Hey y'all!

For those new to my newsletter, welcome! I'm a little late with the newsletter this month. My apologies. My intention was to get it out while at Swirling the Big Easy--maybe include a few event highlights. However, being at the event consumed all of my time of attention.

After the event, life happened. I was under the weather combined with having my air conditioning unit call it quits on me. 😳😳

Thankfully, I was able to get it fixed, and False Fall kept the outside temp below ninety degrees. At present, I'm able to type this newsletter in much cooler temperatures allowing me to return to life snuggled under a blanket. 😊

What's been going on?

I'm finally able to talk about the project I'm a part of for the fall. I have a story in the Club Desire, Fall of Desire series. The first of the ten books releases on December 1st and the last on December 20th. I'll have more to share about it when we are a little closer to the first release. In the mean time, I'm including a short excerpt from my novella, Controlled Desire. It's an older woman younger man trope with mature characters.

Maria Elena Stokes was first introduced in my novel, For Real. Ji-Yeong Kang is a new member to the Darie McCoy family with this novel being his debut. Their attraction is immediate. Since this is a Club Desire novella, their attraction and sensual interactions are the bulk of the plot, but they aren't all of the story. That being said, these two burn up the pages and I love that for Maria. We don't get to see many women over fifty being sought after and desired in these romance streets.

Controlled Desire Excerpt

Looking up at the three-story, red brick building before her, Maria marveled at how normal it looked on the exterior. According to Tahlia, anything a consenting deviant little heart desired could be found here. As she approached the glass paned door, she noticed a black square plate affixed to the right of it. No words appeared on the plate. There was simply an intricate gold mask just as Tahlia described.

Still giving herself an internal pep talk, Maria opened the door and stepped inside. The entrance gave no indication as to what type of business was beyond the reception area. Behind the desk was a pretty woman with blonde hair. When she noticed Maria, she smiled sweetly.

“Hello, Welcome to Club Desire, Mrs. Stokes. I’m Bethany. I’ve been expecting you.”

Maria walked past the low tufted chairs to the near chest-high reception desk. Initially startled by the young woman appearing to know her name, she reminded herself of what Tahlia told her about her membership in the club. A photo was included in the information her friend provided them with when she purchased the membership. So, of course, Bethany would know who she was on sight.

“Please. Call me Maria.”

Bethany nodded, then tapped away on the keyboard and clicked the mouse for a few moments before looking up again.

“Okay, Maria, I see you were gifted a membership by one of our longtime members Tahlia Lenore.”

Bethany’s smile hinted that Maria was more than lucky to have such a friend. She reached for a clipboard containing a stack of documents along with a pen.

“As part of our on-boarding process, you’ll need to fill out some paperwork and sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement before we go any further. You can have a seat right over there to get started.”

“Thank you.” Maria accepted the clipboard with nary a tremble in her digits. She was proud the nerves of steel she used in her professional life made an appearance to help her make it through at least this part of the process.

After sitting in one of the offered chairs, Maria went through the pages of the intake paperwork reading each line carefully. She was oddly comforted by the attention to detail given to maintaining the privacy of anyone who entered Club Desire. A woman in her position had to be careful—especially with her company headquarters being located in the bible-thumping south.

Flying her freak flag had to be done with the strictest of discretion. Maria knew she wouldn’t be given the slack of her white male counterparts if there was even a whiff of impropriety. Not that exploring her sexual desires as a single, consenting adult was anyone’s business.

Once she was done with the documents, Bethany completed the process by reiterating the rules of the club—which Maria noted was verbatim to the information on the paperwork. She figured it was because far too many people wouldn’t actually read everything before signing.

“I’ll remind you, we are a private club, and all members and guests must adhere to all rules of this establishment. Is that understood?”

Maria nodded in response. There was nothing else to be said as she’d already agreed in writing. Bethany volunteered to show her around, but Maria declined. The ‘date’ Tahlia arranged for her was supposed to meet her in the first-floor lounge and do the honors.

