Dani Jace's Blog, page 12
July 12, 2015
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes: Little Sister
On this week’s Weekend Writing Warriors, I’m continuing this week with a snippet from my newest release Hot as Blazes.
After some trouble in California, Jo Mercer’s pro surfing career has tanked. She has just arrived home at the oceanfront beach house where she grew up. Ray, her brother’s best friend, and her secret crush has returned from surfing and has racked his board and spied Jo. Last week we ended with: “I was beginning to think I’d never see you again.”
“Me too.” She avoided his gaze as tears welled.
He tamed a wavy strand of her hair with gentle fingers. “Figured you would have cut it by now.”
The sensual gesture set off a resurgence of feelings she didn’t want to revisit. Hope welled in her chest, but she crushed it with memories of past heartache. He’d never see her as a woman. “Nope, still Bobby’s tomboy sister.”
“I never saw you that way, Jo.” His gaze softened with his tone. He’d always had the ability to strip her of pretense with barely a word.
She fought for control.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s excerpt and will check out the many talented authors on the blog hop. Weekend Writing Warriors.
Hot as Blazes is available at all major
e-book retailers. Also available in print.
Hope you enjoyed this snippet and will visit other amazing Weekend Writing Warriors posts for #8Sunday.
July 5, 2015
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes: Needing a Change of Luck
On this week’s Weekend Writing Warriors, I’m continuing this week with a snippet from my newest release Hot as Blazes.
After some trouble in California, Jo Mercer’s pro surfing career has tanked. She has just arrived home at the oceanfront beach house where she grew up. Ray, her brother’s best friend, and her secret crush has returned from surfing and is racking his board. Last week we ended with: She poked the firefighter seal over his rock hard pectoral. “So what’s this?”
“I thought Bobby told you?” He smiled lazily, running a hand over his close-cropped hair. “Couldn’t play lifeguard forever.”
She might be if her luck didn’t change. Nobody had told her Ray became a firefighter. Guess he didn’t want to worry her after he made it back from Iraq. The same reason she didn’t tell him about her trouble in California. “Awesome, Cappy would have been so proud.”
At her father’s nickname, hurt flashed over his handsome face. He flipped her sunglasses to the top of her head. “I was beginning to think I’d never see you again.”
“Me too.” She avoided his gaze as tears welled.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s excerpt and will check out the many talented authors on the blog hop. Weekend Writhing Warriors.
Hot as Blazes is available at all major
e-book retailers.
Hope you enjoyed this snippet and will visit other amazing Weekend Writing Warriors posts for #8Sunday.
July 3, 2015
Independence Day: A Day to be Thankful
Happy Fourth of July! America’s Independence Day is a day to be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy living in the United States of America.
Freedom came with a price and we continue to pay every day. It’s easy take the benefits for granted and forget the reality of the cost. Had America not had so many willing to give their all for this country, there might not be an Independence Day to celebrate.
Between the fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers take a minute to reflect on the real meaning of the holiday. “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country.” John F. Kennedy
June 30, 2015
Romance Writers Weekly: If You Weren’t an Author
This week’s question for authors of 
Romance Writers Weekly: If you weren’t a writer, what other creative career would you most want to try. Hope you’ve already visited the talented, Betty Bolte.
I’ve loved taking pictures since I owned my first Kodak Instamatic as a kid. Once I started a part-time job, I bought my first SLR camera, a Pentax K1000. Perched on my boyfriend’s shoulders, I snapped some awesome pics of Van Halen before they became a mega rock band. They’re actually still doing concerts and have a 2015 tour starting in a few days.
OBX Winter SunsetThese days, I enjoy photographing nature, landscapes, and even sports shots. Hard to sneak a camera with a telephoto lens into a concert venue anymore.
However, my dream job would be to photograph for book covers and model shots like Michael Stokes. Heck, I’d even settle for doing the city’s firefighter calendar if they had one…
Let’s see what the lovely J.J. Devine dreams of doing.
June 28, 2015
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes: Dahlin’
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes: Dahlin’. I’m continuing this week with a snippet from my newest release Hot as Blazes.
Pro surfer, Jo Mercer, snuck back home to the Outer Banks of NC after a some trouble in California. Right of the bat, she runs into Ray,her brother’s best friend and her secret crush. Shocked to see him first thing, she doesn’t know how much her brother has revealed about her misfortune. Now on to this week’s excerpt in ten:
“Bobby didn’t mention you were coming home, Dahlin’.” His pale blue eyes held her captive and his southern twang brought her home faster than a jet from LAX.
