Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Romance is in the air! Taylor Dean

So it's February. Valentine's Day. Romance. Chocolate. Oh yeah! Chocolate. That's why I love February so much. ;)

I'm part of a month-long event hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader. There are giveaways and awesome books being featured this month. Today's is I'M WITH YOU by Taylor Dean, who's book is FREE RIGHT NOW!

















I'm With You by Taylor Dean

Can three little words irrevocably change your life?

When the doctors inform Chloe Brennan that her pregnancy is “incompatible with life,” her subsequent choices will change her path forever.

She becomes one of the quiet, unsung heroes of this world, incredibly strong, yet somehow wrongly looked upon as damaged.

Three people will pierce Chloe’s existence: her husband, a stranger, and a precious baby.

One will say goodbye, one will say hello, and one will say both at the same time.

I’m With You is a novel about selfless love and the sacredness of life.



Please note: While this book is a romance novel, it also deals with the sensitive issue of baby loss grief. The emotions are real, and sometimes dark. If you are sensitive to this issue, this may not be the book for you.









“I’m With You” is a beautiful story that centers on one woman's tragic, heart-wrenching loss and the healing brought by unselfish love, giving love, in-sickness-and-in-health-love. It is sweeter, nobler, stronger — and even more passionate than the beginnings of love we so often see. Forever love.
-Julie in Portland, Oregon, Amazon Reviewer

This book knocked my socks off. It was amazing and I will definitely read it again and again. It is "that" good.
-Amazon Reviewer

This book. Oh my gosh. I could NOT put it down. I sobbed like a baby through most of it and felt my heart breaking for my own loved ones who have suffered such a loss. It was written beautifully with great sensitivity and I LOVED it.
-Amazon Reviewer



“I’m sorry for what I said to you,” he reiterated.

“No big deal.”

“I think it was.”

She shrugged, trying not to show that she hurt so much she could barely breathe. No one noticed inner pain. A broken leg, a broken arm, yes. Outward signs of pain were obvious. Inner turmoil, not so much. And she was broken, just like a leg or an arm, only worse. She was bleeding, gushing from a huge, nasty, open gaping wound.

But no one knew it.

With his unwavering gaze, however, the husband seemed to sense it, maybe even see it. And it made her uncomfortable.

“I-I thought maybe we could have breakfast together or something and, I don’t know, commiserate. Misery loves company and all that. What do ya say? Can I take you out to breakfast? Let me make up for my rash words.”

Goodness sake, the only one unable to forgive him for his impetuous words was himself. The last thing Chloe wanted to do was spend time alone with Mr. Volcano. He’d obviously lost his temper on that fateful day their spouses had run off with each other, and had come looking for a fight. That meant he was probably easily agitated, maybe even volatile. Unstable. When the signs are there, you can’t ignore them. Right?

Yet, somehow, she didn’t feel as though he was a threat. As a matter of fact, he seemed quite courteous.

She simply had no way of knowing if he was sincere or a loon. Her uncertainty concerning him made her respond accordingly as she stammered, “Oh. Thank you, but no. I have so much to do today. So, so much. I’m not even sure I can get it all done in one day. Errands and more errands.” She paused. “Lots of errands.” She sounded like a bumbling idiot and a liar—the lady doth protest too much. She waved in the general direction of her car as she slowly backed away from him. “So much to do. I’m swamped. I have to go.”
“Your country's 500th anniversary to plan, your wedding to arrange, your wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it. You are swamped,” he mumbled.
“Excuse me?”

“Nothing. Sorry.”

“Did you just quote The Princess Bride?”

“Oh, you know it?” he said with surprise. “Yep. Sorry. It’s a nasty habit of mine.”

“Quoting The Princess Bride?”

“No, movie quotes in general.”

“Oh.”

For a moment, she studied him curiously, her interest piqued. Any man who quoted The Princess Bride couldn’t be that bad. Chloe felt herself warm up to him, but he was a total stranger to her and she wasn’t about to jump in his jeep and go for a ride with him just because he knew about true love.

“Thanks for apologizing. I appreciate it,” she said. He’d gone to great lengths to make up for his unkind words and she was impressed with his tenacity. He felt badly, that much was obvious. It was, perhaps, indicative of his true nature. However, she didn’t need to dig any deeper and learn more about this man’s apparent compassionate side. It was enough already. “I have to go,” she blurted.

“All right,” he answered amiably, a hint of both disappointment and acceptance in his tone.

