• 5 Easy Questions,  Small Town Romance

    Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards @JanaRichards_ #RLFblog #Contemporary #SmallTownRomance

     

    In Christmas at Solace Lake, Jana Richards’ new contemporary small-town romance, a series of thefts threatens everyone’s holiday spirit.

    Jana, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.

    Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards

    Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards Genre – contemporary small-town romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG to R

    An emergency brings Drew Barnes to Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods owned by his aunt and uncle. He’s sure desperation is the only reason they’d allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one in his family has believed in him since his mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he wants is to be put in the middle of another crime.

    Sous chef Celeste Bishop has made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she’s worked, and lived, at Solace Lake Lodge. After being unfairly fired, this was the only job she could get, and she’s grateful her gamble on the lodge paid off. The only sticking point is the isolation since she never learned to drive. How can she show her daughter independence when she’s always relying on others?

    Drew sees Celeste’s frustration and offers to teach her to drive. A powerful attraction ignites between them, and soon deeper, stronger emotions blossom. Drew is all in, but Celeste resists her feelings. She’s nine years older than Drew. An interracial relationship didn’t work for her parents. And loving Drew feels like a betrayal of her deceased husband.

    As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Can Drew stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—and his own? And can he convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas?

    Describe the perfect vacation.

    In my opinion, vacations should be relaxing. My perfect vacation would see me lounging on a shady deck with a cold drink in one hand and a book in the other. Bonus points if the deck overlooks a body of water. Sure, sometimes I’ll go sightseeing or maybe play golf, but only when I want to.

    Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.

    I had a Tammy doll that was sort of a Barbie wanna-be. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, but that’s where the similarity with Barbie ended. She was somewhat bigger/taller with flat feet so none of Barbie’s clothes or shoes fit her. She was also less curvy than Barbie. Obviously, Tammy didn’t catch on because while Barbie is still going strong, Tammy is nowhere to be found. But back in the sixties, I adored her!

    What are your hobbies?

    I play a little golf in the summer and dabble in gardening, at least enough to make the front of my house look nice. I really enjoy live theatre and hope to see a play or two this coming winter season. This past summer I started volunteering at my local zoo as a “zoo ambassador.” Our job is to make our visitors’ experience at the zoo as enjoyable as possible, and so far it’s been a lot of fun.

    When you read for pleasure, what kind of books do you choose?

    I mostly read romance. I enjoy contemporary romance, small town, historical, and romantic suspense. I also enjoy mysteries, especially cozy mysteries. Some day I hope to write a mystery series of my own!

    What kinds of things do you read when you’re researching a new book?

    It very much depends on the book. For instance, Strong Enough, book 4 in my Masonville series, deals with sexual assault and child sexual abuse, so I read a couple of biographies written by survivors, as well as information online. For my World War Two books, I’ve read several books on different aspects of the war, including war brides and the training of air crews in Canada. For my upcoming release, Christmas At Solace Lake, (releasing October 18, 2023) one thing I researched online was ways employees could steal from their employer. I also read a lot of recipes, especially Christmas recipes, since my heroine Celeste is a sous chef and a baker.

    Where to buy Christmas at Solace Lake

    Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
    Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
    Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
    Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/u/mgRagX

    Jana Richards Social Media

    Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.
    When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.
    Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com
    Website https://www.janarichards.com/index.html
    Blog http://janarichards.blogspot.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/JanaRichards_
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/janarichards155
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JanaRichardsAuthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274.Jana_Richards
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jana-richards
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Jana-Richards/e/B002DEVWWG
    Get to know Jana Richards better by signing up for an email newsletter https://www.janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter


    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,  Small Town Romance

    Know the Hero from High on Love by Gabbi Powell @powell_gabbi #RLFblog #SmallTownRomance

    A Canadian tattooed motorcycle rider stops in Cataluma, California to take a break. A stoic and serious marijuana shop owner who is afraid of needles has an apartment to offer her. She came for a day or two. Might she stay for love?

    Gabbi, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about High on Love.

