I loved writing Caro and Jake. This couple has plenty of issues. Tons of baggage. Mountains of emotion. I’m usually pretty stoic while writing, but I have to admit that I cried while writing several scenes in this book (and even cried every time I had to edit them). I can promise you this: their HEA (that’s happy ever after in romance-lingo) is hard-fought, but oh-so-satisfying in the end.
If you’ve already ordered your copy of Once and Again, it should have been delivered to your readers/devices this morning! If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, you can do so here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, iTunes or Kobo (and begin enjoying immediately)!
I’ll be blogging from here to August 1st, so please join me at every stop, where I’ll be doing giveaways and contests. You can find the full schedule and follow along here.
And if you haven’t yet signed up for my newsletter, what are you waiting for? Newsletter subscribers got a free bonus scene to Once and Again! Don’t miss out on exclusive content and sign up now!
I. Love. This. Cover. Because it’s a second-chance-at-love story, my editor and I made the decision to show the younger Jake and Carolyn (pearls, but no tats) to straddle the old and the new. What do you think?
And I even have blurbage:
Growing up in Eastbridge, Connecticut, Carolyn Rivington was a young debutante who did whatever her parents asked. So when her father demanded that she break things off with the boy from the wrong side of the tracks or else, she did. Now Carolyn’s family is deep in debt. She’s no longer a member of the Briarwood Golf and Yacht Club, she’s an employee. And the tanned, tattooed, dangerously handsome stranger who saunters into her lobby isn’t just her new boss . . . he’s also her first love.
The last time he saw Carolyn, Jake Gaffney was in the back of a police cruiser, handcuffed and humiliated. But seeing her again stirs other memories: a blanket on the beach, the moon above their heads, and the most expensive bottle of wine he could afford. Now the tables have turned. As a real-estate magnate and Briarwood’s new owner, Jake doesn’t have to answer to anyone. But now that he’s back home, he’s finding it hard to live down his old reputation.
Before they can move forward, Jake and Carolyn must face their pasts. But it’ll take more than sizzling chemistry for them to heal old wounds and return to the love they once shared.
You want pre-order links? I got those, too! From Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, iTunes, and Kobo.
To celebrate, I’m giving away two copies of New Year’s in Napa, but there’s a catch: you must be signed up for my newsletter to win! So sign up (infrequent and non-spammy, I promise!) and I’ll give you the deets as to how to enter! You will also get exclusive content and first peeks of the books, so it is worth it!
Now here’s the part where I tell you what’s coming for me in 2015. Lots and lots of writing. And publishing! The first book in my Return to Briarwood series, Once and Again is coming this July. I’ll be going to a conference (or two). And I have some great ideas for future books. Ooh, I have so much to do, I can hardly wait!
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you: sign up for my newsletter. I’m going to do some huge giveaways and you’ll need to be on the list to be eligible to win!
Now here’s the part where I tell you what’s coming for me in 2015. Lots and lots of writing. And publishing! The first book in my Return to Briarwood series, Once and Again is coming this July. I’ll be going to a conference (or two). And I have some great ideas for future books. Ooh, I have so much to do, I can hardly wait!
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you: sign up for my newsletter. I’m going to do some huge giveaways and you’ll need to be on the list to be eligible to win!
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New Year’s in Napa (West Coast Holiday Book 2) is out today! It’s a sweet, sexy, holiday story you won’t want to miss! Workaholic scientist Amanda Aligheri has a new year’s resolution: go to Napa, relax, and achieve some balance. The problem? There’s no chance to soul-search while tempting-as-sin winemaker Liam Flynn is around. Will one romantic, wintery week in Napa be enough for Liam to convince Mandy he’s the one for her, or when the new year comes will she forget about her resolution and return to Silicon Valley—and her research—without him? This e-book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Kobo for only 99 cents!!
Gorgeous, no?
And Jules has been kind enough to provide the back cover copy:
Blue Crush (Blue Series, Book #2)
On the cusp of a humiliating breakup from the safe, conservative boyfriend, who ended up betraying her, Genevieve Tierney moves to Lake Tahoe with her best friend after college to lick her romantic wounds. Earning cash at one of Lake Tahoe’s lucrative casinos before grad school in the fall and keeping a safe distance from cheating jerks seems like a good plan, until she meets the one guy tempting enough to drag her back down.
