Teaser Saturday

“I should have known.”

“Should have known what?” Her voice came out soft, silky, refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.

“That you would be the one bringing them home. You’re a softie inside, you know that?”

He stepped close. Close enough for him to know that she had a cinnamon mint in her mouth, close enough to see the sheen glazing from those luscious jade eyes.

Winter narrowed her brows and glanced frantically in both directions. “Sheesh! Don’t let anybody hear you say that. You’ll ruin my reputation.”

Her face lifted up to his, her cheeks puffy with amusement, her eyes shining with joy.

“Your reputation? You mean spending all your off-duty hours helping a family be able to bring their children back home? Or the hard core cop image you show to the world? Which one, Winter?”

Her face softened, bringing that vulnerability she only showed occasionally, exposing her true beauty. Beauty that shone from the inside, from that huge heart of hers.

The banging, the laughter and tears, the hugging and slapping all faded into background noise, leaving just him and Winter, standing under the shade of a massive oak tree.

Tree branches swayed in the soft breeze, the leaves shimmering with beauty and strength, but fragile in the heavy winds and storms.

Just like Winter.

Sturdy and strong on the outside, but the inside?

Inside she harbored a fragile, gentle soul. One that suffered when the storms of life hit her at such a young age.

He leaned closer and flicked a wisp of hair that floated loose from her ponytail behind an ear. He held his breath, wanting to capture this moment, this picture of her, forever in his head.

Not just the midnight blue shorts and ruffled white top she wore. No, he wanted the essence of Winter. Her spirit of kindness and reconciliation. Her desire to heal fractured families. Her generous heart.
        If he were an artist, that’s what he would paint.

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Did you enjoy that little gem? It's from When Love Triumphs, my first novella in the Pure Amore series, due to release in November via subscription with Pelican Book Group. It's one click shopping. You don't have to drive to the bookstore or check back for new releases. After subscribing, each month your "Pure Amore" romance will be emailed to your inbox, mailed as a print copy, or you can select a combination of both for as low as $48. Check out the gorgeous covers and intriguing blurbs for all twelve books here. Convenient, right? How cool is that? :)

Teaser Saturday

So, what's been going on with you guys? You're too quiet. Or maybe it's just me? lol. 

You can probably tell from my sporadic blog posts that I haven't been reading too much lately. I hope to remedy that soon, starting with Sandra Ardoin's debut novella, The Yuletide Angel. But I have been crazy busy writing. Six books are contracted and ready to roll off the presses with Pelican Book Group.

Pretty, huh? I agree. When Love Triumphs, my first novella in the PURe Amore series, is due to release in November. It's available, along with eleven others, through subscription with Pelican Book Group. You can see the gorgeous covers and intriguing blurbs for all the books here. Subscriptions start as low as $48 (that includes one book a month for an entire year), and you have your choice of digital or print formats.

Maybe you'd like a peek into When Love Triumphs? Yes? Well, why didn't you just say so? lol

Her lips tasted sweet and tangy, cinnamony. He meant for it to be a quick kiss, an encouraging gesture, a promise of more to come, but her sudden gasp and the way her arms curled around his neck made him linger and long for more, a lifetime of summer evenings with this woman by his side. His hands dropped to the curve of her back and tugged her close. She fit so right, so perfectly into his arms, that all the binds around his heart cut loose.

What will it take, God, for her to see that we can do this?

With a reluctant but satisfied sigh, he pulled back from her lips, dipped his forehead to hers, and willed his heart rate to slow to normal.

He didn’t see Winter’s chest expand, so he knew she was holding her breath. Finally, those luscious green eyes fluttered open, and then she inhaled, deep and shaky, her arms still wrapped tight around his neck. Her words whispered against his lips. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Could the evening get any sweeter?

“Mine, too. But don’t let it happen again.” Her arms dropped.

Whoa! Back it up there. Hadn’t she just admitted that she enjoyed the kiss? What was he missing here? He narrowed his eyes. “Why not?”

 “Because I can’t—”

Did that delicious little goodie convince you to subscribe? I hope so. If not, I'll be back later to share another one. Stay tuned!

Shortly after When Love Triumphs releases, Christmas in the Rink, my first ever Christmas-themed romance, will be offered as part of PBG's Christmas Extravaganza. Yay! But more on that later. 

Right now, I'm working on Kester Ranch, a sweet contemporary romance series with cowboys, adorable kids and two Australian Koolies on a Texas ranch. The first book, Roping the Cowboy is complete, and I'm in the process of finding a home for the series. 

So that's it for me. What's going on with you?

PURE Amore...Sweet Romance, Pure Enjoyment ™

PURE...the new sexy! 

Wow! It's hard to believe that the first Pure Amore romance rolls out next week! I'm incredibly honored to be a part of this new venture with Pelican Book Group.

