Hi Fresh Fiction Readers! I hope you enjoy this exclusive sneak peek at THE SALOON GIRL’S ONLY SHOT. It’s Denver, 1859. After a brawl in the saloon, Temperance has been fired (again!) and told to leave the shack she shares with two other saloon girls. It’s a cold night and she has nowhere to go—unless a good Samaritan takes her in? Owen is the hero, an aspiring saloonkeeper, and Clarence is his dog. Temperance’s hands were shaking as much from upset and fear as the cold. She firmly tied her bonnet into place and stepped outside. The wind nearly cut her in half. As she came toward the street, a dark shadow peeled itself away from the side of the saloon. “I’m armed, sir,” she lied in her most threatening voice. “With what?” Owen asked. “A spare petticoat and a bar of soap?” “You. Why are you so determined to ruin my life?” “Last I checked, I keep saving it. Come on. I’ll take you to my room.” His silhouette turned to start across the front of the saloon where light spilled from the window. “That is very presumptuous.” She stood her ground. “We are square. I owe you…
H is for…Heroine. Phee, the last of the Templeton sisters to get her happily-ever-after is at the heart of this story, finally gets her chance in the spotlight. E is for…Eloquent. James begins to see Phee in a new light after she eloquently scolds him for his poor treatment of Lord Gilbert. It’s the first time he truly sees her, and it leads them down the path of love. R is for…Romance. What else? E is for…Entranced. James doesn’t expect to fall in love with a lady like Euphemia Templeton, but it isn’t long before she’s all he can think about. C is for…Caress. What’s a love story, without a few stolen kisses and caresses? O is for…Ogle. It’s not polite to ogle a lady, but can one truly expect otherwise from a gentleman in love? M is for…Magical. Can a love story be anything less, when two people who believe they’ll never fall in love become each other’s soul mate? E is for…Embrace. Once Phee and James fall into each other’s arms, there is no going back. S is for…Sweet, because James, for all that he’s a bit of a grump at first, is a cinnamon roll hero…
I’ve spent a lot of time on the French Riviera, starting when I was chosen for a special writers’ residency, and I returned again and again, often as a scriptwriter attending various film festivals and television conferences. It gave me time to immerse myself in the history, culture and cuisine of the South of France. I simply fell in love with the Cote d’Azur, and I got to know the fine people who ran a Grand Hotel which became what they called my home away from home. I explored the famous Riviera landmarks and the not-so-known little villages, as well as the enticing food markets and local restaurants. Then I started digging into the history of the Cannes Film Festival, and, lo and behold, I stumbled over a nugget of history that was “hiding in plain sight” which inspired me to write my novel, The Girl from the Grand Hotel. I learned that, while most people assume that the very first Festival de Cannes was the 1946 one, actually, the whole thing began in 1939. That summer, boatloads of big-name Hollywood stars arrived for the pre-opening festivities, and they ensconced themselves in the very best hotels,…
1–What is the title of your latest release? THE FUNERAL CRYER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The Funeral Cryer tells the story of an unnamed woman in a remote village in China who cries at funerals for a living. Her fellow villagers shun her as they believe she carries a deadly atmosphere. She leads a mundane and isolated life and her jobless husband does not appreciate her hard work. She goes to the barbershop regularly and gradually she is attracted to the barber, who is a newcomer in her village. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Professional mourning is a dying tradition in China – it mainly exists in remote areas now, so a village setting without convenient transport and where everyone knows everyone seemed an ideal place for the story to take place. I interviewed some friends who are from villages in Northeast China, and West Mud River Village, the village in the book, is actually the name of a real village; I based my story village on its details. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes. I’d tell her she doesn’t carry a deadly atmosphere…
In SPRING HARVEST, my latest thriller, a group of friends travel to a remote farm town to attend a music festival only to discover the town has been overrun by vampires. Music isn’t just a backdrop in the book; it’s a vibrant, living character that embodies the chaotic beauty of the novel’s setting. The music festival the characters attend—called the Garlic Groove Food and Music Festival—mirrors the likes of well-known festivals like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Electric Daisy Carnival, and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. To further enhance the reader experience, I even incorporated fictional bands within the story that could rival any real-life headline act, and I also included a “Garlic Groove Playlist” at the very end of the book. Below are five of the songs I included in my book’s playlist along with my reasoning and thoughts as to why they fit so well within SPRING HARVEST. I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor’s Version) — Taylor Swift When Spring Harvest first opens, we’re thrust into a tense road trip to the Garlic Groove Festival, with main character Alix Summerlin and her sweet by bitter ex-boyfriend Logan navigating the fresh wounds of a…
