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Friday, July 31, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of Heir of Arcadia by Deborah Adams & Kimberley Perkins


Heir of Arcadia
Deborah Adams, Kimberley Perkins
Publication date: July 24th 2020
Genres: Adult, Adventure, Science Fiction
Can Collins and Quinn call a truce long enough to survive?
Quinn’s hectic job as a special agent keeps her busy, but never busy enough to tamp out her inconvenient attraction to CEO billionaire Julian Collins. He is usually the biggest pain in her side, but he can also be recklessly charming. When Collins asks her to open a secret investigation into his company, she worries that extra time alone with him might test her resolve to stay away.
Julian Collins always dreamed of being on Arcadia, a fictional world from his favorite video game. But lately, he’s been seeing things from the game in real life. He feels like he’s losing his mind, and now is not the time to go crazy. His company is going to be split into a dozen pieces if he can’t discover the secrets hidden in the Special Projects division.
After three years of quasi-friendship, Collins and Quinn have honed arguing into a true art form. As far as he’s concerned, she’s off-limits, but also quick-witted and sexy as hell. She’s the perfect person for the job.
As Quinn and Collins delve deeper into their investigation, secrets will lead them to things no one on earth can explain. Will they discover that searing hot kisses can be even more fun than well-placed insults when a whole new universe is spread before them?

My thoughts:

Heir of Arcadia was a definitely out of my normal genre.  At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the book.  The beginning was a little vague on the world building and I thought I might have missed a prior book.  I wanted to know more about the energy failure and the war that resulted.  However, at about the 30% mark things really got going and it went in a direction I wasn't expecting.  I ended up really enjoying the story and the characters.  I loved  how their game personas came into play in real life.  There was some great edge of your seat action and I stayed up way too late to finish it.  The ending seemed to be a set up for a sequel.  I hope there is one because I do want to see what happens next.






Author Bio:
DEBORAH ADAMS and KIMBERLEY PERKINS are authors of the Award-Winning Waypoint series. They are friends and coworkers sharing a love of coffee, literature, and teenagers saving the world. Both live in Huntsville, Alabama, working by day for a contractor supporting the Department of Defense, and by night writing spectacular adventures. For more information about Deborah Adams and Kimberley Perkins go to www.adamsperkins.com.

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Thursday, July 30, 2020

Books I Didn't Finish- July Edition



Strange Hotel: I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the 50% of the book that I managed to listen to.  I like books that make me think, but not this much.  Sorry, I just can't recommend this one.

The Jane Austen Society:  I am a fan of Jane Austen, so I was excited to read this one.  I ended up giving up at about 30%.  There were too many perspectives.  I was so bored with the plot.  I didn't really care to see where the storyline was going to end up.

One Perfect Summer:  I really didn't like this one.  There was just too much drama going on with the three women.  I didn't really care for any of the characters.  I was getting kind of depressed reading it, so I gave up.

Little Eyes:  I loved the premise of this book. I was really disappointed in what I got.  I gave up about 40% of the way in.  It was really boring.  There were too many perspectives and it wasn't clear what the purpose for it was.  I also didn't feel like I got a clear idea of how the technology worked.  That might have made a difference.


Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Spotlight: Excerpt of Settling an Old Score by Delores Fossen



Author: Delores Fossen
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: July 2020

A Texas Ranger gets the shock of his life when he comes face to face with a woman from his past in USA TODAY bestselling author Delores Fossen’s latest suspense!

A past tragedy destroyed their love. A vulnerable newborn brings them back together.

Within moments of discovering a baby on his doorstep, Texas Ranger Eli Slater finds himself being held at gunpoint by his ex, Ashlyn Darrow. She claims she was tipped off that the still-gorgeous cowboy kidnapped her newly adopted daughter because of the bad blood that defines their past. They quickly realize Eli’s been set up and now Eli is determined to protect Ashlyn and her daughter. But regaining her trust will be as easy as ignoring the attraction even a lifetime apart can’t erase…

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

For more action-packed stories, check out the other books in the Longview Ridge Ranch series:
Book 1: Safety Breach
Book 2: A Threat to His Family
Book 3: Settling an Old Score
Book 4: His Brand of Justice

Sales links:



 Here is a Sneak Peek!


