I’m headed to Gambler’s Follyfor a while. It’s been a while since I visited with Dam and Kari.
What? You aren’t acquainted with the Leone family? We need to fix that right away!
Come with me to Gambler’s Folly. Meet Damiano and Karianna in Book 1 and follow their romance. You’ll also meet Dante, Marco, Paulo, and Nagi, who will pop in every now and again in other stories along the way.
After that, in Book 2, Dante’s Angel, we can go to Italy with the whole bunch for Dam and Kari’s church wedding. And you can share in the joy, frustration, and chaos when Dante finds his soulmate, who happens to be one of Damiano’s cousins.
Book 3, The Russian, introduces a new character–Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov, known as The Russian. He is an anomaly, even for a shifter. Over 500 years old, he found his soulmate over 200 years ago, and held her in his arms as she died. He doesn’t want another mate. The heartache is too great. But Mother Nature has other plans for The Russian.
Where can you meet all these characters?
Go over to the Gambler’s Folly page on Smashwords. For this weekend each book is priced at only $0.99 in the series! And once you have, you can vacation with me!
I don’t know about you, but it has been crazy around here since I last visited with you. I’m not sure what all has been going on, but we’ve been super busy and away from the house.
But I have done some writing, so don’t worry. And some editing, mainly on Whiskey Jug Genie. That Bubba is a character for sure.
And writing? Mainly on Unwilling Soulmates. All Trevor wanted to do was his job after he’d been transferred to Soeranza. And everything would have been fine except for Theresa, or Ms. Langley as she insisted he call her. From there first meeting, before he’d said more than hello, she’d had it in for him, and no one knew why.
Theresa was irritated. Of all the people on Gambler’s Folly, why did she get stuck with this rich kid on her team? What do you do when you can’t stand a person and Mother Nature decides he’s it? Granted, the reason you don’t like him has nothing to do with him personally. It’s his background–the whole wealthy class thing–you can’t stand. A couple incidents in your past have poisoned your mind against rich kids playing cop, as you see it. And you’re not having any of it.
And Mother Nature means business, going so far as to have her look him up over the weekend and issue her mating challenge. But when she wakes up in the morning and realizes what she’s done, she has no idea where to go from there. Someone must have a way to reverse the bonding process, mustn’t they?
Where will it all end? Who knows? But we’re working on it.
Have you read the other books in the Gambler’s Folly Series? If not, go ahead and catch up while you wait for the next book in the series to come out. The first book, Gambler’s Folly, sets the scene on Gambler’s Folly. Book 2, Dante’s Angel, follows our first couple to Earth, where another match is formed. And Book 3, The Russian, brings a new love to a 500 year old wolf shifter who has hunted alone since his soulmate died 200 years ago.
What else is going on? Still working on Gregor Thayne forEsperance. And of course, editing on Whiskey Jug Genie, which will be published as Sultonna Nadine.
Gregor Thayne will bring in new characters and romance, as well as advance the overall story of Esperance with it’s trials and tribulations from the previous books. We reconnect with Jareth and Viviane, as well as other First Lord’s from the first two books.
Whiskey Jug Genie is a lighthearted tale with a hint of magic and romance. Picturea young Englishman touring the Southeastern United States. A collector of antique bottles and jugs, he finds an old whiskey jug which would be perfect for his apothecary shop in London.
Imagine his surprise when he cleans it and pulls the stopper and a redneck genie appears, having been trapped in the jug for two hundred years. And for many years before that, he’d been in the American south and picked up a lot of country along the way. Bound to the jug by a curse, our Englishman now finds himself stuck with this character, who is so out of touch with the modern world, he sees everything from the refrigerator to mobile phones as magic.
I know I do. And I’ll bet you do, too. With the whole Covid thing this year, I know people don’t have a lot of extra cash to throw around.
Which is why I started having one of my books for FREE each weekend. This weekend it is The Russian, Book 3 in the Gambler’s Folly Series.
So, who is The Russian?
Meet Dmitri ivanovich Volkov. Over 500 years old, this wolf shifter doesn’t want a mate. He’d had a soulmate two centuries ago and when she’d died,she’d taken his heart to the grave with her.
Danni isn’t looking for a relationship either. She has her work and her mother to take care of. There is no time for dating.
But Mother Nature has other plans for the two of them on Gambler’s Folly.
And it FREE at Smashwords this weekend.
You can check out the rest of the series while you’re there, or look up the other series and my stand alone under the name Sultonna Nadine. Click on this link to go to my profile page.
How is everyone doing today? We’ve had a few thundershowers, but nothing too bad. Of course, The Monster would disagree. She’s hiding from the thunder and growling.
