If there’s one author who never fails to capture the heart and soul of the South, it’s Kristy Woodson Harvey. As a longtime fan of her beautifully crafted stories, I couldn’t wait to dive into BEACH HOUSE RULES, her latest novel brimming with charm, resilience, and the kind of friendships that feel like family. Set against the stunning backdrop of North Carolina’s coast, this book introduces readers to a captivating “mommune,” where unconventional bonds are formed, secrets unfold, and small-town gossip takes on a life of its own. In this week’s Jen’s Jewels, Kristy shares the inspiration behind her latest must-read, the magic of fictional settings, and a sneak peek at what’s coming next! Jen: What inspired BEACH HOUSE RULES, and were any real-life events or people influential in shaping the story? Kristy: Throughout the summer of 2023, I kept seeing articles and TV clips about “mommunes,” which are essentially moms who move in together with their kids for both parenting and financial support. I thought it was a cool idea, but it didn’t occur to me that it could be book material for me. As I was driving home from camp drop off one morning, I heard an interview…

I love all supernatural romances, but I haven’t covered angels yet. Here are some worth checking out. ANGEL’S TARGET – Elemental Angels series, by Aimee Robinson The first in a series about a task force of earthbound angels on a demon-fighting taskforce and the magical women they fall for. Angel – My Five Kings, book 1, by HP Mallory A spicy, why choose romance between an angel and five supernatural hotties that also has lots of adventure and intrigue! KING OF HELL by Morgan Dante An MM paranormal romance between a vampire and a fallen angel. As author of a vampire-angel romance myself, I am ALL OVER THIS! ANGELFALL The Eternal Flame series by L. Penelope An angsty paranormal romance between a rare angel and a half-human with all the delicious forbidden romance goodness. VAMPIRE’S KISS – Legion of Angels series, by Ella Summers An exciting urban fantasy romance between a kickass bounty hunter who joins an elite team of supernatural soldiers and a sexy angel. RECLAIMING THE MAGIC –Brides of Prophecy series, by Brooklyn Ann I mentioned that I have an angel-vampire romance and here it is. Reclaiming the Magic is an adventurous fantasy romance between the first vampire in…

Excerpt from HE’S TO DIE FOR, by Erin Dunn. Copyright © 2025 by the author, and reprinted with permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group. CHAPTER ONE It’s 11:45 on a Friday night, and Rav Trivedi is cranky. It’s been l a long day and a long week. He should be ordering dessert at his favorite restaurant, or sipping champagne at a gallery opening, or whatever it is normal people do on a Friday night in New York City, but instead he had to work late, and now he’s inching his way crosstown in the back of a yellow cab that reeks of cotton candy. It’s taken ten minutes to travel two blocks, and the pink air freshener swinging from the rearview is so overpowering it’s making him dizzy. He tries to lower the window to vent the sickly­ sweet odor, but the button doesn’t respond. “Excuse me,” he says, leaning forward, “the window back here won’t go down.” “I don’t open windows in traffic,” the driver informs him. “Exhaust fumes give me a headache.” “Right.” Rav fades back into the seat and considers his options. As usual, his instincts are torn between the two sides of his upbringing, as if…

Ten miles outside of Baltimore, Maryland, the Marley Station Mall has been turned into the Marley Station Experience Center. It’s still a mall, sort of, except you can’t physically buy anything. You can only experience the products. Purchasing happens later, online. In the basement of the mall (which was originally a nuclear bomb shelter!) there is one rebel store where you can buy physical things: Mirona’s Miracles. Here’s a copy of their most recent paper flyer: THIS MOTH SAW BRIGHTNESS by A.A. Vacharat A weird and revelatory debut that vividly captures the dislocation of growing up BIPOC and neurodivergent in a country awash in both conspiracy theories and genuine conspiracies. “The invisible D in my name is my mother’s second most lasting contribution to my life.” ‘Wayne Le—known as “Invisible-D ‘Wayne” at school—has been invited to participate in a seemingly ordinary, innocuous adolescent health study by a prestigious university. The study has a few nice perks, but most important to ‘Wayne, is the opportunity to give his immigrant father an accomplishment to be proud of—something that’s been in short supply since ‘Wayne’s mother left. But the study quickly proves to be anything but ordinary and innocuous, and ‘Wayne, his best friend Kermit,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? ALL THAT REMAINS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Anna and Richard, a long-married Manhattan couple, lost their adult son and only child to a violent mugging a year ago. Time heals nothing. As they struggle to navigate the very different ways in which they grieve their loss, they meet two young people who are fighting their own demons. Over the course of a shattering weekend, Anna and Richard face devastating secrets that have simmered beneath the surface of their marriage and threaten to tear their lives apart. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The two main settings in the book are New York City and rural upstate New York near the Catskills. I’m familiar with both areas, which helped to ground me in the story. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would. Anna is intelligent and has a wry sense of humor, which I appreciate. She’s also going through tremendous changes in response to the loss of her son. As she tries to find her footing, she finds herself submitting to impulses that surprise her. If I were…

