Tag Archives: Guest Post

Changing Lanes by Season Vining-Review & Guest Post

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Changing Lanes (Welcome to Grace #1) by Season Vining-Review and Guest Post

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 1, 2020

Stella Locke is starting over. After an ugly divorce, she picks up her Southern roots and transplants to upstate New York where the air is crisp and no one knows her name. She’s an enthusiastic reader and just so happens to pick the quaint little spot where her favorite author lives. The small town of Grace welcomes Stella with open arms, a new job, and a smoking hot neighbor.

Lane Holder is a bit mysterious with his midnight jogs and brazen flirting. He’s got an adorable corgi named Chap who immediately steals Stella’s heart. In time, Stella is blown away by Lane’s charm, maturity, and undeniable interest in her. Being out of the dating game for 20 years has filled her with self-doubt and the hurt endured from her marriage has made her want to keep that part of her past hidden. Still, Lane convinces her to take a chance on him.

Their relationship is a slow, steamy burn that seems to be building toward something special and permanent. But as with any relationship built on secrets, one wrong move and it all could come crashing down.

•••••••

REVIEW:Changing Lanes by Season Vining is book one in The Welcome to Grace series.

Stella Locke has recently divorced her cheating husband and has decided to pick up her life and move to upstate New York. Stella picks Grace, New York because that is where her favorite romance author Alaina Taylor lives. Her thinking is that if its good enough for Alaina its good enough for her to start over. Upon arriving in Grace she meets her next door neighbor Lane Holder. Mysterious, smoking hot man that jogs every night at midnight. Lane slowly breaks down Stella’s defenses and a beautiful relationship begins.

The sub-characters in this story were amazing and hilarious. Stella’s real estate agent turned best friend is outrageously hilarious and I am praying that she gets her own story soon. She is on of those characters that you want to know more about.

Stella and Lane have amazing chemistry, but when Stella finds out that Lane has been lying to her, all games are off. She has been betrayed before by her ex-husband, but this hurts way worse. Will she be able to forgive him?

And will she even want to take him back?

This was an imaginative, fun romantic read. The story pulls you in and you become invested in small town Grace and the characters that live there.

Looking forward to more books in this series. Recommend highly if you are looking for a boy next door romance with lots of laughs.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed By Erin K

What makes a cover?
by Season Vining

Along with the apparent upswing in romantic comedy novel sales has been a trend in illustrated covers to go along with them. Maybe both of these things coincide with the madness and chaos of the world today. People need a distraction—something light with moments of hilarity and heart. RomComs and illustrated covers seem to both fit the bill. Plus, they’re fun. And for those of you who like to carry around paperbacks in public, they are not sexually suggestive no matter what the content of the book is.

The first question when building a cover is, do I want a couple or just one person or just an object. This is completely subjective to the author/designer/publisher’s taste and what they think will sell the book. For RomCom, both members of the couple are almost always represented. Then, what do you want your audience to feel when they look at your cover? Turned on? Happy? Inquisitive? The answer will set the tone of the cover, which could covers everything from the style of illustration, background elements, and colors used.

Like in my new RomCom, Changing Lanes. I knew I wanted an illustrated cover and I knew I wanted the couple on there. But I also knew that Chap, the adorable and lovable corgi featured in the story, should have his place too. There are a lot of elements of the story represented on the cover. For example, you can see Stella’s work apron with the name of the bookstore she works at. Chap sits atop a stack of books, so you know that those are important to the theme of the story. There are fall elements, letting you know when the book takes place. And finally, a road to literally represent Changing Lanes.

When the book is part of a series, you’ve really got to think ahead enough to makes sure that you can create a cover for each book that is unique and appealing while fitting in with the rest of the series seamlessly. Changing Lanes is book 1 in the Welcome to Grace series. I added the fall elements, because there are four books and four seasons. Each cover will have its own theme.

In the end, the cover is usually what sells your book. It is what makes people stop and read the blurb. It is the first impression. So, make sure it’s a good one. Most importantly, make sure it represents the story and overall feel so that readers know exactly what to expect. Sure, there can be twists, turns, and surprises… but leave that to the writing.

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Camp Lake by John A Heldt-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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Camp Lake (Carson Chronicles #5) by John A Heldt-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

 

CAMP LAKE
The Carson Chronicles #5
by John A Heldt
Release Date: September 30, 2019
Genre: time travel, romance

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: September 30, 2019

Phoenix, Spring 1983. For the Carsons, five siblings from the present day, it has come down to this. Find the parents they have chased through time for more than two years or go home and resume their lives without them.

While Adam and Greg remain in Arizona and Natalie searches the country for leads, Cody and Caitlin travel to a summer camp in Maine, where their mother and father met as counselors. The twins, now 19, hope to intercept the older versions of their parents even as they work beside the younger ones.

All of the Carsons prepare for a reunion that seems inevitable. Then tragedy strikes one family member and seductive strangers pull two others in unhelpful directions as a summer of promise turns into one of uncertainty and sacrifice.

Filled with humor, romance, and heartbreak, CAMP LAKE, the poignant conclusion of the Carson Chronicles series, follows the lives of several spirited adults as they confront choices and change the era of big hair, space shuttles, and video arcades.

••••••••

REVIEW:CAMP LAKE is the fifth and final instalment in John A Heldt’s CARSON CHRONICLES time travel romance series focusing on the Carson family.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Carson Chronicles focuses on the Carson siblings, a family of time travellers, as they search for their missing parents Tim and Caroline Carson. Months earlier, the siblings discovered their parents had disappeared but an itinerary of places and timelines found the family on a journey of their own. Starting in 2017, the siblings travelled back in time to 1889, 1918, the tumultuous era of 1943-44, 1962 where the Cuban Missile Crisis is about to unfold, and presently arriving in 1983.

Told from several third person perspectives CAMP LAKE is the culmination of twenty-eight months ‘on the road’ as the Carson siblings search for their missing parents Tim and Caroline Carson. The year is 1983, and the family have crossed paths on numerous occasions without running into one another. At Camp Lake, a summer camp where Tim and Caroline Carson first met and fell in love, twins Caitlin and Cody Carson, as well as Caitilin’s lover Dennis Sawyer, find themselves working as camp counsellors, where they will meet the younger version of their now missing parents. But things don’t go according to plans when their parents’ romance is threatened by someone else.

