Kay Harris's Blog
February 10, 2019
This one is different
Usually before I release a book I put out a blog in my “Fiction Infatuation” thread extolling the virtues of the book’s hero. And while Darius Fleck from my upcoming release “Alice’s Wish” is
certainly worthy of infatuation, there is something else about this book that is special.
I write about the world I live in, the people I am surrounded by. It is a colorful, diverse world. And thank God for that. That’s why most of my books feature couples that come from different
racial or ethnic backgrounds. It’s why the side characters are from all walks of life. They look like my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.
So that leads me to Alice. I know Alice, intimately. Alice isn’t based on one person in particular, but there are many people like her. But women like Alice don’t show up in MF Contemporary
Romance novels very often. In fact, if you know of one besides “Alice’s Wish” please drop the name and author in the comments below. I will immediately go read it.
Alice is bisexual. Around 2% of the population identifies as bisexual, including one recently elected congresswoman. That’s one of out every fifty people. Yet it is my personal belief that
bisexuality tends to be dismissed. It is often seen as a transitional state. People who identify as bisexual are often characterized by others as either “confused and experimenting” or gay and
haven’t yet fully embraced that. And maybe there are people out there who fit the above description who identify as bisexual. But bisexuality is a lifelong identity for many people—people who
often feel dismissed by both the straight and the gay communities.
In romance, bisexuality most often shows up in one of two forms: 1) in LGBTQ novels where one of the characters is bisexual and enters into a gay relationship over the course of the novel or 2)
in ménage novels as a way to connect all the players of different genders/orientations.
Alice isn’t a plot vehicle for a gay romance, and she isn’t into kink. She’s a bisexual woman, equally attracted to men and women, willing to enter into a monogamous relationship with a person of
either sex, able to fall in love with a person—period. And in the course of this novel she falls in love with a person named Darius, who happens to be a man.
So, I hope Alice and her story are well received. But I’m not naïve. I know not everyone will understand or appreciate her and her relationship. Nevertheless, I wrote her. I champion her. And to
everyone who can relate to her—this is for you.
November 27, 2018
Guest Blog: Tena Stetler
Hi Kay, thanks for having me. My fiction infatuation began with Gavin
Shaughnessy from the moment he appeared.
My heros are usually the characters that pop into my head demanding to
have their story told. But Gavin Shaughnessy was different. When Synn, the heroine of A Magic
Redemption, danced through my mind, tapping her tiny foot and demanding that I write her story. Now! Gavin took flight right behind her, he’s a gryphon shapeshifter, in support of her
demands.
What choice did I have?
Gavin is the publican (manger) for his family’s pub in Ballycotton,
County of Cork, Ireland. He loves his job, the customers and the salty sea air, jagged cliffs of Ireland’s coast. While his two sisters, Hannah and Brandy got the wanderlust from their mother and
ventured across the pond to ivy league colleges, Gavin was satisfied to stay in Ireland and learn the family business. That’s where he met Synn. She
was in the company of the Demon Overlord of the Western Hemisphere, Bruce, and his wife, Angie, along with a few other magical creatures.
Synn seemed uncomfortable so he offered to show her around. Strangely
enough she ended up in the kitchen helping him load dishes in the dishwasher, where Brandy discovered them and threw a hissy fit. He was aware of Synn’s sorted past which included a contract hit
on his sister, Brandy. It failed in part due to Synn’s refusal to complete the mission and seeking protection from the Overlord in exchange for valuable information she had.
I should tell you that Synn was kidnapped as a pre-teen for her
magical abilities and her family was brutally murdered in front of her. Baltizar, the creature that abducted her forced her to become a warrior
assassin as he waited for her magic to mature. But Gavin didn’t hold any of that against her. She was the one as far as he was concerned.
Gavin fell in love with her and they began a relationship. But when
she earned her freedom, he had to let her go to experience life and discover who she was without the mind-control of her abductor. Remaining her friend seemed the best option, until she
inadvertently dragged him into her terrifying dreams in which Baltizar is back to exact revenge. Now he along with his family stand ready to defend
her and insist she take steps to protect herself.
