Spotlight: A Little Wilder by Serena Bell

(Wilder Adventures, #4)
Publication date: July 19th 2022
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

What happened in Vegas? Definitely didn’t stay in Vegas.

Gabe’s the oldest. Brody’s the bad boy. Clark’s the strong, silent warrior. Amanda’s the girl. And Easton—well, Easton’s the panty melter.

I’m Kane.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a bad job. But usually, I’m not the one people are talking about.

That’s about to change. Because the woman I had a smoking hot one-night stand with in Vegas? The one I should have stayed far, far away from, since women like her are my kryptonite?

She’s the same woman my brother just hired to redesign his fancy new glamping RVs.

I haven’t seen her since Vegas, but the instant I lay eyes on her, I can tell my quiet role as the boy-next-door brother is about to change.

She’s pregnant.

And it’s mine.

Excerpt

There’s a knock on Bernadette’s door. 

It pulls me out of deep concentration on the trailer project and sends a small thrill of anticipation up my spine.

Kane. 

It’s gotta be Kane. It’s not like I get visitors. 

I haul myself off the couch—an increasingly challenging undertaking. Even though I know it has to be him, I peep out. One of the awesome mods on Bernadette, courtesy of her previous owner, is a peephole, which is super useful when you’re a single woman on the road alone. 

And even though I know it has to be him, I still feel a surge of pleased surprise when I see his face.

“Delivery,” he says, holding out a big, round Tupperware… cake holder?  “Boston cream pie.” 

Holy shit, he found it.   

I yank open the door and have to stop myself from snatching the cake out of his hands. Or throwing my arms around him and hugging the crap out of him. “Where did you find it?”

“I—”

He stops, appearing to think better of whatever he was about to say, but it’s too late. I know where that sentence was going. 

“You made it?” 

“Amanda helped,” he says, like that’s going to take anything away from a six-foot-something built-like-a-God man who bakes Boston cream pies.  

“Aaaaahhhh!” I cry, overcome. “You are a saint and a genius.” 

He tries to bite back a smile. “I think you’re overstating things a little.” 

“No,” I say, shaking my head. I have been fantasizing about yellow custard, soft yellow cake, and chocolate ganache nonstop since before I knew Kane had planted this baby in me. “Come in. You have to have some, too.”

“It’s all for you,” he says. “I wouldn’t take any of your special treat. Your presentation was fantastic. You deserve all the cake.” 

This guy. I swear. He was too much in Vegas, when all I knew about him was that he asked real questions and knew how to use his body for both good and evil. Now… 

“Well, come in anyway.” 

He hesitates again, then follows me in, setting the cake on the counter. I wash my hands and take two small plates down from the cabinets. I grab two forks from the utensil drawer and two mugs from the overhead hooks. “I don’t have coffee—” I gesture at my belly, “—but I have tea, milk, or water.” 

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About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

Connect:
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Spotlight: Two Boy Summer by Melissa Chambers

Publication date: July 19th 2022
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Two boys, one boardwalk, and her sweetest summer ever

Jules Jarvis never asked to be a rags-to-riches cliché. Since moving from simple Sugarbush Island, Florida five years ago to elite Greenwich, Connecticut, she has done little but miss the life and the true friends she left behind, especially Adrian Ryker. With one touch of her knee against his, her then twelve-year-old heart was stolen and never returned.

Now seventeen and headed back to Sugarbush for the summer, Jules hopes to reconnect with her old life by working at the candy apple stand on the boardwalk and reuniting with the friends she left behind, particularly Adrian. The only problem is she ghosted them all five years ago when seeing their pictures and posts became unbearable. Now she’s back and ready to eat a big ole crow sandwich with an extra-large side of groveling. It’ll be worth it to follow the hope of discovering where that magical knee touch might lead.

But Heath Townsend, the irritating boy interning with her stepdad for the summer, won’t quit popping up at the exact wrong times, making it twice as hard to connect with Adrian. Jules is here to rebuild her life—not fall for a preppy, cocky, Yale-bound jerk, no matter how charming that quirky smile of his can be.

For fans of Jillian Dodd, Beth Reekles, Jenny Han, and anyone who loves a great YA love triangle romance!

Excerpt

“Your mom’s really young, isn’t she?” Heath says.

“Yeah. She had me when she was sixteen.”

“She looks like she could be your sister.”

“Yep,” I say, that being exactly the eighteen hundredth time I’ve heard that. 

I reach for my suitcase, but he lifts it and heads up the stairs. “I’ll take it up for you.”

I hesitate before following him. Craig would sooner gouge his eyes out than have something happen to me on his watch, so he must trust this guy implicitly. But that’s not to say I do.

