Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Chencia C. Higgins | 20 Questions: D’VAUGHN AND KRIS PLAN A WEDDING
Author Guest / January 25, 2022

1–What is the title of your latest release? D’VAUGHN AND KRIS PLAN A WEDDING 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?  It’s 90 Day Fiancé meets The Amazing Race when two women who’ve never met before have six weeks to convince their families that they’re marrying one another. Each week brings a list of tasks they must execute all while dragging their loved ones along for the ride, but on the way to the altar their pretend feelings turn real and when they reach the finish line they have to decide if it’s worth the risk to turn something fake into forever. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?  The setting for just about all of my books is my hometown of Houston, TX, so that made this one a no-brainer. The city is so large and diverse that it makes it easy to drop a fictional cast of characters there. 4–Would you hang out with D’Vaughn in real life?  Absolutely. She’s funny, kind, and likes to eat; all qualities I hold dear. 5–What are three words that describe Kris? Sexy, smooth, strong. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?  I learned that…

A.M. Arthur | Author-Reader Match: HIS FRESH START COWBOY
Author Guest / January 25, 2022

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 A.M. Arthur! Writes: LGBTQ+ romance with heaping doses of angst, probably some tears, but always a Happily Ever After for my main characters. While I do dabble in paranormal, I mostly write contemporary, such as my brand new cowboy series, HIS FRESH START COWBOY, which launches the Woods Ranch series with Carina Press. There are plenty of sexy times and romance to be found on the ranch, especially in this best friend’s-brother story set in a north Texas cattle ranch. About: A small-town girl who loves writing about equally small towns and characters who find big love there, I am avid reader and cat lover. I also enjoy cooking at home and experimenting with new flavor profiles, so you will frequently find food references in my stories. My favorite thing to do in the evening is cuddle up on the couch with a fuzzy throw blanket, my two cats, and a good book. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match:…

Allie Therin | Exclusive Excerpt: PROPER SCOUNDREL
Author Guest / December 22, 2021

Discomfort was the first thing Sebastian became aware of, his mouth parched and his head pounding. He ignored both, struggling to recall what had happened. Mercier—the ring of fire— Lord Fine. Sebastian’s eyes flew open and he sat up. Or tried to. He swore as metal bit into his wrists. His arms were stretched up and out to either side, cuffed to—he craned his neck with difficulty, following the line of his right arm—cuffed to— Bedposts? Tall mahogany bedposts, exquisitely carved, and above them stretched a deep green canopy, embroidered with gold. His head rested on something soft, and the fabric against his cheek was like silk. A twitch of his legs confirmed they were free, and there was no bite of lead against his skin. So someone with significant money had cuffed him to a bed, but they hadn’t taken his magic into account— “Finally awake, are you?” Sebastian turned his head to the left, toward the sound of Lord Fine’s voice. The viscount was only a few feet away, sitting in a chair of dark wood and green velvet. He had removed his jacket, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows above bandaged forearms, and on his lap…

Jayce Ellis | 20 Questions: IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING
Author Guest / December 20, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING 2–What is it about? DeShawn, who was raised by his grandmother, learns that her cancer has returned and she’s not going to pursue further treatment. In her will, she decides to leave part of her estate to DeShawn’s ex-husband, Malik. Except it turns out Malik isn’t his ex at all, because the divorce never went through (this happens more than you might think). DeShawn’s Uncle Robert ends up suing Malik, and that pushes them together. You’ll have to read to figure out the rest. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  I love that this is more DC-adjacent than fully focused in city. So many people are just outside DC, but live and work and love there. So there are moments in Upper Marlboro and Baltimore that hold just as much weight as being in DC proper. 4–How did DeShawn surprise you?  I don’t think I quite expected the arc DeShawn went on, and his final decisions about what he wanted to do career-wise. It was a way for him to have the best of both worlds, and I was thrilled to give it to…

