1–What is the title of your latest release? PLAYING DEAD 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Molly Madison’s barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But when a body is found at Playtime Academy where Molly has brought her dogs to train, she puts her ex-police skills to use tracking down the killer. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to move the story beyond the borders of the fictional town of Pier Point where A DEADLY BONE TO PICK took place. I also wanted this story to include other dog sports in addition to agility and introduce Noodle—the Saint Berdoodle with the amazing nose—to Barn Hunt. To make that happen, I set a dog sports business in the inland area of the county. Molly brings her dogs there to train, and a good portion of the action takes place on site. 4–Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life? Yes! Half the fun of writing these Molly Madison mysteries is spending time with her and her dogs. 5–What are three words that describe your sleuth? Smart,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE LOVE SCRIBE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The Love Scribe is about a woman who has sworn off love for herself only to discover that she has the magical ability to write stories that help people find love. Only, finding love and staying in love aren’t quite the same thing. When some love stories start to turn for the worse, she’s forced to confront whether her ability is in fact a gift at all. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Before I started writing, I knew that part of the novel had to take place at a secluded cabin the woods. I also knew that I wanted the other parts set somewhere that felt romantic and distinct from the nearby woods. In California, the beaches and mountains are in close proximity to each other, and Santa Barbara is about as romantic a beach city as you can get. Plus, I’m obsessed with Cold Spring Tavern, a restaurant and bar on the San Marcos Pass between Santa Barbara and nearby wine country, which I wanted to work into a book. So, the pieces…

Escape, Book 1, The O’Brians series, by Jude McLean Cowgirl Bikers MC: The Complete Series by Esther E. Schmidt The Score, Book 3, Off-Campus series, by Elle Kennedy Embellished in Mauve, Book 7, Colors of Scandal series, by Sandra Sookoo Triple Chocolate Murder by Sally Berneathy Cruel Mate, Book 18, The Alpha Shifter Collection series, by Sam Crescent Nora Black Midlife Psychic Cozy Mysteries Book 1-3 by Renee George Method Actor Murder, Book 25, Merry Wrath Mysteries series, by Leslie Langtry Troping Through the Snow by Alexa Riley The Gorgon Agenda by Lisa Shearin Binding 13, Book 1, Boys of Tommen series, by Chloe Walsh Wine Country King, Book 2, California Suits series, by Claire Marti The Bridled Tongue by Catherine Meyrick Taken by E. C. Roderick Dark Salvation, Book 7, Black Hoods MC series, by Avelyn Paige Thirty Day Boss, Book 1, Thirty Days To Love series, by J. S. Cooper The Stardust Series Box Set by Autumn Reed Punished: Brides of the Kindred 27 by Evangeline Anderson The Omega’s Assistant, Book 8, Betas in Waiting series, by Viola Grace The Courtesan’s Daughter and the Gentleman, Book 2, The Merry Misfits of Bath series by Callie Hutton Fine Print,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? My newest release is called THE CHEMISTRY OF LOVE! 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Nerdy/fangirl cosmetic chemist Anna is desperately in love with her boss and can’t figure out how to get his attention. Enter his dashing, handsome half-brother and CEO Marco, who offers to help by fake dating her (given that his brother is so competitive with him). Anna agrees and despite her best intentions, starts to fall for Marco. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I set a lot of my books in Southern California, because that’s where I grew up. I chose it this time because the Los Angeles area has a lot of cosmetic companies. I also knew there would be some scenes that took place in the snow (in Vermont) and I wanted the heroine to be from a place where she had never actually seen it before. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I absolutely would, although we might drive each other a little bonkers. Of all the heroines I’ve written, Anna is the most like me. She thinks like me, has some…

1–What is the title of your latest release? A DRAUGHT OF ASH AND WINE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A Draught of Ash and Wine picks up after the events of book one, with our two heroes on the run from the clandestine Society who are set on tearing open Heaven and Hell. Former hunter Johnathan now must navigate through the supernatural world while exploring his deepening relationship with vampire Vic and avoiding the enemies nipping at their heels. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I really wanted to explore the wilder America of the 1800s, with deep pockets of forests and that ever-present tension brimming through the 1850s. It felt like the right setting for the last bastion for some of the creatures present in the series. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would absolutely hang with vampire Vic. He’s got the charm and wit to be the life of any party and he loves telling stories. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Johnathan is stalwart, brave, and loyal 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? For me, the fun side of…

