Summer is here! It’s time to get out there and enjoy every second of it. Here’s my foolproof plan for enjoying a summer’s day at home.

Step #1

Get an adult beverage. Wine is always an excellent choice but here’s one that’s been a family favorite for years. Mix it up, put it in the freezer, and it’s a cool, refreshing drink whenever you want one.

Summer Slush

Ingredients:
1 – 12 oz can of frozen orange juice
1 – 12 oz can of frozen lemonade
¾ cup of sugar
5 cups of water
2 cups of vodka

In large freezer proof container, mix in order given and freeze.

Serve ½ glass of slush with 7 up or ginger ale.

Step #2

Snacks. There should always be snacks. Unlike winter, when I admit to going heavy on the sweets, this time of year I crave the fresh fruits of summer—apricots, cherries, watermelon, grapes. These are not always easy to get where I live. Some cheese and crackers, maybe some hummus. For dessert—because there should always be dessert—some excellent dark chocolate. These backyard picnic-style snack foods are also a great way to avoid having to cook.

Step #3

A good book. Reading is the way I relax and let go of all my worries. I live in an apartment, so I love to take my book out on my balcony, relax in my lawn chair, and enjoy a refreshing beverage—iced tea or something with a little more zip. (See Step #1)

And if you’re looking for something to read, you might want to check out the Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology. The great thing about an anthology is the stories are shorter and you can sample a variety of authors—perfect for a relaxing afternoon in the sun

Inside Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, you’ll find stories by some of the hottest romance writers out there for readers who crave mysterious, enigmatic men and women who may not be who they claim to be. Perhaps they’re the new next-door neighbor with a secret mission, an alien from a far-away galaxy looking for his fated mate, or a spy trying to catch a foreign agent. Whatever their secrets, intrigue and passion follow…

My contribution is “Perfect Stranger” – An undercover DEA agent must keep his identity secret from the woman he’s falling for, a woman he’s also investigating.

Coming July 30^th. Preorder your copy today.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5SQ4P2P/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-identities-delilah-devlin/1145674531
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/secret-identities-8

About the Author

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit her at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for welcoming me here today!  I’m happy to share news about my latest anthology project.  Protect My Heart has brought together a dynamic group of authors writing romantic suspense stories!  The premise for these short stories is simple—heroes and heroines.  Who doesn’t love a good hero or heroine story?

Naturally, I had to put a twist on that.

Probably not surprising to anyone who knows me and has read my stories—especially the newer ones.

I summoned my Plot Whisperer (and dear friend) and offered her the parameters—some kind of bodyguard/cop/firefighter…something like that.  15k words.  I wanted to write a gay romance.  I write these because I’m pretty good at it and because I love inclusion.  Love is love.  Love Without Limits is my personal tagline.

Plot Whisperer…did her magic.  And I wound up writing a rom-com with a dash of suspense.  It’s not what readers might expect, but it’s certainly something I hope they enjoy!  After all, a bodyguard tasked with protecting a Ming vase on a film set isn’t an everyday story.  Throw in a designer who doesn’t have a brain-to-mouth filter and sexy times ensue.

Protect My Heart

Protect. Defend. Love?

What do firefighters, bodyguards, marines, and Texas Rangers have in common? They do whatever it takes to keep us safe.

But when Cupid has them in his sights, our protectors land neck deep in trouble. They willingly risk their lives, but dare they risk their hearts?

Protect My Heart is a steamy collection from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by The New Romance Café.

Authors:
Kalli Dean
Sharon Michalove
Rubi Jade
Chelle Pimblott
Bella Paige
Harper Michaels
Angela Breen
Bonnie Poirier
Heather Osborne
Lisabel Chretien
MacKade
Angelica Kate
Amy Stephens
Annee Jones
Serafina Jax
Ryleigh Sloan
Gabbi Grey
Toni Denise
Sophia Vincent
Elizabeth Salo
Michelle Moncrieff
Emma Marie Cormier

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

No Rough Handling by Gabbi Grey

Hallstein

Here I am, a highly-skilled professional bodyguard who’s never lost a client, guarding…a vase. That’s right, home decor. It’s Ming Dynasty and worth a cool three-million, but this TV-show assignment has me bored out of my skull. The set decorator, however, has definitely caught my eye.

