Family Game Night

In my new release, Ava’s Prize-a Harlequin Heartwarming sweet romance-my heroine, Ava Andrews plays a game called: You Know What We Need with her family and friends…

Kyle opened the door to the suite and welcomed his guests inside. He would’ve explained his plans to work that afternoon if Ben hadn’t disrupted the silence with a drawn-out whoa.

Kyle shut the door and turned around to find the young boy bouncing from one foot to the other, his gaze darting around the suite. Ben never moved from his father’s side, as if he waited for a referee to blow a start whistle to let the games begin.

“Cari Lynn Webb quickly threw off my misgivings and invested me in her story (in large part due to said friends). . . . Webb gives readers a taste of the lonely high life with Kyle’s home, workspace, endless invitations, and press scrutiny. That’s juxtaposed against Ava’s simple life in which she’s working more than forty hours a week to make ends meet but she’s surrounded by friends and family she loves and who love her in return. The addition of the contest and the inventions are just icing on this story cake.”

Work Spaces and Offices that Inspire

In my new release, Ava’s Prize, a sweet contemporary romance from Harlequin Heartwarming, my hero, Kyle Quinn has a second-floor suite that doubles as both his living and work space in San Francisco…

But Ava was here. Dressed in a bold bottle-green dress and looking like the model she never claimed to be. Kyle wanted to be near her again. That should’ve made him run in the other direction. Instead, he moved through the crowd, offered a chin dip acknowledgment to different guests, yet never lost sight of Ava.

Finally, he stood within touching distance. And hesitated like he’d stepped back into middle school and watched the party invites flash across cell phones in the hallway. He’d always held his breath, waiting for his phone to vibrate with a new text alert. The invites had never arrived. He’d long since stopped hoping.

“Ava’s Prize is a solid story with electric romantic chemistry and several sweet moments. Both Kyle and Ava experience steady character growth over the course of the novel, and readers will experience a wide range of emotions as they follow the plot. The fact that several characters have specific medical needs not usually seen in contemporary romance adds another dimension to this already layered story and keeps readers invested in the characters.”

San Francisco and First Kisses

Ava’s Prize, my new sweet contemporary romance from Harlequin Heartwarming, is set in San Francisco. One of the most iconic images from San Francisco is the cable car. Fortunately, a cable car ride led to the first kiss between my hero, Kyle Quinn and my heroine, Ava Andrews.

“This is a fabulous romance. I like the way two people who are determined to live their lives alone find something so different in their futures. . . . I highly recommend this book to others who like a good romance and fun friendships.”

Other than the ability to create your own happily-ever-after endings, what is your favorite thing about being an author?

[Cari] Other than getting to work out of my house and spending most days in my comfy clothes (aka pajamas) and pony tails, I like the writing friends I have made that have become best friends and my writing tribe. There is a very strong writing community in romance and I can’t say enough about the support I’ve found among other authors. I also really like meeting readers – it is so much fun to meet people who share the same passion about books as I do.

“…the story unfolds in a way that challenges them to grow and change, and it is oh so enjoyable.

So, if you’re a reader of contemporary romance, check out Ava’s Prize. It’s a heartwarming, delightful read that does not disappoint.”

Ava changed directions midstep and veered toward the buffet. She strolled along the table, stopping as if considering her options. One glance over her shoulder confirmed her bathroom reporter still watched her. Ava grabbed a plate and piled food on it, in no particular order. Stacking the crackers on top of the cheese, she balanced fruit on top of the crackers. Adding a strawberry for color, she studied the plate. If she added another layer, would it collapse like she worried her own world might? Perhaps being a risk-taker wasn’t her thing after all.

You bought what?

Kyle Quinn, my hero in my new release, Ava’s Prize-a sweet contemporary romance from Harlequin Heartwarming-is an inventor. Kyle invented a medical earbud that sold for a rather large profit and became a popular commercial product on the market.

“The romance in the book is fabulous. Talk about two people that didn’t want to fall in love but did. And then fought it every step of the way. It’s plausible, relatable and sweet.”