She turned to unlock her door, dropped her keys with shaking hands, and bent to pick them up. Chloe took a deep cleansing breath, trying to calm herself down. By the way she was acting you’d think a handsome stranger had never once tried to speak to her in her entire life, for heaven’s sake. It wasn’t as if he was trying to pick up on her, he was simply extending a hand of friendship. That’s all.

She needed a friend. Desperately. This man was offering. It would be nice to talk with someone. He’d understand. He was experiencing similar emotions. What the heck? She had nothing to lose. Absolutely nothing.

But he was a stranger, she argued with herself. It’s not safe. Maybe he was some kind of psycho or pervert.

I have nothing to lose.

Chloe turned just in time to see the husband taking his seat in his jeep. Not exactly the behavior of someone out to commit nefarious activities.

“Wait!” she yelled.

Surprised at her outburst, he slowly stood, one hand resting on the door of the jeep. He looked like he could be in a commercial promoting outdoor life. Yet, his expression was slightly intense as he looked upon her.

“I don’t really have anything to do. As a matter of fact, I have nothing to do and nowhere to go.”

He nodded, politely not commenting on her lack of a life. “How about breakfast?”

“I’d like that.”

A smile spread across his face, revealing perfect, white teeth. Even if he was a psycho, at least he’d be easy on the eyes.

So was Ted Bundy.

Chloe ignored her inner voice.

“I’ll drive. Hop in,” he invited.

Chloe took a few steps toward him.

“So what were you going to do today? If you don’t mind my asking,” he queried.

It was time for payback. “Go buy a wrench.”

“Why? Is something broken?” he asked, seemingly concerned. Would he consider it his responsibility to help her?

“No. Just because we don’t have one.”

The husband threw his head back and laughed out loud, surprising her. “I know that one. Beaches.”

Surprising. “How do you know that? I mean, these aren’t exactly guy movies.”

“I have four sisters. I’m the baby. No X-Men for me.”

“Say no more. That explains everything.”

He extended his hand. “I’m Jack. Jack Alexander, by the way. Guess it’s time we introduce ourselves.”

Chloe grasped his hand, his grip firm and strong. “I’m Chloe Brennan.”

“Chloe,” he repeated. “I like it. It’s an unusual name.”

“Alexander seems like an unusual last name.”

He shrugged. “Had it all my life.”

“Good answer.”

Jack smiled broadly and her worries washed away.

“Shall we go?” he said, his hand motioning toward his jeep as if it were a grand carriage.

It rather felt like a portal into a new world.















Author Taylor Dean: Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.













Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 2/28/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 15, 2017

COVER REVEAL: To Be Yours

Okay, so I am super excited to be showing you my cover for my next young adult contemporary romance novel, TO BE YOURS. It's coming on January 16, and while I know the cover doesn't look like it, the MCs live in Idaho and get snowed in...

But the story goes all the way to summer, so I think the cover is still a great fit. In fact, I freaking LOVE this cover! Are you ready to see it??

Well, here it is!




And here's a little bit about the book.

TO BE YOURS: When seventeen-year-old Eden Scotson skis to the bottom of a mountain on a routine trip with her older brother's best friend, Grayson Young, they find the lift non-operational and the biggest storm of the season upon them. Compared to dealing with the complexities of friendship and more-than-friendship, overcoming grief, and learning how to forgive old wounds, physically climbing the mountain back to safety will be the easiest part of the journey for both Eden and Grayson.

I hope you'll preorder a copy today!

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

JUST FRIENDS is out today!

Dude, so it's true. I'm writing YA novels again. I have one out today, in fact. You may have seen it around on Facebook, twitter, or instagram. I'm not sure if people still come to blogs or not, but I figured I better put it here too.

JUST FRIENDS is a novel I poured my heart and soul into a few years ago. It made the rounds in New York, but ultimately, it went on the hard drive. Until this past summer, when I decided to resurrect it.

Kindle Scout passed on it, and I thought, "I know how to self-publish. And I know how to hire great editors." So I did the second, and now I'm doing the first.

I hope you'll go get a copy! JUST FRIENDS is told entirely from a male POV, something I've never done before. (Yes, I know ABANDON was told from two male POVs. Two. This is the first time I've attempted to have one boy carry the whole story. I think it turned out pretty well!)

About JUST FRIENDS: High school senior, Mitch Houser, is thrilled to have multiple colleges recruiting him because of his record-breaking times on the track, but Mitch hasn’t told anyone the real reason he’s been setting records.

