$15 GC – To Have And Let Go by Julieann Dove @caffeinatedpr @JulieannDove



Today I am excited to share the newest release in the Women of Boone County small-town romance series, TO HAVE AND TO LET GO, by Julieann Dove. Chelsea Hayes thought she left Boone County behind, but fate has other plans. Come check out an excerpt and enter a fun giveaway before grabbing your copy!

To Have and Let Go



Amazon* | Goodreads

Release Day July 9, 2024

Women of Boone County #2

Chelsea Hayes is no stranger to running away from her problems. That could explain why she moved six states away from Boone County. And the reason she works a second job to go talk in circles to a therapist bi-weekly, to avoid hitting the dead end and facing her demons. 

Unfortunately for Chelsea, a call back from home forces her to hang up her running shoes and return to face some ghosts that never left, even if she did.

Patrick Jergan is new in town. Someone to take away some of the tension from all the things spinning out of control in Chelsea’s life. But like Chelsea, he’s fighting his own set of problems. The two might make a good match, except for one thing…or one person. He’s the topic her therapist knows nothing about. In fact, no one in town knows of their past. If they did, there would be no end to the tongues wagging. 

*kindleunlimited

“If you haven’t discovered Julieann Dove’s books, start right now with Coming Home, the first book in her latest series. It’s filled with the complex characters and smalltown charm I love.” Sherryl Woods, New York Times #1 bestsellling author of The Sweet Magnolias and Chesapeake Shores series.

About the Author

Julieann Dove takes great pleasure in writing about love and all the mess that goes along with it. How else does happily ever after become realized, if not for some type of hardship and journey? When she’s not writing, she loves playing with fabric at her sewing machine, baking new recipes, and playing in the dirt, trying to get things to grow. Julieann loves old movies, and never tires of listening to music—it’s where she finds most of her inspiration for her books.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter

Read an Excerpt

I was out of town a mile or so, and the same distance from home. The water cascaded

down the windshield in sheets. A shiver ripped down my naked, wet arms. I turned off the car’s

air conditioner and ignition. How long would it take for someone to pass by and help? Throw out

a cable, and it magically hooked where it needed and pulled me out?

Oh, cars came. And passed. Nothing that resembled a large truck with a winch or push

bars to give me the slightest nudge I needed. I sighed. More rain poured. Never the patient one, I

got out, locked the car, and began to walk home. How long could it possibly rain, anyway? This

was Texas, not Seattle, Washington.

It actually took only minutes for water to collect in the soles of my shoes as I pondered

the probability and forecast of a monsoon. And less time for the weight of the rain to form

clumps in what used to be my wispy bangs. Even my eyelashes were unable to withstand the

pelting of the rain, and my eyes strained to stay open. I was cold, wet, and looked down to find

that my shirt now clung to my skin like a cheesecloth.

A bright-orange car passed. The water from the tires sprayed mist that covered my entire

body. It was useless to try to do anything about it. I took another step, my feet sloshing with

every motion forward. Bright, appalling brake lights that glowed from the rear bumper lit the

now monochromatic scene before me. My eyes fluttered against the elements and squinted to

figure out what it was doing. Reverse lights blinked, and slowly it backed up to where I dripped

on the side of the road.

The window lowered to halfway, and I peered inside to see a man hunched forward,

speaking in elevated sound. “Need a ride?”

The question was absurd. Of course I needed a ride. The thing was, I didn’t need to be

killed by agreeing to a ride. Crime television taught me lots of things. Not getting in a car with a

stranger was one of them. Albeit, a nice-looking stranger. His smile, when he asked, was the

kind I’d get if he’d just taken my order at Starbucks. Not a leering one like the weirdo who wants

to shove you in his trunk once he’s given you a sniff of chloroform. Still, I couldn’t be sure, so I

declined.

“No thanks. My house is just up the road.”He persisted. Like a gentleman or a serial killer. It was hard to tell when buckets of water

were being poured upon you. “Really, I’m not a creep or anything. It’s pouring. I can give you

ride.”

I got close enough to smell the coconut air freshener.

Again, my lifelong training of female survivor kicked it. For all the naïve girls who just

wanted to get out of the storm. Forge ahead, stay alive. “Nah, I’m good. But thanks for the

offer.”

He hesitated. “Okay, well, I hope where it is you’re going isn’t far.”

I smiled. Water dripped from my chin. “It isn’t. Thanks for stopping.”

He shook his head and waved before moving forward.

I watched as the lights trailed out of sight. I just saved my own life. Or denied myself a

chance not to get a stupid cold. I’d never know.

I walked the rest of what felt like two miles hunched over, covering my chest with my

wet hand, in the pouring rain. Each step thinking the storm would slack off. It didn’t. I passed

houses with their inside lights on, and watched through their windows as people were going

about their time eating, watching television, or one window where a cat was watching me. He

probably was being reminded that’s why he was an inside cat.

A left turn on Miller and two more houses to go. A blister was beginning to form on my

big toe as it took the brunt of the travel, shoved forward in what used to be my favorite brown

flats. I looked down at the stained dark color and wondered whether they’d ever look the same.

When I looked up again, I noticed that bright-orange car. A spoiler on back, shiny hubcaps, and a

black line down the body of it. I looked at the house where it found itself parked in the driveway.