Rien Gray | 20 Questions: HER WOLF IN THE WILD
Author Guest / October 21, 2021

1—What is the title of your latest release? HER WOLF IN THE WILD. It’s out from Carina Press now! 2—What is it about? Christiana—a young bisexual woman—is on the run from her abusive boyfriend, who also happens to be a member of Arizona law enforcement. She gets picked up off the road by Micah, a butch biker who runs the Hounds of God, a local motorcycle club. Except it turns out the MC is a cover for the local werewolf pack—of which Micah is their alpha—that already has some trouble with the cops going on. The last complication these two need is finding out that they might be fated mates. 3—What do you love about the setting of your book?  It was really nice to go back to Arizona, metaphorically speaking. I lived there when I was twenty, and putting a supernatural edge to the desert was a lot of fun. I also liked exploring the background of LGBTQ+ motorcycle clubs, since that’s not what comes to mind when most people think of an MC. 4—How did Christiana surprise you?  She’s a younger and less experienced protagonist than I usually write, so finding her voice and motivation took a different…

Charlotte Anne Hamilton | 20 Questions: THE BREATH BETWEEN WAVES
Author Guest / August 11, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE BREATH BETWEEN WAVES 2–What is it about? It’s an historical sapphic romance set aboard the fateful maiden voyage of RMS Titanic, where the main character, Penelope Fletcher, is moving to America and is sharing a cabin with Ruby Cole, a free-willed Irish woman who Penelope is immediately drawn and attracted to. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book? That it’s just one place? But in all honesty, the Titanic was such an incredible ship for its time and the sheer luxury and glamour of it was fun to reproduce while writing—even if the characters are sailing in Second Class and so don’t really experience much of the more lavish amenities. 4–How did your heroine surprise you? The way she handles the sinking. All throughout we see that Penelope isn’t really sure of herself or where she stands in the world, or with the people in her life. But the sinking brings out another side of her that I really hadn’t expected as I was planning and drafting it. 5–Why will readers love her love interest? Because she’s spunky. And outgoing. She is one of those people who has…

Hayden Stone | Exclusive Excerpt: AN UNEXPECTED KIND OF LOVE
Author Guest / August 9, 2021

We look at each other across the shop. Or, more accurately, I glare at her. Thankfully, there’re no customers present to witness my daily mortifications by a uni student barely younger than me who loves to mop up the floor with my pride. The truth is we met in a book club a couple of years back, and we became fast friends. She gave hilarious reviews, which turned out to be handy for the shop. She thought I was delightfully quirky. It would have been the perfect spring romance, except that I’m attracted to men, and I was together with my ex. At any rate, we’ve got the banter down, especially now that I rely on her help in the shop. Customers love her, too. She pretends to reconsider. “Or how about ‘Aubrey Barnes, Fierce Defender of Books’? That’s got a superhero thing going on. More sympathetic, I think. Am I right or am I right?” Gemma gives an impish smile. Once upon a time, I was just Aubrey Barnes, ready to go for pints or a gig or the occasional big night out. Back before life became too real. Now, I’m twenty-three going on forty-three. I sigh, noting the…

Rachel Reid | Title Challenge: ROLE MODEL
Author Guest / August 9, 2021

Thanks so much for inviting me to give readers a bit of info about ROLE MODEL! This is the fifth book in my Game Changers m/m hockey romance series. NHL star Troy Barrett has recently been traded to the struggling Ottawa Centaurs after calling out his Toronto teammate and best friend, Dallas Kent, during practice after learning some horrible things about him. On top of being disgusted by his now ex-best friend, Troy has also been recently dumped by his secret boyfriend of two years. Now he finds himself heartbroken, angry, and alone in Ottawa. Harris Drover, the social media manager for the Ottawa Centaurs, is friendly, cheerful, and openly gay. He is wary at first of Troy because he comes with a reputation for being a jerk, but he finds himself fascinated by the sullen, and undeniably gorgeous, hockey star. Harris is determined to make Troy smile, and Troy is determined to become a better man. R is for Rozanov, Ilya. He’s a major supporting character. O is for Ottawa, the city the book is set in. L is for laughing way too loud, which Harris does all the time. E is for eggnog season, Harris’s favorite time of…