Welcome Naima Simone!

I'm so excited to welcome Naima Simone to the blog. Naima is one of the loveliest young ladies I've ever known. Anyone in her presence more than a minute will immediately feel better. She brings joy.

And Naima also write fabulous romance. Not only does she write deliciously steamy romance for Elora's Cave, she got a new romantic suspense series from Entangle Publishing. I was fortunate enough to read an ARC of Secrets and Sins: Gabriel, which released last week. What a fabulous, emotional, and suspenseful story! I was thrilled to give a quote for it. And what about the cover? Oh my!

So please give a very warm welcome to one of my favorite people, Naima Simone!

Thou Shalt Not…

Thank you so much, Christy, for letting me visit with you and your readers today! I’m so excited as you are one of my absolute favorite romantic suspense authors. You’re right up there with Ella Grace! :-D

So as the granddaughter and daughter of pastors—does that make me a PK² ?—I spent a looot of time in church while growing up. And most of it was spent trying to avoid my mother’s “Death Stare” beamed from the choir stand all the way to the back of the church where I sat. The woman possessed a sixth sense when it came to my whispering, note-passing shenanigans! She was downright scary. Because I was young, much of the messages went totally over my head…except when Grandpop or Daddy started talking about “the bad stuff” people did.

Sin.

A hush would fall over the church...well aside from the low, knowing murmurings of “Mmhmm” and “Say it, Pastor”. The sudden quiet, whispering and sidelong glances clued me in that whatever Grandpop and Daddy were talking about, it was goooood. Cain did what to his brother? So what exactly did David do with Bathsheba? Solomon had how many wives??

Sin.

If someone dropped it in a room full of people, all the chatter would probably die down so everyone could try and catch the titillating details of who did the deed, just how sinful it was and if they were caught. The word causes a shudder to ripple down people’s spines. Stirs images of lascivious activity in their imaginations. Clenches their stomachs in anxiety or fear. It’s a lovely, terrible, delicious word…

We have a tendency to create a hierarchy of sin. Adultery is not as heinous as murder. Lying isn’t as terrible as stealing. But sin doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It always affects others. It spills over, tainting, altering…even killing…

In my new romantic suspense Secrets and Sins: Gabriel released from Entangled Publishing, Gabriel Devlin and his three best friends became guardians of a dark secret because of a terrible sin. This transgression changed their lives, altered who they once were to the men they matured into. After receiving an anonymous letter, Leah Bannon, a private investigator and Gabriel’s friend, decides to open the cold case revolving around the disappearance of her uncle. Now, in spite of his growing—and resented—attraction toward her, Gabriel has to keep her from discovering the truth and protecting a pact made decades earlier.

Are you tempted yet? How about this? On top of the big giveaway at the end of the tour, I’m also offering up a separate $10 Amazon Gift Card for this stop! Just leave a comment naming one of the 7 Deadly Sins and your email address, and I’ll randomly choose a winner.

Also, don’t forget through July 24^th you have a chance to enter a giveaway for a $30 Amazon Gift Card and a “Boston Strong” swag pack! Just go HERE to enter the Rafflecopter on the HOME page!

Secrets and Sins: Gabriel

“Emotional, suspenseful, and sexy, with wonderful characters…”—Christy Reece, New York Times Bestselling Author

Twenty years ago, Leah Bannon’s beloved Uncle Richard vanished without a trace. Leah, now a private investigator, begins to suspect it was murder. When she reopens the cold case, Gabriel Devlin—-the man she loves but can never have—-inexplicably stands in her way.

Only four people know the truth about Richard’s mysterious disappearance—-Gabriel and three childhood friends...who have all sworn to take that secret to the grave. But a hidden enemy wants those shocking secrets brought to light...even if he has to kill to make it happen.

After experiencing an unimaginable loss two years ago, Gabriel refuses to put himself through the pain of loving someone who could be gone in an instant. But as he thwarts Leah’s investigation at every turn—-both to keep his friends’ pact, and to keep her safe from danger—-the sexy PI makes it impossible for him to protect his secrets. Or his heart...

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Naima Simone is a multi-published author in contemporary and erotic romance. She’s a member of RWA’s Southern Magic chapter, mother of the Dynamic Duo, lover of everything Vin Diesel and wife to the fabulous husband who tolerates this affair. Come visit Naima on her website, Facebook, Twitter  and Goodreads.

Recommend Monday

Good Monday All!

Hope you had a fun weekend, enhanced with some really great reads.

If you didn't get the chance yet, be sure to read my post before this one to see what's going on in my writing life. I also addressed several questions I've received about the future of LCR. If it doesn't answer all your questions, you know you can always ask.

