Blog Archives
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
Off the Menu
Off the Menu by Alaina Erdell offers a compelling narrative set in the bustling environment of a restaurant kitchen, ingeniously intertwining LGBTQ romance with the culinary world. The story revolves around Taylor Mobley, an executive chef whose culinary creativity is stifled by the restaurant’s rigid menu policies. Her world is further complicated by the arrival of Erin Rasmussen, the host of a reality TV show aimed at revamping struggling restaurants. Erdell skillfully sets the stage for a complex relationship between these two strong-willed women, marked initially by conflict but gradually evolving into a mutual attraction.
The novel’s setting in a professional kitchen adds a unique layer, with Erdell’s detailed descriptions of culinary techniques and tools bringing an authenticity that will appeal to readers both inside and outside the culinary industry. This aspect is one of the book’s strengths, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the high-pressure environment of a professional kitchen. Another noteworthy aspect is the portrayal of women in leadership roles, from the kitchen’s executive and sous chefs to the television show’s crew. This representation is refreshing and adds depth to the story, reflecting a progressive approach to character development. The core romance between Taylor and Erin captivates, and while certain aspects of the storyline, like the understated depiction of their proposal and the intricate details of TV production, including Erin’s filming preparations, offer a striking flavor that might appeal differently to various readers. The initial antagonism between Taylor and Erin, crafted to introduce tension, adds an intriguing dimension to their relationship; although it may at times feel a bit heightened, it effectively sets the stage for their eventual mutual understanding and connection.
Off the Menu is a captivating novel that provides a deep exploration of how professional and personal dynamics can intersect, and how understanding and collaboration are key components in maintaining a healthy and romantic relationship. The novel highlights the importance of communication, trust, and mutual respect in both relationships. Erdell’s writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, leaving the readers with a lasting impression of the power of understanding and collaboration in both the kitchen and in relationships.
Pages: 301 | ASIN : B0BVSKFF9N
LITERARY TITAN 