It’s a Birthday Bash!!

October 1, 2026 darlenedeluca Books, This and That, What's New book-reviews, Books, fiction

Woo-hoooo! Welcome to the bookish world, Emily, Eric, Julia, Chloe, and all the cast of HARD LEMONADE, my new women’s fiction novel releasing today!

It’s always a bit of a nerve-wracking day, but also so fun to finally release a new book to the world! I could talk about it all day, but I think I’ll let some early reviews speak for me! 🙂 I’m so grateful to these reviewers for their time, thoughtful comments and so many stars!!!

–Women’s fiction at its finest, this novel speaks to every woman at any age: the young college student, the empty nester of a mother [or, like me, a grandmother missing her firstborn grandchild]. Then when the trials and tribulations begin—and we know they always will—the pain and fear and heartache of how to help someone we love without taking over or playing know-it-all. This is a jewel of a story. Well told and heart wrenching.

On a scale of 1-5, Hard Lemonade merits a solid 8.

**Kat Henry Doran, a Wild Women Review

–What I loved most was the reminder that starting over isn’t failure. Sometimes it’s a redirection toward a better life.💛
There were so many moments that made me stop and think: What would I do in Emily’s situation?
A thoughtful read with plenty to discuss, especially for a book club. The characters, relationships, choices, and life lessons give you a lot to unpack.
⭐ A memorable, emotional story about love, family, second chances, and starting over.

**NANA’S Book Reviews

–‘Hard Lemonade’ is a beautifully written and deeply absorbing novel about marriage, motherhood, ambition, friendship and resilience. Deluca has created a wonderfully believable protagonist in Emily, a young woman whose determination to build the life she imagined takes her on a journey she could never have anticipated. Thoughtful, moving and filled with memorable characters, ‘Hard Lemonade’ is women’s fiction at its finest. A beautifully realised and ultimately uplifting novel that is thoroughly deserving of five stars.

**Review by Mary Anne Yarde

Description–HARD LEMONADE

Her husband fails. Her marriage fails. Does that make Emily Sherridan a failure?

With high hopes and rose-colored shades, Emily Sherridan leaves her family and friends to build a new life with her screenwriter husband in sunny Los Angeles. There, she learns that love conquers all…until the rent is overdue, the rejections pile up, or the test is positive.

As months, then years, go by and Eric’s career fails to launch, Emily is determined to hold everything together. But when he brings danger into their lives, it’s over. When the cops arrive at her doorstep, anguish mixes with anger. She wonders how low they can go—until one of the officers hands her the number to a women’s shelter.

Broke and broken, her dreams are dashed and her confidence is shaken. With Eric’s taunt about running home pounding in her ears, Emily pushes forward though she’s unsure of her direction. She cannot give up. Her daughter deserves more.

From rosy dreams to real-life roadblocks, Hard Lemonade is a compelling story of friends, family, and fierce sheroes.

HARD LEMONADE is available in ebook or paperback from most online retailers!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HKYLG44G/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-lemonade-darlene-deluca/1151481308?ean=9798997543419

https://books.apple.com/us/book/hard-lemonade/id6817955336

Happy Reading!!

Darlene

‘Tis the Season of Witches!

September 28, 2026September 28, 2026 darlenedeluca Uncategorized, Guests fall, guest author, Romantasy, seasons, Witches

As September slips away, I see fall decor everywhere, cider and pumpkins in the grocery stores, ads for sweaters and boots on all my social media sites, and pumpkin spice everything! Fall-ish things take over the stores, greenhouses, and movie channels. So why not your TBR pile, too?!

Today, I’m featuring humor and romantasy author Ashlyn Chase. Ashlyn describes herself as an Almond Joy bar–a little nutty, a little flaky, but basically sweet, wanting only to give her readers a satisfying experience that leaves them smiling.
She earned a degree in behavioral sciences, worked with children with disabilities, then worked as a psychiatric RN for fifteen years, and spent four more years with the American Red Cross.

