By: Jennifer Bernard
Congratulations to "Jen Z." the winner of Jennifer's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
.jpg)
One day after I sent off my final galleys to the publisher,
19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, based out of Prescott, Arizona,
were killed in a wildfire. You most likely saw it on the news, since it was one
of the biggest tragedies ever to strike a wildland firefighting crew. The news
sent shockwaves through the entire firefighting community. Since I began to
publish my Bachelor Firemen series, I’ve become quite connected to that
community, and I felt much the same grief and horror the nation’s firefighters
did. I wanted to do something, anything,
to show my support, in addition to donating.
I immediately emailed my editor to ask if I could add
something to the dedication, but it was too late. We were already at the final
typesetting phase, and she couldn’t change the schedule. If timing had been
just a little bit different, I could have included a reference within the book.
Something to show that I honored those 19 brave firefighters. Sadly, it didn’t
work out that way.
But that’s also the beauty of writing contemporary stories
that are set in the here and now. The world is changing as we write. We’re not
inventing future worlds, or recreating past worlds. We can’t anticipate the
events that might affect our stories. We’re working with the ever-changing,
fascinating, complex world around us at this very moment. That’s part of what
makes contemporary romance so exciting.
Of course, we’re presenting our own personal version of the
“real world.” My version includes plenty of humor and happy endings. It
features daring, adrenaline-junkie firemen who learn how to settle down, gutsy
heroines who bring said firemen to their knees, and the occasional rescued
llama.
There’s another benefit to dealing with current events. We
can help. For every comment on this post, I will personally donate $1 to the Prescott Firefighter’s Charities,
which is coordinating efforts to help the families of the fallen hotshots. So
if you comment, not only will you be in the running for a copy of the first
book in the Bachelor Firemen series, THE FIREMAN WHO LOVED ME, but you’ll be
doing something to help a tragic situation.
Thank you for your support, and thank you to Just
Contemporary Romance for having me here today!
The Bachelor Firemen of San
Gabriel have a rebel among them, and there's only one woman who can put his
flames out.
Firefighter Patrick “Psycho” Callahan
earns his nickname every day. Fast, fit, and a furious worker, he thrives on
the danger which helps him forget a near-tragedy that changed his life forever.
But when his off-duty carousing gets out of hand, Patrick is sent back to
Loveless, Nevada, where the wildfire threatening his hometown has nothing on
sizzling Dr. Lara Nelson.
Lara would rather be thought of as the physician who returned to
Loveless than as the misfit brought up at a hippie New Age commune. But right
now she’s focused on her job at hand, patching up injured firemen...until the
past hits her in the hard-muscled, blue-eyed form of Patrick Callahan. Now, the
embers of their decade-old attraction have ignited into a full-on inferno, as
the bad-boy firefighter and the good doctor take a walk on the wild side
they'll never forget.
Excerpt:
The
monstrous creature was closing in on them. Now she could see that of course it
wasn’t one very bizarre being, but a firefighter carrying some sort of animal
on his shoulders. Another firefighter strode next to him, carrying a gas can
and some other gear. He pointed at the medical tent and the group veered toward
Lara.
Now
she saw blood all over the firefighter’s front. Although she couldn’t see his
face, which was partially blocked by the animal, his body was breathtaking. His
T-shirt was so drenched with sweat it showed every ripple of muscle in his
powerful torso. He was about six feet tall, intensely powerful, with broad
shoulders strong enough to carry a … whatever that was.
“Where’s
Donnell?” the second fireman asked her, in an Australian accent.
“He
left me in charge. What is that?”
“Injured
animal stranded by the wildfire.”
The
fireman came to a stop, bent down and set the creature on the ground. It
staggered, nearly collapsing. Its frightened golden eyes flicked from one face
to another, as if looking for its mother. Lara knelt next to it and gently
reached for its injured leg, but it kicked feebly at her.
“Cheeky,
isn’t she?” said the Australian.
Out
of the corner of her eye she saw the fireman straighten up and put his hands to
his lower back.
“She’s
a llama,” he said in a smoke-roughened voice. “I’m calling her Goldie Hawn.
Anyone else notice the resemblance? It’s the fluffy hair.”
