Shower me with Diamonds! by @BonnieEdwards #RomanceGems

There's an old song called Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend written by L. Robin and J. Styne. At its heart the song is a cautionary tale to young women about providing for themselves as they age. The idea is that men move on and leave you flat, or go back to their wives, or find a new model. However you slice it, diamonds will always take care of you so you need to grab them while you can.

This is the antithesis of romantic love. The idea that love and commitment are for sale and the currency is diamonds (the hardest stone) is sad. Don't you think?

My romance Diamond at Heart explores different kinds of love: familial, twisted, and the forever kind that flows from one generation to the next. 

The book starts with a murder and a terrible bargain between victim and murderer. I know, I know...I always say I don't write murder. But I did and that murder is solved decades later. 

And today Diamond at Heart is free to read. Here's a little more to whet your interest...

Someone’s watching her…and Tawny James is sick of it. There’s only one person she can turn to for help: her ex-boss, the last man on earth she wants to see again.

Private security consultant Stack Hamilton gets the call he’s wanted for months from ex-employee Tawny James. But it isn’t the “sorry I ran out on you” call he deserves. The beauty who hides her assets under the ugliest clothes he’s ever seen has a stalker and needs his help.

There’s nothing Stack won’t do for the woman he misses. Every. Single. Day. 

Together, and on fire for each other, they learn Tawny’s current problem is connected to a mob murder from the past. Possessive violence has damaged the James women for generations and Tawny is determined not to make the same mistakes with men her mother and showgirl grandmother made.

But she can’t keep her hands off Stack Hamilton and knows she won’t survive this stalking episode with her heart intact.

And Stack will do anything to keep Tawny safe. Everything but let her go again.

I am in the throes of moving this book from being a Kindle exclusive title to making it available on Apple, Nook and Kobo. (and more) This means nothing if you grab your copy now, but once the move is made the book will not be free again. (no pressure, but ...)

Bonnie Edwards has been writing all her life, starting with a poem about Santa suffering with gout. She was seven, Santa was a thousandteen years old. Delighted with writing, she went on to write family sagas, humorous contemporary romance, romantic suspense, erotic paranormal ghost romances and more. She may jump around within romance, but all her stories come with a tear, a laugh, and a happy ending. Published by Kensington Books, Harlequin Books, Carina Press, and Robinson (UK) Bonnie’s stories stretch from short stories to novellas and novels. Now, she's happy to be publishing her work herself. With over 30 titles to her credit, she has been translated into several languages and sold books worldwide. Aside from standalone romances, she has 4 ongoing romance series, Tales of Perdition, The Brantons, and Love at Christmas. Contemporary family sagas find a home in Return to Welcome. She's hard at work on a brand new series coming in summer 2021. Learn about more exciting releases and get a free romance by subscribing to her newsletter, Bonnie’s Newsy Bits

 Website BookBub Amazon Facebook Twitter

Cheers and happy reading!

Bonnie Edwards

Grab a FREE copy of My Lord Raven by Jan Scarbrough

The 12th annual Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale takes place Sunday March 7 through Saturday, March 13, 2021.

MY LORD RAVEN is one of my most popular books. During the Smashwords sale, it is FREE but only on Smashwords.

To protect what little family she has left, Lady Catrin Fitzalan switches places with her cousin when King Edward orders the pious girl to wed his royal champion, a vicious knight called the King’s Raven. Rumors abound that this savage is responsible for the deaths of Lady Catrin’s father and brother. How can she allow her sweet cousin to wed a murderer?

Bran ap Madog, bastard son of a Welsh prince, has devoted his life to serving the English king. His badge is the raven, a creature that feeds off rotting spoils, just as Bran feeds off the spoils of war. Now he wants a reward for his service: a wealthy wife and the land and power she can bring him.

But there’s another side to the rapacious black birds Bran has chosen for his badge. Social and family-oriented, ravens mate for life. Which gives them something Bran never had—a family, a sense of belonging, and a rightful place in the world. Bran has fought for everything he’s ever had. But his last battle, with his new wife, may cost him the one thing he isn’t prepared to lose: his heart.

Grab your FREE book here.