.
The sexy sound of her pet name made her stutter, “Ahh, it was last minute.”
.
Well over six foot, her high school surfing buddy had grown into a man with a body rivaling most NFL tight ends. He squinted and cocked his head.
.
With her lifelong fantasy standing so close, coherent sentences failed her. She poked the firefighter seal over his rock hard pectoral. “So what’s this?”
.
“I thought Bobby told you?” he said before smiling lazily and running a hand over his close-cropped hair. “Couldn’t play lifeguard forever.”
Hot as Blazes is available at all major
e-book retailers.
Hope you enjoyed this snippet and will visit other amazing Weekend Writing Warriors posts for #8Sunday.
June 23, 2015
Romance Writers Weekly: My Biggest Inspiration
Hope you’ve already visited Jeanne McDonald on this week’s Romance Writer’s Weekly: My Biggest Inspiration. A.S. Fenichel wants two know who has been most inspirational in my writing life. It’s probably odd, but my biggest inspiration came from a movie character. Bazaar maybe, but it’s true.
As teen, I loved to write, but the red pen stole my joy. No cultivation for story, my teachers’ only mission was to hammer home grammar and punctuation. No wonder students hate writing. After school, life happened and work, marriage, bills, and my son. Before I took up writing again, I’d lost a close friend to suicide. Looking back, I honestly believe I was searching for an outlet to channel my feelings.
At any rate, I was struck by the Maximus character in the movie Gladiator. From there I researched Roman history and culture and wrote a 100k plus novel titled Will of the Gods. Even though the writing sucks, I still love the story and boy did I “pants” some twists and turns in that baby.
Since then, I started writing contemporary and paranormal romances that reflect my love of the beach and are usually set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, or closer to home in Virginia Beach. In my first full length novel release, Hot as Blazes, I acknowledge my first beta reader, Karen V who is my second inspiration. An avid reader of all genres, she encouraged me keep writing. Thanks to her belief, I persevered. I found the guts to join a writing group and with their great support, I had my novella, White Doe, published by New Dawning.
My newest release, Hot as Blazes, is published by Lyrical (Kensington) and I recently signed another contract with Lyrical for two short novels in my Seaside Heat series. The first novel, Sand and Sin is about a Navy SEAL and will release in December.
A movie changed my life. What has changed yours? Now let’s see who’s A.S. Fenichel‘s inspirations as she’s next on the hop
June 21, 2015
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes: Straight Whiskey
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes: Straight Whiskey. I’m continuing this week with a snippet from my newest release Hot as Blazes.
Pro surfer, Jo Mercer, has just arrived home to the Outer Banks after a some trouble in California. She’s just seen the owner of the Hummer parked in the driveway racking his surfboard and he’s wearing a Firefighter Tee. Now on to this week’s excerpt in nine:
Behind a pair of wraparound shades, he eyed her. “Bobby’s gone for the weekend.”
Her dad had been a captain for Nags Head. “Yeah, I know. How were the waves?”
His smile seemed familiar. He whipped off his shades and closed the distance. “Jo!”
Kiss“Ray?” She nearly toppled from her platform flip-flops as huge biceps wrapped her in a bear hug that left her toes dangling. His touch shot through her veins like straight whiskey.
Hot as Blazes is available at all major
e-book retailers.
Hope you enjoyed this snippet and will visit other amazing Weekend Writing Warriors posts for #8Sunday.
June 14, 2015
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes in a firefighter tee
Weekend Writing Warriors – Hot as Blazes in a firefighter tee. I’m continuing this week with a snippet from my steamy contemporary, Hot as Blazes which released last week. For anyone who had been following the K9 story, I will return to it, but after losing our lab last weekend the pain is still too fresh.
We pick up where, pro surfer, Jo Mercer, has just returned home to the Outer Banks after a some trouble in California. Here’s last week’s if you want to catch up: Home Sweet Home. Now on to this week’s excerpt in ten:
By the dunes sat a black H1 Hummer, chrome surf rack glittering in the afternoon sun. It displayed a firefighter license plate. Probably one of Bobby’s friends. She climbed the steps to the house, unlocked the side door, and stepped inside.
