• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Reese Ryan Romance

Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

  • Home
  • Meet Reese
    • Press Room
    • News
    • Reese Recommends
      • Get to Know Multicultural Authors
    • Contact
      • YouTube Channel
      • Goodreads
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
  • Books
    • Books by Trope List
    • Series
      • Black Diamonds Quartet
      • The Love & Music Suite
      • Holly Grove Island
      • Dynasties: Willowvale
      • Valentine Vineyards
      • Bourbon Brothers Series
      • Texas Cattleman’s Club
      • Pleasure Cove Series
      • One-Shot Projects
    • Audiobooks
  • Free Reads
    • Baby Be Mine
  • Events
  • Readers
    • Current Reese Ryan Reader Giveaway(s)
    • Signed Books
    • Reader Swag
    • Book Clubs
    • Subscribe to VIP Reader Mailing List
    • Join VIP Reader Facebook Group
    • Reese Ryan Street Team
  • Writers
    • Are you a writer seeking mentoring?
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Store
    • Shopping Cart
  • Reese Ryan Books
  • Story Behind the Story Show
  • Mindful Banter Blog

Reese Ryan

Say It With a T-Shirt

September 12, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Suck It Up Buttercup T-Shirt

I’m in an awesome writers group that posts writing challenges each month. Members share how much they intend to write during the week, 2-week or 1-month period to follow and how they plan to reward themselves.

I’d like to make my reward something yummy (like an entire pineapple upside down cake), but that won’t help my other cause, which is getting healthier by working out daily courtesy of DailyBurn.com.  So this time I opted to go with something I’ve always wanted but hadn’t gotten around to getting: graphic T-shirts.

Why haven’t I purchased them before? One: for a long time it was rare to find one that wasn’t designed for anyone whose shape was more eraser than pencil. Second: When you did find one, the price was more than this penny pincher frugal person was willing to pay.

Enter the age of do-it-yourself T-shirt websites. 

Now you can find T-shirts for everyone that support any cause or share just about any sentiment. It’s also super easy to make your own. I created a to-buy list of graphic tees I wanted and I’m rewarding myself with one or two whenever I hit a new goal or deadline. When I turned in Book #2 of my upcoming Pleasure Cove series with Harlequin Kimani Romance, I bought myself the following two graphic tees:

SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP

Fell in love with this shirt the instant I saw it. It’s perfect for those moments when:

  • I don’t feel like working out.
  • I’m working out but I feel like I can’t do one more squat/pushup/crunch/plank move, etc.
  • I should be writing or revising, but I’m not (like now)
  • I am procrastinating about doing what I need to do, preferring to do just about anything else (seriously…like now)

I chose purple because…Prince…and the purple and green are a throw back to Lou Ferrigno’s Incredible Hulk with those crazy purple pants and his you-done-made-me-mad-now green skin. Makes me feel slightly invincible and like I could do a split in heels while playing a guitar. I’m just sayin’.

A LITTLE HOOD, A LITTLE HIPPIE

A Little Hood, A Little Hippie

Anyone who knows me well knows that though I grew up in the hood, I have always been very much a hippie. So, as noted in the conversation with my husband (see below), it would be more accurate to say a little hood, a lot hippie. And as if I didn’t love this shirt enough for the graphic, the fabric is so soft. I could live in this thing. I’m thinking of belting it and wearing it as a dress. Just kidding! (Or am I?)

Anyhoo…my husband, whose obsession with Aldo shoes is one of the many reasons I lovingly refer to him as GQ Jones, and I had the following conversation this morning:

GQ Jones: Can we change that to A Little Hood, A Lot Hippie? *smirks*

Me: You do know this refers to a flower child, philosophical hippie, not someone with a lot of hips?

GQ Jones: You do know I’m not the only one who is going to be confused about that.

Me: *shrugs* Either way, A Little Hood, A Lot Hippie still applies. If someone makes that shirt, I’ll definitely buy it.

Okay, time for me to get back to work so I can earn my next graphic tee.

How do you reward yourself for a job well done? Or are you more of the just-shut-up-and-do-it type who doesn’t worry about rewarding yourself? (If so, I wanna be you, but I’m totally okay with the fact that I never will be.)

