New Release! Craving Jake Return to Welcome Book 3 by @BonnieEdwards #RomanceGems

Amazon Exclusive

I'm excited to post here today about my newest book in my Return to Welcome series. Set in Welcome, WA, a fictional town full of citizens with long memories and old grudges, Craving Jake is about a woman who's returned to her hometown to help her mother recuperate from surgery.

Except returning to Welcome is never easy.

And this time, someone wants Brianna Bowler to leave again. This isn't the first time someone's told her to get out of town. Last time, it was her high school crush pushing her to leave.

Jake Morrow is still here, a paramedic now and Brianna can hardly take her eyes off him. Stalking isn't always a bad thing, is it?

For a limited time, the price for Craving Jake is only $2.99. Catch this deal while you can.

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 has returned 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.

This month on Romance Gems we're talking about Life Lessons...and my hero in Craving Jake has more than one to learn. First, be careful who you trust, second, if a person shows you what they're like, believe them.


November is the month for Gratitude, Appreciation, and counting your Blessings if you are religious and/or philosophical. Grateful, Thankful, Blessed—that's what we Romance Gems Authors feel. Join us this month in celebrating the Life Lessons we all learn. Enter our November Rafflecopter now for a chance to win 1 of 5 Amazon Gift Cards. a Rafflecopter giveaway

THANKSGIVING... CANADIAN STYLE By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless #romancegems

As you read this, I am most likely stuffing half a turkey to roast while we go for an afternoon hike.  It is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, and normally the weather on the west coast is mild and pleasant.  The children are grown with busy lives, but will likely stop by over the weekend.  There will be leftovers when they do. I love my butcher who understands half a turkey is plenty for many of today’s families.

Since I have so much to be thankful for, I also celebrate US Thanksgiving next month.  I love the way the holiday kicks off the Christmas season and festivities.  The first few years I had a hard time finding a fresh turkey here in November, but I seem to have started a trend.

Some years back, my Dad and my sister and I used to do an annual road trip to Portland, Oregon on the US Thanksgiving. We’d arrive at the hotel in time for dinner, shop ‘til we dropped for two whole days, one day downtown and one day at the mall, then drive home on Sunday with our Christmas shopping complete.  I remember the year the car’s trunk would not close with all our purchases stowed inside.  Stuff was being shoved onto laps, and under feet.  A group of bellmen gathered around making bets as we repacked and reorganized, and burst into applause when the trunk finally did close. 

At the time Sis and I were both divorced and Dad was widowed, so those days were fun and memorable father-daughter road trips that none of us will ever forget.  Lives change.  Dad remarried.  Sis remarried.  I met my real-life hero and the trips are no longer, but the memories live on.    

As part of my treat this month, comment below to win.  Let me know what country you are reading this in, and if Thanksgiving is celebrated where you live.  Don’t forget to include your written email… at dot com etc. I’ll pick one random winner on Monday.  You can even choose your heat level from my historical romances. 

Mild (sweet) BRODY’S BRIDE

Medium (spicy) ANORA’S PRIDE

Burn-your-fingers-hot.  Very, very sexy.  TABOO

For any dedicated fans who have read everything of mine, BISHOP’S BRIDE launches this month if you’d rather receive an advance copy.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XM358KP

By the way, in case you wonder why Authors give away books, it’s simple. We give away books to introduce new Readers to our writing. The best way to thank an Author who gives you a book is to post a review of the book. Just a few sentences saying why you liked the book is all that is needed! Do this, and we’ll adore you!

And there are fabulous monthly prizes!  Check them out!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a230/

Click here to enter our No Tricks—Just Treats Rafflecopter today for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends! (You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.)

In the meantime, if you haven’t met the seven Mason Brothers, Book 3 of the series, BRAYDON’S BRIDE, is on sale next week, starting Wednesday, for only 99 cents.

