Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Kimberly Belle | 20 Questions: STRANGER IN THE LAKE
Author Guest / June 8, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release?  Stranger in the Lake 2–What is it about?  Stranger in the Lake is a story about Charlotte, a woman who’s left her trailer-park past behind to marry Paul, an older, wealthier man with a gorgeous house on an Appalachian lake in North Carolina. Their relationship is the focus of much small-town gossip, but Charlotte is able to ignore it until a woman’s body washes up under their dock—in the exact same spot where Paul’s first wife drowned. At first, the woman’s death seems like a horrific coincidence, but the stranger in the lake is no stranger. Charlotte saw Paul talking to her the day before, even though Paul tells the police he’s never met the woman. His lie exposes cracks in their fragile new marriage and dark secrets that have been simmering under the lake’s waters for years. 3–What word best describes your main character(s)?  Rags-to-riches 4–What makes your story relatable?  All my stories tend to focus on familial relationships. Parent-child, husband-wife, siblings. I love exploring the emotions that come along with these types of bonds, mostly because they’re so universally recognizable. Toss in the suspense angle—a lying spouse, a child gone missing,…

Susan May Warren | 20 Questions: THE HEART OF THE HERO
Author Guest / June 5, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release? The Heart of a Hero 2–What is it about?  What happens when the woman you love is caught in a hurricane—do you go after her?  And when you do…what if you, also get trapped? The Heart of a Hero is a story about two rescuers who are tasked with saving themselves—and others—when a Cat 5 hurricane hits Key West. 3–What word best describes your heroine?  Aria Hathaway is a Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon who is focused, determined and buttoned up. Until, of course, she meets former Navy Seal and Jones, Inc team rescuer Jake Silver.  Aria is adventurous, brave and the kind of woman who would give everything to save a friend, or a patient. But she is in over her head when she meets Jake and realizes that he is the one her heart wants. Because Jake is everything her brain says she shouldn’t have—Jake has no problem putting his life on the line for others. And Aria can’t lose someone she loves again…it’s better to never love at all, than to lose someone you love. 4–What makes your hero irresistible?  Jake masks his deep hurt with humor and charm, never letting anyone see…

Kate Cornell | 20 Questions: LIVE LIKE LEGENDS
Author Guest / June 4, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release?  My latest release is called Live Like Legends. 2–What is it about?  Princess Kalista finds herself married to a man she’s never met. She has nothing in common with Prince Carson, including language. They must find a way to communicate if they can overcome the threats facing their nation. 3–What word best describes your heroine?  Intellectual 4–What makes your hero irresistible?  He has infinite patience and a passionate love for the people he rules. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help?  Kalista relies on her mentor, a monk named Emmett. But, he’s hiding secrets of his own. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book?  Kalista is new to the nation and isn’t used to the weather or the people. She gets to explore it. She’s set to become the queen of the country and she learns to appreciate and love its unique attributes. 7–Are you a plotter (follow an outline) or a pantster (write by the seat of your pants)? I’m a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. I tend to pants for a bit, the first several chapters, and outline…

Karen Booth | 20 Questions: FORBIDDEN LUST
Author Guest / June 1, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release?  Forbidden Lust, part of the Dynasties: Seven Sins series 2–What is it about?  The novel features one of my favorite tropes—unrequited love! Allison has wanted Zane since she was a teenager, but he’s her older brother’s best friend, and those two guys will be best bros forever. Allison goes to visit her aunt in the Bahamas, only to learn that Zane is there, too, sent by her brother to force too-tense Zane to loosen up. Allison has a few ideas on how to make that happen. 3–What word best describes your heroine?  Determined. Allison refuses to accept defeat, whether it’s trouble with her career or pursuing Zane. She’s not starry-eyed when it comes to her stubborn ways, though. She knows her limitations. With Zane, she knows it could never be more than a fling. Her brother and Zane would never allow it.   4–What makes your hero irresistible?  Zane is fiercely loyal and protective. He doesn’t want to break the bro-code that says you don’t get involved with your best friend’s sister, but his efforts to keep Allison as only a friend really come from his instinct to be a protector. He’ll do anything…

Terry Spear | 20 Questions: NIGHT OF THE BILLIONAIRE WOLF
Author Guest / May 28, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release? Night of the Billionaire Wolf  2–What is it about?  Lexi Summerfield built her business from the ground up. But with great wealth comes great responsibility, and some drawbacks Lexi could not have anticipated. Lexi never knows who she can trust. Even on vacation, Lexi has a hard time relaxing. And for good reason—the paparazzi are dogging her, and so is someone else with evil intent. Then Lexi meets bodyguard and gray wolf shifter Ryder Gallagher, who’s also vacationing at Redwood National Park. When the two run into each other on the hiking trails, and then serendipitously rescue two bear cubs, Lexi feels safe for the first time in she can’t remember when. But secrets have a way of surfacing. With the danger around Lexi escalating, Ryder will do whatever it takes to stay by her side… 3–What word best describes your heroine?  Dedicated 4–What makes your hero irresistible? Sexy, protective, eager to help. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help?  Family and Friends 6–What do you love about the setting of your book?  When I was a kid, I remember the wonder of the redwoods. I’m from…

