Spotlight: Audio-Excerpt of Icing on the Cake by Linda Seed

 

Author: Linda Seed
Narrators: Avie Paige, Travis Baldree
Length: 7 hours 47 minutes
Publisher: Linda Seed⎮2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Otter Bluff, Book 1
Release date: Mar. 27, 2021

Synopsis: She’s a baker without a kitchen. He’s got a double oven to spare. It’s a recipe for success, until his mother starts stirring up trouble....
Cassie Jordan has a sweet dream to open a bakery specializing in wedding cakes. The problem is, the Airstream trailer where she lives has a kitchen the size of a postage stamp, and her job as housekeeper for a vacation rental agency doesn’t pay enough for her to find other arrangements.

When the renters at one of the houses in her care cancel their stay, leaving the house empty and its top-of-the-line kitchen unused, who could blame her for seeing it as an opportunity? But Cassie’s unsavory plan starts to look like a mistake when the owner’s son shows up unannounced, catching her with her pants down - literally.

If Cassie can sweet-talk her way out of trouble, setting up her business might be a piece of cake. If not, it’s going to be a bitter setback....

The Icing on the Cake is a stand-alone novel in Linda Seed’s Otter Bluff small-town romance series.

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About the Author: Linda Seed

Linda Seed is a former journalist who began writing contemporary romance in 2015 with Moonstone Beach. Her debut novel has been downloaded more than 220,000 times. Linda lives with her husband, the art writer John Seed, and their kids in the Central Coast town of Cambria, California, where all of her books are set. At a time when close personal relationships are increasingly hard to find, Linda aims to write a better world full of the love, loyalty, and companionship that we all long for.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

About the Narrator: Avie Paige
Aven is an audiobook narrator living in her off-grid tiny house in rural Eastern Canada, surrounded by forest and chicken friends, and honeybees.  She loves books so much she's listening to one almost every minute she's not narrating one (she narrates romance as Avie Paige). She narrates live on Discord with other romance narrators on the Haven server.   She is longing to travel and hike in mountains again, and dreaming of sleep in the lava fields of Iceland under Northern lights again, her favorite place in the world.  Her past lives include being a carpenter, firefighter, tax accountant, and competitive snowboarder.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

About the Narrator: Travis Baldree
Travis Baldree is a multi-award-winning audiobook narrator with a warm and versatile voice and a facility for character and accent.     He is the voice of the best-selling Cradle series by Will Wight and over 150 othear audiobooks.  He narrates live almost every day on his Discord server. 
Travis is also a former game developer, creator of Torchlight, Fate, & Rebel Galaxy, and co-founder of Runic and Double Damage games.   Travis Baldree lives in the Western US with his family and the cutest dog.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram
 

Spotlight: Excerpt of In the Key of Family by Makenna Lee

 

by Makenna Lee 

Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition

Publication Date: May 25, 2021
 

Big-city free spirit meets small-town cop. And a symphony begins…
 
A homestay in Oak Hollow is Alexandra Roth’s final excursion before settling in to her big-city career. Officer Luke Walker, her not-so-welcoming host, isn’t sure about the "crunchy" music therapist. Yet his recently orphaned nephew with autism instantly grooves to the beat of Alex’s drum. Together, this trio really strikes a chord. But is love enough to keep Alex from returning to her solo act?
 
