Welcome to this week’s Marketing for Romance Writing’s 52-week Blog Challenge. The topic is My First Love. This—as most posts seem to do–took a little pondering. Would this be about my husband of 22+ years? Or would I talk about my love of reading? My twins? Scuff? Scruff, of course, voted for himself, since he thinks he should always be the main topic of conversation. 

There are many things that come to mind when I think about my first love, but one thing kept returning to my mind. That thing is writing. But after comparing writing to the other things that competed to be chosen as my first love, writing seemed to be a little different. Some might go as far as to say, it’s kind of an obsession. 

First Love or Obsession?

I’m Obsessed With Writing

Those of you who’ve been brave (or foolish) enough to read my blog before and then return might sigh sigh now as you see me stepping upon the train that drives me right away from the topic at hand. But actually, I’m not. Well, not really. Kind-of. Maybe…

You see, I initially thought I’d discuss how I wrote stories as a young child. I’d envision a tale similar to Dr. Dolittle where the animals talked. But then as I considered the years that followed I realized writing had crept into most areas of my life. And that even when I thought I might as well stop writing because I didn’t have time, or I didn’t have the support or I’d become disheartened—I couldn’t.

Because I couldn’t stop thinking about stories and writing them in my mind, and let me tell you, there’s only so much room in the mind before those stories just have to spill out on the paper. Now if I was talking about a person in this same context, you might tell me, that’s not love, that’s an obsession.

I Won’t Say I Told You So

I’ve talked about writing many, many times on this blog and how much I love it (See, obsession?) But even if you’re not a writer, you might find things that you become a little obsessive over in your life. Something that starts as love, then becomes more like obsession. I wrote about as much with my husband and a post about his true love.  (Hint- This isn’t about me! But it’s also not about a woman, well, not really.)

What Comes to Your Mind When You Think About First Love?

Don’t forget to fly on over to the other authors and see what they think about for their first love. Also, don’t forget that the tricks-no treats- release party prize packages extravaganza continues for the spook-tacular month of October! So stop right here to enter to win ebooks, gift cards, kindles and all kinds of treats! It’s the least I can do for making you listen to me ramble on each week.

The post My First Love & My Other Obsession appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

You’d think I’d be more frightened of the freakish, merciless assassins. The ones who couldn’t be outwitted despite lacking the ability to speak should be way more terrifying. Yet, when a lamp flickers, or a shadowy figure crosses by the window I’m all like, “Things just got real.”

Welcome to this week’s Marketing For Romance Writers 52-week Blog Hop topic, Open Doors or Closed Doors. Since this is a romance writer’s blog hope, I assume the title is in reference to a love scene. So…thanks for hopping a ride on this journey along the warped roads of the crazy-train of my mind as I explain why stealthy terror frightens me more than psycho-killers. Almost the same way as I prefer to write/read a closed-door love scene rather than an open door love scene.

(Wonder no more why I must write paranormal and fantasy.)

But First—a Disclaimer

Keep in mind that this is my weird, witty (or at least attempting to be witty) opinion. I know there are a lot of people who love an open door love scene. Some find them so engrossing that they might offer themselves up as a sacrifice to a psycho-killer just to finish that chapter and get to the juicy part. That’s not me, and here are a few other reasons why.

Reason #2 Ain’t Gonna Happen

The psycho-killer is usually lurking in the woods near some decrepit cabin. There are usually issues with the electricity and some goofball decides it’s an ideal time to take a walk in the woods.

For one, I there ain’t no way I would be in the decrepit cabin in the first place. Then as soon as the power went out I’d get the heck out of there and back to civilization faster than I could trip over that root and wait for death while attempting to outrun the lurking lunatic.

The same way I trip over some of the words in erotic, or overly descriptive, romance and it kills the story for me. I forget about the sensual love scene while I’m trying to figure out if I’ve ever heard a man refer to his pulsating manhood as a love stick or man meat while moistness and juices are happening all over the place.

