Giveaway – Billionaires on the Beach Boxed Set @XpressoTours

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Billionaires on the Beach: A Sweet Billionaire Romance Boxset
Published by: Enchanted Quill Press
Publication date: June 1st 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Sink your teeth into this addictive anthology of gorgeous Billionaires finding true love on the beach.

Billionaires on the Beach is a limited collection of stories from clean and wholesome authors.

Packed with adorable meet-cutes, swoon-worthy romance and so many happily ever afters, you’ll be left beaming ear to ear by the end.

This collection includes:

Forbidden romance
Secret Babies
Fake marriages
Second Chances
Enemies to lovers
Sun, sea and sand
And many heart-soaring dates!

This anthology is the perfect staycation for readers who enjoy sweet and clean Billionaire romances. Only available for a limited time. Scroll up and one click now to get started.

Goodreads / Amazon

SNEAK PEEKS:

“The Billionaire’s Nanny” by Laura Burton

Benjamin’s smile turned to a look of horror as she waved her phone at him.

“I’ve followed you on Instagram.”

Benjamin dragged a hand through his messy hair and looked away with a sheepish smile.

“Ah. You found me, then.” He stooped down and picked Maggie up in his arms. She cuddled into him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Benjy,” she said in a baby voice. The sight made Krista melt inside.

“You were right. You are fun.”

And insanely sexy, she added silently with a smirk.

“Well, you might notice I haven’t posted for a month,” he pointed at her phone as he bobbed Maggie up and down. Krista got to her feet and patted the sand off her legs.

“Well, I’m sure your 1.2 million followers miss you. Let me take a picture of you with Maggie.”

Krista positioned her phone up to capture a picture of Benjamin stooping his head low against Maggie’s brow. She looked up at him with big eyes and her hand touched his cheek. The two of them were perfectly framed by the sunset and glowed dark against the ocean.

“Your followers will die when they see this.”

“My Real Life Time Out” by Rimmy London

“The way you navigate the world around you—the way you care for it. There’s something so genuine about you that makes me want to be more. I love being around you. Everything about you.”

He paused to take a shaky breath. “I just wanted to tell you now instead of pretending I didn’t feel anything…because I do.”

His gaze was tentative, vulnerable and so unusually insecure. He’d said the perfect words, all smothered in simmering glances like butter.

“I Never Told You” by Jessie Cal

Jess finally shoved the last piece of her s’more into her mouth. “I think it’s time to call it a night,” she said with her mouth full, and his heart ached a bit. Thoughts of holding her in his arms and watching the night sky flooded his mind, and he shook his head like shaking off a spell.

“Do you need help getting Bill’s grandkids in the tent?” he offered, standing with her.

“That would be great.” She squeezed his arm as a thankful gesture, and he forced himself to ignore the electricity that came with her touch. “If you can carry Zach, I’ll pick up little Cole.”

Even in the way she dragged her feet, he could tell she was tired. His mind suddenly conjured an image of him pulling her into a comforting embrace, but he pushed it aside.

After laying the last boy down inside the tent, he stepped out only to find himself standing in front of her again.

“Thank you.” She let out a tired sigh. “You must be exhausted.”

“I enjoyed every minute of it, though,” he said, flashing her a soft smile. “Minus the shark incident, of course.”

She blurted out a laugh then covered her mouth so as not to wake the kids. “Really? Cause that was the highlight of my day.”

“You’re mean.”

She stifled another laugh. “Good night, Logan.” She leaned in and wrapped him in a hug. Her hair smelled like salt water which was oddly comforting. When she pulled back, he grabbed her hand. He had no idea why, or what he would say. And she was looking at him, waiting for an explanation, but he didn’t have one. He simply wanted to hold her hand.

No, that wasn’t true. That wasn’t all he wanted.

He opened his mouth to speak, to tell her about all the crazy flutters he’d been feeling in the pit of his stomach all night, but then she looked down at their fingers laced together, and he no longer knew what to say. What was she thinking? Did she like the way it felt as much as he did? Should he just pull her into his arms and kiss her?

“I think being on this island is messing with our heads,” she whispered, slipping her hand out of his and pulling away. “Good night, Logan.”