I haven't mentioned this here yet, but I am going to be at the RWA conference in Atlanta, which begins two weeks from Wednesday. (Anyone else surprised that it's already July?!) I'll be at the literacy signing on Wednesday night, so if you're there, I hope you'll come by and say hey. Would love to meet you. I'll have chocolate! Oh, and books too. :)

Since I've got myself scheduled so tightly with three different series, I'm not going to be online very much the next few months. However Recommend Monday is a must, so you'll always hear from me then. Also, stayed tuned for a 4th of July announcement and a special giveaway you won't want to miss!

Tomorrow I have a special guest visiting on the blog. Naima Simone is one of my Southern Magic chaptermates and is one of the loveliest and most vibrant people I know. She has a new romantic suspense series with Entangled Publishing and the first book, Secrets and Sins: Gabriel came out last week. I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of the book and loved it! I hope you'll make a point of coming by tomorrow and learning more about Naima and her wonderful books.

Since I've been concentrating on writing, I've not had a lot of time to read lately. However, I have been listening to Ella Grace's MIDNIGHT SECRETS on audio and am surprised by how much I am enjoying it considering I know everything that's going to happen. Other than one particular voice, the narrator is doing a great job. I especially love the way she reads Aunt Gibby. If you have the book on Kindle, you can purchase the audio for $3.99, which is what I did. Works great on my phone!

Okay, that's it for me. I hope you'll come back tomorrow and chat with Naima. And don't forget to come by on July 4 for a fun giveaway.

Have a great Monday all. Now, tell us what we should be reading!

A long post in which Christy answers questions, clears up misunderstandings, and discusses the future.

Hi Everyone!

I've received so many emails regarding the LCR series, where it's headed, what I'm working on, and what's up next, I thought a general post might be helpful. Feel free to ask me questions here or you can always email me or message me on Facebook or Twitter.

Disclaimer: Keep in mind that these are my plans for right now. Life has a tendency to throw curve balls when we least expect them. However, unless something drastically changes, this is my writing agenda for the foreseeable future.

Let me address the most asked about issues first:

Q) The ending of CHANCES ARE was either a cliff hanger, a new beginning, or the end of the LCR series. Which was it? 

A) I'm so sorry for the confusion on this. What's in my mind as clear and concise doesn't always come across that way on paper. The LCR series is definitely not ending. However, in a way, it is a new beginning for the series. While writing CHANCES ARE, I realized that people who had never read an LCR book might find it daunting to pick up #10 in the series. Also, I really wanted/needed to attract new readers to the series. So it was a delicate balance for me to bring long-time LCR readers up to date on previous couples without alienating new readers and making them feel lost.

My thought process was two-fold. If a person had never read any of the previous LCR books, I hoped she would like the book well enough to go back and read the previous nine. However, I wanted to give a reader the option of picking up CHANCES ARE and being able to read it and future books without feeling as though she was missing something if she didn't read the previous books. As I said, a delicate balance.

The ending of CHANCES ARE was a way for me to show that more books were coming (I obviously didn't do that well enough) and to get readers excited about new characters and new books.

Q) Why is Noah leaving? Will he not be part of LCR anymore?

A) Noah McCall is and always will be the leader of Last Chance Rescue. He will just be running the operation from a different location. As I was writing CHANCES ARE, I started thinking about Samara's family. If you'll remember in RETURN TO ME, she's very close with them. Now that she and Noah have two children, wouldn't she want them to see their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins more often? And if there's one thing Noah McCall wants to do, it's to make his Mara happy. Having them living in Paris when her family is in Virginia just seemed wrong. Hence the move.

And LCR is growing. You'll see some of your favorite characters running branch offices and a few who aren't with the organization any longer may be returning. The future is brighter than ever for the Last Chance Rescue organization.

Q) When will the next LCR book be out and who will it feature?

A) The next LCR book is RUNNING ON EMPTY, featuring Sabrina Fox and Declan Steele. As you'll remember from CHANCES ARE, Sabrina is an LCR operative and, in Angela's opinion, possibly the most lethal operative in the organization. Declan Steele is a man from Sabrina's past. So far, there's a tremendous amount of angst and action in the first few chapters. I think you're going to love these two vulnerable but damaged people. But be warned, Declan is a very damaged and bitter man--with good reason. You might not like him at the beginning but I promise you, that will change. :)

To give you a small taste, here's the first line of RUNNING ON EMPTY: 

Declan Steele returned from the dead a changed man.

