Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Susan Mallery | Six Books that Are Pretty in Pink
Author Guest / February 14, 2024

My latest book, THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB (brand-new—just released on February 13) has a delicious pink cover that perfectly matches the feel-good vibe of the story. I think of this book as a self-care package for readers. Inspired by fictional heroines who risk everything for fulfillment, book-loving besties Laurel, Paris and Cassie begin to take chances—big chances—in life, in love. Facing an unwritten chapter can be terrifying. But it can be exhilarating, too, if only they can find the courage to change. THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB is a heartwarming, pick-you-up read that I hope you’ll love. Check it out—and all the fun bonus content and freebies—at https://summerbookclub.susanmallery.com. Here are 4 other recent books that also happen to be pretty in pink. If you loved any of these, I think you’ll love THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB, too.   THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren Sparks fly when a romance writer and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the ultimate Hollywood love story—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script—from the “divine” (Jodi Picoult) New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners. Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got…

Susan Mallery | Exclusive Excerpt: THE HAPPINESS PLAN
Author Guest / June 20, 2023

Note from Susan Mallery: When Fresh Fiction invited me to share an exclusive excerpt from my new book, THE HAPPINESS PLAN, I knew immediately which scene I wanted to share. This is a pivotal scene from Chapter Three. This scene is what lead Heather to realize that she needs to come up with a happiness plan for herself. It’s filled with emotion—pain, longing, love (though she’s not brave enough to call it that)—and shows Heather at her most vulnerable. You’ve probably heard that writers like to torture our characters. That’s because when we make them earn their happy ending, it’s all the sweeter. I hope you’ll enjoy this sneak peek. The Happiness Plan is one of the most emotional stories I’ve ever written, and I can’t wait to hear what you think.     Sunday morning Heather couldn’t shake the sense of restlessness that had gripped her for days. She’d fed the kittens early and had made a to-do list for the day. She would do laundry, go for a run, get groceries and care for the kittens. Busy, busy, that was her. But even as she went through the refrigerator to figure out what she needed, she found herself…

Fresh Fiction Favorite Contemporary Romances of 2018!
Author Guest / December 18, 2018

Every day from now through the end of the year, we’ll be sharing our reviewers’ favorite reads of 2018. A different genre will be featured every day! We’ll share why these books were some of our favorites and what made them so special. We hope you’ll share yours in the comments, too! Today, we have our favorite contemporary romances of the year. Let us know what you think of our picks… HOME ON HUCKLEBERRY HILL by Jennifer Beckstrand Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill #9 Reviewer: Clare O’Beara I enjoyed this lighthearted Amish romance greatly, with its points about what a wife can expect from her husband and how she can support herself even in traditional households. Romance | Christian | Amish [Zebra, On Sale: June 26, 2018, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781420144154 / eISBN: 9781420144161] When a marriage breakup is imminent, the matchmakers get to work Buy HOME ON HUCKLEBERRY HILL: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Ripped Bodice | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR  *** JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING by Christina Lauren Reviewer: Svetlana…

Susan Mallery Discusses UNTIL WE TOUCH
Author Guest / June 26, 2014

1. In what ways do you think every woman can relate to Larissa Owens? Larissa is a sweetie. She’s not rich; she’s working as a personal assistant and personal masseuse for Jack. She gets to go to work in yoga pants and touch sexy guys all over. (Dream job!) UNTIL WE TOUCH is my nod to the boss/secretary story, one of my favorite kinds of romance. Larissa has a pure heart, and when she sees someone hurting, she doesn’t just think about helping. She does help, with whatever resources are available to her. Fortunately for her, since she’s been working for Jack, he has allowed her to use his wealth and connections in service to her causes. In fact, he likes it. With Larissa using his money to try to save the world, he can feel like a part of something without actually putting himself out there. It’s a very comfortable arrangement for them both… until Larissa’s mom tells Jack that Larissa is in love with him, and everything changes. 2. What about Jack McGarry makes him like no leading man we’ve ever seen before in Fool’s Gold? I think what makes people relatable—both in fiction and in life—are our…

Fresh Pick | BEFORE WE KISS by Susan Mallery
Fresh Pick / May 28, 2014

Fresh Pick for Wednesday, May 28th, 2014 is BEFORE WE KISS by Susan Mallery #RomanceWednesday Fool’s Gold Harlequin HQN Books May 2014 On Sale: May 27, 2014 368 pages ISBN: 0373778813 EAN: 9780373778812 Kindle: B00HAZ6BHO Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List Romance Contemporary Buy A Copy Amazon.com Kindle BN.com Powell’s Books Indiebound Before We Kiss by Susan Mallery New York Times bestselling sensation Susan Mallery returns to Fool’s Gold, California, where it’s true that sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs… Former pro-football kicker Sam Ridge has notoriously bad luck with women—from cheaters to fame chasers. Still, the gorgeous brunette at the bar in Fool’s Gold looks harmless— until she takes him home and he discovers a room devoted to securing a man, for life. Dellina Hopkins never guessed that storing gowns from a friend’s bridal boutique would chase away her first and only fling. After her parents died, she skipped her “wild youth” to raise her sisters. She doesn’t want forever from Sam, but one night—all night—would’ve been nice. His clean getaway gets messy when his firm hires Dellina to plan an event. As long hours lead to late nights, the two succumb to temptation again. Has…