Reason #3 The Power of the Imagination

When the bedroom door opened a few inches in the movie, Paranormal Activity it scared the bajeebies (not sure exactly what bajeebies are, but no worries, they’re gone now) out of me. Not at the possibility of the attack from a malevolent spirit or demonic creature but more so because most times less is more. Anticipation and imagining what might happen next was more terrifying that being hit over the head by man meat an axe.

The subtle touch, or loving gesture, that leaves the door open to the imagination instead of observation is much more appealing to me. 

The fluttering heart chasing a whispered kiss draws me deeper into a #love scene than a sloppy tongue battle. #MFRW #romance
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Kind of like relishing the first few bites of chocolate or getting a stomach ache after inhaling the whole bag. You can have too much of

a good thing, unless it’s cuteness. Scruff will gladly give you an overabundance of that, but he won’t save you (or me—he is a big baby) from a psycho-killer. For that, you’re on your own.

What About You? Do You Prefer Imagination or Observation in a Love Scene?

Follow the other authors in this week’s Marketing for Romance Writer’s Blog Hop. Surely some of them will provide an opinion that doesn’t leave you trembling as you peer over your shoulder and wonder if you closed that door—or not.

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The post Why Open Door Lovin’ Can Be As Frightening As A Psycho-killer appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Several paranormal romance author friends and I are releasing a paranormal romance anthology this year! Each of us features a different paranormal creature.

Psst! Mine is a witch!

Help us pick the best cover designed by the fabulous Abigail Owen. Which do you like best – the girl, or the moon?

Thank you!

Moon, Mist & Magic Update! 

The winner is- both! The talented Abigail Owen, of Authors on a Dime was able to combine the best elements of both to produce the glorious one that you see below. 

The anthology is available for purchase and all proceeds benefit the World Wildlife Fund. 

Get ready to be enchanted by mythical beasts, magical creatures, and moonlit nights. Enjoy your favorite author, and perhaps discover someone new, in these five fantastic tales of paranormal romance woven with moon, mist, and magic.

The post Vote for your favorite cover appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

High School 

If I heard it once back in the day, I heard it a hundred times. Enjoy high school, these are the best years of your life! 

I disagree. 

High School was hard. Not the courses, but the awkward teenage years. Everything and everyone changes. You feel like you don’t fit in anywhere. Every little inadequacy feels as if it’s spotlighted into a massive flaw.  

At the time, I’d blamed much of my social ineptness on not being rich enough to afford the latest social fashions. Or losing my childhood friend. Because apparently once you hit high school you couldn’t have a best friend who was a boy—unless you were a couple. 

I was wrong.

We aren’t rich by any means, but my girls were able to buy brand name and wear the latest fashions in junior high. But it made no difference in their social ease or popularity. It didn’t stop them from losing long time friendships as girls became catty and hormones separated the strong from the weak. 

I’ve never once told my girls these were the best years of their life, because that’s a lie.

Believing that would mean we peak at a young age and the rest of our lives are endured on a downhill slope. What would there be to look forward to? Despite how many times I tell my girls not to worry about these little things that seem so big. That there are so many more things coming. That they’re so much more wonderful than they realize. To enjoy these years but don’t fret about them— they can’t hear me.

I’m just Mom.

The woman who won’t really know anything for another handful of years. 

As I reflect back over my life I can finally assure my teen self that these things had nothing to do with happiness and popularity. I’ve long ago accepted the stunning truth that popularity doesn’t = happiness.

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You require one thing to achieve happiness. Once you have it, you'll no longer care about popularity.
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It’s a little gem that can’t be bought or shared…you must discover this magic within. Sometimes you can’t unearth it. Then you just have to fake it until you make it your reality.

Confidence

Despite the pain at not being able to wave my Mom-magic-wand and make everything better as I could when they were small, I’ve discovered something blossoming within my young teens.

As they maneuver the senior high years, they’ve finally shed the chameleon shell. The one where they blended into whatever they felt was expected from their friends. They’ve found their true selves and embraced their heart.

They might not see it yet, but I’ve noticed this little growth of confidence…these little changes inspiring them to follow their own path…and it’s beautiful. 

So tell me, what little piece of advice would you give your high-school self? 

Leaving a comment will enter you in a random drawing for a copy of your choice of one of my books in ebook format. Winner will be announced by April 6th. 

