Tag Archives: contemporary and literary fiction

Giveaway – Bite Of Pain Anthology @XpressoTours

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Bite of Pain Anthology
Publication date: October 16th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Nothing brings more pleasure than the perfect Bite of Pain.
Satisfy your desire for a bit of sting with a dozen BRAND NEW smoking hot power exchange stories from the dark romance authors you love.

Featuring stories from:
Natasha Knight & A. Zaverelli
Alta Hensley & Renee Rose
Julia Sykes
Annabel Joseph
Measha Stone
Livia Grant
Jane Henry
Jenna Jacob
Stasia Black
Becca Jameson
Sue Lyndon
Cole Denton

Publisher’s Note: The Bite of Pain Anthology contains brand new material never published before. It is the perfect chance to revisit series you already love and also find new authors you will enjoy reading.

Goodreads / Amazon / iBooks

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Giveaway – Forevermore: A Romance Anthology @XpressoTours

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Forevermore: A Romance Anthology
Publication date: October 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

You are cordially invited.

The Moore family requests the pleasure of your company on a starry harvest night, rich with tales of passion, magic, and love.

Our beloved Filipino American family hosts a gathering at Hacienda Luz this autumn for another grand celebration – Vida and Rafa’s long-anticipated wedding. As promises of fidelity and infinity fill the air, ten couples live and relive intimate stories that attest to the true meaning of happily ever after.

Acclaimed and bestselling Filipino American authors – Aurora Paige, Elle Cruz, June Gray, Kaye Rockwell, Liz Durano, Maan Gabriel, Maida Malby, Mia Hopkins, Sarah Smith, and Tif Marcelo – bring you Forevermore, a romance collection celebrating love everlasting.

~ * ~

Forevermore, A Romance Anthology is a collection of new and never-been-published stories by the authors that brought you Pasko Na, My Love, A Holiday Romance Anthology and from exciting voices in Filipino American Romantic Fiction. Lola Naty is back along with her sprawling multicultural family, friends from all over the world, and a gatecrasher or two.

  • Moments In The Vineyard by Aurora Paige
  • The Memory of You by Elle Cruz
  • Double Exposure by June Gray
  • Maybe This Time by Kaye Rockwell
  • Stay With Me by Liz Durano
  • Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye by Maan Gabriel
  • Now That I Have You by Maida Malby
  • Moonlight Serenade by Mia Hopkins
  • The Stand-In by Sarah Smith
  • Win Your Love by Tif Marcelo

Add to Goodreads / Purchase

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BLURBS:

Moonlight Serenade – Mia Hopkins

After surviving the war, Natividad Moore, her husband Robert and their three young children move from the Philippines to Robert’s family home in Napa, California. There, instead of a peaceful refuge, they discover isolation, a failing vineyard and Robert’s cold, disapproving mother. In the face of these obstacles, Naty yearns to reconnect with Robert. But has the war changed him, and their love, forever?

The Memory of You – Elle Cruz

Once upon a time, a terrible mistake sparked the vengeful heart of a witch. Over sixty years later, the curse strikes its mark. Not only is Eli Amaro doomed to repeat the same day over and over again, but he is also forced to re-live the same excruciating sacrifice forever. To break the evil spell, he must give up what he loves the most, and he’s not sure he has the heart to do it.

Maybe This Time – Kaye Rockwell

Gabriella Alonso and Cole Williams used to be best friends who were secretly in love with each other. Until one night changed the course of their lives forever. Now ten years later, Gabriella, who is hiding a dark secret, is surprised to find out she will be working with the guy who ghosted and abandoned her when she needed him the most. Cole is determined to make things right. He spent the last two years looking for her but he’s shocked to find a complete stranger instead of the girl he used to know. Can Cole win Gabriella over? Or will the ghosts of their past destroy any chance he ever had?

Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye – Maan Gabriel

As a bestselling romance author, Carisa “Carrie” Bloom knows the formula for happily ever after. It’s the reason she is living one of her own. But when her beautifully crafted fairy tale ends tragically, she is left both fragile and broken.

For years, Carrie stays away from the limelight, abandoning her career to live a quiet life, until she receives a proposal from a British film producer, Joshua Grant, to turn one of her books into a movie. It only takes one day and a night in London for this opportunity of a lifetime to change their lives forever.

