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Gabbi Grey: What I love about the Best Friend’s Brother Trope (Contest)
Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Jennifer Beyer!
*~*~*

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me today!  I’m here to share a new book. As you may know, I love writing short stories for charity anthologies and when I saw this one by The New Romance Café, I signed up right away.  Amazingly, I’ve never written a story with this trope, so I was excited to try.  Since I write gay romances, I knew my story would have a bit of a different twist.  Tanner loves his best friend, Nita.  They’ve been friends forever.  When Tanner turned twelve, he witnessed an incident between Nita’s brother Kade and a bully.  Kade, although only sixteen, had come out as gay.  A boy from another school didn’t like that and a brawl ensued. Tanner realized, for the first time, that he was also gay.  And that he sort of had a crush on Kade.

Fast forward fifteen years and the men have taken very different paths in life.  Yet both wind up back at Nita and Kade’s family home frequently.  One night, Kade comes on to Tanner.  Nita’s, uh, annoyed.  So is Kade’s best friend, Cam.  Kade’s been a player.  Nita and Cam are worried he’ll date Tanner for a bit, break his heart, and walk away without a backward glance. Tanner, though, is all grown up.

Now, I won’t give away the rest of the story, but things definitely get interesting.

So why best friend’s brother?  I think it’s something readers can often relate to.  I know I can.  I had a huge crush on my best friend Chrissy’s older brother.  He was nice to me, but clearly had no interest in an eleven-year-old girl (yeah, I knew I liked boys when I was super young).

When I signed up to write a story for this anthology, of course I wondered about how the story might be different if my character was gay.  I adore Tanner and wanted to make certain that not only was his relationship with Nita strong, but that his crush was genuine and could grow into love.

With over twenty stories in this anthology, there’ll be something for everyone.  And, best of all, the proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research.  I hope everyone grabs a copy today!

As a thanks for letting me drop by, I’m happy to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to one random commenter.  Have you read this trope before?  Do you enjoy it, or is there something else that you would one click as well?  Best of luck and thanks, Delilah.

Breaking the BFF Pact

We all know the rule – Do not lust over your best friend’s sibling. But what happens when you break all the rules? Will Breaking the BFF Pact get you a happily ever after? Or will you lose it all?

Read titillating stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors in a spicy Best Friend’s Sibling collection curated by The New Romance Cafe, with ALL proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Authors:
Keighley Bradford
Serafina Jax
Guinevere Jordan
A.R. Bell
Michelle Moncrieff
Katina J. Rose
Melanie Greene
Hannah McKee
Chelle Pimblott
Jewelz Baxter
Bethany Monaco Smith
Chele MacCabe
Kat Long
Jenna Daring
Noa Camhi & Lashe’ Lacroix
Heather Scarlett
Sofia Aves
Wynter Ryan
Sarah Stein
Harper Michaels
Niki Trento
Tasha Blythe
Gabbi Grey

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link:
https://books2read.com/tnrc2023breakingthebffpact
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-BFF-Pact-Friends-Collection-ebook/dp/B0BSDXNDHT
Add it to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200600069-breaking-the-bff-pact

About “Jeopardy” inside Breaking the BFF Pact by Gabbi Grey

Tanner

I’ve had a crush on my best friend Nita’s brother for fifteen years. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want me hooking up with him, and he’s never shown any interest. Until the night we wind up in the pool alone together and then everything changes. Is he serious about his interest in me, or will he want to forget in the morning? Have I ruined everything with my best friend for one meaningless night?

Kade

My life is perfect until the moment I realize I’m attracted to my younger sister’s best friend. Now, my eyes are open, and my need to get Tanner into my bed is impossible to resist. But with my best friend warning me off and my sister giving me the evil eye, I’m having second thoughts. Are my feelings for Tanner serious enough to lead to forever?

This is a 7k gay, best friend’s brother’s romance short story with an interfering best friend, a bossy sister, and the possibility of love becoming realized.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Upcoming Books! Ready for Pre-Order Now!
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023

Little Green Dreams

Little Green Dreams

(I don’t have the final cover yet!)

