Black History Month: Black Romance Authors Week 4

Welcome back to celebrating Black History Month! Contrary to belief, Black History Month didn’t end because goo-gull and Bing stopped sharing it online. I got busy because of Muirlette birthdays, but I’m back again this week with more Black Romance authors you need to be reading. Here are some Black romance authors who are on my TBR pile, and they should be added to yours. Happy reading! Are you a fan of fairytale retellings? Then Layla J. Omorose is your girl. The first book I bought is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I picked it up with my limited book funds the moment I met the author. But from her backlist, she’s also a fan of vampire paranormal romance. Grab copies today! Xio Axelrod came across my feed in a whirlwind and brought not only intriguing stories but also fantastically colorful covers. I picked her books up on the covers alone, but the stories sounded so relatable, anyone could step into the shoes of the characters. Pick her books up today! I thought I’d give Rochelle Alers a try when I saw her book in the new release section at the store. I added her to my TBR pile and then went on with things as one does. But this year I was looking through my books and found this title, so I looked her up. Holy moly, the woman has a huge and varied backlist. Whatever your favorite flavor of romance, you have a lot to choose from. Add her to your list and get your reading on. I stumbled across Kathy Douglass when I was snooping the HQN titles at Walmart a few years ago.  hurt people to find love and connection and their well-deserved happily ever after. I love Ms. Simone’s writing and I highly recommend picking up her books. I’ve been friends with Nikki Prince for a long time and not only is she a fantastic author, she’s a great friend (and an amazing woman). We were both published through Evernight Publishing back in the day, but she has some amazing covers and some hot romance. Not just contemporary, but paranormal and inter-racial romance as well. Check her out today! I love sharing my favorite and TBR Black romance authors to all y’all. There are more to come even though Black History Month is almost over. I hope you’ve added to your TBR pile. Again, happy reading!

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600+ Free Books for One Day Only!

Yup, you read that right. 600+ free ebooks to fill up your ereaders. I know the cowboy pic says only 500+ but hey, even 500+ is a damn good deal! And what’s a 100 books between friends? So head on over to RomanceBookworms and grab your 600+ books – including STAR LIGHT STAR BRIGHT – from your favorite retailer. This is a great way to get to know new-to-you authors and fill up your ereaders without spending a dime. I found some great tales by Genevieve Turner, Kate Pearce, and Zoe York the last time I checked this out. Now I’m part of the crew doing it and you get to benefit from it as well. Fill your ereader, get your books, and happy reading!

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Snippet Sunday – That Was my Last Ride

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and I’m heading back to the Triple Star Ranch in preparation for Cheyenne Frontier Days at the end of the month. I’m showing off ROPE A FALLING STAR because I can and because I love my Cheyenne Cowboys, but you can check out the sequels STAR LIGHT STAR BRIGHT and STAR SPANGLED BANNER too. Tom Colton has reached the end of his rodeo career, and he’s good and ready to see the last of the arena. ~~~~~~ “Tough break, Colton. I told you Wooden Nickel kicked the shit out of everyone.” Tom nodded, but had to admit he wasn’t sure it was just the horse. His heart hadn’t been in the rides lately. Oh he loved the roar of the crowds, the adrenaline rush of trying to stay on the back of a half-ton animal desperate to be rid of him. But the pounding his body took and the inevitable injuries overshadowed the joys he received. The rush no longer made up for them. “You really retirin’ after this CFD?” Max shut the gate. “Yup. That was my last ride.” When he said it that way, it sounded pathetic. So much for going out on a high note. “Aw, man, I’m real sorry.” Tom shrugged, ignoring the hitch in his shoulder. Damn, must’ve landed harder than I thought. He’d have to ice it if he wanted to walk straight tomorrow. “You gonna stay for the rest of the PRCA?” Max walked with him as the announcer gave his final score. He’d come in eighth. It wasn’t pretty, but it wasn’t completely pathetic either. Especially since my give-a-damn is busted. “I dunno. I was thinkin’ it might be good to head on home. Give me something to think on instead of feelin’ sorry for myself.” “Aw, come on. At least stay for the concert. It’s KISS tonight. It’s gonna be a helluva rockin’ show.” Max grinned. “Can you believe those guys are the same age as your old man? Man, they still kick ass and take names.” The guys in KISS were older than Tom’s father, but that hardly mattered. What mattered was he felt as old as the band members, and those older guys probably had less aches and pains than him. ~~~~~~~ Yeah, he’s definitely done with rodeo. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for ROPE A FALLING STAR: Available Wide Now Only the best stars fall… Three time bronc-riding champion Tom Colton’s dream of a fourth title ends when he draws Wooden Nickel, a mean little bronc with more twists than a maze. With his heart no longer in rodeo, he figures it’s time to go home to the Triple Star Ranch, the PTSD therapy ranch he and his dad founded to help others with trauma in their pasts. Tom just wants a little time to nurse his hurts and consider his next move. Amber Hillcrest started out as a Triple Star client and stayed on as a massage therapist. Her dog Nimbus keeps her PTSD in check, but her heart remains bruised. She knows she’s too old and too broken for love, especially with the son of her boss, but he’s hot enough to fill her fantasies for years to come. Amber tries to keep it professional between them, but Tom proves too irresistible with his big heart and charm. But someone is sabotaging the Triple Star and the neighboring Fantasy Ranch, and an ex-girlfriend keeps coming around, trying to reconnect with Tom. Tom’s hands are full of problems instead of the luscious massage therapist. But when Amber gets kidnapped, Tom will move heaven and earth to get her back and tell her how he truly feels.

