Giveaway – Alexa’s A Spy by Dorothy Rosby @DorothyRosby @iReadBookTours

Book Details:

Book Title:  Alexa’s a Spy and Other Things to Be Ticked off About, Humorous Essays on the Hassles of Our Time by Dorothy Rosby
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+) ,  355 pages
Genre: Humorous Essay
Publisher:  Unhinged Press
Release date:   April, 2020
Format available for review:  print, mobi (for kindle), Gifted Kindle, and PDF
Will send print books out:  USA only
Tour dates: August 10 to August 21, 2020
Content Rating:  G – appropriate for general audience as defined above
Book Description:

“Alexa’s a Spy and Other Things to Be Ticked off About, Humorous Essays on the Hassles of Our Time” is a low-brow look at high-minded living, a good-natured (mostly) rant about some of the challenges we face and some of the annoyances we deal with just because we’re alive and trying to thrive at this moment in history. Part comedic call to arms and part tongue-in-cheek tirade, “Alexa’s a Spy” goes after, among other things, spammers and scammers, clutter and litter, intrusive technology and uncivil discourse. Too much stuff, too much noise, too much to worry about. Not enough patience, not enough kindness, not enough…chocolate? As a syndicated humor columnist, Dorothy Rosby has been ranting for more than 20 years in publications across the West and Midwest. If her latest book doesn’t change the world, and most likely it won’t, we’ll at least go down the tubes together, knowing how really foolish we’re all being.
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Author Dorothy Rosby

Meet the Author:

Dorothy Rosby is a syndicated humor columnist and author of two other books of humorous essays “I Used to Think I Was Not That Bad and Then I Got to Know Me Better” and “I Didn’t Know You Could Make Birthday Cake from Scratch, Parenting Blunders from Cradle to Empty Nest.” She’s working on her fourth and hoping to give it a shorter title—something like “Wow” or “Best Seller.” She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 20 miles from Mount Rushmore, something she’s very proud of even though she’s not on it. Yet.

Connect with the Author:  website twitter facebook goodreads
Tour Schedule:

Aug 10 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 11 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / guest post / giveaway
Aug 12 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / giveaway
Aug 13 – Books and Zebras – book review / giveaway
Aug 13 – Books for Books – book review
Aug 14 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 17 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 18 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Aug 18 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book review
Aug 19 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview
Aug 19 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway
Aug 20 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 21 – My Fictional Oasis – book review / giveaway

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Giveaway & Excerpt – True Faith by T L Bradford @XpressoTours @tbradfordauthor

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True Faith
T.L. Bradford
(The Young Americans Series, #2)
Publication date: June 15th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

If you were granted just one wish, what would you choose?
Money? Fame? Power? Love?

The world could be your oyster,
if you were willing to take the chance.

But choose wisely, and prepare for the consequences.
Everything has its price.
Can you afford it?

Be careful what you wish for.
And remember, smiling faces tell lies…

****

Noah & Josh

The entire world witnessed their fight for love.
Obstacles were beaten and won.
They were living their best lives.

Wait?
Is that all? Is that the end?
Seriously, did you really think it would be that easy?
Oh, hell no.
Their story is just beginning.

Josh and Noah are navigating the twists and turns of their newly public relationship…to varying degrees of success.

When they are lured into the trappings of Hollywood’s influence, they end up on the rollercoaster ride of their lives.

Strap on your seatbelt and get ready for a bumpy ride.
You will need to hold on tight.

Temptation, by any measure, is a fickle beast.
And when you are given the world on a silver platter, it’s downright wicked.

Truth, lies, fame, fortune.

All bonds will be tested.

Will the binds that ground them finally break?

Goodreads / Amazon


EXCERPT

“How much was the Uber Eats? I’ll pay for it. I’m the one that dragged you out here,” Josh says.

“No, don’t worry about it. I got it. Here’s your veggie curry.”

“It smells good.”

“How’s it taste?” Noah asks.

“Alright. It’s not as good as the one we used to go to, but okay.”

“Oh shit, that’s right. Thai Mondays. I forgot about that.”

“I didn’t. I’ll still stop over and grab some when I get a chance,” Josh says.

“Hand me that sriracha sauce. It’s not truly Thai until I’ve burned the roof of my mouth.”

“Here you go. Hey, you remember that place we ate at on Fiji? What was it called, Chanatos?”

“Oh, wait, no it was Chantaro!” Noah remembers.

“Yeah! That’s the place! You had that Massaman curry and doused it in chili sauce?”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me. That chili sauce was hotter than Satan’s asshole, I swear. I paid dearly for that one, both coming and going.”

“Bwhaahhaa!”

“Why are you laughing, Josh? As I recall, you had a life ruining moment as well.”

“Yeah, that was the day I discovered you never take a shart for granted.”

“Let’s toast to that one and never eat there again,” Noah says.

“Never again,” says Josh, finishing the toast.

“We’ve had a lot of crazy firsts,” Noah reminisces.

“Remember our first zip line adventure in Fiji?” asks Josh.

“Yeah. I screamed the entire way down, then passed out.”

“Then there was our first trip to Italy.”

“I was heavily medicated on Dramamine,” Noah says, sipping his beer.

“And who could forget our first ski trip in Colorado?”

“Yeah, I got drunk off brandy to stay warm,” chuckles Noah.

“Why do most of our memorable activities revolve around you being unconscious in some way?” Josh says.

“I can think of one first where I was completely lucid.”

“What’s that?”

“Our first kiss,” Noah says.

“There were like 20 or more people staring at us, I would call that less memorable and more anxiety ridden.”

“No, not that kiss. Our first real kiss.”

“In the gazebo?” asks Josh.

“Yep.” Noah smiles.

“I was so nervous. I thought I was going to swallow my tongue.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. It would have made for an awkward good-night kiss,” Noah jokes.

“I never told you this before, but that day on the bunny slope, when you were all tangled up in your skis and falling over, was the day I realized how much I was in love with you.”

“You’re kidding, right?” A small grin trickles over Noah’s lips.

“No, I was freaking out in the van on the ride back, thinking about how to tell you.”

“That’s why you were so quiet? I thought you were busy thinking about making out with Archer.”

“Like you would’ve noticed! You spent the day practically dating my brothers! I couldn’t pry them off you. Chloe made that super lame excuse to get them out of the house so we could be alone together.”

Noah says, “Yep. I remember. The gazebo was the perfect setting with the Christmas lights and the decorations. Damn, all we needed was a Michael Bublé song and we would’ve had our own Hallmark Christmas romance movie.”

“No, that would be too PG-Rated for us.”

“We were PG. Until we got back to LA, where you corrupted me,” Noah teases.

I corrupted you? Uh, excuse me. I believe you have that backwards. I remember someone dragging me into the house and then having their wicked way.”

“That time I was the scared one.”

“We’d never gone that far before,” Josh says.

“It felt right. Like we belonged together.” Noah sighs.

“It did. We always fit together, like puzzle pieces.” Josh pauses a moment. “You fit me perfectly our first time. I wasn’t scared or nervous. You were so tender and loving.”

“Josh, I’d have done just about anything to be with you. To have you.”

“I would have let you,” Josh says, repeating that line from so long ago…

“Can I kiss you?” asks Noah.

“Please.”

Noah moves in to taste his lips, gently at first, then nipping his upper lip. “You taste so good.”

“So do you,” says Josh, reluctantly pulling his lips away.

“Again?” breathes Noah, heavily.

“Yes…mmm…how do you always do this to me?” Josh’s eyes roll back in his head in pleasure. “Noah, we can’t use sex to solve our problems all the time.”

“You’re right.”

“Is this a bad idea?” Josh says.

“Absolutely.”

“That’s what I thought. Just checking.”

Author Bio:

T.L. always hated math, so it was a good thing she had a way with words. Since she was a shy and quirky kid; words were her best friends. She would imagine entire worlds in her head and talk to herself endlessly. Her mother wondered if she was speaking with ghosts for a while.

Her older sister was a voracious reader of trashy romance novels and would pass them down to her after she had finished them. T.L. was the only 10-year-old kid sitting in class reading “The Stud” by Jackie Collins during reading time. Oddly enough, she never got called out on it.

