What is love? What is romance?

Last week in the Facebook group, Sexy Spanking Reads, there was a heated discussion about the ‘rules of writing romance.’ My first thought was, “There aren’t any.”
Yes there are rules about writing. Every writer should have proficiency in language. A command of grammar, spelling, and basic story structure is the writer’s equivalent of a musician learning the scales.

Once a writer has mastered essential skills then they get to break some of the rules. The person who posed the question of whether or not the rules had changed asked if examples like cheating and open relationships as fall outside the romance genre.
For all that neither of those situations appeal to me, I can’t decide for others.
Art should be dynamic, challenging and evolving. Different takes on the genre will appeal to different readers.
What is the most romantic thing that has ever happened to you or someone you know? Here’s mine and I have no doubt it won’t be everyone’s idea of romance:
My loving husband has surprised me many times with his ability to make me feel cared for and wanted. The most romantic thing he’s ever done? Years ago we did an 18,000 km camping trip around the Australia outback. One of the most upsetting sights to me was the road kill: animals hit by speeding cars. It wasn’t the dead animals that worried me.
It was the gorgeous wedge-tailed eagles that would land to feed on the carcasses that were upsetting. These eagles are huge, with wing spans up to 2.8 m (9 foot). They can only lift off the ground in the direction they are facing so if a car comes barreling down the highway and the birds are having their fast food lunch and not looking that way, they become a second tragedy.
What did my husband do? Every time we saw a carcas on the highway, he stopped the car, donned gloves, and dragged the eagle-snack far enough off the road so the birds could land safely.
I never loved him more than I did in those moments. And my love for him has grown stronger since then.
But that’s us - two strong people with similar sensibilities in love. While I consider our love and relationship to be extremely romantic, it wouldn’t appeal to a lot of people because they may not care as much about the wild world as we do.
Also our love wouldn’t make much of a novel because there is little conflict between us, even if we do have power exchanges that spice up our intimacy.💝

Arresting Mason by Amber Daulton

Their chance encounter resulted in a steamy affair, but will his former gang and a parole officer tear them apart?

This week the Never Ending Blog Tour brings us Arresting Mason by Amber Daulton.

Blurb: Once you’re in a prison gang, you’re in it for life. That’s what Mason Harding thought until the boss accepted his resignation. After the State releases him on parole, a sexy divorcée behind the wheel of a car almost ends his life quicker than a shank. His chance encounter with Mia Eddison results in a night of passion, but her brother—his parole officer—catches them together and doesn’t approve.
Mia falls hard for the cocky ex-con, but not because of his chiseled body. She vows to break through his walls and discover his secrets, but never expects those secrets to threaten her life.
When members of an organized crime ring kidnap Mia to force Mason’s return to the gang, he goes up against an old friend to save the woman he loves. Will his sacrifice be enough or will everything fall apart in a blaze of gunfire?Disclaimer: this is a book for adults and includes sexually explicit scenes. If this theme offends you, please do not buy this book.

Buy link: Amazon
more buy links following.

