Recently I had the chance to see Hugh Jackman play the role of Professor Harold Hill on Broadway in The Music Man. I’ve mentioned in a previous InspyRomance post that I’m a huge fan of theater, and travel to Broadway in NYC often, but this was my first trip since the 2020 COVID Broadway shut […]
Books That Make Us Think + Giveaway
Today in America is the National Day of Forgiveness. In a country where we’ve set aside days to celebrate trivial things like corned beef, scarves, and crushing cans (all also today!), I can actually get behind taking time to focus on forgiving others. Books, too, can serve as reminders for important themes that need attention […]
How Bad Can She Be?
Do you like heroines who have a checkered past? Do you like a heroine who has a checkered present? How much are you willing to overlook in the heroine’s journey to redemption? As you can see from the blurb above, Annie Payton has a past she is trying to live down. So her bad-girl […]
It’s a Five Star but…
He’s a ten but… he chews with his mouth open. He’s a ten but… he lives with his mom. He’s a ten but… but he wears jean shorts. He’s a ten but… but he doesn’t tip his servers. Have you seen this trend on social media? They are joking posts about men (real or fictional!) […]
Festive Love & Giveaway
One of the best parts of reading a novella collection is enjoying more than one story without having to grab another book. In this new collection I am part of, releasing September 27 (we’re so close!), you get all four seasons, each set in a different small town during that town’s main street festival. Today, […]
When Troubles Brew After “I Do”
Most romance novels end either with the couple on the threshold of marriage, with the wedding itself, or while the lovebirds are in newlywed bliss. We close the book with a happy sigh, knowing that this couple are going to grow old together, along with all the joys that married life brings. But, far too […]
Newsletters – Why Sign Up? #Giveaway
Most authors have newsletters these days. Let’s talk about why you should sign up. There’s usually a free book or giveaway involved for signing up. Newsletters usually include exclusive info only available to subscribers. Authors get more personal in newsletters. All that personal and exclusive contact is addicting. They’re usually encouraging and uplifting. If you’re […]
Back to Ọlọrọ Ilé + #Giveaway
A couple of years ago, I created a fictional country for the setting of my book In Search of a Prince. I never imagined how much I would come to love Ọlọrọ Ilé and the people there. When I wrote my book, To Win a Prince, I was happy to return to the country and the people. If you […]
Interview with Farrier Noah Cavanagh
Valerie: Hey, good morning, Noah! Thanks for coming by Inspy Romance today. Noah: Hi, everyone. Good to be here. I think. Valerie: Tell me a bit about your family. Noah: Do you have all day? (laughs) It’s a his, hers, and theirs kind of family. I’m one of “hers” along with my twin, Nathaniel, and […]
When Real Life Sneaks In & #Giveaway
You know what’s funny? After writing more than a dozen books, I sometimes think that I must have mined everything from my own life that I possibly could by now. But then I’m writing along and BOOM—there’s something from my life on the page. Again. Without revealing any spoilers, I thought I’d share a few […]