Here’s an example from between the pages of A Magic
Redemption.
After a wonderful afternoon excursion exploring Blarney Castle, they headed back to
Ballycotton.
The road to her cottage took them by the pub. He didn’t want to spoil a
great day by stopping by Shaughnessy’s. But he had a nagging feeling that was exactly what he was supposed to do. Prior experience taught him nothing but trouble would come if he ignored his gut.
“Mind if we stop by the pub on the way home. Storm can stay in the truck for a few minutes. I want to make sure—”
“Everything is all right?”
“Of course it’s all right. I’ve taken time off before.” Gavin bristled.
“I had a life before—” He stopped mid-sentence. No way was he going to spoil this day.
She shifted in her seat to face him. “Before what? Me? Before your
sister married an assassin? Or Brandy became engaged to a vampire? Before your world came crashing down amid demons, vampires, witches, and world ending shit?” She paused, closed her eyes, and
leaned her head against the seat again. “I didn’t mean that. I’ve been on edge since the dream—nightmare—premonition. Call it what you want. Today was a nice reprieve. But when we hit the edge of
town—what’d you call ’em—” she tapped her temple. “My spidey senses went off.” She shivered.
“I have to admit the dreams you have been so kind to share are
disconcerting. If we were in danger, Bruce or Tristian would have contacted one of us. They aren’t going to leave you hanging in the wind. Neither will I.”
He turned on the street behind the pub. The parking lot was full to
running over. Weaving through the cars without finding a space, he pulled back onto the road. After circling the block, he parked down the street and cut the engine. “Stay put for a sec.” Gavin
stepped out of the truck and surveyed the area. Nothing seemed out of place or unusual.
About A Magic Redemption:
Synn, a demon, carries extraordinary magic and power, but there is more within her than she dreams. Kidnapped as a child, her captors murdered her family and forced
her into training as a warrior assassin. When an assignment goes horribly wrong, she finds herself at the mercy of the friends and family of her intended target. Offering valuable
information in exchange for protection, she gains her freedom, but it is not without its challenges.
Gavin Shaughnessy is the publican at his family’s Irish pub. He is certain Synn is meant to be his and isn’t bothered by her past. He must find a way to
convince her, their future together is stronger than the dark memories that haunt her dreams.
When her past comes calling for revenge, will their love survive the raging inferno she brings down upon them? Or will the searing path of destruction destroy all
they hold dear?
Buy links: Amazon, Amazon
UK, Amazon
AU, Amazon CA, itunes, The Wild Rose Press, Barnes and
Noble Wal-mart.com
Book Trailer for A Demon’s Witch Series https://youtu.be/lELj0amtkk8
About the Author:
Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal
romance. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends. After many years as a paralegal,
then an IT Manager, she decided to live out her dream of pursuing a publishing career.
With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits
at her computer surrounded by a wide array of witches, shapeshifters, demons, faeries, and gryphons, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical
kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books
along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many
moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the
great Colorado outdoors. During the winter you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate
and a big bowl of popcorn.
Author Links:
Contact Information:
Website: http://www.tenastetler.com
Authors’ Secret’s Blog - http://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/
My Say What Blog -
http://www.tenastetler.com/category/m...
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author
Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/TenaStetler
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler
The Wild Rose Press: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/1264_tena-stetler
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler
Newsletter: http://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler
Tribber -
http://triberr.com/TenaStetler
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/
BookGorilla -
https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B014E0PEPM/tena-stetler
Lighting a candle for Everett
My newest fiction infatuation is with Everett Evans, Jr. He’s the owner of E.E.R. Tranquility Candle Company. Everett is creative, sensitive, sexy, and smarter than a NASA engineer. He loves to
work out with his best friend at the gym and teach disadvantaged youth soccer at the community center.
What’s not to love?
Maya McDonald could give you one very good reason: Everett dumped her for a woman who later broke his heart and tried to break his bank.
There’s a lot more to the story than Maya knows. But will she give Everett the chance to prove himself to her?
When Maya had stomped her way down the concrete steps of the porch and landed on the grass in front of his mother’s prized rose bushes, she whirled around
to face him, hands folded tightly across her chest. “Did you know about this?”
Everett settled a few feet in front of her, one foot behind the other, resting back casually, arms at his sides. “You mean this Adopt-A-Senior thing?”
“Yes. Of course.” Exasperation laced her voice and took her sexy low tone up to a higher level.
“Not until recently.”
“But you knew before today?”
He nodded.
She pointed her finger toward his chest. “And you didn’t say anything.”
“When, exactly, was I supposed to do that? When you were ignoring my existence or when you were trying to murder me with dirty looks?”
For a moment her eyes flared with anger. A second later, her body slumped. Her hands moved to her hips and she took three deep breaths before responding.
“Okay. Fine. You’re right. Maybe an email would have sufficed.”
Everett couldn’t help but chuckle at the image of him using their company email to communicate their parents’ newfound friendship to her. “I suppose you’re
right. But, honestly, I’d rather see you in person, even if you are plotting my demise the entire time we’re together.”
Silence followed his statement. Maya held his gaze, her body still, her mouth open, eyes wide. Obviously, she didn’t expect such naked honesty from him. So
he gave her more.
Everett stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “I would love to get to a place where you don’t hate me. Do you think that’s possible?” She
didn’t say anything, so he tried another tactic. “It’s been seven years, Maya.” His voice was soft, his face inching toward her, head down to make their height difference less noticeable.
He could hear her hard breaths, see the conflict in her eyes. Slowly, he reached out a hand, heading for her forearm. But before he could get there, a new
sound made them both turn.
“I hope you aren’t…” Apparently, Mica had begun speaking before rounding the corner of the house, having used the shortcut to come check on them. He cut
off whatever he was going to say when he spotted them so close together, on the verge of something important. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
But it was too late.
Maya took three steps back. Her face hardened as she turned back to Everett. “No. We’re done here.” Twisting on her heel, she marched back into the house,
closing the door sharply behind her.
Read about Everett and Maya in “Maya’s Wish” now available for pre-order. Click
here to get it at the special introductory price (good through December only).
November 11, 2018
Guest blog: Peggy Jaeger
Wedding Planner Colleen O’Dowd hasn’t had the best couple of years. From the moment she finds her fiancé in bed with one of her co-workers, to the diagnosis of her younger sister’s terminal
breast cancer, Colleen’s life has done a 180 degree turn around from where it should have been at this time in her life. At the age of 32 she expected to be married, have a few kids, and be
climbing the success ladder at work. Instead, she is alone, childless and embarking on a new career path.
With the breakup of her soon-to-be wedding, and her decision to leave a job she loves as one of the editors at a top bridal magazine, Colleen heads home to Heaven, NH to a family still grieving
the loss of a sister, and a new business venture with her remaining sisters. Since Colleen has spent so many years in the bridal industry and knows most of the movers and shakers, she decides to
open her own wedding planning business and pulls her sisters in with her. Her older sister is a lawyer and a Justice of the Peace, so she officiates at the non-religious ceremonies Colleen plans.
Her younger sister owns a thriving Inn where many of the out of town wedding guests stay, and where some of the receptions take place.
Colleen will tell you she is made of strong, Irish stock, and that when life gives you lemons, it’s up to you to make a tangy Lemoncello with them. I love her ride or die spirit. The move of her fledgling business from NYC to a tiny New England town should have shouted its demise. It has done just the opposite because Colleen was quick
to realize that out of town destination weddings where everything is included in one package was the “next big thing” in the bridal industry. Her business not only didn’t die, it’s thriving.
And even though the man she loved for over a decade cheated on her, Colleen is still hopeful she’ll find her Mr. Right, even if she has to wade through the Mr. Right Nows surrounding her.