Excerpt, SETTLING AN OLD SCORE by Delores Fossen

Ashlyn knew it would take more luck to pin Dominick down on that. Especially if he had in-deed hired those gunmen.
As soon as Kellan walked out, Eli took hold of her hand and moved her out of the doorway. Out of view from the windows, too. She hadn’t needed a reminder of the danger, but that gave her one any-way.
“There are too many puzzle pieces,” she said. “In the meantime, you and I—maybe Cora, too—are in the crosshairs of a killer.”
He didn’t argue with her. Couldn’t. Because it was true, a frustration that they both felt. That frustration was in every muscle of his body when he pulled her into his arms. As he’d done in the kitchen, he brushed a kiss on the top of her head. A kiss of comfort.
And it worked.
Ashlyn could practically feel some of the tension slide right out of her. Of course, the heat came in its place. No surprise there. She’d been dealing with it for much too long.
He pulled back just a little and looked down at her with those smoky gray eyes. They weren’t stormy now but had some of the same fire that she was certain was in her own.
“Yeah,” he said as if he’d known exactly what she was thinking—and feeling. “If we were still in high school, I would just coax you into taking a trip out to my truck. That won’t work this time, though.”
“No.” Since he could be dangerous. And also since sex should be the last thing on their minds. But Ashlyn wanted to make this moment a little lighter than spelling out those reminders. “Because we’re sensible adults now.”
The corner of his mouth lifted, causing a dimple to flash in his cheek. Yes, a dimple. It was another weapon in the arsenal of Eli Slater, hot cowboy. But the smile didn’t last long.
“Soon, we’re going to have a brief talk about this,” Eli drawled, his voice all smoke and heat. “And then we’ll deal with it. I’ve got some ideas as to how we can do that.”
Now she smiled, and even though she figured it was a mistake, Ashlyn brushed her mouth over his. Again, not a full-fledged kiss, but it could have qualified as foreplay. Short foreplay.



About the author:


USA TODAY bestselling author, Delores Fossen, has sold over 70 novels with millions of copies of her books in print worldwide. She's received the Booksellers' Best Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and was a finalist for the prestigious Rita ®. In addition, she's had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. You can contact the author through her webpage at www.deloresfossen.com

Author links


Tuesday, July 28, 2020

July Mini Musings


Deep in Alaskan Woods:  I really enjoyed this romantic suspense.  I thought I had figured everything out, but I definitely didn't.  I loved Quinn and Alexandra together.  I also loved that Alexandra wasn't wishy-washy and stood her ground in the beginning.  I look forward to the next one.

Nothing But Trouble:  I thought this was a cute romance.  I didn't hate it but I didn't love it.  IT wasn't anything really new that I haven't read before.  I didn't love Wade for a lot of the book.  He was to grow on me.  I'll probably pick up the next one.

Hideaway Inn:  This is another romance that I thought was just OK.  Honestly, I didn't love the couple in this.  I thought their relationship was a bit toxic.  Both guys over reacted about everything. This is not a relationship that I see lasting a long time.  The  town of New Hope was interesting though.

The Trouble with Christmas:  I liked this one much more than Nothing But Trouble.  The main characters were a better fit for each other.  There were a lot of laugh out loud moments.  I would love to see the Christmas decorations in real life.  I do recommend this one.

Wildest Dreams:  I thought this was a super cheesy romantic suspense.  The heroine was exhausting and kept taking the stupidest chances.  The hero was a bit over the op in his brooding.  I also didn't love the coincidences in the end of the book.  It's not the worst I have read, but it wasn't great.

Take Me Apart:  This book was less than thrilling.  I ended up skim reading the last 25% of the book.  I could see where it was going and just wanted it to end. The ending was less than satisfying.  I didn't  like any of the characters.  I also wasn't a fan of the portrayal of mental illness.  I wouldn't recommend this one.

