Weddings Are So Last Month by Laura Hunsaker

 I know June is typically known for weddings, but with my own wedding anniversary coming up in a couple of weeks, I wanted to share anyway!

My husband and I were married on the hottest day of the year...in Las Vegas. You realize that means it was like 122 that day, right? We had the craziest day! Not just the wedding, but weird little things that went wrong...

So we were young. He was underage. Someone replaced his champagne flute with a sippy cup. The flowers were delivered to the wrong place. The groomsmen...AND THE GROOM all left before the wedding. Someone had broken down and they went to the rescue. But they all had two-seater cars and were picking up a van-ful of guests. One groomsman got stuck out of town, so we had an emergency replacement. I mean...it was wild how many random things went wrong. But by the end, we had a lovely wedding, everyone was on time, the bride certainly didn't have a panic attack watching the groom leave the church before the wedding (oh wait, I really did). And they lived happily ever after.

With my characters getting married in one of my books, I decided to write a short bonus scene for my readers and while I was starting it, the first thing that popped onto my page was that the flowers had been delivered to the wrong place. Well, it looks like I will be writing my first non-fiction book ever ;) 

But seriously, all the things that happened to me, will probably make it into this short story, because wow, it really does read as if it were a Rom Com.

This will be a bonus for Kate and Kyle's wedding, and will fit after Dark Past, and Dreams of the Past, but before Dangerous Past which I'm finishing up right now.

Enjoy a small excerpt from the beginning of the story:

The weather was gorgeous. A light fog wrapped around the gazebo, sneaking its fingers in between the leaves and flowers that were woven into the slats that decorated it. One last cool foggy touch before the morning sun burned it off.

The warm, buttery yellow sunlight hitting the tall trees of the Sierra Nevadas was the most beautiful backdrop she could think of for the day she married her love. She could marry him inside an old shed, and she wouldn’t care. She just wanted to start her new life.

And after the year she had had? She deserved something nice. They all did. She wanted the day to go smoothly, not so much for herself, but for her fiance Kyle. He had risked his life for her, he knew all her secrets and skeletons in her closet, and miracle of miracles, he loved her. She wanted today to be perfect.

She glanced up at the picturesque view once more. By the looks of it, today would be perfect.

Kate took one more look before turning back inside. She trusted that her family and friends had a handle on things. She could breathe. With a deep breath, she released the stress of the day and went to join her bridesmaids. Today was going to be fine.

***

Nothing was fine.

The flowers had been delivered to the wrong location. How on earth had the flowers been delivered to the wrong place? The town had 2,000 people on a good day, so how had they been delivered to the wrong location?

And don't forget to check out Dark Past and Dreams of the Past which are both on sale now!

Dark Past: Amazon  |   Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Google Play Books  |  Smashwords

Dreams of the Past: Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Smashwords 

Beach Read Mania With Free Book by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

Looking for great romance novels to read at the beach?

You've come to the right place. Our theme for July is Beach Read Mania!

Whee! I need a whole bag of books to help me escape the mania of moving!

Luckily, I've been stocking up because the wonderful authors of Romance Gems have been publishing non-stop this year. I think the majority of us all have at least one new book.

I've published 3 books since January, and several of my friends have published even more. Whether you like it hot and steamy or sweet and mild, we have books to make you smile.

Who Invented Beach Books?

Believe it or not, there is actually a history of the Beach Read. I found a good resource at Literature Lust. 

Katy Waldman in a New Yorker article, The Invention of the Beach Read, wrote that railroads and steamships made travel easy and those who worked in the city had enough income to abandon the city and escape to coastal towns during the summer.

Book publishers jumped on the band wagon and created special lists of summer reads for affluent vacationers.

Publishers promoted their backlist books as summer reads. One might say they were milking the cash cow since those books probably had already earned out. They also created a series of beach reads for an entire summer season at the shore.

What is interesting is that publishers targeted the monied society-folk. They succeeded and changed the perception of reading fiction which was previously considered vulgar and tasteless.

Donna Harrington-Lueker wrote an in-depth study of this phenomenon in Books for Idle Hours: Nineteenth-Century Publishing and the Rise of Summer Reading. She also discusses the backlash against beach reads.

What Backlash?

Isn't it odd that fiction was considered tasteless until the wealthy class started enjoying it.

Now, it seems to have come full circle with many using the phrase beach book or beach read as a pejorative.

