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Sapphire Flames

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The green exit sign flashed over our heads, an orange warning strip across it screaming, “EXIT CLOSED.”

If h is the difference in height between the two sides of the gap, θ is the angle of the exit’s slope, V is the velocity, and g is the standard acceleration of free fall at 9.8 m/s 2 , the required velocity would equal to square root of 9.8m/s 2 6m2  divided by 2(h-6tan θ)cos2 θ…

I kept my voice calm. “Alessandro, you’re going to kill us. This only works in the movies and it requires a ramp. The moment our wheels leave the ground, the car will start dropping. Even if we make it, the car will crumple from the impact.”

“It will be fine.”  The Alfa roared up the slope, accelerating.

“How? How will it be fine?”

He looked over at me. “This car is very light and we’re going to drive very fast.”

See if they made it: Amazon | B & N | Book Depository | Google Play | Kobo | Harpercollins | Apple Books | IndieBoundLEARN MORE

 Mad props to amazing Gene Mollica and his team for the gorgeous cover.  Comments are cautiously enabled.  locked because I don’t want to police them on Valentine’s Day.

 

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Comments

  3. Boldly enable comments. Do or do not. There is no try.

    P.S. Your curly hair looked great. Embrace the curl.

  4. Thank you! So excited! Beautiful cover. Of course I’ve never had a problem with your covers. They are covers. They keep the pages safe.

  6. Yay!. I can’t wait for this book and I really like Catalina’s dress. It works perfectly for how you described her powers in the novella.
    Also, the new blog design is very pretty. I was thrown off for a second because it was new and I’m a creature of habit, but good job. 🙂

  8. Wow! Snazzy new set up on the site. It’s very pretty — congrats.

    And thanks for the snippet and pretty cover!

    I’m ridiculously excited about this book!

  9. I clicked the Amazon link to order… I had already ordered it back in December. If I do it again, maybe it will magically appear sooner??
    Hahaha

  15. Whee both of them are wearing clothing/shirts. Cover looks great, snippet is delicious, and wish the book was here already.

  18. Preordered!!! I must wait till the ninth or tenth of september (Hi from Spain!!) and I can’t wait!!!!

  20. Here are times you just can not reason with people. You can say “that paint is wet.” You can show them the sign… some people will still test it to see if it’s still wet.

    That’s how this feels. He decided they can make it… logic is not going to persuade him from trying. That feels very authentic especially for their age group. Honestly it does get better for some people as they get older… but not always *goes into the kitchen to try and get wet paint off hand*

  22. Yay! Can’t wait for more Catalina in action!! \(^o^)/

    Somehow the blog layout looked anew. I was really surprised and delighted by the new UI!

    • Nope. Arabella is the blond. Catalina remarks that her little sis looks like an almost-twin to Nevada in the novella.

      • Yes, she is not blonde, but I do agree about age. Still beautiful cover and every one is dressed ?? that is a total win in my opinion!???

    • In the beginning chapter that the Authorlords showed us after they scrapped it, Catalina had JUST turned 21; and the 3-year grace period for House Baylor had just ended. I’d guess that the timeline is still pretty close.

  27. Oh YUSSS!!! I’m ready for it!
    I think the cover is GREAT: the man is wearing not only a shirt but also a suit!
    And I really hope Alessandro’s Alfa Romeo is a Giulietta, I love that car ? I do hope they both make it.
    Also, I like the new blog ?

  30. Yes , it looks wonderful, kind of Pierce Brosnan Bond. Catalina looks beautiful, love the dress and so grown up. The cover is fantastic and I know the story will be great.
    Can’t wait till the end of August…

  31. I was so excited by: It’s Alessandro!!! And Catalina is in the car with him!!! They finally went for a drive!! (off a cliff it seems, but that’s just details

  32. Is’t Catalina supposed to be 20ish? she looks about 30+ years old on the cover. I also don’t like the gun too much and the emphasis on her breasts.

  35. The link for Kobo doesn’t work. sniff sniff
    I did a search on the site, found the book and pre-order, Youpi

  38. Why did someone ask about Catalina being younger then 28? I though in the one snippet that she had just turned 21 and became the head of house. That was when she was going to the roof to help save the boy. Did I miss another snippet some where that talked about her age? Please help.

