The Vegas Proposal Cover Reveal by Julie Jarnagin

Hey Sweet Romance Readers! I'm excited to reveal a brand-new cover.

I'm so happy with how it turned out, and I hope you love the story. It will be here just in time for Valentine's Day.

If you click on "Follow" under my photo on my Amazon page, they'll send you an email alert when it's available. Or you can sign up for my newsletter for updates - http://eepurl.com/5y5k

Have you ever been to Las Vegas? What did you think? 

Here's a little about the book:

A celebrity wedding would save her family’s Las Vegas chapel—as long as she doesn’t fall for the groom.

The Traditions Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas has been in Claire Grigg’s family for three generations, and she dreams of restoring the struggling chapel to its original glory. When Claire discovers the chapel’s financial problems and the strain it’s putting on her parents’ marriage, Claire commits to doing whatever it takes to save the business.

Vegas is the last stop on Ben Karr’s tour, and he’s afraid he’ll soon be added to a long list of one-hit wonders. He’s determined to prove that his talent deserves to be taken seriously and all the sacrifices his grandmother made were worth it. He’s known more for his frequent break-ups with famous women than his music. Until he can repair his public image, Ben’s label refuses to invest in another album.

Ben devises a radical plan to save his career—a fake wedding to his starlet ex-girlfriend—but the adorable chapel director and her talk of true love and commitment is making him rethink the scam. Will Claire and Ben let go of their dreams and risk it all to grab onto a shot at true love?

Julie Jarnagin is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. 
www.JulieJarnagin.com

Sign up for her newsletter to be the first to learn about new clean romance and Christian fiction releases and free books: http://eepurl.com/5y5k

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Free short story today!

I remember I once saw a woman in a bus who had such perfect skin that I couldn't look away again. I'm sure she thought I was a stalker.

We've probably all dreamed of the perfect complexion at some time or other. When I worked in France for a short time, a very attractive woman introduced me to her green face mask. I admit I had my doubts about that creamy green goo, particularly when I looked in the mirror. However, the effect was great - all pores were so clean, and my face looked vibrant.
When I wrote this short story, I remembered my experience with the green face mask. It's fun, it's light-hearted, it's free -- and I hope you'll enjoy The Beauty and Beast E!

Amazon - http://amzn.to/18YwQEJ

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/de/de/ebook/the-beauty-and-beast-e

Happy New Year 2017!

Beate Boeker


USA Today Bestselling Author

www.happybooks.de
Mischief & Humor from Page 1

Happy New Release Coming & Goodreads Giveaway ~ Be sure to sign up!

Welcome to our Sweet Romance Reads blog! Happy 2017! I hope the new year will bring you and your loved ones health and happiness. For me, personally, it will be a big year. Two of my big 2017 events are the release of two new novels, THE HAPPINESS IN BETWEEN and THE MEMORY OF BUTTERFLIES. THE MEMORY OF BUTTERFLIES will be out in July, but THE HAPPINESS IN BETWEEN (women’s fiction with romance and suspense) releases on the last day of January. JANUARY 31^ST! It’s almost here! [Happy Dancing!]

Authors will tell you that releasing a new novel is both exciting and terrifying. In this case, I’m especially excited because I love this story. I grew up as that good, obedient daughter who wanted to please her parents and teachers, and also as a late bloomer—a girl who was smart in school, but never in sync with her peers. One basic truth of growing up is that a person who doesn’t have a sense of who they are, their own worth, even if their self-knowledge is imperfect, are prime pickings for those who victimize. 

THE HAPPINESS IN BETWEEN, via the main character, Sandra Hurst, tells the story of how some take longer than others to figure out their future and sometimes need a few extra chances, and that confidence isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone. It takes hope and courage to face your life and make (or remake) your future. 

I hope you’ll read THE HAPPINESS IN BETWEEN and enjoy it. 

If you order now, before the official release, you’ll get Amazon's lowest price guarantee and it will be delivered directly to your ereader on 1/31! Same with the print book, or the audio version. You’ll get the lowest price and the book will ship right after release. http://ow.ly/lAtG3088qao

Important: There is a **GOODREADS GIVEAWAY** for THE HAPPINESS IN BETWEEN. Do you use Goodreads? If not, this is a good time to start. Get details & sign up here: ow.ly/Pyp1307GLS5

If you don’t already subscribe to our Sweet Romance Reads newsletter, please do so. The signup box is on the right-hand side of this page. Thanks!

