Secrets are a staple of romance. They happen in many stories. Either the character lies and says he's someone he's not, especially in the Royals genre. Or a person is keeping a secret from the one that they love, as in they are sneaking around. Secrets have a way of creating drama, breaking up the couple or adding a wall between them. The secrets become an obstacle to overcome. As the characters find out the truth or accept it, they find their way to a happily ever after. 

Julie Navickas' book- I LOVED YOU YESTERDAY- features more than one damaging secret. They cause the couple to dig deep and figure out what is important. This big secret is the key to many relationships in the book. Needless to say, Ms. Navickas' writing keeps you up as you MUST see how the story unfolds. Now up for preorder, I LOVED YOU YESTERDAY releases on August 23rd in ebook and print. Be sure to grab a copy today!

Blurb:
Secrets always have a way of coming out.

Mavis Benson made a huge mistake. Scratch that--colossal mistake. Twice. Sleeping with her high school sweetheart’s twin brother definitely wasn’t part of the plan… nor was falling in love with him.

But that wasn’t the only complication Mavis faced. When an unplanned pregnancy upends her life at seventeen, Mavis skips town to spare her boyfriend, Josh Templeton, from the fallout. With only a letter of apology, she disappears, but not before confiding her secret to Josh’s brother, Austin.

When Austin resurfaces in her life years later, he brings the past to Mavis’s doorstep. Josh wants her back, Austin isn’t willing to surrender, and the path to happiness isn’t clear. Caught between both men, Mavis must choose between the brother for whom she broke her own heart, and the brother who picked up the pieces.


I LOVED YOU YESTERDAY is a heart-pounding reveal of best kept secrets. The truth is never easy, and neither is putting down this page turner. Fans of Nora Roberts and K.G. Fletcher will want to get a copy of I LOVED YOU YESTERDAY.

~Winner of the ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN COMMUNICATIONS CLARION AWARD.~

About the Author:
Julie Navickas is an award-winning, nationally recognized contemporary romance novelist, known for her keen ability to tell heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories through relatable characters with humility, humor, and heroism. She is also an award-winning university instructor and serves as the executive director of The Writing Champions Project. Julie earned master’s degrees in both organizational communication and English studies with an emphasis in book history, as well as a bachelor’s degree in public relations, graduating cum laude from Illinois State University.
 
Website: https://authorjulienavickas.com/
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Email: julienavickasauthor@gmail.com  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/134518278-julie-navickas

Do you like romance books with children in them? Kids are a part of many readers' lives, including mine. But do they belong in a romance? Yes! Authors put children in stories for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it's because children can say things that other characters can't. Other times, authors can use the children as humor. The kids do some crazy things. 

Author Jennifer Raines has a child at the center of her latest romance-TAYLOR'S LAW. Tessa is left in the care of her aunt after the death of her mother. The young girl's father is out of the picture but when a legal letter arrives, it brings Tessa's grandparents into the light and potentially a battle for the young child. 

TAYLOR'S LAW is an award winning and page turner that keeps you invested in what happens to the child. Jennifer Raines' first book, TAYLOR'S LAW will draw you into the story and keep you reading into the night. 

Blurb:
Tell me a secret and I’ll tell you a lie.

Ella Anderson adores her niece. Despite struggling to make ends meet, accepting her dying sister’s request she raise Tessa as her own is a no brainer. Until she receives a summons from a legal goliath on behalf of a wealthy stranger claiming paternity and, potentially, custody of her child.

Jake Taylor has been ripped off one too many times. Yet the letter from a woman claiming his cousin fathered her child feels real. His aunt and uncle are desperate for a grandchild. When the child’s aunt shows up in his office in place of the child’s mother, he smells fraud.

Secrets and lies bubble to the surface, threatening Ella and Jake’s growing attraction. In a minefield of divided loyalties, can Ella trust Jake to make the right decision about custody of Tessa?
 

Jennifer’s book is great for fans of contemporary romances where attraction blossoms into breath-stealing passion, where mutual respect leads lovers to also being friends, and where humour and tolerance enliven a deep and abiding love.

Jennifer likes to think her readers get occasional hints of the deep passion of a Nora Roberts or the unshakeable loyalty of a Grace Burrowes where love conquers loneliness, distrust and fear.
 
EXCERPT:
“This isn’t about me.” Taylor waved an impatient hand. “What do you want?”

