Nina Potter's Blog

Boardroom & Bakery

My Dear Readers,

Yesterday we celebrated my biggest success so far in this four-year journey.

Today, let’s talk about failures.

And I mean total flops.

You see, I have ADHD on the autistic spectrum. Undiagnosed, but very much present. And with this comes a kind of humor that isn’t easily understood by other people. What I think is funny might come across as confusing or even offensive to others.

I tried to be funny twice with my books.

Both times, it didn’t work out.

Boardroom & Bakery

In February 2025, I launched Boardroom & Bakery for Valentine’s Day.

A magical later-in-life romantic comedy with Greek mythology, slow-burn romance, and small-town charm.

The premise: When Zeus notices plummeting romance rates among successful mid-lifers, he calls in his most sophisticated matchmaker. Cupida, who prefers Armani suits to angel wings, has spent millennia proving that the best love stories aren’t just for the young.

In my mind, I cast Emma Thompson in the role of a jaded Cupida.

But maybe there’s too much chaos in this book.

Dionysos organizing parties. A sourdough starter giving love advice. Perhaps I should have avoided all the chaos and the Greek mythology altogether.

There are only a few text reviews, and the one-star reviews far outweigh the positive ones.

This one hurt.

But I didn’t give up. I still thought I could write romantic comedies that readers would enjoy.

Sunshine Retirement Village

That’s how the Sunshine Retirement Village series came to life.

Think Golden Girls and Grace and Frankie—on steroids:

Welcome to Sunshine Retirement Village, where unexpected romances flourish, juicy gossip abounds, and lawn ornaments may be up to something.

This series follows a lively community of seniors who refuse to slow down—in life or love. Each book introduces a brand-new couple discovering connection, laughter, and second chances, all set against the backdrop of Florida sunshine and a community filled with chaos, friendship, and flamingo-related feuds.

At the heart of it all is Dolly McGraw—a former Vegas showgirl, current self-appointed Activities Queen, and the sparkly glue that binds this wild and wonderful place together.

The reviews have been good.

But the sales?

A handful of copies per book, no matter what I did.

Sometimes you write what you love, and the market simply doesn’t want it.

That’s the reality of this business.

If you’re curious about Boardroom & Bakery, I’ve included the prologue at the end of this newsletter.

And if a retirement village full of sass and second chances sounds like your kind of escape, the Sunshine Retirement Village series is available here: Sunshine Retirement Village

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.

Take care wherever you are.

Much Love,

PS: Tomorrow, Day 7, takes us to the Starfish Inn on the New England coast. 🎄🎅

PROLOGUE: Boardroom & Bakery

Cupida stood in the ethereal elevator of Mount Olympus Enterprises, watching floor numbers tick by in a non-linear fashion. 1, 7, Pi, Infinity, Basement, 42...

She rolled her eyes. Zeus and his penchant for the dramatic.

As if summoning her wasn’t theatrical enough.

With a ding that sounded suspiciously like a thunderclap, the doors slid open to reveal the penthouse floor. Cupida stepped out, her stilettos clicking against marble that shifted between solid stone and wispy clouds. A ball of golden thread rolled past her feet, chased by three squabbling old women.

“Ladies,” Cupida nodded to the Fates, who were too engrossed in their eternal argument to notice her. Some things never changed, even after millennia. Unlike the décor, apparently. She arched an eyebrow at the newest addition: a life-sized ice sculpture of Zeus in a power pose, lightning bolt in hand.

“Subtle,” she muttered, striding past.

As she approached Zeus’s office, the doors flew open with a gust of wind that ruffled her perfectly styled hair. Cupida sighed, patting it back into place. “You know,” she called out, entering the vast space, “there’s this marvelous invention called a doorknob. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?”

Zeus’s booming laugh filled the room, seeming to shake the very foundations of the building. He sat behind a desk that could easily double as a helipad, his silver hair and beard windswept. Today, the office had decided to mimic Mount Olympus itself, complete with misty peaks and the occasional eagle soaring by.

“Cupida, my dear!” Zeus’s voice rolled like thunder. “So glad you could join us. I assume the elevator didn’t give you too much trouble?”

“Oh no,” Cupida replied dryly, settling into a chair that materialized beneath her. “I always enjoy a trip through non-Euclidean space before my performance reviews.”

Zeus’s bushy eyebrows furrowed. “Performance review? Who said anything about a performance review?”

“Why else would you summon me to this... charming replica of your midlife crisis?” Cupida gestured to the mountain scenery. “Surely not for the pleasure of my company.”

A rumble of thunder shook the room, and dark clouds began to gather around Zeus’s head. “Now see here, young lady—”

“I’m older than most civilizations,” Cupida interjected.

“—we have a crisis on our hands!” Zeus plowed on, ignoring her comment. He waved his hand, and a series of holographic charts appeared in the air between them. Cupida squinted at the fluctuating lines and numbers.

“Our love metrics are down! Way down!” Zeus jabbed a finger at a particularly depressing red line that seemed to be in a race to the bottom of the chart. “Especially in the 45 to 65 age bracket. Do you know what this means?”

Cupida examined her perfectly manicured nails. “So, middle-aged mortals have finally realized that love is a biochemical reaction designed to perpetuate the species, and they’re better off with cats?”

The storm clouds around Zeus’s head darkened ominously. “It means,” he growled, “that we’re losing market share! Fewer weddings, fewer anniversaries, and fewer sappy posts on that Facepage thing!”

“Facebook,” Cupida corrected. “And since when do we care about ‘market share’?”

“Since the mortals started outsourcing our jobs to silicon chips and algorithms!” Zeus stood, his form seeming to grow until he loomed over the desk. Outside the window, lightning forked across the sky. “Love is our business, Cupida. Our essence. If the mortals stop believing in love, they stop believing in us. And if they stop believing in us...”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. Cupida felt a chill that had nothing to do with the storm brewing in the office. She’d seen gods fade before, withering away as mortals forgot them. It wasn’t pretty.

“Fine,” she sighed, standing up to face her father. “What do you want me to do? Shoot the entire middle-aged population with arrows? Because I’ve got to tell you, Dad, the repetitive strain injury alone would be—”

“No, no, no!” Zeus waved his hand dismissively, and the storm in the office calmed somewhat. “We need to be smarter about this. More... what’s the word they use now? Proactive!”

Cupida raised an eyebrow. “Have you been reading mortal management books again?”

Zeus had the grace to look embarrassed. “The point is,” he continued, “we need to show these mortals that true love isn’t dead. That it’s not just for the young and photogenic. We need a success story, Cupida. A big one.”

“And let me guess,” Cupida said, a sinking feeling in her stomach, “you want me to deliver this miracle?”

