It’s time for another puzzle! Something to flex that gray matter!

As an incentive to give the puzzle a try, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me why someone might be visiting this apothecary! Have fun! ~DD

Hello, Delilah! Thank you for welcoming me here to share my new release! Big Rucking Disaster is the eighth and final book in the Rucked by You series, and I’m hoping readers will love it! My first contribution to the series, Hot Rucking Canadian, was published seven weeks ago.  For the past few weeks, I’ve sat back with nervousness and watched readers’ reactions to that book, as well as the advanced readers’ comments about this new book.

Writing rugby was out of my wheelhouse.  In fact, in more than fifty published stories, I’ve only done one “sports” romance. I use the term sports loosely, as Ace’s Place (free in all retailers) has a couple of hockey scenes, but the bulk of the story is a one-night stand that becomes more.

Still, when a rugby series was proposed by the wonderful folks at The New Romance Café, I was all-in.  I watched a series on Prime.  I learned all that I could about the sport.  I wrote the first story with incredible enthusiasm.  As I waited for that book to be released, though, I realized I had another story in me.  Hot Rucking Canadian is the story of Travis, a rebar worker who goes up office towers under construction for his job, and Isaiah, a rugby player.  Great. Cute story about a one-night stand that becomes more (I’m sensing a theme here…).

As I was writing Travis and Isaiah’s story, I created Isaiah’s rugby team.  From Roger, the blind side flanker and dad to 4 (soon to be 5) kids, to Jason, the scrum half who is about to get engaged. I also created Johnnie, the hooker and captain of the team.  He was always trying to set Isaiah up, without understanding why it never worked (see previous book for that salacious detail).  I wrote one throwaway line about Johnnie having gotten a woman pregnant and that he was ready to marry her.  She lost the baby, and Johnnie claimed to be relieved when the engagement was broken.

Okay, simple little detail.  Not much to see here.  Moving on to Isaiah and Travis’s story.

Except I knew, in my heart, that Johnnie hadn’t been relieved — he’d been heartbroken.  He wanted to be a dad more than anything.  He might not have been desperately in love with his girlfriend, but he would’ve happily married her, and they could’ve made a life.

Still, I had another book to write, and I shelved that knowledge.

After Isaiah’s story was finished and waiting to be published, I kept coming back to Johnnie over and over.  I had other books I was supposed to be writing, but he was an annoying bastard who insisted his story needed to be told. NOW!

Writers will likely know what I’m talking about.  This has happened to me before and likely will again.

So I dropped everything and wrote Johnnie’s story.  I shared his heartbreak and how he entered into a rebound relationship that was proving disastrous.  How he meets Yardley and suddenly he’s intrigued by a man.  That his bisexuality side comes to the fore.  Now. He’s sort of in a relationship that’s crashing badly, so he’s not really available to start something new.  I’ll leave it up to readers to say if I have the right balance, but I think I do.

The book reunites the entire Vancouver Orcas team with the members introduced in the first book as well as some new ones appearing on page for the first time.  I also tied in my Rocktoberfest 2024 book, Grindstone’s Edge as one of the MCs from that book, Hugo, is good friends with Yardley.  They teach at the same school and are both queer, so that slotted nicely.  And of course I connected books — it’s what I do.  Previous reading is in no way required, but Hugo and his love, rockstar Axel, had a special role to play in this new rugby book.

Okay, so I had another rugby novella.  The nice folks at The New Romance Café let me add my book to the end of the series and Johnnie had his story.  I’d say he and Yardley make a great couple.  For now, my rugby writing days are behind me.  That said, I have a great lesbian story lurking in the back of my mind, so if another season comes up, I’m all-in.

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me today.

Contest: As a thanks, I would love to give away a copy of Hot Rucking Canadian to one lucky commentor.  Just let me know – do you read sports romances?  Is there a sport you’re tired of, one you’ll always grab, or one you’d love to read?  Let me know!  Random will pick a winner.  Good luck!

Big Rucking Disaster

Johnnie

I’m the hooker (no, not that kind) for the Vancouver Orcas rugby squad, and my teammates are like family. They’re nosy like family too, worrying about me, even though I pretend I’m doing fine. But off the pitch, I’m stuck in a bad relationship, struggling to get along with Carly. I hope that volunteering for a local high school might make me feel I’m doing some good in the world. And the kids are great, but it’s Coach Yardley Morrison who feels like someone who might change my life. One look into his dark-brown eyes, and suddenly I’m wondering if I can make different, better choices.