He’s trying to outrun his girl problems.

Mitch can't keep running from his problems, and he'll have to face both Jade and Holly—and decide which one of them to put into the “just friends” category.


Go get your copy now!

Friday, December 8, 2017

SHELTER ME is here!

Okay, so if you haven't been around for a while, I've got some news for you! Number one, I mostly write romance now, though I still love my speculative fiction titles. When my publishers put them on sale, I'll be sure to let you know!

But I've been working on some beach romances, as well as some YA contemporary romances for the past several months, and there will be a few titles out in the next two months!


The first is happening TODAY, as I release my first adult beach romance in Roxanne St. Claire's Barefoot Bay Kindle World! Say that five times fast. Ha.

But when Amazon asks you to write in one of their worlds, it's really hard to say no. So I didn't. I said yes. And since I love beach romances, it wasn't a hard yes to say!

And today, SHELTER ME is out in the wild! You can read it for $1.99 or free in Kindle Unlimited. It's got cute dogs, a complex man, and a conflicted woman. And the beach! And hot air balloons! And all kinds of other things that make me smile.

So go grab a copy!

About SHELTER ME: When her high-profile relationship took a wrong turn, Abby escaped to Mimosa Key, because it barely has a grid. Noah's on the island for a veterinary conference, even if the beach is the last place he wants to be. Can Noah and Abby find shelter in each other from the storm of secrets that seem to follow them? Or will their relationship end when the conference does?

Order on Amazon now!

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Release Day for ECHOES OF SILENCE!

Dude, I have another book in the wild! ECHOES OF SILENCE, my adult fantasy, hits virtual shelves today! It's my debut in adult fantasy, and I'm excited to finally get this book out into the wild. It's been a long journey for this little fantasy, and I'm excited to be publishing with Kindle Press/Amazon.

ECHOES starts a new series -- the Songs of Life series -- and I'm currently plotting and scheduling the production of the second book.




Monday, April 18, 2016

Three Things

Okay, so remember that highs and lows post? Well, it only got more volatile from there!


First, you can now pre-order my fantasy, ECHOES OF SILENCE, from Kindle Press! Yay! It comes out on May 3, and I have to say I'm a little weepy about this book. As I was editing it over the past couple of months, I recognized lines I remembered writing...in 2011.

Five years, you guys. It's taken me FIVE YEARS to get this book published. I feel a movie quote coming on. "Never give up! Never surrender!"

Pre-order ECHOES OF SILENCE here!!


Second, the Timeless Anthology I contributed to last fall is up for a Rone Award! Woot! It's the first week of voting, and I'd love it if you'd take a couple of seconds to pop over to the InD'Tale website and vote for ALL HALLOWS' EVE in the Anthology category. You do have to register and login to the site to vote.

Third, remember how excited I was about my debut contemporary romance to come out on May 10? Well, that's the dip in this roller coaster ride. The release date has been postponed due to some distributor issues. I'm still super-psyched about the book -- because it's another story I absolutely love and can't wait to share with the world -- but I'll have to wait a little longer to release that excitement.

So yeah. Still riding. And writing. Ha!

What are you up to? 

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Kindle Scout Nomination Giveaway!

So I'm half-way through my Kindle Scout campaign for an adult fantasy romance of mine, ECHOES OF SILENCE.

I'm excited to be trying this new way of publishing a novel. Kindle Scout is sort of like American Idol for books. You get 3 nominations at a time, and if one of the novels you nominate gets selected by the Kindle Press team, you get a copy of that novel for free!

So I guess it's better than American Idol. I mean, I'm not getting those songs for free! :)

Anyway, visit this link: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3DTGU0YPXT25E, and nominate ECHOES OF SILENCE for publication. If you do, and then come back here and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway, you'll be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card or Paypal Cash.

I made the cover myself -- my first attempt at such things! And here's a little bit more about the novel:


Her voice could unleash a war.
Faced with the strongest dark magician in centuries, song-magician Echo del Toro must know when to let her voice fly and when to hold her tongue, or she’ll find herself caught in the lasting notes of a song that can’t be unsung.

It's easy! Read the beginning of ECHOES OF SILENCE and vote for the book to be published by Kindle Scout.


