It's My Publishing Anniversary!

 

 

 

 

Today marks my 12 year anniversary as a published author. On this day, twelve years ago, Hidden Threat (now published as Strictly Professional) was published by a small publisher based out of Australia called The Writer's Coffee Shop. 

 

At the time, I had no idea where this journey would take me, the people I would meet, and the friends I would make. This has been an incredible experience so far and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.

Happy Book Birthday to Strictly Professional!

 

A phone call from her father sends Cali Stanton back home to Chicago to look after the family business. Being CEO of Stanton Enterprises is never something she wanted to do, but when her father tells her she’s the only one he can trust to run the company in his absence she can’t say no.

Within hours of stepping into her father’s office she comes face-to-face with her father’s head of security, Matthew Andersen. The attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. Unfortunately, Cali can’t act on it. She’s his boss for the next three months and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cross that line.

Little does she know, fate is determined to throw them together at every turn. Someone is after her father’s company and now they've set their sights on her. Can Matthew and Cali figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late and still keep things strictly professional?

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The Evolution Of Zelda

I introduced Ali's mother, Zelda, in the third book of my Serpent's Kiss series, His Forbidden Kiss. She was a minor background character, showing up briefly when Kim visits her best friend. We don't get to know much about her other than the fact that she can't seem to hold onto a man. She comes off a flighty and needy.

 

Because we're in Kim's point of view, we don't get a lot of insight into Zelda or her relationship with her daughter, either. It isn't until Ali and Daniel's story, Claiming His Kiss, that we begin to see more.

 

Ali lets it slip fairly early on she doesn't have a great relationship with her mom. The flightiness we glimpsed in His Forbidden Kiss is confirmed when Ali shares she was raised by her grandmother because her mom wasn't around much.

 

At this point in the story, I didn't know what I was going to do with Zelda. I knew she was going to make an appearance in Claiming His Kiss, but I had no idea what her role would be.

 

Being an author that writes by the seat of her pants, I let the story unfold naturally. This includes characters.

 

When I began the story, the only things I knew about Zelda was she had been absent much of Ali's life because she was constantly chasing after men. But there is always more to it than that.

 

In order to figure out Zelda's motivations, I dug deep, asking myself why was she constantly chasing after these men? I needed to determine the why in order to know how she would react to finding out her daughter was in a relationship with a man 23 years her senior.

 

The internet is a glorious thing. You can find out information on just about anything if you can locate the right sources.

 

I watched videos and researched women who hop from relationship to relationship as Zelda does. It was fascinating and a bit disturbing at the same time. People are complicated, but we can't deny our primal instincts.

 

In the end, Zelda turned out to be both a complex and a very simplistic character all wrapped up in one. Her motivations were simple, but her logic was flawed.

 

To read Ali and Daniel's story, check out Claiming His Kiss through one of the retail links below.

 

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What I'm Currently Reading - Speak From The Heart

 

Next on my TBR list is Speak From The Heart by L.B. Dunbar.

 

When a small town, single father becomes enemies with the new girl in town, it’s either keep fighting her or give in to what his heart wants most.

Emily Post isn’t staying. Back at her grandmother’s summer home, she’s only in Elk Lake City for a visit which can’t end soon enough. Especially when she can’t seem to get away from one grumpy repairman who shows up everywhere. Fortunately for him, his daughter is sweet even if she refuses to speak.

Jess Carter is a hometown favorite and a hot single father. Sworn off love for several reasons, foremost is the silence of his daughter. His little one has a secret and he doesn’t know the why behind it. Unfortunately for him, his six-year-old has taken a liking to the beautiful new woman in town visiting her nana. And everywhere he goes, there she is, invading his space and his heart.

While silence might be golden, the voice in lonely hearts refuses to remain quiet.

 

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What I'm Currently Reading - Never Too Much

 

 

I'm switching gears this week and diving into a paperback I picked up at a local thrift store...Never Too Much by Lori Foster. I've never read anything by this author I haven't enjoyed, so I have high hopes for a great read!

