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Adriana Kraft

Adriana Kraft

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Contemporary Romance

“Suspenseful, intriguing and truly romantic!” #RomanticSuspense #KU #IndiePub #HorseRacing #Thoroughbred #SportsRomance

January 29, 2024 by Adriana Kraft

Most of the books Mr. Kraft and I write together are steamy erotic romance, typically (but not always) featuring bisexual women. But that’s not where we got our start. When I started this year-long backlist review in my New Years Day blog post HERE, I noted that we accomplished our first goal – to be a published author – in 2005, with a contract for publication in 2007.

That novel is in our other major genre, romantic suspense, where we typically feature a romance between a man and a woman. In the beginning, we attempted to keep a different pen name for each of the two genres, but this quickly became cumbersome, and we brought all our work together under our “Adriana” name in short order.

The press that first released Willow Smoke in 2007 was sold in 2012, so when we received our rights back, we brought it out under our indie imprint in 2014.

Willow Smoke is actually Book Three in our four-book suspense series set in the horse racing industry, Riders Up, but it was the one we polished first, before the other three were fully fleshed out. Each of the books can be read as a standalone, and they can be read in any order.

WHY WILLOW?

When we lived in northern Minnesota, our forty acres included a small marshy area that grew willow shrubs. Following my mother’s custom, I always cut some branches early each spring and set them in a vase inside to open as pussy willows, usually the first blossoms of the year. My husband dabbled in wood carving while we lived there, and gnarled willow sticks made inviting projects to carve, sand, and stain.

Enter Daisy Matthews, the waif Cassie rescued through her Chicago group home job in Riders Up, Book One. By Book Three, Daisy is tall and lanky and holding her own as an assistant trainer at Chicago’s Arlington Park Racetrack.

We did not have a title when we began writing this book, but we did know our characters. The much older Nick Underwood has left the stock market, where he made a killing, and he now runs a small company crafting handmade wooden canoes. When he first encounters Daisy in the Arlington Park track barn, he doesn’t know her name, but he’s struck by her smoky eyes and her tall willowy frame. He decides to call her Willow. Our title was born, but we had no idea how important this small shrub genus would become in our story.

As the story gradually made its way onto the page, we sent Nick and Daisy on a canoeing trip to northern Minnesota’s boundary waters, which we so often enjoyed ourselves. On their way home, he stops at a friend’s home (forty acres and a farmhouse, imagine that!). Daisy has often watched Nick working the wood at his shop, and his friend finds an appropriate willow stick and talks her into getting started carving it.

I won’t give away the story’s ending here – I’ll just say that Daisy’s willow stick plays an important role when the chips are down.

REVIEWS

Five stars at Amazon “Adriana Kraft has created memorable characters that linger long after the story has ended and I’ve closed the book. She has done what an author should—brought me into the book’s world and made me care about the characters so that my world will not be the same as before their foray into it.” Sheila G.

Five stars at Goodreads “Suspenseful, intriguing and truly romantic! What a fabulous story of the blending of two worlds… the plot twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat and the pages turning.” Risha C “…dreams can become reality, love can transcend age… Exciting, engaging and very entertaining story. The character interplay is spot on and the story is extremely well written.” Donna H.

BOOK INFORMATION

Willow Smoke (Riders Up, Book Three)
Cover by Rebecca Poole
B&B Publishing, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9907476-0-4
ASIN: B00N0DH13I
Length: 88,000 words
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tags: Horse Racing, Age Gap, Sports Romance
Heat rating: three flames (explicit sex, m/f)

BLURB

When the chips are down, there’s nobody there.

Apprentice horse trainer Daisy Matthews grew up on the streets of Chicago, and if she learned anything, it was that she could count on no one to help her, ever. She knows she has to tough it out, protect herself, and when necessary, protect anyone she cares about. All by herself. No one else will do it for her.

Wealthy businessman Nick Underwood receives a thoroughbred in payment for a bad debt and is thrust into Daisy’s world.  She teaches him about horse racing; he teaches her about love.  When Daisy’s seamy brother-in-law threatens Nick’s safety, she doggedly tries to stop him by herself, but flees to the familiar streets when he attacks. Can Nick find her in time – and if he does, will she still want him?

