Friends, romance novels are a very. Good.Thing. Even better when your friend publishes three in one year, holy cow! And I got to read them all first!

Harlow Scott (nom de plume) and I met in the now defunct Shaneiaks Facebook group, an enthusiastic (and occasionally feral) fan group for Shane East (aka Steve West), my favorite naughty voice actor. We gushed about books, heroes, and Our Gentleman’s crazy amazing talent. I know The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe reigns close to the top of her list of favorite works, but she also loves vampires and various other delectable tropes and subgenres in romance. I recall her posting a lot about burning dinner while listening to smut, and melting into a gooey mass on the kitchen floor. I think I won her over when I offered to come over anytime with a loving tile scraper. At the time she lived in Denver so I was at least half serious–any excuse to visit home! We did meet in person on my next trip and subsequently, I have hung out with her in the Pacific Northwest where she now lives, and we even road tripped to St. Louis last year for the Mate Games convention.

Harlow’s writing history starts long before mine, having penned stories and even an entire novel (yet to be published) decades ago. She has published at least two professional books, offering her unique expertise to the world at the intersection of history and accessibility in public spaces. In 2023 (or was it 2024?) we agreed to support each other in our respective NaMo’s: Her in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and me in National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). We committed to writing every day and holding each other up in the process. A great friendship was born!

Since then I have had the privilege and pleasure of witnessing and supporting HS on her prolific writing journey, watching the genius emerge and flourish, imagining her fingers fly at her laptop, giving form and phrase to ideas that just cannot get out fast enough. Her first two novels, Month to Maybe and Can You Hear Me Now?, were almost written in tandem–fun, easy, lighthearted reads that remind me so much of works by contemporary powerhouse authors Lauren Blakely and Louise Bay. The third, recently released, What If I Say Yes, required quite a bit more labor, if not more love. I am so proud of this particular release, her first male-male, bi-awakening love story. It called to her as soon as the the Pacific Hearts series took shape, and she incubated and cultivated it with unending dedication and care. She invested time, energy, and resources to make it the best it could be, and it has paid off. From the first draft that I read to the final edits, Eli and Marcus’s journey evolved deeply and readers have positively gushed at the outcome.

I always marvel at brains that can invent stories this engaging, let alone write them so articulately. And the spicy scenes, well… The woman’s got talent, I say! Good romance shows us our softest, most vulnerable humanity, our deepest desires both emotional and carnal. It helps us explore our most tender insides, reminds us how essentially we need deep connection, acceptance, understanding, and love. When these stories also represent those of us who feel marginalized, telling our love stories with compassion and fervor, validating our experiences and aspirations, the world is simply much better for it.

My friend does exactly this. From her bio:
“She chooses to write about love because she believes in its power to comfort, heal, and offer a place to escape.”
“Telling stories of love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters, one word at a time, where hearts ache, sparks fly, and love wins.”

Harlow Scott’s books can be found in ebook and paperback on Amazon, and you can get signed paperbacks on her website.

I know the stories in the pipeline, friends, and I can’t wait to share those with you all when they release. Meanwhile, check out Pacific Hearts. Love wins and it feels so good.