Category Archives: #reading

GOOD TALK … GOOD TALK by Ginny Andrews – Book Blog Tour: Author Interview and Giveaway

GOOD TALK . . . GOOD TALK
by
Ginny Andrews
Nonfiction / Humor / Comedy / Essays
Publisher: Ginny Andrews Comedy, LLC
Date of Publication: October 5, 2023
Number of Pages: 171 pages
Scroll down for a Giveaway!
Raise your hand if you have ever run into a mannequin in a store and apologized. Continue to keep your hand raised if you want to pre-write thank you notes to those whom you anticipate attending your funeral because you suffer from chronic “way too nice” syndrome. Keep it up high if you have ever farted in church or yoga class. Man, my arm is getting tired!
Most people are awkward during the middle school years, grow out of it, and blossom into mature, well-functioning human beings…I’m still waiting for this to happen. Awkwardness is my hidden talent, although most who know me would tell you it isn’t hidden—it’s written on my forehead. My daily life is filled with epic failures. Sometimes I feel like I’m one big malfunction! As I have gotten older, I just try to embrace it.
After you read this collection of essays, hopefully you will be able to accept your imperfections too! Nope, probably not because I’m still not there! However, maybe my comedy will stick with you like that hemorrhoid you can’t seem to get rid of, like ever—Good Talk. . .Good Talk.

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PRAISE FOR GOOD TALK . . . GOOD TALK:

“Reading Ginny Andrews’s Good Talk. . .Good Talk is a lot like hanging out with that girlfriend that invariably makes you laugh until you cry.” —Lauren Cassel Brownell, author of Zen and the Art of Housekeeping and Dying to Donate

“Good Talk. . .Good Talk is a laugh out loud winner, filled with quirky stories reminiscent of Patrick McManus.” —J. Andersen, author of The Breeding Tree, The Gene Rift, and Legacy’s Impact

“Anyone with anxiety will totally relate to Ginny Andrews’ humorous tales of the struggle of day-to-day life in today’s world.” —John A.B., Amazon Reviewer

Ginny Andrews is a former high school teacher and coach, who is now an aspiring comedian, speaker, and writer. She would greatly appreciate it if you purchased her book! Door Dash, dog-sitting, used car sales, lawn mowing, and selling random items found in her house aren’t high-paying gigs!
◆ WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ FACEBOOK◆
◆ YOUTUBE ◆ GOODREADS ◆ BOOKBUB ◆
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Interview with Ginny Andrews

How has being a Texan influenced your writing?

Growing up in West Texas absolutely shaped my writing. I have stories in my book about how you can’t apply lip balm and walk outside in West Texas on a dusty day!

Why did you choose to write in your field?

My life seems to be a walking comedy act, so it just seemed natural!

What kind(s) of writing do you do?

Comedy, essays, blogs, social media comedy posts. I just try to cheer people up each day because I know life can be stressful.

How does your book relate to your faith?

I am a Christian and a comedian, but I wouldn’t consider myself to be a Christian comedian. There are chapters in my book titled, “Church Camp,” and “Jesus Take the Wheel.” My faith is a big part of who I am—I try to take a comedic approach to it.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Comedy is hard. There is a fine line between making people laugh and offending. It is hard to appeal to all ages, generations, and genders. What would make individuals in their 60s and 70s laugh might not appeal to the 20s-40s generation. What would appeal to the younger generation might offend the older. So, trying to find a comedy style that pleases all is hard. I did my best to achieve this goal with Good Talk…Good Talk and I hope to find this balance even more in my future books.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

The idea of bringing joy to people as they read. That is the goal of my comedy whether it is through books, standup, social media posts…I just want to be a bright spot in someone’s day!

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?  How does that affect your writing?

I teach high school during the day and write at night and on the weekends. My day job gives me plenty of material for my writing and comedy shows! 😊

What is something you want to accomplish before you die?

If I could have my own comedy show, or open for a big headliner, even if I only get 10-15 minutes on stage (that is golden for me), or get my books (I have three total to write) picked up by a big publishing house, or get to tour as a motivational speaker and sell my books…all of those things would be amazing. Or maybe make enough money through my writing to not have to work a second job while teaching and get a new car that isn’t ten years old with squeaky brakes!