All it takes is a couple of clicks, and I'd really appreciate it! It's FREE to vote for the book, and if it gets chosen by the Kindle Scout team, you'll get a copy of the book for FREE too! #winwin



Read and Vote here.
And here's the Rafflecopter widget so you can enter. You can also tweet out a message about the giveaway, and subscribe to my newsletter to get more entries.

You have to have an Amazon account to nominate, so you have to have an Amazon account to enter the giveaway. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you.

The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Elana Johnson. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 16, 2015

Another Story Behind Another Sale

So you may have seen my new YA sci-fi announcement. I sort of wrote up a little story behind the sale for that book, because it's had a Journey.

This story is different. I thought it would be fun to showcase both stories, simply because they are different, and every journey toward publication is unique, even for a single person.

So here's the deal:




Yes, it's a romance deal. Yes, it's adult. My debut, in fact, into the full-length adult romance genre (I have a novella in an anthology right now, and 3 more coming next year).

The book is called UNTIL SUMMER ENDS, and it begins the Redwood Bay series, which will have at least 3 books.

These past two book deals -- this one and my YA sci-fi one -- are big firsts for me, because they're multiple book deals, something I've never gotten before. It's both exciting and terrifying. I've never had to write a book under contract, and that pressure is intense.

Anyway, I wrote Until Summer Ends only a year ago. That's right. I started it in November 2014, and I finished it at the beginning of December. It was the second romance novel I'd attempted (the first was horrific!).

Over the next couple of months, I wrote a few more romance novels, but Until Summer Ends was the one I was preparing to shop. I sent the first few chapters to critique group, and then I had a professional editor work on the whole thing.

With their feedback -- which was mostly positive -- I felt encouraged to start querying. So I did, to both literary agents and publishers that accepted unagented submissions. On April 1, no less. No April Fool's Day here!

I got quite a few requests, mostly because I did my homework. I researched the agents and publishers, looked at the things they'd sold or published, and tailored my queries to them. I went wide, don't get me wrong, but I still did my homework. And in romance, there are quite a few publishers you can submit directly to.

I went to a local conference and pitched my book to an editor at St. Martin's Press. She requested it. Things were looking up!

Especially when I got an offer on the book the second week of May, from one of the publisher's I'd submitted to. That spurred me to let other pubs and all the agents considering the full know about the offer.

A couple of weeks later, I got another offer, from another publisher. The day after that, I got an offer from a literary agent. She was one of the top ten dealmakers in romance on Publisher's Marketplace. Even if she couldn't sell the book (hey, I'm realistic -- I've had several books on submission through an agent in New York that didn't sell), I figured I had the two publisher offers to choose from.

So we submitted, and we actually ended up getting several offers. I was sort of shocked. Ha! We ended up going with Cleis Press, because the editor there, Karen Thomas, was incredibly enthusiastic about the project, and after speaking with her on the phone, I knew it was the right place to be.

So that's how I went from the drafting of a novel in November 2014, to querying only 5 months later, to an offer just a month after that. It was fast. MUCH faster than any of my other book deals, that's for sure!

But it just shows that the journey is different for each book, and each person! And UNTIL SUMMER ENDS will be out in July 2016! Which is also fast! Meanwhile, I have two more novels to write, so... I better get doing that!


Thursday, April 2, 2015

A HOPE REMEMBERED by Stacy Henrie

Okay, so I've known Stacy for years now. YEARS. In fact, she and I have been together in a critique group for going on 7 years. Wow. I'm sort of amazed just typing that. I've read all of her published books, and select pages from her WIPs. She is an absolutely brilliant writer. So brilliant, in fact, that her novel, HOPE AT DAWN, is a finalist in the RITA's this year. (In case you don't know what that means, the RITAs are the highest award a romance novel can win. And she's a finalist!!)

A HOPE REMEMBERED is the third book in the "Of Love and War" trilogy, a set of historical romance novels that center around World War I. They are simply fantastic, and I knew going into this book that I wouldn't be disappointed. And I wasn't! The romance was beautiful, the struggles that Nora and Colin faced real, and the writing spot-on.

A bit about A HOPE REMEMBERED: Nora Lewis just wants an escape after losing her fiancé in the Great War. When she inherits property in England, she boldly packs up and leaves America for a fresh start. But if not for her dashing new neighbor, Colin Ashby, she'd be lost. Even as their friendship deepens, Nora knows a British aristocrat would never be free to love an American orphan, no matter how much the war has changed the world . . .