The Duke and I:  I would love to say I loved this book.  I did like the couple and I thought their romance was sweet.  There were a few sweet moments and some laugh out loud moments.  I took off a star because of a decision that Daphne made. A decision that seemed to be swept under the rug.  It was a bit icky to me and had the roles been reversed, then I think readers would think differently.  I did love Simon though.  The mom in me wanted to hug him close.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Spotlight: Excerpt of The Single Mom's Second Chance by Kathy Douglass


Author: Kathy Douglass
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: July 2020


She could use a shoulder to lean on…
“We’ll get through this. I promise.”
Facing the fight of her life after a cancer diagnosis, widow Roz Martin is forced to ask her estranged brother-in-law to help care for her children. Being there for his nieces and nephew is a no-brainer for gym owner Paul Stephens. But being there for the woman who’d betrayed him by marrying his half brother is hard. Especially when he discovers the feelings he once had for Roz never died…

Author bio: Kathy Douglass came by her love of reading naturally - both of her parents were readers. She would finish one book and pick up another. Then she attended law school and traded romances for legal opinions.

After the birth of her two children, her love of reading turned into a love of writing. Kathy now spends her days writing the small town contemporary novels she enjoys reading.

Kathy loves to hear from her readers and can be found on Facebook.


Sales links:

Enjoy this excerpt:


Excerpt, THE SINGLE MOM’S SECOND CHANCE by Kathy Douglass

Paul drummed his fingers on his desktop. “Do you want to get to the reason you barged into my office today? I’m sure it wasn’t just to look at me.”
Roz’s face grew hot as she struggled to keep from staring at him. As a teenager, he’d been dedicated to clean living and his body had reflected that. The years had been very good to him. He was six feet two inches of lean muscle. His brown skin glowed with good health, and his face was beyond hand-some, even with his eyes narrowed with irritation.
She took a breath but the word cancer clogged her throat, leaving her unable to speak. To her horror, her eyes filled with tears and her vision blurred. Blinking back the moisture, she forced herself to talk. “I need your help.”
“With what? Not that it matters. The answer is no. We don’t have that type of relationship. Remember? If you’d thought it through, you could have saved yourself the trouble and me the time and aggravation.”
“Are you still holding what happened when we were kids against me?”
“No. But I’m not willing to pretend that we’re friends either. And since Terrence has died, we are no longer family.” He made air quotes with his hands making it clear he’d never accepted her as part of the family.
“Do you consider my kids your nephew and nieces? Are they still your family? Do you still love them?”
“Of course I love them. What do they have to do with this favor of yours?”
“Everything. If not for them I wouldn’t be interrupting your workday.” The annoyed look on his face indicated that her time was coming to an end. Since there was no easy way to say it and she doubted the word would affect him the way it affected her, she just blurted it out. “I have cervical cancer.”
He blinked and jerked as if she’d given him an electric shock. “What?”
“You heard me.” She couldn’t say it again. Her voice wobbled and one of the tears she’d tried so hard to hold back escaped and then slid down her face. She brushed it away, hoping he hadn’t seen it. She didn’t want Paul to see her cry. He might accuse her of using her tears as a weapon, and she wasn’t pre-pared for that battle.
His mouth moved but no sound emerged. She could relate. She’d been floored when her doctor had delivered the news. Though she’d been sitting down, her knees had shaken like Jell-O in an earth-quake. Even now, it was a struggle to stand. But she couldn’t worry about his state of mind. She needed to get to the point of this meeting. “I’m going to be undergoing chemotherapy and having surgery soon.”
When he simply stared at her, his face devoid of all expression, she continued. “I won’t be able to take care of my kids. I have friends who will help me but that won’t be enough. I’m going to need live-in help. Hiring someone is out of the question. I don’t want my kids to have to adjust to a stranger in the house in addition to dealing with my illness. If there were someone else I could go to for help, I would. But there isn’t. Your mother offered to postpone their cruise again, but I can’t ask them to do that. Your father needs to get away from here in order to move past his grief and start living again. So I need someone—you—to come to Sweet Briar.”
Paul’s head was swimming and he fought against a sudden wave of dizziness. Cancer. Roz had cancer. The word echoed in his brain, then slammed repeatedly against his skull. It didn’t make sense. How could she be so sick?
She looked fine. She’d always been slender, with small breasts, a tiny waist and slim hips, but, upon closer examination, she did appear a little thinner than she’d been at Terrence’s funeral last year. Her white top was a bit loose and she kept adjusting the strap, preventing it from slipping off her shoulder. Although her face was as beautiful as ever, the spark in her eyes had been replaced by fear and her brown skin looked dull. Her lips trembled as she tried to smile. Apparently, her mouth refused to cooperate, and after a moment, she gave up the attempt.
“I know it will be inconvenient for you, but you’re my only hope. I’m determined to get well fast, so you shouldn’t have to stay for long. And Nathaniel is old enough to help with Megan and Suzanne.”
It took a minute for her rapidly spoken words to register. Was she still trying to convince him? Was she that uncertain that she could rely on him? “Of course I’ll come. Whatever you need.”
Her body sagged in relief. “Thank you.”
“Did you think I’d say no?”
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure. I’d hoped you’d say yes but I came prepared to be turned down.”
Considering that he’d initially said no before knowing what she needed, there was nothing he could say in his defense. “When did you get your diagnosis?”
“A week ago.”
A week? And she hadn’t said anything to him? “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Her eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? We haven’t spoken a civil word to each other in years unless there was someone else around. As you just pointed out, we’re neither family nor friends.”
The words sounded so much crueler now. He’d been unnecessarily harsh. Shame battered him, leaving him speechless.
“My oncologist is working on a treatment plan. He’ll have it together by Friday, with dates and schedules. I’ll check with you before I confirm any-thing with him, to make sure you’re available first.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be there whenever you need me to be.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”

