We often think about our old flames. With the advent of social media, it's pretty easy to get a glimpse of their life. Maybe it's your first love, or the prom date...have you ever reached out and tried to rekindle something?

I've had a relationship with my first boyfriend. Tracey was someone I have known all my life, from the first week of my life through the last day of his. The time we were boyfriend and girlfriend was such a small part of our life, our friendship was eternal. He and I spoke on the phone or through texts daily over the last few years of his life. He'd been there for me during some of the lowest times of my life. 

In CHASING FAVORS, Jamie is asked to do a favor for her summer flame. She's happy with Malone but doesn't see anything wrong with helping a friend out. Right away...I can see some warning flags! What about you??

CHASING FAVORS is the 5th book in the Jamie Richmond Mystery series and it's filled with snappy dialogue and sass. The character of Jamie is... well, she's a redhead. That says enough. Not only does she get into trouble but she seems to love doing it. For fans of Janet Evanovich's books, Author Mark Love's Jamie Richmond series is a perfect fit! CHASING FAVORS is available now in Ebook and print! 

Blurb:
Doing a favor for an old friend. What could possibly go wrong??

It was supposed to be one simple favor. Randy was the nice, charming guy who drew Jamie into a steamy romance, two years ago, during her vacation. Now he’s in town, nudging her curiosity with the request for some help. What could possibly go wrong?

Jamie’s skills as an investigative reporter made for a smooth transition to writing mysteries. And Randy’s request seemed harmless enough. Doing a favor for a friend is really no big deal. But things are rarely as they appear when Jamie starts digging. When she uncovers the answers for Randy, she’s faced with another request for a favor. Who knew she could be so popular? Now Jamie’s spending her time, chasing after favors.

While researching Randy’s situation, Jamie stumbles upon something that doesn’t seem quite right. Most people would just ignore it. Or chalk it up to a coincidence. But Jamie’s never been a believer in those. Sensing there is something more going on in the background, Jamie becomes determined to figure it out. And if she’s right, she intends on stopping the bad guys in their tracks.

CHASING FAVORS features the beautiful redhead whose nose for trouble has her stumbling into police business. Mark Love’s series is perfect for fans of the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs or Diane Capri’s Michael Flint series, where solving a mystery and danger abound. Even though you can read Chasing Favors as a standalone, why would you? Especially when following Jamie through her romance and adventures will entertain you through the night.

EXCERPT:
“Malone, are you telling me that my efforts to elevate your heart rate aren’t sufficient to ensuring your good health?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “You know how to get my heart racing. But there are other aspects required for a full-body workout.”

“Maybe you need to rethink your routine,” I teased from the doorway.

He was sitting on the side of the bed about to reach for his tennis shoes. Now Malone flashed me a wicked smile. Before I could move, he lifted me off my feet.

“Malone!”

“Hold still. I’m going to do a set of curls with you horizontally across my arms.” He shifted his grip. One arm was beneath my knees. The other was under my shoulder blades.

“Don’t drop me!” I started to reach for his neck.

“Keep your arms at your sides, Jay.” He turned around now so that he was holding me over the bed.

Slowly he did a curl, rolling me in his arms as if his hands were reaching for his shoulders. On the third curl, Malone dipped his head and kissed my stomach through my shirt. Then he released me, dropping me onto the mattress from shoulder height. I bounced, laughing in delight.

“We’ve just created a new exercise.” He fell on the bed beside me.

“What are you going to call it?”

He gave it some thought. “Curling the vixen.”

“I’m a vixen?”

Malone nodded.

“Hope that’s one you’re only going to do at home.”

“Only with you, Jamie.” He gave me a kiss that got my heart racing, then slid off the bed. “I gotta run.”

“Sure, leave me all hot and bothered,” I muttered.

Malone grabbed his shoes and went out the door. “To be continued.”

“It damn well better be.”

About the Author:
Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. A former freelance reporter, Love honed his writing skills covering features and hard news. He is the author of the Jamie Richmond romance mysteries, Devious, Vanishing Act, Fleeing Beauty, and Chasing Favors, along with the novella Stealing Haven. His short story, Don’t Mess with the Gods, was written with Elle Nina Castle and included in the Magic & Mischief anthology. Love also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, WHY 319?, Your Turn to Die and The Wayward Path. Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a wide variety of music, books, travel, cooking and exploring the great outdoors.
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You can find him on the links below.
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B009P7HVZQ
https://motownmysteries.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MarkLoveAuthor
https://twitter.com/motownmysteries
https://www.instagram.com/motownmysteries

I love animals... all animals. This will come as no shock to anyone who knows me. But I have a special place in my heart for dogs. All my life, I've had dogs around me. I even wanted to work with dogs for a while when I was a teen but knowing I'd have to go through all the animal biology which included dissection, it was too much for me. 

Tossing a dog into a romance novel or movie is a sure way to entice me to want to read it or see it as long as the dog doesn't die. And I'm happy to say that in L.E. Wagensveld's latest romance- BREAKING PAST, the dog doesn't die but is in fact the sweetest pet! If that isn't the best endorsement for reading the book... you and I can't be friends!! just kidding!

