Dani Collins's Blog, page 43

It's Saturday! Take it easy.

My horoscope warns that today has some hard aspects and it's best to chill. I'm taking this as permission not to clean my bathrooms and just write. Which is situation normal around here, but today it's written in the stars that I have to.

Amazon US | CA | UK | Aus | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay

Quick note of attribution on that photo above: I took it myself when we were in New York last July. Ah, New York. That really was an amazing trip to an amazing place.

But here is great, too. It's raining (not snowing!) and as I said, I plan to be a bit lazy today. I will write, because writing is relaxing for me. Most of the time. Occasionally it threatens to break my brain, but mostly it's my happy place. Lately I've been working on a scene at Wimbledon, which has been a little like visiting the championship. A mini mental vacation! I wound up giving my heroine a strawberry allergy. I'm wondering if that will rear its head later in the book.

Other News

Life is even-keel at the moment. (touch wood!) I have the RT Convention in April (see below) and books out in June, July and September, but for the next while it's about getting books in.

RT Convention

And because I'm too lazy to type it, here's the screenshot of my agenda while I'm there:

I missed signing up for Club RT, darn it!

Newsletter News

Changes are coming to my newsletter. My regular one goes out on the 8th, then there will be a couple with sneak peeks at my June and July book. Putting all the pieces into place takes time, but I'm excited by how the new system is coming together. I hope you like it, too!

If you want to be one of the first to see it, Join Dani's Newsletter. BONUS: You'll also get Cruel Summer, a free short story ebook that I wrote just for you, Dear Reader! It's not available anywhere else.

That's it for now. Have a relaxing weekend!

Last Chance - The Consequence He Must Claim

The Consequence He Must Claim will be disappearing from shelves this week. I hope you've got your copy if you're a print reader!

If you missed it, you can order it online here, and of course digital copies are still available as well:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Home Is Where The Mess Is

I've been head-down writing for over a week, finishing a book. I hit SEND last night and I feel great!

The problem is, I have not only ignored the house--which is a typical disaster of laundry that needs putting away and that lasagna dish on the counter that can't seem to make it's way into the cupboard, but we've also had new carpets installed in a couple of rooms.

This would be fine if that meant those rooms were back together. Not. The family room is okay. It's useable, but there's still some rearranging to be done there. Our bedroom, however...

I should back up and say this all started because our refrigerator broke down. While we were ordering the new one, my husband pointed to a bed on sale and said, "Isn't that the one you want?" Budda-bing, budda-bow, we bought it.

But we had planned to buy a new bed after carpets were replaced and replacing the carpets was not on the immediate agenda. But with the bed ordered, hubby tore up the bedroom and voila, three weeks later, we have carpets. Yay! Also, the bed came in right away and sat in the way all that time.

Sadly, he opened it the other night to set it up and, you guessed it, wrong colour. So we get to wait another week for the exchange and that means sleeping in my daughter's room a few more nights and living with a mattress and other furniture in my office for another week.

Also I did that lovely trick where I decided to catch up on filing and realized I hadn't separated out the 2015 from the 2016. Thus there stacks of paper everywhere in here as I try to sort out that mess. It's your average nightmare.

But c'est la vie, right?

What's Next?

I do love this honeymoon period after a book has been sent in. Yes, I always have a lot of housekeeping chores, real ones and office ones and even mental ones, but planning and organizing is my jam so that's what I'll be doing this weekend. Figuring out What's Next.

I will also be arranging a sneak peek at my July Harlequin Presents, Bought By Her Italian Boss, for my newsletter subscribers. I'm waiting for the cover, which I think I'll see in March.

If you want to be one of the first to read the opening chapters, Join Dani's Newsletter. BONUS: You'll also get Cruel Summer, a free short story ebook that I wrote just for you, Dear Reader! It's not available anywhere else.

Taken By The Raider

Have you grabbed this bad boy yet?

