On The Double Dare Front

Happening Now

Can’t Miss Reads

Stuff I Love

Hey There Insider,

Here we are in the dog days of summer, hot, muggy and many of us cannot go to the beach, the park, or out with friends to break up the monotony. Our kids are tired of being inside too, and serious boredom and redundancy is taking over...how to survive? Games, Zoom and Books - romance books!

I am pleased to announce a successful launch of Dare to Hope, the first in the new Double Dare series, thanks in particular to my marvelous ARC team and their reviews. My heart was warmed by the positive response to the book, which is now available exclusively on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. 

“An emotional roller coaster for sure and a great beginning to what will be a wonderful series.”

“Omg how can you not love the crazy eights?! Women that have been friends for thirty years! Dare to get married!?! Elani on the mends from her divorce when she meets Jeremy at a convention. Not knowing he’s the CEO of the company she’s just started working for. But it doesn’t deter either of them that is until backstabbing jealous idiots sabotage it all. A fabulous ending to this book!”

Speaking of the next in the series...

I am hard at work on three - yep, you read that right - three of the books in the series. I didn't intend to write three at once, but with the time overlaps between books, I found myself making more than just notes to keep things straight. Before I knew it I had half of Avery's story, a third of Cassie's and on it went.

That said, Avery seems to be winning the battle for next in series. Her's is the story of a painfully shy girl who struggles to speak with anyone but a cat, and who has never been on a date. Enter Patrick, smitten with the fearless Avery and contriving to bring her out of her shell. A double dare is just the impetus they need in this story of first love.

Blog Tour and Contest

The Dare to Hope new release blog tour is in full swing - with opportunities to visit terrific romance authors who have generously agreed to promote my novel. Stop by their websites, check out their books and enter the Dare to Hope eBook contest. You could win a chance to name a character in an upcoming Double Dare Romance Series novel. For stops on the blog tour visit Reviews by Crystal. Enter the contest on any of the blog tour hops or on my blog before the end of the month.

Free and Discounted Romances

Smoldering Alpha Males and Strong Females is ending July 31st and includes Paranormal, Fantasy, Erotic romances and more.

Summer is for Lovers Hot books for a hot summer runs through August 31st. Come back again and again to pick up a steamy summer read.

Our Secrets & Lies: An Alpha Billionaire Bad Boy Romance (Billionaires In Dark Suits Book 1) 

by Nova Rain 

The sins of the father will be paid for by the daughter…

Charles Avery can’t pay his debt.

The only thing he has to offer is his beautiful daughter Ashleigh.

Sweet. Innocent. Beautiful.

She’s everything a man could want.

And now, she’s been given to me for a week to do with what I please.

It’s every man’s fantasy.

Yet, everything isn’t as it seems.

She may hide her scars from the world…

But she can’t from me.

Ashleigh is mine.

And I’m going to find out the truth.

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My Way to You  by Lyndell Williams 

"Passion and interpersonal politics collide. This interracial romance handles tough topics unflinchingly." - Talia Hibbert, author of Mating the Huntress

Lawyer Simon Young is smart, confident, and adept at keeping things with women casual—until he meets his best friend Marcus’s sister, Regina. Immediately intrigued by Regina’s beauty, Simon becomes increasingly enthralled and ultimately risks his friendship to have her for himself.

Social justice writer and activist Regina Kent is usually cautious and savvy. Yet, unable to resist her attraction to the handsome Simon, she plunges into a torrid affair, knowing that she chances angering big brother and her less tolerant followers, many of whom will not accept that one of their most popular pro-Black bloggers is dating an Asian man.

As their clandestine romance evolves, Simon and Regina fall deeper in love. Making sure that things stay between them becomes progressively impossible, and neither knows how much longer they can keep Marcus in the dark and the world at bay.

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JASON: The Alpha King Called Jason (Alpha Loves Romance Book 1) by Abbie Kaid 

From Amazon's Best Seller in Women's Short Stories and One-Hour Romance Short Reads.

Maria Lopez had just arrived in the United States as an immigrant from Puerto Rico and was having two things in her mind. And that's looking for her American father and a well-paid job at a cattle ranch. Her father had hurt her mom so much that she became a drug-addict, but with all the upheavals she did have when growing up, her mum asked for forgiveness and also to forgive her dad. Now, she’s secretly searching for her father and answers to questions that could make her change her quest. She gets a job at Humboldt County, Nevada, and finds a six-foot-one muscular, ash-blond. 

Jason is a blunt guy and knows the pretty brunette is going to be trouble. He’s had a lot with women, and he feels they aren’t reliable and only to be played. He swore never to listen to his heart, especially when it tells him to fall in love. And the one thing Maria is searching for is the one thing that could end the love in a dash.

