Sizzling Summer Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Sizzling Summer Blog Hop!

Summertime here in the south is hot and steamy. We have more than our fair share of humidity, but we also have more than our fair share of fun, and I love to include this in my books – especially my Backstage Pass series. After all, rock stars are not known for their predictable ways. So here are my band Solar Uprising’s favorite ways to beat the sizzling heat:

BARBEQUES

If it's one thing rockers love to do, it's party. What better way in the summer then a barbecue and beer and a pool? Finding Her Rhythm, Backstage Pass Novella, romantic suspense, erotic romance, romance author, musician hero, Indie publishing“Chicken fight!” Becca wasted no time getting to her feet. “That would be my cue to exit. The annual chicken fight is definitely not my scene.” She strode toward the locker rooms, leaving Taylor to face the music. She turned a wide-eyed gaze toward the rest of the party, which was rapidly dividing itself by groups of two. Even the teenagers. Her stomach started to churn, faster and faster, like a merry-go-round gaining speed. She stayed put, sort of an “if I’m very still, no one will notice me” move. After all, no one had so far. But she should have known her luck would run out. Not two minutes later Michael detached himself from the group and swam in her direction. Oh, that hot dog had been a mistake. She just might puke in the pool. No. No no no. Please don’t make me do this. The last thing she wanted was for Michael Korvello to try to lift her. She could just imagine the stoic grunt as he realized just how much she weighed. Not to mention having to do it in front of a handful of women shaped like twigs. With boobs, of course. His head lifted above the water with slick grace, the wetness somehow deepening the smoky blue of his eyes. “I need a partner, Taylor.” She swallowed hard. “No, thanks.” “Come on. You wouldn’t leave me hangin’, would ya?” Her expression must have showcased some of her “you bet I would, mister” sentimentality, because the laughter in his ramped up. “Come on. Just a friendly game of chicken.” His emphasis on the word notated his challenge. Just like he challenged her every day. Drawing her out, coaxing her to take the leap. But this time she had fear of taking her towel off in front of thirty-some-odd people on her side. “Not happening.” She shook her head to drive her point home. Above the slosh of people in the pool, a voice suddenly rang out. “I thought you said she was a cool nanny?” A quick glance revealed the teens looking her way, and not a single soul left out of the pool, except one woman wrangling two toddlers. And her. So much for outgrowing peer pressure. Her “okay” got everyone back to their preparations and their eyes off her, thank God. But not Michael’s. He watched with a raised brow as she stood next to her lounger. Her legs shook with the desire to run back to the locker rooms and hide. How could she possibly do this? But some teeny-tiny spark inside insisted she could ramp up that sexy glint in his eyes. Fake it till you make it. Sucking in her stomach, she let the towel drop to reveal her new swimsuit. His gaze traveled down the teal one-piece with interest, lingering where it dipped low over her cleavage. Turning, she draped her towel over her lounger. A totally unnecessary maneuver, but his quick intake of breath told her he’d seen the heart-shaped cutout right over the dimples at the small of her back. Did he like them? Remembering when those dimples had been the subject of ridicule rather than an intimate secret between lovers, she approached Michael with a touch of caution. When she was within a few steps of him, he breathed, “Damn, woman.” Ah, victory. A few deep breaths got her through the indignity of climbing onto Michael’s muscled shoulders. Thankfully he didn’t moan or stumble over her weight. The only thing that eased her self-consciousness was the feel of his wet skin against hers. His hands warming as they curled around her thighs. The flex of his arms as he balanced her securely. Oh, she was so going to hell for her thoughts. Luckily no one else seemed to be paying her any attention as one of the men yelled, “Ready. Set. Go!” from Finding Her Rhythm, Book 1