Amazon US | CA | UK | Aus | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay

Time to bring order to chaos. What are you doing with your weekend?

Has Spring Sprung Yet?

It's true. I'm getting antsy for Spring!

Not that I go outside much. I have fantasies of taking up gardening after a two year hiatus, but not with the deadline schedule I have right now. And we're very much in the overcast drizzle of spring right now! Going outside is a bit of an exercise in self-induced misery.

Which is one reason I 'visited' Australia via the tablet today. My sister had some colour in her face when I called and she was almost apologetic about it. We wound up having quite a discussion about the very different attitudes toward the sun that Canadians have from Australians.

For instance, she said that a friend's daughter, fresh back from living in Canada for several years, put on a bikini to go in the pool. It shocked my sister because she has adopted the custom of a rashie and shorts with swimmers underneath. My sister forgot to wear a hat recently which is how she wound up with pink in her face. She said it was almost something to be ashamed of because it shows you're not taking care of yourself as well as you should.

Meanwhile, I was just marvelling that they had sun. I'm looking pretty ghostly and could definitely use some colour!

What am I working on so furiously that is keeping me indoors, you ask? Well, if you haven't already, you can...

Read About It In My Newsletter

I'm not being mysterious so much as lazy. Rather than retype what I wrote about my next Montana Born book, I thought I'd direct you to the longer story in my newsletter. The quick answer is that it's part of a new series about smokejumpers! You can get more details in Dani's Newsletter.

I'm also very close to finishing my next Presents. Well, actually there are two that are already wrapped and scheduled for July and September. When I say my next, I mean the one I'm currently writing which will likely come out in December or January--if I get it written. My deadline is end Feb so expect me to be offline more than on as I push to The End.

Once that's off my desk, my schedule will relax a little since my Smokejumper won't come out until June.

Meanwhile, I'm also promoting my three books since Jan 1st. Have you read any (all) of them? Which one is your favourite?

Taken By The Raider

Amazon US | CA | UK | Aus | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay

The Wrong Heirs Duet

Book One - The Marriage He Must Keep

Amazon: US | CA | UK

Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Book Two - The Consequence He Must Claim

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Once I get this book wrapped for end Feb, I'm taking a few days off to put my house back together, then I'm going to work on taking weekends off. Or at least only work one day on the weekend. Or half-days. I'm not very good at taking time off! But I'll try.

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Do you have a date for Valentine's Day? You do now! Taken By The Raider is available on all platforms!

Preorder links: Amazon US | CA | UK | Aus | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay

I'm keeping this post super short. I'm trying to finish a manuscript by the end of the month and have errands all weekend. PLUS my editor sent some revisions. So I'm basically all over the place.

Check Out My Newsletter

Even though I'm shortchanging you here, I did have a fresh newsletter go out this week and it had a fun announcement about my next Montana Born book. If you're curious, read Dani's Newsletter here.

Baby Swap Two Still Available

I hope you're enjoying The Wrong Heirs, my baby swap duet! If you haven't picked them up yet, the second one, The Consequence He Must Claim, is still on shelves. They look like this:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Find the first book, The Marriage He Must Keep, at these online retailers:

Amazon: US | CA | UK

Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Have a terrific weekend!

Behind The Book - Taken By The Raider

Join My Twitter Chat!

Please join me for a Twitter Chat on February 9th at 11:30 Central (9:30 Pacific/12:30 Eastern.) Go to Twitter and search the hashtag #FFbchat and I'll be there. Alternately, join the Facebook Event for a reminder. Just click on the image below for the details:

I'll be talking about both of my February releases. Have you checked out The Consequence He Must Claim? It's the second in The Wrong Heirs duet and I'm delighted by the reviews so far! Here's one from Goodreads for the the series as a whole:

I loved the connection she maintained with Octavia (1st book). The series was the best I had in a while! Dani Collins you are officially a strong resilient favourite!

