What is the title of your latest release?WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly? Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu:Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend—even matching the cocktails to her couture—to prove that she remains their undisputed queen Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family—and a well-guarded bad habit Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed—until she wasn’t They’ve been summoned to Roxy’s luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth’s daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets…

Falling Apart by Emma LouiseLilac Everything is an incredibly important album in regard to this novel; it’s even referenced in the dedication. To me, the song Falling Apart feels like 3am at the jazz club. The slow, eddying sadness and defeat is palpable. This is the state we find our main character, Jess Cole at the beginning of Risky Business. She’s falling apart, and she’s slowly unravelling throughout the entire story until she takes her fate into her own hands. The album was created by Emma Louise, who was stifled by the limitations of her own range. At the end of the album’s production, she decided to pitch her voice down to resemble a man’s and found a new creative avenue for self-expression. Lyrics took on new meaning, the nuances of her voice became more obvious, and it created a piece of art beyond itself. I find exploring the concept of gender performance and expectations really interesting and I love how this musical choice reflects the themes of Risky Business; Jess experiencing the limitations of her own gender, attempting but failing to succeed as a woman in a man’s world. She is only able to open doors and fully realize…

Hard working, funny, talented, and a true professional craftswoman, Candace Havens has earned so many accolades I couldn’t begin to list them all. What I can tell you, is that countless authors have improved their writing because of the time she’s gifted them. To me, that is the mark of genius, not the awards and the titles, and personal accomplishments, but the dedication to improving the profession and product released to the readers. It was a coup to steal her time to give you a little insight into her talent, and her wonderful series within the cozy genre. (And if you want to visit her romance worlds, I can vouch for those as well!) Kym: Welcome to the Cozy Corner! I must admit, interviewing a professional with your level of experience and overall industry expertise is a little daunting. LOL, but too many of us want a peak at your brilliance. I first met you with the release of THE DEMON KING AND I, a much different genre than what you’re currently conquering like a crazy woman—the cozy mystery genre—YAY for cozy fans! What made you decide to close the door on the page, to the spicier writing content?Candy: Thank…

Is February Romance’s designated month because it’s the shortest or is everyone done with January? Not to diss the first month, but it feels like fifty percent of the year. We all know February is the assigned representative of love because of Valentine’s Day. As a child, I loved Valentine’s Day. I carefully chose each valentine for my classroom parties. Unfortunately, back then, we didn’t give cards to the entire class. I hope that cruelty has passed.  I never gave a card to a boy, didn’t want a Lisa Simpson moment. Being misunderstood and breaking his heart would be mean. Plus, I have older brothers with a lot of friends, so to me, boys were loud and smelly. The last thing I needed in my life was another guy. Even well into high school and college, I never spoke to my crushes. It might ruin my impression of them or show off my true dork side to all. Valentine’s Day provides a nice cover to let someone know if you like them or not. In high school, you could buy flowers and have them distributed during class. Black carnations were for sale but, on Valentines Day, they were not delivered….

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 Steena Holmes! Writes:Twisty psychological suspense with emotional bite—stories about secrets, obsession, relationships, and the devastating things people do to protect what they love. Latest book: SHE TOOK MY BABY—a heart-pounding thriller about betrayal, buried truths, and how far a woman will go to reclaim what was stolen from her. About:Hi. I’m Steena Holmes. I collect plane tickets to Europe’s best chocolate shops, cafés, and croissant counters. I love wandering Christmas markets with mulled wine in hand, getting lost in lights, decorations, and stories—often with readers right beside me. Fair warning: my enthusiasm for Christmas markets, chocolate, and coffee is highly contagious and you may join me for more than one Reader Tour. I write psychological suspense that starts quietly… and then refuses to let you breathe. I’m obsessed with hidden lives, fractured relationships, and the moment a woman realizes she’s been lied to—and decides she’s done playing nice. My stories are twisted, emotionally charged, and built around one main question: What would you do…

What is the title of your latest release?AN APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?When an ambitious judge and a plaintiff’s attorney collide in a high-stakes case, an earthquake, online attacks, and strict ethical lines force them to decide whether protecting their careers means sacrificing the love neither of them expected. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I practiced law for over a decade in downtown Los Angeles, and it is my adopted hometown. I wanted the book to capture the sights, sounds, and flavor of practicing there. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?This is a tough question. At the start of the book, Judge Mahalia Jackson is aloof and career-driven. I think I would be intimidated by her. By the end, she has changed. After career and personal setbacks, her faith has grown. She is still complex and brilliant, but much more approachable. What are three words that describe your hero?Chivalrous, driven, and compassionate. What’s something you learned while writing this book?Writing is a team effort. The various rounds of editing and polishing only make it better. Do you edit as you draft or wait until…

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 25 Bestselling Indie Ebooks.

What is the title of your latest release?DANDELION IS DEAD What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A grieving woman catfishes a man through her dead sister’s dating app and finds something real inside her lies. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?It takes place in North East London which is the area I live. I knew I wanted it to be a summer book, which adds to the lust and the sense of melting minds. There are chapters in Devon by the sea, where I spent time as a child, and in the South of France, another place I love and a setting that carries its own sense of escape Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely. And my main man. I love them both dearly. What are three words that describe your hero?Kind. Silly. Trying. What’s something you learned while writing this book?The knock backs and the rejections are stepping stones that take you to the right place. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I edit as I draft which is an inefficient way to do it, I wish I was the other way…

Welcome to Jen’s Jewels, where each week I highlight a story I loved and the author behind the words. Today’s gem is DANDELION IS DEAD by Rosie Storey. Let’s kick things off with a quick Lightning Round before digging deeper into the story. LIGHTNING ROUND In three words, describe the vibe of your book. Hopeful. Raw. Lusty If your book had a theme song, what would it be? Wildest Moments by Jessie Ware THE DEEP DIVE Tell me about a scene you rewrote multiple times. What made it so tricky, and how did you finally crack it? Conversation scenes can be challenging, as I enjoy writing dialogue so much that my characters often end up chit chatting away for too long. It can become a bit much for the reader. For example, when Poppy and Jake are on their second date outside the Tate Gallery in London, I could happily have had them talking and getting to know each other for twenty pages. How did I crack it? Editing. Brutally killing my darlings for months on end. Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you have to excavate them layer by layer? What surprised you most about who…

What is the title of your latest release?THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A young woman is given the job as gossip columnist at the biggest newspaper in Berlin shortly before the Nazis take over and threaten her when she refuses to write flattering accounts of them. With her lover, an editor at the newspaper, she has to flee for her life, hiding in a brothel from where they put out word-of-mouth gossip that infuriates the Nazi leaders. All of it true. It actually happened, How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Berlin was the only possible setting –as wild and sexually permissive as any place on earth, and then equally as terrifying and totalitarian. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?With pleasure. Bella would have interesting stories to tell. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Courageous. Determined. Scared. What’s something you learned while writing this book?History is a river. It depends on which part of it you find yourself. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?Both. I always revise yesterday’s work before beginning today’s writing. And then when the first draft…