Showing posts with label Inkslinger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inkslinger. Show all posts
Friday, July 29, 2022
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
The Love List by Elana Johnson Release Day Blitz!
THE LOVE LIST by Elana Johnson is out now! Check out the gorgeous second chance summer romance and get your copy of the series today!
Title: The Love List
Author: Elana Johnson
Genre: Beach Romance
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Review of The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robyn Bielman
The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman is out now! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today! But first, check out my review of this awesome contemporary romance.
Title: The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy
Author: Robin Bielman
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy:
Kennedy Martin is shocked when her ex calls days before his wedding, expressing serious second thoughts. Doesn’t he see his fiancée's actually the glaze to his doughnut? Now she’s got no choice but to crash his wedding and convince the man he’s with the right woman.Instead, she crashes into the absolute last man she ever wanted to see: Maverick Owens, her old college nemesis. Maverick is still as awful, infuriating, and just The Worst as ever—even if he looks way too sexy in his cowboy hat. And of course he’s convinced she’s actually at the seaside ranch to ruin the wedding.
Now the only way to get some face time with the groom and save this marriage is to participate in all sorts of pre-wedding events…with Maverick. Stuck on a canoe, making small-talk at cocktail hour, and even a hoedown with her worst enemy? This just might be the longest week of her life…
Read an excerpt here.
**My thoughts**
It's an absolutely formulaic story, and yet this one is so well written that you almost don't even realize it.
Kennedy and Maverick were absolute rivals back in college. They essentially hated each other and then blissfully didn't run into each other again for years. And then when Kennedy comes racing to a ranch to help out a friend at his destination wedding, they run into each other again. Maverick's family owns the ranch.
The whole cover story that Kennedy and her best friend Andrew use to explain why they are at the ranch for the wedding is flimsy at best. I don't see how anyone fell for it or didn't question them more along the way.
But our focus is on Kennedy and Maverick and how they go from enemies to lovers.
You know that when people proclaim to hate each other but are constantly competing that there is a passion there that easily translates into something else.
But what I appreciated with this pairing was that even though it was only a week together, it still had that feeling of a slow burn and laying a foundation of friendship prior to wanting to rip off each other's clothes. We got to know them as they got to know each other again and it just felt real.
You've also gotta love Maverick's family and the small town where he lives. I can use a lot more stories coming from here, especially with Maverick's single siblings. I want to get to know Kennedy's sister Ava better. And who knows who else could come to town? (And maybe a happy ending for Andrew as well?)
Another heartwarming book from Robyn Bielman.
I received a requested review copy via Inkslinger. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Get Your Copy Today:
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Goodreads
About Robin Bielman:
USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes both sweet and sexy contemporary romances with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! XoxoConnect with Robin:
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | BookBub | Amazon
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Review of Ruined (Destiny Falls Book 2) by Rebecca Wilder
This story starts with a car crash.
Lyla Winters’s life is at a crossroads. She's bounced around from one job to another since she was sixteen, wanting to experience everything, but now that she's twenty-five, her lack of a plan is a little less cute. Too bad for her, she has no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life.
She’s got a plan though. She’ll take a year off to travel and find herself. That plan goes off the road though when she gets to Destiny Falls, Michigan, and runs into some fancy SUV.
Out climbs Hudson Hayes. Restaurateur, James Beard Winner, and the man with a plan.
Also, maybe the man of her dreams.
She has to pay for the damage to both of their cars and just like that, there goes her savings for the year. Now she’s stuck in Destiny Falls, working at the Mystery Cabin and living in the apartment above Hudson’s restaurant.
The plan for the year off is still in play though. She just needs to save up her money and keep her eye on the prize. It’s just that the prize looks more and more like Hudson every day.
When Lyla finally has enough saved to leave Destiny Falls, will she be able to say goodbye to the friends and life that she’s made here in this small town? Or will she have finally found the one place that she truly belongs?
***This is a 50,000 word small town romance novel that ends in a happily ever after***
(affiliate link included)
**My thoughts**
Ruined is apparently the second book in the Destiny Falls series by Rebecca Wilder. Fear not, it totally works as a standalone.
I first have to say that I fell in love with the town. Reading about it made me all nostalgic because I grew up just south of the Michigan line.
I felt a lot of connection to Lyla and her desire to travel after losing her father. I was also very close to my dad and found myself doing a lot of traveling after he passed. I just couldn't pack up my entire life looking to start somewhere new.
I also understood her need to rediscover herself, because your identity does truly change.
