Category: At the Shore

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Caridad Pineiro shares behind the scenes and other info for the At the Shore Contemporary Romance series set on the Jersey Shore and in New York City

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#WednesdayWisdom – Connie and Smelling the Roses

I’m my mother’s daughter and that has it’s good and bad parts. The bad part is that I’m very driven to achieve which is why I identified so much with Connie Reyes, the heroine in WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER. Much like me Connie wants a partnership in a New York City law firm and much like me she finds herself stonewalled at a key point in her career. For me the salvation was my family and my writing. For Connie it’s finding herself tossed together with Jonathan Pierce again. Jonathan is almost as driven as Connie, but he also knows how to have fun and balance life and work. I really enjoyed putting them together so that they could both heal the wounds of their past and find a way to stop and smell the roses together!

I hope you’ll take a moment to check out WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER which is now available for pre-order and releases on June 5. Also, don’t miss the free downloads of ONE SUMMER NIGHT, #1 in the At the Shore series.

You can purchase WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER at these retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2y6hi4h
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2y92UIQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2BJNcov
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2hKg3BW
iBooks: http://apple.co/2hKgP1J
Kobo: bit.ly/koboWHS

ONE SUMMER NIGHT is now free until June 11

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2krMwfE
B&N: http://bit.ly/2kNuo0p
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2ik8EfG
iBooks: http://apple.co/2qsqdwx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fuEphL
Smell the roses

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#TeaserTuesday – A kiss is still a kiss . . . or is it?

Counting down to the June 5 release of WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER and today I’m sharing with you one of my favorite scenes in the book. I loved this scene because it was packed with emotion on various levels, but also had humor and hopefulness. I hope you’ll agree!

In this scene, Connie has just been helping her best friend Maggie with wedding plans. Maggie is marrying Owen Pierce, Jonathan’s older brother, and because of that, Connie and Jon are being constantly thrown together. Like any best friend, Connie is happy for Maggie, but also worried about how their friendship will change with Maggie getting married. She’s also feeling a little sorry for herself because she let love go during her summer fling with Jonathan.

Teaser

“Were you crying?” he asked and kneeled close to her. He could handle her stubbornness and the temper that she luckily kept leashed for the most part. He could even handle the iciness that warned him to stay away. But the thought of her crying just shredded his heart.

“No,” she answered way too quickly and rubbed Dudley’s head as he kept up his enthusiastic loving.

“What’s that on your cheeks then?” he pushed, needing her to admit it, not so that he could rejoice, but because he wanted to help.

“Dog spit. Your dog’s spit because I’m assuming this little guy belongs to you,” she said and urged the terrier down into her lap again.

The dog squirmed and presented her with his belly, jonesing for a rub.

As she obliged, Jonathan’s gut tightened. He hated that he was suddenly wishing he could get that kind of attention as well. But wishes like that were best kept secret because Connie had made it clear she wanted no part of him. And yet, something inside made him try to change things between them.

“He’s mine. When I saw him at the shelter a few weeks ago, I couldn’t walk away. Now that I plan on moving to Sea Kiss – ”

“You’re moving to Sea Kiss? To the mansion?” she asked with surprise.

He shook his head. “I only stay here because I know my father never comes down. As much as I love the family home, I need to find my own place. I’ve started searching for a house nearby.”

There was no doubting the look on her face and her obvious worry. With Maggie and Owen getting married and him right in the neighborhood, they’d be constantly thrown together. “Don’t worry, Connie. I won’t make it hard for you to see Maggie. I know how close the two of you are.”

A guilty splotch of color erupted on cheeks already ruddy from her tears. “It’s not like that. We’re two mature adults. We can handle being around each other.”

“Yes, we can. Like now. We’re talking. No anger. No worries.”

She huffed out a breath and looked away. “Right, no worries,” she said, but despite her words, something major was going on with her.

“If you want to talk about it – ”

“I don’t.”

He didn’t give up. With a smile, he said, “Or if you just need a shoulder to cry on . . . .”

She tilted her chin up in a defiant gesture that was achingly familiar. “I wasn’t crying. Like I said before, it was just Dudley’s puppy kisses.”

“Really?” He couldn’t resist the challenge. He leaned forward and cradled her chin with his hand.

