#WriteWed Inspiration for Under the Boardwalk #JerseyShore #NJ

I love the towns and beaches along the Jersey Shore in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. They each have their unique flavor and interesting facets. That’s why I’ve set so many books there in the past (like UNDER THE BOARDWALK) and why I’m setting the 2017 Jersey Girl Bridesmaids books there.

In UNDER THE BOARDWALK, which is part of the SUMMER HEAT box set, I’ve set the story in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, two of my favorite towns. But there are lots of other fun places in New Jersey and today I am sharing with you my Pinterest board of interesting spots you may want to check out in my home state.

#TeaserTuesday Sharon Hamilton #Bookbirthday & #Giveaway

I am very happy and honored to have my good friend and fabulous NY Times Bestselling Author Sharon Hamilton here today to celebrate the release of BAND OF BACHELORS: ALEX!

For a chance to win a free copy of Band of Bachelors: Lucas (the 1st book in this series that precedes ALEX) in ebook, read the short excerpt below, then tell me your favorite part in the comments.

    “I want more out of life than life’s given me so far, but I’m not complaining. I just want more of it. I want the juice of life, not to live life. I’m looking to get a good partner and travel the world playing volleyball until my knees ache and my back or shoulder gives out. And after volleyball? Who knows what I can do at eighty?” She gave him the smile she’d given so many other dumbstruck men over the few years since she’d been dating. It was always the same. It also usually got same reaction.

    But this time, she saw something ignite inside Alex. The backdrop of lonely sea gull cries, the salty gentle breeze and the sounds of metal clanging as work began late at the docks, only enhanced the excitement brewing in her belly. She was struck with the beauty and power of something maybe dangerous about this man. And also something so beautiful, her eyes watered.

Can’t wait to keep reading? Take ALEX home today!

Amazon: http://kindlel.ink/alex?release=authors
Barnes & Noble: http://nookl.ink/alex?release=authors
iBooks: http://ibooksl.ink/alex?release=authors
Amazon UK: http://kindlel.ink/uk.alex?release=authors
Amazon AU: http://kindlel.ink/au.alex?release=authors
Amazon CA: http://kindlel.ink/ca.alex?release=authors
Amazon FR: http://kindlel.ink/fr.alex?release=authors
Amazon DE: http://kindlel.ink/de.alex?release=authors

(Print & audio versions coming soon!)
Sharon Hamilton Band of Brothers Alex

Ocean Grove Inspiration for the At the Shore Series #WriteWed

I am busy working on the first book in the Jersey Girls Bridesmaid series, tentatively titled SINCE WE WERE 18. This is a Romeo-Juliet kind of story about the son and daughter of two wealthy families that have had a feud going on for a couple of decades.

The heroine, Maggie Sinclair, is trying to save her family’s chain of upscale department stores while the hero’s father would love nothing more than to see them fail so he can gobble up the prime real estate where the stores are located.

The hero, Jax Pierce, can’t understand his bitter and very unhappy father nor the fight with the Sinclair family. If anything, Jax has kind of been in love with Maggie since a moonlit kiss on the Jersey Shore when they were both 18 (hence the title).

The two family businesses are in NYC and Jax and Maggie live there, but both families have homes on the Jersey Shore and at heart, Maggie is a Jersey Girl as are Maggie’s two BFFS, Connie and Emma.

There will be lots of scenes in New York, but also lots of time spent on the Jersey Shore as the three friends come to terms with always being bridesmaids and never brides, and try to find their own happily-ever-after.

Today I’m leaving you with some photos of the Jersey Shore locations that have inspired me as I write this book.

The Jersey Girls Bridesmaid series will be available starting in 2017.

#TransformationTuesday Losing & Gaining & Working At It

It’s been a year since I started my lifestyle change. I’ve had a little setback the past two months, but am working on getting back on my change. Carbs being my downfall, so I have to scale back to not having any for a little while to get my equilibrium back.