    • No, they have preconceived notions about what a 21 year old should look like and are being snarky, because the model on the cover looks “too old.” Ignore them. The model is in 18-25 range, which fits Catalina just fine.

      • Oh good I was confused for a bit too. I was questioning if you guys had moved it to further in the future when I saw that comment. I am usually a terrible judge of age but I could totally see the model as being 18 – 25. Especially with the use of makeup that makes teenagers look older than they otherwise would look clean faced.

      • It’s the cheekbones. They’re gorgeous and elegant, which makes some think she’s looks older than her age. But she’s just shed the college kid look. As head of House, her total look is appropriate.

        • My 16-year-old daughter tried on prom dresses yesterday. She looked a lot like the model. Just because she usually wears sweat pants and leggings doesn’t mean she isn’t growing up.

  39. That is such a guy response.

    You just need a flying car. I mean we’re about to have air taxis the first step towards jetsons vehicles. But until then just find Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or the flying car roaming in the wild from Harry Potter.

    • Ahhh, the memories. I knew right off what the car was before I read your comments.
      We had one of these when we were young. After several moves later and growing up, I wonder what ever happened to it.

    • Fun fact: the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was written by Ian Fleming and produced by Cubby Broccoli, both of James Bond fame. And here we have Alessandro and Catalina doing the Bond thing on the cover!

  40. Oh dear, I’ve had an italian car and they are not the sturdiest vehicles in the world…
    Does Alessandro has some mad skills we are unaware of? September can’t come fast enough!

    • The Alessandro model has this arched eyebrow, that is sexy, like hey I like this gal, she keeps me on my toes. 🙂

      #headcannon

  45. Ah, Alessandro, you have just gained enormously in interest. Light car and very fast?? My husband restored an Alpha, it was lovely. Broke constantly, but lovely. Our son took it to college and drove it. They both came back in good shape so we didn’t ask.

  46. Love it all.
    Love the new look of the website.
    Love the book cover
    Love the snippet.
    Preordered a looooong time ago.

    Thank you both for all the work you do. 🙂

  47. I love the cover! Yay he’s not naked, so we don’t have to spring for a T-shirt! In fact, the BDH sprung for a suit! Good job everyone, good job!

    Love the new website look as well!

  50. already pre-ordered, love the snippet and the math is wayyyyyyy over my head… like way.
    The cover looks great.

  57. Wow, what a cover!… And the authorlords managed to work clothing magic, shocked door-handging people notwithstanding. Sooo lovely!

  58. Wow I came to the blog and had to refresh because I thought I was on the wrong page haha. Great though, looking forward!!! 🙂

  64. Thanks so much for this on sick cold rainy day. As a “loser teacher” was feeling extra blue. LoveloveLOVE the math hit!

  65. I don’t suppose we could get the background of the over for computer background? The designs and colors are gorgeous.

  66. Bravissimo!
    Love the cover! (Yay – clothes!)
    Love the excerpt! (Very light, very fast?!)
    Every time you post one of these I want to forget I am a (very) mature woman and whine like I’m a kid again.
    Now? Why not now?
    Soon? When?
    Now, now, NOW!

  69. The model for Alessandro is just…*kisses fingers Italian style* perfect! Very expressive and suited to his tone in snippets so far (this is code for “omg he’s so smouldering hot” btw). So happy they’re both dressed, so looking forward to this!

  71. I saw this and despaired because my book fun money had already been spent on the excellent pair of books from @msagara this month, but then happy day it turns out this is due in august when my book money is not allocated.

    Excellent. Now for august to somehow get here -faster-.

    The cover is lovely.

  72. Did Gordon complain about his finger being on the trigger? Because he’s clearly not ready to fire yet. I made my cover designer fix that on one of mine.
    But it’s beautiful even so. Congrats!

  74. “see if they made it”? seriously? how????? it’s not on sale until August at the earliest!!!

