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Posts Tagged ‘Gambler’s Folly’

I’m not sure how the garden is going to do this year. The weather has been so crazy, I’m sure the garden can’t keep up with the changes. When I planted the tomatoes, it was up near 90 degrees and had been pretty dry. A week later, it was back down in the 60’s and raining. And it has been doing this whole seesaw thing for a month. And today, once again, the temperatures peaked in the high 60’s after last week’s 90 degree weather.

Someone find Mother Nature and send her back to Gambler’s Folly with Fate. Maybe they can find another couple of shifters to torture.

So, I’m still editing Scotch and Soulmates. They are a fun couple, our Paul and Sophia. He’s an English lord, doctorate in psychology, and works as a profiler in the London office of Interpol. He’s also an expert on expensive Scotch, which is the reason he’s on Gambler’s Folly.

Sophia is from the Bronx and had a tough time growing up. She’s an agent with Interpol’s Spaggia Sole’s office on Gambler’s Folly and is known as the she-wolf. Having to fight her way up in a world of alpha males, she is radically feminist. And she takes exception to Paul’s high-brow upbringing.

How about a little excerpt?

Morning came early after a few too many drinks the night before. Paul wouldn’t have been as tempted by the Scotch if it hadn’t been for thoughts of Sophia. She was a beautiful woman, especially with her auburn hair down and caressing her shoulders. The green gown–chiffon over some satiny material–smoothed enticingly over her curves. Some men might have found her a little overly curvaceous, but not Paul. He preferred substantial women, especially in bed.

“Dream on,” he told the reflection in the mirror. “Get the job done and get back to London. Plenty of appreciative women there.”

Nagi was at the office when he arrived, so after grabbing some coffee, they sat down to discuss the case.

“I had assumed we’d wait and discuss things together,” he heard behind him.

“Just tossing around some ideas until you arrived. Get some coffee while it’s fresh.”

With a toss of her head, she put her things on the table and went over to the coffee maker. When she returned, Paul stood to hold her chair, out of habit.

“As I’ve told you before, I’m quite capable of seating myself.”

“Of course you are,” Paul answered. “Such a pity you’re incapable of being a lady.”

Had he said that out loud? Must be the headache speaking.

“If you’re talking about those simpering little, hand-wringing, wilting flowers, who need a man to lean on, count me out, “ she snarled.

“No. I’m talking about an intelligent woman, with a strong personality, who has a good sense of self and focus, who has enough confidence to accept social courtesies with ease and grace, without jumping to erroneous conclusions about the intentions of her colleagues.”

So, which one will tame the other? You’ll have to wait and find out! I know… I’m working on it!

Have fun, stay dry, and I’ll write more later.

As always,

Don’t Forget…\

…to Share the Romance…

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Can you help me? I need a little advice from someone on the other side of the reader/writer line.

As an indie author, I do everything myself, not just the writing. The writing is the easy part. Afterwards comes the editing, and it takes time and effort. I am sometimes able to have someone help me with the editing after I’ve been through a book several times myself. And there is a program I sometimes use which helps point out words I over use, or which tone down the emotion of the book.

Now let’s talk about book cover art. I can’t afford to pay someone to put together the cover art. And the few times I’ve tried, I didn’t like the results. So I use an online program, sometimes with AI assist, to create a book cover I feel portrays the story I’m telling inside.

After all the editing is as finished as it can be, and I have the cover art, there is the formatting so I can publish it through Amazon or Draft2Digital–which links all my books to retailers through Books2Read. All the keywords to come up with to help place it correctly for people to locate it. I’m not necessarily the best person to decide this. People who read the books and offer suggestions come up with categories and tropes I would never have dreamed existed in those pages.

And once I get to Amazon or Draft2Digital, I have to decide what price I want to ask for. What is my book worth? There are suggestions in the documentation for each site, which I use to gauge my list price. I don’t want to charge so much people are afraid to take a chance on the book. But at the same time, I don’t want to give it all away for free. I do have sales several times a year. During some of those, I do list a book or two for free, and generally I give away quite a few. While I’m happy when people want to read my books, it is disappointing when they only want them for nothing.

With my last book–Old Flame–I paid several people to help with the promotion and marketing aspects and got absolutely nothing in return. I did just as well by myself. Now with Sultonna Nadine’s new release, Lady Calloway, I am besieged by promoters and marketers wanting to help me get my book out to readers. For anywhere from $200 on up.

I’m not made of money. Never have been. And if throwing money at it worked, you would think Old Flame would have sold like hotcakes.

You might ask why I don’t hire some of this work out. And the answer would be the expense of it. For an editor to do a final editing for me would be over $1000 per book, minimum. Cover art? Anywhere from $150 on up to as much as I want to spend. Formatting? Several hundred dollars. And then there are the book trailers and all the social media posts to put together. Trailers start at around $200 and go up from there. By the time I paid for all that, I would have several thousand dollars invested with no guaranteed return.

