What does the phrase “do no harm but take no crap” mean to you? Some people interpret it to mean living your life on your terms but being sensitive to the needs, wants, and expectations of others. Or being empathetic, but not at the expense of your soul. Staying in your lane and minding your business but helping when and how you can. Being a good citizen but also taking care of yourself. No matter what you decide, it’s a philosophy that is impacting a lot of people in many different ways. Self-care comes to mind for me when I think about how I apply this to my life…setting aside time to take care of myself and do the things that feed and inspire my soul. And yes, that means cutting out the toxic elements that pop into my world here and there. I’m the kind of person who likes to help others but I’ve learned over the years that there are people who will take advantage of that and will, without hesitation, drain you dry. So having a philosophy like this one makes it easier to draw the line when a situation is getting out of control. I still…

In this scene Nicholas has let Zelda’s down and she knows that he’s a professional illusionist, it’s the show that matters not the people around him, but he proves there is more to him than the showman. *** Nicholas stood in Zelda’s kitchen, wondering what the hell he was doing. He’d come out here not because of the kid… Well, maybe a little bit, because Stetson reminded him of himself in some ways. But also for her. Her house felt homey, comfortable—the kind of place he imagined normal families lived. He’d grown up in a brick and stone 12 bedroom mansion with a kitchen that had been meant for a large staff of workers, and he and his grandfather had always eaten in the master suite to be near his grandmother. He’d grown up believing that his parents had died when he was a baby. His grandparents had raised him in their big mansion, treating him like he was a special gift in their lives. It had only been after they’d died that he’d realized everything he’d known had been an illusion. He’d been an adopted baby they’d used to replace the son they’d lost as an adult. He shook…

The Valentine’s Day celebrations continue with SUSAN STOKER! Don’t forget to follow our recipe roundup all week long!  *** I watched a show on television about a missing little girl. She was three when she disappeared. But it got me to thinking about what happened if that little girl was found years later? What had she gone through? What was her life like? I wrote Defending Zara with that in mind. When Zara was in elementary school, she was on vacation with her parents in Peru. They were killed and she was dumped in a barrio. She grew up there, eventually learning Spanish and how to survive in the poorest sections of the city. Fast forward years and years, she’s now an adult and runs across Meat, a Mountain Mercenary in the country to try to save children from a human trafficker. It’s a story of despair, hope, luck…and love. One of the first meals Zara shares with Meat is a simple fare of Chicken soup. It had been so long since she’d had such a wonderful meal without having to beg or steal for it. I imagine her and Meat sitting down in their house back in Colorado Springs…

Welcome to the Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup! Follow along all week for great authors, delicious food, awesome books, and fun book giveaways. Each day, two authors will share a recipe they think their main characters would enjoy together. We hope you enjoy, add some meals to your recipe collections, and learn about some fabulous books along the way!  *** Piper J. Drake’s Butter Mochi In FOREVER STRONG, just released January 28, Ying Yue, has been kidnapped and subsequently rescued by Zu, leader of the Search and Protect team. She’s made welcome by Pua with snacks and refreshing drinks. Later, Kalea cooks for the team and the food she provides represents safety and a sense of home. As the chemistry between Ying Yue and Zu grows stronger, Zu finds himself wishing he could cook some of his favorite dishes for her. Food, the sharing of it, and the heart that might go into the cooking of it is a key element in the way I build my characters and their relationships. It can bring together a team and give you the sense of family, either born or found. Butter mochi is a Hawaiian treat made with sweet rice flour, resulting in…

from Chapter 5 of Freaky in Fresno: I crank the gearshift into park as the dust settles, and Lana and I simultaneously turn in our seats to face each other. Our eyes lock and the two of us embark on the most intense stare down of our lives. “Terrific car,” Jake says, reminding me he’s here. I just nod slowly in response without breaking eye contact with Lana. We stay focused on our no-blinking stare for so long that I can feel the lipstick on my cheek begin to melt and run liquid down my face. Eventually Jake mumbles some excuse about checking on Gwen and Brad and says, “A dark screen tomorrow night will mean everything we’ve worked for has been in vain.” I nod again, feeling like I’m already throwing everything away. But my deep anger toward Lana keeps me glued in place. Locked into our stare. Once Jake’s gone, I swear I hear a low growl emitting from my cousin’s throat. But I’m still the one in the driver’s seat. Cherishing the control I wield, I narrow my eyes at Lana and dance my fingers mockingly across the top of the steering wheel. I’m surprised to find…

