Snowedin with a Good Series

Like most of the eastern United States I’ve spent the last few weeks buried in ice and snow. Thankfully we never lost power, or had to deal with any major consequences of the storm, like house damage or frozen pipes. Instead we got a few extra days at home, cuddled up against the cold and world outside.

And like many others affected by this massive storm, I wanted to spend those days reading. But instead of reading a new book, and exploring a new world, nothing says comfort to me, like reading a great book I already know I love. So I thought I’d share my favorite series to reread. If I’ve had a bad day, need a pick me up, or just wants to escape, these series will give me exactly what I need.

Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove series is my ultimate comfort read. I stumbled upon the series almost two decades ago and I don’t think I’ve gone a year since without reading one of these books. The stories take place in a quiet town in regency England where upper class women can go to hide from the prying eyes of the ton. Everyone of the women that inhabit this world are strong, and unique, and I can’t help loving everyone of them.

Just thinking about Meghan March’s, Mount Trilogy has my heart all fluttery. I’m not sure there is a hero written that I love more than Lachlan Mount. He’s everything I love in a hero. He’s spent years alone. He cares deeply. He lives by his own code, to protect and defend those that need it. And he’s willing to do anything (and I do mean anything) for his woman. He’s definitely on the darker side, but that only makes it all the sweeter what he is willing to do for love. Whenever I need a pick me up, I always turn to this series, especially the twist at the end of book one.

Just like Spindle cover, The Brother’s Sinister Series by Courtney Milan shows a different side of historical romance by focusing on stories of women who are strong, complete, with their own interests and desires beyond marriage, whether that be chess or science or newspaper editing. Not a spicy as most of the other books on list, the stories that Courtney creates are amazing. And also show such a different side of history than we are used to seeing in romance, from interracial couples, to medical practices, the trauma of war and mental health disorders.

The Bishop Landing books are exactly the kind of books I love to escape into. They are exciting, filled with the uber wealthy that live by their own set of rules, and are sexy as hell. I love all the Morrelli’s, but the Beast of Bishop Landing are my favorite of the series. Maybe it’s the beauty and the beast retelling aspect, maybe it’s the bookish heroine, or the sexy scene in a library, but whatever the reason, this is always one of the series I turn to when an escape from real life. Which let’s be honest, I’ve needed a lot lately.

I love to read new books. To explore new worlds, new characters and new stories. But sometimes you just need a nice comforting read to escape into. A world you know, a story you know will satisfy everything you are looking for. And I can’t think of a better time to indulge in one of those worlds than trapped at home in the snowstorm.

So what are your comfort reads? Any books you keep coming back to over and over?

An Anniversary Worth Celebrating

I still can't completely believe that this last Christmas Eve marks the fifteenth anniversary of my first book, Naughty List, being published. Its insane to think about how long ago that was, or how much has happened since. I've moved to two different states. I've bought multiple properties. I've had multiple evil day jobs. I've survived a global pandemic. And the biggest change of all, I've become a mom.

And the publishing world has changed almost as dramatically since that time too. When I first published we were in the golden age of ebooks, spurred on by Fifty Shades of Gray and the kindle explosion, epublishers and self-publishing were booming. People couldn't get enough spicy books. And I happily got to join along on that ride. I enjoyed the benefits of everyone falling in love with smut books at the same time as I was. It was a great time to be starting out. So many people were excited and eager to join in, to help, to support each other. 

Over time the industry has changed. Some changes I really love. I love all the different books that are out there. Back when I first started publishing, the big publishers were still in charge of what books were being published, even self-publishing. Not directly, but we were still all getting our cues from the big guys. We really believed to be successful, we had to stay in their box. But so many amazing authors have proven that's not true. I don't know anyone back in those early days that would have thought to write a book where the main character falls in love with a priest, or a planet of horned six foot tall blue men, but Sierra Simone and Ruby Dixon have shown us there is a home for any kind of book, if the characters are amazing and the writing fantastic.  

But on the downside of these changes, there are more demands on authors than ever before. No longer can being with a good publisher, and just having that shelf space in the bookstore or on the digital shelves be enough. You need to be everywhere, do everything, just on the chance that you'll find the readers that love you. Its made it harder for authors, and for readers. 

I used to buy everything that Samhain published, because I knew everyone of their books would be fantastic. Now it takes me more work to find the authors I love. But when I do, its the best feeling ever. And with social media it feels like the book world has become more segregated. I love booktok and bookstagram, but it can often wish I could see more of the book world. I'm convinced there are so many amazing books and authors out there that I would love, if the algorithm would just reveal them to me. 

But regardless, it is still an industry I am proud to be a part of. And always will be. No matter what difficulties might be thrown in its way, an industry for women by women always rises to the top. The romance world is always at the forefront. Learning new things, embracing new concepts, showing the publishing world how its done. I've never met a more hardworking, determined, fun, creative, amazing group of women than I have in the romance community.

My life also looks completely different now than it did back then, except for one thing. My love of reading and books has never left me. Even now, when I'm more sleep deprived than I've ever been before, I still find time to read. I still love books.  

And I can't wait to see what the next fifteen years will bring me. And this amazing industry. If the last fifteen years have taught me anything, its that I couldn't possibly predict all the changes, opportunities and excitement that will be coming our way. And that is fine with me

In Defense of Hallmark Movies

You would probably think I’m not the biggest fan of hallmark movies. As a super spicy writer, you’d probably think I have no interest in the squeaky clean hallmark channel. And you’re not completely wrong.

I don’t spend a lot of time watching hallmark movies. Especially with everything I have going on in my life these days. If I have a little free time, I’d much rather read a spicy book. Or enjoy some good old-fashioned reality tv, like Real Housewives or Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I do have issues with the paper thin characters they create, and lack of character growth. I can’t stand the romances that end with an engagement, when they’ve only known each other for one week and only had one kiss. I’m not saying they need to get down and dirty like my books, but a little more time together before committing their life together feels necessary to me.

But regardless of all these complaints about hallmark movies, I will happily defend them. I’ll battle to the end of the earth for people to give them their due. Because Hallmark movies are no different than the entire romance industry. They are media created by women, for women’s enjoyment, and should be taken seriously as that. 

It’s so easy to mock media for women. To make fun of hallmark movies for their sappiness, romance novels for their spice, reality tv for its constructed pretenses. But how is that any different than any other media. How is The Kardashian any more produced than Survivor or The Amazing Race. They both have producers that decided where they story should go, that encourage the participants to speak out or act a certain way. The only difference I see is that the Kardashian’s is almost entirely about women, where these other shows are not. How are hallmark movies any more tropey or over the top than wrestling, with their staged fights and over the top characters. Once again, it’s the viewers that are different. The participants that change.

And it is for that reason that I will defend hallmark movies every day, even though I don’t watch them much myself. Because media focused on women, and their desires deserves to be valued. To be seen as much a part of the landscape of our television as any other programming. 

So this season, if you want to watch some Hallmark to enjoy the magic of the season, go for it. Embrace what you enjoy. Don’t feel shame. Don’t degrade it. Don’t justify it. Just savor it. Because media developed for and enjoyed by women is rare, and that alone deserves to be celebrated. 

And if you’re looking for something a little spicier than a Hallmark movie, but still filled with all that Christmas cheer, take a look at my Frostbite Falls Christmas Ball series. It’s filled with all the same joy and a whole bunch of the hijinks—only every one of my ladies gets to take two men home for the holidays.

