Daphne Oliveras is much more than a personal assistant to a world-famous young celebrity, Taylor Harrington. Daphne is her protector, therapist, and most important of all, best friend. So when Taylor catches the attention of notorious A-list celeb womanizer Walker Flynn, a much older man, Daphne sees nothing but alarms and red flags. Daphne is ready to run constant interference in their relationship…but Walker’s annoyingly hot and charismatic assistant, Logan, proves to be an intriguing yet unwelcome distraction.
The moment Logan Rafael lays eyes on Taylor’s gorgeous assistant, he’s done for. He’s never felt this level of attraction to anyone before…even though he is sure Daphne despises him just as much as she despises Walker. But Logan’s not a quitter, and he is up to the challenge of charming Daphne and showing her he is the exact opposite of his toxic employer.
When a hurricane strands the two in the Maldives, Daphne finds Logan’s sweet and sexy nature hard to resist. But the question remains: Can they keep sparks flying when their employers’ volatile relationship dooms their own love from the very start?
Elle Cruz is a writer of steamy contemporary romance. When Elle was a kid, she’d get in trouble on purpose to be sent to her room so she could read all day long. She thanks her lucky stars that her parents never thought to take books away from her when she was grounded. In a way, it was mom and dad’s fault for unintentionally cultivating a voracious reader and writer.
After earning her English degree from UC Irvine, Elle eventually went back to school to become a nurse. Apparently she couldn’t get enough of learning because she went to grad school to earn her doctorate degree.
Elle is the daughter of immigrants. She is fiercely proud of her background as a second-generation Filipino-American. She is dedicated to carving out a permanent place for POC in mainstream publishing by contributing her voice to the growing list of diverse authors.
Elle lives in Southern California with her supportive husband and two wonderful kids. When she’s not writing, she likes to keep her body guessing with her two obsessions: cookies and working out.
Spring 1946–Following four years of war on the heels of the decade-long Great Depression, Americans are finally feeling a sense of hope that begins sweeping the nation…
Jo-Jo Anderson feels that optimism too. Slipping the reins of her Iowa farming town, Jo leaves to make her mark on the entertainment scene in Manhattan. Audiences are clamoring for new musicals on Broadway, nightclubs are flourishing, and NYC is the beating heart of the major radio networks. After arriving, Jo-Jo quickly realizes that thousands of would-be stars are following her same ambitions, making opportunities scarce, but her luck begins to turn when she hears about Talent Jackpot.
Her twin, Sarah, finds success with her studies as a scholarship student at the University of Iowa. But Sarah is adrift socially, finding it difficult to forge friendships. Her perfectly planned life is upended when her hometown boyfriend announces he’s suddenly joined the Navy. Sarah’s top grades draw the attention of a crusty biology professor and after accepting his offer of a lab position, her rigid lifestyle gets a lot more complicated.
This novel tells a story of unexpected change. The twins make their way through multiple challenges with humor, ambition, and heartbreak but remain tied together by the bond of sisterhood, as it winds its way through the seedier backdoors of the entertainment business, and into college dorm life and love nest apartments.
With the historical backdrop of the post-WW2 era, Falling From The Nest reads as a stand-alone story but also serves as a sequel to author Bobbie Candas’ previous novel, The Lost and Found of Green Tree.
I’m a Texas girl: Grew up in San Antonio, went to school at UT in Austin, and settled in Dallas where I raised a husband, a few cats, and two kids. My husband and the cats will probably disagree on who raised who, but I’m always a sucker for a robust discussion. For years I was involved in retail management, but I have untangled myself from the world of clothing, shoes, and bags, and immersed myself in my true passion–writing fiction and taking deep dives into the lives of my characters.
When you can pry my fingers off the keyboard, I’ve been known to imbibe in a few glasses of wine and have been spotted forking into decadent desserts while gathering with friends and family. Put me on a shady deck or an umbrella-covered patio, with a table full of opinionated know-it-alls, and a spicy margarita, and I’m in my happy place. I’ve also been known to jump at the opportunity of taking unexpected trips to faraway places.