Excerpt:
After they crossed the threshold into her loft and she reset the alarm, he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the bathroom. Mia’s laughter died as he slammed the bathroom door closed and pushed her against it. He jerked off her blouse and dipped his face in the swell of her breasts.
Too long. Too fucking long.
He unbuttoned her slacks, his fingers a little stiff, but he managed to push them off her hips. The fabric pooled around her ankles.
“Mason, wait. Get in the shower.” She fisted her hands in his T-shirt. Her chest heaved as she breathed. “I want to bathe you.”
His cock sprang to life. He dropped his backpack and stripped off his clothes as she finished undressing. Steam wafted from the shower and fogged the glass doors as she stepped under the spray. Water darkened her hair, the lengthy locks clinging to her skin, and her nipples hardened as water sluiced over her curvy, tanned body.
Mason joined her in the tub, closed the door behind him, and hot water pelted his back in a rough caress. Tension eased from his shoulders, and he glanced at Mia as she gently rubbed a sudsy body puff over his pecs. Several bruises still marred his chest and stomach, and she looked ready to cry.
“The bruises look worse than they feel.” He clasped her cheek. “I’m a fast healer, and I’ve been through worse than what you witnessed on Saturday. When I say I’m fine, I mean it.”
She kissed the hollow of his throat and rubbed slightly harder. Tempted to jerk her against him and prove he could handle it rough, he gripped his hands in his hair to let her go at her own pace. Her soft, reverent touch eased his aches, burned through his hard shell, and pierced his dirty soul.
He’d done so many bad things in his life, and he didn’t know why she accepted him.
Because you haven’t told her everything, you asshole.
She already knew too much and asked too many questions. He’d expected her to grill him about Onyx and Sondokes as soon as he walked through her door, but she only asked about Udell and Harper. She didn’t seem angry with him anymore, and he didn’t know what to make of it.
Mia scrubbed the puff over the bulging biceps of his right arm, past the elbow and forearm. She swiped it over his fingers and moved to his left hand to scrub all the way to his shoulder. She darted her tongue out to lick a few scars on his chest. The muscles in his back flexed as she scrubbed the puff down his spine. Her wet breasts pressed against his chest, her nipples hard like diamonds, and she pulled back to lather a bar of soap in the puff. His erection jutted close to her face as she knelt. She cleaned his thighs, knees, and calves, and cupped his balls with the puff still in her hand.
He gasped and dropped his arms to grab her hair.
“Keep your arms up. I want you at my mercy.”
A shudder coursed through him. “Yes, ma’am.” He locked his hands behind his head again and closed his eyes as she bathed him. Her sensual touch brought tears to his eyes. He couldn’t remember a time in his life when he felt so clean and whole, and not because he showered. The water washed away the embarrassing tears, and he held himself rigid as she cleaned the hard length of his penis, the sensitive band of skin that connected his testicles to his ass, and then his anus. He involuntarily clenched his cheeks. Although shocked she touched him there, the pleasure she gave trumped his hesitation and he relaxed.
A soft little murmur left her mouth. Mia trailed her fingers over the wet hairs on his thighs and massaged his ball sac again.
He cleared his throat. “I have to ask you something. It’s nagged at me for days.” Mason forced his eyes open and met her gaze. Her hand never left his balls. “You called me ‘baby’ the other day in that alley. Why?”
“You heard that?” She bit her lip. Water beaded on her eyelashes and clumped the strands together, but she didn’t look away. “You always call me darlin’, and I love the way you drop the g. It’s much better than sugar, by the way. I thought you would like a pet name too. That’s fine if you don’t want one or don’t like it. I can call you—”
“I like it. A lot. I’m just surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever had a pet name.”
“Well, you have one now, baby.” The grin she beamed up at him weakened his knees. “I’m happy you like it. I thought it might be a little too feminine for you.”
“Nah, it makes me feel precious.”
Mia laughed as he winked at her. “You are precious, but right now you’re solid as a rock, and you’re all mine.” She licked his mushroomed head as though to claim him.
Yes, claim me.
Her mouth opened and she took him inside.

More buy links:
Amazon – http://amzn.to/2ppcmEJ
Barnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/2uOj90J
iTunes – https://apple.co/2FVAQMP
Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/arresting-mason
Google Play – https://bit.ly/2Izu3cZ
The Wild Rose Press store – https://bit.ly/2VDUTXI
Books2Read – https://books2read.com/u/m2vvY7
Audio Buy Links
Amazon – https://amzn.to/2Nbwr03
Audible – https://adbl.co/2CV6oVU
iTunes – https://apple.co/2NHwMqA

More about Amber Daulton:
Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Connect with Amber Daulton:
Website – https://amberdaulton.wordpress.com
Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1
Street Team – https://www.facebook.com/groups/572204316296198/
Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_Daulton
Amazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZff
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amberdaultonauthor/
Book Bub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amber-daulton
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/amberdaulton
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/pub/amber-daulton/87/538/368
The Wild Rose Press – https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/2362_amber-daulton