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In the Key of Family - Excerpt
Makenna Lee
Alexandra Roth stumbled back when the Acorn Café door fired open, and a tall cowboy rushed out with a large bag of ice over one shoulder and a twelve-pack of beer under the other. He sidestepped just in time to avoid sending her sprawling onto the hot sidewalk, and his obsidian eyes sprang wide.
“Pardon me, ma’am. So sorry.”
“It’s…okay.” She barely managed to squeak the words out past her surprise and a flare of attraction.
Were all the Oak Hollow residents this polite? And this smoking hot? She adjusted the guitar case over one shoulder, pulled out her cell phone and snapped a photo of him walking away. The historic town square created the perfect backdrop to frame his powerful form. Tight maroon T-shirt over bulging muscles, worn jeans, hat, boots and enough swagger to get a girl’s motor revving. A genuine cowboy in the flesh. Not something she often saw back home in Manhattan.
He paused, and she thought she’d been caught taking his picture, but after a few beats he continued across the street to a black truck. Attempting to look nonchalant, she leaned her large rolling suitcase against a post and sat on top. Her movie-star sunglasses were the perfect concealment for stealthy observation. The cowboy handled his purchases like they weighed nothing, but his flexing muscles told a different story as he put them on the tailgate and leaned in to drag over a cooler. Ice cascaded and chimed like musical notes over the glass bottles.
Alex didn’t want to take her eyes off him long enough to dig out her sketch pad, so she’d have to use her memory and the one photo to paint his image. A hot breeze fluttered her billowy sleeves, and she wished for some of his ice to cool her heated skin. Beer wasn’t her drink of choice, but putting a cold amber bottle to her lips sounded pretty good about now. Maybe she’d run into him again, and they could share a drink, or a meal, or…
The star of her developing fantasy slammed his tailgate. His eyes were hidden in the shade of his cowboy hat, but the wide grin he shot her way was as clear as Waterford Crystal, and she knew she’d been caught staring. Rather than looking away in embarrassment, she returned his smile. He gripped the brim of his hat in a sort of cowboy salute, then climbed into the cab and started the engine. It wasn’t the first time she’d been caught observing someone whose likeness she wished to capture with paint.
Once he’d driven down Main Street, Alex studied the covert photo on her phone, only feeling a smidge guilty about taking it without permission. But you couldn’t see his face, which was unfortunate because it had been a really nice face—all angles and strong lines, tan skin and a bit of dark, sexy stubble. It would be the first watercolor painting she’d work on once she got settled. If she didn’t melt in this oppressive Texas summer heat. She gathered her long mass of auburn hair, twisted it into a messy bun and secured it with two paintbrushes from the front pocket of her guitar case.
 
About the Author 

Makenna Lee is an award-winning romance author living in the Texas Hill Country with her real-life hero and their two children. Her oldest son has Down syndrome and taught her to appreciate the little things, and he inspired one of her novels. As a child, she played in the woods, looked for fairies under toadstools, and daydreamed. Her writing journey began when she mentioned all her story ideas, and her husband asked why she wasn’t writing them down. The next day she bought a laptop, started her first book, and knew she’d found her passion. Now, Makenna is often drinking coffee while writing, reading, or plotting a new story. Her wish is to write books that touch your heart, making you feel, think, and dream. She enjoys renaissance festivals, nature photography, studying herbal medicine, and usually listens to Celtic music while writing. She writes for Harlequin and Entangled Publishing and believes everyone deserves a happy ending.
 
Connect with the Author
Website: https://makennalee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakennaLeeAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakennaLeeBooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makennaleewriter/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18822880.Makenna_Lee

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Don't Start Now by Tara September

 

Author:  Tara September
Narrator:  Hollie Jackson
Length: 4 hours 27 minutes
Publisher: Plus it Up
Genre:  Contemporary Romance 
Release date:  May 19, 2021

Synopsis: What can go wrong being stuck on a cruise ship with your ex and entering into a fake relationship with a sexy coworker? It might not be the Titanic, thank goodness, but Eve Richard’s heart is sinking by the minute and love is definitely going down.

Pulitzer-prize-winning war journalist turned small-town newspaperman, Adam Seager, has given up a lot for his work, country, and family, but not this time. He knows what he wants, and it’s his coworker, Eve. Her smile is the brightest part of his day and a daily reminder that more adventures are yet to come. When they are both assigned a travel feature on board a new cruise ship, it’s the perfect opportunity to let his feelings set sail.

Eve will never date another coworker or writer again. Been there, done that. Time to pursue her own writing dreams, even if it means bunking with the infuriating and complicated Adam Seager. So what if the butterflies he sets off in her belly can rival the waves outside their cabin. She intends to keep things strictly professional … that is, as much as they can be while also pretending to be a couple. Their relationship might be fake, but the pull to get to know more of him is real. Her reporter’s gut says there is more to uncover than meets the eye. But what will happen when they are back on dry land? 

Buy Links

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My thoughts:

Don't Start Now as a really quick and cute romance.  It involves co-workers Adam and Eve.  They are tasked with going on a cruise and writing about their experience for their newspaper's travel section.  They enter into a fake relationship with Eve's backstabbing ex shows up.  

