#ThrowbackThursday – A Jonas Brothers Encounter

Years ago, before they were Grammy-nominated artists, the Jonas Brothers were Jersey Boys who played a number of local venues. My daughter was in love with them and I spent quite a few nights at concerts with her which may explain some hearing loss. Those young girls really know how to scream! This is a throwback to one of those concerts many years ago. Last but not least, today is the last day to enter my giveaway at https://www.facebook.com/Caridad.Author/posts/10157196197695913 for a chance to win a box of goodies and your choice of one of my books!

#ThrowbackThursday – A Jersey Shore Summer and Special Pricing on ONE SUMMER NIGHT

I so love the Jersey Shore! I love the pace of life there and being surrounded by nature. Yes, there is nature there. It’s not all like what you see on that show that shall not be named. This year we’re being treated to the return of some endangered bird and plant species: the plover, black skimmer, and beach amaranth. It’s exciting to see them coming back.

I love going on my little balcony to write and then taking a long stroll along the boardwalk. Oftentimes I’ll go to Ocean Grove, one of the towns that is the basis for Sea Kiss, the fictional town in my At the Shore series. I love the quaint Victorian homes and Main Avenue with all its shops. My daughter used to have a shop there and you’ll see cameos with her in the first two books in the series!

Speaking of the series, the first book, ONE SUMMER NIGHT, is now specially priced for 99 cents. If you’re in the mood for a good beach read, please check it out at https://books2read.com/onesummernight. ONE SUMMER NIGHT was a Publishers Weekly Top 10 Fall Romance and was also featured in the NY Times. That doesn’t happen very often to us romance writers. LOL!

This photo is of the beach at Ocean Grove. It was a slightly overcast day and the yellow flags were out, something we don’t like to see, but any day you can be at the beach is a good day.

Ocean Grove Beaches

#ThrowbackThursday – Ocean Grove Pier

I am intrigued by shapes and textures and if I see something interesting I have to take a photo and see what it will take me.

This is a shot of the Ocean Grove Pier from beneath the pier. There was something about the wooden beams and slats that called to me to take the photo from this perspective.
Ocean Grove Pier

#TeaserTuesday – ONE SUMMER NIGHT Free Read!

This morning I’ve got a teaser for you from ONE SUMMER NIGHT, #1 in my At the Shore Contemporary Romance series set on the Jersey Shore. The e-book for ONE SUMMER NIGHT is currently free at the following retailers:

Order

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2krMwfE
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2kYLWZV
B&N: http://bit.ly/2kNuo0p
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2ik8EfG
iBooks: http://apple.co/2qsqdwx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fuEphL
Audible: https://amzn.to/2l2D0S2
Radish: Read three chapters for free – http://bit.ly/2AERQFk

And here’s your teaser and free read!

Teaser

An offer that’s impossible to accept . . .

Maggie Sinclair has tried everything to save her family’s business, including mortgaging their beloved beach house on the Jersey Shore. But now, she’s out of options.

The Sinclair and Pierce families have been neighbors and enemies for almost thirty years. That hasn’t stopped Owen Pierce from crushing on Maggie, and he’s determined to invest in her success. Now he has to convince her that he’s more than just trouble with a capital T…


Excerpt

With keen interest, Owen Pierce took note of the three women as they hurried away from the dais and into the Sinclair mansion.

“Put your eyes back in your head, Bro. She’s nothing but trouble,” Jon warned in low tones.

Owen bit back the retort that if anyone knew about trouble, it was his brother. Jonathan had always marched to a different drummer and had set out on his own as a teenager to explore what he wanted out of life. Now a successful entrepreneur, he had captured the media’s attention with his innovative designs and daring adventures. That left Owen to shoulder most of the burden of the family’s real estate business, as well as deal with his father’s anger over Jonathan’s latest newsworthy escapade.

He envied his brother’s carefree spirit and determination, especially as Maggie Sinclair marched back onto the patio with her friends, an angry bride, and an obviously inebriated groom. Both the bride and groom looked far from happy as they approached the elaborate multi-tiered wedding cake that had been wheeled out to the middle of the makeshift dance floor.

