• Writers on Wednesday - Rose
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    Today for Writers on Wednesday we feature Iris Blobel and her new release In The Shadow of a Lie

    Today we feature Iris Blobel and her new novel – In The Shadow of a Lie.

    In the Shdow of a Lie new release banner

    Let me take you to New Zealand

    I’m happy to share with you another story which is set in NZ.

    If you love Australian / New Zealand romance, be sure to get your copy today!

    About IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE

    In the shdow of a Lie pull quote

    The discovery of her mother’s diaries unravels a secret which sends Lani on a journey to New Zealand …

    She lost her mother in an accident. Now, Lani Dekker is determined to meet the man who, according to her mother’s diaries, is her father. He’s not what she expected, a bit on the extravagant side, but she soon warms up to him, thanks no less to Dylan, her father’s neighbour. Despite her attraction to Dylan, she can’t figure out whether he’s a friend or foe.

    Dylan Harper is merely going through the daily motions after his wife died in a ski crash. That is, until his life is turned upside down by the arrival of his neighbour’s daughter. Their attraction is instant, even more so when they wake up in the same bed after an earthquake. However, it’s her accusation that his interest in her involves her father’s money rather than their mutual magnetism that derails their newfound bond.

    Will finding the truth about her parents be a chance for Lani and Dylan to overcome their differences?

    Get your copy of IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE today on Amazon

    What reviewers say about the story:

    5 stars:

    A beautiful plot line with very emotional characters.. The path to love is difficult and has lot of interesting turns for the characters.Loved the book and the leads.

    5 stars:

    Heartwarming story about love, forgiveness and acceptance. Lani’s grieving her Mother’s death and trying to cope, when her grandpa opens up and tells her about an untruth, lie. She finds her lost father, unbeknownst to him he even has a daughter. Toby, Lani’s birth father, never married or loved another woman after her mother. Toby’s neighbor, Dylan, and long time friend had lost his wife after only 2 years of marriage and he is still missing her when Dylan finds Lani in the stairwell of Toby’s home. Lani’s mother’s belief in memories and forgiveness helps Lani move on in forgiveness toward her Grandpa, accepting and loving her Dad, Toby and loving Dylan for who he is.

    Add IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE to your Goodreads TBR !

    In the Shdow of a Lie cover

    Where to find Iris:

    Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bQ68rL

    Website http://www.irisblobel.com/

    Blog http://www.irisblobel.com/blog

    Twitter https://twitter.com/_iris_b

    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel

    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel

    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Iris-Blobel/e/B00FNFP3LI/

    Other Online Bookstores https://books2read.com/irisblobel

     

  • New Release Friday
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    New release Friday for May 2022

     

    New Release Friday

    Time for a new release Friday post.

    I’ve missed a month or two but now it’s time for New Release Friday again. Check out the books by some of my author friends. The heat levels vary, so make sure you read the blurbs before you buy. These are a mix of established and new authors and pen names but they all have one thing in common – they all love new readers fiding them.

    Hitched to the Bad Boy

    Hitched to the Bad Boy: A second chance secret marriage romance (Hitched at first sight Book 1)

    Urgently needed! A fast marriage and a reputation overhaul for six gorgeous bachelors out to impress. Happy ever afters unintentionally included.

    Elle

    I’m the girl who did everything right but somehow it’s all gone wrong. I’m a newly divorced, single mom and make-up saleswoman in Vegas for a convention. While I’m away, I’m trying not to think about the fact I need to be married by my birthday in order to keep ownership of a bank that’s been in my family for generations. A bank I might not even want if my ex wasn’t trying to take it from under me.

    I’m not sure what I expected to find in Vegas, but it was definitely not Rapahel, my first love who left town on his Harley and never looked back. He’s hotter than I remember and after a night of drinking and reminiscing, I find myself hitched to the bad boy from my past.

    When I get back home, I expect Raphael to serve me papers, not come into town like a knight on a metal steed looking for a way to help me stick it to my ex and a second chance for us.

    Raphael

    Elle Chase was always too good for me and too soft-hearted for her own good. No way she’d have taken a chance on me back then otherwise. But I’m not some broke ass kid anymore and I want a chance to prove to Elle, our hometown and the production company who is looking to make a television show with me, that I’m not that guy anymore.

    Our chance encounter in Vegas might have been crazy and I know she thinks I’ll walk away again but the woman needs me. Plus, spending time with her and her kid is no hardship and the TV people want family values.

    I’m definitely taking a gamble but if we can pull this off both of us win.

    And if I can win Elle’s heart again along the way, so much the better.

    Getting hitched at first sight has never been so enticing.

    Get it here

    Hitched to Her Best Friend

    Hitched to her Best Friend: Hitched at First Sight 2

    Urgently needed! A fast marriage and a reputation overhaul for six gorgeous bachelors out to impress. Happy ever afters unintentionally included.

    Maddie

    One weekend in Las Vegas. A bit of fun on the tables, cocktails, and a mini high school reunion between best friends. What could possibly go wrong?

    My plane was delayed. My luggage got lost. Our hotel booking was cancelled by mistake… on top of that our friends drop out until it’s just me and Kyle alone in Vegas. What a start to my best friend’s birthday celebrations, right?

    You’d think it would be easy to find two rooms in a place with more than 150,000 hotel rooms. But not this weekend! A massive world record attempt has snatched up every available room. There’s only one way to get a room in Las Vegas: Get hitched!

    I don’t want to give up our weekend. It’s the first time we’ve seen each other in eight years. And after too many hours of searching, and too many shots in the hotel bar, getting hitched to my best friend feels like a no brainer. So is the wedding night that follows. No one will ever know, right?