Her jobs were great for character building, both as a person and an author. Ashlyn has identified her “Author theme” as found families, where being different makes no difference, and characters who reinvent themselves. She is a multi-published, best-selling, award-winning author of humorous paranormal and contemporary romances. And she writes fantasy adventure/magical realism books for young adults and children as E. B. Lorow (Elisabeth Lorow.)

And she writes fun books about witches!!

Here’s a look:

Autumn L.A.W. Part 1

The Dangerous Duo

Sahara Nadir trusts history, logic, and ancient languages. Lioness Graves trusts visions, instincts, and whatever wild idea pops into her head next. Working together has never been their strong suit, but dark humor gets them through.

When a mysterious obelisk erupts beneath Central Park, the League of Amazing Witches discovers it isn’t just an artifact. It’s a prison, and something inside is trying to break free.

Sahara, with the help of an unshakably calm mage, and Lioness, with a fearless firefighter who insists on returning her life-saving protection, must put aside their differences before an ancient evil possesses a human host. The future may depend on the one thing they’ve never mastered: teamwork.

And then . . .

Autumn L.A.W. Part 2

Crossing the Wrong Witch

Victoria De La Fontaine is a glamorous witch, helicopter pilot, and proud member of the League of Amazing Witches… until a dry-cleaning dispute goes spectacularly wrong. One magical mishap later, she’s trapped in a stranger’s body, wearing stained sweatpants, while the thief runs around in her long legs and designer wardrobe.

Determined to reclaim her identity, Victoria sets out on a globe-trotting search for six rare spell reversal ingredients. Her ally is Duke Masterson, the league’s occult librarian with access to some of the world’s rarest magical secrets and a few mysteries of his own.

As the stakes grow higher, Victoria discovers that reversing an ancient curse and getting her body back may be only part of what she needs to do. Learning and liking who she really is could be the life-altering challenge.

Enjoy this excerpt!

The world lurched. Not a rumble. More of an honest-to-Goddess tremor that made the trees shiver and sent a flock of birds blasting upward like confetti out of a cannon.

Lioness stumbled forward, catching herself on the caution tape that she and Sahara had not been authorized to put up but did anyway. Her sketchbook slipped from her fingers and flopped onto the grass.

“Okay,” she said aloud, because sometimes narrating her life helped. “That was not normal. That was ‘something is waking up, and it’s out to get us’ levels of abnormal.”

The cracked earth in front of her split again. A sharp seam zigzagged across the ground like a lightning bolt.

“Lioness!” Sahara called, barreling toward her from the far side of the site, ponytail whipping. “Back up. Now.”

Lioness didn’t argue. Mostly because the ground was shifting under her boots and arguing required stability. She hopped backward just as the crack widened and released a gust of air so cold it slapped her across the face.

She reeled. “What the—? Did someone leave the door to Antarctica open?”

“No,” Sahara said, sliding to her side. “Worse. I think the obelisk seal ruptured.”

Before Lioness could respond, a spike of nausea slammed into her gut so hard she hunched over. Her vision blurred at the edges. Heat prickled across her skin. Hot, then cold, then hot again, like a thermostat having a seizure.

Sahara swayed beside her. “Lioness? Do you feel—”

Lioness didn’t hear the rest. A wave of dizziness crashed over her, sending her to her knees.

“Okay,” she gasped, “I officially feel like I’ve licked a subway pole.”

Sahara’s hand trembled as she pressed it to her forehead. “This isn’t a normal illness. Something is—”

She didn’t finish. Both witches were hit by a synchronized punch of ancient magic, sharp as stone, and it felt like breathing in electricity.

Lioness clutched the grass. “Am I dying? Don’t let me die looking like this. I haven’t fixed my brows for a month.”

“It’s a curse,” Sahara managed, voice tight. “An ancient Egyptian one. I can feel the glyphs vibrating under the soil.”

“Well, tell them to stop,” Lioness snapped, then immediately gagged, because she felt the world had tilted in a way physics never intended.

Sahara dropped to her knees beside her, breath shallow. “It’s not removable. Not without… not without the counter-glyphs.”

Lioness blinked hard. “And I’m guessing you don’t have those lying around in your Gucci bag?”