At Camp Lake, Cody, the lone single sibling, believes he has met his future, in the past. Karen O’Reilly, the camp botanist, pulls Cody in like a moth to a flame, but not all is well in Karen’s world, and Cody is about to discover that his previously shattered heart is about to be broken, once again.

Meanwhile, Tim and Caroline Carson believe they have located their children but once again, paths will be crossed, as the siblings continue their search one step ahead of, or behind, their missing parents.

CAMP LAKE and the Carson Chronicles is an imaginative and original series; a cleverly written story of family, struggle, memories and love. Unlike the previous instalments, 1983 is but a year wherein the family takes center stage-history is barely afforded a mention. An engaging and enchanting story line, CAMP LAKE and the Carson Chronicles is an energetic, animated and brilliant addition to your reading library.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
River Rising
The Memory Tree
Indian Paintbrush
Caitlin’s Song

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

As one who has written fifteen novels that blend both fact and fiction, I know firsthand the importance of getting it right. Writing about time travel, after all, requires more than describing the means of travel. It requires accurately depicting the past. It requires meeting the standards of quality historical fiction.

The challenges are often daunting, particularly when writing about the recent past, as I have done on multiple occasions. When writing about places and times that are in the living memory of many readers, you have to make an extra effort to get even the little things right.

When I wrote my first novel, The Mine, a story set mostly in Seattle in 1941, a few older readers gently reminded me that chocolate-chip cookies were more commonly called “Toll House cookies” and that aluminum foil was generally called “tin foil,” even after aluminum replaced tin as its primary component. Since that time, I have done what I could to ensure the historical accuracy of my books, which have spanned eras ranging from the 1880s to the 1980s.

Like many writers of historical fiction, I favor primary sources, such as newspapers, documents, letters, photographs, and oral histories. I generally find eyewitness accounts of events and eras, produced by those who lived through them, to be more compelling than even the best research compiled decades – or even a few years – after the fact.

Even so, I don’t limit myself. When preparing to write about times I did not experience, I will often sample the movies, music, and literature of the day. I find it easier to describe Americans of the 1950s and early 1960s, for example, if I immerse myself in the very things that drove them to theaters, concert halls, and libraries.

On some occasions, I look closer to home. When writing The Journey, set in 1979 and 1980, and Camp Lake, my newest book, set in 1983, I relied mostly on memories of — and mementos from — my senior year of high school and my experience at a summer camp in Maine.

No matter where I turn for answers, however, I follow advice that has been around for decades. When writing historical fiction, even in the context of time travel, pay attention to details. Note the nuances and the particulars. Sweat the small stuff.

~~John A Heldt~~

Follow John: Goodreads / Facebook / Website/Blog/ Twitter / Amazon / Instagram / Tumblr

 I’m a married father of two grown daughters and a son and, as of August 15, the grandfather of a delightful little girl named Stella. Before turning to novel writing in 2011, I worked as a sports writer and editor for several newspapers in Oregon and Washington, where I was born and raised, and several more years as a reference librarian in Montana. I love traveling around the western United States, watching sports, cooking, and experiencing the great outdoors. I currently make my home in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area.

 

 

John A Heldt is graciously offering the complete CARSON CHRONICLES 5 ebook time travel  series (mobi or epub)  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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9. Giveaway open internationally

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The Legacy/ Fae Hunter by Amelia Shaw-Reviews & Guest Post

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The Legacy / Fae Hunter (Slayer Academy) by Amelia Shaw-Review and Guest Post

THE LEGACY
Slayer Academy Year 1
by Amelia Shaw
Genre:new adult, paranormal
Release Date: July 1, 2019

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

From nerdy bookworm to Fae Slayer in training.

My life is carefully planned, and blissfully free of surprises. I hate surprises.

Discovering I come from a long line of Fae Slayers and must give up my position at a prestigious college to attend a Slayer Academy?

Worst. Surprise. Ever.

I’m a nerd. A bookworm. I slay with words, not swords.

Fighting to stay at the top of the class is nothing compared to fighting to survive.

If the deadly weapons and mysteriously hot, but possibly evil guys don’t kill me, then six months without cell reception might.

He haunts my dreams… His eyes pierce my soul.. but will my sword have to pierce his heart?

Megara’s battle to survive Slayer Academy has just begun. Weapons classes, unexpected passion, and forbidden love await in The Legacy…

The legacy is the first book in a New Adult, college-age paranormal academy series. Expect magic lessons, a bookworm heroine, a sexy scene or two,and a slow-burn forbidden love romance

***Author note – this series is three novella length urban fantasy books. Recommended 17+ due to language and love scenes.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: Reading the back cover, I got the impression of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I liked that show, so I flipped the kindle open and dived in…..

Megara (or Meg to her friends)is not a kick ass warrior woman, Meg is a book worm, she’s not use to fighting and certainly not monsters. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s go back …..

Meg is off to do a gap year before deciding what’s next in her life she very excited. But her whole world is about to change, and in her opinion, not for the better.

She’s unaware that both her parents are Fae slayers (and are pretty good at their job) and it’s time for their daughter to leave this life and enrol in Slayer Academy, to say that Megara is shocked and displeased is an understatement…… she’s thinking it’s a big joke, but as it sinks in, she realises her family are serious, they are going to shop her off to some school….

Arriving at the front of the academy Megara is in awe of the building, but she’s also a little apprehensive, it doesn’t look too friendly, and the nerves Meg had been suppressing, come back big a bang (this is all some terrible dream).

We meet other class mates (and that wasn’t a great first meeting) they aren’t impressed, the Callum’s are great warriors and hunters of the Fae, and Meg, well she’s a big disappointment!!!

We then read all the fun times (not) with weaponry (she’s no good with swords) and her hand to hand skills are a joke!!! But the other lessons, Meg is a keen student and makes the grades.

And it’s not teenage angst unless there is a love story…. and this one will be a forbidden one, why? Is Fiore Fae ? And if so, that’s a big NO NO in the slayer world, they can’t and shouldn’t be together, but you try telling a teenager NO?and Fiore (that’s the hunks name) is definitely worth disobeying everyone for. There is just something about him (besides being hot) there is a connection Megara has never felt with anyone before. But there is also that element of danger that keeps Meg from falling too deep.
We also have Brutus (a student at the school) there is definitely a spark between them, so we could have a love triangle?