Zeus beamed, and a ray of sunshine broke through the clouds, illuminating him like a spotlight. “Exactly! I knew you’d understand. You’ve got one month to create the greatest love story of the modern age. Something that’ll go... what do they call it? Bacterial?”

“Viral,” Cupida corrected, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Okay, let’s say I agree to this ludicrous plan. How exactly am I supposed to create this epic romance without being obvious? In case you haven’t noticed, mortals aren’t too keen on divine intervention these days.”

Zeus stroked his beard thoughtfully, static electricity crackling between his fingers. “You’ll have to be sneaky. Infiltrate their world. Become one of them, but with, you know...” he waggled his fingers, “...your godly pizzazz.”

Cupida stared at him. “Pizzazz? Really? Did Dionysus spike your ambrosia again?”

But even as she snarked, her mind was whirring. An idea began to form, outlandish and ridiculous, but then again, those tended to be the ones that worked best with mortals.

“Alright,” she said slowly. “I think I might have a plan, but I’ll need resources—and a really good cover story.”

Zeus clapped his hands, and a bolt of lightning struck the desk, leaving behind a sleek, golden briefcase. “Everything you need is in here: paperwork, credentials, mortal money—the works.”

Cupida picked up the briefcase, surprised by its weight. “You seem oddly prepared for this.”

Zeus shrugged, a twinkle in his eye. “I may have had a chat with the Fates. Or bribed them. Details, details.”

Rolling her eyes, Cupida turned to leave, but Zeus’s voice stopped her at the door.

“Cupida,” he said suddenly serious, “remember what’s at stake here. It’s not about us. These mortals—they need love. Real love. More than ever.”

For a moment, Cupida felt a twinge of something—an emotion she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in centuries. She quickly suppressed it. “Save the sentimental crap for Hallmark, Dad. I’ll get it done.”

As the elevator doors closed behind her, Cupida allowed herself a small smile. A challenge. This could actually be… fun.

Back in her office—a much more modest affair compared to Zeus’s extravaganza—Cupida began her preparations. She pulled up a holographic display of her target: Victoria Chase, CEO of Chase Innovations.

“Victoria Chase,” Cupida mused, scrolling through the file. “Divorced for 15 years, married to her job, hasn’t taken a vacation in… ever?” She raised an eyebrow. “Well, aren’t you a bundle of joy waiting to happen?”

The image showed a striking blonde woman with sharp blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the hologram. Everything about her screamed power and control, from her impeccable suit to her ramrod-straight posture.

“Let’s see how you handle a little divine intervention, Ms. Chase,” Cupida smirked, reaching for her golden bow.

She nocked an arrow, aimed at the hologram, and let it fly. The arrow should have dissolved into a shower of rose petals—her usual flair for the dramatic. Instead, it bounced off the hologram with a comical ‘boing’ and ricocheted around the room.

“What the—” Cupida ducked as the arrow whizzed past her head, leaving a trail of confused butterflies in its wake. It finally embedded itself in her office wall, transforming her tasteful abstract painting into a garish velvet portrait of Elvis.

Cupida stared at the portrait, then at her bow. “Well,” she said dryly, “that bodes well.”

Three days later, Cupida stood in the lobby of a gleaming skyscraper in downtown Boston, her golden briefcase replaced with a sleek, professional leather portfolio. She had traded her flowing, ethereal gowns for a sharp designer suit that would make even Athena nod in approval. Her hair was pulled back into a no-nonsense bun, and she had swapped her usual subtle glow for a more mortal-friendly highlight.

As she waited for the elevator, Cupida overheard two employees gossiping nearby.

“Did you hear? The Ice Queen is looking for a new PR firm,” one whispered.

“Victoria Chase? Good luck to whoever gets that job. I heard she made her last PR rep cry,” the other replied, shuddering.

“Cry? I heard she turned him to stone with her glare!”

Cupida smirked. If only they knew what a real Medusa could do.

She approached the reception desk, channeling every ounce of corporate confidence she’d observed in mortals over the centuries. “Cupida Amora,” she announced. “I’m here to see Victoria Chase. I have an appointment.”

The receptionist, a young man who looked like he subsisted entirely on espresso and anxiety, blinked up at her. “Oh, yes, Ms. Amora. Ms. Chase is expecting you. Fifty-second floor. Her assistant will meet you.”

Cupida nodded her thanks and headed for the elevator. As the doors slid shut, she allowed herself a moment of doubt. Was she really going to pull this off? Pretend to be a mortal PR consultant to orchestrate a grand love story?

“Well,” she muttered to herself as the elevator began its ascent, “beats shooting people with arrows.”

She absentmindedly reached into her portfolio to double-check her proposal. Instead of paper, her fingers brushed against something soft and fluttery. Frowning, she opened the portfolio wider.

A dozen white doves erupted from the folder, cooing and flapping around the elevator in a feathery frenzy. Cupida swatted at them in panic, acutely aware of the security camera in the corner.

“Oh, come on!” she hissed, trying to stuff the birds back into her portfolio. “This isn’t Ancient Greece! We don’t do doves anymore!”

By the time the elevator chimed for the fifty-second floor, Cupida had managed to make the doves disappear—though she wasn’t entirely sure how or where. She took a deep breath, smoothed her suit, and stepped out, the picture of professional composure.

She strode confidently down the hallway, her heels clicking against the polished floor. As she rounded the corner to Victoria’s office, she came to an abrupt halt.

There, leaning casually against the assistant’s desk with a charming smile, was a face she knew all too well. A face that had no business being there.

Anteros turned, his eyes widening slightly as they met hers. His surprise quickly morphed into that infuriatingly handsome smirk she’d both loved and hated for millennia.

“Well, well,” he drawled, his velvety voice sending an unwelcome shiver down her spine. “Cupida, darling. What an unexpected pleasure.”

Cupida’s carefully crafted plan crumbled around her. As she stood there, staring at her eternal rival and sometimes-something-more, only one thought managed to break through her shock:

This was going to complicate things.

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The Cowboy’s Christmas Promise

My Dear Readers,

Remember yesterday when we talked about the data and what it told me about women like us?

While the Love in Alaska series is doing well, especially considering I only use organic marketing methods, I was curious.

Could one of my books do much better if I strictly followed the rules for the romance book market?

So I did more research and found a subgenre that intrigued me: Christian Western Romance.

Writing about a broken cowboy who finds true love combined with Christian faith? That sounded good to me.

During my teenage years, I watched every John Wayne movie on TV. Nowadays, I’m rather invested in shows like Yellowstone. And while I’m at odds with the Roman Catholic Church, spirituality is an important part of my daily life.

That’s how The Cowboy’s Christmas Promise was born.

This book released on November 14 and has been in the top 100 of its main category since day one.

And this book taught me an important lesson: while it matters to write what I love, it also matters to write what the market wants if I want to maintain a sustainable author business that pays my rent.

