Amaryllis Lanza's Blog: Amaryllis Lanza Storyboard

What is power exchange in romance books?

Welcome to the Amaryllis Lanza author blog, where we embark on a journey into the enigmatic realm of dark romance books.

Prepare to be captivated by stories that delve into the intricacies of power exchange dynamics, exploring the compelling allure of desire, dominance, and submission. Let's explore the irresistible appeal of this subgenre and the thrilling emotional journey it offers to readers.

The Intricate Dance of Power Exchange

Dark romance books offer a mesmerizing exploration of power exchange dynamics within relationships. These stories unravel the intricate dance between dominant and submissive characters, capturing the intensity of control, surrender, and the negotiation of desires. By delving into the power dynamics at play, dark romance books create a rich tapestry of tension, trust, and vulnerability that keeps readers spellbound.

I don't wanna cry. I just want to hanky-panky. Nothing like a good spanky. - Madonna

https://youtu.be/5fJuWrSMSeE

Yes, there are spankings in my books! In my stories, we delve into edgy desires. They are not in any way a reflection of reality and they should not be interpreted as the author condoning any non-consensual activity. Books are a safe space for fantasy. That's it.

Unveiling the Complexity of Characters

At the heart of dark romance lies a cast of complex characters who navigate the delicate balance of power exchange. Protagonists in these stories often possess a mix of strength and vulnerability, exploring their desires and boundaries in an emotional journey of self-discovery. As readers connect with these characters, they bear witness to their growth, transformation, and the intricate emotional landscape that unfolds within the relationship through power exchange.

The Exploration of Trust and Consent

Dark romance books offer a safe space to explore the nuances of trust and consent within the context of power exchange. By examining the nuances of power, my dark romance books give readers an opportunity to explore their preferences while also enjoying the adventure of the main plot set in exciting locations and the satisfaction of the guaranteed HEA (Happily Ever After) or a Happy For Now in the case of some series.

Intense Emotional Connections

Dark romance narratives elicit a myriad of intense emotions as readers journey through the intricate power exchange dynamics. From the exhilarating thrill of relinquishing control to the deep sense of connection that emerges between the hero and the heroine, these stories evoke raw passion, longing, and emotional vulnerability. Through these emotional depths, readers find themselves irresistibly drawn into the web of desire.

Navigating Taboo and Forbidden Desires

Dark romance books provide a safe avenue for readers to explore their taboo and forbidden desires. Within the pages of these stories, readers can delve into the realms of dominance, submission, and unconventional relationships, pushing the boundaries of societal norms. Through these narratives, dark romance offers a platform to examine and challenge preconceived notions of desire and relationships.

Finding Your Next Thrilling Read

If you're eager to embark on an exhilarating journey into the captivating world of dark romance, I'm here to guide you.

Discover a diverse selection of dark romance books that expertly explore the intricacies of power exchange dynamics. Indulge in tales of desire, dominance, and submission, providing readers with unforgettable experiences in locations around the world. Find the next thrilling read that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.Step into the enigmatic world of dark romance books, where power exchange dynamics, desire, and intense emotions intertwine. Unveil the intricate dance of control, surrender, and negotiation, as complex characters explore their boundaries and desires.

My books are your portal to the captivating realm of dark romance. You can also count on my recommendations and insights in this blog to guide you on your reader journey, including books from my favorite authors.

Enter a world where forbidden desires and intense relationships reign supreme. Discover your next captivating read, where the enigmatic allure of dark romance awaits, leaving you spellbound and craving for more.

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PNR is an acronymn for Paranormal Romance, which differs from the broader Paranormal fiction genre because it first focuses on romance as the story arc, with HEA (Happily Ever After) or at least HFN (Happy for Now). But there are different types of PNR to suit reader preferences.

First let's clear up one big question: What is the difference between Paranormal Romance and Fantasy?

Fantasy, fantasy romances and paranormal romances are different genres, though they all rely on elements of magic in their world building. Traditional fantasy stories have "Middle Earth"-like settings, as inspired by The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Their core mythology may revolve around beings like elves, fairies, orcs, etc. They are primarily adventure sagas.

