Mimi Barbour's Blog: Believe!, page 24

Join us to celebrate the day of Romance by writers of Romance!! #mgfpf #Valentines

Valentine's Day Party
Facebook Event 
Mimi's Gang - Author's Billboard




The Author's Billboard members are having a Facebook Party for Valentine's Day on Feb 21stfrom 10am EST to 3pm and we would love to see you there. 


***Besides our grand sale on Pinterest where you'll find bargains galore, there will be lots of free books gifted to lucky commenters.


***Prizes will be donated by some of the authors to participants.


***And you will get to interact with many of your favorite writers who create the stories that you enjoy.

***Do you like to hold a paperback in your hand when you’re reading a favorite book? If so, you’ll want to win one of the two I’ll be gifting as prizes for a lucky lady!!!




























***This gorgeous pin has been donated by Mimi Barbour for those who sign up for her newsletter between now and Monday at midnight - see side panel for sign-in!!








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Romancing the Scottish Highlands - just one plot in 12 exciting Valentine stories!! @HelenScotttaylo #12kisses

I'm so excited to be in the Hearts & Kisses boxed set with Mimi and the other talented authors. What a great line up for Valentine's Day reading!
My contribution to the box is a story from my Army Doctor series. This series started off set in England and Afghanistan but moved on to the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. The Mackenzie family is a proud, noble Scottish family with a tradition of serving in the British Army.
In the Army Doctor's Valentine's Baby , I tell the eldest brother, Duncan Mackenzie's, story. He will eventually inherit the family home—a majestic Scottish castle standing at the head of a loch. In the meantime, he works as an army doctor, while trying to help manage his family estate.
He's almost given up on the chance of love, but, of course, love finds you when you're least expecting it.
The Army Doctor's Valentine's Baby



The chemistry between Captain Naomi Gray and her commanding officer, Colonel Duncan Mackenzie, sizzles, but her past means she has no use for relationships or family, and he won't date women under his command. During a week at Duncan's Scottish castle, caring for a tiny newborn baby, they fight their attraction. Can a sweet newborn who needs a mother and father bring them together?
5 ***** Review for this book: I highly Recommend this author ~ reviewed by AWK
I must say that now I am hooked on Helen Scott Taylor’s books. I have now read all of the Army Doctor series and I am captivated by how real her characters are. Her descriptions of the characters in the story as well as their surroundings are so vivid that you feel that you are part of the story plot. The romance in each of her novels is at just the right setting, without venturing into the risqué. Love each one of her characters and liked the fact that I was able to follow them in each of her subsequent novels. I have now begun the Sweet Italian Christmas Book series and am really enjoying reading it. I grew up in Italy and it brings back all kinds of good memories

Once I begin reading each of her books I can't put them down till I get to the last page. When I do that, I am filled with mixed emotions because there is always a happy ending and, yet, I am sad because I have reached the end of the book. Well...that's when I pick up the next one where the saga continues with some of the same characters of the original story I read. Can't wait to read her other books...



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Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful, long-suffering husband, she shares her home with a Westie and a burmilla cat. There are currently seven books in Helen's Army Doctor series. Find Helen on FaceBook and Twitter, or visit her website to find out more about her books.

The author of Serendipity Falls Series - just that title rings bells!! @PatriceWilton #12kisses

Hi Everyone! It's so great to be here on BELIEVE , my wonderful friend's fun and entertaining blog. Mimi and I--both Canadians from the beautiful west coast, Vancouver area--first met as co-authors for our TEN BRIDES FOR TEN HEROES collection, and then again for TEN CHRISTMAS BRIDES.
We loved working together, scratching our head occasionally as we wondered why in the world we'd ever signed up to do this in the first place, and then a second later agreeing to another big box set. Now, I'm sure both of us our addicted, and who wouldn't be? Imagine the excitement and chills and thrills we get on release day!
   We work hard to get there--Mimi with securing us all the very best promo sites available, me as her backup man, and banker for the first two groups. After release day we get to sit back for a crazy week of twitter parties and Facebook events, and a million other things we never considered, all to make the hot best-selling lists! Which we did, thanks to all our fabulous readers! That's you. Your time to take a bow!!
         So here we are --teamed up again for our exciting 12 book VALENTINE BOOK, HEART & KISSES!