Every Day Should Be A Holiday--and Discounted to 99 cents

Almost fifteen years ago when I first started writing the Naughty Holiday List series I had no idea what I was doing. I'd read a bunch of what we now call smutty books (back then the more common term was erotic romance), I'd written one (Wandering off the Path, which would not be published for a few years after this series started) and I knew I had a fun idea with tons of possibilities. As a devoted romance reader, I knew I loved series, and that other readers did too. And that was about all the knowledge I had when I wrote the first book in this series. 

A good idea. A dream. Enough knowledge to be dangerous, but not enough to realize I had no clue what I was getting myself into. 

I read a submission request for Christmas stories, and the idea just came to me (this happens to me a lot), and I quickly wrote a fun little story featuring a girl, her four best friends, and the lists they all created to bring love into their lives. 

I had no clue if the first book would ever get published (which was published by Cobblestone Press titled Naughty List). I didn't know if anyone would read it. But I was still naive enough to think I could write a whole series of women finding the man of their dreams using lists. It was only after writing Naughty List that I decided all the characters would use their lists at different holidays. And in different ways. (I also thought I would write the whole series in one year, which I definitely didn't do. I had no idea back then how long it would take to not just write a book but five). 

When I started out I didn't even know what holidays would feature in these stories. I started with the big hits. Christmas. New Years Eve. Valentine's Day. All popular holidays, perfect for romance. And I found the perfect stories for those special days. But that all changed with Foolish Desire. None of the remaining popular holidays really worked for the story I wanted to tell for Amy. She was shy, scared, stuck in her own shell. Drinking green beer or watching fireworks wouldn't change any of that.

That's when I thought to try an untraditional holiday. The type of holiday that is rarely written about. And probably seen even less in romance novels. April Fool's Day. 

And that changed everything about this series. It opened up new and different holidays to explore. New possibilities, not just for this book but for the final book in the series, Dirty Work, which was set on Labor Day. Holidays that aren't know for their romance, but had so much great untapped potential. It might be one of the things I love most about this series.

Before writing this book I'd never read a April Fool's holiday romance, but even now, after writing my own, I don't know why I haven't seen more. If every day can be a romantic, why not April Fool's? And if a mix up with a Christmas email, or a Halloween costume, can be the beginning of a beautiful romance, why not an April Fool's Prank gone wrong? Which is exactly what happens to Amy and Will. 

April Fools offered so much potential for romance, especially romantic comedy. All the hijinks that could occur, all the misunderstandings that could take place and lead to so much more. Without the cheesy music, crowded restaurants, or family meddling of the other holidays.

Just thinking about it makes me want to write a whole new series. Filled with even more obscure holidays, and even more delicious romances. Or maybe one where they are all set on April Fools. The ideas are endless. Because everyday is a great day romance. 

And for the next three days, on the anniversary of its original release, Foolish Desire is only $0.99 on bookstrand.com. There was never a better time to pick up a romance set on an untraditional, but so appropriate holiday, than right now. And that is no joke.

Buy Link: https://www.bookstrand.com/foolish-desire

Blurb : Amy Spear has never felt special. She’s shy, awkward, and clumsy to boot. No one ever noticed her, especially not hunky guys like Will, except for maybe when she was tripping over her own feet. Until an April Fools' prank goes too far, and for the first time Amy is the center of Will’s interest, and she's rather liking the arrangement. But does he want all of her, or just the woman who likes getting naughty to an audience?

Will Long has always been a joke. And he never minded playing the jester to a tee, until he met Amy. She’s far too sweet, too innocent, too serious for a guy like him. But when his April Fools' prank shows him a whole new side of Amy, he can’t pretend to look away any longer. But can a fool like Will keep a girl like Amy? Or will he end up being the butt of his own joke?

Expanding My Stories through Journaling

On and off I’ve done journaling for my mental health. It was recommended by a therapist years ago, I have found it really helpful, especially when I’m dealing with a big decision or a difficult situation.

Something about the action of physically writing my thoughts on real paper allows me to think more clearly (at least for me, it has to be real pen and paper for it to work, I don’t know why but I’m sure there’s a psychological reason). I find writing down my concerns, my questions, or my fears forces my brain to think different than just ruminating or even talking a decision through does. Something about sitting alone with a journal and my thoughts, no one else’s judgements or concerns to consider, allows my mind a freedom and exploration I can’t find another way.

Even though I’ve found journaling therapeutic and helpful for making decisions over the years, I never considered applying the same process to my writing. The idea just never crossed my mind. Not until I was watching a YouTube video by Sarra Canon where she mentioned she used journaling for her plotting process.

At first I was a little confused how journaling could help my writing. Sure, I could sit down and write about my story, and the magic of the pen and paper was bound to do something, but what exactly was I going to write about in this journal. How would it be different than just sitting down at my desk and putting my fingers on the keyboard. 

But when I got stuck on my current story, I was a little desperate to find a solution.

Just like almost every story I’ve started for the last several years, I began writing this new story propelled by the excitement of a great idea, until I hit an impenetrable brick wall at about twenty thousand words.

As a writer my process is a little different than most. I’ve heard it described as inspiration writer, or stitching writer. I don’t write starting at the beginning and work my way to the end. I write whatever scene I am currently excited about. That could be the first, last, or any in between. I start with what I know, no matter where it falls in the story, and let the characters take me from there. Usually while I’m writing what I already know, the next part of the story will just unfold for me. The characters will show me more of who they are. And the next steps in the journey become clear.

But lately that hasn’t been happening. Instead, once I get to the end of what I can see of the story, all that’s beyond it is murky darkness. So out of desperation to get some clarity on my next steps with this story, I decided to give journaling a try.

I sat down with my pen and paper and wrote down all the questions I had about my current work in process. I listed all the holes that I needed filled in, and hoped that by writing them down, my mind might see these road blocks a different way. That it might find a solution I hadn’t considered yet.

Amazingly it worked. When I wrote down the concerns I had, the problems I’d found, the inconsistencies I needed to fix, ideas started to come to me. Solutions I had never considered before but that added fantastic complexity to my plot, twists that deepened my character’s goals and motivations. Giving me another way to access my story and to explore this new world I was so enamored with.

Unfortunately, these new discoveries have led to a lot of rewriting. But it’s more than worth it for the new twists and turns the story has taken. And the character depth I’m adding. For the first time in years, I have written more than 50,000 words on my latest work in process, the furthest I’ve been able to write on one story in more than two years. And there’s a lot of territory to still explore in this world.

After giving journaling on my writing a try, I’m a convert. I will definitely be doing it again. I’ve even designated a new journal just for tinkering with ideas, to find new twists and turns to add even more excitement to my story, and delve deeper into my characters. If you’re struggling with your writing, or looking for a way to delve deeper into your characters and your plot, consider pulling out a journal and writing down your concerns and questions, and seeing where your mind travels. Who knows what you might discover in the pages of your journal? It just might be the addition you’ve always been looking for.

Doing More with the Same Time

As the mom of a toddler, I’m always looking for ways to get more done in the day. There is just never enough time to complete everything on my to do list, and also spend some time on what I love. And it feels like my writing is always what gets put on the back burner.

