Aloha to RWA's SECOND CHANCES with Kerri Carpenter and HOMECOMING

Do you believe in second chances?

Romance Writers of America brings together seventeen of today's hottest authors in an anthology of never-before-published tales that reveal true love always deserves a happy ending.

Follow New York Times best-selling authors J. Kenner and Christina Lauren back to reader-favorite worlds.

New York Times bestseller Alyssa Day sprinkles djinn magic in her humorous paranormal romance, while Rachel Hauck brings the enchantment of the holidays in her New Year’s Eve contemporary love story.

And Liliana Hart delivers thrills and adventure in her characters’ search for the impossible.

With characters who find love through tough situations, in an elegant 1800s ballroom, with an old friend who shows up when least expected, at a tender age when cliques and homework get in the way of relationships, or after a random encounter in an unlikely setting, Second Chances delivers romance to strike every reader’s fancy.

Plus tales from:
Marilyn Brant
Kerri Carpenter
CiCi Coughlin
Cassandra Dean
Tina Ferraro
Renee Luke
Ariella Moon
Brandi Willis Schreiber
Lizzie Shane
Sharon Sobel
Damon Suede
Tara Wyatt

Where to buy SECOND CHANCES
Avon
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo

Check it out on Goodreads

Let's take a peak at Kerri Carpenter's HOMECOMING ....

With only two weeks until she starts law school, Lana Greene has one goal. She’s returning to her hometown of Cherrydale for a second chance at hooking up with her high school crush, Wesley Givens. After all, Lana almost hooked up with Wes after their senior prom. Too bad her lifelong best friend, Ford Campbell, has other ideas. He wants to show her that he’s the second chance she’s been waiting for all along.

[Lana Greene returns home after college before heading to law school determined to hook up with her high school prom date. Her best friend, Ford might just throw a wrench in those plans...]

After a much-needed long shower, my day of travel is washed away, my hair is shiny, and my skin is nice and clear. I throw on a pair of tight leggings and a baby blue tank top, accessorizing with both a long and short necklace and tiny star earrings that Ford gave me for my birthday last year.

As I make my way around my childhood bedroom, I can’t stop thinking about Ford. We didn’t get to see each other as much this year as usual. We had the same spring break but Ford went to Puerto Rico with some friends. Instead of spending Christmas at home like usual, my family went to Arizona to visit my grandparents. I missed him.

We’ve known each other for so long. No one knows me better than Ford Campbell.

On cue, I hear his car horn. Looking out my bedroom window, he spots me and waves and I wave back. I stop for a spritz of perfume before I dash down the stairs and yank the door open.

I pull up short to see that Ford has exited the car and is standing on my front porch with his hands in his pockets. “Ready?” he asks. “You smell good,” he adds.

“Just some perfume,” I say. Then I take him in.

Ford looks like … totally Ford. He’s wearing jeans, a button-down plaid shirt over a—what else—vintage Star Wars tee. Only, there is something else. Something … sexier. OMG. Did I just think my best friend looked sexy?

“Why is your face getting red?” he asks.

“No reason. Let’s go.” I slam the door shut, grab his hand, and quickly head for his car.

Award-winning romance author Kerri Carpenter writes contemporary romances that are sweet, sexy, and sparkly. When she’s not writing, Kerri enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, taking Zumba classes, rooting for Pittsburgh sports teams, and anything sparkly. Kerri lives in Northern Virginia with her adorable (and mischievous) rescued poodle mix, Harry.

Learn more about Kerri and her books at kerricarpenter.com.

I am giving away a swag pack from RWA17 to four randomly selected commenters from my posts published in the month of September. To enter the giveaway,

1. Let's chat about Zumba - a favorite activity for Kerri.  Do you Zumba or enjoy other forms of exercise?  I enjoy a three mile walk in my neighborhood each night.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, September 30, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Tracy Solheim and SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY - Book Review

The author of Risky Game returns with a football team owner who’s a real player, and the woman who’s ready to call him out on everything...

Dot-com millionaire Jay McManus is discovering that owning a pro football team like the Baltimore Blaze isn’t easy. An anonymous blogger is out to destroy his reputation, and now his team is being sued by its own cheerleaders. If Jay’s not careful, he could lose big—and not just financially.

Bridgett Janik’s brother may play for the Baltimore Blaze, but she’s not thrilled to be defending Jay McManus, the man who broke her heart. It’s bad enough she has to mingle with Jay during games, but working beside her former lover may be too much for her body—and her heart—to resist.

Jay’s determined not to let Bridgett slip away from him a second time. But, as the two follow the mysterious blogger’s trail, secrets—both past and present—are revealed, and Jay and Bridgett must decide if their relationship can be something more than just sleeping with the enemy.

Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner. - Nelson Mandela

An honorable businessman.  A determined lawyer.  A troublesome blogger.  And football!  Tracy builds upon her successful franchise, the Out of Bounds series, with romance and drama on and off the field.  Jay and Bridget work together despite their painful estrangement only to realize the spark still exists between them.  They soon realize there is no "I" (or regrets) in team as they battle the blogger and realize their connection.

Thank you, Tracy, for this heartfelt second chance story mixed with football frenzy that we've been anticipating as summer winds down.  I especially appreciate how Tracy makes both characters vulnerable and therefore believable.  I also enjoyed the references to pop culture, including the trend hide behind online anonymity to create trouble in real life. The sizzling cover perfectly depicts the romance and passion in the story line.

Recommended read for fans of sports romance, strong female character, "good guy" hero, and second chances. 

I received an ARC from another blogger.

Local fans at the Pro Bowl

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Do you have a favorite tailgate food - at the stadium or even at home?  Mine is loaded nachos!

2. Comments are open through Saturday, September 12, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 13.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Tracy and her books at tracysolheim.com.

Aloha to Tracy Solheim and BACK TO BEFORE

Chances Inlet, North Carolina, has an infamous power for second chances. But its charms are lost on the town’s favorite son—until she comes along…

When his father’s sudden death puts his family’s construction business in serious debt, architect Gavin McAlister is forced to put his dream career in New York on hold. Making matters worse, his fiancée calls it quits. Desperate to return to his big-city life, he discovers an opportunity to save his family, one that has him reluctantly starring in a home restoration TV show.

Former soap star Ginger Walsh hopes this job as a TV makeup artist will lead to better things. So far it’s only brought her to a hamlet full of people who don’t like her—except Gavin. After a wild night out leads to Ginger waking up in Gavin’s loft—and the rest of town talking—the two of them soon wonder if getting back to before is what they want. Because being in each other’s arms certainly feels like what they need…

North Carolina Beaches
visitnc.com/coast

Tracy's creative writing career started in the fourth grade when she published her first book. It was a bestseller–mainly because her dad bought all ten copies. From there, she moved on to work for NBC Sports and then to writing reports and testimony for Congress.

Today, Tracy is the author of best selling contemporary romance novels featuring hot football players and the women who love them.

She lives in Georgia, with her husband, two nearly adult children, and a horse named after her first novel: Game On.

See what she's up to at www.tracysolheim.com.

I am currently reading and loving BACK TO BEFORE - review to come! Meanwhile, I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including titles from Tracy's OUT OF BOUNDS series.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about "home restoration" reality TV - do you watch any?  I am a fan of HGTV's House Hunters and Hawaii Life.  They are not home restoration but home purchase.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Also available from Tracy