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 Please let me introduce you to LOVE STRUCK, my full length story for this collection. 
   LOVE STRUCK is the third and final book in my the best selling SERENDIPITY FALLS Series. Each book stands alone, but builds on each other. I was so delighted to be able to offer this for our HEART & KISSES, 12 book Valentine collection.
 Serendipity is a charming small town in the foothills of Mammoth, California. There's a wedding a month and divorces are non existent. When the series started, we had out-of-towners flocking in on weekends to visit and perhaps find love, speculating on whether it is the natural spring water or something in the air, causing the mad rush to the alter.
   In Book Two, a news reporter is in town to do a story on the "Love Bug" theory and discovers gold behind the falls instead. Now, in LOVE STRUCK, we have busloads of people coming in weekly--some come searching for gold, others to snare themselves a husband by Valentine's Day. No man is safe, and the perfect, pristine town is destroyed.
   Cupid has thrown up his hands in despair. Until people learn what love is, he will no longer meddle and unite couples in matrimonial bliss. With a heavy heart he watches the shenanigans, and trusts that common sense will prevail and true love will conquer.
  PROLOGUE
 I'm Cupid, and for those who don't know about me, I reside in what used to be a beautiful little town in the foothills of Mammoth, California, called Serendipity Falls. You have to forgive me for being less upbeat than usual, but my heart is broken. This once idyllic town has been overrun by people who have no concept of the true meaning of love. For the past several years I took great joy uniting couples in matrimonial bliss, and was very proud of the fact that while weddings abounded, divorces became extinct. Then my ego got the better of me, and I drew attention to myself. People flocked to Serendipity Falls to find love and the truth behind the so called 'love bug' in the spring water. Of course, you and I know that no such bug existed--it was just me up to my old tricks.
   The news carried wide and far, and reporters came to our neck of the woods, eager to learn what the phenomenon was about--this wedding fever that drove strangers toward the altar. Oh, I had been so proud. Even won the National Cupid for Excellence three years running.
   So what am I complaining about, you ask? Well, last year one of these reporters fell in love with one of our local girls. Yes, I had a little hand in that. I'm not sorry and make no apologies either. They were right for each other, and I never--not once--unite couples who are not a perfect match.
   Well, this young buck didn't discover any 'love bug'--instead he discovered gold behind the falls. His story drew national attention and opened up an unsavory can of worms. People flocked to our little paradise, men seeking their fortune in gold--women seeking husbands.
   This is where my ambling story takes an unfortunate turn.  You see-the women are desperate and have resorted to the most unladylike behavior--fighting one another, setting traps for men. Hundreds arrive by busloads each month, and with Valentine's Day approaching, I fear a thousand more will get here soon.
   The sad truth is that they have no idea what love is. The meaning of love has been forgotten, or perhaps in some cases, never learned.
   With a heavy heart, I watch and pray that common sense will prevail and the crazy antics will stop. Until that day happens, I am going to retire my trusty bow and arrow. I want no part of this.        
   Love cannot be forced. It cannot be controlled. It cannot be tricked, or trapped. Love is setting someone free, and wanting that person's happiness more than their own. It is unselfish. It is considerate and caring. And it is the essence of joy.
When those lessons have been learned I will embrace my love making skills again, but until then silence will be my answer.  
 EXCERPT
 Kyle shrugged his shoulders, easing some of the tension. "I'm starting to hate it here. I never thought I would say that, but it's true. The place isn't the same anymore. It's become ugly, a town full of vultures."
  "How can you say that? It's absolutely the most beautiful place on earth. With the exception of the men spray painting me, that is. Everyone else has been friendly."
   "It's dangerous for a man like me. I know you don't get it, but even Devon finally saw it." He shuddered at the memory of Blondie and the lollipop.
   "Saw what?"
   "Women flanked me this morning at Costco, while I was buying supplies for the bar. They circled me like wolves."
   She laughed, and then seeing he was serious, her smile faded. "How bad was it?"
   "Pretty bad. One of them grabbed my ass and chased after us as we left the store."
   "I have a Karate belt. Want me to be your protector? Since we're almost friends, I mean."
   "I don't need a woman protecting me," he growled.
   She glanced at him and then away. "You wouldn't need to worry. I don't want to drag your cute ass into bed, or tear your clothes off, or do you every which way but Sunday. I'm done with men for now. I have a young son to raise, and he's the only guy I need. You're perfectly safe with me." She wiped her hands on the front of her jeans, and said again, "Almost friends. And you're a man who needs a fake girlfriend. I could pretend to be if you wanted."
    He frowned. Fake girlfriend? "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think it's such a hot idea."
   "I get it." She put her hand on the door handle, ready to slide out of the jeep. "It’s too bad you're unhappy here, Kyle. Most people are bubbling over with happiness-even your own family. It must really be hard to see."
   "It didn't use to be this way, but yeah, it's no fun anymore. I can't even date."  A real pity party was starting to form. Her sweet compassion might be his undoing.
   "Maybe you should stop fighting it and go with the flow. Fall madly in love. Get married. Be Serendipity happy."
   He turned toward her, and held her gaze. Serendipity happy? What the hell did that mean? "Kiss me now."
   "What did you say?" Sam gasped and brought her fingers to her lower lip. She had one hand on the car door.    
   "I said, ‘Kill me now.’" Kyle clenched and unclenched his grip on the steering wheel as tension rippled through him.
   "No, you didn't." She didn’t move.
   "What do you think I said?" His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. She was all big-eyed, her cheeks flushed; probably the prettiest girl he'd ever seen.
   "You said, kiss me now. Not kill me. Kiss me." She dropped her hand to her lap. "Do you want me to?"
   "No! That's the last thing I want. Especially since we're almost friends.” He swallowed, his mouth dry. “Besides, you're so beautiful that it would really be a crazy ass thing to do."
   "Is that the only reason?" she asked in a soft voice. "You wouldn't be scared, would you?"
   "Of what?" He scoffed, although his skin felt prickly and hot. "You don't want me in your bed, and you don't want to marry me, so I'm about as safe as I am with my sister."
   "That's true. But I'm not your sister."
   Big cornflower blue eyes gazed at him. Was that an invitation in her gaze? What happened to "almost friends?" He glowered at her. "What does that mean?"
   "It means I wouldn't mind kissing you. Haven't kissed a man in a couple of years, and it's probably better than killing you. I think."
   She smiled, inching closer, and he groaned, feeling his jeans get tight. The urge grew too strong to resist, even for a man like himself. Being mortal had its drawbacks.
   "Come here," he growled, reaching a hand out and pulling her head toward him. "Just one. Only one. That's all you get."
   "Okay." She closed her eyes and leaned in. "Make it good."


