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Archive for 'Guest Blogger'
Thursday, August 1st, 2024
UPDATE: The winner is…Debra Guyette!
*~*~*
On January 21, 2017, Delilah Devlin sent me a rejection letter. I hadn’t had many emails like that in my fledgling writing career. Probably because I hadn’t sent many projects out on submission. If you don’t put yourself out there, then you can’t be rejected. That’s a great theory, but it doesn’t get a newbie writer published. Somehow, in my mind, Delilah gave me brilliant feedback on how to make my short story better. For posterity’s sake, I pulled it up to reread just now. Nope. It’s a standard if kindly written, rejection letter.
It spurred something inside me, though. I took that short story, worked with an editor, and made it better. Eventually, I found a publisher. The Wild Rose Press took a chance on me and published For the Love of Max. The story they published was substantially changed—because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Today, I didn’t reread the old story I submitted because I knew I’d cringe. I meandered way too long before getting to the core of the story. The love scene wasn’t nearly sensual enough. The point of view wasn’t deep enough. Hell, I’d never heard of Deep POV.
I’ve worked with that freelance editor for almost ten years now. She poked, prodded, cajoled, and finally shoved her way into my head. I know what she expects from me. The same thing my readers do—a well-crafted, heartfelt, strong story with great characters. I am more confident now I can deliver that. Do I waver? Type the end and think…is this brilliant or garbage? Yep, all the time. But I keep going. I keep weaving stories, fabricating worlds, and creating characters I know my readers are going to love. Writing isn’t just a hobby—it’s a vocation. I love my day job. One of the reasons I work so hard in it is so I can afford to hire editors, cover designers, and marketing people so that I can keep publishing stories.
Delilah was absolutely right to reject that story. When I spotted that she had another anthology coming out this year, I sat down and wrote “Thought You Were the One.” I actually wrote another story under a different pen name because I wasn’t certain which she might want. I was okay with another two rejections because I know the quality and quantity of stories Delilah gets for her anthologies every year. I sent the stories off and tried really hard not to dwell on the fact my darlings were out on submission.
When Delilah emailed me to let me know I’d made the cut, I yelled so loud that I woke the dogs up. Then I realized she hadn’t told me which story. Ironically, I thought she’d pick the other one. But she didn’t, and I’m so glad to bring representation to this wonderful anthology. I plan to submit more stories in the future. Undoubtedly, there will be more rejections. It’s not personal—sometimes, the story doesn’t fit, sometimes there are too many similar ones, and—gasp—sometimes you just didn’t write a good story. Happens to the best of us. I have more than forty publishing credits, and my editor lobbed one back at me last year and said, “Oh hell, no.”
Wait—I had two editors each lob one back. Huh. So yeah, even when you think you’ve got it all figured out, you discover you’ve written a dud. But I dusted myself back off, have plans to edit and fix those stories, and will keep creating more.
Thank you, Delilah. Both for saying yes and for giving me the space here today to share my story.
I would love to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to a commenter. Have you ever faced rejection and found a way around it? Over it? Under it? Moved on? Feel free to share a few words of encouragement with a writer who might be struggling. Random will select the winning commenter.
