RELEASE BLITZ - ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - INTIMATE CHOICE (Empire Blue, #7) by DC Stone

Intimate Choice

Empire Blue, #7

by DC Stone

Date of Publication: July 10th 2026

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Genre: Romantic Suspense

ISBN: 978-0-3695-1480-6

ASIN: B0GX2VK1HW

Number of pages: 306

Word Count: 87,000

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Tagline: Real world, Real Men, Real Crimes

BLURB

Ava Larsen has spent her adult life trying to outrun the shadow of the girl she used to be: a bully whose mistake cost her sister’s life, and one who pushed away a boy they both loved. But her redemption is cut short when her latest investigation into a high-profile money laundering ring turns deadly.

After surviving a brutal kidnapping, Ava’s only hope for survival is Michael Gonzalez, a Secret Service Agent fueled by a decade of bitterness. Mike doesn’t believe Ava has changed, and he certainly hasn’t forgiven her for the accident that killed his first love. But with a corrupt government official determined to silence her, Mike is ordered to protect her at all costs.

From the streets of New York to the corridors of power in Washintong D.C., the two are hunted by an enemy that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried. As the investigation reaches a breaking point, Mike and Ava must navigate a minefield of political betrayal and personal trauma. In a race against time, they’ll have to trust each other to survive—or let the sins of their past bury them both.

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Excerpt:
“Get to the point. What’s up?”
She sighed. “I don’t even know where to start.” The watch on her wrist buzzed with a notification. She checked it, and her mouth tightened into a thin line. “This case looks to be seriously fucked up. Not a whole lot to tell you right now other than there were several, and I mean we’re talking numbers in the teens, bodies found in this old house. Owner is this guy everyone said was super quiet, always kept his yard clean, etcetera, etcetera. From what the neighbors are saying, no one would have thought any of the horrors we’ve found were happening in this house. Talking victims, all women, completely cut up. Sometimes methodically so. As if he had all the time in the world to do the perfect job.”
Mike grimaced. “This is why I do protection and white-collar fraud. I could never sit through those forensic shows you and Dwayne used to watch.”
Charlie threw him a saucy smile, then went serious again. “Early this morning, a woman actually got out of the house. Naked as the day she was born. Ran a few houses down and collapsed on the porch but not before she rang the doorbell.”
The mental image she painted had him wincing. “Jesus. Is she okay?”
Charlie took a deep breath and let it out super slow as if she was preparing for something. He braced, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding. Whatever she was about to say was going to mess him up entirely. That’s why she’d been taking for-fucking-ever to get to the point. It’s why she was here in person instead of calling him on the phone. It’s why Dwayne had sent her. She’d always had ways of calming Mike down, even under the tensest of situations.
Except for that one time. He shook his head, refusing to think about that now. It’d been years since he’d seen her.
“Who was the woman?” he asked, his voice rough. But he knew. The answer was written all over Charlie’s face, from the grimace to the pity stamped across her faery features.
“The woman was Ava.”
Her name spoken was like someone socked him in the gut. He let out a rush of air, expelling oxygen immediately, as if it needed a place to escape. Kind of like his body was fighting to do, too. It was amazing how one’s body reacted to news or the presence of someone who’d made part of their life hell. That whole fight-or-flight response was true, and as he thought of the Ava of his childhood, and both the sister and the murderer of the first woman he loved, his body was warring with itself, trying to figure out which response it wanted to go with.
The urge to flee was so strong, he actually took a step back. Charlie’s knowing gaze sharpened on him, and she sighed, the sound coming out with a lot of pity he didn’t need. It only served to piss him off.
“Look, maybe we can find someone else,” Charlie said, shaking her head, then did a double take at something over his shoulder and tossed a glare at the women still admiring them from afar. “Those fucking women…”
It was at that moment his mother decided to make an appearance and came storming out of the house having found her shoes. His normally very demure mom looked spitting mad, her red face a mask of irritation and anger.
“Shit,” he said.
Charlie chuckled low, following the path his Ma took to the garden hose, who then bent and turned the water on.
“Shit,” he said again, ignoring Charlie’s outright laughter now. He started toward Ma, intent on intercepting her before she could open the hose up on the neighbors. He knew her plan almost as if she’d put an announcement in the paper. “You could help, you know,” he said to Charlie.
She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “Not a chance. This is the best entertainment I’ve had in ages. Come on, don’t be a spoilsport. Let Karen teach those hens a lesson.”
He picked up his pace to a jog as his Ma started across the lawn, her intent now screamingly clear. That the ladies hadn’t moved and were still watching on with faces of various bemusement was baffling. “Ma,” he called. “Come on now, don’t.”
“Michael James,” she said, and he winced. “Go put a shirt on. I’m about to teach the girls some manners.”
Standing behind her in the doorway was his father in a similar pose as Charlie had been, crossed arms and a smile stamped across his face.
“Pops, come on,” he called. “Don’t just stand there.”
Daniel Gonzalez shook his head, his chest moving with a chuckle Mike couldn’t hear. “I’m not getting in the middle of this. Anyone want some popcorn?”
He reached his mother just as she lifted the hose and pointed, then squeezed the handle, causing a spray of what had to be icy cold water shoot out and over the women sitting along the edge of the lawn. Shrieks and screams lit up the neighborhood before he could grab the nozzle and push it down. The smile on his mother’s face was the loudest of them all.
“That should teach them,” she said, and he sighed.
Approximately thirty minutes later, Mike took a deep breath, calling on patience and strength, the confidence he’d grown as he went through weeks of training at FLETC and the Secret Service Training Academy. His hands were sweating like they normally did when he did any kind of public speaking, something he’d been struggling for years to overcome. If he’d been in the gym he normally went to, he’d be able to put some chalk on his hands to soak up the moisture, but as it was, all he could do was rub them on his light-wash 501s.
After his mother had doused the neighborhood watch ladies with water earlier, he’d gone inside to change and had put on jeans and a pale baby-blue button-down. He was by no means wanting to impress the woman on the other side of the door, but he couldn’t escape the feeling driving inside of him. The one that told him he wasn’t a young teen able to be pushed around anymore. That he couldn’t care less what she thought of him.
But all of that was a lie, and he knew it. He just refused to admit it.
Ava Larsen had an impact on his life and who he’d grown to become.
He was here at the hospital at his brother’s request to consult on a case, apparently. There was nothing saying he had to spend any length of time with her at all. He’d listen to what his brother had to say, would hear her version of events, then he’d make a recommendation for what they should do next. That was it.
With another deep, calling-on-calm breath, he pushed and held the door open for Charlie, keeping his eyes downcast as she entered. He blew out a breath through pursed lips, then stepped inside and lifted his gaze to meet the sky-blue ones of his childhood bully.

