• RLF Gems

    Saying goodbye to the Romance Lives Forever blog #RLFblog

    As of today, Dec 1, 2023, I am closing Romance Lives Forever. Why? I'm organized and efficient, but with as much as I want to do going forward, I can no longer maintain RLF. I used Triberr to amplify the blog on social media, especially Twitter. The new requirements and limits from Twitter cut exposure by a huge margin. Triberr brought 80%+ of all readers to the blog. Since it's no longer active, that cost another huge drop in traffic.

    It costs a bit to run the blog, register its domain name, pay for the signup/reminder service, and it takes time to chase down people who send things last minute (or not at all). Plus I have to let authors know the service is available. Then I format the material, resize the images, upload everything, and schedule its promotion. Alas, time and money won out.

    I started the blog in 2009, and went to daily posts in 2010. I've explored many ways to do all this and still find time to write and market for myself. I hired an assistant last year, but only I can write the stories in my heart. I am loath to give up, not being a quitter by nature.

    When it's Time to Quit

    Last month, I heard Becca Syme (one of my mentors) say that it's time to quit when you no longer love what you do. Becca is brilliant. I took her Strengths for Writers and Write Better-Faster courses in the last 12 months. Each came with 6 months of follow up calls and targeted counseling. Changed my life in so many ways. Here's the video I'm referring to if you're curious. https://youtu.be/GRG5UeFYihE

    Daily monitoring this blog is not what I love. What I love is supporting other authors, and the blog was how I did that. I will still support them but in ways that leave time for my own priorities. It took more than a year for me to decide to do this (or rather, stop doing this). I almost didn't commit to 2023, but felt guilty for quitting. It wasn't until I heard Becca's comment last month that I gave myself permission to do what I had to do. She wasn't talking about blogging, or anything even close to what I was doing. She was talking about writing in the golden age of publishing (the new era we've recently entered), and how to know what to do next (or stop doing).

    The video was from Ream, which is a new subscription platform for authors. I've just launched mine. I attended an accelerator class with a handful of other authors in a small-group setting for mentorship. Wonderful support and I learned things I never expected.


    Some of the Many Authors Who Made RLF a Success

    Adriana Kraft, Alexa Aston, Alina K Field, Amber Daulton, Anne Kane, Brenda Sparks, Daryl Devore, Dee S Knight, Effrosyni Moschoudi, Faye Hall, Iris Blobel, J Arlene Culiner, Jami Gray, Jana Richards, Karen Cino, Kate Hill, Kris Bock, Linda O'Connor, Lisabet Sarai, Livia Quinn, NJ Walters, Seelie Kay, Tena Stetler, Tina Donahue, Veronica Scott, Vicki Batman

    I'll miss the blog. It's been a part of my life during most of my career as an author. I look forward to what comes after this, and having the time and freedom to pursue the next steps.


    Thank you for being part of my journey. If you'd like to support me and keep up with what I'm doing next, here's how:

    Become an immortal via my newsletter and get a starter set plus other exclusive perks. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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    Romance Lives Forever Blog (RLFblog) is closed as of Dec 1, 2023. Comments prior to 2021 have been deleted. This site will remain online until July 2025.


     
  • Regency

    Immerse yourself in the magic of Alexa Aston’s Regency Era series with Training the Duke @AlexaAston 💕 Sparks fly as a quirky dog trainer and a dashing duke cross paths #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    Immerse yourself in the magic of Alexa Aston's Regency Era series with Training the Duke @AlexaAston 💕 Sparks fly as a quirky dog trainer and a dashing duke cross paths #RLFblog #RegencyRomanceCan a newly-minted duke convince a dog trainer who is mistrustful of men that they are meant to be together? Try Training the Duke, the seventh book in Alexa Aston’s Regency Era romance series.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Training the Duke.

    Training the Duke: Suddenly a Duke Book 7 by Alexa Aston

    Genre: Regency romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    An army officer who has returned to his childhood home. An earl’s daughter forced to earn her own living. Two damaged souls who find friendship . . . and love . . .

    Lieutenant-General Cyrus Cressley’s head wound leaves him blind in one eye and unsuited to lead men into battle. Selling his commission, Cy returns to Melrose to find his father long dead and his distant brother, who is in poor health, the new Duke of Margate. Cy is given use of the hunting lodge on the estate, where he seeks to find his purpose in life after being forced from the military.

    Lady Finola Honeyfield’s come-out was ruined when a cruel trick was played upon her, leaving her to trust no one but her dogs. She retreats to the country and becomes one of England’s premier trainers of English springer spaniels, having found a way to earn her keep, even as she is lost in loneliness.

    Thanks to her Honeyfield spaniels, Finola has a chance meeting with Cy. Soon, a friendship springs up between them, with Cy even helping Finola train her current litter of pups. But these two keep secrets from one another and when Cy suddenly finds himself the Duke of Margate, Finola washes her hands of him.