It was my house! What in the world was it doing parked in my driveway? Well, my mother’s

driveway. This killer was persistent and clairvoyant, it seemed.

I went around to the side door and fished for the key from underneath the mat. Mom was

a genius to leave it in the most inconspicuous place. I looked in the window before turning the

lock. Trying to see the man. At this point of being soaked to the bone, I couldn’t imagine I’d be

too tempting to murder. The bigger mystery was what he was doing here.

I shoved open the door and crossed my chest when I felt the air conditioning bite at the

water standing on my arms. Mom never ran the air conditioning. Oh my gosh. The thought

plowed me over. Maybe he was one of those types who found out someone died and he stalkedthe place for a few days, saw no one else lived there, and he moved in. I looked around for

something to defend myself. Nothing. Why was my mom such a minimalist? No iron skillet. No

rolling pin. Had I been able to get my hand in my wet pocket, I may have checked and found

nothing there too. Before I raided the fridge for a jar of pickles to club him with, he appeared in

the doorway.

“You? What…who…”

“I think I should be asking the same thing,” I said, mopping the water that still leaked

from my stringy hair. “Who are you and what are you doing in my house?”

Still with that Forest Gump look, he exclaimed,

“Chelsea! Of course it’s you. I didn’t

recognize you—

” His eyes moved down my body.

I covered my front, realizing I was a peep show in my white tee shirt.

“You look different not in pigtails and braces.”

Lord, my full-on anxiety stage of life. And Mom kept it prominently displayed on our

mantle. She had my 8×10 third-grade picture next to my cap and gown wallet-sized one.

I fidgeted with my hair. Not much better than ponytails at the present moment. “Okay.

But who are you?”

He ran and pulled a kitchen towel from a drawer. Funny he knew which one. How long

had he been squatting here? He handed it to me. “I’m Patrick.” He held out his hand for me to

possibly shake. I looked, still stuck in the moment, and continued to sop water from my skin.

“Okay, well, I’m Patrick.” He shoved his hand back in his jean pocket. “I’m the chef at your

mom’s restaurant.”

“The chef?” Mom had a chef—er, rather the main line cook, Mr. Newton. He’d

sometimes accidentally leave his teeth soaking in a cup by the employee restroom. I guess it

made sense now that he might’ve not lived long after I moved away. Mom did get him a stool to

sit on to help ease his back when he had to stand long hours.

“Yeah, I…well, she hired me about six months ago.” He went and grabbed some paper

towels and began sopping up the water that puddled around me.

“Okay, but why are you in our house?”

He looked up from where he was kneeling. “It’s a long story, actually.”

Giveaway

Enter to win a signed copy of Coming Home, book one. (US only) and a $15.00 Amazon gift card. International will receive gift card & ebook of Coming Home.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Cover Reveal – Better Watch Out by Kate SeRine @caffeinatedpr @KateSeRine

Today I am excited to share the cover for BETTER WATCH OUT by Kate SeRine. This is the latest novella in the Transplanted Tales paranormal romantic suspense series.  In Better Watch Out, Seth “Big Bad” Wolf senses something dark in the winter wind…. 

Better Watch Out

Coming October 17, 2023

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

 

Miscast as the villain most of his life, Seth “Big Bad” Wolf never believed he would get his very own happily ever after—until he found it with Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother and the Tale whose magic transplanted them from Make Believe to the ordinary human world. But now, as the holidays draw near, Seth senses something dark in the winter wind, something deadly that threatens the peace and happiness he’s finally found. And one thing’s for sure—whatever evil is coming to town better watch out, ’cause there’s nothing Seth won’t do to protect his family, even if that means unleashing the full fury of the wolf he keeps caged inside…

 

Transplanted Tales Series



Red

Grimm Consequences

The Better to See You

Along Came A Spider

Ever After

Better Watch Out 

About the Author

Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it’s no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. She’s the author of the award-winning TRANSPLANTED TALES paranormal romance series as well as two romantic suspense series: PROTECT AND SERVE and DARK ALLIANCE.

Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project — probably while consuming way too much coffee.

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter





  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

$50 Giveaway – The Urban Boys by K N Smith @caffeinatedpr



Today we’ve got a peek at K. N. Smith’s audiobook Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses. This young adult urban fantasy tells the story of five friends who discover heightened senses in a forbidden preserve. Check out the audio teaser & enter giveaway before grabbing your headphones and copy today!

Discovery of the Five Senses



Amazon Audible Universal Links | Goodreads

Narrated by: Glenn Steinbaum

Listening Length: 8 hours and 10 minutes

A suspenseful incident in a forbidden preserve heightens the senses of five friends. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become super-gifts that forever change the world. But furious battles confront the boys as they try to understand their sensory super powers in a race to save mankind. With light beings and mysterious strangers complicating their plight, can the boys defeat the evil Druth before it’s too late? Get prepared for the twisting and grinding of this award-winning, action-adventure story—an edge-of-your-seat narrative for young and mature listeners alike.

