Caridad Piñeiro's Blog, page 3
November 7, 2025
Thanksgiving Must-Have Dish
OMG, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I’m sure some of you are already thinking about the Thanksgiving dinner menu! That makes me wonder: What’s your must-have dish on the table? In our house, the must-have is my sister Carmen’s corn casserole recipe. It’s delicious and even better, it’s very easy to make! You can find the recipe at https://bit.ly/CarmenCornCasserole. P.S. Chef Carlo from NEVER A BRIDE probably has several must-have dishes for his family’s Thanksgiving table. Carlo is Emma’s Prince Charming, if she’d only open her eyes to see that! Grab your copy of NEVER A BRIDE at https://amzn.to/2MLZRyK.
November 6, 2025
Warming Up on a Cold Day
On the Jersey Shore, we’ve been lucky so far with our weather. It hasn’t been that cold, and in the sixties during the day. Warm enough to stroll along the boardwalk. I try to do that as much as I can before the weather gets too cold. When I get home, I like to warm up with a nice cup of tea! What about you? What’s your go-to drink to stay warm? P.S. In CLIFFSIDE KIDNAPPING, Sophie is really feeling the Colorado chill after years spent in Miami heat. She’d definitely grab a warm hot chocolate to chase away the chill. Well, that and handsome Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent Ryder Hunt. Grab your copy of Sophie’s story at https://amzn.to/3XkHtBr.
November 5, 2025
A little WIP help needed!
For today’s This or That, I’m asking for a little help on my latest WIP, which is the first book in the new Cold Case K-9 romantic suspense series. I’ve written myself into a corner and am trying to decide where to go next. The heroine’s mom has MS, and the stress of reopening the cold case and an attack at their home has triggered an episode. The mom is now in the hospital, and although the hero has a hotel room, he’s staying at the heroine’s home to make sure everyone is safe. However, another attack has occurred at the home, and it’s time for Mom to leave the hospital. Did I mention that without Mom at home, the attraction between the hero and heroine was impossible to deny? So, given the second attack and attraction, should Mom go home or to the hero’s hotel room? I know what I’m leaning toward doing, but would love to hear what you think! P.S. To meet the characters who have inspired the new series, grab your copy of COLD CASE K-9 today at https://amzn.to/41V8fCA.
November 4, 2025
Cold Case K-9 Teaser
This Teaser Tuesday, I’m sharing an excerpt from COLD CASE K-9, my December 30th release for Harlequin Intrigue. In this story, Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent Gabriella Ruiz believes that the recent kidnapping of a hiker is tied to her sister’s disappearance a decade earlier. She also believes it’s the work of a serial killer and so the race is on to save the hiker before she becomes the next victim. We loved the premise for this story so much that we’re doing a spinoff series in late 2026 where Gabriella and Crooked Pass Security help solve cold cases with the help of their new K-9 unit. Pre-order your copy today so you’ll have some run reading during the holidays and New Year! You can grab your copy at https://amzn.to/4oVqku8.
ExcerptThe early spring sun bathed her face as she stood on the mountain trail. She walked to the lip and peered down a nearby ravine to the creek at its base. Along the edges of the crystal-clear water, spring was coming alive with the first hints of green and purple. Before long, those little slips of color would unfurl into mountain bluebells and the tall, hairy leaves of cow parsnip.
In the trees nearby, bright green buds were bursting open as life returned to the Colorado mountains.
She loved this time of year that held so much promise.
Shielding her eyes against the sun, she glanced up the trail, reviewing how much farther she had to go before reaching the summit.
Not far, she thought, but the day was still early, and she didn’t want to rush her hike. She wanted to savor the day. Tomorrow she’d be trapped behind walls of glass and cement while at work.
Walking to the other side of the trail, a challenging one for more experienced hikers, she sat on a boulder warmed by the sun and laid her knapsack at her feet. Rummaging through it, she hauled out a baggie with trail mix to satisfy the hunger in her belly.
The snap of a branch behind her snared her attention.
