New York Times bestselling author R.C. Ryan‘s latest ranch-set romance THE REBEL OF COPPER CREEK is available now, and we can’t wait to join the ride. Fellow readers, enjoy the excerpt below, and be sure to pick up your copy of the book Fresh Fiction reviewer Sandra Wurman calls “a timeless piece about acceptance, love, integrity and inner strength.” Excerpt from THE REBEL OF COPPER CREEK She opened a second door to reveal a bathroom fit for a queen, with a tub and shower big enough for an army, a lovely oval sink and mirror, and all of it done in shades of white marble. She turned to him with a look of alarm. “Oh, Griff. I don’t belong here.” He merely smiled. “Neither do I. But I won’t tell if you don’t.” His smile grew. “I say we just kick back and enjoy all this until they discover we’re frauds.” She tried to laugh, but it came out in a sigh. Before she could say more he touched a finger to her lips. Just a touch, but they both looked stunned at his boldness. He lowered his hand and took a step back. “I’d better say goodnight and get…
I was getting a pedicure the other day. The salon I go to is set up so that the walkway down the middle of the pedicure chairs is very narrow and is peppered with the rolling stools of the pedicurists. I was carefully picking my way to the bathroom at the back of the salon, when one of the pedicurists stood up and her stool rolled right into my path. And I leapt over it. Okay, I stepped over it. But, in that moment, I could almost hear the swelling soundtrack playing behind me as I became the hero of my own story. I looked around the salon. Didja see that?! Anyone?? (crickets) I continued on to the bathroom wondering where my round of applause was? On days like today, I have to come to terms with the fact that while I may like to think I’d survive the zombie apocalypse or win the Hunger Games or be stoic and steely like Sydney Bristow as I kick ass and take names, my best case scenario would be Shaun from Shaun of the Dead. But most likely I’d be Peeta or even more likely one of the nameless, faceless office workers…
Thank you for having me! This was a fun list to make. Evan Downey from BRINGING HOME THE BAD BOY is just the kind of artist I’d fall for. Okay, here we go… 5. Evan’s a great dad. He understands his son doesn’t love all the things he loves, but he still tries to encourage Lyon to paint and draw. 4. Evan sees the world in vibrant color. From his tattoo designs to his children’s book illustrations, every surface is his canvas. 3. Evan doesn’t mind getting paint on himself, or on Charlotte. Which leads to some interesting encounters… 2. Now I’m distracted. What number are we on? Oh, right. Number two…let’s see. Evan has an appreciation for all sorts of artwork, including Charlie’s photography. 1. And I’m still thinking about #3. …Two words: Finger. Painting. What about you, readers? What quality do you admire in creative types? About BRINGING HOME THE BAD BOY Evan Downey needs a new beginning. Since the death of his wife five years ago, the brilliant tattoo artist has shut himself away in a prison of grief that not even his work can break him out of-and what’s worse, Evan knows his son Lyon is…
Welcome, readers! Thanks for checking out our latest Fresh Interview. Features Editor Pasha Carlisle was thrilled to chat with super sweet author Candis Terry to mark the release of SWEET SURPRISE. Pasha: Hi, Candis! We’re so excited for you to join us today. SWEET SURPRISE is the fourth novel in your Sweet, Texas series. What keeps you loving this series as you write it? Candis: Hello! And thank you for having me here today. What keeps me loving Sweet, Texas is, without a doubt, the characters. Sometimes I’m not sure where they came from, but from a fashionista goat to an octogenarian cowboy Casanova, they’re all there, ready to pop up unexpectedly at any moment and make me laugh. Also, my absolute love for the Wilder family keeps me going strong. As an only child, I always dreamed of having siblings who’d stand by my side or call me out when I needed a little discipline. I guess I created my dream of that close-knit family in the Wilders, and I really wanted to make sure each and every one of them got their happy ending. Pasha: We love those happily ever afters, so please keep them coming. The latest installment…
Somehow I have found myself at this weird (and sometimes lovely) three-way intersection of genres. Adult contemporary, New Adult and BDSM. In some ways, this mishmash of different worlds is total godsend. Just because I love all three of these worlds I’ve created for each respective series, doesn’t necessarily mean I want to spend all my time in one, exclusively. Taking a break from something heavy and cleansing the palette in a lighter environment can save a writer, in my experience, from feeling fatigued or losing perspective. It’s like my writer equivalent of playing the field, dating around, sowing my oats. But way more nerdy. These three genres all intersect in Sexyville, but the difference is the tone. The most specific shift is into BDSM, because there is an internal conflict that always seems to have a direct effect on sex between the characters. It’s not just a slaking of lust, it’s exploring new territory (at least, for my Serve series heroines) and involves a giving over of trust, which I find hard to write with a light tone. It’s dark and sexual and (think of a slow drum beat). Many authors straddle the line between New Adult and Adult….
