Teaser Tuesday - A Season for Smugglers

 

Lily

Staring out the window at the rolling greenery outside of London, Lily heaved a sigh of relief. Across the barouche-landau, on the opposite bench, her maid looked up at her with an inquisitive brow before deciding Lily had not actually been trying to catch her attention and looked away again. Thankfully, Chastity was used to Lily’s preference for quiet reflection over constant chattering.

The lady’s maid had been a gift from the Duchess of Frederick, Lily’s godmother, during the Season, but they had rubbed along well, so Lily had asked if Chastity would extend her employment and accompany her to the country. It was a special boon because Lily had left for Derbyshire several days before her parents, permissible only because she had her lady’s maid to travel with her as an erstwhile chaperone. As there was no need to spend the night at an inn, she did not need a more formidable one.

Sighing happily again, Lily leaned back against her bench seat, inwardly smiling when Chastity ignored her this time. Several years older, Chastity’s sober demeanor was a good match for Lily’s quiet, bookish ways.

If she never had to go to London for the Season again, she would be perfectly happy. The only reason she had done so was her friend Evie had asked her and her other two best friends. Josie had thrived on her first foray into Society, and Mary had deftly dealt with her second Season, but Lily had hated every moment.

Gentlemen, she had discovered, did not like a woman with their own mind. At least, not the nincompoops she had been introduced to. Several had been drawn in by her relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Frederick, but they had not stayed after realizing Lily was the type to speak her mind. Which was a relief, even if it was lowering. She had always imagined marrying and having children, but if that was what London had to offer…

Unfortunately, the options in Derbyshire were not much better. Perhaps she would become an aged bluestocking spinster, firmly on the shelf, playing doting auntie to her friends’ children. After her first Season, Lily found the prospect far more appealing than she would have countenanced at the beginning.

Granted, she had not gone into the Season with high hopes, knowing well she was not what many considered ‘sociable,’ but whatever hopes she’d had were quickly crushed underfoot by the general attitudes of the ton. Her very first week out in Society, she’d heard the incredibly handsome Lord Broderick—with who she’d thought she’d had a very interesting conversation—remark to one of his friends that the only way she would find a husband would be to sew her mouth shut.

After that, to gauge the gentlemen’s reactions, Lily had become even more outspoken about her views and opinions. Like Lord Broderick, they were polite enough to her face, but she saw through their facades and overheard some of their comments, enough to know those gentlemen were assuredly not for her.

The carriage came to a sudden, jerking stop, tumbling the occupants about. Chastity cried out, flinging her arms wide as she was thrown forward, and Lily opened hers to catch her. They fell back against Lily’s bench, shocked by the abrupt halt.

“Stand and deliver!”

What? A highwayman? Lily and Chastity exchanged disbelieving looks before Lily quickly released her maid and knowing she was being a perfect twit, leaned out the window to see a man on horseback, wearing a long black cape and mask, pointing a gun at the carriage.

Botheration. This was the last thing she needed today.

“I said, stand and deliver!”

“We’ve already stopped,” Lily called back waspishly. “What do you want delivered? And how?”

“Miss, get back in the coach,” the driver ordered. Lily scowled. She was not out of the coach. Not truly. “I will deal with this blaggard.”

“No-“ But her protest was cut off and she watched in horror as her driver lifted his own arm, gun in hand, only to jerk back against the seat. The sound of the highway man’s gunshot seemed to echo across the fields and her entire body went numb with shock. The driver slumped and fell down to the ground, startling the horses and Lily was flung back painfully against the window’s edge, causing her to fall back into the carriage as the horses lurched forward.

Her maid screamed, but the movement was over almost as soon as it began, and through the ringing in her ears, she could hear the highwayman shouting something.

He stopped the horses from running away with us.

Is that good or bad?

They were not in a runaway carriage, but that meant they were now at the mercy of the highwayman.

He killed the driver.

And Lily did not even know the man’s name. Had not asked. A fact which she now felt wildly guilty about. The man had meant to defend her, and perhaps he had gone about it foolishly, but to pay with his life and she had not even known his name…

This is not a constructive line of thought and you do not have time to dwell. You can find out his name later. Right now you need to get you and Chastity out of this alive.

The door to the carriage was yanked open, and Chastity screamed again, quickly covering her mouth with her hands as a gun was leveled at them. The highwayman was dressed completely in black, his face mostly hidden by a black scarf wound around the lower half of it and the hat pulled down atop his head, but she could still see his cold, dark eyes as his gaze flickered back and forth between her and Chastity.

Fear for her life, the first time she had ever felt such a thing, paralyzed her.

*******

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101 Things in 1001 Days - #24 Grand Rapids, MI

 I realized that I did something on my 101 Things in 1001 Days list challenge!

The last weekend of February, I went to Grand Rapids, MI with several of my author friends. We had an absolutely amazing time. It was not only my first time to Grand Rapids, it was my first time actually stopping to do something IN Michigan instead of just driving through it.

