The days are getting shorter, and the air has a distinct bite. Trees are losing their leaves as the wind whistles through their branches. Pumpkins are appearing on porch steps with carved faces and flickering lights. Houses are decorated with orange and purple lights that highlight life-size ghosts, zombies, and ghouls of every kind. It’s a spooky, beautiful time of year.

Samhain is just around the corner. On this day, it is said the veil between our world and that of spirit is the thinnest. The nights are long, and the days are short, giving us plenty of time to ponder if such things are real or imaginary.

Traditionally, Samhain is the celebration of the final harvest. It heralded the beginning of the darker times to come. Bonfires flared to drive back the dark. Turnips were carved and lit with candles to drive away evil spirits. (The Halloween jack-o-lantern has its roots there.) In some cultures, people donned masks in an attempt to appease the gods. (You can easily see where the idea of trick-or-treating came from.)

Kids will wear costumes, masks, and makeup and run door-to-door with the familiar refrain of trick-or-treat gathering candy, bars, bags of chips, and other treats to delight them. Adults will dress up in their sexy and scary best and party until the wee hours of the morning. Young and old alike will join in the fun and celebration.

It’s a great time of year for spooky movies. I admit, I don’t go for the scary ones with blood and gore. Some of my favorites are: The Lost Boys, Ghostbusters, The Underworld series, The Crow, Dracula Untold, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

It’s also the perfect time to indulge in a paranormal romance. Vampires, ghosts, and werewolves, oh my! There’s something for everyone in this genre. I have so much fun writing paranormal romances because you can step outside ordinary life and discover something extraordinary.

However you celebrate this time of year, I wish you a safe, Happy Halloween and Happy Samhain!

If you’re looking for some seasonal books, you might check out some of these:

WEREWOLVES:

Salvation Pack Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753H2PLQ/

Lone Wolf Legacy Series:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTKCDR77/

Legacy Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075V11M7Q/

VARIOUS SHIFTERS:

Forgotten Brotherhood: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086BT7QJL/

Hades’ Carnival: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742KNX25

VAMPIRES:

Dalakis Passion Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CHP42S/

MAGIC:

Spells, Secrets & Seductions: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FK8Q19K/

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

Hello Delilah, and Happy (Almost) Halloween!

Thanks for conjuring me onto your fabulous blog—I’m absolutely thrilled to be here, broomstick and all. What’s better for Halloween than a witchy tale? I’ve got one for you, and it’s bubbling up with magic, mayhem, and a 100-year-old curse threatening the universe (because, of course, the universe is at stake, right?).

Before these witches can even think about saving the world, they’ve got to make it through the trials of Cauldron Academy—where you don’t just attend classes; you fight for the right to lead! Only after they’re chosen will they each embark on their own quests, piecing together clues to the final, universe-saving battle. No pressure, right?

Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘Aren’t you the sexy ménage author?’ Why yes, I am! But this story has been brewing in my cauldron of ideas for a long time, and I just couldn’t resist sharing it with the world.

The first book is out and FREE everywhere (shoutout to Amazon for that price match magic—come on, Bezos), and book two, Enchanted Deadlines, hits the shelves today!

Is this series as steamy as my usual ménage stories? Well, no… But what it lacks in steamy threesomes, it makes up for in spellbinding adventures and kickass witches. So whether you’re here for the tricks, treats, or just a good story to sink your teeth into, I’ve got you covered.

And now, a little sweet Halloween candy from Enchanted Deadlines just for you…

*~*~*

The bell over the door tinkled, and she heard her grandmother call out, “Daisy, dear, I’m here.”

Yanking her hand away, she pulled out of his grasp. “Sorry, but I have to get these to Grandmother Astor.”

“Oh, my sweet Daisy, come back and let me sip from your nectar,” he said, thrusting his hips in her direction. “We will move the universe with our mating.”

She all but ran out of the kitchen and hurried to the counter.

“Grandmother, thank Merlin, you’re here,” she said, her voice sounding out of breath, her heart racing as she hurried away from the big alien.

“What’s wrong? Is it the pastries?”

“No, my spells. Something is wrong. I can’t read his mind. Then I cast a spell on him, and it didn’t work. That’s never happened to me before.”