1–What is the title of your latest release? THE KISS COUNTDOWN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When a struggling event planner and a sinfully hot astronaut strike a deal to fake date for three months, they must decide if a real relationship is worth a shot at happily-ever-after. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? While NASA has quite a few space centers in the US, Houston with its Johnson Space Center has always held a special place in my heart. I love the culture and food, and have visited often since I was a kid, so it was an easy decision to set the story there! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! I think my main character, Amerie, would be a lot of fun to be around. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Cautious, snarky, loving. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned about the rigorous training astronauts have to endure. They put in so many hours, so they’ll be able to perform not only physically, but mentally as well. And many of them know Russian! 7–Do you edit as you…
Book Title: HAPPY MEDIUM Character Name: Everett How would you describe your family or your childhood? Borrrrring. It was just farm work, sun up to sun down. Only time I had any fun was when I got to go to the pictures in town. What was your greatest talent? Besides charming ladies? Acting, of course! I was born for the silver screen. Significant other? I wasn’t one for going steady. Biggest challenge in relationships? Well, nowadays the fact that no one except Gretchen can see or hear me, and that I can’t make physical contact with anyone without temporarily disappearing. That definitely gets in the way of things. Where do you live? Gilded Creek Goat Farm. Forever and ever. Thanks a lot, Great Aunt Lucretia. Do you have any enemies? I mean, I wouldn’t have many nice things to say to Aunt Lucretia if she reappeared, that’s for sure. Also dead remote batteries. And that one goat that always stares at me funny. I don’t like her either. How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this…
1–What is the title of your latest release? WOOING THE DEVIL. It is book 3 in the Noble Norsemen series. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When two free spirits meet one wild night, sparks fly. But Rune and Eowyn will soon get to see that what is between them could be much more than a fling. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It takes place in the same village as the other books in the series. I have no idea why I thought about doing a Viking series, other than I write medieval romance and I like to vary periods a bit. I am currently writing book 5 and I feel as if I live in that village myself! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Err……. YES! But my poor heroine Eowyn might not be happy about that. If I get hang out with Rune, I would definitely do all I can to win him over. He’s the stuff of dreams, but it’s not surprising he should appeal to me as I created him… 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Cheeky, sensual, protective. 6–What’s something…
1–What is the title of your latest release? UNDER THE PAPER MOON 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Set in Los Angeles in 1948, the story follows two spies, Evelyn and Nick, who fell in love while working behind enemy lines. When the war ended, Nick betrayed Evelyn and broke her heart. Now they’re both back in Los Angeles working as private investigators. When the husband Evelyn is following is murdered, she finds Nick at the crime scene. They team up to solve one last case. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I’ve lived in Los Angeles for the past twenty years. When I first moved out from New York, I thought it was going to be a soulless jungle of strip malls. However, the longer I’m here, the more I fall in love with the city. The afternoon light, about an hour before sunset, is magical and makes me feel like anything is possible. There is nothing better than driving through Laurel Canyon, on the rare occasion when there’s no traffic, with the windows rolled down and a really good song on the radio. And, of course, the food is incredible….
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 Jessica R. Patch! Writes: Jessica R. Patch writes bestselling, award-winning thrillers and romantic suspense. If you enjoy books that give you Criminal Minds vibes, jaw-dropping twists, and leave you with thoughts like, “What just happened?” “How did I not see that coming?” then the FBI: Strange Crimes Unit series is going to be your jam. With a hurricane approaching the Outer Banks coastal setting, a wicked serial killer collecting prized specimens on his private island, and a personal connection to the Religious Behavioral Analyst on the specialized FBI taskforce, THE GARDEN GIRLS is going to give you all the feels, keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you with a hopeful ending where justice is served and light shines in the darkness. About: A lover of the horror genre (pointing to you Scream franchise), all things true crime, and tacos, Jessica loves penning thrillers that blend elements of crime fiction, psychological suspense, and horror—but let’s leave out the creepy…