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The Summer Tour: A New Adult Contemporary Rockstar Romance  (Amaryllis Romance Book 1) by Mandy Melanson 

In the ten years I’ve spent touring and building this franchise with my brothers, not a single person has ever stood out in the crowd. It’s impossible to tell one face from the next when I’m up there. The mixture of fog, lights, flashing lasers, my astigmatism, and whatever else they put into the air to keep the crowd happy… It’s all just a mix for a big bunch of blurry fuzzy whatnots.

She was not a whatnot. (read more)

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His Addiction: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (Sexy Obsessive Billionaires 1)  by Autumn Reign 

He gives her fever. But how far can things go before they both get burned? 

Danielle has struggled her entire life. Born into a poor family, she’s no stranger to poverty and money problems. But she’s determined to give it her all while she’s young. She’s working two jobs, and hitting the books at school. She plans to make itbig by the time she hits 30, and live a life of comfort and luxury. 

But a sudden fever puts her dreams on hold… 

At first, she tries to ignore her illness, and work through it. But when she nearly collapses from the strain, her boss’s son Dale happens to be there to catch her as she passes out. And as he nurses her back to health, Danielle discovers that Dale has had his eye on her for some time. She never really noticed him before, but she has to admit Dale’s easy on the eyes, and he’s got a bedside manner to match. But as she succumbs to his tender loving care, she has to wonder… Is the heat she feels her fever coming back? Or the rising fire of passion in her heart? 

And if she gives in, will she end up losing control to this obsessed mountain of a man?

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The Cowboy and His Sweetheart (Rock Springs Texas Book 4) by Kaci Rose

He's a bar owning cowboy. She's an innocent church girl. Can they find a way to blend their worlds?

It took a lot of convincing for my extremely conservative parents to allow me to attend my friend Sage’s wedding. Now, I couldn’t be happier that I begged and pleaded to get my way. A sexy cowboy with an alluring drawl and tempting swagger spent the entire night talking only to me. I never thought I would hear from him again, but to my absolute delight we spent weeks getting to know each other through constant phone calls. I fell for him hard and fast, and find myself faced with a whole new problem. My parents will never approve. The church is pushing for a courtship with a man from the congregation, and refusal goes against all they believe in. 

This is a slow build steamy romance.

This is a Steamy, Small Town, Cowboy Romance. No Cliffhangers.

This is Book 4 in the Rock Springs Texas Series.

As always there is a satisfying Happy Ever After.

If you love steamy romances with insta love, hot love scenes, small towns, and cowboys, then this one is for you.

Air Conditioning

Most of us take air conditioning for granted these days. We have lived with it for years. Everyone has it, stores, houses, you name it. Everyone, that is, except for me. Until last Monday I had gone two months with no A/C.

The huge cooling unit that resides on the roof of my building died a painful death, leaving all of us waiting while the building accepted and reviewed bids, selected a vendor and watched in awe as a huge crane removed the old one and lifted something the size of a railroad car to the roof - with ease!

When I moved back in the house was 91 degrees, Gracie was panting and we were both pretty miserable. Today, I am wearing a sweater! Yep, I love air conditioning. On the bright side, my neighbors often left their doors open hoping for a breeze and we all know each other better now!

Regularly Scheduled Zoom Calls

Many of my family and friends are staying in touch with regularly scheduled zoom calls. The advantage is that I am not more consistently in touch with my own "Crazy Eights" than I was before the onset of covid-19. I know people doing book clubs, cocktail hours, even bingo! Find your friends and set something up.

Amazon to the Rescue?

For your kids, have you considered a subscription to Amazon's Unlimited Free Time? With a one month free trial and games and programs for kids 3-12, it can counter that restless boredom during these dog days. Available for use on a multitude of devices, starting at only $2.99 after the trial period ends, it might be worth a second look. Available to prime and non-prime members, your children can access over 16,000 kid-friendly books, apps, and videos. There are parental controls, of course, allowing you to customize your child's experience.

For Us, also from Amazon, an audible subscription built specifically for romance readers! Audible Escape

is UNLIMITED listening to thousands of romantic, feel good stories - just what we need in these difficult times. You get entire series, audible-only selections with no commitment. Try it one more for free, then signup for less than $10/month, cancel anytime. You'll get to hear some wonderful accents, some deep sexy voices speaking some of your favorite titles, making your books come alive!

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Dare to Hope contest before it's too late.

ARE YOU CAUGHT UP ON YOUR MADISON MICHAEL? 

The Beguiling Bachelor Series:

Bewildered

Bedazzled

Beholden

Bedeviled

Besotted

The B&B Billionaire Series:

Desire & Dessert

Moonlight & Moet

Standalone Stories:

Broken Time: A Time Travel Romance