Yes, I know. We’ve talked about Gambler’s Folly before. But today I want to talk about something specific. Something that keeps popping up here and there that I don’t quite understand. Come with me for a moment!
From my point of view, Speranza, the capital city of the world Gambler’s Folly, is a metropolis. Think Las Vegas or Monte Carlo. Lights, crowds, restaurants, casinos, and luxury hotels to pamper you during your visit. Outside the city proper, the beaches are filled with vacationers, many of them wealthy. The dazzling white sand and the blue-violet water are a definite hit.
This world has been settled for quite a while. Long enough to be as advanced as any city on Earth. I mean, look at the USA. How long have Europeans been here? And look what all we’ve built in 250 years.
And yet, when people talk about Gambler’s Folly romances, they tend to speak in terms of “small town romance.”
Excuse me!
Would you consider Las Vegas a small town? Or Monte Carlo? I’m not sure where this comes from. Any city large enough to have a space port for those traveling to the planet could not be a small town.
What am I missing here?
Most of the books in the series begin in Speranza, as that is where visitors come in to Gambler’s Folly. Just like everywhere else, they have to pass through customs and immigration, pick up luggage, and catch transportation to their hotels. From there the stories diverge. Dam and Kari say in Speranza for the most part, though they take a trip down to Black Sands and out to the ski resorts.
Dmitri and Danni meet at the Interpol offices in Speranza. After their wedding, they drive up into the mountains, where Dmitri has a cabin, while they finish bonding as fated mates.
Again, Kort and Elizabeth meet on the way to Gambler’s Folly. Both are staying at the same hotel in Speranza until Fate chooses to make them fated mates. During their bonding they drive up to his lake house.
Everything revolves around Speranza, as a capital city. The first glimpse of the planet people see when visiting is the capital city.
So, how can this be a small town? And if you have thought of it as small, please drop me a comment and tell me why. It can be difficult, as the author of a book, to see the story from an outside point of view.
Haven’t read any of the series? Go on over to Amazon and choose your adventure. While the books are part of a series, they can be read alone, so pick the one that suits your mood.
Happy reading everyone!
And as always,
Don’t Forget…
…to Share the Romance…
Coming soon, with a little luck–Scotch and Soulmates!
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be a shifter, come with me! I decided when I was much younger, that if I were a shifter, I would be a black panther. And most of the time, as a human, nobody would know! I would have the enhanced senses of the great cat, giving me an advantage over the mundane humans around me. But at night, I could prowl the woods and the fence lines, run through the fields free as any a cat could be, but with all the knowledge and understanding of the human me.
Of course, that could just be me and my weird imagination.
So, when I began the Gambler’s Folly series, those were the shifters I wrote. The office worker keeping track of files, the law enforcement officer tracking down criminals, the photographer taking crime scene photos and working on her private portfolio, a billionaire vacationing on Gambler’s Folly after taking care of a business concern. And then there is the 500 year old ex-mercenary now Interpol agent who lost his soulmate 200 years ago, who has lost everyone he’s ever known to death, and isn’t interested in another relationship.
Meet them all on Gambler’s Folly!
GAMBLER’S FOLLY
A book.
A series.
A fantasy world.
Stories about love and fated mates, most of whom had given up hope of finding love. But on Gambler’s Folly, every love story is a gamble and Fate always deals the final hand.
Damiano won his wife on one turn of the cards. Neither of them had any idea they were fated mates until later. And then chaos reigned as they tried to take it all in.
Dante worked with Damiano and was one of his groomsmen in the wedding planned on Earth. He never thought he would find someone to love, but Fate was already shuffling the deck…
Dmitri had lived for over 500 years and had lost his fated mates 200 years ago. The pain was so great he had hunted alone ever since. He didn’t want or need a mate, but Fate disagreed. Very few ever get a second fated mate, but after 200 years, it was time.
Billionaire bear shifter, Kort Behrens, was unlucky in love. After 2 divorces, he had given up on a happy ending. So when he meets an old friend from his university days, he intends to simply help her get settled on her first trip to Gambler’s Folly. Nothing more. Fate, has other plans and the cards are turning up hearts…
GAMBLER’S FOLLY--a fantasy world where the rich come to relax, and Fate toys with people’s loves and lives. Gambler’s Folly, where every love story is a gamble and Fate always deals the final hand.