Author bio

Kathy Douglass came by her love of reading naturally - both of her parents were readers. She would finish one book and pick up another. Then she attended law school and traded romances for legal opinions.

After the birth of her two children, her love of reading turned into a love of writing. Kathy now spends her days writing the small town contemporary novels she enjoys reading.

Kathy loves to hear from her readers and can be found on Facebook.


Author links
Author website  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads 


Sunday, July 26, 2020

Review:: The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Author: Simone St. James
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: February 2020

The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.
Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden


I have been having good luck with ghost stories lately and I am happy to include The Sun Down Motel among them.  The story follows two timelines: The past where, Vic ends up in the small town of Fells and works at the Sun Down Motel to earn money.  She finds that strange things are going on at the motel.  And the present, where Vic's niece Carly has come to Fells to investigate the disappearance of her aunt Vic back in 1982.

This is one of those books that not knowing a lot about it  is best.  Talking too much plot would give away key points.  I will say that this book is creepy, scary and definitely one to keep you up reading into the night.  I loved the setting of the creepy run down motel. I also loved not knowing if things that were happening were real or paranormal. The characters were interesting.  I found that Carly and her aunt Vic were a lot alike. Both were strong characters who weren't afraid to try to get to the bottom of what was happening. Even knowing Vic goes missing, I found myself tooting for her.  I loved the combination of mystery and paranormal.  I also loved the twists at the end.   I highly recommend this one!

Blog Tour: Excerpt of The Hero of Hope Springs by Maisy Yates

Author: Maisey Yates
FICTION/Romance/Contemporary  
Mass Market | HQN Books 
On Sale: 7/21/2020 
9781335013514
$8.99
$12.99 CAN

For as long as brooding cowboy Ryder Daniels has known Sammy Marshall, she has been his sunshine. Her free spirit and bright smile saved him after the devastating loss of his parents and gave him the strength to care for his orphaned family. Only Ryder knows how vulnerable Sammy is, so he’s kept his attraction for his best friend under wraps for years. But what Sammy’s asking for now might be a step too far…

Something has been missing from Sammy’s life, and she thinks she knows what it is. Deciding she wants a baby is easy; realizing she wants her best friend to be the father is…complicated. Especially when a new heat between them sparks to life! When Sammy discovers she’s pregnant, Ryder makes it clear he wants it all. But having suffered the fallout of her parents’ disastrous relationship, Sammy is wary of letting Ryder too close. This cowboy will have to prove he’s proposing out of more than just honor…

BUY LINKS:



Enjoy this excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE 
For as long as Ryder Daniels had known Sammy Marshall she had been his sunshine. 
She had come into his life golden and bright and warm at a time when everything had seemed dark and cold. 
And like anyone who had been lost in the dark for a long while, he’d squinted against the light when he’d first seen it. Had felt like it was just too damned much. 
At first he’d wrapped himself up in a blanket of his own anger and bitterness. But soon all her gentle warmth had broken through and he’d shed some layers. Some. Not all. 
And only for her.
 Much like the sun, he never got used to her brightness. Time didn’t dull the shine. 
Even now as she spun circles out in the middle of the dance floor at the Gold Valley Saloon, he could feel it. Down in his bones. Her blond hair swung around with every movement, tangled and curling, her arms wide and free, the bangles on her wrists glittering in the light with each turn. The white dress she wore was long and loose, but when it caught hold of her skin it was somehow more suggestive and revealing than any of the short, tight dresses out on the dance floor could have ever been. 
Ryder looked, because he was only a man. 
But Sammy was his sun.
 His source of light. His source of warmth. 
And much like the sun, he knew that getting close enough to touch it was impossible. 
There were two men dancing with her, spinning her back and forth between them, and she was laughing, her cheeks red and glowing. Then with a light pat—one for each of their shoulders—she abandoned them and made her way back over to the table where Ryder was sitting with his siblings, most notably his sister Pansy, and her brand-new fiancé, West Caldwell. 
They had called them all out tonight to make the announcement. But Ryder already knew. 
West had come and spoken to him like he was Pansy’s father. 
And in many ways, he supposed that he was. 
When their parents had died, it had been up to him to take care of his siblings. 
When their parents had died, all the light in his world had gone out. 
It had left him frozen. 
Sammy had gotten him through. 
And he knew that Sammy would say something entirely different. That he was her guardian, her protector. And that was true in a way. But she had saved him. Had saved him in ways that she would never fully understand. 
Laughing, Sammy plopped down at the table, right beside him, her shoulder brushing up against his, the touch a sort of strange familiar torture to him. 
It nearly went by unnoticed. 
Nearly.
 “Does anybody need another drink?” she said, pushing her mane of hair out of her face and treating him to a smile. 
“Your friends might want one,” he pointed out. She cast a glance back at the dance floor. Then she made a dismissive noise. “They’re not in the running to becoming my friends,” she said. 
He was relieved to hear it, even though he wouldn’t ever say.
 Sammy was everything wild and free. Everything that he never would be. 
He had no desire—ever—to try and bottle up that freedom and use it for himself. To limit it. Whatever he thought about it sometimes. 
“I’ll get the drinks,” Colt said, getting up from his seat.
 One of the cousins that had grown up with them, Colt was only a couple years younger than Ryder. He’d been fifteen when their parents had been killed. His brother Jake had been seventeen.
Reining in the older kids had been one of the harder parts of the whole thing. Because how did you tell someone who was basically your age that they needed to quit staying out all night and maybe try a little bit harder at school? 
Well, you just said it, but it didn’t always go down well. 
Ryder had been a teenager, not a parent. It wasn’t like he’d been a model for anything good or decent. The only reason he had kept his grades up when he was in high school was because he wanted to stay on the football team. That had been his life. 
And he had been untouchable. Golden. 
Until he wasn’t. 
Until he had discovered that his family was more than touchable. They were breakable.
 Until he had to give up college scholarships and other aspirations so that he could take care of everyone.
 Not that he would have made it into the NFL after college. He just would have been able to use football to get through school. 
It didn’t matter. He had never wanted to be a rancher. He wanted to get out. He wanted to leave home and see the world and have something different. Different than his uncle, who had lived on one plot of land for his whole life. 
Different than his father, who had been the police chief of the town he was born in. The town he’d never left. 
And here he was. The same. Just the same. And only about ten years younger than his dad had been when he’d died, too. 
That was a real parade of cheer. 
It didn’t take Colt long to return with drinks, and he passed around bottles of beer. Pansy took one and stood. 
His younger sister was pocket-size. A petite anomaly in a family that was otherwise of above average height. Pansy had followed their father’s footsteps. She was currently the youngest police chief Gold Valley had ever had. And the first female. He was damned proud of her. But he didn’t believe for a moment that it was down to something he’d done right. 
Pansy was just good all the way through. Determined and strong. She’d had to be. 
She’d only been ten when their parents had died. 
Poor Rose had been seven.
 Yeah. It had been a certain kind of hard to deal with the teenagers. But comforting children who were crying helplessly over mothers who would never hold them again… 
That was a hell he didn’t like to remember even now. So instead he just looked at Pansy, a grown woman with a man by her side. 
That had been the first time he had to deal with something like that, too. 
West Caldwell had come and asked him for permission. And Ryder had a feeling that he should have rejected that. Told him he didn’t need it.
 But he felt like he did. He felt like he needed it for each and every one of them. Because they were his.
 Even Sammy. 
Because while she might be the sun in his life, he was her protector. It was his job to make sure nothing bad ever happened to them. 
“West and I have an announcement,” Pansy said, smiling. “We’re getting married.”




