I couldn’t have been more excited when Delilah selected “Saving Charlotte” for inclusion in the Smokin Hot Firemen collection. And why? Not just because it was a great opportunity to write a hot story about firemen (although, let’s be honest—that was at the top of the list!). But I actually had to go and interview a fireman.

In person.

And yeah, he was in full uniform.

*Drool*

There is just something about a muscular man in suspenders…

It took me a while to think of an excuse to interview my smoking hot fireman, but I’m a creative person, so I pulled it off.

In my story “Saving Charlotte,” Mark Connor finds this gorgeous woman tied to a bed in a burning building. He needs to cut her free, and in a hurry.

My question for my hot fireman in suspenders was this: Do firemen have cutting tools on their belt, and are they issued by the fire department, or can they have their own.

His answer was awesome. They do, in fact, carry cutting tools, and they can bring in their own. He went on, at length, about the different kinds and why he preferred the one he had.

It was so much fun to listen, although, I must admit, I have no recollection of what he said.

I was too busy watching his lips move.

And drooling.

Excerpt from Sabrina York’s “Saving Charlotte”

Mark Conner fought his way through the smoke and flames to the third floor of the apartment building. A skitter of concern writhed in his gut. This fire was moving fast. Despite the nearly fifty pounds of equipment, he picked up the pace and motioned to Izzy to do the same.

According to the wailing mother on the street, there was a child still trapped up here.

Two doors flanked the top floor landing. Without discussion—they hardly needed it anymore—Izzy turned right and Mark turned left. In tandem, they kicked the doors in. Mark angled his flashlight and scanned the smoky living room. Nothing.

Smoke roiled around him; sweat prickled his brow. There wasn’t much time.

Then he heard a faint cry. He shouldered his way down the hall and into the bedroom…and froze.

A second was far too long to stare. Lives could be lost in a second. But the sight that greeted him nearly brought him to his knees. A sudden, inappropriate lust snarled through him. He forced it to the back of his mind. For later.

He’d expected a small child, coiled in a corner.

Not an exquisite angel bound to a bed. Read the rest of this entry »

A star is born…

Return of the Fae, a contemporary paranormal romance, released this last week.  A witch out of water story. Parris McCall found out the things she actually thought made her weird growing up were actually her witch powers trying to break through the door she’d shut and locked so many years ago.

I had a lot of fun with this story because I’ve always felt different too. I was the girl who’d rather be in the library lost in a book than haunting the mall looking for the perfect makeup or perfume.  Not that I don’t enjoy playing dress up every once in a while.

Prudence, a witch who’s been banished by The Council, a total over-reaction to a situation involving a prince, some jewels, and a spell, shows up in this story. And boy, did the girl steal the scene. I’d thought she’d be a secondary character, one that told her story and gave Ty and Parris the information they were seeking, but now, she’s trying to get more time in the third book. And, I’m going to give it to her.

All because my husband is a Cincinnati Red’s fan.

Did I lose you? Probably. My mind runs in strange circles.  So let’s start at the beginning.

One Memorial Day, we were walking through Cincinnati waiting for the game to begin.  This was my first trip to the city and the Great American Ball Park. As we walked, I told my husband about the beginning thoughts about the plot of Return of the Fae.  I was stuck.  The advice from my husband?  Let it simmer. I think he was tired of listening to me complain.   But I took his advice and enjoyed the weekend, taking pictures as we wandered through A Taste of Cincinnati as well as the ball game.

Once we got home, I downloaded the pictures, and, found this —

And a character was born.

Return of the Fae –

A witch in training, a hunter on the prowl, and a world in jeopardy.

Learning the rules of being a witch takes years, but Parris McCall needs to master them in only weeks. Ty Wallace is going mad with his desire for Parris, but she’s a distraction in his quest to find Coven X before they take The Council and everyone he knows down.

The couple searches for Ty’s mentor, but he’s disappeared. Their only clue comes from a banished witch. When they return, not only are their own lives threatened, but a new life hangs in the balance.

Available at Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Return-of-the-Fae-ebook/dp/B00DJVH8V6

Bio – Lynn Cahoon is a contemporary romance author with a love of hot, sexy men, real and imagined. Her alpha heroes range from rogue witch hunters, modern cowboys, or hot doctors, sexy in scrubs. And her heroines all have one thing in common, their strong need for independence. Or at least that’s what they think they want.  She blogs at her website www.lynncahoon.wordpress.com

The winner of Elle’s prize package is Carol Woodruff!
Congrats, Carol! Elle will be in contact with you shortly!