Anna Bennett | 20 Questions: WHEN YOU WISH UPON A ROGUE
Author Guest / May 27, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release? When You Wish Upon a Rogue  2–What is it about? It’s a romantic twist on the myth of Persephone and Hades. Sophie, who has a green thumb, accidentally trespasses on one of Reese’s properties. When she sees how sleep-deprived the earl is, she brews him a medicinal cup of tea…and it works. They strike a bargain: she can use his property in exchange for spending one night a week with him. The attraction between them is undeniable, but Sophie is promised to another, and Reese has lots of demons of his own. They’ll have to risk everything for a shot at their happy-ever-after. 3–What word best describes your heroine? Selfless. Sophie has such a pure heart. 4–What makes your hero irresistible? He’s so tormented—and refuses to admit it. The only person he has a soft spot for is Sophie. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help? Sophie turns to her best friends (the other heroines of the Debutante Diaries series), Fiona and Lily. Sadly, Reese is pretty much alone in the world…so he turns to Sophie. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book? Some…

Mary B. Morrison | 20 Questions: CAREFUL WHAT YOU CLICK FOR
Author Guest / May 25, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release?  Careful What You Click For 2–What is it about?  Online dating. Four church members–in their quest for lust and love–do the unimaginable. Blinded by desire, the characters are determined to sex the lover of their choice. 3–What word best describes your heroine?  Fallible. 4–What makes your hero irresistible?  There is no hero in Careful What You Click For. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help? Loved ones. Law enforcers. In some instances, as church members and friends, they depend upon one another. In a particular situation, one character has no means to communicate with the outside world and must rely upon God to deliver him from evil. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book?  Atlanta, Georgia, is intriguing. Churchgoers and politicians often share the same bed. I enjoy taking the characters from Sunday service to the bar to show how Christians are sinners. 7–Are you a plotter (follow an outline) or a pantster (write by the seat of your pants)? I’m an artist first. My characters are real to me. I don’t like to get ahead of them and dictate their direction. I outline four chapters at…

Allie Therin | 20 Questions: STARCROSSED
Author Guest / May 21, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release? Starcrossed 2–What is it about? It’s the middle book in my Magic in Manhattan trilogy–not a standalone, but part of a 3-book romance series where two men from different classes fall for each other, fight to be together–and save 1920s New York from some very dangerous magic. 3–What word best describes Rory? Loyal. It’s hard for him to trust, but when he does, it’s for life. 4–What makes Arthur irresistible? He’s hiding a very soft heart under his playboy facade and always puts the safety of others above himself. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help? Arthur always turns to his best friend, Jade. Rory doesn’t ask for help, even when he needs it, because he’s had to rely on himself for a long time. But maybe with Arthur and the crew in his life, he’ll eventually learn how. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book? New York is a city I visit often and there’s so much to love–the diversity, the history, the food, the architecture. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the 1920s, if I’m honest. I love the…

Susan Allott | 20 Questions: THE SILENCE
Author Guest / May 18, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release?  The Silence 2–What is it about?  Isla returns home to Sydney after 10 years living in London, to support her dad who is under suspicion in the case of a missing neighbor. Her home country, and her family, are more troubled than she expected. Her loyalty to her dad starts to waver when family secrets come to light. And it seems her community has been holding on to an older secret that goes to the heart of Australia’s colonial past. 3–What word best describes your main character? At the start of The Silence I would describe Isla as lost. She is hiding from life, at the beginning of a process of recovery but scared of the uncomfortable truths she really needs to face up to. I’d probably also say she’s tough, but she doesn’t know that about herself until later on. 4–What makes your story relatable?  The Silence is about people trying to figure out who they are, coming to terms with the things they regret and taking responsibility for those things. Some characters are doing better than others at the taking responsibility part, but they are all faced with that challenge and…

Pip Drysdale | 20 Questions: THE SUNDAY GIRL
Author Guest / May 15, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release? The Sunday Girl 2–What’s it about? It’s an answer to the question: what would happen if a good girl snapped? 3–What word best describes your main character? Flawed. 4–What makes your story relatable? Most of us have had one really terrible breakup where, in our darker moments, we’ve toyed with the idea of revenge. Most of us, however, don’t actually go through with it. Not so for Taylor Bishop! And so, through her we get to live vicariously… 5–Who are the people your main character turns to when they need help? One of the key themes of The Sunday Girl is how abusive relationships isolate us and make it almost impossible to ask for help. But when Taylor does reach out, it’s to her best friend, her mother and, briefly, the police. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book. Well it’s set in London, and London is a second home for me. 7–Are you a plotter (follow an outline) or a pantster (write by the seat of your pants)? I’m a hybrid. I go in with an outline knowing how it begins, a couple of things that happen in the…