No man had ever been immune to her magic until now, which made her uneasy. Before, she could just cast a spell on a man whose attention she didn’t want, and the problem was gone. But Misna was not affected.

Her magic didn’t work on him. Except the flippin pastries.

“What are you talking about?” Her grandmother asked in surprise. “I leave you alone for less than an hour and come back to find you all upset and flustered. What’s going on?”

The door to the kitchen swung open, and Misna strolled out completely naked as the day he was brought forth into his world. The man looked like perfection, with his muscled thighs, manhood erect as he strolled determinedly towards Daisy.

“This…”

Her grandmother busted out laughing.

Daisy’s eyes widened as she realized he was coming for her, and she knew his intent. “What am I going to do? He’s immune to my spells and he ate one of the pastries? Now he wants to…wants to…”

“Honey, from the looks of that alien, I think his big Johnson is more than you can handle at this time. How long does the pastry potion last?”

“At least three to four hours. You try a spell on the guy,” Daisy said as he gripped her hand and raised it to his lips.

He pulled her against him.

“Do you want my help or not?”

Of course, she wanted her grandmother’s help. Right now, she’d even take the town ogre’s help.

“Yes,” she yelped as Misna pulled her mouth to his, his lips covering hers, consuming her.

The world ceased to exist as his mouth devoured her. Time seemed to stop, and her arms wound their way around his neck as he moaned deep in his throat.

What was happening to her? Never before had she experienced this kind of kiss. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and warmth seemed to infuse her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.

She wanted this big alien. She wanted to shed her clothes and join with him.

The tinkle of the bell above the door had her pushing back, she quickly turned away from Misna, glancing to where Astor had been standing.

She was gone. She’d left her.

How embarrassing to be so thoroughly kissed in front of her grandmother.

Quickly, she glanced down at his man parts and laughed. Grandmother’s spell didn’t reverse the pastry potion but had put him in a male chastity belt. The poor man still had a hard-on, but he couldn’t get to her even if he wanted to.

Now, she had to entertain a lovesick alien until the pastry spell wore off.

Grab Your Copy to See How Daisy Fights Off The Alien

Since you read to the end, post your favorite Halloween candy and you could win book one, Cauldron Academy, and book two, Enchanted Deadlines.

Time is Running Out

Daisy Le Deux faces a daunting deadline: she must find her true love within weeks, but no one catches her eye. Fresh out of Cauldron Academy, Daisy is tasked with saving the world, though she has no idea how or from what. The pressure is mounting as time runs out for both her and the planet.

Enter Crazod Krazolz, an alien from Tilnora, who arrives on Earth in search of a powerful witch from the Le Deux coven. His kingdom is trapped under a sleeping spell, and only Daisy’s magic can break it. But convincing the charming and hesitant Daisy to join him is a race against time.

Will her magic break the spell that holds his kingdom hostage? And will she return in time to save earth?

About Lacey Davis

Lacey Davis is a pseudonym for a USA Today bestselling author who wanted to try her hand at writing sexy romance. With these novels, I hope to write sizzling romances that will leave you grabbing a fan to cool yourself off.

If you like hunky bad boy heroes who like to be in charge and strong pretty women who are willing to risk it all, then look no further. These sexy reads will get you in the mood. Come experience strong women who will tame these bad boys and leave them wanting more.

website: www.laceydavisauthor.com
newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/laceydavis_author
Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/lacey-davis
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/7985938.Lacey_Davis?from_search=true&from_srp=true
Amazon Author Central: amazon.com/Lacey-Davis/e/B08KRGK49Y/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
Facebook: facebook.com/LaceyDavisromancewriter

I’m just popping in to share this image. This is my life now. My two geriatric cats have declared war. The sounds are worse than the deep growls of hellhounds, especially at three in the morning. Tessa has decided I’ve betrayed her and struts around with her tail twitching. Pumpkin is much smaller than Tessa, but her growl is terrifying. If I sit with Pumpkin on my lap, Tessa sits at the foot of the chair, glaring up at us, and both cats hiss back and forth at each other. I have to carry Pumpkin to the water and feed bowls—and the cat box—because Tessa tries to block her. When they do battle, the sounds are something I wish I could record because you wouldn’t believe how fierce these two old cats sound!

How long will this last?!!!! Seriously, any advice will be appreciated. And no, neither will be rehomed. Period.

