1–What is the title of your latest release? THE LADY SPARKS A FLAME 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? An icy villainess is thrown together with a gravitationally challenged younger man and romance ensues. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Because of the fashion, the politics, and the zeitgeist of the time, I enjoy setting my historical romances in the early Victorian era. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. We would be close friends. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Strong, fierce, and irritable. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned a great deal about NSSI – Non-Suicidal Self Injury. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I edit as I write. Then edit again. Then edit again. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? These days I am obsessed with using my new tagine, so I indulge in saffron. 9–Describe your writing space/office! I write on the couch while my dog naps next to me. 10–Who is an author you admire? I am a huge fan of Joanna Lowell’s gorgeous prose. 11–Is there a book that changed…

Hi, I’m Jamie Adams, and if you’ve been tagging along, you know I’m a mystery junkie. I live for the thrill of untangling clues and that pulse-racing moment when the puzzle snaps together. Right now, I’m obsessed with small towns hiding big secrets—those cozy corners where everyone’s connected, and family history can be the key to unlocking the darkest truths. Why Family Ties Make Mysteries Juicier Small-town mysteries hit differently when family’s involved. It’s not just about a crime; it’s about how the past ripples through generations, tying people together in ways they can’t escape. In these stories, history isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing force that haunts the present. A long-buried scandal, a sibling’s betrayal, or a parent’s hidden shame can turn a quiet town into a pressure cooker of secrets. I love how family loyalty gets tested, and how the ones closest to you might be the ones hiding the most. This month I’ve enjoyed two Family-Fueled Mysteries by Susan May Warren. Susan May Warren’s got a knack for blending heart-pounding suspense with family drama, and her latest small-town tales are no exception. Here are two newer books where history—and family—come back to haunt in the best…

Book Title: ROCK-A-BYE COWBOY (Rocky Road Ranch, Book 3) Character Name: Danielle “Dani” Hubbard I’m sitting in the “Fillies” bunkhouse of the Rocky Road Ranch newly opened Dude Ranch operations. The Dunns have invited guest to stay for two weeks free in return for their opinions on the new venture. It’s been about a week now and I sit down with Danielle “Dani” Hubbard on the of the single female guests. She’s wearing a pair of blue jeans, cowboy boots, a rose v-neck light sweater, and her very wavy dark hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Her hazel eyes appear gray in the log structure as she sits on a love seat across from me, next to the propane fed wood stove. “How would you describe your family or your childhood?” “Oh, I thought we were just talking about the Rocky Roady Dude Ranch experience. I guess you need a bit of background though. I had a great childhood until I turned 10. My dad dies in an oil rig accident and left me, my two sisters, and mom to manage on our own. The finances weren’t so much the issue as the settlement was generous, but living without…

1–What is the title of your latest release? GOTHICTOWN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When a New York restauranteur moves her family down to a small town in Georgia in response to an economic incentive, she learns there’s more to the town that meets the eye, and she’s put her family in grave danger. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Most of my books are set in either Alabama, where I’m from, or Georgia, my home of over 30 years. I adore the South, and I’m both fascinated and repelled by it. In the end I’m a Southerner, my books all grapple with what that means. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Totally. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Smart, loyal, resourceful. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? How hard it is to run a restaurant. I was working as a host at my friend’s breakfast/brunch/lunch place during the time I was concocting the book. It was my first time working in the service industry and it is truly noble work. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally…

Each Monday the Smashwords store lists the top ten most highly anticipated indie fiction ebooks based on the previous week’s preorder accumulations. Each title on the list is scheduled to release within the next week. To help the talented authors on this list accumulate even more preorders, click the title of the book. The hyperlink will bring you to a Books2Read page where you can order from your preferred ebook retailer. If the preorder is part of a series, click the hyperlinked series title to learn about the other books in the series. Be sure to check back Friday for a list of the Top 25 Bestselling Indie Ebooks.