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TM3RGYG

Becoming a Mom! by @karilemor #RomanceGems

Being a mother can be one of the most rewarding jobs ever…and it can be one of the hardest. I’m one of those people who, from the time I was little, always wanted to be a mom. I was the neighborhood babysitter that everyone used. I took Child Care classes in high school. I majored in Early Childhood Education in undergrad. I couldn’t get enough of being around small children. My first real job was teaching Kindergarten in a public school system.

But those children were only mine for a short while each day. I didn’t have control over how many hugs or stories they got at bedtime. But two years after I graduated college and got my first job, my college sweetheart and I got married. Less than two years later, we had a baby girl.

It wasn’t in the moment of her birth that I felt like a mom, no, I was too exhausted to even speak. But the moment it truly hit me that I was a mother is ingrained deep in my memory. My daughter was born at night and I was so tired the nurses offered to take her to the nursery so I could get some rest. Early the next morning, they brought her to me because she’d been fussing a bit and figured I needed to breastfeed her. I held her close, whispered to her, and she settled right down. And I fell asleep. An hour later the nurse came back to get her so the doctor could do a quick exam. Oh, no, I hadn’t fed her. She’d fallen asleep so I had too.

The nurse looked at me and grinned. “I guess she just needed her mom.”

That was it. The moment I realized this precious child needed me. What an emotional feeling.  I still tear up thinking about that moment, and the abundant, unconditional love I had for another human. One I had helped to create.  There’s nothing in the world like it.

These are my children, years ago, Emily, Kasey, and Christopher! 

What's a special 'mom' moment in your life? As a mom or with your own mom? 

~~~

In my book, Running Target, Jack Holland was raised by a man who was always working. He swears he’ll be a better father than that. Until a mob hit sends him running, away from the covert family he needs to protect. Here’s a little snippet of Jack sneaking into the hospital to steal a quick peek at his new son.

****

 Stepping closer, he looked down on the clear container, the blue tag proclaiming this child to be a boy. Squinting in the dim light, he read the words. Mother’s name: Callina Lansing. Baby: Jonathan.

Jonathan. She’d named the baby after him. A lump clogged his throat. A son. Damn. He had a son and wouldn’t be able to get to know him, see him grow, share in his life. This world was too cruel at times.

He shouldn’t take the chance but he needed to hold him. It was vital that he touch the life he and Callie had created. He wanted—no needed—to let his child know how much he loved him. The powerful emotion emanated from his heart even as he gazed down at the tiny figure. How could love grow this fast? His first glimpse was only a second ago. Now the feeling consumed him.

Reaching down, he stroked the side of his son’s face. The baby turned his head, his bow-shaped lips opening slightly. Jack’s heart beat faster. The protective instincts that had always come into play when he was around Callie, throbbed to life and expanded as he gazed at the sweet face of his son. Heat like an electric storm surged through his blood. How could he protect this child in his current situation? He’d bring more danger upon him if he hung around. Eight months of running, trying to escape the long arm of Victor Cabrini, had shown him what hell was. Now he glimpsed a small piece of heaven.

He slid his hands under the infant, lifting him from the bed to hold him close. Jonathan barely weighed anything. His heart constricted yet again. The innocent baby scent wafted into his nostrils and he blinked back the moisture filling his eyes. The reaction was primitive and territorial. This was his son.

~~~

~~~

"Thrilling...Lemor once again features a dynamite protagonist who's easily relatable,
and her talent for incorporating romance and forgiveness against the odds
make Running Target even more enticing." 

—RT Book Reviews

Currently RUNNING TARGET is on sale for only 99cents on all retailers. 

You can find the links here:

RUNNING TARGET

**And I just sent out a newly written prequel for this novel
to my mailing list subscribers. 

If you haven't gotten it, sign up for my newsletter then send me a quick note saying you want the prequel, and I'll get it to you!**

Kari Lemor

~~~

Don't forget this month's CONTEST!
In May, Romance Gems honors HEROES AND SHE-ROES: Moms, Soldiers, and First Responders.