Here is one of the reviews:

“OH Nina!! you have outdone yourself! This is a bit out of the regular short books she writes, but this is a longer story with lots of heart, compassion, understanding, a bit of Christmas magic and a new formed family that will make you believe in unconditional love. This is the story of a retired rodeo star, and a widowed nurse -with two little ones- They are both a little bit broken, he is looking for solace, quiet, away from the circuit, she is searching for stability, roots, security for her family after their grief and loss. Nothing prepared them for each other and having to listen and understand what each other needed. She brings light, children happiness, and silence, he brings strength, understanding, and peace. Together they find a place to be, as a family formed by love.” (Amazon Review)

A wounded cowboy. A widowed nurse. A Christmas they’ll never forget.

Corbin Ridge’s rodeo career is over, and so is the faith that once carried him. Returning to his family’s Texas ranch, he wants nothing more than to hide from the world.

Holly Jenkins has two lively seven-year-olds and a quiet determination to start fresh. When she accepts the job as Corbin’s live-in physical therapist, she doesn’t expect to face down a cowboy who’s equal parts stubborn and broken.

But Christmas has a way of working miracles. As twinkling lights, children’s laughter, and God’s gentle nudges weave Corbin and Holly’s lives together, they discover a truth neither can deny: sometimes the hardest wounds are the ones only love can heal.

Fans of Karen Kingsbury, Becky Wade, and Denise Hunter will fall in love with this heartfelt, faith-filled romance set against the warmth of a Texas Christmas.

The Cowboy's Christmas Promise

Black Friday Weekend Special

The Cowboy’s Christmas Promise is just 99 cents right now.

And if you purchase through the Bookthrone Black Friday Promo, you have a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite and a $400 Amazon gift card:

Black Friday Giveaway

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.

Take care wherever you are.

Much Love,

PS: Tomorrow, Day 6, I’m going to be honest with you about my least successful series and the most hated book I’ve ever written. 🎄📚

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Christmas in Silver Sound Holiday Romance Series

Hello Book Lovers!

Good morning! I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.

With Black Friday deals everywhere, I’ve got a fantastic, limited-time edition of the newsletter packed with huge savings and a massive giveaway you won’t want to miss!

🎁 Black Friday Giveaway: Win Big!

First up, a chance to treat yourself this shopping weekend!

We have a massive Black Friday Giveaway where you can win an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite plus a huge $400 Amazon Gift Card!

The deadline to enter is Monday, December 1st, so hurry!

💥 $0.99 Romance Book Blast!

Get your e-reader ready! There is a giant Romance Book Blast running right now featuring over 950 books across all romance subgenres, with every single book priced at only $0.99!

This is the perfect opportunity to load up your TBR pile for the rest of the year.

Christmas in Silver Sound is Growing!

The Christmas in Silver Sound Holiday Romance series is expanding fast!

Mistletoe on Main Street, Book 6, has already been released.

Christmas Market Promise, Book 7, and Harbor Illumination, Book 8 (which concludes this series), will follow soon!

Deals and Recommendations

This week, we have a total of 6 promotions for you, covering lots of cozy and festive reads.

I also have 4 book recommendations for you. Just a heads-up: one of the recommendations is a steamy romance, so please be cautious if that is not content you appreciate!

Let’s dive into all these wonderful finds!

Quick recap:

Mega Giveaway: Win an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite + $400 Amazon Gift Card (Deadline: Monday, Dec 1st!)

Massive Sale: Romance Book Blast – Over 950 books at $0.99 across all subgenres.

Series Update:Christmas in Silver Sound series is growing (Book 6 released; Books 7 & 8 coming soon).

Promotions: 6 deals total.

Book Recommendations: 4 total (Note: includes 1 steamy romance).

Happy reading!

Much Love,

PS: Happy Black Friday weekend! Don’t forget the Kindle + $400 Amazon Gift Card giveaway deadline is Monday, Dec 1st! Good luck and enjoy your shopping! 😊🇭🇷

Black Friday Giveaway

Grab FREE and deeply discounted eBooks all weekend long… AND enter for your chance to win:

🎁 GRAND PRIZE:

📘 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

💸 + $400 Amazon Gift Card!

One lucky reader will take home BOTH prizes—just in time for holiday reading! 🎄✨

Earn extra entries by:

⭐ Completing bonus actions

⭐ Sharing with friends

⭐ Visiting participating authors

⭐ Checking out our Black Friday book deals!

Don’t miss this MASSIVE event—your next favorite romance, thriller, fantasy, or mystery could be waiting… FREE.

🔥 Sale & giveaway end Dec 1 at midnight! 🔥

Click on the image or this link for your chance to win: Black Friday Book Blast

Black Friday Book Blast GiveawayBooks

Ethan Winter, a ruggedly handsome farmer on Palmar Island, South Carolina, carries the weight of a broken heart from a past relationship that ended abruptly. He’s been reluctant to let anyone get too close, guarding the pain of betrayal. But this Christmas season, the island’s enchanting charm is about to weave a new story.

Olivia Foster, a vivacious decorator specializing in holiday magic, arrives on Palmar Island with plans to bring festive cheer to every corner. Her heart, too, holds secrets, and she’s determined to make a difference in the close-knit community. As she decorates high-end houses and crafts ornaments to raise funds for underprivileged children, she never expects to face her past.

When Olivia and Ethan cross paths, they share an unspoken connection, each harboring their own secrets. Despite their differences—Ethan’s introverted nature and Olivia’s zest for adventure, his love for routine and her preference for spontaneity—they find themselves drawn to each other, discovering a love that defies the odds.

“Under the Mistletoe” is a heartwarming holiday romance that reminds us of the power of forgiveness, the warmth of community, and the magic of love during the Christmas season.

Get Your Book

Reining in Christmas: A Steamy Christmas Romance

Christmas came early for them both, but some gifts are too good to keep.

Finn
I’d learned the hard way that the women I fell for always chose someone else. After getting my heart shattered twice, I was done putting myself out there. Running my stable alone was safer than risking another heartbreak.

Lauren
I had the life my family mapped out for me—law degree, corporate job, everything perfectly planned by everyone except me. But I was miserable playing a part that never fit. After an explosive breakdown, I fled to small-town Alberta for a month-long vacation, desperate for the kind of Christmas I’d only dreamed about.

Get Your Book

A die-hard romantic cowboy, a sweet girl with only one dream, and a Christmas miracle that allows them to trust that love conquers all.

Rachel Johnson loves being at Christmas Tree Ranch. Between being surrounded by all the wonders of Christmas and all the Johnson babies, she is in heaven.

When Cousin Tanner’s friend, Drew, brings his sisters to the ranch, she falls for him hard. All she has ever wanted was to find a steadfast love and become a mom.

