R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 103
March 25, 2021
B@@K REVEAL: Wet & Reckless by Samanthe Beck
Wet & Reckless
Samanthe Beck
(Private Pleasures #4)
Published by: Entangled: Brazen
Publication date: May 10th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
She’s a walking, talking disturbance of his peace…
When former Navy SEAL West Donovan trades covert ops for small-town cop, he craves calm and order. Rescuing a sexy, law-bending hitchhiker during a rainstorm raises his gut-level trouble detector—plus a few things south of his gut—into the red zone. He vows to help this particular tumbleweed find her way and keep it professional, but when she becomes his downstairs neighbor, professionalism is sorely tested. He’s got red lingerie infiltrating his laundry, sultry songs invading his bedroom, and suddenly he’s the one in need of rescue.
Aspiring singer/songwriter Roxy Goodhart ventures to Bluelick, Kentucky to outrun her latest mistake. It’s a doozy, involving a lying ex-manager, a dire lack of cash, and a teensy bit of grand larceny. Landing in the long, strong, entirely too tempting arms of the law is no way to keep a low profile while she re-builds her “L.A. or bust” fund. Taking an apartment that—oops—puts her under West…er…in his path every day doesn’t help. Testing his impressive reserve is beyond reckless, but she’d love to test it…all…night…long.
Author Bio:
Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her long-suffering husband, Charles, and their turbo-son, Hud. Throw in a furry ninja assassin named Gander, a few hundred Nerf blasters, one electric guitar, (with amp!), and...well...you get the picture.
When not dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks ways to get her characters to happy-ever-after, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with ASMR podcasts.
Connect with Sam via her website at www.samanthebeck.com to check her progress on that never-ending quest, or to get the latest on her upcoming books.
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B@@K REVEAL: Make It Burn by Jessie Harper #PreORDER
Make It Burn
Jessie Harper
Publication date: April 8th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Nothing can douse the flame of something meant to be…
Hadley Crawford was going to have it all—and finally show everyone she was more than they’d given her credit for. Then the boy she thought loved her walked away and her dreams of college evaporated. But that was years ago, and Hadley’s been making the best of a bad situation—until Cooper Allen comes back to town.
What do you do when the woman of your dreams unexpectedly comes back into your life? Pretend you don’t remember her, obviously. Cooper let Hadley go for her own good and making her hate him is the only way to keep that plan in motion. He’s not in a position to give her what she deserves and nothing’s going to change that. No matter how hard that is to swallow.
But when Hadley and Cooper are forced to work together to make both of their dreams come true, the old sparks resurface. Can they trust each other enough to let the old hurts go? Or will the past be too strong to overcome?
No matter what, it’s going to burn…
Author Bio:
Jessie Harper writes steamy, contemporary romance with a slightly Southern flavor. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, she has lived all over the world--from Europe to Asia. She currently resides in Park City, Utah with her husband, three children, and more rescue animals than she ever intended. She appreciates a nice glass of whiskey, homegrown tomatoes, and well-delivered sarcasm. She hopes to never have to "bless your heart.”
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BOOK BLITZ: Royally Drained by Fritzi Cox #GIVEAWAY
Royally Drained
Fritzi Cox
(V.I.L.F., #1)
Publication date: March 23rd 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
From jilted princess bride to a revenge plot fit for a king, this charming couple is royally screwed …
As I lived my best royal life, my only job as a princess was to find and marry a handsome prince. Too bad Prince Theo turned out to be more of a toad.
After I began losing my powers, he lost interest in our upcoming wedding. Not only did Theo leave me at the altar, but he also banished me and my merry band of misfits from the Kingdom of Poppycock forever.
Talk about a walk of shame!
From enchanted castle to crumbling cottage, I’m now stuck in Morningwood, struggling to plot my next move.
This strange little town, full of mischief and magic, is the perfect place to hide while I practice my spells and hopefully regain my powers.
What could possibly go wrong?
Other than accidentally summoning a mysterious male vampire who throws me off my quest and gets my blood boiling in all the right places.
And my blood is exactly what Vail and his brotherhood need for their top-secret laboratory.
Who would have thought my charming royal genes could help their dangerous mission?