Coming December 19th!

Sometimes, Joe Franchetti hates his job at the National Informer. Especially, when he’s sent on assignment to cover a UFO story. When he is sent to investigate the story of a woman in rural Arkansas who claims her husband was abducted by aliens, he vows to debunk her story, no matter how much the truth might hurt her attractive daughter.

Sandra Billingsley has a problem. Her stepfather is missing and her mother is the prime suspect in his disappearance. In addition to protecting her eccentric mother from a possible murder investigation, now she must contend with a national tabloid reporter set on exposing her mother as a murderess or a madwoman.

While the investigation turns up more suspects and the local townspeople scheme to profit from the “alien invasion”, Joe and Sandra work together to unravel the mystery, knowing their attraction is doomed to end in pain when the truth is revealed.

Pre-order now!

Malcolm

Malcolm (Montana Bounty Hunters: Dead Horse, MT Book 10)

Coming January 16th!

I know very little about what’s going to happen in Malcolm’s book, but I do know things are shaking up in the Dead Horse office. Some folks are moving to Yellowstone soon, so Malcolm will be a newer addition to backfill the Dead Horse agency. What happens after that? Who knows? I won’t until I put my fingers on the keys, but you know it’s going to be fun!

Pre-order now!

What Happens in Bozeman

What Happens in Bozeman

Coming February 20th!

All I know about this story is that it takes place in Bozeman, Montana, in the middle of a snowstorm, when two people, who never expect to see each other again, go for it. Only, they see each all too soon back in Dead Horse, MT. He’s the fireman daddy of a kid in her brand-new classroom…

Pre-order now!

Thank you! Sunday’s Tarot & Open Contests!
Sunday, October 22nd, 2023

Before I get into my Sunday “usuals,” I want to say thank you so much for supporting Gunn’s Mission! I woke up to see that the story was sitting at this ranking among the millions of books available in Amazon. I’m more than pleased. Thank you, again!

Another quick note: AUTHORS, I am looking to host more of you in November and December. If you have a book to promote or an older story you want readers to notice, contact me at delilah@delilahdevlin.com!

Sunday Tarot

I have never, not once, pulled this card before. It’s not a “me” card. But it does present some interesting possibilities for the week after last week’s dismal divination. I did try to fight The Devil’s temptations, but in the end, I gave in. This card gives me a chance to turn that around.

This is The Magician. It’s Hermes, the Trickster, son of Zeus (he fathered a ton of children, the horny bastard) and Maia, Mother Night. He is a master of all the elements — earth, air, fire, and water. I see all the “suits” of the tarot deck represented here — cups, swords, pentacles, and wands. So, I read that as meaning that this week is open to all possibilities. Notice he’s pointing up and down — it can go either way. As well, that “either way” theme is represented in the background — rocks and sandy pathways.

Since I’m a cup half-full lady, I’ll choose the more positive route. I’ll set a plan and maybe accomplish half of my To-Dos and be pleased.

What does The Mythic Tarot book say? “A risk of some kind is required, a willingness to jump into the unknown.” I just love that ambiguous language.

Open Contests

  1. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: It’s beginning to look a lot like…Halloween! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
  2. Celebrate Dictionary Day! (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
  3. Word Search: Animals in the Arctic (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
  4. Flashback: Brotherhood Protectors — Guarding Hannah (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
  5. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Sweetest Day Celebration! — Win an Amazon gift card!
Flashback: Brotherhood Protectors — Guarding Hannah (Contest)
Thursday, October 19th, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Beverly!
*~*~*

Thanks to everyone who picked up a copy of my latest book, Gunn’s Mission! I hope you’re enjoying my Arctic adventure!

Gunn’s story isn’t my first foray into the Brotherhood Protectors world.

I began with a story about Jamie and Sky, which was also book #10 in my Uncharted SEALs series. Big Sky SEAL introduced Jamie’s partner, Reaper, who became the hero in my first Montana Bounty Hunters book. I had the hunters visit the BP guys in a couple more books, but I was having so much fun writing the offshoot series that I didn’t come back to the BP series until I was invited to be part of a series of stories written by a group of authors. That’s the fun part of writing in another person’s world. You can try different storylines and see what fits and what excites you—and just maybe, it will spark another idea.