Yardley

I’m convinced Johnnie Leclerc will just swoop in, sign autographs, get the kids excited, and then abandon them. Like my bastard ex-husband. So I play it smart and keep my distance from the sexy, but straight—remember he’s straight, Yardley—rugby star. But as weeks go by, the more he keeps his promises to the kids, staying patient and kind with them, the more attractive I find him. I know better than to hit on a guy like that, of course. Except every now and then, our gazes meet, and I don’t think I’m imagining the heat I see.

Big Rucking Disaster is a 29k word opposites attract, age-gap, bi-awakening, interracial gay sports novella with a by-the-book coach and the hell-raising hooker who wants to change his ways.

Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Rucking-Disaster-Rucked-You-ebook/dp/B0FB7FVF4J
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/RuckingDisaster
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235371270-big-rucking-disaster

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.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

Report Card

Last week…

1. I continued working on edits for another author!
2. At last, I was able to get back to swimming after getting the pool pump motor replaced and getting the green out of the pool again! I’m back to swimming at least once daily! And can I say there’s been more pep in my step since?
3. I’m painting, though not daily! I have just ONE MORE painting to complete until I reach the end of #the100dayproject! Here’s one of last week’s accomplishments. It’s like…tiny—business card sized. It counts!

This next week…

1. I’ll complete edits of a manuscript for another author and begin work on another author’s story.
2. I’ll be reading the Burn: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology entries!
3. I have my immunotherapy infusion on Monday. I’ll meet with my doctor, and he’ll decide whether I’ll increase my Lenvima dosages. Gah.
4. I’ll continue painting to complete #the100dayproject.
5. I’ll swim every day the weather cooperates!

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. Let’s Celebrate World Kebab Day! — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: The Ideal Vacation — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Gabbi Grey: When life gave me lemons… (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
4. Word Search: Favorite Ice Cream Flavors (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. What are your favorite romance tropes? (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Gabbi Grey: Jane Austen as a Muse for Queer Romances (Contest) — Win two eBooks and an audio book!
7. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: What are they doing? — Win an Amazon gift card!

It’s Saturday! You know what that means! It’s puzzle time!

So, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what these two people are doing! Have fun with it!

UPDATE: The winners are…Mary and Pansy!
*~*~*

Hello, Delilah! Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my new short story in a great anthology!

This anthology is, obviously, about rakes. Moreover, it’s historical. The time period is much broader than the last two anthologies I’ve partaken in — those were Jane Austen-inspired and therefore narrowed to the Regency period. This time, we had free rein as long as the period was “historical.” (The top was WWII, although I don’t know if anyone went that recent…)

For me, I was drawn back to the Regency period. I’d written two Jane Austen-inspired short stories — An Uncommon Gentleman and A Sensible Gentleman.  One was based on Austen’s novel Persuasion, and one was based on her book Sense and Sensibility. I had a blast writing those, stepping outside the mold to write queer stories with Black protagonists. For this third historical short story, I wanted to stick close to home literally. I situated the lead characters as being near the moors and a short distance from the couple in my first story. Again, I made it interracial, super steamy, and with a bit of angst.

Henry returns from Waterloo a wounded man. He left England with a reputation as a rake, and in a pique when Napoleon first appeared on the scene. Henry fought his way across Europe with distinction.  In the meantime, most of his family has died and, as the spare, he’s left to run his vast estate.

A childhood friend, Percy, steps up to be his valet. There has always been a gap in their stations, but they soon rediscover their friendship, which quickly blossoms into something more.  A Wounded Gentleman is a steamy interracial gay short story. It’s double the length of my previous two stories and, let me tell you, my historical beta reader had her work cut out for her to whip my story into shape. I swore, after this project, that I would never write another historical novel again! (Right up until I signed up for the next project — a novella).

I hadn’t planned for a trilogy, but when I signed up for the third historical, it only made sense — in my mind at least. My epilogue is lovely for those who are only reading this story, but a treat for those who’ve read all three. I had fun with this project and will endeavor to do something historical next year. (My readers are asking for it — and they want longer. My beta reader is happy, so off we go…)

That’s it, Delilah. That’s the story! Thanks for letting me visit today.

Contest: I would love to give away an e-book of my first two stories and an audiobook of A Sensible Gentleman. To win, just leave a comment. Do you read historicals? Is there a particular time period? Something you know you won’t touch? Let me know. Random will choose the winners.  Good luck!

Romancing a Rake Romance Anthology

They’ve lived in the shadows of scandal, but love has a way of rewriting the past.

In this historical romance, experience the passion, heartbreak, and ultimate redemption of notorious rakes who dare to risk it all for the women who change their lives forever. From glittering ballrooms to moonlit gardens, each story is a tantalizing journey of love, second chances, and the power of forgiveness.