    Can Cy convince Finola they are meant to be together and forge a path as the Duke and Duchess of Margate—or will her mistrust of gentlemen of the ton keep them apart forever?

    Find the answer in Alexa Aston’s Training the Duke, Book 7 in Suddenly a Duke.
    Each book in the Suddenly a Duke series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order and can be read for free with Kindle Unlimited.
    Suddenly a Duke Series Order:
    Book 1 – Portrait of the Duke – Daniel & Margaret
    Book 2 – Music for the Duke – Henry & Fia
    Book 3 – Polishing the Duke – Pierce & Nalyssa
    Book 4 – Designs on the Duke – Elijah & Abby
    Book 5 – Fashioning the Duke – Fox & Delaney
    Book 6 – Love Blooms with the Duke – Xander & Willa
    Book 7 – Training the Duke – Cy & Finola
    Book 8 – Investigating the Duke – Jasper & Shelby

    Where to buy Training the Duke

    Amazon (in Kindle Unlimited!): https://amzn.to/45bIQ7Q

    Alexa Aston’s Social Media

    Award-winning USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.
    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.
    Website: https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    BingeBooks Author Page: https://bingebooks.com/profile/AlexaAston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter: http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join


    Romance Lives Forever Blog (RLFblog) is closed as of Dec 1, 2023. Comments prior to 2021 have been deleted. This site will remain online until July 2025.


     
  • Contemporary

    Read #Learning to Trust Again by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #SmallTownRomance

    Read #Learning to Trust Again by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #SmallTownRomanceWill Walker and Rory begin their future together as man and wife—or will someone from Rory’s past spell doom for their relationship? Try Learning to Trust Again, the second book in Alexa Aston’s small-town romance series Sugar Springs.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Learning to Trust Again.

    Learning to Trust Again by Alexa Aston

    Genre small-town contemporary romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    A woman smarting from the betrayal of her fiancé. A man changing directions in his career. A threat that will come between their new love . . .

    Former Olympic gold medalist Rory Addison suffers a career-ending injury when she is shot by a stalker while competing on the ice. After a long rehab, Rory earns her college degree and begins a new career in education. Her world comes crashing down again when her fiancé is disgraced by a huge scandal. Painted by the brush of his misdeeds, she resigns her position and is hired to teach high school history in the small East Texas town of Sugar Springs.

    Walker Cox remained in Dallas after graduating from law school, eventually making partner at a high-profile firm. He walks away to return to his hometown, where he takes over his retiring father’s law practice.

    When Rory is reluctant to begin a relationship with Walker, her grandmother tells Rory not to let her past color her future and encourages her granddaughter to give the handsome attorney a chance. Things heat up quickly between the pair, and they make plans for a wedding, even as Rory considers a career beyond teaching.

    Will Walker and Rory begin their future together as man and wife—or will someone from Rory’s past spell doom for their relationship?

    Find the answer in Learning to Trust Again, Book 2 in Sugar Springs.

    Each book in this contemporary small town romance series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order. Read for free with Kindle Unlimited.

    Series Order:
    1 – Shadows of the Past: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 1)
    2 – Learning to Trust Again: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 2)
    3 – A Perfect Match: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 3)
    4 – A Fresh Start: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 4)
    5 – Recipe for Love: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 5)

    Where to buy Learning to Trust again

    Amazon (in Kindle Unlimited): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BTXML5CK

    Alexa Aston’s Social Media

    Award-winning USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.

    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.

    Website: https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    BingeBooks Author Page: https://bingebooks.com/profile/AlexaAston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter: http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join


    Romance Lives Forever Blog (RLFblog) is closed as of Dec 1, 2023. Comments prior to 2021 have been deleted. This site will remain online until July 2025.


     
  • Small Town Romance

    Read #Shadows of the Past by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #SmallTownRomance

    Can two people from very different worlds find common ground—and find lasting love? Try Shadows of the Past, the first book in Alexa Aston’s new small-town contemporary romance series Sugar Springs.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Shadows of the Past.

    Shadows of the Past: Sugar Springs Book 1 by Alexa Aston

    Genre: small-town contemporary romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Welcome to the new world from USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston—Sugar Springs—a small town in East Texas where love has a way of turning up when you least expect it!

    A woman with a secret occupation. A man ready for a new challenge. Work brings them together—and then love blossoms between them . . . .

    High school teacher Paige Laramie has been secretly writing screenplays under the name Laramie Fisher in her free time. She sells a couple for a moderate fee, but she strikes gold when Hollywood’s hottest superstar buys her latest effort and decides to shoot the film in her hometown of Sugar Springs.

    Former stuntman and model Tanner Haddock jumped to roles on the big screen, but he’s always been someone who pushes himself creatively, seeking new challenges. Tanner’s ready to move into directing—and finds the perfect script to star in and make his directorial debut.

