New Year, New Book, New Series

Posted on May 3, 2017 by authorkerri

You may have noticed that I haven’t had any new books out in 2017. That’s because I’ve been waiting until now to share my newest release. I’m thrilled to introduce a brand new series I’m writing for Harlequin Special Edition called…Saved by the Blog. Initiate glitter toss.

Book 1 is called Falling for the Right Brother and the release date is right around the corner. Print book (that’s right, this one comes out in paperback) is May 23 and the e-book is available June 1. Isn’t this cover gorgeous!

I describe this first book as a combination of Gossip Girl and Sabrina. But set in Virginia on the Chesapeake Bay. It’s fabulous and I hope everyone loves reading it as much as I loved writing it.

Here are the other books in the Saved by the Blog series:

Bidding on the Bachelor, October 2017
Smitten with the Boss, January 2018

Want more details? Check out the blurb and the buy links below. Stay tuned for a sneak peek of Falling for the Right Brother next week. Until then, happy reading….

Saved by the blog!

This just in, fair readers! Chic and stunning, that gorgeous new woman about town is none other than our very own little Ellie—now Elle—Owens. She’s a far cry from the frumpy, bookish student we used to know, but then, living in Italy will do that to a girl! Still, this blogger can’t forget the infamous video that caused her to leave!

Apparently Miss Elle has been spotted with yummy contractor Cam Dumont…but we thought her heart belonged to his little brother. Are Cam and Elle a new couple? They were seen cooling their passions in the bay…in April! If this is love, let’s hope she’s swimming with the right brother. The Bayside Blogger will keep you posted.

Buy Links

Flirting with the Fourth

Posted on July 1, 2016 by authorkerri

Happy Fourth of July weekend!!!

The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. That’s why I set the very first book I ever published, FLIRTING WITH THE COMPETITION, around it. Why do I love this holiday so much?

The Food: July 4th cries out for fun summer goodies like hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon, chips, and great drinks. I know I’m not the only one attending a BBQ this weekend.
No Pressure: Unlike other stressful holidays (I’m looking at you Christmas), the Fourth of July is pretty chill in nature, even if the temperature is far from cool. There are no presents to be bought or cards to write out. It’s all about the fun.
Sparkles in the Sky: If you know me, then you know I LOVE sparkles of any kind. Does it get more glittery than fireworks bursting into the sky? I think not.

Plus, I live in the DC-area and I feel like that gives the holiday a little extra sparkle. As long as we don’t go the way of the movie Independence Day, we should be good to go.

So, I wish you all a very happy and safe Fourth of July weekend full of great food, sparkles, and relaxation. For those of you looking for a short, fun, flirty read while you’re next to the pool or on the beach, please check out my award-winning novella, FLIRTING WITH THE COMPETITION, only 99 cents!

Flirting with the Competition

Under normal circumstances, Whitney March might have appreciated sharing an elevator with a ridiculously attractive and clearly wealthy guy. Even enjoyed it. But when her companion turns out to be the man who almost ran her over in parking garage moments earlier? Nope and nope. Besides, she’s on her way to a job interview at a prestigious law firm, and she needs to stay focused. Not staring at the rich and sexy jerk.

Then the elevator comes to an abrupt stop. They’re stuck.

Jordan Campbell has every intention of acing the interview for his dream job, and he’s not about to let anything stop him. Not even the sexy, capable, and fiery woman who turns out to be his main competitor he’s trapped with. The only thing they have in common is determination to get the job…and an escalating attraction. And it’s only a matter of time before these competitors indulge in a very sexy little connection between floors.

Tempting Mr. Wrong is Here!

Posted on June 13, 2016 by authorkerri

I can’t believe it! It’s release day for my latest book, TEMPTING MR. WRONG, book 2 in the Wrong Man series!!! *GLITTER TOSS* Tempting Mr. Wrong is the follow-up to KISSING MR. WRONG. But you don’t have to read these books in order. Each book in the Wrong Man series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.

Since it’s release day (or my Book Birthday) I thought I would share an Easter Egg from the book. (Easter Eggs are little nuggets of truth hidden in your book.)

There’s an adorable little girl in this book named Mya. In one scene, Mya is playing with her stuffed animals who are named Princess Magnolia, Penny Butt and Moo-Moo the bear. Growing up, I had a stuffed bear that I called Moo-Moo and I slept with him every night. Also, I was a bridesmaid in a wedding a long time ago and did not, ahem, look the best after the makeup and hair people got through with me. So I nicknamed my ugly bridesmaid-self Penny Butt. Years later, I told my friend Caroline about it who thought this was hysterical. To this day, Caroline calls me Penny Butt and I call her Princess Magnolia. I have no idea where the Princess Magnolia came from, but hey, it stuck.

This book has been a labor of love. I hope you love reading it as much as I loved writing it. Here’s some more info about TEMPTING MR. WRONG, along with all the places to buy it.

TEMPTING MR. WRONG BLURB:

Lance Townsend craves freedom after years living a structured existence in the Army. But just as he’s about to start on his bucket list, Lance receives an unexpected request: check in on his goddaughter. The problem? The adorable little girl’s aunt is the one woman he’s never been able to forget.

Carly Quigley can’t believe her brother’s best friend, the man who jilted her years ago, is at her door. He claims her brother asked him to check in on her niece and their fixer-upper, but all either of them can focus on is their undeniable attraction. Carly knows Lance is counting down the hours to leave, which makes him the wrong man for her. Unfortunately, the wrong man has become oh-so-tempting.

BUY LINKS

*International Readers – there are international options for book buying as well. Please visit the Entangled Publishing page below for other options.

To learn more about TEMPTING MR. WRONG, as well as my other Entangled titles, please visit the TEMPTING MR. WRONG Entangled page here.

REVIEWS

“This was a book I could lose myself in, easy to read and it made me feel, something that’s important to me when I read a book.” -Lovinghotbooks

“It’s a beautiful book and shouldn’t be missed.” -Urvashi H., NetGalley review

EXCERPT

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?” He was shocked to hear his breathing sounded so labored.

“For giving me the afternoon off. For making that cake. For helping with Mya when I botched everything. It’s a lot easier with you here.” She blushed. “A couple days ago, I would have never thought I’d say that.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Yeah, you didn’t seem too thrilled to see me.”

“No, I was…okay.” She laughed. “I wasn’t. To be honest, I was still thinking about my brother’s wedding. I’d never understood why you’d left me so abruptly back then.”

Warning bells sounded in the back of his mind at the mention of her brother. His best friend. It felt like a broken record was playing on repeat in his brain. And that record was titled Off-Limits, Off-Limits, Off-Limits.

Carly must have picked up on his thoughts. She took a small step back. “I know, you don’t want to kiss me. You don’t see me that way.”

He took her in from her swollen lips to the sexy business suit she still wore, to all of that amazing hair. Her eyes were practically twinkling, lighting up her fair, flawless skin. Did she have any idea how gorgeous she was? How appealing she was?

He shook his head. “That’s the problem, Carly,” he began, his voice coming out in gruff spurts. “I do see you like that. I’ve been fighting it since I got here.” He ran a hand through his short hair. “Hell, probably since Chris and Gretchen said I do.”

Her mouth fell open.

“I tell myself over and over that it’s wrong to think about you the way I do.”

A small smile played over her lips. “How do you think about me?”

He swallowed hard. “In a way that would definitely make your brother sucker-punch me in the face.”

Almost Time for Tempting Mr. Wrong…

Posted on June 8, 2016 by authorkerri

It’s almost time for my next book, TEMPTING MR. WRONG, to be published!!! Stay tuned Monday, June 13, to get your copy of Book 2 in the Wrong Man series. Can’t wait? You can pre-order TEMPTING MR. WRONG now. (See the buy links below.) Really can’t wait? Okay, okay, here’s a little excerpt to tide you over….

EXCERPT

Carly started a pot of coffee. While it brewed, she meandered over to the window again. Thank God she wasn’t holding her coffee cup because it would have most definitely been dropped and splattered into a million pieces on the floor. Lance was working out in the backyard. But not just working out. Half-naked working out. And currently he was doing one-armed pushups as his rippling muscles quivered with the exertion.

Damn. She knew something else that was currently trembling, and she had to cross her legs to keep from losing it completely. Her mouth dropped open, and she knew that drool was soon to drip out of it. She knew Lance was built, but witnessing his naked top half working out really drove that point home.

Holy hell.

As if he felt her presence and knew she was standing there gawking at him, Lance looked up. No time to even pretend to be doing something else, she was totally busted. Taking it in stride, Carly winked and then strolled back to the kitchen and fixed her coffee. As Lance sauntered in the back door a few moments later, she took a long, deep gulp, the hot liquid scalding her throat. Not that she felt it because Lance still remained shirtless and her brain therefore remained inoperable.

BUY LINKS

Who wants a free book?

Posted on February 2, 2016 by authorkerri

Entangled+5yr+Anniversary+Banner

My publisher, Entangled Publishing, is turning 5 years old this month! *GLITTER TOSS* To celebrate, they have put the entire Lovestruck line (that’s the imprint I write for) on sale for 99 cents!!! What a great time to stock up on books for the long, cold winter months.

Even better? My award-winning novella, FLIRTING WITH THE COMPETITION, is FREE for one week. That’s right, FREE! Click here to download your copy today. Happy reading!

FwtC4

***Stay tuned. I have a new book, TEMPTING MR. WRONG, the sequel to KISSING MR. WRONG, releasing on March 14. Check back here for details.***

What a Year!

Posted on October 27, 2015 by authorkerri

I can NOT believe that today is October 27^th. One year ago today my first book, the contemporary novella, Flirting with the Competition, was published, thrusting me into unchartered territory as a newly published author. Naturally, everything else fell into place as soon as my book hit the e-shelves of Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I dropped ten pounds, paid off my mortgage, convinced Prince Harry to marry me, and discovered fat-free peanut butter M&Ms.

Okay, maybe not….

But lots of amazing things did happen over the last year. So I give you my top five (plus one bonus) list of awesomesauce adventures that have happened while I’ve been a published author.

The Best Kind of Love

My second book, and first full-length contemporary, The Best Kind of Love, was published in December. This book is very special to me and I’m so happy I was able to share it with the world.

Kissing Mr. Wrong

More book news. I published another contemporary novella, Kissing Mr. Wrong, in May. Even better? Kissing Mr. Wrong is the first in a three-book series. Look for book 2 in 2016. Can’t wait!

White House

There is something magical about the White House. No matter what party is living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, being able to visit the White House is just cool. And I got to go there twice. First, we celebrated my birthday with a little bowling and then we got to return for a West Wing tour. I feel both patriotic and awesomesauce. (Thanks, L!)

Sedona

Not many people know this, but Sedona, Arizona is one of my most favorite places on the planet. I can’t really describe it in words. There’s a feeling you get when you visit the Red Rocks. Maybe it’s all those vortexes. Who knows. But this past August, I was able to go back with my friend T. Here we are being silly on the Red Rocks.

Winning

I AM AN AWARD WINNING AUTHOR!!! Okay, I’ll stop being so obnoxious now. But I will never get tired of saying that. At the beginning of this month, I learned that my first book – the reason for this whole post – won first place in the Aspen Gold Contest for Best Romantic Novella. I still can’t believe it! What a great way to cap off this year. Hey – if I can’t marry Prince Harry, this is a close second.

Bonus

Speaking of Prince Harry… I celebrated two years with my fur-baby, Harry. Who rescued who? I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one. Even when he eats my pens, hides under my bed, and sits on my laptop so I cannot write, I still love him the most in the whole world. And I get the impression that the feeling is mutual.

Here’s to another fabulous year as a published author, patriot, friend, and fur-baby mommy!

Thank You!

Posted on June 2, 2015 by authorkerri

Kissing Mr. Wrong has already been out for one whole week – can you believe it! It’s been doing incredibly well too! It got into Barnes & Noble’s Top 100 Nook Books list and has received fabulous reviews everywhere from Amazon to Good Reads! I’m grateful to all of you for buying, reading, and supporting me with all of my books. So please allow me to offer a very heartfelt THANK YOU…

Kissing Mr. Wrong is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and kobo.

Book Release Eve

Posted on May 25, 2015 by authorkerri

You may be wondering what a writer does in the days before her book is released to the world. I know what you’re thinking: champagne, caviar, lazing around a pool while holding a fruity drink with an umbrella in it.

Well…my experience is slightly different. I thought I would share what’s going on in my world before my next book, Kissing Mr. Wrong, comes out.

1. Grocery Store

What author doesn’t love going to the grocery store in the hours before her book launch. What scrumptious food did I get? No, not that caviar I talked about. It’s Memorial Day weekend so think tri-colored pasta, olives, cheese, Italian salad dressing, some veggies. Gold stars to anyone who can figure out what I’m making.

2. Target

Sure, you’re probably imagining me buying a pre-book release present for myself since I’ve been working so hard. Sorry to disappoint. Actually had to pick up some supplies for my dog, Harry. Mini-Milkbones, rawhides wrapped in chicken, squeaky tennis balls – you know, the norm.

3. Laundry

Goes without saying. All authors must have clean clothes and sheets.

4. Writing

A writer’s job is never done. That’s why I’m taking some of this three day weekend to work on my next book. It’s a follow-up to Kissing Mr. Wrong and I think you’re really going to like it.

5. Sleeping in late

I’m sorry, did I say sleeping in late on Memorial Day, my day off of work? Ha-ha! I meant, waking up earlier than I do during the week when my little ball of fur pounced on me like a lion stalking his prey. (Said little ball of fur is currently curled up sleeping in his bed under my desk as I type this while I am now wide awake.)

Okay, so my list may not be as glamorous as you thought. But maybe one day I’ll live a life of leisure. Only, if I do, I hope I still get woken up by my little ball of fur pouncing on my head. Because that was damn cute. What can I say? Harry is probably just as excited about tomorrow as I am.

Kissing Mr. Wrong comes out tomorrow, May 26. It will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and kobo. Pre-order your copy today!

Two Truths, One Lie

Posted on January 13, 2015 by authorkerri

Happy 2015!!!

I hope you all had wonderful holidays and your new year is off to a sparkly start!

I blogged at the Waterworld Mermaid site today and am re-posting my blog here. I hope you enjoy!

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I had two books come out in 2014, which adds up to one fabulous year. In honor of my glittertastic 2014, I’m playing a couple rounds of Two Truths, One Lie. Can you separate the facts from fiction?

Round One

My novella, Flirting with the Competition, came out with Entangled Publishing in October.
In my novella, two competitors get stuck in an elevator, which was based on an actual elevator incident that happened in my life.
I set the story in Washington, DC-area, because I live in Washington, DC-area.

Round Two

My contemporary novel, The Best Kind of Love, came out with Soul Mate Publishing in December.
I subconsciously based the fictional town of Blue Lake in the story on my hometown of Monessen, PA.
I named my main character Penelope because that’s my middle name.

Round Three

It took me over a decade of trying before I got published.
An editor once told me she wouldn’t consider my manuscript because I was too young.
I started writing my first romance novel after a summer of reading Nora Roberts books.

Round Four

Even though I’m a proud member of the Waterworld Mermaids, I am actually terrified of the idea of mermaids.
I often wish my adorable dog, Harry, had opposable thumbs so we could text throughout the day.
My favorite color is purple.

Round Five

My Nunnie declared I was a writer when I was a little girl so I just always believed her.
I really love doing revisions and edits.
I had so much fun putting this post together!

What are the answers??? I’m not going to tell you! Okay, okay, maybe I’ll tell you, since you were all such great sports. Answers will be in the comments later today. Happy guessing!

The Best Kind of…Review

Posted on December 10, 2014 by authorkerri

I’m so excited to share that my first full-length contemporary novel, THE BEST KIND OF LOVE, is out today! Hoorah! Yay! Glitter toss!

It’s scary to put your creative baby out there, but this review on the USA Today Happy Ever After Blog certainly made it a little easier.

The Best Kind of Love by Kerri Carpenter

“Sweet, Sexy, Sparkly” is Kerri Carpenter’s brand. How on point because The Best Kind of Love is a romantic treasure. In the first of the series, the Walker sisters are a force to be reckoned with as they work on the family unit after the untimely deaths of their parents. The sad occasion brings them all to Blue Lake, the hometown that has lost some of its bloom. And … it is where sexy Ethan ‘The Heartbreaker’ Callahan has returned to live.

Carpenter is great with setting up the feud and sparks between Ethan and Penelope. There is a good balance of humor and poignant scenes for this rich story of forgiveness and renewal of love and spirit.

A big thank you to USA Today for the amazing review. It filled me with extra sparkle for sure. You can read the full “Must-Read Romances” article here.

To order your copy of THE BEST KIND OF LOVE, click here. Happy Reading!!!