Here are your quick links if you'd like to read the blurb and some of the other reviews:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

My Life

My horoscope said the pace of life would pick up once Mercury went direct on Jan 25th. I never doubt astrology because after dithering for months (years!) over various house updates, guess what happened? I told you about the refrigerator packing it, right? Well, while we were buying the new one, my husband said, "Isn't that the kind of bed you wanted for our room?"

I don't have a photo because it's still at the warehouse, but yes. It was the right bed and it was on sale. So I ordered it on the spot and my husband promptly came home, carpe'd the diem, by which I mean he seized the carpet out of our bedroom!

I've ordered the new carpet, but we're sleeping in my daughter's room until it arrives and installs. I was already feeling like we'd been camping because we were eating out of the fridge in the garage. Now this. And, since the carpet installers are coming out anyway, we picked out something for the family room so any minute now, that room will be emptied into my dining room.

I'm the type of person who finds the rearrangement of my carefully ordered world really stressful. I'm bordering on needing sedation! And no. I will not have a new bedroom by Valentine's Day. I will be lucky to have one by the end of February. But these are long overdue replacements of very old carpets so I'm trying to take the disarray in stride. It will be wonderful when it's done!

Behind The Book

Taken By The Raider - Feb 11th

Did you miss reading the first two chapters of Taken By The Raider? Download a PDF by clicking over to my blog post from two weeks ago.

Preorder links: Amazon US | CA | UK | Aus | iBooks

Taken By The Raider is a short story, so I can't offer too many #SampleSundays, but I thought I'd talk a little about how the book came about.

Last year, as I was planning my fall writing schedule, I deliberately kept December light. I always find December incredibly stressful so I arranged my deadlines so I could take some days off without losing my bananas. Well!

I wound up agreeing to a new series with Montana Born, but it wasn't due until February so I felt like it was a very manageable fit into my schedule. Then an opportunity came up with this bad boy short story and I thought, It's short.

This turned into a lesson for me in not being arrogant. Just because a story is short does not mean it is easy to write!! <

Anyway, I dug a hole in my schedule and started writing, but I struggled. It wasn't so much that the words wouldn't come. I just didn't know if they were any good or whether the story hung together as a whole.

What did I expect writing a bad boy? They never cooperate! The holidays were breathing down my neck and I had a couple of days wondering whether I'd been crazy to agree to this one.

But I totally fell for Griffen. I love heroes who are complete knot-heads when it comes to matters of the heart. They're always so blindsided by feelings of empathy and remorse. And, as the story took shape, I saw my characters had quite a complex history, personally and romantically. In the end, I was so glad I'd written it.

I hope you'll enjoy it too. So far, the reviews have been pretty favorable. Here's one that really made my day:

This short novella certainly packs a punch to your heart. Ms. Collins has given her readers a quick one two with unforgettable characters that reach for your heart and don’t let go. Somehow she manages to get in a fast paced but well thought out plot line that has you remembering why you love her writing style so much. The story is very clear and doesn’t leave you wanting, well for anything else than another one of her stories. Pick up this novella if you want something hot, something with a bad boy, and something quick to heat you up. ~Valerie, Netgalley

I've also seen a couple of reviewers say they wished there was an epilogue. I actually wrote one and I hated it. Bleck. Be glad I deleted it. Trust me. But I have heard the request and will put my mind to a bonus scene for a future newsletter. (Do you belong to my newsletter? You should! From time to time, I offer bonus scenes. It's true! Join now and get Cruel Summer, a short story ebook romance I wrote special to offer free as a welcome gift to my new subscribers.)

~ * ~

For the first time in a while, I'm writing this on Friday night. My real life might be upside down at the moment, but shhh--I don't want to jinx it--my writing life is mostly caught up (although I still have to book my flight to the RT Convention in Las Vegas in April!)

Watch my Feb 11th newsletter for news on my next Montana Born book and I'm looking forward to offering a sneak peek of the opening chapters for my July Harlequin Presents very soon. (Probably the March newsletter. That's the plan, anyway.)

