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Hello !

I usually tell you something about my writing or books here, but this week I have something else I want to talk about.

I hope everyone who was affected by the recent hurricanes and tornadoes in the U.S. are on their way to recovery.💜

To help the case, a gifted romance writer friend of mine, Sarah Lamb, is running a special sale on her books to benefit those affected by the hurricane in North Carolina.

You can donate to a worthy cause and read some heartwarming romance books at the same time--a win-win!

GET SARAH LAMB'S BOOKS HERE!

💜

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At SQ's House

I'm visiting with my mother and you can see how happy she is that I brought her favorite dessert--cannolis! ➜➜➜

She's completely recovered from her hand injury! Yay!

This week was otherwise quiet--out of necessity because I'm still resting from all the walking I did last week in Orlando on my not-yet-healed hip.

Under the things-to-come headline, we're planning a big trip this winter to celebrate my big birthday (I'll be 70 &%$! years old!!)

Not sure about the destination yet, but I'll keep you posted...

Do you have a big milestone birthday coming up? Let me know! I'd love to wish you a very Happy Birthday!!

💜

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Check out the EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT from THE CHEERLEADER below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

If you love audiobooks - check out my

NEW AUDIO BOOK RELEASE, THE BIG PUCK, below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Also check out my featured authors and some romance book bargains below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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WORK-IN-PROGRESS: THE CHEERLEADER

Total Word Count Goal: 90,000

COMPLETED To-Date: 39,379

PERCENT COMPLETED: 44%

If you're paying attention, you'll notice there wasn't much of an increase in the word count this week, but I'm happy with it since I deleted the entirety of chapter 1 and still came out ahead!

For anyone interested, you can now pre-order The Cheerleader at the following places:

AMAZON | APPLE | KOBO | B&N

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: THE CHEERLEADER

Bryan

Mack walks into the room to take his spot in the heavily soiled Barcalounger. He waves a loaf of French bread at me.

“You want a hunk of this before I devour it?”

“No thanks.”

“Suit yourself.”

Eldy snorts and rolls his eyes. “You need more meat on your bones. Look at you. No fat.” His sarcasm doesn’t bother me and I normally would ignore him, but even though he’s fit, he’s starting to look soft. If I had to guess, I’d say it was the beer.

“Exactly. I could use more muscle. Too many unproductive calories in bread.”

“I may not be a nutrition expert,” Mac says, “But I’m pretty sure unproductive calories is an oxymoron since the definition of calorie—”

“Fuck you,” I say. He knows what I mean. Though he does have a point. I’m not good with words. Don’t always say things right maybe, but I know what I’m talking about, that what I meant is right.

I know what a calorie is—a unit of energy. I know energy is productive. But bread—too much of it, or too much spaghetti for that matter—feels like it weighs me down, makes me less productive somehow. I may not know how to talk about it, but I know my body and what makes it tick, what makes me go and what doesn’t.

“Bryan has a point,” Eldy says, scooping a forkful of mystery meatball into his mouth and chewing before he continues. “He’s a finely tuned machine. The boy—or I should say, man—has more energy than anyone on the team. He can go on forever.”

Wayne walks into the room holding his bowl of food close to his face like he’s going to pour his spaghetti and meatballs down his throat in one gulp.

“Who can go on forever? You talking about me? Are the girls spreading rumors again?”

Eldy throws a pillow at him and I almost smile, snorting instead.

“I wouldn’t bet against you.”

“There’s my man.” He sits down and winks at me. “I wouldn’t bet against you either if it comes down to it.”

This causes a giant groan from Mac and Eldy pretends to cough up his food.

After we eat and I clean up because the others are too lazy and I refuse to live in a barn, knowing too well from the farm how food can attracts insects and rodents.

Eldy comes into the kitchen and leans against the counter watching me, tossing his football up and down. I know he has something on his mind.

“What’s really up with you and Liz?”

“Nothing. Like I said the last dozen times you asked.”

“Then why do you hyperventilate when I mention I might want to—”

“Don’t. Say it.” I slam the clean pot on the counter with unnecessary force, creating a loud bang.

“Fuck. That’s a sore spot if I ever saw one. You’re still hooked—”

“No. I’m not. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about her. I don’t want to see her thrown to the wolves.”

He chortles. “You calling me a wolf, Granger? Because that could be a case of the pot calling the kettle—”

“Not even close.” I know he’s right. But not completely. It wasn’t—isn’t that way with Liz. “Some girls are not made for … “ I don’t know what to call it. “And some girls are the serious kind. I know the difference. You—”

“How do you know I don’t know the difference?”