Susan Mallery | My Favorite Cookbooks
Author Guest / May 11, 2011

Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories of women and the relationships that move them. In her latest novel, ALREADY HOME, Jenna Stevens, still reeling from a recent divorce, is unpleasantly surprised by the arrival of her birth parents, who seem to want her to feel a family bond immediately. She was perfectly happy with the loving, traditional parents who raised her. Can she learn to love a second mother without damaging her relationship with the woman who raised her? Join Susan’s Members Only area at www.susanmallery.com for exclusive sneak peeks, short stories, and more. Recently, a friend recommended a cookbook to me. She said the chocolate chip cookie recipe in her favorite cookbook was to die for. Thick, soft, chewy, chocolatey goodness. I’m a sucker for chocolate chip cookies, so I ordered the book. This is a cookbook for someone who loves cooking. The thing is, though – and I’m letting you in on a big secret here – I don’t love cooking. I understand my friend’s mistake. After all, the heroine of my latest book, ALREADY HOME, is a chef. During the course of the book, she reconnects with her creativity in…

SUSAN MALLERY | Turns Out Size Matters After All!
Author Guest , Guests / April 28, 2010

I grew up in Los Angeles, one of the largest, loudest cities in the world. There’s a lot to love about living in a city. The sights, the sounds, the colors are exciting and energizing. No matter what your interests, you can always find classes and groups where you can meet like-minded people. Then there are the events. Every day, a hundred ways to answer the question, “What should we do today?” Art shows and museums. Live music and theater. Baseball and basketball. (I’ll confess. My answer to the aforementioned question would only be “Let’s go to the game” if there was a high-end luxury spa around the corner named The Game.) I’m big on luxury, and I enjoy instant gratification. I like that cities are on the cutting edge of technology. I like thorough cell phone coverage. When smart phones move to 5G, city people will be the first to be wowed by everything they can do. I love living in a cultural melting pot. I love walking down the street and not understanding all the languages I hear. I love the cosmopolitan feeling that comes from mingling with people from all over the world. Immigrants bring the colors…

Susan Mallery | What do our characters wish for?
Uncategorized / June 1, 2009

In the last hours before college graduation, I was saved from life as an accountant by a continuing education course titled “How to Write a Romance Novel.” Not that there’s anything wrong with being an accountant. It’s just that, for me, the infinite realm of numbers couldn’t possibly compare to the infinite realm of characters. Numbers can’t surprise you by making bad decisions. Numbers don’t have quirks that make you laugh. (Except for 43,770. For some reason, 43,770 cracks me up every time.) But “infinite” can feel overwhelming to a writer facing a blank page, and I’m always on the lookout for a new tool to get to know my characters better. I think I found one in Debbie Macomber’s wonderful book, Twenty Wishes. Anne Marie, a young widow, is stuck in a rut of grief and decides to make a list of twenty wishes, hoping this will give her something to look forward to and will restore her positive outlook on life. The bubble wrap popping scene is a hoot! I want to have a party like that. What would I learn, I wondered, if I did this exercise from the point of view of my characters? What new…

Sara Reyes | Do Special Events Make for a Better Relationship with Artists Creation?
Saturdays with Sara / May 2, 2009

And by artists I am referring to authors and film makers this time around. We’ll leave the musicians, painters, sculptors, and programmers out of the conversation. If you know me well, you’ll find I consider almost all producers of a “thing” including code as “creative artists” but I will not digress today. Back to the topic of “does meeting the artist make you like or appreciate the work better or less?” Lone Star Trilogy (May, June, July: Buy Your Copy today Pre-Order Your Copy today Pre-order Your Copy today Here’s the deal. Today we’re having a high tea with Susan Mallery. It’s a special private tea with just our book club and Susan. We’ve been looking forward and planning this event for months and no matter what happens it will be a day we’ll remember for a long time. Seriously, we still talk about dinners with authors from ten or twelve years ago, reminiscing over the time spent with them, their books we’ve read since and for those who didn’t attend, lamenting over their missed opportunity. In some way that private time spent with the author gives them a very special relationship with our reading group and individuals enduring long…

Susan Mallery | I Like…
Uncategorized / December 17, 2007

I like fruitcake. Yes, there it is. I’ve said it in public. I like it. It’s cake with fruit and nuts, which means it’s practically a health food. If my slice is big enough, it should count for at least two of the nine fruit and vegetable servings I’m supposed to have in a day. There’s enough sugar to keep me wired for at least two hours. Where’s the bad? I also like wrapping presents. I have a ritual…I wait until everything is bought, then stack them by the table, get out all my wrapping supplies, put in the original Star Wars movie and wrap. I actually try to match the right wrapping paper to the gift or the person, I use all kinds of ribbons and little toys on the packages. Some years I’m done in two movies, but most it takes me all three. I wipe up the last of the glitter just as the wookies are doing the happy dance at the end of the third movie. I like the fact that I’ve joked so much about not being a good cook that my sister in law won’t trust me with anything more than putting out rolls…