Thank You!!!

One more HUGE THANK YOU for your support with the baby swap duet. If you haven't checked it out yet, the second book, The Consequence He Must Claim is on the shelves right now.

Alternately, here are your quick links if you'd like to order a copy online:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

The first book, The Marriage He Must Keep, is still available at these online retailers:

Amazon: US | CA | UK

Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Have a terrific weekend!

#SampleSunday - The Consequence He Must Claim (2)

Another busy week has zipped by and that ends January already! My big news midweek was a broken fridge. We were able to replace it within a few days, which was probably thanks to Mercury crawling out of retrograde. It's not my dream fridge. It's the one that fits the hole in the cupboards, but I'm okay with that. I don't have time to renovate a kitchen. I barely have time to buy groceries!

Do You Have A Date For Valentine's Day?

You do now!

I have a #SampleSunday for you below, but wanted to draw your attention to my pretty Valentine's Month Line Up. The Marriage He Must Keep is still available and you should be seeing the second half of this duet, The Consequence He Must Claim, showing up on your store shelves.

On Feb 11th, just in time for Valentine's Day, watch for Taken By The Raider, which will release on all digital platforms. Right now it's on pre-order at the links below.

Amazon US | CA | UK | Aus | iBooks |

Want to read the first two chapters of Taken By The Raider? Download a PDF by clicking over to my blog post from earlier this week.

SampleSunday - The Consequence He Must Claim

As you probably already know, Cesar only found out about his baby when the hospital called for a paternity test. He doesn't remember making love to Sorcha and hasn't been able to for the six weeks of her recovering from the birth. He's been reticent, but here they've come to his parents' for a gala reception that is supposed to be in their honour. They've just come downstairs and have a private moment before the party starts:

~ * ~

“I’m sorry. I’m just really nervous and—” She was such an idiot. She shouldn’t have started this here, now, but this party felt like the official beginning of their marriage and she wouldn’t relax until she at least knew… “I went to the doctor today. She said we could, um…” She looked around. “You know,” she said in an undertone. “If we use, um,” she swallowed and mouthed, condoms.

He stared.

She felt as though she grew transparent, skin thinning with heat, clothes incinerating until they flaked off her body in papery curls and she stood naked before him. She had just handed him the power to accept or reject her, leaving her self-worth hanging in the balance. She wished he would—

“You tell me that now? Here?”

“Where else—”

“The shower? An hour ago?” An avid light fired his gaze and his hand wrapped firmly around her arm. He steered her down the hall, but rather than taking her toward the main area of the house, he tugged her past the office she’d seen last time, then into a billiards room.

She scuffled along, fearful she’d be pulled off her heels. “Cesar, you’re scaring me.”

“I wait three damned years, then you disappear for eight months. I marry you and still have to wait six weeks…”

He pushed through a frosted door into a humid solarium. The scents of oranges and earth, lilies and herbs, were so pungent, it was almost overwhelming. The room was dark, lit only by the lights surrounding the tents erected outside. The glow filtered through small panes of glass, most of the light kept out by the abundance of greenery growing upward and dangling from hooks.

It was enchanting, but… “You want to, um, here—?”

“I want,” he growled, pulling her into his arms and pressing a hot, openmouthed kiss against her neck. His hand slid low, taking firm possession of her bottom to press her into the hardness of his unquestionable erection.

“Oh!” she cried, clutching at his shoulders for balance.

“I have been wanting and waiting and you finally tell me I can have you, but that I have to wait a little longer? I never took you for cruel, Sorcha.” His breath moved the tiny hairs along the edges of her updo, tickling and stimulating her sensitive nape, sending shivery waves of pleasure through her whole body. Gooseflesh rose on her arms.

