It’s been a little more than a month since I began self-isolating. I’m an introvert, so staying home isn’t that difficult for me. It’s the stress surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic that I’m having a harder time with. It’s the worry about family and friends, the wondering when this thing will finally end and what it will mean for the world when it does.

There is no going back. This pandemic will change us all, not only individually but the entire world.

Humans are creatures of habit, and me more than most. I miss the little things in my weekly routine—breakfast out, running errands, stopping in at the coffeeshop/bookstore, going out for lunch and a movie, seeing my family. Little things, and certainly not important in the grander scheme of what is going on right now, but I still miss them.

But there are things I am doing to keep my spirits up and find joy. If you’re struggling with stress, there are things you can do that might help. First and foremost is to be gentle with yourself. These are unprecedented times. We don’t exactly have a playbook for this.

1. Call family or friends. Being alone can be tough for some people. I talk to someone in my family daily. Some days, I talk to all of them. It keeps us connected even though we can’t be together.

2. Discover a new show on TV, Netflix, or another streaming service. The last couple of Saturdays, I’ve binged on Netflix shows—Next in Fashion and Messiah. Two totally different kinds of shows. I’ve made Saturday a sleepy, do-nothing-much-of-anything day. If you have kids, it’s tougher, but maybe you can find things to watch as a family.

3. Exercise. It’s tough right now with having to stay inside. I’ve started walking around my apartment and I walk whenever I’m on the phone. If you have a yard, getting outside will certainly help. It’s cold here and there is still snow on the ground.

4. We all want to stay informed, but there comes a time when you need to turn off the TV and shut down social media. I’ve started turning on music. It can be soothing. If you want to rock out or have a dance party, that’s good too. Whatever works for you.

5. Journal. Get your thoughts down. It’s a way to help you work though what you’re feeling and going though. It can also be a record of this historic time that we’re living through.

6. Meditate. There are plenty of free programs or you can search YouTube. Or you can simply turn everything off, close your eyes, and simply breathe.

7. Cook or bake, if you’re so inclined. It’s a great activity if you have kids at home. I don’t do much of it because it’s only me at home. Too many cookies is not a good thing for my waistline.

8. Go online and check out some of the free video tours of famous museums and galleries being offered.

9. Find a new hobby or pick up an old one. If you’re not sure what you’d like to do, go online and look around. Between Pinterest and YouTube there’s not much you can’t find. And if you don’t have the money for a hobby, it’s still fun to watch other people and see what they’re creating. My sister has pulled out all her partially finished projects and is either finishing them or using the materials for a new one.

10. Housework. Yes, I said it. If you’ve been putting off a project, now may be the time to tackle it. Maybe not major home renovation but cleaning out a closet or the garage. I figure when this is over there are going to be tons of yard sales as people unload stuff they no longer want.

11. Draw a hot bath, sink into the water, close your eyes, and relax.

12. And finally, my go-to when my stress level is high is books. I wouldn’t make it without them. I’ve read some new ones and gone back and read old favorites.

If you like paranormal romance and are looking for a new read, you might want to check out Fury Unleashed, the first book in my new Forgotten Brotherhood series.

Fury Unleashed
Forgotten Brotherhood, Book One

Maccus Fury, a fallen angel, is trying hard to keep his sanity. Seems being an assassin might be catching up with him. Now, Heaven, or Hell, has sent a beautiful assassin to kill him. Lovely. She’s pretending to seduce him, and he’s okay with that. She’s smart and snarky—but she has no idea what she’s walked into. And he’s more than peeved that they only sent one person. They’re going to need an army if they want him dead.

Morrigan Quill is one of Hell’s bounty hunters. She sold her soul to keep her sister safe, and now she’s working off her contract by catching bad guys and dragging them back to hell. When Lucifer makes her a new offer––that’s definitely too good to be true—she can’t say no. All she has to do is kill a powerful and crazy-hot fallen angel, who will totally kick her ass in battle.

