Year: 2023
Don’t miss out on Christmas in July!
It’s almost over–Christmas in July, where Summer Sizzle meets Holiday Magic! Tomorrow is the final day for these great deals on great books and the N.N. Light Christmas in July giveaway!
Celebrate Christmas in July all month long at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s seventh annual Christmas in July Fête.. .We’ve gathered some of the best Christmas and holiday-themed books by award-winning, bestselling and top-rated authors which we will be featuring for the duration of the event. Below you will find the links to each book spotlight all July plus the Rafflecopter giveaway where one lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally. Runs July 1 – 31, 2023. Drawing will be held on August 1, 2023.
For the event, Christmas at Tall Pines is on sale. Grab your digital copy today! A sweet romance that’s perfect for escaping summer’s soaring temps while visiting the snowy mountains of Utah!
Book Blurb:
Melanie Beck is searching for an idyllic Christmas like the ones her small family used to have. Traveling solo and still grieving the loss of her parents, she’s counting on cozy Tall Pines Lodge tucked into the mountains of Utah to provide the elusive holiday feels with merry music, stunning decorations and traditional Christmas feast in a beautiful frosty setting.
But a blizzard turns the winter wonderland into a hazard, and a chance encounter with a now-famous high school crush has her reeling with emotions she’s never quite gotten over.
Tyler Shaw, a Hollywood heartthrob and silver screen star, is so over a grueling film schedule and persistent paparazzi. In disguise and using a fake name, he comes to Tall Pines to escape the spotlight and get some much-needed rest. He’s hoping the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing at the nearby slopes will give him the reboot he’s looking for.
Instead, he’s stuck at the lodge and is shocked to run into an old high school friend that he left behind more than a decade ago. He’s even more surprised to discover how much he’s missed her.
As their past and present collide, can an old flame ignite some Christmas magic?
Excerpt:
“Also, if you’re having an affair, keep that away from the camera.” His agent cleared his throat and hesitated a beat. “But if this woman is someone special, we can use that to our advantage. What’s the story?”
Tyler’s heart somersaulted. This woman. He’d talked to Aiden about women before, mostly to enlist his help when things went the way of a three-ring circus in the media. All of a sudden, the topic felt more personal, private. He should’ve hung up ten minutes ago. “I… She’s…” What story did he wanted to tell? Of course, she was someone special. Funny how crystal clear that was looking in the rearview mirror. Even in high school she’d been in a league of her own. The missed years weighed heavily on his mind. He had a feeling those years represented missed opportunities.
A low chuckle came across the line, and he wanted to kick himself for stammering around like an idiot.
“Well, well,” Aiden drawled. “This is an interesting development. Who is she?”
“We were friends in high school.”
“Uh-huh. And what are you now?”
Good question. And one he wasn’t sure how to answer. Friends? Potential lovers? A couple? As he considered the possibilities, his pulse skyrocketed.
“Don’t hold out on me, Shaw. I need to know what I’m dealing with.”
He let his glance wander to Annie’s book, and he lifted it from the table. Turning it over, he stared at her smiling face. Blood rushed to his head. He could definitely see himself spending more time with Annie. She was someone he’d be proud to be seen with in public, and someone he could relax with away from the prying public eyes. But he would not be “using her to his advantage.”
“Aiden,” he warned. “Leave her out of this.”
Happy reading to all!
Darlene
Celebrating awesome fictional fathers
It’s Father’s Day, a day to celebrate all the great dads in our lives. I’ve got some pretty amazing fictional fathers in my novels, too — the kind who offer unconditional love and support. Have a look!
Do you have a favorite fictional dad? Please share!
Have a great day, and happy reading!
Darlene
Getting that summer feeling!
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Three moms. Three friends. Three stories.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so today I’m giving you a little peek inside my women’s fiction trilogy, The Women of Whitfield–because it’s the perfect gift for moms who read! Claire, Dana and Mary are longtime, I’ve-Got-Your-Back friends who live in a small Kansas town. Their lives intersect and intertwine, and they are there to support each other through the journey. To laugh, cry, and love through it all.
