She lives in suburban Connecticut with her husband, a trained actor and middle school teacher and their two children. Better to Trust is her second novel. Learn more at heatherfrimmer.com

Ever since I took an ethics course in college, I’ve been fascinated by moral dilemmas, both in real life and in the pages of fiction. When a character is faced with a tough choice, I love weighing the evidence and deciding for myself which way the scale tips. Perhaps that’s why I chose to center my book, Better to Trust, on a question of medical ethics. What would happen if a world-renowned neurosurgeon battling a prescription pill addiction makes the decision to operate on his sister-in-law’s brain? Each of these page-turning reads also pose fascinating ethical questions for the reader to deliberate.

He Gets That From Me by Jacqueline Friedland
September 14th, SparkPress

Maggie Fisher wants to escape her job at a checkout counter to become a teacher. When she sees a flyer offering thousands of dollars for gestational surrogacy, she recognizes an opportunity. She delivers twin babies for a gay couple in New York and finally starts to build the life she’s always wanted. Ten years later, the fertility clinic calls her out of the blue. Why would they need Maggie to take a DNA test now? A thought provoking novel exploring genetic quandaries and unconventional families.

Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King
September 21st, Lake Union Publishing

Nicole Wood suffers from an irrepressible urge to move things from one place to another, not to steal, but more to relocate them to a better place. With her marriage falling apart and the threat of prison looming, she accepts a job as a house cleaner. When Nicole moves a paperback from one client’s home to another’s, she sets off a chain reaction. Will Nicole choose to embrace her dangerous gift in order to solve the mystery or leave objects where they are? A unique story full of quirky, flawed characters.

The Happy Accidents by Jamie Beck
September 21st, Montlake

At a casino to celebrate her birthday, Jessie Clarke convinces her sister, Liz, and childhood friend, Chloe, to join her in a pact; they must say yes to whatever adventures come their way. After a wild night of viral videos and gambling losses, they awake to the shocking consequences of their choices. Will they decide to double down or fold? A touching tale about life-long friendship, love and finding fulfillment.

Both Are True by Reyna Marder Gentin
October 5th, Moonshine Cove Publishing

Family court judge, Jackie Martin, is shocked when her live-in boyfriend, Lou, leaves her without explanation. The break up rocks Jackie’s world, causing her to doubt her job, her attractiveness as a partner and even her self-worth. When a member of Lou’s family ends up in her courtroom, Jackie is faced with the choice between her career and her relationship. But maybe there’s a way to have both? An engaging story about self-exploration and love lost and found. 

Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin
November 9th, Berkley

Medical school friends, Hannah, Compton, and Kira, gather for a reunion vacation in Spain just as a viral pandemic erupts. When they return home, they all must negotiate the terrifying changes they find. Kira, an infectious disease doctor at the CDC, is faced with an unfathomable choice: which of her children will receive an experimental but possibly life-saving treatment? With a hook like this, you won’t want to put this one down.

The Secret Next Door by Rebecca Taylor
November 9th, Sourcebooks

When Alyson Tinsdale moves into The Enclave, an exclusive Denver development, she hopes to provide a safe and stable upbringing for her child. Tensions simmer as neighbors argue over a planned amusement facility within the community, and bubble to a boil when the body of a teenager is found by the community lake. Will Alyson remain loyal to a friend or share the information she knows? Suburban drama, neighborhood gossip and a mystery all mixed together, a perfect recipe for a captivating read. 

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
November 30th, Ballantine Books

Diana O’Toole’s life is on track. She’s climbing the corporate ladder in the art auction world and her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic trip to the Galapagos Islands. But when a pandemic hits New York, Finn must stay at the hospital, leaving Diana to take the trip of a lifetime on her own. The longer she is trapped in the remote location, the more Diana questions the path of her life. Will she stay the course with Finn or evolve into a completely different person? Either way, trust Jodi Picoult to take you on an emotional ride.

The post Moral Dilemmas In Women’s Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to them!

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

Witch Please by Ann Aguirre
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls in this adorable witchy rom-com with a bisexual virgin baker with a curse, a witch looking to avoid romantic entanglements, and a chemistry between them that causes literal sparks.

The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this witty and heartfelt rom-com debut for fans of Jasmine Guillory, Emily Henry, and Tessa Bailey, an Indian-American woman signs herself and her boyfriend up for a matchmaking site to prove they’re a perfect match, only to be paired with her ex instead.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Helena Hunting makes sparks fly with the best-friends-to-lovers trope! When an unexpected car accident renders event planner Avery immobile, her best friend offers to become her caretaker, and the lines between the two friends start to blur.

The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this delightfully modern spin on Pride and Prejudice, love is a goal, marriage is a distant option, and self-discovery is a sure thing.

First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An Indian-American doctor finds herself sharing an apartment with her ex, and realises that Mr. Right might just be the one who got away in this rom-com that will make you laugh and make you cry. Perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory!

A Spot of Trouble by Teri Wilson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Get ready to laugh out loud with this hilarious romantic comedy featuring a grumpy firefighter who thinks his way is the only way, a bubbly cupcake vendor who thinks her pup can do no wrong, adorable Dalmatians who swap places—and the chaos that ensues, and an opposites-attract romance that’ll warm your heart.

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Going toe-to-toe with a brooding Scotsman is rather bold for a respectable suffragist, but when he happens to be one’s unexpected husband, what else is an unwilling bride to do?

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The national bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola returns with a seductive second-chance romance about a commitment-phobic Latina and her childhood best friend who has finally returned home.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A laugh-out-loud romcom about a Jewish woman who is secretly a bestselling Christmas romance author.

The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

What if the Lift driver who finds your cheating boyfriend’s phone holds the directions to true love? Come on this five star journey to love, laughter and back again, perfect for fans of Mhairi Mcfarlane, Josie Silver and Sally Thorne.

On Location by Sarah Echavarre Smith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nothing like a rocky start between enemy coworkers stuck together on location to prove that love isn’t just a ploy for ratings—it’s a force of nature.

The Happy Accidents by Jamie Beck
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Three women wake up to the consequences of one impulsive pact in an insightful novel about friendship, love, and fulfilment by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.

It Started with a Dog by Julia London
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Thanks to an accidental phone swap, two adorable rescue pups, and a coffeehouse clash, a holiday flirtation goes to the dogs and hilarity ensues, from New York Times bestselling author Julia London.

The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a woman travels to Nigeria to attend the funeral of the father she never knew, she meets her extravagant family for the first time, a new and inspiring love interest, and discovers parts of herself she didn’t know were missing, from Jane Igharo, the acclaimed author of Ties That Tether.

The Wish by Nicholas Sparks
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of The Longest Ride and The Return comes a novel about the enduring legacy of first love, and the decisions that haunt us forever.

What September 2021 romance releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2021 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

SYNOPSIS
While at a casino to celebrate her birthday, Jessie Clarke proposes a pact to her reserved sister, Liz, and their childhood friend Chloe: the three women will say yes to any adventure that comes their way. Jessie is mourning her recent divorce, so the other two reluctantly agree. Twelve hours later, they awaken to the shocking consequences of their behavior.

