Wow. We're barely halfway through the month and it has been utterly crazy. Mr. Stevens had foot surgery and has been practically immobile for the last two weeks. (The doctor wants him to move as little as possible to make sure the procedure "takes".) We've had a number of birthdays in the extended family and, of course, all the children's activities.
So, how did Mr. Stevens and I celebrate Valentine's Day?
We didn't.
I know what you're thinking: How is it that a romance writer forgot to celebrate one of the most romantic days of the year? But, to be honest, we have never celebrated it. Our first Valentine's Day was only a few weeks after we had started dating and both of us felt it was too soon to celebrate with the traditional chocolates and flowers. Somehow, that turned into us never wanting to celebrate it.
How about you? How did you celebrate the holiday?
Hartfield Chronicles
Melinda and Pat are both happy to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. But when rumors of Pat and another girl appear in the celebrity gossip columns, his relationship with Melinda is tested.
Hartfield Chronicles follows the lives of Melinda, Pat, and their friends as they navigate their way through boarding school life. Each episode features two stories, one from Melinda's point of view and one from Pat's, along with an excerpt from Melinda's writing journal. New episodes are published every Friday.
Here's what you've missed
Episode 70: Melinda has an awkward conversation with Pat's father about her relationship
Episode 71: Melinda and Pat discuss Melinda's concerns about their relationship
Reviews from Ashleigh's Bookshelf
For young adult readers
Chase: The Boy Who Hid
Z Jeffries
Chase is angry. While everyone believes his grandad is dead, he knows the truth: Grandad is just missing. Since no one believes him, it's up to him to lead the search. Unfortunately, that means taking his spot in a top-secret government game of hide and seek, gaining the trust of the team, and maybe even interviewing the enemy. All without getting himself killed. Piece of cake, right?
For romance readers
Better Beginnings
Cyprus Hart
After breaking up with her boyfriend, Leigh just wants to get as far away from LA as possible. Small town Maine seems like the perfect place. After being surrounded by fake people looking out for themselves, she is shocked by the realness of her new neighbors, who seem to look after each other. Except Ulysses. The bearded lumberjack just doesn't seem to like Leigh, and that doesn't sit right with her. Can she win him over, or will finding out his secret be too painful? For both of them.
Free Books
R + J Sucks
Shakespeare's beloved tragedy
retold California style
Vampires. Romance. ENCHILADAS?
Teenagers. Romance. Vampires.
R+J v.1: When immortality is the be all, end all of Capulet family, can Juliet escape her ancestry to live happily ever after? A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, Romeo is forbidden to cross into Capulet territory, but how long can he resist when all that beckons him is gold and prosperity? Will he realize in time that all that wealth was amassed in blood, or will he sway to Juliet's overpowering natural charisma?
R+J v.2: The Capulets have plans for Juliet, a rare natural-born vampire. She must marry Paris and continue the bloodline. But how can she when she's fallen for a human? Such a love is forbidden, and her cousin Tybalt is sure to "discourage" Romeo Montague. Unsettled by this unholy union, the Montagues are ready to defend their family, and Romeo's soul.
R+J v.3: With Romeo facing his entire family being hunted by the vampire Royal Guard, it's up to him and Juliet to fight for their happiness. Fearing the downfall and disgrace of her own family, Juliet must choose love or immortality. Will the Montagues save themselves from the wrath of the Capulets? Or will Paris ensure the downfall of Romeo and his clan?
Two households, both of great dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge breaks new mutiny, and civil blood makes civil hands unclean....
Buried By A Secret
Set against the backdrop of a massive alien invasion, this story focuses on a young couple with a secret that creates distrust and a plot to uncover the truth.
Will the truth be discovered on the day the world burns?
On the day 100,000 humans were taken from Earth, chaos befell every corner of the globe. The story of Graham Shears, taken from Chicago, IL, is told in the first chapter of The Shattered Gate (novel by Eric R. Swanson).
Buried by a Secret is a companion short story that follows a pair of young lovers in Tokyo as they discover something that kept a distance between them, unspoken.
BONUS CONTENT! The first chapter of The 'Shattered Gate' is included free!
The Disposables
Bruno Johnson, Cop-Turned-Con, Saves "Disposable" Kids in this Fast-Moving Thriller
THE DISPOSABLES is the first book in the bestselling Bruno Johnson thriller series.
Bruno Johnson, a tough street cop, member of the elite violent crime taskforce, feared by the bad guys, admired by the good, finds his life derailed when a personal tragedy forces him to break the law. Now he's an ex-con and his life on parole is not going well. He is hassled by the police at every opportunity and to make matters even more difficult, his former partner, Robby Wicks, now a high-ranking detective, bullies him into helping solve a high-profile crime - unofficially, of course.
Meantime, Bruno's girlfriend, Marie, brings out the good, the real Bruno, and even though they veer totally outside the law, he and Marie dedicate themselves to saving abused children, creating a type of underground railroad for neglected kids at risk -- disposable kids. What they must do is perilous as they step far outside the law, battling a warped justice system and Bruno's former partner, with his own evil agenda.
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Other Books on Sale
Cross Country Hearts
A Sweet YA Enemies to Lovers Romance
Her sister is the bride. His cousin is the groom. This love story involves two enemies, one car, and an epic road trip.
June's sister, April, is getting married. The lucky guy? A businessman whose cousin is Jasper King, the art maniac loner of her high school.
The hate between them is mutual, but they can't avoid one another before the wedding. That becomes impossible when the two are thrown together into a car and forced to drive down the East Coast from Boston to Jacksonville for the wedding.
The two embark on an unlikely truce and road trip, which brings them from art museums in New York to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, and down to the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta. Along the way June must reevaluate her relationship to Jasper, which is that of bully and victim, and she must contend with her past actions. Sparks fly and ignite, and what happens next will go down in road trip history.
Dreamers Destiny
Dreamers Saga Book 1
Marco and Alyssa have a once in a lifetime kind of love. The problem - he is literally the man of her dreams. Marco is part of a mythical race known as Dreamers. His job as a Dream Walker is to guide mortals to their dreams and Alyssa is one of his charges.
The opposite of a Walker is a Runner - someone that pushes their charges into nightmares. When Marco comes face-to-face with the Runner assigned to Alyssa, his love for her is threatened.
Will love conquer all? Find out in this first installment of the Dreamers Saga. Join Marco in the dream realm and Alyssa in the mortal world as they navigate dreams, nightmares, and the love that brought them together.
Cupcakes and Crime
Gold Valley Mysteries Book 1
The grand opening of Magnolia Winery is sure to make a splash until the General Manager is found dead in the wine cellar. Sophia Bell, owner of Mama Ginger's Bakery and a not very skilled kitchen witch, is hired to cater the highly anticipated event.
But the job is no icing on the cake, especially when she winds up as the prime suspect in the murder investigation.
Her mother's legacy on the line, Sophia launches her own investigation. With the help of her southern assistant, some honesty magic, and two fluffy dogs, Sophia uncovers a secret she never thought possible.
A murderer is living in Gold Valley, and Sophia is next on the list.
