The world of romance certainly has changed since LAST GENTLEMAN STANDING was first released. The genre has blossomed and grown in so many ways since then. Most noticeably, there are many more kinds of romance in 2017. Beyond just historical and contemporary, now these can be further broken down into paranormal, inspirational, steampunk, sci fi, m/m, bdsm and other kinds of stories undreamed of years ago. Readers have many more choices to match their individual tastes. And not only of plot and setting – they can get their fix electronically as well as on paper. They can order a book out of thin air and plunge into it in the next minute. Reading on your iPhone was not a phrase that would have had any meaning when LAST GENTLEMAN STANDING was first published. Brief digression: do you ever find yourself marveling at a sentence coming out of your mouth that would have made zero sense when you were young? For example: Email me the url. How do I make Bluetooth discoverable? Find me on my website and Facebook. More than romance has changed in these years! The Regency has expanded in scope during this time, too. That phrase once meant…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2017, our Meet the Author interview series helps you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 10-12. Read on to get acquainted with New York Times bestselling author Laura Kaye, and purchase your tickets to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! What book made you fall in love with the genre you write? I think I’d have to go with a series, and it would be J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It had everything I love: intense romance and chemistry, amazing heroes, bromance and brotherhood, strong women, humor (so much humor!), and vampires! If a movie were made of your most recent book, who would you cast in the lead and why? For my erotic strangers-to-lovers romance, EYES ON YOU, I would cast an older Alex Pettyfer as Master Wolf Henrikson and Love Actually’s Martine McCutcheon as Olivia Foster. What was the first story you ever wrote? I wrote stories as a teenager, and I can specifically remember writing a paranormal retelling of The Secret Garden and a fictional time travel story called Peter Saves the Czar, about a teenager who goes back in time…

Falling for a co-worker is a bad idea. It has the potential to make work complicated, there’s conflict of interest, and things can get very awkward if the romance ends. Yet the temptation is so real. Here’s my top five reasons for loving co-worker romances like my CONTRACTED DEFENSE. It’s a bad idea, theoretically That’s what we love about it. There are few things more wonderful than taking a chance with a bad idea and having it turn into something mind-blowing in the best ways possible. It’s forbidden In many workplaces, company policies do not allow inter-office relationships, especially between managers and subordinates. There’s something about the risk, the excitement, that makes the romance irresistible. The connection Attraction between co-workers has the added boost from understanding each other’s work, possibly their passion. Especially in a dangerous line of work like Adam and Victoria from Safeguard, there’s an extra depth in knowing the person you’re involved with understands the sacrifices you make and the hard decisions you have to face. The proximity This one builds on the previous three. When you’ve got the spark, it only intensifies as you work together over time. Whether you’re in the midst of the romance…

Writes: Sinfully sexy contemporary romances with tons of humor and heart. My heroes, like Zane Walker, in my newest release, THE REAL THING, will make you swoon and sweat (in the very best way!). About: I’m a mother, friend, and serious chocoholic. I have six brothers and six children, and love writing about big-families with strong emotional connections. If you enjoy steamy, family-centric romance series with sexy, alpha heroes and smart, sassy heroines, then my books are a perfect match! What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Readers who devour steamy romance like I do! Readers who love sexy, alpha heroes that have you swooning and…is it hot in here? Readers who love smart, sassy heroines that you could see as a best friends Readers who love highly emotional story lines (tears and laughs) Readers who love smoking-hot love making in the bedroom, the kitchen…really anywhere! What to expect if we’re compatible: A LOT of book hangovers New characters who will immediately feel like family Hopefully not too much nail biting waiting for my next releases (but you have PLENTY of backlist titles to catch up on while waiting!) THE REAL THING by Melissa Foster Sugar Lake Bakery…

After you’ve engaged in a shopping frenzy at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, located at 222 Baker Street, West London, Massachusetts, be sure and pop next door for afternoon tea at Mrs. Hudson’s. Head baker Jayne Wilson does a marvellous job of crating the perfect, fully-traditional afternoon tea. You might even be lucky enough to get one of the special Sherlock tea pots and matching cups. Occasionally, for a special occasion, Jayne is forced to reply on her business partner Gemma Doyle for help in the kitchen. And, occasionally, Gemma gets to enjoy the fruits of their labours. Fiona placed a large teapot on the table as well as a small jug of milk, a sugar bowl, a plate of sliced lemon, and two cups and saucers. She dropped a mug of coffee in front of Kevin. “What a beautiful tea set,” Linda said. The pot and cups matched: roses of pink and pale blue on fine white china trimmed with gold. “May I pour?” “Go ahead.” I leaned back to allow Fiona to place the three-tiered silver tray in the center of the table along with pots of butter, strawberry jam straight from the kitchen of a West…

