Summer Readin'

June 21...the official start of summer here in the northern hemisphere and the longest day of the year. If you're looking to take a break from it all, here are a few great reads to help you escape from the daily grind and enjoy the summer heat.


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First up is a novella, "Bride’s Maid in Heaven" by fellow Romance Diva Babe, writing as Lyndell King. This inspirational story is part of the BRIDES AND BOUQUETS anthology from By Grace Publishing.

Janie is at her wit’s end. Just two days before her twin sister’s wedding, the flower girl has chickenpox, there’s vomit on the imported napkins, and the bride’s face is sunburned. Can Janie overcome the hurdles to salvage her sisterly bond, snag the best man and survive the wedding, all while wearing a pink meringue bridesmaid’s dress?



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Next we heat things up with an offering by Rose Middleton, CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? from Liquid Silver Books.

It’s winter in Melbourne, Australia and investigative journalist Jesse Fox doesn’t want to participate in the Christmas in July gimmick his boss has instigated. He’s about to turn in his "I really don’t want to play this game" note to the coordinator when he receives a mysterious package, which holds the most enticing dare he can imagine. Can he uncover the identity of his secret Santa before her titillating gifts drive him insane?

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Another fellow Diva and close friend, Maggie Nash, has a steamy novella, "Deep Cover," in a new anthology from Triskelion Publishing, UP CLOSE & PERSONAL. If you like a bit of action and adventure, this one may be for you!

Helena Peters has a secret. She’s been in love with her partner, Dimitri, and his tall, dark and sexy body ever since she joined the police force five years ago. It doesn’t help that he constantly parades a string of girlfriends in front of her face and never looks on her as anything other than his work partner. What would she do if he discovered her private longing?

His classic Greek looks were responsible for Dimitri Michaels arrogant success with women, so pretending to be lovers with his partner should have been a piece of cake. It might have been, except good ole ‘Hels’, his partner and buddy, was not the same person he remembered. Why was the only girl in his dreams the one who has been right under his nose all the time? More to the point, could he keep her safe long enough to convince her he cared for real?



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If you prefer a lighter, more comedic read, you won't want to miss THE LAST THING I EXPECTED, a debut novel by Heather Rae Scott. As readers, we're not usually privy to the birth of a book from conception to publication, but I remember when this one was a mere what if, saw the rough first chapter, and was happy to hear it was the author's first sale to Samhain Publishing.

A man who thought he had life figured out...just met a woman who proved him wrong!

Kindergarten teacher Grace Adams wants to turn over a new leaf. She's hoping a new school and a new apartment will de-magnetize the loser magnet she seems to possess. According to a student's mother, she's cursed. All it would take is a simple ceremony, some friends and a teeny-tiny bonfire in a coffee can to shake it...

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Yet another Diva offering, AURORA'S PASSION by Bebe Thomas, is a short, erotic read published by Freya's Bower.

Kris Anderssen is having a bad week. She lost her dream job and her lover on the same day and is in danger of losing her swanky New York apartment. She's regrouping by spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Aurora, her hometown. It's anything but relaxing. Her grandmother won't stop talking about the Northern Lights, the goddess Freya, and Norwegian folklore. Plus, Kris is more conflicted than ever, finding herself caught in a love triangle between her hot former boyfriend and her sexy best friend. She has feelings for each man; how can she possibly choose between them?

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And for those who like a quick, steamy read -- check out these two offerings by Romance Diva, Cassidy Kent:

SANTA'S HELPER (AMBER QUILL PRESS)

When Manhattanite CEO Noel Ford decides to adopt a letter addressed to Santa Claus, he never expects to end up escorting sexy single mother Maura Kelly around the city on Christmas Eve. Because of her son Kyle’s selfless wish for her to find love again after her husband’s death, Maura agrees to spend the day with the handsome stranger, against her better judgment.The spark between Noel and Maura is immediate, but the distance between Park Avenue and the New Jersey suburbs is immense. Are their two worlds too dissimilar to merge or will they be able to bridge the distance with love?




SUNSET KEY (PHAZE)

Freesia Daniels, personnel specialist and consummate planner, wasn't prepared to get the boot from her company for possessing a heart. When she decides to return home from Boston to the sunny beaches of Key West to lick her wounds, she discovers her heartbroken past has finally caught up with her in the form of Zachary Gray, her childhood sweetheart. He lures her to his island getaway and lands them smack in the middle of a raging hurricane. Lightning doesn't often strike twice, but this storm might give them both a second chance at love.