About the Author


K.N. Smith was awarded “Best of” in the category of “Outstanding Young Adult Novel” at the 10th Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair’s Jessie Redmon Fauset Book Awards. She is a Readers’ Favorite “Gold Medal” honoree for “Young Adult – Mystery”, the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards “1st Place Honoree” for “New Author: Fiction” and “Science Fiction/Fantasy”, and a Book Excellence Award Winner for “Young Adult Fiction”. Her lyrical flair sweeps across pages that twist and grind through action-adventure and urban fantasy in edge-of-your-seat narratives. She is an advocate of literacy and arts programs throughout the world. K.N. has over twenty-five years’ experience in communications and creative design as an award-winning consultant, and is the founder of Mental Health California™, her signature nonprofit community initiative. Reading is still her foremost hobby.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter

Amazon Audible Universal Links | Goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50.00 US Visa Gift Card. International winner will receive a gift card with an equivalent amount of $50. Ends June 22, 2023. May the odds be forever in your favor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – When You Break Girl Code by J L Lora @caffeinatedpr @jtothelove


Join me in celebrating the release of the newest standalone romance in the Sometimes Love Happens Collection. WHEN YOU BREAK GIRL CODE by J. L. Lora delivers a steamy romance with a side of suspense you won’t want to miss! Check out an excerpt before grabbing your copy! Be sure to enter the giveaway.

When You Break Girl Code



Amazon | B&N | Kobo iBooks | Goodreads

She just meant to do an associate a favor. After she’s blamed for murder, can she prove her innocence before she’s permanently canceled?

Mila Rosario is walking on cloud nine. Thrilled with her huge promotion, the marketing genius reluctantly covers for a co-worker by distracting the woman’s hot and well-heeled boyfriend. But when their instant connection turns into a sizzling night in the sheets, she’s horrified to wake in her new lover’s arms and discover her work friend has fallen prey to a killer.

Biting her tongue about the affair when talking to the cops, she lands on the suspect list and the perp doxxes her to social media’s wrath. And as those around her start dropping dead, the curvy beauty fears even her handsome protector can’t save her from a grisly end.

Can Mila outwit a murderous stalker closing in for the kill?

When You Break Girl Code is the dramatic standalone fourth book in the Sometimes Love Happens contemporary romance series. If you like characters who grow, terrifying stakes, and plenty of steam, then you’ll adore J. L. Lora’s explosive chemistry.

Teaser

I calculated the risk. I don’t know how good the reward is going to be. But I’ve made my investment, and I don’t want to turn back. I want to find out what it would be like to have her.
The ball is in Mila’s court. I’m giving her the chance to call all the shots.
Well… kinda.
I insist on driving her home. There’s no way I would let her get in an Uber, though that would have been the safest thing for us. Safe is not what I’m going for, though. I left safe way behind after our first drink. Further cemented when I sent Madison the message breaking it off. She doesn’t care enough to answer me. I don’t care anymore, either. I did what I had to do and closed the door. Tomorrow, I will call her and make sure we stay friends, for our families. She’s obviously okay because she kept texting her friend. But she’s gone right out of my mind because I’m pulling over in front of Mila’s building.
“It’s really nice of you to drive me home, and thank you for dinner.” She’s not even looking at me while she says it.
“Mila.” I wait until she turns to me. “Thank you for a great evening.”
She smiles like she’s relieved. Then leans over to kiss my cheek and lingers. The warmth of her lips clings to my skin. The air conditioner breeze cools it down almost immediately. When she pulls back, the heat in her eyes that matches the one surging inside me. I see all I need.
I don’t calculate. I don’t leave it up to her. I swoop in and crush my lips to hers.
Her reaction is immediate. She opens her mouth for me and I taste our whole evening in her tongue, traces of sweetness, spices, desire, and danger.
She pulls back and we stare at each other. The message is in her eyes. We crossed the line. She opens her mouth, but I beat whatever she’s going to say.
“Invite me in.”
Her eyes round, her lips drift apart, but she says nothing.
And I should take that as her answer.
“We really shouldn’t…”
That’s not a no. She knows it too.
“But we want to…”
She nods.
“And we’re going to.” Again, not a question because my answer is her glowing eyes.
.

About the Author



J. L. Lora is a Dominican-American author of contemporary and romantic suspense. Her stories explore the dark side of good characters—people living in the gray areas of life—playing the cards life has dealt them. Her stories manifest her love for badass alpha heroines and take-your-breath-away alpha men. 

Website Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter


Giveaway

Join the celebration and enter to win a $25.00 Amazon eGift Card. One winner will be selected. Giveaway ends May 3, 2023. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – The Last Message by Catherine Hope @CaffeinatedPR @CatherineHopeBk



Today, we are excited to share Catherine Hope’s debut novel from Headline Eternal, THE LAST MESSAGE. Find out what happens when a message meant for another is sent. Come read an excerpt, order your copy and enter the giveaway.

The Last Message



Release Date: April 11, 2023

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks B&N | GooglePlayWaterstones | Goodreads

This year I am sending my last message to you. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself, and I will never forget you, but I have to find a way to let you go.


When Lizzie is woken in the night by a text message clearly not meant for her, she is intrigued and haunted by the words she sees. After losing her beloved twin brother, she knows something of grief and the struggle to rebuild a life.

Nick, a widower for three years, is haunted by the disappearance and presumed death of his wife.

When these two lonely hearts are drawn together, an unexpectedly deep and powerful emotional connection is formed. Perhaps finally this is the chance for both of them to live again – if they can overcome scars of the past which have a longer reach than either could have imagined.

