Welcome to the blog tour for HEADS ON FIRE, a standalone adult contemporary romance by Elora Nicole Ramirez. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
Synopsis
Nova Scofield isn’t looking for anything serious. She’s not looking for anything at all, actually. Still recovering after walking away from her narcissistic fiancé weeks before their wedding, she is happily focused on her floral shop, Wild Flora.
But then Jax Stratford walks into the shop and Nova suddenly remembers what it’s like to feel the gravitational pull of chemistry. For one night, she allows herself the freedom of letting her desire lead her.
The only problem is Jax isn’t a one night stand — he’s a potential business partner. Despite her best judgment, she agrees to a date and finds herself falling head over heels.
But Nova’s ex refuses to let go — he keeps showing up and threatening to take over the flower shop she built with her best friend — making it impossible for Nova to move on from their relationship and the control he had over her.
To make matters worse, history surfaces and her ex shares something with her, making it seem Jax has kept the truth from her this entire time.
Will she give into the heat she feels with Jax?
Or will everything she’s worked for turn to ash?
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Excerpt #4 Music drifts from inside and I feel his chest vibrating from laughter.
I look back at him, my arms around his neck.
“What’s so funny?”
He leans his head back, glancing at the stars above us. “This song. I haven’t heard it in ages.”
“Dancing in the Moonlight?” I ask.
He nods, and finds my gaze. “My mom would have these dancing parties with us growing up and this was one of the songs she’d play. We go outside, under the moon, and just be completely stupid with each other, spinning around under the stars.” His eyes twinkle and scratches at something on his cheek. He goes quiet for just a few seconds, lost in memories.
“That sounds amazing,” I say. “My parents were incredible growing up — I’m so grateful for the relationship I have with them. But we don’t have any fun memories like dancing under the stars. It’s more like, creating presentations to determine where we are going to vacation this summer type of vibes.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Are you serious?”
I laugh, my turn to go quiet with the memories.
“The last time we did it, my uncle actually won. We ended up going to Palm Springs simply because he wanted to experience the mind-melting heat.”
“Hopefully y’all had a pool to cool off in during the day?”
“Oh yeah. It was actually a beautiful spot. I would go back in a heartbeat, just not in the middle of July.”
Stepping back, he holds out his hand. “Wanna dance?”
I stand there for a moment.
“Here? Now?” I blink.
“Well, it’s what the song says, right?”
He claps to the beat, doing a quick turn on his heels before looking at me again with an inviting smile. I laugh, surprised by the shift in conversation, but grateful for his willingness to hold the heavy spaces as well as the silly moments. His green eyes look back at me and I sigh. This is the third time this man has gotten me to dance with him. There’s no way I will be able to say no.
I tentatively place my hand in his, and he twirls me around. “It sounds like you need a core memory of dancing under the stars.”
I laugh again, soaking in the moment. He’s not missing a beat, his shoulders moving with the rhythm and his feet slowly stepping side to side before doing a quick shuffle and moving me with the music. His hips rock side to side and before I know it, I’m not thinking about our conversation from earlier or whether the team breaking down the event inside will come out and see us and wonder why we haven’t left yet. I’m lost in the feel of his hips against mine, his hands on my back, and the confidence he has in leading us around the wooden porch. He pushes against my back, twirling me again, and I spin a few feet away.
My hands go out to the side and I groove for a few beats before getting a playful glint in my eye.
“You know this is where I run toward you and you lift me like Baby in Dirty Dancing.”
“If this were a rom com, yes,” he agrees. Instead, he holds his arms out to me in an invitation, and I don’t run toward him because we’re not that stupid to attempt a trick like that on a whim. We know this moment, just like all of our other moments, are held with care and with the knowing that it might be our last. But right now? Right now we’re experiencing something deeper than any movie anyway. I walk with the beat and turn my back to him when we reach each other and he wraps his arms around my waist and we stay there, moving in tandem with massive smiles on our faces, the stars sparkling above us and the fire cracking beside us, in our own little dance party for two.
It was better than any rom-com I’ve ever seen.
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Author Elora Ramirez
About the Author Elora Ramirez has always been a word girl.
It started when she was four, when she taught herself how to read and write as a way to entertain herself while her grandmother kicked and danced in aerobics class. She cut her teeth on books from Dr. Seuss and writing anywhere she could find the space — including her Fischer Price kitchenette, the pages of picture books, and Highlights Magazines.
She’s matured a bit since then, now choosing to write in the margins of her books and on the mirrors of her bathroom ideas and thoughts surrounding story and what makes us human. By day she leads a team at a tech company, waking up before the sun rises to get in her love for words before stepping into her role of helping others see the plot line of their own story under development.
Intuition and beauty get her through the day, as well as her chef-husband and their little lion son. Curious Obsession is her fourth novel.
Welcome to the blog tour for AND TIME STOPPED, the third book in the young adult contemporary fantasy series, Keeper of the Watch, by Kristen L. Jackson. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
AND TIME STOPPED (Keeper of the Watch Series #3) by Kristen L. Jackson
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: AND TIME STOPPED Series: Keeper of the Watch Series #3 Author: Kristen L. Jackson Publisher: Black Rose Writing Release Date: June 9, 2022 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR | Barnes & Noble
Synopsis After a smooth jump to Dimension 9, Chase, Alyx, and chimera pup, Bo, discover that this world’s peaceful existence only extends as far as the local high school. A different kind of battle wages there, and the identity of the school bully is a surprise they never anticipated. When Chase decides they have no choice but to enroll at Dune Harbor High and repeat their senior year, Alyx is less than thrilled. But the two soon discover the influence just one person can have over the decisions, lives, and even deaths, of those around them. While they try to prevent one tragedy, another one unfolds even as Chase unravels one more piece of his family history. What he discovers will leave him reeling, and his life will never be the same.
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Excerpt #3 Alyx fastened the collar around Bo’s neck, snapping the leash on. Bo scratched at the collar, his hind leg a blur, then ran in mad circles, trying to catch the leash between his teeth. Once he succeeded, he growled deep in his throat and shook his head wildly back and forth, his little puppy growls forcing a smile to bloom. “I don’t think he likes his new things,” she chuckled.
“He’ll get used to it. We don’t want to lose him again,” Chase replied.
“No. Or get into trouble with Carson. Officer Murphy, I mean.”
Chase nodded.
Bo dramatically threw his body on the ground, paws in the air refusing to stand. “C’mon Bo. Let’s go for a walk,” Alyx coaxed, tugging on the leash.
The pup snorted, legs flailing in the air. One lone whimper escaped before he turned his back on them.
Chase and Alyx looked at each other. “Maybe we’ll just carry him for now.” Chase lifted Bo. The pup lay its head on Chase’s shoulder, snuggling as close as possible.
“We can’t carry him everywhere.”
Chase ran his hands over the soft fur, heading toward the sidewalk. “No. He’ll get used to the leash. Eventually.”
About the Author Kristen L. Jackson lives in Reading, PA, with her husband, two grown sons, and four large-breed dogs. She has been a teacher for over 20 years, and writing for children of all ages is close to her heart. Her debut novels KEEPER OF THE WATCH and MAGIC HARBOR (Books 1 & 2) are available now, as well as a novella, DIMENSION KEEPER, which is the prequel to the series. A children’s picture book, JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKS, (2019 1st Place Pencraft Award Winner) is also available now. Kristen enjoys writing, reading, and spending time with her family at their cabin in the Pocono Mountains of PA. Follow Kristen on Social Media.
Welcome to the blog tour for CAMBION’S BLOOD, the second book in the adult urban fantasy series, Cambion, by Erin Fulmer. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
CAMBION’S BLOOD (Cambion Series #2) by Erin Fulmer
Synopsis Half-succubus attorney Lily Knight has blood on her hands.
Haunted by guilt, behind on her rent, and facing professional disgrace, Lily must figure out how to survive in the wreckage of her former life. To make ends meet, she accepts a contract job she never wanted but can’t seem to avoid—hunting another demon murderer. This time, the victims are human, and a shadowy government agency will reward Lily with a way out of her dire financial straits.
If Lily doesn’t solve the case before the news gets out, fear and hatred will put all demonkind at risk from the proverbial torch-carrying mob. But when a young succubus on the run from the authorities begs for her help, Lily faces a new conflict of interest—especially after the suspect, Eve, reveals her father is Lily’s old frenemy.
Now Lily must juggle the pressures of a high-stakes murder case, her complicated relationship with her “not-boyfriend” Sebastian, and responsibility for a wayward teenager as she races to find the real killer. Worse, the culprit isn’t just a demon, but a self-proclaimed goddess who will stop at nothing to carry out her bloody quest for justice. To stop the killings, Lily must confront that which she most fears: the truth about what went down with Eve’s father in the desert—and its consequences.
That is, if the goddess doesn’t get to her first…
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Excerpt “That right there. That’s what I don’t understand.” His voice went rough around the edges again. It sent goosebumps shivering down my spine. “Talk to me. Did I do something wrong?”