****

Grace Greene is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of women’s fiction and contemporary romance set in the rolling hills and forests of her native Virginia (Kincaid’s Hope, Cub Creek) and the breezy beaches of Emerald Isle, North Carolina (Beach Rental, Beach Winds). Her debut novel, Beach Rental, and the sequel, Beach Winds, were both Top Picks by RT Book Reviews magazine. She is the author of The Happiness in Between (release date: January 31, 2017), a standalone also set in Cub Creek. For more about the author and her books, visit www.gracegreene.com or connect with her on Twitter at @Grace_Greene and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GraceGreeneBooks.

Latest Release—SHADOWS AND LIES by Raine English

I write in a variety of genres, but my favorite is romantic suspense. SHADOWS AND LIES fits into that category and others, as well. It’s part time travel, part ghost story, and is a hauntingly romantic Gothic set in Louisiana along the banks of the Mississippi River on an 1830s sugar plantation.

When Olivia Lockwood leaves the comfort of her quaint Massachusetts home for an eerie mansion in Louisiana to fulfill her grandfather’s dying wish, she has no idea of the long-buried secrets that await her there. Or whether Jaxon Carter, her grandfather’s right-hand man, might steal her heart or put her life in jeopardy.

Excerpt:

When we approached Turnberry Plantation, the first thing I noticed were the giant oak trees dripping with Spanish moss that lined the long driveway. We drove through the open wrought iron entrance gates, and a minute later, I spotted the massive white mansion built in the Greek Revival style. Its pillars rose to the roofline, and a two-story colonnade surrounded the house. It looked very much like I remembered, only a little more run-down, with its cracked and peeling paint.

Before I’d even gotten out of the taxi, the front door opened and a middle-aged man dressed in a navy suit came out and walked toward the car. He opened my door, and then offered his hand to help me out.

I accepted his assistance, stepping onto the driveway with as much grace as I could manage after a long day of traveling.

“Good afternoon, Miss Olivia. I’m Gerard, your grandfather’s butler. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too.” When I started to rummage through my purse for money to pay the taxi driver, Gerard reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand, silencing me.

“Don’t be silly. Your grandfather invited you here. He doesn’t expect you to pay for anything.”

I raised my brows in surprise. Grandfather had paid for my plane fare, but I certainly never expected that he would pay for more than that. A moment later, my bags were taken out of the trunk, after which the taxi quickly drove away.

As I stood looking at the house, clouds covered the sun, darkening the bright, beautiful day and casting shadows over Turnberry, giving it a much more sinister appearance. My gaze traveled up to the second floor, and I could have sworn I saw someone staring out from one of the large paned windows, but upon second glance, no one was there. Could it have been my imagination, or had someone been watching me arrive?

My fingers curled around the spinel pendant that hung from my neck, and I stroked the cool, smooth stone, hoping it would help to ease my anxiety.

“That’s a lovely necklace, Miss Olivia,” Gerard said, his gaze fixed on the pendant.

“Thank you. My mother gave it to me.”

“Many people confuse spinel with rubies, but I don’t quite know how that’s possible. No other stone gives off that fire. Did you know it has mystic qualities?”

I nodded, thinking back to how my mother had said it would protect me…

SHADOWS AND LIES is available now at Amazon.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Lies-Gothic-United-States-ebook/dp/B01M9BY010

~*~

USA Today bestselling author Raine English writes sweet small-town contemporary romance, along with paranormal and romantic suspense. She’s a Daphne du Maurier Award winner and a Golden Heart finalist. To receive information on all her new releases, you can sign up for her newsletter, visit her website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. Scroll down the right side of our blog and enter your email address under Newsletter Signup. Remember to join the Sweet Romance Reads Cafe too.

Story Inspirations (or Why Authors Watch TV) by Liwen Y. Ho

Hi there! As a new member of Sweet Romance Reads, I'm so excited to be sharing my very first post with you today. Often times, people will ask me where I get the inspiration for my stories from. The short answer to this question is, "From real life." And when I say "real life", I mean people and experiences from my life, but also the TV shows I watch (in real life). 😄

Barry Chang, the main character in my winter-themed short story, The More The Merrier, was named after two men I admire. Barry is for Barry Allen, the sweet, endearing superhero from the TV show, The Flash. He's an all-around nice guy who you can't help but root for. 

