Excerpts

“There’s a lot that girl doesn’t know.” #MFRWHooks #EroticRomance #LaterInLife

Out Now!

Ripening Passion

Passion Series, Book Two

Erotic Romance, Later in Life, LGBTQ

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

EXCERPT

New York, New York, 2006

Set Up: After Max and Claire’s disastrous first efforts on camera, Center co-director Melissa Hopkins Gage has decided to send them together on short notice to a conference retreat on sexuality and aging in Monterrey.

“We’ll go,” Claire said softly. “But don’t get confused about the two of us, Missy. We are doing this for the Center. That’s all.” A small devilish smile crossed Claire’s lips. “And just for the record, you have a long way to go before you match your aunt’s and my skills at conniving.”

Melissa shrugged her shoulders.

Max gave her credit for keeping her mouth shut once she’d won.

“And,” Claire said, pointing her fingers, “this little switch in plans will cost the Center some extra dollars.”

“What do you mean?”

“Max and I will require separate rooms.”

Max laughed, then nodded his agreement. “Absolutely, if you want me to come back a sane man, then separate rooms are a necessity.”

“I’ll see what I can arrange at such late notice.” Melissa grinned, bowed from the waist and waved goodbye. The door shut quietly behind her.

Claire stretched her neck, avoiding Max’s gaze.

He could get up and help her with her muscle tension, but he wasn’t about to do that. She could stew in her own juices. She’d been a thorn in his side for years—and it didn’t look like he’d be rid of her anytime soon. He glanced at the door. Why couldn’t Melissa stick to her own business? He loved that young woman a lot. Hell, she’d thrown him a lifeline. But she had no idea what she was asking of him.

He’d finally overcome his natural survival instincts to agree to having sex with Claire on camera for the good of the Center and for the cause that he and Agnes had so vigorously shared. But Melissa wanted him and Claire to share an intimacy like she shared with Harry. That was impossible. He and Claire had treaded far too much water over the years for that to happen.

“Well, are you going to say something?”

Max furrowed his brow at Claire, who ran her fingers through her shoulder-length blond hair. He’d rarely seen Claire show any vulnerability. This was one of those rare moments. Perhaps he should treasure it by seeing how long it would last. But then he’d never been good at torturing insects when he was a kid. “Guess we’ll go learn about aging and sexuality. Wonder if there’ll be any other attendees our age. Maybe they’ll be like Melissa—talking about something they don’t know.”

“There’s a lot that girl doesn’t know.”

BLURB

Can Max melt the Ice Queen? Should he even try?

Claire Johnson’s dedication to sex—the cornerstone of her career—led her to help found the Center for Sexuality and Sex Practices. Now in her fifties, she knows the Center must keep pace with the rapidly growing Baby Boomer market, so she agrees to go back on camera for a series on sex and aging. But work with her nemesis?

Former English Professor Max Wilson has championed the cause of the Center ever since his now deceased wife sought the Center’s help to rekindle the nearly extinguished sexual flames of their relationship. He loves working on camera and welcomes the challenge to perform with the svelte but icy temptress.

Sparks fly immediately on and off camera. The jury is out on whether either Max or Claire can transform those sparks into a fire of sexual desire for their viewers—let alone for each other.

BUY LINK

NOW AT YOUR FAVORITE EBOOK VENDORS

https://books2read.com/u/4D82BP

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: Ripening Passion
Series: Passion Series, Book Two
Author: Adriana Kraft
Published by: eXtasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3813-5
Length: 254 pages, 75813 words
Publication Date: June 2, 2023
Genres: Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA, Contemporary Romance 
Tags: Menage, Bisexual, New York City, Later in Life
Heat Level: Four Flames
Pairings: MF, FF, FFF, FMF, MFM

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New Release from Madison Michael #friendfiction #BFFs #contemporaryromance #romanceseries #feelgoodromance #romcom #steamyromance

CRAZY TO BELIEVE / All’s Crazy in Love Series Book 1, by Madison Michael

TaglineShe’s Betting on Love and the Stakes are High.

Hashtags—#friendfiction, #BFFs,  #contemporaryromance, #romanceseries, #feelgoodromance #romcom #steamyromance

All’s Crazy in Love Series Background

When eight friends from childhood reunite at their twentieth high school reunion, they realize they only see each other at weddings and funerals. This is unacceptable to friends as close as this. The answer—obviously—more weddings. To get the ball rolling, the lone married woman, Gabriella dares her friends to marry or else. When they laugh off her idea, she doubles down on her challenge and raises the stakes.

Gabriella doesn’t care if Avery is so shy that she’s hardly even spoken to a man, or that Rachel can’t choose between the multitude of guys she sleeps with each month. Gabby ignores every argument, instead selecting the worst price for each of them to pay if they lose.