EXCERPT

Set Up: An interloper has appeared at the stall where Daisy is soaking her horse’s front legs to cool them.

“So tell me,” Nick said, “where can I find a horse named RainbowBlaze?”

“RainbowBlaze!” Daisy gasped and glared at him again. “Why? What do you want with her?”

“Damn, you’ve got to be the most protective woman I’ve ever encountered. If you must know, she’s my horse.”

Daisy opened her mouth as if to speak. She glanced quickly at the chestnut mare. “There must be a mistake,” she stammered. “RainbowBlaze belongs to Michael Barnes.”

Nick crossed his legs and leaned against the stable wall, giving Daisy Matthews a slow satisfied smile. He’d found his horse. And he had a new employee. This could be more interesting than he’d imagined.

Furthermore, being his employee made Matthews safe to be around. He had a firm rule against personal involvements with employees. He flashed a look at the slender woman’s nipples that showed faintly through an orange tank top. Didn’t she know what she looked like?

Too young. He closed his eyes. He might be old enough to be her father. His eyes sprang open and he appraised her again. Maybe, maybe not.

“The horse did belong to Michael Barnes.” Fright flickered across the blonde’s face and quickly disappeared behind a steely gaze. “Mike’s fallen on bad economic times. Turned out he couldn’t pay his debts. Showed up at my office with a bill of sale for some damn race horse and begged me to take it to clear what he owed me. Against my better judgment, I agreed.” Nick raised his open palms upward. “So, here I am.”

Daisy’s hands, resting at her sides, curled into fists.

“You look like you’d like to slaughter me for your supper.” Nick stood. Ignoring the woman, he pointed at the horse with the oversized socks. “So I take it this is RainbowBlaze.” He glanced back over his shoulder at the woman. She gulped and nodded. “Is the horse any good? How much can I get for her?”

Daisy sputtered and Nick suppressed a laugh.

“She’s a damn good mare. She’ll run her heart out for you, if you treat her right. But she won’t work just for anyone.”

“Sounds like you’ve got a thing for my horse, kid.”

“Suppose so.” Daisy studied the dirt at her feet. “I’ve known her since she was foaled. Was there to help her mother give birth. I’ve been there every step of the way when Rainbow was with Cassie Travers, and then when Michael Barnes bought her it was with the understanding that she’d come to Sam’s barn and be with me.”

When the woman stopped to catch her breath, Nick said, “You didn’t answer my question. How much is she worth?”

Daisy shrugged. “Maybe,” her voice quaked, “fifty thousand. Maybe more.”

“Hmm. Michael said a hundred grand.”

He watched the spirit flow out of the young woman. Her glistening eyes grabbed at something inside him that he hadn’t experienced for a long time. Not thinking, he reached for her chin.

“That horse,” he said softly, “means a lot more to you than a hundred grand, doesn’t it?”

BUY LINK

Available exclusively at Amazon and on Kindle Unlimited

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

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Excerpts, Romantic Suspense Tagged With: age gap, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, horse racing, KU, Romantic Suspense, sports romance

What if the Lady Wants More? #Sale #99Cents #Giveaway #LGBTQ #EroticRomance #SapphicRomance #FF @IHeartLesFic

January 8, 2024 by Adriana Kraft

The reappearance of svelte, reserved Janet Baxter in Brenda’s life is nothing less than a gift, worthy of every enticement Brenda can conjure up.

For week two of highlighting my 58 published romance novels, I’m jumping out of time order to let you in on a giveaway and a marvelous opportunity to fill your Kindle and win gift cards!

Every Week, I Heart SapphFic sponsors a sapphic fiction reading challenge featuring books in each of two themes/tropes, with most of the books on sale for the week.

One of this week’s tropes is “divorced heroine,” and my novella The Lady Wants More has been selected to participate. Many featured authors (including yours truly) are offering giveaways and prizes this week in the I Heart SapphFic Readers Group on Facebook – here’s your chance to not only fill your kindle but enter for other giveaways. You can read more about the Weekly Reading Challenge HERE – to further entice you, the grand prize drawing at the end of the year features multiple gift cards, topping out at $250!

THE STORY BEHIND THE LADY WANTS MORE

Some of you may remember a marvelous e-publisher that was among the first to publish and promote LGBTQ books – Torquere Press, 2003-2016. I am deeply sorry it is gone. Their editing staff and graphic artists were marvelous to work with.

Sometime in early 2010, Torquere put out a submissions call for a twelve-book lesbian romance series featuring the signs of the Zodiac. My sun sign is Cancer, and I immediately knew I wanted to write a heroine who shared my sign: nurturing, loyal, reserved, resistant to change, seeks a well-ordered life. And there’s more – the Cancer Zodiac symbol is a crab, well known to scuttle backwards to reach its destination. Like my heroine Janet, I often take a circuitous route to accomplish my goals.

Who to partner her with? Go with what you know. My husband is Aquarius, the opposite of orderly, structured – a sign that can never be put in any box. Voila, Brenda emerged to challenge the reserved and hesitant Janet. They were a lot of fun to write.

The Torquere Press edition was published in June, 2011 – under the sign of Cancer, of course. Our contract was for two years, so when rights reverted to us, we thoroughly edited it, expanded some scenes, and published it under our own imprint in October of 2014.

I’d always loved our cover, and I’d met the original cover artist, Alessia Brio, at a writer’s conference a while earlier. I was thrilled she was willing to adapt her original cover for our new edition.

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: The Lady Wants More
Author: Adriana Kraft
Cover Artist: Alessia Brio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ B&B Publishing (October 24, 2014)
Length: Novella, 22,000 words, 83 pages
Genres: Erotic Romance, Sapphic Romance, Later in Life, Second Chance

BLURB

Janet Baxter keeps her post-divorce life neatly compartmentalized: Secure job, spacious Westchester County home, successful adult children, dependable community volunteer activities. Why is she drawn—for the first time ever—to attend her twenty-year college reunion in New York City?

Always a free spirit, Brenda Cassidy is comfortably bisexual and has no plans to ever settle down. But a fling? The reappearance of svelte, reserved Janet Baxter in Brenda’s life is nothing less than a gift, worthy of every enticement Brenda can conjure up. Can Brenda seduce Janet into an endless night of the lovemaking they enjoyed too briefly as college roommates? What if the lady wants more?

EXCERPT

Set-Up: A few days after their brief connection at the twenty-year high school reunion, Janet is pacing her bedroom, cell phone in hand, with Brenda’s number already entered. She finally hits “send”…

“Hi, Janet,” Brenda chirped, “I hoped you would call soon. So are you joining me for the ballet?”

Janet rolled her eyes. Obviously, caller ID hadn’t allowed her to surprise Brenda. “I’m fine. How are you?”

“Oh,” Brenda replied. “Sorry, should’ve asked first. I’ve had a good week so far. Though thinking about you has been a distraction at times.”

“Oh.” Janet held her breath. It hadn’t occurred to her Brenda might think about her as much as she’d been thinking about Brenda. Distraction? That was a mild way of putting it. Brenda had been an ever-present weight since they’d parted Saturday night.

“So,” Brenda cooed, “have you thought about me much these last few days?”

“Some.”

“Just some.”

“A lot,” Janet confessed.

“That’s better. I’d hate to be the only one losing sleep.”

“Losing sleep?” Janet blurted out. “You, too? I didn’t think you’d lose sleep over me.”

“Two a.m. on the dot. Haven’t missed a night yet.”

“Oh my. I wake at two also.”

Brenda chuckled. “I told you there is some sort of karma at work here. So what do you think?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe there’s karma, or maybe you’ll join me a week from Friday?”

“I have to be in the city that afternoon for a meeting with an author and her publisher.”

“How convenient. So you’ll join me for dinner and the ballet?”

“I don’t know about dinner. It’s a late-afternoon meeting, the only time the publisher could clear her calendar. Maybe we shouldn’t plan on dinner.” Janet swallowed and wet her lips. “Before.”

She could imagine Brenda mulling over the implications of that single word. She wished she was more skilled at veiled repartee, but she never had been.

“Ah,” Brenda said at last. “My loft isn’t far from the theater. Of course, you could drop by after your meeting to freshen up. Though if you do that, we might not make it to the ballet.”