Dark Melodies, book 1 in The Black Combe Dom series by Ashe Barker

Hang onto your hats! Ashe Barker has a new series out. Dark Melodies is super-length book 1 (over 600 pages!)  in The Black Combe Doms series.
Blurb
Who knows where pain ends, and pleasure begins?
The chance of a new life out in the wilds of the Yorkshire moors sounds too good to be true to shy musician Eva Byrne. Stifled and smothered within the cocoon of her brilliant academic career, Eva yearns for something different. Something real and exciting. Something she can feel
Excitement. Passion. Pleasure. She finds that sexy, enigmatic Nathan Darke can provide all these and more when she moves into his home as violin tutor to his young daughter. But Eva’s sensual encounters with her demanding, domineering new employer quickly evoke her deepest fears, as he introduces her to the trauma of submission and marks her with his particularly dark brand of love.
But will Eva’s natural curiosity and thirst for new experiences be enough to withstand the sting of Nathan Darke’s exquisite touch? Will simple surrender be enough as he challenges her every inhibition, taking her on an erotic journey of self-discovery and liberation?
Disclaimers:
Dark Melodies is intended for mature readers. 18 and over only! Scenes include power exchanges, spanking adult women, and explicitly sexual situations. These scenes are fantasies only, suitable for discerning readers. If such content may offend, please do not buy this book. 
Dark Melodies was previously released as three separate books, Darkening, Darker and Darkest, in the series The Dark Side. In this volume the three books in The Dark Side trilogy are published as one combined novel, under a new title, Dark Melodies with new cover art, no cliffhangers and a HEA.

Buy Link: mybook.to/DarkMelodies
Available in paperback or read for free with Kindle Unlimited.

Excerpt:
Slipping his hand out of my bra, he pulls me to my feet and quickly turns me to face the table. His hand in the small of my back, he pushes me face down across the hardwood surface, sliding the iPad and my coffee cup to one side.
I start in surprise as he lifts the hem of my dress—surely he just said…
Then I moan out loud as he again slips his hand into my clothing, this time down the back of my lovely red lacy briefs, down the hollow between my buttocks, slowing slightly to circle my anus with one gentle fingertip. I stiffen, waiting…
“So sweet and tight. We’ll come back to this,” he murmurs softly, leaning close to kiss my neck before continuing on between the wet, swollen lips of my pussy. He slips one finger inside my moist entrance, working gently in and out, circling the outer lips, spreading my juices all around. I moan faintly, lifting my bum up in welcome. He slides a second finger inside, whilst with his other hand he attacks from the front to take my swollen clitoris between his thumb and finger, gently rubbing.
The combined pleasure is so intense, so sudden, it overwhelms me, and I come immediately. I scream, unable to contain any of the fabulous sensation of internal fragmentation now shooting out through my outstretched fingers—white-knuckled, still gripping the edge of the table—and my toes, still encased in my lovely, red fuck-me shoes. I whimper, almost in frustration that my climax has hit me before I even saw it coming.
“I’m not finished with you yet. Stay there.”
More? How wonderful.
His voice is low, seductive and commanding. I stay still. Waiting. He straightens, steps away from me, goes over to his desk. He returns a moment later, gently pulling my underwear down to my ankles. “Step out.” His command is clear. I obey.
“You have a beautiful bottom, Miss Byrne,” he observes, trailing his fingertips lightly down the furrow between my buttocks, then tracing the line of each lower curve before bringing something down on me—hard, sharp, fierce. I scream out loud, with shock more than pain, though the sting is real enough. Instinctively I start to stand up, but his hand goes to the small of my back, pressing me back down.
“We agreed on five strokes for every frown. I counted at least four frowns since we came into this room, and that’s me being generous, Miss Byrne. So that’s twenty strokes. Agreed?”
I don’t answer, still reeling from the sudden assault. He strikes me again, and I scream again, louder. “Agreed, Miss Byrne?”
“Yes, yes. Please don’t…”
“Eighteen to go, then. Grit your teeth, Miss Byrne.”
I do, flinching with every blow, my fingers curled desperately around the opposite edge of the table. Counting slowly. He takes his time, waiting between each blow for me to settle again, to be ready. After ten strokes he stops, places a ruler beside my face on the table, and steps away again. I know not to move. He comes back after a few moments and I feel something cool, soothing, being smoothed into my red-hot and extremely sore buttocks. He gently massages me, kneading my tender skin where his ruler has done its work.
“You’re new to this, Miss Byrne, so I’m really being very gentle with you. Next time it will be harder.” He taps my buttock lightly with his palm. “Relax—we’ll soon be done.” He stands, picks up the ruler again. “Are you ready to continue, Miss Byrne?”
I know he will demand an answer, so I whisper my consent, and he starts again. The next ten blows are excruciating. He alternates between bringing his ruler down hard on first one side of my bottom, then the other, always hitting the same spot on each cheek and now not even waiting for me to collect myself between blows. Each new blow builds on the sting left by the one before it. I lie there in my world of pain, biting my lip to keep from sobbing, waiting for him to finish.
After the twentieth stroke he straightens, stands still behind me. I can imagine his eyes on my abused bottom, and just hope he’s satisfied. I know better than to say as much, though, and I wait, desperate for him to give me permission to get up. I lie there, frozen with dread at what might be coming next.
“Open your legs, Eva.”