For my money, I'll take a wonderful romance with a happily ever after any day of the year and be glad to read it. What do you think?

Romance Gem Blog Updates

For July, I have a couple of notices for you.

(1) The Feedburner gadget, Follow By Email, has been discontinued by Google. If you previously received notice of new posts by email, that will cease in July.

In the left sidebar, scroll down until you see Subscribe to Romance Gems. Below that, you will see Posts and Comments. Click Posts and/or Comments to subscribe to our feed.

(2) No Author Spotlight because I've been sick since last weekend after receiving my 2nd CoVid immunization. I'm still feeling wiped out so am slow to getting things done.

(3) At the top of my list of things to get done is packing to move. We have to be out of here in 2 weeks, and I'm woefully behind.

(4) Quotes and Graphics have changed so check out the new ones scattered on the Home Page.

For Your Consideration

Deceptively Yours, my beach book, set on Last Chance Beach, is still only 99cents until July 4. Price rises then to $4.99. 

Deceptively Yours, a passionate Romantic Suspense about a woman and a man destined to be together—if their love can survive lies and deception.

Free Book for You

Remember above when I asked, "What do you think?" The subject was your opinion of beach books. Fun, wonderful, or embarrassing to be caught reading one. You don't have to post a comment to receive a free book, but I really would like to know what you think about beach books.

Normally when I give away a book, I select a winner by random draw. This month though, I'm giving away free copies of The Trouble With Love. The story begins in a small Texas town and travels to a Gulf Coast beach resort.

Hang on to your Stetson as the fun and games begin in a sexy romantic comedy hotter than a bowl of Texas chili!

Review

HOT, HOT, HOT with a side of funny.

I enjoyed this book for quite a few reasons. First, I loved the characters and how there were multiple relationships showcased.

Susannah and her mother Rory both have issues when it comes to love and they may both be wrong. Then there is that little almost one night stand Susannah had with the man standing in the little town's police station, where she just happens to work. Hogan is a hot as can be 'consultant' or is he? There is heat, passion, forgiveness, trust issues, and lots of fun. —Southern Yankee

Yep, Totally Free

No hoops to jump through. You don't have to do anything to get your free Kindle copy except go to The Trouble With Love on Amazon.

This free book offer starts Thursday, July 1, 2021, at 12:00 AM PDT and ends Friday, July 2, 2021, at 11:59 PM PDT.

Get your free copy today! Oh, and please, if you like my book, please leave a review. Even a couple of sentences help others find my books, and that helps me as an author.

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A Few of My Favorite Things

by Nora LeDuc

Beach Roses

It's June and romance month. Today, I'll tell you how I discovered some of my best-loved romances. 

A few years ago, before I started writing, I heard that a women who volunteered at my children's school, was a huge reader. I happened to run into her and introduced myself. Soon, the conversation turned to books. She told me how she loved to read and how she set up her shelves of keepers in alphabetical order. What surprised me the most about her? She only bought romances. To be truthful, I'd never met anyone who loved and admitted they were a romance reader. Most likely, if you confessed you were a fan of the genre, people wouldn't take you seriously. My new friend asked if I'd like to borrow a book, and of course, I agreed. And that was how I discovered one my favorite authors, Jude Deveraux.

I devoured every release Miss Deveraux published in those olden days. Like many fans, I could not put down Jude's A Knight in Shining Armor. "New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux will capture your heart with a signature classic novel, a time-travel featuring a present-day heroine and a dashing hero from the sixteenth century!" I still have my hard cover on my shelf that is not in alphabetical order.

 

Another author who hits the top of my favorites is Robyn Carr, who wrote Virgin River. Recently, I came across this writer while on a FB thread recommending Netflix shows. Virgin River was on the list. In the first few minutes of watching Episode 1, I excitedly realized I was watching a love story! Yes, I bought the first book of the series and admired how much of the dialog was used in the film production. And now I’m hooked and waiting to find out who shot Jack, the cliffhanger from last season. 

Another oldie I'd recommend is Cry Wolf by Tami Hoag. I found this author while rummaging around at Annie's Book Store. "In the rural parishes of Louisiana, young women are disappearing one by one, only to turn up on the banks of the bayou, strangled and cast aside where they are sure to be found." Yes, this story has it all. I loved the setting of the book. Picture the Spanish Moss hanging from trees. Listen to the voices of the night creatures as you glide through the swamp water with the hero on a hot steamy evening. The hero just happens to be the local rogue who plays the piano in the bar at night and writes thrillers by day. The heroine is a disgraced lawyer who lost her most important case and is seeking to be left alone. Mix the mystery with a strong romance and you're hooked.