Colleen’s gumption, sense of herself as a can-do-it girl, and her soft heart make her one of my favorite characters ever to write. She’s snarky, witty, self deprecating, and wickedly organized –
all things I wish I was. As far as a heroine you can root for and feel connected to, Colleen O’Dowd is the girl for you.
About the Book:
Colleen O’Dowd manages a thriving bridal business with her sisters in Heaven, New Hampshire. After fleeing Manhattan and her cheating ex-fiancé, Colleen still believes in happily ever afters. But
with a demanding business to run, her sisters to look after, and their 93-year-old grandmother to keep out of trouble, she's worried she’ll never find Mr. Right.
Playboy Slade Harrington doesn’t believe in marriage. His father’s six weddings have taught him life is better as an unencumbered single guy. But Slade loves his little sister. He'll do anything
for her, including footing the bill for her dream wedding. He doesn’t plan on losing his heart to a smart-mouthed, gorgeous wedding planner, though.
When her ex-fiancé comes back into the picture, Colleen must choose between Mr. Right and Mr. Right Now.
Excerpt:
I stared at him for a moment, mulling over how I wanted to ask him what I’d been dying to ask since we’d been in my office.
Finally, because there was no other way to get around it but bluntly, I said, “I feel like we need to discuss your father. Come to a
decision about where he fits in the wedding.”
When the warmth in his expression shifted to ice, a weaker-willed person might have stopped there. Since I’m not weak and my parents
have always told me I have a real problem with knowing when to quit, I pushed on. “It seems to me as if Isabella wants him to be included. Whether in a father-of-the-bride role, or simply as a
guest, I really do think she’d like him to attend, but, for whatever reason, she’s reluctant to press you on it.”
Did I say ice? What’s colder than ice? Because whatever it is, that was the expression floating in Slade’s eyes right then as he glared
at me.
Warning bells blared in my head, but that thing about me not knowing when to quit? Yeah, it’s real.
“I think Isabella’s afraid of upsetting you if she tells you how she feels or asks your permission. She loves you so much and respects
your opinion.”
“You don’t know anything about my sister. Or me.” He lowered his hands from his hips, kept them fisted at his sides. “Or our
relationship with our father.”
“True, but I get the sense—”
He barreled over me as if I hadn’t said a word.
“You’ve been hired to do a job, Miss O’Dowd. I suggest you do it and keep your thoughts about my family to yourself. You’re a wedding
planner, not a family counselor.” His voice dropped a level, deepening as it became softer. The cadence became clipped, the tone more...lethal.
If this was the way he acted in business, it was a wonder he hadn’t been convicted of corporate homicide yet.
“Look, I’m not asking simply to be nosy,” I said, my voice rising in opposition to his. “I really do have to plan all this out. There’s
still the rehearsal and the dinner after it left to deal with. Then there’s the reception seating. Plus, if he is included, I’ll need to make sure he has a room, a tuxedo, and find out if he’s
bringing a guest.”
“What aren’t you understanding about this, Miss O’Dowd?” Slade asked, taking a step toward me. If he’d thought to intimidate me with
his height, he’d miscalculated. Retreat wasn’t a word in my lexicon. I simply lifted my chin and stared right back at him.
“I understand a lot more than you think, Mr. Harrington. About all sorts of things. Arrogant and pigheaded men included.”
When he continued to stand like a plank of wood in front of me, his mouth turning down and creasing the sides of his jaw, I
knew—knew—I should stop.
But...
Buy Links:
Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HT4B95T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
Wild Rose Press : https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6294-dearly-beloved.html
B&N : https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dearly-beloved-peggy-jaeger/1129689535?ean=2940161598023
About the Author:
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families
who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters
that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever
after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created
the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Tying into her love of families, her children's book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master's degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer's Disease during her time running an Alzheimer's in-patient
care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader's Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
In 2018, Peggy was a finalist in the HOLT MEDALLION Award and once again in the 2018
Stiletto Contest.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
Author Links:
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger
Book Gorilla : https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00T8E5LN0/peggy-jaeger/kcc
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8RRIlssIyS0FYZWeGqsg/videos
November 8, 2018
Guest Post: Jennifer Wilck
I’m thrilled to be back visiting Kay on her blog today. When she told me to write something on “fiction infatuation,” I was a little taken aback. What exactly is that? As a writer, when in
doubt, look at the words. So I did. Fiction is something that isn’t true. Infatuation is being head-over-heels in love with something. And I breathed a sigh of relief.