    Wrong?! The youngest granddaughter of one of the world’s most influential retail moguls can’t get drunk and hitched in Sin City without ending up on every front page. So, what happened in Vegas is now a big fat fake marriage with my career and reputation on the line.

    Except, Kyle excels at being the perfect husband. He excels at inducing butterflies, heart flutters, secret smiles… my brain won’t let me fall for my best friend, I’m too smart for that. But it might be a little too late to save my heart!

    Kyle

    The boy next door. Co-conspirator. Fellow adventure. Partner in crime. Beater-upper of bullies—and dumbass boyfriends—the giver of compliments and self-confidence. That’s me. I’m the reliable best friend. But I want so much more!

    Yet, after eight years in the navy, fighting on the front line and staring down the enemy, I’m still too afraid to tell Maddie I love her. I’ve always loved her. So, when we end up drunk, hitched, and on the front page of every major newspaper and magazine, faking it with Maddie is almost like a dream come true.

    Fooling our family and friends doesn’t sit well with me, but I’ll do it to protect Maddie’s career and her family’s reputation. I will uproot my life in Nebraska and move into her apartment in LA. I’ll be the perfect husband for the cameras because I love her.

    I’m not faking how I feel. I’m just not hiding it anymore. For the first time in my life, I have the girl of my dreams in my arms, and my bed, and the happily ever after I’ve always wanted. I’d be a fool to let that slip through my fingers. And I, Kyle Carter, am no fool. Look out Maddie, the battle for your heart is not one I’m prepared to lose!

    Getting hitched at first sight has never been so enticing.

    Get it here

    Preserving the evidence

    Preserving the Evidence (Hart of Texas Murder Mysteries Book 2) Kindle Edition


    When amateur baker, and now amateur sleuth, Rosie Hart finds herself embroiled in another mystery in rural Airlie Falls, Texas, she can’t believe her bad luck. Soon the town is reeling from a murder, an unidentified body, a late mayoral challenge, missing town money, and a strange group of socialites gathered at a mansion out of town.

    With so many of her new friends suspected of wrongdoing, Rosie can’t sit on the sidelines any longer. She’s convinced these strange occurrences are connected, but she’s running out of time to prove how. She’ll need to unmask a murderer before there’s another body to add to the tally.

    Snooping around undercover is harder than it looks, and Rosie will be lucky to get out of this one without more casualties than a batch of burned Buried Treasure Cookies.

    Get it here

    Wasted

    Wasted: A Rylie Cooper Mystery (Rylie Cooper Mysteries Book 8)

    A week ago, Rylie thought she’d be on her honeymoon with the love of her life, sipping fruity drinks, and soaking up the sun. 

    Never did she think she’d be on a beautiful island solving a murder. 

    Now, women are turning up dead at the resort and the authorities seem to be covering up the truth—that the deaths aren’t accidental, but murders. 

    Can Rylie solve the mystery before anyone else is murdered? 

    Get it here

     

  • Karen McCulloch release week banner
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    Q&A with Karen McCulloch to launch Falling for the Deputy

    I’m doing Q&A’s with all the Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge Authors and this week it’s Karen McCullough’s turn.

    Happy release week for Falling for the Deputy by Karen McCullough

    3. What made you decide to write about this particular hero?

    As a long-time mystery writer as well doing romance and fantasy, I’ve spent a fair amount of time around police and other law enforcement officers. U like and admire them. Most of them are good people, trying their best to help others and keep peace. I was intrigued by the idea of a man moving from the fast-paced life of a police officer in a large city (Charlotte) to a small town to become the Chief Deputy.  Why would he do that and how would it affect him?

    2. If you could spend an hour in Willow Ridge where would you go?

     Latte Da!  Love coffee and it seems like a warm and friendly place. Plus Georgia’s pastries…

    3. What did you enjoy most about writing this story?

    Pretty much everything. The heroine of the book is partly modeled after my sister, who is a banker, but not in a small Southern town. I knew that both my hero and heroine were coming off heart-breaking losses and that recovering from those and being open to a new relationship wouldn’t be easy. And of course I threw a few other obstacles in their way as well. But I also brought in the stray dog Mookie, and he tried to steal the show, along with my heroine’s heart.  Once I had the basic idea of what would happen, the book almost wrote itself.

    4. What’s your favorite thing about writing small town romance?

    As best I can remember, this is actually my first small-town romance and it’s required a considerable change of mindset. I grew up in a suburb of New York City and have lived in cities (or their suburbs) all my life. My books generally have urban settings. However, my husband is from a very small town in South Carolina, and we’ve spent enough time there and in other small towns in the southeast that I’ve been able at times to immerse myself in that culture and get the feel for it. There are a lot of things to like about writing in a small town setting – a warmth and friendliness to the people that you often don’t find in larger cities; the fact that everyone knows everyone else and their history;  and a simpler, more down-to-earth culture.

    5. Are you or have you ever been in a bookclub yourself?

    No, but I know people who are. I’ve been tempted to join because, of course, I love to read and do it a lot, but I think an author has very different perspectives on books and I’m not sure it would be helpful to other readers.

    Falling for the Deputy

    Falling for the Deputy: A Small-Town Southern Romance (Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge Book 4) 

    Can a group of hopeless romantics finally find love? Or are they destined always to be a bridesmaid and never the bride?