Senior Pets Need Love Too

In my new release, Ava’s Prize-a sweet contemporary romance from Harlequin Heartwarming-my heroine, Ava Andrews fosters senior cats and dogs thanks to her good friend, Sophie Callahan. Sophie owns The Pampered Pooch, a pet store in the city and takes in rescues quite often. (The Charm Offensive, Book 1, City by the Bay Stories). Ava fosters the senior pets as often as she can, preferring to spread her love around to the older animals until Sophie finds the dogs and cats their forever homes.

Outside the conference room door, Kyle stopped Ava with a hand on her arm. “By the way, I’m flattered.”

One side of his mouth tipped up, drawing Ava’s gaze. “Flattered?”

“That you’re trying to win me, too.” His voice was quiet and tempting.

Ava jerked her gaze away from his mouth. “I’m not…”

Kyle touched her chin with his knuckles, closing her mouth and stopping her protest. “But there can’t be anything more between us than this.”

“I enjoyed reading this storyline, as it was different than most other romances out there. I also enjoy characters who are deeper with more complexities that they have to work through. It allows for measurable growth, which you want to find in a good book. And I like those romances where an unlikely friendship and romance can blossom from what seems to be an improbable place.”

“I enjoyed the witty commentary of this book. Ava and Kyle are great. . . . This book has it’s highs and lows that can be hard to connect with but the highs definitely out weigh the lows.”

Hi. 🙂 I’m so glad you can join me on this blog tour for my holiday release: HEIRESS’S ROYAL BABY BOMBSHELL. It is the second book in the Catteneo’s Christmas Miracles trilogy. This is Noemi Cattaneo and Crown Prince Maximilian Steiner-Wolf’s snowy, heart-warming, Christmas romance…

She glanced around the room but didn’t see any sign of him. Disappointment assailed her. This wasn’t like her. She could take guys or leave them. She thought of asking Stephania if she knew the man’s name but shrugged off the idea. Her life had enough complications. She didn’t need more.

But just the same, her mood had dimmed. Her problems once again started to crowd in around the edges of her mind. Needing some fresh air, she stepped out onto the terrace. There was just enough of the evening sun for her to admire the distant mountain range as a gentle breeze caressed her skin.

“Beautiful.”

The deep rich voice had her turning her head. And there stood the intriguing stranger with the mesmerizing eyes. His voice held a slight accent. She couldn’t place it, but it was extremely sexy—just like the rest of him.

“HEIRESS’S ROYAL BABY BOMBSHELL is a sweet story about two people who didn’t realize what they had when they had it, but by chance, are brought back together at the right time to give themselves a second chance, but with a baby on the way thrown into the mix to complicate things. The setting is at Christmastime, but doesn’t over-dominate the story, making this a read that can be read at any time of the year. There are also some nice familial and small-town aspects that added to the story. An overall enjoyable read!”

He didn’t want to be here.

Not really.

Crown Prince Maximilian Steiner-Wolf, known to his friends as Max, sat in the back seat of his sports utility vehicle as one of his three bodyguards maneuvered it along the windy road in the Swiss Alps. His bodyguard and friend, Roc, sat in the passenger seat while Shaun, a bodyguard of similar stature and looks, sat next to him. He couldn’t go anywhere without at least a small security detail.

Being the crown prince came with certain nonnegotiable restrictions. One of them was his safety. He may insist on traveling but the king demanded that his safety always be taken into consideration. It was a hassle but the guards were very good at becoming invisible unless their presence was required.

“After reading this book, I am now a fan of the series and of hers. I wanted to just read a chapter before bed and wound up staying up until I was done with it! I just loved Max and Noemi’s story. It was so sweet, delightful, and romantic. . . . I highly recommend Heiress’s Royal Baby Bombshell. I am rating it a well deserved Five Plus Stars. I would rate it one hundred stars if I could.”

“It’s the Prince of Ostania!” someone shouted.

Everyone on the sidewalk turned in his direction.

Quickly Max’s security guards flanked him. None spoke. They didn’t have to. The serious look on their faces said they meant business. Being recognized didn’t happen all the time. However, it happened more than Max would like.

Security escorted him around the vehicle. He forced a smile as he passed the tourists and then dashed into the shop. He hoped the people wouldn’t follow him.

