Can you believe LOVE OVER LATTES, Book 1 in my Desert Monsoon Series, hit the #1 best seller spot on Amazon today?! I’m so excited. Thank you so much for all your support!!!
If you haven’t met Cole yet, here’s your chance. Only a few more days left before the $0.99 promo is over, and I turn back into a pumpkin. Le sigh
Here’s what reviewers are saying about LOVE OVER LATTES:
“Hicks’ first installment of her Desert Monsoon series is confident and assured with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and a dynamic blend of romance and suspense…A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Love Over Lattes is one of those quintessential romance novels with plenty of chemistry, mutual attraction, and push and pull between the characters.” – Readers’ Favorite
When recent college graduate Valentina loses the deal on her dream rental and the chance to bring her son home to live with her, she has no choice but to accept the help of the intimidating-as-hell stranger she’s admired from her coffee shop seat for the last six months.
Wealthy businessman Derek Cole has one focus: to save his company. But when he offers to help Valentina, he begins to reevaluate what’s really important to him.
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance and science fiction. Her latest release LOVE OVER LATTES, Book 1 in her Desert Monsoon Series, recently hit the Amazon #1 Best Seller list!!!
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta, and loves spending time with her two children and husband.
Publication List:
My debut, LOVE OVER LATTES (Desert Monsoon Series, Book One), released on 2/7/2018 with The Wild Rose Press. Kirkus Reviews called it, “A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance.” LOVE OVER LOGIC (Desert Monsoon Series, Book Two), released on 11/14/2018. The third and last installment in the interconnected series, LOVE OVER TIME, is scheduled for Spring 2019.
Can you believe LOVE OVER LATTES, Book 1 in my Desert Monsoon Series, hit the #1 best seller spot on Amazon today?! I’m so excited. Thank you so much for all your support!!!
If you haven’t met Cole yet, here’s your chance. Only a few more days left before the $0.99 promo is over, and I turn back into a pumpkin. Le sigh
Here’s what reviewers are saying about LOVE OVER LATTES:
“Hicks’ first installment of her Desert Monsoon series is confident and assured with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and a dynamic blend of romance and suspense…A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Love Over Lattes is one of those quintessential romance novels with plenty of chemistry, mutual attraction, and push and pull between the characters.” – Readers’ Favorite
When recent college graduate Valentina loses the deal on her dream rental and the chance to bring her son home to live with her, she has no choice but to accept the help of the intimidating-as-hell stranger she’s admired from her coffee shop seat for the last six months.
Wealthy businessman Derek Cole has one focus: to save his company. But when he offers to help Valentina, he begins to reevaluate what’s really important to him.
It’s RELEASE DAY for Love Over Logic, and I’m feeling just incredibly grateful for all the support. Reviews for Dom and Emilia’s love story have been amazing…
“This is a slow-burn that made my heart melt. The buildup was perfect and the fall was beautiful!” – Goodreads Reader
“Love Over Logic is the first book that I’ve read by Diana A. Hicks, and it came out of the gates with a bang, and the excitement never slowed down for even a second.” – Goodreads Reader
“I can’t tell you how much I loved this book! It had plenty of drama and a great story. It kept me guessing what would happen next. The cast of characters was really great, even the secondary ones stood out to me. Love Over Logic was truly like an action movie.” – Sip Read Love
“…there were twists around EVERY nook & cranny, so my f-bombs were raining down like a hurricane all the way to big finale! Diana A. Hicks knows how to write a story that gets the blood pumping, and I CANNOT WAIT to read more by her in the future!” – The Power of Three Readers
Attorney Emilia Prado has been living in hiding, ever since the local cartel killed her dad and left her and her mom for dead. But when her long lost cousin needs help leaving her drug lord husband, Emilia knows her time for justice has come.
Hot shot lawyer Dom Moretti never met a case he couldn’t win. Each win puts distance between him and an old life he wants to forget. But when Emilia, a crush from law school, asks for his help, the life he worked so hard for hangs in the balance.