The thing is, Drew has a secret he’s too afraid to share…his bout of childhood cancer left him with only a small chance to father the kids he desperately wants. He knows having children is Rachel’s only goal in life.

How can he break the news to her? He will have to convince her that faith and love combined with Christmas miracles can make their dreams come true—together.

The Cowboy’s Secret Christmas is a clean and wholesome romance by the author of Unforgettable Cowboys, Faithful Cowboys, and Hope Lake. Read this heart-warming holiday romance now!

Get Your Book

He’s popular. She’s not. Sharing a house was never part of her high school survival plan.

Chrissy Lang’s strategy for making it through junior year is simple: stay invisible. With Page Buchanan—the queen bee who treats “nerd hunting” like a sport—ruling the hallways, Chrissy’s safest behind her books and out of sight.

But when Theo Pearson, the most popular guy in school (and Page’s longtime crush), temporarily moves in with Chrissy’s family, her carefully constructed world flips upside down. Suddenly, everyone notices her. Page is furious, Theo’s being way too charming, and Chrissy’s heart is doing things she doesn’t quite understand.

For fans of clean, sweet, opposites-attract romance about finding courage, connection, and your place in the spotlight.

Get Your Book

Deals & Freebies

Click on the images below to visit the respective promotion sites:

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Love in Alaska Romance Series

My Dear Readers,

I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with good food and good company.

And thank you—for reading my books, for opening these newsletters, and for being part of my author world these past four years.

Now let’s jump to January 2025, and from South Africa to Alaska.

While I loved writing all the books set in the Western Cape, I also knew I wasn’t going to convince readers that this was a setting they’d enjoy.

That’s why the Constantia Corner Café series only has three books, even though I had many more planned.

So I dove into market research. Who are my readers? Where are they? What do they want to read?

This was quite the rabbit hole.

After several months of sifting through data, scrolling Amazon bestseller lists, lurking in Facebook groups, and polling my newsletter subscribers (You!), I had a direction.

But there was something in the data I didn’t like.

It was how mature female protagonists in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are portrayed. In steamy romances, midlife women know what they want. But in clean and sweet romance—the kind I write—they come across as damsels in distress who need an alpha hero to rescue them.

According to the data, that’s what readers wanted.

But that’s just not me. And I suspect it’s not you either.

I’m a Generation Jones woman. We were born roughly between 1955 and 1965, and we’re in our late fifties to early seventies now. We grew up after the Baby Boomers but before Gen X, shaped by shifting cultural norms, expanding career opportunities, and the rise of modern independence.

We are ambitious, resilient, and have a strong sense of self. We value authenticity, emotional maturity, and stories that reflect the richness of lived experience. We appreciate romance that honors our confidence, our complexity, and the belief that meaningful love can happen at any stage of life.

So I made a compromise.

I created the Love in Alaska series with Generation Jones women in mind, but included everything else the data said readers want.

And I gave each heroine a strong moment of self-discovery: the moment she sheds the victim mode and remembers who she is.

This combination is starting to pay off and with each book, this series gains more traction.

But this is only the beginning.

I’ve become quite attached to Silver Sound and all its fictional inhabitants. There are now eight Christmas stories set here, too, and the future of Silver Sound looks very bright because, going forward, there will be two spin-off series set in this charming Alaskan small town as well.

Love in Alaska Romance Series

Welcome to Silver Sound, a fictional coastal town on the Alaskan Panhandle, where people like you and me, with rich life experiences, find genuine connections on our own terms.

When Eleanor Matthews, the savvy owner of a local B&B, launches a discreet matchmaking service, she’s not just playing cupid—she’s creating opportunities. Silver Sound is the ideal setting for those who understand who they are, what they want, and why they’re ready for something real.

Each story features a confident, capable heroine paired with an equally driven man who challenges her, surprises her, and ultimately earns her trust. From rebuilding life after divorce to reclaiming joy after loss, from taking bold professional leaps to choosing a relationship that fits the woman she has become—every book offers a smart, heartfelt journey filled with honest emotion and genuine chemistry.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Alaskan scenery, these clean, contemporary romances celebrate fresh starts, emotional courage, and love that arrives precisely when you’re ready for it.

If you’re looking for stories about mature characters, real stakes, and romance that feels both authentic and hard-won, Silver Sound is your next irresistible escape. One click, and your journey north begins.

This review for Building Love, the first book in the series, told me that I was finally on track:

Black Friday Weekend Special

This weekend, Growing Love—book 4 in the Love in Alaska series—is just 99 cents.

It’s also part of a massive Romance Book Blast featuring 950 romance books.

If you’re looking to fill your Kindle this holiday season, this is your chance:

Black Friday Romance Book Blast

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.

Take care wherever you are.

Much Love,

PS: Tomorrow, Day 5 brings Cowboys, Christmas, and a chance to win an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and a $400 Amazon gift card. One lucky reader will take home BOTH prizes—just in time for holiday reading! 🎄✨

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Constantia Corner Café Romance Series

My Dear Readers,

Yesterday, I told you about starting to take this author business seriously in January 2023 with the release of The Vintage of Love.

By then, I had learned a lot about self-publishing and taken a high-quality course that helped me find my bearings.

I was honing my craft and learning more and more about how to write romance.

But 2023 was also an awakening.

My yearly royalties came to roughly $900. My investment in paid promotions and advertising? Approximately five times higher.

I had only just started building a subscriber list, and it was going slowly.

The reason became painfully clear: My books were not to market.

No one really wanted to read romance stories set in the Western Cape of South Africa.

Despite this market reality dawning on me, I created the Constantia Corner Café series, also set in Cape Town and book 1, Cappuccino Kisses, was published in November 2023.

Why did I keep writing South African stories when the market had already told me no?

Because I wasn’t ready to let go.

Not yet.

Welcome to Constantia Corner Café—where every cup comes with a chance at love.

Set against the breathtaking beauty of Cape Town’s Constantia Valley, this heartfelt romance series follows men and women who find healing, hope, and second chances in a cozy café where lives—and hearts—intertwine.

From unexpected sparks to later-in-life love, each story blends emotional depth, warm intimacy, and the magic of rediscovery.

Whether sharing a cappuccino, a mocha, or a bold ristretto, these couples discover that the most extraordinary romances often begin with a simple moment in a familiar corner café.

If you love small-town charm, mature protagonists, and uplifting stories of courage, connection, and new beginnings, pull up a chair.

At Constantia Corner Café, love is always on the menu.

But here’s where the story takes a turn.

Cappuccino Kisses showed me that honing my craft and buckling down on learning really does pay off.

This book received 38 ratings, and 53% of them were five stars.