I adored writing Guarding Hannah, which was set in West Yellowstone, so much so that I’m thinking about starting up a bounty hunter group set there. We’ll see. I still have books in the offing that I have to write—a couple more BPs, a Dead Horse story, a Dead Horse bounty hunter story, and maybe a comedy about aliens. We’ll see.

In the meantime, let’s revisit Guarding Hannah

Guarding Hannah

Guarding Hannah

An ex-soldier who prefers dogs to most humans must protect a nature photographer from an extremist group hunting wolves in Yellowstone.

Nate “The Edge” Edgerton prefers dogs to humans, like Pierce, the retired war dog who saved his life in Afghanistan, because he prizes loyalty above all else. He trusts his team and his dog but has learned to be cautious trusting women. After Pierce rushes to the rescue of a nature photographer being threatened by wolf poachers, Nate earns his first assignment as a Brotherhood Protector. He’ll keep her safe but keeping his heart secure will prove to be the hardest part of the job.

Hannah Mackey, a nature photographer tracking wolves, photographs poachers in the act of killing a wolf, and she’s a second away from being shot herself when a large black dog rushes to her rescue, followed by a very handsome and angry man.

When Nate brings her to the Brotherhood Protectors, she’s dismayed that they’re insistent on providing her protection from retaliation by the well-organized poachers who are part of an extremist group, especially when they assign Nate as her protector. She has a job to do, and she’s not going to let the threat from a criminal gang stop her from doing it. She also doesn’t need the big, brooding man following her around. His dog, she’ll take, but Nate? Hell, no. Been there. She can take care of herself, thank you very much.

Read an excerpt and order a copy here!

All the Brotherhood Protectors stories I’ve written…

Click on the covers to learn more about them!

  Big Sky Wedding
Defending Evangeline Victoria's Six Guarding Hannah
Gunn's Mission

Contest

For a chance to win one of the stories shown above, tell me whether you’ve read any of these, and what settings/worlds you prefer!

GUNN’S MISSION is here! Gunn and Maddie are waiting for you!
Tuesday, October 17th, 2023

What on earth do polar bears have to do with a Brotherhood Protector’s story? Well, you’ll just have to check out Gunn’s Mission to find out! And there’s more to learn about this unusual mission at the top of the world!

When I began fiddling with an idea for my next BP story, I had to choose an international setting, but you know, I was kind of bored with the same ole-same ole, so I hit upon something I was pretty sure hadn’t been covered in that big world. I think I found it. You can read it as a standalone story, no problem, but you could also pick up copies of the entire Team Eagle series and really immerse yourself in their journeys. There’s also a murder to solve and dangers awaiting our hero and heroine, both natural and unnatural. Plus, you know how cold it can be up there… Sexiness does ensue. Enjoy!!

Gunn’s Mission

Gunn's Mission

After surviving a catastrophic helicopter accident that left him scarred and unable to continue serving on the Teams, former Navy SEAL Gunnar “Gunn” Nielson is settling into life as a Brotherhood Protector in the Yellowstone, Montana, office.

When a request from the U.S. government arrives for a protection detail for someone with extensive cold-weather experience, Gunn, born and raised in Minnesota, is tapped for the job. He soon discovers that he will be the lone protector for a group of scientists working at a research facility on a floating island in the Arctic Ocean.

After discovering that one of her team members was murdered, Facility Chief Maddie Russo is grateful for Gunn’s expertise. Thinking the murder might have been committed by someone trying to interfere with a military-sponsored study, she and Gunn have to keep her team safe as the work continues.

Maddie and Gunn grow closer as the weather turns colder and the threats to the facility and its inhabitants continue.

Check out all the Team Eagle books!