Noemi was on the edge of the group when an excited buzz rushed through the crowd. She paused and turned to a young woman who was holding up her cell phone as though to snap a picture.

“Do you know what all the fuss is about?” Noemi asked.

The young woman with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail smiled brightly. “It’s the best thing. Crown Prince Maximilian Steiner-Wolf has just arrived.”

Noemi had heard the name before, but she knew nothing of the man. It seemed as though she was in the minority as the crowd continued to grow.

“The plot moved smoothly and I finished the book in a few hours, and the characters were all very interesting to learn about. I even liked how the story ended, and the little epilogue was adorable. This was definitely a sweet Christmas romance novel! I will definitely be picking up the next book in the Cattaneos’ Christmas Miracles series.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new holiday romance novel.”

Noemi had so many questions for Max, but they lodged in her throat. This wasn’t the time or the place to rehash the not-so-distant past.

“Come with me,” he said.

Not waiting for an answer, he took her hand and led her to a waiting black SUV. With the help of two men, they reached the vehicle without people stepping in their way.

She wasn’t sure it was wise being alone with him, not when he still filled her dreams, but it beat being in public where everyone was watching them and eavesdropping. Once inside, she turned to him. She needed answers. She needed to know why he’d kept his title from her. She needed to know so much.

“Heiress’s Royal Baby Bombshell by Jennifer Faye is the second book in The Cattaneos’ Christmas Miracles series. I like Noemi and Max. A secret baby story that’s about to become scandal is so hard not to like. . . . This is a sweet quick read.”

Max gave himself a mental jerk. Now that he’d found Noemi again, the last thing he wanted to do was scare her off. What were the chances of them running into each other again?

Slim.

Had she figured out his true identity and planned this reunion? Not possible. He hadn’t decided on coming to Mont Coeur until last night. Even then, he’d only told his trusted staff.

“This was such a fun, entertaining “Christmas romance”! . . . There were enough twists and momentous occasions, that the reader never once got bored and tempted to “skip to the end”. This will truly add highlight to the romance lover’s Holiday entertainment.”

“I honestly enjoy how Ms Faye sets up her characters to find each other – how they seemingly are not meant to be involved but then, there is a door which opens to allow it. She finds ways to let them present themselves in the muddling glow of their lives – here we have two persons who are dearly known in the public eye but their facing hurdles that no one would want for themselves. . . . Faye does a good job of setting up how this hangs on the heart of her characters.”

He is a prince?

How is that possible?

Noemi had so many conflicting emotions flooding her body that she didn’t know what to say to him. Part of her longed to fall into his arms and pick up where they’d left off before. But logic told her to tread carefully. Max was a very powerful man. There was no way she was going to blurt out that she was pregnant with his baby. Finding out that he was royalty changed everything. She needed time to think.

“Have dinner with me?” His voice stirred her from her thoughts.

She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I pre-ordered Sebastian’s story and bought Leo’s. Yes, I HAVE to know their stories, too. Yes, I loved the characters that much. . . . the ending was just so swoon-worthy. Oh and the epilogue. . . . As I said, I just fell in love with this family and I can’t wait to get my paperback copies of Leo and Sebastian’s stories. Perfect for Christmas.”

Heiress’s Royal Baby Bombshell
(The Cattaneos’ Christmas Miracles #2)
By Jennifer Faye
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages
November 61st 2018 by Harlequin Romance

One-night miracle…

For the Crown Prince!

In this The Cattaneos’ Christmas Miracles story, rebel royal Max believes his infertility has cost him the throne — until heiress Noemi reveals she’s carrying his baby! And with his country’s future at stake, Max must claim his heir! Noemi is hesitant and fiercely protective of their unborn baby, but at his snow-covered palace can Max offer her the most precious Christmas gift ever — the chance to become a family…

Other Books in the Series

Welcome back to Shores of Indian Lake series! For those of you who haven’t visited my series yet or known my characters, I think you’ll love this story of Beatrice Wilcox and Rand Nelson equally as all the other Heartwarming people of Indian Lake…

Indian Lake, Indiana

July

THE SUMMER NIGHT sounds of chirping tree frogs and cicadas drifted through the open screen window of Beatrice Wilcox’s sixty-year-old log cabin. Loving the wildlife melodies, she closed her eyes, her weary body spent from a long day with ten rowdy, sometimes frustratingly taciturn children and preteens.