The Grand Prize: One (1) $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.

2nd thru 5th Prizes: Ebook Bundles by our bestselling authors. The books being given away are shown on the Monthly Giveaway page.

How To Enter:

You have multiple opportunities to enter.

Click this Rafflecopter link.

Start clicking buttons on the Rafflecopter. Each task counts as one entry.

Complete all the tasks for the most chances to win!

Our policies concerning Promotions and Giveaways, Eligibility, and Prize Award Procedures are shown in detail on our Policies Page. Please read. We strictly adhere to those policies.

Good luck!

Do You Dream In Color Or Black And White? @kathleenlawless #romancegems

Half a century ago, three-quarters of Americans, including those of college-age, rarely saw color in their dreams.  Today, a recent study suggests people over 55, not exposed to color TV as children, dream in black and white at least 25% of the time.

I worried I must dream in black and white, because I tend to create my first draft that way.  And of course, those TV Westerns that I loved as a child were broadcast in black and white. 

Then recently I had a dream about poached eggs.  (Apparently, I was hungry in my dream and hungry when I woke up.)  I was amazed to remember the yellow egg yolks in my dream.  Yay!  I dream in color. 

Which must mean I write in graduated shades.  The first draft is a charcoal sketch.  Definitely black and white.  The second draft draws on depth from color pastels, as the story takes on hues and tones.  The third draft contains brush strokes of bold color.  By this time, I really know where my story is going. I top it all off with a final polish, a gloss coat, to really bring out the layers in my work. 

I never thought of myself as an artist until I wrote this.  

Check out the layers in my award-winning western historical, GRACE’S FOLLY, on sale for .99 on April 18^th, an early Easter gift. Here’s a teaser.

Grace’s breath caught in her throat. Was it possible Dex really, truly understood? “Are you saying we’re not so different, you and I?”

“On the contrary,” Dex said, his voice a sexy rumble in his throat.

She glanced up, recoiling at the smoldering look in his eyes as his gaze traveled her length.

“You’re afraid to get close to me, afraid to touch me. I, on the other hand, can’t seem to fight this compulsion I have to touch you.”

As he spoke, he pushed her blouse off one shoulder. Grace trembled at the feather-light sensation of his fingertips grazing her skin.

“Not so bad, is it?”  He caught her hand in his and placed it on his chest. She could feel the steady beat of his heart, not nearly so erratic as her own. His skin was warm and smooth, textured by the thicket of hair which spread across his pectorals, angled into a thin line, and disappeared into his trousers.

She moistened her suddenly dry tongue, and the movement seemed to catch and hold Dex’s

fascination.

Her knees started to tremble as he stared hungrily at her mouth, then pushed her blouse off

the shoulders and down her arms. Wet cloth clung stubbornly to her skin. As he peeled the

uncooperative fabric away from her, she could feel the faintly abrasive rasp as he worked to separate her from the garment.

At last he managed to free Grace from her blouse. He dropped the sodden garment, and it landed on the wood floor with an ungracious flop. He trailed his hands lightly up her bare arms. “There. Isn’t that better?”

His touch, rather than chasing away the goosebumps, seemed to enhance the pebbled texture of her skin and heighten the shivers which coursed through her. Heat from his body radiated outward in

undulating waves. She was afraid of melting beneath his touch, of going up in flames. She was

afraid of far more than that.

“Put your arms around my neck.” When she didn’t comply, he took the initiative and did it for her, looping her arms across his shoulders and pulling her close. “I faked being a doctor today, with your help. It’s your turn now. Your turn to fake being a wife.”

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F9D1AF6

On sale April 18th.

~ ~ ~

To get a jump start on the Easter celebrations, I’ve hidden some cute Easter eggs on one of my social media sites.  They should be easy to find, they’re in one of my favorite colors.  Naturally, I’d love it if you like my page while you’re there. 

