BAKE BELIEVE by Author Cori Cooper *REVIEW* *GIVEAWAY*

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart is pleased to welcome author Cori Cooper to the blog. Today, we’re featuring her new book, Bake Believe from Immortal Works Publishing. You can find all the stop for this Review Tour at Goddess Fish Promotions. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter drawing. The entry form is at the bottom of this post.

GENRE: Teen/YA

 

About the Book

 

Cat Anderson doesn't want much out of life. Give her a circle of friends to giggle with, a few boys to flirt with, a cute outfit, and she is good to go! She especially could care less about food.

But food, it turns out, is a very big deal.

In Cat's family there is a secret too fantastic to be real. Something happens when Cat bakes.

Something amazing.

Something impossible.

Can it be true? Or is it Bake Believe?

Get the book on Amazon and from Immortal Works

 

Enjoy an Excerpt

 

“Hey, Pen.” I step into the room and shut the door softly behind me.

“Hey.” She doesn’t turn away from the mirror. Her face is all scrunched up in concentration.

“You look good, you don’t even wobble when you hold that pose anymore.”

Penny grunts instead of responding with words. I know this is not the best time to bother her, but I also know she will feel much better if she eats one of these cookies.

“I made something for you.”

I hold up the plate of cookies with a huge grin, but she just sniffs. “Cookies? I can’t eat those before an audition. I will barf all over the floor.”

My smile drops. What will I do if she won’t try one? I chew my bottom lip, “Um, these are special cookies.” I wiggle the plate around while I use my best mystical, magical voice, like Robyn did.

Penny raises her eyebrows. “Do you think I’m four?”

I slump forward in defeat, “Come on Penny, just eat one. I’ll give you a dollar.”

“What?” She steps back, away from me, “You want to pay me? Why? What did you do to them?”

“Nothing,” I say, but the word comes out too stretched and kind of uncertain.

Penny crosses her arms and stares.

“Okay, fine, here’s the thing.” I jump off the bed, leaving the cookies behind, and proceed to tell Penny the entire story about our family legacy. She doesn’t say anything, just taps her toes like I am keeping her from her warmup.

Which, I am, actually.

“This isn’t a joke, Pen. It’s for reals.”

After a long pause Penny unfolds her arms to move them to her hips. “Really? That’s the truth? It sounds like make believe.”

“That’s what I thought too,” I place my hand flat on my heart, “But, it’s the total, honest truth.”

 

My Review

4 Delicious Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this unusual take on a cute pre-teen/early teen story. Being a grandmother of three teenage girls, I can thoroughly relate to all of Cat’s challenges as a teen trying to find her place among her friends and the world in general. Add to that some mysterious “powers” and it’s no wonder it can become a bit of challenge from time-to-time.

The author has a wonderful age-appropriate voice for her characters. And, of course, a grandmother who bakes ALWAYS appreciates more recipes.

The book also received a resounding ‘that’s lit’ from my 14-year-old granddaughter, Anya, so that about says it all! I highly recommend this story to all those who enjoy a good YA book.

 

Meet the Author

 

Since I was six years old I wanted to be a published Author. I still have all my early manuscripts, but don't ask to see them - my spelling was atrocious!

I'm a mama of four witty, movie quoting, awesome sauce kids - three teens and one preteen. Yes, they end up in my novels! Don't worry, names are changed to protect the innocent and everything is always GREATLY exaggerated! That's my super power.

I'm also wife to the cutest guy in the whole world. It's true! I'm not bias at all, really. We met in Middle School and got married after he served a mission for our Church. It's been a wild ride, but I wouldn't miss it for a plate full of Cinnamon Rolls.

Or anything else, actually!

I hope you have as much fun reading my stuff as I have writing it. The creative process is so fantastic, I just love every part of it!

 Cori's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

 

Enter the Giveaway

Cori Cooper will be awarding a Bake Believe Apron (US Only) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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It’s been a pleasure hosting Cori and her new release, Bake Believe. Please come back again tomorrow for another author, book, and giveaway thanks to Goddess Fish.