Myles

Adding a real Ming vase to my set was brilliant, bringing my legendary flair into play. Of course, the cost of the vase requires a stuffy, all-business, unfairly hot and attractive bodyguard. The urge to tempt Hallsy into some shenanigans is irresistible. Question is, can he resist me?

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/TNRC2024ProtectMyHeart
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Protect-Heart-Protector-Anthology-Collection-ebook/dp/B0CJ8PG4M8
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199017137-protect-my-heart

Anyway, I love writing these shorts—something to keep my mind occupied between the longer books—of which I write plenty as well.  I really hope readers will nab this limited time anthology and smile as they read the huge variety of books.

Thanks for hosting me, Delilah.  I’d love to give away a $5 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter.  What’s your favorite setting for a book?  Or, what setting would you love to see more of?  I’ll randomly select one commenter for a prize!

About the 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.

Today is one of those days when I have no plan for what I’m going to talk about. Some may wonder, why bother? But I have a ready answer. Yes, my blog is my way of connecting with people, hopefully readers, but in the end, friends. I’m a solitary person by nature. Yes, I spent years in the Army, years in the corporate world, I taught, I worked at a non-prof. All those jobs required me to interact with enthusiasm with people. And I do like…people. However, I really, really, really like my mole hole office with my big white screen that’s empty until I fill it with words. Sometimes, I know, I’m talking to myself, but the act of opening a screen and just letting my fingers connect to my brain without much interference from me is my therapy and my way of priming the pump before I start to write. *takes a deep breath because those were a lot of words to simply say I like my solitude*

So, the daily habit of opening my blog each day is part of my writing habit. Wow, I could’ve just started with that, right?

I usually have some notes about what I want to do, a place to start. I didn’t do that for today. I just visited one of my favorite idea-generating websites, “Fun Holidays,” but today’s “Caviar Day” didn’t generate any thoughts except for a memory of my one and only trip to Russia shortly after The Wall fell. The group of U.S. tourists I was with were served caviar and champagne at every meal—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And wouldn’t you know it, the only person in our 10-person cohort who loved caviar was me. So, every meal, they’d send their little plate of caviar down the table for me to gorge on as much as I could manage to eat. I can only imagine the hundreds of dollars I scraped onto my plate every meal. And I prefer red to black caviar by the way because it’s generally larger and you can press it against the roof of your mouth and make it pop.

But that’s not enough for a blog and not all that interesting, right?

So I went to my favorite photo site and typed in random words, starting with “cringe” thinking I could generate something from a picture. Nope. I eventually typed in “animals” and found this picture.

He’s so cute. Which reminded me I’m the frog whisperer of the house. We live in the country, and while letting dogs out to do their business, bugs and little critters can find their way inside. If it’s a bug, we yell for the 15-year-old because she loves to prove she’s braver than anyone else in the house. When it comes to repatriating frogs or toads back into the wild, they call me, because I don’t mind picking them up, no matter how slimy or bumpy they are. I love them. In fact, just last night, I rescued a tiny, 1-inch-long baby toad and was able to catch his fast little self before he hid under something.

But I’m rambling again, and I’ve written enough about nothing at all, right? My fingers and my mind are all limbered up, ready to tackle The End of my story. So, how can I make this about you and not me?

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you’re a fan of caviar or frogs? Do you have a personal story to share?

UPDATE: The winner is…Flchen!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here to share news of my new release!  Cole’s Reckoning is the second book in my Bonded By Love trilogy, and I’m thrilled to tell your readers all about it!

Initially, this trilogy began as one book—Caressa’s Homecoming. Pretty early on, though, I realized I couldn’t tell Caressa, Cole, and Michael’s story in just one book.  The best friends-to-lovers story deserved more than that.  The three grew up in horrific poverty and came from abusive homes.  Their lives diverged in huge ways—and Caressa suffered more trauma.  Trauma she never shared with her best friends.  Because of some of that, she went overseas as a nurse to volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders).  She came back to Canada even more traumatized.

