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!
Are you looking for a getaway? Someplace where life is a little slower, not as rushed, where you can find a quiet place by a stream and relax?
How about…
A rustic, fantasy, highland-like world. Clan tensions. Psychic powers. Slow burn romance. Cross-genre stories. A bit of mischief and magic along the way.
Yes, the rain finally got here! They’ve been threatening us with it all week, but the rain kept going around us. The cucumbers were beginning to be depressed about the whole situation. Hopefully they’ll be in a better mood after all this rin.
So, how have things been going in your world?
And what have you been reading?
The Summer Winter Sale is still ongoing over at Smashwords, and most of my titles–under both Mellie Miller and Sultonna Nadine–have been discounted even more! So if budget was a concern, now is the time to go over and browse. Several of my books are $0.99 and a few are FREE!
So whether you’re wanting to go to a fantasy world with a dark underside, with hunky shifters in law-enfocement, shifters finding fated mates in Gambler’s Folly, or a rustic world filled with psychic abilities, mischief, and romance in Esperance, Mellie Miller has you covered!
Looking for something a little darker? Alternate realities where psychic powers and magic are part of everyday life? Some intrigue, maybe deceit and revenge? Check out Master of the Fleet or Lady Calloway!
Something magical and humorous set in London, or a paranormal short story set in the American high country? Go with Whiskey Jug Genie or Moonlight and Shadows!
Whichever you choose, you’ll find a lovely getaway for the weekend. So go browse the offerings, find the one which calls to you,and settle in for a brief respite from reality.
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!
Summer heat is here. I don’t know about you, but it seemed summer and spring couldn’t make up their mind about the hand off. And then summer decided to seize control with a vengeance. It was up in the 90’s yesterday and at around midnight, it ws still 80 F. I am not a fan…
But the Smashword’s Summer sale is on again! And as is usual, all my books are discounted during the sale at 50% off regular price!
So if you’ve been looking at anything from Gambler’s Folly or Esperance, now is the time to indulge! For some reason, Old Flame in the Gambler’s series isn’t showing up, but I’m working on fixing the problem.
If you’re a fan of romantic fantasy, paradise worlds with a dark underside, hunky shifters, and a bit of intrigue, check out the Gambler’s Folly series. Shifters of various sorts finding their fated mates, against a backdrop of crime fighting, on a vacation resort world. Some are love at first sight, some slow burn, age gaps, mature couples in a second chance romance. Take your pick!
If you’re into a more laid back world, more rustic than modern, Esperance is for you. A highland type world ruled by First Lords with multiple psychic abilities all finding love and romance against a bit of intrigue. Follow their stories as their powers develop, sometimes causing a lot of chaos!
So stay indoors this summer, at least for part of the time. Grab a book to escape into and enjoy!
Well, today is one of those days and I need to vent. Sorry…
As you may know, I also write as Sultonna Nadine. She writes the stand alone books. I write the series. So far, she has four books in print.
Now today I was supposed to have a Book Club Author Q&A for Sultonna’s latest, Lady Calloway. As most of my books are, it is a cross-genre, multi-layered tale of romance. Set in an alternate Victorian reality, this historical fantasy romance pits the church against personal freedom. Our MC must choose between the church he serves and the woman he loves.
As a church agent, being married to a heretic can have dire consequences if he fails in his duty. But his heart says he must protect his wife at all cost. And when they both begin to develop forbidden mental abilities, they have to flee toward what they hope is a place of safety to escape the church they were once devoted to.
In a world where even your thoughts can convict you, where can you find safety, when the church is the law of the land?
Seems like it ought to be popular. The comments I’ve received have all been positive. They loved the duty vs. love angle, the multi-layered story.
Here’s a quote from a reader.
“I am still thinking about Lady Calloway, and frankly, I feel like I’m owed emotional compensation.
I came expecting romance. Somehow I ended up wrestling with questions about faith, danger, relationships, and human nature. That’s not a complaint, by the way. It’s actually what made the story so memorable.
One thing that has stayed with me is how fearlessly you blended spiritual themes with deeply human struggles. It made the characters feel real in a way that’s becoming increasingly rare.”
Or here’s another one.
“What you have created here is not a typical historical romance where the only obstacle is social standing or a disapproving parent. It is a story about faith, heresy, and the terrifying discovery that the church you serve would condemn you for the very abilities awakening inside your own mind… I came away from Lady Calloway with a clear and unshakeable conviction:
“This book belongs in the hands of every reader who loves forbidden love stories with real stakes, every fantasy romance fan who wants their magic grounded in historical tension, and anyone who has ever had to choose between what they were taught and who they love.”
So I don’t know what to do here. In spite of all the promotions I’ve run, and others have run for me, in spite of being all over social media and most major retailers, I’m not really getting any sales. Everyone says to fix my keywords, change my genre descriptions on Amazon, get it listed om Listopia, I’ve done a lot of that already with nothing ot show for it.
Is it time to stop trying to publish? Is it worth all the work for no return?
I don’t know. You, my readers get to decide.
For now, I’m going to have something cold to drink and wait for next winter’s firewood to be delivered. Maybe I’ll go over and work on another post and hope for the best.
It’s all right. I’ll get over my mood after a while.
Yes, Lady Calloway–written under the pen name Sultonna Nadine— is about to enter Round 4 in the All Author Book Cover Contest! And you have made that possible. But now, can you help us out again? Round 4 starts tomorrow.
They say not to judge a book by its cover but I need you to do just that. If you liked the cover of my book, Lady Calloway, please vote for it for the Cover of the Month contest on AllAuthor.com!
I’m getting closer to clinch the “Cover of the Month” contest on AllAuthor! I’d need as much support from you guys. Please take a short moment to vote for my book cover!
Thank you ever so much for your support! It may seem like a small thing, but indie authors sometimes seem invisible.
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.
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.