The Dare is on. The women open their hearts to every opportunity that crosses their paths, no matter how unlikely or elusive the man might be. They’ll help each other – as long as it doesn’t cost them the win.

Within weeks Avery finds a fellow cat rescuer, Sofia’s heart flutters with new possibilities at work, and Willow spars and sparks with her horrible neighbor. Melinda has to be coached, but not Harper. After twenty years, she’s finally flirting with her high school sweetheart.

All’s Crazy in Love offers eight steamy romances—from first love to second-chance romance, from unexpected babies to unexpected attraction. Get to know eight wonderful women who find each other, themselves, and a chance to snatch the biggest prize of all—love.  Read these stories and more in the All’s Crazy in Love series coming soon.

Travel with life-long friends as they discover love, test friendships, and race to cross the finish line.

Let the games begin…

BlurbCrazy to Believe

The “Crazy Eights” have been best friends for thirty years, but they rarely get together. The remedy? An audacious dare contrived to bring them together for weddings—their weddings. Each participant must marry within twelve months or complete a personally mortifying task.

Meet Sofia, beautiful and brilliant, longing for a family. Starting over after a divorce, Sofia is focused on her career, not some foolhardy dare. She’s set her sights on a new job, a new home and reluctantly accepting her single, childless status. Independent and determined, she can’t foresee she will both win and lose her heart’s desire in the next six months.

Jeremy Klein, genius engineer and inventor, is also making big life changes. He’s sold his startup to become a billionaire CEO overnight. Unfortunately, his ego hasn’t caught up yet, and despite family pressures and turning forty, he is gun-shy about returning to the dating game.

Then Jeremy meets Sofia. They bond over shared business interests and a chemistry that sizzles. Their attraction is immediate and so electrifying that a one-night stand quickly morphs into planning a future.

But plans can change. Accusations threaten to derail their relationship, Sofia’s career and Jeremy’s position. Spies, lies and misunderstandings abound until those “Crazy Eights” step in, scheming and manipulating to secure Sofia her happily ever after.

The stakes are high. Win the bet and lose your heart; or lose the bet along with your dignity. When the wager is nothing short of true love, are Jeremy and Sofia crazy to believe?

Excerpt

Mr. Brown Eyes got the message. Sofia watched as he swiftly disconnected from his conversation and sauntered her way. She loved how he moved, relaxed, fluid, and assured. He was a man on a mission. Mr. Tall, Dark and Sexy was every bit as good-looking as Nico. Better. He was classically handsome with high cheekbones and a broad forehead. He appeared serious, intelligent and thoughtful. He bore a straight, slightly hawkish nose, and full, kissable lips.

He was sinewy and graceful as a leopard moving in on his prey. His hair was rich, almost black and a little longer than the current style, longer on top and the back. As he drew closer, his smile widened, blinding her with perfect, white teeth in a face burnished by the sun.

His face was devastating up close – open and welcoming, with a hint of naughtiness in his smirk along with the promise of shared pleasures. But it was his eyes, deep coffee brown and fringed with long dark lashes that were his best feature; piercing, intelligent, inquisitive and currently trained on her.

Please, God, Sofia prayed quickly, do not let this man be the new sales manager. It would be awful if she needed to keep him at arm’s length. He was the first man Sofia had felt drawn to since Nico. If she was honest with herself, he was the first man she had ever felt this attracted to so immediately. It was enough to make her believe in love at first sight or fate.

“Hi.” He stepped closer, ignoring the empty stool beside her to halt just inside her personal space. Usually, Sofia would back up, but she savored his closeness, the power emanating from his presence. Even in this stuffy bar, he smelled good – fresh, like soap and good whiskey. And up close, his eyes were more magical, a hint of gold dancing in their depths.

“Hi,” she responded on a breath, letting the single word hang there for a moment. “You aren’t in sales, are you?”

“Nope.” If he thought it was a strange conversation starter, he kept it to himself and his lack of response increased Sofia’s tension. “I could be in sales for you,” he offered in a voice smooth as brandy, redolent with sexual promise and a hint of curiosity. She laughed at his offer, tense for a better reason. “Are you in sales?”

“Yes, I am. I was thinking of what a crime it would be if you turned out to be my new boss. I’m meeting him tomorrow.”

“Jeremy.” He extended his hand to hers. “Not in sales. Is your boss named Jeremy?”

“Thankfully, not.” Sofia savored the moment as Jeremy closed his long fingers around hers, his skin soft and warm. There was no wedding band. Sofia’s relief was excessive. Everything about him captivated her. “Sofia.”

