For summer reading take advantage of Kindle Unlimited by Jan Scarbrough

The theme for July is Beach Read Mania. To me this not only means reading books with beach settings but reading for summer fun.

 At Sunday school yesterday, a friend came up to me to talk about books. It’s widely known in the class that I write novels. This friend said she’d joined Kindle Unlimited. She thought it was a good deal, and she said, “There are some really good books in it.” She wanted to know how to find my books. I told her to simply look for my name.

Most readers who enjoy ebooks and buy them from Amazon know about Kindle Unlimited.

Kindle Unlimited is sort of like Netflix for Amazon's digital e-books, called Kindle books. You pay a monthly subscription fee for access to the full Kindle Unlimited library where you can read and enjoy as many Kindle books as you want. That's exactly why it's called “Unlimited.”

Publishers don’t have to put their books into this program. In fact, many prefer to go “wide” and take advantage of other ebook platforms such as those on Apple or GooglePlay.

Recently, I’ve added a few of my books to Kindle Unlimited. Take a look at them during the hot, humid days of summer whether you’re at the beach or in the cool of your living room.

Ghost Mountain Ranch: The secrets of the past still haunt the living…  “Kudos to Jan Scarbrough for keeping the characters interesting and the plot twists intriguing from the first book to the last.”

Betting on Love: A romantic virgin and matchmaking aunt threaten the bachelor days of a Bluegrass chef.  

 Dawsons of Montana: Growing up on the ranch was a great life for Ben until his mother passed away, leaving his father Jim a widower. It wasn’t long, however, before Jim remarried, bringing Liz into their lives, along with her son, Brody. Soon, Jim and Liz added a new Dawson to the family when daughter Mercer was born. Jim’s untimely death changes the family's life and future.

 

Once Upon a Cowboy @MaddieJames #RomanceGems

Once upon a time there was a teacher, and one hot August summer, she and her teacher friend went off to a conference in the cool Colorado mountains. The conference was great--what they saw of it, anyway. The trail ride they skipped the afternoon sessions for was a lot more exciting.

You see, there were cowboys.

And this teacher, even though she'd not ridden a horse since she was a kid, made the commitment for a four-hour trail ride into the Colorado mountains--two hours up and two hours back. All was well heading up the mountainside, the scenery was great, the horse was a dream, the cowboys were... well, cowboys.

Coming down the mountain, however, was a different story. The teacher had a difficult time handling her horse on the downward slopes, crossing a little stream, and keeping up with the other horses. She mixed up her signals to her mount. When she thought she was telling the horse to slow down, she was really telling the horse to back up. Consequently, they lost their space in the horse line. So, the horse galloped. And the teacher held on for dear life. And when the teacher was finally finished with this nightmare, she could only think of one thing--

At least there were cowboys.

Now, this story does have a happily-ever-after ending. You see, the teacher turned her adventure into a book. The opening scene--probably elaborated upon a bit--mimicked the teacher's chaotic ride down the mountain. She sold that book--her first published novel--and then the teacher wasn't a teacher any longer. She was a romance author who wrote about cowboys (and other things).

True story. I swear. I have the book covers to prove it! The original book is on the left, the revised/rebranded and re-authored book, is on the right!

Now, twenty-some years later, the sequel to this first cowboy book, is finally written. 

Readers have been asking for Mack and Jillie's story for years. Years! But other stories and different cowboys got in the way. Until now. 

The Cowboy's Secret Baby releases August 25, and I (Maddie James / the teacher) am ready to share it with the world! Here's the blurb: 

She’s the maid of honor. He’s the best man. 

Both are keeping secrets from the other.

The long-requested sequel to Maddie James’ first published novel, Roses & Rawhide is now available!

Readers wanted to know...
What happened to Jillie and Mack’s relationship at the end of Roses & Rawhide?
Why did Jillie go back to Kentucky?
Will they get back together?
What’s their story?

While Kim Martin and Thad Winchester find their happily-ever-after in Roses & Rawhide, their best friends, Jillie Abernathy and Mack Montgomery, end their sleeping-bag-sharing relationship during the rugged, two-week pack trip into the Colorado San Juan mountains.

But when Kim and Thad host their wedding at Thad’s Colorado ranch a few months later, Mack and Jillie must come face-to-face with reality—and with each other. She’s the maid of honor. He’s the best man. Both are harboring secrets—secrets that could break a potential future relationship if they both avoid telling the truth.

Can they reveal those secrets to each other? And if so, can they get past the withheld truths to plan a future together?