Her best friends saw that.  And Michael was there first—to both comfort and to admit his feelings had changed for her.  In turn, she realized her feelings for him had deepened as well.  Friends-to-lovers is a tricky trope.  The evolution has to feel like it works—like the progression is natural and was always meant to be.  I tried to portray it as accurately as I could.

Cole, however, didn’t want to be left behind.  Because when Caressa left, he realized he loved both his best friends.  He’s bisexual (although in the closet about his dalliances with men).  Michael’s straight. This set up an interesting dynamic for me to work with.  Oh, and Cole’s into BDSM—something Caressa and Michael know nothing about.  Caressa’s Homecoming ends with Caressa having discovered Cole’s dungeon and confronting Cole…after he and Michael have exchanged some pretty steamy kisses.

This second book was a challenge for me.  I needed a pivot point.  Something that would push their relationship along.  Something that wasn’t artificial.  I realized early on what that would be.  I wrote the story and then sent it out to my editor and proofreaders—asking them to read the story blind—without having read the synopsis.  All three admitted they didn’t see the twist coming.  All three admitted it made sense and, as I’d hoped, deepened the dynamic of the relationship between the members of the triad.

I’m excited to release the book because I’m hoping readers will enjoy the twist.  Will find the book isn’t the saggy middle novel of a trilogy—which can sometimes happen.  Often, readers read a trilogy and think, “That could’ve been two books instead of three.”  Now, I have a different throuple for my conclusion—so stay tuned.

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me.  I love sharing my books, especially the ones that pushed me.  MMF definitely does that!  I’d love to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to a commenter chosen by random.  Have you ever read a good menage book?  One that stuck with you?  If not, is it something you would consider, or are you happy with just a couple? Let me know and you might win!

Cole’s Reckoning

Three inseparable friends—now three insatiable lovers?

Actor Cole Hamilton has finally convinced the two people he loves most in the world, Caressa Klein and Michael Dubois, to move in, join him in a throuple relationship, and set his bed on fire. But he fears his secrets—his real self—will drive them away.

Michael is stressed by his latest engineering project, but his two best friends turned hot lovers worry him more. Cole is too reckless, and Caressa keeps him guessing.

Caressa adores her two sexy men, but her past and tragedies in her nursing profession haunt her.

Can their love and friendship survive secrecy and the reopening of old wounds?

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/ColesReckoning
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Coles-Reckoning-Bonded-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B0D3KCG7QG
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coles-reckoning-gabbi-grey/1145488881
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/coles-reckoning/id6502349359
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cole-s-reckoning
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213029211-cole-s-reckoning

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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey

I’m excited to share my new release, Falling for a Star in the City. It’s a standalone book that’s part of the Stars in the City interconnected series. Each book can be read on its own, but the characters all exist in the same world in New York City. Check out the blurb:

Paige thought she had it all: a job on the soap opera Charmed Lives and a boyfriend who was trying to get discovered as a singer/songwriter. Then her part on the show is reduced to reoccurring status and her family pushes her to leave her acting dreams behind to major in journalism—what they call a “real job.” Her relationship with her wannabe pop star boyfriend, Walker, ends only for her to find out he signed a recording contract right after their breakup. Then she reads online that his new album is about their relationship.

She gets an internship in the sports department at the TV station where she meets a college hockey player named Viktor who has trust issues from a past relationship. Now with Walker’s pop star dreams taking off, it leaves her questioning her own play-it-safe tendencies, her acting career aspirations, self-worth, and relationships. Everyone else seems to have it together but her.

Paige and Viktor begin to confide in each other, which soon leaves them falling for each other, but Paige worries their worlds are too different for them to work as a couple. Plus, there’s the issue of Walker trying to back together with her, but has fame changed him?

Meanwhile, Paige has a minor accident which leaves her questioning if she ever really wanted a flashy lifestyle or if it was what she felt she was supposed to want. Now she must figure out what she really needs to be happy and fulfilled in life. Can Paige find both her purpose & true love?

