Aubrey Wynne's Blog, page 18

December 6, 2023

An excerpt from When All is Said and Done by Christy Hayes with a giftcard giveaway

When All is Said and Done
Christy Hayes
Publication date: December 5th 2023
Genres: Women’s Fiction


A heartbreaking novel about the sacrifices we make for love.


After an unstable childhood, marriage isn’t just a promise to Dustin Carver, it’s his lifeline. He and Tegan grew up together, fell in love, and planned their perfect life. When the future they imagined gets derailed by her demanding law career, their marriage slowly slides off the rails.


Tegan can’t believe her husband took her threat of a separation seriously and walked away without a backward glance. Heartbroken and embarrassed, she covers for his absence with lies. Lies she tells herself about her career. Lies she tells her family about her marriage. And lies she’s yet to confess to her husband about a secret she kept while he was away. When Dustin finally returns, she’s running on fumes and her lies are about to be exposed.


Seven weeks in Key West licking his wounds and watching his best friend fall in love is enough to convince Dustin to come home and fight for his marriage. Saving their relationship means returning to therapy and facing a bitter truth neither wants to address. What if their childhood romance doesn’t have a happy-ever-after ending?


This emotional read told with brutal honesty begs the ultimate question for marriages far and wide. At the end of the day-at the end of our lives-what is worth fighting for, and when, if ever, should we walk away?


Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Dustin’s POV

He heard a noise from the kitchen, and his pulse picked up the beat. Was that the side door closing or the echoed rumble from his rebellious stomach? He stilled the strings with his palm and recognized the familiar sound of Tegan hanging her keys on the hook and shucking her shoes by the door. His heart lurched into his throat.

Dustin cursed himself for getting lost in the music and not preparing for her return. He should have been rehearsing speeches in his head or making dinner instead of mowing the lawn, adding a couple of towels to her burgeoning laundry pile, and playing around on the guitar. He propped the instrument against the couch and stood on unsteady legs.

A surging swell of love, swift and savage, swept over him as he looked at her, sent his heart thrashing against his chest. There she is—my center, my orbit—in living, breathing color. Tegan had her back turned and was flipping through the mail on the counter. Her hair was longer than normal, a dark curtain falling well past her sagging shoulders.

“Hi.”

She gasped and spun, clutching her chest with both hands, her eyes blinking furiously. Frozen in that position like a still photograph captured on film, she looked thin—too thin—and fragile as blown glass. “Dusty.”

His name from her lips, soft and scratchy, scorched his eviscerated heart. “Sorry to startle you. I … I figured you’d see my car.”

She seemed confused, shaking her head, squinting her eyes. “Your car?”

“In the garage …” He tried and failed to keep the exasperation out of his voice. He’d been gone for weeks, and she hadn’t moved a muscle in his direction. Hadn’t flashed a smile or inclined her head or opened her arms to make him feel welcome. And after everything they had to say to one another, they were talking about his car?

“I parked in the driveway,” she said.

Her guilty tone and the way she tucked her chin to her chest were another lash to his pride. How many times had he begged her to park her car in the garage? They lived in a nice neighborhood, but why invite crime by leaving her car parked out in the open and alert everyone to her patterns of coming and going?

She read the look on his face and offered a muttered, “I was tired, and the garage door has been giving me fits. I think it needs grease or something.”

Stop talking about the stupid garage! He wanted to scream at her, grab her arms and shake her, invade the personal space she protected with her arms crossed tightly against her chest. He wanted to do something, anything, to get a rise out of her and stop the inane garage discussion.

The way she looked—the way she looked at him like a racoon caught pillaging the trash—kept his voice even and his feet rooted firmly in place. Even in the muted light, she appeared ready to drop. He longed to go to her, wrap her in his arms, let her lean on him the way she always had when life kicked her in the tail. But he couldn’t. Not now. Not with everything at stake.


Author Bio:


Christy Hayes writes romance and romantic women’s fiction. She is the proud mother of two grown children and lives outside Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and rescue dogs.


Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub



GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 06, 2023 02:17

December 5, 2023

New Release The Mistletoe Bluff by Emily Schneider

Happy publication day and congratulations to Emily Schneider on the release of Mistletoe Bluff!

ebook

The Mistletoe Bluff

Publication Date: December 5, 2023

Genre: Holiday Romance/ Fake Romance/ Romantic Comedy

🎄 Enemies-to-lovers
🎄 Fake Dating
🎄 Forced Proximity
🎄 Sharing Body Heat to Stay Warm
🎄 One Car
🎄 Anxiety Rep
🎄 No Third Act Breakup

Fake dating my arch-nemesis during Christmas…what’s the worst that could happen?