“Sofia.” He rolled the word around his mouth as if tasting a fine wine. “He was just saying words, but their underlying promise was undeniable. She wanted to be alone with him. She wanted to be naked with him. And all she knew was his first name.

“Is this seat taken?” he asked, already sitting down. “I am anxious to learn why you don’t know who you work with, Sofia.”

His every emotion was transparent, especially the desire flaming in his expression right now. A passion she reciprocated. Wholeheartedly. She couldn’t fathom such an instantaneous attraction. But with Jeremy, she felt electricity and lust move through her entire body, just from the touch of his hand and the sound of her name spoken in his rich baritone.

The man would be thinking their flirtation would lead to sex. She should shut him down—she always had before. But with Jeremy, her body governed her head. She wanted more.

“So, spill.” Jeremy leaned forward on his elbows, putting his mouth dangerously close to hers. Just a few inches, and they could be kissing. “I am dying to hear your story. I want to know absolutely everything about you.” The way he lingered on the word ‘everything’ made Sofia wet. Oh man, she was in way over her head.

“Only if you reciprocate.” She wondered where she found her voice and her nerve. “In detail.”

“It’s a deal.,” he said, lowering his voice until she wondered what exactly he promised to share.

 

BUY LINKS— https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Believe-Alls-Love-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSDTLD2J

Bio— Madison Michael is living her dream as a romance writer. Born and raised in Chicago, she covered the four corners of the U.S, before returning to her roots, friends, family and the best pizza anywhere.

She loves cats, cat jokes and cat videos, anything with too much sugar, and everything writing. Author of the Beguiling Bachelor romance series, and several stand alone romance novels, she can be found living in Chicago, writing, eating sugar, pizza or hotdogs, surrounded by cats.

Email: [email protected]

 

Newsletter— Become an insider here.

 

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He wants to please… #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #BookSale #RomanticSuspense

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Snippet Sunday – ten (or so) sentences from all your favorite romance authors! You’ll find them all at this Facebook Group every Sunday:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

By this time next week, the 2023 Belmont will be history – but our four horse-racing romantic suspense books will be on sale for 99 cents each through June 15. Be sure to grab yours before the price goes back up!

A few weeks back I shared a photo of the last horse we owned – a half arabian, half saddlebred foal, nuzzling his mother not long after his birth. Here’s another photo of him, age 10, coming across the field to greet my husband.

His name was Ransom, and we gave him a role in Book Four, Detour Ahead.

EXCERPT

Tracy’s spirits lifted immediately when she saw the half Arabian Saddlebred. He was a beautiful specimen, with a nicely arched neck and a tail that rose when he trotted. When he noticed them approaching, he whinnied softly and advanced toward them at a slow trot. Horse people called that gait a trot, but she thought the word prance captured much more the mood and presence of this animal. While not yet fully grown, he was certainly fully into himself.

This was the fourth morning they’d worked together. Traci confessed she preferred working with a horse from the ground rather than from its back. Without incident, she attached the halter. With a modest amount of confidence, she led Ransom into the corral and stopped in front of Scott.

“Good job,” he praised, rubbing his hand across the colt’s muzzle. “Why don’t you take him through his paces? Go around clockwise and then counterclockwise. Bring him to a halt with the whoa command, tugging gently on the lead rope twice first to get his attention. He wants to please—you can see that in his eye. But he can’t if we don’t communicate our wishes.”

BUY LINK

99¢

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RPT6YJA/

BOOK INFO

Detour Ahead (Riders Up, Book Four)
B&B Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9907476-5-9
ASIN: B00RPT6YJA
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tags: Horse Racing, Sports Romance, Cowboy, hot-shot lawyer, bribery
Heat rating: three flames (explicit sex, m/f)

BLURB

Threatened race horses, city slicker attorney, sexy California wrangler—what can possibly go wrong?

Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help their rancher friend as a private investigator.

Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler Scott McCord much prefers working with the racehorses he trains at his ranch, and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with horse troubles.

The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her – like he does his horses – before she flees in panic?

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New Release! Ripening Passion by Adriana Kraft (@adrianakraft) #EroticRomance #LaterInLife @extasybooks #MFRWAuthor

Picture this: The year is 2004. You’re a bisexual woman in your late fifties, and your only significant love relationship was with a woman who died of cancer four years ago. What does your future hold? What do you hope for?

Meet Claire Johnson, heroine of Ripening Passion. As with so many single professional mid-life women, satisfaction and meaning for her have become focused on career. Relationships take second place if they’re on the radar screen at all.

Claire is extremely happy with her work. She helped found and now co-directs a cutting-edge center for human sexuality in New York City, where she’s lived ever since her college graduation in the late sixties—an era of great social and sexual upheaval. Taking stock of her upscale Manhattan apartment, her trusted work colleagues, and her mission to enhance the sexual lives of others, she sees nothing she’d want to change, now or in the future.

