UPDATE: The winner is…Courtney Kinder!
*~*~*

Did I mention that our pool was deemed swimmable on Monday? Yup. You know who has been taking advantage of it twice a day since! The summer’s already half over, so I have to slip into the water as many times and for as long as I can stand it (until my fingers prune) to make up for all the lost time. I already feel better—happier, healthier, stronger. I’m a Cancer, a water-baby, and summer isn’t summer until I’m in the pool.

Today’s the 4th! Happy Independence Day to everyone in the U.S.! We don’t have any big plans here on the farm. We don’t do fireworks other than sparklers and the like because we can’t freak out the animals. When we had a very excitable horse, she’d careen around the fields as though the world were ending when the explosions occurred. Our remaining horse is more placid (she’s 39), but we don’t want to stress her, the goats, or the chickens—to say nothing of the rest of the wildlife that lives in our backyard. If the kids are dying to see fireworks, they’ll head to the reservoir to see the big fireworks show. The 10-year-old would likely stay behind because she doesn’t like big bangs. I remember having to miss the displays when she was younger, so we could sit inside and watch a Barbie movie turned up loud to soothe her. Back in those days, before my dd’s family moved to the farm, they had some big-deal fireworks they’d set off in the yard.

What am I doing for the day? Duh. I’m working. I have a book to write and other books to edit. My job is seven days a week. No wussy 40-hours for me. I’ll break for meals and swims, but the rest of the time I’ll be parked in front of my PC. *sigh*

So, I have a puzzle for you. It’s a sliding picture one. The last time I did one of these, half the people loved it and half were frustrated. I was frustrated because I could never complete it. I think you have to possess the Rubik’s Cube gene to strategize how to get to the end.

So, solve the puzzle, or at least give it a try! Then tell me whether you like fireworks, set your own off in the yard for fun, or love the big fireworks extravaganzas for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Preston!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah! Thank you for inviting me to join you and your readers today.  I’m super excited to share my new release with you, Husky Love.  This is the fourth book in the multi-author series, Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue set in the fictional town of Gaynor Beach, California.

I was part of the original series, The Single Dads of Gaynor Beach, with three books (because I love single dads?).  I loved writing Hugh, Anthony, and Xavier.  All three were interracial gay romances with varying degrees of angst.  I mean, a single dad’s usually got a story behind that.  Anyway, I loved writing those books, and I also loved being in a community of writers with true depth and range.  We all came from different backgrounds and even different parts of the world.  We all wanted to do something great. I think we did, and the 17-book series is now complete. Just over a year ago, someone asked about a rescue shelter in our fictional town.  Our group chat blew up and within a day, Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue was born.

I wanted to write the first book really badly and had an idea ready to go. Love Furever came out in March and readers have really loved the book.  Plus, putting a cute guy holding a bulldog puppy in his arms on the cover proved a good idea as well.  In the writing of that book, I had a scene where two secondary characters met, and I went…OMG—these two need a book!  I didn’t have any notion of how or when I would write the book…I just knew I had to.  Fast forward several months and a slot opened up in the series.  I leaped at the chance to bring Rob and Danny’s story to life.  Danny is the younger brother of James (cover guy) from Love Furever.  I had an image of Rob in my mind, but finding the right photo was tough.  In the end, I found the husky hugging the guy.  From there, all the pieces, including the double entendre, all came together.

I had a book.  I lovingly sent it to my beta reader, my editor, and my proofreader.  Finally, several weeks ago, I sent it to reviewers.  All through the process, I’ve worried whether readers would enjoy the book.  Also…this is an animal rescue book…what are the kids doing there?  Turns out I needed the kids to tell the single dad story as well as that gorgeous husky named Trouble.  And you really have to read the book to find out the evolution of Trouble’s name.  Well, my book’s out in the world.  I’ll sit back and desperately hope readers enjoy it as much as I loved writing it.  This wasn’t an easy story—Rob’s a survivor of domestic violence. This is a book about resiliency and finding another chance at love.  It’s a slow burn with moments of humor and moments of dark contemplation.  And, of course, a happy ending.  Oh, and Zeus. Must mention Zeus.

Thank you for hosting me today! I’d love to give out a $5 Amazon gift card to a random commenter.  So far, Friends of Gaynor Beach animal rescue have a couple of dogs, an amazingly talented cat who does tricks, and an iguana.  Is there an animal you would love to see rescued?  Let me know.  If inspiration hits, I might just write that book!

Husky Love

Danny

I may be young, but I’ve done a hell of a lot of growing up in the past year. I watched my big brother deal with the challenges of loving someone, went through some medical stuff myself, and changed my career plans and ultimately, my city. Gaynor Beach is smaller than where I was, but it has two attractions—my brother’s big new house, where he’s letting me live for now, and Rob Dunn. When I met Rob, just, damn. Like my brother, I wanted to help that sweet, stubborn guy and his cute kids get back on their feet. Maybe the rescue husky wasn’t the right gesture, despite Rob’s connection to her, but a dog is love on four paws, and I plan to be there to help all the way.