In an attempt to try and find more time for the things I want to accomplish, I started tracking how I spent my time. I hoped by tracking how I use my free hours of the day, I might be able to figure out where I could find space that might have been overlooked. Or where I was wasting too much time. If I wanted to find more time in the day, it only made sense to me that I would first have to determine where my time was going.

But when I started tracking my time I noticed a few interesting things. Not in how I use my time (though the amount of time I spend scrolling YouTube and Instagram is a little scary) but how the act of tracking my activities changed my behavior. 

First, I noticed just by tracking my time that I spent less doing things that I viewed as unnecessary (watching tv, scrolling Instagram, messaging with family and friends, etc…). Once I started writing down where I spent my time, and thereby forced myself to be accountable for what I was doing, that was a deterrent in itself. I didn’t want to have to write down that I spent the last half hour scrolling social media with nothing to show for it, so before the half hour was up I would try to find at least one productive thing I could accomplish. Giving me another label to assign that half hour. This gave me a built-in motivation to do more, without having to apply any other techniques or willpower.

The other change I noticed was that simple act of tracking my time forced me to see every minute as valuable.

For simplicity, I classified each half hour under one of four designations. Work, Writing, Promotion, and Personal.

Once I designated a half hour to any of these labels, my analyst brain told me I had to use that whole half hour for activities related to that category. For the purposes of data integrity. The process of tracking time is cumbersome enough, I didn’t need to add tracking fractions to the process.

If I finished a task before the end of the half hour, I would naturally try to find another task to do in that same classification for the remaining time. If I finished the dishes with ten minutes left in my half hour block, I would look around for what else I could do to fill that time. Could I take out the trash, clean the toilet, pack my son’s snacks for daycare, etc... in those ten remaining minutes, thereby forcing myself to use every available minute in that half hour. And by doing this every half hour, by the end of the day, I had found I had packed much more into the same amount of time.

Even if it meant small movements. Even if I only had three minutes, that might be enough to put the books I’d been planning to donate into the trunk of my car. Which gets me one step closer to getting them to their end destination. If I’d finished writing a blog with five minutes to spare, I could use that five minutes to brainstorm new ideas or find pictures to accompany a future blog. This small trick encouraged me to use every available moment, and helping me get even more done in the same amount of time. Inching me closer to my goals.

I’m not sure if this tip would work for everyone. Maybe it’s just a trick of my crazy brain. A side effect of years spent analyzing data, and focusing on creating like comparison. But for any others out there, looking for ways to make more out of the precious time we have, maybe it would work for you too.

If you are struggling to get it all done, to figure how you can get more done in the same limited amount of time, consider tracking what you do with your time each day. This might help you see where you are missing time, or where your processes can be improved. But you might also gain the ability to push yourself to do more in the time you have, to make every minute count, just from the simple act of tracking how you spend your time. Just as I have.

Submission Rejections can be Acceptance Successes

I’ve always loved a submission call. They have a way of triggering my muse and bringing ideas to the surface of my mind in a way I never would have otherwise. I think the timeline appeals to me too. It can be easy when writing, especially something long like a book, to just keep picking, and tweaking forever. Having a defined end date for completing a project pushes me to finish and focus.

I’ve written books for many different submission calls over the years. Some have been selected for the collaboration, like Menage on the Rocks and Working for Him. And some that have not. But I have never regretted writing any of them. I love the way my mind can take an idea and it can send me off in one direction, and someone else might take that same submission call and go in the exact opposite direction. That’s one of the things I love about writing. There is not one right way to do it. We all bring our own experiences to the table, our own passions and insights, and each of us can create something exciting with it. 

And most of the books that I have been rejected from submission calls I have been able find a different home for. Some with a great deal more editing. None were ever a loss. No good story is.

Here are a few of my books that were written for a submission call, that they weren’t selected for it, but found a wonderful home somewhere else.

Wandering Off the Path was the first ever erotic romance I ever wrote. I had just discovered this up and coming genre, and began reading and exploring as many as I could. I found a few my way to the websites for a few of the publishers whose books I enjoyed and discovered a submission call for Fairytales Retold. Why it caused me to think of Red Riding Hood, I don’t know, but the story suddenly took on a very sexy energy to me. A man—or wolf—creeping into your house at night, sneaking into your bed…

Not surprisingly, since it was my first attempt at the genre, it didn’t get selected. And I understand why. When I read over the old drafts now, I see a lot of the mistakes I made. A lot of the areas I needed to improve. And I did. The book was eventually accepted by a different, but equally lovely publisher. But I also got the freedom to turn the story into a series (something that might not have been possible if it had been selected for the original anthology). I have two more books written in this series, and I hope to have them published very soon. And who knows, I might get an idea for a fourth.

Through one of my writer lists, I got the notification that a magazine was looking for quickies. Sexy stories that would fit in under a very low word count. I though the idea was a nice challenge. Write a story with lots of sexual tension and intrigue, but make it snappy. And I liked the idea of being in a magazine. At the time, I was yet to have a story in print.

I don’t know why (the muse is a fickle girl) but my mind immediately thought up a sexy historical story. And considering the story was a quickie, I imagined my characters having a quickie too. But instead of the clandestine meeting of a man and a woman, it was of two women, trying to cram a little love into their evening undressing. And that’s how Serving Madame was born.

But alas, I could not get the story down to the word count needed for the publisher. The editor and I went back and forth a few times, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t cut it down to a low enough number to qualify without sacrificing the tone. So I found another publisher to publish it. And I even go the idea for a sequel, Monsieur’s turn, where Madame’s husband gets a chance to join in on the fun.

Unfortunately, both stories are currently out of print, but I will be trying to do something about that soon.

Reunion Makes Three started with a very simple idea. A publisher was looking for books featuring characters filling their fantasies for one night. Whatever those fantasies were. When I thought of what kind of fantasy my characters would enjoy, the idea was very simple to me. A full out sexcapade with two men (would you really expect anything different from me). And that’s exactly what I wrote. Along with three characters that desperately needed the escape. And a mysterious fantasies fulfilling service that allows them to find it.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work for that submission call for whatever reason, and it found its way to Siren Publishing instead. But because it changed hands, I was able to write a sequel to the story, and expand the world and town featured in the story in both books.

I always intended to write more books in the series. And maybe I will someday. But for right now, I truly enjoy the two books I did write. And the fantasies that all my characters got to fulfill, at exactly the right time in their lives.

And today, in honor of the anniversary of its release, Reunion Makes Three is available for only $0.99 at bookstrand.com. If you have not read this story, or experienced the magic of the Fantasies Fulfilled service, now is the best time to give it a try.

Buy Link: Reunion Makes Three (MMF) - BookStrand | Bestselling Erotic Romance eBooks

Blurb: Beth Lewis has always had a fantasy to be with two men who also want each other. For her birthday, her sister gifts her with a subscription to Fantasies Fulfilled, an exclusive online service to help connect people with the same desires. After losing her job and her fiancé, she deserves a little fun and to live out a dream that's been tempting her since high school.

Since his reunion invitation arrived, Dell Harrison hasn't been able to stop thinking about his high school sweetheart, Beth. When he and his live-in boyfriend Marcos Vitagliano receive a mysterious invitation to participate in the exclusive Fantasies Fulfilled services, they decide to add a woman to their dynamic duo. What Dell couldn’t have guessed is that the woman they connect with is the same woman who's haunted him since graduation.

