For the Love of Winter 2 Romance Anthology

 

Book 

For the Love of Winter 2

Publisher

First Coast Romance Writers

Publication Date

September 24, 2024

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/3ASUIBq

Pre-Order price:

$3.99

Genre

Holiday Romance (varying heat levels and sub-genres)

ASIN

B0DD2KBMVN

Book Blurb

Warm your heart with nine enchanting tales of love. From historical winter celebrations to modern sizzling New Year's Eve encounters, this anthology spans sweet to spicy romance across different eras and realms. Whether you prefer gentle courtship or steamy embraces, this collection has something for every romance reader.

Mistletoe Magic, by Leah Miles: A holiday romance rekindles when Navy SEAL Michael Rodriguez runs into his old flame, Nora Geller, and invites her to his family gathering. Will they mend old wounds and find love again, or will misunderstandings leave their hearts out in the cold?

Happily Ever After, Take Two, by Sara Walker: Will Dino and Hilde's second chance love overcome family doubts and past mistakes for a lifetime of happiness?

Love Under the Cold Moon, by Vanessa Kilmer: A headstrong Celtic woman and a reluctant Roman heir clash and connect in an arranged marriage during the Alpine winter festivals of 193 AD.

Finding a Date for Christmas by Vickey Wollan: Joan’s going to a Christmas gala and hires Mack on Rent-A-Date. If he reveals his secret, will he get a second date? Can two lonely hearts find romance in time for Christmas?

Snowbound Hearts, by C.L. Hart: When a divorced couple ends up stuck in a snowbound lodge in the Sierra Nevada mountains, it could either be the worst Christmas ever or a second chance to make things right.

A Fluffy White Christmas - A Tail of Love, by Sally Murphy: Can a half-starved stray dog help a lonely woman open up her frozen heart to a new love this Christmas?

Maiya’s New Year’s Wish, by Marie Morton: Maiya Collins finds herself swept into an unexpected holiday romance in the sun-kissed paradise of St. Croix. Yet, a misunderstanding threatens to shatter her dreams. As the New Year's countdown approaches, she must confront her doubts. Can love prevail, or will her island romance become another broken resolution?

The Naughty List Nightmare, by Erika Kilmer Freidley: Love, traditions, and a mythical menace collide as Thea and Bash get involved in a festive fight to save Pittsburgh's children.

Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Edgar: Cinderella made her own gown and found her Prince Charming, but will they get their fairy tale ending?

Don’t miss your chance to purchase this collection while it is available.

Proceeds benefit First Coast Romance Writers, an independent non-profit organization that helps writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the publishing industry.

Story Blurb

When Marta Benscoter gets stuck in a snowbound lodge with her ex-husband and his energetic assistant, she prepares for the worst Christmas ever.

Marta is proud of Adam's recovery from alcohol addiction. He is back to being the man she fell in love with. Giving him another chance is tempting. However, memories of the events leading to their divorce fill her with doubt.

Can Marta and Adam move beyond their past, or is a tenuous friendship all they can hope for?

Excerpt

Enter Adam

Although Adam Benscoter's hair had grayed significantly, he still looked the part of the handsome college quarterback he had been when Marta first met him a lifetime ago. She felt a warmth rising within her, which quickly cooled when she looked at his sidepiece. The tall young Asian woman was about twenty years younger than Adam. Her long, wavy hair was dyed amaranth, and she was dressed in a light coral coat that was entirely inappropriate for the climate.

“Whoo, I’m so glad to be out of that storm!” the young woman proclaimed. “You were a boss on that road, Ad-Man!”

“At least this one looks like she’s been out of high school for more than two years,” Marta muttered under her breath. “I’m so glad we never had any children. Imagine having someone your own age as your stepmother.”

“Hi there, Ladies, I’m Clara Wola,” the young woman introduced herself, extending a friendly hand. “Since it appears we'll be spending lots of time together, we might as well get to know each other.”

“Hi Clara, I’m Ophrah Pololáník. Oh goodness, your hands are so cold! Miss Tia, could we have a hot chocolate over here for this young lady?”

“Dear Ophrah, always the mother hen,” Adam said kindly.

“Wait—you two know each other?” Clara asked.

“Yes, and he knows me too,” Marta said coldly. “Hello, Clara, I’m Marta Benscoter, your—what is he to you, Dear?”

“He’s my boss,” Clara said, a puzzled expression on her face. “But we’ve also become good friends since he hired me six years ago.”

“We’re going to make our partnership official when we get back to Diamond Bar,” Adam said with a grin. “Then she can finally stop calling me Boss.”