Order your copies here!
Booker’s Mission
Hunter’s Mission
Gunn’s Mission
Xavier’s Mission
Wyatt Mission

A Short Story! FREE in KU!
Thursday, September 28th, 2023

I have a short story on Amazon that was released today! It was originally written for Harlequin Spice and published by them years ago. It hasn’t been available for a while. If you love erotic romances and menage stories in particular, this one’s for you. It’s only 5,000 words, so a very quick read. Perfect for a lunch break. Better yet, it’s FREE in KU! 🙂

Just $0.99! Or FREE in KU!

A woman returns to the island where her heart was put back together by one special man to find that he’s ready to make her…theirs.

Flashback: Handy Man (Contest)
Tuesday, September 19th, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Stacy Hartley!
*~*~*

Besides my series, I have written some very sexy standalone stories, too! I forget about them because I’m so busy trying to keep up with series, but I shouldn’t. In fact, I should go back and look at my workplan because I deserve to write something completely fun and one-off!

If you haven’t read the books below, now’s your time to peruse, and I’m including an excerpt from one of them so you can sample some of the fun. Several of them are menage stories, so if that’s your thing, be sure to check them out!

Contest

For a chance to win your choice of one of the books below,
tell me your weekend plans!

Hot SEAL, New Orleans Nights Handymen Jane's Wild Weekend
Raw Silk Begging For It Fun with Dick and Jane
Bad, Bad Girlfriend Saddled Ride a Texas Cowboy

Click on any cover to learn more about the story!

Excerpt from Handy Men…

The impulse came like a flash of lightning—hot and searing—all the way to the bone. An idea born of a need she hadn’t felt in a long, long time…and inspired by one red-hot handyman in butt-hugging jeans and a snug T-shirt.

The man fired the militant gleam in her eyes as she brushed bronzing powder across her cheeks and swiped carmine “eat me” red lip stain across her mouth.

She didn’t give herself time to rethink the decision, reaching for the phone before her usual, cautious self reasserted control. No more couch potato cry-ins for her. No more self-imposed exclusion while she figured out what to do with the rest of her life. Today, a new Pamela Dwyer was reaching for the goddamn gusto.

The anger felt good. Especially after the shock she’d received moments ago when she’d surfed the internet for the latest gossip about her ex.

One glance at Andrew’s Facebook page, and Pamela’s confusion over what the hell had happened to her life dried up. He’d blocked her from his page, but his profile picture had been changed from Andrew’s handsome, craggy face to the soft innocence of his newborn son’s.

The picture said it all. And no doubt every one of their friends here in Austin, who’d rallied around her when he’d left, would now pour out their congratulations to him, while privately agreeing he’d done the only thing he could do to be happy.

Tears had stung her eyes, but she’d refused to let them fall. Instead, she’d blinked them away, closed out the screen and glanced through the blinds at her immaculate lawn. The perfect lawn and landscaping to surround the perfectly appointed house she’d won in the divorce settlement.

But back to that lightning strike…

Across the street, a man had stood atop a ladder while he fished leaves from old Mr. Johnson’s gutters. It wasn’t the fact the old man had spent money to hire someone to do odd jobs around his place that caught her attention, although that was plenty unusual all by itself. It was the way the sunlight glinted on the younger man’s hair. Glints of gold she could see from over thirty feet away. And once her attention was snagged by that halo-like glow, her gaze couldn’t help but trail down the long, lean, buff lines of his healthy frame.

From the back, the man was perfection. Then he’d turned to the side, no doubt to say something to Mr. Johnson who hovered at the bottom of the ladder. The old skinflint would supervise the handyman to make sure he got every nickel’s worth of his money. However, not a hint of irritation showed in the handyman’s expression. His smile had been quick—a flash of white teeth against a tanned face.

Pamela had breathed deeply, enjoying the surge of heat flowing through her veins. So much better than the cold, hollow feeling in her womb. Arousal had bloomed, fresh and unexpected, washing over her, lapping away the disappointment. Leaving her…expectant. Feeling younger than her thirty-eight years.
There were times in a woman’s life when she had to grab the bull by the horns or she’d never taste passion again. Pamela decided then and there that her time was now.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell chimed.

