Memories in December
Calendar Girls Book 4
by Gina Ardito
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: November 7, 2019
Siobhan Bendlow is struggling with her recovery from an eating disorder and the financial downturn of her photography business. The last thing she needs is to become the sole caretaker of her wacky grandmother. Especially since the man of her teenaged dreams, Jimmy Vais, has moved back to town, newly single and available. So has his pesky younger brother, Justin. One Vais is fun, but juggling two is a problem.
Althea Bendlow may be in her seventies now, but she still craves all the things she wanted in youth: joy, comfort, laughter, and happiness for her loved ones. If gaining the latter means performing some matchmaking magic for her only granddaughter, she’s up to the task. As long as her own past doesn’t keep distracting her, in the form of Captain Lou Rugerman, a man who meant the world to her for one night only.
Welcome back to Snug Harbor, where the memories of a lifetime can become the dreams of tomorrow…
**easily read as a standalone!!**
I kill houseplants. There. Now you know one of my greatest shames. I'm not boasting. I just figure that if you're reading this, you're looking for more than how wonderful life is as a writer. You get enough of that elsewhere. Ditto for political rants, how to lose thirty pounds in a week, and creating gorgeous crafts with nothing more than twine and soup cans. My goal is to connect with you, dear reader, even if you're not a writer, not a New Yorker, not a mother, not a female. We're human (unless one of us is a spambot), and what we have in common is flaws. So here are a few more of mine:
I sing all the time. I sing songs most people don't know--jingles from television, crazy stuff I used to listen to on Dr. Demento, Broadway and movie soundtracks, and I can even bum-bum-bum through instrumental music. I sing in the car. In the shower. While I'm grocery shopping. And I headbop while I sing. When I'm not singing, I talk to myself. Just ignore me and move on. You get used to it after a while.
I don't eat my vegetables. Seriously. I only started eating salad about ten years ago, but I'd still rather have a cookie.
Given the option, I would live in a mall where I would never have to worry about freezing temperatures or too much sun. I'm extremely fair-skinned and could burn under a 60-watt light bulb.
I can't sleep without background noise so the television's on all night. If it's too dark and too quiet, all I have are my thoughts. And even *I* don't want to be alone with my thoughts.
Don't ask me to Zumba, line dance, or march in the parade. I have absolutely no rhythm.
I color outside the lines. Not because I'm a rebel, but because I suck as an artist. My artistic ability is limited to being able to draw Snoopy sleeping on his doghouse. And I don't even draw that well.
Regrets. I have more than a few.
My favorite activity is sleep, and I'm pretty good at it. I don't clock a lot of hours, but I can powernap like a Persian cat and rejuvenate within ten minutes.
I consider shopping and dining out excellent therapy for anything wrong in my life.
My feet are always cold. Always. My husband of more than a quarter century claims it's because I'm an alien sent to Earth to destroy him. (He might be right about that.)
Coming to my house for a visit? Unless you've given me plenty of advance notice, be prepared. My floor will not be vacuumed, there will be dishes in my sink, and I only make my bed when I change the sheets once a week (I'm climbing back into it ASAP. Why make it?) Housecleaning is not high on my priority list. Okay, to be totally honest, it's not on the list at all.
I can resist anything...except ice cream.
Since this is our first date, I figure I've revealed enough secrets for now. But if you've read this bio and think I might be the author for you, pick up one of my books or stalk my website: www.ginaardito.com.
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Lace and Lies
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GIVEAWAY!
The Last Merry Go Round
by C.L. Charlesworth
Genre: Women's Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Mirador Publishing
Publication Date: November 1, 2019
When fear underlines the answer, Y E S becomes a trap with ominous consequences.
There are three letters when put together that can change your life—they can either bring happiness or sadness. The letters spell the word Y – E – S. When spoken lovingly, Y E S means everything. When fear underlies the answer, Y E S becomes a trap with ominous consequences.
For Diane Fletcher, a commitment to Y E S has left her dangling on a tightrope between sanity and insanity. Despite children she loves, and an opulent lifestyle, saying yes to twenty-eight years of marriage with Richard has brought very little happiness.
Too many secrets permeate Diane and Richard’s relationship. Guilt, alcohol, and sedatives are Diane’s safety net when she falls. Regular visits to a psychiatrist have done little more than put Diane back on the tightrope. Richard has other coping mechanisms. He is devoted, and at the same time, severe, ambitious, callous, and vindictive.
