AUTHOR LINDSAY DETWILER
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Contemporary Romance Author

An Open Letter to My Mastiff Henry On His Third Birthday

6/30/2016

1 Comment

 
American Mastiff Picture
American Mastiff Picture
American Mastiff Picture
I hated you before I even met you.

I swore at Chad when he told me he was getting you, threatened to divorce him for not compromising. I vowed to not lift a finger to help with you. I scowled when the barrier went up in our brand new kitchen in anticipation of your arrival. I refused to help pick out your collar or dog bowl. I pouted at home while Chad drove six hours to pick you up, refusing to be a part of this puppy business.

Then you came home. All floppy, droopy, wrinkly twenty-four pounds of your brindle self.

And I hated you even more.

I hated how you cried in the middle of the night, how you tugged on my pant leg when I was trying to write lesson plans. I hated how you cried to go out every five minutes and then refused to come back in. I hated how you hid under the steps when I needed to get you back in before it started raining. I hated how you barked at everything, how you dashed around the house as soon as I got home.

I hated you so much I cried a few times.

Then, I decided to soften, to give you a chance. I held you, and you fell asleep in my arms, and we had a beautiful moment.

Until you peed all over me. And then I hated you again.

Despite my hate for you. . . you adored me. You greeted me when I came home. You slept all day for Chad and got super excited when I came home from work. You threw your toys in the air, ran around tripping on your own feet. You whined and jumped and dashed around, happy to see me.

And then, at some random point, it happened. As your paws got bigger, they started walking on my heart. It wasn’t a single, magic moment. There was no spectacular moment when I knew I’d changed my mind. You just wormed your way in, puppy breath and all. You defrosted my ice-cold heart. You made me love you.

Suddenly, I was laughing at your stupid antics. I cracked up when you froze on your walks because there was a squirrel. I smiled when you barked at the cat. I even forgave you when you chewed on a can of Coke and had soda on the ceiling. I laughed when you ate half a bag of puffed popcorn. I smiled when you escaped from your crate countless times. I forgave you when you made me feel like a fool at our first dog obedience class—you kept smacking me with your paw when you were supposed to be sitting still.

From there, it was history. I didn’t hate you anymore. You became my best friend.

People laugh when I say that. How can a dog be your best friend? How sad is your life? People laugh at how your social schedule is better than most kids. People look at me skeptically when I say “I can’t go” because I don’t want to leave you at home.
But I don’t care. Because you are my best friend.

Over the past few years, you’ve been there for everything, even when no one else was.
On days when I feel like a nobody, like no one notices me or cares, you greet me at the door and remind me you’re happy to see me. You jump and run and wag your tail as soon as I come home, acting like you’ve waited all day just for this moment. You make me feel like a somebody.

On days when I’ve messed up or been hurt or just feel awful and let the tears flow, you’re there. You put your paw in my hand, your droopy face on my shoulder, and your eyes ooze with empathy. We cuddle and cry and eat popcorn and ice cream. We put on our favorite shows—Reign, Jane the Virgin, Once Upon a Time, and Orange is the New Black—and you bark to scare away the dogs and monsters, just to protect me of course. You help me realize it will all be okay. You remind me that nothing is as bad as it seems, and that friendship gets us through the worst of times.

On days when I’m feeling happy and crazy and silly, you’re there, too. We run in the yard for no reason. We sing stupid songs. We dance to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” We jump and run and wrestle and make tons of noise.

On days when I’m feeling bored, you’re there. We go on adventures, even if it’s just to your favorite places—The Meadows, Poochey Chef, Petco, the Dog Park, or to grab some takeout from our favorite restaurants. Sometimes, we just go on adventures around town, walking and meeting new people. You remind me it’s good to be social, to talk to people, to explore.

You’re there through the milestones, through the boring days, through the sad days. You’ve been there on days I want to give up and days I want to celebrate. You’re there to say goodbye every morning and to say hello every afternoon when I come home. You show unconditional love and happiness and joy.

As we celebrate your third birthday, I think back on these past years with a smile. I know we’ll have many more years of running in the park and eating too many cupcakes and watching movies and going to parades. I know I’ll love you for so many more moments.

I also know that someday when you’ve reached your last birthday, when you’ve used up all your time for making memories, I’ll hate you again. I’ll hate you for stealing my heart, for making me love you, and then for leaving. I know I’ll cry and I’ll cry some more when I realize your paw isn’t there to comfort me, your head isn’t on my shoulder. I’ll cry thinking about the fact your big brown eyes aren’t there to comfort me.

I’ll hate you for breaking my heart with those huge mastiff paws of yours.
But, when I’m hurting and wanting to just sit down and die, I know I’ll think of how I started out hating you. I’ll think of how despite it all, you never gave up, you made me fall in love with you, you made me realize that sometimes the best things in life come out of things we resist with all our might. And because I went from hating you to loving you, I know I’ll keep my heart open. I’ll miss you and it’ll be hard, but I’ll open my heart to another four-legged buddy.

Because above all, Henry, you taught me to love with everything I have, even when I don’t think I can.

Happy birthday to my best friend.
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Contemporary Romance Books: To Say Goodbye by Lindsay Detwiler

6/30/2016

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Contemporary Romance Book
I'm so excited to announce my fifth novel, To Say Goodbye, is under contract with Hot Tree Publishing! 

To Say Goodbye is a contemporary romance novel with lots of heavy emotion... but also lots romance. I cannot wait for you to meet Sophia and Jackson! More information will be coming soon, but for now, check out the blurb and add To Say Goodbye to your Goodreads TBR pile. Also be sure to sign up for my newsletter to stay up-to-date on information about my books. Right now, I'm running a contest where subscribers can win a $25 Amazon card and signed paperback.

Happy reading!

​

Coming Soon: To Say Goodbye by Lindsay Detwiler

Feisty Sophia never shies away from life. Playful, romantic, connected—her marriage was the thing of fairy tales. But when tragedy strikes, Sophia is left to pick up the pieces of her life.

After leaving the army, Jackson is ready to start afresh. But when he returns home, his life spirals out of control.As Sophia and Jackson find themselves in each other, they start to see redemption is possible. 

Trying to piece together a new life, they must answer the question: Should they forge a life together and say goodbye to their pasts completely, or should they loyally go their separate ways to avoid heartache?

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Sara Schoen: The Rebellion Project

6/28/2016

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Sara Schoen Rebellion Project
igned paperback giveaway and hot new release!
 
REBELLION PROJECT
by Sara Schoen
 
“This book started out kind of slow and rough but then had me in tears while connecting me to the protagonist plight of wanting to be free and understood. Seriously I was caught crying and it was not pretty. The story deals with bullying, self improvement, trust, family and making amends, oh and of course finding love.” – 5 stars from Avid Reader
 
A new YA Romance has just released and been raved about. Rebellion Project, hit #9 in hot releases and #65 in contemporary romance on Amazon!
 

*~BLURB~*
 
Lauren Scott has always been tormented by her peers for being a good girl…
She is viewed as the golden child by her parents—following their rules and allowing them to make all of her life decisions. But after a lifetime of walking the straight and narrow, Lauren feels as though her life is passing her by.
When she catches her father having an affair, she throws the rulebook out the window…
Lauren realizes that even if she does everything perfectly, life can—and will—surprise you. When life throws her a major curveball, she sets out to live for herself, making the rules up as she goes and smashing through everyone else’s expectations, but she doesn't know how to live without a guideline. So, Lauren is forced to ask her biggest tormentor for help—Kayden Daniels.
Kayden is nothing but trouble—which is why Lauren needs him so badly…
Kayden turns Lauren’s whole world upside down with a mischievous smirk and a proposition. But if Lauren wants his help to remake herself, she has to pay the price—her virginity. With no one else willing to help her, she agrees to make the trade. But when her change becomes too much to handle, will she give up or will she keep moving forward with a new reputation and a more adventurous life?
Cliques, stereotypes, popularity contests, and drama.
Some say it’s just another day in high school.
For Lauren, it’s the Rebellion Project…
 
*~ GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY~*
Amazon US:http://amzn.to/245ebSK
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Pyzyuc
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/25HZNG4
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1RUWYnR
 
Add on Goodreads: https://goo.gl/UGxIaj
 
GIVEAWAY: There's a paperback giveaway going on at Sara's page (www.facebook.com/authorsaraschoen), where if you order an ebook version you're entered to win a SIGNED paperback. So be sure to enter for a chance for a signed copy of the newest romance release!
 
*~WATCH THE TRAILER~*
https://youtu.be/WGzwKrFbshw
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Summer Read: Tangled Up In You by A.L. Vincent

6/27/2016

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Tangled Up In You
Title: Tangled Up In You
Author: A.L. Vincent
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Synopsis: Emily Breaux’s abusive, alcoholic husband keeps drinking away her dreams… 
 
When he cleans out their bank account once too often, Emily packs her meager belongings and returns to her hometown of Bon Chance, Louisiana. Surrounded by the love and support of a group of old friends—collectively known as The Boonies—she’s determined to change her life and open her own catering company. 
 
Contractor Noah Devereaux wants to help Emily rebuild more than just her family home… 
 
Noah is an Iraq war veteran and fighting his own battle with PTSD, and he feels he has little to offer anyone. His nightmares and panic attacks leave him exhausted and on edge, yet he can’t help but find solace in Emily’s quiet presence. 
 
Everyone has dreams, but it takes more than a wish to make them come true… 
 
Emily struggles night and day to scrape together the money to start her business, but this doesn’t stop her friendship with Noah from blooming into something much more. He’s always there to cheer her on, and she’s his bit of tranquility for untangling his troubled mind. 
 
It turns out starting over isn’t easy. Was coming back to Bon Chance a horrible mistake, a sign of failing to make it in the larger world? 
 
But all her friends have returned as well, so maybe—just maybe—having the courage to go back to the beginning will prove the ingredients for a life of love and happiness have been waiting here all along…
 
 
Purchase links: Available in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon US (eBook) - http://amzn.to/1Lw9AmN
PAPERBACK - http://amzn.to/1M0rxdz
 
About the author: A.L. Vincent is a teacher/writer who lives in the heart of Cajun Country. Born in Oklahoma, A.L. became fascinated with South Louisiana after reading Interview With the Vampire. Finally, she became a Cajun transplant in 2001. When not getting lost in a story line, A.L. can be found cooking or enjoying live local music. A.L. has one son, and a furball of a dog aptly named Furby.
 
Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/al-vincent/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALVincentAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/soonergirl1975
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12945977-a-l-vincent
​
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Gabriela Cabezut Hopelessly Imperfect

6/26/2016

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Hopelessly Imperfect blurb
Cancer is a beast.
 
It’s ugly, savage, and has no mercy.
 
Cassie learned this all too well while watching her mother slowly deteriorate, one agonizing day at a time…
 
With the desire to make her mother’s last year the best it can be, she works to be the perfect daughter. Every character trait, witty joke, like and dislike—Cassie molds herself to be what her mother would love most.
 
But in the end, it still isn’t enough…
 
After years of pretending, Cassie has no idea who she really is. When her mother slips away, Cassie falls into a deep depression, and thoughts of suicide become her most pressing threat. After a failed attempt, she seeks help, and is eventually able to return to life at home.
 
Going through senior year as the girl whose mom died sucks…
 
With her father picking up the pieces of his own heart, and Cassie back in school, she’s able to make a few new friends—one of them being Nathan Rivers. A little quiet, strong, and with inner demons of his own, Cassie can’t help but be intrigued. And as she grows closer to Nathan, the reasons for their mutual attraction slowly unveil.
 
Pain sometimes feels impossible to cope with. It’s consuming, saturating, and all-encompassing.
 
As Cassie and Nathan struggle to heal, can they learn to forgive and accept the past, and possibly find happiness in being Hopelessly Imperfect…?
 
 
Tagline: Broken hearts can be mended…or shattered beyond repair…
 
Short bio:
Gabriela Cabezut is a Mexican author who splits her time between her two boys, her books and her pastries. Her love for cooking has been an inspiration for her to open a cake-decorating business. She has always been a total romantic, so it wasn’t a surprise when she started to write romance stories on Wattpad. 
She’s part of the Wattpad Stars program and also an Ambassador on the platform.
She recently published one of her stories with one of Philippine’s biggest publishers, Summit books. This year, she is publishing a book series with Limitless Publishing.
She’s an avid reader who loves to connect with readers and writers.
 
 
Social media links:
www.gabrielacabezut.com
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/gabycabezut
www.facebook.com/ShyGabs
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/gabrielacabezut
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/gabrielacabezut
Twitter: @gabycabezut
Instagram: gabycabezut
Snapchat: gabbycabezut
Sign up to my newsletter to get a bunch of free stuff! http://eepurl.com/bQFanz
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Are Your Expectations for Romance in Your Marriage Too High?

6/25/2016

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Romance in Marriage
Baked beans, orange Tic Tacs, and memes.

It sounds like a terrible party game gone wrong, not a list of romantic endeavors.

But for me, these three items have shown me love truly does prove itself in the seemingly insignificant moments.
Married Life versus Romance: The Battle of Time

I’ve been married for 5 years, but I’ve been with my husband over a decade. We’re dedicated, devoted. We’re happy and settled. He’s the one for me.

No matter what the media tries to tell you, marriage is a beautiful thing. When it’s done right, it’s filled with moments of connection, of laughter, and of sheer, unconditional love.
But let’s face it: every marriage, even the strongest, loses its magical, fairytale glint after so long.

The first year, everything feels like you’re living in Paris, drinking wine and watching rose petals fall. The grocery store is an adventure. Showering together, napping together, watching movies together—everything is a romantic date. There are gleeful kisses and “I can’t believe I’ve got you,” moments. There’s pure, sheer romance.

And then: real life.

Bills. Groceries. Cleaning. Worries.

Routine, the romance killer, slinks in.

It doesn’t happen all at once. But suddenly, the “I love yous” are strategically planned. The kisses are fewer and farther between, and maybe a little less energetic. He doesn’t notice your new hairstyle or your new dress or your new anything. You shave your legs, perfect your makeup, and put on his favorite perfume—and he stares at his phone the whole time. Suddenly, he doesn’t want to go with you to the grocery store. Suddenly, you can’t remember the last time you held hands or made-out like teenagers or flirted with each other.
Expectation versus Reality: Romance and Marriage
We all know fairytales aren’t real, and no love is perfect. We’re all warned by wise elders that the magic in marriage fades, that you can’t hold onto the passionate romance forever.

We don’t believe them. Deep down, many of us are still the little girl wishing we could be Cinderella with Prince Charming, Belle with the Beast, or any of the other magical princesses.

We want to be treasured. We want to have someone fall in love with us. We want to be swept off our feet.

It’s certainly not realistic. I don’t even know if it’s possible. Some men would say it’s unfair for women to expect this.

Perhaps. But that doesn’t make it any less difficult when the magic begins to fade, even a little. It doesn’t make us any less troubled when we start to notice things slipping away, even if it’s just a magical, unrealistic expectation.

How to Keep the Romance Alive: Appreciating the Small Moments

I’ve certainly felt troubled about romance and marriage at times. I’ve noticed in the past few years my husband and I hold hands less and less. I can’t remember the last time he bought me roses for no reason. Candlelight dinners are also a thing of the past—although in fairness, it’s partially because of the fire hazard with five wild cats in the house.
At first, it was easy to blame him. Why don’t you love me anymore? Why don’t you do romantic things for me like you used to? These were the questions that plagued our marriage for a time.

But then, I got real with myself.

Do candlelight dinners, roses, and surprise trips to private islands really prove one’s love? Why was I judging my relationship on a pre-conceived notion of romance? Are grand gestures of romance what I really need in a relationship?

As a married 20-something, I’ve come to learn that even though the fairytale moments are certainly nice from time to time, we have to learn to look for the other, smaller moments as well.

Some may call this settling, and maybe, in fairness, they have a point. But for me, I think it’s more about appreciation for the good things in my relationship. I think it’s about realizing your man might not meet swoon-worthy expectations all of the time, but that doesn’t mean his gestures of love are any less meaningful.

It’s about realizing the loss of huge romantic gestures in a relationship does not equate to a loss of love or a failed marriage.

My husband doesn’t take me dancing to a formal ball. He doesn’t surprise me with trips to Fiji or chocolate-covered strawberries. But he does show me he loves me in all sorts of small ways.

When my husband goes to the grocery store or a convenience store, he always picks up my favorite candy—orange Tic Tacs—and leaves them for me on the counter with a note. When we get KFC for dinner, he orders baked beans as one of the sides even though he hates them. When he’s at home and I’m out or at work, he will send me a picture of a funny meme that he knows will make me laugh. Every day, he does small, seemingly insignificant things to show me I matter to him, to show me I’m always in his thoughts.

Are these the gestures romance novels are made of?

Not that I know of.

But they are the romantic gestures that show me our love is real, even if the gestures seem silly and unromantic to the outside world.

Balancing Your Expectations and Reality
So does every woman need to settle for baked beans when she really has her heart set on a Chicken Cordon Bleu dinner?

I don’t think so.

I think the secret is to knowing yourself and knowing what you really want out of life, love, and marriage. If you need champagne and roses in your life, then by all means, hold out for it.

But if you don’t want that in a relationship, do not let society, literature, or the media tell you those are the requirements for a healthy marriage.

Don’t let your idea of romance be defined by others.
​

So roses, candles, and fillet mignon or Tic Tacs, baked beans, and memes, it doesn’t matter. The fairytale looks different for each of us. We just need to be brave enough to trust our heart and accept the version we want to write for ourselves.
Click To See This Article on Huffington Post!
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Rebecca Barber On Dry Land

6/25/2016

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ON DRY LAND by Rebecca Barber
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release Date: June 14, 2016
Cover Designer: WICKED BY DESIGN
——— SYNOPSIS ——--
Tyler Andrews, Olympic swimming superstar, has always gotten his way—until he falls in love.

Living in the spotlight was just part of Tyler’s life. Magazines, paparazzi, and being the topic of every sports radio show in Australia…it was either adjust or be driven insane. He’d gotten used to his fame. Hell, he even enjoyed it. But there is one thing he can’t get used to—his girlfriend, Ava Jacobs, hates being the center of the public’s attention.

Ava has lived her life in the shadows—and that’s exactly how she likes it.

But after fulfilling her lifelong dream to have her debut novel published, her world is turned on its head by Tyler’s fame. She writes novels for a reason—it’s a quiet, peaceful profession. The last thing she wants is to be thrown into the spotlight. 

Love and life don’t always fit as well as fame and fortune.

Frustrated by Ava’s continuous reluctance to publicly embrace their relationship, Tyler takes every opportunity to make his own declarations—social media posts, visiting her at work, and even crashing her first television promotional appearance, which she grudgingly accepted as part of her publishing deal.

So when something changes and Tyler abruptly pulls away, Ava knows something is terribly wrong.

With Olympic selection looming, Ava’s publisher eagerly awaiting a sequel to her hit novel, and day-to-day life taking a toll, Tyler starts to see that life is much easier in the pool than… 

On Dry Land.

——— PURCHASE ——--
KINDLE US: http://amzn.to/1Ohg2SE
KINDLE UK: http://amzn.to/1YiqDis
KINDLE AU: http://amzn.to/22Z9Nph


——— AUTHOR: REBECCA BARBER ——--
Rebecca, one of four kids to her parents who are both primary school teachers, was born in Wollongong on the south coast of Australia before moving to the country with her family. After a few years of embracing all that country life had to offer, the family relocated to Port Macquarie with its white sand beaches. After a brief period enjoying the sun and the surf they finally settled in Canberra where Rebecca still lives today. But all through her childhood a notepad and a book where never far away. These days Rebecca is an avid reader, and when she isn’t buried in a book or cheering on her beloved football team she’s spending time with her husband Robert and their overly spoilt dog Levi.

LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/rebecca-barber/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccanrobertbarber
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RebeccaBarber7
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/rebeccanrobertb/
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Broken Love by Evan Grace

6/24/2016

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As a young woman, Abby Carmichael had it all—until the night a stranger tore it away…
 
A year and half after the brutal sexual assault, Abby is finally starting to feel like her old self. Teaching dance classes with enthusiastic kids is just the kind of job she needs—far away from probing eyes or vicious intentions of the opposite sex. When she connects with one of her students, Natalie, it isn’t long until she meets her father, Deputy Ben James.
 
Ben James is just a regular guy, working to make a life for himself and his daughter…
 
That’s what Abby tells herself when her sudden attraction for Ben catches her off guard. Abby has been steering clear of men for obvious reasons, and the idea of wanting that kind of relationship is more terrifying than intriguing. But with his doe-eyed daughter tugging at her dance uniform, Ben takes notice.
 
He’s ready for love, but does her past hold too many secrets? 
 
After the assault, Abby coped by using heavy medication and fell into an ugly chain of one-night stands. But now that she’s out of rehab and finally on the right track, it’s only a matter of time before Ben finds out.
 
Will Abby be the true love Ben has always wanted? Or is she a tangled challenge, leading to yet another…
 
Broken Love?
 
  
Book Trailer:  https://youtu.be/9EAWpFiNyxY
 
Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1252849138/playlist/4wpDcnkq0U4VEvigf8hKio
 
Buy Links:
 
US: http://amzn.to/1LoYi0s
UK: http://amzn.to/1R5WgH3
 
About The Author
 
A Midwesterner and self-proclaimed nerd, Evan has been an avid reader most of her life, but five years ago got bit by the writing bug, and it quickly became her addiction, passion and therapy. When the voices in her head give it a rest, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Shayla Black, Jaci Burton, Madeline Sheehan and Jamie Mcguire. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, so if you see her wearing her headphones you know she means business and is in the zone.
 
During the day Evan works for a large homecare agency and at night she’s superwoman. She’s a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and Evan, a cook, a tutor, a friend and a writer. How does she do it? She’ll never tell.
 

 
 
 
 
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Wilde for You Marianne Rice

6/23/2016

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WILDE FOR YOU by Marianne Rice
The Wilde Sisters, Book 3
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release Date: May 31, 2016
||| SYNOPSIS |||
Event planner Sage Wilde has lots of lists and no time for a relationship… 

Precise to a fault, Sage plans everything—meetings, meals, and sex. But when she learns her youngest sister can’t carry a child, she steps up and commits to the role of a surrogate mother. It’s not out of sentiment, because Sage doesn’t do love or touchy-feely, but out of practicality. She doesn’t plan on marrying or having children, so why not rent out her unused space, right? 

Luke Riley is a sexy firefighter who’s looking for love in all the wrong places… 

Luke’s morning gets a little brighter when he’s called to a clinic and spots a blonde beauty wearing killer red boots. Though she doesn’t seem interested, he manages to introduce himself. It’s unusual for a woman to push away his advances, but Luke is attracted to her confident nature and strong personality. It’s not long before he wears her down, and she finally agrees to a date. 

Who says you can’t mix work with pleasure? 

Sage blames her growing affections for Luke on pregnancy hormones. But one last hurrah before her belly swells sounds like a well-deserved thrill. After a few passionate nights, the line between love and lust begins to blur—leaving her more confused than ever. 

Luke is mesmerized by her keen wit and social charm. She may claim not to want children, but when she befriends his troubled foster sister, it proves there’s a heart inside of Sage waiting to be loved. 