And there was his heart again, racing at the sound of her saying his name. “Good night, Jess.”



GIVEAWAY!

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Giveaway – Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber @GoddessFish

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

“I’ll start at the beginning. Long ago, before roads, before we built structures, before medicine was discovered, before the government was created, before man gained any knowledge, there were The Five. Independent from each other, The Five had a mutual respect for one another. They knew their roles in the world and their duty. They were gods…”

An adventure begins when an otherworldly tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends. The environment morphs around them, transferring them to an exotic planet. Stuck in a rural town still maimed by the plague, a chance encounter with a familiar face gives Megan and her friends some security during their adjustment period.

While settling into new, promising lives, they are attacked and stalked by planet Dalya’s humanoid inhabitants, who focus on Megan. One dark night, after an epic, magical attack, the Fae King’s knight is sent to fetch Megan. When she wakes up a prisoner, she learns that there is much more to this strange world, and it is oddly more like her own than she ever would have expected.


Read an Excerpt

Megan

Today has been a whirlwind, and I’m not looking forward to tonight. I’m positive the elite members of society will flaunt their latest ensembles. A competition among the wealthy to win a proverbial pat on the back for the best dressed. A sport for the rich. They won’t work up a sweat—that’s for the poor. Instead, they compete with wits and money. Women prancing around wearing cage ball gowns, adorned with priceless jewels. Their main goal is to uncover juicy gossip while competing for the wealthiest bachelor. Men swirling this world’s version of expensive scotch talk business and watch women swoon. It can’t be very different from Earth’s aristocratic affairs, not that I ever attended. Movies and the internet displayed enough information to know what to expect.

I had assumed it would be a rather humdrum affair, but my opinion changes quickly, standing before the colossal golden doors. Realization hits me. I am so naïve.

It feels like I’m walking into a fairy tale, but the darker Brothers Grimm version.

Beautiful, handcrafted, golden double doors depict a grand party. Intricate artwork chiseled into the doors displays two long banquet tables of food, roasts on fancy platters, piles of vegetables, and dainty desserts. Between the buffet tables, people adorned with masquerade attire dance. They wave, inviting everyone to the party. Guests laugh, drink, and enjoy themselves under the watchful king. The artwork depicts the king having fun, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he studies everyone, meticulously watching individuals, judging their personality, appearance, and demeanor while in his presence. A crooked smile peels his lips back—it hints at his sly and cruel nature. I can’t help but look at the doors and realize this is a perfect portrayal of what awaits me.

Instead of a warm welcome, it’s a stern warning.

About the Author
Katie Zaber writes new adult fiction. With multiple projects spanning from being transported to an alternate universe, to past lives, reincarnation, and trapped souls, to prophesied pregnancies—there are more stories to tell. She lives in North New Jersey with her boyfriend.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Dalya-Series-110665970357251
Website: https://zaberbooks.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Blood-Dalya-Book-1-ebook/dp/B087YJ8W87/ref=sr_1_1

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Follow the tour and comment. The more you comment the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.

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Giveaway & Excerpt – Bad Boys Don’t Make Good Boyfriends @XpressoTours @MelASmithAuthor

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Bad Boys Don’t Make Good Boyfriends
Melanie A. Smith
(Life Lessons, #2)
Publication date: May 19th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

From best-selling author Melanie A. Smith comes the second book in a new series of steamy contemporary medical romance standalone novels about life lessons that break all the rules.

Even when you know better, sometimes it’s simply too tempting…

Hospital work isn’t for the faint of heart. Becca Dillon knows that firsthand, having worked as a medical assistant in the cardiac unit at Rutherford Hospital for longer than she cares to think about. What she does care to think about is having fun, gossip, and … guys. Her favorite of the three. And why stick to one, when you can sample them all?

That’s exactly her plan when a workplace crush on a mysterious bad-boy orderly unexpectedly takes a very steamy turn. But Vincent DeMarco turns out to be nothing like she expected, and before she knows it, she’s falling hard and fast. She wants him in ways she’s never wanted anyone before, but there’s something he’s keeping from her. Something that’s holding him back. And Becca is going to find out what.