    After losing at love twice, Barbara Wilton needs a change, some place far from her home in Boston, so she takes a position as manager of a small branch bank in Willow Ridge, Georgia. She’s done with relationships and ready to concentrate on her career. The experience in Willow Ridge will help her move forward in the banking industry, but she doesn’t plan to stay there permanently. Nevertheless, an invitation to join the Hopeless Romantics book club, a position on a planning committee, helping a little league team that needs coaching, and being adopted by a stray dog begin to wind her into the community.

    Chris Harper was a police officer in Charlotte until his marriage fell apart. With his mother and elderly aunt in deteriorating health, Chris returns home to Willow Ridge to help them and takes a job as chief deputy to the local sheriff. The wound left by his failed marriage is still raw and, despite his mother’s nagging, he’s not interested in pursuing any relationship, even with the attractive new bank manager.

    Fate, helped by a few local residents, conspires to push Barbara and Chris together. They meet during a false alarm at the bank and then he assists her with a car problem. But when his aunt receives a foreclosure notice on her house, Chris is angry with Barbara for not warning him that his aunt was behind on her payments.

    She agrees to help him work out the problem with the bank, but the deeper issues between them keep flaring. Can two wary, wounded people learn to trust again and find happiness together? Find out in this sweet, second chance, enemies to lovers romance.

    The Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge series are sweet, small-town contemporary romances. Each book is a standalone and can be read individually or as part of the series.

    Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge series
    Book 1: Falling for the Boss
    Book 2: Falling for the Fireman
    Book 3: Falling for the Doctor
    Book 4: Falling for the Deputy
    Book 5: Falling for the Hockey Player
    Book 6: Falling for the Single Dad
    Book 7: Falling for the Farmer
    Book 8: Falling for the Scotsman

    Grab it here now.

    See my previous Q&A with Cindy Ray Hale here.

  • Blog

    Travel Thursday – we’re off to Boldt Castle with Jean C. Gordon

    Travel Thursday

    Today we take a journey with author Jean C. Gordon to Boldt Castle on the US/Candian Border and celebrate her new release Trusting  His Heart.

    With spring and romance in the air, what could be more romantic than a trip to a castle on a heart-shaped island? I know of one that fits the bill ~ Boldt Castle ~ which isn’t TOO far from me. I’ll admit right off that I’ve never actually been to Heart Island, but I’ve long meant to visit it. 😀 So let’s go.

    We’re headed west from Albany, NY, first on the Thruway (I-90) before we turn north toward Alexandria Bay and the Thousand Islands. The Thousand Islands are a group of more than 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River, straddling the border of the U.S. and Canada.

    While we’re driving, here’s the romantic/tragic history of the castle. In the late 1800s, George C. Boldt, millionaire owner of the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full-size Rhineland castle in Alexandria Bay, on Heart Island. The creation of the grand structure was a display of his love for his wife, Louise.

    Beginning in 1900, 300 workers including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six-story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, Alster tower (children’s playhouse), and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.

    But in January 1904, tragedy struck. Louise died suddenly. Boldt telegraphed the island and commanded the workers to immediately stop all construction. Broken hearted, Boldt couldn’t imagine his dream castle without his beloved Louise. He never returned to the island, leaving behind the structure as a monument of his love.

    For more than 70 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to decay and vandalism. Then the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property and renovated it to be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

    Heart Island is accessible from the U.S. and Canada only by a tour boat or personal pleasure craft. We’re taking our personal pleasure craft. Feel that river spray. Arriving at the island’s docks, we’re off to the castle and our virtual tour starting with the Alster Tower, followed by the Castle itself, Dove-coat, Entry Arch, Garden and Grounds, and Power House: TAKE THE VIRTUAL TOUR.

    What did you think? I can’t wait to see it in person. Maybe this summer . . .

    And while we’re in the Adirondack Mountains, I invite you to take a side trip east to Paradox Lake in my new release Trusting His Heart

    After being widowed and subsequently discovering her husband’s infidelities and shaky business practices, Dr. Anne O’Conner Howard is restarting her life by teaching an environmental program at North County Community College and maintaining her company Green Spaces Environmental Engineering, LLC. The last thing Anne expects is for the boy who took her to Junior Prom to walk into her office as a prospective student.

    Neal Hazard had planned to go to college to become an environmental engineer, but instead he became a single dad at 17 and raised a terrific daughter named Autumn. With Autumn in a nursing program and doing well, electrician Neal has left the National Guard and is going back to school to finish his dream. Discovering that Anne is his student advisor is a shock and takes a little getting used to.

    Neither Neal nor Anne’s lives turned out as planned, but both are charting new directions. Then an unexpected tragedy throws Anne’s world into chaos. Neal is a strong shoulder to lean on as Anne once again reevaluates her future. Will these unexpected life changes allow them to discover what their hearts truly want?

    Welcome to Paradox Lake

    Any fan of sweet romance will love settling into the stories of small-town love in the Paradox Lake Sweet Romance series. Grab your tea or coffee, settle into your favorite chair, and be swept away into the cozy Adirondack town where complex characters navigate challenging situations as they find their way to love. Whether it’s love at first blush, old flames reuniting, or second chance romance, you’ll find pure reading enjoyment and satisfy your craving for sweet, wholesome romance.

    Part of an ongoing series full of familiar faces, each story will stand on its own. With novel and novella lengths available, there’s something for everyone. Paradox Lake is written by USA Today Bestselling sweet romance author, Jean C. Gordon, who’s penned stories for the No Brides Clubs Series, Indigo Bay Series, and Harlequin Love Inspired, as well as for multiple sweet romance collections.

