Blog

OUT NOW! In the Midst of Angels, by Seelie Kay @SeelieKay #Paranormal #ContemporaryRomance

June 30, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: In the Midst of Angels
Release Date: June 30, 2023
Publisher: Extasy Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Paranormal Romance
Heat Level: Two flames
Pages: 177
Price: eBook $5.99, Print $8.99

An interview with Seelie Kay

Why do you write romance?

It began as a way to relieve the stress of a career as a lawyer/journalist and dealing with MS “on the side.” Writing has always been my outlet and the best way to break away from reality for a bit was to write romance. Plus, I love happy endings. I get rather emotional (yes, I’m a crier) but it’s a wonderful release.

Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?

I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a lawyer, a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me! However, they have to be paired with strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, even love. And brains over brawn, every time!

Why did you write In the Midst of Angels?

For several reasons. When my father died during the pandemic (not from COVID), I really struggled with the idea that I could never ever seek his advice again. He lived in another city and was kept in a tight “bubble,” so neither my son or I could visit. My mother had died 15 years prior and I regularly had dreams in which we had some pretty serious discussions about love and romance. That had me thinking about what type of advice they would give my son about relationships and finding the right partner. I also wondered how they would react to the relationship style of Millennials. Somedays, I feel like all of the advanced technology they use has killed romance. They seem much more practical about it, less playful. In a way, this book is a nod to my parents, as well as a guide to romance for the younger generation.

You pretty much use lawyers as your main characters. Why?

It’s what I know. After 30 years, the law and the legal world are so firmly embedded in my brain that I can’t flush them out. That has become the lens through which I view the world and that naturally guides my characters and plots. Injustice infuriates me, but it also leads me to great stories. Even in this book, I find a way to explore social and criminal justice issues.

BLURB:

Greta McDonald is convinced she doesn’t have time for love, but her dearly departed parents feel differently.

Attorney Greta McDonald runs a free legal clinic for Milwaukee’s financially disadvantaged population. Funded by the estate of her late parents, Greta’s dedication to those who can’t afford legal services leaves no time for romance. While on Earth, Melissa and Steven McDonald had enjoyed a true love match and they want the same for their daughter. Unfortunately, angels are only permitted to observe family members left behind, and in times of extreme danger, request assistance, but they are not allowed to interfere in matters of the heart. The couple has already tested God’s indulgence several times and now they’re facing the possibility of being cast out of Heaven into Purgatory.

Enter Aaron Buckley, a ruthless litigator, and Greta’s primary nemesis in court. Despite their differences, he is determined to win Greta’s heart. Unfortunately, Greta’s commitment to her clinic, her resistance to a relationship, and her propensity to place herself in peril, threaten to prevent a love match. Without a little heavenly #1 intervention, this couple may never have the opportunity to embrace the miracle of true love.

When Aaron’s grandfather offers a family-tested three-part plan to win Greta’s heart, Aaron is all in. Unfortunately, Greta isn’t making things easy, but as everyone knows, the show’s not over until the heavenly choir sings!

EXCERPT

“Pops, she looks like an angel. Long wavy blonde hair with glints of red, big hazel eyes, and built like a nymph. Slender with legs that were molded by Venus. And she’s bright and snarky and just a breath of fresh air. So different from other women I’ve met.”

Pops whistled. “Molded by Venus? Son, you’ve got it bad.” He ran a hand through his sparse gray hair and shook his head. At age eighty-three, he was still in fine shape. “She just wants you to work for it. Hell, all women want their men to work for it. Why your grandmother made me plow her father’s fields. For free. She said she wanted his approval before she would grant me the pleasure of her company.” He grinned. “So, there I was, sweating my ass off in this humungous field, plowing away with some rickety old tractor, she and her daddy grinning from ear to ear, so proud that they had conned me into free labor.”

Aaron chuckled. “What did you do?”

“I plowed the rest of the damn field into a crazy-eight pattern, one that would require a do-over, and told her—and her daddy—that I wasn’t going to fix it unless and until she went on three dates with me.”

“You did not…”

“Yup. And she caved, too. Her Daddy was horrified that I would leave his fields in such disarray. Said he’d be the laughingstock of the Farmer’s Coop. He ordered her to date me. Of course, he had no way of knowing that I intended to charm her socks off. By the third date, she was all but begging me to marry her. And believe me, I made her beg. After the third date, I fixed her Daddy’s field and started dating Gladys Culpepper. Your grandmother was fit to be tied. Came storming up to me after church and tried to slap me. I grabbed her hand and nuzzled her neck—much to the consternation of all the old church ladies—and whispered, “You want me? The only way to get me is to agree to marry me at this very moment. I won’t be offering again.” Pops ran a hand through his thin gray hair. “She grabbed me by the ears, laid one on me, turned to poor Gladys, and declared, Charles Buckley won’t be calling you anymore, Gladys. He’s marrying me.”

