I know it’s a little odd, but I love February.  Up here, it’s the perfect month for some of my favorite things – cross-country skiing, showshoeing…and sitting by the fire with a hot toddy (my beverage of choice is hot chocolate spiked with Southern Comfort–yum!).  It’s also my birthday month, something I share with a few other Blaze Babes (Tawny Weber and Sam Hunter, I’m looking at you… )   And it’s the month of one of Harlequin’s biggest celebrations – Valentine’s Day!

One of the ways we mark this special holiday is by using it as a theme in several of our books.  So check out what the Blaze authors have in store for you this month…

Our Valentine anthology this year is a special one.  Not only does it celebrate all things romantic, but it also launches another set of Blazing Bedtime Stories.  ONCE UPON A VALENTINE by Stephanie Bond, Leslie Kelly and Michelle Rowen is sure to keep you snuggling by the fire with your sweetie long after you should be in bed…

Next up is THE KEEPER, another book in Rhonda Nelson’s Men out of Uniform miniseries.  Rhonda’s hero, Jackson ‘Oak’ Martin can handle anything…except a sexy pastry chef and a ‘butter bandit’.  This is another ‘keeper’ filled with Rhonda’s whimsical charm.

CHOOSE ME by Jo Leigh is the first book in a new miniseries we’re launching this month, It’s Trading Men.  Now, as kids we all collected hockey cards, baseball cards, etc.  I haven’t a clue what happened to them.  But if I’d had a card with a hot guy like Charlie Winslow on it, I know I would have kept it close.  Of course, Charlie’s heroine, Bree, doesn’t need the card as a memento – she’s got the real thing.

Next up is the final book in Tawny Weber’s Undercover Operatives miniseries – SEX, LIES AND VALENTINES.  Gabriel Black might be a con artist–but he doesn’t stand a chance when undercover FBI agent Danita Cruz gets a hold of him…  A fantastic conclusion to a wonderful holiday series!

Kira Sinclair launches her first miniseries this month–Island Nights–with BRING IT ON.  This book has it all - a runaway bride, a best man who really IS the best man, and hot tropical nights that set the mood for romance.  And that’s only Book 1!

And finally, Cathy Yardley returns with the second book in her Players Club miniseries, THE PLAYERS’ CLUB: LINCOLN.  Linc Stone is a master at keeping secrets.  Too bad Juliana Mayfield is just as adept at getting him to bare it all…

And that’s the month – just enough to keep you busy on the last of those cold, wintry nights…

Now, on to the Blaze authors Pet Project.  We have three rescue animals showing up in our February books.  Tawny Weber’s SEX, LIES AND VALENTINES showcases a special calico girl named Pippi, from the Furry Friends Shelter in Ontario.  Since Pippi’s already found a forever home (Yay, Pippi!), we’re sending her new owners an autographed copy of her book, so they know their new pet is famous.

I also have to admit I made a mistake last month…  I got the wrong book for Piedmont and Prize, the two rescue animals available at the Northeast Shelter in Salem.  This loveable cat and dog are characters in Rhonda Nelson’s THE KEEPER, not THE PHOENIX as I said last month.  Sorry about that…

And finally, I’d like to announce that the Blaze authors have a new Pet Project – The Cat Shack in Trexlertown, PA.

The Cat Shack, Inc. is a no-kill, non-profit cat rescue organization that attempts to find permanent homes for stray and unwanted cats and kittens.

The Cat Shack serves to place three CATegories of needy cats:

* Friendly strays and kittens looking for safe, permanent homes

* Feral (wild) strays who are not suitable for inside homes and who seek safe, permanent barn homes where they can be employed as mousers.

* In an effort to help people place pets that they can no longer keep, they also post the cats picture/story and the owner’s contact info.

So there you have it – 6 fantastic new books, and another shelter worth checking out.  Anything you can do to help – making a donation, picking up a new family member, or even just passing a recommendation along– is much appreciated.

For a chance to win one of three sets of February books, let us in on your most memorable Valentine’s Day.

Good luck!  And happy February!

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

I’ve been pretty blessed with some fabulous covers for my Blazes.  And just about the time I settle on a favorite, a new cover comes along and makes me rethink my devotion.  It was especially hard to decide which cover I liked best when it came to my Undercover Ops series, because they are all from some of my favorite scenes in their respective books.

