Do you like mysteries? Back when I was younger, I used to watch TV shows like Columbo, Murder She Wrote, and Rockford Files. I loved how the main characters solved the mystery. They each had a unique way to get the bad guy or girl to confess. Author Evan Purcell has created a wonderful story about a mystery and the woman at the center of it. 

FOLLOWED BY FEAR is up for preorder now and will be released on Dec. 19th. If you like mysteries and danger, this romance is sure to please you! 

Blurb:
A city girl needs the help of a small-town sheriff to stop her stalker.

Harper’s Bend is the perfect small town, especially on Halloween. Filled with friendly locals and rural traditions, Sydney views this place as her only chance to take back her life and flee from the mysterious stalker who’s been after her since the death of her husband.

She didn’t expect the danger to follow her, and she definitely didn’t expect to develop such an instant connection to local sheriff, Preston Blacker. He’s standoffish, and treats her more like a problem to solve than an actual person. There’s a reason for his distance, though, and Sydney realizes that she’s not the only one struggling with a dark past.

As the stalker’s efforts escalate, Sydney and Preston must work together to find out who is following them. But can they keep their emotions in check long enough to save themselves?
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Followed by Fear is a romantic suspense story where the heroine finds protection in the arms of a complicated hero while surrounded by the holiday trappings of rural New Mexico. It’s perfect for fans of the high-stakes thrills of Cassie Miles and the quirky small towns of Maddie Day.

About the Author:
Evan Purcell is an English and creative writing teacher who has worked everywhere from Bhutan to Zanzibar. He has helped over 200 students in developing countries publish their first stories and poems. He’s the creator of the podcast series I Hate Your Face as well as the screenwriter for an upcoming horror film. He also writes romance and YA novels.
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You can read more about his writing at evanpurcellromance.com or on Facebook at EvanPurcellWriter.

From the time I was twelve, I had someone famous that I idolized. Their posters were on my walls and I would dream about someday meeting them face to face. My first crushes were the teen idols of the day but those guys quickly turned into the TV and movie stars of the 80's and music stars of the 90's. Have you ever had a crush on a celebrity?

Author Laylah Abrams' latest romance, UNEXPECTED tells the romance between a female media celebrity and a starving artist. These two opposites find that they have more in common, along with a love of art!

UNEXPECTED is a great romance and gave me the feels of a twisted Cinderella. Now available on all the platforms, you'll want to grab this wonderful story to keep you entertained throughout the holidays. 

Blurb:
A celebrity heiress and a waiter—er, artist—discover their tabloid story might really be a fairytale.

Celebutante Claire Morgan is an expert at playing the air-headed-heiress gossip sites expect. Sure, she’s got degrees in business and computer science, but people are much more interested in the designer of her last gown or who she’s dating (for the next minute). Besides, posing for the paparazzi is safer than letting anyone get too close.

Waiter and struggling artist Nick Holden probably should have majored in engineering instead of following his dream. It’s a little late now, but with his grad school scholarship in jeopardy from a creative slump and only so many times he can deflect his doubts with dumb jokes, the last thing he needs is Claire and her friends breezing into the restaurant at closing time. Even if she is more beautiful than a Monet.

When one of Nick’s wisecracks turns Claire’s spokesmodel smile sincere, it’s clear the pair has more in common than they thought. Staying on opposite sides of the velvet rope, they begin a fling that is far from meaningless. While hiding their growing feelings, Nick spurs Claire toward the tech career she wants and she inspires new vision in his art. But they’ll need to trust each other and drop their acts if they’re going to live happily ever after.

Can the gossip girl find love with a no-name artist? Or will they let their storybook ending slip away?
 
UNEXPECTED is an unconventional romance about two opposites working backward toward love. For fans of The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie and The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, this modern fairytale will draw readers in and have them laughing—and sighing—until the end.

EXCERPT:
Candie smiled as Claire approached. “That’s my cue,” she said, then walked right past her, back inside, leaving her alone with Nick.

The night air and a strong breeze raised goosebumps on Claire’s arms. Behind Nick, a multitude of shining specks marked the windows of homes and offices, with the orange and green Halloween lighting of the Empire State Building looming above them and the sparkling lights of bridges in the distance.