As long as Vail keeps his fangs to himself, we won’t have a problem.
His hands though?
That’s another story entirely.
My taste for revenge is strong, but his taste for me is stronger.
Could this be my fairy-tale ending? Or am I destined to live a nightmare?
Author’s note:Royally Drained is a paranormal romcom with a few dark themes. This is book 1 in the VILF series and ends with a cliff-hanger.
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—
EXCERPT:
I had a suspicion that my magic faded with age, like estrogen, draining youth and power from my body, turning me into an old crone soaked in wine, and leaving me with an excessive amount of bitter baggage. At least, that was how I felt at thirty-one, past my prime. I’d stupidly wasted my youth on a man who put off marrying me for so long, only to dump me at the altar and banish me from his life and his kingdom, all in a matter of minutes.
I groaned, settling down onto a tree stump caked with a questionable fungus. The drizzle of rain dissolved into a mist, wrapping around me in a blanket of wet gloom and matching my mood. Anger bubbled inside me like a cauldron of witch’s brew, ready to explode and destroy its next victim.
Could this be early menopause? I thought with a sudden pang of panic.
“Ahem,” I cleared my throat and shook the thought from my head, determined to focus on something I’d not tried yet—the darker creatures of the forest.
My spells usually involved singing birds, cuddly bunnies, and doe-eyed deer. But there was one time, a while back, I’d accidentally summoned a rabid alligator. Of course, I’d hidden up in a tree until he left, but I always wondered if my charms could be used for more than sweet, princessy qualities, as my ex used to put it. You know, those things I’d lost when I became a worthless humanish bag of bones.
“Fa-la-la-la, rawr, la-la-la,” I tried, bellowing out the lowest spooky tone I could.
But nothing happened.
“I said, fa-la-la-la, rawr, la-la-la!” I screamed into the clearing, but only the windswept leaves echoed back.
I scuffed my boot into the dirt, kicking a pebble across the way before taking a deep breath and trying again.
“La-la-la, rawr, la-la-la.” My voice rang out as it had years ago when my magic was strong and powerful enough to command an army of squirrels, nibbling the ankles of all my enemies.
A blanket of clouds thickened overhead, forming a sinister chill in the air. The hair on the back of my neck prickled. I had a feeling I wasn’t alone anymore.
“La-la-la, rawr, la-la-la,” I sang again, louder.
Footsteps, much heavier than a bunny’s, pattered behind me. I stood up and threw my hands in the air, still singing and ignoring the feeling of someone watching me. I twirled, singing in harmony with the wind in the trees, the drizzle of rain, and the low hum of the clouds growing overhead. My senses awakened to the natural life around me, and for the first time in a year, I felt whole again.
I spun around the clearing, singing my heart out and skipping through the mud until—as my luck would have it—a man, not a beastly creature under my command, walked into my life.
“You rang,” said a deep voice behind me.
I turned to see a tall, dark figure stepping out of the shadows. His mouth curled, as if on the edge of laughter, displaying a glimpse of two deadly sharp fangs.
“Holy shit. I summoned a vampire.” I stood frozen, unable to look away.
Author Bio:
Fritzi Cox is a dark soul with a wicked sense of humor. She regularly bathes in the blood of her enemies while sipping champagne and hashtagging her vibes. She's fond of plotting mayhem, writing spellbinding twists, and tickling her readers with an over-the-top sense of humor. Rumor has it, her alter ego, Kat Addams, is her spirit animal. Or is it the other way around? Either way, expect Fritzi to keep you on your toes!
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March 24, 2021
Bleeding Souls Saved by Love! COMING IN APRIL 2021
PLEASE CONSIDER VOTINGfor both of these titles in Goodreads' Most Anticipated Romance Books of April 2021
SAVAGE CROWN (an MC-style fable retelling of “Anastasia”) by NJ Adelreleases APRIL 3rdThey say a Bratva Princess rose from the dead. She has a bounty on her head.
Two. One alive. One dead.
The money is good, and the Wicked Warriors and I live for that thrill.
Only problem? She's a ghost. A rumor.
Who cares? All I have to do is find a bait that fits the description.