So I figured I’d ask you…

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Which cover do you like best?  And why? Share in the comments section for a chance to win whichever you claim as your favorite.  (Or if you already have that one, you can pick from my others or my backlist.) 

That’s right, peeps, I’m escaping the frozen north to visit the STAR (SpacecoasT Writers of Romance) chapter of the Romance Writers of America.  My trip is cunningly planned for the end of February—in my opinion, the most

I’d much rather be here…

unpleasant time of the year in Toronto.

I’m looking forward to spending time with my lovely American Romance author, Leigh Duncan. And I can’t wait to see some Blaze authors, as well. I’m told Julie Leto will be there and possibly Cami Dalton. Is anyone else here planning to attend the STAR Super Saturday meeting on February 25?

I’m supposed to speak for 45 minutes or so. I’ve never given a speech of that length before and don’t want to put the audience to sleep, but I’m a bit uncertain what I should talk about.

…than here.

If you were in the audience and had to listen to me talk for 45 minutes, what would you want to hear? Most information is available online these days, so I don’t want to be redundant. Please comment and give me your suggestions—I need all the help I can get!

I’m totally excited that SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT is out.  I have a special attachment to this story because of the family dynamics and father/daughter issues that had to be resolved – even though both the heroine, Maya, and her father, Tobias, were absolutely sure they were in the right. Family dynamics are always fascinating to explore, because they have such a huge influence on who the character is and on their outlook on life.  Which was extra fun, since Maya comes from a family of con artists.

Another reason I’m attached to this particular story is the cat that’s featured in it.  Dottie is one of our Blaze Authors Pet Project kitties from the Furry Friends shelter.  I was so excited to hear she’d found a family and a loving home.

I loved bringing Dottie into the story. She became an integral character, playing her part in bringing her mistress and the hunky FBI agent together.  Here’s a snippet to show her matchmaking skills:

Tossing his coat on the plump chair in the corner, he stripped off his shirt and draped it over his coat.  Needing to do something to shake off the intense sexual tension pounding through his body, he dropped to the floor to pushups in quick succession.

As he hit ninety, he felt a cool draft.  The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention.  Turning his head, he saw two sets of bare feet standing in the doorway connecting their rooms.  One set had vivid red toenails, with tiny flowers painted in the corners.  The other set was covered in black and white fur.

His gaze traveled upward, taking in the smooth golden skinned legs.  They were about a mile long, cut off mid-thigh by a teeny tiny leopard print satin nighty.  He’d have to wrench his neck to get the rest of the view, so he jackknifed into standing position.

Avoiding looking at her scantily clad body while he was so scantily clad himself, Simon dove for his shirt.  Before he could grab it, though, Maya’s cat padded over and pounced on it.

“No need to stop on my account,” Maya said, her words low and husky.  “I was enjoying the show.”

Simon grimaced, rubbing his hand over the cat’s soft head as a pre-apology before trying to tug his shirt out from under it.  The kitty rubbed her black and white head against his fingers, letting out a soft purring sort of meow.  Then, before he could move her and get his shirt, the cat swatted at him.

“Hey!”

“Sorry.  Dottie’s gets a little snippy sometimes.”

“She almost snipped the tip of my fingers off.”

“What?  A big strong man like you, with all those lovely, lovely muscles…” her words trailed off as she let her eyes trace over his bare chest, shoulders and biceps.  Appreciation glowed in her golden eyes as she wet her bottom lip and sighed.

“Yeah.  A big strong guy like you, I’d say you can hold your own with one tiny little kitty-cat.”

Simon eyed the cat, who was staring at him through pale green eyes that just a second ago had been slitted with pleasure.  Was the feline’s moodiness indicative of her mistress’s personality?

“I’d kinda like my shirt,” he muttered, feeling like an idiot.  Not thinking, he turned to glare at the cat’s owner as if she’d trained her pet to hold clothing captive.

His brain immediately short circuited.

She was gorgeous.