Nancy

EAT YOUR HEART OUT by Author Shirley Goldberg *REVIEW* *GIVEAWAY*

Notes from a Romantic’s Heart is pleased to welcome Shirley Goldberg back to the blog. Today’s we’ll be reviewing her new book, Eat Your Heart Out, from The Wild Rose Press. You can find all the stops at Goddess Fish Promotions. Don't forget to enter the giveaway. The entry form is at the bottom of this post.

GENRE:   ROMANTIC WOMEN'S FICTION

About the Book

When a tyrant in stilettos replaces her beloved boss, and her ex snags her coveted job, teacher Dana Narvana discovers there are worse things than getting dumped on Facebook. Time for the BFF advice squad, starting with Dana's staunchest ally, Alex—hunky colleague, quipster, and cooking pal extraordinaire. But when the after-hours smooching goes nowhere, she wonders why this grown man won't make up his mind.

Alex Bethany's new lifestyle gives him the confidence to try online dating. What he craves is a family of his own until a life-altering surprise rocks his world. He knows he's sending Dana mixed messages. Alex panics when he thinks he's blown his chance with his special person. From appetizers to the main course will these two cooking buddies make it to dessert?
Funny and bittersweet, Dana and Alex's story will have you rooting for them.

Amazon ~ Apple Books ~ B&N (Nook) ~ Nook

The book will be on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Alex trotted inside to pay. Dana stood in the aisle ahead of him, drinking coffee from a Smiley’s container, her back to him.

What the hell, he’d give it a whirl. “Hey Dana, nice to see you.”

She turned. Her expectant look morphed into confusion.

Why hadn’t he changed after his trip to the mall? He pulled the T-shirt tighter by stuffing it into the back waistband of his shorts and leaned an elbow on the counter. The casual look. “I thought I saw you fondling the peaches. With Sunny and Noelle. One minute you’re there, next you’re gone.”

Irritation crossed her face. She checked her watch.

“You don’t have a clue about who I am, do you?” She’ll recognize me. I’ll make her see me. The stubborn gene from his grandmother.

“Let me give you a hint.” He cleared his throat and bounced on his heels as if limbering up for a sprint. “Cha-cha-cha changes,” he sang like a demented fool. Then repeated the refrain.

Heat rose in her face and he watched, fascinated as a drop of sweat slid down her neck into the V of her blouse. He stopped as suddenly as he’d begun. What the hell are you doing?

“Look, I’ve got to run.”

She was gone before he could explain, apologize…or cover his face with a paper bag.

 

My Review

4 Hilarious Stars

Shirley Goldberg has a knack for writing quirky but relatable heroines, and this book is no exception. I could easily relate to the heroine and became invested in her story immediately.

As someone who also has a love-hate relationship with food, I could definitely commiserate with Dana. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a feisty heroine and a good laugh. 

 

Meet the Author

Shirley Goldberg is a writer, novelist, and former ESL and French teacher who’s lived in Paris, Crete, and Casablanca. She writes about men and women of a certain age starting over. Her website http://midagedating.com offers a humorous look at living single. Her books FINISH THIS and  dating in mid life, and her friends like to guess which stories are true. Eat Your Heart Out is the second book in the series Starting Over. Middle Ageish, the first, is available now. Her characters believe you should never leave home without your sense of humor and Shirley agrees.

Shirley's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads

 

Enter the Giveaway

Shirley Goldberg will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thank you for stopping by today. Please come back Thursday and Friday of this week for more author, books, and giveaways.

Nancy

RUINATION OF A ROGUE by Author Clair Brett

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart is pleased to welcome Author Clair Brett to the blog today. Her new release, Ruination of a Rouge, Book 2 The English Rose Series is available in both eBook and Print.