But running this camp was her dream. She wanted to create a summer idyll for kids who faced challenges in their young lives, as she had when she’d been a camper herself as a child.

When I think of forest fires, I remember living in Los Angeles, California for over a decade and how so many of our decisions were based on the constant of fires.

We lived on the world’s tiniest houseboat in Marina Del Rey ON the water and far from anything resembling a forest. Yet,my husband’s elderly aunt and uncle lived in Novato, on top of a mountain surrounded by nothing but forest…

“Don’t worry if you have not yet read Lanigan’s other Shores of Indian Lake books. Rescued by the Firefighter can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone. So, if you are in need of a sweet contemporary romance, make sure to check this one out—I recommend it.”

Cindy came rushing up with five-year-old Ricky Sanders, the youngest child at the camp that week. He was a foster child, hoping to be legally adopted by his new foster parents, and was Cindy’s personal favorite. “Did one of you get the Dunning boys?”

“Eli and Chris are in the last cabin,” Beatrice replied. “I thought you were getting them.”

“I was…” Cindy hesitated, looking at Ricky. She put Ricky in his child’s seat and belted him in. She turned away from the boy so that only Beatrice could hear her. Nearly in a whisper Cindy said, “They weren’t there. That’s why I thought one of you might have gotten to them already.”

RAND NELSON PULLED his fire engine to a stop in front of the camp and stared over the steering wheel in disbelief at what he was seeing: a woman running toward the fire.

“No way in…”

He jumped out the driver’s door, his heavy leather-booted feet hitting the ground with a thud. He grabbed his thermoplastic helmet off the console, then his goggles and pigskin gloves.

Rand had fought fires from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Idaho to California. He knew exactly the kind of conditions that it took for Mother Nature to burn. But there had been no thunderstorms here in Indian Lake. No lightning bolts. And not quite enough heat to spark spontaneous combustion. No, this was a fire started by human hands. Rand would bet his reputation on it.

And if he was right, Chris had all the more reason to stay clear.

Rand had one shot at bringing out Chris. He had to take it.

“Chris! I know you can hear me. It’s safe now. Eli is safe.”

Rand kept going, toward the most burned section of forest. It was his guess that it had been near here where the fire started.

“Such a touching story! With a return visit to Shores of Indian Lake, we see lots of the old regulars and meet some news ones as we embark on a heartwarming story of hope. . . . overall a really sweet story of love when you least expect it and reaching for it even when it’s outside of your comfort zone. Sweet kids, a sexy fireman and a story about reaching for the stars and achieving them!”

“From the start I knew that I was going to enjoy these two characters. A caregiver and a firefighter, two people you want to live happily ever after. . . . The ending definitely made me teary eyed, and I can not wait to read more from this author. I would love to read up and see how these characters are doing. Especially the kids and the camp. I am giving this book a 5/5.”

“Author, Catherine Lanigan, successfully weaves enticing romance into her otherwise, suspense gram stories. . . . it has enough intrigue and writing which keeps it interesting, that the reader still will not want to put it down. The research she did on the subject matters covered in this tale was remarkable.”

Seriously, when you see all this gear these guys and gals have strapped to their backs and that they carry INTO a fire, all I can think is how strong they have to be to perform their job.

In RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER, Rand Nelson saves Beatrice Wilcox and little Eli Dunning from the raging forest fire. He carries Beatrice and Eli at the same time out of the fire…

“A sweet story that fits in perfectly with the Indian Lake universe, Rescued by the Firefighter reminds us of the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds. Layered characters that are genuinely likable, a charming setting, and great romantic tension – all of these elements make this a great choice for a cozy weekend read!”

Wincing, she glanced up and saw him.

