#SaturdaySpotlight is on Monique DeVere & Guarded by the Sheriff!

Good Morning from Santee, South Carolina!

We started our drive up on Tuesday and arrived Thursday afternoon to spend a long weekend with my Sweetheart's bonus children and grandchildren. Today we're watching his youngest granddaughter graduate high school. Although we don't visit these loved ones often, it is always a pleasure when we do.

Speaking of pleasures, it is my extreme pleasure to have Monique DeVere back on our blog, this time with her debut Love Inspired Romantic Suspense novel, Guarded by the Sheriff. Welcome back, Monique, please share with us the story behind this book and give us a sneak peek into it!

It's wonderful to be back, Pam, THANKS!

2024 and 2025 were huge years for me. I live my life by faith, so even during the hardest moments, I believed there was a reason for everything that was happening.

First, I was made redundant from my office manager job about two months before we discovered that my dad—who lived 165 miles away—was seriously ill. Because of the distance, he’d been able to hide just how sick he was during our regular phone calls. By the time we discovered the truth, he was already very unwell. It took another four months to finally convince him to come live with us. 

Looking back now, I truly believe my Heavenly Father had been preparing me for that season of my life.

Dad passed away in February 2025, and I took it very hard.

The following month, my critique partner sent me a link to the Harlequin Love Inspired Great Author Search 2025. While Dad had been living with us, every morning I’d sit in his room with my coffee and tell him the plans for the day. He always asked if I’d managed to get any writing done, and I had to admit I hadn’t. Caring for him had become my full-time focus between his needs and the constant stream of medical staff coming through the house.

So, when my critique partner mentioned the contest, I decided to enter it for Dad.

The problem was, I only had two weeks before the closing date. I’d spent years writing romantic comedy and category contemporary romance. I’d targeted several Harlequin lines over the years but never Love Inspired Suspense because everyone said it was one of the hardest lines to break into.

I came up with an idea titled Deadly Mother’s Day. I wrote the premise, first chapter, and synopsis, and submitted it just a few days before the deadline.

Honestly, I expected a rejection. After all, that had pretty much been my experience for the past thirty-odd years.

So, imagine my utter shock when Harlequin requested the full manuscript!

It honestly took me a while to process the fact that Harlequin…HARLEQUIN!...wanted to read my story. I wrote the full manuscript in two months and submitted it. One week later, my editor emailed asking when a good time for her to call me would be. It was a Friday, and she wanted to call on Monday if I was available.

If I was available? Of course I was available!

I ran around the house to find my husband and daughter to tell them that I thought I might finally be getting “The Call.” The call I’d dreamed about for years! I won’t lie; I hyperventilated.

And on that Monday, my editor offered me a contract.

Now I get to see my book in print with my name on the cover. Harlequin didn’t feel the original title suited the line, so they asked me to send more ideas. Thankfully, they liked Guarded by the Sheriff. I am so thrilled the book will be published in eBook, mass market paperback, large-print and…get this…audiobook! I’m so excited to hear these characters brought to life by a human narrator!

This has been an amazing journey, all thanks to Jesus, my Lord and Savior!

And that’s why this book will always be so special to me. No matter how many books I write for Harlequin in the future, this one will always hold a special place in my heart because I know Abba Father guided me every step of the way.

Now my dream of writing for Harlequin has finally come true—and with a line that is perfect for me. I get to share my faith through my stories while writing the kind of suspense I love. Looking back now, I can see God’s hand in every part of the journey.

Who knew life could come together so perfectly when you put your faith in Jesus?

A child in need of protection…

and a lawman keeping watch.

It’s a shock to Sheriff Ethan Callahan to see his ex-fiancée, Sienna Blake, again—especially with a child in tow…and a gunman on her heels. 

Witnessing a shooting has made Sienna a criminal’s next target. And when Ethan realizes that he’s the father of her son, he is determined to keep them both safe…no matter the cost. With trust hanging in the balance and their enemy closing in, Ethan and Sienna must stand together to survive. 

Except the hit man knows their every move…and trusting the wrong person could get them killed.

*Excerpt: “Sienna, don’t come any closer. It’s a bomb.”

She gasped, confusion knitting her expression. “A what?”

He knew she’d heard him, so he didn’t repeat himself. “Take Nathan and get as far away from the truck as you can.”

Without delay, she scooped Nathan into her arms and ran for the side of the house.

Ethan moved with them, positioning himself between them and the truck.

They had just reached the corner of the house when an explosion ripped through the truck behind them. They hit the ground hard, Ethan shielding Sienna and Nathan with his body.

Sienna screamed his name.

Nathan’s petrified sobs tore at his heart.

“Are you hurt?” Ethan asked.

Sierra shook her head, still wide-eyed. “We’re…” She ran a hand over Nathan, relief whooshing her breath from her lungs. “We’re okay.”

He got up, helping Sienna to her feet with Nathan clutched in her arms. “Take him inside. I’ll call this in.”

She nodded. Without hesitation, she turned and hurried with Nathan into the house.

Ethan reached for his phone, his gaze drifting back to the inferno blazing on the drive.

Something told him this was only the beginning…

Guarded by the Sheriff releases June 30th but is available for pre-order now at Amazon, Harlequin, B&N, Kobo, GooglePlay and Apple Books.

About Monique

Monique DeVere writes heart-pounding romantic suspense and funny, feel-good romances with heart, hope, and a dash of sass. Her stories are filled with faith, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters. Originally from Barbados, she lives in the UK with her real-life hero, their four children, five grandchildren, and an adorable Yorkshire Terrier. When she isn’t writing, Monique enjoys family time, shell collecting, boating, being near the sea, and learning something new.

Monique loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at monique@moniquedevere.com

Get a free suspense novella when you subscribe to her romantic suspense newsletter: https://shorturl.at/ZaUjC

Get a free story when you subscribe to her romance newsletter: https://shorturl.at/57c2Z

Monique’s Social Links: Harlequin, Website, X, Bsky, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, TikTok, Goodreads, Amazon Store.

* * * * *

Oh, My Goodness, Monique! So very sorry to hear about your dad but SO Happy this book was accepted. Maybe he had a hand in that. 😉

Either way, we wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with this - and many more - Love Inspired books!

Hope you enjoyed Monique's visit as much as I did. I've read Guarded by the Sheriff and as soon as I'm able, I will be leaving a review. Check out some of Monique's other books in her previous Spotlight appearances HERE. I hope you take her story as incentive to never give up on your dreams because with faith and perserverance they just might come true in God's time.

Until later, happy reading!

PamT

*Excerpt is copyrighted material used with permission from Harlequin.

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Monique DeVere & Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife

 Good Morning!

Winter has set in here in SW Louisiana. It's a chilly 35 degrees - way too cold for my blood but the show must go on! I'll be working all day at my dad's house again today, trying to get it saleable but trust me, we'll have a fire to warm ourselves by LOL!

Speaking of fires, there's nothing like the excitement of a new release and today's guest has shared thoughts with us and been in our spotlight before, so please welcome Monique DeVere back with her brand new book Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife, a "clean, sweet, and sensual" book with some love scenes, but no foul language or obscenities. 

This might be the biggest risk of her life.

When her whirlwind romance with gorgeous Sicilian-born restaurateur Matteo Giordano culminates in marriage, award-winning pastry chef Sabrina Newton-Giordano thinks she has it all...until Matt refuses to introduce her to his family. Sabrina desires their baby to have the same love she knew from her grandparents, but Matt’s outright rejection of his family could result in their baby never knowing his or her paternal grandparents, something Sabrina will not accept. Until that is, she hits on the perfect solution—run away to Sicily to meet the in-laws! 

Matt wants only one thing—to keep his wife and unborn child safe. For a man intent on never allowing anything to stand in his way, it should be an easy task. But Matt hasn’t bargained on how stubborn his irresistible, runaway wife can be. Despite his stern objections, she’s determined to form a relationship with his family. He knows, from past experience, they’d never accept her or the baby. Now Matt is torn between the urgent need to protect his wife and fear of causing her undue stress in her pregnancy. 

Excerpt

Copyright © Monique DeVere 2020

Crystal Swan Publications

All Rights Reserved

 

She kept him on his toes, he’d give her that. From the moment he met her he’d known she was unique to any other woman. The first hint was when he’d arrived unexpectedly to check on his London restaurant. Everyone, except Sabrina, had nervously tripped over themselves in his presence. She’d simply continued to work as though his arrival was as insignificant as a dust mote drifting past her head. The second hint had knocked him the moment she glanced up and locked eyes with his. Something he’d never experienced before had happened. His body had responded to the instant connection in a way that had been shocking and potent. He’d decided right then to make her his. Even then, she hadn’t made it easy for him. She’d resisted their attraction, had flat-out refused to have drinks, dinner, or—her words—anything else with him. To say that she’d become a challenge he’d fixated on was to understate the level of his attraction for Sabrina.

Then one day, after weeks of him putting his best moves on her and about to admit defeat, a delivery arrived at his office. It was a beautifully presented slice of his favourite dessert along with a note that read: if you want more, come and get it! He was pretty sure the soles of his handmade Italian shoes left scorch marks on his office rug in his haste to get to Sabrina. The rest had been white-hot sizzling sexy, whirlwind, and incredible. And now here he was, fighting to keep his marriage from falling apart only after eleven-and-a-half months of wedded bliss.

Matt washed his hands at the kitchen sink, then rummaged in the under counter fridge.

He chuckled. “Surprise, surprise, nothing but dessert and fruit.”

Yep, one thing he could be sure of was that he’d always find some sort of dessert in their fridge at home, thanks to Sabrina’s never-ending effort to create new and exciting after-dinner treats. And, oh look, she had his favourite dessert sitting in a small yellow and white cake caddy, as though she’d somehow been expecting him. When he grabbed the container his gaze landed on the four red apples in a bowl on the shelf below, so he snagged one of those, too.

Available on Amazon KindleUnlimited and to purchase from Amazon

Monique DeVere grew up on a plantation on the beautiful island of Barbados, where her childhood was all about exploring and letting her imagination run free. She moved to the UK as a teen and soon fell in love at first sight with her amazing, strong-silent-type husband. They have four beautiful children and four incredible grandchildren.

Monique writes sweet ‘n’ spicy romance, and when she isn’t working on the next novel or movie script, she can be found spending time with hubby and family, armchair travelling, creating recipes, reading about health and nutrition, or working on her spiritual growth. She enjoys going for walks, gardening, or simply crazy-dancing around the house. Monique loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at monique@moniquedevere.com, or contact her by visiting her website: www.moniquedevere.com or blog: http://moniquedevere.blogspot.co.uk to learn more about her books. You can also visit her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/moniquedevere or follow her on Twitter: @MoniqueDeVere or Instagram: authormdv

 Get The Forever Deal FREE when you sign up to Monique’s New Release Newsletter.

Where to Find Monique On the Web

Website | Blog | Newsletter | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook Fanpage | LinkedIn | Wattpad | Pinterest | Instagram |

Congrats on your new release, Monique! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on your writing in 2021!

Hope you enjoyed the spotlight friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. 

Until next time, take care and God bless

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Guest post by Monique DeVere

Good Morning Friends,

It is with great pleasure I introduce to you Monique Devere as she shares with us something to think about....

Be Careful What You Pray For, You Just Might Get It!

Have you ever prayed an earnest pray and had it answered in the most unexpected way?

I love humour. I love God’s humour. We can never guess quite how He will answer our prayers. We just hope that He would. I had an encounter with God’s humour about four months ago.

Now, for you to grasp the enormity of what I’m about to tell you, you must first understand that neither my hubby nor I are huge pet lovers. Over the years we allowed each of our four kids to have the occasional pair of budgies, fish, a couple of hamsters, and one or two rabbits, but never any animal with the potential for longevity. That sounds mean, but I grew up on a plantation with tons of animals, and my grandparents on both sides were farmers, so the thought of living with animals as an adult just didn’t work for me, and my husband is the world’s biggest softie when it comes to animals.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you the man wouldn’t kill a fly! It amuses me how he would gently shoot out flies, or carefully capture a spider and put it outside. So he never wanted pets because he finds it hard when they pass away. So here I am, not wanting pets because I’d had enough of them growing up, and hubby who finds it too sad when they die. Yet, we knew we couldn’t deprive our kids of the joy and experience of owning their very own pet. But, like I said, we were never going to own something like…let’s say…a dog!   

This is where the humour comes in. About 3 years ago, our first son—#2 child—agreed to dogsit for an acquaintance, only to discover two weeks later when it was time to return the dog that the owner had moved house. He’d duped my son into having a dog that he and his then fiancée—now wife—hadn’t planned on keeping. Needless to say my son fell in love with Mika, a white/golden Akita Shepherd, but struggled to keep her, what with work and a wife who had become extremely ill with undiagnosed Crohn’s disease. Eventually, my son changed jobs and was away from home a lot and of course his wife couldn’t cope with a pregnancy, home and dog. So they had to make the decision to let Mika go.

Did I mention that Mika had been badly mistreated by her first owners? No? It was very sad. I felt my son’s anguish at having to re-home her, but I also knew Mika needed to move on to a better home, so as a praying woman who does her battles on her knees, I went to the Lord. I prayed for Mika and asked God to help my son to find her a wonderful home with a Godly family who would show her unconditional love and affection. The type of family with kids who would love and spoil Mika. A home where she would live indoors, instead of having to live outside in a tiny dog house whatever the weather. My prayer was long and extensive, and filled with everything I could think that an abused dog would want in order to be happy.

A couple of weeks later my son found a temporary home for Mika, but the temporary keepers worked and Mika got bored alone at home each day and bit the handles off the cupboard doors. They returned Mika to my son along with a large repair bill.

Poor Mika.

Hubby and I exchanged a long look. I could tell what he was thinking, and I said, “No way!!!” and disappeared into my home office to write. Then the Lord touched my heart and a total sense of compassion brought tears to my eyes. Would it really be so hard to adopt Mika? She’d still be a part of my son’s family and if it’s one thing hubby and I know how to do, it is love.

After that touch from God, I sauntered out of my office to seek out hubby. But like all good stories, by the time I’d changed my mind, hubby had changed his also. We were yet again on opposing sides of the same coin. We discussed it, then called a mini family meeting with the two remaining children at home. We all agreed that we could, and should, offer Mika a loving home.

And that is how we came to own a beautiful Akita Shepherd when I never thought in a million years I’d ever willingly own a dog! Not a big one anyway—maybe just a teacup fluffball I could stick bows on and carry around in a doggie handbag :-)

We have grown deeply attached to Mika. I can’t imagine not having her around. We love her and spoil her awfully. These days she’s an indoor dog and always has her people around to keep her company, so she’s never lonely.

One of the remaining emotional scars we’ve noticed is that she’s very timid about going outside when it’s drizzling. She usually stops, looks up at whoever is letting her out with a sad puppy-dog look in her eyes as if she’s asking: are you going to shut me out in the rain? We never do. I pray that as we care for her, God will heal all her emotional scars and she can be free of her past.

This experience has taught me that sometimes when we pray, we just might unknowingly be the answer to that prayer.

Wow...great story, Monique! I think we can all identify at some point in our lives when we felt the same way about the power of prayer and God's sense of humor.

Monique DeVere is a full-time author of Sweet 'n' Spicy Romantic Comedy and Contemporary Romance. She also writes Christian Supernatural Suspense movie scripts. She was born on the beautiful island of Barbados, where she grew up on a large plantation with enough wide-open space to let the imagination run free. She moved to the UK as a teen and shortly after met and fell instantly, and irrevocably, in love with her very own strong-silent-type hero. When Monique isn’t writing or spending quality time with her family, she likes to armchair travel to distant and exciting parts of the world and considers herself to have the best job on earth.

You can visit her at moniquedevere.com where she invites you to join her exclusive Sweet ‘n’ Spicy Readers Club packed full of goodies for her members. Monique loves to hear from her readers, do contact her at monique@moniquedevere.com. Also connect with Monique on Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook Fanpage | LinkedIn | Wattpad | Pinterest | or visit her Blog!

Monique's latest book, Party for Two is available now at Amazon. Here's a sneak peek....

Her sexy weekend fling.

Ex-lawyer turned pregnancy model Danielle Hampton has one simple rule; never date an attorney, even if he’s so deliciously hot she’s nicknamed him His Hotness Esquire. When her father asks her to strap on her silicone bump and pretend to be Casey Lowe’s pregnant fiancée in order to pull her family’s law firm out of trouble, her first answer is a resounding no! But she owes Casey for wrecking his pool.

Civil Rights Attorney Casey Lowe lives by a code of practice: never date his boss’s daughter, but he’ll do just about anything to make partner at the top law firm—even if it means violating his personal code. He hasn’t bargained on the fierce desire that burns hotter than the Mojave Desert and combusts every time he gets his boss’s daughter alone. She may drive him to distraction and melt in his arms, but will this party girl hang around long enough for him to convince her that all the best parties… are for two?

I hope you enjoyed today's thoughts. I certainly did!

Stay tuned each week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time...take care and God Bless.

PamT