Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Jackie Ashenden | Exclusive Excerpt: THAT DEEP RIVER FEELING
Author Guest / July 30, 2021

Zeke Montgomery knew Morgan West was going to be trouble the minute he laid eyes on her. She stood at the foot of the steps to her own front door — the front door he’d been waiting outside of for the past couple of hours, not that he’d been counting or anything — with her arms folded, looking sternly at him like he was a little kid who’d just drawn on her walls with a crayon. She was very small and wore a not particularly flattering uniform of dark brown pants and khaki shirt, with a dark brown parka that nearly swallowed her thrown over the top. And her strawberry blond hair, the color of which reminded him of apricots, was in a very severe ponytail down her back. She wore no makeup, her face freckled and wholesome, with those bright blue eyes, the ones he remembered from Cal’s funeral that had been red from weeping then, but were much brighter now. They were also very, very direct. And she was still the prettiest thing he’d seen for months, if not years. All of which spelled trouble with a capital ’T’. She said crossly, “Where on earth have you been,…

Samanthe Beck | Exclusive Excerpt: UNDERCOVER ENGAGEMENT
Author Guest / July 30, 2021

Hi! Thanks so much to Fresh Fiction for inviting me to share a scene from my upcoming release, UNDERCOVER ENGAGEMENT. In terms of setting this up, Eden and Swain are law enforcement officers who detest each other but are forced to partner as an engaged couple for an undercover sting operation. They’re at a local bar trying to make contact with the targets of the sting. She’s mad at him. He deserves it. Here’s his version of an apology… *** “Aw, c’mon, choux,” Swain called to her over the music. “Don’t be like that. Dance with me. They’re playin’ our song.” She sat there facing him, arms and legs crossed, one booted foot bouncing like she was ready to kick him to the curb. “I wouldn’t dance with you if you were the last person in this place.” “I’ll dance with you, Eden,” Dobie offered. “Hey, man.” Swain sent him an exasperated look. “I’m workin’ an apology here.” Eden smiled at Dobie and then turned her stern look on him. “After what you said, it’s going to take way more than an apology.” Nose in the air, she added, “I don’t really think you’re up to the task.” Perfect. Did…

Lisa Kessler | Exclusive Excerpt: PIRATE’S PROMISE
Author Guest / July 29, 2021

Hello! I’m so excited to be back with you on the Fresh Fiction Blog! If we haven’t met before, I’m Lisa Kessler and I passionate, page-turning paranormal romances filled with plenty of twists and turns, danger and adventure, and sexy romance that will curl your toes. I love writing paranormals, and I don’t stop with vampires and shifters. In the Sentinels of Savannah series, I’ve got a sexy crew of immortal pirates, but they’re not vampires. Their final plunder as mortals turned out not to be gold, but the Holy Grail. They’ve been immortal ever since, living and working at their favorite port city, Savannah Georgia! My new release, Pirate’s Promise, is book 5 in my Sentinels of Savannah Series but it can be read as a standalone. Why pirates in Savannah? My grandmother was born and raised just outside of Savannah in Darien, so I’d visited America’s Most Haunted City before and pirates are a big part of their history. I’ve wanted to write a pirate series since the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie came out, but I didn’t want to write a historical soooo… One day it hit me! What if the pirates were still here, today?…

Isabel Cooper | Exclusive Interview: BLOOD AND EMBER
Author Guest / July 29, 2021

Welcome back to Fresh Fiction, Isabel! It’s hard to believe BLOOD AND EMBER, the third book in your Stormbringer series, is already out. What have you loved about writing this series the most?  Getting to build my own world! Bits of it were tough–the maps especially, as I am not a person who’s good with space and distance. (I am a person who lives in Massachusetts and continually refers to “going up to New York City.”) But I got to think up holidays and histories and peoples, which was tons of fun. I also got to create a world with a benevolent goddess of death and vengeance, and not in a gross “scorned woman” way, which I am into. Olvir embarks on a harrowing journey to hopefully figure out the true nature of his powers, and his friend Vivian (a warrior in her own right!), is not going to let him go about this on his own. Of course, their friendship develops into something more. How did you balance their epic journey with their changing relationship?   The thing I’ve found about travel is that it gives you a lot of time and space to think–like, just being away from your normal surroundings can…

Kait Ballenger | Title Challenge: FIERCE COWBOY WOLF
Author Guest / July 29, 2021

F: Female Warrior I: Independent woman E: Enigmatic alpha R: Riding crop fun C: Convenient marriage E: Enemies to lovers * C: Cave secrets O: Old enemies returned W: Wolf Pack Run B: Birth of a new era O: Ominous messages Y: Young love lost * W: Wild wolf pack O: Only one I’ve ever really wanted L: Love wasn’t part of the plan F: Finally together as equals * FIERCE COWBOY WOLF by Kait Ballenger Seven Range Shifters #4 Cowboys by day, wolf shifters by night: These bad boys are ready to heat things up in a sexy paranormal wolf shifter romance from author Kait Ballenger. Packmaster Maverick Grey is reconciled to spending the rest of his life alone. No woman can compare to his former love, least of all Sierra Cavanaugh–a woman who makes level-headed Maverick’s blood boil with a fire even his worst enemies could never evoke… But then, with his reputation on the line, and the pack’s safety his primary concern, Maverick finds himself in need of a mate, and Sierra comes to him with a proposal. All she wants is to become an elite warrior, and she needs Maverick’s help to get to her goal….