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Summer nights provide many a chance to step off the beaten path and explore all the options. These bad boys will wonder off the straight and narrow every chance they get! Settling the Score, Backstage Pass, rock star romance, Dani Wade, sexy romantic suspenseA slight breeze flirted with the ruffle of her skirt, playing around her bare legs. They came around a curve in the road, and Becca smiled. She had noticed the little park on their way over, but hadn’t taken the time for a thorough look. Swings and seesaws sat still in the darkness, with a pavilion and other equipment deeper in the shadows. An abundance of trees would keep the area shaded during hot summer days, but tonight they took on the magical qualities of an enchanted canopy. “So pretty,” she murmured, pausing for a moment to take it in. Daniel squeezed the hand he still held. “Come,” he said, sounding as if he had jumped into her little fantasy, “let’s go for a stroll in the park.” She giggled as they stepped off the pavement, then walked slowly around, exploring the nooks and crannies. Becca soaked in the rustle of the leaves overhead and the occasional brush of Daniel’s body along her side. Finally he tugged her farther toward the shadows at the back. “I see a place perfect for a few adult games,” he said. “Daniel, no.” “Come on, cutie. Take a walk on the wild side with me.” She wasn’t especially wild. At least, not without Daniel. But who could resist that gorgeous grin? A bit of necking never hurt, right? Only she should know Daniel never did anything halfway. Guiding her into the stand of trees, he found a nice wide trunk to back her up against. She giggled as he nuzzled into her neck, then moaned as he sucked her skin. God, he felt so good. “Becca, I don’t think I can wait until we get back to the hotel,” he murmured. “You mean the one I can see from here?” she teased even while her hands pulled his hips closer. That didn’t help her case. She wanted to tease him again, but his words against her skin had her shivering with sensations. How could words turn her on so much? “I want to open this demure little button-down of yours and expose those pretty pink nipples to the night air,” he said, his mouth traveling down as if to follow through. Her nipples reacted, tight and tingling, as the image filled her mind. from Settling the Score, Book 2  

BLESSED RAIN

One sure way to cool down is a steady summer shower. And who doesn't want to play in the rain? This bad boy definitely does. Striking a Chord, Dani Wade, erotic romance, rockstar romanceNow she needed to deal with the reality. Which was why she was trailing Sean through the mist in the dark. The words of his note had floated through her mind throughout the meal. You can’t hide from me forever, girlie. The flush that rose over her chest and heated her cheeks had drawn his eye, but he hadn’t remarked on it—or anything else for that matter. She’d expected him to hunt her down as soon as they were dismissed. Instead he’d disappeared into the depths of the house with his brother. She’d wanted to seek him out but hid behind a book in the library for long moments trying to prepare her explanations. Then she’d heard footsteps passing by. She was still buttoning her coat as she caught a glimpse of him rounding the corner of the building. Quickening her steps, she saw just a dark shadow before he was swallowed up by the cloaking mist. Boy, he was moving fast. Like he had a ton of energy and no way to expend it. She totally sympathized. Luckily the path he disappeared down led to the old ruin by the lake. It was one of the few places she hadn’t explored yet, but Clarissa had pointed it out. The pebbled path was lined with small lights at regular intervals. They provided just enough illumination for her to keep on track, even if her surroundings were obscured by the gray blanket hanging in the air. Navigating the darkness gave her an excuse to slow down and put off the inevitable. She could admit it, even if she wouldn’t let herself give in to it. Reaching the looming stone structure, she paused for a moment of awe. The stone walls were ancient and beautiful in the gloom, so tall she couldn’t make out the top floor. The beauty touched her heart, as if the old building welcomed her. A deep breath for courage, then she stepped through the gaping doorway. The damp chill increased inside the walls, introducing a slightly creepy factor. “Sean?” Her voice echoing in the space didn’t help. Maybe she should return to the warm fuzzies outside? Then a light beam appeared in the far doorway, sweeping rapidly across the ground to find her eyes. Ouch. “Meghan?” Relief rushed over her as she heard Sean’s voice, but her mortification returned too. She swallowed it down. He deserved an explanation for leaving him without a word, naked and needy. “Hey.” Wow—dynamic opening. His steps were quiet across the grass that had taken over the inner floor. “Sorry, girlie. I didn’t think you’d be looking for me.” Oh, I wouldn’t if my conscience would let me avoid it. “Were you meeting someone?" “No. Just revisiting old memories.” Glancing around at the stone walls, strong despite their crumbling mortar, she could see how this would be the perfect place for reminiscing. She shifted, not sure where to start. Couldn’t they just return to the mindless need of the early morning? That she could handle. When she had to think about things, not so much. She always said the wrong thing. Or other people seemed to think so. “This is a cool place,” she said, glancing around the gloom. She could just make out a narrow staircase and a doorway leading into more rooms. “Yes,” Sean said, his voice way more relaxed than she felt. “It was a crackin’ stage for games when Kieran and I were kids. We played here a lot.” The flashlight beam swept the interior, revealing age against the classic beauty. “Great relief from the orders and arguments waiting for us at the big house. And later, lots of privacy for meeting girls.” from Striking a Chord, Book 3

