I’ve joined forces with Romance Devoured and nine other Bestselling Romance Authors to bring you an amazing giveaway! The best part? EVERYONE WINS!
Everyone who enters will automatically receive all 10 books free! And one lucky winner will also get a Bookish Boutique tshirt. How cool is that? Almost like a gift from your favorite romance hero!
I’ve joined forces with Romance Devoured and nine other Bestselling Romance Authors to bring you an amazing giveaway! The best part? EVERYONE WINS!
Everyone who enters will automatically receive all 9 books free! And one lucky winner will also get a Bookish Boutique tshirt. How cool is that? Almost like a gift from your favorite romance hero!
by Anya Summers (Silver Springs Ranch, #4) Publication date: July 27th 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
Widowed single dad Noah needs help in the worst way. He’s desperate to find a new live-in nanny to care for his four-year-old twins while he’s at work in the stables. Ever since his wife died, he has lived like a monk. What with raising two boys solo and working as the horse master for Silver Springs Ranch, there hasn’t been time in his life for things like finding a willing bed partner to slake his dark needs.
When the achingly beautiful Morgan appears on his doorstep inquiring about the job, he doesn’t think twice about hiring her. He snaps her up before she discovers his boys are little hellions who have driven the last few nannies away over their antics.
And yet, for the first time in three years, since he buried his heart in the ground, Noah is entranced by naughty visions of the new nanny. She’s young, full of enthusiasm, and stirs up every wicked fantasy in his arsenal.
He prays he has the fortitude to resist her delectable charms because she’s forbidden. At his age, he can’t sleep with, let alone crave, a woman fresh out of college. But she keeps casting sexy glances suffused with desire in his direction, battering his resolve to stay away. She’s headstrong, and he aches to exert his dominance.
Will he wave the white flag, and surrender to her naughty whispered pleas?
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.
Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.
State your name for this Interview and your Genre(s) and please at the bottom let people know your list of social media links where you can be found.
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a Writer/Author? At about ten years old, I realized writing books was a “Thing” that people could do. Once I knew it was a profession, I wanted to be someone who could become an author.
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
I can do the first Rough Draft (about 10k) in a day if I have it stewing in my head. To the finished, ready to “go live” is anywhere from four to eight weeks.
3. What is your work/home schedule like when your writing?
Depends. If I am homeschooling, then up around nine/ten, do homeschool, social media, housework/dinner, time with hubby, then at about ten pm. I write/edit for four to five hours. I always write at night, in a quiet house. I sometimes write during the day but it’s harder.
4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I can’t have something that I “must” do hanging over my head. It drives me mad until I go do it first. Then I must have relative quiet. I must have little to no interruptions, and I write on my laptop only. I have a couple of laptops so I always have one to use. This is why I usually write at night. Nothing else on my mind.
5. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
My ideas: Well, I have eleven children, twelve unofficially, so life offers plenty of examples of things. I will hear something in the news, or anywhere, really, and immediately a story will start to form in my mind. I have more ideas than I will ever write and that’s just fun.
6. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
READ, watch home improvement shows, READ, mystery programs, READ, travel, READ, enjoy my family/genealogy… did I say READ?
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
A few things have surprised me on this journey. That people really read what I write. I want fire in my women and am rarely satisfied in what I read or write unless I have it. I have found that I have a distinctive “voice” and that I can write more than one subgenre. I thought I was just a Regency Era writer, but I write all kinds, and can pull it off well enough to sell books. That’s amazing to me.
8. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have written 54 books but they aren’t all published yet. I love the cowboy books but I think one of my favorites is Taming Texanna. Cowboy stories just pour out but this one, an American Historical, was harder than the others and I loved it.
9. Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a Writer/Author? If so, what are they?
Be prepared for hard work and let the writing be it’s own reward because it takes a while to build up your fan base. Do not get into writing to make money. Do it for the love of creating a story.
10. What do you think makes a good story?
1. Engaging Characters you can “see” while you read. They draw you in. Use all the emotions. 2. Next is PLOT. I want my characters to be living a life you believe they could. 3. A steady movement of the story. Let it ebb and flow evenly with dramatic peaks and rolling valleys. 4. A solid HEA. If they question the HEA, you have disappointed a romance reader.
