1. Hi, Max. Since Mariah’s story is about you, please tell us about Max–Canine Concierge of Love.
MAX: Thank you for asking. I’m a very cute and lovable (I’ve been told that too many times to count) one-year-old big puppy. Born in a service dog training center, my mom, Goldie, is a beautiful Golden lab. One sunny afternoon, using her nose, she lifted the latch to her pen and took a wonderful free run to a local dog park. At the time, she was in heat.
She entered the park and as she later told me, a handsome Chow mix, who for now I’ll just refer to as Dad, caught her eye. It was love at first sight, so no need to explain any further.
She gave birth to a litter of mixed breed pups who all except for one, you guessed it, me, were placed in loving homes. The director of the center felt I had the intelligence and the patience to become a great service dog.
My trainers repeatedly told me how smart I am, but since I take after Mom, I don’t always like to follow directions. Once I was placed in the service dog training program, she advised me to always follow my heart. My problem is and always has been that I love everyone I meet so much, I want to show them just how much. I would lick the back of a passerby’s hand on walks with my volunteer training family. My actions sadly made that family return me to the center. The director of the training center decided to put me up for adoption but said he would find a very special home for me.
Special home? He kept his word. Nate, an Innkeeper from Sanibel Island, FL, spotted my online adoption information and drove across the state to adopt me. We became instant best friends, and he confided in me that he always wanted a dog he could share with his guests. I knew I was that dog and as he soon learned, I have a very special talent for making guests with broken hearts comfortable enough to tell me about their lost loves. I know they love me as much as I love them and try as hard as I can to give each one of them a second chance at true love. When you read my story, you’ll meet those guests and the unusual ways I introduced them to each other.
After hours of interviews with Mariah taking notes, for a human she wrote a pretty good book about me and my work.
I love humans, so it didn’t take long to discover I have a special talent for helping them fall in love.
2. Mariah, as the author of this book, why did you add Max to this romance?
MARIAH: That’s too easy. Max’s character is based on my own late dog also named Max. He loved everyone he met, including other animals, manatees, and dolphins, and did not have a mean bone in his body. He visited nursing homes where he was loving and kind to the elderly patients. His doggy smile made them smile, as did his hand kissing and tail wagging. Max loved kids and visited our local island rec center and summer day camp where he performed a magic show as Max the Magnificent just like the show in the book.
Left in a basket by the side of the road with his sister when he was but a few weeks old, my Max was rescued and cared for by our county Humane Society. I happened to be there on the first day he was placed in the adoption program. Max, I was told, was his happiest when he was surrounded by people. I held him for the first time when he was eight weeks old and as he snuggled in my arms, I knew I had adopted a smart, happy, and loving puppy.
At that time, I owned a video store on the beautiful island where we lived and served on the board of directors for a no-kill animal shelter. When a speaker from the shelter came to tell our local school kids about the importance of adopting a pet, Max served as his demonstration dog and afterwards the kids lined up to pet him. He had quite a long line of admirers and wagged his tail with each pet and hug.
Max came to my video store with me and positioned himself at the front counter facing the entrance so he could greet everyone who entered. What a hugger! What a lover! He was so cute, he modeled for my store ads and I do mean modeled. When he saw the camera pointed in his direction, he loved to pose.
I remember the first Sunday afternoon after he arrived home, we took him for a boat ride. The clouds opened and it poured all the way home. My mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and I used our beach towels to keep him dry. Max snuggled into them and smiled, because he knew he had us in the palm of his paw.
Another time I walked him along our seawall. He was about one year old then and was very aware of dolphin sounds and sightings. A dolphin suddenly surfaced near the wall, and Max leaned down to greet it. Their noses were so close they could have kissed. I wished I had my camera with me, but that beautiful picture will stay in my memory forever.
On Halloween Max always wore a costume to my store and received doggy treats from customers. He wagged his tail as he watched me drop candy into the kids’ trick-or-treat bags. His best costume, Count Dracula, was identical to the one described in the book, a black satin cape trimmed in red, which he also wore for his magic shows. As you can see, my Max was perfect for this story.
Max-Canine Concierge of Love Blurb:
Hi. I’m Max, a very smart but rebellious pup who flunked out of guide dog training because I love humans too much to follow any rules. I love every human I meet so much so, I want to help them especially with matters of the heart.
Because of my kind nature, I’m given a second chance at The Two Turtles Inn on Sanibel Island, FL. My pet dad and Innkeeper Nate adopted me not only to be his pet but to share with his guests as the island’s first canine concierge. I may not have followed any rules in school, but I follow my heart as I listen to guests confide in me about their broken hearts. I want to give them a second chance at love just like Nate gave me and discover I have a knack for guiding guests, like my new friend Dr. Aaron Swift, to romance even under the most unusual and often humorous circumstances.
Aaron’s fiancé, Beth, dumped him for his best man four weeks before their wedding. Since Aaron cancelled their honeymoon at the Inn too late to get his deposit back, he decides to use the time to heal his broken heart. He opens up to me on our daily walks, but his healing doesn’t begin until I find him to help a beautiful but injured divorcee. When Beth refuses to exit Aaron’s life, complications arise for the new lovebirds, but will I able to keep them together?
They are not the only ones who need my help. You’ll see when you read my whole story.
Thanks for listening. See you at The Two Turtles Inn!
3. I understand that all of your books feature pets.
MARIAH: The two most recent ones are Paws For Christmas and The Duchess’ Necklace.
The character of Sam in Paws For Christmas is based on my own dog “Sam” who looked just like the dog on the cover and acted like the Sam in the story.
Paws For Christmas Blurb:
It’s the holidays and Jessica Munroe seems destined for misery. Nonetheless she is trying to make the best of it. Her fiancé Jake, an emergency room doctor, dumped her for his nurse and just two weeks prior, she had to put her dog, her best friend Mazy, to sleep.
The pain of losing both the man she loved and her best friend has taken her to a new low. Jessica, determined not to stay down, is now hard at work trying to push through the holiday season by doubling up on Christmas lights and decorations she’s putting up outside her residence.
As Jessica works, a big brown scruffy dog appears in her yard and refuses to leave when she tries to shoo him away. He’s filthy, looks hungry, and seems like he needs help. A dog lover, Jessica takes him to her vet who discovers a metal bone shaped tag buried in his matted fur. The tag reveals his name, Sam, and a phone number to call if he is lost or injured.
Sam’s owner Trey Musgrove is in the hospital, the victim of a head-on collision. Now Jessica’s life is about to change forever thanks to Sam, this big brown scruffy lovable dog.
Side effects of reading Paws For Christmas are a happy heart, an uplifted spirit, new confidence in the future, and a smile on your face!
The Duchess’ Necklace Blurb:
The character of Dukey, Duchess Amelia’s very spoiled dog, is based on my best friend’s regal King Charles Spaniel Prince. An elegant and beautiful dog, Prince could steal a person’s heart as easily as the thief in this story stole The Duchess’ Necklace.
Amelia Augusta Ethrington, 18th century Duchess of Abbington, fourth in line to the English throne, was considered by society an old maid at thirty-two. She refused to marry and relinquish royal authority to a husband. Instead, she found romance in trysts with total strangers. The center of her attention at that time was a King Charles Spaniel named “Dukey,” who was the only male she ever wanted in her life.
Amelia’s sole entitlement to her duchy was an intricate and valuable necklace. An unscrupulous Time Traveler who wished to steal the jewels and sell them at future prices seduced her, caught her off guard, and snatched the necklace.
Amelia travelled to the future, with the aid of a gypsy seer, to find that scoundrel, kill him and retrieve her title. Things become a bit complicated after she meets a handsome shy museum appraiser sent to acquire the jewels for a client. Amelia is faced with the most difficult decision of her life. Should she follow her heart or regain her title and riches?
4. Where can readers find you and your books (along with Buy Links)?
MARIAH: You can email me, connect with me on social media, and learn more about my books on my website and Amazon Author page:
E-MAIL: MariahLynneAuthor@yahoo.com
MY WEBSITE: (with links to all booksellers that carry my books) www.MariahLynne.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Mariah-Lynne-295721153858612/
TWITTER: www.twitter@MariahLynne1
PINTEREST: HTTPS:// www.pinterest.com/MariahLynneAuthor/
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://is.gd/fI2fmc
MARCIA: Mariah—and Max!–thank you for being my June interviewees! I love discovering novels that feature dogs, and I look forward to reading your books, especially Max–Canine Concierge of Love!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
I’ve written 21 fiction books. I’ve written action/adventure with a heavy sensual romance focus, gay M/M stories, a trilogy with psychic elements, plus short stories, two cartoon shorts, movie screenplays, T.V. pilots, and non-fiction books. I wrote a sci/fi fantasy novella, which is high on the sexy heat level.
6. Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? Where did the idea come from?
I promote my books primarily in three ways: on social media, through my twice-monthly newsletter, and with Book Funnel. I’ve also used a few paid promotions, including the Fussy Librarian, Book Raid, Bargain Booksy, and Romance Devoured to promote special sales of my romance books. [Readers] can also join my newsletter through this link or via my website.
When Love Comes Home
Loyal and True, the first book in my Hearts of Caledonia Trilogy, is a historical romance set in ancient Scotland. The heroine, Barta, is the daughter of a Pictish chief. A blunder in judgment costs the life of her dearest companion, her wolfhound, Loyal. But the bond between them is so strong and unbreakable, Loyal finds a magical means to return to her, though not in any way she could have imagined.
I have always bonded deeply with my dogs, establishing attachments that keep us connected even when we’re far from one another physically. This, as I’ve found, can be good or bad, since it sets up a wonderfully close relationship but serves to spur things like separation anxiety in the pet. This story was something of an experiment. I asked myself (as authors tend to do) what if those bonds could reach beyond death? And since I’m convinced that a couple of my dogs have returned to me in subsequent doggie bodies, what if a deceased wolfhound could return, magically transformed into a man? Would the bonds still hold? Would they recognize each other? Would the love endure?
Two of my Buffalo Steampunk Adventures novels have won the N. N. Light Book Award, and my Scottish Historical, The Reiver’s Cub, won me a RONE award. My greatest honor, though, remains bringing enjoyment to my readers!
The latest novel in the Dawn of Humanity series—just published in October—is Natural Selection. It features a prehistoric dog named Ump and a Homotherium cat named Kit, both valued members of man’s tribe. Here’s the blurb for that book:
In my life, animals are valued and cherished. This is a picture of my beloved puppy, Casey:
I have not actually released my cat rescuer book yet. The novel, Way Past Crazy
The first novel, Crazy to Wed, takes place twenty-years later. The remainder of the novels kick off with the twentieth high school reunion of these women. At the reunion, one of the women dares the others to marry in twelve months or pay an embarrassing forfeit. The dare is accepted, and almost immediately, love is in the air! In each novel we get to know all of the “Crazy Eights” a bit better, but only focus on one love story per book.
Before the Crazy’s, my primary books were about four successful, if spoiled, rich boys from the suburbs of Chicago. I like writing about powerful men who get in their own way sometimes, and who need love to lead them in down the right path.
Damien Sullivan was done with the dark misdeeds of West Coast Society. He doesn’t have patience for their dirty games or the parade of submissives out to get His attention, and His collar. Until her, with her sun-fired hair, sweet fragrance and stunning turquoise eyes. This is the one promised to Him by the gypsy elder. She’s His angel, and He’ll move heaven and earth to make her His.
For years, I’ve written romance–mainly suspense or sweet–under my Tabitha Gibson pen name, including the Bodyguards, Inc. stories. Those novellas and short stories can be found at 
He didn’t expect to find her or the danger that followed. Can He keep her safe from the imminent darkness?
He made a mistake that could cost Him everything.
Heart’s Journey
Heart’s Desire is book one of the Heart’s Desire series. Here is the book blurb:
Blind Trust is a sensual thriller. FBI Agent Matthew Montagna joins Nicolas Hayes’ FBI team to investigate a series of bank robberies in Washington, DC, and its vicinity. Though he loves his work, he has trouble dealing with his past in Chicago, his criminal ex-wife, and the loss of his home and his friends—not to mention his dog, who moved in with the neighbors because Matthew couldn’t take him to DC. He’s unhappy about his entire situation and wishes for his old companion. Then he meets a dog owner in the building where he lives. Matthew is quickly enchanted with the dog, Bingo, and spends time in the neighbor’s apartment, not knowing that he’s in the center of a dangerous plot.
After three murders in the Washington, DC, vicinity, FBI Agents Hayes and Beckham are assigned to solve the case. Although the murders seem incoherent at first, it becomes clear that there are connections between them. It turns out that the murderer is far from having reached the end of his deadly list.
I also loved writing Chosen Brothers because I had the chance to write a criminal plot playing in a small town on a horse ranch. Nicolas can show that he’s able to go undercover, and he makes a new friend on the way.
4. How do you promote your books?