Good thing he won’t see what’s coming next.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084M1NQ88
Entangled: https://entangledpublishing.com/fury-unleashed.html
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fury-unleashed-n-j-walters/1136398720
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fury-unleashed-1
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/fury-unleashed/id1498471438

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, 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 me at:
Website: https://www.njwalters.com
Blog: https://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

UPDATE: The winner is…Michelle Willms!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2020

While attending a writing retreat several years ago, Sir Stephan MacQuistan woke me up, told me that he was a Knights Templar, and demanded that I write his story. Stephan’s story turned out to be, Forbidden Legacy, where he meets the heroine, Katherine, and became the first of five books in The Forbidden Series.

I’ve loved writing each story in The Forbidden Series, the inspiration for each as unique as the characters. In Forbidden Knight, I had the vision of the heroine, Alesone, shooting an arrow a breath’s width before the hero, Sir Thomas, into a tree. The idea made me smile as I knew it’d take a strong heroine to do such an outrageous act, one that’d outrage the hero with her daring, but also leaving him, however much he wished otherwise, to admire her daring. At that moment, I knew I’d found the perfect inciting incident to brainstorm the remainder of the story.

The inspiration from Forbidden Vow came when after I gave a key note speech in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As we were sitting around the dinner table, the wonderful couple I stayed with told me about how early in the 1900s, women would write to sailors. If the service member had a girlfriend or pen pal, he’d pass the letter to a sailor without either. I found that bit of information interesting, and then thought, what my hero comes across his friend who is mortally wounded, who is now, unknown to his former friend, an enemy, who is carrying a missive to a noble that he’s the man’s daughter’s betrothed. The hero realizes the man’s intended is Lady Gwendolyn, whose castle the hero is trying to infiltrate for information for King Robert Bruce in preparation for an upcoming attack. When his former friend dies, Sir Cailin takes the missive and pretends to be her betrothed with the intent that once he’s gained the necessary information about the stronghold, he will leave. The moment the idea came to mind, I knew it was the perfect base to begin brainstorming for Forbidden Vow.

I’m always trying to think of unique ways for the hero and heroine to meet. A thought came to mind while I was out walking, “What if the heroine, Elspet, robs the hero, Sir Cailin, then due to circumstance, is forced to return to the hero and convince him to help her in her goal?” And, the idea for Forbidden Alliance was born.

I loved writing The Forbidden Series. Each story means so much to me, so when it came time to write the last book, I wanted to ensure it was very special, more so as it’s dedicated to my amazing daughter. I had a lot to achieve in Forbidden Realm, I needed to find a storyline worthy of the series, plus create a strong heroine for Rónán. Hence, Lathir’s character was born. I was blessed in that Lathir came to me a complete character, intelligent, passionate, and determined. The perfect match for Rónán. So, I devised a plot where they faced numerous and at times seemingly impossible odds, but in the end, not only allowed them a happily ever after, but a complex story laden with surprises, that I sincerely hope readers enjoy.

About the Author

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series have been translated into five languages. Diana has spoken at the Library of Congress, Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and appeared in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happy Ever After,” MSN.com, Atlantic County Women Magazine, and Texoma Living Magazine.

After her career in the Navy, Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world. After the release of the bestselling MacGruder Brothers series, The Oath Trilogy, and the first four books of The Forbidden Series, she’s thrilled with the release of book #5, Forbidden Realm.

Diana looks forward to the years of writing ahead and meeting the amazing people who will share this journey.

Contest

***ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Forbidden Realm, The Story, The Series Inspiration,’ on Delilah’s blog between 15 April 2020 – 26 April 2020. The winner will receive a mug and tote.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
Forbidden Series: Forbidden Legacy/Forbidden Knight/Forbidden Vow/Forbidden Alliance/Forbidden Realm

UPDATE: The winner is Debra Guyette!
*~*~*

ZERO HOUR (Heroes Rising, Book #2)
They are always heroes, whatever the situation
**Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of DESPERATE DECEPTION (Heroes Rising, Book #1)

My love affair with SEALs began… I think with the movie about them, but then I watched the series on television every time it was shown. And of course, now we have SEAL Team, to which I am addicted. How can you not be in love with dedicated warriors whose motto is: “The only easy day was yesterday.”

