Resilience: Stories & Lessons From an Ardent Photographer by Ron B. Wilson

Photography has always fascinated me. I just dabble, but my uncle was a professional. I have friends who have been professional photographers. They say that a picture speaks a thousand words. But sometimes the stories behind the photographs are just as meaningful. Enjoy an excerpt from Resilience by Ron B. Wilson before you download your own copy. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour as well. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Ron B. Wilson's impressive 30-year career as a professional traveling photographer has taken him all across the United States and the world, from Cuba and India to South Africa and Morocco. Always with his camera in hand, Ron has captured moments of unforgettable history, including the tragedy of 9/11 and the fallout of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The common theme that binds all these stories together has been undefeatable resilience. Ron's journey will inspire readers to live, learn and better understand the everyday struggles of communities across our vast planet. Photographers eager to learn more about their craft will find practical lessons accompanying every story, and non-photographers can appreciate the life lessons that come from the art of capturing the human condition. For lovers of travel, photography, art or humanitarianism, this book is a must-read.

Read an excerpt:

Just before 9 a.m. on September 11, 2001, I got a phone call from
my friend Lilly, a photojournalist working for the Miami Herald. She
told me there was a small plane crash at the World Trade Center, near
my place, and wondered if I could go downtown to shoot some photos.
We both interned for the Herald years ago, and if nothing else, she
figured, I could get published in the paper.

I quickly got up, grabbed my gear, film and batteries, and ran out
the door.

I lived on 23rd Street in New York City, near a subway stop.
Leaving my apartment, I walked into a splendid September day: low
humidity, abundant sunshine. It was a Tuesday, primary day for the
upcoming municipal elections, which would decide the successor of
Rudy Giuliani. Later that day, the polls would close early and end up
being postponed for two weeks.

I jumped on the downtown 6 Train, anxiously wondering what
was happening. All the other riders were already talking about “the
accident” in ominous voices and hushed tones, an air of mystery wafting
throughout the crammed train.

I made it to Canal Street before the entire train line stopped. The
conductor’s voice crackled over the intercom, informing us that trains
were no longer traveling southbound. Our journey was over. We needed
to get off.

By the time I peeked above ground, having climbed what seemed
like endless stairs ascending into the streets of lower Manhattan, I
already knew this was no accident.

Available on Amazon

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Ron B. Wilson's impressive 30-year career as a professional traveling photographer has taken him all across the United States and the world, from Cuba and India to South Africa and Morocco. Always with his camera in hand, Ron has captured moments of unforgettable history, including the tragedy of 9/11 and the fallout of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The common theme that binds all these stories together has been undefeated resilience. Ron's journey will inspire readers to live, learn and better understand the everyday struggles of communities across our vast planet. Photographers eager to learn more about their craft will find practical lessons accompanying every story, and non-photographers can appreciate the life lessons that come from the art of capturing the human condition. For lovers of travel, photography, art or humanitarianism, this book is a must-read.

Main Website: https://artstyleflow.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronbwilson/

https://twitter.com/ronbwilson

Portrait Website: http://www.ronbwilson.com/newsite/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronnie.wilson.739

Recent Speech on book: https://youtu.be/ABgPFg5iZ14Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronbwilson/

Ron B. Wilson will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Blood Mug by W.F. Ranew

Check out Blood Mug, the new mystery by W.F. Ranew, including an excerpt and his thoughts on character creation and the role of music. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for even more! And best of luck entering the giveaway.

PI Red Farlow has a meeting with Wickham Art Center board chair in Atlanta, but when he arrives, he finds the chairman slumped over his potter's wheel with a medieval battle dagger protruding from his back.

During the investigation, other victims are discovered in the pottery studio, each meeting the same gruesome end as the chairman. Is the dagger a dramatic flourish of a twisted mind, or a more profound message?

Clues soon reveal a real estate scheme—wealthy Venezuelan investors plan to plow Wickham under and build condos on the site.

Red gets his hands muddy as he throws himself into finding the answers.

Read an excerpt:

A woman in her early thirties stood leaning out and holding the screen door open. She stood about five feet four inches and wore a flower print sundress with an open back. It was short at the hem and tied seductively by a loose bow behind her neck. Her naturally blonde hair was best described as fashionably grunge. It was all over her head in a wild and crazy way. She was barefoot and sported tattoos on her beautiful white skin.

Her beauty glowed in an absolutely Southern country way, body ink aside. The lady’s accent went with her hair, dress, and feet.

“Yes, ma’am.” I approached the porch and stopped to speak. “My name is Red Farlow. I’d like to ask you a few questions about a woman named Karen Rawley.”

The woman flinched. Her eyes frowned. “Oh, what’s happened to Karen?”

“That’s what I’d like to find out myself,” I said. “Do you know Karen?”

“Yes, of course, or you wouldn’t be here,” she said. “My named is Lucy Wallerford. Of the Wallerford clan in and around Wallerford, Georgia. We go way back yonder to the Revolution years.”

After the concisely delivered family history lesson, she seemed hesitant about what else to say.