The post How to convince my shy teens the truth about popularity appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Thank you for joining in the weekly celebration of the Candy Hearts Romance Series and the countdown to Valentine’s Day.

The results are in for What A Girl Wants For Valentine’s Day. 

You had a taste of these short, sweet stories over the past six weeks to get you in the mood for love.

Want a quick review of the Candy Heart Romances? Check out this video by Sydney St. Claire:

Video by Sydney St. Claire

Without further ado, here are the results from the Countdown to Valentine’s Day…

Your Valentine would like to spend the day together hiking. Then she’d prefer that you cook dinner at home for her, and then cuddle on the couch to watch a movie together. She’d adore a gift of flowers or something else extra special.

For all the specifics-  check out the results below!

(32%) Chocolate or ( 39%) Flowers (29%) Other

Other included: A living breathing hunk! A night on the town. Out to dinner. Some extra sweet attention. A gift certificate. Jewelry. Something special like a TV or DVD movie/series

(36%) Dinner out or (67%) Cook for me at Home

(29%) Out to the Movies or (71%) Cuddling on the couch 

(57%) A Jewelry Surprise or she wants to (0%) See it with her own eyes (43%) Other

Other included: Roses. A Horror Movie Gift Basket. Rest.

(20%) Dancing the night away or take a (60%) Hike during the day (20%) Other

Other included: Lounging in the forest with a basket of sweets.

( 83%) Just the two of us or the ( 17%) More the Merrier

So tell me…how do you plan to spend your Valentine’s Day? 

Still not sure what to do? Check out more ideas for your Valentine’s Day and all the Candy Hearts Romance Books on my Pinterest Page

Don’t Forget to pick up your copy of         Forget Me Not 

“Cole wait.” Despair leaked into Sabrina’s plea.
 He glanced toward the papers on the table and sighed.                                  “I waited for years, Rena. It’s you who waited too long.”

The Wild Rose Press  has all the Candy Hearts Romance Stories and more.

The post The results are in! Find out what a girl wants for Valentine’s Day. appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

The countdown to Valentine’s Day with the Candy Hearts Romances continues!

Check out the Candy Hearts Romances Releasing this week because what girl wouldn’t want these sweet nothings whispered in their ear…or filling up their kindle? 

~Not2Nite~ Only Yours~ Ooh La, La ~ 3 Wishes ~ I’m Sure ~          Hot Stuff ~ For Keeps ~ All Mine~

                                                                                                                                                                                Hot Stuff takes on double meaning when klutzy Kate is faced with rookie cop Dallas looking for a stolen lawn statue. In her quiet, crime-free Wisconsin village, Kate has her hands full writing slogans for candy hearts and keeping her kleptomaniac brother with Asperger’s Syndrome inside the law. Even her grandmother’s famous snickerdoodle cookies can’t ameliorate the crime when a stolen lawn statue turns out to be a drug dispenser. Will Kate rise above her concern of what Dallas’s uniform represents and admit the charming Texas rookie is the man of her dreams?

Meghan Muldoon is at a crossroads: struggling to balance the demands of a high stress vocation as an advocate for victims of violence and her feelings for Keenan Rossi, a man who wants to make their relationship permanent.

On Valentine’s Day, a series of routine crises force Meg to question staying in a profession which fulfills her both professionally and spiritually–or devoting the rest of her life to the one person who completes her.

Which one is For Keeps?

During the day, Megan surrounds herself with water lilies and goldfish in the ponds she creates. At night, memories of her lying ex-boyfriend are a reminder she can never again trust a man.

Jason embraces his career as paramedic firefighter, even though ugly experience declares his profession a greedy mistress. During quiet nights at the station, he wonders if this bachelor existence is all he’ll ever know.

Then Jason meets Megan and sparks fly, chased by flashes of anger when Jason, battling a raging
apartment fire, stands up Megan on their first date. Is St. Valentine powerful enough to bring these two strong-willed people together?