“No!” I forced myself to meet his eyes. They burned into mine, but his desiderata pleaded with me. Damn it, I couldn’t afford to screw this up. “Of course not. The opposite, in fact.” Maybe that was the problem, the way he said all the right things, what I wanted to hear and what I couldn’t believe.
“Then explain it to me.” The rough edges in his tone deepened, verging on a growl. “You’re holding out on me again. But I’m a big boy, I can take it. Tell me the truth. Why do you keep pushing me away?”
He couldn’t handle the truth, and I couldn’t hold his gaze. I turned my head away. Outside our aerie, purple twilight had faded to full night, and the city glowed like a reef of jewels in a dark sea. “It’s complicated.”
“I like complicated.” He sighed. “Come on. I didn’t ask you to define our official social media status.”
“You’re not even on social media.” I tried on a casual shrug and half a truth. “I’m just scared, I guess.”
“Yeah, I got that much. You’re not as hard to read as you think. Scared of what? That I’ll hurt you, or that you’ll lose control?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, all of it.” I swallowed hard. “You can’t understand what it’s like for me. It’s not just sex for me. If I let it, it could own me. And I…I could own you.”
A certain incubus had told me once that a succubus couldn’t have a sex addiction. But he also tried to convince me that demons were superior beings who deserved to rule over weak, inferior humans. And before that, he’d let me believe he meant well, that he respected consent, personal agency, the right to live and love as one pleased.
He’d told so many lies, and even though the liar had died, his lies still wove their tangled web around me like a shroud.
“I know you could,” Sebastian said calmly. “I’ve known from the beginning. It’s not so different for me as you think.”
I had to look back at him, then. “You think you could…own me?” Heat flooded my cheeks at the words. They sounded much filthier out loud, especially when his desiderata pulsed in response.
“If you let me. If you wanted me to.” His expression seared through me, and he drew me toward him. “My own desires run pretty dark and deep. If I give them free rein, they’d control me, too.”
“It’s not the same.” I could break free with ease. My strength outmatched his by a factor of ten. But his need sang to me. It hammered at my resistance like thunder, like the beat of huge dark wings. “Sebastian, I—” But the words died on my lips.
I couldn’t tell him the truth about what happened that night, our first night together. I couldn’t tell him what I did with my power, his power, the alchemy of our pleasure.
I couldn’t tell him that I killed someone with it.
“It’s all right,” he said, in that rippling velvet voice. “Come here.”
I took a long breath and pushed the box of things I couldn’t say back into the shadows. Then I stepped toward him of my own free will. Or at least, right now, I chose to believe I did.
“I have a confession, too,” he murmured, his lips inches from mine, not touching me anywhere skin to skin.
My breath came short. “I’m not a nun, Mr. Ritter.”
“Thank fuck for that.” His desiderata enveloped me, deep, rich, and overwhelming. “Because I didn’t just ask you here so we could take in the view.”
“You lied to me,” I whispered, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t need truths right now. I needed what he offered me.
“By omission only.” He put his hands on my hips, turning me with gentle pressure and steering me backward until my ass hit the hard edge of the desk. “The truth is, I’ve been very distracted lately during my workday by thoughts about you, me, and this desk.” His fingers worked under the band of my jeans, skimming my skin, and I moaned.
“Say ten Hail Marys and ten…oh, fuck.”
“Now that’s the kind of absolution I can live with,” he said, and bent his head to claim my mouth with his. His kether flooded through me. It suffused my body with a rush of light. It made my head spin, driving all my doubts away.
I drank him in, drank him deep, and when he pressed me down against the hard, cold surface of the desk, I did beg in the end—but not for absolution.
About the Author Erin Fulmer (she/her) is a public benefits attorney by day, author of urban fantasy and science fiction by night. She lives in sunny Northern California with her husband and two spoiled cats. When she’s not writing or working, she enjoys yoga, taking pictures of the sky, playing board games with friends, and napping like it’s an Olympic sport.
CAMBION’S BLOOD, the second book in her Cambion series and sequel to her debut urban fantasy CAMBION’S LAW, is out June 7 from City Owl Books.
Welcome to the blog tour for CURIOUS OBSESSION, a standalone adult contemporary romance by Elora Ramirez. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
CURIOUS OBSESSION by Elora Ramirez
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: CURIOUS OBSESSION Author: Elora Ramirez Publisher: Awake Indie Press Release Date: July 26, 2021 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis One moment Juniper Reese existed, and the next she vanished into thin air.
This is how it feels for Lavender, her twin, when she receives the call that Juniper didn’t show up to her job one morning. Still adjusting to Juniper’s cross-country move to run from the ghosts of their mother’s death, Lavender knows something is wrong — but she also knows her sister is still alive.
As she follows Juniper’s footsteps in an unfamiliar town, she begins to uncover a plot that seems to suggest her sister was being stalked before her disappearance. Now it’s on her to find Juniper before time runs out and convince those around her that her disappearance wasn’t an attempt to “get away.”
What she doesn’t know is that she’s being watched by someone who just realized perfection came twice. He begins to hone in on Lavender, his attention never satisfied until he can have them both for himself.
Will Lavender be able to find her sister before time runs out? Or will she be the next target in an obsession gone wrong?
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Excerpt #2 My brain tries to grasp at the clues that we do have and nothing happens — just a blank space where the answers should be. I feel an exhaustion settle in my bones and find myself collapsing into one of the desks, resting my head on my arm.
No one warns you about the crazy-making urgency of looking for a loved one who has disappeared. It’s only been a few days and still I am convinced Juniper will walk around the corner any moment, frustrated that we’re in her space and questioning why we’re freaking out about her brief vacation.
“I told you I was leaving.” She would look at me in that way of hers, where suddenly I wonder if we really did share the same space — the same everything — for nearly 22 years.
“Oh.” I would remember a conversation with clarity and then flush with embarrassment. “You’re right. I forgot.” I’d wave my hand, a can you believe me? type of gesture, and laugh it off.
That’s just a twisted sort of fantasy though, a way my heart is handling this separation that feels more like an amputation. A make-believe world filled with stories of pretend. I don’t know how to exist in this world without my sister taking up space next to me, and so I am creating one where she is still here. Still present. Still bossing the hell out of everyone around her and making me feel less like her identical twin and more like the forgotten and annoying little sister.
I rest my hands on my hips and roll my shoulders, feeling the knots constrict and separate. My stomach growls, a low murmur that grows exponentially. I grimace, realizing I haven’t had anything to eat since the banana I grabbed from my kitchen yesterday afternoon.
I open my eyes and notice Jasper watching me from his perch against one of the desks.
“You okay?”
I blush a little, embarrassed by his concern.
“I’m fine. Don’t you have classes or something?”
“I took a long weekend to prep for the gala. It was an agreement between Juniper and me. I would take today off and then she would take next Monday off to wrap everything up.”
“Oh. Is it really that big of a deal?”
He laughs and rolls his eyes. “Like you wouldn’t believe. Think prom times ten.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.” He rubs his face. “There’s way too much money floating around here.”
He pushes off the desk and stretches his arms above his head, his shirt lifting just enough for me to get a peek of his stomach. I bounce my eyes away quickly.
“I’m starving.”
“I don’t think I’ve eaten in over 24 hours,” I respond. I’m running my fingernail against a notch in the desk, avoiding looking in his direction. The air seems to have shifted in the last few minutes, and I can’t place it. It’s not attraction. I don’t even know this person. Maybe it’s just chemistry. But whatever it is, I’m not doing it. I shut down, waiting for him to leave.
“I was planning on grabbing some Mediterranean for lunch if you want to join. There’s a decent place off Thayer St.” He shrugs and keeps his face nonchalant.
I think for a moment.
“Yeah. Yeah food sounds amazing, actually. Do you mind driving?”
We make our way down the hall, and I tell myself it’s just lunch — it’s nothing — it doesn’t have to be something because he’s a guy and I’m a girl and we’re going somewhere. I twirl my keys, trying to find something casual to talk about, when I feel like someone is watching us. I turn around suddenly, expecting to see someone following behind, but I only catch a brief shadow disappear around the corner by Juniper’s door. I frown, craning my neck to see if I can catch any other movement.
Nothing.
“Everything okay?” Jasper’s voice cuts through the silence and I can feel his breath on the back of my neck. I didn’t realize he was so close and I jump.
So much for casual.
“Sorry,” he says, stepping back.
“No. It’s fine. I’m just…I thought I saw something. It’s nothing.”
But it’s not nothing. I know it like I know the hairs still standing at attention on my neck and the way my insides bounce against each other, threatening a gag reflex. I try to stay calm and keep my hands from shaking, but it doesn’t work. My nails leave indentations against the palms of my hands and I can feel a sheen of sweat gathering on my upper lip. I glance behind me again as we walk through the door outside, but there’s nothing to prove what I know.
Someone is watching us.
