M.E. Carter's Blog, page 3

I'm Thankful for YOU, Dear Reader

It's that time of year again. The time when lights begin going up, parties are being planned, and gifts are being purchased. Don't forget to take some time to stop and be grateful.

The last couple of years have been rough on all of us. Between a pandemic, internet fights, and so much sadness in the world, it's been hard.

But I like to take this time of year to sit back and ponder how many blessings I really have. When I take the luxuries of life out of the equation, I really do have so much to be thankful for.

Here's the top five things I've decided to focus on whenever things get stressful for the rest of the year.

5. My children. Yes, they drive me crazy, mostly because 3/4 of them are teenagers, and yes, they like to pop off (again with that teenager thing). But I never want to forget how close I got to losing them, either through custody situations or difficult pregnancies. And yet, here they are. Old enough, secure enough, and healthy enough to do all the irritating things teenagers do. I'm so grateful for that.

4. My health. I think this one goes without saying, but now that I've had Covid three times, and now that I'd made it through to the other side three times, I'm so much more thankful to be healthy. I think this is one we can all agree on after the last couple of years.

3. Travel. I was able to go on a couple of trips to see friends this year, including attending a signing! I didn't realize how much I missed seeing people and exploring the world until now. However, I also learned I no longer have a high enough endurance to make it through a signing without being completely exhausted. I'll be working on that this coming year. The fact that I'll even have that opportunity makes me grateful.

2. Our new house. I didn't plan to house hunt this year. Something in me just started stirring, and I knew it was time to find something more permanent that would fit our family better. And the perfect house was dropped in our lap. It's taking some time to get moved and settled, but this is a bigger blessing than I anticipated for the year. We're all so excited.

1. You, dear reader. I'm so grateful for you! I've had so much support and love from you all this year, at times its overwhelming. I couldn't do this job without your encouragement and I don't think I can ever truly express how much it means to me. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You have given me so much to be grateful for!

~

The Final Hart Book is Now Live!

Readers are saying Matter of Fact is their favorite book in the series!

"Hands down my favorite in the Hart series (and I LOVE the Hart series!)." - Nikki

"Any book that can make me start and finish without wanting to put the book down after months of not reading should get all the stars." - Misty

"This was the sexiest of the bunch and this romance reader is NOT complaining! Phew. 🔥🥰" - Erica Testa

"A fun way to end the series! Loved these characters so much! 5 Love filled stars!" - Diann Bryan

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ABAY0A
Nook: https://bit.ly/3AxHjdu
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3qQcJqW
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3hDkkVP
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3yveBbi
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3wmB5Ki
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ACu5Mv
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3kED1un

~

The Florida Glaze Series is Coming in 2022!

Tempers are about to flare and sparks are about to fly...

Tucker Hayes is holding a grudge. After being unexpectedly traded from his beloved professional hockey team in San Antonio, he’s still trying to mesh with his new teammates in Tampa. It’s going fine, but that’s just it… fine.

Lacy Hawkins is holding a grudge of her own. She blames the man who left her alone five years ago and caused her dreams to die a slow and painful death. Now it takes all her energy everyday just to stay afloat.

When their paths unexpectedly cross again, drinks are thrown and anger becomes the norm. But Tucker and Lacy have to find a way to stop fanning the flames if they want to come out unscathed.

Because when you’re under fire, the innocent can get burned…

Under Fire: A Florida Glaze Hockey Romance
Coming Spring 2022!
Preorder Now!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3wzL9kJ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3n20VBV
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ojG2kO
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3F6fJFw
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3Df2UbD
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3ojsvtz
Nook: https://bit.ly/3qwM3O9

~

Drop a line and let me know what you're grateful for this Thanksgiving! I'd love to hear!
💜M.E. Carter

As if life couldn't get anymore stressful, we're moving...

I've been house hunting for a while. Sort of.

It hasn't been an in-depth search where I'm on the phone with my realtor every day and touring every home in town. It's been more of a slow process. I've toured three homes in total and put in an offer a couple months ago that ended up in a bidding war. We came in #2 on that one.

I wasn't sad or worried we'd never find our perfect home. I figured when the timing was right, things would fall together. So I went ahead and continued on with life as planned.

I scheduled mediation for our child support modification for next month. Then I scheduled multiple meetings about Special Ed transition services for my kiddo. And don't forget the wisdom teeth removal two hours away because it's the closest location. All of this with a December 1 book deadline looming. But that's life, right? You schedule your meetings and do your job and you might get tired but it happens so no big deal.

Until the perfect house lands in your lap and suddenly you're closing the same week as mediation, a release and the wisdom teeth issue. All while dealing with inspections and plumbers and contractors and painters who are going to convert the shed in the backyard to a livable space. Not to mention, now I have to fix the rental we're in so I can get my deposit back because I owe a reletting fee for breaking my lease. There is a lot of my plate. A. Lot.

But a strange thing has happened. I could be freaking out right now, wondering how the hell I'm going to get it all done. I could be panicking and yelling at the kids and not sleeping. I could be crying on my desk right now from the stress of it all.

Oddly, I'm not. I'm so peaceful because this is so RIGHT. I know it with every bone in my body. Even when we got in a bidding war for this house, I just knew it was ours. And even with the plumbers and contractors all flaking on me, I'm still not worried. Somehow I know it's going to be alright.

So keep me in your thoughts and prayers over the next six or so weeks, and feel free to yell at me if you see me on social media. It's going to be a LOT to juggle and I probably will need my butt kicked to stay focused.

But it's weird how much worry disappears when you know you're exactly where you're supposed to be doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing. I hope that same peace for you!

~

Speaking of release day...

The Final Hart Book is Almost Here!
Here's a sneak peak of Matter of Fact, coming November 11:

Feeling a sudden burst of confidence, I lean in and place my hand on his thigh. I’m not sure if I’m being seductive or supportive but I’m not afraid to try and find out this time.

“How is your shoulder feeling now?”

Liam’s brow raises and he looks down at my hand. His nostrils flare for just a split second, as if he’s trying to maintain some form of control. I still don’t know if I’m being flirty or crossing some unwritten line, but he makes no move to push my hand away so I take that as a good sign.

“It uh…” he clears his throat and I feel so powerful by rendering him speechless.

Is this what women mean when they say they feel empowered?

“It still hurts like a bitch. Have to have surgery next week to fix it.”

I remove my hand and he shakes his head just slightly.“I’m sorry. That must be really scary.”

“Not scary as much as frustrating. I’ll be out for at least twelve weeks which is messing with my brain, I think.”

“I get that. Nothing like thinking you’re set at your job and suddenly a wrench is thrown in it and you no longer know where you stand.”

“You do get it.”

“I work for my ex-boyfriend’s mother, remember?” I shift in myself, too embarrassed to look at him while I tell him the whole truth. “Turns out she’s the one who set him up with the girl he took out to dinner an hour after he broke up with me.”

