Cozy Winter Romance: “Snowfall at Pinewood Cabin” by Autumn Cotter

 ❄️Curl up with a cozy winter story! Snowfall at Pinewood Cabin by Autumn Cotter is full of heartwarming moments, gentle romance, and small joys that make winter days feel a little brighter. Perfect for fans of contemporary romances that linger long after the last page.

The Story At a Glance

• Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction
• Tone: Emotional and lighthearted
• Setting: Cozy winter cabin in a snowy setting
• Best for: Readers who appreciate heartwarming contemporary romances

"Snowfall at Pinewood Cabin"

Becca, a romance novelist facing a deadline and writer’s block, finds refuge in a snowstorm at a remote cabin. When a handsome stranger, Gabriel, seeks shelter after a car accident, their unexpected connection sparks a real-life romance mirroring the plot of her novel. Trapped together, they share personal stories, challenge each other’s perspectives, and discover a connection deeper than either expected.

Who is this story for?

This story is ideal for readers who appreciate heartwarming contemporary romances, particularly those featuring a cozy winter setting and an emphasis on emotional connection.  

Keywords: Emotional, Second-Chance, Sweet Romance, Clean

Buy "Snowfall at Pinewood Cabin" today!

•••

The Author

Autumn Cotter, a pseudonym, spent two decades solving people problems in the corporate world. She now channels her experience into bringing mindful stillness and creative inspiration to others. She lives in the mountains among wildflowers and dreams where she writes stories.

www.autumncotter.com

Romantic and Charming: RIVERBEND ROAD by RaeAnne Thayne

The Book

Return to Haven Point, where New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne proves there's no sweeter place to fall in love… 

Protecting the streets of Haven Point isn't just a job for police officer Wyn Bailey, it's a family tradition. But lately she's found herself wanting more, especially from her boss—and overprotective brother's best friend—sexy chief of police, Cade Emmett. The only problem is getting Cade to view her as more than just a little sister. 

Cade's hands-off approach with Wyn isn't from lack of attraction. But his complicated past has forced him to conceal his desire. When Wyn is harmed in the line of duty, Cade realizes the depth of his feelings, but can he let his guard down long enough to embrace the love he secretly craves?

A Reader's Opinion
"Romantic and Charming!" —Books & Benches

A delightful story wrapped with romance and charm in a lovely setting. Riverbend Road is book four in the Haven Point series, and I thought it read well as a stand-alone novel. I enjoyed some of the secondary characters enough that now I want to read their stories! Wyn and Cade are a great match, and I especially liked Cade's character. There were times when I thought their reasons for staying apart weren't as difficult as they made them out to be, and the chemistry wasn't always apparent, but their struggle to admit and accept what was between them was worth it when they finally came together. The secondary storyline with Wyn's neighbor is a nice addition to the book, and helped serve to both distract and bring together Wyn and Cade.

Riverbend Road is a clean and enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys a touch of romance. 

Reviewed by: Kaylie Morgan for Books & Benches
Rating: 4 Stars! Great read! 
Heat Rating: 2 Hearts: Our hearts are aflutter. This author knows how to turn up the heat with some passionate kisses. Nothing graphic here!

INTO THE FURY with Romantic Suspense Author Kat Martin

Please join me in welcome New York Times Bestselling Romantic Suspense Author Kat Martin. She returns with the Brodies (love them) in the first BOSS, Inc. Novel, Into the Fury. Today Kat joins us with a terrific post for writers, and as a bonus, the author is giving away a copy of the book. Stay tuned for my review of this great read in February.

The Book

"I love her books!" —Linda Lael Miller

"Martin is superb." —RT Book Reviews

A bodyguard, a bounty hunter, a P.I.—the men of Brodie Operations Security Service, Inc. are down for the job. . .

Sinners, whores, and sluts beware—your time is at hand: a faceless menace is threatening lingerie models on a cross country tour, and Ethan Brodie is there to defend and protect.

Ethan's learned the hard way that beauty is no substitute for character. So even though Valentine Hart is one of the most breathtaking women he's ever seen, he's keeping his hands off and his eyes open. Or that's what he tells himself.

Then one of the models is murdered, and the closer Ethan gets to the answers, the closer he finds himself to Valentine—and the hotter the pressure feels. There's more to Val—more to the other girls—than he could have guessed. But one is keeping a secret that could kill them all.

