Kathryn Nolan's Blog, page 12
August 3, 2020
IN THE CLEAR is live and free in KU!
I'll keep this short, since I know how eagerly you've all been waiting to get your hands on Abe Royal. Trust me...Hot Lips is ready to be enjoyed by you (wink).
Buy this book if you're looking for a romance as red-hot as it is suspenseful. Toss in some insta-lust, a little forced proximity, fun action, and an intriguing mystery. IN THE CLEAR is a steamy, delicious escape with a guaranteed Happily Ever After.
Oh! And the first two books in the series - BEHIND THE VEIL and UNDER THE ROSE - are just 99 pennies this week. You can binge the entire series from the beginning...and learn why I like to describe the Codex books as 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' meets 'The Da Vinci Code'.
Have fun with my favorite private detectives.
And don't forget to get the damn book back.
July 30, 2020
The first two books in the Codex series are on sale!
Binge the romantic suspense series called (by me!) "if Mr. and Mrs. Smith met The Da Vinci Code"
July 27, 2020
Early reviews for Hot Lips aka IN THE CLEAR:
This book is devastating in the best possible way! Sloane is a BADASS!! We all knew the woman to bring Abe Royal to his knees would have to be, and damn! She’s sharp, she’s in control. She’s sexy. Everything I wanted for Abe. The push and pull of these two together is incredible to read! - Emily T., Goodreads
In the Clear is a dream come true for all romantic suspense enthusiasts - it’s a perfect mixture of love, drama, humor, swoon, steam and romance with an intricate web of deception and mystery woven throughout the emotional fabric of this remarkable story. - Martina, Goodreads
A completely unputdownable novel that will keep your heart racing in more ways than one! - Joyce, Goodreads
I’ve been in love with Codex from the very beginning and this series has become one of my all time favorites. Kathryn Nolan is the queen of romantic suspense and sexual tension. She has a way of completely immersing you in the story, making you one with the world of rare book theft, surrounded by code words, deception, hidden clues, secret societies, and mysterious hidden passageways. - Heather, Goodreads
Abe is, well I'm not sure if there are words invented in the English Language yet that can describe Abe, other than he's is one hell of an Alpha. - Robin, Goodreads
July 13, 2020
The Juicy Stuff
Yes, hello again.
Please know that the following list of "juicy stuff" was entirely compiled by Kathryn, since the phrase "suit porn" shall never grace my vocabulary as long as I live. And, having reviewed this list, I remain firm in my ability to resist this Sloane Argento.
Even if she is sultry and ambitious and enchanting.
Even if we have to...share one bed.
Even if there is...insta-lust, I'm sorry, what is this phrase?
Again, I do not fear my ability to remain in control.
Warm regards,
Abraham Royal
*elbows Abe out of the way*
IN THE CLEAR contains the following*:
Insta-lust
Age-gap
Forced proximity/only one bed
Danger!
Action!
Mystery!
Sexual tension for days
Suit porn - like, really, a whole lot of it, all of the time
So many Sherlock Holmes references
Heart-warming moments with the *entire* Codex team!
*list not comprehensive because no list can contain the sheer lust-filled, action-packed, high-stakes, all-consuming-passionate-romance feels of this damn book, you guys. I love it so much!
July 10, 2020
Abe Royal wants to show you his cover
Dear readers,
Kathryn requested that I send her newsletter subscribers a note regarding the reveal of the cover for my book, IN THE CLEAR.
As you can see, my cover is below.
I understand that my reputation as Codex's stern and stoic leader has preceded me. However, I'll remind all of you that the pursuit of justice never rests - and the work is never, ever done.
Therefore, while I know my lack of romantic attachments has been a source of much speculation, I'll emphasize that the walls surrounding my heart are high for a reason. I have yet to meet a woman with the skills to dismantle them.
Kathryn seems to believe she has found the heroine who will be my undoing.
I'd like to see her try.
*straightens tie*
Now, without further ado:
IN THE CLEAR
releases on Friday, July 31st!
He needs to keep the gorgeous competition out of his head…and his bed.