My name is Jayci Lee, and I’m so excited to chat about my debut novel, TEMPORARY WIFE TEMPTATION, on-sale this month. Here is a look at what the book is all about, including some sneak peeks into the plot. Garrett Song is this close to taking the reins of his family’s LA fashion empire. . . until the Song matriarch insists that he marry her handpicked bride first. To block her matchmaking, he recruits Natalie Sobol to pose as his wife. She needs a fake spouse as badly as he does. But when passion burns down their chaste agreement, the flames could destroy them all… T – T is for office Temptation; HR rules say no, but the heart wants what it wants. E – E is for Everything. Our leading man Garrett Song has everything except the woman of his dreams. M – M is for More. Even though they say this is only temporary, Garrett and Natalie can’t help themselves. They want more. P – P is for Passion. Unexpected, but very welcome, it’s passion that keep Garrett and Natalie together. O – O is for Office romance. This romance starts in the office…but leads to so much…

Jimmy led Prince back into his stall for supper and smiled when he saw Joey slip into the barn to follow along as he did the evening chores. It was becoming a habit, this shadowing by the boy, and Jimmy loved it. They had a little game they played together. Jimmy called it “Did you know?” Joey always started it off. “Did you know horse’s teeth never stop growing?” “Like a beaver?” “Yup. Did you know that horses have the biggest eyes of any animal?” “Hmm,” Jimmy said. “They do seem bigger than a whale’s eyes, I’ll grant you that.” When Joey had run out of the day’s newest horse facts, it was Jimmy’s turn. “Did you know that a horse’s whiskers are sensitive?” Joey peered at him. “Are yours?” Jimmy rubbed his chin, feeling the roughness of a five o’clock shadow. “Nope. But for a horse, those whiskers detect what eyes can’t see.” Joey rubbed his chin too. “Here’s another one for you. Did you know that a horse’s lips are loaded with nerve endings?” The boy wiggled his lips, pondering that fact. “Last one for the day. Did you know that a horse’s hooves are shock absorbers?” Joey…

1–What’s the name of your latest release? SELECTED 2–What is it about? A teen who comes from nothing and finds herself at an amazing school with a golden ticket for the future. She quickly learns that nothing at the school is what is seems and falls for a guy who she isn’t sure she can trust. 3–What word best describes your heroine? Gifted. 4–What makes your hero irresistible? He’s superpopular but turns his back on his shallow friends to find something real in life, to find someone real. I love that quality in him. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help? My main characters turn to their friends when they need help. They are also very self-reliant. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book? I loved playing around in the near future, like, twenty years ahead. I loved playing around with what society would look like if an overarching government broke down. And I loved setting a story in a make-believe prep school. There’s so much pressure on teens today that I think is captures at Easton Prep. 7–Are you a plotter (follow an outline) or a pantster (write by the…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-ReaderMatch” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present MILLA VANE! Writes: Epic fantasy romance, featuring surly barbarian heroes who don’t quite know what to do with the women who cross their path (or, in the case of A HEART OF BLOOD AND ASHES, what to do with a princess whom the hero intends to kill in revenge for the death of his parents, but who somehow persuades him to marry her, instead.) Includes sword fights, dinosaurs, chases and escapes, true love, miracles…! And yes, these are kissing books. (The hero kisses the heroine in a LOT of places. For a long time.) About: Dorky, shy author who spent her childhood immersed in fantasy movies, comic books, and fairy tales has channeled all of that into emotional, epic romances. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: I’m looking for readers who love to lose themselves in another world, and who are eager to take an epic and emotional journey with my characters. Must appreciate alpha warriors who sometimes make huge…

For those of you who know me as both Jade Lee and Kathy Lyons, the cover below may surprise you. First – I’m going back into HISTORICAL ROMANCE!  Woo hoo! Dragonsblade Publishing asked me to launch the most amazing shared world and I agreed. It’s a fun, fun, fun set up about a gaming hell that gambles on unusual things. My book is about a jewelry maker and the lord who needs her skills ASAP and is willing to pay handsomely for the privilege. (He needs her to make jewelry not…well, some of the other things that happen!). The book releases February 27 and is up for pre-order now. In case, you know, you wanted to check it out! Anyway, the world is the Lyon’s Den, not the Lyons’ Den. It’s not a typo, even though my alternate penname is Lyons. Confusing? Don’t worry about it. All you have to do is admire the cover. Tell me it looks fabulous. Read the back cover copy and tell me you like it. (I cannot tell you how hard we worked on that copy). Say something to me and one of you will win a signed print copy of the book! —…