A viral video throws Liz’s career and reputation into question. A major loss at the craps table rocks the foundation of Chloe’s staid marriage. And Jessie’s desperate bid to unblock her artistic creativity results in a life-changing choice. Staring down the crossroads, each woman finds her relationships―with herself, with each other, and with loves both old and new―tested. At every turn, they struggle not to let fear decide their fates. Will they give in, or will their misadventures lead to the greatest fulfillment of all?

JESS

Sunday morning, July 11, present day

Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut

In a manner of speaking, Liz, Chloe, and I have all been suffocating lately, but only I’m alarmed. In fact, neither of them seems to notice, having long ago made peace with life inside the invisible fences of expectation and propriety. For me, having to stand still just to breathe-an unwelcome side effect of lost love-has been a jarring change this past year.

Sick of moping, and hopeful they could help me turn the tide, I begged them to join me at Foxwoods this weekend to celebrate my impending thirty-seventh birthday-the first I’ll spend without my ex, Dennis, in more than a decade. In a bid to shake things up, I requested an “adventure pact” as my birthday gift. Nothing illicit-a simple promise to let their hair down and try something different if it pre-sented itself.

It began well enough. We started with a great meal and wine, wrangled last-minute tickets to see the Go-Go’s perform, played a few hands of blackjack while drinking tequila, and then hit the Shrine to dance. That’s when things get hazy. Liz and Chloe had embraced the spirit of the pact, so we were tipsy and loud, which caught the attention of a group of guys. Instead of bailing on me when the men approached us, they rolled with it, dancing and accepting more free drinks.

Sometime after midnight I proposed a group detour to break into the spa pool to skinny-dip. Liz and Chloe drew the line at trespassing, although they gave up trying to stop me from trying. That’s why I’m without them now, being awakened by the muffled ringtone of Harry Styles’s “Adore You” for the fourth time in ten minutes.

My head pounds as I squint in the direction of my purse.

“Answer it already,” says a sleepy male voice.

It takes me a handful of seconds to orient myself. Naked. In a strange bed and room with some man instead of with Liz and Chloe.

The punishing smell of alcohol-tinged sweat taunts me. I rub my eyes, then glance over my shoulder at the guy I hooked up with last night. Josh. He pulls an extra pillow over his head and rolls onto his side.

A thin stream of sunlight peeks through a crack in the blinds and falls in a sliver across the carpet like an accusing finger. This “morning after” with a near stranger doesn’t carry the satisfaction it did during my college days. I drag myself from the bed, then fumble my way across the room.

Yawning, I unlock the screen. Beneath the time-6:55 a.m.-are a few all-caps texts from Liz demanding that I return ASAP, without further explanation. Surely if something were wrong, she’d spell it out. Her tendency to report every detail extends beyond the confines of her career in broadcast journalism. It began in childhood, when she’d beg me to play school-her as the teacher spewing random facts while making me “organize” my desk, and handing out detention slips when my attention wandered.

Even so, I’m shocked she didn’t sleep in this morning. Then again, this hour is sleeping in to a woman who habitually reports to the television studio at five in the morning. I hope she hasn’t been waiting up all night for my return. She used to do that during our young twen­ties, when she’d send worried texts from her dorm in Evanston while I enjoyed the Miami party scene. After I graduated with a studio arts degree from Bard College in New York, attending Art Basel Miami Beach in 2007 converted me to a full-time resident. Placing myself in the area’s burgeoning contemporary art scene had been a great career move, too.

But now I wince, guilt riddled and sorry that Liz’s night didn’t end with the same bang as mine. The pun makes me snicker, which helps loosen my uneasiness. While random sex has never been my thing, Josh was quite a bang. Several, to be honest.

After almost a year of celibacy, I needed a big O that didn’t come from battery-operated equipment. Not that Josh is Dennis. No one will ever be Dennis, the gifted, curious architect who wormed his way into my soul and left a permanent imprint. We met at our mutual friend Dina’s party, held at her vintage Spanish stucco home with the most romantic walled-in patio and pool area. I knew her from the gallery where I worked before my career took off.

Dennis had been confident, making a beeline to me when he saw me standing by a cluster of lemon trees. Dark jeans belted with a thick black leather belt, black shirt, and equally dark hair and eyes. My oppo­site physically. My soul mate in all other ways. Our first date was an art deco walking food tour-his idea. I was more enamored of his passion for design than interested in the tour guide’s commentary. Dennis saw architecture like an artist views the world, and we fed off each other’s creative eye. Not all men get excited about color and texture and lines . . .

I breathe through the dull ache, yet grief sticks to me like burrs, making each step forward so painful it’s easier to stand still.

I text Coming to my sister. Whatever our differences, she’s sincere. Responsible. Conservative in ways I could never be, God bless her. No wonder our parents love her best.

Over my shoulder, the lump on the bed shifts. Despite the super­ficiality, Josh was an excellent reminder that other men can be fun. Who needs love to enjoy touch or desire or affection? A “friends with benefits” relationship with an interesting man who makes me laugh and shares my disinterest in convention is plenty. Bonus: a lack of emotion means no one gets hurt.

I slip my phone into my purse. The frigid air-conditioning raises goose bumps on my arms. I snatch my lace thong, flowy pants, and glittery crop top off the floor and begin to dress myself, but my flimsy clothing does little to warm me.

Sadly, this girls’ trip wasn’t a miracle cure.

Josh finally removes the pillow from his head. “Morning, gorgeous. Where are you sneaking off to?”

Compliments always induce a grin, especially since becoming newly single on the back half of my thirties. “My posse is calling me home.”

Josh pouts. “Did you give me your real number last night?”

Hm. “Yes, but I’m only up for casual fun.”

“The perfect woman.” He smiles, propping himself up on the pil­lows with his hands clasped comfortably behind his head. Well-formed pecs and biceps suggest regular exercise, and I’m a sucker for a friendly, dimpled smile. “I get down your way occasionally for work. I’ll call when I do.”

I’ve already forgotten where he lives-somewhere near Hartford. “Fine.” I then cross to the bed, to where I’d kicked off my shoes, and lean over for a last kiss. “Thanks for the private birthday party, Josh. Take care.”

He squeezes my behind. “You too, babe.”

Another pang freezes me in place momentarily. That endearment was Dennis’s favorite. The emptiness of this exchange suddenly leaves me coldly angry-with myself and with my ex. Before Dennis, I loved my life. Even my earliest days of eking by while working in the gal­lery and selling my own work for ridiculously low sums had been an

adventure. A rebellion against my wealthy upbringing and an outlet to explore my own outlook on life, love, and freedom.

Miami had been a vibrant change from the woodlands and stone walls of Greenwich: palm trees, neon lights, the magnificent street art in Wynwood Walls-with the incomparable Panther Coffee-and flamboyant creatives so unlike the high-finance types who populate southwest Connecticut.