“I understand Karen left Athens in a hurry,” I said. “I need to speak with her again about a recent event in Atlanta.” …

My eyes met hers. They were black and piercing, the kind of eyes that looked right through you and absorbed everything about you. All in one glance.

“Well, come on inside then.”

I held the door as she walked in ahead of me.

Available on Amazon

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Character creation and the role of music

Characters come alive for me in my thoughts over time and as I write. Some appear on their own, while I have to drag others into the manuscript. At times, a character barges into the story. An example of this is Halbert “Sho’nuff” Dixon in my first Red Farlow book, Rich and Gone—the story of a wealthy businessman who bilks millions out of family and friends and flees the country.

Early in the novel, Red goes on a nighttime surveillance visit to a neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. Dixon appears to be a local rent-a-cop when he stops Red and demands to see identification. Red resists, slugs Dixon, and flees the scene.

Afterward, Red thinks he might have crossed paths with Dixon in the past. Sure enough, the man won’t go away and becomes a key part of the story as he stalks Red.

Some characters are likable; others not so much. In Blue Magnolia, the main man is downright loveable.

Hank “Cowboy” Tillman, an itinerate country singer, developed over two years of my time at the Frank Hamilton School of folk music in Atlanta. For Blue Magnolia (Farlow Book 2), I wrote several original country songs attributed to Hank.

In the story, Hank wants a chance at country stardom in Nashville, but he keeps running into roadblocks. He pens a song called “Redneck Devil,” which laments the unfortunate lot of good ol’ boys who are unemployed and devoid of hope. The tune becomes a favorite among local bar patrons in the rural South and stirs up a lot of trouble.

Some far-right country misfits—the Blue Magnolia—demand he play the song at their hate rally. The singer resists, he’s kidnapped, and all hell breaks loose.

Red Farlow takes up the cause and keeps Hank safe on the road.

Hank’s wealthy cousin, Mary Ellen Winship, has the singer’s back. She’s rich and carries a handgun—a nasty combination for anyone who hurts her precious Cowboy Tillman. One Blue Magnolia member learns this the hard way.

W.F. Ranew is the author of the Red Farlow Mysteries series of ebook s from Tirgearr Publishing. He’s launching Blood Mug (#4) on Feb. 24, 20210. Other Red Farlow stories are Rich and Gone (#1), Blue Magnolia (#2), and Eat Beach (#3).

Ranew is a former newspaper reporter, editor and communication executive. He started his journalism career covering sports, police, and city council meetings at his hometown newspaper, The Quitman Free Press. He also worked as a reporter and editor for The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, The Florida Times-Union and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In corporate communications, he has written speeches for President Jimmy Carter and leaders of public companies, including Bank of America, CitiGroup, Equifax, NCR, The Coca-Cola Company, and ING.

Early in his career, he worked as part-time radio dispatcher for a small-town police department.

Ranew has self-published two previous novels: Schoolhouse Man and Candyman’s Sorrow.

He lives in Atlanta and St. Simons Island, Ga.

Author Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/W-F-Ranew/e/B01F28VUFI

Tirgearr author page: http://tirpub.com/wfranew

Website: http://www.wfranew.com

Blog: http://www.wfranew.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wfranew

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wfranew

W.F. Ranew will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Interview with Claudia Blood, author of Company Assassin

 

Fans of fantasy will want to check out this interview with Claudia Blood as well as an excerpt from her book Company Assassin. Be sure to also follow the tour so that you can find out even more! Remember to leave your questions and comments along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

It’s Duff Roman’s eighteenth birthday, but no one is lighting candles.

Turning eighteen in the orphanage on Kalecca means starvation for those who aren’t hired into a Family. Outside the Family compounds lies the jungle. And in the jungle lies death. And Relics—the only real currency on Planet Kalecca.

The orphans are Duff’s family, and he’s sacrificed everything to keep the orphanage running, even his chance to move on. Now, at eighteen, he has no choice but to leave. Without him to bring in extra money, the orphans will starve under the Company’s control. Duff's only chance to save them is to find a spot on an independent crew and hopefully find a Relic to sell.

A seemingly chance encounter with Z, leader of the most feared independent crew, offers Duff his opportunity to score a Relic. And offers Z a chance to relieve the guilt he feels over his past.

But a company assassin has plans to lay waste to Duff's future, and the orphanage as well.

Read an excerpt:

Matilda from Chapter 4

Matilda sat at the table and threaded the needle. The demon alarm still buzzed in the background. She’d given the kids their assignments and tried to act as normal as possible. She didn’t want them worried about Duff or the demons since even the orphanage had company supplied protections. As long as they stayed in the orphanage, they should be fine.

Miss CuddleBug, Sheila’s doll, needed some surgery. Usually this sort of activity would calm Matilda. She checked her nails and saw the distinctive purple at the base that meant her nanites were activated. She took a deep breath and used the mantras her father had taught her.

Peace is within my reach.

Breathe and breathe again.

“Will Miss CuddleBug be well?” Sheila stood on her tip-toes to see her dolly on the table.

“I’ll get her fixed up.” Matilda stroked Sheila’s hair. Sheila’s complexion grayed. Matilda snatched her hand back. She had to be careful with the little ones when she was this worked up.