    BUY: Amazon | Apple Books | B&N | Kobo | Google Books

     

    Jean C. Gordon’s writing is a natural extension of her love of reading. From that day in first grade when she realized t-h-e was the word “the,” she’s been reading everything she can put her hands on. She and her college-sweetheart husband tried the city life in Los Angeles, but quickly returned home to their native small-town Upstate New York, where she sets many of her books. She and her husband share a 175-year-old farmhouse in Upstate New York with their daughter and her family. Their son lives nearby.

    Contact Jean on her website at JeanCGordon.com.

  • Blog

    Let’s talk french cooking with Carolyn Eychenne, author of Sunrise over Paris

    Taste of Tuesday

    It’s Taste of Tuesday and today we’re off to Paris with

    Carolyn Eychenne, author of Sunrise over Paris

    Many of the readers of my novel Sunrise over Paris have written that they thought the daube in chapter 5 sounded good.  If you feel that way too, wait until you try the recipe below:  8-hour lamb.  Mine is bubbling away right now—we’re on the home stretch of the 8-hour marathon—and my house smells wonderful.  The last time I checked to see if there is enough cooking liquid, I sampled a little piece of meat and it, too, was wonderful.

    You might be thinking that 8 hours is a huge investment for a meal.  It’s not.  Not for the French and not for Stacey, the main character of my novel.  Food is an important part of Sunrise over Paris. Some of the key moments of the story occur over a meal: the fateful dinner in one of the opening scenes where we see Stacey’s, the heroine’s, difficult relationship with her husband and teenage children, the brief moment of harmony while dining on daube, the lunch during which Stacey watches the results of one of her revenge plots, and the luxurious brunch she shares with her two kids as they create a new, stronger, more adult bond.

    Stacey is a foodie, of course, but this is not an oddity in France.  Food is a big deal here.  The French invest a lot of time and energy in eating, at special holiday meals of course, but also every day.  Art de vivre, living so well it becomes an artform, does include everyday meals.  Cooked fresh when possible.  Always seasonal. Always balanced.

    What makes for a balanced meal à la française?

    First of all, three courses.  The starter (interestingly, it’s called l’entrée), the main dish (the entrée in English!), dessert.  Sometimes, there is cheese.  Not every day, but when there is, it comes between the main course and dessert.

    There are somewhere between 1,000 and 1,600 different varieties of cheese: cheese from cow, goat, and ewe’s milk are all standard fare.  Some are hard cheeses, some soft and crumbly, others very fresh and creamy.  Some are inoculated with mold (yes, that’s what gives Roquefort cheese its distinctive flavor), some are rolled in herbs, and others have inclusions, like a beautiful Brillat Savarin with truffles which I discovered only a year ago, despite living here for over 30 years.

    Until then, I didn’t really like truffles.  Now… Wow!

    As said earlier, the French don’t have cheese at the end of every meal. And they don’t have very much at a time.  While it’s completely acceptable to have seconds of the other courses, it’s considered rude to have seconds of cheese.  If you do, it’s a way of saying that your hostess hasn’t given you enough to eat.

    Like cheese, dessert isn’t an everyday thing either. At least, not the macarons or petits fours or éclairs au chocolat you’re thinking about right now.  Most days, dessert is a yogurt or a piece of fruit.  But it’s still called ‘dessert’ which can be disappointing for some of us.

    Entrée literally means entrance.  The same word is used for your front door, which makes it a logical name for the starter in a meal.  In traditional French cuisine, a salad is fine for every day, but not something you would serve to company.  Depending on your guests, you might prepare a terrine with a little salad on the side, some lox with buttered toast and lemon wedges, or vol au vent, a little basket made from puff pastry in which you serve snails or shellfish in a creamy bechamel sauce.

    By the way, soupe à l’oignon with its croutons and cheese melting on top is not as common as you might think. I’ve had it many times in restaurants, but never in anyone’s home other than my own.  And, since I’m American-born, that might not count.

    After the starter, the main dish.  This can look like a typical American meal—meat or fish, cooked vegetable and rice, pasta or potato.  Or this can be a plat en sauce, a stew-like dish, which combines the meat and vegetable in one dish which is then served over rice or pasta.  The daube which Stacey cooks in Sunrise over Paris is an example of this.  You might also know boeuf bourguignon or blanquette de veau.  One of my favorite meals is pot-au-feu, literally pot in the fire, because it used to be made in a large cast-iron dutch oven in the coals of the family fireplace. Several different cuts of beef, leeks, carrots, turnips, onions and potatoes all cook together for several hours, creating an amazing broth which you eat as the starter before having the meat and vegetable along with kosher salt, pickles and Dijon mustard for the main course.

    Second only to 8-hour lamb.

    Which brings me back to the recipe.  Please try—and let me know how you like it.  If you overcook it, forgetting it for 11 hours instead of 8, you can always say that you preferred the French author Colette’s recipe to mine! 

    By Carolyn Eychenne

    The recipe:  8-hour lamb

    1 leg of lamb (about 5 pounds)

    3 carrots (I use 4 – 5)

    3 onions

    2 small leeks (I use 4)

    ½ celeriac

    3 cloves

    1 “bouquet garni” (parsley, bay leaf, thyme, celery branch)

    1 entire head of garlic

    10 peppercorns

    2 tablespoons salt

     

    Brown the leg of lamb in a cast iron Dutch oven.  Take out, reserve.

    On the bottom of the Dutch oven, place all the vegetables peeled and chopped into 1-2” sized pieces. Add the garlic, bouquet garni and seasonings. Put the leg of lamb back on top.

    Add water to cover the vegetables but only just touching the lamb.

    Cover and simmer for 8 hours, checking every so often that there is enough liquid. Add if necessary.