Over the last five weeks, we've showcased awesome stories by Wendy Davy, Marianne Evans, Delia Latham, Mary Manners, and Clare Revell. Featuring heroes and heroines between the ages of 21-33, never married and one or both a virgin, PURE Amore stories center around two flawed individuals seeking to honor God in all areas of their lives, especially in ways society doesn't often understand or value. They top out at 45k words, petite little gems bursting with emotional and romantic depth. 

Available by subscription, Pure Amore will release one delicious romance per month in e-book, paperback, or a paperback/e-book combination for one year beginning October 1, 2014. Squeal! Yes, that's next Wednesday!

For now, fill your mug with some English Toffee coffee (my favorite!) and settle back in your recliner for a glimpse at When Hope Rises and When Love Triumphs, written by...me. :)

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When Hope Rises
Art teacher Shelby Coltman transforms junk into treasure and longs for a place to showcase her creations. She’s thrilled when her friend volunteers to room with her. Shelby can finally buy a storefront. Unfortunately, Kennedi’s brother can't seem to let go.

Abandoned as a teenager, guidance counselor Tate Malone has become surrogate and over-protective father to his sister. Life is great until Shelby Coltman wheedles his impressionable sister into sharing an apartment. Raised in wealth, the beautiful Shelby could never understand poverty or rejection, and Tate doesn't appreciate her uprooting his sister.

When Shelby hands over her savings to a homeless student, will God obliterate Tate's fears and deliver all of Shelby’s dreams...When Hope Rises...

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When Love Triumphs
Police Officer Winter Evan and Navy SEAL Tanner Random are wrong for each other. Winter fears the water. Tanner skims through seas for a living. So four years ago, Winter convinced herself she’d be better off not worrying about his months at sea and his increased cajoling for physical intimacy. But when she walked away, she lost a giant chunk of her heart.

Now Tanner’s back in town to care for his abandoned niece. No longer a SEAL, he’s sticking to the safety of the North Carolina mountains as a paramedic. Should Winter risk losing her heart all over again? Will God help them build what started years ago into something solid and secure? When Love Triumphs...

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I've really enjoyed these peeks into the precious romances offered in the PURE line. I hope you have, too. If you haven't already subscribed, here's the link: subscribe. Don't miss out! PURE Amore...Sweet Romance, Pure Enjoyment™ starts next week!

PURE Amore...Sweet Romance, Pure Enjoyment ™

PURE...the new sexy! 

For the last couple of weeks, we've been diving into Pelican Book Group's newest line, Pure Amore, sweet, hope-filled romances that will leave you "satisfied and smiling." Featuring heroes and heroines between the ages of 21-33, never married and one or both a virgin, the stories center around two flawed individuals seeking to honor God in all areas of their lives, especially in ways society doesn't often understand or value. They top out at 45k words, petite little gems bursting with emotional and romantic depth. 

Available by subscription, Pure Amore will release one delicious romance per month in e-book, paperback, or a paperback/e-book combination for one year beginning October 1, 2014. Fill your mug with some hot chocolate and settle back to enjoy At First Sight and Jingle Belle by the majorly talented Delia Latham.

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At First Sight

Reagan Massey has gone through a great deal of trouble to make her cousin irresistible to the visiting single minister but things get a little sticky when Reagan falls in love with Cord Phillips herself…

Cord doesn’t believe in marital bliss after seeing the mockery his parents made of their vows. He’s promised himself he’ll live as the Apostle Paul lived, dedicating himself solely to God. When his heart turns traitor, Cord has to completely rethink his position on love.

Things around Riverbend House of Worship take on some humorous, heart-touching, soul-stirring twists and turns, with Reagan and Cord so busy getting in God’s way that they can’t see the path He has laid out for them to travel…together.

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Jingle Belle

Jingle Belle Knowles is excited about the opportunity to write a Christmas jingle for a new restaurant in Pohono, Oklahoma—until she meets the company’s cocky PR man. Despite an immediate personality clash with much-too-handsome Italian Nick Santini, Belle finds herself irresistibly and unacceptably drawn to her insufferable client.

Nick isn’t pleased about working with the lovely jingle writer. But with a grand opening date just two weeks before Christmas, he and his brother need something to draw shoppers off the streets and into their Tuscan-themed restaurant. Given Belle's stellar reputation, Nick makes up his mind to grit his teeth and get through the project.

They’re both adults. They’re both Christians. And they’re both determined to make the project a success. But when a passionate, self-assured, hard-headed Italian butts heads with a stubborn, auburn-haired, confident Irish spit-fire, the results could make for a highly chaotic Christmas season.

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Sigh...don't these two stories sound positively delish?? Here's the link to subscribe. Be sure to check back next week when we'll showcase Simple Blessings and Blackberry Ridge by the awesome Mary Manners. 

PURE Amore...Sweet Romance, Pure Enjoyment ™

PURE...the new sexy! 

