Escape the holiday stress with D.D. Ayres!

Hello everyone!  I don't know about you, but my holiday season has been jam-packed so far, and my to-do list is still growing!  I'm about ready for a break, and what better way to relax than to read a good book?

I'm happy to welcome D.D. Ayres to the blog today.  Her romantic suspense series has it all--handsome heroes, brave heroines, and even dogs!  What more could you ask for?

Take a few minutes and get to know D.D.  You won't be disappointed!



EXPLOSIVE FORCES
St. Martin's Press
ISBN:  978-1-250-08697-6

THE STORY BLURB

Danger is heating up

When Carly Reese s beloved fashion boutique catches fire, she sees her dreams go up in smoke. The good news is that Carly was saved from the flames by a barking dog nearby. She soon discovers the heroic pooch is a trained K-9 who s guarding his unconscious partner a gorgeous firefighter who ends up in Carly s arms.

Noah Glover and his K-9 are a fearless duo, and Noah has clearly met his match with the brave, beautiful Carly. Soon they team up to track down the arsonist behind the blast a psychotic criminal who s intent on framing Noah. Meanwhile, the sparks between Noah and Carly could ignite a five-alarm fire. Should they smother their feelings in the name of justice or fan the flames of passion? Find out in Explosive Forces!

CHECK OUT AN EXCERPT HERE!

MEET D.D.!

A veteran author of romance and women's fiction, D.D. AYRES is new to Romantic Suspense. She believes the lure of romance is always the human connection. Put that connection in physical jeopardy, and we learn a bit more about who we really are.

With her K-9 Rescue series, D.D. hopes you will enjoy her sexy, suspenseful portrayals of K-9 teams at their best. D.D. lives in Texas with her husband.  She lost her soft-coated Wheaten terrier named Zoe last year.  She’s looking forward to giving a new dog a home this summer.

Lara: What’s the first book you remember reading?

DD: Mr. Bear Squash –You-All-Flat, a Golden book, of course.  It was about a crank bear who destroyed  the homes in a small community of forest animals until they decided to ban together and live inside an old tire.  He couldn’t squash the tire.  A Three Little Pigs kind of tale. 

Lara: Where do you read and how often?

DD:  I read for pleasure mostly at night and usually before I go to bed.  In bed.  I know you’re not supposed to do that but it’s good for priming the brain for story ideas while sleeping.

Lara: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

DD:   Any story that can make me forget I’m reading this author and just grabs my attention.  It could be the uniqueness of the opening, the way the writer uses the words, the unusual voice of a character.  I’ve read so much, when I can turn off the editor in my head and just read, I’m in heaven.  Romance, suspense, humor, it doesn’t matter.

Lara: What is your biggest vice?

DD: Outside book buying?  I’m a sucker for hot yeast bread fresh from the oven. [Lara: Yum!]

Lara: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

DD: Cry.  Well, only sometimes.  It’s an emotional moment, every time.  My husband and I usually open a bottle of champagne.  I love those bubbles.  Then I sleep a long time.

Lara: What is your hero’s “kryptonite” – in other words, what will bring him instantly to his knees? 

DD: Usually, a little act of kindness, by the heroine, naturally.  In Explosive Forces, it is my heroine’s playful side.  Hero Noah Glover is a no-nonsense arson investigator with an explosives dog named Harley.  He’s been through a lot, bad marriage, trouble on the job, and now someone’s trying to kill him.  Along comes the heroine, and her special “kisses.” They bring him to his knees.  What are they?  Read the book.

Lara: What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do?

DD: A story that came to me.  I often go with story first.  That has taken me over the years from writing historical romance to westerns, to contemporary, women’s fiction and now as D. D. Ayres, romantic suspense.  Sometimes it’s a while before I get to use the story idea.  But characters usually grab me first, before I know what the book’s all about.  Occasionally, the set-up comes first.

Lara’s GOTTA ASK:  What inspires you daily?

DD’s GOTTA ANSWER:   The idea that what I do for a living is a privilege.  I don’t have to be a writer.  I could be doing something much easier, less crazy-making, and more reliable in terms of a regular paycheck and job security.  Writers, like all other artists, live a gypsy life, accepting rejection, having to reinvent ourselves and stay fresh, dealing with disappointment sometimes that our work is not greeted more enthusiastically.  It’s an uncertain career.  I don’t have to do it.  I do it because I can, and I love it, and it’s given me untold pleasure to entertain readers with my imagination.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND D.D. ONLINE?

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Pinterest

WHAT'S NEXT FOR D.D.?

