Blair Bryan's Blog, page 10
October 8, 2023
The TMI Oct 8, 2023
After discovering she has supernatural powers and has been chosen to conspire with Karma, Katie’s first mission involves a desperate pregnant woman and has her tangling with unsavory characters from her great-great grandmother's checkered past.
Order this heartwarming and hilarious series here.
Currently Watching: Ted LassoThis series is a brilliant breath of fresh air. I don't even like soccer or sports related books or movies and I ADORE this series. It's the fascinating characters that draw you in and never let go.
Currently Reading: The Storied Life of AJ FikryThis book hits all the high notes, a curmudgeonly bookseller is thrust into a life he never imagined when a small child is left at his bookstore. It hits all the feels and has tender and wonderful moments that will make your heart burst.
It's the perfect love affair between coffee and chocolate. Amazing in every way.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Amy Dohering(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them! More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt
October 1, 2023
The TMI: October 1, 2023
{NEW Excerpt from Flash Mob} Frankie drove down the freshly swept streets of Aura Cove to the bustling downtown area where glassed storefronts housed a myriad of luxurious boutiques. It reminded her of the time she’d shopped downtown with Katie. The posh shops catered to a higher caliber of customers, and Frankie stuck out like a sore thumb dressed in her thrift store garb. That day, they’d stood on the sidewalk outside staring up at the gold-leafed hand-carved sign that read “From the Vine.”
“Ooo! Wine! Big fan!” Frankie reached out a hand to pull open the door with a grin.
Katie winced as she delivered the bad news. “Actually, it’s a vinegar emporium.”
In disbelief, Frankie entered the boutique. Seeing the walls ringed with golden vats of vinegar, she asked, “Who needs all these flavors?” She walked down the row, reading aloud a few of the handwritten signs. “Truffle… Madagascar vanilla… raspberry.” Next to each golden dispenser was a stack of tiny plastic cups to sample the vinegar before making a selection.
“Are we supposed to drink it?” Frankie wrinkled up her nose, finding the suggestion revolting. “You know I’m always a fan of doing shots, but yuck. Rich people are weird.”
Katie laughed. “You’re just supposed to take a little sip to get the essence of the flavor.”
“I’m good,” Frankie said, holding one hand up.
“Quit being a baby and help me pick a couple,” Katie told her. “Just dip your pinky in it.”
“So I know if it’s a good marinade for human flesh?” Frankie joked. “When did you become a cannibal?”
Katie laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”
The clerk came over and, much to Frankie’s chagrin, rattled off a thirty-minute presentation about the types and qualities of fine vinegar and its historic rise as the world’s premiere condiment. It was the kind of yawn-worthy yarn Frankie couldn’t stand. She entertained herself by asking bold, snarky questions, taking little sips of the acidic liquid with her pinky finger extended, and making inappropriate moans of false pleasure. When he turned his back, she bobbed her head to mock him, pretending to be taking tea with the Queen.
To help him save face, Katie offered the man a huge winning grin and said, “We’re in a bit of a hurry. Can you get us a bottle of the pomegranate garlic and the passion fruit balsamic to go?”
When they walked out of the store and out of earshot of the clerk, Frankie groaned. “Sweet Jesus! That little TED Talk on the finer points of artisanal vinegar just shaved three years off my life that I can never get back.”
Katie laughed. “You’re such a drama queen! He was a nice guy who found something he was passionate about. Isn’t that the holy grail? We’re all just trying to find something that starts a fire in our soul.”
Frankie snorted. “The fire in my soul is stoked by a chiseled jaw or a pair of muscular hands. Sorry, babe, but vinegar just ain’t gonna cut it.”
Order this heartwarming and hilarious series here.
Currently Watching: You. Season 2.It looks like they are bringing back Love Quinn, so I had to rewatch the season where they first met. It's an absorbing train wreck that I can't turn my eyes away from, and since my memory is shot, parts of it I've completely forgotten and get to experience again like it was the first time. (Silver lining of approaching 50!)
Currently Reading: Becoming CroneA delightful escape featuring a main character that just turned 60 who discovers she has magical powers beyond her wildest imagination. Featuring a wolf shifter and a female gargoyle named Kevan, it's a great read if you enjoy paranormal women's fiction.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Samantha White(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them! More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt
September 17, 2023
The TMI September 16, 2023
{Excerpt from Hawt Flash}
“Why do a woman’s hands age faster than the rest of her body?” Katie asked, then answered herself. “That’s easy, because women do all the work! Am I right, boy?” She reached down to pet Arlo, then scratched his favorite spot under his chin. “You’re the only man in my life who hasn’t been a total disappointment. You’re mommy’s best boy, aren’t you?” she asked, using her goofy high-key dog voice that made one of his ears perk up. He was a mutt she'd rescued from death row at the local pound. A dog that she loved and Jeff loathed because he shed."
Grab this heartwarming and hilarious escape here.