Failing to hold back a giggle, Janet said, “You’re pretty confident, as usual.” She sobered. “I’ll change clothes in a restroom before heading over to meet you at the theater. I often do that when I have plans after work and don’t want to go home first.”

“You do plan ahead. Let’s grab a sandwich on our own before the performance, then, and have drinks and dessert afterward at my place.”

Janet closed her eyes and nodded. “That sounds good.”

“Your enthusiasm overwhelms,” Brenda chided. “Do you still love crème brûlée?”

Janet responded quickly, “Of course I do. But I wouldn’t want you to go to a lot of work.”

“Not a problem. I don’t have anything on my calendar from mid-Friday afternoon on—except you.”

BUY LINKS

Want to support keeping LGBTQ Romance available for everyone? If you purchase The Lady Wants More (or any of the books in this week’s reading challenge) through the link on the book’s I Heart SapphFic page, a small portion of the price goes to help keep the website running. Definitely a worthy cause.

The Lady Wants More is exclusively on Amazon and is on sale for $0.99.
It is also available on KU.

https://iheartsapphfic.com/bookinfo/the-lady-wants-more/

If you live outside the U.S., this universal link will take you to the appropriate Amazon outlet:

https://books2read.com/u/bzn6RL

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Erotic Romance, Excerpts, LGBT Tagged With: bisexual, Contemporary Romance, Divorced Heroine, erotic romance, f/f, Later in Life, LGBTQ, New York City, sapphic romance, Second Chance

“Don’t get your hopes up…” #EroticRomance #HolidayStory #MFRWHooks #LGBTQ

December 20, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

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!

When I and my husband first invented Meghan Keenan, we envisioned writing a sexy romp with lots of menage scenes, capitalizing on her bisexuality. We had no idea she’d hang around for so many books. We also were moved by the way she handles herself. She’s always up front with potential relationships about the fact that she’s bi and non-monogamous. What you see is what you get.

Her good friend in Las Vegas hasn’t got that sorted out yet, and now she finds herself in a relationship that’s turning serous but is missing a crucial piece of information…

BLURB

A ring for Christmas? Sometimes what you hope for and what you fear are one and the same.

In Las Vegas for a brief stint in a musical revue and ready for some uncomplicated sex with a kindred spirit, Meghan Keenan is only too happy to resume connections with her sometimes lover, Lisa Perkins.

But Lisa’s in a quandary. Her most recent boyfriend has suddenly become serious, with hints of a diamond ring in her future – and she’s never told him she’s bisexual. What if he freaks? What if he makes her choose?

Professional photographer Bryce Henry spends his days up close and personal with beautiful models and actresses. Now he’s deeply in love with Lisa and ready to pop the question, but even he wonders about long term fidelity. What does he want, and how bad does he want it?

What will happen when Meg takes hold of Lisa’s problem and runs with it?

EXCERPT

Set Up: Lisa and Meg have spent the afternoon making love, and now they’re sitting in Lisa’s kitchen. Lisa’s just let Meg in on her problem.

“Do you have any ideas?” Lisa continued. “I really don’t want to lose Bryce, but I won’t put myself in a situation where I can’t be faithful to my partner and to myself. I know you’ve helped several couples sort things out.”

“Don’t get your hopes up about what I can do. I’m no Houdini. I’ve been able to assist couples to discover what they wanted who maybe didn’t recognize it before. Maybe a little more than that. But I don’t work miracles. In the end, partners have to work out matters for themselves.”

Lisa dropped her gaze, and Meg could see more tears streak down her face. “Don’t look so dismayed. I didn’t say I wouldn’t try to help. We’ll put our heads together and see what’s possible.” Meg paused. “You do know, though, it’s at least possible that when Bryce learns you’re bi, he’ll walk away? I certainly don’t understand why, but that is a possibility.”

“That’s why I’m stymied. But Christmas is coming soon. I can’t wait much longer. I’ve got to find a way and let whatever happens happen.”

“You guys have been an item for a couple years, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you haven’t talked about your level of commitment?”

“We talk easily about lots of things. We’ve talked about loving each other. But we’ve never gotten explicit about what commitment means.”