Secret Identities: A Bad Boys Anthology, #8
Inside Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, you’ll find stories by some of the hottest romance writers out there for readers who crave mysterious, enigmatic men and women who may not be who they claim to be. Perhaps they’re the new next-door neighbor with a secret mission, an alien from a far-away galaxy looking for his fated mate, or a spy trying to catch a foreign agent. Whatever their secrets, intrigue and passion follow…
Secret Garden by A.J. Harris – Hired by werewolf matriarchs to track down a bad-boy photographer, a private investigator discovers a deep connection with her past—and a secret garden of unspoken, sensual pleasures
What That Alien D Do by Ava Cuvay – A cosplayer at a popular Sc-Fi convention stalks her favorite MyFans content creator only to discover his alien “prosthetic enhancements” are real
Masquerade by Brent Archer – After accepting an invitation to a masquerade, a coffeeshop owner finds himself on the run from a mafia hitman with a handsome harlequin
Claimed by her Naga Bodyguard by Cameron Allie – Escaping her dorm for a night of fun with friends takes a turn for a witch-in-training when demons attack, and a mysterious creature comes to her rescue
Mayday by Cindy Tanner – A miscommunication isn’t the end of the world—unless it is the end of the world—and your “ride or die” might just be undead
Matsuri by D.S. Dehel – An American woman searching in Japan for the man haunting her dreams is chased by a wily kitsune into a magical place where she meets a samurai warrior
Most Wanted by Darah Lace – A bounty on the line, a hunter who bedded then betrayed her, and a strip club—she’ll bare it all to get her man
Heartthrob by Delilah Devlin – Determined to recast his image from heartthrob to action hero, an actor hires on incognito with an Oklahoma ranch whose owner is trying to stay out of foreclosure
Sex, Spies, and Subterfuge by Elle James – Scottish UK SAS Agent on an undercover weekend assignment tangles with a beautiful Russian seductress and potential assassin.
Thought You Were the One by Gabbi Grey – He’s in for a surprise twist when he seeks a second chance to win the attention of his handsome, unrequited, high school crush
Baby, Take My Hand by M. Jayne – After surviving a bullet to the brain, a detective hunting a serial killer is drawn to a mysterious man
Her Heavenly Phantom by Michal Scott – Forced into a marriage of convenience neither wants, a mild-mannered banker with an intriguing secret discovers his reluctant bride has a secret, too
Perfect Stranger by N. J. Walters – An undercover DEA agent must keep his identity secret from the woman he’s falling for, a woman he’s also investigating
In the Dark by Reina Torres – During a blackout, an undercover NSA agent in Hawaii falls hard and fast for the military guy living across the hall with secrets of his own
Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Identities-Behaving-Badly-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0D5SQ4P2P
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-identities-delilah-devlin/1145674531
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/secret-identities/id6503634546
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/secret-identities-8
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214187714-secret-identities
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.
Tagged: anthology, contemporary romance, gay romance, Guest Blogger, short story
Posted in About books..., Contests! | 6 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Mary McCoy - Mary Preston - BN - Debra Guyette - Jennifer Beyer -
Friday, July 26th, 2024
UPDATE: The winner is…Paula J McGhee!
*~*~*
Sources aren’t sure when Julia Collins was born, but a number of them place her birth in 1842, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. All sources believe her to have been freeborn and possibly the stepdaughter of Enoch Gilchrist a noted abolitionist, Underground railroad conductor, active member of the local African Methodist Episcopal Church, and ardent fighter for African Americans’ legal rights.
She married Stephen Collins, a barber, Civil War veteran and commander of a veterans’ organization for African American civil war soldiers in Williamsport. They had a daughter, Annie, and raised her with Stephen’s child from his first marriage, Sarah. Both are believed to have been under ten years of age when Julia died.
She was appointed a teacher for the African children in Williamsport and began teaching on April 11,1864.
The Christian Recorder, a newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, published six essays by Julia from 1864 to 1865. The essays titled “Mental Improvement”, “School Teaching”, “Intelligent Women”, “A Letter from Oswego: Originality of Ideas”, “Life is Earnest”, and “Memory and Imagination” dealt with racial uplift and empowerment. Because Julia references the works of writers like Shakespeare, Longfellow and Tennyson in her essays many assume she belonged to a highly educated middle or upper middle-class family.
In 1865, The Christian Recorder serialized Julia’s novel, The Curse of Caste, or The Slave Bride, every week for eight months. The story focused on the trials and tribulations suffered by a mother and daughter due to the issues of racial identity and interracial marriage. Julia died of tuberculosis in November 1865, leaving incomplete one of the first novels ever written by an African American woman. Doing research on a different topic, two scholars, William Andrews and Mitch Kachun, learned of Julia and her works. They had her novel published with the Oxford University Press in 2007.
