ARE YOU READY FOR IGNITION SEQUENCE?

Brick cupped the side of her neck. He slid one large finger behind the shell of her ear, beneath the lobe, to that tender spot of skin. A touch like that said a man wanted to know a woman, learn her. Use those little gestures to find where her heart was, her soul, the center of what aroused and sheltered her. It reinforced what she’d just said to him. She could give him her trust.

Only a few more weeks for the new standalone Nature of Desire series book! I'm on the 3rd edit (I do a total of 4), and my content readers are reviewing the manuscript. As I noted last month, my source material experts are looking over the scenes relevant to their skillsets. My research covered a wide range on this book: arson investigation, firefighting, EMT practices, medical insurance, Catholicism, Civil War history and BDSM fireplay. As often happens, my wonderful readers provided most of the contacts needed to verify my research. Plus I found THREE retired firefighters in my neighborhood, which is awesome!

So, what's been the hardest information to verify? The Major Crimes area of the Richmond Police Department in downtown Richmond, Virginia. As an arson investigator/detective, that's where Brick's office would be. I've been to Richmond before, and had intended to go back before the release date to visit the building and see what access was possible in person. Though real life and my schedule didn't work out on that, I can call the location to ask my questions. However, police departments often want a request like mine to go through a PR department, which can take more time than I may have at this point. They can also be understandably a little concerned about a stranger calling up and wanting to know the floor layout of their offices, lol.

Regardless, we'll do our best, because we like the finished story to be as accurate as we can make it! In the meantime, here's a reminder of the PREORDER LINKS if you'd like to go ahead and reserve your copy. You can also download the prologue and first chapter to get a taste of where Brick and Les are going to take us. If you're on the JWHMembersOnly group, I just gave them the exclusive early peek link for the first THREE chapters.

ALL LINKS (Universal)

Amazon US * Kobo * Nook * Google * iBooks

PROLOGUE and CHAPTER ONE Download

On June 30, don't forget to drop in on the JWHMembersOnly and JoeyWHillAuthor Facebook pages, or my MeWe page. We always have giveaways and fun behind-the-scenes stuff on release day!

FAVORITE HERO/HEROINE PROFESSION?

So when you're looking for a new romance to read, what hero (or heroine) profession will catch your attention? I asked this question on the social media pages this month, and was VERY delighted to find that firefighters are a popular response. Also popular are CIA and military, cowboys, doctors, private security operatives, billionaires and university professors. There was even one for "mage or occult/paranormal librarian." I think Rebecca had a specific hero in mind, lol.

One of the answers I particularly liked came from Bobbi: "I'm always alert for non-traditional? out of the ordinary? ones you don't find in every third romance? lol... things like potter, circus performer, stuntwoman, Renaissance fair coordinator/performer, dog rescue founder... I like heroines who exceed the norms. As for heroes, I'm partial to blue collar men who know how to fix things." Which complemented Laramie's response: "I have an obsession with blue collar guys; work boots, dusty jeans, those veins that run up their forearms, and know how to use their hands (shivers!).

Both of these responses reminded me of our roofer Des from Worth the Wait, another Nature of Desire series book. His heroine would also fall in the category of the unusual, since Julie was a community theater manager.

As a reader, I admit to being partial to the traditional alpha heroes - cops, military, billionaire. However, an out-of-the-norm job for a heroine will always catch my attention. Like if she's a firefighter herself, or in the case of the Mistresses of the Board Room, it's the HEROINES who are the corporate millionaire/billionaires.

When all's said and done, it's the character that pulls me in. But when I get to learn something about that career path I didn't know, and its emotional challenges expand the storyline, that makes the story all the better. Learning about Brick's profession as an arson investigator, and Les's challenges as a 3rd year medical student, has definitely enhanced and made their story an even more pleasurable one for me to write. I hope you'll feel the same!

THE WILDERS' HOMETOWN GETS A NAME

A few weeks ago, just before Mother's Day, I realized Elaine Wilder has the distinction of being mother to THREE of our Nature of Desire series main protagonists: Thomas of Rough Canvas, Rory of In His Arms, and now Les of Ignition Sequence. Shortly thereafter, I also realized I have NEVER officially identified the North Carolina town where these characters were born and raised. As a North Carolina native, I loosely based it on a compilation of Lumberton, Laurel Hill and Wadesboro, but since we are on the THIRD book where this setting is relevant, I realized it was time to give the town an official name.

Because it was conceived as a compilation, I didn't want it to have the name of a well-recognized North Carolina town (where specific/accurate landmarks would be an issue), so I threw it out to my readers to see what they thought. Sheila W came up with the name that "pinged" bigtime with the muse. It also won a poll I took on social media among my readers. So now I'm delighted to say FAIRHOPE, NORTH CAROLINA, is where Thomas, Rory and Les call home. You'll get to spend time with them there June 30 when Ignition Sequence releases!

THANK YOU AS ALWAYS...

THANK YOU for the many ways you all support my work, not only by purchasing my books, but by spreading the love to other readers, through reviews or direct recommendation in online groups or one-on-one to friends and family. It ALL helps!!

Let's check out this month's featured three e-books - download one or more today!

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