blog | Dani Jace. Romance Author

This week on Romance Weekly, Victoria Barbour wants us to show the cast of our most recent book or work in progress. Hope you already visited the awesome Patti Fiala and found her cast of characters from Danny’s War, her work in progress. Her newest release is Rydin’ the Storm Out.

I’d like to introduce everyone to the characters who appear in my June release, Hot as Blazes.

Jo Mercer’s west coast surfing career tanked. She returns home the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but her plans to rebuild her life are complicated by a her brother’s best friend, Ray, now a hunky firefighter. He’d never shown any interest in her beyond friendship until now. She’s been secretly in love with him since forever.

Ray Andrews can’t believe Jo has finally returned home. He couldn’t be happier, but she’s not the same girl that Bobby and he put on the plane nearly five years ago. California has hardened her and made her wary. He’s anxious to share romantic feelings he’s kept hidden, but values their friendship and isn’t sure she feels the same.

Bobby Mercer worked his way up to lieutenant in the local police department while his best friend, Ray, was soldiering and his sister surfed on the west coast. He recently met a jewelry artist named Sarah and believes she’s the one.

Harley left his SEAL unit after the thrill of a gunfight lost it’s allure. He operates a small oceanfront bar called Pappagayos while doing the occasional undercover job. He instantly recognizes Jo Mercer when she walks into his place for a beer and offers her a part-time job bar tending. He and Ray have a history that Jo can’t decipher not does he want her to.

Tami needs a decent job including benefits on a high school diploma. She and Jo become buddies when they walk through the physical agilities test for the fire academy. She’s always on the prowl for hot firefighters and earns a nickname for her unusual escapades.

Hope you’ve enjoyed meeting my cast of characters and will check out Hot as Blazes on June 9. Next on the blog hop is the amazing Jami Denise, author of the sizzling Jayne series.

Great Beginnings – A great opening line draws the reader in, makes them want to know more and compels them to read further. Today, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog tour, our authors are sharing opening lines, those we feel are great and why. Then we’re giving you a sample from our newest work in progress. In case you missed Raine Balkera, she was ahead of me on the blog tour.

Okay, I had to search some of my books as nothing came to mind. Here’s my top two and are actually from two of my favorite books.

“Olivia Quinn knew she was losing her husband when she discovered his knockout junior partner caressing his crotch by the azalea bush.” – When Alex was Bad – Jo Davis

What a hook! You can’t stop reading after this sentence. This book had the fifty shades vibe that should have gone viral, but it was published before e-books were prominent. I did hear that Jo sold the movie rights, so there’s still hope, especially if Fifty Shades of Grey hits it big in the box office.

My next favorite opening line…

“There are some men that enter a woman’s life and screw it up forever.” Once again, you have to know more. This author is world renown. Any guesses? How about One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. Joe Morelli has been one of my book boyfriends for a long time. Too bad we never get his bad boy point of view. **Sigh**

Now the opening line from my current work in progress about a former military K9 handler, suffering from post-traumatic stress, who falls for a dog trainer helping him search for his dog.

“Another hot as shit day making tracks on the moon dust of Afghanistan, Josh held the leash slack as Luc scanned through waves of heat with pointed ears tracking forward.”