Once you find the eggs, head back to the blog page, click on the Contact Romance Gems link at the bottom left hand side and enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card.  All you need to mention is my name or the blog date, the site where you found the eggs, and the color.  And of course, your name and email, written out as in dot com.  Do not post your answer in the comment section below.  Make everyone else scavenge to find the eggs the way you did.

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathleen-lawless

https://www.facebook.com/kathleenlawlessnovels

www.kathleenlawless.com

Don’t forget to download your free prequel to my upcoming 

Seven Brides series, by joining join my reader group news for updates on new releases, fan-pricing and special freebies.        

http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1  

Most importantly, have a Happy Easter.  May the bunny bring you lots of treats. 

Kathleen

Seasoned Romance is gaining in popularity by Jan Scarbrough #RomanceGems

We’ve already talked about tropes on Romance Gems. But I’m going to do it again! Most romance novels have one or more tropes.

Definition: Tropes are plot devices, characters, images, or themes that are incorporated so frequently in a genre that they’re seen as conventional.

Bestselling author Mindy Klasky has a huge list of romance tropes on her website.

Here are a few favorites:

• Billionaire
• Cowboy
• Friends to lovers
• Marriage of convenience
• Mistaken identity
• Opposites attract
• Return to hometown
• Reunion
• Runaway bride/groom
• Secret baby

 A new trope that is growing in popularity is the mature character or Seasoned Romance. These are love stories with heroes and heroines in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. The thinking is sex and love can get better with age.

Maybe because I’m of a certain age (cough, gasp) I like writing about mature heroes and heroines. I have several books staring the Baby Boomer generation and Gen-Xers. Facebook even has groups for readers and writers who like seasoned characters. One group is planning a multi-author sale this week (40 books).

It's never too late to fall in love! Grab some amazing romances for just 99¢ from 4/10-4/12 during the #SeasonedRomancesSale!

My book Liz: The Montana McKennas is part of the sale. This cowgirl is fifty-something. She’s not only getting a second chance, but a third chance at love!

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Check out the Monthly Giveaway tab to learn how to play this month’s game.

Today’s egg can be found on one of these sites: Facebook | BookBub | Twitter

Use the “Contact the Romance Gems” link on the left sidebar to send us your answer. Include the place you found it, the color of the egg, and either the author's name or date of the post.

Best of luck!

A Splash of Danger with your Romance? by @KariLemor #RomanceGems

Romance is such a broad category. You’ve got contemporary, historical, or futuristic. Paranormal, fantasy, erotic, suspense, rom-com, inspirational, and many others. You can put several of these together.

When I finished my first book (and the series it belonged to), I needed to figure out how to categorize the story. Contemporary, for sure. But it had a criminal element and an ex-military FBI agent.  So the story was sent out as a romantic suspense.

But after reading quite a few other suspense novels, I realized mine was nothing like the run-for-your-life-every-second-of-the-book kind. It also did not have the intense detail of third world power struggles or the inner workings of organized crime. I will readily admit I’m too lazy to do the kind of research and world building those kinds of novels require. And I hate having beloved characters die, which is unrealistic in intense suspense. My focus is always on the characters and their relationship.

Chatting with another author who writes similar to me, she called it ‘light suspense’ and I like that description.  Thus my tagline “Romance with a splash of danger” was born. I love focusing on the relationship between the hero and heroine and how they react to the conflict in their lives and between each other. But throwing in lots of danger and putting them in peril also gives me a rush. I love to add tons of angst and really hit people with emotions. One way to do that is what we (in the fan fiction community – yes, that’s where I got my start writing) call hurt/comfort.  You hurt one character (either emotionally or physically) so the other one can comfort them. I do love torturing my characters. Muahahaha! *rubs hands together maniacally*

So even though I don’t have the run-for-your-lives-every-second kind of book, I still like adding a few good battles for my characters to go through. Physical and emotional. If you like a lighter suspense novel, then please check out my first series:  Love on the Line –  where the heroes are all from the same military unit in Afghanistan. Danger is in their blood, but with the right woman by their side, they are strong enough for any new challenge.

