Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Susanna Allen | 20 Questions: A MOST UNUSUAL DUKE
Author Guest / December 22, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? A MOST UNUSUAL DUKE 2–What is it about? Arthur Humphries, Duke of Osborn, made a vow he would never marry; Beatrice, the widowed Marchioness of Castleton, vowed never to wed again, having been married to a feral lupine Shifter. Threats to the wellbeing of both ensure they carry out George’s plan, but as they work together to put Arthur’s home place back to rights, will they be able to resist their growing attraction? (Nope.) Touchstone tropes are grumpy/frosty (my own spin on grumpy/sunshine) and found family.  3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  I am crazy about home renovation shows and the chance to write about a fixer-upper was so much fun. Given the time period, though, there is neither shiplap nor subway tile. 4–How did your heroine surprise you?  Beatrice has a bawdy sense of humor, aided and abetted by her sister-in-law Charlotte. She is slightly naive and doesn’t always get the saucy jokes Charlotte and her husband Ben make, but they make Beatrice want to laugh out loud — which, as a refined lady, she struggles against! 5–Why will readers love your hero?  Arthur is a big,…

Kristin Vayden | Author-Reader Match: FORTUNE FAVORS THE DUKE
Author Guest / December 22, 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 you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Kristin Vayden! Writes: First in a sweet and sparkling Regency romance series. About: I write the glitzy, gossipy, and dramatic regency romance genre! My newest release, FORTUNE FAVORS THE DUKE, is a sweet romance with forbidden love and friends-to-lovers themes! You’ll love the strong independence of Catherine—loosely based on Catherine the Great of Russia—and Quin, her late fiancé’s brother (no scandal there*winks*) who is a duke, of course. Writing is too much fun!  I love my job, especially since I write from home, which means I get to chase all five of my kids around—sometimes literally, can anyone relate? Of course, my hubby tag teams with me, so that’s usually when I get to write! He’s one in a million. Plus, I can write from my patio and watch my mama and baby goats frolic around on our little hobby farm in Washington State. Not to mention, I can walk to a winery for wine tasting and a billion coffee shops are nearby, what’s not to love? What…

Allie Therin | Exclusive Excerpt: PROPER SCOUNDREL
Author Guest / December 22, 2021

Discomfort was the first thing Sebastian became aware of, his mouth parched and his head pounding. He ignored both, struggling to recall what had happened. Mercier—the ring of fire— Lord Fine. Sebastian’s eyes flew open and he sat up. Or tried to. He swore as metal bit into his wrists. His arms were stretched up and out to either side, cuffed to—he craned his neck with difficulty, following the line of his right arm—cuffed to— Bedposts? Tall mahogany bedposts, exquisitely carved, and above them stretched a deep green canopy, embroidered with gold. His head rested on something soft, and the fabric against his cheek was like silk. A twitch of his legs confirmed they were free, and there was no bite of lead against his skin. So someone with significant money had cuffed him to a bed, but they hadn’t taken his magic into account— “Finally awake, are you?” Sebastian turned his head to the left, toward the sound of Lord Fine’s voice. The viscount was only a few feet away, sitting in a chair of dark wood and green velvet. He had removed his jacket, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows above bandaged forearms, and on his lap…

Julie Hamilton | Author-Reader Match: JUST FOR SHOW
Author Guest / December 21, 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 Julie Hamilton! Writes: I write contemporary romance with heat, humor, and heart. My debut novel, JUST FOR SHOW, is about an airplane meet-cute that goes viral and sparks a fake relationship for social media. Luke is a home renovation TV star and Audrey is a photographer launching her own business. His producers want him to keep posting about Audrey, and she’s desperate to get attention for her business. Fake dating is the obvious solution. But keeping things fake proves harder than either of them thought…especially when they go away for a weekend and there’s only one bed. When their temporary fling turns into real feelings for each other, they have to decide if an actual relationship is worth the risk to their hearts. About: I’m originally from Pittsburgh and now live near Chicago. I love watching TV (my favorite shows are Ted Lasso, House Hunters, and the many iterations of the Real Housewives franchise), listening to podcasts, doing the New York…

Kim Redford | 20 Questions: COWBOY HEAT WAVE
Author Guest / December 21, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? Cowboy Heat Wave 2–What is it about? Audrey Oakes arrives in Wild Bluff County desperate to locate the Hallelujah Ranch  legendary bootlegger gold so she can afford the medical treatment that could save her grandmother’s life. But clues in the old family journal lead her straight into the path of rustlers stealing a herd of mustangs…and that sends her right into the arms of cowboy firefighter Cole Murphy. Talk about trouble. Cole has a big enough problem on his hands trying to save his mustangs from horse thieves. He hadn’t counted on saving a damsel in distress or one that ups his heart rate. When she asks for help, how can he say no? But can he trust that she isn’t part of the rustler gang? And can he trust his heart when their connection turns red-hot?         3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  Wildcat Bluff County, Texas, is all about a small town, wide-open countryside, and folks with big hearts.  4–How did your heroine surprise you?  Audrey Oakes persisted time and again through thick and thin to restore her family from mother to grandmother to great-grandfather.  5–Why will…