“No,” Sahara said weakly. “And I think whatever’s buried down there just woke up enough to sneeze on us.” Sahara collapsed onto her side. “Great. Cursed by dirt. My mother told me this was how it would end.”

A vibration rippled through the soil again. Deeper this time. Almost sentient. The ground pulsed like something beneath it had a heartbeat.

Lioness forced her head up and saw the crack widen one more inch. She screamed.

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Ashlyn! Happy Fall reading to all!

Darlene

To connect with Ashlyn:

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAshlynChase

http://www.instagram.com/ashlynlaughin/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H51WHVHH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_3&storeType=ebooks

So Long, Summer … I’ll Miss You!

September 22, 2026 darlenedeluca Home & Family, This and That fall, summer, travel, zinnias

Sigh. Summer has officially slipped away. Just last week, my zinnias still looked great, and the temps were in the mid-90s. This week, what a drastic difference—the zinnias look tired, and the temps are in the mid-70s! It always happens too fast for me.

I’m a summer girl. I go kicking and screaming into fall (but mostly winter). I want to hang onto the longer days, my flip-flops and easy summer wardrobe. No hats, scarves, or gloves to keep track of. No cumbersome boots or coats. No snow shoveling or ice scrapers to deal with!

I had a short but great summer! Three visits with our sweet granddaughter (my first trip to the Jersey Shore), a couple of trips to Colorado, the completion of our kitchen remodel, and a fabulous trip to Santorini! I also finished a book I’ve been working on for a while.

Hard Lemonade is set to release Oct. 1! That will probably be the highlight of my fall as I start yard cleanup and switch out my closets. I would also enjoy fall more if I didn’t have squirrels at my house. I’ve tried year after year to decorate. I buy mums and pumpkins, pick up hedge apples and create arrangements only to have everything eaten and destroyed by the little varmints. It’s soooo annoying!

I’ll still probably buy a couple of pumpkins because I like to harvest and roast the seeds. Oh, and I like a variety of apple that I can only find in the fall—SweeTango from upstate New York.

For those of you who love the pumpkin spice and cooler temps…enjoy the season!

Darlene

The Countdown is On!

September 4, 2026 darlenedeluca A Writer's Life, Books book release, empty nest, fiction, Hard Lemonade, mothers and daughters, reading, rosy dreams, women's fiction, writing

It’s one of the best days for an author. And it’s one of the most anxious days as well! Release Day — full of excitement, hope, anticipation, and more than a few butterflies in the stomach. Putting your hard work into the public can be a scary thing–will readers like it? Will it get glowing reviews? Will bookstores and libraries add it to their shelves? We hold our breath and launch, hoping that our book babies survive and thrive.

On Oct. 1, I’m releasing my newest women’s fiction novel–Hard Lemonade. It’s a book about hopes and dreams, mothers and daughters, friends and family:

Her husband fails. Her marriage fails. Does that make Emily Sherridan a failure?

From rosy dreams to real-life roadblocks, Hard Lemonade is a compelling story of friends, family, and fierce sheroes.

Excerpt:

Joe loosened his tie as he entered the room then planted a light kiss on her lips. “How was your day?” he asked.

It was a standard question, but these days Julia had to try and read his mood and discern whether he wanted the truth or a shallow everything-is-fine response.

“Nothing too exciting,” she told him.

He opened the refrigerator and took out a beer. “Yeah? You get the trip worked out?”

Okay, they were going for real tonight. “Yes, everything’s booked.”

He took a long pull on the beer. “Want to trade places?”

Julia choked out a laugh. Neither one of them had a carefree couple of days ahead of them, but she agreed Joe got the short stick. “No, thanks. I want to see this apartment. I suppose the fact that she’s letting me go out is a good sign.”

“Yeah, I have a hard time feeling grateful about any of this.”

Julia let out a long sigh. “Me, too. But it could’ve been worse. They could’ve eloped or run off to California together. At least we got a wedding. That shows commitment.”

Through watery eyes, she’d watched her daughter walk down the aisle with the naïve optimism of youth shining in her eyes as she looked at Eric where he stood waiting for her. She looked so young, hardly any different than the day she graduated from high school. Of course, that had only been two years ago.

