Writer In The Dark – Lorde   An obvious first pick, perhaps, but it’s obvious for a reason; this song perfectly encapsulates so much of Kate and Finn’s story and was on my mind ever since I wrote about their first kiss in the dark. Listening back to it now, I realize that it describes so much more than just her relationship with him; every single line says something about who she is, how she loves, how she creates, how she heals. The line, “but in my darkest hour, I stumble on my secret power, I find a way to be without you,” is almost a synopsis for the whole book. And an answer to one of the questions I brought into this process, which was, what is the relationship between trauma and art? Can it be learned? Can it be inherited? Can it be the thing that saves us? This song is an anthem for artists everywhere, the ones who take their pain and transmute it into something beautiful in an attempt to understand themselves and the world around them. The more I listen, too, the more I realize she’s saying all this to Finn, knowing he’ll never truly…

Book Title:  A TWINKLE OF TROUBLE, the 5th Fairy Garden Mystery Character Name:  Courtney Kelly, owner of Open Your Imagination, a fairy garden shop   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My mother and I were best friends. She and I played in the garden and chatted with fairies. Sadly, when she died, I was ten and I lost my ability to see fairies.  After that, my father raised me. He did the best he could. He doesn’t have much of an imagination, but he is kind and stalwart. Although at one time he was on the police force, an injury sidelined him. Now he is a master gardener and owns a landscaping company. It is because of him that I became a gardener.   What is your greatest talent? I make fairy gardens and inspire others to do the same.   Significant other? Brady Chase is a restaurateur in Carmel-by-the-Sea. He and I have been dating for a short while. We met each other in high school and took photography classes together and played hoops, but at the time I had a boyfriend, so we never connected. It wasn’t until Brady bought Hideaway Café, which is…

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 Jaci Burton!   Writes: Contemporary romance with all the feels, like THE BACKUP BRIDE PROPOSAL, which features Mae Wallace, a bridal consultant who’s very happy in her work but suddenly thrust into the world of Hollywood when a movie production shows up to film at the vineyard and wedding venue where she works. When the lead actress is delayed, Mae’s suddenly thrust into the role of stand-in, working alongside Kane August, the hotshot famous actor who’s oh-so-gorgeous and a very obvious problem for her because she’s definitely not interested in romance, and especially not with Mr. Famous Actor.   About: Living my best life in Oklahoma with my husband, our dogs, and happily living very close to some of the grandkids, who keep me wide eyed and alert at all times. I’m constantly stalking social media for the best tips and tricks and lighting to give me that youthful, dewy glow (Ha!), as well as carving out time in my day to catch an…

The Marquess of Landon was her pirate. Myriad emotions flooded Phoebe at once. Shock. Disbelief. Curiosity. Even anger. He’d fooled her in the gardens the prior evening by not revealing his true identity. Today, he’d fooled everyone else into believing he’d just come back to Society. Why had he lurked in the gardens at last night’s masquerade? She’d searched for a black-clad pirate at the ball but hadn’t seen him. Why hadn’t he made his presence known then? What is his game? Landon was watching her. Phoebe placed her gloved hand on his forearm, and he escorted her across the gardens to where the players awaited. She was conscious of the gaze of the other guests, making her feel like a rare item in a curiosity cabinet. At the same time, she was aware of the muscles in Landon’s forearm, and the coiled strength beside her as he walked. Without a mask shielding part of his face, he was striking. Dark, curling hair, black eyes, a straight nose,  and full lips. Tall and broad-shouldered, he had an air of command, as if he knew his place in the world and dared anyone to question it. The scent of his cologne,…

Book Title: SWEET MEAD FOR LADY MARTINE Character Name: David Stone   How would you describe your family or your childhood? We are just commoners who work hard to earn a living. I grew up with my parents and two sisters. Being the only son, it was a given that I would follow in my father’s footsteps and someday take over the family business.   What was your greatest talent? I have people skills and have always been able to keep order at the inn. Plus, I pack a mean punch. Along with my cousin Dirk, we can handle any ruffian who comes into the tavern causing trouble.   Significant other? Well, I haven’t had a lot of free time to find a significant other since my father passed away and all my family’s problems have fallen into my lap. I will say though, that I have eyes for Lady Martine. However, she is out of my league. Nobles would never be interested in commoners. It isn’t allowed.   Biggest challenge in relationships? I would say being able to attract the right kind of girl. I mean, working in a tavern and also running our inn doesn’t give me much…