Seriously, BREAKING PAST is a wonderful rom-com wrapped up in a small town, second chance romance. Readers get to dive into the Stevenson Family once more! BREAKING PAST is now up for preorder and will be available in ebook and print on Aug. 22nd. Don't miss your chance!!

Blurb:
River James tried to leave Cascade Creek more than once. Now she’s resigned herself to a life in the town where she grew up, and she’s happy, even if, sometimes, it feels as though something is missing.

When she meets Jake Maclean, it’s clear the man has his burdens, yet she can’t stop thinking about him. His shyness, talent, and kind heart endure Jake to River faster than she would have liked. She’s open to a future with Cascade Creek’s handsome interloper, but Jake is much more resistant. The question is, can she make him see, that he, and his future, are worth fighting for? Or will Jake successfully drown their chances of love in his past pain?

Jake Maclean loves his family. So, he knows they’re better off without him. When Jake moves to Cascade Creek to escape his past and the pain he’s caused, he isn’t looking for a new beginning. Living in the tiny town is supposed to be his penance, not a second chance.

It takes a feisty woman with eyes who look into his soul, a three-legged dog, and the unflagging support of his sister Carmen to help Jake shed the pain of his past. Will he be able to embrace his new life, and a chance at love? Or will the struggles of his past get the better of him, again?

There’s no better healer than love!
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Breaking Past, the third book in the Stevenson Family stories, steals the reader’s heart with a sweet story about love and redemption. Jake holds his guilt close to his heart like a shield and River is the one woman who can rip that protection away. It can be read as a standalone but by reading all the books, you’ll find a deeper connection with the characters. Fans of Book Lovers by Emily Henry and Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez will enjoy the heartwarming tale of Breaking Past. 

About the Author:
L. E. Wagensveld is the mother of four human children, four furry ones, and wife to her best friend and biggest supporter. Despite being outnumbered, L. E holds her own thanks to caffeine and good old-fashioned stubbornness.

For as long as L. E can remember, she's been a passionate wordsmith. From crafting poems about her pets as a child to the various piles of unfinished manuscripts sitting in her magic cloud, she has always found writing a necessity for her life. L. E loves helping others discover the words they are looking for to express themselves, and at work, they have dubbed her The Blurb Queen.

L. E's Stevenson Family novels focus on friendship, family, and love in a small town. L. E is an unashamed romance lover, a passion she attributes to her late maternal grandmother, who was rarely without a Harlequin novel close at hand. In her novels, L. E seeks to create an escape for her readers, a place to go when they need a smile or some warm and fuzzy feelings. L. E looks forward to a life full of words and sharing each story by story.
 
www.lewagensveld.com
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Violence. Even the word is ugly. We hear enough about it during the evening news each day but is there a place for it in our world? We talk about fighting back and standing up for ourselves. Is it okay to use violence if we are being noble? We believe that children should be protected and cherished, but what about when they aren't? Can we use violence on the perpetrators? And what about the people who are violent? Should we put them away?

The hero in Jennifer Raines' latest novel- Planting Hope- struggles with these questions. Kit Silverton is a man who knows all about violence. He's seen too much of it and is trying to turn his life around and the lives of the children in his research project. He believes that gardening can tame the wild beast inside him.

Planting Hope is an emotional romance which asks compelling questions and is filled with interesting secondary characters. Ms. Raines draws the reader into the story and forces them to think about their own lives and loves. 

Now available in ebook and print, Planting Hope is a wonderful book and is a perfect read for the summer!! Be sure to get a copy today!!

Blurb:
Can digging and weeding, planting, and pruning equal love?

Nursing is Holly Cooper’s vocation, and her sanctuary, until she witnesses a murderous attack during emergency surgery. Her childhood fear of never belonging resurfaces. Untethered, she’s following music festivals down Australia’s eastern seaboard, sometimes working as a nurse, sometimes as a volunteer.

Reclusive gardener Christopher (Kit) Silverton needs a nurse for his half-finished research project: the therapeutic power of gardening. In plain English, can digging and weeding, planting, pruning, hacking, or any one of those activities help kids to heal after domestic violence? A survivor himself, he knows what it’s like to live with pain, guilt, and relationships that end in tears.

When Kit’s partner, and on-site nurse, is injured, she suggests her granddaughter, Holly Cooper, as a replacement. Holly has the qualifications, but Kit will need convincing that a pink and green haired free spirit has anything to offer the project.

As the garden develops, passion blooms between Holly and Kit. When security on the site is breached, Kit confronts his worst nightmare. Defending the kids and Holly proves his critics right—violence lives within him. Can Holly overcome her own doubts to prove he’s wrong?

Jennifer Raines’s books evoke the romance of Nora Roberts’ books but set in the sweeping Australian countryside. PLANTING HOPE proves that love can overcome demons and let our true self shine through. Don’t miss this story that blooms like a garden of hope.

EXCERPT:
She sat down and snagged a biscuit. “Tell me about the kids.”
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“Didn’t Mona?”

“I know they’re all children where one parent, usually the father, attacked or killed the mother.” She sounded as unmoved as a court official reading out a charge sheet.