UPDATE: The winner is…Diane Sallans!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me today to speak about my new release!  Another anthology—which surprises no one.  I get a huge thrill when I’m able to try something new, and boy, is Flying Hearts something different!

When I signed up for the sports anthology, I had gay archers in my mind.  Rivals to lovers.  The Olympics.  Helping each other out.  Then I spoke to a friend who actually does archery, and my story was beyond improbable.  So, then we came up with a story that was so convoluted that I backed out of the anthology entirely.  I just didn’t have a story.

Fast forward a couple of months.  I had a pre-made cover I’d bought, and I needed a title for it.  I asked Plot Whisperer.  She asked a few questions about it, and…fifteen minutes later, she had an idea.  Together, we worked through most of it, but she left me to fill in the blanks.  On the cover was a woman between two men in a passionate and loving embrace. Okay, so who were they?  Why were they wearing odd outfits? What was their story?

Out tumbled Flying Hearts. Yasmine and Kaden are trapeze partners. They’ve been together since their early teens.  Only romantically when they turned eighteen.  And Nick?  Well, a rigger, of course. A guy who knows his way around ropes. Only…yeah. I realized this was a kinky book—that Nick’s into bondage with those ropes as well.  The next thing I knew, I had an MMF BDSM story.  Because, let’s be honest, everyone gets it on with everyone in this very steamy tale.

I approached the anthology people, and they were happy to add me back in.  So, along with all the traditional sports stories, there’s a little one about two trapeze artists and the rigger who makes them very happy. I love telling nontraditional stories.  I love taking risks—and this definitely is one.

I hope everyone will run out and snag a copy of Well Played.  Over 1,000 pages of sports goodness wrapped up in over 20 stories!

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me today.  As a thank you to your readers, I’d like to give away a $5 US Amazon gift card.  Tell me—what sport would you love to see a story about?  Random will pick the winner.  Good luck!

Well Played

True love often isn’t a slam dunk.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes you fumble.

You want to get to loving strokes and fore play but there may be hurdles to overcome.

If a happily ever after is your goal, step up to the plate and hope you don’t strike out.

Well Played, the first Sports Romance collection from The Romance Cafe is coming in 2024.

Authors:
Kenna Shaw Reed
Cecelia Conway
TL Hamilton
Sharon Michalove
Kalli Dean
Katherine Isaac & Crystal North
Maida Malby
J.T. Silver
Katharine O’Neill
Danielle Sibarium
Ariana St. Claire
JCC Downing
Juliet Martini
Harper Michaels
Sofia Aves
S L Hollister
T.S. Simons
Toni Denise
Belinda E Edwards
Melinda Pine
Gabbi Black

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2024wellplayed
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Well-Played-Romance-Anthology-Collection-ebook/dp/B0CN82WW5B
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202118717-well-played

About Flying Hearts by Gabbi Black

Yasmine

I’ve trusted Kaden with my life on the trapeze since we were fourteen, and with my heart since we became lovers at eighteen. People give us odd looks when we say we’re in an open relationship, but I’ve never been concerned about Kaden’s other partners. But then Nick lands in my life, and suddenly Kaden’s not the only man I can see.

Kaden

I’ve had a super partner in Yasmine—both on and off the trap. I assumed she was happy with our open relationship. She’s got her studies, and I have my…temporary bed partners. All is going well until a domineering rigger arrives. Suddenly, everything changes.

Nick

As a professional rigger, I know rope. I’ve worked in the entertainment industry for almost fifteen years, keeping people safe in front of audiences and in private. Rope is not just my profession, it’s my pleasure. Yasmine intrigues me, and when Kaden tries to interfere between her and me, it’s going to be a competition to see who comes out on top.

Flying Hearts is a 15k steamy BDSM short story about a couple who didn’t know they needed more, and the man who’s tying them in knots.

About Gabbi Black

Even though Gabbi Black is a firm believer in happy endings, she makes her characters work for it in every romance she writes, no matter what the genre. From contemporary to BDSM, they are penned early in the morning in her home in beautiful British Columbia while her trusty ChinPoo dog keeps her company. She also writes gay romances as Gabbi Grey and small-town romances as Gabbi Powell.

UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy Petal!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me today to discuss the release of my new novel!  Sleigh Bells and Second Chances is a book close to my heart.  It’s the third big book in my Love in Mission City series.  The first two, Ginger Snapping All the Way and Stanley’s Christmas Redemption, were published in 2021 and 2022, respectively.  I’ve written a series of novellas and short stories in the interim (and book 2.5, The Beauty of the Beast).  I’ve been waiting for the right story to come along and knock me out of my complacency about the series (although I’ve published more than half a dozen full-length novels in other series in the interim—I’ve been busy!).

One night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I had an image of a man coming back from Ukraine.  He was Canadian.  Although he’d been fighting as a combatant, he wasn’t recognized by the Canadian government.  NATO has chosen to stay out of the war in Ukraine.  Instead, we’ve provided material support and troop training to Ukraine, but we haven’t stepped into the fray of the war caused by Russia’s illegal invasion into a sovereign nation.  No one wants World War Three.  On the other hand, many Canadians sit and watch the war and are horrified by what is happening to our close democracy-loving friends.  Canada has one of the largest ex-pat groups of Ukrainians in the world.  Growing up, my best friend came from a family of Ukrainian immigrants.  Most Canadians are empathetic.

Okay, so that’s the background.  Ryan went to fight in a war where he had no business being.  Plus, he’d been an overweight gamer who lived in his rich father’s basement. Aside from a degree in computer science weighted heavily in coding, he had no real-world experience.  Something about a democracy being invaded by another country hit him hard, though.  Knocked him right out of his complacency.  So, he went to Ukraine.

He fought hard for two years with cyber security work and, eventually, as a drone operator. He was wounded, lost a bunch of his friends, came back to Canada, and has been recovering ever since. I envisioned him at the therapy ranch I’ve created, which has featured prominently in many of my stories—including all three previous big books in this series.

I woke up in the morning with my wonky note in my Messenger feed with a friend.  Great!  Ryan was nearly fully formed. But…no clue who would be the man he’d fall in love with.

Enter Plot Whisperer.  We’d plotted a large number of short stories and novellas, and she was thrilled to be presented with the opportunity to work on a plot for a novel.  This time, I took the dogs for a walk and she…did her magic.  By the time my dogs were cared for and I was in my pajamas, she had a story for me.  And man, was it a good one.

Still, I sat on the story for a long time, working things out in my mind.  Writing other books. Popping out short stories for anthologies.  Then…I was ready.  I polished up a blurb, put the book up for pre-order, and then wrote a bunch of other stuff including an LGBTQ YA that I’ll be back in the New Year to share with you.  Eventually, I wrote Sleigh Bells.  Only I cut the timing super close.  My editor wasn’t thrilled with me, but she pulled a rabbit out of her hat.  My beta reader pushed hard.  My narrator waited patiently.  Now the book is published and the audio is on pre-order.  I’m hoping readers love ex-soldier Ryan and shy, stuttering handyman Simeon as much as I do.  This is my longest book at nearly 100k words.  It’s, I think, one of my most emotional books.  At times, proofing the audio, I might’ve teared up.  It’s a love story, though, so guaranteed happy ending.

Okay, so that’s my story with this book.  As a thank you for having read that narrative. I’d like to offer up a prize.  I’ll happily give, to one lucky commenter, a copy of all three of my books so far in the series (Ginger Snapping All the Way, Stanley’s Christmas Redemption, and The Beauty of the Beast).  Just let me know your favorite Christmas romance – be it book, movie, or television episode.  One winner will be chosen by random.  Good luck and thanks Delilah!

Sleigh Bells and Second Chances

Feeling worthy of love is sometimes the hardest battle.

Ryan
The moment I landed in that war zone, I knew I’d made a big mistake. I wasn’t a soldier, and my good intentions almost got me killed. Being wounded and shipped back home to Canada was both a blessing and a curse. I’m safe now, but I can’t stop thinking of the men I left behind. My therapist claims Healing Horses Ranch will help heal my wounds—physical and mental—but I’m not sure how much tranquility and wholesome fresh air I can take. But then I meet a beautiful, shy man who makes moving forward seem almost possible. Can I let go of the past and reach for a future with Simeon?