Enter Max Wilson.

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: Ripening Passion
Series: Passion Series, Book Two
Author: Adriana Kraft
Published by: eXtasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3813-5
Length: 254 pages, 75,813 words
Publication Date: June 2, 2023
Genres: Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA, Contemporary Romance 
Tags: Menage, Bisexual, New York City, Later in Life
Heat Level: Four Flames
Pairings: MF, FF, FFF, FMF, MFM

BUY LINK

Available at all your favorite vendors

UNIVERSAL BUY LINK

https://books2read.com/u/4D82BP

BLURB

Can Max melt the Ice Queen? Should he even try?

Claire Johnson’s dedication to sex—the cornerstone of her career—led her to help found the Center for Sexuality and Sex Practices. Now in her fifties, she knows the Center must keep pace with the rapidly growing Baby Boomer market, so she agrees to go back on camera for a series on sex and aging. But work with her nemesis?

Former English Professor Max Wilson has championed the cause of the Center ever since his now deceased wife sought the Center’s help to rekindle the nearly extinguished sexual flames of their relationship. He loves working on camera and welcomes the challenge to perform with the svelte but icy temptress.

Sparks fly immediately on and off camera. The jury is out on whether either Max or Claire can transform those sparks into a fire of sexual desire for their viewers—let alone for each other.

EXCERPT

Max glanced up at Claire. “Do you always eat like a bird?

Claire didn’t crack a smile. She used her fork to separate another flake of her tuna niçoise. Deliberately, she snagged a small bite and lifted it to her mouth. She glanced around the early dinner crowd and chewed thoroughly, wondering briefly how many patrons were meeting for business and how many were meeting with other thoughts on their minds. She smiled at two women at a nearby table holding hands while sharing a flambeed flan.

Claire looked back at Max. “If you approve of this body as much as you claim, then you’d better appreciate how I eat. I’m not telling you what to eat.”

“I’m sorry,” he quickly said. “I wasn’t putting you down. It’s just that I’ve never known anyone so disciplined about eating.”

“I enjoy my food. I just avoid sugars and saturated fats as much as possible.”

“You rarely eat dessert.”

“Perhaps I prefer a different sort of dessert.” She slid her bare foot up the inside of his leg.

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Excerpts

“I want that tape erased.” #MFRWHooks #EroticRomance #LaterInLife

Coming to Extasy Books this Friday!

Ripening Passion

Passion Series, Book Two

Erotic Romance, Later in Life, LGBTQ

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

EXCERPT

Set up: the first filming of Max and Claire together to demonstrate techniques for older couples went south immediately, with the cameras still rolling.

“Put these on,” Melissa commanded, tossing a Center bathrobe to each of them. “We have to talk. Now!”

“I want that tape erased,” Claire demanded, standing to punch an arm through one armhole. She reached for the other repeatedly without finding it. She felt Max hold the robe for her. Claire closed her eyes, muttered a couple Hail Marys under her breath, and pushed her arm through the sleeve.

With a tinge of remorse, she peered back at Melissa. For a diminutive woman, the dark-haired beauty could certainly look furious.

Melissa came to a standstill at the foot of the bed. She crossed her arms under her breasts.

Claire thought she grew taller by at least three inches.

“I will not erase the tape.” Melissa’s mouth turned into a twisted grin. “Maybe later. If you two ever get it right. Or”—she smiled brilliantly—“we might want to include this little scene in our instructional materials. It might help some of our viewers to see situations between a man and a woman that don’t work out, that don’t lead to orgasm.”

Max ignored Claire. “If that’s what you’re looking for, you sure as hell got it.”

Claire knotted the sash of her robe. “This is not going to work, Melissa.” She sighed heavily. “All right, I admit he’s not a Neanderthal lout, but we can’t get into sync.” She scowled. “And I doubt we ever will.”

She plopped back down on the bed, hoping Melissa would give up on the entire idea of pairing her with Max to demonstrate options for how older couples could maintain their sexuality. She didn’t question the Center’s mission in this area—she’d helped champion the cause with foundations and private donors.

Max was the problem. She winced as he sat back down on the other side of the bed, doing a good job of avoiding eye contact with her and Melissa.

BLURB

Can Max melt the Ice Queen? Should he even try?

Claire Johnson’s dedication to sex—the cornerstone of her career—led her to help found the Center for Sexuality and Sex Practices. Now in her fifties, she knows the Center must keep pace with the rapidly growing Baby Boomer market, so she agrees to go back on camera for a series on sex and aging. But work with her nemesis?

