UPDATES

When it rains, it pours. I was glad when July finally waved bye but August said hold my beer. Of course. How many things can go wrong on a house in one month? Well, they say they come in threes and that holds true for us. We've replaced a roof, a refrigerator and our heating and A/C. Yeah.

BUT

I am excited. Book 3 of Elena Shores is at the editor. EEEEK! Promos are coming. I can't wait for you to see the cover. It's AWESOME. And...I have some amazing swag coming too.

On top of that, I am nearly done on rough re-writes for book 4. So, hopefully by spring, I will have 4 books in the Elena Shores series.

BOOK ME ROMANCE was a huge success. I absolutely love the event and I've already signed up for next year.

NEW RELEASES

9/1: Royal Desire by Brynne Asher

9/3: Forever a Thief by Charissa Gracyk

9/8: Peaks and Promises by Claire Kingsley

9/10: The London King by Koko Heart - Author

9/10: State of Ruin by Elodie Hart

9/23: The Moments We Chose Love by LJ Evans

9/24: What Remains by Brittney Sahin

9/25: Unplanned Target by Janice Whiteaker w/a Author Jemma Westbrook

9/29: King of Temptation by Stella Moore

SPOTLIGHT

Late Harvest by Cathryn Lyons

Grab it

The role of a lifetime doesn’t always take place on the silver screen

Arabella “Remy” Remington

I’m a surgeon. I like things tidy—rules, routines, predictability, perfection. And I guard my heart as fiercely as the women and children I’m dedicated to helping.

Until he enters the picture.

Sebastian Wheatley is a walking red flag. A charming, sexy as sin, Hollywood-mega-star red flag. He’s smooth and unpredictable—something decidedly unsafe in the world I’ve intentionally created for myself. But one look at him has my blood heating, and I’m not sure if it’s from annoyance…or desire.

The charming devil slides into my life, looking to make a deal. A temporary marriage of convenience to help him land the role of a lifetime. In exchange, I get the funds necessary to secure the stability of a cause deeply important to me.

My common sense says “run.” But despite the risk to my carefully tidy life and the fortress it provides for my painful secrets and battered heart, something about him has me accepting the proposal. And hoping I haven’t just derailed everything I’ve ever worked for.

Late Harvest brings heart, heat, and humor in book one of the Red Wine Supper Club, a later-in-life romance series.

WHAT AM I READING

The London King by KoKo Heart

It is FABULOUS

Pre-Order it

Max King

I’m a King by name and a King by nature. As one of the heirs to The London Royals empire, I knew I’d end up as a mafia boss. And I was ready for it. The only problem came in the form of my best friend's sister, the mafia princess, and my future bride. Promised to me by the generation before us, we were supposed to rule London together. With the heirs of the other houses by our sides, we’d have been unstoppable. But she broke that promise. She betrayed everything we stood for. She went rogue. But now she’s back and needs a King to protect her. My name may be her saviour, but will she be my undoing?

Luna Lord

I was born to be a mafia princess, promised to him before I had a choice. He believes I chose the enemy over him. He’s wrong. I never betrayed him. Instead, I risked my safety to prove my loyalty, and now I need protection that only his name can give me. He’s blinded by pride, too stubborn to see he’s always been my future. So I’ll just have to convince him. I’ve never backed down from a challenge, especially one involving Max King. If I can prove my loyalty to him, I can unite the four heirs to The London Royals once again. But will my ‘betrayal’ be too much for him to handle?

 

 

                      UPDATE                          

Yep. This newsletter is late. And it will be very short. The truth is, July was both a fabulous surprise and a very painful reminder how precious life truly is. 

The audio book released July 1st and did very well after a minor hiccup. I have had nothing but massive praise for Olivia and Devin's narration. And both Lost Within Me and Awaken Me had great sales for the month. 

