As one dream fades, will another take shape?

Today’s the day!! After more than a year of writing, editing, and revising, Painted Dreams is available for your reading pleasure. 🙂

This sweet contemporary romance kicks off a series (Art from the Heart) that features artists and characters who work in art-related fields–talented painters, flashy jewelry designers, serious art dealers, hunky craftsmen, and more!

Bright City Lights or Rugged Rocky Mountains…

Is a long-distance romance destined to fizzle in the busy-ness of day-to-day life? For Kat, Facetime is a poor substitute for Nick’s warm embrace, the spontaneous squeeze of his hand, and shared moments. Will someone have to “give” to make this work?

–Excerpt:

“I’m going to miss you,” Nick whispered against her hair.

“I’ll miss you, too. Call me when you get home, okay?”

“Will do.” His lips met hers, and she closed her eyes, basking in the warmth.

Moments later, he stepped onto the airport shuttle. As suddenly as he’d popped into her life, he was gone again. With a chilly wind stinging her cheeks, she waved. The cold seeped into her veins. Already, winter felt more bleak and gray without Nick’s warm hands and electric smile. She watched the van drive away and wondered, given their long-distance situation, had they just ended something or started something?

Book Boyfriend ready to wrap you in all the feels…

Nick Summers = sweet dreams

–Excerpt:

Kat stopped short. Her mother sat at the long mahogany table nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with a handsome man in a black dress shirt and tie. His shirtsleeves were pushed up, revealing muscular arms. Kat was momentarily flustered as those gorgeous eyes locked onto hers.

Her mother began gathering papers, prompting Nick Summers to do the same. “Why don’t I take these with me and draw up some ideas for you to look at?”

Kat stared at him. She’d never heard such a distinctive voice—velvety rich and commanding. The kind of voice you’d recognize immediately. Interesting…

…Time to do a little research and see what the internet could reveal about the intriguing Nick Summers.

Only took a few seconds to discover he had a social media presence but didn’t post much. Still, what was there presented a nice glimpse. In one photo, he was hoisting lumber on his shoulder and wearing a Habitat for Humanity shirt. As she scrolled down, another photo stopped her. Looked like Nick and his family—mom, dad and maybe a sister on a hike. Another of them picnicking beside a creek. Normal family activities. Nick’s wide smile indicated enjoyment if not joy.

Moving on to other search results, Kat discovered Nick’s name in numerous news articles. She had no idea what the different letters behind his name meant. But it was obvious the man worked hard and participated in the arts community. By all accounts, Nick Summers appeared to be a local hero.

Painted Dreams

Katlyn Andrews is a talented artist on her way to fulfilling a dream—her own show at a New York City gallery. Focused on her career, she’s ditched her hometown of Denver for the bright lights of the Big Apple. When she’s drawn back to check on her beloved grandmother, she finds a surprise—Nick Summers, a woodworker bidding on a job at her parents’ upscale home. Nick’s gorgeous smile and easy-going manner charm Kat. Too bad he lives in Colorado.

Nick adores the mountains of Colorado, but NYC is on his radar. He’s auditioning to be a guest host on a home-builders network there. Since that’s a long shot, he’s still pounding the pavement closer to home to secure jobs like the high-end Andrews project. Meeting his client’s intriguing daughter has his thoughts going in other directions. Too bad she lives in New York.

But distance can’t dim their undeniable attraction. Unfortunately, it turns out dreams can be shattered. While Nick’s career is on an upward trajectory, Kat’s unexpectedly takes a big hit. Devastated, she struggles to find a path forward. Nick fears her family’s status and wealth keep her from seeing reality—is she reaching for the stars before paying her dues?

In her heart, Kat knows he’s wrong about her…but could her heart be wrong about him?

Get your copy at all the usual online retailers today! Happy Reading to all!

Darlene

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/painted-dreams/id6749023069

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/painted-dreams-darlene-deluca/1147882921?ean=2940181700840

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/painted-dreams-5

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJNJXGWT/

Warning: this book may cause heart palpitations, nail biting or shortness of breath!

A book release is always exciting. Today I’m shouting about Dangerous Descent, a new release from one of my awesome and talented critique partners, Evie Jacobs.

But first, let me introduce the author: Evie Jacobs is a word nerd. As a child, she read constantly. And when she wasn’t reading, she was writing. Not much has changed. By day she works in a library surrounded by books, and by night she writes steamy action/adventure romance. She lives in Colorado with her husband, two cats, and six bicycles.

Her new book is an action-packed romance that will have your heart beating for more than one reason—don’t let down your guard!

Pilot Elise Hughes left the family business in the Florida Keys and now flies the rich and powerful to and from the Rocky Mountains. When she has to execute a by-the-book emergency landing, it’s no big deal. But being stranded in a small town with her handsome new colleague is something else entirely.

Obsessed with getting justice for his murdered father, undercover FBI agent Eric Erickson believes retribution is finally within reach. Until things get complicated. And dangerous. And he’s forced to face a few too many realities—including Elise’s connection to a well-known crime boss.