“Okay, if you’re sure.” Bethany stretched one slender arm toward the hallway on the right.

A buzzer sounded allowing her entry past the black door at the end of the hallway. The same golden mask was displayed on the door. When Maria crossed the threshold, she immediately heard a sensual thumping baseline. The music wasn’t dance-club loud, but it sent a pulsing feeling across her skin, and down her spine coalescing at her center.

Her eyes didn’t know where to land as she studied the opulent interior of the lounge. The red sofas and chairs screamed ‘sex’. According to the rules, no sex happened here, but the atmosphere was definitely set to get a person prepared for whatever might come. Waiters and waitresses moved around the room occasionally stopping to serve a drink or accept an order from a patron.

Maria couldn’t stop herself from staring at the sculpted bare chests of the waiters. They could all be models with their cut physiques. The waitresses were stunning as well. They wore only black lace panties and bras with red bottomed heels. Knowing how much those shoes cost on the low end, let Maria know Club Desire didn’t short change their staff.

People were scattered around the space. Some on the sofas in conversation, while others were seated in chairs or at the bar. The person she was set to meet stated she should have a seat at the bar and he would come to her.

Unable to suppress the compulsion to gawk at the statues behind the bar, Maria took a seat. She was thankful for the sturdy back on the stool since she wasn’t sure she could keep the sides of her coat together while focusing on not falling off the seat.

She’d just gotten herself properly balanced when the bartender came over to her. The tattoos covering his muscular arms were eye-catching. Almost as much as his face and the rest of his body. It took supreme focus to understand the words tumbling from his lips.

“What can I get you, beautiful?”

Maria would’ve loved a shot of liquid courage. However, she ordered a ginger ale with a splash of grenadine instead.  In her peripheral vision, she noticed a figure sliding onto the empty stool a couple of seats away from her. When the bartender placed her beverage in front of her, she used his retreat as an opportunity to peruse the stranger. 

Although he wore a black suit, the purple pocket square, her date specified, wasn’t present. Nor did he have tattoos along the backs of the long fingers laying on the bar top. Her gaze traveled upwards from the digits to the broad shoulders filling out the suit jacket to the square jawline accentuating kissable full lips. When his head rotated in her direction her breath caught in her throat while her heart started a thunderous rhythm in her chest.

In all of Maria’s fifty-four years on earth, she’d never been so instantly drawn to anyone. A twinge of disloyalty pinged the back of her mind when she realized the feeling applied to her late husband as well. As crazy in love as she was with Oscar, he hadn’t stolen her ability to breathe by existing in her space.

When the corner of the man’s lips tipped up in advance of forming a panty-wetting smile, Maria snapped her eyes to the bubbles of the drink in her hands. Although there were hints of silver in the nearly black strands of his hair, he was obviously more than a few years her junior. Black don’t crack and Asian don’t raisin, but Maria didn’t think it was genetics keeping his face so youthful looking. It was actual youth.

She didn’t return his smile and her face heated with embarrassment at being caught staring. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for being a member of a place like Club Desire. If a man smiling at her gave her the vapors would she actually be able to participate in any of the things her mind dreamed up while she was alone?

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Book Signing Event Recap

Swirling the Big Easy was a great event. If you haven't attended, you should consider it when it comes back around in 2025. I had the honor of sitting on an author panel with the fabulous L. Loren (A Sin City MC and PK Series author sister). The authors and readers at the event were amazing, and the city of New Orleans never disappoints. The host hotel was right on Bourbon Street; so the fun was literally on our doorstep. The Masquerade ball hosted by the amazing Kenya Wright is an event you don't want to miss! The atmosphere and attire were decadent! For site seeing beyond Bourbon, a small group of us ventured to the Riverwalk where we had beignets at the famous Cafe Du Monde.

Photos can't accurately capture how awesome it was to get together with my friends, other authors, and readers, but I tried. My mom (Mama Pat) accompanied me acting as my PA. It was her first book event, but I think she might be addicted now. 😊🤣

Thank you so much for rocking with me! Until next time, happy reading!