I’ve been writing about SEALs off and on for a long time, as part of my fascination with military heroes. But then I met former SEAL sniper Jack Carr, himself a best-selling author of The Terminal List series, and I was inspired even more. I discovered they are heroes in many, many ways. Especially as they struggle to fit into society again. Things change, life changes, and they have to find a way to change with it.

That’s how my series HEROES RISING was born. I wanted stories to show the struggle to find new footing yet at the same time be dedicated to the ideals of the SEALs. Sheriff Alex Rossi is rebuilding his office in the Crazy Mountains of Colorado, an office that was riddled with corruption, except for one deputy.

Slowly, he has reached out to other SEALs out of the service and searching for a new niche in life. I hope I am able to show the quality of these men despite their circumstances, and how that always rises to the surface.

You can find all the books in Elle James’ Brotherhood Protectors World.

Oh, and one other thing. I held a contest in my reader group to have a character in one of my books named for you. The winner is a longtime fan, Teresa Fordice. I hope I did her proud.

ZERO HOUR

Teresa Fordice didn’t want to go, rogue but.…

Arms manufacturer Reed Morgan’s secret money man is dead and wild rumors of a dangerous plot are floating. Tasked with finding out what it is, ATFE agent Teresa Fordyce must flee for her life. She ignores the order to come in from the field, instead she runs to Montana and the place where Morgan’s secret plan is being hatched. But finding Jesse Donovan there, the man who walked out of her life, complicates things even more.

He might have left the SEALs but the memories of battle still haunt him…

The recurring nightmares made Jesse Donovan walk away from the best woman he ever met but now Fate has thrown them together and he has a chance to redeem himself. Can he get past the memories to help her on her mission to take down a man who may be plotting against the country?

Zero Hour…

What is it? When is it? What is Reed Morgan planning? Can Terry and Jesse find out in time and can they stop him? And what will happen with them after that? Can he walk away again? Will she let him?

Get Zero Hour here!

Excerpt from Zero Hour

“Have a seat.” He indicated one of the two chairs in front of the desk.

“Am I in trouble?” she asked at once.

“Only if you say no.”

She studied his face, trying to discern if he was kidding or not.

“Okay, tell me what’s up.”

“We have a problem, and we’re running out of solutions.”

Terry lifted an eyebrow. “What kind of problem and how can I possibly solve it?”

“We’ve had our eye on Reed Morgan for some time. You know who he is, right?”

“Yes, I’ve read about him. Former military. Left the Army and opened an arms manufacturing company, which has grown to be a monster. Lots of guesses on where his financing came from. Outspoken critical of the government, which he calls too liberal.”

Max rubbed his jaw. “That’s the guy.”

“Then yes, when I joined the ATFE I was aware he had been a priority for some time.”

“Yeah, we’ve had our eye on him, watching his activities. The watch on him has been bumped up several notches in the past year. You know Morgan is considered a hard-liner. Among many other things, he’s been lobbying hard to overturn some of the recently passed gun laws, and his disdain for the government is well-known.”

“The whole agency knows Morgan Arms Manufacturing is one of the largest businesses of its kind in this country. They also own retail stores, plus they supply some of the arms to our military and even more go overseas. Lots of rebellions going on in the world. But I’m guessing you called me in here because something has pushed this to the forefront.”

“It has.”

“I know he’s spoken loudly about what he sees as the failure of America to enforce its laws, and the subsequent rise of crime.” Terry shook her head. “About the increasing numbers of what he called ‘soft’ laws that barely punished the criminals. But speaking out isn’t a crime, although for some people I think it should be. So, what’s changed here?”

“Our sources tell us Morgan Arms is suddenly buying a lot more steel, plastic, and aluminum than usual,” he told her, “so a lot of questions have floated in the air. That was the first thing that caught the director’s eye.”

“Has his client list increased?” Terry asked. “Have his orders from overseas clients gotten bigger?” Max rubbed his jaw. “After all, there is always a rebellion going on someplace and some army, legitimate or otherwise, that needs weapons. Or maybe they’re preparing to release a newly designed instrument. Or finally, is there another reason we don’t know that means trouble for everyone? I agree none of those possibilities are appealing. That’s for damn sure. But buying more raw materials and railing against the government isn’t a crime. If it was the jails would be full all the time.”

