UPDATE: The winners are…Theresa Privette, Terra Oenning, and Stacy Hartley!
*~*~*

Depending on how long you’ve been reading me, you might not be aware of my naughty cowboy ménage series, Lone Star Lovers. All my sexiest fantasies are rolled up in those stories. Two cowboys, three cowboys, four… All that attention concentrated on one lucky girl… Heck, it’s not really fair, and there must be something in the water in Two Mule, Texas because there’s a whole lotta sharin’ goin’ on. 

Reined In

Who says a cowgirl can’t have it all?

Stormy is a rancher’s daughter through and through, and although she went away to college, her soul is firmly rooted in home ground—and the cowboys she grew up tormenting. When she hears her father might be selling the ranch, she packs her bags and high tails it for home, terrified she might never get another chance to lasso the heart of one of her cowboys before the hands scatter to the four winds.

For Cam and Joe, foreman and wrangler on the ranch, Stormy was a pain in the seat of their Wranglers. But when she roars back onto the ranch, the spoiled brat they remember emerges from the cloud of dust in skin-tight jeans and spike heels and all grown up.

It only takes a hot second to figure out she’s hell-bent on seduction. But if she thinks they’re going to make it easy for her to pick which cowboy she wants most, she’s sadly mistaken. And who says she has to choose one?

Read an excerpt…

The little red Miata ground to a halt, kicking up caliche to pepper the porch’s underskirting like shrapnel.

Joe Halloran suppressed a grin and tipped up the cowboy hat riding low over his brow with a lazy finger. Minutes ago, when the sound of an engine had screamed down the long private drive, he’d groaned because this was his first break of the day and he really wasn’t up for company. But as soon as he’d seen who it was, he settled deeper into his rocking chair.

Trouble had arrived. And about damn time.

Without moving from his chair, he slid his boots inches to the left on the porch railing to get a better view as the driver ground the gearshift into park. Joe glanced to the side. “What the hell do you suppose she’s doin’ here, Cam?”

Seated beside him, his buddy grunted from beneath the hat he had dipped low enough to shade his entire face. “Not a clue. Suppose her old man let somethin’ slip?”

Joe gave a snort, lowered his brim again and settled deeper into his chair, ready to play. What had been the end of a hellacious day of work had suddenly taken a mighty interesting turn.

A car door slammed. Between the porch slats, he watched a pair of long legs scissor with brisk precision. High heels tapped on the steps.

Still, he didn’t give a single indication he’d heard her. Instead, he took a deep breath and scratched his bare chest.

A fingernail dug into his forearm. “Hey, cowboy.”

He muttered but didn’t move a muscle. She knew his damn name.

She poked him again with her nail. “Cowboy, wake up.”

The hint of irritation in her silky voice gratified him in a way that didn’t bear too much introspection. He leaned back his head and squinted at her. “Peaches,” he exclaimed, a grin stretching his mouth. “Long time, no see.”

Stormy Jordan narrowed her gaze into a mean glare. Yeah, she hated the nickname because she knew he’d given it to her based on the shape of her little ass. To make matters worse, the name had stuck like glue when her daddy had begun calling her it too. Funny, she’d never told him why she detested it so much.

“Cowboy,” she said, her voice dripping with syrup. “How ’bout you move your butt and go get my bags?”

Again, he tipped his hat up to stare into a pair of silvery-blue eyes that cut him like a Ginsu knife. “You talkin’ to me, ma’am?” he asked, being deliberately slow because he knew it irked the hell out of her.

She lowered her pale brows over that cold stare. “Well, who the hell else would I be talkin’ to? My bags? I’d like to take a shower. I’ve been on the road since dawn.”

Still, he didn’t move. He let his gaze slide over her curves, taking a detour downward then back up. When his gaze reached her reddening face again, one side of his mouth twitched. He could almost hear the steam hissing.