Dennis amplified everything. His love and encouragement fed my confidence, turning four-figure paydays into five- and then six-figure sums. With that came more exploration of art, travel, and culture-it all seemed perfect. My dream life come true. Triumph over my family, who expected me to fail because I never followed their rules. But when my life took a U-turn last September, I left Florida behind. Now every pursuit lacks the critical element of meaningfulness. If my old ways no longer bring joy, what comes next?

I hurry from Josh’s room with my shoes and purse in my hand and head back to my villa, battling the dark mood gathering with the strength of a spring thunderstorm. The key card unlocks the door, so I blow inside, hoping Liz’s and Chloe’s stories about their late-night activ­ities will distract me. Instead, Chloe’s red-rimmed eyes and splotchy face stop me cold. “Oh, Chloe, sorry if I worried you. I’m not used to people waiting up for me.”

We met in grade school at Greenwich Academy, which she attended for free because her mom taught there. Although we’re opposites in nearly every way, she’s one of the people I trust most in the world. We remained friends even after college took me away from Connecticut.

She’s one of the few people who always liked me for more than the fact of my father’s wealth and famous friends. Unfortunately, her husband’s and kids’ schedules leave her free only for yoga classes and lunches but rarely (never) for much more. At least, not until last night. I toss my shoes aside and head to the kitchen for a glass of water. When my arrival doesn’t stanch her tears, I become more alarmed.

Liz must’ve heard me come in, because she charges out of her bed-room, her expression as taut as a soldier’s. Ponytail, baseball cap, no makeup, running shorts. No one would recognize her from the way she is dressed. “Where’ve you been all night? It’s irresponsible to take off like that and not answer any texts. Jesus, Jessie.”

Battered from her assault, I set down my water glass and rub my temples. “I’m sorry. I assumed you knew where I was since you saw me leave with Josh. It’s not like he’s some serial killer.”

Liz’s face convulses as if she has swallowed vinegar. “This isn’t about him, although-news flash-serial killers aren’t often obvious when luring women away.”

Her tone reminds me of many lectures from our parents. Not that I mention it. Disruptions to her carefully arranged life never bring out the best in her. She needs comforting, not a witty exchange of barbs. Too bad, because those can be fun.

“I said I’m sorry.” I rub her arms and gesture toward Chloe with my head. “Why’s Chloe crying?”

“While you were getting off”-she thrusts her pointer finger at me- “your stupid pact pretty much destroyed our lives.”

It’s not the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of that gesture, although being hungover makes me more sensitive than normal.

“Destroyed your lives?” I mock her exaggeration. When no one softens, my concern deepens. “Whatever happened, it can’t be so bad that we can’t fix it.”

Chloe whimpers and blows her nose before forcing another muffin past her lips. Since returning to Connecticut, I’ve noticed she still stuffs down her feelings like she’s stuffing down those muffins. That worries me, too. Emotions are the fuel of life and, as such, should be experienced fully-for better or worse. Truth, even if harsh, should be embraced. The key is finding a positive way to work through it, like I usually could with my art.

“Chloe?” I ask gently.

Her breath comes shallow and fast. “Drew’s gonna be so angry. Like kill-me-level mad. We can’t afford to lose five thousand dollars in one night!” She grabs her face and pitches forward, crying.

My brows rise as Liz makes a “told you so” gesture with both hands.

Her husband’s midlevel corporate job supports a family of four, so they count every penny. If I recall, Chloe brought only $200 to play with this weekend. “How’d you lose so much?”

“Does it matter? The point is, Drew will. . . I don’t even know what he’ll do. All I do know is that this will cost me. He wasn’t thrilled about my coming, but I promised nothing crazy would happen. Now look! I shouldn’t have wandered away from Liz.” She presses both palms to her forehead. “That craps table moved so fast.”

“Craps!” I say.

Her eyes glaze over. “At first I was way up-two thousand dollars. It was intoxicating.” Her voice turns husky, but she shakes her head to refocus. “Then it was gone in a snap. I thought I’d win it back-go home with extra spending money for our anniversary trip. It seemed possible because it’d been so easy the first time, so I got an advance on my credit card.” Her face crumples again. “People were placing big bets, so I did, too. But I kept losing, so I’d go again hoping to get back to even, but it was like trying to swim out of a strong riptide.” She trembles. Two empty plates with only crumbs remaining means she’s been stress eating all night. “It was awful. Absolutely awful!”

I cross the room to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. It was selfish to have left them last night. Especially after Chloe had to fight to come at all. “I’m so sorry, Chloe. What can I do?”

My sister stares into space, shaking her head. The way we grew up, money was never a concern. Although I refuse to draw from my trust account for anything other than charity, that cushion exists no matter how much I pretend otherwise, and it’s given me the freedom to take risks. Freedom Chloe’s never had.

“What if I reimburse you?” Helping other people is the only worth-while thing I can do with money I didn’t earn, so I give it away often-to friends, to worthy local nonprofits (particularly those that support children and artists), and sometimes even to folks who are down on their luck, like Dennis’s and my old neighbor, a young widow with three kids, whose mortgage nearly went into foreclosure.

Chloe’s mouth falls open. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You wouldn’t have lost the money if I hadn’t left you. Please let me help so that you don’t regret the whole experience or go home and fight with your husband.” I smile, thinking I’ve solved her problem.

“You can’t fix this by throwing money at it,” Liz scoffs. Her judgment wouldn’t normally smart, but remorse has left me raw. “Besides, encouraging Chloe to lie to her husband will only cause more trouble.”

Perhaps she has a point, but I don’t need a scolding-especially not from someone who’s never been married or even had a relationship that lasted longer than eighteen months. Lately she acts happy with Brian, an ABC newscaster she started dating this spring, but I’m not convinced. He gives off a superficial vibe. She’s not stupid, though, so maybe I’m missing something.

“Why are you so mad?” I ask. It isn’t as if she and Chloe are besties, despite knowing each other since childhood. Unlike normal little sisters, mine never chased after me and my friends as we got older. She was too involved in school and clubs to keep up with my antics. Other than during our annual holiday lunches, Liz hardly saw or spoke to Chloe before I moved back home.

Liz blanches, eyes misty, lips quavering. A rare loss of composure. Our parents hardly encourage crying as a response to stress-the financier Briggs Clarke and his cardiothoracic surgeon wife, Dr. Samantha McMaster, counsel logic over emotion in all things. Naturally, they don’t understand me. And despite often wishing my sister would unleash her

emotions, seeing hints of them now fills me with dread because only something catastrophic would make her crack.

With a tight voice, Liz says, “I wanted to give you what you asked for, so I let my guard down in public. Now my career might be tanked thanks to a video that’s trending on Twitter. Hashtag Liz Clarke Hates Kenny.”

The reminder of her life lived under a microscope makes me frown. We suffered enough of that as Briggs’s kids. I can’t understand her sac-rificing so much privacy for a job as a morning talk show cohost. Week after week of idle chitchat with celebrities isn’t the “change the world” stuff of her childhood dreams, that much I know. And it always hurts when she uses “protecting her reputation” as an excuse to turn down my invitations.

Still, her status as the reliable one-the star-has meant everything to her for as long as I can remember, so I’ll help her protect it. “I need more context.”

