1–What is the title of your latest release? HOME FOR THE HOMICIDES, book 4 in the Hometown Mystery series. It is out now in ebook and paperback! 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? It’s Christmastime in Army retiree Tessa Treslow’s small Idaho hometown of New Oslo, but someone is determined to play a grinch this season with as a string of unfortunate incidents disrupts the holiday spirit. Progressing from broken windows to then progresses to car theft, assault, and arson, each instance is accompanied by a clue that clearly ties the crimes together. Then, at one of the arson sites, there is a body…and it is clear to Tessa that the woman was already dead before the fire was set. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? When I was writing the first of the series, I struggled to decide where to set it – until I went home to visit my family, who had recently moved back to my birthplace. I realized that a series that became the Hometown Mysteries would be best set in my hometown! “New Oslo” is a thinly fictionalized version of my birthplace. 4–Would you hang out with…

1–What is the title of your latest release? WHAT THE WIFE KNEW 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A woman blackmails a famous national hero into marriage, intending to ruin him but someone kills him first, which is a problem because that was her job 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I write thrillers set in real, bucolic areas as a reminder that terrible things happen in beautiful places. WHAT THE WIFE KNEW is set in Rye, New York. The whole upstate New York/Hudson Valley area is gorgeous. The perfect setting for something devious. I also looked through numerous real estate listings as part of my research into the area. That’s the best kind of research. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! I love Addison. She’s seen some things. Lunch with her would not be dull. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Driven. Sarcastic. (Reluctantly) empathetic.  6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I’d never written a book in first-person point of view before WHAT THE WIFE KNEW. When the thriller starts, the husband is already dead and his wife, Addison, is not sad…

I don’t talk about KU that much. I much prefer Kobo Plus. However, I know a lot of you are subscribed to KU, and might, like me, be on a buying-things-for-yourself hiatus during the holiday shopping season. Therefore, I’m going to recommend 10 Rockstar romances on KU so you can still get your reading fix on! RHYTHM – Rocky Mountain Rockstars series, book 5, by Jade C. Jamison If you like small town vibes with steam and the get-it-out-of-our-systems trope, you’ll have fun with this one. ROCK GOD – Hearts of Metal series, book 3, but Brooklyn Ann Yeah, I know, I said I prefer Kobo Plus, but I figured I’d let some KU folk have a chance at some of my Hearts of Metal series for a limited time. If you like alpha heroes, hurt-comfort vibes, and opposites attract, you’ll love this standalone romance where a rockstar rescues a romance author and turns her life into a real romance. FLAWLESS RIOT – Rebel Riot series, book 4, by Connie La Fortune For all the friends to lovers, fake relationship goodness, definitely give this one a go! ELECTRIC TOUCH – Red Alert series, book 1, by Chris Reilly A steamy,…

Each Friday the Smashwords store reports the bestselling indie fiction titles based on the previous week’s sales. If an author has more than one title eligible for the list, only the highest performing title will be included. This ensures high-performing titles receive the accolades they deserve, while providing up-and-coming authors the visibility they have earned. Don’t miss Monday’s Top 10 Hot Preorders List, where Smashwords will provide a list of the most highly anticipated ebook preorders.

The summer raindrops are fat, falling heavy against the windshield. Oliver is silent in the passenger seat except for offering the occasional driving direction. “This is a terrible idea,” he says. I feel like screaming I’m just trying to fix us! over the sound of the pounding rain, over all his doubt, over the slow disease that is spreading through our marriage. But I stay silent and focused on the road. The buzz of arousal still tingles in my veins, giving me a sort of hope that I feel compelled to chase. As I pull into the parking lot of the strip club, Oliver’s knee bounces up and down. “We didn’t bring an umbrella.” We stare out into the dark rainy night together. “We don’t have to do this. Now you’ve seen the place.” “Let’s go.” I open the car door and make a break for it, not turning around to make sure he is following. Inside, it smells like sharp perfume and stale beer. I squint in the dim, pulsing light. I can’t make out the faces of any of the men. They seem to merge into the walls, the booths, the barstools. But my eyes travel to each…

