Blog Archives
No Perfect Safe Haven
I’ll Call You Mine follows a woman fleeing San Francisco and a stalker for the quiet life of her small Midwestern hometown, who finds herself falling for her new coworker while her stalker’s threats escalate. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Honestly, the television show Criminal Minds was instrumental. That, with a curiosity around psychology and true crime, and a fascination with the way phrases considered romantic can also be rather threatening. For example, “I’ll always find you” or “we belong together.” Many people dream of hearing these words – but only from the right person. Coming from someone we don’t know or don’t feel the same about, the words take on a very different and sinister meaning.
Enderlin feels comforting and claustrophobic at the same time, offering protection, but also scrutiny and exposure. Why was it important that the town never become a perfect “safe haven”?
For me, it was important to show that there is no perfect safe haven. Even ‘home’ has its flaws, although we may not remember it that way once we leave. Katie thought she could outrun her troubles, perhaps looking to go back to a simpler time when she was taken care of by others: her parents, her brother, the community. But I wanted Katie to find her own strength and to build the life she wanted rather than trying to find it.
The book repeatedly shows how stalking changes ordinary behavior: how Katie reads rooms, measures people, and notices small details. Did you do research into the psychological aftermath of stalking and harassment?
Yes, I did do research! I wanted to not only learn the effects of being stalked, but also find the ways in which victims learned to manage the lasting impact and to find joy in life. I watched quite a few true crime shows that focused on stalking cases in which the victim was able to add context. Hearing them recall how they felt and how it affected not only their lives but the lives of those around them helped a lot. The story of singer/songwriter Coles Whalen was really eye-opening and exceptionally informative on several fronts.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for the town of Enderlin and the direction of the second book?
Through the series Enderlin Calling, the town is the thing that connects all the stories, although not all of the stories take place there. Book 2 has Katie’s best friend, Charlotte, as she goes to Texas to save the family horse ranch. She finds sabotage – and her old flame – and has to figure out how to navigate both without losing everything. Book 3 is in the works and follows one of Katie’s coworkers away from Enderlin and back again. Book 4 will center around Katie’s brother, Nick, but it is still nothing more than a dream at this point.
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For Ben, life in Enderlin is quiet and peaceful, his biggest concern, the ex-fiancée who keeps turning up like a bad penny. That is, until he literally bumps into a curvy brunette with stunning blue eyes and something to prove. Parker is a complication he doesn’t want or need; so why can’t he get her out of his head?
Katie settles into her new life, reconnecting with family and friends and falling for Ben’s easy charm a little more every day. But her attempt to escape seems to have made the stalker bolder, and his love letters quickly escalate to threats she can’t ignore.
When the mounting danger crosses the point of no return, Katie is left shocked, terrified – and utterly alone. But she knows one thing for certain; if she wants to get back to Ben and everyone she loves, she’s in for the fight of her life.
Old Hurt and New Possibility
The One Who Ghosted Me follows a guarded geologist who discovers her new project lead is the man who ghosted her five years ago and now wants a second chance to make things right. Why explore ghosting as a central emotional engine?
Ghosting has become such a familiar wound in modern dating, and my first instinct was the same as most people’s—it felt like a cowardly act. But I wondered, what if it wasn’t? What if someone disappeared not because they didn’t care, but because they cared so much they didn’t see another way out? That question, and the emotional wreckage it leaves on both sides, became the foundation of Amelia and Jonathan’s story.
What drew you to writing Amelia as someone fiercely protective of her independence, and what makes her different from typical contemporary romance heroines?
I’m a deeply independent woman, and I’ve always been drawn to a heroine who can take care of herself rather than waiting for someone else to provide for her. But romance also holds this fantasy of being truly taken care of by your partner, and the friction between those two desires can cause real internal conflict.
Amelia is different because she’s a scientist and outdoorsy, which isn’t common in the genre. After twenty years as a geologist myself, I wanted to write a woman whose competence is just part of who she is, not a quirk, not a fake-it-til-you-make-it costume. She knows what she’s doing out there. Trusting someone with her heart was the harder job.
Why do you think readers are drawn to unresolved love stories, and what makes second-chance romance especially powerful for you as a writer?
