It's All About The Characters by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

Summer has arrived! I'm a teacher, and this season brings much needed rest and fun. Summer is also when I can read and write to my heart's content. My children are older, so I get to spend more time with books and the characters within them.

I -- much to my family's affectionate frustration -- form attachments to the people in the stories I read. I can't help it. I worry, I laugh, I cheer, and I cry right along with them. I bet a lot of you are the same.



It's hard for me to let go when I finish a book. If it makes me feel something, I think about it for several days. And, of course, I re-read my favorite parts.



As the years have gone by, I have collected books I love, which can be found here, and books I enjoyed reading, which can be found here.

My attachment to characters extends to the one's I've created, as well. It's so hard to let them go, and I have discovered their lives have continued in my mind. So....I started a blog called, "The Story Continues". Here, I will be posting extra scenes and short stories that allow these people to live on.


Isn't that wonderful? I never have to leave them! (My family will probably shake their heads at me -- fondly, of course.)

Right now, I'm posting a three part story about Elinor, a feisty and rule-breaking debutante, and Trap, a rowdy cowboy. These two formed an attachment with each other in The Cowboy's Embrace, and I had a lot of fun learning about them. I felt their story wasn't over and had to delve further into their relationship. Come visit "The Story Continues" to see how everything goes for them!

Do you have a character, or characters, who have stayed with you? Answer in the comments and two people will win a free copy of Saving Sarah or Welcome Home!

In other news, y'all might remember that I was orphaned by my publisher in March. I have two books back up with the third coming next week.

If you would like to sign up for my monthly newsletter, click here.

Saving Sarah
Historical Romance

Sarah Kerry's world is shattered when a man from her past, Liam Devlin, shows up with proof that, if shared, would send her father to the noose. In order to keep Liam quiet, she must break her young courtship with Michael Lonnigan and marry Liam instead.

Michael is crushed and angry when Sarah abruptly ends their courtship, but he knows something isn't right. He's seen the new man hanging around the Kerry family and believes the man is blackmailing the woman Michael loves. Unwilling to let her go, Michael will do whatever it takes to save Sarah and make her his own.

Welcome Home
Historical Romance

Emma Prescott, determined and selfless, flees from wealth and her murderous father, wanting the love and forgiveness of poor cotton farmer, Kyle Lonnigan.

Although Kyle refuses to forgive her for her part in his father's death, Emma stays and works her own farm. Over the next several months, Emma proves to Kyle she is not the spoiled girl he remembers.

Emma's sudden re-entrance into Kyle's life only conjures long-buried painful memories. Kyle does his best to avoid her, needing to keep the pain at bay, and stopping her from reminding him of their last moments together before bullets shattered their world. But, he is unsuccessful. The love he denies is too strong, and soon Emma and Kyle are tumbling headlong into the past and passion.



I hope y'all have a wonderful start to your summer! And remember our giveaway!


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Summer Days & Nights of Reading @karilemor #RomanceGems

With summer just about here and the need to still stay socially distant from the public, I know I’ll be diving into as many books as I can.  My brand new Kindle Paperwhite (the old one died a quick and painless death) is loaded with hundreds of books (no, I don’t have a book buying problem - one click is my friend) and I am READY! 

But what to read, what to read? I thought I’d share some of the books I’ve really enjoyed in the past and maybe you’ll find something you enjoy as well.

We’ll start with the always gracious Brenda Jackson. I’ve met this lovely woman three times now and each time she has been a joy to be with.  

Her series Catalina Cove, takes place in the Louisiana Bayou.  All three books are fabulous but I especially enjoyed FINDING HOME AGAIN maybe because I’d met the characters in the earlier books and was dying to find out what their story was.

I’m typically not one for royal or billionaire stories but I found this one to be quite fun and sassy.

Alyssa Cole - A Princess in Theory: Reluctant Royals.  I just downloaded the next two books to my device and I will be going on a journey very soon.

If you want a book to make you hungry, then you’ll want to pick up THE SECRET INGREDIENT by Kilby Blades.  