Book One: The Storm Within:
Elise caught a whiff of mint as her mother spoke. She’d obviously put a mint in her mouth as soon as she arrived to help clear her breath. From what? Cigarette smoke? Alcohol? Elise groaned inside. How could she take her mother to her in-laws’ house in this condition? In her entire life, she’d never seen her mother so unkempt and weak. Instead of her usual stylish pumps or boots, she wore a pair of basic loafers, and her normal confident gait had been replaced by an unsteady shuffle.
Elise helped her up the stairs and into the house. “Do you need to freshen up before we go?”
“Yes.”
Elise let go of her. “Okay, you do that, and I’ll gather everyone up.”
Oh, shit. Oh, shit. As Brian came down the stairs, Elise grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. “Mom looks like hell, and she’s acting like she can hardly move. This is not going to be good.”
He peered down the hall. “You think she should stay here?”
“I can’t leave her by herself.”
“Look, we gotta go. It’ll be fine. All she has to do is sit around and eat.”
“Why don’t you go ahead and get the kids in the car, and pull into the driveway so she doesn’t have to maneuver through the garage.”
Five minutes later, when her mother still hadn’t emerged from the bathroom, Elise knocked on the door. “Mom, you doing all right?”
“I’ll be right out,” came the raspy response.
She leaned against the wall, and rubbed her temples. This was so much worse than she expected.
An eternity later, the door opened, and her mother stepped out. She’d tried to fluff her hair up a bit, and was standing a little taller. A slight improvement. Elise put on a smile. “Okay, you ready? Where’s your jacket?”
“Oh, let me get that.”
She retrieved the leather jacket from the bathroom, then Elise helped her put it back on. It was like having another child.
Book Two: Second Wind
By Friday evening, Dana wanted nothing more than a quiet night at home, and an early date with her pillow. She gave Chase a smile as he pushed back from the table and carried his plate to the kitchen sink. He was doing a pretty decent job of picking up after himself and keeping Claire’s place clean. But when he walked back past her and said, “See you later,” she whipped around.
“What do you mean? Where are you going?”
Chase shrugged and scooped his keys up from the coffee table. “Going out. Can’t hang around here all night.”
“Why not?” He hadn’t been ‘around here’ for more than an hour or so every day as far as Dana could tell. Except to sleep. “Chase, come on. You barely told me anything about your day. I know you saw Poppa, and that’s it.” She’d resisted the urge to question him over dinner, hoping he’d offer some information on his own. No such luck. She hated playing twenty questions. Hated being the bad guy even more.
Chase’s jaw hardened. “There’s nothing to tell, Mom. If there was, I would tell you. Quit bugging me, okay?”
Dana scooted the chair back, fighting to keep her cool. “You know, if you’d talk to me and tell me what’s going on, I wouldn’t have to keep asking you.”
He spread his hands in front of him. “Nobody was around today. I turned in some applications.”
“I think we ought to contact a head hunter.”
Chase rolled his eyes, his head shaking back and forth. “God, Mom. Those are for professionals. They’d laugh me out of the office.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Listen, I’m trying to help you.”
“What do you want me to do? It’s Friday night. I can’t make business calls now. I can’t get online. There’s no internet. I mean–”
Dana held up a hand to stop him. He was right about all that. And she’d broken her resolve to let the job thing go until next week. “Fine. Where are you going?”
“Luke’s.”
“In Paxton?”
“Yeah.”
“Why can’t they ever come here? I’d like to meet them. Besides, I hate you doing all that highway driving at night.” Her mother’s accident had been the result of an aneurism and had nothing to do with the traffic or road conditions, but the road from Whitfield to Paxton was a two-lane highway with a narrow bridge and railroad tracks, and there was always truck traffic. It still made Dana nervous.
“Luke’s got the big screen and game system, Mom. What would we do here?”
“Claire’s got a pool table downstairs, and there’s a TV. Heck, you could go to Bailey’s and hang out. Watch a game. You could take turns, at least.”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“Or you could contact some of your high school friends. I’m sure some people are around.”