Patrice Wilton was born in Vancouver, Canada, and knew from the age of twelve that she wanted to be a writer. She became a flight attendant for 17 years, then moved to Australia, and England, before settling in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty books, including her successful romantic comedy, "Candy Bar series", and Serendipity Falls Series, and returning war heroes, published by Amazon Montlake.
When she's not writing, you might find her on the tennis court, or hitting golf balls with her PGA pro husband.
Contacts:Twitter: @patricewilton Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrice.wilton?fref=tsWebsite: http://patricewilton.com/ Blog:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806225.Patrice_Wilton/blog                                         

A Release Bash that you don't want to miss!!! #12kisses

Hearts & Kisses

https://www.facebook.com/events/1518880381707347  
Price: $0.99
 Genre: Contemporary/Holiday RomanceRelease Date: February 10, 2015


Just in time for Valentine’s Day, twelve New York Times, USA Today, National bestselling and award-winning authors deliver a dozen contemporary romance novels and novellas packed with drama, suspense, love and laughter. From the Highlands of Scotland to the Hollywood hills, twelve strong heroines meet twelve hot heroes in tales that span the globe. Whether you crave big-city adventure or small-town romance, second chance stories, or sexy single dads...this outstanding collection holds something special for you. Come be our Valentine, and snuggle up with these sweet and steamy romances, perfect for reading on a chilly winter’s eve. Happy ever afters guaranteed.


Heart Tamer (Heartthrob Series Novella)
by Sophia Knightly , New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Fashion designer Kate Hayes must somehow convince her estranged ex-husband, Alec MacLeod, to agree to an unusual request. In this fiery second chance at love, whose heart will be tamed?

The Sometime Bride
by Ginny Baird , New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Carrie St. John is done with wedding disasters. Third time’s the charm? A jilted bride and a ditched bachelor cut a “fake fiancé” deal.

The Surrogate’s Secret
by Mimi Barbour , USA Today and National bestselling author

Confirmed bachelor, Miguel, forces his dead brother’s gorgeous, headstrong surrogate to marry him so he can take her and her twins to Chile to cheer his ailing mamita.

Breaking the Rules
by Mel Curtis , USA Today and National bestselling, award-winning author

The Gordon’s marriage has been an emotional rollercoaster, but Jack has the solution–lock them inside a safe room for a cool-down, which turns out to be hot.

Take Me, I’m Yours
by Donna Fasano , USA Today bestselling author

Sexy single dad Derek learned the hard way to never trust a beautiful woman. So although he is indebted to Lainey for thwarting a kidnapping attempt on his daughter, he isn’t about to offer her his heart on a silver platter!

Valentine Babies
by Mona Risk , USA Today and National bestselling author

Getting involved with fearless reporter, Roxanne, involves more complications than Dr. Greg has ever faced in the OR.

The Army Doctor’s Valentine’s Baby
by Helen Scott Taylor , USA Today and National bestselling author

An abandoned baby brings two lonely army doctors together.

The Rock Star’s Wedding
by Ari Thatcher , USA Today and National bestselling author

Kenzie’s vacation in St. Thomas heats up when her high school sweetheart and rock star heartthrob Chaz appears. If only he wasn’t there for his wedding.