In the world of the Ton, reputations may be ruined, but these daring heroes prove that redemption—and true love—are never out of reach.

Perfect for fans of second chances and bad boys with hearts of gold, this anthology delivers swoon-worthy tales that will keep you reading long into the night.

Authors:
Kelsey Swanson
Freya Theadore
Mihwa Lee
Gabbi Grey
Kathleen Ryder
Ginny B. Moore
Melissa Kendall
Emma Brady
Alivia Fleur
Sharon Michalove
Carrie DiRisio
Heather Scarlett
Lisabel Chretien
Tasha Blythe
Alexa Santi
Steffy Smith
Eliana Piers
Kat Sterling
Sherri Lupton Hollister
Olivia Huxley
A.T. Abbott
Tanya Wilde
Giovanna Siniscalchi
Ramona Elmes
Christina Diane

**The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2025romancingtherake
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Romancing-Rake-Historical-Romance-Collection-ebook/dp/B0DGFKRJ58
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218652702-romancing-the-rake

“A Wounded Gentleman” by Gabbi Grey
from Romancing the Rake

Henry

I’ve returned home from the war in France one-armed and defeated. While I was fighting at Waterloo, my father, brother, and sister-in-law all died, leaving me alone to raise my baby niece. I’m a broken man, and this new battle feels impossible to win. Only the assistance of my valet Percy, who refuses to leave my employ, offers me any hope.

Percy

My feelings for Henry are even more intense now than when we kissed all those years ago. Since those carefree days, I’ve put aside my feelings for him, and I’m now acting as his missing right arm. I take care of his needs, and his niece’s, while suppressing my own. As our intimacy grows, I can’t help but wonder if he might return my affections after all. But our respective ranks and the dangers for men of our kind form an impenetrable wall between us.

A Wounded Gentleman is a 17k Regency gay romance short story set in Jane Austen’s Persuasion world about a valet in love with the lord who is seeking redemption after being a rake.

About Gabbi Grey

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.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

UPDATE: The winner is…Karynne!
*~*~*

We’re not big sweet-eaters in this house. In fact, when my kids were small, there was a rule that kids didn’t get candy or cake until after they reached three (other than maybe on a birthday). This was done because of the rate of diabetes in my family, and we didn’t want to encourage the kids to develop a “sweet tooth.” Instead of candy and cake, we encouraged the kids to eat fruit or to taste the sweetness in healthier choices (savory and sweet entrees—sweet and sour pork, sweet potatoes, salads with a sweet-savory dressing). As a result of our “programming” my kids grew up favoring vegetables.

When they grew older and were in school, we couldn’t keep them away from sweets, but we still didn’t keep candy or cakes in the cupboard for snacking. A candy bar was a once in a while treat. And guess what? These days, my dd still eats a portion of a standard candy bar and puts the rest in the fridge for another day because it’s too much.

The other night, the adults had a sugar urge and went to Baskin Robbins to buy those pints of ice cream. We all had a bowl, and the rest went in the freezer—and most of what was left over is still there. Doesn’t mean we don’t love ice cream—oh no. We love ice cream, but my daughter can take a couple of bites, and she’s done. A bowl looks enticing, but she can’t handle eating more than those couple of bites. (I like a bit more!)

What are our choices for that once in a Blue Moon splurge? The SIL loves vanilla. My dd loves peanut butter/chocolate. I love Rocky Road. The 11-year-old’s fave is always orange sherbet. The other two girls take spoons of all the flavors.

Anyway, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what your favorite ice cream flavors are! Enjoy the puzzle! 

UPDATE: The winner is…Dana!
*~*~*

Hello, Delilah! Thank you for welcoming me here to share my new release! Gideon’s Gratitude is the fifth book in my Love in Mission City world.

This book is special to my heart and has a story.  I mean, all my books have stories behind them – why the writer wrote that story at that moment.  But this one is a bit unique. In October 2020, I attended a virtual romance writer conference.  One of the editors taking pitches was from Harlequin. I had just learned they were accepting manuscripts with gay couples.  I had already written Ginger Snapping All the Way, as well as two novellas.  Ginger hadn’t been published yet, but I had confidence it was a good book.  I messaged back and forth with a friend who wrote for that line, and she helped me craft a pitch.

I made the pitch.  I might’ve implied the book was almost finished and just needed some polishing.  Well, I had notes…

The editor loved the pitch.  Loved the tropes I had chosen.  He gave me his email to send the manuscript.

