Laura Roberts's Blog, page 9
July 22, 2020
Win a dirty debut romance!
Hello, and welcome to Week 7 of my ongoing 12 Weeks of Summer Romance Giveaway series! This week I’m giving away a book by a debut author: DIRTY TACTICS by Emma Salah.
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About the Book
His best friend’s little sister never looked so good…
Two weeks.
A trial period, in which hockey superstar Zac Quinn will prove to Reagan Thomas—his best friend’s younger sister and the one woman he can’t seem to keep his hands off of—that they can’t possibly date for real.
After all, the Thomas family is the only family he’s ever had. He can’t risk losing them, no matter how much he wants Reagan. She’s too important to him; he can’t let things get weird.
But Reagan has known they’re meant to be since forever. She’s not about to back down now.
If she has to play dirty to bring him around?
No problem.
About the Bookstore?
Once again, this is out of my hands: I must forego shopping at a Black-owned bookstore because this ebook is only available at Amazon!
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However, as noted last week, I’ll buy myself a book from a Black bookstore to balance out the universe and keep on paying it forward. Last week I purchased Kwana Jackson’s Real Men Knit and my first Ms. Bev book, Rebel, from Underground Books here in Sacramento. Suggestions for more books are always welcome!
The Giveaway
TO ENTER:
1⃣ Click here or use the Rafflecopter below. Easy!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 15, 2020
More summer romance: Box set binge time with Christina C. Jones
Hello, and welcome to Week 6 of my ongoing 12 Weeks of Summer Romance Giveaway series! This week I’m giving away not one, not two, but THREE contemporary Black romances in ONE BOX SET: 81ST & CLARKE by Christina C. Jones.
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Here’s the lowdown on each book in the set…
Collision Course (Book 1)
Samara Holloway is back in Blackwood, after years away chasing showgirl dreams in Vegas. She’s on a new path now – different city, different career… but there’s nothing different about Addison Clarke.
Or so she’d love to think.
Enough time has passed that Addison is certain he’s ready to be exactly the man Samara needs.
If only she shared his certainty.
Controlled Chaos (Book 2)
Andre Clarke is painfully accustomed to being in control.
He’s the problem solver, the “responsible” brother, the one who keeps everything around him in order.
Until Drew Dawson steps in to turn him upside down.
Andre may be used to doling out commands, but Drew isn’t one to take them.
Two very different people, with a shared goal… if only they can play their roles.
Close Contact (Book 3)
Kima Nolan has had enough of the Clarkes.
If they weren’t the only thing keeping her business alive, she wouldn’t deal with them at all.
Addison isn’t too bad.
Andre’s bite isn’t as severe as his bark.
But Aiden is so impossibly unruffled, so sure of his convictions… for Kima, its probably best to avoid him at all costs.
There’s no telling what might happen if he gets too close.
About the Bookstore?
This week I must unfortunately forego shopping at a Black-owned bookstore because this box set is only available at Amazon! (Don’t worry: I’ll buy myself a book from a Black bookstore this week to balance out the universe. Suggestions for books and/or bookstores are always welcome!)
The Giveaway
TO ENTER:
1⃣ Click here or use the Rafflecopter box below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 8, 2020
12 Weeks of Summer Romance Giveaway: Week 5
Hello, and welcome to Week 5 of my ongoing 12 Weeks of Summer Romance Giveaway series! This week I’m giving away another sizzling Black romance: QUEEN MOVE by Kennedy Ryan.
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About the Book
The boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have…
Dig a little and you’ll find photos of me in the bathtub with Ezra Stern.
Get your mind out of the gutter. We were six months old.
Pry and one of us might confess we saved our first kiss for each other.
The most clumsy, wet, sloppy . . . spectacular thirty seconds of my adolescence.
Get into our business and you’ll see two families, closer than blood, torn apart in an instant.
Twenty years later, my “awkward duckling” best friend from childhood, the boy no one noticed, is a man no one can ignore.
Finer. Fiercer. Smarter.
Taken.
Tell me it’s wrong.
Tell me the boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have.
When we find each other again, everything stands in our way–secrets, lies, promises.
But we didn’t come this far to give up now.
And I know just the move to make if I want to make him mine.
About the Bookstore
All Things Inspiration Giftique is a Christian and neighborhood bookstore located in Mableton, Georgia. You can order from them online at https://bookshop.org/shop/AllThingsInspirationGift or sign up for their Virtual Book Club here.
The Giveaway
TO ENTER:
1⃣ Click here or use the Rafflecopter box below.
That’s it! I’m keeping it simple this week.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 17, 2020
Ready for a summer of giveaways?