You see, for me, writing provides an escape from reality. No matter what craziness is going on in the real world or in my home life—as the mom of two teenaged daughters, trust me, home is
crazy!—I have the ability to take my “Calgon, take me away” moment by sitting at my computer and writing.
I write contemporary romance. My heroes and heroines live in the real world. Except, they don’t. They live in a world that I create. I get to be the boss (well, except for my critique partners
and editors). The world I create is malleable. I can make people do or say anything I want. I can live vicariously through them or I can create something I’d never want to experience. It’s my
choice.
There are some “true-to-life” things I put in my books, like a love of chocolate or shoes. The children who appear have characteristics of my own kids. And there’s usually an anecdote from my
life that appears in my books. But otherwise, everything is made up. My characters have better comebacks than I ever will. They look nothing like me. And in the worlds I create, love always wins.
About the Book
Dina Jacobs is a single librarian who has never fit in due to her off-the-charts intelligence, frizzy hair and
rounder-than-socially-acceptable figure. She left her past behind until she receives an invitation to her ten-year high school reunion, and all her insecurities return.
Adam Mandel is a single corporate attorney who just missed his third deadline at his father's law firm, the law firm where he
is up for junior partner. With his reputation on the line, Adam needs all the help he can get to convince his father that he deserves the promotion.
When Dina and Adam run into each other on a deserted road, Dina thinks Mr. Flashypants can't possibly be interested in someone
like her. Adam thinks Dina is just the person to help him improve his reputation. Lies and insecurities force them to take a look at themselves. Can they trust each other to look beyond the
surface?
Excerpt from "Learning to Love"
What the hell just happened?
She wanted to be friends.
The only kind of “friend” he wanted to be with her
had “boy” attached to it. No, that wasn’t true. He enjoyed her friendship because he loved talking to her, hearing her
opinions, sharing himself with her.
But he was becoming more attracted to her. So far, they’d only kissed, but that one kiss, that unbelievable kiss, haunted him.
His lips still burned where they’d touched hers, his insides still turned to jelly when he thought about it. In fact, he’d been hoping there would have been more kissing in her apartment once
he’d apologized for his gaffe.
But she’d focused on their arrangement and her overreaction, and here he was pulling away from the curb into rush hour
traffic.
She thought he was dating her only to impress his father. If he were one hundred percent honest with himself, he’d acknowledge
the partial truth in that statement. But the more time he spent time with her, when he wasn’t royally screwing things up with her, the more he wanted to move beyond their arrangement.
His head was another matter. It was still focused on not making a fool of himself, on maintaining the right reputation, on
spinning the right message.
But listening to his head was probably what had gotten him into this mess in the first place. As unbelievable as it might
sound, it was time to follow his heart.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Love-Serendipity-Book-3-ebook/dp/B07J49V5SP
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/learning-to-love/id1437725668?_bbid=10834501&mt=11
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/learning-to-love-jennifer-wilck/1129734280?ean=2940161918258
About the Author:
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even
as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those
with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at
finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight, and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get
through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon
and Barnes & Noble.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2055470311366345/
Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck
September 11, 2018
Hot Boss!
He kissed her cheek. “Sweetheart. You are incredible. I am at your mercy. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I know alpha heroes are all the rage, but if you’ve ever read my books, you know I value the man who isn’t afraid to lay himself at a woman’s feet and meet her needs and demands. In fact, I find it sexy as hell.
