Romance

March 31, 2021

Happy Wednesday Book Lovers,

Today is the last day of the Indie Author Guest Writer Series. We are finishing off this incredible series strong with romance author, Kristen Granata.    

Kristen Granata is a teacher by day, and an author by night. Known for writing emotional contemporary and new adult romance, she loves creating realistic, flawed characters who struggle through the darkest parts of life and come out stronger on the other side. Kristen is a self-proclaimed “bitter cynic trapped in a hopeless romantic’s body.” Her characters pack a sarcastic punch, make you laugh, make you think, make you ugly cry – and they will always live happily ever after. If you’re a lover of moving, inspirational reads, Kristen’s your girl.

Kristen published her first book, Collision, in March of 2018. Since then, eight more books have been born.  With over 8,000 loyal followers on Instagram, this romance writing diva is one to follow.  Granata’s page is filled with  family life, hysterical videos and all things books and reading.  One thing that I truly admire about Kristen is how she openly shares her mental health struggles with depression and anxiety with her Instagram following. Her message is a beacon of hope to anyone who is suffering: You are not alone. She delicately weaves this theme into her writing, and demonstrates the ability of love to heal trauma.

When she’s not teaching or writing, Kristen is reading, Instagramming, indulging in her messy love affair with popcorn, and annoying her wife and step-daughters by incessantly singing along to The Greatest Showman soundtrack. 

Who else is as obsessed as I am?  

I hope you enjoy her letter to Mr. H.  Her book recommendation is awesome and she is also paying tribute to one of our previous guest writers.  Enjoy Sweet friends!

Happy Reading!

Kelly

P.S.  Be sure to check out Kristen Granata on all of her bookish adventures RIGHT HERE!

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

Being that I suffer from depression, it’s no surprise I immediately fell in love with this book I’m about to recommend to you. I think you’d enjoy it, and I wonder if you’d be able to relate to anything Emery Reed goes through. As you know personally, depression takes control of our thoughts, our actions, and our lives. And it takes Emery on a road trip—one he doesn’t plan on coming back from.

I’ve read On the Way to You, by Kandi Steiner many times since I first read it in 2019. It was recommended to me by a friend, and it was the first Kandi Steiner book I’d read. Her writing is beautiful, like poetry, and every sentence wrapped around my heart. I’ve read every one of her books since then, but this one always stands out as different from the rest.

Cooper is an old soul in a young woman’s body. She’s experienced her share of heartache and tragedy, but it doesn’t bring her down. Something is missing from her life though, and she gets into a beautiful stranger’s car when he asks her to join him on his road trip. Sure, it’s dangerous. Sure, it isn’t smart. But our hearts connect us with certain people we need before our minds realize what’s happening, and Cooper was drawn to Emery that day for a reason.

It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful story watching Cooper as she “comes of age” in a sort of way—you’d no doubt love the adventure she goes on—and watching Emery struggle with a decision no one should ever have to. I especially love how Cooper snoops through his journal, and we get to see some of the real raw darkness that’s inside of Emery. I cried my eyes out when she finds him on the edge of that literal cliff at the end of their trip, and I know you’d be moved to tears if you could read it too.

“There was a war raging inside that head of his tonight, and only he could see it. Only he could fight.”

I’ve dedicated my own writing to bringing awareness to mental health. All nine of my books have serious topics weaved into their love stories. My mission is to help people who are suffering. To help them know that they’re not alone. And to show them that there’s a warrior inside them, if only they’d dig deep and let her out. There’s hope at the end of the dark tunnel of depression. I only wish you’d have found it.

Sincerely,

Kristen Granata

P.S. My very first book, Collision, follows a woman named Merritt who’s reeling from her father’s suicide. It’s a contemporary romance that showcases how we can find hope and love after tragedy. If you’re into emotional love stories that make you cry, then this book is a must-read!

Greetings Book Lovers!