Love Struck
by Patrice Wilton , USA Today bestselling author

With the “love bug myth” and discovery of gold, Serendipity Falls is no longer safe. Can Samantha and Kyle find a way to end this madness, or will they too be swept away by love?

Ambrosia by the Sea
by Traci Hall , National bestselling and award-winning author

After a bitter betrayal by her late husband, self-taught chef Celia Langdon moves to the sea, where dive shop owner Dax Smith dares her to heal from the heart.

Reading Between the Lines
by Anna J Stewart , National bestselling author

When Ethan Sutherland was in high school, he’d go to any lengths to hide his secret, including betraying the one girl who tried to help him. Now he’s back in town and hoping Cassidy Wells finds it in her heart to forgive him.

No Perfect Destiny
by Jackie Weger , National bestselling and award-winning author

Leah Spencer lives in the present until one sun-drenched day, her troubled past imperils the future and threatens all she holds dear.


Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AUBarnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Google Play Books

Sophia Knightly
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sophia Knightly, loves to cook up hot romance and delicious humor in her feel-good stories. Whether it's romantic suspense, romantic comedy or chick lit, her books are fun and sexy contemporary romances that feature hot alpha heroes and strong, smart women.

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Ginny Baird
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Ginny Baird has published novels in print and online and received screenplay options from Hollywood for her family and romantic comedy scripts. She writes touching, often humorous, contemporary romance about single women facing everyday challenges. Known for featuring holidays and family themes in her work, Ginny frequently portrays the struggles of single parents or others who've given up on finding true love.

Ginny has two ongoing novella series, The Holiday Brides Series (holiday romance) and The Summer Grooms Series (summer romance), as well as additional single titles available. She is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, a Top 10 Best Seller on Kindle, NOOK and iBooks, and a #1 Best Seller in several Romance and Women's Fiction categories. Visit Ginny's website at www.ginnybairdromance.com to learn more about her and her books.

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Mimi Barbour
Mimi Barbour is an Amazon best-selling author who's sold over 500,000 copies of her books world-wide. Her five romance series: The Vicarage Bench/ time travel at it's best, Angels with Attitudes / angels love romance, Vegas / fast-paced plotting, Elvis / make a song a book and her newest, Undercover FBI / with sizzling conflicts and lots of humor.

Mimi's been heard to say: "I'm an author who loves to read uplifting stories about romance. Add in some time travel, or maybe an angel, or even a little romantic suspense and it makes the story more fascinating because of the incredible possibilities."

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Melinda Curtis Award winning, USA Today bestseller Melinda Curtis writes fun, steamy romances as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Sharp, sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age except a lot hotter.”  Melinda also writes sweet romances - the Harmony Valley series for Harlequin Heartwarming, and the sweet romantic comedy Bridesmaid series. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my keeper shelf."
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Donna Fasano USA Today Bestselling Author Donna Fasano is the author of over 30 romance and women's fiction titles. Her award-winning books have been described as "emotional," "heartwarming," and "simply wonderful!" Over the course of her 25 year career, she has sold 4 million books worldwide. BigAl from BooksAndPals.com says, "Donna Fasano is a keen observer of human nature and creates characters that ring true to life."
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Mona Risk
USA Today Bestselling Author, Mona Risk, recently received an Outstanding Achiever Award from Affaire de Coeur Magazine. Her name has often been posted on the Amazon.com 100 Most Popular Authors in Romance list. She's a two time winner of Best Contemporary Romance of the Year from Readers Favorite; a winner of Best Romance Novel of the Year from Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; and an EPIC Award finalist.
Her contribution to Valentine Hearts and Kisses is Valentine Babies.

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Helen Scott Taylor
USA Today bestselling author, Helen Scott Taylor, writes sweet contemporary romance set in the UK and Europe. Her contribution to Hearts & Kisses is The Army Doctor's Valentine's Baby, part of her Army Doctor's series.

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Ari Thatcher
Ari Thatcher is the “naughty name” of USA Today Bestselling sweet romance author Aileen Fish. Ari has always loved sexy romance where love takes the leading role. Reviews have called her work “captivating” and “compelling”, and her characters “intelligent, intriguing and realistic.”

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Patrice Wilton
Patrice Wilton is a USA Today and National best selling author of more than 20 books. Her best known series include The Candy Bar Series, Serendipity Falls series, and her returning war hero series, A HERO LIES WITHIN, HANDLE WITH CARE and AT FIRST SIGHT.

She lives in West Palm Beach with her retired PGA golf pro husband, and plays tennis and golf when she's not writing fun, sexy romance stories. She loves emails and will answer everyone the same day.