How different Diane and Richard have grown together. Raw emotions, unthinkable actions, and an explosive secret threaten any pretense for their marriage.
The Last Merry Go Round peels back the skin of a volatile marriage with dark secrets, revealing what happens to the family when the secrets explode.
Who am I?
I have the gift of imagination and that has been a beacon all my life. I’m fortunate to be able to take a blank piece of paper and create a page turning story that evokes a wide array of human drama. I’m inspired by the simplest–to the most complex challenge a person can face, and with that, derive empathy for my characters. I would best describe myself as a “back porch storyteller”– writing that grabs you from the first sentence.
I have written two books (so far): The Last Merry Go Round and The Ears That Have Eyes. Each book takes a human challenge and hurls the characters against the wall. Whether or not they survive--- depends on them.
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Sword
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: She was in Sword’s arms. In a ridiculously small bed. Fully clothed in his shirt and sweatpants. At some point, she’d sprawled out on top of him, her hair tangling them together like silk bindings. One of his big hands rubbed soothingly up and down her back in comfort. That hand seemed to span the entire width of her back as he moved it over her skin lazily. Magenta remembered him sliding into the bed with her, wrapping her up in his arms as they’d talked. Their conversation spun through her mind like a carousel. Did she believe everything he’d told her? She wanted to. Though she knew better, Magenta decided she’d believe him until he misplaced her trust. Didn’t mean she’d do it blindly though. Maybe she should lay it all out for him. “You’re fine, girl,” he murmured sleepily. “We got an hour before we need to get up.” “You know, if you’re trying to make me give up information on Black Reign, I’m more than happy to do it without you making me empty promises. Just promise you won’t make me go back, and I’ll tell you everything I know. That’s the only promise I want or need.” He sighed, as if disappointed. “I just want another hour,” he grumbled. “Fine. Magenta, I promise I won’t make you go back. Think I said that earlier. Now, go back to sleep. You can spill it all later.” “You’re kind of a grumpy bear when you wake up, aren’t you?” Again, he grunted, but tightened his arms around her. “What are you going to do? You left a man in the clubhouse so you can’t just blaze.” With an exasperated grunt, Sword rolled them both, maneuvering so that he lay sprawled on top of her, his arms still wrapped around her. He nuzzled her neck, his lips grazing her skin in a soft caress. “Hush now. I need this last hour.” He didn’t stop moving his mouth over her neck. “Stop,” she whispered, even as she lifted her chin and tilted her head to give him better access. What was wrong with her? Was she going to let him take advantage of her? God, her body had suddenly come alive! Shivers coursed through her, and she realized that, for the first time in her life, she was welcoming a man’s touch. “I will if you want,” Sword said, even as he licked her flesh with one swipe of his flattened tongue. “Seems like you don’t know what you want. You didn’t push me away. Instead, if I’m not mistaken, your little nails are diggin’ into my back like you’re trying to hold me to you.” He sounded drowsy. Sexy. Like he was her lover waking her for morning sex. “I — I don’t know…” “It’s OK,” he said between nips and scrapes of his teeth. “I’m not gonna take too big a bite out of you. At least not here or now.” He let his lips wander from her neck to her collarbone and back, never venturing into forbidden territory but arousing her like she’d never been before. “When we go to confront Black Reign, you’re staying here with Trucker.” “You’ll need every man you have,” she breathed out, scarcely able to form a coherent thought beyond the fact that she wanted to cradle his head and push him to her aching breasts. “Crow will annihilate you if you don’t. In fact, call in help. He’s trying to lull you into a false sense of security before he springs whatever trap he has ready.” “I promise you, the four men we’re takin’ into that clubhouse will be better equipped to deal with that entire club than Crow will be to deal with the four of us. But, you’re right. We called in reinforcements last night. There will be some friends of ours coming to help. Should be here in a little over an hour.” He shifted his weight off her just a little, just enough for her not to feel trapped. Then he laid his head on her chest and kissed the swell of her breast. “So I’d like to get my…” he raised his head to look back over his shoulder at the clock on the wall next to them, “fifty-four minutes.” “Yeah. So would me and Viper.” “If you guys need to get a room, you should have said something instead of staying out all fuckin’ night ridin’.” “You two shut the fuck up. I’m determined to get my ‘fifty-four minutes’.” “Fifty-three now, bro. Shut up your own damned self.” Magenta didn’t know what to think or say. Lying with Sword like this was too intimate for strangers, but, strangely, not uncomfortable. All kinds of things went through her mind. Like if the others expected him to have sex with her right there. Did he expect that? If she gave in and embraced the sensations he kindled, would he humiliate her like Black Reign did? And what about Trucker? If everyone thought she’d given in to Sword, would they expect her to service them as well? “Just relax,” Sword whispered. “No one is gonna hurt you.” “You keep saying that.” “You need to hear it.” “Does me hearing it make it any truer than if you never said it?” 