Last week I introduced you to Pelican Book Group's newest line, Pure Amore, sweet, hope-filled romances that will leave you "satisfied and smiling." Featuring heroes and heroines between the ages of 21-33, never married and one or both a virgin, the stories center around two flawed individuals seeking to honor God in all areas of their lives, especially in ways society doesn't often understand or value. They top out at 45k words, petite little gems bursting with emotional and romantic depth. 

Available by subscription, Pure Amore will release one delicious romance per month in e-book, paperback, or a paperback/e-book combination for one year beginning October 1, 2014. Fill your tall glass to the brim with some iced tea and enjoy  Date Night and Then and Now by uber talented Marianne Evans. 

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Date Night
Ethan Miller's family has done...what?
His profile is plastered on MingleInFaith.com. Now, this career-focused, happy-to-be-a-bachelor is forced to endure an episode of speed-dating. 

Interior designer Natalie Gibbs is on the dating circuit, eager to find "the one," but she has strict rules about the manner in which she'll embrace a romantic relationship. She wasn't even supposed to meet Ethan Miller—but God had other plans.

Ethan spends a month each year in Honduras, offering eye care to the underprivileged. He senses a sweetness to Natalie that prompts him to invite her along on the next mission trip.

The voyage leads them far from New York City, but straight into the hearts of the Honduran people.

Slowly, Ethan's heart is swayed toward the idea of love. But Natalie's mission work teaches her about a love that reaches far beyond romance.

What's God's plan? Should their hearts combine—or does He want them to serve...and learn...from one another—and an extraordinary date night?

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Then and Now

Aiden Balfour has always craved stability, independence and security. He's led a rocky life but always treasured his summers in Northern Michigan with his best summertime friend, Olivia Masters.

Olivia is dedicated to preserving the life she's known and has always treasured at her grandparent's home high on a bluff overlooking the pristine waters of Avalon. With their blessing, she's turned the expansive piece of property into a quaint, restful bed and breakfast.

But developers are circling—and they're led by none other than Aiden Balfour. Now an ambitious businessman, he's determined to turn the lake into a tourist mecca. Olivia is equally determined to stop him...no matter what his hold on her heart.

Can the innocent joy and love of their youth be reclaimed? Can then...and now...ever be reconciled to a future overflowing with love and hope?

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Yowzee! Did you enjoy these back cover blurbs? Here's the link to subscribe. Come back next week to check out At First Sight and Jingle Belle by the lovely Delia Latham.

PURE Amore...Sweet Romance, Pure Enjoyment ™

PURE...the new sexy! Celebrate purity with Pelican Book Group's newest line of sweet, hope-filled romances that will leave you "satisfied and smiling." Featuring heroes and heroines between the ages of 21-33, never married and one or both a virgin, the stories center around two flawed individuals seeking to honor God in all areas of their lives, especially in ways society doesn't often understand or value. Topping out at 45k words, these little goodies are the perfect size to snatch small reading bites during lunch breaks or while waiting to pick up your kidlets after school. Petite, yet bursting with emotional and romantic depth. 

Available by subscription, Pure Amore will release one delicious romance per month in e-book, paperback, or a paperback/e-book combination for one year beginning October 1, 2014. I'm thrilled to be a part of this new venture with Pelican Book Group, and over the next few weeks will feature all twelve books by six authors, in alphabetical order with the exception of my books, which I'll save for last. This week, settle in with a giant mug of your favorite coffee or tea and enjoy Wendy Davy's Just One Kiss and Flirting with Danger!

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Just One Kiss

After acting on a dare and kissing the hottest guy at Granbury High, Molly Parker was left with a broken heart and a legacy she couldn’t live down; Dustin McKinley left town the very next day, taking her hopes and dreams along with him. A decade later…they meet again.  

Molly assures herself she won’t fall for Dustin’s charms this time, yet with his good looks and dimpled smile, guarding her heart proves to be more of a challenge than she ever expected.

When Dustin inherits his grandmother’s farmhouse he returns to Granbury intending to sell the property. However, he must first evict the tenant occupying the garage apartment—the woman he walked away from years ago and has never been able to forget.

 Dustin assures himself he’s doing what must be done, but when he reunites with Molly his attraction to her rekindles, jeopardizing his carefully constructed plans.

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Flirting with Danger

As a repossession specialist, Gavin Sykes has the means to legally and morally do what he does best—take things that aren't his. He thrives on repossessing high-end merchandise, hoping to atone for his shadowy past. But, even with all his experience, he never could have anticipated the future that awaits him.

When Sabrina Grady is hired to expedite the repossession process, she finally has the means to fulfill a promise she made long ago. New to the trade, what she lacks in experience she more than makes up for with courage, determination, and sheer willpower. While she expects Gavin to be a fierce competitor, she never could have anticipated his unwavering resolve or his intense desire to protect her.

Caught in a game of cat-and-mouse, Gavin and Sabrina must choose between seeking the thrill of the chase and seeking each other.

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Wow! They sound fabulous, don't they? And don't you just adore the covers? Here's the link to subscribe. Come back next week to read about Date Night and Then and Now by uber talented Marianne Evans.