Follow Your Bliss Series by Deirdre Riordan Hall

Fresh out of college and newly married, twenty-something Kira plans the perfect future with a house in the suburbs, ski getaways, and fancy dinners. When her husband Jeremy dies in a car accident, loss casts her adrift, but her heart cracks wide open when she uncovers the secrets he left behind... moreFresh out of college and newly married, twenty-something Kira plans the perfect future with a house in the suburbs, ski getaways, and fancy dinners. When her husband Jeremy dies in a car accident, loss casts her adrift, but her heart cracks wide open when she uncovers the secrets he left behind. Despite her dislike for the ocean with the whipping wind and itchy sand, Kira seeks solace in salt: tears, sweat, and the sea, helping her move beyond the myth of perfection, and guiding her toward the truth of who she really is. She takes surf lessons to overcome her fear of the water and her well of grief. In the local surf scene, she meets sultry Jamie, with a hot Australian accent. He’s eager to spend time with her, but mostly between the sheets. Then there’s soulful Ian, her surf instructor, who helps her get on her feet and ride the waves. During a transformative trip to South Africa on surfari, she learns the best way to be loved, yet when she returns to the shores of New England, grief continues to haunt her. She must let go, but how? Torn between the tides, Kira discovers strength and courage, navigates loss, lust, and love, taking readers along for the plunge. less

By eighteen, Jamie Burke became a pro surfer capturing the hearts of surf fans everywhere. By twenty, he broke just as many hearts trading his prowess on the waves for sultry nights spent between the sheets. By twenty-two, he lamented losing the woman who changed him. Then he disappeared. When Jamie surfaces in his hometown in Australia, he discovers his high school sweetheart has moved on, but that doesn’t stop him from believing that she’s the one... moreBy eighteen, Jamie Burke became a pro surfer capturing the hearts of surf fans everywhere. By twenty, he broke just as many hearts trading his prowess on the waves for sultry nights spent between the sheets. By twenty-two, he lamented losing the woman who changed him. Then he disappeared. When Jamie surfaces in his hometown in Australia, he discovers his high school sweetheart has moved on, but that doesn’t stop him from believing that she’s the one. He’ll do whatever is necessary to win her back, even compete in a surf-off against tough Mik Tanaka, aka Tank. Awash on the shore, Jamie also finds pieces of his broken family—a father who took off, his disappointed mother, and a brother who has a secret—and it’s up to him to help put them back together. As he reunites with familiar faces, rallying around him, he might just have to redefine what family means. Jamie spent years chasing a dream all over the world and doesn’t expect the waves to carry him right back to where he started. Only he can claim the treasures his return home by the sea offers: love, family, and truth. But as he fights temptation, sinks to the depths of despair, and struggles to open up, his biggest adventure will be dropping anchor. This fresh follow-up novella, for the new adult novel To the Sea, takes readers back to the beach with Kira’s hot fling, Jamie. Book Two in the Follow your Bliss Series, Surfaced can be read after To the Sea, or as a stand-alone, quick beach read filled with romance, surfing, and transformation. less

Twenty-year-old fiery film student Brighton Holmes knows exactly what she wants: an epic adventure on the open road in her late father’s 1969 Chevelle, alone. Her quest is to visit all fifty states and find a place to call home. When a family friend asks for a favor, UK rocker in recovery, Alex Stihl, joins her on the road trip, stirring up trouble; the last thing she needs. It doesn’t help that he has a mob of fans and a crazy ex-girlfriend tailing his every move... moreTwenty-year-old fiery film student Brighton Holmes knows exactly what she wants: an epic adventure on the open road in her late father’s 1969 Chevelle, alone. Her quest is to visit all fifty states and find a place to call home. When a family friend asks for a favor, UK rocker in recovery, Alex Stihl, joins her on the road trip, stirring up trouble; the last thing she needs. It doesn’t help that he has a mob of fans and a crazy ex-girlfriend tailing his every move. Brighton and Alex clash as they cruise out of New York, she grows resigned in the rolling hills of Amish country, and he crashes hard in a hotel on the edge of the Smoky Mountains. While Brighton seeks a place to wash her mind of the past, Alex dodges reminders of heartbreak. They both try to escape everything they have in common: heartache, loss, and confusion about what’s next. But the magic of New Orleans unites Brighton and Alex as they fight desperately for the other until the desert leads them to discover exactly what they’re resisting and missing. When they reach the Oregon coast, Brighton uncovers her musical talent, bringing them closer together and helping her reconcile losing her father. But the trip comes to an end when they arrive in Los Angeles. Real life intervenes, splitting them apart; she moves into her new off-campus apartment and he has to return to his band. After the semester begins, Brighton tries to shake her mind loose from Alex, but the memory of his sexy voice, rainy day eyes, and the miles they shared lingers like a song stuck in her head. Six months later, when his band returns to Los Angeles for a concert, the compass of her heart finally leads her home. In the Desert, book three in the Follow your Bliss Series, can be read chronologically, or as a stand-alone story filled with adventure, anarchy, music, letting go, and love. less

This novelette is smaller than a novel and tinier than a novella; it’s a bite sized, single serving of reading. Through the Jungle captures six snapshots of your favorite Follow your Bliss characters before they step on the road to bliss and then glimpses into their lives, after... Before: There’s Kira in her little white dress, and then Ian, who realizes sandy feet and cold feet are synonymous... moreThis novelette is smaller than a novel and tinier than a novella; it’s a bite sized, single serving of reading. Through the Jungle captures six snapshots of your favorite Follow your Bliss characters before they step on the road to bliss and then glimpses into their lives, after... Before: There’s Kira in her little white dress, and then Ian, who realizes sandy feet and cold feet are synonymous. Brighton careens recklessly from bachelorette party to torn bridesmaid’s dress pre-wedding march, and Alex finds himself drunk at the altar, in Vegas. Baskia, not sure marriage will ever be in her future, gets okay with uncertainty, despite how fabulous she looks in a gown…and then there’s Trace, who, after a long and winding path, finds himself saying all the right things to the one. After: With a wedding planned in Hawaii, the events during the days leading up to the I dos are a gloriously tangled mess of lives overlapping, past loves reappearing, and drama igniting. Engagements, rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies, and an escape to the jungle brings everyone right to the edge, discovering happiness is imperfect, then sends them over, whooping and laughing into the pool of bliss below. The first several chapters are a prequel to the Follow your Bliss series and the subsequent chapters follow-up, uniting the characters on an island in paradise. Told from the unique perspectives of the main protagonists from each of the Follow your Bliss books, readers get to dive more deeply into the sometimes chaotic, messy, and always wildly flawed lives they’ve followed from tragedy and confusion to bliss. less

Alex Stihl, notorious rocker, known for food fights, guitar wars, and riots, found love on the road with wild-child Brighton Holmes, eventually calming his alcohol-infused mayhem. At the end of his band’s summer tour, he wants nothing more than to spend a few quiet weeks by the sea with his guitar and his girl... moreAlex Stihl, notorious rocker, known for food fights, guitar wars, and riots, found love on the road with wild-child Brighton Holmes, eventually calming his alcohol-infused mayhem. At the end of his band’s summer tour, he wants nothing more than to spend a few quiet weeks by the sea with his guitar and his girl. When he discovers her reluctance to visit is because her mom faces a health crisis, his attention turns to his own mother who split when he was born, leaving him cracked with insecurity and anger. After Brighton relents and books a ticket to the UK, Alex gives her a tour of the London her late father knew, splintering her old grief. Their trip to see his grave brings relief, and a week spent in Alex’s hometown in Scotland, draws out mischief. All the while, paparazzi harass them, culminating in a frenzied night when Alex says goodbye to his dying mother, an impromptu performance at a rock club, and band-member Finn revealing he’s taken up with Alex’s crazy ex-girlfriend, and then quits the band. When Brighton discovers film, photos, and articles intended to grind up Alex’s reputation in the industry fame machine, chaos ensues on the damp streets of Glasgow. If he can tear himself from the madness, his biggest hit will include a sunset in the sand and a duet with his girl. This follow-up novella for the contemporary romance, In the Desert, brings readers back to Brighton and Alex’s rock-and-roll world. Book Four in the Follow your Bliss Series, Mirrored can be read after In the Desert, or as a stand-alone, short story filled with love, music, betrayal, and forgiveness. less

Modeling contract? Check. New Louboutins? Check. Drinking and dancing at the hottest NYC clubs? Check. Friends with benefits? Check. An unsettled feeling about the future? Um, check. Pressure to begin college and an epic blowout with her best friend, turns Baskia Benedict’s party life toxic. Late nights bubble with drama, her relationship with her “not-boyfriend” fizzles, and failing to meet her parents’ expectations results in an escape to the family cabin in the mountains... moreModeling contract? Check. New Louboutins? Check. Drinking and dancing at the hottest NYC clubs? Check. Friends with benefits? Check. An unsettled feeling about the future? Um, check. Pressure to begin college and an epic blowout with her best friend, turns Baskia Benedict’s party life toxic. Late nights bubble with drama, her relationship with her “not-boyfriend” fizzles, and failing to meet her parents’ expectations results in an escape to the family cabin in the mountains. Unexpectedly, her brother’s friend Trace appears, seeking refuge from his own obscure problems at the rural hideaway. All Baskia needs are a few days to get her head clear, but Trace distracts her with his smile—always on the edge of amusement—and infuriates her with his seductive charm. When the rumble of his motorcycle fades, Baskia focuses on figuring out her future and nursing a not-so-healthy crush on Trace. As days turn into months, Baskia stubbornly remains at the cabin, determined to find her purpose and secretly hoping for mysterious Trace to return. After she meets locals—including getting snowed in with her cute neighbor—learns how to cook, and mends past relationships, she discovers the simple life might just save her from herself. Although Baskia transforms and gains independence, Trace returns and stirs up trouble, challenging her to follow her ultimate bliss. On the Mountain, is book five in the Follow your Bliss series. It can be read chronologically, or as a stand-alone story, filled with seduction, transformation, and love. less