She walks right into my bar. A huntress posing as prey. Unlucky for her, I don't care how hard she fights or lies to make me let her go. I own her soul. I get to decide which bounty to collect.
But there are far more dangerous secrets lying behind those blue eyes, and when she begs me to save her, my options are no longer two.
Deliver her to her family.
Deliver her head to her enemy.
Give in to my hunger for Anastasia Romanov, the Bratva long lost princess, and keep her my captive forever.
Even if it puts a bounty on my own head...
[image error] Chasing the White Rabbit (a mafia-style fable retelling of “Alice in Wonderland”) by Felicity Brandon releases APRIL 15thI’m savage, suave and calculating,
And so is the organization I work for.
Poor Alice doesn’t stand a chance.
Since she tumbled into our dark world,
I’ll take her, play with her—devour her.
But once she’s had a taste of my madness,
Will there be any coming back?
Be sure to join the Facebook Group to stay up to date with cover reveals, new releases, and general carousing as this amazing collection of Wicked Warriors MC & Fabled Mafia Wars fable retellings is unveiled: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bleedingsoulssavedbylove
March 23, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: La Famiglia: Dante by Laura Sutton #GIVEAWAY
La Famiglia: Dante: Part Two The diRuggiero Mafia Family Saga
Laura Sutton
(La Famiglia : Elias, #2)
Publication date: March 20th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
A crime boss. A meek accountant.
When she enters his world… will she be able to find her way out?
Will she even want to?
Cassie Lockhart is alone in the world, save for her beautiful and troubled sister, Amber. When Amber gets in over her head in the world of organized crime, Cassie dives headfirst into the darkness to save her.
Dante diRuggiero rules his world by taking what he wants, uncaring who he may hurt in the process. He can’t help but be intrigued by the shy, plain woman who comes to his club, pleading for the sake of someone else. He sees beneath her mousy exterior and finds a woman so loyal she would sacrifice herself for those she loves. It’s that loyalty that draws him in at first, and then her passion makes him burn.
When Amber’s poor choices force Cassie to choose between her sister and Dante, will she choose the person she has tried to protect all her life, or the man that would never betray her? Can Dante keep her safe from the war brewing in his dark world?
Dante is book two in the steamy diRuggiero Mafia Family Saga.
—
EXCERPT:
Cassie was spectacular as she approached his table. Gone was the frumpy mouse who had begged to pay back her sister’s debt. In her place was a woman in full possession of her beauty, sophisticated and elegant, head held high and shoulders back.
Her dress was still more conservative than most women would wear, falling to her ankles, but the filmy chiffon moved around her like fluid, undulating and sinuous, and the sleeves kept fluttering open to permit tantalizing glimpses of her pale, slim arms. He wasn’t the only man whose eyes followed her through the restaurant. But judging by the heated look of appreciation in her eyes when she spotted him, he was the only man she would be spending any time with.
He’d make sure of it.
Once she was seated, the host disappeared, and Cassie put her menu down. “I don’t speak French,” she whispered, her expression conspiratorial.
Dante smiled and leaned across the table. “Neither do I, but I know what’s good here. Do you trust me?” He watched, waiting for her to comprehend that he meant more than just his trusting him about the food.
She sucked in a quick, surprised breath, eyes wide for a moment. But then she let it out again, determination replacing the surprise.
“Yes,” she said, swallowing. She understood. She agreed. Satisfaction curled, thick and hot, in his belly alongside his hunger– for food, for her– and Dante picked up his menu.
“Do you like duck?” he asked.
“I don’t know, I’ve never had it,” Cassie admitted.
“Well, how adventurous are you?” Dante teased, and she looked up at him through her lashes. If she were a practiced flirt, he would’ve described it as coy, but Cassie wasn’t a practiced flirt. That was why she was so compelling to him. There was no artifice to her interest in him.
“With the right person… or the right incentive?” she asked, and he could feel his smile growing, a genuine smile rare for him.
“Either. Both.”
“Very adventurous, then.” She licked her bottom lip, and he wondered if she’d done it on purpose, trying to tempt him beyond bearing.
“Welcome to Toulouse,” the server said, popping the little bubble encapsulating them. Dante bit back a laugh when Cassie jumped at the man’s sudden appearance. “I’m David and I will be your server for the evening. Would you like to hear the specials?”