She tapped a toe impatiently. “Since you don’t have anything better to do…”

Joe cut a glance at his buddy.

Cam’s lips tightened, but he settled deeper in his seat, resetting his hat to shade his eyes—giving Joe his silent approval to do his thing.

Hiding a grin, Joe bolted forward in his chair, rising so swiftly she didn’t have a chance to move back. “Sure thing, ma’am,” he said, crowding her against the rail. “I’ll get on it right away, ma’am.” Only he made another slow perusal of her body to make sure she knew he was talking about more than her damn suitcases.

She cleared her throat and sidestepped him. “Cowboy, don’t get ’em dirty.”

“Now, sweetheart, that would be a cryin’ damn shame.”

Cameron Mitchell hid a smile as Stormy stomped to the far side of the porch and Joe ambled down the steps to her car. Those two had always been at each other’s throats. Watching them spar was more exciting than any UFC fight and far bloodier.

Still, as much as they poked and prodded at each other, he’d never seen either of them back away. And Stormy always came back for more, so he assumed she liked it.

Cam and Stormy’s interactions were quieter, but no less intense. The woman had a way of setting a man’s libido on fire even while she did her best to make him feel two feet tall or like he had two left feet. It was a talent. One that had kept the boys flocking all over this very porch when she’d been in high school. Which had kept Joe mean and edgy, because he’d wanted her even back then when she was still jailbait.

The years hadn’t dulled the edges of her attraction. Sun-streaked blonde hair was held up in a clip, exposing her delicate neck and ears. Her black, button-down blouse was two sizes too small, emphasizing the swell of her B-cup breasts and revealing the sliver of bare skin between the shirt and the top of her short, fanny-hugging black skirt. That hint of firm belly was enough to make Cam hard enough to hammer a nail.

He recrossed his legs and interlaced his fingers to let them rest above the swell of his hard-on. If she looked close enough, she’d know how she affected him. Even after all this time.

Maybe it was wrong, but he’d lusted after Stormy Jordan since she’d sprouted breasts and learned to wag her bottom like a siren. He and Joe had come to the Jordan family ranch when they were in high school, looking for part-time work as wranglers, thinking cowboy work couldn’t be that hard. Hell, girls dug a man in chaps and a hat. They’d stayed long after graduation because of their love for the ranch…and maybe, their enduring attraction to a certain wild filly.

Contest

Comment for a chance to win your choice of
one of my Lone Star Lovers books!
I’ll choose THREE WINNERS!

Here are all the Lone Star Lovers books, including the prequel story set over a century ago…

Click on the covers to read more about these books!

What pulls you into a multi-book series?

USA Today bestselling author Desiree Holt knew how to write a story that keeps readers turning the page. Her steamy Naked Cowboy collection taps into the top 7 reasons readers binge a series.

1. Compelling stories – action, intrigue, conflicting goals, and romance.
2. Relatable characters – strong, independent women and powerful alpha males
3. Realistic world building – found family, community, and connection
4. Big emotional impact – the journey to love is fraught with conflict and struggles
5. Simmering sexual attraction – that inexplicable, irresistible bond that draws two people together
6. Five-alarm scenes that sizzle – discovering all the physical pleasures that come with true love
7. A satisfying happy ever after – after heartache and impossible odds, together forever and ever

Heat up your cold winter nights with these sizzling cowboy romances.
Each just .99 on Amazon.

Stark Naked
Buck Naked
Stripped Naked
Bare Naked
Naked Desire
Naked Flame
Naked Heat
Naked Hunger

UPDATE: The winner is…Stacey Kinzebach!
*~*~*

Hello, Delilah! Thank you for welcoming me here to share my new release! I hope you’ll bear with me as I share the journey for this book.

For me, as an author, 2024 was the year of saying yes. Not, just yes, but hell yes!

What did that wind up looking like? Well, I’ve published 8 novels, 3 novellas, and 16 short stories. Okay…that’s kind of nuts. Or brutal. Or adventurous. Depends on your perspective.

