What Are You Reading Wednesday?

 I can't believe that tomorrow is June 1st! Where is this year going?

One thing I am excited about, however, is all the new books that are coming out. There are so many good ones!

I'm currently reading, Along a Breton Shore by Arlem Hawks. It's so well-researched and the history is woven in seamlessly. I've loved learning more about the French Revolution and how it affected everyone from peasants to royalty. Things were just getting good with Maxence and Armelle when I had to go and do mom stuff, so I can't wait to get back to it!

Here's the back copy:

A soldier and a young woman, on opposite sides of the revolution, must run for their lives across a war-torn France in this gripping novel of friendship, love, and survival.

France, 1794

Maxence Étienne, a soldier for the République, believes fiercely in the revolution that is bringing liberty to France. But even though the monarchy has fallen and Maxence is part of a great cause, he is still searching for a place to belong.

Armelle Bernard is a young woman from Breton whose father was sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries. She decides to confront the priest who betrayed her father, and as the conflict escalates, she herself is ordered to be executed―an order to be carried out by Maxence.

Maxence has seen his share of violence and bloodshed, but he also carries a tragic secret and can’t bring himself to carry out his assignment. In allowing Armelle to escape, he is forced to combat a fellow soldier, who dies in the struggle.

Though Armelle and Maxence are strangers and on opposite sides of the revolution, they find themselves united as fugitives of the new republic. Now they must find a way to trust each other as they search for a path to peace, and to freedom.

What are you reading this week? 

Free Military Romance TODAY ONLY!

I have been so honored to have come in contact with military men and women who have helped me research my books to make them as authentic as possible. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. To honor that, Second Look is FREE today only! (And this one was a Swoony award winner for Best Military Romance!)

Get your e-copy HERE

Here's the back copy: 

**Whitney Award Finalist for Best Suspense**

**Swoony Award Winner for Best Military Romance**

With a large-scale terrorist attack imminent, can Nate trust the woman he wants by his side or should he turn her in as a traitor?

When the most wanted terrorist in the world escapes from a high security prison, Nate Hughes is part of the task force sent to recapture him. During the mission, he meets Abby, a fellow investigator that seems to have it all together. He's drawn to her and hopes they can join forces, but when her past is revealed, loyalties are called into question. Could she have turned against the country she once held dear?

The CIA wants her captured and interrogated, but with a terrorist attack imminent, Abby may be the only person in a position to help them stop it. Nate must make a choice to either trust her or turn her in---but the wrong decision would clear the path for the largest attack on freedom the world has ever seen.

And time is running out.

**All books in the Griffin Force series can be read stand-alone**

Memorial Day

"We don't know them all, but we owe them all." 

Memorial Day is such a tender day for so many who have lost loved ones. As a military romance writer, I've met so many men and women who have served our country and lost friends and loved ones to war. It is sobering to think about. I'm so grateful for their sacrifice. Those who gave all should always be honored and will never be forgotten!

Sweet Mother's Day Sale!

If you are looking for a new book this Mother's Day weekend, Jennifer Peel is having a sweet sale on beach reads! The perfect getaway when you can't get away!

Paige's Turn

I promised myself ten years ago when I left Bella Port that I would never look back at the town that made me feel invisible. That is until the unthinkable happens and Aunt Mitzi, the person I love more than anyone or anything, suddenly passes away and leaves me everything. We are talking a beautiful beach house, more money than I know what to do with, and of course her beloved bookstore, Paige’s Turn, named after yours truly. Not only that, she thinks she’s left behind something else for me. Or is that someone else? That would be Sam Kennedy, my older brother’s best friend, who’s way out of my league, that is if I even had a league. I’m more like a bystander. But Mitzi was always telling me it was time to get into the game, to take my turn.

At least I’m no longer wearing baggy jeans and oversized t-shirts. Yoga really does do a body good. But Mitzi was crazy to think that me and the sexy landscaper were meant to be, especially when I fire him after our first meeting. Who would have ever guessed that a friendship would blossom after such a start? Or that Sam would make me feel seen in a way I had never been before. Was Aunt Mitzi right about Sam and me? Is it finally time for me to take my turn?

