IT'S RAINING MEN! MY FAVORITE KIND OF APRIL SHOWERS. By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless

 

Back in my single days when my best friend said I needed a theme song, I chose “It’s Raining Men”.  Not because men were abundant in my part of the world where there are still eight single women to every single man. It was more like a plea and a belief in the power of positive thinking. 

Something must have worked because after 80, I stopped counting how many first dates I went on.  Suffice to say, very few contenders made it to date three.  After all, a girl has her standards.  And you can tell a lot just by a man’s name before you even meet.  I went through a spate of Garys, Larrys and Barrys, and none of them were for me.  Luckily there were always book boyfriends. 

These days, between my reading and writing it really does feel like it’s raining men.  With many of my own books having the name of the hero in the title, it’s not easy to come up with a new, yet suitable name for each of those hunks.  Plus, if I’m in a multi-author series, I have to make sure I’m not using the same name as one of the other authors. 

I must confess, because I work on more than one book at a time most days, it’s not always easy to keep the men sorted.  Will is the ex-con.  Riley is the wealthy miner.  Shane is the bad-boy best friend of the heroine’s brother.  Denton is the sheriff.  Blaze is the stuntman.  Denby is the undercover investigator.  Then there’s my series with the seven brothers, where I gave each one a name beginning with B: Brody, Bradley, Braydon and so forth.  I liked the alliteration with Bride in the title, even though my editor worried my readers might get confused.  So far not a single complaint.  Phew!

What kind of name do you prefer your book boyfriend heroes have?  Do you like something different?  I mean, who could ever forget Roark in Shanna?  Or do you prefer a more formal name like Jonathan?  Personally, I like a name that rarely gets shortened, except perhaps by the heroine in a moment of intimacy.  Would it put you off reading a book if you didn’t like the hero’s name?  Cue back to my dating days.  More than likely it would for me. 

This month, BRODY’S BRIDE is on sale for only 99 cents in a multi-author promotion of first-in-series historical romances.  Check it out on Bookfunnel.  You might just fall in love with your next book boyfriend.  

No matter what the weather, as long as we have romance novels, it will always be raining men.  https://books.bookfunnel.com/histrom99c/ewt0st0z9n

There is also a promo of new historical releases from January to March.  Check here to see if you missed any favorites.     https://books.bookfunnel.com/histromnew2/fc2hrql36j      

 

For now, stay dry and enjoy a good read. 

Kathleen

 

Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her many alpha male heroes.   

Her hero, Steele, in HER UNDERCOVER COWBOY is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was wooed by a man called Steel—while he’s not a cowboy, he is an Alpha male and her forever hero.  Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After.

Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Newsletter to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers.    http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

 

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What's Luck Got To Do With It by Laura Hunsaker

Lucky In Love 

If you saw my comment on the Coffee Chat, you'll see that someone was unlucky enough to have me as his Valentine's Day date (click here to read it). But while that was unlucky for him, I guess it was lucky for me. I met my husband shortly after that disastrous date.

My husband and I will have been married for 19 years this summer. For a man who doesn't believe in love at first sight, he says he took one look at me and knew I was the one. Our almost 20 years together seem to have a pretty solid basis for the fact the he at the very least believes in love at first sight with me ;)

Our story is a fun one. We met on the Las Vegas Strip one night and the rest is history. I was in the back of a Jeep with my friend and a boy she liked. Some cute boys in a red car kept hollering at us (we ignored them). 

At a red light, one of them yelled, "Hey! Is that your boyfriend up there?" I rolled my eyes at him and said, "If he were my boyfriend, he'd be sitting next to me right here." I patted my seat. That cute boy hopped out of the car and climbed in next to me!

I was like, "Uhh...do this a lot?" as I pressed myself against the side of the seat away from the weirdo who had just jumped in. "No, first time. So what are you doing tonight?" I was sassy, and told him, "Dropping you off at the next corner." "He laughed and said, "Okay, but you should let me buy you dinner sometime." 

