From SECOND DUKE’S THE CHARM by Kate Bateman. Copyright © 2023 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.     Chapter 4   Was she really doing this? Tess shook her head in disbelief as she followed the handsome stranger through the crowded rooms. The force of her attraction was both wonderful and terrifying. His opponent had called him Thorn, but was that his surname, or a nickname? Either way, it seemed oddly appropriate. There was a sharpness about him; a dangerous kind of beauty, like the perfectly-honed edge of a blade. Perhaps it was better not knowing his name. He still held her hand. He glanced over his shoulder with a smile that made her belly flutter. The crowds thinned out as they ventured deeper into the house. Couples pressed together in darkened alcoves. Tess glanced around for Ellie and Daisy, but there was no sign of either of them. The first room they entered was occupied. Tess heard a male bellow of outrage as the door slammed shut again, and she sent a silent apology to whomever they’d inadvertently interrupted. The second room was empty, lit with a solitary lamp. She glimpsed tall…

Book Title: WHAT WAITS IN THE WOODS Character Name: Esmé Foster   How would you describe your family or your childhood? Complicated. My mom and dad were complete opposites. My dad was a solid, hard-working man, while Mom was something of a glamor girl who seemed stuck in our rural community on the edge of suburbia. When I was little, I didn’t see that they were completely incompatible. Dad worshiped Mom and tried to make her happy, but she always seemed to be looking elsewhere for fulfillment. She loved me and my brother in her own way, and eventually I became the center of her world, or so I thought.   What was your greatest talent? Without a doubt, dance. When Mom enrolled me in ballet lessons, I found my passion and I excelled. And Mom was thrilled too.   Significant other? In high school, I had a close group of friends but not a serious boyfriend. When I moved away to pursue my dance career, I started seeing Kevin and eventually moved in with him.   Biggest challenge in relationship? At first, things were great with Kevin. My career was going well, and I LOVED his family. They took…

1–What is the title of your latest release? Thank you so much for hosting me on Fresh Fiction.  My latest release is HARD DOUGH HOMICIDE. It’s the second book in my Spice Isle Bakery Mystery culinary cozy mystery series, which I write as Olivia Matthews   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Here it goes: When her mother’s former boss is poisoned at an event catered by their family-owned bakery, a baker leads an investigation to uncover who had the ingredients for murder and the appetite to frame her mother.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Great question! Like me, my protagonists are West Indian Americans, so it seemed perfect to set them in the Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. That’s where I grew up.   4–Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life? Absolutely! Especially if she brought me pastries from her bakery. Ha!   5–What are three words that describe your sleuth? Only three? OK. Loyal. Smart. And, although she’d disagree with me, brave. The reason she’d disagree is that she views herself as a scaredy cat, but it takes courage to face your fears….

Book Title: THE DOG ACROSS THE LAKE Character Name: Holly Miller   How would you describe your family or your childhood? I have a big, wonderful family, but it hasn’t always been that way. For starters, my parents were still in high school when I arrived. At the start, no one except my mom and dad were excited about me. I’m told I was everyone’s little princess when I was born, though. How could the first grandchild on both sides not be everyone’s favorite? Years later, my parents divorced, married other people, and had more children. That was a tough time for me. I spent most of my holiday vacations in airports, trying to fly across the country from one family to another. And I had half siblings whom I barely knew. I was older and never spent much time with any of them. It was awkward at best, and I was usually uncomfortable because I felt like an outsider. On the other hand, when I was a child, my parents sent me to spend my summers in Wagtail with my maternal grandmother, whom I call Oma, German for grandma. Those summers were the best. My aunt sent my cousin,…

Midnight Creed, Book 8, Ryder Creed Series by Alex Kava Snowed in with Scrooge, by Alexa Riley A Sense of Duty, Book 2, Volkov Bratva by Sam Crescent Coral Celebration, Book 5, Coral Cottage by Jan Moran X War Trilogy, X War by John Triptych Chains of Honor: The Complete Series, Chains of Honor by Lindsay Buroker A Promise of Ashes, Book 5, The Thornheart Trials, by Sherilee Gray Get In My Swamp: An Ogre Love Story by G.M. Fairy Unlikely Omega, Book 1, Hunted Fae by Mona Black Fairy Tales are Forever by Alexa Riley The Witch Collector, Book 1, Witch Walker Series by Charissa Weaks Detroit Mafia Books 1-3, Detroit Mafia Romance by Tami Lund Dukes for Dessert by Tanya Anne Crosby Crimes Most Merry and Albright: A Maizie Albright Star Detective “Between Cases” Holiday Omnibus, Maizie Albright Star Detective series by Larissa Reinhart Falling For a Cowboy: 3 Book Western Romance Boxset, Wyoming Matchmaker Series by Kristi Rose Playing Defence by Beckett Layne Once Upon a Betrothal, Book 9, Scandalous Seasons Series by Christi Caldwell The Housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil Creatus Series Boxed Set by Carmen DeSouza Whiskers on Kittens, Book 22, A Magical Romantic Comedy…

