UPDATE: The winner is…Alison Rush!
*~*~*

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me a story about the man in this picture…

We have a new SEALS in Paradise story! The latest release is by my good friend, Cynthia D’Alba! All buy links are below!

Hot SEAL, Labor Day

Hot SEAL, Labor Day is a scorching standalone book in the SEALs in Paradise contemporary romance series.

She seeks an escape. He’s allergic to settling down. Can a marriage of convenience blossom into everlasting love?

Ana Zeller Cristiano feels locked inside a life of keys. World-renowned since she was five, the thirty-year-old piano prodigy is desperate for release from her high-stakes existence of overbearing expectations. But running away to figure out who she is hits a serious snag when her car gets a flat… until a sexy military man comes to her rescue.

Sawyer “Nomad” Beckett doesn’t put down roots. Floating between squads when deployed and living in a motorhome when he’s stateside, an offer to permanently join the premier SEAL team gives the former Army brat pause. But when he helps a stranded woman only to discover she’s in the cabin next door at his resort, the wandering warrior is shocked when sparks fly.

Swept up in the passionate weekend and tired of the pressure to marry her manager’s son, Ana presents her new flame with a wild plan and an impromptu marriage proposal. And feeling something fall into place he’s never felt before, Beckett agrees to say “I do” despite being set to ship out to the dangerous battlegrounds of Africa.

Will this insane scheme catapult two lonely hearts into unexpected harmony?

If you like instant attractions, extreme steam, and life-changing emotional journeys, then you’ll adore Cynthia D’Alba’s touching tale of love’s discovery.

More SEALS in Paradise Links

Hot SEAL, Heartbreaker by Cat Johnson
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089S5S3JL
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-heartbreaker/id1517407932
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-heartbreaker-cat-johnson/1137147753
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-heartbreaker

Hot SEAL, Charmed by Parker Kincade
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VWF7Q42
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-charmed/id1552125791
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-charmed-parker-kincade/1138748474
Kobo:

Hot SEAL, April’s Fool by Becca Jameson
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SBPCT8S
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-aprils-fool/id1548771062
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-aprils-fool-becca-jameson/1138617937
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-april-s-fool

Hot SEAL, In His Memory by Delilah Devlin
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PVV1KGQ
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/au/book/hot-seal-in-his-memory/id1543653235
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-in-his-memory-delilah-devlin/1138430889
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-in-his-memory

Hot SEAL, A Forever Dad by MaryAnn Jordan
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SC2FR3H
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-a-forever-dad/id1547818382
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-a-forever-dad-maryann-jordan/1138579877
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-a-forever-dad

Hot SEAL, Independence Day by Elle James
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PSSV2GQ
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-independence-day/id1543730914
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-independence-day-elle-james/1138431894
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-independence-day

Hot SEAL, Sweet & Spicy by Cynthia D’Alba
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VWJY1PV
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-sweet-and-spicy/id1552473846
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162566328
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-sweet-and-spicy

Hot SEAL, Labor Day by Cynthia D’Alba
Available now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VWXS6MQ
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-labor-day/id1552472938
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162566311
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-labor-day

Hot SEAL, Midnight Magic by Teresa Reasor
Pre-order now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TT4CQFR
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/ie/book/hot-seal-midnight-magic-seals-in-paradise/id1550611527
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-midnight-magic-teresa-j-reasor/1138684839
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-midnight-magic-seals-in-paradise

Hot SEAL, Sinful Harvest by Parker Kincade
Pre-order now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VWG2QL4
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-sinful-harvest/id1552135783
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-sinful-harvest-parker-kincade/1138748630
Kobo: 

Hot SEAL, Silent Knight by Kris Michaels
Pre-order now!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hot-SEAL-Silent-Knight-Crossover-ebook/dp/B08WKMJ7DZ
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hot-seal-silent-knight/id1553620361
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-seal-silent-knight-kris-michaels/1138824132
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-seal-silent-knight

Have you tried my Stepbrothers shorties? No? Well, here’s one. Download it for FREE!

When a stripper confronts a professor about her stepbrother’s grade, she’s determined to find a way to change his mind. Making the grade has never been sexier…
Get your copy here!

UPDATE: The winner is…Elaine Ramirez!
*~*~*

This is probably TMI, right?

I thought about creating a puzzle for you to work before you knew what I’d be doing (or was having done to me) tomorrow. However, I’m sure the website I use to create my puzzles would nix it due to the bare butt.

