Hey everyone! So one of the questions I get asked a lot, is what’s my writing space like. And the simplest answer is EVER-CHANGING! I’m most definitely a creature of habit… until I’m not lol. For instance, I might move from my office desk to my office couch to the comfy chair in the living room to my bedroom, getting huffy at every stop until I find that spot that clicks and I finally drop into THE ZONE. I know. This sounds ridiculous, but it’s just how it goes. And once I figure out the spot that works…  I’ll ride it into the ground lol. I’ll go back to writing in my bed or at my desk while sitting on a yoga ball every day for as long as it triggers that free flow of flirty, sexy storytelling that is so much fun! This week, I’m all about the desk and the rolling, spinny chair lol. One thing that doesn’t change? All the crap I tote along with me lol. Soundproof headphones (regardless of whether the house is silent or not) Two, yes two mugs of gorgeous assorted pens and highlighters My project specific spiral notebook (it needs to be…

Every year, when December rolls around, I find myself gravitating back toward the same books over and over again. They’re my ultimate comfort reads, the books I want to curl up with when the snow it falling and it’s bitterly cold outside. It’s been enough years at this point that it really feels like visiting old friends for the holidays, which just adds to the attraction of these particular rereads. What books are these? Of course, I’ll tell you! The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop. I first discovered these books when I was in high school, and they only seem to get better with each reread. Anne Bishop doesn’t shy away from some truly dark topics, but she has this wonderful way of threading the darkness with amazing relationships, found families, and surprising humor. I love all her stuff, but the original Black Jewels trilogy is the one I gravitate back toward again and again. Kushiel’s Legacy trilogy by Jacqueline Carey. I’ve had the original trilogy so long that my paperback is starting to fall apart, and I’ve since re-purchased digital copies to save my arms (they’re VERY long books). Jacqueline Carey is straight up brilliant with how she…

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Christmas carols played softly in the background. The scent of spiced cider perfumed the air. Shoppers munched happily on gingerbread cookies and perused the bookshelves for that perfect gift. Dr. Jenna Stockton imagined ripping the halo off the angel’s head and choking her with it. Instead, she reached deep within herself for patience and managed to find a smile for the costumed character behind the bookstore counter. “If I could speak with your manager, please?” “She’s awfully busy.” Jenna thought of the ridiculous length of her own to-do list as she fought to keep her smile from turning into a sneer. “Yes, well, it’s that time of year, isn’t it? Your manager?” The little angel gave a haughty sniff, and then said, “If you’ll step out of line, please?” Without missing a beat, the angel turned a bright smile toward the woman waiting behind Jenna. “I’m so sorry for this unfortunate delay, ma’am. I’ll be as quick as I possibly can.” Jenna didn’t snarl like a rabid dog. She didn’t. She smiled at the woman behind her in line. Sweetly. Without canines. The woman and the four people behind her each gave Jenna an annoyed glower. She gave them all…

Many will swoon over this week’s BookTrib giveaway, 20 different Harlequin romances to one lucky winner. As part of BookTrib’s Holiday Giveaway, they will be gifting a box of 20 books, matching various themes, each week to one lucky winner through the month of December. Like what you see? Enter from now to December 13th for a chance to win all of these titles in their romance box! For more information and to enter the giveaway, please visit: https://booktrib.com/booktrib-giveaways/ 

A warm welcome back to Fresh Fiction reviewer Miranda Owen, here to chat about the possibly doomed nuptials of Batman and Catwoman in their recent DC graphic novels!  The flirtation and sexual tension between Batman and Catwoman are well documented and encompass the comics, TV, films, and animated shows. My earliest exposure to their relationship was when I watched the 1960s pairing of Adam West and Julie Newmar. When DC was building up this latest Batman/Catwoman romantic storyline, I knew that it wouldn’t end in a happily-ever-after, but Tom King and the other writers and artists who worked on this story built something with a strong emotional punch and added interesting nuances to these beloved characters. In BATMAN VOL. 6: BRIDE OR BURGLAR, readers saw a different and more human side to two comic book legends, leaving their story on an optimistic note. The end result, covered in BATMAN VOL. 7: THE WEDDING, BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM, and BATMAN: PRELUDES TO THE WEDDING, is something to wonder over and scream into the void at the unfairness of it all. Even though this entire arc is focused on Batman and Catwoman and their alter egos Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, the…