“Oh, now that is some shit right there.”

“Yep. But it opened my eyes to a few things.”

“Really? Like what?”

“Like I wasted a lot of years trying to be something that I might not actually be, trying to fit into that world. But what if I’m not that person? What if I’m actually someone completely different and I just don’t know it because I’ve never explored any other side of me?”

“I’d say you’re doing a good job figuring it out already.”

He touches my hair again and it reminds me I can take chances. There is nothing stopping me. The world is my oyster or however the saying goes, I just have to go for it.

My heart beating rapidly, I make a decision I hope I won’t regret tomorrow. Somehow, though, I don’t think I will.

“Can I ask you a question? And if it’s totally inappropriate, or you don’t want to just say so and I’ll be fine.”

He downs the last of his drink and turns to me. “Shoot.”

“Will you go home with me for the night?”

I purposely throw the words out in a rush, not because I think I’ll change my mind, but because I’m afraid I’d lose my nerve otherwise.

Liam just looks at me, probably trying to gather his thoughts. I know what his hesitation is, so I don’t allow him to even say it.

“I know I was drunk the other night when I first propositioned you, and you were right to decline. I would have woken up the next morning with regrets. But that’s why I’m asking you now, when I’m one hundred percent sober—because looking back on the last decade of my life, I’ve never taken the time to explore who I am. What I like to do. Who I am as a person or a woman and I want to change that. It started with the hair, but there’s more to life than just the vanity part, you know? I’ve never had a one-night stand and I know that’s not a bad thing, but what if it turns out I like sex? What if I like more than missionary position and, there are other things, too? How will I ever know if I don’t take the time to learn?”

Liam swallows hard, this voice coming out husky and deep. “And you think I’m the one to show you all that?”

I shrug, my lips tilted up in a smirk. “I don’t know. But I think you’ll be respectful and kind and if it turns out I’m not a one-night stand kind of girl, you won’t be the guy to treat me like dirt after the fact.”

I don’t know how I am so sure of his character. Maybe it’s because Kiersten trusted him to get me into an Uber. Maybe it’s because he turned down a drunk woman who threw herself at him. Maybe it’s because Lauren so quickly left us alone and Lauren never used to leave us alone with men she didn’t trust in public. Girl code and all that.But somehow, I know deep down inside that Liam is one of the good ones.

“I would never disrespect a woman like that.”

“We’ve only met a couple of times, but if I trust anyone with treating me with respect, no matter what the outcome, it’s you.”

Gesturing to get the bartender’s attention, he tosses his credit card on the counter. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?”

Nervous excitement runs through me. Even if I wanted to back out, I wouldn’t. Just the possibility of having one night with a man like Liam has me feeling eager to get back to my place. It’s as if all these possibilities of who I am and who I might be have been awakened and a night of passion is the way I’m going to figure out the key to it all.

“I’ve never been more sure in my life,” I whisper.

He blinks once, a lusty haze on his face. Reaching out, he runs the back of his finger down my cheek. It leaves a trail of burning nerve endings in its wake. “

If you change your mind, all you have to do is say so.”

“Which is exactly why I won't."

Preorder Matter of Fact Here:
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ABAY0A
Nook: https://bit.ly/3AxHjdu
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3qQcJqW
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3hDkkVP
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3yveBbi
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3wmB5Ki
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ACu5Mv

~

BOOK NEWS!!
Exciting things are happening. Here's what new!

I've got a new FB page!
I got hit by a hacker so Facebook shut down my regular page!

If your'e looking for me, here's the link so you don't miss my posts! I'd so appreciate it!
https://www.facebook.com/mecarterbooks

~

Have you read Panther?
It's such a fun read for Halloween.

Don't miss out on this brand new paranormal romance!
Amazon https://amzn.to/3kms016
Apple Books https://apple.co/2VRJh90
Kobo https://bit.ly/2XGdeK3
Nook https://bit.ly/3AD6tY1

~

The holidays are beginning! Enjoy all your candy!
💜M.E. Carter

If I had my author career to do all over again, I wouldn't make these same mistakes.

WHEN MY FIRST BOOK CAME OUT, I WAS ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

Truly. Change of Hart shot out of the gate at number 49 on the entire paid Kindle store. And this was after Kindle Unlimited had launched so the algorithms were working against me which made that number even more impressive.

Being that I was a first time author, though, I didn't know what was normal. I didn't know that this was an incredible feat and not at all the norm. I also didn't know that in order to sustain sales like this, I HAD to have a solid business plan.

I didn't even have a weak one.

Consequently, every release after that was worse than the one before and the idea of even being in the top 1000 again seemed like a far off dream I would never be able to make happen.

To make matters worse, I was so far off the mark on what it takes to run a business, a truly successful business, my writing was all over the map. I tried to stay within sports romance but I did everything from sweet romance to contemporary to teetering on the edge of erotica to romcom. There was no rhyme or reason as to why I wrote what I wrote and no one could keep up with what to expect next. Not even myself.

I share this because I don't want you to learn lessons the hard way like I did. I want you to have an effective business full of lots of sales and lots of loyal readers. I want you to know the things I didn't.

The problem I run into now is I still have ideas that jump all over the place. I still like writing different genres, and sometimes really need to in order to keep my brain from "locking up". There had to be a way to use all these random stories too, right?

This is where Anabeth Carston comes in.

Andrea Johnston and I write romantic comedy together. When you see our names on the same book, you know what you're going to get—fun, light, happy. There's always a swoony HEA. Unfortunately, the state of the world today has dried up some of those stories. Others, however, have taken over.

The idea for a paranormal romance suddenly hit us, and was so far out of norm it got us out of the "funk" we had been in. Words were flowing and world building was percolating. it was so fun to be able to do whatever we wanted with characters. Everything from magic to shifting to medical treatments that make no sense in the human world. It was writing for sheer pleasure.

Knowing that paranormal is so far out of lanes, we decided to make this easy on you, our readers.

Anytime you see the author "Anabeth Carston", that's Andrea and I. That's us writing paranormal romance. It might have a bit of small town. It might have some humor. It might have some sports. But overall, it's your direct sign that what you're picking up is a nice, cozy paranormal romance. When you see "Anabeth Carston" you'll know exactly what to expect.

So here's to not making the same business mistakes I did! And here's to always giving readers what they want—transparency and ease of information.

And fingers crossed this helps you stay focused on your own journey.

Speaking of...

~~

Just in Time for Halloween
PANTHER by Anabeth Carston

Clara Norton's infant daughter is dying and no one seems to know why.

To make matters worse, the man who swore to be by her side has disappeared and left her to handle it all on her own.

When a strange woman makes a dramatic entrance into Clara's life, the solutions to her life-or-death problem is right in front of her.