Even though she knows that bad boys don’t make good boyfriends, he seems like he might be so much more. Will her quest unlock the truth behind who he really is? Or will it end their relationship for good? Either way, ready or not, Becca’s world is about to change.

Goodreads / Amazon


EXCERPT

I slip silently off the couch and tiptoe toward the door. A glance out the peephole shows me a shock of dark hair and a leather jacket that instantly raises my hackles. I slip the chain off and open the door, my indignation purposely on full display.

“Vincent,” I hiss, and his dark eyes snap up to meet mine. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

He runs a hand through his hair, his eyes tired. But he still looks like sex and sin. Bastard.

“I need to talk to you,” he says, sounding as tired as he looks.

I slip out the front door, letting it rest against the frame behind me and folding my arms over my chest as I glare up at him. “Well, I don’t need to talk to you,” I whisper-hiss. “How do you even know where I live?”

“Harper,” he says with a shrug, his voice low. “And why are we whispering?”

I roll my eyes. “Sasha’s asleep on my couch,” I reply, jerking my head back toward the inside of the apartment. “And I’m going to fucking kill Harper.”

“Don’t — I snatched your info off her phone when she wasn’t paying attention. She really needs to use a passcode,” he says. “So can we go inside and talk, or what? I’d really rather not do this out here.”

I raise my eyebrows. “I’m sorry, was I talking to myself a second ago? I’ve got nothing to say to you,” I reiterate.

He raises an eyebrow in return. “What happened to thinking about it?” he asks.

“Oh, I thought about it,” I assure him. “Not interested.”

A smirk settles on his gorgeous lips. “Yeah, well, as much as I doubt that that’s really true, I’ve been doing some thinking too,” he says.

I scoff a laugh. “I hope you didn’t hurt yourself,” I reply.

“Mmm, see, that right there,” he says, taking a step toward me with a glint in his eye that’s half smolder, half warning. “You wouldn’t be angry if you didn’t feel anything.”

He stops inches shy of me, and I instinctively pull away. But my back hits the doorframe. And there’s nowhere to go as he stares intently down at me.

“I didn’t say I didn’t feel anything. I said I’m not interested in doing anything about it,” I insist. But my voice sounds small and unsure. I try to tell myself it’s just the physical effect being so close to him has on me. But staring up into his eyes has a way of stripping me bare. The rawness in his gaze is impossible to hide from.

Author Bio:

Melanie A. Smith is the best-selling author of The Safeguarded Heart Series and other contemporary romance fiction. Originally from upstate New York, she spent most of her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Los Angeles for college. After that, she spent almost fifteen years in the Seattle Area, and now lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas with her family.

A voracious reader and lifelong writer, Melanie’s writing began at a young age with short stories and poetry. Having completed a bachelor of science in electrical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s in business administration at the University of Washington, her writing abilities were mainly utilized for technical documents as a lead engineer for the Boeing Company, where she worked for ten years.

After shifting careers to domestic engineering and property management in 2015, she eventually found a balance where she was able to return to writing fiction.

Melanie is also a Mensan and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and driving with the windows down and the stereo cranked up loud.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub


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Books From The Backlog – Ashley Fontainne & Elena Aitken @AshleyFontainne @elenaaitken #booksfromthebacklog

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Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

I have three I am going to share today. I have another Elena Aitken story and two books I won from Ashley Fontainne. All the books have numerous covers. If you have the time to check them out, I would love to know which are YOUR favorites. Hope you find something that looks good to you.

Nothing Stays In Vegas (Vegas Series Book 1) by [Elena Aitken]

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

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What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…except when it doesn’t.

Lexi Titan has mastered the art of pretending everything’s fine. After all, how else could she ignore the fact that her husband is never home, her son barely knows him and the last time she had sex, well, who can remember?

With her life crumbling, the last thing she wants to do is go on a trip, especially back to Vegas; a city full of glitz, excess, and Leo, the man she’s spent the last six years trying to forget. But when her best friend announces she’s getting married, Lexi doesn’t have a choice. Besides, it’s ridiculous to avoid an entire city because of one guy. Even if he is the father of your child.

Face to face with memories of the past and the gorgeous man who started it all, Lexi can no longer deny the truth to anyone, especially Leo. But honesty will come at a price, and Lexi must decide if she’s wiling to take that risk. And what exactly will she tell her husband?