“Interesting. Maybe Bryce is as conflicted about commitment as you seem to be. So do you think he’s been faithful to you these past two years?”

Lisa shrugged her shoulders. “I’m quite sure he’s not bi. But he is a highly sought-after photographer here in Vegas. He’s constantly putting portfolios together for showgirls, actresses and wannabe performers.” Lisa scrunched her mouth. “I think if he was constantly fucking his models, I’d hear about it through the grapevine. Has there been a dalliance now and then? I couldn’t say. I wouldn’t bet against it.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

“Maybe it should, but I’ve been with several women during that same time period.”

“Maybe you should be Bryce’s photography assistant…then you could share—just kidding.”

“So what do you think?” Lisa finally said. “Am I being stupid about all of this? Can you see a way out that doesn’t simply throw the last two years away?”

“No, I don’t think you’re being stupid. You have every right to be who you are. But you do seem to have dug a hole for yourself. Somehow, you’re going to have to find a way to share who you really are with the man you love. If you can’t do that with Bryce, then maybe he’s not the man for you.”

Meg watched Lisa fight back tears again and continued, not waiting for a response. “I think maybe I should invite Bryce to lunch to talk about having him do a photo shoot for me. That may give me at least a peek into what he’s thinking, if not what he’s doing. Does he know your ring size?”

“Yes.”

BOOK INFO

A Ring for Christmas
Meghan’s Playhouse, Book 4
Can be read as a standalone
Pages: 37
Words: 11, 276
Genres: LGBTQIA+, Erotic Romance, Holiday Story, Contemporary Romance, Menage

 

BUY LINKS

A Ring for Christmas is on sale at the publisher’s, now through December 31, for half price:

BUY AT EXTASY BOOKS FOR $1.00
https://www.extasybooks.com/a-ring-for-christmas

BUY AT OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS
https://books2read.com/u/m2daPo

Click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s hooks:

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Filed Under: Blog, Erotic Romance, Excerpts, LGBT Tagged With: bisexual, Contemporary Romance, erotic romance, Extasy Books, f/f/m, Holiday Story, ménage

“He’s seen us together…” #EroticRomance #HolidayStory #MFRWHooks #LGBTQ

December 13, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

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!

When I and my husband first invented Meghan Keenan, we envisioned writing a sexy romp with lots of menage scenes, capitalizing on her bisexuality. We had no idea she’d hang around for so many books. We also were moved by the way she handles herself. She’s always up front with potential relationships about the fact that she’s bi and non-monogamous. What you see is what you get.

Her good friend in Las Vegas hasn’t got that sorted out yet, and now she finds herself in a relationship that’s turning serous but is missing a crucial piece of information…

BLURB

A ring for Christmas? Sometimes what you hope for and what you fear are one and the same.

In Las Vegas for a brief stint in a musical revue and ready for some uncomplicated sex with a kindred spirit, Meghan Keenan is only too happy to resume connections with her sometimes lover, Lisa Perkins.

But Lisa’s in a quandary. Her most recent boyfriend has suddenly become serious, with hints of a diamond ring in her future – and she’s never told him she’s bisexual. What if he freaks? What if he makes her choose?

Professional photographer Bryce Henry spends his days up close and personal with beautiful models and actresses. Now he’s deeply in love with Lisa and ready to pop the question, but even he wonders about long term fidelity. What does he want, and how bad does he want it?

What will happen when Meg takes hold of Lisa’s problem and runs with it?

EXCERPT

Set Up: Lisa and Meg have spent the afternoon making love, and now they’re sitting in Lisa’s kitchen.

“And you don’t think Bryce has ever suspected?” Meg asked. “He’s seen us together…well, I don’t mean really together…but we are fairly touchy-feely, even around him.”

“That’s how he sees me, touchy-feely.” Lisa let out a deep sigh. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. I wouldn’t need another man in my life if I had Bryce, but that’s still not the same. I don’t want to be unfaithful to my wedding vows…but I can’t see a life without being intimate with a woman, at least now and then. Like us. Dammit. What we just shared in my bedroom is extremely special to me, and it’s more than raw sex.”