 

About the Book

 

Her God mother’s annual Twelfth Night house party and ball is Miss Maria Lightowler’s best chance of finding a husband who will secure her future. If she can transform herself from wild country girl to elegant lady, perhaps she can pull it off. Not to mention a magic pendant professed to find your soulmate she may have a chance. With no dowry, the man she marries must have enough of a fortune, so Maria need not worried about those things she went without as a child. From the moment the guests begin to arrive, one unworthy man seems determined to stand in her way. What he obviously lacks in funds, he makes up for in charisma, but Maria repeatedly strikes him from her list.

Lord LaZander Rothchild, Viscount Milford is hiding. His hope is it will only be until the potential scandal in London dies down. Since his father went ill, Zander has been the victim of too many marriage traps to count. Now at his aunt’s annual match making extravaganza, he hopes to avoid most of the guests until he can sneak back into the city. His aunt, unfortunately, has other ideas. Luckily, because of his propensity to be embroiled in so many mishaps, the marriage-minded mamas at the house party have blacklisted him concerning their daughters. However, one beautiful and tempting young woman, unaware of him on any level, seems determined to cast him aside as well. While she treats him not as the heir to a Marquess or a man of any real consequence Zander grows determined to prove he is a worthy option and may just set and get trapped in his own marriage scheme.

Available at Amazon ~ Apple iBooks ~ B&N (Nook) ~ Kobo

 

Enjoy an Excerpt

 

"Oh hell." Zander heard the expletive the same time light streamed in from the hallway. He got his candle out before the door closed. He sat frozen. Because the coats hung on hooks blocking his view, breathing was his only indication someone had entered. Careful not to make a noise, he leaned forward around the coats and there at eye level was a heart shaped, plump bottom. Miss Lightowler. That he could recognize the girl from that body part explained all he needed as to what his preoccupation was becoming. It didn't help that she smelled of roses and something spicy. He went hard and sent a swear into the confined space without voice.

She was bent forward, no doubt peering out of the keyhole. He didn't want to startle her, but how did one do that? The point of hiding in a closet was that no one would assume a grown man would hide in a closet. Zander took the chance that like everything else Maria would not react as the typical deb.

"Hiding from someone?"

She jumped and almost hit her head on the shelf that sat above the hooks, but with no other sign of fear turned, yanked several coats off their hooks to see her adversary. "Oh, Lord Milford, you scared me," she hissed.

"At your service." He made a mock bow still seated in his chair. "Again, are you hiding from someone?"

"Are you?" she countered.

"Why else would I be in a closet?"

Meet the Author

 

Author of 7 Historical romances, including the Improper Wives for Proper Lords series, Clair Brett lives in NH with her ever-emptying nest which includes her children when they visit, two cats, one willful boxer/beagle, a mean Pitbull mix, that will lick you to death and run into her kennel when you speak loudly, and one grand dog who one day just moved in. And an ever-harassed husband who takes it all in stride. A lover of all things Regency, Clair, was hooked when she first read Jane Austen. She is a firm believer that a reader finds a piece of who they are or learns something about the world with every book they read. She wants her readers to be empowered and to have a refreshed belief in the goodness of people and the power of love after reading her work.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

Bookbub ~ Instagram ~ Sign Up for Clair's Newsletter

It's been my pleasure hosting Clair today on the blog. I'll be taking a short break for the rest of the week but will be back next week with more authors, books, and giveaways!

Nancy

RETURN OF THE RUNAWAY BRIDE (Last Chance Beach Romance) by Author Nancy Fraser **Book Birthday Celebration**

I've been waiting all year for this -- Last Chance Beach Romance for 2021!

Last year, we did a multi-author box set that was a wonderful experience. This year, and for the next two at least, we'll be going back to the beach with a planned twenty (20) full-length, contemporary romance novels. Sub-genres will include later-in-life stories, romantic suspense, reunion romances, and heat ranges will be sweet to steamy. Something for every reader.

The first book in the series, Deceptively Yours, by NYT & USA Today bestselling author Joan Reeves was released on May 23rd and was a great start to the new series of books.

