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Read Building a Surprise Family by Anna J Stewart @AJStewartWriter #RLFblog #SweetRomance #Contemporary
Firefighter Ozzy Lakeman falls hard and fast for pregnant construction supervisor Jo Bertoletti, a woman who has no intention of risking her heart again. But then, she hasn’t ever met a man like Ozzy before.Anna, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Building a Surprise Family.
Building a Surprise Family by Anna J Stewart
Genre sweet contemporary romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G
Pregnant construction supervisor Jo Bertoletti doesn’t need anyone’s help…or another heartbreak. So she’s putting handsome, kindhearted firefighter Ozzy Lakeman firmly into the friend zone. After all, she’s just passing through Butterfly Harbor, and her life is too complicated for a summer romance. But Ozzy feels an immediate connection. Can he convince the woman of his dreams to take a chance on building a forever family with him?
QUICK
Do you write more than one genre? If so, what are they?…
I do! I write sweet contemporary romance for Harlequin Heartwarming, mainstream (steamier) contemporary, spicy romantic suspense for Harlequin Romantic Suspense and I also write paranormal romance (across the heat spectrum). In late 2022 I’ll be adding single title romantic suspense with my new Hollywood inspired series from Caezik Romance.
How do you come up with ideas?…
They come from everywhere, but most of the time it’s when I’m watching TV or a movie. Something interesting will catch my attention and I noodle it into a new idea. Or…sometimes it’s just something I see when I’m driving (this happened recently with a forthcoming book about a prison break). My brain is always taking stuff in and turning it into a story.
What is the single most important part of writing for you?…
Giving readers an escape. It’s why I love reading—I want to lose myself and forget about all the *stuff* that’s out there. If I can give readers a break from their lives, and leave a smile on their faces, then I consider that book a success. If they come back for more? That’s icing on the cake.
When did you write your first book?…
Back in the stone age, LOL. Actually, I think I started my first book (the first I ever finished) in 1987? Right before I finished high school. I actually submitted it to Harlequin (Silhouette Intimate Moments it was then) soon after, got a lovely rejection letter that encouraged me to keep going and it went right under the bed. I played at writing for a lot of years after until I decided I really wanted to make this my career. About ten years ago, my then agent asked if I had anything other than paranormal to submit to publishing houses, so I dragged that book out, rewrote it, and it sold to Berkley soon after. I’ve since gotten the rights back and published it myself (The Nemesis Files—it was the first of three in a light romantic suspense series). And that editor from Harlequin? I write for her now in the Romantic Suspense lines. A definite full-circle experience.
FUN
Leather or lace? Neither. I’ll take shorts or yoga pants.
Black or red? Black. Red clashes with my hair.
Satin sheets or smooth cotton? Cotton. I slide out of bed with satin, LOL
Ocean or mountains? Ocean. ALWAYS!
City life or country life? Ooooh, I’ve always lived in the city (grew up in SF and now live in Sacramento), so I’d love to give the country a shot.
Party life or evening at home? Home for sure. Although after this last year and a half…yeah. I’m still a homebody.
Dogs or cats? Cats, probably because I’ve always had them. I’d like a dog though. Animals make my heart happy.
Where to buy Building a Surprise Family
Publisher (Harlequin) https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335426345_building-a-surprise-family.html
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Building-Surprise-Family-Romance-Butterfly-ebook/dp/B08P52FQYN/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/building-a-surprise-family-anna-j-stewart/1138375075
iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/building-a-surprise-family/id1542024765
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/building-a-surprise-familyAnna J Stewart Social Media
USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J Stewart writes sweet to sexy romances for Harlequin and ARC Manor’s Caezik Romance. Her sweet Heartwarming books include the Butterfly Harbor series as well as the ongoing Blackwell continuity series. She is also the author of the Honor Bound series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense and contributes to the bestselling continuity series, the Coltons. Her second Butterfly Harbor romance, Recipe for Redemption, was optioned as a TV movie and aired as Christmas Recipe for Romance in 2019 on UpTV. A former Golden Heart, Daphne, and National Reader’s Choice finalist, Anna loves writing big community stories where family found is always the theme. Since her first published novella with Harlequin in 2014, Anna has released more than forty novels and novellas. Anna lives in Northern California where (at the best times) she loves going to the movies, attending fan conventions, and heading to Disneyland, her favorite place on earth. When she’s not writing, she is usually cooking, baking, binge-watching her newest TV addiction, re-watching her all-time favorite show, Supernatural, and wrangling two monstrous cats named Rosie and Sherlock.
