Happy Happy Birthday to Me and You!

It’s my birthday party, but I won’t dare shed a tear! Birthdays are all about spreading joy, so guess what? I’ve got a treat for you! Drop a comment on my Facebook Fan Page and tag your bestie (one per comment) for a shot at snagging a copy of my upcoming May 21 book SABOTAGE OPERATION and a $15 Gift Card. Hurry, the magical deadline is midnight EST on March 9! Oh, and here’s a little bonus for everyone: grab the At the Shore Box Set with three sizzling romances for just 99 cents! Dive into tales of enemies turned lovers, second chances, and friendships blooming into love. Get your hands on the box set at https://amzn.to/3vQaASW and let the birthday bash begin! P.S. – If you don’t want to wait and see if you win SABOTAGE OPERATION, you can pre-order it at https://amzn.to/46h5lIf.

birthday giveaway

Dance in the Rain

It’s been raining for a week on the Jersey Shore. I can’t ever remember it raining that much in a long time. Actually, we’ve had several summers and falls where the rain seemed to have missed us regularly. My little rain gauges were full yesterday before we had record rain! The rain made it impossible to take my daily walks so I decided to take advantage to do a little cleaning, a little packing (I’m headed off to Korea next week for some book research), a little reading, and assembling some raised beds that I want to use to make my garden look a little neater. Of course I realized that I had to also make the raised beds a bit more portable so I had to order some fabric pots to hold the soil. As soon as they arrive, and hopefully the rains will be gone by then, I’ll move around some of the perennials and get going on that organization. September and early October are a great time to divide perennials and also plant your spring flowering bulbs. What if it’s raining? I’ll just have to dance in the rain while I wait for a rainbow! P.S. – If you love books on the Jersey Shore, check out the At the Shore contemporary romance series at https://amzn.to/3LJFL7A.

#ManCrushMonday – Carlo from NEVER A BRIDE

Sometimes when you create a character they stay with you for more than just their story. That’s what happened with Carlo from NEVER A BRIDE. From the moment that he came on the scene in the first book in the series, ONE SUMMER NIGHT, Carlo resonated with me and I loved watching him grow with every book in the series. I’m also loving the idea of continuing the series with Carlo and his brothers, Army Ranger Tomas and baby brother Paolo who’s fallen for an older woman. If you’re thinking Tracy, the last of the friends, you may be right! LOL!

Anyway, here’s Carlo for you. I dare you to resist him.

Chef Carlo from Never a Bride

#ShoreSunday – Avon-by-the-Sea, Blog Tour & Giveway

Counting down to my trip to Nashville and the Gaylord. I’ve always wanted to go there and am so excited it’s finally happening although I am sad that so many people are canceling their plans to attend on account of the coronavirus. Bummed. Today I’m sharing a photo from Avon-by-the-Sea one of the neighboring towns. If you’ve read the At the Shore series, you may spot some locations that were inspired by areas in Avon.

avon-by-the-sea

The NEVER A BRIDE blog tour continues and for a chance to win a $25 Gift Card, leave the comment “Caridad sent me!” at any of the blogs on the tour. You can find the tour stops at http://bit.ly/NeverABrideBlogTour and for now, here are today’s blog stops:

Romance Novel Giveaways – GUEST POST
Books a Plenty Book Reviews

#ShoreSaturday – My Fav Place, Blog Tour & Giveaway

Good morning! I hope you’re having a fabulous Saturday. One of my fav places to spend the weekend (well, most days to be honest) is my little stretch of the Jersey Shore. Here’s a photo from the boardwalk in Bradley Beach!
Bradley Beach

The NEVER A BRIDE blog tour continues and for a chance to win a $25 Gift Card, leave the comment “Caridad sent me!” at any of the blogs on the tour. You can find the tour stops at http://bit.ly/NeverABrideBlogTour and for now, here are today’s blog stops:

Book Corner News and Reviews
Reviews and Promos by Nyx

#WriteWed – What a First Night!

Good morning! The Book Birthday #Giveaway continues with a little teaser from NEVER A BRIDE. In this scene, Carlo and Emma have spent the night together, but probably not in the way that both would have expected.

Teaser

Emma woke to tempting warmth and a teasing tickle against her cheek.  Half asleep, she tried to smooth away whatever was causing it and encountered a wall of hard muscle and crisp chest hair.  She groaned and screwed her eyes shut as memories of the night before pummeled her brain.

“You okay?” Carlo said and his deep voice rumbled through her, awakening other parts of her body.

“I am so so sorry,” she said and met his amused gaze.

“I have to confess that in all the dreams I had about our first night together – ”

“You dreamed about us being together?” she asked and her heart pounded, rushing blood to all those already alert parts.