Simeon
I’ve made peace with being different from the folks around me. I love my home in Mission City, and if anyone needs something fixed, I’m the guy they call. When the owner of the therapy ranch hires me for a big project, I’m excited to get started. I always work alone, but one of the patients keeps hanging around, and I can’t bear to send him on his way. I can see how much he’s hurting. If helping me helps him, that’s a win for us both. As we share the work, something about that wounded man draws me deeper and deeper in. I’m no therapist, and I have my own issues, so am I a fool to be thinking about a future with a guy who’s likely to leave once he’s healed?

Note: Sleigh Bells and Second Chances is a slow-burn, age-gap, hurt/comfort, mid-angst, gay romance novel with a shy handyman, a reckless former gamer, a precocious borrowed kid, and a therapy dog named Tiffany.

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
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey

***TRIGGER WARNING***
This post contains sensitive material that some readers may find disturbing.

I’m a South Louisiana girl, and we here are no strangers to hurricanes. In fact, one of our most famous adult beverages has that titular name. What has happened the last few weeks with Francine, Helene, and now, Milton is heartbreaking. The photos and videos are nothing until you’ve experienced one of them. There’s so much that the news doesn’t show and cannot capture. So, please allow me to share some things that may not be known about surviving a tropical storm or hurricane.

Yes, it is true, that with hurricanes, residents in their path have advanced warning if they listen to news stations. But this is only partially true. Hurricanes are unpredictable and can turn on a dime. They also can strengthen and weaken rapidly. Listen, it may seem logical to relocate if a hurricane is predicted to make landfall, but relocating takes money. Many people can’t afford it or have nowhere to go. Let me relay a story that happened during Katrina. I’m using names out of respect and for legal reasons.

Anyone who tracked Katrina will remember how it was all over the place, and it turned at the last minute. People who did evacuate, only took three days’ worth of clothes and essentials because they thought that would be all they needed. And by the time some people were told to evacuate, the roads were damn near impossible to travel due to bumper-to-bumper traffic. Who wants to be trapped on a highway during a storm? Hotels were booked and had jacked up their prices. Many of the gas stations had as well. Price gauging is the term for it.

But this is the story about one family. A woman, wife, and mother of three, worked at a business that refused to close. They told her that her attendance at work was necessary due to the kind of work she did, and if she didn’t come to work, she would be terminated. This woman had many years invested in the job, and for someone with her education, it was one of the better jobs she could get. Although not the breadwinner of her family, her income was necessary for her family, and the job provided benefits. At the time, Katrina was classified as a Category 2, but its status kept jumping. The business argued that its structure could withstand Category 3 hurricane winds.

The woman needed her job and elected to stay. Her husband refused to leave her. Therefore, he stocked up the home with supplies and made all the other necessary preparations to ride out the storm. When Katrina was upgraded to a Cat 5, many people who had planned to ride out the storm decided to leave. But then it was downgraded, and people changed their minds again and decided to stay. It eventually made landfall as a Cat 3. However, the surge and not the wind that caused the most damage. And many insurance companies found loopholes not to pay—saying water and flood damage wasn’t covered. But when your home has been leveled and washed out to sea, it’s hard to determine if it was knocked off its foundation by water or blown off by wind.

In any case, this woman went to work the day Katrina hit. And her employer was correct. The structure where she worked withstood the wind and most of the water. There was some flooding. And there were generators to help backup when power was loss; however, none of it mattered. I’ll explain in a minute.

The woman’s home, on the other hand, had flooded. Her husband took their children to the high level of their home, the attic, but it wasn’t high enough. One of the children was carried out by flood water. Her body was never recovered. The father and two other children were discovered clinging to each other. They’d drowned.

The day after the storm, when the destruction left by Katrina was visible in daylight, the business where the woman worked decided to relocate. Why? Because most of the town had been destroyed and there were no resources—no power, no gas, no phone (landline or cell) service, no running water. Temperatures were still in the 90s. So, no air conditioning. Grocery stores and pharmacies were closed. Hospitals were closed except for the most critical who could not be moved. Flood debris and sludge were everywhere, bringing all types of sanitation problems. Animals who had died in flood waters were unburied. It was unsafe to drive or walk down streets due to down powerlines.

I listened to this woman tell her story and cry over her choice. At the time, she thought she was making the best choice for her family. Had the storm not been as destructive and she’d been terminated as threatened, she likely would have lost her home in foreclosure and/or not been able to feed her children. She took the risk.