The other books in The Black Combe Dom series:
mybook.to/DarkMelodies
mybook.to/SureMastery
mybook.to/HardLimits
viewbook.at/LaidBare
all four are FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited.  Available in paperback too

Getting to know the amazing Ashe Barker
USA Today Bestselling author Ashe Barker writes erotic romance and spanking romance in a variety of genres including contemporary, BDSM, paranormal, historical. ménage, gay romance and time travel. She is a #1 Amazon Bestseller and all her stories feature hot alpha males and sassy submissives, often with a lot to learn. Kink abounds, and there’s enough dirty talk to satisfy the most demanding smut lover. However dark and dirty the setting, love always emerges triumphant, and her stories never fail to deliver a satisfying happy ever after.
Connect with Ashe Barker:
Newsletter Sign-up
www.ashebarker.com
Amazon
Bookbub
Facebook  
Twitter  

Desires by Daryl Devore

Daryl Devoré is my guest today with her book Desires which is freshly edited and revised version of her book F.L.E.S.H., published by New Dawning Bookfair.
Blurb
When secrets conflict with dreams, love explodes. Desires is Daryl Devoré’s latest hot romance.
After a mistake by a surgeon’s scalpel shattered Fuchsia Quinn's dance career, she picked up the pieces of her life and moved forward. As the owner of a small, struggling dance school in a depressed neighborhood she supplements her income with a late-night job at a strip club. Haunted by the fear of humiliation, if her secret is revealed, her life was under control until the night he walked into the club.
Peyton Lang, having run from an impoverished neighbourhood, lives the lifestyle of a successful billionaire. Frustrated that his current multi-million dollar project is stalled, Peyton drops in to LEATHER-ICIOUS for a quick drink and late night entertainment. What he saw was a beautiful redhead. What he found was he wanted her.
After a lusty night with a hot pole dancer, Peyton and Fuchsia's worlds are about to collide.