Lara
sat back on her heels, nearly tumbling over backward. She stabilized herself
and glanced sharply up at the fireman. Intense blue eyes, the color of the
deepest part of a flame, met hers.
“Patrick?”
Buy Links:
Givewaway:

Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Sep. 24th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com with a subject title of JCR GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! I cant wait to read it! :)
Deletekdjohnston73 at yahoo dot com
what an amazing idea! That's awesome of you to donate to the Firemen charity. Love the idea. And would love to read your book. But it shouldn't matter that there's a prize. I would comment ten times just to help out the charity :) n.kuhn.acn@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome, Nicole, thank you!!
DeleteHow very generous of you! I have just started reading your fireman's series. I already have the copy you are giving away on my nook. So don't pick me to win;) Just donate the dollar:D -Debby B
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI jumped over to their website and made my own donation...
ReplyDeleteOh, that's great, Evelyn! I hoped that might happen if I put up the link. Thank you, thank you, I'm sure they appreciate it so much!
DeleteI think that your donation is awesome!!
ReplyDeleteHow compassionate and thoughtful. Can't wait for your next book.
ReplyDeleteWe know how you support firefighters anyway but this is wonderful. I hope you receive many comments on this blog. My heart is always in my throat whenever we have wild fires (here in Nevada especially) but thoughts and prayers to all fire fighters, and their families, everywhere. (My copy should be here soon but it sounds great!)
ReplyDeleteHappy to help you up your donation. I've read the first in your series so don't include me in the drawing. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway. I love that you are donating for each comment.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great what you are doing for Prescott Firefighter’s Charities,
ReplyDeleteI believe even if you didn't offer any type of give away you would have a great
turn out here .I think what you are doing is so great to help the fire service
Myself , husband & my son are firefighters we Thank You so much for what you are doing
Firelady1424@aol.com Jacki
Wow, you have a family full of firefighters! That's so impressive. Believe me, I'm the one thanking you. It's absolutely my honor to do whatever I can to support you all.
DeleteI think what you're doing is AMAZING, Jennifer. It is so very thoughtful. I can't even begin to imagine what these families, friends, and, especially the lone survivor are going though. My thoughts and prayers to all of them.
ReplyDeletenewcanuck52@yahoo.com
Cindy, I think about that lone survivor too. I hope he's doing okay, what a tough position to be in. I'll join you in those prayers.
DeleteThanks for the giveaway. I love that you are donating for each comment. I hope to see more of this in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great thing your doing. Firemen and police men do so much just for the love of their jobs, they deserve our thanks and gratitude.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to read this next book! I loved Psycho from the very beginning :)
ReplyDeleteWhat you are doing is amazing and sounds like an amazing charity. I can't wait for next in the series to come out.
ReplyDeleteemilybaucom at yahoo.com
I'm so thrilled to see all the support for the Prescott Firefighters!!! You are all wonderful. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing connection you've made to the firefighting community--and what a wonderful plan to donate to the hotshots' fund. You KNOW how much I adore your stories and HTTAWF is no exception. I'm so happy to comment to contribute. I can't wait for your next story and your next and your next! I wish you, Psycho, Lara, and Goldie Hawn the very best of continued success!
Hugs!!
Great idea, Jennifer! I have a copy on my Kindle, so please just make a donation...
ReplyDeleteI love these books and I cannot wait for the new one to come out. I have preordered How to Tame a Fireman and cannot wait for Midnight. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeletejenzorko20@gmail.com
Thanks for doing this. I am sure it will mean a lot to those involved. That was a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteCrazy timing, Jennifer. But kudos to you for your dedication to those brave men.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great book! Fun and sexy!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to read it! Reading what you are doing brought tears to my eyes. these were our men that we lost & our state was in a state of shock when it happened! Thank you so much for what you re doing to honor our heroes!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I can only imagine what that tragedy must have been like for the residents of Arizona. Honestly, a donation feels like such a little thing, but it's my honor to do it. Those firefighters were heroes and we won't forget them!
DeleteI'm the wife of a retired Fire Fighter. My heart goes out to the families of these brave individuals. You are doing a wonderful thing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou have done a commendable job!