But is Joshua ready for this? And is Carrie brave enough to take a chance again? She must choose to stop believing that in her life, Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye.

Moments In the Vineyard – Aurora Paige

Ava

The Russos are ruthless and want my vineyard. No amount of money can buy what’s mine. I’m making sure of it. Until I run into Sebastian Russo. My enemy. I’m supposed to stay away from him. What happens when the moment we have in my vineyard changes all that?

Sebastian

I have one task—take Maldonado Vineyard. It’ll be easy. I’m irresistible. Ava Maldonado will hand it right over.

I’m wrong– Ava makes me forget why I initially approached her. I’m forced to choose between my love and my family. Whatever I choose, I’m losing someone I love.

Double Exposure – June Gray

When twenty-seven-year-old Roxie flew to California to photograph the Moore-Balmaseda wedding, the last person she expected to see among the guests was AJ, the man who broke her heart almost a decade ago.

The moment AJ saw Roxie again, he knew she hadn’t forgiven him. But he was determined not to waste this second chance. This time, he would prove that he was no longer that same kid who made foolish but well-meaning mistakes.

But can AJ earn her trust again? And can Roxie find it in her heart to forgive?

Stay With Me – Liz Durano

It’s been three years since landscape painter Tallie Vicente walled off her heart after losing her husband and the scandal that followed. But when car trouble while driving from New Mexico to Napa Valley to attend her best friend’s wedding ends up having her sharing a room—and a bed—with a young gorgeous doctor, unexpected sparks fly between them, proving that it’s never too late to fall in love again.

The Stand-In – Sarah Smith

When florist Violet sees her cheating ex at the wedding she’s working, she panics and asks Toby, her ruggedly handsome and tatted up coworker, to pretend to be her boyfriend. Together they make the perfect fake couple, but when Toby accidentally lets it slip that he’s been hiding a crush on Violet, it throws their entire friendship for a loop…in the hottest way.

Win Your Love – Tif Marcelo

After being unceremoniously stood up by her fake date to her cousin’s wedding, Alexandra Moore’s day goes from bad to worse when she has to fight over the last gift of the wedding registry with former neighbor and all-around rival, Jordan Franco. But as the wedding and reception minutes click by, along with their constant bickering and mini-competitions, Alex and Jordan reignite the spark that almost brought them together years ago. Will they let their ambition reign? Or will they finally concede that love wins above all?

Now That I Have You – Maida Malby

One year after they met, Vida and Rafa are engaged. Soon, plans for a grand Filipino Cuban American wedding in the fall are underway. As the countdown winds down, things go smoothly … maybe too smoothly. Will their special day go off without a hitch, or will disaster strike before they can promise to love now and forevermore?


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Giveaway – The Cat That Played Chess by Catarrina Cummings @XpressoTours

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The Cat That Played Chess
Catarrina Cummings
Publication date: July 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

Having received an eviction notice, Zapporah Leverne needs money fast. Her current job as a product tester will not meet the deadline. She believes her extraordinary cat named Rookie can fix this. This feline is so good at copying humans that she can move chess pieces on the chessboard.

Zapporah pulls ropes to land Rookie a part in a commercial. Her cat wows the director to the point he thinks she would be good in his reality television series. But Rookie is stolen from Zapporah’s apartment.

Although there are few clues to the thief’s identity, Sloth, Zapporah’s roommate, believes the landlady is the thief and attempts to prove it. When Zapporah receives a voice message with a cat meowing in the background from talent agent Gloria Stravos, her suspicions are confirmed. Whoever stole Rookie will put her in show business. Arriving at Gloria’s office, Zapporah discovers Gloria has been murdered. Things don’t look good for Zapporah when the homicide detective learns she and Gloria had a history of fighting.

Will Zapporah’s intuition and tech-savvy help find Rookie and save her from a cunning murderer hiding behind the cloak of a white nationalist organization?

Amazon

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Author Bio:

Catarrina Cummings is an author from Baltimore, Maryland who now lives in San Diego. She is the creator of the Snooping While Black mysteries series, with the first book being The Cat That Played Chess. In addition to dedicated service to her feline overlord, Madam Scrunchka, she also hones her guitar playing under a master instructor.

