Time to try something new

If you’ve read any of my books, you probably know that I often have a bit of suspense in my stories. There’s a reason for that—romantic suspense was one of my gateways into romance (Nora Roberts, for one), and I’ve always loved the co-existence of an action/mystery/danger plotline along with the romantic one. Falling in love while investigating a crime or navigating peril? Totally my jam! But in my own books, I’ve focused more on the romance, the sizzle, the banter.

So when it was time to write a new series, I started toying with the idea of writing a suspense series. I was nervous. Could I do it? Or should I make it just slight more suspense-ish than my other books? I called up my editor. Her advice? Lean in. Go full romantic suspense. Just do it—in your voice. (In other words: Don’t lose the sizzle or the banter.)

And that was how Firelight Ridge came to be! This series has so many elements I love. To balance out the rugged remote wilderness of the setting, it focuses on four very close friends, who will each experience their own romantic adventure in Alaska. It might be suspense, but it’s still romance—expect a happy ending for each of these intrepid heroines.

The first book, ICE FALLS, is out now, so you can take your first journey into the wilds of Alaska with Molly Evans and the pilot Sam Coburn!

From USA TODAY Bestselling Author Jennifer Bernard comes a new sizzling suspense series set in the Alaskan wilderness.

From childhood misfit to successful attorney, Molly Evans wouldn’t be the strong, independent force of nature she is today without the support of her three best friends—and one of them is missing. On a mission to find answers, she tracks Lila all the way to Firelight Ridge, Alaska, a wild outpost where Molly sticks out like a sore thumb in her designer duds and desperate search for Wi-Fi. Regardless, just days after arriving, she can’t resist getting sucked into the mystery surrounding a local’s death, a group of reclusive settlers…and a surly but undeniably attractive pilot.

Sam Coburn has carefully cultivated a lone-wolf persona since moving to Firelight Ridge, necessary for a job he’s reluctantly agreed to take on. Then Molly Evans steps onto his plane, and he just knows the gorgeous redhead is about to make his life interesting. She’s as fierce as she is feisty…and it’s not long before she inadvertently provides him access to an isolated wilderness family he’s tried and failed to get close to for over a year. But it turns out they are excessively interested in Molly…a potentially dangerous turn of events Sam didn’t see coming.

Throw in a teen runaway, a shooting, sexual attraction as dazzling as the endless Alaska sky, and a potentially catastrophic event, and Sam and Molly’s breathtaking adventure could end up either life-altering…or life-ending.

Stuff your E-Reader!

Amazing news for all of us romance lovers! It’s a 3 day romance extravaganza! Hundreds of free books in all the romance subgenres are available from September 20 to September 22 via the Stuff Your eReader promotion. Head over to RomanceBookWorms.com to meet your next fabulous book boyfriend or fave new read!

Stuff Your eReader!

Hop over to RomanceBooksWorms.com to browse for your next hot reads!

Free: THE FLING

If you haven’t already stuffed your e-Reader with Emmaline and Conor’s story, THE FLING is free for a short time!

He's her brother's best friend ... now he's back in Lake Bittersweet

Just in time for some holiday fun—and heartfelt emotion—THE SETUP is now available!

  • 🎄Small town holiday fun

  • 💘Brother’s best friend romance

  • 👀When your friends try to set you up

  • 💪Hometown hero returns

“Gina and Kirk were a ton of fun to read, surrounded by a great cast of characters. Just enough emotion and suspense to add to this wonderful story.” Kay/GR

“It definitely had me basking in The Feels and The Swoon.” Gladys/GR

He left without warning in the middle of a Lake Bittersweet winter.
Now he’s back... just in time for the holidays.

For Gina Moretti, the holidays are bittersweet thanks to a history of romantic disasters. This holiday season, her friends are taking the reins and are setting her up. Little did she know the whole town would get into the act, but that’s Lake Bittersweet for you. When a date goes sideways, she’s shocked to be rescued by the one-and-only Kirk Williams–her brother’s best friend, who left town long ago and is now a celebrity hero. 

