Love Will Find a Way by Anji Nolan, author of Desperate Obsession and The Cormorant Club:
When Emily Wilkes’s roommate and co-worker Jude Cameron steals a large quantity of diamonds from the Transcontinental warehouse vault, the police accuse Emily of being Jude’s accomplice. Both Bill — Emily’s much older boyfriend — and Jack –the new guy Emily has feelings for but turned down out of loyalty to Bill — have the means to clear Emily’s name … until Bill dies from a massive heart attack. Do Jack’s feelings run deep enough to help her, or has Emily’s rejection hurt him too badly?

The Other Side of Heaven: Book 1 of the Italian Time Travel Series by Morgan O’Neill, author of The Roman Time Travel Series:
While visiting her ancestral Italian town, twenty-first century heroine Gwen is caught in a violent earthquake and inexplicably thrust through time to the year 951. In the midst of this great adventure, Gwen falls in love with the complex and passionate Lord Alberto Uzzo. But can Alberto learn to love her strong and independent nature and help Gwen in her quest to discover her rightful place in time?

The Devil She Knew by Rena Koontz, author of Love’s Secret Fire:
When reputed mobster Tony DelMorrie feuds with his girlfriend and wins the fight by killing her, Cassidy Hoake is the only witness. She quickly becomes a target when DelMorrie skips bail—running is Cassidy’s only option. Now, she’s hiding from the devil, living in a small Ohio town, aware that only her anonymity protects her. She can’t afford complications like Clay Cestra. His police uniform fits like a second skin and he looks even better with his clothes off. But he is the law and she is a fugitive. A life with him means risking everything, confronting her demons and defeating the devil.

Scrimmage Gone South by Alicia Hunter Pace, author of Sweet Gone South:
Debutante/lawyer Tolly Lee’s well organized life is turned upside down upon the arrival of former college football star Nathan Scott. Thirteen years ago, when Nathan was at the top of his game, sixteen-year-old Tolly lied about her age and began a physically innocent but deeply emotional connection with Nathan. And when he found out the truth, it cost him more than just his heart. Over a decade later, their complicated and unresolved history catches up with them as their lives once again become intertwined.

Paradise Island by Charmaine Ross, author of Daman’s Angel:
It is Dartmouth Cove, Nova Scotia, 1853 and Captain Estelle Stonebridge is consumed with revenge against the man that killed her father. Captain Gregory Marshall is lulled to sleep by the fiery-haired valkrie’s magical song when she kidnaps him. Estelle is taking him to her Island of Paradise to face trial for a murder he didn’t commit. But once on Paradise, Estelle and Gregory, who find themselves undeniably attracted to each other, discover there is something otherworldly manipulating them all.

Reflecting on my reviews, I’ve come to the conclusion that reading is a mood. This is true for competitions I’ve entered my books in, writers group opinions, friend’s opinions and the like. If you’re not in the mood to read the style of book, then don’t try. I mean, you don’t want to read an introspective book when you want to go the gym and burn off some energy, just as you don’t want to read an adventure book if you really want the characters to be your friends. You won’t get the experience you want.

Which brings to me to writing. Because I think that is a mood too. I can’t write a romantic love scene when I’m frazzled and trying to do a hundred things at once — which, as a mother of 2 children and wife of a husband who thinks a vacuum cleaner is something that washes the windows, is usually the case.

And really, who feels like having a romance moment with your husband when you’ve got the dinner to make and a house that needs to be gurneyed from the inside out. (Well, the husband might feel like it, but then again he doesn’t know what the vacuum does. If he did he might see a little bit more the romance author working out her romantic moments.)

I have to be in the mood to write particular scenes, just as the reader needs to be in the mood to immerse themselves in the same scenes. This was particularly true of Paradise Island. It is such a large adventure, and my characters have such a long way to travel emotionally, that I needed to be in the right frame of mind to slip back into the ‘feeling’ of writing the book each time I chipped away at it. I had to imagine what Estelle would be feeling like at the start of each major scene change, as well as for Gregory. And when it came to the loves scenes, I really had to get in their minds to find the pace and how they would discover each other! These scenes I found I had to be in the precise mood for to make them special. In the meantime, I fell in love with the both of them and was so disappointed when I came to the end of the book

Magic comes when your book is in the hands of the right person, the right mood and an open mind. Imagine if that happened every time a page was turned, how magical, how rich the experience of reading. I wish it could be like that every time for everyone. I hope Paradise Island is like that for you.