But on the 4th of July my world was turned upside down. I got a notification on my phone that my son-in-law was in a car accident. I called him, my daughter and my grandson and I didn't get an answer. As a mom, this is your worst nightmare. I froze. My hubby took my phone and tried to call. Still nothing. We got the coordinates from the notification and looked them up and called the Maine highway patrol and they said they'd call us back when they had information. It felt like forever for that call to come. I wasn't sure I wanted it to either. I've never prayed so hard. Finally, our daughter called. All she said was they were all okay and everyone was helping them and then she had to hang up. We had no idea if they were injured or not.

Then the highway patrol called. He told us that they had been in a one vehicle rollover crash and were very lucky. 

As more information came in, it became very apparent just how lucky they were. All three were transported to the hospital, all with injuries that thankfully they will recover from but it will take time.

My hubby has seen photos of the car. I haven't gotten the courage up to look yet. It's so easy to take our lives for granted. To get into that mindset that things will remain the same and we forget how quickly our lives can change. 

COMING UP

I will be a signing author aot BOOK ME ROMANCE

in Fort Smith Arkansas August 15th at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

UPDATE

So many things going on. Okay- so we had a little hiccup with the audio book but I am crossing my fingers that by the time you get this it will be sitting pretty in my Amazon account. I am so EXCITED for you to hear it. If you haven't seen the SPOTLIGHT I did talking about my narrators and team, let me just brag for a little bit.

My son Drew was the organizer, getting the LOST WITHIN ME audio book going. His company The Direct Line LLC are the driving force for the project. 

Olivia Applegate is the female narrator for the project and she is AWESOME! She is well known in the acting community for her role as Beth in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series on Passionflix.

Devin Bonnée is the male narrator for the project and he had the task of figuring out how to do several foreign accents and he did a FANTASTIC job. He is also an actor that hails out of Austin. He's had several roles including the role of Barker in the mini series Lawman Bass Reeves.

In other news, I will be doing an interview with my audio team for LOVE ON DEMAND. I'm going to be honest, I'm a bit nervous but it should be lots of fun. If you haven't heard of Love On Demand, be sure to check them out on all the social media platforms.

Heads up! I'll be a signing author again this year at BOOK ME ROMANCE

Aug 15, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM CDT

Fort Smith Convention Center,

55 S 7th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA

And Last but not LEAST, I am about to send BOOK 3 off to be edited so I'm hoping for a fall release. We shall see. 

JULY RELEASES

7/7: Never the Same by Brittney Sahin

7/7: Keeping Kara by Susan Stoker

7/14: Flint's Strike by Patricia D Eddy

7/14: Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis

7/16: Zone by Tia Louise

7/21: Someone to Claim by Michelle Major

7/22: A Simple Love by Melanie Moreland

7/24: Sparked by Claire Wilder

7/28: Security and Submission by Golden Angel

7/30: Unexpected Shot by Chelle Sloan

7/31: Ghost Among Lies by Elizabella Baker

WHAT AM I READING

SOMETHING WILD by Erin Fitzgerald

If you didn't read my review- I basically said this needs to be on the BESTSELLER LIST! 

So get out there and make it so!

Grab it

My life detonated with a single text from my brother, exposing a side of my life I didn’t know existed.

One photo, sent to the entire family—painting me as the villain, then daring me to beg for the details he’ll never give.

Perfect timing. I was already walking away from the family real estate machine—done drafting contracts that trap people, ready for something real, honorable and good.

The text rolled in as I was on my way to buy a ranch in Montana, my escape hatch. My Plan B.

After closing I discover the land is crawling with problems. There are environmental violations, hidden damage, and someone is furious I got it cheap. Nicola from the DNR is determined to shut my business down and the deeper I dig, the clearer it gets: This isn’t bad luck. It’s sabotage.

With Nicola’s grudging help, I start pulling at threads someone would kill to keep hidden. Is she trying to help me, or keeping me close in order to do me in?

And the truth my brother dropped into my life? It’s not staying buried and changes everything.