Fantasy romances may also use these types of characters. They could be based in the modern world or a mythical world. There are some very creative authors doing amazing things with the fantasy romance genre, including various stories of falling in love with fae.

Paranormal romances, on the other hand, mostly rely on a separate mythology and different sorts of magic. You will find a lot of shifters in this genre, vampires, witches, ghosts, etc. Many are set in some magic-infused version of the present world, with a twist.

One of my personal favorite paranormal series is the Sookie Stackhouse series, which is technically not a romance. It is more of a cozy mystery series, but there's enough heat with Bill and *fans self* Eric and Alcide there to cross the genre line a bit.

Another huge Paranormal favorite is ,pretty much ,anything my constant inspiration Anne Rice (aka A.N. Roquelaure) ever wrote. (Yes, this is an Anne Rice stan account).

What is Paranormal Romance for Adults?

This is what I write. My romance stories (PNR or ,Contemporary) are not YA (Young Adult) stories. They are explicit, steamy romances with graphic scenes, no closed doors. If you're under 18, wait a few more years to read them. There are many, many YA PNR romance stories, like the popular Crave series featuring young adult characters and YA premises, scenes and content.

There are also adult paranormal romances out there that are light and frothy, with no explicit sex, but my books are high-heat, spicy and feature possessive males.

When it comes to magical worldbuilding for my Everlasting Springs series, I decided to have a bit of a free for all. The main stories revolve around paranormal wolf shifters and vampires, but this magical town in Florida is a magical magnet. You'll find a little bit of everything living there, from deities to elves, fae, sirens, a unicorn, plus all sorts of shifters. One of my characters in the The Wolf's Flame asked: "Are there gorilla shifters?" to which another character replied. "I don't know. Maybe?" There are definitely myriad-shifters in this world, a term I pulled out of my hat for shifters who can become anything.

Genre lines aside, my imagination has a huge sign on her: "Don't fence me in!"

I just let her have whatever she wants and I find the results frequently amusing.

I hope readers feel the same.

What are some of your favorite PNR Books? Share them in the comments!

No. But it helps.

Here's all you need to know about possessive, aggressive, sometimes obsessive alpha male romance heroes:

Alpha male romance heroes aren't monoliths. Or, they shouldn't be anyway. Some can be fierce, and others can be pretty sweet. What they tend to have in common is that they need to be in charge, and they are fiercely protective of their heroines.

So what about the Jerks?

When I wrote the Jerks of Miami, I wanted to create a collection of standalone dark romance stories with intense, sometimes uneven power exchange, suspense, sizzling scenes, and hard edges. That meant these Jerks had to be on the meaner side of the dark romance spectrum. But they all vary.

Mark Finley in Bound to the Jerk , Jerks of Miami Book One, is a bit of an alphahole. But he has a protective, nurturing essence that ultimately wins over his unwilling bride Katrina Sanchez. That's after they go through many misunderstandings, angst, and friction, leading to loads of steamy, edgy scenes. Erik Rowland in Sinning with the Jerk , Jerks of Miami Book Two, is a bit of a sadist. That's just right for our heroine Cynthia Lopez who is a masochist. This book is a Persephone retelling, so Cynthia faces a trip to hell and back. Still, Erik does have some surprising redeeming qualities, and after dispatching their enemies, they get their HEA. This book has many triggers (self-harm, violence and human trafficking) so be forewarned. Patrick Black in Temping for the Jerk , Jerks of Miami Book Three, is the ultimate grumpy boss, an intimidating, muscular Conan of a man with zero sense of humor. That is how he gets involved with our heroine Ana Rosa Silva, expert grump tamer, in the first place. Her attraction to him is undeniable, but is it reciprocated? Though there's some humor in all the Jerks books (more on that later), this one was expressly written as a very steamy, sizzling rom-com. Antonio Prince in Hounded by the Jerk , Jerks of Miami Book Four, is a privileged prick and a bit of a stalker, but our savvy heroine Josie Whitty has his number. These childhood friends turned enemies turned lovers go through some very hard times in this book but come out the other side as better people. Lucas Torres in Faking with the Jerk , Jerks of Miami Book Five, is an inscrutable and insufferable alphahole, on the surface. Our independent and feisty heroine Charlotte Taylor keeps scratching until she finds the gold buried underneath all that coal in his heart. Juan Ruiz in Sheltered with the Jerk , Jerks of Miami Book Six, is a grump and a killer. This special forces man has no patience for nonsense. Jenny Banks is a party girl who is nothing but trouble at the worst possible time—just as hurricane Hank descends on South Florida. Their age gap and personal differences make any relationship impossible—or do they? This book has rough scenes and covers some difficult topics. Trigger warnings for death and mental illness. Dark romance and dark humor.