 

 

About the Author: 

D.C. “Desi” Stone is a best-selling romance author and full-time fraud investigator. She lives in the northeast with her incredibly supporting husband, two kids, a cat, and the ever-growing family of dogs.

After serving eight years of service with the United States Air Force, she went on to transition into the world of financial crimes and became a lead investigator for many years.

Reading has always been a passion of hers, getting lost in a good, steamy romance is one of her favorite past times. She soon after discovered her own love for writing and recreating stories and characters in her head. Her writing concentrates on romantic with specifics in paranormal, suspense, and erotica.

Now, when she isn’t trying to solve a new puzzle in the world of fraud, she is engulfed with coffee, her laptop, and all those crazy characters in her head. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hudson Valley Romance Writers, New Jersey Romance Writers, RomVets, RWA Kiss of Death, and the Liberty State Fiction Writers. She served as the 2014 NJRW Vice President and Conference Chair. Come stop by on Facebook, Twitter, or her website and say hello!

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with . . . V.G. Harrison . . . 

LIGHTNING ROUND

What genre do you read?

I read a little of everything, but the one I gravitate to the most is Fantasy Romance. 

What genre do you write?

I write a little of a few genres to include Paranormal Romance and Erotic Romance but my go-to and what I’m known for is Romantic Suspense. 

What was the first book you fell in love with?