Everything I’ve built–even what I didn’t know was mine–is in the crosshairs.

I walked away to start over.

Now I’m fighting to protect everything I’ve come to love, knowing I might lose it all.

* This work is 100% human written/produced. *

 UPDATES

In less than a month I will have my first audiobook and I CAN'T WAIT for you to hear it.

Lost Within Me is getting an upgrade and, can I be honest? I would love for all of Elena shores to be available on audio.  We shall see.

The audiobook was a gift from my son Drew for my birthday. He is a filmmaker in Austin and he talked to a couple of his friends in the movie industry, and they agreed to help him give me a HUGE birthday surprise.

Who are these amazing people who will be bringing Lost Within Me to life you might ask?

Olivia Applegate- 

Best known for her portrayal of 'BETH' in the Passionflix series The Black Dagger Brotherhood

Check out Olivia's Work

And Devin Bonnee-

who has been in shows like Lawman Bass Reeves and The Chosen.

This truly has been a labor of love and I can't believe it's almost here. 

Check out Devin's work

NEW RELEASES

6/3: Just Playing for Keeps by Lauren Blakely

6/3: Fourth and Falling by Susan Renee

6/4: The PTA President by Lacey James

6/5: Shattered by the Currents by Nyssa Kathryn

6/9: Off the Record by Sara Goodman Confino

6/9: June's First Murder by Maryann Jordan

6/11: The Spare by Elodie Hart

6/11: Zeus by Marie James

6/12: Taste by EM Lindsey

6/12: Tempting Miles by Liss Montoya

6/12: MINE by Lyndsey Gallagher

6/16: Run and Hide by Cristin Harber

6/16: You've Got Hate Mail by Pippa Grant

6/18: Lost Before You by M Leigh Morhaime

6/18: Never Trust a Thief by Charissa Gracyk

6/19: The Time We Have Left by Cara Dee

6/22: Once and Again by Megyn Ward

6/23: Ghost From the Past by Elizabella Baker

6/24: Double Down Kiss by Angela Taylor

6/26: Wilde Flame by Kelly Elliott

6/26: Drifter by L Wilder

6/26: The Best Friend Experiment by Serena Akeroyd

6/26: Road to the Edge by Piper Davenport

6/26: Untamed by Janice Whiteaker

6/28: Voices Carry by Alison Rhymes

6/30: Daddy's Trust by Laylah Roberts

6/30: Broken Fortune by Samantha Christy

SPOTLIGHT

LOST BEFORE YOU by M Leigh Morhaime

out June 18th

Pre-order

I didn’t realize just how much of myself I’d lost until I met you. Ivy never expected to be starting over in her mid-thirties. Especially not fresh out of a bitter divorce that left her with nothing but a shabby one-bedroom apartment and a mountain of trauma she wasn’t ready to face. Still, she refused to let anything stand in her way of rebuilding her life. Until she meets her 20-something downstairs neighbor, who has her questioning how soon is too soon to believe in love again. Kota had given up on love a long time ago. He grew content with his single life as a drummer and back-up vocalist for Burned Bridges. Until his eyes met Ivy’s. With one look, he needed to know everything about her. The shadows in those deep blue pools had him wanting more. With Ivy as his muse, Kota might be ready to finally take a chance. Their connection—undeniable. Their chemistry—explosive. Yet, Ivy can’t stop holding back. She just can’t shake her past—or the feeling that it could all go wrong again. And she is not sure she can handle another heartbreak so soon. Will they find the courage to finally face their demons and see where their hearts can take them together?

WHAT AM I READING

Never The Same 

by Brittney Sahin

Out July 7th

Pre-order

A brooding hero collides with the one woman who upends his control in this hate-to-love military romance by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brittney Sahin.

Hollis Avery has always been untouchable. A woman who’s never needed saving—born into wealth, power, and a family history steeped in secrets.

Until she wakes up with no memory of who she is.