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Snippet Sunday – Bullet Holes

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and we had a good 10 days of Cheyenne Frontier Days. I got the chance to ride in a wagon for one of the parades. 😉 The Triple Star Ranch series now has three books, ROPE A FALLING STAR, STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT and STAR SPANGLED BANNER. There’s a fourth one coming, but with so many writing projects going you can expect it probably in 2022. Tentative title: Loving a Tin Star. In this snippet, Petty Officer Enrique Sanchez is talking to his CO Kent “Bruiser” Anderson about what went wrong and why he’s in the hospital. They’re Leap Frog SEALs who jump out of the C-130s for the event. ~~~~~~ “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Kent shook his head. “How are you doin’ for real? The docs treating you okay?” “Yeah.” Enrique scowled. “They say I have to lay low for a few days and rest, but I need to get back to it.” Kent nodded. “Yeah, I feel you. But for once, I gotta agree with them. You impacted hard and punctured a lung. Ain’t nothing you can do but heal. What the hell happened out there?” Enrique shook his head and resettled himself in the bed. “I dunno. One minute the drop was going fine, and the next, the chute folded and I hit the dirt. Did you look at the chute?” “Not yet, but it’s on the docket this afternoon and the rest of our jumps are canceled.” Kent frowned. “Did you hear anything, like shots or ripping to tell you it was collapsing?” “Nope. Not a damn thing. Between the wind and the crowd, I didn’t hear anything.” He tilted his head. “Why?” “Because the CFD med lady said the doc at the arena, who looked like a fuckin’ cowgirl, said to check the chute for bullet holes.” Enrique scowled. “Bullet holes? Was someone shooting at me?” “I’ll have more intel this afternoon. But we’ll be checking security cameras to see if we can get a fix on anything like a shooter.” Kent rubbed the back of his neck. “Still can’t believe she was a doc when she looked like a damn buckle bunny.” Enrique snorted. “You don’t really look like a SEAL in civvies, either, Bruiser. More like a badass biker thug ready to throw down. No one would expect you at High Tea with lace doilies.” Kent grunted. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t gonna let just anyone take a look at you. But she didn’t back down.” ~~~~~~~ Do I hear some grudging respect? 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for STAR SPANGLED BANNER: Now available! Sometimes a falling star wears a flag… Dr. Suzie Appleton expected a helluva ride in the barrel-racing championships at Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, but she had no idea she’d have to save a man falling from the sky. When he calls her for a date, she’s hesitant, but there’s something sexy and seductive about the Leap Frog, and she takes a chance. She suggests he come to the Triple Star Ranch for his therapy to have more time with him before he returns to jumping out of airplanes. Petty Officer Enrique Sanchez signed up to serve his country and expected to get shot at, just not during an exhibition jump at a rodeo. But the sexy doctor who saved his life in the arena is willing to sign off on his transfer on one condition: that he’s not her patient. Works for Enrique. He’d much rather play doctor with her than have her white coat get in the way of their personal relationship. While the attraction between them isn’t one-sided, neither are the threats. Someone is trying to complete their attempt on Enrique’s life, and someone else has their sights set on Suzie. Rumors and lies threaten to destroy their relationship. But all’s fair in love and war, and both of them could lose big.

