Many thanks to Christi Caldwell for joining us on the blog today! Welcome to the Fresh Fiction blog! Can you tell us a bit about the Wicked Wallflowers series, and your most recent release, THE BLUESTOCKING? Thank you so much for having me! The Wicked Wallflowers world is one that’s been so refreshing and rewarding for me as an author to write in. It’s set in the late Regency era, however, it explores life outside of the ton. Many times readers picture ballrooms and rides in Hyde Park when thinking of Regency romance, and though we have glimpses of that in my Wicked Wallflowers books, they really move so much deeper, looking at how people born outside the nobility lived…and struggled. In The Bluestocking, for example, I’ve paired Gertrude Killoran, the clever, partially blind, oldest sister of a gaming hell family with her family’s greatest rival…the Marquess of Maddock…known as the Mad Marquess. A man whose wife and unborn child were killed by Gertrude’s late father, and whose son was kidnapped and absorbed into the Killoran gang. It’s a very raw and real story that brings an HEA not only to Gertrude and Edwin as individuals but the pair of…

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 Meghan Quinn. Writes:  Hi pretties! I write romantic comedies and contemporary romance full of heart, humor, and heat. I love to make you, laugh, swoon, and fill you up with all the feels. That Second Chance is my newest release which touches upon my classic humor, my steaminess, and an addictive small town that you wish was real. It release May 7th. About: Peanut butter enthusiast and tea addict, Meghan Quinn resides in Colorado with her family, two adopted kids, and the love of her life. She grew up in Southern California where she learned a cheeseburger from In and Out will always be hard to beat—always order it animal style. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Someone not afraid to pee their pants from laughter. A spouse they can wake up in the middle of the night because they happen to snort while reading. Appreciates a sassy female lead, but swoons for an alpha with a heart of…

My latest book, Under the Northern Lights, is about Mallory Reynolds, a driven, passionate woman who is pursuing her dream of photographing wild animals in remote locations. On the way to her favorite spot in the Alaskan wilderness, the unthinkable happens—the engine on her plane stalls and she crashes. Mallory survives the crash only to find herself injured with limited supplies and no hope of returning home. Just when all seems lost, Michael Bradley, a mysterious mountain man, comes to her rescue. Mallory soon discovers that she has to spend the entire winter in a small, isolated cabin with a stranger. The remoteness, the caregiving, the constant threat of danger—it all creates a near-instant intimacy between the characters that is both real and understandable. I love writing tension between characters, so having them stuck together for months was a writing playground for me. It led to some great interactions early in the story, keeping the pace flowing in a fun and realistic way. Here is one of my favorite interactions between my hero and heroine from Under the Northern Lights: “How was work?” I jokingly asked. A brief laugh escaped him. “Good and bad.” “Oh, how so?” I asked, amused that he…

A generator started up and spotlights clicked on inside the barn, illuminating the dark corners. Nevada was close. The light drew Macy’s attention to the right corner, which was roped off with red crime scene tape. The forensic tech had designated this area as very sensitive because most of the bones and the backpack had fallen here. Inside the tape, the techs had shifted the dirt as they had searched for the last bits of Tobi Turner. Macy elbowed aside anger and shifted her attention to the lost girl and her killer. Photos of Tobi’s backpack had shown that it had contained simple jeans, a sweater, and tennis shoes, but the fabric remnants and glittering blue cowboy boots found with the body suggested she had changed after she left her parents’ house. Macy suspected Tobi had lied about the study session and had diverted to a party. The killer could have recognized her desire for excitement and used it against her. “You made it.” Nevada’s deep voice snapped her back. Macy faced him and saw his shocked expression when he got his first good look at her. He quickly masked the reaction, and his expression became unreadable. Determined to prove…

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 Rachel Van Dyken!  Writes:  I write contemporary romance and my new book is Risky Play, a sports romance out March 19th. About: I love writing, in fact I get anxiety when I don’t write! I write in multiple genres, have listed on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists. I’m addicted to Swedish fish, and I think that life would be more interesting if we all had our own soundtracks! What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: I love making readers cry, in fact, I collect their tears. I’m often found with my Kindle app open at three am with drool running down my face. I will lie and say I’m going to the bathroom, but be reading instead. If you don’t like the smell of real books, we can’t get together. I believe historical romance is the only way to truly cleanse your soul. Mafia romance is my drug of choice. IT SHOULD ALWAYS INVOLVE…

Shannon moved up the beach by half a mile and settled into one of only two second-story suites the boutique hotel offered. With the uninterrupted views of the ocean and a private patio that had its own plunge pool, this hotel was exactly what she envisioned while staying in Tulum for a vacation. She was on the balcony when she heard Avery enter the room. Shannon stood from the shady spot she’d propped herself up on to greet her friend. Avery held her welcome drink in one hand and her purse in the other. “Eeeeek. This place is awesome,” Avery said, tossing her purse aside and offering Shannon a one-arm hug. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” The bellhop placed Avery’s bag in the room and asked if there was anything else he could assist with. Shannon tipped the man and closed the door behind him. “Check out the balcony.” Avery didn’t need to be asked twice. She wandered outside and tossed her arms wide. “A private pool?” More like an oversize hot tub, but yeah. “A great place to wash the salt water off after a day in the ocean.” “This is fabulous.” They talked briefly about her flight and drive from…

Clearing his throat, Arrow said, “I came in here to see if you wanted to try to get those mats out of your hair. The guys found conditioner.” He held up a white bottle. Morgan brought a hand up to her head self-consciously. She knew how bad her hair was, had seen it firsthand in the mirror. She hadn’t wanted to take a pair of scissors to it, but was afraid it was going to be inevitable. “Sure. But I don’t know if it’ll do much good,” she told him honestly. Arrow stood and held out a hand to her. “We can try.” She liked that. We. She felt his fingers brush over her cheek in a barely there caress before he tugged on her hand, urging her to walk toward the bathroom. Maybe it was her time in captivity that made her appreciate the little things more. Arrow grabbed the ice bucket on the way into the bathroom. Morgan stood there feeling awkward as Arrow set the conditioner on the edge of the bathtub, then put his hands on his hips, surveying the room. He turned to her and gestured toward the tub. “Go on and have a seat…

“I was, uh… just, you know, starting a load of laundry.” I caged her in with my arms on either side of her body, my hands pressed against the top of the washer, and leaned down to bring my face closer to hers. “You’re a horrible liar, Tatum,” I practically growled. “You’re even worse at hiding something.” “I-I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “There’s something in here”—I tapped on the lid—“that you don’t want me to see.” “Just clothes. Dirty, smelly, sweaty clothes.” I didn’t bother to fight the smirk as I held her stare, silently calling her bluff. “And socks, too.” Her voice was almost inaudible, felt more in the air that drifted from her lips to my face than heard in the words she’d spoken. “Lots of socks.” I no longer believed she hid lingerie, though I was lost at what it could be. “Then it’s a good thing I walked in when I did, huh? You shouldn’t mix your clothes. You could ruin them if they’re not separated. But don’t worry, I’ll help you sort.” I started to pull away so I could lift the lid and end the charade, but she stopped me by…

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…

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…