I just wish I knew who.
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Author Elora Ramirez
About the Author Elora Ramirez has always been a word girl.
It started when she was four, when she taught herself how to read and write as a way to entertain herself while her grandmother kicked and danced in aerobics class. She cut her teeth on books from Dr. Seuss and writing anywhere she could find the space — including her Fischer Price kitchenette, the pages of picture books, and Highlights Magazines.
She’s matured a bit since then, now choosing to write in the margins of her books and on the mirrors of her bathroom ideas and thoughts surrounding story and what makes us human. By day she leads a team at a tech company, waking up before the sun rises to get in her love for words before stepping into her role of helping others see the plot line of their own story under development.
Intuition and beauty get her through the day, as well as her chef-husband and their little lion son. Curious Obsession is her fourth novel.
Welcome to the blog tour for OATH BREAKER, the first book in the adult paranormal romance series, The Angel of Death & Demons, by River Starr. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
OATH BREAKER (Angel of Death and Demons Series #1) by River Starr
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: OATH BREAKER Series: The Angel of Death & Demons #1 Author: River Starr Release Date: May 5, 2022 Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis No one survives their meeting with the Angel of Death—except for me.
After being accused of rallying citizens to revolt against him and breaking the rules of engagement with demons to save my best friend—guilty as charged on both accounts—the Angel of Death demands to personally oversee my sentencing in his obsidian castle of demons and death.
I’m done for. This is the end. But my death won’t be in vain—I’ll die a martyr to the Paladins Order’s cause, and I’ll rescue my best friend at the same time. She’ll be safe and the paladins will pick a new leader. They’ll thrive and continue the fight.
Or so I think. When judgment day arrives and I’m knelt before the Angel of Death, with his onyx eyes, his ebony hair, and his seductively imposing stature, my soul doesn’t leave me.
It soars.
Because when I dare to look the Angel of Death in the eyes, everything changes. And what unfolds in my anger and vengeance’s stead is a thread of events I never could have foreseen.
I survived my meeting with the Angel of Death. But can I survive his love?
OATH-BREAKER is the first of a M/F paranormal demon romance duology full of steamy goodness.
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Excerpt #2 The Angel of Death chuckled. He actually chuckled. “Your previous leader was weak and died to demons along Alastia’s border before I had a chance get there. To accuse me of murdering not only the leader of the Paladins Order but, in doing so, also destroying the precarious truce between our people, is perhaps not the smartest move while you and your people are within my grasp.”
My blood boiled. Screw playing nice. I wished Jessa weren’t in the room. But I also knew that my pain right now—emotional though it was—would feed her power enough to help me fight if one broke out.
I glanced up to meet the Angel of Death’s stare. “Merek was not weak—”
I froze as our eyes met. It was like someone or something had punched me right in the gut. My breath hitched. My heart stopped. For a moment, it even felt as though time had, too.
The Angel of Death was breathtaking. Gorgeous. And it wasn’t just his fathomless onyx eyes and tussled ebony hair, although those had drawn me in first. It wasn’t the hard cut of his jaw or his statuesque features. Not even the faint scar along his chin that brought questions to my mind. No. None of those things were anything in comparison to the aura around him—power, position. Nor even his scent—earthy and smoky—that slammed into me a moment later. It also wasn’t the way his eyes widened a fraction the longer this moment drew on, as if he had realized it, too, now that our eyes had met.
They say that when you meet the love of your life, you just know. That that was how it also worked with your fated mate.
Now looking the Angel of Death in the eyes, not only seeing him for the first time, but feeling the weight of his presence and power, I knew what I’d always assumed to be true: Fate had never been on my side, and She was not funny.
Merek had been my mate. I’d known it the first moment we’d met. We’d clicked immediately and loved fiercely until the night of his death.
And here I was, staring down the Angel of Death, the demon king of this city, begging for him to let Jessa go, and realizing that he, too, was somehow my mate.
My fated mate. A stronger pull. An impossibly powerful connection.
The recognition was instantaneous. The bond as powerful as the sun.
I’d heard you could have more than one mate. I’d even known a few paladins in the Order whom it had happened to.
But this—now, after Merek’s death—was too much to process. This aura flitting between us was stronger than anything I’d ever felt in my entire life.
The Angel of Death growled, his lips curling. I stood straight and met his anger with my own, my fists curled and ready to attack, clunky as it might be with my wrists bound as they were. It wouldn’t be graceful, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.
“I’m glad I’m not the only one pissed about this,” I said as I drew up my bound fists. I refused to believe fate had given me another mate—especially one responsible for killing my first.
Before the Angel of Death or any of his soldiers could react, I swung wide at his face.
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Author River Starr
About the Author River Starr writes books that help you escape, especially fantasy romance full of magic and supernaturals. Favorite things: coffee, wine, chocolate, and a heavy dose of books to chase away the dark… or invite delicious darkness in.
Welcome to the blog tour for CAN’T HELP LOVING YOU, a standalone adult contemporary romance, by Eve Kasey. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis
Ava What happens when you meet the boy of your dreams in a bookstore? You pretend you’re not leaving for college in the morning, and instead spend the night falling hard for his blue eyes, dimples, and creative soul – even if Maddox is a poetry hater. You pretend you don’t get that tattoo in his honor. You spend the next ten years telling yourself that a corner of your heart isn’t taken by a boy from your past.
When you see those blue eyes again, you pretend you don’t feel seen—awake—for the first time in a decade. You remind yourself that you said yes to a man you didn’t want to marry, and now you’re stuck. You tell yourself that this is the life you wanted.
But it isn’t. Not anymore.
Maddox What happens when you run into the woman you haven’t stopped thinking about for a decade? The wild-haired, free-spirited sunshine girl from your past? You pretend she’s not at that brewery with her fiancé, your new friend. Leo. The man who can make or break your design career. You pretend neither of you see that Leo is keeping secrets and close to breaking. You pretend you don’t know how miserable Ava is with her life, how she only lights up when you’re around.
You tell yourself you don’t ache for the one woman you can’t have.
But you do. You want her as badly as she wants freedom, and the time has come to stop pretending.
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Excerpt #2 Ava thought the music had her heart pumping? Now her pulse was sprinting, erratic, her heartbeat as loud in her ears as the drums.
Maddox sat there—lounged there—like a king on a damn throne. People flanked him, mostly women. If not for his aquamarine eyes and casual grace, she might not have recognized him. His curls had been slicked back. He wore charcoal monochrome, a thin sweater painted onto his frame and tight slacks that showed off his ankles. Sleek. Simple. Sexy as sin. Ava barely registered the paisley loafers before his gaze crashed into hers.
Shock crossed his face. All his muscles seemed to jerk at once. His eyes moved up and down her body before landing back on hers.
Ava’s stomach dropped to her feet. She knew that look. She’d memorized that look on a beach hundreds of miles away.
Maddox wanted her.
Ava’s exposed skin ignited. She remembered vividly being wanted by this man. Wanting him in return. She remembered how good it felt to give in to that want beneath the waves and again on the beach.
But that was a long time ago. Far, far away.
Flustered by his reaction, and hers, she raised her hand in a wave, trying to force a smile onto her lips.
Maddox leaned forward, fingers steepled in front of his mouth. He shook his head, a small, sin-soaked smile curving behind his fingers.
Frozen in place, Ava frowned. Had she just been rejected?
His gaze lingered on hers before dropping down her body again, slowly, inch by torturous inch. Lust had crowded his features. He held up a single finger, eyes begging. She felt her heartbeat speed up as she finally understood.
They were pretending. Maddox was pretending not to know her.
At that moment, she wasn’t his friend or Leo’s fiancée. No, Ava was just a stranger in a club, a woman Maddox only knew he wanted. He was asking for more time to dream.
She should march forward and shove her way into his little group. She should call out his name to shatter the illusion. But she didn’t. Instead, Ava straightened her spine and let herself be devoured.\
With no one to stop him, his gaze roamed freely. Heat followed in his wake. Sweat. Goosebumps. Ava felt Maddox exploring her skin as if he’d caressed her. He seemed especially intrigued by her legs. So help her, flames erupted in her core as their little game went on, as he worshipped her with his eyes.
Ava found herself wondering what kind of lover this Maddox would be.
Would his fingers find their way underneath her dress while they danced? Was he the type to smother orgasmic cries with a kiss? Would he be the kind of lover who lifted her up against the wall before sinking inside? Or was he the type to find an empty bathroom, spin her around, and take her from behind?
The flames in Ava’s body reached dangerous levels. She blinked out of her daze and realized Maddox was heading straight for her. She turned, panicking, heart in her throat.
God, his hands hovered so close. His body, his warmth, all too close.
She felt his fingertips creep toward her elbow, near her skin but not connecting. His breath grazed her ear. “I’d give anything—everything—to know what you’re thinking right now.”
Maddox could not touch her. Under no circumstances would she allow it, even if the building were on fire and her feet were melting like the wicked witch.