‘This book completely wrecked me! It was so good and it captivated me. It was perfect! I was absolutely entranced with this . . . 5 star read!’ NetGalley review

‘Stunning, beautiful, heartwrenching, heartwarming, uplifting and joyful. This book is everything. Don’t miss reading this one. Put it on the top of all your lists’ NetGalley review

‘Gosh this was a story and a half . . . Loved it. A perfect curl-up-on-the-sofa book’ NetGalley review


‘Great, great, great – I am giving it a lot of love . . . read this one! An intense, emotional and utterly compelling narrative!’ NetGalley review

‘This was such a devastatingly beautiful story! I fell in love with the characters Lizzie and Nick . . . Truly deep and powerful. The story is thought-provoking and sweet!’ NetGalley review.

Read an Excerpt

A message meant for another. A love meant only for her. Read on for a sneak peek of Catherine Hope’s gripping and emotional debut novel, The Last Message

I looked at the face of the phone and rubbed my eyes to clear my vision. There was a message. Who on earth would be texting at this time in the morning? Nobody I knew had this number.

I opened the text. I needed to read it a couple of times, as it didn’t make any sense to my sleepy brain.

“W-what . . . who . . .?”

Marissa, this year I am sending my last message to you. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself, and I will never forget you, but I have to find a way to let you go.

“Huh?” I blinked and ran my fingers through my hair. Marissa? I checked the time again. Only a few minutes past the last time I checked. I squinted to read the text again. There was no number showing who sent it.

Unknown caller.

Even if my first instinct was to reply, I wouldn’t be able to. There was no way I could let the sender know the message had gone astray. I gently put the phone down on the bed and sat there, thinking about it.

The message was raw. Emotional. Soulful. I kneaded my chest with my knuckles, surprised how affected I was by the despair the words conveyed. They were meant for someone else, and I couldn’t help feeling I’d intruded on someone else’s pain and heartache.

It took a moment for my heartbeat to settle down. After a quick trip to the bathroom, I shut the windows, turned off the light, and crawled back into bed. I yawned and snuggled into the pillows, desperately needing more sleep.

But I lay there, sleep now firmly out of reach. I couldn’t get the text message out of my head. I groaned and fished for the phone tangled in the sheets. I read the illuminated message again.

Either someone had made a mistake, or this number used to belong to somebody else.

Despite my curiosity, it was none of my business, but there was something so heart-wrenching about the message.

I put the phone down and fell back into the pillows. I finally nodded off again, but it was a rough sleep. I floated between waking and drifting off, constantly thinking or dreaming about the text. I couldn’t shake off the words or stop them running like a reel of ticker tape through my brain.

Finally, I gave up trying to sleep and got out of bed. I padded into the kitchen and made a cup of tea. Sticking my arms into the cable-knit sweater I’d made, with tea in hand, I grabbed a throw blanket from the sofa and went outside.

I slung the blanket around my shoulders and sat on a lounger, tucking my legs under me, hands cupping the hot mug.

The moon was full and its reflection glittered off the waves. Stars were out, but they paled in the moon’s light. I stayed, thinking and planning, until the sun rose, bathing the shore and water in gold. It was too beautiful for words. Exhaustion finally overtook me and I snuggled back into bed, knowing exactly what I was going to do about the text.

About the Author

Catherine Hope’s love of reading began at a young age. Her parents always had a book close by, although they read vastly different genres, which rubbed off on her as she devoured everything from romance to espionage. She fondly remembers her mom with a book propped against her cosy covered teapot at lunchtime.Catherine started telling stories as a child, and it naturally grew into a passion for writing. Her goal is to breathe life into her characters and worlds and transport her readers into the pages of heartache and triumph. Catherine is excited for her debut release coming in early 2023 – THE LAST MESSAGE, with Headline Eternal, UK Division of Hachette. When Catherine’s not writing or thinking up fresh stories, she spends time with her family, friends, and menagerie of pets. But she’s always ready to jet off to explore the world, where many of her experiences find their way into her books. Catherine lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada.

Website | Instagram | Twitter

Giveaway

Enter to win a $25.00 Amazon eGift Card. Giveaway ends April 26, 2023. May the odds be forever in your favor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway





  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – The Lady And The Barrister by Ruth A Casie @CaffeinatedPR @RuthACasie



Today we are celebrating the release of The Lady and the Barrister by USA Today Bestselling Author Ruth A. Casie. This is the first novel in the Return to the Ladies of Sommer By the Sea. Come check out an excerpt of this historical Regency romance and enter the giveaway before grabbing your copy!

The Lady and the Barrister



Return to the Ladies of Sommer By the Sea #1

Amazon | Goodreads

Two men vie for Lady Anna, but who will she choose? The smooth politician or the down-to-earth barrister turned duke?

Lady Anna Ravencroft shines brightly as a much-admired organizer and hostess. In her mind it is the one thing at which she succeeds. Inwardly she is shy, retiring… a wallflower. With two failed seasons that ended in disaster she has accepted marriage might not be in her future.