Website https://www.AuthorAnnaStewart.com
Twitter https://www.Twitter.com/AJStewartWriter
Facebook https://www.Facebook.com/AuthorAnnaJStewart
Pinterest https://www.Pinterest.com/AnnaJStewart
Instagram https://www.Instagram.com/AnnaJStewart
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8475995.Anna_J_Stewart
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anna-j-stewart
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Anna-J-Stewart/e/B00M79FNAY -
Fiction Furbaby: Meet Abby, Goliath and Daughtry from Rescue Me in the Yesterday’s Promise anthology by Cheryl St john @_cherylstjohn_ @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets
I just finished a short story for a new anthology releasing September 1st, and I’m really excited to share a bit about it.Cheryl, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about your short story Rescue Me.
Yesterday’s Promise by Cheryl St John and the Aspen Gold Series Authors
Genre Contemporary Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G
Natalie Jordan was a disappointment to her father, though she acquired the degrees he wanted her to earn and married the man he chose. She was a disappointment to her husband too, but when he dies and she inherits land in Colorado, it’s the perfect time to create her vision of a canine rescue center.
Avery Sawyer is surprising in more ways than one. He’s driven and determined. Natalie needs his help, and he’s willing to give it as long as she forms a partnership for a project so big, she’s hesitant to agree. Natalie has to face her self-doubts in this story of love at first sight.
Meet Abby, Goliath and Daughtry from Rescue Me in the Yesterday’s Promise Anthology
Abby was Natalie Jordan’s first adoption. Shortly after moving to the farm, she took in the skittish White Swiss Shepherd found running loose with a collar imbedded in her neck. Three years later Abby’s bark is still hoarse and she doesn’t use it much. Jackson the vet said her vocal cords were damaged, and it was a miracle she hadn’t starved or suffered permanent damage to her throat and esophagus. Abby is Natalie’s gentle giant, a calm, loving companion.
Goliath, a half-Chihuahua, half-toy poodle that looks like something from a Muppet movie and barely weighs four pounds with a full belly had been her next project. General consensus is that Goliath’s combination of salt and pepper hair mixed with tufts of gray, combined with his pointy ears make him too ugly to be adoptable, but to her he’s adorable. It took weeks of patience to correct his bad habit of lifting his leg wherever he smelled an interesting scent. Now he spends his time watering the entire outdoors.
Natalie’s third house dog is a brown and white Russell terrier she lovingly named Daughtry. Rollie Weston discovered the canine tied to a trash can behind the gas station. Malnourished and filthy, Daughtry had lost his fur due to a skin disease.
With medication and adequate diet, his coat filled in, and he’s now an alert and friendly fellow, though he has an awkward gait and isn’t very fast due to a past leg injury. He loves carrots as treats.
Do you have any working or service animals in your stories? Tell us about them.
Pax, short for Paxton is Avery Sawyer’s service dog. He’s a golden retriever, trained to assist a paraplegic and pull his person in a wheelchair if needed.
Yesterday’s Promise will be available soon at all your favorite book retailers.
Cheryl StJohn Social Media
Cheryl is the author of more than fifty historical and contemporary romances. Her stories have earned numerous awards and are published in over a dozen languages. In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real-life situations.” Her bestselling non-fiction books, Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict and Write Smart, Write Happy by Writers Digest Books are available in print and digital.
Website https://www.aspengoldseries.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/aspengoldseries
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AspenGoldSeries
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cheryl_stjohn/aspen-gold-the-series/
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081YPJ5V8
Get to know the Aspen Gold Series Authors better by signing up for an email newsletter https://www.subscribepage.com/n9n7p3Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist
Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescuesImage credits: Depositphotos, final image by Cheryl St.John
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Read the #ContemporaryRomance A Proposal for the Leaves of Change Café by Sarah L Campbell @SarahLCamWriter #RLFblog #SweetRomance
Michael’s ex arrives in Green Leaf, creating a rift between him and Aurora in Sarah L Campbell’s new book, A Proposal for the Leaves of Change Café. When Aurora thinks that Michael is cheating on her, she takes up a new job offer in London. Can he persuade her to stay and give their relationship another chance?Sarah, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about A Proposal for the Leaves of Change Café.
A Proposal for the Leaves of Change Café by Sarah L Campbell
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
Things are going well for Michael and Aurora in Green Leaf until his ex-girlfriend shows up and starts causing trouble between them. Aurora begins to suspect that there is something more between the two of them than organising a book launch. She comes to a drastic decision about the future for her and her baby daughter Robin. A return to acting sounds promising for her but is it worth moving away from everyone for? Can Michael offer an explanation for his behaviour and stop her from leaving?
Meanwhile the lives of those around Aurora begin to fall apart. When her mum’s partner Colin becomes ill, her mum, Catherine makes a decision about her future. No-one, especially Aurora saw that coming…
There’s trouble when Darren leaves Rachel, just at a time when she needs him most. She’s going to need her best friend Aurora more than ever.
All the café regulars are back, along with some new faces. Why not grab a cup of tea and a piece of cake and spend some time in Green Leaf… the town where gossip flies around faster than teapots?
