Friday, December 22, 2023

Embrace the joy of the season!

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Congratulations to Lisabet Sarai on her latest release!


Blurb:

There's more than one way to beat the blues.

She’s always been proud of her sensual nature. Now it seems to have landed her in an impossible situation. Two lovers…and she wants them both.

Ruby Jones has clear priorities. Her teenage son comes first, then her struggling blues club. Her love life ranks as a distant third, despite the efforts of Zeke Chambers to convince her otherwise. Zeke's the lead singer in her house band, a devoted friend, and an occasional lover. He can drive her wild with desire, but can't get her to make a commitment. Deserted by her cheating ex-husband, Ruby's determined she's going to make it on her own. She's hot-blooded like her bluesman daddy, happy to satisfy her physical cravings, but she's not about to let any man into her heart.

The stranger who takes the stage on open mike night upsets the delicate balance in Ruby's world. From the moment Ruby sets eyes on him, Remy Saint-Michel inspires irresistible lust and inexplicable sympathy. Confused, guilty and worried about her prized independence, Ruby decides that the only way to deal with the two men is to push them both away. Zeke and Remy, however, have other ideas.

Note: "Wild About That Thing" was previously published by Totally Entwined. This new edition has been revised and re-edited.

Buy Links--

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Friday, December 15, 2023

This week in The Loft: Author D. S. Dehel

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow Extasy author, D. S.  Dehel. D. S. writes contemporary, historical, paranormal, and erotic romance. A lover of literature, good food, and the Oxford comma, the award-winning author is retired from a 26-year career as an educator. She enjoys reading, traveling, being a mom to her four adult children, and spoiling her rather pampered feline, Mr. Darcy or her equally pampered pup, Jameson, and her slightly psychotic Australian Shepherd, Piper.  D. S. adores literary allusions, writing sex scenes, and British men.

Author D. S. Dehel

S:  Good morning, D. S. It seems every time I read your social media, you are traveling to another exotic place. Thanks for taking the time to join me today! 

How do you determine the "heat level" of your stories?

D:  Like most things in my writing, I determine very little. The characters do, and that holds true for the heat levels. Now, that probably sounds very odd to people who aren’t writers, but for me anyway, I know my characters are becoming fully fleshed out when they push back against my plot.

S:  It is kind of amazing when the characters take over. I always feel like a medium when my character's words begin to flow through my fingers.

Book banning is back in the news and even some very popular romance authors' books are being removed from school libraries. How do you feel about this trend? How do we fight it?

D:  As someone who spent over 25 years as an English teacher, book banning sets my teeth on edge. There’s a reason that authors like Ray Bradbury and George Orwell wrote novels about that topic, novels that are still read today. The people who feel the need to ban or heaven forbid, burn books are frightened of the ideas contained in the pages. And here’s the thing, ideas can’t be burned. Ultimately, they’ll fail, but those of us with sense have to fight back by requesting books that are banned and buying copies from those targeted authors.

S:  I was really surprised when some popular romance writers were banned. But book banning seems like a futile move. These days, it's just as easy to get books from the local library or online. I'm convinced book banning increases sales.

Are you self-published or traditionally published? Why did you choose that path?

D:  I’m small press traditionally published. Pragmatism made me make choose this path because I knew nothing about the process other than the vague descriptions I’d read in other places. I was certain, however, that it was more than write a book and then magic happens. Personally, I needed someone to hold my hand and guide me through the publishing process. There’s so very many moving parts, and I had no hope of muddling through on my own.

S:  I'm with you. I had no understanding of the publishing process when I began, and now, I know I couldn't handle it on my own.

How do you get in the mood for writing?

D:  Coffee, lots of coffee, and curling up in my favorite chair at my desk. To be honest, writing is more about discipline than being in the mood. You have to be ready for the muses to speak.

S:  Have you ever shelved or thrown out a manuscript? 

D:   Yes, I actually have two that are shelved for the time being because they just weren’t ready for the proverbial prime time. I hope to go back and revise them in the not-too-distant future.

S:  What inspired “Christmas Wrapping?"

D:  Nostalgia would be the best way to describe it. Like Steph, I worked at a mall during the holidays in a men’s clothing store, though in 1986 instead of 1985. Couple this with my love for Rankin-Bass Christmas stop motion animation shows, especially the ones that explore the history of Santa, and you have the genesis of this story.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about “Christmas Wrapping?”

D:  The best way to read it would be to put on some Wham! and your favorite Izod shirt. Pop that collar, turn on the bubble lights on your tree, and curl up to meet Nick and Steph. Hopefully, it takes you back or at least, to an eight-bit era with fabulous music.

Here's the blurb--

Totally wrap yourself in holiday magic.