The wedding had been a dismal affair, woefully short of what she’d always imagined for her only child. Her beautiful daughter wore a shimmery white tea-length dress with silver shoes and carried a bouquet of blush-pink roses. A jeweled comb that had belonged to her maternal grandmother sparkled in her glossy chocolate-colored curls. Julia had seen to those details herself.

Eric had splurged on a charcoal gray suit, choosing to buy it rather than rent a tux. “He’ll need to look good for his interviews,” Emily had told her. Julia just hoped those interviews would materialize. And soon. He was a handsome man with a boyish look about him. With his thatch of blond hair, he’d fit right in with the California crowd. She couldn’t help but feel that his marrying their daughter against their wishes said something about his character, but she couldn’t argue with the way he looked at Emily. Julia wanted to believe he cherished her daughter as much as she did.

Julia leaned against the counter next to Joe. “She loves him. She’s happy.”

“Mm-hmm. What would you like to do for supper?”

She shrugged. “We’ve got some leftover pulled pork.”

In the silence, she followed his gaze to the kitchen table.

“No,” he said abruptly. “Let’s go out.”

She sensed that he, too, struggled with having dinner at the table with Emily’s empty spot.

He tugged at his tie. “Let me get out of these work clothes.”

She watched him bound up the stairs, and her heart ached. When would their lives feel normal again?

Look for Hard Lemonade in ebook or paperback formats Oct. 1!

Here’s a sneak peek from my Pinterest storyboard.

Darlene

Celebrating the Cool Dads today!

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026 darlenedeluca Uncategorized Books, contemporary romance, cool dads, dad, family, Father's Day

Can you imagine being introduced to parenting when your kid is sixteen? Talk about trial by fire! That’s exactly what happens to Matt in Unexpected Legacy. He learns he has a sixteen-year-old son after the kid is seriously injured in a car accident. The mom has long-since checked out, and the grandparents who raised the boy are overwhelmed. What Brady needs, they decide, is a dad. They turn to Matt for help. And what a guy – he steps up to the plate and gives it a shot without even knowing the rules of the game.

He may have missed his son’s first baby step, but he’s there for him when he takes his first step on an artificial limb. In admirable fashion, Matt takes on the challenge and turns the focus of his life to gaining his son’s trust and respect while helping him regain his self-esteem and recover from the trauma of the accident. You’ll be cheering along with Matt when he finally gets to hear that one word he’s been waiting for from Brady’s lips – Dad.

Or how about suddenly having to worry that your dad is a chick magnet or the target of a scheme to invest in a local research project? That’s what happens to Megan, the heroine in Meetings of Chance, when her mother dies, and her grief-stricken father is befriended by a questionable new neighbor. And when Dad gets the flirtatious attentions of a bank employee? Well, that’s a little awkward.

Megan’s grieving, too. Plus she has the added stress of caring for her dad, their home and the business without her mother who was also her partner. Trying to protect her father, Megan sees threat all around her. Sheesh. Who wants to babysit their dad?

This is the perfect time to read about some awesome dads. And Happy Father’s Day to them all!

Darlene

Last Day — Don’t Miss Out!

March 7, 2026 darlenedeluca Books, This and That, What's New good books, on sale, Painted Dreams, Smashwords, sweet romance

Hey, readers! Happy weekend! Just a heads-up: Today is the final day of the Smashwords Read an Ebook Sale. It’s a great opportunity to find new authors and get hundred of books at discount prices! Join the fun and stock up! You might as well get ready for summer and pick up a few beach reads! 🙂

My newest romance, PAINTED DREAMS, is on sale for 99 cents!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1816549

Happy Reading to all!

Darlene

Life on the Lake–stories of community

March 6, 2026 darlenedeluca Guests book excerpt, guest author, lake life, Liz Flaherty, Pieces of Blue, writing

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting author Liz Flaherty to the blog. Liz writes engaging stories of life on the lake full of small-town charm, friendship and community. Enjoy this peek at her newest book, “Pieces of Blue.” Welcome, Liz!

