New Year's messages from Farrah Rochon, Stacy-Deanne, Wayne Jordan, Laura Kaye
Thank you for hanging in there with me and the many authors and wonderful books brought to you through the year. The Happy Ever After blog is a cozy platform where I can share the news about the many stories and their happy endings. I hope that you enjoyed your favorites and took a chance with an unfamiliar author. You never know what your next must-read romance story will be. Happy New Year, my friends.
Here are a few authors sharing their New Year's messages with you.
Farrah Rochon, author of Forever With You
In 2014, my stories took readers to fascinating locations. From my fictional small town on the Louisiana bayou in my Bayou Dreams series, to the rolling hills of Tuscany and the romance of Rome in my holiday novella, Tuscan Nights, and the sunny beaches of Turks and Caicos in I Dare You! from my Moments in Maplesville novella series. I hope readers will follow me to fabulous new settings, and return to a couple of favorites in the upcoming year.
Wishing you all good health, great times and fabulous reading in 2015. I am kicking the year off with a return to Gauthier, Louisiana, in Forever With You!
About Forever With You:
The tranquil bayou town of Gauthier is the perfect place for widowed single mother Leslie Kirkland to raise her two daughters. Until she's elected president of the elementary school's Parent-Teacher Organization. Caught in a clash between the community and progressive science-teacher-turned-assistant-principal Gabriel Franklin, Leslie vows not to take sides. But it's hard to be objective when a sexy younger man is awakening such an irresistible desire.
Years ago, a teacher saved Gabriel from a one-way path to destruction, and now he is dedicated to his students and the Louisiana town he calls home. But the chemistry sizzling between him and Leslie could ignite a scandal. And when the gathering firestorm threatens both their dreams, Gabe is ready to take a stand. Can he convince Leslie that it's time to move on and make a bright future…with him?
Have a safe and wonderful New Year!
Stacy-Deanne, author of An Unexpected Love
I hope everyone out there has a great 2015! I am anticipating wonderful things to come and you should be, too. I think we tend to focus too much on the negative that we forget to focus on the positives in our lives. I try to stay positive no matter what, and I would like to present that challenge to everyone in 2015. Sure, some problems you can't leave in 2014, but you can always remember the positive side of things. So this upcoming year, do yourself a favor and look toward the positive. No matter what is going on in your life, be appreciative for the good things that happen and take time to smell the roses and not take the world around you for granted. Here is hoping everyone has a wonderful new year!
I invite everyone to check out one of my latest releases, An Unexpected Love, an interracial romance and women's fiction book.
About An Unexpected Love:
After experiencing another breakdown, recently divorced Layla meets the handsome Cross, a free-spirited white guy who has his own issues. The two find solace together and when their friendship blossoms into love; Layla rediscovers her true self and the happiness she's missed.
Ironically, while Layla's life seems to be getting back on track, her sisters' lives are spiraling out of control. Valerie, who seems obsessed with not being able to have a child, is unknowingly pushing her husband into another woman's arms.
Valerie also blames Corrine, her younger sister, for a fatal tragedy and has hated her ever since.
On top of the family chaos, Layla is put through more obstacles than anyone can handle, but proves that with Cross's love and support, she can win any battle.
Have a great year!
Wayne Jordan, author of Touch My Heart
I love the Christmas/New Year season. It is the time of year when I always feel blissfully happy despite the pressures and stresses of life. I took a break from writing for most of 2014. I'd become disillusion with the publishing industry. Just a few months ago, I realized something — I could not stop writing. The storytelling muse is so much a part of me and who I am.
I'm currently working on Promise Me Forever, the third book in my Harrison Sisters/Once Upon a Time series. I can't wait for you to read it. I'm excited and looking forward to the New Year and writing those stories I need to tell. I hope that, like me, you will embrace the new year, its new beginnings, its possibilities and capture those wonderful dreams in your hands.
About Touch My Heart:
A tropical island. A sensual stranger. Passion in Paradise.
A job offer in Barbados is just what widowed nurse Aaliyah Carrington needs to heal and start over. But the rugged stranger she meets on the beach against a backdrop of crashing waves is something out of a Hollywood fantasy. One of "the Sexiest Men Alive," movie star Dominic Wolfe abruptly vanished from the spotlight. His brooding, aloof manner only makes Aaliyah more determined to help her injured patient who arouses such potent desire.