Something dark and menacing charged at her before she could react.
Peanuts, chocolate and raisins went flying as she was slammed onto the ground.
The force of the impact drove her breath from her. Before she could take another breath, a gloved hand covered her mouth.
She fought for breath and freedom, but he was just too heavy. Too big. Too strong.
Circles of black whirled before her eyes. In her mind, a silent scream rang out.
I don’t want to die.
As the blackness thickened, taking her away, that small desperate voice pleaded.
Please, I don’t want to die.
November 3, 2025
Hands Up if you The Great British Baking Show
Hands Up if you The Great British Baking Show! I usually don’t post about controversial issues, but hubby and I just watched the Patisserie Week episode and could not believe who was sent home. SPOILERS AHEAD, so if you haven’t already watched this episode, you may want to stop reading at this point. We were so upset, we literally screamed at the TV! Granted, Toby, who is normally the star of the technical bake, really flubbed badly. But Aaron’s mousseline was curdled, and his macarons and show stopper were not the best. Paul seemed truly angry with Tom’s choice of the chocolate sculpture and was unimpressed with the bee macarons. Toby knocked his show stopper out of the park! So, if you watch the show, what did you think? Do you agree with the decision on who to send home?
November 1, 2025
Feliz dia de los Muertos
Feliz dia de los Muertos! The Day of the Dead is a holiday that’s traditionally celebrated throughout Mexico and by Mexicans in other countries. The holiday is a time to remember and honor friends and family members who are no longer with you. Families will build small altars with photos of their loved ones and decorate them with candles, marigolds, and offerings of things their loved ones liked, such as food or beverages. The day is also one to visit the graves and leave gifts for their deceased friends and family. P.S. If you love stories with spirits, you might like GHOST OF A CHANCE, a tale about a challenge to solve a murder that occurred on the Jersey Shore during Prohibition. Did I mention the ghost of the alleged murderer might be lingering around? Grab your copy at https://amzn.to/4nxAoYW.
October 18, 2025
Shifters or Vampires?
When I wrote The Calling is Reborn series, the hero was an intriguing Southern vampire. But I knew that as the series expanded, I’d have to add other otherworldly creatures. First came a Kiang-shi, a Chinese vampire. Then a Chupacabra. Finally, it was time to grow the world and bring in shifters. After all, if vampires could exist unknown in Manhattan, what about other creatures of the night? Which leads to today’s important question. If you had to choose, would you rather read a story with vampires or shifters? P.S. You can grab the first book in the THE CALLING IS REBORN series series for only 99 cents at https://amzn.to/3J0cHKQ. If you love spicier creatures of the night, take a bite of the novellas in the Dark Seduction series at https://amzn.to/4heXbrh.
October 17, 2025
Get the inside scoop on what’s hot, happening, and totally unmissable!
Get the inside scoop on what’s hot, happening, and totally unmissable by signing up for my newsletter! You’ll get personal insights on the life of an author, news on the latest and upcoming releases, and access to enter exclusive VIP newsletter giveaways, like this month’s giveaway! Sign up, open your newsletter, and follow the instructions for a chance to win this Sylvia Day messenger bag, keyring, earrings, autographed books, and lots of fun swag! Subscribe to get your scoop at https://bit.ly/CaridadsNewsletter.
October 16, 2025
Visit me at Coffee, Cupcakes, and Contemporaries
Big news, book lovers! I’m officially part of the Coffee, Cupcakes, and Contemporaries Facebook Book Club as a new contributor—and I couldn’t be more excited! Starting at 10 AM EST, I’ll be popping in with fun posts, juicy bookish chatter, and yes… giveaways! So grab your favorite brew, bring your sweet tooth, and come hang out with me! Let’s sprinkle some joy, share some stories, and celebrate all things contemporary romance. Ready to become a fellow Cupcake? I’ll see you there!
