Caro Carson's Blog
January 1, 2022
"If you were a book, how would you describe yourself?"
Today's Writer Friends Challenge question was "If you were a book, how would you describe yourself?"
My answer: The plot twists are not realistic.
I mean, this book is about this girl who wants to be a ballerina, so she goes to West Point and becomes a US Army Military Police officer. Makes no sense, right? Then she gets out of the army and starts selling drugs! (Okay, legally, for Pfizer, but still...cop becomes a drug dealer.) While she's doing that, she has a kid with a mystery illness that's stealing the child's hearing. She spends soooo much time trying to solve the medical mystery herself because the doctors are stumped--and she does solve it, just in time to save the child's hearing in one ear. Unrealistic. THEN, she has a SECOND child with a totally unrelated medical mystery, too? I mean, come on. That's just drama for the sake of adding drama. And guess what this army officer and medical sales professional starts doing next? She writes romance novels! Ha. As if that had anything to do with anything else so far. Her 3rd book gets nominated for some big national award, and her 5th book wins it. But wait--she conveniently has one of her novels chosen by a movie producer from a catalog of 250 titles, so she gets to see her work translated to the screen. Again--the odds are ridiculous. But I'm going to keep reading, because who knows what rabbit will get pulled out of the hat next?
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My answer: The plot twists are not realistic.
I mean, this book is about this girl who wants to be a ballerina, so she goes to West Point and becomes a US Army Military Police officer. Makes no sense, right? Then she gets out of the army and starts selling drugs! (Okay, legally, for Pfizer, but still...cop becomes a drug dealer.) While she's doing that, she has a kid with a mystery illness that's stealing the child's hearing. She spends soooo much time trying to solve the medical mystery herself because the doctors are stumped--and she does solve it, just in time to save the child's hearing in one ear. Unrealistic. THEN, she has a SECOND child with a totally unrelated medical mystery, too? I mean, come on. That's just drama for the sake of adding drama. And guess what this army officer and medical sales professional starts doing next? She writes romance novels! Ha. As if that had anything to do with anything else so far. Her 3rd book gets nominated for some big national award, and her 5th book wins it. But wait--she conveniently has one of her novels chosen by a movie producer from a catalog of 250 titles, so she gets to see her work translated to the screen. Again--the odds are ridiculous. But I'm going to keep reading, because who knows what rabbit will get pulled out of the hat next?
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December 16, 2021
Book Ornaments--They're not for Christmas!
Have you read a book that had a little black-and-white sketch at the start of each chapter? In the publishing industry, those little doo-dads are called "book ornaments." They have nothing to do with the holidays...unless it's a holiday book, of course!
My romance, GINGERBREAD & JINGLE BELLS, has a different gingerbread cookie at the start of each chapter. The shape has something to do with the events in that chapter, too. I had great fun choosing them, and I thought it would be fun to put them all together on a coloring page for readers.
If you'd like to print out the coloring page of my gingerbread book ornaments, just go here:
https://mailchi.mp/3cb4365f3a8b/ginge...
Enjoy!
Gingerbread & Jingle Bells
My romance, GINGERBREAD & JINGLE BELLS, has a different gingerbread cookie at the start of each chapter. The shape has something to do with the events in that chapter, too. I had great fun choosing them, and I thought it would be fun to put them all together on a coloring page for readers.
If you'd like to print out the coloring page of my gingerbread book ornaments, just go here:
https://mailchi.mp/3cb4365f3a8b/ginge...
Enjoy!
Gingerbread & Jingle Bells
Book Ornaments--They're not for Christmas!
Have you read a book that had a little black-and-white sketch at the start of each chapter? In the publishing industry, those little doo-dads are called "book ornaments." They have nothing to do with the holidays...unless it's a holiday book, of course!
My romance, GINGERBREAD & JINGLE BELLS, has a different gingerbread cookie at the start of each chapter. The shape has something to do with the events in that chapter, too. I had great fun choosing them, and I thought it would be fun to put them all together on a coloring page for readers.
If you'd like to print out the coloring page of my gingerbread book ornaments, just go here:
https://mailchi.mp/3cb4365f3a8b/ginge...
Enjoy!
Gingerbread & Jingle Bells
My romance, GINGERBREAD & JINGLE BELLS, has a different gingerbread cookie at the start of each chapter. The shape has something to do with the events in that chapter, too. I had great fun choosing them, and I thought it would be fun to put them all together on a coloring page for readers.