In my romance series, the Mountain Mercenaries are a group of six former special forces men who were brought together by they mysterious, “Rex.” They were chosen because of their expertise and their disenchantment with always having to do things “by the book.” There is an underlying reason why Rex formed the group, but that story line is still evolving.:) Their mission is to fight for abused women and children who can’t fight for themselves. They work somewhat “under the radar” to rescue women who have been kidnapped and to keep them safe from abusers. Allye, in the first book, Defending Allye, mistakenly believes that they are a group of men gone “rogue” as that is typically what a mercenary is. But in the Mountain Mercenaries case they are more like vigilantes.They do what they can to right a wrong done to a woman or child. They work within the law as much as possible, and Rex has connections with law enforcement all over the country, and even outside it. But when push comes to shove, if they have to sneak in and out of a foreign country to rescue someone, they will. It’s all about bringing loved ones home to…

I had such a blast writing this book! I adore Mason and Tess and loved giving them amusing, settings, and witty banter, and writing scenes that were sexy and fun. There are so many great scenes in this book from the piggyback ride in the rain, to the serial-killer clown scare, to a sugar cube-encrusted kiss. It was hard to pick a favorite, but I really liked the scene with Mason taking another run at their first kiss. It shows them having fun together and you can see my klutzy, curvy heroine, Tess coming out of her shell a little and getting her flirt on. How many times have we wished we’d done something differently or that we could go back and get a do-over for an important moment? That’s the scene I gave these two as Mason tells Tess he wants another crack at their first kiss and it’s just adorable. Comin’ in hot… Mason James is the responsible brother, the one who stayed behind to run the ranch when his older brother left to play professional hockey. He’s always felt in his brother’s shadow and women have used him in the past to get to his famous brother….

It sounds terrible, doesn’t it? Yet look at our literary history, we’ve always embraced the ghouls of Christmas past. Our fairy tales are as grim as they can be. And musically, we laughed when Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. A little humor or feel good emotions surrounded by the darkness of reality make us feel better—especially when the bad guys get what they deserve. It reminds us of our humanity and our sense of right and wrong. The knowledge that justice will prevail, even if the road is a bit bumpy along the way, keeps us going. Hope. A sense of community. Justice. Love. Laughter. All wrapped up in a colorful cover to entertain you for hours. That’s what you get from cozy mysteries. Like the works of the past, today’s featured novels will make you appreciate what we have today. Turn off the television and embrace a dose of holiday cheer with a good book. MURDER IN HER STOCKING by G. A. McKevett Granny Reid #1 As the Moonlight Magnolia Agency revisits old memories on Christmas Eve, Granny Reid takes the reins back thirty years to the 1980s—back when she went by Stella, everyone’s hair was bigger,…

A love for reading was instilled in me at an early age and I remember reading Gothic romances tinged with a touch of mystery as far back as middle school. Cozy mysteries and paranormal stories (urban fantasy especially) were natural fits for me as I grew older but what a great surprise to discover cozy mysteries that blended my love for the genre with my love of the paranormal! How could anyone not love a magical bookstore? Amanda Flower is quickly becoming one of my favorites for cozy mysteries with that delightful paranormal touch and her series, Magical Bookshop, is practically a must read for all book lovers. Charming Books is exactly the kind of bookstore I would love to browse, a bookstore where the book you need will fly off the shelves just for your reading pleasure. There are three books in the series, CRIME AND POETRY, PROSE AND CONS, and MURDERS AND METAPHORS (releasing in February 2019), and each book is as delightful to read as one would expect. After all, there’s a magical bookshop involved! Magical bookstores aren’t my only love, however, as enchanted gardens have captured my heart as well (particularly during gardening season when I…

Nerds use to get a bad rap, but I think these days, nerds are everywhere. It’s completely acceptable to be a nerd and society has embarrassed it. When you decide to write a series on a team of professional video gamers, you’ve already hit nerd level. I think most people have it in them to “nerd out” in some aspect of their life, whether it be over a show, book series, hobby, or movie. After writing three books featuring three super sexy gamer boys, I’ve compiled a list of five reasons why you should date (or marry) a nerd. Nerds Treat Their Girl Right – Nerds don’t expect to have a girlfriend because a lot of times they are so quirky, it takes a special girl to find their nerdy obsessions (nerdom) endearing. So, when they have a special gal in their life, they treat her right and go out of their way to make her feel special. Endless Supply of Movie Quotes – Let’s face it, nerds are always spouting off movie and TV quoted. Pop culture usually is their jam. Think of all those Super Troopers quotes you could have fun with at that next super boring family…