Carlos Diaz, the hero in my new book “Amy’s Wish” is just such a man. Powerful in his career. Capable of making or breaking a company with his astute brain. Tall, dark, and handsome. Carlos
doesn’t grab Amy by the hair and demand she please him. No. He drops to his knees and makes it his goal to please her.
He leaned in so close their lips were almost in kissing range. “One word and I will fall to my knees right here and worship you for the chance to touch you
later.”
Amy needs an understanding and slow-paced lover. She’s never been physically attracted to anyone in her thirty years. Unusual, yes, but not unheard of, especially for a woman with a traumatic
past. Amy had come to terms with her lack of lust. But then she met Carlos. And everything changed.
Amy took a deep breath. “You changed my whole life, Carlos. I never thought this would happen. When I saw my future I saw me adopting kids or getting
artificial insemination. I imagined myself alone, a virgin, without ever knowing what…this…was like.” She shivered under his hand. “This is so amazing,” she whispered, leaning closer to him.
He wanted to explore that, but first he had a pressing question. “Why me?”
“I don’t know. But it’s definitely all about you.”
“Maybe it was just your time or something.”
“No, Carlos. You did this to me. And I am hoping that you want me, too. See, I can’t really tell if you feel the same way because I’ve never—”
Carlos stopped her with a kiss. It was deep and passionate, and he poured his desires into it. Just in case she hadn’t gotten the message, he pulled back
and whispered, “I want you, Amy.”
Want more Carlos? Read “Amy’s Wish” the first book in the new WISH SERIES. Special introductory price for the ebook is just $0.99. Available at that price until the end of September only! Get
your copy here.
May 28, 2018
Villain turned Hero
Jack's brother, Hayden, the character we all loved to hate in "Don't Let Him Go," is back. And as much as our heroine, Meg, tries she just can't keep from swinging over from "want to stay
away" to just plain "want."
There is so much more than meets the eye with the Morrison middle child. (Though there is also a lot that meets the eye!) Hayden is insecure in his new position as CEO of Morrison and Sons. He's
working to make amends with his older brother, Jack, and his love life is a mess.
The more Meg gets to know him, the more she finds herself unable to resist him.
There was something completely charming about Hayden’s insecurity. When I watched him at work,
I could see it plainly. We’d be in his office, going over something before a big meeting, and he would run his hand through his mousy brown hair. It was getting too long and when he did that the
hair would flail in every direction. Then it would slowly settle down into smooth disarray.
His eyes would get this look, almost like panic. An intense blue color, they were wide and
bright and looked like the sky was opening up to reveal all its secrets. His hands showed his anxiety, moving fast and frantic. Sometimes he would obsessively click his pen. Other times, he’d tap
his fingers on the desk.
Then he would stand, push his chair out from his desk, and walk around it.
And he would transform. Before leaving his office, where it was just me and him, he’d change into someone else, someone strong and confident, and not the least bit worried about how he was
handling his family’s legacy. When he walked out of that room, there was no hint that the world rested on his shoulders.
See more of Hayden Morrison in "Just for You." Check out the book blurb and cover reveal on my home page here. And stay tuned for the release
date!
March 29, 2018
Fiction Infatuation - Jacob Black from Five Minutes to Love by Jennifer Wilck
When I write my books, the heroes are usually the characters that pop into my head, nudge me and prevent me from doing anything other than write their story. Jacob was no different. He arrived in
my head as the definition of a mensch—a good guy. A really good guy.
Sure, his physical attributes are swoon-worthy—tall, muscular, short dark hair, cognac-colored eyes—but there’s more to a hero than looks (gasp). He’s ambitious. He’s a third-year law student
with plans to work for a big firm in New York City. Now, some people might make an assumption about a guy like that. They might think he’s obviously in it for the money, because those firms are
brutal on new lawyers and the only way they make up for it is by offering the newbies a ridiculous amount of money. But those people would be wrong. Because Jacob is going to be an environmental
lawyer—he wants to take care of the planet. And, he needs to make a lot of money right away so that he can pay back his law school loans and then take care of his mother.