Twilight. Hand down, I’m a Twilight girl. And yes, I’m team Edward. ☺ 

What was a book you said you would never pick up again?

While I love the series, it’s probably the Divergent series last book. I was so angry with that author that I didn’t want to read it again. 

Which fiction character do you love?

Is this where I say I’m a Rhysand fan? And Xaden? And Judd? I could go on…

What beverage do you drink while reading?

I always have water by my side. A hydrated queen is a happy one. 

What do you snack on while reading?

You will always find me with some caramel M&Ms. 

Have you always enjoyed reading?

No, I didn’t develop a love for reading until my early 20s. 

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SPOTLIGHT - PNR FANTASY - DARK SHADOW OF GUILT (Wigned Assassin, #1) by T. M . Smith

Dark Shadow of Guilt

Winged Assassin, #1

by T. M. Smith

Date of Publication: April 18, 2025

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-0-3695-1163-8

ASIN: B0F2XZZ55K

Number of pages: 377

Word Count: 96,146

BLURB

Dominion, a guilt-ridden Immortal who is the black-winged assassin of the OneCreator, rescues Madeline, a mortal who has been thrust into a world she never existed knew. Kidnapped, she was brought to Angor in OneWorld and tortured. As her path intertwines with Dom’s, she grapples with her evolution and newfound gifts. 

Theirs is a tale of doubt and forgiveness, forbidden love, sacrifice, and conflict that threatens the existence of OneWorld. 

Packed with puzzling occurrences and twists and turns, this is a story that will mesmerize readers from start to finish. Amidst chaos in OneWorld, their love is put to the ultimate test against looming threats that threaten the fabric of existence.

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Excerpt
Madeline dragged a fork through her potatoes, eventually shoving a bite into her mouth. When she finished chewing, she broke off a piece of crisp bacon and popped it in, licking her lips. “I was thinking about going home, but when you came into the kitchen, I realized how much help you need around here. You probably don’t pay enough attention to yourself. Like eating regularly. Your laundry. Cleaning house. I could organize stuff. Take care of your place.” She winked again. “And you.”
She tilted her chin, a strand of hair feathering across her cheek as she slipped him an irresistible smile. He followed the sweep of her tongue across her lower lip again.
Damn. Things were taking a definite turn toward strange.
Finished, Dom pushed his plate away. He gripped the handle of his coffee mug, taking a sip. Good. Brewed just right. He cleared his throat, searching for something to say. Conversation wasn’t part of his skill set.
Madeline scooted closer, thigh to thigh, a hand caressing his shoulder, floating down to clasp his bicep. “Don’t you like having me here? I could be very convenient to have around.”
When her breast brushed his arm, his heart pounded against his ribs. She was coming on to him.
Dom escaped her grip and moved out of boob range. “Be careful, little female.”
As she leaned close, her whispery breath puffed across his ear. “I’m not so little.”
“Uh-huh.” He swallowed hard. What the hell was she doing? She’d gone from scared to distrusting to cautious acceptance. Now this? Was this typical human behavior?
She inched nearer again, heat radiating off her body. He never turned down an offer from a female, and this one was cooking more than breakfast. But Dom was cautious. He didn’t like not knowing the game.
Madeline tilted into his chest and crushed her lips to his.
To hell with caution.

Not about to allow her to control the situation, Dom yanked her onto his lap, her legs straddling him. He took over, forcing her mouth open and caressing her tongue with his. As she melted against him, his cock got with the game.

Author Info

T. M. Smith is the award-winning author of the Blood Coven Series paranormal romance novels and the spin-off Blood Coven World novellas. Her current release is a new romantasy, in the Winged Assassins Series, Dark Shadow of Guilt. She draws upon her imagination to craft stories about strong women and powerful but flawed men in a richly detailed magical world. After retiring from a career as an educator, Smith settled in to write something more creative than lesson plans on split infinitives and inner-school memos on noise in the hallway. She is now living in the Pacific Northwest with vampires, demons, ylves, mages, and winged beings who keep her awake at night with their tales of love and adventure.