If you'd like to print out the coloring page of my gingerbread book ornaments, just go here:
https://mailchi.mp/3cb4365f3a8b/ginge...
Enjoy!
Gingerbread & Jingle Bells
December 9, 2021
Holiday Romance BINGO!
No matter how busy December is, we seem to sneak in a few holiday romance novels and movies, don't we? Might as well make a game of it!
Follow the link below, and you can download a super-cute holiday romance bingo card. You can share it with friends and family, or just keep it to mark off the fun books and movies as you go. I hope you get B-I-N-G-O!
https://mailchi.mp/e330bccc6f44/caro-...
Happy Holidays!
Caro
P.S. If you get stuck and need one box filled in to win, just message me. One of my Christmas romance novels will fit in the space, guaranteed! ;)
November 11, 2021
Rated G, PG, and R: Caro Carson holiday romances
Why have I written 6 holiday romances? It's a natural pairing: the excitement of the holidays and the excitement of falling in love.
Some prefer their holiday romances sweet, some steamy, and some enjoy the whole spectrum. Since I've written books both sweet and steamy, rating them G, PG, and R as if they were movies may help readers decide which one fits their mood. Here goes:
RATED G: Gingerbread & Jingle Bells
RATED PG: Hometown Holiday
RATED PG: For This Christmas Only
RATED R: The Majors' Holiday Hideaway
RATED R: A Texas Rescue Christmas
RATED R: A Cowboy's Wish Upon A Star
July 21, 2021
You're Invited to a Watch Party
My book, HOMETOWN HOLIDAY, was made into a lovely movie--one that made it into the top 10 on Netflix last December!
For a Christmas in July treat, Harlequin is going to show the movie for free on its YouTube channel this Thursday, July 22nd, at 7pm eastern. There will be prize packs and live chats with me and with the star of the movie, Sarah Troyer.
Come and join the fun. You can RSVP here, and get a reminder from Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/71669...
Or get a reminder on YouTube, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS9aw...
See you real soon!
Hometown Holiday
June 10, 2021
By the way, there's this newsletter...
During this past year of quarantine, I cannot say that I mastered sourdough bread or learned a foreign language, but I did start a little author newsletter.
FINALLY.
It's only been 8 years since my first novel was published. (DOCTOR, SOLDIER, DADDY).
It's an infrequent but friendly newsletter! I'd love it if you signed up to get one. You can expect a little good news when my name pops up in your email in-box. I might have book news, or perhaps I’ve found something interesting while doing research that I’d like to share. It's very likely I'll include a recipe. Why?
You see, I have a child who gets migraines from common trigger foods like cheese and certain preservatives. You would not believe how hard it is to find a casserole recipe that doesn't use cheese, Campbell's Cream of Whatever soup, or both! But when I find good ones, I share.
Coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), I also like good cocktail recipes, and I'm happy to share those, too!
You can sign up right here: https://www.CaroCarson.com/Contact
I hope to see you soon. Oh--and if you'd like to read a really heart-warming modern marriage-of-convenience, Cinderella-nanny romance, I think you'd fall in love with DOCTOR, SOLDIER, DADDY.
Doctor, Soldier, Daddy
FINALLY.
It's only been 8 years since my first novel was published. (DOCTOR, SOLDIER, DADDY).
It's an infrequent but friendly newsletter! I'd love it if you signed up to get one. You can expect a little good news when my name pops up in your email in-box. I might have book news, or perhaps I’ve found something interesting while doing research that I’d like to share. It's very likely I'll include a recipe. Why?
You see, I have a child who gets migraines from common trigger foods like cheese and certain preservatives. You would not believe how hard it is to find a casserole recipe that doesn't use cheese, Campbell's Cream of Whatever soup, or both! But when I find good ones, I share.
Coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), I also like good cocktail recipes, and I'm happy to share those, too!
You can sign up right here: https://www.CaroCarson.com/Contact
I hope to see you soon. Oh--and if you'd like to read a really heart-warming modern marriage-of-convenience, Cinderella-nanny romance, I think you'd fall in love with DOCTOR, SOLDIER, DADDY.
Doctor, Soldier, Daddy
June 8, 2021
Women's Fiction Day FREEBIES
Today, June 9th, is the 3rd annual Women's Fiction Day. I'm so proud that my contemporary romance, THE CAPTAINS' VEGAS VOWS, is being given away--for free!--by my publisher, Harlequin / HarperCollins.
Here's the exclusive link:
https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...