As I said, this was a cute fake dating romance.  I really enjoyed Adam.  I loved how he was all in and did what he could to make Eve trust him.  Having been seriously wronged by her ex, she has some serious trust issues. But I thought they were good together.  I listen to audiobooks at 2x speed, so I was able to listen to it in about 2 hours.  The narrator did a wonderful job.  If highly recommend this one.  

About the Author: Tara September

Tara September is an award-winning... and losing contemporary romance writer living in Southwest Florida.
Tara is proud to be the world's most okayest mom to clones (identical twin boys). When not writing out her daydreams, she blogs over at When Tara Met Blog @tarametblog, a lifestyle and parenting blog of 14 years.
Holding a master's degree in journalism from NYU, she previously was the Corporate Communications Manager at WWE and PR Manager for The Walt Disney Company, Consumer Products.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

About the Narrator: Hollie Jackson

Harnessing a childhood steeped in storytelling and a deep love of the written word, with over 600 titles (and growing) under her belt, Hollie always strives to bring a wide range of characters to vibrant, compelling life, allowing for total immersion in the story. She is currently on the rosters of multiple major publishers like Podium, Tantor and ACX.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook
 

Review: Tell Me When You Feel Something by VIcki Grant

Author Vicki Grant
Publisher: Penguin Teen
Publication date: June 2021

It seemed like a cool part-time program -- being a simulated patient for med school students to practice on. But now vivacious, charismatic Viv lies in a very real coma. Cellphone footage just leads to more questions. What really happened? Other kids suspect it was not an intentional overdose -- but each has a reason why they can't tell the truth.

Through intertwining and conflicting narratives, a twisted story unfolds of trust betrayed as we sift through the seemingly innocent events leading up to the tragic night. Perhaps simulated patients aren't the only people pretending to be something they're not . . .

I had high hopes for Tell Me When You Feel Something .  It ended up being nothing like I was expecting.  So it was ultimately  disappointing.  The story involves several students who work after school as simulated patients for a local medical school.  After a party one night, seemingly good girl Viv ends up in a coma. Through flashbacks and current day narration, we slowly put together what was really going on.

The story wasn't awful.  I did think the twists were not predicable so I did like that.  As for the rest? The characters were uninteresting.  Even the girl in the coma, Viv.  She was a stereotypical spoiled teen who has a substance abuse problem that NO adults seem to pick up on.  Does the chewing garlic thing really work?  The story had a lot of potential.  It's probably me a me thing.  I thought the book would go one way, when what actually happened was disappointing.  I also think that there should be some type of trigger warning for readers because I doubt many will expect that reveal.  But then, maybe it would be a spoiler.

One thing that annoyed me was the huge emphasis on the girls taking a multivitamin every day for low iron.  I kept thinking that it would play into what was happening at the med school.  But, no.  They just take a multivitamin every day.  Why make such a huge deal if that isn't going to play ANY role in the outcome.  Also, what teens walk around with bags of vitamins?  Small things like that made the book not remotely believable.  Other people seemed to like this book.  It just wasn't for me.

Blog Tour: Review of Fortunate Son by Jay Crownover

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Author:  Jay Crownover
Forever Marked: The Second Generation of the Marked Men

Ry Archer and Bowe Keller are as different as night and day. But that doesn't stop the childhood frenemies from reconnecting whenever one of them needs some help tackling any of life's major puzzles, like figuring out why getting what you always thought you wanted isn't living up to all the hype. They might constantly rub each other the wrong way (except for the times when they rub each other the really-really right way), but there is no denying they've always made one hell of a great team. They manage to balance each other out… when they aren't driving each other crazy. For Ry, he thought he had the perfect girl, the one who was going to run headfirst into a methodically planned future. He was going to marry young and have the same kind of legendary, life-long romance his parents did… or so he believed. His girl was going to stand by his side as he chased his dream of being a professional football player all the way to the NFL. He was wrong. 

Now, Ry's gotta figure out the difference between a bruised heart and a broken one, and the only person who can teach him the difference is Bowe. Bowe always felt like she had to run before she learned to walk to keep up with her father's musical legacy. He's her hero, and she wants nothing more than to make him proud. Bowe's about to figure out that maybe she wasn't meant to be in a rock and roll band and that it is possible she let her father's success cloud her idea of what making music should be. Bowe needs to find her own path to fame, and there's a good chance she wouldn't be brave enough or bold enough to start over if Ry Archer hadn't charmed his way back into her life when she least expected it. Some days they're enemies. Other days they're lovers. For a while, they were strangers. But now, it feels more like they might have always been soulmates. Eventually, Ry and Bowe realize that letting go of an old dream and creating a new one is much easier to do with the right person by your side.