What’s in your character’s pockets, backpack, or purse?
What does your character always carry?
Aurora always carries lipstick aka the war paint that she needs to get through the day.
What does your character dislike carrying but has to?
Her phone! She is always getting phone calls while rushing around trying to take care of her baby daughter and keeping the café going for her mum. 9 out of 10 times it’s likely to be her mother, offering her one of her pearls of wisdom. Otherwise, she’ll be getting phone calls from her boyfriend Michael or best friend Rachel.
Does your character carry money and if so, in what form (cash, credit, etc.)?
She’s broke at the start of the book (still waiting on her divorce settlement) so she has little cash and mainly uses her credit card.
What does your character carry related to a job or calling?
Keys – to open and close the café and a notepad and pencil to write down how to look after the café and make all those delicious recipes. She has a steep learning curve ahead of her in this book.
What else besides pockets does the character use to carry things?
The pram, it’s a great way to store shopping.
What is one thing your character wouldn’t be caught dead carrying?
A handbag (or purse in America) like her mum’s – they have very different tastes.
Has anything in your character’s pockets ever saved the day?
Tissues – her best friend Rachel’s having a really tough time and Aurora’s there for her with tea and sympathy.
Does your character every carry things for other people? (like a mom with toys, etc.)
Yes, all the basic essentials that her baby daughter might need and one of her daughter’s many soft toys that keeps finding its way back into her bag.
If your character could buy an item to carry things in and money was no object, what would it be?
Oh, she’d love a designer handbag, these were once the norm in her previous life married to a famous movie star.
Questions for the Character to Answer About the Author
What does your author always carry?
Lipstick and concealer for the bags under her eyes! Her favourite cat shopping bag and her phone.
What does your author dislike carrying but has to?
Nothing- she considers everything in her bag an essential item.
What does your author carry for luck?
A little guardian angel pin.
How organized is your author’s backpack / purse?
Organised chaos – how does she find anything? I’ll never know!
What does your author prefer to use when it comes to items like backpacks / purses?
She loves purses (handbags to her) she has a wardrobe full of them. She has every day bags, evening bags, weekend bags and a fondness for vintage bags.
If your author could buy an item to carry things in and money was no object, what would it be?
That’s easy – she’d buy a really frivolous designer vintage bag – like a Chanel clutch bag.
What do you wish your author would not make you keep in your pockets?
My phone – it never stops ringing!
What do you wish your author would allow you to keep in your pockets?
A magic watch that stops time so I could get everything done,
Where to buy A Proposal at the Leaves of Change Café
Amazon https://mybook.to/LeavesofChangeCafe2/
Sarah L Campbell Social Media
After completing a variety of roles including working in libraries, the theatre and even training to be a teacher, I settled on writing in my early thirties. I decided that self-publishing was the right route for me and set about writing my first ever story, a children’s book about a muddled fairy. Since then, I’ve self-published 4 more children’s stories and a teenage novel. I have also written two books so far in the Leaves of Change Café Series. I live in the northeast of England with my family and our beloved cat Louie, a one-time stray now king of the castle. When I’m not at home trying to work with the cat on my knee, I love meeting friends for a coffee and having a good old natter, or visiting somewhere new, like an historic house or museum.
Website https://www.sarahlcampbell.com/
Blog https://sarahat3strawberrylane.wordpress.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/SarahLCamWriter/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SarahLCampbellAuthor/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sarahlcamwriter/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18173432.Sarah_L_Campbell/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sarah-l-campbell/
Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sarah-L-Campbell/e/B07F2N4YHC
Get to know Sarah L Campbell better by signing up for an email newsletter here https://www.subscribepage.com/sarahlcampbellnewsletter/ -
Have you read Runaway Love Story (Book Nirvana Series) by Sadira Stone @SadiraStone #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomance
Sadira Stone: Contemporary romance with heart and heat. The Book Nirvana Series: steamy contemporary romance set in an indie bookshop in Eugene, Oregon–because bookshops are sexy!Sadira, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.
Runaway Love Story by Sadira Stone
Genre: Contemporary Romance Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
She hates average…he’s as average as they come.
High school history teacher Doug Garvey is trying to enjoy his last few weeks of summer vacation, but receiving his final divorce decree hits him harder than expected. After a brief fling fizzles, he fears love just isn’t in the cards for him. If only he could find someone who’s real, someone interested in something beyond herself…maybe a new running partner who can keep up with his more carnal appetite. When sexy, straight-talking Laurel runs across his path, he dares to hope again.
He’s done with social-climbing posers…she’s ambitious and has big dreams.
Fired from an art gallery, Laurel Jepsen shelves her pursuit of an art career in San Francisco to help her beloved great aunt Maxie move into assisted living. While out on a morning run, she’s harassed by a group of teens until a tall, broad-shouldered hottie steps in, pretending to be her boyfriend with a kiss that makes her wish it were true. But she’s only passing through, not looking for a relationship.