Buy link: Amazon

Excerpt:
Peyton dropped the towel and sat next to Flame on the bed. "I think it's time that I give you a proper good morning."
"I think I love the sound of that." She giggled. "Back in two secs." She bolted across the room. A moment later she jumped back onto the bed and squirmed her perfect ass against the sheets.
He leaned forward. His lips meeting hers, softly at first, but passion bubbled, and their tongues danced about each other. A jolt hit his cock as she raked her teeth across his bottom lip. He kneaded her flesh. Her erect nipples peaked out from between his fingers. When he tickled his fingertips across her nipple, she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Open your eyes. Why do women always hide? Watch me. Watch how you respond. You're so hot. Your nipples react so—" He interrupted himself by wrapping his lips around her right rosy bud and caressing it with his tongue. "See. Look how firm and… perky it is."
Flame giggled.
He shook his head. "Yes, I said perky. I don't think I've ever used that word before, but it describes your nipples perfectly." He leaned over and brushed a kiss across her left bud. It quivered. His lips parted. He licked her pink flesh and then slipped her nipple between his teeth, closing his lips around it.
Flame's back arched, pressing her breast into his face. Her breaths lengthened to long, deep, contented sighs.
While he lost himself in the pleasure of her breasts, Peyton stroked her dark brown patch of hair. He tapped the insides of her thighs, asking her to open her legs. Spreading her nether lips, he slid his finger from her pussy to her clit. He caressed the sides and circled her nub.
Flame tensed. Moans rumbled in her throat. Peyton slipped a finger into her wetness and stroked her. He adjusted his position so his finger faced upward, tickling the inside of her while his thumb made random circles on top of her clit.
She gripped the sheets, pulled her knees up, and splayed them to the sides, giving him more room to maneuver. He increased his speed and was rewarded with a moan and a first spasm. Her muscles clenched on his fingers. She gasped as her whole body tensed.
He didn't stop. He kept a steady pace, helping her revel in her pleasure. With a shudder, she relaxed. Placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, he whispered, "That's the proper way to say good morning."

Double Takes by Pippa Greathouse

Pippa Greathouse is back with an exciting new book, Double Takes. This contemporary novel combines mystery with a spicy dash of erotica.

Adam has his own set of rules, intended to keep Samantha safe

Blurb: 

Samantha Hillis, a widow of three years, has just begun to put her life back together when a shooter in the parking lot of the mall destroys dozens of cars and causes multiple injuries. Sam is pulled into the arms of Adam Stapleton, a handsome lieutenant of the Highway Patrol, and she feels for the first time in years what it’s like to be held in a man’s arms. And it’s wonderful.

But Adam has his own set of rules, intended to keep her safe.

As a series of double-takes and other events happen that make her doubt her own judgement, she realizes she’s been drawn into a web of suspicion. She’s now the object of a murder investigation, of stalking, and her own home has been broken into and ransacked. The only one she can trust now is Adam.

Disclaimer: Double Takes is intended for mature readers. 18 and over only! Scenes include spanking adult women and explicitly sexual situations. If such content may offend, please do not buy this book. 

Buy link: Amazon

Excerpt:

 “Don’t pick those up. Just tell me what they say, and I’ll bring them.”

“Nonsense. I’m strong as an ox.” She lifted it, surprised that it weighed as much as it did.

“Samantha!”

Surprised at his tone of voice, she froze. He moved toward her and took it from her, frowning.  “What did I just tell you?”

“Not to, but I’m—”

“I heard what you said.” His voice was firm. “This is my house. I’ll do the heavy stuff. Do you hear me?”

She took a step backward, away from him. “I hear you.”

“Then do as I say.” His voice was not just firm. There was a stern quality to it.

She stared at him, speechless, and blinked. She was at a loss. It wasn’t the first time today that he’d used that tone of voice with her.

“I don’t like being scolded.” She had to admit, she sounded petulant.

 “There’s a way to avoid it.” He moved into the kitchen with the oversized box, setting it on the island. When she didn’t respond, he turned to her. “Some of these are quite heavy. I don’t want to be responsible for you getting hurt.”

“I’m accustomed to doing things for myself.  And I’ve handled heavier things than this.”

He leaned one hand on the countertop, turning. “I’m absolutely sure that’s true. And perhaps in the past three years you’ve had to do it a lot. On the other hand, this is my house and right now you’re my responsibility, so these are my rules. Now. That’s all I’m going to say about it, except for this. The next time I see you doing it, I’ll smack your bottom.”