She had wondered what had happened to the unabashedly sexual playboy she used to work for and here he was, flicking his tongue against her earlobe before he caught it in his teeth. He was moving his hands all over her waist and hips, sliding the silk against her skin, learning the shape of her thighs and buttocks. It was a disconcertingly familiar touch, kind of shocking in its level of ownership, but it sent tingles of anticipation and excitement through her. It felt really good to be touched. By him. So greedily.

Heat suffused her as she arched her neck and found herself turning her face, seeking his mouth with her own.

A sound tore out of him and he covered her lips with his own, full and knowledgeable. The sweet, occasionally lingering kisses of the past six weeks were gone. This was raw, undeniable passion. His tongue pierced unapologetically and searched for hers. Her abdomen contracted with excitement.

A deeper moan escaped her and she crowded closer to him, loins flooding with a hot ache, dampening with excitement. They stood there barely moving but for caressing each other in erotic pulses of their bodies against each other, mouths mimicking the thrust and reception they both craved.

With a little sob, she tore her lips from his, panting as she said, “I didn’t bring any condoms with me. I left them in the table by the bed. Do you have one?”

He drew back and even in the shadowed light, she could tell he was glaring.

“You had one that day,” she protested. “I thought it was something you always carry, like a credit card.”

“No,” he growled. “I don’t have one and I’m not about to consummate our marriage on a potting table in my parents’ garden shed.”

“Save it for our anniversary?” she suggested.

He looked to the glass panes of the ceiling, shaking his head. His hands were still flexing on her. “This is going to be a very hard, hard evening to get through.”

~ * ~

I'm so thrilled with how well The Marriage He Must Keep has been received! I hope you're equally excited by this second story in The Wrong Heirs Duet, The Consequence He Must Claim.

Here are your quick links if you'd like to order the ebook copy. It will auto-magically deliver to your device Monday (Feb 1st!):

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

The Marriage He Must Keep is giving its seat on the shelf to The Consequence He Must Claim, but you can still find it in print and ebook at these online retailers:

Amazon: US | CA | UK

Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Oh, I meant to give an update on my wrist way up there at the top of this post. It's coming along. I only wear the splint if I leave the house. The bone is still tender and I'm not to do anything stupid (like moving refrigerators!) so I'm healing nicely.

Hugs!

Sneak Peek - Taken By The Raider

Twitter Users!

You can help unlock the first two chapters of Taken By The Raider by retweeting this tweet!

I'll admit I'm new to this particular promotion, so I'd love to hear your feedback.

Now I'm back to work! Have a great week!

d

#SampleSunday - The Marriage He Must Keep (3)

How is your weekend shaping up? Mine started out great! I was right on target with my word count on a new Presents as of Friday Night. Then I woke up last night and thought about a completely different way to approach the opening and argh!

I don't usually completely rewrite my opening pages. There are times I might wind up using different words, but the time, place and point of view usually work. So now I'm frustrated with myself and must hurry through this blog post so I can figure out whether to scrap my initial beginning or fall way behind on my word count. Double-argh!

SampleSunday - The Marriage He Must Keep

I've been all over the place with my #SampleSundays I know, but you can read the opening on Amazon so I figure I should find something fun and different where possible.

This scene is from later in the book, when Sandro and Octavia have returned to Italy. He's been away a couple of days and comes back as a huge formal celebration has started downstairs for his grandfather's birthday.

One of my goals with this duet was to pay a small homage to the close and special and very important relationships that mothers develop in maternity wards and later, as they are nursing infants. So I wanted to show Octavia and Sorcha becoming fast friends.

~ * ~

He entered their suite in high spirits and two things happened. First, he was knocked breathless by the sight of her.

He’d told her stylist, Michaela, to bring jewel tones. He always preferred stronger colors on his wife than the pastels she gravitated toward. The gown she’d chosen was black velvet with a skirt of sapphire blue. The top clung lovingly to her ample breasts and tied behind her neck, leaving her back and shoulders covered only by the loose curls of her long, dark hair. The fall of blue draped in flattering lines over her round hips. Tall heels gave her the ultra-feminine sexiness that every man enjoyed. He wanted to tumble her to the bed and forget the guests arriving downstairs.