My book, Return of the Runaway Bride, is the second book in the series, and I'm so happy to share it with you today.

About the Book

An Exclusive Excerpt

At six-thirty that evening, Emily stopped her car along the side of the road, the bridge to Last Chance Beach within sight. Perhaps she should have called, warned her parents she was on the way.

Nerves took a grip on her stomach; her pulse raced.

What if her parents weren’t home? After all, it was summer break. Maybe they were traveling. Emily shook her head. It wasn’t possible. With Gram’s birthday on the third, and her mother’s position on the Cliff House holiday planning committee, there would be no chance they’d be anywhere but home for the July 4th holiday week and weekend.

In her mind’s eye, Emily could picture the annual fireworks extravaganza put on by Cliff House, the event drawing spectators from far and wide, not just island residents and tourists.

It had been beneath a burst of bright pyrotechnics where Chase had proposed six years ago. The year before that, they’d watched the fireworks from the privacy of Digger’s Cove and made love for the first time.

Stop!

Tears stung her eyes. Dashing a few errant drops from her cheeks with the brush of her hand, she checked for traffic and pulled back onto the two-lane road leading to the bridge. It was well past time to make amends with her parents, her closest friends, and—assuming her nerve didn’t totally desert her—the rest of Last Chance Beach.

She turned right off the bridge and took the long way around the island, passing a string of artisan shops that weren’t there when she’d left. She passed Playing Hooky Café, the marina, The Sands Resort, and the turnoff for Secret Cove.

Her parents’ waterfront home beckoned, the gravel driveway crunching beneath her tires as she closed in on her destination. Her mother’s Volvo was in the carport, a new pickup sat off to the side. Nothing much had changed, other than a fresh coat of paint on her parents’ century-old farmhouse and new roof shingles.

Her grandmother’s small cottage was situated to the left of the main house, the lights from the kitchen casting a shadow on the pathway that ran between the two.

Emily pulled her Beemer into the garage, killed the engine, and opened the car door. Drawing a breath, she slid from behind the wheel, grabbed her tote bag, and walked to the back door.

From the mudroom, she could see her mother standing at the sink, her attention on an array of fresh herbs, their clay pots lining the window sill. The moment Emily opened the inside door, her mother’s movements stilled. She hadn’t turned around, yet Emily had no doubt her mother realized who was there. The woman had a sixth sense, especially when it came to those she loved.

“It’s about time,” Colleen Bennett said softly.

“Hi, mom.”

Colleen turned slowly and met Emily’s gaze head-on. Her light gray eyes filled quickly with tears. “We’ve missed you.”

Emily rushed forward, pulling her mother into a tight embrace. “Not nearly as much as I’ve missed all of you.”

“Your father’s over at Gram’s fixing a leaky pipe. He shouldn’t be too much longer.”

Emily’s lower lip quivered. “I’m sorry, mom. Really sorry. For everything.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Emily. You followed your dreams. There’s no need to apologize for that.” Her mother drew Emily to her side and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “There’s only one person who deserves an apology, when you’re ready. I know I’ve never said it before, but I was actually glad you had second thoughts. You were both too young to get married. While we would have never tried to stop the two of you, a bit more life experience never hurt anyone.”

“I need to apologize to Mrs. Michaels as—”

The gentle shake of her mother’s head stopped Emily mid-sentence.

“Myrna’s cancer came back last year. She passed away in April.”

The tears that had only threatened before rolled unheeded down Emily’s cheeks. “I didn’t know,” she said, her voice catching. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“When we hadn’t received a call from you in a while, we figured you were out of the country on an assignment. It wasn’t something I wanted to put in an email or text.”

“What about—?” Emily’s words stalled on the emotion clogging her throat, her thoughts. “Chase must have been devastated. It was just the two of them for so long.”

“Of course, he was. He was able to spend the last two months with her and I think that brought them both some peace.”