Now, granted, since it was an author retreat we didn't get to see a *ton* of the city, but we DID go out to this amazing restaurant, Merten's Prime, that was such a cool place with absolutely fantastic food.

I was a little obsessed with the wallpaper in one of their bathrooms and I kind of wish I could have it for my office. It was a really beautiful Victorian print. The whole place was decorated in this mix between austere industrial and intricate detailed beauty. The food itself was phenomenol... I mean, anywhere that serves four different kinds of poutine is my kind of place, regardless. But I got to try pretty much everyone else'se dinner too and it was fabulous (though, I have to admit, I did not taste Jennifer Bene's bone marrow... however, there was something eminently appropriate about watching her digging into some bones for her dinner lol). 

All in all, it was an AMAZING weekend, hosted by the extremely generous Zoe Blake and her Chef Hubby (who used the little two-burner stove in one of the hotel rooms to cook multiple meals for us!) and I would be thrilled to go back to hang out with friends again but also just to see more of the city!

March Madness (Not the Basketball Kind lol)

 It is AMAZING how time flies!

February went by in a flash. The last weekend of the month I got to go on an amazing retreat with some wonderful authors - Alta Hensley, Addison Cain, Zoe York, Jennifer Bene, Livia Grant, and Measha Stone. It's always so much fun getting together with other authors, getting know each other, and also talking shop with someone who understands. 

Then March hit and wow... talk about a whirlwind.

A Mischievous Little Mardi Gras released the first week of March and then last week came The Duke's Pursuit! Two new releases, two weeks in a row... it's a lot.

I am THRILLED with the response to both books. They're so different it's a little odd to have them release so closely together, but I'm so happy that everyone has been enjoying them.

Now that those are out, I've got edits for A Season for Smugglers happening, I'm working on writing Law & Disorder, and gearing up for a massive binge of Bridgerton as soon as it releases =) CANNOT WAIT.

A Mischievous Little Mardi Gras - Backstory

Last year Allie Belle, who created and organize the multi-author series Rawhide Ranch, reached out to me because Vicky, from my Chef Daddy story in the Dirty Daddies Anthology (which she also helps organize) had a lot in common with Hayleigh, the girlfriend/Little of the chef at Rawhide Ranch and she wanted to know if I'd like to co-write with Stella Moore, who wrote Hayleigh's Little Halloween, and have Vicky and Saul come to the Ranch and meet Hayleigh and Connor.

She thought it would be a great crossover.

So did I.

Stella's a fantastic writer and I was really excited to work with her, but I'll be honest, I was not prepared for exactly how much fun we would have writing this book.

Co-writing can sometimes feel like a gamble, and I have been extremely lucky in my co-writers, and I think that this time the gamble paid off beautifully. We worked together to create a story featuring both Connor & Hayleigh and Saul & Vicky and the two couples were so perfect that by the end of the book we knew we wanted to write another one together.

But I can't tell you much more about that right now ;) 

What I can tell you is that double the trouble and double the Daddies is a LOT of fun. I absolutely adore this story and I'm so thrilled to be part of the Ranch this year.

CLICK HERE if you want to preorder =) 

(Rawhide Ranch is an established series that is only available on Amazon and is part of the Kindle Unlimited Program)

It's Showdown Time!~ Happy Release Day to Me =D

 It's my favorite day - Release Day!!!!!

Release Day is always fraught with waiting for the reviews and feedback to come rolling in, and today is more so than usual since this is only the SECOND time that I've written about a Dominatrix.

And what a Domme. I floved Cyana (pronounced 'sigh-anna' since I get that question a lot) and seeing her face off with Aiden and forge a new path between the two of them was so much fun.

I'm also really sad to say goodbye to the Dungeons & Doms series, but I can guarantee this is NOT the last we'll see of these characters. I have ideas for the Hideaway (introduced in this book) and for the Outlands. Plus, I'm sure all of them will be invited to Mitch and Domi's wedding =P 

Go ahead and heat up your Valentine's weekend by CLICKING HERE and grabbing your copy of Dungeon Showdown!

In this battle of wills, only one dominant comes out on top...

After months of relentless game night flirting, Aiden finally gets his shot with fellow dominant Cyana. Too bad it comes with a major catch. Submission has never been his style, but a bet is a bet and Aiden won't back down. As one night of total surrender changes everything he thought he knew, this big bad dom isn't prepared to deal with the consequences.

How long can Aiden avoid Cyana and the pleasure that only submission can give him? Since they're preparing to stand by their mutual friends for a double wedding in lifestyle-friendly-paradise, probably not very long.

Teaser Tuesday - That Smooth Bastard

 The Dungeons & Doms trilogy is only 2 days away from being complete!!!!! I cannot freaking wait. Especially because it introduces the Hideaway and Javier. Although Dungeons & Doms has gotten a lot of love, it hasn't had enough readers for me to be able to justify continuing it as a series. But I'm not giving up on later-in-life romances! I am absolutely planning more, and quite a few of them are going to take place at the Hidaway =D 

Here's your final teaser before release day!:

******

Aiden

Note to self: if Cyana and I are ever wronged at the same time by the same person, let her handle it.