Her love for chess began when she served in the U.S. Navy, traveling and engaging in tournaments. She’s thrilled that she found the chance to include it in her first novel.

Nowadays, Catarrina can be found solving chess problems and attending multiple book clubs. If she ever finds enough free time from these activities, she might wish to consider finishing the second installation of her mystery series.

Website


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Giveaway – Delta by Sybil Bartel @XpressoTours @SybilBartel

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Delta
Sybil Bartel
(The Alpha Elite, #8)
Publication date: September 5th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Dominant.

Mercenary.

Navy SEAL

I had one job on the Teams. Predict the unpredictable. See what no one else saw. Analyze, assess, anticipate. Then execute with deadly force.

Calculating the enemy’s moves, including the ones they hadn’t thought of yet was my specialty. I did it for the Navy and now I was private sector, utilizing my skills at Alpha Elite Security. I had a hundred percent mission success rate…until her.

Make no mistake, I saw the blonde coming. I predicted her every move. But this time, I wasn’t going to stop it. I was going to do something much worse.

Code name: Delta.
Mission: Dominate.

DELTA is a standalone book in the exciting Alpha Elite Series by USA Today Bestselling author, Sybil Bartel. Come meet Delta and the dominant, alpha heroes who work for AES!

Goodreads / Purchase

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EXCERPT:

He reached into the fridge. “Omelet?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You’re eating. Then I’m giving you anti-inflammatories.”

It slipped out before I could catch it. “Yes, sir.”

One hand on the fridge door, the other holding a carton of eggs, he looked at me. “Is that what you prefer to call me?”

My heart didn’t jump up and flee. It danced. In tiny little steps all over my chest that were more punishing than any physical blow I’d ever received. “Please do not ask me that.”

Setting the eggs down and closing the fridge door, he leaned against the counter and crossed his muscular arms. “Why? Do you think I’m not aware that you’re a submissive?”

“I’m not….” My mouth suddenly dry, the patterning over my chest turned into thunderous stomping. “I don’t…. I’ve never talked….” I looked away, and my voice cracked before I managed a whisper. “That’s wrong.”

“Pick your head up, make direct eye contact, and tell me why you think it’s wrong.”

His dominant command and tone of voice made me look up without thought, but humiliation welled as I did exactly what he told me to do. “Because that word, it’s not strong. It’s weak.” Wishing I had vanished in that swamp, wanting to trade this shame crawling around inside me, my voice took flight like my body wanted to. “I’m weak.” Not even a whisper, the admission still spread across his spotless kitchen and tarnished the space between us.

The side of his jaw flexed, and his own voice became rough. “The strongest thing you can do is give a worthy man your submission.” His eyes stormed with lethal anger. “What you experienced was abuse and nonconsensual total power exchange. Not submission.”

Author Bio:

Sybil Bartel is a USA Today Bestselling author of unapologetic alpha heroes. Whether you’re reading her deliciously dominant mercenaries, bodyguards or military heroes, all of her heart-stopping, page-turning romantic suspense novels have sexy-as-sin alpha heroes!

Sybil resides in South Florida and she is forever Oliver’s mom.

To find out more about Sybil Bartel or her books, please visit her at:

Website / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Instagram / Twitter / Bookbub / Newsletter


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Giveaway – Broken Bondage by Carmen Peone @XpressoTours @carmenpeone

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Broken Bondage
Carmen Peone
(Seven Tine Ranch Romance, #2)
Publication date: October 3rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Western

A Road Trip to Redemption

Rita Runninghorse is about to marry the wrong guy. She has to get away from him. Now. She flees to a guest ranch in Eastern Washington State that offers a safe haven for women in need only to find the owner on a month-long speaking tour.

Robert Elliot has one thing on his mind: bronc riding. The Indian National Finals Rodeo is within reach, and he’s not about to let anything ruin his chances of going pro. Not even the woman he finds asleep in the stall of their rankest horse.

When Rita’s fiancé discovers where she’s hiding out, she takes Robert’s offer to go with him on the road and prays her fiancé gives up the hunt. Saddled together, Rita and Robert must rely on each other as they go on the road to keep her alive.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Only 99¢ for a limited time!

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EXCERPT:

Rita rushed into an office she’d seen Robert enter a few times. But he was nowhere in sight. She hightailed it to the barn. Chad looked up from brushing a horse. “You seen Robert?” Her lungs burned.