But I’ll always make time for writing and reading, with a stack of novels ready and waiting on my nightstand, and a few always sleeping patiently in my Kindle. I bounce around genres, and I’m usually up for a good recommendation. So, let me know what you’ve enjoyed reading lately. I can be reached via Messenger on FB or on my FB author page–Bobbie Candas. I look forward to hearing from you!
Kenna Shaw Reed Cecelia Conway TL Hamilton Sharon Michalove Kalli Dean Katherine Isaac & Crystal North Maida Malby J.T. Silver Katharine O’Neill Danielle Sibarium Ariana St. Claire JCC Downing Juliet Martini Harper Michaels Sofia Aves S L Hollister T.S. Simons Toni Denise Belinda E Edwards Melinda Pine Gabbi Black
ABOUT TNRC
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Hang out with like-minded readers and authors at different stages of their writing journey, in a diverse and inclusive group.
Find out about new releases, take part in fun discussions, and recommend your favorite reads in the safe space of the Café.
She’s been playing professional golf for the last year, but Iolana Aguilar feels like a failure. The former number-one amateur in the world hasn’t won since her dazzling victory at her debut tournament in her home state of Hawaii. Frustrated with accusations of not living up to the hype, Lana travels to St Andrews, Scotland. At the Home of Golf, she’ll do her best to recapture her love of the game and fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a major champion golfer. If that means accepting the help of the most attractive caddie she has ever met, then so be it.
When a drunk Santa threatens to ruin my charity winter wonderland, I’m forced to enlist Love Beach hotel tycoon Preston Hollister as a last-minute replacement. To my surprise, this former high school bully becomes a Santa who could give the North Pole a run for its money.
But just as I start warming up to Preston, his company hits us with lease hikes that could close my shop. Can this billionaire prove he’s more than a temporary Santa and truly embody the spirit of giving? Or will my growing feelings clash with the need to save everything I’ve built?
MERRY WITH A TYCOON is now LIVE and Free to read in KINDLE UNLIMITED!
Liz’s first attempt at writing her stories almost got her kicked out of middle school due to NSFW content if not for agreeing to the principal’s suggestion that she channel her angst into Poetry Club instead. Now Poetry Club wasn’t as cool as Drama Club but a deal was a deal and Sister Jerri never told her parents about her NSFW stories either.
These days, Liz writes women’s fiction and romance that’s been described as earthy and hard-won. Her books, which range from sweet to steamy romances, portray relationships that are emotional and sometimes angsty but always with a happily-ever-after. And this time, no one’s kicking her out for writing them.
Welcome to Oakwood Hollow, where the coffee is good and the townsfolk are delightfully offbeat.
Graham Moore never intended to go to this quaint little town. But one wrong train lands him in Oakwood Hollow just as it gears up for its annual festival, celebrating a tree that is said to grant wishes. Intrigued by the legend and the beautiful-but-slightly-grumpy cafe owner, he decides to stick around for a little while longer.
Eden Mendoza has lived in Oakwood Hollow most of her life, but she might be the only person in town who doesn’t believe in the tree lore. She instead focuses on the tangible—her found family, her thriving knitting business, and, now, this charming soldier who unexpectedly comes into her cafe.
They spend only one day together, but in those few short hours, they form a connection neither can deny. But when Graham inevitably leaves, Eden is left wondering if she’ll ever see him again, or if their brief time together will become nothing but a memory.
Told through dual timelines and point-of-views, Under the Wishing Tree is a story about the magic of second chances, and the unexpected paths that lead us to where we’re meant to be. Perfect for fans of the Gilmore Girls, Lucy Score, and Sarah Addison Allen.
June Gray is a daydreamer who, at the age of ten, penned a short story inspired by a Judy Blume novel and has been unable to stop writing since. She loves to tell stories that titillate and enrage, that break the reader’s heart and put it back together again.
Her fairy-tale life has been lived on four different continents—most notably, in a two-hundred-forty-year-old castle in rural Germany owned by a Graf. She was born in the Philippines, raised in Australia, and now calls the United States home, and she can currently be found dodging tornadoes in Oklahoma with her husband and two daughters.
In 1971, famed astronaut Alan Shepard returned from the moon and went to get a haircut. Before settling into the barber’s chair in Webster, Texas, near NASA’s Mission Control, Shepard gave his longtime barber and friend, Carlos Villagomez, an autographed golf ball.