AUTHOR BIO:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

SOCIAL LINKS:
 Facebook: /MaiseyYatesAuthor
Instagram: @MaiseyYates 



Saturday, July 25, 2020

Blog Tour: Excerpt of The Kids are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony



By Gretchen Anthony
On Sale: July 28, 2020 
Park Row Books
CONTEMPORARY FICTION/Mothers &Children/Family/FictionSatire/Humorous American Literarure
978-0778308744; 077830874X
$17.99 USD
416 pages


A whip-smart, entertaining novel about twin siblings who become a national phenomenon after launching a podcast to find the biological father they never knew.

The death of Thomas and Savannah McClair’s mother turns their world upside down. Raised to be fiercely curious by their grandmother Maggie, the twins become determined to learn the identity of their biological father. And when their mission goes viral, an eccentric producer offers them a dream platform: a fully sponsored podcast called The Kids Are Gonna Ask. To discover the truth, Thomas and Savannah begin interviewing people from their mother’s past and are shocked when the podcast ignites in popularity. As the attention mounts, they get caught in a national debate they never asked for—but nothing compares to the mayhem that ensues when they find him.

Cleverly constructed, emotionally perceptive and sharply funny, The Kids Are Gonna Ask is a rollicking coming-of-age story and a moving exploration of all the ways we can go from lost to found.


Buy Links:

Enjoy this excerpt:

JULY
The house had become an aquarium—one side tank, the other, fingerprint-smeared glass—with Thomas McClair on the inside looking out. There had been a dozen protests outside their home in less than a week, all for the McClairs to—what, enjoy? Critique? Reject? There was no making sense of it. 
Tonight, Thomas pulled his desk chair up to the window and kicked his feet onto the sill. He’d been too anxious to eat dinner, but his mind apparently hadn’t notified his stomach, which now growled and cramped. He was seventeen. He could swallow a whole pizza and wash it down with a half-gallon of milk, then go back for more, especially being an athlete. But that was before. 
Before the podcast, before the secrets, before the wave of national attention. Now he was just a screwup with a group of strangers swarming the parkway across the street from his house because he’d practically invited them to come. 
He deserved to feel awful. 
The McClairs had been locked in the house for a week, leaving Thomas short of both entertainment and sanity. He had no choice but to watch the show unfolding outside. Stuck in his beige bedroom, with the Foo Fighters at Wembley poster and the Pinewood Derby blue ribbons, overlooking the front lawn and the driveway and the hand-me-down Volvo neither he nor Savannah had driven since last week. There they stood—a crowd of milling strangers, all vying for the McClairs’ attention. All these people with their causes. Some who came to help or ogle. More who came to hate. 
Thomas brought his face almost to the glass and tried to figure out the newly assembling crowd. Earlier that day, out of all the attention seekers, one guy in particular had stood out. He wore black jeans, black boots, a black beanie—a massive amount of clothing for the kind of day where you could see the summer heat curling up from the pavement—and a black T-shirt that screamed WHO’S PAYING YOU? in pink neon. He also held a leash attached to a life-size German shepherd plushy toy. 
Some of the demonstrators had gone home for the night, only to be replaced by a candlelight vigil. And a capella singing. There were only about a dozen people in the group, all women, except for two tall guys in the back lending their baritones to a standard rotation of hymns. “Amazing Grace” first, followed by “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” Now they were into a song Thomas didn’t know, but the longer he listened, he figured hundred-to-one odds that the lyrics consisted of no more than three words, repeated over and over. They hit the last note and raised their candles high above their heads. By daaaaaaaaaaaayyyy. 
“No more,” he begged into the glass. “I can’t take any more.” 
A week. Of this. 
Of protests, rallies and news crews with their vans and satellites and microphones. 
Of his sister, Savannah, locked in her room, refusing to speak to him. 
Of his grandmother Maggie in hers, sick with worry. 
Of finding—then losing—his biodad, the missing piece of his mother’s story. And his own. 
Thomas was left to deal with it all. Because he’d started it. And because he was a finisher. And most of all, because it wasn’t over yet.

