Rachelle Ayala's Blog, page 29

#BookReview STARTING OVER by Michele Shriver #contemporary #romance

Starting Over by Michele Shriver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Who says love is only for young people? Certainly not Liz and Bennett!

There are advantages at having been around the block a few times. For one, you know yourself already and you're established in your career. But sparks can still fly and pants can still drop at the least expected moments, because guess what? Passion doesn't die after fifty.

Liz Matthews is in a toxic relationship with her ex-husband. Ironic, isn't it? Since she's a therap...

Why We Need Heroes - Heroes to Swoon For Boxed Set #romance #firemen #sports

The world today needs heroes. Men and women who are dedicated to goodness, have the courage to fight for what's right, and protect and serve others. Not a day goes by when we need to be reminded of real life heroes, the nurse who delivers a baby at the grocery store, or the teacher who shields her students from a gunman, or the police officer who dangles off a high rise building to talk a suicidal person from jumping.

But we need heroes in fiction too, because they exhibit and model the ideals...

Are Asian Men Not Sexy? What's an Asian-American Romance Writer to Do? #AMBW #AsianMenAreHot

Quick! Name a well-known American-published romance with an Asian male hero. Tick, tick, tick. Unless you’ve been reading my books, it’s going to take you a while to find one. No fair using half-Asian heroes or looking at K-dramas or animes.
What’s the big deal you say? Demeaning stereotypes, that’s what.

A few months ago, I entered a writing exercise with a group of female romance writers. The goal was to write a “western” romance novella that is steamy enough for “Westerne...<![endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]></o></o>

#CoverReveal Chasing Clarity by Sylvia Stein

What happens when you lose the love of your life and are left to pick up the pieces? Mia Gerard is about to find out.
Mia has just lost Leo Dancy, her best friend and soul mate. His absence seems unbearable, but suddenly, an opportunity that she can’t turn down arises. She’s offered a teaching position in The New York Dance Academy of Performing Arts. At first, she’s overwhelmed, still dealing with the loss of Leo. But eventually, she allows herself to heal when she meets Henry Watson, a pain...

#NewRelease EVERYBODY'S AFTER LOVE by Lyssa Layne #contemporary #romance

TITLE: Everybody's After LoveAUTHOR: Lyssa LayneGENRE: Contemporary Romance PUBLICATION DATE: December 3, 2014COVER DESIGN: Kelly WalkerLENGTH: 60,000+ wordsCONTENT WARNING: Some adult content





Jules Rossi’s world is about to be turned upside down when her big brother, Paulie, announces his engagement. Having been raised by her brother after their parents died, she’s used to him being her knight in shining armor and isn’t ready to share him with anyone else.



Throughout all the wedding...

#BookReview EVERYBODY'S AFTER LOVE by Lyssa Layne #contemporary #romance

Everybody's After Love by Lyssa Layne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a cute and adorable story. Jules and Bentley are trapped together as members of a wedding party between his sister and her brother. As the cute couple would have it, his sister is to be the maid of honor and her brother is the best man.

Only Jules and Bentley don't know each other, and are unsure if they're attracted or being nice. And Jules has a persistent ex boyfriend. But as part of the being nice to her brother's fiancee pro...

#BookReview BETRAYED by Jade Kerrion Live Shocks Series #contemporary #romance

Betrayed by Jade Kerrion

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Life Shocks series is full of emotion, brewing with pain and yearning, and ultimate satisfaction. I've already read Aroused, the first book, and love the way author Jade Kerrion creates the tug and pull between two hearts, yet traps them with anguish by throwing up awful roadblock. Of course, they eventually surmount it and you feel the love is all the more worthwhile for overcoming the obstacle

Maggie's story is like a train-wreck waiting to...

#BookReview CINNAMON SUMMER by Christine Cunningham #romance #family

Cinnamon Summer by Christine Cunningham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another delightfully sweet love story.

Camille is a single mother who uproots her son from the big city to live in Willow Reed when her father has a heart attack.

When her divorced husband announces that he's remarrying and requests her son to be the ring bearer, Camille feels her loneliness more than ever. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of single men in Willow Reed and Camille starts dating a playboy.

Meanwhile, she helps her boss...

Tabasco sauce in Pancit? What am I doing to Filipino Food? #pinoy

Filipino food is special because it is fusion of native Austronesian cuisine with Malay, Spanish, Chinese, Mexican, and even American influences. Rice is a staple and soy sauce is used, but so are chili peppers, coconuts, and noodles. Filipinos even have their own version of American ketchup in the form of banana ketchup. And don’t forget Filipino spaghetti which add sliced hotdogs and shredded cheddar cheese to the mix. In my book,  Claiming Carlos , we follow the fortunes of a Filipino re...

#BookReview SPRING ARGYLE by Christine Cunningham #sweet #romance

Spring Argyle by Christine Cunningham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm really loving these short and cute stories in the Willow Reed series. I didn't much like Jacob in the first book because he seemed to have a crush on Sydney that wasn't well received.

But in this book, he has a friend, Liz, who has friendzoned him. He wishes she would see him as a possibility, but unfortunately she feels free to discuss her dates with him on their weekly "un-dates."

When Sydney comes back to town on spring break an...