Do you love romance book series or do you prefer standalone stories? Personally, I just love series because I love to see what’s happening with the characters from the earlier books. As an author, I love creating a world and seeing how the characters grow over the various books. As a reader, if I really enjoy the characters, I don’t want to see them go because they’ve become like friends to me.
How about you? Do you love or hate romance book series?
P.S. – My fav romance book series is probably more of a police procedural with romance elements, namely the J.D. Robb IN DEATH series.
Counting the days until May 25 and the release of SOUTH BEACH LOVE, my very first romance from Hallmark Publishing. So excited!
Check out this video premiere and the teaser and excerpt below!
Video Premiere
Teaser
From New York Times Bestselling Author Caridad Piñeiro and Hallmark Publishing comes a story about rival quinceañeras, glorious Cuban cooking, friendship, family ties—and romance.
Two chefs are catering the fifteenth birthday parties of two girls who are definitely not friends. Only one of the celebrations will be chosen to be featured in the local paper. And both chefs have something to prove.
Tony Sanchez, the established executive chef of a New York restaurant, is on a long-overdue visit home to Miami. He’s committed to making the celebration the best it can be—for the sake of his niece, the rest of his family, and his reputation.
Sara Kelly hadn’t known much about quinceañeras before she agreed to cater one for her niece. It’s a chance to both help her family and to promote her brand-new restaurant in Miami. From her Cuban sister-in-law, Sara learns about quince traditions, appreciating the meaning behind them.
When Tony was growing up, Sara was his best friend’s little sister; now, he sees her in a very different light. But his last relationship with another chef ended in disaster…and Sara knows that, once the parties are over, he’ll be gone. Can either of them entertain the idea of a new romance?
This irresistible romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe.
Excerpt
“Chef, there’s someone out there who says he’s an old friend.”
Sara peered over the half wall that separated her restaurant’s open kitchen from the dining area. As her hostess jerked her head in the direction of the front door, Sara craned her neck to see an older, but unquestionably memorable face, at the hostess podium. A face she had dreamed about more than once as a teen.
“OMG,” she heard from beside her. “Is that Tony Sanchez? The Tony Sanchez?” said Jeri, her business partner, fellow chef, and long-time best friend. Inches shorter than Sara, Jeri had to rise on tiptoes to peer over the half-wall.
“None other,” Sara said as she grabbed a towel to dry her hands and shot a quick look at a starstruck Jeri. Her aqua blue eyes were wide with surprise in a face of flawless café con leche skin. “Can you handle things for a few minutes?”
At Jeri’s nod, Sara rushed out to greet Tony. She told herself not to make too much of how his smile widened when he spotted her, or how his eyes, those melty chocolate-colored eyes, warmed as he settled his gaze on her. But it was impossible to stop how her heartbeat picked up speed that he was here and seemingly happy to see her.
Hugs had always been freely given by the Sanchez family, but she held her hands out to him to avoid a hug, uncertain of how she’d react to the embrace. “It’s been way too long, Tony.” Nine years and eight months, give or take. Not that she was counting.
Liar, the little voice in her head chastised. Even though Tony had left Miami behind, she’d eagerly followed all his accomplishments. Even dared to wonder if he’d ever make Miami his home again.
Tony took both her hands in his and playfully wagged them. “You’ve grown up, chiquitica.”
She laughed and tried to ignore the tingle building where her hands rested in his. Slowly she eased her hands free. “I couldn’t stay ten forever. You look good,” she said and prayed it didn’t sound too much like flirting. To cover for it, she blurted out, “What brings you to Miami?”
“Family,” he said and glanced around the restaurant. “I ran into Rick the other day and he mentioned you had a place, so I decided to come by and say ‘Hello.’”
“Well, hello,” she said, feeling more and more like a tongue-tied fool with every passing second. “Monica will get you a table.” She waved at the hostess and when the young woman came by, she said, “Please seat Tony as soon as you can.”
He raised his hand in a ‘stop’ motion. “Por favor, no special treatment.”
