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.
You know how it is. You go away for a week and it takes you two at least to get everything at home running smoothly again. But I think I’m about there. Maybe…
I’ve been working more on Scotch and Soulmates. I want to get it done as soon as I can so it can be ready for the holidays. No promises, but I’m hoping.
So what are you reading tonight? If you’re waiting for Paul and Sophia to make an appearance. have you read the rest of the books from Gambler’s Folly? How about a little preview of the series?
Gambler’s Folly is a futuristic world out in the galaxy. A pleasure center, it has everything you might want–mountain chalets, peaceful lake houses, white sandy–or black sandy–beaches with blue-violet water. Sunlight that is a little paler yellow than the sunlight on Earth. And in the capital city of Speranza, you will find luxury hotels, upscale casinos with formal dining rooms, dance floors, and 5-star cuisine.
Most of those who come to Gambler’s Folly are mundanes, non-shifters. But due to Interpol’s Special Division, quite a few of those in law enforcement are shifters of various sorts. The owner of the Stella d’Oro luxury hotel chain, Damiano Leone, is a leopard shifter, as is his wife and soulmate, Karianna. You’ll find them in most of the books, as their hotel dining room has become a meeting place for the MC’s in the series. And not only is Damiano part of the underworld syndicate, he is an agent with Interpol, a fact most don’t realize.
With all the shifters coming and going to Gambler’s Folly, it is inevitable that several have found their fated mates there, leading to the idea that on this world every love story is a gamble and Fate always deals the final hand.
Gambler’s Folly, the first book in the series, sets the scene and the tone of the series. Brought to life after I heard a song about a man winning his wife in a card game, I tried to figure out how that could happen in the modern world. And Damiano and Karianna were born. She and her first husband came to this world to work on their marriage, only he had a gambling problem. Offered a choice to get out from under his debt at the Stella d’Oro, he takes the offer. One hand of cards. Win or lose, his debt with them is cleared and he has passage back to Earth. But if he loses, he signs divorce papers and Karianna becomes Damiano’s property. When his hand is a queen high straight, he thought he had it made. But when the other hand is a royal flush, he signs papers and says goodbye, only to be murdered on his way to the space port.
Damiano is furious. He had nothing to do with the murder, but convincing his new wife of this fact is proving difficult. And she is not used to being out in the limelight. As the owner of the Stella d’Oro and one of the most powerful members of the syndicate, he is used to it. And then they discover they are Fated Mates. Let the games begin.
All the MCs in the series are shifters.Dante’s Angel is once again leopards, as Dam and Kari head to Earth for the family’s formal wedding for them. Dante, who works with Damiano, is in the wedding party, but he’s a little nervous. He’s never been off his home world and he’s kind of shy around women. This all changes when he meets Damiano’s cousin, Angela. How could anyone know a jealous ex would show up or that Dante would have to fight a duel before the wedding?
Next we have The Russian, Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov, and Danni. He’s a dire wolf shifter and over 500 years old. He lost his soulmate 200 years ago and has avoided relationships ever since. But he hadn’t reckoned on Gambler’s Folly. Danni is in her early twenty’s, works for Interpol in the office, and is trying to make ends meet while taking care of her mother, who has been ill. There is also a jealous not-quite-ex of hers who has the idea she is his to claim. She has no time for relationships. Fate disagrees. Talk about an age gap…
What’s next?Old Flame! Elizabeth has been a widow for four years and lives alone with her cat, Puzzle. She has her Reiki clients to talk to, but otherwise, she stays home, taking her time to heal. She doubts she’ll ever seek another relationship. While she had been married for thirty years or so, there had always been something missing. Kort is a billionaire and a bear shifter. Twice divorced and a string of gold diggers later, he has given up on ever finding true love. Elizabeth’s family gifts her a vacation package to Gambler’s Folly, which she can’t comfortably refuse. On the way there, she runs into Kort, who she had known in university and hadn’t seen since. Fate is already dealing the hand and setting up their second chance for romance.
So if you’re ready for a shifter romance, on a futuristic world, with oh so much more–intrigue, jealous exes, underworld mob connections, emotional healing–come to Gambler’s Folly! Come on… You need a vacation.
Have a wonderful weekend and watch for sales starting in September!
If you need a vacation, don’t forget that crazy world, Gambler’s Folly. You know, the world where every love story is a gamble and Fate always deals the final hand.
GAMBLER’S FOLLY A book. A series. A fantasy world… …full of shifters in law enforcement, double lives, fated mates, intrigue, and romance. Join me!
A world where luxury is the norm, nature has its own unique signatures, and you can enjoy everything from the blue-violet waters and white sandy beaches to private mountain retreats.
But there is an underside to this world as well, which is why our team of shifters are present. They keep an eye out for contraband moving between worlds, some from Earth’s side of things, others from Gambler’s Folly. And some with secet lives.
Of course, Fate loves to get in on the action by bringing fated mates together and spreading chaos through the ranks. But they’re getting used to it in Speranza.
Come join me for a long relaxing holiday. You deserve it!
You read that correctly! All my books, under both pen names are FREE today only over at Smashwords!It’s the last day of their Summer/Winter sale, so I’ve decided to gift my books to anyone who has been hesitating to give them a try.
You have nothing to lose. They’re FREE!
Choose from my book series if you like fantasy romance mixed with a little psychic ability or shifters– Esperance or Gambler’s Folly, including Old Flame!
Or get Lady Calloway and Master of the Fleet if you’re a fan of alternate reality, fantasy romance, moral conflict, magic, or psychic abilities–both cross-genre stories.