When the idea for my current book, DEAD IN THE WATER, came to me I knew I wouldn’t have to do much research. And I didn’t. In June 2015, an EF3 tornado tore through my hometown of Coal City. My mother and nearly all my relatives and friends had damage to their homes. Although I had been through many tornado watches, warnings, and touch downs, this was by far the most destructive. My husband and I rode out the storm in the next town over, huddled in our laundry room desperately attempting to get information from our weather radio. The only contact I had was one cousin whose texts miraculously were getting through to my cell phone. This experience, as well as the immediate aftermath, was incredibly emotional, shocking, and more than a bit eye-opening. During the next few days, with many of the townsfolks without electricity, water, or shelter it was interesting to see how people reacted. Some were a godsend and others were sent from the other, hotter, region. As my husband and I worked the rest of the summer helping our friends and relatives with everything from removing debris to dealing with their insurance companies, I began…

Eating dark chocolate improves your focus and concentration. We know how frustrating it is when your mind is wandering all over the place (like worrying about making dinner) when all you want to do is hide in your bed and read. Chocolate releases phenylethylamine into your brain. This chemical makes you feel as if you’re falling in love. So pairing a fine chocolate with a reading will enhance the feelings of love readers already experience when caught up in a great book. Who doesn’t want that? Scientific studies have shown that eating chocolate boosts your memory. Have you ever picked up a book, read it most of the way through and then realized you’d already read it? I do that all of the time. I certainly could use more chocolate to help me remember which books I’ve already read. Chocolate makes you happy. Reading makes you happy. Doing both together should make you extremely happy. Eating chocolate releases endorphins (which releases stress) and serotonin (which acts like an antidepressant). Finally, because—come on—it’s chocolate and it’s delicious! Dorothy St. James is the author of the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. ASKING FOR TRUFFLE (Sept. 12, 2017) is the first book in…

Hi Everybody, I’m Melanie Jayne. I write contemporary romance featuring characters over the age of thirty-five and many of my female characters are size sixteen and unapologetic. My newest book is the fourth book in my Change Series and is called A CHANGE IN PERCEPTION. I’d describe the series’ overall theme as women starting over, this time doing it better, getting it right. My series are very woman positive; the man may step in and help, but in no way is he the redeemer. My ladies do that on their own. I published my first book two and a half years ago and I just finished the first draft on my eleventh. In October, I will be branching out to write my slightly different vision of the Lycan Nation. Let’s just say, these aren’t your mamma’s werewolves. I didn’t publish until after I turned fifty, so I’m a late-bloomer. My grandparents were both writers and making up stories was encouraged when I was growing up. I typically added a few musical numbers including tap shoes and if possible a baton for a little pizazz. I didn’t want to pursue a career in writing, but I thought that I could tell…

It is late at night in 1985, and if you drive west from the small town of Gap, PA, on Newport Road, the fields are dark. After you go over the first hill, you can’t see the lights from the little league baseball diamond anymore. Soon, you drive past the one-room, Amish schoolhouse on the left, then up over another sharp hill, and by now the night has swallowed you completely. You can barely see the outline of the trees. If there would be a moon, it would shine bright as a single headlight. It would glance off the creek as you go over the bridge and slow to make a right-hand turn. But there is no moon, not tonight, and every time you slow the car, you can feel the darkness press in for a closer look. Keep driving. I want to show you something. You thought you were on a back road already, but you turn right on to South New Holland Road, and now the road is barely two lanes wide with no line in the middle. Again, the darkness gathers, both warm and scary. Soon the road sweeps to the left, to the northwest, but you…

Well everyone, I’m doing something new this week. I’m in Mexico (in August) sweating because it’s about 90% humidity when it isn’t raining. My daughter and I are doing a vegan/raw cleanse at a yoga retreat. Yeah. So anyone ever hear me talk about yoga? No? That’s because I haven’t done it in years, but I am now! Twice a day! So guess what I’m learning while here… Vegan food can be fabulous! Especially when it’s lots of fresh mango and avocado As in my body surrendered into poses I didn’t think I could make. And then my shoulder surrendered when I tried a chaturanga and landed face first into my yoga mat. Oops. I can get used to feeling sweaty and sticky, especially when I’m exhausted from yoga and zenning out while watching the ocean waves. Everything’s good when reading a great book. Answer: All of the above! Yup, the food here is great. My shoulder did indeed give up the ghost on day 5. No more yoga for me. But that just means I have more time to read and watch the waves! And well, everyone’s sweaty here, so it’s all good! BTW, I missed the turtle hatching…