Because as she now knows, NOTHING STAYS IN VEGAS.

Goodreads ratings: 3.65  ·2,713 ratings  ·  224 reviews

Any time I see anything to do with Vegas, I grab the book. I have been there many times and am always up for a visit. I added this to Goodreads on 10.1.12 and picked it up on 10.11.12.

Accountable to None (Eviscerating the Snake, #1)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

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What if the unspeakable happened to you? Would you fantasize about seeking personal vengeance? How far would you go…and how much would you sacrifice to hold those responsible that believe they are accountable to none?

Welcome to the prestigious accounting firm of Winscott & Associates. Welcome to Audra Tanner’s personal hell. She had heard the rumors about her employer. The whispered secrets. But she had thrown herself into work to escape the pain of her miscarriage and demise of her marriage. Idealistic, she thought if she worked hard she would be rewarded. She thought wrong.

Savagely initiated into the brutal underbelly of the firm, Audra learns too late that the rumors are true. Now after five years of careful plotting, Audra is ready to push the wheels of justice in motion. Her goal of retribution has turned into an obsession and she will stop at nothing until everyone responsible pays. Will revenge set her free or is Audra’s quest for personal justice only beginning?

Goodreads Ratings: 3.74  ·  415 ratings  ·  82 reviews

I won Accountable to None by Ashley Fontainne and added it to Goodreads on 10.2.12. I have read a bit of her work and love it, so why this is still sitting on my shelf I can’t say. Guess it just got buried under all the others.

Zero Balance (Eviscerating the Snake, #2)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

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Nine months ago, Audra Tanner exposed the hidden secrets locked away at the prestigious accounting firm of Winscott & Associates. No one escaped her wrath. And once the smoke had cleared, everyone watched as the diabolical Olin Kemper was led away in handcuffs. Now Audra’s meticulous revenge has thrust her into the role of managing partner.

But the firm is struggling to survive amidst the turmoil and media attention surrounding the shocking arrest and upcoming murder trial of Olin. And Audra must face the fallout left from her explosive revenge while trying to heal and recover from the trauma of her past.

Audra thought she had ended the evil lurking within and that her revenge would set her free. Unfortunately, it’s only the beginning. Because evil never dies, it only assumes a new form. Soon everyone at the firm will discover that no one is safe when you are dealing with a psychopath that has zero balance.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.26  ·  126 ratings  ·  41 reviews

Zero Balance by Ashley Fontainne is another book of hers I won and added it to Goodreads on 10.2.12. I guess I’ll probably binge read them both…soon. 🙂

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Books From The Backlog – Rick Chesler, Angela Scott, Elena Aitken #booksfromthebacklog

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Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

I have three I am going to share today. Hope you find something that looks good to you.

Kidnapped (Tara Shores, #2)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

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A priceless biotechnology, an FBI agent, and an unspeakable act of familial betrayal collide in a tropical kidnapping more twisted than a DNA double helix. When a renowned scientist with a solution for global warming is kidnapped at sea, FBI Special Agent Tara Shores must unravel a high-tech trail of S.O.S. messages encoded into the DNA of living cells. As each decoded message brings Tara nearer to the missing genius, it also takes her farther from help than she ever thought possible.

Rating: 4.00  ·  71 ratings  ·  26 reviews

I added Kidnapped by Rick Chesler on 9.29.12. There is more than one cover, but I love this one. Just looking at it makes me want to read it. I think there will be plenty of thrills and chills, which I thrive on. How about you? What’s your favorite genre?

Desert Rice (Desert, #1)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

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Samantha Jean Haggert is a beautiful twelve-year-old girl—but no one knows it. All they see is an awkward boy in a baseball cap and baggy pants. Sam’s not thrilled with the idea of hiding her identity, but it’s all part of her older brother’s plan to keep Sam safe from male attention and hidden from the law. Fifteen-year-old Jacob will stop at nothing to protect his sister, including concealing the death of the one person who should have protected them in the first place—their mother.