Will Marcos be able to accept Beth in their bed and their lives? Or will adding an old flame to their couple turn their duo into a crowd?

Celebrate Love Year Round

Many romance authors, and readers, don’t like Valentine’s Day, and I am definitely one of them. It’s not the holiday itself that I have issues with. I love the idea of a day devoted to love. I’m a loveaholic. I wouldn’t write and almost exclusively read these kind of stories, if I didn’t love love. Its more how the world perceives the romance industry, especially on February 14th, that I don’t like.

During this month there will be a hundred new articles put out, discussing why people love romance, is it good for you, is it bad for you, does it set unrealistic expectations, is it empowering, it’s enough to make me want to pull my hair out. While some of the articles are can be interesting and even insightful, most are more demeaning and annoying than offer any real value.

Even more infuriating are the bookstores, that suddenly realize that romance exists on February first, even though it is one of the bestselling genres all year long. They pull out romance novels, almost all with red and soft sweet pink covers and feature them prominently in the store, as if no one could find the romance section on their own if they wanted a sweet valentine’s day read. I know it is all meant in good fun, and it is nice to see romance books highlighted in a bookstore, but it would be nice to see them get their praise more than a few weeks a year.

If you’re like me, and Valentine’s Day has become tainted for you, here are a few other holidays that you can celebrate focused on love, but without all the pomp of that other holiday.

Earth Day/Arbor Day – Instead of just focusing on your love for one person, how about love for the entire world. Show some love for our planet. Instead of giving flowers or chocolates, plant a tree with your sweetie. The privacy and shade it offers might be a great places to get frisky.

Fourth of July – Instead of seeing fireworks from a kiss, witness the real thing. Celebrate your love surrounded by fireworks, hot dogs and usually some good drinks. Its everything that a great date can offer without any chalky candy hearts or singing teddy bears.

National Loving Day (July 22) – This day celebrates the supreme court verdict in Loving verse the state of Virginia, and the beauty of interracial relationships. I can’t think of a better day to celebrate love, then in honor of a couple who were willing to do anything to be together, even fight the very state they lived in. If that isn’t devotion, I don’t know what is.

International Friendship Day (July 30) – Not all love is romantic love. Friendship is just as important, and for many might be more valuable or longer lasting than romantic love. I can’t think of a day more filled with love, than a day devoted to the people that stand by you through thick and thin, through each first kiss and every subsequent break up.

National Hugging Day (January 21) –There is not better way to show your love than with a good hug. Whether its to a partner, a friend, a family member or just another human that needs some affection and support, hugs really are the international language of love. More than kisses, or dancing, hugs convey love and affection to so many. What could be better than a day celebrating so much caring?

National Love People Day (September 30) – How could a day devoted to loving everyone not be filled with more affection than any other day of the year? Spend the day showing everyone, from the barista at Starbucks, to your coworkers, to your honey, to anyone you meant, show them all the love you have in your heart. Not only will you bring a little more joy into their lives, you might also find your own heart expanded from all the affection you receive in return. Not just from one person, but from everyone.

These are just a few of the holidays you can celebrate this year, if you don’t want to get sucked into the Valentine’s Day craziness but you still want to celebrate love in all its forms. Because who doesn’t want to celebrate all the good things love brings you, all the different types of love in your life, without having to fill your shopping cart with red and pink hearts. I know I do.

And if you do feel like you want to get in that valentine’s mood, check out my book Heart’s Ultimatum, and read how Krista plans to make this Valentine’s Day the best one yet, but her boyfriend James manages to screw it all up, and possibly their whole relationship. It will be only $0.99 from February 14th through February 16th at Bookstrand.com

Buy Link: Heart's Ultimatum (MF) - BookStrand | Bestselling Erotic Romance eBooks

Blurb : Krista Matthews has been in love with James for two years, but he's never mentioned commitment. After she plans him the ultimate naughty Valentine's Day surprise, and he doesn't say those three magical words, she knows it's time to move on.

She may be plushy and curvy, but she still deserves someone who loves her for all she is. Wounded by the past, James Peterson became principal at a new school to escape his mistakes. What he never anticipated was meeting someone as amazing as Krista. She fits him in every way—except her need for a ring. When she dishes out a Valentine's Day ultimatum—give her more or end their relationship—all those old fears come racing back.

Does James have the courage to face his past for the woman he loves? Or will he lose her on principle?

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I’m sure as a reader we’ve all read a story we can’t shake. That series we love, or those characters we can’t get enough of, no matter how much time has passed or how many other great books we have read since. I know I have. Stories we just want more of. That we can’t stop thinking about, long after we’ve read the last page.

As a writer I experience the same with the books I write. I have some characters that I just never want to say goodbye too. Characters and stories I loved so much I continued to think about them, and the twists their lives might take after the story was done. Owned Forever is a book I wrote for precisely that reason. I just loved these characters, and I love the conflict that started in Owned For Christmas so much, I had to see what happened next.

Frostbite Falls is the same.

The idea for Frostbite Falls came to me one random day in January. I’m sure I was still wanting to be in the Christmas spirit, even though the time for Santa and sleigh bells had long passed. A solitary vision of a woman adjusting a red ornament on a tree, quick morphed into an entire exciting world before me. A cast of characters I loved, places I wanted to go, parties I wanted to attend. I even developed recipes and cocktails that fit the Annual Christmas Ball’s theme. For a whole year, which is how long it took me to complete all four books, I lived in this small town. Writing and revising these stories. After that long, you would think I was sick of these stories, that I would grow tired of these same places, and people, and be desperate to write something else. But I never did. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Giving inspiration, devotion, love.

Since I finished the original four Frostbite Falls stories, I have conjured up several more stories set in this small town. Some featuring the same characters, some with a whole new generation of stories to tell. I don’t know what it is about this town that I can’t quite shake. If it's just the fun of attending a Christmas Ball (I have to admit I would love to have one of those in my own town), if it’s the great characters that seem to beg for more stories, or if it’s the small town atmosphere where everyone is kind and takes care of each other, that I crave.

This last Nano, I was struggling to write. The words weren’t coming. The characters and their motivations felt too far away to grasp. And once again I found myself heading back to Frostbite Falls. To my old stomping grounds, my happy place, my escape. In only a week I managed to write a whole new story for Frostbite Falls (and winning Nano), the words escaping from my fingers so quickly it was hard to believe. While I haven’t gotten the time to finish that book just yet, being delayed by other projects, I am planning to get it done this year. And if all goes as planned, I hope to be spending another Christmas at the Frostbite Christmas Ball.

But I’d be foolish to believe this would be the end of this series. Or that there ever will be an end for me. Even when I think I’m through with them, when I think I will never be attending another ball, they sneak back up on me. They suck me back in, and right back to town.

And as crazy as it may sound, I hope that’s always true.

And for any that would like to join me in Frostbite Falls the Christmas season, all four of the original books will be discounted to only $0.99 on bookstrand.com, on their anniversary of their releases. Put on your ball gown, twist up your hair and throw on your jingle bell pumps to join us at the best Christmas party of the year. And if you’re very lucky, maybe you’ll be able to go home with a cowboy or two for Christmas.

Fear, arousal, and a lingering sweetness

The path to love is different for everyone. Some like a gentle, slow burn (sorry, instalove fans!); others prefer a headfirst plunge into the sexy deep end, then the breathless scramble to safety. Others yet crave a special kind of fear—the rush that comes with danger, the thrill of a risky unknown—and the connection that forms through such intensity.