“He just took off to the river pasture. What’s up?”

“I need to find him.” She tried not to sound desperate. But she was. “Can you take me there?”

Before Chad could answer her, a dark blue, four-door, one-ton pickup rattled to a halt near the barn’s front entrance, and Robert hopped out, Posse in his arms. He went around and strolled toward them. “Forgot my—”

“I’ll go with you.” Rita ran to him. “When do we leave?”

“To change pipes?”

“No. To Idaho. The rodeo.”

He placed his hand on the small of her back, led her into the tack room, and shut the door. “Why the change of heart?” He lifted off his cowboy hat and mopped his sweaty brow.

“You were right. He knows where I am and is on his way.”

“He’s coming here? You sure? How’d he find you?”

“I must have left the Seven Tine brochure in my room.”
How could she have been so careless?

Robert tapped his Stetson on his head, handed the pup to Rita, and pulled his cell phone from the inside pocket of his jacket. “Hang on.” He tapped the screen with his thumb and held the cell to his ear.

“Who are you calling?”

Robert held up his finger. “She’s not answering.”

“Who?”

“Syd.” He made another call. “Hey, Trey, where’s my sister?”

While Robert talked on the phone, Rita held Posse to her chest and walked in circles, leaving dust trails on the floor. They needed to leave before Bowie and any other goons with him showed up.

Author Bio:

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author who has lived in Northeast Washington and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation since 1988. She had worked with a Tribal Elder, Marguerite Ensminger, for three years learning the Arrow Lakes Language and various cultural traditions. She owns and trains her horses and competes in local Extreme Challenge and Mountain Trail competitions. With a degree in psychology, the thought of writing never entered her mind, until she married her husband and they moved to the reservation after college. With the love of history and western-woman lifestyle, she brings stories of hope, family, relationships, and faith to her novels.

These books were a labor of love, especially the second edition of the True to Heart Trilogy.

Thank you to my cover model, Shayna Palmanteer of the Colville Confederated Tribes, for your willingness to be a part of this adventure. Visit my website for information on the workbooks that go along with my young adult books at https://carmenpeone.com/books/.

http://carmenpeone.com

Healing, Hope, Horses

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub


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Giveaway – A Match Made In Ireland by E D Hackett @XpressoTours

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A Match Made in Ireland
E.D. Hackett
Publication date: September 23rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

A semester abroad was exactly what she needed, but falling in love with her roommate was not part of the lesson plan.

When Rory, a driven American seeking a much-needed break from her hectic life, lands in Ireland for a semester abroad, she never imagines sharing her space with Jaime, the charming yet irksome redhead from her flight. A twist of fate entwines their paths, forcing them to live under one roof for four months.

Despite his laid-back demeanor clashing with her meticulous nature, Rory finds herself irresistibly drawn to Jaime’s infectious Irish charm and tight-knit family bonds. As they traverse the breathtaking landscapes of Ireland, Rory relies on Jaime’s wisdom to navigate the challenges of their travels. It doesn’t take long for her to fall for the enchanting Irish experience he offers, which extends far beyond the usual tourist trails.

But as the end of the semester draws near, Rory is faced with a heart-wrenching decision. Will she leave a piece of her heart in Ireland, or was Jaime merely a dream meant to be left behind?

Immerse yourself in E.D. Hackett’s A Match Made in Ireland for a delightful romantic comedy that delves into the magic of Ireland, the beauty of unforeseen bonds, and the transformative power of self-discovery. Buckle up for a journey filled with laughter, tears, and love that you won’t want to miss!

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

It was him. The man from the plane sat on the bed, staring at a drawing pad on his lap. The spiky red hair, the smattering of freckles, and the creased eyes triggered a series of flashbacks that ran through my mind: the lack of spatial awareness, the soda down my leg, and the stolen dinner roll.

I pulled the covers over my head, my heart racing and the pit in my stomach digging into my pelvis like a concrete boulder. I dragged the duvet below my eyes and squinted, trying not to be obvious. Am I dreaming? Ha! Maybe I’m having a nightmare. The same red hair, now tousled from sleep, rested against the wall. I pushed the blanket down to my shoulders and said, “Hello, again.”