His mother is a widow who raised him on her own. She’s sacrificed a lot for him, and he wants to pay her back and take care of her now, the way she took care of him. Karen is a character. She’s
opinionated and worries about Jacob—career-wise and girlfriend-wise. Some sons would be glad to grown up enough to put distance between them. But Jacob knows how to deal with her, without being
stuck under her thumb. And no matter what happens between them, their actions are filled with love.
Into this scenario comes Aviva. She’s not interested in a guy whose focus is solely on his career, and Jacob quickly rises to the task, making her a priority. He finds ways to fit in his
studying, his career goals, his mother’s requests and Aviva. He makes her feel like she is important to him. No, he’s not perfect, but there’s never any doubt how much he cares for her.
Here’s an example:
Aviva and Jacob have gone out a time or two and she really likes him, but she doesn’t think it’s going to work because of all his other commitments. So she plans to break up with him.
“So, call me crazy, but I thought you were avoiding me.”
Aviva had taken a sip of water. At his unexpected, and correct, insight, she choked.
Jacob rushed to her side and patted her back. When she’d recovered, she wiped her eyes on her napkin, took another sip to soothe her throat, and placed her glass on the table. She wiped the
condensation with her fingers, and dried her fingers on her napkin.
“From your reaction, I think I might have been right.” His brown eyes were serious,
his jaw clenched. He leaned forward, arms folded on the table. His knuckles were white.
“You were.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“It’s nothing you did.”
“Well, if I didn’t do anything, what is it?”
Aviva swallowed. “You’re a law student. You’re planning on working for a big law firm,
which means lots of hours working, studying, and focusing on your career. I admire your ambition, but I don’t see a lot of room for me in there.”
His expression softened. He reached for her hand. His thumb made circles against her
wrist. She shivered. “I actually wondered the same thing. In fact, between the time I texted and called you, I’d resolved not to see you again because I didn’t think I had time for both you and
my studies. Before I met you, my priorities were to do whatever I had to do to pay off my school loans so I can take care of my mother. She made a lot of sacrifices for me. I want to pay her
back. I’m studying and making good grades so I can get that job to do that. But I really like you. I’d like you to be one of my priorities too.”
Buy "Five Minutes to Love" Here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Minutes-Love-Serendipity-Book-ebook/dp/B079WMLNJB
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/five-minutes-to-love-jennifer-wilck/1128011304?ean=2940158814495
The Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5742-five-minutes-to-love.html?search_query=jennifer+wilck&results=6
About Jennifer Wilck
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even
as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those
with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at
finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight, and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get
through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon
and Barnes & Noble.
Find Jennifer Here:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2055470311366345/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck
March 19, 2018
Exclusive Excerpt
Present day—Los Angeles, California
Henry
I look over at my father. He is sitting across from me. His arms are folded over his chest, and there is a deep crease in his brow.
“Well?” I ask him. I’m halfway through my story, and he hasn’t said a word, not that this surprises me. But now I want some feedback.
“Well what?” he asks me.
I roll my eyes. “At this point, Chelsea and I were just friends. We were close. I’d never had a friend like her in my life. I was comfortable with her and happy around her. Our relationship was
freaking perfect. I couldn’t see any of this shit coming, Dad.”
My dad is well aware of the fact something terrible has gone wrong between Chelsea and me. He knew it the moment he saw me tonight. But I haven’t yet explained to him exactly what went wrong.
Instead, he’d asked me to start the story at the beginning, when I’d first met Chelsea. And for the last twenty minutes, I’d been doing just that. Now I am at a turning point in my tale, and I
want to know what he’s thinking so far.
“Hmmm,” he mumbles.
“Do you think I should have?” I ask.
“Seen it coming?”
“Yes!” My frustration is definitely showing.
But my dad, a consummate Zen master, is perfectly calm. “Not necessarily. I mean, you didn’t see it coming, Buddy. It is what it is.”
I pull out the leather tie, and my hair flops down around my shoulders. I run my hands through it absentmindedly. “I just feel like, if I could have seen what was about to happen…”
“What would you have done differently?”
