Each time a book is released, fans all over the world are excited. Today we have a wonderful new book- Captivate, to celebrate. Captivate is the first in a amazing series filled with mermaids, romance and danger! You will want to grab the copy for yourself!

Blurb:
In a glittering underwater world, where danger lurks behind beauty and power, seventeen-year-old Miranda Sun must decide between her freedom and the love her heart ultimately yearns for.

While taking a midnight swim in the ocean, Miranda Sun is pulled beneath the surface only to awaken in a glittering underwater city where she is being held captive by an arrogant young king, Marko.

Marko wishes to marry Miranda in order to save his crown from falling into the hands of his sinister brother, Damir, who resides in the dark recesses of the city’s underworld.

But Miranda is desperate to return home and right things with her sister. In order to escape, she spends her captivity concocting elaborate escape plans and forms an alliance with eighteen-year-old Robbie, Marko’s personal guard, in hope of securing her freedom.

Miranda fights the pull of the glittering, beautiful undersea kingdom, her blossoming feelings for the smoldering king and the deep friendship with Robbie. But danger lurks under the glittering water. Miranda quickly discovers that even underwater, people have secrets….dangerous secrets which could cost her all she holds dear.
 
EXCERPT:
There was an awkward silence until Marko strode forward, stopping at the foot of my bed, his hands resting against the dark wood. Up this close, I could see that he was much younger than Sylvia and not much older than Robbie.

He was physically attractive, like his sister, but the cold hostility in his steely blue eyes stripped all that beauty away.

“Hello, Miranda,” he said, staring down at me through a fringe of thick, black lashes. His voice was formal and without warmth.

I remained silent and rigid, hardly breathing.

“Are you comfortable? Is there anything you need?”

Yeah. My freedom. When I didn’t answer, Marko sighed angrily and whipped around to face Robbie.

“Can she talk?”

“She’s frightened,” said Robbie.

Marko turned back to me, his frosty blue eyes thawing a little.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to lay a single hand on you.” Relief hissed through my teeth.

“I’m glad,” I muttered, before averting my gaze to the nearest bed post and concentrating on the intricate mermaid and merman carvings, hoping he’d just go away.

Marko laughed bitterly, shocking me. “No more than I am, believe me,” he said, before pushing himself away from the bed. His response didn’t make sense. If he, the king--not that I believed he was a real one—didn’t want me here, then who did? Why was I here at all?
​
“She’s not my type,” he muttered to Robbie before marching out the door. 

About the Author:
A bookseller and Young Adult author, Vanessa loves nothing more than immersing herself in the exciting world of books. When she is not sharing her favorite reads with customers, or mentally casting actors to play the characters in her next novel, she enjoys hanging out with those she loves most.
​
Instagram: @vanessawriter27 Twitter: @vanessagarden27

Captivate Character Interview with Marko and Miranda by author Vanessa Garden
 
Marko and Miranda are seated beside one another. Miranda is wearing jeans and a fitted t-shirt with embroidered robins flying across her chest. On her right hand she wears a ring she keeps touching. Marko is wearing head-to-toe black and knee-high boots with daggers strapped to them. He notices me eyeing them and takes one out, offering me a closer look and warning me the blade can split hairs. I take it, feeling giddy to be touching something of Marko’s. It’s beautiful. The hilt is silver, highly polished, worn with use and studded with golden crystals. I lean forward to hand it back and as I do I notice a scar on Marko’s forehead. I make a mental note to ask about it later.
 
Author: So, great to have you here today, guys.
 
Marko nods and clears his throat.
 
Miranda: No problem.
 
Author: So, let’s get right to it then.
What makes the underwater city of Marin special? Miranda, you go first.
 
Miranda: First of all, the city is so beautiful it takes your breath away. It’s lit up by these gemstones called light-crystals, the city’s energy source, and as a result the entire city glitters. But what makes it special is not its beauty. For some reason being in Marin, and away from the real world, helps me to see my true self. I don’t put on any masks in Marin. It’s all me and I like being able to come clean, faults and all, on who I really am as a person. 
 