My Jerks series features unreliable narrators. They are confessionals written entirely from our heroines' point of view, as if you heard a story from a girlfriend.

As one Amazon reviewer wrote about Bound to the Jerk:

Rosario M. Barrera 5.0 out of 5 stars, Back to high school

Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2021

Katrina and Mark’s story is actually very funny. Told from her point of view, you just know she’s got some things a little bit skewed, but well… then. Mark is funny, so is his grandfather, Tuck. It was a great read. Recommended.

That's all my fault, I'm afraid. I have a dark, twisted sense of humor that shines through in these books. So when you read my books, you'll be shocked, you'll cry, you'll be turned on, you'll be turned off, and you'll be laughing—not necessarily in that order.

These aren't my only alpha male heroes, of course. All my books feature men who like to take charge and women who like to test their limits. But I confess, I love these Jerks. I had a great deal of fun writing them.

Stuck in the lost town of Everlasting Springs, FL, along with my favorite characters.

I have good news for those who have already read Claimed by Fate: An Alpha Shifter Romance, Book One of my Everlasting Springs Alpha-male Paranormal Romance Series. Book Two is going through editorial review with my publishers at Stormy Night Publications. Book Three is coming along nicely—almost done.

Spending so much time lost in this little town, I’m learning more about its residents than I knew when I first drafted these stories years ago. Like my Billionaire Spy Series, this paranormal romance languished on my computer, waiting for me to be ready to dive deep into world-building.

I was inspired to write Everlasting Springs based on somewhere I lived for a while when I was in Florida. When I first drafted the stories that led to these books, I visualized these characters living there. I made a map of the fictional town based on the sites that stuck most with me from that place. I imagined the people I met while I lived there as the background characters that framed the neighborly feel of the town. But the world of Everlasting Springs is like a nautilus. There are many hidden layers and chambers to be uncovered.

Everlasting Springs is the ideal place to explore magical possibilities, and the result so far has been gratifying. As a huge fan of PNR, I wanted to write something I’d longed to read which wasn’t available. That’s the treat of being a writer. When a particular type of story is missing, you make it up.

I have my views on the nature of werewolves, vampires, shifters, fae, and other magical creatures you wouldn’t imagine were all stuck together in this lost little town. These characters are both powerful and vulnerable. They’re passionate, animalistic, and sometimes feral. They live by different rules, guided by their natures, and those natures are in constant conflict. Don’t expect them to conform to convention. They will do what their natures demand.

I knew the stakes should be high—the town’s very survival, the risk that the outside world would infiltrate and ruin it, that magical beings could become extinct. Then I decided the town’s people should have a role to play in whatever happens to them and a hard deadline to make it happen. That’s how the blood moon ritual came about. It’s where they are all headed. With each book, they come closer to understanding what the blood moon ritual means for them. This deadline becomes the foundation for new relationships and new tensions in the town. It also reveals more secrets about how Everlasting Springs came to be, who these characters are, and what they do when fate ignores their wishes and twists their plans into knots.

These books are intense, so please note the trigger warnings. The first book includes dubcon and CNC kinks. The strong language fits the intensity of the story and the nature of the characters. I’ll tell you more about the others when they publish, but all these books include elements of power exchange, often uneven, and they are graphic. If you’re not comfortable with these themes or story elements, you may not enjoy the books. That’s okay. There are plenty of books to read that are milder. I’ve even written some of them.

What do you enjoy most about reading paranormal romance books? What stories do you wish were out there but can’t find?

I get asked this question often: what is Dark Romance, really? Depending on who you ask, you'll get a variety of answers. Your tastes may vary, but this is what Dark Romance is to me.