Sam and Jacob try to outrun their past by stealing the family car and traveling from West Virginia to Arizona, but the adult world proves mighty difficult to navigate, especially for two kids on their own. Trusting adults has never been an option; no adult has ever given them a good reason. But when Sam meets “Jesus”—who smells an awful lot like a horse—in the park, life takes a different turn. He saved her once, and may be willing to save Sam and her brother again, if only they admit what took place that fateful day in West Virginia. The problem? Sam doesn’t remember, and Jacob isn’t talking.

Ratings: 4.32  ·  164 ratings  ·  68 reviews

I added this to Goodreads on 9.30.12 and picked it up on an Amazon free day on 12.5.15. I have read her Zombie West series and LOVED IT, so to see a free book of hers and grabbing it was a no brainer.

Hidden Gifts (Castle Mountain Lodge, #2)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

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Bo’s always known that to be a successful hiking guide at the beautiful Castle Mountain Lodge, you have to flirt with the ladies-but never get too close; have a penchant for wild adventures-but know when to pull away; and never have any ties holding you back.

And his plan was working fine…until Ella, the child he didn’t know he had appears in his life.

Morgan’s always known what she wanted out of life but when the doctor’s crippling diagnosis changes everything, she knows she needs a fresh start. Maybe changing her career and throwing herself into a totally new lifestyle at the Lodge is exactly what she needs?

And it might have worked too…

Bo knows he needs Morgan’s help to reach Ella, but will she be willing to give up the new life she thought she wanted? And can either of them let down their guard long enough to recognize that all they really need is right in front of them, in Ella…and each other.

Rating: 3.93  ·  641 ratings  ·  50 reviews

I have seen Elena Aitken’s name around and sometimes an easy reading romance hits the spot. I won this book back on 10.1.12.

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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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Books From The Backlog – Phantom by Laura DeLuca @authorldeluca #booksfromthebacklog

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Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Phantom (Dark Musicals, #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

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The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

Goodreads rating: 4.02 – Rating Details: 2,002 ratings  ·  130 reviews

Phantom by Laura DeLuca came out shortly after I began blogging. It was everywhere and I wanted it. I won it and added it to my TBR on 9.25.12. I remember seeing the Phantom of the Opera as a youngster and was terrified, ending up sleeping with my siblings in my parents bed, waiting for them to come home from a night out. I also saw the play in Toronto when I lived in Rochester, New York. Have you ever see it?

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Giveaway – All That’s Hidden by Susan Golden @susangoldenbook @XpressoTours

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All That’s Hidden
Susan Golden
(Sugar Shack, #2)
Publication date: August 12th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

All That’s Hidden is a delightful story with intrigue, humor, and of course, romance. A perfect read for the beach or traveling on a plane. I fell in love with Sugar and Rupert!
-Lorence, singer/songwriter

Pet sitter turned entrepreneur, Jennifer Albright thinks she has it all: an expanding business, a new, blissful marriage to a very sexy husband, a dog named Rupert that people frequently think is a bear, and a parrot named Sugar that Jennifer’s pretty sure is psychic. But her idyllic life begins to unravel when a series of creepy incidents threatens to sabotage the launch of her doggie day care center, and the discovery of a hidden treasure thrusts her into the world of federal agents and international thievery. The chaos soon spills over onto her home life and Jennifer reluctantly begins to suspect that her seemingly perfect, unbelievably supportive husband is hiding something from her. There’s just so much that doesn’t add up.

Tech-mogul Ryan has found the love of his life in his adorable new bride, Jennifer. But trouble seems to follow her like a basset hound. When one strange twist of events offers Ryan an opportunity he feels he can’t pass up, he unknowingly launches himself down the road of suspicion and mistrust. But he’s got this covered. She doesn’t suspect a thing.

Goodreads / Amazon


EXCERPT

Ryan got home about a half hour later. He dropped his jacket on the couch and headed over to where I was sitting at the kitchen counter. 

“Do I smell kabobs? Great, let me wash up and get out of this suit.” 

I poured Ryan a beer and began to plate the take out. It suddenly struck me that this was not appropriate mom behavior. Moms bake chocolate cupcakes and roasted chicken for Sunday dinner. They cook pancakes and tuna casserole. I burn pancakes and have no idea what goes into a tuna casserole. Well, I suppose I could buy cupcakes and the pre-roasted chicken at the Safeway is pretty yummy. Anyway, new babies don’t need cupcakes and I still have at least ten months before there would even be a baby. I could learn to cook. 