Thank you, for taking the time to do this interview. If anything you would like to add please do so. Happy Writing,
Well February will certainly go down in Texas history! I left Alaska to retire in Texas especially for the less dramatic winters and what happens? We get down to -4 degrees in a winter storm. I can guarantee you I never thought I’d see that in NE Texas! And it snowed twice! Many years Texas never sees snow!
Last week it was as high as 80 degrees and melting this author into a puddle. Weather Whiplash!
Anyway, despite the excitement of broken water pipes, loss of electricity, and taking out my “Alaska” clothes from the back of the closet, the month is gone and I have no idea where it went!
But, regardless of the craziness of the month’s weather, I was able to put out book 3 of Safe and Secure, Saving Ivy.
First, she stole his heart and left him bleeding, then she stole from the Mob. Now he is the only one who can save her. If he will.
Passions burn hot when Kaden rescues Ivy from kidnappers, but she leaves without a word when her fears overcome her. Amid new chaos, Ivy reappears with the mob on her tail and nowhere to run but to Kaden. He will protect her.
It has been a year since sexy as sin, heiress Ivy Linton made the mistake of leaving Kaden’s protection and his bed. When a someone wants her dead or alive, she rushes to the only man who can rock her world and keep her safe.
Kaden ignored his instincts and was too gentle the first time, but he won’t make that mistake again. He wants all of Ivy, and he won’t accept less. To keep her safe, she must agree to his rules and follow his commands, in and out of bed, or there will be consequences. The price is high, and he wants her first payment upfront.
Kaden shook his head as he pulled Ivy into his arms. “Hush, sweetheart. I don’t have a girlfriend. Why would I when I was waiting for you to figure out you belong right here in my arms?”
“Really?” She had to see his face. “You haven’t moved on? You still want me? After I left for so long?”
“Oh, I still want you, but do you want me? You chose to leave without talking. And you need to realize the rules governing my life haven’t changed. My expectations are what they were when you met me and when you walked away from me.”
“But not because we weren’t good together. I left to find out how I really felt about my whole life. Rules?” but she could feel her face heating up. “I’m not sure I remember any rules.”
“Ivy, you know there are things important in my life. I live by certain rules, and you did too. I’ll refresh your memory later. For now, are you coming back to stay, play, or just passing through?”
“That isn’t what I did, Kaden. I wasn’t just playing around. I needed the space.”
“From us?”
“From everything.
“I’m glad you understood when you needed to take a step back to think about those things, but I expected better. We deserved better. There should have been a real conversation, not a bolt to the nearest exit.”
“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t know how to tell you. I couldn’t explain my feelings because I didn’t understand them myself. I panicked.”
“If I take you back now, you have to agree to my way of handling things.”
“Kaden, I can take care of myself. A relationship with you doesn’t mean I’m giving up my autonomy.”
He smiled and hugged her tight again. “Good, because I don’t want a clingy woman in my life, but when I say something is for your safety or health, you will have to trust me.”
“You mean if I don’t see the health or safety hazard myself.”
“I mean, if I say there is a problem, you believe me.”
“Of course. When have I not listened?”
“Montana? Here, last year, when I said I knew there was a problem and going home wasn’t safe. Sharlee offered her home, you accepted then disappeared. We tracked you until you got home but do you know what that did to me?”
Ivy shook her head. “Not then, but as I figured things out in my mind, I realized what happened. I was scared.” She hoped her expression showed how she’d beg for his forgiveness if necessary.
Kaden brushed Ivy’s wind tousled hair away from her face. She ached at the seriousness of the man she knew she loved. “When you’re confused or have questions, you aren’t going to run off and hide; you will come talk to me.” Not a question.
“Yes.”
“And I’m the boss when one is needed.”
“Oh, but… Um, okay. That’s acceptable.”
Kaden cocked his head to the side and openly scrutinized Ivy. “You don’t sound sure.”
“I am. It’s just a big step. I like to be my own boss, but I miss you so much it hurts. I want to agree with your way of doing things, but I’m afraid I don’t know how to let go. What if I can’t?”
“Ivy, do you want to be with me?”
Ivy’s shoulder muscles, held tight, seemed to tighten even more. “Isn’t that what I’ve been saying? But what if I can’t be all you want?”
“Is that a formal commitment? Because I want you, but I’ve already gone through the pain of losing you once. I won’t do it again.” He pulled back to stare into Ivy’s face.
“I suppose I am if there is an “us.”
