2021 has been… a year. One that felt both very long and over in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, we have had a plethora of romance novels come out to occupy our time, make sense of the world, and have a little fun. I read a lot of books. A LOT of books. Some I finish, some I don’t, some I buy and they sit happily unread on my bookshelves and eReader. I spend a ton of time looking at books that are coming out—I just received my first email about a JUNE 2022 book—and noticed some trends throughout the year… Trends that I think we’ll continue to see explored, subverted, and challenged into next year as well. WITCHES 2021 was the year of the witch! September and October 2021 saw a bunch of witchy, cozy, paranormal romance novels come out, and I am here for it all. Women (and men, too) discover their powers and how to control them, but also what can happen when they let loose a little, too. PAYBACK’S A WITCH by Lana Harper, who was a guest on the Fresh Fiction Podcast earlier this year. BLACK MOON RISING AND BLACK SIREN’S SONG by Mila…

Welcome back to Day 2 of the Summer BBQ Recipe Roundup! We’re joined by Sera Sera Taíno, author of A DELICIOUS DILEMMA, with a truly delicious recipe! Read on for the details and for a chance to win a copy of her book. Don’t forget to check out Day 1 if you haven’t already–historical romance author Minvera Spencer gave us a sweet start to this year’s BBQ Roundup. And come back all week for more books, food, and fun! Day 1 with Minerva Spencer  *** In A DELICIOUS DILEMMA, the main character, Val Navarro owns Navarro’s Family Restaurant together with her father in the fictional New Jersey town of East Ward. When the city builds a light rail station, the tight-knit neighborhood comes to the attention of a large development corporation. As the co-founder of the fair housing coalition, Val finds herself fighting not only for her working-class community’s future but for her restaurant as well. When she meets Philip Wagner, a reserved, handsome stranger with whom she feels an instant connection, she doesn’t realize that he is the heir of Wagner Developments, the company gentrifying her neighborhood. Now the struggle is on, not only for the survival of her…

1–What’s the name of your latest release? Sweet on You 2–What is it about? It’s about a rivalry between a barista and a baker, set during the peak of the Christmas season on the Philippines. 3–What word best describes your heroine? Stubborn. 4–What makes your hero irresistible? He’s charming, but not in the way that he thinks he is.  5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help? Sari would rather suffer alone than ask for help, but if she had to, she would turn to her friend Kira or her older sister, Sofie. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book? My family and I spend Christmas in Lipa, so it feels special to write a book in that setting, in that time. 7–Are you a plotter (follow an outline) or a pantster (write by the seat of your pants)? Plotter, definitely!  8–What is an ideal writing day for you? Finishing a big scene or a chapter in a day, with a cup of iced coffee and maybe a sugar cookie. 9–Do you listen to music while you write, need total silence, or do you have the TV on? Depends on how annoyed…

I pick up all the pillows, toss them back on the bed, straighten out my clothes, and climb under the sheet. The heat inside me has officially cooled. My eyelids grow heavy. When I blink, I don’t see Callum anymore. Every muscle in my body is relaxed, free of tension at the thought. Soon I’m asleep. It’s deep and hard and everything good. Until I start to dream. *** Dream Callum is a million times nicer than real-life Callum. Dream Callum spoons me from behind, my absolute favorite. How did he know? He presses his clothes-free body against mine, a perfect shell for my hot and bothered self. None of this is real. That doesn’t make it any less divine. He wraps his arms around me. They’re so thick that when pressed against me, they cover most of my naked chest. Leaning back, I groan. “You like that?” he asks. I nod a yes, then moan again. Those thick lips press against the back of my neck. “What do you want, Nikki?” When his voice is this low, this gentle, it makes my eyes roll to the back of my head. The hottest sound in the world is Callum’s English…

Another day, another recipe… Our Fall Recipe Potluck continues with more books, more recipes, and another fabulous featured author! I hope you are enjoying these awesome posts and opportunities to win great books. Don’t forget to take a look at what else has posted: Day 1: SECOND CHANCE ON CYPRESS LAND by Reese Ryan Day 2: THE SECRET FRENCH RECIPES OF SOPHIE VALROUX by Samantha Verant Day 3: SIMMER DOWN by Sarah Smith This autumnal roasted delicata squash is exactly the kind of dish Beth would serve at her Yellow House restaurant. It’s simple, seasonal, and very tasty. Feel free to use any winter squash you’d like, but delicata is my favorite because it looks fancy, you don’t have to peel it, and it gets extra crispy and caramelized in the oven. The Italian-style herb salsa verde is wonderful with any roasted vegetables or meat.  You can eat this as a side dish with your favorite fall meal (it’s excellent with roasted chicken) or enjoy it as a vegetarian main course with some sautéed greens, fresh bread, and a glass of wine (optional but highly recommended!) Roasted Delicata Squash with Sage Salsa Verde For the squash 3 medium delicata squash,…