Kirk is back in Lake Bittersweet for some peace and quiet, but once he sees Gina, that’s out of the question. His best friend’s tomboy little sister is now a gorgeous woman with secrets of her own. When she asks him for help tracking down someone from her past, he jumps at the chance to win her trust. As for resisting their intense attraction…he might be famous for his heroic rescues, but he’s not that strong.  

Can Kirk and Gina banish the ghosts of holidays past and claim the future of their dreams …while dealing with family revelations, obsessed fans, and the endless parade of holiday setups? 

Win a Maple Syrup Gift Basket

THE FLING is out today, and I’m celebrating with one of my favorite giveaways ever! Emmaline Curtis, the heroine, is a maple syrup farmer, so of course I had to go wild with maple syrup products. I ADORE maple syrup (why do you think I gave Emmaline that profession?) and the incredible variety of treats that can be made with it. This gift basket has a little bit of a lot of them! For instance …

2 tshirts (size L & XL), maple tea, assorted maple candies, maple popcorn, maple brittle, chocolate maple brittle, assorted maple syrup, maple sugar, maple sticker & a tumbler.

It all started that summer in Lake Bittersweet…

Emmaline Curtis has never been outside the state of Minnesota before, so winning an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii is a dream. Back home, working the family farm and caring for her brother means precious little free time. So when she meets an intriguing hottie at the resort, she’s ready for anything. No last names. No personal details. Just two willing strangers enjoying each other in paradise; then Emmaline can go home with good memories and no chance of awkward future run-ins with Conor.

Conor Gault’s business trip turned sensual excursion is cut short by devastating news—his rock star father has unexpectedly passed. Suddenly he’s heading to a town he’s avoided for seventeen years. Lake Bittersweet, Minnesota. The place where one long-ago disastrous night changed the course of his life. The last person he expects to run into is Emmaline, the quirky knockout who’s been living rent-free in his head ever since Hawaii…and who just happens to be a local.

Before long, their sizzling attraction heats up again. Their worlds couldn’t be more different—he’s a wealthy financial whiz, she’s a farmgirl. But in a startling twist of fate, Conor and Emmaline discover their pasts are linked in ways they never imagined. Ways that may ensure their fiery affair will never be more than a temporary fling.

Let's get Smitten this Summer!

It’s release day for SMITTEN IN SUMMER and I’m over the moon to be taking a trip back to my beloved Lost Harbor, Alaska!

All of the Lost Harbor books are standalones, but one of the great things about a long series like this is that the secondary characters keep appearing like old friends. Trixie Tran was in the very first book, and has popped up a few times in other books. Now it’s her turn to take the starring role with her free-spirited, sassy self! She has the perfect foil in Mac Brindisi, a single dad with military background who is drawn to her the minute he walks into her ice cream shop.

Grab your copy of SMITTEN IN SUMMER and let me know what you think! Here are what a few early readers are saying:

“Watching Mac and Trixie grow closer to each other was beautiful and I found I couldn’t put this story down. This story just became my new favorite Lost Harbor book.” Joanne/GR

“Smitten in Summer is full of love and friendship and laughter and comfort, even and especially as Max and Trixie take risks and take action.” Fedora/GR

“I tore through this book, couldn't put it down, and then was extremely sad when it was over. Why must I suffer the sadness of loving and reading a really good book too fast!?!?!” Kay/GR

 From USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Jennifer Bernard comes a steamy, single dad, small town romance set in fan-favorite Lost Harbor, Alaska with a free-spirited heroine and a grumpy hero who can't stay away.


Ice cream goddess and perennial life of the party, Trixie Tran lives life large, from her eclectic wardrobe to her offbeat perspective on, well…everything. No one knows her carefully crafted persona evolved after one life-changing summer during her teens, when a need to belong led to falling for Chase Owens, who betrayed her trust. Now, years later, Mr. Wrong has come to her tiny town of Lost Harbor…and he’s not leaving until Trixie gives him what he wants.

With his young daughter in tow, rescue trainer Mac Brindisi is in Alaska to fulfill a short-term contract. Romance isn’t part of the plan. He’s also built a career—literally—out of shutting people out of his life. Despite that fact, he’d have to be dead inside not to notice the sexy siren who owns the local ice cream shop. When some rich jerk from her past sails into town, all his protective instincts are activated…and then some.