She gasped. “You wouldn’t dare.”

His face was close to hers; quite close.

“Try me.”

Pippa Greathouse in her own words

An assignment by my elegant and sweet fifth grade teacher was what started it all. The assignment: to write a short story and read it aloud to the class.

Enter a story about a group of fifth grade kids camping in the woods who were attacked by a Grizzly; add body parts everywhere and kids being mauled to death one by one, and pile on top one horrified teacher (Poor Mrs. J!). The kids thought it was cool, however, and I was hooked.

Writing continued throughout Junior and Senior High, in the form of space stories, then spy stories, and by the time I reached high school, had turned into romances!  Every year when spring fever hit, I would take my notebook outside at lunchtime, and soak up the sun, and write. Then I would take it home and type it up on onionskin paper, on an old Underwood typewriter (Yes, I know I'm old!)

One day a few years ago while cleaning, I came upon a tote containing a wad of onionskin paper, rolled up. I was delighted to find a story that I had written when I was about eighteen, and thought, "Hmm, I wonder what would happen if I sat down and re-wrote this? And submitted it?”

My favorite Heroine? One with intelligence, integrity, courage, and firm determination. I love to have the heroine and hero ‘make a difference’ in the surroundings and lives of others in the story.

And needless to say, my favorite hero is an "Alpha male" who loves his woman to distraction, but is smart (yes, in my opinion, smart is extremely sexy!) stern, and willing to be as strict as necessary to protect her from danger, even danger from herself.

Connect with Pippa Greathouse

Email: pippagreathouse@gmail.com

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01MY1AWFG

Website: http://www.pippagreathouse.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pippagreathouse/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PippaG6

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/pippa-greathouse

More exciting titles from Pippa Greathouse and Blushing Books:

The Strasburg Chronicles (5 Book Series)

Angelica’s Rescuer: Book one

Merrie’s Hero: Book two

Cinderella’s Lawman: Book three

The Return of Lucy Grace: Book four

Macie’s War: Book five

Standalone Time Travel Romance

Time for Change

Strasburg, the New Generation

Judging Cicely

Katie’s Maverick

Renovating His Heart by Stella Grace

Today I welcome Stella Grace to my blog. A new author publishing with Blushing Books, Stella Grace’s first book, Renovating His Heart, (love this title) is out now. Get to know Stella a little bit better with the author Q&A at the end of this blog post. 

Grace and Ty may be trying to renovate former relationships but they find they are constructing a new one.

Blurb:

In a world dominated by men, Grace Evans just wants to take over her father’s construction company.

However, her father believes Ty Parks, his Senior Superintendent, is a better candidate.

When past mistakes haunt Grace, her father makes one final decision that takes both Ty and Grace by surprise.

Now, as they struggle to renovate former relationships they discover they are constructing a new one.

Publishers note: This contemporary romance includes sensual scenes.

Buy link: Amazon

Excerpt:

The sound of gravel crackling below the weight of tires came up behind him, but Ty didn’t turn around. He was too focused on the activity flaming in front of him.

Bright headlights dimmed as the sound of the quiet engine cut off while Ty crossed his well-defined arms over his chest and studied the activity in front of him.

He finally turned around just as a 29-year-old woman placed her shapely legs out of the candy-apple sports car. She wore vivid red stiletto heels, which hugged her petite feet perfectly. Ty took a moment to ogle the beautiful woman as she stood with her long legs gracefully taking on the weight of her fit body. She wore dressy black shorts and a business casual top accented by costume jewelry.

Noticing the calm that blanketed the site, Ty turned to find most of his men had stopped to look at the mysterious woman as well.

He cleared this throat. They didn’t have time to waste gawking after the magnificent creature who clearly didn’t belong on his construction site.

“Excuse me! We only have a couple of hours before the concrete arrives. Let’s go!” he yelled, and his men quickly swarmed back to work.