“No, thank you. We’ll both start with the lobster bisque and then have the duck. And bring us a bottle of your best chardonnay,” Dante answered, handing the man both their menus.
“Wonderful, sir,” the server said and departed.
Dante leaned back in his plush chair and observed Cassie. She was glancing around the restaurant, a look of appreciation on her pretty face, and he couldn’t blame her. Toulouse was as beautiful as its view of downtown Dallas. She studied the other patrons, one by one, and then gasped.
“Dante,” she whispered and leaned across the table, granting him an enticing view of cleavage. He could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra and her movement caused her breasts to shift in the most delightful way.
“Yes?” He shifted focus from her chest to her face, no less compelling to his libido.
“Is that the mayor?” She gestured with a flick of her eyes behind him.
Dante turned slightly to see the Mayor of Dallas and his wife enjoying a meal with another couple. “Yes.” He smiled at her wide eyes, pleased to be able to give her this experience. He’d expected to be amused by her excitement, to meet minor celebrities, but he found it charmed him instead. “And behind you is one of the star running backs for the Dallas Cowboys.”
Cassie swung her head around so fast he actually worried she might get whiplash.
Author Bio:
I write steamy romances and the compelling, hot, sexy, heroes that dominate those pages and the heroines that fall in love with them.
My day-to-day is full of time at the beach, playing fetch with my dogs in my backyard, and often thinking up new ideas and worlds that help bring my books to life. I'm a small town Texas girl who likes to dream big and put those big dreams down on the page!
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March 22, 2021
B@@K REVEAL: The Bassist and the Best Friend by M. B. Feeney #PreORDER
Cover Design by J.C. Clarke
Release date: 14 June 2021
About the book:Christian Young often needs to escape.
He escapes into his friendships with his band, Rare Breed, he escapes into his own mind, and after he meets Leah Prince, he escapes into her.
Leah is living the student lifestyle and is enjoying every minute. Teaching a dorky bassist how to make coffee art shouldn’t lead to more but it does. He understands she’s not looking for anything serious, but does it stop him wanting more?
*Book can be read as a standalone, but refers to characters and events from the first book:
#coverreveal #preorder #rarebreed #newadult #rockstarromance #romancebookstagram #romancebook #secretromance #friendswithbenefits #comingsoon
March 21, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: Pinot & Pineapple Lumps by Jay Hogan #GIVEAWAY
Pinot & Pineapple Lumps
Jay Hogan
(Southern Lights #4)
Publication date: March 18th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Penn from Adelaide. That’s all I knew.
We shared a single kiss over a year ago, and I can still remember every toe-curling second of it. He thought I was too young for him. I thought he was running scared. But that kiss was the first time I’d felt alive in a long time, and I’ve been chasing the feeling ever since—doing my research, a lot of research, a lot of men. Something my protective older brother isn’t too happy about.
I’ve been through more than most guys my age, and I still bear the scars. My head’s not always my best friend, but I’m building a life, PTSD be damned. I can’t turn back the clock, and I’m not sure I want to.
Except maybe to that moment when Penn kissed me. I mean, the odds of us ever meeting again were slim to none, right?
Yeah, about that.
But this time I’m ready. I’m a year older, an ocean of therapy wiser, and I know exactly what I want.
—
Author Bio:
Jay HoganHeart, Humour, & Keepin' It Real2020 LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST IN GAY ROMANCE for her novel 'DIGGING DEEP'
Jay is a New Zealand author writing in MM romance and romantic suspense primarily set in New Zealand. She loves writing character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She's travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor.
Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel.
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March 20, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: Gabriel's Album by Sian Cienwen #GIVEAWAY
Gabriel’s Album
Sian Ceinwen
(Cruise Control Heroes, #1)
Publication date: March 14th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
The rock star always gets the girl…
I’m living my dream. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a rock star. And now here I am, about to start my first big tour, when she comes along.
Ariana.
From the second we meet, she’s all I can think about.Asking her to come on tour with me is easy. But she’s shy, insecure, and the paparazzi scare her. We live in two completely different worlds.