To find out more about Charmaine Ross, visit her web page, as well as her Goodreads author page.

I must have been a young teenager when I discovered Rod McKuen. If you have not made the self same discovery, he was a writer of romantic verse with a raspy voice who recorded his poems on vinyl and eight track tapes. I collected Rod on what we called records and played them on the family stereo that resembled nothing so much as a coffin.

I haven’t thought about Rod McKuen in years but there was one poem that I still remember, not for its meaning, but for a line that I found very jarring. It was called Now I Have the Time. The poor man, who had lost his love, listed all the things that he had the time for now that she was gone. What shocked and amazed me was he that claimed, “Now, I have the time for football all fall long.”

What? Just now, he had the time for football? I did not understand at all. That was like saying he had the time to take a bath and eat grits for breakfast. Football was just a fact of life, not something you made time for. At my tender age, I did not know that the rest of the world—and surely Mr. McKuen’s world—did not operate like my family and, indeed, the majority of my homeland.

Welcome to the South, home of the Southeastern Conference. And home to high school football stadiums that whole towns come out to fill on Friday nights.

Yes, there are some pro teams. But they just don’t matter as much. I would bet my miniature replica of the 2013 BCS National Championship trophy that there are more rebroadcasts of college and high school games watched in southern households on Sunday afternoons than pro games.

It isn’t impossible to write a story set in a small southern down without mentioning football, but it may be unrealistic. So it was natural enough when the hero of the second book in the Gone South series, turned out to be a former high school and college star, turned high school coach.

Nathan Scott would have never been a coach if things had worked out like he’d planned. Everyone said the Heisman Trophy was his to lose and he was a surefire NFL first round draft pick. And that meant money—millions. But he lost everything on a football fall afternoon when he went on the field distracted only hours after catching the girl of his dreams in a terrible lie.

Tolly Lee was pearls, debutant balls, and everything Nathan was not. At sixteen, she was tired of being the eternal good girl and crashing a college fraternity party seemed very daring. Still, she never planned to lead Nathan to believe she was his age and she never dreamed that a dance and a kiss would turn into a long distance romance that would lead to his career destroying injury and her broken heart.

Now, it’s thirteen years later. Nathan is back in town and she’s still paying—but from a distance. Their unspoken agreement to steer clear of each other seems to working.

But a small town has a way of reviving the past and when common interest in an orphaned teenager forces Tolly and Nathan to agree to an uneasy truce, guilt and old resentments resurface.

If you’re not a football fan, don’t worry. Despite the backdrop this isn’t a story about football. It’s about redemption, forgiveness, and—most of all—a love that will not die.

Hope to see you in the end zone!

1st. Breathing His Air (by Debra Kayn, contemporary)

2nd. A Heart to Heal (by Synithia Williams, contemporary)

3rd. Worth the Wait (by Synithia Williams, contemporary)

4th. Urgent: One Nanny Required (by Olivia Logan, contemporary)

5th. Once an Heiress (by Elizabeth Boyce, historical)

Maybe it was the gun, a black .40-caliber Glock.

Perhaps it was the badge, shiny, gold and engraved.

Conceivably, it could have been the career –— FBI special agent. There is a hint of excitement and danger associated with that profession, one that might appeal to a young woman looking for both.

More likely, it was the man, with the badge in his pocket and the gun tucked in his shoulder holster, with those tantalizing blue eyes and that devilish grin — a lethal combination suggesting dangerous romance. I fell for my husband, Jed.

My hero in my newest romantic suspense, The Devil She Knew, carries both the badge and the gun, as does the leading man in my debut novel, Love’s Secret Fire. Are they my husband?

No, they are works of fiction. But if you know Jed, you’ll see glimpses of him on my pages. Yes, his expertise as a federal agent and lawman are there. He is my “go to” guy who makes sure the action scenes might really happen the way I’ve written them, or that the caliber of the weapon is correct, and the depiction of the mob leader terrorizing my heroine in The Devil She Knew, is accurate.

More than that, he is my romance factor. Romance for me, as well as my heroines, is defined by the little things. It’s not the roses he sends on our anniversary or the sentimental American Greetings card on my birthday. It’s the way he always reaches for my hand when we get out of the car. Or how he pulls me close in his sleep.

Clay Cestra pulls Cassidy Hoake close in The Devil She Knew, and often leans over the truck console to give her knee a reassuring squeeze … the little things.

I laughed once when someone asked the definition of love: Love is walking the dog he hates when I’m out of town, I said. And running the vacuum to pick up the dog hair before I return home.

It’s the special “Congratulations” martini glass waiting for me on the kitchen counter the day Crimson Romance released my debut novel and the card that said, “You make me proud.”

A couple of years ago, we were in the middle of a typical bleak Cleveland winter. It seemed like it started snowing at Halloween and, with Easter in sight, it was still snowing. Everywhere I looked there were piles of shoveled, dirty, ugly snow.

I was particularly cranky and crabby one Sunday afternoon when I walked out into the front yard with the dogs. I went over to the corner of the house where my daffodils and tulips were planted and began kicking at the pile of snow burying them, squatting to claw at the offensive shroud. My husband had followed us outside and asked what I was doing.

“I can’t stand it anymore,” I said in my most dramatic fashion. “I know we live in Cleveland and it’s winter but I can’t take much more of this. If I don’t see a flower pretty soon, I’m going to die. I just know it.”

He rolled his eyes and reminded me that we have no control over the weather.

The next day at work, a flower delivery arrived. They were for me! A basket brimming with pink, yellow and white daisies peppered with carnations and enfolded in greens that smelled fresh and wonderful. The card said simply: “Don’t die. I couldn’t live without you.”

He’s not perfect. He’s a guy and he thinks belching out loud is funny. But he is my romantic inspiration. And my hero!

You’ll get more glimpses of the man behind the scenes when you read The Devil She Knew or Love’s Secret Fire, available now.

Do you have someone special behind the scenes?

For more information about Rena and her heroes, check out her website.

Has anyone actually traveled through time? We – co-authors Cary Morgan Frates and Deborah O’Neill Cordes – write about it in our novels as a way of getting our twenty-first century heroines back to pivotal moments in history.

But has it ever occurred… for real?

We’ve uncovered tantalizing stories in our research for our time travel series. From “ghosts” who converse with tourists, to streets that may harbor portals to the past, there seems no end to the mystery of what is happening. Do places exist where time slips away? One of our characters believes such spots are real and describes them quite colorfully, “The veil between two worlds… aye, ‘tis true. All o’ Europe is filled with places where the veil is thin, and the past and present come together. The Druids spoke o’ this in the olden days.”

Need convincing? There are accounts of people hearing echoes of the past in Rome’s Coliseum – the clang of swords, the roaring of lions, the screams of the dying. In deepest night, when the Eternal City sleeps, the mundane duties of the security guards are frequently disrupted by these, and other eerie sounds. If their goose bumps are indicators, then ancient Rome has reached out and parted the veil.

And what about Bond Street in Liverpool? For many years, there have been reported “time slips,” where locals and tourists alike turn a corner or enter a building, and momentarily find themselves in what seems to be 1940s Liverpool. It has become so prevalent there is a scientific study examining the phenomena. And Bond Street is but one location among many in the British Isles where the veil appears to be thin.

Westminster Abbey is another of our favorite spots for time slip visitations. Sometimes, a monk can be seen in the early evening. He often chats with visitors; however, on one occasion he berated a group of tourists for their scanty modern attire. After his interactions, he will slowly back into a wall and disappear. Interestingly, monks have not dwelled or prayed in the Abbey since Queen Elizabeth I forced them out in 1560. Some say the monk is a ghost, but his solid appearance and intelligent conversations suggest to us he’s a time traveler. What do you think?

And finally, we travel back to Italy, to the castle of Rossena, one of the settings in our medieval Italian series. The “ghost” of the beautiful Evereline is said to sadly haunt the site, having lost her true love after being forced to marry another. Here, we will concede she may indeed by a ghost, and not a time traveler, since she doesn’t interact with anyone. Near her lonely haunt stands the ruin of Canossa, the castle of our hero, Lord Alberto Uzzo. We wouldn’t be surprised if his spirit still lingers on the ramparts, or might we see him with Gwendolyn, our twenty-first century heroine? Perhaps she has given him the means to join her in her time traveling adventure.

Do you believe in the possibility of time slips? Does the veil part once in a while? Have you every experienced a moment where you wonder exactly when you are?

To see images of the some of the sites mentioned here, please visit our Pinterest page.

Author Bio:
Two authors writing as one, Cary Morgan Frates and Deborah O’Neill Cordes specialize in recreating pivotal moments in history, epic adventure and romance – with a time travel twist. Follow their twenty-first century heroine, Gwendolyn Godwyn, as she battles for acceptance, honor, justice, and love in war-torn tenth century Italy. The epic begins with The Other Side of Heaven (May 13, 2013) and will continue with Time Enough for Love (July 8, 2013). Cary and Deborah are also the co-authors of the Roman time travel trilogy (Crimson Romance 2012), Love, Eternally, After the Fall, and Return to Me.

For more about Morgan O’Neill: website; Facebook; Facebook (book page); Twitter; Pinterest

I must have written and rewritten this post ten times in about as many days. The truth is, while I’m always super eager to participate and share my thoughts on this amazing site, I had no idea where I was going with this. It wasn’t until the tenth hour (as usual) that, as I stared at a blank Word document, I finally asked myself, “What would you want to share with your friends?”

The answer came to me quickly – love. I’m no stranger to heartache, and neither are my very best friends. And it hurts me more than anything to see them ask the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ when a boyfriend or girlfriend hurts their feelings. Maybe it’s some hidden maternal instinct, or maybe I just love the mess out of my besties; the fact remains that I’m happiest when my homegirls are happy.

I wrote this rhymeless poem a few years ago, when one of my very best friends was nursing a broken heart. She, like many of us, wanted nothing more than to find her ‘happily ever after.’ And when all seemed lost, I simply wanted to remind her that she was loved – maybe not the toe-curling, romantic love that all of us Crimsonistas love to write and swoon about, but certainly the unconditional love that only a true and loyal friend or family member can give. And when one brings their heart ‘back to basics,’ they can heal and learn to let another in again:

LOVE IS…

…my girlfriends and I having a night out at the nearest dive with a jukebox, laughing and dancing.

…crying together at the same spot when one of us has a sad moment.

…rallying together for a cause, especially when that cause is beer or band related. (smile)

…my twice baked potatoes, apparently. (smile again)

…connecting emotionally, and then connecting over something hysterical ten seconds later – like we always do.

…knowing that I always think about you, even if my days are too crazy.

….us.

When the world seems to be shattering around me, I’ve got us. And, as dramatic as it seems, if I never date again I would be okay, because I know that love will always remain in my life; honest, respectful love. The kind of love that doesn’t go away because I’m too fat, and doesn’t disappear because I’m not as pretty as you thought. The kind of love that doesn’t cease when something more intriguing comes along. It feels good to know that, while men may come and go, I’ve got you all. Despite my quirks and flaws, you love me. Really. It comforts me to know that neither time nor distance can change that; I hope it does the same for you.

See? No rhyme or reason – just love. It’s the kind of love we should all be spreading; friendship, camaraderie, and delicious wishes. I wish peace and love for my best friends, and I wish you all the same. And even if your ‘happily ever after’ doesn’t include the prince, the white horse, or the castle – take comfort in knowing that it’s still there, in the arms of besties.

xo,
S.

If you don’t feel that the time is right or if you feel that the spark is missing, then you have to listen to your heart. Staying in a relationship because you’re afraid that you’ll hurt the other person will do a lot more damage in the long run than ending it now. Yes, there will be hurt on both sides, but it’s a part of life and the learning process we all face. You are not a terrible person for breaking up with someone because you may not suit; you’re a realist.

When the time is right, you will find your match. Have a little faith; after all, love makes the world go round!

~ Susanne Matthews, author of Fire Angel

Over the past couple of months I’ve been riding the crazy rollercoaster that is today’s publishing environment. As a relative newbie to the world of published authors – my first book, Seal of Destiny, was published with Crimson Romance in January 2013 and the second book in the series, Seal of Surrender, released just this week—I can say the journey has been quite a learning experience.

There’s a lot of advice out there for the fledgling writers, those who are polishing that first manuscript and getting ready for submissions, but not so much for those who’ve achieved the goal of authors everywhere, securing the first contract.

So today, I thought I’d share some of what I’ve learned in my short time in the published author realm in hopes of helping anyone else that might be mired in the complexities of what to do after your baby—your firstborn novel—is off into the big, bad literary world without you.