Maybe you’re in the mood for some lighter reading. Whiskey Jug Genie and Moonlight and Shadows are FREE a well! Choose Whiskey Jug Genie for a humorous novel featuring a redneck genie, who after being in an old jug for 200 years finds himself in modern London. Choose Moonlight and Shadows for a short paranormal story set in the high country of Wyoming, with a bit of mystery and suspense.
But remember, this is for the rest of the day only! If you don’t grab your copies now, you’ll miss your opportunity to get any of my books–or all of them–for FREE! So go on over, take a look at what is available, make your choice, and settle in for a weekend of reading. What better way to start a new month?
Welcome to one of my favorite vacation spots! Gambler’s Folly!
So where did it all begin?
My husband and I like to listen to folk music at times, and one day the song South Coast came on, which started me thinking about the circumstances outlined in it. The song tells of a man winning his wife in a card game, which isn’t something you hear about every day. Of course, it was set in a world a long time ago, back when Baja California was a much wilder place.
How could something like that happen in the modern age? Winning a wife in a card game… Hmm… How about a fantasy world, futuristic, where the normal rules on Earth don’t necessarily apply. Where a man known as the Prince of the Underworld can make things happen, or people disappear. Who also has more than one secret in his life, one being his shifter abilities as a black leopard.
Maybe his name is Damiano, and he owns a chain of luxury hotels and casinos, and someone owes him a lot of money from gambling. A man who has a beautiful wife named Karianna who could be in danger, if others come after him for debts. How can he get his money back and keep the woman safe?
It’s Gambler’s Folly, and a game of chance with life changing stakes seems the way to go. One turn of the cards and his debt is forgiven. If he wins, he keeps the woman, leaves the planet, and never comes back. Lose, and he casino owner keeps the woman, the man leaves, and never comes back, all debts forgive.
The cards are dealt. The debtor turns over a Queen high straight and thinks he’s going to leave with his wife.
The owner’s representative turns over a royal flush.
What nobody understood was that Fate was also playing. And when it comes to love stories onGambler’s Folly, Fate always deals the final hand.
So this book, Gambler’s Folly, began the series. Imagine a world where normal everyday people can buy holiday packages to this exotic world, billionaires and high rollers escape the normal crowds on Earth, and where a whole department of Interpol is run by shifters of various sorts, all tracking contraband and the occasional murder that shows up with what they’re tracking. A world where shifters seem destined to find their true fated mates.
Book two takes a look at one of the minor characters I found interesting in the first book, Dante. A co-worker of Damiano’s, he has no luck at love. But back on Earth for Dam and Kari’s wedding, Fate is once again dealing the cards, and finds a match for Dante with one of Damiano’s cousins! Read more in Dante’s Angel.
Of course, there had to be more, what with this whole beautiful world to explore. And I found just the right character when I saw a photo of a Russian rapper, Geegun. First glance and I said, “That man is a werewolf.” And The Russian was born. Over 500 years old, he hunts alone since he lost his soulmate two hundred years ago. On Gambler’s Folly for business with Damiano and Interpol, Fate decides he has been alone long enough and deals the hand.
And the latest in the series is Old Flame, bear shifters and billionaires! Someone reminded me of a guy I once knew a long time ago, and I remembered he always looked like a big bear. And Kort Behrens was born, so to speak. He’s a billionaire bear shifter who, after two divorces and a string of gold diggers, has given up on finding true love. He’s going to Gambler’s Folly for business and, with a little luck, some rest and relaxation.
Elizabeth has been widowed for four years and isn’t at all sure she even wants to think about another relationship. Coaxed out of her little home in Appalachia, she discovers her kids have bought her a vacation package to Gambler’s Folly. With no way to gracefully decline, she is determined to go to this luxury vacation spot, take in the natural beauty, spend frugally, and return refreshed and ready to tuck back into her little place with her cat, Puzzle.
Neither of them counted on Fate dealing them a completely different hand.
So if you need a break and love luxury resorts, casinos, lively night life settings, come with me to Speranza on Gambler’s Folly.
If you prefer white or black sandy beaches, private islands, or quiet mountain lakes, I’ve got you covered! You’ll find plenty of that on Gambler’s Folly s well.
And this month, you can choose any one you want at a discounted price! Come over toSmashwords and discover my worlds at a discount!
I’m about to head to one of my favorite worlds–Esperance!
It all started with a dream that kept repeating ever night. A dream where a powerful ruler looked out across a crowd of women standing in a field, nervously waiting for him to make a choice. And when his eyes found those of a beautiful, raven haired young woman with sparkling blue eyes, he knew he’d found the woman he wanted to be his First Lady.
Esperance, a frontier type world which was nearly destroyed centuries ago when it lost contact with Earth. What brought it back from the brink of destruction was something peculiar to one segment of the population who had developed psychic abilities. They were able to exert enough influence to restore order once again and bring their people back into a civilized society, ruled by these multi-talented First Lords.
Over the years, others developed Talents in varying areas, which keeps things exciting. I mean, who couldn’t use a little bit of mental telepathy or telekinesis once in a while?
Jareth, First Lord, Book One of the series was born. After that the stories just seemed to flow. I had to tell Viviane’s story, once she’d begun to develop psychic abilities of her own. And in MORGAN–The Pixie and the Green Man, I explored Morgan’s back story. Why she came to Esperance and what happened once she had changed clans. The hesitant romance developing between her and James and all the intrigue which followed.
Of course, we had to delve into Viviane’s family, after her brother was exiled and a new heir chosen, in Too Many Talents.
Come meet these incredible people on one of my favorite worlds, Esperance! All books are right now at Smashwords