Sara peered around the dining room. Every table was full inside and a quick look through the windows confirmed the outdoor seats were all taken. Plus there were quite a number of people milling around outside waiting to be seated.
“It may be a while,” she said with an apologetic grimace.
Tony mimicked her action, scrutinizing the restaurant and outdoor area. “I can wait. I’ve got all night. And if I’m still here when the rush is over, maybe we can grab a coffee later?”
Coffee? With Tony? Butterflies erupted in her stomach, but she somehow got the word out. “S-s-s-ure,” she stammered and without waiting for his reply, she rushed back to the kitchen before she embarrassed herself even more.
“You’re blushing. I’ve never seen you blush before,” Jeri kidded as Sara resumed the final plating of the nearly complete orders.
“It’s the heat in the kitchen,” she said, although her partner probably knew it was a lie.
“Sure, Sara. The heat and not…” Her friend paused and looked over the wall to where Tony waited outside, just beyond the entrance to the restaurant. “That hot guy you obviously have a crush on.”
“Not a crush,” she said and jerked tickets off the board to place them and the finished plates on the counter. Like clockwork her servers came over to pick up the meals and take them to their respective tables.
“Sure thing, Sara. Whatever you say,” Jeri teased as she finished up an order of sliders by topping them with slices of perfectly grilled foie gras. When she was done, she passed the plates to Sara for the final touch of caramelized onion compote before a toasted brioche bun top completed the slider and the order went up on the counter.
“Please, Jeri, leave it alone,” she pleaded and with a reluctant nod, her partner returned her focus to the new orders while Sara prayed that she wouldn’t make a fool of herself with Tony when it came time to chat with him.
She’d tried to keep her crush a secret from him and if he’d ever noticed it, he’d been gentleman enough not to mention it.
She wanted to keep it that way.
He had his restaurant and life in New York and she was here in Miami and never the twain would meet.
But in the back of her mind, she wondered, “What if?”
If you answered yes to those two questions I’ve got the perfect gift for you: a FREE copy of Recipes for the Romantic Soul which contains both recipes and free reads from my various romance novels. I created this book to celebrate the release of SOUTH BEACH LOVE which is a contemporary romance novel about two chefs caught in an unexpected competition to be featured in a prominent magazine.
It was Audrey Hepburn who said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
I love planting my garden! I’m always impatient to get started. Impatience is actually one of my best and worst traits. Best because I am always pushing to accomplish things and worst because well, it can lead to disappointment when things don’t happen as quickly as I would like.
When it comes to my garden, I’d start planting in February if I could which is hard in New Jersey. I actually started some seedlings indoors that I moved outside about two weeks ago. Luckily, it turns out that my new forever home is in another zone that lets me get going a little earlier. Combine that with plants that can handle a little cold and I’ve already got quite a garden growing. So this #ThrowbackThursday I’m sharing some pictures of my garden that I took yesterday!
I’m definitely a coffee in the morning person. I make myself a big to-go mug to sip while I write my romance novels! Why a to-go cup? Because I am a total clutz and have spilled my coffee more than once. Luckily not into my laptop. I also have a tendency to get so involved in what I’m writing that I forget to have my coffee so the to-go cup keeps it form becoming iced coffee too quickly.
When it comes to an afternoon pick-me-up while I’m writing or relaxing, I like tea better. I discovered my favorite tea by accident when my daughter got married. Since she had a Jane Austen-themed wedding, her favor bags had very British things like shortbread cookies and tea. Someone suggested a wedding tea and I went online and discovered Harney’s Wedding Tea which is black tea infused with rose petals. I was a little leery, but it is delicious! It also came in beautiful little tins with silk sachets, but you can get it in a bigger tin.
It’s Monday morning and the countdown is on to the unofficial start of the summer! I’m looking forward to long strolls on the boardwalk, sitting on the beach reading romance novels and relaxing, getting tasty ice cream cones, and lots of gardening. Combining all those things, it’s no wonder that summer is my absolute favorite time of year!
What about you? What are you looking forward to this summer?
P.S. – If you want to visit my home state of New Jersey, check out what to do at the NJ Visitor Guide!