The point of this story isn’t to blame the woman. I don’t victim-shame, and yes, I believe she was a victim. I write this because I’ve been hearing many people on social media saying that what has happened to persons in the path of these latest hurricanes is their own fault and that they should have known better. But again, some people had nowhere to go. Oh, but there are shelters, right?

Sometimes, there are shelters. Shelters become full, too. Additionally, not all shelters are safe. Criminals and predators evacuate, too. New Orleans was looted because law enforcement had to get to safety, too. I remember hearing the threats of martial law due to conditions being so bad. When all the good people are gone, who’s left?

One coastal location had a marker where Hurricane Camille’s waters stopped. Well, Katrina went well beyond and took what Camille spared. People never imagined a storm worse than Camille’s. But each storm is different. Over-sensationalism by the media doesn’t help either. And if you think that doesn’t happen, think again. About a month after Katrina, the forecasters were all over the screens about a major storm with straight-line winds with over 80 mph gusts. Hearing this, schools and businesses closed as a precaution. There was a run on grocery stores and gas stations for supplies. Katrina traumatized people, especially the children. The day the storm hit, there were occasional gusts of twenty to thirty mph. Yes, it was windy, but nothing near what had been predicted. And the more these types of over-sensationalized reports happened, the more desensitized people became. This mistrust of news reports isn’t all unfounded.

Again, this post isn’t to point fingers at any person, business, or organization. It is a plea to view the people who have been affected by these storms with grace. It isn’t always as simple as choosing to leave. This post doesn’t come close to discussing the complexities of decision-making in the face of a storm.

1. If you want to help hurricane victims, please do research, and vet any organization before making any type of donation. Some organizations disburse very little of what is collected to victims. Much may go to administration. There are also fraudulent organizations that have no intention of helping victims.
2. Before donating, learn what types of donations are accepted. Some organizations will only accept cash. Thus, clothing and food donations made to these places may get thrown away.
3. If you can’t afford to make a cash donation, there are other ways to help. Manpower is always appreciated to help clean up areas as well as people who have and can use chainsaws. Cleaning products and detergents are also welcome. Items such as dog food, diapers, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products are generally needed but often overlooked. The one product I needed the most after Katrina was baking soda. The smell… I can’t communicate how bad the smell was, and I had food to spoil because I left the area. It was nearly a week before roads were opened to allow people to return. I remember two whole chickens had swollen and exploded in my freezer. I needed baking soda to help rid of the smell. (Remember, there was no running water during this time so I couldn’t scrub it out properly.)
4. Medical supplies such as bandages, rubbing alcohol, and antibiotic ointment are helpful. People get injured during these things but maybe not severe enough to be seen at a hospital or clinic. Yet, they need care. Consider making a blood donation for those who are more seriously injured.
5. And speaking of manpower and medical supplies, specialty skills are in high demand. Professionals like doctors, nurses, teachers, therapists, electricians, carpenters, etc., your services are needed.
6. It may seem insignificant, but a little goes a long way. Donate books, games, and toys. When storms hit, families can be displaced for weeks. This may be especially difficult for small children as they may not understand the situation. All they know is they aren’t at home, the adults are upset, and they have nothing to do to entertain themselves. Seeing a small smile on their child’s face can bring a parent so much peace.

A special shout out to the Cajun Navy who has been out there doing their thing. Bless each of you.

Organizations that are helping:

• American Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• Americares

That’s all a wrap. Was this post helpful? Do you think you’ll ever visit? Have you visited there? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.

Demon Rodeo

If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.

Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.

Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.

Order
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click here and sign up today.

Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

• Facebook: Genevive Chamblee
• X (formerly Twitter): @dolynesaidso
• Instagram: genevivechambleeauthor
• Goodreads: Genevive Chamblee
• Amazon Authors: Genevive Chamblee
• BookBub: Genevive Chamblee
• TikTok: CreolegurlNola
• Bluesky: Genevive Chamblee
• Threads: Author Genevive Chamblee

LOCKER ROOM LOVE

Locker Room Love Series

Are you searching for a sexy book boyfriend? You’ve come to the right place.

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.

For the first time ever, this eBook is free!