In practicality, that involved writing 6 books, 2 novellas, and 13 short stories in the past eleven months. That has meant pushing my editors to the brink. It has meant asking heroic feats from my proofreaders. It meant requesting help from my brutal beta reader to tackle some tough books. It has meant writing over 750k words so far this year.

I’ve also embarked on different types of stories this year. A duology of MMF high-angst books. An FFM BDSM story. A lesbian owl shifter reality show rom-com. Trapeze artists. Bodyguards. Bad boys, Goddesses. Friends-to-lovers. Opposites attract. Second chance. Fake dates. Regency. Cantankerous photocopiers. Domestic violence, Rockstars. Trauma. Joy.

So yes, a busy year.

Which brings me to my new release.

Eight months ago, a friend asked me if I would be interested in writing a Daddy book.

I was like… Uh…

Then I remembered this was the year of hell yes. I was flattered to be asked, and so I readily agreed.

At that moment, I kind of got stuck. What did I know about Daddies? I’ve met a few in the BDSM community, so I wasn’t entirely ignorant. I’ve also read quite a few wonderful books, so I had a panoply of stories to draw on. Specifically, though, I had a memory of a trio of pups I met at a BDSM convention. Those women have always stuck in my memory because they certainly had fun. The other attendees gave belly rubs and scritches. The pups clearly enjoyed their roles.

I kind of wanted that.

So, I decided I’d write about a pup finding his Daddy. A heart-warming gay romance. Then I realized that my pup would be different than other pups. He was older. He lived a life apart and hadn’t come out in his community. And he was Black. Okay. Then I had to find my Daddy. I realized I’d written an Indian lawyer into my series without knowing he was a Dominant. Everything came together.

I hope readers will enjoy Foster. I like to turn tropes on their heads. Not just because I can — although I have fun doing it — but because I know from experience that not everyone falls into the stereotype. Into the mold. Foster and Arnav don’t. I hope readers will check out this love story and see that acceptance comes in many forms. Throw in a large family, close friends, and an epic New Year’s party, and my Daddy for Christmas book has come together.

Thank you, Delilah, for inviting me here today. I would love to hear from your fans! What makes you one-click a holiday book? What’s the one ingredient you’re always looking for? One lucky commenter, chosen by Random, will win a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Good luck!

Foster: A Daddy for Christmas 2

Foster

I’m a successful entrepreneur who’s made a good life for himself. I’ve had a few intimate relationships, but none have lasted. Probably because I haven’t been able to be my authentic self. See, in my heart, I’m a pup. I want to curl into a wonderful Daddy‘s lap and be petted, stroked, and praised. I long for piles with other puppies where we play and I can make friends. But who’s going to accept a forty-five-year-old man into that puppy pile?

Arnav

I met Foster on Halloween, and I wanted him because he was good-looking and hot, despite being twenty years my senior. Now, when I spot him across a BDSM playroom, I’m struck by his forlorn look. I haven’t seen him here on puppy-play night before, but I’m not surprised when he tells me he wants to be a pup. I was born to be a Daddy. For Foster, I’m ready to dive into the world of sweet pups and handlers and see if I have what it takes to make Foster’s Christmas wish come true.

Foster is an age-gap interracial gay romance about a lonely pup, a younger Daddy, and the best Christmas imaginable.

A Daddy for Christmas 2 is a multi-author series. Holiday tales of lost boys in need of Daddy’s love and in some cases, a firm hand. Naughty or nice, it’s all in Santa’s hands now. So why not dive in and read each standalone and enjoy the holidays alongside our boys.

Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Christmas-2-Foster-ebook/dp/B0DBSPTT9H
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/Daddy2Foster

About Gabbi Grey

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

UPDATE: The winners are…the first 8 commenters! 
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for hosting me again.  I’ve come today to share my love of audiobooks.