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BOOK BLITZ w/EXCERPT - DARK LGBTQ+ - BEAUTIFUL DARK TEMPTAION by Roxas Winters

Beautiful Dark Temptation

by Roxas Winters

Publication date: September 27th 2024

Published by: Evernight Publishing

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dark Romance, LGBTQ+, Romance

BLURB

Tomás

I’ve lost everything.

Forced into a prison masking as a school, I find myself in the crosshairs of more than one killer. My savior? The arrogant prick who wants to control me. Kieran is a nightmare wrapped in a seductive package and when he sets his sights on me I don’t know whether to fight him or kiss him.

Kieran

I am the eldest bastard of one of the four founders of Arcadia University, and I will do anything to see my family fall.

The secrets I’ve kept hidden behind my heart now threaten to bury me alive with the arrival of Tomás. He consumes my space, my thoughts, my nightmares. I hate him for how he makes me feel. This toxic attraction between us forces me to question what matters most—vengeance, power, love. But Tomas doesn’t fit into my world of lies and violence and I’m not ready to lose it all for a beautiful dark temptation.

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EXCERPT:

Tomás

I shifted in my seat. This was a prison. “Are we able to go off campus?”

The smile of his remained. “There may be field trips, teacher sponsored events, and special accommodations for a release, but that would need to be approved by your sponsor. Everything you need— convenience stores, clothing stores, restaurants, are all within campus.” He looked at Mad Dog.

It took me a moment to absorb what he was saying. Mad Dog held the keys to my prison. I shot to my feet. “No way.”

Dr. Casera seemed to have expected this, giving me time to process, but a prison warden was a prison warden. “If freedom outside these campus walls is what you need, we can make arrangements. This is not a prison.”

“Bullshit. This is a prison.” I glared at Mad Dog who didn’t even move.

What are your options? that fucker’s body language said. No skin off his back. I’d die here or out there. Pick one.

I walked to the back of the room, running through shit in my head. I could try Nick. He’d probably let me hang out with him. I could try Aunt Tita. She was my mom’s oldest sister. She would take me in. I had uncles too. I could go back to family. Any one of them would take me in.

But then what? What if moms wanted me back? She always knew which buttons to push to get me back. The thought had me vibrating.

A chair scraped the floor behind me, and I turned to see Maddox climb to his feet. Not Mad Dog as I knew him but the killer, Maddox Brennan. He remained on his feet, leaning against the arm of his chair, just watching me play this shit out in my head.

I paced for a few seconds and then stopped at the window, looking out over the green grass and trees. I felt trapped. An animal in a cage. A fancy cage, but a cage. I’d been in this position before. A feeling of hopelessness poured over me, and I planted my forehead on the cool windowpane. The glass in front of me misted as I exhaled, and I drew a happy face. I used to draw them all over Daniel’s car windows so when he’d be making out with a girl and the car windows misted, he’d see all of them. He used to get pissed and chase me around the trailer for it. Shit, it hurt not having him anymore. It was like a part of me had died too.

Maddox Brennan had killed him and then bought me. Despite him not wanting sexual favors, he still controlled me. He’d wanted me here and here I was. Everything paid for—housing, food, books, tutoring—by him. I had nothing he didn’t give me. I’d sold my soul to the man who killed my family.

And it stung.

Dr. Casera and Mad Dog remained silent behind me, letting me process my shit.

“What would you have done if I killed your brothers?” I asked into the window. I didn’t care that Casera was in the office. Dealing with the mafia, cartel, whatever, he probably knew everything about everybody.

“I would’ve killed you,” he said. “Slowly.”

My eyes burned and I shut them. I didn’t want to see my own reflection anymore.

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COVER REVEAL - DARK LGBTQ+ - BEAUTIFUL DARK TEMPTATION by Roxas Winters

Beautiful Dark Temptation

by Roxas Winters

Publication date: September 27th 2024

Published by: Evernight Publishing

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dark Romance, LGBTQ+, Romance

BLURB

Tomás

I’ve lost everything.

Forced into a prison masking as a school, I find myself in the crosshairs of more than one killer. My savior? The arrogant prick who wants to control me. Kieran is a nightmare wrapped in a seductive package and when he sets his sights on me I don’t know whether to fight him or kiss him.