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My thoughts:

Fortunate Son is the first book in the Forever Marked: The Second Generation of the Marked Men.  It's hard to believe that the characters I know and love from the Marked men series now have kids who are all grownup now.  This one is Ry and Bowe's story.  I have mixed feelings about this book and the new series.

I did overall like the story.  I enjoyed catching up with characters and seeing what kind of children they raised.  That was fun.  I also liked Ry and Bowe.  They both are kind of figuring out their life paths.  I admired that Bowe wanted to try to make it on her own in music instead of cashing in on her dad's fame.  (Her father is Asa).  What I didn't really feel was the attraction between Ry and Bowe. I never felt like I got to know either of them together all that well.  They didn't spend a lot of time together on page.  I also found the book got a little too bogged down in who was whose kid and how they were all related.  It slowed down the book for me because it kept being repeated.

The ending leaves a lot open for future books.  I want to to know what happened between Remy and her parents.  I also want to know what made Aston want to move far away.  This is a decent first in a series and I do look forward to the next books.

About the author:

Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road. Connect with her: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Reader Group 

Spotlight: Excerpt of Guarding Colton's Child by Lara Lacombe

 

by Lara Lacombe 

Publisher: Harlequin 

Publication Date: May 25.. 2021

To keep her family safe
 
He’ll risk everything, even his heart…
 
After losing his family, Dr. Stavros Makris could never imagine trusting again. So when Desiree Colton rushes her toddler, Danny, to the ER, Stavros must keep things professional with mother and son. But then a kidnapper targets Danny, and Stavros lets down his guard, forging an unbreakable bond with Desiree. As sparks fly between them, they work against the clock to protect the little boy from a criminal closing in…
 
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Guarding Colton’s Child - Excerpt
Lara Lacombe

Stavros tapped his knuckles lightly on the door in announcement and entered the room. He was greeted by the sight of a woman sitting on the gurney, rocking back and forth as she held a boy in her arms. She looked up as he entered the room, and when their eyes met, Stavros felt a little shock jolt through his body.
He knew this woman. But how?
Feeling flustered, he frowned slightly as he studied her face, wishing he’d taken a look at the chart first. “Hi, I’m Dr. Makris. What’s going on tonight?” Even though the nurse had given him a report of the pertinent information, he always liked to have his patients, or their parents, tell their story again, so he could hear the tone of their voice and see their expressions. Sometimes, the way someone moved or what they didn’t say was just as important as their symptoms.
“Danny woke up about an hour ago with a high fever,” the mother said. “I tried to get him to drink water, but he refused. The night nurse at his doctor’s office said to bring him straight here.”
Stavros heard the fear in the woman’s voice; it was clear she was scared for her baby. Empathy swelled in his chest. He remembered all too well what it had felt like to hold a feverish child, to fret and worry over every little cough or sniffle. He’d thought his medical training would give him some much-needed perspective when it came to his daughter’s health, but if anything, the opposite had happened. He’d been so aware of the worst-case scenario, of all the things that could go wrong. He’d been the one to call the pediatrician for every little thing, his wife standing in the background trying to calm him down.
“Tell me about Danny,” Stavros said. He kept his voice level and calm, and walked Danny’s mother through the questions that would help him make his diagnosis.
She didn’t hesitate to answer him, and based on her detailed responses, Stavros could tell she was an attentive mother.
“All right,” he said. “Let’s see if your little guy will let me examine him.” Stavros already had a presumptive diagnosis in mind, but he always performed a physical exam to confirm his suspicions.
The toddler’s mother gently turned her son, and Stavros got his first good look at the boy’s face. “I know you!” The words flew from his mouth before he realized he was speaking.
Her expression turned guarded. “Oh?”
Stavros realized he’d put his foot in it, but there was nothing to be done for that now. He nodded. “I…uh…I helped look for your son a few months ago, after he was taken from the hotel.”
“You did?” Stavros heard the relief in her voice, noticed the way her body relaxed now that he’d explained his reaction.
“Yeah. I joined a search party after my shift that night.”
“Oh, wow,” she replied. “That was very kind of you.
I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. I didn’t get a chance to thank all the people who helped look for Danny.”
Stavros waved away her gratitude. He didn’t want to tell her that he’d had to do it—he’d been driven by the memories of his own daughter’s kidnapping. As soon as he’d heard another child was in the same kind of jeopardy, he hadn’t hesitated. He’d jumped in his car at the end of his shift and headed to the hotel, needing to help in some way. Logically, he knew he’d been trying to save this boy the way he hadn’t been able to save his daughter. But at the time, he’d been ruled by emotions and the desperate desire to make a difference. Finding Danny wouldn’t bring Sammy back—he’d known that. But he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he hadn’t at least tried.
 