I believe most people carry at least one unresolved love story—the one that got away, or the one that ended before it should have. Reading about characters who get back together and finish what was left unfinished lets us vicariously experience that possibility. It’s about hope.
As a writer, second-chance romance gives me something a first-meeting story can’t. The characters know exactly which buttons to press and exactly where the wounds are. That history creates a kind of tension that’s impossible to manufacture from scratch. I find that space, between old hurt and new possibility, compelling to write. And for this series in particular, the idea of second chances runs far deeper than one book. But readers will have to keep reading to understand what I mean by that.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
The One Who Ghosted Me is Book 1 of the Fontaine Series. Book 2, Melanie and Brandon’s story, will be released early in 2027. Book 2 turns up the heat with an enemies-to-lovers pairing that readers will have already seen coming.
Melanie Foxx doesn’t believe in soulmates. Brandon Fontaine definitely doesn’t believe in past lives. Forced to team up for Amelia and Jonathan’s wedding-venue challenge, they clash over everything—except their inconvenient attraction.
But when old family wounds collide with eerie flashes of “we’ve been here before,” they’ll have to choose: repeat the same heartbreak … or finally rewrite the story their souls keep trying to tell.
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Rainmere, Washington. In this close-knit Pacific Northwest town, Amelia Preston refuses to give up control. With people counting on her at home, the romantically gun-shy young widow stays focused on turning her contract job into a full-time career. But her opportunity to land a position with benefits comes under threat when she learns the new project lead is the guy who swept her off her feet five years ago… and then vanished.
Jonathan Fontaine longs to make things right. Still shouldering a mountain of guilt over the woman he let slip away, the outdoorsy geologist hopes the next three months of working side-by-side will end in forgiveness. So when she needs help avoiding her friends’ unwanted matchmaking, he steps out of his carefully constructed personal life and offers himself up as a fake boyfriend.
Insisting on strict boundaries to avoid getting burned again, a nervous Amelia softens her rules in the face of their undeniable chemistry. But though Jonathan might be hearing wedding bells, he doesn’t know how to break free from family duty and embrace his own happiness.
Is this an all-too-common repeat heartbreak, or a rare second chance at true love?
The One Who Ghosted Me is the flirty first book in the Fontaine Family contemporary romance series, featuring second-chance workplace romance with touches of the supernatural. If you like emotional depth balanced with humor, characters you’ll want as friends, and places that feel like they’re part of the cast, then you’ll adore Erica Devon’s addictive tale.
Buy The One Who Ghosted Me for a swoon-worthy escape today!
The One Who Ghosted Me
Erica Devon’s The One Who Ghosted Me drops me into a second-chance collision: Amelia Preston, still raw from being abruptly cut off by Jonathan five years earlier, is rebuilding a life in Rainmere, Washington, juggling contract geology work and a strange, high-security assistant gig for an unseen employer (WJ7 Inc.) at a looming estate. Then Jonathan reappears as the lead on a high-stakes merger asset project, and the past isn’t just unresolved, it’s booby-trapped, with old loyalties, new pressures, and a secret that finally explains why he vanished.
That old-school, can’t-look-away tension Devon builds when two people know each other’s soft spots and still choose each other’s bruises is enthralling. Amelia’s voice has a flinty, self-protective edge that feels earned (she’s not “guarded” in the decorative way; she’s done), and Jonathan is written with a believable burden, competent, loyal, and quietly wrecked by the consequences of doing the right thing. When the book finally lays out the whistleblower/protective-custody truth behind the ghosting, it doesn’t erase the damage, but it does sharpen the moral dilemma into something you can bite into.
I came for the romance reparations and stayed for the atmosphere. The story keeps slipping little splinters of mystery under the skin. An old journal, a tucked-away map, a chapel with a digital lockbox, and those recurring “that’s odd” sensations (the metallic smell, the forest’s almost-guiding presence, the too-perfect feeling of rightness) add a faintly uncanny undertow without tipping the book into full paranormal. And when the external world punches in, merger fallout, professional brinkmanship, and the Brazil transfer that lands like a guillotine, the love story doesn’t float above “real life”; it gets dragged through it.