But it means everything Clara thought she knew is about to be challenged and her life will never be the same.

Amazon https://amzn.to/3kms016
Apple Books https://apple.co/2VRJh90
Kobo https://bit.ly/2XGdeK3
Nook https://bit.ly/3AD6tY1

~~

BOOK NEWS!!
Exciting things are happening. Here's what new!

Did you see the new cover of Matter of Fact?
Yep, I changed it already. Just in time for it's release in November!

Don't forget to preorder the FINAL BOOK in the Hart Series! You're going to love how it comes full circle!

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ABAY0A
Nook: https://bit.ly/3AxHjdu
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3qQcJqW
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3hDkkVP
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3yveBbi
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3wmB5Ki
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ACu5Mv

~~

Care to help a friend out?

I'm looking for feedback from readers like you! This information will help me as I plan books and marketing for the future. If you're interested just fill out this form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

Thanks for your help!

Don't you love it when evidence of our parenting fails are caught on camera? Yeah, me neither.

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIIIIIIME OF THE YEAR!

Sing with me everyone!!

Ahhhhh back to school time. When all of my little hellions are out of the house for a few hours every day and I can get some real work done without being interrupted every four minutes and thirty-seven seconds with "Mom, I'm hungry," "Mom, I want to go out with my friends," "Mom, guess what happened on Minecraft."

(Side note: Have you seen that Staples commercial? It is my favorite commercial ever. Keep reading for the link to it. It's worth it.)

Don't get me wrong, I love my children with a passion that only rivals my love of sugar. But after so many months of trying to work with them here, enough is enough!

Unfortunately, the universe apparently did not believe enough was, in fact, enough.

Just a few days before meet the teacher, Bug was hanging out with my parents at a picnic or something in their neighborhood. Somehow, my almost six year old child rams into a ladder on the playground and gives himself a black eye. I'm still not sure how he did it, but it's quite the shiner.

Then the day before school started, he went to the dentist to have a filling fixed. No big deal. It just needed to be patched up.

Yeah. Well.

The stinker didn't like the feeling of his lip being numb so he gnawed on it All. Day. Long. Y'all, he gave himself a fat lip with his teeth!

So Bug went to his first day of first grade with a black eye and a fat lip. It's...I have no words.

I guess I should hurry up and clean my house before the authorities get here to investigate.

Kids, man.

~

BOOK NEWS!!

Exciting things are happening. Here's what new!

Have you read the Charitable Endeavors series yet?

Now is the time to catch up! The first three books in the series (each one retailing for $3.99) are in one easy to read set for less that $3! That's a steal!

This offer is for a limited time so don't miss it!
Amazon. https://amzn.to/3AgWPJH
Nook. https://bit.ly/2WUhHbk
Kobo https://bit.ly/3fE14qR
AppleBooks https://apple.co/3iqz5wQ

~

Are you joining us for Holidays with the Belles next month?

If so, now is your last chance to preorder books!

Preorders help me know what to order so I can guarantee the book you want is in stock.

Click here to place your order!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... the Box Set

~

And for your viewing pleasure, that Staples commercial I promised. Enjoy!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcYb...

How do you know you're ready to date again? I may need your help figuring it out.

Five years post divorce and I've signed up on a dating app. Again.

It isn't my first time. I've tried them all. Oddly enough, my favorite was Farmer's Only. It's not a slick site but the men were actually nice and I didn't get any random dick pics, so that was a bonus.

Recently though, as I was preparing for summer without my kids I thought, "I should expand my horizons again. I should create an account on a dating site."

So I downloaded Bumble, spent way too much time pulling pictures and coming up with interesting antidotes, and then spent even more time swiping right on anyone interesting.

Right off the bat I had some decent matches, but let's face it—the pickens are slim in West Texas. I swear I'm the only divorced person I know in this town.

No biggie, though. I was meeting people.

I ended up going on one date with a fabulous guy who went axe throwing with me. We had a blast and laughed the whole time. Sadly, though, he's not a love match.

So I tried again and made plans with "Dan" to meet at a local bar.

A couple of hours before meeting up I started dreading leaving my house. The idea of going out and meeting someone knew just seemed overwhelming. I started hoping that he was a catfish who would no-show me so I could read my book with a glass of moscato alone.

And that's when I started wondering. Maybe I'm just not ready for this. I would love to date someone special. I'd love to have a partner in life. But getting there seems like so much more effort that it's worth.

"Dan" ended up being nice enough but not a love match. So I'm back to square one and frankly I'm already tired.

Have you been in my shoes? I'd love feedback and/or advice from you if you've experienced the same thing. It's not that I'm opposed to going out, it just seems so... taxing.

Help!

~

Have you picked up MATTER OF TIME yet?

"This is my favorite book from this author!" - The Book Lover, Goodreads Reviewer

"I love that M. E. Carter can write a hero that isn't an alpha and has his own insecurities and strong heroines who help these heroes see themselves differently." - Gretchen Anderson, Goodreads Reviewer

"The nerdy girl inside of me was thrilled to read a love story that didn't have a hero who tried to be the toughest guy in the room. And on top of that, he was never said to be the most handsome guy in the room either. But this kind of love story is what we, as readers, should be wanting more of. The kind of story where the guy gets the girl because he earns her trust and treats her with respect, not because he's beautiful and has money." - McKinnze, Amazon Reviewer

"This is my favorite book I've read in the series." - Melena, Amazon Reviewer

"YES! YES! with the sweet and swoony non-alpha hero who isn’t 6’4 with a ripped physique. I *covet* these romantic stories with realistic men who may be on the shorter and snuglier side. I’m noticing romancelandia is more and more celebrating heroines embracing their dimples and curves. Yet, heroes who may *not* be society’s “ideal” physical male specimen are few and far between and so when it happens- I am HERE FOR IT!" - Erica Testa, Amazon Reviewer

One-click Matter of Time!
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qlP1AY
Nook: http://bit.ly/3nMwIUn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3suIXIM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/36myIwq
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3hlYya5
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3hlYNC1
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3yCMfvM

~

BOOK NEWS!!
Exciting things are happening. Here's what new!

The FINAL BOOK in the Hart Series is up for Preorder!
Yep. You read that right.

Matter of Fact will be the last book in the Hart Series. It's been a great ride and I'm sad to see it end. But you'll love how it all comes full-circle.

Don't miss it! Preorder here:

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ABAY0A
Nook: https://bit.ly/3AxHjdu
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3qQcJqW
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3hDkkVP
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3yveBbi
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3wmB5Ki
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ACu5Mv

~

Everything you thought you knew is about to change.
Andrea Johnston and I are writing paranormal romance under the pen name Anabeth Carston.

Panther can be read exclusively on Kindle Vella (for now ;) ). Don't miss the adventure!

One-Click here and check out the first three episodes for free!
https://www.amazon.com/Panther/dp/B09...

