A playlist is a must-have for me before I start drafting any book. I basically can’t write if I don’t have music in my ears, and that was never more true than with THE FRIENDSHIP STUDY. Without these 5 songs, I don’t think THE FRIENDSHIP STUDY would be the book it is today:   Daylight, Taylor Swift: to main character, Lulu, her best friend slash fellow friendship study participant slash secret friend with benefits, Jesse’s love (his platonic and romantic love) feels like a sunbeam. Warm and safe, a hopeful haven, a place to thrive and grow, after being in a place of darkness for so long. The lyrics of the song “Daylight” embody this feeling perfectly, especially when I was drafting their intimate scenes, when I’d play this song on repeat. As silly as it might sound, I’d imagine Lulu lit up, glowing, bathed in the light of his love because that’s exactly how he makes her feel.   Home, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: despite still living in the house he grew up in, Jesse doesn’t feel at home. Not in that house, not in his own skin. But his friendship with Lulu? That’s a foundation. His…

My latest book, THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB (brand-new—just released on February 13) has a delicious pink cover that perfectly matches the feel-good vibe of the story. I think of this book as a self-care package for readers. Inspired by fictional heroines who risk everything for fulfillment, book-loving besties Laurel, Paris and Cassie begin to take chances—big chances—in life, in love. Facing an unwritten chapter can be terrifying. But it can be exhilarating, too, if only they can find the courage to change. THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB is a heartwarming, pick-you-up read that I hope you’ll love. Check it out—and all the fun bonus content and freebies—at https://summerbookclub.susanmallery.com. Here are 4 other recent books that also happen to be pretty in pink. If you loved any of these, I think you’ll love THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB, too.   THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren Sparks fly when a romance writer and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the ultimate Hollywood love story—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script—from the “divine” (Jodi Picoult) New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners. Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got…

1–What is the title of your latest release? BLADE OF HOPE   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When Harlow loses everything, she cheats her way into Thornewood Castle to become an elite warrior, only to realize her entire life might be a lie.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to create lands with specific features, and a queendom with prickly thorns appealed to me.   4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I so would!!   5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Curious, Feisty, Tired.   6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Worldbuilding is hard.   7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I skim edit as I go. If I see something, I fix it, then go back and edit the entire thing when it’s finished.   8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Anything pasta related.   9–Describe your writing space/office! I had an amazing back wall bookshelf built during the pandemic that makes me happy every time I look at it. It’s Sea Serpent blue and I painted the walls a dark, forest green….

1–What is the title of your latest release? SIMPLY THE BEST 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A hard-driving sports agent… A failed chocolatier… Her superstar football player brother… A quirky pink and purple food truck… And, to really screw things up, a very unfortunate murder. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This is a Chicago Stars book, so… Chicago! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Oh my goodness, yes!  She’s quirky, impulsive, passionate about her work as a chocolatier, and she has a good heart, exactly the kind of woman who would fit in my friendship circle. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? See above.  BTW, matching her up with driven, superstar sports agent Brett Rivers was kind of mean of me. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I shocked myself by realizing I like cheap milk chocolate better than fine dark chocolate. Please don’t tell my heroine. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Edit, edit, edit all the way through.  There’s a reason it takes me 2 years to write a book. 8–What’s your favorite…

What is the title of your latest release? The title of my latest novel is SEX, LIES, AND SENSIBILITY. Yeah, it’s as juicy as it sounds.   What’s the elevator pitch for your new book? Imagine the shock of discovering you’re the secret offspring of your late father at his will reading. That’s Nora’s reality in SEX, LIES, AND SENSIBILITY. Her life is a whirlwind of scandal and a crumbling reputation, and her only inheritance is a dilapidated inn in rural Maine, which she must share with her free-spirited sister. This book is more than a story; it’s a humorous yet poignant journey of two sisters learning to run an inn with zero experience, facing unexpected challenges, and discovering themselves in the process.   How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The setting was crucial for creating the right atmosphere. I wanted a location that would take my characters, especially my urban, sophisticated Black protagonists, out of their comfort zone. The remote, rustic backdrop of Maine provides the perfect contrast to their previous lives.  Think Schitt’s Creek vibes meets Insecure. Rural Maine is the perfect spot for some ‘what the heck am I doing here?’…

