A Chat with Author Cherie Colyer

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Author Cherie Colyer. Her paranormal romance Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss just launched yesterday! The title alone sounds scrumptious and as you will see from my review, so is the story!  
 
Welcome Cherie, and congratulations on your new release! Before we get knee-deep in questions, won’t you tell us a little about yourself?
 
Thanks for having me on your lovely blog! I’m the mother of four amazing sons, a senior technician for an IT company, a bit of a solitary witch, lover of nature, Harry Potter geek, author, wife, and friend to some amazing people. My happy place is in books, from reading great stories to creating my own contemporary worlds.
 
You write children’s books, YA fantasy, and adult paranormal romance. There’s something always a little magical in your writing, which I find impressive, appealing, and clever. It takes a lot of imagination to write fantasy. To me, adding even a little magic or other-worldliness also softens – sometimes even disguises -- an important lesson or a painful truth. On the other hand, it can also be sheer fun. I’m all for that!
 
So why do you write magic and fantasy? From where do you find your inspiration?
 
I’ve always been drawn to stories with magic in them. The idea that people can possess magical powers or be supernatural fascinates me, and whose to say there isn’t a bit of magic in us all. I certainly believe there is.
 
My inspiration comes from all over the place. Peyton, the protagonist in Salted Caramel Bliss and a Wedding Kiss, was Cassie’s best friend in Merry Little Wishing Spritz. The inspiration for these characters came from my desire to step into the world of adult paranormal romance and an idea I had for a stories that happen to include three witches. When the Wild Rose Press announced their call for submissions for their series, I stole the characters from my unfinished WIP and created these new books. And I’m so glad I did!
 
Do you have a favorite place to write?
 
I usually write in my family room. I’m pretty good at ignoring the TV and my husband. (Shh, don’t tell him I said that.)
 
What sort of books do you read?
 
This probably won’t come as a surprise, but most of the books I read have a touch of the paranormal in them. From Harry Potter (I’m a proud Gryffindor!) to The Midnight Library. Really, put a little magic or a witch, vampire, or faerie in a book and I’ll check it out.
 
Now, for Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss! Was it fun to write? I looove Roman, Travis, and Peyton. Spoil us. Tell us a little about your main characters and how the story evolved.
 
I had a lot of fun with this story. As I mentioned earlier, Peyton is the best friend in Merry Little Wishing Spritz, so I knew her pretty well. She’s a witch and a seer, and it’s a premonition that brings her to the small seaside town in Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss.
 
Roman, though not without his flaws, is selfless. He cares about the people around him and tends to do the right thing. Well, most of the time. He really screwed up with Peyton when they had been together.
 
This is their second chance, even if neither of them asked for it. But I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’ll just say that I loved writing this story.
 
 Excuse me, but I have to ask – what’s your favorite ice cream?
 
Usually, it’s cappuccino mocha chip, or any coffee flavored ice cream, but I can’t resisted the chocolate peanut butter ice cream at the ice cream parlor by my house. And normally, I never get chocolate ice cream.
 
Mmm, that sounds delicious! I must admit, I have a weak spot for pretty much all ice cream.

I know that you’ve just launched a book. I do. But do you have something else in the works? We’d love to know.
 
I do! As far as WIP, I’ve been playing around with another spinoff with the characters in Merry Little Wishing Spritz and Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss. It’s been a bit slow going, because I’ve had to stop to work on edits for this book and a middle-grade fantasy, Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor…and Monster Hunter? which comes out this fall.
 
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us before we close?
 
I love to hear from readers, so drop a comment below or find me on Instagram or Facebook. Although, I’m better with IG than FB.
 
Thank you for joining us today, Cherie. Wishing you joy and great success with your wonderful, imaginative books!
 
Thank you so much for having me on your blog. It’s been a lot of fun! 

About the Author

Professional network technician by day, novelist by night, Cherie lives a quiet life in the Chicago suburbs with her charming husband. She has four amazing sons who she loves dearly. Cherie magically weaves together stories with a paranormal twist. She’s the author of the Embrace series, Challenging Destiny, Damned When I Didn’t, and Friends to the End. She waltzed into the adult novel world with Merry Little Wishing Spritz. She’s delighted to be back with Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss.
 
To learn more about Cherie and her novels, visit www.cheriecolyer.com. 

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Award winning author of fiction with a paranormal twist.

A kiss to remember... if only she could.

Roman Briggs built a life for himself in Siren’s Cove. He restored the Sugar Cones Ice Cream Parlor and turned it into a popular stop along the boardwalk. He has everything he needs until a certain blue-eyed woman wanders back into his life.
 
Seer and witch Peyton Woods isn’t sure why her latest visions feature a man and boy she’s never met. Determined to find out, she casts a spell that leads her to a small beach town in Maine and, to her utter surprise, the man who broke her heart eight years earlier.
 
Peyton's left with one question. Why didn't her magic show her him?

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Excerpt
Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss by Cherie Colyer

“We’re meeting up with Henry and some friends,” Roman said. “We always watch the fireworks together during the summer festival. You’re welcome to join us.”

Since I was there to see Henry and Travis, I couldn’t say no.

I expected to stop at a picnic table, but Roman strolled past them on his way to the docks.

“We’re going on a boat?” I asked. On land, if the metaphorical shield protecting my heart from breaking cracked, I could leave. But on a boat, I’d be trapped.

“Just a mile out. We can see the fireworks better. Come on.” He jerked his head to the side. When I still hesitated, he added, “I don’t bite.”

I remembered him nibbling all the right places when we dated. The memories sent an elated shiver through me. Sex with Roman had always been amazing. At least, I thought it was. Roman obviously enjoyed love-making with Travis’s mom more. The thought added a new layer of protection around my heart. I reminded myself that I was over him. His endless brown eyes and smoky voice no longer had any sway over me. Now, if I could just convince the fireflies in my stomach to settle down, I’d be okay.

I could do this. I could be held captive on a boat with Roman and not let old emotions ruin the evening. Maybe we were destined to be friends all along.

That thought had me agreeing to go with them to watch the fireworks.

Roman led the way to the pier and a battered blue- and-white fishing boat. I stumbled. The boat looked as if it had made hundreds of exhausting voyages and was ready to sink.

“She isn’t pretty,” Roman said as he lifted Travis onboard. “But she’s safe.”

“Sturdiest fishing boats on these waters,” Henry said from the back of the boat. He sat on a folding chair next to an older Black couple.

“It’s the only fishing boat docked in this harbor,” a white-haired man said, clapping Henry on the back as he walked by.

“Don’t listen to Mattie.” Roman climbed in and then held his hand out to help me.

I glanced over my shoulder, finally second-guessing this whole trip. What had I been thinking, racing off to follow a vision and then sticking around even after I found out Roman was here? I should have fled Siren’s Cove the moment Karly said his name.

But then Henry coughed as if choking, and Travis patted his back, just like I’d seen in a vision.

Jinx jumped on my legs. She wasn’t worried about boarding the vessel. I scooped her up and whispered, “Don’t get attached to these people. Hanging with them is a onetime thing.”

Jinx licked my face. I seriously wondered if I should trust the instincts of such a young familiar. Maybe magical companions grew into their sixth sense instead of being born with it. Past the boat, a spark shimmered above the water. Was the spell that led me here telling me this was the right course to take? Or was the glow of the evening sun reflecting off a buoy? I hoped to soon find out. 

My Review

This book fills all requirements for a relaxing, enjoyable read: there's sand and surf, an adorable kid, a cute puppy, a gorgeous, single-dad, and a loveable, relatable heroine who just happens to be a witch.
 
The discomfort and sexual tension between Peyton and Roman had me rooting for them immediately. They have a history, and they really aren’t sure how to deal with each other. But Roman’s son Travis has no issues. His sweet, innocent presence bridges their awkwardness perfectly and adds charm to every scene he’s in.
 
And I can’t leave out Jinx, the smart little puppy who is Peyton’s familiar. I can’t imagine the story without her. Neither, I’m sure, could Peyton.
 
There are some unexpected twists and turns, and the story flows easily. Lightly, deftly, Colyer weaves ice cream and magic throughout the book, lending fun and whimsy to this summer romance. She is an excellent storyteller.
 
I could read a book like this every day. Whether you’re actually at the beach or just wishing you were, this story will engage you, relax you, and make you smile. Highly recommended!