Lord Fraser Castleton, a London barrister is shocked when he inherits a title and estate from his mother’s great aunt and becomes the 8th Duke of Willbury. He returns to Sommer-by-the-Sea to take up permanent residence. He crosses paths with his longtime friend, Lady Anna. He confides that he is the target of every mother with an unmarried daughter. She commiserates with him. Every eligible gentleman sees the Ravencroft purse rather than her. Together they decide to find a mate for each other. Anna presents him with a list of several eligible women. Castleton is receptive, but not enthusiastic. He gives her the same reaction with the subsequent two lists. Will she realize he has already found his match?

Reginald Younge, who doesn’t always play by the rules, wants to be the next Member of Parliament for his borough. His political backer will support him if Younge can finance the campaign himself. He suggests Younge find a wealthy wife to support his political plans. Marrying a Ravencroft would all but guarantee not only his backer’s continued support but provide the steady stream of money needed to claim his place amongst the gentry. He calls on Lady Anna for assistance with a campaign event and has an ulterior motive.

Return to the Ladies of Sommer By the Sea

  1. The Lady and the Barrister – 99 cents & in Kindle Unlimited
  2. The Lady and the Earl – pre-order now Releases June 1, 2023
  3. The Lady and the Rogue- Release date: August 9, 2023

Read an Excerpt

“Lady Anna. Lord Castleton. Welcome to the Tea Room.” Tanya took off her apron and set off a small cloud of flour as she put the pinnie down on the counter.

Anna glanced around the dining room. An older couple sat at the only other occupied table.

Castleton helped her into her chair as Tanya made her way to the front of the tearoom. He turned to her with his irresistibly devastating grin.

Anna busied herself by removing her gloves and putting them into her reticule, then placing it on her lap all to avoid his gaze. When she could no longer stall, she raised her head and found him sitting across from her and still staring.

What should she say? It was as if she didn’t know this man when they had been friends most of their lives. Well, she certainly didn’t know him as a military man, a barrister, a duke, and especially not as someone courting her. All she knew was the boy with whom she grew up and in a moment of panic, she wanted to leave.

“I didn’t intend to embarrass you. I can’t help the way I look at you.” His elbow was on the table with his chin in his hand. “One glance and I find myself smiling.”

He removed his hand and struck a more proper attitude, opened his serviette, and draped it on his lap.

Was he playing his part? She glanced at the couple at the other table and concluded he was courting her for their sake. Perhaps she could play the game as well.

“You flatter me, Fraser,” she gracefully placed her hand to her throat. “Or should I say you flatter yourself if you think I’m embarrassed.” She sat up straighter and looked down her nose following propriety. For two Seasons she observed and learned as girls struck that position.

“Oh?” He dared to struggle to hide his chuckle.

“Ginger biscuits, really, Fraser. I would have thought you’d had your fill as a boy and moved on to other more tempting morsels.”

He leaned closer toward her. His eyes were even more passionate than they had been moments before. He took her hand and her breath caught.

“Oh, but I am moved by a more temping… morsel. Much more tempting. Would you like me to elaborate?” With that he raised her hand to his lips.

Copyright © 2023 Timeless Scribes Publishing LLC

About the Author


RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now-writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Newsletter

Enter Giveaway

Enter to win a $25.00 Amazon eCard. Giveaway ends April 19, 2023. May the odds be forever in your favor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Rescued Release Day Blitz @CaffeinatedPR



Today we are excited to share the release of Rescued. This anthology from New York Times and USA bestselling authors delivers a collection of contemporary romances filled with heat, heart and dog treats! The authors have rescue dogs and came together because of their beloved pups. They are donating release day sales to Roxanne St. Claire’s rescue charity.   

Rescued Release Day!!



Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

What happens when 10 dog-loving romance authors get together and brainstorm? Why, books with rescue dogs, sexy heroes, dirty talking, and lots of dog treats, of course.

From Cynthia D’Alba – Hot Assets– A Dallas socialite must team up with a cop to save her rescued dog from a determined dognapper
From Donna Alward – Doggie on her Doorstep When Emily’s flighty cousin leaves her dog on Em’s doorstep, she enlists the help of the sexy grouch next door.
From Jenna Bayley-Burke – The Guy Next Door –Fourth grade teacher has the naughtiest dog, the punniest jokes, and perfect washboard abs…and now an angry neighbor with a busted fence thanks to his dog.
From Mandy Harbin– Rescuing Orion – When undercover FBI agents foster a dog to investigate a money launderer, ignoring their attraction becomes difficult with playing house with a cute pooch.
From Cindy Kirk – For the Love of Ivy – A city girl and the dog she rescues turns a sexy rancher’s life upside down
From Melissa Schroeder – Last Love – A single mom tries to avoid her one-night stand, but her dog, Houdini, keeps leading her to his door.
From Lexxie Couper – Who’s A Good Boy? – After meeting a feisty dog trainer and a 3-legged dog, the future PM of Australia questions his future and his life.
From Shana Gray – Dogs on A Plane- A heavy snow strands a bush pilot and socialite with a pack of love hungry pups. Who saves who?
From Laura Trentham –Nobody’s Hero – An ex-con tries to persuade an abandoned puppy and an innocent romance author he’s nobody’s hero.
From Tamlyn Black  Nobody But You – A grumpy cowboy has his world upended by his sister’s new BFF and the stray dog she brings to his door

Teaser from A Dog on Her Doorstep

 

Emily Janssen stood at the bottom of her driveway and stared at her front step. Even from fifty feet away, she could see that the black and-brown lump blocking her front door was a dog.

