No matter which you choose, you have to act fast! Readertainment Press releases the book on Wednesday, October 14. So, starting that day, you’ll have to pay full price and the advance review copies will no longer be available.
Snow In Love includes all of the tropes that readers love:
My story, Santa’s Big Reveal, is a friends-to-lovers, secret-crush, small-town sweet story. If you like my Sweet Matchmaker series, I think you’ll love Santa’s Big Reveal.
If you don’t have time to read the entire Snow In Love collection, you can check out a free advance review copy of my story now through October 13. And if you’re interested, you can leave a review of it once the collection goes live on Oct. 14. Early reviews for books are a great lift for authors and incentive for readers.
About my story, Santa’s Big Reveal:
This Santa is ready to reveal his secret crush.
Entrepreneur Perry Tompkins feels like a town traitor. His crime? Leaving his small Virginia hometown to run a tech business in Silicon Valley. But this Christmas, the town’s cold shoulder can’t dampen Perry’s holiday cheer. Because his longtime friend and secret crush, Sharmaine, has finally broken up with her boyfriend—the town’s golden boy, Lance. And Perry’s coming home for the holidays with a mission: Operation Win Sharmaine.
Sharmaine Cole may not be with her ex, Lance, anymore, but she still wonders why he’s been acting so strangely. Suspecting that it may have something to do with his family’s store, a local historical landmark, she enlists her close friend Perry to help.Sharmaine may think that Perry is the perfect partner-in-crime, but the last thing he wants to do is bring her closer to her ex. But when the woman you love asks for help, and a local treasure is at risk, how can you say no?
Interested in reading more in exchange for your honest review?
I’m excited to be part of the 2020 sweet romance holiday collection, Snow In Love. Seven authors and I have teamed up to tell stories that cover the holiday season–Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s.
And it’s available for pre-order now for only $0.99.
My story is called Santa’s Big Reveal, featuring Sharmaine and Perry. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance with a secret crush and a small town vibe.
Pre-order your copy now and the magic of holiday romance will download to your Kindle on October 14. 🙂
If you want to know more about the other stories and tropes in the Snow In Love collection, you can read about it here.
Last week, I sent The Billionaire’s Matchmaker, book one of my Sweet Matchmaker series, out into the Amazon universe. And during the Memorial Day weekend, I had a free promo for the book. During that time, I was excited to see it trend on three of Amazon’s 100 Top Free lists:
If you weren’t able to download The Billionaire’s Matchmaker yet, you can still get it for free with Kindle Unlimited. Or you can buy it for $0.99 on Amazon.
So now, I’d like to introduce book two of the series, A Match Made Sweet. It also received a nice reception during the long weekend, reaching the 39th spot on Amazon’s Hot New Releases for 90-Minute Romance Short Reads.
Here’s an excerpt from A Match Made Sweet.
Chapter One
Six Years Ago
Eli paced in front of his girlfriend’s parents’ house, his stomach clenching like a gnarled fist. His mind reeled over the idea of breaking up with his childhood sweetheart, Jenny Jenkins. He couldn’t do it. They’d just graduated from college a week ago. They were supposed to build the rest of their lives together. A breakup was impossible.
That left Eli with two options: Decline the one year grant offered by the London Conservatory for the Arts. Or take Jenny to England with him.
How could he choose between the love of his life and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to one of the most exclusive acting programs in the world?
He couldn’t.
Eli roamed the Jenkins’ driveway, raked his fingers through his hair, and dragged his sweaty palms against his jeans. He must’ve looked like a madman to anyone watching. They could have been watching: Jenny, her sister, her mom, and dad. Her very large, ex-Marine, scary-voice dad. A dribble of sweat trickled down the back of Eli’s neck.
“What’s going on, Eli?”
The scary voice appeared out of nowhere. Mr. Jenkins’ taut face displayed a permanent scowl—at Eli, at least.
Eli cleared his throat, noting the shovel in the elder’s hand and how he gripped it in his massive lion hands. “Hello, sir, Mr. Jenkins, sir.”
“Yeah?” Mr. Jenkins’ lip curled in annoyance. One day Eli would learn how to greet the man without a fumbled cracking voice. “You hear to see Jenny?”
“Yes, sir. How are you today, s—”
“Jenny!” Mr. Jenkins yelled up to his daughter’s window, the one that Eli had started throwing rocks at when he turned twelve and started sneaking through at age sixteen.
Jenny poked her head through the window. When she saw Eli, her beautiful face brightened even more. How many times had that smile brightened his days? He couldn’t live without it.
“Hey, there,” she said.
“Hey,” he replied with a shaky breath.
“Are you coming in or are we going out?” We’re going out.
All the way to London, if you’ll let me.
Mr. Jenkins interrupted Eli’s thought. “Hang on a second. He’ll be right in. Just give us a minute.” Her father watched Jenny duck her head back inside before he gave Eli the look of death. “Why are you so nervous, Eli?” He examined the beads of sweat forming on Eli’s brow.
“It’s a warm day out, sir.”
“Is that why your footprints are wearing down my driveway?” Mr. Jenkins glared at him. “Spill it, Eli. There’s only one reason you would show up as nervous as you are right now.”
Eli gulped. Did Mr. Jenkins know what Eli had been toiling over in his head? Was he that transparent? Had the beads of sweat formed letters on his forehead, allowing Mr. Jenkins to read his thoughts?
“Well?” the elder asked.
He knew. Eli just needed to say it. He just didn’t think it would be like this, under these circumstances, and on the driveway of Jenny’s parents’ house.
He cleared his throat and blurted out the sentence that he’d imagined himself saying for years. “I’ve come to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
A large vein snaked alive on Mr. Jenkins’ temple, and his arm moved.
Somehow, in the last few seconds, Eli had forgotten that Mr. Jenkins was holding a shovel.
He’d also forgotten to say the magic word. “Sir,” Eli’s voice cracked.
**End of Excerpt**
If you like what you read, you can get A Match Made Sweet on Amazon for $0.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited.
I’m also pleased to announce that book two of the series, A Match Made Sweet, is available now on Amazon. In book one, you’ll learn about Keisha’s love story. In book two, her matchmaking skills strike again–with her friend, Jenny, a cupcake baker in their small town.
Here’s an excerpt.
Six Years Ago
Eli paced in front of his girlfriend’s parents’ house, his stomach clenching like a gnarled fist. His mind reeled over the idea of breaking up with his childhood sweetheart, Jenny Jenkins. He couldn’t do it. They’d just graduated from college a week ago. They were supposed to build the rest of their lives together. A breakup was impossible.
That left Eli with two options: Decline the one year grant offered by the London Conservatory for the Arts. Or take Jenny to England with him.
How could he choose between the love of his live and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to one of the most exclusive acting programs in the world?
He couldn’t.
Eli roamed the Jenkins’ driveway, raked his fingers through his hair, and dragged his sweaty palms against his jeans. He must’ve looked like a madman to anyone watching. They could have been watching: Jenny, her sister, her mom, and dad. Her very large, ex-Marine, scary-voice dad. A dribble of sweat trickled down the back of Eli’s neck.
“What’s going on, Eli?”
The scary voice appeared out of nowhere. Mr. Jenkins’ taut face displayed a permanent scowl—at Eli, at least.
Eli cleared his throat, noting the shovel in the elder’s hand and how he gripped it in his massive lion hands. “Hello, sir, Mr. Jenkins, sir.”
“Yeah?” Mr. Jenkins’ lip curled in annoyance. One day Eli would learn how to greet the man without a fumbled cracking voice. “You hear to see Jenny?”
“Yes, sir. How are you today, s—”
“Jenny!” Mr. Jenkins yelled up to his daughter’s window, the one that Eli had started throwing rocks at when he turned twelve and started sneaking through at age sixteen.
Jenny poked her head through the window. When she saw Eli, her beautiful face brightened even more. How many times had that smile brightened his days? He couldn’t live without it.
“Hey, there,” she said.
“Hey,” he replied with a shaky breath.
“Are you coming in or are we going out?” We’re going out.
All the way to London, if you’ll let me.
Mr. Jenkins interrupted Eli’s thought. “Hang on a second. He’ll be right in. Just give us a minute.” Her father watched Jenny duck her head back inside before he gave Eli the look of death. “Why are you so nervous, Eli?” He examined the beads of sweat forming on Eli’s brow.
“It’s a warm day out, sir.”
“Is that why your footprints are wearing down my driveway?” Mr. Jenkins glared at him. “Spill it, Eli. There’s only one reason you would show up as nervous as you are right now.”
Eli gulped. Did Mr. Jenkins know what Eli had been toiling over in his head? Was he that transparent? Had the beads of sweat formed letters on his forehead, allowing Mr. Jenkins to read his thoughts?
“Well?” the elder asked.
He knew. Eli just needed to say it. He just didn’t think it would be like this, under these circumstances, and on the driveway of Jenny’s parents’ house.
He cleared his throat and blurted out the sentence that he’d imagined himself saying for years. “I’ve come to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
A large vein snaked alive on Mr. Jenkins’ temple, and his arm moved.
Somehow, in the last few seconds, Eli had forgotten that Mr. Jenkins was holding a shovel.
He’d also forgotten to say the magic word. “Sir,” Eli’s voice cracked.
Some of you who already pre-ordered A Match Made Sweet may have recently received a pre-order cancellation. I apologize for the inconvenicence. Unfortunately, Amazon had a glitch when I uploaded my manuscript. Grr! Since the error was on their end, I wasn’t punished with a year of no pre-order privileges. Yay!
My next book, His Sweetest Match is available for pre-order. *Crossing fingers that no glitches happen!*
It’s a long weekend, so…
Since it’s a long weekend, and we’re all in full or semi-quarantine, here are some other books to read.
Here’s excerpt three of the small-town sweet romance story The Billionaire’s Matchmaker. It’s available now on Amazon for $0.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited.
Marcus sat in Keisha Powell’s office, matchmaker extraordinaire, biting back his frustration. In one month, he was slated to attend the Strand’s fundraiser ball in Miami, and he still didn’t have a date.
The ball would be a networking buffet of business owners in need of an investor. That included P.J. Schwartz, who Marcus had been wooing unsuccessfully for months. Marcus had no doubt that P.J., and other potential clients, would show up at the ball with their significant others, bragging about their children and showing off family photos. Meanwhile, Marcus didn’t even have a plus-one, though Keisha Powell’s matchmaking services were supposed to prevent that from happening. Marcus’s jaw tightened with annoyance.
He couldn’t be the odd man out at the ball, literally and figuratively. He had to impress P.J., a family man who didn’t like doing business with bachelors—didn’t trust them. Whatever. Marcus wouldn’t let P.J.’s bizarre hangup dissuade him. Truth be told, Marcus should’ve put his bachelor days behind him already.
So he’d made it a goal to find a wife, and he’d given himself a deadline to achieve it. He’d also aligned his thoughts and actions. Why the hell hadn’t anything manifested yet?
Marcus willed himself to relax in the cream-colored chair across from Keisha. From behind her desk, she tapped buttons on a keyboard. She had a new batch of profiles for him to check out. Candidates, she’d called them.
His gaze floated over Keisha’s pretty face. Easy on the eyes, to say the least. Too bad she wasn’t on the roster of candidates. He’d enjoyed his meetings with Keisha more than the dates she’d set up for him. Keisha was sharp, witty, and not intimidated by his success—or enamored by it. She was a self-sufficient, independent woman who enjoyed her career. Definitely a turn-on.
He’d been attracted to Keisha from the moment he met her. Plus, she was tall and didn’t shy away from a heel. He’d always liked that kind of woman. She commanded a presence and confidence that went unspoken. Another turn-on in Marcus’s book.
A stillness suddenly washed over him, like a blanket of clarity. And he almost laughed at his own absentmindedness.
Had he been missing the obvious all this time? The person right in front of him?
Keisha turned her computer monitor in his direction. The end of her long sleek ponytail tumbled from her shoulder to her back. Almond-shaped eyes followed his gaze, which he’d kept on her instead of the screen. He reluctantly shifted his focus back to the monitor.
“This is Tina Bartholomew,” Keisha said. “She’s—”
“Bartholomew?” He shook his head. “I don’t like that name. Reminds me of a client I had once. Things didn’t end well.”
Her lip quivered. Trying to hold back a laugh, he guessed. “So you throw her out because of it?”
“Well, yeah. What if they’re related?”
“What if they’re not? You’re not related to Macy’s.”
He tipped his head in her direction. “Touché.”
She gave him a little smile, the crooked one that screamed sexy without her knowing it. “Okay, Mr. Macy, I’ve got a few more for you today.”
“I told you to call me Marcus.”
“I do call you Marcus. But I call you Mr. Macy when you throw out my ladies like they’re an old rag.”
“Fair enough. What else do you have?”
Keisha pulled up another picture. Marcus flinched, blinded by the woman’s translucent skin against her black dress. “Ugh.” He pulled a face. “Too pale.”
Keisha chuckled. “She has …what’s that term? Porcelain skin.”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “This isn’t 1914. I like women with a tan.” He glanced at Keisha’s neckline, a natural tan color that women would kill to have. She must’ve noticed because she shifted in her seat.
“Okay, let’s try Kylie.”
Wasn’t that one of the Kardashians’ names? He sighed at the thought as Keisha pulled up the woman’s photo. Cute girl, though. A registered nurse, which meant she’d have long shifts at work and would probably understand Marcus’s long workdays. Her skin had a healthy glow. Nice smile. Lived in California, too. This could be promising, he thought, until he read the line about her height.
“Five-one?” He groaned. “I’d tower over her.”
“Five-one isn’t that bad.”
He frowned. “I don’t want to feel like I’m holding hands with a child.”
“I know for a fact that she loves to wear platforms.” As if that mattered.
He glared at her. “I’m tall, Keisha, I need a tall woman. And I need a woman of color…” He hurriedly added, “I mean, a woman with color…”
He hadn’t planned for it to come out quite that way, for his interest in Keisha, a woman of color, to be that obvious. But there it was, hanging in there air now.
For the last several months, he’d wondered why things weren’t working out with any of these candidates she’d sent his way. He couldn’t figure out why his thoughts and actions hadn’t manifested yet.
Here’s excerpt two of the clean romance book The Billionaire’s Matchmaker, a short story from my small-town sweet books. Once this story is available, I hope you’ll give it a try.
Excerpt 2 of 3: The Billionaire’s Matchmaker
“Understandable.” Marcus Macy leaned back in the chair across from Keisha’s desk. “I’m a businessman, a very successful one, and I—”
Keisha wondered if his last name had anything to do with his success. “Do you have any relationship to Macy’s, the department store?”
“Unfortunately, no. Though having the same name doesn’t hurt. If people make assumptions, so be it.” He smoothed the edge of his purple-striped tie.
“And the wedding ring?”
“Right.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve been doing a lot of venture capitalism lately, which means I’m always meeting people. In the past few months, I’ve noticed a recurring topic of conversation among my clients.” He adjusted his tie again. “Family.”
Keisha nodded slowly. “I see.”
“At twenty-five, I didn’t care whether I had anything to add to those kinds of conversations. But I’m thirty-one now and… I’m expected to be in a different place.”
“So, being single is bad for business?”
He smirked. “Something like that.”
“And you bought a ring to pretend that you’re married?” She asked pointedly, waiting to see how he’d respond.
“No. I bought it because I’ll need it when I am married,” he said matter-of-factly. “I passed a jewelry shop on my way to your office and got it there.” Before she could make a cart-before-the-horse comment, a playfulness crossed his lips. “What can I say? I like to plan ahead.” That was one way to look at it. “I also believe in the power of turning thoughts into action to achieve goals. Coming here, buying a ring, that’s part of it.” His gaze trailed out the window. “Lately, I see myself with a wife and kids. I don’t imagine myself as a bachelor much longer. Thoughts are powerful, you know.”
Keisha also understood the power of thoughts, actions, goals. Dreams, too. She’d made a vision board at home once. Cut-outs of a family taken from a magazine years ago. Pictures of tropical islands and beaches where she’d like to vacation. But none of it had happened. No family. No beachy vacations. Just a trail of bad, broken relationships. Over time, she tucked the vision board in a dresser drawer and buried the prospect of family along with it.
“Where are you from?” she asked.
He smiled. A bright, perfect smile. “Is it that obvious I’m not from here?”
“It is.”
“I’m from the San Francisco bay area. I caught the first plane out this morning to come here.”
That news flattered her. But it concerned her, too. Had he already strolled into every matchmaking office in California with no results? A hot, successful businessman should’ve been able to find a wife with an easy finger-snap, without the help of a matchmaker. Heck, if Jenny from the bakery next door saw him, she’d probably offer to be his wife on the spot.
Keisha asked, “Have you tried a matchmaking service before?”
“No, but I’ve done a lot of research. You have a hundred percent success rate. This town has strong family values and a low divorce rate. I had a feeling you would be a good place to start.” He rested a hand on the armchair. “There’s a fundraising ball in five months. It makes sense that I go to it with my future wife.” He leaned forward, flashing another grin of confidence. “So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get started.”
THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER is book one of The Sweet Matchmaker series. It’s coming soon on Amazon for $0.99—free on Kindle Unlimited.
This clean romance is short and sweet, featuring a BWWM romance, a billionaire, and a small-town matchmaker.
Here’s excerpt one of the THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER.
Chapter One
Five Months Ago
A man walked up to Keisha Powell’s desk with a perfect suit, a crisp gait, and a platinum wedding band—none of which fit in at her small-town matchmaker’s office. He didn’t have an appointment, either. But she’d give him the benefit of the doubt. As an out-of-towner, he must not have known any better. But if he didn’t, why was he here? Not that she minded. Looking at him sure beat the gray Thursday morning outside her office window.
She stood from behind the wide walnut desk. At five-foot-ten plus another inch or two thanks to a kitten heel, she usually stood eye-to-eye with men. Not with this one. He cleared her by another few inches.
Tall, handsome with a square jaw, deep-set, determined green eyes, a short buzz of dirty blond hair, and a lean build—she reminded him of Brad Pitt from the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. She hoped this guy wasn’t looking for trouble. But he didn’t seem like it. He smiled a little after she stood, as if her height had pleasantly surprised him.
“Can I help you?” Keisha asked.
“Keisha Powell?” He spoke with a crispness that didn’t fit Longville, Texas. “I’m Marcus Macy.” He shook her hand. “I’m hoping you can help me.”
“I’ll try.” She smiled, placing her hands to her sides, the open, friendly posture she used for potential clients. Maybe he knew someone that needed a matchmaker. A sibling, a friend—
“I need a wife.”
A wife? She glanced at the ring on his left hand again. Didn’t he already have one?
She wasn’t the polygamous kind of matchmaker, and his bluntness had taken her aback. “I’d rather you check in with me after papers are signed and the ink is dry.” She sat back down in her chair with a huff.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re wearing a wedding band, Mr. Macy.”
He stuck out his left hand like it was a new attachment to his wrist. “Oh.” He yanked the ring off and stuffed it in his pants pocket like loose change.
Yeah, this guy was trouble, alright. Keisha could only hope he wasn’t as duplicitous as Brad Pitt in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. If he knew martial arts like the movie character, this would be a big problem. Keisha hadn’t been in a fight since middle school. And if Al in the barbershop to Keisha’s left had the clippers going, and if Jenny in the cake shop to Keisha’s right had the mixer going, no one would hear her scream.
When Mr. Macy unbuttoned his jacket and sat in the cream leather chair across from her, she slowly set aside any criminal possibilities. The town of Longville didn’t attract criminals. Plus, matchmaker’s offices weren’t exactly known for carrying vaults of cash. And with the nicely tailored suit this man wore, he probably had plenty of cash of his own.
Pondering Mr. Macy’s request for a wife, Keisha met his gaze. “You’re going to have to explain why you’re wearing a ring if you want my help.”
I am excited to announce my next book, THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER, a 90-minute BWWM (black woman, white man) romance short read.
It’s coming soon to Amazon for $0.99—free on Kindle Unlimited.
About THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER:
Keisha Powell has been unlucky in love—ironic since she’s a matchmaker. Luckily, she loves to help her clients find their perfect match, and she has a great success rate to prove it…except for one client, the handsome, successful businessman Marcus Macy.
Marcus is a billionaire who needs a wife. Being a bachelor at twenty-something was cool. Now at thirty-one, being single is bad for business. He thought a matchmaker would solve his problem. But the more dates he goes on, the more he realizes the truth. His perfect match isn’t on his matchmaker’s list. His perfect match is the matchmaker, herself. Now, he has to convince her.
THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER is book one of my next series called:
The Sweet Matchmaker Series
This series is part of my “small-town sweet” line of books. This kind of header will differentiate my small-town sweet line of books, which will have a sweeter/cleaner romance and a small-town theme.
My other line of books will be “city-sexy” stories, which includes my Risking It All Series. These romances have a dash of steam, a more urban feel, and will include this header.
And, of course, all of my stories include billionaires, athletes, and celebrities, the women they love, and a happily-ever-after ending.
Readership of these two lines of stories may decide if I continue both lines of stories or move exclusively to one. It’ll be up to you, my lovely readers!
Speaking of series, are you looking for a new series to lose yourself in? Check out this indie book promo running through May 31.
Want more multicultural romance books? Check out this book promo available until June 28. You can read and review these exclusive advance review copies before they hit the stores, including my latest book.
Please note that THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER is available to read and review until May 8 or 9. Once it’s published via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program, I’ll have to pull the early review copies per Amazon’s guidelines. So download your advance copy today!
I’m going back pre-Covid-19 days to when I launched my first short story, RISK, a billionaire gangster romance. It’s book one of my RISKING IT ALL SERIES, a three-story collection of multicultural contemporary romances.
Now through Sunday, April 12, you can download the ebook, RISK, on Amazon for free.
In RISK, a gangster of an Irish-American mob, meets the niece of the Mexican cartel and sparks fly.
Time passes and a twist of gangster fate brings Leticia away from her uncle’s estate right to Liam’s doorstep.
Find out what brings Leticia back into Liam’s life–and how he decides to risk it all to keep her in it.
Download RISK now for free on Amazon now through April 12.
And if you read RISK and like it, check out the three-book RISKING IT ALL series on Amazon for $2.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited.
The series delivers billionaire, athlete, and celebrity romances–my A.K. Creek promise.
In case you missed the hot new multicultural contemporary romance series, Risking It All, it’s available now on Amazon as an e-book box set.
Book One: RISK, a billionaire romance short story
Book Two: NEVER AGAIN, a sports romance short story
Book Three: OFF-SCREEN, a BWWM celebrity romance short story
Each book is a one-hour short read, so you can enjoy each story as a one-at-a-time snack. Or you can cozy up to the collection and devour all three in a few hours. The choice is yours!
Here’s a taste of what you’ll see in each story.
The RISKING IT ALL SERIES: Available now on Amazon, featuring OFF-SCREEN, which ranked as one of Amazon’s Hot New Releases for One-Hour Romance Short Reads.
A.K. Creek 