Playing with Bad Boys

Breaking News from Reese Ryan: A New Publishing Deal

March 11, 2016 by ReeseRyan

The Playing with Bad Boys series has a new name and a new publisher.

A new publishing deal requires a celebratory mug of tea. — **Celebratory mug of tea, anyone?**

First, let me apologize for being missing in action the past few months. This year has been full of health challenges and there are plans for surgery ahead, but there was some really exciting news, too.

Along the way to indie publish my planned Playing with Bad Boys series, I got an offer for a traditional publishing deal I just couldn’t refuse. So the series is getting a new name which I shared exclusively with my VIP Readers earlier today.

Hop on over to Hot M.A.M.A. Land to get details on why I’ve been Secret Squirrel the past few months , how this unexpected publishing deal came to be and when you can expect to see the first book in the series at your local bookstore.

But before you go, I’m inviting you to a fun reader event I’ll be participating in this fall.

Kianna Alexander’s Fall into Romance Reader Event at Disney World

Don’t miss an exciting reader event hosted by a fellow Hot M.A.M.A. and Kimani Romance author. Kianna Alexander’s Fall Into Romance reader event is going to be a ton of fun. Join me, Kianna, Cheris Hodges, Piper Huguley, Deborah Fletcher Mello, Farrah Rochon, K.M. Jackson, Te’ Russ, Synithia Williams, Lena Hart, Kaia Danielle and Siera London for fun in sunny Florida as we celebrate romance written by and about women of color.

Join us October 20-24th at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Orlando in Lake Buena Vista for a great reader event celebrating diversity in romance. Plus, there will be plenty of time to get your Disney on. Learn more about this event by visiting the Kianna Alexander Fall into Romance Facebook page. Reserve your spot at the event here.

We’re going to Disney World, y’all! Woo hoo!

Secret Squirrel Over and Out

Serial Novella Launch: Playing by the Rules

November 6, 2015 by ReeseRyan

I’m excited that today is finally the launch of my VIP Reader Lounge where I’ll share free reads and other reader goodies. To kick off the opening of the lounge, today also marks the release of the first installment of Hunter and Merrie’s love story. Playing by the Rules is the prequel to my Playing with Bad Boys series that will launch in early 2016.

Playing by the Rules will be released as a free read to my VIP Readers over the next 12 weeks. The cover is above and the summary is below.

Not on the list? Join my VIP Reader mailing list using the form at the bottom of the post and find out how you can get up to 12 entries in my $25 Gift Card giveaway.

Happy reading!

Summary

After five years and zero commitment, Meredith “Merrie” Jane walked away from her long-term relationship. She wants to be with someone she can start planning her future with. A man who will love her madly and deeply. When she crosses paths with her ex’s brother at a party six months later, the last thing she expects is to discover that he’s been harboring feelings for her and that she has feelings for him, too.

Hunter DeSeau adored Merrie long before his competitive younger brother asked her out. Unable to dismiss his feelings for her, he spent the past year distancing himself from them both. But now that their relationship is over and done, he’s faced with the hardest decision of his life. Break the rules and pursue the woman he wants more than anything in the world or keep putting everyone else’s happiness ahead of his own.

Merrie has spent her entire life playing by other people’s rules. As she examines her feelings for Hunter, she realizes a startling truth. She’s been with the wrong brother all along. But choosing Hunter means exposing herself to gossip, rumors and hard feelings. In a society where perception is everything, is their love worth the risk?

Weekly Wrap Up: The Sun Returns and a Cover Reveal

October 9, 2015 by ReeseRyan

This has been a busy week. I’ve been working on my novella and it was my turn on both of my group blogs. Earlier this week on the Contemporary Romance Cafe I celebrated the return of the sun to my neck of the woods and shared a little diddy adapted from Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop’s “The Song That Never Ends.” It got stuck in the head of one of my fellow Cafe authors. (Sorry Samantha!)

Over on Hot M.A.M.A. Land today, I’m giving Hot M.A.M.A. readers an early peek at the cover for the free serial novella that will be released to my VIP Readers beginning on Friday, November 6th. (VIP Readers got first reveal last week.) Here’s a portion of the cover.