UK author Sonia Palermo explores this arousing kind of fear in the latest book, Scream, Baby, Scream, a dark, high-heat Halloween romance novella that perfectly balances danger, the creeps, and that glowing twist of sweetness that lingers long after the last page.

Sonia was kind enough to answer a few questions in between All The Things in her busy launch schedule. If you’re a long-time fan, I hope you’re as excited as I am to see how her work continues to evolve over the years. For the uninitiated, I hope you enjoy this taste of your next favourite author:

Interview with Sonia Palermo, author of Scream, Baby, Scream

Sonia Palermo writes spicy contemporary, paranormal, and erotic romance. When she’s not immersed in writing, she enjoys cosying up on the sofa with a cup of tea and indulging in a good horror or romance movie. A true beach lover, Sonia finds inspiration along the beautiful south coast of England, where she lives. The serene seaside surroundings bring a touch of real-life magic to her stories. Sonia's work reflects her passions—spooky atmospheres, intense romance, and the charm of everyday moments, inviting readers to discover where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, with a happily ever after guaranteed.

JL: Sonia, your latest book is a right scream. Can you sum it up for us before we dive in?

SONIA: The story centres on Tatum, who attends a Halloween party at a Manor House in Surrey, England. There, she encounters a mysterious figure, who is more than willing to indulge her dangerous desires. As the night unfolds, Tatum realises that another masked figure is watching them. Unsure whether this is part of the game or a real threat, Tatum is drawn into an intense, thrilling encounter that keeps her—and the reader—on edge. The novella promises a steamy, suspenseful ride with a satisfying happily-ever-after.

JL: So, this is a kink story, but it’s not so much about the aesthetics or academics of it. What’s at the heart of this book, as an erotic romance? What thought process led you to such a satisfying twist at the end?

SONIA: I’ve always been intrigued by fearplay, especially since it’s not something I encounter often. Reading Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers earlier this year really inspired me to delve into this theme. I find it fascinating how horror movies and fear can intersect with arousal—there’s something compelling about the mix of danger and desire.

Scream Baby Scream allowed me to explore these darker facets of my psyche in a safe and creative way. I love how reading and writing give us the opportunity to navigate and understand these complex emotions. I don't think I have it in me to write pure smut without feelings. I love exploring human emotion, and honestly, the world is far too shit and depressing not to have a happily ever after! That said, I completely appreciate and admire authors who can do that—I'm just not one of them, unfortunately.

I didn’t know how the book was going to end at first—the plot twist came to me later, and my early drafts didn’t even have an epilogue—so yeah, I was definitely worried about how it would all come together. But this story was so much fun to write that I just went with the flow and let my characters lead the way. I love these characters, and they clearly wanted their happily ever after!

JL: I have to ask … horror and romance? Really? I mean, obviously it works because just look at your book! But creativity draws from the sum total of our experiences, and I’d love to know—how did this combination come about?

SONIA: I’ve always been a huge fan of the Scream franchise and a lover of slashers, horror, and romance in general. Horror and romance are my bread and butter! The suspense, the intense emotions, the exploration of fear and vulnerability, the way tension builds, and that cathartic ending—whether it's survival or a happily ever after—it’s all pure gold to me.

I started my reading journey equally—and somewhat ironically—between horror and romance. Goosebumps and Diary of a Crush were the first books I really connected with, along with Cate Tiernan's Wicca series. Later on, Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey were big influences—I mean, who didn’t start their smut journey there?

Since then, I’ve stayed within the romance genre, exploring different subgenres to find my preferences. My recent reads are a mix of dark, contemporary, and paranormal romance. I especially loved The Words by Ashley Jade, the Losers duet by Harley Laroux, and For the Fans by Nyla K. I’m drawn to stories that explore the human psyche, and I admire authors who dive deep into the complexities of emotion—those books hit that sweet spot for me. I can only aspire to capture a fraction of the emotion they convey.

I started writing at a young age but didn’t take it seriously until I decided to leap into writing and publishing what became my debut novel, Hot Girl Summer (contemporary romance). After its release, I moved on to write Papillon (paranormal romance), which originally started as a short story and eventually became a novella. Now, I’m here with three romances in three different subgenres—and hopefully plenty more to come!

I’ve read (and loved) so many books that combine horror and romance, and I wanted to try it for myself. Writing this story was a way to merge two of my favourite genres and comforts. So, if you enjoy spice with a side of depravity, intense emotions, and a cathartic, satisfying happily ever after, this book is definitely for you!

JL: Publishing can sometimes be an act of courage, especially these days when everyone’s busy AF, surrounded by distractions and, of course, the background effects of cancel culture. Did any of this pose problems during the creative process?

SONIA: Honestly, I didn’t have too many worries while writing this book. The biggest challenge for me was just sticking to my self-made deadline because I'm a pretty slow writer, and this is a seasonal read. So, I had to push myself to make sure everything was done on time, especially while juggling a household and a six-year-old who already acts like a teenager!

But overall, I was pretty chilled about the process. I think having a clear deadline and staying organised helped me push through, even if it meant balancing writing with the usual chaos of life.

JL: In a hundred years time, if a literature study group analysed Scream Baby Scream, what would you like them to think about your book, about you as an author, or about the times we live in?

SONIA: I’d love for people to look back and see that this was an empowering time for women. I want my books to inspire women to take agency over their lives, to feel liberated and unafraid to ask for what they want and deserve – without shame or judgement. Through books, women are given the power to explore and embrace their desires. In 100 years, I hope people see this era as a positive turning point, where women reclaimed their power and lived freely.

JL: And, now that your book is out in the wild, what’s next for you?

SONIA: Good question! I’ve got a few projects lined up, depending on which characters decide to take over my brain next. I’m planning to finally dive into a second-chance contemporary romance that’s been swirling in my head since I wrote Hot Girl Summer. After that, it’s onto a contemporary enemies-to-lovers step-siblings novella, and then another contemporary project that’s still just a spark of an idea right now—so nothing set in stone. I’m taking it easy, seeing where the wind blows me, and going from there.

Scream Baby Scream by Sonia Palermo

One night.

One masked stalker.

Two rules.

The only thing I don't expect is the stranger lurking in the shadows, watching as our scene plays out.

As lines blur between pleasure and danger, sanctity and sin, fantasy and reality collide. But when it's time for the night to end, will I be able to walk away, or will my darkest fantasies consume me?

👉 Get this book 👈

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Content Note: Scream Baby Scream is an 18+ MFM erotic romance novella that explores the thin line between ecstasy and fear. This book contains sexual scenes, kink/fetish content, drug use, and strong language. Reader discretion is strongly advised. A full content note can be found in the front matter of the book.

Rewardin’ My Self

For any who have read this blog over the last several years, you know I’m big on goals. I love to set them. I love to achieve them. One might say I’m a little too obsessed with them. I have a tendency to set my aspirations a little too high, which is why I rarely meet them. That’s just how I roll. I know some people find this discouraging, but I believe if you reach for a high goal, even if you don’t make it, you are bound to end up somewhere great.

But as much as I love to make goals, and strive to achieve them, I’m not great at celebrating those achievements. Most years, I set a reward for myself if I ‘win’ Nanowrimo, but I can only think of one instance where I actually bought myself the reward. Last year, I wrote almost 20k in five days because I so desperately wanted the prize I promised myself, and I am still yet to purchase it.