I’m sure you have plenty of favorites on your shelf at home. Let me know their titles. I may fall in love with them too. 

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter. Amazon

And it's almost Christmas in July! Don't miss my book Christmas at the Easy Breezy, only .99. "From the moment Darcy stomps snow from her boots in Leo's restaurant you are rooting for them to get a HEA. And this book delivers BIG TIME." 

 ❤️ Take Care, My Friends 📖

June Brides by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

June has historically been the month for weddings.

Here at Romance Gems we specialize in love, romance, weddings, etc. so we decided to make June Brides our theme for this month.

Giveaway Alert: details at the end of this  post.

I think the June trend for weddings began because that's the month when the  weather is really nice in most parts of North America.

June is when college is out so all the engaged couples were free to marry and honeymoon without the agony of college classes hanging over their heads. Then there's the weather issue too. In recent years, beach weddings have grown in popularity.

June Updates for Romance Gems

The Author Spotlight happens to be shining on me this month. Drop by and learn more about me, my books, and my life. I'll try not to bore you.

The Bookstore is always open. Click on an Author's name below her colorful "business card" to be whisked away to where all of her books are displayed.

As time permits, we'll bring back our Movie Theater page, Audio Books page, and others, all of which are being remodeled. Like transforming a kitchen, transforming a website page takes time.

Enjoy the posts this month which are keyed around June Brides.

Visit the Last Chance Beach Webpage.

Last summer, many of our authors contributed to a bestselling box set entitled, Last Chance Beach: Summer's End. All of the short stories were set on a fictional island I created and named Last Chance Beach. I called it the "Island Paradise where Dreams go to Live again."

We tried a couple of times to put together another box set, but there weren't enough authors who had the time/interest in doing it again. We all lead such busy lives that it's hard to block out time to work so intensively on one project.

However, the limited release box set had 55 reviews, all 4 and 5 stars. I was struck by how many reviews mentioned the setting as something they really loved. I had really loved it and the Legend of Last Chance Beach which I wrote.

(Get a free copy of Legend of Last Chance Beach that relates the legend and gives a short blurb of each of the books coming out in the next few months.)

With that thought in mind, I came up with the idea of using the setting for single title releases of full-length novels. It was total serendipity when my pal Nancy Fraser emailed me and asked about using Last Chance Beach as a setting. (Great minds think alike, right?)

She and I talked about that, and we worked together to create a structure for a series of full-length romance novels to be published under the banner of Last Chance Beach Romance. These books will have Contemporary Romance as the foundation with sub-genres of Romantic Comedy or Romantic Suspense.

All of the books will be united by the setting of Last Chance Beach. Readers will get to know the islanders and the businesses who pop up in many of the books.

Some Last Chance Beach Romance novels may be Sweet. Some Spicy. Some Sizzling—but NOT erotica. This way there's a heat level to appeal to most readers. Each author will publish her own book and distribute it as she wishes.

Deceptively Yours

The first full-length Last Chance Beach Romance, a Sizzling Hot Romantic Suspense, is a story of lost love, second chances, and the quest for redemption.

Tatiana was 12 when her mother died, leaving her alone in the world. Her cousin took her in. What seemed like an act of kindness was a scheme to use her artistic talent to cheat wealthy men who were least likely to display art they thought had been obtained illegally.

For six years, her life offered nothing but fear and danger—then she met a young man who gave her love, passion, and hope for a future together.

In an act of breathtaking courage, she defied her cousin. He responded with a vicious assault. A chance meeting with an elderly man saved her and gave her a second chance at life, but she had to leave everything behind—including the man she loved.

Ten years later, Tatiana has done everything in her power to repay her benefactor, to prove she’s worthy of the care and fatherly love he’s given her, and to become a better person. She’s never forgotten Declan Moran who taught her the meaning of love and desire. 

Destiny hands her a second chance at love, but she resists because she's not the girl Declan fell in love with. She never was. She can’t undo the lies she told, the secrets she’s kept—and continues to keep.