He looked up from his drawing pad and tilted his head to the left, tapping his pencil against his scruffy chin. “I remember you. From the plane.”

I tried to smile, but my lips refused to rise. I pushed my body against the back wall and pulled the sheet closer to my armpits. “What are you doing here, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I could ask you the same thing. I live here.”

My eyes bulged and I scrambled to a seated position. “You can’t live here. You’re a guy. This is an apartment with women. Foreign exchange students. A bunch of Americans.” I spoke slowly, as if that would make him understand.

Jaime chuckled and looked down again. “Yes, I am aware, but this is my apartment now. I forgot to renew my housing paperwork last semester, and they gave my room away. This was all that was left. They told me I was living with Rory, Zoey, and Marissa. I take it you’re Rory?”

I nodded.

“I thought you were an Irish lad.”

I swallowed loudly, the saliva crawling down the back of my throat. Reaching across my bed to my nightstand, I downed a bottle of water. Cloudiness from the alcohol still in my system slowed down my brain’s processing ability, and I struggled to understand his words. “You can’t live here,” I said again.

“I wish I didn’t. Living with a bunch of Americans during my last year of college is the last thing I want to do, but it’s that or be homeless so I’ll suck it up.” He returned to his drawing and spoke to his paper. “Nice to meet you, Rory.” His amber eyes looked over, scanning my top half. “Fun time last night?”

My brain beat against my forehead, and I massaged my temples. “Yeah. Sorry if I woke you.”

“No worries. I spent the night with my old flatmates. They live downstairs, and I came up here to crash. I didn’t even hear you come in.”

I grabbed the hooded sweatshirt sitting at the end of my bed, and pulled it over my body. “Are you sure they said there was nowhere else? I mean, I don’t know, Jaime. You’re a guy, a stranger, really, and I have a boyfriend. I don’t think he will be too excited when I tell him my roommate’s an Irish guy.”

His liquid gold eyes looked me up and down. “I asked to be moved and they put me on a waiting list if some other American no-shows, but I want my old flat and my old flatmates. Unless they can squeeze me back in there, I’m staying here. So, there it is. An Irish bloke and an American lass living together. That’ll make a good story for the grandkids. Promise, you won’t even know I’m here.”


Author Bio:

E.D Hackett is a Speech-language pathologist by day and a writer by night. She writes novels that investigate layers of self-expectations, family dynamics, self-love and self-acceptance. She hopes that her novels create a safe and cozy environment for her readers to fall into and explore.

She writes women’s fiction novels with one foot in romance. And every story has a happy ever after.

She lives in New England but in her heart, she feels that she belongs in Ireland. She reads women’s women’s fiction and romantic comedies, prefers books to movies, ice cream to cake, and fall to spring.

Please visit https://www.linktr.ee/edhackett for more information! You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Bookbub


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Giveaway – Mortal Weather by K P McCarthy @iReadBookTours

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Join us for this tour from Sep 26 to Oct 16, 2023!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Mortal Weather by KP McCarthy
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  310 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction, Novel
Publisher:  Top Reads Publishing
Release date:  September 26 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M rating. There is bad language, no explicit sex scenes, but there is a lot of death and some references to suicide. 

Book Description:

Stanhope Ellis finds himself absorbing the stories of quirky characters who have one thing in common: closeness to death. As he struggles with whether he’s Death Man or a cosmic witness, he meets a wise nurse, Gayathri Das, who helps him navigate the emotional minefield. But will she die, like the others? The unforgettable characters, including several dogs, will captivate you from the first page.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Bookshop
add to goodreads



Meet the Author:

Among other things, Kevin Patrick McCarthy has been a geothermal geologist, a technical writer, a critic, and a screenwriter. His humor, essays, poetry, and fiction have been widely recognized. “Enough Sky,” the epigraph for Mortal Weather, was Commended by The Poetry Society (UK) in 2014. He is a fourth-generation Coloradoan who now lives in the Pacific with his wife Tricia, and their dog, Nani.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads


Enter the Giveaway:

MORTAL WEATHER Book Tour Giveaway



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Giveaway – Echoes Of The Past by Ashley Packard @XpressoTours

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Echoes of the Past
Ashley Packard
Publication date: September 20th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction

Anna Wilson is faced with the prospect of starting her first job out of university. She worked hard for this coveted position not for the prestige, but because it paid well, would make her parents proud, and most importantly, the location was close to her grandmother, her only remaining family.

