Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Debbie Devita
Author Guest / December 17, 2020

Our reviewers have spent all of 2020 reading and reviewing wonderful books–so we decided to feature them throughout the holiday season this year. Today, one of our reviewers chats about her faves from the past year and more! Your Name Debbie Devita How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer? Few months What are your favorite genres to read and review? Romance What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020 (that were reviewed on FF)? Tweet Cute by Emma Lord Royal by Danielle Steel Once Upon a Twelfth Night Anthology What do you like to do outside of reading? Writing and hiking What are some of your holiday traditions? Making potato latkes for Chanukah. Getting a Christmas tree with my husband’s family. What are your reading resolutions/intentions/goals for 2021?  Get through some backlist books. What do you love about being a Fresh Fiction Book Reviewer? Early access to releases, helping authors showcase their books If you’re comfortable, please share a photo so our readers can see your faces! Where else can readers find you online? Http://www.instagram.com/bookswritingandmore

Julia Justiss | History ReFreshed: Larger-Than-Life
Author Guest , Author Spotlight / December 16, 2020

What a year 2020 has been!  Most of us can’t wait to see the last of it, along with fervent prayers that 2021 will be a much better 365 days.  While we’re waiting to move on, what better to distract us than novels about famous, larger-than-life heroines? Elise Hooper’s FAST GIRLS: A NOVEL OF THE 1936 WOMEN’S OLYMPIC TEAM deals with women who aren’t as famous as the others we will feature—but ought to be.  Veteran of the first women’s delegation to compete in the 1928 Olympics, Betty Robinson overcomes a horrific accident to join two newcomers as part of the 1936 Women’s Olympic Track Team. Farm girl Helen Stephens wants to escape the hardships of rural life, while Louise Stokes sees excelling in competition as a way to overcome the restrictions placed on Black Americans. All three must fight against the prevailing view that women are too “delicate” for competitive sports and should confine their activities to the home.  Hooper sets the struggle for an increased role for women against the vivid backdrop of political intrigue that was the Olympics held in Hitler’s Germany. From talented but lesser-known to the center of international scandal, we have THE WOMAN BEFORE…

Aliyah Burke | Exclusive Excerpt: HER MARINE NEXT DOOR
Author Guest / December 15, 2020

Thank you so much for allowing me the pleasure of being on your blog, it’s such an honor. I do hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday season! Enjoy this excerpt. *** “Well hell, look who’s decided to grace me with his presence again. Parker Jax. How the hell are you, man?” After hugging the man at the bar, Parker grinned when he stepped back. “Better, Marc. How about you? Place is looking good.” Marc Chariz shrugged and looked Skylar over and flashed one of his signature and patented sexy smiles. Known all over the world to get women to drop their panties. Parker wanted to punch him. “Marc, this is Skylar. Skylar Radford, the second-best damn Marine I’ve known, Marc Chariz.” Marc offered his hand and took hers with a smile. “You’re a delightful pleasure for this place. Nice to meet you.” The next second, he’d pulled her into a hug and whispered something into her ear. “You didn’t do her justice when you told us about this stunning woman, my friend. I used to serve with this old codger. If I need a stand-in fiancée, can I hire you?” Skylar laughed. “Don’t let her go, and we’re no…

Danielle Dresser | Early 2021 Anticipated Releases
Author Guest / December 15, 2020

Here we are at the end of 2020 and I, for one, am ready to ring in 2021! That being said, 2020 was a F A B U L O U S year for books. I’m a few books away from my reading goal of 130 books and I am so excited to say that I read some amazing books by some of my favorite authors as well as a bunch of great debuts that make me so excited for what they have next. Part of my job as Editorial Manager for Fresh Fiction means I get to find out about—and read—books months before they are out in the world. There are so many intriguing and innovative titles for us to enjoy… here are a few that I am particularly excited about! — JANUARY 2021   SCANDAL IN THE VIP SUITE by Nadine Gonzalez When a decadent suite at an exclusive Miami hotel is double-booked, a movie star and author decide to share the suite for the next few days until another room opens. While they spend time together, they discover there’s more to the other person than they initially thought. Then, they decide to work on a passion project…

Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Courtney Blanton
Author Guest / December 14, 2020

Have you ever wondered who writes all of the reviews posted on Fresh Fiction? You’re in luck! Throughout December and January, we’re introducing you to some of our favorite people: OUR REVIEWERS! We may be biased, but we think they’re the best.  Your Name Courtney Blanton How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer?  A few months What are your favorite genres to read and review? Memoirs, thrillers, true-crime What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020? The Night Swim by Megan Megan Goldin The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell Bright Side by Kim Holden This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf What do you like to do outside of reading? Listen to music, stream television shows/movies, and play my Switch Lite What are some of your holiday traditions?  Decorating the Christmas tree, opening a present a few days before Christmas, opening all the presents late Christmas Eve night, having big dinners with the family (this year, my birthday falls on Thanksgiving!). What are your reading resolutions/intentions/goals for 2021?  Read books from different genres more What do you love about being a Fresh Fiction Book Reviewer? I love being able to share my opinions on books on a…

