What I'm Currently Reading - Black Heart

 

Ian and Natasha's story is next. I can't tell you how excited I am about this one!

 

He’s untouchable. Unbreakable. She plans to destroy him.

Former CIA agent Ian Black has done terrible deeds. Sacrificed his honor and reputation for God and country. He’s a fighter and a survivor. His mission is to rid the world of scumbags who prey on innocent people.

No price is too high, and no one crosses him. Not for long, anyway.

But then Natasha Oliver walks in, threatening to expose the one thing Ian thought dead and buried: his heart.

Natasha’s innocence was ripped away years ago when she was thrown into prison for crimes her parents committed. Now, as the assassin Calypso, she intends to hunt down those responsible for what happened to her.

Including Ian Black. Getting involved with him is madness, but she made a vow - and she will do whatever it takes to keep it.

Until she discovers that the line between hate and love often stands on a razor’s edge...

 

Amazon 

 

What I'm Currently Reading - Black Out

 

Next up is Black Out by Lynn Raye Harris, book 3 in her Black's Bandits series.

 

Angelica Turner’s life is in danger. If she wants to survive, she’ll have to turn to a man with violence in his eyes and death in his soul. A man she desires, yet desperately needs to resist if she doesn’t want her shattered heart again.

Hardened mercenary Colton Duchaine has wanted Angie since he first laid eyes on her, but he knows he’s the wrong kind of man for an innocent woman like her. His life is too dangerous, too unpredictable. He can never settle down.

But when someone wants Angie silenced, Colt will do whatever it takes to keep her alive. And when she’s safe, he’ll get out of her life for good.

Turns out that walking away is easier said than done. Angie is his—and Colt will stop at nothing to claim her for his own.

 

Amazon 

 

What I'm Currently Reading - Black List

 

This weekend I'm starting Black List by Lynn Raye Harris.

 

ace Kaiser is a man without a country, without connection. His only loyalty is to the group who saved him, and the man who leads them.
Until her...

The assignment should have been easy. Capture a deadly assassin and take her to HQ. But flawed intel leads to disaster, and Jace abducts a beautiful art appraiser instead. Intrigued by her courage, he's drawn to her in ways he can't explain. Dr. Madeline Cole stood up to him, fought for her identity, and never backed down. She's the kind of woman he could fall for if it wasn't so dangerous--for her.

Then Maddy is targeted for elimination because she's the sole person who can identify the mysterious female assassin--and the only thing standing between her and certain death is the sexy mercenary who swears he'll die before he lets anything happen to her. As the passion between them ignites, it seems clear that keeping Maddy safe has become the most important assignment of Jace's life.

Even then, protecting her might not be enough--because Jace has secrets that could destroy them both. And someone is determined to unmask them all...

 

Amazon 

 

The Most Common Question I Get About Being An Author

There are a lot of things I love about being an author. The biggest one is that I get to put the stories that float around in my head down on paper. I love flushing out story ideas and seeing them come to life on the page. But when I meet someone new, or someone I haven't seen in a while, the question 'so, what have you been up to?' always comes up.

 

Every now and then I get that strange look along the lines of 'yeah, but what's your real job.' But more often than not, the announcement that I've not only written but published books, is met with fascination.

 

As the conversation continues, I'm almost always asked where I get the ideas for my stories.

 

I've been published for over a decade now. I've met my fair share of authors and we all pretty much have the same answer. We get our ideas from just about anywhere and everywhere.

 

Inspiration tends to strike when least expected. I was driving to a book conference when I got the idea for my military romance, Longing for His Kiss. A song came on the radio that talked about a soldier that had written a letter to his family. By the time the song was over, I knew the set up for the story.

 

That is the only time I've gotten a story inspiration from a song, but it was extremely powerful. I spent the rest of the drive plotting the details of the opening scene and how the characters would meet.

 

Like in the song, the soldier had written a letter. One that was to be delivered to his wife if he didn't make it home. He gave it to his best friend, a fellow solider, with the insistence that should something happen to him that his friend would deliver the letter to his wife personally.

 

Both the song and the story I wrote are very emotional. They deal with moving on after death. And in the case of my book, Longing for His Kiss, falling in love again after losing the love of your life.

 

If you're looking for a second chance at love, check out my military romance Longing for His Kiss.