“Well, that’s generous of you,” Marta quipped. “I hate to rain on your parade, Ms. Wola, but even if you aren’t officially marrying Saint Adam, I hope you’ve spoken to an attorney about protecting your interests in the event of an eventual dissolution of your partnership.”

“It’s not a romantic partnership; it’s purely business,” Clara corrected. “I’ve been Adam’s assistant at Cloud Limited since getting my doctorate from Oceanside Tech. You must be the ex-wife he won’t talk about. It seems like you two need to iron some things out.”

About the Author

C. L. Hart is an editor who writes or a writer who edits. She primarily writes Lovecraftian fantasy and horror with the occasional sweet romance thrown in to upset the cosmic apple cart. This is her second year participating in the annual For the Love of Winter anthology from First Coast Romance Writers. She is a member of ACES Editing Society, The Denver Horror Collective, First Coast Romance Writers, The H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, Passionate Ink (writing as Lil DeVille), Regency Romance Writers, and Rocky Mountain Romance Writers.

Author Links

https://naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

Top 6 Summer Activities

 

Summer is in full swing. It’s time for some fun. First we need a cool and refreshing adult beverage to help you cool off on a hot day. You can make it ahead and enjoy whenever you like.

 

Summer Slush

 

Ingredients:

1 – 12 oz can of frozen orange juice

1 – 12 oz can of frozen lemonade

¾ cup of sugar

5 cups of water

2 cups of vodka

 

In large freezer proof container, mix in order given and freeze.

Serve ½ glass of slush with 7 up or ginger ale.

 

 

Now that you have your drink, here are a few suggestions to help you enjoy some summer fun.

 

1. Have a picnic. Eating outside is always preferable to eating indoors (as long as the mosquitos aren’t around). Treat yourself. Enjoy fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, fried chicken, pasta salad or whatever you desire. If it’s you and your honey, throw in a bottle of wine and make it a romantic evening. If it’s raining, spread a blanket and some pillows on the living room floor and make your fun indoors.

 

2. Try a new recipe one night a week. Get your family involved and all of you take turns choosing. They don’t have to be complex recipes—unless you’re so inclined. Keep it simple and fun. Fire up the grill if you have one.

 

3.  Dessert night! I’m sure you’re seeing a theme here. Spend a day baking some tasty treats and enjoy. Or recreate a traditional English tea, complete with scones and cream.

 

4. Have a movie marathon day. Pick a movie series, load up on snacks, and watch them back-to-back. Lord of the Rings, Die Hard, Bourne Identity, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mummy. There are plenty to choose from. Or have a theme movie day—Disney, horror, comedy. Or binge a series on Netflix.

 

5. Take a walk or a drive somewhere different. Doesn’t have to be far. We all tend to be creatures of habit and take the same routes or go to the same places.

 

6. Read a book. Take yourself out to the backyard, the balcony, the beach, or walk to a park and enjoy a few hours.

 

And if you’re looking for something to read, you might want to check out the Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology. The great thing about an anthology is the stories are shorter and you can sample a variety of authors. There’s something for everyone!

 

Inside Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, you’ll find stories by some of the hottest romance writers out there for readers who crave mysterious, enigmatic men and women who may not be who they claim to be. Perhaps they’re the new next-door neighbor with a secret mission, an alien from a far-away galaxy looking for his fated mate, or a spy trying to catch a foreign agent. Whatever their secrets, intrigue and passion follow…

 

My contribution is Perfect Stranger – An undercover DEA agent must keep his identity secret from the woman he’s falling for, a woman he’s also investigating.

 

Coming July 30^th. Preorder your copy today.

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5SQ4P2P/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-identities-delilah-devlin/1145674531

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/secret-identities-8

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

                   

Visit me at:

Website: http://www.njwalters.com

Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com

Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

 

 

Love and Terror – conquering a new writing challenge #amwriting #romance #love #horror

The past year has been a weird one for me. I got the dreaded plague and then it went long and kept revisiting me in so many unpleasant ways. Even when I wasn’t stuck in bed coughing, my brain was kind of fuzzy and my energy stayed low, so writing long fiction had to go on the back burner for a while. I figured out how to write short chapbooks of poetry that told stories. I wrote longer epic journey poems that told their own story, and I also started writing flash fiction (super short) and short stories. I branched out from paranormal romance to dystopian, science fiction, and horror. Writing shorter pieces was easier on my fuzzy, struggling brain. Shorter work felt less overwhelming but writing something other than romance or poetry definitely took me outside my comfort zone. There was one recent challenge I almost gave up on.