Oh and did I mention a Legacy? (Well the title does give it away) it’s her legacy, five generations of her family have attended and have slain the evil Fae. Is there more to her legacy (I have a feeling there is)

So if you like heroines that’s aren’t warriors, that are nerds first and foremost, then you definitely need to pick this book up.

And book two….. if it’s half as good as this one, then I’m in.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

__________

FAE HUNTER
Slayer Academy Year 2
by Amelia Shaw
Genre:new adult, paranormal
Release Date: August 1, 2019

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From Fae Slayer to renegade rebel.
Slayer Academy 101:
•The Fae are evil
•A Slayer must trust their instincts.

Well, my instincts are flashing like a neon sign—the Academy can’t be trusted.
I’ve glimpsed the true heart of a Fae prince. Fiore is kind, merciful and saved my life.
Now he’s missing.

Journeying to the Fae realm is treacherous, especially with Nyeer, the Fae prince who tried to kill me.
But loathing soon turns to lust and Nyeer strips away my defenses—along with my clothes— until my heart’s in just as much danger as my life.

This Fae Slaying gig is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Magic lessons and weapons classes were child’s play compared to the fight to rescue Fiore and protect the Fae Kingdom.
And to save three Fae princes, their Kingdom’s only defense… I may have to give them up forever.

Author warning: This book is much hotter than book 1. ***Fae Hunter is the second book in a College-age Paranormal Reverse Harem Academy series.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: Reading the description I got the distinct impression our Meg is turning into a little slut!!! (Well she slept with Brutus, she’s been having sexy dreams about Fiore, and now she’s turned her attention to Nyeer) I can’t keep up with the girl?

We start this book at the beginning of a new term, Meg has just spent the last two weeks at her parents, catching up with her BFF and family. But now she’s back, her mission is clear …… Find evidence that the Fae aren’t as bad as the history books say they are.

Megara/Meg has decided that she’s not going to hunt and kill the evil Fae, she’s going to find out what the truth is, and she feels like the Fae have had a raw deal for centuries. But proving it will be difficult, she can’t tell her roommates, she can’t tell Brutus (sparring partner and part time lover) she can’t even ask the librarian. She’s on this mission alone. She just needs to speak to Fiore or Nyeer (one of the Fae leaders)

She gets her wish sooner than she anticipated, a portal opens and a figure emerges…..

Fiore is missing!!! Meg needs to do something, she feels like it’s her fault. She needs to do research whilst waiting for Nyeer to return in three days time.

After meeting up with Nyeer, he takes her back to his castle (he is one of the three princes that rules the Fae kingdom, Fiore being one of the others)
Teaching Meg defence movements has her all hot and bothered, and before you know it Meg and Nyeer are going at it like bunny rabbits (this not I found a bit disconcerting, if there is a connection between Fiore and Meg, why is she in bed with Nyeer?)

The third prince (Everly) makes an appearance at the castle and is disgusted that no one is looking for the third Prince (Fiore) Meg is feeling really guilty and steps up the attempts to find Fiore……
With luck and a little magic, they find where Fiore is being held, and plan a rescue.

Do they rescue Fiore? Will Megara have to chose? And who will it be?
And boy is it a cliffhanger ending……

This book is more racier than the first, it felt like it was heading towards a reverse harem (three guys one woman)

copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B?

Hi guys! Thank you so much for asking me to do a post today. I’ve been writing on and off for ten years, and have been published for the last six years or so.

Follow: Facebook / Website / Bookbub Instagram /

I write under several pen names, and my other PNR one is Tamsin Baker, but I leave that pseudonym for more of my LGBT or unusual projects now.

My latest series is – the Slayer Academy.

A college aged- New adult, Paranormal Academy serial. A trilogy. It’s my first ever New adult story, so it’s been challenging to get the themes and language right.

Not to mention the fact I’d never written about the Fae before. I loved the idea of the touch of magic, other realms and beautiful men. I mean- who doesn’t? But getting the balance right was hard as well.

Question 1. Cover Images-do you believe a cover image can make or break a book sale?

I do. I am a massive cover art collector. I love pre-mades and have over ten files sitting in my old downloads that I know I’ll never use- but HAD to buy them at the time. Without thought to market or genre- I just wanted them.

I think you have to have an appealing cover- but it also has to tell the person looking at it- exactly what the book is about in the two second glance we give a new cover.

I do like my covers for this series- but since launching them I’ve acknowledged that I will need to hire a higher priced, more photoshop trained designer for my next series.

Question 2. Balancing writing and family.

Hmmm… well, to answer this question correctly, I will have to reveal that I live in an unusual family situation. My relationship is a closed poly triad, with my husband and our live in partner/girlfriend. My husband has four grown children, I have two biological children and I help raise my girlfriends two children. So in short, we have three adults, four children under ten and I have a day job as well.

How do I balance it all? Prioritise. I have a cleaner- my girlfriend and I share the washing, the cooking, the shopping. I try to write in pockets of time I have when my kids are asleep, at school, or at their fathers.

My writing is a passion, a need, a must. I can’t… not write. So, like with all passions, I think you find the time. Even if it means I don’t watch much tv, but I always have quality time with my kids and my partners.

That’s my priority as I work towards publishing and writing full time.

Thanks for your time! And I hope you enjoy one, some or ALL of my books!

Tamsin Baker aka Amelia Shaw aka Fiona Myers

 

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Robby (Cooper Construction #3) by Jen Davis-Review & Giveaway

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ROBBY (Cooper Construction #3) by Jen Davis-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

ROBBY
Cooper Construction #3
by Jen Davis
Release Date : June 4, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, M/M, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2019

No one knows me–not the true me shaped by my sordid past. I cover the scars on my soul as well as I hide the ones on my skin.

I’m living proof that only the strongest survive on these streets. But I paid a heavy price for my survival.

Now I’m ready to move on, to forget my past. In my dreams, I do it with Matt. I’ve had my eye on him ever since he joined Cooper Construction. Like me, he keeps his true self hidden, locked inside a shy and silent shell.

Somehow, I break through. Touch the untouchable. But when love strips us both naked, the truths we reveal may end up tearing us apart.