Former English Professor Max Wilson has championed the cause of the Center ever since his now deceased wife sought the Center’s help to rekindle the nearly extinguished sexual flames of their relationship. He loves working on camera and welcomes the challenge to perform with the svelte but icy temptress.

Sparks fly immediately on and off camera. The jury is out on whether either Max or Claire can transform those sparks into a fire of sexual desire for their viewers—let alone for each other.

BUY LINK

Add to your wish list at Extasy Books:

https://www.extasybooks.com/Ripening-Passion

Universal Link to all vendors coming soon!

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: Ripening Passion
Series: Passion Series, Book Two
Author: Adriana Kraft
Published by: eXtasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3813-5
Length: 254 pages, 75813 words
Publication Date: June 2, 2023
Genres: Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA, Contemporary Romance 
Tags: Menage, Bisexual, New York City, Later in Life
Heat Level: Four Flames
Pairings: MF, FF, FFF, FMF, MFM

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“Who the hell are you?” #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #Sale 99¢ #RomanticSuspense #MFRWAuthor

Welcome to Snippet Sunday – ten sentences from all your favorite romance authors! You’ll find them all at this Facebook Group every Sunday:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

The Belmont is still two weeks away. Have you ever been to that track? It seems to stretch forever – the longest of the three Triple Crown races, it carries a mile and a half.

What fascinated me about being there on the big day a few years back was that the track was gearing everything for the TV coverage of the main event, so grounds were still being groomed and equipment moved around all afternoon, as if the experience of the patrons in the stands didn’t really matter, kind of like being backstage before the show.

Our four book romantic suspense series set in the world of thoroughbred racing will remain on sale for 99¢ each until after the Belmont – today’s Snippet is from Chapter One of Willow Smoke, Book three in the series.

EXCERPT

Picking up from where we left off last week, “Hey kid, do you always talk to horses?”

The horse reared and pawed. “It’s okay, girl.” Daisy kept her voice soft and ran her hand slowly along the mare’s neck.

When the mare had stopped trembling, Daisy stepped out of the stall, shaded her eyes from the sun, and faced the interloper. She scowled at the man’s new sneakers, monogrammed shirt and neatly pressed slacks. He looked like he’d be more at home on a sailboat than in a barn.

The man peered over wire-rimmed glasses like he knew something she didn’t—or was he appraising her? Why? His dark hair set off a chiseled face; it was difficult to guess his age, but she could see a few gray hairs at his temples. He was money. Understated, but money. Probably the stock market. What was he doing in her barn?

She thrust her jaw at him. “So who the hell are you? Don’t you know better than to sneak up on someone who’s working with a horse?”

BUY LINK

99¢

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N0DH13I

BOOK INFO

Willow Smoke (Riders Up, Book Three)
B&B Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9907476-0-4
ASIN: B00N0DH13I
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tags: Horse Racing, Age Gap, Sports Romance
Heat rating: three flames (explicit sex, m/f)

REVIEWS

Five stars at Amazon “Adriana Kraft has created memorable characters that linger long after the story has ended and I’ve closed the book. She has done what an author should—brought me into the book’s world and made me care about the characters so that my world will not be the same as before their foray into it.” Sheila G.

Five stars at Goodreads “Suspenseful, intriguing and truly romantic! What a fabulous story of the blending of two worlds… the plot twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat and the pages turning.” Risha C “…dreams can become reality, love can transcend age… Exciting, engaging and very entertaining story. The character interplay is spot on and the story is extremely well written.” Donna H.

BLURB

When the chips are down, there’s nobody there. Willowy blond Daisy Matthews has survived the Chicago streets with this mantra but is unprepared for the much older Nick Underwood’s urgent pursuit.  The wealthy businessman receives a thoroughbred in payment for a bad debt and is thrust into Daisy’s world.  She teaches him about horse racing; he teaches her about love.  When Daisy’s seamy brother-in-law threatens Nick’s safety, she doggedly tries to stop him by herself, but flees to the familiar streets when he attacks. Can Nick find her in time – and if he does, will she still want him?

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“I won’t let anything hurt you.” #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #Sale 99¢ #RomanticSuspense #MFRWAuthor

Welcome to Snippet Sunday – ten sentences from all your favorite romance authors! You’ll find them all at this Facebook Group every Sunday:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

Did you watch yesterday’s Preakness? Mage – the Kentucky Derby winner and the Preakness favorite – came in third. The winner, National Treasure, hadn’t qualified for the Derby, so beating Mage was no small accomplishment. Hopes for a Triple Crown winner were dashed with Mage’s loss, but the third leg – the Belmont, coming up in three weeks – should be an interesting race!

