What is the title of your latest release?
SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Even though Karl and Molly haven’t talked in two decades, and they were never quite a couple in high school, the news of his death devastates her. Grief brings her back to her long-ago home of Harlot’s Bay, Maryland—where she finds Karl very much alive…and very much determined to finally get his chance with Molly, the woman he never managed to forget.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
All the books in this series take place in the fictional small town of Harlot’s Bay, Maryland, a lovely and close-knit waterside community loosely inspired by the area where I spent the first decade of my life.
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I would gladly hang out with Molly and Karl! That said, I would probably annoy Karl, since he’s more than a little cranky (although he would still bake my favorite scones, because he’s all bark and no bite).
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Karl: cantankerous, laconic, huge-hearted. Molly: kind, independent, cynical.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Molly is an audiobook narrator, and I had the privilege of chatting with Kelsey Navarro Foster, the incredibly talented narrator of my Spoiler Alert series, to learn more about the recording process. One revelation: That process requires almost total background silence, so narrators might not be able to have air-conditioning or fans running in the summer. During hot weather, some narrators record their books wearing bathing suits and ice packs, with their feet soaking in buckets of cool water!
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
At the beginning of each writing day, I go back and lightly edit what I drafted the previous day. Major changes, though, have to wait until after I’ve typed “The End.”
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Whenever I’m in the Chesapeake Bay area, I always love ordering fried oysters or crabcakes, with a side of hushpuppies. I haven’t been able to find anything similar in Sweden!
Describe your writing space/office!
I’m fortunate enough to have a small office of my own, with a view over the water—and a door that closes. (I love my husband and son very much, but wow, they are chatty.)
Who is an author you admire?
I admire Jeannie Lin enormously. She’s an absolutely fantastic writer who genuinely broke new ground in romance with her Tang Dynasty series, and I push her books on anyone who doesn’t flee my presence quickly enough.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Joanna Bourne’s The Black Hawk may be my favorite romance of all time—and it also taught me so much about deep point of view in writing. Everything her characters say, think, or do is entirely specific to them, based on their personal history and personality, and it’s incredibly impressive. I’ve been working to achieve even a fraction of her skill since the first time I read that book.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Back in 2014 (!!!), I saw a publisher’s submission call for stories set on New Year’s Eve. I wrote two novellas and sent them in, hoping for a bit of personalized feedback along with my inevitable rejection—but instead, I got an email from an editor who wanted to acquire both stories and several more! It was a joyous shock, and I was so proud of myself. I haven’t looked back since!
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romance. Always and forever.
What’s your favorite movie?
I can’t even count how many times I’ve watched the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. (I also have a lifelong fondness for Airplane!, because I can’t resist absurdist humor.)
What is your favorite season?
Spring. Winters are long and dark here in Sweden, and the fresh chartreuse green of new leaves brings me so much joy once the days grow longer and brighter again.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I get takeout from a fancier local restaurant with my family—complete with sparkling tart-sweet pomegranate lemonade.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I really enjoyed The Gorge. If you’re in the mood for action-packed, horror-inflected romance, that movie should scratch the itch!
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love California-style Mexican dishes, because they’re fresh and bright and fun!
What do you do when you have free time?
I’ve recently spent waaaaay too much time and money on diamond painting kits and LEGO sets, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.
What can readers expect from you next?
I have the third and final book in my Supernatural Entanglements series coming out in 2026!
Narrator: Stephen Dexter, Joy Nash
Harlot's Bay #2
A Heartwarming, Body-Positive Reunion Romance Novel in the Quaint Small Town of Harlot's Bay
In the second installment of USA Today bestselling author Olivia Dade’s Harlot’s Bay series, a mistaken obituary leads to the reunion of two former high school crushes. Sparks fly in this hilarious grumpy/grumpy romance, packed with Dade’s signature body positivity and a delicious amount of spice.
Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers…but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery.
The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: Now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away.
Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland…where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary.
As the pair reunite, they finally hash out their missed connection. True, Molly isn’t quite ready to trust again, but Karl is determined to prove himself worthy of her faith and devotion. And as her remaining time in Harlot’s Bay ticks down, Molly, the habitual cynic, just might find that Karl, the cranky town curmudgeon, is impossible to leave behind a second time.
Romance Comedy | Women's Fiction [ Avon, On Sale: November 25, 2025, Paperback / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9780063215979 / ]
Olivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorite stories, though, were always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required her to hide her bawdy interior under a demure exterior: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Finally, though, she realized the call of the hussy could no longer be denied. So now she writes contemporary romantic comedy with plenty of sex, banter, and nerdery. When not writing, she cooks alongside her husband, dabbles in photography, and tries to hide her collection of throbbing-intensive romances from her curious daughter. Visit her on the web, on Twitter, or on Facebook!
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