Christmas 1985 promises to be dull for Steph Marshall, a computer whiz stuck in a dead-end mall job. Then two small strangers enter her life…and kidnap her as a present for their boss, Nick Claus. When she wakes under a Christmas tree, Steph is furious at her abductors and Nick. But she soon learns that Nick is not like his father, Kris Claus. He’s charming, funny, and most of all, kind to everyone he meets. She finds herself drawn to the Santa-in-Waiting.

But things at the North Pole aren’t like the songs describe. Not everyone is a jolly old elf. This world is too different from all she knows, full of magic and reindeer shifters, and to make things worse, Nick won’t stand up to his father and make the changes the North Pole needs. Can Steph help Nick break from tradition and be the Claus he’s meant to be? Or will Christmas morning come too soon?



S:  What a fabulous storyline! You can't avoid politics, even at the North Pole. Where can readers buy your book?

D:  The buy links are available at https://linktr.ee/DSDehelWrites. In addition, the book is available at--


S:  D. S., thanks so much for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about D. S. and her books, please visit https://linktr.ee/dsdehel.
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Friday, December 8, 2023

It's release day for Broken Down Cowboy!

 


Blurb:

When is it time to take a leap of faith? When the man holding the net is a sexy, middle-aged cowboy!

Tea shop owner and pastry chef Bailey Willis is nonplussed when she finds a handsome Texan sprawled out on the floor of A Spot of Tea. Trevor Anderson, on the other hand, is instantly smitten. Some might call him a broken-down cowboy, but that doesn’t mean he lacks the ability to pursue a beautiful woman, even if she is a northerner and a Green Bay Packers fan! Unfortunately, Bailey has other things on her mind, like winning the Hales Corners, WI holiday bake-off. When Trevor provides a valuable assist, Bailey begins to regard him in a different light. Too bad he’s planning to head back to his ranch after the new year. Will Bailey agree to wear Trevor’s Texas-size ring? Will Trevor agree to settle in the frozen tundra, the site of one of the Dallas Cowboys’ most humiliating defeats? Hold on to your cowboy hats folks, this tale of romance is going to take you for a ride. Texas style!

Excerpt #1:

Before Mrs. Franklin could respond, they heard a loud crash, and then the sound of breaking glass. The floor seemed to shake.

Bailey paled and quickly curtsied. “Excuse me, please.” She hurried back into the kitchen where her chef, Spencer, held a substantial pastry brush and was swatting a man sprawled out on the floor. A black cowboy hat sat at the man’s feet. “Spencer, what the devil? We do not beat on our customers.” She extended an arm to the man and helped him to his feet. “Now, will someone please explain to me what’s going on?”

Spencer’s victim picked up his hat and slapped it on his leg, then reshaped the crown. He placed the hat on his head. His soft brown eyes, punctuated by crow’s feet that appeared carved into his tan face, gazed at Bailey, and his full lips curled up in a cocky grin. “Sorry, ma’am,” he drawled in a sexy baritone. “I didn’t mean to disturb you, but my daughter sent me to pick up her order for my granddaughter’s birthday party. I saw how crowded it was out front, so I thought it best to come ‘round to the back door.” He made a face. “Not sure how I wound up on the floor. Guess I slipped.” He shrugged and chuckled. “Guess that happens to those of us ready for the pasture.”

Bailey squelched a sigh. Pasture my eye. He couldn’t be more than fifty, around her age. This guy could be on the cover of a romance novel. He was tall and sturdy, with curly dark hair, bushy eyebrows, and just a hint of a five o'clock shadow. And that voice. She could just imagine the man whispering into her ear after a night of passionate sex. A tiny shiver raced up and down her spine. She was exiting her forties, but her body was not immune to a handsome cowboy. Damn, he was fine.

Spencer planted his hands on his skinny hips and scowled. “He didn’t knock. He just whipped open the door and barged on in. Scared the bejesus out of me. I dropped a water glass.” He shot the cowboy a dirty look. “His boots must be wet because he took a less-than-graceful tumble. You know, ass over teakettle? You may be all that in Texas, cowboy. But in Wisconsin, we wipe our feet before entering a building.” He clucked his tongue and tossed his head. “Everyone knows what happens when you track in snow.”

The cowboy held up his hands and tried to squelch a grin. “Hey, I apologize. In my defense, I knocked several times. When no one responded, I just thought it would be easier to come in…”

“Oh, for Pete’s Sake. Did you grow up in a barn?” Spencer huffed. “I need to go clean up. I’ve got enough flour on me to enter a powder puff derby.” He flounced away, muttering about uncouth cowboys with bull crap on their boots.

Bailey rolled her eyes and giggled. She smiled at the man. “I hope that pastry brush didn’t seriously injure you.”