“True,” Jaeger agreed. “But here’s something you don’t know. For some time, Morgan’s been gathering a group together, first his closest friends and then people who we think share his beliefs about the way this country is run. You know there have been attacks by these off-the-wall militia groups and, based on what we learned, we’re afraid Morgan’s plotting another one. Anyway, over a year ago we managed to plant someone in Morgan’s group. We needed to find out what the hell was happening. He’s deep undercover, and sometimes we have to wait weeks for a word from him, which doesn’t help..”

“Damn!”

“No kidding. When my guy does get word out to me, he says Morgan’s running this like it’s the military, which is what we figured. I think Morgan’s made this group his own private militia, kind of an outlaw posse comitatus. He also has three or four specially selected men who he calls his ‘guard’ who watch the rest of them like hawks. He’s been making trips recently to the land he owns in Montana, a spread in the Crazy Mountains. Each time, he takes a few of his group with him. Our undercover got taken there once. He managed to get a message out that they train. All day. Every day. Exercise. Firearms. Hand-to-hand combat. And they study explosives.”

“Explosives.”

“Yeah, but they don’t actually detonate anything. I’m sure the neighbors would complain.”

“Still… Are they preparing for war?”

“That’s what we need to know. And it’s been a while since our guy communicated with us.”

“He must be in danger. If Morgan finds out who he is, he’ll kill him.”

*~*~*

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I’m excited to be spending today at the blog home of Delilah Devlin, talking about my new release, TENDER MISDEMEANORS.

The book is set in northwestern Montana, in the Kalispell area. For anyone who hasn’t traveled there, you have missed some beautiful vistas: the Bitterroot Mountains, Flathead Lake, and of course, just north of Whitefish, Glacier National Park. The area is full of beautiful forests, and this is what brings our hero and heroine together.

Caryn Orlane is an enforcement officer with the federal Bureau of Land Management. This agency may sound familiar, because the BLM has had several well-publicized skirmishes with citizens, like the Nevada standoff with the Bundy family in 2014 and another in Oregon in 2016. Politics has more and more become part of the cases the BLM must handle.

Levi Bradshaw is an environmental impact consultant who grew up in the Bitterroot and is fiercely protective of the old forests, leading a monkey-wrenching group that breaks the law to discourage loggers from pillaging the forests.

Throw in a trouble-making pagan group, the Earthenkrafters, the Native American Kootenai protecting tribal sacred places, and white supremacists and other hate groups like the Pioneer Little Europe cults, and you can see why Caryn has her hands full, even before she meets Levi.

So, in a story torn from modern headlines, when these two people meet at gunpoint, it becomes clear their love story will be one full of controversy and danger. I hope you enjoy it.

Tender Misdemeanors

Caryn Orlane has law enforcement in her blood; her father was a cop, and his father, too. She’s a federal agent in northwest Montana, protecting the old forests and keeping the peace.

Levi Bradshaw also believes in protecting the forests but has a very different MO. He’s the leader of a group of eco-warriors, determined to save the trees of the Bitterroot by legal—and illegal—means.

When they meet in the woods at gunpoint, their encounter ignites a spark of interest, despite operating on opposite sides of the law. When their worlds turn on them, they only grow closer. If they don’t work together, can either survive?

Excerpt from Tender Misdemeanors

A dog barked, and she froze. She spotted the animal across the clearing, at least three feet tall, short russet hair with a brown nose and amber eyes. It appeared to be mostly muscle, except for the whorled ridge of hair along its midback. No question the dog had seen her as well. Still barking, it bolted toward her at an alarming rate of speed.

Instinct drove her into retreat; she wouldn’t shoot the dog unless she had to. Quick flashes of the scene as she ran showed the men snatching their equipment, scattering into the woods.

Damn, damn, damn!

Watching over her shoulder, she missed a thick fallen log in her path and tripped over it, falling hard on the ground, her breath snatched away for a few moments. The impact knocked the gun from her hand, and she struggled to retrieve it as the dog came crashing through the brush. It landed squarely on her, still barking, its nails driving into her back, its hot breath in her ear. She expected to feel the sharp bite of teeth at any moment. Desperate, her fingers quested forward for the gun.
A shrill whistle sounded off to her right. “Rosie, what have you got there?”