One year ago, Oliver Lewis ruined my life by winning the community college photography contest—now he’s ruined it again by scratching my car.

Did I mention it’s Christmastime? Now, while my car is being repaired, I’m forced to let Oliver chauffeur me around Meridel.

But I’ve found a silver lining! If I win England’s most prestigious photo competition, I can finally pay off my debt and move forward with my life. The only problem is, one of the judges is Oliver’s father, and to better my chances, I have to get cozy with my arch-nemesis.

AKA: pretend to be his girlfriend for Christmas.

I thought it would be simple, but I did not expect that underneath that smug, arrogant exterior there’d be a sweet, thoughtful man who would find every excuse to be near me.

But it doesn’t matter. I, Maya Beck, will not fall for Oliver Lewis.

My future rests on winning this contest and nothing—and no one—will get in the way of that.

Especially not an annoyingly handsome British man.

The Mistletoe Bluff is a sweet, closed-door romantic comedy with laugh-out-loud moments, sizzling chemistry, and swoony kisses.

This is the second standalone in the Sweet Meridel Romance series.

Get it Here!

About the Author

author+photo

2021 Best Indie Book Award® Fantasy Winner, 2022 Minnesota Author Project YA Fiction Winner, and 2022 Best Indie Book Award® Dragon Fantasy Winner!

Emily Schneider grew up in Minnesota where she spent most of her life studying music and singing, which ironically has nothing to do with writing fantasy or romantic comedy novels. While music had always been a passion, Emily could never get away from her love of reading and writing books full of dragons, Fae, monsters, magic, and romance. When she isn’t writing, you can find Emily chasing around her two dogs, Pixel and Frodo, playing Mario Kart with her husband, or watching The Lord of the Rings for the one-hundred-and-eleventh time.

Emily Schneider

Book Release Blitz Organized By:

RRBookTours Button

R&R Book Tours

Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 05, 2023 05:34

December 4, 2023

The Legend of Gasparilla by S.T. Fernandez

The Legend of Gasparilla copy

Bridgerton meets Pirates of the Caribbean

Welcome to the tour for The Legend of Gasparilla by S.T. Fernandez, a gorgeous historical fantasy full or romance and pirates!

Ebook_Cover - The Legend of Gasparilla

The Legend of Gasparilla: A Historical Pirate Romance

Publication Date: November 7, 2023

Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance/ Pirates

Bridgerton meets Pirates of the Caribbean in a story many argue is not a myth but a legend.

Admiral José Gaspar of the Spanish Royal Navy had it all: the love of his life, Joséfa de Mayorga; the confidence of the King; and a plan to become one of the most successful merchants in all of Spain. But when a jilted former lover accuses him of stealing the crown jewels, he escapes Sevilla only to realize he’s duped into piracy, further staining his legacy. Gaspar continues down an immoral path he works relentlessly to resist. The dream life he yearned for with Joséfa slowly slips away, his reputation far too ruined to be worthy of her honor.

After having her beloved ripped from her life, Joséfa and Gaspar’s friends work tirelessly to clear his name to no avail. When fate finally hands her a chance, she sets sail to find José, but fate is both friend and foe. Joséfa discovers the man she lost is different from the viscous pirate she rescues from certain death.

When infamous pirate hunter Lieutenant Kearny of the USS Enterprise sets his sights on the new pirate, Gaspar must decide between a dark and perilous addiction to piracy or living a subdued life in the shadows. His darker inhibitions may take his soul hostage, and Joséfa’s love may not be enough to save him.

Amazon

About the Author

7R8A3855-2 (Square)

S.T. Fernandez, known as Stephanie, is originally from Orlando, Florida, and was born to two parents from La Isla del Encanto, Puerto Rico. She now resides in the beautiful small beach town of Ventura, California with her husband and their two wiener puppies.
Stephanie is an avid reader of all levels of spicy, steamy romance—mostly in fantasy, historical, or paranormal genres. Just as much as she enjoys disappearing into a good book, creating a story that readers can disappear into brings her immense joy.
She is currently working on her second book in the fantasy romance genre, full of wonderfully diverse characters and themes. S.T. Fernandez’s fantasy romance intertwines Puerto Rico’s Taino indigenous culture’s beautiful themes and language into a fantasy world. She is thrilled and excited to present it to readers when completed.

