Grabbing his coffee mug—because cutting coffee out of his diet was not going to happen—he walked out onto the deck and sat down. This was something that really did relax him, and he had to admit, it was nice to be able to stay out here and linger rather than rushing inside to get ready for work. Except…every time he came out here, he looked for Sophie. He was still kicking himself for the way they’d ended things when she was here. It wasn’t his intention to make her feel bad or for her to leave the way she had. But in that moment, he was feeling a little overwhelmed and he knew he hadn’t handled things well. And in the process, he’d hurt her feelings. While he wanted to apologize to her, he wasn’t sure how. Sure, he could’ve gone to the water every time he saw her, but every time he was about to step off the deck, he chickened out. Partly because he wasn’t really sure what to say, and partly because he was afraid he had misread the situation and maybe she was only interested in him as…you know, a patient. And man, would that suck….

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 as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Cassie Graham!  WRITES: I write a range of contemporary romance. Feel-good to paranormal. Suspense to angsty. I guarantee to give you a case of the ‘feels’ while possibly wanting to throw your Kindle out the window. While I write flawed characters who don’t always act perfectly while exploring real situations, holding them accountable for their actions. I write witty banter with a side of snark, so if you like to laugh and snicker at characters while simultaneously swooning, you’ve met your match. ABOUT AUTHOR: Sassy redhead seeks readers with big hearts who love clever heroines and heroes who unapologetically embrace their emotions. With eight books under her belt, Cassie lives in the hot Arizona desert with her husband of thirteen years. She’s living insta-love and isn’t afraid to explore all sides of a good story. WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IN MY IDEAL READER MATCH: – Knows that the way to any heroine’s heart is through her stomach. – Can laugh at…

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 as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present TRACY BROGAN! Writes: I write fun, funny, relatable stories about ordinary people finding extraordinary love. My latest release, MY KIND OF FOREVER, is the second book in the Trillium Bay series set on a small island in Northern Michigan. It’s all about love, family, and finding your perfect place in the world. About: Now that I’m a single mom of two teen girls, snark is our primary language. Fortunately, I believe the solution to most problems starts with finding the funny side. A good sense of humor is essential to happiness because if you can’t laugh at life and its foibles, you’re going to be in a lousy mood most of the time. Lately, our family motto has become “It’s all part of the adventure.” I love writing stories with a similar tone, with not-quite-together heroines and not-so-perfect heroes because it’s our imperfections that make us unique. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: – You love to laugh as…

I’ll just admit it. I have a thing for a man in uniform. Having spent several years in the U.S. Marine Corps, I have a slight bias for Marines in general. And I love putting that service spin on my characters. In the Movin’ On series, the heroes (and a heroine!) are veterans. And not just Marines, which made the story even more fun. There’s something magical that happens when you group together people from different armed services—they talk a lot of smack. At the gym, Reid and his brother, Cash, are getting help from a fellow Marine and trainer (Gavin): “Reid, that’s pathetic,” Gavin said. “Lift like you got a pair, man. Or do you want people to think you were in the Air Force?” Next to them, an older man frowned. “Hey.” “Sorry. I meant the Army.” “What’s the difference?” Cash muttered, and Gavin did his best to calm a different older man down. When writing The Whole Package, I had the Marine Corps stuff pretty much nailed down. The other services I had to research, and I learned some interesting facts. Military Police (MPs) are called different things in the different services. The Marines and Army have…

I’m so excited to be starting 2019 with the first book in my new series Jokers Wild.  ONE NIGHT GAMBLE is a sexy, emotional story that proves that we make our own luck. I love setting books in Las Vegas because I like playing around the idea of illusion that what you see isn’t what’s really on the inside.  And no city typifies that for me more than Sin City! My hero and heroine both grew up in Las Vegas and have seen the seamier side of the city. Their childhoods were very different and yet they both were shaped by them into the person we see today.   Casey took a gamble on himself when he left the group home he was living in and struck out on his own.  He was determined that with his belief in himself and the luck he made he could make a fortune using only his skills with cards and his ability to read people.  He’s done it. He’s made more money than anyone ever expected him to and he’s one of the top poker players in the world. When he meets Talia he takes another risk.  She’s different, she works for him,…