•••••••••

REVIEW: ROBBY is the third instalment in Jen Davis’ contemporary, adult COOPER CONSTRUCTION erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women who work for Cooper Construction. This is foreman’s assistant Robby Jordan, and construction worker /architect student / single father Matt York’s story line. ROBBY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: ROBBY contains scenes of M/M sexual situations, as well as reference to abuse, drugs, alcohol and self-harm that may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Robby and Matt) ROBBY follows the building relationship between co-workers foreman’s assistant Robby Jordan, and construction worker /architect student / single father Matt York. Robby Jordan has been attracted to his co-worker for close to a year but single father Matt York is oblivious to Robby’s attraction, as well as his own tempered sexuality. Having always considered himself asexual, but desperate to prove otherwise, Matt’s one and only sexual experience resulted in his now one year old son. Lonely and needing a friend, Matt accepts Robby’s offer for online gaming, an offer that brings the two co-workers closer together. What ensues is the building relationship, romance and love between Matt and Robby, and the potential fall-out as Robby’s past conflicts with potential custody arrangements between Matt and the mother of his child.

Robby’s past is mired in abuse and rejection; alcohol and drugs but our hero has struggled to move on with his life including helping those who are unable or unwilling to help themselves. Matt battles his direction in life including his attraction to a man when he, himself, had never considered himself bisexual or gay. Using their work relationship as a conduit towards friendship and love, Robby begins a slow seduction of the man he has lusted after for over a year.

The relationship between Robby and Matt is one of immediate attraction but Matt struggles with who he is, and what he wants. Robby’s past is dangerous and dark, but a past that continues to haunt him both day and night. The $ex sense are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Brick and Olivia , Kane and Amanda; Matt’s friend and mother of his child Patty, and their son Jimmy, as well as a number of gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered youth who struggle for a place to live, and feel protected from life. The requisite evil has many faces.

ROBBY is a story of family, friendship, rejection and love; of finding where you belong no matter the path or choices that lie ahead. The premise is heart breaking, emotional and engaging; the romance is sensitive and provocative; the characters are broken, wounded but energetic and spirited.

Reading order and previous reviews
Brick
Kane
Robby

 

Pick up a FREE ebook copy of KANE: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Thanks so much, Sandy, for hosting me today. I’m beyond excited to be here in support of my new release, Robby. This book is my first male/male romance and I had an amazing time writing it. As a longtime romance reader, I enjoy almost all subgenres and I’ve always held a special place in my heart for male-male romance. I loved, loved, loved the Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux, and some other early favorites for me included Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville and Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley. (What can I say? I have a type.)

It never occurred to me not to have LGBTQ characters in the Cooper Construction series, though the first two installments were m-f. Robby was such an important part of the first book, Brick, because he was a soft, gentle spirit who contrasted so sharply with the title character, who was this big badass who beat people up and killed folks for a crime lord. Robby saw the human side of Brick when few others did and they built a deep friendship which included Kane, the title character of book two.

Once I got through Brick and Kane’s stories, I knew Robby needed an HEA. But there was so much we didn’t know about him. His book is about how he came to be the man Brick and Kane befriended in the earlier novels. He is gentle and kind, but he’s been through fire. And I feel like that history is what led these men to connect. They all lived through hell and came out the other side so very different.

Another fun thing to explore was finding the perfect match for this character I love so much. Matt is a demisexual single father who doesn’t really understand himself or see the possibility of love in his life. He’s always struggled to find his place and to make interpersonal connections. With Robby, he finds a beloved friendship and a romance that takes everyone by surprise.

I hope deeply that readers of the m-f books in this series will follow these characters over to a male-male love story. I know many readers like only straight or LGBTQ content exclusively. But love is love is love is love. And what grows between Matt and Robby is just beautiful. (If you haven’t read the other two books, don’t worry. These all hold up as standalones. You can follow along just fine.)

A word of warning, though, if you’re new to my work, the content is dark. Trigger warnings for references to abuse, drug use, and self-harm. But this book also includes themes of self-acceptance, found family, and happy ever after.

Tell me. If you enjoy LGBTQ romance, which authors were among your early favorites? Or which series have you enjoyed which include both straight and LGBTQ romances?

Follow: Facebook /Goodreads /Website /Twitter /Instagram /

Jen started her love affair with romance novels, first as a reader, then as a reviewer and blogger. She launched the Red Hot Books blog in 2010 and jumped into Book Twitter shortly after.

She wrote her first books, a YA/NA trilogy under another name back in 2016. But Brick is her first foray into Adult Contemporary Romance.

Jen is happily married to her high school sweetheart. Together, they’re raising two kids, a cat, and a dog who is afraid of his own shadow.

She spends her days working as television journalist and her nights curled up with a good book.

Jen Davis is graciously offering an ebook copy of any ONE book in her COOPER CONSTRUCTION series to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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9. Giveaway runs from June 2-6, 2019

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Kept Hidden (The Hidden Series #2) by Leigh Fleming-Review & Guest Post

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KEPT HIDDEN (The Hidden Series #2) by Leigh Fleming-Review & Guest Post

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 6, 2019

Recently fired from a Dallas TV station, reporter Vanessa Barczak’s career languishes in a small West Virginia town until she witnesses an abduction—a child is snatched directly in front of her. She desperately wants to get back to the big time, and this story might be the one to do it. But the crime stirs up past memories she’d hoped were long buried.

Up for a promotion in Chicago, FBI Special Agent Bo Azar needs to solve this case. Vanessa Barczak gets in his way, insinuating herself into the investigation and into his head. After she witnesses a second abduction, he realizes she knows more than she’s letting on. Now he’s forced to depend on her to help catch the kidnapper, but she’s not talking.

Determined to get justice for the young victims, Vanessa and Bo grow closer as they unravel the truth behind the crimes. Through the mountainous terrain and surrounding forests, they stumble onto a scenario neither could’ve imagined, forcing them to open up to emotions they’ve Kept Hidden.

•••••••••

REVIEW: This is an exciting crime/romance story by Leigh Fleming. This author is very talented and builds an exciting story quickly and yet develops the romance naturally and slowly. It’s very well written with a page turning plot.

Vanessa Barczak is a reporter for a local paper in West Virginia. She’s doing articles on old courthouses and other mundane things to have a job. She was fired for exposing a Senator’s ring of sexual favors for hire in Texas without enough proof. She hopes to get back to the big city and more exciting assignments someday.