* * * * *

Lucky Seven

If you believe in luck and 7 is your lucky number, today is your day! It’s the 7th day of the 7th month, and I’m feeling lucky!

I just signed a contract for my 37th, 38th and 39th books with Harlequin. I have wonderful parents, a husband who supports my writing career, three wonderful children and two grandsons. I’ve been to Paris this year, Ireland last year and more travel in the near future. And don’t let me forget to mention that I have a terrific sister, the fabulous DELILAH DEVLIN, who shares my passion for writing. What more could a girl ask for?

I’m also lucky because I have a new series starting this month with Harlequin Intrigue.

It’s the COVERT COWBOYS INC series.  First book out the chute is TRIGGERED.

TRIGGERED

To protect their future, a Texas bodyguard must revisit his past

After taking justice into his own hands, Austin police officer Ben Harding faces an unknown future. But a new job referral carries the possibility of salvation. His mission seems simple: protect a woman and her young daughter—recent residents of the Flying K Ranch who have become the target of threats.

When Ben meets Kate Langsdon, he is immediately struck by her beauty…and by the memories of the tragedies that touched his own family. Resolved not to become emotionally invested, Ben protects the pair as new dangers—and old ranch secrets—emerge. As enemies draw closer, can Ben keep this family alive long enough to explore a future with Kate?

Since I’m so lucky, I want to give you a chance to be lucky. Leave a comment on a happy lucky thing in your life for a chance to win the following prize:

Elle’s Bio:

Elle James spent twenty years in South Central Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, retired Army and Air Force Reservist, she’s proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats or laughing out loud. Now, living in northwest Arkansas, she’s given up wrangling cattle and exotic birds to wrangle her muses, a malti-poo and a yorkie. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, out snow skiing, boating, or riding her four-wheeler, dreaming up new stories.

Social Media:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

So, the first time I told my husband my characters talk to me, he told me “They have meds for that.” I just had to giggle. Even though he’s my other half, he struggles to understand me as a writer. It’s difficult.

In my experience, that’s pretty common. No one else except another writer can understand fully.

But that’s all right. Because I can still share my stories with the world, whether people like them or not.

When people ask me how I decide what to write about, or how a particular story goes, it boils down to this: My characters tell me more often than I decide.

I am a pantser, which means I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t plot. I just sit down and write and hope the words flow. Sometimes, they do. Sometimes, I struggle. Sometimes, I think I know what’s going to happen, and then the characters throw me for a loop. Sometimes, I’m the writer and the story follows the lines I assumed they would. But so far, if I listen to them, they let me know what the story will be.

Promise I’m not crazy!

When I’ve tried to plot, I haven’t been all that successful. I made decisions and when the story changed, I didn’t deal with the change in my structure. It just stressed me out. So I had to convince myself the way I have been doing things, my process, isn’t wrong. That every writer is different. And that’s OKAY!

Whatever works to get the words on the page is the correct way.

I guess that’s what I would tell other writers: Don’t mess with what’s not broken.

You know how I said my characters talk to me? Well, sometimes they can be difficult. As in…they won’t/don’t SHUT UP! Or give me peace of any kind.

One in particular, Cole, the hero of Collision Force (Crossing Forces Book One) feels as if he should be the center of my universe. When I was writing the book, he haunted my dreams. One might think that’s helpful to a pantser like me, but he wouldn’t let me even think about anything else! I suppose it’s handy that he’s so hot. 6’4, black hair, gray eyes, and of course all the right muscles. Hehehe. He’s funny, too, which is always a plus.

But I figured I would get relief when I was done with the book. Not so much. I KEPT dreaming about him, and his heroine, Andi. The positive thing in all that is, I suppose that they gave me the idea for a very cute Christmas story!

When I moved on to start book two, Cole insisted he needed an “important” role in the book, so for all those who read CF and liked him, be assured you will see him in book 2.

I’ve always been a writer, but the road to publication has been an adventure. I’m so glad I get to share what’s in my head with readers!

Where to find C.A.:

Facebook | Website | Blog | Twitter: @caszarek
| Goodreads

Bio:

C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing. She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.

Sword’s Call (King’s Riders Book One) is C.A.’s first book, and published by Gypsy Shadow Publishing. C.A. Collision Force (Crossing Forces Book 1), published by Total-E-Bound Publishing and was released June 28, 2013.