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 C. I. Jerez! Writes: C. I. Jerez writes award-winning contemporary/women’s fiction. Her website highlights “Storytelling That Makes an Impact.” And it’s an idea that remains at the forefront of her mind as she sits down to entertain and highlight important themes that can be explored from multiple angles. AT THE ISLAND’S EDGE tackles a woman’s identity in the military, Post Traumatic Stress associated with combat and how women process things differently, and raising a young child with special needs. She covers all of these areas beneath the umbrella of the Latino culture, highlighting the beauty of life in Puerto Rico when Lina, the book’s protagonist, returns home with her young son. About: I’m a clandestine introvert, secretly operating as an extrovert at various book related events. I love deep reflections on normally mundane topics and the kind of witty sarcasm that tells you how smart someone really is. I love to laugh, but I’m not afraid to cry in front of others, should the…

From Caprice Alexander’s App Prototype Notebook AKA: Project Bring Tourists To Sierra OR At Least Get A Scholarship Out of Here Home Screen: Welcome To Sierra, California Sierra is one of those hidden northern California gems. A mere three and a half hours from the bay area, this town is a quiet escape into pine-scented air and vistas without the crowds. It completely delivers on old California feels. But it’s far from a ghost town. Come to Sierra and vacation where the vistas are for everyone. The Dam Sierra’s history is linked to the building of the historic Plumule Dam and the series of smaller dams to control flow along the Plumule river. The reservoir offers boating, fishing and swimming. Apparently this was quite the party destination in the 70’s. Rumor has it the banks still host the occasional keg party, and several houseboats are rentable for tourists like yourself. Come to Sierra and stay on the water. I promise it will be way cheaper than anything you can find in Marin! Flumes and The Plumule River  (I know Beckett says we shouldn’t include this)   A favorite for local adventure seekers, the north fork of Plumule River snakes its…

Get ready to fall in love with a heartwarming romance set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans! This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m chatting with Rebekah Millet about her latest novel, KATE LANDRY HAS A PLAN. From a fiercely independent café owner juggling life’s unexpected twists to a charming “hunky librarian” who just might rewrite her plans, Rebekah’s story is packed with humor, heart, and the magic of second chances. Join us as we dive into the inspiration behind Kate and Micah’s romance, the rich culture of the Big Easy, and what’s next for this rising star in Christian fiction! Jennifer Vido: What was your inspiration for Kate and Micah’s story? Did you start with the setting, a character, or a specific scene that sparked the idea? Rebekah Millet: After finishing my first book, JULIA MONROE BEGINS AGAIN, I knew right away I wanted to write two more books based off of secondary characters from it. Kate (the best friend of the heroine in that first book), was who I felt the most led to write first. I also wanted her love interest to be a new character to readers, and to be the total opposite of Kate’s Type…

An excerpt from THE BOOK OF DAYS: Ren headed for the tent door. The stench of death and decay stopped him in his tracks. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as the canvas flaps parted, revealing a towering, wraithlike creature wrapped in a tattered black cloak. The monster ducked under the doorway and floated inside. All that was visible under the dark cowl was a jutting jaw of bleached bone and a hideous perma-grin. His presence seemed to fill the room and made Ren’s stomach roil. The Grimm Jester’s black hood brushed the tent ceiling. Ren backed away as the monster approached. Claymore stood his ground, unintimidated by the sudden appearance of the physical embodiment of Death. The hooded wraith glanced down at Ruddy’s corpse, then over to the dead Wolf. Ren had dealt with the monster before. They had met, days earlier, in a hidden alleyway behind a teahouse in Rogue Destiny. The Grimm Jester had saved Ren’s life from a night of torture and death, and now considered the trickster in its debt. “The aroma of death is in the air,” he hissed. The barely audible words escaped through yellowed teeth, like dust blowing through…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE MARTIAN CONTINGENCY 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Elma York, the Lady Astronaut, is on Mars preparing for the first wave of permanent inhabitants. She is tasked with building an infrastructure and thriving community on alien soil—before time on Earth runs out due to an extinction-level warming event. Elma encounters disturbing signs of a hidden disaster kept out of the official transcript of the First Mars Expedition, and she must bring the truth to light, before the ripple effects leave humanity stranded on a dying Earth. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I was excited to return to the story of Dr. Elma York, the Lady Astronaut. When we last saw her in The Fated Sky, her crew was touching down on Mars—the first humans on the Red Planet. THE MARTIAN CONTINGENCY picks up just minutes later. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Oh, absolutely. Elma is based on real astronauts mixed with friends and family members. She’s flawed, but she’s witty and dedicated—two qualities I adore in friends. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, brilliant,…