Her gold-green eyes widened in surprise as he came ever closer. When he kissed the corner of her right eye, her eyelashes fluttered against his lips as she closed her eyes.

“Sweetest,” he began and shifted to her other eye. “Dog spit,” he said and didn’t wait for her protest. “Ever.” He kissed her lips, a gentle coaxing kiss that had her tilting into him and grasping his shoulders for support. As they moved closer, Dudley, who had been sitting in her lap, squirmed and barked a complaint as he got sandwiched between their bodies.

Order Your Copy Today!

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2y6hi4h
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2y92UIQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2BJNcov
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2hKg3BW
iBooks: http://apple.co/2hKgP1J
Kobo: bit.ly/koboWHS

ONE SUMMER NIGHT is now free until June 11

To celebrate the release of WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER, ONE SUMMER NIGHT is free until June 11. Take advantage of this special offer to get a Publishers Weekly Top 10 Romance and jump start your beach reads!

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2krMwfE
B&N: http://bit.ly/2kNuo0p
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2ik8EfG
iBooks: http://apple.co/2qsqdwx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fuEphL

Free Read WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER

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#TeaserTuesday – My Italian Restaurant with Connie & Jonathan

Happy Tuesday! This morning I’ve got a teaser for you from WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER #2 in the At the Shore series. In this scene, Connie has just had a run-in with one of her male colleagues and is heading out to get some air and cool down when Jonathan Pierce surprisingly hops on her elevator. He’s in the building to talk to his accountants and a conversation and lunch invitation ensues . . .

WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER is available for pre-order and will be released on June 5! You can purchase it at these retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2y6hi4h
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2y92UIQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2BJNcov
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2hKg3BW
iBooks: http://apple.co/2hKgP1J
Kobo: bit.ly/koboWHS

Don’t forget there is also special 99 cent pricing for #1 in the series, ONE SUMMER NIGHT. You can purchase ONE SUMMER NIGHT at these retailers:

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
Radish: Read three chapters for free – http://bit.ly/2AERQFk

And now for the teaser . . . .

Teaser

“Anything interesting?” She covered her mouth with her hand, a little too late since the words had burst from her before she could control herself.

A dimpled grin erupted on his face and his eyes, as blue as the Sea Kiss ocean, glittered with amusement. “I assume that’s the gearhead asking,” he said and she was grateful for the out he had provided.

“Of course. Who wouldn’t covet a car like the Lightning?”

* * *

Jonathan wanted to tell her that all she had to do was say the word and he’d have one built and delivered to her, but he knew Connie’s pride would never let her accept such an extravagant gift. She had worked hard for everything in her life and if she wanted a Lightning, with its nearly 200,000 dollar price tag, she’d pay for it herself.

“Thanks. We’re stoked about how it turned out,” he said as the elevator doors opened and they stepped into the lobby of the building. She hesitated, almost as if she might actually want to extend this chance encounter, and he’d never been one to not seize the moment. “I was just going to grab a bite. What are you up to?”

She fiddled with the wristlet in her hands. “I had planned on working through lunch.”

He grinned and pinned her with his gaze. “And that would be more fun than lunch with me because?”

She met his gaze directly, the green of her eyes looking more blue today thanks to the deep midnight color of the suit she wore. “You really are sure of yourself, aren’t you?” she teased.

He wanted to say that he was never sure of anything around her, but he wasn’t ready to give her that kind of power. At least not yet.

“How about it? I promise it will be quick and good – ”

“Two words that don’t seem well-suited together,” she shot back and a becoming stain of color erupted across her cheeks.

“Why, Reyes. Are you flirting with me?” he said, which upped the color on her cheeks exponentially.

“Never. But I did need to get out of the office and I hate eating alone.”

He clasped his hands together and brought them close to his chest. “How could I refuse an invitation like that?”

“You invited me, remember?” she said and jabbed him playfully, the way a guy would jab another guy. A defense mechanism, but he wouldn’t pass up this opportunity because he had to restore order to this relationship. For Owen and the relationship with Maggie which was still blossoming nearly two weeks after the dinner they’d all shared in Sea Kiss. For himself because he felt like this part of his life was incomplete.

“I did invite you first, so is that a ‘Yes’?”