He was leaning against the doorjamb. Gone were the Nomex suit, goggles and gloves. The helmet. She noticed his thick, dark, nearly black hair first. A hunk of shining, slightly damp hair hung over his strong forehead. His jawline looked like it had been carved from granite. In fact, everything about him was strong. He didn’t need a firefighter’s suit to make his shoulders wide; his presence filled the doorway, the room, the expanse between them. He wore a black short-sleeved T-shirt that stretched over biceps that could only have been built by hours in a gym. His black jeans fitted close to his narrow hips and muscular thighs. He wore no jewelry. No watch, no wedding ring, no tats. There was nothing extraneous or ornamental about this man. It wasn’t necessary—his whole being shouted, “I’m a man.”

He pushed himself off the door and took a short step inside. “You okay?”

“This novel is full of a cast of characters that readers are sure to enjoy, from the adults and their sweet romance to the children and their fun inclusion in the book. This is a touching and heart-warming sweet contemporary romance that lovers of the Harlequin Heartwarming line are sure to enjoy!”

“I liked how the layers were set early-on, how Lanigan gives you a glimpse of where she wants this story to go direction wise but holds back some of the key bits as well. She wants you to wait it out and see how it unfolds – taking it gently and allowing you to understand her characters without prejudgement.”

Although it’s romantic and fun to conjure visions of me interviewing a crew of firefighters about their emotions and dealings in relationships, that was not quite the case. I did talk to both husbands and wives who deal with the stress of one or both being employed in high risk fields but to be honest, their attitude was “everything in life is high risk”…

“This is a fun, sweet story. Though there is a dramatic rescue at the onset, it is not a suspenseful or action-filled story, it is more about the relationship between the main characters.”

“Do yourself a favor and read this series and particularly this book. It has heart, some serious issues that need to be dealt with but overall, I sniffled, sighed and I’m thinking about Rand and Bea. That’s great storytelling.”

“For readers who have been following Catherine Lanigan’s Shores of Indian Lake series, there are plenty of familiar faces (names?) within the pages of Rescued by the Firefighter. And for those who have missed the previous books, this may just be the best time to jump into them because Beatrice and Rand are brand new characters who (at least to my knowledge. But full disclosure: I have read most but not every book in the series) haven’t been introduced before.”

“I’ll walk you to your truck,” she said and turned to grab her crutches from the porch railing.

“No need. I can see the way.”

“Good night vision, too, huh?”

He decided he didn’t want their time together to end, so he stood at the bottom step as she followed him down. “You’re getting pretty good with those things.”

“I’m trying,” she said and walked alongside him to his truck.

“Rescued by the Firefighter by Catherine Lanigan is a great read. This book is a welcoming visit back to Shores of Indian Lake. . . . I enjoyed this exciting heartwarming romance.”

Rescued by the Firefighter
(Shores of Indian Lake #10)
By Catherine Lanigan
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
November 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He saved her life…

But will he destroy her dreams?

Firefighter Rand Nelson is tall and handsome and has literally walked through an inferno for Beatrice Wilcox. He’s a hero…and that’s exactly the problem. Beatrice knows all too well the risks of loving a man with a dangerous career. But when Rand’s report threatens her beloved children’s camp, Beatrice can’t refuse his offer of help…even though she knows they’re both playing with fire.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over forty-five published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over twenty-four languages. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid foundation to pen a collection of compelling and informative true stories of teen addicts. Ms. Lanigan’s SHORES OF INDIAN LAKE series for HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING includes LOVE SHADOWS, HEART’S DESIRE , A FINE YEAR FOR LOVE, KATIA’S PROMISE, FEAR OF FALLING, SOPHIE’S PATH, PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM, FAMILY OF HIS OWN, HIS BABY DILEMMA, RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER and MY RACING HEART (2019).

Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs. She writes a monthly blog for Heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com.

A Paranormal Mystery in Three Months to Change

Something that came to me very easily (for the most part!) when I wrote my newest and “bestest” novel, Three Months to Change is that having a background in ghost hunting and other paranormal concepts, those pieces fell easily into place and made sense in the book. The reality of it mixed so well with the fiction, that no one questioned the premise…

An Interview with Three Months to Change Cover Model Angela Tallent

I was very lucky finding just the right model for the cover of Three Months to Change. My actress/model daughter became my alter-ego as I moved through my writing process. I’d see one of her photo shoots and had fallen in love with a few of the images. I decided to ask her to be my cover and to answer some questions!…

“I loved Lenora’s story. This is the perfect time of the year to read this type of book. It has all things spooky that I love to read. I had to keep reading to find out where Lenora would go next. “

Now he was looking around the room uncomfortably, his gaze falling on the wooden door to her basement.