“And to me,” Meg interjected. “But I wouldn’t want to cause problems in your marriage. By the way, wedding vows can be written to reflect whatever you and whoever you marry agree to commit to. There’s nothing magical in those words. Magic, as you and I know very well from the theater world, lies in the heart.”

“I know. I know. Maybe that’s the crux of the matter. My heart knows the magic of two women being together as well as the magic of a woman and a man. I don’t want to lose either.”

BOOK INFO

A Ring for Christmas
Meghan’s Playhouse, Book 4
Can be read as a standalone
Pages: 37
Words: 11, 276
Genres: LGBTQIA+, Erotic Romance, Holiday Story, Contemporary Romance, Menage

 

BUY LINKS

A Ring for Christmas is on sale at the publisher’s, now through December 31, for half price:

BUY AT EXTASY BOOKS FOR $1.00
https://www.extasybooks.com/a-ring-for-christmas

BUY AT OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS
https://books2read.com/u/m2daPo

 

Click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s hooks:

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Filed Under: Blog, Erotic Romance, Excerpts, LGBT Tagged With: bisexual, Contemporary Romance, erotic romance, Extasy Books, f/f/m, Holiday Story, ménage

Out Now: Broken Down Cowboy, by Seelie Kay @SeelieKay #Romance #Cowboy #NewRelease

December 8, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Book Information

Title:  Broken Down Cowboy
Release Date:  December 8, 2023
Publisher:  Extasy Books
Genre:  Contemporary Holiday Romance
Heat Level: three flames
Pages: 77
Price: eBook $5.99, Print $8.99
 

An interview with Seelie Kay

Why do you write romance?

I didn’t really get into romance books until law school. Between holding down two jobs, studying, and attending classes, I really needed an outlet for the stress. A friend had a large paper bag full of romance paperbacks that she passed around to other law students. I borrowed one and then another until I read every book she had. After that I was hooked. I like to claim that those books got me through law school. Fast forward to 2017, another stressful time in my life. I needed to find a way to escape reality for a bit. So I started writing my own romance tales. My first book got picked up by a publisher and 25 books later, I’m still writing.

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 “Broken Down Cowboy?”

This was my way of throwing down the gauntlet. There comes a time when you want to read more stories about people your age falling in love. Just because I’m in midlife does not mean I have become a dried-up old prune with a cold heart. I still adore men and I still enjoy romance. More importantly, I adore seasoned men. Men who remember rotary phones and record players and Van Halen. Since I have always had a fondness for cowboys, I created a story about two middle-aged people who, despite their differences, fall in love. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s romantic, it’s somewhat steamy, but in the end, they find what they didn’t even know they needed. Love. Obviously, I was not alone in wanting older romance. Look at the success of the TV series, The Golden Bachelor!

You have a tendency to write about lawyers. Is one of the characters in “Broken Down Cowboy” a lawyer?

Actually, she’s a recovering lawyer, like me. Someone who switched careers after practicing law for many years. Her reasons for becoming a pastry chef and owner of a tea shop are very much in line with my own reasons for switching careers. I believe you can choose to be miserable or you can reach out for happiness. Sometimes, that involves changing your life in dramatic ways.

Blurb:

When is it time to take a leap of faith? When the man holding the net is a sexy, middle-aged cowboy!

Tea shop owner and pastry chef Bailey Willis is nonplussed when she finds a handsome Texan sprawled out on the floor of A Spot of Tea. Trevor Anderson, on the other hand, is instantly smitten. Some might call him a broken-down cowboy, but that doesn’t mean he lacks the ability to pursue a beautiful woman, even if she is a northerner and a Green Bay Packers fan! Unfortunately, Bailey has other things on her mind, like winning the Hales Corners, WI holiday bake-off. When Trevor provides a valuable assist, Bailey begins to regard him in a different light. Too bad he’s planning to head back to his ranch after the new year. Will Bailey agree to wear Trevor’s Texas-size ring? Will Trevor agree to settle in the frozen tundra, the site of one of the Dallas Cowboys’ most humiliating defeats? Hold on to your cowboy hats folks, this tale of romance is going to take you for a ride. Texas style!

Excerpt:

Before Mrs. Franklin could respond, they heard a loud crash, and then the sound of breaking glass. The floor seemed to shake.