As she grew older, her tastes evolved, but one thing held fast; her undying attachment to love stories. One day out of the blue, she decided to write the love stories she always wanted to read instead of searching for her story. Since then, writing has been a dream fulfilled for her and she could not be happier.

She enjoys writing about love, regardless of gender and is a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community.

T.L. calls the Pacific Northwest her home and enjoys the quiet rural life of her little oceanside home with her playful/crazy husband and their giant dog Noah.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub


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Giveaway – Taste My Wrath by Debbie Cassidy @authordcassidy @XpressoTours

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Taste My Wrath
Debbie Cassidy
(The Iron Fae #1)
Publication date: June 18th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

A dead earth, a handful of survivors, and a game that could wipe out humanity.

I was one of the few humans to be saved by the shining ones. Powerful beings who came from the stars just in time to stop the annihilation of mankind.

But they’ve been here before.

Earth was once their home and humanity has another name for them. Fae.

Now we live in iron cities paying for haven as workers and conscripted warriors.

We owe them after all.

Until they ask too much.

The Regency Tournament is about to begin. A test of prowess for the shining ones to determine which House will rule their people for the next century.

And we humans? We’re the prey.

But I didn’t survive earths almost destruction to be hunted like a beast.

If I’m going to go down, then I’ll be taking these pointy eared wankers with me.

And I have an advantage. A shadow companion—protective but tough. My mentor has trained me in the art of survival. With his smooth dulcet tones in my head, and his shadowy form at my back, I’ll no longer be prey.

And when I hunt the shining ones, they won’t even see me coming.

An Urban Fantasy Romance adventure. Experience the magic of the Fae set against a Post-Apocalyptic back drop in a dystopian world.

Goodreads / Amazon


Author Bio:

Debbie Cassidy lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head – in a totally non psychotic way of course. She writes Urban Fantasy, Fantasy and Reverse Harem Fantasy. All her books contain plenty of action, romance and twisty plots.

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Giveaway – Bait n’ Witch by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks @XpressoTours

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Bait N’ Witch
Abigail Owen
(Brimstone Inc. #3)
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Publication date: June 15th 2020
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Rowan McAuliffe has been hiding most of her life. Secretly trained in her powers by an unusual source, she’d been taught not to trust anyone. Especially other witches. However, after she was forced to perform a hateful act against her will, she now hides from the Covens Syndicate and their judgement.

Greyson Masters is the Syndicate’s best hunter. On top of the danger of his job, Greyson is trying to raise his triplet daughters alone, budding new witches who display an alarming combined power no one understands. Too bad he doesn’t have a clue how to deal with them.

Until Rowan walks in and the chaos settles for the first time in…well, ever.

Little does Greyson realize that his new nanny is the very witch he is hunting, and she’s been hiding right under his nose this whole time.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

EXCERPT:

Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and tension filled the spaces inside him like a curtain of electricity. Awareness, impossible to not call what it was.

Rowan snatched her gaze away, and his head cleared enough for the realization to seep in that he hadn’t smiled, truly smiled, since his wife’s death. The thought struck hard and he rubbed at a spot on his chest as his mind transitioned from turned on, to shock, to aggravated at himself in the space of seconds, left buzzing with emotion either way.

Pulling his own gaze away, he cleared his throat. He shouldn’t be letting his nanny affect him this way. “I should’ve guessed Delilah would send me someone more than capable.”

“I don’t know about that,” she muttered under her breath. “So all of it was a test. The burnt dinner?”

Greyson grimaced. “Yes.”

“The girl’s running away?”

He nodded.

“What about their fight this morning?”

Another grimace. “That was real.”

“And your attitude?”

He frowned. “What attitude?”

She peered at him for a long moment, and Greyson got the uneasy impression she found him wanting somehow.

“Never mind,” she murmured. Was she placating him?

“Are the schedule and the expectations of me the same?” she asked.

“Yes.” What was wrong with his schedule?

Her mouth pursed, but she nodded. “Fine.”

“So you’ll stay?” Oddly, Greyson found himself holding his breath for her response. An hour in her company, surrounded by her wildflower and honey scent, and part of him wanted her to stay. So unlike him, he brushed that wayward feeling aside with irritation and waited for her response.

She sighed. “I don’t have a choice.”

The words, or maybe the way she said them, triggered instinct honed over years of being a hunter. “What does that mean?”

A strong emotion flashed in her eyes. If he had to guess, he would’ve said panic, but the expression was gone so quickly he couldn’t be sure.

Then she offered a sweet smile. “It means you clearly need help. So, yes, I’ll stay.”

Greyson levered to his feet. He needed help, did he? “I’ll be in my room if you need me. Good night, Rowan.” Her name felt strange on his lips. Right and wrong at the same time.

“Mr. Masters—” She stopped him at the door, and he swung to face her, eyebrows raised in question.

She didn’t bother to get up. “Don’t test me like that again.”

Or what?

“Remember…observations can go two ways.”

Did she just imply she was observing him? Before he could snap out a question, she stood and turned off the TV. “Good night.”

Greyson headed back upstairs, coming to terms with a rare experience. He’d been effectively dismissed by a woman who happened to be his girls’ nanny. Most women rushed to please him. Rowan practically sprinted in the opposite direction.

Bigger question…why did her contrary reaction turn him on?

Author Bio:

Multi-award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, loves plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, alpha heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of sexy shifters! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, Dr. Seuss quoter, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic.

Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero (who she totally married!) and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.

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Giveaway & Excerpt – Grave Humor by R J Blain @rj_blain @XpressoTours

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Grave Humor
R.J. Blain
(A Magical Romantic Comedy)
Publication date: May 12th 2020
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Paranormal, Romance

Most days, Anwen regrets working at a funeral home despite the good pay. With the residents no longer inclined to stay in their coffins where they belong, she’s got her hands full making sure everyone follows the rules:

In the funeral home, there is no screaming, no murdering, no mutilation, no possessions, no kidnappings, no resurrections, and no cursing of any type. Be quiet and stay polite.

The day Old Man McGregor decides to take a walk and disturbs her peace, Anwen learns there’s a lot more to the basement in the funeral home than a vampire and a handsome gentleman on ice.

If she’s not careful, she’ll learn first-hand why ‘eternally yours’ is the most potent of threats.

Warning: this novel contains romance, humor, bodies, shenanigans, and mythological puppies. Proceed with caution.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Google Play


EXCERPT

Had I been smarter or wiser, I never would’ve accepted the job offer at the funeral home. With my prospects few and far between, I hadn’t had a choice, not really. Who else would hire an eighteen-year-old high school drop out?

I could type.

Dead bodies didn’t bother me.

When the dead started chatting up a storm, I ignored them until the priest arrived. I almost liked the days when the corpses got talkative. The boss paid me triple the normal hourly rate per incident, and if nobody screamed, a gift card would magically appear on my desk the following morning. Without fail, the gift card would be for the grocery store, and it would offer me the rare opportunity to enjoy a luxury.

Luxuries came few and far between.

Tomorrow, I would take my gift card, fondle some honey rocks until I found the perfect pair to take home with me, and I’d crack them open and go to town on their sweet, sweet insides. I sighed happily at the thought of two perfect melons all for me.

It really was the little things in life.

“It’s no fun if you don’t scream, Anwen m’dear,” Old Man McGregor groused. “Must you suck all the joy from my funeral?”

“Your funeral is at noon tomorrow,” I reminded him. That was the problem with the newly dead. They got lost on the way, refusing to leave their bodies until someone came to lay them to their final rest. Old Man McGregor could make my life a living hell if I wasn’t careful.

In life, he’d enjoyed yanking on chains for the fun of it.

In death, all he had to do was sit up to yank on the entire town’s chain.

Author Bio:

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until satisfied.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


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Giveaway – Lighten Your Mental Load by Amy Thornton @AuthorThornton @iReadBookTours

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Join us for this tour from April 13 to May 1, 2020!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Lighten Your Mental Load by Amy Thornton
Category:  Adult non-fiction,  129 pages
Genre:  Self-Help
Publisher:  Tell-Tale Publishing
Release date:   January, 2020
Tour dates: Apr 13 to May 1, 2020
Content Rating:  PG: The author uses occasional mild swear words in the book.

