The winner of the free download is commenter #21 — Linda!

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I haven’t had space in my calendar for a while to do a “flashback” day, but a guest dropped at the last-minute.  This story was originally part of the Fated Mates anthology that Ellora’s Cave published back in 2005. In 2010, the story was finally separated and offered as its own novella with this lovely cover. It’s a very traditional trope—an arranged marriage between kingdoms, a sister substituted at the last-minute. What made it fun for me, was imagining this all taking place on another magical world. The perfect blend of history, sci-fi, and fantasy.

Post a comment today, and you’ll be in the running to win a free copy of the book!

“…In Delilah Devlin’s WARLORD’S DESTINY, a strong man is brought to his knees by an equally strong woman. Interesting, attractive personalities make this read especially powerful.” ~ Nominee for Best Paranormal Erotic Novel of 2005, TOP PICK! 4 1/2 Stars, Page Traynor, RT BOOKreviews

“Watching these two grow is both amusing and touching… I found Warlord’s Destiny to be a very well-written novel, and ultimately a very entertaining story to read.” ~ Book Review Network

Promised in marriage for a decade, Mora has no illusions she is anything other than the sacrificial lamb to ensure peace between her peace-loving planet and the warlike world that demands her union with one of their own. No great beauty, she resigns herself to a loveless marriage with a man who will only do his duty by her. However, when she meets the rugged warlord who will be her husband, Mora feels an immediate stirring of lust. She decides in that moment to win his heart—she’ll settle for nothing less!

Lord Tetrik finds his bride more than the scrawny handful he had expected. She has hips to breed him strong, sturdy sons, and intelligence that is a gift worth more than a pretty face. When he suspects his wife harbors tender feelings for him, he wonders if he can be the husband she desires. After all, love for a woman is a frivolous thing—and not a Warlord’s Destiny.

So, that’s what Kronaki warriors look like!

Every story ever whispered about the fearsome warriors came rushing back to set Mora’s body trembling. How they fought like ravaging beasts, cutting bloody swaths through Graktilian mercenaries during the war. How they lived in rough stone fortresses made of blocks carved from their frozen mountains. How they fostered their children to rival clans so they would be raised without gentleness.

How they fucked with such fury their women’s screams echoed throughout their valleys.

Mora felt a tremor rumble beneath the polished, marble floor of the great hall, so explosive was the swell of conversation that arose at the warriors’ arrival.

They were seven, dressed in furs and leather, armed with bows slung across their shoulders and scabbards at their sides.

She couldn’t drag her gaze from the man at the head of their formation, striding toward her—her husband in name, if not yet by deed. Although she had never seen him before this day, she knew it must be him, for he looked the fiercest, the strongest—only one such as he would be chosen to rule from amongst their ranks.

He was from a race of barbarians, seemingly as proud of their reputation for brutal warfare as their orgiastic sexuality. The latter Mora could well believe for the man stalking her now looked every inch a sensual marauder. Read the rest of this entry »

Winners Announced!

Following are the names of the winners of the Review-Happy Contest! Congratulations, all!! Please email your snail mail addresses to: delilah@delilahdevlin.com!

Cowboy Lust
Betty Hamilton
Fedora
Marika
Melissa Porter
Sharon Chalk

She Shifters
Christine Houser
Crystal Trent Dawson
Gayle Latreille
Karen
Kathleen

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The Merry Christmas to You Contest!

So many of us on Christmas day are happy with our gifts, but sooooo over wrapping paper and tinsel. How would you like one last little surprise when you find that moment of peace to check out what’s happening on the Internet?

What can you win? On Christmas Day, I’ll give away an Amazon.com gift certificate worth $25.00.

What do you have to do to win? Simple. Comment on my blog. On any posting, between now and Christmas Eve. I’ll choose one winner at random from among all the comments. Good luck!

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To get the conversation rolling, tell me what plans you have for the holidays!
Are you traveling, having company?
Are you going to have a quiet, snug celebration at home?

Now, you know I had fun with this title: A Four-Gone Conclusion. I’ll admit I like titles that are a little tongue-in-cheek. But this one’s to the point as well. There are four brothers involved with one woman. And you know exactly what the lady’s gonna decide, right? It’s fantasy, after all. One of my favorites as it turns out. A woman kidnapped by four sexy brothers. Their proximity “forced.” But I like my girls feisty. They tend to give as well as they get. Read the excerpt. You’ll see. 🙂

And if you enter a comment today, you’ll be entered to win a free download—reader’s choice from among all my Lone Star Lovers stories!

“A FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION is a prime example on how a novella should be written; fast and fun, touching characters that pull you in and a story that is completely fulfilling.” ~4.5 Cherries, Long and Short Reviews

One devilish night…or a chance at heaven?

Sam Logan’s foster sons have a bad rep in Two Mule, Texas. Most of it earned. When it becomes clear they don’t plan on giving up scootin’ after ever pretty pair of boots in town anytime soon, he issues the one thing he knows they can’t resist: a challenge. Find a wife.

The oldest, Johnny, is actually grateful. He’s had his eye on Mean Ellie Harker for a long time, and Sam’s challenge is the kick in the pants he needed to ask her out. Except before he can make his move, his brothers kidnap her right out from under his nose. Now, instead of being one question away from victory, he has to compete for the woman of his dreams.

Ellie thought she’d be a dried up old spinster before Johnny finally untangled his tongue long enough to ask for a date. But instead of teaching him better uses for that tongue, his brothers have whisked her away to the ranch. At first she’s furious…then intrigued when she starts to wonder what it might be like…

Warning: Four handsome cowboys. Four choices. Would it be a single sordid night or a chance at heaven as she savors every luscious inch of the Logan brothers?