 

One Chance At Forever

Ben Badwin likes his women sexy, wild, and as uninhibited as his desires. Nothing like the brash, dirt-covered, wholesomely cute woman who just strutted into his diner. But something about Sierra Murphy's independent attitude makes Ben's fantasies run wild. . .

Sierra doesn't need a man in her life, not even one as tempting as Ben. But the more she keeps her distance, the more he wants her, and the harder it is for Sierra to steer clear of his teasing touches and his enticing eyes. To get him out of her system, Sierra makes a proposition: she'll sleep with him, but for one night only. Now, it's up to Ben to turn one night of pure ecstasy into a passion that never ends. . .

 

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What I'm Currently Reading - Offside With #55

 

 

This is the sixth book in the Hockey Hotties series by Piper Rayne. I started this one 2 days ago and I'm already more than halfway through!

 

The last thing any professional hockey player wants is to be the old man in the game. The guy who doesn’t know when it’s time to retire. Still, I can’t bear the thought of leaving the game.

This past year I’ve reflected on all my regrets, and I told myself that once I retire it’ll be the time to find the right woman. But this is where it gets tricky.

I think I’ve found her—although she’ll deny our connection to anyone who asks. We’ve been sleeping together casually and since I’m still playing hockey, I’ve let her get what she wants—me—whenever she wants.

After being told my career as a player is over, the owner of Florida Fury grants me a shot to stay in the game. A coaching position I didn’t know I wanted until it was offered. The catch? He’s also passing the family business down to his daughter.

Who’s his daughter?

The woman who’s been in and out of my bed for the past year. Which means the woman I intend to make mine is now my new boss.

 

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Playing With My Characters

Family dynamics fascinate me.

 

In truth, people in general fascinate me, which is why being a writer is the perfect occupation. When watching a movie or television show, I get caught up in the characters. I watch their facial expressions, their body language, and dig deep into their motivations. 

 

People are complicated creatures and that's what makes them fun to play with as an author. Two people can react very differently to a situation depending on their personality, their history, and what else is going on in their life at the time. When someone comes face to face with a crisis, they could either tackle it head on or run and hide. That's why understanding your characters and their motivations is so important.

 

The inciting incident in my new release, Claiming His Kiss, stems from Ali, our heroine, having some problems with her neighbors. They're being a little loud with their bedroom activities, which is causing Ali to have trouble getting a good night's sleep.

 

Now, Daniel, our hero, would have confronted the problem head on. That's his personality. But Ali, she's not as confrontational. She'd rather suffer through some less than perfect nights of sleep than go to her neighbors and ask them to tone it down.

 

There's also Daniel's solution, even if it's meant to be temporary, to Ali's problem. His protective instincts, another aspect of his personality, kick in and he invites her to move in with him.

 

Okay...invite maybe isn't the right word. Tells her she's going to move in with him is closer to the truth.

 

He wrapped his fingers around her elbow and guided her the rest of the way to her car. “I’ll follow you home.” 

She stared up at him. “Why?” 

“Because you’re going to pack a bag and come home with me.” 

And while he may have relented should she have put up any real resistance, this also tells us a lot about who he is as a person. He protects those he cares about even if it means putting himself in an uncomfortable, or somewhat compromising situation.

 

Closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths to calm himself. Ali was a beautiful woman. Any fool could see that. But she was thirty-two years old. She was young enough to be his daughter. Hell, his oldest was only five years younger than Ali.

 

 But given Daniel's personality, he puts her needs ahead of his. He sees a problem and it's in his ability to solve it, so he takes the bull by the horns and dives head first into unknown and very tempting waters.

 

Ali sighed, drawing his attention, and he looked over to see a smile pull at her lips. Warmth spread through his chest, the urge to brush his fingers along the side of her cheek almost impossible to resist. 

He flexed his fingers on the steering wheel and reprimanded himself before returning his attention to the road. “Control yourself, old man.”

 

Creating tension in a story is always entertaining. Not only for the reader, but for me as well. Drama and conflict push the story forward. Sometimes it's from outside sources and sometimes it's internal. Either way, it makes for an interesting ride. 

Finding out how Daniel and Ali's story turns out in Claiming His Kiss  (Serpent's Kiss #4), available now at all major online retailers.