PHYSICAL  FORCES: Book #6 K=9 Rescue Series  May 31, 2017 release.

PREVIOUS RELEASES?

D.D. WANTS TO KNOW...

Do you buy special gifts for your pets for the holidays?

Leave a comment for your chance to win a doggy Christmas ornament like the one below! (US only)

TOP PICK D.D. AYRES

I'm so glad to have my chaptermate, D.D. Ayres back to "get lost" with us today. Anyone who can write about dogs and have another hero in the book is talented. But don't just ask me, her latest book is a Romantic Times TOP PICK ! 

RIVAL FORCES

K-9 Rescue series, book 4

DESIRE IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

When it comes to training K-9 patrol dogs, Yardley Summers always trusts her instincts. But when it comes to dating men, she keeps her heart on a very short leash. Mostly, she’s too busy with her four-legged trainees at Harmonie Kennels to commit to a relationship. Only two men have managed to distract her: a handsome Doctors Without Borders physician who’s suddenly gone missing―and the red-hot dog trainer from her past who’s suddenly back in her life…

Now a K-9 rescue team leader, Kye McGarren has never forgotten the days he trained at Yardley’s camp―or the nights he spent in her arms. When he hears that Yardley is on a mission to find the missing doctor, Kye is determined to keep her out of danger. With his K-9 partner by his side, he joins Yardley on a death-defying mission―one that reignites their mutual passion. Will Kye be able to rescue his romantic rival…without losing the woman he loves?

Read a Little, Buy the Book

FIND D.D.

Newsletter   Website    Facebook   Amazon   Twitter @DDAyersK9

Goodreads   Blog    Pinterest   Previous GLIAS Interview

A veteran author of romance and women's fiction, D.D. AYRES is new to Romantic Suspense. She believes the lure of romance is always the human connection. Put that connection in physical jeopardy, and we learn a bit more about who we really are.

With her K-9 Rescue series, D.D. hopes you will enjoy her sexy, suspenseful portrayals of K-9 teams at their best. D.D. lives in Texas with her husband and a soft-coated Wheaten terrier named Zoe.

THE K-9 SERIES 
by D.D.

PRIMAL FORCE

K-9 Rescue, book #3
Read a Little, Buy the Book

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE

K-9 Rescue, book #1

Read a little, Buy the book

FORCE OF ATTRACTION

K-9 Rescue, book #2

Read a little, Buy the book

NECESSARY FORCE

K-9 Rescue, ebook Novella

Read a little, Buy the book

ANGI: What’s your favorite “dog” movie? 

D.D. : I’m reluctant to say “Old Yeller” because, well, boo-hoo.  I can’t wait for the upcoming movie version of Robert Crais’s book, SUSPECT.  He’s a terrific writer.  Hope they do the book justice.

SIDE NOTE: Did you know that Old Yeller in the book is a BLACK MOUTH CUR? My daughter has one. They're not quite as big as Spike, the Mastive/Lab mix used in the film. But they are very protective hard-working dogs.

ANGI: Hugh Jackman or Tom Hanks? 

D.D. : Hugh Jackman.  He can do everything: sing, dance, act in movies and on stage, be the sex symbol or play a convincing villain.  Tom’s no slouch.  But you did ask. 

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life dog hero you’ve met or researched?

D.D. :  I ran across so many stories about wonderful dogs, either told to me or through research.  So, I’ll tell you a personal story. 

My research for PRIMAL FORCE, about a service dog and a wounded veteran, led me to Patriot Paws, a nonprofit that trains service dogs for disabled veterans.  On my first of several visits, a friendly curly Labradoodle named Johnny met me practically at the door.  While I interviewed his trainer, Johnny sat by my side instead of his handler’s.  He leaned first his head and then after a while, his whole body weight against my leg.  Petting him, I thought, how sweet.  Later, I learned that Johnny is a PTSD service dog.  And he was doing what he’s trained to do when a person feels anxious: offer comfort.  I didn’t think my interview nerves showed.  This smart boy read me like a book.   

ANGI: What's your most favorite thing to do in your state?

D.D. : Watch thunderstorms roll across the open plains at night.  It’s a spectacular display because you can see forever. 

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book? 

D.D. :  Kye McGarren (RIVAL FORCES) is a laid-back guy, unlike most Alpha males in books these days.  He knows how to relax. Yet he can and does bring it, when the stuff hits the fan.  His sense of humor and fun play well off heroine Yardley Summers, who is one intense and driven woman, for good reasons. Kye knows what he wants, and how to get it.