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Break Free
Smart Girl Mafia Series Book 1
by Aimee Smith
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Lynn Scott
You know that super-hot guy from high school? The jock. The popular guy. The one you fantasized about when you were supposed to be studying. The ex-Olympic water polo player you expect to be married in his thirties to an ex-beauty queen and driving around Los Angeles in a Mercedes SUV full of kids. The man who could never be as smart and fun as you. The guy who is not supposed to ask you to hook-up during a party. (Correction: He commanded.)
That’s Nick Willingham. Even in my thirties with a thriving career, a great home, awesome friends, and a very green, holistic lifestyle, I still check the box: nerd. And in what world does a nerd end up with the hot guy? In what what world does a hook-up lead to insta love?
Nick Willingham
Lynn Scott is the woman who is not supposed to say yes. The shy, polite writer who lives in San Francisco. The woman you expect to be married or waiting for some man to choose her. Yeah, that’s not Lynn.
I want her. I want whatever happy ending her brilliantly dirty mind and perfect mouth wants to create. She’s decided that our thing is just a hook-up with an expiration date less than that of her favorite fresh-pressed green juice. Lucky for me, I like to win. But am I willing to take a wrecking ball to my meticulously handcrafted life to win her?
A standalone West Coast romantic comedy from the sexy and indulgent world of the Smart Girl Mafia. Thirtysomethings. Smart, strong women. Hot, alpha men. Always happily-ever-after. Diversity lives here.
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Strangely Amazing
Smart Girl Mafia Series Book 2
Lilly Shepard
Detroit-born. Math-loving. Gamer. Kinky. I check the box: geek. I don’t have time for a relationship. I’m a scientist on a mission to eradicate disease. I don’t have time for another wealthy man making lots of plans and promises. I have patients to heal. I don’t have time for a handsome billionaire from Beverly Hills who is offering me a life people dream of… Well, maybe I can fit him in between a game of Grand Theft Auto and saving the world?
Michael Ahmed
I’m ready to settle down and start a family. I want a wife. I think I’ve found her. But she’s not impressed by my luxurious lifestyle or romantic gestures. She’s not impressed by me. If only she could see that underneath my affluence is a guy who loves hip hop and R & B, homecooked meals, and happily-ever-afters. Don’t get it twisted, I’m a prickly snob and an alpha male. I know what I want, and I don’t stop until I get it. And I want her. But can I compete with her ambition?
A standalone West Coast romantic comedy from the sexy and indulgent world of the Smart Girl Mafia. Thirtysomethings. Smart, strong women. Hot, alpha men. Always happily-ever-after. Diversity lives here.
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Space Between
Smart Girl Mafia Series Book 3
Brit Palmer
We’re just friends.
Alex is the guy women swoon over. Gorgeous. Privileged. Reformed bad boy. Hella alpha.
But he’s not my type. I’m a left-wing, feminist with a ridiculously high IQ. I’d rather be singing a jazz tune or shopping for a pair of designer shoes to go with a couture coat. I proudly check the box: weirdo.
Yes, over the last eight years, I’ve developed an affection for him. Given the circumstances, it’s to be expected.
We grew up in the same town. We love jazz shows and Warriors basketball. We help each other out. We co-parent an adorable little dog. He’s the person I turn to when my world feels upside down.
But we’re just friends.
Oh, and there’s that piece of paper. Shh… don’t tell my friends.
Umm, maybe I secretly long to be his pretty, well-behaved housewife. Shh… don’t tell Alex.
Alex Willingham
We are not just friends!
Yeah, there’s that secret binding us. But it’s more than that. We have something.
To Brit, I’m a capitalist suit. Never mind this suit keeps a roof over her head, well-fed, and adorned in designer fashion.
My model-pretty smart girl, made me who I am. I owe so much of my success to her.