****

In my February blog I wrote:

Romance novels (and Hallmark Channel movies) are about the conflicts leading up to true love. We love reading about whatever keeps the hero and heroine apart, but we always know they will end up happily-ever-after (HEA). Let’s face it, life is not always HEA. Because of that, we often need to escape into the world of books.

We like HEA endings if we read romance. We all want to be lucky in love, don't you think?

Download The Free Prequel by Judith Hudson

It's been a year since I joined the Romance Gems and I thought it was time to take a step back and welcome you to the world of Fortune Bay, my contemporary small town romance series!

I feel lucky to live on Vancouver Island, a tree-hugger's paradise, and the real location of Fortune Bay. I know the books say the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, it's really based just across the Juan de Fuca Strait in the physical village of Honeymoon Bay on Vancouver Island, where I lived for a number of years and close to where I live now.

The books are about friendships, family and, of course, a happily-ever-after for the couple who  star in each story.

In every book, someone new moves into the Murphy family's ramshackle cabin on the lake which proves to be a haven for people at the crossroads of their lives, as the tag line says.

They share the cabin with Aunt Augusta, the meddling matchmaking ghost of the great-aunt of our first  heroes, Colleen and Jake while they stumble through the laughter and tears that make a good romance so compelling.

If this sounds like something you think you'd like, click  HERE to receive a free ecopy  of  Lake of Dreams, the first book in the series, and I'll add you to my readers group and send that free copy right away.

Welcome to Fortune Bay!

Judith Hudson

Return to Welcome's Next Book by @BonnieEdwards #RomanceGems

Amazon Exclusive

Our theme on Romance Gems this month is What's Next? And I've done something a little different with my small town romance series, Return to Welcome. Available NOW!

I've joined two different series by taking a character from my Love at Christmas books and moved him to the lovely town of Welcome, WA, where it's not-so-easy to return.

Amazon Exclusive

                     

Max Whyte moves to Welcome where he hires single mom Kaylin Simpson to reno his home. Her new job is Kaylin's first piece of good luck since moving back to town. Seems simple, right? But returning to Welcome never is...


Linking two series has been fun and interesting for me. I get to revisit characters I haven't "talked" to in a long time and I get to set the story in a familiar place I created two years ago and have "visited" three previous times. It's new and familiar all at once. I hope you take this journey with me.

And just to sweeten things today only, Craving Jake Return to Welcome Book 3 is available for #FREE here: Amazon Exclusive

Returning to Welcome was easy…staying will be a challenge. Especially when someone is determined to drive her out.

Brianna Bowler has returned to her small town of Welcome to help run Bowler’s Dog Rescue. She’s also doing everything she can to set aside thoughts of her high school crush Jake Morrow. Jake appears to be with a perfectly perfect sprite of a woman. (Not that she minds how opposite she and the sprite are. Really, she doesn’t.)

Paramedic Jake Morrow has a woman in his house: she cooks, cleans, clings —and irritates the hell out of him. He’d felt sorry for her, injured, alone and broke, and offered to help. Big mistake.

What would really make Jake’s day? His ex-girlfriend finally moving out. But she won’t take his word for it that things are over.

What’s worse is Brianna Bowler's return to Welcome. Their shared tragic past and attraction burns between them as Jake accepts that things aren’t quite right with his ex.

A break-in at the dog rescue, smashed windows, and a stolen laptop all add up to serious trouble for Jake and Brianna. But with his ex in the wind and escalating, Jake’s protective instincts rise as events take a deadly turn.

With the love of his life in danger, Jake comes to see that some women can’t be set aside, not even for their own good…but others want revenge.

Below is our monthly rafflecopter draw. This giveaway ends on Jan. 31 so you have lots of chances to enter. Come back often!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a233/

Diamonds Are Your Best Friend by @BonnieEdwards #RomanceGems

This past Monday was Thanksgiving in Canada. I am grateful for so many things, not least of which is my ability to publish my own works in a way that suits my schedule and rhythm of my life.

Speaking of schedules…the next “big” thing is Hallowe’en and with four grandsons between three and seven, it’s a really BIG thing. The youngest is very into Paw Patrol and wanted, desperately, to be Rocky, the recycling pup, but alas, Rocky costumes are not in vogue so he has to settle on being Marshall the fire dog pup. As to our schedule for this big event? All I know is that we’ll be available to help shell out, or go trick or treating or whatever is needed.

