What's coming in 2018...by Kristin Wallace

It’s a New Year and a time for making resolutions and plans for 2018. My first big plan is pretty ambitious…the launch of a brand new series this spring called The Heiress Games. The idea started as one book a few years ago (for a different series), but quickly morphed into three books.

 Here’s what The Heiress Games is about….

A pig named Matilda. A $100 million dollar fortune. 3 women out to win custody of the pig…and the fortune.

Heiress Victoria Armington loved two things in life. Her pet pig Matilda and her hometown of Palm Cove, Florida. So when she dies (having never married or had children) she leaves her considerable fortune to Matilda and sets up a competition among the last three remaining Armington descendants. The prize? Custody of the pampered pig and control of the money. Enter the women competing for a fortune: a struggling single mother and lifetime outcast of Palm Cove, a woman desperate to save her sister, and a down on her luck singer with a mountain of medical bills. Plus, meet the three best friends who are supposed to be overseeing the Heiress Games: the lawyer who needs this case in order to make partner, the ex-football player who’s trying to re-reconnect with his troubled son, and the Grammy-winning singer who’s lost the music after a tragic accident. In the end, these three couples will end up competing for a far bigger of prize…a love that lasts forever.

What makes this series so unique – and also challenging to write – is that all three books take place concurrently and each tells the story from different couples’ perspectives. There are many scenes that appear in all three books, but you’ll see them from someone else’s POV. This is a crazy, funny, touching series of a group of loosely strangers who somehow become a family.

Oh…and then there is the pig at the center of The Heiress Games. Matilda is a character in her own right. She lives in pink castle, wears diamond collars, tutus and sequined scarves, and makes everyone fall in love with her. Matilda is so cool, in fact, that she now has her own Facebook and Twitter accounts.

I invite you to follow Matilda and see what she’s up to.

Like Matilda’s Facebook Page

Follow Matilda’s Twitter Page

And look for The Heiress Games to launch this spring!

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and contemporary romance, and women’s fiction filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. She is the author of two best selling series, Shellwater Key Tales (sweet contemporary romance) and Covington Falls Chronicles (inspirational romance). 

For info on all of her books, visit Kristin Wallace Author

Sign up for Kristin’s newsletter HERE and get a FREE book, Finding You At Christmas. 

Secret-Baby Stories — Love 'em or Hate 'em?

Romance readers seem to either love or hate secret-baby stories With this plot, before the book begins, a couple goes their separate ways without the hero knowing that the heroine is pregnant. (Sometimes the heroine doesn’t even know.) The couple could have been separated by war, controlling parents, a misunderstanding, etc. The story throws the couple back together.

My January release from Harlequin Love Inspired, A Mom for His Daughter is a twist on the secret-baby plot. In it, the heroine's sister has kept her pregnancy secret from the heroine and given her child up for adoption. The heroine finds out about her niece in a deathbed letter from her sister in which her sister asks her to find the baby. The hero and his late wife had adopted the baby.

How do you feel about secret-baby stories? If you're not a fan, maybe my excerpt from A Mom for His Daughter (below) will sway you.

A Dad’s Second Chance
Widowed single dad Marc Delacroix doesn’t have time for surprises—especially one like Fiona Bryce. Finding out that she’s the biological aunt of his adopted daughter, Stella, is a big shock. While Fiona’s commitment to the little girl appears to be genuine, Marc wonders if he can truly trust her—or his own heart, which he vowed never to risk again. Fiona’s eager to connect with the sweet young niece she never knew she had, but Marc seems determined to keep her at arm’s length’s. Could Marc and Fiona’s shared love of Stella be the bond that transforms their fragile connection into a real family?

Amazon | Harlequin | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One 
Everything Marc Delacroix had always thought he wanted rode on decisions he and his business partners would make in the next few hours. And he couldn’t care less.

Oh, he’d gone through the motions yesterday of meeting with Fiona Bryce, the Cornell farm-to-table consultant. He owed his partners that much. They’d been picking up slack for him even before Cate’s death. The lump that formed in his throat when he thought about his wife didn’t choke off his windpipe anymore, which he guessed was progress. This Lake George restaurant launch his partners had sent him north for felt a lot like a get-yourself-together or sell-out proposition. He curled his lip. Maybe he should sell out.