About the Author 
Lara Lacombe is a recovering research scientist turned college professor who now spends her days writing and wrangling a toddler.  She lives in Texas with her family and two entitled cats, and loves chocolate and her Crock Pot.  She uses Facebook to procrastinate--stop by Lara Lacombe Books if you'd like to chat!
 
Connect with the Author
Website: http://laralacombe.blogspot.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaraLacombe1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laralacombe?lang=en
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lara-lacombe
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7082218.Lara_Lacombe
 

Blog Tour: Review of The Summer of No Attachments by Lori Foster

 

Author: Lori Foster
On Sale Date: June 22, 2021
9781335459893
Trade Paperback
$16.99 USD
336 pages

Buy Links:
Bookshop.org  Amazon   Barnes & Noble  Books-A-Million  Indie Bound  

 
Summer flings with no strings mean nobody gets hurt.
At least, that was the plan…
After putting the brakes on her dead-end relationship, local veterinarian Ivey Anders is ready to soak up this summer on her own terms. The way she sees it, no dating means no disappointment. Why complicate life with anything long-term? But when she meets Corbin Meyer—and his troubled young son, Justin—Ivey’s no-strings strategy threatens to unravel before she can put it into practice.
Trust doesn’t come easy for Ivey’s best friend, Hope Mage, a veterinary-clinic assistant who’s affected by an incident that’s colored every relationship she’s had. Though Hope’s happy for Ivey, she can’t quite open her own heart to the possibility of love. Not just yet… Maybe not ever. Soon, however, she’s faced with a dilemma—Corbin’s older brother, Lang. He’s charming, he’s kind…and he may just be the reason Hope needs to finally tear down her walls.
And as the sweet summer months unspool, the two friends discover love won’t give up on them so easily.

Summer of No Attachments is the second book in the Summer Friends series.  This works totally as a stand alone, so you won't be lost if you haven't read the first book, The Somerset Girls.  This year has been struggle with reading slumps and searching for books that I can devour.  I have found a few, but they have been few and far between.  This book was just what I have been looking for and was a great way to kick off the summer.  It's a beautiful story about love, friendship and finding family where you least expect it.

I loved this dual romance.  Both couples were wonderful and I was rooting for them.  There was little angst and the romance was easy and lovely between the couples. For Corbin and Ivey, love came as a surprise.  So much for a "summer of no attachments".  But how could Ivey resist little Justin and his handsome father Corbin? It was a bit slower for Hope and Lang.  Hope's story was heartbreaking and I thought it was handled very well.  Lang was amazing with the way took his time with Hope.  This will be a great book to just get lost in the summer. I highly recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author. She lives in Central Ohio where coffee helps her keep up with her cats and grandkids between writing books. For more about Lori, visit her website at www.lorifoster.com, like her on Facebook or find her on Twitter, @lorilfoster.
 
Social Links:
Author website: https://lorifoster.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorifoster
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorilfoster
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorilfoster/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgeOARHmjBYWcmReym_N39A 
 

Blog Tour: Excerpt of There's More to It by Allie York

 

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Amazon → https://amzn.to/3gwCCsM
 
I’m Sebastian Keller and I’m a workaholic.
Multi-million-dollar companies don’t run themselves and I work hard to keep mine at the top. Befriending a kid was never on my agenda, but the second I set foot into my new apartment, he’s there to show me the ropes. When his foster family can’t keep him anymore, my choice is clear. The only thing I need to make him part of my life is something money can’t buy. A girlfriend.

