About the
Book: Mesmerize
Author: Darlene Corbett
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 18, 2026
Set against the backdrop of Las Vegas, Boston, and
Dubai, a dazzling romance comes to life.
Can a storyteller win back the love of her life through tales sprinkled with faith and love.
Boston-based Delphina Tulasi, a therapeutic storyteller, has shunned men. A year after a major betrayal, she accompanies her mother Lucia, a matchmaker, to Las Vegas to help her run an exclusive speed-dating event.
Alexander O’Hara, a CFO with secrets of his own, accepts Lucia’s invitation to attend. He meets Delphina and becomes mesmerized. They go out on a date in Las Vegas and return to Boston, where their love blossoms.
All goes well until Alex goes on a long business trip to Dubai. A visit from someone in her past confuses Delphina and lures her back to a previous relationship, prompting her to break up with Alex.
After a few dates with her ex, Delphina recognizes the mistake she’s made and becomes determined to win Alex back. She uses her creativity, spins stories based on truth, and sends them in videos across the internet.
Will it work?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Darlene Corbett has been serving others as
a licensed psychotherapist for over thirty years.
With her wealth of experience in human behavior, she decided to write down her thoughts to inspire a larger audience. This set the stage for her book, Stop Depriving The World of You, published by Sound Wisdom in 2018.
She continued writing nonfiction until she heard God whisper again. And his call prompted her to take a risk and dip her toes into fiction. Visible, a women’s fiction about second chances, was published by WordCrafts Press in the spring of 2024, and in August, she won the 2024 Storytrade Book Awards for Christian Fiction in the Contemporary category.
And right now?
Her contemporary romance, Mesmerize, will be published in February of 2026 which has themes of a modern-day, Christian Scheherazade story.
Her writing continues with two romantic suspense novels. Enthralled, which takes place in Mykenos, has been completed but needs editing. A Midnight Call, located in a small fictional town in central Massachusetts, has almost reached the finishing line.
When not writing or seeing clients, Darlene immerses herself in a variety of novels and tries to support other authors of faith.
In addition, she loves animals with dogs being number one. Taking care of her beloved Shih Tzu, Stevie, puts a smile on her face.
Being a life-long learner, she’s attempting a second language and remains a nerd at heart. Staying fit, traveling, and connecting with her inner circle also take priority.
Darlene belongs to many organizations, including the ACFW, FHL-CW, and WFWA.
She lives in Central Massachusetts with Stevie, and remains excited about the next chapter of her life.
More from Darlene
For all my life, I’ve been in love with the oral and written word.
And I imagine the same for you.
How many people do not enjoy reading or hearing a good tale?
And doesn’t it make sense?
Each of us has a story, our own book of life. How it unfold lays between God and us.
Although every novel involves a story, I decided to highlight a therapeutic storyteller.
Why therapeutic?
Because I’m a therapist and have listened to stories throughout my life. Also, I remember the story of Scheherazade, and with faith and modernity, I wove it into my novel. The protagonist spins tales to… Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out.
I hope you become mesmerized by Mesmerize.
Blog Stops
CoverLover Book Review, May 30
Simple Harvest Reads, May 31 (Author Interview)
ArtisticNobody, June 1 (Author Interview)
HappilyManaging a Household of Boys, June 1
Guild Master, June 2 (Author Interview)
Debbie’sDusty Deliberations, June 3
Fiction BookLover, June 4 (Author Interview)
History, Hope& Happily Ever After, June 5 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Pad ofInspiration, June 6 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, June 7
For theLove of Literature, June 8 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale BookReviews, June 9 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, June 9
Blossomsand Blessings, June 10 (Author Interview)
Blogging WithCarol, June 11
Jodie Wolfe, June 12 (Author Interview)
Giveaway 
To celebrate her tour, Darlene is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway!
Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/Ap5Fn/mesmerize-celebration-tour-giveaway
Interview
What has been your greatest writing achievement to date? Writing my first novel and having it published by a small but traditional publisher.
If you could give advice to a newbie writer, what would it be?
Keep learning the craft of fiction writing. Never stop learning. Go to conferences. Read good craft books, and remember, there’s no one way to write. Also, enter some contests. If you are unpublished, they will give you good critiques. And if you want it, don’t ever give up.
What do you find the hardest part of the writing process?
Editing.
Tell us about your writing process.
When I’m not editing, I will dictate a few hundred words, and then I write and fill it in. The dictation often inspires me.
Do your books revolve around certain themes?
I have a great deal of layering in my novels. The characters are complex. There’s often themes of secrets, betrayal, wounds, and second chances. Romance streams through the two published and the two I’m working on.