First, big thanks to Delilah Devlin for hosting my visit today! I love being able to chat with readers—some who know my work well and some who haven’t read my books yet. Hello to you all!

I’m Heather Slade, author of shamelessly sexy, edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense.

What seems like eons ago, I gave myself the gift of writing a book for my birthday. It was a milestone celebration (shh, I turned fifty). This came after years spent in the publishing industry editing other authors’ manuscripts.

On the plane ride back to Colorado, after a trip “home” to a village in Western New York called East Aurora, I decided I had a story to tell. My husband, amazing guy that he is, said, “Go for it, honey,” when I told him my plan. Six weeks later, my first book was finished. Now, I’m working on number sixty-three.

The joy for me is in the storytelling. I love it when characters lead me in directions I never thought they’d go, or when my brain conjures a plot twist when I least expect it.

That was true with Code Name: Puck, a book that releases TODAY! If you read my reviews, I’m known for neck-snapping twists and turns and boy did Puck and Seshat deliver! You can read more about their story in the blurb below.

Another thing I’m known for is characters from past books showing up in current releases. Everything for me began in a place called Butler Ranch, which is now responsible for nine spin-off series. Beloved characters from my very first books still make guest appearances in my current titles.

For a chance to win a digital copy of the Butler Ranch Boxed Set (all five books), tell me what tropes you love best. For me, enemies to lovers and friends to lovers are my favs. What are yours?

And, thanks again to Delilah for having me. Happy reading, everyone!

About Code Name: Puck

A tortured man.

A redemptive man.

Puck is desperate and driven—

a man to be watched.

As an MI5 agent assigned to the UK’s task force of the United Nations Coalition Against Human Trafficking, I’ve walked a fine line between right and wrong—always making sure to do what’s necessary for the greater good. Kidnapping my commander for help is no exception. I do what needs to be done.

But when I discover that the woman who captured my heart is still alive and in danger, I need all the help I can recruit to save my beloved Seshat. With the full-force of the coalition and SIS searching for her, we have to be stealthy and quick. Time is of the essence. Seshat’s secrets and past are riddled with enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy her and her future happiness.

And now that I know the truth about everything, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Can I save the only woman who matters before it’s too late?

Code Name: Puck buy links:
Kindle: https://oashort.com/s/to_puck_a
Buy direct sexy paperback: https://oashort.com/s/to_puck_pb_bd 
Buy direct object paperback: https://oashort.com/s/to_puck_pb_o_bd
Buy direct discreet paperback: https://oashort.com/s/to_puck_pb_d_bd
Amazon paperback: https://oashort.com/s/to_puck_pb_a

About Heather Slade

USA Today and Amazon Top 15 Bestselling Author Heather Slade writes shamelessly sexy, edge-of-your seat romantic suspense. She gave herself the gift of writing a book for her own birthday one year. Sixty-plus books later (and counting), she’s having the time of her life. The women Slade writes are self-confident, strong, with wills of their own, and hearts as big as the Colorado sky. The men are sublimely sexy, seductive alphas who rise to the challenge of capturing the sweet soul of a woman whose heart they’ll hold in the palm of their hand forever. Add in a couple of neck-snapping twists and turns, a page-turning mystery, and a swoon-worthy HEA, and you’ll be holding one of her books in your hands.

Visit Heather at:
Website: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_web
Newsletter: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_news
Facebook: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_fb
Facebook Reader Group: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_HEA
Instagram: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_ig
TikTok: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_tt
X: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_x
Goodreads: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_gr
BookBub: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_bb
Amazon: https://oashort.com/s/to_hs_a
Email: heather @ heatherslade dot com

When my first book was released back in October of 2004, the big debate among those in the romance publishing community was whether an e-book could be considered a real book and if the people who wrote them were real writers. It seems absurd now, but e-books were relatively new and exclusively sold on the websites of those companies that published them. That’s right, Amazon wasn’t selling them back in those days, and the traditional publishers were skeptical.

The e-book business allowed some incredibly talented authors to get a foothold in an industry where it wasn’t easy to break in. These online publishers eagerly sought out new talent, willing to take a chance on an unknown writer. And the gamble paid off as sales skyrocketed. E-books were less constrained by traditional subject matter and expanded the romance genre as a whole.

Then, a funny thing happened. Traditional publishers took note, and they not only began to publish e-books but also signed many of the same writers they’d previously snubbed.

There have been tremendous ups and downs over the past twenty years. Amazon changed everything—on one hand, making books more widely available, while on the other, lowering the amount of money authors and e-book publishers made for each sale. The industry floundered. Some companies went under; others rose. Some authors vanished while others flourished. I’ve been fortunate enough to hold my ground, thanks to my amazing readers.