Chapter 4

The Italian restaurant was only half a block away on Forty-Second Street. It was a place for business lunches and special occasions with colleagues. Definitely not a romantic venue, especially at midday, and Connie was thankful for that.

The eatery was on the busy side, but the host quickly seated them at a corner table in the large noisy back portion of the restaurant. The ambient chatter toned down the intimate feel of the cozy corner location. The host held the chair closest to the wall out for her and
Jonathan took the spot across from her, but even with that, the table was so small that their knees bumped. She shuffled her chair back until it hit the wall, ending the contact which despite its innocence, was way too distracting.

She hid behind her menu while she gathered herself, but when she put it down, she found herself staring into Jonathan’s too intense gaze.

“You seemed a little . . . angry when you first got on the elevator,” he said.

Shrugging, she averted her gaze. “A little. Just some typical office bullshit.”

“Care to share?” he asked, but luckily the waiter came over at that moment to take their orders.

As soon as the orders were placed and the waiter walked away, she shifted the topic to Jonathan because most men she dealt with were generally more interested in talking about themselves. “What projects were you discussing with your accountants?”

He wagged a finger and shot her a lopsided grin. “Not until I hear what pissed you off.”

She’d give him points for that, as much as she didn’t want to share. But she did. “A male colleague who thinks his dick and ethnicity should move him up the corporate ladder.”

“Totally wrong on both counts. Besides, you have more balls than he does,” Jonathan said and snagged a slice of focaccia from the bread basket the waiter placed on the table.

She arched a brow, examining him, but he clearly had meant it as a compliment. “Thanks,” she said, but just in case, tacked on, “I think.”

“Just telling the truth and definitely a compliment. I know that whatever you want, you’ll work hard to get it. Right?”

She nodded and it made her wonder about him. Whether he had changed despite her comment days earlier to Emma. “What about you? Have you been working hard or hardly working?” she said in a tone that was half kidding half serious.

He broke off a piece of the focaccia and munched on it thoughtfully, scrutinizing her features. It was long moments before he finally said, “Working hard even though you might doubt that.”

She hated that he could read her so easily. Grabbing her water glass, she took a sip before she uneasily replied, “I don’t doubt it, but . . .”

He made a face and looked away for a moment before returning his attention to her. “You’re confused, right? Maybe because you don’t want to admit that I’ve changed a little?”

“Maybe,” she said quickly and decided it was time to move away from the personal since it could only bring hurt.

Lunch at an Italian Restaurant

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#ManCandayMonday – Matt Lanter

Like many, I am waiting to see if NBC renews TIMELESS! I love this show because I’m a history buff and because it nicely blends history, action, science, and of course, romance. The main male lead is Matt Lanter and he is soooo cute! If I had to cast Jonathan Pierce from WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER, Matt would definitely be up there as a possible actor for the role. That smile and those baby blues are so sexy!

Matt Lanter

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#ThrowbackThursday – Blizzard 2010

Spring is here! Goodbye snow! Oh wait, today’s throwback is to December 2010 and the blizzard that hit most of the Northeast. You don’t usually see snow accumulate on the sand, so it was an unusual sight. We easily had 3 to 4 feet of snow with higher drifts in spots.

Bradley Beach Blizzard 2010

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#TeaserTuesday – WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER Free Read

The second book in the AT THE SHORE contemporary romance series, WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER, comes out on June 5, but it’s now available for pre-order! I’ve always been a sucker for second chance at love stories and it just felt right that WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER would be about two very different people who fall in love during one glorious summer, but can’t make it happen. It was both a lot of fun and very emotional to get Connie and Jonathan together. I also loved exploring the real reason for the Pierce-Sinclair family feud and revealing the truth about where Jonathan and Owen’s mother has been for so many years! I hope you’ll like that as well.

I’m happy to say the book is getting really nice reviews! Here’s what Amy Alessio at Booklist had to say about WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER:

“Realistic yet successful second-chance romance stories are rare and always popular, and this is an excellent addition to the genre.”

To read the first part of the prologue, you can visit https://wp.me/p7KDGz-6eR.

And now, another little teaser from the prologue!

Connie’s heart thudded almost painfully in her chest as she wondered how, in a week’s time, she could leave him. The ache deepened beneath her breastbone and she put her hand there and rubbed to assuage the hurt.