Here is one of those reviews:

“From page one, I felt like a regular customer of Constantia Corner Café, and if you don’t, I hope that you at least feel like you stumbled onto this amazing coffee shop and would like to sit down for something decadent and delicious. Owner Jack Thompson decides to play matchmaker, or rather become a modern-day Cupid, after watching some of his regular customers. Jack sets his sights on Sara, a Jane Austen-loving teacher, and Alex, an entrepreneur; IT specialist and CEO of his own company. And with a clumsy beginning, Jack soon launches Operation Austen to Action. Second-chance romances bring a level of not playing guessing games and being straightforward. Of course, there is vulnerability and hesitance, and Cappuccino Kisses makes sure you do get a bit of drama and misunderstandings and might even tear up, but the big question is: Will the very thing Alex is working on enhance Sara’s role as a teacher, or will that cost her her job? I am looking forward to reading more love matches, and maybe Jack himself will be hit by his own ‘Cupid arrow,’ because in Jack’s own words: ‘Here in this little café, love always finds a way.’” (Amazon Review)

This review still fills me with pride.

Not because of the stars, but because this reader felt my deep love for Cape Town. That’s all I ever wanted.

If you’d like a taste of Cape Town café culture, you can download the prequel to this series for free by clicking on the image. But hurry, this link expires on Tuesday, Dec 2:

Espresso Love

Want to dive into the full Constantia Corner Café series?

You can get each book for 99 cents right now: Constantia Corner Café series.

The Book No One Wants to Read

Although I now write to market—or at least try to—once in a while, I break out of this writing prison and write what I want.

It never works out.

Reluctant Love is one of those books.

It’s a standalone contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

In my mind, Brooke Shields and Russell Crowe were the leads, paired with Ruby, the absolutely incorrigible personal assistant and a house with a mind on its own.

Here is a short book description:

A billionaire with a bruised heart. A gallery owner with everything to lose. One outrageous marriage contract that could change everything.

Diana Kensington vowed never to give her heart to a man again—especially not to Maxwell Huntington III, the infamous Beast of Silicon Valley. But when her struggling art gallery faces closure and Max needs a fake wife to salvage his public image, an unlikely deal is struck: one marriage of convenience, zero expectations, and absolutely no kissing.

At least, that was the plan.

If you’re curious about the book no one wants to read, here it is for 99cents until Dec 2: Reluctant Love

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.

Take care wherever you are.

Much Love,

PS: Tomorrow is Black Friday, and Day 4 takes us somewhere completely different—to the icy beauty of Alaska, where I finally found a setting readers wanted.

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My Dear Readers,

As you might remember from yesterday, the Magic Matchmaker Agency series was published in November and December 2021, but it received lukewarm feedback.

After writing and self-publishing six books, I quickly realized that this was an expensive hobby.

All those promises about becoming rich quickly as a self-published author?

Clickbait.

My dream of establishing a location-independent author business fell flat as I watched my savings dwindle. As a beginner, I fell into every trap: overpaying for editing, covers, promotions, and advertising.

I joined social media communities in hopes of learning the ropes, but the discussions rarely focused on business. Instead, they mostly consisted of complaints about Amazon or showcases of six-figure and seven-figure royalty statements, neither of which were helpful.

After decades of intense hotel management, I found myself bored sitting at home with little to do.

So, I started looking for a job and eventually found a remote position with a cruise company on their COVID support team.

Those were challenging times, and there was no room for creative writing.

This is why book one in the Burger Wine Estate series - The Vintage of Love - wasn’t published until January 17, 2023.

This book is one of my most personal. The love story in it is mine, from more than thirty years ago when I spent two years in Johannesburg.

It was the most amazing time of my life, and if there’s one thing I regret, it’s leaving too soon, as the political situation in 1992 was challenging.

It may sound kitschy, but I have never felt as joyful, happy, and free as I did during that time. I’m convinced that a part of my soul remained there.

In the Burger Wine Estate series, I aimed to capture the profound love I have for South Africa.

Burger Wine Estate Romance Series

Welcome to South Africa’s sun-kissed Constantia Valley, where the Burger family’s historic vineyard pairs world-class wines with second chances at love:

The Vintage of Love
Divorced, Elisabeth returns to Cape Town and encounters her first love, John Burger, discovering that some bouquets become richer with age.

The Stormy Path to Love
Grumpy vintner Michael Burger teams up with vibrant landscape architect Patricia to build a Romantic Pathway…and finds himself on one.

The Secret of Love
Big-city lawyer Dianne Walker hides at the estate to escape a stalker; winemaker Robert Burger offers a fake engagement that feels far too real.

The Sweet Treat of Love
Celebrity chef Andrew Burger and perfectionist baker Karen Adams must create a show-stopping menu for a visiting critic—if their simmering attraction doesn’t boil over first.

The Patience of Love
Interior designer Alan Burger and returning winemaker Emily Du Toit face old family rifts—and rediscover a love that has been aging like a reserve vintage.

These later-in-life romances feature grown-up stakes and guaranteed happy endings. Family secrets and sibling banter unfold against sweeping vineyard vistas. Sweet heat, zero spice—ideal for fans of Debbie Macomber, Pamela Kelley, and Hope Holloway.

The reviews for this series have already been better, but to date The Vintage of Love has only an average rating of 3.7 on Goodreads.

Here is one of the reviews that this book received:

“This book/novella/whatever you want to call it because it was only 47 pages long left a lot to be desired. The plot of the story was really good, but the author crammed the whole story into just a few pages, which leaves the reader very unsatisfied. We don’t get to see their lives before or even during their rekindling and just seemed very unbelievable because of the quickness of the story. This could have been really good based on the premise but it just needed a lot more details.” (Amazon Review)

If you’d like a taste of the Western Cape, you can download the prequel to this series for free by clicking on the image. But hurry, this link expires on Tuesday, Dec 2:

The Choices We Make

If you’re in the mood for another South African love story, Second Chance at Love is a standalone romance also set at a winery in the Western Cape:

Second Chance at Love

Want to dive into the full Burger Wine Estate series?

You can get each book for 99 cents right now, and the Burger Wine Estate Boxset, which contains all the books in the series, is available for $2.99 for a limited time.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.

Take care wherever you are.

Much Love,

PS: Tomorrow, Day 3 stays in Cape Town—at a corner café where love is served with every espresso. I’ll also share one of my standalone books: a retelling of Beauty and the Beast that no one wanted to read.

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Magic Matchmaker Agency Romance Series

My Dear Readers,

This month marks four years since I published my first book, and I’ve been thinking about how to celebrate this anniversary.

For the next eight days, I’m taking you through my journey as Nina Potter, from the very beginning to the present: four years, eight series, plenty of mistakes, and a lot of growth.

If you’re fairly new here, welcome.

If you’ve been with me since the early days, thank you for sticking around through the learning curve.