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Traci Hall With an impressive bibliography in an array of genres and boasting #1 bestseller status on Amazon.com, Traci Hall has garnered a notable fan base. She pens stories guaranteed to touch the heart while transporting the reader to another time and place. Her belief in happily ever after shines through, whether it's a romantic glimpse into history or a love affair for today.
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Anna J. Stewart National bestselling author Anna J. Stewart can't remember a time she didn't have a book in her hands or a story in her head. Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek andWonder Woman set her on the path to creating fun, funny, and family centric romances with happy endings for her independent heroines for both Harlequin and Berkley. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious Supernatural & Sherlock addiction, surrounds herself with friends and family, and tolerates an overly affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps it's Snickers who tolerates her). 
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Jackie Weger
An internationally published author, Jackie Weger has been writing romance novels off and on for thirty years. When not writing Jackie is traveling the good earth by foot, train, boat, plane, mule and pickup. Ports of call include London and Paris, Panama and Costa Rica during which she collects memories, friends, fans and experiences—all of  which often make appearances in her novels.

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My Friend, Author Mona Risk, uses Real News for Inspiration!! @MonaRisks #12kisses

Internet and TV often report news of combat scenes in foreign countries, explosion, kidnapping, and similar depressing scenes. Our hearts go to the military men and women fighting for freedom and human rights around the world. I have also been impressed by the courage and will-power of the journalists who have not been trained to carry weapons and defend themselves and yet travel to these war-zones to collect news. Have you noticed how many are reported killed or missing?

While reading about these reporters, I imagined a fearless young woman attacked by ruffians in Baghdad and saved by an Iraqi officer. A friendship develops between the dashing officer and the lovely foreigner. He falls in love. Back to the U.S. she realizes their cultures and mentalities are too different. As is often common in these unstable areas, explosions happen claiming young lives, and she is left with the memories built during difficult time, the friendship of his family, and maybe a stronger reality that will never allows her to forget the foreign officer...even when she meets her true love.

Getting involved with fearless reporter, Roxanne, involves more complications than Dr. Greg has ever faced in the OR.
VALENTINE BABIES, an emotional romance novel sprinkled with humor, is Book 2 in Holiday Babies and has garnered over 70 reviews, EPIC’s Ebook Award Finalist, and a Gold Medal Best Contemporary Romance Novel at Readers Favorite.


VALENTINE BABIES is my contribution to the HEARTS and KISSES box on pre-order at various venues:


A Valentine's Day Special for readers who love romance.12  heart-wrenching stories by 12 talented authorsto be released 
February 10th

 On Pre-order here:
99 CENTS
AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  iBOOKS  KOBO GOOGLE PLAY 



***Please Join our Facebook Event on Feb 11th - lots of fun & prizes:https://www.facebook.com/events/1518880381707347


Mona Risk is pleased to announce that her new book WEDDING SURPRISEis on pre-order on Amazon.com, Kobo, Nook, iTunes.
“Mona Risk knows how to pull a reader into the minds of her well-crafted characters. Her work takes us on a journey be it local or overseas.”~Night Owl Reviews.
A USA Today Bestselling Author, Mona Risk, has garnered an Outstanding Achiever 2013 Award at Affaire de Coeur Magazine. She’s also a Best Romance Novel winner at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; Two-Time winner of Best Contemporary Romance Novel at Readers Favorite, EPIC’s Ebook Award Finalist, and is in the Kindle Top 100 Bestselling Author.
Contacts for Mona:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonaRisk Website: www.monarisk.com Blog: www.monarisk.com

Sink or Swim Time: Diving into the Deep End of the Publishing Pool by Anna J Stewart @ajstewartwriter

I want to introduce a new friend of mine to Believe! One I'm tickled to share with youas she's featured with me in the new, upcoming St. Valentine Day release
Hearts & Kisses.

And... she's a wonderful author!
  


Hi everyone.  Thanks so much to Mimi for hosting me on her blog! So excited to be here. 

Although I'm a long-time writer, I'm a newbie to the publishing world.  After numerous years (too many to count) of working my way up the ranks, 2015 is shaping up to be the year I've been waiting for.  I got an early start late last year with my first published Harlequin work, CHRISTMAS, ACTUALLY (11/14) and am gearing up for my very first single title contemporary romance release through Berkley InterMix with ASKING FOR TROUBLE (the first in my Tremayne Family Romances).  Having the opportunity to participate in a boxed set with these talented authors is yet another dream come true for me.  I'm so honored READING BETWEEN THE LINES is included in HEARTS & KISSES (can you believe the .99 price?!).