She starts pacing in a tight circle, brow furrowed. Speaking to no one in particular, she says, “I honestly don’t remember most of it. Is it possible Josh’s friends spiked my drink? God, if Chloe hadn’t come back when she did, an even worse leaked video could’ve happened.”

Drugs seem doubtful, seeing that neither Chloe nor I feel affected. More likely Liz is unaccustomed to the fuzzy memories and regrets that can accompany a serious hangover.

“Lizzie.” I snap my fingers twice, impatient for the details needed to know what to do next. “What’s on the video?”

“Me talking about Kenny.” She scrubs her palms over her face as if they will erase what happened.

“Your cohost?” I frown. “What did you say that was juicy enough to go viral?”

“Nothing good.” She shuts me out, already certain I can’t help. “Please pack your stuff. Chloe and I are ready to go. My agent wants me

back in New York to put out a formal apology as soon as possible, and I need makeup and good lighting so I don’t look hungover.”

“Okay, okay. Gimme five minutes.” I leave them muttering to each other in the living room while I throw my few things into my butter-soft leather Brunello Cucinelli bag. If my divorce hadn’t used up all my tears, I’d be bawling now. Our big night out was a big fail. Before leaving the bedroom, I see the hashtag trending on Twitter and find the video. It isn’t good. Although grainy, thanks to the dim lights and general club chaos, it’s clearly Liz-or rather a sloppy version of her I’ve never seen before. I hold my sinking stomach.

Whatever set her off, one insult after another flows from her mouth-about his lack of journalism background and inept inter­view preparations for “mindless” celebrity interviews. Worse, she slams the network for saddling her, a summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, with an inexperienced injured football player as a cohost. Ouch! They won’t like that.

She’s not wrong, though. Kenny hasn’t worked his way up the broadcast-journalism ladder on merit. Despite being neither particu­larly smart nor quick-witted, he won the job through his fan base (large even by sports-hero standards) and practiced charm. Given his notori­ous reputation with women, I’ve no doubt he also came on to Liz when he first got hired. Her sandy hair, golden-brown eyes, and wide smile make her pretty in that approachable way that some men take as an unsolicited green light.

She must’ve been sitting on these feelings for a long time for them to explode this way. While I’m never ashamed of telling the truth, she will be horribly so. The fact that it’s going viral will amplify her humili­ation. The public backlash is already brutal.

I zip my bag shut and return to the living room to face the two women I love most, both of whom are hurting because they tried to make me happy.

As the only one of us who has ample experience with screwups and the morning-after blues, I take charge with the hope of easing both their minds. Rule number one: flip the script. “Okay. I get it, guys. You’re both rightfully upset, and I’m sorry. I really am. I never meant for anything bad to happen. I can’t turn back the clock, but one thing that helps me when I get into trouble is to remember that, as awful as things seem in the moment, no one has died and we’re not headed to jail.” I offer a weak smile that does nothing to break the tension in the room.

“Chloe, my offer is genuine.” I stare at her. “I’m not minimizing what happened, but I’m happy to fix it. Tell Drew the truth, but let me reimburse the debt as an anniversary gift. And, Lizzie, I know you will probably OD on Tums for weeks because you made a mistake. I really doubt those guys laced our drinks, but we can get a drug test to be sure.”

She shakes her head. “No. You’re right. I’m grasping for an explana­tion behind my royal screwup.”

“Everyone says stupid things when they’re drunk. Just admit that you were tipsy and that you didn’t really mean them,” I suggest.

“That’ll merely shift the conversation from me being a bitch to me being a drunkard who got played by dudes with a phone. It won’t save my reputation or erase the attack on my cohost and the show’s brand. What was I thinking?” Liz grabs her face again, looking so distraught it makes my stomach hurt.

“There’s got to be a way to fix it,” I say, mind racing.

She lets her hands fall and looks at me, her big sister, who chose to go have sex with a stranger rather than stay with her. We were closest as youngsters, before our different outlooks pulled us in opposite direc­tions. But I’ve always loved her and wanted her to achieve her dreams.

She’s seemed happy enough with her career, so why did she say all that?

My next opinion might not land well. “You know, a shrink might suggest that your outburst was subconscious self-sabotage. On the one hand, your career is stellar, but on the other, you’re not really delving into the stories and issues you’d originally planned on. Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing to pivot and pursue a new goal. I mean, The Morning Dish is kinda beneath you and you know it.”

Wrong thing to say, judging by her scowl, although I meant it as a compliment. Liz is one of the brightest, hardest-working women I know. With all that drive, she could change the world.

“Thanks a lot, sis.” She raises the handlebar of her suitcase. “You might not respect my job, but it’s a big effing deal to me.”

“Sorry.” I hold up my hands. “I’m only trying to offer a different perspective.”

Liz’s laugh verges on maniacal. “Like your perspective will help.”

“What’s that mean?” I glance from her to Chloe, who casts her gaze to the ground.

My lifestyle is too extreme for most-I get that-but I’m deter­mined not to meet my maker thinking the world’s five saddest words: “I wish I would have . . .” Growing up, I had a front-row seat to the eighty-hour workweeks and enormous responsibilities that took over my par­ents’ lives, leaving almost no room for fun. That impression never left, nor did my nanny Marta’s death. Ovarian cancer at only thirty-six-a year younger than I will be on Thursday. A constant reminder that nothing should be taken for granted.

Sure, risks can go south. But I’d rather chase every idea, whim, and opportunity that crosses my path than become one of Thoreau’s quiet discontented, never taking any chances out of fear of judgment or failure.

“Your life is like a twisted Peter Pan tale, with you always following your artistic muse.” Liz’s skin is shiny with perspiration. “You hop from country to country, never content. Never committed to anything but `experiencing life.’ Even with Dennis, you were only committed so long as he was interested in a vagabond lifestyle, too.”

I’m shocked my nose isn’t bleeding from that jab. Liz can really fight dirty that way, like our father.

My words come out softly. “I love Dennis. You know I do.”

For the past decade, we traveled the globe, exploring everything from art nouveau architecture in Budapest to the music party scene at Distortion in Copenhagen.

But last August my world collapsed when, despite our long-stand­ing agreement to remain childless, he decided he wanted kids more than the life we’d created. Brokenhearted, I trekked across the world, revisiting some of my favorite cities in a desperate bid to find happiness without him. Last spring it became clear it wasn’t working, so I returned to the place that formed me so that I might remake myself somehow.

That goal made my parents’ east-facing two-bedroom pool house the best place to crash-land. Its large windows let in ample natural light. Those first two months I lived in near isolation, subsisting on burgundy and Brie while dumping every painful feeling into my art. Literally. Cans of paint overturned, slapped, or spewed onto large canvases.

“Not enough to compromise,” Liz spits out. “If you really loved him, his feelings and needs would have mattered at least as much as your own.”

She looks so much like our father when she haughtily fires off her opinions, I can hardly stand to look at her. And she couldn’t have hurt me more if she’d carved out my heart slowly with a nail file.

My love for Dennis is deep and genuine, and has nothing whatso­ever to do with the knowledge that I would be a terrible mother.