The man chortled. “I’m a bit buttered up, but it beats my granddaughter’s fingerpaints all over my face. As long as he doesn’t force me into an oven, I think I’ll be fine.”

See more excerpts at https://www.seeliekay.com!

Book trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOPNBT7LHa4

Buy link:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Broken-Down-Cowboy

Coming soon to all booksellers!




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This week in The Loft: Author Ella Braeme!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Ella Braeme. Ella writes sweet and steamy romance. Her books are small-town romances, reflective of her own life. She takes to cities only for concerts and galleries. Her books are meant to provide short vacations from your everyday life. Ella loves to read, and putter around in her backyard. Her dog helps greatly with the garden work by supervising everything Ella does and—for the most part—not digging up her flowers.


S:  Welcome, Ella!

Are you self-published or traditionally published? Why did you choose that path?

E:  I am fully self-published. As weird as this may be, I chose to do so to have less stress. Of course, a publisher would do many things for me, but I would have to write according to their schedule. I feel way better setting my own deadlines.

S:  I admire self-publishers. I just don't have the patience for that.
 
Do you write in other genres?

E:  I write small-town romance only. As much as I love to read other genres, too, I think that sticking to one genre helps me get better and better with each book. There is a science fiction novel cruising in my mind. One day I might give in to that temptation.

S:  Do you think romance books have become “too spicy?”

E:  There are very hot romances out there, and some are most definitely too hot for my taste. I like to read what I write--sweet love stories, interspersed with a couple of intimate scenes. But although I'd have to say there are some very spicy stories out there, I've also come across clean ones. There was one that I thought to be the slowest burn ever, but all of a sudden, the heroine was pregnant – without a single kiss ever mentioned. There are so many romances by gifted authors of all heat levels and I don't think there is a shortage of sweet romance. And if your taste is different than mine: Good for you. I won't judge.

S:  Exactly. Just because a story isn't for you doesn't mean it should judged as lacking or worse, banned. 

How do you determine the "heat level" of your stories?

E:  I've struggled for a long time. Not for what I want to write, but how to give a heat level for readers. There are scales from one to five, but they all are defined differently. Still, I think my books are a solid three. It's not full-blown erotica (5), and it's not a story with plenty of bedsheet action, nor anything overly graphic (4). I'm in the next level (3)--one or two scenes with physicality that are embedded in a love story. I do call things by their names, though. I would feel weird if my characters couldn't name their body parts.

S:  I think they call that "purple prose" in sweet romance. I find it hard to write like that.

How do you get in the mood for writing?

E:  That can be a struggle sometimes. Mostly, I sit down at the desk, read what I had written the day before, take a sip of tea, and start typing. Other days, it's difficult. I just stop trying and walk my dog instead. Or take a nap. Waking up is the most creative moment I could have. Or did you specifically mean naughty scenes? Same answer. More napping, though!

S:  What inspired "Butting Heads with Her Mountain Man?"

E:  I live by the sea and love it. But having read a number of mountain man romances, I wanted to give it a go myself. You can't have a mountain man on the coast, so I moved my new series to another place. A number of dog walks and naps helped me to come up with the story itself.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Butting Heads with Her Mountain Man?"

E:  That's a tough question. It is a special book for me--the first in a new series, the grumpiest grump ever, a new place. I do hope readers will like it, too. There are so many steamy mountain man romance novellas, I fear mine is not anything special. And that's okay. It's meant to be a book that will give you a short breather from your everyday hassle. Nothing less, but then again nothing more, either.

Here's the blurb--

Could this grinch with his dark frown be the light of her life?

Grace

I need to start afresh in my small hometown. While I am happy to be back in the mountains, the efforts of my hapless family to help me settle in lead to me running zig-zag to avoid further disasters. Being scrutinized by the townsfolk doesn’t help either. Still, I set to work to establish my own accounting business with all the determination that I can muster.

I count myself lucky when I get my first client—only to find out he is as grumpy as they get—and yet, I can't deny the pull I feel towards him.

Lyle

I hate Christmas. And it shows. So I need help keeping my Christmas tree farm afloat. The accountant turns out to be an opinionated lover of all things Holiday. Still, I can't help but feel a spark of attraction for her. An attraction that I have no intention of owning up to.

(This is a heartwarming, small-town romance novella with a heroine who's determined to make her dreams come true, a grumpy mountain man who’s doing his best to keep her at arm’s length, and a nettlesome audience of townspeople buzzing with Christmas cheer, or in Lyle’s case: Christmas scowling. Light steam, HEA, no cheating, standalone.)


S:  Where can readers buy "Butting Heads with Her Mountain Man?"