If you like contemporary romance, second-chance romance, workplace romance, slow-burn, and a dash of romantic suspense / gothic-leaning mystery, this is aimed squarely at you, especially if you enjoy heroines who insist on stability and still risk tenderness, and heroes who have to choose integrity over the neat, impressive life-plan. The late-book glow-up (including wedding plans and the found-family warmth) lands like sunlight finally hitting a cold room. If you’ve ever devoured a Nora Roberts romance for its grounded emotion plus a low, steady hum of secrets, Devon’s approach will feel like a close cousin, modern, outdoorsy, and just a little haunted. The One Who Ghosted Me is a story about the cost of silence, and the fierce, stubborn relief of being chosen out loud.
Pages: 488 | ASIN : B0GDSKD3LS
Steamy Distraction
Sydney and Heather are both interesting characters trying to move past their last bad relationships. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
The Unwritten Rule’s two main characters were both a pleasure to write about. I loved discovering their slow-burn relationship and the sizzling chemistry that ignited amidst global travel, high-stakes sports events, and Formula One’s glamour.
Heather’s experience as a writer definitely made her an easier character to write. I connected with her motivation of wanting a career that her entourage could understand, but she was also keen to write about people falling in love. I wanted her to be a heroine readers could identify with, a character who, like newcomers to the Formula One romance genre, was also unfamiliar with the world of motorsport. But as I wrote more about Heather, she became much more than that—she had her own dreams and insecurities, which made her so endearing.
Sydney was more challenging because he’s more guarded—the sting of his past relationship still raw. But throughout the writing process, he revealed himself to be also sweet and considerate towards Heather and others. Everything a reader would expect and more from a modern and sexy Highlander. I loved seeing him open up to Heather during their interview questions for his biography. Writing about him falling in love again was satisfying after months of having to pull answers from Sydney—much like Heather did during the course of the story!
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
There were many scenes I had fun writing for The Unwritten Rule, from the meet-cute in the Canadian Rockies to the action on track across the racing season, so it’s hard to find just one! Especially since I wrote it with dual points of view, as I wanted to create an immersive reading experience. I enjoyed writing about Heather’s first meeting with Sydney, and how it parallels the romance book she’s writing in the story. For fans of romantic comedy, I think they’ll laugh as hard as I did when I was writing it!
I also had fun integrating motorsport elements into the storyline and getting the reader to feel like they are in the car with Sydney. To do so, I rewatched old footage of past Australian and Canadian Grands Prix—among many others—which helped me realistically assess his championship ambitions, along with the difficulties he encountered on track. As an F1 fan, adding those small details from the driver’s point of view is key to writing my Formula One romance novels.
It might not be a scene, but compiling the glossary to help new readers understand all the motorsport terms and Scottish slang peppered throughout the story was a fun exercise. Since my contemporary romance novel is set in a more niche subgenre, I don’t expect all the readers of The Unwritten Rule to be Formula One fans just yet, but maybe by the end of the book, they will be!
When will Book Two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
The Rival Hearts, the second book in The Racing Line series, is scheduled for publication in Spring 2026. It follows the story of Ethan and Maggie, two side characters from The Unwritten Rule, as they go from being rivals to lovers.
Here’s book two in a few sentences: She’s the first female F1 title contender. He’s the steamy distraction on track. The race weekend plan didn’t include waking up married to the rival rookie driver. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right?
Readers can expect to see familiar faces, discover new racetracks, as well as plenty of banter and spice. As with all the interconnected stand-alone books in The Racing Line series, they are filled with international travel, irresistible chemistry, and a swoon-worthy hero in a race suit.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website | Amazon
Sydney
To match his legendary father’s record on the track, Sydney McKinnly needs a third world championship win. But after a dreadful year in and out of the cockpit, the only way he’s keeping his driver’s seat is by agreeing to have his bloody biography written.
It wasn’t supposed to challenge his decision of not getting distracted by love this season. Harder said than done when the biographer is none other than his Rockies holiday fling. And the sparks are still flying high.
Can he keep to their no-strings-attached deal? Or is their chemistry putting everything he’s been working for this season at risk?
Heather
Heather Everett-Fortier is a successful biographer, yet each new book brings her further away from her dream of writing romance novels.