Heath stops at the top of the stairs and scoots to the side. “Lead the way.” I poke my head into each of the rooms, Heath doing the same. “This one looks out on the pool and it’s got its own bathroom,” he says.

I had already pretty much settled on that one, so I shrug and head inside. 

He points to the window on the far wall. “It’s got a view of my room too.”

I lift my eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

He hefts my suitcase onto a bed and then points again. “My family’s in that one.” He squints one eye. “My room’s right there. The blinds are pulled right now, but I’ll be sure and lift them, especially when I get out of the shower.”

I peer at him, starting to seriously question Craig’s judgment.

“I’m kidding. One of us had to break the ice. You’ve been looking at me like I’m a serial killer since before you got in the car. I don’t bite…unless you want me to.” He waggles his eyebrows and then picks up a decorative shell and inspects it.

I eye him. “Who are you?”

His lip quirks up in a smile, his gaze still focused on the shell. “Such disdain already. I must be doing something right.”

“You want me to dislike you?”

“Oh no. That’s impossible. I’m far too charming for that.”

I try to make out if he’s being irreverent or if he’s a cocky a-hole. I can’t tell yet. I plop down on the bed. “So, you’re starting the apprentice program, huh?”

“For the summer, yeah.”

I frown. “You mean you’re not doing the full five-year plan? The high school to college to real life program?”

“Nah. Just the summer. Just to occupy my time and keep me out of my parents’ house. What about you? What’s your gig this summer?”

“I’m working at the boardwalk. My uncle manages the place.”

He nods, picking up a turtle knick-knack from a bookshelf and then setting it back down. “Sounds fun,” he says with sort of a sigh, and again, I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or serious. “What’s there to do around here?” he asks peering out the window at the pool.

“Have you never been here before?”

“Nope. Just got here yesterday. Spent last night right out there.”

I rest my hands on my hips. “Why are you so familiar with this house? Don’t you live at the one next door?”

He shoots me a dry look. “My family’s over there.”

I nod, like I get it, but I really don’t. I’ve got a great family. I’ve got two of them actually. Craig and my mom are always including me in everything they do, and when my dad is in town, we do all kinds of stuff together. I guess I never went through that whole my family sucks phase. Because my family’s kind of awesome, even after what I’ve put them through the past five years.

He drops his hands down to his sides. “Well, it’s been stimulating.” He goes to head out of my room.

“Hey,” I say, at my limit with trying to figure this guy out. “Are you an asshole or are you just hard to read?”

He huffs a little laugh and then looks me up and down. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

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About the Author

Melissa Chambers writes contemporary novels for young, new, and actual adults. A Nashville native, she spends her days working in the music industry and her nights tapping away at her keyboard. While she’s slightly obsessed with alt rock, she leaves the guitar playing to her husband and kid. She never misses a chance to play a tennis match, listen to an audiobook, or eat a bowl of ice cream. (Rocky road, please!) She has served as president for the Music City Romance Writers and is the author of the Love Along Hwy 30A series, the Before Forever series (YA), and Courting Carlyn (YA).

Connect:
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6895435.Melissa_Chambers

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Spotlight: The Paradise Plan by Elana Johnson

Cassandra Haslam loves plans. Lunch plans, wedding plans, and floor plans—they all bring her joy. In fact, she's had her entire life planned out—career, marriage, and family—since age ten. She's smart, hard-working, and a real go-getter, and everything has fallen into place so far.

Until her husband dies suddenly, right when she's about to enjoy the fruits of all of her hard work and planning, leaving Cass reeling and...well, without a plan.

When her youngest graduates three months later, making her an empty-nester as well as a widow, Cass decides it's time to make a new plan for herself.

It's not a back-up plan.

It's a paradise plan.

With one of her best friends now living in Hilton Head, Cass makes a move and purchases a piece of waterfront property on the island. It's the perfect place to build her paradisiacal life and her new self as she designs and constructs a beautiful beach house.

But when she injures herself—not in the plan, by the way—she meets general-contractor-turned-doctor Harrison Tate. He helps her out of a jammed thumb, a sprained ankle, and a bruised ego.

When he keeps showing up unannounced at her construction site, sometimes with her favorite pastries, Cass starts to wonder if she should add him to her daily routine... If she does, will her perfectly laid out plans fall short of paradise? Or could she find her new life and a new love, all without any plans at all?