I write all shades of romance books, from dark to light and frothy. But there's a good reason I enjoy the darker corners.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/359261_d52f0886394341568a1b9dd30b4fa161/1080p/mp4/file.mp41. Dark Romance is a form of Gothic Romance

It is a blend of the Romance and Horror genres. Both of these genres are written to elicit strong emotions. They excite the mind in very different ways, but produce a similar sense of satisfaction in their conclusion.

In either finding true love, or overcoming a horrible set of circumstances, there is a sense of relief and joy for the characters and the reader.

By the way, the paranormal dark romance I'm working on right now is the most Gothic book I've written yet—very Evanescence.

https://youtu.be/5anLPw0Efmo2. Dark Romance explores dark themes and features flawed characters.

I would describe characters in Dark Romance books as the broken, the breaking, and the doomed. Their flawed perspective is shaped by their life experience. These characters are relatable because of their imperfections. We may not share their experiences, and we many not agree with some of their points of view, but we are interested in learning how they overcome the darkness.

The Dark Romance story revolves around how love changes their lives for the better, resulting in a HEA (happily ever after).

3. Dark Romance will include triggers for pain, abuse, criminality—including negative and even reproachable behavior.

Because Dark Romance explores some unpleasant corners of life, and tells the story of people who are experiencing (or have experienced) trauma, these books will include elements that might trigger some readers. I might be able to read (or write) a book that features some violent acts but not be triggered by it. Another reader will read the same thing and find it triggering.

We are still coming to an understanding on what constitutes an adequate trigger warning, but I believe it is important to include trigger warnings.

I see a lot of dialogue on this online and I believe that romance authors are eager to get it right. One of the challenges for authors is in knowing how to identify all the content elements which might be triggering to individual readers and then communicate that in the short space available for a blurb. I try to overcome that limitation by offering more details on the possible triggers in my books on my website.

I believe the best thing is to remember that Dark Romance books are often at least the equivalent of a Rated R horror movie and in some cases a Rated X film with gruesome horror elements. No one under the age of 18 should read these books. That is not my target reader when I write—I write adult romances.

Take the trigger warnings for my books seriously. As an author, I don't want to hurt my readers. If you are concerned that a book might be too triggering, then don't buy or read it. After all, even with these dark themes the book is meant to be a form of entertainment.

For example, in ,Sinning with the Jerk, Jerks of Miami Book Two, I deal with the horrors of human trafficking and include characters who are utterly despicable, committing callous acts of violence. I do not glorify, soften or try to gloss over the terrible nature of these acts. As a result, it can be a raw and difficult book to read for some. It may seem too dehumanizing. But, again, that is the setting. The criminals involved in this trade are immoral and inhumane. They are also defeated. The story doesn't revolve around them. It is the story of the people who vanquish them. But for some readers, that content, regardless of how it is resolved or framed, can be triggering. If you're unsure, skip this one. Read one of my other lighter books instead. I recommend the romance comedy ,Temping for the Jerk, Jerks of Miami Book Three.

4. Dark Romance heroes are sometimes anti-heroes, characters who, on the surface, seem irredeemable, hateful or even evil.

It's one thing to have evil antagonists in a story, and another to have heroes who do things that seem wrong, twisted, or evil. That is another feature of Dark Romance books—they may include anti-heroes.

For example, in ,The Unkindness, Charlie "Cailean" Green is a warrior—a former U.S. special forces Army Ranger who runs a private defence firm. He is a killer, and he accepts and embraces that side of himself. It makes him a hard man who does some shocking things, but Charlie is not a one dimensional being. He has redeeming qualities which allow him to evolve during our story and find true love. His love interest Sandy Fine has suffered a terrible trauma (trigger warning for victims of sexual assault), together they get justice and heal.

5. Ultimately, Dark Romance is a story of redemption and a story of hope.

Dark Romance is about how characters survive dark places and dark deeds, how the experience changes them, and how love helps our characters overcome their trauma. That is part of the appeal to me. It's the same reason that I really enjoy the horror genre. Looking evil in the eye, and not succumbing to it, can be a very satisfying story.

That is what Dark Romance is to me. It may not apply universally and your preferences may vary but that's what you'll find in my books.

What is appealing about Dark Romance to you? Tell me in the comments!