I wound up staying out until 4am with him (not alone, in our group!), and luckily he had absolutely no other creeper tendencies. I kept thinking I'd just gotten out of a relationship (See bad Valentine's Day Coffee Chat again) and I didn't really want a boyfriend...but he was pretty awesome and here we are almost 20 years later. We have our own Happily Ever After ending right now, and I thank my lucky stars he was bold enough to hop into the back of that Jeep with me. 

If you'd like to read a happy story where the characters are lucky in love, grab my short story DREAMS OF THE PAST for $.99.

 

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Smashwords | Goodreads

She needs rest, he needs relaxation… 

Jenny Travers wants a fresh start. Leaving the nightmares of her past behind her, she heads to Last Chance Beach. Renting the Sea Glass Cottage sounds peaceful and relaxing, which is exactly what she needs. 

What she doesn’t need is a man. 

Lieutenant Commander Scott Gordon was injured by an IED on his last mission, and while his leg has healed, it’ll never be strong enough to stay on his SEAL team. Renting the Sea Glass Cottage sounds like the perfect place to figure out how he’s going to handle his new normal. 

He never expected to find a woman in his bed. 

A mix-up at the rental agency means Jenny and Scott are both renting the small cottage. Sharing a space with a stranger should be hard, yet they both feel more at peace than they have in months. 

Will their summer romance last, or is the magic of Sea Glass Cottage all they’ll have…

My Grandparents by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

My grandmother was a teacher and a working mom in a time when women didn't do that. She was an English teacher for 30 years and ended up being Regional Teacher of the Year. She was a Kansas Princess who became a Texan's wife. She started and maintained the public library in her town, and she owned over 1000 books herself. Which she organized into her own personal card catalog. And boy howdy, was she smart. Playing Twenty Questions with her was like...well...the hardest thing ever.

My granddad, her husband, was a pharmacist. He took over his father's confectionary shop when he got home from WWII -- he was a Sea Bee -- and put a pharmacy in it. It was a drug store, complete with a soda fountain and booths and swivel seats. And Blue Bell ice cream. He was a hard worker. Gentle. Kind. And his parents were from Spain -- but that's a story for another time.

My grandma grew up picking cotton. She quit school when she was in 3rd grade in order to help her family pick cotton. They moved around a lot. She was German, Texan, sweet as jam and pie, and couldn't raise her voice. Even when she tried. She had three rowdy boys -- and I do mean rowdy -- and she couldn't holler at them. She could cook like you would not believe and playing scrabble with her was impossible. She won every time.

My grandpa started working when he was 12. He had twelve brothers and sisters and he had to make money. He was the second oldest and worked on a diary farm. All the money he made he sent home. His employer fed him, and he slept in the loft. He was German, hard-nosed, hard-working, and a Sergeant in the Army during WWII. He died on Thanksgiving Day.

I've been thinking about them a lot lately. Probably because of the holiday. I hosted Thanksgiving this year. It was my second opportunity to host.

I also happen to be the keeper of many of my grandmother's and grandma's things.

I served the turkey on my grandmother's Thanksgiving platter, and we ate off of her wedding china. I sat at her Duncan Five table and in her folding chairs. And all of the platters and china I used are stored in my grandma's china cabinet.

This Thanksgiving was a sweet and blessed day. I felt so very close to all four of them. Losing my grandpa on Thanksgiving was tough. He died in 1998, the year I got married. He's been gone for awhile now, so I can think of him without tears, but that love/pain is there in my chest. I miss him. I miss all of them. They're all gone now, but I know they watch over me.

I also ended up dedicating my most recent book to them. It's weird how things work out. The story got me thinking about them because, well, the heroine, Truly Cunningham, gets married on Christmas day. And my grandma got married on Christmas day. That's the day my grandpa had off from work. The only day, in fact.

There's so much more I could say about these four people. Even now, I thank them often for being there for me and shaping me into the person I am.

The Christmas Bride released on November 21st! It is $0.99 cents and ready to help you snuggle up and get cozy during this upcoming winter season!