The only thing that feels familiar is Jason Reed, the Delta Force operator who insists they were never friends and nothing more than teammates. Guarded and closed off, Reed keeps his distance, even as Hollis can’t ignore the pull she feels toward him, or the way his gaze lingers like he’s already lost her once and refuses to survive it again.

While they work to uncover who took her memories and why, Hollis begins to change. Stripped of the armor that once defined her, she becomes open, trusting, and dangerously honest. And Reed finds himself falling for the woman behind the legend—the one he was never meant to touch but can’t stop wanting.

As pieces of Hollis’s past come to light, so do the truths Reed has kept buried—and the fear that what they’re building belongs only to the woman she is now.

Restoring her memories is the key to protecting the legacy she was born to defend. But with time running out and danger closing in, Hollis and Reed must choose what’s worth saving: her past…or the future neither of them was ever supposed to want.

 

UPDATE

I got to hang out with these people this past week. They are pretty neat even if the majority of the men didn't even look at the camera. I love my family and I don't get to hang out with them very often, so I will happily take what I can get. Like I said they are pretty neat and I love them. Not pictured is my momma who was getting a pedicure!😁 I love her too.

There is a first time for everything and one of mine happened at the Rockport Book Festival. I got to sit on a panel with other romance authors and talk about my books. Yes- I was nervous, but my favorite thing to talk about is writing, so I actually had a great time. Plus I met some other fabulous romance authors. The entire festival was AMAZING and I hope I get to go back next year. 

On top of being a great book festival, it was beachside so every evening I got to sit outside and stare into the deep blue and listen to the waves crash against the shore. There is nothing more peaceful. 

In the mornings I sat outside and watched these little guys grab some breakfast.  One thing you should know, I have a thing for hummingbirds. They make me smile.

MAY RELEASES

Have mercy. My TBR is already bulging at the seams and I'm afraid this list is going to make it explode.

5/1: Wicked Sanctuary by Jane Henry

5/1: Ashes by the Shore by Nyssa Kathryn

5/2: Puck Them by Jenn Bullard

5/5: Keeping Penny by Susan Stoker

5/5: Heaven Forbid by Markia Ray

5/5: Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn

5/7: The Roommate Rules by Brighton Walsh

5/8: Suck, EM Lindsey and Cora Rose

5/10: Broken Like Me by Jackie Walker

5/12: Hart's Landing by Melanie Harlow

5/12: Code Name Kodiak by Heather Slade

5/14: Dial A for Attorney by Megan Wade

5/15: Flint's Strike by Patricia D. Eddy

5/18: Hat Trick by EM Lindsey

5/19: Fever Dream by Elise Silver

5/19: Seal of Rome by Eden Maddox Writes

5/19: Risk the Play by Kaylee Ryan

5/26: The Stowaway by Cara Dee

5/26: Resort Crush by Samantha Chase

5/26: Bad Boy Era by Amy Daws

5/27: Beautiful Chaos by Kelly Fox

5/28: Home and Heist by Penny Reid

5/31: Heir of Courage by Kris Michaels

NEW AUTHOR

I am so excited to introduce you to Carlita Kosty author of Training Freddie. I met Carlita at the Rockport Book Festival and let me tell you, she is a firecracker. And she has opened the door to a genre that I am not sure is touched on very often; senior romance. How cool is that?