Buy links for Trilogy

https://books2read.com/CompanyAssassin

https://books2read.com/HorizonFound

https://books2read.com/TimeRift

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?
As a kid my mom said I had an imaginary friend who lived in the curtain. I have no memories of it. I do have Focus Fox as my imaginary co-blogger and the characters in my books do sometimes come and hang out.

Do you have any phobias?
I am afraid of low-heights. It may actually be a fear of falling, because airplanes, hot air balloons, and mountain views are fine. The top of a counter or standing on a rock freaks me out.

I once did a rope obstacle course. Have you seen one of them? They securely connect you with a harness and they have 4-6 configurations of ropes that you have to cross and then you use a zipline to get to the bottom.

The first section was a tight-rope. So picture a single rope strung between platforms twenty feet and then two more ropes at hip height.

That first step was by far one of the scariest things I had ever done. For the record, the zip-line was one of the funnest.

Do you listen to music when you're writing?
Not usually. I tend to sing along which distracts me. I've tried just instrumental or white noise, but I just seem to like the quiet. Or as quiet as it gets in a house with a 8 and 10 year old.

Do you ever read your stories out loud?
Sometimes. I've had classes and instructors that have recommended it. It helps to find awkward language that you don't notice when reading in your head. I do it when something doesn't make sense. I'll read it a few times internally and then read it aloud. I should do it more often.

Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.
My main character is Duff Roman. He's just aged out of the orphanage. He's terrified about what the future will bring and is determined to take care of the other kids. He's a bit of a techie geek and has been responsible for the kids in the orphanage for years.
I didn't have a specific inspiration, he came out in the story as the foil I needed for the villain.

About the author:
Claudia Blood’s early introduction to Dungeons and Dragons, combined with her training as a scientist and a side trip into the world of IT set her up to become an award-winning author of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

For her latest release, visit her at www.ClaudiaBlood.com


LINKS:

www.ClaudiaBlood.com

facebook.com/AuthorClaudiaBlood

http://bit.ly/ClaudiasAdventurersFB

twitter.com/AuthorClauBlood

instagram.com/authorclaudiablood


Short Story give away for newsletter sign up
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One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Follow the tour for more chances to win! 

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Review of Covet Thy Neighbor by Denise Carbo

 

I found myself relating to this contemporary romance a lot more than I anticipated I would! Check out an excerpt from Covet Thy Neighbor, the second book in Denise Carbo's Granite Cove series as well as my full thoughts on the book. Be sure to follow the tour for even more and leave your thoughts along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Single mom of twin boys, Olivia Banner, has her hands full juggling life’s demands. She doesn’t have time for her mysterious new neighbor or all the questions his presence conjures up, even if he is a handsome devil.

Toss in a complicated relationship with her ex-husband, meddlesome family members, and going back to school to provide a stable financial future for her and her boys, and Olivia turns to her gal pals for guidance.

Sometimes playing it safe is the right choice, and other times leaping into the unknown can lead to all the dreams you never knew you had coming true.

Read an excerpt:

“My neighbor is a serial killer.”

“Umm…is that fact or supposition?” Lucinda’s blonde eyebrows arch halfway up her forehead as she leans against the marble counter nibbling on a piece of muffin.

The aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies wafts across the kitchen after Franny opens the ovens. She puts the trays of cookies on the rolling rack in front of the ovens and props her hands on her hips. “You didn’t go back there without me, did you? I told you I would go.”

I shake my head and lift myself onto the counter next to the sink. “No—well, not intentionally. I was sitting on my back deck this morning enjoying my second cup of coffee while contemplating my life and what the hell I want to do with it when I heard a crash next door. So, of course, I went over to ensure no one was dying or anything.”

“You went over there thinking you lived next door to a serial killer? Why didn’t you call the police?” Lucinda drops the rest of her muffin into the garbage and brushes the crumbs off her fingers. “Have you called the police?” She glances at Franny. “She’s not serious, is she?”

Franny holds up a finger to her sister. “Hold on, Luce. Olivia, what happened?”

“My neighbor was on his patio, lying on his back, just staring at the sky. There was a ladder on its side near him. To be honest, for a second, I thought he might be dead. Then he jumped up and yelled at me for trespassing. I was ready to give him hell right back, but when I noticed the large assortment of weapons littering his kitchen table, I left.”

Buy Links:

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**My thoughts**

I found myself relating to this book more than I thought I would. I admit than when I started it, I was annoyed with Olivia. She was hyper-protective of her children and had all kinds of crazy assumptions about her neighbor, Luke, such as he was maybe a serial killer. And the story was being told in the present tense in a way that is not my personal preference. I felt like every single little move was being narrated as it happened. 

But I kept on going. Either I got used to the present tense narration or else it eased up a little bit. Olivia calmed down a lot, I felt, and we started to get to know her better. Plus the game between her and Luke got started. And man, was it a familiar one. 

Quick rabbit trail, let's just say that I went through a similar relationship with a neighbor for a long time. It was that slow burn, "Does he or doesn't he?" sort of confusing for a while, and oh, the fun of the divorced ex. The only differences were no children were involved and ours was a fade-out and not a HEA. But I got Olivia's thoughts and perspectives on her relationship.