 

 

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It's Release Day!!!

 Daniel and Ali's story is LIVE!

 

What do you do when the woman you love is having problems with her neighbors? You ask her to move in with you.

Daniel Ross has been lusting after Ali for two years, but she’s young enough to be his daughter. When her new neighbors begin to cause issues for her, his protective instincts kick in. His house is big enough for both of them. She can have her space and he’ll know she’s safe. What could possibly go wrong?

Ever since that first night at the private club where they’re both members, Allison Foster has wanted to explore the pull she feels toward Daniel, but he’s made sure to keep them in the friend zone. She wants more, but every time she’s hinted at the possibility, he turns the tables on her and throws her into the arms of another man. That is until he insists she move into one of the spare rooms.

Living in the same house and sharing meals together means there’s no running away for either of them. But will their age difference be too big of a gap to overcome...especially when his kids find out about the woman who’s moved into their dad’s house?

Claiming His Kiss is the smoking hot fourth novel from Sherri Hayes’s Serpent’s Kiss BDSM Club series. If you like billionaire romances, steamy love scenes, and happily ever afters, then you’ll love Sherri Hayes’s sexy age gap romance.

Buy Claiming His Kiss to get your kink on today!

 

 

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What I'm Currently Reading - Second Shot With #76

 

 

This is the fifth book in the Hockey Hotties series by Piper Rayne. I just started this one last night and I'm already 20% in. So far, I'm loving Cory and Ande.

 

My mom always said you don’t get a second shot at making a first impression. I’ve remembered that my entire career. Especially since I’m one of the few black men who play professional hockey.

I’m calculated and respectful in the way I speak to my coaches, the owners, and the media. I’ve never taken a risk… until her.

I could blame it on the fact that for once I pushed away the pressure of my career for the ocean waves, the sand, and good times with my new teammates. But those are excuses because the minute I saw her at the airport, something lit up inside me and the best week of my life was spent with her in my bed.

After our week in paradise, we said goodbye, exchanged phone numbers and both assumed that unless one of us was flying through the other’s city on the opposite side of the country, our vacation fling was over.

Then one night after practice I see her. She’s here. In my city. Telling me she moved here for a job. If that’s not fate tell me what is.

I’ve never wanted a second shot more than I do this time, but she’s determined to leave what we were on the island we left behind.

 

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Read Chapter 1 Of Claiming His Kiss: A Friends To Lovers Age Gap Romance

 

 

Available November 15, 2022. Pre-order your copy today!

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Chapter 1

 

Daniel Ross held the metal frame steady as Drew attempted to line it up with the footboard. It should’ve been easy, but for some reason the damn thing wouldn’t go into the slot. 

“Want me to get it?” Justin asked, trying and failing to contain his amusement. 

Drew paused long enough to shoot Justin a dirty look, then went back to what he was doing. “Can you hold it a little more to the right? I think I see the issue.” 

Daniel did as Drew requested and watched as the metal hovered over the wooden slot for the first time. 

“Need some help?” Kim’s voice caused all three of them to glance toward the doorway. 

Another grin tugged at Justin’s lips, as he looked her over from head to toe. “I think we’ve almost got it.” 

With one last push, Drew forced the metal into the slot. He straightened and rolled his shoulders. “That was more challenging than I thought it would be.” 

“It was sticking when we took it apart the other day,” Justin said. 

Stretching out his own back, Daniel tried to ignore the way his muscles protested. As much as he hated to admit it, he wasn’t as young as he used to be. At fifty-five, he was twenty years older than everyone else in the room. “Hopefully, you won’t be needing to take it apart again for a very long time.” 

Kim sent a coy look in Justin’s direction as she skimmed her fingers over the bed. “I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.” 

Grabbing her hips, Justin pulled her against him. “Damn straight.” 

Daniel was only half paying attention to the couple. Ali was grinning, happy for her best friend, but there was something off about her today. He didn’t know what it was, but he was going to find out. 

Kim let out a sigh that said more than words ever could, and he knew it was time for them to make their exit. Daniel cleared his throat. “And with that, I think it’s time we said goodbye.” 

“You don’t have to run off—” 

“Yes, they do,” Justin said. 