“Well, happy birthday to me.” I grab the car keys off the bar top, no longer worried about their feelings. “Hurry now so I can get you both back to normal. And don’t worry, I’ll never again tempt you out of your comfort zones.”

Despite blurred vision, I storm ahead without looking back, my nervous system reverberating with pain. The long drive to Greenwich will be awkward with no one speaking, but Liz’s tirade has knocked me on my ass. I don’t know if Chloe shares all my sister’s opinions, but she hasn’t come to my defense.

Well, they’re both wrong. I’m committed to plenty of things neither of them understands. Honesty and authenticity, for starters. At least I’m not afraid of failure or willing to compromise my beliefs for a person or job that doesn’t let me be true to myself.

My bruised feelings harden to anger, so much so that my veins begin to burn. Righteous anger might fuel the rest of this day, but what will I do if the fallout from this weekend drives a permanent wedge between us all?

Excerpted from The Happy Accidents by Jamie Beck with permission from the publisher, Montlake. Copyright © 2021 by Write Ideas, LLC. All rights reserved.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Happy Accidents’ by Jamie Beck appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

SYNOPSIS
Grace first met Mimi when she blew into their sons’ toddler playgroup like a warm bay breeze that loosened Grace’s tight spaces. Despite differing approaches to life and parenting, the fast friends raised their kids together while cementing a sisterlike bond that neither believed could be broken. But when a string of ill-fated decisions results in a teen party with a tragic outcome for Grace’s son, the friendship is ripped apart and an already-splintered community explodes.

Accusations are leveled, litigation ensues, and the people of Potomac Point take sides, all of which threatens Mimi’s business and her current custody agreement. Her sole salvation is a young cop who just might be her second chance at love. That fact only antagonizes Grace, whose marriage is crumbling beneath the weight of blame and the echo of past mistakes.

With their lives unraveling, the former friends stand to lose everything they love unless they learn to forgive—both themselves and each other.

The following excerpt occurs in the cafeteria of the inpatient rehabilitation center where Grace’s son Carter will be living for four weeks. It is the first time best friends Grace and Mimi have spoken since the night of the party at Mimi’s house that precipitated Carter’s injury because Grace has been refusing Mimi’s calls and offers of help:

The cafeteria’s towering windows and decent selection surprised me. Caving to the siren song of caffeine and sugar, I purchased a large coffee and chocolate-covered doughnut with sprinkles, even though I suspected comfort foods wouldn’t do the trick. While running my credit card through the register, I froze.

Grace sat at a table in the far corner, staring out one of those grand windows. Her back was to the entrance, so she probably hadn’t seen me come in. I could slip out unnoticed.

I hesitated, torn between leaving her to her thoughts and forcing her to deal with me. The twenty yards between us might as well have been the entire Chesapeake Bay, and crossing it would be equally treacherous. Then I remembered that very first playgroup. I’d shown up late with a batch of walnut brownies—unaware of Tina Tubman’s nut allergy or the group’s general ban on sugary foods for the tots.

The other four ladies in the group had barely hidden their contempt for my mistakes (or my short shorts), but Grace had smiled at me as if I were a fresh breeze coming off the water, before moving seats to introduce herself and then asking me all kinds of questions about Rowan. A week later she’d surprised me by booking a hair appointment with me when I was still working at Divaz. From then on, we’d been fast friends.

I never had a sister, nor had an easy time keeping female friends, so I’d cherished Grace in ways she probably never fully appreciated. The idea that one admittedly awful incident could erase a decade of love and trust gutted me. With that in mind, I summoned my courage, grabbed a butter knife from the buckets of silverware, and crossed to Grace’s table.

“It’s not one of Hannah’s pistachio muffins, but it doesn’t look terrible.” I set the plate with the chocolate-glazed doughnut on the table while sweat trickled down my back. Grace snapped her head my way, her face ashen. My stomach burned while I waited to see if my gamble would pay off. “I’ll share it with you.”

Her gaze darted over my shoulder as if looking to see if anyone else had come with me or was watching us. Two, three, four beats passed in silence. Her cornered expression made me feel guiltier for forcing my way in. I was about to leave, but then she gestured toward an empty chair across the table.

A bloom of hope mushroomed so fast I almost grabbed her into a hug. Fortunately, I kept my cool, took a seat, and cut the doughnut in half. I faked a smile, pretending that we were at Sugar Momma’s for one of our regular coffee dates, telling myself that baby steps were better than no steps at all.

But Grace’s scrutiny made me sweat even more. Her blue eyes darkened with sorrow, defeat, and regret. I set my half of the doughnut on a napkin and then pushed the plate with the other half closer to her. At first, she stared at it as if it might be poisoned.

A host of options might build a bridge back to our friendship. Another apology, perhaps? An offer to do something more? In the end, I asked the one question that had most concerned me about her since this happened. “How are you holding up?”

“Not great,” she said on a deep sigh. Grace raised her doughnut half and tore off a small piece. Before she put it in her mouth, she added, “I should’ve thanked you sooner for organizing the Meal Train. It’s certainly helped Sam and me keep some semblance of normalcy at home.” A flash of distress crossed her face so quickly I almost doubted I’d seen it. Were she and Sam fighting because he’d kept in contact with me?

Regardless, that thanks had not come out easily. I understood why, too. Her baby was in pain, and she would not be okay until he was better. “It was the very least I could do, Grace.”

She met my gaze—hers tinged with bitterness—then looked away. I sipped my coffee to buy time for my thoughts to settle. The silence—so unusual for us—killed my appetite. And I’d rarely let a doughnut go uneaten.

Grace set her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm. “I don’t know how to do this, Mimi. I can’t look at you or Sam without feeling angry—at you, at him, at myself. I resent you both so much, but hate myself most of all. And yet I don’t have time to indulge in and work through these feelings—the anger and the missing of what was. I have to be strong for Carter, but all I want to do is crawl into a hole to cry or find a way to turn back time. Why him? Why did this happen to my son?”

With a trembling hand, she swiped away the lone tear trailing down her cheek. Amazingly—or simply in Grace’s usual way—her posture remained poised and her voice steady. Meanwhile, inside, I was simultaneously dismayed that she’d admitted all that, and falling apart because of it. My mistakes hadn’t hurt only Carter; they’d hurt my friend and her entire family. No wonder she didn’t know what to say to me.

Curious about what happens to Carter and whether these friends can mend fences? If so, you can preorder FOR ALL SHE KNOWS by Jamie Beck here!

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘For All She Knows’ by Jamie Beck appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With this third entry into Jamie Beck’s Sanctuary Sound novels, The Wonder of Now is at turns both heart breaking and heart-warming and deals with very heavy subject matter with an obviously sure and steady hand.

The story begins with Peyton Prescott facing the next phase of her emotional journey. Following her battle with breast cancer, during which she allowed her brother to document and photograph her entire treatment, she is now facing the daunting task of embarking on a press tour of the book created by her and her brother. But there is so much more happening within Peyton.

Mitch, the publicist Peyton will be travelling with, has his own back-story, which causes him to be reserved, disciplined, and ambitious. He is concerned about maintaining his professionalism, but at the same time clearly has great respect and admiration for Peyton, what she has been through, and what she is trying to accomplish with her book.