I've got my own list of must-haves, but I'm really curious about yours.

I still remember the first time I heard Bonnie Tyler sing out her list of must-haves for the alpha male romance hero she'd hold out for indefinitely.

I thought, 'Yeah... that's a good start.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWcASV2sey0Holding out for a Hero (Lyrics)

Where have all the good men goneAnd where are all the gods?Where's the streetwise HerculesTo fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steedLate at night, I toss and I turnAnd I dream of what I need

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the nightHe's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning lightHe's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soonAnd he's gotta be larger than lifeLarger than life

read more...

Composer: Jim Steinman

Lyricist: Dean Pitchford

I've been writing alpha male heroes for Bonnie Tyler ever since...

Immediately, that song sparked something in my young writer's imagination. Bonnie was on to something (although, if you notice the song was written by two men). Still, every alpha male character I've written since then has tried to live up to those expectations.

A few of the heroes in my Billionaire Spy billionaire alpha male romance books and alpha male military romance book series would make Bonnie's toes curl.

But I have refined the alpha male must-have list a bit. Protective Possessive Powerful Playful Patient

To me, power is sexy and power exchange is so very, very hot, but so is tenderness.

There has to be some sweet kernel in the heart of my alpha male heroes, some believable, compelling reason why my leading ladies would fall head-over-heels for them..eventually. Even if the heroes are jerks sometimes, some of my alpha male heroes are light and others are dark, but they're all tender..eventually.

My strong and feisty leading ladies wouldn't settle for a bully alpha male romance hero, unless there is something redeemable down deep inside.

I have a new alpha male curvy girl romance book coming out this month—Temping for the Jerk, Jerks of Miami Book 3—which a prime example of a bully alpha male (Patrick "Conan" Black, an exceptionally grumpy boss) who can be redeemed with the right persuasion.

Playfulness is also essential, in my opinion. I like when my alpha males tickle a bit. Funny alpha men are also very sexy and I can't seem to keep some humor from coming out, even my darkest books. That's just something in my nature. I sometimes laugh when I'm nervous and I've been known to laugh uncontrollably when feeling vulnerable or sad. Humor (even gallows humor) is as natural to me as breathing, so that's bound to show up in all my writing. (In my 'day-job' I've been known to make dry news funny).

True confession...dark turns me on.

I'm less of a Superman girl and more of a Batman girl, and I mean specifically Batman Dark Knight. That's just my fancy. I kinda like it if my alpha male romance heroes get a little mean, even a little scary sometimes. Like Bonnie, I want my heroes fresh from the fight. Some of them are even bloody.

I just don't personally like it when villains win. Villains need to exist, for the purpose of drama, but I don't put them in the leading role of a romance book if they will never change. I just don't like irredeemable characters. In fact, I don't like when any character gets to the end of one of my stories unchanged. To me, that just defies the whole purpose of a story—to show growth and change through trials and tribulations. It really makes any sort of HEA unbelievable and unacceptable.

So, here are my hard-limits on dark...

(I might write edgy stuff that will unsettle some, but I do believe in hard-limits.) :

mafia alpha male romance books (nom-nom, yes! Check out Sinning with the Jerk ) mean alpha male romance books (My inner brat defines mean in many ways so all of my heroes can be mean from time to time—while doling out some discipline. But none of them are merely cruel and vicious for cruelty's-sake, and none of them are abusive alpha-holes. If you think you've stumbled into one in my books, give the guy a minute. He'll surprise you!) jealous possessive alpha male romance books (Oh, my, yes please! If a hero isn't possessive there's something wrong in my book. Actually, the exception is Rick Curtis in my alpha male military menage The Watch who is a wonderful man and just an absolutely delectable hard Dom, who likes to share, but...no spoilers!) OTT alpha male romance books (All my guys are OTT and also OTK. Definitely larger than life, just as Bonnie Tyler would have it.) dark supernatural alpha male romance books and dark paranormal alpha male romance books (Yes, please. More of that. Check out my new series of alpha male shifter romance books!) dominant alpha male romance books (obviously!) and dangerous alpha male romance books (again, sí claro) broken alpha male romance books ( Hello, Charlie! I love you, my dear. ) and broody alpha male romance books ( Hi Will! My eternal love, my heart .) BUT abusive, cruel, vicious, irredeemable Dicks will only feature as villains and may not survive the plot!

