Laurel Richards's Blog, page 4

Release Day for Destiny!

Out now! Pick up my new sci-fi romance Destiny (The Sentinel Agency Book 1) at all major booksellers. https://books2read.com/u/47QQzA

Undercover operatives have discovered Delfina has the power of foresight, and they want to capture and use her. Accompanied by her emotional support animal, Delfina uses her ability to stay ahead of her pursuers. The one thing she doesn’t foresee is Rave. The Imperian male claims she’s his genetic match, but he has so many aliases that she’s not sure if he’s the good guy or the bad. Attraction ignites as they are thrown together by mysterious government agents, a wildlife trafficking syndicate, and a covert agency that recruits people with unique talents. Secrets, passion, and intrigue collide in this sci-fi romance.

Content: m/f romance, love scenes, fight scenes

https://books2read.com/u/47QQzA

Quick Book Browsing: Comedy and Mystery

I’ve read comments by several readers who complain that browsing for new books is difficult. Stores like Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble have such huge databases of books that visitors usually don’t browse past the first few pages. It’s easy to get lost.

Well, in this blog series, I’m going to share one of my books or series in each post (because, come on, I really want you to give my work a try). Then I’ll share a list of similar books that I thought were great, so you can check those out too. It’s sort of a “Readers who liked this might also like this” feature. And because story lovers enjoy multiple mediums, I’ll also include TV shows or movies in the same vein. It’s quick, one-stop browsing for works in a certain genre and tone.

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Quick Book Browsing: Comedy and Mystery

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This first post has to do with funny mysteries. My Cassie Wynn series combines comedy, mystery, and romance as a small town mystery writer joins forces with a journalist turned private eye. The series includes The Clam Festival Murders, The Fish Fry Fiasco, and The Sand Castle Calamity. There’s nothing gruesome in the Cassie Wynn series, hence the cartoon covers.

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Books I Recommend:


Light in Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz and its sequel Truth or Dare – While not a comedy, these are full of fun bits of humor and dialogue that will have you laughing, not to mention romance and mystery.



Amanda Quick’s Arcane Society series – While historical romance, these books also have banter that will make you smile and plenty of mystery to keep you turning the page.



Patrick F. McManus’s essay collections, like The Grasshopper Trap, Real Ponies Don’t Go Oink!, etc.– For outdoorsy humor essays, these are my favorite.


Dolled Up for Murder by Deb Baker – cozy mystery.


A Pedigree to Die For by Laurien Berenson – I haven’t read it in years, but the cover (both the original and now the new one) hooked me, and I thought the poodles stole the story.


Although I haven’t gotten to read it yet, you might also want to see this guest post by Stuart R. West about Bad Day in a Banana Hammock: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...



TV Shows/Movies I Recommend:

Psych, starring James Roday and Dulé Hill – TV show that combines humor, mystery, and a touch of romance.

Fletch and the sequel, Fletch Lives, with Chevy Chase – these definitely share a similar tone to my Cassie Wynn series, as they have plenty of humor and mystery.

Undercover Blues, starring Dennis Quaid and Kathleen Turner – another movie that has that great light feeling with funny one-liners, as well as some suspense.

Death in Paradise has a great blend of mystery and humor and is set in the tropics.

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Be sure to check out the next posts in this blog series, which look at paranormal romance, sci-fi romance, and fantasy.

Quick Book Browsing: Sci-Fi Romance (or help, I’m being chased by an alien/monster/robot!)

Quick Book Browsing: Werewolf Romance

Quick Book Browsing: Psychics and Sci-Fi Romance

Quick Book Browsing: Fantasy

Quick Book Browsing: Paranormal Romance

Destiny is available for Preorder!

My new sci-fi romance Destiny (The Sentinel Agency Book 1) is available for preorder at all major booksellers. It comes out January 12, so preorder now at https://books2read.com/u/47QQzA

Undercover operatives have discovered Delfina has the power of foresight, and they want to capture and use her. Accompanied by her emotional support animal, Delfina uses her ability to stay ahead of her pursuers. The one thing she doesn’t foresee is Rave. The Imperian male claims she’s his genetic match, but he has so many aliases that she’s not sure if he’s the good guy or the bad. Attraction ignites as they are thrown together by mysterious government agents, a wildlife trafficking syndicate, and a covert agency that recruits people with unique talents. Secrets, passion, and intrigue collide in this sci-fi romance.

