My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories by David Lebovitz arrived on my doorstep yesterday and transported me, virtually, to Paris. As much as I was looking forward to discovering the recipes, Lebovitz’s stories about Paris, the markets, the fast food craze, the olive vendor, the search for the perfect kitchen sink mesmerized me. I couldn’t stop reading, and, funnily enough, began translating what I read into French.

Well, it’s been a while since I dreamed in French, but hadn’t backward translated a book in a much longer time. But the sense that Lebovitz provides of actually experiencing Paris and France …

Ava Miles’ Dare River series, a spinoff of her Dare Valley books, offers a slightly more down-home style of romance. Centered around country sensation and good ol’ boy, Rye Crenshaw, who’s best friends with Mac Maven and Rhett Butler Blaylock from the Dare Valley series, Dare River gives Miles a chance to add a Southern flair to her stories.
Southern is a good fit for Miles’ feel-good romances. At the heart of her stories is the sense of family, faith, and forever – values that somehow seem to resonate a bit more loudly in our Southern states. It’s interesting to …

When looking at books, does the cover draw your eye first?

If so, you’re like me and many other readers out there. Not that we’re judging the book (i.e. content) by the cover, but if that art is appealing, we’re probably going to check it out.

With the explosion of eBooks, a lot more covers are being produced. Whether the digital title is Indie or traditionally published, the chosen cover image is important to help that book stand out from all the rest.

Coming from the time of the pre-digital revolution, I remember when covers were unique. Photoshoots arranged, artists …

When I look at my virtual bookshelf there are quite a few authors on my must-read favorite list. Here are just a few: Jill Shalvis, Donna Kauffman, Beth Ciotta, Kristan Higgins, Laura Florand, Deborah Smith, Laura Kaye, Molly O’Keefe, Adrianne Lee, Pamela Claire, Jessica Scott, Rachel Grant, Lora Leigh, Lara Adrian, Laurann Dohner, Maya Banks, Mariah Stewart, Susan Mallery, the grand dame herself, Nora Roberts, and Ava Miles.

I’d never heard of Ava Miles before last year. Why? Because the first book she published was released on 2 July 2013. Yes, just a little over a year ago.

If you …

Here are some fun images of people enjoying a good read to celebrate Book Lovers Day.
Right now, I’m reading a galley of Ava Miles’ The Chocolate Garden (book two in her Dare River series).
What are YOU reading today?
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Are you on a boat?#84022335 / gettyimages.com

At the beach?
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At the pool?
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Outside?#463031981 / gettyimages.com#130112281 / gettyimages.com
Camping?#177660617 / …