Aubrey Wynne's Blog, page 19
October 31, 2023
The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick with an excerpt and signed copy giveaway
The Cruel Dark
Bea Northwick
Publication date: October 31st 2023
Genres: Adult, Gothic, Romance
Millicent Foxboro is haunted.
Not by ghosts, but by the anguish of her past and the uncertainty of her future. After all, even in the progressive year of 1928, most people would balk at hiring a woman who’d spent two months in a mental ward for traumatic amnesia. So when an uncommon assistantship to a reclusive Professor of mythology falls into her lap with an ungodly salary attached, her desperation for stability overrides her cautious nature.
To Millie’s dismay, the widowed Professor Callum Hughes and his estate, Willowfield, are more than she bargained for. The once magnificent home, known for its sprawling gardens and dazzling parties, is falling to pieces after the death of the professor’s fragile wife. What’s more, the staff has been reduced to the only three people not frightened away by rumors of ghosts, leaving the halls empty and languishing in bitter memories.
The professor himself is a grim, intense man with unclear expectations, unpredictable moods, and hungry eyes that ignite Millie’s own dormant passions. The closer she finds herself drawn to Professor Hughes and his strange world of flowers and folklore, the more the house closes in, threatening to reveal her secrets. But the professor is keeping secrets of his own, and the most dangerous of all is hers to discover.
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EXCERPT:
I’d never questioned the presence of my wits more than the moment I stood in the frigid morning air and watched the hired car arrive. The vehicle, sleek and ostentatious, was said to be capable of going fifty miles an hour, and I pretended it was the prospect of that speed making my stomach do somersaults.
The car pulled to a smooth stop, and a tall, ruddy driver unfolded himself from the front seat, introduced himself briefly as Joseph Dempsey, and went to collect my bags. It was short work; I had only one. I wasn’t a woman of means. As the gentleman loaded my valise into the trunk, I ran my bare fingers along the smooth deep sea blue of the wheel hull. This was, undoubtedly, the worst decision I’d ever made, but there were few options, and this was by far the least evil of them.
I glanced over my shoulder to the doorway of the little bookshop I’d come to know as home, where the stooped owner, Mr. Helm, had appeared, his blue eyes uncharacteristically red-rimmed. I’d never seen him on the verge of tears, and my heart constricted painfully. I rushed to him, pulling a thin cotton handkerchief from my pocket. It wasn’t in his character to embrace, so he enveloped both of my hands in his. They were large hands, covered in the ink stains of his trade as an antique book restorer, a business he had been teaching me for the past year despite his once firmly held belief that restoration was not for women.
Mr. Helm had been a tall man in his youth, but the war and many years hunched over a workman’s table had scuttled his stature. I didn’t need to lift my chin to look at his face, which was working to arrange itself into something less aggrieved. I was glad for his trying, because I would call off everything if even one tear rolled down his cheek.
Author Bio:
Bea Northwick is a lover of magical, spooky, and romantic things. She owns too much perfume, can’t pick an aesthetic, and loves 80s movies. She lives with her husband, children, dogs, and a black cat in the sunny American South where she dreams daily of Irish cottages and rain swept Scottish castles.
The Cruel Dark is her debut novel.
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GIVEAWAY!
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—
October 27, 2023
How it All Began by Fiona West
How it All Began
Fiona West
Publication date: October 24th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Trust is like car keys: easy to lose and hard to get anywhere without it…
Evan only intended to strike up a casual conversation with the stunning blonde with Goldie Hawn looks–now he finds himself trying to cross paths with her on campus every chance he gets. But his water polo teammate appears to have damaged his chances with Farrah before he could even ask her out.
Farrah’s been out with players from the water polo team before–and it’s always ended in tears. The handsome medical student who wants to help her get revenge says he’s not like them…but there’s only one way to know for sure.
Will a trip to his hometown seal the deal or prove this player’s all washed up?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
“Who is that?” Cat asked, peering out the front window as she pinned the foil in Mrs. Bergstein’s hair. “And what do I have to do to get my fingers in that hair?”
“I love his cut,” Daisy said. “Don’t you just love it? I wonder who did it.”
“Forget his cut. Look at his jaw. And those arms. I bet those could keep me warm all night.”