There are lots of other fun characters throughout amongst Olivia's friends. I had a feeling that Franny's story may have been the first one in the series, just based on how she and her relationship were presented in this book. I looked it up and I was right, so I'll be going back to the first one to read that pretty soon. I do enjoy Granite Cove and the people there and will be on the lookout for a third story.

And then there are the less than stellar people, such as the cousin whom I just want to smack. I have known people like her. And Olivia's ex-husband is no prize, either. I guess they just help to give a real feel to the story, because I could think of people who were similar to many of these characters as I was reading along.

Thank you to Goddess Fish and the author for providing me with a requested copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the author:
Denise Carbo writes Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Romantic Suspense. She is a voracious reader, loves to travel, is fascinated by the supernatural, and enjoys solving mysteries.

She lives in a small, picturesque New England town with her high school sweetheart and their three amazing sons.


Social Media Links:

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Denise Carbo will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an exclusive excerpt from A Beautiful Fall (The North Star Series #2) by Laurie Winter

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for A Beautiful Fall by Laurie Winter! It's the second book in her North Star series, which mixes contemporary romance with a thriller in a small town. I have an exclusive excerpt for you to enjoy today, plus I am sharing my thoughts on both books in the series. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway at the end!

A Beautiful Fall

(The North Star Series, #2)

By Laurie Winter

Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Paperback & ebook, 243 Pages
March 9, 2021

He resists putting down roots. Fear keeps her planted in place. By opening their hearts, they could offer each other the world.

Nina Pettit left behind fame and trauma when she moved from Boston to Polaris, Utah. She changed her last name and went into hiding to enjoy a quiet life. Instead of performing on stage as a professional cellist, she now teaches music to children. When a handsome traveling private duty nurse arrives to care for Nina’s elderly neighbor, she finds herself drawn to the charming man.

Colin Moynahan’s rough boxing days are long behind him. His job as a private duty nurse allows him to travel the world. While working in Polaris, he’s introduced to Nina, and an attraction ignites. As he learns about her past, he promises to care and protect her for as long as his temporary stay in Polaris allows.

But when innocent flirtation turns to deeper feelings, the lines between them blur. Colin has resisted establishing roots while Nina’s fear keeps her firmly planted. As threats to Nina reappear in the form of the man she’d help send to jail, Colin returns to fighting mode, willing to sacrifice it all for the woman he loves.

***content warning for stalking, kidnapping, and brief remembered physical abuse***

Read an exclusive excerpt:

“Being a caregiver has made me a very good listener. I also respect confidentiality, so if you feel the need to talk…” Colin nudged her leg with his knee.

After about a minute of silence, she blinked a few times to clear her eyes, then shuddered out a breath. “I had a stalker…an ex-boyfriend. After he was sent to jail, I left Boston.” Nina wrapped her arms around her body and rocked slightly. “All my family cared about was the scandal and gossip I’d caused.”

A stalker… No wonder she acted guarded around others. He hated men who placed their own desires ahead of respecting a woman. And then during and after her ordeal, she lacked support from family. “Loved ones can inflict the most painful scars.”

Nina lowered her head and rested it on his shoulder. “I left everything behind and changed my last name to start a new life.” She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater.

“Which was extremely brave.” Being near Nina produced a heady dizziness. Touching her made his heart pound like he’d finished a race. He struggled to catch his breath. “You’re a fighter and a survivor. That’s something you should be proud of.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Products of trauma mixed with a dysfunctional family.”

 

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**My thoughts**

First, let me reassure readers that this book works as a standalone. I did have the opportunity to read the first book in the series, which is about the relationship between Celia and Luke, but you do not necessarily need to know those details in order to enjoy this one. However, I always do recommend reading other books in a series to better appreciate the characters who appear throughout.

We met Nina briefly in the first book, knowing that she was a neighbor of Celia and Luke, a good friend of the other women in town, an accomplished musician who taught music, and a hint at her past of being kidnapped. Details were not necessary in that story, but we get them in this one, of course.

She is rightfully wary of meeting anyone new, yet this new man in town, Colin, is very intriguing and attractive. He's taking care of her friend and neighbor while she recovers from hip surgery and seems to also have his sights set on Nina. The only problem is, he is a traveling nurse with an itch to see as much of the world as he can. He isn't used to setting down roots. But for Nina, you can see the wheels starting to turn in his mind about figuring out something to be with her.

Similar to the previous story, the main characters are attracted to each other, but realize that they have some major obstacles in their way to making this relationship work out. It's all about how much they want to be with each other and a willingness to compromise and to deal with the present and to let go of the past. Throw in the added complication of Nina's crazy ex, Erich, and you get a bit of a thriller with this contemporary romance, one that will keep you up late reading as I did.

I have some thoughts as to who the next person may be to find love in this series. I look forward to seeing if I am correct.

I received a requested complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

This Christmas

(The North Star Series, #1)

By Laurie Winter

Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Paperback & ebook, 240 Pages
October 20, 2020

'A beautiful story of loss and new love, set in a snow-capped mountain ski resort town.'

