June 26, 2014

It's not the size of the dog in the fight . . .



. . . it’s the size of their balls.

So, I tweaked the old saying a bit. We’ve all heard the original, how it’s the size of the fight in the dog, but not until yesterday did I apply this philosophy to my writing career.

An author friend and I were emailing back and forth. She told me a funny sad story about her dog, Jess, and what trouble she’d gotten into.

Our conversation drifted and I was shocked to hear that 30 pound Jess likes to chase 600 pound wild bears when they go on hikes (which rhymes with Yikes!).

See Jess’s story here:




After laughing watching the video, it made me wonder how big Jess’s non-existent balls were. I weigh a teeny bit *cough-cough* more than 30 pounds and unless my inner gas tank were filled with straight moonshine, I’d never go after a freaking bear.

The difference between Jess and I:  Confidence




Four years ago as a new author who penned weird original material, I had confidence by the bucketfuls. Nobody ever told me shapeshifting centaurs would be a niche genre.

*** Just like nobody told Jess she was smaller than the bear. ***

Until I discovered gravity in the form of sales rank, confidence was my friend.

I wish I could be more like Jess and chase that damn bear! Go balls out, bark my loudest, and not allow fear to enter the game.

Thank you to Liza O’Conner for allowing me to steal share Jess for this blog. Incidentally, Jess shows up twice in Liza’s book “Saving Casey”. Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A7KRSOO

Go forth and be bold today, friends.
May your balls be huge.





June 13, 2014

Presenting NY Times & USA Today Best Selling Author, Jennifer Lowery




HELLO FRIDAY FLAMERS!

I love sharing the work of others! And as you know, here on 
THE FLAMES, the steamier, the better.

Be sure to share your own HOT scene and include the links to find you.

To ignite the fire, please welcome Jennifer Lowery as she starts us off by heating things up!  




Jennifer and I have known each other for a few years now. Her career is taking off and  exciting times are rolling in -- I'm so happy for her!


Take it away, Jennifer!



 …A game of survival tests their will and their love.

A mission she can’t forget…

The first female operative for the counterterrorism unit known as ATCOM, Atalanta Devayne is haunted by a former mission gone wrong. That mission led to her imprisonment, torture, and ultimate retirement, along with her loss of faith in the man she’d trusted with her life.

Brings his vengeance…

Former Navy SEAL, Noah Kincaid, bears the responsibility of Attie’s imprisonment and blames himself for not protecting her from drug lord Carlos Santiago. This time he won’t fail her.


In a deadly game of survival.

Santiago has resurfaced and set up an elaborate plan to exact his revenge on Attie by taking her brother hostage. The only way to save him is by revisiting the darkness of her past and relying on a man she can’t trust. In a battle of life or death, Noah and Attie are put to the test. They must face challenges to overcome the past and accept their feelings for each other before the danger that tore them apart separates them forever.


Blurb:
Former Navy SEAL, Noah Kincaid, bears the responsibility of fellow counterterrorist operative, Atalanta Devayne’s, imprisonment, torture and retirement. Now the drug lord has resurfaced and set up an elaborate plan to exact his revenge on Attie. Noah and Attie must face challenges to overcome the past and accept their feelings for each other before the danger that tore them apart separates them forever. 

Excerpt:
Copyright 2014, Jennifer Lowery 

Trying to explain was out of the question, he knew she wasn’t in a place where she could listen, so he set the lantern on the ground and stepped back. “Come on, Devayne, take what you need from me.”

“You have nothing I need.”

“Oh, I think I do. Let’s work on your fighting skills before we meet up with Santiago.”

It worked. Attie took off her parka and hung it on a tree limb. Then she lunged. Noah simply allowed her to release her pent up emotions on him, parrying her blows, challenging her and offering what she needed. She flew at and around him with skill and agility that impressed him once again. She jabbed with her fists, kicked and danced as if she were weightless.

The ground below them grew muddy from rain and their boots. Anyone watching would no doubt think them crazy to be out in such weather—Noah would have agreed—but this was important. Attie’s state of mind took precedence over the storm.

Dodging a jab to his kidney, he put his hands together in a time-out gesture as lightning flashed overhead. Attie ignored it and trotted toward him. Deflecting the blow, he said loudly to be heard, “Enough. You’re going to catch pneumonia.”

Again, she ignored him.

Annoyed, he waited for her to turn just like so…and in one swift move spun her into his arms and trapped her arms at her sides, holding her tight against him.

Green ice met his stare and her beauty struck him again. Anger never looked so good on a woman. Raindrops clung to her lashes and slid over the smooth flesh of her cheeks. Her hair clung like a deep flame to her head and shoulders. She looked hostile and aggressive and sexy as hell with her eyes flashing, cheeks flushed and clothes plastered to her lithe body. Her chin jutted out stubbornly.

“I’ll tell you when I’m done,” she snapped, struggling against him.

“You’re done.”

Like a wildcat she fought to be released. She managed to slip an elbow free and slammed it into his ribs. The same as she had the night he rescued her from that cell. She’d landed a good blow to his jaw despite her battered state.

“Ouch,” he growled.

Somehow, she managed to wrap her leg around his. He tried to stop their descent, but the ground beneath them was slippery from where they had churned it up with their boots, and they both went down.

Noah managed to take the brunt of the fall, banging his elbow on a rock when they hit. Attie landed on top of him in a tangle of arms and legs and she was more furious than ever.

“Let me go.”

“Not until we finish this.” He clamped an arm around her waist to still her movements. She collapsed against him, her breath heaving in and out of her lungs. Her forehead dropped down on his shoulder and he tightened his arm around her waist. Slim and delicate against him, her curves fitting into his contours like puzzle pieces.

The air changed around them. Attie’s breath hitched. Like it or not, the chemistry was still there. Years of attraction, years of fighting it, broke him. His control snapped and he lifted his head and captured her mouth in his.


Author Bio:
NY Times & USA Today bestselling author, Jennifer Lowery grew up reading romance novels in the back of her math book and on the bus to school, and never wanted to be anything but a writer.  Her summers were spent sitting at the kitchen table with her sisters spinning tales of romance and intrigue and always with a tall glass of ice tea at their side. 
Today, Jennifer is living that dream and she couldn’t be happier to share her passion with her readers.  She loves everything there is about romance.  Her stories feature alpha heroes who meet their match with strong, independent heroines.  She believes that happily ever after is only the beginning of her stories. And the road to that happy ending is paved with action, adventure, and romance. As her characters find out when they face danger, overcome fears, and are forced to look deep within themselves to discover love.  
Jennifer lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. 

Find Jennifer:

Buy The Maze:

Other Books by Jennifer Lowery:
A SEAL’s Song (Book #1, SEAL Team Alpha)
Hard To Handle (Book #1, Sawyer Sisters Trilogy)
Hard Core (Book #1, Onyx Group)
Murphy’s Law
Taking Chances (short story)