Happy Reading!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Share the Journey, The Writing Life, Wearing, What I'm... Tagged With: graphic t-shirts, Harlequin Kimani Romance, multicultural romance, Pleasure Cove, plus size fashions, Reese Ryan

And the winner of my Labor Day Weekend #ReaderGiveaway is…

September 7, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Hi All,

For those of you in the United States, hope you had a fabulous Labor Day weekend!

The past few months have been pretty crazy for me with lots of writing, revisions and travel. It was nice to have a weekend where I got some relaxation in and time with my family. However, I managed to sneak some work in, too.

The Inspire Journal and Colorful Pens -- Reese Ryan VIP #ReaderGiveaway

One of the things I enjoyed doing this weekend was picking out the journal and colorful pen set, pictured above, that will go to the contest winner of my Labor Day weekend giveaway along with a $25 gift certificate. Since I’m a journal and pen junkie, I couldn’t resist getting a set of each for myself. 🙂

Now, with no further ado, I give you the winner of the Reese Ryan 2016 Labor Day weekend #ReaderGiveaway: Sherri Hollister.

Congratulations to Sherri, who is also a writer. This journal is chock-full with creative inspiration and encouraging sayings. I know you’re going to love it, Sherri!

When you love what you have, you have everything you need

If you didn’t win this time, no worries. These journals were so awesome, I bought out the entire stock and I’ll be giving them out quarterly to my awesome, patient VIP readers whom I adore. So look for another opportunity to win during the fourth quarter giveaway in late October or early November.

I’ll be answering some of the excellent reader questions I received during the contest via video right here on the blog. So, be sure to subscribe to my blog (6th block down in right sidebar) to stay tuned to the latest shenanigans and/or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.

Chase your dreams, you might catch one

Now, this girl has a proposal to write for Book #3 in my Pleasure Cove series and an indie project to edit. Stay tuned for more info on the series and my coming indie release.

Namaste,

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Doing, Giveaways, Playing by the Rules -- Book 1, Pleasure Cove Tagged With: #ReaderGiveaway, Contest winner, Kimani Romance, Playing by the Rules, Playing with Desire, Pleasure Cove, Reese Ryan

Final Day of Labor Day Weekend Giveaway Contest

September 5, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Reese Ryan Labor Day Weekend Giveaway

Today is the last day to enter my Labor Day Weekend giveaway exclusively for my VIP Readers. I’m giving away a lovely journal, a set of colorful pens and a $25 gift card from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes or Starbucks–winner’s choice. If you’re not a VIP Reader already, entry is easy peasy.

  • Step one: Join my VIP Reader mailing list. (See the box on the top of the right sidebar.)
  • Step two, email me and tell me how you spent your summer.
  • For a bonus entry, ask me a question about my new Pleasure Cove series or March 2017 release PLAYING WITH DESIRE.

Please note: This contest is open internationally. However, only the digital gift card will be sent to winners outside of the United States. The physical items will only be shipped within the United States or Canada.

It’s been great connecting with all of you and hearing about how you spent your summer. Readers have posed some excellent questions which I can’t wait to answer in future vlogs, right here on this blog, so stay tuned.

Good luck on your entry and Happy Labor Day!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Playing with Desire -- Book 1 Tagged With: #Giveaways, Harlequin Kimani Romance, Playing with Desire, Pleasure Cove, Reader Contests, Reader giveaway, Reese Ryan

Playing with Desire Release Date

August 26, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Playing with Desire, the first book in the Pleasure Cove series, published by Harlequin Kimani Romance, goes on sale everywhere.

Playing with Desire by Reese Ryan -- Pleasure Cove Book #1

Tagged With: #WeHaveDiverseRomance, #WeNeedDiverseRomance, African American romance, black romance, book release dates, BWWM, Harlequin Kimani Romance, Playing with Desire, Pleasure Cove, Reese Ryan

Playing with Desire in Stores

August 26, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Playing with Desire, the first book in the Pleasure Cove series, published by Harlequin Kimani Romance, hits stores on February 21, 2017.

Playing with Desire by Reese Ryan -- Pleasure Cove Book #1

Tagged With: #WeNeedDiverseRomance, African American romance, black romance, Book Release, BWWM romance, Harlequin Kimani Romance, Playing with Desire, Reese Ryan

Playing with Temptation Release

August 26, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Playing with Temptation, Book #2 in the Pleasure Cove series published by Harlequin Kimani Romance, goes on sale everywhere.

PLAYING WITH TEMPTATION by Reese Ryan

 

Tagged With: #WeHave, #WeNeedDiverseRomance, African American romance, black romance, Book Release, Harlequin Kimani Romance, Playing with Temptation, Pleasure Cove, Reese Ryan

Breaking News from Reese Ryan: A New Publishing Deal

March 11, 2016 by ReeseRyan

The Playing with Bad Boys series has a new name and a new publisher.

A new publishing deal requires a celebratory mug of tea.
Celebratory mug of tea, anyone?

First, let me apologize for being missing in action the past few months. This year has been full of health challenges and there are plans for surgery ahead, but there was some really exciting news, too.

Along the way to indie publish my planned Playing with Bad Boys series, I got an offer for a traditional publishing deal I just couldn’t refuse. So the series is getting a new name which I shared exclusively with my VIP Readers earlier today.

Hop on over to Hot M.A.M.A. Land to get details on why I’ve been Secret Squirrel the past few months , how this unexpected publishing deal came to be and when you can expect to see the first book in the series at your local bookstore.

But before you go, I’m inviting you to a fun reader event I’ll be participating in this fall.

Kianna Alexander’s Fall into Romance Reader Event at Disney World

FallIntoRomanceKianna

Don’t miss an exciting reader event hosted by a fellow Hot M.A.M.A. and Kimani Romance author. Kianna Alexander’s Fall Into Romance reader event is going to be a ton of fun. Join me, Kianna, Cheris Hodges, Piper Huguley, Deborah Fletcher Mello, Farrah Rochon, K.M. Jackson, Te’ Russ, Synithia Williams, Lena Hart, Kaia Danielle and Siera London for fun in sunny Florida as we celebrate romance written by and about women of color.

Join us October 20-24th at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Orlando in Lake Buena Vista for a great reader event celebrating diversity in romance. Plus, there will be plenty of time to get your Disney on. Learn more about this event by visiting the Kianna Alexander Fall into Romance Facebook page. Reserve your spot at the event here.

We’re going to Disney World, y’all! Woo hoo!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Secret Squirrel Over and Out

Filed Under: Doing, Hot M.A.M.A.Land, News, Playing by the Rules -- Book 1, Playing with Desire -- Book 1, Pleasure Cove, Publishing Industry, Share the Journey, The Writing Life, What I'm... Tagged With: Cheris Hodges, Deborah Fletcher Mello, Farrah Rochon, K.M. Jackson, Kaia Danielle, Kianna Alexander, Kimani Romance, Lena Hart, Piper Huguley, Playing by the Rules, Playing with Bad Boys, Pleasure Cove, publishing deal, Reese Ryan, Siera London, Synithia Williams, Te' Russ

Serial Novella Launch: Playing by the Rules

November 6, 2015 by ReeseRyan

Playing by the Rules by Reese Ryan

I’m excited that today is finally the launch of my VIP Reader Lounge where I’ll share free reads and other reader goodies. To kick off the opening of the lounge, today also marks the release of the first installment of Hunter and Merrie’s love story. Playing by the Rules is the prequel to my Playing with Bad Boys series that will launch in early 2016.

Playing by the Rules will be released as a free read to my VIP Readers over the next 12 weeks. The cover is above and the summary is below.

Not on the list? Join my VIP Reader mailing list using the form at the bottom of the post and find out how you can get up to 12 entries in my $25 Gift Card giveaway.

Happy reading!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

 

Summary

After five years and zero commitment, Meredith “Merrie” Jane walked away from her long-term relationship. She wants to be with someone she can start planning her future with. A man who will love her madly and deeply. When she crosses paths with her ex’s brother at a party six months later, the last thing she expects is to discover that he’s been harboring feelings for her and that she has feelings for him, too.

Hunter DeSeau adored Merrie long before his competitive younger brother asked her out. Unable to dismiss his feelings for her, he spent the past year distancing himself from them both. But now that their relationship is over and done, he’s faced with the hardest decision of his life. Break the rules and pursue the woman he wants more than anything in the world or keep putting everyone else’s happiness ahead of his own. 

Merrie has spent her entire life playing by other people’s rules. As she examines her feelings for Hunter, she realizes a startling truth. She’s been with the wrong brother all along. But choosing Hunter means exposing herself to gossip, rumors and hard feelings. In a society where perception is everything, is their love worth the risk?



Filed Under: Free Reads, Giveaways, News, Playing by the Rules -- Book 1, Pleasure Cove Tagged With: Free Reads, Playing by the Rules, Playing with Bad Boys, Reese Ryan

Weekly Wrap Up: The Sun Returns and a Cover Reveal

October 9, 2015 by ReeseRyan

The sun returns to North Carolina.

This has been a busy week. I’ve been working on my novella and it was my turn on both of my group blogs. Earlier this week on the Contemporary Romance Cafe I celebrated the return of the sun to my neck of the woods and shared a little diddy adapted from Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop’s “The Song That Never Ends.” It got stuck in the head of one of my fellow Cafe authors. (Sorry Samantha!)

Over on Hot M.A.M.A. Land today, I’m giving Hot M.A.M.A. readers an early peek at the cover for the free serial novella that will be released to my VIP Readers beginning on Friday, November 6th. (VIP Readers got first reveal last week.) Here’s a portion of the cover.

Sneak Piece of Playing by the Rules Cover

For the full cover and a summary of the story, pop over to Hot M.A.M.A. Land.

And don’t forget, the serial is only free to my VIP Readers. So if you’re not already on the list, get your pass here.

Shine on!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Cover Reveal, Hot M.A.M.A.Land, News, Playing by the Rules -- Book 1, Pleasure Cove Tagged With: Contemporary Romance Cafe, Hot M.A.M.A. Land, Playing by the Rules, Playing with Bad Boys, Reese Ryan

Taking on a 30-day Journaling Challenge

September 29, 2015 by ReeseRyan

 

 

SMASHBook 30 Day Challenge

Over the past few months I’ve been adding small challenges to my daily routine. Getting the newsletter out to my VIP Readers at least once per month. Blogging here at least once per week. Daily yoga. Each challenge has gone well. Though, in the words of Missy Elliot, Nobody’s Perfect.

I don’t always execute my challenges perfectly. Still, taking them on has helped me up my game. I may not do yoga every day, but I’m doing it at least every other day. A marked improvement from the slug status I held before.

Recently I added walking three times a week to my list. Due the the unusual week of rain we’re having here in North Carolina, that one is off to a rocky start. But I expect to hit the trail again soon. In the meantime, I’m adding a challenge I’ve been wanting to introduce to my routine for several years…daily journaling.

Today is the perfect day to start living your dreams journal
My journal for this 30-day challenge and beyond.

I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile, and I’ve started and stopped several times over the years. However, I’m ready to give it a serious try again. And why not? We’re a mere two days from entering the final quarter of 2015. This is the time of year I begin looking to the year ahead, setting goals and establishing a plan of action. Keeping a journal will help me do just that and keep track of how well I am implementing those plans.

One goal I have for this final quarter and for the year ahead is to be a more prolific writer who doesn’t make readers wait so long for the next book. (Bad author!) I’ll begin tackling that goal with the release of my serial novella in November. However, I plan to sustain that goal for at least the next two years. I believe that having a plan to write something daily, even if it’s just a small journal entry, will help me do just that.

So I’m going to approach this as I initially approached the yoga. With a 30-day journaling challenge. Something that feels doable and not so intimidating. For an added push, I’m going to join Lisa Sonora’s #30DayJournal challenge. However, I also found some fun prompts on Pinterest that range from fun and relaxed to serious and introspective. A couple of those are pictured above and below.

 

SeriousJournalChallenge

What about you? Do you journal now? Have you kept a journal in the past? Let me know in the comments. And if you’ve been meaning to get back to journaling (or to try it for the first time), I’d love to have your company on the journey.

Namaste,

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Doing, Share the Journey, The Writing Life Tagged With: #30DayJournal, 30 day journal challenge, Journal, journaling, Reese Ryan

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Page 9
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 17
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Check out my no holds barred chat with Romance in Colour

Reese Ryan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Apple Associates Program. A small percentage may be earned from links on this website.

Copyright © 2025 · Author Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in