PREORDER TODAY!

DON'T FORGET! A NEW BOX SET AND A FREE COCKTAILS BOOK!

Some of the Romance Gems have teamed together to release a new box set with all-new summer beach stories, and their favorite summer cocktail recipe in a free book! See the details below!

GET THE $0.99 BOX SET! | GRAB YOUR FREE COCKTAILS BOOK!  

And last, I'd love it if you would comment below to win our monthly giveaway prize. Details are here.

COMMENT & WIN QUESTION: My chaotic ride down the mountain on the trail horse was not my most glamorous moment of all time. In fact, it was quite embarrassing. What's your most embarrassing moment? Comment below & (maybe) win!

****

Maddie James writes romance – but don’t try to pin her down to one genre. From edgy suspense to flirty contemporary romance to darker erotic titles, she writes to silence the people in her head. Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense.” Learn more at www.maddiejames.com.

New Release: Ghost Mountain Ranch by Jan Scarbrough

Sometimes a simple suggestion leads to a two-year writing project. That’s what took me and my character Hank from the setting of the McKenna Ranch in Paradise Valley, Montana, into Gallatin Canyon which is across the mountain. It didn’t hurt that my husband and I had spent three days at the Covered Wagon Ranch in 2016.

To gather the back story for my series, I read a few books. One had the long title of Days of Rage: America’s Radical Underground, the FBI, and the Forgotten Age of Revolutionary Violence by Bryan Burrough. I’m not going to say any more about the back story, because it will ruin the plot.

So, now my series is finished. I wrote the lead in book in 2017. At the end of the Christmas story, Hank, the McKenna’s wrangler, gets a job at Ghost Mountain Ranch where he grew up. This sets the scene for reuniting with his old girl friend Darby. They’re older now and both need second chances.

Darby’s twin children “star” in the other two books. Slade, the first of these books is on preorder, and the last one Kelsey will be available soon.

Thirty years ago, torn by shock and guilt over the death of her mother, Darby York fled the dude ranch where she’d grown up in Montana. In her new life in the bluegrass of Kentucky, she’d become a horse groom, an artist, married a wealthy Thoroughbred owner, raised twins, and been widowed. But now, with word her father is growing feeble, Darby has to finally face the truth: no matter how far you run, the past has a way of catching up. Her father hadn’t been the only man Darby had left behind. Would the boyfriend she’d abandoned still be there?

Hank Slade, wrangler at Ghost Mountain Ranch, has never stopped carrying the torch for Darby. Her vibrant red hair may be tinged with gray now, but the natural, unsophisticated look about her remains—a look that speaks of home and comfort to Hank. But is he willing to risk his heart with Darby again?

What is the truth behind the death of Darby’s mother? When the past once again intrudes on the present, will Darby do what she’s always done—what her mother did—and run away? Grief and secrets had torn Darby and Hank apart once. Given a second chance at love, will the revelation of more shocking secrets from the past destroy their hopes for the future?

Darby: Ghost Mountain Ranch Book 2 is available at most ebook retailers:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2AExEb7

More Universal Buy Links: https://books2read.com/Darby

My book Secrets is FREE on KindleUnlimited today through Saturday!

Don’t forget our Amazon Gift Card Monthly Giveaway.

COUNTING DOWN TO VALENTINE'S DAY By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless #romancegems

My honey might roll his eyes when I pull out the Valentine’s decorations in early February, but I know he secretly enjoys my passion for the day when one hundred and fifty million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged worldwide.  Not to mention it is a great excuse (as if I need one) to drink champagne and eat chocolate.

And yet Valentine’s Day is not just another day brought to us by Hallmark.  From early days to modern times, poems and songs have been written, stories have been penned, and rings and vows have been exchanged.  Which sent me on a quest for romantic poetry.  Here are a few classics to get you in the mood.

“Love is a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”  Aristotle

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever.”  Alfred Tennyson

“How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.”  Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Age does not protect you from love.  But love, to some extent, protects you from age.”  Anais Nin

“Love is like quicksilver in the hand.  Leave the fingers open and it stays.  Clutch it and it darts away.”  Dorothy Parker

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must be felt with the heart.”  Helen Keller

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep: the more I give the more I have for both are infinite.”  William Shakespeare. 

I don’t know a single romance writer who doesn’t embrace Valentine’s Day because in our world every day rivals Valentine’s Day as we write about love and romance and happy endings.   

