Julie Coulter Bellon's Blog, page 15

Sweet Mother's Day Sale!

If you are looking for a new book this Mother's Day weekend, Jennifer Peel is having a sweet sale on beach reads! The perfect getaway when you can't get away!

Paige's Turn

I promised myself ten years ago when I left Bella Port that I would never look back at the town that made me feel invisible. That is until the unthinkable happens and Aunt Mitzi, the person I love more than anyone or anything, suddenly passes away and leaves me everything. We are talking a beautiful beach house, more money than I know what to do with, and of course her beloved bookstore, Paige’s Turn, named after yours truly. Not only that, she thinks she’s left behind something else for me. Or is that someone else? That would be Sam Kennedy, my older brother’s best friend, who’s way out of my league, that is if I even had a league. I’m more like a bystander. But Mitzi was always telling me it was time to get into the game, to take my turn.

At least I’m no longer wearing baggy jeans and oversized t-shirts. Yoga really does do a body good. But Mitzi was crazy to think that me and the sexy landscaper were meant to be, especially when I fire him after our first meeting. Who would have ever guessed that a friendship would blossom after such a start? Or that Sam would make me feel seen in a way I had never been before. Was Aunt Mitzi right about Sam and me? Is it finally time for me to take my turn?
Get your sale copy HERE

Second Chance in Paradise
Doctoral student Holland Reeves may have aced every class she’s ever taken, but when it comes to life outside her lab, she’s beginning to realize she doesn’t have one. In fact, she has more meaningful relationships with test tubes and pipettes than with people. Wishing to change that, she reluctantly agrees to attend an old friend’s wedding. The only problem is, it means she has to return to Paradise. The small coastal town that once upon a time lived up to its name, that was, until he—Porter Clairborne—left her without even saying goodbye. It’s fine, it’s all fine. She has better things to do than be ridiculously happy and in love. Things like finding a cure for heart disease.

But when she returns to Paradise, she gets way more than she bargained for. Porter, the prodigal son, has returned—unbeknownst to her—and he has more on his mind than just helping his family’s business, the Clairborne Resort. He’s determined to win back the woman who captured his heart several summers ago. Lucky for him, Holland has a little mishap that forces her to stay in Paradise a lot longer than she expected.

Now together, Holland and Porter must decide if first love deserves a second chance. Will Paradise once again live up to its name? Or will it remain a town of broken dreams?
Get your sale copy HERE
Sweet Regrets
I, Melanie Dixon, can sum my life up in one simple phrase—I didn’t see that coming. Let’s just say, I never thought I would find myself divorced, pregnant, and living back with my parents in Amber Bay. If that isn’t fun enough, my old boyfriend, Declan Shaw, has also just moved back to town after a recent job promotion. The boy from next door is all grown up and wow, has time done his body good. But I’ve decided that the only cute and cuddly thing I need in my life is currently occupying my womb.

Of course, Declan has other plans. Plans that include us getting back together. For some reason, it doesn’t turn him off when I remind him that soon I’ll be a lactating zombie. He says he wants to be there for it all, even midnight feedings and diaper changes. Now it’s up to me to decide if I can trust him with my heart. Is Declan the man my baby and I deserve? Or will he be just another regret?
Get your sale copy HERE

The Daybell Trial

I've been following the Lori Vallow Daybell trial closely and each day of testimony just makes me shake my head. 

Chad Daybell and his first wife Tammy owned the Spring Creek Publishing company, and that company published my first four books. This was in the early 2000s and the Chad I'm hearing about in the murder trial is very different from the Chad I knew then. It's so strange to think of what happened to him after he left Utah and where his life is at now. (I even was interviewed by a TV program about my interactions with Chad, but since so many authors knew him, they aired another author's experiences. It was still interesting to be interviewed, though, and see the behind-the-scenes process.) Honestly, I feel the worst for the Daybell children who have lost so much, but most of all, they lost their mother who was a genuinely kind soul who had a wonderful laugh and really seemed to enjoy people. 

Chad Daybell's murder trial will be held at a later date, so currently I'm just following Lori's trial. It can't be televised, so there's a reporter named Nate Eaton who live tweets what's going on in the courtroom. I admit, I'm riveted. He's a good writer for details and it feels like you're in the courtroom. The prosecution is still presenting their case, but I'm so interested to hear what the defense will have to say. So far their cross-examinations have been underwhelming, so I wonder if the defense will be more of the same. I guess we shall see!

Do you ever follow trials?

How Do You Feel About Taxidermy?

So, a few months back, I started binge-watching a show with my daughter and in it, a lady has a beloved dog who dies and she has it "preserved." I'm not sure how I feel about that! I've had cats and dogs that I have loved like a family member, and I grieved when they died, but I never really thought about having them preserved by a taxidermist. I mean, I've gone to a museum where they have large animals like bears that have been preserved, but I just hadn't ever really come across a pet being preserved like that. Where would you keep a "preserved" pet? In your living room? I just don't know.

What do you think? Is that weird? Or something you would do when a beloved pet dies?

A Good Kind of Tired

 As you all know I've been the PTA President of my son's elementary school this year. Today was the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week and I've been planning this for so long! I had gift cards, mini-bread and jam, and a lunch from Olive Garden delivered to their classroom.

But there were a few snags. I was stressed because the food was late to be delivered. I was trying to coordinate a student activity that didn't turn out how I'd imagined. And the Thank You Teachers banner I got turned out to be a little smaller than it looked in the picture. 

It wasn't perfect. But I had a teacher tell me that she'd had a really hard day today with her students and she sat at her desk and just ate the mini-bread loaf without cutting it, dipping it in the jam. She said it was her "comfort" food today and she'd really needed that. Suddenly all the little snags didn't matter anymore. I'd made a teacher's day better and that's what the entire week is supposed to be about. It just made me feel good.

What are some things that make you feel appreciated?

Do You Love Thrillers?

When I was Annette Lyon's critique partner, she shared her idea with me for a suspense novel with two timelines. Two women who are tied together by murder with so many twists you can hardly catch a breath! It was such a brilliant idea, but I knew it would be tough to pull it off. As she wrote the manuscript and I got to read and critique the chapters, I was amazed at how it all came together. 
That manuscript was picked up by a national publisher and the release date is TOMORROW! I'm so happy for her and am thrilled that all of her hard work paid off. She is having a launch party and if you are local, you should totally go! 
Here is more information:The Printed Garden Booksellers
7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 21
9445 S. Union Square, Suite A
SANDY, UT 84070

You can buy the book HERE

Here is the back copy:

A librarian investigates her husband’s dark past and winds up dead. Now it’s up to her best friend to uncover the truth.

Becca’s life is turned upside down when she finds Jenn dead in the bathtub. Soon she begins to unspool the secrets Jenn kept in life, including a troubled marriage to Rick and two dead wives in his past. The more Becca learns, the more determined she becomes to get justice for Jenn, even if the clues surrounding her death aren’t quite adding up.…

Over a year before her death, Jenn begins to notice her husband acting strangely. Using her skills as a librarian, she digs into Rick’s past—and falls down a rabbit hole far deeper and darker than she bargained for. She’s already beaten the odds by living longer than his other dead wives. But now she fears her time is up.

This page-turning story of marriage, friendship, and motherhood is a first foray into thriller by USA Today bestseller Annette Lyon.

A Question & A Free Book!

 Happy St. Patrick's Day! I have a question for you: If you have green eyes, does that count as having green on St. Patrick's Day? Curious minds want to know!

Also, if you need a book to read this weekend, Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball is free today! I haven't read it yet, but it looks good! I really like the cover. Get your free copy HERE 

Here's the back copy:

An arranged marriage was never what Callum Darrington, future Duke of Edinbane, imagined for himself. But with the well-being of his uncle's family hanging in the balance, Callum strikes a bargain with his father and reluctantly agrees to tie himself to a stranger. The reality of the lovely Lady Katherine is more than he could have hoped for, and their wedding heralds a bright new future for the couple—until Callum discovers his father deliberately deceived him. Callum lashes out, setting in motion heartbreak not even he could have foreseen.

Four years later, Callum is ready to piece together the marriage he so carelessly destroyed. But their years apart have hardened Kate: she is not the naive and trusting young woman she once was, and she has no intention of allowing Callum a foothold in her life or her heart. Despite her coldness, Callum works to regain her trust and rebuild their marriage, not realizing Kate harbors a secret that could change everything—and this time, there is much more at stake than just her heart.

Book Chat Book Club is TONIGHT!

As you all know, I reviewed Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker in Meridian Magazine and I truly enjoyed this story! There was a swoony hero and a relatable heroine with all kinds of fun adventure on their road to romance.

Megan will be our guest author tonight on our Book Chat Book Club Facebook page at 7:00 p.m. MT! I hope you'll join us and get to know Megan better and find out what inspired this fun and flirty romance with a little thread of suspense!

Book Club Tomorrow & A Book Sale!

I'm so excited for book club tomorrow on our Book Chat Book Club Facebook page! We'll be chatting with Megan Walker, author of Miss Newbury's List. I hope you'll join us! You can find us HERE
And just to let all of our book club members know, her book, Lakeshire Park (which was a favorite read of mine!) is on sale today for only $1.99!

Get your copy HERE

Here is the back copy:

Brighton, England 1820

Amelia Moore is worried about her and her sister’s future. With their stepfather’s looming death, she knows they’ll soon be on their own—without an inheritance, home, or penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia is eager to encourage a match between her sister, Clara, and Sir Ronald. At least then, she’ll know her sister will be taken care of.

Little does she know that another guest, Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his sister. Starting with a quarrel over a glove, Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry—one that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter—and eventually playing by his rules—makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim—her heart.

A Bit of Friday Fun

I don't know why, but I love taking these little quizzes, so when I saw this on my Facebook feed today, I couldn't resist. And it's Friday and I'm looking forward to opening up the new A.L. Sowards book! Have you read it yet? A Waltz with Traitors? Any books you're looking forward to this weekend?
Anyway, I got two points for never having a MySpace account or an AOL email. What about you?

Do You Love Snow?

Did I tell you I got a puppy? He is a toy Aussiedoodle and is not quite three pounds. He's a tiny bundle of joy and he is LOVING all the snow we got yesterday. His favorite thing is to jump in the snow and stick his face in it. It makes me laugh! 
But of course the best thing is coming inside after playing in the cold and laying on the heated blanket.
Do you have any pets? How do they feel about the snow?