Are you serious? You just started a business. Where did this baby stuff come from? What if Ryan doesn’t want any babies? But I want babies. Since when? Since today, I think. I was suddenly very sad to think Ryan might not want any babies. Plural? Oh, good grief!

Ryan enjoyed his kabobs and Lebanese bread. I’d bought salad and rice too. See, I could plan a balanced meal, even if I couldn’t cook one. He washed it all down with his beer. The whole time he was eating, he was rattling on about his day and how he liked Darren. 

I usually found his comments interesting and insightful, but today I wasn’t listening. I love kabobs, but I nibbled on them and moved the rice around my plate. My mind was elsewhere. 

“…and that was when the flying saucer landed on the helipad and we all went out, got in, and took a ride to Mars,” I heard when I tuned back in.

“Uh-huh. Wait. What?”

“What’s the matter, honey? You worried about the business thing? You’re going to do great. Don’t worry.”

“Thanks. That’s not it. Umm…we’ve never talked about this. I was sort of wondering…how you feel about…kids.”

“Kids in general or specific kids? You mean other people’s kids, right?” I sure had his attention, but I got the impression he was not a fan of the conversation topic.

“Well, not exactly.” There were about ten seconds of dead silence. I was still staring at my plate, moving the rice around aimlessly, afraid I’d burst into tears if I looked at him.

Ryan reached out and grabbed the sides of the bar stool I was sitting on and spun me around to face him. He took my chin in his hand and tilted my head up. 

“Are you pregnant, Sugar Shack?” The inquiry was quiet and silky and expectant. He certainly didn’t sound angry. So, I took a chance and looked directly into those ocean blue eyes. I’d never seen them sparkle like that. He was definitely not mad.

“No.” It wasn’t much more than a whisper.

“You want to be?” I wasn’t expecting that.

“Umm. Maybe.” 

“What are we thinking here, six, eight?” He was grinning. My heart lifted.

“We should probably start with one and see how that goes.” I was grinning too.

“No point in putting stuff like this off. We should get started right now.” 

Ryan tugged my arm, pulling me off the seat of the stool, and slung me over his shoulder. I giggled as he patted me on the bottom and headed up the stairs. He banged the door shut with his foot and unceremoniously dumped me on the bed. 

“Lots of kids,” he soundly declared.

Author Bio:

Retired federal government employee turned accidental author.

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A Sweet Romance – Always Kind of Love by Amanda Siegrist @amanda_siegrist

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NEW RELEASE. Hot off the press.

Amanda Siegrist writes some sweet romance, and also walks on the darker side with her romantic suspense. I enjoyed getting to know this characters and meeting the family. I look forward to more of the McCord series.

Always Kind of Love (The McCord Family #4)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Always Kind of Love by Amanda Siegrist is a sweet romance that ends with a happy ever after. It was part of an anthology, but has been released on its own.

A second chance.

Nine years later…

A matchmaking attempt backfires in a big way.

Always Kind of Love by Amanda Siegrist is a quick read with a light touch. I quickly became involved with the characters, each having a story I want to know.

The only question is was left with…what about the fires?

Seeing this is a series, I think we’ll find out later and get more in depth with the McCord family, spotlighting each character in the future stories and I look forward to learnng their stories.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy Always Kind of Love by Amanda Siegrist.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes a heartwarming series that will make you swoon…and maybe even shed a few tears.

The last thing Ethan McCord wants to deal with is his old high school flame, even though his desire for her hasn’t diminished. Battling the burning blazes and an arsonist bent on destruction is nothing compared to fighting the temptation to rekindle the love he always wanted.

The entire McCord Family Novel series: (Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.)

♡ Protecting You (Book 1): Zane & Ava
♡ Trust in Love (Book 2): Austin & Sophie
♡ Deserving You (Book 3): Emmett & Deja
♡ Always Kind of Love (Book 4): Ethan & Penelope

Note: This book is a part of Risking Everything: A Steamy Anthology of First Responders.All proceeds are going to charity – the Stephen Siller Tunner to Towers Foundation.

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Amanda Siegrist

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

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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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