Kieran

I am the eldest bastard of one of the four founders of Arcadia University, and I will do anything to see my family fall.

The secrets I’ve kept hidden behind my heart now threaten to bury me alive with the arrival of Tomás. He consumes my space, my thoughts, my nightmares. I hate him for how he makes me feel. This toxic attraction between us forces me to question what matters most—vengeance, power, love. But Tomas doesn’t fit into my world of lies and violence and I’m not ready to lose it all for a beautiful dark temptation.

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RELEASE BLITZ w/EXCERPT - PNR - THE HOLY MAN'S SINNER (Blood Coven World, #3) by T. M. Smith

The Holy Man’s Sinner

Blood Coven World, #3 

by T. M. Smith

Date of Publication: April 2nd 2024

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0982-6

ASIN: B0CZ18QJRN

Number of pages: 79

Word Count: 1597

Tagline: An unlikely heart seeks redemption

BLURB

In an opposites-attract story, the vampire Elisabeta is searching for more than just pleasure and the bludfrenzy. 

When she crosses paths with Nelo, a holy man with a rebellious streak, her world is turned upside down. 

As she navigates a new path filled with self-discovery, romance, and redemption, she must confront the challenges that threaten to tear them apart. 

Will their love transcend the judgment of others and the shadows of their pasts?

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Excerpt:
“Tell me about these selfless acts which will heal me.” Her lips caressed the glass as she sipped her drink.
Nelo’s breath caught at the sight. Remembering the conversation, he puzzled his chin with forefinger. “Good deeds will fill your days and contemplation your nights. At the end of your healing, a worthy, seductive male awaits your recovery.” He patted his chest. “The male would be me.”
“Cruor, you lack humility.”
“It is a flaw I work on.”
“In the meantime, you’ll assign me to a soup kitchen until I feel better about myself?”
“To something. Not a soup kitchen.” He tilted his glass, swallowing a sip and noticing how Elisabeta watched him.
“How do you know your solution will work?” she asked.
He rolled the amber liquid in the tumbler. “I am the Cruor, a male wise beyond his years.”
“With only a small flaw.”

“So tiny. Not worth mentioning.” He threw back his drink, rose, and shoved out his hand.

Author Info

After retiring from her career in education, T. M. Smith settled in to write something more creative than lesson plans on split infinitives and inner-school memos on noise in the hallway.

Taking great interest in the lives of vampires, demons, elves, mages, and other magical beings, she began a paranormal romance series of five books with alpha males who aren't always nice and females who have no problem keeping them in line. The Blood Coven Series is complete. Her new project is a series of stand-alone, short novellas set in the Blood Coven World. In the meantime, she is working on a longer surprise project.

Here are more orts, scraps, and fragments from her life. (a homage to Virginia Wolf and Shakespeare.) She moved from sunny Las Vegas to the less-than-sunny Pacific Northwest. Here she has adventures with her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters who also moved to the area. She also enjoys a membership at Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN), a local organization that supports the arts and offers classes and events in eleven different studios. It was at BARN where her critique group began. With equal time given to in-depth comments on each other's works, snarky remarks, and laughter, they have now been together nearly eight years.

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SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - PNR - THE DEMON'S FIRE (Blood Coven, #2) by T. M. Smith

The Demon’s Fire

Blood Coven, #2

by T. M. Smith

Date of Publication: May 26th 2023

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0823-2

ASIN: B0C5S5RCS3

Number of pages: 437

Word Count: 117,584

Tagline: When fire meets ice, romance sizzles.

BLURB

He’s not her type at all…

The commander is a barbarian. Despite a sexy smile and hot body, nothing can smooth the brute’s ragged edges. Besides, demons need a daily dose of sex. Skyler Maxwell has no intention of becoming a food source.

She’s not his type at all…

The chief legal officer of the Alliance is a buttoned-up, prissy human with frost in her veins. But Kole is stuck playing tour guide for her while she’s on his realm. He was ordered to “play nice.”