I love her and I know that she’s worth fighting for. The problem is, I’m not sure if love is enough.
Gabriel’s Album is the first book in the Cruise Control Heroes series. It’s the companion novel to The Album. Fall in love with Gabriel and Ariana all over again as Cruise Control embarks on their first world tour.
—
EXCERPT:
We’re standing in the wings, waiting to go back onstage, and Hayden asks, “Are you okay, Gabriel?”
“Yeah, as good as I can be, I guess,” I tell him and shrug my shoulders.
“I know the last half of the album sucks for you.” He gives me a wry smile.
“Understatement of the year, right there,” I laugh. “Just one more song to go, anyway. Then the meet and greet, and then hibernation.”
“Bring on the hibernation,” Harrison grins at me.
We head back out onstage for the encore, and the audience cheers loudly.
“I can’t thank you all enough for coming out tonight,” I tell the crowd.
They scream again, and I wait for the crowd to quiet down before continuing.
“I wrote a lot of Heart Wide Open while I was”—I pause and make an exaggerated thinking pose with my finger tapping on my cheek—“man, how would you describe it?”
“Angry,” Hayden says into his mic. “Very, very angry.”
I almost laugh because I wasn’t actually expecting anyone to chime in, but I fake an enlightened tone, as though he’s just given me the answer to my question and say, “Ah, yes, that’s it. Thanks, Hayden.”
“Any time, bro,” Hayden replies.
The audience laughs at our playful banter, and I laugh along with them before continuing, “So, yeah, I was very angry for a long time. What I discovered, though, is that you can’t hold onto that anger forever, or it will eat you alive. When you eventually let it go, sometimes you’ll be surprised by what’s left behind.”
I smile at the crowd, and despite my inner turmoil this evening, I’m at peace with everything. I’ve accepted that she couldn’t be with me, even though it still occasionally hurts.
The crowd cheers as Sebastian starts playing his guitar, with Hayden playing a soft beat on the drums and Harrison playing a bass line. They repeat the same eight bars of music as I continue my explanation of the song.
Author Bio:
Hi, I’m Sian Ceinwen and I live in Western Australia with my husband and two kids. I started writing this in the third person but it was just odd. A little bit about me, I’ve enjoyed writing all my life, getting the worlds and characters in my head down for other people to enjoy is my passion.
Writing a book wasn’t something I ever thought I could really do but inspired by a song, I aimed to do it. With a lot of coaxing from my friends for me to finish it so they could find out the ending.
I released Gabriel and Ariana’s story, The Album, on March 14th, 2020. Harrison and Heather’s story, The Wedding, came out on June 6th, 2020. Sebastian and Lita’s book, The Baby, was released on November 18th, 2020.
The first book in the companion series, Gabriel’s Album, is available for pre-order and will be released on March 14th, 2021. It’s Gabriel and Ariana’s story retold from Gabriel’s point of view.
I hope that you will fall in love with the Cruise Control world the same way that I have.
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March 19, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: The Virgin Hunt Games (Volume 3) by Mel Teshco #GIVEAWAY
The Virgin Hunt Games, Volume 3
Mel Teshco
Published by: Entangled One Handed Reads
Publication date: March 15th 2021
Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance
EARTH, YEAR 2332
Life isn’t fair. Just ask Violet who mysteriously arrived in a space capsule at an orphanage as a baby. She has one goal—to find her biological parents, and winning the Virgin Hunt Games will ensure her face is plastered on every screener across the universe. Surely, her family will recognize and come for her? If she can only stay away from her Mate, the one man she must elude at all cost to win. But naturally, he’s also the only one she wants to surrender to.
Prince Zel Oscar is used to getting what he wants. But accepting a rival’s dare to be a Hunter in the infamous sexploitative Virgin Hunt Games was a terrible and possibly life-altering mistake. But then he meets his Hunted, Violet…delicious perfection wrapped up in a gorgeous package. Too bad she is totally indifferent to his kisses, his exploits, and his lofty title. He’ll do whatever it takes to break down her steely resistance…but will his subjects see him as a hero, or a total degenerate for having kinky sex in front of billions of viewers?
In the end he must make an impossible choice—keep her love, or his kingdom?
—
EXCERPT:
He was even more fascinated by the woman standing stiff and untouchable in front of him. Her long violet hair with its dark chocolate streaks had to be natural… He doubted even the most talented hairdresser could pull off those colors. Add in her flashing gold eyes and she was the most beautiful and intriguing woman he had ever met.
It was only when a fat droplet of blood splattered to the ground that he exhaled savagely and took a step toward her. “Let me take a look—”
“No.” She took a step back, the gold of her irises flaring starkly while she plucked at the hem of her T-shirt. “You said you wouldn’t touch me.”
He paused, struck by something…familiar about her. Something about her reminded him of someone he couldn’t quite place. But then, how many women had he taken to his bed? How many friends and staff had he known over the years?
“I said I wouldn’t fuck you…yet,” he reminded her, even as his dick jerked at the thought. He swallowed hard. Soon enough she’d be begging him to take her. But first he really did have to look at her arm.
She glowered. “Yet?”
“Right now I’m more worried about your injury than getting into your pants.”
She released her T-shirt and arched a brow, looking pointedly at the bulge behind his dark blue jeans. “Really?”
He shrugged, more than aware his reassurance wasn’t all that comforting. “Name one man who can control his anatomy around a beautiful woman.”
She didn’t bother to answer. Instead she lifted her arm, bright streaks of blood leaking downward. She wouldn’t die of blood loss, but she might grow weak. And any weakness was dangerous in these Games.
But first…
“You can drop the shard of glass now. I’m here to help you, not hurt you.”
She averted her eyes then grimaced and dropped the shard. When it ting-tinked to the concrete floor, he nodded and shrugged out of his gray T-shirt, then wrapped it around her arm.
Red immediately bloomed through the fabric and she clasped her hand around the wound to keep pressure on it and stop the blood flow.
He nodded at the makeshift bandage. “At least the bleeding will get rid of any germs.”
When she didn’t comment he lifted his eyes back up to meet hers…to find her gaze had slipped down to his bare torso, lingering there like a lover’s caress. She looked up and flushed, her knuckles whitening around her bandaged arm.
“Look all you want, Violet,” he said softly. “Being attracted to each other can only be a good thing.”
Her chin lifted. “For you maybe.” She blew a lock of her two-toned hair out of her eyes and added, “For me, ‘look but don’t touch’ is going to be my new motto for the next seven days. I don’t intend to lose any credits by having sex with you. I’m not about to become another notch on your bedpost, playboy Prince Zel.”
Huh. Apparently even here on Earth his reputation had preceded him. He couldn’t deny an insane urge to take her again and again. Just as he couldn’t deny that bedding women in the past had been one of his life’s not-so-guilty pleasures. If she thought for even one second he’d deny that same pleasure between them, she was sadly mistaken. Pleasure equaled credits in these Games. The more pleasure he shared with his mate, the more likely he’d win.
Author Bio:
If you would like to be alerted to Mel's latest releases, sign up to her mailing listhttp://mad.ly/signups/121695/joinMel Teshco is an award winning, Amazon best selling author with a love for the written word, along with a short attention span that sees her juggling a variety of genres and heat levels in her stories. From contemporary to paranormal, sweet to erotic, she hopes there's a little bit of something for every reader out there to enjoy.
Her gypsy-like upbringing saw her living in many places along Australia's east coast. Each new home stimulated an already over-active imagination, where she spent as much time dreaming about fantasy worlds as the real world - the fantasy sometimes being much better.
Now living on a beautiful rural property surrounded by mountains - her fat black horse, three cats and two dogs couldn't be happier. A proud mother of three gorgeous girls and two cheeky grandchildren, and married to Mr Patience (mostly), life is pretty damn good.
You can find Mel's website at: http://www.melteshco.com/
and will often find her on her blog: http://melteshco.blogspot.com.au/
She also loves to hear from her readers, you can email her at: melteshco@yahoo.com.au
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BOOK BLITZ: It's My Party by Whitney Dineen #GIVEAWAY
It’s My Party
Whitney Dineen
(Seven Brides for Seven Mothers #3)
Publication date: March 16th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
High off her success of playing matchmaker for both of her sons, lodge owner Ruby Cavanaugh decides to try her hand pairing other eligible singles–starting with her executive chef and her new event coordinator.
Party planner Claire Choate has a cheating boyfriend who also happens to be her boss. After visiting Oregon for her brother’s wedding–which didn’t even happen–Claire is offered a job that gets her out of LA for good. How can she pass up an opportunity like that?
Even though he has little time for a social life, executive chef Geoffrey Bere loves his job. After a past complication left him gun shy about workplace entanglements, he lives by a strict, “no dating co-workers” policy. But when Claire Choate arrives on the scene, he finds himself ready to break his own rule.
Will Ruby cement her reputation as matchmaker extraordinaire or will Claire and Geoffrey prove too much of a challenge for even her?
Find out in this deliciously fun third installment of Seven Brides for Seven Mothers!
—
EXCERPT:
There are so many ways to quit a job with flair. You can storm into your boss’s office and throw a hot cup of coffee on him (a potted plant would also work, but you might have a harder time claiming that was an accident); you could create a huge public scene so that onlookers would know what a reprehensible a-hole he is; or you could just stop working and wait and see how long it takes for him to notice you’re no longer doing your job.
I wish I’d channeled my mom’s feisty nature and taken one of those paths. Instead, I submitted my resignation through human resources along with the knowledge that I’d been offered a wonderful opportunity in the Pacific Northwest. I gave my two weeks’ notice at the same time I took my remaining two weeks of vacation time.
People don’t generally quit a dream job like mine—throwing launch parties for the biggest movie studio in the history of movie studios—to work at a lodge in rural Oregon. But of course, most people aren’t dating their boss only to discover he’s been cheating on them with up-and-coming starlets.
It’s not like I shouldn’t have seen it coming. Jack is the poster boy for Hollywood glamour. His socks are handwoven by Ecuadorian nuns, for heaven’s sake. His shoes are so bespoke, they’re practically sewn onto his feet.
For some reason, I thought my own star shone brightly enough to make me an equal in his eyes. My aunt is Tooty Jackson, seven-time country music award-winning singer of such hits as “Tie Me Up and Call Me Betty” and “His Expiration Date is Here.” You might be thinking, “so what if she has a famous aunt?” But my peripheral glow is much bigger than just Tooty. My mom writes all of Tooty’s songs and, wait for it, my brother is Romaine Choate. Yes, the rock god and lead singer of Turnip Garden.
I’m from music royalty and that counts in a place like Hollywood. At least it has up until now. I know how shallow that sounds, but in a town where everybody is somebody, it helps to use whatever clout you have to remain visible.
Standing in the middle of my walk-in closet, I wonder if I should bother taking my cocktail dresses. For all I know, working at the Willamette Valley Lodge might require planning hoedowns and rodeos. I’m going to work with my brother’s ex-fiancée, Tara Heinz, who is the pastry chef at the lodge. She used to be a supermodel, but she got tired of starving.
I was heartbroken when Tara and Romaine broke up. But Tara wanted a life out of the spotlight, which is not something she could have had being married to my brother. She’s currently dating the son of my new boss.
My phone rings with my mom’s signature ringtone, Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” I hurry into my bedroom to pick it up. “Hey,” I greet after putting her on speaker.
“Hey yourself. When does the moving truck come?”
“Tomorrow morning. I’m not sure what all I should take.”
I hear fiddle strings being plucked in the background. She must be in her studio working on something for Tooty. “Why leave anything behind? Take it all!” she declares before breaking into a full riff like she’s battling the devil for territorial rights of Georgia.
“What if I don’t like it there? Then I’d be stuck with all my stuff.”
“What if all of your stuff makes it feel more like home and you wind up settling in faster that way?”
She may have a point.
“You sound happy that I’m leaving. Aren’t you going to miss me at all?” I ask desperately, feeling the need to know I matter.
“Yes and no,” she answers plainly. “I’ll miss knowing you’re only twenty miles away, but I’m only forty hours away from getting my pilot’s license, so pretty soon I’ll be able to fly to you anytime I want. I’ve already looked into it and I can land at the airport in Albany.”