A Pennsylvania State Historical Marker honoring her in Williamsport celebrates her for three firsts: the first marker in Lycoming County to honor a woman, an African American and someone in the arts. The marker was dedicated on June 19, 2010 and unveiled on Williamsport’s River Walk near where Collins’ home and school are believed to have been located. Julia’s descendants were present for the unveiling. One of them as well as a picture of the full marker can be seen here: https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/feature-articles/discovering-julia-collins. The marker’s citation begins, “Essayist, teacher, and author, her work, The Curse of Caste, is considered to be among the first published novels by an African American woman.”
As I learned about Julia, I couldn’t help but think of these words penned by John Greenleaf Whittier in his poem Maud Muller:
“For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!'”
If tuberculosis hadn’t cut short her life, who knows what other works Julia may have produced. For a chance at a $10 Amazon gift card, share your thoughts about Julia or any “it might have beens!” that you’re aware of.
“Her Heavenly Phantom” by Michal Scott
from Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology #8
Forced into a marriage of convenience neither wants, a mild-mannered banker with an intriguing secret discovers his reluctant bride has a secret, too
Excerpt from “Her Heavenly Phantom”…
Prim, proper, and modest.
Not at all the adjectives Harold Broadman would have used to describe his dream bride. But then the woman standing to his right here in his mother’s parlor, saying “I do” was not his dream bride.
Relaxed, seductive, and flashy.
Those adjectives described his dream bride. His lady of the balcony. What circumstances could have made that dream woman his intended?
The minister harrumphed. Harold shook himself out of his thoughts and answered, “I do.”
His father and father-in-law exchanged hearty congratulations.
“Welcome to the Hampton family, William,” Emily’s father said. “I see great things in our future.”
Unwed and pregnant, Emily Hampton needed a husband. Newly freed and hungry for a foothold among the ranks of the Black elite in 1880s Brooklyn, William Broadman had the answer.
His son Harold.
The warmth shared between the two men stood in stark contrast to the cold chaste kiss Harold and his bride shared. Their coolness continued as they walked up the aisle. Guests, oblivious to their shared contempt, showered them with hugs and handshakes. Harold shivered even more as his father and father-in-law back-patted themselves and toasted the couple’s future happiness at the wedding reception. No doubt the arctic chill between the couple would extend to their first lay as man and wife, too.
Preorder buylink: rb.gy/vv3268
Tagged: African-American, anthology, Guest Blogger, historical, historical romance, short story
Posted in Contests!, General | 12 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Mary Preston - BN - Paula J McGhee - flchen - Delilah -
Wednesday, July 24th, 2024
Summer is here! It’s time to get out there and enjoy every second of it. Here’s my foolproof plan for enjoying a summer’s day at home.
Step #1
Get an adult beverage. Wine is always an excellent choice but here’s one that’s been a family favorite for years. Mix it up, put it in the freezer, and it’s a cool, refreshing drink whenever you want one.
Summer Slush
Ingredients:
1 – 12 oz can of frozen orange juice
1 – 12 oz can of frozen lemonade
¾ cup of sugar
5 cups of water
2 cups of vodka
In large freezer proof container, mix in order given and freeze.
Serve ½ glass of slush with 7 up or ginger ale.
Step #2
Snacks. There should always be snacks. Unlike winter, when I admit to going heavy on the sweets, this time of year I crave the fresh fruits of summer—apricots, cherries, watermelon, grapes. These are not always easy to get where I live. Some cheese and crackers, maybe some hummus. For dessert—because there should always be dessert—some excellent dark chocolate. These backyard picnic-style snack foods are also a great way to avoid having to cook.
Step #3
A good book. Reading is the way I relax and let go of all my worries. I live in an apartment, so I love to take my book out on my balcony, relax in my lawn chair, and enjoy a refreshing beverage—iced tea or something with a little more zip. (See Step #1)
And if you’re looking for something to read, you might want to check out the Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology. The great thing about an anthology is the stories are shorter and you can sample a variety of authors—perfect for a relaxing afternoon in the sun
Inside Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, you’ll find stories by some of the hottest romance writers out there for readers who crave mysterious, enigmatic men and women who may not be who they claim to be. Perhaps they’re the new next-door neighbor with a secret mission, an alien from a far-away galaxy looking for his fated mate, or a spy trying to catch a foreign agent. Whatever their secrets, intrigue and passion follow…
My contribution is “Perfect Stranger” – An undercover DEA agent must keep his identity secret from the woman he’s falling for, a woman he’s also investigating.