    He just didn’t count on falling in love with its beautiful, quirky writer.

    Can two people from very different worlds find common ground—and find lasting love?

    Find the answer in Shadows of the Past, Book 1 in Sugar Springs.

    Each book in this contemporary small town romance series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order. Read for free with Kindle Unlimited.

    Series Order:
    1 – Shadows of the Past: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 1)
    2 – Learning to Trust Again: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 2)
    3 – A Perfect Match: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 3)
    4 – A Fresh Start: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 4)
    5 – Recipe for Love: A Small Town Romance (Sugar Springs Book 5)

    Where to buy Shadows of the Past

    Amazon (in Kindle Unlimited!): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BTXN3WCW

    Alexa Aston’s Social Media

    Award-winning USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.

    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.

    Website: https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    BingeBooks Author Page: https://bingebooks.com/profile/AlexaAston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter: http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join

  • Regency

    Read the new Regency #Meant for the Marquess by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    Read the new Regency #Meant for the Marquess by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #RegencyRomanceCan Devin convince Julia they can have a life together—or will his new title and wealth tear them apart? Try Meant for the Marquess, the seventh and final book in Alexa Aston’s Regency romance series Second Sons of London.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Meant for the Marquess.

    Meant for the Marquess by Alexa Aston

    Genre: Regency historical romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    An army major compelled to leave the military. A lady forced to earn her living. Two souls finding a new way of life…and each other…along with love.

    A brutal attack leaves Major Devin Hunt missing two fingers. Unable to fire a gun, he sells his commission and takes refuge with a former fellow officer who has now become a duke. His friend offers Devin the opportunity to become the estate’s steward and forge a new life.

    Lady Julia Birmingham loses both her parents just before she makes her come-out. Her half-brother, who never considered her family, banishes Julia from her childhood home and she is forced to earn her living, eventually becoming the governess to the Duke of Woodmont’s nephews.

    Devin asks the family governess to help him to learn to write with his left hand, knowing keeping records is an important part of his new position. Their attraction turns into love and Devin is ready to spend his life with Julia—until he suddenly becomes the Marquess of Bedford.

    Can Devin convince Julia they can have a life together—or will his new title and wealth tear them apart?

    Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston’s Meant for the Marquess, the final book in Second Sons of London.

    Each book in Second Sons of London is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.

    Series Order:
    Book #1: Educated by the Earl
    Book #2: Debating with the Duke
    Book #3: Empowered by the Earl
    Book #4: Made for the Marquess
    Book #5: Dubious about the Duke
    Book #6: Valued by the Viscount
    Book #7: Meant for the Marquess

    Where to buy Meant for the Marquess

    Amazon (in Kindle Unlimited): https://amzn.to/3C7XW15

    Alexa Aston’s Social Media

    Award-winning USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.

    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.

    Website: https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    BingeBooks Author Page: https://bingebooks.com/profile/AlexaAston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter: http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join

  • Regency

    Read #Valued by the Viscount by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    Read #Valued by the Viscount by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #RegencyRomanceCan Vanessa find a new husband that will see her for who she truly is—and is Reed the man who will finally bring love into her life? Try Valued by the Viscount, the sixth book in Alexa Aston’s Regency romance series Second Sons of London.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Valued by the Viscount.

    Valued by the Viscount by Alexa Aston

    Genre: Regency historical romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    A reformed rogue who yearns for a love match. A widow who’s been tossed from her home. A house party meant to bring lovers together . . .

    Reed Davenport is a womanizer enjoying a carefree life until his beloved father dies. Now Viscount Boxling, Reed takes his responsibilities seriously, including providing an heir. He turns to the Duchess of Camden, famed for her matchmaking skills, and puts himself in her hands, hoping he will find not only his viscountess—but love.

    Vanessa Hughes, Lady Hockley, is a widow whose husband made her feel worthless. With her year of mourning at an end, her stepson demands she leave the family estate. Raging at her dead husband’s grave, Vanessa meets a remarkable countess who invites Vanessa to a house party she is hosting.

    Can Vanessa find a new husband that will see her for who she truly is—and is Reed the man who will finally bring love into her life?

    Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston’s Valued by the Viscount, the sixth book in Second Sons of London.

    Each book in Second Sons of London is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.

    Series Order:
    Book #1: Educated by the Earl
    Book #2: Debating with the Duke
    Book #3: Empowered by the Earl
    Book #4: Made for the Marquess
    Book #5: Dubious about the Duke
    Book #6: Valued by the Viscount
    Book #7: Meant for the Marquess

    Where to buy Valued by the Viscount:

    Amazon (in Kindle Unlimited) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9YNX7W4

    Alexa Aston’s Social Media

    Award-winning USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.

    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.

    Website: https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    BingeBooks Author Page: https://bingebooks.com/profile/AlexaAston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter: http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join