Even if his sense of fair play has him defending the life of his rival for Yardley’s affections.  AND, he has a very special talent that doesn’t get displayed until the end of the book.  Ladies, it’s worth waiting for.

ANGI: Sand or Snow? 

D.D. :  Snow!  As a southerner, I always revert to a child when it snows.  I run outside and spin around in circles.  My husband, a New Yorker, thinks I’m nuts.

ANGI: What would be in your “doggie” bag?

D.D. :  Seafood!  Or Chicken Tortilla Soup from Habaneros, Fort Worth.

ANGI: Got a favorite flower? 

D.D. : Gardenia.  The flower’s thick luscious petals and delicious scent are the essence of sultry romance to me.

ANGI: Favorite dog picture?  

D.D. :  Isn’t she the cutest thing?

ANGI: Who’s your favorite cartoon dog?

D.D. :  Can I have two?  Snoopy and Tramp, from “Lady and the Tramp.”

ANGI: What drinks or snacks are always on your desk when you’re writing?

D.D. :  Coffee or tea. 

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: What’s one thing on your bucket list?

D.D.’s GOTTA ANSWER:   I want to visit China.  See the The Terracotta Army with my own eyes.  The idea of doing something like this boggles my mind.  No one was to ever meant see them again after burial.  

DON'T MISS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF 

K-9 RESCUE !!  coming in September.

EXPLOSIVE FORCES

K-9 Rescue series, book #5

Read a little, Pre-Order the book

ANGI'S back this weekend on First Fridays

UP NEXT ON GLIAS:  Elisabeth Hobbs

~Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Goodreads, Facebook
or @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

D.D. is giving away a CD of either IRRESISTIBLE FORCE, FORCE OF ATTRACTION OR PRIMAL FORCE to THREE 3 readers.

North America Readers 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

D.D. WANTS TO KNOW: What type of dog would you like to see a book about?  Have I missed any K-9 0ccupations you’d like to see a book about?

Passion is always worth fighting for…

“Heavy-duty sensuality and solidly researched K-9 operations are hallmarks of this appealing series" ~PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY

"An enthusiastic book-recommendation thumbs up." ~USA Today

PRIMAL FORCE

by D.D. Ayers
K-9 Rescue, book 3

Passion is always worth fighting for…

Jori Garrison trains dogs for Warrior Wolf Pack, which provides service animals for disabled veterans. Four years ago, she was wrongly convicted of a crime--thanks to her no-good ex- fiancé. Now she just wants to live her life in peace with her beloved dogs. No men, no complications. But it's hard to play it cool when a lethally hot male is on her tail--and the attraction is fierce, mutual, and dangerous…

PRIMAL FORCE

Lauray "Law" Batisse is a Military Police veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan. Haunted by the loss of his K-9 partner in combat, he's reluctant to accept a service dog named Samantha into his life. But once he meets her trainer--the gorgeous Jori Garrison--he can't fight his primal instincts. And neither can Jori. This sexy alpha male might be the only man strong enough to unleash her desires. And when unseen enemies start hunting them down, he and his new K-9 partner might be her only hope…to survive.

Read a Little, Pre-Order the Book ~ Releases September 1st

A veteran author of romance and women's fiction, D.D. AYRES is new to Romantic Suspense. She believes the lure of romance is always the human connection. Put that connection in physical jeopardy, and we learn a bit more about who we really are.

With her K-9 Rescue series, D.D. hopes you will enjoy her sexy, suspenseful portrayals of K-9 teams at their best. D.D. lives in Texas with her husband and a soft-coated Wheaten terrier named Zoe.

D.D. & Chief Scot Silverri

THE DOG-GONE TRUTH

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?

D.D.:  Mine or someone else’s?  If it’s mine, all the time. I tend to mine (dig) my stories, making discoveries on a daily basis.  Scary as heck but the way I write.

Someone else’s book?  I’d like to say every time I pick up a book. When I get lost in a book I know I have found a new must-read author, or am reading one I already love.

ANGI: Benedict Cumberbatch or Chris Pine?

D.D.:  Benedict. A clever mind is sooo sexy. And Benedict has a sense of humor. Love it.

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

D.D.:  I have to give kudos to my K-9 expert, my go-to guy for all things K-9 and police: Fort Worth Police Officer Brad Thompson.  From 1996 to 2012, Officer Thompson worked in the Special Operations/K9 Unit and was responsible for training and deployment of patrol and narcotic detection K9s. He exemplifies a K-9 handler.  He told me about losing his second dog in a pursuit situation.  His dog took a bullet and saved his life.  He took his partner to the vets where he died in his arms.  Brad didn’t tell me – I researched it – that he, too, had been shot. He wouldn’t go to hospital until he had done all he could for his K-9 partner.  That’s bravery and loyalty.