Will Sage’s surrogacy unlock her willingness to commit? Or will Luke stand by as the woman he loves plans a future without him? 


||| PURCHASE |||
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1WOpcce
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/1XszP2T


|||||| THE WILDE SISTERS ||||||
SWEET ON YOU, Book 1
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1RdPboe
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/1WnR6bA


THEN CAME YOU, Book 2
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1VwklKF
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/1Uz52kR


|| ABOUT THE AUTHOR ||
Marianne Rice writes contemporary romances set in small New England towns. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines are smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always, always, find everlasting love. When she’s not writing, Marianne spends her time buying shoes, eating chocolate, chauffeuring her herd of children to their varying sporting events, and when there’s time, cuddling with her husband, a drink in one hand, a romance book in the other.

Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/marianne-rice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarianneRiceaut
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariannericeaut
Website: http://www.mariannerice.com/

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To the Gym-Hating, Food-Loving Women: Be Proud

6/23/2016

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body image Picture
In a world swirling with talk of Pilates and the danger of carbohydrates, you sometimes feel alone.

At the lunch table, when those around you are talking quinoa and boiled chicken, you’re eating last night’s delivery pizza leftovers—on a good day. You see the glares from the women around you, silently questioning how immature or irresponsible you could be. Don’t you care about your health?

In the gym, you’re the woman in the corner laughing because her Downward-Facing Dog pose isn’t even close to being on point. You’re huffing and puffing after twenty seconds in the plank position because there’s just no way you can make it a minute. You’re the woman who is sneaking breaks during crunches when the instructor isn’t looking.  If you make it to the gym twice a week, it’s a victory because let’s face it—sometimes Netflix binges are real.

Again, there are glares from other women, the women who are putting more weight on their bar instead of less. There are condescending looks from the women who are self-proclaimed plank lovers and Tree Pose experts. Their scowls at your laughter scream of their judgement. Are you even trying? Don’t you want that six-pack by the end of summer? Do you only come here once a week?

In a world that touts gluten-free as the healthiest choice and sugar as the devil, you love your dose of white pasta and ice cream. You love fried foods, and you’re not afraid to dig into the candy bowl when you feel the need. Food, for you, is a friend, not an enemy to be combatted. Calorie counting makes your head spin.

It’s not that you don’t care about your health. You try to eat some fruits and vegetables. You try to show restraint from time to time and get your cardio in. When your pants start to feel snug, you cut back, you get it together.

But you’re not perfect. Dieting is hard. Exercising is hard. Give you a good book, a glass of wine, and some delectable pastries any day, and you’ll rock it. But healthy-eating and a jog after work? It looks like it might rain, so maybe you better stay in. And, uh-oh, you’re fresh out of vegetables. Guess it’ll have to be take-out until you get to the grocery store.

The world will try to tell you to stop making excuses, that you can do this. The world will tell you to put your mind to it—this is your life, your body. Don’t you want to rock the bikini this year at the beach?

Over the course of your struggles with diet and exercise, though, you’ve learned one thing: There’s more to life than body perfection.

Sure, those girls in bikinis are envy-worthy in your magazines. Sure, you wish your muffin top would simmer down. You know you’d feel stronger, better, more energized if you turned down the afternoon doughnut at the office or skipped the ice cream tonight.
But life’s about balance. Your life is about so much more than how few calories you can eat or how many burpees you can do. 

So gym-hating, food-loving women, be proud. Do not let anyone food shame you or gym shame you into feeling like you’re not worthy. Eat your chips and salsa with a side of candy for lunch with pride. Do your best in your workouts, but don’t be afraid to laugh when you roll off the ab ball. Be who you are and pursue what matters most to you in life.
​
Life’s about finding joy. For some, joy comes from the challenge of the gym. For some, joy comes from fueling their body with the best food choices. For you, though, joy comes from a completely different place.  Know that’s okay. Ignore the glares at lunch or the scowls in the gym. Do what you can to be healthy, but know it’s okay if it isn’t your only mission.
Know you are beautiful, six-pack abs, quinoa addiction, or not.


If you loved my article, please give it a like on the Huffington Post :)
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