You will find some very shocking things and some very uncomfortable scenes in some of my books—I don't hold back in the dark, and angst, so much angst. But the reward for all that suffering is that somehow the light shines through. At the end of the day, it's what I believe. Things can be ugly and downright nasty sometimes, but no night is eternal. The sun always shines.

If that's what you're into, then welcome to my fictional worlds you're going to love it here!

As Bonnie Tyler would sing...

Somewhere after midnightIn my wildest fantasySomewhere, just beyond my reachThere's someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunderAnd rising with the heatIt's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet, yeah

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the nightHe's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning lightHe's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soonAnd he's gotta be larger than life

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

Up where the mountains meet the heavens aboveOut where the lightning splits the seaI could swear there is someone, somewhere watching meThrough the wind and the chill and the rainAnd the storm and the flood

I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood(Like a fire in my blood, like a fire in my bloodLike a fire in my blood, like a fire in my blood, blood)

jam with the rest...

Now back to my latest alpha male hero (he's former military, a bit of a jerk, very mean and very, very, very hot).

Before I go... Pretty please tell me in the comments what you look for in an alpha male romance book hero. After all, I write for your pleasure.

Oh, and if you'd like to see who I see has hero potential...Check out my dedicated Pinterest Board .

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the nightHe's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning lightHe's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soonAnd he's gotta be larger than life

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the nightHe's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning lightHe's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soonAnd he's gotta be larger than life

I need a heroI'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

Happy Holidays! As I prepare for pleasantly warm end of year festivities and a very steamy 2022, I wanted to thank you for your support throughout 2021 and share a few hot updates.

We had our first snow here, although it looks like we won't get a white Christmas as the weather is warming up again.

It's going to be a very hyggeligt little holiday for my husband and me (and the kitties). I've planned some Danish adaptations of traditional Latin American fare for Christmas, tapas for New Year's Eve and Spanish paella for New Year's day.

Visit my home this Christmas

This Christmas I got a little homesick (morriña) by writing the Navidad Novella Hooked on Noel Again. That was my contribution to the 12 Naughty Days of Christmas published by Blushing Books.

The novella is set in my home region of Galicia, Spain, and inspired by the fishing village where I grew up. I made up pretty much everything else, but it is truly a beautiful, magical part of the world. Take a trip to the Celtic kingdom you probably haven't heard much about, and enjoy this steamy story of redemption and second-chance love.

https://youtu.be/mm-XgZ_61H4

All the stories from the talented authors in this anthology are fun, sexy, naughty reads ranging from sweet to super caliente. I highly recommend it!

A Bittersweet Hasta Pronto for the Billionaire Spy

A Bounty of Blood and Betrayal, Book Seven in the Billionaire Spy series, was released at the end of November. If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, please do! It's a whirlwind ride that will get your heart pumping! Will and Mariana get their much-deserved HEA. This is a bittersweet book to me. I hate to leave these characters as they've become good friends over the years.

https://youtu.be/UiEt6H5i9Pk

I have other stories sketched out in this world, but I'm putting them on the shelf for now. A reader asked whether I might write some short stories based in this world, and it's something I'm considering too. Let's just say it's not really goodbye, more like hope to see you again soon (hasta pronto).

Wild Horses of Lagrimas is coming!

I got a great early Christmas treat from Blushing Books, signing the contract for Her Bratva Cowboy, the first book in my new mafia/cowboy/DDlgMatchmakingAcademy (I know that's a lot!) genre blend series: Wild Horses of Lagrimas.

In this first book, you'll meet the worst waitress in Lagrimas (possibly all of Texas) Olivia Platt (who is really the runaway Bratva Princess Anastasia Volokov). She's discovered at Adele's Fried Pies by one of her Bratva Pakhan father's bulls (bodyguards). Her father wants her back. He wants her more.

You won't believe what happens next! (There are hens involved and some cracked eggs.) It's a steamy, slow-burn, enemies to lovers action-packed story with a very sweet HEA.