We are now halfway through 2024, and I’m trying to get back onto my goals again. I still have a few things I want to accomplish this year, and I haven’t done nearly as much towards achieving those goals as I would like. So I’ve set up a new system of monitoring and achieving my goals. And with that I selected another round of rewards to gift myself if I achieve these goals. And so far, I’m doing a little better rewarding myself than I have in the past. 

But I’ve only managed to do that by applying these new rules for the prizes that can be awarded and the way that I give myself those gifts.

1. Set prizes I really want. Often I convince myself I want a certain prize for achieving a reward that isn’t what I actually want. And therefore it is not all that motivating. For years I have set rewards for meeting my workout goals that I didn’t really want. Usually I would set a goal of more workout classes, workout clothes, DVDs and music too workout to. These were the type of goals I thought I should get for this goal, but in truth it always felt like a reward of hard work with more work. No thank you. Instead this last month, I am rewarding myself with money towards house purchases. Things I want to buy, but always convince myself I don’t really need. Nothing to do with working out at all. Turns out I find getting a new mirror for my bathroom, or a milk frothier just because I’d like it, is far more motivating than new workout gear or yoga classes could ever be.

2. Make them frivolous. I tend to be a very frugal person. I don’t really like to buy things, and often convince myself I don’t need anything. Which is all well and good most of the time, but when it comes to being motived, the practical doesn’t do it. To find something that will encourage me to push that extra mile it has to be something I wouldn’t normally buy myself. Something a little extra, and frivolous. And making these rewards all the more special.

3. Immediately gratification. One of the issues I’ve had in the past is that I often forced myself to wait to receive a reward I’ve earned. Sometimes it’s because I’m waiting for the reward to be available, but most often it’s just because it doesn’t seem crucial. I’ll put off getting a reward, thinking that I can just get it later. But when I put off receiving that prize, not only do I not get the serotonin spike for achieving the goal, but I often convince myself it’s been so long since I was supposed to get the reward and I didn’t, so I don’t really need it. For this set of goals, I’m purchasing the rewards (or move money into an account if that is the reward) right after achieving the goal. Minutes after if possible. No doing it later. No thinking about, it which leads to not getting anything. Immediate gratification, and immediate celebration.

These are all the ways I am changing my system to reward myself for what I accomplish. And I hope, that by making these changes, and giving myself the rewards I deserve, it will not only be more motivating to me to complete my goals but also more rewarding. I want to start learning to fulfill the promises that I make to myself, and improve my ability to believe in myself and what I can do.

What tricks do you use to motivate yourself? Do you offer yourself rewards? And if so, what are they? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

Tropes I’d Love to Write Someday

Over the last forty odd years of reading, I found that many authors tend to stick to the same tropes. For some it might be due to the type of stories they write or the genre they are in. It would be very difficult (though not impossible) for a contemporary romance author to write an arranged marriage story or for a fantasy author to write a single dad story. It’s just outside of the norms of their genre. Though I would gladly read both of these stories. For others, I believe they stick to the same tropes because that is just how their brains work. Those are the stories that they are drawn too.

I definitely see the same in my own writing. I often write the same tropes multiple times. My favorites being friends to lovers and second chance romances. Because I write spicier books, I’ve always found having that history between the characters helps me jump to the smutty stuff faster, instead of having to spend a lot of time having to create the relationship between them and the reason they are together. I love how the conflict and tension in these relationships that is there on page one. But even though I have a few tropes I tend to lean towards, as a lifelong romance reader and writer, I have a ton of tropes I’d like to write that I just haven’t found the right story for, or the right characters to entrance me.

Here are some the tropes I haven’t written yet, but I would like to explore one day soon...

Snowed In – This is one of my all time favorite tropes. As a lover of forced proximity romances, and someone who tends to set a lot of my stories in cold places, it’s amazing I haven’t written this trope already. And I have come up with a few ideas, but nothing that I think is worth of the trope.

Amnesia – this trope harkens back to my early early romance reading days, when this trope was a lot more prevalent, especially in the historical romance that were my first romance loves. One bonk on the head and any heroine could rewrite her entire life and find the prince (sometimes literally) of her dreams. Over the years this trope has gone out of favor, I imagine at least partially because of the unrealistic nature (though I always thought that was half the fun), but I’d love to write an amnesia story, maybe with a more modern twist. But as of yet, the story idea hasn’t come to me.

Professor and student – It’s still hard for me to believe I haven’t written a story about a student and professor yet. The first erotic romance, the one that had me enthralled and set me down this crazy career path, was a professor and student story. Nothing like that power dynamic to set all the butterflies loose in your stomach. Which is why I find it so hard to believe a story like this has come to me yet (though I did have a play version in Heart’s Ultimatium). I have no doubt one will. Hopefully very soon. 

Warring Families – as a lover of Romeo and Juliet in my teenage years this has always been a trope I’ve loved. Whether it is with vampire families, mafia families, or just two warring family restaurants, I always love two families that hate each other so much they can’t stand to be in the same room, and the children that fall in love to throw the whole thing on its head. I’d love to write my own version of the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s, but maybe ones that fight over Christmas decorations instead of stolen farm animals. 

True Enemies to Lover – Enemies to Lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I absolutely love reading them. The tension between the characters. That white hot hate, that turns into white hot passion with just the right spark. When done well, it is amazing. But it has to be done well, and with the right characters, the right motivation and the right passion, otherwise you’ll never get that power and passion the reader—and I—crave. And as of yet, no characters that could hate each other that much have come to me. Though I am definitely on the lookout. There’s nothing I would like better than to write some hot hate sex scenes. The idea alone has me excited.

I’m sure there are a few others tropes I’d love to add to my collection, but these are the ones that really tempt me to bring them to life. And I hope I find the right story and the right characters to do soon. These tropes are all so awesome, how could you not want to write and read them all.

Are your favorite tropes included in this list? Do you have another trope you really love you want to see written? Leave it in the comments below and maybe I’ll add it to my list to torture myself with.

The Virgin Trope – Yay or Nay?

The Virgin Trope has always been a part of the romance genre. When I first started reading romance, back in those long ago days, it wasn’t a trope. It was just the truth for most heroines, besides the occasional widow or divorce, all heroines were virgins. Back in those days, I almost exclusively read historicals and I honesty never thought much about it. It made sense to me due to the culture and societal norms of those time periods for the characters to be virgins (though I now see even that as a naïve understanding of history, and not the actual truth of this time periods). Though it wasn’t just the historical heroines that were virgins back then. It was also the contemporary heroines, and the suspense heroines, and the paranormal heroines, regardless that the same cultural reasons did not exist for these heroines.

Even in the early days of erotic romance, a lot more heroines were virgins than would be assume. I still remember reading a book over ten years ago about a virgin wedding planner who makes a bargain with a bad boy to help her lose her virginity, because so many of her bridal clients were asking her questions about what happened on their wedding day and she didn’t have the answers for them (implying most, if not all, of her clients were also virgins).

Thankfully, I believe those days are behind us. As erotic romance or spicy romance has taken over more of the romance section of the bookstore, the virgin heroine has faded more and more into the distance. The virgin trope never completely disappeared, nor do I believe it should. Some stories, some characters, some heroines are virgins, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. And just as with all groups, there is a place for virgin heroines in our romances. Yet the ability for a heroine to be her own person, to have her experiences and not be shamed or demeaned for them, has been refreshing to read. And is much more representative of the real world.