~

When was the last time you checked something off your bucket list?
I did a couple weekends ago!

On a whim, I saw Kira Stokes was coming to Dallas so I got my kids a place to stay (grandparents), booked a cheap hotel, and drove the 5 hours to work out with her in person!

It was the experience of a lifetime and I'm pleased to say she is exactly in person who she is on line! She's wonderful!

You can check out her app here: https://app.kirastokes.com/?rfsn=5712...

Hope your summer is going great!
💜M.E. Carter

Summer is tough on single parents. But I have some ideas for how to have some fun!

It happens every summer.

50% of my kids are gone which means 50% of my heart is gone too.

The two little ones leave for several weeks to stay with their dad and I'm at home, trying not to freak out about it.

Sound familiar?

It's rough when you're a single parent sharing custody. Oh who am I kidding, it's rough being a parent in general! But if you've ever had to take your heart out of you chest and trust it to the person you probably trust least in the world, that's what it feels like every summer.

I know that's dramatic, but it's a level of anxiety I never expected until the first time it happened.

However, when they go, I've learned to make it a point to get out of the house and have new experiences. Taking advantage of the "me time" instead of wallowing at home, missing them. Not only does it make the time go by faster, I end up having a little bit of fun.

The question I run into every time however, is what is there to do?

My ideal mom-cation would be to travel somewhere great, hang out on a beach, maybe accrue some international flight miles. But alas, I'm not dripping with gold, especially after the year we've had. But I came up with some great ideas you can check out locally that will get you out of the house and make you feel like a real person again!

1. Axe Throwing - The first time I heard of this was when Penny Reid did a YouTube video about it. Since that video, I've wanted to try it. So I did! Y'all, it doesn't sound like much fun. Who wants to throw an axe against a wall for an hour? But once you get going, it's a great time with friends. And for us competitive types, it's just the right amount of challenge!
2. Escape Room - This is on my list to do this summer. There are all different levels and all different scary settings. The goal is to follow the clues, like a murder mystery except with a time limit. We had our reservation last week but had to cancel last minute. We're rescheduling soon and I can't wait!!
3. Spa Day - Sounds pricey, I know. But stay with me. A friend tipped me off to this trick. If you book one service, JUST ONE, you are allowed to use all the amenities at the spa. So I did a little digging and as it turns out, you can schedule a manicure/pedi, or a facial, or a massage for a decent price. Upon looking further, my local spa wants to me arrive 15 minutes early so I can get into a fluffy robe and slippers and have a beverage before my service begins! That sounds fancy and right up my alley.
4. Go On A Hike - I can almost guarantee if you do a Google search on a local hiking trail, you'll find one. They're everywhere! It may just be a short path, or it may be through lots of woods to a waterfall, but it'll get you outside, get you moving, and the fresh air will do your body, and your heart, some good.
5. Online Dating - Yes, yes, I know. This sounds PAINFUL. Trust me. I know first hand. But why not go out to drinks or dinner with some stranger anyway? (Safely of course.) The best that can happen is you find your one and only. The worst is you have an interesting story to tell your friends of that time you had a terrible date. Or you could end up with a new friend like I did. We aren't a love match, but we enjoy chatting and hanging out as two single people who are bored and want to have some fun.

Here's my challenge to you (I'm going to challenge myself, too, don't worry) - while the kids are gone this summer, schedule one thing a week to get you out of the house and maybe even out on the town.

Pieces of your heart might be with your ex, but it's okay to take advantage of this rest time. Not just physically, but mentally. We'll be whole new people when those kiddos get home!

~

Matter of Time is Less than TWO WEEKS AWAY
I can't wait for you to read Kade and Nicole's story. Here's a small preview:

Walking backward, Nicole leads me by my waistband to my bedroom. Not that she needs to keep ahold of me. I’d follow her no matter what, but I’m glad she did. There is something wildly sexy by her guiding me around with her hand on my fly.

I’ll have to explore that thought later, maybe when I’m not about to have sex for the first time.

“Where do you think those condoms are?”

I point to my nightstand, completely incapable of forming sentences at this point.

She finds them quickly, immediately scanning the package like she read my mind about the expiration date issue. By the quirk of her eyebrow, I can only assume they’re still good.

“Well,” she tosses the package on the bed. “Looks like we can have as much or as little fun as you want. What do you want, Kade?”

I swallow hard and croak out, “You.”


Did you catch that? We've got a VIRGIN HERO! You don't want to miss this.
Pre Order Matter of Time on These Major Retailers
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qlP1AY
Nook: http://bit.ly/3nMwIUn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3suIXIM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/39BofhE
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3nHFGlJ
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~

Are you a blogger or bookstagrammer?

Do you enjoy reading and reviewing books?

Do you like helping authors get the word out about their books?

Then join our team!

Matter of Time releases July 8, so sign up today!
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~

If you're looking for a fun summer read, look no further than the Charitable Endeavors series!

These witty romcoms are packed with good romance and good times.

And for the FIRST TIME EVER, they're available on all major retailers. So grab them up and enjoy on your downtime!
Switch Stance
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Ear Candy
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Model Behavior
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Better than the Book
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~

A lot of people have asked what app I use to work out at home:
One of them is the KSFit app by the AMAZING Kira Stokes!

Her workouts are packed with all kind of goodness and she's so much fun. It's like working out with a girlfriend every time I turn it on.

There's a 7-day free trial so you can look around and try it. I even have a link for you so you don't have to go looking for it. Enjoy!
https://app.kirastokes.com/?rfsn=5712...

~

Stay cool in this heat!
💜M.E.

Mental illness starts so young. I learned this first hand.

The day started out relatively normal...

Everyone went to school except my then eight year old son who had a doctor's appointment. That wasn't uncommon. He was having a lot of behavioral issues at that point which we had been dealing with for a while.

For whatever reason, he didn't want to go to the doctor that day. He was angry and frustrated and couldn't seem to pull himself together no matter what we tried.

Suddenly, as I was driving down a major road of our town, he opens the back door and tries to jump out.

Fortunately, I was able to pull over and quickly flip the child-lock switch so we could continue where we were going safely. But it began a hard conversation.

I started asking questions about why he tried to jump out of the car and did he really want to die or was he just mad. The more we talked, the more it became clear there was a big problem. He hadn't just tried to jump out of the car. He had a plan on how he could kill himself when we got home, and had a plan for when.

I have never been so scared in my life, y'all. My sweet eight year old son was struggling so much in his mind, he didn't want to live anymore.

In that moment, I called his doctor who sent us straight to the psychiatric hospital for admission. It took six hours, a lot of tears, and a bed finally opening to get him admitted on the pediatric ward.

That was just the beginning of a myriad of diagnoses and hospital stays. But it's been worth it.

