Susan Sands talks about being part of our latest release, A Southern Christmas anthology – out now!

November 14, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hello Everyone!

I’m thrilled to be here today with you on the release day for A Southern Christmas! Working with Sinclair and Laurie on this project has been such a joy.

My novella, A Georgia Christmas, is the second story in my newest series with Tule Publishing set in the North Georgia Mountain region of Southern Appalachia in the fictional town of Moonshine, Georgia.

Merilee Bell is the town’s most popular hairdresser and salon owner. She’s a self-made sassy redhead, who insists Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s agent, Randy Slade, pay her for a haircut if he plans to park his oversized pickup in her dedicated parking space in front of her salon—he needs one anyway.

Randy’s cover story is that he’s in town applying for a job with the Moonshine Sheriff’s Department as a deputy, so he omits his real title and why he’s here. Randy is really in town investigating a group of property scammers for the GBI in Moonshine. Merilee just happens to own a garage apartment perfect for a sting operation to catch the con artists. She believes she’s helping her local sheriff’s department when she offers to help.

Randy doesn’t want to lie, but he has a duty to keep citizens safe, including Merilee. Can he do his job and still celebrate a small town southern Christmas, and maybe more with his dream girl? Sparks fly between the two as the charming town gears up for all of the holiday events leading up to Christmas.

Being part of a team writing an anthology has been such fun, especially with fellow Tule authors. Sinclair and Laurie are both so kind. We’ve shared ideas on our cover, our stories, and promotions and swag. Have you seen our tote bags?

I hope you’ll read and review A Southern Christmas, and I hope you love it!!

All the best!
Susan Sands

About the Author.

Susan Sands grew up in a real life Southern Footloose town, complete with her senior class hosting the first ever prom in the history of their tiny public school. Is it any wonder she writes Southern small town stories full of porch swings, fun and romance?

Susan lives in suburban Atlanta surrounded by her husband, three young adult kiddos and lots of material for her next book.

Tule Book Recommendations Based on Your Favorite Popular Mystery Tropes

November 13, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

With murder, secrets, lies, and suspense spilling off the page, it’s no wonder mystery novels are a tried-and-true fan-favorite to read. From slow-and-steady amateur sleuthing to nail-biting plot twists in isolated settings, popular mysteries have long since utilized a range of tropes to increase heart rates and goosebumps.

Whether you’re looking for your next classic Agatha Christie whodunit, female amateur-sleuth heroine like Pip in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, or your next The Bourne Identity, check out these three popular mystery tropes and our best Tule book recommendations.

Mystery Trope #1: Isolation

Nothing quite spells intrigue like a secluded destination, a roomful of suspicious characters, and a sudden discovery of a dead body. As suspicion mounts and situations grow dire, will the gruesome details of these murders be revealed and the murderer finally caught? Or will they all be picked off one-by-one….

Add yourself to the guest list and join the hunt for the truth in these isolated settings. If you dare.

1. Widow’s Walk by Raemi A. Ray

Murder’s on the menu…

Attorney Kyra Gibson has a lot on her mind this Thanksgiving. She’s been working long hours on a multi-billion dollar corporate merger, her family is visiting from London, and her relationship with former police detective Tarek Collins is heating up. When she and her companions are invited by her aristocrat client to attend a formal gala at a historic mansion on Chappaquiddick, Kyra reluctantly agrees.

But Chappy is more than just a playground for the wealthy. It’s a wild, remote place cut off from civilization. When the first body is found, the occupants are worried. Was it an accident or murder? When a second guest is brutally killed and then a third, there’s no doubt and the guests fearfully turn on each other. They are locked in a house with a murderer picking them off one-by-one. Kyra, her best friend Chase Hawthorn, and Tarek must survive the night and find the killer, or one of them could be next.

Don’t wait until November 6, 2024 to get your hands on this eerie isolation mystery novel. Pre-order your copy of Widow’s Walk today!

2. Until Depths Do Us Part by K.B. Jackson

Sudden riches lead to a world of trouble…

Newly widowed Charlotte McLaughlin is adrift following the sudden death of her husband of twenty years and the shocking discovery of the lavish double life he’d lived while purportedly traveling for business.

When Charlotte’s only nephew and his fiancée are notified that their secluded wedding venue has flooded, her sister Jane suggests an alternative venue: a Thanksgiving week cruise from Seattle to Alaska aboard the private residence ship where Charlotte’s husband had purchased a two-bedroom unit without her knowledge.

What better way to get closer with her family and banish the memories Charlotte can’t bear to touch now?

But the bride is found dead less than twenty-four hours after departure, and the head of security holds the groom on suspicion of her murder. Charlotte and Jane must figure out who is responsible for the murder before their nephew goes to jail for a crime they’re adamant he couldn’t have committed. Then a second victim is discovered, and Charlotte becomes even more certain there’s a killer on the guest list.

Don’t let this mystery pass you by! Claim your copy of Until Depths Do Us Part today.

Mystery Trope #2: Amateur Detective

Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers, never do these first-time amateur detectives who have thrown themselves into the thick of these dangerous murder investigations without any professional experience. With keen eyes, a sturdy gut, and a heavy penchant for justice, these civilians are determined to uncover the truth and solve the unsolvable—no matter how ugly it may be.

Dust off your adventurous side and your sleuthing skills and try your hand at solving these investigations. Who knows? You might just be a new amateur detective in the making!

1. Something Shady at Sunshine Haven by Kris Bock

She’s pursued the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?

Injured in a bombing, war correspondent Kate Tessler returns to her hometown in Arizona to recover. For the first time in her life, she’s starting to feel her age of nearly fifty despite living like a teenager again: staying in her childhood bedroom with only a cat for company, trying to understand why her sister resents her so much, and running into people who still refer to her as Kitty. The hardest part? Seeing her once-sharp and witty mother stuck in an Alzheimer’s unit.

When an old friend asks her to investigate suspicious deaths at the nursing home, Kate limps into action. Is a self- appointed “Angel of Mercy” killing patients to end their suffering? Are family members hastening their inheritance? Is an employee extorting money and removing the witnesses? Kate uses her journalism skills to track clues, but the puzzle pieces simply won’t fit.

If Kate can’t uncover the truth quickly, her mother could be next on the killer’s list.

If you love Murder, She Wrote, female heroines, and high stakes, then you’ll love Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. Order your copy here!

2. Room for Suspicion by Carol Light

It’s going to take more than carefully labeled boxes to sort through the clues of this homicide…

Professional organizer Crystal Ward knows she can make a success of her new business, Organizing Chicago. The extra income would allow her to renovate her own home, full of more cluttered spaces than she’d ever admit to her clients. But her life wasn’t always this disorganized. Five years ago her husband, Rick, a Chicago police detective, was shot while chasing a suspect. Now a paraplegic, he’s wary of her going into strangers’ homes…and for good reason.