Did she have the faintest idea what violent death involved? Before Kit had escaped his bad-boy reputation, he’d seen a knife slicing into the soft flesh of a gang member. Seen it sliding along a bone, easy as filleting a fish. Watched blood spurting like a geezer and listened to screams die to a whimper. An obscene death. Bile scorched the back of his throat at her bohemian complacency.

“They are,” he said. “Sometimes they were present, other times not.” Kit remembered afternoons when he’d dragged his feet on the way home from school, afraid of what he’d find, and other days where he’d sped home, driven by an urgency he couldn’t explain to do something—anything. Some kids never got the chance to be free spirits. “Billy and Sophie were in the house. They had a secret place, in case their father broke the restraining order. In case help didn’t arrive in time. Their mother told them to hide when her ex-husband arrived.”

She nodded. “Billy gets his bravery from her. Strong protective instincts.”

Kit hadn’t anticipated perception from the vagabond.
 

About the Author:
Australian Jennifer Raines writes contemporary romances set mainly, but not exclusively, in Australia – 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.
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Jennifer fell in love with romance as a teenager. Starting with historical romance. Everything in the school library and then a personal treasured collection of Georgette Heyer, hard copies, paperbacks and e-books. Comfort food, she calls them, like vegemite toast, for those times when she feels low. Her library of comfort food has grown over the years, but Georgette Heyer was an early star, under the blankets after lights out using a torch.

Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of Australia. Three times a finalist in the Emerald competition, including in 2017, 2018 (Taylor’s Law) and 2022 (Quinn by Design). 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 won the contemporary romance section in the 2020 Orange Rose Contest for Planting Hope and was second overall. Jennifer values competitions for the constructive, honest, not always comfortable feedback they provide.

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 conversations, news items and the sheer puzzle of human interactions.

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 ideas during long yin yoga poses or walking – anywhere. While Jennifer adores historical romance, she chose to write contemporary because she thought (wrongly) it needed less research while she was holding down a full-time job.

You can find out more about Jennifer and her writing at https://jenniferrainesauthor.com or via https://www.facebook.com/jenniferrainesauthor
Or https://www.instagram.com/romanceauthorjen/
 

You are friends. You can tell him anything and often do. But then something changes... now all you want to do is kiss him. Has this ever happened to you?

It has to me. My high school teachers liked us to sit in alphabetical order. The one guy who sat behind me in many of my classes was a cool guy, a good friend. We would laugh about the letters my college boyfriend would write. We'd commiserate over the Algebra 2 assignments. We even went to the prom as friends... but during that night something changed. We kissed. 

Unfortunately it changed our relationship. No longer quite friends, we eventually went our separate ways, although I did reconnect with him as an adult and we are buds now. Have you ever been close with a friend?

Luckily for Summer and Teddy in LOVE SHOTS, their kiss sizzles and love explodes. Now up for Preorder, LOVE SHOTS is the fourth book in the Bluestone series. This funny and sexy story is sure to become your new favorite. LOVE SHOTS releases on August 8th in ebook and print! Don't miss your chance to grab this story!

Blurb:
Can these two old friends stop fighting their feelings long enough to grab hold of their second chance?

Summer’s life was not going plan. With no job or home, she found herself back in the small town she grew up in. Bluestone County. Despite being broke, she’d always dreamed of taking over her grandfather’s bar. So when she found out she was too late and her childhood friend Teddy had bought it, she might have lost it. As in banging down his door and throwing expensive bottles of whiskey at his wall kind of lost it. It wasn’t her finest moment. But talking of fine…

Retired Navy SEAL Teddy was used to dealing with tough situations. You name it, he’d seen it. Yet, nothing had quite prepared him for the sight of a raging Summer hurling an eight-hundred-dollar bottle of whiskey at his head. She certainly knew how to make an entrance. And raise his blood pressure. Having the blonde hellion back in town wasn’t all bad though. He’d missed his friend. Although he’d be lying if he said friendship was all he was interested in. Summer had owned his heart for a long time. He’d missed his chance once before, there was no way he was going to let that happen again.

Grab hold of this sexy ‘friends to lovers’ romance as these opposites sizzle through the small town of Bluestone. Alcohol flies, literally, as these two firebrands combust. It’s more than the whiskey talking. Isobel Reed’s story has all the feels of Tessa Bailey’s and Ellie Hall’s books combined with the sexy cowboys of Maisey Yates. LOVE SHOTS is the fourth book in the Bluestone County Series but can be read as a standalone, but why would you want to? In this small town, past heroes always stop by for a drink.
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TRIGGER WARNING: LOVE SHOTS features a brooding hunk who will do anything to protect the spunky heroine from a dangerous ex who raised a hand to her. 

About the author:
Isobel was born and raised in London. She still lives along the River Thames with her husband and her substantial book collection. Ever the hopeless romantic, she fell in love with the genre from a young age and was inspired to write her own stories. When she's not feasting on romantic comedies or binge reading her hoard of contemporary romance novels, Isobel is writing.
 
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https://www.amazon.com/author/isobelreed
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