First my story.  I started listening to audiobooks around 2008. I had some CDs about Buddhism.  Then I moved to philosophy.  Then I discovered Diana Gabaldon.  That’s right – my audio journey into fiction really started with Outlander.  For the first few minutes, I wasn’t convinced.  I never really enjoyed first person (oh, the irony).  I wasn’t enjoying the content…but I held on.  And…MAGIC.  I was transported to 1740s Scotland just before the Jacobite rising.  I was like…I know nothing about anything, but wow, is this ever amazing.

I cobbled together the rest of the series available to that point on CD and listened avidly.

Then I found out I could buy audiobooks on iTunes.  Then I discovered Audible.  Then I discovered my library’s audiobook collection.

My world has never been the same.  I listen to audiobooks all the time.  ALL THE TIME.  Walking the dogs, doing chores, driving in the car, taking public transit… So much listening that I joined a blog and a review service so I could get free audios.  I’ve spent thousands of dollars and have more audiobooks than I’ll probably ever listen to.

Okay, so I’m an audiophile.  An audio addict.  A true fan.

When I started publishing, I really wanted to put my books on audio.  A naïve little me had NO IDEA what was involved.  I joined Facebook groups of my favorite narrators.  One day, Michael Ferraiuolo was doing a fireside chat, and in the chat, I asked him if he could do a Scottish accent.  He gave me a few lines in Scottish.  He didn’t realize that was his audition.  I hired him to narrate my first novella My Past, Your Future with a history professor from Scotland and a dead Civil War soldier ghost set in Vermont.

He was amazing.  So, I had him do another story of mine.

I then approached Michael Dean about narrating a couple of novellas set in Canada for me.  He agreed and I got those two completed.

Now, I worked massive hours of overtime to pay for those projects.

I was hooked.  I have worked a ton more overtime.  I have snapped up the money from sales of previously released books.  I might’ve even used a credit card or two.  All to put out 18 audiobooks.  I will tell you that, for me, earning out has been tough (making back what you spent).  I have a good job that enables me to make the audios.  Eventually, I’ll make back that money and pour it into more productions.  I have one book by the brilliant Robert Hatchett (Grant’s Gambit).

The rest of my audios are split between Michael Dean and Michael Ferraiuolo.  I call them my Michaels.  I have been blessed to work with two amazing narrators.  Every performance is amazing, but I will say that Love Furever narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo and Sleigh Bells and Second Chances narrated by Michael Dean are two of my favorites.

Especially Sleigh Bells.  One of my main characters stutters.  Michael Dean and I went back and forth about the best way to portray that.  In the end, I think we settled on something that works so well.  Reviewers and fans are loving the audio.

So that’s my journey – from fan to author to publisher of my audiobooks.  I am in love with the entire process and have more planned for the new year!

As a thank you for having me, I’d like to give away an audiobook to a commenter.  I have Audible US and UK codes for several of my new releases.  If you don’t listen to audiobooks, I can swap out a book from my backlist from any of my three pennames.  To win, just leave a comment.  Do you listen to audiobooks?  How do you choose which one to try?  And remember, all my older stories are available to libraries, so please consider asking your librarian to include them in their shelves.  Comment away!  A winner will be chosen by Random.  Good luck.

Love Furever

Colin

Being rejected by family hurt like hell, but I kept my head high, left my toxic relatives behind, and moved across the country to Gaynor Beach, CA. Luckily, I have great furry company. My French bulldog puppy, Widget, was dumped on me for not meeting my parents’ ridiculously high standards either, so we’re comforting each other. With a nice rental house and a new job, Widget and I were ready for a fresh start—until I got a devastating diagnosis. I can’t take care of Widget properly while trying to save my own life, and I expect a long, hard road. I’ll have to break both our hearts and put her up for adoption, for her sake. Right?