He stepped toward her. “Sorry. It was Candie’s idea.” He held up the hat he had worn earlier. “I know I look stupid in this costume,” he said with a laugh. Why was he always so damned composed?

“No, you don’t. You look—” He was near enough that she could smell his familiar scent, of crushed leaves and oak. Her heart beat faster; her body sensed he was near her again. She shivered, and not because of the cold. He was as handsome as ever with the moon and city lights shining on his face. She took a step away. “I’m the one who looks stupid,” she said, touching her sparkling crystal tiara. “I usually don’t wear a costume …” Her voice wavered. “But Candie bought this for me and insisted I dress up with her. And, well, I owed her one.”

“I’ll admit this outfit is out of character for you.” His voice was soft and calm. “But you always look perfect.”
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He stepped toward her again, more purposefully this time, as though he could just tell. She didn’t move. She didn’t even breathe, but looked up at him plaintively, fearing he would touch her. Or he wouldn’t. She sighed as he slipped one arm around her waist and guided her chin with his other hand, then brought her mouth to his.

​About the Author:
Laylah Abrams is a science nerd who also writes romance novels. Long after she earned her PhD, she discovered the romance genre through books by Mary Balogh and Judith Ivory. Her first novel, the historical romance A Fair Trade, was a RONE Award finalist. She works as a science writer and is currently living happily ever after with her husband and children.
 
www.instagram.com/laylah.abrams
www.facebook.com/LaylahAbramsAuthor
www.amazon.com/Laylah-Abrams/e/B07FHZ6R44
www.goodreads.com/author/show/18234334.Laylah_Abrams
 

This past weekend, my husband and I traveled over thirteen hours to attend our son's wedding and visit with our family in Michigan and Ohio. The drive is long but the family is the reward. We were happy to spend time with our children and parents. As far as family, I would do just about anything. 

Author Jennifer Raines has a family dynamic in her latest book, Lela's Choice. A sister is missing and the girl's father could be the reason the sister is AWOL. As with all of Jennifer's books, the story is gripping. Releasing on December 5th, Lela's Choice is a gift you'll want to get for yourself!

Blurb:
Missing in Malta--A Risk Worth Taking?
Lela Vella has been a dutiful daughter and aunt for the past decade. But her plan to wean her father and orphaned niece off their dependence on her is scuttled when her niece and boyfriend flee Sydney for Malta. Lela suspects her autocratic father of provoking the flight. Lela’s desperate to reach the teenager before her father’s ultimatums blow another generation apart.

Widowed, Australian international child-protection lawyer, Hamish McGregor accepts Giovanni Vella’s request to remain in Malta after a conference to search for Vella’s missing granddaughter. Hamish’s formidable reputation is built on putting the needs of the child first. He doubled down on his work after the revenge murder of his pregnant wife by a client’s husband, vowing never to get close enough to another woman for her to be a target.

Lela doesn’t expect her father’s henchman to beat her to Malta. Hamish doesn’t expect the girl’s doting aunt to see him as an enemy.

Reluctant partners, they navigate false leads and unexpected attraction. Can Lela balance her family’s demands with her love for Hamish? Can Hamish accept living life is all about taking risks?
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Award winning author Jennifer Raines’ stories combine a love of romance with contemporary conflicts. Her writing is both relevant and heart-warming. Each story is a journey across the world. 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.

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 happy-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 ebooks. 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 (Common Cause, renamed Lela’s Choice), 2018 (Taylor’s Law) and 2022 (Quinn, by design). She’s a member of Romance Writers of New Zealand (RWNZ), 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. In 2023 Taylor’s Law placed second in the RWNZ Koru Awards for Best First Book.
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/
 

I absolutely love lions and big cats. Growing up, I wanted to join Jack Hanna's family so that I could spend days playing with the baby cubs. I dreamed of visiting a game reserve in Lion Country and playing with the giant cats. As an adult, I've come to realize this is one dream that won't come true. I'm not the type to live out in the bush. The bugs alone would kill me. But now I can enjoy a romance set in the country and pretend it's me falling in love with the sexy handyman and saving the Lions.