The Christmas Bride

Historical Romance

Truly Cunningham flees after her fiancé jilts her for her sister. With nowhere to go, she ends up in Pike’s Run, Texas, hiding in the town’s opulent Royal Hotel. As she nurses her pain, finding no comfort in the Christmas season, she is slowly running out of funds. She must find a way to support herself or return to Dallas where her sister is the wife Truly had planned to be.

Alfred Taylor, manager of the Royal Hotel, hates Christmas. The decorations. The celebrations. The presents. All of it. And he must help the Ladies’ Auxiliary put on the Christmas Eve social. The only bright spot is the presence of a new guest, Truly Cunningham. She is beautiful, mysterious, and warming parts of his heart he thought dead.

When Truly asks for a position in his hotel as hostess of the establishment, Alfred immediately hires her. Which becomes dangerous. He can’t stay away from her, and even worse, wants to spill his secrets. Will he lose his one chance at happiness, or will Christmas finally give him the hope it promises?

Pumpkin Patch Wars by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

Like many this summer, I’m spending a lot of time outdoors, and our vegetable garden is bigger than ever. Each day I’m proud of the bounty we harvest – an array of squashes, cucumbers, string beans, tomatoes, and herbs. But there’s one part of our garden I’m particularly proud of. My pumpkin patch!

I was that kid growing up. Running home after trick-or-treating to watch Linus in the most sincere pumpkin patch. Heck, there was even a Beagle. What’s not to love?!

Almost every year since I’ve purchased pumpkins—loads of 'em, in all shapes, sizes, and varieties—starting just after Labor Day. But this is 2020, and I’m staying home as much as possible. So…what can a dedicated pumpkin aficionado do if she can’t scour the farm stands, markets, and garden centers for pumpkins? She grows them!

Everything has gone better than expected in my personal pumpkin patch. Seeds, growing into great hunking, thriving plants. I chose bush variety pumpkins – small, multi-colored ones (named Kandy Korn – Cute!) and big, jack-o-lantern carving types. They’re fantastic! Promising an abundant crop in just a few short weeks.

That was until the other morning when IT happened. *GASP* I was out watering when I saw it. Little orange, yellow, and green chunks on the dark brown earth. Someone, or rather something, was EATING my pumpkins!

Okay…no big deal you might say. What did you expect? You live in the north woods of New England. There are bound to be many creatures, checking out what’s good to eat in your garden. But this is MY PUMPKIN PATCH! The one I’ve tended and nurtured for months now. The one with special flowers to attract the bees, and bunny fencing, and scarecrows. I’m sorry Mr. Squirrel and Mrs. Chipmunk, but with harvest time just around the corner, this means war!

Mr. H and Darling Daughter discovered me, out of sorts and grumbling, hunched over my laptop doing research. More fencing, special netting, garden cloches… Okay, maybe. Scarecrows. I’ve got those. Plus beady-eyed, black cat decoys that supposedly frighten the marauding munchers away. Total waste of money. They’ll be Halloween decorations after this. Maybe I need an owl scarecrow?!! Could work. Or hot pepper spray? What could possibly go wrong with Jalapeno Pepper spray combined with three crazy hounds? No way will I kill our little forest friends, so… *sigh* and *bigger sigh*

After much hemming and hawing, an ultrasonic, solar-powered animal repeller is on its way from Amazon. I feel giddy. Like Harry Potter when he received his Nimbus 2000. My techno-toy, rodent repeller will arrive any day now. I’ll keep you posted on how well it works. Or, if I simply horrify the neighbors. TOTALLY could happen! 😊

As of today, the woodland creatures are winning the war. BUT we’ll see when that brown package arrives on my doorstep. MUAHAHAHAH

If you have any sage advice for stopping pilfering pumpkin poachers, please share.

Until next time... Stay safe and be well. Thanks for reading!

~ Kathryn

***

Have you picked up your copy of Last Chance Beach: Summer's End? 

My story - Secondhand Hearts - is just one of the 14 all new short stories from best-selling and award winning Romance Gems authors.

This is a limited-time-only collection.

Only 99 cents on Amazon

Did I mention there's a FREE companion book?

Cocktails on Last Chance Beach!

