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Romantic Reads and Such

Monthly Archives: October 2020

Spotlight – Home for the Baby’s Sake

07 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Christine Rimmer, Home for the Baby's Sake

Home for the Baby’s Sake

by Christine Rimmer

Blurb:

Heโ€™d do anything for his sonโ€ฆincluding returning to the town he left behind.

Valentine Bayโ€™s the perfect place for real estate developer Roman Marek to raise his infant son. But when he snaps up the charming local theater, he doesnโ€™t bargain for tempestuous director Hailey Bravo. Hailey wonโ€™t let Roman wreck the thing she holds most dearโ€”and sheโ€™s certainly gotten under Romanโ€™s notoriously thick skin. As the duo spar and sparks fly, Romanโ€™s surprised to find that Haileyโ€™s the perfect missing piece for his family. But how can he convince her that this partnershipโ€™s for keeps?

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-for-the-babys-sake-christine-rimmer/1136387506?ean=9781335894847

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Babys-Mills-Bravos-Valentine-ebook/dp/B0876JM6HG

Google: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Home_for_the_Baby_s_Sake.html?id=kevODwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335894847

Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488070112_home-for-the-babys-sake.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51183107-home-for-the-baby-s-sake

*****

Excerpt:

When she arrived at the fish place on Ocean Road, Roman was waiting outside for her, leaning against a sleek black sports carโ€”the famous one made in Italy, with doors that opened upward, like wings.

โ€œThis car,โ€ she said, shaking her head, trailing a finger along the gleaming hood. โ€œYouโ€™d better write the arts council a check, Roman Marek.โ€

He put his hand to his broad, hard chest, right over his heart. โ€œYou have my solemn word on that.โ€

They went inside. The food was excellent, as always, and being with Roman was easy and fun. Even the silences were comfortable. He said heโ€™d moved back to town from Las Vegas and bought a house on Treasure Cove Circle. Hailey knew the house. It was a mansion nestled in its own private oceanfront reserve, surrounded by beautiful old-growth forest, overlooking a secluded stretch of beach.

โ€œI want to see you again,โ€ he said as he walked her back out to her car. She gave him her number and when he gathered her close, she didnโ€™t resist.

The kiss was just right, a tender, sweet getting-to-know-you kind of kiss. His lips felt so good brushing against her own, and excitement sizzled through her. They both pulled back slowly and just stood there at the driverโ€™s door of her Kia Sportage, grinning at each other for a long string of lovely seconds.

โ€œSee you soon,โ€ he said as he pulled open the driverโ€™s door for her.

She climbed in and he shut the door. Then he stood there, the afternoon sun gleaming on his dark brown hair, as she backed from the parking space and drove away.

For the rest of the day, Hailey felt like the living, breathing representation of some old romantic song. She walked on air and danced on clouds. Sheโ€™d met a guy she wanted to see again. That hadnโ€™t happened since Nathan.

She couldnโ€™t stop smiling as she sat at the kitchen table in the family cottage she shared with Harper and worked on her plans for the Christmas showโ€”which desperately needed an actual name. Later in the afternoon, she was back at the theater, greeting the parents as they dropped off their children for Fall Revue rehearsals.

It was the usual circus, corralling all the kids, giving them instructions that they immediately forgot. There was some pushing and one of the little girls cried. Hailey consoled and coaxed and loved every minute of itโ€”she always did. But somehow, more so today.

Because she kind of had butterflies over Roman Marek, and for three long years sheโ€™d honestly believed that all her butterflies had shriveled up and died.

*****

Author Info:

A New York Times bestselling author, Christine Rimmer has written over ninety contemporary romances for Harlequin Books. Christine has won the Romantic Times BOOKreviews Reviewers Choice Award and has been nominated six times for the RITA Award. She lives in Oregon with her family. Visit Christine at http://www.christinerimmer.com.

Website: https://www.christinerimmer.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RimmerChristine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinerimmerauthor?ref=hl

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21949.Christine_Rimmer

*****

 

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Spotlight – Alaskan Christmas Redemption

06 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Alaskan Christmas Redemption, Belle Calhoune

Alaskan Christmas Redemption

by Belle Calhoune

Blurb:

Some secrets are meant to be shared.

Before he gives his heartโ€ฆ

heโ€™ll have to forgive himself.

Returning to Owl Creek after years away, Braden Northโ€™s determined to help his best friend, Piper Miller, save her failing diner. But as they work to revitalize her business, Bradenโ€™s convinced he must hide the truth about a tragedy from their pastโ€ฆor risk losing Piper for good. If he can find the courage, might telling her everything make this Christmas a time for healing and forgiveness?

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alaskan-christmas-redemption-belle-calhoune/1136624444?ean=9781335488459

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alaskan-Christmas-Redemption-Home-Creek/dp/1335488456

Google: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Alaskan_Christmas_Redemption.html?id=N_LrDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335488459

Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335553935_alaskan-christmas-redemption.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52515535-alaskan-christmas-redemption

*****

Excerpt:

Braden watched as Piperโ€™s eyes widened with surprise. The shock on her face made him want to laugh out loud, but he knew the situation was far from humorous. The Snowy Owl Diner was at stake, and although heโ€™d agreed to provide his assistance, he wasnโ€™t sure if Piper even believed it could be saved. From this point forward, she would have to tell him everything about her situation. He would have to look over the books with a fine-tooth comb. If he was truly going to help her, he needed to understand exactly what she was facing. The good, the bad and the ugly.

โ€œA-are you serious?โ€ she asked, sputtering.