Content: m/f romance, love scenes, fight scenes

https://books2read.com/u/47QQzA

Halloween Giveaway

Marie Lavender is hosting a huge Halloween giveaway now through October 26. There are tons of prizes, including an e-book copy of my werewolf romance Wild Side. Don't miss out!

http://marielavender.blogspot.com/202...

Quick Book Browsing: Dragon Shifters

In case it wasn’t obvious from my logo, I love dragons. If they’re dragon shifters, even better. I created a talking dragon birthmark in my urban fantasy Dragon Tears, and then I had Fire Elementals who could shape-shift and fight in dragon form in the paranormal romance sequel, Passion Fire.



Books I Recommend:


Cara Bristol's Line of Fyre - great sci-fi dragon shifters.


Angela Knight’s Master of Dragons — What can I say? I love everything about the Mageverse series.


Janet Chapman’s Dragon Warrior — Chapman always delivers books that make you feel good


Ashlyn Chase’s How to Date a Dragon — this was a fun read


Nulli Para Ora’s Dragon Revealed — this book has a fantastic fantasy world; the cover doesn’t do it justice


Macy Babineaux’s Dragon Blue: A Lie That's True — lots of shape-shifting action


Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dragonswan — short, but a nice PNR


Dragon Lovers by Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Barbara Samuel, and Karen Harbaugh — an anthology




Movies I Recommend:

Dragonheart (1996)

Reign of Fire (2002)

The NeverEnding Story (1984) — because who doesn’t want a Luckdragon?

How to Train Your Dragon — for the kid in you




Previous Posts:

Quick Book Browsing: Historical Romance

Quick Book Browsing: The Lighter Side of Vampires (though not the sunny side)

Quick Book Browsing: Vampire Romance with Bite

Quick Book Browsing: Sci-Fi Romance (or help, I’m being chased by an alien/monster/robot!)

Quick Book Browsing: Werewolf Romance

Quick Book Browsing: Psychics and Sci-Fi Romance

Quick Book Browsing: Fantasy

Quick Book Browsing: Paranormal Romance

Quick Book Browsing: Comedy and Mystery

Guest Blog: A Good Man by Rosanna Leo

Today I'd like to welcome Rosanna Leo to my blog. Rosanna writes paranormal romance and contemporary romance. You may know her from her Selkies series or Gemini Island series. Although I don't read a lot of contemporary romance, I especially enjoyed A Good Man, the first book in her Handymen series. She really packed a lot of heart into this book, and I'm thrilled to see she was able to find a new publishing home for it. The book is slated to release on June 9, 2020 and is already available for Preorder. So be sure to check it out!

Amazon | Totally Bound Publishing | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Blurb:

Contractor Michael Zorn is one of the leading men on the successful home improvement show Handymen. He is also revered for an act of bravery he’d rather forget. The press may hound him, but all he really wants is to help couples realize their home renovation dreams.

One of these couples is Emily Daniels and her fiancé, Trent. When Emily inherits an old home in Toronto’s Little Italy, she sees it as the perfect location for her small business. The house needs a lot of work, but her appearance on the Handymen show means Michael and his contractor brothers will help her renovate at a reasonable cost.

When Michael and Emily meet, their chemistry is intense. Emily wants to stay true to Trent, but her fiancé has done nothing but disappoint her. Michael recognizes Trent for what he is—a cheater. And it isn’t long before he breaks Emily’s heart.

At first, Michael only intends to comfort Emily, but their friendship soon flares into passion. Unfortunately, Michael has secrets and wounds of his own, ones he has never trusted to another. Emily is determined to break down his walls, but can she trust her heart to a man who can’t trust himself?

Excerpt:

Emily threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his torso, cutting off his words and his breath. Only when he hugged her back did he realize how hard she was quivering.

She wasn’t just crying about the old photos.

“It’s okay, Em. Let it out, sweetheart.”

The collar of his shirt grew wet but he didn’t care. Wardrobe had tons of shirts. Besides, she felt good in his arms, all soft and warm. He rubbed her shoulders and the back of her waist, exploring and familiarizing himself with her luscious body. He breathed, drinking in her scent. His nasal cavities had never known such bliss. It was like that first clear breath after a long period of congestion. His fingers were pretty happy too, enjoying the give of her body. It was all he could do not to slide them down, cup her sweet ass and pull her up against him.