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Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday: Michael Abatantiono

Good morning! Welcome back to another day of beautiful men. I love doing this. And I can because it’s my blog and my rules. Aw yeah, hot man ahead. Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Daddy of ‘Em All outdoor rodeo just finished after a year’s hiatus. Because of the pandemic, I didn’t attend many of the events, but I did go to one of the parades (there are 4) as a participant. The Muirlettes and I rode in one of the wagons (pics on my FB page). This was year 125, so it’s been a big deal for a long time. I figure we need a cowboy to round out the week. So let’s get started, shall we? This week, the hot Tattooed Hero is all tattoo and very little teddy bear beyond his scruff, but he’ll round up all the best things for you to do this week. Meet Michael Abatantiono. He’s a model for FURIOUS FOTOG and he’s one of Golden’s hot young models. Michael is available for romance cover images of all types. I’ve seen him as an baseball player, a biker, a bad boy, and my personal favorite, a cowboy. You can get this tattooed hot man in all sorts of settings. You should definitely check him out. Can’t you just see him helping with the horses and going swimming at the lake? 😉 Thanks to Golden Czermak of Furious Fotog for the permission to share this image with all y’all. Happy Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday!

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Snippet Sunday – Out of Control

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and we’re right in the middle of the 10 days of Cheyenne Frontier Days. That means rodeo, horses, and cowboys. I have a series for that. 😉 The Triple Star Ranch series now has three books, ROPE A FALLING STAR, STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT and STAR SPANGLED BANNER. There’s a fourth one coming, but with so many writing projects going you can expect it probably in 2022. Tentative title: Loving a Tin Star. In this snippet, Dr. Suzie is getting ready to ride in the championship barrel racing finals. But first the Leap Frog SEALs are doing their jumps. The snippet is a little long but worth the extra words. ~~~~~~ The rest of the crowd cheered as the announcers shouted out to “our Navy SEALs, the Leap Frogs” and Suzie strained her eyes to catch the little black dots of the men tumbling out of the back of the C-130. She bit her lip as they fell without chutes for a few moments, but the blue and yellow sails opened and the men stopped short. She let her breath out and shot a guilty grin around to her fellow contestants, but no one noticed her unease. Two of the men fell in tandem, their feet locked together, and the other two fell separately, one twirling and swirling like his chute was caught in a wind vortex. Her heart crawled up to her throat until he leveled out. Glory be, I hate it when they do that. Not that they weren’t consummate professionals, but the appearance of being out of control scared the daylights out of her. The tandem pair broke apart and one dropped an American flag while the other dropped smoke to leave trails in the sky. The whole team performed flawlessly, though the few “out of control” swirls still made Suzie hold her breath. The announcers commented on the performance the whole way down and it was a sight to behold these powerful men falling precisely into the center of the arena. The first guy touched down amid cheers from the audience, waving before he gathered up his chute. The first member of the tandem team hit the ground, his NAVY chute fluttering to the ground along with the smoke. But when the second member of the tandem team hung no more than fifty feet up, the SEAL’s chute folded like a burst balloon. He immediately looked up and tried to maneuver into the portion of his chute still inflated, but his speed increased. Oh dear glory! Somehow, the SEAL twisted in midair and gathered up the American flag before he hit the ground in a jarring thud that sprayed the sand of the arena out in all directions. ~~~~~~~ Oh dear, that can’t be good. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for STAR SPANGLED BANNER: Now available! Sometimes a falling star wears a flag… Dr. Suzie Appleton expected a helluva ride in the barrel-racing championships at Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, but she had no idea she’d have to save a man falling from the sky. When he calls her for a date, she’s hesitant, but there’s something sexy and seductive about the Leap Frog, and she takes a chance. She suggests he come to the Triple Star Ranch for his therapy to have more time with him before he returns to jumping out of airplanes. Petty Officer Enrique Sanchez signed up to serve his country and expected to get shot at, just not during an exhibition jump at a rodeo. But the sexy doctor who saved his life in the arena is willing to sign off on his transfer on one condition: that he’s not her patient. Works for Enrique. He’d much rather play doctor with her than have her white coat get in the way of their personal relationship. While the attraction between them isn’t one-sided, neither are the threats. Someone is trying to complete their attempt on Enrique’s life, and someone else has their sights set on Suzie. Rumors and lies threaten to destroy their relationship. But all’s fair in love and war, and both of them could lose big.