Their fierce chemistry burns up the sheets–and the couch, the shower, the forest–but falling in love would ruin everything. Laurel can’t stay in Eugene, and he can’t leave. Doug’s only hope is to convince her the glittery life she’s after could blind her to the opportunities already in her path.
Where to buy Runaway Love Story
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Love-Story-Book-Nirvana-ebook/dp/B07QBHS1ZQ/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/runaway-love-story-sadira-stone/1131145865
iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/runaway-love-story/id1460549153
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/runaway-love-storySadira Stone Social Media
Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, belly dances, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books.
Website http://sadirastone.com
Blog http://sadirastone.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/SadiraStone
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sadirastone/
Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone
Get to know Sadira Stone better by signing up for their email newsletter. http://eepurl.com/dKLMP2 -
Have you read Beyond Duty by LA Remenicky @Remenickywrites #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomance
After serving in the Marine Corps, Jessie Monroe has finally found a life beyond war and then he happens upon a curvy blonde stranded with a flat tire and no jack in LA Remenicky’s Beyond Duty. On sale for $.99.LA, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Beyond Duty.
Beyond Duty by LA Remenicky
Genre Contemporary Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG
After serving in the Marine Corps, Jessie Monroe has finally found a life beyond war. He’s focused on being an EMT and helping his best friend rescue dogs, until he happens upon a curvy blonde stranded with a flat tire and no jack.
On the run from her past, Dori Graham is slow to trust any man, and she tries to ignore the spark of interest she feels for her handsome savior, but a friendship grows between them.
When Dori’s past invades her new life, Jessie vows to rescue her. Saving her will take him beyond duty and into his own personal hell. Calling upon his training as a Marine and the depth of his feelings for Dori, Jessie will need the mental strength to battle to save her and, ultimately, save himself.
Where to buy Beyond Duty
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GLWJPJY/
LA Remenicky Social Media
LA Remenicky is a wife, mother of two fur kids, and a Best Fiends addict. An avid reader all her life, she finally put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) during NaNoWriMo in 2012 and has never looked back. When she’s not typing away on her latest story with music playing in the background, she can usually be found spending time with her family and friends.
Website https://www.laremenicky.com
Twitter https://www.twitter.com/remenickywrites
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laremenicky
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/laremenicky/
Instagram https://instagram.com/remenickywrites
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191202.L_A_Remenicky
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/l-a-remenicky
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/L.A.-Remenicky/e/B00FNS31EG
Get to know LA Remenicky better by signing up for an email newsletter https://author.email/email/lists/jw932wn2tee6a/subscribe -
Read a Rockstar Romance – Rocked By Love by MJ Schiller @mjschiller #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomance
When a rock star jumps into the crowd to defend a woman from her abusive boyfriend, he finds himself drawn to the woman’s cousin in MJ Schiller’s new contemporary romance, Rocked By Love. But when he discovers a nasty article about the band in the newspaper she works at, things turn ugly.MJ, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about Rocked By Love.
Rocked By Love by MJ Schiller
Genre contemporary romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13-R
Rock star Raphael Santiago is haunted by the night his friend Devin died. Maybe because there’s something that no one knows about the overdose. But when he jumps in the crowd to defend a woman at one of his concerts, he finds he doesn’t want to keep the secret from her.
Mia was a tight little ball of fire, and I was made of combustible material. She misunderstood my intentions the night we met, but I was given an opportunity to explain the next day. I wish that was our only miscommunication, but when I discovered she’d written an inflammatory article about Just Short of Chaos, I thought she was using me to get a story. The hurt that caused made me say some nasty things. Now I may have lost her forever.
Mia Love doesn’t know if Rafe is truly interested in her, or if she is merely a new plaything for him.
Oh, there was definitely a heat between us from day one. Sometimes volatile, sometimes scorching in a good way. But I’d been burnt before and I was stronger now. No way was I going to let a rock star break my heart.
When fate throws them together again, things really start to heat up.
But will they figure out how to control their passions or will their love story end in ashes?
Where to buy Rocked By Love
Amazon https://mybook.to/RockedByLove
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rocked-by-love-m-j-schiller/1138588074?ean=2940162791737
iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/rocked-by-love/id1539415638
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/rocked-by-love-1MJ Schiller Social Media
Bestselling author MJ Schiller is a retired lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance. She is the mother of a twenty-six-year-old and three twenty-four-year-olds. That’s right, triplets! She likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.
Website https://mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/mjschiller
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RockingTheWorldOneReaderAtATime/
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Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479377.M_J_Schiller
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-schiller
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/M.J.-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ
Get to know MJ Schiller better by signing up for an email newsletter https://dl.bookfunnel.com/4im3lyvxep