“I want to see Chrissy’s letter to you.” To know what Chrissy asked for. What she offered in return. Then I will wake up and discover this is all a bad dream.

“Why?”

Because I only have your word that she wrote to you! was the answer Ella ached to give, but she had no power in this place. She was the supplicant. “Your letter mentioned custody.” She licked her dry-as-a-dirt-bowl lips. “Chrissy lived with me. As you can imagine, I talked to her often about Tessa’s upbringing. I’d like to confirm if her letter to you is consistent with our conversations.”

“She asked for money. Lots of money,” he replied.

Ella’s brain simply shut down. Dear heaven. Lots of money?

“Blackmail is an unpleasant business.” Taylor seemed to relish the accusation.

“Chrissy was dying, not a criminal.” Terrified was a better description. Adrenalin surged through Ella’s system, and she welcomed the anger. “You’re twisting her meaning. Seeking child support is not blackmail. It’s a child’s right.” She’d explained the concept more times than she could count to absent fathers resentful of their obligations. Working alongside the community justice centre lawyers brought her into daily contact with family disputes.

Tessa tugged on her hand. “’Ootles doesn’t like fighting.”

“We’re not fighting, darling.” Ella ran her fingers up and down Tessa’s back in a soothing manner, although she needed the contact more than the child. She met Taylor’s smoky stare over the child’s head. Her outburst hadn’t tempted him to hand over Chrissy’s letter. Was the claim for cash in exchange for custody?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Australian Jennifer Raines writes contemporary romances set mainly in Australia, but not exclusively – think Malta, Finland, New Zealand or ?. A dreamer and an optimist, her stories are a delicious cocktail of mutual respect, passion and loyalty because she still believes in happily-ever-afters. Jennifer loves those days when words flow and the joy of writing makes the hard slog worthwhile. She’s always made up stories about strangers in the street, in a café or strolling through an airport terminal; finding inspiration in snippets of conversation, news items and the sheer puzzle of human interactions.
​
Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of Australia and is a three time finalist in the Emerald competition, 2017, 2018 (Taylor’s Law) and 2022. She’s a member of Romance Writers of New Zealand, winning the Pacific Hearts competition twice, including in 2019, with Grace Under Fire, the sequel to Taylor’s Law. She’s also a member of Romance Writers of America and has been a finalist in chapter competitions in 2019, 2020 and 2021 (Taylor’s Law).

Jennifer lives in inner-city Sydney, Australia, with the requisite number of partners (1) and animals (2). Her desk overlooks a park which nourishes her soul when she raises her head from her keyboard. She gets some of her best insights during long yin yoga poses or walking—anywhere. Jennifer adores historical romance but chose to write contemporary because she thought (wrongly) it needed less research.

Jennifer can be reached through her webpage https://jenniferrainesauthor.com and via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jenniferrainesauthor

Her book(s) are available through major providers.
 
 

The United States has a fascination with murder. We love shows like CSI or Criminal Minds which give us a fictional account of serial killers and the business of crime solving. We binge True Crime documentaries and try to see what causes people to kill. 

If you love murder stories, you'll love MURDER IN THE LIGHTNING ROOM by A. D. Brazeau. This cozy historical murder mystery set among Tesla's lab and will be your new favorite read. 

Blurb:
Nikola Tesla’s top-secret lab, theft, murder, and a seventeen-year-old girl bound and determined to unravel the mystery.

The year is 1899. During her final year at Colorado Springs High School, Cora Croft finds herself uncovering a mystery involving Nikola Tesla and his secret projects. After the loss of three important documents detailing new, ambitious devices and the unusual death of his previous assistant, Tesla is ready to pack up the lab and return to New York. Cora offers to help uncover who is behind the strange circumstances so Tesla can remain and finish his work.

With help from the charming Harrison, and life-long friend, Marshall, Cora toils against time, the elements and social constraints as she works to unravel the mystery, exposing more than one secret in the process.

Danger stalks Cora, can she survive?


Uncover the clues in this fast-paced, exciting mystery set in Tesla’s famous secret lab. A perfect read for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco and Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury.

Praise for A.D. Brazeau: “The whole story ‘came alive’ before my eyes, and that comes down to the authors talent for spinning a great story.” and “A.D. Brazeau has quickly become one of my most relatable authors.”
 
