Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Lauren Helms | Top Five Favorites About the 425 Madison World
Author Guest / March 10, 2020

I’m so excited to be back at Fresh Fiction celebrating another release! Flawless Foundations was such a fun book to write, it was a labor of love, that’s for sure. This is a tale of what happens when you fall in love with your bestie’s older brother. It features a sexy CEO and a feisty socialite. Is there a marriage of convenience or a marriage of love? You’ll have to read it to find out. In the meantime, find out my Top Five Favorite things about the 425 Madison series! My favorite amenity in the 425 Madison building: The maintenance team. In particular, the hot maintenance man who manages that team. Okay, let’s be honest here, the best amenity in the 425 Madison building is Jake Harper. 100%. Jake’s stroys unfolds in season one’s Boyfriend Maintenance but he’s is a constant fixture in season two of the series as well. My favorite local hang out/nightspot in the 425 Madison world: Blush, a cocktail lounge that Becca works at. It’s a high-end, posh and sexy. It’s been one of Becca’s favorite spots for several years. If you’re not from money or don’t love rubbing elbows with the rich and richer, you…

Lauren Layne | 20 Questions: YOURS IN SCANDAL
Author Guest / March 9, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release? Yours in Scandal (one of my favorite of my book titles, if I do say so myself!)  2–What is it about? The series features three men who are named “Man of the Year” (think: People’s Sexiest Man Alive) and the unexpected ramifications that come with that! Yours in Scandal kicks off the series with a young, wealthy mayor of NYC who falls for his political rival’s daughter. 3–What word best describes your heroine? Conflicted–she’s been taught to be ashamed of who she really is, and she’s got a lot of self-discovery to do! 4–What makes your hero irresistible? Where to start! Robert is wealthy, powerful, and um, hot, so there’s that. But more than that, he’s good–just a really, truly great guy. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help? Both hero and heroine have an amazing support group! Robert has the undying loyalty of his sarcastic chief-of-staff, and Addie has two ride-or-die best friends. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book? It’s in my own backyard! I live in Manhattan, and I love setting books here amidst the glamour and energy of the city….

Debbie Wiley | Crafty Cozy Mysteries + My Own Hobby!
Author Guest / March 9, 2020

Loom knitting is one of my favorite hobbies, besides reading, of course! The creativity and joy in finding the right yarn to match a pattern has ignited my creative senses and inspired me to seek out other crafts. Whether it’s a scarf, a shawl, or a blanket, each crafty adventure I take is both relaxing and inspiring. I thought it would be fun to share a few of my recent favorites with you guys before jumping into the books. Each one of these lovely loomed items is an act of love, as I often donate my work to charity, especially since I like using some of the thicker yarns and I live in Florida! And now onto the books. . . Peggy Ehrhart’s upcoming release, A FATAL YARN, is the fifth book in the Knit and Nibble series, and knitting is at the heart of the mystery. I love that the local trees are suddenly gaining sweaters, even better than the sweaters are to hide the dreaded X marks that signal the tree is marked for removal. Peggy Ehrhart has created a likable cast of characters and the entire concept underlying A FATAL YARN is sheer fun. Never mind that…

Kelly Anne Blount | 20 Questions: I HATE YOU, FULLER JAMES
Author Guest / March 6, 2020

Hey, Everyone! Thank you so much to the amazing people at Fresh Fiction for having me today! I had a blast answering the questions below. Sincerely, Kelly Anne Blount xoxo Fresh Fiction 20 Questions with an Author 1–What’s the name of your latest release?  I HATE YOU, FULLER JAMES 2–What is it about?  My YA sports romance centers around a bad bet and the fallout it causes between the star basketball player of Magnolia Valley High and his tutor. 3–What word best describes your heroine?  Strong! 4–What makes your hero irresistible?  His heart. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help?  Wren turns to her best friends Dae and Brandon. Fuller turns to his little brother, Hudson. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book?  The setting was modeled after the small mountain towns surrounding the beautiful city I live in, Asheville, North Carolina. 7–Are you a plotter (follow an outline) or a pantster (write by the seat of your pants)? I plotted out I HATE YOU, FULLER JAMES. I like to have a loose outline that helps guide me as I write, but if I want to change things up while I’m…

Jill Eileen Smith | How Women of the Bible Inspire Me
Author Guest / March 6, 2020

I fell in love with the Bible when I was sixteen years old. I read the Bible before that time, but it was a biblical novel, Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes, that caused me to realize that the people in the Scriptures were real. I never looked at God’s Word quite the same way again. Suddenly, the stories in the Old and New Testaments had names and faces and situations that I could understand and relate to. Of course, not everything in ancient times can compare to what we face today, but though the cultures are different, human nature does not change. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, which, yes, I believe were real people and the Garden a real place, we have all struggled with a nature that is no longer perfect. We don’t have to teach a child to lie or take something that isn’t theirs or be selfish with their toys. We don’t improve much with age either, I’m sorry to say. The women of the Bible struggled with this same sin nature. Impatience, greed, anger, bitterness, ingratitude, worry, faithlessness, controlling attitudes, manipulation, and so much more afflicted them just…