“I’d rather you fly commercially,” I tell her for the millionth time. My mom is an enormously driven woman and can do anything she sets her mind to, but her piloting a small jet is something that scares the bejesus out of me. The potential headlines are too scary. “Sister of Tooty Jackson/Mother of Romaine Choate Flies into a Mountain!” “Sharon Choate Dead After Forgetting to Fill Her Plane Up with Gas!” The possibilities are endless and terrifying.
“Honey, life is for the living,” my mom interrupts my morbid thoughts. “You have to grab the world by the balls and shake it up every now and again.” My mom grew up in Tennessee before going to college in New England, where she met my dad. Though her southern accent is barely discernible anymore, she’s held onto her colorful verbiage like she’s clinging to a bungee cord after flinging herself off the side of the Grand Canyon. Which she has done.
“I’d prefer you left the world’s junk alone and stayed safe,” I tell her. “I’d like you to live long enough to meet your grandchildren.” Why did I say that?
“Don’t you go blaming your lack of procreating on me. By the time I was your age, I had three babies, all potty trained. I don’t know what’s slowing you kids down these days.”
“Tell my older siblings, please. Once they’ve done their duty by you, you can complain to me, but not until then.”
“Lutèce told me she’s looking into a sperm donor. What do you think about that?” my mom asks.
“I think it could be great or awful. I mean, if she uses a sperm bank, she has no idea what she’ll wind up with—’cause you know people lie like dogs. How many Harvard graduates are really out there selling their swimmers? “If she uses a friend,” I continue, “she could run into custody issues.” After her last boyfriend decided he wanted an open relationship—which included other men … for him—my sister declared the opposite sex more trouble than they’re worth. She’s currently taking a rather lengthy relationship sabbatical.
“I think she should ask Travis or Vince,” my mom decides. “You know, keep the musical talent alive in the next generation.”
“I’m pretty sure neither Travis Tritt nor Vince Gill would be interested. They already have families. Why would they want a baby, and by a woman that grew up calling them ‘uncle,’ no less? Ewww.”
“They’re family friends and they’re too old to want to start over, so Lu wouldn’t have to worry about custody.”
“Their wives might have something to say about that,” I remind her.
“Quit pooping on my parade, Claire. I’m a problem solver and I’m just trying to solve a problem here. I’d also like to keep your sister from birthing a child of questionable lineage.”
While wrapping my shoes in pillowcases to keep them from getting scuffed, I reply, “You mean, having a child with no musical talent, like me.” I don’t know which line I was standing in when they handed out the music genes, but I didn’t get any.
“You’re as capable as anyone,” my mom says. “You just never worked at it.”
I took as many piano lessons as my sister and while she came out of the experience something of a virtuoso, I can barely play “Chopsticks” without tying my fingers into knots. Then there’s Romaine, who has never picked up an instrument he couldn’t play. “Whatever,” I tell my mom. “I’m just saying that you should leave Lu’s future baby daddy up to her and not get involved.”
“Okay, then let’s talk about your future baby daddy.”
“Mom, Jack and I just broke up. Please let me mourn before asserting any motherly pressure.”
“Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. I’m sure there’s a lovely man waiting for you in Oregon.”
Throwing my last pair of Louboutins into a giant box with the rest of my footwear, I declare, “Just be here tomorrow at noon, if you’re still planning on driving up with me.”
“I’ll be there with bells on, hon! Dad says he’s sorry he can’t come too, but he has to fly to DC for a meeting this week, then he’s off to somewhere he can’t talk about for two more weeks.” My dad is a building contractor for the government. Since most of his jobs are top-secret, we have no idea what those buildings really are. But let’s face it, in this family, unless he was designing a concert hall, no one really cares.
“Tell Dad I love him, and I totally understand. Maybe he can come up sometime in the spring.”
“I’ll fly him up myself!” my mom declares excitedly. Great, both of my parents dead in a plane crash.
“I’ve got to go, Mom. Goodwill is coming by in a couple of hours and I have to make sure I have everything that I’m not taking ready for them to pick up.” I’m totally lying. Goodwill comes the day after I leave and will take everything left in the driveway. I just really need some time with my thoughts right now.
The most pressing thought being, what in the world am I doing moving to Oregon?
Author Bio:
Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.
Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017
Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017
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