READING BETWEEN THE LINES isn't a story I'd planned to write. In fact, the idea didn't even percolate in my brain until late last year when fellow author Melinda Curtis suggested I branch out and stretch my publishing wings. A year ago, heck, a few months ago, the idea of self-publishing was positively petrifying, but here I am!  I might be wearing floaties, but I'm in the pool! Look at me go! <splash zone>

The reason for my dive off the ledge? Well, with my single titles (3 so far) coming out five to 6 months apart, Melinda advised me I needed a bridge between stories, something to keep my (hopefully growing) audience anxious for the next books. Thus the Lantano Valley Novellas were born.  

While these novellas don't feature the main characters in my Berkley books (but they are referenced!), this special group of friends who belong to a book group will each get their happily ever after in the same southern California town of Lantano Valley over the next year.  Cassidy Wells and Ethan Sutherland--former high school sweethearts are about to find their way back to each other--get the series off the ground, providing eternal loner Cassidy can find the strength to forgive Ethan for what was, to her, a heart-breaking betrayal.  I'm all about the HEA, but boy these two were tough to wrangle.

To say the idea of this story came easy would be lying. In fact, I had no clue what their story was going to be until I saw some images my cover designer (the amazing Annissa Turpin-Giannone) was thinking of using.  The instant I saw the photo (I just love this couple), the story exploded in my head and I couldn't get the words out fast enough. Sometimes being a writer is pure magic (other days...).


Cassidy was a bit of a new type of character for me to tackle.  Her history is less than pleasant and she dealt with issues no child should ever have to face. She might be stronger because of her past, but she's also incredibly mistrusting, which makes forgiveness all the more challenging. Ethan had his own set of difficulties, nothing on the scale of what Cassidy faced, but complicated nonetheless.  Watching these two come around and see life from the others' point of view, where they learn to let go of the past and, however terrifying the idea, move into the future with hope instead of skepticism was incredibly rewarding. When I closed the file and hit send  I was already thinking about the next novella.  But first I'll be venturing into ASKING FOR TROUBLE (on sale 2/17 wherever eBooks are sold). I'd be thrilled if you'd stop by Lantano Valley for a visit...or perhaps an extended stay.  The more people in the pool the better!
Happy reading!
Anna J


Anna J. Stewart can't remember a time she didn't have a book in her hands or a story in her head.
Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek and Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating fun, funny, and family centric romances with happily ever afters for the independent heroines she writes for Harlequin and Berkley. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious Supernatural & Sherlock addiction, surrounds herself with friends and family and tolerates an overly affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps it's Snickers who tolerates her).
Visit Anna online at:www.authorannastewart.com  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAJStewarthttps://twitter.com/AJStewartWriter
https://www.pinterest.com/AnnaJStewart/

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Hearts & Kisses
A Valentine's Day Special for readers who love romance.12  heart-wrenching stories by 12 talented authorsto be released February 10th