After Elise is kidnapped by the same man who took Eric’s father, he has a choice to make—find Elise or exact revenge. Meanwhile she has a choice of her own—trust the dangerous family she never knew she had or the man who’s been lying to her from the start.

Fellow word nerds, enjoy this peek inside Dangerous Descent:

Set-Up: Elise is a pilot for a charter company. A mechanical issue forced her and her partner, Eric, to make an unscheduled stop in a small Nebraska town. The pilots, along with the passengers, are spending the night in the town’s only motel as they await the repair. She and Eric just gave in to the physical attraction for one another, but before things went too far, she pulled away and stepped outside.

Oh. My. God.

Elise gripped a fistful of hair on each side of her head and paced in an agitated circle, all the while, her pelvis throbbed with need. What the hell just happened? Surely, she’d hallucinated that entire encounter, because otherwise, it didn’t make any sense. One minute she was talking about Dad and trying not to cry. In the next, she was inviting Eric to sit beside her on the bed.

His hands. His kisses. His musky cologne. All of her rules about getting involved with colleagues? Forgotten. Her disappointment in the male half of the species? Irrelevant. Because in that moment, he was the only thing she wanted.

Her muscles tightened, locking up as if she’d just run a marathon. But then, her body relaxed, the tension evaporating like sweat on a dry Colorado day. She’d not been the only one in that room. Eric had also been affected. She’d felt the evidence pressing against her leg.

She took a calming breath and gazed at the stars. Since her dad’s death, she’d cut ties and avoided attachments. The rift in her relationship with her brothers. Old friends she’d avoided or lost touch with. Better to shut people out than take the chance they’d leave too. Now, for the first time in a long time, she actually craved the safety and intimacy of another person.

She inhaled and let the night air fill her lungs.

Looking at the sky grounded her. She’d seen similar views from the cockpit of a plane but couldn’t remember having ever seen the stars so clearly with two feet still on the ground. A peaceful calmness washed over her.

A couple more minutes and maybe she’d be able to face him without turning an unflattering shade of red. Unlikely. Still, he deserved an explanation for the way she’d rushed from the room. She could go with the obvious and tell him it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with a coworker, but she suspected he’d see through that lie. The truth was, she wasn’t prepared to deal with something quite so real.

The trees surrounding the motel shook. Elise shuddered. Was it the cool breeze or her creepy surroundings? She drew her arms close and strolled to the other end of the building. Rounding the corner, she collided with what felt like a tank.

Nicky.

Warm, calloused hands gripped her upper arms, stopping her in place. “What are you doing out here? You look cold.” His voice sounded polite, but his tone held an edge. A shadow fell across his face. Why had she never noticed his heavy brow or those fleshy jowls? Something about the man projected danger. Feeling silly, she shook her head. These were her customers. No, they weren’t friends, but she knew them. They were kind and generous. She’d let Eric’s mention of the mob get to her.

She tried to retreat, but he didn’t release her. The pounding of her heart beat out a slow, heavy rhythm against her chest. She felt a sheen of sweat on her forehead. “I came out for some fresh air. I’m about to go back to my room.” She tried to step away from the big man.

His grip tightened. “I was on my way to get you. Mr. Alario wants to have a word.”

“Is it about the plane?” She glanced at his hands, still jabbing into her soft flesh. Her pulse throbbed beneath his thick fingers. “There’s not much to report. The repair shouldn’t take long, but they have to get the part.” Her voice sounded louder, shriller than she’d intended. She turned, longing to be back in the safety of Eric’s embrace.

“Where do you think you’re going?” He still held one arm. “I said the boss wants to see you.”

The boss? Internal alarm bells wailed. Something wasn’t right. “It’s chilly. Let me grab my sweatshirt.”

He shook his head, placed his hand on her shoulder and guided her to the back of the motel. Her gaze swept the area. No one to help. Nowhere to go. Scream. The words wouldn’t come. She dug in her feet, but the momentum of his push resulted in short, halting steps.

Think. The situation required calmness. “What does Mr. Alario want to talk about?”

“He’s in Rocco’s room.”

A couple of inadequate light fixtures attached to the building cast shadows. The trees groaned and the leaves whispered. A wild screech cut the air. An owl?

Nicky rapped on the door. Christopher opened it and smiled in that familiar way. Happy, friendly Christopher. She relaxed. It’s fine. She’d let her imagination get the best of her.

When she stepped inside the room, Nicky herded her among the other men. Her heart raced as she rotated, scanning each of the angry faces.

Thanks for sharing with us today, Evie, and congratulations on the birth of your new book!

Happy reading to all!

Darlene

How to find Evie and your copy of Dangerous Descent:

website: https://www.eviejacobsauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eviejacobsauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692483183

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/evie-jacobs

Welcome to Redford Falls!

Hi, everyone!

Today, I’m happy to host author Darlene Fredette, a fellow Wild Rose Press author. She’s in the middle of launching a four-book series of sweet contemporary romances that take place in . . . Redford Falls, of course!