Image courtesy of flickr.

Chang is the surname of my maternal grandfather, my own real-life hero. My Grandpa was a fun-loving and generous man who introduced me to Mariah Carey and The Wilson Sisters and more importantly, took in my then teen-aged mom and her brother when their parents passed. Because of him, I gained a whole clan of aunts and uncles and cousins (and now nieces and nephews!) and have some wonderful memories to look back on.

This is one example of how my real life played a part in inspiring one of my books (and a good reason for why authors watch TV). 😉 Now that you know about one of my favorite shows, please comment below and tell me about yours. One random winner will be chosen to win a free ecopy of The More The Merrier. Come back tomorrow to find out who won.

Liwen Y. Ho is an Amazon bestselling author of contemporary romance, both sweet and inspirational. A marriage and family therapist in her pre-author life, she enjoys creating realistic characters and helping them find their happily-ever-afters. She lives in California with her techie husband and their two munchkins and blogs about life as a recovering perfectionist.

She'd love to hear from you! Find her online here:

Amazon | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

And be sure to mark your calendars for the Sweet Romance Reads Valentine's Party! Join us for a fun time of books and giveaways. Click HERE to take you to the Facebook event page!

Martin Luther King Day

One of my favorite speeches is the "I Have a Dream." Martin Luther King was a great man who believed making changes through peaceful protests rather than violent acts. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. This is a day to celebrate freedom and equality for all people.

Today is the last day Strong Women, Extraordinary Situations Box Set is on sale for 99¢.

Blurb: 3 stories in one book
Deadly Hunt: All bodyguard Tess Miller wants is a vacation. But when a wounded stranger stumbles into her isolated cabin in the Arizona mountains, Tess becomes his lifeline. When Shane Burkhart opens his eyes, all he can focus on is his guardian angel leaning over him. And in the days to come he will need a guardian angel while being hunted by someone who wants him dead.


Deadly Intent: Texas Ranger Sarah Osborn thought she would never see her high school sweetheart, Ian O'Leary, again. But fifteen years later, Ian, an ex-FBI agent, has someone targeting him, and she's assigned to the case. Can Sarah protect Ian and her heart?


Deadly Holiday: Tory Caldwell witnesses a hit-and-run, but when the dead victim disappears from the scene, police doubt a crime has been committed. Tory is threatened when she keeps insisting she saw a man killed and the only one who believes her is her neighbor, Jordan Steele. Together, can they solve the mystery of the disappearing body and stay alive?
Buy links:
Amazon: http://littl.ink/BoxSetAm
Barnes & Noble: http://littl.ink/BoxSetBN
Kobo: http://littl.ink/BoxSetKobo
iBooks: http://littl.ink/BoxSetApple
Google Play: http://littl.ink/BoxSetGP

Hot Drinks for a Winter Flu by Alicia Street

I absolutely love coffee any time of the year, but when a winter flu gets me—yep, it’s gotten me already and it’s a doozy—I’ve got a roster of go-to hot drinks that are great for chasing away the flu-blues.

Hot Apple Cider

My favorite and probably the easiest. Just heat it up and pour it into a nice big mug with an optional cinnamon stick.

Black tea with Honey and Lemon

Of course! Nothing like tannic acid to soothe a sore throat.

Miso Broth

Heat water and pour into a cup, then stir in a teaspoon of brown rice or barley miso. If the water boils it will destroy the fermented nutrients in miso, so let it cool a bit first.

Chamomile tea with Ginger

I confess, I buy this in tea bags, but my sister grates ginger into the water as she boils it and then steeps it over a bag of chamomile.

Hot and Sour Soup

Great for clearing your sinuses. I’m lucky to have a fab Chinese restaurant nearby where I can order take-out.

Chicken Soup

The tried and true. I make mine with lots of garlic and add plenty of liquid. In addition to the chicken, celery, and carrots, I add mushrooms and green chard to give an immune system booster.

Wishing you a happy—and healthy—2017!

                                                                       ~*~

Alicia Street is a USA Today bestselling author and a Daphne du Maurier award-winner. A compulsive reader of every genre, she writes both sweet and steamy romance. She spent many

years as a dancer, choreographer and teacher.

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