Accepting this job was a seal of fate according to Anna’s grandmother, who grappled with the guilt that Anna planned her life around her.

After graduating from university, Anna’s world gets turned upside down when she receives the devastating news her grandmother passed away, leaving behind an unexpected inheritance, a chest full of old postcards, and tickets for a trip her grandmother planned leaving in a few weeks.

Anna battles the difficult decision – to stay with the job she accepted, or embark on a journey that could uncover truths about herself and the untold stories of her grandmother’s past.

Goodreads / Purchase

—

EXCERPT:

“I didn’t have a choice then, but I do now,” I said, with a mixture of nostalgia and sorrow filling my chest as I sat on the bench across from an old bouquet of crinkled, dried flowers. The soft breeze rustled the autumn leaves, leaving a crisp scent lingering in the wind. The sun dipped over the horizon, casting a warm glow against my face as I sat in this place of quietude.

“Mom, Dad,” I whispered, taking a deep breath, “I miss you so much. I need your help now more than ever before.” I knew that coming here today was necessary – I needed their guidance, I was so confused.

I sat there and looked around the well-tended lawn and the sun’s reflection against the pond nearby. I kneeled down to replace the old bouquet with the new, trying to avert my eyes, but they were anchored on rereading the etched inscription for the millionth time:

“Emily & Liam Wilson, Beloved Parents, May they always rest in peace, Forever in our hearts.”

I could almost hear my father’s voice saying, “There’s no ‘cannot’ in our dictionary at home. I crossed it out, it doesn’t exist!”

Is that really true, Dad? Right then, it felt impossible. I already had a plan in place, a prestigious job lined up, and now this. A completely unexpected option. I felt a tear run down my cheek and brushed it away with my sleeve.

Life hasn’t been the same since you dropped me off at Grandma’s. None of us could have predicted what happened next.

“I think I know what I want to do, but I’m so scared.”

Memories came flooding back, each one flipping through my mind like snippets of a film.

***

“Anna, my dear,” Charlotte said gently, but heavy with melancholy as she opened the screen door from the back side of her house. Anna was hula-hooping and stopped, sensing that something was off by the sound of her grandmother’s tone, and came over to her.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it, Grandma? What’s wrong?”

Anna watched as Charlotte fell to her knees, took her hands in her own, tears streaming down her cheeks, and said, “I just got a phone call. There’s been an accident and your parents…I’m so sorry, they’ve passed away.”

Anna froze. Shock washed over her, as she attempted to grasp her grandmother’s words. Her eyes started to feel puffy and swollen with tears. A whirlwind of thoughts and emotions raced through her mind. How could this happen? It was a vacation.

Charlotte pulled her in closely as they wrapped their arms around each other. Both acknowledged that neither of their lives would ever be the same again.

Author Bio:

Ashley Packard was born and raised in the suburbs outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She currently resides in Berlin, Germany with her husband Zac and their two cats Emmy and Zelda. They moved to Germany in 2022 as newlyweds after getting married in Iceland. “Echoes of the Past” is her debut novel. She has a passion for traveling, telling stories, and taking photographs. You can find her latest work and updates on www.ashleypackard.com.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / TikTok


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Giveaway – Hott Shot by Serena Bell @XpressoTours @serenabellbooks

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Hott Shot
Serena Bell
Publication date: September 19th 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Beauty salon… and the Beast

Quinn: Working at the family wedding resort wasn’t exactly on my Bingo card. But it’s the only way for my siblings and me to get our grandfather’s inheritance, so here I am, staffing the Hott Spot Spa and Salon front desk. It’s an absurd gig for a man who makes Oscar the Grouch look like a people-person.

Still, I’m a hard worker. I’ve made a fortune off my scientific discoveries, and if I can engineer groundbreaking drugs, I can do anything, right? Not according to Sonya Rossi, the spa’s smoking hot and relentlessly perky manager. My grumpy approach is testing even sunshine-y Sonya’s patience. Meanwhile, I’m not sure whether I want to rain on her parade—or kiss the smile off her face.