James

I’ve wanted a pet forever, but my family circumstances didn’t allow it. Now I’m away from my masses of relatives and on my own, and I’m ready to take on a furry companion. My friend, a guy who never says no to an animal in need, introduces me to Colin and his beautiful puppy Widget. I’m horrified Colin feels he needs to give her up just because he’s sick, but I’m happy to take Widget as a temporary foster. I’m also happy to offer support to the new guy in town who is so very alone during a time of crisis. Helping someone in need comes naturally to me. But what if that temporary help turns into me wanting a forever relationship?

This is a gay romance slow-burn novel about new beginnings, found family, unconditional love, and a puppy named Widget. This middle-angst story has a guaranteed happily ever after.
Links:
Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/Love-Furever-Audiobook/B0DNGCLLR2
Audible UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0DNGD7CHC
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C3RLR7RW

Sleigh Bells and Second Chances

Ryan

The moment I landed in that war zone, I knew I’d made a big mistake. I wasn’t a soldier, and my good intentions almost got me killed. Being wounded and shipped back home to Canada was both a blessing and a curse. I’m safe now, but I can’t stop thinking of the men I left behind. My therapist claims Healing Horses Ranch will help heal my wounds—physical and mental—but I’m not sure how much tranquility and wholesome fresh air I can take. But then I meet a beautiful, shy man who makes moving forward seem almost possible. Can I let go of the past and reach for a future with Simeon?

Simeon

I’ve made peace with being different from the folks around me. I love my home in Mission City, and if anyone needs something fixed, I’m the guy they call. When the owner of the therapy ranch hires me for a big project, I’m excited to get started. I always work alone, but one of the patients keeps hanging around, and I can’t bear to send him on his way. I can see how much he’s hurting. If helping me helps him, that’s a win for us both. As we share the work, something about that wounded man draws me deeper and deeper in. I’m no therapist, and I have my own issues, so am I a fool to be thinking about a future with a guy who’s likely to leave once he’s healed?

Sleigh Bells and Second Chances is a slow-burn, age-gap, hurt/comfort, mid-angst, gay romance novel with a shy handyman, a reckless former gamer, a precocious borrowed kid, and a therapy dog named Tiffany.

Links:
Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/Sleigh-Bells-and-Second-Chances-Audiobook/B0DJH8SSLH
Audible UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sleigh-Bells-and-Second-Chances-Audiobook/B0DJH88PNP

About Gabbi Grey

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

UPDATE: The winner is…Stephanie!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my new project.  Well…projects?  Could go either way.

Let me clarify.

I love anthologies.  Your readers know that.  Charity anthologies are catnip for me.

When I heard my favorite anthology people had chosen mental health charities for the proceeds, I leaped at the chance to join. I was so excited that I signed up for not one but TWO stories.

Because…double the writing chaos!

So…the stories.  Recapturing the Dream is a second-chance romance. A couple who fell in love in high school.  That love carried them through most of university, but then the budding relationship got derailed.  They went their own way – Mena having three daughters and Todd having four sons.  Then, one day, they wind up living next to each other.  By design?  Hard to say…

Mena’s beloved husband died a horrible death, and she’s resigned to living alone while raising her three beloved daughters.  Todd’s newly divorced and struggling to find ways to connect to his four very different sons.

Throw in some teenage crushes, adult lust, and bonfires…and my heart was happy to write this lovely short story set in my Love in Cedar Valley series.

Okay, so Mena and Todd are good.

What about my second story?  I was thrilled to discover that R.L. Merrill has written a gay romance for this anthology.  I love representation.  And, of course, I threw in Pumpkin Spicey as my addition—a  short story set in my Love in Mission City world.

Clay is a sweetheart, entrepreneur, and ambitious guy.  He’s created a super secret pumpkin spice recipe that he’s ready to unveil at the Mission City fall market.  Great.  What he doesn’t expect is to meet a really nice guy who keeps coming back to his booth day after day.