Museum of Murder, Book 30, Merry Wrath Mysteries by Leslie Langtry The Magic of Sunshine, Book 2, Love on Anchor Lane Series by Leeanna Morgan Dance On Ice by RJ Scott and V.L. Locey No One Else Can Have Her by Sam Crescent Kick – Fighting Fate #8 by Maree Green Remember Pompeii by Kika Emers The Queen of Midnight by Evangeline Anderson Their Rebellious Princess by Calista Jayne A Marriage of Necessity by Lisa Oliver Cookies & Chance Mysteries Boxed Set Vol. IV (Books 10-12) by Catherine Bruns     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.

Fresh Fiction: Your House-Flipper Mystery series is set on Nashville. Why Nashville? With some books and series, the location is almost like another character – is that the case with this series? Diane Kelly: Setting definitely plays into the series, more in some of the books than others. I actually came up with the Nashville setting before I decided on the house flipper theme. My husband and I lived just south of Nashville in a town called Thompson’s Station from 2014 to 2016. I fell in love with the natural beauty of the area, with the rolling hills and horse farms and rivers. The people there are very friendly and polite, too, which I really liked. The pace is slower than most big cities, which was refreshing. When I was considering a theme for the series, my friend Paula pointed out that there was a lot of home rehab going on in Nashville since new construction couldn’t keep up with the rapid growth. I owe her for giving me the idea of house flipping. In the fourth book in the series, Batten Down the Belfry, carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck rehab an old church and turn it into…

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 Joy Callaway!   Writes: Joy Callaway writes historical fiction, mostly set in America during the Gilded Age. You can always count on main characters who inspire, swoony romance, breathtaking settings, and endings that will leave you feeling hopeful.   About: International bestselling author, Joy Callaway loves old stuff—surfing newspaper archives, doing ancestry research, and hoarding antiques and family heirlooms. In fact, her husband often wonders if she’s slowly transforming their home into a museum. She also loves being outside, laughing a lot, reading historical fiction with a hefty dose of romance and southern fiction, watching Gilded Age, Hart of Dixie and Schitt’s Creek on repeat, and yelling too loudly at her kids’ sporting events.   My ideal reader for my latest book, WHAT THE MOUNTAINS REMEMBER, must love: The mountains Historic hotels (bonus points if you love Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC) Stories of finding your purpose Unexpected love Hot mess characters who meddle Glamping or camping (the story takes place during one…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE TWILIGHT GARDEN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Two neighbors – who happen to really dislike each other – unite to bring their shared garden back to life, as a place for community, friendship and hope to grow. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It is set in Stoke Newington, London, where I used to live in a top floor flat, dreaming of a garden. The garden that belonged to our neighbors below was overgrown and it got me thinking about two neighbors who shared a garden and how they might have different ideas of what to do, and everything (the good and the frustrating) that could arise as a result. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! I love Winston in particular – I think we’d get on really well, but I’d also love to spend time with Alma in the garden and get all her wisdom on how to grow vegetables. Maya would be someone to have a long chat and a chai with, and Bernice and I would probably sit and watch Bargain Hunt or Homes…

Hey bookworms, welcome back to Jen’s Jewels, your treasure map to the literary world! Today, we’re diving into the vibrant realm of storytelling with the incredibly talented Melissa Ferguson, the creative force behind the captivating novel, HOW TO PLOT A PAYBACK. Think of it as stumbling upon a rare gemstone in a vast treasure trove of books – mesmerizing, precious, and absolutely captivating. Join us as we uncover the intricate facets of Melissa’s storytelling, from the sparkling characters to the glamorous backdrop of Hollywood. So, grab your favorite reading nook and prepare to embark on a literary journey filled with laughter, love, and a touch of magic. Let’s delve into the treasure chest of Jen’s Jewels and discover the hidden gems awaiting us!   Jennifer Vido: Melissa, your novel presents such an intriguing dynamic between Finn Masters and Lavender Rhodes. Can you share what inspired these complex and captivating characters? Melissa Ferguson: Thank you! Well their dynamic came out naturally as I wrote. I didn’t intend to have Finn be so Mister Rogers-y. I wanted to see him have intense payback scenes for her to do on screen but when push came to shove he just didn’t want to commit….