“Oh, there’s an “us” sweetheart. It has taken you a while to work it out, but there has always been an us. You’ve just been on a long hiatus but no more, understand? I need you in my life every day, not just when it’s convenient. If you stay, there is no leaving. We will move heaven and earth to make this relationship work. I’m in for the long haul. If you stay, so are you.”
The fearful uncertainty vanished in the wake of Ivy’s growing annoyance. “I told you. I didn’t leave you because it was convenient. Nothing in my life has been convenient in the last year and a half. Don’t be such an ass.”
Kaden threw his head back and laughed without restraint. “I have missed you, honey.”
The irritation melted away in a smile. “I’ve missed you, too.”
His head swooped closer and warm kisses tickled Ivy’s lips. Gentle pressure gave way to a deeper, probing kiss, his tongue showing a slight impatience to enter her warmth. Before his libido was too high and his control was gone, he lifted his head.
“And you are due one whopper of a spanking for leaving me hanging for so long.”
This is the 3rd book in the series and I had a blast writing it. It took me two weeks longer than I had hoped but that’s fine, I love how it turned out. I hope you do too!
Kaden was perfect for super-rich, too spoiled Ivy Linton. When Kaden rescued Ivy and then took her home, it was soon obvious to all that they were falling in love. Soon, however, the realities of the dangerous nature of his job frightened her. Her own crazy life was already scary enough, so Ivy left one evening without a word. She struggled to overcome the nightmares, the loneliness, and the loss of the only man she had ever loved. Now, a year later, the old worries were gone, but new troubles have emerged. Her mother is married to a mob boss, his second in command wants her, and she witnessed him commit murder. So, what should she do? Steal important information for life insurance and run like hell to the only safe person she knows.
Ivy was surrounded by trouble, but that’s what he was trained to deal with in the military and now with Reynaud and Associates. So when Ivy left without a word a year ago, he was crushed but let her go expecting her to return. She didn’t, until now. Amid the chaos of a bombing, his girl shows up full of secrets and the Mob on her tail, but she can still rock his world with a look. He was too gentle the first time. Now he must take control if he is going to keep her safe. And this time, he would make sure she stayed.
Kaden spoke his tone heavy with censorship. “So, you dated—”
“No, I hung out with JJ. We never dated. He often dropped by the gaming room, and I would end up leaving because they got caught up in something or other, and he would tell me to go home. I did because I wasn’t interested in what they were doing. After a few weeks, it became obvious that my first impressions were right. JJ was nice enough, but he forgot about me easily. I could have murdered someone, and he wouldn’t have known. Not like…” she stopped talking, but Kaden knew what she had been about to say. “Why are you grilling me?”
Kaden ignored the last question. “He didn’t pay attention to you like I did.”
“Yes.” The air was still. “Look, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I’m not ready for this. Being with you is… intense.”
Kaden reached over and touched her cheek, sliding his fingers down her smooth skin. “Yes, you are, sweetheart. You’ve taken the first, hardest step. The rest will be easier.”
“Promises, promises.”
Her attempt at being jovial fell flat when the desperation in her eyes met his searching ones. He nodded an unvoiced decision and stood with determination.
“I’m going to feed you, spank you, and then bed you. Do you have any objections?”
His eyebrow quirked, daring her to disagree. Heat pooled in Ivy’s eyes, and he imagined her core was feeling the tension as well. Watching her squirm reminded him of when she would rub her legs together to relieve the tingle. Her lips tipped up on one side.
“We can skip dinner and the rest,” her voice seductively hopeful.
Kaden laughed. “I think you’ve been skipping too many dinners lately, woman, and I intend you don’t skip too many more. And the spanking is something you need. We both do.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “I’ll ravage you soon enough. You owe me a helluva lot of makeup.”
He took her lips with his, falling into the kiss, drawing sweet nectar from them. As the caress deepened, Kaden drew back with a moan of reluctance. Ivy released a sigh as her answering protest.
Saving Sharlee: She has been always safe in her secret world, but once she is exposed, will she ever be safe again?#military #Secrets #Love
Saving Jessie: What could she do but comply with their demands?#International #betrayal #military #love
Saving Ivy: Leaving him devastated her; returning could destroy him, but she had no choice. #mafia #military
SAFE AND SECURE SERIES Summary
Reynaud and Associates are the answer in a world where it is difficult to distinguish between good and evil. Prior military, these teams, assembled by Jacquard Reynaud, are trained, intelligent, experienced and deadly, choosing to do what is right in a world where too many things have gone wrong.