The dog bounded off her. Caryn lurched for the gun, then shoved herself up into a seated position, holding her weapon in both hands. The person who had spoken appeared in her sights. Aware of the panting animal not three feet away, she couldn’t spare a look, her attention focused on the man.

Nearly six feet tall (or was it just her perspective from the ground?), he stared down at her, seemingly in shock. Thick dark hair lay tousled across his brow, as though he’d just removed one of those ski masks. He wore a simple red plaid flannel shirt and denim jeans, with heavy nut-colored work boots. His build was athletic, and she guessed there was plenty of muscle under the fabric of his shirt and his padded black ski vest. He could have been a model in one of those outdoorsy catalogs, a perfect example of a rugged, handsome western mountain man.

At first, his warm brown eyes captured her interest. But second, his quick movement brought a handgun of his own from behind him, perhaps tucked into his belt, and he pointed it directly at her.

Links for purchase
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Other: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/

About the Author

Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years. Currently a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, she loves her time in the smoky Blue Ridge mountains. One of her novellas, THAT GIRL’S THE ONE I LOVE, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter, who is the youngest of her seven children, two crotchety old cats, and five kittens of various ages.

Website  https://Alana-lorens.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Email: contact@alana-lorens.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alana-lorens

UPDATE: The winner is Colleen C!
*~*~*

Some call it serendipity and some call it a crazy random happenstance… Me? I’m a child of the 80s, so I just take a page from the Hannibal playbook and say, “I love it when a plot comes together!”

When it comes to writing, I’m a Plantser, meaning that I plan some of the things in the book and pants (fly by the seat of my pants) for the rest of it.

For Justice for Hildie there were a few things that were set in stone from the beginning. It certainly wasn’t the cover. There are FOUR distinctly different covers that I created for this book and the manic cover making stopped there. It was like I finally got the “feel” for the story.

One of the things I couldn’t change was the name of the Heroine. She was the BFF in Justice for Sloane. Hildie was the best friend missing a filter. She was a sorority girl with a serious love for high-end shoes. There was no one more devoted to Sloane than Hildie! (Until Vicente Bravo, uber-sexy FBI Agent, that is!)
Hildie was colorful in so many ways, and her name was just a part of it. Her first name was inspired by author Hildie McQueen. I just loved the sound of the name and the way it looked in print! The character’s last name was Faraday.

I honestly do NOT remember where that came from, but it was set in stone when Sloane was released as a book. And yes, she’ll change it when she marries Texas Ranger Jake McGowan somewhere in the future of the San Antonio First Responders series, but FARADAY it is.

And when I was writing the book there came a time when I had to separate the characters for the plot. And one of the plot points was how-off-the-grid the heroine was at that point. And I knew there was a name for a certain product that she’d have to use, and I went looking for it online and WHAM…

What?

Then I had to wonder… did I give her the surname Faraday because I knew in my head how prophetic the name would be? Or did I just give her the name because it was just cool?

Maybe the nebulous cloud of creativity in my head just wanted to have a good ol’ chuckle? I don’t know.

I’m just not going to question it, because it works!!

Giveaway

I’m curious… Has there been a time when something random fell into place and made it seem like the world had your back? What was it? If not… Tell me a unique name (male or female) that you think should be in a book.

Prize — Winner’s choice of one of my single title ebooks from https://www.amazon.com/Reina-Torres/e/B01GF5UIK0

Justice for Hildie

Hildie Faraday thought her life was full. Coordinating care for the clients at the Helping Hearts shelters and community center is a job and a half, but when a client asked her to come to support her at a hearing, she’s right there to help. They teach women to be prepared for anything, but Hildie is shocked when she ends up in the crosshairs of a client’s abusive husband.

Texas Ranger Jake McGowan thanked his lucky stars that he was in the right place at the worst time. Working in Law Enforcement in San Antonio, he knew all about Hildie and the help she provides for women in need. Seeing her put herself between a woman and her gun-wielding husband brought his own feelings into the foreground.

Once he had Hildie in his life, he wasn’t going to let her slip away from him. Jake’s doing everything he can to show her how much she means to him, and Hildie’s giving it right back. It doesn’t take long for life to throw a bunch of obstacles in their way, and Hildie into the trunk of a car.