Sometimes, it was easy to forget how frightening she could be.

Not that there were a lot of outward signs.

Aiden was a true Aries. His temper ran hot but fast. Cyana, on the other hand, was quiet in the scariest way imaginable. The moment he’d told her they were in the same room, her nostrils had flared, fire lit up her eyes, but her voice hadn’t changed when she’d stalked around him and went right up to Gavin, demanding to know what the hell he’d done.

Of course, Gavin was the one who had handled the reservations. The bastard.

Even though he was upset, he was a first-class idiot. He was hurt Cyana was also pissed about having to share space with him. He wasn’t unaware of the hypocrisy. He just didn’t know how to change it.

“It’s not actually the same room. It’s a suite, and you each have your own room,” Gavin protested… again, but as far as Aiden was concerned, that was the same thing. “We didn’t know when we made the reservation that it would be an issue.”

With his hands up in the air in a position of surrender, Gavin’s placating tone was getting nowhere with Cyana. Next to him, Leah was shifting nervously, her eyes darting between them and looking guilty. Yeah, Aiden bet there had been some ulterior motives behind that choice.

Although… the reservations had been made weeks ago, long before their friends knew. He wouldn’t put it past them to have changed the reservations, though.

“What made you think we’d want to share a suite at a kinky resort?” Arms crossed over her chest, Cyana tapped her foot, looking like a strict teacher chastising a student.

Aiden’s brain supplied him with an image of her in a tight pencil skirt and button-down shirt, silvery hair in a bun, wearing glasses, and his cock perked up. The damn thing was like a moth to her torch, and it didn’t seem to care immolation was not only possible but likely.

“Not want to, maybe, but at the time, it seemed like a good idea.” Gavin shrugged helplessly.

“Excuse me, is there a problem I can help with?” Javier Rios slid into the conversation with a smoothness that made Aiden scowl. He wasn’t threatened by the man—despite the superficial similarities in their hairstyles, he knew the two of them would appeal to an entirely different kind of woman—but he didn’t like the way the man looked at Cyana/ She wasn’t a submissive, and every inch of Javier screamed ‘Dom,’ so he had no business running his eyes over her with appreciation.

There were some Doms who had a seriously backward mindset about women dominants and saw them as a challenge to be put in their place. Dominants like that didn’t last long at the Outlands. As the owner, Gavin didn’t put up with that shit at his club, but they weren’t at the Outlands. They were at the Hideaway, and who knew what was going through Javier’s mind.

Hypocritical much? You wanted to dominate her.

Yeah, but for him, it hadn’t been about dominating Cyana—as he’d proven when he’d gone through with his lost wager—it had been about Cyana, period, which made it completely different.

“My friend here booked two of us in the same suite without asking us how we felt about the matter,” Cyana drawled, her obvious displeasure practically dripping from her voice. “Do you have an extra room one of us can move to?”

“I am so sorry, but we are fully booked this weekend.” Was it Aiden’s imagination, or was Javier’s accent even more pronounced? Jealousy, pure and simple, shot through him as the man reached out to take Cyana’s hand, covering it with his other hand as he stared almost mournfully at her. “I wish I could help, but I cannot. I can assure you will find plenty of areas here that will give you all the privacy you require.”

The smooth bastard still hadn’t let go of her hand.

******

CLICK HERE to take advantage of the special pre-order price before it goes up on release day!

Throwback Thursday - Dungeon Master

 

Throwback Thursday!

With Dungeon Showdown coming out in a few weeks, it feels like the perfect time to throwback to Dungeon Master, the first book in the series =D

Gavin first appeared in Logan, the first Dad Bod Doms book, and I thought "man, this guy would make a great main character!"

Then I saw the AMAZING picture of Kevin R Davis in a kilt, looking EXACTLY like I pictured Gavin and I HAD to have that picture. Which meant to justify that purchase, I had to move up my plans to write Gavin a book a LOT faster.

When I was writing Bondage Buddies, I realized how much the covers looked alike, with the models in the same poses, and so Gavin ended up appearing there too, as Mitch's dad.

Basically, this character was desperate to get as much screen time as possible 🤣 And it was impossible to say no, because he is one hot Scot!

Getting to know Leah while I was writing the book was a lot of fun. Gavin needed a strong woman and Leah is definitely that! I also loved seeing how their relationship changed and developed.

And shoutout to Cari Silverwood who let me cameo her as their therapist!!!!! I had a blast imagining Cari as a therapist. Definitely lots of blunt talk lol.

What did you think? Was this first of my later-in-life romances everything you hoped for? Were Gavin and Leah just as hot as their younger counterparts?

CLICK HERE to start reading now!