AMAZON (Mass Market) | KINDLE | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS

FIVE TIPS TO SHARPEN YOUR WRITING

By Kat Martin

<Tweet This>

I never give writing tips.  I figure everyone has his own personal style.  Plus some people are just naturally good.  But I do think there are a few things authors can do to sharpen their work.  Here are some of the things I think about when I am writing a novel.

1.  Start with a hook.  Make your first sentence or at least your first paragraph compelling.  Make the reader want to read the book!  In INTO THE FURY, my newest Romantic Suspense, the first sentence reads,

SINNERS, SLUTS, and WHORES—BEWARE.  Your TIME is at HAND.  Standing next to the long mahogany table in the conference room, Ethan Brodie re-read the note he’d just been handed.

 

Everyone who sees this paragraph recognizes the threat in that note.  Someone--probably a woman--could be in grave peril.

With any luck, this opening will intrigue the reader enough to keep reading. 

2.  Enter late and leave early.  In the above example, we’re starting in the middle of the scene.  We’re not in the conference room waiting for Ethan to show up.  We aren’t there until after he receives the note.  From there we start charging forward, finding out what’s going to happen next.  Just remember the reader isn’t interested in “Hi, how are you?”  “I’m fine, and you?”  

At the end of the scene, get out. <Tweet This>

3.  Make sure there’s conflict in every scene.  This doesn’t necessarily mean violent conflict.  It can be man against nature, man against man, man against himself, anything that makes the reader interested in continuing. 

In my example, the conflict in the opening scene of INTO THE FURY is mostly Ethan’s battle with himself.  He doesn’t want to take a job bodyguarding what he thinks will be a bunch of air-headed models.  He’s had too much woman trouble lately, but it’s a good job that pays well.  They need his skills and so he decides to take it.

4.  Stay in the active voice whenever possible.  Try not to use the word was too many times.  Here’s an example.  A rumble of thunder in the sullen gray sky blotted the reverend’s next words.  I could have written, The sound of thunder could be heard in the distance. The sky was a sullen gray.  That’s passive voice.  It’s important to stay active.

Personally, I have to work at this.  I often go back and change from passive to active after I write the first draft. 

5.  Write characters that grow and change.  Writing a character arc, it’s called.  It means your characters learn something or do something that changes them.  During the time Ethan is working with the La Belle lingerie models, he learns how difficult their job is.  He comes to admire their work ethic and their brains. 

It changes some of his thinking about the female sex and helps him realize the kind of woman he really wants in his life.

There are lots of great tips to writing.  The five above I learned from studying very successful authors.  Dean Koontz has a wonderful book called Learning To Write, but its out of print and hard to find.

All the authors I’ve studied, all the books by other authors that I’ve enjoyed through the years, have helped me immeasurably.  I hope these tips will help you, too.    

Best of luck with your writing and all good wishes for a terrific 2016. 

Warmest, Kat

The Author

Currently living near Missoula, Montana, Kat Martin is the bestselling author of over fifty-five Historical and Contemporary Romance novels, currently an NYT bestselling author of the romantic suspense AGAINST series. Before she started writing in 1985, Kat was a real estate broker. During that time, she met her husband, L. J. Martin, also an author with over 33 book length works. Kat is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. "I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era." 

To date, Kat has over fifteen million copies of her books in print. She is published more than two dozen foreign countries, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, China, Korea, Bulgaria, Russia, England, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Japan and Greece.  

http://www.katmartin.com

THANK YOU FOR VISITING TODAY. WE HOPE TO YOU SEE AGAIN SOON.

A Reader's Opinion: KEY OF KNOWLEDGE by Nora Roberts

The Book

AMAZON

From #1 New York Times bestselling author—the second novel in the thrilling Key Trilogy. Fate brings three women together for a chance to unlock their deepest desires. This is Dana’s quest…

Dana Steele has always found her greatest passion in books. But now her boss is making her job as a librarian a living hell. Luckily, she now has a Plan B…

High on a hill overlooking the town of Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania, sits the Warrior’s Peak estate. It’s where Dana was invited to meet Malory Price and Zoe McCourt—and where they learned that they were destined to find three keys to unlock a box holding the souls of three mythical demigoddesses: one an artist, one a bard, and one a warrior.