A big dog.

A big, hairy dog.

She wasn’t afraid of dogs, though she always took care when approaching one she didn’t know. That was just responsible. She was just… confused. Why on earth would a dog choose her front step? There was nothing to entice a pup to her townhouse. No other dogs—or cats, for that matter—or treats or toys or kids looking to play.

More was the pity, but who had time for all that, anyway?

The dog finally noticed her, sat up, and let out a deep woof accompanied by a swooshy, waggy tail.

She sighed, but couldn’t help but be charmed.

“Well, hello to you too,” she said starting up the driveway. “And who might you be? Aren’t you pretty?”

The swishy tail swished faster as the dog stood, and its back end started to wiggle. She recognized the breed easily. Bernese Mountain Dogs were lovely, but large. If this guy decided to jump up to say hello, she’d find herself on her butt. – Excerpt from Doggie on Her Doorstep by Donna Alward



Grab your copy: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

Release Day sales benefit Roxanne St. Claire’s rescue charity.   

Authors

Cynthia D’Alba, Donna Alward, Jenna Bayley-Burke, Mandy Harbin, Melissa Schroeder, Lexxie Couper, Shana Gray, Laura Trentham, Tamlyn Black, & Cindy Kirk forward by Roxanne St. Claire.


  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Red by Kate Serine @CaffeinatedPR #KateSerine


Today I am excited to be a part of the Transplanted Tales 10-Year Anniversary Blog Tour. The year long event kicks off today with Red by Kate SeRine. Kensington is giving the series a fresh new look and Kate is hosting a year long giveaway in addition to tours for each book. Come check it this fantastic paranormal romance series featuring Tess “Red” Little. 

Red by Kate SeRine

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads

Fairytale characters meet the mean streets of Chicago in this gritty paranormal romance featuring Little Red Riding Hood as a tough-as-nails detective.

Once upon a time, a spell went awry, stranding Make Believe characters in the ordinary world. Since then, Tess “Red” Little has worked as an Enforcer for the Chicago branch of the Fairytale Management Authority. All grown up and with nothing to lose, she’s not some waif with a basket of goodies. Guns and combat boots are more her style now. And on her latest assignment, no one’s living happily ever after.

Someone is viciously murdering transplanted Tales, and the list of characters capable of such grisly violence includes more than one of Red’s old flames. To make matters worse, she’ll be working alongside sexy, enigmatic Nate Grimm, the FMA’s lead detective and part-time Reaper. Red normally prefers playing the lone wolf, but Nate’s dark side makes him perfect for this case. That is, if she can trust him. As she learned long ago, believing in the wrong person can have big, bad consequences.

Transplanted Tale Series

Read an Excerpt

I threw the covers back and stormed down the stairs, brushing past Gran in my fury. I charged into the kitchen, fully expecting to light into Nate about barging into my house—okay, well, not technically my house, but still—but when I saw him I slid to a halt, briefly wondering if I’d wandered into a parallel dimension.

            Nate had discarded his omnipresent suit jacket and fedora in exchange for one of Gran’s pink frilly aprons with a creepily cheery gingerbread man embroidered on the front. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, revealing muscled forearms and intricately drawn tribal-style tattoos that were completely out of sorts with the girly cooking attire.

            When he heard me come in, he turned away from where he was scrambling eggs with peppers and onions and offered me a wide smile. “Good morning, sunshine,” he called over his shoulder.

            I intended to stun him with a witty comeback that started with Piss and ended with Off, but before I got the chance, he added, “Breakfast will be ready in a sec. I hope you like your eggs loaded. I didn’t figure you for a cinnamon roll kind of girl, but Gran insisted I whip some up when she heard my recipe.”

            I blinked at him, now certain about my alternate reality theory. “What the hell are you doing here?”

            Nate added some shredded cheese to his concoction and gently folded the eggs a couple of times before responding, “Thought we’d get an early start.”

            I hopped up onto one of the stools nestled around the kitchen bar and gave him a wary look. “Start on what exactly?”

            “I figured we’d drop in on Wolf,” he said. “Get it out of the way.”

I felt my stomach flop ominously. Probably just the hangover. “He’s nocturnal,” I muttered. “Maybe we should wait until later in the day.”

“Or we can catch him unawares so he doesn’t run,” he rejoined.

I bristled a little at his tone. “Seth won’t run.”

Nate shrugged. “Because he has a history of sticking it out when things get rough?”

“Fine,” I snapped, having to admit he had a point. “But he’s not the guy.”

“So you keep saying. As soon as he’s cleared, we’ll move on to Caliban.”

Nate scooped the eggs onto a plate and arranged a few slices of crisp bacon, perfectly toasted sourdough, and a sprig of parsley around them before setting the lot in front of me.

            I stared down at the beautifully arranged food before me and wondered if I should eat it or take a picture of it. My stomach grumbled in spite of its queasiness, which really left only one option. I shoveled a bite of eggs into my mouth and had to stop myself from moaning with delight as Nate set out a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

            “So what do you think?” he asked, studying me in that über-intense way of his.