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Where Do You Get Inspiration For Your Stories? #WriterWednesday

One of the most common questions writers get asked is where we get inspiration for our books. First of all, writers, and all creatives really, have vivid imaginations. It doesn't always take much to inspire us to create. Sometimes a word or a picture can spark an idea that takes on a life of its own.

 

For example, a fellow writer shared a picture with me the other day and almost immediately a scene between two of my characters began forming in my head. Whether or not the scene will make it into a book is yet to be seen, but a simple picture prompted the question of what happens next.

 

The second novel in my Serpent's Kiss series, Longing for His Kiss, was inspired by a song. I was driving to a book conference, stuck in my car for hours, listening to the radio. A country song from Tim McGraw came on about a soldier who'd written a letter to his family. By the end of the son, not only did I have tears streaming down my face, but I also had the idea for a story. 

 

My Finding Anna series was inspired by a news story about a young woman who was rescued from sexual slavery. As I listened to the story, my first thought was that when the woman was ready for a relationship that it would take a lot of trust and communication after what she'd been through. At the time, I was reading a lot of BDSM fan fiction and the main requirement in a healthy BDSM relationship is trust and communication. That's all it took for my creativity to take off and Finding Anna was born.

 

Inspiration really can come from anywhere. It can come from pictures, songs, experiences, or a host of other things. Some of the best ideas come from the most unlikely places.

 

What inspires you?

Not The Pampered Princess - An Excerpt From Strictly Professional

Looking at her sitting across from him at her father’s desk, Matthew wondered if his brother would have the same opinion upon meeting her. Cali did have that air about her that said she came from money, but there was also something else. An edge that he couldn’t quite explain. He’d done his research on her and knew she was twenty-eight and had been working as a doctor with Doctors Without Borders for the last two years. And while he knew working outside the US had its challenges, he couldn’t imagine what she would have seen for him to be getting such a vibe from her. But Matthew had learned long ago to trust his instincts and something told him that she wasn’t a pampered princess as his brother had suggested.

 

Haven't read Matthew and Cali's story? 

 

Click on one of the retailer links below to grab your copy! 

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Inspiration For My Military Romance Longing For His Kiss

One of the most common questions I get asked as an author is 'how do you come up with your stories?' The simple answer is that I just do, but that's not usually the type of answer people want to hear. Often the question is asked by individuals who are more analytical, those to whom creativity doesn't come naturally. It's difficult for them to wrap their head around crafting a story, or making a sculpture out of a block of stone, or building a piece of furniture without blueprints.

 

Many creative people construct in their heads. This is the case with more traditional art forms like painting and sculpting, as well as, writing.

 

Even authors who write with an outline have to create the world, the story, they are going to build it in their head first. They may write it down to help flush out the details and fill in any holes, but the creativity...the imagination...forms in their head before it ever makes it onto paper...or the computer.

 

For someone who is a true pantser when it comes to writing, I'm much like a painter who sits in front of a canvas and lets inspiration take over. When I was writing my Finding Anna series, I had no idea how the fourth book would end until I was 75% of the way through the book.

 

For the fourth story in my Serpent's Kiss series, Longing for His Kiss, the inspiration came from a song. I was driving to a book conference, listening to the radio and a song by Tim McGraw came on called If You're Reading This. By the time it was over, I had tears streaming down my face and the idea for a new story.

 

The story is about loss, grief, and finding love again after losing the love of your life. Grace, the heroine of the story, is a submissive who finds herself lost without her husband and master after he's killed over seas while serving his country in the military. She's trying to find her way again along when she receives a letter. It's from her husband, his last wish for her if he should not return...he wants her to move on with her life and find another Dom.

 

I cried many tears while writing Long for His Kiss. It's a moving story that tugs at the heart strings and will have you reaching for a box of tissues.

 

Review: Her Guarded Hero by Caitlyn O'Leary

Can He Save Her Life? Can She Save His Soul?

Navy SEAL Dalton Sullivan, once again, seeks solace in the wilderness. As he treks through the forests surrounding Lake Tahoe shots ring out, and he watches in horror as a woman is thrown off her horse and lands unconscious at his feet.

Aurora Chance has no idea why someone wants her dead. When Dalton offers to keep her safe, she is pressured by her family to accept his help. As the danger intensifies, Dalton becomes her safe harbor. Meanwhile Dalton wrestles with demons from his past as Aurora becomes a beacon of hope that he knows he doesn’t deserve.