“What?” she asked, trying to jar his thought.

“Is that your basement?” he asked, seemingly trying to be casual.

“Yup,” she said, and then raised her eyebrows. “Why?”

“You should probably leave the door closed from now on.” His voice was flat and he kept looking at the door.

“Why?” Lenora asked with a frown.

Lenora was standing in front of the pulsing door and she could feel her own energy skin pulsing right along with the door. It caused her brain to pulse as well, and it was so loud she thought she’d run screaming any moment. But at that last second she felt Frankie at her elbow and she glanced over at him.

“I’m here,” he whispered.

She had no clue why she was allowing Rex to drive her back to that house of horrors. One hand clutched the door handle of his sports car, her white knuckles trying to pull her thoughts from the sharp twists of the road. She wished Frankie was with her. He’d offered before and she’d declined. This time she would have welcomed his rational thinking.

The sounds went on for a time, and then there was silence. She stayed put for the better part of an hour, though it seemed longer. “I can’t stay here,” she whispered out loud. “Whatever is going on down there, I need to find Rex and get out.” She knew this was not a good idea. Rex would not have warned her to stay behind the door if there were no dangers to consider.

Three Months to Change and the Fabulous Writing Light Beings!

I’ve been writing fiction for as long as I can remember—some of it good and some of it (especially when I was learning the ropes) not so much. It was around 2006, however, that I realized that while I was writing a nonfiction ghost book, my words were coming from a source outside myself…

Frankie smiled, melting her heart. He said inside her mind, Don’t worry. I’ll be right there. You just have to look around the room to see me.

Lenora cleared her throat and stretched her arms. Turning to Rex, she said, “I’m ready.”

Working on the Audio for Three Months to Change!

I do quite a bit of short audio work for my other paranormal work (www.roseberrybooks.com), and it’s something I love doing. It brings a whole new perspective (my personal perspective) to the work. So when my publisher, Visionary Living, owned by famed paranormal author and researcher Rosemary Ellen Guiley, said that I could do the reading for the audio book of Three Months to Change, I was ecstatic! I (and she) think that the author of the book is the best person to do its reading, especially in fiction, because we are the ones who know the characters so intimately and the story so well. I found, though, that I had my job cut out for me when I took on this lengthy audio book…

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…

Three Months to Change

By Dinah Roseberry

Our Christmas Promise:
A Christmas Wedding Story
(12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas)
By Tara Randel
Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Novella
ebook, 129 Pages
October 9, 2018

Melissa Upton and Justin Caswell have been best friends since they were kids. Now, they’re all grown up and things have changed, for Melissa at least. She’s content running the family bridal shop, Candlelight and Lace. Excited about an upcoming wedding. She doesn’t even mind attending weddings with Justin, until he dubs them wedding buddies. And now that he’s back in Christmas Town, Melissa realizes she wants more. If she goes after her heart will she lose her best friend?

Justin is back home to take care of business for his estranged father while he recovers from a heart attack. He’s launched his own successful career, is happy with his single status. Until he feels the distance Melissa has put between them. What’s up with his best friend? The more time they spend together, involved in Christmas Town holiday preparations, the more he realizes she’s hoping for more in their relationship. Can Justin see that being in love, and remaining best friends, is the best of both worlds?

Excerpt

About the Author

Blitz Giveaway

Hello, romance readers! Welcome to COMING HOME TO YOU, the last instalment in my Greene Family trilogy, featuring Mel Greene and Daphne Merlotte in their fake romance turned real! You can meet Mel first in A Roof Over Their Heads where Mel appeared as the wise and endearing older brother to the hero, Seth Greene. I always intended that Mel remain as a minor character but my editor at the time suggested that he warranted his own story. You must be kidding, I thought. Mel is far from your typical alpha hero: good-looking but not gorgeous, witty but not particularly learned, hugely likeable but not swoon-worthy. Mel commands one trait above all others though that makes him the perfect romantic hero: deserving. Mel deserves his happily ever after, and once readers met him, they were on side with my editor. Give us his story!…

“There are moments of nostalgia, mixed with bitter, deep-rooted pain that emotionally twisted my heart, but there are also plenty of sweet and slightly humorous moments that balanced everything nicely. The romance is gentle and progresses at a nice pace, even though it is on the fast side.

For me, it was a character driven story and this cast is unusual and unpredictable, which made this a fun escape.”

[Mel] hitched himself higher up in his seat. “I guess I’m wondering how to go about making a woman feel that she matters when…” He needed to proceed carefully. He’d already said plenty to Daphne that had come out wrong. “When showing how much she matters might scare her off, too.”

“Why would a woman be scared off by hearing how much she was loved?”

Well, now. He gunned the truck to merge onto the highway, ahead of a fast-approaching red sports car, which immediately switched lanes and started coming up on his left. “I guess she might feel she has to give back the same amount, and I wouldn’t expect her to.”

“M.K. Stelmack’s Coming Home to You is such a sweet romance. With characters a little older than the typical romantic protagonists, a humorous first meeting, a subsequent fake relationship, a cast of quirky secondary characters, and a whole lot of healing to be done, it’s an easily enjoyable and completely heartwarming story.”

“Coming Home to You hums with a mix of nostalgia and humor, with a healthy dose of sweet romance and layered characters. You will smile and laugh, as well as shed a few tears, along the way as Mel and Daphne’s pretend relationship starts to blur into reality more and more. Daphne’s godmother Fran is a hoot – and also the source of a few tears on my part – and I could easily see her scenes playing out in a movie. A lovely read with a range of emotions – all done well.”

7 Tips to Making a Fake Romance Real According to Mel
(A fictitious reprint of an article to appear in the Valentine edition of the local community magazine.)

Just to be clear, I’m not an advocate of faking anything, especially love, so I’d better give a bit of a background here. I’d met Daphne only twice before—once when her godmother rammed their RV into the local Tim Hortons and the second time later that day when I drove her back from the hospital. The third time was nearly a week later when I was sitting in their RV, waiting on lemonade Daphne was making. Things were a tetch touchy between the two of them and I admit to voicing a cross word at Fran, the godmother, for her uncalled-for rudeness to Daphne. But I felt stunned—like I’d fallen clear off a roof I was shingling (I’m a roofer by trade) when Daphne squeezed in tight against me on the couch and planted a real long, soft kiss on me, right in front of her godmother….

Later, Daphne attributed her next move to a fear for Fran, who would soon be dead, and for herself, who would soon be alone. And to the warmth in Mel’s gaze and his propensity to settle for anyone.

Still holding the lemon, she walked stiff and slow, like a bride, over to Mel and sat beside him at an angle so her knees grazed his. “Yes,” she said. “There’s something you should know, Fran. All those walks I took. I wasn’t alone. Mel and I have had some very, very good…talks.”

She slid her hand over his knee and applied gentle pressure. He froze. Fran was absolutely riveted. “Well, Mel. What do you think?”

“…After reading this book, you will feel uplifted and filled with the sweetness that comes from reading a heartwarming romance like this.

I definitely appreciated the ages of the characters. I am only slightly younger than our two lovebirds in the book, and in my opinion, there are not enough romances out there with mature couples. So thanks to the author for reminding us that just because you turn fifty does not mean you can no longer find love.”

10 Tips on RV Living from a Newbie
(A short fictitious article Daphne Merlotte sold to a travel magazine about RV living.)

1. Start short. My first trip was with my godmother from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Spirit Lake, Alberta—a distance of nearly 5000 km (3000 miles). My second trip was not three months later, when I did the trip again and then carried on to Vancouver, another 1000 km (600 miles), and then back again to Spirit Lake, for a grand total of 7000 km (4200 miles). By the end of it all, I was a veteran of RV life, but quite honestly, the most pleasant was the shortest trip—from Vancouver to Spirit Lake. Perhaps that had less to do with distance than with Tip #2…

“Is that why you kissed me in full view of Tom? So I’d look good in front of him?”