Together, Skyler and Kole are fire and ice…

She has a bullseye on her back, and the animus demon is her best chance to stay out of the line of fire. Trapped in a hostile environment, they survive mystical monsters and treacherous attacks. Despite the perils and their differences, their romance ignites, proving fire and ice sizzle. 

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Excerpt
Kole sheathed his blade, turned, and offered Skyler his hand. When she placed her pale, trembling fingers in his palm, he drew her close to his body. She raised her chin to stare into his fire-gold eyes.
Kole bent toward her, his lips drawing nearer. When his mouth brushed hers, rather than push him away, she opened to him. Kole’s lips pressed hard against hers, his tongue thrusting inside, his exploration wild, hungry.
Skyler gasped, shocked by either the kiss or her response. Her knees weakened, her hands resting on Kole’s warm chest for support. Short bursts of electricity flowed into her, eliciting soft moans as he pulled her tighter against him, his arousal a hard prod at her belly.
When he withdrew, he met her gaze with confusion. He cleared his throat.
“Choose, Chief Maxwell. Dermott or me?”

Author Info

After retiring from my career as a teacher and principal, I settled in to write something more creative than lesson plans on split infinitives and inner-school memos on noise in the hallway. 

Vampires, demons, elves, mages, and other magical beings keep me awake at night with their tales of love and adventure. Taking great interest in their lives, I began a paranormal romance series with alpha males who aren't always nice and females who have no problem keeping them in line. The Firebrand is the first book in the Blood Coven Series.

Here are more orts, scraps, and fragments from my life. (Thank you, Virginia Wolf and Shakespeare.) I moved from sunny Las Vegas to the less-than-sunny Pacific Northwest. Here I have adventures with my daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters who also moved to the area. I also enjoy my membership at Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN), a local organization that supports the arts and offers classes and events in eleven different studios. It was at BARN where my critique group began. With equal time given to in-depth comments on each other's works, snarky remarks, and laughter, we have now been together over five years.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with . . . T. M. Smith . . .

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

My writing style is an extension of the action and the characters. When the action heats up, so do my sentences, becoming one word or a clipped series of words. Likewise, when my characters express their thoughts, I try to mimic what happens in their heads. A disjointed phrase. A fleeting idea. A moment of self-talk. And warning. Since many of my characters are battle-hardened warriors in another realm, their vocabulary is liberally sprinkled with four-letter words. I also try not to over-explain how my characters feel or their tone of voice when they are speaking, preferring the dialogue and actions to speak for themselves. 

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?

For me, writing is both an ingrained process and something that flows naturally. 

Some ideas, particularly in the early stages of the writing process—the development of a premise, the outlining of events that will move the story along, the setup of the story and the rising action–flow easily, like water over a steep fall.

After that point in the process, writing becomes more labored. It is an awkward dance, a movement back and forth, to and fro. I move forward by writing the next scene. I go backward to edit. I advance again. Something in the current scene requires I return to a previous chapter and fill in missing parts. As you can see, this process can take months of work. It can be tedious and frustrating.

But writing is a joy, passion, tedious labor, and necessity for my well-being. 

Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?

Once I finished the Blood Coven Series, I was excited to begin another, shorter series. I like my chosen MMC and MFC. When they are apart. When they are together, however, I’m having trouble hearing their voices clearly. So, I keep writing and re-writing their dialogue, trying to uncover how they interact, how they balance each other, how they attract each other, the tension between them. You get the drift.

They still aren’t where I want them. And this is a new experience for me. Usually, once I define and describe my characters, I hear and see them with a sharp clarity. I remain determined to help Dom and Mysty find their way.

 

Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character(s)? If so, which one(s)?

I did bond with a particular character—Indigo, a witch who is Rein’s aunt and Alarik’s half-sister. She is a character who appears in all five books of the Blood Coven Series. Think of her as a hippie with serious skills. The Aeternals in her realm, Scath, see her as quirky, though powerful. As the only mage who can read the River Am, studying in it the past, present, and possible future, she bears a heavy burden. But she has borne heavier. (Hush. It’s a secret.) No one would know, however, because she hides behind a mask. To those who aren’t close, she is flighty, frivolous, and fanciful. But they should watch out.