She kept her eyes on the couch he’d vacated, on the women who watched their interaction with obvious interest. She did not look at him. “I’ll never tell.”
“Good. Keep your secrets.” Ava shivered at his whispered words, at his breath on her neck. “I’ll try to keep mine.”
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Author Eve Kasey
About the Author Eve Kasey started composing stories in childhood, both in her head and with an electric typewriter loaded with pink paper. She writes for a design firm by day and reads independently published romance novels by night.
Eve writes contemporary romance that balances sweetness and steam while aiming to teach readers something new. Her books are where nerdy meets dirty. She believes romance novels can be a platform to portray healthy relationships and attitudes towards sex.
Eve lives in Washington state with her very stylish husband and two children.
Welcome to the blog tour for YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING, a standalone young adult paranormal thriller, by Shani Michelle. See below for information on the book, buy links, my five-star review, and details on her giveaway.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING by Shani Michelle
Synopsis
A teen girl who sees visions of the past must use her gift to save a kidnapped classmate in Shani Michelle’s high-stakes YA thriller You Should Have Seen This Coming!
Hayden sees the past. Just touching an object will occasionally give her flashes of the previous owner’s memories. And if that memory happens to be a deeply hidden secret, then she has no problem making you pay for your crime, in cash.
Cassie sees the future, and it sucks. She will randomly wake up from dreams filled with disasters that she feels compelled to stop, and she would really like to stop watching her boyfriend fall in love with someone else!
But when Cassie tries to warn Hayden that her latest blackmailing scheme is a trap, she knows she’s really in trouble. All her visions warn her of the upcoming kidnapping, nothing she does stops it. And it’s all Hayden’s fault!
Can Hayden’s gift help her find Cassie before it’s too late?
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My Review This is the book I’ve been waiting for! Shani Michelle’s young adult thriller grabbed me from the opening pages and never let go. Cassie sees the future. She sees her now ex-boyfriend falling for the new girl, Hayden. Hayden sees the past, but as the new kid in town she doesn’t share that information with anyone. When Cassie sees her own kidnapping, she does everything she can to prevent it, but sometimes destiny has other ideas. With a troubled past, the town isn’t convinced foul play was involved in Cassie’s disappearance. But her best friend, Audra, and ex, Brody, are positive Cassie wouldn’t just run off. Though they have no idea what Hayden is capable of, they know there’s some sort of connection between Cassie and Hayden and solicit Hayden’s help in finding Cassie before it’s too late. The dynamic that results from this unlikely trio makes for some of the best conflict in the book.
Plot The story centers around finding Cassie once she goes missing, but the various subplots, involving the mystery around Hayden’s mom and the sheriff and Cassie’s relationship with Brody, help support the main plot. With so many twists and turns, I devoured the story to find out what happened next.
The Characters The author does an amazing job of creating uniquely differentiated characters with alternating first person point of view. Not something easily done. From Hayden’s tortured past, to the mysterious disappearance of Cassie’s mother, the author crafted layered characters with believable flaws combined with just the right amount of positive traits to make the cast come to life.
Top Five Things I Loved About YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING 1. Visions. This is one of my favorite supernatural abilities. And having one character who can see the future and one who can see the past was twice the fun.
2. Twists. Some things were predictable but many others were beautifully crafted twists I never saw coming.
3. Hayden. She’s snarky, irreverent, and complex — the best combination.
4. Pacing. The story unwinds at the perfect pace, with short chapters that kept me reading far too late.
5. Cassie. She may not always make the best choices based on what she sees in her visions, but her heart’s in the right place, making her someone you can’t help rooting for.
Bottom Line Intense thriller with a fast pace and wonderful characters made this a fast, exciting read.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author Shani Michelle is the author of YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING. She also works in TV news. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her husband, family, friends, reading, watching way too much TV, and coming up with new story ideas. (She’s also written several rom-com and middle grade novels as Shani Petroff).
Welcome to the Blog Tour for MIRRORS AND MYSTERIES, the ninth book in the young adult paranormal romance series, Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, by Christina Bauer. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
MIRRORS AND MYSTERIES (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum Series #9) by Christina Bauer
Synopsis Rapunzel meets Jane Eyre in the epic conclusion of this fairy tale romance!
Grayson Eyre has left her old life behind. She’s no longer stuck serving Lady R, a sadistic Rapunzel from the Lowood clan of elves. Instead, Grayson now teaches at the Thornfield home for shifter orphans. Even better, her boss is none other than the sexy alpha, Dex. It’s all good until a mysterious witch, Jocasta, appears in a nearby tower, demanding that Dex and Grayson discover the true nature of all Rapunzels. If not, Lady R will return to claim Grayson… and Thornfield will be wiped out by the evil Prism Master. Can Dex and Grayson discover the truth in time? And what will it mean for their growing attraction?
Secrets are revealed and feelings explored in this epic conclusion to the story of Dex and Grayson!
Fairy Tales of the Magicorum: Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves and Roses
2. Moonlight and Midtown
3. Shifters and Glyphs
4. Slippers and Thieves
5. Bandits and Ball Gowns
6. Fire and Cinder
7. Fairies and Frosting
8. Towers and Tithes
9. Mirrors and Mysteries
10. Love and Ether
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Excerpt #2 Grayson
Pine trees tower above me. Soft breezes rustle my hair. Beams of moonlight peep through the canopy of branches. I stroll beside Dex, my hand resting on his forearm.
We’re a man and woman, walking along… something that happens every second of every minute of every hour of every day. It shouldn’t be a big deal.
To me, it is.
I’ve never touched a man before—not even the Prism Master—let alone someone like Dex. My insides are doing flip flops. Dex’s leather armor is so soft and firm. I can’t help but wonder if that’s how his skin would feel as well. And kissing? I shiver. That’s way too much to consider. A voice starts echoing through my mind. It sounds a lot like Lady R.
You’re so excited walk beside a man. How pathetic. Even from a distance, no one would think you and Dex are together. You’re too short and that dress is for a servant. And once anyone gets close enough to see your face? You’re plain as dirt.
A weight of sadness settles on my shoulders. I just escaped Lady R. Yet, she still lives on in my head. The worst part of all is simple: she’s right. Dex looks like a warrior-king of old, standing center stage in all his glory. I’m only an extra who cheers him on from behind the scenes.
My eyes sting with hidden pain. This started off as a nice moment. Now every step forward hurts me a little more.
Even though he can’t see, Dex slowly leads us to a great stone gateway. The heavy wooden door sits ajar. We step through the opening and into the city itself. It’s a lot of dark wooden buildings with slate roofs and thin windows.
And it’s dead.
Back in the woods, I feel life all around me. Insects chirp. Small animals scurry about. Everything is green and healthy. But here, there’s nothing but darkness and grim. Empty windows stare out from run-down buildings. Doorways hang loose on their hinges. Our footsteps sound like a lonely drumroll in the night.
Dex leads us toward a building made of dark wood. The tallest tower of all winds up from its center. A large wooden sign sits on a pole before the place.
Thornfield.
Seeing that name in writing brings back a memory. The first book I found hidden in the Bartlebee included a building called Thornfield as well.
“Is that your home?” I ask.
Dex inhales. “The scent is right. Why, does something look different?”
“The sign says Thornfield and the building is huge.”
“That’s the place, all right.”
An idea appears. Maybe this is a sign. After all, there are other ways where my life mirrors that book.
About the Author
Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates
Welcome to the blog tour for THE STARS FORGOT US, a standalone young adult paranormal suspense, by R.J. Garcia. See below for information on the book, buy links, my five-star review, and details on her giveaway.
THE STARS FORGOT US by R.J. Garcia
Synopsis Fifteen-year-old Jacob Kelly would love to go back to simpler times. Before his parents’ divorce and the onset of his brother’s Schizophrenia. But when he returns to his hometown, things feel off. After a series of strange occurrences, Jacob fears his new house is haunted or worse yet, he is losing his mind.
To his surprise, Jacob discovers a mysterious teenage runaway, Sanctuary Daniels, living in the house. She reveals she has been kept by a figure known only as Mother, in a place where downstairs children are languishing prisoners, and upstairs children do Mother’s bidding.
Jacob’s investigation into Sanctuary’s allegations, along with their budding romance, are cut short when she is reclaimed by evil beings. Beings who unleash terror upon Jacob and his family. Now he must journey to a real haunted house to save his first love and fight for his very life.
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My Review This was such a fun read! It starts off with a bang and just keeps going. Fifteen-year-old Jacob, his single mom, and his mentally ill older brother, Michael, move back to their hometown, and into a house that may or may not be haunted. The fact that Michael hears voices doesn’t help Jacob when he starts to hear a girl’s voice coming from inside his house. After all, schizophrenia can run in families. But it’s more than just voices with someone writing on the walls of his closet. Soon Jacob is seeing things, or someone specifically — Sanctuary (Ary) Daniels, the first girl he ever crushed on in middle school, who mysteriously disappeared before he moved away.