A fellow author put out a request for horror stories for a Halloween horror anthology she wanted to create. The caveat? Each story needed a steamy scene. I couldn’t wrap my head around putting love and horror in the same story. Since I didn’t want to write a random spicy scene between characters that hated each other nor did I want one of my characters to fall victim to a villain or unredeemable demon or monster, I gave up on trying to write the short story, but a week before the deadline, I got an idea.

When my main character finds herself at an enchanted carnival gone wrong, she has to decide whether to trust the tall, enigmatic man who could be a part of the carnival or part of the solution. Despite her grief at losing her two best friends and her impending divorce, Anne-Marie finds she’s tougher than she realized. If she and Luke work together, they might just make it out alive.

I wrote the short story in a week. It may not be what the anthology creator was looking for. It may need too much editing to be considered for that particular anthology. I might sit down at the computer in a week or a month and make the short story a longer story or edit the hell out of it and send it someplace else. The point is, I did something that I didn’t think I could. And for everybody who is facing challenges, trying new things, or just trying in general, that’s all we can do is keep going and keep trying.

If you’d like to follow me on social media for my latest book information and excerpts, poems, contest info, book recommendations, and other fun stuff, you can find me at:

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-lynn-lambert

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/christinalynnlambert

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chris4lamb

Wordpress: https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com

 

Valentine's Day and Scary Stories #flashfiction #anthologies #stories #horror

Love is in the air. Valentine’s Day is coming. Stores everywhere are bursting with candy hearts, bouquets of bright flowers, and sweet cards that speak about love—both the new and exhilarating kind of love as well as the enduring, rock-steady kind of love that withstands all the obstacles of an unkind world. I adore flowers, hearts, and a good love story, but I also enjoy warped, scary stories. Recently, I decided to write a few science fiction and horror short stories. Writing shorter things felt like an insurmountable challenge at first, but after a few months of failed attempts, I got the hang of it.

I have a super short horror story, entitled Dinner for my Sisters, in the new anthology, Flash of the Dead: Requiem. My story begins as evening descends on Meadow Street in Richmond, Virginia. If you’re looking for something scary after being bombarded with the hearts and flowers that seem to be everywhere in early February, you can read Dinner for my Sisters, along with several other terrifying tales, in Wicked Shadow Press’ anthology, Flash of the Dead: Requiem.

Purchase Links:

Paperback: https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/flash-of-the-dead-requiem/paperback/product-w44697d.html

Epub: https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/flash-of-the-dead-requiem/ebook/product-9554nwj.html

 

About Christina Lynn Lambert

I write romance novels, science fiction, horror, and poetry. My stories and poems are about fighting for change, the beauty of nature, and trying to find the good moments in life. I have published five spicy paranormal romance novels and have essays and poems published in different anthologies, blogs, and magazines such as The Mandarin Magazine and Querencia Press. I live in beautiful Virginia with my family.

 

 

If you’d like to follow me on social media for my latest book information and excerpts, poems, contest info, book recommendations, and other fun stuff, you can find me at:

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-lynn-lambert

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/christinalynnlambert

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chris4lamb

Wordpress: https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com

New year, second chances

 In a new year, we sometimes don’t think it means going back for a second dip at love where that love didn’t succeed before. But really, starting over doesn’t always mean starting fresh and brand new. Sometimes it means seeing things from a new perspective, starting over with a new life and new opportunities. That’s the premise of the book Desire Me Again, an anthology from Black Velvet Seductions. This collection includes stories from Annabel Allan, Patricia Elliott, R.M. Olivia, Carol Schoenig, Virginia Wallace, Gibby Campbell, me (Dee S. Knight), Alice Renaud, Jan Selbourne, Zia Westfield. While they don’t take place on New Year, they all represent a new beginning with an old love. Enjoy!

Blurb:
The hopeless romantic believes that a soulmate exists for each of us. That there is one person who makes us feel how good it is to love them. For some couples, things trigger them to push that love away. They find out too late they’ve lost true-love. Sometimes genuine love deserves a second-chance at the happy ending that eluded them the first time.

In Second Chance, Sandy Henderson had been a sweet, wholesome girl in her first year of college, sure of herself and totally in love with her high school sweetheart, Tom Pritchard. Then something happened that shattered her dreams, her confidence, her will to live. When she meets Tom again many years later, she resists taking a chance on love because of her secret, but Tom won’t give up on her. On them. Or will he, once she tells him about her past?