Will Dalton have to give up his life in order to save Aurora? Will Aurora survive and prove to Dalton he can trust her with his heart?

Her Guarded Hero will take you on an emotional, action-packed read that will leave you craving more. Don’t miss out, one-click this story today.

My Review:

This story opens with a bang. Literally.

Dalton is on leave from his duties as a SEAL, and while hiking int he woods he hears a gun shot. But it isn't aimed at him. It's aimed at a woman on horseback.

This situation throws Dalton and Aurora together. He's convinced that the shots were no accident and is determined to protect her.

What I liked...

Dalton's backstory was flushed out well by the author. He was leery about getting into a relationship and once the reasoning is revealed, it makes sense as to why he's cautious.

Aurora is sort of a 'horse whisperer'. Her specialty is taking in abused horses and rehabilitating them. She has a calming way about her, which Dalton needs.

I also enjoyed getting to know her grandfather. He was a character in and of himself.

What I didn't like...

Aurora made a really stupid decision in the story. I get why she did it, so it wasn't completely out of character, but it was stupid nonetheless.

Would I recommend this book?

Yes! If you like contemporary romance, especially military romance,  you should enjoy this story.

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Google

#SixSentenceSunday from Longing for His Kiss by Sherri Hayes

                      Don't miss out on the #SixSentenceSunday each week! 

Follow our Facebook Page.

She lowered her gaze. “Sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean—”

He tipped her chin up so she was looking at him again. “I’m not upset with you, gattina. I do, however, want to understand why you think your boss would fire you for being a member of a kink club when her best friend is one.”

Longing for His Kiss 

Eight months ago, two uniformed men showed up at Grace Martin’s door and told her that her husband wasn’t coming home. She’s tried to move on, but nothing will make that ache in her chest go away. Kurt wasn’t only her husband. He was also her Master. With him gone a part of her is missing and she has no idea how, or even if, she can repair the hole that has been left.

A lot has changed in the last eight months for Alexander Greco. He was injured, spent six months in a VA hospital recovering, was discharged from the Army after ten years of service, and then moved himself halfway across the country to find his friend’s widow. He has a letter to deliver to Grace—her husband’s final goodbye.

Little does either of them know the letter contains something that will change both their lives.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yVwFQB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2zpeio3

iBooks: http://apple.co/2lj5GsZ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2y7b602

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zahGmz

#SixSentenceSunday from Longing for His Kiss by Sherri Hayes

                      Don't miss out on the #SixSentenceSunday each week! 

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Grace took a shaky breath, opened her car door, and placed her feet on the pavement. Each step she took toward the brick building felt heavier than the one before. She felt naked. Exposed. And utterly terrified. It was the first time she’d been without her collar for almost ten years.

Longing for His Kiss 

Eight months ago, two uniformed men showed up at Grace Martin’s door and told her that her husband wasn’t coming home. She’s tried to move on, but nothing will make that ache in her chest go away. Kurt wasn’t only her husband. He was also her Master. With him gone a part of her is missing and she has no idea how, or even if, she can repair the hole that has been left.

A lot has changed in the last eight months for Alexander Greco. He was injured, spent six months in a VA hospital recovering, was discharged from the Army after ten years of service, and then moved himself halfway across the country to find his friend’s widow. He has a letter to deliver to Grace—her husband’s final goodbye.

Little does either of them know the letter contains something that will change both their lives.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yVwFQB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2zpeio3

iBooks: http://apple.co/2lj5GsZ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2y7b602

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zahGmz

Pre-order Your Copy Of Love Under Siege #MilitaryRomance #Anthology

Release Date: September 18, 2018

Eight Brand NEW Sizzling Full-Length Novels featuring Military Heroes by acclaimed authors who know how to bring the Heat, Action and Suspense!

• Tuff Enough by Samantha A. Cole
  While security operative Jason “Tuff” Tanner lives for dangerous assignments, he likes his downtime in his quiet neighborhood too. But that peacefulness is suddenly interrupted when his new next-door neighbor becomes a target for someone hell bent on revenge. Canine rescuer Concetta “Chet” Suarez brings all his protective instincts to the surface, along with feelings he’s never experienced with any other woman. Will he lose her before he ever gets a chance to make her his?
  
• Never Forget by KaLyn Cooper
  Dreams or nightmares. Truth or lies. He can’t tell them apart after he sees the woman in his dreams. She is the key to his past, present, and future… She just buried her husband next to her fiancé who was killed in an explosion while they were on a mission together ten years ago. She doesn’t need another man in her life, until someone tries to kill her.
  