When ARP warden Molly sees a light shining through the darkness of London on a cold winter’s night in the middle of the blitz she’s infuriated with the careless American who struck it. Doesn’t he know there’s a war on?
Guy’s just trying to find his way through a maze of unlit streets. He’s very sorry and Molly reluctantly forgives him. When he accompanies her on her nightly rounds the two learn about each other, themselves and whether it’s really possible to fall in love in only one night – especially when there’s no guarantee of tomorrow.

Everyone expects Rebecca Winston to marry her high school/college sweetheart, Garrett Langley. The problem is, the flame’s gone out on their romance. They’re still best of friends, but only friends. When Garrett’s father has a heart attack, his older brother Wyatt (an L.A. attorney) returns home for the first time in years. The attraction between Rebecca and Wyatt is immediate.

Can Rebecca expect her family and, especially, Garrett to understand that her desires have changed and turned toward Wyatt?

Can Wyatt get past the feeling that he’s poaching his younger brother’s girl?

Aspiring choreographer and dance teacher, Simon West is walking along the hall in the college where he teaches when he gets knocked over by klutzy, two left feet, accounting professor Veronica Cooke. Simon wants to get to know the beautiful woman who ran him down, but how will she react when she finds out his alter-ego is a super sexy cowboy at an upscale exotic dancing male revue and that he makes ends meet by taking off his clothes?

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

For nearly a decade, Maggie has put the needs of her younger siblings ahead of her own. Now she’s willing to accept a marriage without passion in order to protect her brother, but fate has a wicked sense of humor. On the eve of her wedding, Maggie meets the man of her dreams.

When Shamus loses a bet, the penalty is a blind date. Shamus is prepared to endure a long, boring night; the last thing he expects is to find the woman who can bring his heart back to life.

But Maggie is keeping secrets–and her engagement is only one of them.

So tell me…on Valentine’s Day do you do something for your kids, anyone else in your family or just your significant other? 

(My hubby has always gotten a gift for my girls because he is their first Valentine.)

Have you voted on my blog every week since January 5th for What a Girl Wants for Valentine’s Day? If not, there’s still time before the results are posted on Friday, February 12th– two days before Valentine’s Day so you can plan your day with your special someone.

No idea what to do/get? Quick! Check out more ideas for Valentine’s Day and all the Candy Hearts on my Pinterest Page

Don’t forget about my Candy Heart Romance-          Forget Me Not- Check it out here.

The Wild Rose Press  has the books your heart desires- stop by and pick up all the Candy Hearts Romance Stories

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The post Is three a crowd on Valentine’s Day? #candyheartromance #giveaway appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Judy Ann and I have a lot in common. We are both from PA, write for The Wild Rose Press and have a release with The Candy Hearts Romance Series. I’ve delved a little deeper into Judy’s thoughts on Valentine’s Day with a quick interview. Let’s check out her answers, her delicious new release and my thoughts on the story!

Hard-working Kate Clark opens a thriving coffee shop that quickly becomes the local hang-out for students and the community. Her one wish is to eventually buy out her sister’s share of the old Florida home they inherited. However, Violet is need desperate of cash and has other plans.

Tappe Vanderberg, Kate’s childhood friend and high school sweetheart, has sold his lucrative internet security business to return to Little Heron Shores and fulfill his dreams of owning a marina. Now the handsome Dutch-born businessman is making waves with single women all over town—including loony, post mistress Eva May Poole who’s in search of husband number three.

But it’s Kate Clark who’s wreaking havoc with Tappe’s heart, not Eva May. Can he find away to shake the dingbat post mistress and convince Kate to give him a second chance and the sweet kiss he remembers from an earlier time?

Let’s ask Judy Ann about her favorite things for Valentine’s Day:

Elegant dining or homemade dinner? Elegant Dining

Dancing or daydreaming? Daydreaming 

Chocolate or Flowers? Flowers

 Sweet or Salty? Sweet 

Your Perfect Valentine’s Day Date: My perfect Valentine’s Day would be going out to dinner with my husband after receiving flowers and ending the evening with a perfect sweet dessert like creme brulee.

Excerpt:

Tappe picked up the grimy jar of candy hearts. “No way! I can’t believe Fay saved your candy hearts.” He twisted off the lid and shook one into his hand.