Maybe it’s time to sit down with The Monster and Miss Kitty and assure them they’ll be all right. I’m sure I can find something to read…
Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov–known as The Russian–is a wolf shifter who has been around for over 500 years. He’d had a soulmate once, but she died 200 years ago, taking a huge chunk of his heart with her.
Now he hunts alone. He doesn’t want a mate. The pain of loss is too great, and he’s already lost everyone he’d ever known, except for his coworkers in this generation.
But Mother Nature has other plans for this wolf shifter.
What are people saying about The Russian?
“If you love paranormal reading as I do. Then you will love, “The Russian!” It is well written and keeps you reading from page one.”
So if you need a break from this world, go visit one of mine. Gambler’s Folly. The people are friendly, the food is tasty, and there’s always something going on.
The latest book from Gambler’s Folly, The Russian features Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov, a wolf shifter friend of Damiano and the gang. He’s been around a long time. Even he’s not quite sure how old he is, but of one thing he is certain.
He doesn’t need a mate.
He’d had a mate once, and when she’d died, he thought it would kill him. Since then, he has avoided entanglements. He’d outlived everyone he’d ever known, except for his current acquaintances. The pain was too much to deal with when it came to affairs of the heart.
Anyway, soul mates were once in a lifetime.
Weren’t they?
But when you’ve lived as long as Dmitri, perhaps the universe will give you a second chance—
–in the shape of a petite blond with hazel eyes named Danni.
Her husband lost her on one turn of the cards. Now the property of Damiano Leone, the dark lord of the underworld, Karianna is thrust into a world of glamour and danger. Now if she can sort out her feelings about this handsome and so very attentive man who claims her as his wife.
Dante was born on Gambler’s Folly, and though his family was originally from Earth, this is his first trip to their home planet. He wouldn’t have missed Dam and Kari’s wedding for anything, but it does rather accentuate his single status. Face it. Damiano had all the luck, from family and money to a soulmate. Dante had trouble talking to women, let alone asking them out. But thisall changes, when he meets Damiano’s sassy cousin, Angela, and he discovers his mouth has a mind of its own.
Dmitri is on Gambler’s Folly following up a shipment for Interpol and planning a nice evening with his friends, Dam and Kari, when he happens on a young woman in trouble. He didn’t need a woman in his life, but finds himself drawn to this petite blond with wide hazel eyes. Why he had given in to the urge to kiss her was unfathomable, but he couldn’t forget her honeyed-lilac scent or the fresh raspberries and white wine of her sweet mouth. How could he know Mother Nature was about to blind-side him with a soul mate?
Now that The Russian is live on Amazon and Smashwords as an ebook, it’s time to get it and a couple others ready for paperback. What with my husband’s knee surgery in January, things have been a little busy to deal with the aggravation of formatting.
And then?
I think I’ll spend some time to finish a couple other books I have nearly finished, but set aside to get The Russian published and out to the world.
There is Whiskey Jug Genie, my 2019 NanNoWriMo project, which is nearly finished–as far as a first draft. In thisSultonna Nadine book, a London herbalist tours the American Southeast and buys an old whiskey jug, not realizing it was inhabited. When he releases the genie in his living room, the fun begins.
Then there is Lady Calloway, another Sultonna Nadine offering, set in an alternate timeline of Victorian England. She’s a small town girl from up North. He works for the church down in London and comes from a family of confessors–psychically gifted people who can bring any sinner to confession, no matter the cost.
And then there is Protector of the Red Dragon, from Sultonna Nadine. A fantasy set partially in modern times and partially in the 16th century, it combines fantasy, romance, and a touch of magic to usher in an era of peace and prosperity involving twin sisters, a magical sword, and a dragon.
While that’s all happening, Mistaken Identity is with my editor going through the initial edits. This is another stand alone from Sultonna Nadine. Captured in a brief military strike against her world from their sister planet, Krista is mistaken for someone she’s not. By the time her captors are convinced of the truth, the commander of the facility has hatched a plan with her at its core. Can she learn enough fast enough to help bring off a plan which will benefit both worlds, without losing her life, or heart, in the process?
And then there are the other books in the Esperance and Gambler’s FollySeries to finish editing. A couple need finishing as well. And some are waiting to be written, with a new idea popping up earlier this morning.
So it looks like it will be a busy year here on the farm. The Monster and Miss Kitty have settled in to give me a hand, so we’re all set.
Have a marvelous week, and if you haven’t checked out The Russian, to over and take a peek. He’s one of my favorite characters, and his mate is a feisty little she-wolf you’ll adore.
If you’ve pre-ordered your copy it should be on your Kindle.
If you didn’t pre-order, you can still get it for the pre-order price for today. Tomorrow the price will go up to the normal selling price.
What is The Russian?
Book 3 from Gambler’s Folly, the story is set on the pleasure planet in Speranza, Dam and Kari’s hometown.