With this completion of Peyton’s story, Beck has brought a previously (and perhaps rightfully) vilified character through a fully redemptive arc. She is not the woman from the previous novels who stole her close friend’s lover, and she is not the carefree travel blogger she once was.

And this is not a fluffy, lightweight romance. There is great depth in Beck’s exploration of a cancer-survivor and how that fundamentally changes who Peyton is and how she thinks of everything in the world around her. Beck also guides the reader through the characters’ motivations and thoughts, and never just their actions. We know why Peyton reacts a certain way to something Mitch says (for example), and like adults, they then are able to talk about how they feel about something.

While it is fun to read about all the foreign cities that Peyton and Mitch travel to, and all the locations are amazingly and vividly described, it is the characters and Beck’s masterful hand at writing such genuinely human characters that keep readers returning to her novels. They are raw and real, and they are flawed in the same way that every reader has experienced in his or her own life.

Maybe it is a very bold statement, but everything that one may think they hate about “romance novels” can be undone with books by Jamie Beck. The Wonder of Now is emotional, it is uplifting, it is heart-breaking, but ultimately shows the reader the best of humanity in a heartfelt story.

The Wonder of Now is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be picking up The Wonder of Now? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Peyton Prescott would give anything for the carefree life she knew before breast cancer changed everything.  But instead of using her second chance to move forward, she is stuck promoting the memoir her brother convinced her to write, thus reliving the very battle she wants to forget.  If she hopes her European book your will allow her to enjoy revisiting her favorite travel-writing destinations, she’s wrong: her PR wiz is too consumed with his own goals to consider her needs.

Mitch Mathis has relied on discipline to achieve his goals, and with his new firm’s success riding on Peyton’s book launch, he must keep her on task. They’re here for business, not pleasure.  And Mitch won’t let unbridled desire harm his professional reputation – not again.

When  frustrated expectations and attraction throughs the tour into chaos, it challenges everything Mitch and Peyton believe about themselves, life, and love, forcing these opposites to consider whether they can embrace the change they need to grow.

The post Review: The Wonder of Now by Jamie Beck appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be picking up any!

Well Met by Jen DeLuca
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author Jen DeLuca.

Postscript (PS, I Love You #2) by Cecelia Ahern
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When Holly Kennedy is approached by a group calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, her safe existence is turned on its head. Inspired by her late husband Gerry’s letters, the club wants Holly to help them with their own parting messages for their loved ones to discover after they’re gone.

Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes the second delightfully charming installment in the Central Park Pact series, following a young widow whose newfound cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges contractor.

The Wonder of Now by Jamie Beck
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Peyton Prescott would give anything for the carefree life she knew before breast cancer changed everything. But instead of using her second chance to move forward, she’s stuck promoting the memoir her brother convinced her to write, thus reliving the very battle she wants to forget. If she hopes her European book tour will allow her to enjoy revisiting her favourite travel-writing destinations, she’s wrong: her PR whiz is too consumed with his own goals to consider her needs.

Kiss Me Tonight by Emma Hart
Goodreads | Amazon

What do a wrong number text, a burning building, and a quirky florist have in common? A hunky firefighter with an extra-large…hosepipe.

No Judgments by Meg Cabot
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life…

The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the Forgotten Empires magic is forbidden, dreams are destiny, and love is the greatest power of all…

Fake Date by Monica Murphy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Working at Bliss Lingerie, Sarah Harrison deals with all sorts of—interesting clientele. Yet no one sparks her interest more than Jared Gaines, the ultra-rich, ultra-sexy businessman who frequents her shop, buying delicate little “gifts” for the women in his life. But one day, Jared sends her a gift from Bliss. And when Sarah walks into his office, demanding to know why, he makes her an offer she somehow can’t refuse—be his fake girlfriend for the weekend while attending his brother’s engagement party.

The Last Letter from Juliet by Melanie Hudson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Soraya M. Lane, Lorna Cook and Pam Jenoff. Me Before You meets The English Patient in this stunning romantic novel from award-winning author Melanie Hudson.

If It’s Only Love by Lexi Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestseller Lexi Ryan comes a sexy new standalone romance in the bestselling Boys of Jackson Harbor series. Meet single dad Easton Connor as he leaves the NFL and returns to Jackson Harbor to fight for another chance with the love of his life.

Enchanting Sebastian by Kristen Proby
Goodreads | Amazon 

Turning thirty-five doesn’t mean much to most men. For Sebastian Wakefield, it’s the end of life as he knows it. When your father is the King of England, thirty-five is the year that a marriage will be arranged, a suitable bride cementing a future you didn’t choose. The obvious solution for escaping the archaic laws of the throne is for Sebastian to leave the country. And where better to go than America?

Wrapped Up In You by Jill Shalvis
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After a lifetime on the move, Ivy Snow is an expert in all things temporary—schools, friends, and way too many Mr. Wrongs. Now that she owns a successful taco truck in San Francisco and an apartment to call home, Ivy’s reinvented life is on solid ground. And she’s guarded against anything that can rock it. Like the realities of a past she’s worked hard to cover up. And especially Kel O’Donnell. Too hot not to set off alarms, he screams temporary. If only his whispers weren’t so delightfully naughty and irresistible.

Will you be picking up any of these September releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2019 Book Releases: Romance appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Nerd Daily is thrilled to be revealing the cover for If You Must Know, which she described as “women’s fiction with romantic elements (and a little mystery)” in an interview with us earlier this year. Check out the official synopsis below:

Life turns upside down for two sisters in Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck’s emotional novel about how secrets and differences can break—or bind—a family.

Sisters Amanda Foster and Erin Turner have little in common except the childhood bedroom they once shared and the certainty each feels that her way of life is best. Amanda follows the rules—at the school where she works; in her community; and as a picture-perfect daughter, wife, and mother-to-be. Erin follows her heart—in love and otherwise—living a bohemian lifestyle on a shoestring budget and honoring her late father’s memory with a passion for music and her fledgling bath-products business.

The sisters are content leading separate but happy lives in their hometown of Potomac Point until everything is upended by lies that force them to confront unsettling truths about their family, themselves, and each other. For sisters as different as these two, building trust doesn’t come easily—especially with one secret still between them—but it may be the only way to save their family.

If You Must Know publishes on May 5th 2020, so be sure to add this one to your Goodreads! You can pre-order it from Amazon.

Will you be picking up If You Must Know? Tell us in the comments below!

The post EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Beck’s ‘If You Must Know’ Cover Reveal appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

You’ll see titles from familiar and best-selling authors such as Helena Hunting, Meg Cabot, Cecelia Ahern, Christina Lauren, Jasmine Guillory, and Colleen Hoover—just to name a few! Plus there’s also quite a few authors making their debut this year including Zara Raheem, Jen DeLuca, Evie Dunmore, Melissa Ferguson, and more!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments what you’re looking forward to!