When Crys discovers a dead man in a client’s living room, she refuses to accept that the murder is an open-and-shut case of domestic violence. If she can untangle this mess, she can prove her client’s innocence and ease Rick’s fears.

But the only witness to the murder is hospitalized in a catatonic state. And the lead detective is Rick’s former partner, the man Crys blames for his paralysis. Crys is on her own to save her client from jail and stop a murderer intent on tidying up loose ends.

Go on, Sherlock. Throw your tweed hat into the ring and try your luck in solving this mystery before Crys does! Your copy waits for you here…

Mystery Trope #3: Amnesia

Think solving a murder investigation is hard enough? Try adding a smoking-gun character that has no idea who they are, where they came from, or why everyone seems so damned familiar. Within these complex narratives, everyone is fighting for the truth—the problem is, what will happen when what’s been forgotten turns out to be better left buried?

There’s a reason this trope is such a classic—add these to your TBR and see what the hype is about before you forget!

1. Forgotten by C.J. Carmichael

Five unsolved murders. A shocking new discovery. He’s back for the truth but Jane Doe holds a deeper secret.

Sheriff Wade Mackay needed a break. Little did he know, a day of fishing would land him right into the aftermath of a deadly accident.

The only survivor is a woman who doesn’t remember her name and has no identification. Wade’s instincts ignite when he notices the telltale marks of old bruises on Jane Doe. What hidden truths lie beneath the layers of her forgotten past?

For true crime writer Dougal Lachlan, Twisted Cedars holds secrets that refuse to stay buried. The librarian murders, unsolved for decades, drew him back to town, but intuition tells him there’s more to Jane Doe than anyone suspects.

Teaming up with local librarian Charlotte Hammond, they uncover a chilling link between the past murders and the mysterious Jane Doe. Will their discovery of past and present colliding be enough to convince the sheriff that a serial killer has resurfaced in Twisted Cedars?

Order your copy of Forgotten by C.J. Carmichael here!

2. The Package by Kimberley Troutte

In the deadly future after the second civil war, the United States is divided and dangerous…

Agent Heather Slade is a beautiful well-crafted fake. A perfect lie. A highly-trained asset with no country, no memory, and no home. She spies for a secretive group of Revo agents from the democratic Free States and fights against the crushing power of the charismatic authoritarian leader who controls the militant Patriot regions. Risking her life, she infiltrates top levels of the brutal government and lives deeply under cover with her enemies.

Heather’s current mission is to smuggle a package from under the President’s nose onto a highly guarded golden train and bring it to safety in the Free States. Her partner on the perilous journey is a handsome but inexperienced foreign agent with secrets of his own. Why is Miguel Robles so hauntingly familiar? He might hold the key to finding the family she no longer remembers—if they survive the mission.

Kimberley Troutte’s The Package is perfect for fans of The Bourne Identity series. Pick up your copy here.

Written by Tule intern, Kristina Gaffney

Barbara Ankrum talks about returning to Marietta and how her characters intersect during the holidays.

November 13, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hi Guys! I’m so happy to be back here today, talking about my latest book, “The Cowboy’s Miracle Baby,” Book 3 in my Hardestys of Montana Series. It’s out today, so I hope you’ll check it out.

This series follows the four Hardesty siblings in Marietta Montana, our favorite little Tule make-believe town. Oh, oops! Did I say make-believe? Because it feels pretty real to those of us who share it.

Marietta’s been around since the beginning of Tule and personally, I’ve set two entire series there and partially set another couple of series. It’s a pretty unique thing that Tule has done, allowing their many authors to create their own series there and develop the town. As those of you who read Marietta books know, there’s sometimes (often) interaction between the characters of other series and also of our own other series.

I’ve been with Tule now since nearly the beginning, starting in 2014, and I’ve written four series here. (Have you read them all?) In this latest series, I had so much fun bringing in old characters from other series who still live in town, just to give them a call back, in case anyone was wondering what became of them! The Canadays appear in this Christmas book, and also Trey Reyes, a PI who has made appearances in nearly all of my Marietta books in one way or the other. Some of my old characters are even hey-let’s-go-to-dinner friends with the new ones. Yeah…I’m waiting for my invitation.

Also, because I love Christmas stories, I’ve written quite a few of those set here, too. Because Marietta is made for Christmas. But this one was kind of different for me. Oh, it has all the fun Christmas things—the ice skating, the sweet shopping in town, Christmas tree hunting and trimming. But this story came to me a little differently. It was just an idea of a baby being found in a church during a Christmas pageant rehearsal and…what if that happened? What would the finder do? The finder, in this case, turned out to be Cami Hardesty along with the father of one of the pageant players, Gus Claymore, a temporary large animal vet in town for a short stint.

Cami, an overextended schoolteacher who always takes on more than she should, takes on this baby and decides to try to find the birth mother and maybe fix whatever has happened. As unrealistic as that seems to her family, Cami is determined, and Gus becomes her ally in the search. He’s a widower with a little girl whose only wish for Christmas is a secret. But what we know is that she’s worried that her dad is lonely. In fact, he’s been running from that very loneliness for a few years now. And this baby brings all those things into focus. ( I also wanted to bring awareness to the plight of foster kids who age out of the system and how unfair it is that they start life with nothing. But you’ll see how that fits in when you read the book.) But meanwhile, the real story is how Cami and Gus fall in love. These two were meant for each other. It just takes them a bit to figure it out!

“The Cowboy’s Miracle Baby” was a fun, emotional and very Christmassy book for me and I loved writing it. I’ve fallen in love with all of these Hardesty siblings, and I really hope you do, too. All four of these books will be available by early February and the last one is up for presale right now. If you read it, please leave me a review on Amazon or some other e-retailer of your choice. It helps us authors so much to get your feedback.

GIVEAWAY: To win an e-copy of The Cowboy’s Miracle Baby (Or another of my Tule e-books) just leave a comment telling me if you’ve read any of my other series and if so, which series or book was your favorite.

Winner will be announced on November 15th. Please check back to see if you’ve won. Thanks everyone!

About the Author.

Barbara Ankrum has a thing for the West and has written both historical and contemporary romances, all set in that magical place. Twice nominated for RWA’s RITA Award, her bestselling books are emotional, sexy rides with a touch of humor. Barbara’s married and raised two children in Southern California, which, in her mind, makes her a native Westerner.

Men who quilt and the joy of the holidays – Janice Lynn stops by to chat about her latest release in her “Wrapped Up in Christmas” series (Plus, a GIVEAWAY!)

November 12, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Have you ever known a man who quilts? Personally, my answer to that is no. However, I do know of men who quilt, including a former soldier who makes Quilts of Valor. I belong to several online quilting groups and see posts by and of men quilting. I’m always fascinated. So much so that in Wrapped Up in Christmas Love my hero is a quilter. He started as a way to give back to other veterans and it became therapeutic for him, helping him to deal with his PTSD from things that he’d been involved with during his military service.

In Wrapped Up in Christmas Love, Zach Dawson learns about the organization Quilts of Valor Foundation after a buddy is awarded one and it changed the course of that friend’s life. Zach was such a fun hero to write. On the surface, he’s an incorrigible flirt, but deep inside, his past haunts him. No nonsense Isabelle Davis is just the woman to heal his pain as he brings joy and love into her life.

“Are you following me, Blondie?”

Isabelle’s cheeks burned and her stomach gurgled loud enough he’d likely heard. Maybe if she ignored him, he’d go away. Hoping to distract herself from the fact that he stood right behind her, she looked for more stray tinsel, didn’t see any, so read Lou’s Diner’s joke of the day.

What do you call a snowman with a six-pack?

Yeah, that wasn’t helping because she’d bet her Christmas morning goodies that Prince Annoying was sporting a six-pack under his army T-shirt.

The abdominal snowman.

“Can’t say I blame you for making sure our paths crossed,” he continued in that I’m hot and we both know it drawl.

He wasn’t going to go away, not without torturing her first. Face tightly pinched, Isabelle turned, hoping he accurately read how much she wished he’d disappear. Maybe the abdominal snowman could gobble him up so she could get her lunch in peace and forget he existed. Her gaze collided with broad shoulders that had her gulping. There was a toughness about him that said anything trying to gobble him up would be in for a run for their money and would lose.

“I recall mentioning not to bother saying hello if our paths did cross again.”

Disappointment hit that she hadn’t imagined how good-looking he was. Or how tall. He towered over her five foot four inches. And if there was ever a competition for an abdominal snowman, he’d win. Scolding herself for noticing how his T-shirt clung to his muscles, she upped her glare game. Maybe he’d take the hint and leave.

“Yep.” His lips twitched, almost as if he knew he made her insides jitter like a shaken snow globe. “That’s why I didn’t say hello.”

Isabelle looked upward at Lou’s tiled ceiling, counted to six, and winced when she couldn’t think of the next number to save her life. Not good for someone with an accounting degree.

“Oops, sorry. I didn’t realize that I should have been more specific. I meant for you not to say anything at all,” she clarified.

“Not say anything and let all your effort in following me be wasted? Tsk. Tsk.” His eyes twinkled brighter than Lou’s shiny Christmas tree lights. “I’d hate to disappoint you that way.”

“Seeing you again is disappointing.” Exhilarating, her inner voice corrected.

Why, oh, why, did being near him make breathing difficult? It was as if he sucked up all the oxygen and what air was left made her head spin.

“Disappointing?” He gave an exaggerated fake sigh. “I thought you were happy to see me.”

“Pfft. Wrong again.” Annoyed was what she was.

At him because he’d occupied all her thoughts since their windy encounter. But even more so, at herself, because excitement surged at the way merriment danced in his eyes when they looked in hers. Approval shone in their hazel depths, as if he enjoyed their verbal sparring and that she had no qualms in standing up to him. Not only did he not mind; he seemed to appreciate that she wasn’t falling at his boots.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t like me.” He sounded as if he didn’t believe anyone capable of such a feat. His ego alone could power Santa’s sleigh, no reindeer needed.

Oh, y’all, I do love this book and can’t wait to hear if y’all fall in love with Zach the way I did while writing him.

Like Zach, I’m a quilter and have given away every quilt I’ve made either as a gift, donation, or as a Quilts of Valor. I’m proud of each one of them, but especially the Quilts of Valor quilts. Making them makes me happy and feel as if I’m doing something to give back to those who have given so much—our veterans.

GIVEAWAY: What are some of the things you do to destress? Do you know any men who quilt? Or of men who quilt? Comment below on this post and one lucky commenter will win an autographed copy of Wrapped Up in Christmas Love and some book swag!

About the Author.

USA Today bestselling author Janice Lynn lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who’s the true princess of the house and a bunch of unnamed dust bunnies who took up permanent residence after Janice started her writing career.

After writing more than thirty books for Harlequin, Janice began writing heartwarming sweet romance stories featuring the Quilts of Valor Foundation. As a Blue Star Mom, the organization is dear to her heart.

Janice’s stories have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice Award, The Golden Quill, The Golden Pen, the Holt Medallion Award of Merit, and RT Book Club’s The American Title Contest. She’s a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-selling author.

In addition to writing romance novels, Janice has a Master’s in Nursing degree and works as a nurse practitioner. She’s a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and a member of and supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen.

Eve Gaddy talks about the writer relationship with imaginary characters and how she listens to what they tell her.

November 7, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

As most of you know, writers are weird.:) I don’t mean that in a bad way. After all, I’m a writer. But even I must admit that not only talking to imaginary people but also having imaginary people talk to me is a bit…well, weird. Unless you’re a writer.

What does this have to do with The Christmas Cowboy, my November 7 release, you ask? Liam McFarland, the hero of this book, almost took over his brother Logan’s book. I had to slap him down several times, promising him that yes, he would get his own book with his own heroine but no, Logan’s book (The Wrong Brother) wasn’t his! You couldn’t really blame the guy since Logan’s heroine originally came to Marietta to get to know Liam. And Liam does play an important part in Logan’s book.

Liam listened to me and backed off. Begrudgingly, I might add. But Logan told him in no uncertain terms that his brother needed to butt out of The Wrong Brother. Which he didn’t exactly do but he tried. Anyway, after writing Logan’s book I got to finally write Liam’s.

I’m always asking my husband and daughter, both in the medical profession, questions. Val Fletcher, the heroine of this book, is pregnant throughout. (Don’t worry. It’s not a spoiler. You find this out really quickly at the beginning.) My daughter was a OB/GYN Physician’s Assistant. I asked her all sorts of questions. I like to be as accurate as I can be. Sometimes she’ll ask me a question and I’ll say, “I don’t know. She (or he) hasn’t told me yet. It took her a while to understand my characters do talk to me. I can’t explain it. They just do. It’s when they stop talking that I have a problem.

I love this guy. Liam is sweet, he’s protective, he’ll do anything for the people he loves. He loves his family. He loves his horses and his dogs and pretty soon he falls in love with his heroine, Val, although he doesn’t think she’s in love with him. He doesn’t know, although she told me several times, that Val is in love with him and has been forever.

Their journey from a marriage of convenience to a full-fledged love was a joy to write. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

About the Author.

Eve Gaddy is the award winning, national bestselling author of forty novels. Her books have sold over a million copies and been published in many countries and several languages. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, romantic mystery, and a bit of paranormal romance as well.

Eve’s books have won and been nominated for awards from Romantic Times, Golden Quill, Bookseller’s Best, Holt Medallion, Daphne Du Maurier and many more. Eve was awarded the 2008 Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Series Storyteller of the year, and was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Innovative Series romance. She loves her family, books, electronics, the mountains, and East Texas in the spring and fall. She also loves a happy ending. That’s why she writes romance.

One of Us Is a Killer: Raemi A. Ray’s Newest Isolation Thriller Is Both Evocative and Unnerving

November 6, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

“Did you really bring the bod—Elise this way?” It is just past midnight at Verinder House on Chappaquiddick Island, and returning amateur detective Kyra Gibson is closely following her boyfriend, Tarek Collins, down a set of poorly-lit basement steps, one hand trailing next to her on the wall. Three-quarters of the way through the third installation in Raemi A. Ray’s Martha’s Vineyard Murders series—Widow’s Walk—and already one-third of the original party is either dead, missing, or out of commission.

“No,” Tarek replies, “We used the entrance through the kitchen. It was added during the renovation. I haven’t been this way.” With the sudden death of the first victim—largely accepted by the dinner party guests as an unfortunate accident—and the subsequent removal of her body, both Kyra and Tarek have the nagging suspicion that something more sinister is at play at the historic mansion, and they are determined to uncover what it is.

As they move through the labyrinth of dank hallways beneath the first floor, they are halted by the appearance of a locked door, reinforced with an electronic panel that requires a keycard for entry. With their borrowed staffroom key, they unlock the door, slowly entering the room with their hearts in their throats. Immediately, they are overwhelmed by an acrid smell and the gruesome sight of a second body, lying motionless in a pool of blood on the concrete floor.

“We need to notify the others,” Tarek says after examining the body, “Make sure everyone is accounted for.” Trembling and dazed by their discovery, Kyra reads between the lines of Tarek’s emotionless declaration and the fear finally begins to settle deep beneath her skin: “We have to tell them one of us is a killer.”

Widow’s Walk

It’s a dinner party, and death is on the menu, as they say… Except nobody wants a part of this main course—well nobody sane, that is.

Like many of the classic whodunits, Ray’s Widow’s Walk begins with an ominous setting, a tense set of circumstances, and a cast of characters that barely know each other—yet somehow, still hate each other. You’d think Thanksgiving day get-togethers are agonizing enough—well try adding a business deal that’s barely hanging on by a thread, an insufferable boss, and a dead body, and you’ve got the crown jewel of a dysfunctional holiday. Throw in a severed internet cord on a secluded island with a rising tide and a raging murderer and you’ve probably decided you’re never going to a work function again.

Like in Ray’s previous novels A Chain of Pearls and The Wraith’s Return, partners Kyra Gibson and Tarek Collins steal what little of the narrative isn’t already theirs. All push-and-pull romantic intensity and gritty crime-solving, all else fades to the background when these two Sherlockian sleuths are in the same room together—even when that room may or may not include a dead body.

With this undeniable chemistry, it is almost expected that the novel should include dual perspectives from the two, but as keeping with the theme of the first two novels, Ray continues the narrative solely from Kyra’s POV—a choice that naturally leaves the reader desiring more, whether from the background characters or the plot itself. Yet even with this narrowed focus, Ray delivers another clean and gripping novel, which manages to deviate almost entirely from the previous small-town, slow-and-steady amateur-sleuthing from the first two books, and instead rewrites itself as its very own harrowing standalone murder mystery.

As compared to the first two novels, Ray’s matured writing style in Widow’s Walk delivers more than just a tighter plot and grislier deaths; it also supplies readers with an evocative underlying question that demands self-examination in the midst of a gruesome murder plot: how far would you go for love, and to what lengths would you go to keep it?

“Love is insanity,” Marilyn French, author of The Women’s Room, states, “The ancient Greeks knew that. It is the taking over of a rational and lucid mind by delusion and self-destruction. You lose yourself, you have no power over yourself, [and] you can’t even think straight.”

This is certainly true for the characters in Widow’s Walk, as desperation drives much of the narrative, ultimately leading to the climactic end at the very pinnacle of Verinder House: the widow’s walk at the mansion’s rooftop. This symbolic exit point, which once served as a lookout point for anxious seamen’s wives to wait for their husband’s returns—which often never came—sums up the entirety of the novel’s tragic focus, and will no doubt leave readers pondering the potential of being driven to their very own point-of-no-return.

Though entering the idyllic setting of Martha’s Vineyard from the beginning of the series isn’t necessary to understand the plot of Widow’s Walk, it would be a detriment to Ray’s carefully-plotted intimacy and intensity that develop both through, and as a result of the characters’ early interactions—chemistry that shapes the decisions that each character makes as the narrative progresses—to skip past her early works.

Micro-Review of A Chain of Pearls

Ray’s series debut accomplishes an enormous feat, as it both charms with its small-town simplicity and also delivers a poignant examination of the inevitable complexities that arise from new love, lost family, and wealth. In A Chain of Pearls, Ray delves into the immense toll an estranged parent can take on a person, and the deep-rooted regret tangled within the threads of not knowing how or why they died—or whether it could have been prevented. When Ray’s main character, Kyra Gibson, is pulled into an investigation she never knew she wanted to open, the once aloof lawyer is forced to reconcile the small-town’s amicable rendering of her father with her own memory of an indifferent father she barely knew—and uncover the well-kept secrets of a close-knit island community in the process. Ray’s succinct prose and direct characterization elevate this simple premise to a moving examination of closure amidst the violence of a father’s unexpected end—and the beginning of a daughter’s acceptance of his legacy. A Chain of Pearls’ greatest asset lies not merely in its storytelling ability, but in the deep ways it extends its open heart to spread like roots inside your own.

Micro-Review of A Wraith’s Return

A Wraith’s Return is able to exceed even the greatest outstanding triumphs of Ray’s literary debut with just three seemingly innocent words: pirate ships and treasure. Reminiscent of the acclaimed Pirates of the Caribbean films and Treasure Island, Ray’s second novel reads as more of an adventure than a mystery novel—with quicker pacing, higher stakes, and greater conflict. If Ray’s first was a blend of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, her ensuing novel is an episode of Psych. Overflowing with heart, desperation, lies, and suspense, A Wraith’s Return subverts the industry stereotype of a lackluster sequel, instead delivering a swashbuckling rendition of a small-town murder mystery.

With three novels released in one year, it’s no wonder Ray’s Martha’s Vineyard series resonates with so many fans. From classic whodunits and treasure hunting to being stranded on an island with a murderer, Ray’s versatile series offers something to love for any reader—both new and returning. Her fresh takes on beloved, time-honored mystery tropes breathe new life into a genre that has been around for more than a century, and continues to be one of the most popular literary genres in the U.S.

Written by Tule intern, Kristina Gaffney

Books to Savor: Your Guide to Five Heartfelt Thanksgiving Reads

November 5, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Searching for a book to spark your Thanksgiving spirit? Look no further! As November brings its chilly air and warm gatherings, it’s the perfect time to settle in with a heartwarming, Thanksgiving-themed read to wrap up the autumn season and embrace the holidays ahead. These stories are all about the bonds that bring us together—think family reunions that reignite old flames, second chances at love, and the warmth of togetherness. Imagine cozy evenings spent in charming small towns, where the comforting scent of pumpkin pie fills the air and heartfelt connections blossom. Whether you’re looking for tales of unexpected romance shared over festive meals or journeys of healing and forgiveness among loved ones, there’s something here for everyone. So pour yourself a warm cup of cider, settle in, and get ready to feast on these sweet Tule stories that celebrate love, family, and the joy of Thanksgiving!

A Thankful Heart by Melissa McClone

~Thanksgiving Vibe~: A recipe for love= chocolate + rescue dogs + city boy…

Chocolate is better than men, and so are dogs. At least, that’s what Dakota Parker tells herself as she mends her broken heart and finds forever homes for rescue animals. So far, so good. She can indulge her love of chocolate where she works while her foster dogs provide her with the unconditional love she craves. What more does she need?

Seattle architect Bryce Grayson is counting the days until he can return home to the big city with his father in tow. That is if he can convince his dad to leave Montana. Bryce’s escape plan, however, goes astray when he meets Dakota. Her sweet kisses put the chocolate she sells to shame. Maybe he should be the one to move to Marietta, but could he be happy living in such a small town?

He has until Thanksgiving to decide.

Indulge in love, pups, and chocolate this Thanksgiving–order A Thankful Heart TODAY!

Falling For Her by Laurie LeClair

~Thanksgiving Vibe~: The girl next door meets small-town harvest festival

As her ten year high school reunion approaches, Becca Thompson feels the pinch of not accomplishing enough since graduation. Romance has been an even bigger bust. Longing for more, she decides to organize a fall harvest festival and community fundraiser on her family’s orchard. But Becca gets more than she bargained for when she asks her childhood friend to help. Suddenly her bestie is making her knees weak and her heart flutter.

Jason Fox is dedicated to his veterinarian practice and raising funds to make his dream animal shelter a reality. When he’s sidelined by an injury, he takes a break and returns home to Cupid’s Corner. But from the moment he sees Becca, everything’s different. She’s no longer the young girl he picked apples and pumpkins with—she’s a self-reliant, beautiful woman.

Jason helps Becca with the festival, but the more time they spend together the harder it is to ignore the sparks. Can leaving the friend zone end in love or will it ruin everything?

Attend Cupid Corner’s harvest festival this November and watch love bloom—order Falling For Her now!

Second Chance Dad by Joan Kilby

~Thanksgiving Vibe~: High school sweethearts and a second chance at love and family

As a young widow and mother to a three-year-old boy, Sarah Mills’s life is complicated, becoming more so when her high school sweetheart, Daniel, moves back to Montana. He left her behind after graduation and she married his brother, only needing Daniel’s services as a sperm donor when she and her husband couldn’t conceive. Now Daniel’s offering her a job as resort manager—but he wants to be part of her son’s life.

Recently retired from pro football, Daniel Hunter is tired of holding on to secrets. He badly wants a relationship with his biological son, and a second chance with the woman he never stopped loving. He builds a first-rate eco resort in Sweetheart, Montana, to give him a shot at a new life post football and proposes to Sarah, thinking it’s the most practical choice for all three of them.

Daniel still makes Sarah’s heart skip a beat, but he’s left her behind once already. She’s convinced he won’t stay this time, either, and now it’s not just her heart at risk.

Reconnect with love and family with your very own copy of Second Chance Dad—order NOW!

The Last Casterglass by Kate Hewitt

~Thanksgiving Vibe~: Ancestral homes and unexpected love

Persephone is the youngest Penryn, and she’s always felt like an afterthought. As her siblings ventured out one by one, she was left behind, learning to rely on herself. Now that they’ve all returned and are on a mission to save their home, she’s reluctantly falling in with their plans and keeping her distance, especially when an Oxford-educated intern arrives wanting to learn how to save one’s ancestral home.

Oliver Belhaven has come to Casterglass to prove to his uncle that he can make Pembury a financial success, so the only home Oliver has ever had isn’t sold. He is intrigued by the beautiful and mercurial Seph and senses a kindred spirit—alone even around family.

Oliver may be charming, but under her surly facade Seph is afraid to get close to anyone. Yet the longer Oliver works at Casterglass, the more invested he becomes—in Seph and in saving his home. But will achieving one dream mean that he has to let go of another? And can Seph finally learn to let go—and love?

Uncover family secrets and romance in an ancestral home this autumn—order The Last Casterglass today!

Falling for You by Jessica Gilmore

~Thanksgiving Vibe~: There’s more than baking going on in this kitchen…

Lacey Hathaway has it all — a job she loves as a local radio DJ, a home with her adored, eccentric aunt and, best of all, a community after a childhood traveling with her musical parents. So what if her life is a little too safe? Marietta is everything to Lacey. Not only is she helping to organize the Bachelor Bake-Off and filming a documentary about the process, she’s also volunteered her brother as a Bachelor. But, when her brother backs out, Lacey has to find a last-minute replacement. And who better than her aunt’s lodger, gorgeous – if taciturn – Zac Malone?

Zac’s not exactly community-minded. In fact, he makes it clear that the sooner he’s out of Marietta the better. But when Lacey persuades him of the powerful impact the Bake-Off funds will have on local children, he decides to give it a go. On one condition. If he has to learn to bake, so does disaster-in-the-kitchen Lacey. Desserts aren’t the only thing heating up, and as the attraction flares and Zac makes plans to leave, Lacey’s beginning to realize that maybe there is a world beyond Marietta’s borders after all… if she’s brave enough to take that step.

Now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie! *previously titled Baking for Keeps*

Whisk up some love at the Bachelor Bake-Off this Thanksgiving—order your own copy of Falling For You now!

With November already halfway gone, be sure to savor every moment with these heartfelt Thanksgiving reads. From small-town romances to family reunions and baking competitions, each story serves up a generous helping of love, gratitude, and second chances that will keep your TBR full for the rest of the season. From the Tule family to yours, we invite you to embrace the spirit of the holidays with a good book and a grateful heart. Happy reading!

By: MJ Gryzik, Tule Marketing Intern

Our Merry and Festive New Christmas Romances for November

November 3, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the November romance releases. Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

Reluctantly retiring from Special Forces following an injury, Noah Halliday returns to Texas seeking solitude through the holidays at his brother’s unoccupied ranch. Arriving late, he intends to crash in the first bedroom he finds only to be chased out by a beautiful blonde brandishing a boot. New Plan.

The ranch has been leased to a group of women determined to challenge the traditions and beliefs of the male dominated rodeo rough stock contractor world. There’s nowhere to hide. Never one to be idle, Noah pitches in and his Christmas spirit is rekindled by the feisty cowgirl.

Emma Barrett had been a timid child until she’d been lifted onto the back of a bronc, and she finally discovered her skill and power. She excelled at the sport and is determined to solidify her place at Grit and Grace by training the new bronc she and her partners have heavily invested in. The last thing she needs is a horse whispering, sexy ex-soldier offering to work by her side this Christmas as she and her partners launch their enterprise.

Order “Catching a Christmas Cowboy” by Leah Vale, releasing November 4, 2024.

A Marriage of Convenience…or is it?

Rancher Liam McFarland has always been attracted to Val Fletcher, his best friend’s little sister, but thought she was too young for him. But when Val confides that she’s pregnant and the father has rejected her and the baby, Liam proposes and offers to raise the baby as his.

Having loved Liam all her life but knowing he doesn’t feel the same, Val resists Liam’s marriage offer though she knows her father will never accept having an unmarried, pregnant daughter living on and working the family’s ranch. But when Liam shares how the marriage will help him solve a problem, Val agrees, hoping for a Christmas miracle—that Liam will fall in love with her.

Their marriage is everything Val dreamed of –almost–until the baby’s biological father intervenes determined to destroy their newfound happiness. Val knows she must leave to protect Liam. Can Liam convince Val that he’s fallen in love with her and that the best Christmas present of all would be to face the future together?

Order “The Christmas Cowboy” by Eve Gaddy, releasing November 7, 2024.

They’ve never had a Christmas like this

Take-no-prisoners rancher Joanna (Joey) Halligan hadn’t believed the kind of love she felt for Nash Westbrook was even possible. So, when he walked away despite still declaring his love for her, broken-hearted, Joey fled. Now she’s back, and carrying a surprise that even Santa wouldn’t have guessed. Joey is having Nash’s child. A Christmas baby!

Rodeo champ come entrepreneur, Nash Westbrook, has never regretted anything in his life as much as leaving Joey Halligan. But how else could he keep her safe? The investment fraud he’d been wrongfully dragged into had destroyed so many people, and many of them wanted to extract their revenge. Now she’s back and carrying his child. A vulnerable child—and that’s a game changer.

Nash is determined to prove to Joey that his love has never dimmed; that he’ll never leave her—them—again. But with new evidence against him emerging, he’ll need all the Christmas magic of the season to truly keep that promise.

Order “The Cowboy’s Family Christmas” by Kaz Delaney, releasing November 11, 2024.

On paper he reads like Mr. Wrong, but under the mistletoe he feels so right…

Determined to ensure her sister’s wedding is storybook perfect, Isabelle Davis secretly hires Army Veteran Zach Dawson to locate her estranged father. But the more time she spends with Zach surrounded by Christmas spirit and twinkling lights, Isabelle fears she’s falling in love. Can she trust her heart to a man whose past seems so similar to her absent father’s?

Zach Dawson proudly served his country for twelve years until an injury ended his military career. He holds his secrets close, but he’ll help Isabelle find her father—even if the man doesn’t want to be found. And if he’s also sewing up a storm at Isabelle’s quilt shop, and appreciating every moment spent with her, it doesn’t have to mean anything, much.

Unless he can somehow persuade Isabelle to take a chance on love? That’s a mission he’s eager to accept.

Order your copy of “Wrapped Up in Christmas Love” by Janice Lynn, releasing November 12, 2024.

Cami Hardesty might have a problem saying no. Not that she doesn’t love her full life teaching school, herding six-year-olds in Christmas pageants, and helping on her family’s guest ranch. But finding an abandoned newborn at a pageant rehearsal accompanied by a note asking for Cami’s help might just be the thing that breaks her. No one recommends she champion the child. But how can she say no to this infant who needs her and awakens an unexpected want? When the town’s temporary vet takes her side, Cami imagines a life she never had.

For years, Gus Claymore has taken temporary vet gigs and carefully avoided entanglements after the passing of his wife. But Christmas in Marietta blindsides him—the baby’s plight, his young daughter’s hunger for roots and family, and his unexpected and unwanted feelings for Cami. Love? He didn’t think that was in the cards for him again. He has a pending job in Denver, and now an impossible choice.

Can this one, lost baby be the Christmas miracle that changes all their lives?

Order “The Cowboy’s Miracle Baby” by Barbara Ankrum, releasing November 13, 2024.

Three beautiful Southern Born Christmas romances from three Tule authoers.

A Georgia Christmas by Susan Sands

A Taste of Christmas Magic by Sinclair Jayne

A Saltwater Christmas by Laurie Beach

He has big rodeo dreams. She dreams of one true love.

Loretta Keller had a five-year-plan to get her life back on track after a series of romantic disasters. Getting pregnant during a fling with a charming bullfighter was not on her agenda, but she struggles to make their new dynamic work until their son falls ill. Making a difficult decision, Loretta leaves the rodeo tour to settle in Last Stand, Texas to build a life of love and stability for her child.

Raised in the shadow of his famous rodeo clown father, Taylor Keating is driven to prove himself but torn by the challenges of providing for his new family. He’s surprised that even with the chaos of sleepless nights and diaper changes, he and Loretta find happiness and a love they never imagined.

As Christmas approaches, Taylor and Loretta navigate the joys and challenges of parenthood. But when Taylor’s desire for validation leads him to take a dangerous bull riding gig, will it unravel everything they’ve begun to build?

Order “Christmas Baby for the Cowboy” by Jamie K. Schmidt, releasing November 18, 2024.

“Home and family” aren’t on Jess Cooper’s Christmas List.

In fact, the Colorado cowboy doesn’t make Christmas lists at all. Jess knows better. There is no Santa Claus. There are no gifts. Jess works for what he wants – and right now he is working to buy the Rocking R ranch.

Then Alison Richards returns to the Rocking R and turns Jess’s world upside down. No longer the innocent girl he remembered—and could resist—this Alison is all grown up and more enticing than ever.

Alison considered Jess Cooper part of her foolish past. But face to face with him again, she’s as smitten as ever. Suddenly her teenage dreams of sharing a ranch, a home, a family with him are back in full force.

Jess doesn’t trust dreams. He doesn’t trust hope. They always let you down. But what if this time they don’t? Can a guy with no hope trust in a future with a woman who has dreams enough for both of them?

Order “Wanted: A Cowboy for Christmas” by Anne McAllister, releasing November 19, 2024.

Colt Boone’s only respite from his tumultuous childhood occurred at age twelve, when he spent a few months with tender-hearted caregiver Honey Malone. Years later he hopes to visit Honey for Christmas to finally thank her for her kindness. He’s shocked to learn Honey will be spending the holidays with her newly discovered biological children she thought lost. Worried it’s a scam, Colt hurries to Grand, Montana only to be challenged by his past—once a thorn in his side and now certain he’s her enemy.

Emmet Garcia—Emma to her friends—fears that this season of joy, forgiveness, and new beginnings will be anything but. She’s protective of the woman she sees as her second mother and having Colt unexpectedly arrive sets her further on edge. They were briefly childhood friends, but he never kept in touch so how can she confide her concerns about Honey’s biological children. And that’s before the cowboy from Honey’s past shows up.

Can Emma and Colt work together to protect those they love and believe in fairy tale endings?

Order “The Wrangler’s Christmas Gift” by Roxanne Snopek, releasing November 21, 2024.

The Spellbinding Mystery of Widow’s Walk: A New Literary Essential

November 2, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

It’s a new month, Tule Mystery readers–or should we say a Novel November? Whether you’re still shivering from the chills of October or you’re ready to feast on some new whodunits, Tule Mystery is here. And if you’re looking for a reason to be thankful, we’ve got a new release for you to mull over all the way until Thanksgiving.

Widow’s Walk

by Raemi A. Ray, Martha’s Vineyard Murders book 3

Murder’s on the menu…

Look for Widow’s Walk to keep you up through the night on November 6th.

As you prepare to hunker down, you’re going to need some reliable page turners to keep you company under your layers during the day and under the covers at night. Be sure to sign up for the Tule Mystery Newsletter today so the only thing you’ll be missing this winter is the sun.

Written by Tule intern, Mitchell Leung.

Tule Author Q&A: Lisa Lin talks about her writing inspiration, incorporating snark and banter in her character interactions, and portrayal of Asian and immigrant family experiences.

November 1, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

What inspired you to start writing romance, and how did your journey from reader to author unfold? I started reading romance when I was 13. I was wandering around my local Borders or B&N and walked by the romance section and started wondering who this Nora Roberts chick was who was taking up half the shelf space. I picked one of them up (it was one of her MacGregor books), became intrigued by the idea of a meddling matchmaking Scottish grandfather, and started reading it. I haven’t looked back since!

As for how I transitioned from reader to writer, I suppose I always had story ideas in my head. And I should have known I was destined to be a romance writer when I watched this movie Princess of Thieves and was incensed the two lead characters didn’t end up together. Naturally, I re-wrote the ending in my head so they got the HEA they deserved. But it wasn’t until I met Tessa Dare in 2011 that I decided to pursue writing and publishing seriously. She encouraged me to go for it and I did! I will be forever in Tessa’s debt for her kindness, friendship, and support in getting me started down the path .

You’ve mentioned that you incorporate snark and banter into your writing. Can you share some of your favorite dialogue moments from your books? I have to admit I am fond of the moment in The Year of Cecily when she decides to teach Jeffrey a lesson about Netflix cheating and he promises to never do it again, and gives the Boy Scout and she tells him “You were never even a Boy Scout so this means nothing to me.”

And when she explained why she had to quit the Book Club. He chuckled. “Was the book club really that bad?” “I had to Marie Kondo the book club. It did not spark joy.”

In The Rachel Experiment, I love this text convo between Luke and Rachel

Rachel: I have good news and bad news. Luke: Let’s start with the good news. Rachel: Really? I would think it’d be better to get the bad news first, get it over with. Luke: Don’t decision-shame me. I get to choose how I digest my news. Rachel: What? Decision-shaming? No way that’s a thing. Luke: MOVING. ON. What’s the good news?

And when Rachel had to set Luke straight about gender inequality in the workplace.

Upon seeing the look on Rachel’s face, he could muster only one response. “The patriarchy sucks?” “Just like colonialism and imperialism.” “Duly noted.”

In Bethany Meets Her Match, I love this snippet that perfectly captures Bethany and Ethan’s competitive spirits.

Bethany slid him a look. “Bet I vaccinate more people than you.” “No way,” he protested. She stuck out a hand. “Wanna bet?” Ethan frowned. “Name your terms.” “You do my charting for me for three weeks.” “One.” “Two.” “Fine.” “What do I get when I win?” he asked. “Up to you.” Bethany shrugged. “But really a moot point because you’re not going to win.”

And this exchange when Jaya, Bethany’s BFF tests the boundaries of their friendship.

“Do you want free babysitting or not?” “Oh, hell yeah. I may order some La Perla and finally splurge on that negligee I’ve been eying. And I’m saying now, it might get loud, so earplugs. My husband loves me in satin and lace.” Bethany took a deep breath. “Jaya, I love you but there are things I just don’t need to know.” And she may never be able to look Rahul in the face ever again. Or look at him at all. “All I’m saying is when kids come along your sex life takes a hit. I have no sexy lingerie anymore. My drawers are now full of granny panties.” “Does giving birth remove all TMI filters?” And why did no one inform her of that when she did her OB rotation? That was the sort of thing she’d need to know. “I’m home alone with a four-year-old all day for the most part now that I cut back to working at Helping Hands part-time. I’m starved for adult conversation.” “And sex.” Jaya nodded. “And sex.”

Major shout out to my amazing writer friend Sally Kilpatrick who helped me find these quotes!

I think what I enjoy most about writing good dialogue and snark/banter is the back and forth between the characters. It’s like watching two expert tennis players bat the ball back and forth across the net.

How do your experiences as an Asian-American influence the stories you tell and the characters you create? As someone who isn’t from the majority/dominant cultural/racial group in this country I think it’s important for me to tell stories that help reflect the vibrant and diverse tapestry that is the Asian community. Growing up, it was so hard to see someone who looked like me on screen, especially in leading roles, and the same in books. Part of the reason I likely glommed The BabySitters Club as a kid is because one of the main characters, Claudia Kishi, was Asian-American just like me! Claudia was Japanese American and I’m Taiwanese-American but back then, that was close enough, lol.

And this is a responsibility I don’t take lightly. Asian Americans still aren’t very well represented in publishing and that is something I hope will change in the future. I write my books from my perspective, and my experience, and I don’t claim to speak for the entire Asian American community and nor should I. My books can’t reflect every Asian American’s experience and perspective. The solution is to have MORE novels by Asian Americans out there so the full story can be told!

Can you talk about the importance of HEAs (Happily Ever Afters) in your work? What do you think they provide for readers? I think the HEA is the one unbreakable rule of romance. Deliver the HEA and you’re good to go-you can do whatever else you’d like with the story. Skip the HEA, and readers will rightly come at you with pitchforks. The HEA is so essential because it’s a contract with the reader. You promise them that despite the rollercoaster journey you put the characters through, all will be well by the end. As for what they provide for the readers, I think the real world can be beyond overwhelming with what it throws at you, and the good guys don’t always get rewarded and the bad guys don’t always get punished. But when you read a romance, for that space of time, you can rest easy knowing that you can escape temporarily into a world where good things DO happen to good people and by the time you get to The End, everything will be okay.

Friendship plays a significant role in your stories. Why do you think it’s essential to highlight female friendships in romance novels? I feel it’s important because of the role female friendships have played in MY life. Both my writing friends and non writing friends. Publishing is not easy, and so much of it is out of your control. My writing friends have been invaluable in helping me throughout my entire journey. I would not have made it this far without them. They talk me off the ledge, believe in me when I don’t believe in myself, smack some sense into me when I need it, and are always happier and more excited for me than I am for me. They are my safe space.

Female friendships in particular are important to me because so often in media, women are pitted against each other and see each other as competition, and I want to show how powerful it is when women support each other and build each other up.

In addition, while romance focuses on romantic relationships (as it rightfully should!) I think it’s important to highlight how important other relationships are in a person’s life. Family relationships and friendships are just as valuable and worthy of being highlighted and explored.

As someone with a background in law and politics, how do these experiences shape your approach to storytelling? My background in law definitely influences my storytelling because my books are full of lawyers and law jokes! Hey, write what you know, right? And as any writer will tell you we can and will grab inspiration from anywhere. The story Luke tells Cecily about a mouse in the jury box is a true story. I once sat in and was observing a trial when that happened.

As for how my political background affects my storytelling, I think it allowed me to meet all sorts of different people from different backgrounds. I am from the suburban part of Pennsylvania, but I got to meet folks from the rural areas, and from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. It reinforced for me that where and how I grew up wasn’t the way everyone grew up and my experiences aren’t universal. I hope that exposure helps me to write characters with a backgrounds different from mine more authentically and not resort to stereotypes and cliches.

You grew up in Pennsylvania and helped at your parents’ restaurant. What kind of influence does your upbringing have on your writing? The first example that comes to mind of how me growing up on the East Coast impacted my writing is when I sent my initial first draft of Cecily to my agent, and there was a scene where Jeffrey calls his friend Greg and Greg offers to let Jeffrey come over and they can escape to Greg’s basement Man Cave. And my agent had to gently remind me “Uhh basements aren’t really a thing in California, cuz…..earthquakes.” That was a stark reminder to me how important it was for me to check my biases and assumptions! Lol

As for growing up in a restaurant family, I like to think that helps me accurately portray how hard small business owners have to work, like when I talked about how Rachel’s parents had to work, even when she was home sick from school when she was a kid. And it’s why my characters are always kind and respectful to waiters!

What do you hope readers take away from your portrayal of Asian and immigrant family experiences? I LOVE when readers reach out to me and tell me how my characters or aspects of my book resonate with them. Especially Asian American readers who tell me they totally related to Cecily’s relationship with her mother Judith, or how true the family dynamics rang to them. Or how happy they were to see themselves represented on the page. I have even had readers who weren’t Asian who have said “Even though I’m white/Middle Eastern/not Asian my relationship with my mother is just like Cecily’s!” or “My family overfeeds everyone too, just like Cecily and Jeffrey’s families!”

Basically what I want readers to take away from my books is that even though my characters are Asian, some themes (like family, love, food, friendship, etc) are universal, and resonate with everyone! These things transcend racial, ethnic, cultural, religious differences and are things we can all relate to.

You mentioned loving to binge-watch shows like The West Wing. How do your favorite TV shows influence your writing style or themes? One of the best compliments I ever received was from Sally Kilpatrick who told me I wrote Sorkin-ese dialogue. Aaron Sorkin’s writing definitely had an influence on me. I think it’s the reason why my writing is so dialogue focused. My characters just keep talking. I can write pages and pages of dialogue and totally ignore describing where the characters are, their surroundings, what they’re wearing, etc. Which can be a problem! Lol.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write their own voices stories, especially in the romance genre? I know it’s hard, and it’s an uphill journey but please please know how important and desperately needed your stories are! There are readers out there who are dying to read your books, who grew up not seeing any characters who looked like them reflected on the page, and are hungry for good representation. HEA for all means just that. We all deserve to see ourselves reflected on the page. And above all, when you write from your own experience and perspective, it is totally legitimate, and in no way has to represent and speak to every Asian, African American, Muslim, Jew, LGBTQ, Neurodivergent, Native, etc reader. It is not realistic to expect any one book to do that. Just do your homework, be authentic, and do your best. That’s all anyone can ask!

BONUS: What is one comfort read that you find yourself always reaching for again and again? I’m going to rely on the old lawyer/legal cop out-it depends. But it’s true! Nora’s MacGregor series is definitely on the top of the list. It’s how I got started in the genre so it’s fighting that it all comes full circle I suppose! Whenever I open one of the books, it’s like re-visiting with old friends, and like a warm comforting blanket. If I’m in the mood for a historical, a Tessa Dare (Spindle Cove!) or Laura Lee Guhrke (Girl Bachelors!) never fails. I also re-read Kristen Callihan’s VIP and Game on Series over and over, and Julie James is also in heavy rotation. When I want a good romance with Asian leads, I go for a Jayci Lee or Jackie Lau. See? I can’t pick a favorite and you can’t make me, lol.