After a bad breakup, travelling the world with the St-Pierre Racing team provides Heather with unparalleled opportunities for gathering romance story-setting inspiration. But it also brings Heather closer to her one-night stand. As strangers, they weren’t supposed to see each other again, let alone work together! And yet, when they meet again, they can’t pull away. Writing Sydney’s biography brings Heather closer to her dreams, but will their steamy attraction steer her off track?
Can Heather and Sydney keep their passion in check long enough for them to finish this biography?
The Unwritten Rule is book #1 in the Racing Line Series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but they are interconnected. This is a high-octane contemporary sports romance filled with open-door spice, swoon-worthy moments, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
THE CHAMPAGNE CRUSH: A Romance Novel
Caroline O’Connell’s The Champagne Crush is a sparkling romance that blends high-stakes business drama with personal reinvention, set against the lush backdrop of Napa Valley and the glitz of Manhattan. The story follows Catherine Reynolds, a poised yet uncertain PR consultant with a tattered romantic past and high-society roots, who gets swept into the whirlwind launch of a prestige sparkling wine. Thrust into the world of billion-dollar wine deals, boardroom egos, and a brewing corporate showdown, Catherine must navigate her way through professional upheaval—and an unexpected, slow-burn attraction to the company’s enigmatic president, Chris McDermott.
From the get-go, I found myself charmed by O’Connell’s easygoing prose. There’s something magnetic about her style—it doesn’t try too hard, and it never talks down to you. I genuinely enjoyed how she layered Catherine’s vulnerability with determination. The pacing is solid, with just the right balance between dialogue and description. The emotional beats felt authentic, and the banter (especially between Chris and Catherine) often had me grinning. It’s not just romance. It’s about personal grit, professional ambition, and finding steadiness in chaos. I also appreciated the behind-the-scenes peek into the wine world, it added sophistication without veering into snobbery.
I had mixed feelings about the romantic arc. There’s a definite chemistry between the leads, but at times, the push-pull dynamic dragged on a bit. Catherine’s back-and-forth decisions could be frustrating, though believable, given her circumstances. And Chris? He grew on me. What first felt like a stiff CEO trope slowly morphed into a more relatable and grounded man trying to juggle ambition with integrity. The book also isn’t afraid to explore class dynamics, financial stress, and emotional trauma with subtlety, which gave the setting some welcome emotional weight.
The Champagne Crush is an effervescent and satisfying read. Equal parts heart and hustle. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves smart, emotionally resonant romance with a touch of glamor and grit. If you’ve ever daydreamed about walking through vineyards in Louboutins or pitching a startup under chandeliers while nursing a broken heart, this one’s for you. It’s a modern fairy tale with just enough fizz to leave you smiling.
Giving Medics an Authentic Voice
Prescription for a Frozen Heart follows a brilliant but emotionally guarded sports doctor who avoids children at all costs and meets an emotionally unavailable single father that she did not expect to fall for. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This book draws heavily from my own life. I wanted to give medics a voice for the true challenges we face that usually are glossed over when a medical romance is written by a lay person. I have given Charlie my day job, yet she is not me. My niece was 11 at the time I was writing. I wanted a brooding man who was flawed but redeemable and I intentionally created a character arc for him to show this.
What was your writing process to ensure you captured the essence of the characters?
I defined my characters before I started writing. Their flaws, their habits, their go to tics, and their appearances. I thought about how they would react differently given the same situation. In my head they are real people.
Was there a reason why you chose this location as the backdrop for your story?
It’s set in the small rural town I work in, since Charlie got my job.
What next book are you working on, and when will it be available?
I’m creating a sweet time-travel romance. Imagine: Pride & Prejudice meets Jurassic Park. It’s too early to give a date yet. I am having a ball writing it 😊
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram
“How could one little six-character word hurt so much?
Like a knife had been skewered into her heart and twisted for good measure, the tip snapping off, imbedded, left there to rust, instead of being quickly withdrawn to bleed to death and end the pain. And then a magnet in the form of cheery Em would waltz by and tug on that vicious tip, making her bleed all over again.”
Prescription for a Frozen Heart
Jo-Anne Duffett’s Prescription for a Frozen Heart is an emotionally charged, slow-burn romance wrapped in medical drama, set against the backdrop of South Africa. It follows Dr. Charlotte “Charlie” Kriel, a brilliant but emotionally guarded sports doctor who avoids children at all costs, and Dr. Thomás Ribeiro, a single father with a past that’s left him emotionally unavailable. Their paths collide when Charlie meets Thomás’s inquisitive daughter, Emilía, whose presence cracks the icy barriers both doctors have built around their hearts. The book takes readers on a journey of healing, self-discovery, and the undeniable pull of love even when one fights against it.
