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Cozy Mystery Books to Read at the Beach

You can't take a trip to the beach without bringing a great book along with you. If you're the type of person who likes to try to solve mysteries, why not choose a cozy mystery to be your beach read? That way you can pretend to be an amateur sleuth along with the characters while you relax under the warm summer sun. Check out our recommendations for cozy mystery books to read at the beach! Looking to read more cozy mysteries? Find them in our posts including Miss Marple, Denise Grover Swank, Wannabe Sleuths, Female Sleuths, Culinary Twists, Cozy Mysteries, More Cozy Mysteries, and Pool-side Reads.

Cozy Mystery Books to Read at the Beach

 

The Bluebonnet Betrayal

Marty Wingate

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Pru moved to England from Texas, and her life is thriving. Along with her long-lost brother, she is working on an exhibit for the Chelsea Flower Show of the beautiful bluebonnets from Texas. Twyla, the president of a Texas gardening club, is technically in charge of the event in London, but Pru is doing most of the work. All of a sudden, Twyla turns up dead, leaving Pru with a mystery to solve. While trying to ensure that the show is a success, Pru works with her detective husband to figure out what happened to Twyla.

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The Crêpes of Wrath

Sarah Fox

Release Date: August 16, 2016

Marley McKinney has taken over the Flip Side Pancake House in Wildwood Cove while her cousin Jimmy is in the hospital. What starts as a leisurely weekend in a quaint town turns into a shocking murder mystery. Cousin Jimmy is found dead below a cliff, and Marley is determined to figure out what happened. Using the evidence she finds in Jimmy's workshop, she may be able to uncover the secrets of this mysterious town.

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Plantation Shudders

Ellen Byron

Release Date: August 11, 2015

Summer is coming to a close, and Maggie Crozat travels back home to her family's bed and breakfast in Louisiana. A food festival is going on in town, so the plantation house is filled with guests from all walks of life. All of a sudden, an elderly couple is found dead. Everyone at the plantation, Maggie included, are now suspects in this alarming murder case. In order to clear her name, Maggie works with the town's new detective to investigate these suspicious guests.

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Hex on the Beach

Gina LaManna

Release Date: April 29, 2016

Lily Locke has never believed in the paranormal. All she knows is that she is a shoe-in for the promotion at her marketing agency. Nevertheless, things start to get strange when her assistant gives her a quiz that promises to show her a land she's never known about. In a whirlwind of surprises, Lily realizes that she's a witch. When a dead body turns up, she must travel to a magical island to figure out what's going on.

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Till Death Do Us Tart

H.Y. Hanna

Release Date: March 22, 2016

Gemma Rose is finds herself unexpectedly playing sleuth when a dead body is found at a local cat show. The local fair seems harmless, but there seems to be something hidden beneath all the sponge cakes and jam tarts. While dealing with the murder case, Gemma has her own problems to think about. Along with house hunting and weird kitchen explosions, her boyfriend makes her an offer that's hard to refuse.

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Rockstar Romance Books To Rock Your World

The fangirl in all of us would agree that rockstars are irresistable. There's a reason why teenagers put posters of their favorite bands and singers all over their rooms. So what could be better than putting rockstars in romance novels? Reading one of these books is like reliving all of your favorite rockstar fantasies. If you want to jump on the fangirl train, check out these hot rockstar romance books.

Rockstar Romances Books to Rock Your World

 

Keep

Rachel Van Dyken

Release Date: July 11, 2016

Zane "Saint" Andrews is a famous rockstar, and girls all around the world fantasize about being with him. Even though he's one of the hottest rockers in the spotlight, he's way more innocent than you would assume. He's able to keep up his irresistible bad-boy facade until he meets Fallon, an endearingly nerdy girl who makes him want to forget about his hidden saintly past.

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All Access

Liberty Kontranowski

Release Date: June 22, 2016

Single mother Kallie Reagan has a huge crush on rock star Niles Russell. This motivates her to write a steamy romance novel with a hero who bares a strong resemblance to Niles. To Kallie's surprise, Niles learns about the book and contacts her. Her fangirl dream is becoming a reality, but Kallie and Niles will need to give each other "all access" to their hearts if they want their relationship to survive.

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Rock

JA Huss

Release Date: March 6, 2016

RK Saber has dealt with his fair share of tragedy. After a devastating prom-night accident, his guilt consumed him and made him walk away from his promising future at Juilliard. From there, he became one of the five members of rock-band sensation Son of  Jack and went by the name Rock. When the band is faced with troubles, RK is forced to return to his home town and face the pain of what happened all those years ago. To his surprise, one of the people he thought he lost is there and ready to tell her story.

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Deep

Kylie Scott

Release Date: March 31, 2015

Lizzy thought that nothing would come from her one night stand with Ben, the bass player for Stage Dive. But when she finds out that she's pregnant, Lizzy knows that her life is about to change forever. Since Ben is a rockstar, he doesn't have time for a serious relationship. Nevertheless, he's known Lizzy for a long time, and he can't help but feel connected to her. Will they find love amidst all the struggle?

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Stoned

Mandi Beck

Release Date: July 11, 2016

Stone is the lead singer of a massively popular rock band, and he's used to getting what he wants. For the longest time, Willow was all he wanted. She was the main motivation for his music until he made a huge mistake and threw her to the side. He tries to mask his sadness with drugs, but nothing can match the power of Willow's love. When he finally cleans up his act, she's already moved on. Stone must learn to deal with the consequences of his actions and accept the fact that Willow is happier without him.

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Where Lightning Strikes

A.L. Jackson

Release Date: March 22, 2016

Tamar King has spent many years isolating herself from the outside world. All of a sudden, Lyrik West walks into her life and changes everything. As the lead guitarist for Sunder, he's given a lot to the band. Even though they've had great success, it has severely damaged his life. Sparks fly when Tamar and Lyrik first meet, but is their attraction worth the possibility of being burned?

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Interested in more Steamy Contemporary Romances? Check out our posts on Kristen Callihan, Lexi Ryan, Melissa Foster, Ilsa Madden-Mills, Sports Romances, Karina Halle, Renee Carlino, Alice Clayton, Elle Casey, Penelope Ward, Toni Anderson, Jami Davenport, Colleen Hoover, and Bad Boys of Summer.

 

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Top 10 New Releases of July

With so many books coming out each month, it can be hard to pick what you want to read. In an ideal world, we would spend the whole day with our nose in a book so we could finish everything on our "to-be-read" list. But for those of us who have work or school, we have to spend our limited reading time wisely. To help you pick the best new read, we did a little research and found the top 10 new releases for July!

Top 10 New Releases of July

 

The Angels' Share

J.R. Ward

Release Date: July 26, 2016

File Under: Southern Family Saga

The Angels' Share is the second installment of Ward's Bourbon Kings series, which follows the high society Bradford family. When the patriarch of the Bradford family mysteriously dies, secrets start to surface and everyone is a suspect. The eldest son, Edward, is the prime suspect due to his rocky relationship with his father. In the midst of this tragedy and intrigue, Maxwell Bradford returns home. Will he save the family, or is he the dirtiest liar of them all?

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Falling

Jane Green

Release Date: July 19, 2016

File Under: Perfect Beach Read

A lot of wonderful women's fiction has been released this year, such as First Comes Love and Here's to Us. Falling is a heart-warming addition to the ever-growing list! Emma Montague has grown tired of her stuffy, upper-class life, so she moves from England to New York in the hopes that she will feel more fulfilled. After trying and failing to find her place in the Big Apple, she ends up in a small waterfront town in Connecticut with no job and no plan. Just when everything starts to feel hopeless, Emma meets Dominic, a handyman who helps her use her passion to create beautiful spaces. Their growing bond helps her realize how life can change when you least expect it.

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Night and Day

Iris Johansen

Release Date: July 19, 2016

File Under: Crime Thriller with a Twist

In the newest installment of the Eve Duncan series, Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor is dealing with the consequences of protecting young Cara Delaney. Eve has travelled all around the world, and now she is the enemy's next target. Despite Eve's best efforts Cara is kidnapped. Time is running out, and Eve must put everything on the line to find Cara. This riveting concluding addition to Eve Duncan's story is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats!

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The Hopefuls

Jennifer Close

Release Date: July 19, 2016

File Under: Political Literary Fiction

This gem of fiction, set in the heart of Washington D.C. is the perfect accompaniment to the U.S. presidential election this Fall.   Jennifer Close's new release, The Hopefuls, provides a witty glimpse into the life of a newlywed couple as they try to navigate American politics. Beth, who followed her husband Matt to D.C., has a hard time fitting into the political world. She and her husband find respite in another political family, Ashleigh and Jimmy, who are much more open and charismatic than the other stuffy politicians they've met. But when competition and jealousy start to surface, Beth and Matt's relationship is put on the line

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This Must Be the Place

Maggie O'Farrell

Release Date: July 19, 2016

File Under: Unexpected Love Story

If you loved the humor in Where'd You Go, Bernadette, then you'll love This Must Be the Place. Daniel Sullivan is a complicated man. He's a native New Yorker, but he moved with his wife Claudette to Ireland to seclude themselves from her former life in the spotlight. He has family from California to Brooklyn, but he's not on good terms with any of them. David and Claudette have grown accustomed to their solitary life on the countryside, but a secret from David's past threatens to change everything.

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The Black Widow

Daniel Silva

Release Date: July 12, 2016

File Under: Spy thriller that hits close to home

Continuing Daniel Silva's action-packed Gabriel Allon series, The Black Widow takes the beloved protagonist across the ocean to Europe. Gabriel was about to leave his life in the field for a position as the chief of Israel's secret intelligence service. Nevertheless, he goes out once more to find the man who is responsible for setting off a massive bomb in Paris. In hopes of infiltrating ISIS, Gabriel instructs a young agent to pose as a new recruit to one of the world's most dangerous terrorist organizations.

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The Light of Paris

Eleanor Brown

Release Date: July 12, 2016

File under: Fiction that will give you wunderlust

Following the success of Eleanor Brown's debut novel, The Weird Sisters, comes another sensation, The Light of Paris, that will leave you yearning for the City of Light. With a controlling husband and a family that has high expectations of her, Madeleine feels trapped inside her own life. One day, she finds the diary of her beloved grandmother and discovers things she never knew about the woman she wishes she was more like. When Madeleine moves back with her mother, she starts to emulate the Parisian life of her brave grandmother. Through painting and engaging with her new friends, Madeline explores living life on her own terms.

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Break in Case of Emergency

Jessica Winter

Release Date: July 12, 2016

Fule under: The Devils Wear's Prada. Org

Elle, Marie Claire and Cosmo are all listing Jessica Winter's debut novel as one of their "must read" books for the summer. Jen has just taken a job at a feminist non-profit, but it doesn't end up being all it's cracked up to be. Even though the group wants to empower women, it's filled with staffers who continually undermine each other in hopes of impressing their celebrity boss. The more unsatisfied Jen becomes with her job, the more she starts to compare her life to her friends'. Throughout the story, Jen tries to figure out how to navigate life, love, and friendship.

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Life Debt: Aftermath

Chuck Wendig

Release Date: July 12, 2016

File Under: Wookiee Adventures

If you can't get enough of the Star Wars Universe, Life Debt: Aftermath will satisfy all your desires to travel to a galaxy far, far away. This is the second installment of Chuck Wendig's Star Wars trilogy, and the story occurs between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. While the New Republic tries to rebuild peace in the galaxy, Han Solo must help Chewbacca free his people in Kashyyyk. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned. Chewie ends up being captured by smugglers, and Han Solo is nowhere to be found. Norra Wexley and a crew of Imperial hunters are instructed to find them, and they discover a ruthless enemy along the way.

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Magic

Danielle Steel

Release Date: July 5, 2016

Genre: Family Saga

Danielle Steel's new release is already a becoming a favorite of her readers. Each year, a special dinner occurs outside one of the notable landmarks in Paris. The story follows three different couples as they navigate the successes and heartbreaks of life between their yearly White Dinner. The couples all have deep bonds, but life events occur in each relationship that threaten to tear them apart. Despite everything, the White Dinner brings the friends and couples together to experience a little magic in their lives.

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6 Books to Read if You Like Christine Feehan

Christine Feehan is a master of paranormal romance, weaving love into myths and urban legend like no other. She's written a number of award-winning paranormal romance books, such as the 29-book Dark series. Already devoured Christine Feehan's latest masterpiece, Shadow Rider? Fear not, for we've got a treasure trove of recommendations just for you!

6 Books to Read if You Like Christine Feehan

 

Rocked by a Vampire

Susan Griscom

Release Date: July 27, 2016

Lane is a young vampire, and he has always lived in his strong and talented twin brother's shadow. Every day, he is forced to fight the demons that plague his mind. When he meets Vanessa, a powerful witch, the added torment of his desire for her is unbearable. Vanessa has her own troubles to deal with, but she loves Lane just the same. Will they be able to survive fighting their personal battles so they can be together forever?

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The Beast

J.R. Ward

Release Date: April 5, 2016

Things have changed for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. While they face challenges with shifting alliances, the Lessening Society continues to grow and acquire power. Rhage, one of the Brothers, is starting to panic. Things should be great for him— his partner Mary is by his side and his brothers are thriving. But a severe injury from battle holds him back and makes him distance himself from the one he loves the most. Will he be able to recover and save his relationship with Mary?

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The Darkest Torment

Gena Showalter

Release Date: June 1, 2016

After spending centuries in purgatory, Baden has finally escaped. But life isn't so great back on the other side... He's still a servant to the king of the underworld, so his new life is devoted to being a lethal assassin. He ends up capturing Katarina Joelle, who just married an evil man in hopes of protecting her family. Although she is unwillingly brought into a dangerous war, Katarina beings to fall for Baden. Will she be able to teach him to love before she loses him forever?

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Born of Legend

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Release Date: June 21, 2016

Dagger Ixer made one too many mistakes, and he's now hated by the entire Andarion royal house. He's forced to run for his life, and he's willing to do anything to stay alive. When he comes across an outcast boy with legendary abilities, he risks everything to save the kid's life.

Ushura Altaan hates the royal family, but she's left with a hard decision when Dagger saves her son. Both Ushura and Dagger are being hunted by assassins, so they must work together to stay alive.

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Bay of Sighs

Nora Roberts

Release Date: June 14, 2016

Annika is a mermaid from the sea, and she is heading back home after going on a journey to find the stars. She herself is the water star, and her beauty is nothing short of breathtaking. When space traveler Sawyer King brings all of the guardians to her home, he can't help but feel deeply drawn to her. When things start to go awry, everyone must be wary of Annika's dangerous new weapon.

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Allegiance of Honor

Nalini Singh

Release Date: June 14, 2016

Although challenges have pitted the races against each other, the Trinity Accords are a beacon of hope in a time of struggle. Nevertheless, a long history of distrust threatens to break the peaceful agreement apart. If they have any hope at surviving, the races must join together to defeat the evil and chaos that run rampant in their world. Can a child who is both Psy and changeling step up to save the world?

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Rachel Van Dyken Keep Playlist

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Did you know that Rachel Van Dyken makes Spotify playlists for some of her books? When you finish one of her novels and dive into that all too familiar "post book depression," these songs are the perfect remedy. She recently made a playlist for her newest release, Keep, which features a god-like rockstar named Zane "Saint" Andrews who has a couple secrets that he's hiding from the world. We like to imagine that Zane curated this awesome playlist, and we'd totally date him solely based off of his music taste. To get you started, we picked our favorite songs from the playlist that you should jam out to while reading Keep!

You can find the full playlist for Keep here.

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Rachel Van Dyken Keep Playlist

1. Lost Boy by Ruth B

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58TBZnvyGwQ]

2. Runaway by AURORA

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_HlPboLRL8]

3. Little Dancer by Leroy Sanchez

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3a89nmCWb8]

4. Youth by Foxes

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx0x5aRPhgk]

5. Hollow by Tori Kelly and Big Sean

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsbcKoRAiF4]

6. Chivalry is Dead by Trevor Wesley

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb0a9kGoZu0]

7. PILLOWTALK by ZAYN

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_3d6GntKbk]

Liane Moriarty's New Book

truly madly deeplyGet The BookLiane Moriarty

After months of anticipation, Australian author Liane Moriarty’s new book Truly, Madly, Guilty has finally been released in America! If you aren’t familiar with her work, Moriarty writes women’s fiction with a psychological, suspenseful twist. Her career as a writer took off after she wrote Three Wishes as a part of a masters program, and her success following that has been stellar. All six of her previously published novels are international bestsellers, and her newest release already has readers raving. Big Little Lies, arguably her most popular book to date, is currently in the process of being turned into an HBO TV series starring all-star actresses such as Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.

Moriarty’s books, with their sprinkling of of dirty secrets, family drama, and gripping suspense, hook readers until the final page. Each book touches on themes to which many readers can relate, like complicated friendships and marital struggles. Combine these relatable elements with the secrets and suspense of a psychological thriller, and you have a book that you won’t want to put down. The stories are laden with foreshadowing, and the suspense will often keep you guessing up until the last minute.

Truly, Madly, Guilty is Moriarty’s 7th book, and it’s already being regarded as one of the best beach reads for this summer. It tells the story of a family barbecue gone wrong, and the aftermath of a mistake-filled night. Sam and Clementine have a healthy marriage, perfect kids, and an all-around fulfilling life. One night, Clementine’s best friend Erika invites their family to a barbecue at her neighbor's house. Clementine’s relationship with Erika is tumultuous, so she thinks that Erika's vibrant neighbors will offer a fun alternative to the routine of their friendship. But when the three seemingly normal families get together, things start to go haywire. What could have possibly go wrong at a simple, suburban backyard barbecue? Pick up Truly, Madly, Guilty to fins out!

Liane Moriarty Books

what alice forgot
the husband's secret
big little lies
hypnotists love story
three wishes
the last aniversary

New Releases Week of July 26

Put off politics for this week’s new book releases! Pick from a storm of literary fiction novels, including new releases from Liane Moriarty and Melanie Gideon. If the weather hasn’t added enough heat to your life, pick up Rachel Van Dyken’s latest release, Keep. Rather read through the destitution of a dystopian landscape? Jump aboard Hayley Stone's newest release, Machinations!

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Bestsellers Now in Paperback: July 2016

Grab the best beach reads July has to offer, now in paperback! Set your heart racing with non-stop thrillers, or relax with contemplative literary pieces. With authors like James Patterson, Debbie Macomber, Sandra Brown, Danielle Steel, Isabel Allende, and many more, you'll have plenty to choose from!

Mystery & Thriller

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Fantasy & Science Fiction

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Interview with Hayley Stone, Author of Machinations

What can you tell us about your new release, Machinations?

Machinations is a story about expectations, about the struggle to live up to your own as well as those placed upon you by other people. It’s also a story about killer robots. Sci-fi, hoorah!

When I set out to write this book years ago, I initially envisioned it as a short story, but within a few pages, I knew it would become much bigger. Rhona Long sprang almost fully formed from the very first line, and she commands every page of this novel. That’s why, in addition to being a story about expectations and homicidal machines, Machinations is also a story about humanity. In this case, an ordinary woman pushing past fear in order to take back her life. The fact that she just so happens to be a clone adds further intrigue to the whole ordeal.

What books are currently on your night stand?

At the time of this interview, my night stand is stacked with an embarrassing amount of books because I can’t just read one book at a time. The ones presently at the top are The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin, Pride’s Spell by Matt Wallace, and The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers by Thomas Fleming.

If one of those books seems not like the other, it is because I, too, have fallen prey to the Hamilton musical, and like many have gone to history books to continue feeding my addiction. (I regret nothing.)

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The characters, definitely. The human psyche is such a vast, unfathomable entity, and I love exploring the complexities that exist within people and between them. Writing also offers the chance to step outside one’s self, to experience new and sometimes impossible things.

Perhaps most importantly, writing provides an opportunity for empathy: to view the world through another’s perspective. Writing, to me, is often about shedding fear and reaching for the truth. Sometimes I get there, and it’s wonderful and eye-opening; sometimes I’m left reaching for the shadow of the thing. Either way, it’s always an interesting challenge.

On a more base level, I adore sentence construction. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as getting a sentence just right. This also explains why, in editing, I enjoy line edits so much!

In addition to writing novels, you also write poetry. Do you prefer one over the other?

I’m definitely a novelist first and foremost, but I wouldn’t say I prefer one over the other. Rather, I feel my love of poetry and prose inform one another. In many ways, poetry has actually improved my novel-writing, honing my ability to recognize and utilize rhythm when it comes to prose.

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

Flying. Wait! No. Time travel with no negative repercussions. They could call me Self-Consistency Woman! Able to travel in time without causing a single paradox! (Bonus points if you get this reference.)

What's rocking your world this month?

I just finished reading Kameron Hurley’s The Geek Feminist Revolution which was absolutely fantastic. I firmly believe Hurley is an important voice for this generation of SFF writers; she not only tells it how it is, but points out what changes need to be made to the status quo. Highly, highly recommended.

What scene in Machinations was your favorite to write?

There’s a scene about midway through the book where the main character, Rhona, calls her former lover out on some choices he’s made (I can’t give specifics because SPOILERS). Suffice to say, it’s a very charged, emotional scene, and a turning point in their relationship. I love writing those raw moments between characters. More than that, I see it too often in fiction where female characters seem to roll over and accept a male character’s decision, especially when he’s their love interest—this scene was a way for me to reverse that trope.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Yes—two, as a matter of fact!

The first is an anonymous quote I’ve pinned beside my desk: “Remember why you started.” When things get tough, I always try and return to the heart of an idea, the spark that first gave it life, and revive the passion I had when I started writing.

As for my motto, I’ve borrowed it from my favorite historical figure, Anne Boleyn. At one point, in response to her negative reception as queen, she changed her personal motto to Ainsi sera groigne qui groigne which roughly translates to “Grumble all you like, this is how it’s going to be.”

It was basically the Tudor equivalent of flipping her critics the bird, and I think it serves as a good reminder to never let the haters get you down.

Hayley Stone is the author of the new book Machinations.

Connect with Hayley
Author Website
 Twitter

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Interview with K.K. Allen, Author of Up in the Treehouse

What can you tell us about your new release, Up in the Treehouse?

Up in the Treehouse is an emotional and beautiful romance—grown from childhood friendship, sustained with passion... and threatened by forbidden love. As an early reader stated, “This book shows ‘the perfect imperfect love story’; it deals also with many other important themes, like bullying, family, death, accepting life as it is, memories … The treehouse represents different “branches” of the main characters’ lives, and readers will get to experience the twists and turns the story takes along the way. Sometimes, love is messy. People make mistakes. In the end, can deep-rooted connections survive the destruction of innocence?

Which book from your childhood or teenage years has stuck with you as an adult?

When I was a kid I read nothing but Sweet Valley High and Fear Street, thanks to my best friend who passed off books to me like candy. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school when a good friend introduced me to Nicholas Sparks that I got sucked into the Contemporary Romance world. I was hooked. A Walk to Remember will always stay with me for that reason. It’s a truly beautiful story about love and faith, with a gut-wrenching twist. I love unforeseen twists in books. Books that make you want to go back and read them multiple times to find out how you could have possibly missed where the story was going.

Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?

My entire bookshelf might shock people. Then again, I’m a multi-genre author, so maybe not! I have an extremely diverse taste in books and there’s no telling what I’ll be in the mood to read next. Some of my favorites… A Walk to Remember, Remember Me, Firefly Lane, Jemima J, Ugly Love, Divergent, Twilight, Shopaholic, Ten Tiny Breaths. I just love great and original stories.

If you had to pick one place to vacation for the rest of your life, where would you choose?

Hawaii. I was born in Honolulu but moved to Washington State at a very young age. Take me back to my birth place and I’ll die a happy girl! My happiest childhood memories consisted of hours spent outside devouring fallen mangos, body surfing in the ocean, making leis, and feeding the cows on my grandparent’s property. Ah! Paradise.

What's your favorite thing about living in Orlando?

It really is amazing that we can do day trips to Disney World and Universal. When I was younger, it was always a huge deal to pack up and fly somewhere to visit a great theme park. Now, it’s as simple as hopping in the car and visiting the park for a few hours (because it’s usually too hot for more than that) and then heading back home. And I LOVE that it’s only an hour or two to the beach on either coast.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

The time I get to spend with my son is never enough, so I would absolutely spend it with him. It’s no joke when they say kids grow up fast! We love riding bikes, or grabbing a Slurpee and going to the lake. We’re simple creatures.

What scene in Up in the Treehouse was your favorite to write?

I love writing scenes of angst and drama, but mostly confrontation, when pent up emotions finally unleash onto the page. It’s at those points of the story that I know my readers are going to feel it. Every. Single. Emotion. There’s a particular scene having to do with the treehouse that my editor urged me to go back and lengthen. It was the best thing she made me do. I don’t think she expected what she got back! It’s one of the most powerful scenes in the book. It’s also heartbreaking and healing... that scene is exactly why I love to write.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

When I first decided to share my love for writing with the world, there was a quote I found that inspired me to move forward. Now, I share it with others in hopes that they will find the courage to let go of the fear and live their dreams. “Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feelings.”

K.K. Allen is the author of the new book Up in the Treehouse.

Connect with K.K.
Author Website
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