During his Apollo 14 moonwalk, Shepard had conducted a world-famous demonstration of gravity by hitting a golf ball in an out-of-this-world sand trap. It took him two tries.
Carlos, a Navy combat veteran and barber for numerous astronauts, says Shepard gave him the ball immediately after he returned to earth and was released from quarantine.
Had Shepard taken a third ball to the moon? And did he give it to his barber as a token of their long friendship?
The debate provides a backdrop for The Barber, The Astronaut, and the Golf Ball, a story of two extraordinary men and their lasting friendship. The book offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of America’s space program at its pinnacle and shows the ordinary people who supported one of the nation’s most monumental scientific endeavors.
Praise for The Barber, The Astronaut, and The Golf Ball:
It’s perfect!! Barbara and Ed capture Daddy and his long friendship with Carlos. —Laura Shepard, Daughter of Alan Shepard
Brings back the glory days of the U.S. Space Program and the importance of the “little people” who made it happen. We see stern Shepard in a new and admirable light – in Shepard’s high regard for the vast team of dedicated supporters who enabled astronauts to succeed. —Charlie Duke, Apollo Astronaut
Barbara Radnofsky and Ed Supkis grew up in the 1960s in the shadow of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center and married in 1982. They have three children and five grandchildren. The couple —with many other community members — are co-owners of Brazos Bookstore, an independent bookseller. As children of NASA scientists, Barbara and Ed had front-row seats to the development of the space program and the community built around it on rural cow pastures near Webster, Texas.
Barbara Radnofsky is a writer, mediator, teacher, and lawyer. She’s the author of A Citizen’s Guide to Impeachment, a nonpartisan explanation of U.S. constitutional impeachment history and practice.
Ed Supkis MD is a board-certified anesthesiologist specializing in cardiac anesthesia. He served as Director of Quality Assurance for the Division of Anesthesiology and as Medical Director of Respiratory Care for the Division of Surgery and Anesthesiology.
What an incredibly fascinating subject matter and storytelling technique!
Of the three title “characters”, the golf ball was the one that initially attracted me to this book. It’s my favorite game to play and to watch on television or in person. But while reading it, I also became engrossed with the exploits of the first American in space Alan Shepard, the endeavors of the Navy veteran Carlos Villagomez, and the close personal relationship they’d built through the years. By the end of the book, I am convinced that the golf ball the astronaut gave the barber did actually fly to the moon.
***
The authors drew me in with the strong evidence of their extensive research and interviews. Their use of the plural pronoun “we” in the narration gave me a unique reading experience. I have read many works written by dual-author collaborators. This is the first time I have encountered the storytellers using it as a point-of-view. While it is in the first person to mean Ms. Radnofsky and Mr. Supkis, the “we”, at various points, includes the reader in the narrative. Part of the story. Especially those who witnessed the historical events in space as they unfolded. As a voracious reader, I appreciate the distinctly novel approach.
***
Overall, I enjoyed this book bar for some inconsistencies in the POVs (there were several I’s and instances of referring to the authors in the third-person) and multiple repetitions of the same quotes and anecdotes.
I highly recommend this engaging title for those who seek both entertainment and education in their reading materials. The exhaustive list of references and acknowledgments at the back of the book serves as a testament to the hard work of the authors.
Thanks to Lone Star Lit for including my blog in the campaign to share this story with avid readers.
Growing up in West Texas, Jane Little Botkin didn’t have designs on becoming a beauty queen. But not long after joining a pageant on a whim in college, she became the first protégé of El Paso’s Richard Guy and Rex Holt, known as the “Kings of Beauty”—just as the 1970’s counterculture movement began to take off.
A pink, rose-covered gown—a Guyrex creation—symbolizes the fairy tale life that young women in Jane’s time imagined beauty queens had. Its near destruction exposes reality: the author’s failed relationship with her mother, and her parents’ failed relationship with one another. Weaving these narrative threads together is the Wild West notion that anything is possible, especially do-overs.