ST. Fernandez

Book Tour Organized By:

RRBookTours Button

R&R Book Tours

Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 04, 2023 16:17

December 2, 2023

Criminals Need Love Too by Isabel Jordan with giftcard giveaway

Criminals Need Love Too
Isabel Jordan
(Adorable Psychos, #1)
Publication date: December 1st 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance


You know those love stories that start with adorable meet cutes? Yeah, that didn’t happen here…


Tenley Taylor needed a way out of town that didn’t leave a paper trail. After all, getting caught by the cops with her bag of stolen diamonds would totally suck.


Enter Knox Wilder.


He was the ideal mark. Fresh-out-of-prison. Easy to manipulate.


So, she was fairly surprised when he kidnapped her.


Or did she kidnap him? The way it all went down was kinda blurry.


Anyhoo, Knox needed a bride to claim his inheritance. And helping him—for a fee—seemed like a great idea.


Which is how she ended up in a fake relationship with a grumpy, rudely sexy ex-con who crossed all the boundaries partners in crime should have. Now, everything is messy, because somehow, she managed to break her golden rule.


She started to like her mark.


Unfortunately, he likes her, too. He says he wants to get to know the real Tenley. But that’d be bad, right?


Especially since she’s not even sure she knows who that is anymore…


Criminals Need Love Too is a fun, light, snarky romantic comedy full of witty banter, wacky hijinks, and spicy times. Download today and get ready to fall for a criminal.


Trope map
Morally grey heroine
Ex-con hero
Grumpy sunshine romance
Only one bed
Fake relationship
Forced proximity


Goodreads / Amazon



Author Bio:


The normal:


Isabel Jordan writes because it’s the only profession that allows her to express her natural sarcasm and not be fired. She is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. Isabel lives in the U.S. with her husband, her son, a neurotic Shepherd mix, and a ginormous Great Dane mix named Jerkface. (Don’t feel bad for Jerkface. He really is a jerk.)


The weird:


Now that the normal stuff is out of the way, here’s some weird-but-true facts that would never come up in polite conversation. Isabel Jordan:


1. Is terrified of butterflies (don’t judge…it’s a real phobia called lepidopterophobia)


2. Is a lover of all things ironic (hence the butterfly on the original cover of Semi-Charmed)


3. Is obsessed with Supernatural, Game of Thrones, and Dog Whisperer.


4. Hates coffee. Drinks a Diet Mountain Dew every morning.


5. Will argue to the death that Pretty in Pink ended all wrong. (Seriously, she ends up with the guy who was embarrassed to be seen with her and not the nice guy who loved her all along? That would never fly in the world of romance novels.)


6. Would eat Mexican food every day, if given the choice.


7. Reads two books a week in varied genres.


8. Refers to her Kindle as “the precious”.


9. Thinks puppy breath is one of the best smells in the world.


10. Is a social media idgit. (Her husband had to explain to her what the point of Twitter was. She’s still a little fuzzy on what Instagram and Pinterest do.)


11. Kicks ass at Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.


12. Stole her tagline idea from her son. Her tagline idea was, “Never wrong, not quite right.” She liked her son’s idea better.


13. Breaks one vacuum cleaner a year because she ignores standard maintenance procedures (Really, you’re supposed to empty the canister every time you vacuum? Does that seem excessive to anyone else?)


14. Is still mad at the WB network for cancelling Angel in 2004.


15. Can’t find her way from her bed to her bathroom without her glasses, but refused eye surgery, even when someone else offered to pay. (They lost her at “eye flap”. Seriously, look it up. Scary stuff.)


Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter / TikTok



GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 02, 2023 01:48

December 1, 2023

Tricking Christmas by Shanna Hatfield with excerpt and giftcard giveaway

Tricking Christmas: A Sweet Western Holiday Romance
Shanna Hatfield
Publication date: November 30th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance


Will an innocent offer of help lead two obstinate hearts along the road to love?


Truitt Lucas is the guy who brings laughter wherever he goes and refuses to take life too seriously. Beneath his carefree exterior, though, he yearns for more adventure and excitement than he’ll find working on the family ranch alongside his cousin and grandmother. When the opportunity arises to assist a trick rider, Truitt eagerly lends a hand. However, he soon finds himself drawn to the perplexing woman who barely tolerates him.


Jolee Judson is living her dream as a trick rider on the rodeo circuit, using her lifelong passion for horses and gymnastics to wow the crowds. But when her partner unexpectedly abandons her, Jolee is just desperate enough to accept a good-natured cowboy’s offer to help. Fascinated and infuriated by Truitt and his shenanigans, Jolee struggles against her growing feelings for him. Falling for Truitt could spell disaster for her future and derail everything she’s worked for.


