When I decided to write a book about a bestselling author who is way past deadline and struggling with writer’s block, let’s just say that I didn’t have to look too far for inspiration. It’s something I’ve dealt with ever since I sold my first book fifteen years ago. Writer’s block is one of those frustrating things that once you have it, you get caught in a downward spiral you can’t climb out of, all while some well-meaning person tells you that there is no such thing and you should just write through it. Unfortunately, for many of us, that simply doesn’t work. So what does? For me, it was getting brave enough to look at what was stopping me from writing. Turns out it was a whole lot of limiting beliefs and a fear of being discovered as a fraud. Even writing this post is nerve-wracking in case someone thinks I don’t know what I’m talking about, or that it’s self-indulgent to even bring it up. Weirdly though, it’s being able to accept the idea that some people will definitely think those things, which has helped me. Truth is that we can’t change what anyone else thinks, and it’s…

Welcome to Fresh Fiction, Therese! Please tell us about yourself and your new book, ONE LAST CHANCE. Thank you so much for having me! My name is Therese Beharrie and I’m a South African romance author. My brand is basically banter and heart, and ONE LAST CHANCE is no different. It’s a romance about two best friends who love one another but act on it at the wrong time. Years later, they have to decide whether it’s the right time. It’s full of tropes – I call it a friends-to-fake-relationship-to-lovers-to-spouses-to-estranged-spouses second chance romance!  Zoey Roux is the third of the Roux sisters to get her own HEA! What has Zoey learned from her sisters as they found love in their lives? What has Zoey learned about herself in the time she’s been apart from her estranged husband? This is such a great question. So much of Zoey’s story is about her growth, and she’s definitely seen and admired her sisters’ growth as they’ve fallen in love, but more importantly, as they’ve found themselves while falling in love. Zoey doesn’t see herself clearly, despite having worked incredibly hard to become a better person since her marriage fell apart, but she prizes…

Thanks so much to the folks here at Fresh Fiction for having me today to talk about my new release, HARD RIDE, the fifth book in my Clean Slate Ranch series with Carina Press. Single guy Derrick Massey is facing a long summer of five family weddings, and he needs a fake boyfriend to keep his family off his back about settling down. Quiet cowboy Slater needs a place to stay in the city while he heals from a broken ankle, and what starts out as an arrangement starts to feel more like the real thing for both men. HARD RIDE was my very first time writing the fake-relationship trope, and I had so much fun I’m definitely doing it again! I have no idea why I waited so long. Maybe I just needed the right couple to pop up, and they definitely did in Derrick and Slater. Both men have been part of the Clean Slate Ranch series since book one, especially Derrick, who’s made an appearance in every single book so far. Slater was mostly a name or figure in the background, so when it came time to write about another ranch cowboy, he was the perfect…well, clean…

1–What’s the name of your latest release? The Kiss List 2–What is it about? All Haley Bowman has ever wanted was her One True Love. But now, with her cousin getting married and Haley back in her small town, the pressure is on. Good thing she’s got a foolproof Kiss List, full of potential OTLs. Her parents knew they were soul mates at their first kiss, so surely Haley will know the same. All she needs to do is…well, kiss each of these guys… Enter Max Gallagher: bane of Haley’s existence, her nemesis since childhood, and, unfortunately, as a local, her way in with all the guys on the Kiss List. Max wants nothing to do with love and certainly nothing to do with Haley, but he can clear the way for her to get to know the guys on the list. Of course, he wants something in return: to be made a partner in Haley’s family’s business. One kiss for relinquishing her hold-out vote on Max. But the more time Max and Haley spend together, the clearer it is that there’s a paper-thin line between love and hate. Max will have to decide between the job he’s always dreamed…

Thank you SO much for following along with our Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup all week! Our final post features a delightful new romance coming out this April by T.I. Lowe. *** Recipe for a Happily Ever After: Take one independent heroine and add one handsome alpha hero. Mix in conflict, a dash of an obstacle, and a good measure of attraction. Stir until you have one fine mess, then pour in a healthy serving of clarity to resolve any angst. Add the anticipated kiss, a sprinkling of tender caresses, two rapid heartbeats, and combine into an awe-inspiring conclusion. I’d like to introduce you to a couple who fits this recipe to a T: Lincoln Cole and Opal Gilbert. I asked them to describe each other to me, and they sure didn’t hold back. Here’s what they had to say: Opal: “Lincoln Cole is lousy at first impressions. A brooding giant, he reminded me of a puffer fish—prickly yet somehow cute. Sure, there were glimpses of more in the depths of those ridiculously attractive brown eyes, but that stinker wouldn’t let me near enough to get a good look. Eventually, I discovered underneath the thick layer of orneriness was a big…

What’s the name of your latest release? My latest release is HOUSE RULES. It’s the 3rd book in my Uptown series about love, real estate, and adulting. What is it about? HOUSE RULES is about exes who end up living together because the rent in New York City is too darn high. It also features meddling relatives, some sexy wrist-brace stripping, and an asshole cat. What word best describes your heroine? Evolving. Lana is in her 40s, but in a lot of ways she’s still finding her place in the world. When she divorced the hero Simon, she was an aspiring music teacher, but her own career aspirations seemed to take second place behind Simon’s. Now she’s moved back to New York and is trying to make it as a chef. What makes your hero irresistible? When Lana is sick, Simon puts her to bed, runs out to the all-night pharmacy to get her all the medicine she could possibly need, arranges it all on tray, makes her food. He’s also a runner and, in my head at least, looks a little like Matthew Goode.  It’s a pretty great combination. Who are the people your main characters turn to when…

Here’s another great addition to our Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup from TIF MARCELO! Don’t forget, we’re here all week with more fun – keep following along!  *** It’s never too late. Not for seventy-six-year-old Margo Gallagher-Cary, and neither for her thirty-nine-year-old daughter Diana. Both single, and at a fork in their lives, they’re ready to make change, to do something different. But when they come upon old letters that speak to a family history that they cannot deny, they must go after the truth, only to find themselves in the Philippines where both opportunity and love await. ONCE UPON A SUNSET is that story of found family and new love for all generations. But the Filipino-American experience isn’t complete without the introduction of specific food, food that speaks to families near and far and symbolizes celebration and good luck. Pancit Bihon, a noodle dish, is common in Filipino-American celebration menus. Below is my own recipe. Vegetable Pancit Bihon 1 package glass (clear) noodles of choice, like vermicelli or rice noodles 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 medium carrots, julienned ½ medium cabbage, chopped 2 cups of green beans, chopped into about ½ inch. 1 tsp fish sauce Pepper,…

Today we’re joined by Synithia Williams with a delicious recipe and more information about her new contemporary romance, FORBIDDEN PROMISES.  *** Forbidden Promises is a story of family secrets, lies and forbidden love. The main character, India Robidoux, is a violinist whose spent years traveling with an orchestra to escape her family’s drama. She returns home for a quick visit and is roped into helping with her brother’s political campaign. Staying longer wouldn’t be a problem if she weren’t still in love with her sister’s ex-husband, Travis Strickland. Travis owes everything to the Robidoux family and, he’d do anything for the family—his divorce could never change that. India always understood him better than anyone else. And the longer they work together on the campaign, the more torn he is. Coming between her and her sister is out of the question. But how can he let love pass him by a second time? India and Travis grew up in the south, and though they enjoy big breakfast with all the fixings, neither of them are big on spending a lot of time in the kitchen. They would start a weekend morning with a quick and easy staple of salmon patties and…

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…

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…