The Pink Dress awakens nostalgia for the 1960s and 1970s, the era’s conflicts and growth pains. A common expectation that women went to college to get “MRS” degrees—to find a husband and become a stay-at-home wife and mother—often prevailed. How does one swim upstream against this notion among feminist voices that protest “If You Want Meat, Go to a Butcher!” at beauty pageants, two flamboyant showmen, and a developing awareness of self? Torn between women’s traditional roles and what women could be, Guyrex Girls evolved, as did the author.
Praise for The Pink Dress:
The memoir is an engaging time capsule of trendsetting southwestern beauty pageantry. A revealing look behind the glamour and illusion of beauty queens. ~Kirkus Reviews
The Pink Dress isn’t a beautiful walk down memory lane. It’s a wild ride through the turbulent 1970s, West Texas style. Here she is, Janie Botkin, taking the town by storm. —Johnny D. Boggs, nine-time Spur Award winner and author of upcoming books Longhorns East and Bloody Newton
National award-winning author Jane Little Botkin melds personal narratives of American families, often with compelling stories of Western women. A member of Western Writers of America since 2017, Jane judges entries for the WWA’s prestigious Spur Award, reviews new releases, and writes articles for various magazines. Her books have won numerous awards, including two Spur Awards, two Caroline Bancroft History Prizes, and the Barbara Sudler Award; she has also been a finalist for the Women Writing the West’s Willa Literary Award, High Plains Book Award, Oklahoma Book Award, and Foreword Review and Sarton Book awards, both in women’s studies. She is currently working on a biography of Mary Ann (Molly) Goodnight titled The Breath of a Buffalo, A Biography of Mary Ann Goodnight. A lifelong Texan, Jane said she had no idea Texas grew native trees until she moved from El Paso, to Dripping Springs near Austin! Now Jane blissfully escapes into her literary world in the remote White Mountain Wilderness near Nogal, New Mexico–a hop, skip, and a jump to El Paso.
Rumor has it that Texas just got a little hotter! Fans of Tessa Bailey and K. Bromberg will fall for this sexy story of mistaken identity, electric attraction, and irresistible romance in the first installment of the addictive new series, Austin Heat.
Jake is desperate to rewrite his past with women and leave behind the media storm surrounding his off-the-field antics that cloud his potential. He’s done with the stream of models, actresses, and NFL cheerleaders that have warmed his bed since he made a name for himself as starting quarterback for the University of Texas. He desperately wants to meet a normal girl in his hometown of Austin.
After moving to Austin to be the hired girlfriend of one of her long-term escort clients, Rakell finds herself wishing she could live a normal life with an average guy. Turned off by the billionaire clients she’s been serving for the last five years, she longs to get out of the business and build a life where she doesn’t live in the shadows of her escort persona.
Their worlds collide and the spice is off the charts. “Pretty boy” Jake Skyler has met his match with saucy-mouthed, Rakell McCarthy. Both think they’ve fallen for an average person. Both are wrong! What happens when their physical connection explodes, their hearts take charge and the secrets they are concealing are revealed?
Amari Nylix (alter ego to author Tara Delaney) tells sordid stories revolving around tempestuous love affairs that are inspired by the secret liaisons of Old West villains, heroes, and the temptress women who lure those powerful men into their webs. Amari delights in sharing her torrid stories of heart-wrenching, epic love that begin with the desires of the flesh and evolve into affairs of the heart.
In the Austin Heatseries, Amari works closely with bestselling author of both non-fiction and fiction, Tara Delaney 😉. Tara has been a pediatric occupational therapist for more than thirty years and has extensive professional experience in sensory processing and nervous system development, while also having studied how early trauma impacts our responses as adults. Tara is responsible for trimming back Amari’s numerous spicy scenes, allowing room for all the FEELS.
Contemporary Fiction / Christian Mystery & Suspense / Christian Romance
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Pages: 368
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
SYNOPSIS
Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed faces her most dangerous challenge yet in Lethal Standoff. Called to a tense situation in South Texas, Carrington must save fifteen hostages held by the armed Kendrix brothers, who demand justice for their father’s unsolved murder.
Teaming up with investigative reporter Levi Ehrlich, Carrington delves into a web of secrets and lies. As they uncover startling truths, the stakes soar, and so does their undeniable attraction.