Declan knows a devastating secret lies at the heart of Tatiana’s refusal to accept him. He patiently waits for her to tell him the truth about what happened ten years ago, but his patience ends when he suspects she’s in danger. Will what he learns kill his love for Tatiana? Will she find the courage to reveal her secrets before it’s too late? Will she ever accept the love finds in his arms?

Deceptively Yours, a passionate Romantic Suspense about a woman and a man who are destined to be together, is New Release priced at 99¢.

Giveaway: Deceptively Yours

Prize: 1 Kindle copy of  Deceptively Yours.

1. Answer this question in Comments: At which beach would you like to vacation for a week or more?

2. Leave your email addy written out, not as a hot link.

3. Winner chosen by Random Draw on June 6.

4. Winner notified by email. 

Looking forward to reading where you'd like to vacation. The summer promises to be wonderful.

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A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell Three Times As Sweet ~ by M.J. Schiller

 Moms, roses, and romance. Hmm. I know my mom has read some of my romances, but I don't like to think about that, so we'll skip the mom part and focus on the roses. And I know the roses are supposed to be tied in with mom, but when I think of roses the first thing that comes to mind is the year I received three dozen roses for Valentine's Day. 

No, my husband isn't some kind of massive Romeo. Actually, I can count the times he's purchased flowers for me on both hands, and we've been married for coming up on thirty-three years, been together for thirty-five. But the story I'm thinking about happened some years ago...

The year was 1990. We were fresh out of college, having moved out of state and to a city where we didn't know a soul. My husband had begun his career at the Fortune 500 company he hopes to soon retire from. I was teaching junior high school English and Composition to freshman at the junior college. A huge ice storm had most of the city, well, frozen. With no heat, we went to the mall to watch Driving Miss Daisy and keep warm. (This was back in the day when malls had movie theaters. Remember that?) When we got back, my husband expected there to be a dozen roses there for me, but, alas, they were missing. After a call to the florist-- who was extremely apologetic--we received two dozen roses to make up for the mistake. A half-hour later, the neighbor knocked on the door with another dozen roses, which she'd accepted delivery on for us. Whoops! Three dozen roses in the little townhouse we lived in when we first moved here was pretty overwhelming. Needless to say, I haven't seen the likes of that since, nor would I have expected to see that ever again. It was kind of nice, though.

So, that's my rose story. Of course, as a writer, it got me thinking of roses in my work. With twenty-six books out, I'm sure I'm forgetting some significant rose scenes, but the two that come to mind are creepy, not romantic. In THE HEART TEACHES BEST Laney's sister's murderer sneaks into her bedroom when she's asleep and leaves a rose on her pillow. Later, he leaves one on a carousel that Laney was on to taunt Cooper, her policeman love interest, and show him how close he was able to get to her despite Cooper's best efforts to protect her.

In BETWEEN ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, rock star Jasmine Barrett finds her best friend murdered in the singer's bed. The killer dipped a rose in her friend's blood and left it, theatrically, beside the body. Later, a key clue comes from a vase of roses in Jazz's dressing room. The killer leaves a coded message with the bouquet that doesn't seem like a clue until someone casually mentions one of the words on the card much later. That offhand remark leads Heath to the realization of who the murderer is. But will he get to Jasmine before the killer does?

Maybe it says something about me that the only significant scenes with roses from my books that I can come up with are not some grand romantic gesture by the hero, but instead they are foreboding messages from the villain.

What about you? Do you have a favorite story about a time you received flowers? Do you receive or purchase flowers often?

Thanks for reading! Come back for more tomorrow from another fabulous Romance Gems author!

She Plays a Mother on TV by Nora LeDuc #RomanceGems

TV Moms are one of my favorite subjects. Take your pick, you can find all kinds of mums on the small screen. I've chosen a few for us today.

Every Wednesday, we can tune in to "The Goldbergs." Here we have a prime example of an embarrassing, meddling smother-mother. Beverly Goldberg. She's the kind that's always at the school, making sure her children are treated fairly and perfectly because her kids are...perfect. (I bet we've all known a few women like Bev.) Although Beverly learns a lesson about parenting from her misguided efforts, she can never quite cut those apron strings. I've always been more intrigued by the history behind the scripts that are inspired by Adam Goldberg's video recordings of his family's lives. Yes, Beverly is his mother who occasionally makes an appearance in the show. More than once I've read the true-life happenings of the clan had to be toned down for a G audience. Darn.