Bailey paled and quickly curtsied. “Excuse me, please.” She hurried back into the kitchen where her chef, Spencer, held a substantial pastry brush and was swatting a man sprawled out on the floor. A black cowboy hat sat at the man’s feet. “Spencer, what the devil? We do not beat on our customers.” She extended an arm to the man and helped him to his feet. “Now, will someone please explain to me what’s going on?”

Spencer’s victim picked up his hat and slapped it on his leg, then reshaped the crown. He placed the hat on his head. His soft brown eyes, punctuated by crow’s feet that appeared carved into his tan face, gazed at Bailey, and his full lips curled up in a cocky grin. “Sorry, ma’am,” he drawled in a sexy baritone. “I didn’t mean to disturb you, but my daughter sent me to pick up her order for my granddaughter’s birthday party. I saw how crowded it was out front, so I thought it best to come ‘round to the back door.” He made a face. “Not sure how I wound up on the floor. Guess I slipped.” He shrugged and chuckled. “Guess that happens to those of us ready for the pasture.”

Bailey squelched a sigh. Pasture my eye. He couldn’t be more than fifty, around her age. This guy could be on the cover of a romance novel. He was tall and sturdy, with curly dark hair, bushy eyebrows, and just a hint of a five o’clock shadow. And that voice. She could just imagine the man whispering into her ear after a night of passionate sex. A tiny shiver raced up and down her spine. She was exiting her forties, but her body was not immune to a handsome cowboy. Damn, he was fine.

Spencer planted his hands on his skinny hips and scowled. “He didn’t knock. He just whipped open the door and barged on in. Scared the bejesus out of me. I dropped a water glass.” He shot the cowboy a dirty look. “His boots must be wet because he took a less-than-graceful tumble. You know, ass over teakettle? You may be all that in Texas, cowboy. But in Wisconsin, we wipe our feet before entering a building.” He clucked his tongue and tossed his head. “Everyone knows what happens when you track in snow.”

The cowboy held up his hands and tried to squelch a grin. “Hey, I apologize. In my defense, I knocked several times. When no one responded, I just thought it would be easier to come in…”

“Oh, for Pete’s Sake. Did you grow up in a barn?” Spencer huffed. “I need to go clean up. I’ve got enough flour on me to enter a powder puff derby.” He flounced away, muttering about uncouth cowboys with bull crap on their boots.

Bailey rolled her eyes and giggled. She smiled at the man. “I hope that pastry brush didn’t seriously injure you.”

The man chortled. “I’m a bit buttered up, but it beats my granddaughter’s fingerpaints all over my face. As long as he doesn’t force me into an oven, I think I’ll be fine.”

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOPNBT7LHa4

Buy links

Publisher:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Broken-Down-Cowboy

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Down-Cowboy-Seelie-Kay/dp/148744012X

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-down-cowboy-seelie-kay/1144463727?ean=9781487440121

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/broken-down-cowboy-by-seelie-kay

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201784722-broken-down-cowboy

About Seelie Kay

Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love.

Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s creative pen has resulted in more than twenty tales of contemporary, erotic, and paranormal romance, and romantic suspense.

Seelie resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

She is also an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis.

Seelie can be found on most social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To subscribe to her newsletter, please visit https://rb.gy/w69pim.

Author links

Website:  https://www.seeliekay.com

Blog:  https://www.seeliekay.blogspot.com

Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/seeliekay51/

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/seelie-kay

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16492565.Seelie_Kay

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@authorseeliekay

Newsletter sign-up:  https://rb.gy/w69pim

Prior Books

Kinky Briefs:  https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-1

Kinky Briefs, Too:  https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-too

Kinky Briefs, Thrice: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-thrice

Kinky Briefs, Quatro: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-quatro

Kinky Briefs, Cinque:  https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-cinque

Snatching Dianna:  https://www.extasybooks.com/snatching-dianna

Infamy:  https://www.extasybooks.com/infamy

Cult:  https://www.extasybooks.com/cult

Hope:  https://www.extasybooks.com/hope

Martimus:  https://www.extasybooks.com/martimus

The Garage Dweller:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-garage-dweller