Black curls waved over her shoulders, teasing the tips of her satin, leopard covered breasts.  Her nightgown looked like a slip, with narrow straps holding up the shimmery fabric and a swath of lace highlighting the curves of her breasts.  As a nod to modesty, she wore a robe of sorts.  The same fabric as the nightgown, it had wide lace lapels and draped low, hanging from the edge of her shoulders to the floor as if gravity were trying to torture him.

“I think Dottie would prefer to keep it for herself,” Maya said, laughing a little.  She sent the cat a look of approval.

And that clever kitty was only getting started!!

I know that many of you, like me, have a special place in your heart for pets. In SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT,  Maya gives a lot of weight to her cat’s opinion of Simon.  I tend to pay attention, too, to how my pets react to new people.  They often sense things faster than I do. Do you think our pets, or animals in general, are good judges of people?  Are they better than we are sometimes? 

I must admit, I’m really looking forward to starting over this month.  Last year was a wilder ride than I expected, especially with all the 10^th anniversary celebrations.  Don’t get me wrong – all the attention was absolutely wonderful, incredibly exciting…and ultimately exhausting. J  Maybe it’s just the time of year, but all I’d like to do right now is sit by the fire with a good book.  And if you’re feeling a little mellow too, I’ve got a few irresistible stories to tell you about….

Rhonda Nelson starts off the month with another addition to her Men out of Uniform series, THE PHOENIX.  While all Rhonda’s heroes are great – strong, heroic and honorable—it’s the heroine in this book who steals the show.  Charlie Martin believes in getting the job done, any way she can.  Even if it means a little computer hacking…  Be sure to check this one out – it’s absolutely delightful.

Next up is our Uniformly Hot! title, BORN READY by Lori Wilde.  Semper Paratus (Always Ready) isn’t just the Coast Guard’s motto – it’s Lieutenant Commander Scott Everly’s motto too.  That is until he meets a woman who knocks him off his feet, landing him between her sheets!

And Rhonda’s heroine isn’t the only girl to steal the show this month.  The heroine of Samantha Hunter’s Forbidden Fantasy, STRAIGHT TO THE HEART, is a US Marshall  who always gets her man.  Only in this story, she gets to keep him too!

Tawny Weber continues her Undercover Operative miniseries this month with SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT.  This time, prodigal daughter Maya comes back home…with an FBI agent on her arm—and in her bed!  Check out what USA Today had to say about the first book in the miniseries:   Sex, Lies and Mistletoe is sexy, smart, fresh and festive — and a must-read this holiday season.   Way to go, Tawny!

Next up is BORROWING A BACHELOR by Karen Kendall, the first book in Karen’s  All the Groom’s Men miniseries.  These stories focus on the real reason women attend weddings – to check out the hot  groomsmen!   And here’s a little insider information – one of the titles we were considering for this book was The Accidental Stripper.   How can you resist?

Finally, Cathy Yardley finishes up the month with the first book of another new trilogy – The Players’ Club.  The heroes in these books work hard and play even harder.  In the first book, THE PLAYERS CLUB: SCOTT, the hero finds out that while the tests may be arduous… the rewards can be very satisfying, especially when his sexy neighbor decides to join in on the initiation.

So, what do you think?  Can you think of a better way to start off a brand new year?

Although Blaze’s 10^th anniversary is now over, we still have one more anniversary to celebrate.  This month marks the one year anniversary of the Blaze Authors’ Pet Project.   So far, we’ve highlighted three very deserving shelters and I’ll be showcasing another one next month.  As well, we’ve managed to include more than twenty animals in our past and upcoming books and several of them have already found homes!  In fact, two of the books this month feature Pet Project animals.  Dottie, from Tawny Weber’s SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT is living happily ever after with her new forever family.  But Piedmont and Prize, from Rhonda Nelson’s THE PHOENIX, are still waiting.  If you’re interested in helping out, check out the Pet Project at BlazeAuthors.com for details.  And look for more furry friends to show up in the pages of Blaze books throughout this year.

So, are we all ready to get on the rollercoaster again?  In order to make the ride a little more enjoyable, I’ll be giving away 3 sets of the January books.  All you need to do is post a comment, letting us know what you intend to do differently this year.  Last year, one of my resolutions was to help out at a local shelter, and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.

Wishing you all things bright and Blazing in the coming New Year!

