Lyn Cote Asks for Help with a Title Please!

I need help with the title of my book that will come out early 2024. It will be the final book and my “The Preacher’s Daughters” series. My heroine, Kat, short for Katherine, is a small town business owner who is forced to take on a partner after medical expenses for her late father have cropped up. Through friends, she has connected with a Chicago businessman who wants to leave the big city. So here are the two choices: 

A:“Kat’s Big-City Partner,” or 

B: “Kat’s Strictly-Business Partner.” 

Please vote for A or B! Or if you have a better C, leave that here. And maybe you’ll be offered a free copy!

Mark your calendars! 

 

My final  FREE e-book in 2023, BITTER AUTUMN, will be available Sunday September 3 through Thursday September 7 on Amazon only. 

This is one of the few books that I also have put out in paperback, but of course the paperback is not free (Amazon wants me to pay for the printing and sending. I did my “Northern Shore Intrigue” series in paperback because I received so many requests for paperback books.) Why not tell a friend about this ebook special? And mark your own calendar if you would like to get this free Ebook. Here's more about the Ebook.

The new female deputy and a hero with a past face a series of copycat crimes that terrorize their small town. 

Reader review:

“Lyn Cote's Bitter Autumn is an edge of your seat, do not expect to put it down adventure. I am always emotionally spent when I finish her books! Bitter Autumn should serve as a wake up call for anyone who thinks they have a right to dish out vengeance or those who refuse to forgive. The book is not preachy but reminds us that vengeance belongs to the Lord. This story is full of bitter, twisted people who are not doing well emotionally or physically. Yet it is not a depressing book. The characters are well portrayed and the plot is fascinating. You do not want to miss this book!” Click here to purchase or for more info.--Lyn

Audiobooks? Yay or Nay? By Laura Scott

 

Audiobooks? Yay or Nay?

I was a reader long before I was an author, and I have always loved books. Paperbacks that you can hold in your hand, smell the pages, go back and forth between scenes without difficulty. 

Then came the emergence of technology. Ebooks became a thing, and I liked using e-readers when traveling. No more stuffing many books into my suitcase in case I run out, haha.

Audiobooks are exploding in the market, and I will confess I was resistant. But I decided to try listening to a book and discovered I loved it. 

Maybe it's because I'm writing full time these days, which means spending oodles of time at my computer. I have found that I can't read ebooks as easily as I used to. Paperbacks are more difficult too because my vision has changed. (Getting old is not for sissies). These days I devour audiobooks the way I used to read paperbacks. One, right after the other, especially when I find a series I love. A good narrator is the key to a great story, and there have been only a small handful of audiobooks (maybe three?) that I have not been able to listen to.

I'm curious about how you feel about audiobooks? I used to have a long commute to work and back and I wish I could go back and start listening to audiobooks earlier. Although then again, I'm not sure if there were nearly as many available as there are now.

My Security Specialists, Inc. series and my Finnegan First Responders series are in audio now. My August book Scorched Secrets is available in both formats if you're interested in giving it a try. I absolutely adore my narrator, Alex Knox. He does an incredible job on these stories.

Audible Apple Chirp Kobo B&N 

If you have never listened to an audiobook, you can try one of mine for free on my YouTube channel. You can find me at @laurascottbooks or click this link. Laura's YouTube. If you would be so kind as to subscribe to my channel I would greatly appreciate it. I am in desperate need of subscribers! 

Until next time...Laura Scott

The Stages of a Finished Book Cover

As readers, we usually take book covers for granted. If it's uninteresting, we pass it over. If it catches our eye, we look further--at the author, at the blurb, at the price. The image is there, and if we've bought the book, we think it's alluring or enticing or romantic or at the very least, interesting.

As indie authors, we agonize over covers. I was traditionally published for many years, and I had some input into the cover: in the form of a ten page form and examples that were considered. Often tossed aside, but considered. I was immune to getting a cover that barely resembled my story. I learned to appreciate and respect that the publisher had a huge marketing department that studied trends and reader likes/dislikes and sales. So designing my own covers was a new and admittedly liberating experience. Sometimes I think I get it right. But it takes me many tries to reach that point. Thankfully, I have my critique group and my street team to bounce the ideas off.