He's 16 now. He's no longer suicidal. He struggles, and he always will, but we stay on top of his meds. On top of his therapies. On top of his behaviors. He has case workers and therapists and tons of support staff at school. We've surrounded him as much as we can to make life as normal as possible for him.

I tell you this difficult story for two reasons. One, because I know I'm not the only parent out there who has gone through this. I have a good friend who is walking through the trenches with her kiddo right now. And there are others. You may be the other.

You need to know you aren't alone. You are in the thick of it which is so hard, but it also means you aren't at the beginning. You are in the middle so there is an end coming. You have to keep your head down and keep pushing, even when you're so exhausted everything else falls apart. That's okay. You were made for your kiddo and you will get through this.

The other reason is because I'm so honored to be part of the Mental Health Awareness Month Book Fundraiser. That means for the month of May, a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of any of my Hart books (any book on any retailer) will be donated to the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. And my books aren't the only ones. Dozens of authors are also participating in this truly worthy case.

Please go check out their website for more information. It's too important for all of us.

And if you're that mom who is struggling, feel free to reach out. I've been there and I know you can make it through.

The Hart Series Box Set: Books 1-3
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Change of Hart
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Hart to Heart
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Matters of the Hart
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Matters to Me
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Matters to You
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Matter of Time
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SURPRISE!
If you read FriendTrip by myself and the fabulous Sara Ney, you are going to love WeddedBliss!

This novella gives you an update on Becky and Janine, and all things wedding!

It's the perfect quick read for your beach vaca or just because you need a laugh. Grab it today!
https://books2read.com/WeddedBlissFT


ARE YOU JOINING ME FOR HOLIDAYS WITH THE BELLES?

I am fully vaccinated and will be in Dallas on September 25th for my very first event since lockdown began!! Are you coming?

The preorder form is open so if there is anything in particular you are hoping to get, make sure you fill it out so I can guarantee your paperback!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

BECAUSE I'M RIDICULOUS....
Me: Kindergarten graduation is unnecessary and just a way for them to try and sell me more pictures.

Also me: OMG My baby is so cute we should have a party to celebrate all he's accomplished how many pictures can I buy??


To all the other ridiculous moms out there, get ready... summer break is around the corner!
💜M.E. Carter

I can't wait for you to read Matter of Time so here are the first two chapters!

TRIGGER WARNING for Matter of Time!!!

This is Nicole's book so some of you know what the topic is. If you have a particular trigger, please feel free to reach out and I'll let you know the topic before you read. Otherwise, I now introduce Kade and Nicole in Matter of Time.


CHAPTER ONE

NICOLE

“You were flirting with him! I saw you!” He grabs my arm and begins squeezing, the strength of his fingertips digging into my skin. My heart races as I plead.

“He asked me where the bathroom was. I was just answering his question!”

His face contorts, his eyes darkening. He looks like pure evil. “So you could go with him and blow him? Huh? Answer me! Do you want his dick in your mouth?”

“No!” I yell, but he’s not listening, too enraged to calm down. “It’s you I love! You!”

“You’re mine, do you understand? MINE!”

My cheekbone feels like it explodes as he backhands my face. I have no doubt my skin has broken open. The blood is already oozing down my cheek.

“How dare you make me hit you like this. This is all your fault!”

He roars with anger and… I startle awake, my face pressing so hard into the pillow that my cheek aches.

I quickly run my hand down my face. No blood.

“It wasn’t real,” I whisper to myself. “Only a nightmare.”

Finally satisfied I’m safe in my apartment, I roll onto my back and breathe in… two, three, four… hold, two, three, four… and out, two, three, four… hold. My heart begins to calm and the normal sounds around me start to register.

Another roar from outside my door and I finally put together what loud noises woke me up.

Trivia Night at Frui Vita.

Grabbing the remote, I turn my small television off and slide my jeans on. I’m not sure how I fell asleep on the couch. I usually don’t go to bed until the bar is closed. I must be extra tired tonight. The last thing I remember is someone named Alex being added to The Circle. I didn’t stay awake long enough to find out if he’s a catfish.

This is what my life has come to. Living in a small apartment in the back of my almost brother-in-law’s bar and binge-watching reality television every night. Pathetic. At some point, I need to look at moving on with my life. It’s been months since I left my jerk boyfriend, Jeremy. While he still plagues me in nightmares, I want to have a life when I’m awake, not be stuck in this limbo I’ve found myself in.

Making sure I have my keys, I head out the door locking it behind me. My makeup probably looks awful and my hair is piled on top of my head, but whatever. It’s late and I doubt I know any of the customers tonight. Heath and his football team are still away at training camp and with the exception of a few others, they are the only guys I know. And only because Heath is my nephew’s godfather so he’s always around.

I ease my way up to the bar and sit on the stool that I claimed months ago. I’ve got my back to a wall, my side to the counter, and I can see every inch of the large room. I feel safest sitting here. I’m also out of the way while my sister works.

Somehow though, she always knows when I join her. I don’t even say hello before she’s setting a glass of Sprite down in front of me.

“Thanks.” I lean on the bar and take a sip of my non-alcoholic beverage, observing the team play happening near the stage. The guys at one of the tables are wearing matching neon green shirts. It makes me smile. “How’s Trivia Night going?”

Kiersten wipes her hands on a towel and grabs the shaker. I’m always in awe watching her work. She’s only been here a little over a year and has multi-tasking down pat. “Busy as always.”

Frui Vita is a low-key establishment that caters to the professional athletes in the area, and there are a lot of them. The outside of this place looks like a random dive bar on the side of the road. But the inside is gorgeous with its wood beams and black accents. It’s become a favorite stop for the people who want to let their hair down without being bombarded with fans or people taking shady pictures to sell to the tabloids later.

“Which team is that?” I ask, tipping my head toward the guys in green. I barely get the question out before more cheers erupt and a huge guy with floppy blond hair stands up so quickly his chair falls backward. He raises his hands in victory, teammates holding their drinks up to give him their salute.

My sister just shakes her head with a smirk. “That would be the Slingers hockey team. Kade said they start preseason in a couple of weeks so apparently tonight is one last hurrah before hitting the ice hard for the next few months.”

“Kade? Is he here tonight?” I pray my cheeks aren’t turning pink just from saying his name. Too many people are in my business now as it is. I don’t want to tip them off that I may have developed a small crush on their newest bartender.

It’s not even a realistic crush. More like a fantasy of who he might be. If I’ve learned anything in the last couple of years, it’s that fantasy and reality are never the same. Ever. So, while I can indulge in a little unrequited interest from afar, I’m not dumb enough to pretend the Kade in my head is the true Kade. I’ll never make that mistake with any man again.

Kiersten finishes her mixing and pours the liquid into a martini glass. “He’s in the back taking a minute before we get another wave of orders. It’s been non-stop.”