TRAINING FREDDIE by Carlita Kosty

GRAB IT

Freddie, an animal shelter terrier, introduces us to the widow and soon-to-be-retired middle school history teacher Merle McKinney. Merle and Freddie form an instant bond when she adopts him and settles him into her San Antonio condo. It soon becomes evident that Freddie sees himself as the rescuer instead of the rescued in their relationship, and he sets about helping Merle find a new man. On a weekend visit to the Gulf coast, Merle encounters Willie - a handsome, witty, and entertaining, albeit peculiar, older gentleman. Merle is smitten, but Freddie knows Willie isn't all he seems to be. Thus begins Merle's quest and Freddie's mission.
Meanwhile, Merle is going bonkers with all the school's changing rules, useless testing, and difficult kids with clueless parents. As a venerable veteran of the Texas public schools, she loves the kids but yearns for the good-old-days when students actually paid attention in class and most of them were polite. She has pretty much had enough and starts seriously considering retirement. Advice on this topic, as well as on her turbulent love life, comes from Merle's eclectic assortment of friends. Never without wisdom to impart, Freddie has a lot to say on the subject of men. However, Merle suspects that Freddie's interest may be more self-serving than helpful.
Although Merle and Freddie's story starts in San Antonio, it takes several interludes at Merle's coastal cottage in the fictional village of Copano Beach on the Texas Gulf Coast. This is where Merle retreated to grieve after her husband's death, and this is where she goes with Freddie to get her head straight when her relationships blow up in her face. Freddie sees these hard times as opportunities to go above and beyond expectations in cheering her up. Freddie loves the coast. It has street snax, frog jerky, and frito bugs. Plus, it smells funky. Freddie loves funky.
The cottage is also where she gets to be grandma with her passel of grandkids. Freddie enjoys the raucous atmosphere of family gatherings, especially if those events include boiled shrimp dinners - something good always falls on the floor – or crabbing trips to the salt flats. Merle enjoys cooking comfort food in the cottage's old kitchen with the tall ceilings and glass-front cabinets. Working in her kitchen always makes her remember her grandmother, her 'Buela, who raised a family on the Mexican border in the early 1900s.
In addition to Freddie's running narrative of Merle's amorous adventures, Merle herself explains her frustrations and exhilarations in the new, scary world of elder dating in her journal that she hopes never falls into the hands of her grandchildren. In the end, Merle learns some very valuable lessons and Freddie has her back all the way. Women who have been reading romances all their lives and are now getting older will find a heroine they can identify with in Merle. Dog lovers will enjoy Freddie's view of events and sage doggie advice.

UPDATES

WHEW! March is done and I'm kind of glad. It started with surgery. For the curious, I had a complete hysterectomy. No more babies. But at 62 I was past that point anyway. I have been battling some issues for about 15 years. I had kept things pretty well under control until about two years ago. I'd been limping along, not feeling the greatest, until I developed some more concerning symptoms and after a few very concerning tests, the doctor said it was time to take action. I'd never had surgery before, unless you call getting your wisdom teeth out, so the whole process scared me. I found out being redheaded poses it's own issues when you have surgery. But, everything went perfectly and the good news is there was nothing concerning and had a great caretaker while I recovered, and now, I'm on the mend. 

The surgery also gave me some time to write so I've made some headway on book 3 of Elena Shores. YAY! I've got a few more chapters and then I can write THE END and pass it off to my AWESOME TEAM! Plus, once that book is on it's way to being published, book 4 will not be too far behind. I'd written it to be book 3 but SOMEONE, not naming names, (Logan) okay maybe I am, decided to throw a wrench in my best laid plans. 

EVENTS

I'll be there!

I am BEYOND excited! 

Nothing better than spending some time with my family on the beach and some time with other authors and readers signing books.

The Rockport Fulton Book Festival 

 April 25-26, 2026

at the Fulton Convention Center. (Paws and Taws)

402 N. Fulton Beach Rd. 

Fulton, TX

 Saturday April 25th, 10am-6pm.

Sunday April 26th, 10am-3pm.