1. Get to work on the next project. Now! Don’t make me come over there…

One thing I encounter all the time when I talk to authors is a sense of relief that the huge process is done and their work has been accepted. But there also seems to be a misguided conception that this book will be “The One”. This manuscript will be the end all and be all of literary fame and fortune and they’ll head off into the proverbial sunset with a bazillion dollars and loads of other NYTBA friends and sit of the beach drinking Mai-Tai’s until their next glorious idea arrives.

Hey, it could happen, right? Um, yeah…

I wouldn’t go off and buy my ticket to Tahiti just yet. The name of the game these days is backlist, my friends. Want to get to the top of the bestseller pile and stay there? You’ve got to be disciplined enough to sit down and write several books a year. With the opening of the literary floodgates and self-publishing on the rise, the only way to keep your name in readers minds and your books selling is to keep producing good work. Keep putting out more stories people want to read and build your audience. Yes, it takes time. Yes, it involves effort and marketing on your part. And yes, it’s a requirement if you want to be successful long-term.

2. Reviews are golden (even the bad ones).

I read a quote once from an author who said if everyone loved your work, you were doing something wrong. I agree. When people read my work, I’d like them to have a reaction, good or bad. Bland is not what I’m going for. Bland is the kiss of death.

Today’s writers must cultivate reviews from professional reviewers and fans alike. Send those ARCs out to anyone willing to read and provide a legitimate review of your work. It’s hard and it’s nerve-wracking and it’s downright painful when someone doesn’t absolutely love what you’ve written as much as you do. But you know what? Some people will adore it. They will see themes and ides in your work you weren’t even aware of. This is how you develop those vital relationships to spur your career forward.

Some reviewer didn’t like your book? Don’t send work to them next go-around and for goodness sake don’t respond. Let it go. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. Another person thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread? Congratulations, you’ve scored yourself a devoted fan. Cultivate those precious connections and guard them with care. You never know when the next film producer or agent of your dreams might be lurking on their site that day or Google-ing the very subject you’re writing about.

Plus, when you pull up a book page and every single review is 5-stars, aren’t you a tad skeptical? I know I am. Next time you’re on Goodreads or Amazon, search for one of your favorite authors and check out the rankings of some of their bestselling books. I’ll bet you find reviews with all different ratings—from ones to fives. If they can weather a few bad reviews, so can you. Those one and two-star reviews are a rite of passage. Consider yourself a true member of the published writers community.

3. Marketing is a must, especially if this is your first book.

No one is going to care about your book more than you, the author. It’s up to you to build your audience and fan base. Writing a good book is the first step. Keeping that book out there and getting it in front of new readers is the next. It’s an ongoing process and it’s a matter of finding out what works for you and what doesn’t and yes, it’s time consuming. But if you’re serious about making writing your full-time career, it’s an absolute must. So whether it’s keeping up a regular presence on social media or hiring a company to do a book tour, do something to make your presence known. Marketing. Live it, Learn it, Do it.

4. And finally… Have Fun!

That’s why we got into this whole writing business to begin with, right? Fun, imagination, excitement and wonder. Don’t forget to take time to enjoy your accomplishments and share them with those who’ve helped get you to this point. It’s easy to get weighed down by all the deadlines and pressure to produce and drives to push forward to the next step in your career. But don’t let daily triumphs pass by uncelebrated. Reach a certain number of likes on your fan page? Announce it! Get a great review on Goodreads? Share it with the world! It’s the small steps that propel us forward and we should remember to savor those whenever possible.

Cheers! And here’s wishing you all Happy Writing and Happy Reading! ☺

After returning from duty in the Middle East wounded in both body and spirit, Hunter Evans is in search of employment and a home. Finding a job has been tough and housing doesn’t come cheap in Costanoa, the town that he loves most on the California coast. His prosthetic leg allows him to run, but keeps him from his childhood passion, surfing. With a low-level job and a transient motel for a home, Hunter isn’t sure life is worth living.

But spring is coming in Costanoa and love is in the air. With the help of good friends, Sarah and Hunter may be able to get beyond the painful past and complicated present to find the love and respect they want and deserve.

by Casey Dawes

“I love renovating old house romances. California Homecoming is a sweet, satisfying read about two wounded people learning to love again.” —Debra Holland, NY Times bestselling author of Wild Montana Sky

Contemporary
Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors

Available at: Crimson Romance ebooks | Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Author Bio:
Author Casey Dawes lives and writes on the bank of the Clark Fork River in Montana with the love of her life and two cats who think they own the joint.

To learn more about Casey, visit her:
Website
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Pinterest
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