Then came the rise of self-publishing, giving those technically inclined authors another outlet for their work. I admire any author who takes this route and can make it work. I admit that’s beyond me. I’m seriously technically impaired—you have no idea how much—and I’m also horrible at promotion. I’m an incredibly private introvert in a world that is constantly demanding you put more of yourself out there.

When it comes to books, I’ve always been of the mind that it doesn’t matter whether you enjoy hardcovers, softcovers, e-books, or audiobooks, whether they’re published by a company or by the author. All that matters is that you enjoy the book the author has put their blood, sweat, and tears into creating.

I’m a dinosaur in this ever-changing industry. I do my best to keep up while slowly falling behind, but I’m still here, writing the books I love, grateful to the people who read them.

However you enjoy your books, don’t ever stop reading (or listening). I know, I won’t.

If you haven’t checked out my Lone Wolf Legacy series, the first two books in the trilogy are available.

Protecting the Gray Wolf
Lone Wolf Legacy, Book 2

If they want his immortality—they’ll have to take it…

I’m used to other wolves coming for me. They want their chance to try and take out the infamous Gray Wolf. And every single one of them fails—because lone wolves aren’t like the others…we’re stronger. Harder. Meaner. Immortal.

But it also means I’m alone. No pack. No alpha. Just the three of us—white, gray, and black. Two too many, if you ask me.

But with power-hungry mages gunning for us, I don’t have the luxury of reflection. They’re in New York City, and I Will. Hunt. Them. Down.

Which is when I see her, and every cell in my body is on alert, filled with the kind of primal longing I never knew I was capable of. Luna West may be human, but there’s some kind of thread connecting us. Call it destiny, fate…or voracious animal hunger.

I know she’s bait. She’s meant to tempt me, to make me weak. But even if I could resist her, I’m not sure I want to.

Because I’ve never denied my wolf anything…especially the chance to raise some serious hell.

And I’m not about to start now.

Author Note: This book is told in third person point of view, even though the blurb is in first person.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSXC8HTG/
Entangled Publishing: https://www.entangledpublishing.com/books/protecting-the-gray-wolf
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/protecting-the-gray-wolf-n-j-walters/1144686015
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/protecting-the-gray-wolf
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/protecting-the-gray-wolf/id6476511670

About the Author

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit her at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

My book is out now! I hope you love it! Don’t take my word for whether you will enjoy it or not. Here’s what readers are saying!

“This book has suspense, danger, intrigue and wonderful characters.”

“Excellence…expect a mystic story with history, mystery and lots of surprises.”

“Action, suspense, humor, and love. It’s a great read.”

“This is a well written story with great characters. This is one you will need to take your time with, or you will miss things. This one is action packed.”

“Suspense, romance, ancient digs, danger and a HEA.”

Tyson’s Mission

A former Navy SEAL is tapped to provide security for a team of archeologists working to uncover Mayan ruins deep in a Mexican jungle that a local drug cartel is targeting.

After surviving a catastrophic helicopter accident, former Navy SEAL Tyson Quigley is taking well to his new life with the Brotherhood Protectors in the Yellowstone, Montana, office. Life’s looking up. He’s working with old teammates and feeling stronger and more himself every day.

Then he gets a call from his university professor brother, who is worried about a colleague working on an archeological dig in southern Mexico. The team has had problems with thefts of equipment and supplies. Now, one of the dig team members has been kidnapped and held for ransom, but they quickly figure out the finger they were sent in the package demanding payment is from an already dead person. Now, they have no idea whether their team member is alive or dead and worry that the attacks on the site aren’t over. After a quick conference with his Brotherhood Protector teammates, Ty heads down to Mexico to pose as his brother’s friend’s boyfriend to provide her protection for the remainder of the dig.

Cara Woodward doesn’t need a babysitter. Sure, things have gotten scary since a team member was abducted, but she thinks having a bodyguard is overkill. Their sponsors are pulling the plug on the excavation due to the kidnapping, so they’re working furiously to close the site for the season. Tyson’s everywhere she is, and it’s getting on her nerves. His looming presence is distracting, to say the least. He’s too handsome, too intense.

As the dig team continues documenting their work before they pack up and leave, they suffer a series of attacks—this time, too close to Cara for Ty’s comfort. He’s locking her down, with no daylight between them for the duration.

Get your copy now!
Available in print!
FREE in KU!

Do you like young adult books with drama and elements of romantic comedy? Do you like pop star romances with a Cinderella trope? Then check out my YA contemporary novel, Can Dreams Come True, that’s free through April 24th on Amazon.

Can Dreams Come True

Cecily has always had a huge crush on singer Andrew Holiday and she wants to be an actress, so she tags along when her friend auditions for his new video. However, the director isn’t looking for an actress, but rather the girl next door—and so is Andrew. Cecily gets a part in the video and all of Andrew’s attention on the set. Her friend begins to see red and Cecily’s boyfriend is seeing green—as in major jealousy. A misunderstanding leaves Cecily and her boyfriend on the outs and Andrew hopes to pick up the pieces as he’s looking for someone more stable in his life than the models he’s dated. Soon Cecily begins to realize Andrew understands her more than her small-town boyfriend—but can her perfect love match really be her favorite rock star?