Out to even the score, Emilia is ready to enact revenge on her father’s killer. But will she risk losing Dom to a side of himself he thought was dead and buried?
Excerpt #2 …
“Dammit, Emilia. Of course, my offer still stands.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, a smile pulling at my lips before I let go of his hand. “First things first. How are we going to get past the Dragon Lady?”
He chuckled. A sexy sound that reminded me Dom Moretti was in my room—and we were alone. “Your mom? She seems like a sweet woman.”
“Yeah, until you say no to her.” When it came to the cartel, Mom didn’t fool around. She’d seen firsthand what they could do and how fast. No way in hell she was letting me stay in Phoenix another night, but I had to. After all this time, I finally had a chance to go after the asshole who killed my dad.
“Why are we saying no to your mom?” He sat on the bed, toying with the small flower vase on my nightstand. Nervous energy.
“Because I’m not going with her.”
“Yes, you are. What part of there’s a hit on you do I need to explain again? You’re leaving with your mom. Tonight.”
“You said you were going to help me.”
“And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’ll allow you a continuance. Thirty days should be plenty of time for me to find out who Levi is. If he is what you say, I’ll nail his ass to the wall. I promise you that.”
He sounded so convincing. If he hadn’t used his lawyer voice, I would’ve believed him. Dom didn’t understand who my cousin’s husband was. He wasn’t just another crook. I kneaded the numb spot below my hip bone where his bullet went through me the day he killed Dad. The scar he’d left behind was an IOU. And it was time he paid.
“You know that’s not what I need from you.” I threw a pair of jeans in the suitcase, which took up half the bed.
“You’re wasting time.” He adjusted his weight on the mattress, moved a few decorative pillows out of the way, and then froze. Oh, shit. “What is this?” The infuriating smirk on his face said he knew exactly what was in the small lingerie bag he pulled out from under my pillow. Why didn’t I hide it better? Oh, yeah, because never in a million years did I think Dom would end up in my room. “Wait. Don’t answer that. What I really want to know is why is my name on it?”
“It was a joke.”
“How long have you had this joke?” He pressed his lips together, his chest bouncing a little. It was all he could do not to burst out laughing.
“Your inflated ego must be loving this, but trust me, it’s not what you think.” I resumed the task of folding my clothes and arranging them in my luggage. Maybe if I pretended having a dildo with his name on it wasn’t a big deal, he’d let it go.
“There’s a vibrator under your pillow with my name on it. You betcha my ego is loving this.” He bit the inside of his lip, gripping the contents of the bag. Why was this turning me on? He planted his feet on the carpet and stood, taking his time. His prowl was a promise that the real Dom would be a thousand times better than the chargeable device in his hand. “You want me. Why do you push me away?”
He pressed his chest against the side of my arm. I couldn’t turn to face him. If I did, we’d end up doing what we had started last night at the bar.
“I’ve spent the last ten years in hiding because of what my dad did for a living. You saw today what Jess is going through with her husband. I don’t want that for myself.”
“I am not like them.” His tone was terse and cold. “But you’re right. You have your hands full as it is. I have no right to spring my bullshit on you. So here’s what we’re gonna—”
Shouts came from the other side of the house. They were faint, but they unmistakably belonged to Jess. “My cousin is here.”
“Time’s up.” He moved so fast around the room, I felt like I was going in slow motion. I dropped the bathroom essentials into a toiletry bag while Dom stuffed the rest of my clothes in the suitcase and squeezed it shut.
Attorney, Emilia Prado has been living in hiding, ever since the local cartel killed her dad and left her and her mom for dead. But when her long lost cousin needs help leaving her drug lord husband, Emilia knows her time for justice has come.
Hot shot lawyer, Dom Moretti never met a case he couldn’t win. Each win puts distance between him and an old life he wants to forget. But when Emilia, a crush from law school, asks for his help, the life he worked so hard for hangs in the balance.
Out to even the score, Emilia is ready to enact revenge on her father’s killer. But will she risk losing Dom to a side of himself he thought was dead and buried?
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance and science fiction. Her latest release LOVE OVER LATTES, Book 1 in her Desert Monsoon Series, is a 2018 Readers’ Favorite Honorable Mention in the Romance – Contemporary genre!
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta, and loves spending time with her two children and husband.
Happy Friday, Jr! I’m so happy to share the shiny new cover for the next installment of my Desert Monsoon Series. Remember Cole’s lawyer friend? This is Dom and Emilia’s story.
The law couldn’t help us when the local cartel hunted down my family and left me for dead. Like a stupid good girl, I went to law school to be the better person, to do things right, to get justice without getting my hands dirty. It took me almost a decade, but I’ve finally caught on. After years of living in hiding and wishing for justice, I’m ready to do some hunting of my own.
Dom
After she spent three years in law school looking down her nose at me, I was surprised to find her again, pretending to be someone else, and ogling me like I was something to eat. Yeah, I was surprised and so fucking turned on. Emilia needs my help, even if she hasn’t gotten around to asking for it yet. No, this isn’t my fight. But I can’t help myself. She’s mine to protect.
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance and science fiction. Her latest release LOVE OVER LATTES, Book 1 in her Desert Monsoon Series, is a 2018 Readers’ Favorite Honorable Mention in the Romance – Contemporary genre!
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta, and loves spending time with her two children and husband.
It’s RELEASE DAY for Love Over Lattes, and I’m humbled and a little embarrassed by all the amazing support. Reviews for Cole and Valentina’s love story have been incredible…
“Hicks’ first installment of her Desert Monsoon series is confident and assured with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and a dynamic blend of romance and suspense…A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance.” – Kirkus Reviews
“A deliciously sexy romance with chemistry that explodes off the pages. I absolutely loved it.” – Heather Van Fleet, Author of the Reckless Hearts Series
“Love Over Lattes is one of those quintessential romance novels with plenty of chemistry, mutual attraction, and push and pull between the characters.”Readers’ Favorite
Single mom Valentina wants to provide a good life for her son, starting with the perfect home. When the deal on her dream house falls through, rather than move back in with her parents and disappoint them and her son once again, she accepts the help of the intimidating-as-hell stranger she’s admired from her coffee shop seat for the last six months. She’s afraid to fall for the wrong guy again, so she makes Cole promise to keep their relationship strictly professional.
Following his failed marriage, Cole can’t find a reason to care about anything or anyone. Saving his company from his ex-wife is the only thing that has kept him afloat for the past six months. As loneliness sets in and he begins to lose the fight over his company, Valentina becomes his lifeline. Cole wants to be more than her landlord, and he has a plan to get her to release him from his promise.
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance and science fiction. Her latest release LOVE OVER LATTES, Book 1 in her Desert Monsoon Series, is a 2018 Readers’ Favorite Honorable Mention in the Romance – Contemporary genre!
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta, and loves spending time with her two children and husband.
Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
Follow her on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/diana-a-hicks
Follow her blog: https://dianahicksbooks.com/
Like her Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianaHicksAuthor/
Join her reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DianaSexyReaders/
Follow her on Twitter: @diana_hicks
LOVE OVER LOGIC is out in just one MONTH!!! I can’t wait to share Dom and Emilia’s story with you.
How about we celebrate with a fun giveaway! Ready to win Amazon cards, romance books and other prizes? I’m one of the sponsors of the Night Owl Romance Hallowpalooza Scavenger Hunt.
During this event I’m going to help you find some great new books. Make sure to check my featured title out along the way.
Hi! We both know why you’re here, but before we jump right in, go ahead and read my official bio here. I’ll wait…
Elevator Music brought to you by Nick Bateman. You’re welcome.
Who am I?
What my shiny, super official bio doesn’t tell you is that I’ve been writing for a long, long time. That for most of those years, I’ve gotten over 200 rejections. And that I never really got anywhere with my writing until I found Twitter, more specifically, until I found the #Pitchwars community.
I am a two-time Pitch Wars hopeful (never a mentee). Back in 2015, I subbed my Prime Vector novel to three awesome YA mentors. I didn’t get in, but I listened to their advice, and kept revising, and writing. I tried my luck again in 2016 with my latest title, Love Over Lattes. Still no luck. However, I received a lot of feedback on specific areas where my manuscript needed re-working.
Long story short, I re-wrote my manuscript, and six months later I received an offer for a three-book deal from The Wild Rose Press. Book Two in my Desert Monsoon series is due to release Spring 2019. Here’s the shiny new cover!
Gif by @GifGrrl
Wait, I had a point…even if you don’t get in, you’re here, you’re networking, and honing your craft. That means you’re well on your way to success! Yay, you!
I told you my Pitch Wars story, so I could answer this question. This community has helped me so much, I’m afraid I’ll be struck by lightning if I don’t find a way to pay it forward. Last year was my first year as a Pitch Wars mentor. And I can tell you there’s nothing more gratifying than helping other authors achieve their writing goals and land that dream agent. I’m looking at you Gia!
My strengths/weaknesses?
Commas are my kryptonite. I can spot grammar errors, but I’m not your best bet if you’re seriously lacking in this area. What I can do is break down your story to its bare bones, and figure out what’s missing…from story structure, pacing, and plot holes to character development and deep POV. I’m tough with my critiques, but only because I can see the potential in the writing and I really, really want it to shine and succeed. If you’re cool with tough love, keep reading…
My ideal Mentee?
My ideal mentee would be a hard worker. We only have three months to polish your MS, so we’ll need to hit the ground running. I’ll have charts for you to fill out, and there’s also a spreadsheet. If you want to get a head start, go read Debra Nixon’s GMC: Goal Motivation and Conflict and Damon Suede’s Verbalize. We’ll start by dissecting your story and your characters. My goal is to get two rounds of edits in, so we can focus on sentence structure and flow.
What am I looking for?
Send me your new adult/adult romances! I’ll take contemporary (my favorite), romantic suspense (my second favorite), sci-fi, magic realism, paranormal, light fantasy. If romance is the main story line, send it to me!
To save you time, here’s a list of what I’m NOT looking for:
High fantasy
Historical Romance
Inspirational Romance
Sweet Romance
Horror
Women’s fiction
Non-fiction
Thrillers
Memoirs
Western
If your work does NOT fall into any of the sub-genres listed above, we’re getting warmer. What will make me hot for your MS?
I have no preference for POV or tense, as long as your prose is fresh with an authentic voice (not necessarily flowery). Also, please do your absolute best to make sure your grammar is in decent shape.
Give me a hooky meet cute. I love tropes. My favorite is enemies to lovers, and second chances, but it has to be believable. Same if you’re going for the friends to lovers trope, or strangers to lovers. Give me some sizzling chemistry.
This is a given in romance, but I’ll put it on here so you can check it off the list. Happily Ever Afters (HEAs), or Happy For Now (HFNs) are a must. There are no loop holes here.
Heat required. I don’t do sweet romance. Send me your spicy and erotic romance. I’m mostly a contemporary author, but if your characters are falling in love, and doing all the sexy things in outer space, I WANT your MS!
Consent required. I want strong heroines who know what they want, and know how to ask for it.
Rape is a deal breaker for me. Just no. Not even as backstory.
Diversity welcome. Bonus points for interracial couples!
Contemporary is my main jam. Send me your hot and kinky CEOs, rock stars, bad boys, and men in uniform. Tattoos? Yes, please! I’m all about the romance, but I also need grit and heart. Who/what are these hot guys fighting for?
Some of my recent favorite books:
After Burn, After Shock by Sylvia Day
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
The Pawn by Skye Warren
Paige in Progress by Brighton Walsh
Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn
You made it all the way to the end! For that, you get one more pic of Nick.
Thank you for checking out my wish list. I hope I answered all your burning questions. If not, find me on Twitter, and ask. Like seriously, I don’t mind questions at all. I’ve been there, so I know how difficult it is to choose a mentor. I’m here to help!
To get the life she wants, she’ll have to pull off one last heist…
Con artist Nikki Swift swore she’d never return to her hometown. But a promise she made is long overdue. Fifteen years after her sister went to prison for a murder she didn’t commit, Nikki finally has a way to set things right. She will do whatever it takes to bring her sister home, including living in a condemned hotel with hot-as-hell Henry.
Architect by day, poker player by night, Henry Cavalier wants nothing to do with bombshell Nikki—last he saw her, she skipped town with his money. But after his family disowned him, Nikki’s particular skill set is exactly what he needs to rescue his mom and steal his fortune back.
To keep her promise to her sister, Nikki will have to come out of retirement and swindle one last time. But can Henry trust the thief who broke his heart once upon a time with a con that means everything?
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance and science fiction. Her latest release LOVE OVER LATTES, Book 1 in her Desert Monsoon Series, is a 2018 Readers’ Favorite Honorable Mention in the Romance – Contemporary genre!
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta, and loves spending time with her two children and husband.
Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
Follow her on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/diana-a-hicks
Follow her blog: https://dianahicksbooks.com/
Like her Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianaHicksAuthor/
Join her reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DianaSexyReaders/
Follow her on Twitter: @diana_hicks
That’s right. Here are at Authors18, we’re adding binge reading to the list of things moms want for their big day. What goes great with breakfast in bed, a new scarf, or a nice bottle of wine? How about a sexy romance, a cozy mystery, a yummy historical, or even a great urban fantasy?
I checked in with Authors18.com this week to find out what they thought would make for a great binge read this Mother’s Day. Here’s what they had to say. — Diana A. Hicks
Contemporary Romance
Lynn Turner’s Pas De Deux: A Dance For Two (released May 11) is a beautifully written contemporary romance that’s sure to warm Mom’s heart this Mother’s Day. Turner has crafted a beguiling love story, featuring two of the most perfectly imperfect characters I’ve read in a long time. I use the word craft here in the literal sense – you can feel her passion for her art in the way she writes – how painstakingly she has chosen every word, how keenly she felt every emotion experienced by Zack and Mina, and her faultless attention to detail. The result is a well-paced, slow-burn love story, with just the right amount of dramatic and sexual tension to be both realistic, and achingly hot. Like the male protagonist’s Broadway show, this book is a tour de forcedestined for big things. Bravo! — MV Ellis, (CATCHING LONDON)
When I think of a mother, I think of unconditional love. It’s the moment we decide as women, to hand our hearts over to another human being for safe keeping, while watching them grow into adulthood and wishing we could protect them forever. I would recommend Kristin Hannah’s Nightroad, for mother’s day. It’s a story of a parent’s fierce love and how loss and redemption change her. Anyone with a child will get lost in the author’s master storytelling, and experience every bit of the emotional roller coaster ride. It will bring you to tears, but definitely a must read! — Negeen Papehn (FORBIDDEN BY FAITH)
For Mother’s day, I’m giving mom a new boyfriend, a new book boyfriend, that is. (sorry, dad). Pricilla Olivera’s “Her Perfect Affair” is book 2 in the Matched to Perfection series. The series follows the Fernandez sisters and the men who love them. I love this series for its portrayal of Puerto Rican culture, an interracial couple, and of course, a hot affair complete with a happily ever after. A binge worthy read. — Diana A. Hicks(LOVE OVER LATTES)
Historical Fiction
Bookstore events and book festivals are the perfect places to pick up a book autographed by the author with a personalized note to your mom. Don’t tell my mom, but this year I got her a signed copy of My Dear Hamilton, by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie. My mom’s a huge fan of Hamilton: An American Musical, so I know she’ll love this epic story about Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. — Jennifer Klepper (UNBROKEN THREADS)
One Goodreads reviewer said: “Who She Is offers a superb opportunity for Baby Boomer grandmothers, aunts or mentors, and their granddaughters, nieces or younger generation friends to read together. A fine story with heart.” This is a book about female friendships, family secrets, and the 1968 Boston Marathon. — Diane Byington (WHO SHE IS)
My mother and maternal grandmother each read extensively, often devouring a book a day. I’m proud to follow in their footsteps. I have a penchant for books about women in the arts (thanks to my paternal grandmother, an artist), so this Mother’s Day I’m settling in with Portrait of a Conspiracy, The Competition, and The Flames of Florence, the Da Vinci’s Disciples Series by Donna Russo Morin, books in which female painters in Renaissance Florence are assisted by Leonardo da Vinci. Then maybe I’ll attempt a watercolor of my orchid with its purple blooms. — Suanne Schafer (A DIFFERENT KIND OF FIRE)
What mom doesn’t need an escape now and then? And what better escape than a Regency romance among the aristocrats, where everyone has beautiful manners and all children have nannies? I recommend Julia Quinn’s Smythe-Smith Quartet Series, which has the benefit of humor as well. — Dianne Freeman (A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER)
For moms who enjoy Shakespeare but wish the women in his comedies had more opportunity to speak their minds–and show off their wit–I recommend Finding Kate by Maryanne Fantalis. Here, she retells Taming of the Shrew from Kathryn’s point of view, and it’s a beautiful first installment in her Shakespeare’s Women Speak series. — Willa Ramsey (EVERYTHING BUT THE EARL)
Urban Fantasy
When it comes to a great escape for Mother’s Day, I’m all about escaping through fantastical stories! If they can whisk me away to other worlds, explore the possibilities of the unknown, or make me think outside the box, I’m in! This read is one of my all-time favorites and if you love romance AND fantasy, it’s worth giving Nora Roberts’ Circle Trilogy a try. — Carolyn M. Walker(IMMORTAL DESCENT)
We mom’s empower our children daily to be the best version of themselves–to overcome their fears, and pursue their passions. But it’s important that our kids see us not only teaching these valuable lessons, but demonstrating them as well. Reading stories filled with empowered women carving out their place in supernatural worlds is a fabulous way for mom to take a little relaxing break and feel empowered herself. One of my favorite empowered female characters is Mercy Thompson in the urban fantasy novel, Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. — Rachel Pudelek (FREYJA’S DAUGHTER)
Women’s Fiction/Memoir
When I think of perfect stories to read for Mother’s Day, I always come back to two of my favorites: One Plus One by JoJo Moyes is a story of a mother wrestling with financial issues, a deadbeat husband, and romance while managing one gifted child and one depressed teenager. It will melt any mother’s heart. We’ll Always Have Paris by Jennifer Coburn is a book that will take you on an adventure with a mom/daughter pair. If it doesn’t make you pack up and book your ticket to Paris right away, at least it will give you an excellent escape for a few days. — Elena Mikalsen (WRAPPED IN THE STARS)
Mystery
Moms love creating order from chaos, which is often an impossible task. So mysteries are just the thing to give them for Mother’s Day. If it doesn’t happen in their real life, at least they can have order in their literary life. I just had the pleasure of meeting Louise Penny at the mystery convention Malice Domestic and cheering for her GLASS HOUSES when it won the Agatha Award for Best Novel. It’s the newest in the Armand Gamache series, and I think your mom will love curling up with it. If she’d rather have more order in her life, then you can start with the first book in the series, STILL LIFE. Either way, you can’t go wrong! — Becky Clark (FICTION CAN BE MURDER)
painstakingly she has chosen every word, how keenly she felt every emotion experienced by Zack and Mina, and her faultless attention to detail. The result is a well-paced, slow-burn love story, with just the right amount of dramatic and sexual tension to be both realistic, and achingly hot. Like the male protagonist’s Broadway show, this book is a tour de forcedestined for big things. Bravo! — 
recommend Julia Quinn’s 