Currently Watching: Cunk on EarthIt is hilarious and has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which I have never seen before. In David Attenborough documentary style, she interviews actual experts and scholars asking them outrageous questions that they try to answer with a straight face. It is hilarious.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Winnie O'Calla(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them! More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt
September 10, 2023
The TMI September 10, 2023
Currently Enjoying: Homemade TeriyakiI love to cook (and eat!) and love when readers say the descriptions of food in my books make them hungry! From time to time, I love to share recipes I've tried here in the TMI. This one was so easy and so delicious! I never knew it was this simple to make teriyaki suace without chemicals. Try it on grilled chicken and thank me later!
I just wrote the book description this weekend. Check it out!
When Roxanne Lockwood, a West Point alumna and retired military officer, visits Katie's beachfront home in Aura Cove, a cryptic message from Karma sets an unthinkable chain of events in motion.
A shocking revelation emerges that threatens to shatter Rox's pristine military career. Accused of a grave offense, she faces the impending loss of everything she holds dear—her freedom, her Purple Heart, and her honor—earned through sacrifices that left her scarred in more ways than one.
Desperate to right this egregious wrong, Rox is in a race against time to prove her innocence and uncover the truth, aided by a trio of powerful witches whose destinies are irrevocably entwined. In this fourth installment of Midlife in Aura Cove, Katie, Yuli, and Zoya form an unlikely alliance to unravel Karma's enigmatic flashes and deliver the rebalance Rox deserves.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Sally Kehoe(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them! More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt
September 3, 2023
The TMI September 3, 2023
Here's a behind the scenes look at the first paperback. It takes me about a year of focused work to complete a novel, so when I call them my book babies, it's true!
Flash Mob is available right now , exclusively on my website (coming to other booksellers worldwide on Oct. 1st), the story seamlessly continues from where Hawt Flash left off. Join Katie on her very first Karma rebalance assignment as she encounters intriguing, unsavory characters from her great-great-grandmother's tantalizing past. Brace yourself for a captivating, pulse-pounding journey that you simply cannot afford to miss!
Aflutter Book Club What is it? It's an interactive platform where you can read and connect with me and other fans. As a member, you'll also get exclusive early access to every book in the Aura Cove series as they are finished, and weekly chapters of First You then Him and Velvet Guild 2.0. Superfans will get an exclusive peek into my research, writing, and editing processes. If you want bestie access, and to help support my creative writing, this is the way to go! It's going to be a blast!Curious? Become a free follower and get a sneak peek here.
Currently Reading: The SoulmateThis book irritated the hell out of me. Filled with character flaws and plot inconsistencies, you have to suspend belief multiple times. I felt manipulated the entire read. This was a NYT Bestseller that fell flat and had me saying out loud, "Come on!" The editor was asleep at the wheel on this one. If you don't need logic, or for a thriller to be believable you might enjoy The Soulmate, but I expected more.
Currently Writing: Flash Point: Midlife in Aura Cove Book 4I'm 1/3 of the way done with the first draft. You are going to love this 4th installment of this new series. The first look at the cover will be in two weeks for fans and superfans inside the
aflutter book club.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Dawn Thorpe
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them! More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt
August 27, 2023
The TMI August 27, 2023
Curious? Become a free follower and get a sneak peek here.
5 MORE DAYS Until Flash Mob is available for exclusive early access.
Or Become a Book Club Fan and it Read Now.
After discovering she has supernatural powers and has been chosen to conspire with Karma, Katie’s first mission involves a desperate pregnant woman and has her tangling with unsavory characters from her great-great grandmother's checkered past. It is a showdown between good and evil that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This one is a thrilling, magical escape.
Currently Watching: What We Do in the ShadowsIt's The Office with vampires. The strange combo of hilarity and horror simply works! It's vastly different than anything else on the streaming services right now. Available on Hulu and FX.
Currently Reading: The One Hundred Years of Lenni and MargotThis book is my favorite read of 2023 so far. The characters grab a hold of you on page one and never let go. It's UpLit, which is the genre I write most of my books in and I hope one day to write a story that resonates with a reader like this one did with me. READ IT!!
Currently Writing: Flash Point: Midlife in Aura Cove Book 4I'm 12,000 words in and the story is getting it's legs. The first look at the cover will be in two weeks for fans and superfans inside the
aflutter book club.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Shannon Hahn
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them! More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt
August 20, 2023
The TMI August 20, 2023
Or Become a Book Club Fan and it Read Now.After discovering she has supernatural powers and has been chosen to conspire with Karma, Katie’s first mission involves a desperate pregnant woman and has her tangling with unsavory characters from her great-great grandmother's checkered past. It is a showdown between good and evil that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Praise for
Up in the Middle of Nowhere
"Loved this breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively!) story of an exhausted mother and her angsty teen daughter, escaping their realities to enjoy adventures that bring them together!
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Tessa and Nova, as their relationship morphed and grew throughout the story. Even moreso, I adored the female empowerment message and Nova ending up on top after clawing her way out of such a crap situation.
Definitely makes me want to book some breathtaking treehouse excursions in TN and make memories with my own kiddos! :)"
Currently Watching: Depp v. HeardI didn't watch any of the craziness of the play by play of the trial and I don't spend time on TikTok. I wasn't interested by the trial, (they are both a toxic mess) but I was drawn in by the social media frenzy that occurred and the LIVE streaming of every single second. It's sick. I am in shock. "The scale of the misinformation about this trial is truly unprecedented." Just wow. Read First You Then Him (Free)Finding the partner you deserve will bring you unimaginable happiness and I want more women to know the feeling! Read my bite-size lessons FREE and transform your life from the inside out.
There are 7 Chapters of it available now
, and a new one will be released each week.
Currently Writing: Flash Point: Midlife in Aura Cove Book 4I'm 5000 words in and the story is starting to take shape. I've written an outline, but sometimes the characters decide not to follow it. The cover is being made now and I will have the first look for fans and superfans soon. Velvet Guild 2.0....Exclusively Available Here.I'm thrilled to share Velvet Guild is getting a round of deep revisions and the ending it deserves. A new revamped chapter of Velvet Guild publishes every week on my new interactive platform that allows you to leave comments and emoticons on the hottest passages. YOU get to help shape the final story!
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Megan Waller
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them! More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt
August 13, 2023
The TMI August 13, 2023
Barnes and Noble just named "Up in the Middle of Nowhere" an August Top Indie Favorite. Visit them to get your copy here.
First You Then Him Chapter 5: Self Abuse I'm sharing my self-help/dating book chapter by chapter (for free) in the hopes it helps other women over 40 heal themselves, and then find the partner they deserve.
Read Here.
Currently Watching: Down for LoveIn high school, one of my consistent volunteer projects was to visit a group home in Waterloo, Iowa and interact socially with the disabled residents. We spent many hours playing games, baking, and taking the residents to the occasional dance. I met several people with downs and I fell in love with their positive outlook on life and endless enthusiasm for the little things. This show follows the journey of New Zealanders with downs who are looking for love. Their emotional maturity, sweetness, and zest for life will astound you. I loved every second.
Currently Writing: Midlife in Aura Cove Book 4I'm putting together the cover ideas and I have a solid outline detailing the scenes I plan to write. We'll see if see if the characters cooperate.Last Chance to Order Flash Mob for Early DeliveryIf you want to be one of the first to have an autographed paperback in your hands, you need to place your order by Midnight tonight. Order Here.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Brooke Adams
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt.
August 6, 2023
The TMI August 6, 2023
"As you read through their adventure and discovery, it's difficult not to think about your own relationships with your parents and with your children. While I tried not to feel guilty about my own teenage angst I put my mother through, this book honestly had me in tears. Nova realizes (just like I have) our mothers are one of the very few people that are always in our corner and show up for us - unconditionally.
The best part is that the novel is based on true events. I think it's easy to see how true their relationship hits home." Net Galley Reviewer
and turns that were a delight. READ IT!
Now is the Time to Order Flash MobIf you want to be one of the first to have an autographed paperback in your hands, you need to place your order by August 10th. I'll be putting in my first order on the 11th to send out September 1st.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Amanda Lauriat
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt.
July 23, 2023
The TMI July 23, 2023
"The most important things in life aren't things."
"This is a tremendous story about a mother and daughter taking a magical trip together in an attempt to reconnect before the daughter graduates and leaves home. Everything doesn't always go as planned -- sometimes it's better but there are also some 'dips' that help the two of them open up and talk honestly about their thoughts and feelings. The travel and the treehouses are fascinating, too! If you enjoy thought -provoking women's literature and stories about mothers and daughters who love each other but don't always like each other, this is a great book for you."
Currently Enjoying: Cottage Cheese "Ice Cream"Surprisingly delicious. Using cottage cheese for the base, you blend it silky smooth for a summer treat that is high in protein. I don't freeze it, instead it chills in the fridge and has the mouth feel of cheesecake. Grab the recipe here.
This story was from a NYT Best-selling author and also is an Editor's Pick on Amazon so I thought it would be a winner. I love a story with quirky characters set in a small Midwestern town and parts of it I loved. However, the ending was one of the most anti-climatic endings I've ever read. The characters motivations and feelings were not revealed enough and fell flat for me.
Currently Writing: Outlines for Midlife in Aura Cove Book 4 and This Sweet Life.I'm also polishing The Sweetest Day in preparation for writing the rest of the series. It was one of my first books under my Blair Bryan pen name and with three more books coming soon in the series, I wanted to make sure it sang on the page.
Looking for the Perfect Midlife ESCAPE? HAWT FLASH IS IT!Tired of reading about 20-somethings saving the world? Hawt Flash celebrates powerful women over age 50. It's a hilarious and heartwarming escape, perfect for summer reading. Grab it Here.
P.S. I Need Your Help!Reviews are gold and help me reach more readers. Did you know, you can review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Apple Books or at any other bookseller? You can even copy and paste your review to all of them!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt.