She got lucky when she rear-ended Hudson. He's rich, gorgeous, and talented in the kitchen. And instead of flipping out on her, he basically helped her launch a new start. I admit that I am torn on his persistence with the daily "This or That" notes that he leaves on her car asking her out. They are fun, but she kept saying no. Would it have been as endearing had it been someone who wasn't so rich and gorgeous?
That being said, I do like the two of them together. Being with a man who cooks well is amazing. Bonus points when he is also talented elsewhere.
I admit I don't quite understand the title of Ruined, though. I didn't get the impression that Lyla felt like she had been ruined by anything, though it was clear she felt inferior at times.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed my trip to Destiny Falls and look forward to returning.
Thank you to the author and Inkslinger for the requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Monday, October 18, 2021
Read an excerpt from The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman
The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman is coming out in one week! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today! My review is coming soon!
Title: The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy
Author: Robin Bielman
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Blitz: October 26th
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
A Lot Like Christmas by Jennifer Snow Release Blitz
A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Snow is out now! Check out this gorgeous holiday romance and grab your copy today!
Title: A Lot Like Christmas
Author: Jennifer Snow
Genre: Holiday Romance
About A Lot Like Christmas:
For Jessica Connolly, there is no better place than her coastal hometown of Blue Moon Bay. She has a wonderful family, supportive best friends, and a successful bakery on Main Street. Unfortunately, every time she designs one of her ex-boyfriends' wedding cakes, she's reminded just how unlucky she is with love...and that she's a good luck charm for men to find their happily ever after. With someone else. The minute they break up. So she's decided to be done with love.
Dr. Mitch Jameson is more comfortable traveling the world with Doctors Without Borders than staying in one place. He just needs to survive the holidays in his small hometown before he can leave again. The beautiful, intriguing bakery owner with an aversion to dating might be just who he needs to occupy his restless heart.
From sipping hot chocolates at the local festival of lights to early morning dessert deliveries, Jessica and Mitch rediscover the spirit of the holidays. But when the 25 days of Christmas are over, will their romance be over, too?
Get Your Copy Today:
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(affiliate link included)
Exclusive Excerpt:
He shot a quick glance toward her in the passenger seat of his rental. She’d licked her dark mauve colored lipstick from her lips during dinner and she hadn’t reapplied it. Did that mean she’d be open to a good night kiss? He’d read in a Cosmo magazine left behind on a flight once that the lack of reapplying lipstick was a sign…Jeez, now he was getting his relationship advice from a magazine he had no business reading.
She looked at him, and he quickly turned his attention back to the road. “I’m just the next left,” she said, as he came to a stop sign. The speed limit in the neighborhood was thirty, but he couldn’t be going faster than ten. He was reluctant to see the night end, but inviting her back to the Inn for a drink had seemed too sleazy…but would she invite him into her place?
It had been far too long since he’d been on a real first date, and it was quickly becoming evident that he had no idea what the dating etiquette was these days in the era of apps and hookups. She’d been quiet on the drive back to her place, so it was hard to read her.
He turned onto her street and cleared his throat. “So, on a scale of one to ten, how would you rate tonight’s date?”
She grinned as she turned in the seat to face him. “Like if I was leaving a Yelp review?”
“Yes. Yelp review me.” He could take it. Hopefully, she wouldn’t dock him for his use of the word “corny” or his unimaginative date suggestion.
She looked as though she were thinking for a long moment. “Um…I’d say it was a solid eight.”
“Eight.” He nodded slowly. Not bad. Not a ten. “What could have I done for a better score?”
Jessica’s cheeks flushed slightly as she stared at their joined hands between the seats. “I docked you two points because you are a limited-time offer.”
He swallowed hard. So, she was looking for something a little more serious in a guy. Normally that response would have him doing the logical, responsible thing—breaking it off before the woman got too invested or got her feelings hurt. So far, he’d been honest and clear in his intentions. Saying goodnight and thanking her for a fun evening was the way to play this.
But he really wanted to see her again. More than he’d wanted a second date with a woman in a long time. He didn’t want to see her get hurt, of course, but maybe they could take things casually and see what happened.
All he knew was he’d been dreading this time in his hometown. Dreading the downtime, the holidays with his family, being in one place for too long…but Jessica was already helping him cope.
About Jennifer Snow:
Jennifer Snow is a USA Today Bestselling Author writing contemporary romance fiction for Grand Central Publishing, Entangled and Harlequin. Her stories range in heat level from sweet to sexy and are set everywhere from big cities to small towns. Her books are light and humorous, but also full of heart, featuring families and communities readers love to visit over and over again.Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, she now resides in Spain with her husband, son and three mischievous cats.
She currently publishes psychological thrillers under her pen name J.M. Winchester and writes screenplays and TV shows in her 'spare' time. Her holiday rom-com, Mistletoe and Molly airs Christmas 2021!