All the books in this series will be standalone romances with cross-over characters. You'll get to know the hard cowboy Daddies of the BRB Ranch and the wayward Littles of the Wild Horses Institute really well.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/359261_547af16dbc9a469cac86504d73ace774/1080p/mp4/file.mp4More Jerks of Miami in 2022!

Temping for the Jerk, the third Jerks of Miami book will come out in January and more Jerks will follow in 2022. I'm currently working on the sixth book in this series—an extremely hot forced-proximity age-gap romance. When Hurricane Hank strikes, and the world ends, anything can happen between the party-girl Jenny Banks and the no-nonsense former soldier Juan Ruiz.

Expect a New Year surprise!

I had set a certain writing goal for myself in 2021 and I've met it. That includes a surprise I'll reveal in January. I won't say much more for now than: ,expect a storm of scalding hot,, ,,shifters.

My goal for 2022 is to bring you all of the above plus one more wild world I've been nursing in my imagination for a long while. I'm hopeful that it will find the right home.

What are your holiday plans? I hope whatever you're doing (cozy or fancy) brings you joy!

Looking forward to 2022 as a year full of steam, naughtiness, and true love.

I've got a bit of an unintended recurring theme in my books: men who rock in the kitchen. How do you feel about Heroes who sizzle more than the BBQ?

I didn't set out to do this, I swear, and I have no idea how it happened, but I've written enough books now to recognize a trend. A good number of my heroes are just as hot in the kitchen as they are everywhere else.

William Wilson Smith, the leading alpha of the Billionaire Spy Series, is not just an arborist, a magnate and a spy, he also has mad chef skills. Which is fortunate, because his wife Mariana definitely does not.

Rick Curtis, the special-ops Hawk who rescues our wayward Pollyanna Sonnenschein in The Watch may be a hard man and a harder Dom, but he's also a big fan of cooking shows and whips up delicious Caribbean dishes for Polly. Daddy Jenkins cooks meals for her too, and is handy with a wooden spoon when she gets fussy.

Noel Castañeda (you will meet him this Christmas!) is a fisherman and pretty great catch himself, despite a wild temperament. He's chock-full of secret recipes for traditional Galician dishes which he serves up to his beloved Maribel.

Paul Arrow (coming soon-ish) can hunt his own gator then fry it up in a pan, (chicken-fried steak style, after marinating it in buttermilk). He keeps his fated mate Amalia very full and satisfied.

And Alexei Bogatyrev, the hero of my latest work in process, just made a nice Western Omelette for his gal, Anastasia. It's a sweet harkening back to the day he first found her living her new life as the worst waitress in Lagrimas, TX.

I have no idea why this seems to happen so often. I don't do it deliberately. What happens when I write is I let the characters be themselves, as they advance from scene to scene, through my key plot points. I only report on what they get up to and try to gently urge (or kick) them back to my plot if they roam too far.

Some of them get hungry along the way, I guess, and decide to do something about it.

So how do you feel about heroes who cook for their leading ladies? Hot or very hot?

Oh, my gosh.

I can't believe it's been a year since my very first book released!

Secrets and Seduction, Billionaire Spy One, was based on books which had languished on my computer for a decade, waiting for the day when I'd have the courage to polish, edit and submit to a publisher. It only took a pandemic to make it happen.

And what a year it has been!

Since the release of this first book, I've submitted six others in this series, and five of them are already out. The seventh book releases next month. This book satisfactorily wrap-ups up the series with an HEA for Will and Mariana, answers niggling questions, and it's seven hecks of emotional rollercoaster action.

Is that the end for the Billionaire Spy? Really, that depends on readers. I have at least five more books sketched out, based in the Billionaire Spy world. They are standalone love stories from other beloved supporting characters, as well as future adventures for Will and Mariana, Charlie and Sandy.

I love this fictional world and could probably keep writing in it indefinitely, but I'm also working on other projects—including the sexy, dark, twisted, funny Jerks of Miami series.

Book Two of the Jerks comes out this Friday, and it is a very dark, very rich, heart-pounding trip to Hell. This book is a Persephone re-telling, just in time for Halloween. Warning: there are significant triggers in this second Jerks story, including consensual non-consent, BDSM, heavy power change, and violence. Here's a peek at the cover:

I also have new books, set in other worlds, I've been working on over the past year and can't wait to share with you. Stay tuned for those!