“I told you, I don’t know anybody here anymore.”
“Have you even tried?” she asked softly.
Chase’s grunt was muffled by the closing of the door.
Dana watched her son’s car pull away from the curb and wondered where was that adorable kid who never left the house without saying “I love you.” What happened to the kid who would still allow her to grab his hand for a few moments even in high school? She missed him.
Book Three: Barefoot Days
“Listen, sweetie, I’ve been pregnant before. You might start getting morning sickness. You’ll get tired more easily. You won’t be able to do lifting and moving after a few more months. You might need some help.”
“I’ll let you know. Just don’t try to manage me, okay? That doesn’t help.”
Neither would any retort that came to mind, Mary reminded herself. Instead of responding, she busied herself in the kitchen while Sara sipped her coffee. With a little luck it would improve her mood.
“Mom, you do realize that until two days ago I thought I was in love with someone else, right?” She pulled a top over her head and reached for her jeans.
Mary moved forward and ran a hand down Sara’s shoulder-length hair. “I do. I’m sorry. I’m not making light of that. But…well, maybe the best thing for getting over him is finding the real Mr. Right, hmm?”
“I have no idea what Evan is doing now, Mom. Heck, he could be married. I told you, we don’t talk anymore.”
“You would know, because I would know.”
“Whatever. Give it a rest, okay?”
“Fine, but for the record, I don’t think he’s dating anyone.” She leaned in, meeting Sara’s eyes in the mirror. “And I know he isn’t bringing anyone with him to the wedding.”
The Women of Whitfield series is available in paperback or digital formats from your favorite online retailer. Here’s what a few readers have to say:
— This was a hard book to put down. I got so involved with the characters that I shed tears for dark moments and tears for joy when things worked out. Ms Deluca is a powerful story teller and has deep insight into human frailties and strengths.
Second Wind:
— I
Barefoot Days:
—
— I‘ve now read all three books in Darlene’s Women of Whitfield series, and I’m so sorry the series is ending. I absolutely love these books! The characters are so well developed that I feel like I actually KNOW them and that they are my friends. Mary, Claire and Dana are the kinds of friends every woman hopes she has. And I think Darlene saved the best story for last. I found myself laughing with them, crying with them and rooting for them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CFBX68?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks
Happy reading!
Darlene
Celebrating a couple of fictional couples!
In the past week, two of my romances have hit publishing anniversaries. Today, it’s my sweet romance Meetings of Chance. Ten years since Tom and Megan came to “life.” Launching a book into the world is a big event for any author. It’s the culmination, for me, of many months, maybe more than a year, of writing, researching and editing. ![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00033]](https://darlenedeluca.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/moc_cover-front.jpg)
(Okay, yes, there’s also the hand-wringing, tweaking, staring into space, critiquing, and head-banging.) For at least a year, I spend a lot of time with these characters, getting into their heads and personalities, trying to figure out how they would respond in any given situation. What would they do or say? So much so, that they really do seem to become real!
I love the springy feel of this cover and that gorgeous rose! You can get a sneak peek by reading the “Look Inside” feature on Amazon or taking a look at my Pinterest storyboard. Meetings of Chance is a sweet romance with a hint of mystery. And, of course, a happy-ever-after. Here are a few of my favorite lines:
Standing in the parking lot, Tom shoved his hands into his pockets and watched her drive away. Part of him wanted to go after her. Was that what she wanted? Keep it friendly, she’d said. With no regard for the Italian leather loafers he wore, he kicked at the gravel under his feet. Friends didn’t kiss like that.
The other book that celebrated an anniversary a few days ago is Something Good. It’s a slightly steamier romance. Mandi is trying to recover from some mistakes and a tragedy while Lane is trying to make his mark in the field of urban planning and development. Problem is, Mandi lives in the trailer park Lane targets for demolition. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s way out of her league. Isn’t he?