But over the last few years, this trope has been on a comeback. And not just in a little way. With the popularity of dark romance, new virgin tropes are arriving every day. Virgin Auction. Virgin Arranged Marriages. Virgin Bargaining. I understand the reason for the resurgence in these types of heroines, especially in dark romance. These sweet, innocent, virginial heroines are the perfect counterbalance for those dark heroes that want to steal them away from the world. She can bring sweetness and light to his dark world, while he expands hers.

I don’t judge anyone for any trope they enjoy. There are ones that I really enjoy, and others I don’t. But to each their own, but this trope is one I struggle with personally.  Fetishizing the innocent, sweet virgin and there for by contrast demonizing the more experienced woman, is an issue we still have in society. It's one of the reasons women don’t report sexual harassment and sexual assault. It's an area of shame for many women, while a place of pride for men. And a dichotomy I don’t wish to perpetuate.

But I can even understand the appeal this trope. The evil villain tarnishing the good virgin heroine, the dark hero taking what no man has taken before. That can be very enticing, and add another layer of apprehension to the heroine who is already struggling to accept the hero as he is.

Personally, writing a virgin heroine has never truly appealed to me. Of all my books, the only one that includes a virgin character (male or female) is my historical novel, Wandering off the Path. Making Abigail a virgin made sense to me for the time and culture the characters were in, and the type of story it was (which would have been categorized as a dark romance if I published it today). This was also my first ever written erotic romance, which might have been the reason for my naivete in her sexuality as well. But other than that, my characters have always been experienced. At least in one way.

Maybe it’s because I prefer to write strong self-possessed characters, that go after what they want, and in my mind those characters have never been virgins. They certain could be, but that character and story have yet to come to me.

Or it might be because of the age of these virgin characters. Most of these virgin characters are in their late teens, or more common their early twenties. The younger age is an intrinsic part of the trope, leaning into the naïve, innocent girl persona being pursued by a more experienced, and nefarious man. The older I get, the harder it is for me to relate to these younger characters. I love to see the struggles I’m going through represented in my characters, issues with balancing work and family, deciding who you are as you grow older, finding love amongst the chaos of an already full life, those are the types of stories I love. The struggles that I had in my twenties, while being interesting and relatable when I was reading romances in my twenties, many of these stories just don’t appeal to me anymore.

Or maybe it's simply because the character’s sexuality is not an intrinsic part of the character to me. When developing a character or a story, their experience, or lack thereof, is not what I am most focused on. I’m more interested in who they are as a person. Their goals, their motivations, their desires. If they happen to be a virgin, that’s fine, but if not, that’s all the same to me.

That’s not to say that I wouldn’t ever consider writing a virgin character (male or female) for the right story. Or that I wouldn’t read one. With the right story, the right character, and of course amazing writing, I can be enticed into any story and any world. More than anything else, I want to read and write stories about characters that I can relate to and create a connection with, whether that’s because they are going through a similar time in their life, or I can feel their emotions so acutely I can’t help but relate to them, even if their anxiety is because they are locked in the tower of a dark mafia prince and mine comes from being invited to a party.

What do you think? Do you enjoy a virgin trope (either the hero or the heroine)? Do you prefer a character with more experience? Or does it not matter? I’m curious to know what others think about this trope that is quickly and ferociously making a demanding comeback, and most likely will be with us for some time to come.

How to Brainstorm a New Direction

Brainstorming is an important tool for any author. Whenever you are stuck, when you're struggling with your characters, their actions, motivations, or goals, brainstorming can be a great way to get out of that stagnant loop. Or at least get to the bottom of what the problem might be.

As an author, I don’t do a ton of brainstorming. For me, when I’m struggling, writing more is usually the answer for me.  But sometimes, no matter how much you push, no matter how much you try to fight through it, you need to take a break from your regular process to find a new solution.

Here are a few techniques I use to find that new direction the story needs. Or really any time I feel stuck and unable to figure out how to get to that next turn.

1.  Take a walk. This might sound counter intuitive, but its works. I’m always amazed by how many ideas I get while walking. Every time in my life I have been especially creative have always been consistently walking. I’m sure there is a neurological reason for it, extra oxygen pumping to the brain or something like that, but I think it has something to do with your mind having the space to work while the rest of your body is occupied with another tasks. I’ve heard other authors talk about cooking or doing household cleaning to have the same effect. And of course, there is the best idea generator in the world – the shower. I don’t know a single author that hasn’t gotten a dozen great ideas in the shower and wish for oil-based pencils to be able to jot them all down.

2.  Take a nap. Another one that might not sound like the best way to get new ideas, but there is something about letting your subconscious take over for a little while that can create some of the best ideas. Often your brain knows the solution, even if you don’t know it yet. And allowing your subconscious to take a turn at the wheel can open up a whole new world of possibilities.

3.  Ask a friend for help. Another writing friend, or even a friend that reads a lot or watches a lot of movies, can be a great source to get new ideas. Being outside your story and the world you’ve created, they can come up with something you might never have thought of on your own. Also, talking about your ideas out loud, instead of writing them down or just thinking about them, also allows a different part of your brain to enter into the action—just like reading a story out loud allows you to hear and see it differently—and that alone can be enough to start your brain down a different path than before.

4.  Do some stream of consciousness writing. Constantly trying to push an idea to come can only make it harder to find the right solution. Just sitting down and writing whatever comes to mind can unearth ideas you didn’t even realize was hanging out in the back of your consciousness.

5.  Make list of all possibilities without any filter. If you are struggling with a specific plot point or character issue, sitting down to make a list of all the possible ways to solve this problem can be enlightening. Throwing out every possible idea, no matter how crazy or illogical can sometimes lead to ideas you never would have considered before. When we are writing, we often place an unconscious filter on ourselves, limiting the ideas we should consider by what we think is needed or what we think works. But taking the top off our creativity and letting our writing freak flag fly, you’d be amazed by some of the jewels you find.

6.  List the questions you are have. If I’m struggling with a scene, I will list out all the questions I have. What I need to know to move to the next scene. What is making it difficult for me to move on to the next scene. Sometimes writing down my concerns, being very clear about where my difficulty lies, can make it easier to figure out what you need to do to fix it. Having the problem clearly defined, makes it easier to find the solution you need.

7.  Write down what you do know. More often than not you know more about your characters or your story than you realize. When trying to force an idea to form it can be easy to get into the rut of what you don’t know, the questions you are having, fixating on what you are struggling with, but when you start to list out everything you do know it can be surprising the answers you already have. Some you probably knew but needed to be reminded of, but some you probably didn’t even realize. And possibly even a few tidbits that have the answers you need right before you.

8.  Do a tarot card reading. This one might sound a little out there, but I know a lot of authors that use this method to get out of a bind. The randomness of pulling a tarot card and having no idea where it might direct you, can offer up a new idea that you might never have come up with on your own. The idea is just to get the creative juices flowing, and bring in some new out of the box thinking, that might just solve your problem. You can do this with your own deck of tarot cards (which probably makes sense to buy if you use this method a lot) or there are several websites or apps that allow you to do a small tarot card reading digitally. When you are really stuck, sometimes you need an out of the box solution, to find an out of the box idea that just might be perfect for your story.