โ€œCompletely,โ€ he said, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. โ€œWhatever you need is what Iโ€™ll do.โ€

She pressed a hand to her chest. โ€œYou will? Really? You were so decisive last night. What made you change your mind?โ€

Braden paused before answering. โ€œBecause I owe you, Piper.โ€

โ€œFor what?โ€ she asked, confusion radiating from her eyes.

Telling her the truth wasnโ€™t an option. She wouldnโ€™t want to know why he would forever be indebted to her. โ€œFor a million different things. Youโ€™ve always being in my corner. How could I say no to you when youโ€™ve always said yes to me? No matter what trouble I got into or the problems I laid at your feet, you always jumped in to help me. Thereโ€™s no way I could do any less for you.โ€

Tears slid down Piperโ€™s face, and she made no attempt to wipe them away. She bowed her head, and he could see her lips moving. When she raised her head back up, Braden saw pure happiness emanating from her eyes.

โ€œThank you, Braden. Iโ€™m so grateful that you changed your mind. I know itโ€™s complicated, but in my heart I truly feel that I was meant to carry on Daddyโ€™s legacy. I just canโ€™t imagine my life without this place in it. Iโ€™m willing to do just about anything to save it.โ€

Braden couldnโ€™t envision Piper losing ownership of the restaurant either. It would be agonizing for her. Not to mention Trudy and Hank. They were all invested in it. The townsfolk would be both saddened and upset. Piper would be the subject of endless gossip about the circumstances of her losing ownership of the Snowy Owl. She wouldnโ€™t be able to bear it if the townsfolk discovered that the diner had been struggling since before her fatherโ€™s death.

He knew Jackโ€™s reputation was important to Piper. People would sympathize with her as well, but he knew she would be inconsolable. If there was even a small chance of them reversing things, he wanted to give it his all. It would be his penance for shaving years off Jackโ€™s life. If it hadnโ€™t been for him, Jack might be here today, doing everything he could to boost the restaurant and spreading his effortless charm throughout the establishment.

โ€œWe should meet up so you can give me an opportunity to look over the books and all of your monthly bills along with revenue. Thatโ€™ll at least give me a snapshot of whatโ€™s been going on.โ€

Piper made a sad face. โ€œSure thing. I hope you see something in there that I missed, but I crunched the numbers over and over again. Itโ€™s not looking good.โ€

โ€œWe have to look at all your options. You might need a lawyer or a consultant.โ€

She shook her head. โ€œI donโ€™t have money for an attorney. Itโ€™s a lack of money thatโ€™s gotten me into this situation in the first place.โ€ Piper let out a frustrated groan.

โ€œWhy donโ€™t we meet this evening to try and sort some of this out?โ€ he suggested. From what heโ€™d initially gathered, they had only a short window of time to get things dealt with before everything imploded. That needed to be prevented at all costs.

โ€œThat sounds good. Come by after I close up,โ€ she told him. โ€œI have to get back out there, but Iโ€™m so thrilled you changed your mind about helping me.โ€ She flashed him a smile. โ€œIn case you didnโ€™t realize it, Iโ€™m super grateful.โ€

*****

Author Info:

Belle Calhoune lives in Connecticut with her college sweetheart husband and two daughters. After a thirteen year career as a Federal Investigator, she chose to pursue a writing career. An avid lover of romance novels since she was a teen, she enjoys writing love stories and reading them. She loves spending summers in beautiful Cape Cod and traveling to new places. A dog lover, she has a mini poodle and a chocolate lab. More than anything, she believes in happily ever afters.

Website: https://bellecalhoune.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BelleCalhoune

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Belle-Calhoune-280681912035512/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6862710.Belle_Calhoune

*****

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Spotlight – The Duplicate Bride

02 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Uncategorized

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Ginny Baird, The Duplicate Bride

Let’s end the week with a wedding … kinda

*****

The Duplicate Bride

by Ginny Baird

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ย Blurb:

Saying โ€œI doโ€ has never been this much fun in this charming new romance from New York Times bestselling author Ginny Baird.

Hope Webb canโ€™t believe her twin sister, Jackie, is begging her to swap places and play fiancรฉe at Jackieโ€™s pre-wedding festivities. Sure, itโ€™s only a business-deal sort of marriage, but Hope is a carb-loving teacher who enjoys curling up with a good book. Jackie is a workaholic whose idea of a good time is a brisk five-mile run at the crack of dawn. The two sisters couldnโ€™t be more opposite.

Now Hope is stuck in the middle of a warm, tight-knit family she canโ€™t help but adore and a groom who turns out to be entirely wonderful…for her.

Hotel magnate Brent Albright knows something is off about his fiancรฉe, but he doesnโ€™t care. Gone is the driven woman with similar career goals, and in her place is someone warm and funny who not only charms his family but him as well. Sheโ€™s doing everything she can to avoid him, but thatโ€™s probably just nerves. Two people about to wed couldnโ€™t know each other less.

Now Brent is determined to woo his fiancรฉe, for real this time, because the more he gets to know her, the more his sweet fiancรฉe turns out to be entirely wonderful…for him.

And thatโ€™s when things start to get really complicated… ย 

Amazon | B&N | Apple | Google | Kobo | Target | Walmartย 

*****

Author Info:

New York Timesย andย USA Todayย bestsellingย authorย Ginny Baird writes sweet contemporary romance with a dash of humor and a whole lot of heart. She’s published more than twenty-five novels and novellas, both with traditional presses and independently, and has several exciting projects in the works. When sheโ€™s not writing, Ginny enjoys cooking, walking, and spending time with her family.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon

*****

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