Sincerely,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor

Last month I kicked off my Undercover Operatives series with the release of SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE, and I shared a peek into the gossipy fun that goes on in the small town of Black Oak as the town’s two Information Matriarchs (much classier than gossips, right?) dished the dirt on the return of bad boy, Caleb Black.   And boy, oh boy is the dirt dishing now that he’s not only back, but engaged.  Just when the ladies are ready to settle back and start rehashing the shocking events of the last month, Black Oak gets another shocking visit.  Not only is Maya Black back, but she’s brought her own sexy entertainment along as well.

Wanna hear what Hazel and Hortense had to say about this newest twist?  It went something like this…

Shifting irritably in her favorite chair, Hazel tapped her spoon impatiently on the side of her teacup.  She wasn’t sure what bothered her more.  That her guest for morning tea was later, or that things had been so exciting lately, morning tea was likely the only bright bit of excitement she had to look forward to for the next little while. 

Before she could take a sip, though, the front door opened and shut with a snap.  Less than a minute later, her neighbor and dear friend–bless her, she’d gained at least five pounds over Christmas–was seated next to her pouring tea.

“I know, I know,” Hortense said waving one pudgy hand before Hazel could issue a complaint.  “I’m late.  But I had to give my grandbabies extra kisses goodbye, didn’t I.  I love the holidays, but it’s so hard to see everyone head home when they are over.” 

Extra time with the grandbabies was a get out of a late-lecture free card.  Her own eyes still burning from the cry she’d had after saying goodbye to her own, Hazel sniffed back her complaints and offered a plate of scones.  “Have a treat, it’ll help distract you from thinking about the children all gone again.” 

“It’s so hard after they leave the nest.  Oh, we have a full life and plenty to do.  But it’s just not the same as having all the loved ones close.”  For a second Hortense looked like she was going to sob on her lemon scone.  Then she took a deep breath and blinked away the melancholy.  The look left in her eyes, pure glee, made Hazel sit a little straighter in her chair.

“I suppose Tobias Black is happy these days, having one of his children moving back to Black Oak,” she said before nibbling the iced corner of her scone. 

“I suppose he is.  Especially with Caleb engaged and ready to settle down here,” Hazel agreed slowly, trying to figure out what Hortense was up to.  That gleam only meant one thing, the other woman thought she had a piece of gossip that would trump Hazel’s gold star for the best gossip of the year.  The gold star she’d scored when she’d brought news of Caleb’s return. 

“I wonder if this means the other two will soon follow.  Wouldn’t Tobias be thrilled to have both Maya and Gabriel back, too?” 

Hazel narrowed her eyes.  What did Hortense think she knew?  Since Caleb’s return, Hazel had taken to checking on the Black doings at least once a day.  If there was news, she’d have it.  Wouldn’t she?

“I’d imagine Tobias would be overjoyed to see any of his children,” she agreed slowly.  “But Gabriel’s exit was even angrier than Caleb’s.  And Maya, well, I don’t know what came between her and Tobias, but it must have been something major.  She was always so devoted to her father, then poof,” Hazel snapped her fingers in emphasis, “She was gone.”

“I’ll bet it was that woman Tobias was dating,” Hortense said with a sage nod.  “None of those three liked her much, did they?”

“Did anyone?”  Hazel thought back to the hard-edged floozy who’d tried to rope Tobias Black.  Luckily he’d kicked her to the curb a few months after Maya’s departure.  “You’d have thought the man had learned his lesson about dating inappropriate women then, wouldn’t you?”

“Obviously not, if he’s dating someone as tacky and obvious as Lilah Gomez.  And her the same age as his own daughter.”

“Poor Maya,” Hazel said with a tutting shake of her head.  “Can you imagine her reaction if she knew that her father was dating her arch-enemy?”

“Actually, I don’t have to imagine.” Hortense set her plate aside and leaned forward.  “I hear we’ll get to see it firsthand.” 

Hazel bobbled her teacup, shock making her immune to both the splash of hot liquid and the stain on her new pink slacks.

“No…?”

“Yes.  I heard it from Ham Bollinger when I was out at Black Oak Manor this morning to say goodbye to my cousin.  Maya booked not one, but two rooms at the Inn.”  Hortense gave a gleeful nod, practically bouncing in her chair.  “Maya Black’s coming back and she’s not coming alone.” 