Former FBI agent Abe Royal believes in hard work, justice, and a suit for every occasion. He’s hot on the trail of an elusive book thief when he realizes he’s being followed…by a sultry, cunning stranger.
Ambitious, young detective Sloane Argento has just been handed the case of a lifetime. It’s a challenge she’s prepared to meet head-on. Until she finds herself in a sexy game of cat-and-mouse with the devastatingly handsome competition. Tempting the sinful devil hidden beneath his cool façade might just become as much a priority as capturing the criminal.
Abe’s stoic restraint shows cracks every time Sloane gets too close. He needs distance, rules to protect himself. But when teaming up is the only way to race the ticking clock, he’s left wondering just how long he can deny his attraction to this risky, red-hot distraction.
Author’s Note: Insta-lust meets suspense in this action-packed, flaming-hot romance about a stoic hero with a guarded heart and a kick-ass heroine with a few secrets.
Add IN THE CLEAR to your TBR
July 3, 2020
A few anniversaries!
On June 27th, 2015, Rob and I got married at a sunflower-filled farm in Woodland, California. It was approximately 100 degrees, our dinner was tacos, taquitos and sangria, and we danced to my two favorite genres of music: Motown and early 2000s hip-hop. We also had not one, but TWO rainbows (double rainbow!) and were even rained on for five seconds, which we took to mean good luck!
Fun wedding facts: Rob and I walked each other down the aisle. Our first dance was to "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison (who we later named our van after). Rob's best friend officially married us in California -- and my little brother married us (unofficially) back home in Philly during the ceremony we hosted for my hometown family.
We've been together for ten years, married for five, have lived in two states (now three) and have gone on one, six-month-long road trip. Though we only have one dog, I imagine that number will soon grow to 6+.
Other anniversaries this month:
July 1st 2017 - The official day that Rob and I moved into Van Morrison for our road trip across the country and into Canada. We packed our stuff, dropped our house keys off with our landlord, and had one last delicious brunch at The Tower Cafe in Sacramento. And then we headed up north and waved goodbye to our home for eight years -- and embarked on our wildest adventure yet ❤
July 2017 - *Also!!!* That same month, Kathryn Nolan's Hippie Chicks was formed! Many of you know (and love) Joyce, Jodi and Julia -- the three women who have steadfastly run my reader group with kind, loving and motivational intentions. They keep things positive, hopeful and full of bright and shiny love, and their leadership has helped our tiny reader group explode to 2,100+ members! And the members we have have continued to reflect those same values -- strong, supportive and uplifting. It's truly a community I adore and their support for my books has helped shape my entire romance writing career! If you're not a member, come join us!
This week in Vermont!
You'll hear me say this a lot over the coming months, but Vermont is really f*****g pretty, you guys!
The pictures above were taken across from our house along a little river where I walk Walter most mornings - I also sit on those rocks and watch the various wildlife - fish, crawfish, crows, hawks, blue jays. Behind me is a bank of those wild daisies and happy bumble-bees. It's a place to dream up plot ideas and love stories. It's a place to experience a lot of gratitude.
A few nights ago we took a dusk walk down a long road that runs behind our house, turning deeper and deeper into these streets with just one or two houses visible. It had rained all day, but was suddenly clear, so the pine trees were filled with mist and the full moon looked orange against the clouds. We could only hear bird song and it smelled like summer -- which to me, growing up on the east coast with a wooded backyard, smells like damp earth and warm air. Fireflies danced in the long grass along the road and the field we came upon was so full of mist we couldn't see through it. There were also no signs of modernity (no telephone poles, etc.) so I told Rob it felt like stepping into a field that could have been from any time in history.
In the picture below you can't tell but baby Walter is exhausted! But extremely happy. He's always rarin' to go when we're on the trail or he's swimming in the lake nearby. But during the day, for the first time e v e r, he just....sleeps. No playing or running around or wanting to go on walks constantly. I think our super active coyote has met his energy-level-match in Vermont!