After walking through fire to save a little girl, Dominic knows he isn't the man he once was. He came home to the tropical island to retreat from the world, but Aaliyah is bringing him back to life with her soothing, erotic touch. Is he ready to let the past go and fight for their future—and a second chance at his own happy ending?
Laura Kaye, author of Hard to Come By
The best thing about the New Year is all the possibility it represents. This could be the year you find love, get a job about which you're passionate, or achieve the thing you've most wanted to achieve! Everything is possible! So, this New Year's, I wish you the possible — that every one of your dreams and wishes comes true! With my love in 2015!
About Hard to Come By:
Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team--sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.
When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he's become. Derek's easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn't trust.
As the team's investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away...
SOME 2015 AUTHOR/READER EVENTS
Jan. 30-31: Book Besties Literary Bliss created by bestselling author Norma L. Jarrett, with keynote DeVon Franklin and presenters Monique Greenwood, Norma Jarrett, Lisa Crayton, Booker T. Mattison, Gabrielle Jordan. www.bookbestieslitbliss.com
Feb. 21: Anya Alsobrook hosts her third Red Hot Romance Reception at the Montgomery County Public Library in Troy, N.C.
March 26-28: Romance Slam Jam, Celebrating 20 years of Black Romance, in Dallas. Keynote speakers: Gwendolyn Osborne and Emma Rodgers. Hosts: Evelyn Palfrey and Keith Thomas Walker. www.romanceslamjam.org
April 3-5: The Novel Experience Event hosted by Romance Ink, a literary non-profit, offers free general attendance to readers with an option to purchase VIP tickets. novelexperienceevent.org
April 25: Barbara Vey's 4th Reader Appreciation Event with more than 500 readers, in Milwaukee, Wis. Keynote: Tess Gerritsen. www.barbaraveyreaders.com
May 13-17: Romantic Times (RT) Convention in Dallas. Book-signing events, workshops for readers, booksellers/librarians and published and aspiring authors. www.rtconvention.com
May 21-29: Brenda Jackson's Bermuda Cruise, Grown, Romantic & Sexy, celebrating Brenda's 20th anniversary as an author. www.brendajackson.net
May 29-31: Seattle chapter of Go On Girl! Book Club hosts the 23rd annual awards weekend at Motif Seattle Hotel. www.goongirl.org
June 7: The 7th Annual Great Midwest Book Festival at Milwaukee Brotherhood of Fire Fighters Hall in Milwaukee, Wis. Free to public. www.greatmidwestbookfest.com
July 22: Romance Writers of America's Readers For Life Literacy Autographing at New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. www.rwa.org
July 26-29: A.C. Arthur's Beach Bash in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Featured authors: Angie Daniels, Sienna Mynx, Roy Glenn, Yvette Hines, Bridget Midway, Cheris Hodges, Keith Thomas Walker. www.acarthur.net
Aug. 7-9: Founder Curtis Bunn's National Book Club Conference at Atlanta Marriott Buckhead. www.nationalbookclubconference.com
Sept. 9-11: At Swirling the Big Easy: An IR Romance Author & Fan Event. Meet authors and fans of interracial romance. At Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter of New Orleans. www.eventbrite.com
Sept. 25-27: Yvette Hines' Reader Appreciation Event in Virginia Beach. yvettehines.com
Oct. 9-11: The Ladies of BRAB Online Book Club present the annual reading warriors retreat in Las Vegas. Featured authors: Beverly Jenkins, Donna Hill, Candice Shaw, Cheris Hodges, Farrah Rochon, Phyllis Bourne, Sheryl Lester, Suzette Riddick and Zuri Day. brabonline.ticketleap.com
Oct. 15-17: Cavalcade of Authors in Chicago. Featured authors: Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson and Zuri Day. thecavalcadeofauthors.com
Oct. 16-17: Founder Sharon Lucas' Readers & Authors Rock Weekend at Comfort Inn in Bowie, Md. www.realdivasread.com
Oct. 17-20: Literary Sisters Spa Weekend at Ritz-Carlton (tip of French Quarter) in New Orleans. www.literarysisters.com
Oct. 23-24: OOSA Pajama Jam Weekend in St. Louis. www.oosapajamajam.com
Nov. 6-8: SORMAG's Online Conference features workshops, panels, live discussions and door prizes. sormag.blogspot.com
Michelle Monkou writes for Harlequin Kimani, Evernight Publishing and Boroughs Publishing. Her website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.