Readers always ask me where I get my story ideas. I got my start as a newspaper reporter, and often my inspiration comes from current events. I’m constantly skimming headlines and asking myself, “What if…?” My new book BEYOND LIMITS was sparked after I read a news article about Navy SEALs and wondered what would happen if one of these highly trained warriors learned about an impending attack on American soil. Would he be able to leave it to someone else to handle, or would he feel compelled to intervene? BEYOND LIMITS opens with Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn, who is on a harrowing rescue mission overseas when he finds evidence of an attack being planned in the city where he grew up. He returns home determined to help thwart disaster. Derek decides his best way in to the FBI’s investigation is to manipulate a woman he cares about—Special Agent Elizabeth LeBlanc—into giving him inside information. With the help of the forensic experts at the Delphi Center, Derek and Elizabeth embark on a race against time to stop a deadly plot. BEYOND LIMITS is the eighth book in my Tracers series. Derek and Elizabeth first met in SCORCHED, which won the 2013 RITA…
Who said addictions were unhealthy? I for one have to credit my own addiction for all things HGTV—or anything that had a good home renovation project on it—as the inspiration for my new book, HER BACKUP BOYFRIEND. Heck, well before HGTV and TLC were on the scene, I watched dozens of Bob Villa projects on good old PBS, even if the progress of those projects could be like watching glue dry. Literally. But later, it was those delicious moments on shows like TLC’s Trading Spaces that really left an impact. You know, right around the time they cued the hot carpenter guy—remember a young Carter Oosterhouse?—to arrive on the scene in faded denim and an oh-so-tight t-shirt clinging to a taut upper torso that sent my mind running to less than wholesome images. It was those guys, with their quiet confidence and surprisingly sharp wit that always, at least for me, stole the show. My new book, HER BACKUP BOYFRIEND, is about a strait-laced ambitious woman, Kate, who is trying to manage her own home renovation project while staying ahead of the game at work and not falling apart at the news of her ex-boyfriend’s engagement. Enter Dominic, the sexy…
Why do I write about shape-shifting dragons? Because I’d really love to be able to blast annoying people with fireballs. No. Wait. I’m just joking. Mostly. As a five foot two female, I don’t have a lot of physical power. But if I could shape-shift into a dragon, I’d have all the power I ever needed. Other shape-shifting creatures always seem to have weaknesses. Vampires fear the sun. Werewolves can’t handle silver. But dragons can pretty much kick anyone’s ass, and they don’t have to worry about the weather or what metal their dinner forks are made from. What’s another perk that puts dragons at the top of the shape-shifting hierarchy? They can fly. In BRIDGES BURNED, Bryn says, “Flying is freedom.” I think that is exactly how it would feel. Then there is my favorite dragon trait–they can eat whatever they want and not gain weight. Some people were annoyed by the amount of food mentioned in GOING DOWN IN FLAMES. I didn’t realize how obsessed I was with food until I started editing BRIDGES BURNED and had to cut ten food scenes. So maybe I should cut back on the hours I watch the Food Network when I’m…
As a writer, I’m often asked, “How do I get away with the perfect murder?” Okay, maybe I’m not asked all that often. Fine, no one asks. Apparently, I’m the one trying desperately to plot the perfect crime. But with good reason, other than my friends annoy me, you see all my best plotted crimes have been solved by a variety of both trained and untrained detectives. Therefore, I’m always on the quest to learn the best way to off someone and secondly, how to get rid of the body and/or the evidence. Strictly for research. I swear. All these murderous musings have brought me to one conclusion — There is no perfect method of murder. Each and every option, whether it’s a stake through a vampire’s heart or running a certain princess down with a pumpkin-like coach (trust me, Cinderella had it coming), has its pros and cons. For example, throughout the ages poison has been the go to method of murder for both political assassins as well as vexed housewives. While it can be a valid choice for a particularly painful death it isn’t the best option for the perfect crime as many TV shows would have you…
I have the pleasure of kicking off the Men of the Zodiac Series for Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line with IMPULSE CONTROL. My hero is an Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, and he has all of the typical Aries traits. He’s adventurous, energetic, courageous, confident, enthusiastic, and quick-witted. Of course, he’s also selfish, impulsive, impatient, quick-tempered, and a foolhardy daredevil. It’s the curse of Aries, our greatest strengths can get us into terrible trouble. I jumped at the chance to write an Aries hero because I’m a big fan of “write what you know.” I’ve been reading my Aries horoscope for what seems like forever. I vividly remember poring over The Cosmo Girl’s Bedside Astrologer during my formative years, and when I began brainstorming IMPULSE CONTROL, I knew exactly what kind of a guy Russ needed to be. A fiery lover, first and foremost, because Aries is a fire sign. A bold, pioneering adventurer, because an Aries is a leader, not a follower. He had to be loyal and protective because an Aries takes care of his own, and his job would involve constant challenges to keep him from getting bored. In other words, I needed Bear Grylls. No,…