The President’s Wife:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-presidents-wife

Seizing Hope:  https://www.extasybooks.com/seizing-hope

The White House Wedding:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-white-house-wedding

The Last Christmas: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-last-christmas

The President’s Daughter:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-presidents-daughter

A Touchdown to Remember:  https://www.extasybooks.com/a-touchdown-to-remember

First, We Kill All the Lawyers:  https://www.extasybooks.com/first,-we-kill-all-the-lawyers

Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass!:  https://www.extasybooks.com/ye-god-the-law-is-an-ass

Vive la Resistance:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Vive-la-Resistance

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

Saint Con:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Saint-Con

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Filed Under: Blog, Excerpts, Guest Bloggers Tagged With: Contemporary Romance, Cowboy, Holiday Story, Later in Life, romance

Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards @JanaRichards_ #HolidayRomance #SmallTown

December 7, 2023 by Adriana Kraft


It’s Christmas time at Solace Lake Lodge,
but a series of thefts threatens everyone’s holiday spirit.

BOOK INFORMATION

Genre: Contemporary Romance, small town romance
Keywords: contemporary romance, small town romance, mystery, holiday romance, Christmas, interracial romance
ISBN: Ebook ISBN 978-0-9952791-8-6
Print ISBN 978-0-9952791-9-3
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Release Date: Ebook, October 18, 2023
Cover Artist: 100 Covers
Publisher: Jana Richards Books

BUY LINKS

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH5DTYNS

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH5DTYNS

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CH5DTYNS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198424344-christmas-at-solace-lake

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/christmas-at-solace-lake-a-love-at-solace-lake-romance-by-jana-richards

BLURB

An emergency brings Drew Barnes to Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods owned by his aunt and uncle. He’s sure desperation is the only reason they’d allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one in his family has believed in him since his mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he wants is to be put in the middle of another crime.

Sous chef Celeste Bishop has made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she’s worked, and lived, at Solace Lake Lodge. After being unfairly fired, this was the only job she could get, and she’s grateful her gamble on the lodge paid off. The only sticking point is the isolation since she never learned to drive. How can she show her daughter independence when she’s always relying on others?

Drew sees Celeste’s frustration and offers to teach her to drive. A powerful attraction ignites between them, and soon deeper, stronger emotions blossom. Drew is all in, but Celeste resists her feelings. She’s nine years older than Drew. An interracial relationship didn’t work for her parents. And loving Drew feels like a betrayal of her deceased husband.

As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Can Drew stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—and his own? And can he convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas?

EXCERPT

He put his hand on her arm. “Celeste, whatever happened, it’s going to be all right. I promise you.”

She looked at him then, her eyes filling with tears. “I finished the exam before anyone else. I could see all the answers in my head like I was reading them from a screen. The person who gave the exam told me I got all the answers right, one hundred percent.” Tears streamed down her face as she pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. “I got my permit.”

The wonder in her eyes, the relief and joy, made him smile. Though he’d promised himself not to touch her today, he simply couldn’t resist. He pulled off his glove and, leaning across the console, laid his hand on her soft cheek. Drew stared into her beautiful dark eyes. The intoxicating combination of her warm, welcoming scent and the silky feel of her skin made his heart soar and his body catch fire. The need to kiss her nearly overpowered him, but he held back, knowing it wasn’t what she wanted.

She signaled her withdrawal with a soft sigh as she turned her head and leaned back against her seat, out of his reach. Drew let his hand drop and sat back in his seat as well. He stifled his own sigh as he pulled his glove back on.

Would she always be out of his reach?

Author Bio:

Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length contemporary romance, paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm or dealing with dust bunnies, Jana can be found pursuing hobbies such as golf (which she plays very badly) or reading (which she does much better).

Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren and two senior cats named Layla and Leelou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com

Social Media Links:

Website:  http://www.janarichards.com

Blog:  http://janarichards.blogspot.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JanaRichardsAuthor

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janarichards155/

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards

Amazon UK Author Page:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG

Newsletter Signup: http://janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274Jana_Richards

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jana-richards

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Excerpts, Guest Bloggers Tagged With: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, interracial romance, Mystery, Small Town Romance

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