Download a copy from your favorite digital bookseller HERE

Our Comment to Win GIVEAWAY is back!

If you wish to enter, just leave a comment that includes your email

(write your addy out, so spammers don’t grab it)

Enter every day for more chances to win!

Secondhand Hearts by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

I’m so excited about all the shares this month, as some of our Romance Gems authors kick off the first-ever boxed set, Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End!

I grew up near the ocean, and I LOVE a beautiful beach. Trust me, Last Chance Beach is a unique island paradise you'll want to visit. And why not? It was imagined into eBook existence by fourteen best selling and award winning romance authors. Sun, sand, sea and salty kisses. *sigh* What's not to love? So, without further ado, here’s my cover reveal for Secondhand Hearts, my contribution to this debut short story set!

Ready for a teaser?

Life takes you down many winding paths. Will theirs lead to love on Last Chance Beach?

Tasked with convincing her beloved grandmother to move back to the mainland, Kat Worthington returns to Last Chance Beach. This vacation island paradise is filled with cherished memories, and the thought of relocating her loved one weighs heavy on Kat’s heart. Is the alternative to uproot her life, stay on the island, and help run Gran’s charming B&B and antique shop?

Handsome neighbor, Ben Hadley, sure hopes it is. He and his playful pup are doing their best to upend Kat’s plans. Will their efforts convince her to stay?

Or will it require some of Gran’s special island magic?

***

Ahh...magic. There it is! You knew it would be somewhere in my book. Aside from the romantic magic of the setting, Kat's grandmother seems to possess a special gift for "knowing" what's coming their way. But don't take my word for it. You can read all about it in a few short weeks. Last Chance Beach: Summer's End releases for only 99 cents on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited, August 4th, 2020. Pre-order today for delivery to your device on that day. Psst... There's even a special surprise gift.

Until then, do you know the Legend of Last Chance Beach? Author Joan Reeves shares with us, so don't miss out. I don't know about you, but she had me at, "Many years ago, when travel was done by rails and sails..." My affinity for historic and time travel romances, I suppose.

Here's something else fun until release day, a special video created by our own Maddie James. Ear worm alert! The song sticks with you. 😊

I know I'm heading to Last Chance Beach. I can't wait! Why not join me there?

Thanks for reading!

~ Kathryn

Don't forget to enter our JULY CONTEST HERE!

Or go directly to the RAFFLECOPTER

July Prizes 

1st Prize: $20.00 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize: $15.00 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: $10.00 Amazon Gift Card

Best of luck to everyone!

Feeling Hot! Hot! Hot! by Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

My name is Dania, that’s Dan-i-a, (not Dana,) Browne, and I’m the star of the hit sitcom, The Golden Rule. Yes, I have pink hair. I’m  hiding on Last Chance Beach because a sex tape went viral, and now I’m in danger of losing my job and my endorsements.

It’s a steamy, hot summer day here, and I’ve been asked by my publicist to interview George Johnston, Urban Designer, extraordinaire. Because I’m in hiding I’m sticking with the pseudonym, Marcia. 

George has been hired by some entity to plan and design what Last Chance Beach should look like in the future, and those of us who have homes here aren’t happy.

No one on Last Chance Beach wants anything to change. Those who own and rent, like things just the way they are. This is a safe haven for us, and it’s our last chance to find love. We don’t want anyone mucking that up. Now, on with the interview.

 Marcia: So, George Johnston of the million degrees, please tell us who hired you and why? Was it the municipality?

George:  I have a BS in Environmental Design and Planning, an MA in Architecture and in Town Design, plus over 20 years in private and public sector planning and land use planning. I was hired by an interested party to help craft a “vision” and land use plan for the next 20 years. We’re doing this in an effort to maintain and enhance the unique qualities and characteristics of  the island.

Marcia:  Wonderful. But how does the Legend of Last Chance Beach fit into your developmental plans?

George:  I don’t have development plans per say.  I was hired by an interested investor to help guide future development via their “vision” planning.  The investor recognizes the need to help preserve the unique characteristics of the island while allowing for manageable growth.  Generally, new development should occur near existing centers such as the downtown and the scattered businesses that dot the island.  In addition, scenic roadways leading from the bridge and ferry terminal to the town should be maintained and enhanced with vistas and some historical markers.  

