The Final Date Shark Book has arrived!

Ending a series is always a tough thing for me, but I’m so excited to wrap up The Date Shark Series with Leo Bailey’s story in “Repelling the Shark!”

Repelling the Shark

the Date Shark series, book 5

Simple and easy falls apart when secrets revealed require making promises and opening up to the possibilities of hurt and hope.

Leo Bailey has so far escaped the curse of the date shark business. He fills in when needed, but has held onto his casual relationships and family emergency-free existence. hover

Marriage and family are a vague idea for the future, but he’s not ready to give up the freedom of being single and answering only to himself.

When Piper Moretti witnesses the demise of yet another of Leo’s friends-with-benefits relationship, she doesn’t think much of it. She has a long list of more pressing responsibilities and headaches to occupy her mind.

Friends, and the strings that go with them, are at the bottom of her priority list.

When a date shark client who tops the list of bizarre behavior Leo has seen, his half-joking request for rescue drags Piper into the chaos and into Leo’s life.

Neither one wants more than a simple, no-stress friendship. Secrets and surprises force them to admit neither one is nearly as in control of their futures as they think they are.

Helping each other means getting involved, making promises, and opening themselves up to the hurt and hope they’re both terrified to face.

Re-releasing the Date Shark series

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Earlier this year, I got the rights back to my Date Shark series, and I knew it wasn’t going to be as simple as simply republishing them for several reasons.

The editing on the first book had been horrible, and I realized when I started re-editing that the edits I had sent back to the publisher five years ago had been ignored. I’d received multiple complaints about the editing from readers when it first published, but it was out of my hands at that point.

The editing did improve over time as the publisher I was working with upgraded their editing staff, but there were still enough errors remaining that I knew the entire series needed to be re-edited. That process took me almost five months because I didn’t have a lot of spare time after starting a new job at the newspaper and taking on a few too many freelance projects.

I also needed new cover art before I could republish the series. I was happy to redo the first book’s cover, but I had chosen the model art for books two through four, so at least I didn’t have to start completely from scratch. My main challenge was not being able to use the cool shark fin A in the original cover art and trying to find something comparable. My husband helped me choose a new font and rightly steered me away from trying to include any water-like effects and just go with the sketched shark logo instead.

My next challenge was when to re-release each book. I asked other authors and got advice on scheduling, but in the end, it took me so long to format each book that they ended up spacing themselves out well enough, for the most part. Books two and three released within days of each other because, honestly, I was sick of working on them and just wanted to be done.

Going back through these books was actually a fun experience overall. I hadn’t chatted with these characters in almost three years and had forgotten how much I loved them! Sabine and Michael’s story is still my favorite of the series, and rereading the books reminded me that poor Leo never got to have his own story.

I had planned to give Leo a voice as the final book in the series, but because of issues with the publisher and limited writing time back then, I stored the idea away for later. I do have some other projects that need attention, but I want to eventually come back to Leo’s story and finish off the series by giving him his own happy ending.

For now, the series is back up on all the major retailers and ready to meet new readers!

You can find all the links here.

The Date Shark series is back!

The Date Shark Series is available again is independent books, complete with new covers and editing!

The first book in the series was so much fun to write. It was a challenge not to rely on anything supernatural to keep the story going, but it made me work harder and I was really pleased with the results. The idea for this book came from an experience I had when I submitted a query letter to “The Query Shark,” which she promptly ripped to shreds (deservedly) and set me on the right path. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if there was a similar “shark” for women who needed a dating overhaul.

Date Shark, book 1

Date Shark FRONT Life as the marketing director for a popular fashion boutique is overwhelming for Leila Sparrow, to say the least.

She’s not sure what ever possessed her to add revamping her dating life to her already hectic schedule. Calling in renowned Date Shark, Eli Walsh seemed like a good idea until she actually met with him…

Date Shark was only meant to be a side-enterprise to his thriving couple’s therapy practice, but Eli Walsh knows it’s become more of an obsession.

At least, it was until he agreed to take on Leila. Somehow she has stolen his entire focus. He wants to admit his fascination with her and growing romantic interest, but he knows coming on too strong will scare her away.

His plan to convince her that she is worth any man’s interest by first being her friend is challenged when his tips start to pay off and Leila begins dating Luke.

Will his friendship with Leila mean the end to any romantic pursuit?

Available Now!

Shark Out Of Water, book 2

Shark Out Of Water FRONT Guy Saint Laurent is too busy cursing his sister for roping him into taking over Eli’s Date Shark business to prepare himself for the slew of bizarre women he’s about to get involved with. This is the last venture he intended to take on, but somehow he’s just become Chicago’s newest, most reluctant Date Shark.

On top of dealing with bug-toting, mothering, obsessive women, Guy faces personal tragedy that changes his outlook on life, whether he wants it to or not. He’s not sure what it is about Charlotte Brooks that draws him in, but getting her off his mind after a brief encounter proves impossible.

As Charlotte tries to help Guy deal with his loss, he begins to get the impression she’s hiding something from him. He knows he could simply walk away, continue as he always has, but he suspects whatever she’s hiding, she won’t be able to face it alone.

Charlotte is the one woman who can capture his attention, but she may also be the one woman capable of breaking him.

Available Now!

The Only Shark In The Sea, book 3

Vance Sullivan has always been the rock everyone turns to for help…

His work with patients recovering from traumatic events makes him the perfect person to help his friend, Guy Saint Laurent, with one of his Date Shark appointments. When Vance meets hesitant, frightened Natalie Price, he suspects she’s hiding the truth behind her fears, and he’s drawn in by a need to help her.

Haunted by a terrible event from her past, Natalie can’t even endure being touched without suffering a crippling panic attack…

She doesn’t know why, but Natalie feels Vance might be the only one who can help her put the pieces of her life back together. Despite the tension their arrangement causes with his girlfriend, their bi-weekly sessions seem to be helping…as long as he keeps his promise not to push her to reveal more than she’s ready to share.

Suddenly the tables have turned…

When Vance suffers his own unspeakable tragedy, asking for help is the last thing he wants to do. Drowning in grief and guilt, crushed by betrayal and lies, Vance needs a lifeline.

Natalie has no idea why anyone thinks she can help him, given her own deep-rooted fears—but she knows she has to try. A twisted notion of justice makes the danger all too real, and Vance and Natalie realize it might take one broken soul to mend another…

Available Now!

Shark In Troubled Waters, book 4

Shark In Troubled Waters FRONT Sabine Saint Laurent is known as the Princess of Paris. Polite, beautiful, charming, polished…perfect.

Everything is always under control, and when it isn’t, she handles it. It’s been an eventful few years with friends getting married, having babies, getting kidnapped, and almost dying, but she’s made it through each upheaval with poise. Just as she’s looking forward to things calming down, her entire life is upended by a startling piece of news.

Aside from her agent managing her day-to-day affairs, Sabine does not ask for help. Not even from her close knit group of friends and family. So when she finds herself struggling to cope with major changes in her life, she’s determined to power through on her own. It should be easy enough. Everything is always easy for Sabine: modeling, men, money, languages, art, cooking. Finding out she’s pregnant shouldn’t be any different, right?

Except it’s not easy. Nothing about navigating pregnancy, custody, complications, and a man she despises trying to seduce her is simple. Michael Moniteau’s intentions are questionable, but she desperately needs help and he’s the only one who understands enough to give it. It could be the beginning of something wonderful, or it could break the heart she’s kept carefully shielded for so long.

Available Now!

#FREE: Shark Out Of Water

Look what’s FREE for the next 5 days!! Grab Shark Out Of Water now before it goes back to full price 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3Q1TGQ/

soow-free

Release Day: Shark in Troubled Waters #kindleunlimited

The 4th installment of the Date Shark Series is finally here! So if you got a new Kindle for the holidays and need some books to fill it…SHARK IN TROUBLED WATERS is now live, and you can read the entire Date Shark Series FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

shark in tourbled water amazon promo

Shark In Troubled Waters

Sabine Saint Laurent is known as the Princess of Paris. Polite, beautiful, charming, polished…perfect.

Everything is always under control, and when it isn’t, she handles it. It’s been an eventful few years, but she’s made it through each upheaval with poise. Just as she’s looking forward to things calming down, her entire life is upended by a startling piece of news.

Except it’s not easy.

Nothing about navigating pregnancy, custody, complications, and a man she despises trying to seduce her is simple. Michael Moniteau’s intentions are questionable, but she desperately needs help and he’s the only one who understands enough to give it.

It could be the beginning or something wonderful, or it could break the heart she’s kept carefully shielded for so long.

Buy Shark in Troubled Waters or read for FREE on KU

Don’t forget to grab copies of the rest of the series as well!

#1 Date Shark (FREE TODAY ON KINDLE)

#2 Shark Out Of Water

#3 The Only Shark In The Sea

Happy reading and Happy New Year!

Giveaway Time: Darn it, it’s already over!

This post was originally meant to announce a giveaway. A giveaway that went live two days ago on Amazon. Ten minutes after I saved this post, I got an email saying my giveaway had already ended because two many people had entered.

This is what the announcement looked like that I posted on my social media Tuesday night.

See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: Shark Out Of Water (The Date Shark Series) (Volume 2). https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/6166bc75aa616cdc NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Aug 16, 2015 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.

Enter to win a copy of “Shark Out Of Water” to catch up on the series before book 3 releases Oct 6th!!

I guess I set my limit too low, but honestly, I wasn’t sure how this new feature on Amazon would go and I didn’t want to have it live for a week only to find out I had gotten ZERO entries. Self-doubt strikes again!!

It’s was nice to see the entries fill up so quickly. Next time I’ll have to up the limit and offer a few more books for you all. I have no idea who won the giveaway because Amazon keeps that confidential (rightly so!), but CONGRATS to the winner of the paperback copy of SHARK OUT OF WATER.

Book 3 THE ONLY SHARK IN THE SEA will be up for Pre-Release Sept19th and will go live Oct 6th!

Until then…

Don’t forget, book 1 “Date Shark” is FREE on

You can get your own copy of “Shark Out Of Water” on:

#WordlessWednesday: The Only Shark In The Sea

Yes, I’m talking about the Date Shark Series again because that has been my entire writing world for the last 6 weeks or so. Book 3 – The Only Shark In The Sea – was sent to my publisher for editing last week and book 4 – Shark In Troubled Waters – was sent out to beta readers Monday, so both should be out before the end of the year. Exciting!

For now, how about some teasers from The Only Shark In The Sea, featuring Vance Sullivan and Natalie Price.

Teasers from Date Shark Series book 3 – The Only Shark In The Sea

Feel free to share, pin, or tweet!

Find out more about the series HERE.

Enter to WIN ebook copies of all 3 books in the series HERE.

Special Edition: Date Shark Business

After taking some time away from the blog last week due to being sick and having a ton of stuff to do to get ready for a trip to Denver Comic Con this weekend, I have some updates for everyone on the Date Shark Series.

Announcement #1…

Book 3, “The Only Shark In The Sea,” is currently out to beta readers and early responses have been very helpful and overall happily positive!

If you’d like a little sneak peek at Vance and Natalie’s story, check out an excerpt here on Bestselling Reads: Focus Friday.

Announcement #2…

I probably won’t have a cover or release date until sometime in June once I send revisions to my editor/publisher, but I thought we might as well get in the Date Shark spirit and have a little fun with the idea behind this series.

So it’s time to have a CONTEST!!!

Comment below with your worst date story (feel free to leave out names if you so choose) and you’ll be entered to win an ebook bundle of all 3 Date Shark books PLUS a $10 Amazon Gift Card. And as a bonus, if you are willing, your bad date story could be included in the fourth book in the series!

Announcement #3…

Guy Saint Laurent from Date Shark #2, Shark Out of Water, is up for Hottest Guy in the 2015 Romance blogfest! Pop over, check out all the guys, and VOTE FOR GUY!

Announcement #4…

Just in case you didn’t know:

Book 1, Date Shark, is currently FREE on Kindle and iBooks and is 0.99 on Nook, or you can order a paperback from Amazon or B&N…

Book 2 is also available for only $3.99 on Kindle or in paperback from Amazon and B&N…

Or if you’re willing to review on Amazon and Goodreads, send me a message about getting a free review copy of any of the Date Shark books or my other books.

Draft One: Check! Date Shark 3 is on it’s way!

Since deciding to begin the process of selling a house, buying a new one, and all the craziness that goes on in between those two things and immediately after, I really haven’t done much writing since January. My focus was on keeping the house clean and packing.

This past week I missed my usual Monday blog post (sorry about that) but I’ve actually been getting some writing done. Hooray! I was getting ready for Apryl Baker’s 2015 Romance Blogfest and wanted to revisit the Date Shark series to prepare a good post and ended up getting sucked back in to the third book which has been languishing in the realm of “in progress” for way too long. Over the past week I’ve written somewhere in the realm of 20,000 words and just finished the last chapter of Date Shark 3, which I think will be titled “The Only Shark in the Sea.”

If you’d care to meet the stars, Vance Sullivan and Natalie Price, I just so happen to be able to make that happen!

I will admit that this story kind of veered off from what I initially intended it to be, and that took me places I wasn’t expecting, which leaves me a little hesitant to send it off to my beta readers because I honestly don’t know what their responses will be to certain aspects of the story. It probably holds some of the most controversial topics I’ve ever discussed in one of my books and doesn’t fade to black on one intimate seen, though I kept the prose focused on the thoughts and emotions rather than vivid descriptions.

I’m nervous, and I’ll just have to wait to see what will happen. Until then, here’s a short excerpt for your consideration.

“You asked me before,” Vance said slowly, “if I saw you differently after hearing your story.” He shifted, bringing himself the tiniest bit closer to her. “Now I’ve heard your whole story, and it does change the way I see you, but only in the best ways.”
Natalie shook her head, knowing he wasn’t being completely honest, but he spoke over her silent objections.
“It’s not about how I see you, though. I know you’re determined to help me, but I can’t let you do that without returning the favor.” His mouth curved up in a warm smile that caused a strange tightening in Natalie’s chest. “I won’t be satisfied until you see yourself how you really are. Strong, brave, beautiful…amazing.”
Natalie used to believe she was the first two, the last she wasn’t so sure about at all, but… “Beautiful?” she whispered.

“Beautiful,” Vance echoed.
The feeling of her chest constricting was all too familiar, but the absence of panic to induce the feeling was startling. The warmth she felt touching him the night before fluttered back into her mind like a temptation. It was one thing to make accidental contact when he was asleep. Touching him, or letting him touch her, she couldn’t bring herself to do it no matter how much she wanted to feel that feeling again in that moment.
He wanted it too, she realized. It was a frightening realization, and she almost pulled back from instinctual fear. Vance had admitted it in a way a few minutes earlier, but he had been talking about comforting her. Calling her beautiful…she didn’t know if that changed his reason for wanting to touch her. It was right there in his eyes, though. All it would take was her making the first move, telling him it was okay. Desperation to feel his skin against hers almost literally took her breath away, she wanted it so badly, but she couldn’t. She hated herself for her weakness, but there was no way around it as she lay face to face with him, the gap of less than a foot of space between them an uncrossable distance.

DATE SHARK (#1) – FREE

Amazon : B&N : iBooks

SHARK OUT OF WATER (#2)

Amazon: B&N : iBooks

THE ONLY SHARK IN THE SEA (#3)

Off to beta readers!

BOOK 4????

I’ve recently had a great idea for a fourth book featuring Sabine and a character you meet in book 3 🙂

On The Couch with The Date Sharks

Today it’s time to talk shop with the boys of the Date Shark Series.

Everybody has those moments when they just need someone to listen to them and help work a few things out. Eli, Guy, and Vance have always been there for each other, but they’re dedicated to their patients as well.

So here’s your chance to get to know them a little better and see which one of them might be just what you need.

Eli Walsh (Date Shark #1)

Eli specialized in relationships, especially ones that are having issues. When he’s not juggling women with serious social problems as a Date Shark, he’s helping couples see the good in each other again and patch up their relationship issues.

Why go into couples therapy?

Calling his relationship with his mother “stormy” would be something of an understatement, but it has helped him see just how important having strong and healthy relationships is in life and has dedicated himself to helping his patients…and Leila…find happiness with their partners.

Guy Saint Laurent (Date Shark #2, Shark Out Of Water)

Being cooped up in an office all day doesn’t appeal to Guy at all. He needs to be moving, on the go, checking on multiple patients during the day. Working on the psychiatric floor in one of Chicago’s hospitals suits him just fine. Not only is he not in an office all day, he’s given the chance to work with people who have chronic mental illnesses and truly need help.

Guy’s seemingly blase attitude about relationships might make people wonder what on earth drove him to such a career choice, but when you’ve watched someone you care about struggle to deal with mental illness and be given up on by most of the people she loves, it leaves a mark. Despite the fact that he broke up with his last girlfriend because she asked him to cat sit, giving up on someone when they need the support of a true friend just isn’t something he can bring himself to do.

Vance Sullivan (Date Shark #3, Untitled)

Every group of friends has that one person who seems to keep everyone else glued together. That’s Vance. No matter which of his friends needs help, he’ll be the first one by their side. Having grown up in a big supportive family, some might think that’s the reason. There’s more too it than that.

The love of his life, Stephanie, had just as much to do with his decision to work with trauma victims dealing with PTSD and other issues as his family did. Steph’s bubbly personality and ability to talk nonstop without breathing does a lot to hide the emotional scars she carries around, but Vance has always been able to see her better than anyone else, and know how much she’s been hurt. Helping Stephanie deal with her past naturally extended into his care for his patients, but there’s always a point when the one giving all the help eventually needs the favor returned.

DATE SHARK (#1) – FREE

Amazon : B&N : iBooks

SHARK OUT OF WATER (#2)

Amazon: B&N : iBooks

BOOK #3 – Still a work in progress!