So what doI have for you this week? The latest release in my Gambler’s Folly series–OLD FLAME. For fans of fantasy romance, hunky shifters, luxury resorts, and fated mates. This is a story of emotional healing, second chances, friends to lovers fantasies, this is for you!
Kort is a billionaire CEO bear shifter who is twice divorced and has given up on love. Liz has been a widow for four years and isn’t ready to think about another relationship and isn’t sure she ever will be.
Fate puts them on the same flight to Gambler’s Folly and sparks they hadn’t felt thirty years ago when they were in university begin to flare. Neither of them is ready to admit to attraction. Kort thinks Li won’t want a relationship, only friendship. Liz is positive that someone in Kort’s position couldn’t possibly be interested in someone of her humble background.
But you know how Fate likes to play with the shifters on Gambler’s Folly.
Come with me and join the excitement as these two old friends become Fated Mates, with a bit of humor and a suspense along the way.
How about a Russian wolf shifter who is over 500 years old? Who lost is soulmate 200 years ago and is afraid of relationships?
THE RUSSIAN, Book 3 in the Gambler’s Folly series. A definite age gap here. He was on planet for work, as part of Interpol’s Special Division. She worked in the back office. In her mid twenties, she was balancing her work with taking care of her mother. She didn’t have time for a relationship.
But this is Gambler’s Folly, and you know how Fate likes to play with the lives of the shifters there. Come read Dmitri and Danni’s story. A fated mate, love at first sight romance, with old secret deals coming to light and threatening to take away this new soulmate of Dmitri’s.
And on the other hand, we have Too Many Talents. Viviane had trouble with her training, ever since she nearly killed her brother at his trial. She had never wanted psychic or paranormal abilities, but couldn’t find a way to get rid of them.
Her young nephew, Connell, had is own problems back in her home clan. Since her brother had been cast out, Connell had been chosen to train as heir to the clan in his place. He didn’t understand why the Talents were necessary. He hated the headaches. And he just wanted to return to a settled, uncomplicated life.
Come with me to Esperance as these two strive to master abilities that seem to have a mind of their own at times. We’ll laugh at some of their mishaps, cry with them at others, and there’s a surprise for Viviane at the end. Something she’s hoped for since she came to Clan Brannach.
Sale begins today–Monday, Sept. 14 and lasts through Saturday, Sept. 19. Get The Russian or Too Many Talents for only 99 Cents each!
Dante’s Angel is Book 2 in the Gambler’s Folly series. I hadn’t originally planned for a series. It was going to be one stand alone book to play with the idea of a man winning his wife in a card game. But I ended up writing a shifters romance set on a resort world, complete with a dark underworld and Interpol… The characters took over and wrote their own story.
But one of the minor characters in Book 1 intrigued me a little. I liked Dante. He was a younger member of the team and always seemed to be over shadowed by the others. He got the job of watching over Kari’s meals when someone tried to poison her. His team mates left him out in the rain to guard the door, saying ti was fine. He was shifted and wouldn’t mind the weather…
But he seemed like a sweet guy, a little shy, and working his way up through the ranks in Interpol. Maybe I could just write a little bit about him. What would it hurt?
First, where did he come from? Most of the other members of the team were originally from Earth. But Gambler’s Folly had been settled for a few centuries at this point. Maybe he was a native. And he met the others through Interpol. Part of what he brought to the team was home world connections. He knew the ins and outs of the place like none of them ever could. It was great for local intel.
But what about a girlfriend? He was a shifter. And in the first book we explored the concept of fated mates. What if Dante found his mate? Dam and Kari were leaving to go to Earth for their formal wedding. Surely hey would bring their friends along for the wedding. And they could include Dante.
Wouldn’t it be fun if he met someone on Earth who was his fated mate?
More fun if she was one of Damiano’s relatives…
And once again, the characters took over the story, with all its twists and turns. And the story of Dante’s Angel was born. The title came from his fated mate’s name–Angela.
So Dante was developed, complete with a family background. Immigrants originally from Sicily, but Dante was born on Gambler’s Folly. A panther shifter like Dam, Marco and Paulo, he goes full angry cat when his fated mate is threatened.
Come along with me to Italy for the wedding! It’ll be fun!
And you can save money if you go this week… Dante’s Angel is on sale for only $0.99 through Saturday!