    High on Love by Gabbi Powell

    Know the Hero from High on Love by Gabbi Powell @powell_gabbi #RLFblog #SmallTownRomanceGenre small town romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): steamy

    Kendra Barker’s a long way from her Canadian home. Her road trip has landed her and her 1983 Harley in Cataluma, California, but she only plans to stay long enough to rest, maybe make a few dollars, and enjoy the Strawberry Festival. As a bonus, the one place she finds to stay is an empty apartment with a super sexy landlord.

    Javier Fernandez has been cruising through life on autopilot. His marijuana shop is doing well. His mother is, for the most part, under control and managing her job as mayor of his beloved Cataluma. Now, he just needs to get this pesky Canadian woman out of his head. He gave her a place to sleep, and he very much wants to be in her bed, but come the end of the weekend, she’ll be moving on. Javier doesn’t do one-nighters and he doesn’t want to deal with a broken heart. Long-distance, and cross-borders is a recipe for disaster, right?

    High on Love is a story in the Shopping for Love in Cataluma series. The book is a 39k word small-town interracial romance novella with a tattooed heroine, a stoic hero, and the love affair that’ll change their lives forever.

    Know the Hero from High on Love

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your hero.

    For Contemporary Heroes:

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?

    Javier’ll turn on the sports channel to watch a game of European football. Or he might snag his e-reader for a good romance.

    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?

    Being a pot shop owner, he has a love of brownies. But without the pot – he’s clean in that respect.

    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.

    Cargo shorts, loose cotton shirt, sandals – typical SoCal wear.

    Does he know how to fix things?

    Oh, he’s great at fixing things. Which is good because he owns a store, a house, and he’s always fixing things for his mother.

    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    In high school, he tried to be rebellious and smoke pot. Turned out, he didn’t love the experience, and after almost failing, he quit, pulled himself together, and kicked butt with academics.

    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?

    He’s actually pretty good with kids – not that he has a lot of experience with them. So far, none of his friends have had children. His employee just had a baby and he’s thrilled to play honorary uncle.

    What is he like first thing in the morning?

    He’s a jump out of bed at the alarm kind of guy, but he’s a little grumpy before his first java.

    Can he use chopsticks?

    He’s competent with chopsticks as he loves South Asian cuisine.

    Does he drink coffee? If so, how does he take it? If not, what does he drink instead?

    He’s a coffee drinker. Ambrosia of the Gods, as far as he’s concerned.

    What apps would he have on his phone?

    Definitely several health apps as he’s a firm believer in exercise and eating well. He would like to add an app where he could track his mother, but he hasn’t managed that yet…

    Android or iPhone?

    iPhone because he needs a good camera.

    Beard or clean-shaven?

    He’s got a bit of a goatee going these days. But he’s just as happy clean-shaven as well.

    Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?

    No piercings and definitely no tattoos – he’s terrified of needles. Although that doesn’t stop him from dropping by while Kendra gets a tattoo. She fascinates him…

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    There isn’t public transport in Cataluma, so he’s got his car. He hates motorcycles, though, because his father died riding one. Except this damn Canadian woman loves her 1983 Harley and the thought of clinging to her during a ride has him reconsidering his previous beliefs…

    Recycle or toss?

    Recycle all the way. Javier’s very focused on the future he’s leaving for his future (hopeful) children. He’ll do whatever he can to make the world a better place.

    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy High on Love

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZ2M8Z4G

    Gabbi Powell Social Media

    Gabbi Powell has been a lover of romance since she first put pen to paper in the eighth grade to write her first romance. She writes her novels while living in Beautiful British Columbia with her trusty ChinPoo dog a as companion. She also writes gay romances as Gabbi Grey and contemporary dark erotic BDSM novels as Gabbi Black.
    Website http://gabbipowell.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/powell_gabbi
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gabbi.powell.9/
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbipowell/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21065056.Gabbi_Powell
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3142441314
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gabbi-Powell/author/B08T8NTQNY
    Get to know Gabbi better by signing up for an email newsletter https://sendfox.com/gabbipowell


    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

  • Book Release,  Small Town Romance

    Read Desert Rose the new #SmallTownRomance by J Arlene Culiner @JArleneCuliner #RLFblog #Contemporary

    Read Desert Rose the new #SmallTownRomance by J Arlene Culiner @JArleneCuliner #RLFblog #ContemporaryTwo secretive people: it’s hard to know what they’re thinking or feeling, and that makes falling in love a definite challenge!