Biting my lip, I contemplate pitching an idea to my sister. I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Maybe I need to go for it. Like my therapist, Dr. Rhonda would say, what’s the worst that can happen?

Actually, I know the answer to that. I’ve lived it. I have to push past those fears though, because in this context they’re not realistic. Instead, I take a deep breath and toss out my idea before I lose my courage.

“I was thinking, if the offer is still good, maybe I could help you guys out some. I need to do more than just hang out with you and watch television, you know? Maybe start earning some money for my own place.” Kiersten whips her head around to look at me, jaw practically falling to the floor. “But only if you need someone. Not, like as a charity case or whatever…” I tack on quietly regretting that I opened up this conversation. I have no idea how Kiersten is going to react. She’s always made it clear I was welcome to work here. Paul, the owner of this place and her live-in boyfriend, has too. Up until now, I’ve always turned them down, so I’m not surprised by her initial reaction. What I don’t know is if she’s going to play this cool, or if she’s going to do her big sister version of therapy. I’m hoping it’s the former.

To her credit, she pulls herself together and continues on with what she was doing. “We could always use help these days. I know Paul is talking about finally getting the kitchen renovated so we can add more menu options besides pretzels and peanuts. That doesn’t actually help you now, I just forgot to tell you earlier.”

“Oh.” I twist my lips, disappointed they don’t have something more immediate. “Well, I guess just let me know when he needs someone in the kitchen. I’m sure I can figure out how to deep fry chicken strips or whatever.”

“Nicole, I didn’t say we don’t need help now. You just reminded me that more is coming as well. We may have almost doubled the staff around here in the last few months but that still means there are only five of us.”

“We may be back down to four soon,” a male voice says as he slides behind the bar.

Kade.

Please cheeks, don’t blush. You don’t know him. He could be a massive jerk like Jeremy. Don’t get in too deep.

“Oh, hey Nicole.” Kade flashes me a kind smile then immediately gets back to work, grabbing a stack of bowls and filling them with peanuts.

Kiersten on the other hand has her hands on her hips. “What does that mean? Are you quitting?”

“No, but I overheard Sandra arguing with her husband about how late she works.”

Kiersten rolls her eyes so far back in her head it’s a wonder they don’t get stuck there. “This is a bar, not Chuck-E-Cheese. What were they expecting?”

Kade shrugs. “The way it sounded, she knew what she was getting into but he’s not having it.”

A shiver runs down my spine and I say a silent prayer that Sandra isn’t in the same kind of situation I was. I know better than to ask her directly. She probably wouldn’t admit it if there was a deeper problem anyway. The only thing I can do is hope she reads the signs posted in the restroom about getting out of a bad situation and jots down the number in case she needs it.

Turning to me, Kiersten continues to purse her lips in irritation. “Looks like we have a waitressing job opening up soon. Interested?”

I want to say yes. I want to jump at the chance to take back my independence and make some money to start planning my future. I want to more than I’ve wanted almost anything in a very long time.

But I can’t. I’m frozen, thinking about what happens when I walk out in the middle of that room, amongst all those people, all those very large men who are drinking and partying. My breathing starts to pick up as the anxiety of a moment that hasn’t even happened takes over.

I shake my head, partly to force my body to move and partly to answer my sister. “I think it would be better to wait for that kitchen job.”

Kiersten’s face falls. She knows she hit a trigger; she just doesn’t know how. “What? No, I don’t want you to do that.” She puts her hand on my arm, her signature move when she’s trying to show her support of me. “Is it because of all the guys? We can make sure you only work when Paul does so you have back up, or I don’t know, we can figure something out.”

“I can be the waiter.”

Kiersten and I both look up at Kade who is drying a glass now that’s he done with the peanuts.

“You would… why would you do that?” I tilt my head to the side, curious about his answer.

I can tell he’s going for nonchalance but something about the way he moves his hands, maybe because he keeps wiping the glass over and over, has me feeling like he’s nervous. But why?

He licks his lips and swallows slowly. “I can deliver drinks and take orders. If it means you get to stay behind the bar and have some distance between yourself and all that mess.” He looks out into the room, the noise down to a low hum as everyone concentrates on whatever answer they’re searching for.

I, on the other hand, can’t take my eyes off Kade. He’s not tall and he’s a little thicker around the middle than maybe he should be. His glasses have a tendency to slide down his nose and his hair always sticks up in weird ways. He is not what most people would describe as super-hot, but I imagine hugging him would be like being held by a teddy bear—warm and comfortable and most of all, safe. Like nothing outside his embrace can touch me.

I know that’s probably not realistic, but regardless, in my eyes, he’s a true gentleman in a world full of jerks. And my crush has ratcheted up a notch.

Careful there, I think to myself. One nice thing doesn’t mean he’s a saint.

I offer him a quick smile. “Thank you, Kade.”

“Yes, thank you.” Kiersten’s voice sounds boisterous after my almost whisper-like answer. “I’ll talk to Paul about the wage part of the job and see what he has to say.”

“It’s no problem.” Kade glances back over at me one more time, his cheeks tinting the slightest shade of pink, and gets back to work.

Kiersten takes the opportunity to turn back to me, excitement dancing in her eyes. “So you’ll do it? You’ll take the bartender position?”

I only hesitate for a few seconds, long enough to pretend I’m taking a sip of my Sprite when really I’m allowing my anxious thoughts to settle back into their tiny space in my brain before answering.

“Yes. I’ll take the job.”

Kiersten squeals just like I knew she would. I wish I had even a small portion of the enthusiasm she has about me venturing back out into the world. Because as determined as I am to do this, it’s going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.





CHAPTER TWO

Kade

“Come on, little guy,” I say quietly as I scoop up the cricket who accidentally got inside. His chirping has been driving me crazy, but even more so, I know he’ll get squished if I don’t toss him outside.

“Quit hopping around, man. I’m trying to save your life.” I finally get him in my hand and enclose my fingers around him. Crickets are one of the only types of insect that don’t freak me out, even with him trying to hop around inside my fist.

Quickly, I throw him outside into the small grassy area next to the door. My mission finally accomplished, I head back to my station, behind the bar at Frui Vita, my place of employment.

I’ve been working here for about six months and enjoy it for the most part. The pay is great, my boss is fantastic, and no one can say I don’t get enough social interaction. That’s practically all I do here—socialize with customers.

For the most part, everyone else who works here is great, too. Thank God it’s Tammy waitressing tonight, though. Sandra was fine, but I knew she was short-lived. I find it hard to enjoy working with someone when you can see the writing on the wall and know they’ll be leaving you in a lurch again soon.

I never knew I had this judgmental quirk until Paul gave me this job. Now that I’ve been here for so long and we’ve gone through several waitresses, I’m finding it harder to want to get to know the new employees. Why put in the effort when we’re going to get screwed in the end anyway?

I glance over to the end of the bar and see the only person I have the opposite problem with.