Another popular TV mom is Marie Barone of "Everybody Loves Raymond." Marie is the parent of two grown men, Raymond and Robert. Raymond, the oldest, continues to be Marie's obvious favorite. This does not go over well with his younger brother Robert, but doesn't stop Marie. She also feels free to give unwanted advice to her sons who are often too afraid of her to cross her. As a mother-in-law, Marie knows little about boundaries and often barges into Ray and his wife's home without a knock and usually at inconvenient times. If you think about it, Marie might remind you of a relative or a friend who means well but is a little too close. And here's a trivia fact for authors-the actor who played Marie's husband, Peter Boyle, was a cousin of Kensington Editor Kate Duffy.

Don't you dare open your mouth when I'm asking you questions.

Before I finish, I must add Clair Huxtable from the former "The Cosby Show" to this list. (Forget Bill.) Every Thursday night, I loved to see what Clair was wearing. Her colorful style of clothing fascinated me. She seemed able to put on anything and look wonderful, but the character of Clair was so much more. As the stable center of the family, she was a wife, a lawyer, and a mom of five who actually talked to her children about their problems. Then, she gave them good advice. She could be funny, but stern when needed. Clair showed us that although mothers worry about their children or make mistakes with them, they will turn themselves upside down to love and guide them into happy, well-adjusted adults. That's a mother.

I have written two stories with moms. My latest, Christmas at the Easy Breezy, takes places in the White Mountains of NH. If you're looking for a happy uplifting book this story is for you. The main character, Darcy Malone, is divorced and a mother of a five-year-old. Darcy is desperately seeking to connect to the family she's never known. Little does she realize what she'll find when she arrives at the Easy Breezy Diner and meets the sometimes-grumpy owner Leo Homes.

Please Follow Me on Social Media and Stay Healthy, Nora.

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One Lucky Girl by M.J. Schiller #RomanceGems

Hi, all! I'm the new kid on the block, your newest, little Romance Gem writer, and I am so glad to be here. I have admired these ladies' work, and the way they support each other, for a long time, and I'm happy I have the opportunity to join the group.

As a brief introduction, my name is M.J. Schiller and I write romance, romantic suspense, and chick lit. I live in the Midwest with my husband and our cat, Serena, and we are blessed to be the proud parents of a twenty-six-year-old and three twenty-four-year-olds. (Yes, they are triplets and no, I don't know how I survived those first months with three premature babies and a two-year-old, but I know it was with a lot of help from God!) My four little birdies have since flown the coop, and at the moment I have one in town with me, one in St. Louis, one in Kansas City, and one in Colorado Springs. I have joked that they've stretched the "Mommy Bubble" of comfort as far as it will go. But I feel I am very lucky that they are all healthy, employed, and with a significant other.

The simple beauty of Ireland.

This is such a great month for me to be here and be able to post about the monthly theme, Lucky in Love, because I have a lot of Irish in me. I offer as evidence that my mother's maiden name was McKee, and her mother's maiden name was Callahan. My grandmother McKee came from a family of eight, seven girls and one boy. (Poor guy!) I believe they all were fairly musically inclined and enjoyed family sing-alongs. My grandmother played multiple instruments including the piano and the banjo. Her father was a postmaster in St. Louis, where I spent my childhood. My Grandfather McKee was a mechanic and boxer in the Navy, a cantankerous sort with a soft heart underneath it all. It was he who fostered my love of Irish music by playing The Irish Rover's "The Unicorn" practically every time we came over. (It's a really cute song and worth looking up. :) ) I can see him now sitting in his chair with a smile on his face and a pipe tucked into the corner of his mouth. I feel lucky to have the heritage that I have.

Enjoying cocktails on the patio of the Ballynahinch Castle.

I have also been fortunate enough to be able to go to Ireland twice. The most recent trip I took with my husband the year our triplets left for college. My son Ryan called it our "victory lap" after successfully getting all of the kids out of the house. It was a very special trip and provided an opportunity to spend the night in a castle and hear an expert on William Butler Yeats read his poetry, while his wife, who was a chef, served us lunch. Their lovely home overlooked Galway Bay, an area often featured in Yeats' work. (While these were some of my favorite moments, my husband, however, most appreciated our tour of the Guinness factory!)