Buylink from TEB:
https://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2180&utm_source=focusonfirststrategy&utm_medium=authorpromo&utm_campaign=collisionforce

Thank you to Delilah Devlin for inviting Rachel and I back for a guest post.  In keeping with the recent posts related to inspiration for novels and other creative projects, I thought I’d share the poem that inspired Rachel and I to write our series, Chicagoland Shifters.  Our newest release, TIGER TIGER, takes its title from the poem itself.

Tiger Tiger
by William Blake (1757-1827)

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

From Bartleby.com, Great Books Online.
Website URL: https://www.bartleby.com/101/489.html, accessed 06/30/2013

While the poem is more a prayer to the Creator about who could make the lamb and the tiger, the peaceful and the fearsome, what inspired us is the idea that a shape-shifter is both man and animal.  The question we asked ourselves is, what if an animal empath were to encounter these shifted humans with an animal side?

We decided to explore the idea that fearsome warriors, modern-day soldiers in the American Marine Corps, were changed against their will into shape-shifters.  We used Siberian tigers, since they’re the largest tigers on the planet, and we only left a small portion of their unit alive.  They must stay together and guard each others’ backs against many threats – other humans who don’t know their secret as well as other shifter groups hostile to large predators in their territory. Our character, Doctor Sasha Soskoff, must make a place for himself within this tight-knit group as he discovers their secrets.

This month, we celebrate the release of TIGER TIGER from Samhain Publishing on July 23^rd.  We hope you’ll come with us around the web as we hold our blog tour.  Join us at the Noon and Wilder blog to find the other stops on our tour.  Here’s a little taste of TIGER TIGER for you to whet your appetite.

Chicagoland Shifters, Book 2

Veterinary trauma surgeon and animal empath Sasha Soskoff has found everything he ever wanted with his new partners Neal, Steve and Carlos. Life feels as safe and secure as it can be among a group of ex-Marine tiger shifters. Until a homeless man is found, gruesomely mauled and murdered, near Neal’s BDSM club.

When it’s determined a rogue tiger did the deed, the jaguars’ accusing eyes turn toward Sasha’s lovers. The precarious balance of peace tips dangerously toward war.

Neal knows damned well none of his tigers committed the crime. Someone must be in Chicago without his knowledge or permission, and they’d better find him fast before uncertainty and conflict rip the tight-knit band apart from the inside.

As Sasha struggles to heal the stress fractures forming among his tiger family, he begins to wonder if his dreams of a home, and love, were too good to be true. And it’s precisely that moment the killer strikes at the heart of the tiger clan—Sasha himself.

Buy link: https://store.samhainpublishing.com/tiger-tiger-p-72887.html
Noon and Wilder Blog: https://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com/

What’s your favorite shifter?  Are you a traditionalist, and like werewolves only, or are you adventurous and like the unusual and new?  (Just not penguin shifters, please oh please…)

He Watches Me… And Anna Loves It

Anna, the not-so-innocent-yet-virginal heroine of He Watches Me, is an unlikely exhibitionist.

Exhibitionism is the act or the thought of exposing in public or in a public place parts of our bodies that are normally concealed. Taking off our clothes and streaking across a college campus is exhibitionism. Flashing our breasts during Mardi Gras is exhibitionism. Participating in a scene at a BDSM club can be exhibitionism. Putting on a private strip tease for our lovers is exhibitionism. The stages of exhibitionism range from fantasy (yes, thinking of being tied to the mast of a pirate ship is exhibitionism) to criminal.

As with many exhibitionists, Anna starts her sexual exploration with mere fantasy. She thinks about being watched. She fantasizes about the office hunk watching her as she strips. She imagines being ravished in an elevator.

One scorching hot L.A. night, she spots the neighbor’s gorgeously cool swimming pool and impulsively acts upon her exhibitionistic tendencies. Anna hasn’t seen Blaine, her billionaire neighbor, in weeks. His mansion is dark, his backyard unused. Unable to resist temptation, she hops the fence, strips naked (she doesn’t own a swimsuit), and skinny dips, swimming au natural in Blaine’s pool.

She does this every night. Soon, Anna becomes more and more brazen, pleasuring herself in and out of the pool. Being naked while outside with the slim but very real possibility of being caught excites her. She imagines Blaine is watching her, his brilliant green eyes sparkling with appreciation.

She doesn’t know this isn’t pure fantasy. Blaine has been watching her through his security cameras. Now that he has returned to L.A., he plans to continue watching her… from his poolside seat. She shouldn’t allow him to watch her. She certainly shouldn’t like it.