Pieces of Blue and Why I Write Lake Stories

I think I could release an anthology entitled Liz Flaherty’s Lake Stories. I’ve written a bunch of them. Three Harlequin Heartwarmings took place on Lake Miniagua. The three-book New Season series was set at Cooper Lake on the edge of Fallen Soldier, Pennsylvania. Banjo Creek (not a lake!) ran through Life’s too Short for White Walls. The Girls of Tonsil Lake wasn’t really set at the lake, but we spent some time there anyway, remembering how the Girls grew up, and then they went to an island off Maine for a long girlfriend vacation.

I’ve never lived on a lake, although I’ve camped near them. I don’t know how to swim. I love visiting friends who do live on lakes or who, like my friend Nan Reinhardt, have cottages where they spend soul-saving time.

But one day my husband and I meandered to small, rural Town Lake, just south of Akron, Indiana, turning around at the end of the dead end road that gives access to it. That visit gave me Harper Loch. Not everything in Pieces of Blue happens there—there are only 86 people on the lake, one store, one church, and one beauty salon, after all—but Placer, the town closest to it, strongly resembles Akron.

Akron is where my doctor’s office is, where I go to church, where two of my nieces live, where I used to sit at the drugstore counter and drink a small coke and talk to friends. My first bra and many pairs of stockings came from Eber’s Five & Ten. The town has a great 4^th of July parade and a pretty little park like the one you’ll read about in Maggie’s story. Kristy’s Hometown Bar & Grill is a real—and delicious—place to go.

As I’ve wandered through this post, I think I figured out why I use lake settings so often. It is for the sense of community so many people find in them. Nan and her husband and friends look after each other. They have a good time. That’s what happens with Harper Loch’s residents, too.

I hope you enjoy meeting them in Pieces of Blue.

Life comes in shades of blue…

Self-imposed loner, Maggie North, has worked for bestselling author Trilby Winterroad her entire adult life, starting as simply his assistant and ending up as his ghost writer. Through ups and downs–including a divorce from an abusive husband–he has been the one person on whom she could always rely. So when Trilby dies suddenly, Maggie finds herself adrift, not sure what she’ll do or where she belongs in the world any longer. And the confusion continues when she discovers he’s not only left her his beloved dachshund, Chloe, but a house she knew nothing about, on a lake she’s never heard of.

It only takes one visit for Maggie to fall in love with both the house and the small lakeside community. The longer she’s there, the safer she feels and the more her life begins to expand…as do her feelings toward her friend and Trilby’s attorney, Sam Eldridge.

But is she really safe? Or are the glistening pieces of her new life about to shatter as an old danger returns?

Excerpt:

I think I’m more all right than I’ve been in years, which I feel bad thinking so close to the time of Trilby’s dying, but I also know about honeymoon periods. I understand that I’m enthralled by the newness of the Burl specifically and Harper Loch in general, but I would tire of the smallness soon enough if I stayed. I’d mind having to drive a half hour to find the ingredients I want for a recipe that falls outside the norm of rural central Michigan. I’d miss Muskegon’s library and its parks and going to the Black Dog with Ellie. I’d miss Ellie, too, and Sam.

I had to admit, though, that it was fun seeing them here. I’d loved discovering Placer with Ellie, and Sam fit into this house as if he belonged here.

Maybe he did.

“So, tell me about the Burl,” I requested. “My mind’s been busy enough that it’s kept my curiosity on the back burner. But you know this house, the lake, some of the people here. How is it that in all the years we’ve known each other, you’ve never mentioned Harper Loch?”

“We’ve known each other, but only in relation to Trilby. You were his assistant, I was his lawyer, and we both loved him. Although you and I saw each other enough that we became friends, we leaned more toward just being acquaintances. Sometimes it was strictly professional, too. I was your lawyer. You helped my office staff sometimes if they were swamped.”

I was unexpectedly hurt by being thought of as a mere acquaintance, but he was right. I frowned at him. “You’re not answering my question.” Realizing I sounded grumpy and he couldn’t possibly know why, I stretched my hand across the table. “Hello. My name’s Maggie North. I’d like to be friends.”