Once he was satisfied that the distraction was no longer an issue, Ty turned his attention back to the beauty approaching him with a box of donuts in her hand.

She had long, smooth chocolate hair hanging down her back, which looked recently trimmed and styled. She didn’t appear to be wearing any makeup and clearly didn’t need to.

“Are you Ty?” her singsong voice asked him.

“Yes. Can I help you?” He regretted how blunt his words sounded but, in his defense, it was not a good time.

“Ty, I’m Grace. I’m here to help you manage this job,” she collectedly told him, extending her delicate hand while balancing the donuts in the other.

Ty couldn’t hold back the howl of laughter that rose from his gut. He didn’t accept her handshake and flashed a bright smile.

“Oh, sweetheart, that’s a good one. Who sent you? Bill?” Ty asked her with laughter remaining in his eyes.

She didn’t waver, humor absent from her sky-blue eyes.

“If you mean Bill Evans, then yes, he sent me.”

“You can tell Bill I said thank you for the laugh and donuts,” he responded, appraising her body with his hungry eyes. He reached out and graciously took the donuts from her with a coy smile on his lips.

“I’m sorry. I think you misunderstand why I’m here, Mr. Parks. I’m not here for your visual pleasure. I’m here to help manage,” she said and tilted her chin just a little higher.

Her tone sobered Ty just a little.

“I’m sorry. I don’t need help,” he told her, switching gears and flashing her a coy smile.

“Mr. Evans advised me there was an issue with a subcontractor this morning?” Now her eyes held a hint of amusement, which clouded them like a slate blue storm.

“There was, but as you can see, it’s been handled, and we are back on schedule,” he smiled, trying his hardest to hide the discontent flowing in his veins.

She raised her voice so that everyone on the site could hear her, “Maybe I should introduce myself and get started on the right foot.”

Ty tried to keep his anger intact, shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Maybe this was a test to see if he would get distracted. 

“So, Mr. Parks, I would like to formally introduce myself. I’m Grace Evans, Bill Evans’ daughter.” She extended her manicured hand firmly out again. 

This time Ty accepted it as his jaw dropped wide open.

More about Stella Grace:

Have you ever read a book that kept you turning pages until 2 a.m. only to be let down by the outcome?

 Author Stella Grace had that happen all too many times and that’s why she started writing. She prefers modern romance stories with feisty women and dominant men but likes to hold off on erotic scenes until midway and sometimes the end of the book to keep the suspense.

She married her high school sweetheart and they share two school-age children in sunny Florida but desires life in the Georgia mountains. Stella is a restless soul who loves to travel and provide her kids with as many experiences as she can. She holds a degree in Psychology which her husband hates because she actually understands him.

Connect with Stella Grace:

Visit her website here: www.authorstellagrace.com

Find her on Facebook – www.facebook.com/stella.grace.3954546

Visit her Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Stella-Grace/e/B07FB33VDV/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Instagram: author.stella.grace

Questions and answers  with Stella Grace

Where did Grace come from?

I’ve personally worked in the construction field for almost fifteen years and I’ve found it to be very difficult to excel as a woman. I’m not saying that I have been degraded or disrespected in my field. I have worked with some amazing men that have treated me with the utmost respect. What I am talking about is the lack of women in construction. In my experience it is a very male dominated field, from Architects, to Engineers and General Contractors. Grace is a woman that wants to break the mold and show people that just because she is a beautiful woman doesn’t mean her only role is a secretary. 

Was there a particular reason to choose the subject of construction?

Write what you know. I was taught that a long time ago so I knew that construction had to be my field. When you read Renovating His Heart, you’ll hear my knowledge about construction and the working of a jobsite.

Grace is a strong character. Is she based on you?

I’d like to think myself a fireball.  I don’t back down. But I’ve also been very lucky to work for men in my field that have respected me and openly educated me when I needed it. Not all women in construction have had positive experiences like me and I wanted to shed a little light on that.

Any comments on the title?

I love tiles that play on words. So Renovating His Heart seemed appropriate.