Hi Everybody, I’m Melanie Jayne. I write contemporary romance featuring characters over the age of thirty-five and many of my female characters are size sixteen and unapologetic. My newest book is the fourth book in my Change Series and is called A CHANGE IN PERCEPTION. I’d describe the series’ overall theme as women starting over, this time doing it better, getting it right. My series are very woman positive; the man may step in and help, but in no way is he the redeemer. My ladies do that on their own. I published my first book two and a half years ago and I just finished the first draft on my eleventh. In October, I will be branching out to write my slightly different vision of the Lycan Nation. Let’s just say, these aren’t your mamma’s werewolves. I didn’t publish until after I turned fifty, so I’m a late-bloomer. My grandparents were both writers and making up stories was encouraged when I was growing up. I typically added a few musical numbers including tap shoes and if possible a baton for a little pizazz. I didn’t want to pursue a career in writing, but I thought that I could tell…

It is late at night in 1985, and if you drive west from the small town of Gap, PA, on Newport Road, the fields are dark. After you go over the first hill, you can’t see the lights from the little league baseball diamond anymore. Soon, you drive past the one-room, Amish schoolhouse on the left, then up over another sharp hill, and by now the night has swallowed you completely. You can barely see the outline of the trees. If there would be a moon, it would shine bright as a single headlight. It would glance off the creek as you go over the bridge and slow to make a right-hand turn. But there is no moon, not tonight, and every time you slow the car, you can feel the darkness press in for a closer look. Keep driving. I want to show you something. You thought you were on a back road already, but you turn right on to South New Holland Road, and now the road is barely two lanes wide with no line in the middle. Again, the darkness gathers, both warm and scary. Soon the road sweeps to the left, to the northwest, but you…

Well everyone, I’m doing something new this week. I’m in Mexico (in August) sweating because it’s about 90% humidity when it isn’t raining. My daughter and I are doing a vegan/raw cleanse at a yoga retreat. Yeah. So anyone ever hear me talk about yoga? No? That’s because I haven’t done it in years, but I am now! Twice a day! So guess what I’m learning while here… Vegan food can be fabulous! Especially when it’s lots of fresh mango and avocado As in my body surrendered into poses I didn’t think I could make. And then my shoulder surrendered when I tried a chaturanga and landed face first into my yoga mat. Oops. I can get used to feeling sweaty and sticky, especially when I’m exhausted from yoga and zenning out while watching the ocean waves. Everything’s good when reading a great book. Answer: All of the above! Yup, the food here is great. My shoulder did indeed give up the ghost on day 5. No more yoga for me. But that just means I have more time to read and watch the waves! And well, everyone’s sweaty here, so it’s all good! BTW, I missed the turtle hatching…

Well everyone, I’m doing something new this week. I’m in Mexico (in August) sweating because it’s about 90% humidity when it isn’t raining. My daughter and I are doing a vegan/raw cleanse at a yoga retreat. Yeah. So anyone ever hear me talk about yoga? No? That’s because I haven’t done it in years, but I am now! Twice a day! So guess what I’m learning while here… Vegan food can be fabulous! Especially when it’s lots of fresh mango and avocado Surrender. As in my body surrendered into poses I didn’t think I could make. And then my shoulder surrendered when I tried a chaturanga and landed face first into my yoga mat. Oops. I can get used to feeling sweaty and sticky, especially when I’m exhausted from yoga and zenning out while watching the ocean waves. Everything’s good when reading a great book. Answer: All of the above! Yup, the food here is great. My shoulder did indeed give up the ghost on day 5. No more yoga for me. But that just means I have more time to read and watch the waves! And well, everyone’s sweaty here, so it’s all good!  BTW, I missed the turtle…

There are many things that inspire me, and one that’s close to my heart are movies. I love spending more than an hour or two getting lost in a good romance film. It’s like reading, except faster, and have more control of your imagination because the faces, voices and places are already visually given to you. But the feelings a scene invokes can sometimes be stronger since you can see it. Here are a few movies that have inspired me. The Notebook Noah and Allie. These two are my ultimate OTP. He was the cocky, fun, confident guy who was born on the wrong side of the tracks. She was the good girl, her days occupied with Mathematics and piano lessons who was spoiled by her rich parents. But it wasn’t until they met each other that their passions were unleashed and changed their priorities. Love letters, the one that got away, a man hellbent on finishing a house with the love of his life in his mind. There’s something about that first true love that changes something in you and stays with you, and every relationship after that will be tainted by that memory, because like Noah said, “It…