When a young girl is abducted right in front of her, the FBI is called in to help the local police find the girl. While she was filming the courthouse, she inadvertently caught the abduction.

Special Agent Bo Azar is supervising the investigation. The attraction between the two characters is immediate, but neither of them wants to admit it or handle the complications of a relationship, at this time. They verbally spar and the sparks begin to fly.
The case continues and then the plot takes an unexpected turn, in true Fleming style!

That’s the setup, I won’t spoil this wonderful story for you. Just be sure to grab a copy to read for yourself. You won’t regret it, it’s thrilling and marvelous with a lot of unexpected revelations! Enjoy, I certainly did!

Click HERE for Georgie’s review of book one-STAY HIDDEN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgiana

The Secret Behind The Hidden Series

The Hidden Series is a romantic suspense trilogy set in my home state of West Virginia, in which each book features a heinous crime, an FBI special agent male protagonist, and a strong, determined female protagonist.

I wish I could tell you I’m a former FBI special agent with working knowledge of law enforcement and mad crime-solving skills. I wish I could tell you I’d spent months holed up in my office sweating and eating chocolate, meticulously planning the characters and plots of each novel in the series. I wish I could say that I had witnessed at least one of the crimes mentioned in the stories. Nope—nada—nix. There was no special sauce to making these books compelling, hard-to-put-down reads. The secret was my vivid imagination and luck.

I write the contemporary romance Whatever series. Each of the books’ titles begin with the word Whatever, which I later learned was the least favorite word in the English language. (Perhaps I should research titles more thoroughly in the future.) There is a minor character in the first three books—Derek Bronson—for whom some of my readers became fixated. In one day alone I had five different readers tell me that Derek needed his own book. Maybe it was because he is a hunky, blond Adonis who happens to be an FBI special agent. A big, bright light flashed in my mind. Good suggestion readers! I had a new hero for my next book. Now I needed a heroine.

In the third book of the series, Whatever You Say, I introduced Riley Smith—a quiet, unassuming young woman who lives next door. She had a small part, but I’d always wondered about her backstory. (Yep, my characters come alive when I’m writing.) So, when I decided to write Derek’s story, Riley was an easy choice for the heroine. They just fit together in my mind. I had my protagonists! However, I had a problem. Up until that point I’d only written lightly-steamy, contemporary romance, but Derek was a special agent. I had to show him doing special-agent-y things. Thus, Stay Hidden was born.

In Stay Hidden, Derek works on a team with two other agents, hunting the man who killed his father in a bank robbery. He meets Riley, to whom he is very attracted, and they spend a passionate week together until he sees her face in a convenience store surveillance photo that identifies her as an accomplice in the murder.

I hadn’t immediately set out to write a series, but as I developed the other agents, Alex and Bo, I knew I had to give them their own stories as well. Plus, I’d entered Stay Hidden in a writing contest (this is where the luck part came in) and it won! One of the judges offered me a publishing contract with Soul Mate Publishing and immediately asked about the next book in the series. Thankfully, I had the rough draft of Kept Hidden handy. It features Bo and Vanessa, a broadcast journalist recently fired from a Dallas TV station who witnesses a child abduction that conjures up painful memories.

Openly Hidden, the third book in the series, will be released in September 2019. Its hero is Alex and its heroine is Olivia. Olivia comes to West Virginia to investigate the disappearance of a college student and finds out there are three others who have also mysteriously vanished.
It’s possible that all of these books were inspired by something I’d heard in the news or on a talk show, or simply came to me in a dream (which has happened to me before.). I can’t specifically point to how the stories were born. I have no expertise in police work or journalism or private investigation or floral design, the careers of the main characters. What I do have knowledge of is small town West Virginia—the lifestyle, the mindset, the food, and the interesting people that make up the fabric of a close knit community.

So, there you have it. I confess there’s actually no secret to my writing process. My stories are a mix of captivating characters, unique settings, and my lively imagination. So far, Stay Hidden and Kept Hidden have been well received by several people in the publishing industry, as well as my core fan base, and I hope you get a chance to read them. Thank you in advance if you do!

Twenty years ago Leigh Fleming vowed to write a book someday and her goal finally came to fruition in 2013. Since the day she first sat down at the computer to write, she has been hard at work creating unique characters facing life’s challenges, but who are always rewarded with their happy ending. When she’s not writing in her windowless office, she enjoys reading, travelling, scrapbooking, and spending time with friends.

Leigh is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Washington Romance Writers chapter. She lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with her husband, Patrick, and her deaf French Bulldog Napoleon, and is mom to adult children, Tom and Liza.

Contact Leigh at leigh@leighfleming.com. Follow Leigh on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leighhflemingauthor and on Twitter www.twitter.com/leighhfleming1

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The Highland Renegade (Lords of the Highland #5) by Amy Jarecki-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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The Highland Renegade (Lords of the Highland #5) by Amy Jarecki-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE
Lords of The Highlands #5
by Amy Jarecki
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: adult, historical, Highland, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 8, 2019

She is the daughter of his sworn enemy.
Famed for his fierceness, Laird Robert Grant is above all a loyal Highland clan chief. But when redcoats capture his rival’s daughter, he sets aside their feud and races to her rescue. Aye, Janet Cameron is beautiful, cunning, and so very tempting, but a Cameron lass is the last woman he should ever desire.

He is her one hope of happiness.
Janet refuses to meekly surrender, not even when surrounded by foes. She takes every chance to escape, first from the English soldiers and then from the wickedly handsome Robert. Yet with each day they spend together, his unexpected gallantry chips away at her reserve little by little. As danger and treachery loom, can she trust him enough to choose love over vengeance?

••••••••

REVIEW: This well written and imaginative story begins in 1712, late October in the Highlands, Inverlochy livestock auction. Janet Cameron is being escorted by her brother Kennan. She is delivering knitted goods to the Highland Benevolent Society to be distributed to the needy. Her brother will attend the livestock auction and Janet plans to do a little shopping and attend the dance later.

Robert Grant, Laird of Clan Grant, has also come to the livestock auction. He’s lost over sixty head to thieves and believes some in Clan Cameron are the ones who stole them. The evidence is only circumstantial, but there is a long running blood feud between the Cameron and Grant clans.

