April 8

Rescuing Jellybean

by Nicki Pascarella

When Conner Sullivan follows a trail of jelly beans to find an orphaned Sheltie, he immediately knows that he wants to adopt the beautiful dog. The only thing standing in his way is sexy Rainey Thibodeau, the uptight workaholic farmer who runs the Moose Pond Dog Rescue.No matter what, Rainey won’t give in to Connor. So what if he has the body of a Greek god, hair the color of a penny in the sun, and the eyes of an angel. The arrogant ass stole her heart over fifteen years ago, and he won’t get one more thing from her… including the dog called Jellybean.

ISBN: (digital) 9781509247370

Available through these fine retailers…

April 7

Gamble of Hearts

by Virginia Barlow

Category: Romance / Historical / Regency

When a powerful duke arrives to collect his winnings from her brother, Lady Amora Hargrove discovers she is one of them. Following her brother’s arrest, she becomes the duke’s ward and falls for him hard and fast. Problem is, the duke has a violent hatred for gamblers, and she possesses a natural ability. Something he can never discover, or she will lose him forever.The Duke of Ravencroft exacts revenge for his nephew’s death and gains a ward. Irresistibly drawn to the villain’s sister, he must play and gamble with their hearts or lose everything.

ISBN: (digital) 9781509247950 ISBN: (print) 9781509247943

Available through these fine retailers…

April 6

Just a Fling

by Katherine Grace

Category: Romance / Contemporary

Law student Dawn Mathison’s steamy summer romance with solar developer Callan Marlowe is just a fling…until it isn’t. Swept off her feet—and into lots of different positions—by the sexy Brit, Dawn believes Callan is The One…right until he dumps her. But that was last summer. Now, she is living her dream and couldn’t care less about Callan. Not one bit. Truly.Callan left Dawn broken-hearted, confused, and pissed-off. But, dammit, he doesn’t do serious relationships. Not after his past. It doesn’t matter anyway because he’ll never see Dawn again. Which is for the best. Really.When a twist of fate brings Callan back into Dawn’s life—and into her office—their sizzling attraction reignites. Maybe this time around, they won’t get too serious. But fate has a sense of humor. Because Callan thinks Dawn is The One who can help him. And maybe turn their hot affair into something more?

ISBN: (digital) 9781509245864 ISBN: (print) 9781509245857

Available through these fine retailers…

April 5 New Book

Serendipity by the Sea

by Jennifer Vido

Category: Romance / Clean & Wholesome

Series: The Gull Island Series

Cate Ainsworth is poised to land her dream job when an ex-boyfriend—the guy she once loved who left town with no explanation—returns to their Lowcountry hometown. Their long-denied attraction tugs her in a new direction, but will she risk everything for a second chance at love?A freelance photographer, Knox Price seeks adventure, not commitment. Back in town to care for his uncle gets complicated when he crosses paths with Cate, igniting a spark he can’t ignore. But can he confess the truth about why he walked away?

ISBN: (digital) 9781509247868 ISBN: (print) 9781509247851

Available through these fine retailers…

New Books

I’m starting a new idea this month. In addition to author spotlights and reviews, I’m going to promote one book from my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. In most cases, I have not read these books unless it’s a review book — which I will tell you. I’m just helping out fellow authors. So take a look. Maybe buy one or two. And if you do, please leave a short review for them on Goodreads or Amazon.

If you’re looking for my daily writing tips, tricks, jumpstarts, check out my other site.

Today’s book:

Destiny’s Spring

by Iona Morrison

Category: Romance / Fantasy

Series: Jelly Beans and Spring Things

Desirae Fontaine, better known by her friends as Destiny, is on her way to see her friend Peyton in Blue Cove. Having gone through a lot in her life the past few months, Destiny needs some downtime to reset her life.Her adventure begins on the plane when she meets a sweet older woman named Mila Ferris. Their conversation during the flight leads to her sharing her heart with the kind woman and ends with a bit of unseen magic in a bag of jellybeans.Evan Parker has his own hardships to overcome and could use the help of the kind old gentleman who comes with a little magic of his own. Can two lonely hearts find love and two weary fairies find help in helping Anything can happen. It’s Destiny’s spring.