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Review of Worth Letting Go by Amanda Kelley
We are thrilled to share Amanda Kelley's Contemporary Romance from her Worthy Series, Worth Letting Go with you today! Check out an excerpt and my book review.
Make sure to check below for more information, purchase links, and an amazing international giveaway from Amanda!
Goodreads ~ AmazonUS ~ AmazonUK ~
AmazonCA ~AmazonAU ~ Barnes&Noble ~ Kobo
(affiliate link included)
* Books in the Worth series can be read as standalones*
Read an excerpt:
“This is beautiful. Did you do this?” Harper looked back at him, and he nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like this at the shop.” She turned in a circle, looking at all of the finished and half-finished sculptures and artwork. “I had no idea. I thought you guys built furniture.”
She laughed in awe, and he felt it all the way to his groin.
Clearing his throat, he leaned back into his table and crossed his arms. “We do. I mostly just do this for fun.”
“Kade.” The way she said his name made his chest tight. “You’re amazing.”
Her bare cheeks pinked after she spoke, but her easy blush was something he cherished. It was an open window into the thoughts she didn’t speak.
“It’s not a big deal.”
She turned to him, pinning him with those golden eyes of hers. “Don’t do that. Don’t minimize yourself. Take the compliment.”
The bite of fire behind her words had his brows rising. He tilted his head, regarding her, for the first time noticing the tension in her shoulders.
She brushed her bangs back, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “What?”
“You sure everything is okay?”
“Why? I complimented you, so something must be wrong?” She scoffed. “I’m not the one of us who decided to take a step back.”
Forget off. She seemed downright edgy.
“I’m right here, Harper. I didn’t go anywhere.”
“We both know that’s not true. Ever since we walked out of the ER, you’ve been behind this invisible wall, where we can’t reach you or you can’t reach us. I don’t know, but I know I don’t like it.” She took a deep breath. “I miss you. You’re right; you’re right here, but I still miss you. It’s ridiculous.”
He got up from his stool and walked over to her, needing to close the distance between them. His hand automatically reached out to cup her cheek, but he pulled it back, causing annoyance to flash through her eyes.
**My thoughts**
Oh, this book has all the feels! I definitely had a few tears in my eyes by the time I got to the end. And I just realized it is actually the third book in the series, so now I need to go find the first two.
So that should tell you that it works well as a standalone. This is all about Harper and Kade. I suspected the other couples maybe had their own books, but did not feel I was missing anything to understand this story.
Back to Harper and Kade.
Harper was living a lie in her marriage, but didn't quite realize it until after his untimely death. Her life is turned completely inside out and she has lost just about everything, except her son Greyson. I give her major kudos for having the guts to completely relocate back to one place she briefly called home. She's pretty much on her own and used to the city life.
I love the small town life and how everyone steps up to hep each other, especially the newbie in town. I want Brooke to be my new best friend. And I also fell in love with Kade for everything he does to help Harper out.
Their relationship is a slow burn, cautious friendship that has to build in trust on a strong foundation before letting all else explode. This one felt very real to me. I absolutely loved it.
I received a requested copy from the author/publisher and Inkslinger. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Enter Amanda's Giveaway to win one
SIGNED SET OF THE WORTH SERIES.
This giveaway is open Internationally!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And check out the beautifully redesigned covers for Worth Holding On and Worth Fighting For!
They are all so gorgeous together!
Worth Holding On
Worth Fighting For
Meet Amanda:
Amanda Kelley was raised in a small town in Wyoming where she met and married her high school sweetheart. Today, they live in Northern Colorado where she is lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom to two incredible sons. When she’s not attempting to write awesome love stories, she spends her days as an alarm clock, chauffeur, maid, nurse, chef, counselor, cheerleader, referee, finder of shoes and homework, giver of hugs, and pet whisperer. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Saturday, September 4, 2021
Read an excerpt from The Book of Uriel by Elyse Hoffman
We are thrilled to share The Book of Uriel by Elyse Hoffman with you today with this great excerpt.
The Book of Uriel is a Historical Fantasy set in WWII Poland and is available now!
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ AppleBooks ~ Kobo ~ Barnes&Noble
(affiliate link included)
Book Description:
In the fires of World War II, a child must save his people from darkness…
Ten-year-old Uriel has always been an outcast. Born mute in a Jewish village known for its choir, he escapes into old stories of his people, stories of angels and monsters. But when the fires of the Holocaust consume his village, he learns that the stories he writes in his golden notebook are terrifyingly real. In the aftermath of the attack, Uriel is taken in by Uwe, a kind-hearted linguist forced to work for the commander of the local Nazi Police, the affably brutal Major Brandt. Uwe wants to keep Uriel safe, but Uriel can’t stay hidden. The angels of his tales have come to him with a dire message: Michael, guardian angel of the Jewish people, is missing. Without their angel, the Jewish people are doomed, and Michael’s angelic brethren cannot search for him in the lands corrupted by Nazi evil. With the lives of millions at stake, Uriel must find Michael and free him from the clutches of the Angel of Death...even if that means putting Uwe in mortal danger. The Book of Uriel is a heartbreaking blend of historical fiction and Jewish folklore that will enthrall fans of The Book Thief and The World That We Knew.
“An otherworldly tale with indelible characters in a realistic wartime setting. Hoffman’s novel sublimely fuses world history and Jewish folklore.”---Kirkus Reviews
2021 International Book Awards Award-Winning Finalist in the Historical Fiction Category.
Excerpt:
1.
Uriel wished he could scream.
Normally, he could. A scream was one of the few noises that ever emerged from the boy’s lips. No words ever escaped, but he could summon a scream.
Yet his lungs couldn’t gather enough air to produce a cry. They struggled to supply enough oxygen to keep the child awake. Smoke invaded his throat and clawed at his lungs. Although screams pierced the air from every angle, he couldn’t add his own to the din.
He still felt the pressure of mother’s fingers locked around his hand, even though she was gone. Uriel’s golden eyes darted to and fro, searching for her face. His fingers twitched as her warmth faded. He strained his ears, trying to hear her call to him, but her voice did not rise above the ruckus.
Mama! Uriel thought, his tears allying with the smoke and assaulting his eyes. He wanted to cry out for her. Perhaps if she heard him, she would find him, and they could get to safety. But his voice had never worked before, and though he opened his mouth to call out, all he could do was pant and cough.
Gunshots rang out. The fleeing villagers clung to their families and their few precious possessions, shoving one another out of the way as they tried to escape the flames enveloping the little town and the murderous mob cutting down the Jews. Young and old, women and men, little children and babies were thrown to the ground, beaten with clubs, shot, stabbed, and slaughtered. Their blood mingled with the warm ash coating the cobblestones.
Uriel stood in the midst of the mayhem, still as a statue, alone. His right hand yearned for his mother, while his left clutched the one possession he had snatched before fleeing his house. His little golden notebook. Small enough to fit in his pocket and filled with stories he couldn’t leave to burn.
Although the villagers would normally never leave a small child alone in the street, concern for their own lives and the lives of their families caused them to stampede. Uriel was pushed against a brick wall, and his golden notebook flew from his hand. He gasped, inhaling an army of ash. The boy desperately tried to crawl to his notebook. Boots and shoes stomped on the cherished book, but Uriel reached it. He grabbed the notebook and held it to his chest, shielding it with his body.
The child was trampled and kicked. His lungs began losing to the smoke and ash entering through his nostrils and silent lips. He felt as though his insides were on fire, as though every bone in his body was about to shatter.
When darkness finally took him, all he felt was gratitude.
Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. She loves to meld WWII and Jewish history with fantasy, folklore, and the paranormal. She has written six works of Holocaust historical fiction: the five books of The Barracks of the Holocaust and The Book of Uriel. If you love history and want to read some completely unique stories, follow Elyse at Project613Publishing.com.
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Review of Written for You by Robin Bielman
Written For You by Robin Bielman is out now! Check it out and be sure to order your copy today from your favorite retailer! But first, check out my book review of this sweet friends-to-lovers contemporary romance.
Title: Written for You
Author: Robin Bielman
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About Written for You:
Cam Radcliffe is on a deadline to write his next blockbuster action film, but all he can think about lately is writing romance. The inspiration? His best friend, Reese.They’ve known each other for years, but suddenly working in the same office has given him a whole new appreciation of her. Reese is driving him wild in the best possible way, and Cam only hopes it isn’t obvious. If she knew, he’s certain their friendship would reach The End.
So, of course, Reese figures it out. But the awkward, negative response he expected is nothing like the reality—like they’re living their own romcom.
A romcom that’s giving him the worst case of writer’s block at the absolute worst time in his career. Especially when the secret Reese has been forced to keep comes out…and threatens to ruin everything.
Reese and Cam have essentially been best friends their entire lives. It happened naturally, as their adoptive mothers are best friends. But they also just have this unique bond holding them together, different from the one Reese has with Cam’s adoptive brothers.
It can be difficult to realize that your best friend is the one you’re meant to be with. And it takes almost 20 years for the two of them to realize that they have a thing for each other. The timing had to be just right and Reese seems to finally be ready to settle down in life.