Officer Brad Thompson and Ludo

ANGI: What’s your favorite meal?

D.D.:  Anything involving champagne and seafood.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

D.D.:  Old school (40s) Daffy Duck. Modern: Simon’s Cat.

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?

D.D.:  Law’s got a lot of courage, but not in the ways we think of.  He’s dealing with so many issues, all of them stacked against him.  Most of all, he doesn’t think he deserves anything better until a Golden Doodle named Samantha and her service dog trainer Jori show him that to need help, to need someone, requires as much courage as going it alone.  He is a tough nut to crack.  But he’s so sexy, with a twist of sensitivity in bed, that it wasn’t hard to root for him.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

D.D.:  I read daily.  Often in bed at night.  I find filling my head with other writer’s words, especially if the stories are in a different genre, helps keep my vocabulary fresh and ways of seeing the world evolving.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

D.D.:  Baby gurgles.  Genuine laughter.

ANGI: Would you rather be in a Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

D.D.:  Romantic Comedy?

ANGI: What’s your favorite rerun on television?

D.D.:  Big Bang Theory. House.

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

D.D.:  Casablanca: characters who understand what’s important, even if it costs them everything.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

D.D.:  Denzel Washington’s cop-gone-bad in “Training Days” and Heath Ledger’s Joker in “The Dark Knight.”  They were dangerous, sexy, charming, and pushed the hero up against the wall of his beliefs. Then they banged his head against it.  I think the difference between good and evil is what a person is willing to do to win, or even avoid dying.  Nothing stops a villain.

Officer Brad Thompson and Ludo

ANGI: Hiking Boots or Dancing Heels?

D.D.:  I like to dance!

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?

D.D.:  Exhausting and exhilarating.  Those people never slow down. There are only complex people in my writing world. I’m always asking my characters, why, why did you do that, say that, think that? Answering those questions deepens them. 

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: What is your best dog story?

D.D.’s GOTTA ANSWER: Personal story. We had a Chow mix mutt named Chu Chu from the time I was 13. Chows have a reputation for being extremely loyal to family but not so friendly to anyone else. That was Chu Chu. He was always very protective of my mother. He didn’t like men because my dad had died before we got him and my brothers were really young. He was still alive when I married and had my first child.

Theresa was only 3 months old when I took her home to my mom’s in Arkansas to visit for the first time. We were worried about how Chu Chu would treat this new family member. He’d never been around babies before. He didn’t pay much attention to the wiggly bundle until the second day when neighbors came to meet Theresa. As soon as the first person walked in the door Chu Chu came and lay down across my feet as I held her. As long as everyone kept their distance, he dozed. But as soon as someone approached to have a better look, Chu Chu stood up and blocked their path. This went on the entire time we were visiting. Only my grandmother could get close. Chu Chu might not have been sure of what Theresa was, but he’d decided she was family, and needed his protection. We were amazed and touched by his loyalty.

I’ve since learned in researching professional K-9s that some dogs are so smart they can learn and puzzle things out without being trained to a specific task. Dogs work hard at being aware of how to live best with us often mystifying humans. And, Theresa didn’t even bring treats!

FIND D.D.

Contact   Website    Facebook    Twitter @DDAyersK9

Goodreads   Blog  Pinterest

UP NEXT for D.D.

I just signed to do 3 more books in the K-9 Rescue Series!

RIVAL FORCES

scheduled for release May, 2016

K-9 Rescue Series, book #4

PREVIOUS RELEASES by D.D.

IRRESISTABLE FORCE

K-9 Rescue, book #1

Read a little, Buy the book

FORCE OF ATTRACTION

K-9 Rescue, book #2

Read a little, Buy the book

NECESSARY FORCE

K-9 Rescue, ebook Novella

Read a little, Buy the book

ANGI'S back next week on First Fridays

UP NEXT ON GLIAS:  Kelly Lee

~Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Goodreads, Facebook

or @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

D.D. is in the middle of a HUGE giving away: “D. D.’s 10 Dog Days of Summer Giveaway.”  10 days!  New Swag Pack Each Day!  10 chances to win! I’d love for readers to enter.

GIVEAWAY

D.D. WANTS TO KNOW: What’s your favorite Dog or Pet story?