As you can tell, these bad boys love to heat things up and keep life cool. I hope you'll consider  joining them for an adventure! Speaking of, what's your favorite way to enjoy some summer fun? One lucky commenter will win a copy of Backstage Pass Books 1 & 2, Finding Her Rhythm & Settling the Score, on Sunday.

If you'd like to keep up to date on my book releases and cool happenings, please join my newsletter group here! And don't forget to check out the other blogs in the hop at www.justromance.me!

Release Day Dance Party! ~ Striking a Chord

There’s nothing an author enjoys more than celebrating a new release with readers. Except celebrating TWO new releases!

Today its Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun, and DOUBLE THE PRIZES! Because my twin, Ella Sheridan and I, have Double Releases. Today, Striking a Chord, Backstage Pass Book 3, hits the virtual shelves. Ella’s novella Just a Little More also releases today! So its time to PARTY!

In honor of sharing a release day (and a womb for 9 months!), we’re having a release day party and giveaway – a $30 gift card to Amazon or B&N PLUS copies of the first book in my Secrets series and Dani’s Backstage Pass series. We’re talking serious hottie goodness here, people! Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of both our blogs. And remember, the more you participate – on my blog and Ella’s – the more entries you get to the giveaway. * * * Striking a Chord, Dani Wade, erotic romance, rockstar romance Here’s a peek into Sean and Meghan’s story: Success as a US rock star is payback to Irish drummer Sean Rosslair, whose father insisted music was a waste. Now Sean just needs to see the body to go with the smokin’ sexy voice of his new assistant, and his world will feel complete. But she ends up being the very woman he should never have. Anxious to do a good deed, Meghan finally exposes her plus-size presence to her boss. Only he doesn’t react the way she expects—to her body or his brother. She takes her punishment for her white lie well—too well. Meghan can’t refrain from begging her boss for another spanking…but can she let go enough to embrace romance with a rockstar? Can Sean teach Meghan his erotic secrets before a hidden enemy puts him out of commission—permanently?   Hot, hot, hot! And just in time for all that reading you’ll be doing this holiday weekend. Even better? Striking a Chord is only 99 cents through Monday! Grab your copy on Amazon. Let's get on with the DANCE PARTY! What better way to introduce a rock star's book, huh? I’m sharing the songs that inspired me as I wrote Sean and Meghan’s story. When you’ve danced yourself silly and commented to enter the contest, run on over to Ella’s blog and party with some more awesome music. * * * Striking a Chord takes the Backstage Pass series international with its setting in Ireland. What could be sexier than being forced to stay in an old Manor house in the Irish countryside with a 100% Irish bad boy? Nothing that I know of… Inspiration wasn’t in short supply—I plotted this book while on a trip to Ireland, Wales, and London. Everywhere I turned were castle ruins, stately manor houses, and some yummy, yummy eye candy! But once I was home, I really needed music to help the writing continue to flow. I found the perfect soundtrack with an international flair in Goo Goo Dolls Magnetic. Sean is a whole hog rebel! He started doing his own thing in his teens and hasn’t looked back. Meghan’s more of a rebel-in-training, and Sean’s the perfect teacher.   [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUi8gQPsMdw?rel=0&w=560&h=315]   One taste and he can’t get enough of her curvy body or intrepid spirit. He aches to teach her the key to setting her sensuality free.   [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlDAq56viD0?rel=0&w=560&h=315]   Meghan grew up in an uber-religious community. A single fall from grace and now everyone is watching to see if her journey away from her home town leads her ‘down the path to sin’. Sean sees the pain in Meghan’s heart and aches to erase the wounds inflicted by others. As she embraces her true self, she sets aside judgment and lets her own wild side come alive. And her redemption just might show Sean a few things he's never let himself see before.   [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI7mKUqidhg?rel=0&w=560&h=315] I hope you’ll join me in celebrating my Irish drummer! What’s a celebration without prizes? Ella and I have a joint giveaway. To enter, simply leave a comment on both my blog and hers, telling us your favorite party song. Your comment enters you in the giveaway. A comment on both blogs enters you TWICE. Like me on FACEBOOK or SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER and get a THIRD entry. Thank you so much for joining us for our Double Release Day! Its not really a party all by myself. But with friends? It’s Double the Fun! Dani   Oh, 1 more thing—if you’ve never read mine or Ella’s books, I’ve got another great way for you to win! We have an interview today on Nice Girls Writing Naughty Readers Group where we’re talking twins, hotties, and of course, prizes! One lucky commenter will win the first books in BOTH the Secrets and Backstage Pass series. So check that out too!