EXCERPT:
The drawing was familiar as I had transcribed it in my notes from the previous day. I thought back over the morning and our visitors. Dove had walked straight through the lab to where I was in the back room. She must have. Had she dallied, Tesla would have seen her. I was still amazed he hadn’t. No wonder he was so easily stolen from.
​
Mr. Sharp could have no reason to take it, being a railroad man and not at all interested in electricity or scientific experimentation, that I knew of. The man was also among the wealthiest of my acquaintance. Selling the item for profit didn’t make sense. The two delivery men had never ventured farther into the room than the space by the front door. Although one of the men seemed curious about what went on here, I didn’t see how he had the opportunity. It was possible, however far- fetched, he stepped back inside while the rest of us were occupied.

Mr. Tesla rarely slept. The man was beset with troubling eccentricities and ailments, such as his strange flashes of light. The simplest explanation was that he had misplaced his document. A misunderstanding, pure and simple. When I was satisfied with my search, I joined the men in the main room.

Tesla was walking in circles around his oscillator, hands jammed into his pockets so far, I thought they would surely break free through the other end. He was mumbling to himself about something I couldn’t make out.

Harrison moved next to me, worry creasing his brow. “Nothing. You?”

I shook my head, my eyes never leaving Tesla. Harrison groaned, massaging his neck and rolling it around in a circle. Tesla stopped and looked toward me. I gave him the same, sad shake of my head. He shut his eyes, renewing his pacing. Harrison and I stood silently waiting.

After a few tense moments, Tesla looked up and said,
“That’s all, I’m afraid.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, new tension forming a knot

between my shoulders. Did he mean we could leave for the day or leave permanently?

Tesla spoke with a far-off look in his eye. “I have done all I can here. Too much has happened.”

“All that’s happened is you’ve lost a piece of paper. Surely, you of all people remember what was on it.” This was a bold tact to take with the man, but I didn’t want this to end so soon.

Tesla sighed, looking into my eyes. “It’s not one piece of paper, Miss Croft. It’s three documents and one dead assistant.” 

About the Author:
A.D. Brazeau is an award-winning author who writes what she loves. From dark and fantastical fairytale retellings to quirky romance, and everything in between, she loves nothing more than to immerse herself in new worlds. A.D. Brazeau is a book-obsessed wife, mother, and dog lover, who grew up surrounded by stories. Not much has changed. A.D. is from Colorado Springs, Co.

Early on, I've loved paranormal. From shows like Casper, The Munsters or Bewitched during my childhood to Buffy and Charmed in my adult years. I devoured them all. Maybe it was the belief that there was more going on than we saw or the wish of immortality, I couldn't say for sure. I still love Paranormal. It is my favorite reading genre. 

Nicole Sobon has a unique Vampire story in THANKS FOR THE VENOM. Her heroine is a high school student who kills vampires. She's been trained for it. But one day something goes wrong and it changes EVERYTHING.

Be sure to preorder THANKS FOR THE VENOM today. It releases on Aug. 9th and you won't want to miss it. 

Blurb:
Harley Sanders has always known one certainty in life: Vampires suck.

As a student at the League, Harley is expected to protect the innocent from the undead, even if her methods might be considered reckless.

While out on a hunt, Harley finds herself face-to-face with the enemy, and in the midst of fighting, ends up becoming the one thing she’s been trained to kill.

A fact only made worse by the newest student of the League who has taken a keen interest in her out of the blue.

Vampire bite? Check.
Venom soaring through my veins? Check.
Annoying cute guy disrupting my life? Super check.

High school definitely bites.
 
THANKS FOR THE VENOM is a Buffy/Underworld Mash-up where Harley Sanders must face a wall of secrets…from her family, from her bosses, and from the one boy she’s interested in. With newfound powers and a bullseye on her back, she’s got to help the very people she’d been trained to kill. And you thought your high school experience was bad…You’ve got nothing on Harley!

​About the Author:
Nicole Sobon is the author of the Young Adult Sci-Fi series, THE EMILE REED CHRONICLES, as well as the Young Adult Dystopian OUTBREAK DUOLOGY. She also writes New Adult titles (COLLIDE, InkSpell Publishing), and always has a new story she’s developing.
You can find her on Twitter (@NicoleSobon) and Instagram (@Paintthisred).