1–What’s the name of your latest release?  The Library of Legends 2–What is it about?  The story begins in 1937 when China and Japan are at war. The main character, Lian, must follow her university when they evacuate, before they get bombed out. The students, professors and staff begin a thousand-mile walk to safety, carrying their belongings, school supplies, even kitchenware. And they also carry the Library of Legends, a priceless ancient collection of Chinese myths.   It turns out the mythical creatures described in the Library of Legends are also on the move, and that a celestial being travels with the students. As for Lian, she finds friendships and possibly romance. But family secrets make her a victim of political manipulation and she must distance herself from her classmates. Especially when one of them is found murdered. 3–What word best describes your main character(s)?  Cautious. Because of her family’s past, she is careful who she associates with. 4–What makes your story relatable?  Readers are telling me that right now, the story echoes their own feelings about living in uncertain times. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help?  Their classmates, who are their community….

The king smiled. “Lady Marjorie, I bid you welcome. Forgive me for not seeing you sooner, but I had a great many matters of state to attend to.” His tone was affable, but as he moved toward her, she could hear a clinking sound, and her heart sank. The convent prioress’s cold warning had been true. James did wear an iron chain of penance under his doublet, in sorrow over his father’s death. Like the courtiers downstairs, he would never forget the high treason Lord Hepburn had been party to. “Your Grace,” she whispered, curtsying deeply. “It is an. . . an honor to be here.” “Your chamber is comfortable?” “It is lovely. The tapestries are beautiful.” “Good, good. There is someone I wish you to meet,” said the king, gesturing to his right. “Of course. . .” Marjorie’s voice trailed off as her mouth abruptly forgot how to form words. She was being introduced to Lady Janet Fraser? One of the most influential women in Scotland? That would be a mark of favor, surely. Confusion turned her mind to mud, but there was no mistaking the stunning beauty now standing in front of her. That blazing-red hair, not quite…

I had a release day plan. Since Heired Lines takes place in England, I was going to take the day off with some of my friends and have high tea at the Chocolate Angel Tea Room (where Fresh Fiction has their own tea’s). But then COVID-19 happened. It’s affected a lot of our plans and I figured I could mope about it, or I could do something. That’s when my daughters and I decided to have our own high tea. Due to certain things being out of stock, our own lack of baking skills, and the fact that my children are seven and nine and picky, we modified our menu a bit to the traditional high tea. We’ve also made it easy for the average reader to follow along and have their own High Quaran-Tea with us! High teas are usually served on a three-tier stand with the first course on the bottom, the second course in the middle, and the third course on top. Of course, we don’t actually have a three-tier stand so we are borrowing one from a friend. If a friend doesn’t have one, you can actually stack teacups and saucers to make the three tiers….

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 Sarah Ballance! Writes: Finding Mr. Right Next Door, a smoldering friends-to-lovers firefighter romance filled with banter, swoon-worthy moments, kitchen fails, dating disasters, and hilariously inappropriate comments from a grandma who tells it like it is. About: Sarah Ballance is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and supernatural romance and romantic suspense. She’s been married to her own romantic hero for what he calls a “long, long time” (and no, he’ll never hear the end of saying that). Together they have six children. . . and clearly too much time on their hands. She currently writes for Entangled Publishing and enjoys long quarantine-inspired walks from one end of the house to the other, dodging the dog’s overzealous morning zoomies, and removing the used coffee pods her husband leaves in the machine. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Must be able to laugh at yourself, even (okay, especially) in the bedroom Must tolerate relentless banter from adoring friends Must love takeout (real food stands no chance in…

Who wouldn’t love to read a nice contemporary on-the-road romance right now? Roll down the windows, turn up the tunes, and set your eyes on the horizon with my debut novel, This Wandering Heart. The first book in the Madison River Romance is a second chance love story with what may come across as a too-good-to-be-true hero (I make no apologies) and a relatable heroine with conflicting desires and a haunting history. Take a trip with Robbie and Keira as they revisit their past and hope for a future filled with wonder, wilderness, and a whole lot of wandering. Teacher of geography, Keira Knudsen, has never seen a road she didn’t want to drive or a land she didn’t want to visit. With a History of childhood abuse, she finds safety in Isolation and solo travel where no one can control or harm her anymore. But none of her high school students would ever guess she is the popular, yet anonymous, Social Media influencer Kat * Wanderfull. Guided by her decade-old road Atlas that doubles as her journal, she visits rustic locations, old cities, and National Parks. Unfortunately, to make her Dream come true, and finally Escape her past once…