    To serve:  Remove the lamb and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Remove the vegetables and place in a strainer over the Dutch oven (the idea is to catch the cooking juices). Handle them carefully so they retain their shape.

    Increase the temperature under the Dutch oven to bring the cooking juices to a boil. Reduce.

    Serve the leg of lamb covered in this sauce with the vegetables on the side. The lamb is so tender, you might have a hard time cutting it!

    sunrise over paris

    Sunrise Over Rise Blurb:

    What would you do if you found out your husband was cheating on you?
    When Stacey Dupont, an American in Paris, learns that her French husband has been cheating, her happy life crumbles and obsession begins.  Stalking and revenge lead to surprising results!  With Paris as the backdrop and the River Seine playing a main role, Sunrise over Paris follows Stacey on her surprising, emotional, and sometimes zany journey of personal discovery across the City of Light.

    Get it here

     You can learn more about Carolyn here: 
    Facebook 
    Instagram 
    GoodReads

    www.carolyneychenne.com

     

    About Carolyn

    Carolyn Eychenne is an author of fiction and non-fiction works. Sunrise over Paris is her first novel but not the first book she has published, the other being a French-language book about digital platforms. It led her back to her true love, writing.

    Not quite “an American in Paris,” Carolyn Eychenne has lived most of her adult life in the suburbs of Paris, after growing up in southern California.

    Note from Monique: Please comment below and let me know if you made Carolyn’s recipe or what your favorite French meal is.

  • Writers on Wednesday
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    Writers on Wednesday with Shail Rajan

    Writers on Wednesday

    Today for Writers on Wednesday we have a Q&A with debut author Shail Rajan

    Shail rajanShail is a contemporary women’s fiction writer and the author of The Summer Breeze, her debut novel which celebrates the role family, friendships, food, and falling in love play in our everyday lives. Shail lives in the Bay Area with her husband and three wonderful, noisy, mischievous children. When she is not writing and reading, she serves as the president of a non-profit, cooks nonstop, tackles the occasional DIY project, and obsesses over her vegetable garden. Don’t be surprised if you hear your stomach growling while reading her books because Shail is a serious foodie and often includes vivid descriptions of the food her characters are eating. If you feel the urge to cook something up, she often shares her recipes on her website and social media!

    1. Why do you write in the genre, you do?

    I’ve always been drawn to stories about strong women taking control of their lives and doing it with grace, kindness, and humour. I love stories which center around new beginnings and second chances. My writing contemporary women’s fiction is just a natural extension of what I love to read.

    1. When did you take up writing?

    I started writing as a way to pass the time back in 2003. Since then, The Summer Breeze and other partially completed manuscripts have been waiting patiently on my laptop. At the end of 2020, I finally mustered up the courage to send my first book baby out into the world!

    1. How important is setting/place in your writing?

    It’s always been very important to me for my readers to be able to vividly imagine setting/place throughout my books. What I wasn’t prepared for was how it would resonate with them. In so many reviews and so much of the feedback I’ve received, people have appreciated the visual imagery I’ve created. It’s a great feeling.

    1. Do you have a favourite character (s) in your current novel?

    Callie, the female protagonist in The Summer Breeze, is my absolute favorite. She’s kind, independent, flawed, funny, a foodie, and unstoppable. I think there’s something inherently relatable about a woman who is so multi-dimensional – like so many of us.

    1. Do you have a schedule for writing?

    I’ve always been an early bird and usually wake up a couple of hours before the rest of my family. I try to take advantage of the quite time and focus on my writing in the mornings. I’d love to be able to do more during the day, but it’s been challenging with three kids learning remotely. Once they’re back in school full-time, I think I’ll be able to dedicate even more time creating these stories and characters that I absolutely love.

    1. Are you a plotter or someone who tends to wing it?

    When I started out on my writing journey, I tried to wing it. However, I quickly realized I needed to be more of a plotter because I was writing over such a long span of time (years!) that I found myself forgetting details about certain characters and events. Now, since I have committed myself to chasing this dream, I’m writing at a much quicker pace and I’m able to wing it because I can get fully emerged in the story.

    1. Can you name three of four of your current favourite books?

    I recently finished reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins and Know My Name by Chanel Miller. Both books moved me in different ways, but both educated me about journeys vastly different from my own. Anyone who loves to read knows this is one of the best things about books: the ability to engender empathy for the lives of others.

    For me, American Dirt was a page turner from start to finish. Whenever I had to put it down to do something else, I was eager to get back to it to learn what was coming next. I found myself feeling the stress, anxiety, fear, and hope of the characters throughout the book.

    Know My Name literally pried my eyes open. Learning about the experience of sexual assault through the eyes of the victim – starting with the days and hours leading up to an assault, the actual assault, the response of first responders immediately after, the fear of telling family and friends, the trial and subsequent appeals, and of course, the emotional upheaval that the victim and her family face – was truly an emotional education. Did it make me feel uncomfortable? Yes, incredibly so. Will I have my children read it when they’re older? Most definitely.

    There are also two books that I always have on my nightstand. The first is Pride and Prejudice because I absolutely love everything about Jane Austen, from her writing style, to her description of setting, to her wonderful female characters. And of course, Mr. Darcy.

    The second is A Town Like Alice by Nevile Shute. I came across this book years ago and loved it so much that my husband managed to find a first edition copy which I have read and re-read numerous times. There is something so magical for me in the emotional journey of the main character Jean Paget.

    Note from Monique: A Town Like Alice is also one of my favorite books!!!