Holiday Kisses by C.D. Gorri Dukes for Dessert by Tanya Anne Crosby Wickedly Tainted, Book 2, The Wicked Series by A.E. Nalle Match Box Murder, Book 60, Merry Wrath Mysteries by Leslie Langtry Once Upon a Betrothal, Book 9, Scandalous Seasons Series by Christi Caldwell Midnight Creed, Book 8, Ryder Creed Series by Alex Kava Terror, Book 5, Grim Sinners Rebels Series by LeAnn Ashers Falling For a Cowboy: 3 Book Western Romance Boxset by Kristi Rose Instalove Christmas by Hope Ford Get In My Swamp: An Ogre Love Story by G.M. Fairy Hacking IT, Book 1, The Hackers Series by Kimberly Dean Coral Celebration, Book 5, Coral Cottage Series by Jan Moran SEAL’s Command, Book 7, Alpha SEALs Coronado Series by Makenna Jameison The Witch Collector, Book 1, Witch Walker Series by Charissa Weaks The Prince’s Dearest Guards by Beau Van Dalen The Namatjira Connection, Book 16, Genevieve Lenard Series by Estelle Ryan Christmas In Jubilee, Book 3, The Jubilee Series by Rachel Hanna The Housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil Unforgivable, Book 4, Love and Light Series by Tina Wainscott Dignified, Book 11, Beginning’s End Series by W.J. May     Each Friday the Smashwords store reports the bestselling…

1–What is the title of your latest release? CHRISTMAS SECRETS – Book 5 of the Secrets of the Heart Series 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A secret garden is where a runaway serf and a lord running from himself meet and fall in love one Christmas. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The Secrets of the Heart Series all feature a secret garden with a cottage. Since this is book 5 of the series, it was easy to decide it would take place here. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Well, since this book is medieval, and my heroine is a runaway serf – if I lived back then I would have been noble – so I’d have to answer no. (Smile) 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Caring, stubborn, and extremely-handsome. (Ok, I hyphenated that last one to make it one word.) 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Things don’t always turn out the way you think they might, and people are not always what or who you expect them to be. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you…

Book Title:  DEADLY OBSESSION – Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe Murder Mystery Book 6 Character Name: Lily (I ain’t got no last name that I know of, but Lady Montgomery says as how I can choose wotever one I want now – Forsythe or Brodie!)   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My childhood?  That’s a good laugh.  I was with a rag picker until I was nine years.  I left cause I figured I should e able to keep the money I earned with a few pence to her for the roof over my head.  After that I went to work for Madame at the ‘Church’; only it wasna a church at all, but a brothel.  I was a maid there until recently.   What was your greatest talent? I s’pose ye could say it was servin’ the ladies wot worked at the Church. I’ve always been a fairly good at pickin’ pockets and rememberin’ things.  It comes in handy when hidin’ from the police.   Significant other?  That’s a might personal, doona ye s’pose.  I’m only fourteen years as near as I can remember.  I never worked at the Church, if that is wot ye…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? An engagement party on an isolated island in Maine brings together a group of former college friends who survived the murder of one of their own on graduation weekend twelve years ago. Trapped with a storm on the way, lies and long buried secrets unravel as the death toll rises, forcing the group to rethink what happened years ago and find the killer before they become prey. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book takes place on a private island. That meant I needed a coastal state and Maine in the fall had the perfect moody vibe. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! Her name is Sierra Prescott and she’s down-to-earth and not afraid to speak her mind. She also hates being stuck on an island and tries to get off before she gets killed, which seems smart to me. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Practical, relatable, and loyal. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? To never forget that all of those true crime…

Book Title: DEATH IN THE DARK WOODS Character Name: Morgan Carter   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My childhood was quite unique beginning from the moment of my birth. My parents were not only wealthy, but they were also avid cryptozoologists who traveled the world in search of cryptids, creatures believed to exist despite no proof of same. I was born aboard a boat in Loch Ness when my parents were on a hunting expedition for Nessie. That’s how I got my name because Morgan means water born. Hunting for cryptids was definitely a family affair for us. My childhood was spent traveling the world with my parents, and I followed in their footsteps and took things up a notch by earning degrees in biology and zoology with minors in mysticism and religions. Sadly, both of my parents are gone now, murdered two years ago when we were on a search for the Jersey Devil. I miss them terribly.   What is your greatest talent? I have a keen eye for things that are unique, weird, unusual, and desirable. I own a store called Odds and Ends that sells oddities along with mystery fiction, making this…