I’m Stevie Summers and I’m barely scraping by.
I was on the right track. I had a fiancé, a job, and a degree. Until my fiancé cheated, and my mom died. Now I’m back at home scrambling for work and trying to pay my dad’s bills. I can forget about my love life entirely. Until a blast from my past comes into my life with an offer, I’d be stupid to refuse. Play his girlfriend. In return, he pays the bills. I’d be stupid to say no, and even stupider to fall in love.
 
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Excerpt
 
Copyright 2021 Allie York
I have to look like a freaking fish, opening and closing my mouth over and over. Brown hair, hazel eyes, that face that not even time can make me forget. “Holy shit! Sebbie?” Talk about a blast from the past. I look the man in front of me up and down. The last time I saw Sebastian Keller, he was eighteen, gangly, and had acne, and I was madly in love with him. The Seb in front of me is definitely not a kid anymore. He’s at least six-foot with a chiseled jaw for days and is rocking the gray sweatpants like a porn star. There’s definitely dick print there. And I’m not unimpressed. Oh, my god, stop looking at his junk.
“Stevie. Wow.” He breaks our mutual silence, and my eyes snap up from perusing his body. Face. Yes. Focus on his face. Hazel eyes, a little stubble, a swoop of dark hair on his forehead. Yup. Still Seb standing there. I take stock of the features one more time just to be sure and come to the same conclusion. Sebastian is my delivery, and time was good to this man. He grew up real nice. He’s checking me out too, but like a gentleman: he’s staring at my face, those eyes I know so well searching my face for something. I think back to right before I got out of my car and try to figure out what he sees right now. My eye makeup was on point at the beginning of the night, but I’ve worked a whole shift at the coffee shop and delivered ten meals since then. My hair is… I probably shouldn’t think about it. The ponytail it started in is probably lopsided and messy, but nothing I can do about it now.
“I take it this is your dinner since you’re in front of the only penthouse I see?” I offer the food and hold it between us. After way too long, he takes it very slowly like he may spook me if he moves too fast. The way my heart is hammering tells me this might be true.
“Yeah. Thanks.” His hand wraps around the bag, and I scope it for a ring. Nothing. Interesting. We keep staring at each other, and my hand falls uselessly to my side. “Do you want to come in?” As soon as he says it, Seb’s brows furrow like he’s surprised himself.
“I, uh, no. I don’t want to bother you.” I shake my head and take a step back. I am not emotionally stable enough for this, and I’m not wearing lipstick.
“Right. You’re working. Sorry.” Seb winces, or tries to smile, I can’t tell.
“No, you’re it. For now.” Good job, Stevie, now you don’t have an excuse to leave.
“Then come in for a second. I’m starving and need to sit down after that run. I can’t believe you’re here.” Then I get a real smile and know for sure that this sexy man in front of me is the same Seb from my childhood. That smile does the same thing now that it did fifteen years ago. My face gets hot, and I chew my bottom lip.
“Yeah. Okay. Just for a second.” I nod, trying to figure out why I just agreed to this. I smell like fried food, dogs, and coffee. Not a good combo, and I’m sure I look as tired as I am, but my stupid feet don’t get the memo, and they do the opposite of what my rational brain is saying. Seb tips his head for me to follow him in.

About Allie York
 
Allie is a mom and domestic canine appearance technician by day and an author by night. She loves all things nerdy, strong coffee, and cozy mysteries. If there’s a fandom to be in, she’s probably in it and has a soft spot for happily ever afters.
 
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  About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

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Spotlight: Excerpt of Cold Case True Crime by Denise N. Wheatley

 

Author: Denise N. Wheatley 

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

Publication Date: June 29, 2021

True crime is her beat.
 
But this cold case is personal…
 
Samantha Vincent has turned her fascination with true crime into a popular blog. When an old friend asks her to investigate a murder the police couldn’t solve, she begins to suspect that the cops want this case to go cold. Sam is confident she’ll catch the killer when Detective Gregory Harris agrees to help her, but everything changes when she becomes a target…  
 
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Cold Case True Crime - Excerpt