The fragrant cedar aroma drew her into a familiar bare bones décor consisting of a big screen TV, over-sized recliner, and sofa with a couple of end tables. She skimmed her fingers along the worn flagstone fireplace mantle before reaching her father’s flag. So hard to believe he was gone.
Outside, the shower door slammed. Jo secured her sunglasses and headed down the deck stairs. Broad back muscles stretched the Nags Head fire department logo on the man’s shirt as he racked his surfboard.
Hot as Blazes is available at all major
e-book retailers.
Hope you enjoyed this snippet and will visit other amazing Weekend Writing Warriors posts for #8Sunday.
June 11, 2015
Ode to Tucker – our little “Boo”
Ode to Tucker, our little “Boo.”
Life is tough these days as we lost a member of our family last weekend.
The worn corner of the comforter where you slept nearly brings me to tears every time I go in the bedroom. It’s hard to eat dinner now as all of us miss you with your soft muzzle gently accepting handouts. For six years your candle burned bright. You loved each of us unconditionally and in your own special way, like no dog we’d had before.
You reigned over your backyard daring the squirrels to trespass on your kingdom, but giving the birds a free pass, even the Mocking Bird who made a game of dive bombing you. The conch shells you enjoyed gnawing on lay scattered at the edge of the pool deck where you left them. Along with the flowers, your favorite sticks from the wood pile decorate your grave.
Time will merely dull the cavernous heartache and we’ll feel guilty for moving on as life requires, but will we will always love you with all of our hearts, our sweet and loving Tucker, aka “Boo.”
June 9, 2015
Hot as Blazes: a steamy firefighter romance
Hot as Blazes, my first release with Lyrical is out today! I’m so excited about this steamy contemporary romance about Jo Mercer who returns home to the Outer Banks after her life has taken an unexpected turn.
To celebrate, I’m giving away a couple of (US) e-book copies of Hot as Blazes on the Kensington Sizzle Summer Releases Facebook event. The party starts at 7:00 pm and goes until 10:00 pm. Join me and other romance authors, Kimberly Kincaid, Jenna Jaxon, Annabeth Albert, Gail Chianese, and Sara Walter Ellwood.
Here’s a snippet from chapter one:
The dated Shaker-shingle beach house brought Jo Mercer to tears. She’d doubted ever seeing it again. After parking, she wiped her eyes and patted the dash of her dad’s classic Bronco her brother, Bobby, had left at the airport for her.
As she stepped out of the truck, a warm Outer Banks sea breeze kissed her cheeks. Dune grasses waved in welcome. Home. The only sweeter thing would have been a husky Dahlin’ from Bobby’s best friend, Ray. Unfortunately, her stealth homecoming prevented opportunity. Ray was the last one she wanted to know her big California surfing dream had ended like a movie of the week crime drama.
By the dunes sat a black H1 Hummer, chrome surf rack glittering in the afternoon sun. It displayed a firefighter license plate. Probably one of Bobby’s friends. She climbed the steps to the house, unlocked the side door, and stepped inside.
The fragrant cedar aroma drew her into a familiar bare bones décor consisting of a big screen TV, over-sized recliner, and sofa with a couple of end tables. She skimmed her fingers along the worn flagstone fireplace mantle before reaching her father’s flag. So hard to believe he was gone.
Outside, the shower door slammed. Jo secured her sunglasses and headed down the deck stairs.
Broad back muscles stretched the Nags Head fire department logo on the man’s shirt as he racked his surfboard. Behind a pair of wraparound shades, he eyed her. “Bobby’s gone for the weekend.”
Her dad had been a captain for Nags Head. “Yeah, I know. How were the waves?”
His smile seemed familiar. He whipped off his shades and closed the distance. “Jo!”
“Ray?” She nearly toppled from her platform flip-flops as huge biceps wrapped her in a bear hug that left her toes dangling. His touch shot through her veins like straight whiskey.
“Bobby didn’t mention you were coming home, Dahlin’.” His pale blue eyes held her captive and his southern twang brought her home faster than a jet from LAX.
The sexy sound of her pet name made her stutter. “Ahh, it was last minute.”
Well over six foot, her high school surfing buddy had grown into a man with a body rivaling most NFL tight ends. He squinted and cocked his head.
With her lifelong fantasy standing so close, coherent sentences failed her. She poked the firefighter seal over his rock hard pectoral. “So what’s this?”
Hope you enjoyed the excerpt. Hot as Blazes is available at all major e-book retailers. Feel the heat at: Amazon B&N All Romance