His cell phone jolted him from his thoughts. He glanced at the caller ID. Mom. Just what he didn’t need when he was rushing to get his daughter, Stella, dressed and to her first morning at preschool in Schroon Lake. But he couldn’t ignore her. She was his mother.

“Hey, Mom. What’s up? I only have a minute if I’m going to get Stella to school on time.”

“But she’s not quite three yet. So little for preschool,” his mother protested.

While he listened to his mother’s opinion on Stella and preschool for the third time, his thoughts drifted back to yesterday. Although he only had a vague idea of what Fiona’s program could do, he’d forwarded her presentation with his positive recommendation to his partners. He’d been unexpectedly mesmerized by the woman—her features, her movements—and had paid more attention to her than to what she’d said.

“Marc?”

“Yes, I’m here, Mom. I was thinking about my meeting at the research farm yesterday.”

“I’m glad you’re taking an interest in your work again,” she said.

More like an interest in my potential business consultant. But it was something. Better than the apathy that had paralyzed him for the past months.

“You know I don’t mind watching Stella,” his mother said. “I’m free today if you want to get some work in. I usually don’t schedule any bookkeeping on Wednesdays to have a day free for errands and other things.”

That was the drawback and blessing of having moved Stella from New York City to his hometown of Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. Lots of people always ready to help. Mom with her offers to take care of Stella. His twin sister pressing him to socialize, meet new people—Fiona, her coworker at the Cornell Research Farm in Willsboro, popped into his mind again—and encouraging him to get started on La Table Frais, his restaurant project.

Cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder, Marc picked up Stella’s shoes, slipped them on her feet and pressed the Velcro fasteners. He was inclined to agree with his mother, but his youngest sister, Renee, a child sociologist, had convinced him that being with children her age would help get Stella up to speed with the age-appropriate behavior she’d fallen behind on.

“It’s a play group for two- and three-year-olds. And Andie will be there.” His older sister was one of the teachers at The Kids Place, the childcare center at Hazardtown Community Church, where he and his family attended services.

“Stella. Red,” Stella said, pointing at her belly and her red T-shirt in a basket of clothes he had folded, ready to put away.

“Okay.” Marc hoped he wasn’t pushing Stella too hard. Her speech development had stalled since Cate died. But referring to herself in a baby-like third person was something new he’d noticed since they’d moved here last month.

“Pardon?” his mother said.

Stella scampered over to the basket, pulled off the shirt he’d put on her and worked at putting on the red one.

“Stella wanted to wear her red shirt instead of the one I put on her.”

He could imagine the expression on his mother’s face about letting Stella have her way. Marc grabbed his phone from his shoulder. But the counselor they’d seen downstate after Cate’s death had said to choose his battles with Stella, and he wasn’t about to do anything to set her off before he even got her to The Kids Place.

“I don’t want to upset her, Mom. She had a meltdown yesterday at the grocery store. Someone Stella didn’t know said hello to her, and Stella went ballistic. You know how reluctant she can be about talking to new people.” Or anyone other than him—even his family.

“That’s what I mean. Stella may need more time with family to adjust to her new home. School’s off today for a teacher’s workday or something. I could have Robbie come and play with her.”

Yeah. A playdate with his toddler cousin wasn’t likely to be at the top of seven-year-old Robbie’s wish list.

“I need to go, Mom. I’ve got work to do after I drop off Stella.” He strained to hide the catch in his voice on work. How many times had he said that to Cate, to Stella, thinking there would be time later? Then Cate was dying, and there were no more laters.

“Daddy!”

He turned. Stella had her arm through the head of the shirt.

“And Stella needs help with her shirt.”

“Okay, and as I said, if you want to go work on the restaurant this afternoon, I’ll be here for Stella.”

“Thanks, Mom.” But he was the one who ought to be there for his daughter. “I’ll let you know. Bye. Hang on, sweetpea. I’ll give you a hand.” He pulled Stella’s arm out of the head hole, and she slipped her arms in the sleeves.

