Tag Archives: adult fiction

The Spotlight Is On Dirty Plans by Carissa Knight @XpressoTours

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Dirty Plans
Carissa Knight
(The One Night Stand Club)
Publication date: January 5th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Who knew finding true love would mean juggling a secret club’s rules, rethinking marital boundaries, and a best friend you suddenly want to kiss?

Lily’s life was predictably pedestrian: side-step her husband’s aloofness, indulge in racy novels with her audacious book club, and dream about feeling that kind of passion in her own life. But a surprise run-in at a cheeky adult toy shop flings her back into the orbit of London, her endearingly rogue-ish childhood best friend, now the manager of Club Nocté—a nightclub synonymous with whispered secrets and sexy encounters.

Dazzled by the nocturnal allure of Nocté and the undeniable chemistry with London, Lily’s once-staid world gets a titillating shake-up. He’s not the boy she once built forts with, but a man with seductive depths that pull her in. And the kicker? London’s not-so-subtle feelings have the urgency of a flash sale—tempting, fleeting, and impossible to resist.

But in a world of impromptu one-night stands, it’s the long-standing emotions that prove the most scandalous. London fell first, and hard. Lily, still tethered to her crumbling marriage, finds herself torn between the nostalgic sweetness of the past and the thrilling promise of a passionate future.

Brace yourself for a joyride of giggles, gasps, and ‘oh-my-god’ moments, as Lily and London navigate a dance of friendship and flirtation, underpinned by the most tantalizing question: Will they dare to cross the line between friendship’s safety for a chance at true love?

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Author Bio:

Carissa is all about bringing the heat in every romance she writes… but she also enjoys making the journey as angsty and awkward as possible. (Because come on! What could be more fun than making the characters squirm?)

While she’s a new kid around the rom-com block, Carissa’s actually been kicking out books for over a decade as Carissa Andrews.

So, hold onto your panties, ladies. They’re about to light on fire with her brand new titillating series, “The One Night Stand Club!”


—

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The Spotlight Is On The Psychologist’s Shadow by Laury A Egan @ireadbooktours @EganLaury

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Book Details:

Book Title:  The Psychologist’s Shadow by Laury A. Egan
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 336 pages
Genre:  Psychological Suspense
Publisher:  Enigma Books, imprint of Spectrum Books, UK
Release date:   Nov 18, 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13. One scene of violence, no sexual scene
“…a ‘I-read-it-in-two-days’ book. Egan creates a gifted analyst and gripping case studies of her clients, one of whom is a disturbed admirer. The novel delivers chills in a highly sophisticated, wise, and ultimately poignant psychodrama.”—Karla Linn Merrifield, author of Psyche’s Scroll
Click Here to Read Book Excerpt
Book Description:

In October 1992, Dr. Ellen Haskell begins a new therapy practice in Princeton after a tragic error with a former client. Demoralized by her failure, Ellen strives to restore her emotional and professional confidence. Her parents have departed for Greece, leaving Ellen alone in their secluded country house. As the reader is introduced to her roster of clients through their individual sessions, Ellen becomes unnerved when she receives hang-up phone calls and a series of bizarre gifts from an anonymous admirer—at first at her office and then at home. As the obsessive lover increasingly invades her life, Ellen’s anxiety crescendos and she begins to fear the stalker’s behavior will escalate into violence.

The Psychologist’s Shadow is a portrait of a compassionate, introspective therapist who finds herself in a dangerous struggle with an unknown stalker. The novel is a simmering literary suspense, one in which tension accumulates as the reader gains insights during sessions with clients—one of whom may be the psychologist’s shadow—and through the stalker’s journal entries, which serve as a discordant counterpoint.
Buy the Book:
Amazon 
add to Goodreads

Also available at all other fine bookstores!

Meet the Author:

Laury A. Egan is the author of eleven novels, The Firefly; Once, Upon an Island; Wave in D Minor; Turnabout; Doublecrossed; The Swimmer; The Ungodly Hour; A Bittersweet Tale; Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; The Outcast Oracle; and Jenny Kidd; in addition to a collection, Fog and Other Stories. Four limited-edition poetry volumes have been published: Snow, Shadows, a Stranger; Beneath the Lion’s Paw; The Sea & Beyond” and Presence & Absence.”She lives on the northern coast of New Jersey.

connect with author: website ~ X/twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads



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    • Giveaway – The Flirt Alert by Kaylene Winter @XpressoTours

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    The Flirt Alert
    Kaylene Winter
    Publication date: November 17th 2023
    Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

    When a man who has everything will do anything to ease the pain of the incredible woman who’s living with a timebomb.

    My best friend’s twin, Shay Stojanović, is my ultimate gamer dream girl come to life.

    Gorgeous, flirtatious and popular, she didn’t know I existed.

    Until one fateful night, she made this nerd’s every fantasy come true.

    The next day she blew me up like a frag grenade.

    Years later, Shay’s brother and I have built a billion dollar gaming company.

    He had the nerve to give his shady sister a coveted executive role.

    Oh, I’m not going to make it easy on her—she’ll quit. You’ll see.

    Everything’s going exactly to plan…

    Until we get stranded at the top of a mountain.

    And I learn the truth.

    Now I can’t—and won’t—resist her.

    She has a lot to overcome.

    And I’m just the man to soothe her hurt.

    It’s Shay’s turn for a flirt alert.

    The Flirt Alert is a scorching, standalone, billionaire, enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, forced proximity, STEM workplace, HEA romance.

    Goodreads / Amazon

    EXCERPT

    When he looks into my eyes I don’t see any love or compassion whatsoever. The man I thought I knew doesn’t seem to be there. “I have to do what’s best for me. This is my time, my moment. I can’t let anything—or anyone—hold me back.”

    “No. This can’t be happening.” I shake my head. Disbelief wars with the agony that’s ripping through my body. “How can you throw everything we built away?”

    He reaches for his water glass and takes a swig. Motions for the server to bring us the check. “This has been coming for a long time. You’re great, Shay but you’ve never loved me  for me. You adore the idea of a life you like to imagine we’d have together, but I could be anyone. As my agent advised me, I need to find a life partner who’s my equal. Who has her own things going. I know you’re hurting, and for that I’m truly sorry. Breaking things off now is the best thing for both of us, even if you can’t see it.”

    I sit like a statue. Shocked and broken. Unable to find the words to fight for our relationship. To argue he’s wrong. I want to make him understand he’s making a terrible mistake. All I can do is cry. Tears are pouring out of my eyes in hot, angry waves as the reality of what transpired sinks in.

    Tonight was supposed to be the start of our forever. The beginning of the next phase of our lives. Instead, it’s a cruel, brutal end that leaves me shattered and alone with nothing to fall back on.

    I’m not enough.

    Devon won’t even look at me as we wait for his payment to process. His face is set and determined. Literally how he looks on the field before he throws a hail-Mary touchdown on fourth down.

    I wonder if what he said is true. Do I genuinely love him? Maybe I don’t know him at all.

    I thought we were building something real, but clearly I’m wrong.

    As I follow Devon through the restaurant, not knowing what’s coming next, I have an even gloomier thought.

    What if my entire life has been a lie?


    Author Bio:

    When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

    Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


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    Giveaway – Kiss In The Dark by L J McAlister @XpressoTours

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    Kiss in the Dark – The End Zone
    LJ McAlister
    Publication date: October 24th 2023
    Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

    One Moment. One Plan.
    A Love that Changes Everything.

    Abigail Stevens

    There was a time when Hunter Collins dominated my every dream.

    Now, he is an all-star Quarterback and the bad boy of the NFL.

    He may have been my first kiss, but that’s in the past.
    I’m no longer the small-town invisible girl I once was.

    I’m a successful journalist,
    and Hunter Collins is the next name on my list, nothing more.

    He’s cocky, indifferent, arrogant, and utterly irresistible.
    I can’t seem to get him off my mind, or out of my panties!

    Am I really in danger of falling for Hunter all over again?

    Or will I learn the hard way that memories are always better than the real thing?

    Hunter Collins

    I thought I was invisible. Indestructible.

    I was the man everyone wanted to be.

    Star NFL Quarterback.

    Every Woman’s Fantasy.

    A Billionaire with the world at my feet.

    Until an injury knocked me down.

    I may be struggling, but I’m Hunter Collin.

    I make my own destiny.
    And a short escape to my small hometown is just what I need.

    What I hadn’t planned for was Abigail Stevens.

    She may be a reporter, but she’s hot, whip-smart,
    and now that she’s burst into my life, I can’t get her off my mind.

    Meanwhile, my injury has left me with more questions than answers
    And I can’t shake the feeling that there is something important I need to remember.

    As painful as it is, maybe I should let her go – for both our sakes.