Lewis Sallee is six and a half feet of perfectly sculpted mountain man, who captures Gen’s attention from the moment he walks in the door. Her play-it-safe approach to relationships flies out the window as Lewis’s presence awakens a sex drive she never knew she had. Lewis is in a complicated relationship with one of the most beautiful women Gen has ever seen, and despite all logical reasons to stay away—and she’s a logic devotee—Gen can’t seem to control her body’s attraction to him.
Feeling like a magnet for the worst sort of guys, Gen’s desperate to win the battle for self-control around Lewis and put the sleazy casino men pestering her in their place. To boost her confidence, Gen steps out of her comfort zone and signs up for the Alpine Mudder, a gritty endurance race. But as she prepares for one of the biggest physical challenges of her life, her emotional strength is pushed to its limits when she needs Lewis’s help to train. He tests her willpower and has her fighting her body’s attraction—with her mind and heart not far behind.
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I have a very special post today. Jules Barnard, an all-around awesome woman and a fellow Roguer, asked me to help with the cover reveal for Blue Crush, the second book in her Blue Series which releases on June 3rd. Jules writes new adult fiction, and this series is set in Tahoe (yay!). I don’t get to do these too often, and even less frequently for a friend, so I’m quite excited. Without further ado, here is the cover:
Gorgeous, no?
And Jules has been kind enough to provide the back cover copy:
Blue Crush (Blue Series, Book #2)
On the cusp of a humiliating breakup from the safe, conservative boyfriend, who ended up betraying her, Genevieve Tierney moves to Lake Tahoe with her best friend after college to lick her romantic wounds. Earning cash at one of Lake Tahoe’s lucrative casinos before grad school in the fall and keeping a safe distance from cheating jerks seems like a good plan, until she meets the one guy tempting enough to drag her back down.
Lewis Sallee is six and a half feet of perfectly sculpted mountain man, who captures Gen’s attention from the moment he walks in the door. Her play-it-safe approach to relationships flies out the window as Lewis’s presence awakens a sex drive she never knew she had. Lewis is in a complicated relationship with one of the most beautiful women Gen has ever seen, and despite all logical reasons to stay away—and she’s a logic devotee—Gen can’t seem to control her body’s attraction to him.
Feeling like a magnet for the worst sort of guys, Gen’s desperate to win the battle for self-control around Lewis and put the sleazy casino men pestering her in their place. To boost her confidence, Gen steps out of her comfort zone and signs up for the Alpine Mudder, a gritty endurance race. But as she prepares for one of the biggest physical challenges of her life, her emotional strength is pushed to its limits when she needs Lewis’s help to train. He tests her willpower and has her fighting her body’s attraction—with her mind and heart not far behind.
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First, we stopped at the Oxbow Public Market. It seemed like a mini version of San Francisco’s Ferry Building with all the artisanal food stalls (cheese, bread, chocolate, pastries, etc. inside). We ate here twice, and both times I really enjoyed it.
The exterior of the Oxbow Market. Yummy food inside.
We stopped at Hess Winery and toured the art gallery. There we found this flaming Underwood typewriter. My friends encouraged me to take a picture with it (“Get closer,” they said, but I was a little afraid to, given that it was totally en fuego).
How I sometimes feel while writing.
We were able to see Napa at its best during this season. Unfortunately, the manuscript I’m working on takes place in winter-time, but I got what I needed from some friendly locals.
Quintessential Napa.
The cheese selections at the local grocers were outrageously comprehensive. People love their cheese. And their wine, of course. 
Nom nom nom.
Last but not least, Spence and I toured Jarvis Wines, which had a secret underground cave. I took this picture surreptitiously, since I’m pretty sure photos weren’t allowed on the tour. Spence is in the background, looking suitably mysterious.
Sekret picture.
It was good to get away from SV for at least a little while, and it was even better to get my much-needed research done. Now, onward with the writing!!
This week I’m giving away a copy of Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace, a romantic suspense story I really enjoyed. To enter, just leave me a comment letting me know if you’ve ever been to Napa and what you loved about it. If you haven’t been to Napa, no worries! Tell me what you love about Napa Valley wine. If you don’t drink wine, just tell me something funny. Contest ends Thursday, April 10 at 9pm Pacific. U.S. only, please.
And for those of you who read to the end, this is my 100th blog post! Yay!
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