ISBN: (digital) 9781509248056

Available through these fine retailers…

New Month = New Books

Today’s book:

Truth Moon

by Kay Freeman

Category: Romance / Suspense

Series: Truth Moon

It may be Vegas, but the odds of being attacked by your boss and outlaw bikers on the same night—slim.My boss, I should have seen coming. Thanks to the life I left behind, I know an abuser when I see one, and it was just a matter of time until he found out I’ve been lying.As for The Knights of Steel MC, the only way to keep them quiet was to go with them, except the club president’s obsession with me goes beyond their escort service and BDMS clients. I bet my life on it.I can’t trust anyone—especially not my handler. He’s running from his past too, and his infatuation scares me for a different reason.All I know is that if I want my freedom, I’ll need to double down and guard my heart as closely as my body…

ISBN: (digital) 9781509248018 ISBN: (print) 9781509248001

Available through these fine retailers…

April 2 Writing

Birthdays: Giancomo Casanova (1725), Hans Christian Andersen (1805), Emile Zola (1840), William W. Warner (1920), George M. Fraser (1925), Anne Waldman (1945), Sue Townsend (1946), Camille Paglia (1947), Daniel Okrent (1948), Joan D. Vinge (1948), Mark Shulman (1962), Scott Lynch (1978),

Joan Vinge won the 1981 Hugo Award for her book “The Snow Queen”

Quote: “Everything you look at can become a fairy tale and you can get a story from everything you touch.” – Hans Christian Andersen

Tip: Action verbs make your work more vivid and interesting. Each action verb paints a specific picture. Go through your manuscript and change weak verbs to strong ones. For instance, if someone is looking at a picture—are they gazing, studying, pondering, or staring at it?

Jumpstart: Finish this: I closed my eyes, held my nose, and took a drink…

April 1 Writing

Birthdays: Edmond Rostand (1868), Abraham Harold Maslow (1908), Augusta Baker (1911), Anne McCaffrey (1926), Milan Kundera (1929) Samuel Ray Delany (1942), Francine Prose (1947),

Quote: “That’s what writing is all about, after all, making others see what you have put down on the page and believing that it does, or could, exist and you want to go there.” – Anne McCaffrey

Tip: The first week of April is National Library Week. Think about when you go to the library. What genre do you read? Why do you read this one? How often do you go to the library? Do you browse or go straight for your favorite area? Do you use the library for anything other than books? Even small libraries are huge sources of information. Go visit one and take a look around.

Jumpstart: This is April Fool’s Day. Would your character be the one playing the jokes, or the butt of them? Why? What would s/he do?

Review: All About Charming Alice

All About Charming Alice

by J. Arlene Culiner

Category: Romance / Contemporary

Series: Blake’s Folly Romance

Alice Treemont has no intention of falling in love. Living in Blake’s Folly, a semi-ghost town, she cooks vegetarian meals, rescues unwanted dogs, and protects the most unloved creatures on earth: snakes. What man would share those interests?Jace Constant is in Nevada, doing research for his new book, but he won’t be staying. He’s disgusted by desert dust on his fine Italian shoes and dog hair on his cashmere sweaters. As for snakes, he doesn’t just despise them: they terrify him.So why does the air sizzle each time Alice and Jace meet? A romance would entail far too many compromises.

ISBN: (digital) 9781509248544 ISBN: (print) 9781509248537

Available through these fine retailers…

REVIEW: 4 Sparklers

Thoughts: This book takes place in the Nevada desert in a town so small, if you sneeze on one end, the person on the other end of town says “bless you”. I know towns like that – I’ve lived in a town like that. Where everyone knows your business. Alice once lived the high life in L.A. married to a cheating film-producer. She hated it. When she inherited her ancestors dilapidated “mansion” in the tiny village of Blake’s Folly, she grabs at the chance to change her life. A herpetologist, she earns a meager living writing articles about snakes, but her passion is taking in stray dogs—which is how she meets Jace. A city boy from Chicago, Jace isn’t sure he likes the bleak quiet of the desert, but he’s there doing research for a book about the old west. A stray dog crosses his path and he’s told that Alice is the one to go to.

What I liked: the characters. Both Alice and Jace grow and change over the course of the book. And since we have both points of view, we know what each is thinking throughout. I liked that Alice is a herpetologist. A very different type of work for a female main character. And the descriptions of the scenery are well done. Overall, a nice read.

What I didn’t like: very little. This is a nice, sweet romance with a HEA that satisfies.

Recommendation: Recommended.

Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

March 30 Writing

Birthdays: Anna Sewell (1820), Paul Verlaine (1844), Seán O’Casey (1880), Jean Giono (1895), Countee Cullen (1903), Alan Davidson (1924), Tom Sharpe (1928), Tobias Hill (1970), Rosecrans Baldwin (1977),

Anna Sewell’s only published work was “Black Beauty”

Quote: “No one really knows the value of book tours. Whether or not they’re good ideas, or if they improve book sales. I happen to think the author is the last person you’d want to talk to about a book. They hate it by that point; they’ve already moved on to a new lover. Besides, the author never knows what the book is about anyway.” – Rosecrans Baldwin

Tip: Start an idea file. You’ll need three: one for characters, one for settings, one for problems or situations. You can keep these as physical files or in a spreadsheet. Then mix and match to come up with stories.

Jumpstart: Plan the perfect date for your main characters. What will they do? Where will they go? What will they wear? What time will they go? (Maybe plan this for yourself!). Have fun.