According to Kirkus Reviews, it’s “an absorbing story of redemption that’s hard to put down.” And InD’Tale Magazine says, “With surprising plot twists and unique character conflict, Something Good more than lives up to its name!”
A couple of lines:
–Her throat constricted. A sense of loyalty kept her at Jimmy’s. She’d stay there until she had enough money to blast out of Texas for good. The people there had helped her through the worst days of her life. She owed them. They’d covered for her through the times when she froze up, threw up or didn’t even show up.
–Lane Whitmore was too good to be true. Of course, she’d known it the first time she’d seen him. He was temporary – like an over-the-counter medication, he provided temporary relief from common aches and pains.
Both books are available in digital or paperback formats from all your favorite online retailers. You can also request them from your local library. Happy anniversary to Lane and Mandi and Tom and Megan. And happy reading to all!
Darlene
https://www.pinterest.com/darlenedelucaau/_saved/
https://www.amazon.com/Meetings-Chance-Darlene-Deluca-ebook/dp/B00C2IT3DS/
https://www.amazon.com/Something-Good-Darlene-Deluca-ebook/dp/B00J8UN1GI/
Snuggle up with a happy ever after!
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to snuggle up with a romantic read! Fall in love with a new book boyfriend and enjoy the satisfying feels of a happy ever after! Hope you all have a lovely day!
Happy reading!
Darlene
Debut Novel Turns Ten!
Wow! Today, my first published novel turns ten years old. Unexpected Legacy, which combines general fiction and sweet romance story lines, was published after I meandered my way through a serious learning curve. I have a degree in Journalism and spent the first 30 thirty years of my career writing newspaper and magazine articles and communications materials, so I already had the basics of writing. But stepping into the world of fiction, I had to learn a new way of writing. I had to learn about working with critique partners and beta readers. I had to establish a social media presence and learn how to format a 99,000-word book for publication. That was an exercise in frustration, to be sure! All of the elements, from coming up with a title, to polishing the book, to creating a cover, came together after what felt like months and months of struggle. I still remember the nervous excitement of pushing “publish” and opening the package that held my first author copy. The fun payoff! 🙂
As my first novel, Unexpected Legacy still holds a special place in my heart. I re-read it last week and made some tweaks. Tightened it up. Took out some unnecessary words. It’s amazing how every time I read back through one of my novels I still find things I want to change, scenes I might write differently today. That said, when I got to the last page, I found that I still liked the characters and the story. I’m still proud of the accomplishment and happy to have it out in the world.
I also went back and read through some of the reviews and was touched that the book struck a chord a few readers. Here’s one of my favorite reviews:
In celebration of the anniversary, I’ve put the digital version on sale for just 99 cents. Have an E-reader? Hope you’ll add Unexpected Legacy to your library! It’s available at all the usual online retailers in both ebook and paperback versions.
Happy new year, and happy reading!
Darlene
Unexpected Legacy:
Matt Dalton’s world is spinning off its axis. Without warning, he’s thrown into the world of parenting a teenager. Matt meets his son for the first time when the sixteen-year-old is dealing with the consequences of a tragic car accident. Not only has Brady lost his best friend, he faces disability and scars both physical and emotional.
Determined to do whatever it takes to give his son a second chance, Matt looks to his alma mater to step up and help Brady regain his athletic abilities and sense of self. But sparks fly when he meets the high school principal, the captivating Kate Austen. Kate is ready to take Brady under her wing, but to her that means helping him refocus and find a new passion – using his brains rather than his brawn. Kate fully expects the younger Dalton to come with issues and challenges . . . his father may prove to be the biggest one of all.
Though the chemistry is hard to ignore, Kate fights to keep her personal feelings and professional life separate. At the same time, Matt struggles to gain his son’s trust, and Brady must face the road to recovery and find a way to accept the changes in his life.
Unexpected Legacy is a compelling story of bravery, compromise and resilience.
https://books.apple.com/us/book/unexpected-legacy/id595649773
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/unexpected-legacy
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unexpected-legacy-darlene-deluca/1114072427?ean=2940044236271
darlene deluca 