Robert and Janet exchange glances and glares, each feeling an attraction for the other, but denying it, even to themselves. This is a summary of the beginning and certainly not as well done or as interestingly complete as the author did. I don’t do spoilers and believe the details of the story are something a reader should discover for themselves. That in mind, the intense action begins when at the dance later the villain Lieutenant Cummins, of the Queens Dragoons, is very in his cups and insists on Janet dancing with him. She declines, and he grabs her arm, turning she slaps his face.

That sets up her rescue by Robert Grant and the reason they spend time together. Each learning and trying to deny their attraction, but love is inevitable. But loving between feuding clans is not a clear-cut course.

I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive language, the wonderful and fully developed characters, and the situations the author created. I will be reading many more stories from this author. I thought the story was thrilling, informative and wonderfully romantic. In fact, I fell for Robert Grant as much as Janet did! If you love highland romance, this is a must read. Be prepared for a wonderfully powerful, sometimes frustrating, romance. Enjoy!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna S

Research for Amazing Story Lines
by Amy Jarecki

Any novel requires a fair bit of research regardless of its genre. I write historical romance which, to do well, entails an inordinate amount of world building. Fortunately, I love history and discovering nuggets of factual data to weave into my stories.

When I’m at home, the first place I go is non-fiction books. My shelves are lined with volumes about the time periods in which I write. The Lords of the Highlands series takes place in the early 18th Century during the reign of Queen Anne and I read a very dry 600-page volume about her life before I started writing. Even though the queen and her court only have small roles in the books, she was the monarch and my characters were greatly affected by her rule. I’ve written over twenty Scottish historical romances, and most of my research books are about historical Scotland including, costume, clans, kings, flora and fauna, complete history and notable battles. I even have a two-volume set of books about herbal remedies, and one of my funniest references is The History of Underclothes by C. Willet and Phillis Cunnington.

I also cannot discount online research. Wikipedia is a great place to start, especially if I only need a tidbit of information. I almost always can find historical maps in the British archives, and official clan websites can lead to a wealth of information. Most castles have websites with historical information page that can be windows to more ideas. And genealogy charts are priceless when writing about figures from the past—their decedents often add notes to the chart adding color to the character’s biography.

But my favorite part of research is visiting the places I write about. It is amazing how ideas flow when standing in the midst of a ruined castle in the Highlands or alone on a secluded beach in the far north of Scotland. I’ve driven and hiked through the Scottish Caringorm Mountains. I’ve slept in 400-year-old manors. I’ve hiked through a dense forest to find an old ruined castle visited by William Wallace, and I’ve stood atop Arthurs Seat and looked out over the stunning city of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth beyond. My bi-annual adventures to Scotland fill my tank with descriptions I could never get from a book or find online.

Below is a picture of Dunrobin Castle I took on my way up to Thurso and Orkney.

And one not-so traditional form of research is karate! I weave a great deal of action and adventure into my stories and, with it, may come a myriad of fight scenes. Almost three years ago, I embarked on a journey to make my fight scenes more realistic and enrolled in a local karate school. At the time, I thought I might take classes for six months and that would be the end of it, but two-and-a-half years later, I traveled to Salt Lake for my State black belt test. This was no easy feat. There were a series of five grueling three-hour tests before I qualified for State. I’m the oldest person in the school and I mostly train with teenagers who are far more flexible and less breakable that me. But I’ve learned so much, and hope it shows in my stories.

Receiving my black belt from my sensi in Salt Lake.

There is a critical fight scene in THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE where Robert Grant is fighting a duel of honor against Janet Cameron’s brother Kennan. The men are from opposing clans with a feud that has endured for generations, and their hatred is inbred and deep. As Janet watches them fight, Robert gains the upper hand and, just as quarter is called, Kennan lashes out with a hidden dagger and slashes the Grant laird across the cheek. Before Robert can retaliate, they are surrounded by dragoons and accused of an illicit gathering. An all-out brawl erupts with Janet in the middle. But who spirits her away? None other than her father’s greatest enemy, Grant himself.

THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE releases on January 8th and you won’t want to miss this wild ride as Janet and Robert face a devastating blizzard while they climb higher into the Highlands to elude a retinue of hostile dragoons.

Amy Jarecki is a descendant of an ancient Lowland clan and adores Scotland. Though she now resides in southwest Utah, she received her MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Winning multiple writing awards, she found her niche in the genre of Scottish historical romance. Amy writes steamy edge-of-your-seat action adventures with rugged men and fascinating women who weave their paths through the brutal eras of centuries past.

Website  /Facebook /Twitter /Goodreads

 

Amy Jarecki, Author’s Umbrella and Grand Central Publishing are graciously offering a mass market copy of THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE to ONE (1) lucky commentator at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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10. Giveaway runs from January 9-14, 2019

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The Highlander’s Welsh Bride (Hardy Heroines #5) by Cathy MacRae & DD MacRae-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE (Hardy Heroines #5) by Cathy MacRae and DD MacRae-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release DateDecember 27, 2018

From the sweeping mountains of Wales where Prince Llywelyn made his last stand against the English, to the treacherous Isles of Scotland where Vikings and pirates rule the waters, comes a tale of betrayal and loss, deceit and passion. An epic tale of honor and the redeeming power of love.

It was over. Prince Llywelyn was dead, his soldiers fleeing before King Edward’s army. Carys, a distant cousin to the prince, herself a princess of Wales, had picked up arms alongside her husband more than a year ago in the fight for Wales’s independence. Now homeless, her husband buried beneath the good Welsh soil, she seeks shelter in the north, far from the reach of Longshanks’s men.

It was time. Birk MacLean has been ordered to take a bride and produce an heir. He grows weary of the lasses paraded before him, women of delicate nature and selfish motives. He desires a wife strong enough to help lead one of the most powerful clans in Western Scotland.

One like the Welsh woman sitting in his dungeon, arrested for poaching MacLean deer.

Can Birk convince Carys marriage to him is preferable to a hangman’s noose? And will the heard-headed Scot be worthy of a Princess of Wales?