Get your sale copy HERE

Second Chance in Paradise

Doctoral student Holland Reeves may have aced every class she’s ever taken, but when it comes to life outside her lab, she’s beginning to realize she doesn’t have one. In fact, she has more meaningful relationships with test tubes and pipettes than with people. Wishing to change that, she reluctantly agrees to attend an old friend’s wedding. The only problem is, it means she has to return to Paradise. The small coastal town that once upon a time lived up to its name, that was, until he—Porter Clairborne—left her without even saying goodbye. It’s fine, it’s all fine. She has better things to do than be ridiculously happy and in love. Things like finding a cure for heart disease.

But when she returns to Paradise, she gets way more than she bargained for. Porter, the prodigal son, has returned—unbeknownst to her—and he has more on his mind than just helping his family’s business, the Clairborne Resort. He’s determined to win back the woman who captured his heart several summers ago. Lucky for him, Holland has a little mishap that forces her to stay in Paradise a lot longer than she expected.

Now together, Holland and Porter must decide if first love deserves a second chance. Will Paradise once again live up to its name? Or will it remain a town of broken dreams?

Get your sale copy HERE

Sweet Regrets

I, Melanie Dixon, can sum my life up in one simple phrase—I didn’t see that coming. Let’s just say, I never thought I would find myself divorced, pregnant, and living back with my parents in Amber Bay. If that isn’t fun enough, my old boyfriend, Declan Shaw, has also just moved back to town after a recent job promotion. The boy from next door is all grown up and wow, has time done his body good. But I’ve decided that the only cute and cuddly thing I need in my life is currently occupying my womb.

Of course, Declan has other plans. Plans that include us getting back together. For some reason, it doesn’t turn him off when I remind him that soon I’ll be a lactating zombie. He says he wants to be there for it all, even midnight feedings and diaper changes. Now it’s up to me to decide if I can trust him with my heart. Is Declan the man my baby and I deserve? Or will he be just another regret?

Get your sale copy HERE

The Daybell Trial

I've been following the Lori Vallow Daybell trial closely and each day of testimony just makes me shake my head. 

Chad Daybell and his first wife Tammy owned the Spring Creek Publishing company, and that company published my first four books. This was in the early 2000s and the Chad I'm hearing about in the murder trial is very different from the Chad I knew then. It's so strange to think of what happened to him after he left Utah and where his life is at now. (I even was interviewed by a TV program about my interactions with Chad, but since so many authors knew him, they aired another author's experiences. It was still interesting to be interviewed, though, and see the behind-the-scenes process.) Honestly, I feel the worst for the Daybell children who have lost so much, but most of all, they lost their mother who was a genuinely kind soul who had a wonderful laugh and really seemed to enjoy people. 

Chad Daybell's murder trial will be held at a later date, so currently I'm just following Lori's trial. It can't be televised, so there's a reporter named Nate Eaton who live tweets what's going on in the courtroom. I admit, I'm riveted. He's a good writer for details and it feels like you're in the courtroom. The prosecution is still presenting their case, but I'm so interested to hear what the defense will have to say. So far their cross-examinations have been underwhelming, so I wonder if the defense will be more of the same. I guess we shall see!

Do you ever follow trials?

How Do You Feel About Taxidermy?

So, a few months back, I started binge-watching a show with my daughter and in it, a lady has a beloved dog who dies and she has it "preserved." I'm not sure how I feel about that! I've had cats and dogs that I have loved like a family member, and I grieved when they died, but I never really thought about having them preserved by a taxidermist. I mean, I've gone to a museum where they have large animals like bears that have been preserved, but I just hadn't ever really come across a pet being preserved like that. Where would you keep a "preserved" pet? In your living room? I just don't know.

What do you think? Is that weird? Or something you would do when a beloved pet dies?

A Good Kind of Tired

 As you all know I've been the PTA President of my son's elementary school this year. Today was the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week and I've been planning this for so long! I had gift cards, mini-bread and jam, and a lunch from Olive Garden delivered to their classroom.

But there were a few snags. I was stressed because the food was late to be delivered. I was trying to coordinate a student activity that didn't turn out how I'd imagined. And the Thank You Teachers banner I got turned out to be a little smaller than it looked in the picture. 

It wasn't perfect. But I had a teacher tell me that she'd had a really hard day today with her students and she sat at her desk and just ate the mini-bread loaf without cutting it, dipping it in the jam. She said it was her "comfort" food today and she'd really needed that. Suddenly all the little snags didn't matter anymore. I'd made a teacher's day better and that's what the entire week is supposed to be about. It just made me feel good.

What are some things that make you feel appreciated?