Aaron stared at his grandfather. “What the heck did you do to charm her?”

BOOK TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGRAl2w9sXc

BUY LINKS

Publisher: https://www.extasybooks.com/In-the-Midst-of-Angels

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Midst-Angels-Seelie-Kay-ebook/dp/B0C9BZ983Z/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-midst-of-angels-seelie-kay/1143704685?ean=9781487439453

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/161186449-in-the-midst-of-angels

What fools they’d been— #MFRWHooks #EroticRomance #LaterInLife

June 28, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Out Now!

Ripening Passion

Passion Series, Book Two

Erotic Romance, Later in Life, LGBTQ

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

I got ahead of myself – the last two scenes I posted (6/13 and 6/14) were out of time order, showcasing a little heat once Max and Claire had started working things out. I’m backtracking today to share their first kiss…

EXCERPT

Set Up

This scene takes place while Claire and Max are in California at the Sex and Aging workshop. They’ve been avoiding each other, but it might finally be time to “practice” together. They’re in Claire’s suite:

“I can think of something I’d rather munch on,” Max said softly, sitting down beside her.

“In due time,” Claire said, patting his thigh. “Remember, one of the advantages of age is we don’t have to rush because of galloping hormones.”

He chuckled around a cracker and sipped his wine. “Just so you know. My hormones are already trotting.”

She tipped her head back and laughed. “Just so you know, mine too.”

“Good.”

Maybe there was something to the age factor. She couldn’t recall ever being this relaxed before a first sexual encounter with a man. She refused to acknowledge that fiasco at the Center as their first time.

Max set down his wineglass and peered at her. His eyes gleamed and sparkled. “I think I have enough energy to manage a kiss.”

She held his gaze, then tipped her chin in invitation.

He leaned over and nibbled at the corner of her mouth. Only their lips touched. They explored slowly. Max etched her upper lip with his tongue. She rimmed his lower lip with hers. He tilted his head slightly, then slanted his lips across hers.

Claire willed her hands to stay in her lap. This already surpassed her expectations. Let him lead. She didn’t have to lead all the time. Their eyes hadn’t closed, as if they didn’t want to miss a thing. Claire warmed, realizing this really was their first kiss. They’d skipped this step entirely at the Center. What fools they’d been—he was a delicious kisser. Who would’ve guessed?

BLURB

Can Max melt the Ice Queen? Should he even try?

Claire Johnson’s dedication to sex—the cornerstone of her career—led her to help found the Center for Sexuality and Sex Practices. Now in her fifties, she knows the Center must keep pace with the rapidly growing Baby Boomer market, so she agrees to go back on camera for a series on sex and aging. But work with her nemesis?

Former English Professor Max Wilson has championed the cause of the Center ever since his now deceased wife sought the Center’s help to rekindle the nearly extinguished sexual flames of their relationship. He loves working on camera and welcomes the challenge to perform with the svelte but icy temptress.

Sparks fly immediately on and off camera. The jury is out on whether either Max or Claire can transform those sparks into a fire of sexual desire for their viewers—let alone for each other.

BUY LINK

NOW AT YOUR FAVORITE EBOOK VENDORS

https://books2read.com/u/4D82BP

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: Ripening Passion
Series: Passion Series, Book Two
Author: Adriana Kraft
Published by: eXtasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3813-5
Length: 254 pages, 75813 words
Publication Date: June 2, 2023
Genres: Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA, Contemporary Romance
Tags: Menage, Bisexual, New York City, Later in Life
Heat Level: Four Flames
Pairings: MF, FF, FFF, FMF, MFM

Click on the links to travel to the rest of the blog posts:

What I wish I’d said…Get the scoop on Claire Johnson #EroticRomance #LaterInLife #MFRWAuthor

June 27, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Characters in novels seem to always have the perfect witty comment at the tip of their tongues. I was wishing for that skill the other morning, and the exchange made me think of our latest heroine, who would have done far better than I. She was just interviewed over at the Romance Lives Forever Blog. You won’t want to miss her snappy repartee!

I was at our small town’s local market picking up eggs and tortillas. When I came to the cashier line, a good-looking Afro-American man in dreads motioned me to get in front of him; I’m sure he was at least two or three decades younger than I. I thanked him, and then he said “May I give you a compliment? I really like your hairstyle.” I thanked him for that as well and added, “and I really like dreads, so we’re even,” and he laughed.