It is Friday friends and I am in absolute love with today’s Indie Author Guest Writer.  Best Selling author Kandi Steiner is on the blog today and I couldn’t be more excited. Steiner is best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories and loves bringing flawed characters to life.  No two Kandi Steiner books are ever the same. If you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, Steiner has got you covered.  I Have been a fan of Steiner for more years than I can count.  Her book, On the Rocks was featured in The 2019 Dear Mr. Hemingway Holiday Books & Pairings.  Be sure to check out my love for this book and what I paired with it for the winning combination!

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Steiner graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed it to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a diehard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, snuggling her furry puppy and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer and sweet wine — not necessarily in that order. 

I am living vicariously through Steiner today as she shares a book she loves and her  memories of spending time at The Hemingway House in Key West Florida (my trip was cancelled to go there last year due to the pandemic).  Get ready to add ANOTHER fabulous book to your TBR.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!!

Happy Reading!

Kelly

P.S. Happy Pub Day to Steiner.  Her book Hazed, was released yesterday!  Be sure to check it out!

P.P.S. Connect with this beautiful writer on all her wonderful platforms below!

➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter

➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner

➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks

➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner

➜ TWITTER: twitter.com/kandisteiner

➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner

➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

On my 30th birthday, I strolled through the house in Key West that you once called home. I was in awe, standing in your second-story office overlooking the pool and the palms, my eyes soaking in the same views you did while writing some of your greatest works. It was easy for me to understand why that would be your favorite place to sit and be inspired, especially because Key West is one of my favorite places in the world, too.

And of course, having a dozen or so polydactyl cats roaming around doesn’t hurt. 

That wasn’t my first trip to your house. No, that first time was many years ago, when I was early in my writing career and had no idea what the future held for me. But on my 30th birthday, my second time touring your old home, I wasn’t alone.

I was with a boy named Jack.

Jack and I met on Bumble, a dating app that I find is difficult to explain if you haven’t been on it yourself. All you really need to know, however, is that we went on a hike for our first date, and I knew instantly that he was something special.

Two years later, and we are engaged.

Engaged! Writing that word makes me giggle like a schoolgirl, Ernest. I just can’t get over the way it feels to say, “My fiancé!” Our engagement is recent, you see, as he just proposed on March 11th. Maybe that’s why I’m all wrapped up in my ooey, gooey romantic feels and find myself reaching for books that make me feel the same way.

Have you heard of Staci Hart?

She’s a fantastic writer with a knack for romantic comedy, and I’ve never read writing so lush and poignant in all my life. I recently read her latest release, Bet the Farm, and I’ve included it here with my letter for you to read, too. This romantic comedy had me laughing so hard my eyes watered, but even better? The romance made me swoon with big, fat, heart eyes and my hands clasped over my chest. I couldn’t get enough of the main characters, and the setting of this picturesque small town in California was just the icing on the cake.

Did I mention that the heroine is lactose-intolerant, and she’s just inherited her grandfather’s dairy farm?

Trust me — this is a must read.

I hope all is well on your end, and I look forward to hearing about your most recent hunts and boxing matches. You’re still the reigning champion in Key West, no doubt.

Warm Wishes & Whiskey,

Kandi Steiner

P.S.  Also, thought you might find it funny to know that you can name your iPhone when you set it up.  Mine is named Ernest Hemingway. 🙂

March 24, 2021

Dear Bookish Loves,

I am so excited to share with you today’s guest writer.  Indie Author Melissa Grace is on the blog and I am jumping for joy! I was first introduced to Grace on The Indie Author Book Club. I loved her vibe from the second I checked out her website and instagram page…love at first sight my friends.  Grace is a freelance writer whose work has been featured in publications like Medium, Thought Catalog, the To Write Love On Her Arms Blog, and The Mighty.  Home Is Where You Are is her first novel and I absolutely LOVED it!  You can read my rave review of it RIGHT HERE!

Grace is a chronic illness and mental health advocate.  She resides just outside of Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and five (yes, five) fur children, including her hostile kitty, Mama. She is shining her book light on a fellow Indie Author who was one of last week’s guest writers.  How fabulous is that!! I hope you enjoy her letter to Mr. H.!  In my opinion… Melissa Grace is Some Kind of Wonderful!

Happy Reading!

Kelly

P.S  Check out all of Melissa’s articles RIGHT HERE!

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

Confession time. As I sat down to write this letter to you, I felt like I knew you as an author. You felt familiar in the way that our favorite authors do–like a cozy blanket. I started sifting through your backlog and alarm flooded my veins when I realized I’ve never actually read any of your books. But you’re one of the most quotable writers from our history, and I’ve certainly reflected on your words–words that I could wrap myself up in like a burrito–many times.

As I was reading the book I want to tell you about, it was your words that came to my mind. You spoke often during your lifetime about brokenness and the human experience. Frequency Of Attraction by Eve Kasey is the epitome of the beauty that lies within the limited existence we experience under the stars. (Did I mention the killer space theme of the book that is the last in a series of three?) You once said, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong in the broken places.”

Those words feel as if they could have been spoken about our hero Vadim. Vadim is no stranger to heartbreak. His dark past has him convinced that he doesn’t really deserve love. Our heroine, Quinn, feels the same way. Both characters question if love really exists because truth be told, they’ve not allowed themselves the opportunity to experience it. 

Being the poetic fellow you are, I’m sure you can guess what happens when these two beautiful souls meet. I will warn you, Mr. Hemingway, this book will probably make you blush at least ten times as we get to observe this intricately woven tale of romantic (and sexual) awakening. 

You will witness Vadim’s heart crack wide open as Quinn helps uncover pieces of him he never thought possible, and your chest will ache as we watch Quinn battle with feeling not good enough. You will fight off tears as Vadim pushes away the very person who has made him realize the man he’s always wanted to be. 

This book will make you feel a lot of things. All of the feels, as we like to say nowadays. But the emotion this story made me feel most was hope. So, I want to leave you with a quote from Frequency Of Attraction:

“Every one of us is worthy of the greatest kind of love.”

You were right, Mr. Hemingway. The world does break us all. But the thing that can heal even the deepest of wounds will always be love. Eve’s book will show you exactly that.

Sincerely,

Melissa Grace

P.S. You can check out my first book Home Is Where You Are at Parnassus Books  (my fave indie bookstore that you would LOVE) and on Amazon and be on the lookout for the second book, Home Again, later this summer!

March 10, 2021

Dear Book Friends,

I am delighted to share with you today’s guest writer.  Willow Winters is on the blog today and the skies just got a whole lot sunnier.  Winters is a Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY Best Selling Author of romance books. She writes under Willow Winters and under the pen name, W. Winters for her darker and steamier works.  She is the QUEEN of steam, book boyfriends, a few bad boys and most importantly…happily ever afters.  Winters is the founder of the Big Book Lover Box, Top Shelf Romance and the charity, Live a Thousand Lives Project.    With more books published than I can count, branded merchandise for book lovers and a love for all things books and reading, Winters is an absolute gift to the book loving community.  

Winters is an inspiration to young girls and women who dream of writing one day.  During her pregnancy with her daughter, Winters voraciously read all the romance novels she could get her hands on.  In the beginning of 2016, Winters decided to put pen to paper, writing down all the stories she dreamed up each night.  Fast forward to 2021, and Winters is now a mom to three (one of them being a newborn) and living her wildest author dreams.  She has literally built her very own literary empire while “momming hard” during the day and endless writing at night.  

I hope you enjoy her gorgeous essay to Mr. Hemingway and follow her on all her romantic adventures.

Happy Reading!

Kelly 

P.S.  Check out what I had to say about one of Winters’ steamier romances RIGHT HERE!

Dear Mr. Hemingway, 

The gray clouds are staying too long and coming back too soon. I didn’t realize it at first, because we were all living through it.  But my goodness when I look back at the past year, so much of it is gray.  I have to tell you, gray has never been my color. 

They came at first with thunder and lightning; with loud booms and cracks that split the sky at night.  We all saw it, we all felt it and we took shelter.  It’s nothing we haven’t been through before, but Mr. H., it feels different now and I think it’s because of what I’ve just told you: the clouds stay too long and they come back too soon.  They’ve gotten comfortable and I’ve never been used to such settings. 

In the beginning of this past year, I looked forward to the sunny days and moments of warmth.  I craved them and braced myself during the stormy nights.  But hunkering down and waiting is tiring. It feels as if it’s stolen from me, if nothing else, my time, but I know it’s seized so much more.  It’s taken tears and sleepless nights, it’s taken the hopes of what I thought life would be and it’s morphed my expectations into something weaker and lesser than the dreams I had as a child.  Or at least it attempted to do such things, the gray clouds tried, and nearly got away with it.  Not because of the booming thunder, simply because it snuck in and stayed, like I said, for far too long. 

They almost got away with it, Mr. Hemingway.  Almost. 

The thing I’ve learned is that the clouds may come and they may stay, but I’m not alone in all of this.  We brace ourselves because it’s worked before, but maybe it’s time to stand straighter and carry on in a different way even if it seems dreary.  It’s not the absence of clouds that brought happiness before.  That’s what’s important to note.  It wasn’t because of their absence that the world – felt – brighter.  It was because we didn’t hide then.  It’s the hiding and quiet that’s driven me mad. 

Perhaps the laughter and gentle things in life should grace us always … even if there’s no sun shining down. Maybe waiting for better times and allowing the darkness to steal our days and months and even years is where we made our error.  We have forgotten that we can write letters and so much more today and as these days pass slowly yet with a blur, we are always together. 

We live in a time where we are never alone unless we want to be, which is a natural desire at times.  But it’s quite easy to spread youthful memories in vulnerable times, laughter in times of sadness.  We’ve been waiting, we’ve been quiet, and I think even in the shadows of what plagues us, we can hear the joy of celebration and we can share smiles and triumphs, so long as we remember we’re in this together.  

One thing I’ve done while hiding which has made me feel the vibrancy of others is falling into books.  My children get them every night and in the gray skies, I’d forgotten them myself.  They take me to different worlds and on adventures with celestial spheres I’ll never live under but I feel as if I know them well.  Romance has been my saving grace. Not for the knights in shining armor or for the embrace during long, cold nights.  Simply because the dark moments always happen, and yet, so does the love.  It blossoms most beautifully in the end, after weathering the violent storms.  Romance is boldly known for such endings and Mr. Hemingway, I think the world would seem less bothered by any sky at all, if a book like that were always in our laps. 

I am grateful to brace for drearier skies with plans of happily ever afters, as many as I can get my hands on.  

Please remember, we can deliver pleasant moments where often we don’t find them.  It happens so quickly too, in only seconds of our thumbs clicking away rather than twiddling amongst themselves, which, admittedly, I did in the beginning. If we lived in another time, the gray clouds may have wreaked havoc on my weaknesses, but through all of this, I have not been alone and that has saved me.  I may not have been able to hold the hands of distant friends, or kissed my lost loved ones before their sunset, but I shared smiles with them, even on the cloudy days.  

Did you know though, that the shades of grays still paint pictures in the skies and my children have found animals and stories where I used to see nothing of interest but mourning?   My daughter has learned to wear the color as if it is sunshine itself.  It’s quite a beautiful, but unexpected thing.  I must say Mr. H., she doesn’t care for weather at all, it doesn’t dictate her smile and she always looks forward to the bed time stories.  Thank goodness for that.  

Lots of love in all the days and nights, 

Willow Winters xx 

P.S. Be sure to check out my latest book below!