Our four book romantic suspense series set in the world of thoroughbred racing will remain on sale for 99¢ each until after the Belmont – todays Snippet is from the opening lines of Willow Smoke, Book three in the series.

EXCERPT

Chapter One

“I won’t let anything hurt you.” Daisy Matthews finished wrapping the ankles of the chestnut mare and sat back on her haunches to evaluate her work. The mare’s ankles were cooler than they had been two hours earlier.

It wasn’t easy to convince a horse to stand in buckets of ice, but after three years of being a groom and an exercise rider, she could do it about as well as anybody at Arlington Park. At least that was what her boss said when he promoted her to assistant trainer.

Daisy grinned. There wasn’t much prestige associated with being an assistant trainer for a fellow with a string of only twenty-some claimers and allowance horses, but it was something, particularly for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks.

RainbowBlaze took a step forward. “I know.” Daisy groaned. “Step one: pay attention. Sorry, I got lost daydreaming. You’re right. Taking care of you is an important job.” She chuckled. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.”

“Hey kid, doyou always talk to horses?”

BUY LINK

99¢

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N0DH13I

BOOK INFO

Willow Smoke (Riders Up, Book Three)
B&B Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9907476-0-4
ASIN: B00N0DH13I
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tags: Horse Racing, Age Gap, Sports Romance
Heat rating: three flames (explicit sex, m/f)

REVIEWS

Five stars at Amazon “Adriana Kraft has created memorable characters that linger long after the story has ended and I’ve closed the book. She has done what an author should—brought me into the book’s world and made me care about the characters so that my world will not be the same as before their foray into it.” Sheila G.

Five stars at Goodreads “Suspenseful, intriguing and truly romantic! What a fabulous story of the blending of two worlds… the plot twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat and the pages turning.” Risha C “…dreams can become reality, love can transcend age… Exciting, engaging and very entertaining story. The character interplay is spot on and the story is extremely well written.” Donna H.

BLURB

When the chips are down, there’s nobody there. Willowy blond Daisy Matthews has survived the Chicago streets with this mantra but is unprepared for the much older Nick Underwood’s urgent pursuit.  The wealthy businessman receives a thoroughbred in payment for a bad debt and is thrust into Daisy’s world.  She teaches him about horse racing; he teaches her about love.  When Daisy’s seamy brother-in-law threatens Nick’s safety, she doggedly tries to stop him by herself, but flees to the familiar streets when he attacks. Can Nick find her in time – and if he does, will she still want him?

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“I don’t dream small.” #MFRWHooks #RomanticSuspense #SportsRomance #Sale #99¢

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

This week I’m sharing from one of our steamy romantic suspense novels set in the world of thoroughbred racing. All four of them are on sale from now through mid-June to celebrate the race for the Triple Crown. Here’s a favorite snippet from Willow Smoke, Book Three in our Riders Up series.

BLURB

When the chips are down, there’s nobody there.

Apprentice horse trainer Daisy Matthews grew up on the streets of Chicago, and if she learned anything, it was that she could count on no one to help her, ever. She knows she has to tough it out, protect herself, and when necessary, protect anyone she cares about. All by herself. No one else will do it for her.

Wealthy businessman Nick Underwood receives a thoroughbred in payment for a bad debt and is thrust into Daisy’s world.  She teaches him about horse racing; he teaches her about love.  When Daisy’s seamy brother-in-law threatens Nick’s safety, she doggedly tries to stop him by herself, but flees to the familiar streets when he attacks. Can Nick find her in time – and if he does, will she still want him?

EXCERPT

Set Up: Though Nick intended to sell the horse, he changed his mind and hired its intriguing trainer, paying her up front by making her half owner. He’s just phoned her to work out more of the details:

“I’m going to have a messenger bring by Blaze’s papers for you to sign,” Nick continued. “The sooner we get the paperwork completed, the quicker she can race again.”

“You know where I live?”

“It doesn’t take a private investigator to determine that. Most of your personal information has to go on the ownership papers. As well as your Assistant Trainers License. Right?”

“Right. I didn’t think about that.”

“Besides, I make a point of knowing everything I can about my employees and partners.”

“I’m not your employee, Mr. Underwood.” She knew she must sound harsh, but she couldn’t help it. Sometimes the man really galled her. Like right now. “We may be partners by some strange circumstance, but I work for Sam Gallagher.”

“Whoa there, kid. The lady has a temper. I like that. Shows fire and will.” He paused. “I’ll have to think on that. You may be right. You may complicate my life yet.”

Daisy frowned. “Well, you sure as hell have complicated mine.”

“Yeah, but aren’t they nice complications? A week ago you didn’t even know I existed. You didn’t own a racehorse. And you were probably planning to waste time you could spend educating me playing around with some college guy.”