1–What is the title of your latest release? WHITE MULBERRY 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Inspired by the life of my grandmother, White Mulberry is a rich, deeply moving portrait of a young Korean woman in 1930s Japan who is torn between two worlds and must reclaim her true identity to provide a future for her family. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? My grandmother lived in northern Korea, Kyoto, and Osaka, Japan so those became the locations for my book. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! She was a woman before her time, and I wanted her resilience and strength to rub off on me. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Spirited, Brave, Resourceful 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned that we don’t know what we’re capable of if we don’t try. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I love editing as I go, but usually after I write a complete chapter. I make sure that the plot, character, and stakes are always moving forward. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? I love potato chips!…

Do you reread books? I do. In fact, I will read a favorite book over and over again. Whenever I feel stressed or I need a pick-me-up, I find myself turning to my rereads more often. Many of my reread books are what I think of as my “classic” romances. They are books that I’ve had on my shelf for years. Books like…HONOR’S SPLENDOUR by Julie Garwood. HONOR’S SPLENDOUR was actually one of my very first historical romance reads. I fell in love with the characters. Julie Garwood has such a distinct writing voice. And let me just tell you…the “feet warming” scene is one I have never been able to forget. With the holiday season upon us, I have to mention that another favorite reread is a Christmas romance, DANIEL AND THE ANGEL by Jill Barnett. Such a sweet romance—I remember crying as I read this book for the first time. An angel visits a very Grinch-like hero, and, of course, she teaches him how to love. (How could she not? It’s a romance!) My third reread is DESIRE by Amanda Quick (the historical romance pseudonym used by Jayne Ann Krentz). DESIRE features a resourceful heroine, a determined hero,…

A Kingdom of Deceit and Desire by Leslie O’Sullivan Chapter 1 The King’s Riddle My curtsy before Finnbheara, the King of the Connacht Fae, sets my eyes inches from well-formed thighs which his fitted silver and white metallic tunic does nothing to hide. I immediately lower my head to avoid the appearance of ogling the Faerie king. Impropriety is not a great start when I’m on the verge of bargaining with a mythical figure for the destiny I need to control. My raging nerves are a bold contrast to the gentle strains of a violin and the barest hint of bells permeating the light mist surrounding us. It’s only been moments, but time flaunts its gift of endlessness as I wait for his response to my proposal. What have I done? I’ve asked this man, a Fae King, possibly the most powerful ruler of the Tuath Dé Dannan, the Irish Fae, to bargain with me. The Eala Duir I thought I was would never dream of being so bold. Dream. I wish I were dreaming. My current predicament mocks even the most outrageous of my dreams. This place, this reality, the Tír na nÓg where I stand, is the fodder…

I don’t write while listening to music (unless it’s instrumental music) because I have a tendency to start typing the lyrics by accident! I do, however, have a playlist for some of my books. The playlist for SERVANT OF EARTH, my dark, sexy Fae romantasy novel, is full of atmospheric music about haunted woods, forbidden desire, and dangerous heroines. Here are five standout tracks from that playlist: 1. “In the Woods Somewhere” by Hozier. This was the first song I put on my playlist for SERVANT OF EARTH, back when I was still plotting it out. Hozier appears more than once on my playlist, but this eerie, atmospheric track about running from an unknown creature in the woods sets the mood I wanted for the story. In the first few chapters, the heroine, Kenna, finds herself fleeing for her life across a mist-shrouded bog, escaping one monster only to realize she’s fallen into the claws of far worse ones (the beautiful, mercurial, and brutal Fae). “I found something in the woods somewhere…” 2. “Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea” by MISSIO. This song is equally sexy and menacing, which is why it’s the perfect song to pair with the Fae…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MISTLETOE, MUTTS AND MURDER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Christmas is coming to Wings Falls, New York, but Santa is found “run over by a reindeer”. Who would want to harm the jolly old guy? Was someone on his naughty list and wanted to silence his Ho, Ho, Ho? When Samantha Davies’s father and his best friend are accused of his murder, she and her beloved dachshund, Porkchop, set out to prove them innocent, much to her boyfriend, Detective Hank Johnson’s chagrin. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I love small town settings for cozy mysteries. I’m fortunate that I live in an area surrounded by these sweet little towns, so I can draw on them for inspiration. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. She’s loyal to her family and friends. The kind of person you can tell your deepest secrets to. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Brave, compassionate, and loyal 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That it’s okay not to be tied to the computer. That I can take days off…