••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE is the fifth instalment in Cathy MacRae and DD MacRae’s adult, Highlander, historical romance series. This is Baron and Laird Birk MacLean, and Princess Carys Wen, filia Pedr’s story line. THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: THE HIGHLANDER’S NORSE WELSH takes place approximately thirty years after the events of The Highlander’s Norse Bride.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Birk and Carys) THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE follows Carys in the aftermath of war as she journeys, along with her brother Hywel, to safer land. Pirates and a storm at sea find Carys one of only two survivors of a shipwreck that claimed the lives of everyone she loved, a shipwreck that would place her in harm’s way once again. Enter Baron/Laird Birk MacLean, the man with whom Carys would fall in love. What ensues is the marriage of convenience, and building relationship between Carys and Birk, and the potential fall –out as secrets and lies continue to follow our story line couple.

Baron Birk MacLean is a widower with two young daughters, and is desperate to find a wife equal to his power and charm. Hearing about a ‘warrior’ woman aboard The Seabhag from its’ captain Murdoc Ferguson, Birk was shocked when the woman found hunting on MacLean lands turns out to be the woman he believed would be a perfect mate for a widower like himself. Carys lost her family to war and the sea but meeting Birk MacLean meant a second chance at a happily ever after but second chances came with a price. Once a prisoner, now Lady of the Manor, Carys is a strong willed, fierce fighter and protector of the people she loves.

The relationship between Carys and Birk begins acrimoniously as Carys is held prisoner in our hero’s dungeons. Drawn to the woman that would steal his heart, Birk makes Carys an offer of marriage, in exchange for her life. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and seductive.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Birk’s daughters Abria and Eislyn; Captain Murdoc Ferguson and his son Tully, and Carys’ brother Prince Hywel. We are reintroduced to Birk’s mother Hanna (The Highlander’s Norse Bride 3.5), and his half-sister Gillian.

THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE like the previous instalments blends historical facts and fiction as the author weaves a wonderful tale of secrets, lies, second chances, and love. The premise is intriguing and lively; the characters are sassy, strong and spirited; the romance is provocative and energetic. THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE is an enthralling and animated story line that is sure to please. Fair warning-there is plenty of Gaelic and Norse prose throughout the story.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Highland Escape
The Highlander’s Viking Bride
The Highlander’s Crusader Bride
The Highlander’s Norse Bride
The Highlander’s Welsh Bride

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Historical accuracy in historical romance by Cathy & DD MacRae

The Highlander’s Welsh Bride is the 5thbook in the Hardy Heroines series, stories created to showcase the power of women in a medieval setting. Each book begins with a historical challenge, and in the back of each you’ll find our notes for the research on that particular story. Does every author accept historical fact into their tales? Undoubtedly, many—or even most—do. However, with accurate information often sketchy from ancient times, we’ve found that historical facts are either verbatim on multiple websites due to the ‘copy and paste’ that is so easy to do, or possibly wildly divergent depending on who’s viewpoint you’re doing research from.

For example, in The Highlander’s Norse Bride, the Battle of Largs had very different meaning and context to Scots and the Norse. A Norse saga praises King Haakon for commanding the largest armada ever seen, sent to Scotland in righteous anger over King Alexander II’s attempt to wrest control of Western Scotland from Norwegian rule (https://deremilitari.org/2016/09/the-norwegian-invasion-of-scotland-in-1263/). Scottish accounts show a young king wily enough to stall the powerful Norwegian king until fickle Scottish weather destroyed King Haakon’s advance.

Yes, being historically accurate has its challenges. Here are some points of note from The Highlander’s Welsh Bride. We liked the possibility of our hero, Birk MacLean, marrying a woman from Wales, but what would it take to bring the two close enough to meet when an entire country separated them?

The setting became 1283, Wales. Prince Llywelyn was dead, possibly betrayed by his own countrymen, though accounts differ. From a war-torn land, we created Carys Wen, filia Pedr, a young woman who took up arms against the English when King Edward Longshanks rode against the Welsh. She is widowed, her family dead or scattered, and in danger should she, a cousin of the prince, be captured. What should she do?

Sail to Scotland, of course.

We loved researching the shipping routes, timing, currents, etc. Actually, DD is more into ships than I am, but we put together the circumstances that would allow her to sign on as an oarsman (in disguise, of course) and flee Wales.

Towns are also scrutinized for historical accuracy. Carys and Birk visit Campbelltown in The Highlander’s Welsh Bride, but in the 13thcentury, it was called Kinlochkillkerran. Character names are always of interest to us, as well. I prefer names that are easy to pronounce, and tend to suggest names that haven’t been over-used. You’ll note most of the names in this book are rather unusual, but all are as accurate as we can make them.

One cool twist to the story (imho) was the discovery of the Corryvreckan whirlpool which lies between the isles of Scarba and Jura. It’s the 3rdlargest maelstrom in the world, and lies along the sailing route I’d planned for Birk and Carys to travel on their trip to Kinlochkillkerran. I believe my thoughts went something like: “maelstrom—birlinn (sailing ship)—pirates—oh, my!” And the rest of the story was born.

Do we twist historical accuracy to fit our stories? Typically, no, though I adjusted the timeline in The Highlander’s French Bride to include an intriguing historical figure. I gave full disclosure at the beginning of the book, and readers appear to be okay with that.

In an upcoming book slated to release late 2019, we plan to take an historical figure from one of the Hardy Heroines stories and give him a HEA. History will tell you he died by poisoning at the hand of his wife during a political struggle, but we thought he deserved better than that.

Do you expect complete historical accuracy in historical romance? Do you enjoy an ‘alternate’ history if you are told up front the historical facts have been changed to suit the story?

Thanks so much! It’s been a pleasure being here today!

~Cathy & DD

 

Follow Cathy: Twitter / Goodreads /Website / Facebook

Cathy MacRae lives on the sunny side of the Arbuckle Mountains where she and her husband read, write, and tend the garden—with the help of the dogs, of course.

You can visit with her on facebook, or read her blogs and learn about her books at www.cathymacraeauthor.com. Drop her a line—she loves to hear from readers!

••••••••

D.D. MacRae enjoys bringing history to life and considers research one of the best things about writing a story! With more than 35 years of martial arts training, DD also brings breath-taking action to the tales. You can connect with DD through Cathy’s website.

Cathy MacRae is gracious offering an ebook copy of THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSY BRIDE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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8. Giveaway is open internationally

9. Giveaway runs from December 26-December 31, 2018

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Imagine (Black Raven #4) by Stella Barcelona-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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IMAGINE (Black Raven #4) by Stella Barcelona-Review, Guest post & Giveaway

IMAGINE
Black Raven #4
by Stella Barcelona
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense
Release Date: October 30, 2018

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 30, 2018

One cruise ship. Multiple kidnappers. In the dark waters of the South China Sea, a handful of Black Raven agents are the only hope anyone has of living to see Christmas.

