Spunky, irresistible heroines.

Christmas at the Love Lodge

Available November 7 in the Irresistible Snowbound Christmas box set at link below.

Preorder now!

’Tis the Season of Love … and Second Chances

 All bets are off as to whether the maid of honor, Scarlett Lake, and the best man, Cooper Edwards, can keep the peace for long.

When a snowstorm in the Rocky Mountains sends stranded wedding travelers seeking refuge to the once-famous Love Lodge, this former couple is thrown together again, each believing the other ended the relationship.

But someone in the group is quite pleased with themselves that they succeeded in breaking them up.

Until Scarlett and Cooper discover the plot themselves, only to doubt the strength of their relationship if someone could so easily separate them.

However, the lodge is also the home of the Christmas matchmaker who decides to use his unconventional ways to determine if these two people are meant to be together.

By the time the storm subsides, Scarlett will know for sure if their love is true … or not.

It might be chilly outside. But it’s heating up at the Love Lodge.


One Step over

the Mistletoe Line

An Amazon Best-Seller!

Just days before Christmas, and her boyfriend’s proposal, an accidental moment under the mistletoe with her close friend RJ changes everything for Claire.

To avoid one man when she has feelings for another, Claire takes drastic measures to avoid Christmas.

But her escape plan to clear her head goes awry when a snowstorm sends the man on her mind, RJ, to her hideout. RJ is seeking shelter after a failed attempt to pursue a crook in a Santa suit who stole his new dog, Rosco.

As if a Christmas Eve in the cold Cascade Mountains couldn’t get any more dangerous with a manhunt underway for the puppy-stealing bad Santa, Claire’s heart is in hazardous territory as she weighs the consequences of telling her friend RJ of her feelings for him and risk destroying their friendship. Or is it possible that RJ feels the same way?

“Carmine Valentine’s ‘One Step Over the Mistletoe Line’ comes around the final turn with a nail-biting window-steamer that lunges gloriously over the finish line.”

–InD’tale Magazine


The Barefoot by Moonlight Series

Book cover titled "All Fired Up" with illustrations of a woman with red hair, a heron, a motorcycle rider, a lake with a boat, a house, and trees, depicting a scenic outdoor setting.

All Fired Up

Book 1

He needs a room.

She needs his bad-guy hunting skills.

When Marianne and Jack meet on the ferry to Orcas Island, it couldn’t be more awkward—for Marianne, that is. Jack has no problem with a woman landing on top of him. It’s a case of opposites attract. Although they each have their reasons not to get involved, fate has other plans. On this small island, avoiding each other isn’t to be.

When an old tale of stolen jewels resurfaces, revealing a dangerous secret kept by both of their grandfathers, it will take Marianne and Jack together to uncover the truth before one of them gets hurt. But solving the mystery means working out an arrangement. Jack needs a place to stay. Marianne has rooms to spare.

In close quarters, it’s soon apparent that solving the mystery might be easier than trying not to fall for each other as they realize that they both long for the same thing.

Coming Next in The Barefoot by Moonlight Series!

Book 2

All You Desire

Fiona Sanchez accepts the dare from the Barefoot by Moonlight writers and finds herself knee-deep in trouble when she discovers a million dollars buried in a garden. Only to have it mysteriously disappear!

Now the man on her mind, FBI Special Agent, Ian Dunaway is on the case and she’s his prime suspect!

Fiona just can’t help but investigate and when she does, she finds herself not just in danger from the real criminal, but in danger of falling for Ian.


Reviews for All Fired Up

  • “… a brilliantly woven web of threats, kidnappings, and long-held secrets … A dramatic love story with a heart of gold, All Fired Up is a suspenseful, slow-burn romance where the bonds of family, loyalty, and love are tested by betrayal and the shadow of violence.”

  • “Ms. Valentine has a way of making the tiny hairs on one’s nape stand on end because of the way she effectively describes the setting, and it is difficult not to like this book for that reason alone.”

    InD’tale Magazine

  • “Valentine writes with a mix of tongue in cheek humor and suspense, enough to almost consider this a cozy mystery as the loose ends are gathered and tied up in the book's satisfying conclusion. If you like romance books with a mystery, All Fired Up is a sure winner!”

    USA Today Bestselling Author and Produced Screenwriter, Kim Hornsby

  • "I'd recommend this book to readers who love cozy mysteries, small town settings, and slow-burn romances with heartfelt moments. If you want something that mixes danger with tenderness and a little island charm, this will be right up your alley."

  • “… Valentine’s prose is descriptive but not overindulgent; her settings pulse with atmosphere. You can practically feel the salty air of the ferry ride, the creak of the old Perrigo Mansion, and the cold mist rolling off the harbor. The Pacific Northwest becomes more than a backdrop; it’s a living part of the story, moody and mysterious, mirroring Marianne’s own emotional journey …”

  • “ …Readers who enjoy romantic suspense with heart will find All Fired Up deeply satisfying. Fans of authors like Nora Roberts, Barbara Freethy, or Christina Dodd’s Pacific Northwest series will feel right at home. It’s also a great pick for cozy mystery lovers who want a touch of danger without the grit of darker thrillers. The book’s second edition shows Valentine’s polish as a storyteller: it’s confident, witty, and layered with emotional truth beneath the romantic tension …”

  • “Carmine Valentine’s All Fired Up opens with undeniable charm. The meet-cute between Marianne and Jack on the ferry to Orcas Island sets the tone for what promises to be a captivating blend of romance and mystery. Valentine’s prose flows effortlessly, pulling the readers into the moody Pacific Northwest setting with descriptive precision that never overwhelms …”

  • Filled with unexpected twists, a growing romance, family secrets, and a perpetual threat of danger, this book will appeal to mystery, suspense, and romance readers alike. I hope the next book is as immersive as this one.

Also Available!

The Last Blind Date

Book cover for 'The Last Blind Date' by Carmine Valentine, featuring a woman in a turquoise dress and high heels, with the title and author's name displayed.

When Mimi’s best friend sets her up with Derek on a blind date, not in her wildest imagination could she have foreseen how the evening would play out.

She soon discovers that she’s been set up in more ways than one on this champagne-fueled evening complete with a handsome detective and a crook intent on spoiling the fun.  

Hang on for this ride through the shadowy foothills of the Cascade Mountains, set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

“The Last Blind Date’ is energetic and highly readable. Mimi is a spunky, endearing heroine readers will root for.”

–InD’tale Magazine