From Gail’s House Newsie News My new historical romance series called “The Baldwins of Manhattan”, is set in New York City in the late 1800s. Joseph Baldwin, the patriarch is a newspaper publisher who owns six major newspapers in the United States (think William Randolf Hearst). Each book in the series follows the lives and loves of the five Baldwin children – Adam, Allie, Mia, and twins Emma and Ava who live with their equally wonderful parents, Joseph and Clara Baldwin in a unique apartment building called The Sandanko, in the then remote upper area of Manhattan. (It was not called the Upper West Side until the 20th century.) Well, to be honest, Adam, lives in Chicago and runs his father’s Chicago newspaper there (Adam’s book will be the final book in the series, and wait until you see what I have planned for Adam! His life will be turned upside down when he FINALLY finds true love. But back to the Sandanko. I situated this wonderful living facility, just across from Central Park. This building houses 60 families and will provide the backdrop for the Baldwin family series and more series to come! In fact, The Sandanko will be…

Hi friends, I can’t believe it’s September already. The summer months just flew by! I hope you had a wonderful summer! Switching gears and moving into to fall… I can’t wait to share Declan and Tanner’s exciting adventure in Blind Spot with you. It’s hard to believe Blind Spot’s release is only a month away. Yeeps! To celebrate and to thank you for your amazing support, I’m offering a special Pre-Order Bonus and entry into my Pre-order Giveaway.   What’s the bonus and giveaway you ask? I’m so glad you did. I’m thrilled to announce that everyone who pre-orders a copy of Blind Spot between now and 10/2 (and those who have already pre-ordered it) will automatically receive four gorgeous, inspiring printables, exclusive early release of my Blind Spot story soundtrack, and the opening chapter! Just fill out the form here: http://danipettrey.com/blind-spot-pre-order-bonus/ Even more exciting, you’ll automatically be entered to win an hour phone call with me to chat over any burning questions you’ve been dying to ask about my stories or anything writing related. I can’t wait to connect with you! You will also be entered to win $200 in gift cards to stores Tanner loves shopping at. Target…

It’s impossible to not love a rock star. At least, I think so. Charisma, stage presence, talent, and more energy and stamina than the proverbial Duracell bunny. Mix that with their ability to serenade us in their sexy voice, to move like lightning along a seven-string, or roar like thunder from the drum kit and I am completely sunk. Which is why I LOVE rock star romance. I stalk my favorite authors and scour their pages for just a hint of new material. I’ll even add their book releases to my calendar so I don’t miss a release. So, who are my favorite rockers in romance? Phew, tough question! But in compiling this list, I’ve marked quite a few books for a re-read. Therefore, in no particular order, here are my Top 5 rock star romances. THE MIGHTY STORM – Samantha Towle Those of you who know me, know I LOVE music. I’ve been known to go to over thirty concerts a year. And I love it when an author weaves music seamlessly into stories. While I could just say I love the story because of Jake Wethers, it’s the clever use of the song Hurt, originally written by Nine…

Thank you for hosting me today to talk about my new release, BEFORE I KNEW, in which shattering tragedies eventually lead childhood friends, Colby and Alec, to reunite in search of second chances and love. Sadly, secrets behind those tragedies threaten to destroy the new life they’ve built together. Colby is a lawyer-turned-restaurateur. She believes that the way to reconnect with others is to own a place where people come to celebrate life’s milestones and happy occasions. Of course, she has no real experience in this industry, so when her executive chef quits weeks prior to the opening, she’s in a bind. Alec, a disgraced but formerly reknowned chef, is determined to help her get her new dream off the ground. Given the story premise (and Alec’s training in New York and France), there are a fair number of menu items referenced in this story. I had fun conducting research about haute cuisine, the Michelin rating system, and some of our country’s top-rated restaurant menus. Bonus: I now have a wonderful list of places to eat if I ever get out of my office! Now, before we get to the menu, I must clarify one point. If Alec were preparing…

Hi, I’m so glad to be here with you on Fresh Fiction. I’m really excited to tell you a little about my new release GRAY MATTER: Deep Six Security Book 5, but first let me tell you a little about myself. I write edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense stories with heat, heart and humor. If one of my books doesn’t keep you up all night, I haven’t done my job. I also write contemporary westerns, but they all include a mystery or suspense element too. My imperfect heroes are on the alpha side, gruff, overprotective and set in their ways, so sometimes they come off a little rough. But never fear, as in real life, there is always a sassy heroine waiting in the wings to meet and redeem them. My job is to throw her into his path and turn the wheel over to them to let them tell me their story. Because I like to keep my suspense plots relatable to the reader, some of the topics I tackle in my books are true-to-life, but not the pretty side. Together, though, my hero and heroine fight a good fight against evil, survive those perils, and find lasting love in the…