After his brother's death in the war and his own experiences as a pilot at the front, Colin returns home broken, only to discover his family's estate is also in ruin. The pressure is now on him to save his home and the Ashbys' place in society with a well-bred match to a wealthy heiress. Too bad he finds more of a kindred spirit in Nora, the beautiful American next door. She, too, has faced the rigors of war and survived. Now the ex-soldier will have one more battle to fight-this time for love.


Buy on Amazon | BAM | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo


My review: I absolutely loved this book. It's a historical, inspirational romance. I've recently come to love books like these (hello, FIVE DAYS IN SKYE!), and this one is no exception. Nora is my favorite character. She moves from her farm in Iowa to the Lake District in England to start a new life as a sheep farmer. She's suffered from loss, first with her fiancee, Tom, dying in the war, and her parents soon following due to illness.

So she's no stranger to hard work and grief. I loved that she wasn't perfect, and that she struggled with simply life. I really related to that. I think we all have things that are hard for us, and they're different from what's hard for other people. But Nora felt three-dimensional and human. I loved her.

Colin is the second son to a baronet, and his brother -- the good son, the one ready to accept his place in society -- has died in the war. He's trying to figure out how to be himself while still living up to his brother's memory and satisfying his father. And who hasn't had to deal with that? Maybe just us second children...

Anyway, I liked Colin's dilemma -- his father wants Nora's land because their estate isn't doing as well as it once had -- and Colin's caught between his heart and his duty. What tougher place can there be?

Each character had flaws and perfections, and they came to rely on each other in unique ways. As I said earlier, the writing is spectacular, and with characters that are real and alive, and a romance that could sweep centuries, A HOPE REMEMBERED is a real gem. If you like a heartfelt romance, you should give it a try. You don't need to have read either of the first two books -- though you totally should. I mean, HOPE AT DAWN is a RITA finalist! A finalist!!


About Stacy: Stacy Henrie has always had an avid appetite for history, fiction and chocolate. She earned her B.A. in public relations and worked in communications before turning her attentions to raising a family and writing inspirational historical romances. Wife of an entrepreneur husband and a stay-at-home mom to three, Stacy loves the chance to live out history through her fictional characters, while enjoying the modern conveniences of life in the 21st century. In addition to author, she is a reader, a road trip enthusiast and a novice interior decorator. Her first novel, Lady Outlaw, released from Harlequin Love Inspired Historical in 2012.

Find her on her website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest

There's a giveaway going on this week during the release of A HOPE REMEMBERED. Be sure to enter in the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win the entire "Of Love and War" series!!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Book Review: Five Days in Skye

Okay, so I've been reading a lot lately! Trust me when I say that if you haven't read any inspirational romance, you should start! I hadn't read any either, except for a good friend of mine who writes in that genre. She recommended that I pick up FIVE DAYS IN SKYE, and I couldn't be happier that I did.

About FIVE DAYS IN SKYE: Andrea Sullivan is so consumed by her hospitality consultant job that she's forgotten what brings her life. She travels the world yet shields herself from the exotic locales or another chance at love. She dreads her new assignment--a last chance to snag a high-profile client in Scotland. Yet the lush Isle of Skye transcends her preconceptions. As does the man she came to interview--the rugged, blue-eyed Scotsman James McDonald.

James is passionate about cooking but after six restaurants, four cookbooks, and his own television show, he has no desire to be a celebrity chef. Andrea and James begin to sense these five days in Skye may just be God's wild invitation into deeper life ... and truer love.

Things That Were Awesome:
1. The characters. Andrea and James were both complex, and real, and perfect. Well, far from perfect, but perfectly written. I really enjoyed reading their banter and their inner turmoil. I liked how their pasts colored their presents, and

2. Scotland! I'm not one of those people who has read everything to do with Scottish romance. In fact, this might be the first book ever! I haven't even read Outlander yet. (I say yet, like I might read it soon, but we'll see...) But as Andrea fell in love with Scotland, I did too. The descriptions were done well, without being overdone. I could feel the wind there. #brrr

3. The romance. I'm a sucker for romance, but I like the slow-stewed kind. Since this is an inspirational romance, I knew it would be clean, and I liked that there was definite chemistry and tension there, but that the characters didn't always act on it. The whole book only takes place over five days -- so the romance happens fast! But at the same time, it doesn't. It simmers away until you really believe these two people could be (and should be!) in love. And I loved that!

So if you like well-written characters, fabulous setting, and great romance, pick up FIVE DAYS IN SKYE. You'll be glad you did.

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