When my daughter and I both worked in New York City, we did many fun and exciting things on our Friday Girls’ Nights. Korean BBQ. The Rose Mansion. 260 Nomad Sample Sales where we scored some amazing clothing, shoes, and a beautiful Mont Blanc crystal fountain pen ink bottle that I still have to find a place to display! But one of the most fun things we did was visit the Color Factory which bills itself as an “interactive art museum.” How can I explain this place? It is an immersive and interactive series of rooms and experiences that fill your senses with color and joy. Today I’m sharing some pictures from our trip and if you’re ever in New York City, I would recommend checking it out. They also have locations in Chicago and Houston! P.S. If you want a story that also gives you a taste of life in Manhattan, check out One Summer Night. Although that book is part of my Jersey Shore-themed series, Maggie and Owen also live and work in New York and you get to see many places that I love in the city.
National K-9 Veterans Day
It’s National K-9 Veterans Day and so here’s a shoutout to all the K-9s who work with our military and law enforcement to keep us safe! Thank you! I’d like to also take a moment to talk about our military veterans, many of whom are suffering from homelessness and a variety of mental health problems. Because our soldiers need our help, I teamed up with 10 other authors and we’ve put together the Strength & Honor anthology to help raise funds for stopsoldiersuicide.org. Here’s a little more about the organization:
Veteran-founded, veteran-led, and veteran-focused, founded in 2010 by U.S. Army veterans Brian Kinsella, Nick Black, and Craig Gridelli, Stop Soldier Suicide is a nonprofit organization that combats military suicides by addressing underlying issues such as mental health, financial strain, and the difficulties of transitioning to civilian life. Their wellness service, ROGER, provides personalized, confidential support aimed at suicide prevention.
The Strength & Honor anthology contains 11 short stories featuring military heroes battling their inner demons and finding their happily ever after. My contribution to the story is Stay the Night, which is part of the Take a Chance military romance series. It’s a sexy read, but also an emotional story about a solider coming home to a wife he doesn’t really recognize after years apart due to his military service. The anthology releases on 5/7/2024. Preorder your copy today at https://books2read.com/StrengthAndHonor.
Welcome Fantasy Author Lydia Weltman
Please give a big hello to fellow author Lydia Weltman who writes fantasy adventures! I’ve invited Lydia to visit and share some info about herself and her upcoming release! P.S. – The books are inspired by Victorian London and you know how much I love London!
Hi there, I’m Lydia Weltmann, and I write fantasy adventures! Thanks so much to Caridad for inviting me here to chat with you all!
I’ve always loved escaping into a book and seeing what new worlds I could visit within them, or visiting other time periods of our own world. London is a favorite destination of mine, both in books and in real life, and I can’t help pulling from London when I’m designing new worlds.
My current series draws a lot of inspiration from Victorian London, but with some fantasy elements and a steampunk aesthetic added in. The series focuses on two long lost brothers reconnecting and learning what it means to be brothers again while facing all the challenges of the growing rebellion.
To celebrate book three’s upcoming release this fall, I’m offering one lucky winner books one AND two!
Here’s a quick teaser of book one:
This was the apple’s fault.
I flailed my way to the river surface with a large gasp, bruised apple clutched in my right hand. I stood a better chance at swimming if I had both hands, but no way was I letting go of the apple now. It was the fruit’s fault I was in this mess.
Okay, technically, stealing the apple might have started the chase, leading to the guards cornering me on the bridge. Which led to me jumping off the bridge to escape.
Admittedly, not my best plan. I regretted the choice the second I sank into the icy river and remembered two very important things.
One: It was March and the river was freezing.
Two: I didn’t know how to swim.
To possibly score a paperback copy of THE STREET RAT’S GUIDE TO SPELLS AND ROYALTY and THE PRINCE’S GUIDE TO BROTHERS AND RITUALS, visit Caridad’s Facebook Fan page and comment on your favorite travel destination!
What’s sexier? Nothing but skin or luxurious pajamas?
Today’s This or That may be a tough choice! Would you rather have your partner in nothing but skin in bed or in some super satiny PJs? I’m torn on this one, especially when I’m writing a scene that involved going to bed (to sleep ladies!) My characters usually wear bedclothes of some kind, whether it’s fancy pajamas or serviceable sweats, until it’s time for a love scene. I actually think the dance of removing the clothes can be way sexier and more intimate. What about you> What do you think about nothing but skin or pajamas in bed. P.S> – In SABOTAGE OPERATION, the military hero is a no-nonsense type who definitely wears sweats. But I bet he wonders if the heroine who he thinks is a rich girl (she’s actually a hard-working stable owner) wears something silky to bed! LOL.
Spring Ahead and Lose Some Sleep
It’s that time of year when we spring ahead from falling back in fall. I hate losing that hour of sleep but I so love having that “extra” sunlight at the end of the day. It makes me want to do so much more. So does the warmer weather. I live for being out in the yard planting my flower and vegetable plants or harvesting sun-warmed tomatoes when they’re ripe. There’s nothing like the taste of a Jersey tomato fresh from the garden. What about you? Do you think losing the extra hour of sleep is worth that hour of light later in the day? P.S. – The sunset is Miami is later than the sunset in New Jersey because of the tilt of the Earth and its proximity to the sun! I guess that gives South Beach Security more daylight for solving crimes like those in Brickell Avenue Ambush where the secrets of a dangerous ex-husband could risk the lives of dozens. To find out more, please visit https://amzn.to/434lPnl.
Unboxing a New Release Never Gets Old!
When a parcel from Harlequin is en route, I transform into an eager cartoon pup awaiting the mail carrier’s arrival! Unboxing my latest book is a thrill that never fades. Today, I’m giving you a sneak peek into unboxing my upcoming May 21 release, SABOTAGE OPERATION. My VIP Newsletter crew will get the scoop on grabbing these early copies before the big May reveal. All I ask is for an honest review if you snag an ARC. Reviews are like gold for us authors, and we’re totally grateful for your time and support. If you’re not part of the VIP newsletter gang yet, there’s still time to join! Swing by my website for a sweet bonus as my way of saying thanks for signing up: a complimentary download of SOUTH BEACH LOVE!
Let’s Celebrate Women Everywhere!
It’s Women’s History Month and today is also International Women’s Day so what better time to share with you some women who I think you should get to know! They are fellow authors whose work I respect and many of them are my friends. If you have a moment, please take the time to find out more about them and their books. I know you will not be disappointed! They are all amazing authors and many of them support wonderful causes, like Katie Mettner who advocates for representation of people with disabilities and Sharon Hamilton who is a staunch supporter of our military men and women, and their families. In fact, Sharon and I will be taking part in an anthology in April that will support the Stop Soldier Suicide organization. Our goal is to make a difference in the lives of our brave soldiers and their families. So, please take a moment to visit with these amazing women and tell them Caridad sent you!