“Stella do it.”

“Yep. Good job.” Edginess fired through his veins. He could only hope he was doing as well.

“Church. Singing,” Stella said a few minutes later when he pulled into the church parking lot and stopped in a space near the church hall.

Marc hopped out and released Stella from her car seat. “I don’t know about singing today.”

His wife’s beautiful voice singing “On Eagles’ Wings” with their church choir floated through his head. Stella had loved Cate’s singing, so much so that he’d avoided taking Stella to church after Cate’s death for fear the music would set Stella off. Regret squeezed his chest. But he couldn’t avoid church services here. Nor did he want to. And Stella had been fine when they’d attended church with his parents last week.

The corners of Stella’s mouth turned down.

“But we’ll see. There might be singing.” He lifted her from the car.

“Stella walk.”

He set her down and took her hand. “Okay.” Slowly, they made their way to the hall door. Marc opened it.

“London Bridge is falling down, falling down…” A group of preschoolers was playing London Bridge in the hall.

“See, Daddy, singing.”

“You’re absolutely right.” His heart lightened. “Let’s go talk with Aunt Andie about school.”

“`Kay.” Stella’s voice lacked the enthusiasm of a minute ago.

Andie walked over to them. He held his breath when she crouched to Stella’s level.

“Hi, Stella. We’re coloring our class banner.” Andie pointed across the room to several kids Stella’s age sitting at a table with a long sheet of white paper. “Want to help us?”
Stella looked up at him. “Daddy color?”

“Remember, Daddy has to work this morning.” He planned on talking with his partners. “You can color with Aunt Andie.” The counselor had told Marc that the little girl might feel more secure with him telling her what to do, rather than asking—at least for a while.

Stella stared at him silently for so long his heart stopped. Then she nodded and took Andie’s hand.

“She’ll be fine,” Andie said.

“Right.” He resisted looking back at Stella as he left the hall. Stella knew Andie. Andie was great with kids of all ages, and she had his number if there was any problem.

Marc dragged his feet walking out to the car. He needed to occupy his mind with something more than concerns about Stella. That fixation wasn’t good for her or him. He’d taken his first reluctant step yesterday toward an opportunity he would have jumped at in a New York minute two years ago. Marc wanted that excitement back. For too long, he’d been plodding through life placing one foot in front of the other.

He made his decision. He needed to get in the race again, call Fiona and let her know she could write up a consulting contract for La Table Frais. His partners would probably celebrate his taking the initiative to make the decision, rather than waiting for their approval.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, he thumbed to the Cornell Research Farm’s number on his phone, picturing Fiona, her coppery curls, wide-set hazel eyes and vivacious mannerisms. She was a stunning woman, and the first woman he’d noticed since Cate had died.

If he were honest with himself, that scared him. He closed his eyes. His main focus still had to be Stella, but to be what his daughter needed, maybe he needed something for himself.

He didn’t have to throw himself into the new restaurant twenty-four seven as he had with his work in New York. And having an adult relationship, a non-pressure business relationship that had nothing to do with his daughter, might give him a balance between family and work.

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What do Writers Intend for the New Year? by Rachelle Ayala

Photo by Victoria Bilsborough on Unsplash

Hello friends! I hope all of you have had a very wonderful holiday and rang in the new years with cheer. I had my family over, including my adult son and daughter and son-in-law. We went hiking in the desert, watched movies, took walks, ate out and cooked in, drank champagne and poured Guinness. I wish everyone a happy 2018!

So, what do writers do about New Year's Resolutions? Well, like most other people, there will be something about weight, maybe, or exercise, yeah, right, and writing goals, what else?

I'm not into resolutions, but I do believe in setting goals that are challenging enough not to be a "slam-dunk" but easy and doable so I don't discourage myself. Obviously, I want to write every day. Doesn't every writer? How many words is enough to count as having written? Why am I worried about this?

You are what you do. A writer writes. A dancer dances. An actor acts. A breather breathes.