Much of the island should remain as a preserve with very limited development as it acts as the island watershed providing year around, clean water for residents and businesses.  The main part of the island will ultimately grow but at a reasonable pace with a strong architectural code to maintain its rich architectural heritage.  Beaches should remain public overall with plenty of easy access except in areas designated as ecological preserves.  Last Chance Beach should be enhanced with walking paths and picnic areas for families and young lovers.

Marcia: What about the families who have lived here forever? What about the summer residences? Do you plan on preserving them?

George:  Many of the residential structures are considered historical at the behest of the owners and will maintain their historical significance over time.  The island (by virtue of being an island) does have a certain “carrying capacity” given the ecology, limited rainfall and other biological and geological aspects.  Future growth will sustain itself within that context such that island shouldn’t over develop and force long-time family’s away due to over-valued properties and the resultant property taxes.

Marcia: There are many older establishments like my family’s bungalow. Rods, the old fisherman’s hangout at the end of the pier, The Sands Hotel, The J. Rogers for seafood, and Waves the convenience mart. They’re landmarks, aren’t they?

George:  Yes, many of these establishments are already historical landmarks or are slated to be.  The island has a strong preservation ethic and local historical society.  However, not every building or structure can be designated as “historical”.  Rather than force private property owners to accept a historical designation, incentives such as tax breaks should be pursued instead.

Marcia: And if the town doesn’t agree with this interested investor’s plans, what can we do?

George:  The vision and plan for the island is up to the “stakeholders” – i.e. property owners, business entities, and other interest groups – not me.  My job is to help clarify their vision by providing expertise in urban design and ecological planning.  Ultimately, through such combined efforts, a “plan” will result that all can be proud of and worth caring about.

Marcia: Thank you George. You talk a good talk. Now let’s see what happens.

Come to Last Chance Beach, the island paradise where Dreams go to live again, and Wishes come true. Don't forget to enter this month's drawing to win an Amazon Card.

Be sure to enter our MONTHLY GIVEAWAY for a chance to win some great prizes!

Pull up a beach chair and pour yourself a frothy beverage. Let the 14 authors in this boxset transport you to Last Chance Beach. Come for the Fun and stay for the Romance.

Pre-order Last Chance Beach here:  

https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Reeves-ebook/dp/B08CV3GN3R

ABOUT MARCIA KING-GAMBLE

Marcia King-Gamble is a National Bestselling author of over 45 books and novellas. She originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States.

Marcia claims exercise, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family, keep her sane.

My latest release can be found on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Heart-H-Caldwells-Book-ebook

Find Marcia King-Gamble Online

Instagram * Amazon * Website

Facebook * Twitter

Escaping the Heat in Bar Harbor @karilemor #RomanceGems

In many parts of New England, it can get warm and steamy in July. People go in swarms to buy air conditioners or put their window units in. It usually doesn’t last long, but for the few weeks of sweltering heat, it’s difficult to do much except relax in a pool if you have one, frolic in the ocean on a beach, or sip cool drinks in front of a fan.

One of my favorite places to escape to during this time is Bar Harbor, Maine on Mt. Desert Island. Being on the northern coast of the state, it can be much cooler during these hot days of summer. The ocean breeze is always a relief during the day. And at night, the temps can get cool enough to need a light sweater if you’re walking around.

My husband and I discovered the wonders of Bar Harbor the year before we got married on a spontaneous trip up the coast one long weekend. We enjoyed it so much we decided that’s where we wanted to go for a honeymoon. As we got married the first week in August, it was perfect timing.

Years later, when our three children were at an age to start doing some hiking, we began taking them up every summer. We’d stay in a great motel near town that had a few small apartments so we didn’t have to pay the price for five people each meal. The kids loved the Murphy beds that pulled out of the wall. Such an adventure.