This is, by far, the sweetest romance I’ve ever written.  I had a length constraint (as I do with all my short stories) and I wanted to ensure the courtship was realistic, given the market only lasts a few days.  Now…I also fit in the most cameos of any of my stories.  Thirty-six — if you count the mentions of the canine companions left at home.  You’re thinking…that’s impossible.  The story is just going to be about other people and I won’t be able to keep track!  Well, Clay’s running a booth.  Where people come and buy things.  He interacts with those customers.  I promise, it all flows together and the cameos span my three pennames.  A little something for loyal readers and just a fun story for everyone else.

I did encounter one problem.  I was so focused on the sweet courtship (they don’t even hold hands) that I completely missed the bonfire!  Duh.  Fortunately I had space to go back and add a little epilogue.  S’mores and kisses and a happily ever after.

My work was done.

Next comes the work to get word of the anthology out to readers who might enjoy a variety of stories set around autumn and bonfires. While helping Wounded Warrior and the International Mental Health Association.  So, I encourage you to snap up your copy, grab a mug of warm apple cider, and enjoy!

Thank you so much, Delilah, for the invitation.  As a thank you, I’m offering a $5 GC to one lucky commenter.  Let me know – what is your favorite thing about fall?  Random will pick a commenter for the prize!

Light My Fire

Bonfire Night, Homecoming, Harvest Festivals, whatever the reason – ‘tis the season to sparkle.

Gather your nearest and dearest (or those who you wish were) close as we fan the flames in this collection of stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by The New Romance Café sure to warm your heart…and maybe other places.

All proceeds go to charity in the fight for mental health support. Our chosen charities for this anthology are Wounded Warrior and the International Mental Health Association.

Authors:
Julie Halperson
Ryleigh Sloan
Chele MacCabe
L Mad Hildebrandt
Sharon Wray
Meg Napier
J. Keely Thrall
Fiona Fairhame
Cecelia Conway
T.S. Simons
Gabbi Grey
Cynthia Terelst
Sharon Michalove
Susanna Eastman
Shelby Gunter
Zoey Zane
Heather Scarlett
Alice Dashwood
Cara North
Anna Klein
Katina J Rose
Michelle Moncrieff
Niki Trento
Jewelz Baxter
Gabbi Powell
R.L. Merrill
Kat Long
Bonnie Poirier
Elaine Reed
Kelly Renway

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2024lightmyfire
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Light-My-Fire-Charity-Collection-ebook/dp/B0D5DLHSS1
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213936718-light-my-fire

Gabbi’s Two Stories in Light My Fire…

Pumpkin Spicey by Gabbi Grey

My first opportunity to share my new super-secret pumpkin spice recipe with the world is at the autumn Farmer’s Market in Mission City. I’m all set with plenty of inventory, but what I don’t expect is a cute guy who drops by every day asking for…pumpkin carving lessons?

The last day of the market, I’m too busy to speak to him, and he disappears. I’m worried he thought I didn’t want him around, and I need to apologize. My good friend Wyatt suggests I track the guy down at his house. That leads to a surprise that changes everything.

Pumpkin Spicy is an 8k sweet gay romance short story with a shy stranger, nosy friends, and a chance meeting that might just lead to a happily ever after.

Recapturing the Dream by Gabbi Grey writing as Gabbi Powell

When noisy neighbors draw Mena Keaton from her home late at night, she isn’t ready to confront her first love, Todd Burnett. She thrusts down her warring emotions and asks Todd—and his four sons—to keep the noise down.

Todd, for his part, deliberately moved next door to the woman who’d always held his heart. The divorced man wasn’t sure about the potential for a second chance, but when the opportunity presents itself, he’ll do whatever it takes to get the lovely widow with three daughters to give him another look.

Recapturing the Dream is a 16k word steamy short story is about second chances, seven kids, and a special night by an autumn bonfire.

About Gabbi Grey

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.