Tossing the used up Brillo pad in the sink, I turn to him. “I have eyes. And ears. And I’m in the room next to yours.”

He grins. “Sure, but how do you know any of those girls are serious types.”

I shake my head. “Oh, I don’t know, Eldy, maybe it’s the tears the next morning.”

He goes white. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend you never made a girl cry.”

“No. I didn’t. I mean I never meant to. They know I’m not serious and they say they’re cool…” he has the good grace to trail off, not bothering to finish his lame defense.

I reach out and clap his back. “Don’t worry, Eldy. I still love you.”

He flinches. He hates talk of emotions and especially the ‘L’ word as he calls it—as if it’s a secret spell or a curse that will doom him. I don’t tease him much about it because I think he’s truly afraid of love. He doesn’t have command of his emotions the way I do and I know that makes talk of strong emotions scary.

“You’re such a weirdo, Granger. You’re damn lucky you’re the fastest running back on the east coast or I wouldn’t put up with you.” He’s grinning while he says it, but I have no doubt it’s the god’s honest truth.

“I have to hit the books,” I say.

He nods. “English Comp?”

I nod back. He knows about my trouble. He may think I’m a weirdo, and we may be opposites in about every way there is, but we’re tight as half-brothers after three years on the team and two years as roommates.

“Professor Yardly says I need a tutor.”

“Yeah?” He smirks “Could be interesting if you get a sweetheart—”

“She already assigned me someone.”

“Oh. You don’t look happy. Some dorky guy?”

“No. Suzie Bennett. Liz’s friend.” I wait for his predictable reaction.

“Are you shitting me? You hit the jackpot. She’s a doll.”

“She’s off limits,” I admit, because I know Liz. The idea irritates me which makes no sense because it’s not like I’m interested in starting anything with Susie. If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Suzie Bennett is the definition of serious girl.

PRE-ORDER NOW!

AMAZON | APPLE | KOBO | B&N

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NEW AUDIO BOOK RELEASE!

The Big Puck Audiobook Out Now!

GET IT FREE AT THE LIBRARY!

Get it from you library for free through HOOPLA here! 

Or free through Overdrive/Libby Here!

"Romantic story of finding love when least expected, throw in a baby, a extremely emotionally lacking man, and the ray of sunshine that brings them all together. Awesome read❤❤❤"

--shirley Klohrricci, Amazon reviewer

a single dad hockey romance

The Big Puck

"Loved the mix of a hockey romance and suspense. Almost stayed up all night reading the book, but fell asleep sitting up. Great characters and how they become “family” resulting in a great finish. Highly recommended.”

Christina Bowens--Amazon Reviewer

Let me give a truly heartfelt thank you to all of you who write and post reviews for any of the books you read.

It means a great deal to every author I know.❤

READ NOW!

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Stephanie Queen's Featured Authors

Rock Hard: Chord Brothers Box 1 - M. J. Roberts

"*** “Bad boy musicians… kept me turning pages late into the night!” - New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner

Rockers with larger-than-life personalities, lighthearted humor, broken hearts that need mending, and desperate struggles to overcome the trauma that unites them.

Go deep into the Rock and Roll life and see these amazing people deal with real-world issues while they woo their partners with toe-searing chemistry and laugh-out-loud fun.

GET IT NOW ON KU!

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Crossing the Line with Her Billionaire Coach - Ava Becker

Hot Forbidden Age Gap Billionaire Sports Romance

He’s my coach. Totally off limits.

Yet he won’t accept no for an answer.

Gorgeous, former NBA All-Star player. Evan Young.

His mesmerizing face and chiseled body have graced the cover of magazines and advertising billboards.

I didn’t recognize him the first time I met him.

Not even when we gave in to our desires and I lost my clothes along the way.

Unfortunately, I picked the worst time to reveal I’m a virgin.

Before I could register what was happening, he was making tracks out of the hotel room.

Stunned and hurt, I knew I wouldn’t be hearing from him again.

Yet, imagine my shock weeks later when Evan showed up at my practice and announced he would be coaching Stanford University women’s basketball team.

Even more crazy? He wants to continue where we left off…. even if it means breaking university policy by dating his student athlete.

If anyone finds out I’m playing against the rules with my coach…we are so screwed.

BUY NOW!

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More books for your reading pleasure

FIND A NEW ROMANCE AUTHOR!

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SQ ROMANCE FANS!

➜➜Join the SQ Team on Facebook Here

I'd love to get to know you better!

I hope you try one of Sarah Lamb's books to help a good cause!

Take some time to escape from the crazy hoopla of life these days and read or listen to a romance--one with a happy ending to uplift you. 💜

Warmest Regards,