Everyone chuckled, even Ali, although, again, it felt half-hearted. 

Daniel helped Ali with her coat, relishing being able to touch her, even if it was in the most innocent of ways. He waited as she said her goodbyes to Kim and Justin, then escorted her to her car. 

They were almost to their vehicles when he noticed her stifling a yawn. “Everything all right?” 

She glanced up at him. Her normally bright blue eyes appeared duller than usual, her exhaustion showing. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.” 

“Why?” he demanded, stopping his progress. 

Ali wasn’t a party girl. He knew she hadn’t been out late the night before. She’d left the private BDSM club where they were both members at eleven o’clock, and she’d gone straight home. He knew this because that’s what she’d told him she was going to do and Ali wouldn’t have lied to him. 

She lowered her eyes to the ground before meeting his gaze once more. He could almost see her mind working behind her eyes. “I’ve got new neighbors.” 

“They’re keeping you up?” 

Ali nodded and tried to hide yet another yawn. 

He felt his irritation rising. “Did you report them to your complex management?” 

Her shoulders sagged. “I can’t.” 

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “If they’re making noise at all hours of the night, you should report them.” 

She scraped her teeth over her bottom lip, and he knew from experience what that meant. “It’s not...” 

“What?” He wasn’t letting her leave until he knew what was going on. 

After glancing around, she sighed and met his gaze. “They have very loud sex.” 

Daniel raised an eyebrow. 

“She’s very vocal and he’s...well, he’s not quiet either.” Her face turned pink as she averted her eyes to look over his shoulder. “I can’t exactly call management and report my neighbors for having sex.” 

His first instinct was to insist that she could do exactly that. He would have. But this wasn’t him. It was Ali, and in truth, he couldn’t see her marching into her management office and demand they tell her neighbors to quiet down when having sex. “When’s your lease up?” 

Ali met his gaze again, the blush slowly leaving her cheeks. “Not for another six months.” She rubbed her forehead. “It’ll get better.” 

He had his doubts about that. Her neighbors either didn’t know or didn’t care about the noise they were making. Daniel had thought she looked tired last night, but he’d let it go. Tonight, he wasn’t letting it go. He wrapped his fingers around her elbow and guided her the rest of the way to her car. “I’ll follow you home.” 

She stared up at him. “Why?” 

“Because you’re going to pack a bag and come home with me.” 

The weary look she’d had before morphed into what could only be wide-eyed disbelief. Her mouth dropped open, and he knew she was moments away from coming up with some excuse. 

He didn’t give her the opportunity. “Just for a night. I’m sure I can find you something tomorrow.” 

“But what about my lease? I can’t afford to pay rent on two places.” 

Her paying rent was the last thing he was worried about. If need be, he’d pay whatever was needed. It wasn’t as if money was an issue. “Don’t worry about it.” Opening the car door, he motioned for her to get in. “I’ll figure something out.” 

She slid behind the wheel but continued to gaze up at him. “Daniel, you don’t need to. I’ll be fine.” 

Leaning over, he braced one arm on the hood of her car above the doorframe and met her gaze. “You are not fine. Your eyes are bloodshot and you’re slouching. You never slouch.” 

Ali pulled her shoulders back and sat up straight in her seat. 

He went on. “That’s not to even mention how many times you’ve yawned since we’ve been here.” He paused, then stood to his full height. “Do you feel awake enough to drive?” 

She nodded. “Yes.” 

Giving her a curt nod, he took a step back. “If that changes, pull over. Understand?” 

“Yes,” she whispered. 

He closed her car door before making his way to his SUV and climbing inside. Backing out of Justin’s driveway, he waited for her to do the same. 

The drive to her apartment complex was a measure in patience. Twice she’d crossed the white line onto the shoulder before correcting herself. He was tempted to put her over his knee, but he was afraid if he did, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from doing more. Just thinking about her spread out across his lap, her ass in the air, had his cock twitching. 

Luckily, they pulled into her complex a few minutes later and he released the tight grip he had on the steering wheel. He was striding toward her before she’d gotten out of her vehicle. “Do you want some help?” 