Jerri Chisholm | Author-Reader Match: ESCAPING ELEVEN
Author Guest / December 11, 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 Jerri Chisholm! ESCAPING ELEVEN: Eve Hamilton has learned to survive the cruelty of Compound Eleven life by becoming a fighter. But her latest match is different. Her opponent is a mysterious boy from an elite section of the compound. And there’s something about him that says he could be her salvation…or her undoing. Because she’s no longer content to just survive in Eleven. She’s ready to fight for her freedom, and this boy may just be the edge she’s been waiting on. About: Fitness-loving badass with a keen sense of justice looking for readers with a similar passion for upending the status quo, pursuing freedom, and—yeah—punching things. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Must have an innate sense of right and wrong Must be willing to break rules Must believe in equality Adrenalin-junkies preferred What to expect if we’re compatible: High stakes and a fast-moving plot Forbidden romance that gives you all the feelings An emotional rollercoaster – buckle-up! An author that loves to interact…

Jennifer Vido | Jen’s Jewels Interview: SECOND CHANCE ON CYPRESS LANE by Reese Ryan
Author Guest / December 11, 2020

Jen: What inspired you to write SECOND CHANCE ON CYPRESS LANE? Reese: The idea for a series about a small town in the Outer Banks was prompted by my first visit to the Outer Banks and the town of Duck, North Carolina, which my husband and I fell in love with instantly. And while I can’t recall exactly how I came up with Dex and Dakota’s love story, I had initially intended to pitch it to a company that was going to publish choose your own adventure style romances. So, for instance, one of the first choices the reader would’ve made was whether Dakota returned to her small hometown or tried to stick things out in New York. Why does rising-star reporter Dakota Jones return to her hometown?  Dakota unwittingly gets caught up in a scandal that gets lots of press in New York City and in Italy and tanks her career as a reporter just as she was about to be named the weekend news anchor at her station. No other station in wants to get tangled up in the scandal, which leaves Dakota just one option: she must return home to regroup and figure out her next move…

Brenda Jackson | Exclusive Excerpt: THE WIFE HE NEEDS
Author Guest / December 11, 2020

“What do you mean she’s not coming?” Garth asked, speaking into his cell phone, while rubbing a frustrated hand down his face. He had arrived in Santa Cruz ex­pecting the woman selected by the dating service to be there already. She wasn’t. “I got a call from the dating service,” Charm said. “Evidently there was some kind of mix-up in the dates. They regret their error and are hoping you will consider rescheduling.” Anger rose, heating Garth’s face. A mix-up in the dates? He expected better from a company that prided itself on being the best in the business. “Since there’s no reason to remain here, I’ll let Regan know I’ll be on the plane with her when she leaves two days from now.” “Why?” Garth frowned. “Why what?” “Why are you coming back home? Don’t you think Cash can handle things while you’re gone?” Garth rolled his eyes. “Of course, I do. Had I thought he couldn’t, I would not have left him in charge.” “Then let him do it. It will make him feel important to the company.” “He is important to the company, Charm. All of you are.” “Then take the time off you so rightly deserve….

Rhenna Morgan | Exclusive Excerpt: MINE TO KEEP
Author Guest / December 11, 2020

Eyes back on the road, Roman turned off St. Charles. Within blocks they were in a whole new world. Elegant homes lined up one after the other, their mix of Victorian and plantation architecture holding the modern century at bay. Wrought iron gates lined many of them—some as high as six feet and others no taller than her thighs. Massive oak and cypress trees stood like sentries in every direction. If it hadn’t been for the seat belt she’d put on, she’d have likely had her nose pressed to the window just to savor it all. Ahead, one in particular caught her eye. Where all the others were nestled close together, this one had extra land on either side. Ivy grew on the tall iron fence that surrounded it, with only the double gate at the center free to see through. Roman slowed in front of it, giving her time to gawk up at the tall windows that lined the front and the white columns between each one. The place was so majestic looking, she halfway expected Scarlett O’Hara to come sweeping out the front door in one of her big Southern belle getups. She’d thought he’d slowed to give…

Abigail Owen | Exclusive Excerpt: THE PROTECTOR
Author Guest / December 10, 2020

Unable to stop himself any longer, Levi searched for Lyndi’s smaller form behind the wall of bigger men. He backed up a step and collided with a gaze so full of desolation, all red banked fire and heartache so raw, that he had to look away for a second to get his own violent reaction under control. When he looked back, Lyndi had dropped her gaze to the ground, hiding from him. Confusion drowned out every other emotion rioting within him, so loud his head almost buzzed with it. What had that look been? Because if it was even a hint of what he hoped it could be… The gods had shit timing. Until this second, with the way she constantly sniped at him, and had from the moment they met, he’d believed she hated him. Carried a grudge for that first misunderstanding, and all the misunderstandings that followed. She’d always taken his need to protect her the wrong way. He hadn’t wanted her to build her orphanage in a human home, so unprotected and vulnerable, not because she wasn’t capable but because he expected the Alliance to show up unexpectedly and wipe out all the boys they felt were…