Let me take you back to the beginning.

When I was laid off from my Hotel General Manager job in August 2021, I was devastated. This was my life, and I couldn’t imagine existing without it. I was 57 years old. The hospitality industry was barely crawling out of the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands had lost their jobs. Finding a new position that fit my career path? I knew immediately it would be difficult.

And of course, it was.

So I decided to reinvent myself and do something I’d wanted to do since I was a little girl: write stories.

Very cliché, right?

I knew absolutely nothing about self-publishing but thought it couldn’t be that difficult.

Boy, was I proven wrong.

More on that in the emails over the next days—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The first series I wrote and published was the Magic Matchmaker Agency.

You see, despite never being married and being single for a long time now, I do believe in true love.

I also believe there are forces beyond our grasp that help us find the one.

This triggered the idea for the series.

The founders of the Magic Matchmaker Agency are deities dedicated to fostering peace and love among humanity.

In response to the increasing power of Hate, his demons, and various otherworldly alliances, the World Love Association was established at the dawn of time.

Its mission is to combat anger, frustration, bitterness, and desperation in humans, guiding them back to a state of harmony, love, and peace.

The primary objective is to unite soulmates and thwart Hate’s efforts to spread negativity and hatred, which would only serve to expand his following.

The headquarters of GENIEMATCH.COM, also known as the Magic Matchmaker Agency, operates discreetly from an ordinary office building at a secret location on Earth.

The agency employs artificial intelligence and advanced technology to oversee matchmaking efforts worldwide.

Michelle Power - Matchmaker Witch & Teleporter

Michelle is a formidable Matchmaker Witch endowed with the supernatural ability to teleport. She hails from a lineage of Matchmaker Witches that stretches back to the beginning of time.

Chosen by her father, Eros—the God of Love—for her experience in the field, Michelle has unfortunately never found luck in her own love life and has instead devoted herself to her career as a Matchmaker Witch.

A complex, unresolved history exists between her and Tom, one that spans centuries.

Tom Wolfe - Matchmaker Wizard & Shifter

Tom is a powerful Matchmaker Wizard gifted with the ability to shapeshift into any animal form he desires. This talent proves invaluable as he and Michelle travel the globe to unite their Twin Flame matches.

Like Michelle, Tom comes from a notable lineage; his mother is Aine, the Celtic Goddess of Love, Earth, and Magick.

Their families have long envisioned Michelle and Tom as the quintessential power couple in the realm of Matchmaking Witches and Wizards.

The untold story of why Tom and Michelle never became a couple remains a closely guarded secret.

Genie - The Artificial Intelligence and “the brain”

To facilitate Michelle and Tom’s matchmaking efforts on an international scale, a system has been established that aligns with contemporary dating practices: the online platform GENIEMATCH.COM.

Individuals can register themselves or be registered by friends, family, or colleagues.

Genie, the artificial intelligence behind the site, automatically pairs soulmates and notifies Michelle and Tom if an ideal match is too reluctant to acknowledge their connection.

With a snarky and sarcastic personality, Genie thrives on mischief and enjoys challenging Michelle and Tom while being aware of their hidden past.

Remarkably, Genie can step outside her digital confines and manifest as an eccentric human being.

The reviews I received were devastating. Here’s one of them:

“This book had the opportunity to be something great. Unfortunately, it needs severe editing. The name for the heroine is wrong for like half a chapter, which can be forgiven. However, the climax of the story is ruined by the fact that Denise did tell Jason that she was getting married in 3 months. So he did know she had a fiancé. So their conflict had zero validity. Really disappointing :/” (Amazon Review)

And honestly?

The reviewer wasn’t wrong at all.

At that time, I had no clue about story structure, plotting, outlining, character creation, or any of it.

I just wrote what I thought were uplifting stories and totally ignored that creative writing is an art that has to be studied and learned like any profession.

But I have a competitive streak, and this was a challenge I readily accepted.

If you’d like to take a chance, you can download the prequel to this series for free. But hurry, this link expires on Tuesday, Dec 2.

Want to dive into the series to find out how bad these books really are?

You can get each one for 99 cents right now: Magic Matchmaker Agency

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.

Take care wherever you are.

Much Love,

PS: Tomorrow, Day 2 takes us to South Africa—to wine estates, second chances, and a love story that’s very personal to me.

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New Release: Growing Love

Hello Book Lovers!

Welcome to Part 2 of your weekly newsletter! I hope you’re enjoying all the deals and recommendations from Saturday. Today, we’re finishing up the list with five more fantastic book recommendations and giving you a peek at the rest of the promotions you can browse this weekend.

📚 Part 2: Featured Recommendations

Here are the remaining five must-read books for your queue:

A delightful FREE Christmas Romance you can download right now.

An anthology featuring 7 Christmas Short Stories—perfect for quick, festive reading!

A heartwarming Found Family Romance.

A glamorous Royal Christmas Cruise Romance.

A clean holiday romance with mild action, humor, and a happily-ever-after featuring a Wounded Hero.

Deals & Promotions (Including a Sneak Peek!)

We have a variety of promotions running this weekend, covering all your clean and sweet romance needs!

🚨 Important Note on Deals:

One special promotion, Sweethearts in the Snow, doesn’t go live until Monday, November 24th. If you see a book listed in that promotion that catches your eye, please remember to check back on Monday to access the deals!

That wraps up our double-stuffed newsletter for the week! Happy reading!

Quick Recap (Part 2):

Book Recommendations: 5 total (FREE Christmas Romance, Christmas Anthology, Found Family Romance, Royal Christmas Cruise, Clean Holiday Romance with Wounded Hero).

Promotions: A variety of deals covering clean and sweet romance.

Important Note: The Sweethearts in the Snow promo goes live on Monday, Nov 24th.

Happy reading!

Much Love,

PS: Happy Sunday reading! Don’t forget to mark your calendar: the Sweethearts in the Snow promo goes live on Monday, November 24th! Enjoy the rest of your cozy weekend. 😊🇭🇷

Books

Cole Walker never thought he’d be fighting his toughest battle in a hospital back home in Montana. With several deployments under his belt, he thought he’d seen it all. Then he got a devastating phone call.
A car wreck. An orphaned infant. And 3,500 cattle that need care.

Now the guardian of his younger brother’s baby girl and their family ranch, Cole’s forced to change his plans. The moment he sees Koda’s tiny red face, he knows he’ll do anything for her. But Cole has zero experience with parenting, and it shows. Embarrassed and out of his element, Cole is desperate for help.

Iris Avery, a high school friend, watched over Cole’s sister-in-law in her final moments in the neighboring hospital room and offers to help him with his infant niece. As they team up to care for the child, they revisit memories and uncover dreams they once hid from one another. The more he spends time with Iris, the more he realizes how perfect life could’ve been if only he’d had the guts to talk to her fifteen years ago. Trouble is, he’s not the only one with his eye on Iris.