I am thrilled to announce the upcoming release of BARRON'S BRIDE, Book 6 of my sweet western historical series, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, as soon as I get it back from the editor.  Readers have waited long enough to see Barron meet his match, and in this classic "enemies to lovers" tale he has not cooperated with me or with poor Lily, although she gives as good as she gets.  Here is a sample.

          Barron should be no stranger to weddings, what with five of his brothers having recently taken the plunge.  So why did he feel so uneasy standing here listening to his twin pledge himself to Rose till death?  Sounded like one heck of a long time. 

          He glanced reluctantly at Rose’s sister, Lily.  There was something about the woman he didn’t trust.  Far better for everyone if she high-tailed it some place far, far away.  He knew, sure as he drew his next breath, that if Lily stuck around she was bound to raise havoc on all their lives.

          He didn’t buy any part of her story other than she had been kidnapped, and only because Rose claimed to have seen the whole thing.  When they found her, Lily pretended like she’d lost her memory, along with her ability to speak.  Pretended to not even know her own sister.  Convenient how fast her memory returned when it suited her.

          He started when his arm was pinched, bringing him back to the present.  Lily stood next to him, practically on top of him.  “The ceremony is over, in case you hadn’t noticed.  This is where you take my arm and we follow the bride and groom down into the yard.”

          “Right,” he said with a near growl.  Just his luck to be best man to Lily’s maid of honor.  As if the woman before him had any sense of honor. 

          Not that he was exactly anyone’s idea of a “best man”, given the things he’d seen and done.   

          He gritted his teeth as Lily tucked her arm through his.   

          “The receiving line will be over here.  In case you weren’t paying attention the other day.”

          Barron’s breath hissed between his teeth.  Why did the woman irritate him so much every time she opened her mouth?  “I paid attention.  It’s not exactly my first time at the rodeo, you know.”

          Once they had taken their places in line, she said. “I hope you have your speech all prepared.  I’d hate to see you make more of a fool of yourself than usual.”

          He ground his teeth together and clamped his lips tightly shut.  Lots of things he’d like to say to her, none of which was appropriate on his twin’s wedding day.  

If you've been following this series, you'll want to preorder here        https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZCBP1VR

And in honor of Valentine’s Day, Check out this collection of Valentine’s Novellas from an amazing line-up of Harlequin authors.

8 brand-new Christmas Town novellas from some of your favorite Harlequin Heartwarming authors. Valentine’s Day—and Christmas Town—will never be the same!

Calling all bachelors!

The Knotty Elves decide a Valentine’s Day Bachelor Auction kills two birds with one stone – raising money to save the library while working their matchmaking magic. From a personal chef to the town’s snow plow operator, there’s one thing all these handsome, homespun heroes have in common: they’re about to find love, Christmas Town style.  

https://www.amazon.com/Be-My-Heartwarming-Valentine-Christmas-ebook/dp/B07Z8CXBWP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-my-heartwarming-valentine-anna-adams/1134146353?ean=2940163127962

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  And remember to enter our Rafflecopter Draw here.  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a234/

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS by Kathleen Lawless #romancegems @kathleenlawless

Wasn’t Christmas the best, most exhilarating time when we were young?  All the excitement, the anticipation, the festivities.  Falling asleep on Christmas Eve was never easy and Christmas morning couldn’t come fast enough so we could bounce out of bed to see what Santa left under the tree or in our stocking.

Somewhere along the way the holidays came to mean lists, lists and more lists.  Frenzied crowds in the shops or the mall.  Long line-ups.  Clogged parking lots.  Baking and wrapping and cleaning and planning.  Too much to do and never enough time, no matter how early one got started.  Which is when learned to I step back, take a breath and concentrate on the traditions I look forward to each year.

Our local yacht club hosts a "Sea of Lights" with the sailboats all decked in lights reflecting off the endless dark ocean.  Honey and I bundle up and watch it from the beach every year with mugs of (spiked) hot chocolate.  

For the largest truck parade in the country, Heavy Equipment Operators catch the Christmas spirit by decorating their huge work trucks with lights and driving them in a massive convoy through downtown with carols blaring and horns honking.  I usually open the sunroof and stand on my seat for the best vantage point as they drive past.  

A nearby world-famous garden trades its flower bulbs for light bulbs in December. Gardeners spend months decorating to the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  My gleeful inner child loves to ride the carousel.  Thank goodness I can still fling my leg up and hoist myself onto one of the critters.   