But I'm here to tell you that you DON'T have to write every day to be a writer. You do have to breathe, yes, but you don't have to write or dance or practice your violin daily to claim your identity.

However, to write more is desirable. After all, we have stories brimming out of our heads, characters who need their stories recorded, and readers waiting anxiously. So here are some ways we writers psych ourselves out to get down to the business of writing (daily or hourly or minutely?)

1. Be grateful and set your mindset for an active and successful day. Stretch wide and reach up to the universe when you get out of bed. Tell yourself it's a beautiful day and you're going to have a wonderful day. Give thanks and take deep, full breaths. Smile and stretch. Stand up straight and get started with your best day ever.

2. Free-form journal first thing in the morning. Don't worry about grammar, sentence structure, thoughts, anything. Get out a notebook and a pen and rip away. Funny words, sad words, nonsense words or a to do list for the day. Once you do this, you've broken the dam and you can claim victory. "I've written today!"

3. Record the time each day that you open your manuscript file for your work in progress and make a change, add or delete a word. By setting a goal that is simple and doable, you don't fail. Now, scribble anything you can think about with your characters, what they're up to, how they feel, what they want to do next. Just write, even if it's for five minutes, ten or fifteen minutes. Some writers set a timer and that's great if it works for them. I get interrupted by husband and kids so I write in stolen moments, in my car, or waiting around at the mall, or between cooking tasks. Guess it means I'm sprinting all the time, and stolen moments are sweeter and more intense.

4. Be happy. Think happy thoughts. Avoid negative people, news, and drama. I've told my walking partner I don't want to hear the daily news or politics. I want to watch the birds, look at the lake, hear about her family, and marvel at the goodness of being alive and free.

So, that is my new year's intention. To be happier, more content, and grateful. The words and stories will flow, the friendships and relationships will thrive, and I will find the good in every day.

Happy New Year to all! Please do join the Sweet Romance Reader Facebook Group so you can connect with us and join our wonderful parties.

Check out my SWEET romances at:

 https://www.rachelleayala.net/sweet-romance

Here's what I'm working on next. It's Larry and Jenna's third story, following Valentine Hound Dog (2016) and Valentine Wedding Hound (2017). I hope intend to have it out by Valentine's Day 2018.

Larry and Jenna have it all—a fairy tale romance, a sweet and gassy basset hound dog, and a dream home on the way.

As Valentine’s Day draws near, and with it, their first anniversary, Jenna plans a big surprise for Larry, a scarred and injured firefighter who is on disability.

When Harley, their hound dog, spoils the surprise, Jenna is shocked at Larry’s reaction.

Will a house full of puppies and kisses be the lucky charm Jenna needs to convince Larry that he can truly have a big and noisy happily-ever-after family?

Lots of cool opportunities here at Sweet Romance Read--AND a drawing for a free book today!

The last time we had a Facebook party, there were lots of fun posts, games, prizes--with lots of interaction between the authors and readers who joined us that day.  All too late, though, I learned that I'd missed a key element when trying to invite my Facebook friends to the party.

The Facebook algorithm seemed to have changed.  Now those party invitations seem to work only with folks who have already visited the Sweet Romance Reads Cafe here on Facebook and have already followed (joined) that page.  If you haven't done it yet, it's so easy--just skim down the right-hand column of this page, click on the colorful badge for the Sweet Romance Cafe, and then click join when you get there!

There's good reason to connect to our Cafe page, because our Valentines Day party is coming up next month (take a peek at the header at the top of this page) and promises to be LOTS of fun!

On another note, how are you faring this winter?  If you're out East, just watching the news of those snowstorms makes me shiver!   I hope you are staying safe and warm! Here in the Midwest we'd had mild temps and bare ground, then the snow and frigid temps arrived just in time for Christmas.