Samantha Vincent flinched when the coffee shop door slammed shut behind her. She stared down the dark, vacant street in search of her car—she hadn’t realized she’d parked so far away.
The temperature had dropped severely since she’d arrived at the café. There was now a stinging chill in the night air. She set out toward the sidewalk, tightening her houndstooth-patterned scarf in an effort to block the wind as it whistled eerily past her ears.
Samantha had spent the day working on her popular true crime cold case blog, Someone Knows Something, and time had gotten away from her. By now, businesses were closed and most residents of small-town Gattenburg, Illinois, had retired for the evening.
A frigid breeze whipped through her golden-brown bob and blew open Samantha’s black wool peacoat, sending unsettling shivers throughout her entire body. But it wasn’t just the icy climate that had unnerved her.
She was still rattled by an email she’d received from Ava Jennings, an old high school friend whose family Samantha had grown close to after spending countless days at their home during her teenage years. In her message, Ava pleaded with Samantha to investigate her brother Jacob’s mysterious death, which police had just officially stated was cold with no leads.
Tree branches scraped against dim streetlights that barely illuminated the road. Samantha glanced down at the ground, her lone shadow a stark reminder that she was unaccompanied in the unnerving darkness. Moments like these brought on paranoid thoughts of all the unsolved cases she worked so hard to crack. Many of those victims found themselves in her exact same position seconds before their demise—isolated and vulnerable.
Samantha pushed those disturbing thoughts out of her mind and hurried along the pavement. Her feet ached in her high-heeled boots. But in spite of the pain, she clenched her jaw and fought through it, anxious to get off the desolate street and inside her car.
Just when Samantha’s convertible appeared in the hazy distance, the sound of screeching tires pierced her eardrums.
She stopped abruptly. The vehicle’s engine emitted a menacing roar.
Samantha spun around, almost losing her footing. Bright yellow headlights blinded her squinted chestnut eyes. She inhaled sharply, watching while the black sedan crept toward her.
She curled her hands into tight fists and took a step back, her lean legs quivering in the wind. Remembering the mini stun gun she’d slipped into her back pocket, Samantha pulled it out and contemplated making a run for her car. But she was too afraid to turn her back on the man she presumed was behind the wheel.
Collin Wentworth…
 
About the Author 

Denise N. Wheatley loves happy endings and the art of storytelling. Her novels run the romance gamut, and she strives to pen entertaining books that embody matters of the heart. She's an RWA member and holds a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois. When Denise isn't writing, she enjoys watching true crime tv and chatting with readers. Follow her on Instagram: @denise_wheatley_writer Twitter: @DeniseWheatley BookBub: @denisenwheatley Goodreads: Denise N. Wheatley
 
Connect with the Author
Website: https://www.denisenwheatley.com/p/i-am-lover-of-romance-happy-endings-and.html
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denise_wheatley_writer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeniseWheatley
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/denise-n-wheatley 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3118421.Denise_N_Wheatley
 

Spotlight: Release Day for Fortunate Son by Jay Crownover

We are so excited to help celebrate the release of FORTUNATE SON by Jay Crownover with you today! FORTUNATE SON is part of Forever Marked: The Second Generation of the Marked Men.

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FORTUNATE SON by Jay Crownover

Forever Marked: The Second Generation of the Marked Men

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About FORTUNATE SON:

Ry Archer and Bowe Keller are as different as night and day. But that doesn't stop the childhood frenemies from reconnecting whenever one of them needs some help tackling any of life's major puzzles, like figuring out why getting what you always thought you wanted isn't living up to all the hype. They might constantly rub each other the wrong way (except for the times when they rub each other the really-really right way), but there is no denying they've always made one hell of a great team. They manage to balance each other out… when they aren't driving each other crazy. For Ry, he thought he had the perfect girl, the one who was going to run headfirst into a methodically planned future. He was going to marry young and have the same kind of legendary, life-long romance his parents did… or so he believed. His girl was going to stand by his side as he chased his dream of being a professional football player all the way to the NFL. He was wrong. Now, Ry's gotta figure out the difference between a bruised heart and a broken one, and the only person who can teach him the difference is Bowe. Bowe always felt like she had to run before she learned to walk to keep up with her father's musical legacy. He's her hero, and she wants nothing more than to make him proud. Bowe's about to figure out that maybe she wasn't meant to be in a rock and roll band and that it is possible she let her father's success cloud her idea of what making music should be. Bowe needs to find her own path to fame, and there's a good chance she wouldn't be brave enough or bold enough to start over if Ry Archer hadn't charmed his way back into her life when she least expected it. Some days they're enemies. Other days they're lovers. For a while, they were strangers. But now, it feels more like they might have always been soulmates. Eventually, Ry and Bowe realize that letting go of an old dream and creating a new one is much easier to do with the right person by your side.