    1. Can you tell me a little bit about what you are working on now?

    I’m working on two projects right now, and I’m so excited about both of them!

    The first is book #2 in The Summer Breeze series where readers will be able to catch up with all their favorite characters from The Summer Breeze Bed and Breakfast! Callie will continue her unsuccessful attempts to not meddle in her guests’ lives, eat even more mouth-watering food, and try to keep her head on straight when Nick is around. Two weddings and a catastrophe will be the backdrop to Callie’s life in the beautiful lakeside town of Seneca Springs.

    My second projects is a romantic suspense novel that I’m having a the best time researching and writing. Stay tuned for more info on how small town life takes a dark turn when a rock star comes to Sycamore Ridge!

    1. What advice would you give to a fledgling writer to assist them on their journey?

    Do NOT stop. Write every chance you get and be prepared for bumps and detours along the way. I started writing The Summer Breeze in 2003. Take a minute to let that sink in! It took me 18 years to put my dream back at the top of my to-do list and make it happen. But I’m here now, and I’m having the best time ever!

    The Summer Breeze

    The Summer Breeze

    Tired of her fast-paced life in NYC, Callie Williams leaves her successful career and demanding fiancé behind and makes a life-changing decision to open a bed & breakfast in the lakeside town of Seneca Springs. Navigating the complexities of small-town life, Callie forges lifelong friendships, eats more than her fair share of delicious food, and tries not to meddle in the lives of her guests. The only thing hindering her newfound happiness is the attraction she feels for Nick, a rough-around-the-edges construction worker who is determined to get under Callie’s skin.

    Buy Links:

    https://bit.ly/TheSummerBreezebyShailRajan

    Social Links:

    Website: https://www.shailrajan.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shailrajanauthor/

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20957911.Shail_Rajan

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shailrajanauthor

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShailRajan

  • Blog

    Writers on Wednesday with Renee Dahlia author of The Shipwrecked Earl’s Bride

    Writers on Wednesday - Rose

    This week for Writers on Wednesday we have a Q&A with Renee Dahlia author of new release The Shipwrecked Earl’s Bride

    Author Renee DahliaAbout Renee

    Renée Dahlia is an unabashed romance reader who loves feisty women and strong, clever men. Her books reflect this, with a side note of awkward humour.

    1.What was the inspiration for your current novel, The Shipwrecked Earl’s Bride?

    Our family booked a trip to Italy last year but had to cancel due to the pandemic. It was a frustrating process, as we’d saved up for a couple of years for the trip, and didn’t end up getting refunds until months after the trip was cancelled. This novella came from a need to do some travelling! I imagined an Earl on his way home from a Grand Tour getting shipwrecked on a Spanish beach, and it just fell into place from there.

    2. Why do you write in the genre you do?

    I write both historical and contemporary romances, across a range of heat levels and pairings. Why? Because I write to entertain myself and I don’t like feeling restricted to one time period or place. My ideas are often chaotic before they become books. They come from little pieces of conversations that I overhear, or non-fiction that I’m reading, and a whole bunch of other places. I keep all the ideas in a big file and let them kind of roll around for a while until they form enough of a story to become a book. All my books are listed on my website with heat levels and pairing type.

    3. When did you take up writing?

    My first book, To Charm a Bluestocking, was published in 2017. I’ve written non-fiction for about a decade prior to that, mostly magazine articles. Oddly, I didn’t want to be a writer when I left school, and studied science instead. I fell into writing almost accidentally when I was asked to write a series of articles that explained statistical results to non-mathematicians.

    4. How important is setting/place in your writing?

    Not very! Description is my least favourite part of writing. My first drafts are mostly dialogue with a few notes, and I add the descriptions later.

    5. Do you have a favourite character (s) in your current novel?

    I’m fickle! My favourite is always the one I’m writing right now! In my novella, The Shipwrecked Earl’s Bride, the heroine Sofia is a Spanish fisherman’s daughter who has taught herself to read English from books washed up on their beach. Her family supplement their income with things they find from shipwrecks, and they dismiss her need for reading. Reading shows her the world, and when Rupert washes up on her beach, she takes the chance to leave. When I first started to write, I imagined her as quite aspirational, but as I wrote, she turned out to be more empathetic and unsure about the decision to leave.

    6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?

    Read a lot. Read in the genre you want to write in, so you understand what readers love about it, and better yet, write the genre that you love to read because then that understanding comes naturally.

    7. Do you have a schedule for writing?

    Yes. I have a spreadsheet that I’ve designed that tracks both my daily word count and my writing schedule by book.

    8. Are you a plotter or someone who tends to wing it?

    Somewhere in the middle. I like to have a good idea of where I’m going, so I set out the book’s basic plot with a few one liners that indicate the emotional arc for the two characters, then I just let the dialogue go where it feels natural. Sometimes I end up in places that I didn’t intend, and have to adjust either the dialogue or the vague plot notes, but that doesn’t happen often.

    9. Can you name three of four of your current favourite books?

    I’ve just finished reading Talia Hibbert’s Brown sisters series which is really adorable. My favourite historical novels are Olivia Waite’s The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics and Courtney Milan’s Duchess War. I adore Alexis Hall’s writing – the characterisation in Glitterland is outstanding. How can anyone pick just four books?

    10. Can you tell me a little bit about what you are working on now?

    I’m currently writing a medium heat contemporary lesbian romance series set in a Burlesque club in London.

    11. What advice would you give to a fledgling writer to assist them on
    their journey?

    Read and write. Practice will make you better.