This was taken on top of Cadillac Mountain standing next to Stephen King

                           

Some of our favorite places to go were Acadia National Park and drive the Park Loop Road. Take a drive up to the top of Cadillac Mountain to see the sunset (where we ran into and chatted with Stephen King one year - that was cool and he was super nice). Hike the trail up to Asticou Gardens overlooking Northeast Harbor.  Take the mailboat out to Little Cranberry Island and explore for the day. Climb the rocks and on the path to Otter Cliffs.

But I think my absolute favorite every year was Jordan Pond. This is such a beautiful body of water and the path around it is fairly easy most of the way. Depending on how fast you walk, it takes about an hour or two to go all the way around. The best part was after your long hike, we’d go up the hill to the Jordan Pond House. It’s a restaurant with homemade lemonade and popovers that are freshly baked. My go-to meal there is a bowl of their lobster stew. So rich and delicious I was always tempted to lick the bowl. Pair it with a few popovers slathered in honey butter or jam and you’ve got the perfect summer meal.

A few years ago, as I was enjoying Mt. Desert Island, I got an idea to write a series about the park rangers. I’ve called it Rangers of Acadia. Unfortunately, I’m not ready to hit publish on it yet, though book 1 - Jordan Pond (unofficial title) is written. I hope someday to get the whole series out.

Until then, the first book in my Storms of New England series, ELUSIVE DREAMS, also takes place on the coast of Maine.  And lucky lucky - it’s currently on SALE for only 99c!!  As is Book 2 - TRUE DREAMS.   Take advantage of this sale now!

If you’re looking for a few great summer reads, try the Storms. Book 3, STOLEN DREAMS is already out, and in a few weeks, Book 4 - BROKEN DREAMS will be released. I love the Storm family and hope you’ll come to love them, too!

Amazon                  B&N                   iBooks               Books2Read

Our July Rafflecopter has another month of Amazon Gift Card prizes. Be sure to enter often to improve your chances of winning. Please tell your friends about Romance Gems—our Authors, our books, our blog posts, and our monthly giveaway.

See details here:

Is Romance Dead? by Laura Hunsaker

I just read an article by the L.A. Times that asked "Will Kissing Ever Make a Comeback" and had the image of two metal figures wearing masks and kissing. (link to article here).

Is this a thing? How would that work?

He inhaled the scent of her hand sanitizer, mmm...lemon. She placed her gloved hand against his cheek. They gently pressed their masks together...

Okay obviously I'm being facetious here, but as a romance writer, I can't help but think about how I would write a romance and incorporate it.

I like escapism, so in my stories, I don't address it, but maybe I should? What say you all? Should our Romances being written right now reflect everything going on?

While I may have used a wee bit of snark at first, I wonder if I could make it work?

Lucy walked in the door from her first day back at work, instantly took off her mask and tossed it in the laundry pile. Washing her hands she called for her dog. Bruce, her lab, was ready to go.

"Who wants a walk? Who's a good boy who wants a walk?" She stuffed her mini hand sanitizer in her pocket, and grabbing his leash, she took Bruce out for his evening walk.

Once out on the trail, Lucy saw her neighbor Van out with his dog. Every day for a couple months now, they'd wave at each other and smile. But not today. She was prepared to finally talk to him. With restaurants being closed to inside dining, she was planning to grab a to go order and hope he wouldn't mind sitting on her porch. The weather was beautiful and she was excited to talk to someone after being cooped up for so long.

"Hi Lucy!"

His mask was his favorite hockey team and she thought that it was cute how every one of his masks she had seen had all been different masks for the same team. Hers had cupcakes on them, because she just really thought it was cute.

"Hi Van! Hey, I don't know if you're up to it, but I was thinking of grabbing some dinner from Apple Garden tonight, and thought maybe you would want to join me? We could eat on my porch and you can bring your dog."

He smiled, she could tell because his eyes crinkled above his mask. "That sounds like a lot more fun than my night of streaming that new movie everyone is talking about and some leftovers."

"It's a date."