Jennie Marts | Exclusive Excerpt: HOW TO COWBOY
Author Guest / December 21, 2021

Cade Callahan stood in the hospital gift shop staring at the colorful display of get-well tokens. A fluffy white unicorn with a purple horn and a glittery pink-and-purple mane caught his eye. Allie had loved unicorns as a little kid—she’d called them “Princess Ponies.” But he was wrestling with the notion that now she might be too old for a stuffed animal. If she was, she could always toss it. At least he was trying, he thought as he snagged the unicorn from the shelf. He considered a card but figured that might be a little too much. Besides, he doubted he’d find a card that read, ‘Sorry I was a shitty dad. Get well soon’. For now, the unicorn would have to do. He grabbed two bottles of water and threw a couple of Reese’s peanut butter cups onto the counter, thinking they might want them on the drive up the mountain. He was already dreading the trip. His back hurt from sleeping in the chair next to her hospital bed, and between the two of them, they were grumpier than a grizzly who’d stepped in a hornet’s nest. I’m the grown-up, he reminded himself. Which meant he needed…

Sandra Owens | Title Challenge: MOUNTAIN RESCUE
Author Guest / December 20, 2021

Operation K-9 Brothers is a three-book romantic suspense series about Navy SEAL heroes returning to civilian life. That’s not such an easy transition for these men, but the service dogs they work with calm their demons. These men are not looking for love, but when they find the one, they fall hard. They are hardwired to protect, and when danger threatens, they will protect the woman they love with their life. M is for MOUNTAIN RESCUE of course. O is for Operator. Dallas is a SEAL and SEALs are operators. U is for Universal because romance is universal. N is for Numb. How Dallas feels inside. T is for Tender. How Dallas feels toward Bella, the dog that has never known the kind touch of a human. A is for Asheville, the location of the story. I is for Incredible. What Dallas thinks of Rachel. N is for Nickname. Dallas’s nickname for Rachel is wildcat. * R is for Residence. The mountain cabin two strangers accidentally end up in together. E is for Extraordinary. What Dallas thinks of stunt double woman Rachel. S is for SEAL, and who doesn’t love a SEAL hero? C is for Cowboy. Yes, Dallas is…

Jayce Ellis | 20 Questions: IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING
Author Guest / December 20, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING 2–What is it about? DeShawn, who was raised by his grandmother, learns that her cancer has returned and she’s not going to pursue further treatment. In her will, she decides to leave part of her estate to DeShawn’s ex-husband, Malik. Except it turns out Malik isn’t his ex at all, because the divorce never went through (this happens more than you might think). DeShawn’s Uncle Robert ends up suing Malik, and that pushes them together. You’ll have to read to figure out the rest. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  I love that this is more DC-adjacent than fully focused in city. So many people are just outside DC, but live and work and love there. So there are moments in Upper Marlboro and Baltimore that hold just as much weight as being in DC proper. 4–How did DeShawn surprise you?  I don’t think I quite expected the arc DeShawn went on, and his final decisions about what he wanted to do career-wise. It was a way for him to have the best of both worlds, and I was thrilled to give it to…

Darby Kane | Exclusive Excerpt: THE REPLACEMENT WIFE
Author Guest / December 20, 2021

Another family dinner. This one on a random Thursday evening in mid-September. Same kitchen. Same table with the wobbly leg. Same people. One husband. One seven-year-old boy who hated anything that wasn’t a chicken nugget. One brother-in-law who might be a killer. Not a that was a horrible accident type of killer either. No. A person who killed over and over, targeting and wiping out the women closest to him. Elisa Wright looked across the table, over the pile of mashed potatoes and stack of homemade dinner rolls, at Josh. She couldn’t shake the now familiar anxious churning. With every forkful of food, every joke, every smile he gifted them, the word murderer flashed in her mind. She closed her eyes but the bright kitchen lights wouldn’t blink out. The truth gnawed and pricked at her. Exploded in her head and shot through her while she assessed and dissected every word he said, looking for clues. The big problem? She was the only one who questioned him. Everyone loved Josh. He was attractive, but not too much. Successful, but not too much. With brown eyes and brown hair that curled at the ends, he looked like an older version of…

Exclusive Excerpts | MISTLETOE CHRISTMAS
Author Guest / December 17, 2021

A MISTLEOTE KISS by Eloisa James It was humiliating to admit, even to herself, but Cressie knew precisely when they had met, at least, as adults. It was her debut ball, and her cousin had walked over to her and said, “Here, Cuz, dance with Elias; he’ll be a marquess someday so he’s good to practice conversation that’s not about that infernal Revelry.” She had looked up into the eyes of the most beautiful man in the ballroom and managed a wavering smile. Elias hadn’t said more than a few words to her and ignored her the rest of the evening. “Other than passing encounters as children, we met when I debuted,” Cressie said now. “Years before that,” Elias said impatiently. “In that case, I have no idea what you are referring to,” she said, managing to make it sound as if she was uninterested. “You were five years old,” he said, rather surprisingly. He took a long stride and caught her right hand. “Show me the last structure? I already missed the other grottoes. I don’t want to miss anything of this one.” Cressie didn’t roll her eyes, but it was a near thing. “Right.” She tugged her hand…