As mentioned in my latest newsletter (HINT: Sign up now so you’ll never miss another giveaway!), I’m hosting 12 Weeks of Summer Romance giveaways on Instagram this summer.
That’s right: Every week, starting on Wednesdays, you can enter a new giveaway for a recently-released Black romance.
And on Thursday, you’ll find follow-up posts spotlighting the Black-owned bookstores from which I’ll be purchasing books for the winners.
This week’s giveaway is for ( *drumroll please* ) …
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THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT by Farrah Rochon!
About the Book
Samiah Brooks never thought she would be “that” girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she’s been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah–along with his two other “girlfriends,” London and Taylor–have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men and no dating.
For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she’s always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? But is Daniel really boyfriend material or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?
Buy @ Underground Books
About the Bookstore
In order to make sure my giveaway purchases really help the Black community, I’m purchasing all of the books I’m giving away from different Black-owned bookstores across the United States.
For this week’s giveaway, I’ll be buying Farrah’s book from a bookstore local to me right here in Sacramento, California: Underground Books (@undergroundbooks).
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Underground Books opened in the summer of 2003 and is the literary hub of Oak Park. As part of the larger 40 Acres Cultural Center, Underground Books is a nonprofit under St. HOPE and has become a gathering place for neighborhood residents, hosting book signings by local and national authors, lectures, poetry events, children’s story time, radio shows and much more!
Managed and operated by Georgia “Mother Rose” West, the bookstore has proudly become a well-known pillar of the Oak Park community.
In addition to books, the store also has an amazing selection of greeting cards, bookmarks, handmade dolls and jewelry by Gloria Grandy, aprons by Lisa Daniels, African Black Soap, “I Love Being Black” merchandise, incense, and Sac High gear.
The store’s physical location at 2814 35th Street is currently closed due to renovations, but you can call to order books—and the cool t-shirts pictured above—at 916-737-3333, or purchase online at https://www.sthope.org/underground-books-home.
The Giveaway
TO ENTER:
1⃣ Head over to Instagram and Like this post,
2⃣ Follow Farah (@farrahrochon), Underground Books (@undergroundbooks), and me (@laurarobertsromance), and
3⃣ Comment on the post!
***You must do ALL THREE of the items above in order for your entry to count.***
May 20, 2020
#HumpDay Reviews: Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon
A fun, fresh take on small-town romance and bookstore love, Meet Cute Club is the perfect quarantine read. While you’re stuck inside, dreaming of the day you can safely browse a bookstore’s shelves once more, this book offers bookstore drama, Romancelandia nods, and one very cute couple at the heart of it all.
And let’s not forget about the grandmothers!
Both Jordan and Rex each have grandmothers who heavily influenced their love of reading, as well as their individual outlooks on life, picking up where distant parents left off. Their love for their grandmothers helps bring them together, even after a first meeting that’s more cat fight than love cats, and both grandmothers clearly have their own distinct style that is reflected in the relationships they have with their grandsons. Although Rex’s grandmother has recently passed, and he’s sifting through her belongings in the house she’s left behind, it’s obvious that her spirit is still with him as he wonders whether there’s anything left for him in the town of Sweet Rose.
Jordan, the founder and leader of the titular Meet Cute Club, sounds like the kind of guy I’d love to be friends with – and the kind of friend who would strong-arm you into joining his book club, whether you love romance or not! He even provides free copies of the books to entice his friends to stick with it, and provides some truly delightful snacks at each meeting. Honestly, what’s not to love?
When Rex, a new member of the Millerstone bookstore team, starts to pick on Jordan’s love of romance, we can all predict exactly where this is headed: it’s the perfect enemies-to-lovers meet-cute! Luckily his troll-like behavior gives way to more lovable characteristics, like his pledge to help Jordan keep the book club up and running. At first it doesn’t seem like he’ll deliver on his promise to recruit new members, but as with any good romance (spoiler alert!), this story has a very happy ending.
I can’t say much more without ruining the surprise, so let me just leave you with this: If you love books, bookstores, meet-cutes, small-town romance, enemies-to-lovers, grandma’s boys, motorcycles, hot M/M sex scenes, or what promises to be the start of an infinitely delightful small-town series of romances, then grab a copy of Meet Cute Club now!
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Buy at Amazon
May 8, 2020
What the f*** is Patreon, and why should I care?
Everyone and their dogs have been telling me I should set up a Patreon page. For years, people have been telling me that it’s the cat’s meow, and that I should engage my audience via this platform. And now that Amanda Palmer has decided to announce her separation from Neil Gaiman via her Patreon page, finally even folks who aren’t online narcissists will know the answer to the questions posed in today’s post’s title.
WHAT THE FUCK IS PATREON, AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? (the fine print)
You’re a reader. You like reading, right? And if you’re here, presumably you like reading books by me or my alter ego, Laure L’Amour. So, what if you had the opportunity to…
a) access my books before they’re available to the public,
b) help choose some of the fun behind-the-scenes details, like naming characters or picking cities where they’ll be traveling, and
c) enjoy fun perks that I dream up as we go?
That’s where Patreon comes in. You can sponsor me as a Patron at one of three tiers ($1, $5, or $10 a month), receiving special perks as a thank-you depending on which tier you choose.
I’ll be adding more perks as I go, based on monthly polling of Patrons. So if you’re hankering for a specialty button, a handwritten letter, or some hitherto undreamt of goodies, go sign up so you can boss me around!
Finally, to sweeten the deal still further, for a limited time I’m also sending out free paperback copies of my book, Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From Pop Songs, just for signing up. *At any level. Yes, including the $1 tier! *
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So, tell me: What do I have to do to get you onto my super secret, super cool, super swank VIP list of Patreon patrons?
No, seriously. Tell me. I really wanna know! Let me know in the comments if you’d ever consider becoming a Patreon patron of mine, and what kinds of goodies you’d like to see from me—an author of globe-trotting romance novels.
April 27, 2020
Writer’s Block
Hello and welcome to the 2020 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! I’m writing one new meet-cute per day as part of my “Sacramento Love” theme. Read along as couples find themselves falling for folks in lucky locations across California’s capital city. In this time of social distancing, there’s no need to fear a little fictional fun, so get your romance fix here and enjoy!
P.S. Today’s story was inspired by Writer’s Block Coffee, who really are donating 100% of their sales today to Feeding America! They’re aiming to raise $1,000 for the hunger charity, so if you need to stock up on coffee (or just want to try something new), today’s the day.
* * *
Winnie was on a deadline, and she wasn’t going to make it. She wasn’t happy about it, but she figured it was better to admit defeat than attempt to make any more promises she couldn’t keep. She’d emailed her editor, who was not exactly happy about it, either, but accepted that the delay was unavoidable. After all, it was a pandemic. Work and life were simply not moving forward as usual.
Winnie didn’t want to admit it to Carla (her very understanding, very long-suffering editor), but she’d had writer’s block ever since the stay-at-home orders had been issued back in March. Having been stuck at home for over a month, she was beginning to worry she’d never write again.
“Calm down, you’re just catastrophizing,” she whispered to herself, sitting in front of the computer and staring at the blinking cursor.
“What you really need is a good cup of coffee!” came a robotic voice from Winnie’s speakers. She’d set up her email to read all the subject lines as incoming mail hit her inbox, and this one was from Writer’s Block Coffee. She clicked through to read the note, which informed her that TODAY ONLY–Monday, April 27, 2020!–the company would be donating 100% of its profits to Feeding America.
“Hey, that’s a great idea!” She clicked over to the website, chose “whole beans” from the dropdown menu, typed in her address, and ordered the largest bag available. Five whole pounds ought to do the trick.
“Thank you for your order!” the robot voice announced, as the follow-up email hit her inbox.
“No, thank you,” Winnie said, dreaming of the ridiculously smooth Ethiopian coffee that would soon be arriving in her mailbox.
She got up, set her coffeemaker to brew up a fresh batch of java, then sat back down at her desk with a new plot twist for her cozy mystery, Coffee, Killers, and Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
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Don’t miss a magical moment!
Preorder your copy of Sacramento Love: The Book for just 99¢!
April 23, 2020
Tower Bridge Tableau
Hello and welcome to the 2020 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! I’m writing one new meet-cute per day as part of my “Sacramento Love” theme. Read along as couples find themselves falling for folks in lucky locations across California’s capital city. In this time of social distancing, there’s no need to fear a little fictional fun, so get your romance fix here and enjoy!
* * *
Tower Bridge was a bit of an odd choice for a first date, but it was the most “Sacramento” of all the local landmarks Tina could think of for an impromptu photo shoot. Tony was a photographer and Tina did a bit of modeling, so they could take some shots together and light up his Instagram with a little hometown pride… and maybe even a kiss?
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, T,” she whispered, hoping for the best while planning for the worst.
Wearing a bright aqua top and a tropical skirt to match, Tina walked three-quarters of the way across the bridge’s pedestrian walkway and planted herself against the golden tower closest to West Sacramento. She carefully balanced two cups of coffee on the railing, waiting for Tony to join her.
“Bella!” came a deep voice to her left, along with a whizzing sound that quickly wound down to silence.
Tony slid his bicycle to a stop about a yard from Tina. He hopped off, leaned the bike against the railing, and re-positioned his camera gear on either side of his body.