Can the two of them find common ground where trust is earned and love becomes a cherished gift?


A sweet holiday novel full of the magic of Christmas, Tricking Christmas brims with small-town humor, heartwarming moments, and wholesome romance.


Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Obviously insulted, two twin lines created furrows between his eyebrows. “I’m not doing this for the money, Jolee.” He scoffed at her and swirled the ice around in his tea glass.

“Then, why are you offering to save my bacon, so to speak, if you don’t mind my asking?”

Truitt shrugged. “Because you’re a good person, Jolee Judson, and you’ve worked hard to establish your act with a sterling reputation. You’ve always been the driving force behind it. Amy even said as much. It’s not fair that you’ve been put into a bind because your partner quit without any notice.”

“Amy had a good reason. She needs to be with her family.”

“She does, but I got the idea she’s had one foot out the door for a while. She mentioned last time we spoke about going back to school to become a veterinarian.”

Shock widened Jolee’s eyes. “I had no idea she was considering it. I think she’ll do great in that field, though. She loves animals.”

“She does.” Truitt took the last bacon tot from the bag. “Dibs on the last one.” He popped it in his mouth, drained his glass, and stood. Once again, the trailer felt cramped by his presence.

Jolee wondered if it was his large personality as much as his muscular physique that made the space seem smaller.

“I better get going. I promised Troy I’d help him with a few farrier jobs he’s got lined up. Do you want me to try to perform with you tonight or during this rodeo?”

“No. Let’s leave things as they are this week, although I wouldn’t mind if you had time to help set out props.”

“Sure. Troy and I are scheduled to rope in the slack tomorrow afternoon, but I can help you out during your performances. Just let me know what you need, honey.”

Jolee bristled as Truitt opened the door and stepped outside. When he turned to face her, his smile melted faster than the ice cream cone she’d attempted to eat the previous afternoon. She’d heard Truitt call babies in diapers, old women with walkers, and females of every size, shape, color, and age in between “honey.” And she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“You will not ever, under any circumstance, call me ‘honey,’” she commanded in a tone dripping frost despite the heat already surging outside. “Understood?”

“Yes, ho—Yes, ma’am.” Truitt ducked his head, but she caught the hint of his smile.


Author Bio:


USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.


Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”


When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.


To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield


Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest / Bookbub / Newsletter



GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 01, 2023 01:45

November 30, 2023

Christmas Cove by Sarah Dressler with a guest post and giveaway

Some of my Christmas traditions

by Sarah Dressler

I grew up in a military family, so our yearly traditions were something that I clung to amidst the turmoil of my life. Now, my family will probably tell you that I’m remembering details wrong, but this is how I choose to recall all the wonderful moments revolving around Christmas. Christmas Eve: There was always eggnog. My mom had a set of very fancy holly berry dishes with gold rimming, that I am now the steward of, and my dad and I would sip grocery store eggnog while singing carols by the tree. To this day, I’m not sure if I really like the drink, or that I really enjoyed sharing something special with my father. After eggnog, the whole family would sit around the tree and all the kids would select one gift to unwrap. It had to be something from a relative or friend that wasn’t in the house. Usually this meant we would go for a gift sent by one of our aunts and uncles. Looking back, all this did was excite us so much that sleep was hard to find that night. The anticipation of waiting til morning, running down the stairs, with a gigantic VHS video recorder staring us down from across the room, was one of the highlights of the whole season.  Now, we can add reading my novel, Christmas Cove, to our list of traditions.

Christmas Cove

by Sarah Dressler

GENRE:   Romance

BLURB:

With only three weeks left in December, travel editor, America Greene, arrives in the idyllic Christmas Cove to find it… Christmasless!

America needs a story, and fast, so she teams up with the town’s good-looking (and eligible) mayor, Leo, to light up Main Street and salvage her chance at being a full-time writer. The connection between them heats up, halls are decked, sleigh bells ring, and lights twinkle. Just when she thinks the holiday is saved, a nearby city threatens the future of Christmas Cove. With her heart, and career, hanging in the balance, she must learn that Christmas is much more than just a place on a map before time runs out.

Excerpt

Leo watched as America’s eyes lit up. The space was a winter wonderland, complete with dozens of flocked and lit trees. Soft glowing faux candles dotted the room, a live band played at one end, and there was more punch and hot cocoa than one could drink.

“This is beautiful,” America said as she took in the atmosphere.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. Though he couldn’t see if she heard him, her shoulder moved ever so slightly as though she did. “Is this the Christmas you were hoping for?”

“Close,” she said and took a turn around him while delighting in the moment.   

America looked like the queen of the ball as they walked to the center of the space, and pride swelled inside Leo that she was on his arm. The crowd hushed and, as though they were witnessing something special, cleared room on the dancefloor.

Though they didn’t know who she was, her confident and relaxed posture commanded attention from everyone in the room. She sent Leo a knowing side glance as he twirled her around before catching her in his arm.

He took her left hand in his and her waist in his right. The room stood still in the breath just before the music began. A Christmas waltz. Leo knew this one well. He took her through the steps, and she followed his lead like a pro. 

As the music swelled and diminished to a close, he captured her gaze. She radiated happiness.

“Where did you learn to dance like that?” America said breathlessly.

“YouTube.”

America whacked him in the belly as she laughed. “You did not!”

He liked teasing her. “Of course, I didn’t. My Aunt June insisted on weekly cotillion classes.”

“You surprise me.”

“I try,” Leo said and held her close.

Her arms draped over his shoulders and her head rested near his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered. “This is exactly what I imagined before I came here.”

“You imagined dancing with a dashing, yet approachable public servant in a snow-themed pavilion with a hundred eyes trained on you while your favorite song is played by a live band, while wearing a stunning gown and falling madly in—”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sarah Dressler, originally from Florida, now calls the mountains of Colorado home. Beginning her writing career as an award winning fashion blogger, Sarah now writes fiction full time. She has spent her life traveling the world, first as the daughter of a US Air Force officer, and later as a military spouse. She enjoys sunset walks with her husband of nearly twenty years, and raising two very busy teenagers.

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cove-Sarah-Dressler-ebook/dp/B0CBD7Q57L/

iTunes: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6460122265

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-cove-sarah-dressler/

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-cove

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1420736

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sarah_Dressler_Christmas_Cove?id=Rl_QEAAAQBAJ

5PP: https://www.5princebooks.com/sarahdressler.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196102112-christmas-cove?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=p7RirE5IYe&rank=1

Socia Media

5PP Page:  https://www.5princebooks.com/sarahdressler.html

INSTAGRAM AUTHOR PAGE: instagram.com/thesarahdressler,

a Rafflecopter giveawayLike this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 30, 2023 00:00

November 29, 2023

Once Upon a Charming Bookshop by Heatherly Bell with an excerpt and giftcard giveaway

Once Upon a Charming Bookshop
Heatherly Bell
(Charming, Texas, #6)
Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Publication date: November 28th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance


Time to rewrite their story?


He’d always simply been her best friend. But when Noah Cahill moved back to town, bookstore owner Twyla Thompson knew something was different. Was it holiday memories of the loss they’d both shared or Noah’s surprising decision to reignite a dangerous career? Their solid friendship had been through so much, yet now Twyla grew breathless every time Noah was near. Why wasn’t Noah—handsome, fun, but never one to cross the line—showing any signs of stopping?


From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.


Charming, Texas


Book 1: Winning Mr. Charming
Book 2: The Charming Checklist
Book 3: A Charming Christmas Arrangement
Book 4: A Charming Single Dad
Book 5: A Charming Doorstep Baby
Book 6: Once Upon a Charming Bookshop


Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Then with little warning other than the sudden shine in his eyes, he hauled her by the neck to him and kissed her, square on the lips. It was a deep and long kiss that didn’t seem to have a beginning. Nor did it have an end. He pulled her tight and they were hip to hip, belly to belly. Even through the shock of the totally unexpected, she kissed him back. She sunk her fingers into his hair and kissed him with everything she had in her. With every last inch of longing wrapped up in her, saved over the years and packed away where the raw intensity of the emotion couldn’t destroy her.

She fisted his shirt. She ran her hands up and down his back, feeling the muscles tense and bunch.

It was over just as quickly and then they were both panting, staring at each other.

“I’m sorry.” Noah took a step back, leaving a healthy distance between them. “Yeah, I shouldn’t have done that. That’s wrong.”

Wrong?

“It’s okay,” she stammered because she didn’t know what else to say in the moment.

Yes, it was wonderful, please kiss me again, because I think maybe I’ve always loved you?

“It’s just…that was wrong of me. I don’t feel that way about you.”

Oh, God. There went her heart, pierced and sliced into tiny bits.

I don’t feel that way about you.

No, he was right. This was wrong. And if he had regrets then damn it, so did she.

“Me, neither. I don’t feel that way about you.”

“I know.”

The certainty in his voice broke her heart a little. How could he be so sure she wasn’t straight out lying, trying to save her pride?

She chewed on her lower lip. “So, let’s just forget it. Pretend the kiss never happened.”

“But…we’re okay?”

Worry and regret filled those dark puppy dog eyes. Not long ago, she would have understood. But now she knew what it was like to be kissed by Noah and her heart shattered to think it would never happen again.

“We’re okay. You’re probably right, huh? Bad idea.”

“Yeah, I just don’t want to…you know…” He ran a hand through his hair, looking desperately vulnerable, like a man searching for a lifeline.

And what kind of friend would she be not to throw one to him?

“It was just, well, okay, maybe we’re both lonely. And it’s after midnight. I…got um, confused.” She had no idea what she was saying but it sounded good, and he seemed to be receptive.

“Yeah, so did I.”

“And I’ve got a date tomorrow night so that could be awkward.”

Now she’d lied to her best friend, but she’d also kissed him within an inch of his life, so either way she was in brand new territory here.

He quirked a brow. “You have a date? Who is he?”

“Some guy.”

“Some guy? Does ‘some guy’ have a name?”

“Of course he has a name, Noah. He’s some guy I just met.” She crossed her arms. “Weren’t you leaving?”

He scowled. “Yeah. I have an early day tomorrow.”

“Bye.” She closed the door before he could say another word.

Now she was going to have to find herself a date.



Author Bio:


Bestselling author Heatherly Bell was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but lost her accent by the time she was two. After leaving Alabama, Heatherly lived with her family in Puerto Rico and Maryland before being transplanted kicking and screaming to the California Bay Area. She now loves it here, she swears. Except the traffic.


Over 200,000 copies of Heatherly’s books have been sold, many of them translated into two languages.


Heatherly also writes sweet and wholesome books under the pen name of Maria Michaels. She is represented by Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency.


Luke’s unwavering loyalty to Lexi and her family gives this sweet romance unexpected integrity …Readers looking for a tender romance that leans more toward the emotional than the physical will find this very satisfying.” ~ Publishers Weekly/Booklife review on Country Gold.


“Heatherly Bell writes romance that will capture your heart.” ~ Marina Adair, New York Times bestselling author.


“What a thoroughly delightful story. I adored it.” ~ Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author on Lucky Cowboy.


Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram



GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 29, 2023 01:42

November 15, 2023

Sedona by Kerry Fryar Freeman

Sedona copy

Welcome to the launch tour for Sedona by Kerry Fryar Freeman! Read on for more details!

perf5.000x8.000.indd

Sedona

Publication Date: November 15, 2023

Genre: Mystery/ Small Town Mystery

Sedona, AZ is a tourist town that lures people from around the world who believe there is more beyond the veil of reality. They come for the whispering pines, Hopi legends, vortices, magic crystals, and healing springs. Enter Cal Novak, a spunky editor from Atlanta, Georgia, who gives up the city life because she is searching for more: more time, more adventure, more meaning. The magic of her new hometown does not disappoint. Behind the curtain of every window there are secrets waiting to be uncovered. For those searching for more, there’s no place like Sedona.

GET IT HERE!


This is about legacy; this is about the legacy that was left before us. It’s about the land, the trees, the water, the buttes, the canyons, the tribes, the people…you can’t just appear and understand it all. Once you’re rooted, it flows through you; it speaks to you; it lives in you. You will never get that because you’re not part of that. You work up there on that butte with someone who couldn’t care less about what we are, who we are, and you think you have it all figured out. I feel bad for you, Cal, tumbleweeding along. You’re just dry roots, rot, dust in the wind. We don’t need you anymore. Get out!” Tommy yelled.


The bar was silent, every face turned toward Tommy and Cal. He could see Cal’s eyes starting to water, red flushing her cheeks, a slight shake of her hands as she removed them from her glass. Noise returned to the bar, but Tommy’s eyes were once again unmoving.


“If it’s really more than that,” Cal said, her voice quivering, “then you deal with your own mess. I’m out.” Cal stood up and walked away.


“Hey, Cal!” Des shouted. “Wait up.”


The words fell hard on Tommy, much harder than he anticipated. There was a weight that he hadn’t felt in a long time: responsibility. It was time to take matters into his own hands.


About the Author

A native of North Carolina, Kerry Fryar Freeman crafts fiction as if it were a new puzzle. The settings are real and well researched, the details are rich and layered, and the stories absorb and propel readers one piece at a time. Kerry’s debut novel, SEDONA, was long-listed for the Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Award and is set for publication with the Wild Rose Press. In addition to fiction, Kerry writes in academic and professional settings. She worked as an editor for N2 publishing. Currently, she writes English Language Arts curriculum for the North Carolina Virtual Academy serving high school students across the state of North Carolina. She also writes a blog called “Books and Bevies” where she features an array of authors from New York Times and Amazon bestsellers to debut Indie gems. Books and Bevies can be found on her website KerryFryarFreeman.com or by following her on Twitter @KerryFFreeman and Instagram @Books_and_Bevies. Kerry Fryar Freeman

Book Tour Organized By:

RRBookTours Button

R&R Book Tours

Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 15, 2023 00:30

November 13, 2023

Shadows in Sussex by Emma Dakin

A New Cozy Mystery by Emma Dakin

Claire Barclay and her band of tourists are full of enthusiasm for her trip to Sussex and Kent, the beautiful southeastern part of England. A tragic death of a young man the son of the guest house manager sends Claire into comforting mode and makes it more difficult for her provide a bright and care-free holiday. Laura was not surprised at her son’s death as he had been a drug user and she expected he had taken contaminated drugs, a common fate. But the police lab said otherwise. He was murdered. Claire’s fiancé, Detective Inspector Mark Evans, investigates, so Claire is involved and privy too much information. Too much. In spite of her busy life with demanding guests, she discovers the motive for the murder and finds herself in danger.

A fun tour of Sussex with the extra treat for mystery lovers as Emma Dakin ties places to favorite books.
—Rhys Bowen (NYT bestselling author of the
Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness series

If you are looking for a cozy crime novel that evokes a wonderful sense of place – look no further. Emma Dakin skilfully weaves a new mystery into a fascinating and informative tour of Southern England featuring heroine and literary tour guide, Claire Barclay, and a host of interesting characters.
—Julie Wassmer, Author of The Whitstable Pearl Mysteries

This engaging story will appeal to traditional mystery-lovers who like their murders set against the authentic backdrop of quaint English villages.
—Clara Benson, USA Today bestselling author of the Angela Marchmont Mysteries

Excerpt:

Approaching the small town of Rye, I marked the route to Canterbury and the road to Hastings where I’d take my guests later in the week, I didn’t know this area well but had done two quick reconnaissance trips earlier. Jacqueline Winspear set her books near here in the war years. Her descriptions had given me a sense of familiarity with the green land around me, but the miles of delta before the sea surprised me. Rother Manor, our guest hotel, was large, but not, I was sure, large enough to have ever been a manor house. The name was probably applied to the house recently to attract tourists. The common meaning of ‘manor’ was a large house on a huge estate, but sometimes it just meant a large house. Mark told me that his colleagues sometimes called their police district their manor. I ruminated on the application of the word. I tended to do that. I’d not brought guests here before, but it looked ideal, sufficiently old to satisfy the North American appetite for a romantic setting but not so old it was decrepit. Laura Wright, the manager, had seemed organized and experienced.

I loved trying out new guest hotels and the whole experience of taking a tour to the sites of mystery novels. The tourists shared my itch for mysteries and were usually interested in what I offered. I’d had a career as a teacher of English to executives in many parts of the world. I enjoyed it as I was fascinated by linguistics and the way people use language. Now at forty-eight, I had achieved stability with a reliable partner, my own house and tour business and a legacy from my much-missed step-father. I should be able to feel comfortable, not always expecting a disaster. I admonished myself. This time the tour will go smoothly. This is a beautiful house; you will enjoy it here.

Rother Manor House was a three-storey rambling Victorian and was as close to a gracious house as was possible at the edge of Rye. The grounds were beautiful. Laura’s son, Reece Martin, looked after them she’d told me. He was in his late twenties and committed to creating beauty. The owners of the guest house were glad to hire him, Laura had told me, as staff was hard to find. It was unusual to see so much land around a house of this age in a town but it made a picturesque setting for my visitors. Across the street and well below it lay the cricket grounds, still green in the July heat. Beyond the grounds, the salt marsh stretched to the sea. The tourists would love this view.

I pulled my eyes away from the vista and turned into the car park, a graveled area to the left of the entrance. After unloading my small suitcase, knapsack and briefcase from the van, I climbed a few steps to the front door. It was unlocked. I entered into a long hallway and saw a side table with an open guest book and a prominent bell. I called for Laura but there was no answer. I hit the bell. No one came. I hadn’t told her the exact time I’d be here. She was likely nearby. I wandered into the lounge which was off the hallway. A small table held two cups and saucers, sugar and a milk jug and a plate of cake. My guests weren’t arriving until tomorrow. She could have others guests tonight, but I hoped that cake was for me. I dropped my luggage on a chair in the lounge and walked down the hallway to the rear of the house. There was no one in the kitchen. I pushed through the back door and stepped into the garden. The minute I opened the door I heard the keening of a woman in distress, a soft, desperate cry that rose in the air and hung there. There was anguish in every tone. The hairs on my forearms rose and I stood frozen for a moment.