How has all this Irishness affected my writing? I'm so glad you asked. I actually used my grandfather's name in my book DAMAGE DONE which is set in Ireland, and bits of his life story made their way into it as well. I also have an Irish bartender in my chic lit DEVILISH DIVAS SERIES. I loved him so much I had to kill off the heroine in the first book that featured him so I could have fun creating a second romance for him. Even that wasn't enough and Killian's second wife also met her demise! (Some would say he wasn't lucky in love!) But, not to worry, an upcoming book gives him the opportunity to make the third time a charm.

So, to wrap things up, I thought I'd share a bit of Killian with you. That way you can see a little of my writing. This is from the scene when Killian meets the heroine, Bridey (Bridget), in SIN WORTH THE PENANCE.




“Killian?” My Aunt Deidre glanced over from her pour. “Be a love and fetch me a bottle of Jameson’s from the pantry, would ya?” She was a sprite of a woman, in her late fifties, and as sweet as could be. But if her kids got her riled up, she could equally be a terror. I kept on her good side.

“Aye.” I turned to follow instructions.

“And, while you’re at it, a bottle of gin, as well.”

I nodded and crossed the room, noting a table that needed to be bussed along me way. Under the stairs leading to the rooms I rented above was a small stock room. I opened the door and felt along the inside wall for a switch, but could find none. I left the door open instead, thinking the light from the pub would be enough to illuminate a bottle of Jameson’s and some gin. I squinted in the murky interior as I searched the shelf in the back for the familiar green whiskey bottle.

Then, in a sweep, what little light there was disappeared. The door swung shut and I was left in utter blackness. I could feel someone behind me and by the alluring fragrance, a woman. She circled me in her arms and caressed the fronts of me thighs. I froze, completely caught unawares. Then she nibbled on me neck, her tongue gliding along me skin as she went. I’d been a widow for coming up on a year, and with no woman, but me body hadn’t forgotten what need was. Heat quivered through me.

A sultry voice broke the silence. “Guess who?”

I cleared me throat. “I haven’t a clue.”

She swatted my head. “Would you deny me, Murphey?”

My confusion deepened. It wasn’t a case of mistaken identity then. She knew me name. An old flame? I listened more intently, trying to recognize the voice.

She leaned in, her mouth at me ear. “Ya weren’t denying me yesterday in your mother’s bedroom.”

Wait? What? Mother’s bedroom?

She continued to purr. “Or did you just want me to remind ya? Cuz I’ll gladly do that.”

Before I knew it, she’d slipped around in front of me, and lush lips covered mine, pulling me into a dizzying kiss. She put her hands on the sides of me face to guide her and, God help me, I knew I shouldn’t, but I responded. Her lips tasted of sin and sweet strawberries. But if she was a sin, she was a sin worth the penance, for sure.

I knew now that this woman was sorely confused, for I had been in no mother’s bedroom with her, except maybe in me dreams. I should pull away. I should straighten her out on just who she was kissin’. Instead, I weaved me fingers through her silky tresses and hung on for dear life. But when she reached down me pants... I jumped, as did she. We both simultaneously exclaimed, “Oh, me Gawd!” mine a murmur of pleasure, hers a reaction of surprise.

She parted from me and the next thing I knew the door creaked open and light poured in. I spun to both find out who this vixen was, and apologize for not announcing meself more clearly. Blinking in the light, I put a hand up to block it, but all I saw was a head atumble with gorgeous, curly, black as midnight hair and a tight ass in jeans the likes of which I’d never seen before. Feeling weak-kneed I felt behind me and sat on a crate.

What just happened? Me brain had a hard time coming back to its normal senses. Was I kissed by an angel? Or perhaps the heavens are playing tricks on me for some reason?

Too late, I sprang to me feet and stuck me head out the door. And, although it was a wide open room with nowhere to hide, me phantom kisser was naught to be seen.

Blurb for SIN WORTH THE PENANCE: 

Even an entire ocean couldn’t separate Killian Murphey from his grief.

But when shortly after his return to Ireland Killian finds himself in an unexpected liplock, it definitely gives him a distraction from his sorrows. Who is the temptress that mistook him for someone else in the dark of the pantry? And why has that kiss set him ablaze?

 

Bridget O’Flannery is definitely the kind of girl that can leave a man burned.

But is Bridget more than reputation leads people to believe? And when shadows from her past come to claim her, will she be the one who ends up suffering a fiery end? Or will she and Killian be able to smother the flames that haunt her?

