Tag: Interracial Romance

Interview with CBS Affiliate, WREG-TV (LIVE @ 9) with Marybeth Conley and Alex Coleman

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WREG-TV Live@9 with Marybeth Conley and Alex Coleman

At 8:00 this morning, I wondered if I was going to be late.  I had to drop the kids off, traffic was heavy and all things Monday were happening.  But sure enough at 8:40 a.m., I pulled up on time to Channel 3 Drive, checked my lipstick and hair and ran into the building.

Once called back, I was greeted by the warm handshakes and hugs and sat down with Marybeth Conley and Alex Coleman, two of the city’s best reporters to talk about my book, The World in Reverse.

Countdown…action…

They start off by saying this…

Author Latriva Nelson has topped several of Amazon’s Best Seller lists with her new novel “World in Reverse”.

She spins a nail-biting tale set right here in Memphis. As her hero, a Memphis cop, has to go against everything he stands for to solve a grisly murder case.

Wow. Okay, I’m officially flattered.

I can’t help but smile.  I love Memphis, love the idea that Memphians love the book and I’m ready to talk.

You can see the rest by simply clicking the link and checking it out.

I can’t thank WREG-TV enough for their hospitality and highlighting my newest work.  15 books down and 150 to go.

Xoxo and all that jazz.

 

Latrivia S. Nelson

Saving Anya Release Date Changed

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First of all, thanks for the thousands of email and well wishes for the family.  I truly appreciate it during this time.  Of course, Iraq is the gift that keeps on giving for many military families and mine is no different.  However, Adam is doing much better and we hope to resolve his issues in the New Year.  As a wife and mother, I had to re-arrange my priorities, and even though the book was so close to release, I had to pull it as well as The World In Reverse. 

It was my hope to release them during the Christmas Break.  However, now I am at least two weeks off the mark.  The books will be released in late January or early February.  I refuse to give another date just to disappoint my wonderful fans. 

I love you dearly and I hope that you can forgive me for the tardiness of these two very important projects.

This week, I plan to upload the first chapter of Saving Anya to the blog for your reading pleasure, also in interim I will post some new discussions so that we can keep in touch. 

It truly is an honor to have you as fans.  I have 3,456 emails from readers about the new books.  I plan to respond to each and every one, but it will take time.  However, I don’t want you to think at any time that you aren’t appreciated, because you truly are. 

While Saving Anya will be the last book of The Medlov Series, it won’t be the last book about the Medlov clan.  The next installment (Volume 5-7 will be released in Winter 2012) and the new Medlov Legacy series will be released in late 2012, detailing the early adult lives of all of your favorite characters’ children. 

One thing at time, I know.  I’m working on getting these new books to you in e-book, Kindle, Nook and paperback format.  Also, don’t forget that we now use PayLoadz for all of our e-books to ensure that you receive your immediately.  I’ve listened to your suggestions and RiverHouse searched high and low to find a service that will accommodate you.  I hope that PayLoadz delivers for us all.  We’ve even set up a survey to track your thoughts on the new service.  After all, it is for you.

Well, that’s all for now.  Thanks again for everything. 

Sincerely,

Trivi

The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: V4 Finally Released!!!

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It’s been a long time coming, and to all my faithful fans, I do apologize.  Life always gets in the way of my writing plans.  It makes me remember a saying, “if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”  During the last quarter, I had planned to drop several books, including V4.  My expectations, however, did not include my husband nearly dying in sleep, kids with insane homework assignments and several family trips, outings and visits.  Not to mention, RiverHouse opened a new office dead smack in the middle of the financial district of Manhattan (NYC).  I have been buuusssyyy.

The good news is that Adam is doing much better.  You don’t realize how special they are until they are nearly taken from you , right beside you.  For that, I am so thankful to my dear sweet savior, Jesus Christ.  The office is working out great in New York and will offer even more opportunities for readers and authors alike who follow RiverHouse and the family visits were awesome.  I saw my cousin for the first time in ten years and it was amazing.  We are even moving to the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area next summer. 

But with everything going on, my writing slowed to a pitiful crawl.  Now, I’m back.  And as normal after being pulled away from my work, I am on fire.

I have a lot in front of me.  Saving Anya and The World In Reverse are due out both on Christmas Day.  It will be out no later than December 31st.  Please be patient with me.  If I pull this off, this will be the biggest project that I’ve ever taken on.

Now on to Volume 4 and Book One of the Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov.

The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: Volume 4

Now a widower, Dmitry Medlov’s life has completely changed. Wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, his aspirations quickly move from more money to more power. Only the power he seeks is held by the commanding and elusive Czar of the underworld, Boss Smirnov.
When Dmitry successfully talks the underboss and the all-knowing eye of the underworld, Khalid, into arranging a meeting between he and Boss Smirnov, he has no idea what troubles he is about to face. There are secrets that will be exposed in Prague that will forever change his young life again, leading to a decision that will rock the underworld for good.

Meanwhile, back in London, the city is buzzing about the deaths of the entire board of directors of Dmitry’s newly acquired business, Hutton Industries, minus the company’s former front man, who was involved in a gruesome home invasion that left him blind, deaf, mute and paralyzed.
With no witnesses, leads or proof combined with the botched attempt on his own life during the horrid chain of events, Dmitry is looked over as a person of interest by Scotland Yard and is given carde blache to turn his new private company into his personal money laundering hub right under the public’s nose with the help of his Africa girlfriend, Oxford University senior and business genius, Elsa. And it’s just in time for his new secret alliance with the leaders of a powerful paramilitary sect led by Elsa’s father in Angola, Africa.
Dmitry’s new found power creates a checkmate for his ambitions to be boss but puts a target squarely on his back by not only organized crime heads around the world but also by his own brother, Ivan. Secret alliances are formed. Money is exchanged, and a definite war is looming. Only no one is willing to give up as much as Dmitry is to be king.
Read the last volume of the first book, The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov and witness the heart stopping rise of a giant and everything that he’s willing to do to become the world’s most powerful and deadly boss.

The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: Book One

If you’ve been waiting to buy all the volumes of Book One of The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: Volumes 1-4, the time has now arrived.

By popular demand, Latrivia S. Nelson is proud to announce a compilation of the first four of the twelve volumes from the Medlov Crime Family Short Stories Series.

Dmitry Medlov wasn’t always a billionaire crime boss. His rise to the top was a painstaking process that took many years and many trials and tribulations. From breaking out of prison on a twenty-year bid in Russia to trafficking guns in the back alleys of London and finally toppling a dynasty run by a blood-thirsty Czar, this seven-foot tall, bad boy had to earn every penny.

Along the way, however, he also learned about a woman’s heart, the pain of losing a sick wife, the drain of taking care of a psychotic kid brother, the knowledge of finding out that he was a father and pride of building an empire all before his 25th birthday.

Read about American’s favorite mob boss in four short tales that will have you flipping through the pages and begging for more.

The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: Book One by national bestselling author Latrivia S. Nelson.

Now comes the good part.  The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: Book One will be available in print on December 23, 2011.  If you want to purchase, you can pre-order on the website.  It would be a great stocking stuffer, collector’s addition.  I do hope you consider itJ.

In the next week, we will also be releasing a new book trailer for Book One, which will cover all of the volumes so far.  Lots of fun on that one too. 
http://www.latrivianelson.info

From Complaint to Cyberharassment!

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For all you soon-to-be authors out there who really want to know what being in the public eye (really just a glimpse of the public eye because I am not Hollywood) can be like, I’m sharing this with you.  I want you to understand that you have to take the glory and the “stank” with the job.

Plus…

I might as well put it out there.  Only because I’m not sure how crazy this person is. 

And…

Everyone likes gossip.  We all curl up to our computers when a juicy story hits the wire.  We laugh and say “oh my goodness” knowing the entire time we love it when there is “crap” in the game.

So here it goes…

RiverHouse has asked the person who I recently discussed as part of my “This Is Where I Draw the Line” blog entry to permanently stop emailing me.  I had to call my lawyer this late at night and have him type up an email to her, because I have received my fourth lengthy email from her in less than 48 hours.  She went from attacking the book to a long apology to now just pissed off! 

Evidently, as soon as she said she didn’t mean to offend me, I was supposed to forget that it ever happened.  But what I wonder is if she would have apologized at all if I had not stood up for myself.  And the entry was not just about her, but people like her in general.  She was just the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. 

I’m sure now, she’ll move on to blasting me whenever and wherever she gets a chance.  I’ll have reviews that start out, “I hate her” or “This author is unprofessional and petty” or “I want to put a hit on this woman” But like my mom says, “I have the blood of Jesus.” So, even if it gets to that, I’ve got someone who has my back.

In the email, she threatens to go to book retailers and ask them to take down my work, accuses me of milking my fans for sympathy and basically getting pissed, because I did not accept her apology.  Childish.  I know.  But in the vein of PR, it’s better that I say something now, before she starts a full-on assault campaign to smear my name like Philadelphia Cheese to a warm bagel. 

But you know how these things go.  Scorned people have a tendency to get really “crazy”.  Lord knows I have had my share of crazy people communicate with me.  Probably ten percent of the emails I get per day.  At over 100 emails a day, you do the math.  However, they tend to send one email, not four.

A smart person would take down their email address, but there are so many great readers and reviewers, until you have to take these things as part of the job.  As a courtesy to her, however, I did take down her email address so that the 10,000 readers and hits on this blog wouldn’t have personal access to her they way that she has to me.  Imagine how full her email box would be!  Plus, a dose of her own medicine would be fun but not cool on my part.

I think she’s pissed that I told her and people like her how I really felt about personal attacks.  I know that she’s pissed that I actually stood up for myself.  I think she thinks that just because she purchased a book, I must then be deaf and mute, unable to defend myself against her.  Some of the best authors I know are some of the feistiest.  I dare you to send some of these authors a crazy email and expect not to get a reply. Or better yet, many authors don’t reply at all one way or the other.    So it’s a catch 22.

Some of the authors I know go as far as getting on Amazon and going head up with people about their work.  This woman came to my blog, posted and then got upset when she got a response.  Go figure. 

Anyway, tonight, we’re holding a burial ceremony for this subject and this reader. 

Keep in mind, this is not for all reviewers who just don’t like my work.  I’ve learned a lot from the reviewers who have taken time to share their thoughts and make suggestions.  Even the ones who have been really crude have had great points, and I used them to make myself a better author.  I still encourage them to write to me, to share their thoughts and not worry about being attacked.  It’s just that if you have something “horrid” to say, expect a horrid response. 

This burial ceremony is for this particular reader.  I don’t want to deal with her anymore, and I’m growing bored and tired with the entire thing.   I say her, but I don’t even know this person’s name.  She could very well be a 600 pound man who lives on the computer, cross dresses and likes to be called Mary.

I don’t have a priest here at the house, so I’ll just say about this reviewer who is now dead to us all that God Bless Her and Give Her a Life of Abundance and Grace, and please Lord don’t let our paths cross again.
XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia

 

This Is Where I Draw The Freaking Line!

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I just received the longest email known to man about how horrid my book was (Dmitry’s Closet).  Unfortunately, I had to delete the post.  Why?   It was so long and such a drag until I refused to let it stay up. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m used to getting the occasional email about my work.  And I normally take it in stride.  Countless readers have given me constructive criticism, offered their services and tried their best to help me.  I appreciate them, and I understand their purpose and points.  Some of their words have helped me A LOT.

But when someone sends me a three page letter on why they hated my stuff, I have to draw the line.  First of all, who has that type of time if they have a life?  Now, I did read the blog response. And I know a lot of authors who wouldn’t  have taken the time.  So, at least!!!

Anyway, you guys are my friends and my fans.  So tell me if I’m wrong. I’ll believe you.  But I just can’t take it anymore. Maybe it’s because I’m on my cycle and I am irritable, but maybe there is certain thing called “tact.”  And this email didn’t really have much of it.

If this reader felt so compelled to share her response with just me, then why didn’t she just send me an email?  I post my email everywhere.  Latrivia@LatriviaNelson.com.  And all of you know that I get 100 emails a day. Not all of them are nice, but I take time and I respond.  It’s important to them.  It’s important to me.  And it’s part of being a published author. Not everyone is going to like you.  I get it. I do. 

Instead of sending an email, however, she blasts me on my own blog and expects a nice response.  WTF!!!  That, my friends, is bullshit. And I am tired of always being nice.  You don’t come to someone’s house, fart in their living room and call it air freshener. And you don’t go to someone’s blog, basically tell them to quit their day job and call it constructive criticism.  Kiss my ass.

I print out every email.  Good and bad.  I look over them. Study them.  I outline the points that they make, use them to make my work better.  But I’m still a person with feelings.  I know (whine, whine) but I am a person, and I take my work seriously.  If I don’t defend it, who will? 

I spend countless hours away from my family, friends and life, doing what I consider to be the best job in the world.  I’m going to have feelings about it.

It’s not easy going after your dreams.  And often, your first, second and even third try can be semi unsuccessful, but I’m proud of the Medlov series.  It’s successful to me.  We have sold over 25,000 copies. I’ve made wonderful friendships as a result, and I’ve faced my fears.  That is so important to me. 

Now, there are things that I’m getting better at…like the copyediting element.  And now, I have Karen, and she is awesome.  She’s helping me fix things.  We’re going back and fixing the grammatical errors that made me a leper in the IR genre.  But at least, I’m in the genre.  At least, I’m giving it all that I have.  At least, I’m living my dream. 

When I first started out, I thought, I’ll just wait until everything is perfect.  But after Adam nearly died, I realized that no one is promised tomorrow.  I looked at him lying in the hospital bed and knew that there is no perfect time.  There is only right now.  Trust people. This is truth.  Don’t let fear steal your dreams from you.  Fight for them with everything that you have inside of you. 

So, I went balls to the wall, and I did it.  RiverHouse was born out of a need to share my voice and my thoughts with the world.  As imperfect as my books  may be, I still did it.  I put it out there, paid a horrid copyeditor, and I published my first book.  Now, I’m on my tenth.  If I should die tomorrow, then at least I will have accomplished something on my list that means so very much to me.  How many people can say that? 

I used to think that I had to take the “stuff” that people put out there about me.  But one day I looked in the mirror and realized that I don’t have to take it, and I won’t anymore.

You know what really irks me?  There are some people out there who hide behind their computers, behind these made up names, and these computer-generated photos.  They blast authors, singers, anyone who is trying to express themselves, and they do it anonymously so that they don’t have to face public humiliation after they purposely and maliciously humiliate you. 

They pick people apart.  They accuse you of having your friends and family post reviews just because they don’t like your book and couldn’t imagine that anyone else would.  In essence, they call you a freak fraud. 

They stomp on your dreams and your aspirations. 

They hope that you’ll quit, give up. 

Their entire purpose in life is to embarrass you!  But they have never penned a thing, published a thing, had one creative thought in their entire life that they followed through with. 

And authors like myself, who put their real picture and name up or authors who use pens names but put their real feelings and dreams into print are forced to deal with what they have said.  And we don’t get to do it anonymously.  We have to face the humiliation just as we are. 

They hide behind emails and computers.  We face the world.  Who is really coward? 

They go online and posts under several names and give horrid reviews.  And they don’t buy just one book. It’s like they can’t wait for you to release something else so that they can attack that too. 

Why?  I don’t know.  They do it though.   And then they curl up in their beds ALONE and sleep all night with a smirky little grin on their faces, because it makes them happy to tear you and your dreams apart.  What a trip!!!!

Well, I don’t have to take it.  I won’t take it anymore. 

There are going to be bad reviews.  And women and men who spend their money and their time deserve and opportunity to share their opinions.  I believe that. And I honor that.  I want to hear from them.  I want to be better for them and all my readers.

But I deserve the right to defend myself as well from that “other” type of reviewer – the one who wished that they could have done something else but didn’t, the one who never found the perfect opportunity so she just gave up and spent her entire life being bitter and attacking others. 

As an Interracial Romance Author, I get 10-20 emails a week from hate mongers who tell me that I’m not even human and have no right to write about a black woman and white man marrying each other.  I have to hear that my children are an abomination and that I don’t have a soul and should be back on a freaking plantation.  It’s hard enough to try to deal with those idiots. 

But on top of that, I get letters from sisters who would rather see me flipping burgers at a restaurant than pursuing my dreams.  I’ve already given the finger to the bigots of the world.  It looks like I’m going to use the other hand to give the finger to you too.

Fifty years from now, if God Almighty sees fit to still bless me with breath in my lungs, I’ll still be writing. I won’t ever quit.  So stop sending me emails and asking me to.  You’re wasting your time and more than that you’re pissing me off.

Do me a favor.  If you are only interested in attacking me, then don’t buy my books.  This is for the entertainment of people who want to do more than tear others down.  I want to hear from them.  I want their criticism, their support – not yours!!!

New Review from Ivolve Beauty for The Grunt & The Ugly Girlfriend !!!!

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Writing gives me pleasure for several reasons.  I love to entertain people and take them from the real world into some new place with new people, and I love to meet new people through my books.  The readers, reviewers, publishers, conventioneers, etc. are all amazing.  Normally, I get the reviews later than everyone else, because I’m always in my office or in my “room” at home behind a desk, typing on the computer, music blasting in my ears, television playing – away from the world and everyone around it.  However, lately, I’ve been getting out.  So, I’ve been getting the reviews as they post, and I have quite enjoyed it.

My latest review has come from Chaz over at IvolveBeauty.com.  They have been reviewing my work since I first started, and I always thoroughly enjoy reading what they have to say.  So, I want to share this with you and ask that you visit their blog from time to time to see all of the wonderful offerings they have on their page regarding “the total woman.”

Latrivia Nelson’s New Facebook Page

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It’s not really anything to complain about.  In fact, it’s a marketer’s dream.  I have filled and over-filled my original Facebook page.  So, I’ve started another page.  http://www.facebook.com/?sk=inbox&setup#!/authorlatrivia.nelson

For all of my readers who want to keep up with what is going on, I encourage you to join.  Facebook is really a great tool to keep in touch.  And I put all sorts of personal as well as professional “stuff” on it. 

I also like for other authors and publishers to join.  There is nothing like a virtual community.  It’s better than any other form of communication out there.

So, if you want to be in the “know” of what is going on with the books, the publishing company and me, then join today. 

However, if you’re already a member of my old Facebook page, don’t worry. We’ll still be doing updates on both.  No one will miss a thing. 

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson

THE GRUNT CLIMBS TO NUMBER ONE SPOT ON AMAZON’S BESTSELLER LIST

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Multicultural Romance Author Latrivia S. Nelson Pens Authentic Tale about Marine Corps Life

(August 10, 2011 – Memphis, TENN)  RiverHouse Publishing’s bestselling author, Latrivia S. Nelson, released the third book in her bestselling Lonely Heart Series, entitled The Grunt.  The full-length romance novel is the second bestseller out of the series and has already climbed to the coveted number 1 spot on Amazon’s Multicultural Bestseller’s List since its e-book release during the last week in July. The Ugly Girlfriend, which has stayed on the Amazon Multicultural Bestseller’s List since the first week of January 2011, has also been a fan favorite, giving Nelson two books on the same bestselling list for the second time this year.  This is the tenth book that Nelson has released in the last three years and the fourth book she had released in 2011. 

“The Grunt is a powerful story of love and life in the Marine Corps.  As a wife of a combat-wounded, retired Marine and having spent many years at Camp Lejeune, I was especially excited about writing this novel.  It infuses the alpha male qualities that my readers like in their characters with the power of a strong, yet loving woman.  Moreover, it details the struggles of loving someone who is serving in the military and all that is required of them by our country while trying to balance a relationship.”

The Grunt is available on Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook and Nelson’s official website (www.latrivianelson.info).  The paperback will be available for sale nationwide on September 1, 2011 for $10. 

Synopsis of The Grunt:

Staff Sergeant Brett Black has a bad feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong. And as a Recon Marine, he pays attention to his gut. Only nothing can prepare him for what he encounters when he arrives at home from the base. His wife is leaving him, and there is nothing he can do about it.

Abandoned with a kid, the super alpha-male has to become domesticated quickly or find a willing substitute to help him with his son. Only the substitute he finds is no substitution.

Courtney Lawless is a true wild card. The budding librarian loves the classics and carries herself like a lady by day. But she also is full of life and surfs the waves of the Atlantic Ocean by night. Since her parents won’t pay for college because of bad decisions in her past, the reformed bad-girl takes a job as Brett’s live-in nanny to finish paying for school.

Brett has never seen a woman of such complex duality. Used to a wife who won’t clean, cook or even talk to him, when he starts to live with Courtney, he realizes what he’s been missing his entire life. Educated, amazing and refreshingly honest, the only thing that that this transparent beauty hides from her new boss is that she’s also the Lieutenant Colonel’s daughter.

Faced with another deployment to Afghanistan soon, the brooding Marine is forced to come out his shell to fight for what he loves; only this time, the war is at home.

Enjoy the interracial must-read romance of the summer, The Grunt, the third and longest book in Latrivia S. Nelson’s Lonely Heart Series.

The Lonely Heart Series Now On Sale in Paperback! Pre-Order The Grunt Today!

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Hello Everyone!!!

It’s been a long time coming, but I am happy to announce that we are taking pre-orders for all three books in the Lonely Heart Series (The Ugly Girlfriend, Finding Opa! and The Grunt). You can purchase each book separately or you can purchase all three books in the Lonely Heart Paperback Pack for $19.99, plus shipping and handling.  Simply go to www.latrivianelson.info to put in your order today in time for Labor Day weekend. 

I hope that you all enjoy the books.  We have received over 300 requests since The Grunt was released last week to format it in paperback.  In response, the team has worked tremendously hard on getting a tangible product in your hands. 

This has been an exciting week, and I’ll be sharing a little more with you about why on upcoming blog entries.  However, I want to say now that I appreciate each and every one of you for your kind words of support and encouragement and your continued support of my work through your purchases.

I’ll be returning to the blogs more in the upcoming weeks also.  I know everyone wonders where I went.  Working on upcoming projects, I have been locked in the office and at the home office typing up a storm, but I need a break and I need to get back to my people.

I also am working hard right now to return each and every email that I have received about the books. I even printed them out so that I can read them when it’s late at night and I’m tired and want to quit.  You all have given me so much motivation.  I think of each of you every time I sit in front of the computer to write a book.

God Bless,

Latrivia S. Nelson

 

New Book in The Lonely Heart Series: Finding Opa!

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Stacey Lane Bryant has three rules.  She doesn’t drive; she doesn’t travel; and she most definitely will not date.  From the outside, this odd-ball, thirties-something, single black woman is simply a creature of habit who has been beaten down by the tragedies of life.  However those on the inside know that she’s the widow of esteemed astrophysicist Drew Bryant, a highly sought after best-selling romance author and a devoted cat lover.  The rules are simply designed to keep her safe and keep her sane. 

However, someone didn’t tell the Greek bombshell, Dr. Hunter Fourakis, that rules weren’t meant to be broken.  While at his favorite pub, he eyes Stacey and instantly falls under her spell.  Only, his rusty moves don’t get him far with the brilliant introvert, who quickly leaves just to get out of his grasp.

What is meant to be will be, and the two run into each other in another chance encounter.  This time Hunter is able to convince Stacey not only to go out on a spur-of-the-moment date with him but also to consider an unorthodox proposal that would benefit them both.    

Hunter’s late wife was killed while serving in Iraq, and he mourns every year for two months and three days.  The mourning period is usually miserable for Hunter, but this time, he wants to celebrate life.  Stacey’s second romance novel is due to her agent in two months but is totally lacking motivation or passion, because she hasn’t gotten over her late husband.  Considering that they both need someone for a short period of time to fulfill very specific needs, they agree to be each other’s help mate temporarily.  Only as deprived widows, pressured professionals and lonely hearts, they find that while deadlines pass and mourning time ends, love lasts forever.

Read this romantic tale about two people who fight through tragic personal loss, family prejudices and age-old traditions to find good old fashion love in the second book of the Lonely Hearts Series, Finding Opa!