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About the Author: 

A USA Today Bestselling and Amazon Kindle All-Star Author, Elana writes clean and wholesome contemporary romance. She is well-known for her young adult dystopian romance series Possession, Surrender, Abandon, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster). She writes clean beach romance in the Hawthorne Harbor Second Chance Romance series, the Getaway Bay Romance series, the Getaway Bay Resort Romance series,the Forbidden Lake Romance series, the Stranded in Paradise Romance series, the Hope Eternal Ranch Romance series, the Sweet Water Falls Farm Romance series, and the Carter's Cove Romance series.

Elana also writes inspirational western romances under the USA Today bestselling pen name of Liz Isaacson. Learn more at Liz's website.

Elana is the force behind Indie Inspiration, and you can find her books for writers, Writing and Releasing Rapidly and Writing Killer Cover Copy among others, and join her group and page on Facebook.

She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog, a co-founder of The League of Extraordinary Writers, and a co-organizer of WriteOnCon. She is a member of ALLi and NINC and a popular speaker for libraries, teens, and writer's conferences across the United States. To contact Elana to speak at your event, please see her contact page.

Connect with the Author:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | TikTok | Bookbub | Gmail

Spotlight: Divine Justice by JoAnna Grace

The Divine Chronicles, Book 7

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Date Published: July 18, 2022

Publisher: Winged J Press

A Prince must die.

Ryse and Avery Castille have no choice but to deliver the gods’ justice to Ashton Avondale. His list of treacheries grows daily. First, they must find him. Their search for Ashton and his warehouses of demon-Olympian hybrids takes them all over the globe. Thank the gods for a talented teleporter, their key in winning the battle. They will face new foes, old friends, and a world of chaos.

Hades has spoken. The god of the underworld wants what is his and he will show no mercy if he does not get it.

Avery’s ability to absorb Olympian gifts is both her greatest weapon and the biggest risk to their people. Her tendency to find trouble guarantees that Ryse will have his hands full, not only with the enemy—but with his wife. It’s up to Ryse, Avery, and their ever-growing team of Elite warriors to track a traitor, save those who have been taken, and prevent the rise of a demon army before Hades steps in. But this is war, and no one will walk away unscathed.

Avery is the spark that started the fire.

When the final battle is fought, will her flames be their salvation or their damnation?

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About the Author

JoAnna Grace lives in a world of alpha males and strong females where true love conquers all—at least in her books! From the time she started holding a crayon she began to create magical worlds. Living in the real world was never an option. A proud indie, she has published over a dozen novels including The Divine Chronicles series, The Blake Pride series, Riverview Romances, and more. This writer loves to read contemporary, paranormal, and urban fantasy romance novels.

JoAnna’s tales are spun at her home in East Texas where she lives with her Prince Charming, three kids, and a few dogs and cats. When not hiding behind the computer screen chugging coffee, you can find her having fun with family and friends, singing, camping, or managing multiple businesses.

Connect:

Website: https://authorjoannagrace.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjoannagrace

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Spotlight: One Kind Hero by Christine DePetrillo

(Heart of a Wounded Hero)
Publication date: July 14th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

What do you do when your life plan goes up in flames?

Army sniper Reid Colborn has nothing left. His last mission was technically a success. Enemy hit. Boy rescued. Day saved. Getting trapped in a burning building, however, wasn’t part of the plan. Now Reid doesn’t have a steady shooting arm, and his military career is over. Heading back to his hometown of Maplehaven, Vermont is not the next target he’d hoped for, but he’s out of choices.

Until architect Valerie Bellerose gives him another option.

When Valerie sees Reid, every detail of their one night together as teens nearly ten years ago comes flooding back. Not that the memory had ever died. Reid had given her something that had made it impossible to forget him. Now that he’s back, can they have a second chance to hit their mark?

Is one kind hero high enough caliber to build the family they’ve always wanted?

One Kind Hero is a second-chance, small-town, steamy contemporary romance novella with a wounded military hero searching for what comes next after losing everything. For more romances set in Maplehaven, check out the One Kind Deed Series also by Christine DePetrillo.

The Heart of the Wounded Hero series was created to pay tribute to and raise awareness of our wounded heroes. Each of the over eighty authors involved have contributed time, money, and stories to the cause. These love stories are inspiring and uplifting, showing the sacrifice of our veterans but also giving them the happily ever after they deserve.

By increasing awareness through our books, we believe we can in a small part help the wounded heroes that have sacrificed so much. Thank you for reading.

Excerpt

Valerie

The shed is only a few yards away as we exit my parents’ house. Twilight has fallen, crickets putting on their concert from the tall grass that needs mowing. The garden of night-blooming flowers I’ve planted around the perimeter of the shed is taking on that ethereal glow as the white petals open. The silvery leaves of some of the plants catch the fading light just right. An owl hoots from the woods and normally that would pull me in that direction. I love owls and a chance to see one always interests me.