Ellie drowned in that kiss, pulled under by the ebb and flow of his firm lips.

Already breathless with excitement over her unusual predicament, the way he’d waded into the room, taking command of the situation, and of her, melted her resolve.

What woman could resist? Seriously?

Four handsome men hell-bent on having her? Ellie Harker? If this were a romance novel, like the naughty ones she preferred, the heroine’s resolve would wilt beneath their strong wills right about now.

Why did she think she had to fight? How could she now? His lips circled on hers, tugging at her mouth, pausing to bite her lower lip until she gasped and opened. Then he was inside her, stroking deep. Every bit as determined as the hard edge of his jaw had appeared as he’d strode toward her.

Why not surrender?

The thought seeped into her mind, eroding the walls she’d erected around herself when she’d thought they only toyed with her, flirted with her like they would any other woman, not meaning it.

When his tongue stroked hers, teasing her in a sensual play no one else could see, she was sorely tempted to give way.

But then where would she be? A single sordid night with the Logan boys? A soiled reputation with little hope of finding a decent man willing to overlook the stain? She clamped her teeth around his tongue and bit, then opened her eyes.

He grunted. His eyes slammed open.

“She just bite him?” one of the twins said then laughed.

Johnny’s hands clamped on her shoulders, giving her a firm but gentle squeeze of warning.

She opened her jaws and let him retreat.

A kiss pressed against the side of her cheek. Killian tipped her chin his way and gave her a wink. “She’s just reminding us she’s got choices even if she is tied to a chair, aren’t you, sweetheart?” Read the rest of this entry »

I’m on the downhill slide toward THE END with the sequel to Shattered Souls. So, I don’t have time this morning to write a long love note. I’ll keep this simple. 🙂

The last winner of The Random Act of Winning Contest is…shauntih! Shauntih, to get your prize of a $5 gift certificate from Amazon.com, you have to email me. Congrats, and I hope to hear from you soon!

The winner of yesterday’s contest gets a free download of either Fournicopia or Five Ways ‘Til Sunday. And that winner is…Janice Hougland! Congrats and email me, Janice! 🙂

And here’s today’s burning question. Have fun!

Often times, movie sequels fall short of our expectations. What sequel
do you feel was the best you’ve ever seen?

The first winner of The Random Act of Winning Contest is…Michelle Boone (Nov 17)! Congrats, Michelle! You’ve won your choice of free download from among my downloadable Ellora’s Cave books. Send your choice to me privately via email!

And the rest of y’all, remember, you have to post to win! Go read the contest rules! 😆  ~DD

The highs make you giddy, but the lows’ll bury you

I’m Michelle Moore, half of the writing team responsible for the Ylendrian Empire scifi series, and Delilah has been kind enough to let me invade her blog with a guest post today.

The past few weeks have been interesting, to say the least.  Right before Halloween, my other (and most would say better) half, Reesa Herberth, was hospitalized with pulmonary embolisms.  Actually, do you use the plural term embolisms if there are multiple blood clots in both lungs or is it always just a pulmonary embolism singular?  Funny, never thought to ask the doctor about correct terminology.  Anyway, can I say how terrifying it is to hear that someone you love was within a day of dying if she hadn’t gone to the ER?  Pretty damn scary.  You know, just in case you were wondering.

The day Reesa got out of the hospital we got the news that we’d sold our newest novel to Riptide Publishing.   We sweated blood and tears over Peripheral People, mainly because it was a real stretch for us, a mystery with a psychic serial killer (in SPACE!).  Never having written a mystery before, we had a trial-by-fire learning experience, and while we both had the utmost faith in the story, we were still worried about finding it the right home.  So talk about euphoria when Rachel Haimowitz at Riptide contacted us.

I don’t think I’m mentally equipped for extreme ups and downs.  I have a tic in my left eye, I’ve chewed my cuticles to the quick, and if I were given the opportunity to get in bed with Delilah, I’m afraid it would only be so I could pull the covers up over my head and hide!

Anyone else been on an out of control see-saw?  Comment with your gory details for a chance to win an e-book copy of The Balance of Silence or The Slipstream Con.

Michelle

A quick FYI for writers… I don’t have any guest blogging dates left November through January. Thanks to everyone who grabbed theirs quickly! 🙂

I’ve been back from my trip a couple of days. I’m caught up with email, sort of, snail mail, and the post-trip laundry. Now, I’m ready to hunker down and write my stubby little fingers off! Send me positive thoughts that I can actually power through the rest of this darn book!

Thought you might like to see the prize I brought back to the winner of The DC Kitschy Contest…

And the winner of the DC cup, snow globe, playing cards and magnet is…Kelli Jo Calvert (Nov 10)! Kelli, email me to let me know your snail mail addy. Congrats! And now, I have to catch up on all my mailings! Assistant! Where’s my assistant?

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The Random Act of Winning Contest!

What can you win? I don’t know! I love saying that. But really, for the next two weeks, I might pop in one day and choose a winner. The prize might be a free download or a small gift cert from Amazon. I don’t know. Drop by every day and comment, and you might get lucky and find out! 🙂

What do you have to do to win? Post comments on this blog from now until the contest ends! Each time you post counts as another entry!

This contest ends on November 29th!

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I’ll start the conversation with a question. Answer for a chance to win. Can’t say for sure I’ll chose a winner today, but that’s the fun of this, right?

If you had to choose weather that’s typical for your area in any given month and make it last the whole year-long, which month’s weather would you choose? Are you a June girl like me? Early summer in Arkansas isn’t horribly muggy just yet, but it is warm enough to heat up my pool. What’s your favorite month’s weather and why? Could you really take it for the whole year? (Yes, I really, really could!)