But it wasn’t just her beauty that struck him. It was her. He was glad to see her. He’d missed her. He waited for her to come across like in the old days and slide her arms around him. They had come that far, hadn’t they?

“I just fed Lorenzo. Almost ready,” she said with barely a glance at him, head bent and attention on her phone as she tapped out a message.

Apparently, they hadn’t.

He frowned, wondering who she could possibly be texting so feverishly. She made a final strike and it whooshed, but at the same time released a ringtone chime.

Octavia read it and let out a delighted laugh.

Alessandro was taken aback. That rich sound was something he hadn’t heard in… He didn’t know how long. Far too long. It was like birdsong in spring, promising and filling him with hope.

Her smile, so genuine, took her look of aloof sophistication to a level of sparkling beauty that did more than knock him breathless. It kicked him in the heart. He hadn’t seen her happy like this since before she had gone to London.

And someone else had made it happen.

The jealousy that blindsided him in that moment was as shocking as it was severe. He didn’t mean to sound so harsh when he said, “Who is that?” but he must have because she sobered quickly, face going into that neutral mask that tucked all her thoughts and feelings away.

“Sorcha,” she replied, spine stiffening defensively. “Why?”

“Sorcha? The woman from the hospital?” He subtly recoiled. His shame over how his cousin’s subterfuge had affected the stranger was only eclipsed by his remorse over the damage done to his wife and marriage.

“We’ve stayed in touch,” Octavia said with a cool click of the button to blacken her screen, setting the phone facedown on a side table.

“Why?” He couldn’t see any sense in it.

“Because she’s a new mother like me. I can ask her about rash creams and growth spurts, things no one else wants to talk about.”

“Bree knows about those things. Ask her.”

“She doesn’t have a baby. It’s different. And I like hearing how Enrique is doing,” Octavia stated, setting her chin stubbornly. “Why do you disapprove?”

He heard the frost in her tone and realized he had to tread carefully. “I didn’t say I don’t approve, only that I don’t understand,” he prevaricated.

“Exactly. She does. We’re in the same boat. I was telling her that I had this party to go to, but that I was tired because it was another rough night with Lorenzo. She’s supposed to be organizing a gala, but isn’t up to starting because she’s tired, too.”

“And you were laughing about that?”

“Not exactly. I asked her if it was too late for her to take Lorenzo so I could get a good night’s sleep. She texted at the same time, wondering if I still wanted Enrique because he’s been so colicky. Perhaps it’s bad taste to make jokes about what happened, but…” She sighed and flipped her hair. “It’s nice to have a friend with a baby the same age. I’m not going to stop talking to her. She needs me as much as I need her.”

Beneath her defiance was a disturbing hint of loneliness. It twisted Sandro’s insides.

~ * ~

The Marriage He Must Keep is still on shelves, but you can also find it at these online retailers in ebook & print:

Amazon: US | CA | UK

Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

The Consequence He Must Claim - The Other Half Of The Baby Swap

The Sorcha mentioned above is the other mother in the baby swap. It's already getting great reviews! This one's from Amazon:

"I loved the first book and I loved this one, if possible, even more. It can be a read alone book since the author does a wonderful job of incorporating the first story into this one, but I highly recommend the series."

Interested? Grab The Consequence He Must Claim here:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Keeping it short and sweet as I hit the re-writes. And yes, I am blaming Mercury Retrograde for my false start with this latest WIP!

Have a great weekend!

Quick Catch Up

Thank You!

Thank you, Dear Reader! Look where your support of my baby swap has landed it in the last few weeks. This is the Mills & Boon chart. I'm so thrilled!

I'm calling this post a catch up because that's what I'm trying to do. I'm behind on a few things. I tend to push a lot of tasks aside when I'm close to finishing a book and this blog post is one of them.