    ::curls into a fetal ball::

  79. To hell with the weather here in the north country,,,
    It is now officially a perfectly wonderful day.
    Thank you

  86. Love the cover! Very James Bond ?.
    “This car is very light and we’re goinv to drive very fast.” Omg lol!! Eagerly awaiting the release ?

  87. I love it and I can’t wait! The male model definitely looks like an ” Allesandro”! I lived in Italy for 5 years so I should know! Thank you so much for sharing!

  94. The cover is gorgeous but the mom in me doesn’t want her to be so grown up. My nest will soon be empty and I guess I’m having a harder time than I thought I would. Sigh.

  95. Love the cover. Can not wait for the book to drop to see how Catalina and the family have been and built their House and connections.
    Love the new site.

  96. I love the new changes to the website! At first I thought I had the wrong web address until I saw Arland in the background. Then I saw the Sapphire Flames cover, and then thought “yep, I’m on the right page”.

    The cover is great! Can’t wait to read the entire book.

  97. They’re both a bit older than I expected, but maybe there was more of a gap between series than I realized. I loved the colors, and the fact they’re both fully dressed.

  98. Okay, I am a grandma(for heaven sakes) and I really,really,really want to read this story. I can hardly wait until the publish date. We need a valentine early release. Thank you for the cover and the taste of this story.

  99. I like the new layout of the website and comments. What’s this font, btw?
    The only complaint(?) I have is that you can’t jump right back to the comments from the blog home page. I like coming back several times a day to read everyone’s comments and it seems to take an extra click to get there.

    Unless I missed something. Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.

  101. Oh! Catalina all grown up and oooooohhhhhh no wonder she deleted her Instagram account back when she was younger talk about a good looking Bad Boy!! Soooooooooooooooooo can’t wait!!!!! Thank you Authorlords Thank you thank you thank youuuuuuuuuu!!! And now I know the cover artists must be fans because this is a beautiful cover and works so well for the series. Although I still crack up thinking about the Hello Kitty shirt ?

  102. I won’t pre-order it because of the enticing cover and tempting snippet. Because I already pre-ordered it in January! These additional inducements are futile!!!

    • The earrings are really nice, too.

      Also, how much do Primes have to pay for car insurance? It seems like they go through a lot of cars. Or do they self-insure by purchasing in multiples and any damage to others or their property just comes under the usual Prime reparation funds (like when they destroy a city center)?

      • And does their insurance depend on whom they associate with?

        “I’m afraid I can’t possibly go out with you – the added insurance premiums just aren’t worth it.” Quarter turn and walk away.

  105. Beautiful cover! Men look so sexy in a good suit ?. I love the blue in Catalina’s dress! Very striking. Can’t wait for the release date.

    • Yes. Very James Bondish! Love it.

      I thought – That’s Catalina? When did she grow up???
      OH!!!!!

      Preordered ages ago too.

  108. This is drool worthy. Like I wasn’t looking forward to this book enough; you’ve gone and introduced Alessandro to us!!! Now I feel like crying because the wait.
    But I did love the interaction. ?

  109. 1. He looks like an Alessadro should look
    2. Love the “magical woo woo ” you requested in the background lol
    3. Love her dress!

    Great job on the cover

  110. Love, love, love it. Been an avid fan for ages. Just wanted to let y’all (yes, I’m southern USA) know, this site looks very different on my laptop than on my tablet/Nook. It was a bit of a shock. I know it’s the difference between mobile and desktop browsers (I use Chrome on both), but still. I was “Wha?” then, “Honey!” (He’s in IT.) He told me to relax. Things look different on different devices. I was “But it doesn’t look like this on my phone!” I got one of those “bless your heart” looks.

    • LOL I can’t even figure out what half the symbols mean. I stumbled through it and thought ‘Math, why did it have to be math?’ Loved the snippet, can’t wait to read the whole book.

  113. Oooh yezzzz! Hot and sophisticated guy in suit on book cover, hot and brooding guy in armor on several website pages. Sharp dressed men, indeed!
    Love the blue dress! (4o years too old to wear it, unless it also comes in a version with 3/4 length sleeves….and a higher neckline….)

  115. Well, I should say I don’t like it at all. Anyway I’ve preordered the book in November And I plan to devour It. I LOVE your books. But sorry, I hate the covers.

