Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Exclusive Excerpt – The Billionaire’s Secrets by J.S. Scott
Excerpt / November 7, 2017

“Do you miss your music?” I knew I was treading in dangerous territory, but I wanted to know. “I can’t play or sing,” he answered huskily. “I tried. The music isn’t inside me anymore. I told you that I’m empty.” “It’s not gone,” I answered carefully. “It’s just taking a break right now.” There was no way he could lose the talent he’d had. Xander had just lost the desire to play and sing. In a conversation with Julian, he’d told me that there was no physical reason Xander couldn’t perform anymore. He was just . . . blocked when it came to his music. Xander laughed, that humorless sound that I’d come to dislike. “God, you’re forever the optimist. I’ve tried. There’s nothing I can do to bring it back.” “I have a reason to be optimistic,” I replied. “I was a huge fan.” He turned his head to look at me, studying me for a moment before he asked, “Were you, or are you just humoring me?” “Why would I do that? I have no reason to lie to you about loving your music, and I don’t exactly make a habit out of humoring you. I was a…

Melissa Eastlake | Retelling Rapunzel in the Contemporary World
Author Guest / November 7, 2017

My YA fantasy novel, THE UNCROSSING, is a retelling of Rapunzel, set in a mafia-like underworld of magic. Of course, retellings can cover a wide swath of storytelling methods, from point-by-point reworkings of a plot to brand-new stories filled with winking references. Retelling a fairy tale, specifically, requires a lot of new twists. They’re often short and don’t have much plot—but they’re also deeply allegorical and can reveal meaningful new facets in all kinds of settings. So, while the Rapunzel story gave me a premise and a few big turning points to work with, I also had a lot of room to have fun with it. I created a new magical system in an amplified, action-movie version of the contemporary world. I threw in every fairy tale reference—classic to Disney and everything in between—that I could think of. Finally, I shook it all up with my favorite romantic tropes and lots of kissing. To me, this is the true magic of supernatural stories. Fantasy isn’t just make-believe—it’s us, but more. More extreme, more monstrous, more dreamlike. These stories, especially the ones we tell over and over in new ways, make perfect mirrors. About Melissa Eastlake Melissa Eastlake’s debut novel, The…

Top Five Reasons Why NA Readers Will Love Saving It
Author Guest / November 7, 2017

I started out as a new adult romance writer, and have veered off into young adult romance lately. While I still love writing NA, I really do love writing YA romances, too, and SAVING IT was no exception. I loved creating Josh and Eden’s story, and I think both YA and NA readers will enjoy it. Here are the top reasons why: For a YA romance, it’s pretty sexy. Josh and Eden are best friends, and he wants to lose his virginity before he graduates high school. So Josh enlists Eden to help him find a girl he can lose it with. Basically, this book is about sex. The first time, specifically. He’s so funny and cute and real. At least, I think he is. I just adored him, and I believe readers will too. It’s all about the hero, right? And Josh is most definitely a hero—especially to Eden. He’s always running to her rescue, even though that irritates her sometimes. And speaking of Eden… Eden is another reason NA readers hopefully enjoy Saving It. She’s sweet, she’s funny, she’s practical, she’s in love with her best friend, and she really didn’t even know it until she started thinking…

Fall Back and Get Cozy
Cozy Corner / November 7, 2017

The week of Readers & ritas is always a busy one in North Texas. Games to prepare, baskets to put together, and the dreaded hunts through closets for clothes that still fit. To top that off, I have edits to complete—Yikes! Needless to say, my thoughts are racing at night and going to sleep can be a chore. To relax and get my mind off my to-do list, I’ve decided to turn off all electronics and stop everything I’m doing at nine o’clock; which is technically ten o’clock if you’re having trouble adjusting to day light savings time like me. Sunday, I made a list of books to read in the next two weeks and started on book number one, which has proven to be a wonderful distraction. I hope you’ll join me on my quest for a good night’s sleep with a few entertaining reads that will make the rest of your busy life take a back seat for a few blessed hours of relaxation. A ROOM WITH A BREW by Joyce Tremel Brewing Trouble #3 Disaster is on tap in this all-new mystery from the author of Tangled Up in Brew. It’s Oktoberfest in Pittsburgh, and brewpub owner…

Spotlight on Shana Galen
Author Spotlight / November 7, 2017

Shana Galen gives the background to THIRD SON’S A CHARM As an author, I get rejected more than you might think. Readers only see the published books, not all the proposals that didn’t make the cut. But what I’ve learned is that sometimes rejection is a blessing in disguise. If my original idea for a new book series hadn’t been rejected, Third Son’s a Charm would never have been written. The rejection certainly didn’t feel wonderful at the time, of course. I remember feeling pretty low when I returned to my hotel room at the writing conference where my proposal was turned down. Fortunately, my longtime friend and fellow author Sophie Jordan was rooming with me. When I told her what happened, she said, “What about The Dirty Dozen?” I told her I wasn’t in the mood to watch a movie, but she said, “No, as a premise for a new series!” And that was when the lightbulb went off! I would write a series about twelve former soldiers, men who had returned from the war against Napoleon, and who were trying to fit back into London society. These aren’t the heirs and the spares, but the younger brothers deemed…