What’s New?
Learn what’s going on with each book, where the best giveaways are, where I’m signing, and more…
THE KISS ON CASTLE ROAD Is Available for Preorder
A new series is starting! Book 1 in the brand-new Lavender Island series — THE KISS ON CASTLE ROAD — is now available for preorder from Amazon.com! What do preorders mean? That means if you preorder the paperback edition or the audio book now, your book will be shipped so you’ll have it on launch day, January 1, 2016. Or, if you preorder the Kindle edition from Amazon, it will download automatically to your device bright and early on Jan 1. You will not be charged until Jan. 1, and you are guaranteed the lowest price that ever shows up between the moment you preorder and Jan. 1. So preorder now and get ready to meet Natalie Grant, her sisters on Lavender Island, a bunch of wacky senior citizens, and her adorable “nerd hero” Elliott. Here’s where you can preorder: The Kiss on Castle Road on...
read moreTHE RED BIKINI Won a Literary Fiction Award!
Yay! The Red Bikini was selected by reader judges as a HOLT Award of Merit recipient for outstanding literary fiction in the Mainstream / Single Title category! As a HOLT Award of Merit recipient, my name and book title will also appear in a full page ad in the September issue of RWR. My little book isn’t breaking any sales records, but I’m really proud of its great reviews and accolades!
read moreBook Signing: I’ll Be in Brea on May 2
So I have an appearance this week! I’ll be at the Brea Library this Saturday, May 2, talking about writing and publishing, and signing Ten Good Reasons and The Red Bikini. It’ll probably be just me, my mom, a few friends, and their moms, but we’re sure to have a good time! I told my 15 yo son I wasn’t sure what to talk about, and he told me he thinks I should speak entirely in cliches: “Don’t give up. Follow your dreams. There are many roads to choose. Take the path less chosen. …” He made me laugh. If you’re local and can swing by, I’d love to see you at 11 a.m. at 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea. Note: I’ve been told the best place to park is the underground parking structure accessible from Birch St. The parking structure entrance is located between the Civic Center and the Embassy Suites Hotel. You can park and take the elevator up to the lobby...
read moreAnother 2-Book Deal!
Time for celebration! *cue confetti and champagne corks* My lovely agent Jill Marsal helped get me another 2-book deal! This one to Montlake Romance, which is the publishing arm of Amazon. Here’s the official announcement that ran in Publisher’s Marketplace today: March 20– SOLD! Lauren Christopher’s [THE KISS ON CASTLE ROAD], in which a young woman having a quarter-century crisis goes on an island “mancation,” only to meet up with a Clark-Kent-nerd-type marine microbiologist who is nowhere near her type, and together they stumble upon a strange epidemic of beached island sea lions and learn all too much about true “chemistry” and animal attraction, to Maria Gomez at Montlake Romance, in a two-book deal, by Jill Marsal at the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency...
read moreRT Book Reviews Magazine Gives TEN GOOD REASONS 4.5 Stars!
Well, this is uber-exciting! RT Book Reviews magazine gave TEN GOOD REASONS 4.5 stars (its highest number — kind of a long story, but they only give 4.5 stars in memory of their founder). Here’s the review: TEN GOOD REASONS Lauren Christopher ***1/2 HOT Christopher has done it again. This is a classy, straight-up romance with a good plot, believable characters and great pacing. This is especially recommended for readers who prefer their romance without serial killers, magic or billionaires. Summary: Lia is a workaholic who tries to fix all her friends’ problems. Now, crisis has struck. Her friend Drew has been in an accident that will prevent him from captaining his whale-watching boat for the all-important launch of his new venture. Lia needs to find a substitute captain who Drew will trust with his boat and who can talk about whales. How about Drew’s mystery brother? Evan hasn’t been in touch with his family and he has barricaded his emotions so they won’t cut him anymore. Lia is a thorn in his side, but she won’t leave him alone, and he does owe his brother. As they struggle to work as a team, Lia and Evan begin to form bonds that shake both of them. (BERKLEY SENSATION, Apr., 320 pp., $7.99) –– Bunny Callahan Issue: April...
read moreKirkus Reviews TEN GOOD REASONS
Whoo-hoo! My first official TEN GOOD REASONS review came in from one of the top trade magazines, Kirkus Reviews. I love it: Workaholic marketing whiz Lia is forced to slow down when a friend’s injury threatens his charter whale-watching business—as well as her own corporate promotion—and she has to keep the operation afloat with reluctant help from his sexy, vexing brother. Lia McCabe lives life at breakneck speed. Not only does she have a corporate job with a revered Southern California ad agency, but she also does marketing jobs for businesses in her beloved Sandy Cove. Helping get her friend Drew’s whale-watching business off the ground has been personally rewarding and professionally strategic, since she’s impressed her boss with a unique idea for West Coast client entertainment. But just days before launching, Drew is in a motorcycle accident and can’t captain the boat. Determined to move forward, Lia approaches Drew’s surly brother, Evan, who’s been sailing around the world for a couple of years for reasons Lia isn’t completely sure of, though she knows they are tragic and include the death of his wife. At first, Evan resents Lia’s optimism and cheerful outlook, but as they’re forced together on a string of tours in preparation for the major corporate event, her endless energy begins to affect him, and he might have to give in to their obvious attraction and let a little sunshine into his life—and soul. For her part, Lia’s slower pace on the boat makes her question her choices, and after a series of painful and triumphant experiences she shares with the crew, the clients and especially Evan, her goals begin to shift. Christopher’s second novel is a polished and accomplished success with a terrific mix of romantic chemistry, sexual tension and a touching emotional journey to happy-ever-after once two unsettled souls find sanctuary in each other. A smart, poignant contemporary romance from an author to watch. See this whole review at Kirkus online...
read moreTHE RED BIKINI Sells in France
A French publisher picked up THE RED BIKINI in November, so there will be a French edition of the book! (My youngest son is taking French lessons in high school right now, so he was especially amused by this news.) I’ve learned that it can take a year or more for the foreign versions to come out, but stay tuned — I’ll post a picture of the French version when I see it! (I love seeing the covers reinterpreted in other countries.)
read moreTEN GOOD REASONS is now available for preorder!
Whoo-hoo! Book 2 in the Sandy Cove trilogy — TEN GOOD REASONS — is now available for preorder from Amazon.com! What do preorders mean? That means if you purchase the paperback edition now, your book will be shipped so you’ll have it on launch day, April 7. Or, if you purchase the Kindle edition from Amazon, or the Nook edition from Barnes and Noble, it will download automatically to your device bright and early on April 7. And the timing is perfect — the story actually takes place in the spring, when whale-watching season is. Come watch Lia tackle this industry with all the gusto she normally goes through life with. Here’s where you can preorder: Ten Good Reasons on...
read moreRT Book Reviews Magazine Names THE RED BIKINI a ‘Top Pick’ for July!
Well, this is uber-exciting! RT Book Reviews magazine gave THE RED BIKINI 4.5 stars (its highest number — kind of a long story, but they only give 4.5 stars in memory of their founder) and named it one of eight “Top Picks” for July (among 38 reviewed)! Here’s the review: THE RED BIKINI Lauren Christopher ***1/2 HOT TOP PICK! This California Romance with surfers as heroes will tug your heartstrings hard! The plot grabs readers and sweeps them right through to the finish. This is a great debut and a fantastic start to a series. Summary: When Giselle McCabe brings her daughter to stay for a week at her sister’s California beach cottage, she is definitely not looking to join the surfer set. Her marriage has just crumbled, and she is trying desperately to pull herself together. She’s taking some pictures of the local surfers for a promotional brochure when she meets the famous, and surprisingly nice, Fin Hensen. He’s only in town for a week, but so is she. They resolve to enjoy a light, and chaste, friendship, but one kiss does them in. She’s a proper woman with a 5-year-old in tow, and he’s a globe-trotting surfer bum. Could this ever work? (Berkley Sensation, Jul, 320 pp, $7.99) — Bunny Callahan Issue: July 2014, Issue...
read morePublisher’s Weekly Reviews THE RED BIKINI
Okay, my first official review came in from one of the top trade magazines! (The trades include Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and Library Journal. And, in romancelandia, Romantic Times.) Readers don’t read these as much (except sometimes when they pop up on your Amazon page), but booksellers, librarians and movie-makers do, so you want the reviews to describe a decent plot and say something moderately nice about your writing! Here’s the review from Publisher’s Weekly: The Red Bikini — Lauren Christopher. Berkley Sensation, $7.99 mass market (320p) ISBN 978-0-425-27441-5 The easy charm of fictional Sandy Cove, Calif. sets the scene for a sweet romance between divorced mother Giselle McCabe and international surfing star Fin Hensen. Giselle and her five-year-old, Coco, are visiting Giselle’s sister, Lia, in Sandy Cove. Giselle plans to photograph a neighbor’s surf camp in exchange for surfing lessons for Coco. Shortly after meeting, Fin and Giselle arrange to be each other’s companions for two difficult occasions: Giselle must attend her former father-in-law’s funeral, where she expects to see her ex and his new lover, and Fin wants a “Donna Reed” type to improve his image at an important sponsor event. Buoyed by complementary needs for stability and appreciation, Giselle and Fin face the obstacles of their age differences, different lifestyles, and opposition from Giselle’s ex. Christopher’s writing is crisp and her characters are strong, and readers will look forward to the next installments in the trilogy. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (July) Reviewed on: 05/05/2014 Release date: 07/01/2014 Link: The Red Bikini in Publisher’s...
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