And she’d been worried after all the recent excitement, things might seem boring?  Not likely in Black Oak.  Hazel leaned back, her grin so wide it made her earrings wiggle.  “Well, this should liven up the New Year, shouldn’t it?”   

Wellll… There you go.  Maya’s home and she’s on a mission.  Not only that, but she’s not alone! The ladies are right.  The New Year is going to be pretty exciting in Black Oak.  And you can, of course, read all about it in SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT if you’d like :-D   To make that easier, I’m giving away a signed copy today to one commenter – just let me know what wild plans you have for New Years Eve, and what you want to see happen in the New Year to be entered in the drawing. 

And don’t forget to check out my Holiday Survival Tour as I celebrate the Undercover Operatives series with contests, giveaways and lots of good times. 

From all of us, to all of you!!

I’m super jazzed that my latest Blaze, SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE is out. Not only because it kicks off my Undercover Operatives trilogy (but wooot about that, right?!), and not just because I have a serious case of adoration for the hero, Caleb Black, and a lot in common with the heroine (hey, we both think Caleb is hot!). But most of all, I’m jazzed because this book features not one, but two of the Blaze Author’s Pet Project kitties.

In my story, the cats Paulie and Bonnie belong to the heroine, Pandora. They live in her family’s new age store, where they not only get to interact with all of the customers, bask in the positive energy and keep things interesting. Especially when they help solve the case that brought prodigal bad boy, Caleb Black, home. I loved bringing these two cats into the story, not only for the fun pets add to anything, but because I think the way characters interact with animals shows so much about them, adding layers that interacting with people just doesn’t show. I hope readers enjoyed getting to know them, too.

Paulie and Bonnie were both rescues at the Furry Friends Animal Shelter in Barrie, Ontario. Bonnie is a darling black and white 5 year old female with the sweetest habit of tilting her head to one side. She’s sweet and friendly, always willing to share attention. And if people aren’t around to play with, she’s all about taking care of the other cats. Which worked well for Paulie, a super-friendly long-haired black 2 year old male who loves nothing more than lying in doorways, over shoulders, on laps. All while snuggling sweetly.

Obviously, I love pets. Especially this time of year. And not only because I can dress them up in silly elf hats, either! *g* although that is fun. We have 2 dogs (3 if you count my grandpuppy who I babysit 4 days a week), 2 cats and a bird. Like the rest of the family members, our pets all have their own Christmas stockings. The three dogs are getting new tags, a couple of stuffed squeaky toys and homemade treats. This time of year also reminds me that there are a lot of sweet animals out there that don’t have homes. Some, like Paulie, one of the feline stars of SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE, will get adopted and spend a happy holiday in their new home. Others, like sweet Bonnie, are still at the shelters without a family to love them. So we try to do a little extra for the local shelter by collecting towels and blankets, donating food and toys.

This is last year’s holiday picture of my puppies. Tinkerbell is my baby, a 5yo Rottweiler. Sierra is our rescue, a 7yo Shepherd mix. And here’s my grandpuppy, Betsey, who is 5 mos now.

How about you? Do you enjoy seeing pets in stories? And do you have pets at home? Are they a part of your holiday celebration? And if you’re a dog lover, do you have any wonderful homemade doggie treat recipes to share?

Can you believe the holidays are here already?  I have to admit, I’ve had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit lately, and the reason didn’t occur to me until this morning – snow!  We’ve had record breaking temperatures up here, and while I normally love the warmer weather, it doesn’t inspire the usual  Winter Wonderland feelings.  But this morning we woke up to about 5 centimeters (not quite an inch) and what a difference it made.  Now it feels like the holidays.  And you know what else can inspire that Christmasy feeling – Blazing holiday books!

So here’s what you need to put on your list for Santa this month…

First up is MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jennifer LaBrecque and Rhonda Nelson.  This collection is really cool – each author based their story on their popular Blaze miniseries.  So Vicki wrote a novella based on her Sons of Chance miniseries, Jennifer’s is linked to her Alaskan Heat miniseries and Rhonda’s included a tale that’s Uniformly Hot!  Pretty cool, eh?  This anthology will definitely make spirits bright.