“The Coast Guard gave him a compassionate leave?”

“Actually—”

Whatever her mother was about to say halted when the outside door opened. Her father’s booming voice could be heard all the way from the mud room. “I got the worst of it repaired, for the time being. I’d appreciate it if you could give me a hand with the heavier work.”

“Sure thing, Bill. I’ve got a morning dive class, but—” Chase’s words stopped the moment the two men stepped into the kitchen.

Emily lifted her head, her gaze meshing with the last person she’d expected to see. Ever again. “Chase...I...”

“Em,” he said, his hazel eyes widening, his deep voice wrapping around the nickname he’d given years earlier. “I didn’t realize you were coming home.”

Her father snorted a laugh. “Hell, son, neither did we.”

Chase made a military-precision about face and reached for the doorknob. “Bill, I’ll meet you at Miss Winnie’s cottage at two, if that works for you.”

“Sounds great, Chase. I’ll be there.”

The moment the door closed behind his hasty retreat Emily released a long breath that ended in another round of tears. “I need to... uh... get my suitcase.”

Her father closed the short distance between them and pulled her into his arms. “You and your mom go take a seat in the living room. I’ll put water on for tea and then bring in your luggage.”

The Trailer

Don’t forget to try your hand at the Jigsaw Puzzle of the cover!

~ ~ ~

Thank you so much for sharing my Book Birthday with me! Hopefully, I’ll see you again when Author Clair Brett stops by for a visit with her latest release!

Nancy

THE WALL by Author David Pereda **Book Blast** **GIVEAWAY**

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart is pleased to welcome Author David Pereda to the blog. David’s new book, The Wall, is available now. To find all the stops on this tour, go to Goddess Fish Promotions. Remember to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. The entry form is at the bottom of this post.

GENRE: Mainstream Fiction, Thriller

About the Book

THOMAS BERTRAM is an American living in San Salvador with his fiancée CECILIA. They own a popular neighborhood restaurant and plan to wed soon. Thomas's dream is to obtain a resident visa for Cecilia and return to the United States.

DOMINGO JIMENEZ and his wife BLANCA own a small repair shop across the street. Domingo's dream is to move to America as well so that his seven-year-old daughter NANCY can grow up speaking English and having a good education and a better life than he and Blanca had.

When armed gang members invade their neighborhood to demand "protection" money and threaten them with death if they don't pay, Thomas and Domingo's dreams for the future take on a new perspective. They decide to flee the country with their families through Guatemala and Mexico to seek asylum in the United States.

But their journey is more challenging than expected, and they face a myriad of difficulties and must overcome multiple obstacles that put not only their dreams but also their lives at risk.

 

Enjoy an Excerpt

 

Thomas was in a bad mood and amid closing his restaurant on what had been a busy Saturday night when Juan and José showed up accompanied by two muscular young men in black jackets.

It was nearly three o’clock in the morning. Cecilia had left hours ago, accompanied by Carlos, the busboy, and Thomas was tired. He had to persuade three male customers celebrating a birthday to take their party elsewhere because he needed to catch some sleep so he could take his wife to church the following day. It hadn’t been easy; the friends had been enjoying the evening and were at that point in their drunkenness when they laughed at the silliest of jokes. When they ordered a third bottle of rum, Thomas presented them with their bill and politely marched them out of the restaurant and onto the street. He could hear them outside now telling lies to each other about all the women they had known and singing romantic songs off-key.

And now what?

“Buenas noches, amigo,” Juan said. “We stopped by for a drink.”

“You guys never sleep?”

Thomas’s comment prompted loud laughter from Juan and José, but not from the other two gorillas, who remained fish-eyed and impassive.

“I want you to meet Moro and Campi.” Juan pointed to the two black-jacketed men without looking at them. “They just joined the organization, and I wanted to introduce them to you.”

“Organization?”

“Yes, we’re growing. Business is good.”

“I bet.”