Can Carrington solve the mystery and prevent a deadly outcome? A riveting blend of romance and suspense, this is a must-read for fans of high-stakes thrillers.
Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas.
An intricately woven melding of crime thriller, faith examination, and romance, Lethal Standoff is an exciting and thought-provoking read.
None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.”
Action-packed from beginning to end, this book takes its leads, hostage negotiator Carrington Reed and investigative reporter Levi Ehrlich, through multiple life-threatening and heartbreaking twists and turns in their shared quest to find answers after a tragic end to one of Carrington’s volatile cases. Traveling back and forth between Houston and Victoria, Carrington and Levi find themselves dealing with a traumatized bereaved family, a territorial local police, unknown murderous villains, and weighty personal problems while also navigating their growing emotional attraction with each other.
The bottom line is truth and love go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.”
DiAnn Mills always includes current and significant societal themes in her stories and in this book, she incorporates the horror of human trafficking of undocumented immigrants, the conflict of religious conversion, and the far-reaching devastation caused by domestic violence. As I’ve come to expect from her, Ms. Mills expertly threaded all these topics into a cohesive work that compels the reader to think and feel for the characters. And she did it in a way that highlights the seriousness of the topics without getting too heavy or preachy.
I’d rather walk an uncertain path with you than go another day without you.”
This book is an engaging read that fans of well-written and well-researched stories will surely enjoy. I learned some new information (Messianic Judaism, eye melanoma, negotiation tactics, etc.) and I vibed with the unfolding sweet and wholesome romance.
Carina Gaskell has been writing stories since she could hold a pen, and dreaming them up even before that.
Raised in the province in a house full of love and books, it’s no surprise that the Manila-based author would go on to carve out her own space in the romance genre writing cozy, feel-good novels.
Her stories feature sweet and swoon-worthy heroes, strong (and artistic!) heroines, and a lovable cast of side characters. She loves indulgent wish-fulfillment romances, Happy Ever Afters, and the concept of soulmates—both romantic and platonic.
Her favorite love story is that of hers and her partner’s.
When Nell’s brother-in-law walks out on her pregnant sister, it falls on Nell’s shoulders to cover their mountain of bills. To do so, she must convince the owner of a secondhand bookstore to sell his property so she can earn a commission.
But when she visits the store, two unexpected things happen: the owner offers her a job sorting the shelves—extra income!—and her childhood crush, Thomas Whelan, turns out to be the only other employee there. Only a fool would turn that opportunity down.
When Thomas reveals he needs help with his love life, it seems all too perfect: get an in with Tom by helping him prepare for his dates, recruit him towards her cause of convincing their boss to sell, get paid, and live happily ever after.
Except the more time she spends with Tom, the more she gets attached: to him, to the bookstore that soon might not even exist, and its customers.
Set in a small town in the throes of gentrification, Second Chance Books is a novel that explores the power of love, literature, and community when it comes to changing and saving lives.
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Second Chance Books is free to borrow with Kindle Unlimited subscription. Also available in paperback. books2read.com/secondchancebooks
True North
After Sophie’s long-term boyfriend decides he doesn’t want to marry her, she flies back home to her native Philippines with her tail tucked between her legs. Forget romance. With the help of Ninang, her wealthy grand-aunt on her mother’s side, she picks her pieces back up and throws herself headfirst into her dream project: opening a coffee shop on the famous beach resort island of Dalisay.
But there’s a catch. Ninang agrees to help fund the cost of starting a new business, if and only if Sophie hosts her younger sister, Narra, and their cousin, Layla for the summer. Fresh out of college, Narra and Layla have come to Dalisay for three months of fun and romance, and they refuse to leave Sophie out of it.
Enter Archie Hastings. A smooth-talking, motorcycle-riding Brit, he moved to the island to work at a non-profit and nurse a heartbreak of his own. When Narra indulges in a little too much fun and romance, he’s there to help Sophie save the day, only to find himself pulled into a scheme to get Sophie—and by extension, himself—laid.
Sophie just wants to be left alone. But love has a funny way of sneaking up on you, and this summer, on the beautiful sunny island of Dalisay, where the white sand is soft like powder and the blue sea impossibly clear, it might just catch her off-guard.
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