They really push each other, and this is best demonstrated when they decide to have a sort of write-off of screenplays. Only Reese is also hiding a secret about those screenplays.
I greatly enjoyed their banter and how they support each other in friendship. I completely understand their concerns in pursuing something more because of that strong family history and bond. I don’t like that Reese is keeping a major secret from Cam, but I understand her motivation.
The part where all of that comes to a head felt a little off to me. There’s something in the way it is all initially handled and those initial reactions that felt a little out of sync or disproportionate to the way the secret was revealed. It’s hard to describe without spoilers.
But other than what felt to me like a slight hiccup in the storytelling, I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It was perfect for sitting on the deck during these waning days of summer. I hope there are more books to come, perhaps featuring Cam’s brothers, so we can see them find happiness and also be able to check in on these two.
Thanks to the author and Inkslinger for my requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Get Your Copy Today:
Amazon | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | Amazon UK | Amazon Aus | Amazon CA
**My thoughts**
Reese and Cam have essentially been best friends their entire lives. It happened naturally, as their adoptive mothers are best friends. But they also just have this unique bond holding them together, different from the one Reese has with Cam’s adoptive brothers.
It can be difficult to realize that your best friend is the one you’re meant to be with. And it takes almost 20 years for the two of them to realize that they have a thing for each other. The timing had to be just right and Reese seems to finally be ready to settle down in life.
They really push each other, and this is best demonstrated when they decide to have a sort of write-off of screenplays. Only Reese is also hiding a secret about those screenplays.
I greatly enjoyed their banter and how they support each other in friendship. I completely understand their concerns in pursuing something more because of that strong family history and bond. I don’t like that Reese is keeping a major secret from Cam, but I understand her motivation.
The part where all of that comes to a head felt a little off to me. There’s something in the way it is all initially handled and those initial reactions that felt a little out of sync or disproportionate to the way the secret was revealed. It’s hard to describe without spoilers.
But other than what felt to me like a slight hiccup in the storytelling, I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It was perfect for sitting on the deck during these waning days of summer. I hope there are more books to come, perhaps featuring Cam’s brothers, so we can see them find happiness and also be able to check in on these two.
Thanks to the author and Inkslinger for my requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes both sweet and sexy contemporary romances with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Xoxo
Connect with the Author:
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | BookBub | Amazon
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Read another excerpt from Memento Mori by Jane Morris
MEMENTO MORI by Jane Morris is on sale now! And I have another excerpt for you to read today. Check out the lushly gorgeous contemporary reimagining today!
Title: Memento Mori
Author: Jane Morris
Genre: Contemporary Historical Retelling
About Memento Mori:
A modern-day reimagining of the lives of the Pre-Raphaelite artists and the women they painted obsessively and fiercely loved. Beautiful and strong-willed Jane meets her match in enigmatic artist Gabriel. He immediately challenges her assumptions about art, life, and love. And for Gabriel’s enormous ego, Jane represents an exhilarating yet exasperating game he refuses to lose. When Jane’s brilliant but naïve friend Lizzie insists on accepting Gabriel’s dinner invitation, they are swept into a circle of passionate artists who reside in an old Gothic mansion. Jane embarks on a life-changing journey of desire, romance, despair, and self-discovery as she becomes the muse for Gabriel and his friend and rival, Will. A desperate inner battle wages within Jane, who is drawn in by Gabriel’s magnetic personality and gorgeous looks, yet equally as captivated by Will’s kind heart and steadfast devotion. Underneath an immersive and dramatic world is a deeper storyline, as Jane and Gabriel can't fight the nagging feeling that they have done this all before. Fates collide as lovers and friends become entangled in past, present, and future. An artistic, genre-crossing tale, Memento Mori will appeal to both history and romance lovers alike.
Get Your Copy Today!
Read an excerpt:
When we entered the solarium, I glanced down at his hand and noticed a few tattoos. I stopped and pulled his hands closer to my face to examine them. One hand had an entire paragraph of Italian scrawled on it. The other had a black crow with the initials “M.M.” under it.
“Who is M. M.?” I asked.
“It stands for memento mori.”
“What does that mean?”
“Remember, you must die.”
“Huh?”
“It says memento mori, which means remember, you must die in Latin.”
“That’s kind of creepy.”
“It’s not creepy at all. It’s truth. It’s the only truth. The only certainty in life.”