Business aside, I’m still her man. Brit just doesn’t know it yet.
I’ll hold out. Eight years isn’t really that long. (Nah, it’s really long.)
At the end of the record spinning between us, she and I both know, our happily-ever-after will be worth the wait.
We were never just friends.
A standalone West Coast romantic comedy from the sexy and indulgent world of the Smart Girl Mafia. Thirtysomethings. Smart, strong women. Hot, alpha men. Always happily-ever-after. Diversity lives here.
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Amiee Smith is a contemporary romance author from California. She writes diverse, west-coast style, sexy stories about smart, successful, strong women and hot, alpha men. Her current series, The Smart Girl Mafia, is about a group of thirtysomething girlfriends who find love where they least expect it. Book 1-3 are available at all major ebook retailers.
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Putting the Pieces Together
Growing Roots Book 4
by Chelsea Falin
Genre: YA Coming of Age
Publication Date: October 27, 2019
Living a “normal” life doesn’t always mean that things will always be good. Bad things happen to even the best of people, and this is a life lesson Willie must now learn when tragedy strikes her close-knit group of friends.
As she continues to grow and change, Willie knows that she is far from the girl who arrived in Oklahoma little over a year ago. She’s growing, changing, and working on putting the pieces together in her life – just as her friends struggle to do the same.
“You never know, Willie. Death doesn’t discriminate by age or gender or social status. It’s one of the few things that doesn’t care. When it comes for you, it comes. It could be today, tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, but when your time is up, it’s up. There’s nothing you can do to change that.”-Dakota
Praise for the 'Growing Roots Series':
"a great lesson in the way life can change at any time"
"an eye-opener for teenagers and older adults alike"
"Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene."
Great Strides
Growing Roots Book 3
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Willie has finally found her father, and he's welcomed her with open arms. Now she must forge a relationship with the man she never even knew was alive. It isn't just him, however, Willie must also find out how she fits in with her step-mother and half-siblings. Left in Alabama with no close-in-age peers, Willie makes great strides in finding out who she is as an individual without a group of close friends to rely on.
Alabama offers many firsts for Willie. The most notable in her own mind is her first relationship. There are other firsts in store, however, and a whole new cast of characters to get to know. How will Willie handle this newest experience? Will she handle it in the mature the way she has always handled change? Or will this be the point in which Willie loses herself?
“Genetics are a tricky business at times, and you just never know what you're going to get when you throw two ancestry’s together.”
-Willie's Mamaw
Personal Growth
Growing Roots Book 2
Publication Date: March 18, 2013
Willie, despite a rough start, has become immersed in the culture she should have been born into. As she grows in her own knowledge of her ancestral roots, she also grows in who she is as a person. All things are now within her reach, and all she must do is put forth a little effort. With all of this in mind, Willie has decided to dedicate herself towards her own 'Personal Growth.'
"Our heritage might be bloody, but that's no reason not to be proud!"
-Spike
~~~
'Personal Growth' is the second installment in the fairly popular indie series, Growing Roots. It is the sequel to 'Less Than Humble Beginnings.' Here is what people have said about the series:
"The characters are believable and realistic."
"Chelsea used concise descriptions of her characters which made it very easy to imagine their interactions."
"Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene. With her excellent weaving of words, the world of Willie came alive as if I'm watching a movie."
"Being a teenager is never easy, and Willie's internal struggles were easy to relate to."
Less Than Humble Beginnings
Growing Roots Book 1
Publication Date: November 24, 2012
Willie and Babette have long, long been shielded from their own culture and heritage by their mother. When circumstances change, the girls are thrown into what they were once shielded from - only to find it is nothing like they once believed.
While Babette adjusts easily, Willie finds herself much more hesitant. While she struggles to find her true self, Willie is forced to learn she is not the only one suffering from "Less Than Humble Beginnings."
"Try to remember everyone here has their demons, but we put those demons to good use. Make ourselves better, stronger, wiser." - Jack
Chelsea Falin is the 25 year old independent author of well over ten titles. She began writing with intents to publish in 2006, at age 16, and finally published in 2009, at age 19. Chelsea writes in a variety of genres, including but not limited to: romance, young adult, comedy, cooking, poetry, and dramatic fiction. Professionally, Chelsea is also a freelance blog/article writer, web designer, and book blogger.
In her personal life, Chelsea is the mother of a six year old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, fishing, hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with her friends or family.
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