Jake will pull together local law enforcement officers to help him rescue Hildie and get her back into his loving arms. Will they get there in time?

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086VKDMQH/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/reina-torres

Can a hunky, blond first responder dude fall crazily
in love with a Plain Jane, curvy academic geek who’s
totally ‘over’ romance?

I love my beta readers. They inspired me to write Sven’s story in February of this year. Though truth be told, I was already in love with him myself!

Sven appeared briefly in SKIPPING CHRISTMAS, my full-length, quirky, HOT contemporary romance about Kelley Dunham and Dante Knight, a Canadian hockey brat and sports star who comes back home to the tiny mountain community of Terrence Point, B.C., to claim the woman he loves. (FYI – it doesn’t go well, LOL. At all.)

But then Lisa R. wrote me this:

Sven… what a genuinely nice guy. He was so sweet to Kelley when she turned up at the dance. I hope you are planning to write a book about him as I would love to know his story and find out who he gets his HEA with. Also, it would be a great opportunity to catch up with Kelley and Dante. No pressure .. just a suggestion!

And Terri (Love you, Girl!) wrote something similar!

To be honest, though, I already knew, once I wrote Skipping Christmas….

I was in love with Sven myself.

Sometimes these characters—I tell you!—already exist in the ether, and just need us authors to listen to them and let them cross over into our world.

You want to hear about Sven, you say? (What can I say – social isolating is making me delusional…or yeah. More so than before. (Shaddap, whoever mumbled that. LOL) But let’s run with it.)

Pull up a chair, Friend.

A golden boy ski patroller living in Terrence Point, British Columbia, working at SNOWY PEAKS, the community’s ski resort, he is a really nice guy. Yeah, he’s gorgeous. The typical, breathtaking, beautiful man. Chiseled, hunky, blue eyes gazing out over the snow fields, with his adorbs puppy Jake, a tiny Lab and an avalanche dog in training, by his side.

Sven’s enjoyed SO MANY exotic lovelies when he’s off shift. Women from all over the world. Athletic, hard-core skiiers, who seem to suit him.

BUT….

What if a basically dowdy, plain, curvy woman jettisoned into his life? With her own agenda…none of which included him?

Could they….

Would there be any chance…

Or would he just do the shallow thing?

Keara Faye Linn is strong-willed. On her own, she’s scrapped for everything she’s had in life. The job she’s forced to take for two weeks as Sven’s assistant is just a stepping stone while she gets her masters, and a way to get her out of Toronto, briefly. She is a bit of a jerk, honestly, at first, and doesn’t take the job seriously.

But when a threat from the past slams into her life….

And a bunch of sick kids need help….

And she’s forced to live with Sven in his self-proclaimed ‘humble’ cabin for a few weeks…

Well, you do the math. 

When You Came just poured out of me. I guess Sven and Keara’s story just HAD to be told. There are lots of moments of lightness and levity, but it’s not a simple melding, and it’s not a short story. Here’s the blurb!

And don’t forget, it’s $2.99 for a limited time. Go here to grab it for yourself!

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/When-You-Came-Military-Romance-ebook/dp/B086R6ZF4J/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1586362635&refinements=p_27%3ASusan+Saxx&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Susan+Saxx

Kobo, Barnes & Noble, IBook and Other Retailers — https://books2read.com/u/bOow8A

When You Came

Book 10 in Susan Saxx’s Real Men Series
$2.99 until April 21!
Snowy Slopes. Faithful Dogs. Sudden Intrigue.

Golden Boy Ski Patroller meets Plain Jane Geek.

Military reservist Sven Golden works as a first responder for the Canadian Ski Patrol, saving lives and training avalanche dogs in stunning British Columbia on Canada’s West Coast.

But after the woman he thought he’d marry does indeed get married—only to someone else—and he’s forced to take the harrowing new management job at Snowy Peaks Chalet, things go downhill fast. And when he’s asked to head the resort’s new Valentine’s Day Extravaganza instead of working on the slopes, protecting people, he’s had enough.

