Decisions, Decisions...

These characters are forced to choose who to trust to work with them to achieve the best interests of their personal and professional ambitions.

[3 trade paperback books: Frenemy Fix-Up by Yarah St. John; a couple standing side-by-side in tree pose, The Design of Us by Sajni Patel; a couple lying on the beach, Errands & Espionage by Sam Tschida; an adult holding binoculars up to their face]

Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John

Contemporary romance

Harlequin/afterglow books, February 2024

Deadlines. Shay is a small business yogi who works hard to go with the entrepreneurial flow. Colin is a corporate go-getter who thrives under pressure—until that stress jeopardizes his health. When these former high school classmates who quickly remember all of the ways they annoy each other work together to establish Colin’s fundamental work-life balance, both of them recalculate their expectations of what and who they want in their lives. Witty banter combined with relevant threads on the pressures of modern ambition enrich this irresistible love story.

The Design of Us by Sajni Patel

New adult contemporary romance

Berkley Romance, July 2024

Workplace techie combatants Bhanu and Sunny become vacation allies in an unexpected twist of fate. Their love story examines cultural nuances, anxiety, and being haunted by emotions from relationships past. Bounds of family by blood and by choice along with enduring friendships are celebrated with emotional depth and lots of laughs.

Errands & Espionage by Sam Tschida

Contemporary suspense w/romantic elements

Forever, August 2024

While recently divorced stay-at-home mom Gabby tries to reclaim her identity beyond wife and mother, her resemblance to someone else sets her on a wild journey of self-discovery. Mayhem ensues.

This week's library book bonanza

[a bookstack of 7 trade paperback books from top to bottom: Curvy Girl Summer, The Friend Zone Experiment, The Ex Vows, Pardon My Frenchie, Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher, Morbidly Yours, Good Boy]

Encouragement

[front of a t-shirt with "VOTE" on it; cat silhouette stickers shadow each letter]

Vote for others' healthy, safe, free, peaceful, joyous, thriving future the way you'd want them to vote for yours.

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Hot Love in the Kitchen & Travelling Through Time

Redemption of the Heart by Moni Boyce contemporary romance Love Snacks Publishing 8 January 2019 Despite addressing heavy themes of domestic violence, incarceration, and grief, Redemption of the Heart is a charming and sweet spicy read in the tradition of a 21st-century interracial homage to Janet Dailey’s monthly romance era. Gemma’s open-hearted ingénue contrasts starkly with Alex’s jaded workaholic. They struggle with a variety of challenges, but ethnicity isn’t one of them—a spin that feels particularly modern. Once readers commit to their suspension of disbelief regarding the cascading impact of lacks in due diligence by several characters, it’s easy to settle in to enjoy this love story. The recent public debate about the pros and cons of Gillette’s “We believe the best man can be” campaign ties in with the contradictory messages in the story threads about toxic masculinity. There’s a scene in which Alex apologizes to someone who was openly bragging among cowork...

123123! Goodbye 2023! Hello 2024!

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21st Authorversary & 20th IPPY Awardiversary + Thanks!

[front cover of Seducing the Burks: Five Erotic Tales by Cardyn Brooks with the image of an open hand making a beckoning gesture, a "2004 Independent Publisher IP Award Finalist" medallion sticker; back cover with blurb, "authorHOUSE" logo - formerly 1st Books, barcodes] Self-publishing 21 years ago was still often considered "vanity publishing" as in ego-driven by writers not talented enough to merit a contract with a traditional publisher. My decision to self-publish came after years of feedback praising the compelling nature and professional quality of my submission as prefaces to rejections that included phrases like, "Will your target audience of readers relate to the level of privilege your main characters have?" WT... It took me awhile to understand that since my Black characters are educated and middle class, agents and editors assumed that most readers wouldn't identify with them since (they also assumed) most Black people wer...

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