A chef on vacation and a handsome guy next door who wants to learn all about cooking. This book is YUMMY all around.  

PACKING HEAT -in the Blue Collar Lovers series by Zuri Day was such a breath of fresh air. It’s so refreshing to read a book about everyday people and everyday lives. The main characters in this book work at the Post Office.

If you want to escape from reality you can try PRINCE OF AIR AND DARKNESS (The Darkest Court series) by MA Grant. 

It’s a m/m fantasy that takes place among the fey. I totally fell in love with Finny and Roark. It’s part of a series but each book surrounds a different couple. I dare you to read the first and not want the rest!

Looking for a fun read where the characters already know each other? Try DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD: A Perfect Fit Novel by Sugar Jamison. 

This book is adorable and has the heroine falling for her sister’s ex boyfriend.

How about action, adventure and some sizzling suspense along with a couple of sizzling guys? 

Layla Reyne has a series that follows two FBI agents on an epic hunt for justice.  SINGLE MALT:  Agents Irish and Whiskey is the first books but you’ll fall hard for Aiden and Jamison and want to see what happens next.

Kellye Garrett’s book HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE -A Detective By Day Mystery Book is a cute story of a private investigator in the making. 

Well written and a mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s not a romance but there was definitely a little romantic interest thrown in.

And to end things off a very sweet and innocent historical by Lorri Dudley.  THE DUKE’S REFUGE (Leeward Island series) is an inspirational book that is extremely well written and had me turning the pages until I got to the end.

And if you’re looking for a fun beach read in small town New England, I’d love for you to take a look at my Storms of New England series. The books are based on the loving Storm family but do contain some language and steamy scenes.

💖ELUSIVE DREAMS - An injured Marine, an introverted loner, two orphaned children needing a home. Can they create a perfectly imperfect family?
(marriage of convenience, girl next door)

💖TRUE DREAMS - A recovering addict in search of a quiet life. An innocent optimist seeking fame and fortune. Can she see beyond his past to heal his damaged soul? 
(boss/employee, bad boy/virgin)

💖STOLEN DREAMS - An uptight perfectionist. A bohemian free spirit. Can she convince him a walk on the wild side is good for the soul?
(opposites attract, friends with benefits)

💖BROKEN DREAMS - COMING THIS AUGUST!!

PS: It's my birthday today and if you want to get me a present, I'd love for you to try one of my books!

Amazon              Barnes & Noble               iBooks

Don't forget to enter our monthly Rafflecopter drawing for some great prizes in Amazon gift cards! You can find the complete details and full entry form on our Monthly Giveaway page. Or, you can enter via the Short Entry Form.

Summer Reads Coming At You by @ElsaKurt #RomanceGems

I Started Doing A Thing

It's not a big thing, really, just a little something I call the #DailyBookDrop (hashtag and all) on my Facebook page. I've started with "dropping" my own books, and will add books in my current reading list, all-time favorites, books I want to read... and so on.



So, I thought I'd do one big book drop here. Below are my currently published books, which can all be read for free with Kindle Unlimited! Here we go...

 The Two Tenleys

Two strangers, one name. What could go wrong?

Everything, that's what! This light-hearted, but heartstring pulling story is a medical mix-up with a twist. 

Still Here

He thought he'd lost her forever...

Damon  & Birdie Harrison had the perfect life, or so it seemed. When the trip of their dreams becomes their worst nightmare, can they find their way back?

 Craving: Country Billionaire's Club & Craving: Loyalty anthologies

I loved these short stories so much, I may make them full-length! Country girl Ella meets Hollywood star Owen Collins  & sparks fly in Tomorrow Always Comes. Jenna's a girl on the run... into the arms of billionaire Griff Pierce. And Jaime is a boy on the wrong side of the tracks. Can the girl he used to love save him from himself?

 Awkward Adventures in Dating

This funny, sexy, awkward romcom is about newly divorced Keira. She's joined the online dating pool... and she's drowning in disaster. Add a snarky narrator who sounds suspiciously like Fitzwilliam Darcy and stir.