    J Arlene welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Desert Rose.

    Desert Rose by J Arlene Culiner

    Genre Contemporary Small Town Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): Sensual

    Secrets are the best protection against love.

    Rose Badger is the local flirt, and if the other inhabitants of backwoods Blake’s Folly, Nevada, don’t approve, she couldn’t care less. With a disastrous marriage and a dead-end career far behind her, settling down is the last thing she intends to do. Newcomer Jonah Livingstone is intriguing, but with his complicated life, he’s off limits for anything other than friendship. Besides, Rose has a secret world of her own—one she won’t give up for any man.

    The last person geologist Jonah Livingstone expected to meet in a semi-ghost town is the sparkling and lovely Rose Badger. But Rose, always surrounded by many admirers, doesn’t seem inclined to choose a favorite. So why fret? Jonah keeps his personal life well hidden…and that’s the best way to avoid disappointment.

    Trailer: https://youtu.be/tHPrIciT0XU

    Why did you write this book?

    Once upon a time, I found myself in a clapboard, rusty trailer, semi-ghost town in Nevada, where an ever-buffeting wind dragged dust across the frozen ground, rattled grasses, and set the doors of abandoned shacks tapping. The hotel I stayed in was a rundown has-been: ceilings soared high, and the lumpy, almost colorless wallpaper was surely a century old. In the hotel’s bar, a talentless band whined out bad country music, and eccentric locals dished up tall tales, wry humor, and suspicion.

    It was a singular community, quite magical, and I’ve recreated it as Blake’s Folly, the setting for three romances: A Room in Blake’s Folly, All About Charming Alice, and Desert Rose.

    What is your favorite genre to read?

    I love reading history. A book that combines literary travel and history gets my undivided attention.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

    Flora Post in Stella Gibbon’s Cold Comfort Farm is a favorite. She is brisk, efficient, intelligent, but also has a wonderful sense of humor (so did Stella Gibbons, obviously).

    What are you working on at the moment?

    I’m finishing up Words for Patty Jo. It’s a romance, it’s women’s literature, and it is rather more literary than my other romances. I’m also working on a book of satirical cartoons.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?

    Hopefully, a book of my own cartoons.

    Where to buy Desert Rose

    Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/RosesDesert

    J Arlene Culiner Social Media

    Writer, photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress, J Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.
    Website https://www.j-arleneculiner.com
    Blog https://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner
    Twitter https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/blakesfolly/
    Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jarleneculiner/
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culiner

     

  • Character Quirks,  Small Town Romance

    Read a Quirky Character Interview with Rick Sanders from Advantage: Home Team Caveman Creek 3 by Pia Manning @piamanning3 #RLFblog #Romance #SmallTown

    Bucket list of Jaxon Cooper from Advantage: Home Team @piamanning3 #RLFblog #Romance #ContemporaryDeputy Sheriff and Dominant Rick Sanders loves control. Free spirit Piper Thomas hates rules. Deputy Jaxon Cooper wants to share Piper with Rick – as their forever woman. What could go wrong? Find out in Pia Manning’s new release, Advantage: Home Team Caveman Creek 3.

    Pia, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Advantage: Home Team Caveman Creek 3

    Advantage: Home Team Caveman Creek 3 by Pia Manning

    Genre Erotic Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): X

    New junior high teacher and girls’ basketball coach, Piper Thomas, is brimming with enthusiasm and can’t wait for school to start. She wants to connect with her students and help them achieve their goals. One student, Maddie, struggles with her mother’s death and her father’s emotional collapse. Piper desperately wants to help Maddie. The last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement.