 On Pre-order here:
99 CENTS
AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  iBOOKS  KOBO GOOGLE PLAY 

~~~~~

Meet my friend @RPDahlke - She's on an #Amazon Countdown!

Back Page Blurb:

Marooned in Baja, Mexico, a Chechen arms dealer is waiting for the right diver to retrieve the deadly cargo on the bottom of the Sea of Cortez. But when the Queen of daytime drama, Leila Hunter Standiford, happens to admire a beautiful vintage Alden and it's handsome captain, she doesn't realize that the boat will soon burn to the water line, or that a dead body will be found below, or that the captain has been targeted as a sacrificial diver.

AMAZON US   AMAZON UK   UNIVERSAL
 Five-star review (1 of 45) ***** It Just Keeps Getting More Exciting! By Lesley A. Diehl Format:Kindle EditionHurricane Hole is the second book in Dahlke's sailing trilogy. Like her other books, she brings to the reader a compelling protagonist, the kind of woman men love and the kind of woman women would love to be. Leila is beautiful, smart, sexy and likeable. When she meets Ari, the two are drawn to one another, but the secrets each holds may tear apart their relationship. Dahlke has an unique ability to develop characters, good and bad, that are more than stereotypes. I've come to love Gabe, the bad good boy or is it good bad guy who makes Leila's life aboard somewhat of a challenge.

As with the first book in the sailing trilogy she draws on her own cruising experience to make the backdrop of the book a sailing community in Mexico. There's enough sophisticated sailing information to make the seasoned mariner like the read, but not so much that someone without that knowledge is bored.

Who can't relate to warm blue waters and sunny skies, but the search for a killer is made tenser by the impending hurricane that threatens this paradise. Dahlke then ups the ante by plunging her heroine and hunky, sexy hero into the churning waters of the storm.

This is an entertaining, exciting read with just enough romance to make your toes curl and enough action to keep you up all night reading it.


Excerpt:Chapter One    With negotiations for her contract at All My Tomorrows on spin cycle, Leila Hunter Standiford figured a week in sunny Mexico on the family sailboat would be just the thing she needed to soothe her jittery nerves. Besides, her sister was already aboard and the boat was docked in a swanky Ensenada marina. They could shop, swim, or lounge by the pool and drink margaritas. Her decision made, she threw a few items in a tote bag and hopped on a plane. Even though her sister had been glad to see Leila, Katy Hunter was already making arrangements to go back to her job in San Francisco. Home was not on Leila's agenda. Go back to L.A. so she could fidget while her producers dithered over her contract? What if they didn't give her the raise? What if they refused to sign the contract? What if her only movie deals were for supporting roles as somebody's mother? All she needed was a little shadowing along the planes of her face, and anyone would think she was fifty instead of thirty-eight. No. She wouldn't go back. Not yet. Not when she had sun and sea and a boat to enjoy. She needed this vacation, and if Katy wasn't going to use the boat, then she would. She'd take a week, maybe two, sail down to Cabo. So what if she hadn't handled a boat for a few years? Gabe Alexander, who had lived south of the border for the last twenty years, said he'd help her sail. Even after Katy filled her in about his history, Leila thought him funny and charming, and besides, he offered to do the cooking. So, continuing in a long line of impetuous moves, she invited him along. Now, after ten days cooped up in her small Westsail, they were on the east side of Baja, anchored in the bay of Puerto Felice. Leila had every expectation that Gabe would willingly find another place to stay, get a job, a life, anything, as long as she could move the boat into a marina and make arrangements to have it trucked home. But Gabe was procrastinating, probably because he didn't have the requisite passport.  With her frustration level rising, she stomped off to where the cruising fleet's dinghies were tethered like restless ponies. Gabe, following behind her, grumbled something unintelligible. Leila stopped mid-stride, anger rippling across her beautiful features. "I did all the grocery shopping so you could buy some decent clothes, and you come back with a shirt that smells like diesel?" He lifted the collar and sniffed. "I guess the guy stowed them in his bilge. Did I tell you he sailed all the way from Hawaii in his catamaran?" "And all he had left was the one shirt that screamed tourist?" "Hey! I look good in this shirt. The color brings out the aqua in my eyes." But attention was the last thing he needed, and they both knew it.     RP Dahlke contacts: Website Facebook Twitter   ~    ~

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Broken Legacy by Colleen ConnallyFragmented by Colleen Connally
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The truth is - you must promote! Can you handle the truth?? #mgfpf

So, in my last two blogs I've tried to explain that you have to join Social Media and promote yourself and your work to gain readers... and therefore be financially successful. Sounds like a pat phrase, doesn't it? Like it’s so  easy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Thankfully, as we all know, once a person makes up their minds to learn something new, it might take a few mistakes, a lot of “how-to” questions on Google and uTube, even begging for help from friends, but you will learn. (p.s. Google - has saved my bacon so many times when something makes no sense. Same with the videos on uTube. Use them – they’re wonderful tools!)

Next suggestion is to teach yourself as much as you can about the promo and social media sites you've decided to tackle. They've become very user friendly, so don’t over-think! Read the help sections, the rules and click buttons. Open everything you can find and become as familiar with the pages as possible.

Then once you've tackled the main sites, be active. The amount of time and energy you’re willing to spend will eventually pay off, so force yourself.

Now that you’ve gotten more familiar in this world, find yourself an small active group or start one yourself. I’m not just saying this because it sounds like a good idea; I’ve actually followed my own advice. A while back, I started a group called Mimi’s Gang. From the beginning, we decided to only invite members from the list of authors who worked together in the old days for the FreePartays.