Marko: It’s my home. I love every square-inch and could never imagine living elsewhere.
 
Author: What is your most treasured possession?
 
Marko: Possessions aren’t as important to me as people, but, if I had to choose, it would be my grandmother’s ring and my father’s dagger. (He taps the hilt of the dagger he showed me a moment ago)
 
Miranda: My mother’s laptop. It has all of her screenplays on it. She kept a daily journal there too. I like to read her thoughts whenever I’m feeling a bit lost or just when I miss her. (She opens her mouth to say something else but then closes it and instead gently caresses the ring on her finger with the pad of her thumb)
 
Author: What is your idea of happiness?
 
Marko: (his grey-blue eyes flicker over Miranda before turning back to me) To love and be loved in return.
 
Miranda: (blushes and shifts in her seat while Marko stares at her intently) Happiness is where I stop losing my loved ones. I want to be able to love without fearing loss.
 
Author: Okay, while on the subject of fear, what is your greatest fear?
 
Marko: The destruction of my kingdom.
 
Miranda: Never seeing my sister or grandparents again (she glances at Marko from out the corner of her eye) I’m also worried about making the right choices. I want to know if I can trust my instincts.
 
Author: What trait to you most dislike in a person?
 
Miranda: Dishonesty… and deceit.
 
Marko: I agree. Especially when the treachery is committed by a blood relative. To betray a family member is the most despicable of acts. (Marko’s cheeks flush with quiet rage and he grips the chair arms until his knuckles turn white)
 
Author: Okay… let’s lighten things up a little. What would I find on your bedside table?
 
Miranda: (visibly relaxes and smiles softly) A bottle of perfume given to me by somebody special.
 
Marko: (releases a deep breath, releases chair arms and dips his head to hide a cute grin) A well-thumbed book – ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck - most recently read by somebody very dear to my heart.
 
Author: Marko, do you read often?
 
Marko: (stares wistfully into space) I used to love to read. But as time passes and (his grin disappears and his eyes seem to lose their sparkle) my responsibility to Marin grows, I find I don’t have that luxury anymore.
 
Miranda: I’ve always got my head in a book. I love, love, love to read.
 
Marko smiles at Miranda’s exuberant response and she smiles back.
 
Author: Okay, last question. Any regrets so far in life?
 
Marko: (sighs and rubs the back of his neck.) I have a great regret which has tortured me in my sleep since I was ten years old (his blue eyes turn cold, the colour of steel) Because of this I have vowed to live with no regrets from here on (he looks at Miranda, pointedly) 
 
Miranda: (shifts in her seat) I regret not telling my parents ‘I love you’ enough. I regret what I said to my best friend at the beach, one winter’s night over three years ago, and… (she bites a nail before tucking her hands beneath her thighs) I regret not telling a certain someone, very recently, how I truly feel about them. But I hope to change that soon.
 
Marko stares at Miranda, eyebrows raised but she doesn’t meet his eyes. She thanks me and stands to leave. Marko immediately rises and gets the door for her. He is much taller than her. Her head reaches the middle of his chest. They’d make a cute couple.
 
Author: Thanks for coming, guys!
 
Miranda smiles over her shoulder. The smile is mysterious and her wide brown eyes sparkle with deep secrets.
                                                                
Marko nods and gives me a wink before following Miranda out the door. When the door closes, I remember about the scar on Marko’s face, but it’s too late. It will have to wait for next time.

In a glittering underwater world, where danger lurks behind beauty and power, seventeen-year-old Miranda Sun must decide between her freedom and the love her heart ultimately yearns for.

While taking a midnight swim in the ocean, Miranda Sun is pulled beneath the surface only to awaken in a glittering underwater city where she is being held captive by an arrogant young king, Marko.

Marko wishes to marry Miranda in order to save his crown from falling into the hands of his sinister brother, Damir, who resides in the dark recesses of the city’s underworld.

But Miranda is desperate to return home and right things with her sister. In order to escape, she spends her captivity concocting elaborate escape plans and forms an alliance with eighteen-year-old Robbie, Marko’s personal guard, in hope of securing her freedom.
​
Miranda fights the pull of the glittering, beautiful undersea kingdom, her blossoming feelings for the smoldering king and the deep friendship with Robbie. But danger lurks under the glittering water. Miranda quickly discovers that even underwater, people have secrets….dangerous secrets which could cost her all she holds dear.

Amazon      Kobo      BN      Itunes

Would You Try Anything to Find Your Perfect Mate? Many people spend a great deal of time trying to find love. Each time we think it will last and it doesn't, we lose a little piece of ourselves. But what if you didn't have to look...instead, someone sent you an invitation??

Welcome to Cupid's Café, a place where missed connections meet. How the invitations find them, no one knows…except for the mysterious owner, Mr. Heart.

This multi-author series focuses on protagonists struggling with real-life issues that often get swept under the rug. With Cupid’s Café, these issues find representation in the characters struggling to conquer their own problems while trying to carve a future for themselves.

From cops to artists, or social workers to photographers, Mr. Heart ensures these lost souls who believe themselves undeserving of love reconnect with their fated match.

Each couple embarks on their journey at Cupid’s Cafe, but the rest is up to them: whether damage wins or they find true love in the end.
 
Painting for Keeps~
Blurb:
An invitation to Cupid’s Café will change your life.

Agatha Kakos is one brownie bite away from losing her dinner when an invitation to Cupid’s Café shows up on her doorstep. Fighting bulimia and her mother’s constant verbal abuse has never been easy. An offer to meet a secret admirer is more a morale booster, if anything.

Following a break-in and the destruction of his paintings, starving artist Murphy O’Shea finds himself at wits end. Not only does he need to prepare ten more paintings, but in the midst of another manic/depressive episode, the challenge seems impossible. He’s got two months or he’ll have to cancel his first show. The Cupid’s Café invite offers him a chance to find his muse. He doesn’t expect it to be the woman he’s mirrored every previous painting on, nor does he plan on being able to offer Aggie the help she needs.

Aggie finds saving grace by renting an apartment from Murph in exchange for posing for paintings. She’s fully invested in the man, his art, and exploring the sexual attraction between them. But Murph sees Aggie as his savior, the only one keeping his disorder from becoming worse. When both are faced with their worst fears, the only solution is for them to be apart. It’s going to take them saving themselves before a future together is possible. Can they find a way to conquer their inner demons or will they succumb to the idea they aren’t worth a happily ever after?

About the Author:
Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.
​
Website: https://landragraf.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landra.graf/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LandraGraf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landragraf/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Landra-Graf/e/B00IESJED4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1440641120&sr=8-1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7847192.Landra_Graf
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/landragraf/
 
 

​Workplace relationships are very common. After all, where else do we spend upwards of eight plus hours a day??  But these relationships are fraught with danger, from sexual harassment to firings, it's a challenge to get a happily ever after when you have to face the same person each and every day.

Back in the 1960's many companies had rules on the books to stop workplace relationships. Two people who were dating or married couldn't work in the same company. Yet, affairs were known to happen. Executives fooling around with their secretaries. 

But no matter what might happen, relationships do begin at work. Team teachers fall in love over their fondness for coffee and get engaged. Two people on the marketing team bond over tacos and move in together.

Ms. Rita Arens latest work features a work relationship which sends our heroine on a rollercoaster ride. You'll want to cheer for Meg and won't be able to put the book down. Grab a copy for yourself!


BLURB:
What happens when you're not ready for the power you desire?

Instead of heading to college, eighteen-year-old Meg lucks into a temporary position as personal secretary to Helen Cleaves, CEO of Aethon Power & Light. When Helen's charming son turns his romantic attention toward Meg, she finds herself pulled along on Parker’s rule-bending quest for power within Aethon -- and her own struggle to determine the woman she will become.

Revisit the Greek myth of the sun god, Helios, and his son Phaeton -- only this time Helios is Helen, the fiery-haired chief executive of Aethon Power & Light in Chicago and Phaeton is Parker, her hot-headed son and only heir.

THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES offers for mythology what Marissa Meyer’s CINDER did for young adult fairy tales – a nostalgic plot, a powerful love interest and a fresh twist. 

Excerpt:
When I get to his office, Parker’s on the phone, his back to the door, staring out over the parking lot. I rap on the doorframe. He holds up a finger without turning to look at me.

I wanted that, the ability to hold the world at bay with the flick of a finger. To behave badly behind hundred dollar bills. To touch the sky. I roll my shoulders back, force myself to raise my chin and take a deep breath.

When Parker hangs up the phone and swings around, his face doesn’t change. “Hello, Meg,” he says, as though I weren’t just in his bed.

It hangs there in the air, the change between us. The sunlight through the window catches the fire in his hair. My skin still prickles when I look at him, but it’s not hard to ignore. This is it. I’m done. Parker’s a fool to have ignored all those warnings, and I’m a fool not to listen when he told me exactly who he is.

Just because I’m nineteen doesn’t mean I have to tolerate fools. Or become one.
​
“Parker, you can’t do this anymore.”

About the Author:
Rita Arens is the author of THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES and THE OBVIOUS GAME and the editor of SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK. For more information, visit www.ritaarens.com.
​
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritaarensauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaarens
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1371209.Rita_Arens
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Rita-Arens/e/B002KRLEHE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Pinterest for Parker Cleaves: https://www.pinterest.com/ritajarens/the-birthright-of-parker-cleaves/
 
 

Ever dream of a prince asking for your hand in marriage? Would you give up everything for love? 

Vanessa Garden's Submerged Sun series tells the tale of one young woman who must make that choice but with a twist. Her king lives in an underwater kingdom where secrets abound. Make sure you pre-order this compelling tale of young love. 

BLURB:
In a glittering underwater world, where danger lurks behind beauty and power, seventeen-year-old Miranda Sun must decide between her freedom and the love her heart ultimately yearns for.

While taking a midnight swim in the ocean, Miranda Sun is pulled beneath the surface only to awaken in a glittering underwater city where she is being held captive by an arrogant young king, Marko.

Marko wishes to marry Miranda in order to save his crown from falling into the hands of his sinister brother, Damir, who resides in the dark recesses of the city’s underworld.

But Miranda is desperate to return home and right things with her sister. In order to escape, she spends her captivity concocting elaborate escape plans and forms an alliance with eighteen-year-old Robbie, Marko’s personal guard, in hope of securing her freedom.
​
Miranda fights the pull of the glittering, beautiful undersea kingdom, her blossoming feelings for the smoldering king and the deep friendship with Robbie. But danger lurks under the glittering water. Miranda quickly discovers that even underwater, people have secrets….dangerous secrets which could cost her all she holds dear. 

About the Author:
A bookseller and Young Adult author, Vanessa loves nothing more than immersing herself in the exciting world of books. When she is not sharing her favorite reads with customers, or mentally casting actors to play the characters in her next novel, she enjoys hanging out with those she loves most.
​
Instagram: @vanessawriter27 Twitter: @vanessagarden27

Dr William Glasser talks about Power as a basic need, much like love and fun. But he says that power isn't power over another person. It's really power of knowing who you are inside and loving yourself. Award Winning author, Rita Arens has written a compelling story of a young woman who is trying to figure it out. Does she want the power that money could bring? Or the power of loving someone who is rich, good-looking and successful? Or does she want to get a degree which will lead her to more power (and a better paying job)?

Which would you choose? 

Blurb:
What happens when you're not ready for the power you desire?

Revisit the Greek myth of the sun god, Helios, and his son Phaeton -- only this time Helios is Helen, the fiery-haired chief executive of Aethon Power & Light in Chicago and Phaeton is Parker, her hot-headed son and only heir.

THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES offers for mythology what Marissa Meyer’s CINDER did for young adult fairy tales – a nostalgic plot, a powerful love interest and a fresh twist. 

Instead of heading to college, eighteen-year-old Meg lucks into a temporary position as personal secretary to Helen Cleaves, CEO of Aethon Power & Light.

When Helen's charming son turns his romantic attention toward Meg, she finds herself pulled along on Parker’s rule-bending quest for power within Aethon -- and her own struggle to determine the woman she will become.

About the Author:
Rita Arens is the author of THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES and THE OBVIOUS GAME and the editor of SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK. For more information, visit www.ritaarens.com.

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritaarensauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaarens
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1371209.Rita_Arens
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Rita-Arens/e/B002KRLEHE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Pinterest for Parker Cleaves: https://www.pinterest.com/ritajarens/the-birthright-of-parker-cleaves/
 

In the first two books of Clara Winter's Immortal Kindred Series, Alexandre comes off as contriving and self centered. He wants what he wants and doesn't apologize for getting it because he knows best. But as we see in King of Kings, Alexandre is much more than what he seems. And when the love of his life shows up...he's more than willing to risk his life for her. 

Blurb:
Love has no limits…

Alexandre has retreated from the world. He has no one to love, nowhere to call home. While licking his wounds in the middle of nowhere, Alexandre is approached by Irish lass, Bria. She has a proposal for him; to follow her to Ireland and fight demons.

Alexandre finds this amusing, but intriguing. More than anything, he is curious to see the individual who sent Bria, someone from his ancient past. 

In Ireland, Alexandre confronts a dilemma greater than fighting demons. He must face down fiends of all kinds, deciding once and for all who he really is. Sparks fly between Bria and Alexandre, adding to the already complicated situation. Can a bad boy vampire really change?
 
The King of Kings is set in southern Ireland with a glimpse back to Ancient Egypt.

Excerpt:
“What is that?” Bria’s words rushed out. She swept the room with her light as Selene jumped to her feet.

Bria’s light fell on the stone wall to our right. We saw them at the same time. Hundreds of spiders, the size of my head, were streaming from a crack at the far side of the room. The beige of the stone was becoming a solid black with hundreds of arachnid bodies. Only they weren’t staying put, they were coming toward us. If we stood there any longer, they would have us pinned in the back.

“Go!” I shouted.

Selene took off, but Bria seemed frozen to her spot. She didn’t move. I snatched her up, knocking her light from her hands as we flew with inhuman speed back toward the small tunnel where I had panicked before. Demon-hunting Bria apparently drew the line at enormous spiders.
​
I held her close to me as I darted through the opening. She was limp and quiet until one of the diabolical demon insects landed half on the back of my neck, half on Bria’s hand. She shrieked so loudly, I thought she might cause hearing loss for the both of us.

About the Author:
​
Amy Rugg grew up reading Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and Alice in Wonderland, while watching Buck Rogers, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. Writing her own stories naturally ensued. She is a wife, mother, and former school counselor, with a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Amy is from Colorado Springs, Co and currently resides in Mission Viejo, Ca. clarawinterbooks.com
 

If you could have power over any element, which would you choose and why? 

Would you choose fire? The ability to burn things around you. The spark of heat on a cold winter's night. Passion and anger.

Would you choose air? The play of a breeze over the water. The caress of the wind against your lover's cheek. Light and blowing.

Would you choose earth? The push of the ground. Moving dirt. Collapsing buildings. Solid like a rock.

Would you choose water? The cool touch of water against your skin. The giver of life. Wet and destructive. Drowning and floating.

Ommily can control all these elements but she can't protect herself. Using them leaves her open and that's where Link comes in. He's her prefect mate. A compliment to her soul. 

BLURB:
Hidden in plain sight, is a mysterious hotel that doubles as a supernatural refugee: The Soppronaturale. 

Each supernatural inhabitant has a specific purpose, job, and destiny. 

All to keep the hotel running and its secrets safe.
 
Vampires exist. Werewolves exist. Witches exist. Shape Shifters exist. And now Faeries exist. 

The last two Faeries, once unified, could be the most powerful forces on Earth. 

Ommily, newcomer to the Soppronaturale, offensively controls and manipulates the four elements; Fire, Earth, Wind and Water. While Link defensively uses their energy to shield Ommily and himself from even the darkest magic. 

They could protect all others. But first, they have to defeat the Gauntlet.      

EXCERPT:
“Ommily, trust me, I want nothing more than to take you to the Gauntlet but—”

“The Gauntlet?”

What am I doing? Now I’m telling her what it’s called. What’s wrong with me, seriously? I angle my face downward. I’m not certain if I should say what I’m about to. I’ve only had ten minutes with her and already I like her. A lot. But all I can think of is the other man sound asleep in her bed. “Aren’t you here on vacation…with your human fiancée?”

Her lips part, slowly peeling their moist skin away from one another, and the life in her face vanishes, pulling her smile down with it. I dare not look at her directly. But now she stands stone cold and closed off, like an ivory statue. Immediately, I regret it.
​
“What does my fiancé have to do with anything? I belong here because of what I am, not because of whom I’m dating. Right? Is it your choice who gets to mingle amongst the other supernaturals?” Her change in tone consumes me and I shrivel before her.

About the Author:
Ashley Pagano has always dreamed of being an artist both figuratively and literally. Her love of art was instilled by her mother who always inspired her to be creative either with a paintbrush or with a pen and paper. As far back as she can remember her life was always centered around introspection, storytelling, and imagination. Because she is so artistic, she took to the idea of creative writing very passionately. Her ability to describe a scene, person, or place, she compares to painting a picture, where she can describe every detail vividly in order to make the reader feel like they’re truly living in the story. Her works of writing usually center around a powerhouse female protagonist (which reflect her own personality), who progresses through many wild and extreme obstacles. Ashley loves to write stories that end with a cliffhanger, that have the reader begging for more and questioning what happens next. Her most recent novel sets the stage for the paranormal romance of the century and includes ghosts, poltergeists, and demons who just love to get in the way of true love. Ashley has won awards for her design, art, and writing. 

Ashley doesn’t believe in down time whatsoever and actually loves having a full “To-Do”list. Ashley is a wife to her wonderful husband, Eric and a mother to a beautiful little baby girl named Dakota. She is also a Graphic Designer and a health and fitness coach. Her husband and daughter inspire her to be the best person she can be and encourage her to pursue any of her dreams (no matter how extravagant they may be).

www.authorashleypagano.com
https://www.facebook.com/neverfearthereaperseries/
https://www.instagram.com/authorashleypagano/

We've all had our hearts broken. Someone we loved didn't have the same feelings we did. We moped. We cried. We vented our anger. We tried to prove them wrong. All valid things to do when feeling lost and alone. 

But what if the person who was dumped was a vampire?? Do you think they would act the same way? Or would they have different feelings since they had lived so long and were evolved??

Clara Winter takes that premise and runs with it. Alexandre had been the bad boy in her previous Immortal Kindred books. He literally lost his head when he couldn't take no for an answer. Now Ms. Winter has redeemed him.

Do you think this bad boy deserves a second chance?

Blurb:
Love has no limits…

Alexandre has retreated from the world. He has no one to love, nowhere to call home. While licking his wounds in the middle of nowhere, Alexandre is approached by Irish lass, Bria. She has a proposal for him; to follow her to Ireland and fight demons.