    The Shipwrecked Earl’s Bride

    Blurb:

    LORD RUPERT STANMORE was banished to the continent for a grand tour after being caught kissing his best friend, Lord Benburgh. Two years later and life back in England has caught up to him. His father died recently and now he’s the latest Earl of Stanmore. On the way home, his ship is wrecked in a storm, and he washes up on a beach in Spain, only to be rescued by a beautiful woman. As the Earl, he has an obligation to marry. He’d rather be hung for sodomy than allow his mother to choose his bride, and who better to annoy his proper and distant mother than a poor foreigner as a bride? He plots for Sofia to fall in love with him, not expecting to fall for her.

     

    SOFIA LUCIANA RIAL is the only daughter of a fisherman in Spain. She taught herself to read English from books washed up on their beach, a skill her widowed Father sees as pointless. In his opinions, she should spend all, not most, of her time doing domestic work. When a man washes up on the beach near their cottage, she realises he might be her ticket out of poverty. She sets about to make him fall in love with her so he can take her to England where she will never again have to worry about where her next meal will come from. Only her plan fails when she falls in love with him. But how can she convince him that her love is real?

     

     

    You can learn more about Renee here: 
    Twitter
    Facebook 
    romance.com.au
    Instagram 
    BookBub

     

  • Blog

    Today we welcome Louise Reynolds author of Miss Valentine’s Love Emporium for a Taste of Tuesday blog post

    2/4/2019

    Taste of Tuesday

    Miss Valentine's Love Emporium - CoverThanks for your welcome, Monique. It’s lovely to be here.

    When my thoughts turn to Valentine’s Day the first thing I think of is roses. But food always figures highly. Magazines are full of what to cook, more pink recipes than you can shake a stick at, and suggestions for the most romantic restaurants to dine at.

    There’s no doubt that food and sex, and by extension love, are inextricably linked. The experience of falling in love is tactile, using all the senses. Our scent receptors are as open to pheromones as to the aroma of beautifully cooked food. Both make our mouths water. And it’s unsurprising that we describe desirable physical characteristics in terms of food: peach or strawberry coloured lips, chestnut coloured hair, almond shaped eyes and cheeks like apples.

    On Valentine’s Day I enjoy cooking something special at home rather than dining out. I’ll push beyond my usual efforts, choose a special recipe or two and use the best ingredients I can find. I’ll pull out my best china and linen, light candles and make sure the table looks pretty. All of this shows care and love.

    Food abounds in my sweet Valentine’s Day novella, Miss Valentine’s Love Emporium. Lexie Valentine has been taken in and protected by the small town of Carter’s Crossing and on this special day each year she expresses her love for the townspeople by throwing a huge party in the vacant emporium she rents as a pop-up. In doing this she demonstrates her belief in love in the face of a traumatic past experience.
    Ethan Taylor is a world-weary big city divorce lawyer with a jaded view of love but he has been roped into taking his elderly grandmother to Lexie’s party. He arrives at the party, carrying his grandmother’s contribution:

    “At one end of the counter two tall stacks of mismatched floral plates were flanked by small buckets of cutlery, the old fashioned kind with bone handles buffed shiny with age. Piles of old linen napkins in cream and pastel shades, carefully starched and ironed, sat beside them. He placed the pavlova on the counter together with the other offerings. He’d forgotten the largesse of a country gathering. Not for them the large white platters holding wispy herbal fronds and miniscule pieces of food that he was served at smart city functions. The counter groaned with plates loaded with cakes and sandwiches, fruit platters and cheese boards.”

    May Valentine’s Day bring you flowers and delicious food but most of all love and happiness!
    You can follow Lexie and Ethan on their journey by selecting your favourite retailer here: https://books2read.com/u/49P6gM

    Louise ReynoldsAuthor bio
    Louise Reynolds is an author of contemporary romantic fiction.
    On receiving her library card at the age of six she borrowed her first book, an illustrated story about onions. Over the years she progressed from vegetables to romance. It was a logical step to take her love of romance novels to the next stage and tell her own stories.
    Set in both the city and Australia’s outback, her books have been described as warm and witty feel-good reads.

    Let’s connect on social media:
    https://www.facebook.com/LouiseReynoldsRomanceAuthor/
    https://www.instagram.com/louisereynoldswriter/
    www.louisereynolds.net


  • Blog

    Joanne Dannon joins us for this week’s Musical Monday blog post

    1/27/2019

    Musical Monday
    Musical Monday with Australian author Joanne Dannon
    Thanks to Monique for inviting me to her Musical Monday blog.

    I love music and dancing but my favourite music is jazz and swing. I’ve always had a thing for songs by Gershwin and Berlin. It must be the romantic in me.

    As an author, I’ve always written the books I want to read, rather than “writing to market”. I don’t write a book and use a trope simply because it’s popular and everyone else is doing it.

    I love the “opposites attract” tropes for my books, because it happens with love. When you fall for the person you don’t expect to. Often we have preconceived notions of who we want to be with, and sometimes the person that makes us believe in love is the person we least expect it to be.

    At the time of writing Kissing under the Spotlight, Michael Bublé was in Melbourne and I went to his concert (of course!!) and it made me think…what would happen if I met him? I’d probably dissolve in to a pool of giggles and act like a complete tosser around him because I’m a huge fan.

    I used that as the basis for my book. What would my heroine do if she came face to face with the world famous singer she has a major crush on? And ta-da, I wrote the book which has a fairy-tale ending.

    And because all awesome women need a fab BFF, I gave my heroine a friend. But at the end of the book, I couldn’t let my characters go…so I wrote another book, and then more after.