1–What is the title of your latest release? AFTER MIDNIGHT 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A matchmaker, fascinated by astrology, crosses paths with a chef who holds the key to changing her destiny. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? All the three books in the series are set in Raven’s Hollow, a town that’s based on Hoboken, NJ. It’s the perfect setting for an urban fantasy romance with its downtown, W Hotel, beautiful waterfront, upscale-restaurants, bars and a spooky cave that’s featured in book two, MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. I’d love to! The characters in this book feel like real people I want to be friends with. They’re fun and interesting. How many matchmaking astrologers and chefs do you know? I’d call them when I’m hungry and need advice. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Brooke – whimsical, romantic, free-spirited Nico – creative, passionate, resilient 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned a lot about astrology by listening to podcasts and reading books. I found the symbolism and history fascinating. 7–Do you edit as you draft or…

It’s a new year with new authors, new series, and just released killer mysteries! One of those novels hit my library and I am lucky enough to give you the latest scoop on this brand-new gem. I know my recent choices have made readers travel outside the cozy American towns we love so much, and I hope you won’t mind packing your bags once more—to the Emerald Isle with a Rodeo Drive wedding designer who’s looking to the island’s lucky charms to bail her out of a financial nightmare. I mean inheriting the family castle has to be the answer she’s looking for, right? Except the luck of the Irish isn’t exactly running with Rayne McGrath—the success of her upscale bridal shop ran away with her fiancee/business partner who skipped town with all of their funds. Broke, yet determined to help her brides-to-be’s dreams come true, Rayne travels to Ireland hoping her dead uncle’s estate will be her saving grace to get the shop up and running once more—except not only is his death a horrible tragedy, his generosity comes with more problems than Rayne can solve in the twenty-four-hour window she’s given. She may be the new owner of…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE DAVENPORTS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now it’s 1910, and the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? In my research, I found Chicago to be the center of many instances of Black success and entrepreneurship following the Civil War and Reconstruction period. At the time, several Chicago newspapers claimed the corner of State and Madison Streets, known as the “Great Central Market,” to be the busiest corner in the world. The city was a hub of African-American culture and business, as well as a major tourist destination. It provided the perfect backdrop to display the opportunities and resources available to Black people at the turn of the last century while hinting at the challenges to come. 4–Would you hang out with…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NEXT TIME I FALL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Single mom discovers Mr. Wrong is actually Mr. Right in this heartwarming, small-town romance. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This book is part of my Whisper Lake Series, which is a fictional town set in the Colorado mountains. I started the series after a few visits to my daughter, who was living in Denver at the time, and thought it would be fun to set a story in there. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes! Everyone would love to hang out with Chloe. She’s the best kind of girlfriend, fiercely loyal and protective of her friends. She’s the kind of person you call at two in the morning when you need someone who will show up for you. Chloe also runs a café, so there would be plenty of freebies, maybe some truffle fries or an extra dessert saved for one of her friends. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Adventurer, Wanderer, Builder 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Since my hero is renovating…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE SWEET SPOT 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Three women—who have every possible reason to despise each other—band together when a baby belonging to exactly none of them lands on their metaphorical doorstep. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I’ve lived in Greenwich Village for almost fifteen years. It’s a special place with loads of personality! I wanted to write a book where the characters move into in a brownstone close to Washington Square Park. In my opinion, this neighborhood is the sweet spot of New York City. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! I would love to be invited to Lauren and Leo’s brownstone to hang out with the whole family. I hope Olivia, Melinda, Phillip, and Evelyn will also be around! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Of my three protagonists, Melinda is my favorite. She’s a middle-aged woman I would describe as bitter, smart, and funny. In spite of the initial impression she makes, she has a very big heart. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Lauren, one of the main…