“Neither can I. Don’t you dare put that into your mouth. Those candies are over a decade old!”

“So? Sugar doesn’t spoil.”

“Okay, go ahead. Eat it. Poison yourself. Why should I care?” Kate said drily. “Just don’t call me in the middle of the night.” With a shake of her head, she turned back to the stove, took out a cold plate from the freezer, and plopped a teaspoon of the liquid from the bubbling pot on it, then ran a finger through the mixture to see if the jam stayed parted and stable, refusing to run together. She removed the pot from the stove, set it on the table, and started filling the pint and half-pint jars.

“You don’t mean that.” He dropped the candy back into the jar, and came up behind her. He started nuzzling her on the side of her neck.

“Do you realize I’m working with hot liquids?” She tried to be stern as she squirmed away still holding the hot pot. She could never quite pull off reprimanding

Tappe, especially when he was on a roll. And he was on a roll.

“Not as hot as you are. Want to make out?”

Kate looked at him askance. “Now? Here? Are you sane?”

“Yes, I’m fairly lucid. But if your answer is a no to making out, then can I lick the pot instead?”

“If you promise to quit licking my neck.”

My Thoughts about Sweet Kiss:

I love small towns and incorporate them into much of my writing, hence why I was drawn to Sweet Kiss. The characters are one you might expect to see in your own home town, at the coffee shop & bakery where Kate works. Her little shop was described in such detail that I could envision it perfectly in my mind, and it had my mouth salivating for the baked goods! Two sweethearts, who still carried the flame of their youthful romance must overcome misunderstandings, gossip and family drama to find love. A heartwarming story to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day.

Judy Ann Davis Website   Amazon Buy

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About the Author:

Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as acopy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, PA. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications and has written for industry and education throughout her career.

Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines, and anthologies, and have received numerous awards.

When Judy Ann is not behind a computer, you canfind her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are few.

She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc. and Romance Writers of America, and lives with her husband in Central PA.

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The post Guest Post & my Review of Sweet Kiss appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

The Countdown to Valentine’s Day with the Candy Heart Romances continues!

Check out the Candy Hearts Romances Releasing this week, because what girl wouldn’t want these sweet nothings whispered in their ear…or filling up her kindle?

~Dare Me ~ Be My Love ~ Marry Me ~ WWW.Cupid~ Find Me ~Got Love? ~I Love You ~ Ask Me~ 

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, gorse fairy, Flora Hawthorne is up to her neck in flowers, chocolate, and all things romance. She has no time for love, until she comes face to face with her own personal Cupid and the sparks fly! Looking to settle down, Cupid Tharin Terize wants fairy Flora Hawthorne to be his valentine, not just for one night, but for the rest of time. Now, all he has to do is convince her.    

  Tate Campbell liked his  life. Running his bar kept him busy and paid his bills, and a relationship with anyone wasn’t on the horizon. He sure wasn’t expecting a Valentine surprise, especially one who looked like a fallen angel—with a broken-down car. Dace Robinson’s career as an ER doctor left little time for relationships. Valentine’s Day was just another day on the calendar, albeit one filled with annoying decorations and sad reminders she had no one special in her life.Until the night car trouble compelled her to seek help in a biker bar, and the handsome owner claimed Dace as his woman – she had no idea how sweet Valentine’s Day could be.  

In Heather Ridge, Virginia, myth has it the lucky recipients of the two FIND ME candy hearts distributed each year are soul mates. Too afraid of seeing her one-time trusted friend, good-hearted Lyse Haynes refuses to go to her high school class reunion. But when she receives a second invitation containing the elusive candy heart, she takes an overdue vacation to pursue the dream of finally finding her soul mate. Ice cream creator Cooper Schmidt plans to take his product nationwide. His marketing team proposes the perfect destination for his next store. Unfortunately, it belongs to the father of the woman he’s harbored feelings for since high school. He uses her belief in myths and mails her the candy heart to entice her to Heather Ridge, in hopes she will convince her father to sell. There’s just one problem. After ten years, his old feelings tumble forward, stronger than ever, and Lyse has a decision to make—discover who has the candy heart companion or follow her heart.