But when he meets organizational whiz Keara Linn, a Torontonian desperate for the 2-week temporary job as his assistant, things just don’t add up. Very plain, curvy, yet smart and focused, she’s hiding secrets.

But the passion and heart she’s buried deep inside finally explodes his world. Now nothing is going to shut that down—or his feelings. Not even a crazed madman who is determined to bring revenge on Keara and her guardian dog, the one she loves with all her heart.

And when it’s time? The whole quirky Terrence Point community will have something to say…about everything.

*******

And by the way, if you’d like to read Kelley and Dante’s story first, SKIPPING CHRISTMAS….(it’s Book 1 of the Terrence Point Location and WHEN YOU CAME is Book 2, go here to get your copy!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Skipping-Christmas-Real-Men-Book-ebook/dp/B082H97SK1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=susan+saxx+skipping&qid=1586367821&sr=8-1

Kobo, Barnes & Noble, IBook and Other Retailers — https://books2read.com/u/m2rzjk

Psst. Book 3 is on its way!

Big Virtual Hugs,
Susan

Vonna Harper isn’t the real me. I created her to hide behind.

Vonna is a sexually liberated writer of many erotica and erotic titles who gives her imagination free rein while the real me writes much tamer stuff. For a long time I tried to keep the two separate, but today it doesn’t matter. Vonna’s creator needs to come out of the shadows and share something deeply personal about coronavirus’s impact on our family.

I suspect everyone who reads this has been touched by the pandemic in some way. Here’s my story. A little over a year ago the adult son I live with was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. We (yes, both of us) have been through a year plus of hell highlighted by chemo, radiation, heart damage, two infections, three trips to the ER, countless blood tests, and countless sleepless nights.

He was scheduled to have the tumor cut out on March 26. We live over four hours away from the big city cancer center where the surgery would take place. He and his brother, my other son, insisted that Mom not subject her ancient immune system to what we acknowledge is a greater risk of catching the virus. My other son, an educator (what he’s going through is a story of its own), insisted on going with his brother and staying for the approximately five days he’d be hospitalized. I stayed home with the dogs and my thoughts.

The morning of the trip (the day before the surgery) my sons had just gotten on the road when the surgeon called to inform us that the operation was still a go and she was fighting to keep it on the schedule.

Four hours later as they exited the freeway, a second call came. Surgery had been canceled. No rescheduling until the hospital is no longer full of coronavirus patients and dedicated medical professionals.

My sons came home. We wait.

As almost an aside, I promise my erotica is a different experience from what you just read. For proof, I offer a couple of recent titles that include spanking scenes.  His Purchase and His Filly take place in The Society which is made up of Elites and Others. In other words, dominants and submissives.

Alia is an Other, a woman with secrets and few rights in a dark world controlled by The Society.

Kade is an Elite, a wealthy, powerful man who knows how to get the ultimate performance from Alia. Whatever it takes, he will bring his sexy, strong-headed acquisition into line.

When she defies him, Kade repeatedly applies his large hand to her bare bottom until it burns and she’s reduced to tears. Until she can’t fight her erotic reaction.

The next time she defies him, she refuses to explain why. He commands her to strip naked and submit to another harsh spanking. As if that isn’t enough, she has no choice but to let him place a butt plug inside her.

Alia wants to hate Kade for doing these shameful things to her, but his firm handling arouses her in ways she can’t deny or resist.

It will take all her resolve not to admit her deepest secret to this man who owns her.

Get your copy here!

Kali has no choice but to work for Boden, a wealthy, powerful Elite. As a vulnerable Other in a dark world of control and controlled, Kali knows her submissive position within the Society. But her vow to do everything she can to protect his valuable racehorses puts her on a collision course with the man who in essence owns her.

Boden decides to discipline the lovely, headstrong young woman via a hard bare bottom spanking. To her shock, she’s deeply aroused. She can’t hide her erotic response which he uses to his advantage.

The lessons continue to take place. Boden doesn’t hesitate to order her to pull down her pants and expose her vulnerable, naked ass. She shudders with every blow then moans when his all-knowing hands slide between her legs. She can’t stop him, can only submit.

Surrender.
Experience.
Want.

Wonder if anything will be left of her.

Get your copy here!