If you could have dinner/dinner party with 7 fictional characters, who would they be?

1. Ari Ben Canaan from Leon Uris’s Exodus because he is the perfect hero—handsome, brave, and on a mission. I would sit him next to me.

2. Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind because maybe she’s back together with Rhett Butler and he’d escort her to dinner.

3. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird because I think he’d be a great conversationalist.

4. J. D. Salinger’s Seymour Glass because every dinner party needs an intellectual outsider who will renounce society with sardonic comments.

5. Harry Potter who’d be asked to bring his wand and keep everyone at the table safe.

6. Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Along with Atticus Finch, she’d keep the conversation going and add some humor.

7. The invisible man from Ralph Ellison’s book by the same name because I want to know his name. Surely, he would introduce himself. Though, I suppose, such would ruin the idea of the novel.

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SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - CONTEMPORARY - DELAYED (Dog Tired Brewery, #1) by Jessica Jayne

Delayed

Dog Tired Brewery, #1

by Jessica Jayne

Date of Publication: May 17th 2023

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ASIN: B0C456TQSK

Number of pages: 118

Word Count: 32,000

BLURB

As head of distribution for his multi-million-dollar Orlando-based brewery, Rex Bancroft travels all the time. With his schedule, this leaves no time for a relationship, not that he wants one. He plays the field and plays it often. At least that was what he planned, but there’s someone that catches his attention and won’t let up—a certain brunette at the Grand Rapids airport ticket counter.

Anna Montgomery was hoping this business trip to Michigan would assist her with the next rung of the corporate ladder. Meeting a dreamy and interesting man wasn’t in her plans, it isn’t something she’s entirely happy with at first.

Key words: at first…

A snowstorm delays their flights, leaving them stranded in wintry Michigan. Will their time together ignite some heat to keep them both warm? Or will it result in broken hearts? 

Amazon

Excerpt
The airline agent smiled tightly at Anna. A few minutes later, she pushed the printed boarding pass and Anna’s ID across the counter. “Safe travels.”
Anna bit her lip. Safe travels. Ha! How about just “travels”?
She needed to be more optimistic. The flight wasn’t cancelled…yet.
Boarding ticket in hand, she’d head to the security line and then her gate, where she’d wait and flip through her Instagram feed until her plane arrived. Turning on her heels, she bumped face first into a wall of solid muscle. A clean, outdoorsy scent swathed her and immediately made her lightheaded. She stared for a moment at a tan quilted vest jacket lying unzipped over a hard chest, exposing planes of chiseled muscle under the navy-blue long sleeve t-shirt that read Dog Tired Brewery in white script. The picture of a dog lying on its side asleep with its tongue hanging out completed the logo—one she recognized as they made her favorite seasonal stout.
She clutched his t-shirt, trying to keep her balance. His hard abs flexed under her hands. Heat radiated from him and warmed her frozen fingers, which had been numb for the last several hours.
Lifting her head, her breath caught when her gaze fell on an angular jaw, full lips and beautiful green eyes. He gripped her arms firmly above the elbows to keep her from falling backward. His warmth seeped through the arms of her peacoat.
“Shit! Are you alright?” His deep, rich voice washed over her.
Heat rushed her cheeks and her body churned with a warmth she’d been missing ever since stepping off the plane in Michigan.
“Uh. Yeah! I…I’m fine.” Yikes. Her hands were plastered against his ripped abdomen. She let them slide down. It wasn’t just the impact of running into him that knocked her off balance. He was the most beautiful creature she’d laid eyes on.
“Are you sure?” The intensity of his stare almost melted her into a puddle at his feet. His eyes, irises flecked with gold, narrowed. “You hit me pretty hard.”
“Yes. I’m so sorry. Sorry for running into you.” She gained control over her wavering voice and unsteady legs.
He released her arms and stepped back.
“I should have been watching where I was going.”
His powerful gaze trailed down her without shame and a warmth followed as if he caressed her bare skin. Her cheeks had never been so on fire.
“No need to apologize.” He grinned. “I’d say it’s my lucky day.” His eyes twinkled.
This stranger was flirting with her.

