Showing posts with label Author Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Author Interview. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Author Interview: A Stardance Summer by Emily March

Release: June 27th, 2017
Type: Contemporary Romance
Series: Eternity Springs

Return to the beloved small town of Eternity Springs in the newest installment of Emily March’s New York Times bestselling series with A Stardance Summer.

Sometimes the end of one road
Brick Callahan enjoys every minute of chaos at his campground, Stardance Ranch, especially after the Tornado Alleycats arrive for an extended summer stay. The members of the all-female glamorous camping club are primarily seniors—active and adventurous, friendly and fun. But when he discovers Liliana Howe frolicking with the glamping grannies in a late night skinny-dipping session, he fears he's in for a summer of trouble. Because his best friend's kid sister has grown up to be drop-dead gorgeous.
. . .is the start of another

Betrayed by those she trusted, Lili decides she's put her career first for too long. She sells her practical sedan, buys a travel trailer, and heads to Eternity Springs for a summer of rest, relaxation, and reassessment as the newest member of the Alleycats. The last person she expects to find running an RV resort is her high school crush. Their undeniable mutual attraction is a reminder that life is full of surprises. But when the past comes calling, will their summer romance stand the test of time?


Author Interview

I'm excited to have author Emily March on the blog today to discuss her upcoming release, A STARDANCE SUMMER.
Thanks for sharing, Emily!

Pssst..isn't the cover gorgeous!
What will newbies to Eternity Springs find unique in your work?
My recurring character, the wise-woman Celeste Blessing, is written in such a way that the reader asks “Is she or isn’t she an angel.” My answer is that it’s up to the reader to decide. Spirituality is individual, so I think Celeste’s spirituality should be, too.

Describe A Stardance Summer in 5 words.
Camping with the Callahans—Yum!

Where’s the story set? How much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/ characters/ development of the story?
A Stardance Summer is set in Eternity Springs Colorado. It is the thirteenth book of the series so the setting is well established and very much a character in the series. Eternity Springs is where broken hearts come to heal.

Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
I listen to movie soundtracks: Last of the Mohicans, Braveheart, Lord of the Rings, DragonHeart, Gettysburg, Somewhere in Time, Dances with Wolves. I also listen to Celtic spa music and classical piano and cello duets.

What's on the top of your TBR pile right now?
I’m reading Nora Roberts’ Come Sundown..


About Emily March

Emily March is the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a "master of delightful banter," and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.


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Monday, June 5, 2017

Author Interview: Stalker, My Love by Zack Scott

Release: May 14th, 2017
Type: Mystery/Thriller/Romance, New Adult

Welcome to Pine Bridge, a small town where secrets are rife, personal is everyone’s business, and passion is high.

With the disappearance of Rosalyn Ray, tensions soar and fingers point in every direction: the lover, the mother, the best friend, and the stalker.

Frustrated by the search going nowhere, Rhett Calloway makes it his mission to discover the truth, find the girl, and win her heart. Some people in Pine Bridge say he’s obsessed. Some say he’s dangerous. Some say he’s hurt Rosalyn. All Rhett knows is he’s loved Rosalyn since they were kids and he’ll do what it takes to see her again.

Stalker, My Love is an untraditional love story where fantasy clashes with reality, and happily ever after seems like an elusive dream. Told through four POVs, the story follows those closest to Rosalyn Ray.
Buy on Amazon
Author Interview
I'm excited to have author Zach Scott on the blog today to discuss her newest release, STALKER, MY LOVE.
Thanks for sharing, Zach!
Give us the "elevator pitch" for Stalker, My Love.
When a young woman vanishes from a small town, her stalker sets out to find her.

How did Stalker, My Love come to be? What was your inspiration to write the book?
I love a whodunit, and wanted to explore a stalker as a protagonist in the investigation. The person the stalker is obsessed with vanishes. What’s the ultimate goal of the stalker in finding the person? Is it selfish or selfless?

I also like pizza. There’s a small mystery about pizza in the book.

What lead you to writing a mystery/thriller/romance??
The first book I wrote, a story about selfish friends in a zombie apocalypse, was full of blood, gore, and mayhem. I then followed up with two sequels, and a book about an angry shark eating people. All four of those stories contain elements of mystery, thriller and romance, but I wanted to write something focused on those genres without all the chaotic violence.

Just some of the chaotic violence.

So I came up with Stalker, My Love a while back when I was writing a crime thriller (yet to be released), and the story fell naturally into those genres.

How would you describe Stalker, My Love in only three words?
A love story.

Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
Sometimes. I used to frequently listen to music while writing, but don’t as often now because I can get pretty distracted and start singing (terribly). So now if I listen to music, it’s usually something instrumental, like Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You.