Brushing hair off her brow, Daisy chewed on her lip. She wasn’t experienced at this kind of repartee. She only knew how to tell guys no, not how to give them a let’s-wait-and-see signal.

“Cat got your tongue, kid? Am I really going to complicate your life that much?”

He sounded far too pleased with himself. “I don’t know. Depends on how much time you require, I suppose. I not only have my job—I do have to study, too.”

“Will I be imposing on your social life? Do you have a steady man in your life?”

“Not hardly. Well, I mean,” she stammered, “not one.”

“Still playing the field, huh? Well, I shouldn’t get in the way too much, then. If you’re a good teacher, this may not require a lot of time.”

“You mean if you’re a good student, don’t you?”

“Now, that’s more like the woman I remember with straw in her hair. Do you realize that you are drop dead gorgeous with a half dozen pieces of straw sticking out of your hair? The guys must be lined up around your block with their tongues hanging out. I’m sure they won’t like my intruding on their time, but I won’t let that deter me. Are you still there?”

“I’m here.” Daisy tried to keep her voice steady while her heart raced wildly.

“Maybe you’ll just have to put some of the guys on ice for a while. I can be quite demanding, and I make no apologies for that. There never is enough time to do everything I want to do. But this horse thing is now at the top of my to-do list. And that includes you. Remember, you’ve been paid in advance.”

“I remember. Owning a part of Rainbow Blaze far exceeds any of my dreams.”

“Listen kid, if you hang around me much you’ll have to get used to expanding your dreams. I don’t dream small. It doesn’t take any more time to dream big than small.”

BUY LINK

On Sale now through mid-June for just #99¢

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N0DH13I/

BOOK INFO

Title: Willow Smoke (Riders Up, Book Three)
Can be read as a standalone
September 1, 2014, B&B Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9907476-0-4
ASIN: B00N0DH13I
PRINT ISBN: 978-0-9907476-6-6
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Sports Romance
Tags: Horse Racing, Age Gap
Heat rating: three flames (explicit sex, m/f)

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Excerpts

“You’re hardly big enough to swat a fly!” #99¢ #SALE #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #TripleCrown #HorseRacing

Welcome to Snippet Sunday – ten sentences from all your favorite romance authors! You’ll find them all at this Facebook Group every Sunday:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

The Kentucky Derby is history, and it’s on to the Preakness this coming Saturday, the second leg in the Triple Crown. The Derby Winner, Mage, is slated to run, keeping open the potential for a triple crown win this year.

Our four steamy romantic suspense novels set in the thoroughbred racing world are on sale for just 99¢ each, now through mid-June, to celebrate this year’s race for the Triple Crown.

Book Two, Heat Wave, draws on our years in Iowa, our own experience raising and training horses, and a family member’s journey to sobriety. That young man has read and vouched for those elements of Ed’s journey in Maggie’s story. We celebrate all who struggle and succeed.

EXCERPT

Set Up: Today’s snippet comes a little later in the conversation that began last Sunday. Ed has come to Maggie’s farm to accept the job she’s offering.

“My husband died over two years ago,” Maggie continued. “He left a sizable insurance policy. It may be enough to make the farm profitable – if  not, Con-Ex Farms or some other conglomerate will swallow up this land and my family’s heritage like it’s just so much dust.”

“Ah, so now I at least know something about the larger game you’re in.” He nodded grimly. “So that’s why you had to resort to digging a broken-down trainer out of his hiding hole – you have to play some ace cards or fold. It’s ante up time, and I’m part of the ante.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Maggie frowned. “This is no game to me. But I see your point. Anyway, I want you to teach me how to train horses.”

“What?” Ed jumped to his feet. “I thought you wanted me to train them and then turn them over to someone else at the track. You’re hardly big enough to swat a fly!” Uh oh, his mouth had got him into trouble again. When would he ever learn to engage brain before mouth? But the sparks firing out of those large round blue eyes might have been worth the gaffe.

Scrambling to a stand, Maggie gestured toward door. “If you are incapable of working with and teaching a woman—even a short one—to work with horses, Mr. Harrington, you can leave right now. I don’t need you. You can crawl back from wherever you came from.”

REVIEWS

Goodreads: Five Stars: Heartfelt with mystery and hope…made me cry. Spot on interplay between the main characters…well written and extremely enjoyable to read. Donna H.

Amazon: Five Stars: I felt like I was on a roller coaster reading this story! Laughing one second, then felt like crying the next, always on the edge wanting to know what is going to happen next. Amy B.