From the back cover:

Seventy-five of the world’s wealthiest gamblers are ringing in the holidays with a high-stakes, three-day tournament aboard the Imagine. As the ultra-luxury cruise ship departs from Macau, financial risks are enormous and security is tight. Agents Sylvia (Leo) Leon and Adam (Ace) Evans lead Black Raven’s on-board team. Months earlier, they gave into feelings that caught them both by surprise. Now, Leo wants nothing more than to ignore what Ace is dying to confront.

While adversaries execute a seemingly perfect, diabolical plan, Leo and Ace operate in stealth mode to save the Imagine’s passengers. As danger tests the limits of their training and expertise, and their simmering chemistry hits a boiling point, their chances of living to see Christmas narrow. For these two best friends, the Imagine job could change everything…in more ways than one.

•••••••••

REVIEW:Imagine begins with Agents Sylvia (Leo) Leon and Adam (Ace) Evans in New Orleans celebrating Halloween. The two have been best friends since joining Black Raven. Nothing has ever threatened that friendship until that night and that one unforgettable kiss…….. As they come to their senses, Leo wants nothing more than to forget that ever happened. Ace, however, has other ideas……….

Flash forward about six weeks or so, and we see Leo, Ace and a whole lot of other Black Raven agents in a meeting planning their next job. This is the first time the two have seen each other since New Orleans and the job sounds easy enough, until they find out they’re going undercover as an engaged couple. Once they are on board the ship, they play their respective parts to a tee, as do the other agents who have gone in undercover. During a break before the night’s festivities, Leo and Ace head to their room in order to get ready for the night. Ace confronts Leo about what happened between them and the feelings it has stirred within him and wants to know if she feels the same. She tries to shut him down, but gives into their mutual attraction. Ace then awakens a little bit later, or so he thinks. When he sees the time, he knows they’re in trouble. Knowing they’ve been gassed, he drags an unconscious Leo out onto their balcony so that they can get some fresh air and, hopefully, recover quickly from the affects of the gas. It doesn’t take either of them long to determine that the ship has been hijacked and spring into action. It also doesn’t take them long to figure out that they are up against a foe that is willing to do anything to get what he wants……

Imagine is a superbly written tale that draws you in from the very beginning. Leo and Ace have a chemistry that jumps out at you from their first words, but when the feelings heat up, the chemistry reaches out and grabs you and doesn’t let go. Their backstories add to the complexity of their friends to lovers story, but it’s Ace’s who will tug at your heart. The mystery and suspense is very well written and keeps you guessing, and gasping, until the end. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers, with a lot of suspense and action thrown in, along with scorching chemistry, you will never go wrong with any of the Black Raven novels. Well done, Stella Barcelona! Very, very well done!

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Deceived
Shadows
Jigsaw
Concierge
Imagine

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

Thank you for inviting me to The Reading Café. Your question – how do I keep focus while writing my stories – is a great question, because the truth is that keeping focused is difficult. Like everyone, I’m busy. Apart from writing, I have a legal career. I also have a family – humans and furry ones. To maintain my health, I have to exercise, stay reasonably fit, and eat the right things. The list goes on and on! I’m not complaining. It’s simply reality, and I’m grateful that my days are so full.

Are you wondering when I’ll focus on your question? Right now, I promise!

Part of my method of keeping focus involves eliminating all the distractions that I just mentioned (and more!) from the precious time that I’ve carved out of the day for writing. I use a mixture of plotting techniques, but the most important tricks I employ for focus are daily writing, eliminating distractions when writing, and writing early in the morning. Here’s a bit more about each one of these “habits:”

First, when working on a first draft, I try to write a bit every single day. No exceptions! If I skip a few days between writing sessions, I lose focus on the story. Plus, when I write every single day, my subconscious mind is better able to keep the story in play throughout the time that I dedicate to tasks other than writing.

In each writing session, I aim for two to three hours of writing time. However, I don’t beat myself up if I don’t have that much time; the important thing is sitting in the chair and thinking hard about the story, even if I only have a half hour.

Second, at home, I have a quiet office with two desks. One desk is dedicated to fiction writing, and nothing else. I don’t even conduct the business of being an author at that desk – it is dedicated solely to creating stories. There is no temptation to look at social media there, or do online shopping, or anything else, because I DON’T allow myself to do it. I think having a desk and chair dedicated to creativity helps me slip into writing mode the minute I sit. I also wear noise reduction headphones when I’m in my writing chair and I turn up music, which helps me focus.

If I’m in first-draft, daily-writing mode when we’re traveling, I find a place to write and, even if the place isn’t that quiet, using the headphones with music playing helps me focus on writing and eliminate distractions.

Third, I’m most creative in the early morning, so that is when I write. Procrastination until the end of the day kills my creativity and destroys my determination to write every day. I don’t always love pulling myself out of bed at 4:30 a.m., but once I’m in my writing chair I’m always glad that I did it!

I can’t say exactly why, but these three habits seem to work for me. Thanks again for inviting me to The Reading Cafe!

~~ Stella ~~

Follow Stella: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Stella Barcelona, author of romantic suspense novels, has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers. From her early days of reading, when she first escaped reality through the pages of a well-written novel, she knew that her daydreams needed an outlet, and she knew that her outlet would be writing.

In day to day life, Stella is a lawyer and works for a court in New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently, Stella lives minutes from the French Quarter, with her husband of sixteen years and two adorable papillons who believe that they are princesses. Stella loves to hear from readers on her Facebook page and can also be contacted through her website, www.stellabarcelona.com, where there’s information on appearances, her next release, and exciting contests that you won’t want to miss! While she doesn’t have a lot of free time with her legal and writing careers battling for her every minute, she does enjoy any chance she and her husband get to go out on their boat. In addition, she attends conferences, workshops, and retreats for writers. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America.

Stella is graciously offering a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and a signed copy of Stella’s debut release that introduced the Black Raven series DECEIVED  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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4. LIKE THE READING CAFE on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please follow The Reading Cafe on Tumblr

8. Giveaway open to USA only

9.. Giveaway runs from December 1-6, 2018

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