So look out for Billionaire Spy Series Book Seven next month. I hope you enjoy it, and let me know if you want more. (Tell your friends to read the books that are out there!)

Thanks for sharing this writing adventure with me! ❤️

Here are some tips on what to read in what order for the Billionaire Spy Series

Updated 15 December 2021

The Billionaire Spy Series is a world onto itself, with a rich cast of characters, all of them interrelated.

Our primary Hero and Heroine are Will and Mariana. Their story starts with Book One: Secrets and Seduction. It's a sweet-hot read that sets-up the stories that follow. However, each book in the series is a complete adventure, taking us from one crisis that the lovers confront to a happy for now conclusion. Codes and Consequences, Book 2, picks up shortly after the end of Book One as the couple begins their life together, trying to work out the kinks in a long-distance relationship. Pride and Punishment Book 3, picks up just after that and ties up a number of loose ends in the world of Will and Mariana with big reward for all their trouble. You can enjoy each book independently, but the best experience comes from reading Books 1-3 in order. You can get started with Book One on Kindle Unlimited, or buy it for 99¢.

Charlie's Hawks

Books 4, 5 and 6 are independent stories, based in this same world, that follow the love affairs of three separate sets of supporting characters. All of them are killer stories, because they involve Charlie's Hawks—a private special forces and VIP protection firm. They are stand-alone love stories, each with an HEA. They also have darker themes, elements of danger, possible triggers, and are generally more intense than Books 1-3.

The Unkindness, Book 4, follows the relationship between Cailean "Charlie" Green (Will's best friend and right hand man) and Sandy Fine (Mariana's business partner). It is a very dark and very hot book and happens to be one of my favourites. (Okay, I love them all, but this one just... it's special). If you are comfortable with darker themes, more intense BDSM play, and a bit of violence, then you might love this book as much as I do. It takes place during the same timeline as Books 1-3, though it's all about Charlie and Sandy, and it does introduce new characters who have roles to play in Books 5 and 6. You can enjoy Book 4 on its own merit, without having to read the rest of the series, but there are Easter eggs inside for series readers.

The Cauldron, Book 5 is also an independent story. Here we meet Angel Fleming (Mariana's body guard in Los Angeles, a former Navy SEAL, and Charlie's right hand in the Hawks) and Marisol Gutierrez who have much more in common than either of them imagine. Their love affair is intense and introduces us to more of the Flemming clan, which will be a treat for series readers. However, this book stands on its own. The storyline is not impacted very much by whatever is going on with the other characters in this world. The world timeline is from the beginning of Book One through to around Book Two.

The Watch, Book 6, is a very steamy menage, which answers a lingering question in the subplot from Book 4—what the heck happened to the rose girl? We meet the problematic kitten Pollyanna Sonnenschein, who gets on the very wrong side of Cailean Green in Book Four but is ultimately saved from a terrible fate by the strict Dom Hawk Rick Curtis and the even stricter Daddy Dom Gardener Jenkins. We get more trips to visit the sexy Doms at No Name too. Even if you haven't read Book 4 you will enjoy Book 6. It stands on its own, but because the storylines intertwine, it couldn't hurt to read both Book 4 and Book 6 together.

Calling all Eagles

A Bounty of Blood and Betrayal, Book 7 brings all our eagles home to roost for Will and Mariana. It's a heck of a dark and twisted tale which takes us to the Greystones' Castle Gwaed (Castle Blood) in Wales. All our favorite characters come along on this wild ride, and a new surprising and sexy killer is introduced. You won't believe who she is or what she does—all I can say is don't trust the rainbow. Will and Mariana get their HEA and all is good with the world, in the very end.

Remember: The whole series is available on Kindle Unlimited, so you can enjoy all seven books! A number of the books (1 & 4-7) are also available as paperbacks, if you'd prefer to hold a copy in your hands.

Is that really the end for the Billionaire Spy?

Well, as I've written before, I've had other side stories sketched out in this world (standalone romances plus one more adventure each for Will and Mariana, Charlie and Sandy). I'd like to write them at some point, but will be up to readers to decide when.

Let me know through sales and reviews and I'll get right on that!