CHILL OUT on sale!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, get my Valentine-themed novella CHILL OUT for 40% off the regular price! All the Candy Hearts Romances are on sale from The Wild Rose Press. Here's the blurb for CHILL OUT:

Renata Cabral needs to hide for the weekend. Her cousin’s Valentine’s Day wedding means she’ll face embarrassing questions from her large, extended family. Questions like “Why aren’t you married yet?”  Since the breakup of her last relationship, she’s not ready to answer that question. She invents a work-related excuse and escapes to a friend’s lakeside cottage.

Noah Brownlee has been hiding for two years. But now he’s ready to come home and mend his broken relationship with his brother. When a friend offers the use of his lakeside cottage, Noah arrives in the middle of a blizzard with his English Mastiff, only to find the place is already occupied. With her big brown eyes and quirky sense of humor, Renata stirs feelings he thought long dead. 

As the blizzard rages, the candy hearts predict love. Can Valentine’s Day work its magic between them?

Purchase at The Wild Rose Press at 40% off! 

More Good News! 

CHILL OUT and six other Candy Heart Romance novellas are together in a boxed set called "Be My Hero". Till February 15, 2018, "Be My Hero" is also on sale for 40% off.  For the low price of $3.59,

you get 7 fabulous Valentine stories!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Christmas Sweaters - A Heartwarming Holiday

I'm very happy to host Cheryl Harper today. Cheryl is part of A Heartwarming Holiday, a boxed set of 10 sweet romances written by Harlequin Heartwarming authors. And all this for only .99 cents! My friend Liz Flaherty from the Word Wranglers blog is also part of this group, so I'm especially happy to spread the news about their new boxed set. Welcome, Cheryl!

Time to Don Your Christmas Sweater by Cheryl Harper

I admit that that extra cheer in the air around Christmas leads me to make some otherwise suspect fashion choices. That pair of bright green earrings roughly the size of saucers? Gotta wear ‘em, even if they clash with my Monday-Friday business casual. Cartoon reindeers with red noses make perfect sense on the front of my sweater. Holiday dogs work on socks and ornaments and office supplies. And there’s no other time of year that I wear that many jingle bells, you know?
Tell me about your favorite festive fashion. Got a beloved sweatshirt that enters regular rotation the day after Thanksgiving?

Something about the season changes hearts and fashion. My heroine, Dara, in Finding His Fiancée by Christmas is not immune to the call of the Christmas sweater, even if her preference is for a little edge and a lot of black attire. The town’s spirit is softening her heart…just in time for the man responsible for the hard outer shell to roll back into her life. Here. Meet Dara for yourself:

Excerpt:

 “Excuse me. What time do you open?” a harried elderly man shouted from his spot on the sidewalk. He was standing so close to the door that his breath created a fog on the glass. He fidgeted in place as he waited for her answer.

Spreadsheets were never that pushy.

“Nine o’clock.” Same as always. Dara turned to look pointedly up at the antique clock hanging over her shoulder. “Fifteen minutes.”

He didn’t nod. Or wave. Or in any way pretend that he cared that she should be setting up the register or enjoying the last few minutes of peace and quiet in the store before the frenzy hit.

This was what she deserved for falling prey to the Christmas spirit. She’d been the one to approve three different requests for time off. Lucky people who wanted to spend time with their families were doing that while she faced down pushy shoppers.

Today the frenzy was worse, thanks to the amount of snow in the forecast.

Her gusty sigh echoed through the first floor.

 “Not long now,” Ren Monroe said as she breezed past with a handful of designs for her corner of the store. “Want to help me get these set up before you open the door?” As Ren paused in front of the cash register, a woman marched up and banged on the glass, her face intent and set in “I can see you in there” mode.

“Or you and I could both go out the back door and let them have the store.” Ren held up a hand at the crowd that now included two women with strollers. “I’m too young to die.” Over their heads, Dara could see the store’s best salesperson and both of the college students she’d hired as seasonal help approaching.

“We aren’t alone.” Dara marched over to the door. “We have backup.” And all of them were smiling as if the crowds were good news. That was why she’d stuck it out here in Christmas Town, those smiles. Slowly, they were changing her. She’d bought two more sweaters with bells on them last week, and the quiet music she made as she marched through the store made her happy.

Were both sweaters black? Yes. She hadn’t forgotten who she was.

Blurb:

Dara Allen has retreated to Christmas Town in order to hide from a broken heart. Life there has softened some of her edges without changing her style. When ex-NYC cop Carter Howe follows her, they’ll have to come to terms with what’s true, what matters, and messages from a friend.

About the Author:

Cheryl Harper discovered her love for books and words as a little girl, thanks to a mother who made countless library trips and an introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House stories. Now she spends her days searching for the right words while she stares out the window and her dog snoozes beside her.

*
This holiday season, warm your heart with 10 connected sweet, clean & wholesome holiday romances set in Christmas Town from 10 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today bestselling authors.

This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, Maine, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually.

A Heartwarming Holiday will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters (no cliffhangers), for more than 1000 pages.

Santa's Secret Heart by Anna Adams
Merry Christmas Carol by Melinda Curtis
Miracle on Joyful Street by Liz Flaherty
Finding His Fiancée by Christmas by Cheryl Harper
The Christmas Window by Tara Randel
Mistletoe and Holly by Leigh Riker
Gingerbread Girl by Carol Ross
The Christmas List by Anna J Stewart
A Case for Christmas Magic by Amy Vastine
Jingle Bell Love by Cari Lynn Webb

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2uFGbWw
B&N: http://bit.ly/2u6UHFb
Google: http://bit.ly/2tcPSY8
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/heartwarming-holiday-wishes/id1261084826?mt=11

All in for Love!

Today I have not one, not two, but six guests. The writers of  ALL IN FOR LOVE share a little about their stories in this boxed set. Don't forget to comment for your chance to win a prize. Please welcome these six talented authors!

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense Anthology
Release Date: June 1, 2017
ASIN B071V94BWM
ALL IN FOR LOVE

Six Award-winning authors bring you six *sweet to sensual* romances filled with suspense, thrills and maybe even a ghost or two—for less than the price of a cup of coffee—99 cents!

Welcome to La Bonne Chance Resort and Casino!

With thousands of people passing through the casino’s doors on a daily basis, it’s no surprise that a variety of lives and loves are on the line there. It’s said that you’re more likely to lose your heart at La Bonne Chance than a hand of poker. Whether you are the Director of Casino Operations or the guy who created its software, a jilted bride or a black jack dealer, a past guest’s ghost or a sous chef--when it comes to love, the stakes are high.

Thank goodness what happens at La Bonne Chance, doesn’t always stay at La Bonne Chance….
Ready to roll the dice?

Giveaway!

To add to the fun, we are giving away one gambling themed handmade item to ONE lucky commenter who will be selected by a Random Number Generator.

Links
Buy Link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071V94BWM

Book Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po-fLNCvF-0&feature=youtu.be

Website https://lucky7authors.blogspot.com/

Newsletter sign up https://maryschiller.wixsite.com/mysitecontactslucky7

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35052000-all-in-for-love

ALL IN FOR LOVE: A Lucky 7 Anthology

An Inn Decent Proposal By Sharon Buchbinder
Perfect Odds By Lashanta Charles
A Ghost To Die For By Keta Diablo
Raising Kane By Kat Henry Doran
For Money Or Love By Margo Hoornstra
Take A Chance On Me By M.J. Schiller

An Inn Decent Proposal, Sharon Buchbinder
Can an hotelier with a past and a chef with a future revive the grand dame in a neglected old inn?

About Sharon Buchbinder
Sharon Buchbinder and her husband used to breed and show Egyptian Maus and Color Point Persians (formerly called Himalayans). If you’ve ever seen the mockumentary, Best in Show, you have an idea of what life was like 24 out of 52 weekends a year for this wild and crazy couple. When Sharon returned to school for her PhD in 1986, she decided a doctoral program plus a toddler plus a full time job was more than enough and they placed all their cats in good homes—including their own.

Perfect Odds, Lashanta Charles
When a jilted bride meets the man of her dreams, will she embrace the new plan, or cling stubbornly to the old one?

About Lashanta Charles

So I don't really have anything too witty, but I have a 6-year-old with a sharp tongue. One of the things I always tell my kids is that mommy and daddy knows everything. So one day I'm taking my daughter to the store to buy toys with her birthday money. This is how the conversation went:

Her: So, who gave me this birthday money?

Me: Poppy (Grandad)

Her: Oh, I really miss Poppy. I want to go see him.

Me: Well, you have to wait until this summer, when you're out of school.

Her: Why?

Me: Because you have to learn things in school and if you miss a day, you'll miss what you need to learn and then you won't know everything.

Her: Ohhhhh, you mean like you and daddy don't really know everything even though you say you do?

Me: *speechless*

A Ghost To Die For, Keta Diablo
She didn't believe in ghosts...until one showed up in her room.

About Keta Diablo
Keta once dressed up as old man on Halloween and picked up her 9th grader at school in costume! Needless to say, he wasn't pleased. In fact, he refused to get in the car. She followed him out of the parking lot and down the street for two blocks before he'd even look at her. Yes, he finally got in, but didn't appreciate her humor...at all. Update: He's in college now and says the "old man" incident is now one of his fondest childhood memories.

Raising Kane, Kat Henry Doran
Funny how a night in jail will change a woman's outlook on life.

About Kat Doran
There was the time I played private duty nurse for my uncle, after he underwent a resection of an aortic aneurysm. Very scary for a number of different reasons. It became my job to ensure Father Joe got sufficient rest which boiled down to playing traffic cop and time-keeper on visitors. On one afternoon, I could see Joe was fatigued and needed a nap. As I rounded up the crowd to send them out the door, one smirked at me. "Who's Nurse Ratched, Joe?" he asked.
I said, "Who are you, the Pope?"
He said, "Close to it, honey. I'm the Bishop."
Aw geez.

For Money Or Love, Margo Hoornstra
She's the one woman he can't afford to lose.

About Margo Hoornstra
Becoming a coffee connoisseur wasn’t an instant fall head over heels event for Margo Hoornstra. Initial cups were loaded with milk and sugar. When the children arrived, two AM feedings coupled with six AM risings for work necessitated more indispensable caffeine. Flavored, iced, lattes and such, a true coffee aficionado, she covets them all.

Take A Chance On Me, M.J. Schiller
Who do you count on when the chips are down?

About M.J. Schiller
One day--when M.J.'s triplets were about two, and her eldest four--she was doing laundry and matching up the socks, one of her least favorite chores. She lined them up all along her arms as she hunted for their mates. After a bit of fruitless searching, she glanced at the time and realized she needed to hustle to be on time for a prayer service she was attending at her church.

She made it in time, her four children in tow, and removed her coat before kneeling to say a prayer. An half hour later, as she piously prayed along with the congregation, her eldest asked, "Mommy, why do you have a sock on your shoulder?" She had missed removing one of her husband's long, mateless gym socks!

Vicki Batman: Living in a Small Town

Though I've lived in a larger city for almost nineteen years, I grew up on a farm near a very small town (700 people back in the day). As an adult I lived in three small cities (pop. 10,000, 5,000, and 3,500) so I think I have a pretty good handle on how they operate. It's probably why I feel the most comfortable writing my small town romances, like One More Second Chance and First and Again. My guest Vicki Batman shares a similar love for small towns and she's here to talk about the world she created in Sommerville. Welcome Vicki Batman!

Living in a Small Town

I sorta did. When I was born, my parents lived in a large town, but moved when I was five. I grew up in a nearby suburb. It felt like a small town, yet we were close to big town amenities. After attending college in a small town, I returned to my roots and have lived there ever since. After all, doesn’t a good neighborhood feel like a small town? There’s plenty of shopping, fast access to downtown and my favorite mall. One of the best aspects is small business ownership. I love my favorite donut shop, the family-owned steakhouse, the Sicilian restaurant which made (it has now closed) the crispiest pizza crust. There’s antique malls, craft stores—I could go on and on.

When I began writing, I was moved to set all my works in the town of Sommerville. I had no idea I was world-building. I included the lake, the arboretum, the biking and hiking trails, high rises, apartment buildings, municipal buildings, and lots of other places that are familiar to me. What about the indigenous wildlife? Or pets? Or weather? That’s there too, as is the Christmas tree lot. I named streets and businesses. Created families and friends.

Is that boring? Or cheating? I don’t think so. I’ve carved a niche from the large city I live in and created my own world which is perfect for my stories.

In “Raving Beauty,” my romantic comedy short story from the Just You and Me boxed set, my characters returned to Sommerville after college. They buy donuts at Dee’s Delicious Donuts and support the hero in his restaurant endeavor, Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse. He even persuades his sister’s best friend, and the girl he has always adored, to represent his business in the Sommerville Chamber of Commerce beauty contest. Here’s a fun excerpt:

"I can't believe I let your loony brother, who's tormented me all my life, talk me into this." With my eye on the teenage competition, I tugged the leg opening of my swimsuit into place to better cover my hip. "Just because I did some modeling in college doesn't make me a pageant diva. Back then, I was incredibly skinny, and clothes fit easily."

 "Daniel's a rat. He took advantage of your third or was it your fourth margarita, Kelly?" Maggie Ackerman, my best friend and roommate, adjusted the scarlet satin sash draped across my body. Glittery stick-on letters spelled out Miss Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse. "Hold still."

With an old-fashioned teasing comb, she picked my brown hair into place at the crown of my head. The eerie suspicion I resembled a scary dame with Big Texas hair from the television show, Dallas, caused me to avoid looking in the mirror.

 "Close your eyes." She hit me with super freeze-it hairspray. "Now, that ain't goin' nowhere."

My personal stylist needed to work on her aim, preferably with both of her eyes open. I spit-wiped the sticky spot on my right cheek. I hope nobody I know sees me like this.

"There." The scrunch of her nose reflected how pleased she was with herself. "Feeling better?"

Like a slab of beef.

Find out about Just You and Me at:

Amazon Preorder : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCZWL6N
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-you-and-me…/1125868014
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-you-and-me
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1210908031

Author Bio:

Award-winning and Amazon best-selling author, Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to the True magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two romantic comedy mysteries to The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocoaholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

Find Vicki at:

Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html
Facebook: http://bit.ly/293iZIz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/
Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com

Time to share! Small towns? Or big cities?