Here is an excerpt from All or Nothing, from the chapter named Strong Word.

If you want to read more, you can purchase the book on Amazon.

Late Saturday morning Ben opened Presley’s front door after rapping his knuckles on it. “You shouldn’t leave your door unlocked,” he said, scolding her.

“Sorry, I actually unlocked it for you. But I can kick you out, lock it and make you knock again if it will make you feel better,” she said sarcastically when she walked into the living room.

He chose to ignore her. “So what did you want to do today?”

“How about shopping?” she said with a bright smile.

“How about no,” he replied back with just as big of a grin.

Her smile faltered. “Why not?”

“I hate shopping.”

She drew her eyebrows together. “Hate is an awfully strong word.”

“Yes, it is.” There was very little that could get him to a mall. On a Saturday, no less.

She tilted her head to the side and slithered toward him. Slithered was the best way to describe the way her hips swayed, the way her arms and legs moved fluidly, until she stopped within a foot of him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I can make it worth your while.”

Interesting. He might be able to use this to his advantage. But he still wasn’t sure it was going to be worth it. Nothing was worth going to the mall. “Oh really. What do you have in mind?”

She leaned up on her toes, placed her mouth over his ear and whispered, “It’s a surprise. But I guarantee one hundred percent satisfaction.”

His body started to stir instantly. “I’m going to hold you to that,” he said, his arms coming around and pulling her body tight against his.

Thirty minutes later, he was cursing and wondering why he agreed to this. The parking lot was completely full and he had been driving around the large mall for over ten minutes. “What the hell is going on today?”

She turned her head and looked at him, dumbfounded. “Yesterday was Black Friday. So today is notoriously busy, too.”

He drew his eyebrows together. “What’s Black Friday?”

She threw her head back with a laugh. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-two. What does that have to do with anything?”

She shook her head. “Have you lived under a rock for the last thirty-two years?”

He snorted. “Hardly.” But he was beginning to wonder because, whatever this Black Friday was, he had a feeling he was in trouble.

I thought I would give five fun facts regarding the Road Series.

1. Road to Recovery – The first book I’ve published.  That’s not the fun fact. The fun fact is I decided on the Albany Medical Center location while sitting in the waiting room with my son for his doctor’s appointment.

2. Road to Redemption – Jack Reynolds was originally written as Max Reynolds. But I realized Max and Mac were too close together. So Jack it was!

3. Road to Redemption – Jack’s dog, Roxy, is actually a combination of the two boxers I’ve owned.  One male named Calloway and one female named Indy. (who we still have) You can read more about her here.

4. Road to Reality – Of course being a Pediatrician, Mac had to have a child featured in his story. So I used the likeness from  my best friend’s daughter, Hailey.  She is and will always have a piece of my heart.

5. Road to Reason – Two of my favorite scenes of all time happened in this book.  First, when Kaitlin was telling her brother Ben about her relationship with Ryan.  I still giggle when I read that.  And second, when Kaitlin came home a little tipsy from Cori’s bachelorette party. That scene just cracks me up!

Coming soon, my new series, the All Series.  Starting off with All or Nothing.  The story of none other than Ben Harper. The hot ex-Navy SEAL that was mentioned in my fifth fun fact.

As always, if you’ve read one of my books, I would love to hear your thoughts in a review. Or contact me personally.  And if you are interested, read how you can receive a free book.

I hope you enjoyed the Road Series and that you enjoy the All Series even more!!  This series will have at minimum four books and possibly six.  I’m leaning toward the six mark!

My last post was more an overview of my writing.  Why I write and the misconceptions of Romance Writers. But this post is going to be more about my process.

I’ve been asked how I come up with my stories.  The truth is, I’m not sure. Just like I explained in It’s Not Me.  It just happens. Crazy, I know. But it’s the truth.

I will say I always have a few things planned out first before I start my drafted manuscript.  I know all the characters to a series—for the most part.

For example, right now I’m writing a new series, the All Series, about the Harper Clan.  I had all three Harper brothers set in my mind. Their names, ages, professions and personalities. But I didn’t necessarily have the heroines by the time I started the first book. I also always have a beginning and either a middle or an end before I start. Then somewhere along the line when I start writing it all comes together. Almost like it writes itself.

Sometimes my middle or my end changes. Sometimes I go back and change my  beginning.  Whatever works to get me to where I feel I need to be.

What I love the most is when I start a series and realize I can expand it.  I never imagined the All Series would come out of the Road Series. And now that I’m halfway through the manuscript for the third book in the All Series, I potentially have another three books I could add to that series.  It just evolved that way.  It’s kind of neat when I think about it.

Anyway, back to my process. I’m a fairly fast writer.  While I’m writing a manuscript, I try to stay on a one-chapter-a-day schedule.  But plenty of times I have to put the manuscript away because another book has come back from the editor and I need to work on that.  But before I write a chapter each day, I go back and reread/edit the one from the day before.  Then halfway through I start at the beginning again. More reading, more editing and even more editing.

I always have 1-2 books in ‘cue’.  Right now All or Nothing is at the editor’s for the final proofread, but All of Me is done and waiting to go to the editor’s in another month. And All the Way is halfway drafted.

I like to be able to go back and reread the previous books in the series while writing additional ones. Maybe I missed or forgot something I mentioned about the character early on and now I want to elaborate on it.  It’s easier to do that by holding onto the stories for a bit before publishing.

And like any process, I change things as I go.  Nothing is ever set in stone.  I originally thought Jack in Road to Redemption was going to be this grouchy sort of surly hero. But I found I couldn’t write him that way.  He ended up being shy, awkward and a pretty loving guy in the end. Not to mention fairly romantic and sentimental.

No matter how you look at it, I have a process that works for me. It’s not always easily explained, or followed exactly how I stated. But it’s a start and somehow it gets me to the end.

As always, if you would like to find out how to receive free books, just read this post. And of course, you know I love to hear from you and read your feedback!

I’ve been asked where the ideas for my stories come from. Or how I come up with everything I write.  I’m sure lots of authors are asked this question, or something similar.

There really isn’t an easy answer.  Or at least one I can explain so easily.  For me, it just happens. I’ve always had a vivid imagination.  I was one of those kids that talked to myself all the time.  Some will say I still do. Even if I’m not aware of it.  But in actuality, I’m not talking to myself, but rather to the people in my head. Or adventures going on in my head. No, I’m not crazy, really I’m not.  Despite what some of my friends and family may say. Snicker snicker.

Do I take minor things from my real life and incorporate them into my stories? Of course I do. Little things, nothing major.  For example, if you’ve read Road to Redemption, then you know all about Roxy.  And Roxy is really all about a combination of the two boxers I’ve owned.

In Road to Reality, Zoe is largely based on my best friend’s daughter Hailey.  She was my big inspiration, or like I say, a piece of my heart.  But Zoe isn’t actually Hailey. Not at all.

I will say though, I don’t write about anything really personal or private in my life.  Pleeeeease, would I really write things that go on in my own home that are private? Whether it’s innocent or not? The answer is no! No way.  Everything is just part of the story. Part of what I want that character or who I perceive that character to be.

I have to say, never once have I read any book and thought, “Boy that author has a wild and adventuous life.”  Nope, it never even crosses my mind. I think it’s nothing more than a story. Like a movie. A script. An idea. It doesn’t mean the author did it, or does it, or ever wants to do it. It’s fiction. It’s called entertainment.

And that is what my books are all about.  Entertainment. An escape from reality.  My own reality when I’m writing them. And I hope the reality for those reading them.  I want to entertain you. I want you to read my books and wish you knew these people.  Wish they were your friends or neighbors and you cared about them. That you couldn’t wait to hear about the next big news going on in their lives. Because that is how I feel about them when I’m writing.

So when it comes down to it all, no, it’s not me in these books. Not at all.

As always, if you would like to find out how to receive free books, just read this post. And of course, you know I love to hear from you and read your feedback!

I guess I haven’t kept my end of the resolutions I made. But I’ve got a good excuse. Some unexpected health problems arose that needed to be taken care of. I’m on the mend and can get back on track.

That being said, I submitted All or Nothing to the editor yesterday for the first round of edits. It’s the first book in my new series, The All Series.  And it’s actually a spinoff of the Road Series.  I could have kept them all the Road Series, but I wanted to change the title and book covers a bit. Besides, how many Road to… can you come up with?  You can read more about the new series on this post.

I just want to thank everyone who has been reading my books and leaving reviews! April was a record month for me with over 1800 books sold, and over 18K downloaded free (in my 5 day special of Road to Redemption) Not bad for publishing my first book only 5 months ago!

I love how much you all get what I’m writing about.  How these characters seem to be part of me and their lives just continue on through each book.    All the characters of the Road Series do make appearances in the All Series.  Hint Hint, there will be some more babies being born!!  And all those men you’ve come to love so much show a bit more of their tender side in fatherhood.  It’s all very sweet.

Once again, if you’ve read one of my books, I would love if you left a review.  It means the world to me to know what the readers like or dislike in some cases. It only helps me become a better writer in the end.

Also, if you would like to know how to get a free copy of my book, check out this post.