Book Description:

Mental labor, or the mental load, involves the many — and extremely varied — tasks that are involved in managing a household and/or workplace. This topic has exploded over the past couple of years, especially for women. As stated in an October 2017 Washington Post article, “The constant stress of trying to stay organized — and to remember to execute so many tasks every single day — is affecting women’s relationships with their spouses, children, friends, and colleagues. They are experiencing mental, emotional, and physical fatigue trying to stay on top of it all.”

Lighten Your Mental Load shares real stories of what this load is like for both men and women across the globe and how it originated. It offers practical advice on how to lighten this burden through technology and other methods in the following areas:
• Home
• Shopping and Meals
• Marriage/Partners
• Children
• Pets
• Transportation
• Career
• Birthdays, Celebrations, Holidays, and Vacations
• Volunteering, Church Activities, and Hobbies
• Caregiving
• Retirement

Finally, the book discusses ways to not add to the mental load of others and how we can more evenly distribute the mental labor between both sexes for future generations.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon~ Tell-Tale Publishing
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:  

Amy Thornton Shankland, GPC, has been battling the mental load for over 29 years. She is a former Dale Carnegie instructor, has been a grant professional for 18 years, is a columnist for the Hamilton County Reporter in Central Indiana, and a wife and mother. She also published Joy to You and Me (At Work!) in 2018 through Tell-Tale Publishing.

Connect with the Author:  website ~ facebook ~ twitter
 Tour Schedule:

April 13 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
April 13 – Over Coffee Conversations – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 13 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
April 14 – Reading Authors Network – book spotlight / giveaway
April 14 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book spotlight / giveaway
April 15 – Karma Readz – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 15 –100 Pages A Day – book spotlight / giveaway
April 16 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / giveaway
April 17 – Books, Tea, Healthy Me – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 17 – T’s Stuff – book spotlight / giveaway
April 20 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
April 20 – Books for Books – book spotlight
April 21 – Laura’s Interests – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 22 – The avid reader – book spotlight / giveaway
April 22 –Pickagoodbook – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 23 – Mowgli with a book – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 24 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 24 – eBook Addicts – book spotlight / giveaway
April 27 – DZA’s Blog (at DeborahAdams.com ) – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 28 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 28 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 29 – Library of Clean Reads – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 29 – Divas With A Purpose – book spotlight / author interview
April 30 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 30 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
May 1 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
May 1 – Seaside Book Nook – book spotlight / giveaway
Enter the Giveaway:
 
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Giveaway – The Run Around by Bernadette Franklin @XpressoTours

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The Run Around
Bernadette Franklin
Publication date: April 28th 2020
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Arranging a wedding for her brother and a five-time thoroughbride tests Hope’s skills and patience. She’d believed the vows would be the most dangerous part of the ceremony, but a baseball to the head during the photography session proves her wrong and lands her in the sights of her brother’s best friend, Fredrick.

He wants her to plan his wedding.

She wants to be his bride.

Diving into the treacherous world of wedding planning, Hope keeps her word and arranges the vows for the one man she believes she could love. He doesn’t know how much she cherishes him and his friendship.

What she doesn’t know lands her in the heart of a royal mess.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

EXCERPT:

A sensible woman would’ve been delighted to be her future sister-in-law’s maid of honor, as it implied cordial relationships or some sort of bullshit like that. I knew better.

I made an excellent scapegoat.

As the wedding party’s weakest link, everyone expected me to trip on my dress, maybe break an ankle along with my neck, or spill the entire wine fountain onto the floor. My brother claimed he loved me, but I believed he’d been the one to spread the rumor I was the world’s clumsiest woman.

When I secured my revenge, it would be sweet.

But first, I needed to survive my brother’s wedding without being responsible for a single hiccup. Playing to my brother’s misconceptions, I’d spent months tripping over nothing on purpose so I could transform myself into the image of traditional beauty and grace.

I’d even lost twenty pounds so my dress would fit.

The wedding would be a disaster, but I would emerge from the chaos smelling like roses, red wine, and garlic bread. Honestly, I doubted the wedding would make it to the reception.

Some weddings had bridezillas. We had a thoroughbride, and if she got it into her head to run, I wished my brother the best of luck catching her before she fled from the church. My proposal to have the wedding on a yacht, where my brother’s thoroughbride couldn’t escape, hadn’t earned me points with anyone.

The bride hated the ocean.

My brother was smart enough to catch onto my implication.

It wasn’t my fault Amy wasn’t exactly the most reliable woman in the world when it came to marriage. Once was a fluke. Twice was a trend. Five incidents of running from the wedding was evidence the thoroughbride would strike again, and my dear old brother would be saddled with the fifty thousand dollar bill, as he refused to believe Amy would run out on him.

Oh, no. Amy would never run out on him.

Author Bio:

Bernadette Franklin is a figment of imagination owned and operated by two cats, a few plants, and a human.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Amazon / Newsletter


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Giveaway – After All by Heidi McLaughlin @HeidiJoVT @XpressoTours

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After All
Heidi McLaughlin
Publication date: March 24th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary

From New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin comes a heartfelt story about overcoming great loss and forgiving past sins to find happiness again.

Brooklyn Hewett hasn’t stepped foot in Cape Harbor for fifteen years—not since an accident claimed the love of her life, Austin Woods. Desperate to move forward, Brooklyn has focused on raising her daughter for the past fourteen years. But when the opportunity comes along to renovate, and possibly buy, the old Driftwood Inn, Brooklyn knows it’s time to go home.

But it won’t be easy. For one, Austin’s best friend, Bowie Holmes, still lives in Cape Harbor. Brooklyn hasn’t quite been able to forget him: not since the night they spent together—the same night they both lost Austin. Separated by tragedy and guilt, they’re brought together by the Driftwood project. And as they rebuild the inn, they discover they’re also rebuilding something else.

Brooklyn’s always been desperate to move on, not knowing that she first needs to reconcile past transgressions. She can’t forget, but she can forgive—Austin, Bowie, and herself—on her way toward long-awaited happiness.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Instead of heading straight to the Driftwood Inn, Brooklyn detoured and drove down Third Street. This was the only town she had ever lived in or visited that hadn’t had a Main Street. It was such a random thing she picked up on when she and her parents moved here years ago. She never understood why until she learned that when the town incorporated, the people counted the streets up from the harbor, numbering instead of naming, with First Street being the closest to the water.

Curiosity filled her. For years she had not asked questions about her favorite spots, mostly to avoid the feeling of being homesick, but also so she could forget. The less she knew, the better. The less she longed to return, the easier it would be to create a new life. That was what she needed to do: start over, put the past behind her, and move on.

At the red light, she closed her eyes. It only took her seconds to tell Carly she would come back, even though, deep down, it wasn’t what she wanted to do. Yet, she owed the woman and could never tell her no. Brooklyn was content with the life she was living. She was one of the most sought-after home renovators, with homeowners paying her top dollar to come to them, to transform their visions into their dream homes. Her job afforded her many luxuries, except roots. She didn’t rent a home, let alone own one. Each town became her stomping ground, until the next job came in. She traveled thousands of miles, back and forth across the country, leaving her mark everywhere she went.

Author Bio:

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.

Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.

In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.

When writing isn’t occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughters’ basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


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Giveaway – The Plan by Whitney Dineen @WhitneyDineen @XpressoTours

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The Plan
Whitney Dineen
(The Creek Water Series #3)
Publication date: March 10th 2020
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Bead shop owner Amelia Frothingham has been keeping a secret from everyone she knows.

She pretends to be the ultimate care-free bohemian chick, but the truth is, she’s the world’s biggest control freak. Much to the delight of her Southern family, Amelia’s life appears to be smooth sailing. That is, until bad boy rockstar Huck Wiley mysteriously blows into town like a spring tornado.

Like every other woman under eighty with a pulse, Amelia’s intrigued. So when Huck starts showing up in her shop with flirtation in mind, she finds herself getting sucked into the rock god vortex. But her previous attempts at long-distance love have always ended on a sour note, so Amelia has vowed never to repeat the experience.

What Amelia doesn’t know is that Huck has a secret of his own, and he has no intention of returning to Los Angeles before he’s good and ready.

Will Huck stay in town, scattering the beads Amelia has finally gotten sorted? Or will he head back to his glamorous life and take her last chance at spontaneity and love along with him?

Find out in this deliciously funny romcom about love and life in Creek Water, Missouri!

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

By the time three thirty rolls around, I haven’t had a customer in over an hour, so I decide to run upstairs and make a cup of tea. Just as I’m about to turn on the television while I wait for the water to boil, the bell over the shop door rings. Note to business owners, the ticket to more foot traffic is leaving the store in pursuit of tea. I might need to write a book. I could call it “If You Make Tea, They Will Come.”

I turn off the pot and run downstairs to see who my customer is. When I hit the bottom step, I have a clear view of a person standing next to my brightly painted apothecary drawer full of carnelian beads. I’m either in the throes of a major hallucination or dreams really do come true. Huck Wiley, or someone who looks enough like him to be his identical twin, is standing under one of the three beaded chandeliers hanging from the ceiling above my workstation. He’s looking at the necklace I was just working on.

He’s wearing jeans so faded and torn they look like they’re ready for the rag bin, yet I’m willing to bet he spent more on them than most people spend on ten pairs. The rock god is sporting a vintage U2 t-shirt and a black leather jacket. I can’t see what his shoes look like because there’s a display case blocking my view, but I’d put money on biker boots.

The floorboards creak as I step forward. My disbelieving eyes focus like a thirsty wanderer lost in the desert having just spotted a distant source of water. Whoever he is, he turns and looks right at me. His smile is so bright I may have gasped out loud in response. Seven more steps land me directly in front of him.

“Can I help you?” My tone is prim, reminiscent of a school librarian daring a student to try to check out a book before paying his overdue fine.

“Hey there,” he croons in that voice, the one I know so well from having spent hours listening to his music. My mouth hangs open like I’m a drooling idiot, but I can’t seem to close it. “I heard you gave beading classes and I was wondering if you have a special session for kids.”

I temporarily forget that he and I speak the same language. Did he just ask me about beading classes? I must be experiencing a particularly vivid fantasy. Rock star Huck Wiley can’t possibly be a closet beader, can he? Wait, he said “for kids” … Maybe I fell asleep when I went upstairs to make tea and this dream is making up for last night’s ball and chain fiasco. If so, it’s a good one.

The vision in front of me releases an easy laugh, a real laugh. Huck Wiley is probably used to odd reactions from strange women, and let me say, I’m doing my darndest to behave strangely. “Would you tell me when those classes are?” he persists.

Forcing myself to behave as normally as possible, I robotically tell him, “I have one on Wednesday and Thursday right after school, so four o’clock. They last for an hour and the price of the class includes the materials for one bracelet. It usually takes four classes to complete a project.” I don’t mean to brag, but my acting skills have gone untapped until now and I managed to get that whole sentence out without tripping over my tongue.

He nods. “Would you be available for a private lesson during the morning sometime?”

I shrug awkwardly like I’m having some kind of seizure. “For now, or during the summer?” What kid isn’t at school during school hours now?

“My daughter will be doing online school and I’d like for her to have a break during the day. You know, other kids get recess and lunch, I’d like for Maggie to get out and about.”

My jaw drops wide open. My earlier attempts at appearing normal have failed me. I’m back to feeling like I’m in a science fiction television show and I’ve just leaped out of my body. It’s like I’m watching me have this conversation with the biggest rock star of our time from the ceiling. The part of me that’s escaped its confines wants to shout down to the rest of me, “Close your mouth, girl!” But I can’t, so I don’t.

Instead, I say, “I’m sorry, but are you Huck Wiley?”

“I am.”

“Why are you here?” I demand. “Don’t you live in Los Angeles or something?”

“Or something,” he answers evasively. Before he can say anything else, I reach across the counter and touch the man’s face. His slightly stubbly beard scratches at my fingertips and then I swear I don’t know what comes over me, but I pinch him.