What are you reading right now, or what is on your TBR list?
I’m looking forward to Dennis Lehane’s new novel Since We Fell.

About Zack Scott
Zack is the author of the zombie apocalypse trilogy, THEIR DEAD LIVES, the horror comedy, ONE PISSED-OFF SHARK, and the untraditional love story, STALKER, MY LOVE. He’s licensed to practice law in the State of California. When he’s not writing, he enjoys baseball, avoiding LA traffic and playing with the dogs.


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Monday, May 29, 2017

Author Interview: Winning Ace (Winning Ace #1) by Tracie Delaney

Release: May 29th, 2017
Type: Contemporary Romance
Series: Winning Ace #1

When the opportunity arises for journalist Tally McKenzie to meet tennis ace Cash Gallagher, she grabs it without hesitation. Desperate for a killer story to advance her career, she’ll have to betray her idol and her own morals into the bargain if she is to succeed.

Renowned bad boy Cash wants one thing; to remain at the top of his game. He’s fought hard to get there, and he’s not about to lose his crown, especially over a woman.

When Cash divulges personal information, Tally seizes her chance and writes an explosive article. Incensed, Cash sets out to get his revenge. Except the darling of centre court gets more than he bargained for—a passionate affair with a woman he should detest.

But Cash is a man with secrets—secrets that could destroy his career. Dare he take the risk? Or is the cost too great, even for his perfect match.

I'm excited to have author Tracie Delaney on the blog today to discuss her newest release, WINNING ACES.
Thanks for sharing, Tracie!
Give us your "elevator pitch" for this series
Young journalist, Tally McKenzie, needs a killer story to advance her career.
Tennis star Cash Gallagher despises the press.
Two people from different worlds brought together by an explosive story begin a passionate affair, but trust issues, secrets from the past, and habitual fears of abandonment threaten to destroy their relationship before it has had chance to begin.

What will readers who pick up one of the Winning Ace serials find unique in your work?
My voice. I’ve been told on several occasions that I have a very unique writing voice. I believe this comes from my snappy dialogue which I ensure isn’t overly drowned with narrative. Description is very much required to set the scene, but large paragraphs of ‘info dump’ simply slow the action. My novels are very fast paced.

What is your favorite scene in the Winning Ace world??
My overall favourite scene is in Book 3, Grand Slam, but to avoid spoilers, I’ll pick my favourite scene in Book 1 which is when Tally runs out on Cash after an argument and he finally has to admit that she is making him question his whole belief system. It took a lot for Cash to show his vulnerabilities and my heart breaks for him because he finds it so difficult to let people see the real man behind the veneer he shares with the world.

What is your favorite underappreciated romance novel?
Blood Shadows by Lindsay J Pryor. It’s a Paranormal Romance novel in the Blackthorn series. I love those books so much. The world is complex, the writing sublime and the alpha’s hot! In my opinion, they should be topping the bestseller lists worldwide.

Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
When I’m writing a first draft, I don’t mind having music on in the background. My go-to stuff is anything by Snow Patrol, although I also love Adele. When I’m rewriting or editing it’s complete silence. My husband has suffered from the odd death stare if he interupts me when I’m editing!



Tracie Delaney is the author of the Winning Ace trilogy. She loves nothing more than immersing herself in a good romance, although she sometimes, rather cheekily, makes her characters wait for their HEA.

When she isn’t writing or sitting around with her head stuck in a book, she can often be found watching The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones or any tennis match involving Roger Federer. Her greatest fear is running out of coffee.

Tracie studied accountancy, gaining her qualification in 2001. Her maths teacher would no doubt be stunned by this revelation considering Tracie could barely add two plus two at high school.

Tracie lives in the North West of England with her amazingly supportive husband. They both share a love of dogs, travel and wine.



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Monday, May 22, 2017

Author Interview: The Disappearance of Lady Edith (The Undaunted Debutantes #1) by Christina McKnight

Release: May 23rd, 2017
Type: Historical Romance
Series: The Undaunted Debutantes #1

One tragic night changed sensible, proper Lady Edith Pelton’s life: when her best friend fell to her death, pushed down a flight of stairs by a nefarious lord. Now, Edith dedicates her time to watching the man she thinks is responsible, while gathering information to expose other scoundrels posing as gentlemen of honor about London. When her spying is noticed by a perfect stranger, Edith finds herself with two mysteries—what happened to her friend, and how to win the heart of this brilliantly handsome lord.