I Sorta Do was written as a Harlequin Heartwarming in the day, and then moved to the Duets line for its debut. That was a long time ago. I had rights returned and I rewrote, revamped, and updated this story for today's readers and to fit into the Aspen Gold Series. I just love that stories can continue to live on and find new readers.

I didn't have the manuscript ready, but I started working on the cover ages ago, and it developed over time. Honestly the final cover and title didn't come into being until I was nearly ready to upload the book for pre-order.

I've had so many compliments on the cover and the title. Reviewer Robyn Roberts says it catches her eye every single time - I love it too. And I love the story. It's a romantic comedy about an impulsive photographer and a buttoned-up single dad who strike an unlikely bargain for a week. Well, actually, she sorta coerces him into the deal.

Check out the many phases of this cover and title until it became today's version.

How fun is that?

Get your copy now.

AMAZON

OTHER RETAILERS

Husband needed: One week commitment. Children optional.

I, Francie Karr, take you, Ryan MacNair, in bogus matrimony to convince my grandma and high school reunion class that I’m blissfully married—you provide the kids. A week should do it. You pledge to be so irresistible that you charm the Spanx right off those stuck-up gossips. Your touches should make their eyes pop, and your kisses be so intoxicating that we don’t have to fake that part. Oh, and we promise not to let this family—or this electricity between us—feel real.

Sizzling sweet romance by a USA Today bestselling author

Help! I Think My Characters Are Trying to Kill Me! --A Comedy Mystery Theatre Reviewed by Pat Simmons

If I had to write an essay about what I did over the summer, attending a comedy mystery at The Black Fedora would be at the top of my list!

While in Charleston, South Carolina, for the One Love Reunion book event, Kerry and I used our downtime to sightsee the historic city known for its slave plantations and culture.

Playing my part as a tourist, I grabbed several literatures in the hotel lobby about what to do in Charleston. Immediately,  the brochure on a comedy mystery show piqued my interest. I visited their website to see what performances were scheduled. "Help! I Think My Characters Are Trying to Kill Me! piqued my interest as an author.

The Black Fedora on Church Street was in the heart of downtown Charleston in a quaint building.

Parking was not easy, with an open market area that was actually covered and roof-top dining and souvenir shops.  The atmosphere inside was charming.

The ambiance was the perfect backdrop for intrigue, with nostalgic photographs in a sepia finish of world TV detectives and a game to play while we waited to identify those characters. Kerry and I got nearly half of the correct answers, while there were a few winners.

The family-owned theatre quickly filled with willing participants to be part of the act like myself. Everything about the place was one surprise after another.  For example, although limited to choices, the menu was worth the ticket price. The hot apple blossom dessert with homemade ice cream tempted me to order seconds until the wings and dip arrived. Wow, prepared to perfection.

The waitress was young and accommodating. 

The opening skit for the "author" typing, then erasing the first line to a story, rang true. The four-person cast was talented, especially the guy Kerry and I took a picture with. I don't know how many wigs were in his collection, but every time he reappeared, it was hilarious. Speaking of hilarious, volunteers got scripts to let them know their parts. I was so engaged in the play that I almost missed my cue. LOL. The only thing I didn't like was the script I had at the end that read "yo mama" several times. I played along, but it was uncomfortable because talking about someone's mother, even in a joking manner, is cause for a serious fight.

Besides that, 10 stars. When we revisit Charleston, Kerry and I hope to see another play, order the apple blossom dessert, and buy souvenirs. It was a one-stop shop for entertainment.

Check out The Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre

***

Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth passionate about researching her ancestors and casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance and the 2022 Leslie Esdaile Trailblazer Award recipient. Christmas Dinner was also an Emma Award winner for Book of the Year. Christmas Dinner and Here for You were featured in Woman’s World Magazine.

As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked in radio, television, and print media for over twenty years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net

Grab her latest Christian Fiction novels at www.PatSimmons.net/theintercessors

Sweet Inspirational Romance promo

My books The Wedding Kimono (writing as Camy Tang) and The Gentlemen Thief (writing as Camille Elliot) are both in this Christian Romance promo. Every book in the promo is FREE when you sign up for the author’s email newsletter.