Other than that, we found a delicious Mexican food restaurant, a great pizza spot, cocktails to go and a bunch of hiking trails and swimming holes to explore. We've seen some snakes, some deer and some salamanders but still no moose sighting yet. Cross your fingers!
This weekend's required reading!
Romance author Jasmine Guillory's phenomenal article in TIME Magazine this month has such an important message on the power of Black fiction. I've linked the article in the button below, but here are just a few paragraphs that spoke to me the most.
"As antiracism books fill up the best-seller lists, I’m thrilled that people want to learn more about racism, white supremacy and their own role in both. But when we say Black Lives Matter, we mean the whole of Black lives..."
"Multiple studies have shown that reading certain types of fiction increases a reader’s empathy for others in the world. Fiction gives you a window into both lives you know and recognize and ones you don’t. It helps you to put yourself in the shoes of those characters, even when you have a different perspective when it comes to race, gender or sexual identity."
"I hope that when people read my romance novels, and those of other Black writers like Farrah Rochon and Alexa Martin and Kennedy Ryan and many more, they feel the joy of Black women who are happy and desired and accomplished and loved. White media rarely portray Black women as worthy of a happily ever after."
"I want the world to know not just about our pain, but the whole of our lives, and especially our joy."
**
Also - Jasmine Guillory is an amazing romance author and she writes stellar novels. Click the button below and head to her Amazon page and fill that Kindle. She also mentioned a number of other amazing novels I definitely recommend -- and anyone following me on social media right now knows that Leah Johnson's You Should See Me in a Crown is one of my top reads of 2020!
Don't Underestimate the Power of Black Fiction
Jasmine Guillory's Amazon page
June 24, 2020
Filling your TBR with my favorite romances right now...
Apologies in advance for overloading your Kindle with these new releases. But I can’t not share! Since moving up to Vermont for the summer, I’ve had more reading time — which has made my bookworm soul incredibly happy. And that means I can share the love stories making me VERY happy right now!
Just read and currently reading!
YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN: Five sparkling, hopeful stars for this YA, queer prom romance. It was perfection. Leah Johnson’s debut novel absolutely knocked it out of the park.
Alyssa Cole’s ONCE GHOSTED, TWICE SHY: Current read and I’m already obsessed. This is an F/F romance novella from the Reluctant Royals series (which I know is a fan favorite). Fabiola and Likotsi are as sexy as they are tender and romantic.
New releases!I’m a big fan of all of these authors so I one-clicked these immediately. Go forth and fill those Kindles!
Abe Royal is close. I promise.
The obsession with Abraham Royal is strong. Many readers have reached out to declare their love for Codex's stern, stoic silver fox (with a secret soft heart). Allow this to be my note of obsession to all of you: I AM OBSESSED WITH HIM.
Final line edits for IN THE CLEAR arrive in my inbox *today* and are due to my publisher on Friday (uhhhh what). And then I'll be able to start sharing release dates and cover reveals and blurbs and everything!
The third book in the Codex series is packed with some serious, sexy heat. Plus all the action and suspense you can expect when the Codex team arrives to save the day!
Watch this space. Abe Royal is near. I promise.
Meet Codex, a team of private detectives in Philadelphia with one vital mission: recover stolen rare books from museums and libraries. These detectives are equal parts literary nerds and undercover bad-asses. And their jobs take them deep into the glamorous world of rare book theft - a world of galas and auctions, wealth and intrigue, secret passageways and code words.
These romantic suspense novels are packed with fun action, mystery, twists and turns. Plus all the steamy tension and hot sex you've come to expect from a Kathryn Nolan romance (wink!) Like all of my books, the Codex series is free in Kindle Unlimited!
IN THE CLEAR (out this summer!) is the third book in the Codex series. These interconnected standalones are best read in order:
#1. BEHIND THE VEIL (Henry and Delilah): Hot librarian hero, butt-kicking heroine, fake marriage, opposites attract
#2: UNDER THE ROSE (Sam and Freya): Steamy rivals-to-lovers, nerdy heroine, FBI agent hero, second-chance-vibes
#3 IN THE CLEAR (Abe and Sloane): ** details coming soon!**
