Fall in love with The Baker's Beauty

The Baker’s Beauty released on Wednesday, October 24, and Jamaila and I are so proud to introduce you to Sean Amory and Jessica Casillas-Moore. He’s a little bit broken after a tragic moment from his past (okay, a lot broken), while she’s struggling to carve out a future for herself amidst a changing career landscape and a loud, overbearing family.*

We hope you’ll download The Baker’s Beauty and that this story of love, loss, and redemption will warm your heart.

Amazon | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo

* While I usually write the heroes and Jamaila tackles the heroines, we flipped the script on this one. Given that Jess is half Mexican it made sense for me to take on her story as I grew up in a mixed family (my white father married a Mexican American woman and I lived with them from the time I was nine until I left home for college). A lot of what you see with Jess’s family is inspired by my own experiences with such a large, vocal brood.

Fun fact: I’d fully forgotten what a dustpan was called until I was telling my then-boyfriend-now-husband to bring me the palita and he had no idea what I was talking about. See also: flip-flops were chanclas and you did not want grandma to beat you with one, and when a girl wears short shorts and you can see her ass cheeks, said grandma would complain about her nalgas hanging out.

A Tanya & Aidan Update (Dublin Rugby #5)

I've been asked a lot about Tanya and Aidan lately and when their story is coming, so I thought I'd take a moment to give a public update.

If you've read RUCK ME, you know their back story. If you've read BREAK DOWN, you know their current situation. 

If you haven't read either book, you should probably click out of this post now.

.

.

.

.

(Spoilers commencing in 3, 2, 1 ...)

I had every intention of writing Tanya and Aidan's story. I had the best happily-ever-after planned for them. They both deserve it.

And then two Irish rugby players were accused of raping a girl they met at the bar hours earlier. I'd cheered for those guys. They weren't my favorite players in the world, but I happily clapped, stomped, and screamed when they played well. And as you can imagine, I was disgusted by the details that emerged from the trial -- not just of these two guys, but of some of their fellow teammates -- and I knew I couldn't work on that book. I was too heartbroken.

So I tabled WING IT until my heart didn't hurt quite so much. But that day never came. Even now, sitting here writing this update, my hands are shaking with rage over what that girl endured, how she was vilified in the public, and how those scumbags got away with rape because they're famous white boys.

It's a story as old as time. 

I want to give Tanya and Aidan the ending they deserve. Really, I do.

But I can't.

As authors we pour our hearts and souls into our characters -- into our stories -- and my heart can't handle this right now. Especially when the likelihood of people buying this book is slim-to-none. I won't lie to you. With each successive release of the rugby series, my sales get lower and lower. Poor Donal and Liam. I know the world tells you it's crass to talk about money, but this is my job. I need to sell books. I will happily break open my chest and pass my bloody, beating heart to my readers ... if it is going to be worth it. And living in a state of perpetual heartbreak while I get this book out only to lose money just isn't worth it.

I may come back to Aidan and Tanya someday. I've toyed with making it a short newsletter exclusive. I may still do that someday. Alas, that day is not now.

I hope fans who loved my writing in this world will stick with me as I explore new love stories, and new couples, and create new worlds. 

Meet Sean & Jess, the third couple from the River Hill Series

Welcome to River Hill, where one couple is learning that life can be really sweet ... and a whole lot of spicy.

View fullsize

After tragedy struck, Sean Amory left his job as a record executive in L.A. to go back to his roots. He’s come home to River Hill to work in his family’s bakery while he decides what to do with his life. Somehow, the warm ovens and fresh dough are soothing to his raw edges—and the gorgeous woman he sees jogging past every morning as he opens up the shop has another effect entirely.

Jessica Casillas-Moore’s former life as a beauty queen led to her current gig as a lifestyle consultant for a dozen local TV stations, but it also means she hasn’t eaten carbs since she was fourteen. But smelling them won’t ruin her career, so she makes a point to route her morning run past The Breadery, River Hill’s most delicious site. When she meets the handsome baker, sparks fly ... and cupcakes get frosted.

Opposites really do attract, and it turns out that Jess and Sean just might be made for each other. But when his past rears its ugly head and her future comes calling, they’ll have to figure out how much they’re ready to give in order to get what they most want.

𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 ☛ 
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LXaQ6D
iBooks: http://bit.ly/BakersBeauty_iBooks
Nook: http://bit.ly/BakersBeauty_Nook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/BakersBeauty_Kobo