Turns out Chase is no ordinary rich jerk. Dealing with him will take all of Mac’s skills…as well as courage Trixie didn’t know she had. Can she afford to put her trust in a man again? Or is Mac just another smitten-in-summer mistake waiting to happen?


Something new: Audio!

So picture this: me with some brand new headphones and a microphone and special software on my laptop, huddling under my stepdaughter’s loft, surrounded by hanging blankets, determined to narrate my own audiobook.

True story: that lasted about fifteen minutes until I realized that professionals are professionals for a reason and I am not a voiceover artist! I made so many little errors that editing them all out would have taken ALL my time and no more books would ever be written.

I did love the idea of reading my book the way it sounded in my head as I wrote it. But once I heard an actual voiceover pro read a sample, I loved that even more. Heather Costa, my narrator, has a quirky, offbeat kind of voice that fits my Lost Harbor series perfectly.

So today I’m incredibly excited to release my very first audiobook, MINE UNTIL MOONRISE, available at Amazon, Apple Books and Audible! This book has over 500 reviews on Amazon and a 4 1/2 star rating. It kicks off the Lost Harbor, Alaska series with a fun enemies-to-lovers clash between a hottie boat captain and a nerdy bird scientist.

I hope you love it and would love to know what you think of the narration. If you’re a fan of listening to audiobooks, let me know in the comments!

P.S. I can’t guarantee that I won’t try again with the DIY version. It was pretty fun when I wasn’t tearing my hair out.

New book alert: FLIRTING WITH FOREVER

It’s high time for another trip to the quirky and tight-knit town of Lost Harbor, Alaska!

In FLIRTING WITH FOREVER, Dr. Ian Finnegan, a character who has appeared in the series a few times, gets his turn at a happy ending. I love taking secondary characters and making them the star of another book. Why? Because I believe deeply that we’re all the stars of a story and we all can find happiness.

Make sure to enter this fabulous giveaway inspired by FLIRTING WITH FOREVER!

*Lost Harbor Tote bag

*Eco picnic-ware for a family of 4 (utensils, napkins, straws)

*Signed paperback copy of Flirting with Forever

*Battery-operated candle lantern

*Hershey’s Springtime Kisses

ENTER HERE or click the graphic! Promo runs from March 9 through March 20.  

New holiday romance out today!

IT’S LIVE!!!

HEAD OVER HEELS FOR THE HOLIDAYS is now available at all ebook retailers! This is book 7 in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series — but can be read as a standalone.

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | GooglePlay

Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia

Paperback

Lost Harbor Police Chief Maya Badger finally gets her moment to shine … and boy, does she have a lot going on! There’s the unsolved mystery of what’s going on in Lost Souls Wilderness. There’s the fact that the holidays are almost here, which is always a tough time for her. And then there’s her beloved father, who’s recovering from heart surgery.

Maya’s used to taking care of everything, but when it comes to her dad’s health, she turns to the professionals and hires a home health nurse. To her amazement, the handsome hunk the agency sends turns out to be her childhood buddy. Lucky for her, Rune Larsen turns out to be the answer to all sorts of needs.

I hope you love Maya and Rune’s story and also that your Thanksgiving holiday is nurturing and safe, no matter if you’re traveling or staying home. Happy Reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

Goodreads giveaway alert!

Perfect for the holidays … enter to win a signed paperback copy of HEAD OVER HEELS FOR THE HOLIDAYS! I’m excited about this giveaway because the paperback is absolutely gorgeous. Go forth and enter! Good luck!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Head over Heels for the Holidays by Jennifer Bernard

Head over Heels for the Holidays

by Jennifer Bernard

Giveaway ends November 22, 2020.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Love at First Light is LIVE + Giveaway

When I wrote LOVE AT FIRST LIGHT, I did something I’ve never done before. I brought a character from an entirely different series into the Lost Harbor series and made him a hero! Ethan James is the brother of Olivia James, the heroine of THE ROCK (The Rockwell Legacy.) For some reason he always stuck in my mind as a character I wanted to come back to. I knew he had an interesting story to tell. But the Rockwell Legacy series is completed, so I had to find another place for him.

As a private investigator, he first came to Lost Harbor in YOURS SINCE YESTERDAY, then returned in NAUGHTY ALL NIGHT. So finally I got the message — this dude needs his own book.

Today is finally his day — along with bakery owner Jessica Dixon. They’re about to have the adventure of their lives in Lost Souls Wilderness. I hope you enjoy their story!

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | Apple | GooglePlay

Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia

Paperback

And now for my release week giveaway! In honor of Jessica’s Sweet Harbor Bakery, I’m giving away a basket of adorable gourmet adventure-themed cookies and a signed paperback of LOVE AT FIRST LIGHT.

TO ENTER: Click here or on the graphic. Good luck!!

Cover Reveal: LOVE AT FIRST LIGHT

The covers in the Lost Harbor series are extra-fun for me because of the background images and how they reflect the changing of the seasons here in Alaska. I especially love this one with its summery sunrise lighting. LOVE AT FIRST LIGHT is coming out on September 22 and is up for preorder now. (Click the cover or scroll down for all the links.)

One week can change everything…

Private investigator Ethan James has had one too many brushes with death. But his newest case should be simple—it’s just a birth-parents search in stunning Lost Harbor, Alaska, helping out the local police chief. But as everyone knows, strange things happen in the tiny remote town. From day one, everything seems to go wrong. The last straw? He suddenly has a sidekick he never expected—the super sexy, endlessly quirky local baker. 

Nothing is more important to Sweet Harbor Bakery owner Jessica Dixon than her friends—especially her BFF, Police Chief Maya Badger. When Maya has to drop a side investigation close to her heart, Jessica is determined to prove she has her back. Of course, she knows nothing about investigating. But she has her knowledge of the area, her uncanny intuition, and of course, her trusty crystal. Oh, and the help of the ridiculously gorgeous but entirely too cynical Ethan James. What could go wrong? 

When these opposites attract, Jessica may come down to Earth long enough to find love, while Ethan might learn to trust his heart instead of his head…if they make it out of the wilderness alive.

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | Apple

Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia

Billionaires for Free ~ 2 Days Only!

It’s time for another Trope-a-Palooza! I love this one because the books are by some of my favorite authors! This time we’re giving away billionaire stories — including my book THE RENEGADE. Note: these books are free only for July 22 and 23, so go!! Download! Enjoy!! xoxox

MINE FOR THE WEEK by Erika Kelly https://BookHip.com/JLZXKZ 

SECRETS* by Aleatha Romig https://amzn.to/2OHe0wp

UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE by Amy Andrews https://amzn.to/3fKJzU1

HOT BILLIONAIRE FOR HIRE by Cat Johnson https://bit.ly/3eMfBO5

DIAMONDS AND DIRT ROADS by Erin Nicholas https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hyjyw1f9dn

BROKEN LIES by Gina Azzi https://BookHip.com/SWFZPN

THE RENEGADE by Jennifer Bernard https://dl.bookfunnel.com/fuvb6m6om9

SHOPPING FOR A BILLIONAIRE VOL. 1 by Julia Kent https://BookHip.com/CCVHCB

PLAYING DIRTY* by Kelly Jamieson https://amzn.to/2ZJ45ib

PRIMAL PASSION by Mari Carr and Lila Dubois https://dl.bookfunnel.com/evpqrf2jag

THE PAWN* by Skye Warren https://amzn.to/39cXu2B

DATING GAMES* by T.K. Leigh https://amzn.to/2BdwqDO

*Free on all platforms

Note: Some of these books are available for free in exchange for signing up for the author's newsletter. Click on the link for each book to determine which options are available for that specific title.

Billionaire Palooza.png

May's Trope-A-Palooza: Small Town Romance Freebies!

SMALL TOWNS, BIG FREEBIE PROMO!

Small Town Trope a palooza.png

I’ve joined up with some friends to bring you this amazing list of FREE small-town romances for two days only! (May 20th & 21st). Grab these freebies TODAY as part of May’s Trope-a-Palooza!

KEEP ON LOVING YOU by Erika Kelly: https://BookHip.com/KTXBWZ

SWAY by Adriana Locke https://geni.us/V5nwX3

TAKEN BY LOVE by Melissa Foster https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3xh0rsqpnj

BURN FOR ME by JH Croix* https://jhcroixauthor.com/into-the-fire-1-2/

RENEGADE by Laramie Briscoe* http://kindlel.ink/Renegade

MY BEST FRIEND'S MARDI GRAS WEDDING by Erin Nicholas https://bit.ly/MyBestFriendsMardiGrasWedding

BENEATH THE SCARS by Melanie Moreland  https://BookHip.com/GTJRNB

A PINCH OF SALT by Bethany Lopez* books2read.com/APinchofSalt

PARIS, IN LOVE by Danielle Norman  https://BookHip.com/ZMBDDD

MINE UNTIL MOONRISE by Jennifer Bernard* https://amzn.to/2ZIHGOQ

TRADED: BRODY AND KARA by Tess Thompson https://dl.bookfunnel.com/s81ce6juiw

*Free on all platforms

Note: Some of these books are available for free in exchange for signing up for the author's newsletter. Click on the link for each book to determine which options are available for that specific title.


Win a Coach Tote and more ...

Waving hello from quarantine! My mission these days is to bring you as many fun opportunities as I can! I have two for you this week.

First, the SPRING FLING ROMANCE AND MORE GIVEAWAY!

The Grand Prize is a designer Coach Tote stuffed full of books and swag from award winners and New York Times and USA Today Best Sellers! The runner-up prizes include ebook prize packs, All you have to do is follow me and others on our social media accounts. The more profiles you like and follow, the more times you’re entered. The last day to enter is April 11.

CLICK THE LINK YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/91d21a364/?

Next, all through the month of April, the Racy Reads authors are showering you with giveaways! We’re calling it Blind Date with a Book. Every day a new book is posted, along with some clues about what kind of book it is. If it hits your sweet spot, enter to win!

Join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RacyReads/

And look for the “Blind Date” posts.

Good luck to you! I’ll have more fun opportunities for you soon.

Take care of yourself!

Jennifer

Win a "Wicked in Winter" Hawaii Care Package

Waving hello from my mandatory post-travel quarantine in Alaska! We got back from Hawaii just in time for WICKED IN WINTER to come out.

Buy WICKED IN WINTER here.

And yes, it’s still winter here!! Two feet of snow and temps down to 10 degrees. SO missing Hawaii right now.

The good news is that before we left I gathered some of my favorite local treats and goodies for an amazing Hawaii Care Package! Kona chocolates, passionfruit, gourmet salt, an Aloha protection candle, and a few more goodies. Throw in a signed paperback copy of WICKED IN WINTER and you have an extra treat for your social distancing. Good luck, and I hope you love WICKED IN WINTER! And yes, there is a Hawaiian vacation in this book!

Enter here:

Or on the Wicked in Winter page.

Amazon | Nook | Apple | Kobo | GooglePlay

Amazon UK | Amazon AUS | Amazon Canada

Paperback

Everyone needs a fresh start sometime. For Gretel Morrison, that time is now, and the place is tiny, snowbound Lost Harbor, Alaska. It’s about time she learned how to rely on herself instead of her wealthy, controlling family. If she can survive the winter here, she can survive anything—although maybe not the lethally sexy and attractive next-door neighbor, Zander Ross.   

Zander has his hands full raising his two younger brothers. The last thing he needs is distraction in the form of a spoiled rich girl who has no idea what she’s in for. He’d bet anything she won’t make it past the next blizzard—although he might not either, not with his sanity intact. With her dazzling smile and lighthearted style, she’s everything he’s not. And everything he longs for. 

When a threat to the Ross family surfaces, Zander gets the shock of his life when Gretel steps up with an outrageous idea that might help them both. Can he trust her enough to take a chance? Or will Gretel’s mega-millionaire father find a way to ruin their amazing-but-fragile new bond?

Alaska winters are always wild, but this one is about to get wicked.

Does reading help with your stress?

Hello, my friends — This is such a strange and challenging time for all of us. I hope with all my heart that you are keeping safe and taking care of yourself. We’re doing the best we can here in Hawaii. We’re cutting our trip short and isolating ourselves ahead of our travel—and will do the same after we get home. (Fingers crossed we have no trouble returning to Alaska!)

Giving yourself a break from stress and anxiety is so important. For me, that has often meant escaping into a book. That doesn’t mean I’m ignoring the world or its problems. It simply gives me some relief so I can better handle whatever comes my way. Is reading one of your coping mechanisms? If so, I have some special offers for you!

The Lost Harbor, Alaska series is on sale leading up to the release of WICKED IN WINTER on March 31. Until then, the first three books are deeply discounted (in ebook only.) Take a trip this faraway harbor town on the edge of the Alaska wilderness.

Lost Harbor, Alaska series

If you’d like to escape to a romantic mountain lodge instead of the ocean, I got you covered! The first 3 books of the Rockwell Legacy series have been bundled into a box set which is now on sale for only $.99. Get to know the Rockwell family and learn their secrets.

The Rockwell Legacy

Sending you best wishes for health and safety — and plenty of Aloha from Hawaii.

Sunrise from the roof

Sunrise from the roof

11 FREE "Second Chance" Romances -- 2 days only!

Welcome to Trope-a-Palooza —in which a bunch of romance authors pick a trope and give books away! This month it’s Second Chance Romance. 11 authors are participating. All the links are listed below. Trope-a-palooza only goes for TWO DAYS — February 19 and 20 — so hop on it and snag these awesome romances for FREE — including YOURS SINCE YESTERDAY!

Second Chance Facebook Post  2.png

THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU by Erika Kelly https://BookHip.com/TLFTMQ 

SHOPPING FOR AN HEIR by Julia Kent https://bookhip.com/PKJHQS

STRIPPED DOWN by Erin McCarthy https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jbn8eyc4jk

LOVERS AT HEART, REIMAGINED by Melissa Foster https://dl.bookfunnel.com/v9uumx2lv1

SWEET HOME LOUISIANA by Erin Nicholas   https://BookHip.com/NPWRQG

DELETED: JACKSON AND MAGGIE by Tess Thompson https://BookHip.com/VQSGPJ

FIX YOU by Mari Carr https://dl.bookfunnel.com/12d4ma5os4

YOURS SINCE YESTERDAY by Jennifer Bernard https://dl.bookfunnel.com/243xbuhofa

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO by Amy Andrews https://amzn.to/38pYW0f

SOPHIE ALMOST MINE by Danielle Norman https://bookhip.com/SLCLHM

LOVED BY A SEAL by Cat Johnson https://BookHip.com/VLFBFL  

Note: Some of these books are available for free in exchange for signing up for the author's newsletter. Click on the link for each book to determine which options are available for that specific title.

Winter Wonderland Giveaway

As I post this, the thermometer outside my house reads -3.5. Luckily, I’m inside with my tea and fleece slippers. It’s been a deep cold winter here in Alaska, which got me in the mood for my giveaway celebrating the release of SEDUCED BY SNOWFALL on January 28 — the Winter Wonderland Giveaway!

Win these fabulous winter survival goodies: 

❄️ Fleece snowflake slippers

❄️ "Snow Angel" hand cream from Philosophy

❄️ Tea Forte Winter Tea sampler of 28 varieties

❄️ A make your own photo Snow Globe!

❄️ Signed paperback copy of Seduced by Snowfall

No purchase necessary to enter (but sharing will get you 2 extra entries!)

ENTER HERE (and good luck!)

http://JenniferBernard.net/winter-wonderland-giveaway


New Year's Eve Free Read

New Year’s Eve also happens to be my wedding anniversary, so no wonder that it’s one of my favorite days of the year!

In celebration, I’m offering a short free read to one and all.

ONE NEW YEAR’S EVE

A baseball player moonlighting as a bartender. An heiress working in the mail room. They never would have met ... if not for a fateful New Year's Eve party at the Plaza Hotel.

One New Year’s Eve

Enjoy, and I wish you a very happy 2020! These are tumultuous times we live in, and I’m grateful for all the connection and hope that romance novels can bring. Sending you love and peace for the New Year!