Coming July 30th. Preorder your copy today.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5SQ4P2P/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-identities-delilah-devlin/1145674531
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/secret-identities-8
About the Author
N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
Visit her at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
Tagged: anthology, erotic romance, Guest Blogger, recipe, romantic suspense, short story
Posted in General | Someone Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Mary Dellenbusch -
Monday, July 15th, 2024
UPDATE: The winner is…Flchen!
*~*~*
Hello Delilah! Thank you for inviting me here to share news of my new release! Cole’s Reckoning is the second book in my Bonded By Love trilogy, and I’m thrilled to tell your readers all about it!
 Initially, this trilogy began as one book—Caressa’s Homecoming. Pretty early on, though, I realized I couldn’t tell Caressa, Cole, and Michael’s story in just one book. The best friends-to-lovers story deserved more than that. The three grew up in horrific poverty and came from abusive homes. Their lives diverged in huge ways—and Caressa suffered more trauma. Trauma she never shared with her best friends. Because of some of that, she went overseas as a nurse to volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders). She came back to Canada even more traumatized.
Her best friends saw that. And Michael was there first—to both comfort and to admit his feelings had changed for her. In turn, she realized her feelings for him had deepened as well. Friends-to-lovers is a tricky trope. The evolution has to feel like it works—like the progression is natural and was always meant to be. I tried to portray it as accurately as I could.
Cole, however, didn’t want to be left behind. Because when Caressa left, he realized he loved both his best friends. He’s bisexual (although in the closet about his dalliances with men). Michael’s straight. This set up an interesting dynamic for me to work with. Oh, and Cole’s into BDSM—something Caressa and Michael know nothing about. Caressa’s Homecoming ends with Caressa having discovered Cole’s dungeon and confronting Cole…after he and Michael have exchanged some pretty steamy kisses.
This second book was a challenge for me. I needed a pivot point. Something that would push their relationship along. Something that wasn’t artificial. I realized early on what that would be. I wrote the story and then sent it out to my editor and proofreaders—asking them to read the story blind—without having read the synopsis. All three admitted they didn’t see the twist coming. All three admitted it made sense and, as I’d hoped, deepened the dynamic of the relationship between the members of the triad.
I’m excited to release the book because I’m hoping readers will enjoy the twist. Will find the book isn’t the saggy middle novel of a trilogy—which can sometimes happen. Often, readers read a trilogy and think, “That could’ve been two books instead of three.” Now, I have a different throuple for my conclusion—so stay tuned.
Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me. I love sharing my books, especially the ones that pushed me. MMF definitely does that! I’d love to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to a commenter chosen by random. Have you ever read a good menage book? One that stuck with you? If not, is it something you would consider, or are you happy with just a couple? Let me know and you might win!
Cole’s Reckoning
Three inseparable friends—now three insatiable lovers?
Actor Cole Hamilton has finally convinced the two people he loves most in the world, Caressa Klein and Michael Dubois, to move in, join him in a throuple relationship, and set his bed on fire. But he fears his secrets—his real self—will drive them away.
Michael is stressed by his latest engineering project, but his two best friends turned hot lovers worry him more. Cole is too reckless, and Caressa keeps him guessing.
Caressa adores her two sexy men, but her past and tragedies in her nursing profession haunt her.
Can their love and friendship survive secrecy and the reopening of old wounds?
Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/ColesReckoning
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Coles-Reckoning-Bonded-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B0D3KCG7QG
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coles-reckoning-gabbi-grey/1145488881
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/coles-reckoning/id6502349359
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cole-s-reckoning
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213029211-cole-s-reckoning
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Tagged: BDSM, contemporary romance, Guest Blogger, menage
Posted in Contests!, General | 7 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Mary Preston - BN - Jennifer Beyer - flchen - Delilah -
Thursday, July 11th, 2024
I’m excited to share my new release, Falling for a Star in the City. It’s a standalone book that’s part of the Stars in the City interconnected series. Each book can be read on its own, but the characters all exist in the same world in New York City. Check out the blurb:
Paige thought she had it all: a job on the soap opera Charmed Lives and a boyfriend who was trying to get discovered as a singer/songwriter. Then her part on the show is reduced to reoccurring status and her family pushes her to leave her acting dreams behind to major in journalism—what they call a “real job.” Her relationship with her wannabe pop star boyfriend, Walker, ends only for her to find out he signed a recording contract right after their breakup. Then she reads online that his new album is about their relationship.