We have MORE fabulous books and awesome recipes to share! We’ll be here all week, LOL. Also, check out the other posts that have gone up so far and check out the giveaways: Day 1: SECOND CHANCE ON CYPRESS LAND by Reese Ryan Day 2: THE SECRET FRENCH RECIPES OF SOPHIE VALROUX by Samantha Verant *** My new book Simmer Down is a rivals-to-lovers romance between two competing food truck owners Nikki and Callum, who are fighting over the same coveted parking spot near one of Maui’s most beautiful beaches. After a whole lot of bickering and sabotaging, Nikki and Callum realize they have sizzling chemistry. Like in any good romance, they end up in bed together. A lot. When they’re not getting physical, these two are both capable of whipping up endless mouth-watering specialties. You can count on British hunk Callum to cook scrumptious English recipes, while Nikki has spent a lifetime perfecting her mom’s delicious Filipino dishes. Once these two finally get their happily ever after, they’ll be spending loads of time in the bedroom, as any newly in-love couple would. But that doesn’t mean cooking will be put on the backburner. Nikki would figure out a way…

Welcome to Fresh Fiction, Yaffa and congrats on your debut novel hitting stores! Please tell us more about yourself and your book, A TASTE OF SAGE. Thank you! A TASTE OF SAGE came to be as I combined my interests in the romance genre and cooking. It was also important to me that there be some aspect that extends beyond the five senses. I started with Lumi, my main character, and an idea of the journey I wanted for her, but not as much of a clear idea of how she would get there. Little by little, I added the other characters and conflicts. That was the fun part. Will you talk a little bit about your journey into publishing? What has been the most surprising thing about becoming a published author so far? I queried for about two years on and off before I connected with my agent. What surprises me the most is how much there is to learn about how publishing works, though I’m making progress every day. In addition to being a contemporary romance, A TASTE OF SAGE is also a love letter to FOOD! I was obsessed with the descriptions of food throughout this novel…

When I sat down to write my first book as an adult, I had no idea what I was doing or where it would lead. I ended up with a hot mess of a young adult romance mixed with a dash of dystopian. Since then I’ve gone on to write roughly twenty books, ten of them published, and none of them YA. My first series (The Broadway Series) follows a group of thirty-somethings as they fall in love and start families. My second series (The Shores) is a pair of best friends, starting their lives after college and falling for the last men they’d ever expect.  I love to read stories like this, but there is still something that pulls me back to the young adult genre every time.  There is something nostalgic about young love that I just can’t get enough of. Recipe for Disaster has it all when it comes to a YA romance. Whether I’m reading or writing, there are so many reasons to love a good YA romance: All the firsts. YA romance often features first loves, first kisses, first dates, and all the other first that come with being a teen. In Recipe for Disaster,…

Food and romance go hand in hand, like chips and dip or strawberries and cream. From a romantic dinner to a full-on food fight, sharing food is an intimacy that features in any budding relationship. Lila Ward and Blake Hanlon from OUT OF CONTROL are no different. When Blake has to prove to Lila that he’s serious about getting to know her, he takes her out for a meal at his favorite eatery, perhaps trying to show her a glimpse of his real self. Honest, down-to-earth and scrumptious, Blake’s food of choice is a well-cooked steak, thick-cut fries, and a damn good sauce. Later on in the story when Lila demands she becomes Blake’s breakfast, he gets creative with a little fruit and preserves, much to Lila’s bemusement. . . Excerpt from Blake. . . “I wiped a hand across my mouth. “I want a little extra with my breakfast,” I said, heading for the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter. There were fat, juicy plums, apples, and a pineapple. Not quite what I had in mind. But close. I opened the pantry and found what I was looking for. A jar of peaches. I gathered a few pieces of…

In Dine With Me, award-winning chef, Miller Sykes, sets out on a cross-country culinary tour with unabashed foodie, Clancy Rhodes. When Miller and Clancy first meet, Clancy’s attention is drawn to the intricate tattoos on Miller’s arms. Over the course of their trip, Miller explains that each abstract design hides a recipe of personal significance, both of which also hold significance to me. On Miller’s left arm is the recipe for bechamel sauce. Miller’s first kitchen gig is under a French chef in Martha’s Vineyard, and béchamel is one of the first sauces he learns. He becomes a master at sauces, much to the chagrin of his best friend, a chef who hilariously struggles with them. For me, béchamel is significant because it was a law school friend’s killer béchamel lasagna that spurred me on to cook more. I’d always loved to eat, but that’s when the cooking bug really hit. Bechamel Sauce INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 1/4 cups whole milk, heated Salt (to taste) Freshly ground pepper (to taste) *Extra kick: Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg + 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese PREPARATION In a saucepan, warm milk over low heat until just bubbling, then remove…