For the full cover and a summary of the story, pop over to Hot M.A.M.A. Land.

And don’t forget, the serial is only free to my VIP Readers. So if you’re not already on the list, get your pass here.

Shine on!

Friday Check-in: Character Naming Contest

September 11, 2015 by ReeseRyan

Just peeking my head out of my writing cave to wish everyone a fantastic Friday and give you a glimpse of how my Playing with Bad Boys prequel novella is coming. After nearly two weeks of plotting the story, I began writing the story this past Saturday. I love these two characters and the heroine’s wild child cousin. I’m sure we’ll be seeing her again.

The heroine of the story has a small dog, but I haven’t quite settled on a breed and name. That’s where my awesome VIP Readers come in. I’m having a character naming contest to decide the dog’s breed and the name. The call went out in my VIP Reader Newsletter last week and I received some wonderful suggestions. It’s not too late to enter your suggestions. If you are a VIP Reader, you may do so in the comments below. The choice of breeds is as follows:

Jack Russell Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Shih Tzu

In the comments, choose your suggested breed and a name for the dog. If I pick your selection, I’ll thank you in the Acknowledgements section of the novella when it’s published in February. 🙂

Have a great weekend!

Writer. Photo courtesy of Dave Morrison Photography.

Author News: New Serial Novella Coming to You Soon

September 4, 2015 by ReeseRyan

Happy Friday!

For those of us in the U.S., we’ve spent the day rushing to get last minute tasks finished in anticipation of the long, Labor Day Weekend holiday ahead. For me it’s been a busy week, including finally getting the novella I told you about last week plotted. Tomorrow, before I indulge in the usual Labor Day Weekend festivities (i.e. eating) I will begin writing my novella.

I am so excited about this story, which will be delivered to the inboxes of my VIP Readers beginning Friday, November 6th. Doing my happy dance, and it’s awesome.

Seriously.

This story will be the prequel to my Playing with Bad Boys series and it features two characters whose story is an integral part of the history and outlook of the hero in the first book in the series, Playing It Safe, which will be released on my birthday, March 1, 2016. The serial story will be free to my VIP Readers and will run for twelve weeks, leading up to Valentine’s Day weekend, when the novella will go on sale and be available to everyone.

Wanna be the first to read the story for free? Be sure to join my VIP Readers list today.

I’ve got another surprise for my VIP Readers. Starting November 6th, they’ll have access to my VIP Lounge, where I’ll share exclusive goodies. Don’t miss out!

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Woosah (or How to Dodge Rocks and Keep it Moving)

August 7, 2015 by ReeseRyan

Hope you’re having a fantastic Friday. Mine got off to an interesting start that resulted in a cracked windshield when I failed to dodge the rock that came flying at me from across the highway. An unexpected development that could have easily ruined my day. Instead, I took a cue from Bad Boys II. (Isn’t that where everyone gets their life wisdom?) I woosahed and chose to let it go. No need in allowing a random event to drag down the trajectory of my day when there were so many good things in store.

So, in the spirit of keeping it moving, I went on with my day. I used Rafflecopter random winner selection function to pick the winner in my Summer Reader #Giveaway. I honestly couldn’t be happier about the the name that popped up. Reader, Monica KL deserves this win. (See, sometimes random good things happen, too.) 🙂 I’m excited about creating a jewelry piece from my Sinfully Sweet Handmade shop, just for Monica.

Moments ago, I announced the winner and revealed the cover of Playing It Safe, the first book in the Playing with Bad Boys series, to my VIP Readers. If you’re not on my VIP Reader Mailing List, you can join by clicking the link. You’ll be among the first to hear about book and event news. Otherwise, stay tuned for the cover reveal here on my blog in the coming weeks.

Speaking of blogs, over on the Contemporary Romance Cafe my post Sex, Food and Rock N Roll takes a little walk down memory lane of the role food plays in my stories and the power of having characters share a meal. Here on the Reese Ryan Diaries, I started a series where we get to know authors of color who write in a variety of genres. Be sure to check them both out.

Now it’s time to put my head down and get back to work on Book #2 in the series.

Woosah!

Photo courtesy of Grand Velas–Yoga and Pilates.