When Cole’s mother finally arrives to help care for Koda, she kicks Iris and Cole off the ranch to go on a proper date. As Iris and Cole’s bond grows, Iris knows she has some decisions to make. Cole offers her a chance to visit him in Alaska, while he completes his discharge processing. But when her ex returns to town close to Christmastime, ready to fulfill a promise he made to her, Iris finds herself torn.

Will Cole, a hardened soldier, find the courage to take on this new life and build his dream with Iris?
And will Iris finally figure out what she wants out of life?

A clean holiday romance with mild action, humor, and a happily ever after.

Get Your Book

Every jilted bride needs a plan B for Christmas...

When Hadley’s fiancé puts their wedding on hold right before Christmas, she joins her aunt’s Christmas Market Cruise down the Danube. Forget about romance. She’s had it. An independent woman, she forms an unlikely friendship with a little girl whose father is a tyrant––or so Clara says. A romantic herself, Aunt Ethel has her family’s happiness in mind. This year she’s shopping for more than sausages, potato fritters or spaetzle. She’s booked the other half of the royal suite and has her book on European royalty to guide her.

Eager to escape holiday memories, Crown Prince Jurgen plans a cruise. Traveling incognito, the widowed prince and daughter Clara will be commoners––on his own cruise line. Then he runs into Hadley in the fitness center. Just what is this Tina Turner treadmill tilt? While he puzzles over the spirited American, Jurgen watches Clara fall under Hadley’s spell. What’s not to like about a woman who can make angels in the snow? Hadley’s exuberance and fun-loving spirit has him dreaming of more beyond Christmas. Can he replace that ring on her finger?

This fun-loving trip down the Danube will have you humming the Nutcracker Suite! Or is that a wedding march?

Get Your Book

Single mom meets grumpy small-town hardware store owner in this second-chance, found family romance that proves love is worth the risk.

Single mom meets grumpy small-town hardware store owner in this second-chance, found family romance that proves love is worth the risk.

Annie Evans is drowning. With $847 in her bank account, an unreliable ex-husband, and a seven-year-old daughter who deserves better, she walks into Bowen Hardware desperate for any job that will keep them afloat. She’s overqualified, underprepared, and has absolutely no idea what a lag bolt is—but hardware store owner Nick Bowen takes a chance on her anyway.

Nick’s life is complicated enough: a father losing his memories to Alzheimer’s, a son who’s learned not to expect people to stay, and a store that’s barely breaking even. The last thing he needs is to fall for his new employee—especially one who’s clearly just passing through.

But Annie isn’t just reorganizing his inventory. She’s breathing life back into his family, his business, and his carefully guarded heart. When his quiet son befriends her artistic daughter, when his father lights up at her presence, when the whole town embraces her festival redesign—Nick realizes she’s become essential to everything that matters.

Then an eighty-thousand-dollar job offer in Boston forces Annie to choose between financial security and the family she’s found. Between the practical choice everyone expects and the terrifying leap her heart demands.

Because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stay.

Get Your Book

Seven sweet romantic stories to warm your heart all year long.

This festive anthology will brighten your holiday season with seven romantic tales each with a twist of Christmas magic. All feature a happily-ever-after that aims to put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

This sweet collection includes:

Lainey Shea’s Christmas Treasure Quest– young adult – A romantic adventure ensues when teens search for a prized family heirloom.

An Elf’s Challenge – mystical - Catch a glimpse of the North Pole where feuding elfin families collide until Santa steps in to save a romance.

A Secret Santa Surprise– young adult - A high school holiday gift exchange brings two opposites together as more than just friends.

Becoming a Reindeer– paranormal - The process is more complicated than you’d ever imagine when reindeer fall in love.

The Christmas Ornaments’ Gift– mystical – Magical ornaments are the gift that ignites a romantic Christmas flame.

The Gingerbread House– contemporary - It’s a baking competition. If they don’t find a way to work together, neither contestant stands a chance at winning the contest or each other.

Charity at Christmas – contemporary - Can being charitable bring prosperity that drives an unlikely couple toward each other?

Get Your Book

An introverted flight attendant and her teen daughter invite a recently retired Marine to stay with them for the holidays, and together they learn the true meaning of “home.”

Brad has just one wish this Christmas: to find a real home. Having lost his parents before joining the Marines, he misses that sense of belonging and family. When he meets an caring flight attendant on his journey to start his civilian life, he wonders if this might be his chance.

After a messy divorce, Shelly has decided the only person allowed within the brittle walls of her broken heart is her daughter, Lilly. At least, until she meets a friendly man who hails from her hometown while working a routine flight. When she learns he needs a place to stay, she offers the apartment over her garage out of the kindness of her heart—and her desperate need for extra cash.

Even as Brad endears himself to Shelly by saving the town’s Christmas pageant, she attempts to keep her distance to protect the fragile stability she’s built since her divorce. But Brad’s willingness to walk the fine line between what Shelly’s heart wants and what her head allows slowly wears down her resolve. And when he receives a job offer near the only family he has left, Shelly must decide whether she’s willing to risk her heart again before he leaves her home, and her life, for good.

Get Your FREE Book

Deals & Freebies

Click on the images below to visit the respective promotion sites:

Ready for more bookish delights? 📚 Subscribe for free and get your weekly dose of deals, freebies, and new reads delivered straight to your inbox! Don't miss out on your next favorite story.

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New Release: Growing Love

Hello Book Lovers!

Get ready for a double dose of deals this week!

I have so much exciting news about a new release and some fantastic promotions that I’ve decided to split the newsletter into two parts: you’ll receive Part 1 today and Part 2 on Sunday.

🎄 New Release: Growing Love is Here!

I’m thrilled to announce that “Growing Love,” Book 4 in the Love in Alaska series, is officially LIVE! This is an opposites-attract, forced-proximity Christmas holiday romance set in Silver Sound. I can’t wait for you to read it!

Plus, if you’re looking for a physical gift, my previous release, The Cowboy’s Christmas Promise, is now available as a paperback.

And for those who love to multitask, it’s also available as an audiobook on Audible!

Today’s Featured Reads & Deals

In today’s newsletter, you’ll find a selection of great reads and two promotions to kick off your cozy weekend:

Book Recommendations (Part 1):

A heartwarming later-in-life romance.

A festive Christmas holiday romance.

A fun Christmas-themed cozy mystery.

A tempting reading sample from a grumpy-sunshine romance.

(Remember, the remaining book recommendations will be shared on Sunday!)

Promotions (Part 1):

Lots of deals focusing on Holiday Romances.

One special promotion just for Cozy Mysteries.