But nothing is as it seems. Ary tells a horrific tale of abuse at the hands of her foster mother, but she also tells obvious lies about how she ended up in his house, only making everything else she tells him suspect. But Jacob is drawn to her, and not just because she was his first crush. There’s something about her that makes him trust her more than not. And that’s when things get really interesting.
Plot The story flows really well and kept me turning the pages. Chapters are short and full of action and mystery that never stops coming. The romance is sweet and well done. The author does a masterful job of weaving in twists and turns that leaving you needing to know what happens next!
The Characters I love all the characters. They’re all so interesting and fun; like the kind of people you’d want to hang out with. You know, without all the dangerous stuff happening on-page. Jacob is sweet, Michael is multi-faceted, their mom acts like you’d expect a mom of teen boys to behave — I cannot overstate how rare that is in YA. Ary is by far the most intriguing character, with good reason, which I will not spoil for you.
Top Five Things I Loved About THE STARS FORGOT US 1. Jacob. He has his flaws, but he’s one of the good ones.
2. Twists. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you realize you have no idea what’s going to happen next.
3. Lucas. Jacob’s cousin, and one of his best childhood friends, is deeply layered. He kept me guessing on what his angle really was.
4. Pacing. The story moved at a perfect pace, keeping my interest throughout.
5. Ary. Her sweet innocence and complex nature made her an enigma that was a fun change from many YA love interests.
Bottom Line Fun fast read with excellent pacing and wonderful characters! This makes me want to read more by R.J. Garcia.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE STARS FORGOT US Author: R.J. Garcia Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing Release Date: March 30, 2022 Pages: 298 Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Suspense Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
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Author by R.J. Garcia
About the Author R.J. Garcia is a wife and proud mom. She earned her MSW and worked with foster children and as a school social worker. Writing has been her other great love. She has published several non-fiction pieces. She has been writing short-stories for as long as she can remember. To her amazement, those short stories became novels!
Welcome to the blog tour for GOUDA FRIENDS, the second book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, Ponto Beach Reunion, by Cathy Yardley. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
GOUDA FRIENDS (Ponto Beach Reunion Series #2) by Cathy Yardley
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: GOUDA FRIENDS Series: Ponto Beach Reunion Series #2 Author: Cathy Yardley Publisher: Montlake Release Date: March 22, 2022 Genre: Adult Romantic Comedy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe.
Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.
Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor.
Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.
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Excerpt “Hey, Tam?”
“Mmm?” She glanced over to find him staring at her.
“You know I love you, right?” He looked so earnest. So sincere. “You’re the most important person in my life. And I don’t take that lightly.”
She sighed. Then she crawled out of bed, went over to his bed, and gave him a huge, almost bruising hug, breathing in the scent of his neck. She felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
About the Author
Cathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin’s, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and sometimes being a little wrong is just right. She likes writing about quirky, crazy adventures, because she’s had plenty of her own: she had her own army in the Society of Creative Anachronism; she’s spent a New Year’s on a 3-day solitary vision quest in the Mojave Desert; she had VIP access to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Now, she spends her time writing in the wilds of East Seattle, trying to prevent her son from learning the truth of any of said adventures, and riding herd on her two dogs (and one husband.)
Today is release day for GOUDA FRIENDS, the second book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, Ponto Beach Reunion, by Cathy Yardley. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
GOUDA FRIENDS (Ponto Beach Reunion Series #2) by Cathy Yardley
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: GOUDA FRIENDS Series: Ponto Beach Reunion Series #2 Author: Cathy Yardley Publisher: Montlake Release Date: March 22, 2022 Genre: Adult Romantic Comedy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe.
Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.
Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor.
Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.
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Excerpt He probably should just ignore it, let it go to voice mail. But . . .
Damn it. He knew people in New York, and maybe it was an emergency.
You only know two people in New York, at least well enough for them to call this late, and it’s been years.
He grimaced, then accepted the call. “Hello?”
There was a pause, a long one. And he was ready to hang up when he heard a short impatient huff, then a woman’s low voice. “Goldfish.”
Every muscle in his body tensed.
He knew that voice. And he knew what it meant when she said that word.
“Do I need to kill someone, baby girl,” he said automatically, “or just help you hide ‘em?”
About the Author
Cathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin’s, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and sometimes being a little wrong is just right. She likes writing about quirky, crazy adventures, because she’s had plenty of her own: she had her own army in the Society of Creative Anachronism; she’s spent a New Year’s on a 3-day solitary vision quest in the Mojave Desert; she had VIP access to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Now, she spends her time writing in the wilds of East Seattle, trying to prevent her son from learning the truth of any of said adventures, and riding herd on her two dogs (and one husband.)
Welcome to the blog tour for MORDIZAN, the second book in the young adult fantasy series, The Wraithwood Trilogy, by Alyssa Roat. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
MORDIZAN (The Wraithwood Trilogy #2) by Alyssa Roat
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: MORDIZAN Series: The Wraithwood Trilogy #2 Author: Alyssa Roat Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink Release Date: March 15, 2022 Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis The bane of Mordred, the son of Mordizan, and a millennia-old prophecy—together they may provide what Brinnie needs to defeat the world of magic’s greatest threat.
More than a year has passed since Brinnie left Wraithwood, never expecting to see it again. But when Mordred captures her sister, she is thrust back into the world of magic. She flees to Wraithwood, where she learns of a prophecy located in the dark wizard capital of Mordizan that reveals the identity of “Mordred’s bane,” something that could destroy Mordred for good.
Brinnie agrees to a rendezvous with Mordred to exchange herself for her sister, going undercover at Mordizan as a spy to find the prophecy and Mordred’s bane. There, she weaves a complicated web of secrets, lies, and tenuous friendships. She makes an unexpected ally in Marcus Vorath, son of the Master of Mordizan, who fears the implications of Mordred’s growing power. But in Mordizan, friends and foes may be one and the same.
In the midst of court intrigue, battle, ominous new depths to her power, and searching for Mordred’s bane, Brinnie struggles to draw the lines. How far is she willing to go to destroy Mordred? And how much of herself is she willing to give up along the way?
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Excerpt #2 Crunching dirt gave way to rough stone as Brinnie stepped onto the bridge. The stream burbled beneath her, leaves twirling in the eddies, the woods serene.
The calm before the storm.
Brinnie fixed her eyes ahead. As she reached the middle of the bridge, she felt something like a ripple.
Where trees had once lined a dirt path on the other side of the bridge, a grassy plain stretched before her. In the distance, a stocky castle of the same stone as the bridge rose on the top of a hill, pennants flying from the battlements. Brinnie could just make out forms stationed on the wall. Ringing the castle from a safe distance were the tents of an enemy.
And in front of her, a guard station squatted at the other end of the bridge, manned by two sentinels in black and red livery.
Welcome to the dimension of magic. It appeared not much had changed in the past millennium. She was completely out of her depth. What did she know about any of this? Her heart beat faster.
“Halt.” The two sentinels lowered their spears.
She put her hands in the air, not moving from the center of the bridge. “I’m here to see Mordred.”
“Are you the shadowmaster?” the one on her left called.
“Yes.”
“Prove it,” the other growled.
Hands shaking, she drew shadows to her and let them swirl into her hand, an eddy of darkness.
The first nodded and gestured toward their end of the bridge. “This way.”
Brinnie remained firmly in place. “Please tell Mordred that I’ll meet him here. And tell him to bring his prisoners for the trade.”
The first man laughed. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?”
Leaves rustled behind her. She whirled to see six armed men emerge from the trees, two dropping from branches above.
Her heart pounded. A trap. They’d watched her approach. For how long? Did they know Uncle Merlin was here?
She forced her voice not to waver. “I was told this would be a peaceful exchange.”
The sentinel stepped forward. “You were told wrong.”
Brinnie backed away, arms out. She felt the shadows dappling the bridge around her beginning to stir. Good. She felt the ripple again—she’d backed out of the Alternate, but now, she could still see the landscape of that dimension. Evidently, once crossed, the Alternate became clear. Also good. The plan could still work. “You don’t want to do this,” she warned.
Her words went ignored. The men behind her strode forward, and the sentinels in front of her approached.
A hair-raising howl floated through the trees from outside the circle of men. The soldiers exclaimed as a dozen shadow wolves broke from the forest and wove between them to surround Brinnie in a circle, facing outward and growling.
She patted one with relief. Thanks, guys.
“Still have your little pets, I see.” The familiar voice sent chills up her spine.
Brinnie turned back toward the guardhouse. The sentinels stepped aside to let a tall figure pass. His black robes rippled, like some gaunt, dark priest. “Brynna Ludovic. A pleasure.”
The wolves snarled.
“Mordred.” She gestured to the men encircling her. “What is this?”
“A misunderstanding, I believe.” He glared at the sentinel on his right. “Under whose orders have you accosted my guest?”
The man shrank away. “Master Vorath’s, sir.”
