Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Nikki Barthelmess | 20 Questions: EVERYTHING WITHIN AND IN BETWEEN
Author Guest / October 5, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? EVERYTHING WITHIN AND IN BETWEEN 2–What is it about? EVERYTHING WITHIN AND IN BETWEEN is about Ri, who tries to learn Spanish to reconnect with her absent mother and Mexican heritage, but who is hiding her efforts from her strict grandmother—who has kept her from both. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  I love that the setting is in Santa Barbara, the beautiful beach town where I live that is often referred to as the “American Riviera,” because the geography and climate share similarities to areas along the French coast of the Mediterranean Sea. EWIB prominently features one of my favorite beaches and some of the beautiful architecture in Santa Barbara, such as the red-tile roofs, that I love as well.   4–How did your main character(s) surprise you?  I wrote about a main character whose mother is Mexican American and whose dad is white. She’s trying to come to terms with her identity given her light skin and mixed heritage because that’s something I’ve struggled a lot with, but I found Ri surprising in the scenes when she becomes incredibly angry with her grandmother for keeping her…

Suleena Birba | Author-Reader Match: TWO HOUSES
Author Guest / October 5, 2021

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 Suleena Bibra! Writes: Hi! I write contemporary Rom-Coms with Indian-American characters who love banter and avoiding their feelings. My debut novel, TWO HOUSES, is about auctioneers from rival auction houses in New York City. Priya and Gavin have been in competition since preschool, because of their families’ businesses, and their feud has only intensified since they began working at their respective companies. The rivalry heats up even more when they go head-to-head to win the rights to sell a big collector’s art, wooing him at his week-long country house party in a historic Long Island mansion. Forced together, feelings arise that neither can deny. Now they both have to decide if they can work together for a relationship, or if their life-long competition will prove too big a barrier to overcome. About: I’m from Southern California, but currently live in Virginia (I am not handling weather, particularly humidity, well—I was very spoiled in California). I love travelling and learning about art…

Kari Lee Harmon | My Top 10 Favorite Bachelorette Themed Parties
Author Guest / October 5, 2021

In SLEIGH BELLS RING, Amber Evans is the maid of honor for her best friend Samantha Darling, and Kip Covington is the best man for Nathan Snow. Amber and Kip have been at odds for a year, trying to outdo each other in every aspect of wedding plans. Now that it is their job to plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties, they can’t agree on a theme. Kip oversteps his bounds and invites them all to a joined party at his couples’ ski resort in Vermont. The bride and groom and thrilled, so Amber has no choice but to go along with the plans. That got me thinking about bachelor and bachelorette parties. I’ve been married for thirty-two years, so I haven’t been to a bachelorette party or thought about one in quite some time. In doing research for this book, I was amazed at the themes that are out there now, from wild to flat-out crazy. Here are my top ten favorite ones: A Friends-Themed Bachelorette Party You can arrange your very own Central Perk inside your bachelorette pad with a Friends-themed bachelorette. You can send the coffee mugs home with guests as favors, after your Instagram shoot. You…

Codi Hall | 20 Questions: NICK AND NOEL’S CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST
Author Guest / October 5, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? NICK AND NOEL’S CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST 2–What is it about? Two lifelong friends falling in love over the course of a holiday season. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  The small town of Mistletoe, Idaho is set in the mountains above Fairfield. The area is gorgeous and the close-knit, mountain town backdrop always makes me feel at home because it’s a homage to the towns I grew up in. 4–How did your heroine surprise you?  Her ability to say exactly what’s on her mind with no qualms. Sometimes, I wish I had that skill. 5–Why will readers love your hero?  Nick is such a genuinely good guy and funny to boot! Who doesn’t love a good sense of humor and a heart of gold? 6–What was one of your biggest challenges while writing this book (spoiler-free, of course!)?  Balancing the weight of Noel’s past with the hopeful joy the holiday season brings. 7–Do you look forward to or do you dread the revision process?  I shine during edits. First drafts are torture. My version of hell is writing a first draft over and over with no input and relying…