If you haven't had a chance to read the Newsletter Exclusive bonus scenes and epilogue, click the button below to get your free copy.

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Draft Pick Season II: Andrei

After one night of passion, Andrei woke to an empty bed. He didn't like it. If Zaria Coleman thought she could simply slip away under the cover of darkness, she had another think coming. No one leaves Andrei Antonov. Why Zaria thought she could indulge in a single night with a man like Andrei was a mystery to which she had no answer. But, when Andrei shows up at her door asking questions, she has to rethink if their one night tonight could be so much more.

Now Available on Amazon and Kindle Universe

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Toad: Sin City MC Oakland Chapter

It’s the age-old tale of the Princess and the Frog. If the princess was a Forensic Odontologist and the frog was the Sergeant at Arms of a badass motorcycle club.

Esmeralda Upton enjoys her life as a Forensic Odontologist helping to bring families closure and delving into history through the lens of those who lived it. The only thing currently on her agenda is preparing for upcoming Comic Con. Not verbally sparring with a sexy biker and definitely not depending on said biker to keep her safe from an unseen threat.

Xavier ‘Toad’ Carmichael loves two things, his MC and his Harley. His commitment to the fitness center he runs comes in at a distant third. As the Sergeant at Arms of the Sin City MC Oakland Chapter, his dedication to keeping order and protecting his brothers comes before anything else. He never dreamed a woman with ample curves and an even bigger brain would enter his life and challenge him to spread his protective arms wider.

The members of Sin City MC never leave before all the cards are played.

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Frenchie: Sin City MC Oakland Chapter

Jean-Mathieu “Frenchie” Lévesque is the Chaplin of the Sin City Oakland Chapter. After having his fill of women, he is ready to settle down. His one rule, is to stay away from women associated with the biker world. The problem is, not everyone wants to settle down and be the old lady to a one percenter. He’s long ago embraced who he is. He’s not gonna change for anyone. But he sees her. Now she needs his help.

Keisha Lake works hard, keeps her head down and minds her own business. Except, she isn’t who she says she is. Her one rule after learning it the hard way…. do not get involved with dangerous biker men. Now she has to rely on the mercy of one to keep her safe.

Well they both learn, that some rules are meant to be broken?

The members of Sin City MC never leave before all the cards are played.

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Orchestrated Love

Love hurts—is a second chance worth the risk?

Over a decade after breaking up with the love of his life, 42-year-old Jackson Knox has given up on finding anyone new. Breaking things off had been for the best for both of them, and Jackson has learned to live with the heartache. As he prepares to start a new job at a well-respected music school far from the place where he and Noah Santiago fell in love, he unexpectedly bumps into him again. Is it fate?

Musical genius Noah Santiago is hiding in his family’s home in a lakeside town in upstate New York, trying to figure out how to go on without being part of the world-renowned Barrington String Quartet. The pain of losing his career has left him gutted. The last person he expects to bump into is the man who still owns his heart after all these years.

Noah is wary of opening himself to more pain, and Jax fears Noah will never forgive him. Can their withered love bloom again? And how will they find their place together after so long apart?

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Her Marine

The last thing Journee expected during girls' night was to run into her ex. What she expected even less was for Killian to step in on her behalf. She’s grateful for the help, but she isn’t a fan of the way this man she’s recently met has her body responding to him.

When Axel told Killian they should all get together, he thought it would be like any other time they’d done so. He didn’t think he lay eyes on the most alluring woman he’d ever seen in his life. His attraction to her is undeniable, and he soon finds himself extending his stay.

Journee was used to taking care of everything for everyone and being the one who compromised in her relationships to make them work. That is until Killian stepped into her path and was hellbent on showing her what letting him lead and please her looked like. He was dominance on legs, and Journee found herself submitting surprisingly, with no protests.

Killian was out to satisfy their physical cravings. He hadn’t expected to want more than that, but sometimes life has a way of morphing desires and changing hearts.