“Hi,” Tina said, suddenly nervous.
“Ciao, bella!” Tony cried, leaning in and quickly kissing her on both cheeks, Italian-style.
“How do you take your coffee?” she asked, offering him one of the cups.
“Black, like my heart,” he said with a laugh, and accepted the cup. He let his fingers linger against hers for a moment.
She pulled away slowly, enjoying his touch. He took a drink from the hot cup. She enjoyed watching him savor that first sip, and her thoughts skipped ahead to the moment he might savor her lips the same way.
“Perfetto,” he pronounced, placing the cup near a gold pylon. “Shall we dance?”
She smiled as he pulled one of his Canons from its holster.
“Fire when ready,” she said, striking a pose.
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Don’t miss a magical moment!
Preorder your copy of Sacramento Love: The Book for just 99¢!
April 22, 2020
Shady Ladies
Hello and welcome to the 2020 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! I’m writing one new meet-cute per day as part of my “Sacramento Love” theme. Read along as couples find themselves falling for folks in lucky locations across California’s capital city. In this time of social distancing, there’s no need to fear a little fictional fun, so get your romance fix here and enjoy!
* * *
It had been a long shift at the Shady Lady Saloon, and Shauna was halfway through counting the tips in the antique glass jar that sat on the bar when a woman dressed all in black slipped through the door.
“Sorry, I know you’re about to close, but do you mind if I wait in here with you for a second? I think there’s a guy following me,” the woman said, her back against the solid oak door she’d just closed.
“Sure,” Shauna agreed, happy to help a damsel in distress. “Go ahead and turn the lock, will you? I’m just about done here.”
“Thanks,” the woman replied. She clicked the bolt into place and approached the bar. “I’m Jeannie.”
“Nice to meet you, Jeannie. I’m Shauna. Care for a drink?”
“I don’t drink, but I’d love a glass of water.” Her dark brown lips turned up in a shy smile.
Shauna poured a glass of ice water from the dispenser and pushed it towards Jeannie, eyeing her with curiosity. She looked spooked, but not injured. “So this guy… do you know him?”
“I wish I didn’t. Ex-boyfriend, turned stalker. Basically, I’m in a band, we play in a bar up the street, and even though he’s been banned from the venue he always waits for me to leave so he can creep on me.”
“What about the rest of the band? Don’t they look out for you?”
“They do, but tonight they were going to a party, and I didn’t want to go, so… here I am.” She shrugged and chugged the ice water.
“That’s fucked up. You need a ride?”
“I’ve got my car. If I lost him, I’ll be fine. He never comes to my house.”
Shauna cocked her head and thought for a moment. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. So, here’s my plan: stick with me and I’ll make sure you get home safe. I’ll even help you get back to your car tomorrow after breakfast.”
Jeannie raised an eyebrow. “Breakfast?”
“Yeah, I make a killer pancake. You in?”
“Blueberries or chocolate chips?”
“I’m easy.”
“All right” Jeannie said, hopping off the stool, “Ready when you are.”
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Don’t miss a magical moment!
Preorder your copy of Sacramento Love: The Book for just 99¢!
April 21, 2020
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Hello and welcome to the 2020 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! I’m writing one new meet-cute per day as part of my “Sacramento Love” theme. Read along as couples find themselves falling for folks in lucky locations across California’s capital city. In this time of social distancing, there’s no need to fear a little fictional fun, so get your romance fix here and enjoy!
* * *
“Got any spare parts?” always struck Ripley as a ridiculous question. She worked in a bike repair shop; of course there were spare parts here. The real question was…
“How much are you willing to pay for them?”
This usually caught the asker off-guard. They wanted free parts, of course, as if a bike shop would just give its most valuable assets away. Flustered, they would slink off to try to find another sucker.
“Not today, Satan,” she’d usually mutter under her breath after they’d gone.
“Hey, got any spare gears?” a young woman in a grease-spattered pair of overalls asked.
“What kind you need?” Ripley played along.
“Uh, the ones I’ve got are Shimanos, but I’ll take anything at this point. I’ve got thirty bucks, and the sporting goods store up the block wants fifty. I’m willing to put in some labor, if you’ve got anything that’s a little beat up,” she suggested with a shy grin and a hand ruffling the short hair on the back of her head.
Ripley set down her wrench and gave the girl a good once-over. She looked like someone who’d done a bit of manual labor in her life. Her nails were clean, but short. She was wearing combat boots, black. No makeup. No muss, no fuss.
“Come on back. I’ll show you what we’ve got,” she said, treating the girl to a rare smile.
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Don’t miss a magical moment!
Preorder your copy of Sacramento Love: The Book for just 99¢!