Despite the setback, I am still working out and feeling better. I thought that today I would share a before and after. The first photo on the right is of me taken on one of the off-site sets for CNN ESPAÑOL right here in NYC in the Time Warner building. I was a guest on the morning show and talking about romances. The photo on the right is one I snapped at a recent conference. I’m 40 pounds lighter and happy with my cute little black dress (courtesy of OG Surf & Skate) and my new haircut, which I managed to make look almost like what it did after I left the hairdresser.

If you have your own transformation story, please take a moment to share it!
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#ManCandyMonday Tom Hiddleston

Sorry I’ve been away for a bit, but I had to attend a legal conference and came back feeling less than 100%. Because of that, Memorial Day seems to have gone by in a blur, but I wish to take a moment to thank our military men, women, families and veterans for all that they do for us!

My hubby and I watched The Night Manager on AMC and if you haven’t yet caught this six episode mini-series, you must! It’s a really good spy thriller and Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie are fabulous.

I have to confess that when I first saw Tom Hiddleston in THOR and THE AVENGERS, I really didn’t get why so many women were raving over him.

Then I saw him in The Night Manager. Wow. What a sexy man, especially all dressed up in those fabulous custom-made suits. Just wow. Of course, the only thing better than a sexy man in a suit is a sexy man out of it. LOL! Tom didn’t disappoint there as well, but unfortunately, no screen shots of his lean body in a bathing suit (although you can click here for a nice shot of Tom!).

You can visit their website for The Night Manager for more photos and exclusive features.

By Sachyn Mital (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Sachyn Mital (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Sachyn Mital (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

#FreebieFriday Cooking with the SUMMER HEAT Authors #FreeRead

CookingGood morning! It’s #FreebieFriday and this morning we have a free cookbook loaded with outstanding recipes from my fellow SUMMER HEAT Box Set authors.

All of the recipes are connected to our stories in the anthology and they all look incredibly tasty. The cookbook is a perfect way to find out more about some of the things that inspired our stories.

You can download the free cookbook at these various online retailers:

I hope you have a fabulous Friday and please don’t forget that the SUMMER HEAT box set releases on May 24! The SUMMER HEAT Box Set is specially priced at 99 cents for a limited time and is now available at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SXcNjW
BN: http://bit.ly/1VIZ7qJ
iBooks: http://apple.co/1Ovw5MB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1XPUCvS
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/20CGJBa
SummerHeatAuthors.com: http://bit.ly/1oI4s7c

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#WriteWed Inspiration for UNDER THE BOARDWALK

I was born on an island: Cuba. I grew up on an island: Long Island. I work on an island: Manhattan. Plus I’m a Pisces so you can kind of say that I have an affinity for the water.

But once I moved out to New Jersey, work and family obligations kept me from exploring the amazing Jersey Shore. It wasn’t until a birthday celebration weekend at the lovely Beacon House in Sea Girt that hubby and I discovered that part of New Jersey.

Once we discovered it, there was no turning us back from moving there and I am so glad that we did. I love taking long strolls on the boardwalk and spending summers reading under my umbrella. Even the winters months are great and the flavors of each of the towns in our area are unique and special.

My love for this part of the Jersey Shore is what inspired me to set UNDER THE BOARDWALK in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove. Today I’m sharing some photos from those towns and I hope you will get to visit one day and come see me if you do! P.S., my daughter’s shop – OG Surf & Skate – is right in the heart of Ocean Grove.

UNDER THE BOARDWALK is available in the SUMMER HEAT Box set which is specially priced at 99 cents for a limited time and is now available at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SXcNjW
BN: http://bit.ly/1VIZ7qJ
iBooks: http://apple.co/1Ovw5MB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1XPUCvS
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/20CGJBa
SummerHeatAuthors.com: http://bit.ly/1oI4s7c

SummerHeat_BoxSet_LRG-trans