Often I write this on a Friday night, when I've knocked off for the week and feel relaxed. Today I'm feeling pressure to get back to the manuscript so I thought I'd just offer a brief proof of life (I'm here!) and get back to work.

So no #SampleSunday today, but if you'd like the first two chapters of both of the baby swap books, you can download them here.

For those of you who have been enjoying the snowman - my husband and I had some fun last weekend with him. He's doing the limbo.

The Marriage He Must Keep is still on shelves!

I recently ran into my former boss from my day job. He said, "Someone told me your books were in Walmart. That's a big deal."

It's a huge deal for me. My books are in stores all over the world. Funny story, though. My sister in Australia had been looking for my books from the time I first published. I think she was asking for Harlequin Presents. I didn't realize right away that they were called 'Sexy' in Australia.

Anyway, when I finally went to visit, the very first day we were in the shops, I walked directly through Target to the book section and said, "It's right here." She was so tickled she said, "Can I buy it?" Then she told the cashier that I had written it. I love how much my family supports me!

If you're having trouble finding The Marriage He Must Keep on shelves, it's available at these online retailers in ebook & print:

Amazon: US | CA | UK

Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

The Consequence He Must Claim

I might as well give you these links too, right? You can pre-order The Consequence He Must Claim here. It will deliver auto-magically on Feb 1:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Work In Process

I often think I am a work in process. I think prevailing wisdom says I should blog shorter and more often. I'm working toward that, Dear Reader!

But I'm obsessed with finishing this book right now. I'll talk more about it soon. It's for Montana Born, but it's a new town and a new community of characters.

Remember, you can also keep up with my news by joining my newsletter. You'll automagically get a copy of Cruel Summer, the short story ebook romance I wrote exclusively for my subscribers.

As well as making my announcements there first, I try to offer some goodies to my fans. Very soon, I'll be providing a sneak peek at my July book, Bought By Her Italian Boss.

Enjoy your weekend!

#SampleSunday and Other Stuff

Cover Reveal - Taken By The Raider

I have a #SampleSunday below from the baby swap books, but wanted to share this new cover I received for my Bad Boy Short that will release Feb 11th!

Here's the blurb:

The first time Aubrey Hargrave was “acquired” by corporate raider Griffen Woodlock, she was unable to resist his potent sexuality. She made the fatal mistake of mixing business with pleasure, but had to end their passionate affair to save her father’s reputation—and her heart.

At 20, Griffen pushed his abusive father out of his CEO position to take the chair himself. Aside from indulging his passion for beautiful women, Griffen hasn’t made an emotional decision since. When Aubrey cuts short their white-hot affair, he tells himself she can easily be replaced. Except she can’t.

Discovering Aubrey’s family secret gives Griffen the power to force a second take-over, but he intends to seize more than her business. He wants her.

Intrigued? It will be on all platforms by Feb 11th, but for now it's available for pre-order here:

Amazon US | CA | UK | Aus | iBooks

Update on Dani's Wrist

Thank you for all your good thoughts and wishes for my speedy recovery.

My 'sprained' wrist is actually a fracture. It doesn't hurt unless I do something stupid (like pick up a milk jug.) I talked the doctor into a splint instead of a cast and it hasn't slowed my typing too much. Maybe a few more tie pose. And I have stopped shovelling the driveway.

At least our weather warmed up and I was able to walk on bare roads today (no ice!) It's been grey and socked in for a few days now, which makes me a little blue going into the weekend. I know! Who is ever depressed at the weekend? I think I just need a nap.

Check out the snowman that my daughter and her boyfriend made for us over Christmas. That's how I feel. Just ... want... to ... lie... down....

Bestseller - The Marriage He Must Keep

Thank you, Dear Readers! it was such a delight to catch The Marriage He Must Keep in the #1 spot this week. I so appreciate your putting it there!