      • I personally can’t say the cover does much for me either, despite very much looking forward to the book itself. Both of the people look too old to me to be Catalina and Alessandro. And while we know this is a few years after the last one and that Catalina has “grown into herself”, there is a hardness in the expression of the woman on the cover that I find hard to associate with the once shy Catalina.

        It’s funny how we all have our own mental images in our heads. 🙂

        • “Both of the people look too old to me to be Catalina and Alessandro.”

          Exactly! That was the 1st thing that came to my mind as well! These two look to be in their 30’s, a true adult if I ever saw one, yet Catalina is supposed to be 21 and Alessandro is in his late 20’s I think.
          I had expected waaaay younger models, certainly no teens, but young adults in their 20’s. Oh well.

          Heh, authorlords are clever to post a snippet along with the cover. I’m so curious to find out just how those two ended up together in a car 😀

    • “Hate” is a strong word, but I’m not a huge fan of the cover either, though that dislike extends to most of the genre rather than this or any specific cover in particular. *shrug* no accounting for taste. Though if Catalina is such a fan of maths, she might try 😉 I love the writing though, and have learned to ignore the covers.

    • Best thing about electronic versions – no one else can see what you’re reading, and looking at the covers is optional. (I find this particularly nice in professional situations – this despite me being perfectly happy to make a spirited defense as romance as a genre.)

      I love this cover though. Enough that I spent a while looking at the details. How would I look in that dress?* Wait… shouldn’t Alessandro’s coat be of European cut? That looks very American to me… <= these aren't even quibbles, this is more background chatter.

      But the composition is just exceptional.

      * Ha – ridiculously amazonian, though it would show off my new ink. I have a short dress of similar cut…

    • Oh, finally someone who also doesn’t like the cover! 😀

      After reading the comments and how most seem to like it and be all – oooh so pretty & gorgeous & stuff – I was just thinking:…seriously?O.o
      Like, not that it’s bad…but it is to me. The woman looks like she’s in her 30’s when Catalina is supposed to be 21! Well, I guess most young women look older nowadays cuz of make-up…and what’s with the pose & dress? Well, those two are actually ok…but the model sure is very endowed. Was Catalina?
      SIgh, I know, I know, I’m totally nitpicking right now and even though I had prepared myself for a horrible cover…just…sigh, THAT is not how I would see Catalina.
      And Alessandro…well, not what I had in mind for a in his late 20’s Italian. But that really is the least of it all. … What’s with the gun pose?

      Sigh, well, the magic-y stuff in the background at least is nice.

      Everyone has different taste and all, but this cover goes straight into hateful land for me. Just – no.

      Good thing the covers are nothing like the books 😀

      I’m just so glad to find a like-minded soul among all these cover lovers, for I started to feel tad lonely and sad that everyone seemed to like/love it but me.

      Ah, can’t wait to read the book! I’ll just pretend the cover doesn’t exist.

  116. Gorgeous cover aside, is anyone else just tickled that Catalina does complex equations in her head when she is nervous? Meanwhile, Alessandro seems to have grown up into James Bond. These two are going to be so much fun to read about. I can’t wait for this book!

    • I think about the periodic table, so not really ? It’s a characteristic that fits Catalina’s personality.

      • I totally agree, which is why I’m so thrilled about it. ? Catalina isn’t an imitation Nevada; she’s her own person. It’s so great!

    • It’s hardly a nervous tick – it’s highly relevant to the situation! (I’m mostly amused that she’s working it out analytically – I tend to see or experience mathematical relationships, but only turn it into equations post facto, though sometimes that process is quick if I’m really on a roll. My nephew is analytical on the first pass, I guess – but I don’t know how quickly he works.)

    • My son does flight calculations in his head. It got to be a joke in his piloting class that he was faster/more accurate than the on-board computers. Some people just got the math gene. For them, math is their comfort zone.