Juan gazed at the men and nodded toward Thomas. “Say hello.”

The men grunted something unintelligible, which could have been a greeting or a curse. Thomas wasn’t sure.

“Hola,” Thomas said to the men, who stared at him with the same effusiveness of a blank wall. He turned to Juan, who was smiling at him. “What happened to the other Black Jacket? The one who came with you the first time?”

“King Kong? We used to call him that because he was so big and had a face like a gorilla.” Juan stuck his tongue out and ran his hand from one side of his neck to the other, causing everyone at the table to break out in loud laughter as if he had told a great joke. “He was processed by the Mara 18. He was seeing a woman on their turf. The 18s caught him one night and beat him to a pulp with steel rods—you know cabillas used in construction? They broke every bone in his body. Even his mother couldn’t make a positive identification to the police.”

“That’s terrible.”

“It was his fault.” Juan shrugged. “We told him. There are plenty of pretty women in our territory. You got one. That guy with the big muscles in the shop across the street got another one. Isn’t that right, José?”

José gave a big grin. “Si, Jefe.”

Thomas wasn’t happy with the way the conversation was going. The mention of Ceci made his stomach muscles tighten. He felt his face getting hot and his heart beating faster. He tried hard to keep his composure.

“Well, aren’t you going to invite us to have something to drink, amigo?” Juan asked.

“I was about to go home.”

“Ah, amigo. Stay a while. Share a moment with your friends and business associates.”

Friends and business associates, my ass. Gangsters and murderers.

Thomas swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth and tried to keep his voice steady. This was not the time to start a confrontation. He had to wait for the right moment.

 

Meet the Author

 

David Pereda is the award-winning author of eleven thrillers and mainstream novels. His books have won the Lighthouse Book Awards twice, the Royal Palm Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, and the Readers Favorite Awards twice. He has traveled to more than thirty countries around the world and speaks four languages.

Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching, Pereda had a successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, and Qatar, among others.

A member of MENSA, Pereda earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in California. He earned BA degrees in English literature and mathematics at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He loves sports and has won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events.

Pereda lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he teaches mathematics and English at the Asheville-Buncombe Community College.

David's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon Author Page

 

Enter the Giveaway

David Pereda will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thank you for stopping by today, and all this past week. We’ll be back again next week with more authors, books, and giveaways. Don’t forget to scroll back through the past posts for chances to enter ongoing giveaways.

Nancy

IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY ** DICKENS HOLIDAY ROMANCE**

Yes, it's here again ... Christmas in July! And, to celebrate, we've put our 2020 ten-author holiday romance anthology, Christmas Comes to Dickens on sale for just 99¢!

Genre: Sweet Contemporary Holiday Romance Anthology

About the Book

Welcome to Dickens—a quaint New England town bustling with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming Christmas holiday. We have the annual tree lighting in the town square, a snowman building competition, ice skating on Grosvenor’s Pond, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. You’re welcome to cut down your own Christmas tree at Gridley Meadows, or join in the caroling on the Common.

Dickens offers an abundance of heartfelt wishes, a few much needed miracles, and—quite possibly—a touch of magic! Families reunite, new friends are made, and old flames take a second chance at happiness. All while celebrating this most joyful time of the year.

These ten brand new novellas will fill your holiday stocking with ten brand new novellas ranging from sweet to sassy and everything in between.

Including:

Millie’s Awesome Holiday Miracle by Top 100 Author Nancy Fraser ~ She’s an overworked single mom struggling to make ends meet. He’s the handsome CEO who’s come to Dickens to save—or close—the toy factory. Can one precocious little girl bring a couple of much-needed miracles to the people she cares about most?


Miracle At Holly Hill Inn by Top 100 Author Maddie James ~ Ariana is looking for the perfect Christmas village. Instead, she finds the town Scrooge. Will two days snowbound together at Holly Hill Inn bring them closer together, or send them each on their merry way?