Yes, today, I’m going through the prep stage. I have a ton of meds and Gatorade to guzzle. No food until after the procedure tomorrow morning. This will be my third colonoscopy. And no, it doesn’t get any better the more times you have it done. It’s gross, embarrassing, and not very comfortable. I don’t like that they put me under for it. Do they think I’m a wimp? I’d rather be watching the monitor to see what’s happening. I’m tempted to pull out my DVD of Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais, but my dd might think it’s inappropriate because he dies (temporarily) during the procedure. She’s no fun.

So, why am I oversharing? I don’t know. As a Public Service Announcement to remind you to schedule yours? Maybe to you share my discomfort? Give you a laugh? For a chance to win a FREE download from my backlist, have you had one yet? Comment below.

UPDATE: The winner is…Misty Dawn!
*~*~*

I’m currently suffering from a flabby middle.

I don’t mean the rolls that come with middle age, although I do have those. I’m talking about the flabby middle of my current book. The halfway point when the story can get mired and struggle to make headway toward the happy ending. Add the fact this is the second book in a trilogy, and I’m dealing with a double whammy: I’m in the flabby middle of the flabby middle. It’s quicksand for an author, and I’m up to my ears in it.

I love this aging-cyborg trilogy and I had such high hopes for this second book. Such enthusiasm for these characters and this story… but it all just seems to wander around aimlessly. No focus, no energy, no—Gasp!—mojo. Something is seriously wrong with my story!

These are the times when an author sits down and has a heart-to-heart with her characters. I don’t mind my characters running amuck with my anticipated plot… as long as they’re, you know, moving in some direction even if it’s not the one I’d planned for them. But my conversations with my characters are like talking to my teen children. Lots of mumbling, some grunting, eye-rolling, and heaving sighs. You know, real mature behavior coming from characters who are in their thirties! *gives characters the stink eye*

Or maybe I’m the problem. Beginning late last year, I’ve undertaken being in charge of my unmarried, aging aunt… her finances, her health, her wellbeing, and her neglected house. All this from a state away. It’s been an enormous and very-daily responsibility, and it has zapped my creative juices. The care and feeding of active teens have evaporated the rest. I’m in the flabby middle of my life, mired in obligations and struggling to make headway.

My muse is depleted to a greater extent than even during last year’s quarantine crisis. The spirit is willing to write, but my focus, my energy, my—Gasp!—mojo is gone.

But enough whining! This all shall pass and I will emerge on the other side of this saggy middle—my life and my cyborg book—with a strong, engaging story my readers will love! In the meantime, I’m celebrating placing second in the PRISM contest’s Sci-fi/Futuristic category with the first book of my cyborg trilogy, Tin Man. And I’m giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to a random winner for commenting on something (big or small) in your own life you’d like to celebrate!

About Ava Cuvay

Ava Cuvay is an award-winning bestselling author of Sci-fi Romance featuring sassy heroines, gutsy heroes, passion, and adventure… often set in a galaxy far, far away. She resides in central Indiana with her own scruffy-looking nerfherder and kiddos who remind her daily she’s not nearly as cool and hip as she thinks. She believes life is too short to bother with negative people, everything is better with Champagne, and Han Solo shot first. When not writing, Ava is thinking about writing. Or wine. And she’s always thinking about bacon.

website: https://www.avacuvay.com/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Ava-Cuvay/e/B01E5OIZ0I
Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15051407.Ava_Cuvay
Facebook: https://facebook.com/AvaCuvayAuthor/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ava-cuvay

This is just a quick message to those of you in the path of Hurricane Ida. Arkansas is missing the bullet entirely, but I hope everyone who isn’t so fortunate has a safe place to weather the storm. Good luck to you!

UPDATE: The winner is…Charlene Whitehouse!
*~*~*

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me where you would like to travel if there was no pandemic and no security threats in the world…

This picture is of a place I would love to go after COVID subsides a bit and after a couple of the kids are old enough to leave them behind to handle the horses, goats, dogs, cats…

Open Contests

1. Genevive Chamblee: The Non-technicality of Sports Romances (Contest) — This ends soon! Win a FREE book!
2. Too pretty to eat? (Contest) — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Toes, really? (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
4. Grace Adams: Nearly-Published Author of FIRE’S RISING! (Contest + Excerpt) — Win a FREE book!
5. Rhonda Lee Carver: $0.99 Sale on BROKEN HALO! Read an Excerpt! Plus, Name that Character Contest! — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Your weekend book boyfriend… (Contest + Excerpt) — Win an Amazon gift card!