    Pinecone Creek Deputy and dominant, Jaxon Cooper aches to find his forever woman-one that he and his best friend, dominant Deputy Rick Sanders, can share. The second he sees Piper, Coop’s heart knows she’s the woman for them. Rick isn’t so sure. Rick is all about control, and Piper is a free spirit who doesn’t need anyone’s rules – well, except when it comes to sex. Piper’s last relationship fizzled because she wanted to explore, and her traditional-minded lover couldn’t handle her needs. Can Rick and Coop give Piper what she craves?

    Deputy Sherriff and Dominant Rick Sanders loves rules and needs to be in charge. Free spirit Piper Thomas hates rules. Deputy Jaxon Cooper wants to share Piper with Rick – as their forever woman. What could go wrong? Find out in Pia Manning’s new erotic romance Advantage: Home Team Caveman Creek 3.

    Let’s meet Jaxon Cooper from Advantage: Home Team. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Advantage: Home Team.

    New junior high teacher and girls’ basketball coach, Piper Thomas, is brimming with enthusiasm and can’t wait for school to start. She wants to connect with her students and help them achieve their goals. One student, Maddie, struggles with her mother’s death and her father’s emotional collapse. Piper desperately wants to help Maddie. The last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement.

    Pinecone Creek Deputy and dominant, Jaxon Cooper aches to find his forever woman-one that he and his best friend, dominant Deputy Rick Sanders, can share. The second he sees Piper, Coop’s heart knows she’s the woman for them. Rick isn’t so sure. Rick is all about control, and Piper is a free spirit who doesn’t need anyone’s rules – well, except when it comes to sex. Piper’s last relationship fizzled because she wanted to explore, and her traditional-minded lover couldn’t handle her needs. Can Rick and Coop give Piper what she craves?

    Interview with Rick Sanders

    Thank you for agreeing to interview with us! Our readers would like to get to know you a bit better, and perhaps read the book your author wrote about you.

    What is your favorite childhood memory?

    Christmas morning. My younger brother and sister would tiptoe into my bedroom and shake me awake. One year my sister literally tugged my eyelid open, and whispered, “Is it time yet, Ricky?” We weren’t allowed to go downstairs and check out what Santa left until 6 am, and they didn’t know how to tell time, so it was all on me to get Christmas rolling. Our excitement increased once we smelled the coffee brewing because that meant it was close to six.

    Now I realize my folks desperately needed that first cup before we came storming downstairs because they’d been up half the night wrapping our gifts and putting toys together.

    What bad habits do you struggle to overcome?

    I am a control freak. (sigh). I need to know what’s going on around me and have everything planned out. I prefer to act and not just mindlessly react. That’s not always a bad thing, but it kills spontaneity, which is. I guess I’m trying to be more of a go-with-the-flow kinda guy and enjoy surprises.

    What smell or scent makes you feel safe?

    Freshly brewed coffee definitely puts a smile on my face, but anything with cinnamon reminds me of home. As a kid, my home was my safe place. We didn’t always have a lot of extras, but I knew that no matter what, the people who lived there loved me.

    What keeps you up at night?

    Cops see a lot of scary stuff. Criminal actions make me angry – especially when the victim is a child or elderly. But what really worries me are vehicle accidents. Black ice, drunk drivers, and speeding are all things that can come out of nowhere and change someone’s life in an instant.

    What was your proudest moment?

    The way my karate students conducted themselves when they competed in their first state karate meet made me beam. One of our students made it to the final round, and every one of the other kids knelt, by rank no less, behind her in support. That showed me that the philosophy behind karate, and not just the physical aspect of the sport, had sunk in.

    Who always makes you smile?

    Piper makes me smile – most of the time, lol. I love her compassion and dedication to her students most of all. She’s incredible. I’m learning that it’s okay to let go a little because she always has my back. I know I can trust her.

    What is the biggest turn on for you?

