Raine Balkera - Romance Author

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”  ― Eleanor Roosevelt A lot has happened to me over the past few weeks, and none of it involves my writing, sad to report. Until last night, that is. Before I shut my eyes and went to sleep last night, and for weeks prior, life came at me in all directions -- with zero good intentions. I finally started back to work as a substitute teacher and Para-Pro after sinking a ton of money into my car only to have said car die on me again. Well, it isn't dead, just brake trouble. But, the real trouble with the brakes is that I sunk a majority of money into having them fixed the first time, so why all of a sudden is there a line leak? It says so right on the work order: check lines for leaks. New pads, new rotors, checked for leaks. Whatever. The guy who did the initial work gave me that smug, "It ain't me!" look and then proceeded to claim it would cost about $2,000 to fix because ...

Pages -  258 Published -  October 31, 2014 Sold by -   Amazon Genre -  Contemporary Romance, SEALs, Military Series -  SEAL of Protection Book 2 of 8 Sexual Content -  3.5 /5 Language -  mildly coarse Alabama didn’t have a good start to life. Emotionally and physically abused by her mama, Alabama spent her high school years in foster care. People let her down, time after time, and she’d learned to rely on only herself.  Christopher “Abe” Powers earned his nickname because he tolerated nothing less than absolute honesty from the people around him. Finding the bar scene stale and having watched his friend and teammate, Wolf, find the woman of his dreams, Abe was determined to find someone to share his life with too.  Alabama and Abe had no idea their paths would cross and their prayers would be answered, but like most things in life, nothing is ever as easy as it seems at first. Two words would change both their l...

Pages -  276 Publisher -  Rustic Studio Publishing Published -  March 9, 2015 (1st ed.) Sold by -   Amazon Series -  Grayson Brothers series Genre -   Historical Romance, Victorian Language -  irrelevant Sexual Content -  0/5 A Marriage Of Convenience... And Undeniable Romance. The last thing Amelia wants is to marry her father's business competitor, Kyle Grayson, the man who rejected her youthful flirtation, especially when she’s still smitten with him. But dire circumstances force her to marry Kyle, a man she knows little about. She senses he has been wounded and keeps his emotions locked inside. Can she break through Kyle’s staunch business demeanor and show him that laughter and love are possible? Yes, that is a 5-star review, but to be honest, I almost wanted to give it 4.5 because I can't find the Unclean (lol) version anywhere. But, I know that would be wrong and unfair to the author and her potent...

Pages -  158 Published -  March 8, 2016 Amazon  -   Link Genre -  Historical Romance, Victorian, Mail-Order Bride Series -  The Bride Train Sexual Content -  0/5 Language -  Irrelevant An English lord...an Irish laundress...only in America could Fate be foolish enough to put them together.  Constantine Valentine, the second son of an English baron, is in America for one reason—to make a fortune so he can return home and repair a tarnished reputation. Wedding a destitute Irish laundress isn’t his first choice, but a strange twist of fate makes a hasty marriage the key to gaining riches. She lost everything but her belief in love. Rose Muldoon grew up in a New York slum and has suffered hardship, hunger, and heartbreaking loss. Against impossible odds, she still trusts love—something her privileged husband has never experienced and can't accept. Rose longs for home and family. Val has no intention...

Pages -  321 Publisher -  Extra Fancy Books Published -  February 24, 2015 Sold by -   Amazon Author Page -   Link Genre -  Contemporary, Romance Series -  Clover Park STUDS 1-5 Sexual Content -  4/5 Language -  mild Successful entrepreneur, Barry Furnukle, is ready to take things to the next level with the pink-haired neighbor he adores. But when his attempt to woo her with the world’s most “awesome” date (birding and fro-yo) lands him in the friend zone, he wonders if a guy like him ever had a chance. On advice from his ladies’ man brother, Barry returns to his acting roots for a little confidence rehab. Suddenly, he’s got more female attention than he knows what to do with. But will his newfound popularity make him happy? Or will he finally release his inner stud to win the woman he can’t forget? Let me begin by including a blurb from the author's Amazon buy page... A humorous friends to lovers r...

Pages -   302 Publisher -  Fiorenza Publishing Published -  February 27, 2014 Purchase -   Amazon Genre -  Time Travel, Regency, Romance Series -  Book 1 of 4 in the House of Oak series Sexual Content -  0/5 Language -  irrelevant Style -  3rd P/Omniscient In 2012, Emme Wilde can’t find the right guy. She wants to feel that swept-off-your-feet dizziness of true love. But so far, her dating life has come up short. Star Trek geek? Nice but too serious. Hippy artist? Cute but too vulnerable. Instead, Emme obsesses over the portrait of an unknown man in an old locket. Granted, a seriously dreamy guy with delicious, wind-swept hair she just itches to run her fingers through. But still. Dead men may be great listeners, but they are not exactly boyfriend material. Emme travels to England, determined to uncover his history and conquer the strong connection she feels.  In 1812, James Knight has given up finding th...