Alone on Valentine’s Day, Leo Rankin attends the library’s Blind Date With a Book event hoping for something he can take to bed with him that night, and finds himself competing against Gerri Webb for the last remaining book. Wild child Gerri is not his usual type. Yet he feels an immediate, sizzling attraction and agrees to share the book and its accompanying bag of candy hearts. The whole idea of a Blind Date With a Book is to go off genre, so Gerri doesn’t mind when their flirty conversation suggests they unwrap each other rather than the mystery book. When a candy heart advises, “Ask Me,” she asks Leo back to her apartment. She never expects button-down Leo to hit all her buttons, but by the next morning she fears her heart’s in danger. Can one night spent off genre translate to real life?  

Allison McCall, supervisor in the Romance and Proposal Department of Cupid Corp., firmly believes rules are meant to be followed, yet her own love life is unfulfilling. Preston Carlyle, Allison’s former boyfriend and one of her more creative agents, believes rules should be broken occasionally to give true love a chance. Only, he’s having a hard time convincing Allison and Cupid his techniques are working. From the disastrous paperwork and the frequency of Allison’s visits to Cupid’s office on Preston’s behalf, she fears her position and his job are in jeopardy. But when she finds out he’s requested a transfer to the Holiday Security Agency, Allison decides to prove she cares for him…even if it means breaking a few rules.

Broken-hearted and bitter, Brenna Jones plans to spend Valentine’s weekend at her parents’ cabin, reading romance novels and devouring heart-shaped candy. When her truck hits a snowdrift and plows into a bank—during a storm, no less—her plans take a drastic detour. Eric Buchanan, the playboy jerk from her past, comes to her aid. He’s her only option for reaching safety. Eric can’t wait to escape his parents’ latest attempt to set him up. He’s given up on happiness, knowing he blew his chance at love a decade ago. When his snowmobile ride turns into a harrying escape from a blizzard, he discovers Brenna stranded in the storm. After he ensures her safety, he plans to explain the misunderstanding that tore them apart. Can a secluded cabin help Eric convince Brenna to be his love?  

For wedding stylist Misty Morningside, mixing business with pleasure is a professional no-no. That is, until she runs into wedding photographer Adam Wright at a Valentine’s Day event. Dare they set aside business for one night of pleasure?        

In 1905 New York City, affluent Millie Moore wants to be outspoken like the suffragettes she admires. She also wants to rid herself of an annoying and controlling suitor. For a well-brought up young lady whose mother fears her impending spinsterhood, speaking her mind is an uphill battle. When Raymond Wilson sees Millie at a rally, it’s love at first sight. Not wanting his stutter to ruin his chances, he enchants a little candy heart to do his talking for him. For Millie, Raymond is a breath of fresh air. And maybe, just maybe, someone she could love. But for her social-climbing suitor Guy Elliot, he’s a threat to his plans. And Raymond isn’t the only one who knows something about magic. Now the ante has been upped and Millie is the prize…

Now tell me, do you dig through the box of candy hearts just to read the phrases?  

Have you checked out all the Candy Heart Romances released since January 4th and cast your vote on my blog each week? It’s not too late to vote for what a girl wants

Check out more ideas for Valentine’s Day and all the Candy Hearts on my Pinterest Page

Check out my Candy Heart Romance- Forget Me Not        right Here.

  The Wild Rose Press  has all the Candy Hearts Romance Stories & more books for your Valentine  

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl? #CandyHeartRomance #giveaway appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Check out the Candy Hearts Romances Releasing this week and read on to enter to win!