These are just a few of the ideas I’ve come across over my years of writing on how to brainstorm through a hard spot. I’m sure there are many other strategies, ones I haven’t heard about, but these are few that I have used. And so far, they haven’t steered me wrong.

If you have any other techniques for brainstorming new ideas, I’d love to hear them in the comments below. There is no such thing as too many ways to build the perfect story.

My Top 5 Favorite Valentine's Day Television Episodes

As a romance author it's probably not a big surprise that I love love. I love love stories. I love any romance. If I'm watching an action movie, I want the hero to grab the woman he's been fighting beside and give her a good kiss. If I'm watching a sport, after they make the big goal, I want the player to point to the stands and send a thank you to their significant other in the crowd. 

So it's probably not a big surprise that I love some love in my tv shows. And even more so around this time of year. Here are my favorite Valentine's Day episodes from some of wonderful tv shows and amazing couples that I always go to when I need a little more love in my day.

1. Parks and Recreation "Operation Ann" - In this episode while running a Valentine's Day dance, the Parks and Rec Team also try to find a new beau for Ann. But this is not the part of the episode I love the most. Leslie, as a Valentine's Day gift to Ben, sets up a scavenger hunt all about town. The relationship between the two of them is so sweet, even though they spend most of the episode on their own journeys. And the acceptance and love they have for each other, and exactly who they are, is so beautiful, it makes me love them as a couple even more every time I watch it.

2. The Office "Blood Drive" - While this episode is not as traditionally romantic as some of the others, I love the other side of Valentine's Day that this episode explores. Not the story of an established couple that is having a wonderful night together, or even a couple enjoying the first their Valentine's together, instead this episode shows the other sides of a romance. That excitement and elation over meeting someone new, someone you feel you have a great connection with. And the disappointment when that new possible romance doesn't quite work out. And it has some public nookie as well, which you know I have a soft spot for.

3. The Big Bang Theory "The Valentino Submergence" - With almost all of the Big Bang characters in long committed relationships at this point in the show, this episode is tons of fun. Not only do we get to see all our characters at their most romantic, but they are also their most true to themselves. Instead of planning a big Valentine's celebration, Amy and Sheldon do what they love to do best. Create a special Valentine's Day episode of Fun With Flags. Bernadette and Howard enjoy time at home. And my favorite story line of all is Penny and Leonard, who show when Valentine's Day goes awry (which happens more often than not, in my experience), yet they still have a great time together, even if it only fries and hamburgers in their car, instead of the fancy fine dining experience they planned. 

4. Abbott Elementary "Valentine's Day" - This episode doesn't necessarily show a beautiful romantic gesture or event like some other shows, yet in some ways this episode shows an even more beautiful love story between these characters than it ever could with a date or a dance. While Janine and Gregory aren't in a romantic place in this episode, the gifts they give their significant others and the sweet way they treat them, just shows how truly well matched they are for each other. There is nothing that makes my romantic loving heart go pitter pat more than seeing two people that are clearly meant to be together, yet are separated by circumstance. And this episode, and really the entire tv show, displays that beautifully. I can't wait until these two are finally able to be together, I know it will be so special when they finally make that change. And this episode shows exactly why.

5. Modern Family "My Funky Valentine" - In true Modern Family fashion, every one of the story lines in this episode are hilarious. From Jay and Gloria banter, to Cameron and Mitchell trying to console Manny through his romantic qualms, there are so many reason to laugh. But by far my favorite storyline is Claire and Phil's. As a married couple who have been together for some time, they decide to meet up and pretend to be other people for a little Valentine's adventure. While I probably would have picked spicier characters if I were them (like a naughty student and professor or devilish billionaire and his shy assistant) I love this idea. The fun they have with each other is so wonderful, and shows how much they really love each other and how well suited they are for each other. And of course, running into her dad and his new wife at the very end is so hilarious I want to start laughing just thinking about it. 

If you like some good role playing on Valentine's Day, with a little extra spice, you should check out my book Heart's Ultimatum, that starts out exactly that way. With a little sexy fun between two people that truly love each other, until it all comes tumbling down...

And it will be on sale for only $0.99 from February 14th through the 16th. If you haven't read this book before, and you enjoy role playing, sex in a public place, and a whole lot of vulnerability between two people that love each other, but are struggling to make that love work after too much heart break, this is definitely the book for you. 

Buy Link: Heart's Ultimatum (MF) - BookStrand | Bestselling Erotic Romance eBooks

Hallmark Romances with Extra Spice

Ever since I was a kid I always loved Christmas movies, especially romantic ones. I would watch the same Christmas movies over and over again, swooning over the leads finally finding love, or the spirit of Christmas, or family before the end of the film. There has always been something magical about this time of year to me. It always seemed like a perfect time, where anything could happen. People are nicer, the weather is wonderful (I know its not always a popular opinion but I love snow, and even the cold, especially if I can be cuddled up inside), and there is a sweetness in the air that is probably part cookie, but also at least some part Christmas magic. Looking back its probably not a huge surprise that I ended up writing so many Christmas romances. Maybe it’s a surprise that I haven’t written more (but I’m working on that).

When I was in my teens lifetime and hallmark really started to get involved in the Christmas spirit with their own brand of sappy romantic Christmas movies, we have all come to love and make fun of in equal measure. Probably not surprising, I ate those up too. I loved every one of them, even though the stories weren’t that different and the settings were the same, they were still magically to me and I watched each and every one all season long.

But as I’ve gotten older, the hallmark movies just don’t interest me the way they did as a kid. It’s not that I can’t get into the sweetness and the love of the season, or I can’t enjoy the romance of the stories, but so many of them cut short on what I want to see. And can sometimes give an unrealism that can pull me out of the movie, at least in one specific area.

I love the romance of a big city journalist falling for the Christmas tree farmer as much as the next girl, but expecting she would give up her whole life, her career, her friends, her future, for one bland kiss, was too much for me to stomach anymore. If I’m giving up everything for a guy (even a hunky small town sheriff), there better be more passion involved than a few kisses.

Then six years ago I had a tremendous idea. I wanted to write a series of Christmas stories, romantic Christmas stories just like the ones I enjoyed as a kid, just with more spice. The kind of stories I would produce if I were running the hallmark channel (though of course they would never be able to get past the censor, but luckily in the book world the only censor is yourself). That’s how the Frostbite Falls series was born.

All four Christmas stories revolve around the annual Frostbite Falls Christmas Ball, a huge event the entire town pitches in to create every year, and the love and romance each heroines find that night. There are all the tropes you love of a great hallmark holiday movie. A small town full of fun characters, a baker making the most delicious food, a librarian, farmers (horse farm, not tree farm, at least not yet), a snowstorm, a cheating ex-fiancé who comes crawling back, the town mayor even gets involved in some of the stories. But at the end of the night, instead of a quick kiss or a peck on the cheek, all my heroines get to take home two sexy guys and truly experience what it would be like to be with them. In every way.  Just as all great Christmas stories should end.

If you love hallmark movies, but you’ve always wanted your movies to come with a lot more spice, a trip to Frostbite Falls might be just what you are looking for. And this month many of the books are on sale for only $0.99 on the siren bookstrand site in celebration of this glorious time of year.

Series Buy Link: Frostbite Falls Christmas - BookStrand | Bestselling Erotic Romance eBooks