Holiday Hearts by Top 100 Author Caroline Clemmons ~ Laura Jordan’s beauty and sense of humor are more apparent than her sharp mind, soft heart, and strict code of right and wrong. Ward Callahan has avoided romantic complications to throw himself into building his ad agency. Once he meets Laura, he falls hard but must convince her that dating her boss is not inappropriate. Can he convince her he doesn’t want her heart only for the holidays, but forever?

The Tinsel Tango by Best Selling Author Bonnie Edwards ~ Brenna needs some R&R over Christmas in Dickens. Tango lessons from mysterious Jett…Smith? may bring her everything her heart desires, but his secrets may kill the love they find.

Wisdom of the Heart by USA Today Best Selling Author Liz Flaherty ~ They were best friends who fell in love, but that was high school. Life and families and other loves had happened since that dear and distant time. They're friends again, comfortable with each other and having so much fun at Christmas time in Dickens. They're not still in love, but...wait...could it be happening again?

Operation Snowball by Best Selling Author Kathryn Hills ~ Returning to small town life is hard for Army veteran John Gridley. The last thing he expects to find is love with the beautiful widow, Heather Murphy. Can the perfect Christmas tree and a missing cat named Snowball bring them together despite meddling townsfolk?

Angel Kisses and Holiday Wishes by Best Selling Author Peggy Jaeger ~ When Sage left town 18 years ago, she left Keith's heart in tatters. Now she's back, and he's wondering if they can put the past behind them and rekindle the love they lost.

Holly’s Wish by Top 100 Author Kathleen Lawless ~ What if the girl who got away is actually standing right in front of you? Years earlier, Nico and Holly shared one magical Christmas Eve. She never stopped wishing he’d find where she left her number. When he does, is it too late?

Holiday Heart Wishes by Best Selling Author Lucinda Race ~ On her way into Dickens to visit family, Vera picks up Tony, a stranded motorist. Rather than part ways when they arrive, they discover their loved ones are intent on getting married. Can they slow down the older couple's rush to the altar? Or, will holiday heart wishes come true for everyone?

Santa’s Wish by Best Selling Author Jan Scarbrough ~ Will Christmas magic help them overcome Roz’s career ambitions and Cooper’s grief, and bring them together for a second chance at love?

Get the Anthology from Your Favorite eBook Store

And, while you're there, don't forget our FREE copy of It's a Dickens of a Cookie!

Meet the Ladies of Dickens

Nancy Fraser—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people. Visit Nancy's Website.

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Maddie James writes to silence the people in her head—if only they wouldn’t all talk at once!

From flirty contemporary romance to darker erotic titles—often mixed with a dash of suspense or a hint of paranormal—James pens stories that frequently blend a variety of romantic sub-genres. The happily-ever-after, of course, is non-negotiable.

Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense.” Maddie is the award-winning author of over fifty titles of fiction—from short stories to novels—and a Top 100 Amazon Bestselling Author. Visit Maddie's Website.

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Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a tiny office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued pets: a dog and two indoor cats.

The over sixty titles she has created in her pink cave have made her a bestselling author and won several awards. She writes sweet to sensual romances about the West, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading her friends’ books, lunching with friends, browsing antique malls, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap. Visit Caroline's Website.

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Author Bonnie Edwards lives with her husband and pets on the rainy coast of British Columbia. She has written novels, novellas, and short stories for Kensington Books, Harlequin Books, Carina Press, and Robinson (UK) although now she publishes her work herself. Her earthy, irreverent love stories sometimes have a paranormal twist, like curses and ghosts, other times not. But her books always entertain and guarantee a happy ending.

With four ongoing romance series Tales of Perdition, The Brantons, The Christmas Collection and contemporary family novels in her newest series, Return to Welcome, she rarely spends a day without writing. Learn about more exciting releases by subscribing to her newsletter. Visit Bonnie's Website.

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Liz Flaherty—Stories from the Heart—is a USA Today bestselling contemporary author. Retired from the post office, she spends non-writing time sewing, quilting, and doing whatever else she wants to.

