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Posts Tagged ‘fantasy’

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.

Dante and Angela meet on Earth.

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!

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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.

Book1–Gambler’s Folly

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.

Book 2–Dante’s Angel

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…

Book 3–The Russian

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.

Book 4–Old Flame

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.

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A promotional image for the 'Esperance' fantasy book series, featuring four book covers: 'Jareth - First Lord', 'Viviane - First Lady', 'Morgan - The Pixie and the Green Man', and 'Too Many Talents'. The background is green with golden text advertising the series and a QR code linking to Amazon.
Promotional image for 'Gambler's Folly' series by Mellie Miller, featuring four book covers and a QR code. The text emphasizes the paranormal romance theme and mentions availability on Amazon.

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!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

Cover of 'The Russian: Gambler's Folly Book 3' by Mellie Miller, featuring a silhouetted couple kissing in a sunlit forest with a wolf's face subtly in the background.
Book cover for 'Too Many Talents' featuring a woman holding a glowing orange orb, with a sunset and mountains in the background.
A wolf standing in the snow with its head raised, surrounded by falling snowflakes. Superimposed text reflects themes of passion and longing, attributed to 'The Russian'.
Cover of the book 'Too Many Talents' featuring a woman with a glowing orb in her hands, surrounded by a colorful background.

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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!

Happy reading to everyone!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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The month of September will be full of sales! And this week’s offering from Mellie Miller features a book from the Gambler’s Folly Series!

DANTE’S ANGEL!

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!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday weekend.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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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.

Come join me for their story.

There’s only one more day...

As always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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We’re starting a new month, so how about a book sale? Every week this month, a different book will be on sale for you from one of my series.

What’s up this week?

MORGAN–The Pixie and the Green Man

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.

Have a wonderful new month.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…the Share the Romance…

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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!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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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!

And while you plan your trip…

As always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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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?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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