Nicole.

She has a curious look on her face and when I accidentally make eye contact, her cheeks pinken and she quickly looks away. I’m not sure what that’s about, but I suspect it’s because she’s a bit on the shy side. Not painfully so, but enough that even with how often she’s here, we haven’t gotten to know each other that well.

I’m hoping that will change soon. She’s getting ready to start working here and is hanging around almost every night to just observe. It’s not like it’s a hard commute since she lives in the back apartment. But I have this feeling she’s excited about getting started, too. I just hope I can maintain some sort of distance when she does.

Not that I’m an aggressive guy, quite the opposite. I just like being near her. From what I’ve learned over the course of the months, she’s got a friendly smile for everyone, she’s witty when she finally feels comfortable talking to someone, and she is easily entertained just by people watching. More than once I’ve noticed her cheer when Dwayne, our human mascot beats someone at pool, or laugh when some rookie is getting hazed by their teammates.

More and more I’ve found myself wanting to get to know everything about her—her likes, her dislikes, her dreams, her fears. Hell, I even want to know what size shoe she wears. That’s how into her I am.

Not that I will ever ask for any of that information. Nicole looks like a bombshell and is the sweetest person I’ve ever met. She deserves so much more than a loser geek like me. She needs to be wined and dined and be covered in jewelry. I prefer video games and Chex Mix and indulge in a Ring Pop every now and then. I’m not at all her type.

No, what she needs is a man like the ones who frequent this bar. They all have money and success. And they’re all very athletic. That’s the kind of man she deserves. Someone who can take care of her and provide for her every desire. I want that for her. I’m hoping when she starts in a couple of days it’ll be the beginning of her finding that perfect person. It’s going to hurt like a bitch to watch, but I’m willing as long as she’s happy.

I finish wiping down the counter as my pseudo-brother Jaxon approaches and leans against the wood top.

“What’s up?”

“I just need a Shiner. And do you have any limes?” He leans over the counter like he can see behind it even though he can’t.

“Sure. Coming up.”

It’s rare to see Jaxon here anymore. Now that he’s started his clinics for medical school he’s either at the hospital, in the library, or sleeping. His wife Annika shows up more than he does and she hates the bar scene, for reasons I’m unsure of. Not that it’s my business anyway.

After grabbing his drink from the small fridge and popping the top, I add a lime wedge to the rim and hand Jaxon his beer. He immediately shoves the wedge inside and takes a long drink before letting out a sigh of contentment.

“How’s it going?” he asks. I’m not all that surprised he’s making small talk. His best friend, Heath Germaine, is at training camp with the San Antonio Steer so the usual crowd Jaxon runs with isn’t here, and since Annika is a sports trainer for the same team, she went with them. Jaxon must really be lonely if he’s here by himself.

“At work or school?”

His body sags onto a stool, no tension to be seen now that’s he’s got his bottle. “Both.”

“School is fine. The semester just started and it’s more basic requirements so it’s not hard. And work is fine. Everyone is still nice. The customers still seem happy. And Paul is still a great boss.”

Jaxon tilts his head in a partial nod. “That he is. I know he likes you working here.”

The comment is unexpected. “He does? How do you know that?”

“He really struggles trying to find a good fit. Doesn’t want to mess with the vibe of the place so he’d have to like you to keep you around.”

I understand exactly what Jaxon means. The vast majority of Frui Vita’s customers are professional athletes and their friends. One of the things they seem to like about me is that I don’t really have any interest in sports. I’m trying to learn more now that I work here, but it isn’t something I have any desire to get deeply involved with. Makes it hard to find common ground when I work, but apparently it also gives the customers a stronger sense of anonymity or something.

“Hey, as long as they’re happy with my work ethic and think I fit in well enough, it’s fine by me.”

“That’s exactly why Paul likes you.” Jaxon begins absentmindedly peeling the label off his beer and I know he has something more on his mind. “So, when are you going to do something about that?”

“About what?”

He points his beer bottle at Nicole. “About your feelings for Nicole.”

“I don’t… There’s not…What feelings?” I finally manage to sputter.

I’m sure my face turns bright red. I can feel the heat rising from my neck. I hope it just looks like I’m flushed from work. Doubt it, though.

Jaxon chuckles, not deceived at all. “You can’t hide the fact that you’re half in love with her from me. I’m your brother.”

He’s actually not my brother. For a while, we thought we shared a biological father since his birth dad cheated on his wife with my mom. DNA proved we were wrong.

While I still don’t know who my father is, Jaxon decided genetics don’t matter anyway and that was that. I’m not sure if he ever told his mom and adoptive dad the truth, but they brought me into their family fold anyway. Mostly just for holidays.

It’s not like I have any other family that gives a shit about me. Mom has always been too busy living her life to actually care what I’m up to. It’s been nice having a pseudo-family step in for no reason other than they want me to be a part of things.

That relationship led to me moving here for school and getting insider information on this job when it came open and now… Nicole. Who I really am in love with despite my attempts to keep those feelings from developing. Still, that’s my own personal business and I don’t need Jaxon pushing the issue. And I certainly don’t need to get fired when my boss finds out I have a hard-on for his soon-to-be sister-in-law.

I grab a bowl of pretzels knowing it’s his preference and place it in front of him, avoiding eye contact. “I don’t even really know her. Besides, she’s related to the boss so she’s off-limits. How are your clinics anyway? Do you get to do a bunch of cool stuff?”

“They’re exhausting and I love it, but don’t change the subject,” he demands. “She is not off-limits because of Paul and don’t try to feed me a bunch of horse shit on that. What’s really going on?”

I shake my head dejectedly. I don’t want to put my thoughts into words. He’s only going to argue with me about the truth I already know and I’m not in the mood for that. Especially with her sitting just across the bar from us. Still, I know he isn’t going to let it go. It seems to be a trait amongst the Hart family.

“I am a college student who hasn’t declared a major yet and relied on his not-quite-brother to get him a job at a bar. I play video games for fun almost nightly and I’m not exactly sexy. She deserves way better than me. So, like I said, she’s off-limits.”

Jaxon’s eyes soften and I want to roll mine at the pity I can see. Yet another reason I don’t like talking about this kind of thing with him. What he thinks is self-deprecating talk is actually real to life. It doesn’t hurt my feelings to know I’m not good enough for her. It is what it is. And what it is, is fact.

“Kade, you’re a great guy—”

“Stop.” I hold my hand up, shocked that he actually complies. “Listen, I know who I am and I’m fine with it. I’m not trying to be anyone I’m not. Plus, Nicole doesn’t need a date right now. She just needs a friend, right?”

Jaxon sighs in defeat. I’m sure this conversation isn’t truly over, but I guess I’ve won this round. “You’re right. A year sometimes feels like a long time but when you’re healing from emotional wounds, it can take longer than that.”