October 15, 2025
Fierce Heroines, Protective heroes, and Edge-of-your-seat Twists
If you love fierce heroines, protective heroes, and edge-of-your-seat twists—CLIFFSIDE KIDNAPPING may be the book for you. You’ll meet more of the Whitaker clan, including Sophie and Robbie’s parents. The Whitaker parents are smart and strong, which explains the amazing children they raised. In this excerpt, you first meet the Whitaker parents. You’ll understand where Sophie gets her fierce strength and intelligence, which she’ll need to solve their kidnapping and handle protective Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent Ryder Hunt. Hold on for an edge-of-your-seat teaser! There will be many more action-packed scenes in this book!
*****
Mercedes Gonzalez Whitaker relaxed in the passenger seat, appreciating the fresh pine scent wafting through the open window and the kaleidoscope of greens in the fields and mountains along the highway. The deep jewellike colors of the evergreens and lighter almost silvery gray of the aspens dotted the Colorado landscape. As dusk descended, the chill of night replaced the warmth of the day. So different from the heat and humidity of a Washington, D.C. June or the weather she’d experienced growing up in Miami.
It was why she loved coming out here for the annual gatherings with the Whitaker clan and why she and her husband, Robert, would sneak out in the fall to watch the changing of the foliage, especially the aspens, as large stands of the poplars painted the hillsides with streaks of gold. Robert had once told her how aspens grew via their roots, creating glades of clones that were all one living organism, sometimes acres in size.
Much like her Cuban Miami family had spread their roots and grown, the patriarchs standing tall in the center while their children and grandchildren became ever stronger and likewise prospered. She missed being around her sprawling and loving Gonzalez family. Robert loved spending time with them as well and maybe it was time to visit them soon.
Robert, she thought with a loving sigh and gazed at her husband as he drove.
The years have been kind to him. There were the barest hints of silver at his temples and the faintest smile lines at the corners of his bright hazel eyes. Handsome and he still stole her breath away.
Smiling, she reached over to brush the back of her hand across his cheek. It was sandpapery rough with the start of an evening beard.
He shot her a quick look from the corner of his eye. “Everything okay?”
“I was just thinking that when this is over, we should visit the family in Miami. Lately, I feel like we don’t spend enough time with them and with your family here in Colorado.”
Peering at her again, he said, “Maybe it’s time to consider retiring. It’ll give us more time with both families. We have enough years put in at the NSA, and those D.C. winters…”
He didn’t need to finish because they both hated the northeast cold and damp. Despite the fact they’d been living in the D.C. area and working for the National Security Agency for nearly thirty years, she often missed the warmth of Miami in wintertime and the palm trees decorated with Christmas lights.
“Maybe,” she said, closing her eyes and smiling as she imagined sitting poolside in December and, more importantly, spending time with her children and the rest of the Gonzalez family.
A hard jolt and the sudden swerve of their sedan jerked her from that pleasant daydream.
“What the—” Robert muttered and fought to keep the car under control as another more powerful blow threatened to drive them off the road.
Mercedes braced her hands on the dashboard and console as another shot against their rear bumper sent the nose of the vehicle toward a small ditch on the side of the highway.
Robert yanked the steering wheel hard, knuckles white with pressure. Miraculously, he kept the car from tumbling off the road.
She whirled in her seat to see a large black pickup behind them increase its speed and ram the back of their sedan again. Metal groaned and crunched as the pickup shoved the car toward the ditch.
“Rob?” she said. Fear gripped her as her husband frantically fought the wheel and accelerated away from the pickup.
The engine roared as he created a fragile distance, but then their assailant raced past them and clipped their front fender.
They said those last moments of your life passed in slow motion and Mercedes understood it now. Images of her children, husband and family slipped across her mind as the sedan flew off the edge of the road, seemingly floating in space for long minutes until the hood of the car smashed into the ditch.
Grab your copy today at:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/40DMYhB
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3V2Yyzt
Amazon Audible: https://amzn.to/4hu613U
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/cliffside-kidnapping/id6633434276
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cliffside-kidnapping-caridad-pi-eiro/1146170674
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cliffside-kidnapping
Additional Retailers: https://books2read.com/CliffsideKidnapping
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