Darlene resides on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short and the winters are too long. An avid reader since childhood, Darlene loved to develop the many stories coming to life in her head. She writes contemporary romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners. When not working on her next book, she can be found with her husband, her daughter, and her yellow Labrador. Darlene’s favourite pastime is taking summer day-trips to the Valley to soak in the small-town feel.

Thanks for hanging out on my blog today, Darlene. Wishing you all the best with the stories of Redford Falls!

Here’s a peek at the series:

His Candy Christmas ~ A Redford Falls Story ~ Book 1

It’s going to take more than a few pieces of chocolate to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer. Luckily Candy has a whole shop full.

perf5.000x8.000.inddCandice Cane is not proud of the way she acted after her last encounter with Jackson Frost. Sure revenge was fun, but now Jackson is angry and looking for answers, and standing on the welcome mat in her chocolate shop. Now he’s after some revenge of his own.

Jackson returned to his small hometown for one reason and one reason only. So, he’s not sure how he ended up in a Santa suit in the middle of a chocolate shop, at the behest of its beautiful owner, instead of high-tailing it back to the city as fast as he can.

Kissed By Winter ~ A Redford Falls Story ~ Book 2

perf5.000x8.000.inddShe’s been on a flight from hell for over eight hours, lost four hours of daylight, and arrived in temperatures twenty degrees lower than accustomed to. Disliking winter for a reason she refuses to discuss, Danielle Lerato would rather be anywhere than in Redford Falls. She needs to get the job done and return home before getting caught up in the small town’s charm—and the arms of the handsome, brown-eyed restaurant owner.

Andrew Bailey’s first encounter with the buttery blonde didn’t go so well, and he well-remembers the chill of the glass of water she dumped over his head. Now, nine months later, a raging storm drops Danielle back into his life. She’s determined to leave, but he’ll do whatever it takes to convince her to fall in love with Redford Falls…and him.

Under The Apple Blossoms ~ A Redford Falls Story ~ Book 3

A tragic accident tore them apart. She left him behind and broke his heart. Is he strong enough to risk it again?

perf5.000x8.000.inddPolice officer, Tyler Kringle, keeps his heart locked behind bars. His first and only love, Maripier Nadeau, left Redford Falls many years ago after a family tragedy. She moved on, leaving him to pick up the shattered pieces of his heart. But now Maripier is home to care for her father and to attend a dedication ceremony in her mother’s honour. Her return rattles Tyler’s cage, causing old emotions to resurface. Once he discovers the truth from the past, can he reclaim the love of his life and lock-down their future before she leaves again?

— Here’s a fun thing: look to the right at the sidebar of Darlene Deluca books and see if you can spot the similarity! 🙂

A Recipe For Forever ~ A Redford Falls Story ~ Book 4

perf5.000x8.000.inddDwindling finances has Jess Robinson running out of options. With a past filled with failures, she longs for a new beginning. Applying for a job she isn’t qualified for may be another crazy mistake, but at this point Jess has nothing to lose.

Juggling two jobs, Travis Cooper has absolutely no time for a relationship and isn’t looking for one. But when his mother hires an unqualified baker, he has more to worry about than three-tiered wedding cakes and fighting fires. Will he break his own no-dating-employees rule and make a little room in his life for love?

Book One is now available, and the others are coming between now and the end of the year. Isn’t that great? No waiting a year for a sequel! You can dive right in. Hope you’ll take a look and get to know Darlene! (See links below) Enjoy!

And, as always, happy reading to all!

Darlene

Author Web Site: http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/

Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarleneLF

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarleneLF

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Fredette/e/B005NAF660/

The Wild Rose Press Author Page: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/authors/darlene-fredette

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Fredette/e/B005NAF660/

Amzon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADarlene+Fredette&s=relevancerank&text=Darlene+Fredette&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Darlene%20Fredette%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=Darlene+Fredette

Cover Reveal! Take a peek!

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00031]Ahhhh . . . doesn’t that image make you want to curl your toes in the grass? I’m so excited to share the cover of Barefoot Days, the final novel in my Women of Whitfield small town trilogy! Book three takes readers back to Whitfield and the lives of three women who share a special I’ve-got-your-back friendship.

Barefoot Days is Mary’s story.

Mary Logan believes in the goodness of people. She believes in grace under pressure. But when the ugliness of human nature touches her family, and a series of seismic events shake up her world, she’s put to the test again and again.

She and her husband are supposed to be enjoying the benefits of early retirement. Their nest is empty. It’s time to travel and re-focus. It’s their time. Then an alarming diagnosis and an unexpected announcement from their daughter change everything. Facing the possibility of heart-wrenching loss, Mary finds herself breaking commitments, forcing smiles, and keeping secrets.

Until now, her cup has always been half full. Will a positive outlook be enough to withstand the challenges ahead?

Though final edits are still under way, you can pre-order your digital copy of Barefoot Days now! Release date for both ebook and paperback is April 21, 2017.

Happy reading!