Currently you can get all three books for under $5!! They are available at most online retailers (see website below for the links)

And FYI, I had a number of people ask for a prequel to Running Target, to show how the main characters actually met. This is in the works and will be offered to my mailing list subscribers. If you’d like to be on my list, you can sign up on my website. I rarely send more than once a month, if that, and usually only when I have new information or a sale… No spam, promise!

https://www.karilemor.com/

Also, while you’re on my site, check for the free short story (Canobie Kisses) and novella (Unstable Ground) that I’m giving away.  And I LOVE hearing from readers and will respond to all.  Send me a note letting me know if you liked one of my books!! I love talking about my books and the characters in them!

See you soon,

Kari

The Challenges of Rewriting a Classic Tale by Nancy Fraser #RomanceGems

The criteria for a great fairy tale is not all that different from the formula used for an engaging romance. Both require the following:

A sensitive, brave, intelligent hero—preferably good looking, or at least confident in his appearance.

A strong, beautiful, empathetic heroine who’s not afraid to kick a little butt should the situation call for it.

A plot fraught with angst, danger and attraction. Whether the attraction leads to a chaste kiss or a steamy love scene depends on your audience.

A resolution that is both enlightening and satisfying, not only for the reader but also for the characters.

And, of course, the Happily Ever After required of all great tales.

My Beyond Fairy Tales story, Do You Want Me, is based on the Grimm Brothers tale, The Devil’s Sooty Brother. More macabre than romantic, it’s the tale of a soldier who returns from war to find he’s lost everything he’d left behind.

In order to make a new life for himself, he agrees to work for the devil and earn the money he needs to begin again. The idea of creating a ‘devil’ gave me the perfect protagonist for my story. The original tale also contains a king who has two daughters. While not a huge part of the original story, the idea of sisters fueled my naughty imagination.

So, how does an author of modern-day romances take a fairy tale written hundreds of years ago and make it current?

I started by outlining my hero...it had to be the soldier from the fairy tale...complete with memories and scars. In most cases, the next character I’d work on would be the heroine. However, since in the original, there are no female characters present until the very end, I decided to flesh out other aspects of the story first before getting a handle on who would steal my hero’s heart.

As with any series, there were also certain requirements set forth by the publisher. The biggest challenge among those was the inclusion of a narrator. Nicodemus, the storyteller, is a must for every book. I admit, I fretted over how to include this ‘outsider’. Then, two glasses of Baileys-over-ice later, I had it! (I do some of my best plotting under the influence of Bailey’s and crushed ice.)

I don’t want to give too much away other than to say, I have a sexy, battle-weary hero, a feisty tease of a heroine, a devil of a protagonist, and a father who holds an important position of influence (a king of sorts).

I’ve also done something I’d never attempted before. I wrote the entire story in the hero’s point of view...even the steamy love scenes.

About the Book...

Decorated war hero Reece Michaels agrees to go undercover in order to bring down the Irish Mob. In return, the civilian life he’s coveted for the past six years will be returned to him.

Hired by mob boss Sean O’Malley to protect his youngest son, Reece soon discovers the young man needs more protection from his own family than its enemies.

What Reece doesn’t count on is his instant attraction to the police chief’s beautiful and willing daughter. Abby Mackenzie is the younger sister of a woman with whom Reece once had a torrid affair. He’s determined to not give in to Abby’s come-hither ways. After all, one Mackenzie woman was more than enough.

Available from Amazon and currently on sale for 99¢. Also in audio book from Audible. Narrated by the incredible TG Burns. What that man did with a love scene should be a sin!

~ ~ ~

One quick reminder...

Today is the last day to enter our Rafflecopter drawing, as well as your last chance to get in on this week's Comment and Win drawing!

Best of luck to everyone. I'll be back on Saturday with an update on all the winners!

Nancy