            “I think Caliban can be an arrogant, foul-tempered asshole,” I mumbled around my eggs, “but I don’t think he’s your perp either.”

            Nate laughed. “Not what I meant. The breakfast—do you like it?”

            I swallowed, lifting my face from the trough—uh, plate—and meeting his gaze. “Yeah, it’s great. Thanks.”

            He gave me a wink and went back to the stove, gathering up the frying pans and utensils and loading them into the dishwasher. Bemused by the decidedly surreal experience, I continued eating and was just polishing off the last of the most delicious cinnamon roll I’d ever consumed when Gran came bustling in.

            “Well, I’m off!” she cried cheerily, her cheeks aglow with excitement. “Wish me luck, my darlings!”

            Darlings? Plural?

            Nate hastily dried his hands on the edge of his apron and shook Gran’s hand warmly. “Best of luck, Tilly—”

            Tilly?

            “—I’m sure your interview will go swell.”

            Swell?

            Gran tittered like a schoolgirl, blushing at Nate’s encouragement, then good-naturedly batted at his shoulder. “Oh, Detective, if all my audience was as kind as you, I would never worry about ratings!”

Dear God, it was a morning person conspiracy.

 

About the Author

Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it’s no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. She’s the author of the award-winning TRANSPLANTED TALES paranormal romance series as well as two romantic suspense series: PROTECT AND SERVE and DARK ALLIANCE.

Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project — probably while consuming way too much coffee.

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter

Giveaways

Red Blog Tour Giveaway

Enter to win a $25.00 eGift card from retailer of your choice (Amazon, Apple, B&N or Kobo). Ends March 10th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10-Year Anniversary of the Transplanted Tales Giveaway



Join Kate SeRine’s newsletter for the chance to win a US Amazon eGift Card. Winner will be selected at random from active subscriber list on December 16, 2022. 

Enter here:  https://www.subscribepage.com/w8n0q1


  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
  • Cover Reveal Giveaway – Transplanted Tales by Kate SeRine @KateSeRine @CaffeinatedPR

    It’s the 10-Year Anniversary of Kate SeRine’s Transplanted Tales series and Kensington is giving them a fresh new look. Today I am delighted to share the brand new cover for The Better to See You, book two in the series. Check it out, read an excerpt, and be sure to subscribe to Kate’s newsletter for the chance to win a hundred dollar Amazon gift card!

    The Better To See You

    Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

    A fallen fairy godmother finds refuge in the arms of a wolf—until a series of murders threatens to break the spell—in this gritty paranormal romance.

    Thanks to a spell mis-cast by Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother, Make Believe characters have been cast into the ordinary world. Now that the Tales are flesh and blood, their storybook lives aren’t so simple. But fortunately for Lavender, she’s about to get a second chance at a happy ending.

    The Refuge, a sanctuary for wayward Tales, seems like the perfect place for Lavender to start a new life—especially when she discovers an unexpected ally in Seth, the brooding werewolf who’s been typecast as a villain ever since his run in with Little Red Riding Hood. But when humans from nearby towns start turning up dead, their bodies mutilated with archaic Tale symbols, Lavender wonders if Seth’s deep sensuality has blinded her to a deadly reality.

    Read an Excerpt

    It was over.

    I was going to be torn apart here in the middle of nowhere by some winged demon dog. I’d never get the chance to start over. I’d never get the chance to prove I was more than just a colossal failure in every regard—as a daughter, as a woman, as a fairy.

    I couldn’t believe my unbelievably shitty luck.

    Shaking violently from the pain wracking my body, I lay there, the raindrops mixing with my tears as I sobbed and watched helplessly as pine needles gathered together, creating a thick rope that wound itself around my arms and torso, pinning me to the ground.

    Briefly, I wondered how people would remember me after I was gone. Would they speak the name Lavender Seelie and think of the fairy godmother who’d once wielded almost unparalleled power and skill? Or would they remember only the screwed-up fairy who’d ruined their lives when that same power had betrayed her?

                After several agonizing moments, I finally heard the creature leap across the ravine and snapped out of my last-minute pity party, fear and panic once more flooding my veins.

    There was no point in trying to summon my magic now—it had deserted me, that was pretty freaking clear. I just hoped like hell my death would be quick.

                The creature prowled toward me, its massive bulk a mercifully indistinct silhouette, and I swear I thought I heard it chuckle, the sound sending chills down my spine. Then from behind me came the whisper-soft padding of paws on the underbrush. In the next instant, a great white wolf leaped over me and slammed into the shadow-creature. The two rolled end-over-end in a tangle of claws and teeth, coming to rest with the wolf on top, its lips peeled back in a vicious snarl.

                I turned my head to get a better look just in time to see the wolf grab the creature’s throat in its teeth. The beast’s howl ended abruptly as the wolf gave a powerful shake of its head, tearing out a large section of demon dog’s throat.

    The wolf flung the chunk of flesh into the underbrush then cautiously padded toward me, its head down between its shoulders, sizing me up. As it came closer, I realized it wasn’t an ordinary timber wolf. This animal was easily twice the size of any wolf I’d ever seen and had a distinctly human intelligence shining in its eyes.

    I didn’t stand a chance.

    It bit through the pine needle rope and shook its head, scattering the needles all over the ground. The rest of the needles instantly fell away, and the trees halted their brutal assault.

