★ Scarlett’s Banter ★

BRINGING MEN IN POWER TO THEIR KNEES…

Just so we’re clear…

In the last newsletter, Janet left a comment to the update I shared about Hunter’s book.

Here’s what I said:

“Hunter was first released as a serial under five covers. It was edited by a former editor, so I had my current editor go over it again. The book was considerably trimmed down and now it’s a duet.”

Here’s Janet’s comment:

Scarlett,

I am very disappointed that you shortened Hunter’s so much. A lot is lost in the Duet. I wish I could have bought all 5 ebooks. Can you only read but not buy your books through Kindle Unlimited?

Let me address her concerns:

When I said the book went from a serial to a duet, it’s not because I trimmed down the essentials of the story.

When you update books on Amazon, there’s a lag time. If you got Hunter’s Duet Book 2 and you feel there’s a lot missing, that means you downloaded the second part before Amazon was able to update to the new version.

Hunter is still an epic read, clocking at nearly 270,000 words. A lot of the things we removed were adverbs, speech tags, repetition, and characters that were introduced, but didn’t have any impact on the story. Anything pertaining to the main characters and the bad guy are still in the story.

If you download it Book 2 of the duet and feel there’s a big chunk of the story missing, send me an email. I’ll send you part two direct to your Kindle.

As for Janet’s second point about my books only being available to read on Kindle Unlimited, that will be the case until I get paperback covers designed. We’re starting the process in May, but it might take some time because I have a lot of books. As I upload the paperback versions of the book on Amazon, I’ll announce it in my newsletter.

Infatuation duet Book 1 (old Book 1 + 2) has 100,000 words+

Infatuation duet Book 2 (old Book 3, 4,5) has nearly 170,000 words

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Last standing billionaire bachelor…

Fellow-author Ruth Cardello added a new book boyfriend to the Barrington series.

The small-town of Driverton’s last standing bachelor has a chance to become more successful than anyone in his town has ever been, but he’ll have to change more than his zip code to do it. One woman. One impossible decision. What will he choose?

Chapter One

Megan

A night of great sex shouldn’t end with me waking naked and alone in the middle of a strange bed in God only knows which city.

Yet, here I am.

The luxurious feel of silk sheets was a delicious contrast to the rougher hands that had spent hours exciting and exploring every inch of me. My skin was still flushed from the brush of his light beard, and the deep sleep that followed a multiple-orgasm romp left my body feeling refreshed and sated.

And my soul just a little sad.

I didn’t want to wake up alone. I hated exploring a new hotel suite, fumbling around until I found what I needed, showering while trying to block out heated memories from the night before, and promising myself, again, this would be the last time.

I threw the comforter to the side and rolled to my feet, pushing my tangled hair out of my eyes as I straightened. How do Ollie and I keep returning to this place?

I love him, but I’m not sure I like who he’s becoming.

I padded to the bathroom. As I showered, I heard the rustling of someone in the other room. There was no need to wonder who it was. Ollie paid attention to details other men didn’t. He knew I lived for weekends when I could slowly work my way through a pot of coffee, a stack of pancakes, and a steamy romance novel.

When I finished showering, the hotel staff would have set a table with coffee and pancakes—blueberry because they’re my favorite. On one side, there would be a vase of flowers and a signed copy of whatever romance was topping the charts.

There’d be a dress I’d want to hate, but it would be beautiful, modest, and perfectly my taste. The shoes he’d have chosen to go with it would be classy but comfortable. All of it would fit as if made for me. I’d want to reject them, leave them behind with a note that said they weren’t enough, but I’d wear them on my flight home because he’d bought them, and I wanted a piece of him with me.

He was giving me as much of himself as he had time for, but it wasn’t enough. I knew what he was working toward, and at first, I thought we could make it work, but I needed more. Not more things. Not more gifts. I needed more of him.

I sighed and turned the water off before reaching for a fluffy, white robe. There was a time, not that long ago, when I would have oohed and aahed over the expensive details woven throughout the high-priced world Ollie now lived in. It was nice. Everything smelled clean and fresh. People were attentive and helpful, but only because they were paid to be.

Honestly, I preferred visiting Driverton and sleeping in Ollie’s room at his mother’s house than . . .

You don’t have to say it. I know. Sleeping in Ollie’s old bed and hanging out with his mother is not helping me sort through my feelings for him. I need to have an honest conversation with him. I can’t live like this.

The problem is, I’m so damn proud of him and the way he’s battling for his future—he says ours, but I’m not sure I know him anymore.

He was right to leave Driverton. He had demons he needed to battle and opportunities he couldn’t refuse. Taking his shot at success required all his time and focus. He was one hundred percent committed to not sliding back into being the man he’d been before he’d left, and I admire that.

There’s just no room for me on his crusade to be successful. Flying out to wherever he is, whenever he has time for me, doesn’t feel good anymore.

I should say no, but I’ve never been able to—not with him.

It’s been like that since we first met.

Back before he had money.

Back when all he had was the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen.

Binge-read now: Ollie: Driverton 3 (The Barrington Billionaires Book 15)

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What is Scarlett up to?

I wish it were raining men instead of actual water…

What we didn’t get in snow this year, we got in rain. This week, we’re practically drowning thanks to these crazy rainstorms.

I hope it isn’t as wet in your part of the world.

Jamie Betts…

Proofreader Jamie sent me an email last week checking up on me.

I was touched. It’s so different now without the Facebook group.

As I told Jamie, in the next week or so, I’ll start working on a new series. I had to make a decision if I was adding book 4 to the Very series, but I think it’s going to be a spin off set in NYC. The Dennison brothers and Larkin will have cameo appearances, which will be a great segue into their own series books.

This warmed my heart…

This email came all the way from the UK.

Hi Scarlett,

I’m in “awe” with your books, I spend hours reading and reading and can’t get enough, the storylines are so raw and so hook line and sinker, it never fails to amaze me just how much time and effort you have put into your writing, I have recommended you to so many people as well because it’s normally hard to find an author that just clicks with the way of writing you can engage with, with all of the stories especially all of the ones written, if I mind right I’ve read all of them too! I love the Nickolaj series, I was hooked on Bryce and Beckett and also Rhys and Levi, even the standalone books, you’ve got such a way of capturing your audience too. I look forward to reading many more of your books coming forward! Thank you for showing the world in a different lense! Lotta love!

Bobbie.

Thank you for your emails. I love hearing from my readers.

This movie broke me…

I admit, I don’t watch that many animated movies. It took me forever to watch Frozen. The movie came out in 2013, and if memory serves me correctly, I watched it in 2021 or 2022. So, I was a decade late. I absolutely loved the movie.

I didn’t wait as long to watch The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. I can’t remember what compelled me to watch the short movie. Even though, the book has an insane number of reviews on Amazon, I went in without much expectations. Since the short film is a little over half an hour, I thought, why not?

Within a few minutes, I was cursing the movie because it was hitting straight to the heart. Towards the end of the movie, I was sobbing like a baby. I cried so hard, I gave myself a headache and I couldn’t finish my wine because I had to take some ibuprofen.

I couldn’t believe how such a short story had such a huge impact. I’m going to buy the animated story hardcover.

The story had such an impact on me, don’t be surprised if it pops up in future books

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

That’s it for me!

Chat soon!

XOXOXO