Amber Royer | People Change
Author Guest / July 29, 2021

People change.  It’s one of the oldest adages in the book.  And yet, there’s a deeper truth: people RESIST change, even change they ought to embrace (because often change equals opportunity). For example, we moved in December 2020, because the company my husband works for relocated to a different part of North Texas.  I did not want to move, and the re-location was close enough that – in theory – we could have stayed where we were, and Jake would have just had a longer commute.  Much longer, but still doable, especially since he was partly working from home.  So much had already changed during the pandemic.  I had started teaching my continuing education writing classes from home.  I’d even had to have a virtual book launch party. But by wholesale saying no more change, I was missing out on an opportunity.  Jake and I were living in a one-bedroom apartment, which had worked until suddenly we were both working from home – with different work styles.  I have to have noise on in the background.  Jake needs quiet to focus.  We needed a change – just to function.  Once we committed to the move, we found a place that…

Kathryne Le Veque | 20 Questions: HIGHLAND LEGEND
Author Guest / July 28, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release?  HIGHLAND LEGEND 2–What is it about? An arrogant, skilled fighter finds love in the most unexpected way…   Magnus Stewart, aka “The Eagle” is the bastard son of a duke, and his royal blood has never been anything but a curse. Among the mystique and riches of the legendary fight club Ludus Caledonia, Magnus battles his way to the top. Lady Diantha de Mora in desperation seeks his help. When Magnus reluctantly comes to her aid, his fate is changed forever in one night. With enemies at every turn, it’ll take muscle and a miracle for them to make it to the Highlands alive. There Magnus can reclaim his destiny, as Diantha reclaims his heart. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  This entire series is set a little bit later, history-wise, than I’m used to writing, so researching Tudor Scotland was interesting. But what I like most is the heart of the series – an exclusive fight club known as the Ludus Caledonia. Think “Gladiator” (the movie). The bond between these warriors is so strong and it truly is a brotherhood. These men may fight each other on…

Olivia Drake | Exclusive Interview: WHEN A DUKE LOVES A GOVERNESS
Author Guest / July 28, 2021

Danielle: Welcome back to Fresh Fiction, Olivia!  Can you tell our readers a little bit about your series, Unlikely Duchesses? Olivia: The “Unlikely Duchesses” series features feisty women who seek employment as a governess in the home of a duke.  They’re slightly scandalous, not perfect ladies, and of course, they don’t care a fig for the rules of high society. Book 1:  THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW showcases Max Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell, a rake who was rejected by his first love, Abby Linton, the girl next door. When he meets the spirited spinster again fifteen years later, Abby is governess to his sister and scornful of the rogue that he’s become.  Yet the old spark is still there, fanned into flames by their sizzling encounters. Book 2:  FOREVER MY DUKE features Hadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton, whose ordered life is turned topsy-turvy when he meets a lively American woman. Natalie Fanshawe is hard-working, independent, and plucky, with a definite preference for America’s system of equality over England’s class hierarchy.  The last thing she wants is to marry a duke! Book 3:  WHEN A DUKE LOVES A GOVERNESS continues the series with a penniless hatmaker who dreams of…

Renee Ryan | 20 Questions: THE WIDOWS OF CHAMPAGNE
Author Guest / July 28, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE WIDOWS OF CHAMPAGNE 2–What is it about? After France declares war on Germany in 1939, three generations of Leblanc women join forces to save their family’s champagne house: Chateau Fouche-Leblanc. All three are widows, and their lives have already been marred by loss and war. But when the enemy shows up on their doorstep, they are forced to make difficult choices that will require heroic feats, sacrifice, and put all of them in danger. One will join the fight. One will rely on her faith. While another will protect the others from her dark secret in a way that will haunt her for the rest of her life. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  As the title suggests, THE WIDOWS OF CHAMPAGNE is set in the champagne region of France in an old, stately chateau on a sweeping vineyard. I loved learning about this area and the arduous process it takes to make world class champagne, starting with the growing of the grapes through to the final of two fermentations. Yes, two. There’s also been a historical misrepresentation of what the French went through during the war,…

Julie Hammerle | Exclusive Excerpt: IT’S RAINING MEN
Author Guest / July 27, 2021

A loud crash and the sound of glass shattering cut her off, and my head snapped toward the bar. Our bartender, the guy with the eyes, was leaning over, gripping his leg. Blood trickled toward his ankle, and shards of the broken bottle surrounded his feet in a puddle of fizzy pink wine. I leaned over the bar. “Are you okay?” I shouted. He looked over at me. “I’m bleeding.” “I see that.” I glanced at Kelly, looking for permission. “Go,” she said, waving her hand. “Be the superhero. We’ll talk later.” “No.” I grabbed my purse and headed toward the injured patient. “Come with me. We’ll talk while I clean him up.” The bartender’s eyes widened in shock and concern. “What?” “I’m a doctor.” I motioned to one of the waiters working the tables. “Can someone clean this up, please?” The bartender tilted his head in disbelief as his eyes scanned my ensemble. “She is a doctor,” Kelly said, glancing at her phone, “and a damn expensive one, too. Consider yourself lucky.” “Where’s the manager’s office?” I asked, glancing around. “That way.” The bartender nodded toward a closed door in the hallway off to the right of the bar….