New Release! Beach Romance, Runaway Bride & Witness Protection...

Happy June! I'm celebrating the release of the first book in my new series that's set in a small, fictional beach town along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In fact, I'm over at the Harlequin Heartwarming Authors blog today talking about the setting...the fictional town of Turtleback Beach, located somewhere between the real towns of Rodanthe and Avon on the more pristine southern end of the Outer Banks. Yep, the same town made famous by Nicholas Spark's Nights in Rodanthe. I do promise that, although there's a dose of suspense and danger in Almost a Bride, the romance does have a happy ending.

The Outer Banks are one of my favorite places to visit. Follow me over the Heartwarming blog to see some photos of the area from a family vacation (HERE). I didn't have any of the Hatteras lighthouse we climbed, but you can see the stunning lighthouses along the Outer Banks with a quick Google search. Or look closely and you'll spot on on the cover of my book! My inspiration for the hero and heroine were actors Eric Bana and Jessica Alba. The art department at Harlequin did a fabulous job!

From the runaway bride, witness protection, sea turtle rescue, a dog just like the famous Lassie, kittens and more...I hope you embark on this new series journey with me and enjoy the ride!

Oh...and in other news, I found out last month that The Twin Test (book 5 of 6 in my From Kenya, With Love series) is a National Reader's Choice Award finalist for Contemporary Series!

For those who haven't read the series, it has an almost family saga feel that takes place over two generations and is filled with romance and adventure in Kenya's Serengeti and Masai Mara region. The 6 book series is now complete and can be found at your favorite online store. You can find it on Amazon HERE.

As for my latest...

Series: Turtleback Beach

Book 1: Almost a Bride

Release dates: June 1, 2019 ebook/ June 4, 2019 print

Can he love her…

And keep her safe?

No one in Turtleback Beach knows that veterinarian Grayson Zale is in the witness protection program—not even the woman who left him at the altar. When a joint inheritance brings Mandi Rivers back to their small seaside town, Gray can’t deny that their connection is as strong as ever. But his mysterious past remains between them; can he reveal the truth without endangering Mandi—and their future?

Amazon
B&N
Harlequin
iBooks
and other online retailers

ebook ASIN: B07J6B94VD
Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1335510716

Find it on Goodreads

Happy summer reading!

Rula

Facebook, Newsletter & Updates

Where do I begin? The summer has flown by and, since my last post, I haven't had the chance to stop in here. In fact, this year, I won't be posting my annual RWA National pictures.

You see, about 24hrs after arriving in NY for Nationals, I found out that my mother-in-law passed away. She was the dearest, sweetest person who loved to cook and feed anyone she could and she gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. She really had a genuine heart and was loved by all. Needless-to-say, I booked the next flight home to be with my husband, kids and extended family. So if I missed seeing any of you in NY, you know why.

I did go ahead and attend the Literacy Signing (though my mind and heart were elsewhere), since it's for such a good cause and I couldn't fly out until the following morning. It was wonderful to see both familiar faces and new ones. It was also great to see some of my Harlequin Heartwarming author buddies and many wonderful people from Harlequin, including Senior Editor Victoria Curran, before I had to leave.

As it turned out, since I was out of town, my poor husband had to take my eldest to the orthopedist to get a cast put on his leg (runner's stress fracture), literally while on route to the hospital where his mom had passed away. It was just all around a stressful time and things are just settling down a bit, but we'll feel her loss forever. May she rest in peace.

And in bittersweet news, right when I landed back home (after Nationals) and took my cell phone off airplane mode, I saw a tweet from editor Victoria Curran, letting me know that she'd just accepted the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book (The Promise of Rain) on my behalf. Talk about having your emotions pulled in different directions!

Anyway, I have to thank my incredible writer friends Jeannie Watt and Jamie Steinman for being so awesome and for standing by me when the bad news came at Nationals and for helping me book a flight home. And many thanks for helping me get started on Facebook too!

Yep, I'm actually on facebook now! You can find me at: https://www.facebook.com/RulaSinaraAuthor. I even managed to put a link in my sidebar (trust me, I'm so not technical that was a feat). And...if anyone is interested...I'm taking part in my first FB party tomorrow! I'm a little nervous. It's a pre-launch party being held by 12 authors for an upcoming anthology called A Heartwarming Christmas. You got it! I'm one of the authors in the anthology! I'll post more details soon, but for now, you can find out more on Amazon or my website or the party! The FB party link is: HERE and since I'm new to Facebook and kinda lonely on the likes...I'd love it if anyone wanted to 'like' my author page :). Oh, and the party will include giveaways so check it out!

I've also started a newsletter sign up and have a link in the left margin or on my website (Newsletter). I haven't sent out my first one yet, and I promise they won't be the spammy type. But if you'd like to hear about a new release and maybe some fun stuff from the home front, then I'd love to have you join my mailing list!

Okay, that's all for now. I'd say that was long enough for a catch-up post! I'll see you around :).

HOLT, NRCA & Golden Quill Award Finals for The Promise of Rain!

The past few days have been thrilling! I just found out that The Promise of Rain, the first book in my 'From Kenya, with Love' series, is:

A 2014 National Reader's Choice Award double-finalist for the Best First Book and Contemporary Series categories

A 2015 Golden Quill Award finalist in the Sweet Traditional category

and...

A 2015 HOLT Medallion finalist for Best Book by a Virginia Author!

Whew! I'm still in shock. I found out about the HOLT final on Mother's Day, the NRCA finals the next day...which happened to be my deadline day for the third book in the series (working title: Beyond the Storm)...and the Golden Quill final today. Three days in a row and four finals. I'm overwhelmed and super grateful!!

Deadlines tend to be stressful and just days prior, on the full moon of course, my dogs got into a random fight that left one with a torn ear. It was bleeding like nobody's business (pouring out of her) and when I took her into our laundry room, she did the doggy head shake. The entire room looked like a murder scene as was hell to clean up. But all that mattered was making her better, so off to the vet ER it was and after sedation, stitches, wrapped head and a cone, she's finally better.

And today, I got six, day-old Black Copper Marans chicks! Sooo cute!

So, as you can see, I have lots to celebrate! I'll probably be back in the revision cave soon, but what better way to come out of a deadline cave!

Many thanks to readers everywhere who have been enjoying the series and giving it great reviews. I truly appreciate it!

And a belated Happy Mother's Day to all you incredible moms out there!