He worried the bride might plunge the long knife she held into her new husband, but luckily for the newlyweds, Maggie directed the blade toward the cake.

Jon playfully elbowed him. “Seriously, Owen. She’s not for you. Father declared the Sinclairs off-limits ages ago. He would have a stroke if he thought the two of you were involved.”

Involved with Maggie Sinclair, Owen thought and sighed with regret.

In a way, he’d been involved with her forever. He’d like to chalk it all up to a sloppy, hurried, and stolen kiss at eighteen and the allure of forbidden fruit. But since that kiss, he’d watched her mature into a smart, beautiful woman. One who was willing to work hard for the town and business she cared about as well as friends and family. With every encounter, he’d grown more intrigued with the person Maggie had become.

But his father had come down hard on them about mingling with the Sinclairs right after Maggie’s mother’s death. For years, they’d been unable to come to their Sea Kiss home, and even when they’d returned, they’d done so without their father, who refused to be so close to the family he thought had wronged him.

Not that Owen expected that Jon would kowtow to such rules, since his brother was the kind of man who didn’t hesitate to take what he wanted.

He arched a brow and met his brother’s blue-eyed gaze, which glittered with a mix of undisguised challenge and amusement. “Do you think you’re the only one entitled to a little adventure in your life?” he said.

Jon chuckled. “My kind of adventure is way safer than what you may be considering.”

“Why’s that, Li’l Bro?” he asked, appreciating the sight of Maggie in a dusty-rose gown that hugged dangerous curves. Her chestnut-brown hair fell to her shoulders in soft waves and framed ice-blue eyes and a sassy, sexy face that snared his attention every time he saw her.

Jonathan took a last sip of his champagne and barely stifled another laugh. With a shake of his head, he replied, “Because all I risk is an occasional broken bone, but that…” He jerked his head in Maggie’s direction as she stepped back beside Connie and Emma. “That will break your heart.”

Free beach read ONE SUMMER NIGHT contemporary romance

#WriteWed – The Best Thing About Writing

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again! The absolutely best thing about writing is getting to spend time with all of you! I love getting to know you and talking books with you. So I hope I will see some of you at one of my upcoming events and conferences. Please take a moment to check out the list and if you have anything going on nearby that you want for me to attend, please drop me a line and I will see if I can make it!

Upcoming Events

    Liberty States Fiction Reader and Writer Conference
    March 30-31, 2019
    Saturday book fair is open to the general public!
    Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference
    Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel
    Iselin, NJ

    Book Lovers Con
    May 15-19, 2019
    Hyatt Regency New Orleans
    601 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
    For more info please visit https://www.bookloverscon.com

    IWWG Summer Writers Conference 2019: Writing the Body:
    Voice, Art, and Craft in a Changing World

    July 12-19, 2019
    Muhlenberg College
    Allentown, PA
    For more info, please visit https://www.iwwg.org/summer-conference/

    Romance Writers of America National Conference
    July 24-27, 2019
    Literacy Signing is open to the general public.
    New York Marriott Marquis
    1535 Broadway
    New York, New York
    For more info please visit https://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=564

Hope to see you soon!

#ThrowbackThursday – Liberty States Fiction Writers & Readers Conference & BN Event

I love getting to meet new people, make new friends and spend time with my old ones! This is a picture from one of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and Readers Conferences. This year Liberty States is is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the conference and it looks like it will be an awesome event. I hope some of you will be able to make it. For more info, please visit www.lsfwriters.com.

Also, I have an event coming up on February 9 at the Menlo Park Barnes & Noble! Join a great group of romance authors and kick off your Valentine’s Day celebrations with a great read!

#ThrowbackThursday – A Visit to the Tree Farm

This is not such a throwback since it’s only to yesterday and our annual visit to the Anne Ellen Tree Farm in Manalapan. We’ve been going there for over 25 years to get our tree. We also commemorate the trip by buying a new ornament to add to the tree. I have to say they’ve done a lovely job in expanding the location with lots of new areas and fun activities for the kids, like a petting farm.

Here are some photos from our visit as well as a before and after of the tree we chose!