E:  It is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCMWG8TY.

S:  Ella, thanks for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about Ella and her books, please visit--

Website:  https://ellabraeme.com

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ellawritesromance

Sign up for Ella's newsletter and get a free novella:
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Thursday, December 7, 2023

Are you ready?

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Friday, December 1, 2023

This week in The Loft: Author Judythe Morgan!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Judythe Morgan. Judythe writes sweet romance and romantic suspense. Her stories feature strong characters tackling real-life situations from a Christian worldview. Judythe believes books should be a break from real life and leave readers feeling happy. The romantic relationships in her books end with HEA/HFN (happily ever after/ happy for now) and there are no on-page sex scenes.  After years of roaming as an Air Force daughter and then Army wife, Texas called her home. She and her husband now live in a small town called Rose Hill. Besides writing fiction full-time, Judythe shares a weekly blog with her urban farmer/music teacher daughter at www.judythewriter.com. 


Author Judythe Morgan

S:  Good morning, Judythe and Happy Holidays!

Why did you start writing romance?

S:  I am an avid reader of romance. The more I read, the more I thought I bet I could do this. Sitting at the counter in my antique shop in the nineties, I decided to try it. Between serving customers, of course. I joined writer organizations and attended craft workshops to learn how to write fiction. I entered contests and sent submissions to romance short story magazines to see how I was doing. I was pleased and proud to have magazine publishers buy my stories and win writing contests. Since that beginning, I’ve published a six-book small town series about a preacher’s children, The Fitzpatrick Family, a four-book military romance series titled, The Promises, and two standalone romantic suspense books. A third suspense book, "Dead Body Girl,' will be released next year. 

S:  Do you write in other genres?

J:  I do love a good love story. I write small-town stories and military hero stories. Because I read and watch lots of mystery/suspense, I started writing in the romantic suspense genre. All my books are written from a Christian worldview and labeled closed door because I leave that part of the romance to the reader’s imagination.

S:  If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to write books?

J:  Yes, yes, yes! If I had it to do all over again, I’d start a lot sooner. I love what I do and I’m pleased to say, based on readers’ reviews, they think the stories are five-stars.

S:  I am also a "late bloomer!" I didn't start writing books until I stepped away from my first career.

How do you get in the mood for writing?

J:  I don’t wait for a mood or a muse. I’m a writer. I write. Some days writing comes easy. Other days not so much and I end up cutting everything I wrote the day before, but I write every day. After breakfast with my hubby-dear, I grab a cup of Irish Breakfast tea and head to my computer in my writing corner. First, I read over the last scene I wrote to reconnect with the story, and then I begin. The mood always comes.

S:  I wish I had that much discipline. I write when I feel like it. I can't force it.

Have you ever shelved or thrown out a manuscript? 

J:  I haven’t thrown out any manuscripts but I have done lots and lots of editing, such as cutting out scenes and rewriting.

S:  I haven't thrown anything out, but I have shelved plenty stories. Somedays, I'll write like the wind for hours and then the story just stops. If I'm lucky, I can pick it up the next day. However, what seems like a great story one day, isn't the next.

What inspired "Christmas Prom Rerun"?

J:  Short answer, memories. Every holiday season, my husband and I reminisce about past Christmases. This year, we talked about our Christmas proms. He suggested a prom would be a great setting for a Hallmark Christmas movie, which prompted me to think, why not a Christmas reunion novella? And thus, "Christmas Prom Rerun" was born.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Christmas Prom Rerun?"

J:  "Christmas Prom Rerun" is a sweet story of second chance love that just might bring back some high school prom memories.

Here's the blurb--

Welcome to Dawson Springs, Texas

Where dreams are big and love always wins.

Shannon O'Leary always had a plan for her life: escape Dawson Spring and strike it rich as a personal trainer to the stars. Her plans crashed and burned when her two-timing husband squandered every penny of her hard-earned savings.

Broke and divorced, Shannon retreats to her parents’ home to regroup. She takes a teaching job at the high school she once attended. Unfortunately, that also means facing Tyler Evans, the high school sweetheart she jilted, along with responsibility for organizing the annual Christmas Prom.

Being in the familiar place where they’d fallen in love becomes a challenging walk down Memory Lane. Shannon knows she needs to put her life back together before she thinks about love again. She believes she doesn't deserve a second chance. But she also knows she never stopped loving Tyler.

Can she put the pieces of her heart and life together when her heart insists on falling in love all over again with him?


S:  I love these second chance stories! Where can readers buy your book?

J:  It's available at--


Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195082507-christmas-prom-rerun

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/christmas-prom-rerun-by-judythe-morgan

S:  Judythe, thanks for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about Judythe and her books, please visit--

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