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Snippet Sunday – Good Thing I Did

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and it’s starting to heat up in Cheyenne. And CFD starts in a little over a week. Are you ready for Rodeo? I’m showing off ROPE A FALLING STAR. Tom just got home in time to see the neighboring ranch on fire and headed straight there. Amber is a massage therapist who works at the Triple Star and Tom was looking forward to seeing her. ~~~~~~ “Hey, let me help you with that.” He strode toward her just as she turned her head to take his measure. In the setting sun masked by smoke, she glowed with rosy light, and he was momentarily struck dumb. When the hell had she become so beautiful? He usually went for tall, willowy blondes. Or bleach blonde rodeo queens. But Amber wore her dark mahogany hair in a short bob framing her heart-shaped face, and it spoke volumes to her practicality and low maintenance. My kind of woman. The thought came out of nowhere and he continued to gape at her like he’d seen a ghost or something else less credible. “Mr. Colton? Is that you? I thought you were at Cheyenne Frontier Days tonight.” She settled the large case of water against her hip and shut the tailgate of her Jeep. The memory of his disastrous ride made the pain of his shoulder return with a vengeance right along with the disappointment of coming in eighth. He grimaced. “Yeah, well, the last ride didn’t go so well, so I headed home.” He shrugged with his good shoulder. “Good thing I did.” She turned to look toward the burning barn and the flashing lights, and her face blanched white. “Yeah, good thing.” To his surprise, her dog stood up on its hind legs and inserted its head under her arm where she held the case of water, whining for her attention. “Here, let me take that. You got enough to worry about with your dog.” He reached for the case, pulling it from her arms, but when the weight hit his shoulder, he damn near dropped it on her. “Oh, shit! I’m sorry.” He lunged after the water at the same time she caught the other end and the dog dropped down beside her. “Easy, there, cowboy. Did you get injured tonight?” ~~~~~~~ Who’s helping whom? 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for ROPE A FALLING STAR: Available Wide Now Only the best stars fall… Three time bronc-riding champion Tom Colton’s dream of a fourth title ends when he draws Wooden Nickel, a mean little bronc with more twists than a maze. With his heart no longer in rodeo, he figures it’s time to go home to the Triple Star Ranch, the PTSD therapy ranch he and his dad founded to help others with trauma in their pasts. Tom just wants a little time to nurse his hurts and consider his next move. Amber Hillcrest started out as a Triple Star client and stayed on as a massage therapist. Her dog Nimbus keeps her PTSD in check, but her heart remains bruised. She knows she’s too old and too broken for love, especially with the son of her boss, but he’s hot enough to fill her fantasies for years to come. Amber tries to keep it professional between them, but Tom proves too irresistible with his big heart and charm. But someone is sabotaging the Triple Star and the neighboring Fantasy Ranch, and an ex-girlfriend keeps coming around, trying to reconnect with Tom. Tom’s hands are full of problems instead of the luscious massage therapist. But when Amber gets kidnapped, Tom will move heaven and earth to get her back and tell her how he truly feels.

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Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday: Arthur BG

Good morning! It’s another glorious Tuesday and a good time to enjoy a few hot men. Well, one in particular to start. It’s that time of year again. Cheyenne Frontier Days is back this year after the pandemic hiatus, and that means cowboys and horses will fill the streets of Cheyenne – sometimes literally. Therefore we’re getting our cowboy on. This week, the hot man has the teddy bear, but no ink. Gives us more time to appreciate that chest. 🙂 Meet Arthur BG. He’s one of PAUL HENRY SERRES PHOTOGRAPHY’s models and he makes a great bad boy, spy, cowboy, bookish boy-next-door, or rich playboy hero. Arthur is available for romance cover images to fit your taste. Want him to mosey into your life? Thanks to Paul Henry Serres Photography for the permission to share this image with all y’all. Happy Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday!