He jumps back and releases a short bark of surprise, assuring me he’s not some figment I’ve conjured. “I’m so sorry,” I say, quickly regaining my senses. “I thought maybe I was dreaming you up or something.”

“I think you’re supposed to pinch yourself when you think you’re dreaming,” he says, looking at me like I might be an escaped mental patient.

Author Bio:

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries — not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


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Giveaway – Where We Belong by Shann McPherson @XpressoTours

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Where We Belong
Shann McPherson
Published by: HQ Digital
Publication date: February 21st 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

An emotional, compelling page-turner from your next romance obsession, Shann McPherson, about the power of friendship and finding love where you least expect it.

When Alice ‘Murph’ Murphy’s beloved mother died, she promised to keep the family bakery in Graceville, Georgia afloat—even if it meant letting her high-school sweetheart, Nash Harris, go. For years, Murph has been biding her time, waiting for Nash to come back for her.

So when he strolls into Piece O’ Cake, Murph’s heart skips a beat—until he hands her an invitation to his wedding… There are painful secrets in both their pasts that only the two of them share, and Murph can’t bear the thought of Nash belonging to someone else.

There’s only one thing Murph can think of to do: fake a relationship with local bar owner and old friend Harley Shaw to remind Nash of what he’s losing, and win him back for good.

Nash is Murph’s best friend, a vivid reminder of her childhood and all the things she’s lost—but the more time Murph and Harley spend together, the more the lines between real and pretend begin to blur. Can Murph choose between the one who got away and the one who never left—and heal her aching heart?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks

EXCERPT:

I push my glasses up my nose for the millionth time, and while holding my breath and with one eye narrowed, I wipe a tiny smudge of frosting from the silver turntable holding Mr. and Mrs. Robertson’s fiftieth wedding anniversary cake. It may have taken me two full days and most of last night, but I’ve finally finished. Exhaling the breath I’ve been holding for a beat too long, I take a step back to really appreciate my craftsmanship. Four layers of lemon and blueberry perfection, covered in a fluffy whipped buttercream frosting, decorated with beautiful red roses, delicate peonies, and a smattering of baby’s breath, all of which have been hand-piped by yours truly.

I place a hand on my hip, smiling proudly. “Alice Murphy, once again you’ve outdone yourself,” I whisper under my breath, mentally high-fiving myself.

The bell above the door to the shop jingles, pulling me from my musings, and I walk through from the kitchen to the front of the store, still smiling at the thought of my latest masterpiece.

“Welcome to Piece O’ Cake,” I sing in a cheerful customer service voice. “How can I help yo—” Stopping dead in my tracks, my eyes go wide as I gawp at the unexpected figure standing in the middle of the shop. He’s shadowed by the afternoon sun shining in through the windows, backlighting him to nothing more than a darkened silhouette, and I blink hard, unsure whether or not I’m imagining things. But then he speaks. And I would know that voice anywhere. This is definitely not my imagination playing tricks on me.

“Hey, Murph.” The shadow takes a step forward, coming in to the glow of the overhead lights, and I’m immediately enamored by that all too familiar grin.

“N-Nash?” I gasp.

His smile is bright and those eyes. I’d remember those eyes anywhere after spending such a big part of my life dreaming about them.

“Oh my God!” I scream, covering my mouth with trembling hands until I finally come to, ripping off my apron before practically throwing myself over the counter. Jumping up, I wrap my arms around his neck, and emotion gets the better of me as I stand there in the familiarity of his warm embrace with tears of happiness streaming down my cheeks.

He’s here.

The love of my life.

He’s home.

Author Bio:

With big dreams of being a published author since she was an eleven-year-old girl writing Beverly Hills 90210 fan fiction before fan fiction was even a thing, Shann McPherson has been writing angsty, contemporary romances for most of her thirty-something years.
Living in sunny Queensland, Australia, when she’s not writing Shann enjoys making memories with her husband and cheeky toddler son, drinking wine, and singing completely off-key to One Direction’s entire discography.

Facebook / Instagram


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