And here's a little bit about this RITA-award finalist:
They gambled on a long shot...
Tom Cross and Helen Pallas met in Last Vegas and married the same day. They're equals when it comes to their careers--both are army captains--but not when it comes to their relationship.
She remembers nothing about that fateful day. He remembers...everything. It's breaking his heart to be crazy in love with a woman to whom he's a perfect stranger. But rules are rules: their wedding license is legitimate, so the army only authorizes one house for them to share on post.
She's got 90 days before the state of Texas will allow her to divorce this handsome stranger.
He's got 90 days to win her heart for a second time!
...will their bet pay off?
Here's the exclusive link:
https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...
And here's a little bit about this RITA-award finalist:
They gambled on a long shot...
Tom Cross and Helen Pallas met in Last Vegas and married the same day. They're equals when it comes to their careers--both are army captains--but not when it comes to their relationship.
She remembers nothing about that fateful day. He remembers...everything. It's breaking his heart to be crazy in love with a woman to whom he's a perfect stranger. But rules are rules: their wedding license is legitimate, so the army only authorizes one house for them to share on post.
She's got 90 days before the state of Texas will allow her to divorce this handsome stranger.
He's got 90 days to win her heart for a second time!
...will their bet pay off?
June 2, 2021
Cinnamon Roll, Anyone?
I love romance novels, whether reading or writing them. That happily-ever-after ending is an absolute must. I can handle having my heart torn apart in the middle of a book as long as I know the right people will end up together in the end. The path to that happily-ever-after follows a trope--a classic plot line, like Cinderella--but with each author's own unique take or twist. Other classic tropes are the marriage of convenience, the fake fiancée, and enemies-to-lovers. But a relatively new term to me is cinnamon roll. What kind of story is that trope?
It turns out this trope is one I've been writing! Instead of a ruthless alpha male who must learn how to love someone, this hero's outer strength doesn't prevent him from knowing his inner feelings--and when it comes to the heroine, his feelings for her are warm and sweet. In short, his heart is a gooey cinnamon roll. He may not act on those feelings for a dozen different reasons, and those feelings cause him pain, because the heroine can't or won't return his love for any of a hundred different reasons, but from the beginning of the book, the hero thinks the heroine is pretty special.
The Slow Burn is my newest cinnamon-roll romance. Lieutenant Caden Sterling is a firefighter who rescues humans on the job and horses off-duty. The heroine is new to town, taking over as the coach of the Masterson University swim team, and Caden is bowled over by her when they first meet at a CPR class. He must fight his own feelings, though, because it turns out that our heroine is facing an unexpected pregnancy. Her boyfriend has abruptly left her--and the country--so Caden is determined to be the friend she needs right now. Just friends....
You can guess that this situation can't last forever, especially not after our firefighter delivers his heroine's baby on the side of the road. Caden wages a campaign to fight his way out of the friend zone and win the heart of the woman who's had his from the get-go.
If you haven't enjoyed The Slow Burn yet, you can read the first two chapters here: https://preview.aer.io/9781488070068
The Slow Burn
May 27, 2021
Here Comes Summer!
It's almost Memorial Day weekend here in the United States.
Although it's a somber day to honor those who died during military service, this weekend also traditionally kicks off summer with swimming and sun. What might be the perfect romance for a weekend that celebrates both service and summer? Well...
The Slow Burn includes the element of service, because the hero, Lieutenant Caden Sterling, is a firefighter who rescues humans on the job and horses off-duty. And, since summer is when swimming pools are busy, it's fitting that the heroine is the new coach of the Masterson University swim team. She's facing an unexpected pregnancy, but her boyfriend has left the country--and her. Caden is determined to be the friend this new-to-town, single mother needs. Just friends...until he must fight his way out of the friend zone to win the heart of the woman who has stolen his.
The Slow Burn
Although it's a somber day to honor those who died during military service, this weekend also traditionally kicks off summer with swimming and sun. What might be the perfect romance for a weekend that celebrates both service and summer? Well...
The Slow Burn includes the element of service, because the hero, Lieutenant Caden Sterling, is a firefighter who rescues humans on the job and horses off-duty. And, since summer is when swimming pools are busy, it's fitting that the heroine is the new coach of the Masterson University swim team. She's facing an unexpected pregnancy, but her boyfriend has left the country--and her. Caden is determined to be the friend this new-to-town, single mother needs. Just friends...until he must fight his way out of the friend zone to win the heart of the woman who has stolen his.
The Slow Burn