    Confidence is a huge turn on for me. When a woman walks into a room and doesn’t worry about how expensive her clothes are, or if the diamond on her finger is the biggest, but looks people in the eye and is herself – that’s sexy.

    Do you have pets?

    We live in an apartment and pets aren’t allowed. But! The second we buy our own home, I want a big hairy monster of a dog! The kind that gives you big slobbery kisses when you get home and lets all the neighborhood kids pet him.

    Where to buy Advantage: Home Team Caveman Creek 3

    Publisher SirenBookstrand: https://www.bookstrand.com/book/advantage-home-team-mfm

    Pia Manning Social Media

    Website https://www.piamanning.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/piamanning3
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pia.manning/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pia.manning.71
    Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.com/Pia-Manning/e/B08WYTXRZM

  • Contemporary,  Meet an Author,  Small Town Romance

    Meet Gabbi Powell @powell_gabbi Author of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper #RLFblog #SmallTownRomance

    Meet Gabbi Powell @powell_gabbi Author of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper #RLFblog #SmallTownRomanceWhat’s better than love in the beautiful Cedar Valley in British Columbia, Canada? Find small-town romances with a touch of angst, a bit of heat, and a lot of heart…
    Gabbi, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about The Luminosity of Loriana Harper.

    The Luminosity of Loriana Harper by Gabbi Powell

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

    Loriana Harper is the head librarian of the Mission City Public Library. She considers herself a matchmaker in this little town in British Columbia—especially for her employees. When a gorgeous technician arrives to update their computers, she can’t help musing about who might be his perfect match. Except, the more time she spends with Mitch, the more she wants him for herself.

    Mitch Alexander left in disgrace from a good job in California. He’s come to this small town to make a new start where no one knows him. Although he has no plans to get involved with anyone, he’s drawn to the nosy, vivacious librarian who makes him smile. The local matchmaker might go overboard, but she has good intentions. Except he’s not in the market for any match, unless it’s with her.

    When Mitch’s past catches up with him, and the police come calling, he has to decide if he’ll stay with Loriana or leave to save her from the taint of being associated with him. Loriana’s not ready to let her new man go without a fight—but maybe this is a match that wasn’t meant to be.

    The Luminosity of Loriana Harper is an older-woman age-gap interracial romance with a touch of angst and a large cat named Plato. The book is the first in the Love in Cedar Valley series set in a small town in British Columbia, Canada.

    Tell us about yourself as a person.

    What makes you different from other people?

    My mind. I know, everyone would say that, but if I told you about my dreams and my waking imaginings you’d think I needed help. Well, maybe I do. But those flights of daytime fancy and nights of wild dreams translate into some pretty awesome stories. I’ll never run out of things to write about because my imagination is always going a hundred miles an hour.

    What is your favorite subject to talk about?

    Writing. I love talking about writing – the books I’ve read and loved, the books I’ve read and loathed, and about my books as well (sorry, not sorry). Now, beyond writing, I love talking politics. Fortunately, most of my family are of the same political bent, so the debates are nuance and not down and dirty name calling. I grew up in a political city and have watched results come in for every election night for as long as I can remember. And have voted in every election and referendum I was allowed to dating back again, as far as I can remember. Some people shy away from tough subjects…I’m willing to go there.

    What is your favorite book?

    I’m a huge fan of the old Harlequin Superromance category romances. I read voraciously and wrote my books much to the length and quality of those books (around 85,000 words). My favorite authors included Jean Brashear and Janice Kay Johnson. When I was learning to write, I read their books over and over to dissect what I liked. I aimed to replicate and I think I’ve done a pretty good job. My favorite book out of all of those, though, is Tara Taylor Quinn’s The Promise of Christmas. I loved that book for so many reasons and have read it almost a dozen times. I want my readers to have the same satisfaction and enjoyment when they read my book that I got from Ms. Quinn’s.

    What is your favorite meal?