Cover Reveal: Striking a Chord

I'm so excited about the next installment of my Backstage Pass series! This book is very special to me, as Sean Rosslair was the first band member to speak to me after the Korvello brothers. A large portion of this book also takes place in Ireland, a country I was privileged to visit while writing this book. That very rarely happens for an author, and I found it incredibly exciting! [caption id="attachment_592" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Dani Wade, Ireland trip, St. Stephens Green, Dublin, Ireland Dani at St. Stephen's Green Park in Dublin, Ireland[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_593" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Dani Wade, Ella Sheridan, Killarney, Ireland Dani with Ella Sheridan in Killarney Pub for my first cider[/caption]   To add to the pleasure, my incredible cover artist Elizabeth Wallace, created a cover I absolutely love! I hope you'll love it to. Here's the cover for Striking a Chord, Backstage Pass Book 3, which will release on July 2nd! Striking a Chord, Dani Wade, erotic romance, rockstar romance     Success as a US rock star is payback to Irish drummer Sean Rosslair, whose father insisted music was a waste. Now Sean just needs to see the body to go with the smokin’ sexy voice of his new assistant, and his world will feel complete. But she ends up being the very woman he should never have. Anxious to do a good deed, Meghan finally exposes her plus-size presence to her boss. Only he doesn’t react the way she expects—to her body or his brother. She takes her punishment for her white lie well—too well. Meghan can’t refrain from begging her boss for another spanking…but can she let go enough to embrace romance with a rock star? Can Sean teach Meghan his erotic secrets before a hidden enemy puts him out of commission—permanently? Subscribers to my newsletter will receive an exclusive sneak peek next weekend, along with a special Double Scoop winner! Sign up by Friday to be eligible to win. And don't forget the first 2 Backstage Pass novels: Finding Her Rhythm and Settling the Score.

Milestone Birthdays + A Winner

Birthdays are usually fun for me. I love celebrating mine and everyone else’s. But this year was different. I hit one of those “milestone birthdays”. milestone birthday, dani wade, candles, romance author The more I thought about the # in the days leading up to it, the more depressed I became. Not for vain reasons (I’ve been fighting the uphill battle with my body for many years), but for more ephemeral reasons, like: ~Am I where I want to be at this point in my life? ~Do I still have time to get where I want to be? (that’s the pessimist in me talking) ~Am I treasuring the important things in my life? ~Am I dismissing the good things and focusing on the bad? (natural for a pessimist) ~How many more years do I have to feel like I’m not measuring up? I thought that was supposed to go away already! Thinking brought me some answers I wanted, and some I didn’t. Isn’t that always the way? But I have to say my family and friends made the day a very special one without too much fuss. I was grateful to start a new decade surrounded by my loved ones. That’s the best way to do it, right?   WINNER The winner from my Summer for Love blog hop post is Kelly Thompson. She’ll receive a $10 Amazon card and a copy of my first Backstage Pass book, Finding Her Rhythm. Finding Her Rhythm, Backstage Pass Novella, romantic suspense, erotic romance, romance author, musician hero, Indie publishing Because of all the great responses, I’m giving away 2 additional copies of Finding Her Rhythm to Brandi Dagwan and Renata Sbr. I’ll be contacting everyone via email. Thank you for visiting with me on my blog! Dani *photo used courtesy of rossvana, Creative Commons