When he took my hand, I understood what I’d read in romance novels about frissons—isn’t that a cool word?—of feeling going right up my arm. I’d read a few where that particular shudder of feeling was an open invitation into bed. That wasn’t happening, but still…a frisson is a frisson and I was going to enjoy it. And remember it.

Bio: Liz Flaherty has spent the past several years enjoying not working a day job, making terrible crafts, and writing stories in which the people aren’t young, brilliant, or even beautiful. She’s decided (and has to re-decide most every day) that the definition of success is having a good time. Along with her husband of lo, these many years, kids, grands, friends, and the occasional cat, she’s doing just that. Find her on Facebook or her blog, Window Over the Sink. A girl just can’t have too many friends! https://linktr.ee/lizflaherty

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Liz. Loved meeting the cast of “Pieces of Blue!” I’ve never lived on a lake either, but I know people who do, and I enjoy their peaceful photos of dreamy sunsets and beautiful nature scenes.

Happy reading, everyone!

Darlene

Find “Pieces of Blue”

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0ixtBrUq

D2d: https://books2read.com/u/491qMp

A Fond Farewell to an old “friend!”

February 27, 2026 darlenedeluca This and That, Uncategorized a fond farewell, a great ride, change happens, new car, on the road, starting over

I’m getting a cool new car today. Well, new to me. It’s a few years old. Most people think that’s a glad occasion. Woo-hoo! A new car!

I suppose I should be excited, smiling, happy. But I’m sad. I’ve been driving my current car for a long time. It’s just a few months shy of twenty years old. My now-married son was only ten years old when I upgraded from a minivan to a Lexus RX350.

*Me back in the day driving the RX from the showroom! How time flies!*

It’s been a great run. It’s been a great car. It fits me. I can see out of it. It’s comfy. It has all the features I need – most significantly, an arm rest that moves WITH THE SEAT. No humongous center console. It has a place for my purse between the two front seats. It has lovely light gray interior. It has heated seats and a CD player for my personal music combinations.

Maybe I’ll get used to the big console that makes me feel a little penned in. I’m sure I can learn how to load a playlist with the bluetooth technology. I suppose the driver assist camera will come in handy. In the summer, ventilated seats will be nice (except there’s that black steering wheel). The new car also has pretty gray interior, so that’s a plus. In my opinion, it’s the most attractive car on the market today. It has the required get-up-and-go.

But I’m going to miss the car that’s been part of my identity for so long! That car has taken my kids to school, carried their sports gear and musical instruments. Taken them to band camp and tennis tournaments in other cities. It’s taken them to school hundreds of miles away. It’s carried us miles and miles on some awesome road trips. It’s been to some amazing places like Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. It’s driven across Kansas to the mountains of Colorado dozens of times. It’s gone from Texas to Michigan and from L.A. to New York. Taken us year after year to holiday gatherings and family vacations.

So why am I getting a new car?

It’s traveled the roads for 268,000 miles. The last year was tough on it. Some inconsiderate jerk in a big blue truck hit it in a parking lot (there was a witness who let me know, but she didn’t get the license plate number). The hubs had a little fender bender when changing lanes a few months ago. Black tape on the dash is hiding a few cracks and missing bits of material. There’s a little rust spot above one of the back wheels that’s starting to eat through the metal.

Those are cosmetic, and though annoying, not really deal breakers. But we’ve kept a tray of cat little under the car to catch little leaks for a few years now—the multi-thousand-dollar fix not really justifiable. The slow leak was something to be checked at every service interval. But a few months ago, things took a turn. The alternator failed. More leaking. The cost to fix all the leaks running into the thousands. We paid for a “Band-Aid” fix to get me by until we were ready to get serious about a new car. Well, I’m not ready, but it’s time. I’m starting to feel nervous about getting stranded on the highway. I need to feel confident in driving distances by myself.

If anyone works for Lexus or knows a designer there, please pass this along. I would’ve bought a new one just like mine in a heartbeat. But they’ve changed the style so drastically, the new models aren’t even close. They’re big and chunky. They have hard lines with sharp angles that look angry. Couldn’t do it. While the reliability is solid, I like a softer look. And the car needs to fit in my garage!