    Kiss in the Dark: The End Zone is a steamy, contemporary, small-town, football romance. It should be read following the prequel Kiss in the Dark: The Kickoff.

    Goodreads / Amazon

    —

    EXCERPT:

    “What the hell was that?” I demand, my blood boiling. “Making a big scene over that guy in front of everyone?”

    “I wanted to protect you,” he says, but my adrenaline is too high for me to accept it.

    “I can handle myself, thank you!” My voice reverberates down the hallway, booming enough to make Hunter wince and look around.

    “Abby, calm down.”

    Ah, the magic words. Just what every woman wants to hear when she’s upset—a man’s reminder not to let her emotions show.

    “Don’t tell me to calm down!” I shout, hoping to hell somebody hears.

    Hunter scans the hallway again, then grabs me by the arm and pulls me to a door beside the entrance to the hall. It’s a coatroom, and a pimple-faced attendant looks up from his seat, shocked at the two of us barging in.

    “Beat it,” Hunter tells the kid, who complies without a word.

    The door shuts, and I wrench myself free of Hunter’s grasp yet again. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growl, squaring off against him.

    “We can’t fight like this in public,” he counters, his voice every bit as hard as mine. “I’m not going to let you ruin this event for those kids.”

    “Me?” I clamp my teeth together to keep from calling him every name in the book. “Last time I checked, you were the one who went all alpha male in there and threw a guy out.”

    “His hands were all over you,” Hunter shoots back, the color in his face rising.

    “Maybe, but what does that have to do with you?”

    “Everything!” He looms very close, and the musky scent of sandalwood that always clings to his skin floods over me. “Abby,” he says in a tight whisper. “You have no idea what it does to me to see someone else touching you like that.”

    “You’re jealous,” I spit. “So what if I am?” Suddenly his hands are on me, crushing me against his massive body. “Jesus God,look at you,” he says, feasting his eyes on me. “How could I not be?”

    His mouth dips down for mine, ready to crush our lips together, and I turn my head just in time. Partly to avoid igniting whatever memories a kiss might spark but also to keep from giving him the satisfaction of winning the prize of my mouth through sheer dominance.

    But all my turning away does is offer him my neck, and he finds it readily, ravaging the crook above my collarbone with greedy kisses. The stubborn fire in my chest flares. No matter how determined I am to resist him, the primal effect he has on my body is undeniable.


    Author Bio:

    Cary, North Carolina is where my journey began, and it’s been quite the adventure so far. I’ve carved out a niche for myself as an Indie Author, specializing in the world of Contemporary Romance. These days, you’ll find me nestled in a cozy town just outside the bustling streets of NYC, where I’ve turned my dream of being a full-time author into a beautiful reality.

    When I’m not immersed in the world of writing, you’ll often catch me embracing the great outdoors. Ultra trail running has become my favorite pastime allowing me to clear my mind and recharge my creative energy. And speaking of passion, I’m an unapologetic New York Giants Fan – Sundays are sacred in our household, dedicated to the thrilling spectacle of NFL football.

    I share this incredible journey with my high school sweetheart, my anchor in life’s unpredictable seas. Together, we’ve built a loving family, blessed with two wonderful sons and a beautiful daughter. This is my story, one that continues to unfold with every word I write and every page I turn. Thank you for being a part of it.

    Facebook Group / TikTok / Instagram / Newsletter


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    Giveaway – Finding The End Zone by Tam DeRudder Jackson @XpressoTours

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    Finding the End Zone
    Tam DeRudder Jackson
    Publication date: November 8th 2023
    Genres: Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

    Never date a player.

    Football god Callahan O’Reilly can keep his blazing blue eyes to himself. I have a scholarship to maintain, and I do not have time to babysit a jock through a make-or-break class project. Even if one smoldering glance from him sets my panties on fire.

    Time to change her mind.

    Jamaica Winslow opens her mouth and spews sass like a volcano. One look at her uptight package and I want to coax the genie from the bottle, unleash all the passion she hides beneath a mop of unruly curls and a smart-ass attitude. She’s not my type, she doesn’t know one damn thing about the game that rules my life, and I can’t stop thinking about her.

    Who said anything about love?

    Jamaica does her best to keep me at arm’s length, but I’m not a pro prospect because I let the plays come to me. With the game on the line, I always want the ball. When an alum with deep pockets and delusions of grandeur makes demands that threaten my NFL chances and Jamaica’s scholarship, I have no choice but to man up and do the right thing no matter the cost.