Farrah smiled to herself as she swept her area, but said nothing. He’d put some kind of product in it that was making it look even more tousled than she’d intended, and it was definitely working for him. She’d have to find out what he’d used. Farrah glanced at the clock: it was 3:55. She took off her apron and washed her hands in the sink; they were feeling rough. She really needed to invest in some gloves or something if she was going to be holding hands with this guy more in the near future…and it seemed like a real possibility. More nerves bubbled in her stomach as she checked herself in the mirror, fluffing her hair.
“I’m off. See you all Monday.”
“Wait,” Cat said, “is that…are you…that stud muffin is yours?” she called after her as the door swung shut. “Farrah!”
“Hi,” she greeted Evan shyly, and he grinned.
“I think your boss was trying to get your attention…”
Farrah waved a hand. “She’s fine. They’ll just hound me for details on Monday, anyway, and I’ll have more to tell them then.” She leaned forward, hesitated, then gave him a peck on the cheek, if only to stake her claim with the other stylists. Mine. And yes, I gave him a bodacious haircut. His sunglasses reflected her smile back.
“In that case, ready to go? Turns out the shop is just down the street.”
“Sure!” He held out his arm, and she took it gladly as they started off. They walked in pleasant silence for a few minutes until Evan dropped her arm and turned to her.
“Okay, I can’t take it anymore. Was it Hairway to Heaven?”
Farrah blinked. “What?”
“Your name! The better name for the salon! Was it Hairway to Heaven? Or maybe Whole Lotta Styling Going On?”
She snickered. “What? No!”
“The Braidy Bunch?”
Farrah rolled her eyes and resumed walking. “That is the worst pun I’ve ever heard.”
“Oh, I’ve got lots more. Vanity Hair? Blown Away? Ahead of Hair Time?”
“Stop,” Farrah giggled, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him close, matching his long strides. But the man just kept going.
“A Cut Above. Fringe Benefits. Thy Kingdom Comb.”
The giggles were now uncontrollable, and she felt tears of laughter at the corners of her eyes.
“Curl up ‘n Dye! Mane Attraction! A Cut Above!”
“You already did that one,” Farrah wheezed, holding her stomach, barely able to get the words out for laughing so hard.
“Well, I can’t help it! I have to know! Please, please put me out of my misery and—”
“All right, all right,” she said, wiping the tears from her face, aware that her mascara was now running. “My goodness. It’s…” She’d never told anyone her plans for the salon, not even her mom, and she told her pretty much everything. But Evan wasn’t going to judge her, she didn’t think. And hopefully, he’d be kind if he didn’t like it.
“It’s Shear Brilliance,” she said, just as they came to a stop outside a bridal shop.
Evan stared at her for a long moment, blinking slowly, then finally said, “That is genius.”
“You really like it?”
“No, I adore it. It’s perfect. Far better than what I came up with. You’ve got a flair for this, Farrah. And it’s going to look great printed on your business cards when you give Harry a stack for his friends.”
Farrah rolled her eyes as she pulled open the front door. “You never stop, do you?”
Evan grinned. “You should see me in the off-season when I don’t have water polo to tire me out. I’m like a human pinball machine.”
Author Bio:
Fiona West lives in the Pacific Northwest. Writing romance is her favorite thing, followed closely by reading, knitting and drinking tea while looking out the window. When she’s not doing those things, she’s spending time with her husband and two kids. Her debut novel, The Ex-Princess, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was named one of their Best Books of 2019. The first book in her contemporary romance series, Could Be Something Good, also received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Find out more about Fiona at http://www.fionawest.net or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.subscribepage.com/westwind.
Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Newsletter
GIVEAWAY!
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October 25, 2023
A Patch of Romance by J.C. Valentine with a giftcard giveaway
A Patch of Romance
J.C. Valentine
(A Coffee Break Mystery, #4)
Publication date: October 25th 2023
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Romance
Callie’s status as a single mom is about to end when she meets up with local dad, Scott Prince, at the pumpkin patch. Love is definitely in the air…or is that just pumpkin spice? Either way, Callie is about to embark on a seriously satisfying journey. That is, until the mystery knocker comes knocking. Is it just a Halloween prank, or is someone trying to send her a message—the deadly kind?