I have two newsletters, Camy Tang and Camille Elliot, so each book will sign you up for the other newsletter if you’re not already subscribed.

Check out the promo and all the great FREE Christian romance ebooks! You might find a new favorite author!

Sweet Inspirational Romance promo

Researching Niagara Falls by Janice Lynn

 

Just as with my latest Harlequin Medical, Heart Doctor's Summer Reunion, I love to share locations and make them come alive for the readers. Learning while reading fiction is one of my favorites. I'm always intrigued by where a story takes place and the little nuggets I glean from the author as I experience the story via the characters.  

In the next few weeks, I'll be meeting up with an author friend to visit Niagara Falls. Although she's been several times, I never have, but off I go as I want to set a book in the area. Prior to heading to a book setting or even a vacation destination, I like to learn at least basics about the area and this trip is no different. 

Things I learned that as a Southern girl, I didn't know:

(A General View of the Falls of Niagara by Alvan Fisher 1820)

Niagara Falls is actually 3 separate waterfalls. Horseshoe falls, which is also known as Canadian Falls, borders the United States and Canada and is what I picture in my head when I think of Niagara Falls. The other two falls that make up "Niagara Falls" are the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. Both of those waterfalls are located within the United States. 

The falls are formed by the river that drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario and was originally formed by glaciers. 

The water flow is halved at night and during off tourism season. 

The current rate of erosion is 30 cm/year and at that rate in 50,000 years, Niagara Falls will cease to exist. 

Although there have been partial freezes, the river and falls are recorded to have completely frozen once on March 29, 1848 and was that way for about 40 hours.

Napoleon Bonaparte's brother, Jerome, visited the falls.

The falls have been used for a power source since the mid 1700s and were once privately owned.

Two bodies were found at the bottom of the American Falls in 1969 the Niagara River was diverted to Horseshoe Falls for erosion control.

(Niagara by Louis Remy Mignot, around 1866)

I can't wait to write this story and work in some information about the area, history, and the falls. 

Are there any stories you've read that have had settings that have intrigued you to want to visit? Or that were so well written that you felt as if you were there?

Looking for a Christmas in July read? Check out Janice's Wrapped Up in Christmas books from Hallmark Publishing.

Buy Your Copy HERE

USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com  The WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS books are available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART & many other place where you buy books. WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS LOVE is coming Christmas 2024.

Overcoming Obstacles in Sweet Romance by Merri Maywether

I love reading about characters overcoming obstacles. The obstacle can be a personal limitation, dealing with a conflict they’ve been avoiding, or something like a fear that can be overcome.

When book characters are going through those struggles and choosing love, or family, or their mental health, I cheer them on and wish I could be more like them. 

Living through obstacles. That isn’t as fun. Last month, my husband pressed the button to turn on the air conditioner, and it didn’t work. We didn’t know if it was the button, the air conditioner, or something in between.  

I can only attribute my reaction to having written so many romance novels. I told my husband that while it was an uncomfortable situation, it was a blessing. He thought I was crazy. Then I laid out the facts. 

✔️We did not argue. 

✔️We took turns watching YouTube tutorials and reporting back our newfound knowledge about air conditioners (ooh, so romantic) 

✔️We tag-teamed reinstalling and resetting the thermostat. 

✔️We got slushies to help us cool off. 

Despite our discomfort and confusion, neither of us spoke a harsh word to each other. 

In the first story I wrote, 222 Redemption Lane, Aunt Tee coordinated a contest with obstacles and used limited time to add pressure. She did it to prove what my husband and I experienced. Sometimes obstacles are blessings because they are a chance to prove that the other person is more important than the solution to the problem. 

Then again, isn’t that the ultimate theme in sweet romance. Our characters, learning that despite the conflicts that plague them–they are loved. 

***

A friendly weekend challenge meant to strengthen family ties will test the bonds of love.