***

I guess it wouldn't be that difficult to add in some of today's happenings without it taking over the story. What do you think? Would you prefer escapism? Would you mind seeing a tiny bit of reality mixed in? Will kissing ever make a comeback ;)

 If you're in the mood for something you can really escape into, my Time Travel Romance Highland Eclipse is only $.99

Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  Google Play  |  Smashwords  |  Goodreads

A member of an elite Time Ops team called the Eclipse Agents, Declan Wallace’s job is to jump through time. He maintains order in the timeline, he hunts down those who would time jump for their own purposes. But sometime Fate intervenes.

After a lifetime of living with illness, Lady Fiona McClure is proving to herself that she is finally healthy in an attempt to swim across the loch. If she makes it, maybe then her overprotective father won’t treat her as a child anymore. When she is snatched and dragged ashore by a man who thought she was drowning, her heart races for reasons that have nothing to do with the swim and everything to do with the man standing before her.

With a mission to finish, Declan can’t allow distractions, and Lady Fiona is definitely a distraction. But he’s discovering that living for the next mission isn’t as exciting as it used to be. Staying in the past is forbidden, but Fiona McClure is his destiny.


Don't forget to enter the June Giveaway!

The Summer Solstice and Special Deals by Jan Scarbrough

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

In 2020, the June solstice is Saturday, June 20, at 5:44 p.m. EDT. This date marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt (about 23.5 degrees) toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year. (By longest “day,” we mean the longest period of sunlight.) At the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at the most direct angle of the year.

Okay, it’s not technically summer yet (in the Northern Hemisphere), but it feels like it in Kentucky! It’s HOT! On these almost-summer nights, I’ve spent my time reading. And if you like reading like I do, I happen to have a few specials just for you.

My writing buddy Maddie James and I have a series of contemporary Western romances called The Montana Ranchers.

We’ve put them into a Five-Book Box Set called the Montana McKennas and it’s on sale for 99 cents for a limited time! Here’s where you can find the set at all of the familiar ebook retailers.

I’m also about to release my mystery-romance trilogy called The Ghost Mountain Ranch. The first book is already available for 99 cents. I call it Hank: Ghost Mountain Ranch Book 1. Here are the digital buy links.

On Christmas Eve, Hank accepts the job of ranch foreman over the mountains in the Gallatin Canyon, Montana. But something dark is happening at the Ghost Mountain Ranch, where the past is reaching out in dangerous ways to haunt the living.

One thing you might want to know about Hank is that it was published in 2017 as Home for the Holidays, so you may have read it. When I wrote it, I wanted it to be Hank’s transition from the McKenna Ranch to the ranch across the mountain. Hank becomes the hero in the book to be released June 19 – Darby: Ghost Mountain Ranch Book 2.

Now, if you’d like to get a free copy of Hank, I’m giving it away to my newsletter subscribers on Wednesday. All you have to do is go to my website and sign up for my newsletter! https://janscarbrough.com/contact/

The authors of the Romance Gems are giving away Amazon Gift Cards again this month. Go to our Monthly Giveaway page for all the details.

HAPPY LONG WEEKEND! by Kathleen Lawless @kathleen lawless #romancegems

Long weekends are something most of us look forward to, whether we’re working, in school or retired.  In Canada, we had our holiday Monday earlier this week, while Memorial Day in the US and a bank holiday in the UK are on the horizon. 

This year, my brothers and sister and I celebrated by springing Dad from the retirement residence where he’s been in lockdown for over two months.  For the first time this year, all four of us were together for a visit with him, social distanced of course, outside in our lovely gazebo.  The little things we used to take for granted are slowly coming back.

To help kick off the holiday celebration this weekend, my boxed set of 4 award-winning historical romances, WIDOWS, BABIES, AND BRIDES, is on sale for only .99 cents, a saving of $9.  Grab yours here for a leisurely binge read.  
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086GGVGP2

Do you have plans for the long weekend? Or have you already enjoyed your extra day off where you are?  I'd love to hear which countries have their holiday at different times.

Wherever you're reading this, I hope you’re at least entering our Rafflecopter draw to win one of our Amazon gift cards.   http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a237/  

No matter what you get up to, be sure to have a happy, safe and healthy weekend. 

Kathleen