So tell me, what am I doing wrong? I get great reviews, when I get them. Most are 5 star reviews. Everyone says the writing is excellent, the tropes are popular, the categories are popular as well. And I’ve reworked the keywords and categories on all the outlets to take advantage of them.

What am I missing? I’m not complaining about the work, except the editing… It’s doing all the work with nothing to show for it, while getting all kinds of emails and reviews with people who love it, but apparently love it only if it’s free.

Go take a look at my author pages and books. And then come back and give me your opinion. Why would you buy or not buy my books? What turns you away?

Amazon Author page for Mellie Miller

Books2Read for Mellie Miller

Amazon for Sultonna

Books2Read for Sultonna

Anyway, enough rant. It has just been a disappointing year. If you’ve read any of my work, please at least rate it for me. A review would be great.

Have a wonderful weekend.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Welcome to Georgia, where Mother Nature can’t decide which season we should be in. Two weeks ago, it was summertime. I was out walking the dog in shorts and a tank top.

No seriously. I was.

Now the weather has turned colder, with a high today in the mid 40’s F and Monday night’s temperature is predicted to be around 12 F.

You read that correctly. 12 degrees Fahrenheit! With snow and freezing rain. My body can’t shift that fast. I can get accustomed to the cold. We lived in the North and in Wyoming for years. And I can get accustomed to the heat. We lived in the desert Southwest for a while. And freezing rain is total crap. I don’t mind a little snow once in a while. But freezing rain is a whole other story.

The good news is that it seems like a good time to catch up on a few things. Crocheting, knitting, and that TBR stack I’ve been chiseling away at. And let’s not forget the editing.

My alter ego, Sultonna Nadine, is still busy editing Lady Calloway. With any luck, she’ll be able to have it out to you by mid-summer. That is if she ever gets the cover art sorted…

At an rate, if you’re going to be affected by this winter storm, go stock up on some reading material. My Gambler’s Folly series can be good for heating up your evening, with some hunky shifters and feisty women. Or there’s Esperance, where a little Talent might just give your love life a little boost.

Take care out there with this crazy stuff headed in for the winter. Stay safe and warm.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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If you haven’t reached out yet to find your next favorite book, today is the last day of the sale!

All books from Gambler’s Folly and Esperance are still on sale for only $0.99–except for Old Flame.

Where can you find them?

Over at Boos2Read!

All the Sultonna Nadine books are also on sale!

If you’re a lover of fantasy romance, with a touch of the paranormal and magic, and maybe a bit of intrigue, don’t miss it!

In the meantime, as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Shaare the Romance…

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And to the new year, 2026!

Did everyone survive the holidays? It was little crazy around here, but we’re all present and accounted for.

So what were you reading last year? It seems I read way more than I thought I had.

What are you starting your reading year with?

If you haven’t finished one of my series yet, from now until January 10 all of my series ebooks are on sale over at Books2Read. Well, everything but Old Flame, which is available through Kindle Unlimited! So you can complete either series for only $0.99 per book! It’s hard to beat that price.

Just go over to Books2Read and pick the series you’re looking for. And then click on the book you need to find the buy links. It’s that simple.

Looking for my alter ego, Sultonna? She’s over there, too, with books for sale. If you need a little more magic in your life, go on over and choose from alternate reality, magical flat mates, or paranormal goings on in the American Rockies.

Start your New Year with a little magic and romance. Maybe a little fantasy and intrigue, too.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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We’re in the middle of the winter holiday season, and if you’re like a lot of us, you need a break from reality. So come on over to Books2Read for a sale on all my books listed there. The first three books from Gambler’s Folly and all four books from Esperance are included in this sale.

Whether you love shifters or paranormal abilities–or both–go on over to Books2Read and choose your next read today! You can also check out the books from my alter ego, Sultonna Nadine while you’re there. Magical alternate reality, genies, and mysterious desert secrets all waiting for you.

And the best part? Each of my books is priced at only $0.99 each!

So go over and choose your adventure for the evening. Take a break from the chaos. I suggest a cup or glass of your favorite beverage, a nice fire, and a cat or dog or two. Sink into that comfy chair and slip into a fantasy world with me.

Happy reading to you all and happy holidays.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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For the next week, OLD FLAME will be on sale at Amazon for only $0.99! So if you haven’t read this yet, go grab a copy while it’s on sale!

Old Flame. A second chance, slow burn, shifter romance set on the fantasy world of Gambler’s Folly. Two people who were friends years ago unexpectedly meet again and though they weren’t romantically inclined before, the sparks begin to fly.

Will they reach out and take this second chance gamble on love?

OLD FLAME, Book 4 from Gambler’s Folly.

Come with me and feel the heat!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Why don’t I let someone else give you the low down?

*****

“Author Mellie Miller invites readers back into the enchanting world of Gambler’s Folly with Old Flame, the newest addition to her fantasy romance series blending shifter lore, emotional healing, and unexpected second chances. The novel follows two characters who built separate lives marked by loss,
growth, and quiet longing, only to discover that destiny has not forgotten them.