When Aunt Tee, the matriarchal figure to Marianna, Janine, and Amanda, notices her nieces have fallen out of touch, she organizes a family challenge. What was intended to bring the cousins closer, threatens to tear the family apart--or the Darling cousins will learn the road to redemption is paved with love, and each will find her role in rebuilding it.

For this week, only 222 Redemption Lane will be available for 99￠

Amazon | Apple | Kobo

Back to School by Merrillee Whren

 August is back-to-school month for many children in the United States. Some students start back to school in early August. Some don't start until the last few days of August, and others may not start until after the Labor Day holiday here in the US, which is the first Monday in September. If you go into many stores this time of year, you will find school supplies of all kinds. Back to school means a fun time with new clothes, pencils, pens, notebooks, tablets, crayons, and backpacks, maybe even a new lunch box. 

I've been both a teacher and a student, so with thoughts of back to school in mind, I'm going to share my books that feature a teacher as one of the main characters. 

Second Chance Love was the first book I sold to Harlequin way back in 2004. The book was published in 2005 under the title, The Heart's Homecoming. After I got the rights back, I reissued the book with its new title. The hero is a high school teacher and track coach. It is the first book in my Pinecrest series.

The first book in my Front Porch Promises series, A Match to Call Ours, also features teachers. The hero was a high school teacher, but has left the teaching profession after being falsely accused of inappropriate conduct with one of his students. The hero hire the heroine as a nanny who will homeschool his daughters. The story starts with the heroine working as a substitute teacher.

The heroine in the second book in my Kellersburg series, Hometown Proposal, has worked as a singer on a cruise ship for several years. When she returns home, she goes back to college to get her teaching degree in music.

Last but not least, the second book in my Happiness in Hallburg series, Puppy Love and Jingle Bells, tells the story of Sedona Welch, a fourth grade teacher, who tutors the hero's nephew.

If you enjoy reading about teachers, I hope you'll check out these books. You can get more information by clicking on the title or the book cover.

Did you have a favorite teacher? 

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

This is my cute two-year-old Shih Tzu/Pekinese dog, Shiloh. She's a lot of fun to play with, and a good companion to me while my husband and son are at work. For the first year of her life, she was a great dog, but this year she has changed a bit. My son and I have started thinking of her as Shiloh and Mr. Hyde. She will let me pet her when she's sitting at my feet, but if I pull her into my lap, she starts growling. If I pick up something off the floor, she runs over and nearly attacks my hand. I scold her when she growls and make her get off my lap. Things are a bit better than they were, but alas, she's not the lap dog that I had wanted. Of course, if it's thundering, she wants to be in my lap. I wonder how often we treat God like that--growling when we don't get our prayers answered. I think whenever Shiloh growls at me, I need to stop and think if I've been treating God the same way. 

Two August Releases

I recently got the rights back on a bunch of novellas I wrote for Barbour Publishing, so expect to see more releases in the upcoming months. The first two were in a collection called Christmas Next Door, which I wrote with my good friend Susan Page Davis. They are stories about neighbors who fall in love at Christmastime, but wait! There's more to the story. Each of the four novellas have a mystery, but there is also another mystery that runs throughout all of the novellas. I wrote books 1 & 3, and Susan wrote books 2 & 4. Each story is a stand-alone, but they are best read in order because they include the same town, townsfolk, and the over-arcing mystery. We have retitled the collection as An 1880s Christmas Mystery. Let me tell you about my novellas.

Book 1: The Marshal Next Door by Vickie McDonough

When Marshal Justin Yates' deputy claims he’s seen Justin’s twin sisters snooping around businesses where there have been recent thefts, Justin can’t believe his sisters might be the thieves, but when evidence is found in his house, will he have to arrest the twins at Christmastime?

In hopes of making his sisters more genteel, he asks his neighbor, Marta, for help. At first, Marta is stunned, but then she realizes the motherless teens could benefit from learning to cook and sew better. The hard part is not allowing the busy marshal to know she's far too attracted to him.

To make matters worse, he is starting to fall for his deputy's sister. He can only imagine what the man will say about that.