Melody Carlson | Exclusive Interview: THE HAPPY CAMPER
Author Guest / March 6, 2020

Welcome back to Fresh Fiction, Melody! Can you tell us about yourself and your new book, THE HAPPY CAMPER?         I’m a writer who loves camping. <grin> Also, I love restoration and décor. So anyway, a few years ago, I was a bit writing-weary when I happened to notice an old vintage trailer ‘for sale’ by the side of the road. The price was right and the 1963 camp trailer was cute…so I bought it and began to restore it. While restoring it, the idea for this book began to tickle my brain. Shortly afterward, I was writing THE HAPPY CAMPER.  Dillon Michaels makes a major life change by moving to her grandfather’s farm, and then into his old camper. What do you think readers will find relatable in Dillon’s choices to change her life? I think we’ve all hit crossroads in life–times when either circumstances or desires nudge us in a new direction. Both are the case for Dillon. She’s disenchanted with her demanding job, non-committal boyfriend, small shared apartment…and ripe for a change. She thinks Grandpa’s farm and his need for help is the answer, but when she arrives the situation has changed. Dillon has…

Nino Cipri | FINNA
Author Guest / March 5, 2020

I got my first job at eleven, working at a doggy daycare, and I’ve been more-or-less continuously employed since then. Now, at age 34, my full work history is long and weird: server, gas station attendant, construction worker, theater set builder, house cleaner, bookseller, landscaper, bike mechanic, teacher, freelance writer, and editor. A lot of this work brought me joy, particularly when I was lucky enough to have great coworkers, or supervisors who invested in their teams. I’ve also seen firsthand the ways employers can exploit, belittle, and manipulate their workers. I poured years of frustration into my novella, FINNA. FINNA begins in an enormous homegoods store where, thanks to the uniquely awful corporate layout, reality has a tendency to tear doorways into other worlds. When an elderly customer wanders into a wormhole in a furniture showroom, the task of tracking her down falls to Jules and Ava, the workers with the least seniority. (There used to be a specialized division that handled these cases, but they were cut during the Recession.) Navigating a series of hostile, alien worlds would be hard enough, but Ava and Jules broke up three days ago. Before you ask: no, there’s no overtime (unless…

Amanda Cabot | Author-Reader Match: OUT OF THE EMBERS
Author Guest / March 4, 2020

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Amanda Cabot! Writes: Historical inspirational romances with more than a dash of danger and suspense to keep readers turning pages. Out of the Embers, the first of the Mesquite Springs trilogy, takes readers to a town in the beautiful Texas Hill Country where a young woman with a tragic past arrives, only to discover that trouble is close behind her. About: Incurably romantic author seeks readers who share her love for heroes and heroines who defy the odds, finding love and happily-ever-after despite danger, betrayal, and the occasional small-town busybody’s meddling. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Loves stories of heroes and heroines surmounting obstacles to find true love Savors the closeness of small-town life, at least in fiction Doesn’t mind the occasional sleepless night when she has to read “just one more page” Cheers when justice prevails Enjoys the slower pace and different social structure of the nineteenth century Old West Believes that faith is an integral part of life…

Evelyn Sola | Author-Reader Match: CRAVE + Giveaway!
Author Guest / March 3, 2020

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-ReaderMatch” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present EVELYN SOLA! Writes: I focus on contemporary romance filled with love, laughs, and drama. My stories tend to be on the lighter side but will pull on your heartstrings. Flirtatious banter, interesting family dynamics, the push and pull between the two lovers are just a few of my trademarks. My debut novel is CRAVE (March, 2nd), a diverse romance about a man who had given up on love until he spots her from across the room. Unfortunately for him, things transpire that evening that sends his lady love running as far and as fast as she can. The chase is on after that! About: New author seeks lover of contemporary romance who appreciates heroines who aren’t afraid to speak up, and a hero who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to fight for it. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Knows that a hero who swears off love falls the fastest. Has a weakness for smart independent heroines….

Reese Ryan | Exclusive Interview: SECRET HEIR SEDUCTION
Author Guest / March 3, 2020

Welcome to Fresh Fiction, Reese! Please tell us a bit about yourself and your new book, SECRET HEIR SEDUCTION. Thank you so much for having here on Fresh Fiction. I’m a native Ohioan who has been living in Central North Carolina for the past decade. I write sexy, emotional romance served up with a side of family drama and surprising secrets.  SECRET HEIR SEDUCTION is my third contribution to the long-running Texas Cattleman’s Club series. In this story, a fashion mogul discovers his true paternity and newfound siblings, including the matchmaking sister determined to reunite him with his ex – a diamond heiress he split with five years ago. Audra Covington has always lived in the shadow of her parents’ fortune, but she finally has the opportunity to prove herself through her own in-demand jewelry line with high profile clientele. Audra’s drive to succeed on her own is inspiring! What did you love about creating Audra? I love that Audra has a strong sense of self and she’s determined to chart her own path. She is a confident entrepreneur who is making a name for herself and while she loves her parents very much, she’s over trying to please them….