Tori Carrington has the Uniformly Hot! book this month with RED-HOT SANTA.   For those of you who loved Tori’s Pleasure Secrets miniseries this summer, you’ll be happy to see that Jason’s little brother Jax is finally getting his holiday happily ever after.  And does he ever look hot in (and out of) a Santa suit….

The latest installment of Kate Hoffmann’s Mighty Quinns trilogy finishes up the month with THE MIGHTY QUINNS: KELLAN.   Santa delivers an early surprise to Kellan Quinn when he finds a beautiful woman washed up on shore.  Is she a mermaid…or his perfect Christmas present?

Leslie Kelly is up next with ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS.  Not only is this a wonderful holiday story about love lost and found…but it’s also our 50th Wrong Bed book!  Can you believe it?  Temptation and Blaze heroines have been falling into the wrong bed since 1994.  And they’re always very glad they did.

Not to be outdone, Cara Summers’ story,  SEXY, SILENT NIGHTS, is part of another very popular miniseries -Forbidden Fantasies.  And it’s sure to inspire a few naughty thoughts…

And finally, Tawny Weber finishes up the month with the first book in her Undercover Operatives miniseries – SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE.  Odd events are happening in the small town of Black Oak, California.  Black sheep, Caleb Black has come home to figure out who’s framing his dad.  And he will…if Pandora Easton ever lets him out of her bed….

So that’s the month.  And what’s really exciting is that two of these books are part of the Blaze Authors’ Pet Project.  Look for Paulie and Bonnie to greet you in Tawny’s SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE.  And watch Flash save the day in Cara’s SEXY SILENT NIGHTS.

It’s been an exciting year for Blaze.  Not only was it our 10th Anniversary, but we also saw the 10th Anniversary of The Mighty Quinns miniseries, and the 50th Wrong Bed book.  And our Pet Project has been going strong for a year now!  We’ve brought attention to three animal charities and we’ll be showcasing another next month.   It’s been really gratifying to see how everyone has rallied behind this project.  And we ARE making a difference.  Creating awareness is the first step in solving any problem.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.  For a chance to win one of three sets of December books, tell us about the kinds of things you do to celebrate this month. 

Wishing you all lots of VERY good nights….

Brenda Chin

Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

My latest release, SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE is on the shelves now!! And to celebrate, I thought I’d share a little snippet of what’s happening in Black Oak, where this story takes place…

The small town of Black Oak is nestled in the foothills of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains and filled with colorful characters.  Neighbors for over thirty years, Hazel and Hortense enjoyed a fierce rivalry.  Competing over everything from blue ribbon jam to who’s kids married first to who had the lowest cholesterol count, the ladies loved nothing more than beating the other out.  But their hands down favorite competition, and the one that made them a formidable force in the town of Black Oak, was gossip.  Every morning, at promptly 8:15, they met for tea and their daily attempt outdo each other for the perfect scone, coffeecake or cookie… and the juiciest gossip. 

Hazel settled comfortably into her favorite chair, smug pleasure adding extra sweetness to her morning tea.  She waited for Hortense to take a bite of the coffeecake, sure it was her best recipe yet.  The look of dismay in her dear friend’s eyes told her she was right.  She chalked up another win in her mental scorebook, then leaned forward to make it two for two, best coffeecake and best gossip.

“I hear you got stopped on the highway again,” she said, sipping her tea and giving her friend an arch look.  “What does that make now, Hortense?  Three speeding tickets this year?”

“Well I was in a hurry, wasn’t I?  I’d gone Christmas shopping in Santa Cruz and had to get back to watch the grandkids.  But I didn’t get a ticket,” Hortense denied with a sniff.  “That lovely Sheriff Kendall just wanted to give me a talking to.  He dated my Clarice back in high school, if you recall, and has a soft spot for me.  He even mentioned how much he loved my peanut butter and jelly cookies.”

In other words, she’d bribed him with the promise of sweets to get out of the ticket.  Some women had no pride, Hazel thought, conveniently ignoring the bribe of fried chicken she’d used to get out of her last parking ticket.

“Could be he let you go because of those happy memories,” not likely since Hortense had beat him around the head with her broom when she’d found him swapping spit with her daughter on the back porch, “Or could be he was in a hurry.”

She drew that last word out with a nice lilt at the end.  Just enough to make it clear she knew more than she was saying, but not enough to sound like a nosy old woman.  Gossiping was an art, and Hazel considered herself a master.  Hortense, though, was no slouch.  She didn’t jump at the bait like most would.  Instead she sipped, she nibbled and she calculated.  Probably trying to figure out what local news might involve that cute young sheriff.

Finally…

“I don’t think he was in much of a hurry, since he had plenty of time to reminisce,” she dismissed.

“Maybe he was using his chat with you as an excuse to watch the road into town.”

“Why would he do that?”

Gotcha.  Hazel hid her smile in her teacup.

“Because I hear trouble is back in town. “

“We haven’t had trouble in Black Oak in years.  Tobias Black won’t stand for it.  My youngest son handles the books for Tobias’ motorcycle shop now, you know.  He’s always saying how on the ball and aware Tobias is of everything.” Hortense claimed, as usual tossing out her tenuous connection with the town’s powerhouse.

“Not everything.  There’s been a few things that slipped through Tobias’ fingers over the years,” Hazel pointed out, thrilled at the opening Hortense unwittingly offered.

“Nothing’s ever gotten past Tobias.”

“Not even his children?”

“His children leaving was the only thing I’ve ever seen that slowed Tobias down.”  Hortense nibbled at her cake, too distracted by the topic to pretend it wasn’t delicious.  “First Caleb stormed off, then Gabriel just a week or so afterward.  It was like someone kicked his legs out from under him. When Maya left a year or so after that, you’d have thought she took his heart, too.  I haven’t seen him so upset since his wife died years back.”

Testing to see if Hortense was sufficiently hooked, Hazel offered another slice of coffeecake.  Still focused on the many woes of Tobias Black, the other woman took it with a murmured thanks.

“Bet it’d make his holiday if his kids came home.  One or all, he’d be overjoyed.”

Hortense snorted so hard, cake crumbs sprayed across her lap.

“Not likely.  Don’t you remember Caleb yelling from the town square that he’d never return?  Who knows what he did after he roared out of here on that big, scary motorcycle of his.  He was trouble, I’m telling you.  Never respected authority, always had to do things his way.”  Hortense took a sip of the before offering a saccharine smile.  “Didn’t one of your daughters chase after him for awhile?”

Leave it to Hortense to remember the one detail she’d been hoping to gloss over.

“That’s neither here nor there. What’s important today is the fact that Caleb Black has returned.”

“He hasn’t,” Hortense breathed, setting her tea on the table so she wouldn’t drop it.  “He’s come back to reconcile with his father?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.  I heard from Carl Minsky, whose wife was shopping in that new agey store of Cassiopeia Easton’s that Caleb walked in there yesterday afternoon, bold as brass.”  She waited for the satisfying gasp, then continued.  “He was flirting up a storm with Cassiopeia’s daughter. The girl who’s trying to sex up everyone’s food?  Next thing you know, he turned around and came face to face with Tobias.”

“Then what happened?” Hortense asked breathlessly.

“Then… nothing.  At least, nothing that anyone but the Easton girl knows.  She scooted them into the back room for some privacy.”  Hazel said that like it was a dirty word.  And to her, it was.  “Can you believe the nerve of that girl?”

“You think they came to blows?  Did anyone hear yelling? Oh, this has to be juicy. ”

And that, right there, gave Hazel the big gold star win for the best gossip of the year.  Satisfied, she picked up her cake plate, prepared to revel in her success.

“I guarantee you,” Hazel stated, leaning forward to gesture with her forkful of coffeecake in emphasis, “With Caleb Black back in town, this is going to be one interesting Christmas season.”

Oh yeah… I think things are going to be very, very interesting in Black Oak this December.  What do you think? And if you’ve read the book already, do you think Caleb’s homecoming added a bit of excitement to the Christmas season?  Share your thoughts and I’ll draw one random name from the comments to win a copy of SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT to get a jump start on some New Year’s Eve fun.

And don’t forget to check out my Holiday Survival Tour as I celebrate the Undercover Operatives series with contests, giveaways and lots of good times.