Except tonight. 

Tonight, I’ve got something—someone—far more interesting walking beside me toward the shed. 

“Your parents are great,” Reid says. “And your mom really knows how to charm a dog with leftover chicken. Akira couldn’t have cared less that I left the house.”

We’re standing close enough that our arms brush against each other’s once in a while as we near the shed. Each touch threatens to light me on fire. I’ve dated here and there after Ryan was born, but none of those guys ignited me the way Reid did on our only night together. 

The way he is right now. 

“I’m glad you like my parents,” I say. “Pretty much everyone does.”

“Your brother seems nice too, but he doesn’t approve of me.” Reid turns to face me after we reach the shed. 

“He just doesn’t know you,” I say. “He’ll come around.” I hope that’s true. Den has his troubles, but they’re troubles I caused him to have. “When Ryan was nearly ready to make his grand entrance into the world, there was a complication. There was bleeding. I passed out.” I gather my hair onto my right shoulder and study my shoes for a moment. “I almost died. Almost lost Ryan too. Den found me.” I look up at Reid. “It was traumatic for my brother. That led him to develop unhealthy coping strategies.”

“Like drinking?”

“Bingo.” I draw in a breath. “He’s doing better now though, and as far as you go, he’s just looking out for Ryan and me.”

“I’m glad you and Ryan were okay, and I understand why your brother is protective. I’d be the same.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

“No. It’s just me. My parents passed when I was twelve. I went to live with Uncle Karl after that.”

“There’s so much I don’t know about you,” I start, “but . . .”

“You feel as if you do know me,” Reid finishes. 

“Yeah. How is that possible?”

He shrugs. “Not sure, but I feel the same way.” He closes his hand around my wrist like he’d done earlier today. I like his touch even more after spending time with him this evening. “As soon as I saw you this morning, I was transported back to our night together. I wanted more back then, but we had our different paths to travel.”

My entire body buzzes with desire as I stand, linked with him, in the fading light of the day. “And now?”

He uses his other hand, his scarred one, to hook my hair behind my ear. His hand slides down to hook on my neck, his rough thumb caressing my cheek. 

“Now,” he whispers, taking a step closer, “I still want more.”

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About the Author

Christine DePetrillo can often be found hugging trees, conversing with dragonflies, and walking barefoot through sun-warmed soil. She finds joy in listening to the wind, bathing in moonlight, and breathing in the fragrances of things that bloom. If she had her way, the sky would be the only roof over her head.

Her love of nature seeps into every story she tells. As does her obsession with bearded mountain men who build, often smell like sawdust, and know how to cherish the women they love. Today she writes tales meant to make you laugh, maybe make you sweat, and definitely make you believe in the power of love.

She lives in Vermont with her husband and cat who defend her fiercely from all evils.

Visit her and sign up for her newsletter at www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com anytime.

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Spotlight: The Night Fisher Elegies by Dean Mayes

Collecting together pieces from over 10 years of writing, "The Night Fisher Elegies" showcases Dean Mayes' literary style across short fiction, ghazal poetry, short form essays and personal reflections. "The Night Fisher Elegies" takes the reader on a journey through love, faith, death, grief, family and dreams, weaving together powerful explorations of humanism, moments of reflection that are tinged with melancholy, and short verses that inhabit the sometimes brutal landscape of self examination. Dean wanders through a palace of memories contained within nostalgic love, experimenting with style, tone and character. He poses questions for the reader to ponder and wrestle with and offers pieces that are designed to evoke and provoke, while others are simply present as meditations to inspire and affirm.

This exciting new publication will be available in digital format for readers on September 1st , 2022.

About the Author

Dean Mayes is an Intensive Care Nurse who has specialised in Neonatal & Paediatric Medicine/Surgery, Complex Head & Neck Surgery & Neurosurgery. As a writer, Dean is fascinated by philosophy and the paranormal, so his stories weave an element of magical realism with deep humanism. His first novel “The Hambledown Dream” was published in 2010 by Central Avenue Publishing and his subsequent novels “Gifts of the Peramangk”, “The Recipient” & “The Artisan Heart” continue his relationship with Central Avenue Publishing. “The Short & The Long — Stories, Verse & Reflections” is published by Hambledown Road Imprints. He grew up near Melbourne, Australia, and now lives in Adelaide with his wife, Emily, his children, Xavier & Lucy, and his writing partner – a 10 year old spaniel named, Sam. Dean loves outdoor cooking, anything to do with Star Wars and (insanely) long-form podcasts.