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Under the MoonLight Book Blog



Crazy Cupid Love
by Amanda Heger
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
January 29th, 2019
Genre: Paranormal Romance

     When a single arrow inspires romance, can you really trust happily ever after? In this magical rom-com, the descendants of Greek mythology must learn to live and love in a mundane world where Aphrodite's blessing can sure feel like a real pain in the quiver.
     Eliza Herman (a.k.a. The World's Worst Cupid) has spent her entire life carefully avoiding her calling as a Descendant of Eros. After all, happily-ever-afters are nothing but a myth. But when a family crisis requires her to fill in at the local Cupid-for-hire shop, Eliza finds herself enchanting couples under the watchful eye of her assigned mentor, Jake Sanders...the one man she could never get out of her head.
     Before long, Eliza is rethinking her stance on romance--until things start going terribly wrong with her enchantments. Now Eliza and Jake must fight to unravel a conspiracy that could destroy thousands of relationships, including their own...and spell the end of Love itself. 
No pressure, right?

Purchase links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TXwDP8
B&N: http://bit.ly/2T6vkxD
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2SWaMYp
Apple: https://apple.co/2Mfnb7n
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/2HiK8HY
Walmart: http://bit.ly/2SZg6KD

Excerpt:

Tap, tap, tap. 

Eliza jumped, cracking her head on the steering wheel. Son of a… She grasped for the seat belt while her brain tried to place the man peering down at her from the passenger-side window.

“Hello?” he said. 

No. 

Not just a man. An underwear- model- worthy man with the perfect amount of five- o’clock shadow and cheekbones that could cut diamonds. A navy tie hung loosely around his neck, and the top button of his shirt lay open, practically daring her to look away from the tan skin at the base of his throat. 

It was the worst thing Eliza had ever seen. 

TURN BACK NOW. ABANDON SHIP. THIS WAY LIES MADNESS. Her mind screeched its usual warnings like a tornado siren, but she couldn’t look away. 

Over the years, in her attempt to live a “normal” life, she’d constructed an intricate maze of rules and guidelines that she followed at all times. Number one on that list? Stay away from hot guys. 

On a good day, her clumsiness hit a six on the Richter scale. Add the fumbling, sweaty awkwardness of attraction to the mix, and Eliza became a walking catastrophe. 

“Eliza?” 

“Do I know…” She narrowed her eyes. There was a familiar seriousness in his gaze. Something nostalgic about the way he dug his hands into his pockets. Something… “Jake?” 

Eliza shoved open the car door and tried to push all the dirty thoughts she’d just had from her mind as she stepped out into the driveway. “Jake Sanders? I thought you were in Peru or something.” 

“Brazil.” 

“Brazil then. What are you doing here?” She tried to smooth her hair. When that failed, she tried not to notice how mind- bendingly attractive her childhood best friend had become. They’d known each other since elementary school, when— as the only three school- age Cupids in town— Jake, Eliza, and Elijah had been enrolled in PSC (Public School Cupiding) classes together. Every Wednesday night, they’d sit in a classroom for two hours, drinking juice boxes and learning about the history of Cupids. On the weekends, Jake would come to her house, where they would conduct elaborate reenactments of the War of the Titans from the tree house in Eliza’s backyard. But in middle and high school, the two of them had drifted apart the way people do. Especially when one of those people is class president and captain of the track team (Jake) and the other is a walking disaster (Eliza). 

After high school, Jake enlisted in the Cupid Corps. For the last ten years, he’d been taking cases on assignment in impoverished and war- torn areas. Aside from a brief visit over Christmas nine years ago, Eliza hadn’t seen him since. 

“I moved back to town about a week ago,” he said. “Doing some odd jobs while I get reacclimated.” 

“At Dionysus again?” she asked. When they’d been teenagers, he’d worked there as a bar back. The raucous restaurant and bar sat dead center in the Agora— a building at the edge of town where Descendants had gathered for decades, undetected by “regular” humans. Eliza, the ultimate clumsy introvert with an unheard- of level of enchantment, hated the place. People stared and pointed when she walked by. It made her feel like a lab rat. 

“No.” He looked down at his feet, then back up at her. “Doing some deliveries right now. This one is for your parents. Are they here?” He held out a large manila envelope. 

“No.” She started to say more, but the words snagged in her throat. “They’re out.” 

“Can you sign for this then?” She took his tablet and scrawled her name at the bottom of the screen. “Here you go.” 

Jake handed her the thick envelope and flashed her a grin. It was same grin— the one that rose a smidge higher on the left— that had always seemed kind of dorky when they were kids. As adults? Totally different story. “Happy Day- That- Shall- Not- Be- Named, by the way,” he said. 

Despite everything, Eliza let out a laugh. “Finally, someone around here understands me.” 

“I aim to please.” His dark eyes locked on hers for a half second. “I can’t believe your parents finally gave up on the whole Herman birthday extravaganza thing.” 

“Oh, they didn’t. We already had cake. Blood and tears were shed, yadda, yadda.” 

“You did all the blood shedding before dark? The Hermans have really gotten soft over the years.” There it was again. That grin. “Here. I have something for you.” 

Jake took a step closer. Miniature fireworks went off in her chest, leaving trails of nervous energy in her stomach. He’d become so handsome. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, a jawline that could make Adonis weep. And he’d been there for all her childhood traumas and celebrations. The hot days they’d chased down the ice- cream truck in bare feet. The games of checkers on her parents’ back porch. The awkward here- come- the- braces- and- puberty years. 

“You brought me a gift?” Eliza asked.

“You think I was going to step inside this house on your birthday without a gift in hand? No way. Your parents would have eaten me alive.” 

“That’s fair.” For the first time on this godsforsaken day, Eliza felt herself relax. They could have been ten years old and playing Battletoads again, the way everything fell into place. Like life had never taken them in separate directions. 

“Here.” He produced a small, rectangular package from his back pocket. 

The paper was a plain navy blue— not a Valentine remnant in sight— and the featherlight present crinkled when she turned it over. She smiled up at him. “You didn’t have to do this.” 

He reached for the gift with a boyish look in his eyes. “If you don’t want it— ” 

Eliza whipped it out of his reach. “I didn’t say that.” 

“Don’t get too excited. It’s nothing big.” 

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Eliza pried open the wrapping. An all- too- familiar cartoon kangaroo stared up at her from the tiny package of treats. A rush of nostalgia washed over her. “Dunkaroos? Dunkaroos, the best snack ever made? Dunkaroos, the sole reason I made it through childhood in one piece?” 

“I think you’re forgetting something.” Jake gave her a pointed look. 

“Okay. Dunkaroos, the reason I made it through childhood, in addition to your friendship.” 

His face broke into a wide smile. “I’ll accept that.” 

“Where did you find these? I didn’t think they made them anymore.” 

“Canada. I was in Vancouver last week.” 

“So you smuggled them into the country in the dark of night, risking everything, just for my birthday?” 

He let out a soft chuckle. “Something like that.”

The Author:

 Amanda Heger is a writer, attorney, and bookworm. She lives in the Baltimore with her unruly rescue dogs and a husband who encourages her delusions of grandeur. She strongly believes Amy Poehler is her soul mate, and one of her life goals is to adopt a pig and name it Ron Swineson.

Author website: https://www.amandaheger.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramandaheger
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amanda_heger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda_heger/



Giveaway:


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January 22, 2019 No comments

We are thrilled to be sharing with you the release of BETTING ON HER, the second book in Kelly Collins's Wilde Love series. If you love mafia romance, this is one series you don't want to miss - be sure to grab your copy today!


Betting on Her
by Kelly Collins
Series: Wilde Love (#2)
Published by: Author
December 3rd, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (InkSlingerPR)
Rating: 4 Stars

     Welcome back to Wilde country where lies are told and secrets are kept. Too bad what happens in Vegas never stays a secret. 
     Katya Petrenko’s importance lies in her ability to create strong alliances through marriage. After failing to get the oldest Wilde brother to the altar, Katya is promised to a notorious Russian hitman who has the Wilde’s in his crosshairs. She must choose between loyalty to her family or protecting Matt, the bother who stole her heart years ago. She rolls the dice at the chance to win at love but will Matt be her next losing hand? 
     Matt Wilde has had his share of troubles. Born into mob life it’s all he knows. After spending the last three years in prison he’s ready to run Old Money Casino legitimately until trouble arrives wearing a red dress. Matt is torn between loving Katya, the woman he knows and hating her for being the daughter of the man who killed his father. When danger threatens to take everything away, will Katya be a safe bet or will he have to go all in to save them both? 
     Life is a gamble but can two people double down and win at love?


     I don't really know what I expected of this book but it blew my mind away just like book one. And like a mention before every "mob" book I've read I've ended either giving it 1-2 stars or DNFing it but this ones I have fallen in love with.

     Katya is the ex-fiance of Matt's brother in book one and she is forced to become the fiance of another man that the Russian Bratva has appointed because of her father's carelessness in disposing of the Wilde's father.

     Matt has just recently gotten out of jail after been there for several years because he was saving Katya from a mistake she made. This two have held a torch for each other from a very young age and after Alex and Katya got engaged after a deal their parents made Matt decided that distance was the best thing he could do.

     Now that the engagement has ended Matt knows he shouldn't get involved with her because he's family is out of the mafia business but when Katya shows up on his doorstep he can't help but get involved.

     I felt the connection between the characters and I loved the story. Collins really knows how to make this mafia business work (at least for me) and how to connect all the characters in one way or another.

     My only problem with this books are that they are told in first person POV and I don't like it. Other than that I can't wait to read the next book in the series and I'll definitively be looking more into this author's books.

Add BETTING ON HER to your Goodreads TBR!


Get your copy of BETTING ON HER on Amazon today!

   

DON'T MISS THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE WILDE LOVE SERIES!

Betting on Him | Betting on Her | Betting on Us


About KELLY COLLINS

International bestselling author of more than thirty novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again. Kelly lives in Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband of twenty-eight years, their two dogs, and a bird that hates her. She has three amazing children, whom she loves to pieces.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | BookBub
December 05, 2018 No comments

Christmas Gift Guide Roundup


Mistletoe in Texas
Gift this to: Anyone who loves all things Texas or rodeo, and fans of second chance romance
Suggested gift pairing: A cute Texas cookie cutter, or a bag of Texas Pecan coffee for a warm and authentic treat. (Because a horse won’t fit under the tree!)
Amazon: amzn.to/2xlXATO
B&N: bit.ly/2xm0AzD
Apple: apple.co/2xkwAUZ
Kobo: bit.ly/2xhxLnM
IndieBound: bit.ly/2xlYjo0


Cowboy Christmas Jubilee
Gift this to: The friend who loves Christmas more than any other holiday, and fans of small town cowboy romance
Suggested gift pairing: Anything Christmas related – bonus points if there are cowboy boots involved.
Amazon: amzn.to/2Cy2ctu
B&N: bit.ly/2Cyrfwz
Apple: apple.co/2CzJtOp
Kobo: bit.ly/2Cz5JIb
IndieBound: bit.ly/2Cz5U6j


Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas
Gift this to: Anyone who has ever wanted to live on a Christmas tree farm (!) or cowboy readers who like a little suspense
Suggested gift pairing: A pine-scented candle, or a favorite piece from a local artist (in honor of our folk artist heroine)
Amazon: amzn.to/2Fol2WV
B&N: bit.ly/2OL0KpW
Apple: apple.co/2qLwVw4
Kobo: bit.ly/2QQDtoN
IndieBound: bit.ly/2K6PW4R


Cowboy SEAL Christmas
Gift this to: The friend whose favorite holiday movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or anyone who thinks horses and heroes are a winning combination.
Suggested gift pairing: Cute notecards, a framed photo, or an invitation to a holiday celebration because Christmas is all about connecting with the people we love!
Amazon: amzn.to/2MShW02
B&N: bit.ly/2PMd4Iy
iBooks: apple.co/2MSmCD7
Kobo: bit.ly/2MZvvdY
IndieBound: bit.ly/2MAr3TC


Billionaire Wolf for Christmas
Gift this to: The friend who has a long checklist for her perfect guy (billionaire, doctor, wolf shifter) or anyone who loves a trope mashup!
Suggested gift pairing: If you can’t find a half-naked billionaire to put a bow on, then how about an adorable book themed tote to throw a copy into.
Amazon: amzn.to/2xm0E2g
B&N: bit.ly/2xhxnWH
Apple: apple.co/2xhnsjY
Kobo: bit.ly/2xkCt4n
IndieBound: bit.ly/2xhxrFV


My Forever Home
Gift this to: Dog lovers
Suggested gift pairing: A puppy! (just kidding) For the minimalist friend, give this along with making a donation to a local no-kill rescue shelter. For something that’s easier to wrap, pair this with a cozy pair of red mittens for a soft and sweet gift.
Amazon: amzn.to/2M2jncH
B&N: bit.ly/2LXvQOG
Apple: apple.co/2niQZ79
IndieBound: bit.ly/2LZDkB0


Don’t forget gifts for you! At the holidays we always spend so much time thinking about others that it’s easy to leave ourselves out. Treat yourself this Christmas and enter to win all 6 holiday books! Then cozy up with a blanket, a hot cup of whatever you like, and get lost in a wonderful romance.

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November 19, 2018 No comments
TealPaisleyTights_Blitz

Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for Teal Paisley Tights by Barbara Brutt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Happy Release Day to this debut author!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Teal Paisley Tights  
Author: Barbara Brutt  
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing
Release Date: November 15, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy

Life post-graduation was supposed to see the launch of paisley-loving Jadyn’s art career, or at least an art gallery showing one of her watercolor paintings. Instead, this Pittsburgh native is locked into a low-paying, buttoned-up consultant position with an impossible boss. When another colleague is dismissed, Jadyn inherits extra workload, including the company’s biggest client. If she loses him, she’s fired.

Jadyn people-pleases her way through life, resulting in extra work opportunities and a community classroom of art students. But when two guys appear on her doorstep, she just might not be able to people-please her way out of this love triangle. At the end of the day, she can’t please everyone.

Then, because of a small spending problem, Jadyn is evicted from her apartment, and she must move in with her know-it-all sister. Jadyn needs to decide between a job transfer that would place her near her love interest, or a full-time art career with all its risks.

Stretched like canvas between responsibility and dreams, she must choose. Will practicality always win?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Excerpt

     I glanced around the apartment, excited to show off its best features, and then imagined how Ethan would view it. My warm fuzzies fizzled.
     It looked bad. Real bad.
     I scurried stray cups and mugs into the oven, shoved magazines into the couch, and twirled air freshener around the apartment like a floral streamer. I straightened the Joan Miro abstract art book on the coffee table.
     A knock sounded on the door.
     Hummingbirds drummed against my abdominal muscles, and my feet rooted to the ceramic. I'd forgotten about pre-date nerves.
     "Relax, tummy. Deep breath, lungs." I expanded my lungs with cool oxygen. "Shoulders back."
I tiptoed over to the door, straightened my hemline and my smile, swung open the door and froze.
     This cannot be happening.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

barbara brutt

Barbara Brutt, a born and raised Pittsburgher, spent her growing-up years with her nose in a book. After claiming her bachelor's degree in English, she plunked down hard into a smattering of jobs from shop girl to communications director with a healthy dose of nanny and house-cleaner. Flying to new adventures is her favorite, especially on an airplane or aerial silk. Barbara adores ice cream and only buys purses that provide room for a book or two. Barbara talks books, aerial silks, faith, and travel on her website and blog at barbarabrutt.com.  

CONNECT WITH BARBARA: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

teal paisley tights blitz giveaway

TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive (US only)
  • a pair of teal paisley tights (one size fits most)
  • $15 Starbucks gift card
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight November 15, 2018 and last through 11:59pm November 22, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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November 15, 2018 4 comments

Today we have the blog tour for Melissa Foster’s Wicked Whiskey Love! Check out this fantastic new contemporary romance and be sure to grab your copy today!

Wicked Whiskey Love
by Melissa Foster
Series: The Whiskeys (#4)
Published by: World Literary Press
November 7th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via InkSlingerPR)
Rating: 5 Stars

     Fall in love with Bones Whiskey in WICKED WHISKEY LOVE, an emotionally riveting, sexy new standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. A magnificent love story for those who enjoy fiercely loyal and insanely sexy alpha heroes, smart, sassy heroines, families, bikers, babies, and more!
     In WICKED WHISKEY LOVE...
     After escaping abusive parents and, later, an abusive relationship, Sarah Beckley has spent a lifetime watching snakes shed their skin. With two small children to care for and another on the way, she's finally found a home in Peaceful Harbor with the brother she hasn't seen in more than a decade. She's still searching for her sister, but life is good. If only she could stop thinking about the sinfully sexy doctor/biker who has taken to her children like a loving uncle--and to her like a hungry man.
     Trust doesn't come easily for Sarah, but Bones Whiskey is patient and protective, amazing with her children, and he looks at her like she is the only woman he could ever want--and more. With two little ones underfoot, Sarah expects him to move on quickly, yet with every tender kiss and each trying moment with the children, Bones surprises her. But will the fiercely loyal biker stick around when Sarah's worst secret is revealed, or will he shed his skin, too?
     For more hot Whiskey love, check out Melissa's other Whiskey novels.
     TRU BLUE
     TRULY MADLY WHISKEY
     DRIVING WHISKEY WILD
     And don't miss RIVER OF LOVE, the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!
     The Whiskeys are perfect beach reads with depth of story, strong family ties, and a wealth of emotions. Small town love stories with happily ever afters guaranteed.


     Oh My God, what did just happened?

     Wicked Whiskey Love is the story of Bones Whiskey, a doctor/biker, who overanalyzes everything before taking any action; and Sarah Beckley a mother of two and pregnant with a third, who is wary of anyone who shows kindness to her and her children.

     Sarah has gone thru some difficult times and she expects at any moment for people to show her their true face and disappoint her again. But while she resists her attraction to Bones, the once cool and level-headed doc is taking a chance on this attraction without overthinking it.

     Slowly but surely this two break down the walls surrounding Sarah's heart and falling in love not just with each other but with the kids too.

     The only thing I have to say is that I am mad at myself for not trying Melissa Foster before now. I have seen her books on several sites and stores and I've not grabbed one for one reason or other but no more, if I see it I buy it!

     This book had me in such a roller coaster of emotions. Not even 30% into the story and I'd already cried on 4 different scenes. But not just that. I loved that even as I was crying one moment the next I would be laughing the next bawling then smiling then teary-eyed and so on. I really cannot recomend this book enough, you guys just stop reding this and go buy it now. Now! NOW!

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via InkSlingerPR for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

Get Your Copy Today!

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google Play | Books-a-Million | Paperback


About Melissa Foster:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women's fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa's fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, and the Wild Boys After Dark. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole. Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod. Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website.   Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Connect with Melissa:

Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Fan Club | Pinterest | Google Plus | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | Website

Enter Melissa’s Giveaway:

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November 08, 2018 No comments

Today we have the blog tour for NEVER LET ME FALL by Abbie Roads. NEVER LET ME FALL is a psychological thriller in the Fatal Dreams Series and available for purchase on all retail outlets!

Never Let Me Fall
by Abbie Roads
Series: Fatal Dreams (#3)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
November 6th
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via InkSlingerPR)
Rating: 4 Stars

     Seeing is believing... 
     Thomas Brown can't see color, but he can see people's true souls. His abilities allow him to work with criminal investigators and deliver justice to families of the wronged. And he's starting to accept that his life will forever be in black and white... Then he encounters Helena Grayse, and everything changes. She brings vibrant color to his world, and he brings acceptance and belief to hers. But Helena's past is quickly catching up with her, and Thomas is in the crosshairs. As an enemy hidden in plain sight threatens their every move, they'll have to rely on their love to beat the darkness. 


     First of all, I want to mention that even though this book is the third in a series you can read it as a standalone. Although it is so well crafted that you get curious about the couples on the first two books if you have not read them, which I haven't, which I definitively will.

     This is the story of Thoma's Brown, the brother of Evanee who is the heroine of the previous book, and Helena Grayse, a convicted felon.

     From the moment this book started the night before Helen's release from jail to that final scene on the porch I was hooked. This story was so convoluted and full of twists and turns that surprised me at every time.

      Helen and Thomas have both been thru a lot of trauma from a very young age and that is something that connects them on a level not seen but felt. But there is much more than connecting them and that more than anything is what saves them time and again.

     There was just something about the story that left me filling left out. I felt like something was missing, or it was there and I couldn't see it, that didn't let me completely enjoy the story. But whatever it was I guess it was just my problem and I recommend this book to anyone who likes their romance with a sprinkle of paranormal on it.

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review for an InkSlingerPR blog tour. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

EXCERPT

     Thomas walked through the granite garden, looking for an open grave. His mother’s grave. Cold air stung his face and seeped in around the collar of his coat. A chill sliced across his shoulder blades—part cold, part dread.

     Trees dotted the landscape, their naked branches spearing the clouds. The sky above and the land below shared the bland, gray color he’d come to associate with winter in Ohio. Grass crunched under his feet and looked as desiccated as the bodies planted beneath it. Nothing was more depressing than a cemetery in winter. Would it look more alive with color? Was the sky really blue, while all he saw was gray? Were the gravestones a motley of different types of granite instead of the same dull color? Was there beauty here while all he witnessed was drab and dreary?

     It was so frustrating not being able to see what everyone else saw. As if the world had a secret and wouldn’t share it with him. He clenched his hands into fists.

     Clng. Clng. Clng. The sound of metal clanging against metal sounded loud as a church bell in the quiet cemetery.

     Across the endless sea of gravestones, Thomas spotted a canopy erected to protect the mourners from the elements. The fabric flapped and snapped in the wind. A metal grommet hitting one of the legs made the endless clng, clng, clng noise. The sounds grew in volume, became unnaturally loud. He reached up to cover his ears. But before he could get his hands into place, his vision winked out. Gone. Blackness.

     He just stood there. Frozen. Not from fear, but from acceptance. He was blind, and he should be freaking out. But then, blinding himself had been something he’d contemplated in his darkest moments. He’d always thought blindness would grant him an odd sort of relief. No more gray existence, no more seeing the shadow of death. Ignorance really could be bliss, right? The only thing that had kept him from following through was not wanting to be dependent on anyone for anything.

     Light flashed in his dark vision like far-off lightning. His sight blinked back on. Everything was the same. But everything had changed.

     He still stood in Sundew Cemetery, but it was as if everything around him had faded into the background and a spotlight gleamed on a woman in front of him.

     She stood no more than fifty feet away, a beacon of light, a burning flame that he couldn’t look away from.

     Her body was bundled against the cold, her thick, black coat zipped up over her mouth with the hood pulled down over her forehead. The tiny bit of skin he saw was the palest of—his mind searched for the name of the right color—pale peach. Her skin was pale peach. Pale. Peach.

     Holy motherfucking son of a bitch. 

     He saw color. Color. She brought vibrancy to his gray existence. And she carried no shadow of death. Not even a wispy hint. If love at first sight existed, he loved her for these gifts.

     At this distance, it should be impossible to see the color of her eyes, but they were gold and shining right at him, locking him in place with their brilliance, their luminescence, and some ethereal quality that made him think of purity and perfection.

     Call it instinct, call it pheromones, call it instant visceral attraction—his dick went hard.

     “Thomas? Are you all right?” The question he’d been asked too much lately punched him in the head, breaking his attention on her.

     Sound clicked back on. He heard the canopy flapping and the metal clanging. Almost as if his body was working in slow motion, he turned his head, absorbing a world that was alive with vitality for the first time. He felt like a kid who’d just learned to name colors. Brown grass. Green canopy. Red scarf.

     Audie stood outside the canopy wearing the same getup as last night. Only now Thomas could see the hat and scarf and mittens were bright red.

     Thomas raised his hand in a gesture somewhere between wait-a-minute, a wave, and what-the-hell. Audie smiled, his wrinkled face conveying a wordless understanding. That was why Thomas always liked the guy. No explanations, no empty phrases needed. And it didn’t hurt that he looked like Gandalf.

     Thomas turned back to the woman, but she no longer stood there. She was walking away, carrying an aura of color with her. The sky above her glowed a sweet, watery shade of blue, the grass under her feet a subtle tan, and the grave she passed was a pinkish granite. Holy shit. It was all so beautiful, but then his gaze locked on the erotic sway of her hips.

     Without warning, his mind flashed him images of her in his bed and him being mesmerized by her golden eyes, her matching gilded hair, and all that creamy, warm skin surrounding him, holding him tight. Without ever seeing her face, he knew she would be beautiful, so lovely that it would hurt to gaze anywhere but upon her.

     There was the before her part of his life. Now there was the after her part of his life. And he couldn’t let her go. He needed her in every sense of the word—emotionally, physically, sexually. He wanted to be underneath her, on top of her, inside her. He wanted to surround her, swallow her, take her into himself and keep her there. Forever. Always. A-fucking-men.

     He ran after her, opening his mouth to shout her name, but… He didn’t know her name. Yet he felt like he should know it. And know her. She was his other piece. She completed him. Healed him. Made up for all his deficiencies.

     “Thomas? What are you doing?” Pastor Audie yelled. The concern and worry riding along the old man’s tone was more effective than diving headfirst into one of the granite markers dotting the cemetery.

     What was he doing? Chasing after some random woman in the cemetery who obviously had no reaction to him. If she’d felt even an ounce of the connection he had, she wouldn’t be walking away.

     He stopped running. But the urge to keep going pushed him forward a few more steps. He grabbed on to a gravestone to keep from following her. His heart rammed against his sternum so hard it threatened to knock him to the ground. It hurt—physically hurt—to watch her walk away, taking color and beauty with her, leaving him alone inside his gray existence once more. It felt like she’d amputated half of his soul, leaving him with the phantom pain of what could have been. A cold heaviness settled over him. He felt as dead as the stone he clung to.

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About Abbie Roads

Abbie Roads loves Snickers Parfaits and acrylic pour painting. It’s her new obsession. The pour painting. Not the parfaits. Though the parfaits would qualify as an obsession too. She spends her days a mental health counselor always looking on the bright side, but at night she likes to write dark and dangerous things—with kissing and sexy times. She loves reading inspirational quotes and stories about serial killers. She is married to her favorite fellow and they have two cranky old rescue dogs that are not spoiled. Not at all. Okay. Maybe a little. Alright, the dogs are terribly spoiled, but they do give lots of cuddles and kisses in return.
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November 07, 2018 No comments
JR_SouthernSeason_BLOG

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for A Southern Season: Four Stories From a Front Porch Swing by Eva Marie Everson, Claire Fullerton, Linda W. Yezak, and Ane Mulligan, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Pull up a front porch swing and enjoy learning more about this collection from 4 great authors :)

A Southern Season
by Multiple Authors
Published by: Firefly Southern Fiction
November 1st, 2018
Genre: Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Via JustReads Tours)
Rating: 2.5 Stars

     Four seasons. Four stories. Each one set in the enchanting world of the South. These are the kinds of stories your grandmother told you from a front porch swing.

Ice Melts in Spring by Linda W. Yezak 
     When Kerry Graham's boss forces her to return to the Gulf of Mexico where her husband drowned years ago, she feels only spring's chill and not the warmth of the Texas sun. Can the joy of a reclusive author and the compassion of a shrimp-boat preacher thaw Kerry's frigid heart? 
Lillie Beth in Summer by Eva Marie Everson 
     With the untimely death of his wife, Dr. James Gillespie believes God has abandoned him. He also believes he's never met anyone like the young widow Lillie Beth, whose beloved Granny lies dying at home, and who sees a God who sweeps hope through a farmhouse window. Can a young woman whose husband died in Vietnam restore a faith that is all but dead. 
Through an Autumn Window by Claire Fullerton 
     Because her larger than life mother Daphne Goodwyn is dead, forty-year-old Cate returns to Memphis with one thought in mind: something always goes wrong at a Southern funeral. But surrounded by the well-mannered society that raised her, the nostalgic rites of a three-day, autumn mourning bring the unexpected gift of the end of sibling rivalry. 
A Magnolia Blooms in Winter by Ane Mulligan
     With Broadway stardom within her reach, Morgan James returns home in winter to help an old friend. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but when she sees him again, an old flame rekindles. When she's called back to NYC to take the lead in a new musical, will fame be worth losing the man she loves?


     This is an anthology about people that lost their faith in God and their hartening path to finding Him again.

     I have to be honest and say that it was an okay read for me. The characters of this stories all lost their faith in God after they lost a loved one. I know there are people out there that go thru this and that many find their way back into God's grace, others don't and to many others, it just brings them closer to the Lord.

     And I did enjoy some of this stories more than others but I think for the topic it concentrates on, this stories should have been longer and deeper. You didn't have time to connect with the characters before they decided to seek God's forgiveness. And in one story I was more concerned about a supporting character than the person who the story was actually about.

     I think that if every individual author takes their story and expand it and give the characters more flesh I would definitively enjoy some of them. As it stands it is an okay book for me but maybe it will touch someone who is angry with God or is much more in touch with the Lord.

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Eva  Marie  by  Mary  Denman  Photography  2
Eva Marie Everson (Lillie Beth in Summer) is a multiple award-winning author and speaker. She is the president of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference & North Georgia Christian Writers Conference.  

CONNECT WITH EVA: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
 
2  Claire  LvgRm  3  set  2  828  465  360-1010730
Claire Fullerton (Through an Autumn Window) is the author of Mourning Dove, Dancing to an Irish Reel, and A Portal in Time. She is a transplanted Southerner from Memphis now living in Malibu, California.

CONNECT WITH CLAIRE: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
 
Ane
Ane Mulligan (A Magnolia Blooms in Winter) writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. She's an award-winning, multi-published novelist and playwright, who believes chocolate and coffee are two of the four major food groups.

 CONNECT WITH ANE: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
 
Linda  Yezak
Linda W. Yezak (Ice Melts in Spring) lives with her husband and PB, the original scaredy cat, in a forest in Deep East Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. Author of several novels, novellas, and short stories, she is best known for her award-winning Circle Bar Ranch series.  

CONNECT WITH LINDA: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest


a  southern  season  giveaway

TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Southern Season, signed by all 4 authors! (US only)  

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 30, 2018 and last through 11:59pm November 5, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow along at JustRead for a full list of stops!
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October 30, 2018 1 comments
The  Seven  Trilogy

We are celebrating these gorgeous new covers for the Seven trilogy by Sara Davison, with a blog blitz and giveaway hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOKS

The  End  Begins  -  final  cover Title: The End Begins (Seven Trilogy #1)
Author:
Sara Davison
Publisher:
Ashberry Lane/WhiteFire Publishing
Genre:
Romantic Suspense

One of them is a prisoner and one of them is free. The same one.

Bookstore owner Meryn O’Reilly and Army Captain Jesse Christensen are on opposite sides of a battle. When martial law is declared, Jesse and his platoon are sent to Meryn’s city to keep an eye on the Christians and make sure they are not stepping outside of the confines of the law.

Fiery and quick-tempered, Meryn chafes under the curfew and other restrictions to her freedom. Jesse is equally amused, intrigued, and terrified by her spirit, knowing she could find herself in prison if she shows defiance to the wrong soldier.

His worst fears are realized when she commits a crime he cannot protect her from. Now they both face an uncertain future, and the very real threat of losing everything, including their lives. With time running out, Jesse works feverishly to convince the authorities to show leniency to Meryn. And to convince her that love can overcome any barrier that lies between them.  

PURCHASE: Goodreads | Amazon

The  Darkness  Deepens  1  (1) Title: The Darkness Deepens (Seven Trilogy #2)  
Author: Sara Davison
Publisher: Ashberry Lane/WhiteFire Publishing
Genre: Romantic Suspense

(formerly The Dragon Roars)

Their Secrets Protect Them ... But Secrets are Hard to Keep

No one in the army can find out that Captain Jesse Christensen has become a believer. He and bookstore owner Meryn O’Reilly are forced to meet in secret, facing imprisonment or worse if they are found together. Their relationship deepens, but so does Lieutenant Gallagher’s hatred for the Christians in their city. As Gallagher’s power grows, it becomes clear that his connections go much further up the chain of command than anyone realized, putting all believers, especially Jesse, in extreme danger.

Meryn wants to give her heart to Jesse fully, but her past holds her back. Although circumstances conspire to keep her silent, she needs to tell him her secret. When he finds out what she has been keeping from him, nothing will stand between them anymore. Or nothing will ever be the same.  

PURCHASE: Goodreads | Amazon

The  Morning  Star  Rises  flaming  books  LA Title: The Morning Star Rises (Seven Trilogy #3)  
Author: Sara Davison  
Publisher: Ashberry Lane/WhiteFire Publishing  
Genre: Romantic Suspense

In the Midst of all the Fear and Confusion, Only One Thing is Clear ... This Isn’t Over Yet

Jesse Christensen is out of the army, but the real battle has just begun. Major Gallagher has taken over the city and his oppression of believers has intensified. But is Gallagher acting in a professional capacity, or is he carrying out a personal vendetta?

Meryn O’Reilly faces a dark and uncertain future after shocking revelations devastate her life. She is determined to follow God’s call, but her plans could cost her everything. She and Jesse struggle to surrender fully to a God who is always in control, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

With the world descending into chaos around them, Meryn and Jesse face the greatest barrier to their love yet—a barrier that may prove too strong to breach.

PURCHASE: Goodreads | Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR




Sara  Davison  -  headshot  1


Sara Davison is the author of the romantic suspense novels The Watcher and The Seven Trilogy. She has been a finalist for eight national writing awards, including the Word Award for Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a Word and Cascade Award winner. Sara has a degree in English Literature and currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children, all of whom she (literally) looks up to.  

CONNECT WITH SARA: website | Facebook | Twitter

the  seven  trilogy  blitz  giveaway

TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive:
  • a set of all 3 books in The Seven Trilogy (US/CAN only)
  • $10 Amazon gift card
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 20, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm October 27, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow along at JustReadTours for a full list of stops!
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October 20, 2018 1 comments

We are thrilled to be bringing you the release of BETTING ON HIM by Kelly Collins. BETTING ON HIM is the first Wilde Love novel, a series about the Las Vegas mob. If you love mafia romance, this is one you don't want to miss!


About BETTING ON HIM

     He’s a gangster going straight. She’s a waitress going bankrupt. Will their gamble on a marriage of convenience pay off in true love?
     Alex Wilde desperately wants to be free of the family’s mob business. But when his infamous father is murdered, the family attorney makes a suggestion he can’t ignore: find a bride before the funeral or they'll force a wedding with a nice Russian gangster girl. When he meets a feisty cocktail waitress, he thinks he’s found his way out.
     Faye Tandy is desperately in debt and hard-pressed to find help. Alex’s offer of a phony marriage for a ton of cash couldn’t come at a better time and she’s happy to help him exit the criminal world. The fact that he’s tall, dark, and handsome is an attractive bonus. But when she discovers the Russians have a contract out on her head, she wonders if divorced and bankrupt would be a better choice than rich and dead...
     As Faye’s fake feelings for Alex turn real, she’s terrified her trip to the altar might be her last. Will Alex and Faye’s throw of the dice succeed or will they lose the lawless game of love?

Add BETTING ON HIM to your Goodreads TBR!

Get your copy of BETTING ON HIM on Amazon today!


Read an excerpt from BETTING ON HIM

     “Is there anything else I can get you ladies right now?”
     “A stripper,” said the tall blonde in the corner. I knew she was tall because even seated, her head was six inches above everyone else.
     “There are a lot of all male reviews on the strip,” I offered the women sitting around the half-moon booth. They were all pretty in a silicone, filler kind of way. I wondered how many days they’d gone without food to prepare for this outing. “The Rio has Chippendales, and there’s the Magic Mike Live show.”
     One woman’s eyes focused past me. “I’ll take him, on this table, in nothing but a G-string.”
     I turned around to see the most magnificent specimen of male sexuality. He’d be my type if I hadn’t sworn off men. I’d reconsider my position if I had a chance with someone like him. Not that I played for the other team. I’d leave that pool of eligibles for my roommate, Trish.
     She wasn’t particular about gender; she was particular about orgasms. She liked them with regularity and preferred a variety of flavors, shapes, sizes, and colors. One thing about Trish was, she was never lonely or left unsatisfied. Of that, I was envious.
     I tossed the extra napkins from my tray onto the table to catch their drool. “Can’t help you there, but I can help him.” I turned and walked toward Mr. Tall, Dark and Desirable. He seemed to debate between the corner booth opposite Cinderella and her seven stepsisters and a table in the center of the room.
     He looked at his watch and frowned before he decided on the booth in the far corner.
     “Hello,” I called out as he took a seat. His eyes flashed to me. They were nothing short of stunning. Most people would say they were brown, but I had a thing for eyes the color of a good scotch, and his were a Glenfiddich 18. “Can I get you something?” I leaned over the table, letting the fringe of my dress skate across the gray granite surface.
     His eyes narrowed as he looked around the room. “I’m waiting for a man.”
     The good ones were taken. “Figures.” I looked over my shoulder. “So are they. Well, at least seven of them. The one in the center is walking down the aisle of doom in a few days.”
     He let out a low, rumbling laugh. “Not a fan of marriage?”
     I shrugged. “I can’t say. I’ve never been married, but with a fifty percent failure rate, it doesn’t sound like a smart bet. Until marriage can deliver a good return on investment and quality benefits, I’m not applying for the job.”
     The truth was, I’d seen enough men and bad marriages to last me a lifetime. Mom was on number seven. Gail Tandy was much like my roommate, Trish. She liked variety, but she was old-fashioned and practical. She marched each of her husbands to the one-hour chapel to make it legal, but she never changed her last name. No sense in changing it to something not likely to last.
     I’d been to every one of those seven weddings, and not one of them was to my father. He was the one who got away, or rather ran away and stayed away. Michael Holt didn’t have time for wives or children. He couldn’t marry a woman when he was married to his job. Though my father’s last name was Holt, I was legally a Tandy.
     “Anything to drink while you’re waiting for Mr. Right?”
     His head went on full tilt. “I’m not waiting for Mr. Right. I’m waiting for my attorney. We’re meeting here.” He glanced at his watch, then back at me.
     A blush of embarrassment heated my cheeks. I’d never been good at reading people or situations. Always a day late and a dollar short. It’s why I wore a flapper costume and peddled watered down drinks in a speakeasy bar.
     Over my shoulder, the bridal party stared this way. “The tall one in the corner said she’d like to meet you.”
     “Did she?” He raised a brow of interest and peeked around me. He shook his head. “No, thanks. Not my type.”
     Something about that made me smile. “What’s your type?” I knew most men had one, but I wondered what his type would be like. Tall? Rail thin? Cheap to feed?
     He licked his lips and grinned a Hollywood-worthy smile. “They have to be female.” He looked at the group once more. “I don’t do high maintenance. I don’t do forever. I don’t do soon-to-be brides. My women are here tonight and gone tomorrow.”
     Figures. Then again, I couldn’t fault him. Relationships were easier if the expectations were low or nonexistent. At least with a man like him, a girl knew what she was getting—most likely a night to remember. That was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time, but it was on my to-do list just after a hundred more imperative things, like paying rent.
     “It’s important to know what you like. Anything to drink while you’re waiting on your man?” I gave him a sly smile and a wink.
     “How about a coffee?”
     “I’ll make you a fresh pot. If you’re waiting for an attorney, do you want a shot of something added? Attorneys are worse than husbands and wives. Or so I hear.”
     He looked at my name tag. “I like you, Faye. You’re funny.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and set it on the table. “No whiskey. Just coffee.”
     “Suit yourself.” A shrug lifted my shoulders. “You got a name?”
     He looked down at his chest like his name was written there. “My name is Alessio, but everyone calls me Alex.”


About KELLY COLLINS

International bestselling author of more than thirty novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again. Kelly lives in Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband of twenty-eight years, their two dogs, and a bird that hates her. She has three amazing children, whom she loves to pieces. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | BookBub
October 17, 2018 No comments
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