Knowing that we wanted active people who were willing to work collectively with a “pass it on” attitude, I’m happy to tell you it’s working really well. I’m also sad to say, we've turned away many others who want to belong. But the rules were set and we all agreed they were necessary. A small, tight group will be much more effective and manageable.

Just so you know, we've formed under Author's Billboard, set up a Facebook Page (please like us if you come to visit), a Blog we all share. We’re promoting together on Pinterest and have had some success. We’re also organizing a Facebook event for Valentine’s Day. And I’m happy to say, most of our group are involved. We've set up a hashtag on Twitter #mgfpf so we can retweet each other’s tweets and that has been successful in finding all of us new followers.

Let’s face it, when you’re in a group, your exposure is multiplied in as many directions as your people take you and that is a heck of a lot more immeasurable than anything you can do yourself.

So… that’s it.

*** In case you haven't seen these wonderful promo lists, I'm including them here for you to check out!!


http://www.readersintheknow.com/list-of-book-promo-sites 

http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/promo-sites.html 
Good luck!

Meet my wonderful friend and fabulous author @RebeccaYork43 #NWTimes #USAToday

Assignment Danger by Rebecca York Series: Off-World, #4Genre: Paranormal Science FictionRelease Date: January 26, 2015



Jack Younger agrees to risk his life when he takes on a dangerous undercover assignment. He doesn’t count on his old love, Sophia DeAngelo ending up in the middle of the action. What if he has to choose between fulfilling his mission and saving her life?



Jack flew across the floor, grabbing Sophia and dragging her back into the room. But she didn't go quietly.

As soon as she landed on the rough boards, her leg shot out, and her foot connected with his kneecap.

He struggled not to cry out in pain and clue in the men downstairs that something unplanned was going on up here. He pulled Sophia to the floor, where she wrenched herself away and pressed her back against the wall, her legs pulled up, ready to kick him again if he came near her. He feigned toward her, then leaped back, catching her with her legs straight out and throwing himself on top of her.

She scratched at his face and arms, and if he hadn't cared what happened to her, he could have beaten the tar out of her. But he was trying his damnedest to keep from hurting her while keeping her from doing him serious damage.

Even when he pressed her to the floor, she kept fighting, trying to kick and scratch him again.

“For Fate’s sake, stop it, Sophia.”

But it seemed that desperation kept her from listening.

Panting, he clamped his arms around her torso. His fingers twined around her wrists; his legs pressed hers inward.

Still she tried to heave him off as he lay on top of her, breathing hard, his arms and face bleeding and his knee throbbing.

“Stop,” he ordered, all too aware of her body under his. He’d left the room to put some distance between them. Now he felt her breasts pressing against his chest, the womanly curve of her hips. His cock nestled in the valley between her thighs. He’d vowed not to touch her up here. Too bad her gyrations sent fire burning through him.


“If you keep fighting me, I’ll have to knock you out,” he growled.

She shot him a poisonous look, but at least she stopped her efforts to disable him.

“Sophia, for Fates’ sake, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You could have let me go when we were still in Port City.”

“You know that was impossible. They weren't going to leave a witness alive.”
“They still can’t, can they?”

“No.”

“Then what are you planning?”

“You’re not making it easy to plan anything. I need your cooperation.”

“I’d give my cooperation to Jake Bolton. How can I trust Jack Younger?”

He dragged in a breath and let it out, still trying not to jeopardize his assignment. In frustration, he bit out, “Sophia, what in Hades do you want me to do?”

Her voice was hard and her words direct. “You could stop lying to me.”

He closed his eyes, caught in a trap of his own making. He had tried to play this by the rules as he knew them, but it wasn't working. Not with Sophia.

“All right, I’m a Federation agent. On an undercover assignment.”

She laughed. “Nice try.”

“You asked for the truth. That is the truth. The men downstairs are terrorists trying to overthrow the government. And if they find out I’m a lawman, we’re both going into a sucking sandpit in the swamp. That’s why I couldn't say anything to you. You had to stay scared of me.”

He raised his head again, his eyes locking with hers.

“They said you were on Ameti,” she whispered.

“Yeah. To get a confession from another inmate. I thought I was done with playing criminal, but my boss thought my cover was too good to drop.” His harsh laugh pressed his body more painfully to hers.

“That’s quite a story.”

“It’s the truth. I hope you believe it, because I've had all I can take of holding you down.”

Making a decision that he prayed wasn't fatal, he let go of her hands and rolled to his back where he lay on the floor, staring up at the water-stained ceiling as he waited to find out what she would do now.

Long seconds ticked by before she sat up, staring down at him as though she still couldn't decide what to believe.

He lay where he was, his breath frozen in his lungs hoping she could shift a hundred and eighty degrees in her thinking—from Jack Younger scumbag to Jack Younger Federation agent.

When she sat up and lifted her hand toward his face, his body prepared for fight or flight.


Amazon
The Off-World Series
Hero's Welcome - Book #1 Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble Nightfall - Book #2 Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble Conquest - Book #3 Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble Christmas Home - Christmas Short Story Amazon Off World Collection - Books #1 - #3 Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

A New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-selling and award-winning author, Rebecca has written over 145 books and novellas. In 2011 she became the dozenth author to receive the Romance Writers of America Centennial Award for having written 100 romantic novels. Her Killing Moon was a launch title for Berkley’s Sensation imprint in June 2003. Five more books in the series have followed.

Rebecca has authored or co-authored over 65 romantic thrillers, many for Harlequin Intrigue’s very popular 43 Light Street series, set in Baltimore, and many with paranormal elements.

Her many awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and for Series Romantic Mystery. And her Peregrine Connection series won a Lifetime Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense Series.


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