  117. To whoever participated in the design and distribution of this gorgeous and heavenly cover. THANK YOU ?

  126. For a typical romance novel, this is a pretty cover, but I don’t consider this series a romance. It is So Much More!
    As I’ve said before, I HATE people’s faces on book covers. They never match my vision of the heroes (male and female).The word heroine should be relegated to that place where “actress” and “waitress” and all other gender-classifying words should be kept, namely in a time warp before the 21st century. We’re in an era where it’s all about saving each other, not just having the big strong man save the poor defenseless girl. No One portrays these powerful women and girls better than you. Little Helen at 5 was a perfect example.
    I’m also fed up with the portrayal of said heroes as only Barbie (size zero) and Ken shaped. According to the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education, “The average size of an American woman is now between 16 to 18. I am a fit and healthy size 12.I like to think that heroes come in all sizes and I like to picture myself as one, don’t you?
    So here is another book that will go into my leather book cover, if I don’t get it in Kindle.
    I’m sure that if you had a choice, your covers would be thrilling, like the pictures that head your Innkeeper Chapters. Your artwork makes we want to dive in and devour the words as fast as I can. So why can’t your publishers get a clue about what their customers want ?
    End of rant — can’t wait to get my hands on this book!

    • I love this cover. This was a very happy moment for me.

      Romance is a genre written for women and read primarily by women. It doesn’t make it a weaker genre than any other genre. Being a woman – ie heroine – is not inherently inferior. I don’t have to adopt a male noun for myself to make me somehow equal. I am already equal.

      The point is not that a tomboy is superior to a princess. A heroine who is trying to navigate friendships and being a mother and knitting on the couch at night is not any less worthy than a heroine who stabs people in the heart with her sword. The point is that they are equal and there is no wrong way to be a woman.

      When little Helen grows up, she will curl her hair and wear a beautiful dress with high heels. She may not choose to continue to be a warrior. She might become a diplomat instead. Or a homemaker. That’s doesn’t make her any less awesome. Being homemaker is difficult and worthy of respect.

      Let go of the idea that to be a strong woman you have to kick people in the face. Let it go… let it go… that’s lifetime of misogyny exposure talking. 🙂

      • What she said!! I pre-ordered so long ago that I don’t remember when. I can’t wait until this books comes out!

        • She will be whatever I imagine her to be, Tim. This isn’t a democracy. You are not going to outvote me on what happens to the character I created.

      • I don’t get it Ilona. First, I read a lot of Romance, It’s not weaker, I just don’t think that every woman on a cover has to be portrayed as someone with Barbie Doll measurements. And I think your books are not primarily romance books at all, so why the stereotypical romance cover? AsI said, Your art for the Innkeepers chapters is so much more compelling.
        Secondly, I think that jobs don’t have to be defined by sexually labeled titles, such as actress or waitress. I’m not talking about adopting a male noun, just drop the pejorative, and call both the same, like with doctor, or parent.
        Thirdly, being an older woman sitting and knitting doesn’t define me. I don’t think you have to hit someone when you can out-think them. I don’t get the tomboy/princess inference all. There is nothing in what I said that would indicate that anyone is superior to anyone else. It’s just about contributing in what ever way we can.
        More to the point, what I was trying to say was, we don’t have to all be the same size and shape to be the hero or, if you prefer, heroine.
        And I was talking about Helen’s Fearlessness and courage, not hitting anyone in the face.
        I meant what I said as a complement to you and your work and felt that the publishers should measure up, that’s all.
        Happy Valentines Day anyway, y’all.

  127. According to hubby equation is a ballistic equation. As someone else noted we don’t have all the variables to calculate. But I love the cover!!!! I keep trying to hear Alessandro with an Italian accent but I can’t quite hear it. Can’t wait till August which is what Amazon shows as the release date?

  130. I wasn’t going to comment on the covers and art work because I don’t usually pay a lot of attention to it. For me it’s all about the story. Not This cover. I love it. I opened the website blog and thought, “Woaah” . Got my interest and the artwork at the head of the blog page. Bloody perfect. I actually went back and checked them out again. Still good. In fact wonderful, great. Cue the applause. Yeah, I liked it.

  131. Ballistics, hee hee!
    Oh! Alessandro is SUCH…a guy!!! Gah, can’t live with’em, can’t banish’em to an alternate pocket dimension…. 😉

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