Matt is
grumpy, Phoebe is sunshine. AND the sister of his teammate -
are they a match
made in heaven or hell?
Matthew
A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series
by Alisa Jean
Genre: Sports Hockey Romance
Matthew Holt uses his
anger on the ice, gaining him the title of enforcer for L.A. Quakes and high
minutes in the sin bin. But hooking up with a teammate’s little sister may earn
him the highest penalty of all.
Ever since pee wee hockey, I’ve
only known one way to play the sport I love – one hundred percent all in. My
focus has always been protecting my teammates, so when the only team I’ve ever
played for betrays me, trading me to a team thousands of miles from the family
that needs me, who can blame me for taking angry and bitter to a whole new
level.
Then Phoebe Anderson, the younger sister of my new teammate, literally falls
into my arms and suddenly my life takes another, weird turn. Because believe it
or not, my late sister voices her approval of the adorable klutz and refuses to
be denied. Or am I going nuts? Either way, will our siblings prove to be too
big of an obstacle to overcome? Or am I ready to let go of my anger and do
whatever it takes to earn Phoebe’s love?
Matthew: Hockey Romance
Sunshine-Grumpy
Teammate's Little Sister
Sneaking Around
Haunted Hero
Sin Bin Leader
One Night Stand into Fling
Early readers are giving it
rave reviews!
"There is tension and chemistry that
jumps off the pages, not just between potential love interests, but the team as
a whole. This story is a definite attention grabber, so much I couldn't put it
down. It has a gripping and incredible storyline, making you want to read it
again. If I could, I'd give it 5 plus stars. "
"Loved this book great read."
"I enjoyed how there is more to him that no one knew. He
definitely was an enforcer on the ice but deep down he was a big softy. And
Phoebe is a girl who can’t stay on her feet literally...Definitely worth the
wait. Can’t wait to read book 4."
Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White
and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima
(don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on
to better beverages and writing novels. Separately, Marla prefers to murder
characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time
best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of
hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed
characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.
Princess Evangeline has an insatiate lust for power. As her
kingdom’s most feared warrior and heiress to the throne, she plans to one day
rule in her father’s place, just as she rules over countless men during secret
nights of sin.
But when the castle falls to a new enemy, Evangeline becomes
a slave in her own kingdom, forced to obey the heartless queen’s commands to
honor her father’s dying wish: to protect her people.
The princess craves vengeance, but can she resist the carnal
magnetism between her and Prince Rune, the queen’s son and royal pawn? And as
rebellion brews, can she trust Rune, the man with the power to quench her
torrid flames, to be her greatest ally?
T. Pike grew up in Northwest Arkansas where she swam
competitively for more than 17 years. After graduating from Texas A&M
University with an English degree and All-American honors, she returned home to
pursue her master's in English and write her debut novel: Some Call Me Eve. Now
a law student, she enjoys running and hiking with her dogs and exploring the
mountains with her partner.
Riley has spent a lifetime playing it safe, then she meets
Wade
—a cowboy who makes her want to play with fire.
Giddy-Up
Love Burns Series Book 5
by Isobel Reed
Genre: Contemporary Western Small-Town Romantic Comedy
Riley has spent a
lifetime playing it safe, then she meets Wade—a cowboy who makes her want to
play with fire. Will she finally find her voice and ask for what she’s never
dared to before, or will fear drive her to run once again?
Riley took growing up sheltered to a whole new level. She’d never so much as
stepped out of Silver Valley. Now at thirty, she was taking the leap. In a new
town. With a new job. And a new boss that made it hard to breathe, let alone
use actual full sentences around. When hot cowboy, Wade Evans, flashed those
dimples her way, she knew she was in trouble, she just had no idea how much.
Working seven days a week meant Wade didn’t have much time for a social life.
Let alone a love life. Not that he didn’t want one. He did. Badly. So when
Riley, the new maid, shows up, he doesn’t shy away from making his interest
known after it’s made clear she feels it too. There’s only one problem though,
she keeps running from him. And he has no idea why. Now he has to decide
whether to cut his losses, or fight for the one woman he’s been waiting all his
life for.
Fans of heart-stopping cowboy romances like Wild Cowboy Ways by
Carolyn Brown or A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon
will find the same exciting happily ever after in Giddy-Up by
Isobel Reed. This best-selling author is known for her sarcastic dialogue and
small towns filled with sassy characters. Saddle Up for a wild ride!
Isobel was born and raised in London. While she’s a city
girl at heart, she loves daydreaming about running away to a charming small
town—though she’s not entirely sure her husband and son would share her
enthusiasm for the move. When she’s not writing small-town romantic comedies or
growing unhealthily attached to the characters in her books, you can find her
reading, chasing after her very active toddler, or attempting to channel her
inner domestic goddess in the kitchen (with varying degrees of success).
Known for her witty dialogue and swoon-worthy small-town
heroes, Isobel signed with Inkspell Publishing in 2021. The following year, she
released Love Tools, the first book in her four-book Bluestone Series. In early
2024, she launched Toasted, the debut novel of her seven-book Love Burns
Series, which will roll out over the next year.
And soon, lines blur where myth ends and danger begins.
The Beast’s Healer
The Hamlia Tales Trilogy Book 1
by Rae Lori
Genre: Fairytale Fantasy Romance
Something stirs in the darkness. And soon, lines
blur where myth ends and danger begins.
Megalyn Hartwood has always known the forbidden forest's rules: which plants
heal and which shadows kill. But when a child's life hangs in the balance, she
breaks the ultimate taboo and ventures into the depths where no villager dares
to tread.
There, she encounters him.
The legendary beast spoken of only in whispers. Ancient. Powerful. And far more
complex than the monster of village tales.
Forced to his hidden lair deep in the forest's heart, Meg discovers that some
legends hide deeper truths.
But before she can unravel the mystery of the beast who guards the ancient
woods, danger strikes from an unexpected source, threatening not only Meg's
life, but her quiet village as well...
Perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast inspired tales, forbidden romance,
tense action scenes, and enchanted forests where nothing is quite what it
seems.
Rae Lori is a multi-published, award-winning author and a geek girl at
heart. She was first bitten by the writing bug at ten and never stopped loving
the written word. Over a twenty-year-plus writing career, she has been
published with various zines, journals and publishing companies and taught new
writers the craft of novel writing in between her projects. She has won various
awards including an Honorable Mention in the 73rd Annual Writer’s Digest
Writing Competition, the 2011 ForeWord Book of the Year Gold Award Winner in
Writing (Adult Nonfiction), and Best Romance Novella in SORMAG’s 2009 Reader’s
Choice Awards.
Rae can usually be found with her head in the clouds daydreaming of her
next story. That is, when she isn’t gaming or watching her fave movies with her
fellow geekazoid husband (it’s time for another Aliens rewatch!), crocheting,
or has her nose in a book.
It’s
been a while since I’ve posted an update on here, and a lot has changed over
the last six months.
Son and Transition School
Son
officially graduated and had his ceremony of achievements on June 19th,
after being at the school for two and a half years. I was fine during the achievements
of the other four students who were also leaving, but bawled the entire time
Jeff was praising my sweet son, and everything he accomplished while attending
the school. Son was always saying he was a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and at his
graduation from the transition school, he was promoted to full Lieutenant. That
only made me bawl harder. His teachers there are so good with the students, and
they understand every nuance, every single quirk and more. To say we’re going
to miss all of them next year is an understatement.
This
also marks another huge milestone – Son is finally done with the South Shore
Regional Education Centre. He had been in the system since he started primary
in 2010, and has finally graduated from there too.
He
had started attending his work placement program 4 days a week earlier this
year, and is happy to be staying there. They are full on Mondays so he’s only
attending there Tuesdays to Fridays, which is fine with me. I get three days to
sleep in instead of only the weekends. And if there’s a holiday like Canada Day
during the week, he gets that off too. Plus any days that it’s a snow day for
the SSREC kids it’s one for his crew too. The LL gang (as I call it) does a lot
of things, like laundry for various businesses around the county, silk screening,
shredding paper, and so much more. These amazing people of all ages (ranging
from 18 to elderly) learn a lot of skills at the placement, plus they also go
on outings like bowling in Lunenburg, various fairs around the South Shore,
museums, visiting horse stables and various farms, selling products that are
made in the shop at farm markets and so much more.
They
even had their first ever prom for LL participants and full time residents
(this is attached to a home for people who cannot live independently who cannot
live with family, etc.). Everyone looked so wonderful dressed up, and they had
so much fun at the dance. Even Son – who hates any music that’s not classical
or heavy metal – loved it and hope they do it again next year.
To
say they are awesome is an understatement, and I’m so happy my precious boy is
there. They’ve done so much for him, he’s even more independent now, and has
matured a lot in the last six months or so.
I’m
so proud of him!
Lunenburg Pride’s Third Annual
Pride Parade
Another
year, another pride celebration in my county! I was going to walk in the parade
again this year, after having so much fun last year, but unfortunately, my body
decided that it wasn’t going to store iron again, and I’m extremely anemic (no
laughing or you’re a horrid piece of shit!). No walking in the parade, doctor’s
orders. I was allowed to watch it, as long as I stayed out of the sun, I was
sitting down and guzzling water.
It
wasn’t as big this year as it had been last year, but it was still tons of fun,
with everyone calling “Happy Pride!” and pretty much every part of the LGBT+
community represented.
When
we got to Empire Street, we saw someone walking by wearing the lesbian flag,
and others wearing the Intersex Progressive Pride Flag, as well as non-binary
flags, lots of Canadian flags with the rainbow where the two red panels
normally go (I call it the Canadian PRIDE flag), and of course the traditional Rainbow Pride flag (six coloured
one) everywhere – and that was just the spectators.
Yours
truly went all out in her own flag colours – which are also my signature colours as
an author. Black, grey, white, and purple galore, head to toe. Even the
sneakers matched, they’re black, white, grey and lavender. Perfect for me! I
did wear my PRIDE hat with the word in rainbow colours, and my rainbow
bracelet, but that was it. I wore my asexual flag as a cape too. Hubby said I
looked awesome and he was so proud to see me having fun and cheering on my
fellow LGBT+ community members. I even saw a few people I had made friends with
last year… It was so much fun and so amazing.
I
hope I’m well enough to walk in it next year, as an author and representative
of the asexual community in the area. If not, I’m happy to sit on the sidelines
and cheer on my fellow queers again!
Writing Update
Now
that the glucose is dropping a mile (almost back to normal!) and I’m losing
that brain fog, I am determined to get Thorns
of the Rose completed and get on with the other stories in the queue, from His Reasons to Fight to the crime drama
Xek and I are working on, and so many more…
With
Son gone four days a week, and Hubby working a lot of daytimes at his store (he
works for a major Canadian grocery store chain), I’m getting at least two to
three work days a week. I’m not always getting 5K days but I’m getting 1 to 3 K
days and that’s better than nothing. You can’t edit a blank page, after all…
And I’m filling mine up, faster than I thought I would be at this point. Thorns of the Rose is now over 40
thousand words, and I’m not even up to the halfway point yet.
This
story will also have a bit more steam/spice in it than most of my other stories
do, because I’m publishing this as an Indie published book under my own
publishing company – whose name will be revealed in time, when I’m ready. I’m
already researching registering it with the province and possibly with Ottawa,
so it will be a legit company for my own books, and for selling art, and so
much more.
I’m
determined to finish draft 1 of Thorns of the Rose as soon as possible. That
way I can finally finish the crime drama with Xek and the two of us can get it
cleaned up, beta read and either done Indie or by one of the publishing houses
we are looking at. It will not be done via Extasy Books due to them not putting
many books out (I don’t want to overwhelm everyone!) and it won’t be out via
Decadent because they focus on romance, and this one has no romance in it. Xek
has one or two she’d like to try, and I have a couple in mind as well. Although
I’m with her on her first choice, it’s my second choice, so we’ll probably
submit there first.
And
no, I won’t be saying when it goes out. That’s between us and the publishing
house who receives it. The last thing we need is upsetting anyone else if we
get a rejection. And I’m betting on at least one or two rejections before
finding the right home for it.
As
for His Reasons to Fight, I’ll be
plugging away on that in the future. I know, I should get it finished ASAP due
to Could Have Been ending on a
cliffhanger… but I assure all of you out there, it will be more than worth the
wait to see how Joshua and Lauren get their happy ever after. I promise!
Art
I’ve
been drawing and painting again, this time using watercolors and watercolor
pencils. Watercolor pencils are the bomb! I love how easy they are to use,
notably for shading right and more. My only gripe is that they need a LOT of
water to dissolve the pigments, especially if you layer tons of colors for
shading and more. Otherwise, I love them a lot and I’m hoping to get a huge set
sometime when we hit Michaels Crafts.
I
just need more white multimedia paper though. I’m almost out and the Dollarama
no longer carries it. Good grief.
No, I don't show my art publicly, due to companies like Google and others using it to "train" their generative AI slop without my permission. Plus I know a few people who would love to download it, print it out and use it as toilet paper, just out of spite. If you want to see my art, either check out my Discord (you have to have an invite for it) or certain places online that are not visible to the public eye.
Otherwise,
everything is running smoothly and I’m doing my best not to gnaw on the monitor
those days that I’m not writing.
Happy
International Non-Binary Peoples Day! It’s
celebrated every July 14th, and celebrates everyone under the
non-binary (enby or NBi) umbrella. I love enby people! They are so sweet, kind
and down to earth. You don’t have to present a certain way to be enby either,
just be yourself!
On a final note, due to recent circumstances, Generative AI is completely banned in my writing group, on my pages, on this blog and more. Any author who wants to participate in a takeover in my group must state if they used generative AI in either their writing, their covers or both. If they did, it'll be an immediate access denied and banned from the group.
Writing is not prompting.
It's hard work that takes time. You pound it out word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, page by page until the story is finished. Period. No fucking shortcuts. At all.
If you use generative AI to "ghost write" and then revise it, you are a fraud and not a real author. You are an editor and proofer. Nothing more.
It's a legal form of plagiarism, and I hope it soon becomes illegal.
Besides, you cannot copyright anything "written" or "drawn" using generative AI.
Period.
So sick of entitled, selfish pieces of shit who think they're an "author" by typing prompts into generative AI and using what it barfs out as "a story" that they "wrote"...
I have worked my ass off to get where I am as an author and an artist today. I'm not perfect by any means, but there's a reason why two of my books have won awards... And it's not because they were written using stuff stolen from other people's original work.
To
wrap it up, I leave you with a song that’s been running through my head the
last while… “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by local classic metal
band, Whom Gods Destroy. Enjoy!
If you love European settings,
wine, romance, female friendships, laughter, heartbreak, redemption, and a bit
of spice, these are the books for you!
Will There Be Wine?
by Whitney Cubbison
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Austen Keller was living her dream. She landed a career-defining job
which moved her and her husband to Paris. Swoon! Shortly thereafter, she was
divorced. Thud. This wasn’t the plan. Yet there she was—pushing 40 and starting
over.
A decade after she’d last been
single, Austen enters the dating scene playing by a new set of rules in a
different language, culture, and lingerie standards. She experiences every type
of miserable first date imaginable and lives to tell the tales of Pierre the
Mansplainer, Simon the Snoozer, Emile the Over-Sharer, Guillaume of the Gym
Shorts, and many more. On most dates, she struggles to get past one glass of
Bordeaux without wanting to bolt. Even worse, no one chases after her when she
runs. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that whoever said French men were
romantic deserves a swift kick in the pants.
A rewarding and high-powered
career. Check!
Fabulous female friendships. Nailed it!
True love. Umm?
Austen continues to ask herself:
Is “having it all” too much to ask?
A genuine and tragically hilarious
novel about an ex-pat woman's journey of self-discovery through a string of
disastrous dates, relationships forged in a deep cultural divide, world
travels, and wine. A lot of wine.
A
propulsive exploration of romantic and platonic love, commitment, shared
history, betrayal and personal reckoning.
To
celebrate her fortieth birthday, Ophelia and her husband Gianluca gather an
unlikely group of eight friends and lovers – some old, some new, some false,
some true – for a long weekend in Ibiza. However, the idyllic villa setting may
be the only thing holding together a complicated tangle of friendship, love,
and betrayal.
Among the guests is Ophelia’s old university flame, Matt, and his new
girlfriend, Austen. While Matt finds himself falling in love, Austen is holding
back, carefully protecting her heart.
Ophelia knows she loves her husband, but “love” is a word she never learned to
say, a silence rooted in a childhood tragedy. What she doesn’t know is that
Gianluca has been whispering it to someone else. And when his mistress crashes
the party along with her own boyfriend, she brings a revelation that could
unravel everything.
Across Rome, Paris and Ibiza, the party guests navigate the tangled paths that
bring people together and push them apart, exploring where love begins, where
it falters, and the courage it takes to hold on—or to let go.
Will There Be Love? is the sequel to
Whitney Cubbison’s debut novel, Will There Be
Wine?, however it can be read as a stand-alone.
Whitney Cubbison is a dual
American & French citizen living in Paris since 2009. She grew up in Texas
and California and graduated from UCLA with a degree in French. She started her
career in Communications working for high-tech PR agencies in San Francisco and
eventually joined Microsoft where she worked for sixteen years, thirteen of
which from the Paris office. During that time, she held various international
roles that encompassed public relations, employee communications, executive
speechwriting, and social media.
She earned her French citizenship
in early 2022 and left Microsoft that summer to focus on completing her first
novel, Will There Be Wine?, which came out in January 2023. The story, while
fiction, was deeply inspired by Whitney’s own experiences as an ex-pat divorcée
living in Paris and trying to navigate the cultural minefield of dating in a
foreign country. A sequel called Will There Be Love? will be out on April 29,
2025.
When she’s not writing, Whitney
can be found sitting in Parisian cafés and restaurants with her friends,
drinking wine.