    It started as fun and games. Now I’m playing for her heart—and my own.

    Game Time.

    Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

    —

    EXCERPT:

    “You know what I’ve been thinking about all day?”

    I smirked. “Football?”

    He tugged at my curls, and I inched closer. “No. I’ve been thinking about an even more fun game.”

    Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “There’s a game you like playing better than football?”

    “Mmm-hmm.”

    “What game do you like better than football?” With his eyes zeroed in on my lips the way they were, my question came out on a whisper.

    “Tongue tag.”

    His warm lips covered mine, and I sighed into the soft pressure of his mouth.

    Author Bio:

    Tam DeRudder Jackson’s love of all things Celtic led her to write the Talisman Series. Steeped in Celtic mythology, these steamy, fated mates, paranormal romance adventures are set in the mountains of Tam’s native Montana and the Highlands of Scotland. Rogue, the most recent book in the series, was named a best romance of 2022 by the Independent Book Review.

    An avid fan of rock music, Tam never misses a chance to see a live show, especially if it’s Shinedown, one of her favorite bands. Her love of rock music inspired her contemporary rock star Balefire Series, a sexy fun ride following the lives and loves of the members of a fictional mega-band. Readers of this series consistently give the books five-star reviews.

    Tam earned her BA in English from Montana State University and her M.Ed. in literacy from Lesley University. After a short teaching stint in Bath, England, she settled in the wilds of Wyoming where she taught adolescents all about the Celts and a bit about writing before she stepped out of the classroom to pursue her writing career full time.

    When she’s not writing, you can find her working her way through her mountainous TBR piles, alpine skiing, or traveling to some new place on her ever-expanding bucket list. To stay up to date on her adventures, connect with Tam on her website www.tamderudderjackson where you can subscribe to her newsletter.

    Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram


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    Giveaway – Jumper by Ali LUcia Sky @AliLuciaSky1 @xpressotours

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    Jumper
    Ali Lucia Sky
    (Why Choose Romance, #5)
    Publication date: November 14th 2023
    Genres: Adult, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

    It’s so dark in his life that his Claimed mates may never get out.

    Becca Grimm is a Legion demon and has known one thing since she was a young girl: she would have a breeding pact. That her breeding pact partner turned out to be her Tether was a dream come true until he broke her heart, and then she wanted to break his face until he crawled back to kiss her feet.

    But Jumper’s world is darker and more secretive than he’s ever let on. Even with her guardian-Tethers, at her side, she can barely navigate it. And finding her way back to the light is impossible in a world where wickedness reigns.

    Becca can’t say no to the things Jumper demands of her. She loves the things that Tobin wants from her. And she can’t look away from the things she sees Jumper and Crux do together.

    Content warning coming.
    .
    It’s recommended that you read the series in order, beginning with RAIDEN–all previous books available on Kindle Unlimited.

    Goodreads / Amazon

    —

    EXCERPT:

    Prologue

    I dial Jumper’s number for the third time. When it goes to voicemail, I growl. It’s just like the jackass to stand us up. Crux, Tobin, Jumper, and I all had plans to go to Sapp’s Coffee Shop for breakfast, but it was two now, and I’d heard nothing from him all day. I stretch and yawn. If I’d known he was going to flake, I would have slept in.

    “Becca, mail for you,” Andy says, grinning and tossing me a handful of college packets. I don’t order them, he does. I flip through them. “Northwestern? You think the four of us are going to Illinois?” I raise a brow.

    “I don’t care where you go, as long as you don’t end up a statistic,” my brother grumbles. “Where are dumb and dumber?”

    “Making food with Adina,” I nod toward the kitchen.

    “I know they are your Tethers, but look at me and Adina… we waited, and we survived. You don’t have to rush things. Go to school first, Becca. Claim one another later. Real love can stand still for five minutes.” Andy stands and leaves me with that.

    I grab my phone and call Jumper again. When it goes to voicemail this time, I leave him a quick voice message. “Thanks for canceling, drummerboy. Next time, actually let me know you aren’t showing.”

    My phone rings as soon as I hang up. Thinking it’s Jumper finally calling, I answer.

    “Hello, shit-for-brains–” I start.

    Lilah cuts me off. “Is he with you!?”

    “Is who with me?” I ask.

    “Jump. Is Jump with you?” she asks, tension high in her voice.

    I shake my head, though she can’t see it. “No. He’s not with me. He stood me up this morning.”