“Yeah, I guess. But why would you want to be reminded of that every time you look at your hand?” I swayed a bit as he stepped closer. I could feel his breath on my face, and it smelled like cigarettes and wine. “You can’t escape it. It doesn’t matter who you are, how much you have, or what you do, you will die. For me, it’s a constant reminder to make the most out of every moment. To not just exist, but to truly live.” He bent down a bit, leaned in close, and pressed his lips to my neck just under my ear. I closed my eyes for a moment and felt my legs turn to jelly. “You don’t really think I’m dangerous, do you?” he whispered into my ear. I turned my head and said, “I wouldn’t still be here if I did.” One of his eyes squinted just a bit and he started to bring one hand towards my hair. I backed away and cleared my throat.
“So what does this one say?” I gestured towards the paragraph on his other hand. He spoke in perfect Italian, without looking down at his hand. “In quel libro che è la mia memoria, nella prima pagina del primo capitolo, che è il giorno in cui ti ho incontrato per la prima volta, appaiono le parole, qui inizia una nuova vita.”
“Okay. The most I can translate is nuova vita. New life.”
“That’s right. It’s the introduction to Dante’s La Vita Nuova. It says, ‘In the book of my memory, on the first page of the first chapter that is the day I met you, the words appear: here begins a new life.’”
“That’s Dante talking about Beatrice, right?”
“Yes.”
“So, who do you have that written on your hand for?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t met her yet.”
There was a pause, and I thought he might try to kiss me. His eye contact was too intense, and I grasped for a way to continue the conversation. “Any other tattoos?” He grinned and swiftly pulled his shirt off. The sight of his muscular, tattooed chest and arms and that warm familiarity between us made me lightheaded. I’ll be honest. If he had been just a bit more forceful at that moment, I would have given myself completely. I tried to concentrate on the tattoos. There was a skull on his chest that looked like it was melting. On one shoulder leading down his arm were pieces of a broken clock, an angel, stormy clouds, a skull, roses, and a human heart. Scrawled across his hip was another line in Italian.
“la morte non è la fine dell’amore, la morte non è la fine”
I knew that morte meant death. “Wow. You’re like, obsessed with death,” I muttered.
“Quite the opposite really. I’m obsessed with life. I want to experience as much life as I can in every moment.”
“Maybe your tattoo should say remember life?” He stared at me and seemed to be searching my face for something. “You can put your shirt back on now,” I commanded as I began to walk away.
“You haven’t seen the tattoos on my back.”
“I got the gist. Death and carpe diem stuff.”
About Jane Morris:
Jane Morris is the bestselling author of four comedic memoirs about her teaching career. She has taught English for over 15 years in a major American city. This is her first novel. She received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education from a well-known university. She earned her M.A. in writing from an even fancier (more expensive) university. She loves dogs and trees and other things that can't talk. She has a loving family and cares about making people laugh more than anything else.Connect with Jane:
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Rob Starr by J.A. Howard
Welcome to the blog tour for ROB STARR by JA Howard! It's no available, so check it out and be sure to grab your copy of this feminist driven YA today!
Title: Rob Starr
Author: JA Howard
Genre: YA Contemporary
About Rob Starr:
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬? Rob Starr (sigh) was out of Mia Morgan's league. Of course, she had a crush on him. Everyone did. But in her case, it would just be way too weird to admit that. For starters, their moms were best friends and Mia had known Rob since she was five. But while Mia was now a demi-geek with relentlessly frizzy hair, Rob had become a demi-god and Ellsworth High's basketball superstar. Besides, he’d been going out with the totally perfect Chloe Olsen since, like, forever. But one October afternoon, a terrible accident changes everything. Suddenly, Mia and Rob are living in the same house and spending a lot of time alone together. Soon, Mia’s world was different in ways she never thought possible: new clothes, new friends, and an incredibly hot boyfriend. But was any of it real? Would any of it last? And did getting everything she thought she ever wanted mean giving up who she really was?
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About JA Howard:
J.A. Howard is an author, business executive, and podcaster in New York. As the mother of two daughters, Howard is focused on the healthy development and empowerment of women in all of her work. The Third Coin, her first novel, aims to encourage sisterhood, compassion, and leadership among middle-grade girls. Howard is also a podcaster. Her podcast, Sisters Cracking Up, (sisterscrackingup.com) which she does with her real-life sister, psychotherapist Abby Rodman, is focused on women in midlife; what’s “cracking them” and what’s cracking them up. On it, they talk openly and honestly about social and psychological topics that really matter like relationships, careers, aging beauty, stress, sex, health, and mental health. As well as being a writer and podcaster, Howard is a beauty executive and consultant with more than 20 years of experience working in Marketing, Innovation, and Strategy for some of the world’s most loved and respected brands including Clinique, Estee Lauder, Bath and Body Works, MAC and more.Connect with JA Howard:
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Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Hitched to the Gunslinger by Michelle McLean
HITCHED TO THE GUNSLINGER by Michelle McLean is out now! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today! But first, enjoy this excerpt!