    I have book one of my Kissing Down Under series for free, and I hope you download and enjoy this romance between a superstar and an ordinary gal (like you and me).

    If you like handsome crooners, then Kissing under the Spotlight is for you. Here’s an excerpt –

    “Yes. We agreed our kiss was a mistake—”
    He snorted. “I never said it was a mistake.”
    The speech continued, with rapid vagueness. “Well, whatever. You’re Alex Jackson and I’m Violet McKenzie. You’re a somebody and I’m a nobody. You’ve got gazillions of women falling over themselves to be with you.” She paused. “Which I get, who wouldn’t? Plus you’re a great kisser. But we come from different worlds and we should keep it that way.”
    His brow arched. “You think I’m a great kisser?”
    Her eyes widened to the size of a small planet. “Um.” She cleared her throat a couple of times. “Well, yes.”

    Kissing under the Spotlight is free for a limited time, and the second book in the series, Kissing like she means it, is on sale at $0.99 (instead of $3.99).
    Note – these books are not sweet and have a 3/5 heat rating.

    Joanne Dannon
    ​About Joanne Dannon

    Best selling, award-winning Australian author, Joanne Dannon, writes to give her readers the experience she loves to savor–indulging in a sigh-worthy-happily-ever-after, being swept away from the everyday by diving into a delicious romance novel.

    Joanne is a happily married mother of two heroes-in-training who loves spending time with friends and family. She can be found on Facebook and her website www.joannedannon.com chatting about reading, writing, cooking, vintage-inspired dresses and all things romantic.

     

  • Blog

    Musical Monday with Australian Author Cheryl Wright

    1/21/2019

    Musical Monday
    My name is Cheryl Wright, and I write mostly contemporary and historical western romance, but also write contemporary small-town romance.
    My books sometimes feature singers in them, and the reason for that is easy – as a teenager, I was a singer.
    It all started when I was about eight years old. I used to sing around the house all the time, and one day, while visiting my grandmother, she mentioned to my mother that I should be on Brian and the Juniors – a popular television show in Australia at the time.
    It featured young children, and Brian was the host.
    My mother organised for me to audition. And I was accepted but we were told all potential Juniors had to do lessons first.
    For months we trudged down to the studio using two different trams, as well as a long walk. I felt as though nothing was happening except my parents were paying for lessons for no reason.
    We stopped going there and instead looked for a local singing teacher. She was brilliant.
    After several lessons, she arranged for me to appear on the radio – a boon at the time (1960’s) – and was asked back several times. I also appeared on talent shows on the television.
    But best of all, my wonderful teacher was able to get me into stage shows as well as bistros where live entertainment was featured.
    I had a spot most Saturday nights for some years, mixed in with stage show work.
    I was even partnered up with a young man for awhile, but that didn’t go anywhere because he wasn’t particularly interested in being part of a duo.
    In addition to all this, I did quite a bit of charity work, entertaining at centres for people with disabilities once a month. I was told it was the highlight of the month for many of them.
    I took dancing lessons for a while – because my teacher wanted me to learn how to move better on the stage. It definitely helped.
    I loved the life, loved the people.
    It was such a buzz, and something I’ve never forgotten, even after all these years. (I’m now 62.)
    I learned to play piano, as well as guitar. The piano lessons sadly died away, but I still play guitar.
    All of this was great fodder for my books, and when I began a new contemporary western romance series, The Callahan Brothers, I needed a cover story for my heroine who was running for her life.
    Being a singer was perfect. She could move from town to town without arousing suspicion. I totally understood all the things that went on in that world, so was able to portray them in a very realistic way.
    You can read Missy’s story in The Cowboy’s Sweetheart.
    Missy O’Reilly isn’t the trusting type. After being almost killed, she’s been on the run for several months. Moving from town to town was the only thing she could do to keep safe.

    She has the evidence, and her stalker wants to destroy it along with her…

    Rory Callahan is fascinated by the newcomer to River Valley, Montana. The moment he clapped eyes on her he was smitten. Little did he know she was hiding a deep dark secret. One that might get her killed. Or if he hung around long enough, he might also be in the firing line.

    Convinced he’s met his soul-mate, will Rory be able to convince her to stay? And exactly what is the mysterious secret she’s been hiding?
    I also featured a singer in one of my romantic suspense novellas, Deadly Debt.
    Felicity Montgomery couldn’t be happier. Her music career is starting to take off and because of her new way-too-sexy manager, her love life is too. But she’s being watched. Every second of every day.

    Derek St James knows Felicity is meant for the stage. She has the kind of charisma that captures people’s attention, and his heart. But a man he can’t control is after Felicity and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

    Felicity’s stalker sees her every move. He’s listening to every word. He is obsessed to the point of breaking into her apartment – even when she’s there. Felicity must find a way to get out from under the evil force that threatens to ruin everything before it’s too late.
    This book lends itself to far more behind the scenes situations. The sorts of things that really happen in the music industry, but most people know nothing about.
    I get a real buzz from writing stories for readers to enjoy, and love when I can put my own personal experiences into my books.
    Thanks for spending some time with me today. I really appreciate it.

    Cheryl Wright
    Find Cheryl on Social Media
    Links:
    The Cowboy’s Sweetheart: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07786G9R7/
    Deadly Debt: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7QR21B/
    Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/cherylwright
    Cheryl’s Website: http://cheryl-wright.com/
    Cheryl’s Blog: http://romance-authors.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherylwrightauthor/

     

    Deadly Debt - CoverCowboy's Sweetheart - Cover

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Comment

    Cheryl Wright
    1/23/2019 01:55:00 am

    Thanks so much for having me, Monique!