    “When did you last talk to him?” Lilah asks quickly.

    “Two days ago,” I answer with my heart racing. I just know something is wrong.

    “He’s missing, Becca. Jump is missing. No one has seen him in two days,” Lilah sobs.

    Author Bio:

    Ali Lucia Sky is the author of The Powers That Be series. She lives in Southern California with her husband and a house full of kitty cats and a yard full of crows.

    She loves laughing, drinking good coffee, vegan food, and supporting animal rescues.

    When she isn’t writing or dreaming of new stories, she can be found planning her next vacation because traveling is life.

    If you encounter her in the wild, don’t be offended if she should run away. She’s timid with strangers, but can be plied with shiny things and pictures of your cat or dog.

    She’s a weirdo like that.

    Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook Group / TikTok


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    Giveaway — Moon Flower by Heather Ewen Foster @XpressoTours

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    Moonflower: Vampires of Los Angeles
    Heather Ewen-Foster
    Publication date: November 7th 2023
    Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

    Sonia, a 250-year-old Australian vampire, thought she had found peace in the quiet neighborhood of Whitley Heights, Hollywood. But when a mysterious creature starts slaughtering young vampires, Sonia is thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

    With her friend Sunny targeted by an ancient monster, Sonia must uncover the truth behind these brutal attacks. Desperate to save her friend and end the bloodshed, Sonia navigates the treacherous politics of the vampire world. Along the way, she finds herself torn between her irresistible attraction to Alex, the enigmatic human journalist helping in her investigation, and her deep bond with sexy and charismatic Sunny, Alpha Vampire extraordinaire.

    As the sinister plot unravels, Sonia’s race against time becomes a pulse-pounding battle against an impossibly powerful foe. Will she uncover the truth before more lives are lost? And what sacrifices will she have to make to protect those she loves?

    Moon Flower is a spellbinding urban fantasy that will leave you breathless. Heather Ewen-Foster’s suspenseful tale immerses you in a world of danger, romance, and mythical creatures. Get ready for an electrifying adventure that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

    Amazon

    —

    EXCERPT:

    Terror. Pain. Then darkness.

    This is how it starts.

    The only link to the world around you is the sound of your own heartbeat pounding in your ears. Your hearing seems to be the only sense still functioning, while sight, smell, touch, and taste seem oddly suspended.

    You vaguely realize something is wrong with that pounding. You become aware that your pulse is slowing, beat by beat, which rapidly absorbs all of your attention.

    Soon, far sooner than should be possible, you have reached that critical point where that little muscle—the strongest in the human body—struggles to keep you from crossing the threshold dividing the world of life from what awaits you at death.

    But something else is terribly wrong: there is no warm light to dissolve into, there are no familiar faces waiting to usher you into paradise. There is only darkness and a failing heart that tries to pump what is no longer there. The terror within you surges as you realize that, should your heart fail, this great, dark oblivion of nothingness will become permanent. And all that is you—your very essence of self—will be gone.

    And your heart, most assuredly, is failing.

    It is at this crucial moment, when time seems to stand still, that you are offered a choice—a choice that is really no choice at all since the basic animal instinct to stay alive now dominates higher forms of reason.

    You do not hesitate. You embrace the offer with a ferocity that speaks to the predatory nature once so close to the surface in humanity, though long since buried by generations of social, sedentary living and the trappings of “civilization.”

    Then comes the oblivion, but not the one you expected—not the one which serves as the fate of everyone else. You are in limbo, with no beginning and no ending. No up and no down. But your sense of self is mercifully intact. You are still you.

    Here, in this mental womb, you remain for days until— if you are one of the lucky ones—you open your eyes for the first time to a world utterly transformed. And, as you lay there staring into the brilliant colors of the night, you slowly realize that nothing will ever be the same.

    This, dear readers, is what we call The Birth. My name is Sonia.
    I am Vampire.


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    The Spotlights Is On Murder By The Stroke by C S McDonald @ireadbooktours @CSMcDonald7

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    Join us for this spotlight tour from Oct 2 to Nov 2, 2023!

    Book Details:

    Book Title:  Murder by the Stroke (A Fiona Quinn Mystery) 
    Author:  C.S. McDonald
    Category:  Adult Fiction, 260 pages
    Genre:  Cozy Mystery
    Publisher:  McWriter Books
    Release date:  Nov 2023
    Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald’s books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults–no bad language or sexual content.
    Book Description:

    Detective Landry’s old flame is drop-dead gorgeous, and so are her paintings!