***Free in Kindle Unlimited ***
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CVXHF8DL
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208865198-falling-for-a-star-in-the-city

New review: Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers’ Favorite

Falling for a Star in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager follows Paige, a young woman navigating the highs and lows of her acting career and personal life in a bustling city. Paige is driven by her dreams of acting success and haunted by a recent breakup with Walker. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she starts an internship at a TV station, initially performing menial tasks but eventually impressing the sports department. Paige faces professional and emotional challenges, encountering Viktor, a hockey player, and seeing her ex, Walker, whose music career was inspired by their split. The story captures Paige’s inner conflicts and resilience as she navigates her evolving relationships with Walker and Viktor, culminating in moments of personal growth and professional achievements. Falling for a Star in the City is rich with themes of love, career ambitions, and personal discovery.

Krysten Lindsay Hager carefully shows the ups and downs of Paige’s feelings and choices, helping readers understand her successes and failures. The writing is both engaging and straightforward and the use of humor and introspection maintains intrigue and emotional resonance. The descriptive language and relatable dialogue enhance the characters and their experiences. The setting is the vibrant backdrop of the city, and the tone is a blend of lightheartedness and emotional depth; both capture the protagonist’s optimistic yet sometimes uncertain outlook on her future. Paige is a well-rounded character. Her interactions with Walker and Viktor are key to the story, revealing different sides of her personality and helping her grow emotionally. The other characters, like her friends and coworkers, enrich the story by showing the importance of friendship and support. The title itself aptly captures the essence of the story. The word “star” hints at Paige’s acting career and her romantic interests, giving the title an intriguing double meaning. This sets the stage for the themes of love, ambition, and self-discovery that unfold. The book also gives a clear message of resilience and being true to yourself. It highlights the importance of real connections and having the courage to chase your dreams, no matter the obstacles. Falling for a Star in the City is a compelling narrative that resonates with its authentic portrayal of personal growth and relationships.

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary McCoy!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you so much for inviting me to join you today.  I have a new release I’m excited to share with you and your readers! Sun, Surf, and Surprises is a short story I just had to write!  My publisher put out a call for beach reads. I didn’t have a book lounging about neglected on my laptop, and I didn’t have time to write the story that came to mind—but I did have time to write a short story and to get it in for the deadline.

As always, I consulted my plot whisperer.  I said: movie industry, Los Angeles, beach, gay short story.  She asked what the most stressful job on a film set is.  I said probably executive producer since the buck stops with them.  She gave me Jerome.  Then she proceeded to give me the story of how he hires an escort to help him unwind during a forced hiatus…and how things go sideways.

Sounds simple, right?  I wrote the story, polished it up, and sent it to my editor.  She read it, sent it to the senior editor, then came back to me.  Turns out (and I didn’t know this) hiring an escort for sex is illegal in California.  I was like…uh… (me speechless).  Many a gay romance has this plot.  And I’m certain a few other romances as well.  My editor was firm she didn’t believe Jerome would do anything illegal.  She made a persuasive case.  More importantly, I’d written this story for them.  For this series.  I suspected mine would be one of only a handful (if any) of inclusive and diverse stories.  I loved Jerome and Alex so much that I made the edits.  It didn’t change the essence of the story—a mistaken identity.  Working within what was legal in California didn’t take away from the central romance.

I also had to work hard to keep another scene I really liked.  That meant adding an additional one which completely didn’t bother me.  More writing?  Bring it on!  Anyway, I’ve patiently waited five months to get Jerome and Alex in front of readers, and I’m thrilled they’re finally here!  I hope readers have as much fun reading their story as I did writing it.

Thank you for having me!  I would love to give out a copy of my book Valentino in Vancouver.  Valentino and his husband, Seamus, have a cameo in Sun, Surf, and Surprises, and I’d love to share that book (or another one from my back catalog).  To win, just drop a comment. Is mistaken identity a trope that you enjoy?  That you’ve never tried? That you believe has been done too often?  Leave a comment and you might win a book!

Sun, Surf, and Surprises

Sometimes a wrong can make a right.

I hate downtime. Detest it. So when our film production shuts down for a week and my boss sends me off to an LA beach house, I’m bouncing off the walls. Hiring an escort to keep me company seems like a creative way to make the time pass faster. And boy, does Alex help me forget about my troubles. He’s sweet and smart, and I’m more hooked on him with every passing hour. Then reality comes crashing in, and I’m afraid I’ll lose him forever.

Get your copy here!

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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey