Welcome Sadira Stone

I spent most of my working years as a high school teacher, but I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of running a small business, a place where people gather and community forms—like the quirky bookshop where my Book Nirvana series takes place, or the seaside gelato shop in Gelato Surprise. A small-business setting brings together a close-knit cast of characters who work there. Together with the regular customers, they can form a sort of found family.

I wanted to set this new series in my hometown of Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. Nicknamed the “Gritty City,” Tacoma boasts lots of funky shops, fun bars and restaurants, and a lively music scene. Bangers Tavern, the series’ center point, is based on several neighborhood bars in our area. I started writing the series last autumn, and then…the pandemic. Bars and restaurants closed their doors, everyone battened down the hatches, and we settled in to wait it out. We’re still waiting.

Mind you, I have worked in a bar, but that was—ahem—many years ago. Instead of my planned visits to a dozen bars in our area, I hit Google, collecting details about how servers serve, how bartenders tend bar, and how bar owners manage their business. Thank heavens for generous people like Casey Clipper, an author and former restaurant manager who shared her expertise. I think—I hope—I’ve captured the crucial details as well as the fun, camaraderie, and delicious, greasy bar food you’d find in Bangers Tavern. And yes, I was thinking of British pub food when naming the place. If your thoughts turn in a naughtier direction, well…I do write steamy romance, so I won’t mind. 
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Tell us about what you write (short stories, novellas, novels, non-fiction)?
I write steamy contemporary romance set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. My Book Nirvana series centers around a quirky bookshop in Eugene, Oregon. Gelato Surprise is a steamy older woman/younger man beach romance novella. The Bangers Tavern Romance series is set in a neighborhood tavern in Tacoma, Washington, where I live—the town, not the tavern! Each story features a holiday celebration in Bangers Tavern: Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, 4th of July, Halloween, etc. During this sad time when so many bars, restaurants, and other businesses are shut down, Bangers Tavern gives me the chance to virtually share the fun, camaraderie, and bar food I miss so much. And each volume includes tasty cocktail recipes I’ve personally tested and tweaked—a tough job, but I do it for my readers (wink).
 
Under my own name, I write cozy mysteries and creepy short stories—think The Twilight Zone—but so far only one creepy short has been published. I’ll get to the rest of them eventually, but right now I’m having too much fun writing romance!
 


Tagline: When two Scrooges unite to save a bar in trouble, a kiss under the mistletoe sparks the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.
 
Back Cover Blurb:
Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong.
Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her?    
A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.
Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.
 
Short Excerpt
 Her low, throaty chuckle made him want to kiss her again. Though he pretty much wanted to kiss her anytime she was within range.
She laid her hand palm-up on the center console. “The thing is, I’m not looking for a relationship.”
Remembering a bit of Dawn’s wisdom, he nestled his hand into hers. “You never find a relationship when you’re looking for one.”
Her gaze softened, open and vulnerable. “Are you looking?”
Warning sirens blared inside his head. This was a question to answer very carefully. “If you’d asked me a month ago, I’d say, ‘No way.’ But then, I kissed this girl under the mistletoe, and…”
She closed her eyes, lifted his hand, and pressed it to her sternum. Beneath his palm, her heart thudded fast. His pulse sped to match hers. He held his breath.
“I like you, River.” Her whisper matched the brush of snowflakes against the windows.
“I like you too.”
She inhaled deeply, then met his gaze. “Enough to be my friend?”
He nodded, mesmerized.
“Because my life is a mess right now, and I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing.”
Her coarse language stirred up a heady swirl of laughter, sympathy, and arousal. He scooted as near as the center console allowed and placed his lips close to her ear. “I’ll tell you a secret. Me neither.”
Fire flickered in her eyes’ inky depths. Her lips parted. A golden thread wound around his heart and tugged him toward her. His thumb stroked the delicate line of her jaw as he closed the distance.

Link for ARC download page on Bookfunnel: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/caw7o03nb8
Link for ARC download page on Story Origin:  https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/b509cb13-a6ea-4d03-93d2-e35584992b44
 
 
Buy Links:
 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JKW3XR2
 
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-rekindled-sadira-stone/1137720901?ean=2940162818212
 
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1532772664
 
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-rekindled
 
Google Play Books:
 
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55430214-christmas-rekindled
 
Universal book link: https://books2read.com/u/brW5Ok
 
Bookbub link: https://www.bookbub.com/books/christmas-rekindled-a-bangers-tavern-romance-by-sadira-stone

Author Bio:
 
Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance from her new home in Washington State, U.S.A. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays darts (pretty well), plays guitar (badly), and gobbles all the books. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.
I’d love to hear from you! Please visit me on all the socials.
 
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