JULY

The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Zara Raheem’s fresh, funny, smart debut, a young, Muslim-American woman is given three months to find the right husband or else her traditional Indian parents will find one for her–a novel with a universal story that everyone can relate to about the challenges of falling in love.

Under Currents by Nora Roberts
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For both Zane and Darby, their small town roots hold a terrible secret. Now, decades later, they’ve come together to build a new life. But will the past set them free or pull them under?

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Alisha Rai returns with the first book in her sizzling new Modern Love series, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.

Making Up by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cosy Felton knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.

All It Takes by Kristen Proby
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby’s second novel in her Romancing Manhattan series delivers the sizzling story of a playboy who’s vowed never to commit until he meets the one woman he’s tempted to break his promise for.

All Roads Lead to You by Jennifer Probst
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Happily single, Harper Bishop trusts in only one passion—her rescue farm and healing her thoroughbred, Phoenix. Her dream is to lead him to the Triple Crown. But how unreachable is it without experience or help? A handsome new guest at her family’s B&B has what it takes to make it come true. And with his irresistible brogue, warm smile, and soothing touch, he’s a major distraction.

AUGUST

Playing House by Ruby Lang
Goodreads | Amazon

Romance blossoms between two city planners posing as newlyweds in this first in a bright new series by acclaimed author Ruby Lang.

Handle With Care by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author of SHACKING UP and I FLIPPING LOVE YOU Helena Hunting mixes humour and heart in this scandal-filled romantic comedy.

Playing for Keeps by Kendall Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon 

Get ready to meet your new favourite hot jocks in this series of stand-alone novels. If you like sexy, confident men who know how to handle a stick (on and off the ice), and smart women who are strong enough to keep all those big egos in check, this series of athlete romances is perfect for you!

Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The bestselling author of The Simple Wild and Keep Her Safe and “master of steamy romance” (Kirkus Reviews) delivers a sizzling novel about an ambitious and high-powered executive who reconnects with her first love: the boy who broke her heart.

Already Gone by Kristen Proby and K.L. Grayson
Goodreads | Amazon

New Hope, South Carolina is my home. It’s where I grew up, got into trouble, and fell in love for the first time. Scarlett Kincaid was more than the girl next door, she was my best friend, until she decided that small town life wasn’t for her. One minute she was here, and the next she was gone..

Kiss Me Not by Emma Hart
Goodreads | Amazon

As the reigning kissing booth contest champion, I have one goal: kiss as many people as possible to retain my dubious crown. But the only person I want to kiss is my best friend’s brother.

SEPTEMBER

No Judgments by Meg Cabot
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life…

Postscript (PS, I Love You #2) by Cecelia Ahern
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When Holly Kennedy is approached by a group calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, her safe existence is turned on its head. Inspired by her late husband Gerry’s letters, the club wants Holly to help them with their own parting messages for their loved ones to discover after they’re gone.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author Jen DeLuca.

The Wonder of Now by Jamie Beck
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Peyton Prescott would give anything for the carefree life she knew before breast cancer changed everything. But instead of using her second chance to move forward, she’s stuck promoting the memoir her brother convinced her to write, thus reliving the very battle she wants to forget. If she hopes her European book tour will allow her to enjoy revisiting her favourite travel-writing destinations, she’s wrong: her PR whiz is too consumed with his own goals to consider her needs.

Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes the second delightfully charming installment in the Central Park Pact series, following a young widow whose newfound cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges contractor.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A stunning debut for author Evie Dunmore and her Oxford Rebels, in which a fiercely independent vicar’s daughter takes on a powerful duke in a love story that threatens to upend the British social order.

OCTOBER

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and the “delectable, moving” (Entertainment Weekly) My Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it…

The Play (Briar U #3) by Elle Kennedy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A brand-new standalone novel in the New York Timesbestselling Briar U series! She’s the player he never saw coming…

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal and “rising star in the romance genre” (Entertainment Weekly) comes a dazzling new novel about a spontaneous holiday vacation that turns into an unforgettable romance.

Seven Letters by J.P. Monninger
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

J. P. Monninger, author of the international bestseller The Map That Leads to You, the novel Nicholas Sparks called “romantic and unforgettable”, tells a poignant love story of the ways the world divides two souls—and the way that love brings them together.

Gypsy King by Devney Perry
Goodreads | Amazon 

The former Tin Gypsy motorcycle club has everyone in Clifton Forge, Montana convinced they’ve locked their clubhouse doors and ripped off their patches. Everyone but Bryce Ryan. There’s more happening at the club’s garage than muscle car restorations and Harley rebuilds. Her instincts are screaming there’s a story—one she’s going to tell.

Faker by Sarah Smith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Sarah Smith nails this fun and sexy multicultural romance where two office foes hammer out their differences to build a love that will last…

NOVEMBER

Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days gets a millennial makeover in this romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Andie J. Christopher.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Talia Hibbert, one of contemporary romance’s brightest new stars, delivers a witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who’s tired of being “boring” and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her experience new things—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory, and Helen Hoang.

Inexpressible Island (End of Forever Saga Book 3) by Paullina Simons
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The third and final novel in Paullina Simons’ unforgettable End of Forever saga concludes Julian and Josephine’s heartbreaking love story that has spanned lifetimes.

We Met in December by Rosie Curtis
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Following a year in the life of a twenty-something American woman who falls hard for her London flat mate, this clever, fun, and unforgettable romantic comedy is the perfect feel-good holiday read.

Lethal Nights by Lora Leigh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

#1 bestselling author Lora Leigh turns up the heat in her latest novel of high-stakes passion and persuasion featuring the men of Brute Force.

DECEMBER

Husband Material by Emily Belden
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Twenty-nine-year-old Charlotte Rosen has a secret: she’s a widow. It could never have been predicted that her late husband’s ashes would land squarely on her doorstep five years later. Stunned but determined, Charlotte sets out to find meaning in this sudden twist of fate, even if that includes facing her perfectly coiffed, and perfectly difficult, ex-mother-in-law—and her husband’s best friend, who seems to become a fixture at her side whether she likes it or not.

The Intended Victim by Alexandra Ivy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The body lying on a cold steel slab bears all the hallmarks of the Chicago Butcher. Her delicate features are painfully familiar to Ash Marcel, once a rising star in the Chicago PD. But though the victim resembles his former fiancée, Remi Walsh, he knows it’s not her. Though Remi escaped a serial killer five years ago, her father died trying to save her. Grief and guilt caused her to pull away from the man she loved. Now Ash is back in her life, insisting that Remi is still in danger targeting women who look just like Remi.

Baby It’s Cold Outside by Dani Wyatt
Goodreads | Amazon 

Enjoy this holiday wonder with a grunty alpha, a kind-hearted girl trying to rebuild her life, and a whole lot of yummy sexy times under the twinkling Christmas lights. Always safe, no cheating, a little angst, and for sure a happily ever after for all.

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An all-new romance novel from best-selling author Colleen Hoover.

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh welcomes you to a remote town on the edge of the world where even the blinding brightness of the sun can’t mask the darkness that lies deep within a killer…

Are there any upcoming romance books that you’re looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fall In Love With The Second Half of 2019’s Romance Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading any!

The Mister by E.L. James
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the heart of London through wild, rural Cornwall to the bleak, forbidding beauty of the Balkans, The Mister is a roller-coaster ride of danger and desire that leaves the reader breathless to the very last page.

The Rose by Tiffany Reisz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

USA Today bestselling author Tiffany Reisz returns to the world of The Red with an imaginative sequel full of lust and magic, and the dangers unleashed when the two are combined…

Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Maddox Kinkade is an expert at managing the impossible. Tasked with neutralising a lethal bioweapon, she turns to the one person capable of helping her stop the threat of pandemic in time: the love of her life, back from the dead and mad as hell at her supposed betrayal. Recruiting Cole to save millions of lives may be harder than resisting the attraction still burning between them, but Maddox will do whatever it takes…even if it destroys her.

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Promise of Us by Jamie Beck
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Claire McKenna knows about loss. The bullet wound that ended her promising professional tennis career drove her to make a quiet life for herself working with fabric samples. Now, Claire’s business has hit a financial snag, but she’s up to the challenge. After all, she can survive anything. At least she thinks so…until her teen crush, Logan, returns to town with his sister, Claire’s traitorous friend. After years of playing it safe, Claire must now take some risks. The payoff could be huge, but if it all falls apart, can her heart recover from another loss?

Breaking Without You by Carrie Ann Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From NYT bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan, comes a brand new series where second chances don’t come often, and overcoming an unexpected loss means breaking everything you knew.

Crazy For Your Love by Lexi Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon

The only thing worse than being single at my sister’s wedding is finding out that my ex will be there too. Not just any ex—the guy everyone expected me to marry, the man I came to Jackson Harbor to escape. Now I need a date, and fast. Enter Carter Jackson—the firefighter who’s dealing with an unwanted five minutes of fame ever since a shirtless photo of him saving a puppy went viral. He’s warding off propositions left and right, and he needs a fake relationship as much as I do. The commitment between us might be pretend, but the passion all too real. As crazy as it makes me, I have to keep Carter at an arm’s length. Even that might not be enough to spare my heart.

The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A feel-good, emotional love story with a difference, about an unusual couple separated by tragedy and brought back together by chance. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Gail Honeyman, Jill Santopolo and Sliding Doors.

Tangled Up In You by Samantha Chase
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One fateful night Bobby Hannigan sustains a gunshot wound that could end his career as a police officer. If that’s taken from him, he doesn’t know what he’ll do. The only ray of hope is Teagan Shaughnessy―a kindhearted single mom who understands his struggles… Teagan and her young son have just moved back to the Carolina coast to be near family. When she meets Bobby, the timing feels wrong, but everything else feels oh-so-right. Bobby and Teagan each had plans for their own futures. But they’re finding that those plans are meaningless if they can’t be together…

Deadly Obsession by April Hunt
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After a lifetime spent in and out of hospitals, Zoey Wright is tired of playing it safe. She’s ready to take charge of her own life and get out of her comfort zone, starting with a new job as a CSI agent. But when her childhood crush Knox Steele gets pulled onto her case, Zoey needs to put her feelings for him aside or more women will die at the hands of the serial killer preying on her hometown.

I Want You Back by Lorelei James
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James kicks-off her Want You Series with a Lund family cousin hot enough to melt the ice and mend a broken heart.

Fluffy by Julia Kent
Goodreads | Amazon

It all started with the wrong Help Wanted ad. Of course it did. I’m a professional fluffer. It’s NOT what you think. I stage homes for a living. Real estate agents love me, and my work stands on its own merits. I didn’t even know there was a more… lascivious definition of the term. The ad for a “professional fluffer” on Craigslist seemed like divine intervention. My last unemployment check was in the bank. I was desperate. Rent was due. The ad said cash paid at the end of the day. The perfect job! Turns out a “fluffer” doesn’t arrange decorative pillows on a couch. They arrange other soft, round-ish objects. The job isn’t hard. Er, I mean, it is — it’s about being hard. Or, well… helping other people to be hard.

Are there any other romance releases that you’re looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post April Book Releases: Romance appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Tell us a little about yourself!

Originally from Pittsburgh, I’m a former lawyer turned novelist who lives in Connecticut with my husband, two teens, and our dog, Mo. In addition to reading and writing, I love dancing, skiing, and cooking (and eating!).

Your new novel The Promise of Us has just been released! Can you tell us what the book is about?

This is the second book in my Sanctuary Sound series, which is based on three friends reuniting in their hometown to heal old wounds and face the uncertain future. In this particular book, Claire has made a small but content life for herself in her hometown after being the victim of random gun violence. Her ex boyfriend ran off with one of her BFFs, but she and her other BFF have started their own business together, so she’s moving forward. However, the business hits a snag, and the fix requires her to work with her childhood crush, Logan (who is also the brother of the traitorous friend). Logan is a photo journalist who wants Claire to reclaim the courage she had as a teen, and who also wants her to forgive his sister. In other words, Claire is being pushed to take risks again, and if they don’t pan out, she could be devastated.

Were there any particular characters or scenes you enjoyed writing?

I really enjoyed writing Logan. I’d met with a photographer to get a sense of his career and who he might be. She pointed me toward the famed Peter Beard, so I had fun with the research and creating a character that was just brash and manipulative enough to be realistic for that career while still being “hero” material for a romance. He turned out to be flirtier than I first planned, but also had a core tenderness that I hope readers appreciate.

Did anything inspire you to write this book?

The series was inspired by the tragedy at the Ariana Grande concert in England a couple of years ago. I thought about how I would feel if my teens had been there, which led to me to muse about how different people deal with trauma. Each of the heroines in this series has to overcome a different kind of trauma (and each approaches that very differently). It’s been very interesting to research and write these books. I hope readers enjoy them.

What made you want to write within the romance genre?

I’ve always been in love with love (first crush in kindergarten, and many since). Love stories also give you a lot of room to play with psychology (another of my favorite subjects), so it is the perfect marriage of my two favorite things!

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

I don’t think so. I know writers who have mascots and other such things, but I don’t. I suppose the only thing that might be a quirk is that I often take inspiration for a story or characters from song lyrics. I love singer-songwriter music and am awed by the talent some have to string together a story in 200 words and pair it with a melody!

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Never stop trying to improve your craft. Write the story you want to read. You can’t fail if you don’t quit (be resilient in the face of rejection). Trust in your own voice (don’t mimic a favorite author).

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?

The third Sanctuary Sound novel (The Wonder of Now) releases in September, and next year will kick off the Potomac Point novels, which will be women’s fiction with romantic elements (and a little mystery). The first in that series is titled If You Must Know and will release in May, 2020.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?

I have many (which readers can see if they follow me on BookBub and Goodreads) that range from the book club variety to sexy romance reads. I think one of the standout books I read this past year was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It had me laughing all the way through Spain (the subject matter is quite serious, but the main character’s quirky, exacting, astute observations about life are hilarious).

The Promise of Us is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

You can find Jamie on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Book Bub.

Have you read any books by Jamie Beck? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Interview: Jamie Beck, Author of ‘The Promise of Us’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.