More than ripping into gifts in the morning, my family and I look forward to playing games on Christmas Eve.  Our recent favorite, Cards Against Humanity, always turns into a laugh fest.  The simple act of being together with my love and my adult children is all I want for Christmas, and I give thanks every year that we all still enjoying being together.

Comment below and share some of your holiday traditions.  And don’t forget to enter our raffledraw.  This month’s prizes are bigger than ever.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a232/

If you’re a fan of box sets, my SEVEN BRIDES SERIES Volume 1 is now available.  It contains a bonus novella not available for purchase outside of the set.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZW9SVZK

If, like me, you have a penchant for cowboys, check out these heroes in cowboy boots, all available to read for free in KU.    
  

• https://storyoriginapp.com/to/409JnSj

Most of all have a safe and happy Holiday Season, however you choose to celebrate. 

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

New Beginnings by Karen Kelley #RomanceGems

I’m ready for fall. August in Texas can be brutal. Not to mention what a crazy month it has been. We were staying with our daughter and her family until our house was ready. We didn’t think that day would ever come. But it did and we’re all moved in. After 3 ½ years of traveling in a 350 square feet fifth wheel to see 39 states, we’ve settled down again in a home without wheels. I have to admit, we were a little sad, but this is a brand new adventure. We’ll still travel, but in a different way.

We also celebrated (a few weeks early) our 50^th wedding anniversary. Wow, has that much time already gone by. They say time flies when you’re having fun. I guess whoever said that was right. Our kids surprised us with a party and a cruise. Karl and I are super excited. We’ve only been on one, and it was very brief, but we had a blast. This time we’re headed for the Mayan ruins! This has been on our bucket list for a while.

Then we headed to Port Aransas with our son and grandson for 5 days. Our grandson is 9 and we had a great time teaching him how to fish. We walked on the beach and collected shells and a whole lot of new memories. Speaking of which, our son did a collage of pictures and had them put on one sheet in a beautiful frame.

But then they flew back to Michigan. The house is quiet once again. Now it’s me and Karl. I have an office again and plan on having a lot of new releases. If you haven’t had a chance to grab my newest, Bless Your Heart, is the start of a brand new series and just released this month. It has a sexy, small town flavor. I hope you enjoy my, It’s A Southern Thang series (intentionally misspelled, pronounced with a Texas drawl).

Our new Monthly Giveaway starts August 4, and it's Winner's Choice with great options for prizes. Take a look at it.

Best Wishes,

             Karen Kelley
             www.authorkarenkelley.com

                                                                   Purchase now or read
                                                                      for free in KU

NEVER SAY NEVER

By Caroline Clemmons

This time of year makes me nostalgic. I remember being a child and going off to school in my new dress and new shoes and wishing I could stay home. (I was extremely shy.) I would have preferred being in my own home and yard so I could pretend I was riding the range with Roy Rogers.

In my young mind, I planned to marry Roy when I was grown. Of course, he would magically have remained the same age while I grew older. Imagine my heartbreak when I learned he had long ago married Dale Evans. From then on, Dale was along on my imaginary rides to help Roy round up rustlers and bank robbers.

When I was seven we moved back to Texas. I hated leaving our relatives in California but I was so excited about Texas. I knew I'd see cowboys riding their horses. Nope, we settled in an area of cotton farms and maize fields. After a couple of months to get settled in West Texas, we drove to Oklahoma to see my grandmother.

The trip took us through ranch country. My father kept telling me that Roy Rogers and other cowboys like him were only in the movies and that I was not going to see them even though we were in Texas. We were driving along and there, on the left, was a roundup. Cowboys riding horses, throwing ropes, just as I'd imagined. Poor Dad.

When our eldest daughter prepared for grad school, she and her sister drove down to look for an apartment. She had told me all the things this apartment needed to have, including a dishwasher and an extra bedroom to function as a study and a fenced back yard for her dogs. I insisted that for what she could afford, she would not find an apartment like she wanted. You know what happened, right?

After viewing miserable choices, she was discouraged. Then, she found this perfect duplex with all her requirements. What's more, it was on a quiet cul de sac and was well maintained. When she returned home she was understandably excited.

Her sister confided that it's a good thing she found that apartment because the eldest--who doesn't like shopping of any kind--was tired of looking and would have taken the next choice regardless of the condition.

I'm sure all parents can identify. Never say never to your child. The word will come back to bite you.

I still love and live in the West and have my own Hero. However, I've deserted Roy and would rather watch and listen to another movie cowboy.