Please welcome New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Carolyn Brown! Her latest book, THE MAGNOLIA INN, is in stores now.  1. While a lighthearted novel, The Magnolia Inn explores grief, loneliness, regret, and ultimately, redemption. What inspired these heavier themes throughout the novel? Carolyn: They say you should write about what you know. I lived with a father who was a weekend drunk and then with an alcoholic stepfather. They were both good men underneath all their problems, but the problem was there in both instances and it affected a lot of people around them. 2. Female friendship is such an important part of this book. I absolutely LOVED the characters of Aunt Sugar, Dottie, Lucy, and Flossie! They are four women who know what they want and aren’t afraid to ask for it, but even more importantly, they are there to support each other and Jolene no matter what. How did you go about bringing such authentic women to life? Carolyn: I simply combined some of the strongest women I know into those characters. A short story here about a sweet lady who has long since passed away. Miz Marie told me once that she’d hired a man to…

If you hang out on Twitter, you might’ve seen a meme going around that asked people to name 5 things they love that aren’t books or people. It’s a tougher question than it looks at first glance, so I spent some time thinking about it. Here’s what I came up with, in no particular order: 1. My DVR – If you follow me at all on social media or if you’ve met me in real life, you know that I watch a lot of TV. Like A LOT. I’ve always been a bit of a TV junkie and having a DVR (as opposed to having to record on a VHS tape – remember those days?) has fed my habit. In the past, as new shows debuted, I had to sift through and decide what I wanted to watch. With small children in the house, more often than not, it was what can I record to watch later. Now, I’m much less choosey. If it sounds remotely interesting, I set a timer to record. I can give more shows a chance. It’s always easier to delete a timer than to try to catch up on a show later. 2. Netflix –…

10. Confidence: What’s sexier than a man who’s strong, powerful, knows what he wants in life and how to get it? Bad boys are bristling with testosterone and driven to achieve their goals, whether that’s conquering the board room or the bedroom. Plus, bad boys LOVE women who are a perfect match for them—meaning a gal who’s just as strong, feisty, and sexy as he is (whether she knows it or not). 9. Generosity: He’s a giver, a guy who loves to please and is super good at it too (wink). A Bad Boy understands his woman is unique and each time he’s with her it’s special. The sensual journey is a mystery, but it’s guaranteed to be amazing when both people mutually surrender to the magic between them. Bad boys understand and respect that gives and take and it only adds to their wicked powerful attraction. 8. Communication: Despite his flaws, any good Bad Boy knows how to communicate with women. He doesn’t hide what he’s thinking and feeling. And sure, sometimes it might not be what the heroine wants to hear, but he’s honest. 7. Instincts: Bad Boys know when the time is right and they’re not afraid…

I love the beginning of the year. I’m not one to set resolutions necessarily because I set goals monthly and quarterly, but I do love the idea of a fresh start. I am someone who loves a paper planner, and I use more than one, so there’s something renewing about closing my planners and opening up brand new ones with blank pages. All the possibilities of things to come is exciting. And one thing I love to prepare for is a great year of reading. I’m a writer and have to be pretty intentional about my reading because it’s a main source of writing inspiration and is a way for me to practice self-care. When I stop reading, things go south quickly. However, it’s easy to let reading slide when I’m under writing deadlines and there’s so much work to do running a business. So each year, I’m very deliberate about having a robust reading life. Here are five things I do to make sure that my reading year is going to be fantastic… 1. Choose or create a reading challenge. I love tracking things and checking off boxes. So what better way to do that than with a reading…

Exciting Romance industry news! Robyn Carr’s best-selling and long-running  Virgin River series will be a Netflix series! You can read the full, exclusive announcement over on Deadline. It’s being billed as a romance drama series, and the cast includes Alexandra Breckinridge (This Is Us, The Walking Dead) and Martin Henderson (Grey’s Anatomy, Miracles From Heaven). This beloved series has a robust cast of characters, and lucky for us, a cast list has been released! Check out the list below to see who will be portraying your favorite Virgin River inhabitants (Character and then Actor name – a complete list of character descriptions found HERE): Melinda Moore (lead character, new to small-town of Virgin River): Alexandra Breckenridge (This Is Us and The Walking Dead) Jack Sheridan (sharp-witted ex-Marine commander): Martin Henderson (Grey’s Anatomy and Miracles from Heaven) Doc Mullins: Tim Matheson (The Affair and The Good Fight) Hope McCrea (mayor of Virgin River): Annette O’Toole (Smallville and Marvel’s The Punisher) Joey Barnes (Melinda’s charming older sister): Jenny Cooper (Grey’s Anatomy) Calvin (leader of the largest and many illegal pot fields): David Cubitt (Siren) Paige Lassiter (local entrepreneur): Lexa Doig (Arrow) Mark (Melinda’s first love and accomplished surgeon): Daniel Gillies (The Originals)…