They didn’t start out to be heroes

What’s a hero? Are people destined to be courageous, ready to step up to danger, protect others or their pets or property? At what age does it begin? Or does it ever show up? Are muscles necessary or will innovative ideas work, too?

Small acts of compassion are the beginning. Stephanie Queen came to her fellow authors with the idea of creating a box set filled with heroic romances. One hundred percent of the sale proceeds would go to Ukrainian Refugee Relief. The response was fantastic. Within hours, eleven more ladies joined the venture, donating their time and skills to the project. All are my heroes of the female persuasion – selfless and generous.

Depending on how much this set earns, we have at least three different vetted organizations that will receive 100% of the earnings.

BUY NOW! This fabulous collection of twelve stories by twelve authors is a limited-time release…and a terrific bargain, too!

Here are the authors, titles, and quick synopses of the stories included:

Stephanie Queen – The Beachcombers: Ex-special ops legend Dane Blaise never wanted a partner, but he owed the governor. Working alongside gorgeous Scotland Yard detective Shana George to find a missing heiress would either drive him crazy–or get someone killed… And now the human traffickers have their sights on Shana.

Desiree Holt – Rogue’s Return: Transitioning from being a SEAL to civilian life was tough enough without romance bumping in.

Zoe Dawson – Ruckus: Seal Team Alpha: Gratitude for saving her takes a back seat to falling for the alpha male who’d risk everything to see her safe.

Stacy Eaton – Mission: Believe: The wounded warrior and the idealistic doctor join forces to overcome physical and emotional odds to build a better environment for returning soldiers.

Suzanne Jenkins – A Greektown Wedding: What does a lawyer using a cop as a beard, a beautiful detective in love with a member of the SWAT Team, and a guy with a broken heart have in common? A Wedding!

Tamara Ferguson – That Incredible Kiss: After ten years apart, will unveiling their families’ dark family secrets heal Two Wounded Hearts?

Dani Haviland – One Arctic Summer: Sparks and sutures fly as the Inupiat medico and brash college student work together in America’s most northern city. Twenty years later, would the magic still be there?

Patricia Rosemoor – Rescuing the Virgin: Will the young American woman’s special skills help him bring down the human trafficking ring he’s been after for so long?

Susanne Matthews – The Tigress: There’s a new villain in New Orleans and Detective Ellie Taggart wants to take him down alone. Multi-talented Steve Cassidy insists he can help. Will their feuding – and desires – get in the way?

Christina Tetreault – Born to Protect: Sixteen years ago, he disappeared from her life. Now, he’s the only one who can protect her.

Two Bonus Stories:

 Mimi Barbour – Special Agent Francesca: This special agent flies her own plane, drives like a maniac & jumps at the chance at real undercover work. Nothing scares her except for one thing… MEN.

Suzanne Eglington – High Priority: Gun-toting Tiffany is convinced she’s always right. She was born wealthy, but her hero self has no time for materialism. She was in control until a stop for cat food changes everything.

Available on Amazon, Nook, Apple, Kobo, and Google Play.

Who’s Your Dream Lover?

Every author has a visual image of her characters in her head. If she finds the right words, her readers will see whom she sees, too.

Okay, that’s a perfect world. If books did it all, no one would ever go to the movies. Many times the visual I have in my head of a hero or villain is attached to someone I know or a celebrity. I have to admit, Blake Shelton was my inspiration for Benji, THE GREAT BIG FAIRY.

A younger Blake Shelton as Benji, The Great Big Fairy (time traveler).

I needed someone tall, blue-eyed, red-haired, and with dimples. Well, Blake Shelton is three out four…or four out of four if a box of Nice ‘N Easy is thrown in. And my Benji loves to sing. Would that make Blake a five out of four?

Pierce Brosnan as Marty Melbourne aka DANCES NAKED.

Pierce Brosnan’s rugged look here would be a great example of a 21st-century gentleman, stuck in the 18th-century backwoods, without access to a razor or a barber.

Do you have a movie star doppelganger to your book hero? Leave comments below. Maybe we share the same one.

The FIRST Cozy Mystery Box Set by The Authors’ Billboard!

Murder is to Die For

Four NEW stories

 

We Still Need Heroes by Rachelle Ayala #mgtab @mimisgang1

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Heroes are the men and women who step up in times of crisis. They charge into burning buildings and rush toward disaster zones. They defend us against bullies and bad guys, and they stay on their jobs when others retreat. We appreciate our heroes because they inspire us and give us hope. They help us in times of need, and they do their duty while others are fleeing and hiding. We appreciate our heroes on special days like Veteran’s Day and anniversaries of their heroic acts. But do we understand the toll it takes on them and their families?

Being a hero entails sacrifice and putting others in front of self. Our military men and women not only fight bad guys but give aid and support to vulnerable populations. Our first responders put their safety at risk when responding to disasters or calls for help. Our health care workers stood at the front line to treat patients when an unknown disease sickened their communities. Every day, mothers and fathers put their children’s welfare in front of their own by working long hours to put food on the table or sacrificing for their education.

