Hi Frolic,
Welcome to Denny’s bookshelf!
I am back with more treats from my TBR list! This group of fantabulous romance authors write romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and historical romance. I am a huge fan of dipping and diving into the various genre under the big headings such as historical, contemporary, fantasy, time travel; you name it, there’s a book out there I’ve read and loved.
This week, though, we’re sticking to the romance side of my TBR. Hope you take notes and add them (or if you’ve already read – spread the good news)!
Catch Me by Michele Arris
RELEASE DATE: July 23, 2020
Genre: Romantic Suspense
(Description provided by the publisher)
It was supposed to be a straightforward business agreement…
Businessman and COO Dominic Balaska almost has it all, except $20 million to get in on a lucrative real estate deal. His trust fund document requires him to be married by his 31st birthday. In six months. With no romantic prospects in sight, he looks toward Tabitha Seils. She’s made it clear she doesn’t like him, which is exactly the no-strings deal he’s looking for.
Custom pastry chef Tabitha Seils wants nothing more in life than a baby. So when a new mother considers Tabitha to adopt her infant, Tabitha nearly bursts with happiness. She makes the first of three payments but needs to find a way to pay the rest. Marrying Dominic is a win-win: they can access his trust, divvy up the money, and get an annulment.
Neither expected their marriage of convenience would bring about real feelings. Nor the twist in store for their arrangement that could cost them everything.
What You Should Know about Michele:
Michele writes diverse, multicultural romance that’s edgy, steamy, and a bit sleazy ☺! https://twitter.com/ArrisMichele
Denny: What’s your favorite trope to read? What’s your favorite trope to write—and does either one gets some love in your new release:)?
Michele: Enemies-to-Lovers is such a fun trope to read and even more fun to write. There’s just something about two characters who dislike one another but by some unavoidable reason, spends time together and begin to share romantic feelings. Catch Me satisfies this trope to its fullest. The opposing opinions, growing attraction, a lot of sexual tension, and ultimate payoff of two people falling head over hills for one another. It’s a heady mix.
Denny: If you had to choose only one book to take with you out of a burning bookstore what would it be?
Michele: After I’m done crying over the loss of so many wonderful books, I’d probably take Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I watched the movie years ago but only recently read the book. The author does a great job crafting imagery and emotional depth.
Denny: What are your greatest concerns as a writer when developing your story?
Michele: My greatest concern as a writer when developing a story is that the world playing out in my head goes quiet, the ideas fog up, and I’m left staring at a blank page. I usually step away from the story for a day or two, which helps to clear out the cobwebs.
Denny: What are you binge watching now and what beverage do you recommend readers enjoy while devouring your new release!
Michele: I’m extremely late to the party, but I’ve been getting my paranormal fix binging on Vampire Diaries. Nearly one hundred and fifty-year-old vamp teen brothers madly obsessed over a girl that looks exactly like the woman who turned them into the gorgeous monsters they are. I’m not usually a fan of YA with high school elements, but I’ve been really enjoying the love triangle between Elena and the two brothers, Stephen and Damon Salvatore.
Her Sweet Temptation by Nina Crespo
RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2020 (available for pre-order)
(Description provided by publisher.)
When good things come in bad-boy packages.
She vows to find the right kind of guy…
a tempting stranger challenges everything.
“Bad Choices” should have been Rina Tillbridge’s middle name and it’s time to turn over a new leaf. But when stuntman Scott Halsey struts onto her property for his latest film, her impulsive alter ego threatens to make a comeback. The quintessential thrill-seeking stuntman has no designs on commitment. So why are all his red flags igniting white-hot passion…and inspiring dreams of a Hollywood ending?
What you should know about Nina Crespo:
Nina writes sizzling to small-town sexy stories for Entangled Publishing and Harlequin Romance. https://twitter.com/ninacrespo21
Denny: What’s your favorite trope to read? What’s your favorite trope to write—and does either one get some love in your new release:)?
Nina: Favorite trope to read—that’s a hard question. Lately, opposites attract romances have been catching my attention. It’s always satisfying to see the main protagonists start out in different places with their opinions, but in the end, they’re united by love. My favorite trope to write is fling to a thing. My upcoming book, Her Sweet Temptation gets a little love in both areas.
Denny: Which scene did you enjoy writing the most in this book? (no spoilers, please:)
Nina: Rina and Scott attend a wedding at the beach. There’s a cute, touching moment featuring Scott that made me love him even more!
Denny: What are you binge watching now and what beverage do you recommend readers enjoy while devouring your new release!
Nina: My current binge watch is Star Trek: Lower Decks. Laughing keeps me in a good headspace and this fun (grownup) animated series checks that box. As far as what beverage to pair with Her Sweet Temptation, I’d recommend a Lemon Drop cocktail.
The Duke, A Lady, and A Baby by Vanessa Riley
Release Date: June 30, 2020 (available now)
(Description provided by the publisher)
When headstrong West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questioned her English husband’s mysterious suicide, she lost everything: her newborn son, Lionel, her fortune—and her freedom. Falsely imprisoned, she risks her life to be near her child—until The Widow’s Grace gets her hired as her own son’s nanny. But working for his unsuspecting new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington, has perils of its own. Especially when Patience discovers his military strictness belies an ex-rake of unswerving honor—and unexpected passion . . .
A wounded military hero, Busick is determined to resolve his dead cousin’s dangerous financial dealings for Lionel’s sake. But his investigation is a minor skirmish compared to dealing with the forthright, courageous, and alluring Patience. Somehow, she’s breaking his rules, and sweeping past his defenses. Soon, between formidable enemies and obstacles, they form a fragile trust—but will it be enough to save the future they long to dare together?
What you need to know about Vanessa:
She writes historical fiction and historical romance (Georgian, Regency, & Victorian Eras) featuring hidden histories, dazzling multi-culture communities, and strong sisterhoods. https://twitter.com/vanessariley
Denny: What’s your favorite trope to read? What’s your favorite trope to write—and does either one get some love in your new release:)?
Vanessa: My favorite trope to read and write is a Marriage of Convenience. The setup of what’s at risk if they do or don’t, the raw attraction, and forced close proximity that marriage brings add undeniable tension to a story. It’s catnip. I simply can’t resist. Yes, A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby features a Marriage of Convenience.
Denny: What question about this new release do you want to ask yourself and then ask it and answer it—and send it along, but keep it short, please.
Vanessa: How do you deal with the nanny-duke power imbalance in a historical romance in the age of Me-Too? The answer is it was tricky. Dukes are typically powerful and wealthy and used to having people do exactly as they wish. Our hero, Repington, is no exception. He’s a wounded warrior, but he still a man of his time. To counter his control, I used soft power. The Nanny in our story, Patience, is an heiress in disguise who’s only masquerading as a servant to be near her child. Patience is accustomed to running her house and is in full rebellion working for Repington. She’s doing the bare minimum to comply. To right the scale of power, Patience does what she can even withholding the goods, her coconut bread, a treat the Duke’s hungry men have come to love.
Denny: What are you binge watching now and what beverage do you recommend readers enjoy while devouring your new release!
Vanessa: I am binging on CNN’s The Windsors. It’s like the Crown but with the actual news clips of the real people. I recommend a mug of hot steaming tea and a slice of cake. Cake is always a good answer.