Sound intriguing? I hope so! I don't have a release date for this book. Since I'm self publishing them, giving exact dates is impossible. Also, I have another project ahead of it, which makes predicting a possible release date even more difficult. Just be sure to check my website and blog from time to time to keep up with what's going on. Also, make sure you sign up for my newsletter. I will send out an announcement to all subscribers on the day of a new book release.

Q) What about other LCR books?

A) After RUNNING ON EMPTY, the next book is RUNNING SCARED featuring Justin Kelly and Riley Grant. Then it's RUNNING WILD, which is Aidan Thorne's story. After these three are released, I truly do not know. The series may end or I might keep it going, depending upon the interest.

Q) You have another project you're working on? What's that about?

A) Yes, I'm writing a new book, that may or may not be the beginning of a new series. It just depends on how the first one pans out. If it does turn into a series, I only have two books in mind so far. However, I hope to meet some new characters in the midst of writing (like I did with Last Chance Rescue books) and write their stories, too.

The first book, NOTHING TO LOSE, features Kennedy O'Connell and Nick Gallagher. The second book, A MATTER OF JUSTICE, features Grey Justice and an as yet unnamed heroine. Details are murky, sketchy, and mushy, so stayed tuned as my muse whispers the story to me.

I am incredibly excited about this new book. Story content will be similar to LCR books in that it will be full of action, suspense, and steamy romance.  Can't wait till I can tell you more about it. So far, I will say it is the most emotionally charged and angst-filled book I have ever written and I am head over heels in love with my characters. Yay!

Q) Will there be more Wildefire books?

A) Yes, I do intend to write Sabrina's story, MIDNIGHT SHADOWS. I also want to write a story for Brody James, Logan Wright, and Josh Adams, Zach's half-brother. I think you'll understand why I definitely need to write one for Brody and Logan once you read MIDNIGHT LIES. And though Josh hasn't started talking to me yet, I have a vague story idea for him so hopefully by the time I'm ready to write his book, he'll be willing to talk.

Q) And then what?

A) I have 3 books I finished years ago that I really want to get out to you. The first two need some serious editing. Oddly enough, the third one is almost ready but I can't release it until I finish the first two since it is a connected trilogy. These books are heavy romance with a healthy dose of suspense. I'd love to think I could get these out to you sometime next year. Fingers and toes crossed!

Q) Anything else?

A) Every day it seems there's something new, which is totally thrilling to me. I have an idea for another romantic suspense and possibly a sexy anthology to introduce it. Will have to wait and see what Agatha says. You know she's the boss of me!

What did I miss addressing or answering? Ask away!

Recommend Monday

Good Monday All!

Hope you had a restful, fun-filled weekend that included some great reads you can't wait to tell us about.

I finished up my page proofs for MIDNIGHT LIES and sent them back early. Never done that before. Felt good! I adore Samantha's and Quinn's love story and can't wait for you to read it.

Also, the audio of MIDNIGHT SECRETS releases today. I noticed that if you already have it on Kindle, you can get the Audible audio for $3.99, which is an awesome price and I jumped on it. If you listen to the audio version, be sure to let me know what you think.

I know I promised you a long post to answer questions about the future of LCR and what's up next. It is coming. I'm almost finished and plan to post it this week. Hopefully it'll clear up any lingering confusion as well give you some news about other projects.

Since I finished my page proofs early, I took advantage of some downtime and read Cynthia Eden's Mine To Take, a sexy, suspenseful read, which I really enjoyed. It's still only $.99 but I'm not sure how long that will last.

Okay that's it for me. Be sure to check back later this week for my update post. Have a great week all!

And now, tell us what we should be reading!

Recommend Monday

Happy Monday All!

Hope you had a great weekend and a fabulous Father's Day!

I'm immersed in page proofs for MIDNIGHT LIES. How could have I forgotten how much I love this book? What fun it is to be back in Midnight. Seeing Zach and Savannah so happy is wonderful. Aunt Gibby is as sweet as ever and Inez Peebles is gathering as much gossip as she can. And in between steamy reunions and denying their feelings, Samantha and Quinn are dealing with a danger neither of them expected. Can't wait for you to read it on September 24.

With a deadline looming, I'll make this a short and SWEET post. Tell us about your great reads from last week.

And now for the SWEET part, take a look at the UK covers for SWEET JUSTICE, SWEET REVENGE and SWEET REWARD! Aren't they fabulous?

Have a great week all!

Recommend Monday

Good Monday Everyone!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend, filled with fun and lots of great books. Can't wait to hear about your favorite reads from last week.