I know what he’s referring to, even if I don’t respond. I haven’t asked for details, but from what I’ve been told Nicole ended up living in this area after her boyfriend beat the crap out of her. Just the thought of it makes me want to punch something even though I’d probably break my hand.

“Exactly. So let it go, will you?”

“For now,” he concedes. It’s as good as I’m going to get tonight.

I nod once. “Tell me about your clinicals. Have you removed any crowbars from anyone’s thigh or done chest compressions while the gurney rolls down the hall?”

Jaxon snorts a laugh and grins. “You’ve been watching too many medical dramas.”

I raise one shoulder quickly. “I learn some good information on those shows.”

“On what shows?” Tammy drops her tray on the counter and looks at us expectantly. She’s always interrupting, but no one minds. We’re always surprised by what she contributes to any conversation. She’s… entertaining.

“Kade seems to think he’s practically a medical student because he likes to watch fictional doctor shows,” Jaxon jokes.

Tammy doesn’t seem to notice his sarcasm. “I’ll tell you, I should have gotten my nursing license from how many episodes I’ve seen of House. Did you know I diagnosed my sister’s husband’s niece with an allergic reaction to the copper in her IUD because of Dr. Gregory House? And what do you know, when she finally took my advice and went to the doctor, I was right. They ripped that thing out of her so fast it’d make your head spin. Within days all that itching in her lady bits was gone. Of course, they ended up with another baby after that, but I suppose you can’t always be rash and child free at the same time, can you?”

Jaxon and I stare at her blankly. I’m not sure if I’m not processing this conversation correctly or if Tammy truly is taking credit for someone else’s unplanned pregnancy.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, she jumps back in.

“Got some orders for you when you’re ready.”

“Yeah now’s a good time,” I say quickly, praying she doesn’t remember some other random story about the time she wasn’t really a medical student and got way too into other people’s business.

She prattles off the few drinks she needs and grabs a couple bowls of snacks to replenish the tables. As soon as she’s out of earshot, Jaxon looks right at me. “Did she just tell us about some poor woman’s lady bits?”

“I don’t know. I got stuck on the visual of an IUD being flung across the room, man. Even if I wanted to date, I think I’m officially turned off from it forever.”

Jaxon takes the final drink from his beer. “That was my cue to leave. She doesn’t need to know anything about the toe fungus I had to irrigate today.”

“Oh, come on!” I shout and throw my hands up in the air, making him laugh. “Did you need to give me that visual image, too?”

He pushes off the stool and tosses some bills on the counter. “That’s the risk you take when you hang out with so many medical professionals.”

He gives me some sort of a weird salute and takes off, leaving me shaking my head. I make a mental note to warn Nicole—no matter how much you may love Grey’s Anatomy, don’t ever bring it up in conversation with Tammy.


Coming July 16
Preorder now available:
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qlP1AY
Nook: http://bit.ly/3nMwIUn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3suIXIM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/39BofhE
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3nHFGlJ
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/38JVgcE
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2XT7dqd



BOOK NEWS!!
Exciting things are happening. Here's what's new!

Have you read the Texas Mutiny series yet?
It's now in one complete set for a significantly lower price than if you get them separately.
Snatch it up and get your read on!
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2R7gtqi
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3rUW0Sq
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3dDmSBf
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2PEVxqn
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/31QCyM1
Nook: https://bit.ly/3wHCBrQ
Kobo: https://bit.ly/31XCeeh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3dDkudF


Cutie and the Beast is LIVE on audio!
This hilarious romance is friends to lovers at it's finest and is perfect for your next road trip.
https://smartypantsromance.com/audiob...


I have a secret!
I can't tell you quite yet, but be on the lookout for a surprise next month when all will be revealed.
No really. It's going to be great fun and you'll see it on my social media first.
That's all I'm going to say about that!


Here's to finishing out the school year strong. Fingers crossed for all of us!
💜M.E. Carter

Greetings from Sunny Florida!

Actually, it's cold and rainy as I write this.

Also by the time you get this, vacation will officially be over and I'll be headed home.

As sad as I am that I'm back in the real world again, I will never forget some of the life long lessons I've learned while gone for a week with a couple of friends.

Here are the Top Ten lessons I feel I should pass along to you:

10) Just because you book a house on AirBNB doesn't mean you'll actually stay there. Sometimes, when you drive up you find out the people live there and are just willing to let you sleep in their two extra rooms while they snooze across the hall. And sometimes you have to politely say "no thank you" and immediately book the Homewood Suites by the airport.

9) $40 nachos are not guaranteed to be good nachos.

8) Not all Walmarts are created the same. Especially in Tampa.

7) When staying in a hotel suite, if you can't find the dishes, check the dishwasher before spending the money to get plates and silverware.

6) Vodka is my frenemy.

5) "Warm weather" is a relative term and is highly dependent upon what state you normally live in.

4) Meeting readers in person is way better than meeting readers online. (I'm looking at you, Nikki.)

3) "Unexpected" is a gentler version of "Teen Mom", but they're all still crazy.

2) Sleeping in is my favorite thing ever.

And the number one thing I learned on vacation:

1) No matter who you are, or where you grew up, we're all still traumatized by Punky having to give Cherry CPR when she hid in the old refrigerator.

~

BOOK NEWS!!

Now in Kindle Unlimited!
Weights of Wrath is an all-new romantic comedy in Penny Reid's Smartypants Romance.

This fun read covers all our favorite tropes: friends-to-lovers, best-friend's-cousin, and of course surprise pregnancy!

Grab it on Amazon. It's free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3pkwHc5
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2MuOLBq
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3ceBkAr
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/3sYIZZO

~

Preorder Now!
Nicole and Kade's story is finally coming!

Matter of Time is a new adult contemporary romance deals with some hard core issues, but they couldn't be more perfect for each other.

Preorder now so it'll be on your device first this summer!
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qlP1AY
Nook: http://bit.ly/3nMwIUn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3suIXIM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/39BofhE
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3nHFGlJ
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/38JVgcE
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2XT7dqd

~

Same great story... with a great new cover!

Did you see the new cover for Ear Candy?

Andrea and I are so in love with it. It fits our Todd and Donna perfectly! If you've read the book, you know exactly what we mean. If you haven't read it, what are you waiting for? It's a hoot!

You can grab it here.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2taqlAD
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Gdiwm1
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2GsmKpi
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2UNODfd
Audible: https://amzn.to/2ts2pvD
iTunes: http://apple.co/3qk9yWR

~

Hoping your Spring Break is relaxing and rejeauvenating!

CALLING ALL BOOKSTAGRAMMERS AND BLOGGERS!!

You all make our worlds go round and we couldn't do any of this without you. We'd love to partner with you for the upcoming release of Matters to You.
This is the last call to sign up for promo information or an ARC to review.
Sign up here... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
And thank you all of you. Truly.