 Either way, she is definitely a SIN WORTH THE PENANCE!

To purchase SIN WORTH THE PENANCE:


Amazon: mybook.to/SinWorthThePenance

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sin-worth-the-penance-mj-schiller/1132647298?ean=9781644571231

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sin-worth-the-penance-the-devilish-divas-series-book-6

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/sin-worth-the-penance-the-devilish-divas-series-book-6/id1474289833




Thanks for reading! One lucky commenter will win their choice of any of my e-books. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months!



What is one of your favorite vacations?

Out with the Old...In with the New by @karilemor #RomanceGems

 

The year that shall not be named is gone and so we look forward to something better. But in order to do that I need to make sure I put positivity in my attitude. Stay away from the news and focus on all the wonderful things life has to offer. And there are SO MANY things to be thankful for.

I have a wonderful husband, three beautiful children, 2 adorable grandsons, and I’m getting a new baby granddaughter in early May. The though of buying little girl clothes and bows again (2 of my 3 children are girls) is so exciting.

I’ve got great friends, online and off, who support me and help me through the hard times. My extended family are all lovely people who keep in touch as best they can.

And I’ve done more writing than ever before.

This year will be a whirlwind with releases. The one I’m most excited about is my Love on the Line series. It’s what I like to call “Romance with a splash of Danger”. Heavy on romance and light on suspense.

The first three books, Wild Card Undercover, Running Target, and Fatal Evidence, originally released in 2017.  Unfortunately, recently, the publisher put the books at a ridiculous price of $9.99 for digital. Yeah, I know. I wouldn’t even buy my own books at that price!!

But now I have control over them and will be rereleasing the first three books in Jan, Feb, and March. They’ll be at a much more reasonable price of $3.99.  And I’ve added a new scene or two to each book!!

The really exciting thing is this series has three more books coming right after it. We saw Chris, Jack, and Scott in the original series, but we also got glimpses of their other army buddies, Drew, Keith, and Nick.  So now these new guys will finally get to tell you their stories and find the women of their dreams.

These books will follow the first three in April, May, and June. So you can binge the whole series all at once if you hate waiting for the sequels. FYI, the books are all stand alones and can be read in any order.

For those who enjoy my small town contemporary Storms of New England series, I will be releasing Greg and Luke’s stories later this year.

And I have another surprise book coming out closer to Christmas. More about that at a later date.

Wild Card Undercover will be released TODAY!!! And you can get it at most retailers. More information and LINKS for them are here:  WILD CARD UNDERCOVER 

 

Stay positive, remember the blessings we do have, and read lots of romance!!

Kari

 

Romance from the Heart by Constance Bretes #RomanceGems

Constance Bretes, known as Connie here on Romance Gems, is having some medical issues at the moment.

I told her I'd step in and blog for her today.

Let me tell you a little about Connie Bretes. After 38+ years, she retired from working for the State of Michigan and dived into writing.

She loves researching and writing. To date, she's written and published more than a dozen novels ranging from Contemporary Romance to Romantic Suspense. 

Her romance novels are often set in different parts of the country, but her favorite place to set a book is Montana. The last few years have been challenging for Connie. She and her husband had moved to Montana, but the altitude in the Big Sky State was a challenge they could not overcome. Regretfully, they moved farther south and now make their home in Alabama.

A Note from Connie

I write contemporary romance where my characters are all down-to-earth everyday people who meet and fall in love. Most of them meet up with their past loves and rekindle the romance!

I have been writing romance for about ten years now and published my first book, Delayed Justice, 2013. I love writing and since getting my first book published, it's been a great ride!

Trio of Connie's Books

Here's a diverse sampling of Connie's romance novels.

The Christmas Ballet

Can a little girl's love and the true magic of Christmas bring Stefan and Laura together forever?

Rekindled Christmas Mystery

Liz Grey left Sage Brush, Wyoming, and the only man she ever loved, twelve years ago to be a cop in one of the biggest cities in the US. She returned a disgraced cop and was lucky to find a position at the county sheriff department. 

Aaron Mansfield is a sergeant at the county sheriff substation. When he receives a phone call informing him that a dead body has been discovered on his father's ranch, he has no idea it will change his life.

Can the cold case murder investigation be solved, and in the process, bring two ex-lovers back together again?