From her expression, he’d guessed right.

“It’s not that I consider myself a replacement, you understand,” she said. “I couldn’t compete with Linda. But, at times, it’s nice to have…anybody.”

He nudged her chin up until her clear blue eyes met his. “You’re not anybody,” he said. “You’re somebody. My somebody.”

“First and foremost, I have to say, I loved reading a romance where the main characters are finding love (for the first time) at an age I am approaching (fifty). As someone who is still single in her mid-forties, books like Coming Home to You resonate well with me…

M. K. Stelmack delivers a story of healing and hope. . . . And I, for one, found it refreshing and uplifting.”

Romance with All the Feels

COMING HOME TO YOU, is another story that delivers a huge emotional punch. So says my editor, and I trust her explicitly. It’s why romance readers choose this genre, right? Everyone thinks they are just love stories, but we know they are stories that plow through the entire field of emotions, unearthing the metaphorical dirt on our hero and heroine…

He drove to an apartment building a block from the downtown. His place. About to turn down into the underground parking, Mel braked. “I never thought to ask,” he said. “Would you prefer a hotel? I’d pay until this is all sorted.”

“I’m fine. If you are. Either way. Whichever you prefer.” Because unless she wanted to clamber into a Dumpster, she really was at his mercy.

He eased off the brake. “I prefer you with me.”

“Lovers of clean romance, add Coming Home to You to your lists now! Coming Home to You has humor, romance, heartbreak, reconciliation, and great characters. I love that the characters in the series are older than in a typical romance…

I highly recommend this book!”

Love Over Forty

Love over forty? Fifty? And beyond? Sure, it’s possible. It happens all the time, but not so much in a romance novel. COMING HOME TO YOU is an exception in the genre. My hero, MEL GREENE, celebrates his 51st birthday in the story and his love interest, Daphne Merlotte, is 49. Both are childless, although the families of his siblings are core to Mel’s daily life. Surveys among Harlequin readers indicate that most readers favor younger H/Hs, so I expect that a few of you might give my story a bit of the side-eye—I understand! But stay with me here as I go over the unique and compelling challenges a mature couple face…

“Do you want breakfast?”

Daphne looked up. “If that’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all.” He poured so much truth into that statement, it came out soft and mushy. Daphne colored.

“This is a fun romance. . . . I highly recommend this book to other readers. I like Spirit Lake where this contemporary romance takes place. It sounds like a great place to live.”

Coming Home to You

(A True North Hero #3)

By M. K. Stelmack

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages

October 2nd 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She wants a temporary fake romance

Can he make it real…and forever?

Driving across the country in an RV with her terminally ill godmother was not Daphne Merlotte’s idea. Nor was crashing the RV into a small-town coffee shop, nearly hitting local good guy Mel Greene. Now Daphne will do anything to keep her godmother from continuing the trip–even asking Mel to be her fake boyfriend. But there’s nothing fake about Mel’s intentions–he wants a real romance!

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Other Books in the Series

About the Author

M. K. Stelmack writes contemporary romances set in Spirit Lake which is closely based on the small town in Alberta, Canada, where she lives with pets who outnumber the humans three to one, and where dust bunnies run unchecked. She aims to tell stories that don’t shy away from the tough questions but still leave readers feeling uplifted. She is the author of two previous Harlequin Heartwarming titles, A Roof Over Their Heads and Building a Family. She loves hearing from readers. Find her at her website or on Facebook

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Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive ebooks of A Roof Over Their Heads and Building a Family plus a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card
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The Rancher’s Rescue

About the Author

The most important thing to know about me is that I’m basically a sixteen-year-old trapped in an adult’s body. It’s why I feel such a great connection to all of my characters and why I love to write romantic comedy. The kid in me just wants to be goofy. Besides being a writer; I’m a wife, mother of five, volleyball enthusiast and home decorating guru. My list of favorites includes: reading, Christmas, pedicures, dessert, steak, Arizona winters and most importantly, Diet Coke.

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Cover Reveal Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon eGift Card
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Ends September 5th

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