The Marriage He Must Keep is on shelves now and available online at all these ebook & print retailers:

Amazon: US | CA | UK

Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

SampleSunday - The Consequence He Must Claim

This excerpt is from the second book in The Wrong Heirs duet, The Consequence He Must Claim (available now on the Mills & Boon site!) How much do you love the Sexy cover below? I think it's my favourite. I love the way they changed her dress to red. But I also think Sorcha in the Modern cover is so beautiful!

Here Cesar is trying to convince Sorcha to marry him despite the fact he doesn't love her. He doesn't know she loved him for all those years she worked for him. It's why she slept with him the day she gave him her notice. Also, Cesar lost his memory of that entire week.

~ * ~

“What would you get from the union?” she asked warily.

“Besides my son?” he asked facetiously. “A wife who excites me sexually.” His brows went up when she gasped. “Why does that surprise you? I slept with you that day because I’d been attracted to you from the first time we met. That much I know without question. You know what else I know?”

She caught her breath, shaking her head, scenting danger as he came around to the open side of her hospital bed.

“You wouldn’t have let anything happen between us if you hadn’t been suppressing the same attraction. You know what I keep thinking? You were quitting because you were jealous of Diega. Sexually. You knew that once I married, you and I would never sleep together. I knew that. It was bothering me. I wasn’t ready to get engaged because I had promised you to myself before I went off the market.”

“Do you hear how arrogant you are?” she managed to reply, heart stumbling. “You were planning to make me your last hurrah? That’s incredibly insulting.”

He ran his gaze over her in a way that drew the blanket down, exposing her to his roving eye. “I’ve always expected we’d be very compatible. How was it?”

“Are you serious?” She burned alive as he shoved her back into that sensual fire with a look. “Ask Diega. She seems to have all the details on what we did that day.”

“The things I let you say to me,” he muttered, touching her chin to force her to look up into his eyes.

All the emotions she used to be able to disguise in a blink flooded behind her eyes with hard pressure. She couldn’t breathe.

“Of all the memories I’ve lost, the most maddening is not remembering what it’s like to make love to you. I cannot wait for our do-over.” He bent and covered her lips with his own, hard, but not hurtful. He seemed to catch himself at the last second and decide whether he wanted to plunder or merely sample.

Maybe he was waiting for a rush of memory, trying to remember how their first kisses had tasted. She remembered. She wanted to protest and turn away from his kiss, but her body knew him in a primal way that made her soften in welcome. Her hand lifted to caress the stubble on his cheek, urging him to linger, playing her mouth against his in invitation.

With a gruff sound deep in his throat, he took control of the kiss and ravaged, but gently, his stubbled beard lightly abrading her skin. He claimed in a way that felt familiar, yet new. He stole, but gave back at the same time, started to pull away, then returned as if he couldn’t help himself. The teasing sent flutters of arousal through her, burning her blood to the ends of her limbs, making her fingers and toes tingle. It was disconcerting to become so aroused when she was hardly in a state to make love.

It was so amazing, though. She never wanted him to stop, but he finally did with a few soft, wet bites of his teeth catching at her lips.

He drew back enough to see into her eyes. His gaze was disturbed, frustrated yet excited. Hot with desire. They were both breathing heavily.

“Seriously,” he said in a quiet rasp. “How was it?”

~ * ~

I think I love this one even more than The Marriage He Must Keep because Cesar is so mad about his memory loss. And Sorcha is pretty sarcastic . I really enjoyed writing this book.

You can pre-order The Consequence He Must Claim here. It will deliver auto-magically on Feb 1:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | Aus | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | BAM | Mills & Boon | Harlequin

Sample Dani's Newsletter

Want to try before you buy? Here's my Jan 1st Newsletter. Take a gander!

If you like it, please join my newsletter here. You'll automagically get a copy of Cruel Summer, the short story ebook romance I wrote exclusively for my subscribers.

As well as making my announcements there first, I try to offer some goodies to my fans. Very soon, I'll be providing a sneak peek at my July book, Bought By Her Italian Boss.

Enjoy your weekend. Nap! I'm going to.