With all the holiday stress starting up, now is the perfect time to grab a book and relax!

Let’s dive into all these wonderful finds!

Quick recap:

New Release: Growing Love (Love in Alaska #4)

Availability Update: The Cowboy’s Christmas Promise is now available in paperback and audiobook (Audible).

Newsletter Schedule: Part 1 today, Part 2 on Sunday.

Today’s Recommendations: Later-in-Life Romance, Christmas Romance, Christmas Cozy Mystery, Grumpy-Sunshine Reading Sample.

Today’s Promotions: Holiday Romances and Cozy Mysteries.

Happy reading!

Much Love,

PS: Enjoy Part 1 of your newsletter! Don’t forget my new release, Growing Love, is out now, and The Cowboy’s Christmas Promise is perfect as a holiday paperback gift! Look out for Part 2 on Sunday! 😊🇭🇷

Books

Starting over is harder than it seems.

Nancy has tried for years to escape her terrible marriage, and now it’s officially over.

Why does she feel more lost than happy?

Nancy Williams is trying to not only rebuild her own life but save her business, which fell by the wayside while she was sorting out her life.

As a last-ditch effort, she posts a message on social media and prays for a Christmas miracle. Perhaps she should have been a tad more specific. Nancy didn’t expect her miracle to have a charming southern accent and an affinity for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Having survived a rough childhood and lost the love of his life when he was just a young man, Rex Hudson believes in giving back. When he sees Nancy’s destroyed craft shop, he’s one of the first to step up and help. Little did he know a little good karma could set him on the long road to love.

If you believe it’s never too late to have a second chance at love, you’ll love this sweet contemporary romance novella.

Get Your Book

12 Ornaments, 12 Days... Who’s Behind the Christmas Mystery?

Vivian thought she’d lost all her Christmas spirit. After the worst year of her life, marked by the heartbreaking loss of her husband, all she wants is to spend the holidays alone with her grief. But her daughter and grandson have other plans. Along with a few well-meaning neighbors—and the help of a lovable, trouble-making dog named Neville—they’re determined to bring the joy of Christmas back into Vivian’s heart.

Then, something magical happens. One day a mysterious ornament appears on the pear tree outside her window —and others follow for each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas, a tradition started by her late husband. But who’s behind this thoughtful gesture? And why now?

As Vivian unravels the mystery of the ornaments, her daughter faces her own heart-wrenching decision: Should she stay with her longtime boyfriend or take a leap of faith with the man she never stopped loving?

Get Your Book

Read the First Pages of Between the Lines: Featuring the full Prologue + Chapter One — your first look at Sadie and Corbyn’s story.

Starting over wasn’t part of Sadie Reed’s plan, but after leaving a toxic relationship, she takes a last-chance assignment in a quiet English village: get reclusive author Corbyn Pearce to finish his long-overdue novel. Corbyn is brilliant, stubborn, and scarred—inside and out. What begins as a battle of wills soon becomes a slow-burn connection neither is ready for, forcing them to confront the wounds they’ve spent years avoiding.

Perfect for readers who love emotional, character-driven romance with healing, found family, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic.

Content Notes:
Contains references to emotional abuse (past), gaslighting, a brief confrontation with an abusive ex, chronic pain, and past trauma/loss.

Get Your Book

After Hadley accidentally serves dinner guests turkey with a side of salmonella, Aunt Deb sentences her to cooking school, where secrets sizzle and danger is always on the burner.

Hadley Sutton thought the holiday season couldn’t get busier—until she enrolls in classes at the prestigious Madame Balleroy Cooking School in a desperate attempt to improve her kitchen karma. But before she can bake her first brioche, a renowned sous-chef is found murdered in the school’s kitchen.

Suddenly, Hadley is thrust into a simmering stew of lies and secrets, much to the chagrin of the irresistibly handsome Detective Dennis Appley, who comes to seek refuge at the Ladyvale Manor after receiving a chilling threat of his own.

As Hadley stirs up clues, she discovers no shortage of suspects, each with their own reasons to want the sous-chef dead. The more she uncovers, the more dangerous the investigation becomes. And while Hadley races to solve the mystery, there’s another enigma she can’t seem to crack—Detective Appley himself.

With more plot twists than a pretzel, this southern small-town mystery blends culinary chaos with a sprinkle of sweet romance, ensuring every page keeps you on your toes!

Get Your Book

Deals & Freebies

Click on the images below to visit the respective promotion sites:

Ready for more bookish delights? 📚 Subscribe for free and get your weekly dose of deals, freebies, and new reads delivered straight to your inbox! Don't miss out on your next favorite story.

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My Dear Readers,

Well, Theo’s gastritis is finally behind us.

You’d think that meant smooth sailing, right?

Monday night at 10 p.m., I uploaded the final file for Growing Love to Amazon. Midnight was my deadline, or they’d cancel all the preorders.

I made it, but just barely.

This edit was heavier than usual, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about how the story turned out. If you read it, I’d love to know what you think.

Tuesday, I planned to finally do some grocery shopping—I had been living on whatever was in the fridge to save editing time.

But I’d forgotten November 18th is Remembrance Day here in Croatia. Everything was closed.

Then, Tuesday night, while taking Theo out for his last trip outside, I slipped on the stairs down to my apartment. I sprained my ankle badly enough that I thought it might be broken.

I’m fine.

I’m a tough cookie, and these things don’t keep me down.

But it did make me think.

Being alone in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language, living in a tiny hilltop village with the nearest doctor thirty minutes away—that’s a reality I needed to sit with for a moment.

Not in a negative way.

Just in an honest one.

Sometimes life sends you messages worth paying attention to.

What I’ve Been Reading

The last few days, I’ve been taking better care of myself.

More rest.

And a lot of reading, which is my favorite thing anyway.

Two books I want to recommend for your TBR pile: The Beach House (South Carolina Sunsets Book 1) by Rachel Hanna and The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny, book 19 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series.

Quite different from each other, but I like switching between romance and either cozy mysteries or crime novels. It keeps things interesting.

34 Days Until Christmas

We’re getting close now.

Thirty-four days until Christmas.

And looking at the world and all the happenings outside our control, including people calling others “Piggy” during an interview, we all need some old-fashioned good behavior, positivity, and hope in our lives right now.

So here’s a poem from Elizabeth Barrett Browning about love that endures:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

That’s what love is about, isn’t it?

The kind of love that reaches deep. The kind that endures.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.

Take care wherever you are.

Much Love,

PS: The next Christmas story will be a little delayed while I let this ankle heal properly, but you can catch up on the Christmas in Silver Sound stories by clicking the image below. Sometimes the best thing we can do is give ourselves permission to rest. I’ll be back with you soon. 🎄

Christmas in Silver Sound Holiday Romance Series

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