ReplyDeleteThat was a terrible tragedy and I think it's wonderful that you will be donating to help the families.
ReplyDeletemce1011 AT aol DOT com
Love this book (and this series). Can't wait for the next one to finally be in my hands. I would LOVE to own the first one.
ReplyDelete(kmichels06@gmail.com)
Love this idea! Love this series!
ReplyDeleteGREAT! I left a comment & made my own little donation yesterday. Evelyn
ReplyDeleteThis book is my favorite of the series! I loved Psycho! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! My goal is now to make you say the next one is your favorite too. ;-)
DeleteMay God Bless You and Everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful idea. You rock and good karma is sure to follow you
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read the book. Your donation for simply commenting is incredibly generous! - Brandi
ReplyDeletebrandiberri@live.com
I didn't think I could love this series any more - but now I can love it for a great cause. Thank you! susan dot maguire at gmail dot com.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea, to donate for every comment. Your books are a great read. So thank you
ReplyDeleteVery generous of you!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can afford us. There are so many of us who love your books and appreciate your dedication to fire fighters. They are the best. I hope you can mention these brave fire fighers in a future book to honor them and their sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Theresa! And I agree, firefighters are the best, and maybe I will find a way to work those hero hotshots into a future book. In the meantime, I hope I get to make a nice hefty donation. Bring it on! ;-)
DeleteI got all the info I'm taking this to my fire house & get the guys there to make a donation &
ReplyDeleteI will send it in my fire Co. name & yours too keep up the GREAT work
How awesome that you would donate based on how many comments you get. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHeather C.
Taylor0526@yahoo.con
I love your books and I love firefighters! My grandpa was a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years and my mom has been a volunteer EMT for 25 years. My heart goes out to these families!
ReplyDeleteKelli Jo, I didn't know you had volunteer firefighters/EMT's in the family! Good for them for their service. Someday I want to write a book about volunteers. They deserve so much respect. :-)
DeleteI have loved your firefighter series from the first book I found by accident! lol I admire what you are doing in donating to this organization!!!!! What a kind, compassionate person you are.
ReplyDeleteDeanna S.
music.soothesmysoul@yahoo.com
Aw, thank you so much!! I feel it's the least I can do, considering what firefighters do for us. I'm so glad you found the series and are loving it!! And thanks for commenting. :-)
DeleteWho doesn't love a fireman. I'm happy this comment will earn a donation to a good cause.
ReplyDeleteMarcy Shuler
bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
You are totally awesome to donate to those families!! Im glad my comment can help :)
ReplyDeletecarlywood@comcastnet
It is great to donate to the families. My heart goes out to all the families involved. Being a firefighters wife you never know what event may take place. Cant wait to read this new book.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to donate to the families. My heart goes out to all the families involved. Being a firefighters wife you never know what event may take place. Cant wait to read this new book.
ReplyDeleteI have read all the books in this fireman series wonderful books can't wait to read the new book. Great that ur donating to such a wonderful cause.
ReplyDeleteLove me some firemen! What a wonderful way to help the families!
ReplyDeleteehaney578 at aol dot com
Beautiful blog post, and idea to donate to the firefighters's cause. Just shows what a wonderful person you are, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The book sounds awesome!
Great cause Jennifer! Good show in supporting the families and heroes who protect us.
ReplyDeleteAwesome way to make a different, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your release and what a great way to make a difference!
ReplyDeleteahui89 at hotmail dot com
I can't wait to read this book! Congratulations on your new release, Jennifer!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad my comment can help some of those families!
thebigbluewall77(at)gmail(dot)com
What a fabulous thing, Jennifer! Thanks for doing that!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, thank you for taking action on this tragedy. I've read each of your books out and really enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteLiving here in AZ, I am very appreciative for this. What a generous and kind thing to do.
ReplyDeletelisakhutson@cox.net
Kindness never goes out of style - and you've got real style, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteKindness never goes out of style - and you've got real style, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this series! I'm sure your donation will be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThank you once again to everyone who left a comment. I'm going to let the organization know that the donation is courtesy of the romance reading community. You all rock!
ReplyDelete