Review, Interview & Giveaway: Smokin' Hot Firemen Anthology

Smokin’ Hot Firemen

Smokin’ Hot Firemen
Anthology

Genre: Erotic Anthology
Publisher: Cleis Press

Date of Publication: July 16, 2013

Number of pages: 232
Word Count:

Cover Artist: Scott Idleman/Blink

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     Kobo     ARe

Who can melt any woman’s heart with a single smile? The sexiest icon of all—a fireman!

They enter fiery structures with selfless courage–the very definition of the word “hero.” Women understand their allure… A soot-covered face, sweat dripping from hard, chiseled muscles, the sharp snap of suspenders—yes, only a fireman can make suspenders sexy! Delilah Devlin’s burning-hot book includes thrilling stories teeming with gorgeous firemen from some of today’s hottest romance writers. In “Saving Charlotte,” Sabrina York’s firefighting Dom rescues a woman tied to a red-hot bed; from Cathryn Fox comes “Temperature Rising” where a fire chief fulfills some very steamy fantasies; Elle James’s “Chasing Fire” sees a daring smoke-jumper parachuting into the hot zone of a forest fire then setting his girlfriend ablaze with erotic heat; and Magic Mike ain’t got nothin’ on Delilah’s own fireman-turned-exotic-dancer-for-a-night “Johnny Blaze.”

With a list of award-winning authors that includes Ily Goyanes, Shoshanna Evers, Adele Dubois, and Rachel Firasek, Delilah delivers tales of these courageous men sliding down their big poles to steal readers’ hearts! Smokin’ Hot Firemen imagines the romantic possibilities of being held against that massively muscled chest by a man whose mission is to protect and serve…

Excerpt: 

Chance Muldoon checked his gear one more time as he stood beside the plane’s open door, wind blasting his face the acrid scent of smoke already burning his nostrils. Ahead of them, in the distance, red flames shot high into the sky as fire lit the evening sky, to the west. Towering stands of Ponderosa pines, already ravaged by the ravenous pine beetle, lit up like torches. A hot summer wind charged across the mountains like a freight train, fanning the flames, sending them higher, climbing the hills, consuming all which lay before them at a breathtaking pace.

Adrenaline shot through Chance’s veins as he prepared to jump in front of the fast-moving line of fiery death. This was his world, his job, his life as a smoke jumper.

“Ready?” The most experienced spotter, also their strike team leader, called out.

Six other men, all wearing similar jumpsuits, harnessed into parachutes and lined up behind Chance nodded, prepared to jump on command.

The chief pointed at a break between the trees, where what looked like a slim thread of sliver shone up through the gathering smoke. “Anchor point is between that stream and that rock escarpment. We’ll create our fire line and then backburn to consume the fuel ahead of the storm,” he shouted over the roar of the engines.

Chance gave him a nod, patted his chute, and checked the big harness on the paracargo box full of tools and equipment they would need for the fight. The jumper’s job was to jump ahead of the fire and create a break in the fire’s path to rob it of the fuel it needed to continue its march across thousands of acres of forest. An entire community of over a hundred homes stood in the path of the raging inferno. If they didn’t stop it first, the homes would be nothing more than tinder, burned to a crisp when the beast was done with it. Any livestock or unfortunate animals left behind would be killed, either burned to death or succumbing to smoke inhalation.

The Strike team leader shouted. “Go!”

Interview: 

Today, we welcome Elle James to Musings and Ramblings. Let's all give her a big Geeky welcome!

Thanks! I'm honored!

I have some questions for you that are writer specific as well as some fun stuff so that we can really get to know the real you. *grin* Plus we will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready to begin?

Writing Specific
1. Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

It's funny that I'm writing about Firemen. In the 8th grade I was a bit of a tomboy and my dream job was to be a fireman. Ah, but dreams change and here I am, an author! I'm still a bit of a tomboy and like to think I'm all tough like that, but I love my romances and happy endings.

2. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Lately, I've been traveling. In the past few years I've been to Paris, London, Italy, Alaska (by road), Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and Guam. I also like to go four-wheeling and go out on the lake in the boat.

3. How did you choose the genres you write in?

I write what I like to read. I kinda write a lot of different genres. I enjoy writing suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and Romantic Suspense and I write paranormals for Nocturne. I also write erotic romance as Myla Jackson for Samhain Publishing. And I've tried my hand at Indie publishing so that I can write whatever genre I want! I love the choices I have these days as an author.

4. Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

I really enjoy a good mystery and suspense. Tess Gerritsen, James Patterson. Tami Hoag are a few of my faves. I also love humor like you're find in Jennifer Crusie, Stephanie Bond and Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

5. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Humor tends to be in the eye of the beholder. When someone's review bashes my humor, I have to admit it hurts, but I get that not all humor appeals to all people. The best compliment is when someone says my work makes them laugh and cry or they couldn't put it down. I write because I want to elicit emotion.

Fun Stuff
6. If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

I'd like to have dinner with Benjamin Franklin or Christopher Columbus. An inventor and an adventurer. I love the way they looked at things differently and dared to try something new and dangerous.

7. You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

A book to read, a hunky man to help me build shelter and find food and my mattress so that I'd have something soft to sleep on.

8. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Tom Hanks because he's so darned versatile with humor and seriousness and Audrey Hepburn because she was so beautiful inside and out.

9. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

I just made up 3 meals last night! Gumbo, Chicken and rise and Chicken noodle soup. I like to cook ahead so that I don't have to cook all week.

10. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Rise of the Phoenix - I was burned as a child, spent 2 months in the burn ward of a hospital getting skin grafts and then spent my child hood being teased by other children about my scars. I persevered and I think pretty normal for all that and I'm fairly successful as an author. My dream job!

Think Fast
Summer or Winter? Summer. I love sunshine
Coffee or Tea? Neither. Give me Diet Dr. Pepper
Cake or Pie? Pie! And make it a fruit pie (apple)
Car or Truck? Truck! (remember the tomboy in me?)
Print or Electronic? (Electronic, is easier to carry a lot more choices with me)

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

Thanks for inviting me ! I hope you'll give the SMOKIN' HOT FIREMEN Anthology a try. There are some great stories by some of your favorite authors and some authors who will become your favorites. What's not to love about a fireman who's willing to risk his life to save yours? And look for my story, CHASING FIRE - A daring smoke jumper braves a forest inferno while fighting for the woman who makes him burn

Review: 

This is an anthology of short stories all dealing with Smexy Firemen and edited by Delilah Devlin.  There are 17 stories by 17 different authors in this particular book.   With that many authors, it means that most of these stories were only a few pages long, ranging anywhere from 7 to 17 pages long.

As with any anthology, there are going to be hits and misses for every person.  Some of the stories were complete unto themselves, some were more like vignettes taken from a larger novel, and there were a few that were more straight erotic scene than story.  Some of them were completely awesome and some of them were eh. Overall, it was a very good look at why firemen seem to get us all Steamed up!

Personally, I like anthologies.  They are a great way to get a quick introduction to a new author, as well as not feel too guilty when you are busy or interrupted while reading and keep having to put the book down because you are between stories anyway.  This was a great cross section of both authors and types of stories.  I think just about everyone could find something in this anthology that they like.  I am going with 3 stars on Goodreads and a couple of new authors to add to my Must Check Out pile.

Giveaway: 

One randomly drawn commenter during the tour will receive a $50 Amazon GC.

Each tour stop has a different author and different giveaway from that author. Authors participating in this tour will be: Adele Dubois, Cathryn Fox, Cynthia D’Alba, Delilah Devlin, Elle James, Lynn Townsend, Maggie Wells, M. Marie, Rachel Firasek, Sabrina York, and Tahira Iqbal.

At this site, we have Elle James and she will award a book bag, books and swag. (US addresses only)

So follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

July 15:
Erzabet's Enchantments

July 16:
Nana Prah's Blog
It's Raining Books

July 17:
Wicked Readings by Tawania

July 18:
Ramblings From This Chick

July 19:
The Reading Addict
Books to Light Your Fire

July 22:
Books and Other Spells

July 23:
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess

July 24:
Musings From An Addicted Reader

July 25:
Sharing Links and Wisdom
Long and Short Reviews

July 26:
Musings and Ramblings

Author Bio:

Elle James spent twenty years in South Central Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, retired Army and Air Force Reservist, she’s proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats or laughing out loud. Now, living in northwest Arkansas, she’s given up wrangling cattle and exotic birds to wrangle her muses, a malti-poo and a yorkie. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, out snow skiing, boating, or riding her four-wheeler, dreaming up new stories.

To connect with the author online:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads