Spotlight – Saved by a SEAL Box Set

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

Tags

Aloha Series, Aloha Texas, Chris Keniston, Delos Series, Lindsay McKenna, Nowhere to Hide, Protecting Caroline, Saved by a SEAL box set, SEAL of Protection Series, Susan Stoker

A couple of days ago we met a SEAL and I thought we’d celebrate Friday by meeting 3! And best of all, it is on Sale for $0.99 and 100% of proceeds are going to America’s Vet Dogs – find out all about the book and the charity below. I’m so happy to be a part of what these authors are doing to help military veterans.

*****

Saved by a SEAL Box Set

by Lindsay McKenna, Chris Keniston and Susan Stoker

Released February 6, 2016

Self-Published

Blurb:

Three New York Times / USA TODAY Bestselling authors have joined forces to give back to the military veterans who have given so much to their country. Lindsay McKenna, Chris Keniston and Susan Stoker bring you SAVED BY A SEAL, a first in series box set. Join these authors and their SEAL heroes from the very beginning of their bestselling romance series.

NOWHERE TO HIDE by Lindsay McKenna Book 1, Delos Series

Lia Cassidy left the Army scarred physically and emotionally after a vicious attack by two fellow soldiers. She turns to helping others, working at a Delos Home School Charity in Costa Rica that aids abused women and children. But when the deadly drug lord, La Arana, attacks the school, Lia finds herself on the run for her life. The only person she can trust is the ex-SEAL sent to protect her.

Cav Jordan is strong, honorable and gorgeous…and intrigued by Lia. He knows she has suffered pain in her past, and he is determined to break through her barriers and earn her trust. But as Cav slowly chips away at the walls Lia has built, ghosts from her past threaten to destroy their fragile relationship.

ALOHA TEXAS by Chris Keniston Book 1, Aloha Series

Former navy diver Nicholas Harper likes his new world as captain of a dive boat in Hawaii.

Powerhouse attorney Kara Lynn O’Conner’s world revolves around her small Texas town where life is easy and safe.

Six year old Bradley Cooper is about to change everything.

PROTECTING CAROLINE by Susan Stoker Book 1, SEAL of Protection Series

Matthew “Wolf” Steel hated flying commercial. Luckily his job as a Navy SEAL meant he didn’t have to do it very often. He’d been unlucky enough to be assigned a middle seat on the cramped jet, but fortunately for him, the woman next to him was willing to switch seats with him. Hoping for a relaxing flight, Wolf was pleasantly surprised at the good conversation and sense of humor the woman had as they flew 36,000 feet over the countryside.

When Caroline boarded the plane to Virginia to move across the country for her new job she never expected to be seated next to the hottest guy she’d ever seen. She also never expected he’d be so easy to talk to. She knew he’d never be interested in talking to her if he hadn’t been trapped in the seat next to her, but it was a nice way to spend a long plane ride.

Neither Wolf nor Caroline were prepared for a terrorist hijacking of their plane, but if Caroline thought that would be the last time she’d see, or need, Wolf, she’d be sorely mistaken.

Available at just $0.99 for a limited time. All proceeds go to America’s VetDogs®

*****

About Americas VetDogs:

America’s VetDog’s Mission: To help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence.

America’s VetDogs® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that serves the needs of disabled veterans from all eras who have honorably served our country. VetDogs provides guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; hearing dogs for those who have lost their hearing later in life; service dogs for those with other physical disabilities; facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals, and PTSD service dogs to help mitigate the effects of PTSD in an effort to provide the emotional and physical support needed.

In 2013, America’s VetDogs (an affiliate of and managed by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind) became the second assistance dog school (the Guide Dog Foundation is the other) in the United States to be certified by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

For more information about this organization or how to donate go to www.vetdogs.org

*****

Excerpt:

From PROTECTING CAROLINE by Susan Stoker

Caroline leaned close to him and cautioned in a soft urgent voice, “Something’s wrong with the ice. I can smell it. It smells off, like something’s in it.”

Wolf picked up his drink again and raised it to his face. He could see Caroline wanted to stop him, but she didn’t. Pretending to take a sip he smelled it as she had… nothing. He couldn’t detect anything but the orange juice that was in the cup. He looked at her and said softly, “I don’t smell anything.”

Caroline was frustrated. She could tell Matthew wanted to believe her, but when he hadn’t noticed anything off about his drink, he was having a hard time. She looked away. Great, now he thought she was nuts. But she wasn’t. She was a chemist dammit, and this is what she did for a living. There was some other chemical in with the drink, she knew it. But how would she convince him without sounding crazy?

She turned back to Matthew, only to see him still looking at her.

“What is it?” he demanded softly. “Explain, so I can understand.”

Caroline’s respect for Matthew rose. He wasn’t sure he should believe what she was saying, but he was smart enough to give her time to convince him, and she knew she’d have to explain it in a way he could understand.

Caroline knew she had to get through to him and did her best to convince him she knew what she was talking about. Lowering her voice even further so the people around them wouldn’t hear her, she leaned into him and looked him in the eyes as she spoke. “I don’t know, but as a chemist I’m trained to pick up on the different chemical smells of compounds. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not natural.”

“Is it in mine too?” he asked her just as softly, passing his cup over to her.

She sniffed it and immediately nodded.

“Shit,” Wolf said under his breath. He believed her. He wasn’t a person to trust easily, but this woman didn’t have any guile in her at all. She’d have no reason to lie to him.

*****

Author Info:

Lindsay McKenna lives her life as a risk taker, and it shines through the books she loves to write: romance, adventure and suspense. She started writing at age thirteen and continues to hone her writing skills to this day. She sold her first romance novel in 1981. The rest is history.

Because she went into the military, this experience became the backbone of her writing—she is credited with writing the first military romance novel (Captive of Fate, 1983, Silhouette Special Edition) and has created a thriving sub-genre within the romance field! As a New York Times Best Selling author, she has sold 23 million books and in 32 foreign languages in her career thus far. Her many experiences in the U.S. Navy are backdrop for her understanding of the military in general, and also her very successful Morgan’s Mercenaries, which is an ongoing series in Silhouette to this day! Forty-five books strong!

Lindsay has gone Indie in 2015 and has created a new family saga on par with Morgan’s Mercenaries It is known as the DELOS SERIES. There will be paperback and eBooks created under Blue Turtle Publishing, her company for her fans. Readers who love Morgan and his family are bound to fall in love with the Culver family. Delos is romantic suspense, which Lindsay is well known for. It took her five years to create and bring DELOS to her readers. It was worth the wait, but we’ll let you decide that.

Lindsay loves to hear from her readers and loves to know what they’d like to see her write next. Stay up with the latest on the Delos Series here. Please visit her Web site at www.lindsaymckenna.com. And be sure to sign up for her free quarterly newsletter. It contains exclusive content found nowhere else on the Net. Plus, giveaways and other surprises, to her loyal and faithful subscribers!

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

A native New Yorker, Chris Keniston was on her way to Australia when she fell in love with North Texas. Little did she know the balmy seventy-degree October days would turn into fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk heat in August!

Twenty years later, she started scribbling short stories about her favorite TV shows, giving them lives more to her liking – and the elusive happy ending. Not long after, a dear friend dragged her to a local writers’ meeting. After winning multiple writing contests and making the finals in the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart contest, she now spends her days, and nights, writing contemporary romantic fiction with lots of emotion, plenty of surprises, and, of course, the happily ever after.

Chris lives in suburban Dallas with her husband, two human children, and two canine children. Though she loves her puppies equally, she admits being especially attached to her German Shepherd rescue named Gunny. After all, even dogs deserve a happily ever after.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Fun Fact about SAVED BY A SEAL Boxed Set:

Fabio, darling model of the romance covers during the 1980’s and 1990’s, before he retired, showed up on a total of 460 romance covers in our romance industry! An amazing amount!

In 2016 a very popular cover model is Jason Baca from Saratoga California , just broke Fabio’s long-standing record. On 2.10.16, the San Francisco Chronicle did an article on how Jason is now THE top romance cover model in our Romance Industry!

http://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Saratoga-man-now-top-romance-cover-model-6822011.php

Jason has done 461 romance covers breaking Fabio’s record. Why should I care you ask? Guess whose cover is number 461? That’s right. SAVED BY A SEAL is the cover that broke Fabio’s record!

The authors of SAVED BY A SEAL, Lindsay McKenna, Chris Keniston and Susan Stoker, sure hope this sells more books for the Disabled Vets ! – It’s rather cool that a charity anthology broke Fabio’s record!

*****

Giveaway:

a $10 Visa Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8937/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Book Review – You’re Still the One

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Country Blues series, Rachel Harris, You're Still the One

So we looked at the last of the Robicheaux siblings already this morning and now we get a chance to check in on one of their friends … and start a new set of books 🙂

*****

Your’re Still the One

Country Blues Series

by Rachel Harris

Blurb:

Love is one dare neither of them can take…

Arabella Stone, Nashville’s darling, is eager to shuck her prim-and-proper rep, and a few wild months spent checking items off her ” summer bucket list” is the way to do it. First up: kiss the man she’s crushed on since she wore a training bra, the bad boy of country himself, Blue bassist Charlie Tucker.

For Charlie, a beautiful woman flirting with him isn’t out of the norm–but a beautiful woman bolting after the hottest kiss of his life sure is. And when he finds out his kiss-and-run Cinderella is none other than Arabella Stone, daughter of his label’s CEO, he knows he’s in trouble. Because not only is she a Stone, she’s also his employee for the next few months at the recording studio he just bought.

Over the course of one thrilling summer, Arabella and Charlie chip away at her bucket list and fight the simmering attraction between them…knowing that once it’s all over, so is their time together.

Order on Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Add to your Goodreads

https://www.youtube.com/embed/fwN7VGvpiWY

*****

Excerpt:

Heart fluttering like a hummingbird, Ella picked her way across the stones, the steps still warm from the day’s brutal sun. She lowered herself, one concrete step at a time, until the tepid water lapped against the undersides of her breasts. She gasped at the sensation.

If she’d thought the biker bar felt decadent, this was positively wicked. Never in her wildest dreams had Arabella considered checking skinny-dipping off her list in this way, with neighbors potentially watching, and a naked Charlie Tucker as a wingman.

He tensed as she glided across the pool, the muscles of his back like chiseled marble. She’d love to believe it was because of her, that he longed to touch her as badly as she wanted to be touched. But she knew him well enough to know that even if he did, he’d never act on the desire. Not unless his guard was down.

So, Arabella did what any self-respecting woman in her situation would do. She dipped her hands into the water on either side of her body, gently cupping them so as not to make any sudden waves. She grinned as she bent her knees for leverage…and then, stifling a laugh, swung her hands high and up into the air.

Splash.

Charlie cursed as water rained, falling like a sheet over his head. His neck snapped back, flicking his unruly dark hair out of his eyes, and his shoulders raised to meet his ears.

Immediately, Arabella started backpedaling.

Fans of romantic comedies, and anyone who swam with boys in high school, knew what came next. She’d awoken the sleeping bad-boy giant, or so she hoped, but somehow, even as she kicked away as hard as she could, she couldn’t excite the proper trepidation. She wanted this, wanted him to come after her.

But she had to make the chase look realistic.

“Oh, you think you’re funny, don’t you?” Charlie’s smile was as big and dangerous as a bloodthirsty alligator, and Ella squealed as he took his first looming step. “You better run, sweet girl. It’s on now.”

Arabella kicked her feet, shooting water in his face. “Bring it, Tucker!”

Please, please, bring it, Tucker.

*****

Review:

It usually takes me about two paragraphs to find myself yanked into one of Harris’s stories – and this one proves to be no different. I feel so much for Ella as she struggles with her crush on Charlie and her need to stand on her own. She’s a little bit geeky, a lot sheltered, but totally adorable. It’s no wonder that she’s irresistible.

Charlie may be all about the good time when it comes to women, but he’s also all about his family and friends. And that dedication has put him right in the path of the delectable, but off-limits, Arabella. In order to get the funding from her father that he needs for his charity he agrees to keep an eye on her (on the quiet) for the summer … but proximity leads to feelings that he’s not ready for. And of course, everyone knows that secrets don’t go over well in romances.

I’m actually amused that both Tyler (from Accidentally Married on Purpose) and band-mate Charlie have similar issues with relationships, although for different reasons. It totally works though because one of the great thing about Harris is she manages to make their struggles real and their own. I would have hoped that Charlie would have learned from Tyler. But they are guys so …. 🙂

While I made sure to get Accidentally‘s review up today it isn’t important to have read any of the other books to enjoy this one. There are some characters that show up here (and we met Charlie then), but Rachel is kicking off a new series – complete with the heartfelt style and wonderful characters that she’s known for.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings, witty banter, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books…and kissing. Lots of kissing.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

Website | Facebook |Twitter | Rachel Harris Goodreads | Newsletter Sign Up

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win signed coipies of the Love and Games series and an Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9172c1a0302/

*****

Tour Schedule:

February 16^th

What I’m Reading – Review & Excerpt

Alpha Book Club – Review

I Love Romance – Review & Excerpt

Ficwishes – Review

Book Starlets – Review & Excerpt

FMR Book Grind – Review

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

February 17^th

Lovin’ Los Libros – Review & Excerpt

Angel Reads – Review

SassyCat’s Books Review – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Books According to Abby – Review & Excerpt

First Dream of Books – Excerpt

February 18^th

Friends Till The End Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

Tsk Tsk What to Read – Review & Excerpt

Oh the Book Feels – Excerpt

Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous – Review & Excerpt

SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews – Excerpt

E-Reading After Midnight – Review & Excerpt

February 19^th

thebookdragon – Review & Excerpt

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Reviews With Rah – Review & Excerpt

Cyn’s Reviews AndPromotionals – Review & Excerpt

Extreme Bookaholic’s – Excerpt

Jack of All Trades, Master of None – Review & Excerpt

February 20^th

The Lovely Books – Review & Excerpt

Miss Riki – Excerpt

Bookaholics Reading Haven – Review & Excerpt

Literary misfit – Excerpt

We All Make Mistakes in Books – Review & Excerpt

Liz’s Reading Life – Excerpt

BookWorm221 – Review & Excerpt

February 21^st

Four Chicks Flipping Pages – Review & Excerpt

The Bibliophile Confessions – Review

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Review & Excerpt

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs – Review

Romance Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt

Debbie’s World of Books – Excerpt

February 22^nd

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

Books, Coffee & Passion – Excerpt

Crazy Cajun Book Addicts – Review & Excerpt

Vi3tbabe – Review

Ticket to Anywhere – Review & Excerpt

Worth Reading It? – Review

My Fictional Escape – Review & Excerpt

February 23^rd

Bridget’s Book Bungalow – Review & Excerpt

Dazzled by Books – Review & Excerpt

The Cover Contessa – Excerpt

Bound By Books Books Book Review – Review & Excerpt

All For Love of the Word – Excerpt

February 24^th

Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review

Sultry, Steamy Reading – Review & Excerpt

Alphas Do It Better Book Blog – Excerpt

Library of a Book Witch – Review & Excerpt

Book reviews by lexi – Review

My Fictional Escape – Review & Excerpt

February 25^th

Jax’s Book Magic – Review & Excerpt

Lazy Book Lovers – Review

Romantic Reads and Such – Review & Excerpt

A crazy vermonters book reviews – Review

Books Eater – Review & Excerpt

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Review

Karen McCoy Books Presents: The Writer Librarian – Excerpt

February 26^th

Ramblings From This Chick – Review & Excerpt

G & T’s Indie Café – Excerpt

phishbowl’s bookshelf – Review & Excerpt

Beneath The Covers Blog – Excerpt

The Power of Three Readers – Review & Excerpt

Becky’s Book Bytes – Excerpt

Pandora’s Books – Review & Excerpt

Girl with a Pen and a Dream – Excerpt

Spotlight – SEALed in Texas

24 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Cat Johnson, Hot SEALs, Marissa Dobson, SEALed for You, SEALed in Texas

Thought we’d take a closer look at SEALed in Texas. It is a crossover between Marissa Dobson’s SEALed for You series and Cat Johnson’s Hot SEALs, and is part of the Hot SEALs Kindle Worlds, which we saw a few weeks back.

*****

SEALed in Texas

by Marissa Dobson

A SEALed for You/Hot SEALs crossover novella for Cat Johnson’s Kindle World

Blurb:

After sustaining injuries in the line of duty, Trever Alexander was forced to leave his SEAL team and all he worked for. In the midst of considering a job offer with GAPS, he was thrown into an assignment, one that brought him face to face with the woman he’d left behind.

One day Allyson Mason is living a normal, quiet life, and the next she is on the run. She doesn’t know who or what she’s running from. All she knows is that if she wants to stay alive she has to keep moving. She calls the only person she knows that might be able to help.

Chased by both physical and mental horrors, Trever and Allyson must put their emotions aside and work together.

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1PiqN53

*****

Excerpt:

She turned around to face Trever. “I can’t leave Texas.”

“The fuck you can’t.” He now stood near the window, his back still to her. “You’re in danger here.”

“Don’t you think I realize that?” Her voice rose, which was better than giving in to the tears she wanted to shed. How had everything worked out like this? It was supposed to be a simple run to the store, then Anthony threw everything away and dragged her down with him.

“No, I don’t.” Trever turned back to look at her, his hand gesturing toward the door. “Otherwise you’d have been more careful. What the hell were you thinking, not even bothering to put the latch on the door? Are you hoping they catch you?”

“I…I…didn’t think…” she stammered, knowing she had messed up. If Trever had gotten in without her hearing a sound, anyone could have. Someone else could have been waiting for her when she exited the shower completely unaware.

“You’re right, you didn’t think, and you could have gotten yourself killed.”

He stood there unmoving as if she went through this type of shit all the time. She was out of her element and she knew it. It was why she’d called Brier.

“You’re the fucking SEAL, not me,” she spat. “It’s not like I run for my life every other day. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing!” She sank down onto the bed again and stared at the floor. “Maybe I shouldn’t have run. If I’d stayed I—”

“You’d be dead,” He finished for her. He came around the bed to stand in front of her. “A drug deal? Damn it, Allie, are you hooked on that shit?”

“What?” She looked at him, blinking as she tried to adjust to the sudden swing in the conversation.

“If you’re messed up on that shit I need to know. I can’t have you strung out. In order to get you out of here I need you with a clear head.”

“I thought you knew me better than that, Trever. I don’t do drugs.” Tired of her emotions pulling her in two different directions she forced herself to look away from him and let her gaze fall onto the duffel bag that held everything she now owned, which wasn’t much. “Just get out. I don’t need your help.”

“I think you do.”

“You left me…” The words were out before she could stop them. That simple statement was the root of the newest turmoil inside her and was the one reason she was rejecting his help, though she hadn’t meant to verbalize it. She didn’t want him to know that she still missed him.

“That’s not what this is about.”

*****

Author Info:

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you are never done learning.

Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with.

Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night.

Her writing buddy Cameron (a cocker spaniel) is always around to listen to her bounce ideas off him. He might not be able to answer, but he’s helpful in his own ways.

She loves to hear from readers so send her an email at marissa@marissadobson.com or visit her online at http://www.marissadobson.com..

Website – www.MarissaDobson.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarissaDobson

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/MarissaMDobson

TSU – http://www.tsu.co/MarissaDobson

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/marissadobson/

Newsletter – http://eepurl.com/EFpxX

Spotlight – Nobody’s Princess

23 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Nobody's Princess, Sarah Heggar

Got two books I’m excited to share with you today – the first looks like a boat load of fun 🙂

*****

Nobody’s Princess

by Sarah Heggar

Blurb:

Sarah Hegger is back with another delightful Willow Park Romance, but this time the road to love might be a little bumpy…

Tiffany Desjardins has a plan. Well, she had a plan, until her past and all its complications came back to haunt her. Her not-quite-ex-husband, Luke, is missing, and suddenly everyone needs to find him–including Tiffany, if she wants to marry the true man of her dreams. Then there’s Thomas Hunter, Luke’s brawny friend, who won’t take “no road trip” for an answer–and who won’t stop showing up in her daydreams…

Thomas couldn’t care less about Luke’s personal life, but he needs to find him if he’s going to make his fledgling minerals and metals company a reality. And if that means following Tiffany, who’s taken off in Luke’s rare Lamborghini Miura, he’s more than willing–especially if there might be a chance to negotiate some of Tiffany’s lovely curves. As Tiffany and Thomas speed along without a map, the only destination that seems certain is being together…

“Sarah Hegger’s voice is rich and witty and in a word, addictive.”–Terri Osburn, author of the bestselling Anchor Island series

Amazon: http://amzn.to/21ShazC

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1M5pErn

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1lxWVGX

iBooks: http://apple.co/1lSiOjM

*****

Excerpt:

The vehicle took shape into one of those big trucks like her contractor drove. The sun glinted off the chrome detailing on its fender and obscured her view of the driver. An old movie flashed into her mind, the one with the truck and the car where the truck kept trying to kill the car. She stopped waving. This could be very stupid. Horror movies always started with some girl doing something dumb, like flagging down an unknown truck. She’d be better off calling AAA. She changed the motion of her hands to indicate the driver should carry on.

“What are you doing?” Dakota frowned.

“There could be a psycho in there.”

He gave her that teen look of total scorn. “There are two of us.”

Oh, she felt so much better now. There might be two of them, but her workouts were mainly Pilates. Lots of tone, not a lot of punching-type muscle. And Dakota might be all decked out in black and chains, but he’d be about as effective as a fart against a thunderstorm if the driver of that truck was anywhere near as large as his vehicle.

The truck slowed.

Too late, he’d seen them. He might be a she. Women drove those trucks, too, and it might be a woman in the cab. A really big woman with bulldog tattoos who called herself Bubba’s bitch.

The right flicker blinked and the truck pulled to the side of the road.

Did serial killers signal? Her heart pounded in her ears, and more sweat coated her skin. “He’s stopping.”

“Really?” Dakota dished out the death look.

A small cloud of dust swirled around the large wheels of the truck. The door opened. A boot hit the ground. Not a cowboy boot, but sort of a workman type boot and way, way too big to belong to any woman. Jeans covered the top of the boots as a second leg joined the first.

The Terminator wore boots like that in the first movie. Her mouth dried.

The driver cleared his door. The baking sun hit the blond lights in his hair. He was tall. Very tall, and filling out his tee to the point where the seams protested. “Well, hello again.”

*****

Author Info:

Born British and raised in South Africa, Sarah Hegger suffers from an incurable case of wanderlust. Her match? A hot Canadian engineer, whose marriage proposal she accepted six short weeks after they first met. Together they’ve made homes in seven different cities across three different continents (and back again once or twice). If only it made her multilingual, but the best she can manage is idiosyncratic English, fluent Afrikaans, conversant Russian, pigeon Portuguese, even worse Zulu and enough French to get herself into trouble.

Mimicking her globe trotting adventures, Sarah’s career path began as a gainfully employed actress, drifted into public relations, settled a moment in advertising, and eventually took root in the fertile soil of her first love, writing. She also moonlights as a wife and mother.

She currently lives in Littleton, Colorado, with her teenage daughters, two Golden Retrievers and aforementioned husband. Part footloose buccaneer, part quixotic observer of life, Sarah’s restless heart is most content when reading or writing books.

She loves to hear from readers and you can find her at any of the places below.

Website: http://sarahhegger.com

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

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Hegger/e/B00KC50U9Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1449772560&sr=8-1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahHegger

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sarahhegger

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

*****

Giveaway:

5 x paperback copies of Nobody’s Princess

5 x ebook copies of Nobody’s Princess

1 x $50 Amazon Gift Cards

2 x $20 Amazon Gift Cards

3 x $10 Amazon Gift cards

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e4be888257/

*****

Spotlight – Healing Love

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Abby Niles, Healing Love, Love to the Extreme series

We’ve seen this series before (Extreme Love, Fighting Love & Winning Love) and this newest one looks to be as much of a knock out!

*****

Healing Love

Love to the Extreme #4

by Abby Niles

Releasing February 15, 2016

Entangled

Blurb:

Doctor Ella Watts wants her old life back. Desperately. But the past has returned for its rematch, and going back home—even telling anyone her real name—isn’t an option until she’s confident in her MMA abilities. Personal trainer Lance Black is the man to help her reach her goals. Not only is he toned, muscular, and gorgeous, he’s patient, a great teacher, and willing to treat her like a worthy opponent. Except his size makes her freeze whenever he gets too close. If Ella can’t learn how to overcome her fear of being attacked, she’ll never be able to move on with her life.

Underground fighter Lance Black knows there’s more to the mysterious blonde ninja than a beautiful woman determined to improve her fighting skills. She can best anyone close to her size – man or woman – but insists on working out with him, even though he’s got a good 70 pounds and several inches on her. Despite her reticence, he’s determined to get her to open up so he can help her get over her mental block. And if that means he can get to know her outside the gym, all the better.

As long as she never learns his secrets.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28575079-healing-love?ac=1&from_search=1

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/103825-love-to-the-extreme

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Lance came at her in a burst of energy, his arms slapping down to meet the punches she frantically threw. She had no game plan, just swung. A light pop bopped her on the side of the head and paralyzed her into place. He instantly backed off. The second there was space between them, her ability to breathe returned and she ripped off the gloves, throwing them down. “Damn it.”

Without a word, she climbed between the second and third rope, hopped to the floor, and slumped on a nearby bench, hanging her head. Why couldn’t she get past this mind block?

“Hey,” Lance said in a soothing tone that only annoyed her as he sat down beside her, but when he pressed his thigh against hers, she found the gesture oddly comforting. She wanted to lean into him, take his support, but she forced herself to stay where she was.

“I just need a few minutes alone.”

He laced his fingers together and let them hang between his knees. “A few months ago, I had a huge fight slotted. Any spare moment I had, I was training my fucking ass off.” He inhaled deep. “The pressure of it got the best of me and I just froze. Biggest night of my fighting career over by knockout in less than a minute.” He turned a sympathetic smile on her. “Sometimes our mind just gets the best of us. I don’t know what’s cluttering yours, but you’re not alone. It happens to everyone.”

His confession, that he would open up to her like that, meant more to her than he would ever know. Made her feel less alone. And she hadn’t felt like that in a long time.

“Thank you,” she whispered and leaned toward him. A simple kiss on his cheek to show her appreciation was her intent. But the moment her lips touched the stubbled skin, a floodgate of need crashed open. Instantly, her nipples puckered and the lower part of her body tingled in a very thrilling way. She wanted nothing more than for him to turn his head so she could feel the softness of his lips next. Stunned, she pulled back.

Their gazes locked, and the air seemed to still between them. His gray eyes held her captive. She couldn’t look away. She couldn’t break this magnetic hold Lance had had on her since that moment in the alley. And damn it—she didn’t want to. It’d been a long time—too long—since she’d been attracted to a man like him. Maybe she never had been. Lance was different.

*****

Author Info:

Abby Niles is the author of the contemporary MMA series, Love to the Extreme, and the paranormal series, The Awakening. She is also the author to the geeky romantic comedy, Defying Convention, where Live Action Role Players (LARPers) set out to teach their favorite author a lesson, but end up playing matchmaker instead.

Abby lives in North Carolina with the love of her life and their combined gaggle of kids. When she’s not writing, she’s trying to catch up on an endless pile of laundry and find time to get some much needed reading in.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Love to the Extreme Ebook Series Bundle (Bks 1-3)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8935/

*****

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Spotlight – Al “Trunk” Mahoney, Defensive Line

19 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Al "Trunk" Mahoney Defensive Line, First & Ten series, Jean C. Joachim

We’ve seen Joachim’s First & Ten series before with Griff Montgomery, Quarterback and Pete Sebastian, Coach. I really regret not signing up to get an advanced copy of this one because I am sooo anxious to get my hands on this story. I’ve seen a few tidbits from the book and I’m ready to find out how Trunk’s story plays out!

*****

Al “Trunk” Mahoney, Defensive Line

First & Ten Series

by Jean C. Joachim

Contemporary/Sports Romance

PUBLICATION DATE – Jan. 9, 2016

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 68,156 words

PUBLISHER – Moonlight Books

COVER ARTIST – Dawné Dominique

Blurb:

When his wife walked out on him, Al “Trunk” Mahoney’s plans for the family he’d never had went up in smoke. A top-ranked defenseman in the NFL, Trunk’s success on the gridiron didn’t translate to the rest of his life. Hooking up with women was easy for the sexy lineman, but Trunk’s secret closed the door to marriage. Would the happiness he yearned for always be just beyond his reach?

Beautiful Carla Ricci, bar owner and independent woman had her choice of men. A love-‘em and leave-‘em lady, she’d made a decision that ruled out 99.9% of men for marriage. She didn’t care. Then Trunk Mahoney came along. Carla resolved to remain true to herself. Could her willpower hold indefinitely, or would she settle for an affair that would break her heart?

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019R4YS0W?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon U.K. – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019R4YS0W?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Canada – http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B019R4YS0W?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sly-bullhorn-brodsky-jean-joachim/1122954279;jsessionid=F631E440B19D15973AABF0407031B876.prodny_store02-atgap09?ean=2940152747386

iTunes/Apple – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1059206728

Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=sly+%22bullhorn%22+brodsky%2C+offensive+line

All Romance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-altrunkmahoneydefensiveline-1964617-153.html

Amazon Paperback – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1522923160?keywords=Al%20%26%2334%3Btrunk%26%2334%3B%20mahoney&qid=1451474824&ref_=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2&sr=8-1

Scribd – https://www.scribd.com/book/294572908/Al-Trunk-Mahoney-Defensive-Line-First-Ten-6

Page Foundry – http://www.inktera.com/store/title/3c0a329c-57f0-4937-94c9-373302ca4a0b

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/603119

*****

Excerpt:

Carla hoped Trunk hadn’t noticed the flush she’d sensed in her face when he said he’d move in. Thankfully, new customers arrived, giving her the chance to escape. She made her way to the three tables, took their orders, and scurried back to the kitchen to slap burgers on the grill.

The heat from the cooking food was nothing compared to the heat in her body from Trunk’s news. He was like a magnet, drawing her to him for the past two years. The way his shirt pulled over his wide shoulders, his lean waist, powerful biceps, and what she guessed were tight abs, invaded her dreams at night. Of course, he had a cute butt, which she tried not to notice. A couple of times he’d caught her checking him out. She always had a snappy retort that made him laugh. But she saw the lusty light in his eyes, and it made her shiver.

She remembered the first day he’d come in. She’d been joking with Griff Montgomery that he never brought his good-looking teammates in for a beer. Then, Trunk Mahoney had walked through the door, and Carla hadn’t been able to speak. Her mouth had gotten dry while other parts had gotten damp. His powerful body, barely concealed in tight jeans and T-shirt, coupled with his confident swagger, had made her knees weak.

He’d flashed a sexy grin and raked her body with a smoldering gaze from beautiful, light blue eyes. If he had ripped the clothing from her, she couldn’t have felt more naked. Trunk Mahoney was sex on wheels, and she’d wanted him, until she’d checked out his left hand. There it had been, the colossal mood killer—his wedding ring. So, Carla had locked up her feelings and swallowed the key. Her ‘no touch’ policy applied to all married men, no matter how attractive they were. And that included Al Mahoney.

*****

Snippets:

In the locker room, Trunk noticed Griff slapping something on his face.

“You’re married. Still use that stuff?”

“Drives Lauren wild. Not that she’s in any condition to be wild, right now,” Griff said, chuckling. “But she likes it, so I use it.”

“What’s it called?”

“Midnight for Men. Now that you’re single again, better get used to using this shit. Women love it. Try it.” He passed it to Al.

Trunk finished shaving, wiped the shaving cream remnants from his face, and opened the bottle. He took a whiff. “Nice. Okay. I’ll give it a shot.”

“Just stay away from my wife, will ya?”

Orphaned at thirteen, he had turned to football to deal with his anger at his parents’ death. Shuffled from one relative to the next, he had learned to stomach insecurity. He had succeeded at the sport, making a name for himself in every town he called home at one time or another. Being a football star meant a big welcome from each new school he’d attended.

Having nothing, Al had gone to work young, doing odd jobs—raking leaves, mowing lawns, running errands. Sports had anchored him. His coaches had helped him stay on a good path, avoiding drugs and crime. Being a hero fed his heart, but he never outgrew the yearning for someone to care about him. He thought he’d found it in Mary, but he had been wrong.

*****

Author Info:

Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She writes mostly contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and romantic suspense.

Dangerous Love Lost & Found, First Place winner in the 2015 Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, International Digital Award contest. The Renovated Heart won Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café. Lovers & Liars was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And The Marriage List tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the Gulf Coast RWA. To Love or Not to Love tied for second place in the 2014 New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America Reader’s Choice contest. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of RWA.

Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued pug, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice.

Jean has 30+ books, novellas and short stories published. Find them here: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com. Sign up for her newsletter, on her website, and be eligible for her private paperback sales.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Joachim-Author/221092234568929?sk=app_100265896690345

*****

Spotlight – The Bride Wore Starlight

18 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Lizbeth Selvig, Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys, The Bride Wore Starlight

I haven’t read anything in this series just yet, but I did add this one to my TBR pile … and I’m thinking I need to get the first two books too 🙂

*****

The Bride Wore Starlight

Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys #3

by Lizbeth Selvig

Releasing February 9. 2016

Avon Impulse

Blurb:

Once comfortable on stage in front of thousands, Joely Crockett is now mortified at the thought of walking—or rolling—down the aisle at her sisters’ wedding. Scarred and wheelchair-bound, the former beauty queen has lost more than the ability to walk—she’s lost her fire. But when one handsome, arrogant guest accuses her of milking her injuries and ignites her ire, Joely finally starts to feel truly alive again, and soon it’s impossible for her to resist her heart’s desire.

Alec Morrissey knows a little something about loss. A famous rodeo cowboy before he was injured in Iraq, he’s managed to create something of a normal life, even if it’s not the one he always imagined. Encountering stunning but damaged Joely, he sees a kindred spirit who can learn from his mistakes.

As these two healing souls begin to fall in love under the Wyoming stars, they must discover if they are willing to give in to the tragedies of life or fight for a future together.

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

The contact with Alec’s strong, long-fingered hand didn’t do anything to quell the annoyance dancing in her stomach. Or was it attraction? Or just a very long time since a man had taken her hand?

He tugged gently and braced his feet so she could stand and get her solid leg beneath her.

Her eyes came level with his tie. That put him at roughly six feet, she thought inanely, although, in truth, no thoughts but inane ones filled her head. Up close his eyes shone a dark, rich amber, and his full, upturned lips made him appear prone to smiling. His hat looked so natural on him he might well have been born with it on.

He held out his right elbow. “Just think of me as a human hiking stick.”

He hadn’t said “cane.” He hadn’t said “crutch.” She offered a tentative, grateful smile, took a deep breath, and nodded.

What could have been horribly awkward turned out to be an easy partnership. Alec seemed to know instinctively how to step where she needed him for support, and his arm offered a perfect grip that she could lean into as firmly as she wanted. It took a dozen or so strides to get the coordination right, but slowly she figured out how to step firmly with her right leg and use Alec’s weight to help swing and step quickly with her left. She’d walked like this with crutches, but this felt so quasi normal—she almost enjoyed it.

Almost.

They came to the stairs, and she froze. A flat path was easy. Going up stairs was awkward but doable. But going down threw her weight forward, and she didn’t have the strength or balance to keep from pitching headfirst down the flight.

“We’re doing great,” he said. “There are only six.”

“We’re doing fine,” he’d said. She didn’t know this man from any random person, and yet he knew how to speak as if they’d been doing this forever.

“I really should have a body on the other side, too,” she admitted reluctantly. “I suck at stairs.”

“Here’s the deal.” He removed her hand from his elbow and held it, then wrapped his right arm loosely around her waist. “It’s your balance that’s got you spooked. You haven’t practiced with it, but your left leg is strong enough. Trust yourself. You know the drill: bad leg—”

“First,” she finished. “Yes. But it doesn’t hold my weight.”

“Eventually it will, but for now we’ll step together, and you lean into me when you’re using that leg.”

How did he know so effortlessly what to do? He’d probably had plenty of bangs and bruises when he’d been on the rodeo circuit—maybe this was second nature for him.

They navigated the stairs like they’d been doing it for years. She’d never have made it on her own, and such an exercise had been clunky at best with a physical therapist. When she stood at the bottom without aid of a crutch or two side walkers, her satisfaction had to rival that of any successful mountain climber’s.

“Wow,” she said, unable to keep the pleasure from her voice.

“Why are you surprised? You’re a ranch girl; you’re tough.”

*****

Author Info:

Lizbeth Selvig lives in Minnesota with her best friend (aka her husband), and a gray Arabian gelding. After working as a newspaper journalist and magazine editor, and raising an equine veterinarian daughter and a talented musician son, she won RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart® Contest in 2010 with her contemporary romance The Rancher and the Rock Star. In her spare time, she loves to hike, quilt, read, horseback ride, and spend time with her new granddaughter. She also has four-legged grandchildren—more than twenty—including a wallaby, two alpacas, a donkey, a pig, a sugar glider, and many dogs, cats, and horses (pics of all appear on her website http://www.lizbethselvig.com). She loves connecting with readers—contact her any time!

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

a Digital Download copy of THE BRIDE WORE DENIM and THE BRIDE WORE RED BOOTS, books 1 & 2 in the Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys Series

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8925/

*****

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Spotlight – Falling for Prince Charles

17 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Falling for Prince Charles, Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I absolutely LOVE the idea of this one – that a maid from America could somehow meet, & fall in love with!, Prince Charles (post-Diana, of course). It’s just such a fun play on the royal family and I want to get my hands on a copy!

Warning though from what I see below it looks like it is more comedy than love story (I’m thinking kinda Bridget Jones’s Diary) but who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh?!?

*****

Falling for Prince Charles

by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Releasing February 9, 2016

Diversion Books

Blurb:

“Lauren Baratz-Logsted has mastered the real life fairy tale in her explosive and hilarious FALLING FOR PRINCE CHARLES. It’s all here, lovelorn Daisy Silverman flush with cash and high hopes, Prince Charles who can’t resist her, and London in all its splendor. Curl up and get ready to laugh long into the foggy night.” —Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE

Daisy Silverman has always been obsessed with His Royal Highness, Prince Charles. When the underachieving 30-something cleaning lady wins a million dollars, she follows her lifelong dream to go to London. Once there, she meets Prince Charles—the real Prince Charles. Through a series of misunderstandings, the Royal Family doesn’t realize that Daisy’s Jewish or that she’s spent her life up to the elbows in the wrong kind of toilet water. By the time they do, Daisy is in love with Charles, Charles is in love with Daisy, and the Queen’s white gloves are off.

FALLING FOR PRINCE CHARLES is an offbeat alternate-universe romantic comedy showing the heir to the British throne in a light quite unlike any he’s been seen in before.

“Daisy’s madcap adventure is more comedy than romance, and her most unusual and unlikely relationship with Prince Charles will appeal to reads looking for lots of giggles.” —Publishers Weekly

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

As Daisy Silverman squatted in front of the toilet bowl, first depressing the flush lever and then watching as the milky outgoing spiral removed the mildew and replaced it with fresh water, the thought occurred to her for at least the thousandth time that if the fickle hand of fate hadn’t cast her as a cleaning lady, working in wealthy households and offices in Westport, Connecticut, she would most certainly have made a perfectly lovely Princess of Wales.

This was a fantasy that Daisy had entertained off and on since 1981, the same year that the late Princess Diana had first become Princess Diana. And to this day, eighteen years later, whenever she thought about it, Daisy still thought that she could have done the job better.

Oh, sure, Daisy had loved the late Princess, would have said that she loved her more than anybody. Well, actually even Daisy was aware enough not to say that; she did know that Diana’s family and friends had surely loved her more. But Daisy could legitimately claim to love her easily as much as anybody who had never met her, and that was plenty. So, if Daisy felt a little competitive with a dead Princess that she had loved beyond reason, what matter that? After all, there were some compelling reasons for making a comparison between the two women.

Just like the woman who had possessed the most photographed profile in the world, Daisy had a genius for making the kind of seemingly interested, throwaway comment that left others feeling a little cheerier about their own lot in life. Although even Daisy had felt that the Princess had been pushing things a bit, several years back, when she had blithely informed a widow on the dole with a flat full of small children: “Oh, yes, I just love those microwave pizzas too. Whenever the Heir and the Spare start to look a little peaked, I just nuke a couple of them in the Palace micro, and we’re all set to go skiing in Klosters or windsurfing on Necker.” Or, if those hadn’t been her exact words, it had been something equally inappropriate…

*****

Author Info:

Lauren Baratz-Logsted is the author of over 25 books for adults, teens (including The Twin’s Daughter and Little Women and Me), and children (The Sisters 8, a nine-book series she created with her husband and daughter). Before becoming an author, Lauren was an independent bookseller, freelance editor, Publishers Weekly reviewer, sort-of librarian and window washer. She lives with her family in Danbury, CT. Visit her at http://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com or follow her @LaurenBaratzL on Twitter.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

FIVE (5) Print Copies of FALLING FOR PRINCE CHARLES

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8927/

*****

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Spotlight – A Son’s Vow

16 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

A Son's Vow, Shelley Shepard Gray, The Charmed Amish Life series

With over 100 ratings on Goodreads, this one is coming in with 4 1/2 stars! Looks like everyone is loving this heartwarming story, which looks at both good and bad in this little Amish community.

*****

A Son’s Vow

The Charmed Amish Life #1

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Releasing January 26, 2016

Avon Inspire

Blurb:

Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.

Three months ago, everything changed for Darla Kurtz and her family. Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger—with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.

Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her—and her family—even more.

Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone—especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.

As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover something deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

March 20

It was another picture-perfect day in Charm.

The sky was pale blue, quietly complementing the acres of vibrant green farmland as far as the eye could see. Spring lambs had arrived. They were frolicking in the fields, their eager bleats echoing through the valley. The morning air was not too chilly or too damp. Instead, a hint of warmth teased, bringing with it as much hope as the crocus buds that peeked through the dark dirt of the numerous clay pots decorating cleanly swept front porches.

It was the type of morning that encouraged a person to go out walking, to smile. The type of day that reminded one and all that God was present and did, indeed, bestow gifts.

In short, it was the type of day that used to give Darletta Kurtz hope. A day like this should have made her happy, revitalized her. It should have made her want to pull out a pencil and one of her many notebooks and record the images she saw and list activities she wanted to do.

It was the kind of day she used to love and maybe, just maybe, take for granted.

But now, as she rested her elbows on the worn wooden countertop that had no doubt supported generations of postal workers before her, Darla could only silently acknowledge that another day had come. It was sure to feel as endless as the one before it, and would no doubt be exactly like the rest of the week.

It was another day to get through. A way to pass ten hours of expected productivity before she could retreat to her bedroom and collapse on her bed. Only then would she feel any sense of peace. Because only then would she be able to wait for oblivion. She’d close her eyes, fall into a peaceful slumber, and, hopefully, forget her reality for eight hours.

It had been ninety-nine days since her father died. Tomorrow would bring the one hundredth. It was a benchmark she’d never intended to look forward to. Wearily, she wondered if anyone else in Charm was anticipating the milestone as well.

Undoubtedly some were.

After all, her father hadn’t been the only man to die in the December fire at Kinsinger Lumber Mill. No, he was one of five. And though it wasn’t as if she’d ever forget that fact, there were many in Charm who took care to remind her constantly.

Just then, Mary Troyer pushed open the door to the post office. Darla braced herself.

“You have a lot of nerve, Darletta Kurtz, getting a job here,” Mary said as she slapped a ten-dollar bill on the counter. “It’s bad enough that your family stayed in town. Most folks would have left in shame after what your father did. Yet, here you are, thriving.”

Each word hurt, as Mary no doubt intended for them to. Darla thought she would have been used to the verbal abuse by now, but it still felt as jarring as it had the first time. Mary’s son Bryan had died in the same accident as Darla’s father, and she took every opportunity to make sure everyone in town was aware of her pain.

Just as she had two days before, Darla did her best to keep her voice even and her expression impassive. “What is it you’ll be needing today, Mary?”

Mary’s cheeks puffed up before replying. “One book of stamps. The flags.”

Quickly she gave Mary the stamps and her change, taking care to set the money on the counter so their fingers wouldn’t have to touch. “Here you go.” Then—though she would have rather said something, anything else—she added the words she’d heard her boss say dozens of times: “Danke for coming in.”

Mary narrowed her eyes. “That is all you’re gonna say?”

It was obvious that Mary was itching for a fight. But no way was Darla going to give it to her. She’d learned at least a couple of things in the ninety-nine days since the accident at the mill.

And even though she might be wishing Mary to perdition in her darkest moments, she knew it was always best to turn the other cheek. “There’s nothing to say. Your mind is made up to be angry with me.”

“My ‘mind’ has nothing to do with the facts. Everyone in Charm knows that your father caused the fire at the mill. That fire killed my Bryan, Clyde Fisher, Paul Beachy, and Stephen Kinsinger.”

Standing as straight as her five-foot-two-inch frame allowed her to do, Darla added quietly, “You forgot John Kurtz, Mary. My father died, too, you know.”

“All of us are struggling with our losses. Struggling to make ends meet with our men gone. But here you are almost every morning, standing behind this counter with a smile on your face.”

Though Mary wasn’t the first person to say such a thing to her—she wasn’t even the twenty-first—Darla still didn’t understand why she should bear the weight of her father’s guilt.

Especially since it had been proven that it hadn’t been just her father’s negligence that had started the fire in the Dumpster. A variety of circumstances had taken place, which, when combined, had created a powerful explosion.

A rag, dampened by a flammable liquid, had been tossed into a Dumpster filled with wood scraps and hot metal that had been left heating over the course of the day. In no time at all, the rag had burst into flames, igniting the pine kindling. Before anyone was truly aware of the fire, the Dumpster had exploded, causing the nearby wood stacks in the back warehouse to catch fire, too. Though the emergency sprinklers had come on and the fire department and ambulances had been called, five people had died and scores of others had been injured.

Without a doubt, it had been the worst disaster to ever occur at Kinsinger Lumber Mill, and everyone who’d been there was marked by the terrible tragedy.

After the accident, fire marshals had investigated and declared that it had been caused by a series of unlikely events: a rare sunny day in December, hot metal in the Dumpster, and a pile of pine that someone had discarded instead of turning into wood shavings—all set ablaze by one rag.

No single person was to blame.

Furthermore, when Stephen Kinsinger’s son Lukas had taken over the mill, he’d publicly forgiven her father. However, the speech had done little to change the general feeling of anger and hurt that pervaded their village. It seemed that everyone needed a scapegoat. And her father had given them one.

Now, because John Kurtz was no longer walking God’s earth, more than a couple of people had transferred their pain and anger onto Darla and the rest of her family.

And after ninety-nine days of it, she’d had her fill.

*****

Author Info:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Hold Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Avon will be hosting a Tour Wide Giveaway for Three Print Bundles of the Amish Brides of Pinecraft series books 1-4

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8909/

*****

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Spotlight – The Medford Series

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Drawn Together, Lisa Hahn, Pulled Apart, The Medford Series

I don’t usually host a lot of new adult books (I pick based on what sound good to me which means, unfortunately, you guys are stuck with them … sorry! 🙂 ) but there’s something really interesting about this series.

*****

The Medford Series

by Lisa Hahn

Genre: New Adult Romance

Book One: Drawn Together

Blurb:

Hailey Sommers is only home from New York for a few months. So when she reconnects with the one guy she can’t forget, will she be able to walk away…again?

Hailey can’t wait to get back to New York City. There she’s a confident children’s book author with a healthy social life. Being back in her hometown of Medford only reminds her of the less-than-cool girl she used to be…until she runs into Cody, the boy she lusted after all four years of high school.

Cody West has everything he could want in Medford, except Hailey. When she left for the big city, there was a hold in his life no other girl could fill. But he’s not sure he wants to open himself to the pain if she leaves again.

A chance encounter at the town coffee shop reignites the chemistry between the pair and is almost enough to make Hailey forget how much she wants to return to the city she’s grown to love. Almost. Wanting it all, Hailey plans to bring Cody back to New York with her. The only catch is that she’s not sure he’ll agree…

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Drawn-Together-Book-Medford-Series-ebook/dp/B015RMGB58

Excerpt:

I looked up from my netbook screen, and there he was: Cody West. The boy I lusted after throughout high school. The boy who changed my life and didn’t even know it.

He’d grown up since I last saw him at Jessica Mitchell’s graduation party. His sandy hair still cascaded down his forehead, but it no longer perpetually hung down over his big brown eyes. Four years of high school football had kept Cody in shape back when I knew him, but four years of college football had added a little bit of bulk to his lean frame. At least, I assumed he played in college. I knew that he headed off to Temple with a sports scholarship.

Rocking back onto his heels, Cody scanned the glass pastry case, probably looking for something sweet to go with his coffee. He tossed his hair to the side as he inspected the muffins. He always liked sweets. He and I used to pass bags of candy back and forth while Mrs. Cole, our art teacher, wasn’t looking. After taking a sip of my cappuccino, I smiled at the memory, glad for the first time that I was back in Medford.

Having forgotten about the work waiting for me on my netbook, I watched Cody unabashedly, wishing I could’ve heard whatever he said to make the barista blush. He dug into the pockets of his khaki cargo shorts for some cash, playfully pulling it away from the barista before dropping it into her hand. She giggled, probably glad that she and Cody crossed paths that afternoon. I knew I was glad to see him.

He finally spotted me, tucked away in a quiet corner of the coffeehouse. As soon as recognition set in, the corners of his mouth curled into a relaxed smile, a smile that caused a swarm of butterflies to thrash around inside my stomach. Man, he looked good. Wiggling my fingers, I waved a flirty hello at my old friend. His brown eyes narrowed as his smile widened—a sign he was just as glad to see me, as I was to see him.

Cody held up his index finger to indicate that he’d come over shortly, then peered over the counter to check the barista’s progress on his order, the muscles in his calves flexing as he shifted his weight onto his toes.

He was definitely much stronger than the boy I spent my last night in town with.

Book Two: Pulled Apart

Blurb:

Will Callie O’Connor ever catch a break?

Callie has a lot to be excited about. At the end of the summer, she’s going away to college and moving in with her awesome boyfriend. After living with her difficult and vindictive mom for the past twenty-two years, she’s definitely ready to leave her life in Medford behind.

Ben Weber has been nothing short of a perfect boyfriend. Being away from Callie while at law school has been tough, but he’s looking forward to everything the new school year will bring for the couple.

But it’s all too good to be true. Their plans fall apart when Callie’s mom runs into financial trouble and demands her daughter’s help. Despite everything her mom has said and done, Callie feels obligated to help her family even though she’s broken up about what it means for her future career as an elementary school music teacher and her relationship with Ben. Will she be able to figure everything out before it all comes crashing down around her?

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Pulled-Apart-Book-Two-Medford-ebook/dp/B018RBEVK8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Excerpt:

I shut my car off and threw open the door with shaky hands. When I stepped out, I was half expecting my legs to give out beneath me. I’d been an absolute mess since my little talk with Mrs. Weber the day before. So far, I’d done a good job of hiding it from Ben, but that was probably because we hadn’t seen each other for two days. In fact, I was super upbeat when I called him to make plans. Originally, we were just supposed to go see some new action movie he’d been going on and on about, but I suggested we meet up for dinner first, explaining that I missed him so much that I wanted to try and squeeze in some extra time together before I worked a double tomorrow.

From the sidewalk, I saw him through Anthony’s expansive glass storefront, lounging in a cozy red booth and thumbing around on his phone. He had no idea what was coming.

And if everything went according to plan, he’d have no idea what the catalyst for our break-up was.

The more I thought about it, the more I was sure that what Mrs. Weber said made a lot of sense. Ben would sacrifice everything he’d worked so hard for to make sure I was happy. I couldn’t let him do that. Not for me. Not for a girl who didn’t have half the potential he does. Ben’s family has been grooming him for law school success since he showed an interest in the family profession back when he started ninth grade. In the same vein, my mom had prepared me for a life of hardship. However, I’m not so sure her actions were as intentional as the Webers’. I think she just liked to see me struggle.

I counted my breaths as I walked to the door, taking my time in an effort to delay the inevitable. The longer it took me to walk there, the longer Ben would be mine.

*****

Author Info:

Lisa Hahn writes contemporary and new adult romance. She’s interested in characters that are smart, sincere, and somewhat artistically inclined. Her and her husband currently reside in Northern New Jersey with their cat and two dogs. In addition to writing, Lisa likes yoga, fitness, veganism, and professional wrestling.

www.bylisahahn.com

www.facebook.com/bylisahahn

www.twitter.com/bylisahahn

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/288940.Lisa_Hahn