Dante was a minor character in Gambler’s Folly Book 1. After I had finished the first book, I felt a little sorry that Dante hadn’t had more time. He seemed like a sweet guy, but maybe a little lost. So I decided to write his story.
As part of Damiano’s team, he was headed to Earth for Dam and Kari’s big church wedding for the family. To be honest, he was a little jealous of Dam’s good fortune. The guy seemed to have everything going for him and now he’d found his soulmate, his fated mate. Dante got anxious and tongue-tied around women. How was he ever going to find someone to love?
Be careful what you ask for! Once on Earth, at a family dinner, he meets Damiano’s cousin, Angela. Their first exchange is a bit confrontational. But when they accidentally meet in the olive grove later in the evening, they make a discovery that will throw all the wedding plans and their lives into complete chaos.
Join me in Italy for DANTE’S ANGEL. On sale Sept.7 through Sept. 12 for only $0.99!
Yes, MORGAN--The Pixie and the Green Man goes back to its regular price after Saturday, Sept. 5. But there’s still time to get your copy for only $0.99! And with the long holiday weekend coming up, you’ll have plenty of time to get to Esperance, learn about Morgan and James, and get in a little relaxation.
Morgan was one of the young women who volunteered to come to Clan Brannach from her home clan when Jareth came to demand restitution in Book 1 of the series, Jareth First Lord. But soon after her arrival, she was attacked and feared for her life until two young men came to her rescue.
One of those young men was James Ferguson, son of the local lumber yard owner. He fell in love with her the moment he saw here there, covered in mud, clothes torn, and face a downpour of tears. He knew he must become better acquainted with her, but didn’t want to rush. So he took his time and gave her some space.
When he eventually approached her, she politely refused. Being persistent, he finally gained a little bit of trust. Enough for her to agree to a cup of tea at least.
Their courtship progressed at a snail’s pace, but he was a patient man. She was scared and not at all sure about relationships.
The way things go on Esperance, trouble soon reared its head, leading them to a rushed wedding and disappearing act to avoid danger coming their way. Up the mountain and into the forest, where James’ link to the forest was strong.
A young woman trying to find a safe haven in a new clan, once again the subject of abuse. A young man who fell in love when he first saw her, chose to bide his time to give her some space, all while the two of them deal with the memories of past relationships gone wrong.
James’ family is a leading family in the clan and owns the lumberyard. But they have a special relationship with the forest. One that makes people a little uncomfortable. Morgan is amazed when she is first shown his Talents and nicknames him the Green Man. And that Talent of his is a lifesaver later, quite literally, when they are being hunted through the forest.
Come to Esperance for a little magic, some fantasy, intrigue, folklore, and of course, Romance…
The sale is from September 1 through September 5, so get ready! A full novel for only $0.99. Less than a cup of coffee. Available at Amazon and most other retailers.
It’s a wet and rainy Thursday here, so I thought I would share one of my worlds with you. I don’t know how much you know about this series, so come with me and learn more!
Esperance was settle from Earth after it was discovered by the Seekers looking for habitable worlds to colonize. These individuals had psychic abilities that allowed them to explore the universe without leaving Earth.
At first everything was great. The world was lush, in a British Isles sort of way, with a lot of highland type environments in the more temperate regions. Earth supplied them with whatever they couldn’t yet produce on their own, while they got established. But when those shipments suddenly stopped, the young colony was at a loss. Not only could they not repair equipment which broke down, when a new virus swept through, they had no medicines to fight it. Over half the colony perished.
Those left were scattered and developed an “every man for himself” attitude, taking even more of a toll on their civilization, or what was left of it. But during their years on Esperance, descendants of the Seekers who had come with them had continued to develop their abilities. To safe the settlers fro themselves, they used those abilities to force a rule of law back onto their society. Dividing into clans, each family with the abilities or Talents to hold their clan together gave their name to their clan.
A few centuries later we come to Clan Brannach, ruled by the latest in the lineage, Jareth, the First Lord of the clan. The neighboring clan is Clan Belfort, which is where our story begins.
Jareth is a young ruler, widowed and with no heir as his wife died in childbirth. It has been two years, but he’s not sure he’s ready to seek another woman to be his First Lady. On top of this, thieving parties from Clan Belfort have been stealing from his storehouses. As harsh as the winter is, his people will be seriously short of food and grains if it isn’t stopped. Though he has communicated with the other First Lord, he has heard nothing. It seems the only way to settle it is to make a trip through the ice and snow to demand restitution in person.