The Russian–Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov–is a unique individual. Having lived for over 500 years, this wolf-shifter hunts alone since his soulmate died 200 years ago. Relationships mean pain and he has enough heartache for several lifetimes. Everyone he’s ever known, except for his current acquaintances, has died, leaving him alone in a world of children.
Travelling to Gambler’s Folly on Interpol business, he is bowled over when he goes to the rescue of a young girl. Finding her at the office the next day is more than shocking. It is overwhelming.
It seems Mother Nature may be trying to give him another chance at happiness. But can he open his heart once more?
Danni has no time for romance. In her mid-twenties, she works at Interpol during the week, and on the weekends and after hours, she helps her frail mother. She tries to save enough money so they can share a place, but the rent keeps going up on her mother’s apartment, leaving her with not quite enough to make it happen.
And one night, her fears come to life on her way home just after dark. Several gang members surround her threatening violence until warm strong hands rest on her shoulders and a deep authoritative voice orders them to disperse.
With a scent of autumn leaves, musk, and tobacco, she is drawn to this stranger who has just saved her life. But she is not ready for the kiss she has to have before he leaves her at her door.
Imagine her surprise when he turns up at the office the next day.
It’s another Friday, the first full week of the New Year. How is everyone today?
My husband had a total knee replacement on New Year’s Eve, so things have been a little strange around here. But he’s doing well, up and around, mostly off his painkillers.
And I have a book to get out to all of you! I’m waiting for the final edits so I can get it formatted and then out to you!
I’ve told you a little about Dmitri, the Russian. But have I told you anything about the woman who steals his heart?
Danielle, Danni to her friends, is a young, petite blond with hazel eyes. She does pretty well working in the accounting department of Gambler’s Folly’s Interpol. But she can’t quite get enough together to find a place big enough so she and her mother can move in together. And expenses keep growing.
Her mother lives in a bad part of town, in the place she and Danni’s father had lived since they’d moved to Gambler’s Folly. But then the syndicate bought everything all around, and now owned the building her apartment was in.
Danni visited her mother every evening after work, and was always nervous walking home. She had to find a way to get her mother out of there.
And then her fears came to visit one night. On her way home, just as the sun was going down, a group of gang member surrounded her on the dark, empty street. In her heart of hearts, she knew she was going to die, until she felt warm, strong hands on her shoulders, and heard a stern voice telling the young men to disperse.
I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but it is a chilly one here today in America’s Southeast. In the low 40’s with a light rain which has been falling since last night, it is hard to get motivated.
But on an up note, the third book in the Gambler’s Fooy series, The Russian, will be coming out soon! Watch for news of its release.
And my NaNoWriMo project, Whiskey Jug Genie, is coming along nicely. I have the ending in sight. Now if I can just get there… These characters. Always interfering in my plot line.
So after I have a bite to eat and check on the fire, I’ll be here at my desk checking in with Martin and Bubba to see what’s going on in their shop in the suburbs of London.
Is the romance between Martin and Diane going to grow stronger?
Is the wizard who was causing all the trouble going to escape?
Or will he get what’s coming to him?
Well, I think I know the answers to those questions, but I’ll have to see what our fearless trio has in mind.
In the meantime, stay warm, stay happy, and stay safe.
No, no. Nothing like that. The cold war is over, folks.
I’m talking about wolf-shifter Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov, aka The Russian around Interpol’s Special Division.
Over 500 years old, he’s seen a lot, been a lot of places, and learned a lot of things. And one thing he knows–soulmates are once in a lifetime, and he’s already had his chance.
He’d mated with Ilyana a little over 200 years ago, and after 50 years of marriage, she died in his arms, taking his heart with her to the grave. Since then, he has hunted through the universe alone, neither seeking nor accepting any long-term relationships.
But maybe the universe is giving him a second chance, with a little blond she-wolf named Danni, with the most beautiful hazel eyes. And her scent.
Danni’s family was from Earth, but she’d lived on Gambler’s Folly most of her life. After her father died, she’d taken care of her mother, but money was tight. She couldn’t afford another place big enough for both of them, but the rent on her mother’s apartment kept going up.
And now tonight, on her way home from checking on her mother, she’d been surrounded by gang members. Terrified, she was sure she was going to die, until strong, warm hands settled on her shoulders and dispersed the young men.
He insisted on walking her home, but his woodsy, musky scent pulled her mind in another direction.
No, she didn’t have time for a relationship. There was her mother to think of, and needed to put aside enough to get them out of their current situation. But as she turned to say good bye, she simply had to feel his kiss, which was her undoing.
Neither of them want a relationship. Neither of them is seeking a mate. But Mother Nature has other plans for them. Can they open their hearts to the possibility of love?
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