Alexandre finds this amusing, but intriguing. More than anything, he is curious to see the individual who sent Bria, someone from his ancient past. 
​
In Ireland, Alexandre confronts a dilemma greater than fighting demons. He must face down fiends of all kinds, deciding once and for all who he really is. Sparks fly between Bria and Alexandre, adding to the already complicated situation. Can a bad boy vampire really change?
 
The King of Kings is set in southern Ireland with a glimpse back to Ancient Egypt.

About the Author:
Amy Rugg grew up reading Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and Alice in Wonderland, while watching Buck Rogers, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. Writing her own stories naturally ensued. She is a wife, mother, and former school counselor, with a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Amy is from Colorado Springs, Co and currently resides in Mission Viejo, Ca. clarawinterbooks.com
 

Small towns are places where everyone knows everyone else. They watch over each other, bake them cookies and genuinely care for their neighbors. They are the place you escape to when the big cities seem too impersonal and overwhelming. Michigan has some of the most beautiful small towns in America. These towns host Memorial Day parades, church picnics and school dances.

Michigan author, Susan V. Vaughn has created a compelling love story set against the backdrop of a small Michigan town, Milford, where the Huron River runs through town and people nod to each other on the sidewalks. In her book, Sweet Escape, two unlikely people fall in love despite their differences. 

BLURB:
Ted Harper knew moving to Milford to open his dream bar wouldn’t be easy. But he could have never imagined he would be so easily distracted from his goal. Violet Marino is beautiful, smart, captivating, and unfortunately, his next-door neighbor. Now Ted has a dilemma on his hands he didn’t anticipate as his life becomes entangled with a woman he can’t seem to forget.

Violet Marino has spent decades caring for her family and working at her father’s restaurant as a waitress. Hardly the life she dreamed of living when she was a little girl. But after her mother died, she was never a little girl again. Thrust into the parenting role for her two younger siblings, Violet sacrificed everything for their well-being.

When a handsome business owner offers her more than just a sweet escape, Violet is tempted to take him up on the offer. Even if that means jumping into the unknown. 

EXCERPT:
He added ice to her copper mug and Marciano cherries. Then he poured the Vodka with love and added the ginger beer, remembering the taste of it on her lips. Sweet and delicious. He wouldn’t mind sampling those lips again. That was if she decided to stay and he could get everyone else to leave. 

“I really can’t have a drink,” she said when he turned around, mug in hand. Her eyes went to the little cocktail sword in her cup holding the cherries, and her expression grew curious.

“Sorry, it’s already made,” he announced, placing the glass on the bar. She had yet to take a seat, which meant he had to up his game. “I’ll be insulted if you don’t drink it.”

She was still staring at the sword in her drink. “Are those cherries?”

“They are.” He grinned, seeing the undeniable interest in her eyes. 

She picked up the mug and took a dainty sip. Then her lips turned up with delight. “This is good.”

He placed an elbow on the bar and leaned close. “How good?”

Her gaze locked onto his, and for a moment, they just stood there, staring at one another. Her eyes were fascinating. They were a deep brown, with little specks of gold running throughout. He liked those little specks. They were mystifying, just like the woman herself.

About the Author:
Romance Author, Susan Vaughn understood the meaning of sarcasm before she could walk. Her childhood in the suburbs of Detroit was spent mainly trying to outwit her six creative siblings. When she wasn’t working on the next soul-crushing jab, she sharpened her imagination on romantic literature and day dreamed about her knight in shining armor.

It didn’t take long for this hairdresser by trade to turn her passion for reading romances into writing her own unique love stories. Susan lives her life finding laughter in all situations, and delights in marrying sarcasm with romance to create realistic falling-in-love stories in the unlikeliest of scenarios. 
 
Susan lives on the shores of Lake Huron with her real life knight in shining armor and enjoys watching their three children learn the art of sarcasm and wit.
​
Twitter handle: @susanvaughn1124
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.vereeckevaughn