As Callie and Scott traverse the dating life with one another and ring in the holidays with the hope of uniting them all as one big, patchwork family, the lingering question of who keeps knocking and what they want looms in the shadows, waiting to be answered. Will Callie and Scott reveal the truth behind the eerie knocking before something it’s too late? And will they ever get their happily ever after?
Follow Callie and Scott’s journey from wary strangers to soulmates in this feel-good holiday romance. With a friends-to-lovers romance, family bonding moments, cozy Christmas traditions, and a found family trope, this wholesome love story will get you in the holiday spirit. Curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and let the magic of the season bring this unlikely pair together one knock at a time.
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EXCERPT:
“Okay, you wild banshees, costumes are ready to go!” I called up the stairs. Instantly, I heard the pounding of little feet as Lily and Ethan raced down the stairs, with Lily predictably in the lead, eager to transform into their Halloween alter-egos.
“Beware the Headless Horseman!” Lily cried, tossing her hooded cape dramatically over her grinning face. Next to her, Ethan was assembling his white boxy Minecraft costume, complete with pixelated foam sword.
I knelt down and made the final adjustments, securing Ethan’s headpiece and Lily’s belt, then ushered them toward the door. “Let’s hit those sidewalks before all the good candy is gone!” I declared.
It was still light outside when we stepped out onto the porch. Ghosts, superheroes, princesses, and witches were already parading up and down the street as families got the trick-or-treating underway. The crisp air twinkled with magic and excitement as neighbors called out compliments on costumes, and I inhaled the heavenly, smoky scent of burning wood that several people were using to keep warm as they passed out candy.
We weren’t far into our route when I heard rapid footsteps approaching. Lily and Ethan’s faces lit up as Scott and his son came into view dressed in matching blow-up dinosaur costumes. I couldn’t help laughing as I watched their giant dino heads bobble to and fro as they swished toward us.
“Hey, guys!” Scott greeted, slightly out of breath. Since our pumpkin carving hangout, we’d been planning for the kids to do Halloween night trick-or-treating together too. I was relieved he was making it easy for me to take this second opportunity with no strings attached.
“Dad, can we go show Ms. Molly our costumes?” Lily asked eagerly.
I nodded indulgently, enjoying seeing my kids having a good time. After waiting a few moments for Lily, Ethan, and Stanley to run up the walkway to show off their costumes to their principal, we began a slow, easy walk from house to house, stealing pieces of candy here and there, as the kids ran back and forth down driveways and bonded with each other more.
Author Bio:
J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Trilogy. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry.
Living in the Northwest, she has three amazing children and far too many pets. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.
Sign up for J.C.’s newsletter and never miss a thing! http://bit.ly/1KxXWWB
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter
GIVEAWAY!
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—
October 18, 2023
Highland Heir by Allison B. Hanson
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Allison B. Hanson will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Read an Excerpt
Kieran has spent his life living in the shadow of his late older brother. Brody had been the heir his father had loved and wanted, while Kieran was born to a woman his father despised for her betrayal. Kieran has only ever felt the bond of family with his best friend, Ella.
Ella knew one day Kieran would be called on to do his duty to his clan and marry for an alliance. But she never expected his engagement would suddenly force her to see him in such a different way. They’d known each other all their lives, but aside from one exploratory kiss, she had never been attracted to him as a woman is to a man. Until now.
As the time comes for Kieran to marry, he realizes he has feelings he shouldn’t have for the lass who’s been by his side all his life.
When the marriage contract is breached, Kieran hopes it means freedom for them to be together, but instead, it leads to war and a secret that will change their lives forever.
If given a choice between sitting in the hall hearing auld Innes accuse his neighbor of switching out his cow with one that gave less milk or jumping from the seawall to drown in the ocean, Kieran Sinclair might have chosen the latter. But Kieran had not been given many choices in his twenty years.
The son of a laird was first and foremost the heir. Upon his birth, he was destined to one day take over the clan, and as such, he spent every day until that happened in constant preparation for the event.
Even if it was never supposed to be his birthright.
In truth, Kieran was to be the second son. Heir to the heir only. Had things transpired as they should have, Kieran would be free to do what he wanted—or to do nothing at all.
Without the mantle of responsibility weighing heavy on his shoulders, he could have lived a life of his choosing, marrying his heart’s desire. Not that he was interested in marrying and had no heartfelt desires of yet.
Still, he knew one day he would marry a woman that was chosen for him. He would enter into a marriage for the sole purpose of an alliance or in a trade with some other clan.
If only his older brother had lived, it would have been Brody whose destiny was written without his control.
About the Author:
One very early morning, Allison B. Hanson woke up with a conversation going on in her head. It wasn’t so much a dream as being forced awake by her imagination. Unable to go back to sleep, she gave in, went to the computer, and began writing. Years later it still hasn’t stopped.
Allison’s historical romances are filled with kilted heroes. She lives near Hershey, Pennsylvania, and enjoys candy immensely, as well as long motorcycle rides, running and reading.
Website: https://allisonbhanson.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AllisonBHanson
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Heir-Allison-B-Hanson-ebook/dp/B0CHSJ27WN/
Like this:Like Loading...October 12, 2023
For the Love of Villains anthology release day
For the Love of Villains: Anthology
Publication date: October 13th 2023
Genres: Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
I shouldn’t be falling in love…
Fear fuels my every move…the pulsating adrenaline tickling my spine.
I shouldn’t sacrifice safe and secure for dangerous and deranged…
I shouldn’t be attracted to morally corrupt…
Yet…
Arousal is coating my traumatized heart…
And I’m running right into the arms of the wrong person.
The villain.
Some of your favorite authors have teamed up to bring to you TWENTY-SIX new stories in every shade of morally gray you can think of. From mafia to bully, dark romance and age gap… you will find villains living in these pages.
Do you dare fall in love with the bad?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/118913302-for-the-love-of-villains
Purchase: https://books2read.com/villainsanthology
Cover by @trcdesignbycat
Participating Authors
Alex King, Maya Morrison, B. Durrett, Debra Deasey, Delaney Foster, M. Bonnet, Em Torrey, Harper Monroe, Weli Sane, Natalie Bennett, Bex Dawn, Haley Tyler, Jocelyne Soto, JM Elliott , Des Sweet, Simran, Kristina Brown, Cassie Lein & Alisha Williams, Elice Nange, A.R. Harlow, Morgana Darkins, R.E. Johnson, Victoria Ellis, Teegan Wylde & Brea Alepoú, YD La Mar, Jenn Bullard & Amber Nicole
Beware A Wallflower’s Wrath by Aubrey Wynne – Preorder Now
Annis Craigg gave her heart away at seventeen. First to the handsome lord who spoke so sincerely of love, then to her newborn son. Fifteen years later, she’s content as a “widow” and the life she has created. Until her past comes back to haunt her—and begs forgiveness. Both her son—and the Englishman who has stubbornly remained in her affections—find their lives turned upside down when they discover the secrets she has kept to herself.
Lord Robert Harding, third son of a marquess, fell in love with a shy Scottish lass. His dominating father had arranged a betrothal with a wealthy earl’s daughter. Facing the choice of being shunned by his family and society or returning penniless to Scotland, Robert reluctantly does his duty. After fifteen years of silent longing for Annis, his wife dies, and he is free. Older, wiser, and now financially independent, he defies the marquess and heads to Glasgow.
Lies, secrets, and betrayal will challenge the fierce love of a steadfast Highlander and remorseful but determined Englishman. Will destiny find a way to bring two star-crossed souls together?
Order now on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo
Like this:Like Loading...October 11, 2023
The Cat That Played Chess by Catarrina Cummings plus a giveaway
The Cat That Played Chess
Catarrina Cummings
Publication date: July 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery
Having received an eviction notice, Zapporah Leverne needs money fast. Her current job as a product tester will not meet the deadline. She believes her extraordinary cat named Rookie can fix this. This feline is so good at copying humans that she can move chess pieces on the chessboard.
Zapporah pulls ropes to land Rookie a part in a commercial. Her cat wows the director to the point he thinks she would be good in his reality television series. But Rookie is stolen from Zapporah’s apartment.
Although there are few clues to the thief’s identity, Sloth, Zapporah’s roommate, believes the landlady is the thief and attempts to prove it. When Zapporah receives a voice message with a cat meowing in the background from talent agent Gloria Stravos, her suspicions are confirmed. Whoever stole Rookie will put her in show business. Arriving at Gloria’s office, Zapporah discovers Gloria has been murdered. Things don’t look good for Zapporah when the homicide detective learns she and Gloria had a history of fighting.
Will Zapporah’s intuition and tech-savvy help find Rookie and save her from a cunning murderer hiding behind the cloak of a white nationalist organization?
—
Author Bio:
Catarrina Cummings is an author from Baltimore, Maryland who now lives in San Diego. She is the creator of the Snooping While Black mysteries series, with the first book being The Cat That Played Chess. In addition to dedicated service to her feline overlord, Madam Scrunchka, she also hones her guitar playing under a master instructor.
Her love for chess began when she served in the U.S. Navy, traveling and engaging in tournaments. She’s thrilled that she found the chance to include it in her first novel.
Nowadays, Catarrina can be found solving chess problems and attending multiple book clubs. If she ever finds enough free time from these activities, she might wish to consider finishing the second installation of her mystery series.
GIVEAWAY!
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—
October 9, 2023
Guest post and excerpt by Reed Stirling – author of THE PALIMPSEST MURDERS plus a giveaway
In developing the plot of The Palimpsest Murders, a significant challenge for me as a writer was conceiving of and developing in realistic terms the many characters who participate in the boat and bike excursion. I called this the palimpsest challenge. Who among them would be murdered and who among them would be the murderer? Conflict and individual motivation for dire action would determine how all that would play out against a background that Homer described in The Iliad and succeeding dramatists brought to ancient theatres like that in Epidaurus.
A focus character in my story is Alexsis Troyes. She is clever, articulate, and determined. Her role has to be ambivalent. As part of the palimpsest ploy, where the contemporary is a re-enactment of the past, Alexsis mirrors Sophocles’ Electra, princess in the kingdom of heroic Agamemnon.
Isla Troyes, Alexsis’ sister, is more temperate in her response to family strife. She has her counterpart in various ancient dramatizations.
Kat Steele, formerly Kat Troyes, is a stand-in for Clytemnestra, who murdered her husband Agamemnon in an act of vile reprisal. This treachery troubled both Electra and her banished brother, Orestes. Together, brother and sister wrought revenge on their mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover Aegisthus (Conrad Steele in the novel). The banished Forrest Troyes parallels Orestes.
Significantly, the name of the Dutch boat my characters travel on is The Iphigenia. Iphigenia in classical lore was sacrificed by Agamemnon so that the Greek fleet could sail to Troy and reclaim Helen. Long lost sister Jenny Troyes suffers a similar fate. Candice Troyes embodies the beauty claimed for Helen. Boyd Alexander has his counterpart in the ancient sagas.
Excerpt:
Isla and Candace, indeed. They proved to be most agreeable and, surprisingly, open. They must have heard from Alexsis that I was a sympathetic listener. At times, however, I felt as though a mini competition had occurred between them to see who could hold my attention the longest. Male vanity be damned! I enjoyed an unearned ego boost even if I might have erred in determining their motivation. Penny would have been amused at the sight of it — two appealing young women chatting it up with a balding, avuncular middle-aged man. David would have been taken aback if not absolutely bemused, beguiled even in the way that fathers can sometimes negate long-established filial estimations of the old man’s capabilities and even spark a little resentment. The opposite could also be proven true: sons surprising demanding fathers, sometimes in ways unimaginable. Boyd Alexander vis à vis Conrad Steele.
Candace first, or Candy, as she insisted I call her, but I could not bring myself to do so. Candy sounded belittling somehow, as in the expression eye candy. It struck me as undignified whereas Ace might have worked as a fit alternative to Candace. At any rate, Candace Troyes was beautiful in the classic sense of the word, not cute or pretty or merely a lovely specimen of womanhood. I’d discussed the notion of beauty early in my career in editing with a co-worker several days running as we pieced together the soundtrack for a film that starred an exciting new actor on the scene who had begun her career in public as a cover girl. He said she was gorgeous. I asked him why he thought so, and that started what turned out to be more a debate than a simple exchange of opinions. We contested concepts such as voluptuousness, grace, glamour, allure, style, sensuality, charm; we got into symmetry, harmony, proportion, and the like, and in the process exhausted our understanding of aesthetic appreciation. We balked at the idea of including intellect as a prerequisite for being thought of as beautiful. We touched on cultural expectations and then on brain functions, zeroing in on what is beheld in the eye of the beholder. The only conclusion we reached in our male chauvinistic appraisal was that said budding young starlet was sexy.
When I provided Penny with the details of our discussion on the essence of beauty, she said with satisfaction, “You’ve been engaging in scopophilia, the pair of you.”
Candace was as beautiful as her mother, Eleni, and just as shapely. Her long blond hair was tied today in a ponytail that hung down through the back adjustment of the black, crested ball cap common to all of the Conrad Corps when out on the cycling paths. She had full sensuous lips and a retroussé nose (displaying a tiny heart-shaped stud). Her complexion was olive-toned. Candace had startling green eyes that an aesthetically charged Botticelli might have fashioned; in fact, she struck me as one who could easily have glided off the center of a Botticelli canvass except for the fact she’d just been peddling along through a Lowlands grove and was presently involving me in conversation, conversation that went beyond the weather conditions and favourite colours. Previously she had struck me as quiet, demure, perhaps even sultry. On the contrary, she was absolutely engaging. And her beauty was spell binding.
The Palimpsest Murders
by Reed Stirling
GENRE: Historical mystery
BLURB: Day one: check-in on the Iphigenia, a Boat & Bike home for thirty guests of diverse backgrounds on a one week excursion through Holland and Belgium. Personalities clash, conflicts arise.
Day seven: a body is found in canal waters at the stern of the boat. On the final morning a second body is discovered.
Who among the cyclists and crew is hateful and motivated enough to kill? Twice. How are the two murders related? Why two coins for the ferryman? Is the phoenix jug, both admired and derided, merely symbolic? How does the death mask of Agamemnon lead to resolution?
Determining truth entails travelling from Amsterdam to Bruges to Paris to the ancient site of Mycenae in Greece where what’s past is shown to be prologue.
Excerpt
She was definitely formidable, imperious even, possessed of an elegant yet hardened beauty. Vanessa’s earlier estimation of Kat as a well-preserved, middle-aged vixen came to mind as I watched and listened to her, but any imagined resemblance to Sophia Loren was fading quickly. She was striking in her grandiose posing, seeming as though she’d slid down the reverse side of an ancient Greek vase intent on focusing our interest on her and her misery, the one-time exemplar of easy command and sensuous self-indulgence. I was considering the possibility that Kat Steele was living up to the character she had invented for herself in view of the performance the role of forlorn wife and rejected mother presently required of her. We’d all noted the air of theatricality about her. As to what I actually observed of her face that night in the lounge as she entertained us with her anxious but less than sober self-absorption and resentment, I could not avoid considering her likely dependence on Botox and all the meretricious beauty resulting from its application. Kat had brown eyes that appeared to be anything but lustrous on this occasion because of the smeared mascara shadowing them. Patches of darker pigment crested her high cheeks. The woman could boast having perfect teeth, the better to bite you with, and an aquiline nose sloped perfectly for looking down its length at you. I was intrigued particularly with how she worked her lips and how she slid words into statements with iambic stops and starts designed to smite verbal opposition.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Reed Stirling lives in Cowichan Bay, BC, and writes when not painting landscapes, travelling, or taking coffee at The Drumroaster, a local café where physics and metaphysics clash daily. Before retiring and taking up writing novels, he taught English Literature. Several talented students of his have gone on to become successful award-winning writers.
He and his wife built a log home in the hills of southern Vancouver Island, and survived totally off the grid for twenty-five years during which time the rooms in that house filled up with books, thousands of student essays were graded, and innumerable cords of firewood were split.
Literary output:
Shades Of Persephone, published in 2019, is a literary mystery set in Greece.
Lighting The Lamp, a fictional memoir, was published in March 2020.
Set in Montreal, Séjour Saint-Louis (2021), dramatizes family conflicts.
The Palimpsest Murders, a European travel mystery, is forthcoming.
Shorter work has appeared over the years in a variety of publications including Dis(s)ent, Danforth Review, Fickle Muses, Fieldstone Review, and Humanist Perspectives.
Intrigue is of primary interest, with romantic entanglement an integral part of the action. Greek mythology plays a significant role in underpinning plots. Allusions to art, literature, philosophy, and religion serve a similar function. Reed sits down to write every day and tries to leave the desk having achieved at least a workable page. Frequently what comes of his effort amounts to no more than a serviceable paragraph, a single sentence, or a metaphor that might work in a context yet to be imagined.
Links:
reedstirlingwrites.com
reedstirling@gmail.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/bookswelove
https://authorcentral.amazon.comgp/home
https.//ca.linkedin.com>reed-stirling
Affiliated Authors @ LinkedIn
Reed stirling @ Instagram
a Rafflecopter giveawayLike this:Like Loading...October 4, 2023
Just a Fika by Beck Erixson with an excerpt and giveaway
Just a Fika: Coffee, Connection, and a Matchmaking Ghost Grandmother
Beck Erixson
Publication date: October 3rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Family.
They’re always meddling in your love life
Even after they’re dead.
Brooklynite-and genealogist-Ingrid Ekstrom accepts a surprise request from her typically estranged family: to become the live-in caretaker of their shared historic house in the sleepy Jersey Shore town of Aegir Haven. A fun-loving cousin is quick to introduce Ingrid to the local handyman and bluegrass musician. As he fixes up the place, Ingrid digs into the house’s past and learns about the family she barely knows.
And then Mormor-her long-dead grandmother-shows up, acting as though not being in the spirit realm is perfectly normal.
Ingrid’s always yearned for stronger family connections, and it’s nice having Mormor around. Mormor tries to set her up with a young real estate attorney who’s closer to her more thunderous, god-like personal standards than the musician with keen senses Ingrid is falling for. As lore and legends mingle with real life, she’s torn. Mormor’s fantastical family sagas can’t actually be true, right?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
“Mormor?” I mouth to her. Numbness spreads inside of my shoulders, and I let my arms fall to my sides.
“Did you say something?” Kurt asks.
“Oh, I asked if you needed more.” Think, think. What is she even doing? “Sugar. Do you need more sugar?”
“Nah, I prefer black coffee.” He leans to catch my gaze. “How did you sleep?”
“Pretty well.” Can he not see the massive distraction wandering around us?
His eyes trace up and down my face, which is fair considering I’ve already memorized the sculpted lines of his.
Ignore her. She’s not real. “You know how it is when you sleep in a new bed, it takes a lot to find the right position.” I cringe at the poor phrasing.
“We can get you a new mattress.” He laughs. “Consider me an extra set of hands.”
“For breaking in mattresses?” Nope, that’s not what he meant, and yet it flew from my mouth.
“I didn’t mean…” Kurt fidgets with his mug and can’t seem to hide the shades of pink in his cheeks. “Your cousin said you could use some help with the house.” He clears his throat. “Unless this wasn’t about repairs.”
“The little I know about my family, I wouldn’t put it past her.” I take a sip of the icy drink. “Don’t worry. I don’t throw myself at strangers.”
He chokes on a sip and blinks in response.
Bail out, I need to bail out. “Any help you can give with the house is much appreciated.”
The woman is still looking straight at me. She sticks out her tongue and crosses her eyes before pulling the newspaper closer to cover her face. Mormor? But it can’t be. Mormor is dead. The air is playing tricks on me.
Author Bio:
Beck Erixson writes about the beautifully awkward world of navigating the journey to true happiness through friendships, love, and family—be it blood, found, or chosen. Her stories enhance the importance of positive interconnection, even when we feel lonely. She lives on the Jersey Shore, and can often be found either writing by the river, or in it in some way. Her short stories have appeared in Many Nice Donkeys, and Full Mood Mag.
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GIVEAWAY!
WIN a paperback of Just a Fika!
To enter, follow @beckerixsonauthor, repost an image of the book, and comment using the hashtag #JustAFika between 10/01/2023 and 10/10/2023 on Instagram to be entered into the giveaway. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and Washington D.C. (excluding HI and AK)
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October 3, 2023
A Match Made in Ireland by E.D. Hackett
A Match Made in Ireland
E.D. Hackett
Publication date: September 23rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
A semester abroad was exactly what she needed, but falling in love with her roommate was not part of the lesson plan.
When Rory, a driven American seeking a much-needed break from her hectic life, lands in Ireland for a semester abroad, she never imagines sharing her space with Jaime, the charming yet irksome redhead from her flight. A twist of fate entwines their paths, forcing them to live under one roof for four months.
Despite his laid-back demeanor clashing with her meticulous nature, Rory finds herself irresistibly drawn to Jaime’s infectious Irish charm and tight-knit family bonds. As they traverse the breathtaking landscapes of Ireland, Rory relies on Jaime’s wisdom to navigate the challenges of their travels. It doesn’t take long for her to fall for the enchanting Irish experience he offers, which extends far beyond the usual tourist trails.
But as the end of the semester draws near, Rory is faced with a heart-wrenching decision. Will she leave a piece of her heart in Ireland, or was Jaime merely a dream meant to be left behind?
Immerse yourself in E.D. Hackett’s A Match Made in Ireland for a delightful romantic comedy that delves into the magic of Ireland, the beauty of unforeseen bonds, and the transformative power of self-discovery. Buckle up for a journey filled with laughter, tears, and love that you won’t want to miss!
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EXCERPT:
It was him. The man from the plane sat on the bed, staring at a drawing pad on his lap. The spiky red hair, the smattering of freckles, and the creased eyes triggered a series of flashbacks that ran through my mind: the lack of spatial awareness, the soda down my leg, and the stolen dinner roll.
I pulled the covers over my head, my heart racing and the pit in my stomach digging into my pelvis like a concrete boulder. I dragged the duvet below my eyes and squinted, trying not to be obvious. Am I dreaming? Ha! Maybe I’m having a nightmare. The same red hair, now tousled from sleep, rested against the wall. I pushed the blanket down to my shoulders and said, “Hello, again.”
He looked up from his drawing pad and tilted his head to the left, tapping his pencil against his scruffy chin. “I remember you. From the plane.”
I tried to smile, but my lips refused to rise. I pushed my body against the back wall and pulled the sheet closer to my armpits. “What are you doing here, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I could ask you the same thing. I live here.”
My eyes bulged and I scrambled to a seated position. “You can’t live here. You’re a guy. This is an apartment with women. Foreign exchange students. A bunch of Americans.” I spoke slowly, as if that would make him understand.
Jaime chuckled and looked down again. “Yes, I am aware, but this is my apartment now. I forgot to renew my housing paperwork last semester, and they gave my room away. This was all that was left. They told me I was living with Rory, Zoey, and Marissa. I take it you’re Rory?”
I nodded.
“I thought you were an Irish lad.”
I swallowed loudly, the saliva crawling down the back of my throat. Reaching across my bed to my nightstand, I downed a bottle of water. Cloudiness from the alcohol still in my system slowed down my brain’s processing ability, and I struggled to understand his words. “You can’t live here,” I said again.
“I wish I didn’t. Living with a bunch of Americans during my last year of college is the last thing I want to do, but it’s that or be homeless so I’ll suck it up.” He returned to his drawing and spoke to his paper. “Nice to meet you, Rory.” His amber eyes looked over, scanning my top half. “Fun time last night?”
My brain beat against my forehead, and I massaged my temples. “Yeah. Sorry if I woke you.”
“No worries. I spent the night with my old flatmates. They live downstairs, and I came up here to crash. I didn’t even hear you come in.”
I grabbed the hooded sweatshirt sitting at the end of my bed, and pulled it over my body. “Are you sure they said there was nowhere else? I mean, I don’t know, Jaime. You’re a guy, a stranger, really, and I have a boyfriend. I don’t think he will be too excited when I tell him my roommate’s an Irish guy.”
His liquid gold eyes looked me up and down. “I asked to be moved and they put me on a waiting list if some other American no-shows, but I want my old flat and my old flatmates. Unless they can squeeze me back in there, I’m staying here. So, there it is. An Irish bloke and an American lass living together. That’ll make a good story for the grandkids. Promise, you won’t even know I’m here.”
Author Bio:
E.D Hackett is a Speech-language pathologist by day and a writer by night. She writes novels that investigate layers of self-expectations, family dynamics, self-love and self-acceptance. She hopes that her novels create a safe and cozy environment for her readers to fall into and explore.
She writes women’s fiction novels with one foot in romance. And every story has a happy ever after.
She lives in New England but in her heart, she feels that she belongs in Ireland. She reads women’s women’s fiction and romantic comedies, prefers books to movies, ice cream to cake, and fall to spring.
Please visit https://www.linktr.ee/edhackett for more information! You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads.
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