Summer for Love Blog Hop

Summer in the South means an abundance of steamy heat. When you’re trying to keep cool, its not so great, but when you’re ready to spice things up—oh, yeah! The question is, how do we add romance to those sultry summer nights? Here are a few ideas from those of us with experience.  :)   *Dancing and drinks at the local bar. *Skinny dippin’ at the beach or lake. *Long walks in the dark. *Lemonade on the front porch swing. *A private striptease with nothin’ but the crickets for music. *Settin’ up a radio on the tailgate of a truck and having a personal dance party. *Bonfires. *Playin’ in the pool (with or without swimsuits). *Long nighttime drives with the windows down. What’s your best idea for a hot summer date? One lucky commenter will win a $10 Amazon giftcard! Sign up for my newsletter here for an extra chance to win! Happy Reading! Dani Settling The Score, Dani Wade, Backstage Pass series, sexy contemporary romance, rock star heroes, cover reveal Out now: Settling the Score. One hot rocker. One determined woman. Many hot southern nights! Summer for Love blog hop, romance readers, prizes, dani wade For more Summer for Love blog fun, check out the list of participants on The Romance Troupe.

A SUMMER FOR LOVE BLOG HOP JUNE 4-8

Check out the GRAND PRIZES! (6) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Cards

Comment with your name and email to be entered into the Grand Prize drawing. Comments without name and email will not be counted. Commenting on each and every stop will increase your chances of winning. Winners for the (6) Grand Prizes will be drawn and announced on THE ROMANCE TROUPE blog by June 10th using random.org to determine each winner.  

Settling The Score–Out Now!

 It’s finally here!

I know Daniel’s story has been a long time coming, but he’s bursting off the pages, I promise! As I shared with my newsletter subscribers, I’ve been living with Daniel’s story for a long time. When he first revealed he wasn’t the player he had shown himself to be in Michael’s book, I was shocked. Then enthralled. His and Becca’s history is complicated and makes their HEAs that much sweeter. Settling The Score, Dani Wade, Backstage Pass series, sexy contemporary romance, rock star heroes, cover reveal So click on your bookstore of choice, and download SETTLING THE SCORE today! An excerpt is available in the post below this one. Amazon Smashwords (which has all file types) I'd like to apologize to my Nook readers! I've repeatedly attempted to upload to Nook Press and it isn't cooperating. A link will be posted as soon as I can get that fixed!   Daniel Korvello isn’t your average Joe with a case of unrequited lust. He’s a hard rock front man who wonders if his publicist will ever see him as anything other than a job. Then they team up to hunt down a threat to Daniel’s family...and he seizes the chance to show her he’s up for more than just a one night stand. Becca Buchanan already lived through one rock-star scandal with her reputation barely intact. She’s determined never to put herself, or her family, through that again. Only she can’t deny the desire she feels for Daniel. When he exposes the molten heat beneath her Ice Maiden exterior, she may never be able to freeze him out again. Then their amateur investigation takes a dangerous turn that threatens the lives of those they both love. Can their newfound trust extend past the bedroom? Can Daniel let go of his guilt enough to embrace a future with Becca? NEXT WEEK: RT Recap! And don’t forget that my next Harlequin, A BRIDE’S TANGLED VOWS, the first in my Mill Town Millionaires series, is already up for preorder. Order today for Kindle or paperback!      