“Does he so fear a young girl that he would send half an army against her?”
The two sentinels exchanged nervous glances. “No, sir, but a shadowmaster—”
“So he fears one wizard?” Mordred’s gaze bored into him. “I didn’t take Vorath for a coward.” He waved a hand at the men advancing on Brinnie. “Dismissed.”
The soldiers stepped back, fading into the forest once more.
As they dispersed, Mordred smiled at her, revealing too-white teeth. “What would Arthur have thought if he knew that his line would give rise to a mistress of shadows?”
About the Author Alyssa Roat grew up in Tucson, Arizona, but her heart is in Great Britain. She has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry as an agent, editor, writer, and publicist. With 250+ bylines and 9+ books under contract in genres ranging from YA chat fiction to fantasy to sweet adult romance, you could say she dabbles in a bit of everything. Her name is a pun, which means you can learn more about her at www.alyssawrote.com or on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as @alyssawrote.
Welcome to the preorder blitz for GOUDA FRIENDS, the second book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, Ponto Beach Reunion, by Cathy Yardley, releasing March 22, 2022. See below for information on the book and series, pre-order links, and an exclusive excerpt.
GOUDA FRIENDS (Ponto Beach Reunion Series #2) by Cathy Yardley
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: GOUDA FRIENDS Series: Ponto Beach Reunion Series #2 Author: Cathy Yardley Publisher: Montlake Release Date: March 22, 2022 Genre: Adult Romantic Comedy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe.
Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.
Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor.
Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.
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Excerpt She thought back to the spectacularly shitty day she’d had, and the fact that approximately ten feet away, her boyfriend was currently naked and wrapped around a strange woman like kudzu.
Nope. Don’t care at all.
She frowned, her motions getting a little noisier and more frantic. Finally, she pulled the drawer out, dumping the contents on the counter.
The cheese was gone.
“What the hell?” she hissed, tearing through the rest of the fridge. “Where is it? Where is it?”
About the Author
Cathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin’s, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and sometimes being a little wrong is just right. She likes writing about quirky, crazy adventures, because she’s had plenty of her own: she had her own army in the Society of Creative Anachronism; she’s spent a New Year’s on a 3-day solitary vision quest in the Mojave Desert; she had VIP access to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Now, she spends her time writing in the wilds of East Seattle, trying to prevent her son from learning the truth of any of said adventures, and riding herd on her two dogs (and one husband.)
Welcome to the blog tour for ACCIDENTALLY PERFECT, the first book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, Hideaway Harbor, by Marissa Clarke. See below for the information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
ACCIDENTALLY PERFECT (Hideaway Harbor Series #1) by Marissa Clarke
Synopsis Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.
Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.
But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects—and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…
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Excerpt Lillian hadn’t woken up with a man in her bed in…ever. In fact, she’d never woken up with a man in her bed. Sleeping over was way too intimate, and she’d never allowed it. Until last night.
Tossing her car keys on the counter, she opened the cupboard and pulled out the coffee beans. Her behavior was completely out of character. She put the beans in the grinder. Everything she’d done had been out of character since she’d gotten here. She flipped the switch, and the grinder rumbled. That kiss they’d shared a few minutes ago when she’d dropped him off at his houseboat was way out of character.
Maybe out of character was really her true character and she didn’t know it until now.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” she muttered, pouring the ground coffee into the basket. She liked who she was here. Not the freaked-out bits like when she’d bolted from Amanda’s deck last night, but she liked who she was the rest of the time. More relaxed. More… She thought about last night with Caleb and cleared her throat. Yeah, more that. She liked who she was with him.
She started the coffeemaker and shuffled to the bathroom to get ready to go to Roger’s. The woman in the mirror was a total stranger with wild hair and red cheeks caused by abrasion from his whiskers. And her bathrobe was inside out. Perfect. She’d driven him home like that. She almost laughed. Perfectly put together Lillian Mahoney was a complete inside-out mess, and she didn’t care.
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Author Marissa Clarke
About the Author Marissa Clarke is a multi award-winning, RITA® nominated author of romance for adults and teens. She lives on an island in the middle of a river. Seriously, she does. When not writing, she wrangles her rowdy pack of three teens, two Cairn Terriers, and one husband.
Inexplicably, her favorite animal is the giant anteater and at one point, she had over 200 “pet” Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. The roaches are a long story involving three science-crazed kids and a soft spot for rescue animals. The good news is, the “pet” roaches found a home… somewhere else.
She also writes young adult novels as Mary Lindsey for Penguin USA. www.marylindsey.com. She loves to connect with readers and can be found at www.marissaclarke.com and on Twitter at @MaryL_MarissaC
For sneak peeks at upcoming projects and chances to win prizes, join her Facebook street team group, Camp Clarke: www.facebook.com/groups/CampClarke/
To receive updates and insider information on Marissa’s upcoming books, subscribe here: www.tinyurl.com/marissanews.
Welcome to the blog tour for MODEL BEHAVIOR, the second book in the adult contemporary second chances romance series, The Unlovabulls, by Tricia Lynne, releasing February 15, 2022. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
MODEL BEHAVIOR (The Unlovabulls Series #2) by Tricia Lynne
His body is giving out, his family is bleeding him dry, and he never prepared for life after football. When the Dallas Bulldogs offer him a coaching position instead of a returning roster spot, only two things keep him going—staying fit in case another football team picks him up, and spending time with a gray-faced Boxer at the Unlovabulls Dog Rescue.
Olive Russo is a woman who can walk through a kennel in a white pantsuit without getting a spot on her. The always organized PR pro will need her cool control when she’s forced to plan a fundraising gala for the Unlovabulls with the college boyfriend who turned her inside out. A decade ago, Hayes Walker broke her heart and sent Olive into a spiral of bad decisions that she’d rather her clients not know about. Now she is determined to keep the completely lickable Hayes off her to-do list—even if their chemistry is stronger than ever.
Dumping Olive was the worst decision Hayes ever made. When the amazing girl walks back into his life a full-fledged woman, he makes a play for her heart. But when Olive’s secrets are exposed and the NFL knocks on Hayes’s door, they’ll both need to leave their past where it belongs if they’re going to make it work the second time around.
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Excerpt “Pulling the curtain to the side, I watched as he fired a tennis ball the length of the room. “I thought you played defense. That looked like a quarterback threw it.”
“Huh, played being the operative word. And no, that didn’t look like a quarterback threw it, but you always were kind.”
Sadie dropped the ball at his feet. “Do you miss it?”
He picked it up and threw it again. “Playing? Yes. What playing did to my body? Hell, no.”
I watched after Sadie as I stood next to Hayes. “I bet she’d have made a great Frisbee dog, maybe even fly ball, when she was younger.”
“They always say shit like that about us has-beens, don’t they, girl? Drop it.” He scratched her head, and Sadie spit out the ball. “If only we were younger, if only our knees still had all their cartilage. If only time didn’t march on and forget about us.” He stared at the ball in his hands with a distance in his gaze. Sadie sat patiently, looking up at the man she so obviously loved with soft brown eyes and a face going white with age. These two needed each other.
Gently, I pulled the ball from Hayes’s hand and gave Sadie a scratch. Then I launched it across the room. She looked after it but didn’t go. “Oh, Hayes. This little girl is sweet on you.”
That made the laugh lines appear around his eyes. “Go get it, sweetheart.”
Finally, she darted out after it.
“I’m sorry about football. I just want you to know that you are so much more than the game. I’ve always thought that.” Today couldn’t have been easy on him, at an event with players who used to be his teammates, but now he coached them.
Hayes nodded. “I mean, yeah. I’m a football player. I’ll always be a football player. But it’s the way it got taken away from me, and the reason I even played so long in the first place.” He shook his head. “I loved playing. I wanted to play solely because I loved it, and I wanted to leave on my terms. That didn’t happen. Sometimes I’m a little jealous of Brody for that.”
Sadie brought the ball back to me, but I noticed her starting to limp a little on her right hind leg. “All done, sweetheart.” Breathing heavy, her black coat shined in the light as she circled and lay down next to Hayes’s leg. I studied his face. The lines etched into his forehead. The aching set of his jaw. This man was broken, but weren’t we all a little damaged?
Creating second chances for people was part of my job…”
About the Author Tricia Lynne is fluent in both sarcasm and cuss words—a combination that tends to embarrass her husband at corporate functions. A tomboy at heart, she loves hard rock, Irish whiskey, dogs, and Vans shoes. She’s drawn to strong, flawed heroines. Tricia believes writing isn’t a decision one makes, but a calling one can’t resist. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband, the world’s sweetest rescued Cane Corso, and a completely terrifying Clumber Spaniel pupper.