So today, I say a fond farewell to a companion that I’ve relied on for nearly twenty years. I remember the good times and wish there could’ve been more!

Happy weekend!

Darlene

A Secret Recipe of Danger, Deception, and Desire…

January 27, 2026January 26, 2026 darlenedeluca A Writer's Life, Guests Darlene Fredette, guest blog, new release, Romance Mystery, Secret Recipe, small town romance

Hello, Readers!

Isn’t that a great headline?! Grab a beverage, curl up in a favorite spot, and keep reading to see what it’s all about! Today, I’m happy to host author Darlene Fredette on the blog.

Darlene is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction that celebrates resilience, romance, and the small-town magic woven into ordinary days. Step inside her world for heartfelt stories, character-driven moments, a touch of charm, wit, twists, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning the page. Residing on Canada’s scenic Atlantic Coast, where summers are too short and winters too long, she finds inspiration from family, nature, and the quiet moments that ignite the imagination, and enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and two oversized, loveable dogs.

Today, she’s celebrating the release of her new novel, SECRET RECIPE. It’s Book Four in her Redford Falls Series.

Here’s a peek:

Jess Robinson is desperate for a fresh start, but an unexpected call drags her back into the dangerous world she thought she’d escaped. With a missing bag of stolen jewels at stake, Jess must execute the perfect con.

Between two jobs and family obligations, firefighter Travis Cooper is stretched too thin. The last thing he needs is an unqualified baker who stirs up more questions than answers. Something about Jess feels familiar, and while Travis is drawn to her, he’s convinced she’s hiding more than a few secrets.

As drama simmers and danger closes in, Jess and Travis are caught in a game where every move could cost them everything.

I love this awkward will-they-or-won’t-they moment in the story when the characters aren’t sure where they stand:

Travis pulled Jess into a hug. She molded perfectly against him. Her soft hair brushed his chin, and her hands warmed his chest where they rested.

Her stare dropped to his lips.

He lowered his head until a loud boom rattled his sanity. He released her and walked to the counter, creating distance. “Congratulations on a job well done.”

Her widened eyes met his, and her cheeks flushed. “Thank you.”

The thunder returned, louder than before.

He shook his head, trying to erase the memory of her in his arms. What got into me? He wasn’t a touchy-feely guy. Hugs were usually reserved for his mother. “Would you like to join me for a bite to eat?” What the…? Did those words just come out of my mouth? “My way of thanking you for a great first week.” More unfiltered words tumbled out.

Jess stuffed her hands into her apron pockets. Her lips formed a tight line. “Sure.”

She accepted? Part of Travis had hoped she’d decline. The other half was elated. He needed time to locate his missing common sense.

“Do you have a restaurant in mind?” she asked.

I’m not thinking. He gripped the counter’s edge. “Have you ever been to Kringle’s Lounge?”

As an author, I can relate to Darlene’s write, edit, put it away, rewrite, edit some more journey. Sometimes, a story needs to percolate. Sometimes, it needs a fresh perspective and some new scenes. Sometimes, a new version captures the magic perfectly!

When Rewriting a Book Feels Like Rediscovering It

There’s a moment in every writer’s journey when a story you thought you knew suddenly surprises you. That’s what happened when I sat down to rewrite Secret Recipe. I expected revisions, sure. Maybe a few tweaks, a few new scenes, and perhaps a deeper look at Jess’s past. What I didn’t expect was how hard it would be to unspool a story I’d already told and stitch it back together.

Rewriting turned out to be far more challenging than writing the original draft. Some days it felt like wrestling with a ghost of the book that used to be. But somewhere in that messy, complicated process, something magical happened. The more I pushed through the difficult parts, the more the new version revealed itself. And now that it’s finished, I’m genuinely in love with how it turned out. The struggle was worth it. The story is stronger, and Jess is stronger.

Sometimes rewriting isn’t just revising a book. It’s rediscovering it and remembering why you wrote it in the first place.

Exactly! Thanks for sharing with us today, Darlene. Always fun to get insight into an author’s process and to discover new books! Congratulations and best wishes on the new release!

Happy reading, everyone!