She cleared her throat. It’s not that men didn’t flirt with her. They did. It was a hazard in her line of business. Insurance was a man’s world, for the most part. She shrugged off the flirtatious advances from the men she worked with. Mixing business with pleasure was a no-no. But this guy… she’d mix just about anything with him. If she were that kind of girl.

Author Info

Contemporary Romance Author – Sexy Stories with Heart

Jessica is a born and raised small-town Ohio girl, who moved to the Sunshine State after graduating from college with an English degree. She attended law school and passed her bar exam on the very first attempt. She met the love of her life in a romance novel sort of way. They married and have three beautiful (and sometimes crazy) kids.

Jessica loves to travel and travel often! She’s jumped out of several perfectly good airplanes. When not watching her son rule the soccer field or her daughters dominate the volleyball court, she watches Buckeye football and the Tampa Bay Lightning. She’s a wine-making (and wine-tasting with her girlfriends) aficionado. She loves all music. Would follow the Avett Brothers to the ends of the Earth. Thinks Eric Church is a rock star. Worships Jason Momoa. Believes Game of Thrones was the best show on television but lives by many Seinfeld-isms.

Life is always an adventure!

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with . . . Jessica Jayne . . .

How would you describe you style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

That’s a good question. When people ask me what I write, I usually tell them contemporary romance with spice. I like to create male characters who are strong but not intimidated by an independent woman. I like female characters who can stand on their own. They do not need a man to define them.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?

Haha! This really depends on the day. Seriously! A lot of times, the words flow. If I’m feeling a story, a character, the words just pour out. Other times, adding two hundred and fifty quality words can seem like grind. It is why I usually have more than one story going at any given time. It’s easier to write when inspired and sometimes I have to bounce to something to get that inspiration..  

Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?

Character development is extremely important. In order to entice the readers and keep them engaged, your characters have to be real, have to have flaws and have to evoke emotion. My first step in a story is to outline the characters. It’s more than their hair and eye color or their height and build. What was their childhood like? What have been their obstacles up to the story’s start? What do they want out of life? What is their normal temperament? Are they laid back or intense? Do they speak a certain way or have a particular dialogue? Do they have a tick or something that is special to them? 

But the character development doesn’t stop after an outline. He or she needs nurtured throughout the story because your character may not always respond to a situation the way you first think. 

Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?

My list of projects are long and continue to grow:

• The sequel to Haven—story will belong to Kekoa’s brother, Maleko Hale. His heart was torn apart when his high school sweetheart left with her father to California for a trip and never returned. When Becca Stowers finally returns to the Big Island ten years later, she gives Maleko the surprise of his life. 

• The second book to the Dog Tired Brewery series—Mastermind. This story follows Brady Hinckelson. Brady is the OCD, hardworking business-minded partner. Growing up with an abusive father and an MIA mother, he found respite in college and with his best friends’ and business partners’ families. But the kind of relief he wants with Jane Bancroft—Rex’s sister—could end his friendship with his bestie. Jane isn’t worried about her brother’s feelings. She’s following her heart.

What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?

I try to keep my publishing goals somewhat attainable. Ideally, I’d like to publish three books this year, but reality is quite different, especially since I don’t write full time. I’d like to publish the second book in the Dog Tired Brewery series and—fingers crossed—get the first draft of the manuscript of another book completed.

I’d also like to do a writing retreat with my writing partner DC Stone.

If you could have dinner/dinner party with 7 fictional character, who would they be?

This is not an easy question given the number of books I’ve read. Obviously, I’d have multiple dinner parties, but these are the characters that are calling to me now. 😉 

• Nora Seed in Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library

• Meredith Walsh of Eliza Freed’s The Devil’s Playground

• Emmeline in Erica Bauermeister’s The Scent Keeper

• Jonah in K.A. Tucker’s The Simple Wild

• Gideon Cross in Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series

• Maxim Cade in Kennedy Ryan’s The Kingmaker

Offred—aka June Osborne in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale

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