Lost & Found Girls

This hauntingly strange tale isn't quite your typical romance, but if you're looking for something different, here you go! When a young girl and her mother show up unexpectedly across the street, twelve-year-old Shayne discovers they may have more in common than she ever imagined.

The Writer's Romance

Take a reclusive writer, a charismatic, handsome reality tv host, set them in a small town... and you've got a Hallmark-esque sweet, romantic comedy. Katharine Evans is trying to work on her novel, but Mitch Form and his demolition crew have shown up next door. More than her peace gets disrupted when these to meet.

Livvy Takes the Long Way

Another non-traditional. Livvy is at the crossroads of her life. Stay married to a man she despises, or start over again? Nothing is simple in this touching story of one woman's journey toward finding herself.

 Welcome To Chance (Series)

Five families, eight years in the life. Welcome to the small, coastal Connecticut town of Chance. It's where small-town life meets big-time drama.

And There You Have Them

Is your TBR list as full as mine?! Not that that's a bad problem to have! I love reading list recommendations, so feel free to drop your favorites in the comments.

JUNE GIVEAWAY

We're giving away Amazon gift cards again! Check the MONTHLY GIVEAWAY page for how to win!

No Pets Allowed by @SatinRussell #RomanceGems

On my husband’s fortieth birthday, we were out celebrating when he turned to me and said, “I want a bulldog. You have ten years to get used to the idea, but when I turn fifty, I’m going to get one.”

My heart dropped. This tends to shock a lot of people, but I do not like pets. Any type of pet. I do not want to own a dog, cat, bird, fish, hamster or any other popular type of pet. Owning an animal has never been on my ‘to-do’ list.

Who’s the smarter species? The person picking up excrement or the one being picked up after? As I consider myself part of a self-aware, fairly enlightened species, I do not feel inclined to pick up poo. The very concept chafes on a base, philosophical level.

As a kid, my dad always said the best type of dog was the neighbor’s dog. Dogs shed, pant, drool, bark, and chew on things. They require feeding, watering, and walks. They’re inconvenient to lingering over a second round of cocktails or making travel plans. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the excuse, “Sorry, I can’t. I have to go home and walk the dog.”

Mind you, none of these feelings were kept secret when I got married. My husband knew where I stood on the subject. However, he grew up with dogs and he misses having one around. And now, he’s renegotiating the terms.

In his bid to win me over, he’s taken to showing me videos of bulldogs—puppies falling over each other, wearing sunglasses, or even skateboarding. It’s always accompanied with a soundtrack of, “See? Isn’t this guy so cute? Look at him!”

And I try. I really try to see the allure. But they have such folded scrunched faces, stocky bodies, and snuffly noses. They fart and snore and – I’ve heard – are overall a very stubborn breed to train.

*Sigh* I have eight more years to come around to the idea. I guess you could say I’m in the dog days of dog-free days.

I'm interested in hearing what you think! Are you a dog lover? If so, why? Maybe you can help me change my mind about owning a pet. Or, are you like me? I'll be honest. I haven't met many people who feel the same way, but I know I can't be the only one.

Regardless of whether you love pets or not, don't forget to enter our August Romance Gems Rafflecopter contest. The topic is the Dog Days of Summer.

Grand Prize: Winner's Choice—Pet-Themed Tee Shirt or $15.00 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize: Winner's Choice
Pet-Themed Gift or $10.00 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: Winner's Choice
3rd Prize Option
Pet-Themed Gift or $5.00 Amazon Gift Card

4th Prize:
Bundle of 4 Ebooks

5th Prize:
Bundle of 3 Ebooks

6th Prize:
Bundle of 3 Ebooks

Be sure to visit our Monthly Giveaway page for all the details.

Only 99 cents? Oh my! by Karen Kelley

I currently have Temperature's Rising on sale for 99 cents. How fantastic is that? This is a full-length, standalone, romantic comedy. Here's a little bit of Temperature's Rising:

 

Arresting the police chief's daughter was Conor's first mistake...

     

      Conor Richmond thought the woman in front of him looked a little desperate, and sexy as hell. He wondered why she worked the streets. He figured her more for a high-priced call girl than a street hooker.

    
     New in town, maybe? Like him?


     Except she wanted to start a business. And the way she looked, it wouldn’t take her long to have a whole string of Johns begging for her favors and willing to shell out more than a couple of hundred dollars. If she cleaned up a little, that is, and bought some decent clothes. Her hose were ripped so bad she’d do better without them, and her skirt looked like she’d dug it out of the Salvation Army trash bin.


     A niggle of pity washed over him. What had driven her to this way of life? Drugs? Her eyes were a little red-rimmed. She could be a user, although he didn’t see any track marks running up her arms.


     But underneath the smudge of dirt on her face and the worn clothes, he saw a sensuous woman, and he had a hell of a time keeping his gaze from straying. The amount of cleavage showing beckoned him to bury his face in her lush curves.


     The view only got better. Her long, silky legs drew his attention even if her hose were shredded. They were the kind of legs made to wrap around a man. Pulling him deeper and deeper inside her hot body. Yeah, she was made for sex. The kind that got down and dirty.


     A carload of boys driving by whistled and honked their horn. She looked momentarily distracted, then tossed a saucy grin in their direction as they laughed and sped down the street.


     The smile transformed her face. Meant to pull an unsuspecting male into her web. Conor wasn’t immune to her charms any more than the next poor sucker would be. But he wasn’t her next customer, either. Sometimes he hated his job.


     “Don’t you think two hundred’s a little steep?” he asked.


     She wet her lips, her gaze returning to his. A temptress. Conor inwardly groaned.


     “Not for what you’ll get.”

     The way she said the words, kind of husky, made him wish just for a few hours he could pretend he wasn’t a cop. Made him wish he hadn’t seen her standing on the sidewalk. And made him wish that for a moment he hadn’t thought she looked out of place and vulnerable. Man, had he misjudged. She was a pro, all right. Her sultry eyes promised sinful delights.


     His gaze was drawn to her low-cut blouse again when her hand moved toward the buttons...just as the gesture was meant to do. His vision clouded as he remembered the way she’d walked down the sidewalk. Hell, how could he forget! Hips swaying seductively, and the way she’d slowly turned back around so he could see what he’d be giving up if she chose to keep going. He’d burned all the way down to his boots. No, she knew exactly what she did to him.


     “And what will I get for my money?” he asked, wanting her to spell it out.


     Her eyes widened innocently. “Why, everything, of course.”


     Sliding his hand into his pocket, he emerged with a roll of crisp, green bills. Thumbing them, he drew two out and handed them to her. She took the money, looking a little confused, he thought, but decided it was part of her act. He pocketed the rest.


     “A down payment?” she asked, staring at the bills.

     Figured. She knew she had him by the balls. Why not twist a little harder? Get as much of his cash as she could.


     “Is that okay?” He stepped forward. So near, her scent washed over him, bathing him with erotic fantasies. She might look like she’d been sleeping in the streets, but she smelled oh-so-sweet. She raised her head. Her lips so close. So kissable. He ached to pull her into his arms and see if her mouth was as hot as it looked.


     “I...suppose.”


     Too bad.


     In one swift motion, he reached behind him, drew the handcuffs from the leather case hooked to his belt, and snapped them shut over her wrists.


     A shame he couldn’t have met her in another place. He had a gut feeling they would’ve been good together.


     “Lady, you’re under arrest for solicitation."

 

     I hope you enjoy Temperature's Rising! And don't forget about our monthly give away. We have some terrific prizes this month.

 

Best Wishes,

Karen Kelley
www.authorkarenkelley.com

Don't forget the June giveaway! To enter , visit our Monthly Giveaway Page. Or click the direct link here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a224/

Click to Purchase Now for 99 cents