CHARM CITY ROMANTICON

If you are in Maryland, this is the place to be in April

APRIL RELEASES

4/1: Consumed with Passion by Elizabeth Baker

4/5: Spring Fling Anthology by multiple authors

4/7: Captivation Creek by Claire Kingsley

4/9 Broken Mafia Man by Anneke Boshoff

4/10: Gorilla's Little Flower by Cooper McKenzie

4/11: The Hotel: Amelia by DD Lorenzo

4/14 The Price of Vengeance by Erin Fitgerald

4/15: The Forgotten Billionaire by Avery Maxwell

4/17: Garbage Man by Max Monroe

4/22: Tangled in Trouble by Harloe Rae

4/23: Renegade Hawke by Gwyn McNamee

4/24: Unfinished by Janice Whitaker

4/28: Cash by Riley Edwards

4/28: Viking Raider by Vera Bell

4/29: Rescuing Savannah by April Lynn Baker

4/30: Xander by Charissa Gracyk

4/30: Pinch Hitter by Stephanie Rose

SPOTLIGHT

The Price of Vengeance

by Erin Fitzgerald

Pre-Order Now

I followed her even though I knew better. Distance has never been enough to save me from the things I want—or the damage I leave behind.

I spared a life I was ordered to end, something that only buys time with the ruthless crime family that shares my blood. There is no debt they fail to collect.

Relocating to Colson Creek wasn’t an accident. I came to watch over the woman I swore to protect years ago, the life I spared. Hiding in a quiet Minnesota town was never part of the plan, but it gave me something I never expected: A sense of belonging. My best friend’s family welcomed me as one of their own, and for the first time, I started to believe I could be more than what I was raised to be.

I tell myself I’m here out of duty, though I know it’s also out of guilt. The truth is darker and far more dangerous, because I’ve always wanted more than her safety. I’ve wanted her.

When she learns the truth, she’ll never forgive me. But I would give up everything I am, everything I’ve ever known, to see her safe… and happy.

After a lifetime of bloodshed and vengeance, the real question isn’t whether I deserve redemption.

It’s whether love can survive the truth.

SPECIAL REQUEST

Author LJ Evans is the sweetest person and a fantastic author and she and her family are facing some challenges. She has stepped away from promoting her books to take care of her family, so I wanted to make sure I helped support her in some way. If you have some space in your TBR, take a look at her books. 

Here is her latest release.  

THE MOMENTS YOU WERE MINE

LJ Evans

Grab it

A small-town, single-dad romantic suspense.

When the woman I spent my entire life protecting is threatened, I’ll do anything to keep her safe, even break

the vows I made to never make her mine. She’s the only promise that matters now.

A Hatley Family spin-off

Check out all her books and the suggested reading order and grab a few at the link below

Grab them up

WHAT AM I READING

DEFINITELY NOT HIM

by Lisa Wells

This is such a fun read

Grab it

One thrown stiletto. One viral scandal.

Two people quietly plotting revenge.

Manhattan’s most feared fashion editor, Frankie Peterson, had a plan.

Conquer the fashion world. Check.
Avoid distractions like forever love. Check.
Stay true to her motto: Apologies are for the lily-livered. CHECK.

Then she threw a stiletto during Fashion Week.

The moment went viral.
Her reputation imploded.
And now she’s been exiled to Gi Gi’s Crossing to practice being nice.

Spoiler alert: she’s not.

Marcus DeLuca Grant is the man Frankie’s flying footwear nearly concussed. While his need to stay out of the spotlight prevents him from confronting her face-to-face, it does not stop him from arranging her punishment.

Which is how Frankie ends up in the same small town where Marcus is quietly restoring an abandoned manor.

Pretending to be a runaway heiress, Frankie arrives in a wig, leather, and a personality sweet enough to rot teeth.

She has no idea Marcus is the man behind her banishment.

And Marcus fully intends to keep it that way.

Except the longer Marcus spends around the sharp-tongued fashion editor, the harder it becomes to remember why banishing her to Gi Gi’s Crossing seemed like such a good idea in the first place.

As sparks fly and the truth edges closer to the surface, Frankie and Marcus must decide what happens when the person you planned to destroy becomes the one person you cannot walk away from.

Absolutely Not Him is Book One in the Not Him series. Each book can be read as a standalone.