What I wish I’d said? “I’m lucky enough to be old and gray, so I like to look sharp.”

I know that’s what Claire Johnson would have said – though since she tints her blonde hair to hide the gray, it wouldn’t have quite fit for her.

She and I have so many characteristics in common. I’ve loved writing her story in Ripening Passion (and her role in book one, Smoldering Passion) and am sorry she only plays a minor role in book three, coming August 18. She’ll be hard to let go of. She and I are both trim, look good for our age, take pride in what we look like, and are dedicated to health and fitness. I can’t claim to be as svelte as she is – I must be at least ten inches shorter. And I will say I’ve never cultivated the icy exterior she’s so skilled at. Oh, perhaps I should add another difference – I’ve never had sex on camera.

It’s been a great pleasure being inside her head and above all having the time to come up with her witty responses as her ice starts to melt. She’s recently been interviewed at a couple blog spots, so I thought I’d throw in one of her responses here (and thank you, Kayelle Allen, for this interview question):

Please provide a physical description of yourself.

Claire: Thank you for asking – call me vain if you like, but I’m really proud of the fact that I can still turn heads at age 59. I’m a tall trim blonde, and yes, I do touch up my hair color a tad. I used to keep a severe short hairstyle, but I’ve let it grow out a bit. By now I can rely on my presence and my stature to intimidate when I need to. Did I mention trim? I work out and I watch what I eat.

You can catch Claire’s entire interview HERE, and of course I hope we’ve tempted you into checking out Ripening Passion at this link:

BUY LINK

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK

https://books2read.com/u/4D82BP

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: Ripening Passion

Series: Passion Series, Book Two
Author: Adriana Kraft
Published by: eXtasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3813-5
Length: 254 pages, 75813 words
Publication Date: June 2, 2023
Genres: Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA, Contemporary Romance
Tags: Menage, Bisexual, New York City, Later in Life
Heat Level: Four Flames
Pairings: MF, FF, FFF, FMF, MFM

BLURB

Can Max melt the Ice Queen? Should he even try?

Sparks fly immediately on and off camera. The jury is out on whether either Max or Claire can transform those sparks into a fire of sexual desire for their viewers—let alone for each other.

Blog Tour: The Hussar’s Duty by Griffin Brady @griffbrady1588 #NewRelease #BookReview #HistoricalFiction #WingedHussars #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

June 26, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Book Information

Book Title: The Hussar’s Duty
Series: The Winged Warrior Series
Author: Griffin Brady
Publication Date: May 18, 2023
Publisher: Trefoil Publishing
Page Length: 538
Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb

Poland’s most valiant winged hussar is called to fight in a campaign ripe for disaster. But he must also protect those he loves from jackals waiting to pounce. How does he choose between duty and devotion when death is on the line?

When Sultan Osman II sends Poland’s envoy packing, the Commonwealth must prepare for war against one of the largest armies the Ottomans have ever assembled. Tasked with repelling the invasion is Grand Hetman of the Crown Stanisław Żółkiewski, and he knows who to turn to: Jacek Dąbrowski, the Commonwealth’s most valiant Polish winged hussar.

Jacek has been idle far too long, and the call to arms is a siren’s song he can’t resist. But he has built a life far from the battlefield with his wife, Oliwia, and their children. If he pursues his quest for glory, who will safeguard them?

Oliwia knows her husband is restless. In fact, she’s been sending Jacek on cross-country errands for years in the hopes of quelling his lust for battle. When she realizes her efforts are futile, she resolves herself to letting him go—after hatching a scheme to accompany him.

Honor. Obligation. Devotion. These forces push and pull Jacek in different directions. His country needs him, but so does his family. Where does his duty lie? His choice will cause catastrophic ripples no matter which path he follows … and could very well bring the loss of his loved ones or his life.

Will the cost of defending king and country prove too steep for this warrior?

Buy Links

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://readerlinks.com/l/3336453
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2VZ2963/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C2VZ2963/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C2VZ2963/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C2VZ2963/

About the Author

Griffin Brady is an award-winning historical fiction author with a keen interest in the Polish Winged Hussars of the 16th and 17th centuries. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Her debut novel, The Heart of a Hussar, was a finalist for the 2021 Chaucer Early Historical Fiction Award and a 2021 Discovered Diamond.