The wail receded, then rose again. It came from the area at the back of the property. I walked towards a shed. I moved cautiously to the open door and peered in.

Laura was sitting on the floor beside a young man who lay still. His skin on his arms was pale, deadly pale. His head was turned so I just saw his dark hair. He was muscular, wearing a black T-shirt, denim jeans, black trainers. At first, I thought he’d fallen or had a seizure of some sort. Then I saw the Prenoxade kit open and the syringe on the floor nearby. Prenoxade, naloxone, the life-saving remedy for drug poisoning. Tour guides carried it; police carried it; teachers had it handy and, apparently, so did mothers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emma Dakin writes a series of mysteries set in Britain. Her protagonist is a tour guide who takes different characters in each book to the sites of mystery novels in the countryside. She appreciates the elegant, people and humor of each area. But in that idyllic country, Claire stumbles on murder. Author Emma Dakin has five books so far in this series with the latest release September 12th 2023. An historical mystery set in Vancouver in 1886 is due out soon. She won a prestigious 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s Community History Award for her non-fiction account of life in the 60s.

Website: emmadakinauthor.com
Email: emma@emmadakinauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarionCrookAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_mcrook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emma Dakin will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

RAFFLECOPTER:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Like this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 13, 2023 07:38

November 9, 2023

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS CASTLE by Virginia Barlow with a giveaway

Once Upon a Christmas Castle

by Virginia Barlow

GENRE:   Historical Holiday Romance

BLURB:

Lady Rosalind Chatham journeys with her family to Weston Castle to wed an ancient earl on Christmas day. Yearning for true love, she falls for the duke, her stepfather’s cousin, while preparing for her nuptials.
Lady Rosalind entrances the Duke of Weston. Concerned for her future with the tempestuous earl, he can’t afford to get involved. The fines and scandal will be too great for a man of his wealth and power.
When the truth comes to light, and he almost loses her forever, he finds he cannot afford to give less than his whole heart.

Excerpt  

“Will you kiss me?” All true loves did so, and she longed to know the pleasure of one real kiss before her sentence of marriage was carried out. The girls she knew in London spoke of thrilling moments in the moonlight with ardent young lords desperate to steal a kiss or two, but no one attempted such a thing with her. Knowing she dreamed made the words come easier to her lips, and she trembled in anticipation as she met the intense regard of

the man holding her.

“I do not think such an act would be appropriate.”

His deep voice rumbled beneath her cheek as he held her tight, descending a set of tight spiral stairs.

What better place for a forbidden pleasure than a dream? “None of this is real, and I must find out what a real kiss is before I am doomed to a life of misery. As the hero of my dream, you must comply with my wishes because this is my dream. I shall never have this chance again. Please, kiss me, so I have something to remember in the time ahead.”

He hesitated for the barest second before his hot mouth covered her own, sliding against her lips the way the duke kissed her hand.

She could not breathe and wrapped her arms tight around her rescuer’s neck, giving her body over to the wonder filling her heart and soul.

When he lifted his head, she protested. “Do not stop.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I have always loved reading romance novels. I used to sneak into my mom’s room as a young girl and read them while she was gone. As I grew older, my reading and tastes expanded to sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy.

I considered becoming an author in my late twenties but as a busy mother with toddlers, I didn’t have the time nor the energy.

Later, in my fifties, I decided to give it a try and have enjoyed every moment of it since. I recently signed my fourteenth contract and am doing my happy dance as I type this. My husband of forty-one years is my greatest support as are all my kids. Most of them are grown and carving out lives for themselves. They are the beat of my heart and with every grandchild, the rhythm gets stronger. I enjoy every moment of my life.

Social Media Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/virginiabar1031

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiasromancenook/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046288755596817

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@virginiasromancenook

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGFHEfWqTshpYrUvlwbQhQ

Website: https://www.virginia-barlow.com

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Christmas-Castle-Virginia-Barlow/dp/1509250379/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-christmas-castle-virginia-barlow/1144009112?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198193906-once-upon-a-christmas-castle

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/books/once-upon-a-christmas-castle-christmas-in-the-castle-by-virginia-barlow

a Rafflecopter giveawayLike this:Like Loading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 09, 2023 00:00