With a half-grin, he shifted so they were face-to-face on the pillow and covered the hand she had splayed on his chest.  “I never imagined our first night together or the morning after would be quite like this.”

There was no mistaking the look in his eyes and what he had expected, but that didn’t keep her from saying, “What did you imagine?”

Order

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2MLZRyK
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1482927575
B&N: bit.ly/BN_Bride
Kobo: bit.ly/kobo_Bride
Contemporary Romance set on the Jersey Shore

#TeaserTuesday – Free Read from Never a Bride

It’s the release day for NEVER A BRIDE and I’m so excited to share this free read with you! In this scene, Emma is helping Carlo try on his clothes for Connie and Jon’s wedding! The sparks fly as the tension between Carlo and Emma builds and both have to deal with the feelings they have both been hiding. I hope you enjoy this teaser and don’t forget to come by and take part in the NEVER A BRIDE Book Birthday Giveaway on my Facebook Fan Page!

Excerpt

“I can see you’re all having fun, but did you decide on any of the tuxes I picked out?” she said as she peered at Jonathan, Owen, and Andy, and wondered where Carlo was hiding.

Jonathan sauntered over, grabbed the last piece of sandwich, placed it on a plate, and handed it to her. “Eat. It’s way past lunch hour and you’re cranky.”

“I’m not cranky,” she said, but her stomach complained noisily, forcing her to add, “Just hungry.”

“More like hangry,” he teased. Grinning, Jonathan laid an arm over her shoulders and walked her to the leather wing chair beside a massive leather couch where Andy and Owen sat sipping beers. She joined them there and took a bite of the sandwich, nearly moaning as the flavors of the tender roast pork, bitter broccoli rabe, and sweet mozzarella cheese exploded in her mouth. Not to mention Carlo’s secret garlicky tomato sauce, the game changer that had made him a champion on a network cooking show.

After swallowing, she glanced around the room at the men. “So what’s up? Where are the tuxes I left out for you?”

“We decided we’re not tux kind of guys. Well, Owen is, but the rest of us are just plain ol’ suit types,” Jonathan said as he sat on the arm of her chair.

She arched a brow. “And Carlo?”

Owen gestured with his beer bottle to the dressing room. “He’s in there.”

Wondering if Carlo needed help, she walked over and knocked.

“Come in,” he said.

She did only to find Carlo standing there in nothing but his tidy whities and a white shirt that was too small for his broad shoulders. The shirt hung open in front giving her a glimpse of what lay beneath the fabric.

Her heart did a little stutter at the sight of him, all lean sculpted muscle and smooth skin with the remnants of a summer tan. Heat suffused her and her face warmed in a blush.

If Carlo noticed, he did his best to hide it as he fought to pull the shirt closed and said, “I never knew that the buttons on your suit sleeve said so much about a man. If they’re real. Stitched. Horn. Who knew?”

She took a few hesitant steps until she was close to him and brushed his hands away as he struggled to button the shirt. “This shirt is absolutely the wrong size, but the style will suit you,” she said and smoothed the fabric across his broad shoulders and chest.

At his ragged sigh, she looked up and met his gaze. The desire there was impossible to miss and she should have stopped touching him. She should have moved away, but she couldn’t.

“You’re not playing fair, Emma,” he said, a rough grumble in his voice as he laid his hands at her waist.

“I’m sorry. It’s just so scary to think about changing what we are,” she said and finally stepped away from him and wrapped her arms around herself.

He raked his hands through his thick cocoa brown hair, tousling the ever-present waves. “I’m not your father, Emma. I would never hurt you. I respect you.”

“I know,” she said, but inside there was still too much fear and doubt. “I just need a little more time, Carlo. And you said you’re a patient man, remember,” she teased, trying to ease the tension in the room.

“I am, but I’m not a saint either. When you touch me . . . I want to touch too, Emma, but I can wait. Just promise me one thing.”

She was afraid to ask what she had to promise but fought back her fear. “I guess it depends on what the promise is.”

With another ragged sigh, he shrugged his shoulders, straining the fabric of the shirt. “I feel like a tool. Promise you’ll make sure I look okay because I’m not a suit kind of guy.”

She grinned and was about to reach out to smooth the linen over his shoulders again but jerked her hand away and locked it with her other hand behind her back to keep from touching him again. Meeting his gaze, she said, “I promise.”

You can purchase NEVER A BRIDE at the following retailers:

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2MLZRyK
Amazon Paperback: Coming Soon!
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1482927575
B&N: bit.ly/BN_Bride
Kobo: bit.ly/kobo_Bride