Viviane is a young widow in Clan Belfort. Though her family begs her to come back home, she has gotten used to being independent. But without a means of support, once the stock in her late husband’s shop is gone, she needs another option. She had never considered it would come from another clan.
As part of the restitution and penalties, Jareth demands his rights under an old law–the right of Choosing. He can clam up to 10% of the women of marriageable age to take back to his clan. When the women are gathered, one catches his eye. Then and there he decides she will be his First Lady, if he can win her heart. But she has a secret which threatens to throw their clans into armed conflict.
Picking up the story from book 1, Viviane begins to settle in to the routine in Jareth’s house. But these new abilities she seems to be developing have worried Jareth. Once tested for Talents, both Jareth and his head instructor agree. She must begin training at once before all those abilities get out of hand. She never asked for these Talents and doesn’t want the. But it seems once they appear there is no going back.
The headaches are monstrous and the medicine to tame their is horrible, but her companion, Annie does her best to sympathize with her. At least she and Jareth are doing well together. And all those Talents tend to lead to some exciting times behind closed doors! Between his Talents as First Lord and her surprise Talents, tings heat up rather quickly.
Unfortunately they have to go back to her home clan for her brother’s trial for treason, which is where trouble raises its head. In anger, she uses her Talents to lash out at her brother when he attempts to influence her through his mental abilities. Realizing what she’s done, she disappears fight in front of Jareth’s eyes, meaning she has even more Talents to worry him. Now if he can just find her…
When Jareth went to Clan Belfort to confront the First Lord there in Book 1, Morgan volunteered to go to Clan Brannach and leave her homeland. From an abusive background where it seemed every man in her life had hurt her in one way or another, she hoped for a fresh start. But shortly after the move she is attacked on her daily rounds and very nearly raped, saved only by two young men who heard her cries. She was offered another jog in a market, where she wouldn’t have to be anywhere alone. The couple who owned the store were older and quite protective.
One day a young man came in to buy something for a snack. She remembered him from her previous ordeal. He had come to her rescue several months previous. He introduced himself, asked for he items he wanted, and threw a mischievous smile her way on parting. Soon his visits became daily as did his invitations for coffee of tea.
Finally, Mrs. Kennoway, her employer, asked why she never accepted his invitations, to which she answered she couldn’t. Fear of men wouldn’t let her go, even across the street. But James came up with a solution. He brought coffee and scones over to the market, along with a cafe table and chairs from in front and invited her to sit down for tea.
Come with me as these two navigate the perilous waters of romance on this fantastic world. Be prepared for magical abilities, spirit guides, and a bit of folklore!
After her traumatic experience at her brother’s trial, Viviane wants to banish her Talents. Maybe if she doesn’t train them they’ll just go away. Even with Jareth and her instructors explaining why it won’t work, she trains reluctantly feeling that the less she trains them the less danger they will present.
Unfortunately her trainers are right. After a few accidents involving her Talents she relents.Digging deep, she finally agrees to give it her all, even when frustrations get her down, leading to a bizarre game of tag in the snow and the weirdest chess game ever.
Meanwhile, in her home clan, Belfort, her nephew, Connell, is beginning to train his Talents as he steps in as heir to the ruling house. He doesn’t understand why Talents are necessary and he doesn’t like the headaches he gets during training. When his grandfather, the First Lord, suggests he reach out to his Aunt Viviane telepathically, he is amazed. How could they communicate from so far away?
His Aunt Viv was one of his favorite people. But her husband, First Lord Jareth, scared him half to death. The man had never been cruel or harsh toward him. He had tried to reach out and speak with Connell. It was just the incredible amount of energy swirling around him, which seemed scarcely contained at times.
Connell also has difficulties controlling his Talents. And when on of his old friends from home hurts a young girl who is his friend, his anger and need to talk to someone who might understand unexpectedly lands him in Jareth’s front hall. He had no idea how he’d arrived there and was even less certain about how to get home.
Come join the fun and games on Esperance. Another book is in progress, so catch up on the series before its release.
I hope this gives you a little overview of my world Esperance. It’s a great place to visit and dream about Talents and magic.