Excerpted from The Kids Are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony © 2020 by Gretchen Anthony, used with permission by Park Row Books.



About the author:

GRETCHEN ANTHONY is the author of Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, which was a Midwestern Connections Pick and a best books pick by Amazon, BookBub, PopSugar, and the New York Post. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Medium, and The Write Life, among others. She lives in Minneapolis with her family.



Social Links:

Friday, July 24, 2020

Spotlight: The Descartes Evolution by N.J. Croft


Author: N.J. Croft
Publisher: Sideways Books
Pages: 268
Genre: Thriller

A woman with a rare genetic illness must uncover her connection to a terrorist group before their next attack in this exciting new bio-thriller from the author of Disease X.
Lucas Grafton has spent the last ten years hunting the Conclave, a secret organization who took everything from him, including his very identity. Now he has a lead—an imminent terrorist attack on London—code-named “Descartes”. But he can’t connect the dots until a seemingly innocent woman appears during his stakeout.
Jenna Young can’t believe she was attacked and barely escaped with her life. Now she’s on the run with a stranger…and racing against the clock. With only a note left by her father after his death, telling her to use the code-word “Descartes” to get the pills that slow the progression of her illness, Jenna has only days before her body will start to rapidly deteriorate.
Lucas and Jenna must piece together why she’s wanted by a terrorist group she’s never heard of. And why, despite her claims that she needs an unknown and presumably illegal drug to stay alive, she seems to be getting stronger by the day…

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About the author:

After a number of years wandering the world in search of adventure, N.J. Croft finally settled on a farm in the mountains and now lives off-grid, growing almonds, drinking cold beer, taking in stray dogs, and writing stories where the stakes are huge and absolutely anything can happen.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Tour Dates:
Monday, June 22
Tuesday, June 23
Friday, June 26
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Wednesday, July 1
Thursday, July 2
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Monday, July 6
Wednesday, July 8
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Monday, July 13
Wednesday, July 15
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Monday, July 20
Friday, July 24



Release Blitz: Playing to Win Anthology



Forever Write PR is proud to present the release of 
PLAYING TO WIN:
An Elite Athlete Sports Romance Anthology
Release Date: July 24
Participating Authors:
Mignon Mykel
Aubree Valentine
Jennifer Bonds
Brooke O’Brien
Tina Gallagher
Christy Pastore
Victoria Pinder


Grab it on your favorite vendor for a limited time! 
Will be in KU this week!


Meet the Authors:

Mignon Mykel 

Mignon Mykel, author of reader-favorite Prescott Family, loves books, dreaming, and espresso. When not writing, you can find her reading, hiking, or hanging out with her adorable nanny boy-os. 

Her books have been likened to “real life” and much like real life, sometimes the biggest hurdle in a relationship is one’s self. Outside forces are not always applicable in the struggle toward HEA. She loves to read books in large worlds, where many books down the road, you get a glimpse at a former favorite couple. It is because of that, that every Mignon Mykel title you read, is connected to any other title in some shape or form. However, everything—with the exception of the Playmaker Duet—is a complete standalone. 

Connect with Mignon Mykel: https://mignonmykel.com/ 

Aubree Valentine 

Aubree Valentine began her book world career back in 2016 as a virtual assistant for a friend/author and as a book blogger. While working with authors, PR companies and fellow bloggers, she fell even more in love with the Indie community and decided to launch her own small scale PR company where she continued to hone her skills as a virtual assistant to several authors and studied the ins and outs of what it takes to help succeed in the industry. When she's not working with her partner in crime, you can find her penning fun and flirty stories about all of her imaginary and very smexy alphas. This includes her current and most popular series, Too Hot To Handle.

Aubree has a degree in sarcasm and resides in Pennsylvania. She enjoys reading, chasing after her twins and her three furbabies, cuddling with her husband, and coming up with new project ideas that often involve power tools. She's usually always online via Facebook or Instagram @authoraubreevalentine.