She gets an internship in the sports department at the TV station where she meets a college hockey player named Viktor who has trust issues from a past relationship. Now with Walker’s pop star dreams taking off, it leaves her questioning her own play-it-safe tendencies, her acting career aspirations, self-worth, and relationships. Everyone else seems to have it together but her.
Paige and Viktor begin to confide in each other, which soon leaves them falling for each other, but Paige worries their worlds are too different for them to work as a couple. Plus, there’s the issue of Walker trying to back together with her, but has fame changed him?
Meanwhile, Paige has a minor accident which leaves her questioning if she ever really wanted a flashy lifestyle or if it was what she felt she was supposed to want. Now she must figure out what she really needs to be happy and fulfilled in life. Can Paige find both her purpose & true love?
***Free in Kindle Unlimited ***
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CVXHF8DL
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208865198-falling-for-a-star-in-the-city
New review: Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers’ Favorite
Falling for a Star in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager follows Paige, a young woman navigating the highs and lows of her acting career and personal life in a bustling city. Paige is driven by her dreams of acting success and haunted by a recent breakup with Walker. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she starts an internship at a TV station, initially performing menial tasks but eventually impressing the sports department. Paige faces professional and emotional challenges, encountering Viktor, a hockey player, and seeing her ex, Walker, whose music career was inspired by their split. The story captures Paige’s inner conflicts and resilience as she navigates her evolving relationships with Walker and Viktor, culminating in moments of personal growth and professional achievements. Falling for a Star in the City is rich with themes of love, career ambitions, and personal discovery.
Krysten Lindsay Hager carefully shows the ups and downs of Paige’s feelings and choices, helping readers understand her successes and failures. The writing is both engaging and straightforward and the use of humor and introspection maintains intrigue and emotional resonance. The descriptive language and relatable dialogue enhance the characters and their experiences. The setting is the vibrant backdrop of the city, and the tone is a blend of lightheartedness and emotional depth; both capture the protagonist’s optimistic yet sometimes uncertain outlook on her future. Paige is a well-rounded character. Her interactions with Walker and Viktor are key to the story, revealing different sides of her personality and helping her grow emotionally. The other characters, like her friends and coworkers, enrich the story by showing the importance of friendship and support. The title itself aptly captures the essence of the story. The word “star” hints at Paige’s acting career and her romantic interests, giving the title an intriguing double meaning. This sets the stage for the themes of love, ambition, and self-discovery that unfold. The book also gives a clear message of resilience and being true to yourself. It highlights the importance of real connections and having the courage to chase your dreams, no matter the obstacles. Falling for a Star in the City is a compelling narrative that resonates with its authentic portrayal of personal growth and relationships.
Tagged: contemporary romance, Guest Blogger, New Adult, rockstar romance, sports romance
Posted in General | Someone Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Krysten Hager -
Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024
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/
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Tagged: contemporary romance, gay romance, Guest Blogger
Posted in Contests!, General | 11 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Jennifer Beyer - flchen - Katherine Anderson - Mary McCoy - Beckie -
Monday, July 1st, 2024
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The characters are diverse and inclusive. Readers will definitely get a taste of the Cajun and Creole cultures as well as others.
- 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.
- 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.
- The story is fast-paced. For most readers, it feels like a quick read.
- Demon Rodeo supports healthy, nontoxic relationships between consenting adults.
- 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.
- 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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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.
Tagged: contemporary romance, Guest Blogger, paranormal romance, sports romance
Posted in General | Comments Off on Genevive Chamblee: Ride ’em in (Cover Reveal!) | Link
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