Bombshell by Abbi Glines Second, Book 2, LA Storm Series by RJ Scott and V.L. Locey Angel by Tim Vee Merry Wrath Mysteries Boxed Set Vol. IX (Books 25-27) by Leslie Langtry The Beast, Book 4, Gypsy Bastards MC Series by Jade Marshall Friends Among Wildflowers by Laura Briggs The Bloodstone Rebellion by Thomas K. Carpenter Adam, Book 6, Devils on Horseback Series by Beth Williamson FEAR: A Vampire & Slayer Opposites-Attract Romance, Book 4, Out of the Fire Series by Candace Blevins Only Hard Problems: A Galactic Bonds book by Jennifer Estep     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…

Book Title: FRAMED WOMEN OF ARDEMORE HOUSE Character Name: Jo Jones   How would you describe your family or your childhood? Oh gosh, how much time do you have? I grew up shuffled between my mother and my aunt (Gary, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois). Mum never spoke about her life in England—never told me my dad’s name—was estranged from, well, everyone except my aunt (who died when I was in college). It was a weird, lonely way to grow up; mum didn’t want to admit I had autism and basically wouldn’t talk about anything unpleasant. Then, when she passed, I turned out to be the last surviving member of a family I didn’t know anything about. It was raining that day; I tend to remember the little useless details. It was raining, and I had just inherited a mystery property from mystery people. Heading to the UK didn’t really help clearing things up, though. Murder tends to make things complicated like that.   What was your greatest talent? In addition to being autistic, I am hyperlexic—that’s what they call it when a child starts talking and reading at an absurdly young age. And by absurd, I mean 9 months old….

Hi there. My name is Kari Lee Townsend, and MAYHEM ON THE MIND is the fifth book in my Kalli Ballas Mystery series. Think MONK meets MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING! I sure do have a blast writing these books with the crazy Greek mamas getting into all sorts of trouble. Kalli is adopted, and her boyfriend Detective Nik Stevens is only half Greek, but that’s Greek enough. The mamas have babies on the mind. Meanwhile, Kalli and Nik haven’t even finished the remodel on the house they split, let alone talked about marriage and babies. They’re turning their two apartments into one house, but when a murder happens, mayhem ensues and any plans for the future are put on hold. I hope everyone is coping with this crazy winter and that our spring will be fabulous reading weather.   M is for Mamas – Greek or otherwise who cause all sorts of mischief! A is for Aphrodite’s – Kalli’s parents’ Greek restaurant. H is for Hera’s Halo – Aunt Tasoula’s pride and joy salon. E is for Evil – Aunt Tasoula’s arch nemesis winds up dead at their 40th class reunion, and she’s the number one suspect! Evil is…

1–What is the title of your latest release? VILLAGE IN THE DARK 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Detective Cara Kennedy thought she’d lost her husband and son in a hiking accident, but harrowing evidence has emerged pointing to murder–and she will stop at nothing to find the truth. Intertwined in the story are Ellie Wright, the innkeeper at Point Mettier (where all 205 residents live in a single high-rise building) whose estranged son has just been found dead, and Mia Upash, a half-indigenous young waitress from an off-the-grid village run by women. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Since this book is a sequel to City Under One Roof, I knew that I was going to include the fictional city of Point Mettier. I also had had an idea for an isolated community run by women and Alaska is the perfect place to set it in. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would definitely like to meet her, but she would be too intense for me to be a best friend. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Relentless, haunted, righteous 6–What’s something you learned…

Dark and Deadly: A Completely Gripping Psychological Thriller Box Set by Sarah A. Denzil Long Live the Baron, Book 6, Inconvenient Brides Series by Nina Jarrett Wicked Praise, Book 8, The Dufort Dynasty Series by Juliette N Banks The O’Brians (Books 1-4), Book 5, The O’Brians Series by Jude McLean SEAL’s Target, Book 1, Alpha SEALs Hawaii Series by Makenna Jameison Little Last Words, Book 7, Georgiana Germaine Series by Cheryl Bradshaw The Laird’s Kiss, Book 2, Highland Lairds Series by Eliza Knight Tempting the Earl, Book 1, Wright Bastards Series by Amy Sandas Game On, Book 3, Vancouver Orcas Series by Amy Aislin Hurt in Her Eyes, Book 13, Finley Creek Series by Calle J. Brookes Return to Cornwall (Books 1-6) by Laura Briggs Billionaire Beach Romance Collection by Cami Checketts Find Me, Phoenix Series by Stacey Kennedy Chasing Kassie, Book 2, Serenity Mountain Series by Cassie Colton Irresistible Love, Book 1, Wylder Love Series by Samantha Chase Mercer, Book 17, Were Zoo Series by R.E. Butler Saving Easton, Book 2, Oakside Military Heroes Series by Kaci Rose Kiss Me in the Rain, Book 1, Hearthstone Series by Sarah Kades Seabreeze Inn, Book 1, Summer Beach Series by Jan…