    My first instinct is to go with something wickedly bad for me – Canadian pizza (yes, that is a thing) or honey garlic chicken wings or a Big Mac. When I think about it, though, if I could choose anything, it would be rosemary chicken with whipped mashed potatoes, carrot slices marinaded in butter, and asparagus sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

    Tell us about yourself as a writer.

    What made you want to be a writer?

    I think I’ve always been a writer. Even at an early age, I was good at telling tall tales – both in my mind and out loud. I had a poem published in my yearbook in the sixth grade and that felt awesome. In the eight grade, I sat down to write my first book. A romance, of course. About a doctor named Jesse and her trusty nurse Misty and how they were overseas in Libya. Jesse was reported killed and her boyfriend moved on without her, but she came back from the dead. Even at twelve, my mind went to dark places.

    What are your favorite books for writing advice?

    The Creative Academy for Writers has a series of books they’ve put out to help writers including Build Better Characters, Create Story Conflict, Full-Time Author, and Build Better Settings. My favorite, though, is Strategic Series Author. I read it from cover to cover while I prepared to launch my Love in Cedar Valley series and I think I’m in a much better place than if I’d tried to go it alone.

    What are your favorite reference books?

    The Emotional Wound Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman. The women (Writers Helping Writers) have a 9-book series of thesauruses. I own every one and use them frequently. My favorite is the emotional wound book. I tend to write stories with moderate angst because this is how my characters talk to me. But not all characters come with their wounds fully formed. Sometimes I need help to get the character in the right headspace for the stuff I’m going to throw at them. A mentor once asked, “what’s the worst thing that can happen to your character? Great – make that happen. What’s the next worst thing? Make that happen too.” This might seem brutal to an outsider who doesn’t want to know how the sausage gets made, but it makes for fully developed characters who are three-dimensional.

    What’s your best advice for a new writer?

    Finish the damn book. I started writing my first serious romance in my senior year of university. I never finished it. I started several other projects over the next fifteen years. I’d write for a few days, then tuck the file away. I’d try again later, adding some, but never quite get through an entire story.

    When I turned forty, and had a breakdown (unrelated to hitting that milestone), I decided the time had come to take writing seriously. I finished the book. I polished it off and sent it in for consideration to a major publisher. And while I waited for the acceptance (that I was certain would arrive any day), I wrote the next book. And the next. And the next. In the end, I got my rejection (very long story for another day). In that intervening two-and-a-half-years, I wrote fourteen full books. Now, they’re messy and need editing, but I taught myself to write by repeating the process over and over again. That book the publisher rejected? The Making of Marnie Jones – one of the two books I’m releasing today.

    My other piece of advice? Perseverance. I had to come a long way and, eventually, publish the myself, but Marnie is out for the world to enjoy. Final piece of advice? Find a good editor to work with. I won’t hit publish on anything that hasn’t gone through someone extremely competent. If I put my name on something, you can be guaranteed it’s well edited.

    What are your writing goals for the next year or so?

    Having three pennames means writing and publishing content under each. One penname is for dark erotic BDSM romances. One is for gay romances. One is for contemporary small-town romances. Within those three genres, there isn’t a lot of overlap. Some authors manage multiple genres under one penname, but sometimes their readers get confused. I don’t want someone who is looking for a mid-heat mid-angst romance to snag one of my BDSM books with power exchanges and bondage.

    I don’t regret having chosen this unique publishing path. I wrote over half-a-million words last year and I aim to do the same this year. I’ve got books under all three of my pennames being published this year. I hope to keep interacting with readers and helping new booklovers find my novels. If I manage to pull that off, I’ll be very happy.

    Where to buy The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVL3X4JZ

    Gabbi Powell Social Media

    Gabbi Powell has been a lover of romance since she first put pen to paper in the eighth grade to write her first romance. She writes her novels while living in Beautiful British Columbia with her trusty ChinPoo dog a as companion. She also writes gay romances as Gabbi Grey and contemporary dark erotic BDSM novels as Gabbi Black.
    Website http://gabbipowell.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/powell_gabbi
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