Available on Amazon for $2.99 / Free on KU

Book 2: The Spinsters Next Door by Susan Page Davis

Book 3: The Outlaw Next Door by Vickie McDonough

A reformed outlaw has finally met the woman of his dreams. Regina Ross is the perfect woman: pretty, sweet, and kind-hearted. She's far too good for the likes of Dane McDermott, but Dane can't help being attracted to her. In spite of his rugged past, he begins to hope for a future with Regina, but when his former gang shows up and kidnaps her, will it ruin his chance for love with the preacher’s daughter?

Available on Amazon for $2.99 / Free on KU

Book 4: The Gunslinger Next Door by Susan Page Davis

I hope you get a chance to read these fun romantic Christmas mysteries. You can buy all four stories for less than $12.

Savoring the Sweetness of Summer's End Plus Bonus Recipe by Josie Riviera

For me, August marks the transition from the warm summer days to the coziness of fall. So, grab a refreshing drink, and let's make the most of this beautiful month with the following ideas:

Plan a day trip to the beach, complete with a romantic picnic on the shore. You might also want to bring your ereader or paperback for a sweet romance read.

Take advantage of the mild temperatures and enjoy the great outdoors. August is ideal for taking a scenic hike and discovering hidden trails.

Have you ever gone star-gazing? I have when I visited Sedona, Arizona, and it is breathtaking. Grab some pillows and a blanket and look up at the starlit sky.

Create a scrapbook and fill it with your memories of summer. Ticket stubs, pressed flowers, seashells, and photos will all become cherished keepsakes.

Bonus: Watermelon Mint Salad Recipe

My grandchildren love watermelon, and this recipe is easy, quick, and delicious:

Simply combine watermelon cubes, fresh mint leaves, crumbled feta cheese, and drizzle with lime juice. Toss and serve chilled.

Celebrate summer with my sweet romance bundle: Summer Hearts: A Sweet and Wholesome Inspirational Romance Bundle.

These captivating stories celebrate the promise of new beginnings and beautiful summers.

This set includes three sweet and inspirational romances:

1-800-SUMMER
The last thing she can fix is her own life. Until one man’s offer changes everything.


A Chocolate-Box Summer Breeze
Will Emily and Joe find their happily-ever-after in a forgotten summer breeze?


A Summer To Cherish
Faith is fragile. Faith takes time. And the best solutions are always painted with love.

Grab your copy of Summer Hearts today. Available in ebook, Paperback, and Large Print paperback. 

FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Audiobooks for each book sold separately.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully support husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

New Beginnings.... by Christine Bush

I love fall.

I have ever since I was a kid.

Summer was great, from the warm weather, the relaxation, the lack of schedules for the most part.  But as fall approached, excitement would begin.  Fall meant change, crisp air, new beginnings.

Probably it began because I liked school.  A new school term meant back to learning, back to friends and activities.

There were signs when it was coming.

Ads for bookbags, new school shoes, and school supplies. 

Folders! Pencils! Markers! 

And then I became an elementary teacher.  The excitement of a new class was firmly entrenched in me. New beginnings. And great anticipation.

Today I am a college professor.  I don’t sharpen pencils anymore.  But I still stock up on supplies, books, and new ideas.  And I still approach my students with the same excitement and delight.

My rhythm as a writer seems to follow this same calendar.  Fall is a time for beginning a new book, a new project.  This year, like other years, I am gearing up to write the first page of my next romantic mystery.  It’s always a case of delving into the unknown.

As these last days of summer approach, so does the excitement of what’s to come.  I’m not yet sure of what it will be.  And I can’t wait to find out!

How about you?  Do you anticipate fall?  Any new beginnings?  I’d love to know!

Christine Bush is a USA Today Bestselling author of romance, romantic mystery, and suspense.  She can be found living in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania with her husband and 2 lazy cats, and spending time with her 14 grandchildren.   When she’s not writing, she’s teaching Psychology at a local college, and working with clients in her private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She loves to hear from readers and writers!

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Bush-Author/213919128638762

http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Bush/e/B001KHSLRG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1392688497&sr=1-2-ent

 

 A "back to school" sweet romance!  Check out "Lucy's Laugh", available in print and ebook!

 

Amazon.com: Lucy's Laugh eBook : Bush, Christine: Kindle Store