What girl wouldn’t want these sweet nothings whispered in their ear…

One Kiss~  Ever After~  Je T’aime~  Pick Me~  Text Me~  Surprise Me~

Volunteering at a horse rescue has helped heal schoolteacher Kelsey Hunter after her celebrity ex’s betrayal. Life in the rural California community suits her better than the bling of Hollywood. When she seeks help for a classroom project, she’s thrown into the sphere of a down-to-earth organic farmer and horseman who could really steal her heart…  Landry Mills, successful mega-spokesmodel for a famed Westernwear line, returns to his hometown to regroup and reconsider signing the next contract. Meeting Kelsey explodes feelings in him he wants to make real. But finding out a fancy director’s son recently crushed her spirit has him take things slow. What will Kelsey do when she finds out he’s a celebrity in his own right? He might not be able to bear it…

When Erika’s ex becomes her boss less than a year after dumping her by text, she gets desperate to find a date to the corporate Valentine’s dance so he doesn’t suspect she still has feelings for him. Though not a fan of texting for the obvious reason, she doesn’t have much choice but to tap the keypad in order to gain the attention of the only viable candidate from the classified ads.Grayson made the mistake of listening to his brother a year ago and has regretted what he did to Erika ever since. But his brother’s next suggestion just might be his salvation when he takes out an ad for a Valentine’s date…and Erika answers. Using a pseudo name and keeping contact to text messages only, Grayson’s plans to make Erika fall back in love with him appears to be working…until the date of the dance draws near, and she pushes a meeting—face to face.

Dillon Greenleaf is a member of Mythreal royalty and head of his planet’s security. Debutantes have been chasing him his entire adult life in order to wed a man of power, and he’s totally off women in general. But when he meets Keira Foley, an Earth officer, who he suspects is a pirate spy, he finds he quite likes the Plain Jane female.Keira has been pegged brilliant and unattractive by her fellow officers, something she doesn’t mind until she meets the hot, royal stud-muffin who believes she is capable of treason against her own world. When they meet again at the Earth Embassy’s Valentine’s Day ball, Keira however blows Dillon’s mind.
Yet, in the midst of trying to find the real traitor, Dillon’s match-making grandmother, and a night made for love, Keira and Dillon must decide if they can put aside their differences in time to find a love that will be ever after.

 The last place Lorena Weber wants to be on Valentine’s Day is a singles party thrown by her newlywed best friend. But how can she say no? She’ll give it an hour—two, tops—and then she’s heading back to her normal life. But she didn’t plan on seeing the one man who had turned her world on its side New Year’s Eve with one kiss that opened doors she had firmly locked.Caleb Manning got coerced into attending this ridiculous party by a co-worker. He’ll stay for an hour at most and then he’ll head home. That was the plan until he recognized Lorena across the room and had to see if that kiss was only New Year’s Eve magic or something more.

Looking for inspiration, designer Genevieve Hoffman agrees to an apartment swap and heads to the south of France. But when the apartment owner’s brother returns from deployment, she finds herself with a man who inspires fantasies rather than fashion.Etienne Gagnon barely made it out of Syria alive during his last special forces assignment. All he wants is a little R&R in the apartment he shares with his sister. But the woman making breakfast in his kitchen isn’t his sister. He might not understand a word coming out of her mouth but he has no problem reading body language and likes what she’s saying just fine.

Josie and Carson Sandberg are on the cusp of being empty-nesters. With a cross-country move and Carson’s busy work schedule, there hasn’t been much time to connect. When gifted with a romantic getaway and challenge that says “Surprise Me”, the two embark on a trip that reveals secret desires and more. But sometimes a fantasy is better left undiscovered…

So tell me…what was the best gift you received (or hope to receive) for Valentine’s Day?

Check out more ideas for Valentine’s Day and all the Candy Hearts on my Pinterest Page

Hop on over to The Wild Rose Press to pick up all the Candy Hearts Romance Stories

The post Diamonds & Pearls Valentine countdown & Candy Heart Romances appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Check out the Candy Hearts Romances Releasing this week and how to enter to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card. What girl wouldn’t want these sweet nothings whispered in their ear…

~Real Love ~ Say Yes ~ Tweet Me~ Me + You ~ Adore Me ~                         ~Melt My Heart~

Click on the cover to find out more about each of the Candy Hearts Romances

As a young girl, Monda was placed into the tutelage of Mistress Teevac. Trained to use her empathic skills and educated in the ways to please a man, Monda is on her way to her new mate and master when her spaceship crashes. Rescued by a handsome space lieutenant, who literally makes her heart race, Monda’s eyes and heart are opened to new possibilities.When Lieutenant Patrick Lancaster looks at the exotic Monda, he sees beautiful not alien. With an instinct to protect her and the desire to have her, he’d be honored to call her his own, but the stars have something else in mind. Or do they?