Author Audrey Flynn writes romances amongst the breathtaking country. Her latest romance, CLASH OF WILLS features a strong heroine who is determined to renovate a run down family estate and won't allow the local poachers to take it from her. 

CLASH OF WILLS has action and romance, a breathtaking setting and a happily ever after. It's a perfect read for these fall evenings, curled up on the sofa. Now available in Ebook, you won't want to miss this book!

Blurb:
A clash of wills in lion country can have deadly consequences…

Big city chef Ruby Slater is the heir to a magnificent mansion in the heart of Lion Country. When her bistro in Cleveland burns to the ground, she leaves everything behind and heads to South Africa.

In the small town of Marulaspruit, on the edge of the vast Kruger Game Reserve, she intends to start afresh and restore her late uncle’s mansion to its former glory. But not everyone in town is happy with Ruby’s arrival.

Local builder and former bad boy Sam Duvenage also claims a legal right to the Jacaranda Mansion, and he’s not about to give it up.

Furthermore, a dangerous poaching syndicate is determined to get their hands on the mansion for its own nefarious purposes.

As danger circles closer and passion ignites between them, it becomes clear that Ruby and Sam had better put their clash of wills aside or find themselves at the mercy of deadly criminals.
 
Author Audrey Flynn will keep you on the edge of your seat as the chilling story unveils who the criminals are and what they are willing to do to get their hands on the property. Ms. Flynn writes about the heart of South Africa, the Lion Country, and poaching in a way that weaves the deadly crime with a sweeping romance set against the South African backdrop. Known for her romantic suspense, Ms. Flynn’s writing reminds readers of Catherine Cowles’ Sutter Lake Series and Cynthia Eden’s Wilde Ways series. Don’t miss your chance to fall in love with Marulaspruit.

EXCERPT:
“Look Ruby, I don’t know anything for sure. But you remember this town and this place as your childhood paradise. Times have changed. The truth is that the mansion is very valuable real estate, and it has some baggage. There are dark forces here in Marulaspruit, and I’m not sure that you are up to the challenge.”

Ruby shook her head. “You disappoint me, you know that?” She took a few steps towards him. “Let’s fight for this place fair and square. Okay? No mind games, no bullshit. We’ll fix her up and then let the courts decide, shall we?”

“I’m not playing mind games, Ruby.” Sam’s tone was low but formidable. “I’m trying to warn you.”

“Warn me? Ha!” Ruby tossed her head. “Here’s what I think: first you plied me with alcohol to seduce me––probably thought you could sidetrack me with some fun and games. When that didn’t work, you changed tactics. Now you want to intimidate me, scare me off. Make me think that I’m in over my head,” Ruby shook her head; it was all becoming clear. “This all tells me that you probably know that you haven’t got a leg to stand on legally.”

“Oh my god, you really are full of shit, do you know that? I’m not trying to scare you. I’m just giving you a heads up,” he said. She noticed that his eyes, dreamy and passionate a few minutes ago, were now hard and flinty. “And Ruby, if the facts scare you, then I’ll tell you something: you are in over your head.” And with that he headed for the hallway, Beau at his side. Ruby flinched as he slammed the front door.

About the Author
As a rock singer Audrey (also known as Nadine Raal) has toured with the likes of Bryan Adams and Roxette. As a magazine writer she penned columns for ELLE magazine and Cosmopolitan and published a best-selling memoir. She has had a lifelong love affair with spicy romances and classic whodunits. Based in the turbulent city of Johannesburg she shares her home with her highly strung husband and two ridiculously awesome kids.
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Since moving from Canada to South Africa as a child she has been entranced with the people and landscapes of this magnificent part of the world. Serving up steamy African themed romances is far more exciting than the school run and Audrey is happiest on safari, at sunset with a Gin & Tonic in hand.
 
https://www.audreyflynnbooks.com/ (Website) or on /http://www.facebook.com/safariromance/  https://www.instagram.com/safari_romance/?hl=en
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17268077.Audrey_Flynn
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/audrey-flynn