BUY LINK

99¢ SALE

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZ6GW6G

BOOK INFO

Title: Heat Wave
Series: Rider Up, Book Two
Can be read as a stand-alone
Author: Adriana Kraft
Publisher: B&B Publishing
Publication Date: April 30, 2014
ISBN 978-0-9907476-2-8  ASIN B00JZ6GW6G
Length: 93,000 Words   418 Pages
Genres: Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance, Sports Romance
Pairings: M/F
Tags: Horse Racing, Thoroughbred Racing, Small Town, Saving the Farm, Young Widow, Horse Trainer
Heat rating: 3 flames

BLURB

During an oppressive Iowa summer of drought and farm foreclosures, widowed Maggie Anderson makes a bold decision: She’ll merge her love of horses and her family’s three hundred and twenty acres into a horse farm and try her hand at nearby Prairie Meadows Racetrack, where racing purses have just been augmented by the recently added casino gambling.

Down on his luck after being falsely accused in a racing scandal and banned from training, former Arlington Racetrack trainer Ed Harrington has skulked home to Des Moines to drown his sorrows and wait for the dust to clear. He’s unprepared for the piercing robin’s-egg-blue eyes of pint-sized Maggie Anderson, who finds him at a flophouse and offers him a job. Can he pull himself together and meet the challenge?

As the two forge a tumultuous working partnership, they soon discover someone is out to get Maggie’s farm and will stop at almost nothing to force her off the land. Can they find and stop the culprit before someone is killed? Can they survive the far greater danger unleashed by the raw passion simmering just beneath the surface of their relationship?

~ o ~

…about the foal in my promo photo at the top of this post – I’m well aware he’s not a thoroughbred racehorse. His sire is Arabian, his dam, pictured with him, is a Saddlebred, and we gave him a role in Book Four in the series, Detour Ahead.

FIND EVERYONE’S POSTS IN THIS FACEBOOK GROUP:

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Excerpts

The memories flooded her mind… #MFRWHooks #Historical #ShortStory

Resist, or yield? The choice is not Seren’s alone.

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

Just released last Friday, Two Seeds are Sown is now available at all major e-book stores:

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK

https://books2read.com/u/m2qZRG

EXCERPT

Set Up: The evening of Seren’s first day with Livia. She must share Livia’s bed, but tonight is just for sleeping.

Seren struggled to stifle a shuddering sob as she let more memories drift through her mind. She risked a glance toward Livia, lying next to her in the bed—no harm done. The woman still breathed evenly and had not moved.

The memories flooded her mind. First her father, who had singled out Seren, his eldest daughter, to learn not only some of the strange conqueror’s language, but also some of the wisdom usually reserved for sons. From him she’d learned the name of the town she now knew to be her new home. Her grandmother—now beyond the curtain, but still able to make contact, who had tutored her in the special powers they both shared. She’d not heard from Grandmother since being captured, but she was confident the presence had not left her.

She knew it was her tribe—the Silures—who had held off the Roman conquest of Wales for more than two decades. The stories of that campaign more than a century earlier were still shared around her family’s hearthfire on winter evenings. Her father was descended from the famous warrior who had led the campaign—a connection that had proven useless so far in this more peaceful era. Would he rise up and come to her rescue? More likely, her family would accept that her captors held all the power, and they’d choose not to disturb the peace or draw attention to themselves. Scipio must have calculated this when he selected her.

Taking another deep breath, Seren let the memories fade and welcomed the allure of sleep.

BOOK INFORMATION

Title: Two Seeds are Sown
Series: Seren’s Story
Author: Adriana Kraft
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Publication Date: May 5, 2023
ISBN  978-1-4874-3893-7
Length:   6238 words   24 Pages
Genres: Erotic romance, Historical Romance, Paranormal
Pairings: FF, FM, FFM, MFM
Tags: Celtic, Roman Britain,
Heat rating: 4 flames

BLURB

Resist, or yield? The choice is not Seren’s alone.

Late in the Roman occupation of Britain, a young Welsh tribeswoman is hand selected and captured to serve as a courtesan to a Roman Legate and his wife. Escape proves impossible, but Seren is never completely abandoned. Her grandmother’s cryptic prophecy through their psychic connection seals her fate—it will be Seren’s lot to yield. The words both relieve Seren and further mystify her: You must find pleasure in your present life. Fulfillment will not be yours until after you cross into the next.

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REVIEWS

Erotic Romance “Seducing Cat is a Must Read…Hot in all the right places!”

Love Bites and Silk Ties
Romantic Suspense: Mystery and Romance are woven well in The Painter is a Lady.

Romantic Suspense: “The Unmasking is a fascinating tale…some emotionally trying scenes.”

Erotic Romance FFM Menage: “Edgy characters, inclusive sexuality…The Reunion is not for the faint of heart.”

Erotic Romance FFM Menage: “The intimacy is genuine and breathtaking”

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