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Snippet Sunday – You’re Just Jealous

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and it’s starting to cool down in Cheyenne. This is good as I like summer but not a fan of SUMMER. It was 97 F the other day in Cheyenne and it’s too much. It’s July and that means Cheyenne Frontier Days is coming soon. We took 2020 off but they’re back to letting fools ride frustrated animals again, so I’m showing off ROPE A FALLING STAR. It’s the first book in the Triple Star Ranch series, and you can find the other two titles there as well. Tom is talking to a friend about his last bronc ride and his ex-girlfriend. He’s retiring single. ~~~~~~ Because Darlene didn’t like to lose or to be embarrassed, they’d agreed to keep the split quiet. The last thing either of them needed was a night at the bar, “reconnecting.” “I’m sure she will be.” He nodded, hesitating before he said more. Max was a rodeo cowboy, and friendly, but he wasn’t a career gossip. Still it was hard to let the words go. “Darlene and I broke up awhile back. I doubt she wants to see me much at all.” “Aw shit, seriously? I’m sorry, Tom. That sucks.” He shrugged. “It is what it is. So, yeah, I think I’m gonna head on home. If you see Darlene and the rest, give ‘em my regards. I’m not fit for company tonight.” “You sure?” Max wore an uncharacteristically concerned expression as he followed Tom toward the competitors’ trailers. “Yeah, I’m sure. I ain’t got the heart for it tonight. You have a good time and if Darlene ain’t interested, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of buckle bunnies waitin’ for a rodeo cowboy. You’re still in the runnin’.” Max didn’t preen very often, but he puffed out his chest and grinned. “Yeah, my second year to make the finals.” “It helped you got the easy rides.” Tom grinned to show he was teasing. Max had drawn some of the hardest broncs to ride this time around. Except Wooden Nickel. “Shut up.” Max laughed as he slapped Tom on the back. “You’re just jealous.” Yeah, a week ago, a month ago, hell even a year ago he might have been, but now he had to fake it so he wouldn’t let his friend down. “Yeah, maybe a little. But hell, I get to go home and soak instead of gettin’ my body all busted up from a nasty group of broncs.” ~~~~~~~ Sometimes it’s good to know when it’s time to go. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for ROPE A FALLING STAR: Available Wide Now Only the best stars fall… Three time bronc-riding champion Tom Colton’s dream of a fourth title ends when he draws Wooden Nickel, a mean little bronc with more twists than a maze. With his heart no longer in rodeo, he figures it’s time to go home to the Triple Star Ranch, the PTSD therapy ranch he and his dad founded to help others with trauma in their pasts. Tom just wants a little time to nurse his hurts and consider his next move. Amber Hillcrest started out as a Triple Star client and stayed on as a massage therapist. Her dog Nimbus keeps her PTSD in check, but her heart remains bruised. She knows she’s too old and too broken for love, especially with the son of her boss, but he’s hot enough to fill her fantasies for years to come. Amber tries to keep it professional between them, but Tom proves too irresistible with his big heart and charm. But someone is sabotaging the Triple Star and the neighboring Fantasy Ranch, and an ex-girlfriend keeps coming around, trying to reconnect with Tom. Tom’s hands are full of problems instead of the luscious massage therapist. But when Amber gets kidnapped, Tom will move heaven and earth to get her back and tell her how he truly feels.

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Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday: Joe Keller

Good morning! Welcome back to another day of beautiful men. I love doing this. And I can because it’s my blog and my rules. Aw yeah, hot man ahead. Did you enjoy Independence Day? We did nothing. It was great. We had our party on the third and kicked back on the 4th. And we lit sparklers at the end of the day. The neighbors had to light the world on fire, though. 😛 So let’s get started on something better, shall we? This week, the hot Tattooed Hero has the best of both worlds, with a teddy bear chest that makes my day. And nothing’s more American than a cowboy with a buffalo on his…belt. 😉 Meet Joe Keller. He’s a model for FURIOUS FOTOG and he’s got those amazing blue eyes. Joe is available for romance cover images of all types. I’ve seen him as a biker, a bad boy, a cowboy, a firefighter, and a sports player. You can get this tattooed hot man in all sorts of settings. You should definitely check him out. There’s something so seductive about those eyes. Thanks to Golden Czermak of Furious Fotog for the permission to share this image with all y’all. Happy Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday!

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