I spent the next month writing like a demon.  I finished the book with five words to spare (there was a specific word count).  I paid my freelance editor to polish it, and I sent it off.  I admit, I had visions of finally achieving my dream.  A contract with a Big 5 publisher!

Now, the year before, I’d had an editor say the same thing for a different book.  I sent it to her and, while the manuscript sat on her desk, she left the company.  She didn’t give my book to anyone, and that publisher requires an agent. I hadn’t been able to land an agent, so having that editor leave without doing something with my precious manuscript really hurt.  Still, I sent it to the Wild Rose Press, and they acquired it—as well as the rest of the trilogy.  Working with a small press is awesome, and I’m happy those books found a home.

Back to my current book.  I’d named it Gideon’s Second Chance Christmas.  I thought I had something special.  I mean, I’m supposed to say that about all my books, but this one…there was a lot of me in the book.  The book is very raw, full of angst.

Four months later, my friend who had helped me create the pitch told me the editor had left.  Clearly, he hadn’t forwarded my manuscript to anyone either.  I was devastated, but that press had a way to submit books without an agent.  I raced over there, only to discover that line had just — and I mean just — started requiring an agent.  In other words, if I’d sent it through the system and not to the editor directly, I still would’ve had a shot.  Now, I had jack.

I was heartbroken.  My dream felt out of reach.  They had another line that published queer books.  I knew my book wouldn’t fit, though.

By that time, I’d written a follow up to Ginger – Stanley’s Christmas Redemption.  I was publishing another novella and then another novel with the Wild Rose Press.  I signed up for a multi-author series.  I kept moving forward.

And yet, Gideon sat.  Now, the book was written in third person past tense.  All my recent queer books were first person past tense. (I did rather than he did).

Still Gideon sat. I published more books, novellas, and a ton of short stories.

I couldn’t face Gideon.

Then I decided the time had come.  I’d published my third Love in Mission City book – Sleigh Bells and Second Chances, and my fourth, Rayne’s Return was to be released shortly.  I’d had the notion of making Gideon book 4, but Everett and Rayne insisted they go next.

Finally, I picked up Gideon.  I’m not going to lie — changing 60k words from third person to first is BRUTAL.  I can confidently say that after my changes and a self-editing pass, two passes by my editor, my proofreader taking her turn, as well as my narrator, we still found more things to fix.  When I was proofing the audio, I found another three.  Now I can confidently say there are probably at least two or more POV slips that we all missed. Yes, those buggers are stubborn.

So Gideon’s Gratitude is out in the world today.  For those of you who read my Love in Mission City series, you’ll find it takes place at the same time as Sleigh Bells and four other stories.  Why?  Because it’s a Christmas book, and I didn’t want to jump a year.  I have more books to write, and I didn’t want to advance previous couples too far.  I can also confidently say that having five stories take place at the same time is NUTS.  But it is what it is.

That’s the story.  I’m still trying for a contract with a Big 5. I would still love to see my book on a shelf in a bookstore.  In the meantime, I’ll keep writing books and self-publishing (and sending things to my small press publisher as well…)

Okay.  Thanks for letting me visit today, Delilah!

Contest: I want to give a prize to one lucky commentor.  When you see a series and you’re considering reading it, what makes you take the risk and pick up book 1?  Are there such things as too many books in a series and that turns you off?  Curious minds want to know!  One lucky commentor, chosen by Random, will win a copy of my romantic suspense Rayne’s Return as well as the short prequel to Gideon, Archer’s Awakening. Archer is not required reading to enjoy Gideon, but it does explain an anecdote in the book.  Good luck!

Gideon’s Gratitude

Gideon

When my marriage fell apart, and I lost custody of my kids, my world shattered. My own fault, all of it, from the pills I was taking to how badly I handled the court case. I retreated to my grandparents’ old home, shut the door, and hunkered down with my Labrador Retriever, Lucky. Life is rough, and the constant construction noise from the mansion going up next door will truly be the end of me.

Archer

I’d never met the man living next door until a storm forces me to take refuge with him. Gideon’s skittish, generous, and oddly endearing. I’m dismayed the construction of my post-divorce home has been so upsetting for him, but there’s little I can do to ease that distress. What I can do, though, is use my skills as a talented divorce attorney to help with the most painful part of his life, the unfair custody arrangement that keeps him from being with his kids.

Gideon’s Gratitude is a small-town, opposites attract, hurt-comfort gay romance about a former longshoreman who believes he’s broken and the lawyer who believes there’s life after divorce.

Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Gideons-Gratitude-Love-Mission-City-ebook/dp/B0F4NRFQZJ
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/GideonsGratitude
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231327764-gideon-s-gratitude

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.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey