Harlequin

Her Surprise Hometown Match

The Golden Machmakers #4

Can she be honest…

With the rodeo cowboy?

Juliette Bishop is living a lie. And she won’t let any man get close enough to discover she’s not the hero Golden residents imagine. But rebellious former rodeo cowboy Ty Pendergrass slips under her radar…and straight into her heart. No stranger to the struggles of shedding a reputation, the daring trick rider could be her perfect match. If she has the courage to come clean with him and her hometown!

Amazon

Harlequin

 B&N

 Apple Books

Kobo

His Small Town Dream     

The Golden Matchmakers Club #3


This city girl…Could be his perfect match!

Adam Wright is ready to stop nursing his broken heart and give in to his family’s matchmaking. He knows lively marketing exec Carrie Mitchell wants to return to New York. But he’s showing her all small-town Golden has to offer…including himself. When his ex-fiancée arrives, it could scare Carrie away, or it may be a chance to heal past hurts…and share his small-town dream with her!

Amazon

Harlequin

B&N

Apple Books

Kobo


Her Christmastime Family


THE GOLDEN MATCHMAKERS CLUB #2

A holiday match...
For a lifetime of love!

Creating new Christmas traditions is a priority for single mom Faith Harper. But the handsome widower next door, police officer Roan Donovan, is struggling to make the season merry for his two girls. Sunny Faith could brighten the holiday for Roan. And the way he protects his daughters touches her heart. Will facing their challenges together unite their families...and build a love to weather all seasons?

Amazon

Harlequin

B & N

Apple Books

Kobo

Stealing Her Best Friend's Heart

The Golden Matchmaker's Club #1

A home renovation...

Could change this friendship forever.

Heidi Welch has her eye on the perfect home...until Reid Masterson buys it! Now Heidi has one last chance to get back the home of her dreams from her childhood friend and longtime crush. If she helps Reid with the renovations, he'll sell her the house. But "just friends" seems just about impossible...especially when friendship keeps getting in the way of falling in love.

Harlequin

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

iTunes

Always The One

She's the love of his life...but is he still hers?

FBI agent Derrick Matthews has finally found his childhood sweetheart and the love of his life. Years ago, Hannah Rawlings disappeared overnight when her family went on the run, and she blames Derrick. She tells him she's moved on and he should, too, but Derrick fears Hannah's still in danger. He vows to protect her-even if it means betraying her trust...again.

Order Now

Amazon

Harlequin

B&N

Nook

iTunes

Kobo

Trusting Her Heart

Meet Me At The Altar

Can a love built on lies...

...survive the truth?

Serena Stanhope fears her dark past might ruin the life she's built as a successful shop owner. Especially when handsome Logan Masterson suddenly arrives in town asking questions about her background. He seems to have his own secrets, but the pair share an instant connection and Serena finds herself falling for Logan. He could destroy everything-or he could be the chance at love she thought she'd never have.

Amazon

Harlequin

B&N

KOBO

iTunes

EXCERPT:

"Oh, my goodness." She pulled her phone from her back pocket. "I have always wanted to do a series of cards featuring fireflies." After snapping a few pictures, she scrolled through the gallery. "I can't think of anything more beautiful than twinkling lights coming from these tiny creatures."

Logan stood back, watching the joy on her face. "I have to admit, I don't give them much thought."

"Then you're missing out." She turned to him. "Did you know there are over fifty species of fireflies in Georgia, each with their own distinctive flash?"

"I do now."

"The male puts on a light show to attract a mate."

"Really? Now, that's interesting."

"You probably don't think about them since you live in the city. All the bright lights hide their magic. To be honest, I never really noticed them until I moved here." She smiled at the tiny lights dancing in the air. "I don't know. They have a way of making me happy. Especially after a long day at the store."

"So you come here to visit with your flashy friends?"

"Don't laugh. They're easier to talk to than people sometimes. No judgment. No back talk. They listen, blink their lights and go on their merry way."

"And it bothers you that people judge?"

She lifted a shoulder, as if her admission was no big deal. "Sure. Doesn't it bother you?"

"Only if I let it."

They stood in the deepening shadows, enjoying the light show. The smoky scent of coking meat wafted from Smitty's. After a few moments he turned. Glanced at Serena. Wondered why she looked so sad. Or what she was hiding.

She noticed his attention and laughed. "You probably think I'm silly."

"Far from it. "He ran his fingers over her hair. Placed a finger under her chin and tipped her head back. She blinked at him. Interest shone in her blue eyes. Taking a chance he lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers. Lightly, just like the fireflies darting about in the air. When she returned the kiss he moved closer, placing his other hand on her waist. The air was cool, the night special, and he was falling for a woman he should be investigating.

She pilled back. Gazed up at him, a gentle smile on her lips. "Let me guess. The fireflies got to you?"

"No. You did."

His Honor, Her Family

Meet Me At the Altar

She could be the one.

If he'll let her in.

The rustic mountain town of Golden, Georgia, is the ideal place for crime scene investigator Deke Matthews to heal after a tragedy left him questioning everything. But there's another reason he's here, and moonlighting as an adventure guide provides the perfect cover. It doesn't include falling for his boss. Attorney Grace Harper is back in Golden only long enough to save her family business. Just when Deke has found the woman to share his life with...

Read An Excerpt

Jealous? Grace?

She waited for his smug expression to leave his ridiculously handsome face, but he continued grinning at her.

Drat. She was jealous.

"I'm not jealous.

Except her tight chest said otherwise.

"Could have fooled me.

How could she not after their kiss at the lake yesterday? She'd have to be dead not to feel something, and last time she checked, her heart was still beating. Overtime, apparently, for this man.

And not just the kiss. He'd opened up to her. Even in the short time she'd come to know him, she understood how hard it had been for him. So, feelings for Deke? Big time. But she'd never, ever, admit she was jealous.

"Okay, I'm a little curious, but no way am I jealous."

"Because that would mean you have feelings for me." His grin grew bigger. "As a concerned boss and all."

"Funny."

"This really is."

Amazon

Harlequin

B&N

iTunes

Kobo

The Lawman's Secret Vow

Meet Me At the Altar

To have and to hold—

until the case is solved?

When an undercover assignment pairs laid-back Florida detective Dante Matthews with by-the-book cop Eloise Archer, he knows it won’t be easy. And not just because they’re competing for the same promotion. Now they’re living together under the same roof, and it’s getting harder to ignore his deepening feelings for “his wife.” Can he convince Eloise to partner up—for life?

Read an Excerpt:

As Dante closed the door behind him, he yanked on his tie. The conversation with Chambers set his mind in motion and the idea of being weighed down in paperwork didn't thrill him. Would there be reams more if he made sergeant? A definite check in the con list.

He'd just settled in his chair when Eloise caught his eye. She was busy writing something on a yellow legal pad. No doubt jotting down notes on a case or for a trial. She was organized that way. Made sure to cross all her t's and dot all her i's. Had mad computer skills he lacked. But there was an air of uncertainty about her that he understood. It made him want to coax a smile out of her. She took everything in life so seriously, not even recognizing his teasing until they were well into a conversation. Calling her Ellie was just icing on the cake. He knew it rattled her and thought it might secretly please her.

Beneath her starched, professional persona, she possessed a determination that impressed him. He'd noticed it a few months back when they'd disagreed on a certain department policy. Most colleagues gave him wide berth. Not Ellie. She stated her reasoning, concise and to the point, and he took notice, real notice, of her for the first time.

And why that mattered, he couldn't say. Just knew he liked her. Admired her dedication to the job. Along with her knowledge. She had a way of catching his eye and he kept looking. What else was hidden in those still waters?

An intense story line filled with intrigue, danger and a happily ever after. The latest from Tara Randel packs a punch! ~Thoughts of a Blonde

I could not put this book down. I literally even killed the battery on my tablet. ~5 out of 5 stars ~Inside the Mind of an Avid Reader

Playful & Professional. The Lawman's Secret Vow is a is a great choice for any fan of heartwarming contemporary romance. I completely enjoyed the time I spent with it-seeing Eloise and Dante both playfully and professionally work their way to a happy conclusion made me smile every time I picked up the book- and now I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Randel's Meet Me At the Altar books. ~Book By Book

Two great protagonists with stellar chemistry. An undercover marriage with a high-stakes case. Intriguing supporting characters and lots of delightful possibilities for the series. 4 Stars ~Reading Is My SuperpPower

This is a great story of romance, suspense and more. ~5/5 Rating ~Rockin' Book Reviews

4.5 Star Review ~Remembrancy

Amazon

Harlequin

B & N

iTunes

Kobo

His One and Only Bride

The Business of Weddings

 2019 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award Finalist.

He never thought he’d see her again.

After being reported missing, and presumed dead,globe-hopping photojournalist Mitch Simmons never thought he’d see his estranged wife Zoe again. Yet here he is, back in their coastal Florida town where Zoe is mayor. Turns out she isn’t the only one he left behind.

Discovering he has a baby son awakens thrilling new emotions in Mitch. And there are his still-powerful feelings for the high school sweetheart he vowed to love and honor forever. Thankfully, they’ll have the chance to find the love that was always there...

Read An Excerpt:

Mitch had expected his wife’s surprise. After all, to her, he’d risen from the dead.
His hand gripped the cane that had become his lifeline. He wanted to heave it over the railing, but that meant lifting an arm that still needed rehab to function properly. Instead of cataloguing his injuries, he focused on his shell-shocked wife.
“I don’t understand. We were told…I thought you were…”
“Dead?”
She reached out to place her palms on the deck railing.
“The report was mistaken.”
“But…How…Why?”
“I was injured in a truck accident while leaving a refugee camp.”
She visibly pulled herself together. Took a step toward him, faltered and stopped. “Pretty soon I’m going to have a ton of questions, but right now…I don’t know what to say.”
“How about ‘welcome home’?”

Amazon

Harlequin

iTunes

B & N

The Wedding March

The Business of Weddings

The help only he can offer…

Cypress Pointe, Florida, is a long way from LA, where pop singer Cassie Branford needs a hit to prove she's not a two-album wonder. But her case of writer's block could be over when the struggling songwriter meets Luke Hastings at a family wedding.

The legendary musician walked away from success at the height of his career. Yet Luke is already inspiring Cassie with his dedication to building a permanent community outreach center for troubled teens. Volunteering to help bring music into these kids' lives is also bringing her and Luke closer. Maybe they're not as different as he thinks…

Read an Excerpt:

“We aren’t talking about me.”


“Maybe we should.”

Her steady gaze held his. His heart pounded. This close, he could see the distinctive shade of green mocking his words. She knew, maybe even better than he did.

“Talent like yours doesn’t go away,” she echoed.

“Maybe it should.”

The words hung between them. Time stilled as his blood raced. How had she managed to resurrect this one painful aspect of his life? How had she focused on the fact that while he said he wouldn’t write again, the ability had never turned off? His brain still formed tempos and lyrics, even though he ruthlessly pushed them away every time they surfaced. For two years he’d lived without admitting the truth to himself. And now, by encouraging Cassie to deal with her fears, he was forced to confront his own.

This was why he hadn’t wanted to make a deal with her. Yet at the same time, was secretly glad he did.

With so little space between them, he looked down at her lips. What would she do if he crossed the line? Kissed her as a way of changing the subject.

Find out, his inner voice taunted.

He moved that last fraction closer, his lips hovering over hers. And still she stayed put, as if waiting to see if he would carry out his intentions. So he did.

His lips covered hers, silencing her gasp. He moved slowly, savoring the unexpected delight. The air around them grew heavy as he coaxed a trembling response from her. Adrenaline buzzed through his system, much like the feeling he experienced when a melody came together. Only this wasn’t a song. This was Cassie. Alive and in the flesh. Returning his kiss now with the enthusiasm he’d seen when she performed on stage. A passion he couldn’t deny. Or fight.

One of her hands moved over his, satiny soft as she twined their fingers together. The kiss continued. Slow and unhurried. Until a shout from the gym reminded him that his office door was wide open. Everyone and their brother could get a gander of him kissing the pop artist who’d come to the Klub to volunteer her time to the kids, not him.

He snapped back to his senses, jerking away from her.

Smooth, Hastings.

Amazon

B & N

iTunes

Harlequin

The Bridal Bouquet

The Business of Weddings

Who will catch a lifetime of love?

Winning the annual wedding bouquet design competition may be the closest Kady Lawrence gets to the altar. She has to come in first or risk losing the floral shop that's been in her family for generations. Her main competition is Jasmine Matthews. But it's Jasmine's son who's caught Kady's attention.

Enter hunky Dylan Matthews. Kady has no inkling Dylan is a DEA agent on a case in Cypress Pointe, and Dylan wants to keep it that way…until Kady's targeted. Determined to keep her safe, Dylan goes undercover at a floral convention and risks a lot more than blowing his cover…he risks losing Kady forever.

"This is more than a love story; it has intrigue, secrets and tons of twists and turns." 4-Star rating from RT Book Reviews

Read an excerpt:

The reception was subdued and elegant. Just what the bride dreamed of. Exactly what the wedding planner and Kady delivered.

On her last trip to place the final floral arrangement, Kady made her way around the far wall, heading to the gift table. Only a few steps from her destination, she was suddenly under siege by a half-dozen playing children. She went into football mode, dodging first to the left, then to the right, spinning to avoid a rushing child as she held on tightly to the container. After evading the possible disaster she grinned, impressed by her running-back skills. Who knew she was so light on her feet? The path clear now, she hurried on, until she stepped on an abandoned toy left behind by one of the kids. Her ankle turned. Unable to steady herself, she thought for sure she was about to tumble. Bracing herself, she securely locked her arms around the crystal container, holding on for dear life. But instead of going down, strong hands gripped her upper arms and straightened her.

Blowing out a relieved breath, she looked over her shoulder, glimpsing the most unusual pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen. Actually, blue wasn’t entirely correct. A hint of silver turned them an unusual shade of metallic gray. The man’s somber expression matched the concern she read there and his very handsome face garnered all her attention.

“Steady there.” His husky voice spoke close to her ear, sending a waterfall of shivers over her skin.

Rattled, she set down the flowers and took a relieved breath before turning to face her rescuer. “Thanks. That could have been a disaster.”

“Then it’s a good thing I happened to be nearby.” A half grin curved his lips.
Kady’s heart thumped in her chest. Talk about good timing. She snuck a peek at him. Yeah, she was going with not spilling the flowers to explain her racing pulse.

Amazon

B & N

Harlequin

Honeysuckle Bride - by Tara Randel

Winner of the 2015 Readers Choice Heart of Excellence Award for Long & Short Contemporary.

The Business of Weddings

One part happiness. Two parts love.

Relocating to the coast of Florida after becoming guardian of her best friend’s twin daughters could be the best move LA celebrity chef Jenna Monroe ever made. This is her chance to create a stable, loving home − something she never had. But can she be the mother the girls need?

Wyatt Hamilton thinks she can. The rugged charter boat captain, who came home to Cypress Pointe still grieving the death of his son, has faith in her. But the feelings he awakens in Jenna both exhilarate and frighten her. Because Wyatt no longer believes in forever... Unless she can convince him otherwise.

4.5 star review from Romantic Times Book Reviews

Beautifully written, this is an inspiring story of two individuals with a shared grief commonality that find love and acceptance when they least expect it. An emotionally touching small town story with lots of heart.

http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/honeysuckle-bride

4.5 Blue Ribbon Rating- Romance Junkies

A heartwarming tale, HONEYSUCKLE BRIDE, the third book in author Tara Randel's THE BUSINESS OF WEDDINGS series, is a poignant, heartfelt contemporary romance that is sure to touch the hearts of readers. Wyatt has trouble listening to the condolences of his friends and family, but Jenna has suffered her own loss and he finds her words comforting. There is so much chemistry between these two grieving people, one that will not be denied. The two young girls also add appeal, depth and innocence to this story as they suffer their own grief over the loss of their mother and their worry that Jenna will also leave them. I loved the way that the author shows that each of the twins has her own distinctive personality and the way that they interact with each other.

This story can be read as a standalone, but if you enjoy this story, you may want to also check out the previous two novels in this series, MAGNOLIA BRIDE and ORANGE BLOSSOMS BRIDE. The main characters from these books also make appearances in HONEYSUCKLE BRIDE, which should delight many of the fans of the series. That is one aspect that I enjoy about a series. This is the first book I have read by this author but I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more.

 Read an excerpt:

“Jenna, some advice?”

She faced him. “Please.”

“Keep loving them, just the way you are. They’ll always remember your love.”

Her throat went dry as tears misted in her eyes. “I can do that.”

He reached out to run a finger over her cheek, catching a single teardrop as it escaped. His gaze held hers, dark and mysterious in the dim light.

“Then you’re miles ahead.”

Jenna stared into Wyatt’s eyes, splayed her hand over his steady heartbeat. The foyer suddenly seemed cramped. The air heated. They stood toe-to-toe, so close, she could feel his soft breath on her skin. His firm fingers circled her arms, drew her closer. He lowered his head, but neither of them made the next move. Unable to stand the suspense any longer, she stood on tiptoes to brush her lips over his.

How right this felt. A deep part of her connected with him on a level she’d never experienced with any other man. Her heart expanded. For a guy who claimed he didn’t get emotionally involved, his kisses said otherwise. There wasn’t anything more involved than sharing a toe-curling kiss.

Gently breaking the connection, Jenna took a step back,  her skin cooling at the loss of Wyatt’s warmth.

Available at:

Harlequin

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Orange Blossom Brides - by Tara Randel

 
IN SEARCH OF A GROOM

Lilli Barclay needs a groom—and she needs one now.
Not for herself, of course, but for her mother's
glamorous wedding-themed benefit. Then Lilli can
get back to what really matters, earning a promotion
at work. Just her luck that Max Sanders, the ideal
candidate, still holds a grudge against her for an
incident that happened twelve years ago.

Persuading Max to volunteer will take longer than Lilli
thought. Much longer. And the more time she spends
with him, the further she ventures down Memory Lane.
Pretty soon Lilli can't help wondering if Max could be
more than a pretend groom. He still makes her heart
race. But will he ever be able to forgive the past and
consider a future…with her?

Read an excerpt:

 Max settled in and took another long look at this prospective client. That elusive memory still niggled the edges of his mind. Then it hit him, hard and fast.

“It’s you.”

Her cheeks flamed. “Yes.”

“I can’t believe it. It’s been twelve years.”

“That’s about right.”

“That’s exactly right.”

“And it’s in the past.” Lilli squirmed in her seat. “I was hoping we could look beyond that.”

Wishful thinking. His gut burned with memories. “I don’t think so.”

“It was an…unfortunate night.”

“Especially after the police showed up.”

“That, too.”

A bonfire. Mischief. A pretty girl and a stolen kiss. Great times, until the cops broke up the party. And he’d ended up spending a few nights in juvenile detention because of her.

“You ratted me out.”

“It was either that or get in trouble for something I didn’t do.”

“You could have forgotten my name.”

“I could have, but I didn’t.” Her face colored. “It was all a misunderstanding.”

“You were a far cry from a misunderstanding.”

“It was a long time ago. I was hoping today we could calmly discuss business.”

“Calm isn’t at the top of my list right now.”

Magnolia Bride - by Tara Randel

Married for a day, in love for life

Nealy Grainger knew that returning to Cypress Pointe meant an inevitable encounter with her teenage crush, and momentary husband, Dane Peterson. She could handle it. She wasn't the wounded girl who'd left Cypress Pointe years ago, heartbroken and furious when Dane had annulled their marriage the day after they'd eloped.

Now one of L.A.'s most in-demand celebrity event planners, Nealy's only come back for a vacation and to help with her sister's wedding—not for a reunion with her long-lost love. But the more their paths cross, the more the sparks fly! Maybe their connection isn't over just yet...

Read an Excerpt:

Nealy stepped into the spacious foyer, cool air greeted her, along with some major structural improvements. The new owner had removed the old ceiling to create an open two-story masterpiece. Her breath caught. Marble floors shone as light filtered through the frosted dome ceiling. A counter nearby, also in marble, had staff waiting behind it to help the guests.

She let out a low whistle. “Not too shabby.”

Her cell phone rang. This had to be Juliet worried about her ETA. As she crossed the highly glossed lobby floor, her heels echoed. “Hold on,” she said to herself, digging through the contents of her purse, intent on finding her phone, when she bumped into a tall, solid form.

“Whoa.” A deep masculine voice said as firm hands grabbed hold of her upper arms to steady her.

“I’m so sorry,” she sputtered, pushing her hair from her eyes. “I’m in a hurry and wasn’t watching where I─” Her words stopped as she recognized the man holding her in place. Him. “Dane?” she whispered.

“Nealy. Been a long time.”

Her breathing nearly stopped as she gaped at her ex-husband, Dane Peterson.

No. This couldn’t be right, could it?

“What are you doing here?” she managed to croak out.

“I’m the owner.”

“Of what?”

“The Grand Cypress Hotel.”

Granted, running into Dane made her thinking a little fuzzy, but…”You own this hotel?”

“Yep.”

Knocked off kilter by her first glimpse of Dane after twelve years apart, her legs became shaky. Why hadn’t anyone told her Dane owned the hotel? Probably because they figured she wouldn’t step foot in the place if she knew.

They’d have been right.

He’d aged well, exceptionally well, as evidenced by the unexpected stirring in her belly. His dark blond hair, highlighted by the sun, was cut short, a far cry from the disheveled locks he’d once sported. Whiskey-hued eyes and tanned skin portrayed the picture of a man in his prime. Even more handsome than the boy from her memories. She still remembered the lanky teen, long hair falling over his brow into his eyes, wearing T-shirts proclaiming the name of a favorite band paired with ripped jeans and sneakers. Today, a mature Dane wore navy pants and a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms. His dark shoes shone.

His masculine scent, so alluring and familiar, had her leaning toward him until she realized her mistake and blinking furiously, she took a hasty step back from the stunning man standing before her and the powerful reaction he evoked.

“How did you come to own this place?”

“It’s what I do. Rehab old or failing hotels.”

“You renovated this hotel?”

“That’s right.”

Wow. Talk about total and complete shock.

Nealy shook her head, trying to reconcile this man with the boy she’d fallen head over heels in love with. Her pulse fluttered as the intensity of his gaze made her heart race and her eyes sting.

“Welcome home, Nealy,” Dane said in a low, familiar voice.