• Ravished River by Lindsay Cross
  Special Forces Operative Aaron Spears dealt with relationships like he dealt with battle – something to be avoided if at all possible, until Celine Latimer walked into his life and turned his world upside down.
  
• Lincoln by PJ Fiala
  Lincoln Winter is hired to bring in a criminal who is selling arms on the black market and he never misses a mark. That is until the sultry Skye Sommers crosses his path and unwittingly gets herself caught up in much more than she can handle. Can they stay alive long enough to find a killer, an arms dealer and love?
  
• Mace by Maryann Jordan
  Mace Hanna’s security business keeps him busy…too busy for a relationship. When providing security for a single mom and her young son who has witnessed a murder, he vows to keep them safe...and finds love along the way.
  
• Black Jack by MJ Nightingale
  Undercover FBI agent, Jackson Black doesn't expect to find love while working deep undercover on a RICO case. But he can't resist Dawn, the sexy accountant, who keeps crossing his path during the investigation putting both of their lives on the line.
  
• Her Guarded Hero by Caitlyn O’Leary
  It’s been five years since his tragic loss and Navy SEAL, Dalton Sullivan heads to Lake Tahoe to be alone. The last thing he expects is horse trainer, Aurora Chance to literally fall at his feet. As danger and raw emotion churn around them, can Dalton be brought back into the light?
  
• Not Quite Broken by Abbie Zanders
  Former POW Brian McCain is so busy fighting his demons, there’s not enough left over for anyone else – not even the one woman who has a way of shining light into his darkness. But when a serial killer turns his sights on her, Brian realizes he’s not quite as broken as he thinks he is.

Love Under Siege will only be available for a limited time, grab your copy now before it's gone forever!

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#SixSentenceSunday from Longing for His Kiss by Sherri Hayes

                      Don't miss out on the #SixSentenceSunday each week! 

Follow our Facebook Page.

Grace took a shaky breath, opened her car door, and placed her feet on the pavement. Each step she took toward the brick building felt heavier than the one before. She felt naked. Exposed. And utterly terrified. It was the first time she’d been without her collar for almost ten years.

Longing for His Kiss 

Eight months ago, two uniformed men showed up at Grace Martin’s door and told her that her husband wasn’t coming home. She’s tried to move on, but nothing will make that ache in her chest go away. Kurt wasn’t only her husband. He was also her Master. With him gone a part of her is missing and she has no idea how, or even if, she can repair the hole that has been left.

A lot has changed in the last eight months for Alexander Greco. He was injured, spent six months in a VA hospital recovering, was discharged from the Army after ten years of service, and then moved himself halfway across the country to find his friend’s widow. He has a letter to deliver to Grace—her husband’s final goodbye.

Little does either of them know the letter contains something that will change both their lives.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yVwFQB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2zpeio3

iBooks: http://apple.co/2lj5GsZ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2y7b602

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zahGmz

#Review #Romance Revealing Her SEAL by Kat Cantrell

Title: Revealing Her SEAL

Author: Kat Cantrell

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This was another great read from Kat Cantrell.

In this one we got to know Rachel and Evan. It was great seeing her get him to open up little by little. Their interactions, especially at the beginning of the story, were sometimes almost comical at times. And as with the first book in this series, I could almost feel Evan's pain as he struggled to put the past behind him.

I have to say I didn't like it quite as much as Claiming Her SEAL, but it still ranks as one of my top five reads of the year so far. This is definitely a series I will be continuing. There are six members of the team and I look forward to reading each one of their stories.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great read and enjoys military romance.

Amazon
Nook

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author Kat Cantrell read her first Harlequin novel in third grade and has been scribbling in notebooks since she learned to spell. What else would she write but romance? When she’s not writing about characters on the journey to happily ever after, she can be found at a soccer game, watching Friends or dancing with her kids to Duran Duran and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Kat, her husband and their two boys live in North Texas. Kat was the 2011 Harlequin So You Think You Can Write winner and a 2012 RWA® Golden Heart® finalist for best unpublished series contemporary manuscript.

Website

#SixSentenceSunday from Longing for His Kiss by Sherri Hayes

                      Don't miss out on the #SixSentenceSunday each week! 

Follow our Facebook Page.

