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Hi everyone!!

 

Don’t be shy.  Please ask me any questions about my books and please let me know what you think about my book.

 

Also I will be posting an excerpt about my upcoming historical romance A Soldier’s Vow.

 

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Jackie M. Smith

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Insta-Coffee | Sharing our love of books and authors with you since 2004.

Insta-Coffee Welcome, and today I’m talking with Ilana Long who is here on Coffee Time Romance to tell us about her Romantic Comedy, Pickleballers. But Ilana is not only a writer. She’s also a stand up comedian, a singer, an actor, a teacher, a sportswoman and passionate pickleballer, so take it away, Ilana. Tell us more.

Let’s begin with Pickleballers: what makes this sport something you’d like to share with romance readers?

Pickleball is loaded with humor and friendship. I’ve met so many friends I would never have met under other circumstances. The sport is so fun and low-pressure that many people are making pickleball a first date and also meeting people on the courts. I hear that story from players all the time.

How did you make the leap from stand up comedy to writing?

I love having control over writing. Stand-up can be stressful—getting gigs, practicing, memorizing. I’ve always enjoyed writing comedy—since high school and college, where I wrote humorous articles, and when my twins were born, I wrote a yet-to-be-published funny “momoir.” Writing PICKLEBALLERS and PICKLE PERFECT (coming October 2025) was a natural progression.

Is writing comedy easier or more difficult than writing comedy for a live audience? In what way is it different?

It’s both easier and harder (how’s that for hedging my bets?) Easier in that there isn’t the stress of needing the laugh to know it’s funny, and harder because you don’t hear the laugh to validate that it’s funny.

Working in front of a live audience is both a frightening and heady experience. Do you get the same kick from writing, or do you appreciate the lack of stress? J. Arlene Culiner
#@IlanaLong ##Romance ##contemporary

https://coffeetimeromance.com/ilana-long/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 18301595491175289
Insta-Coffee Welcome, and today I’m talking with Ilana Long who is here on Coffee Time Romance to tell us about her Romantic Comedy, Pickleballers. But Ilana is not only a writer. She’s also a stand up comedian, a singer, an actor, a teacher, a sportswoman and passionate pickleballer, so take it away, Ilana. Tell us more. Let’s begin with Pickleballers: what makes this sport something you’d like to share with romance readers? Pickleball is loaded with humor and friendship. I’ve met so many friends I would never have met under other circumstances. The sport is so fun and low-pressure that many people are making pickleball a first date and also meeting people on the courts. I hear that story from players all the time. How did you make the leap from stand up comedy to writing? I love having control over writing. Stand-up can be stressful—getting gigs, practicing, memorizing. I’ve always enjoyed writing comedy—since high school and college, where I wrote humorous articles, and when my twins were born, I wrote a yet-to-be-published funny “momoir.” Writing PICKLEBALLERS and PICKLE PERFECT (coming October 2025) was a natural progression. Is writing comedy easier or more difficult than writing comedy for a live audience? In what way is it different? It’s both easier and harder (how’s that for hedging my bets?) Easier in that there isn’t the stress of needing the laugh to know it’s funny, and harder because you don’t hear the laugh to validate that it’s funny. Working in front of a live audience is both a frightening and heady experience. Do you get the same kick from writing, or do you appreciate the lack of stress? J. Arlene Culiner #@IlanaLong ##Romance ##contemporary https://coffeetimeromance.com/ilana-long/

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Insta-Coffee http://coffeetimeromance.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wildcardbyangelaknight.mp4

Passion’s the pot when Rowan Kerr draws the Wildcard.

Though she lives in a world of Beyonce and iPhones, Indra Fox thinks she may be an alien. She’s too strong, too fast, and heals too quickly to be merely human. But she doesn’t know for sure, because her parents refused to tell her. Nor would they explain why she -- and her equally superhuman best friend, Diana Newman -- were raised to be warriors.