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About JAY CROWNOVER:

  Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road. Connect with her: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Reader Group

Spotlight: Excerpt of A Brambleberry Summer by RaeAnne Thayne

Author: RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition

Publication Date: June 29, 2021

A new season leads to a new beginning in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne's latest heartwarming romance!
 
Will the secrets of her past…
 
Prevent her from having the future she’s always wanted?
 
Rosa Galvez’s attraction to Officer Wyatt Townsend is as powerful as the moon’s pull on the tides. But with her past, Rosa knows better than to act on her feelings. When Wyatt and his adorable son become Brambleberry House’s newest tenants, Rosa finds her resolve slipping. Her solo life slowly becomes a sun-filled family adventure—until dark secrets threaten to break like a summer storm.
 
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A Brambleberry Summer - Excerpt

By RaeAnne Thayne

Now that the deed was done, Rosa was having second, third and fourth thoughts about Wyatt Townsend moving in downstairs.
Why had she ever thought this would work?
That evening as she pulled weeds in the backyard after leaving the store, she had to fight all her instincts that were urging her to call up Carrie right now and tell her she had made a mistake. The apartment was no longer available.
“There is no law against changing your mind, is there?” she asked out loud to Fiona, who was lying in the grass nearby, watching butterflies dance amid the climbing roses.
The dog gave her a curious look then turned back to her business, leaving Rosa to sigh. She yanked harder at a stubborn weed that had driven deep roots into the ground.
She would do nothing. She had given her word and could not back out now. Integrity, keeping her word, was important. She had learned that first from her own mother and then from her adopted parents.
Lauren and Daniel Galvez were two of the most honorable people she knew. They would never think of reneging on a promise and she couldn’t, either.
Yes, Wyatt made her extremely nervous. She did not want him moving in downstairs. But she had given her word to his sister. End of story.
Because of that, she would be gracious and welcoming to him and to his sweet son.
Thinking about Logan left her feeling a little bit better about the decision. He was a very adorable boy, with good manners and a ready smile.
It was not the boy’s fault that Wyatt made her so nervous.
She had almost talked herself into at least accepting the new status quo, when an SUV pulled up to the house a half hour later.
Fiona lifted her head to sniff the air, then rose and hurried over to the vehicle to greet the newcomers.
Rosa climbed to her feet a little more slowly, pulled off her gloves and swiped at her hair before she headed for the vehicle. She might be accepting of her new tenants, but summoning the same kind of enthusiasm her dog showed so readily would be a stretch.
When Rosa reached the vehicle, Logan was opening the back door and jumping to the ground, his little dog close behind.
Fiona barked a greeting, then leaned in to sniff the newcomer, tail wagging. The Townsends’ dog sniffed back, and a moment later, the two were circling each other with joy.
At least Fiona was happy to have them here.
“Hello, Logan,” Rosa said.
“Hi.” The boy beamed at her, showing off a gap in his teeth that she found adorable.
“Guess what?” he said. “We’re moving into your house! Dad says we can stay here until our house is done and I’ll have my own bedroom and won’t have to sleep in Aunt Carrie’s sewing room anymore.”
“This is so wonderful, no?” She smiled down at him, trying not to pay any attention to his father walking around the vehicle, looking big and serious and intimidating.
“What is the name of your dog?”
“This is Hank. Don’t worry. He’s nice.”
“I never doubted it for a minute,” she assured him. “Hello, Hank.”
She reached down to pet the dog, who responded by rolling over to have his belly scratched. Rosa loved him immediately.
“This is Fiona. She is also very nice.”
Logan grinned and petted Fiona’s long red coat.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if she only had to deal with the boy and the dog? Unfortunately, the boy had a father. She had to say something to Wyatt, at least. Bracing herself, she lifted her attention from the two dogs and the boy, and faced the man who always looked as if he could see through her skin and bones into her heart, and was not convinced he liked what he saw.
 
About the Author 
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.
 
Connect with the Author
Website: https://www.raeannethayne.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRaeAnneThayne/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/raeannethayne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeannethayne/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/116118.RaeAnne_Thayne