The qualities that heroes have: bravery, courage, resourcefulness, duty, honor, and sacrifice are still needed today. We need men to stand up for what’s right and women to nurture the weak and helpless. People to hold the line for freedom and individual liberty against the dark side of totalitarianism and mind control.

I’m grateful for all heroes: the police who catch criminals, the firefighters who save lives and homes, the military who secure our freedoms, the pastors who preach the Bible, the parents who protect the children, the essential workers who did their jobs, the patriots who stand against tyranny, and most of all, God who gave us his only begotten Son.

Forgive me for being sentimental. The 20th anniversary of September 11 just passed by, and while the ending of the war was not what we expected, it does not in any way diminish the heroism of the policemen, firefighters, and rescuers who charged into the buildings or all of the many military men and women who held the line against terrorists and warlords. They battled at tremendous personal cost and we owe them continued gratitude. Who knows how many attacks were prevented by their sacrifice?

Many years ago, I wrote about an Afghanistan War veteran, Tyler Manning, who returned home disillusioned and suffering from PTSD. He was homeless, subjected to flashbacks, and had lost his faith. It took a tiny four-year-old girl, Bree Kennedy, to see something special about him as he sat underneath a Christmas tree scavenging thrown-away food from a mall food court. I wish the war had ended better, but I know his effort was not wasted. Tyler’s story became a three-part Christmas series called: A Veteran’s Christmas.

In book 1, A Father for Christmas, Bree finds Tyler under a Christmas tree and brings him back to society and a romance with Bree’s mom, Kelly.

In book 2, A Pet for Christmas, Tyler returns to Afghanistan to work at a charity he founded, only to have it blown to bits. He and his translator then embark on a daring escape from Afghanistan with the help of a stray Kuchi dog.

In Book 3, A Wedding for Christmas, Tyler gets involved with a former Afghan female soldier and helps her get off the streets–all while trying to juggle his wedding to Bree’s mom, Kelly

Check out the first book, A Father for Christmas FREE.

A Father for Christmas by Rachelle Ayala

So let us remember to honor our heroes every day and to let them inspire us to give a helping hand and nurture those in need. All of us can be an every day hero by standing up for the values and ideals that made our country great and by giving our time, labor, and care to others. Like the children’s song says, JOY is Jesus, Others, You with yourself last.

Be sure to sign up to Author’s Billboard Newletter and also check out Author’s Billboard’s four Fabulous Freebie boxed sets.

Fabulous Freebies 1: Romantic Suspense

Fabulous Freebies 2: Steamy Romance

Fabulous Freebies 3: Paranormal Romance

Fabulous Freebies 4: Sweet Romance

More coming … so please subscribe to the Author’s Billboard Newsletter!

OUR STEAMY PREMIERE SERIES – IRRESISTIBLE ROMANCE BOOK 1 IS LIVE!

OUR STEAMY PREMIERE SERIES – IRRESISTIBLE ROMANCE BOOK 1 IS LIVE!

The Irresistible Series Will Be Featuring Brand New, Never Before Published Stories From Several Of Our NYT & USA Today Authors’ Billboard Members.You Need A Hero…


Everyone needs a hero and you're sure to find yours in this steamy premiere series, featuring strong heroes and heroines in this collection of SEVEN BRAND NEW NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED STORIES from eight multi-award winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.

Does your dream man fight fires or catch bad guys as a cop or undercover? Maybe he’s a doctor saving lives? Perhaps he’s a military man, who’s put his life on the line as a wounded warrior or working security?

You’ll find each of these stories simply…IRRESISTIBLE.

Two Hearts Unlikely Heroes: Tamara Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author: When wounded warrior Captain Samantha Caldwell is being targeted by a terrorist in Crystal Rock after killing their leader in Iraq, can AFOSI Agent Captain Ben Nash keep her safe?

Simply Love: Natalie Ann, USA Today bestselling author: Being strong doesn’t make you a hero, but doing what is right does.

She’s Having A Baby: Suzanne Jenkins, USA Today bestselling author: During the worst fire season in California history, a wildland fire changes life for Mike and Aisling Saint and their best friend.

Johnny’s Girl: Cynthia Cooke, USA Today bestselling author: Will he choose the mission or the girl?

Fire Me Up: Alicia Street, USA Today bestselling author: After an FDNY fireman loses his fiancée to a rich Wall Streeter, he seeks a new start in a sleepy village on Long Island’s North Fork, only to fall for a shy schoolteacher who shakes up his world like never.

SEAL of Refuge: Alyssa Bailey, USA Today bestselling author: Becoming vulnerable for a chance at true happiness takes a special kind of courage.

Never Gone: Stephanie Queen, USA Today bestselling author: Joe is a regular guy from Boston–except when he’s called on by the Zero Go Team. So when he’s sent to protect a sexy Hollywood costume designer, the last thing he expects is a crazy attraction that’s anything but regular.

Handle With Care: Patrice Wilton, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: An ER doctor and a wounded veteran find each other, but can their love survive?

Watch For Future Irresistible Romance Boxsets:

  • IRRESISTIBLE HEROES – Released July 2, 2019
  • IRRESISTIBLE AT CHRISTMAS – Releasing November, 2019
  • IRRESISTIBLE VALENTINE – Releasing January, 2020