Darby Malone has trouble saying no. Hosting a children’s Valentine party at her recently renovated gallery is the last straw, and the last time she intends to say yes to anything. That is, until she meets Ben, a well-known Cape Cod artist with eyes as deep and blue as the ocean. He stirs feelings in her that have been dormant for too long. Can she afford to say yes to him?

Ben Phillips needs this gallery show. His life has been empty since his wife died four years ago, his paintings the only thing giving him solace. But his style has changed, his art completely different than the breezy shore paintings he staked his reputation on. Can he convince Darby to give him a chance – and to consider him for more than just a place on her gallery walls? Will she give him a place in her heart as well?

Don’t call. Don’t text. Tweet me… Married to her work, event planner Avery Kurtz runs her life and her business on a private message feed. She has no time to waste on emails or a love life, and Valentine’s Day means just more parties to plan. But when Tanner Voss, best man in Avery’s best friend’s wedding, is assigned to help finalize plans, her world is turned heart-side up. The hotshot attorney might be a player—he’s hit on her before and she avoided that mistake—but he’s also surprisingly cooperative, focused on making the perfect choices for their friends, and even on board with her messaging preference. Between the erotic dreams about the sexy litigator and her body urging her to forget caution, Avery is wondering if she was wrong about Tanner and wants him to do more than “tweet me.”

Teacher Lori Tait has always wanted a family, but now she’s 40, she’s pretty much decided all the good men are taken. Instead, she devotes herself to her students, particularly one little girl whose struggle with math seems inconsistent with an otherwise brilliant and artistic mind. Mark Wilder hadn’t planned to become a father, but when a fling resulted in his daughter, Grace, he whole-heartedly embraced the role. Raised in a family of boys, what does he know about women and girls? Once he learns of Grace’s inability to comprehend basic math, he welcomes the role of tutor as a way to connect with his daughter; the opportunity to spend time with her sexy teacher is an added bonus. When Lori cracks the mystery of Grace’s problem, Mark’s world is thrown into turmoil; he’s the last person who can help his daughter. He pushes everyone away, confirming Lori’s theory about men. Grace, however, has other plans. Using her new-found understanding of math, she sets out to prove to her father and teacher that, together, they add up to the perfect match.

A hacker is targeting Meredith Crismis’s struggling new dessert company. But when the tech firm she depends on sends hunky computer expert Vlad Wiznitsky to fix the problem, things begin improving for Meredith, both personally and professionally. First, her relationship with Vlad heats up to the sizzling point, then Meredith’s given the chance to snag a wealthy customer who could put her company’s bottom line permanently into the black. It seems like a dream come true, until the persistent hacker turns her “Divine Desserts” website into an X-rated marketplace, the wealthy customer demands a discontinued decorative item or else no sale, and her relationship with Vlad begins to unravel under the pressure of her obsession with professional success. For a woman who deals with creating intricate wedding cakes and luscious muffins, life has suddenly become the ultimate recipe for disaster.

Veterinarian Lexi Mallory wants to submit to the sexy new Dom from the club, but trauma fromher past keeps getting in the way. It’s a good thing Gabriel Huntington has a special way with difficult subs and sees the gorgeous Lexi as a delicious challenge. Unfortunately, Lexi fears her inability to relinquish control will finally test Garbriel’s patience and he’ll end their contract. Can Lexi lower her barriers and allow Gabriel’s touch to melt her heart?

So tell me…what’s your favorite movie? A good love story? A comedy? Drama? What do you want to cuddle up & watch with your Valentine?

Find out more about my Candy Hearts Story,

Forget Me Not, and enter a rafflecopter for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card here. 

Check out more ideas for Valentine’s Day and all the Candy Hearts Romances on my Pinterest Page

Hop on over to The Wild Rose Press to pick up all the Candy Hearts Romance Stories

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Does a girl want watch a movie at home, or out, with her Valentine? appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.