She and her husband Duane live in the old farmhouse in North Central Indiana they moved to in 1977. They’ve talked about moving, but really…40-some years’ worth of stuff? It’s not happening. It would require removing old baseball trophies from the attic and dusting the pictures of the Magnificent Seven, their grandchildren. (The dusting’s not happening, either—just saying…). Visit Liz's Website.

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The rich history and many mysteries of New England are the perfect backdrop for many of Kathryn Hills’ books. Winding roads lined by old stone walls, forgotten cemeteries, grand homes with shadowy pasts...all sparks for her imagination. Whether it’s a quaint seaside town or the vibrant city of Boston, it’s easy for this “hauntingly romantic” author to envision the past mingling with the present.

Taking it further—to have her characters experience the past and present, opposite to “when” they belong—is the fun part. No surprise, some of Kathryn’s favorite stories involve time travel. And ghosts! Sprinkle in some magic, and you’re off on a great adventure.

When not writing, this best selling author is researching, taking photographs, gardening, or cooking up something special in her chaotic kitchen. Kathryn shares her colonial home in the north woods with those she loves most – her wonderful husband and daughter, and three crazy dogs. Visit Kathryn's Website.

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Peggy Jaeger writes contemporary romances and rom coms about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.

Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all aspects of life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness, and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

As a lifelong diarist, she caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she blogs daily about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!" Visit Peggy's Website.

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Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her alpha male heroes.

Her hero, Steele, in UNDERCOVER, is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was wooed by a man called Steel— while he’s not a cowboy, he is an Alpha male and her forever hero. Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After.

Not that she can ever stick to just one genre. So many stories to tell—never enough time.

With over 30 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and stories for young adults. Visit Kathleen's Website.

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Award-winning author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of romantic fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading romance novels and getting lost in the hope they represent. While her friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, her dreams were to become a writer—a romance novelist.

As life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to turn to her true passion. After developing the storyline for The Loudon Series, it was time to start living her dream. Her fingers practically fly over computer keys as she weaves stories about strong women and the men who love them.

Lucinda lives with her husband and their two little dogs, a miniature long hair dachshund and a shitzu mix rescue, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she's not at her day job, she’s immersed in her fictional worlds. And if she’s not writing romance novels, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on. It’s too bad her husband doesn’t cook, but a very good thing he loves takeout. Visit Lucinda's Website.

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Jan Scarbrough writes heartwarming contemporary romances about home and family, single moms and children, and if the plot allows, about another passion—horses. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, Southern charm to her books and the excitement of a Bluegrass horse race or a competitive horse show. Her newest contemporary western romance series is the Ghost Mountain Ranch. Jan leaves her contemporary voice behind with two paranormal gothic romances, Timeless and Tangled Memories. Her historical romance, My Lord Raven, is a medieval story of honor and betrayal. A member of Novelist, Inc., Jan self-publishes her books with her husband’s help. Vist Jan's Website.

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Dickens is Coming Back for 2021

It's true! Dickens is returning with six individual full-length heart-warming holiday novels.

Be sure to watch for:

October 18, 2021: Christmas Carole by Author Nancy Fraser

October 26, 2021: The Last Christmas at Holly Hill Inn by Author Maddie James

November 2, 201: Gavels and Garlands by Author Kathryn Hills

November 9, 2021: Fixing Christmas by Author Peggy Jaeger

November 16, 2021: Holly Berries and Hockey Pucks by Author Lucinda Race

November 23, 2021: The Rumball Rumba by Author Bonnie Edwards

In the meantime, if you'd like a bit more of the Dickens spirit, remember to grab these Dickens Prequels available now:

Making Christmas by Author Nancy Fraser

Santa Baby by Author Peggy Jaeger

And, up for pre-order:

Home For Christmas by Author Maddie James

All three prequels are set in the 1980s, so get ready for a trip down memory lane!