What had started as a summer fling with a funny, smart, and beautiful boy had turned into something so much more, with an incredibly amazing man. Falling in love with Jonathan hadn’t been in her game plan, but he was just too hard to resist.

She should have resisted. He was a Pierce. She wasn’t a Sinclair, but Maggie was like a sister and that stupid family feud was still going strong, as far as she knew.

He was going back to Villanova in a week and she’d be returning to Princeton. The colleges were not all that far apart, but if she was to execute her game plan, she had to stay in the game, which meant studying and more studying. Not nights spent in bed making love and days spent daydreaming about the nights. But like Adam with Eve, now that she’d had a bite of such delicious forbidden fruit, she didn’t know how she could go on a Jonathan-free diet.

At the moment, she could just admire his sun-streaked light brown hair waving wildly around a masculine face with chiseled features. A sexy dimpled grin was on his lips and his eyes glittered with a blue as enchanting as a Sea Kiss summer sea.

That ache in her heart rocketed to life again together with an almost unbearable lightness in her soul. For so much of her life she’d been driven to accomplish more and more, but with Jonathan, she could just be herself. No goals or responsibilities. Just…happy.

And so, in the blink of an eye, her game plan altered. She could see it all so clearly, only now Jonathan was there beside her at each step. Finish college. Head to law school. Pass the bar. Get a job in a big New York City law firm so she could help her family financially, as well as others who had legal problems and couldn’t afford representation. Become a partner. Marry Jonathan. Or maybe marry Jonathan and then become a partner. She didn’t want to wait too long to be with him forever.

Not that she’d ever pictured getting married to anyone before, since her home life hadn’t been anything great. But for Jonathan, she’d make an exception.

As she snuggled into the curve of his arm and pillowed her head on his broad shoulder, she sighed and said, “I can’t believe the summer’s almost over.”

He grunted his reply in a too-typical male way. “Sucks.” But then he surprised her by adding, “I’d like to keep on seeing you once you’re back in school.”

She smiled, pleased by his admission, and glanced up at him. There was a contented smile on his full lips and the first hint of a dimple. The hard line of his jaw had a bit of blond stubble from an evening beard. She ran her hand up to brush away a lock of his hair.
“I’d like that, too,” she said.

His smile broadened and the dimple fully emerged, drawing attention to that luscious mouth. She couldn’t resist surging up to skim a kiss along that dimple and the corner of his lips.

“What was that for?” he asked.

She wanted to say because he made her happy, but she hesitated. She’d seen what could happen to a woman whose happiness depended on a man, as she’d watched her mother lose herself and her dreams.

“As a way for you to remember me until we visit each other at college,” she said instead.

Tension crept into his body, impossible to miss. Enough to worry her. She pulled back from him. “I thought you wanted us to see each other. At least, that’s what you said a minute ago.”

A chagrined look passed across his features, stirring the worry inside her.

“I do, only… I won’t be at college this year. I’m not going back to Villanova.”

She searched his face, finding it hard to believe, but he appeared deadly serious.

“What do you mean you’re not going back? Did something happen? Are you transferring to another school?”

Order

You can purchase WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER at these retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2y6hi4h
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2y92UIQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2BJNcov
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2hKg3BW
iBooks: http://apple.co/2hKgP1J
Kobo: Coming Soon!

Also, don’t miss out on the special 99 cents pricing on ONE SUMMER NIGHT! You can purchase ONE SUMMER NIGHT at the following retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2krMwfE
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2kYLWZV
B&N: http://bit.ly/2kNuo0p
iBooks: http://apple.co/2qsqdwx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fuEphL
What Happens In Summer Booklist Review

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#TeaserTuesday – WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER

WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER is available for pre-order and will release on June 5. If you’d like an ARC to review, please click here to visit Netgalley and download your copy!

I love Connie and Jonathan’s story and so did Kirkus who said ““Pineiro’s follow-up to One Summer Night (2017) covers the same time frame from the alternate couple’s viewpoint, to sexy, satisfying effect. Connie and Jonathan’s trials, tribulations, and second chance at love are engaging and at times thought-provoking, touching on the power of love, loyalty, and friendship. . . Another visit to Sea Kiss will charm romance fans.” RT Book Reviews added their praise and raved that WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER “…a story about a love between two individuals that will not fade…readers will enjoy this summer-themed romance.”

