And then it came to me...sacrificing the one thing that was most important to her: her independence...without losing herself. Giving up her body for nine months to be a surrogate for her sister when Sage had no desire to ever be pregnant or to be a mom.

And this is where Sage and I differ: I loved being pregnant and having babies and all the crazy amounts of love and joy that come with being a mom. Instead of my typical wise-ass comments (I saved those for Girl's Night Out--which rarely occurred--and spats with Hubby), I cooed and smiled, and blew raspberry kisses all over naked bellies. Sage, however, has a different story. You'll have to read Wilde for You​ to find out...
​

Event planner Sage Wilde has lots of lists and no time for a relationship… 
 
Precise to a fault, Sage plans everything—meetings, meals, and sex. But when she learns her youngest sister can’t carry a child, she steps up and commits to the role of a surrogate mother. It’s not out of sentiment, because Sage doesn’t do love or touchy-feely, but out of practicality. She doesn’t plan on marrying or having children, so why not rent out her unused space, right? 
 
Luke Riley is a sexy firefighter who’s looking for love in all the wrong places… 
 
Luke’s morning gets a little brighter when he’s called to a clinic and spots a blonde beauty wearing killer red boots. Though she doesn’t seem interested, he manages to introduce himself. It’s unusual for a woman to push away his advances, but Luke is attracted to her confident nature and strong personality. It’s not long before he wears her down, and she finally agrees to a date. 
 
Who says you can’t mix work with pleasure? 
 
Sage blames her growing affections for Luke on pregnancy hormones. But one last hurrah before her belly swells sounds like a well-deserved thrill. After a few passionate nights, the line between love and lust begins to blur—leaving her more confused than ever. 
 
Luke is mesmerized by her keen wit and social charm. She may claim not to want children, but when she befriends his troubled foster sister, it proves there’s a heart inside of Sage waiting to be loved. 
 
Will Sage’s surrogacy unlock her willingness to commit? Or will Luke stand by as the woman he loves plans a future without him? 
 
PURCHASE LINKS: Available on Kindle Unlimited!
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1WOpcce
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/1XszP2T

I'm super excited to have fellow Maine author Luanna Stewart on my blog today. Actually, it's not Luanna but Heather James, the heroine in her hot romantic suspense, Portrait of a Girl.  ​

Marianne: Let's start by talking about food. What’s your favorite restaurant?
Heather: I judge a restaurant on its dessert menu – there should be at least two chocolate options, and everything needs to be made in-house. 

Marianne: Oh, I'm with you there! Chocolate brings me much happiness. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Heather: Perfect happiness for me would be a well-equipped kitchen, and someone to clean up after my baking marathons.
 
Marianne: Ha ha! When and where were you happiest? 
Heather: Aside from right now, I was happiest when travelling through Europe with Mom and Daddy. They knew the best places to eat!
 
Marianne: Which talent would you most like to have?
Heather: I would love to be able to draw (more than a stick figure) or paint with watercolors. Even the paint-by-numbers I did as a child were a mess.
 
Marianne: If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Heather: I’d choose to be reincarnated as a pampered cat. My kitty, Samson, has nothing to complain about.

Marianne: Where would you most like to live?
Heather: Despite my recent experiences, I want to live in France, in a small town. My house would be old, with lots of character, and I’d live next door to a charming café.
 
Marianne: Sounds utterly relaxing! So, we know you have a sweet tooth and would love to live in France. What is your favorite occupation?
Heather: My favorite occupation is baking. I bake every day. If I’m not baking, I’m thinking about baking. Right now I’m experimenting with sticky buns, all sorts of different fillings. In fact, I have the most delicious brioche dough rising so I have to run. Great meeting you! Bye!

​Portrait of a Girl:
 
When her wealthy art dealer father died, Heather James was expecting a fortune. Instead, his bank account was empty and Heather’s working in a bakery, wondering exactly what happened to her father's millions...until someone tries to kill her.
 
Tony Simons is on the trail of an art theft cold case that's practically giving him frostbite. He's hoping that by sticking close to Heather—the daughter of his deceased prime suspect—he'll find the answers he needs. Instead, he's finding himself distracted by a gorgeous woman who drives him crazy in every way imaginable…
 
Now Tony's in serious trouble. Even if Heather can't—or won't—tell him where the stolen paintings and money are, she may well have stolen his heart.
 
And now someone wants her dead…
 
Buy links:
 
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/portrait-of-a-girl/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1O24jme
B&N: http://bit.ly/1CwsiJd
iTunes: http://apple.co/1UOOL9Y
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1KYlgQ4
Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1Tsfw2p

Travel writer/novelist Ray Bartlett shares his original cocktail, the Tulum Sunset! I'm only missing one ingredient and am adding it to this week's grocery list. Welcome, Ray. Tell us about this awesome drink you concocted, and about the book that inspired it all.

You're in a book club, and the book is only a third of the fun.  You meet each month to chat with dear friends, have pot luck food, a glass of wine (or two, or three...), and oh, right, there's also that book you
all read.

Some authors, myself included, are keeping you in mind.  Not only does <i>Sunsets of Tulum</i>, my debut novel, have an exciting, sometimes steamy plot and great characters that are perfect for book club discussions, there's a note directly to book clubbers like you in the back.  Best of all, each of my novels includes an original cocktail.

Today we're introducing the Tulum Sunset.

[Image one:  Finished drink on white background]

Loosely based on the margarita (Why not, since the book starts out in sunny Cancun?!), the Tulum Sunset is what the main character is sipping when he meets the enigmatic girl-of-his-dreams, Clione Roux.  Like the girl, the drink is unforgettable.

​Recipe:
2 parts tequila (such as Hornitos)
1 part triple sec
1/2 part Damiana liqueur
juice of 1 lime
pineapple juice
guava nectar
splash of grenadine (reserved)

In a Collins glass filled with ice, add all ingredients except grenadine and stir, then add grenadine so it settles in the bottom, causing the drink to blush from red to yellow (just like a <i>sunset</i>, get it?). Garnish with cherry and/or fresh pineapple and...

Enjoy!!!

Note:  this is super easy to make in a pitcher, too, just be sure the grenadine is added after pouring into individuals' glasses.

Another note:  Skip the alcohol and it's an amazing mocktail, too. (Though why on earth would one want to skip the alcohol?!)

A third note:  Go easy on the Damiana.  Among other "powers" it's rumored to be an aphrodisiac.  (Don't say I didn't warn you!)

I hope this drink piques your interest and tantalizes your tastebuds. If you get hooked (or forget the recipe!), it's in the novel http://www.amazon.com/Sunsets-Tulum-Raymond-Avery-Bartlett/dp/0988939037
[Image:  Book club enjoying the Tulum Sunset]
​

Ray Bartlett has been a travel writer for over a decade, working for
some of the industry's biggest names: Lonely Planet, Insight Guide, Moon Handbooks, USA Today, Public Radio International, and more.  His debut novel, <i>Sunsets of Tulum</i> was a Midwest Book Review February 2016 fiction pick.  Set in the lush, exotic, Riviera Maya, the novel explores love, lust, and the life-changing consequences that can happen when two travelers fall unexpectedly in love. Available on AMAZON or wherever books are sold. Signed copies available at www.BarrelFirePress.com or through Ray Bartlett directly.

I'm thrilled to have Ben Sharpton on my blog today. He's giving us ladies some helpful hints on how to get our men to read more. Welcome, Ben!​

Quick quiz: How many novels do you read a year? How about the men in your life — think husbands, significant others, children, fathers, etc.? Bet you beat ‘em. Some sources say 55% of women readers choose fiction compared to 45% of men. Women average nine books a year while men read only five, It’s no wonder only 20% of the fiction market is made of men these days.
 
Unfortunately, we men are missing out.
 
Studies show reading fiction helps people be more adept in social situations by increasing empathy, creativity, and what cognitive scientists call the “theory of the mind” — the ability to anticipate what another will do based on how we think that person perceives a situation. Who wouldn’t want their men to handle themselves better, socially? Social skills can benefit all areas of a person’s life — family, work, leisure, etc.
 
We need your help. How can you help us read more fiction? Here are some suggestions.

• Set an example and read fiction yourself — probably not an issue for you.
• Find out what type of stories a man likes (action, suspense, military, science fiction, etc.) and help him find those kinds of novels. Take a look at the genres he prefers on TV and in movies. Chances are, he might like similar novels.
• Buy a novel or two for him to try out based on the above information. (NOTE: if you give this as a gift, you might want to include other types of gifts, as well. Don’t just give him a David Baldacci novel, but also include socks, ties, that new Maserati, etc.)
• Schedule (together) a no-electronic-media night each week. Obviously, eReaders could be exempt, but TV, electronic games, web surfing, etc. would take the night off. In all honesty, we tried this in my house and it lasted about two weeks. My family still reads a lot. We just don’t try to squeeze it into a rigid schedule.
• Leave a couple of books around the house in his favorite genre, hoping he might pick one up to read on his own.
• Read books he might enjoy reading and talk about them.
• Find a couples book club.
• When you’re in mixed company (and he’s involved in the conversation), ask his friends what novels they have read.
• If he travels for business, sneak a book he might like into his suitcase. Include a friendly note saying you’re thinking about him.

 
These are just a few ideas to trigger your own. Please feel free to share them with others.
 
Happy reading! Together.

​



Ben Sharpton writes thrillers. His New Adult/Young Adult book, Camp Fear: 13 Days of Fear (Solstice Publishing) will be released on Friday the 13th (of May). His Adult Paranormal Thriller, 2nd Sight: Capturing Insight (Limitless Publishing) will be released on June 21. You can learn more at www.bensharpton.com.




http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fiction-readers-an-endangered-species-2013-10-11
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/04/29/why-men-should-read-more-fiction/
http://www.gallup.com/poll/188078/hits-new-low-favorite-spend-evening.aspx?g_source=reading&g_medium=search&g_campaign=tiles
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14175229