Just not while she was crying over another man.

She lingered in his arms and he did nothing to push her away. In fact, it surprised him how badly he wanted to keep her there, so much so that when Emily finally extricated herself, he wanted to pull her back into his embrace. Instead, he wiped her cheeks clean of the remaining tears.

“The makeup ladies are going to kill me for making you cry.”

It might have been his imagination, but her tears made her eyes appear even greener. In fact, her entire face seemed a riot of tempting color. Each shade called to him. The crushed roses in her cheeks. Her strawberry lips, so plump and moist. Even the doeskin brown of her freckles fascinated him to no end. He wanted to count them, to kiss and mark them all.

Kissing her made a whole lot of sense right now. Kissing her senseless seemed even better.

Emily’s eyes widened. Her lips parted in invitation. Michael paused, knowing it was wrong, even though every raised hair on his arms told him it was right.

As he debated with himself for a split second, she brushed her lips against his. It was quick and soft, hunger masquerading as something platonic. Even though a spectator might have called it a friendly kiss, he knew the truth. As brief as it may have been, he felt her yield to him, even if just a little.

From the startled look in her eyes, Emily knew it too.

She took a step back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You’re right. I should have been the one to do it.” Michael licked his lips. “Your lips really do taste like strawberries.”

Buy Links: Amazon | Totally Bound Publishing | Barnes & Noble | Kobo


Author Links:

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bT91GX

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosan...

Reader Group (Rosanna Leo’s Pride): https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rosan...

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rleoauthor1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeoRosanna

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rleoauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/rosannaleo/

SFR Station Page

My book list is growing at the SFR Station. Find my sci-fi romance books on my page over there at https://www.sfrstation.com/author/lau...

SFR Station

I just got my book page at SFR Station's website. My sci-fi romance novel The Colony is already loaded, with more to follow soon. For fans of the genre, this site offers a great way to browse for new books to read. You can find The Colony at https://www.sfrstation.com/the-colony...

Inspiration for Space Race

The biggest inspiration for my novel Space Race was the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. If you think about it, that was a pretty amazing period in American history. The government was giving away free land. Something like 50,000 people lined up, waiting for a cannon shot to announce the start of the race. There was drama with cheaters, Infantry and Cavalry were there to try to maintain order, and competitors on horseback, bicycles, wagons, and foot surged forward to grab the best land they could. Cities were formed within the day, transforming the land almost instantly.

My imagination took me to what it would be like for a whole planet to be opened up to a land rush like this. Like a futuristic Amazing Race, this would be big entertainment. In Space Race, the competitors need space shuttles to reach the planet’s surface, but then they have to claim their land under their own power. They can run, bike, or row across the terrain and waterways, but they can’t use anything motorized or wind-powered. This is a physical race, with each team planting boundary beacons as fast as they can to claim their plot of land.

Space Race is a short sci-fi novel with a sweet romance, and I kept the pacing fast so readers will feel like they’re part of the race too. This should be a fun read for fans of the genre and one that will have readers cheering for the underdog.

Blurb: The race is on! Maxton and his family are entered to compete in the big land rush on planet Caerus. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. The problem? Everything seems to go wrong. Their secondhand ship keeps breaking down, their cousin goes missing, and someone steals half their funds. They have to turn to a staffing agency to get somebody to take a look at their shipboard computers.

When Clara accepts a temp job aboard the Merit, she figures she’ll only be on the ship for about an hour. That’s all the time she needs to run a diagnostic on the computers, but then Max shocks her with an invitation to join his team. The man is handsome and single, and participating in the competition could change her whole life. But can they win?

Although this ragtag group may not look impressive from the outside, they have strength, determination, and smarts. They’ll need all those qualities if they want to win this amazing space race.

Content: This book contains a sweet romance, a dilapidated space ship, and a great deal of running.

Available from: Amazon US │ Amazon UK │ Amazon CA │ Barnes & Noble │ Kobo US │ Kobo UK │ Kobo CA │ iTunes │ Books2Read

Cover Love for Space Race

My new sci-fi novel, Space Race, is getting some cover love at Kayelle Allen's Romance Lives Forever blog. Check it out at https://www.rlfblog.com/laurel-richar....