With the promise of a million dollars each dangled before them, the women couldn’t refuse. And as Malory found the first key, they formed a fast friendship and decided to go into business together. For Dana, that meant her dream of owning a bookstore was about to come true.

And now, as Dana finds herself on the threshold of some major life changes, it’s her turn to find a key. She has four weeks to unravel a riddle involving her past, present, and future, and to find the truth hidden among deception and lies—or succumb to her worst nightmare.

A Reader's Opinion

This is my second favorite Nora Roberts' trilogy after Irish Born, primarily because I like all of six of the main characters—a lot. Dana Steel, Finn's step-sister, is the right blend of sarcasm, humor, and femininity.  Jordan can hold his own with Dana, and more than anything, he wants to rekindle the fire that flamed between them years before. I love Jordan's character from start to finish. Their combined knowledge and passion for books will the key that unlocks not only the door to their personal future, but to save the lives of the lost souls. 

I'm not a fan of most paranormal books, but Roberts manages to make the paranormal feel like a part of everyday life. The chemistry between Dana and Jordan is spot on, but don't think you won't see the other characters. This trilogy offers up plenty of detail on each couple in all three books. A highly recommended book whenever you're looking for a great story and good entertainment. 

Book Source: Reader's personal collection

Book Format: Paperback

A Reader's Opinion: KEY OF LIGHT by Nora Roberts

AMAZON

The Book

The first novel in the unforgettable Key Trilogy. Fate brings three women together for a chance to unlock their deepest desires. This is Malory’s journey…

Malory Price’s life plan has hit a snag. She’s in danger of losing her job managing an art gallery in Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania. A welcome distraction comes in the form of an invitation to a cocktail party at Warrior’s Peak, an infamous estate overlooking the town. But no one else she knows has been invited…

There are only two other guests: Dana Steele, a librarian, and Zoe McCourt, a single mother. On the surface, it seems the women have nothing in common, until their mysterious hosts tell them a story—and offer them a challenge.

Legend has it that the souls of three demigoddesses—one an artist, one a bard, and one a warrior—have been locked in a box that has three keys. Now it’s up to Malory and the others to find the keys. Their reward: a million dollars each.

It all seems too bizarre to be true. But none of them can ignore the financial windfall they stand to gain. And now Malory—with her soul of an artist and eye for beauty—must find her key first. She soon discovers that whatever locked the souls away is dark, powerful, and greedy…and it doesn’t want the women to win.

A Reader's Opinion

I originally read the key trilogy not long after they came out, and I've had the books in my collection for a few years. However, when I came across the re-releases with the deckle edges (love that look), I couldn't help but pick up the books and read them again. 

In Key of Light, we're introduced to all of the major players who you'll see through the series, and in a rare event, I happen to like all of them. Usually there's one main character in a Nora Roberts series that I feel so-so about, but not this one (and the Irish Born trilogy). Malory Price is the type of woman I'd probably call a friend if I met her in real life. She's put together, tougher than she seems, has a subtle sense of humor, and great taste in men. Michael Flynn Hennessy, or Flynn as he's called throughout the series is an absolute charmer. Add in his big, slobbery and lovable dog, and you have a winning combo. I like everything about their characters, including how they interact with their close group of friends. 

The story moves along at a nice pace, is an fun escape from everyday life, and an all around enjoyable book. 

As a side note, I also have listened to the audiobook version—abridged version—and although I enjoyed it because I could fill in the gaps, I'd recommend either an unabridged version (if you can find one) or reading the books so you don't miss out on any of the story. 

Book Source: Reader's collection

Book Edition: Paperback (Deckle Edge)

"Finding the Way Back to Love": 5 Questions for Author Katie O'Boyle

Please join me in welcoming Katie O'Boyle, author of the Lakeside Porches series, warm-hearted romances about healing, hope, and love.

 

Gwen Forrester, Ph.D., is a beautiful widow and a therapist specializing in addiction and abuse issues. You’d think her search for a good man would turn up more than eye candy, but she’s stuck in the past, attracted only to men who look like her late husband, the Ivy League lawyer. 

When her very pregnant niece Haley breaks into Gwen’s lakeside home, Gwen rethinks her choices. Investigating the break-in is Officer Peter Shaughnessy, a macho cop who’s new in town and recently divorced. Maybe it’s hormones radiating from Haley, but Gwen’s convinced she wants a baby with this Adonis in uniform. 

Format(s): Kindle

Print Length: 356 pages

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing (February 2, 2015)

Get your copy at Amazon!

Q&A with Katie O'Boyle

What type of hero do you like best?

I see a lot of book covers with nearly-naked alpha males, and I have to say they’re not my type. Don’t shoot me! I like a man with integrity, intelligence, and a sense of humor. Sure, he has to be sexy and good-looking, but I like a hero who wants a partnership with a woman and who admires her thinking and talent and compassion for others. And, of, course, to get the story started, my favorite hero needs to be thrown for a loop by the heroine and ultimately willing to change his life to make a future with her.

What is your favorite scene in your latest release, Finding the Way Back To Love?

Writing the scene in which Peter and Gwen crash Gwen’s canoe allowed me to draw on my own love of canoeing and on some harrowing experiences boating on the lakes. Gwen and Peter share a love of canoeing, and both of them are physically strong and very fit. They set off from Gwen’s house on Chestnut Lake (in the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York) to paddle the 20-mile eastern shore for one last look at the brilliant fall foliage. Characteristically, Gwen hasn’t checked the weather report. Although Peter knows there is a storm coming, being new to the area, he doesn’t understand how destructive a storm can be on a lake, so he hasn’t mentioned it. When the storm strikes, they are on the stretch of shore with no landing place and no shelter. Peter and Gwen’s push for survival taps every reserve of their strength and sets the stage for an explosive argument that nearly destroys their love for each other. As a writer, I drew on my experiences canoeing with a partner in all kinds of weather. I relived the teamwork, the sounds and sights and smells of the lakes, the feel of the wind and waves, the physical reality of paddling under adverse conditions, and the terror of the storm. It was a challenge to write, and I hope it’s a thrill to read.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does she do that is so special?

On the surface, psychologist Gwen Forrester has it all. She’s beautiful, fit, well-off, and a respected member of her community. As a recovering alcoholic, she has devoted her professional and personal life to helping other alcoholics. Yet she’s in complete denial about the problems in her marriage to hero Jeb Brewster, her first husband, who was killed while rescuing young skiers. That mental block will cost her the love of Peter Shaughnessy, the man she wants to marry and raise a family with. Finding her way back to love will require a disturbing walk down memory lane with her oldest friend Lorraine. And, even harder, she’ll have to tell the truth to Peter.

Which writers inspire you?

What an interesting question! First, I learn something from every writer, including those in my writing groups and those who submit to contests that I judge. I’m repeatedly surprised by the courage of new writers and the compulsion to create that we share as writers. Second, I’m challenged to keep learning and growing as a writer, by those whose work I greatly respect and enjoy: mystery writer Louise Penny; romance writer Mariah Stewart; clever, classic mystery writers Peter Lovesey and Agatha Christie. Finally, author G. K. Chesterton’s humor and insight are guiding forces in my writing.

Favorite color?

Green! I’m Irish, and probably my soul is green. 

_____________________________________________

 

Check out the first two books in the Lakeside Porches series!

Book One

Miracles happen when romance is higher-powered. A lakeside porch in the Finger Lakes is the perfect spot for a quiet moment or a heart-to-heart with your special someone. Joel and Manda’s first heart-to-heart on the breakfast porch at the Manse Inn and Spa is anything but romantic. Joel the owner of the Manse is furious with his junior accountant for using one of the spa showers. If Manda didn’t have a desperate story and a spectacular body, Joel might not be feeding her breakfast and falling in love. Can Manda get sober, clean up her act, and open her heart to her rich, hunky boss? Fall in love with Joel and Manda in Stepping Up To Love. Available at Amazon.

Book Two

Justin Cushman’s billions can’t buy him a solution for his deteriorating health. Gianessa Dupioni’s broken heart won’t let her look at another man until her career is back on track. When fate brings them both to a spa in the Finger Lakes and circumstances pair them in a tiny closet of a treatment room, they begin a journey of health and happiness neither believed possible. If they’re to enjoy the journey, Justin will need to change his entire attitude and outlook on life, and Gianessa will need to open her heart to trust again. Available at Amazon.


Meet & Connect with the Author

Born in the upstate-New York village known as the Birthplace of Women's Rights, I love the Finger Lakes in every season. I enjoy lunch with friends in our beautiful lake towns, and I cherish the lakeside porch as a place for intimate sharing, laughter, and inspiration.

http://www.katieoboyle.com

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