Teaser

Connie had vowed never to make the same mistakes as her mother . . .

As the only daughter of a single mom, Connie Reyes knows how hard it is to raise a child alone and without prospects. At an early age Connie vowed she would never put herself or her child in a similar position. But Jonathan Pierce is oh so tempting and a night of passion leads to unexpected consequences with a man she has been unable to forget. But loving Jonathan may upend Connie’s law career and all that she’s worked so hard to achieve.

Jonathan Pierce has always marched to the beat of a different drummer. . .

Jonathan Pierce left home at nineteen, determined to explore his dreams and leave his unhappy childhood behind. A father who was always absent at work and a mother who left them her boys without even a goodbye. His only redeeming family connection is his big brother Owen. In the weeks leading up to the Owen’s wedding, sexual tension sizzles between him and the bride’s best friend Connie. Jonathan would love to show the uber responsible and work-a-holic lawyer that he’s a changed man.

When opportunity presents itself the night of the wedding, mutual desire will bring a lifetime of possibilities. Can Connie and Jonathan find a way to balance their very different personalities and build a loving family together?

Excerpt

Prologue
Sea Kiss, New Jersey

Playing it safe was far worse than taking a risk on what you wanted.
Jonathan Pierce knew just what he wanted.

He grabbed hold of the gnarly branch of the decades-old wisteria vine that climbed the side of the Sinclair mansion and boosted himself up.
He’d made the journey so many times this past summer, he could do it blindfolded.

He scrambled up the vine, finding the familiar foot and handholds until he vaulted up and over the second floor railing, and landed silently as a cat burglar on the balcony. It ran the length of the immense oceanfront mansion, with elegant French doors offering views of the sea.

The first darkened doorway was Maggie Sinclair’s room. He rushed past it quietly; Maggie belonged to his older brother, Owen. Not that Owen had acted on it yet, but Jonathan had known for years that the two were meant to be together, family feud be damned.

The next doorway was usually Maggie’s dad’s, but the old man had stopped coming down to the Shore as often as he once had, so it was a good bet that room was unoccupied.

Reaching the third room, he saw the curtains wafting in the summer breeze and the dim light from behind the partially closed French doors.

He smiled and his heart raced with pleasure.

Connie was waiting for him. Ever-responsible, ever-loyal Connie had broken her own rules to fall in love with him. Or at least he thought it was love. It definitely was on his part. With barely a week left before the girls all went back to school, he intended to let her know just how he felt.

He slipped carefully through the open doors and shut them behind him. He’d gone no more than a step when she launched herself at him, laughing and kissing him as she said, “What took you so long?”

“I missed you, too,” he said, knowing it was more about the separation to come in a week and not about the long hours since last night.

He bent his head and kissed her, his touch tender and caring, and she answered in kind, her lips soft and coaxing.

Although Maggie had been bringing her friends to the Jersey Shore every summer since they’d met freshman year in college, he’d never really paid much attention at first. He’d had his share of girls from his high school class fawning over him.

But when Maggie and her friends had come back the next year, he had finally, gratefully, noticed what a real woman should be. Like Connie: all luscious curves; also proud, smart, and independent,

As impatient as he might be to make love to her tonight, he wanted her to know how much this meant to him. How this wasn’t only a summer romance for him.

He leaned over her, his gaze locked on her face. He wanted to say the words—Lord, how he wanted to—but they stuck in his throat and so he let every kiss and touch tell her what he couldn’t voice.

You Can Order Here:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2y6hi4h
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2y92UIQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2BJNcov
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2hKg3BW
iBooks: http://apple.co/2hKgP1J
Kobo: bit.ly/koboWHS

WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER Contemporary Romances set on the Jersey Shore

Special Pricing on #1 – One Summer Night

Don’t forget that we’ve got special pricing going on for #1 in the series, One Summer Night which was a Publishers Weekly Top 10 Fall Romance and featured in the NY Times. You can pick up #1 here and also read the first three chapters for free at Radish!

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
Radish: Read three chapters for free – http://bit.ly/2AERQFk

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