Then the universe throws another curveball, putting us under the same roof. The closer Sonya gets, the more I like it—and her. I want to get to know her better and let her see the side of me I never show people. Until now, I’ve only believed in what I can touch, sense, and prove. I definitely don’t believe in love… but Sonya’s making me wish I could.

A spicy, grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract, under-one-roof, forced proximity standalone romantic comedy set in the beloved small town of Rush Creek.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

The person behind the desk is a stranger.

It’s a man with long, wild reddish-brown hair, a beard that hasn’t seen a trim in probably months, and thick, assertively male eyebrows with a whole zip code of their own. He’s sprawled out, wide legged, in the receptionist’s chair, dwarfing it.

He’s also vaguely familiar, which means he’s probably the groom Hanna said she’d send my way, a guy whose bride put her foot down at the eleventh hour and demanded he spend a day getting “the works.” Lily must have left the door open when she came in, and he helped himself to a warmer place to wait, even though it’s not yet ten.

“There are plenty of chairs in the waiting area if you need a place to sit!” I call out cheerily, gesturing at the comfy armchairs on one side of the room. “That one’s mine.” I approach the desk. “Let me block some time out for you. You’re in luck because we’ve got plenty of room for walk-ins this morning. I’ve got someone who can do the hair and beard, and I can do your eyebrows if you want that, too.”

His eyes widen. “What’s wrong with the hair, beard, and eyebrows?”

Yikes. I definitely got the wrong end of that one. “I’m so sorry! I was expecting a client with a beard this morning, and I totally assumed you were him. But you’re…obviously not. You must be here for something else. Massage? Or a dip in the springs?” Ugh—it’s never good to start the day off insulting a potential client, even if he’s sitting in my chair. “There’s a ten-percent-off coupon here with your name on it, an apology for my making assumptions about who you were—”

“No.” He scowls. “I’m not here for any of that. I’m here because due to circumstances beyond my control and yours and probably even God’s, I’m your new receptionist.”

I laugh, reflexively. And then I realize I’m the only one laughing and my laughter sort of…falls off a cliff.

“Yeah,” the bearded stranger says. “It’s not even remotely funny. Although I think my grandfather would have disagreed. I’m pretty sure he’s laughing all the way to hell.”

“Your grandfather,” I repeat. I’m so lost, I couldn’t find my best self with a compass and map.

He stands and holds out a hand. And I realize he actually wasn’t manspreading. He was taking up all that space in the chair because he’s legitimately huge—at least six-two and built like a warrior god. He wears worn jeans and a T-shirt that reads, I’m a chemist. To save time, let’s assume I’m never wrong.

“Quinn Hott,” he says. “Hanna’s brother, Fox Hott’s second-youngest grandkid. And your new receptionist.”


Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter


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Giveaway – The Golden Manuscripts by Evy Journey @ireadbooktours

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Book Details:
Book Title:  The Golden Manuscripts: A Novel (Between Two Worlds, Book 6) by Evy Journey
Category:  Adult Fiction 18+, 340 pages
Genre: Women’s Literary Fiction
Publisher:  Evy Journey
Release date:  April 2, 2023
Content Rating:  PG: Some kissing, no bad language, no sex scenes



Book Description:

Clarissa, an Asian/Caucasian young woman has lived in seven different countries and has no lasting connection to any place. She thinks it’s time to settle somewhere she could eventually call home. But where?

She decides to live in the city of her birth. There, she joins a quest for the provenance of stolen illuminated manuscripts—a medieval art form that languished with the fifteenth-century invention of the printing press—hoping it would give her the sense of belonging she craves. But will it be enough?

For her, these ancient manuscripts elicit cherished memories of children’s picture books her mother read to her, nourishing a passion for art.

The trail of the manuscripts leads to an American soldier who served in World War II. Clarissa is anxious to know what motivated him to steal and keep the artwork for fifty years. But instead of easy answers, she finds bigger questions.

Immersed in art, but naïve about life, she’s disheartened and disillusioned by the machinations the quest reveals of an esoteric, sometimes unscrupulous art world. What compels individuals to steal artworks, and conquerors to plunder them from the vanquished? Why do collectors buy artworks for hundreds of millions of dollars? Who decides the value of an art piece and how?

The Golden Manuscripts: A Novel is inspired by the actual theft of medieval manuscript illuminations during the second world war.