Title: Hitched to the Gunslinger
Author: Michelle McLean
Genre: Historical fiction
About Hitched to the Gunslinger:
Gray “Quick Shot” Woodson is the fastest gun west of the Mississippi. Unfortunately, he’s ready to hang up his hat. Sure, being notorious has its perks. But the nomadic lifestyle—and people always tryin’ to kill you—gets old real fast.Now he just wants to find a place to retire so he can spend his days the way the good Lord intended. Staring at the sunset. And napping.
When his stubborn horse drags him into a hole-in-the-wall town called Desolation, something about the place calls to Gray, and he figures he might actually have a shot at a sleepy retirement.
His optimism lasts about a minute and a half.
Soon he finds himself embroiled in a town vendetta and married to a woman named Mercy. Who, judging by her aggravating personality, doesn’t know the meaning of her own name. In fact, she’s downright impossible.
But dang it if his wife isn’t irresistible. If only she’d stop trying to steal his guns to go after the bad guys herself.
There goes his peace and quiet...
Gray had traveled. Lived an exciting life. And was still a very handsome man, if a little worse for wear. She had no doubt he had been with all sorts of beautiful women. They always flocked to dangerous men. And whatever else Gray was, he was definitely dangerous. When he could stay awake, that is.She took a deep breath and said it all in a rush. “I’m probably not the type of woman you expected you’d marry.”His eyes widened. “Mercy, I’m a gunfighter. I never expected I’d marry at all, or even live long enough for the thought to cross my mind.”Her shoulders sagged. Partly in relief, though there was more than a little disappointment, too. At what, she didn’t want to examine too closely. What had she expected him to do? Declare his undying love and admiration? He barely knew her. He was only in this spot because she’d badgered him into it, and he was apparently too honorable (who knew?) to back out. And besides, did she even want him to go waxing poetic? She barely knew him, either, and what she did know was…well, colorful, to say the least.“Hey,” he said, startling her out of her thoughts. He touched her chin, lightly turning her face to look at him more fully. “I know I couldn’t have ever expected all this to happen. But if I do have to be saddled with a wife…” That lopsided grin of his took the sting out of his words and sent her stomach careening again. “Well, you aren’t such a bad choice.”Mercy laughed. “Aren’t you just the flatterer.”His grin widened. “I mean it. You’re strong, brave, smart, and stubborn as a mule. That’s a compliment, by the way,” he added when she gasped. Then he just stared at her for a heartbeat, as though he wasn’t sure what to say or wasn’t sure if he should say it. Finally, he shook his head. “Your eyes are the exact color of a field of bluebells I passed once. Soft blue but with flecks of gold like when the sun hits ’em. And when you get your dander up, they flash pure fire.”She no longer worried if he’d hear her heart. Because it had just stopped altogether.He shrugged. “Maybe it won’t be so bad. It’s been a while since I knew where I’d be lying my head every night.”Mercy’s cheeks flushed hot with the sudden realization that as her husband he might have the expectation of laying his head beside hers. Their engagement might have been fake, but this marriage would be very real. And he would be well within his rights to expect it to be real…in every way. And…she wasn’t sure she hated that idea.“Of course, you can’t cook worth a damn, but with Martha feeding me lunch, at least I’ll be sure of one decent meal every day,” he said.“Oh!” She shoved him and he chuckled, capturing her hand. And then he pressed a kiss to the back of it.She sucked in a breath. For an inept, laze-about, retired killer, he could certainly be charming when he wanted to be.“So?” he asked.She slowly released her breath and stood. “All right, then. Let’s go get hitched.”
About Michelle McLean:
USA Today bestselling author Michelle McLean is a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl who is addicted to chocolate and Goldfish crackers and spent most of her formative years with her nose in a book. She has degrees in history and English and is thrilled that she sort of gets to use them. Her novel Truly, Madly, Sweetly, written as Kira Archer, was adapted as a Hallmark Original movie in 2018.
When Michelle’s not working, reading, or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found baking, diamond painting, or trying to find free wall space upon which to hang her diamond paintings. She resides in PA with her husband and two teens, the world’s most spoiled dog, and a cat who absolutely rules the house. She also writes contemporary romance as Kira Archer.
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Review of The Inn at Summer Island by Rachel Magee
The Inn At Summer Island by Rachel Magee is out now! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today! But before you do, feel free to check out my thoughts on this heartwarming contemporary romance that I think needs to come to the screen!