Kort Behrens, a bear shifter and billionaire businessman, has spent years believing love simply isn’t meant for him. Two
marriages ended in disappointment, and too many encounters with women more interested in his wealth than his heart
have left him wary and guarded. Behind his success lies a man who has accepted solitude as his future, convinced that
genuine love is a chapter he will never experience again.


Elizabeth Murphy, a once-devoted wife turned widow, has spent the last four years rebuilding her life with compassion
and purpose. Immersed in her Reiki practice and the comforting companionship of her cat, Puzzle, she has carved out
stability while quietly carrying the ache of a marriage that, despite lasting nearly three decades, never fulfilled her
desire for deeper romantic and physical connection. The idea of dating again feels impossible, if not unnecessary.


Decades earlier, Kort and Elizabeth were simply friends—two young adults navigating university life with no romantic
spark between them. After graduation, they drifted into separate worlds, neither imagining their paths would ever cross
again. But fate intervenes aboard a journey to Gambler’s Folly, the mystical realm where chance, destiny, and desire
often weave together in surprising ways Their unexpected reunion ignites a spark neither felt thirty years ago. What
begins as warm nostalgia soon grows into an undeniable connection, forcing both to confront old insecurities and long-
held fears. For Kort, it is the realization that love may still be possible with someone who sees beyond his wealth. For
Elizabeth, it is the discovery that passion and emotional intimacy can coexist in a single connection—something she has
never experienced.


As Gambler’s Folly subtly nudges their lives together, Kort and Elizabeth must decide whether to embrace this rare
second chance or retreat into the safety of solitude. Miller enriches their journey with themes of healing, self-worth,
rekindled friendship, and the unexpected ways love can rewrite the stories we thought were finished.


With its blend of fantasy, shifter romance, emotional depth, and slow-burn tension, Old Flame continues the series’
signature approach to exploring love through the lens of fate and personal transformation. Fans of the Gambler’s Folly
universe will appreciate the familiar magic of the world while discovering a relationship built on maturity, vulnerability,
and the quiet power of rediscovered connection.

****

So, what do you think? Are you ready to take a chance on love with Kort and Liz? Do you love a sensual, slow burn romance? Come to Gambler’s Folly and feel the heat as these two decide whether or not love is worth the gamble.

Happy reading everyone!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Old Flame is beginning to get a little attention, mainly on Goodreads.

So what are people saying? Take a look!

“This was my September pick in Clara’s private book club, and what a ride it was. Kort, with his commanding presence, could have easily become a caricature of the billionaire hero, but instead he came across as deeply human lonely, funny, and just a little lost. Liz, cautious but brave, was the perfect counterbalance…This story isn’t just about rekindled romance; it’s about finding safety, trust, and a second chance when you least expect it.”

“Old Flame has such a comforting yet adventurous vibe. The reunion between Kort Behrens and Liz Murphy felt tender, nostalgic, and at times surprisingly witty. Their banter reminded me of friendships you slip back into after decades apart.”

“I absolutely adored Old Flame! Kort and Elizabeth’s story melted my heart. You can feel their history and chemistry from the first moment they see each other again. Mellie Miller did an amazing job blending real, mature love with the fantasy elements of Gambler’s Folly. Kort being a billionaire and a bear shifter? Yes, please! 🐻✨ It’s sensual, but also full of warmth and emotional depth.”

What are you waiting for? Come join their story on Gambler’s Folly,. Or choose one of the previous romances on this crazy, fantasy world. You know, that world where every love story is a gamble, and Fate always deals the final hand. (And there’s often a wild card involved.)

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

Watch for sales coming soon!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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And most of the folks out there are thinking about gifts.

If you have friends who love to read, especially if they love fantasy and romance, how about a book from one of my series? In Jareth, First Lord, Jareth brings Viviane back to Clan Brannach during the winter. And later in the book, they watch the annual eclipse of the two moons during the winter–

“In the heart of winter the two become one, the past put to rest, the future begun.”

In Too Many Talents, Connell has a winter party with his friends. Think snowball fights using telekinesis and you’ll get the picture.

On Gambler’s Folly, there is plenty of snow for skiing. That ski run down the mountain in the dark to escape from the mob might be a bit more than Kari was hoping for though…

Don’t want tied to a season? Check out the rest of the series in Gambler’s Folly and Esperance!

All right, now you have the books. What you need to go with them is something to set the scene, like a candle from Mythologie Candles, candles inspired by fantasy!

One of my favorite pairings in MORGAN–The Pixie and the Green Man, with Verdant Forest.

Grab your book, something wonderful to drink, light the candle, and settle into the world of your choosing.

Don’t know where to look? Find the book you want and then go over to Mythologie Candles and look through their selection of scent scapes. There is sure to be something there to enhance your reading pleasure. If nothing seems to fit your book, you can always find something for the season, no matter what your taste is in candles. I will warn you, their scents are unique!

Now that you have some of your gift giving sorted, go find something for you to read. And a candle to read by of course.

Enjoy the holiday season and remember to take time to relax.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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