Celia Batista waited a long time for all three of her sons to be together for Christmas. But after one of her identical twins disappears without a trace, Celia must rely on Police Captain Luke Veldkamp for help. Despite Luke’s accusations that her other twin son is involved with organized crime, she falls for the handsome, Stetson wearing cop.

Luke Veldkamp is facing his first Christmas after the loss of his wife, working nonstop to avoid the holidays and his grief. His daughter, who’d moved home to care for her mom before her passing, pushes him to face his pain. Luke pushes back, telling her to return to college and regain her own life. If his own strife isn’t enough, the mission to locate the missing son of his beautiful neighbor grows more personal than any other case.

While Luke and Celia fight to keep their families from falling apart, they find comfort and strength in one another. And when love blooms between their children, Luke and Celia’s own relationship takes root and grows. But Celia is used to living on her own terms, and loving a man who has isolated his heart is a risk too great. Now, Luke must either confront his emotions or face a life without the woman he’s come to love.

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

**My thoughts**

This is the first book in the North Star series. And while it somewhat sets a foundation for the rest of the series, it does work as a standalone and it is not necessary to read it before moving on to the next book in the series. However, I think you will enjoy all of the books more if you read them all. I did read this one first.

In this one, we meet Luke, a widow about 11 months out from losing the love of his life. Across the street is Celia, a feisty woman who has been widowed for 14 years. Luke's daughter is grown; Celia's boys are now grown, but she raised them on her own. They have known each other for a few years, but nothing much more than passing acknowledgements.

Luke is a captain in the local police department and finds himself getting involved with Celia and her family when her boys come to town for the Christmas holiday and one's involvement in a crime family comes to light. He also finds himself attracted to Celia and doesn't know what to do with it. He's still raw from losing his wife, but he also knows at some point, he could move on in life. It's completely understandable. I'm about the same age as these characters, and I don't know what I would do if I had grown children and was already widowed, though I have friends in that position. 

Luke is frustratingly stubborn at times, convinced that he knows what is best for everyone, even when he is clearly wrong. But I appreciate his turmoil because that felt so much more realistic. Celia also has her frustrating moments at times, with her quick temper. At the same time, it's the stubbornness on both sides that makes these two a perfect match. They just have to give into it and let it happen in its own time.

There's also a bonus romance in the making in this book.

So you have an interesting contemporary romance brewing (okay, times two) with the additional thriller aspect of the organized crime issues affecting Celia's family. I was unexpectedly glued to my Kindle to finish this one and then immediately started the second book in the series. I'm intrigued by the people in this town and enjoy their banter and relationships with each other. I look forward to learning more about the rest of them in later installments.

About the Author

Laurie Winter’s head has always been full of stories. Then a dream gave her the inspiration to put her thought into written words, sharing a part of her heart and soul. Now, she creates authentic characters who overcome the odds and find true love. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, daughter, and rescue dog. Please connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Bookbub.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a print copy of This Christmas or A Beautiful Fall (winner's choice), a $25 Amazon gift card and a bag of Lindor milk chocolate truffles (US only)

Ends March 24, 2021

ENTER HERE

Review of Second Chance Cowboy by Claire McEwen

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for Second Chance Cowboy by Claire McEwen! I loved this heartwarming romance, and I think you will, too. Check out all of my thoughts and then be sure to visit other stops on the tour to see what others have to say. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Note that affiliate links are present throughout this post.

Second Chance Cowboy

(Heroes of Shelter Creek, #5)

By Claire McEwen

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 210 Pages

March 1, 2021 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He was her first love…
But some things she can’t forget

Busy small-town veterinarian Emily Fielding is finally ready to take on some help. The best man for the job, however, is Wes Marlow—who broke her heart in high school. Though Wes has a way with horses and a way of melting her resolve, Emily needs to keep things purely professional. Wes left her once—will he do it again? Because she can’t lose her heart a second time…

Heroes of Shelter Creek 
Book 1: Reunited with the Cowboy
Book 2: After the Rodeo
Book 3: Her Surprise Cowboy
Book 4: Rescuing the Rancher
Book 5: Second Chance Cowboy

(Affiliate links included.)

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Walmart | Harlequin | BAM | IndieBound | !ndigo | Apple Books | Kobo | GooglePlay

Other Books in the Series

(Amazon affiliate link.)

**My thoughts**

I remember reading the first book in this series and greatly enjoyed it, looking forward to the next installments. And as is my curse, I read so much that sometimes I miss some other books in series until one crosses my path again. I'm so glad that this one did! I absolutely loved it. And I will say that it definitely works as a standalone.

Wes hurt Emily when he disappeared all of those years ago, but he had his reasons for doing it. Neither one of them forgot the other. And when they get back together, the chemistry between them simply leaps off of the pages. They're cautious, but still their connection to each other quickly falls back into place. You just cannot replace your best friend and your soulmate so easily. I absolutely loved reading about them and experiencing their relationship.

And I think it is better that the two of them had a chance to grow before coming back together again. I don't know that Emily would have ended up so strong and confident in her own abilities, nor that Wes would have ever realized his own true worth without those years apart. It's making this second attempt even stronger than ever, and that's what we all want and need in our life partner.