“No. I’ll only be a few minutes.” 

He waited patiently for her to return and took the time to reflect on the situation. Ali would be in his home. Even if it was only one night, she’d be in his space, her scent mingling with his. 

Closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths to calm himself. Ali was a beautiful woman. Any fool could see that. But she was thirty-two years old. She was young enough to be his daughter. Hell, his oldest was only five years younger than Ali. 

The door to Ali’s apartment opened, and he made his way over to her as she locked her door. “I’ll take your bags for you.” 

She turned and met his gaze before allowing him to take her duffle bag and suitcase. 

He walked to his vehicle, opened the back, and placed her things inside. 

“Um?” 

Knowing what she was going to say before she said it, he cut off her protest. “I’ll bring you back to your car later. Right now, you’re not alert enough to be driving.” 

She pressed her lips together, giving him a hint of that spunk he knew she had but held such a tight rein on. “I made it home, didn’t I?” 

“Do you really want to stand here and argue about your driving?” 

She released an audible sigh and let him open the passenger’s door for her. Once she was tucked safely inside, he made his way around the car to the driver’s side. 

Daniel started the vehicle and glanced over at her. “Are you comfortable?” The evening had become chilly, so he’d turned the seat warmer on for her. 

“Hmm.” 

He grinned at her response and turned on some music. The soothing sounds of one of his favorite cellists filled the small space as he maneuvered onto the road. Before they made it to the highway, she was asleep. 

Relaxing into his seat, he concentrated on the road. It was Sunday evening, so traffic wasn’t bad. They should be at his house soon and he could get her settled into one of his spare bedrooms for the night. 

Daniel was trying not to think about anything other than her getting the rest she needed, but it was difficult to ignore the way his body reacted to her—had always reacted to her. He could have seen her home and left. Ali wasn’t his responsibility. She wasn’t his submissive. They were friends. He looked out for her at the club, made sure her needs were met, but that was it. That’s where their relationship ended. 

Ali sighed, drawing his attention, and he looked over to see a smile pull at her lips. Warmth spread through his chest, the urge to brush his fingers along the side of her cheek almost impossible to resist. 

He flexed his fingers on the steering wheel and reprimanded himself before returning his attention to the road. “Control yourself, old man.” 

Once again, his mind drifted to his daughter, and he felt a chill run through him. What would he think if a man his age thought about his little girl the way he did about Ali? 

Shaking his head, Daniel pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He turned into his driveway. As the gate opened, he glanced at his passenger, who was still sound asleep, then followed the winding driveway to his house. The sun was going down, creating an orange glow through the trees. 

Pulling into his garage, Daniel turned off the engine and he climbed out. He tucked his keys into his pocket and walked around to the passenger’s side. Ali’s head was resting against the glass, and he didn’t want to startle her. 

Easing the door open, he crouched down to her level. Her head fell forward, but she didn’t wake. The urge to touch her surged to the surface once more, but again he resisted. It was something he had a lot of practice with as he’d been doing it for the last two years. 

“Ali? Wake up. We’re here.” 

She didn’t move, so he chanced giving her arm a little shake. 

“Ali?” 

Her eyelids fluttered open, and her brow furrowed with confusion for a moment as she focused on him. “Daniel?” 

He smiled, hoping to put her at ease. She’d been sleeping for the last twenty minutes. “We’re here. I’ll show you to your room, then you can crawl into bed.” 

She looked around and he saw her eyes widen a little. Ali had never been to his house before. No one at the club had. And no one besides Katrina and her P.I. who ran background checks for her knew how much money he had. Her gaze scanned his four-car garage. “Where are we? 

“This is my home.” He paused. “Well, my garage.” 

He stood and extended his hand to help her out. 

Ali hesitated for a moment, then unbuckled her seat belt and took his offered hand. Tingles shot up his arm when she placed her hand in his, and once she was on her feet, he released her. While she was in his home, he was going to have to be mindful of not touching her. As much as he tried, Daniel couldn’t control his reaction to her. 

He went to get her bags from the back of his SUV and she followed him. Ali reached for the duffle bag, but he was quicker. “I’ve got it.” 

“I can carry it.” 