Buy link:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GRZDDD4/

Excerpt:
“Tom,” Mrs. Henderson exclaimed. Like everyone he knew in their town, she stretched the one-syllable word into two. Tah-um. Until he’d joined the Corps he didn’t really know what people meant when they talked about southern accents. Now he considered the soft consonants and extended vowels charming. Part of being home.

 Glancing over her shoulder, Tom saw Sandy stick her head around the kitchen wall. “Hey,” he called out to her. Then concentrating on her mother, he held out a bouquet. “These are for you, Mrs. Henderson.”

She flushed like a schoolgirl when she took the flowers. “How did you know that tulips are my favorite?”

 He hadn’t.  He’d asked the florist to put together something cheerful that an older lady might like. He hoped the brightly colored blooms might bring a smile to Sandy, too.

“Just a guess,” he answered.

 “Come in, come in,” Mrs. Henderson backed up and held the door wide.

 He stepped into a living room that had seen very little change in the last two decades. It was neat but held a slight whiff of shabbiness. Mrs. Henderson would probably call it comfortable rather than shabby. Tom wondered what Sandy thought of it.

Finally, the woman in question emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. The night was warm and she looked as though she’d just finished doing dishes. Her hair was damp and stuck to her forehead, and a light sheen of sweat clung to her cheeks. His groin tightened when he noticed that her shorts hugged her hips and her sleeveless blouse was slightly dampened, too, showing her white bra through the thin fabric. His mind filled with ways he could make her body slick with sweat, the ways he could make her much more than warm.

 “I know I said we should try to get together before I leave, but I didn’t actually mean tonight.”

 “I’m sorry to barge in, but I wanted to ask you to dinner tomorrow night.” Before Sandy could form “No, thank you,” as her lips where shaping up to do, he interjected, “And your mom, too.”

 Her mother’s eyes widened and she slapped the hand holding the tulips to her chest. “Oh, my! Sandra, we have a beau!”

Sandy smiled. Then she turned to him. “I don’t know. We have so much to do here.”

“Sandra, please. It will be so much fun. I haven’t had dinner out since your father last took me, and that’s been…at least three years.” She turned to Tom. “Could we go to that cafeteria up on the highway?”

 Tom laughed. “We can go anywhere you want.”

 Mrs. Henderson snapped her head back toward Sandy. He knew the minute Sandy gave in. Her shoulders slumped slightly, but she smiled at her mother. “If Tom is willing to make every other man in town jealous by escorting the lovely Henderson women out to dinner, who am I to stand in his way?”

 

Reviews:

“Wonderful, diverse writing styles make the Desire Me Again Anthology a must read. Each story gets five stars from me.”

“Most of these short stories had such heart, I couldn't help wanting more.”

“Lots of great sexy stories. Traded reading off w/ my girlfriend. Let's just say it worked for us! ;)
Fun. Recommend.”

A little about me:
A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.

 After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity. Sign up for my newsletter and have access to free reads.

 Author links:

Website: https://nomadauthors.com

Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/h8t2y6

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749

Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K

 

 

Anthology Opportunity for Authors of Steamy and Erotic Romance

 

Image by cromaconceptovisual from Pixabay

This is a fantastic opportunity for authors of hot romance to showcase their work while raising funds for a great cause. 

https://passionateink.org/passionate-ink-anthology/

When I shared this opportunity with one of the writers groups I belong to, one of the members expressed concerns. I can assure you that Passionate Ink is a legitimate organization. They are a chapter of Romance Writers of America. The $45 annual membership dues are not a buy-in for participation in the anthology, although you do have to be a member to submit a story for potential publication. However, the dues also cover multiple free and low-cost workshops throughout the year and opportunities to interact with fellow authors, such as the word sprint I participated in this morning. This is my second year of membership, and I have never seen any sketchy or suspect behavior. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a member of Passionate Ink's board of directors. I am not an employee. I do not receive any sort of kickback for sharing this information. I am simply, dare I say, PASSIONATE about this chance to spread the lusty gospel of Lil DeVille's spicy storytelling while raising money for a good cause.

Proceeds from the anthology will benefit ProLiteracy. You can follow the link to learn more.

http://proliteracy.org/

To be clear, authors will not receive payment for participating in this anthology. What you will receive is exposure (or, as my son calls it, social currency) and the chance to contribute to a great cause. You will also learn a lot about the process of publishing and promoting a story. Overall, it is a fantastic experience.

This year's theme is enemies to lovers and the story must contain an element relating to literacy. I'm already throwing ingredients in my steaming literary brew for this year's torrid tale. If you think you might like to join me, follow the link at the start of the post. It's going to be a great time!

Love,

Lil