There are safe, low risk ways to add the thrill of exhibitionism to relationships. We can perform strip teases in the privacy of bedrooms, have sex in our cars while they are parked in our garages, wear long skirts while going panty-free. No one has to know we’re exhibitionists… unless we want them to know, to watch.

Have you ever engaged in exhibitionism?

She desires to be seen. He wants to watch.

Anna Sampson has a naughty secret. Every night, she slips into her neighbor’s yard and swims naked in his pool. She fantasizes that the dynamic young billionaire watches her nightly nude aquatics, his brilliant green eyes gleaming with lust.

She discovers this isn’t pure fantasy. Gabriel Blaine has been watching her via his security cameras, and now that he has returned to L.A., he doesn’t plan to stop. That’s all he wants—to watch. Anna knows she shouldn’t allow him and she certainly shouldn’t want more, but she craves Blaine’s attention, needing his gaze fixed on her body.

Part One of The Seen Trilogy

Buy it at Amazon

Cynthia Sax
Author Website: https://cynthiasax.com/
Blog: https://tasteofcyn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.sax
Twitter: @CynthiaSax

Thanks for hosting me today, Delilah. Today I’m sharing a bit about the idea that started my story, Whirlwind. Several years ago I was living in San Antonio, and I saw a huge article in the newspaper on a national tattoo convention being held downtown in the Convention Center. I became intrigued by the idea of these artists who are normally situated in small shops, probably working with a specific clientele, all coming together in a large forum to display their artistic abilities. Like with other gatherings of professionals, there were instructional opportunities as well as chances to see lots of exquisite work. This was years before the television reality shows featuring such artists. About the same time, I’d visited a museum and saw photos of Native Americans with various tattoos. Those two components meshed and I had my heroine, Senna Whitefeather. Read further to learn a bit more about the erotic short story, Whirlwind.

Unveiling tattoos with a stranger has never been so dangerous…or so sexy.

Hosting her first booth at a national tattoo convention is nerve-racking enough for artist Senna Whitefeather. But then she runs into another Native American—one with a smoking hot and firm body—a man she soon realizes is following her. Appreciation for art takes on a new meaning when a challenge to unveil their tattoos escalates into a passionate encounter in the back of her booth. But will Senna’s brazen attitude of going after what she wants backfire?

Senna lifted the plastic badge, angled it toward the security guard then turned toward her designated booth. And bumped smack into a male—solid muscle from chest to knees—and she stumbled.

Firm hands grasped her upper arms and steadied her. “What’s your hurry?”

The deep voice rumbling near her ear resonated through her bones, kicking up her heart rate, and set her further off-balance. Both hands tangled with the supple cotton of his T-shirt and held tight. All she saw before her was a broad expanse of black cloth. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking—” She glanced up—straight into midnight black eyes that seemed to look deep into her soul. Her gaze clung for a long moment then she forced herself to blink.

The stranger smiled and the bronze-toned skin around his eyes crinkled. “Good thing I was, or we’d both have gone down.”

With a quick look, Senna registered the slash of his dark brows, high cheekbones, and long, black hair pulled back along his neck. Another Native American. Strong features balanced by an open smile. Why did she have the sudden urge to sway forward against his broad chest? A chest that appeared capable enough to harbor a woman tied in nervous knots over today’s exhibit.

Spirit of Life, she was late.

“Again, I’m sorry.” She stepped back, away from his broad hands and fought against acknowledging the immediate loss of warmth. No time for distractions, even tall, dark and sexy ones. “I’ve got to get to my booth.”

With a dip of his chin, he swept a hand in the direction she headed. “The right-of-way is yours.”

Senna hustled down the side aisle but couldn’t resist a quick backward glance over her shoulder. The tall stranger dressed all in black had disappeared into the crowd.

AMAZON:           https://amzn.to/13sXmUu
B&N:                     https://bit.ly/19plihI
TWRP:                   https://bit.ly/11DBnaT

Those who leave a comment here will be included in a drawing for a dream catcher key chain. Be sure to include your email address. (US and Canada only)

BIO:   On a dare from a close friend, Layla Chase challenged herself to explore the steamier side of romance and discovered all sorts of characters whose stories needed sharing. She writes contemporary and historical stories from her mountain home in California that she shares with long-time husband and two dogs.

For more information about future releases:

www.laylachase.com

https://www.facebook.com/layla.chase.52

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/229815.Layla_Chase