Welcome to the release blitz for THE PROFESSOR’S LADY, the third book in the adult historical romance series, The Thompsons of Locust Street, by Holly Bush. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE PROFESSOR’S LADY (The Thompsons of Locust Street Series #3) by Holly Bush
Synopsis Meet the Thompsons of Locust Street, an unconventional family taking Philadelphia high society by storm…
1870 Kirsty Thompson is determined to begin her own business bringing beloved Scottish fabrics and yarns to Philadelphia but first she must meet the men and women who weave the plaids and spin the wool. How will she ever escape her protective older siblings and sail to Scotland?
Albert Watson is a medical doctor focusing on research, especially that of Joseph Lister and his sterilization techniques. He speaks at universities in America and in England while visiting his London relatives. As he prepares to sail for just such an engagement, Kirsty Thompson boards his ship to beg him to take her with him. What’s a gentleman to do? Albert cancels his trip across the ocean to escort Miss Thompson back to Philadelphia and finds there is danger afoot for her and her family.
Soon he comes to realize there is also danger for his heart, even for a man who rarely pulls his nose from a medical journal. He finds himself unable to put Miss Kirsty Thompson out of his thoughts, where they belonged, because certainly a beautiful, ambitious, and charming young woman could have no interest in him. Or could she?
About the Author Holly Bush books are set during the turbulent and transformative years of the late 1800’s. The Thompsons of Locust Street, Philadelphia, features five siblings from Scotland with some family secrets that could place them in danger. The first book is The Bachelor’s Bride, Elspeth’s story. The next book, The Bareknuckle Groom, is set to release in the spring 2021. This will be a five book series.
Holly makes her home with her husband, one happy Labrador Retriever and a clever Jack Russell rescued from the pound, and two difficult cats in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Welcome to the blog tour for FALLING FOR ROME, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Star Studded, by Gillian Archer. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
FALLING FOR ROME (Star Studded Series #1) by Gillian Archer
Synopsis
Hollywood’s hottest actor is off the market! Who’s the mystery woman that caught his eye…and his heart?
Rome: My brother’s whole world imploded this week, and the media coverage is relentless. My assistant has come up with the perfect plan to take the attention off him and put it on me. Who doesn’t love a love story? Now let’s see if what’s-her-name wants to make some money and industry connections. It’s a win-win.
Sophia: The whole world knows who the Grier brothers are. The sexy Hollywood actors are on every woman’s wish list—and if I’m honest, mine too. But then I met Roman Grier and totally embarrassed myself. At least I’ll never see him again.
Only now he’s pursuing me. Well, kinda. He is promising me the world. Literally. I’ve always wanted to be a screenwriter, and he’s got the connections to get me through the door—if I pretend to date him and lie to everyone. It’s only a few months, and it’s not like I’m going to fall for Roman Grier for real…
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Excerpt The rush at Morning Jolt was always intense, and this morning was no different.
Or at least it wasn’t any different until Molly barged in an hour and a half into my shift.
“Soph! Sophia!” She yelled from the back of the line, waving her arms over her head. “When’s your break?”
I looked at my coworker and tipped my head to Molly. “Do you mind if I take five?”
“Fine.” Eva muttered as she eyed the three people in line in front of Molly.
“Thanks, Eva. You’re the best.” I gave Molly the high sign, and she headed for a table.
“Five minutes. Then I’m taking my break.”
I nodded as I hurriedly made a mocha latte for Molly. Whipping my apron off, I ducked under the counter and headed for Molly’s table.
“You did not tell me that you met Roman Grier!” Molly squealed when I was still ten feet away.
Every head in the coffee shop swiveled in my direction.
My shoulders hunched, I hustled to Molly’s corner and then hissed, “How do you know that?”
“Girl, you’re all over The Babbler’s home page. Apparently some photographer caught you and Roman Grier on a beach.” She held her phone out to me.
All the blood left my head. I looked at picture after picture of me and Roman Grier. But instead of the weird, embarrassing encounter I remembered, the website framed the pictures like it was a romantic frolic on the beach. Us laughing over Pongo. Each of us holding his leash.
And ended with a picture with me on top of Roman Grier.
My knees locked, and I had to sit down.
I didn’t look frazzled or crazy in the photo. I looked soft.
And in love.
“Molly. Oh my god.”
“I know! Is this why you called me this morning?”
I could only stare at the last picture. I might’ve looked like I was in love, but Roman Grier looked sexy and a little pissed, in that smoldering, sex-god kinda way.
If only what was in the pictures was reality.
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Author Gillian Archer
About the Author Gillian has a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering but prefers to spend her time on happily ever after. She writes the kind of stories she loves to read—the hotter the better!
When Gillian’s not pounding away on the keyboard, she can be found surfing the couch indulging in her latest reality tv fixation, baking something ridiculously tasty (and horrible for her waist line) or snuggling with her husband.
Home is currently in the wilds of Nevada with her amazing husband, ridiculously cute kiddo, and goofy dog.
Welcome to the blog tour for ANGELFIRE, the fifth book in the young adult fantasy/romance series, Angelbound Lincoln, by Christina Bauer. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
ANGELFIRE (Angelbound Lincoln Series #5) by Christina Bauer
Synopsis “Angels, demons and romance… YES!” – C.S., Amazon
“So addicting! Highly recommend!” – Diary Of A Wannabe Writer
“I. LOVE. LINCOLN.” – Antonella’s Book World
Someone is making life hell for our favorite royal couple, Lincoln and Myla. Natural disasters have the after-realms falling apart. Humans are going to war left and right. And the hottest couple ever can’t find two minutes alone. Sheesh.
The problem? Lincoln’s evil brother.
Yes, you read that right. Brother.
Turns out, Lincoln’s father was a busy guy in his youth… and now Connor’s secret son, Truman, wants his share of the throne. Even worse, Truman is as awful as Lincoln is noble. When it comes to claiming royal power, nothing stands in Truman’s way. Sure, Lincoln is tied by angelic blood to his half brother. But will that connection link them together… or ultimately tear the after-realms apart?
Angelbound Lincoln Series
Stories from the perspective of Mister the Prince
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire
Perfect for teen and young adult readers who want their book series to deliver: badass world building, angels, demons, paranormal romance, fresh themes from contemporary fiction, LOL romantic comedy, gods and goddesses, dark fantasy, strong girls and women as heroines, themes about loners and outcasts, the best laughs in humorous literature, general coming of age whackery, and (most importantly) truly unusual epic fantasy.
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Excerpt
LINCOLN
AGE TWENTY-ONE
I am one man with many titles.
Some call me King of the demon-fighting Thrax. To others, I’m Husband and Consort to Myla Lewis, the Great Scala. More than once, I’ve been celebrated as the Greatest Warrior in Antrum, which is my homeland hidden deep below the Earth’s surface.
Yet the finest title of all will soon be mine.
Dad.
Myla is heavy with our first child. Humans might say we’re too young to be parents. But we thrax fight demons on the Earth’s surface. My people know that life can end quickly—and if you anger the wrong monster, it most certainly will—so we marry early and start families fast. And as Myla would say, if you make yourself happy, at least that’s one person.
For this momentous occasion, I carry my wife to the Arx Hall infirmary, honeymoon-style. Together, we move through a section of the palace called the Gilded Abbey. This hallway always gleams, from the golden murals on the ceiling to the shiny tiled floor. But today? Every inch seems especially bright. And with each step forward, more adrenaline and excitement course through me.
This is really happening.
“I can walk on my own, you know,” snarks Myla. “As I’ve said many times.”
“Not a chance,” I counter. “You know how humans transport their brides over the threshold? The King of Antrum must always carry his pregnant queen to medical care in the same manner. It’s a thrax tradition.”
Myla shoots me the side-eye. “Thrax tradition, my ass. You just made that up.”
I wink. “Absolutely. Call it royal prerogative.”
“You’re a fibber.”
“And you are beautiful.”
Which she is. My wife is extra-curvy now, a look that only enhances her long auburn hair, bright blue eyes, and whip-fast tail.
Myla pretends to size me up. “You’re… okay. I guess.” I’m tall and broad-shouldered with short brown hair and mismatched eyes.
“You think I’m crazy-hot. Don’t deny it.”
Now, it’s Myla’s turn to wink. “Maybe.”
At this point, Myla’s tail comes out to ruffle my hair—which is its way of saying, I love Lincoln.
“Maybe, huh?” I grin. “Another part of you seems to disagree.”
“Ugh.” Myla rolls her eyes. “My tail is such a traitor.”
In reply, her tail bobs up and down. It’s literally dancing with joy over the idea of having bested Myla. Such a character.
Myla cuddles against my shoulder. My wife may talk about hoofing it to the infirmary, but on this occasion, she clearly likes being carried. And it’s no problem for me to do so. I’m used to toting about heavy chain mail and tunics in my everyday outfit as king. Myla is far lighter by comparison. Today, we’ve both jettisoned medieval styles for dark cotton pants and T-shirts.
“How long?” asks Myla.
It’s a short question, but I get the full meaning. How long since my last contraction?
“Two hours,” I reply.