It was then that Kerry walked by the back kitchen opening, and she paused at the doorway. “Errol! What are you doing here?” she said, stepping into the main lounge. The boy brightened at the sight of Kerry, his entire face opening up and his demeanor changing as he smiled at her. But then, as if remembering his mission, he quickly sobered. “Hi, Miss Kerry. I just wanted to come by to say how sorry I am about Ms. Joy.” Kerry stepped forward and took the boy into her arms in a hug. “Oh, Errol. Thank you so much. That is so kind of you.” Errol pulled back and unclenched his fists from the bag he was holding. He looked up at Kerry with a sad longing in his eyes and Jesse could see he was debating a question. “Will the shop be open again for us kids to come in for a lesson?” Kerry looked around at Jesse and his brothers, then back at Errol. “Errol, I’m not sure. The family has to do some figuring out about that.” Errol let out a breath and looked at Jesse. The boy nodded soberly as if he fully understood, despite his…

Since I write Medical Romance I thought I would share my Top Ten favourite television/movie doctors. It’s kind of impossible for me to pick only 10 of my own heroes and heroines, so I thought I would choose my favourite on-screen doctors. 1. Derek Shepherd-Grey’s Anatomy. I know, you either love him or hate him (obviously I was in the love him camp). I was watching Grey’s Anatomy when the Fast Track for Harlequin Medical’s opened up in 2011. So Derek and Meredith’s relationship certainly sparked my love for Medical Romance. 2. Meredith Grey-Grey’s Anatomy. I like her better now than I did in the beginning, but I did like her drive and her passion for medicine. She’s a lot stronger now, but still a bit cold, but it’s her strong drive, her love of her job I often take into my own heroines. 3. Michaela Quinn-Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. I like her because I love frontier type of shows and she was pretty strong too. Also, there’s a special place in my heart for her because it was the last television show I got to watch with my Nanny before she passed away. She only got to see season…

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 Nichole Severn! Writes: Books like MIDNIGHT ABDUCTION, which is mind-twisting suspense mixed with bullet-proof romance set in Tennessee and features a heroine and hero who will stop at nothing to bring home a missing child. About: 30-something romantic suspense author seeks a reader who enjoys: edge-of-your-seat danger, strong heroines and the heroes who dare challenge them, and unforgettable romance. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Wants to experience the thrill of solving a missing persons case Cheers for out-of-the-box happy-ever-afters Appreciates an ensemble cast of FBI experts, including a quirky six-year-old obsessed with mystery novels Equally enjoys danger and passion, frequently in the same scene What to expect if we’re compatible: Thrilling romantic suspense you won’t want to put down Paranoia and suspicion of every weird sound in your house and the people around you Memorable romance and tension-breaking inside jokes A hazardous dependence on romantic suspense when you join the Addicted to Danger FB group Exclusive content,…

by Senior Reviewer Debbie Wiley With the long days of quarantine both behind and still in front of us, if you’re like me you’re tired of hearing nothing in the news but gloom and doom. Luckily for us as readers, we have a great selection of cozy mysteries to curl up with and take our minds off seeing only the people we’ve been quarantined with. So, sit back, pretend it’s a cold day inside by the fire where staying inside is fun, and let’s look at a couple great books to choose from! Amanda Flower is one of my go-to cozy mystery authors and what could be better than a novella including an appearance by Jethro, the support pig? In BOTCHED BUTTERSCOTCH, a Mother’s Day fundraiser goes awry and now Bailey King is determined to uncover a thief. Amanda Flower offers up just the kind of heartwarming mystery we need, as BOTCHED BUTTERSCOTCH showcases Abigail’s Farm, a program opening up in the Amish community to help women recovering from substance abuse. We have a lot of fun bantering the wedding that isn’t even an engagement yet and yes, we have a great Jethro scene!  SIX CLOVES UNDER by Gin Jones features…

Jennifer: What inspired you to write your new release, HELLO, SUMMER?   Mary Kay: A couple years ago I read an article in my hometown newspaper, The Tampa Bay Times, about the area’s long-time conservative Republican Congressman, who’d just passed away from cancer. At the Congressman’s funeral, his son gave a eulogy that mentioned his father’s “secret first family”–the Congressman’s first wife and his children with him, with whom he’d had no contact for decades. It was a stunning moment that sparked a family feud played out in headlines around the country. When I went looking for a juicy story for my newspaper reporter protagonist Conley to dig into, that story immediately came to mind. Of course, my fictional Congressman dies in a mysterious late-night accident on a remote country road, and there are lots of other differences, but that story kept me up at night, wondering “what if?”  Why does Sarah “Conley” Hawkins choose to return to her hometown? She doesn’t have any alternatives. She’s quit her job as a reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, broken up with her boyfriend and given up her apartment–all in anticipation of a new job she’s accepted with a new digital-only investigative publication in…