Along the way, they find their own happily ever after.
Book 1-Jac: The leader of this elite group of men recruits the best and accepts no less. He just needs a little softening around the edges. When cyber queen Sharlee joins the team, the rules change drastically.
Book 2-Mark: He is dark inside and out. His methods are calculated and deadly. He can’t break out of his protective cocoon, but Jessie can break-in.
Book 3-Kaden: Hardware guru, and night operative, he does his best work at night. Secrets and his past keep him from moving on until Ivy, who has more secrets than he does.
Book 4- Monroe: Organized to a fault, he has his life planned, and it doesn’t include a permanent relationship: until Mallory.
Book 5-Garrett: Jac’s second is hard and analytical, and his last lover has jaded all of his perceptions. He needs what he can’t have, Callie. Coming Soon.
Book 6 – Carter: The size of a small country and the best strategist on the ground, he thinks on his feet with confidence and decisiveness. With Becky, however, he can’t seem to find his bearings.
Book 7-Levi: Handsome, fancy-free, he loves to work, and he loves to play. Life is one big carnival until he changes teams and meets prior Marine turned nanny Finley. Suddenly, he’s playing for keeps.
We did Halloween, indulged at Thanksgiving, and now we are settling in for Christmas and the New Year.
I wanted to say that I have had the same year most of us have had, unpredictable, but looking back on it, we got through it. Yes, we are a little ragged about the edges, worn more in places than this time last year, but overall, I have to be thankful for my health, my safety and those that I love dearest. What more can I ask?
As always, things here and across the world will continue to change, I’ll write, read, pray, and laugh with you and be proud to do so.
This isn’t going to be a big anything but simply know, from the bottom of my heart, I cherish the time you spend with me and I with you. The fellowship, the bonding, the angst, and the joy. Thank you for hanging out with me through the trying times and laughing with me through the happiness.
Our tears have melded to create a friendship I hope we are ever mindful of how fragile and precious that can be, especially in these times.
May you find blessings at every turn, sorrow you share, and happiness you expound.
Make no mistake, there is plenty of evidence behind this RWA Banning of Blushing Books but I encourage you to ask around to other authors who have published with this company and any other publishing companies owned and operated by the same owner. Ask for advise and, if they want to share, their personal accounts of dealing with BB or any of their other publishing companies under ABCD Graphics and Design. Do the research on any publisher you would like to do business with. I didn’t.
I was worried about indie-publishing outside a group but 8 months after I left this company and took my future books with me I can say I am beginning to realize the quick potential of exponentially increasing my profits while lowering my stress and keeping ALL my rights.
Not all publishing companies are like this one.
I leave this notice here for your edification. Remember, EYES WIDE OPEN.
Below notice was copied in it’s entirety from RWA.
Notice Regarding Blushing Books
On June 12, 2019, Blushing Books was placed on six-month probation from RWA’s Qualifying Markets list for violating the sections of RWA’s Industry Code of Conduct that state:
Honesty and Integrity. An Industry Professional shall perform his/her duties with honesty and integrity. The Industry Professional shall not mislead, deceive, dupe, defraud or victimize clients, members of the organization, the general public, or any person with whom RWA does business as an Association.
Information. An Industry Professional shall keep each author apprised of all matters relating to their agreements and promptly respond to the author’s reasonable requests for information.
On September 23, 2020 RWA reached out to the publisher to request information on the steps taken to resolve the Industry Code violations and to request an updated boilerplate contract to determine if the contract met our standards to be included on the Qualifying Markets list. RWA received no response for 60 days. As a result, Blushing Books has been banned from the Qualifying Markets list for a minimum of three years. They will not be able to participate in RWA events or publications during this time. Pursuant to RWA Policy, Blushing Books may reapply for inclusion on the Qualifying Markets list after three years, provided that the prior Industry Code violation and any Code of Ethics violation(s) have been dealt with to RWA’s satisfaction and that no other violations have occurred in the interim.
Because RWA was in a period of significant transition in 2020 and a review of the publisher’s probationary status was not undertaken in December of 2019 as it should have been, RWA considers this ban to be effective retroactively as of December 12, 2019, making the expiration of the three-year period be on December 12, 2022.
Blushing Books was notified of the above on December 4, 2020.
Alyssa Bailey 