A bonus for me in this book was all of the animals that Wes and Emily have to take care of. I felt like I learned a lot about the care of horses. It's been so long since I've had the opportunity to work with them, and now I want to again.

I know this series is not over, yet. I'm going to fill in the blank spots I have missed and keep a closer eye out for even more. 

Thank you to the author and to Prism Book Tours for a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Claire McEwen is an award-winning author whose strong heroes and heroines take big, emotional journeys to find their happily-ever-afters. She loves writing stories set in quirky small towns and romantic western settings. Claire lives by the ocean in Northern California with her family and a scruffy, mischievous terrier. When not dreaming up new stories, she’s a busy mom who also enjoys gardening, hiking, discovering flea-market treasures and wandering on the beach. A life-long bookworm, she always has her kindle close by.

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Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a copy of Second Chance Cowboy (ebook or paperback, winner's choice) and a $30 Amazon gift card

Two winners will each receive a copy of Second Chance Cowboy (ebook or paperback, winner's choice)

US only

Ends March 24, 2021

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Review of The Soldier's Unexpected Family by Tanya Agler

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for The Soldier's Unexpected Family by Tanya Agler! This is the third book in the Heroines of Hollydale series, which is a series I have been enjoying. Read on for my full book review. You can also read an excerpt at my site Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for even more. And best of luck entering the giveaway! 

The Soldier's Unexpected Family

(Heroines of Hollydale #3)

By Tanya Agler

Adult Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 230 Pages

March 1, 2021 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He had a plan…
She changed it all!

Major Aidan Murphy arrives in the charming small town of Hollydale to take full guardianship of his six-year-old nephew. Only there’s a slight problem—his vivacious, fiery co-guardian. School teacher Natalie Harrison has no intention of letting Aidan take her best friend’s heartbroken little boy away. Now Aidan must convince Natalie that blood is stronger than love…even if his heart tells him otherwise.

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**My thoughts**

This is the third book in the series. I read and enjoy the first book in the series, but somehow missed the second one! (Which I will go back to reread soon!) I didn't feel like I had missed anything, though, so feel confident that you can read this one completely as a standalone. You'll just enjoy a few of the characters some more if you go back and read the others.

Talk about complete opposites! Natalie is very laid-back, sweet, prepared for anything but can also fly by the seat of her pants. I think she is a good balance between being spontaneous and being a planner, though she leans a bit more toward the spontaneous side. She has a tremendous love for life and living in the moment. She is also a kindergarten teacher, which really helped me to relate to her ability to go with the flow and care for people, most especially her best friend's orphaned son Danny.

Aidan is hard for me to warm up to. He's military and very rigid. He also had experiences in his own life that helped to feed this strict part of his personality. He comes to town to claim custody of his biological nephew after his sister's untimely passing. 

He and Natalie butt heads from the very beginning. Not only are they complete opposites, but they are also fighting for the same thing - custody of Danny. The boy's mother knew what she was doing when she set up guardianship for her son, but these two seem to have a hard time accepting it. They're both very stubborn and I just kept yelling at them to figure out a compromise. I feel like I had some good ones figured out pretty early on, but they both dig in their heels and only want their way.

At the same time, by digging in their heels, they are able to teach each other how to give a little bit. Aidan can learn how to relax a little bit and Natalie can learn to be a bit more firm.

The two are attracted to each other, though I admit I didn't quite feel the heat of the sparks flying off of the pages as much as the story insinuated. I could totally see how it would happen, though. Those we battle the most can end up being the most attractive, right? Finding that balance could create a great relationship, and you find yourself wanting them to figure it all out, for themselves and for Danny.

I really do enjoy this setting of Hollydale and want to visit there. It was fun seeing characters from earlier books making appearances. And I have a feeling I know who is going to be the star of the next book in this series. I am looking forward to returning in the next installment.

Thank you to Prism Book Tours and the author for my requested review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

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About the Author

Tanya Agler remembers the first set of Harlequin books her grandmother gifted her, and she’s been in love with romance novels ever since. An award-winning author, Tanya makes her home in Georgia with her wonderful husband, their four children, and a lovable rescue beagle. When she’s not writing, Tanya loves classic movies and a good cup of tea. Visit her at www.tanyaagler.com or email her at tanyaagler@gmail.com.

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Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive an ebook of The Sheriff's Second Chance and a $25 (USD) Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)

Ends March 17, 2021

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Emergence by Ellie Beals

 

What does dog training have to do with becoming an author? Ellie Beals, author of Emergence, is going to tell us all about it in a special guest post today. You can also check out an excerpt from her book before you download your own copy. Be sure to also follow the rest of the tour to get to know her even better, adding your own comments and questions along the way. Best of luck in the giveaway!

It starts with Just Watching. But danger emerges when Just Watching ends.

When the "wild child" Xavier ¬ first encounters Cass Hardwood and her dogs in the woods of West Quebec, he is enthralled. Unknown to them, he Just Watches them in a lengthy ongoing surveillance, before ¬ finally staging a meeting. His motives are uncertain—even to him.