Are you still adjusting to the time shift? It’s lighter earlier, but that also means it gets darker earlier in the evening. Oh, let’s be real! By five o’clock, you have to turn on the lights. One of the benefits of chilly autumn evenings is the opportunity to curl up with a good book…or even better, a great series.

USA Today bestselling author Desiree Holt published close to 300 titles across multiple genres, including military romantic suspense, contemporary, western, sports, and paranormal romance. Her legacy includes the bestselling Phoenix Agency series.

If you haven’t escaped into this thrilling world of military heroes and the women they love, start with Color of Darkness, a free short story in the Phoenix Agency world.

The Phoenix Agency

They served their country in every branch of the military—army Delta Force, SEALs, air force, marines. They are pilots, snipers, medics—whatever the job calls for. And now as civilians they serve in other capacities, as private consultants training security for defense contractors, as black-ops combatants eradicating drug dealers, as trained operatives ferreting out traitors.

With the women in their lives, each of whom have a unique psychic ability, they are a force to be reckoned with. And now, risen from the ashes of war, they will commit to continue fighting the battle on all fronts. No challenge is too great, no situation to unimportant. They will come together to form a unit that gives new breath to their mission in life.

They are Phoenix.

Jungle Inferno
Extrasensory
Scent of Danger
Freeze Frame
Feel the Heat
Formula for Danger
Unexpected Risk
Color of Darkness
Phoenix Rises

Available on Amazon

UPDATE: The winner is…Beth!
*~*~*

October

1. I wrote zero words! Zero! I didn’t even revise anything I’ve written, although I have a book coming out soon that needs it!
2. I completed 3 editing projects for other authors in October.
3. Still, with so little productivity, I feel like I climbed mountains.

Health-related:

1. I underwent my third round of chemo and noted how I felt during the days after so I could try to figure out how to work around the chemo schedule. The fatigue continues to be the worst part. My 4th round, which was to start on the 28th, was canceled due to my extremely low platelet count. The chemo-induced anemia is kicking my butt. The aches only last a few days. My white blood count takes a beating, too, but the shots they give me after chemo bring it up quickly. They are going to adjust one of the medicines they give me to try to address the platelet issue.
2. I’m maintaining my 20 pounds weight loss.
3. I’m losing muscle tone. I know I need to add some sort of exercise to my schedule on days when I can get around, but I’ve just been so tired I tend to sleep a lot.
4. I had a CT scan with contrast yesterday. The “shadow” they previously saw on my spine is gone. The nodule on my liver is gone. They see reduction in the thickness of my omentum and the sizes of the tumors in my ovaries and uterus. I won’t know any numbers until next Monday. But progress! 🙂

Happiness-related: 

1. The family has been wonderful, doing takeout and watching movies nearly weekly, so we have family “events” to share.
2. I didn’t paint a thing this month. No drive at all. It’s like the writing—anything that requires imagination takes too much energy.

November

   

1. To revise, format, and upload The Demon Lord’s Cloak for its release on November 12th.
2. To complete Ignition, the fourth book in the Delta Fire series during November’s NaNoWriMo.
3. To complete 4 editing projects in November!
4. To write at least 1/4 of Built Like Mack during NaNoWriMo.
5. My writing goals may be pie-in-the-sky goals, given I have two bouts of chemo sceduled for the month, but I have to shoot for something.

For health related, I plan:

1. To go through two more rounds of chemo, which when I look at my calendar seems overwhelming, but I’ll get through it.
2. To continue to watch what I eat and hope I can manage to drop a few more pounds.
3. To up my physical activities so that I don’t lose any more muscle. Maybe I’ll give myself stairstep goals or walk the driveway to the gate and back goals—on days when I’m not sick as a dog.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To fiddle in my art room!
2. Attend the local art guild’s Potluck Dinner.
3. To spend time with the family—movies, meals, and flea market adventures! I’m not overly ambitious.
4. Enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating with the family!

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in November…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!