Book: DUCHESSES DON’T CRY – Victorian Outcasts,  Book 8 Character Name: Her Grace Eve, the Dowager Duchess of Gloucester, and please spell my name correctly. It’s not Eva. I’m an Englishwoman, not an ancient Roman, for goodness’s sake. I’m Anthony Beaufort’s grandmother and a proud member of the ancient Beaufort family. My ancestors fought alongside King Harold II against William the Conqueror. Yes, well, we lost that battle, but that was our first and last failure. My dear grandson is in need of a wife, and I will find the perfect bride for him. I won’t let an unprepared, undeserving girl become the 18th Duchess of Gloucester. I found the perfect lady, Helen, the daughter of the Earl of Montrose. She speaks multiple languages, plays the piano, and, most importantly, always agrees with me. But to my surprise, Anthony doesn’t find her fascinating in the least. He says Helen is too submissive. I don’t understand what could be wrong with that. To my horror, he’s completely smitten with Isabella, Helen’s young sister. Heavens, where do I even begin? Isabella is a gardener. A gardener! She likes pink gowns and is a suffragette. Do I need to say more? Can you…

1–What is the title of your latest release? LETTERS FROM STRANGERS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Jane’s memories of her father are shattered when she finds letters from a mistress who may have had his child. But her father was not the only one hiding something, and her search for the truth forces her to confront deeply held secrets from her own past. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book is based on true events from my childhood, so I set it in the places where (and the time periods when) those events took place. I grew up in Massachusetts in the 80’s then moved to California, so the story goes from one to the other and back again! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Well, I kind of am my protagonist, since the book is based not only the events of my life, but some of the personal struggles I’ve worked through, so … um … I guess so? Because who wouldn’t want to hang out with their younger self! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? wounded, determined, brave 6–What’s something you learned…

Book: THE QUEEN’S MUSICIAN Character Name: Madge Shelton We’d like to learn about you and your family, but let’s start with your most famous relative. Tell us about your cousin? Well, yes. My cousin is Anne Boleyn, and nearly everyone in England is talking about her. His Majesty plans to marry her once he’s freed himself from Queen Katherine. He’s asked the pope to annul his marriage and sent the queen away. He waits, frustrated, while his counselors argue for the annulment. Cardinal Wolsey, for one, has already spent several years trying to persuade the pope. Meanwhile, my cousin sits at the king’s side, swathed in jewels and furs. She dines with him and hunts with him. Anyone who saw her would assume she’s already queen. I am one of her ladies-in-waiting. And what about you? How old are you? What does a lady-in-waiting do? I’m eighteen now, and I joined my mother as one of my cousin’s ladies about two years ago. Anne Boleyn’s father is my mother’s brother, although I didn’t know her when I was growing up—she was in France when I was a child. But serving her is an honor. I live in the king’s palaces…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD BEACH AND BOOK CLUB 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Two sisters get through WWII on Martha’s Vineyard by starting a book club. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I was inspired by my mother’s family, the Smiths, who settled on Martha’s Vineyard in 1891. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? For sure! One of the sisters, Cadence, is inspired by my book loving mother, so I’d love to hang out with her! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Cadence is willful, bookish and beautiful.  Briar is obsessive, brilliant and loyal. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The waters surrounding Cape Cod and the Islands were loaded with Nazi submarines. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Both! 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Fritos 9–Describe your writing space/office! It overlooks the hayfields on our property. 10–Who is an author you admire? Margaret Atwood 11–Is there a book that changed your life? Cider House Rules made me want to write a novel. 12–Tell us about when you got…

Excerpt from A SECOND CHANCE FOR CARYS by Virginie Marconato “There it is, between the trees.” Carys frowned and peered into the distance. “Are you certain this is it?” “I am.” James laughed at her obvious discomfiture. “Let me guess. You expected something more spectacular.” There was no denying it. All she could see was a gray band floating ahead of them, barely distinguishable from the horizon, framed by slightly disheveled trees. This first glimpse was underwhelming to say the least. This was the sea? She had spent so long dreaming about this moment that she could not help feeling somewhat deflated. Perhaps she could have spared herself the trouble of coming all this way. “Wait,” James said, sensing her disappointment. “Give it a second chance. Sometimes first impressions are misleading. We are still some distance away but you might think differently once you get nearer and see it for what it really is.” “Are you still talking about the sea?” she muttered. He cocked his head and gave her a blinding smile, the likes of which she had never thought to see on his face. It transformed him. She didn’t have time to bask in it, however, because then…