The intersection of the lives of Cass, a competitive dog handler; her dogs; her cousin Lori; and the complex and enigmatic Xavier leads them all into a spiral of danger. It starts when Just Watching ends—when Cass and her crew encounter tragedy in the bush. Xavier's involvement in the tragedy, unknown to Cass, sets off a chain of potentially lethal events that begin in the dark woods of Lac Rouge, when hiking, skiing, hunting, trapping, marijuana grow-ops, and pedophilia collide. It matures in the suburbs of both Ottawa and Baltimore, and culminates back in Lac Rouge, when Lori's spurned and abusive lover arrives uninvited at Cass' isolated cabin in the woods. In the night. In the cold. In the heavily falling snow. His arrival is observed by Xavier, whose motives are again uncertain, but whose propensity for action is not.

Join Xavier, Lori, Cass, and the realistic and compelling dogs that are essential players in this dark drama as their fates converge in a deadly loop of revenge, fear, guilt, and hope.

Read an excerpt:

Cass

The dreams started as soon as they made that decision. Cass had been subject to sleep disturbances—nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking—throughout her childhood and early adult years. The older she got, the more infrequent they became. And when she met Noah, they just stopped. Secretly, Cass was embarrassed that it seemed that all she’d needed to get her psyche together was a good man. If that were true, it offended her feminist sensibilities. She never told anyone about these musings; this was another of those things too private to share.

[...] In the dream, she was kayaking at Lac Rouge through the twisting stream where herons had flown above her and Lori during the preceding summer. She heard the lovely sound of the paddles churning through the water. As she approached the only deep spot in the black water, the water briefly churned, and then out of the water rose a man’s bare hand and forearm—it was held aloft in a fist. No more water sounds. There was perfect stillness except for the steady drumbeat of a heart, at first slow and steady and then mounting in speed and volume until she was desperate to awaken herself, which she accomplished with a strangled scream.

Even as Noah shook her fully awake and soothed her, Cass was simultaneously shaken by the emotional impact of the dream, and acutely embarrassed by its lack of originality. Every fan of director John Boorman’s movie version of the James Dickie classic Deliverance would recognize that arm rising out of the water as a cinematic icon of guilt. And then, just to whip it up, her subconscious had fed in an imagined soundtrack from The Tell-Tale Heart.

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My Journey to Becoming an Author: Thank you, Dog-Training

If you’ve read my novel Emergence, you’ll know that Cass Harwood, one of my protagonists, is a management consultant who is also a dog-trainer. As a successful mangement consultant, she is a chronic over-preparer, whose foundation of preparation allows her to put aside whatever script she’s created in order to successfully improvise. The same thing is true of her as an obedience competitor. This creative friction between the two poles of performance readiness (no preparation vs. obsessive planning) is an undercurrent throughout Emergence.

Cass is based pretty closely on me. Her preparation vs. improvisation profile is mine. It is what was responsible for me waiting until I was close to 70, to write a novel – even though it had been an objective of mine since I was a kid. Every time I thought about attending to this, I assumed the process would have to start by creating a detailed outline. My anticipation that this process would be lengthy, difficult and tedious was always what stopped me from getting started.

Meanwhile, as an Obedience trainer, competitor, and coach, I was getting ever-bolder in my improvisation. Over time, my propensity to NOT decide what remedy I would attempt until I actually had my hands (or leash) on the dog in question, became more pronounced. Here’s how it works now: I do a little preliminary “noodling” with the dog to get a feel for her, and then like magic and without conscious thought – I know what to do. I find this an incredibly gratifying demonstration of NOT allowing my hyper-active inner voice to prevail over older, wiser instincts too-often pushed into latency. In fact, it has always reminded me of my days as a poet, when I would sit down, pen and paper in hand…..and simply Wait. And eventually, something would come and I would follow it. I wrote poetry throughout my childhood and into my young womanhood. And now that I think about it – the fact that poetry ended when consulting started, is probably not coincidental.

Which takes us to the summer of 2020, as I approached my 70th birthday during a time of plague, and thought: If not now, when? I went through my compendium of potential plot-lines, characters, and dramatic events collected over decades, tagged a few that I thought I could merge into a coherent whole, and then - sat down to write. No outline. Just. Sat. Down. To. Write. The first chapter, in Xavier’s voice, emerged within an hour. It has never changed since it was first written.

My process after that was not devoid of planning. But the planning was done in a way that would not circumvent the creative process. Its iterative nature was based on understanding that for me, the process of creating through writing, while writing, is essential. For me, that creative process can be harnessed but not directed, and it was that not-yet-conscious wisdom that was at the heart of my reluctance to develop a detailed outline at the outset.

So for those interested in writerly technique – this was my process: I would write a chapter. I would then do a rough outline of the next chapter. As time went on, the rough outline expanded to looking well forward, and to eventually encompassing all of the plot. But in my mind, plot development as outlined was always provisional - dependent on whatever “happened” in the chapter I was writing each day. Each day’s work including revising the outline as required, based on what had occurred the preceding day. Thoughout the three month period in which Emergence was written, the writing remained the driver, and the outline its servant, rather than the obverse.