Title: The Inn At Summer Island
Author: Rachel Magee
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About The Inn At Summer Island
Millie Leclair is a mess, complete with a dead-end career and a flat-lining love life. So when she inherits her great aunt’s oceanfront B&B in a resort town in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, she doesn’t hesitate to pack up her car and set off on a new adventure. It’ll be fun.Of course, life seldom goes according to plan. The B&B is barely habitable for one person, let alone ready to open for business. With dwindling funds, Millie has no choice but to roll up her sleeves and tackle the repairs by herself. Yeah, so much fun.
Ex-pro golfer Braxton Channing thought being a full-time single parent kept him on his toes. That was before he spotted his new neighbor teetering on her rooftop—which is only the beginning of her long list of renovations for the old house—and he added keeping her safe to his to-do list.
But Millie is determined to dive headfirst into repairs regardless of the risk, and suddenly, battling with his daughter over brushing her teeth seems easier than winning an argument with Millie. She’s exasperating. And oddly delightful. And most definitely shouldn’t be let anywhere near a tall ladder.
For a guy who’s sworn off romantic relationships, why does he suddenly want to be the one who gets the privilege of watching Millie conquer not just the B&B but his heart as well?
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**My thoughts**
This was one of those books that would be perfect to adapt into a Hallmark or Netflix romance movie. You have the city girl, Millie, who returns to the small town – in this case on Summer Island – who has these grandiose ideas for the former inn that she has inherited. And of course, she has bitten off more than she can chew. But the beautiful residents step up to help her and you get that warm and fuzzy feeling of community that feels lacking in normal society.
And then you have Braxton, the handsome celebrity golf player widower who lives next door with his young daughter. He wants to help his lovely neighbor, but is also President of the HOA that is causing roadblocks in Millie’s plans. You pretty much know what is going to happen, but you find yourself completely engrossed, savoring all of the chaos and funny scenes. It made me want to move to Summer Island or a comparable locale, to try to start over as well. I just loved it.
And then you have the bonus of a mystery romance that Mille’s great aunt had back in the day that is slowly revealed through old letters. There’s just something so incredibly romantic about old love letters.
I do want to give a heads up to readers that there is a character who has Alzheimer’s. I know that for me, having lost my mother a few years ago to the disease, it can sometimes be difficult to read about. But it is handled well, and I do adore the character who has it.
So if you are looking for a feel-good romance, I definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to the author and Inkslinger for the requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
Rachel wrote her first novel when she was twelve and entered it into a contest for young author/illustrators. Unfortunately, the judges weren’t impressed with her stick figures. So she dropped the dream of becoming a world famous illustrator and stuck to spinning stories. When she’s not busy working on her latest book, she loves to travel with her family and friends. By far, her favorite destination is the beach, which tends to work its way into most of her stories. Between vacations, you can find her at home in The Woodlands, TX with her wonderful husband, their two adventurous kids and a couple of spirited pets, all of whom share Rachel’s love of the ocean. Well, except the cat and dog. They’re both afraid of water. Find out more about what Rachel has been up to at rachelmageebooks.com.Connect with the Authors:
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Available Now! You May Kiss the Groomsman by Samantha Chase
We are so excited to be bringing you the release of YOU MAY KISS THE GROOMSMAN by New York Times bestselling author Samantha Chase. If you're a sucker for a marriage of convenience romance with a fun twist, you won't want to miss this one!
About YOU MAY KISS THE GROOMSMAN
It seemed like a good idea at the time…
When Josie Sullivan agrees to marry her friend Tyler, it’s just so he’ll get a promotion at work. That’s what friends do, right? But what should have been a quick, quiet affair starts to look like the real thing when his family shows up in the middle of the “proposal.” Now, it’s no longer a quick stop at the courthouse during a lunch break, but a full-blown wedding and there’s nothing Josie can do to stop it.
There was no way he could hold his peace…
Daniel Alexander hasn’t been home in years. After fifteen years as a Navy SEAL, he’s more than ready to return to civilian life. Being away for so long, he’s missed a lot of his younger brother’s life and it seems like he’s back just in time to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life. No matter how he breaks it down, something’s just not adding up about this wedding and he’s determined to figure out why. And he’s not just trying to stop it from happening because he’s finding himself wildly attracted to the bride-to-be.
Or because they can’t stop kissing each other.
Josie had given up on finding her own happily ever after and as her attraction to Daniel keeps growing, she’s suddenly regretting her decision to help out a friend. Now she just needs to decide if she wants to kiss the groom…or the groomsman.
Add YOU MAY KISS THE GROOMSMAN to your TBR!
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About SAMANTHA CHASE
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
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