    I raised a bloody, trembling hand, not sure if I’d just exchanged one predator for another. “Please,” I managed to gasp between the quick, shallow breathes that were all my punctured lung would now allow. “Please…”

    In response, a soft shimmering light encased the wolf, and where the beautiful creature had stood, now crouched a man, his ice-green eyes still glowing. As he gently lifted me into his arms, I cried out, pain engulfing me.

    “It’s all right,” he said softly, cradling me against him. “You’re safe now.”

    I looked up into the grim face of my rescuer, now recognizing him. How could I not when I’d seen his face on Wanted posters and in the Tale news so often over the centuries?

    As pain and nausea sent me careening toward a dark abyss, his name drifted to me:

    Seth Wolf.


    Transplanted Tales Series

    Red

    Grimm Consequences

    The Better to See You

    Along Came A Spider

    Ever After

    Better Watch Out (Fall 2022)

    About Author

    Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it’s no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. She’s the author of the award-winning TRANSPLANTED TALES paranormal romance series as well as two romantic suspense series: PROTECT AND SERVE and DARK ALLIANCE.

    Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project — probably while consuming way too much coffee.

    Website | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter

    10-Year Anniversary Of The Transplanted Tales Giveaway

    Join Kate SeRine’s newsletter for the chance to win a US Amazon eGift Card. Winner will be selected at random from her active subscriber list on December 16, 2022. Enter here ➡️ https://www.subscribepage.com/w8n0q1


    Isn’t the cover gorgeous?


    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
    • You can see my Reviews HERE.
    • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
    • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
    • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
    • I am an amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
    • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

    Giveaway – The Lady and the Spy by Ruth A Casie @RuthACasie @CaffeinatedPR

    A snow storm, a Russian spy and a puzzle loving widow await you in The Lady and the Spy by Ruth A. Casie. This is the second standalone regency romance in the Ladies of Summer by the Sea. I am excited to share its release and two fun giveaways with you.

    The Lady and the Spy

    Amazon

    With each encounter her heartbeat quickened. With each encounter his need for her grew stronger. 

    Lady Patrice Montgomery Edgemont always did what was expected of her and look where that got her, married off by her father into a loveless relationship. She solved the puzzle that was prospective husband number two, another of her father’s choices and quickly made him a distant memory. Lady Patrice is not playing games. She is through with men. 

    Nikolai Baranov is the son of a Russian grand duke and spy for Tzar Alexander I. When his father and associates are killed, Nikolai doesn’t play games. The only thing worth winning is revenge for his family. When a blizzard blankets Sommer-by-the-Sea, Lady Patrice is the only one who can help the mysterious wounded Russian she finds in her hunting lodge. 

    It will take Nikolai’s skill as a spy and Lady Patrice’s expertise at solving puzzles to play through and win the game, a happily ever after.

    Read an Excerpt

    She made her way deeper into the forest where the pine canopy captured the snow and shielded the forest floor. Here the snow wasn’t as deep. As she followed the forest path, a pattern of prints in the snow caught her attention, not an animal’s, but a human’s, prints. Her gaze followed the track. It led toward the lodge.

    She hurried on and stopped to bend down for a closer look. Her stomach squeezed. Blood stains spattered the prints. She looked up toward the lodge.

    Henry? The wild boar? She stood and checked the sky in the direction of the lodge. No smoke. Was the boy too badly hurt to start a fire?

    She took off at a run. Her only thought was Henry.

    Her muffled footfalls pounded and crunched on the forest ground as she ran. Afraid of what she’d find when she reached the lodge, she hurried. She pushed dangling branches out of her way as she broke past them, sending a cascade of snow in her wake.

    There was only one set of footprints, but the blood stains were getting bigger as she raced along.

    Had the boy made it to the lodge? Would she find him buried in the snow?

    The gusts of wind picked up as she came to the clearing. The snow was coming down heavily now, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet in front of her. She could deal with that, but it covered the prints and blood. If Henry moved off the path, she might not find him in time.

    Exhausted, her legs and back aching, she stopped and clung onto a tree as she caught her breath. She didn’t usually go to the lodge from this direction but was close.

    Moving on, she kept watch through the snow drenched branches and finally made out the faint outline of the lodge ahead. Relieved, she hurried to the building. She wiped the ice from her eyelashes and climbed the steps onto the porch.

    Blood stained the lodge door. Without stopping, she hurried inside, ready to help the boy, but she stopped with legs-shaking, heart-straining, chest-tightening, fear.

    An unconscious person lay face-down on her sofa.

    It wasn’t Henry.

    The Series

    Amazon

    Coming May 2022 – The Lady and Her Duke

    About the Author

    RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now-writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Newsletter

    Giveaways

    Enter the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win an eCopy of The Lady and Her Quill, along with a $10 US Amazon gift card. Open through March 3, 2022.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Decipher the Puzzle and Win


    If you read The Lady and the Spy, you will find the key. You need to solve the puzzle and win a $50.00 Amazon gift card. You’ll also get the chance for a bonus entry when you answer a question about our heroine. Contest open until March 17, 2022. Best of luck!

    Learn more & decipher the puzzle to win ➡️ https://bit.ly/34NdH0L


  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!