Fun is very important to me - I want it and need it. Writing Emergence was so much fun! I suspect that if I had not unconsciously re-asserted my relationship to creativity and spontaneity through dog-training, it would never have happened.

Ellie Beals grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to Canada when she was 20. She spent the majority of her professional career as a management consultant in Ottawa, Ontario. Plain language writing was one of her specialties.

Dogs have been a constant in Ellie's life from the time she was a child. In the mid-1990s, she started to train and compete in Obedience with Golden Retrievers, with considerable success. In 2014, she had the highest-rated Canadian obedience dog (Fracas—upon whom Chuff is modelled), and her husband David Skinner had the second-rated dog. During a ten-year period, both Ellie and David were regularly ranked among Canada's top ten Obedience competitors. They have an active obedience coaching practice in Ottawa, having retired from their previous professional careers in order to spend more time playing with their dogs and their students.

Like Cass and Noah Harwood, Ellie and David have a log cabin in the wilds of West Quebec, where Ellie is an avid wilderness recreationist, constantly accompanied by her dogs. As COVID-19 spread in March of 2020, she and David temporarily shut down their coaching practice and retreated to their cabin, where Emergence was written. Lac Rouge is not the real name of the lake on which they live. Everything else about the locale for Emergence is faithful to the character of the gentle Laurentian mountains of West Quebec.

Connect with Ellie Beals

WEBSITE
http://elliebealsauthor.ca/

FACEBOOK
Ellie Beals - Author | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ThrillerEmergence

TWITTER
Ellie Beals - Author (@BealsEllie) / Twitter
https://twitter.com/BealsEllie

Ellie Beals will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Earl of Brecken by Aubrey Wynne

 

Welcome to the book blast for Earl of Brecken by Aubrey Wynne! As you follow along the tour, you'll have the chance to check out various excerpts and get multiple chances to enter the great giveaway. Remember to leave questions and comments for the author along the way!

A seductive Welsh earl on the brink of ruin. A wealthy city in search of a hero.

Miss Evelina Franklin reads too many romance novels. She’s certain a handsome duke—or dashing highwayman—is in her future. In the meantime, Evie entertains herself with the admirers vying for her fortune.

The Earl of Brecken needs cash. His late father left their Welsh estate in ruin, and his mother will not let him rest until it is restored to its former glory. Notorious for his seductive charm, he searches the ballrooms for a wealthy heiress. His choices are dismal until he meets Miss Franklin. Guileless and gorgeous with an enormous dowry, she seems the answer to his prayers. Until his conscience makes an unexpected appearance.

Read an excerpt:

London, 1819

Madoc crumpled the paper and scowled fiercely at the roaring fire. He scanned the library of Brooks’s, then squinted at the shadowed corners of the room, glad no one else witnessed his irritation. He and a close confidante were enjoying a leisurely evening in a private London gentlemen’s club. They’d traded a profitable evening of gaming for a quiet place to talk and enjoy a decanter of brandy, when he’d remembered the envelope tucked inside his coat pocket.

“Bad news, Doc?” asked Kit, his dark eyes teasing. “It’s rare to see such a storm darken your face. I’m accustomed to the jovial yet bland expression you’ve perfected.”

He snorted with good humor at the Earl of Sunderland’s observation. “Ha! My invisible armor protects me well. News from home is rarely good these days.”

“Health or financial ailment?”

Madoc tossed the paper into the flames. “The solicitor informed me that he’s still waiting for my annual income. He sent word to my father, who replied it would arrive forthwith. I suppose I don’t need that stallion at Tattersall’s.”

“I could loan you the sum,” offered Sunderland with a grin, his midnight hair gleaming in the flickering light, “but you won more brass than I did at the tables.”

With a sigh, Madoc swirled the amber liquid in his crystal glass. “I’ve got blunt enough from my, er, other services. I couldn’t care less about the money. The sum has shrunk each year I’ve been gone.”

“Do you think there’s trouble with the estate? How is the cantankerous old Welshman?”

“Mama’s last letter described Father’s health as declining. He’s rarely left the grounds since his fall, and now he won’t leave the castle.”

Madoc remembered the accident like it was yesterday. Foxhunting had been his father’s favorite pastime—until he took a steep hedge that broke his back. The Earl of Brecken hadn’t walked in ten years. “He’s so blasted proud, didn’t want anyone to see him as less than a man, as he put it.”

“How old is he now?” Sunderland asked. “Must be nigh on sixty, eh?”

“Sixty-three last month.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I believe a journey home is in order. Something’s amiss.”

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Bestselling and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. She resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule, and barn cats. Obsessions include wine, history, travel, trail riding, and all things Christmas. Her Chicago Christmas series has received the Golden Quill, Aspen Gold, Heart of Excellence, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and twice nominated as a Rone finalist by InD’tale Magazine.

Aubrey’s first love is medieval romance but after dipping her toe in the Regency period in 2018 with the Wicked Earls’ Club, she was smitten. This inspired her spin-off series Once Upon a Widow and the Scottish Regency series A MacNaughton Castle Romance with Dragonblade Novels.


Find Aubrey:

Website: https://aubreywynne.com/

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Aubrey Wynne will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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