That is a good question. I stroke my three-day-old stubble and contemplate it. What would I have done differently? “I guess I should have asked her how
she felt about our friendship,” I suggest.
My dad waves his hand at me dismissively. “No way. That is completely unlikely. No one would have a conversation that weird for no reason.”
“Right. See? There isn’t anything. Damn it!”
My dad unfolds his arms and leans forward. His massive tattooed forearms rest on his knees. His hair, which is almost identical to mine save for a handful of thin streaks of gray, slides around
his shoulders. “It’s what happened later that I’m interested in.”
“I’m not even sure how to tell that part of the story.”
“Why don’t you start with the first time you knew things were changing between you?” he suggests.
I let out a heavy sigh. “I guess it was in France.”
My dad leans back in his chair, settling in for the rest of my story. “Hmmm. What happened in France?”
March 7, 2018
Fiction Infatuation - Henry Rushton
Book 2 of the I WANT MORRISON series comes out one week from today! So I wanted to take a moment to let you all know about my fiction infatuation with the hero from “Lost on the Road to Love.”
If you’ve read the books from the LOVE ON TOUR series, this hero will be a little familiar – as in, he was actually little the last time you heard from
him. Chelsea Morrison’s love interest is none other than Henry Rushton, the son of Sean and Baby Rush.
Henry’s parents get together in “Love on the Rocks.” We discover that Baby is pregnant with Henry in “Play Me.” We first meet baby Henry in “You Got to Me” and again in “The Man You need.” Then
we see seven-year-old Henry in “Delirious Love.”
In “Lost on the Road to Love” Henry is all grown up and gorgeous! (I know, I used a Tardis to make this work time wise, but you’re just going to have go with me on this because I didn’t want to
wait twenty years to write this story.)
Anyway…Chelsea had a crush on Henry when she first saw him in a magazine (they were both teenagers at the time.) Ten years later she comes face to face with her adolescent crush and here is her
impression:
He walked into the room. The scene unfolded in slow motion. He moved fluidly. Long legs clad in worn jeans carried him through the doorway. His T-shirt,
which sported a faded band logo for the rock group Chrome, molded itself to a muscular chest and sculpted biceps. His strong chin was covered in a dark five o’clock shadow that matched the
eyebrows above his chocolate brown eyes. His face was framed by long, perfectly straight, glossy black hair that tucked behind his ears and hung down below his wide shoulders.
My mouth went dry, my eyes involuntarily widened, and my body became completely still. He was even better looking in person than I’d imagined.
The most intriguing thing about Henry (to me) is that despite his incredible good looks, he is a major nerd. Though he has to do some work to prove it to Chelsea:
“Who’d have thought that showing off my nerdiness would help?”
“You, Henry Rushton, are no nerd.”
“Oh, yes, I am,” he argued.
“I call bullshit. I know what a nerd is. I am one. But not you. No way.”
“In the morning, the first place I am taking us to is the American Museum of Natural History. And I’ve been there at least a dozen times before, and most
of those times I’ve been with my mother. If that’s not nerdy, I don’t know what is,” he said, leaning
toward me, his elbows propped on the table between us.
“Henry,” I said, throwing myself into the argument. “A person cannot look like you and be a nerd.”
“That is so unfair!” he cried, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Look, I admit there are many facets of being a nerd. But one very important one is ‘the look,’ Henry. A nerd cannot look like”—I waved my hand toward him
wildly—“you!”
He pressed his lips together for a moment. “I unequivocally disagree. And that was a two-dollar word, which is worth some major geekdom right there!”
Ultimately, Henry turns out to be all that Chelsea needs with whipped cream on top. And in addition to his appearance in the novel, we get a glimpse of both his parents as well ;)
“Lost on the Road to Love” is available for pre-order now.
Click here to order the Kindle version on Amazon or here to order the
paperback.
Click here to read an excerpt from the novel.
Click here to join me on March 14 for my Facebook Release
Party!