Right off the bat, I was hooked by Charlie’s complexity. She’s strong and capable, yet vulnerable in a way that makes her feel real. The opening scene, where she panics over a child job-shadowing her, had me both sympathizing with her fears and chuckling at her avoidance tactics. The author does an excellent job of balancing her trauma with her competence, making her struggles with children feel deeply personal rather than overdone. When Emilía enters the picture, she is smart-mouthed and full of life, and you can feel Charlie’s carefully controlled world shift. The way she instinctively rubs her chest to stave off old wounds whenever faced with children? That small detail speaks volumes.
Thomás, on the other hand, is the perfect counterweight to Charlie. He’s intense, brooding, and smoking hot. But beneath his Arctic Ice exterior, as Charlie calls it, is a devoted father who would do anything for Emilía. The tension between him and Charlie is electric, not just because of their attraction but because of the fundamental differences in how they process their pain. His initial judgmental nature (calling Charlie unfit when she faints) made me want to throw something at him, but his protective instincts and slow unraveling into someone who actually listens made me forgive him.
The banter between Charlie and Thomás crackles with chemistry, and Emilía’s sharp wit keeps things from getting too heavy. The writing flows effortlessly, blending medical authenticity with deeply personal stakes. Some moments genuinely made me tear up, especially when Charlie wrestles with her longing for a child of her own while pretending she doesn’t care. Duffett weaves in medical details seamlessly, grounding the story in realism without bogging it down with jargon. It’s clear she knows the medical world well, and that authenticity makes the characters’ struggles feel even more tangible.
By the time the story reaches its climax, the emotional stakes are sky-high. Secrets are revealed, walls come down, and the push-and-pull between Charlie and Thomás reaches a breaking point that had me flipping pages like my life depended on it. And the ending? Satisfying as hell.
If you love slow-burn romance with depth, emotionally wounded yet resilient protagonists, and stories about found families, Prescription for a Frozen Heart will melt you. Fans of medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy or heartfelt contemporary romances will eat this up. I’d especially recommend it to those who enjoy single-dad romances with a heroine who isn’t afraid to challenge her own fears.
Pages: 293 | ASIN : B0DSWHL48Y
LOVE HATE LAW
Love Hate Law by Mark M. Bello presents an engaging narrative set in the legal world, where the lives of two contrasting lawyers, Andrea and Michael, intertwine. Andrea, a dedicated lawyer from an average American background, is committed to representing the underdog. On the other hand, Michael, born into privilege and accustomed to the finest education, tends to gravitate towards financially lucrative corporate clients. Their differing approaches to law are challenged when they find themselves entangled in a high-profile case, leading to unexpected shifts in their career trajectories and personal lives.
Bello crafts a legal romance that captivates readers through various casework and career development, set against the backdrop of a burgeoning relationship between Andrea and Michael. The novel is swift in pace and length. It skillfully balances legal intricacies with accessible language, making it informative without overwhelming the reader. Central to the novel is the compelling conflict that draws Andrea and Michael together, effectively setting the stage for their evolving relationship. The story navigates through their professional and romantic tension, culminating in a satisfying conclusion for both characters. The novel effectively employs dual points of view, enriching the narrative with varied perspectives, even though some transitions might appear sudden. The legal intricacies of the plot are skillfully handled, suggesting room for a more nuanced exploration of the characters, especially in the romantic subplot. For example, Andrea, consistently depicted as a dedicated justice-seeker, encounters a surprising turn in her character arc with an impulsive gambling episode, offering an unexpected twist that adds complexity to her role and the storyline.
Love Hate Law is a captivating legal drama that follows the lives of two lawyers and their personal and professional struggles. Set in the midst of a fast-paced and high-pressure case, this legal thriller offers an intriguing blend of suspense, romance, and intrigue. Mark M. Bello’s book is a great choice for those who enjoy legal romance.
Pages: 280 | ASIN : B0CTRRPKTZ
