Meeting a guy is so dad-gum complicated. You have to go to a bar, go to church, or go to your computer and fill out a form. And then, once you do manage to go out, your date wants—no, expects—to stay over. Why can’t it be like it was in the olden days? Simple, straight forward and, well, romantic. But after a little investigation, I found it wasn’t quite as easy to meet a guy “back in the day” as I thought. Your parents had to know his parents. He had to be attending the “right” church. He had to have a livelihood. He had to have a sterling reputation. And that was just to meet him. Once you’d been introduced, there were a bazillion little rules to adhere to. He had to remove his glove before shaking your hand. He was to remove his hat with the hand farthest from you. He had to wait for you to recognize him first on the street before he was allowed to greet you. When you got past the introduction, there were rules for conversing. He was not to use a classical quotation before you unless he knew, with absolute certainty, by…

New York Times bestselling author R.C. Ryan‘s latest ranch-set romance THE REBEL OF COPPER CREEK is available now, and we can’t wait to join the ride. Fellow readers, enjoy the excerpt below, and be sure to pick up your copy of the book Fresh Fiction reviewer Sandra Wurman calls “a timeless piece about acceptance, love, integrity and inner strength.” Excerpt from THE REBEL OF COPPER CREEK She opened a second door to reveal a bathroom fit for a queen, with a tub and shower big enough for an army, a lovely oval sink and mirror, and all of it done in shades of white marble. She turned to him with a look of alarm.  “Oh, Griff.  I don’t belong here.” He merely smiled.  “Neither do I.   But I won’t tell if you don’t.”  His smile grew.  “I say we just kick back and enjoy all this until they discover we’re frauds.” She tried to laugh, but it came out in a sigh. Before she could say more he touched a finger to her lips.  Just a touch, but they both looked stunned at his boldness. He lowered his hand and took a step back.  “I’d better say goodnight and get…

I was getting a pedicure the other day. The salon I go to is set up so that the walkway down the middle of the pedicure chairs is very narrow and is peppered with the rolling stools of the pedicurists. I was carefully picking my way to the bathroom at the back of the salon, when one of the pedicurists stood up and her stool rolled right into my path. And I leapt over it. Okay, I stepped over it. But, in that moment, I could almost hear the swelling soundtrack playing behind me as I became the hero of my own story. I looked around the salon. Didja see that?! Anyone?? (crickets) I continued on to the bathroom wondering where my round of applause was? On days like today, I have to come to terms with the fact that while I may like to think I’d survive the zombie apocalypse or win the Hunger Games or be stoic and steely like Sydney Bristow as I kick ass and take names, my best case scenario would be Shaun from Shaun of the Dead. But most likely I’d be Peeta or even more likely one of the nameless, faceless office workers…

Thank you for having me! This was a fun list to make. Evan Downey from BRINGING HOME THE BAD BOY is just the kind of artist I’d fall for. Okay, here we go… 5. Evan’s a great dad. He understands his son doesn’t love all the things he loves, but he still tries to encourage Lyon to paint and draw. 4. Evan sees the world in vibrant color. From his tattoo designs to his children’s book illustrations, every surface is his canvas. 3. Evan doesn’t mind getting paint on himself, or on Charlotte. Which leads to some interesting encounters… 2. Now I’m distracted. What number are we on? Oh, right. Number two…let’s see. Evan has an appreciation for all sorts of artwork, including Charlie’s photography. 1. And I’m still thinking about #3. …Two words: Finger. Painting. What about you, readers? What quality do you admire in creative types? About BRINGING HOME THE BAD BOY Evan Downey needs a new beginning. Since the death of his wife five years ago, the brilliant tattoo artist has shut himself away in a prison of grief that not even his work can break him out of-and what’s worse, Evan knows his son Lyon is…

Welcome, readers! Thanks for checking out our latest Fresh Interview. Features Editor Pasha Carlisle was thrilled to chat with super sweet author Candis Terry to mark the release of SWEET SURPRISE. Pasha: Hi, Candis! We’re so excited for you to join us today. SWEET SURPRISE is the fourth novel in your Sweet, Texas series. What keeps you loving this series as you write it? Candis: Hello! And thank you for having me here today. What keeps me loving Sweet, Texas is, without a doubt, the characters. Sometimes I’m not sure where they came from, but from a fashionista goat to an octogenarian cowboy Casanova, they’re all there, ready to pop up unexpectedly at any moment and make me laugh. Also, my absolute love for the Wilder family keeps me going strong. As an only child, I always dreamed of having siblings who’d stand by my side or call me out when I needed a little discipline. I guess I created my dream of that close-knit family in the Wilders, and I really wanted to make sure each and every one of them got their happy ending. Pasha: We love those happily ever afters, so please keep them coming. The latest installment…

Somehow I have found myself at this weird (and sometimes lovely) three-way intersection of genres. Adult contemporary, New Adult and BDSM. In some ways, this mishmash of different worlds is total godsend. Just because I love all three of these worlds I’ve created for each respective series, doesn’t necessarily mean I want to spend all my time in one, exclusively. Taking a break from something heavy and cleansing the palette in a lighter environment can save a writer, in my experience, from feeling fatigued or losing perspective. It’s like my writer equivalent of playing the field, dating around, sowing my oats. But way more nerdy. These three genres all intersect in Sexyville, but the difference is the tone. The most specific shift is into BDSM, because there is an internal conflict that always seems to have a direct effect on sex between the characters. It’s not just a slaking of lust, it’s exploring new territory (at least, for my Serve series heroines) and involves a giving over of trust, which I find hard to write with a light tone. It’s dark and sexual and (think of a slow drum beat). Many authors straddle the line between New Adult and Adult….