    Pittsburgh’s most influential cultural enthusiasts are overjoyed when famous artist, Vashti, has scheduled a gala followed by a weeklong exhibit of her latest works. On the other hand, Detective Nathan Landry isn’t so excited about the invitation he has received to the gala. Back in the day, he and the renowned painter were lovers. That is, when her name was Sadie Jensen, or as Nathan’s sister liked to call her, “Psycho Sadie.”

    Art experts, and collectors alike, have been intrigued by a tiny brush stroke, known as an     invisible stroke. So subtle and out of place is the technique, that Vashti’s elusive stroke has become as famous as a Where’s Waldo search.

    Meanwhile, Fiona finds herself captivated by more than Vashti’s flair for the obscure. Rather, she is far more interested in the gorgeous artist and Nathan’s past. Against his wishes, Fiona, her mother, and her mother-in-law attend the exhibit.

    Indeed, Vashti’s paintings are killing it in the art world, and in more ways than one.
    Buy the Book:
    (available for pre-order)
    Amazon 

    Meet the Author:

    For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

    Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

    Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

    Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram




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    • Giveaway – Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick @XpressoTourws

    Posted on by

    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.

    Goodreads / Amazon

    —

    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.

    Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Bookbub


    GIVEAWAY!
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    Giveaway – Cruel and Splendid Mermaids by Julie Catherine @xpressotours

    Posted on by

    Cruel and Splendid Mermaids
    Julie Catherine
    (Broken Mermaids, #1)
    Publication date: October 17th 2023
    Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy

    For mermaids and humans, the rules are the same: be careful around strangers, be wary of magic and before you dive in, check what’s lurking under the waves.

    Nineteen-year-old Ellara Merme’s whole life she’s known one purpose: to mate with men, to procreate, and to bear offspring to fight in Neptune’s underwater army. No problem… There’s just one hiccup. Her siren song doesn’t work.

    No one can know.

    She’s a broken mermaid with a faulty lure and she has only one week left to make the damaged song work. But all that can change with the ocean’s next deadly storm. Dragged from a shipwreck, mythology says a rescued sailor will be so grateful he’ll fall into anyone’s arms. Even a broken mermaid’s. Still, there’s a reason why merfolk and humans don’t get along. And a lot can go wrong when a girl from the ocean washes up on the shore.

    Think mating is easy? Think again.

    Cruel and Splendid Mermaids is a first-person dark and playful underwater fantasy. Book one in the Broken Mermaids series.

    Goodreads / Amazon


    EXCERPT

    This was the best part of every day. Floating in the surf, watching the earthy pinks, bathing in the heavy, orange glow. The manner in which the morning sunlight hit the beach and the other beautiful things on the shore.

    He was early today.

    Just a bit.

    Always running like clockwork.

    His tanned, heaving chest, warm brown and stretched firm over muscles. Blood pumping to his heart and lungs. The way his whole body flexed in his gait. The steady footfalls landing in the sand. Little divots tossed up with each tread. His body moved forward, reconnecting with the earth. Over and over. I couldn’t look away.

    I would take any, of course. But this man was my favorite.

    So deliberate in his path.

    Though human and mermaid timelines didn’t one hundred percent line up, I liked to think we were of similar age. I eyed him up. Close, anyway. The backwards cap over wavy brown curls. Hair that only got curlier as he started to sweat. I liked his gray, cotton running shorts. That bare chest. I loved his strong, limber legs. It would be nice if he could be my first.

    Not just nice. A dream.

    The only dream of my heart.

    I wasn’t picky, I wouldn’t be, I knew that. A man was a man was a man. But there was something about him. Every step that he ran. So damn firm and so upright. I rubbed my belly everyday as he passed.

    “Put a baby in me,” I sometimes whispered, although he couldn’t hear me. That was clear, because no coughing fit overtook those simple words. I was out here in the waves and he was up there. Running home. Running for sport. Running somewhere. And anywhere. And everywhere.

    I just floated.

    Waiting.

    Watching every day ’til he passed.

    Then, I’d kick up my fin, dive beneath the waves and head for home. Another day in the life of a mermaid. A new beginning. A brand new chance to finally, finally show all of Merme my true worth.

    Author Bio:

    Julie Catherine is an author, screenwriter and playwright.

    Website / Goodreads / Newsletter





    GIVEAWAY!
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    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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    • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!