Triston Neville, Viscount Torrington, has been tasked with two duties for the upcoming Season: see that his sisters make the most of their debut, and avoid embroiling himself in another scandal. What he does not expect is the captivating, fair-haired beauty that literally falls into his path. When the mysterious Lady Edith suddenly disappears without a trace, Triston fears his past misdeeds may have returned to destroy his life once more.

Can Triston piece together the puzzle in time to save Edith and prove that his love is nothing less than honorable?

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo / iBooks



Author Interview
I'm excited to have author Christina MnKnight on the blog today to discuss her upcoming release, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LADY EDITH. Thanks for sharing, Christina!

Are there particular tropes you are fond of using?
Tropes are an odd concept to me. Until recently, I’ve never viewed my books in terms of tropes.

Give us your "elevator pitch" for The Disappearance of Lady Edith.
Three innocent debutantes must work to solve the mysterious death of their childhood friend. With undaunted determination they pledge to not only expose the man responsible for their friend’s tragic death on her wedding night, but to also uncover the many unscrupulous men of the ton who would jeopardize the future of other young women. Will they survive or become victims themselves?

What is your favorite scene in The Disappearance of Lady Edith?
My favorite scene in every book I write the when the hero and heroine meet. There is always something to uniquely foreshadowing in these scenes. In The Disappearance of Lady Edith, Lord Torrington meet his heroine after she’d fallen from a tree and her cloak and skirts have been tossed over her head. The witty banter between a man and a woman when they think they will never see a person again creates an amazingly compelling, and something hilarious, scene.
What's your favorite underappreciated romance novel?
That I’ve written? I’d have to answer Scorned Ever More, A Lady Forsaken Series (Book Three). For readers of this series, they already knew my heroes fate before the book was written, but they did not know WHAT made him who he in Forgotten No More (Book Two). I took readers back in time and explore the past of my villain. This story started off as a companion novella to my series. Unfortunately, my hero and heroine took over and demanded a full length book. The story of the Marquis of Drake and his one, true love was imperative for readers to understand the full impact of the remaining books in the series. Drake had no HEA, BUT it was because of his loss that his daughters found their Happily Ever Afters.

What question do you want your readers to answer?
I want to know what story lines readers LOVE! Second chance love? Love at first sight? Stranded strangers? What makes the most fulfilling love story? This is something every writer struggles with; finding a balance between telling the stories that come to them and meeting their readers’ expectations.

What is your very favorite place to write?
My office…I know, it isn’t very inspiring to most but I thrive on routine and structure. My office is quiet, secluded, and very cozy. I’ve created the perfect atmosphere for my creative flow to, well, flow!




About Chrstina McKnight
Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.

Christina enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.






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Thursday, May 18, 2017

Author Interview: For the Brave (The Gentrys of Paradise #1) by Holly Bush

Release: May 16, 2017
Type: Historical Romance
Series: The Gentrys of Paradise #1

1869 – Matthew Gentry joined the Confederate Army at eighteen years of age after an argument with his father, leaving Paradise, his Virginia home and famed horse breeding stables, for the fields of Gettysburg. Having survived the War Between the States, Gentry is haunted by the violence and inhumanity of the war. He continues to roam the country long after the conflict is over, finding solace in the arms of soiled doves and at the bottom of whiskey bottles. Finally traveling home after learning of a family tragedy, he nearly loses his life in a spring-flooded riverbed.

Annie Campbell, lone survivor of her family, lives at a remote farm near the North River, raising pigs and trying to grow enough to feed herself, and to stay out of the cross hairs of the Thurmans, violent men who run the town of Bridgewater. Annie’s secrets threaten her safety, even as she rescues and nurses Matthew Gentry.

Matthew knows he must return to Paradise, to grieve with his family. Will his heart lead him back to Bridgewater and Annie Campbell?



Author Interview
I'm excited to have author Holly Bush on the blog today to discuss her new book, For the Brave. You can see my review of For the Brave over on Straight Shootin' Book Reviews. Also, find a giveaway for an ebook copy of For the Brave over on Straight Shootin' Book Review's Instagram! Thanks for sharing, Holly!


Hello and thanks so much for having me at the Romance Playlist!

How did For the Brave come to be? What was your inspiration to write the book?
I wrote the novella, Into the Evermore to be included in a Christmas anthology. Set in 1842, it was the story of the daughter of a minister, Eleanor McManus, who is kidnapped after her family is set upon by thieves and murdered. She is rescued by Beauregard Gentry, a trapper heading to Winchester, Virginia, to claim property left to him by a distant relative. She is alone in the world and he admires her strength and beauty. They marry and begin raising horses at their farm, Paradise, after acquiring a direct descendent of the original Morgan horses. I love these two people! I guess that’s a strange thing to say about one’s own characters but it’s true. I could hardly wait to begin on their children’s stories set post-Civil War. For the Brave’s Matthew is the middle child, and a veteran of the Confederacy. I’m writing the youngest Gentry, Olivia’s book, right now and will conclude the series with Adam’s story.