The proud mother three grown sons, she lives in Colorado with her husband. She is also an award-winning bestselling romance author who writes under the pen name G.K. Brady.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.griffin-brady.com/historical-fiction/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/griffbrady1588
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGriffinBrady
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/griffin-brady
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/griffinbrady
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20675881.Griffin_Brady

My Review

Intrigue, betrayal, lawlessness, misjudgment, tragedy, duty and love make for a dramatic and satisfying read in this well researched historical novel set in Poland in the early 1600s. The novel’s central focus, the battle of Cecora, is well documented. The author has artfully balanced an account of real events with the perilous fate of a cluster of fictional characters: the Winged Hussar Jacek Dąbrowski and his family.

Though The Hussar’s Duty is Book Three and the final book in its series, it can be read as a standalone. The author has successfully integrated sufficient detail to both support the story and entice the reader to delve into books One and Two, an endeavor I highly recommend. The trio of books covers a tumultuous time during Poland’s Golden Age, an age where it was a dominant and cultured force in Europe, with advanced education and civil liberties unheard of elsewhere.

Before picking up this series, I knew little to nothing about Poland prior to World War II and would have never guessed that its past included such an era. There’s a reason I didn’t know, detailed in the author’s notes:

“Poland was one the great powers and a center of culture in Eastern and Central Europe for two hundred years. Memories of its former greatness were methodically erased during the Partitions of Poland in the eighteenth century. Russia, Austria, and Prussia carried off Poland’s books and treasures and disseminated propaganda that its might and influence had never existed.”

The Hussar’s Duty brings us rich detail about the life, tactics, and campaign experiences of Poland’s elite mounted warriors. At the same time, through its focus on the family Jacek has left in a secure fortress far from the battlefield, it provides an engaging window into early seventeenth century life in a stressful time late in Poland’s Golden Age. Readers will be thrown onto an emotional roller coaster as they experience the many dilemmas faced by the main characters and those close to them.

Four Stars for this highly engaging read.

“We have nothing to hide…” #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #RomanticSuspense #Sale

June 25, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Welcome to Snippet Sunday – ten (or so) sentences from all your favorite romance authors! You’ll find them all at this Facebook Group every Sunday:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

Continuing with The Heist, romantic suspense.

EXCERPT

Set Up: picking up where we left off last week. When Cara arrived to open the museum on Monday, she found the doors unlocked. She’s meeting with her assistant.

“It’s hard to imagine a guy from Chicago doing anything in Elk Grove, Nebraska—other than holding his nose while he decides which one of us is a likely thief.” Sasha shifted nervously from foot to foot in front of Kara’s mahogany desk.

“Since we have nothing to hide, I doubt he’ll get very involved with any of us. Besides, he’s not coming to investigate the break-in, since nothing was taken. He’s coming to help us improve our security system. That’s a good thing. Right?”

“I guess.” Sasha crossed her arms, underscoring her obvious skepticism.

“He won’t arrive until tomorrow. In the meantime we’ll need to set up a meeting with the Board for him, and I’m sure he’ll want to spend time with our Security Committee. We’ll want to make sure all our procedure manuals are available. And all staff should be on call in case he wants to talk with them.”

BLURB

A special-order art theft? Tedious, but seamless – until small town museum director Kara Daniels calls in the experts. Furious her favorite trio of priceless impressionist paintings has been stolen from its traveling exhibit on her watch, Kara is determined to save not only the paintings, but her future in the art world. She’ll stop at nothing to entrap the thief.

Ted Springs knows the underbelly of the criminal world a little closer than he might like—but he’s turned it to good advantage, first as a police officer, and now as detective for the Upper Midwest Arts Council. His job? To guarantee the security of the valuable paintings in the Council’s traveling exhibits.

Heat sizzles when Ted and Kara collide—can they work together, before it’s too late?

BUY LINK

On Sale for just $0.99!

https://books2read.com/u/4D65wD

REVIEWS

Five stars at Goodreads: “The sex is hot and I loved the phone sex scenes. Never did I expect the ending. It was brilliant. The Heist is a winner!” Sheila G.

Five stars at Amazon: “From the start, the perspective of Kara, the museum’s director and the thieves are cleverly interwoven… rich in detail… held my interest and kept me reading forward.” Gaele “Very hot…engaging, entertaining, funny and serious, well written and extremely enjoyable to read.” Donna H.

Release Blitz: Take the Plunge, by Collette Davison #ContemporaryMMRomance @gaybookpromo #LGBTQ

June 22, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Take the Plunge

Author and Publisher: Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Morningstar Ashley Designs

Release Date: June 22, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Forced proximity, best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend, friends to lovers, bisexual exploration

Themes: Learning to trust

Heat Rating: 3.5 – 4 flames

Length: 65 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

One weekend could lead to forever if Jett can take the plunge.

Blurb

Jett didn’t expect to spend the weekend trapped in a remote holiday house with his best friend’s brother. As they try to pass the time, Kian’s bright enthusiasm starts to break through Jett’s gruff defences. When Kian offers to help Jett explore his desires with no strings attached, everything changes.

Fooling around when your heart isn’t on the line is one thing, but when the weekend ends, neither man wants their casual arrangement to end. Past betrayal has made Jett wary of trusting anyone, but even though Kian’s patience seems to be never-ending, Jett knows it’s only a matter of time before ‘no strings’ turns into ‘goodbye’.

Can Jett look past his fear and make the man who’s claimed his heart his?

Take the Plunge is a standalone contemporary M/M romance where a jaded man with a permanent storm cloud over his head falls for a sunshiny optimist. There’s forced proximity, an interfering best friend, swoony moonlight swimming, bi-sexual exploration, and lots of first times.

Excerpt

My head is fucking killing me. My mouth feels like it’s been stuffed full of mothballs. I’m lying on my right side, and that arm is numb. A click echoes through the house. Was that someone closing a door? I wipe my left hand over my face and open my eyes. It’s too dark to see anything.

What the fuck happened last night?

Something whines. Door hinges?

Oh, right. I’m at Rufus’s holiday home in the middle of nowhere. Okay, so it’s not actually his. The house belongs to his granddad, but Rufus is allowed to use it when his granddad isn’t here fishing. The front door hinges have needed oiling for as long as I’ve been coming up here with Rufus and his family.

When we were kids, his family invited me here for a week every summer. Rufus, his younger brother, Kian, and I would go wandering for hours, exploring the woods, chasing each other through meadows of long grass and flowers, and sitting by the lake with our legs dangling in the water. I have lots of good memories of this tiny corner of Scotland.

But reminiscing won’t solve the mystery of my aching head.

The door closes. It’s either the middle of the night or so early the sun hasn’t come up yet, so I’m unsure who’s going where.

I, Rufus, Kian, and some of our friends are here for a weekend of drinking and lazing around. Well, they can laze around. I have work to do as soon as I find some paracetamol and a gallon of water to shift this headache.

A car engine turns on. What the fuck? Tyres crunch over gravel, and then it gets quieter. I try to turn towards the window, but something pulls against my right wrist. Someone groans. I try to move my arm again. Clink. Rattle. Something hard but also soft circles my wrist. What. The. Actual. Fuck?

I twist and flail around, groping for a lamp or a light switch. My neck clicks, and my back aches with the effort. Another groan, a little louder than before. I skid my fingers over a piece of paper before finding a bedside lamp. I flick it on. A golden glow fills the room, and I shut my eyes against the harsh light.

Another groan. “Well, that’s bright.”

Hold up. I recognise that voice.

My right wrist is tugged to the side. Clink.

“Huh,” the voice says.

I rub my eyes and prie them open. I’m lying face-to-face with Kian. Our right hands lie on the pillow between us. Pink fur circles our wrists.

“Huh,” Kian repeats. He lifts his wrist, pulling mine with him. “This must be someone’s idea of a joke.” He kneads his forehead with his fingertips. “So this is what a hangover feels like. I don’t recommend it.”

“Too late.”

“That sucks for us both.” He yawns and closes his eyes.

“Who the fuck would do this?”

Kian shrugs. “Probably Rufus. He never matured past sixteen.”

I sit, dragging Kian upright with me. “Where’s the key?”

Kian tugs me down again. “We can look for it after we’ve slept off these hangovers. Rufus will have it.”

I grunt. “I don’t want to go back to sleep. I want to get these damn things off. What the fuck are they anyway?”

“Handcuffs.”

“I can see that.”

“Why’d you ask, then?”

“Why are they pink? And furry?”

About the Author

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website | Facebook Page | Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

BookBub | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram: @colettedavison

Mailing List | Newsletter Sign-Up

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $10 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Blog

BOOK INFORMATION

An interview with Seelie Kay

BLURB:

EXCERPT

BOOK TRAILER

BUY LINKS

Share this:

Like this:

Out Now!

EXCERPT

BLURB

BUY LINK

NOW AT YOUR FAVORITE EBOOK VENDORS

BOOK INFORMATION

Share this:

Like this:

BUY LINK

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK

BOOK INFORMATION

BLURB

Share this:

Like this:

Book Information

Blurb

Buy Links

About the Author

Social Media Links:

My Review

Share this:

Like this:

EXCERPT

BLURB

BUY LINK

REVIEWS

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: