Aubrey Wynne's Blog, page 26
March 2, 2023
Read an excerpt from Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart and enter the giftcard giveaway
Ale’s Fair in Love and War
Sylvie Stewart
(Love on Tap, #1)
Publication date: March 2nd 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Hollis Hayes is the worst neighbor in the entire history of neighbors.
She’s also the hottest.
F.M.L.
I don’t have time to fight with the dog groomer next door. There’s a brewery to run, siblings to rein in, and a mom to look after. So if Hollis thinks I’ll roll over and let her drive me out of business, she’s not nearly as smart as she thinks she is.
Sure, I enjoy the little pranks we play on each other, and I don’t hate watching her prance around in those tight leggings. But she’s gone too far this time, even if she pretends to know nothing about it.
I’ll do whatever it takes to save my business from going under, and if that means playing dirty with the girl I love to hate, game on.
If you like snarky banter, sizzling chemistry, big crazy families, and evil geniuses, Ale’s Fair in Love and War is your next weekend read. It is a standalone steamy romantic comedy with tons of heart and an HEA.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks
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EXCERPT:
CHAPTER TWO
A VIGILANTE’S WORK IS NEVER DONE
HOLLIS
The bell rings over the door again, and my eyes flash to the brawny figure darkening my doorway.
Speak of the devil—literally.
His scruffy jaw is locked tight, the tension in his shoulders telling the story of his less-than-ideal day. As those piercing blue eyes drill into mine, it occurs to me, not for the first time, what a crying shame it is that such beautiful eyes are wasted on a troll like Cash Brooks.
“Well, hello, neighbor.” I paste on my brightest smile. “What brings you to my salon today? Need a cold shower?” My tone is drenched in so much syrup I might give myself an actual cavity.
Cash stalks toward my counter, worn work boots scuffing the tile as he approaches. I purposely ignore the way his thigh muscles strain the denim of his jeans.
When he stops just across from me, chest heaving and lips curled into an angry snarl, I respond by wrinkling my nose and waving a hand in front of it. “I’d say so. You smell like a brewery.”
This is simply too easy.
A growl spills from his curled lips, indicating that my latest prank has rendered him incapable of speaking in human. Just as well, considering what a giant bull-headed caveman he is.
A crimson flush licks at the skin just under Cash’s stubbled chin. “You posted an ad for my virginity?!”
My brows draw together as I fix a pout to my lips. “Oh, did nobody take you up on the offer?” I reach over the shiny pink counter separating us and pat his shoulder, ignoring its muscular firmness. “Don’t be embarrassed. Virginity is just a social construct anyway.”
He shakes my hand off with a jerk of his arm, and I cover my pout with a contemplative finger. “Although maybe I shouldn’t have said anything about your looks.” I lean closer to whisper, “I just didn’t want anyone to be disappointed when they met you.”
He jabs the air in front of my nose with his finger. “You’d better prepare yourself, lady.”
I slap his hand away without missing a beat. “Lady? Oh, you are cruel, aren’t you?” I coo at him, causing his jaw to do that clicking thing I so enjoy.
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” Cash grinds out through clenched teeth.
With that, he whips around and stalks back to my front door, giving me a prime view of his inconveniently nice ass.
“I haven’t seen anything yet,” I correct him but don’t get the pleasure of his responding expression. “Have a wonderful day!” I shout.
His growl is just barely audible as he disappears out of sight.
Ah, it is, indeed, a most wonderful day.
Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Sylvie Stewart loves bad jokes, dirty rom-coms, country music, and baby skunks—preferably all at the same time. Most of her steamy contemporary and romantic comedy novels take place across her favorite state of North Carolina, and her characters never run out of snarky banter or snacks. When her laptop closes, Sylvie is a sucker for hugs from her twin boys and a good laugh with her hot-nerd hubby. If you love smart Southern gals, hot blue-collar guys, and snort-laughing with characters who feel like your best friends, Sylvie’s your gal.
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March 1, 2023
We Come With Vengeance by H.G. Muralee plus a giveaway
We Come With Vengeance
H.G. Muralee
Publication date: March 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Steampunk
The war has stretched on for twenty years, and the soldiers, civilians, and nobles are exhausted. Towns grow more desolate while war technology continues to advance, leaving the rest of Kaier behind.
Felix—heir to House Leigh-Van—harbors resentment for the war that has claimed his sister’s life and his father’s ethics. Regardless, he follows his orders and is content to remain equal among his fellow soldiers.
When a routine stop for repairs puts Felix at the epicenter of a brutal attack impacting civilians rather than soldiers, he struggles to continue separating his ethics from his duty. He’s privately ambivalent but publicly supportive of his uncle—the king—when whispers of an underground rebellion start to circulate. The rebellion is gaining traction and could soon make a serious play at ending the war.
But when even the tactics of the resistance begin claiming lives as quickly as the war itself, Felix starts to wonder who will survive to see the peace they’re fighting for.
Excerpt
Her parents crammed into the tiny landing at the front door, pestering their daughter into giving them more information about who was taking her out that night.
“Stop, nothing is going to happen.” Brynn was trying her best to not get flustered.
“Brynn, if he can afford two tickets to an opera, he has money. If he has money, then he’s either the son of a prominent industrialist, or he’s in a house.” Her father crossed his arms. “Which is it?”
“Not to mention, he’s taking you,” her mother added. “He might have taken a romantic interest in you.”
“Can you two stop? I’m a grown adult. And for your information, his original date bailed, so there is nothing remotely interesting going on.” Her response only made her parents bombard her with more questions.
The doorbell rang, and Brynn hastily stepped outside, holding the door only a few inches open. Her parents’ voices became more prominent on the street once they weren’t blocked by the door.
“I’ll be home later. Bye!” She jammed the door shut. “I think we should go,” Brynn said sternly, turning toward Felix.
The white bias-cut dress hung off her body. While her dress had no sleeves, she wore a shawl over her shoulders that matched the color of her dress. Her hair was pulled back and held into place with a golden flower clip. The pearls on her neck reflected the colors of the setting sun. “I didn’t exactly give them too many details.”
She muttered something incoherent under her breath. The curtains in the upstairs window barely moved, but it was enough for Brynn to know her parents were staring.
“What did you tell them?” Felix wasn’t sure yet if he needed to acknowledge or ignore them.
“That I’m going to the opera because someone’s original date bailed.” She grinned slyly.
“An appropriate thing to tell them,” he said sarcastically. “Making your parents believe I was originally attending with another woman. They must think I’m some womanizer.”
Her smile didn’t falter. “Not at all. They think you have a lot of money.”
“I can’t deny that’s a fair assumption.”
Author Bio:
H.G. Muralee was born and raised in North Carolina. She graduated from Western Carolina University and works as a paralegal. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading far too many books, watching The Great British Baking Show, learning her husband’s native language, and playing with her dog, Oliver.
GIVEAWAY!
February 28, 2023
Love You Now by Julia Kent – an excerpt and giftcard giveaway
Love You Now
Julia Kent
(Love You, Maine, #4)
Publication date: February 28th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Ana DaSilva is looking for a palate cleanser. A one night stand. A reboot.
Instead, she got fireworks, sparks, chemistry, and the perfect guy. No one wants to meet Mr. Right when he should just be Mr. Rebound, but Mr. Right is so, so right.
But then he went from Mr. Right to Mr. Never, because when she learns she’s pregnant three days after that wonderful night with Dennis, she realizes her sleazy drug dealing ex not only left her with the legal mess she knew about, he gave her a life-long present.
One that means ignoring Dennis’ texts and phone calls, no matter how much she wants to answer.
Dennis Luview wants to escape his pain. Coming back to his hometown of Luview, Maine – the cheesy tourist trap where every day was Valentine’s Day – means facing a past he left behind twenty-four years ago.
Yes, his family is loving, and sure, he has roots that go bone-deep in the small town community where people step up for each other.
But the naive eighteen-year-old who left to serve his country is now a retired Special Ops vet with a heavy entourage of ghosts and PTSD. No woman deserves all the baggage he’s lugging around.
Including Ana, who clearly wants nothing to do with him, no matter how intense their one haunting encounter really was.
It’s one thing to have ghosts, and quite another to be ghosted.
Which is why six months after that hot night, he’s stunned to find her in his hometown, at a bridal shower, her ripe, pregnant belly swelling under a gorgeous yellow sundress.
A public confrontation turns into a very private reunion, and as Dennis pursues Ana she opens up, but is he crazy to want her — and what turns out to be another man’s baby — to settle down and find stability and love?
Or is he deluding himself that he’s remotely worth the happiness an instant family could offer, after his terrible past?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
“If I thought you’d say yes, Ana, I’d ask you to come back to my hotel room and finish what we’re starting here.”
“What makes you think I’d say no?”
The way he laughed, a gentle huff through his nose, made a piece of her heart melt a little more.
“Most women would say yes or no to that. Instead, you open the question wide and give it nuance.”
“What’s wrong with nuance?”
“Never said there was anything wrong with it.”
“From what I’ve seen, you are a crystal-clear man, Dennis. Why don’t you try the direct approach?”
Inching closer, his inhale like the rush of a conch against her ear, Dennis smiled, his grin broadening, genuine happiness filling his features in a way that made her feel pride.
Pride that she could elicit that from him.
“Come to bed with me, Ana. I love the feel of you in my arms on the dance floor. Your kiss tastes so good, I want to taste all of you. My room or yours?”
Pure energy shot through her, most of it between her legs, coalescing into a throb. Fire lit up her skin, his caress as he cupped her jaw and kissed her again so anchoring.
And so damn hot.
Few moments in life call for complete abandon, but for Ana DaSilva, this was one of them.
Without question.
Without hesitation.
And without regrets.
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.
From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men’s room toilet (and he isn’t a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).
She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.
She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com
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Like this:Like Loading...February 27, 2023
Exceptionally Unconventional by Victoria Clarke – read an excerpt and enter the giveaway
Exceptionally Unconventional
Victoria Clarke
Publication date: February 27th 2023
Genres: Adult, Historical, Historical Romance, Romance
The Honorable Miss Lucilla Iverson is an exceptionally unconventional young heiress trying her best to be unexceptionally conventional despite her love of horses and racing curricles. When she attracts the attention of a hardened older bachelor, a duke, no less, it sets the ton afire with anticipation.
Many young bucks seek her approval, including a notorious (and now penniless) gamester who intends to marry Miss Iverson and her money whether or not she agrees. On an inside track for Lucilla’s attention is Oliver, Lord Hartwell, despite a near miss at running her over while driving his phaeton in the company of his cousin, the handsome and mysterious duke. Which of the three will win her heart and hand, to live happily ever after? That is the question!
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EXCERPT:
“Miss Iverson has been quite amicable to every young man that we have presented to her all evening. Is something amiss, Lady Edevane?”
“Sharp as ever, Clementina. The boy has been toadying her for weeks and does not seem to take a hint.”
“I see!” Mrs. Drummond-Burrell replied, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. She did not appreciate being used as means to force a young lady’s hand and made mental note to mention this episode to her fellow patronesses at their next meeting.
In the ballroom, Miss Iverson allowed herself to be led to the floor and begrudgingly took her place. As the music began, Mr. Moore’s arm came about her waist. Her eyes glanced up at his and she fixed a withering glare upon him. He was undaunted, and indeed barely managed to conceal a smirk.
“Why do you look at me so, Lucilla?” he asked mockingly.
“I do not recall giving you leave to use my name, Mr. Moore.”
“Perhaps you did not, but we are such old friends, what is the harm in it?”
“It may not be harmful, but as it is not pleasing to my ear, I will request you not use it, if you please,” she replied witheringly as they whirled about the room.
“Whatever have I done to make you so upset, Miss Iverson?”
“Other than your underhanded effort to force me to accept a waltz with you, Mr. Moore?”
“I should think the effort was rather successful,” was his cheerful reply.
Miss Iverson’s jaw clenched. People were watching, she knew, so for quite some time she performed her steps in silence while he spoke on mundane topics and considered himself to have won the round. No one could overhear them, but anyone could surely guess she was angry at her dancing partner, and so she forced herself to fix a smile on her face as she looked up at him again.
“It is clear to me that in spite of my mother’s efforts to convince me otherwise, you are quite aware that I do not seek to encourage your familiarity.” Her words were deliberately blunt in an attempt to knock him off his perch, and it appeared to succeed, for his brow darkened momentarily. But as suddenly as it appeared, the frown vanished and he plastered a false smile on his face.
“You wound me, Miss Iverson! What have I done to draw such ire? I have surely not offended you.”
“You are well aware that your attentions offend me.”
“I am at a loss to understand why, for I am your humble servant.”
This drew her eyes up in a flash, and she said scornfully, “Indeed!”
“Have I not loved you since childhood?”
“I vividly recall your penchant for tossing spiders at me.”
“Only in my childish efforts to gain your notice, I assure you.”
“Then I suppose you were also in love with my brothers?” she replied with sarcasm ebbing in her voice.
As he paused to consider the right thing to say in reply, she suddenly pulled away from him and he realized the music had ended. She bobbed a quick and shallow curtsy before spinning on her heel and marching away. He felt irritation wash over him at her defiance. Yes, a less troublesome wife would be best. But he might enjoy breaking Miss Iverson of her spirit.
Author Bio:
I am an Australian writer, traveller, and horse rider. I am a lover of all things England and history – with a healthy side of sci-fi and fantasy.
My debut novel ‘Exceptionally Unconventional’ was written during 2020-21 while my late mother was fighting her final battle with breast cancer. I wrote it in a largely light-hearted way in an effort to keep her spirits up during that time – several of the characters were parodied versions of her acquaintances, so I was very happy to have succeeded in that particular endeavour!
She never got to see it published, but just a few weeks after she passed away, I was offered a contract on it from one of the first publishers I submitted it to. You’ll notice the dedication I chose when it finally came time to write one.
I am currently working on my second manuscript.
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February 17, 2023
Three to Get Ready by Skye Warren
Three to Get Ready
Skye Warren
(One for the Money, #3)
Publication date: February 16th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
There’s a ticking time bomb in Finn Hughes’s head.
That means he has to prepare everyone. Eva. The baby. The company, which is in an uproar after the announcement. He needs to get them ready. Because when the curse hits, it will be too late to say goodbye.
Welcome to the Midnight Dynasty… The warring Morelli and Constantine families have enough bad blood to fill an ocean, and their brand new stories will be told by your favorite dangerous romance authors.
WARNING: This book is intended for readers eighteen years old and over. It contains material that some readers could find disturbing. Enter at your own risk…
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Author Bio:
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance. Her books have sold over one million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.
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GIVEAWAY!
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February 13, 2023
Sea Magic by Heidi McIntyre – read an excerpt and enter the giftcard giveaway
Sea Magic
Heidi McIntyre
Publication date: February 13th 2023
Genres: Historical, Magical Realism, Women’s Fiction
When a reluctant psychic tracks a ghost through the mists of time, the treasure she discovers is worth more than gold.
She knows everyone in this seaside, New England town of Penbrook, and everyone knows her—Madeline Hunter, the shy, quiet antique shop owner who whose idea of a hot date is snuggling up with a good book and her cat, Poe.
But she keeps one thing under her vintage hat—her ability to touch an object and connect with its history. Her new-age aunt says she should embrace her “gift”, but she’d rather pretend it doesn’t exist.
After buying an old box at an estate sale filled with rare items, Madeline started having dreams—startlingly vivid dreams about Maria, a young headstrong Puritan whose “knowing” could get her branded as a witch, and whose forbidden love for a poor sailor caused a scandal.
Together with Evan, an attractive history professor who tempts her to believe in love, she uncovers Maria’s story, helpless to stop its trajectory toward tragedy. She may not be able to change the course of history, but with Evan’s support, maybe she can lay the ghosts of the past to rest—including her own.
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EXCERPT:
Prologue
Maria Hallett
Cape Cod, August 1717
There was a perilous storm last night, with gusts of wind that tore through Eastham like a scourge. The violence of the driving rain had matched my own rage, a pain so bone deep I wondered how I would survive it.
That’s what grief had become for me, a boiling pot of emotions that kept me teetering on the edge. My love was everything to me—my North Star, my
protector, and my deliverer. But now all that was left of him was this interminable rain that drove his coffin deeper into its watery grave.
I placed my shawl on the wet sand and sat down, glaring at the ocean as if I could resurrect him at will. My legs itched from the rough fabric of my homespun
skirt bunched up above my ankles. I picked up a fistful of the cool sand, let it sift through my fingers, and smelled the musty, brackish air. As I undid the pins
of my white cap, my hair billowed like a sail in the breeze.
The noonday sun had long been hidden behind dark, gray clouds—the last remnants of that dreadful weather. A much worse storm had already laid
its mark on this place just four months ago. The devil had a hand in that horrible night, I’m sure of it. At low tide, I could still see the planked shell of his ship like
the bones of a beached whale.
I was afraid my little cottage just above those cliff dunes would be torn apart, so I hid out in my uncle’s barn not but a quarter mile from here. The lashing
rain and howling wind woke me in the middle of the night, giving me a jittery feeling, and I knew something had gone terribly wrong. I pulled my blanket up to my neck and burrowed deep in the hay, but sleep did not come.
The townspeople said I was a witch, but I swear on the Lord’s Holy Bible that was a lie. I admit to having a knowing, just like I knew a storm was brewing
long before the wind picked up and the sky turned pitch-black.
I must humbly confess, for as long as I could remember, I had this feeling about certain things, like a seed that had been planted deep inside me. But I don’t cast spells or cavort with the devil. And I can’t see the future.
My knowing’s neither good nor evil…it just is.
Author Bio:
Always an avid reader, Heidi was inspired to write by her college professor who convinced her to switch majors to English. From then on, she harbored a secret wish to write a novel one day. Heidi spent most of her marketing career as a consultant specializing in fresh produce where she worked with a variety of growers, commodity boards, and associations. Her marketing campaigns received multiple awards.
Sea Magic is her debut novel and the first of the Hidden Gems series, which was also a finalist in the 2022 Page Turner Awards. Originally from New Jersey, Heidi lives in Oviedo, Florida with her husband, Tim, and their dog Pumpkin. She loves coffee, chocolate, yoga and visiting historical places.
Heidi pens a quarterly newsletter about her passion for writing, marketing, and the history of her characters. For more information, visit www.heidimcintyre.com.
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February 10, 2023
Farm Cove Bliss by E.D. Hackett with an excerpt and giveaway
Farm Cove Bliss
E.D. Hackett
Publication date: February 9th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Previously published on Kindle Vella as Farmhouse Bliss.
She’s relearning to trust. He’s healing his heartache. Can two shattered souls piece together a happily ever after?
Crystal Whitman is determined to redefine herself. Pulling double shifts to break free from a cheating ex, the single mom worries her life can’t get any more chaotic until her own mother dies. The city gal returns to her painfully rural hometown in the hopes of flipping her vacant ancestral farmhouse fast, so she never expected her hunky hired hand would make her want to slow down and enjoy the view.
Derek Fischer can’t shake his grief. Twelve years after losing his wife, the devoted dad’s broken heart beats only for his daughter, until a sexy school teacher sparks a different kind of love. But with a dying home improvement business to keep afloat, the contractor fears muddling the line between business and pleasure could only end in financial ruin.
When Crystal hires Derek to fix the old farmhouse, so she can sell it and return to her frenzied life, she moves in for the summer to save some money and give him a hand.
Fighting their growing attraction, she wonders if she’s destined to be alone and he wonders if his wife will ever forgive him for moving on.
When a vivacious blonde sinks her claws into Derek, Crystal relives her ex-husbands betrayal, and may sabotage their growing relationship.
Can Crystal and Derek fix the farmhouse and mend their fractured hearts?
Farm Cove Bliss is a small-town sweet romance. If you like small-town settings, relatable characters, and mid-life love, you’ll fall in love with E.D. Hackett’s Farm Cove Bliss.
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EXCERPT:
Crystal picked up her paintbrush to touch up the trim but couldn’t reach the top. She felt Derek’s heat behind her before she realized he had moved. His hand grabbed her wrist, and she turned to face him. He was inches from her lips, and she could feel his minty breath on her. Her heart pounded with desire and electric shocks traveled up her legs, making them tremble.
She tried to break free from his grip but instead found herself moving into him. He closed the final gap between them and his lips met hers. Fireworks exploded behind her eyes. His lips were unexpectedly soft, such a contrast from the feel of his rough beard, and Crystal leaned into him for deeper pressure.
Like a film reel, memories of her past flipped through her mind at high speed, and she could barely make out the images. Her mother gardening, her father drinking coffee, the summer she lost her virginity, and the day she graduated from college sped through her mind. Jeremy proposing on the banks of Niagara Falls and the joy and pure delight she felt in that moment, making love that night, and then standing beside him on their wedding day. She saw herself holding Mason with joy and wonder, then fighting, then lipstick, and then the final fight when she threw Jeremy out of the house. Images of isolation and abandonment, losing her mother to a devastating illness, saying goodbye, and stumbling back to this house. The last image was Derek kissing her. The film reel flipped faster through her mind on a continuous loop.
She pushed him away, fear replacing lust. “I can’t do this.”
He stepped back immediately, his lips pressed together and his eyes pleading.
“I live three hours away, Derek. My life is not here, and I’m leaving to go home.”
Author Bio:
E.D Hackett is a Speech-language pathologist by day and a writer by night. She has been writing since the first grade and still has her first book, “How I Lost My Tooth.” She has self-published novels that investigate layers of self-expectations, family dynamics, following dreams, and learning how to love and accept yourself. She hopes that her novels create a safe and cozy environment for her readers to fall into and explore.
Her two kids keep her busy, when they aren’t hanging out on video games or with their friends. Her husband has encouraged her to follow her dreams, no matter their size.
She lives in New England but in her heart, she feels that she belongs in Ireland. If she could figure out how to move, live, and work over there she would do it in a heartbeat.
She loves to read, write, knit, and cook.
She hopes that you fall in love with her characters the same way she did!
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February 9, 2023
Excerpt: Fireball by Lainey Davis
Fireball
Lainey Davis
(Bridges and Bitters, #1)
Publication date: May 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
He hates her for some reason. She will not rest until she changes his mind.
People always like Samantha Vine. It’s kind of her thing. All the employees at her tech startup think she’s the best boss, and the community partners and investors she woos not only trust, but adore her.
Everyone likes her, except him.
Sam may have been caught off guard when she accidentally insulted science teacher AJ Trachtenberg, but she’s pulling out all the stops trying to make it up to him…and it’s not working. Offering his students a swanky field trip doesn’t win him over—it only seems to make him grumpier.
Unfortunately, grumpy looks very good on him. AJ is tall, dark, and annoyingly handsome and he’s got a giant chip on his shoulder. Honestly, his smoldering is distracting.
Sam can’t afford any distractions right now, not with the media hounding her as she tries to take her company public. Maybe she can swing a one-time naked distraction, though. That doesn’t have to mean anything, right? She’s not looking for a happily-ever-after here. She’s just trying to get him out of her head.
Alas, when it comes to business and bossy men, Samantha Vine has trouble letting go.
Fireball is the laugh-out-loud first stand-alone installment of the Bridges and Bitters series. If you love found family, hilarious antics, and off-the-charts heat, you’ll devour these sexy romantic comedies.
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EXCERPT:
SAMANTHA The only thing saving me from curling in a ball and crying is the promise of meeting up with my friends. We call our little group Foof…Fresh out of fucks. It’s a sort of ridiculous name for a bad-ass group of entrepreneurs, engineers and queens of the Steel City.
I feel so at ease when I’m with them, like I really don’t have to pretend or put on a fake smile or any of that. I can actually free my fucks with these gals…and I need that, because everyone else claws at me, demanding attention I can’t spare and hurling mean words at me if I say as much.
As often as we can, Foof huddles up in the event room of our friend Esther’s bar, Bridges and Bitters, and these meetings are my recharge. Esther bought an old building in Lawrenceville and transformed it into the most amazing spot. She went for a speakeasy feel, with reclaimed wooden everything and these cozy settees. But honestly, we could meet on a milk crate by the river and I’d still walk away energized from these women.
A few days later, and I’m still reeling after I chased off Mr. Grumpy Teacher from our meeting and stumbled through the rest of my interview with the guy from Forbes. I definitely appreciate Esther’s vintage velvet furniture as I collapse in a heap.
“That bad?” She arches a dark brow at me as she moves some furniture around the room to get ready for the rest of Foof to arrive.
I drape a wrist across my forehead. “If I had a corset on, I’d be asking you to slice the laces.” She pats me on the shoulder and heads back up front to mix a batch of cocktails for us. My friends shuffle in, some of them excited about their day and others looking like they want to join me tying one on.
Logan links arms with her sisters-in-law as they make their way in. As they all chat about life, I sit up and rest my elbows on my lap, propping my forehead against my palms. “I wish I could have a do-over,” I mutter.
“Tell me about it.” Celeste Sheffield, actual grandma and the oldest member of Foof, sits next to me, patiently waiting for me to spill my guts.
I take a deep breath, thinking back over the wretched day, from the annoying call from my dad to my magazine interview not going well. I bite my lip, trying to decide the worst part of it all. “I told a middle school science teacher I didn’t think young students would gain much from touring Vinea,” I tell her. “So now this guy thinks I think his students are too stupid, because of poverty.” Celeste pats my leg in a motherly sort of way I really appreciate.
“I was just so overwhelmed with the Forbes reporter there and thinking about how much work it’ll be to prepare for going public. Who has time to prep for a bunch of tween visitors? But I guess what I said came out wrong and AJ took offense.”
Celeste swirls around the ice in her drink and looks at me. “What if you called and explained? Said you realized your mistake? You could extend your invitation to the students after all.”
I cringe. “Ugh. Apologies are the worst, though. Like, now this guy is going to know I say dumb things when I go off book.” Men thinking I’m stupid is a big, fat trigger for me after living with the Colonel. He’s so domineering and immersed in a hyper-macho military world. Everything has to be precise with him. Language, thought processes, all of it. “Can I make Logan call?”
Logan laughs and shakes her head, wagging a finger at me. “I just run the numbers, boss. You’re the one with your name on the building.”
It’s true. My name is on the damn building. So why do I feel like such an imposter all the time? I’ve spent my entire life trying to fill someone else’s shoes…I got thrust into that role after my mother died. I didn’t mean to start a company in my free time from my dorm room, but I did. Now, ten years along the way, I’m on the cusp of going public with my business-baby and I can’t drum up the ovary power to call someone and apologize?
“Gah. Fine. I know, I know. I’ll call him and grovel.”
“That’s the winning spirit!” Esther winks as she slides me a glass of something magical.
Author Bio:
Lainey Davis lives in Pittsburgh in the USA with her 3 feral sons, 2 rescued rabbits, and 1 tired husband. She loves brooding heroes, fiery heroines, and happily ever afters.
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February 7, 2023
Wilder at Last by Serena Bell – read an excerpt and enter the giveaway
Wilder at Last
Serena Bell
(Wilder Adventures, #5)
Publication date: February 7th 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Falling in love with my frenemy? Out of the question.
Easton: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been giving Hanna a hard time—and she’s been giving it right back. So we’re both shocked to find ourselves on the same side of a project: helping Hanna win the heart of the celebrity chef hired by my family’s business to give summer workshops.
It shouldn’t be a big deal. A wardrobe evaluation. A shopping trip. Maybe some how-to-get-the-guy advice. I’m an expert on matters of the heart—or, at least matters of the mattress.
But as Hanna starts to trust me and open up, I see her differently. She’s not so much blunt as refreshingly honest, not so much a plain Jane in baggy clothes as… deliciously curvy. And hidden under that spiky, steely exterior is a soft heart she doesn’t show anyone.
Suddenly, the project includes ogling Hanna in dressing room mirrors. Offering her kissing lessons. And desperately trying not to give in to the sizzling heat between us.
I have to let her know the plan has changed: I’ll still help her get the guy she wants. I just need to somehow convince her that it’s me.
A steamy, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers (or is it friends-to-lovers? So hard to tell with these two!), mountain man small-town rom com.
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EXCERPT:
“If I admit I have a crush, will you help me?”
Hanna stands in front of me inside Wilder headquarters a few days after the first Bear trip, arms crossed over one of her ubiquitous baggy sweatshirts. That woman has more baggy sweatshirts than a Walmart.
We’re the last two people left at headquarters tonight. I don’t know what she’s still doing here, but I’m finishing up some paperwork for Bear’s trip. Celebrities don’t have to do their own paperwork.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“If I admit I have a crush on Bear Warden, will you help me get the guy?”
“I’m going to pinch myself right now, because if you’re asking me for help, I’m definitely dreaming.”