For the Romance Gems every day this month is Treat Day…no tricks. The last time I posted I gave away two e-copies of a book. THIS time, I decided to set up two days (today and tomorrow) of a FREE promotion for Diamond at Heart.

FREE on AMAZON

This sexy novella has some romantic suspense that is connected to a long-dead cold case… Read Diamond at Heart and see why diamonds are not always a girl’s best friend.

Someone’s watching her…and Tawny James is sick of it. There’s only one person she can turn to for help: her ex-boss, the last man on earth she wants to see again.

Private security consultant Stack Hamilton gets the call he’s wanted for months from ex-employee Tawny James. But it isn’t the “sorry I ran out on you” call he deserves. The beauty who hides her assets under the ugliest clothes he’s ever seen has a stalker and needs his help.

There’s nothing Stack won’t do for the woman he misses. Every. Single. Day.

Together, and on fire for each other, they learn Tawny’s current problem is connected to a mob murder from the past. Possessive violence has damaged the James women for generations and Tawny is determined not to make the same mistakes with men her mother and showgirl grandmother made.

But she can’t keep her hands off Stack Hamilton and knows she won’t survive this stalking episode with her heart intact. And Stack will do anything to keep Tawny safe. Everything but let her go again.

So, while the Gems may not be “tricking” people today I am certainly “treating” everyone who reads the blog to a free read. Enjoy! And please, if you check out the reviews on this book, take note of the 1 star…it is keeping my average rating for this book low. If you’d like to help raise the rating please leave a review—after you’ve actually read the book! LOL and thanks for reading this far.

Don't forget to enter our October Rafflecopter!

October Rafflecopter: NO TRICKS—JUST TREATS

CHCH CHANGES by Nora LeDuc # RomanceGems

As the August days grow shorter and cooler, I grow excited for the upcoming season. September is a strange month in New England. Summer will make a teasing comeback, while autumn lurks in the chilly evenings and mornings. Despite our hopes, fall will win the battle and bring us fresh opportunities.

Sweater weather means digging out the warmer wardrobe and hoping it still fits! I look forward to apple picking and the delicious odor of baking pies filling my kitchen. Each day, I'll check for the first glimmer of the turning leaves. Mother Nature's oranges, reds and yellows always astonish me. It's also time when we say goodbye to our vacation plans. My husband and I will savor one last bittersweet trip to the beach. We like to head to the Seafood Festival. For one price, you can eat to your heart's delight or just enjoy walking in the main street closed to traffic. You can take in the sights of the pop-up tents lining the walkways and sporting crafts, food, or clothes. Maybe while you're browsing, you'll run into a friend or two.

Another fun trip is going to the fair. In my imagination, I can already catch the pungent odor of fried onions. hear golden crisp french fries sizzling, and the taste of the chicken grilled or barbecued. You can grab a ride on the Midway, but beware the spinning types if you just ate. I love to wander through the 4-H exhibits to discover who won ribbons this year. Then there's the flute man selling his CDs, the man hawking knives that cut through soda cans, and of course the beef jerky. When you'd done with the booths visit the barns. Seems every year a cow or pig has her little ones with her. Who can resist them? And don't forget the shows. The Axe Women of Maine is a favorite and truly unusual.

The Axe Women of Maine

So as as the daylight decreases, we can spend more hours reading. I'm happy to report my book TRAIL OF Secrets is free today and tomorrow. This is the first story in my new series: Love & Lies in Paradise, a Romantic Suspense novel set in a small town in Florida.

Who killed the vivacious Emily McGuire and laid out her body at the town water tower? Orderly, rule-follower Mia McGuire is the least likely person to answer this question. Mia's life has taken a downward spiral with her sister's murder, the breakup with her boyfriend and losing her editor position. But when the homicide investigation crawls, Mia can't stand by doing nothing. She hires ex-cop and daredevil Lucas Davis to her her find the truth. Together they being a journey that puts themselves and their hearts at risk.

Don't forget to get your copy!! Happy Reading, my friends.