Christ, do I really have the guts? She’d had twenty minutes to get icy cold feet.

She held her hand in front of her face and blew against her palm then sniffed. Mouthwash still works.

Before opening her door, Pamela bent over, shook her head then straightened, giving her straight blonde hair an extra fluff. She pasted on a smile—not too wide or eager—one she’d practiced in front of the bathroom mirror to make sure it reflected just the right amount of casual interest. She didn’t want to scare him away. At least not before she had a chance to practice being a femme fatale.

However, after opening the door, her smile faltered just a bit. Up close, the repairman was more of a rangy lion than a bull, and even more attractive than her secretive glances through the blinds had revealed. Thickly muscled arms and a broad chest stretching a green Handy Men tee filled her vision.

Maybe she should have targeted someone more in her league—and at least fifteen years older. However, when she’d seen him working on the rain gutters of her neighbor’s house and watched the way he moved gracefully up and down the ladder, a plan had begun to form. One she was too invested in to back out of now.

“Your neighbor said you were havin’ trouble with a garbage disposal?”

Good Lord, his voice was deep and sinful. Her greedy glance shot up to meet his, and she noted the crinkles of amusement at the sides of his eyes. Blue eyes with golden coronas around the pupils. Yum.

Realizing her mouth hung open, she snapped her jaw closed. “Uh, yes. Trouble with the disposal. That’s why you’re here.”

It was the truth, so she didn’t stutter over it. However, she didn’t mention she’d thrown a handful of screws into the sink to make sure the old disposal seized. Her plan to lure him into her house was working like a charm. She wished her ex could see her now. Plain Pam, reliable Pam, boring, defective Pam had a few tricks left.

“I’m Jeff McCaffrey,” he said, and held out his hand.

Blowing out a little breath to release her tension, she gave him her hand and shook. “Pamela,” she said quickly.

His palms were callused and large. She slid her hand slowly from his, enjoying the scrape. Even if things didn’t work out, she’d have plenty of sensory details to savor later to go along with the lovely picture he made.

“Um…” He lifted the toolbox with a flex of impressive biceps and raised his eyebrows.

It took a second to register that he needed her to move away from the door. Feeling flustered, she stood back and waved him inside. She closed the door behind him and followed eagerly on his heels into the hallway.

He halted abruptly.

Unable to stop her forward momentum, Pamela held out her hands to brace herself—and cupped his ass.

His head swiveled to glance back at her, a slight, dazed smile curving his mouth.

She paused a second too long before removing them, but it was his own damn fault. His ass was too much temptation for her to resist a little squeeze. “Sorry about that,” she muttered, palms and face burning. Lord, she was thirty-eight, and he had her blushing like a teenager. Her flirting skills were woefully rusty.

He cleared his throat and pointed toward the door on the left. “The kitchen?”

“Yeah,” she said, sounding a little winded, but her fingers tingled and her skin felt on fire. She hadn’t wanted to come on to the younger man like a cougar in heat, but he was fine-fine-fine.

He swung open the door and walked to the counter, where he set his toolbox beside the sink. “What sort of noises was it makin’?”

“Crunchy?”

“Crunchy?” His lips twitched.

She shrugged. He was the “Mr. Fix-It”. He’d figure out soon enough what the problem was. Maybe he’d think the screws in the disposal had gotten there by accident.

He reached beneath the cabinet next to the sink and flipped the switch.

Metallic grating made her wince. The poor thing ground worse than her ex’s teeth.

Without looking back, he said, “Don’t touch the switch. I don’t have my tongs, so I’m gonna stick my hand down there to see what’s happenin’.”

In his hand went, and he turned slightly to the side, his gaze meeting hers while a frown drew his honey-brown brows together. When he pulled free, he held a screw. “Wonder how that happened?” he drawled.

She grinned brightly. “Serendipity?”

“Wha—?”

So maybe not a brain surgeon, or even much of a reader, but the calculated stare he returned told her he wasn’t stupid. He pulled out another and laid it on the countertop, and then another. “Somethin’ you wanna tell me, Pamela?”