I fill our bird feeders every day, and by late afternoon the flocks of cardinals, juncos, chick-a-dees, cardinals and other hungry birds have made quick work of it all.  Cardinals are my favorites.  Can you see all seven here?  There were even more, eating the sunflower seeds I'd scattered on the deck.  I'm in awe over how these little creatures can survive the bitter windchills when I need to be swathed in Thinsulate from head to toe (hat, mittens, coats, boots) before going out to feed the horses. My exciting find last year was finding 150 gram Thinsulate mittens!  :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and that 2018 brings you good health, joy and abundant blessings!  Nearly forgot--leave a comment and you'll be in a drawing for a copy of any ebook in my backlist!

Roxanne Rustand

USA Today Bestselling Author 

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Old and New Resolutions by Mona Risk

On December 31, I wrote my new resolutions. As I do every year. And every year I promise myself I will do my best to put them in practice all year long. Usually I manage to reach the end of February before I slack.

This year starts as an absolute disaster and I'm afraid I will fail.

1- Dieting: no bread or wheat.
Unfortunately, I cooked and baked so much for the kids and friends. Seriously, I can't just throw the leftovers. Someone has to finish all the delicious sweets before I can start dieting. Guess who's doing her best to clean the fridge of cakes, baklavas, chocolates, special breads... Oh my stomach!

2- Walk 10,000 steps: I have been walking and walking...in my house, but there is no way to reach that number. My new “fitbit” is slower than a turtle, beside walking outside is out of the question. So far the weather has been stormy.

3- Write three new books.
Last year I published three new books and I managed to start a new story a month ago. If the weather continues to be nasty, I am sure I will finish my current story soon.

4- Talk to my kids every day. Hmm... Shouldn't they be the ones calling their old mom? When I told them that, the answer was, "Mom, you're far from old. I wish I had your energy. Can you babysit on Tuesday?"
Maybe I should call once a week or once a month!

I look at the card on which I used my best penmanship to write my resolutions and sigh. It's only January 4. Maybe I can start on these resolutions on February 1st?

Did you write your resolutions? Do you manage to keep them?

Available at Amazon

Dr. Sylvia Reynolds promised to be at her parents’ house, in time for Christmas dinner. Her priorities change when she stumbles on a baby rattle and meets the gorgeous man who rescues her and his baby niece.

James Alexander, a successful lawyer, who doesn’t know the ABC of baby’s care, must deliver his five-months-old niece to her grandmother. Because of the blizzard paralyzing the Midwest, flights are canceled and passengers are trapped in airports for endless hours. At the end of his wit with a crying baby, James begs the lovely pediatrician for help.

Can Sylvia turn her life and career upside down for a motherless baby who holds on to her for sheer survival and for James who wants her to stay with him for different reasons?

Apple Banana Bread #Recipe by @DonnaFaz #SweetRomance

Hey, baby, it’s COLD outside! I live on the east coast of the US and we’re experiencing bitter cold temperatures this week. I decided the best way to warm up my house would be to turn on the oven and bake something delicious. This apple banana bread contains no eggs or dairy, yet it turned out delicious: light, moist, and full of flavor. This makes a wonderful afternoon “tea time” or “coffee break” snack.

Apple Banana Bread

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4  teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup sugar

2 large, ripe bananas

1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used almond milk)

2 tablespoons molasses

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tart apple, grated

1/2 cup walnut pieces

1.     Preheat over to 350°F. Prepare a loaf pan using non-stick spray.

2.     Mix together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, sugar. Stir until combined.

3.     Add the banana to a food processor. Pulse to mash. Add the milk, molasses, oil, and vanilla to the processor bowl and process until smooth.

4.     Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined. Add the apple and walnuts, stir just until evenly distributed. Do not over mix.

5.     Pour batter into the loaf pan and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for a bit before removing from pan.

The older I get, the less I like cold weather. How do you feel about winter?

~  ~  ~

Donna Fasano is a USA Today Bestselling Author. Her books have won awards and have sold 4 million copies worldwide. Sign up for her newsletter to learn of new releases and book sales.

A Happy New Year Greeting from Your Sweet Romance Reads Authors

Lyn Cote here--I've posted an animated Happy New Year's card 
on our group's Facebook Page, click here and then when you're there, click LIKE. We like you. You can LIKE us too!

PS-My wintry book, WINTER'S SECRET, is still free.