She lowered her gaze. “Sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean—”

He tipped her chin up so she was looking at him again. “I’m not upset with you, gattina. I do, however, want to understand why you think your boss would fire you for being a member of a kink club when her best friend is one.”

Longing for His Kiss 

Eight months ago, two uniformed men showed up at Grace Martin’s door and told her that her husband wasn’t coming home. She’s tried to move on, but nothing will make that ache in her chest go away. Kurt wasn’t only her husband. He was also her Master. With him gone a part of her is missing and she has no idea how, or even if, she can repair the hole that has been left.

A lot has changed in the last eight months for Alexander Greco. He was injured, spent six months in a VA hospital recovering, was discharged from the Army after ten years of service, and then moved himself halfway across the country to find his friend’s widow. He has a letter to deliver to Grace—her husband’s final goodbye.

Little does either of them know the letter contains something that will change both their lives.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yVwFQB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2zpeio3

iBooks: http://apple.co/2lj5GsZ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2y7b602

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zahGmz

#Review #Romance Claiming Her SEAL by Kat Cantrell

Title: Claiming Her SEAL

Author: Kat Cantrell

Rating: 5 Stars

All I can say is WOW! If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.

It's been a while since a book had me missing sleep, but this one did. I was up till three in the morning reading until I could barely keep my eyes open. I didn't want to stop.

Dex and Emma had all the makings of a great couple. They had such amazing chemistry and the conflict between them was so real I could feel it deep in my bones. I never wanted their story to end and can't wait to see more of them in later books in the series.

As I said above, if I could I would give this book more than 5 stars. There were no negatives that I could find. The story flowed well, the plot and characters were amazing, and the book was well edited.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great read and enjoys military romance.

Amazon
Nook

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author Kat Cantrell read her first Harlequin novel in third grade and has been scribbling in notebooks since she learned to spell. What else would she write but romance? When she’s not writing about characters on the journey to happily ever after, she can be found at a soccer game, watching Friends or dancing with her kids to Duran Duran and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Kat, her husband and their two boys live in North Texas. Kat was the 2011 Harlequin So You Think You Can Write winner and a 2012 RWA® Golden Heart® finalist for best unpublished series contemporary manuscript.

Website

#SixSentenceSunday from Longing for His Kiss by Sherri Hayes

                      Don't miss out on the #SixSentenceSunday each week! 

Follow our Facebook Page.

Grace took a shaky breath, opened her car door, and placed her feet on the pavement. Each step she took toward the brick building felt heavier than the one before. She felt naked. Exposed. And utterly terrified. It was the first time she’d been without her collar for almost ten years.

Longing for His Kiss 

Eight months ago, two uniformed men showed up at Grace Martin’s door and told her that her husband wasn’t coming home. She’s tried to move on, but nothing will make that ache in her chest go away. Kurt wasn’t only her husband. He was also her Master. With him gone a part of her is missing and she has no idea how, or even if, she can repair the hole that has been left.

A lot has changed in the last eight months for Alexander Greco. He was injured, spent six months in a VA hospital recovering, was discharged from the Army after ten years of service, and then moved himself halfway across the country to find his friend’s widow. He has a letter to deliver to Grace—her husband’s final goodbye.

Little does either of them know the letter contains something that will change both their lives.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yVwFQB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2zpeio3

iBooks: http://apple.co/2lj5GsZ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2y7b602

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zahGmz

Longing for His Kiss is LIVE! #NewRelease #BDSM #Romance

Release Date: November 2, 2017

Genre: BDSM Romance

Blurb:

Eight months ago, two uniformed men showed up at Grace Martin’s door and told her that her husband wasn’t coming home. She’s tried to move on, but nothing will make that ache in her chest go away. Kurt wasn’t only her husband. He was also her Master. With him gone a part of her is missing and she has no idea how, or even if, she can repair the hole that has been left.

A lot has changed in the last eight months for Alexander Greco. He was injured, spent six months in a VA hospital recovering, was discharged from the Army after ten years of service, and then moved himself halfway across the country to find his friend’s widow. He has a letter to deliver to Grace—her husband’s final goodbye.

Little does either of them know the letter contains something that will change both their lives.

Read Chapter 1 of Longing for His Kiss: http://bit.ly/2zSzIGn

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yVwFQB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2yO29Wp

iBooks: http://apple.co/2lj5GsZ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2y7b602

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zahGmz

Sherri’s website: www.sherrihayesauthor.com

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