Rob

I fled my abusive husband with my two kids and the clothes on our backs. I’m grateful every day for the support the Gaynor Beach folks have given us…okay, I’m not sure I’m precisely grateful for the rambunctious young husky Danny Reynolds gave us, but Trouble makes my kids smile, and that’s a big win in my eyes. I’m determined to get back on my feet. I hate relying on other people to help us, but somehow it doesn’t bother me as much when it comes from Danny. It’s nice to have a real friend after all those isolated years, but do I want to keep him in the friend zone?

This slow-burn small-town gay romance novel is about fresh starts, accepting help, two sweet kids, and an adorable husky named Trouble.

Links:
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/Husky-Love-Friend-Gaynor-Animal-ebook/dp/B0CT5SGK5S
Universal Book Link:  https://books2read.com/Husky
KOBO:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/husky-love
Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/husky-love/id6504550093
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/husky-love-gabbi-grey/1145838658
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1579491
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206097250-husky-love

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up:  https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile:  https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/gabbigreyauthor/
Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009821772591

This month will be a firehose of books coming at you! Yay!

The first two are re-releases of stories in a series of three, and I’m writing the fourth and final book, which comes your way in September. The books are hot—like smutty, erotic hot. If you’re into that, you don’t want to miss them. And who doesn’t like hot firefighters?!

Pre-order your copy!

Pre-order your copy!

Next up, is the first book in the new Montana Bounty Hunters: West Yellowstone series! Cyrus is sexy if a bit, reserved (grumpy). The woman who sets her cap for him will find coaxing him into better humor, and into her bed, quite a challenge.

Pre-order your copy!

Finally, Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology will close out the month! I hope you’ll follow along as we introduce you to the authors who’ve contributed their wonderful stories to this volume! We’re running contests on the Collections website that you won’t want to miss!

Preorder your copy!

Open Contests

1. Getting to know Cameron Allie! (CONTEST + 2 FREE Reads!) — 10 Winners! FREE reads for all!
2. We’re gearing up for the release of Secret Identities! — Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Meet me on the bridge… — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway (Contest) — Win a signed book + some hand-painted goodies!
5. It’s my birthday, but I’m giving away the gift! — Everyone, get your FREE copy. This offer ends soon!
6. What’s Coming Soon & the Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Orange you glad you stopped by? — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. June into July (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

Are you ready? Hmmm. This sounds like the opening to an Ole Miss football game. (If you know, you know.) Let’s try this again.

Are you ready for something different?

Like many writers, I began writing because I could not find stories I wanted to read. That doesn’t mean they didn’t exist. It means they didn’t exist where I was searching. Regardless of the reason why, I didn’t have the desired reading material which prompted me to create my own. Turns out, writing is also therapeutic. It positively filled the downtime on the bayou. But even with wonderful books to get lost in, sometimes, I got a hankering for something different.

Romance books are a lot predictable, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s satisfaction in knowing that a HEA or HFN awaits. The true joy is the journey there, and every book takes a different route to the destination. That is why the romance genre has stuck around for so long. That being said, some voyages are similar. Well, if you’re a reader wanting a palate cleanser, hang onto your bootstraps. I have the story for you in Demon Rodeo.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. “What kind of name is Demon Rodeo for a romance? It sounds more like…” If you completed that sentence with “something from a Louisiana bayou,” you’d be correct. But let me tell you about it and what makes it different.

1. Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle If you don’t like reading series, that’s okay, because Demon Rodeo can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers, I promise.
2. It’s a mashup of several subgenres that aren’t typically seen together. I explain it as if Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild. It is a contemporary MM paranormal spicy, friends-to-lovers sports romance.
3. The story is about modern-day bull riders, but these cowboys aren’t on a ranch or a farm. This isn’t a “western.” These are Louisiana Cajun and Creole cowboys who are competing for a national championship. Their stories take place outside of the arena as much as inside of it.
4. The characters are diverse and inclusive. Readers will definitely get a taste of the Cajun and Creole cultures as well as others.
5. It has a heat level of volcanic. It’s not for the kiddies. This is an adult guilty pleasure. The main characters have sizzling chemistry. Yet, the plot doesn’t get lost in the steam and isn’t “smut” or erotica.
6. It also isn’t horror that isn’t going to keep readers awake at night. However, if readers like a little bit of spook that will bring them to the edge of their seats, they can check that box. Think about the stories of the peculiarity and eccentricity that is rumored to occur in New Orleans.
7. The story is fast-paced. For most readers, it feels like a quick read.
8. Demon Rodeo supports healthy, nontoxic relationships between consenting adults.
9. Not everything is predictable. As in life, sometimes things just occur, and they don’t always make sense. Adjustments must be made. Life is about swiveling and pivoting. So is this story.
10. A romance is at the center of the story. Is there angst? Yes. Is there humor? For sure. Is there drama? Most definitely. Will it keep readers on their toes? That’s the intention. But in the end, it’s all about love and friendship.

So, why did I decide to write this post? It’s reveal day! I’m happy finally to be able to share the Demon Rodeo book cover. Be sure to follow me on my social media platforms because I have lots of giveaways and goodies coming soon.

Preorder
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

So, that’s it. What did you think? What is your take on the subject of creative freedom? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

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Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

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Locker Room Love Series

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, a blogger and contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.