I had fabulous time at Lori Foster's RAGT. Met so many wonderful people including Alison, Kris, Mary and Shelly. Also loved meeting Kris's Mini-Me who delighted everyone with her sweetness, energy, and wit. I've never seen anyone more persistent in a goal. She was determined to win a basket and through a lot of hard work, that persistence paid off!

And what a thrill it was for me to meet so many people who've read my books and took the time to tell me how much they enjoyed them. That meant so much. An author's world is often one of isolation. Most of the people she talks to exist only in her mind. Getting to meet people who have enjoyed my books and having them tell me what the stories meant to them was just about the best feeling in the world. A definite and much-needed ego boost.

This week I'm going to be working on the final proofs for MIDNIGHT LIES. This is the last chance I'll have to make changes before it goes to print. I cannot wait for you to read Samantha and Quinn's love story. It's my sincere hope that you love it as much as I do. The release date of September 24 will be here before we know it and remember pre-orders are so very important. If you're planning to read the second book in the Wildefire series and are able, please consider pre-ordering to help an author make a good showing. :) Thank you in advance!

Once I've sent MIDNIGHT LIES back to NY, I'll be concentrating once more on RUNNING ON EMPTY. Sabrina and Declan are about to see each other for the first time in years. Both of them are going to learn things neither anticipated. Can't wait to see the sparks fly between these two courageous yet vulnerable people.

If you've read CHANCES ARE, you'll know that I ended the book with a slight cliffhanger. It was never my intent to confuse my readers. Sometimes what I have in my head doesn't always translate as well as I think it does onto paper. Therefore, I'm putting together a blog that will hopefully answer those burning questions about the direction of Last Chance Rescue and what the heck is going to happen with Noah. Not sure when I'll be able to post it since this week is going to be a busy one for me. If I can finish it though, I'll announce the post on Facebook and Twitter so you can come over and check it out. Also, if you read and enjoyed CHANCES ARE, I hope you'll consider leaving a review. Or if you'd rather, leave a review for one of your favorite LCR books. The more reviews a book gets, the greater the interest and hopefully the sales. The more sales, the more books I'll be able to write. Yes, it's a vicious but lovely circle!

As I mentioned last week, once I finish with ROE, I'm starting a new series. I have a vague plot of the first two books and that's usually all I need to get started. I cannot wait to learn more about these fabulous characters whispering things in my head. Love it when that happens!

Thanks to all who commented on the UK release of SECOND CHANCE. The winners of either NO CHANCE or SECOND CHANCE are Lisa and Marijane! Congrats ladies! I'll contact you to discuss prize delivery.

Oh, I have a recommend for you! For the most part, I hate traveling but at least it gave me an opportunity to read a great book. As you know, I'm a great admirer of Bella Andre and I've been dying to read her new series. While at Walmart last week, picking up last minute stuff for my trip, I saw that the first book in her previously self published Sullivan series was out. I scooped it up and was so glad I did because it made traveling so much more enjoyable. I literally devoured it. The first book, The Look of Love, was exactly the kind of read I was looking for--an incredibly sweet and sexy romance. And now I cannot wait until Marcus's book, From This Moment On, is released next month. It's easy to see why this series was so popular with readers. The Sullivan clan is fascinating and I can't wait to read each family member's story.

Okay, that's it for Chatty Christy. Hope you have a most excellent week. Now tell us what we should be reading!

SECOND CHANCE Releases in UK!

Happy Release Day to SECOND CHANCE in the UK! As you'll remember, this is Cole Mathison's story. And take a look at this lovely new cover!

Working for Last Chance Rescue, Cole Mathison has been to hell and back. But being responsible for the death of an innocent man is a hell like no other. Longing for redemption, Cole finds himself embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of Keeley Fairchild's young children. Rescuing the children is his mission - but falling in love with the widow of the man he inadvertently killed was never in the plans. When Keeley's life is threatened, Cole's demons must take a backseat to the most important mission of his life. He might never know the heaven of Keeley's arms, but he'll never survive the hell of failing to save her. 

 

Skylar James told a lie to the man she married and, eight years later, she still bitterly regrets the deception. Unknown to Skylar, her husband, Gabe Maddox, now lives in the dangerous shadows of elite operatives who rescue victims. When Skylar tries to save a naïve young beauty, kidnappers come after her.

For Gabe, Skylar had been his last shot at trust and love. But news of her disappearance dissipates his anger and launches him into action. Now, saving Skylar is Gabe's only chance for peace and his last chance for happiness.

Want a signed copy of SECOND CHANCE or NO CHANCE? Leave a comment and tell me where you'd love to go on summer vacation this year. Be sure to leave your email address so I can get in touch with you. I'll announce two winners on Monday's blog.