My Sexy Saturday – Settling the Score

From SETTLING THE SCORE, Backstage Pass Book #2

“You’re far too concerned about things outside of yourself—you can’t turn your brain off and simply focus on the pleasure.” Pleasure he desperately wanted to give her. Tears welling into her eyes told him he was on track, even if her mouth wouldn’t admit it. He held up the blindfold once more. “Which is why I need to teach you to shut all that shit out. To concentrate on how good you feel, not what I want from you. Not how you look.” She started, obviously surprised by his insight. Oh yeah, he’d known about her obsession with her looks for years. He wasn’t going to let that get in his way either. He brushed the length of material along her jawline. “Let me do this, Becca. For you.” For me. Those oh too vulnerable eyes closed once more, her chin tilting up in surrender. This close he could see her hard swallow as she awaited his next move, the pulse at the base of her neck picking up speed. The beauty of her in that position took his breath away. If he could get his hands on Rockin’ Reno, he’d break every bone in his sleazy little body. Way past time for Becca to find out what it was like to be with a man who put her needs before his own.   SETTLING THE SCORE is Available from Amazon and Smashwords.   Settling The Score, Dani Wade, Backstage Pass series, sexy contemporary romance, rock star heroes, cover reveal Daniel Korvello isn’t your average Joe with a case of unrequited lust. He’s a hard rock front man who wonders if his publicist will ever see him as anything other than a job. Then they team up to hunt down a threat to Daniel’s family...and he seizes the chance to show her he’s up for more than just a one night stand. Becca Buchanan already lived through one rock-star scandal with her reputation barely intact. She’s determined never to put herself, or her family, through that again. Only she can’t deny the desire she feels for Daniel. When he exposes the molten heat beneath her Ice Maiden exterior, she may never be able to freeze him out again. Then their amateur investigation takes a dangerous turn that threatens the lives of those they both love. Can their newfound trust extend past the bedroom? Can Daniel let go of his guilt enough to embrace a future with Becca?   For more My Sexy Saturday goodness, click here.

Not Fast. Good.

I’ve gotten in a big rush lately. It makes sense. My life is chaotic and my To Do List never ends. Sometimes you get in that mode of pushing through to the next task, desperate to simply have something completed. Checking things off a To Do List can be oddly addictive when the tasks seem neverending. But I recently realized quantity doesn’t equal quality. Or rather, I was reminded.  :)  I’d forgotten in the mad rush to “complete” things. That frustrates me. As much as I want Daniel’s book on the virtual shelves, rushing to complete his book won’t result in a good book—a book I can be proud of. My most recent Harlequin, Book 2 in the Mill Town Millionaires series, took longer than I anticipated to finish. To do it (and Daniel's book) justice, I have to put off releasing the next Backstage Pass book, Settling the Score, until later this Spring. I’m trying to remember that my current chaotic state won’t last forever. I’d rather please my readers with a good story, rather than a quick read. (Hopefully my readers will agree.) These are all decisions that have to be made as an Indie writer. Harlequin sets my deadlines for their books. And I know Awesome Editor would put me through another round of revisions if he wasn’t happy with the story. I can do no less for books of which I alone serve as author, publisher, and promoter. But to make up for the wait, I want to give you a peek at the cover! My newsletter subscribers have already seen it, but they’re the only ones. I’m so thrilled with it! My cover artist, Elizabeth Wallace, has done a fantastic job. The cover echoes the opening scene of the book, when Daniel finally let’s go of years of control and shows Becca exactly what she’s been missing. Settling The Score, Dani Wade, Backstage Pass series, sexy contemporary romance, rock star heroes, cover reveal Pretty sexy, huh? I’ll be releasing an excerpt in a few weeks, again first in my newsletter, so be sure to sign up to catch the first sneak peek! And watch here and my FB/Twitter pages for first news on the rescheduled release date. Dani Takeaway: What’s one thing where you prefer to have quality over quickness?

Did you know you can get behind the scenes information on my books and author updates through my newsletter? Get the scoop here!