Connect with Aubree Valentine: www.aubreevalentine.org 

Jennifer Bonds

Jennifer Bonds writes sizzling contemporary romance with sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and a whole lot of mischief. She’s a sucker for enemies-to-lovers stories, laugh out loud banter, and over the top grand gestures. 

While she’d like to tell you she’s always loved reading, it just wouldn’t be true. In second grade her mom had to bribe her to read (and learn multiplication tables), but by the time she reached middle school she was hopelessly addicted to all things fiction. Amazingly, it didn’t help her popularity level, but did inspire her to write her first book, which (thankfully) is buried in the basement where it will never see the light of day. 

Ten years of professional insanity and one MBA later, Jennifer decided to take a chance and pursue her dream of writing. Because, honestly, what could be better than spending your days reading and writing swoonworthy romance? 

She also writes YA paranormal romance as J.J. Bonds

Jennifer lives in Pennsylvania, where her overactive imagination and weakness for reality TV keep life interesting. She’s lucky enough to live with her own real life hero, two adorable (and sometimes crazy) children, and one rambunctious K9. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, the Winchester brothers, and all things zombie. Sings off-key. 

Connect with Jennifer Bonds: https://www.jenniferbonds.com 

Brooke O’Brien

Brooke O'Brien is the author of the Heart's Compass series, the Tattered Heart duet, and her newest release, BRIX, a stepbrother/bully romance.

Growing up Brooke always had a love of writing; she started out writing poetry when she was young and began journaling her thoughts as she grew older. Diving headfirst into a good book has always been therapeutic for her. Now her two passions have collided.

Brooke believes you can cure any bad day with chocolate or by going on a long drive with the windows down and the music turned up! She's found that's when her characters talk to her the most! If she's not reading or writing, you'll probably find her spending time with her family and friends, watching Hawkeye football or NBA basketball, going to the movies, or collecting signed paperbacks.
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She loves to interact with readers! Keep in touch with Brooke by following her on Social Media and join her exclusive Reader Group

Connect with Brooke O’Brien: https://www.authorbrookeobrien.com/ 

Tina Gallagher

Tina Gallagher wears many hats. She’s a wife, mother, author, and editor…and that doesn’t even include her day job. 

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Tina worked a spectrum of jobs ranging from baking and cake decorating to marketing and project management. But her true passion is writing. In between her day job and spending time with her family, she manages to fit in time to write the romance novels she loves so much. 

Tina lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. 

Connect with Tina Gallagher: http://tinagallagherbooks.com 

Christy Pastore

Christy Pastore is a bestselling author of Romantic Comedy and Literary Humor romance reads. She writes sexy, contemporary romance books that contain bold heroines and swoony gentleman with a naughty side. Writing has always been a part of Christy’s life. Her first writing gig was for a celebrity entertainment website. Later she went on to create her own blogazine and media company combining her love of writing with fashion and marketing. 

When’s she not writing flirty and dirty books you’ll find Christy browsing the internet for the latest celebrity gossip, obsessively watching Instagram stories, binge watching her favorite shows or daydreaming. 

She appreciates a good vodka soda with a twist of lime or a nice glass of wine. She’ll never turn down chips and salsa, margherita pizza or Mexican food. And yes, you can always ask her for advice on fashion and style trends. 

Christy lives in central Indiana with her husband their two ginger kitties, Cheeto and Dorito. 

She believes books, especially love stories are an escape from the real world. 

Connect with Christy Pastore: https://christypastore-author.com 

Victoria Pinder

USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun though she left that for a while to live in New Orleans, Denver and now Pittsburgh. She started single but the husband and then children joined in on the fun. She’s worked in engineering, then lawyer, then teacher, and finally novelist. She refused to one day turn 50 and realize she had nothing but her career and hours at a desk. 

During all this time and travel, she always wrote stories to entertain herself or calm down. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, and Victoria spent too many years living other people’s expectations, but when she sat down to see what skill she had that matched what she enjoyed doing, writing became so obvious. The middle school year book when someone wrote in it that one day she’d be a writer made sense when she turned thirty. 

She’s always been amazing, adventurous and assured. It’s what gets her through the day. 

Visit her website where you can get a free read NOW. Please write as she loves writing back to her fans. 

Connect with Victoria Pinder: https://victoriapinder.com