We both know what that means. Our doctor explained everything when Myla’s first became very pregnant, very quickly. The experience is what I’d call surprising, but not a shock. After all, Myla and I are both supernatural. There’s no rule book for how our offspring should grow. Right after her belly rounded out, Myla felt some contractions, but those soon ended.
The doctor estimates that a few weeks remain before the baby’s born. However, our physician also wants to check Myla out in a more formal setting, just to be sure.
Which brings us to the present moment. Myla and I have changed clothes, freshened up, and are now on our way to the infirmary…
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About the Author Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter.
Welcome to the blog tour for AUDREY, a standalone adult contemporary romance, by Sean-Paul Thomas. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis From the author of My Sister and I and The Old Man and The Princess (recently optioned to be a motion picture) – comes a new, suspenseful romantic tale that will knock you off your feet. A story that has a reminiscence of ‘500 days of Summer’ and ‘Midnight in Paris’ with a fair dollop of ‘The Graduate’ thrown in. And of course Audrey, a delightful, older female protagonist who takes the young and wayward ex-con Joe under her wing.
Just out of prison Joe, a young builder from Edinburgh who writes movie scripts in his spare time, randomly meets Audrey, a washed-up, hard-drinking, chain-smoking, middle-aged French film actress at his local film festival. After hitting it off and spending one crazy, magical night together, Audrey sees some potential in Joe and his writing and tries to help him win back his estranged daughter by getting his first screenplay made into a movie in Paris. And so, the adventure of a lifetime begins…
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Excerpt #1 “Julie?”
Julie froze on the footpath only a few dozen yards ahead of him, although she did not turn around right away to face the familiar voice.
“Julie, please!” Joe cried, continuing to approach her but slowing down his pace just enough to appear as non-threatening as he possibly could. Surprisingly it was Sarah who turned around to face him first.
“Who is it, mummy?” were the first words out of her mouth. “Who is that man?”
Julie took a deep breath and finally turned her stiff body fully around to confront the man that she truly hoped she would never have to see again. There was a long, deep silence as the two just stared at each other for what felt like aeons. Joe looked deeply remorseful stuck inside his own emotional turmoil.
“I heard you were getting out.” Julie finally spoke up.
“I just wanted to say hello.”
“You shouldn’t be here, Joe. You’re not allowed to be here. There are rules and regulations that you need to follow.”
“I know, I know, but I just wanted to see my…”
Joe glanced down at Sarah. He tried to smile, even with tears in his eyes. Sarah hugged a little closer into her mother, unsure of the strange man standing on the street in front of them.
“Don’t you dare say what you’re about to bloody well say, Joe? Don’t you bloody well dare!”
Julie turned to face Sarah again. She crouched down fast so they were both at the same height.
“Who is that man, mummy?” Sarah asked again.
“Just an old, old friend of your mum’s, that’s all. Nothing to worry about. But can you do me a wee favour, my angel?”
Sarah nodded gently.
“See that lamppost behind you, my wee darling? Can you go and wait for mummy over there, please? I won’t be long.”
Sarah simply nodded again and did what she was told. She took one last short curious glance at Joe before walking away. Julie then turned her focus back on Joe. With an angry glare and a determined steely walk, she made her way towards him with a face of thunder.
“Look. I knew this day was coming and I have been… mentally preparing for it to say the least…”
Julie hesitated. She closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips into her forehead, debating what to say next. Desperately trying to choose her words carefully in her emotional state of mind.
“Look. She doesn’t know who you are, okay? She doesn’t remember you. And I still haven’t gotten around to telling her about…” Julie hesitated again. Clearly choking up with the painful memories of it all. “…About what you fucking did.” She finally got her words out.
“It’s okay. I completely understand.” Joe swiftly replied, keen to comfort her. But Julie looked furious as hell at Joe’s casual answer. “No, Joe. No, you don’t understand. How could you ever understand?” Julie took a few moments to calm herself down.
“Look, if you want to see Sarah again then I guess I can’t stop you from trying. But you will have to go through all the proper channels to make it happen. I will not make this easy for you Joe, okay? So, this is your first and only warning. If you surprise us like this again in the middle of the bloody street, or if I see you anywhere near us without a social worker or a bloody lawyer then I will call the police and have you sent back to prison without even batting an eyelash. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Joe replied as sincerely as he possibly could. “I understand.”
Julie turned around to leave, but Joe still had more to say.
“Do you think we could talk sometime, Julie? Please?”
Julie stopped dead in her tracks and whipped around to face him again. She looked utterly flabbergasted that he was still talking.
“Talk?”
“I mean, just the two of us.”
“Didn’t you just listen to a bloody word I said?”
Joe suddenly began digging around in his pockets. By the desperate expression on his face, it was as if the thing he was searching for held the key to getting back on Julie’s good side again. Finally, he pulled out a pair of cinema tickets which only baffled her more.
“Look. I know it might sound stupid and dumb as hell, but I bought us some tickets for a movie at the film festival next week… I thought we could perhaps grab a bite to eat, talk, watch a movie. Like we used to do?”
Julie looked utterly confounded, but she restrained herself from raising her voice into an angry screech in the middle of the quiet neighbourhood where she could already feel the presence of hidden eyes from behind the twitching blinds and curtains of the surrounding houses.
“You want to go and watch a fucking movie? After all this time? After what you did?”
“I know it sounds dumb. I just don’t know what to do or where else to start here, Julie, please?”
“You could start by moving to the other side of the fucking planet and staying far, far away from us.”
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Author Sean-Paul Thomas
About the Author Scottish Author/Screenwriter.
Sean is an author from Edinburgh in Scotland. He is the best selling Kindle Author of ‘The Old Man and The Princess’ which was recently optioned to be a major motion picture.
Sean spent most of his childhood and teenage years on the move with his Scottish and Irish army Parents growing up in the likes of Cyprus, Germany, Wales, and England, as an army brat.
With a keen interest in both reading and writing, he was diagnosed with travel and writing bugs very early in life. Now, writing, travelling, reading, cinema, and Scottish football (Supporting the mighty Edinburgh City for his sins) are his main passions in life.
His main inspiration for writing today comes from living in such a beautiful, charming and hauntingly, Gothic city, such as Edinburgh. An awe-inspiring wee city that has given him so much amazing inspiration to write the more time he spends there.
Recently, Sean has been working on a couple of screenplay adaptations of his books. One of which ‘The Old Man and The Princess’ made the final of the Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition 2018 and has since been optioned by an award-winning Director /Producer team. Scheduled to go into production in Ireland in the summer of 2021 filming has been postponed until 2022 due to the recent covid pandemic.
Welcome to the blog tour for IT STARTED WITH A LIST, the first book in the new adult contemporary romance series, Pacific Grove University, by Tinia Montford. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive look at the book’s playlist, and details on her giveaway.
IT STARTED WITH A LIST (Pacific Grove University Series #1) by Tinia Montford
With her college graduation looming, Vassa reflects on the past four years. After a devastating betrayal from her closest friend leaves her ostracized, she trusts no one. Now she is mega disappointed. No wacky misadventures, no drunken nights, and no regrettable mistakes that you can NEVER tell your parents. Work and class, class and work. That’s it. College is supposed to be the best years of your life… Right?
Vassa feels as though she’s cheated herself out of a full college experience. Notable with romance and boys and stuff. So, she makes a college bucket list. Then the worse thing ever happens. Her list falls into the hands of Lazarus Gilbert. King of the baseball team, sworn enemy (in her opinion), and her annoying upstairs neighbor. He thinks he’s found something fun to do. She thinks she’s in trouble. That’s until she discovers there’s more to Lazarus than he lets on…
With the pressures of post-college decisions and failing classes, can they complete the bucket list before the semester runs out? Are Vassa and Lazarus just too different to get along? Will they both come out winners in the end, or will she retreat to her safety-zone? Is it too late for her to learn to live and let live, and let love enter her heart?
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Playlist Psycho!- MASN
Separate from You – sadgods, Powfu, Indii G.
Here – Alessia Cara
Torn Apart – Eredaze
Prom Queen – Beach Bunny
Hoodie – Hey Violet
Like a Radio – Keelan Donovan
Selfish – Stephanie Poetri
I Like Me Better – Lauv
I’m Yours – Alessia Cara
Next 2 U – Feyde
XO – Beyonce
Wind of Change – Scorpions
feelings fade – Garrett ash, RKCB
In My Head – Peter Manos
Stay – Post Malone
Fix You – Coldplay
Dancing With Your Ghost – Sasha Alex Sloan
Accountable – marc indigo
S.I.L.W.U. – Sara Diamond
Crash my Car – COIN
Love It If We Made It – The 1975
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
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Author Tinia Montford
About the Author Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design.
She is a world traveler having climbed a volcano in Nicaragua, scaled Angkor Wat in the blistering sun, and roamed the Acropolis of Athens. Oh, she also dabbles in short stories occasionally.
If you can’t catch her writing, you can bet she’s overindulging on poke bowls, listening to the same four songs, or chilling with her adorbs doggie. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction..