Excerpt:

Andrew sat back and nodded. “Well, the music video director just got the song, you know? He understood what I was looking for—a relationship where two people understand each other on a spiritual level. You know, where their souls connect. Make sense?” 

“Yeah, is that what you have with your girlfriend?” I asked hoping it didn’t look like I as phishing for info on who he was dating. 

He shook his head. “Nah, I’ve never had anything like that before. But it’s the ultimate idea though, you know? How about you?”

“No, never,” I said and then I felt guilt wash over me. “I mean, I’ve had deep connections with people—just not what you’re talking about or what Dimitri said—the whole deep mystical thing.” 

Andrew stared at me and I felt like he was looking into my soul. “Sometimes it feels like it’s impossible to get that connection with anybody. Or you think you’re halfway there and they say they get you, but then something happens and you know they weren’t as deep into it as you were—or at least as deep as you were hoping. That’s the inspiration for next song I’m working on. It’s about when you want to believe so badly that you have a soul connection, then something happens and you realize it was just another superficial relationship. That’s the title: Just Another Superficial Relationship.” 

“Wow, I can’t wait to hear it.” 

“I can sing you the chorus if you want,” he said. 

Holding my breath, I tried to be cool and not squeal with delight that my favorite singer was about to not only sing for me, but let me hear an unreleased song. This was like a dream come true and it made me question if I hadn’t indeed fallen into the water and hit my head on some rocks, and was now either dreaming this in a coma somewhere or this was my own personal version of heaven. I felt guilty for inwardly gushing over Andrew when I had a boyfriend. But this wasn’t about me being interested in going out with Andrew. It would never happen anyway. This was just me meeting my crush who happened to be a singer, who I felt understood my feelings more than anyone else. 

Andrew sang the chorus and a warmth washed over me. The song was perfect—the yearning, the longing—I had experienced all of it myself. It was like he had taken all my innermost thoughts and somehow put them into words. 

“Amazing,” I said. My whole body was warm as my mind raced. Was I actually sitting here with him and having him trust me enough to share a new song? This was beyond anything I had dreamt of happening today.

*~*~*

What people are saying about Can Dreams Come True:

​​“Can Dreams Really Come True?” is a wonderful novel for those who love cute, adorable romances. With elements of romantic comedy and teen drama, it’s a well-balanced story that will leave listeners feeling good throughout!” -InD’tale Magazine

“Heart Warming, Fun, Sweet Contemporary Romance! Perfectly Suitable for YA Readers!” -Dash Fan Book Reviews

Get it here for FREE today:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Can-Dreams-Come-True-Cecily-ebook/dp/B09VYS5G3S
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Can-Dreams-Come-True-Cecily-ebook/dp/B09VYS5G3S
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Can-Dreams-Come-True-Cecily-ebook/dp/B09VYS5G3S/
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/Can-Dreams-Come-True-Cecily-ebook/dp/B09VYS5G3S

Find me here:
Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/

Here’s just a quick reminder! Sometime after midnight tonight,
Tyson’s Mission will be available for you to download!

Pre-order now!

Last week…

• I finished two editing jobs for other authors.
• I found the art work for a series I’m republishing.
• I continued reading stories for the Secret Identities anthology.
• I worked on art for #The100DayProject.
• I sat at the art center to keep the doors open to the public for a kids’ art show.
• I’m still recovering very slowly from an injury to my knee. At first, I got around with a limp, then I used a knee brace, now I’m on a cane. It’s getting better now, but slowly!

This next week…

• I will work on three editing projects for other authors, finishing two!
• I will finish reading the rest of the stories for my next anthology, Secret Identities.
• I will begin editing one of five stories I previously published, so I can republish it soon.
• I will continue creating small art daily for #The100DayProject.

I can’t wait to get through this coming week because I’m going to take it easy for a couple of days—until the end of the month, when I have to burn a fire under my ass to write another book. 🙂

Open Contests

1. The End! (Of TYSON’S MISSION, that is) (Contest + Excerpt) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Sliding Puzzle: Mayan City (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. The Montana Bounty Hunters are opening a new office in West Yellowstone! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Will you enter? (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Tell me a story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Flashback: Animal (Contest — Three Winners!) — Win a FREE book!
7. Word Search: Another cloudy day… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Puzzle-Contest: Happy Eat Cake Day! — Win an Amazon gift card!
9. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Tell me a story… — Win an Amazon gift card!

It’s Saturday, which means it’s puzzle time! I hope you enjoy the challenge.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me a little story about what you see. The story doesn’t have to be long or even good. Just have some fun!