DELICIOUS HEAT: #NewRelease in the Bangers Tavern series from Sadira Stone

Sadira Stone joins me with book 3 in her Bangers Tavern series which just released on January 4, 2022. I love the premise of this story; imagine finding the love of your life when you're pregnant with your ex's baby. Talk about conflict! Sadira tells us five things about DELICIOUS HEAT that give us great insight to this story and to the complete series. Thanks for joining me, Sadira!

5 Things to Know About Delicious Heat: Bangers Tavern Romance 3

1. Why a pregnant heroine?

Anna and Diego’s meet-cute played out in Book one of the Bangers Tavern series, Christmas Rekindled, the story of Anna’s older sister Charlie and River, Bangers’ flirty bartender. Readers asked for Anna and Diego’s story, and I was glad to oblige. They’re so stinkin’ cute together! 

2. What was the hardest part of writing this story?

Anticipation of reader push-back gave me many a sleepless night, but in the end, I wrote the story as it wanted to be told. “No cheating” is a hard and fast rule for many romance readers, and Anna is technically still married throughout her courtship with Diego, though she’s trying her best to end the marriage. Here’s the thing: it took me a long, long time to legally untangle myself from my toxic ex who, like Anna’s Brock, kept throwing up obstacles to the divorce out of spite. And I fell in love after we separated but before the divorce was final. That does not make me a bad person, nor is Anna a bad person or mother for accepting love when it came her way. 

3. Is Bangers Tavern based on a real bar?

Kinda/sorta. Tacoma’s 6th Avenue District is very real and very much as described in the Bangers Tavern Series. The bar itself is an amalgam of a few bars on The Ave, other bars I’ve known and loved, and my imagination. I wanted to create a place like TV’s Cheers, where everyone feels welcome, where folks can relax and play darts or pool, meet friends, dance, sing karaoke, play trivia, celebrate holidays, eat fabulous bar food—a home away from home experience. 

4. Why foodie romance?

Honestly, is anything sexier than flirting over a delicious meal? I’m a frustrated wannabe chef at heart, so I love writing about foodie characters. 

5. Why is found family so important in your stories?

Modern life often takes us far away geographically from our families of origin, and our blood relations don’t always understand or appreciate us. Yet we all need a clan who accept us no matter what, our family of the heart. These kinds of relationships have enriched my life, and I love constructing them for my characters.

 

Blurb:

Cupid has lousy timing.

After kicking her cheating husband to the curb, nurse Anna Khoury discovers she’s pregnant. When Bangers Tavern’s hunky chef makes heart eyes at her, she dismisses that delicious thrill as the last thing she needs. Single motherhood will take all her strength and focus. Anna’s battered heart can’t take another blow.  

Chef Diego Vargas is aiming higher than burgers and tater tots. His dream—his own food truck, the Empanada Angel, but he’ll need his family’s support to pull it off. Meeting Anna leaves him thunderstruck, even though his attraction to her threatens all his plans. Call it fate, call him crazy, but he’s determined to prove he’s in it for keeps. 

With a belligerent ex-husband and two overprotective families set on breaking them up, Anna and Diego will need more than red-hot passion to pull them through. His career and her baby’s future are on the line. 

Come back to Bangers Tavern for a spicy tale of forbidden love that will warm your heart…and other parts…and make you hungry for empanadas!

Pre-order links:

Order your copy of Delicious Heat today!

https://books2read.com/deliciousheat

Excerpt:

When the tots were crispy and golden, Diego layered on the toppings: shredded extra-sharp Tillamook cheddar, crumbled pepper bacon, paper-thin slices of green onion, sauteed garlic mushrooms, pickled sweet-hot pepper slices, sour cream, and a drizzle of his house-made spicy ketchup. Heart attack on a plate. He hoped Charlie’s sister was hungry. Was she as pretty as Charlie? 

He smoothed his apron and blotted his sweaty forehead. “I’m just gonna deliver these.” 

At the bar, he found bartenders Kiara and River, along with all three servers, huddled around a brunette knockout in a curve-skimming red dress. 

She glanced up. Their gazes met and held. Everything else slowed down.

Those last few steps to the bar felt like being towed through honey. Her espresso-dark eyes widened, sparkling under the Christmas lights. Her plump lips parted. Her chest rose and fell.

She’s a goddess. 

He set the container of tots before her, removed his cap, and scrubbed a hand through his squashed hair. She echoed the gesture, winding a chestnut curl around her slender fingers.  

Abuelita had told him the story of when she and Abuelo first met. “It was like a golden rope wrapped around my heart and pulled me to him. It holds us together still.” 

At the time, he’d laughed off her hyperbole. But now, in this electric moment, Diego understood exactly what she meant.

“Hi.” The angel murmured, her voice low and musical, like a cello. “Did you make these?”

Dumbstruck by her beauty, he could only nod.

She lifted a tot to her lips, inhaled the steam rolling off it, and sighed.

He thanked the kitchen gods for the apron hiding his erection. 

She took a bite, then her head lolled back on a groan. “Soooo good.”

Charlie narrowed her eyes and moved closer to her sister, bristling with protective vibes. He’d do the same if someone was eyeing his little sister like a tasty snack.  

Say something, idiot! He cleared his throat. “They go really well with the Port Angeles Amber.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward the beer taps.

Her gaze dropped, and the corner of her mouth hitched up in a shy half-smile. “Wish I could try it, but I’m pregnant.”

No ring on her left hand, but a pale indentation where one had recently been. Divorced? Please let her be single. Please, please, please.

“Oh. Well then, enjoy, Miss…” 

“Anna.” Though it didn’t seem possible, her wide smile made her even more beautiful.

Flushed and breathless, he backed toward the kitchen and bonked into something soft. 

“Watch where you’re going, Romeo.” With a chuckle, Dawn grasped his shoulders, spun him around, and sent him on his way with a gentle shove. 

What are you doing? his common sense shrieked. She’s pregnant! But he allowed himself a final glance over his shoulder. She popped another tot into her lush mouth and winked. He waggled his fingers and pushed through the swinging doors, then collapsed against the wall, clutching his heart.

“Whatsa matter with you?” Shelby asked with a snort.

He closed his eyes and heaved a happy sigh. “I just met the woman I’m going to marry.”

Order your copy of Delicious Heat: Bangers Tavern Romance 3:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HRJW5CN

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162472384 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/delicious-heat

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1592832791

Author Bio:

Award-winning contemporary romance author Sadira Stone spins steamy, smoochy tales set in small businesses—a quirky bookstore, a neighborhood bar, a vintage boutique... Her stories highlight found family, friendship, and the sizzling chemistry that pulls unlikely partners together. When she emerges from her writing cave in Las Vegas, Nevada (which she seldom does), she can be found in belly dance class, or strumming her ukulele, perhaps exploring the West with her charming husband, or cooking up a storm, and always gobbling all the romance books. For a guaranteed HEA (and no cliffhangers!) visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.

Visit Sadira on All the Socials!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadirastone/

Author newsletter: https://eepurl.com/dKLMP2

#NewRelease in The Bangers Tavern Series by Sadira Stone

Sadira Stone drops in to tells us about OPPOSITES IGNITE, the newest release in her Bangers Tavern series. Sometimes opposites are the hottest matches! OPPOSITES IGNITE released March 15, 2021. Thanks for being here, Sadira!

Blurb:

A mismatch sparks the hottest flames.

Blue-haired, buxom, and bodacious, server Rosie needs her job at Bangers Tavern, where her work family adores her weirdness and supports her hunt for a tattoo apprenticeship. When too much New Year’s bubbly tumbles her into a sweet, shy coworker’s bed, she craves more. But guys like Eddie never stick with girls like her. 

Strait-laced, soft-spoken, and skinny, barback Eddie has a huge crush on his curvy, tattooed coworker. Their New Year’s surprise is a dream come true—until grandma walks in on them.  Eddie begs Rosie to fake-date him to appease his old-fashioned family. He’s already keeping secrets, so what’s the harm in one more? But the longer he pretends with Rosie, the deeper he falls.

Their boss lays down the law: No relationship drama at work, or you’re fired. Rosie’s everything Eddie ever wanted—but to keep her, he’ll have to drop a terrifying truth bomb on his loving but stifling family. And Rosie must trust her bruised heart with the guy who nearly crushed it.

Come back to Bangers Tavern for a steamy, laugh-out-loud, opposites-attract romance that ignites in all the worst ways—and the best! 

Excerpt:

But why did Dawn hang mistletoe from the bar’s ceiling if she didn’t want people to kiss? Eddie would wait until the boss was in her office, then find some excuse to linger beneath that clump of green, his eyebrows flicking up in a flirtatious question. You wanna?

Damn it, she did wanna. His crooked smile was so tempting. And his lips were so soft, his kisses so sweet—unlike the slobbery mauling she got from most guys she dated. Desire simmered under his cool surface, making her want to dive deeper.

New Year’s Eve served up the perfect excuse. When the bar staff toasted the new year, it was so easy to land in Eddie’s arms. So easy to keep dancing as their coworkers filed out, leaving them alone beneath the kitschy disco ball, its dizzy sparkle whirling them around and around. 

And now he slept beside her, sunlight glinting off his wavy brown hair, glossy lashes fanned across his cheekbones, dark scruff shadowing his razor-sharp jaw. So pretty, so vulnerable, so one hundred percent wrong for her. Clean-cut guys like Eddie never stuck around with girls like her. God knows she’d bashed her head against that brick wall enough times to learn her lesson.

Breath held, she gingerly removed his hand from her breast and wriggled toward the edge of the bed. Eddie sighed and squirmed into the space she’d vacated, nuzzling her pillow. No, she corrected herself, his pillow. Gotta get out of here.

Rising on unsteady legs, she turned back for a final look. Sleep melted his solemn daytime expression into peaceful sweetness. His bare shoulders rose on a shiver. As she bent to tuck the quilt around him, her boob brushed his arm. 

“Huh?” His eyes fluttered open. His brow rumpled, then smoothed as a bleary smile spread across his pillow-creased face. “Good morning,” he croaked and pushed up on his elbow. His gaze sharpened as it raked over her naked body. “Wow.”

“Yeah. Wow.” She waved a limp hand over the bed. “Last night was, uh—really something.” She shuffled backward, stifling the impulse to cover her bits. After all, he’d seen every inch of her. He’d sampled it all, too. Twice, if she recalled correctly. The details were still kind of blurry, but she remembered lots of giggling, Eddie’s silky hair tickling her inner thighs, the slap of flesh on flesh, and a climax so powerful she nearly blacked out. 

Buy Links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WLKB3S8

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/opposites-ignite-sadira-stone/1138878794?ean=2940162422211

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/opposites-ignite/id1554956375

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57191079-opposites-ignite

Universal book link: https://books2read.com/u/m0wjvP

Author Bio: 

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 from her new home in Washington State, U.S.A. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays darts (pretty well), plays guitar (badly), and gobbles all the books. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.

I’d love to hear from you! Please visit me on all the socials.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadirastone/

Author newsletter: https://eepurl.com/dKLMP2

It's a Bangers' Tavern Christmas with Sadira Stone

I'm pleased to welcome Sadira Stone to Journeys with Jana. She's here to talk about her newest release, Christmas Rekindled, part of the Bangers Tavern series which is on sale for .99 cents until December 4. And she's supplying us with a cocktail recipe, just in time for the holidays! Thanks Sadira!

Blurb:

When two Scrooges unite to save a bar in trouble, a kiss under the mistletoe sparks the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.

Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong. 

Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her?     

A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last. 

Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the steamiest Christmas miracle ever.

A holiday cocktail from River Lundqvist, hero of Christmas Rekindled and bartender extraordinaire at Bangers Tavern.

Jaegertee

This sweet, boozy, “hunter’s tea” from Austria is the perfect warm-up tipple for après-ski. Just don’t drink one until you’ve reached the bottom of the ski run! Any spiced rum will do, but if you can get some, try Stroh rum from Austria for an authentic kick. If you choose Stroh 160, reduce the amount of rum—that stuff is strong.

In a saucepan, combine a cup (250 ml) of brewed black tea, a cup of orange juice, three whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, and three lemon slices. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about five minutes to blend the flavors. Turn the heat very low, then add a cup each (250 ml each) of red wine, spiced rum, plus a cup of plum brandy, apple brandy, or any other sweet liqueur you have lying around. Stir, cover the pan, and warm the mixture through but do not boil—you don’t want to burn off the alcohol! Remove from the heat, strain the Jaegertee, and add brown sugar to taste. Serve in mugs. Will serve about six—or one Jojo (Bangers Tavern’s mammoth bouncer). Prost! 

Excerpt:

Her low, throaty chuckle made him want to kiss her again. Though he pretty much wanted to kiss her anytime she was within range.

She laid her hand palm-up on the center console. “The thing is, I’m not looking for a relationship.”

Remembering a bit of Dawn’s wisdom, he nestled his hand into hers. “You never find a relationship when you’re looking for one.” 

Her gaze softened, open and vulnerable. “Are you looking?”

Warning sirens blared inside his head. This was a question to answer very carefully. “If you’d asked me a month ago, I’d say, ‘No way.’ But then, I kissed this girl under the mistletoe, and…”

She closed her eyes, lifted his hand, and pressed it to her sternum. Beneath his palm, her heart thudded fast. His pulse sped to match hers. He held his breath. 

“I like you, River.” Her whisper matched the brush of snowflakes against the windows. 

“I like you too.”

She inhaled deeply, then met his gaze. “Enough to be my friend?”

He nodded, mesmerized.

“Because my life is a mess right now, and I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing.” 

Her coarse language stirred up a heady swirl of laughter, sympathy, and arousal. He scooted as near as the center console allowed and placed his lips close to her ear. “I’ll tell you a secret. Me neither.”

Fire flickered in her eyes’ inky depths. Her lips parted. A golden thread wound around his heart and tugged him toward her. His thumb stroked the delicate line of her jaw as he closed the distance.

Buy Links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JKW3XR2

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-rekindled-sadira-stone/1137720901?ean=2940162818212

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1532772664

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-rekindled

Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=R3X_DwAAQBAJ

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55430214-christmas-rekindled

Universal book link: https://books2read.com/b/3JjPxP

Story Origin Universal link: https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/ccc92634-0333-11eb-a6bb-ff78f1d0dee5

Bookbub link: https://www.bookbub.com/books/christmas-rekindled-a-bangers-tavern-romance-by-sadira-stone

Author Bio:

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 from her new home in Washington State, U.S.A. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays darts (pretty well), plays guitar (badly), and gobbles all the books. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.

Visit Sadira on All the Socials!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadirastone/

Author newsletter: https://eepurl.com/dKLMP2

Tell us about what you write (short stories, novellas, novels, non-fiction)?

I write steamy contemporary romance set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. My Book Nirvana series centers around a quirky bookshop in Eugene, Oregon. Gelato Surprise is a steamy older woman/younger man beach romance novella. The Bangers Tavern Romance series is set in a neighborhood tavern in Tacoma, Washington, where I live—the town, not the tavern! Each story features a holiday celebration in Bangers Tavern: Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, 4th of July, Halloween, etc. During this sad time when so many bars, restaurants, and other businesses are shut down, Bangers Tavern gives me the chance to virtually share the fun, camaraderie, and bar food I miss so much. And each volume includes tasty cocktail recipes I’ve personally tested and tweaked—a tough job, but I do it for my readers (wink).

Under my own name, I write cozy mysteries and creepy short stories—think The Twilight Zone—but so far only one creepy short has been published. I’ll get to the rest of them eventually, but right now I’m having too much fun writing romance!

#NewRelease from Sadira Stone: Love, Art and Other Obstacles

Sadira Stone joins me today with her newest book in the Book Nirvana series, LOVE ART AND OTHER OBSTACLES. Sadira wants you to know that the ebook version is on sale for $2.99 until May 29. Look forward to a sexy read!

Thanks so much, Jana, for giving me this chance to meet your readers and tell them about my new book, Love, Art, and Other Obstacles. Book Three in the Book Nirvana Series, this modern love story features my youngest couple yet, just 22 (her) and 26 (him). I loved the chance to revisit the Book Nirvana bookshop and the colorful characters who work/hang out there. Readers of Through the Red Door and Runaway Love Story urged me to give Margot her own story, and Elmer (from RLS) was too juicy a character not to give him his chance in the spotlight. Tropes and themes in this steamy, contemporary new adult romance include rivals to lovers, chosen family, opposites attract, and the art world. 

Tagline: She’s a free spirit. He’s a one-woman man.

Blurb:

Rejected by her family for her bisexuality, graphic artist Margot DuPont yearns for a life with no fences, no limits, and no family ties. Between college, work at Book Nirvana, and an art competition, she barely has time for her part-time girlfriend, much less a flirtation with her competitor.

Dumped into the foster system at a young age, ceramics artist Elmer Byrne craves a big, loving family of the heart. His artist family almost fills that need, but something is missing...until Margot. But when he offers his heart, her thorny defenses shatter him.

Thrown together in an art competition that could jump-start one artist's career, but not both, their irresistible attraction forces them to reconsider the meaning of success.

Excerpt: 

“Tell you what,” he said. “How about if we have drinks and talk about anything but the competition?”

“Because…why?”

“You’re a real hard-ass, aren’t you?” He rolled his eyes. “Because I like you, Margot.”

“Why?”

He leaned so close their foreheads almost touched, a challenge simmering in his smile. “Have a drink with me and find out.”

If there was one thing she couldn’t resist, it was a challenge. On the other hand, he might not like her so much if he knew about Darcy. Let that be the test, then. Let him prove he wasn’t one of those possessive, controlling guys Darcy warned her about.

“Okay. I will.” She stepped back. “But you should know, I’m sort of seeing someone.”

His thick auburn brows contracted. “Sort of?”

“A woman.”

His nostrils flared on a deep inhalation, but he held her gaze. “Is it serious?”

“Not really.” Might as well serve up the truth, raw and ungarnished. Might as well be honest with herself too. “She lives in Berkeley. I only see her every month or two.”

Holding her gaze, he nodded. “Okay then. Thanks for telling me.” The tense lines of his mouth relaxed into a casual grin. “So, drinks?”

Well I’ll be damned.


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53105312-love-art-and-other-obstacles

Buy Links:

Amazon        Barnes & Noble    Apple Books     Kobo       Google Play

Author Bio:

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 from her new home in Washington State, U.S.A. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays darts (pretty well), plays guitar (badly), and gobbles all the books.

Visit Sadira on All the Socials!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadirastone/

Author newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dKLMP2

A Sparkly Secondary Character with Sadira Stone

Author Sadira Stone is my guest and she's offering a glimpse at one of her favorite secondary characters, great-aunt Maxie from RUNAWAY LOVE STORY. I love quirky secondary characters! Welcome Sadira Stone!

Meet Great-Aunt Maxie!

Besides the hero and heroine of Runaway Love Story, my favorite character is Laurel’s 90-year-old Great-Aunt Maxie. Laurel detours from her pursuit of a big-city art career to help Maxie move into assisted living. An artist herself, Maxie’s also a foster-grandmother to many young artists in Eugene, Oregon. She’s lived a big, sparkly life, and her loving encouragement keeps Laurel’s dreams afloat.
Here, Laurel arrives at Maxie’s place.

A glimpse of red fluff appeared in the window. The front door opened, revealing a beaming Maxie in all her Technicolor glory. Her baby-fine hair glowed henna red, and rhinestones twinkled from her cat’s-eye glasses. Chunky rings bedecked her gnarled, ropy hands, and her knee-length tunic bore a tie-dyed rainbow swirl.

“Laurel,” Maxie bellowed. Her foghorn voice hadn’t lost its power. “Get up here, my precious girl.”

Grinning, she trotted up the stairs and wrapped her arms around her tiny mentor.

“Easy now.” Maxie’s smile folded her cheeks and forehead into papery pleats. “I’m not so steady on my feet these days.” She thumped her cane. Typical Maxie, it was covered with rhinestones, metallic trim, and swirls of bright paint.

“New art project?”

“Oh, this?” She chuckled, her laughter raspy and deep. “One of many.” Moving slowly, she settled onto a creaking wicker loveseat on the porch. “Tell me, dear heart.”

“Tell you what?”

One penciled-on eyebrow raised. “What happened at the gallery?”

Laurel slumped beside her. “Mom told you?”

She nodded. “She loves you, you know. And she wants you to succeed.”

“As long as I do something practical. And boring.”

“Now, now.” Maxie patted her hand. “It’s a mother’s nature to worry. So, why’d they fire you this time?”

She might be ninety, but nothing interesting escaped Maxie’s sharp eyes. Or ears.

Blurb, RUNAWAY LOVE STORY:

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.

Excerpt:

“I’m sorry she called you the S word.”

  “Huh?”

  “Sensible.”

  She laughed. “Yeah. That’s a curse word, as far as I’m concerned.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.

  “I’ll strike it from my vocabulary. Your S word is sparkle.” He traced her jawline with a feather-light touch. “Look at you, Laurel. You’re blinding.” His twilight-blue gaze made her heart dance—a steamy tango with swirls and dangerous dips. He kissed her, and, for a moment, she forgot all about caution, about cutting things off before they became too serious, about San Francisco. Her focus narrowed to his lips on hers, his nearness heating her whole body, opening her like a blossom, soft and willing. Ripe for the plucking.

“God, I’ve missed you.” He scooped her legs across his lap. One hand cradling her nape, the other gripping her thigh, he kissed her senseless. His velvet tongue teased her lips apart. He tasted of sugary coffee. The world around them faded—just two bodies, calling and answering, breathing in sync, their pulses beating the same rhythm.

Buy Links:

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

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/runaway-love-story/id1460549153

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/search?c=books&q=Runaway+Love+Story+by+Sadira+Stone

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/runaway-love-story

Author Bio:

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. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.

Inspiration for the Book Nirvana Series:
Until recently, I was one of those readers--literary snobs who look down their noses at romance for the usual stupid reasons: too corny, too predictable, too fluffy. Then I read a few online articles about how fun and lucrative writing erotica can be. I thought, what the heck? Let's try.

I have never had so much fun with a writing project! My first steamy romance, Through the Red Door, nearly wrote itself, though it damned sure didn't edit itself. I've totally immersed myself in the world of romance, gobbling books like popcorn, filling my ears with romance podcasts, and joining the Romance Writers of America. From skeptic to romance mega-fan in two short years, I’m totally addicted to passionate, heartfelt stories with happy endings.

Why set the series in a bookshop? Ever since I was a wee lass, I dreamed of owning one. Add to that my fascination with historical erotic art and literature, and you’ve got the Book Nirvana series, set in an indie bookshop with an extensive erotica collection behind a locked red door.

I love stories in which a couple’s powerful physical attraction leads them to consider a partner outside their usual M.O.—one who just might turn out to be their perfect match. That’s how it happened for my husband and me, and my romance fiction contains that element.

I sort of pulled the setting out of a hat. I wanted to set my series in a college town. I’d heard that Eugene, home of the University of Oregon, has a lively arts scene and a rich counterculture legacy from the hippie era. After much online research, correspondence, and hours on Google Earth, I finally made the trip. Eugene is even lovelier than I’d imagined. Kate Rock, a resident author, kindly shared her knowledge of the city’s history and the flavor of the different neighborhoods. I look forward to many return trips.

Social Media Links:

Author Website: http://www.sadirastone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone