Would you be tempted by Wilde Temptation?

I want to wish a very Happy Book Birthday to my friend and fellow author K.M Fawcett who is visiting with me today on the release day for her new novel Wilde Temptation. Welcome, K.M. and thank you for sharing your new release with us!

K.M. Fawcett Romance Author

Thank you, Caridad for inviting me to the blog today! I am super excited to share my new release WILDE TEMPTATION with your readers. Writing small-town contemporary romance has been a fun and exciting change from my usual science fiction and paranormal romances—though there is a little taste of paranormal to the story, as the heroine owns a New Age shop called Witchy Woman where she reads tarot, palms, and apple peels! She also has visions (but isn’t quite successful with them at first). The book is set in the fictional small town of Candlewood Falls, NJ. The Candlewood Falls series a shared-world series in which two other authors (USA TODAY Bestselling Author Jen Talty and Author Stacey Wilk) also write in. Our characters and businesses show up in each other’s books, which is super fun! This was my first time writing in a shared world series and I had a blast collaborating with Jen and Stacey. Their books Rivers Edge and Taking Root are also available on Amazon. After the blurb, enjoy an excerpt from WILDE TEMPTATION.

Would you be tempted?

Plant geneticist Sam Wilde has spent his life savings engineering a unique apple variety that increases happiness. But when fortune-teller Faith Shields mixes Sam’s new apples into an Old World recipe, the result does more than make people happy—it makes them hot for love!

As the small town of Candlewood Falls hungers for the forbidden fruit, Sam and Faith experiment with their arousal hypothesis and soon discover their test subjects aren’t the only ones tempted by desire. Is the impassioned pair’s attraction a byproduct of the aphrodisiac or do they have true chemistry?

Add into the equation the only investor who could save Sam’s orchard from foreclosure—Faith’s jealous ex-boyfriend—and Wilde Orchards is about to live up to its name.

Wilde Temptation Excerpt

Sam knocked on Faith’s door half an hour before his normal tutoring time, as requested. What did she want to discuss in person that she couldn’t over the phone or in front of Lily?

She opened the door, breathless, her cheeks pink and glowing. Wisps of long brown hair that didn’t make it into her braid curled around her face. She wore the same pretty floral shirt she’d had on in the shop that morning.

Did she have any idea how beautiful she was?

The tightness in his chest reminded him to breathe. “Hi—”

Faith grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the apartment. “I’m glad you’re here. There’s something awkward yet important I need to tell you.”

Was she interested in him? Did she want to tell him she liked him? He bit down on a smile and repressed the urge to confess his feelings before she did.

“It’s about the chutney.”

As if stuck in mud, his body suddenly grew heavy. Of course, it was. Beautiful women weren’t interested in lanky, redheaded apple nerds. He was an idiot for even entertaining the thought. “What’s wrong? Are you ill? You look a little flushed.”

“No. I’m fine. Come with me.”

He followed her into the kitchen, pausing at the refrigerator to check out Lily’s artwork and homework stuck to it by glass stone refrigerator magnets. Something spicy permeated the air, making his mouth water. “Smells delicious.”

“I’m cooking chutney.”

“Great. Everyone at Wilde Orchards Market wants more.”

“That’s not all they want,” she muttered.

“What do you mean?”

She flitted around the room, getting out a small bowl and a spoon, and ladling a scoop of chutney. She didn’t meet his eyes when she blurted, “They’re all horny.”

“What? Who?”

“The customers. They’re all horny. It’s an aphrodisiac.”

Did he miss a part of the conversation while distracted with her beauty? “What is?”

“The chutney. It’s an aphrodisiac. That’s why it’s such a hit. People are eating it and getting turned on.”

He laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”

“That’s what I thought at first, but it’s true. Did you eat any?”

“Not yet.”

She thrust the small bowl and spoon into his hands. “Try it.”

“Uh, okay.” He slid a heaping spoonful into his mouth. Delicious sweet and spicy flavors danced across his taste buds, without a trace of bitterness. He swallowed and licked his lips. “This is really good.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean it. Nice texture and taste.” He took another spoonful. No wonder it sold out at the market. It was a flavorful product and a welcome change from all the sweet goods they made at the orchard.

Her hands clasped in front of her mouth, she watched intently, as if waiting for him to turn into the Hulk or something. “How do you feel?”

“I feel fine.”

“I mean, are you turned on?” Her brown eyes sparkled with anticipation, and his mouth dried.

If he wasn’t before, he was now. “I, uh. Is this a trick question?”

“No, it’s a straightforward question.”

It was forward all right. She was a unique woman, but this was odd, even for her. “I don’t understand what’s going on here. Are you… flirting with me?”

Her head flinched as if he’d jumped out of the closet yelling surprise. “Of course, not.”

Too bad. A little flirting could’ve been fun.

“I told you. It’s the chutney. It makes people horny. Are you horny?”

Well, damn, when a woman you have a crush on asks—with breathy eagerness—if you’re horny, your penis can’t help but answer the question for you.

Order Wilde Temptation

WILDE TEMPTATION (A Candlewood Falls Novel) is available now in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited!

Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3jywLEu
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3ystzyB
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Wilde-Temptation-Candlewood-Falls-Romance-ebook/dp/B09667MKMS
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Wilde-Temptation-Candlewood-Falls-Romance-ebook/dp/B09667MKMS
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wilde-Temptation-Candlewood-Falls-Romance-ebook/dp/B09667MKMS
Wilde temptation romance novel

Wilde Temptation Giveaway

Please read the excerpt and take a moment to leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 gift card!

South Beach Love Spy and News!

I’m over the moon about South Beach Love becoming a Hallmark Channel movie. It’s one of those things you dream about as a writer. What’s even more exciting is that I’ll be heading down to watch the filming and I hope I’ll have some fun things to share with you from that visit. In the meantime, the William Levy Paraguay Fan Club has set up the South Beach Love Spy Instagram page where they’re getting all kinds of behind-the-scenes photos, etc. You can visit with them at https://www.instagram.com/southbeachlovepy/.

A Feel Good Romance Gets a Feel Good Review

I am so grateful to be able to follow my passion and love when you follow along with me! It’s especially rewarding when you take the time to leave a review and share your thoughts about what you liked about the book. So a big thanks to Carla the Reader for her review of South Beach Love. Thank you so much, Carla!

If you want to help a fav author, please take the time to leave them a review! Reviews really do help authors.
South Beach Love Caridad Pineiro Review

First Fun Day in Nashville

Despite some delays due to runway construction in Newark, got to Nashville and the Gaylord with few issues. Did some walking around the hotel and over to the Grand Ole Opry. Lots to see and I’m sharing these photos with you!

After the walk, I sat down for some writing and getting ready for the start of the retreat tomorrow. Looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones!

Behind-the-scenes of The Family She Never Met

My February 2022 release is The Family She Never Met from Sourcebooks Casablanca. It is a story of three women torn apart by the past, but it is also my family’s story. Being able to write it and share it with you is an incomparable gift. Here is a little essay about why I write such an emotionally challenging story. You can order The Family She Never Met at https://www.caridad.com/books/womens-fiction/the-family-she-never-met/ and at https://amzn.to/3yrE31l.

Why I wrote The Family She Never Met

I remember what it was like when we came here from Cuba. The “cousins” who would stay with us when they first arrived before going on their way. Parties with friends and the music that would pull me from my bedroom where I was supposed to be sleeping. I’d huddle at the top of the stairs, watching them dance and laugh. So graceful and beautiful. But then sadness and tears would creep in as they reminisced about the Cuba they had left behind and their dreams to one day return.

I remember my fear of being left behind. Because of their political activities, my parents had to escape to avoid imprisonment or worse. They left my sister and me in Cuba with my grandparents. For nearly two years we were separated, first by Castro as punishment and then because we wanted to enter the U.S. legally.

It wasn’t an easy time when we came here. It was such a different place, and we were sometimes not welcome, but we were free, and America truly is the land of opportunity. My parents and grandparents worked hard to secure the American Dream. My grandfather even lied about his age so he could get a job. At sixty-five he should have been thinking about retirement. Instead, he worked at an airport maintenance service to help put food on the table and a roof over our heads.

There were many other stories about our escape from Cuba and achieving our American Dream. For years I tried to find a way to write about those and to also explore the rediscovery of my Cubanidad after my daughter was born and

I wondered what I would leave of myself to her.

Every time I started to write I found myself pulling back because it was oftentimes too emotional to explore that history and my feelings, especially about a mother who didn’t want to talk about Cuba because it was too painful for her.

In truth, although there were many memories and stories that came to me while she was alive, there were almost as many others that were gifted to me by family and friends after her death.

When the thought came to me about writing a story about a young woman who knew little about her family’s history, I asked myself, “Why not tell your family’s story through her? Why not leave your daughter these memories for her to share with her little ones?”

Before I knew it, the emotions and memories that had been trapped in my heart became freely flowing words through the fictional characters of Lara, Jessica, and Carmen (after my mother).

The Family She Never Knew is mi familia. It is a story of a family that experienced the Cuban diaspora and a loss that remains with us to this day. It is a story of survival and family ties. Of hurt and separation, but more importantly, of setting aside the past and its ghosts to forge our future.

For me, it is also about honoring my mother and her courage in bringing her family to the United States and the sacrifices she made so that we could secure the American Dream. It is also about paying homage to my fellow Cubans, my husband’s Italian family, and so many other immigrants who have come to America for a better life.

Finally, it is about thanking America and its people for all that they have provided to so many for so long.

It is my hope that when you read The Family She Never Met you will see yourself and your family on the pages because the story it tells is a universal one, but more importantly, it is a story filled with hope and the power of love.
Family She Never Met Cuban Family History

The World’s Best Conference Chair

The world’s best conference chair is any chair because I am so looking forward to getting out and meeting up with other writers and readers! I love the energy at conferences and getting to meet new people. I hope we can meet up at one of my upcoming events.

Romance Writers of America Retreat
July 14-17, 2021
Nashville, TN
For more info, please visit https://bit.ly/35khGym.

Novelists Inc. Conference
September 22-26, 2021
St. Pete Beach, FL
For more info, please visit https://ninc.com/conferences/about-the-ninc-conference/.

Fall in Love with New England Conference
Oct 15, 3:00 PM – Oct 16, 9:30 PM
Boxborough Regency, 242 Adams Place, Boxborough, MA 01719, USA
For more information, please visit https://www.fallinlovenewengland.com/.

Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference
November 6, 2021
Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference
Holiday Inn
Clark, NJ

Book Lovers Con
December 16-19, 2021
Omni Orlando Resort at Championgates, FL
For more info, please visit https://www.bookloverscon.com/.

Conference Chair