“I know you can, but you don’t need to.” He shut the door and headed for the house. 

Ali followed. She didn’t argue with him, but she rarely did. Daniel knew he overstepped a lot, but he couldn’t help it. She may not be his, but there was something that made him want to care for her. 

Daniel led her into the house, through the living room and kitchen, and down a long hallway to one of his guest rooms—he had four in this wing of the house. The room he’d chosen was the farthest from his. He figured it was safer that way. 

Placing her bag and suitcase beside the dresser along the far wall, he turned to face her. She was a foot inside the room with her arms crossed as if she were protecting herself. He frowned. “What’s wrong?” 

She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just...taking it all in.” 

It was a lot, he supposed. “There’s a bathroom through that door with a shower, or you can use the one across the hall. It has a bathtub.” She didn’t say anything, and it occurred to him that she might be hungry. It had been a few hours since they’d last eaten. “Are you hungry, or would you rather go back to sleep?” 

“I probably shouldn’t go to sleep this early. I’ll end up waking up in the middle of the night.” 

Daniel nodded. “Then come with me and I’ll see what I can throw together.” He didn’t wait for her to agree before heading toward the kitchen, but he heard her footsteps behind him on the hardwood floors. 

The kitchen was why he’d bought the house. He loved to cook. On the rare occasions when his children did visit, they would spend hours in the kitchen cooking and catching up. Some of his best memories with his kids happened in that room. 

Going directly to the refrigerator, he pulled out sausages and some leftover pasta sauce. It may not be fancy, but it would be filling. 

Ali hovered on the other side of the large island, so he nodded toward the stools. 

“Have a seat. Dinner will be ready soon.” 

She lowered herself onto the stool. He could feel her gaze on him as he cooked the sausages, boiled the pasta, and warmed the sauce. She didn’t say anything, only watched, following his movements as he tended to the food. 

After draining the pasta, he removed two plates from the cabinet and piled a healthy portion of noodles on top, along with the sausages and sauce. Belatedly, he thought he should have made some garlic bread to go with it, but it was too late. 

He walked around the island to where she sat and set one of the plates and a fork in front of her. 

“Thank you.” She smiled and picked up the fork. “It smells good.” 

Daniel took a seat at the island as well but made sure to keep a stool between them. 

Ali pursed her lips and blew on the steaming pasta before bringing the fork to her mouth. He couldn’t pull his gaze away from her lips as they wrapped around the fork. Then, she moaned, and all the work he’d done earlier to calm his attraction to her was moot. 

He cleared his throat and forced himself to look away. “Eat up, and then you can turn in early. I want you to get plenty of rest tonight.” 

“The nap in the car helped.” She twirled some more of the pasta onto her fork. “This is good.” 

“I’m glad you like it.” He chanced a glance at her again, making sure to keep his gaze away from her mouth this time. “I assume you have to work tomorrow?” 

“Yes, I do.” 

Daniel nodded. “What time?” 

“What?” she asked. 

Her forehead wrinkled and her nose scrunched up a little in the cutest way. Damn, he had to stop thinking about her like that. He looked away, gathering more food onto his fork. 

“What time do you need to be at work?” 

“Seven thirty.” She paused. “But I need to get my car first.” 

Again, he nodded. “We’ll leave around six thirty. That should give you plenty of time.” 

They ate the rest of the meal in silence. When she was finished, he gathered their plates and took them to the sink. By the time he faced her again, her eyes were already half closed. 

She looked up when he approached. 

“Did you need anything before you turn in?” 

Ali blinked. “I don’t think so.” 

“I’ll be here or in my room.” He indicated a hallway off the kitchen. “Should you need anything.” He prayed she didn’t come looking for him in the middle of the night. 

Daniel waited, but she didn’t move. He raised an eyebrow, indicating he expected some sort of response from her. 

She slid off the stool and began walking toward her room. Then she stopped, turned, and met his gaze. “Daniel?” 

“Yes?” 

“Thank you for letting me stay here. You didn’t have to.” 

Her blue eyes drew him in, almost begging him to invite her into his bed, but he took a cleansing breath instead. “Good night, Ali.” 

 

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