When their families are murdered, Indra and Diana seek revenge on their killers, Satan’s Horsemen. Then Diana is kidnapped, and Indra goes undercover at a strip club the gang owns to discover where her friend has been taken.

But when Rowan Kerr walks into the club, Indra realizes he’s even more powerful than she is. Rowan says he knows who she really is and what she was created to do, but she must go with him to learn the truth.

Indra will do anything to save Diana. Including embracing her destiny as something more than human.

Rowan thinks Indra could be the teammate -- and lover -- he dreams of. But she’s mad as hell about being kept in ignorance, and she’s convinced that she’s been betrayed by the woman he works for. What’s worse, she’s not wrong. Can he convince her to take a chance on him? And can Indra and Rowan defeat the very real aliens who are behind Diana’s abduction?

They’d better, or humanity will pay the price for their failure.

Amazon

https://coffeetimeromance.com/angela-knight-november-2024/

https://coffeetimeromance.com/wildcard-by-angela-knight/ Coffee Time Romance & More
#@angelaknight ##Romance ##scifi

https://coffeetimeromance.com/wildcard-by-angela-knight-3/

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Insta-Coffee http://coffeetimeromance.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wildcardbyangelaknight.mp4 Passion’s the pot when Rowan Kerr draws the Wildcard. Though she lives in a world of Beyonce and iPhones, Indra Fox thinks she may be an alien. She’s too strong, too fast, and heals too quickly to be merely human. But she doesn’t know for sure, because her parents refused to tell her. Nor would they explain why she -- and her equally superhuman best friend, Diana Newman -- were raised to be warriors. When their families are murdered, Indra and Diana seek revenge on their killers, Satan’s Horsemen. Then Diana is kidnapped, and Indra goes undercover at a strip club the gang owns to discover where her friend has been taken. But when Rowan Kerr walks into the club, Indra realizes he’s even more powerful than she is. Rowan says he knows who she really is and what she was created to do, but she must go with him to learn the truth. Indra will do anything to save Diana. Including embracing her destiny as something more than human. Rowan thinks Indra could be the teammate -- and lover -- he dreams of. But she’s mad as hell about being kept in ignorance, and she’s convinced that she’s been betrayed by the woman he works for. What’s worse, she’s not wrong. Can he convince her to take a chance on him? And can Indra and Rowan defeat the very real aliens who are behind Diana’s abduction? They’d better, or humanity will pay the price for their failure. Amazon https://coffeetimeromance.com/angela-knight-november-2024/ https://coffeetimeromance.com/wildcard-by-angela-knight/ Coffee Time Romance & More #@angelaknight ##Romance ##scifi https://coffeetimeromance.com/wildcard-by-angela-knight-3/

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Insta-Coffee Heart of a Devil is a standalone dark Mafia, best friend`s dad, age gap romance with very dark themes, please check your triggers before reading.

You can’t outrun your past—or so they tell me. It doesn’t stop me from trying though, and that’s how I end up here in London, a far cry from the Los Angeles sunshine and the weight of my family’s name. And hopefully far enough away from my past that it can only haunt me in dreams.

Things are going well so far. My life is pretty normal, and normal—a little calm after the chaos—is exactly what I need right now.

Enter Sebastian Donovan. All easy charm and Daddy Dom energy, with a smile that could melt panties at twenty paces. It’s a pity he’s off-limits—not because he’s a serial womanizer with a trail of broken hearts all over London, but because he’s my best friend’s dad. That’s too messy, and I like to avoid mess. I’ll stick to my no-strings arrangements, no matter how unfulfilling they’ve been lately.
But what if we could have just one night? One debauched, filthy encounter that will still make me smile when I’m eighty? That can’t hurt, right?

Wrong. Very, very wrong.

Sebastian Donovan isn’t the kind of man I can just up and walk away from the next morning. He unlocks something deep inside me, something I buried a long time ago. If my tastes run a little on the dark side, Sebastian’s run darker. He’s the first man who’s ever managed to tap into exactly what I want, and he’s not afraid to give it to me.

But those demons I’m running from—
They’re about to catch up with me, and now I don’t know who I can trust. The one thing I need to be certain of is whether I can trust him. Coffee Time Romance & More
##contemporary #@sadiekincaid ##agegap #alpha

https://coffeetimeromance.com/heart-of-a-devil-by-sadie-kincaid/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 18055718570259256
Insta-Coffee Heart of a Devil is a standalone dark Mafia, best friend's dad, age gap romance with very dark themes, please check your triggers before reading. You can’t outrun your past—or so they tell me. It doesn’t stop me from trying though, and that’s how I end up here in London, a far cry from the Los Angeles sunshine and the weight of my family’s name. And hopefully far enough away from my past that it can only haunt me in dreams. Things are going well so far. My life is pretty normal, and normal—a little calm after the chaos—is exactly what I need right now. Enter Sebastian Donovan. All easy charm and Daddy Dom energy, with a smile that could melt panties at twenty paces. It’s a pity he’s off-limits—not because he’s a serial womanizer with a trail of broken hearts all over London, but because he’s my best friend’s dad. That’s too messy, and I like to avoid mess. I’ll stick to my no-strings arrangements, no matter how unfulfilling they’ve been lately. But what if we could have just one night? One debauched, filthy encounter that will still make me smile when I’m eighty? That can’t hurt, right? Wrong. Very, very wrong. Sebastian Donovan isn’t the kind of man I can just up and walk away from the next morning. He unlocks something deep inside me, something I buried a long time ago. If my tastes run a little on the dark side, Sebastian’s run darker. He’s the first man who’s ever managed to tap into exactly what I want, and he’s not afraid to give it to me. But those demons I’m running from— They’re about to catch up with me, and now I don’t know who I can trust. The one thing I need to be certain of is whether I can trust him. Coffee Time Romance & More ##contemporary #@sadiekincaid ##agegap #alpha https://coffeetimeromance.com/heart-of-a-devil-by-sadie-kincaid/

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Insta-Coffee May 27, 2025

Book 2

The Drakkon Kin Trilogy Book 2

The drakkons have joined the battle, but do they have the power to help win the war?

Princess Bryn Silva is a Strega witch, gifted with the ability to raise fire and mind speak to animals. It is a gift that helped her win the trust of Kaia—a drakkon queen in the prime of her life.

But the drakkons’ only weapons are tooth and claws, and they are useless against an enemy mounted on armored birds, and who possess weapons capable of eating through scale and stone with equal ease. After an aerie is attacked, the drakkons agree to a desperate alliance and the drakkon kin—a force of Strega witches mounted on drakkon back—is formed.

Despite initial success, Bryn quickly realizes that a handful of kin will never defeat the sheer number of gilded riders amassing off Arleeon’s shores.

The drakkons needed a weapon. They needed fire…

But the gilded riders were not the only danger closing in on Esan, the fortress protecting the eastern gateway into Arleeon. The Mareritt, a warrior race and an ancient enemy, also move on them, armed with weapons eerily similar to those the gilded riders use.

Weapons capable of destroying Esan’s mighty walls.

But the biggest threat of all could be the dangerous secrets being held by Bryn’s husband, Damon Velez, heir to the throne of Zephrine and a man she hadn’t wanted to marry but might well be falling in love with.

A man whose magic could give the drakkons fire, or utterly destroy them all.

More Posts

https://coffeetimeromance.com/the-drakkons-are-coming-keri-arthur/

http://coffeetimeromance.com/of-steele-and-scale-by-keri-arthur/ Coffee Time Romance & More
##fantasy ##keriarthur ##Romance #dragons ##DrakkonKin

https://coffeetimeromance.com/of-scale-and-blood-by-keri-arthur-is-here/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 18069895831975014
Insta-Coffee May 27, 2025 Book 2 The Drakkon Kin Trilogy Book 2 The drakkons have joined the battle, but do they have the power to help win the war? Princess Bryn Silva is a Strega witch, gifted with the ability to raise fire and mind speak to animals. It is a gift that helped her win the trust of Kaia—a drakkon queen in the prime of her life. But the drakkons’ only weapons are tooth and claws, and they are useless against an enemy mounted on armored birds, and who possess weapons capable of eating through scale and stone with equal ease. After an aerie is attacked, the drakkons agree to a desperate alliance and the drakkon kin—a force of Strega witches mounted on drakkon back—is formed. Despite initial success, Bryn quickly realizes that a handful of kin will never defeat the sheer number of gilded riders amassing off Arleeon’s shores. The drakkons needed a weapon. They needed fire… But the gilded riders were not the only danger closing in on Esan, the fortress protecting the eastern gateway into Arleeon. The Mareritt, a warrior race and an ancient enemy, also move on them, armed with weapons eerily similar to those the gilded riders use. Weapons capable of destroying Esan’s mighty walls. But the biggest threat of all could be the dangerous secrets being held by Bryn’s husband, Damon Velez, heir to the throne of Zephrine and a man she hadn’t wanted to marry but might well be falling in love with. A man whose magic could give the drakkons fire, or utterly destroy them all. More Posts https://coffeetimeromance.com/the-drakkons-are-coming-keri-arthur/ http://coffeetimeromance.com/of-steele-and-scale-by-keri-arthur/ Coffee Time Romance & More ##fantasy ##keriarthur ##Romance #dragons ##DrakkonKin https://coffeetimeromance.com/of-scale-and-blood-by-keri-arthur-is-here/

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Insta-Coffee She suspects everyone of everything. Now, everyone suspects her.

For cemetery owner and world’s best fur-mom Jane Ladling, death is her business, romance is her misfortune and suspicion is her passion. When she discovers a fresh body on her porch, she calls Special Agent Conrad Ryan, her smoke-show of a boyfriend. Who isn’t actually her boyfriend. Whatever. It’s complicated, especially now that she’s being framed for the murder of the only “hard-hitting” journalist in the small town of Aurelian Hills, Georgia.

Determined to clear her good name, Jane dives headlong into following the clues––with best friends Fiona and Beau at her side. But can she identify the killer before she goes to jail? Or worse…there’s another victim?

Amazon Coffee Time Romance & More
##book#audiobooks #cozymystery ##cozymystery ##readers #@genashowalter ##booktok ##booklovers ##audio

https://coffeetimeromance.com/no-gravestone-left-unturned-by-gena-showalter/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 17933578376917659
Insta-Coffee She suspects everyone of everything. Now, everyone suspects her. For cemetery owner and world’s best fur-mom Jane Ladling, death is her business, romance is her misfortune and suspicion is her passion. When she discovers a fresh body on her porch, she calls Special Agent Conrad Ryan, her smoke-show of a boyfriend. Who isn’t actually her boyfriend. Whatever. It’s complicated, especially now that she’s being framed for the murder of the only “hard-hitting” journalist in the small town of Aurelian Hills, Georgia. Determined to clear her good name, Jane dives headlong into following the clues––with best friends Fiona and Beau at her side. But can she identify the killer before she goes to jail? Or worse…there’s another victim? Amazon Coffee Time Romance & More ##book#audiobooks #cozymystery ##cozymystery ##readers #@genashowalter ##booktok ##booklovers ##audio https://coffeetimeromance.com/no-gravestone-left-unturned-by-gena-showalter/

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Dear Reader Friends,

One more week to go! And then no more waiting for Mr. Steele.

Do you remember him from ONE DANGEROUS NIGHT? The moment when Gwendolyn Lanscarr asked for another favor?
#@cathymaxwell ##historical ##thegamblersdaughters

https://coffeetimeromance.com/?p=281320

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 18391661887189311
Dear Reader Friends, One more week to go! And then no more waiting for Mr. Steele. Do you remember him from ONE DANGEROUS NIGHT? The moment when Gwendolyn Lanscarr asked for another favor? #@cathymaxwell ##historical ##thegamblersdaughters https://coffeetimeromance.com/?p=281320

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https://coffeetimeromance.com/sworn-to-spice-giveaway/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 17843389698488260
https://coffeetimeromance.com/sworn-to-spice-giveaway/

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Survive Demon Reform Academy, break the curse, seal my fate, and destroy Dark Veil before it destroys demonkind.

The curse woven into my soul wasn’t just draining my powers—it was killing me. And the only way to break it was to claim each one of my mates, ensuring all five matebonds connected to my soul were sealed.
#@lyrawinters ##demonreformacademy ##reverseharem

https://coffeetimeromance.com/demon-reform-academy-term-4-by-lyra-winters/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 17931293949026532
Survive Demon Reform Academy, break the curse, seal my fate, and destroy Dark Veil before it destroys demonkind. The curse woven into my soul wasn’t just draining my powers—it was killing me. And the only way to break it was to claim each one of my mates, ensuring all five matebonds connected to my soul were sealed. #@lyrawinters ##demonreformacademy ##reverseharem https://coffeetimeromance.com/demon-reform-academy-term-4-by-lyra-winters/

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OUT NOW: THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig



From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes the next big romantasy sensation, a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a young prophetess forced on an impossible quest with the one knight whose future is beyond her sight. Perfect for fans of Jennifer L.
#@orbit #@rachelgillig ##booklovers ##booktok ##NewReleases

https://coffeetimeromance.com/new-release-the-knight-and-the-moth-by-rachel-gillig/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 17924357999962680
OUT NOW: THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes the next big romantasy sensation, a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a young prophetess forced on an impossible quest with the one knight whose future is beyond her sight. Perfect for fans of Jennifer L. #@orbit #@rachelgillig ##booklovers ##booktok ##NewReleases https://coffeetimeromance.com/new-release-the-knight-and-the-moth-by-rachel-gillig/

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Our Books | Shop Bookshop.org | Find Your Forever Trope

Hello sunshine and flowers (and eBook deals)! We`ve got classic rom-coms, grand gestures + forced proximity, gripping historical fiction, drama, scandals, and more.
Happy Reading! 💕

MONTH-LONG DEALS!
#@annierains #@graceburrows #@hatchettpub #@katespencer #@kdalden #@kellybowen #@meredithschorr

https://coffeetimeromance.com/281281-2/

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 18064566227320773
Our Books | Shop Bookshop.org | Find Your Forever Trope Hello sunshine and flowers (and eBook deals)! We've got classic rom-coms, grand gestures + forced proximity, gripping historical fiction, drama, scandals, and more. Happy Reading! 💕 MONTH-LONG DEALS! #@annierains #@graceburrows #@hatchettpub #@katespencer #@kdalden #@kellybowen #@meredithschorr https://coffeetimeromance.com/281281-2/

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Stephanie Laurens` Waiting for Thomas Newsletter, May 15, 2025.

Getting swept away by a good story is one of life`s greatest pleasures.

Hello to you all, dear readers!

I feel it has been some time since I sent a newsletter out. I do hope you are all doing well. I’ve been enjoying myself lately with a trip to Japan a few weeks ago. What an interesting and ancient culture.
#@stephanielaurens ##booktok ##historical ##mystery ##Romance

https://coffeetimeromance.com/?p=281171

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Open post by ctrstaffer with ID 17998112651790481
 Stephanie Laurens' Waiting for Thomas Newsletter, May 15, 2025. Getting swept away by a good story is one of life's greatest pleasures. Hello to you all, dear readers! I feel it has been some time since I sent a newsletter out. I do hope you are all doing well. I’ve been enjoying myself lately with a trip to Japan a few weeks ago. What an interesting and ancient culture. #@stephanielaurens ##booktok ##historical ##mystery ##Romance https://coffeetimeromance.com/?p=281171

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