger with L.M. Brown today. Go here to check out my interview with Quinn Fitzgerald along with an excerpt of Taming the Lion Tamer, which comes out next week.

Here's a peek at the excerpt. Enjoy!


Quinn parked the large van along the backside of the animation studio. This spot was normally reserved for loading, but he'd understood why the department head had asked him not to bring Aseem through the front lobby. It wasn't easy to control a young hundred pound Asiatic lion in such a large space, especially if someone happened to get nervous around him. The man that had invited them today, Mr Barker, had assured Quinn the people he was bringing in to meet Aseem had all been briefed about how to act in the lion's presence. Still, Quinn wasn't taking chances. He'd seen the news stories of what happened to a big cat once it got hold of a human and he wasn't going to let that happen to his best friend.

He hopped out of the van, making sure to grab the visitor badge he'd been sent as soon as he'd agreed to bring a lion to the studio. Aseem was a pro at this. The big cat actually seemed to enjoy the human attention when they did talks at the sanctuary. Quinn supposed that was probably a result of spoiling him as a cub. In those first few months, Aseem had barely left his side, acting more like a playful puppy than the fierce predator he was supposed to be. Quinn opened up the back doors and grinned at Aseem who blinked wearily at him.

"I know, big guy, it was a long drive down to Denver, wasn't it?" he said as he undid the padlock and opened the heavy metal cage that had been built in the back of the van. "You ready to go put on a little show?" Aseem yawned, his large canines flashing perfectly white in the summer sun. Instead of being nervous about being so close to the big cat, Quinn merely complimented himself on taking such good care of the animal's oral hygiene. He put on his leather work gloves and unhooked the heavy chain leash from where it attached to the cage. He stepped back out of the way and gave Aseem a little click with his tongue. The lion huffed, but lumbered to his feet after a few more clicks. "Come on, old buddy, I'm not a morning person, either, and I still managed to drag my ass out of bed at five. You could bother to jump down out of the van. Please."

The old van creaked as Aseem managed the short leap to the pavement. "Good, thank you. It's a great cause and the director has promised us lots of goodies, so let’s go do our best," Quinn said. He stifled a yawn and then closed the back doors with a slam that echoed through the empty back parking lot.

I'm on Top 2 Bottom Reviews today!

Today I was over at Top 2 Bottom Reviews talking about Almost Paradise. I also received a great review from Vonda of Top 2 Bottom Reviews. She gave Almost Paradise a 4.5. Thank you Vonda!

I have also completed the second round of edits on Marked by Grief and Taming the Lion Tamer is all set for next week.

Marked by Grief -available for pre-order!

I'm very happy to announce that Marked by Grief is now available for pre-order through Silver Publishing!

Blurb-

Taken at the Denver AquariumSix months ago, Kit lost his brother to a drunk driver. Now, feeling alone and like everyone has left him behind, he struggles to even get out of bed. He's barely eating, his parents are strangers and worst of all the man that he loves, his brother's best friend, hasn't spoken to him since the funeral.

Jason always thought that he'd have time to tell Kit how he felt someday, when the younger man might be ready to handle Jason's sexual dominance. Bear's death changed all of that. He was giving Kit time to heal but couldn't have imagined how wrong he was.

When a broken Kit comes back into Jason's life, will love be enough to heal them both?

Marked by Grief

I have a new cover to share with you all! Marked by Grief is available September 8th through Silver Publishing and once again Lee (who also did the cover for Almost Paradise) did an amazing job with this one. She's able to bring my characters to life so well and it's a lot of fun to work with her. Thanks again darling! As always, you do great work!

The Runaway

Denver AquariumI started a new story today. The Runaway is M/M Contemporary and should be complete within the next few weeks. These characters just started talking today so I'm excited to see what tangles we get into together. I'm 4,000 words into it already so this story should hopefully go pretty quickly.


Five years ago Kyle Webber ran away from his abusive father. Although he's an adult now and no one can make him go back, he hasn't stopped running since. Today, at just past twenty, he's got a lot of scars but with the help of a few friends he's been able to turn his life around into something stable and familiar. He's now a waiter at his friend's restaurant and he lives above it in a little studio apartment. Life is going pretty well for him. He's even considering taking a college course or two in the fall. All that changes though when Detective Gregory Nite sits down in his section.

Gregory can tell something's a little off about the lanky young man the minute that he comes up to his table. And it's got his instincts burning. He won't meet Gregory's eyes and he seems just a little too eager to get away from him. There's only one reason that a man would act like that around a cop and Gregory doesn't like it one bit. He'll find out what secrets his waiter has to hide before the night is through.

Also, you might have noticed the new pictures scattered throughout my blog. I finally got around to getting the vacation photos off my camera from May. I hope you enjoy!

I'm Back

I'd like to update everyone on what has been going on this past week. On Saturday morning I found out someone I had known was a victim of the shooting. Tragically he, like so many others, did not make it out of the theater.

His viewing was today and I'm glad I went. Scott went with me and took a half day at work. His death is real now. I can't deny what happened. We went to the theater and the memorials and I saw him and spoke with his family. I'm taking the day off work to deal with it myself but its all real and I need to find a way to deal with that. Somehow I'd hoped that it wasn't. 


May you rest in peace my friend. I didn't know you well enough or long enough, but I'm glad that I knew you at all and I can still hear you telling me not to think about crying because then I will. Instead, think about smiling. I'm trying buddy but sometimes it's so hard. Take care. Everyone who ever met you will surely miss you. You were just that kind of guy. 

Internet Silent

I'm going internet silent for today in respect to those victims and their families of the shooting early this morning. I live in Aurora and I am safe. We are waiting to hear back from loved ones but at this time we believe that they were not in the theater last night. My heart goes out to those victims and please know that there are services available for you if you need them. Do not ignore your needs in the wake of trauma. Please be safe everyone. I will be back on tomorrow.

Magically Delicious

Tonight I received the a new contract with Silver Publishing. Magically Delicious is my fifth book to be published by Silver Publishing and it was actually the first MM story that I wrote. Its a cute little short story about an American exchange student studying abroad in Ireland who finds a gold coin in the garden one afternoon and, despite his roommates' warnings, decides to keep it. Arn, a sexy, kilt wearing leprechaun comes to visit him that night in order to reclaim the last missing coin from his pot of gold. See? Told you it was cute :).

A few updates :)

I submitted Man's Best Friend, Pine Hollow Wolves 3 to Silver Publishing today! Yay! Now to get working on the next Travis and Liam installment. I really like both of these stories, though I do say that all the time. But the 3rd Travis and Liam story sets up Hannah's trilogy so it makes me giggle and I really like this older Hannah. She's starting to become independent and has this spark in her that comes from having her two great dads.  
Also, Lee (the artist for Almost Paradise) is also going to be the artist for the cover of Marked by Grief. I can't wait to see her bring Kit and Jason to life. She's already got some great ideas and I'm excited. I re-read it today and cried at the same places that I have been for months. Editing is going to require tissues and a lot of chocolate. 

Pack Business, Pine Hollow Wolves 2

Just submitted Pack Business, Pine Hollow Wolves 2. Since it's a Travis and Liam book there are a ton of updates for them. Also, Evangeline and Samson play a big role in giving Liam a major headache. It was lots of fun to write so I hope you all enjoy it and that Silver likes and accepts it. Ooooooo I can't wait! Hopefully Lee is available to do the cover again if it does get accepted. She did an amazing job last time.