Elkhorn in the Moonlight

Marcus Blackhawk is on a mission to locate the Sacred Arrows that were stolen from the Cheyenne Nation. 

Nicole Lancaster ekes out a living in a small town by helping her brother run a motel and working part-time in a restaurant. Her mundane life suddenly becomes more exciting when Marcus arrives in town asking about the arrows she found while hiking in the Elkhorn Mountains.

The gorgeous man makes her heart beat fast, but she knows he'd never be interested in a Plain Jane like herself. Can the search for stolen Sacred Arrows lead to much more?

Visit Connie Online

Definitely follow Connie at her social media websites, but give her a little time to get back on her feet to interact with you.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Bookbub | Amazon

Subscribe to Connie's Newsletter

I know Connie would love to receive some "get well" messages.

Please leave a comment and wish her a speedy recovery!

Cover Reveal! by Laura Hunsaker

 I have some exciting news! With the end of summer so came the end of the Last Chance Beach: Summer's End box set. As sad as that is, I'm very excited to share that my story Dreams of the Past has new content and a fresh new cover! But how could I give one book a new cover and not the other? My Fatal Instincts series has a fresh new look courtesy of Author's Write Hand. 

Original covers:

New covers:

What do you think? I'm so excited for the new and updated look! Dreams of the Past is up for pre-order now and releases January 12, 2021. Look for the next in the Fatal Instincts series, Dangerous Past, coming this summer... Come read the story that Alexandra Ivy is calling "A story filled with charm, heartache, and the promise of love..."

DREAMS OF THE PAST

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…

The Daffodils Are Coming!The Daffodils Are Coming! by Nora LeDuc #RomanceGems

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
(William Wordsworth)

With my stay at home life, I'm more eager than ever to get out and spot New England's signs of spring. I especially love the trumpet-shaped flowers, the daffodils. Their welcoming bright yellow, orange, or white colors welcome all who pass and raise my hopes for summer. So let's not waste time. Since car rides are allowed in our state, I'm off on our search for these harbingers of renewal. I'll add a few interesting landmarks along our way.

Molly Stark House at Pages Corner. Molly 
married General John Stark.

Before we leave, I check my yard. I discover the newest grouping I'd planted last fall near the road. They've survived the overflow of sand and salt from the plow truck and being buried beneath a mound of snow. Sadly, their buds haven't opened yet. But we've more to find. I hop in my vehicle and drive to the Pages Corner Cemetery that was named for the original land owners. Their daughter, Elizabeth Page (aka Molly Stark) lived on the corner and married Revolutionary War Hero John Stark.

Pages Corner Cemetery flowers--white building houses a horse-drawn hearse-
thanks to the town hearse restoration committee

But refocus! The plants are up at the cemetery! A long row of them, courtesy of our garden club. Their petals flutter in the wind and beckon me to snap their picture. I oblige. You might be curious about the white building in the grave yard. It houses a restored 1870 horse-drawn hearse.




I travel a few yards to the town line. Here, multitudes of daffodils are growing. Woo Hoo!! The residents of our community planted these for our town's 250 birthday celebration a few years ago.

                                          Roadside mass of flowers thanks to our town garden club                                         

Finally, my car chugs up the nine-hundred-foot-hill to the Center. There I make a glorious discovery. In front of the Caleb Stark Statue, the old horse trough contains a cheery display on this gray day. In case you're wondering, Caleb was Molly and Gen. John Stark's oldest son. Caleb is often depicted in paintings, chasing after his father who tried to leave him behind when John rode off to fight at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Yes, Caleb caught him and became the aide-de-camp to the general. We end our brief tour here. I declare our flower hunt a success on a cool April afternoon.

In the background, statue of Revolutionary soldier Caleb Stark

Now as the days grow warmer and longer, I grab my laptop and sit on the deck or by the windows. I dream of gardens rioting with color and stories filled with challenges and sometimes danger where love conquers all.

Before I sign off, I wanted to let you know my newest book, Christmas at the Easy Breezy will be in pre-order in June. The characters will celebrate with an outdoor spring wedding! Maybe you'll spot a daffodil.
Love to all,
~ Nora

****

Wait, there's more!!

Our monthly Rafflecopter is waiting for you and with an added chance —the Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt.  Complete information can be found on our Monthly Giveaway page. Yes, Easter is over but you can still enter. Just check out my Facebook page and my BookBub page to find my egg. Please like and follow me while there!!