“You’re not dreaming,” she informs me. “But if you want me to pinch you—”
“Not necessary!” I say, jumping out of her reach. “But I would like you to say the humiliating part again. About how you have a terrible, mad, soul-wrenching crush—”
“I didn’t say any of that.”
“And only I, Easton Wilder, can help you win him over and live happily ever after.”
“Fine,” she says. “I have a terrible, mad, soul-wrenching crush, and only you, Easton Panty-Melter Wilder, have the expertise in lurrrrrvvvving to help me find my way to bliss.”
“That wasn’t quite as satisfying as I’d hoped,” I admit. In fact, the word bliss in conjunction with Bear makes me strangely itchy.
“Seriously, Easton, help me.”
“Help you what?”
“Woo Bear. Get laid.”
“That’s it? That’s your highest aspiration? From the way you were looking at him, I thought it was going to be more like a white wedding and four-point-five kids.”
“Why are kids always measured in halves? It’s so awful to contemplate. Which half would you get?”
“You’re deflecting.”
“True,” she admits.
“You want more than just to have sex with him.”
She scrunches up her whole face—oddly cute—and then relaxes it. “Look,” she says, pointing a finger at me. “I think you know I’ve been on a few dates this year.”
“Rumor had reached me, yes.”
“And that means you probably know that they haven’t been a rip-roaring success.”
In the interest of honesty, I say, “Um. Yeah.”
“Not to get into the nitty-gritty details, but they basically break down into two categories. People who are secretly married, and people who are totally and completely unacceptable for coffee and a sticky bun, let along marriage and procreation.”
“That sounds—unfun.”
“So. Un. Fun.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Here’s the thing. I like Bear. I like him a lot. He’s…”
She hesitates, and I’m a hundred percent sure I don’t want her to finish the sentence, although I’m not sure how I know.
“…really hot.”
Yeah, didn’t need that sentence finished.
Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.
Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.
When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.
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February 6, 2023
The Story of Keilah by Joann Keder with an excerpt and ebook giveaway
The Story of Keilah
Joann Keder
Publication date: February 6th 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary
Keilah moved to Sandy Salts, Iowa in search of a fresh start. Little did she know, acclimating to the quirky town in the middle of nowhere would be more complicated than she anticipated.
Her elderly landlord, Dee, has a dark secret that has followed her since childhood. Dee’s younger brother was kidnapped decades ago and never found. While the spunky woman tries not to talk about the painful ordeal, the mystery of his disappearance constantly haunts her.
Digging into the cold case residents have all but forgotten, Keilah unwittingly discovers shocking secrets from her own past. The explosive truth she uncovers could change the town of Sandy Salts and Keilah, forever.
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EXCERPT:
The Salty Sun, Established 1925
Vanessa Withers, Reporter
Jenny Jacobson, age 82
Our dear Jenny went to be with the High and Mighty yesterday at 4 p.m. She wasn’t upset about dying. As she told this reporter during a chance encounter at a coffee shop, “This lady has gotten her work done and you can only lounge in the sun so long before the sand in your crack becomes unbearable.”
Jenny was born in Wallyville. Her folks were out shopping for a new car that day and lost track of time. She barely outlived her mother, who died at the age of 103 a week ago last Thursday, after finding a big spider’s nest in her bathtub.
Most of Jenny’s life was spent giving to others. After graduating with a teaching degree, she moved to Canada where she taught English and P.E. for twenty-five years. Upon retirement, she decided to move back to Sandy Salts to open a secondhand goods and firsthand ice cream store, called D’ Ya Want Seconds? Folks who couldn’t afford the ice cream could trade clothing or good, used appliances for a scoop. Nobody went away hungry.
She closed the place two years ago in order to fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling the world with a younger man. After finding her companion via an online ad, Jenny and Javier spent time in Spain, Greece, New Zealand, and Cancun. She died last week in the garden of her Sandy Salts home with a smile on her face.
Author Bio:
USA TODAY bestselling author, Joann Keder spent most of her years in the Midwest, growing up and raising a family on the Great Plains of Nebraska. She worked for sixteen years as a piano teacher before returning to school to receive a master’s degree in creative writing. A mid-life move to the Pacific Northwest led her to re-examine her priorities. She now creates stories about life and relationships in small towns while her ever-patient husband encourages her on.
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