How would you describe For the Brave in only five words?
Adventure. Danger. Redemption. Rescued. Beloved.

Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
I cannot listen to music when I’m writing. I prefer complete quiet, especially as my brain gets older (along with the rest of me) and needs no additional distractions!

What are you reading right now, or what is on your TBR list?
I’m reading Enchanting the Earl by Lily Maxton and it’s proving to be a lovely story! Just finished rereading The Captive by Grace Burrowes. It’s a favorite of mine!



About Holly Bush

Holly Bush was born in western Pennsylvania to two avid readers. There was not a room in her home that did not hold a full bookcase. She worked in the hospitality industry, owning a restaurant for twenty years and recently worked as the sales and marketing director in the hospitality/tourism industry and is credited with building traffic to capacity for a local farm tour, bringing guests from twenty-two states, booked two years out. Holly has been a marketing consultant to start-up businesses and has done public speaking on the subject.

Holly has been writing all of her life and is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, particularly political and historical works. She has written six historical romance novels, all set in the U.S. West or Victorian London in the mid 1800’s, and one Women’s Fiction novel. She frequently attends writing conferences, and book fairs. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, and is a sponsor with Megan Hart of the Lancaster Lady Jane’s Salon held quarterly.

Holly is a gardener, a news junkie, and was the vice-president of her local library board for years. She loves to spend time near the ocean and is the proud mother of two daughters and the wife of a man more than a few years her junior.


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Friday, April 28, 2017

Author Interview: Never Trust a Pirate (Playful Brides #7) by Valerie Bowman

Release: May 2nd, 2017
Romance Subgenre: Historical Romance
Series: Playful Brides #7

The rules of engagement were never so scandalous. . .

A rumored pirate and the scurrilous black sheep of his well-to- do family, Cade Cavendish relishes his world of rebellion, deception, and seduction. Nothing and no one can hold him to be the duty-bound, honorable man he is expected to be. But when an unexpected run-in at his twin brother’s estate with a ravishing, raven-haired maid leads her to believe he’s actually a viscount, Cade’s renegade life is thrown wildly off-kilter. And even though a case of mistaken identity can be quickly set to rights, matters of the heart are quite different…

Miss Danielle LaCrosse is startled to learn that the handsome gentleman who radiates sin and has the devil in his eyes is not her employer the Viscount, but rather his infamous brother. A former heiress, orphaned and left penniless, Danielle has more than a few secrets of her own. Cade may be skilled at coaxing even the most hidden desires out of Danielle but can he earn her trust—and win her heart—as they embark on an adventure to confront a dangerous enemy from both of their pasts . . . and uncover the identity of the so-called Black Fox along the way?

Author Interview
I'm excited to have author Valerie Bowman on the blog today to discuss her new book, Never Trust a Pirate. Thanks for sharing, Lauren!


Are there particular tropes you are fond of using?
My favorite trope is probably reunited lovers or old friends who fall in love. I love the brother’s best friend trope, too. I’ve used all of those and am currently writing a story where a married couple (who haven’t seen each other in ten years) are forced to work together again. Of course hijinx (and romance) will ensue!

What lead you to writing historical romances?
My love of reading them. I read them a lot as a teenager. They made me so happy.

Give us the “elevator pitch” for your new book.
I call Never Trust a Pirate: The Scarlet Pimpernel meets Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in Regency England.

What are your future project(s)?
Right now, I’m editing book 8 in the Playful Brides series. It’s called The Right Kind of Rogue and comes out on Halloween. I’m also writing book 9 of the Playful Brides series. And I’m always plotting future books in my head. In this case I’ve already got a lot of ideas for how I’m going to end the series with book #11 (Delilah and Thomas’s book) in Spring 2019.

What's your favorite underappreciated romance novel?
One of my favorite romances ever is Dark Future by KC Klein. It’s a futuristic scifi romance, which is not normally something I gravitate toward (I like to read historical romance!) but I picked up KC’s book and couldn’t put it down. It’s fantastic. She also has me reading contemporary cowboy stories.

Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?
My book boyfriend is Jason Fielding from Judith McNaught’s Once and Always. Talk about the perfect tortured hero!

Have you read anything lately that you loved?
Julie Anne Long’s The Legend of Lyon Redmond was sheer perfection if you ask me.

About Valerie Bowman

Valerie Bowman grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzer, Huckleberry. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS. She is the author of the Secret Brides series, starting with Secrets of a Wedding Night, Secrets of a Runaway Bride, and Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage.

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Friday, March 17, 2017

Author Interview: Legally Charming (Ever After #1) by Lauren Smtih

Release: March 13th, 2017
Romance Subgenre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Ever After #1

THE RIGHT DRESS CAN CATCH THE EYE OF PRINCE CHARMING…

Felicity Hart has one goal: Completing her masters in art. Falling in love isn’t part of the plan. She reluctantly agrees to attend a Halloween party with her best friend. After sneaking away from the party and falling asleep in an unoccupied room, she wakes to the sexiest pair of eyes she’s ever seen. Eyes that belong to the one man who could turn her well organized world upside down. When he flashes that wicked, panty-melting smile at her the vow to not fall in love seems impossible…

EVERY PRINCE IS LOOKING FOR HIS SLEEPING BEAUTY TO KISS…

Jared Redmond used to be the ultimate bad boy. But now his legal career is taking off and the partners of his firm are trusting him with high-dollar real estate transactions. Jared’s king-size bed is empty. But when he arrives home on Halloween to find a princess sleeping in his bed – his all work and no play attitude goes out the window. There’s nothing he wants more than to explore the hidden desires of this mysterious beauty and show her just how much of a bad boy he really is by fulfilling her every fantasy.

WHEN MIDNIGHT STRIKES AND COACHES TURN TO PUMPKINS…

Underneath the glitter of this fairy tale romance, Felicity and Jared might have found true love. But the mounting pressure of their real lives takes hold again and Jared and Felicity are pulled further and further apart. Can they find their fairy tale ending or will they be left with the dying embers of what could have been?


Author Interview
I'm excited to have author Lauren Smith on the blog today to discuss her new book, Legally Charming. Thanks for sharing so openly and freely, Lauren!


What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book??
It depends on what type of book for how long I research. If it’s a historical book I tend to write the book in 2 or 3 months but then as I edit, I research to include clothing, food and social details that enrich the historical romance story. For other book, like contemporary romances if I have a particular setting that I’m unfamiliar with, I’ll acquire several travel books and coffee table books before I begin to write and then as I start writing, I reference them for details to get locations and settings as close to reality as I can.

What is your favorite scene in Legally Charming?
Probably the scene where Felicity decides to seduce Jared. She’s a shy girl, a very realistic heroine with full curves and she’s a virgin. So she and her best friend go shopping for sexy lingerie because she wants Jared, who up until this point has been reserved and in control during their heated make out sessions, to lose control. So while he’s cooking dinner, she changes into lingerie and covers up with a trench coat and then she walks into the living room and drops the coat. She’s wearing these little black heels with red bows and he just loses it. They have a really steam love scene then but it ends impossibly sweet. It’s what I love most about the characters. Their real, not stereotyped but it’s still smoking hot when they come together!

What's your favorite underappreciated romance novel?
Noah by Jacquelyn Frank. Her books are just…they leave me in awe. I read them and the characters, descriptions and emotions are so evocative and real that the book itself seems to breathe. Her entire Nightwalker series is just the best!

What question do you wish readers would ask? What is the answer?
I wish readers would ask me why I chose to write about an Alpha non-asshole hero. I feel like too may authors right now are writing about jerk heroes that are too one dimensional. It’s easy to write a jerk and then let him fall in love. Jerks can be hot but I think it sends a wrong message to readers that it’s okay to have heroes be rude and abrasive. You can create tension and chemistry that’s just as hot without the hero being a jerk. I choose to write my heroes for this series as non-jerks because I wanted a real life/ real hero feel to the books and I hope readers will notice and like it! Let’s show some love for Non-asshole Alpha males!

As a writer what would you choose as your spirit animal/mascot/avatar? Theme song?
My spirit animal is definitely a north American river otter. They are playful but can be fierce when need be. I love their happy go lucky manners. My Theme song is “Hells Bells” by ACDC. I just hear the bells and the opening guitar and I think…this song should play whenever I enter a room!

Do you listen to a specific playlist, album or song when writing? How does music factor into you writing process and the book's world?
I make a playlist for every single book I write which consists of certain songs for the hero, heroine and for certain situations. There are some repeat favorites that show up on more than one book’s playlist because they are just so good that I need to hear them again. Music is key, especially in the last fourth of my drafts because the toughest emotions and the hardest scenes including the black moments occur there and I need to be in a totally focused zone where I’m touching deep emotions inside myself to reach the characters and make their situation the deepest I can. Music carefully chosen can help me achieve that!

About Lauren Smith

Amazon Best-Selling Author Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

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