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FINDING COMFORT by Kimberly Fish – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

FINDING COMFORT
Comfort and Joy Trilogy, Book 2
by
Kimberly Fish
Women’s Fiction / Contemporary / Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing
Date of Publication: September 1, 2023
Number of Pages: 312 pages
Scroll down for the Giveaway!

Even with all her experience, Gloria Bachman, retired banker and candy entrepreneur, didn’t see this coming.

Sweeties, the beloved Comfort chocolate shop, was ready for its cameo in advertising extraordinaire Jazzy Mezcal’s famous travel and food show! Comfort town folks had worked hard all summer to get their shops Hallmark-movie ready. On the eve of the TV crews overtaking the town, Gloria’s Chamber of Commerce welcome party gets drenched in a wicked rainstorm. Locals call it a “blue norther,” and a dreaded agent of change. Flooding seems like the worst of their problems until the celebrity TV host turns up dead.

In shock, Gloria’s friends turn to her to figure out who could be responsible for such a disaster. With the TV crew and guests in town for the 8th Street Market’s annual shopping event, suspects are endless. Reluctant to get involved, Gloria would much rather focus on the delicious romance with Mason Lassiter. And she would if a frenemy from Kerrville didn’t haunt her every step. Now as Gardner Rogers treads on her turf, everything feels suspicious.

With all eyes on Gloria to find the truth behind Jazzy Mezcal’s untimely death, she indulges her curiosity for problem solving while trying to disguise how unsure she is about the future with her boyfriend. Disruption in Mason’s world, mayhem in Comfort, and one epic chocolate disaster rouse Gloria to action and make her decide what’s worth fighting for. All she can say for sure, is that no one is finding any comfort in Comfort.

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     I’ve been visiting Kimberly Fish’s version of Comfort, Texas for many years now and each visit provides a unique and fascinating experience. In Finding Comfort, the town and its residents become more and more real. The characters, especially Gloria, are getting fully fleshed-out, becoming actual people and not merely figments of an author’s highly creative imagination. Such is the talent of Ms. Fish that she populated her books with three-dimensional personalities that are somehow strange and relatable at the same time. Gloria has found her family in Comfort and it’s a beautiful thing to witness through these two books.
Everything would work out in the end. If it wasn’t working out, it wasn’t the end.”
     Ms. Fish’s storytelling is topnotch as always. The current mystery of a celebrity’s death was not too difficult to solve but she gave it an extra layer of unexpected emotional depth that’s not often found in this type of stories. The physical danger to Gloria when she broke the case felt so real, I had sympathy aches and pains while I was reading the scenes.
I like the way I feel when I’m here. I like the way I feel when I’m with you.”
     While it’s not the central theme of Finding Comfort, the romance aspect is a huge reason why I enjoyed this book. I am so glad Kimberly Fish did not unnecessarily prolong Gloria and Mason’s coming together as a couple. There was a bit of a push and pull on Gloria’s side at the beginning but it didn’t go on too long and she admitted her feelings soon after. They are sweet together and are truly couple goals.  Lacy and Rudy as well.
Even though we’re hurting and in shock, doing the hard work of maintaining life is how we’ll get through.”
     Normally, I would give a Comfort book one of my highest ratings but I found a couple of issues in this one that held me back. First was the way Lacy’s loss was handled. In my opinion, the introduction of the distressing information was too abrupt and not given the proper weight. It would have been nice to mention some of the sensitive contents in the foreword to prepare those readers who have related experiences. My second issue is with the unusual number of grammatical errors. It could have benefitted with one more round of proofreading before publication.
     Still, a Comfort story is a highly entertaining story and I am looking forward to the conclusion of the trilogy. I have no doubt Ms. Fish will deliver an incredibly enjoyable read.
     Many thanks to Lone Star Lit for including my blog in the tour and for the opportunity to share my thoughts.
4 out of 5 stars
Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for over thirty years, with regular contributions to area newspapers and magazines. As an accidental historian, she wrote two novels, The Big Inch and Harmon General, both based on factual events in Longview, Texas, that changed world history. Kimberly also offers a set of contemporary women’s fiction novels and novellas, based in the Texas Hill Country, that reveal her fascination with characters discovering their grit and sweet, second chances; all four of the novels have won distinguished awards. Finding Comfort is her latest novel, the second book in the Comfort and Joy Trilogy.
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PRINGLE PRAWN by Michael Scott Clifton – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

PRINGLE PRAWN
by
Michael Scott Clifton
Contemporary Urban Fantasy / Fairies / Humor
Publisher: Book Liftoff
Date of Publication: September 19, 2023
Number of Pages: 310 pages
Scroll down for the Giveaway!
Move over Tinker Bell. There’s a new fairy in town!
Ben’s luck is changing. He has his iconic VW bus, a hot, wealthy girlfriend, and he’s managed to buy an old fixer-upper in an upscale neighborhood—just the thing to convince his girlfriend’s influential father that he’s husband material. But his new home has a secret, and when Ben opens a mysterious grandfather clock, he finds himself dropped into a magical land. There he meets Pringle, a six-inch prawn with a supercharged attitude and a pouchful of fairy dust. She saves his life, and when Ben returns to his world, Pringle returns with him.
Pringle’s adjustment to the modern world is a hilarious series of incidents that completely disrupt Ben’s life. When Russian mobsters and a vengeful HOA president attempt to hijack Ben’s life, Pringle zooms to the rescue—a pinch here, a pinch there, nothing a little fairy dust can’t fix.
But it’s when Pringle begins to grow that things really get interesting, because as Pringle’s size increases, so do her feelings for Ben. Ultimately, Pringle must decide whether to return to her world—or follow her heart and stay with Ben.
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Dear Reader, seat yourself in a comfortable chair, grab a can of Pringles, fasten your imaginary seatbelt, and enjoy this fantastically entertaining amusement ride of a fairy tale story.
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With a cinematic flair, Michael Scott Clifton plunges Pringle Prawn‘s hero Ben Hastings (and its readers) smack in the middle of the action on the very first page. His spectacular description of Ben’s desperate plight and frantic flight engaged all my senses, making me feel as if I were part of the scene.
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The exhilaration continues throughout the book, even more so when the scenes involve the adorable title character Pringle. She brought the fun, the humor, the sweetness, the magic, and the romance to the story. Her declaration at the end legit made me tear up. So did Ben’s. The romance in this story is so significant, that I’m tempted to tag it as a romantasy.
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Whatever genre this book belongs to, it’s undoubtedly a great work of fiction. There’s a fascinating mix of secondary characters, some supporting, others villainous, all diverse. I especially adore Archie and relate well to him having also worked in insurance and dreaming of owning a bookshop someday. I also like Hank and the Enchanted Door. As for HOA President Maude, I understand her role in the story and enjoyed her over-the-top shenanigans for the comic relief they provided.
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Comedy is necessary to balance the horrific subject of human trafficking which is a major plot point in the book. While the presentation is light, the seriousness of this societal woe is communicated clearly through the descriptions of the victims’ deplorable conditions and the lack of solutions offered to combat the problem.
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Pringle Prawn is pure entertainment with depth. I give this book my highest rating and I thank Lone Star Lit for including my blog in the tour that aims to introduce it to more readers. Easily one of my top 23 books for 2023.
5 stars
Multi-award-winning author Michael Scott Clifton lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie. An avid gardener, rapacious reader, and movie junkie, his books contain facets of all the genres he enjoys—action, adventure, magic, fantasy, and romance. His fantasy novels, The Janus Witch, and the Conquest of the Veil series, (The Open Portal, Escape from Wheel, A Witch’s Brew, and Cavern of the Veil Queen) all received 5-Stars from the prestigious Readers Favorite Book Reviews. The Open Portal has been honored with a Feathered Quill Book Finalist Award. In addition, his YA novel Edison Jones and The Anti-Grav Elevator received a Feathered Quill Book Award Bronze Medal. Two of his short stories have earned Gold Medals, with “Edges of Gray” winning the Texas Authors Contest, and “The End Game” winning the Northeast Texas Writer’s Organization Contest. Professional credits include published articles in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine.

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1st Prize: An autographed copy of Pringle Prawn
+ $10 Amazon gift card
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EVERY OUNCE OF COURAGE by Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino – FAHM Spotlight

Every Ounce of Courage paperback

EVERY OUNCE OF COURAGE

A Daughter’s Reflections On Her Mother’s Bravery

Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino

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It began with an unexpected phone call and a startling statement: “You don’t know me, but your mother saved my life.”

The late-night conversation with an American World War II veteran revealed to Elizabeth Ann Besa Quirino the untold stories of her mother’s remarkable wartime heroism and sparked a twenty-year journey of discovery about her lifelong acts of bravery and compassion.

Lourdes “Lulu” Reyes Besa channeled the heartbreak of a childhood tragedy into a profound sense of compassion and service. She helped raise three brothers while still a child herself in the early years of the 20th century. Then, as a young socialite in the heydays of 1930s Manila, she focused on meaningful philanthropy and charity work. During the merciless Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Lulu embarked unflinchingly on dangerous missions to bring aid and comfort that meant the difference between life and death to countless Filipino and American prisoners of war. She continued to face personal grief and adversity in the later decades of her life but met each challenge as before – with every ounce of courage, fortitude, and grace.

Elizabeth Ann delved into a trove of old letters, photographs, and recipes in search of the source of her mother’s courageous spirit. In Lulu’s story, she found a complex life full of joy, sorrow, selflessness, and survival, and learned precious lessons about how the timeless bonds of family, the steadfast strength of faith, and the power of an indomitable will can provide solace and sense in a world of uncertainty. Every Ounce of Courage by Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino is Now Available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online bookstores.

ABOUT BETTY ANN

Betty AnnElizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino is a cookbook author, an award-winning journalist, a food writer, a correspondent, a previous college professor, and a former ad agency copywriter/creative director. She blogs and develops recipes about Filipino home cooking on her popular website The Quirino Kitchen (thequirinokitchen.com)

She is a multi-award winner of the Plaridel Writing Awards for excellence in journalism, given by the Philippine-American Press Club in San Francisco, California, and is the recipient of a Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award for her essay, “A HundredMangoes in A Bottle.” She was named one of the FWN Filipina Women’s Network 100 Most Influential Women of the World.

Follow her on:

Website – The Quirino Kitchen
Facebook – Asian In America Filipino Food
Twitter – @BettyAnnQuirino
Instagram – @bettyannquirino

REVIEW

When a book educates you, makes you cry, and provides you valuable resources you can apply to daily life, you have yourself one for the keeper shelf. Every Ounce of Courage is a one-of-a-kind book that defies genre definitions. Part memoir, part historical drama, and part cookbook, it’s a totally engaging read.

Lulu Reyes Besa was never mentioned in any Filipino history books I ever read when I was a student in the Philippines. It was a terrible injustice for her and thousands of women who were never recognized for their heroic deeds. I am immensely grateful to Betty Ann Quirino for bringing her mother’s story to light. This book should be in libraries and schools in the Philippines to introduce an inspiring historical figure to the youth, especially young women, and to stir their emotions about the ravages of war that no textbook could ever accomplish.

For me, the aspects of this book that touched me the most were the food memories. Reading Betty Ann’s reminiscing about her mom’s, sister’s, and godmother’s cooking made me remember my own experiences of watching my Nanay Maring and my dad and titos cook during fiestas and special occasions. Those chapters made me smile most often and cry the hardest.

With its celebration of history, food, and family, Every Ounce of Courage is the perfect read during Filipino American History Month and every month.

5 stars

TOO DANGEROUS TO LOVE by Kristie Wolf – Featured New Release

Too Dangerous To Love

TOO DANGEROUS TO LOVE

Kristie Wolf

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Too Dangerous To Love cover

He thinks he’s too dangerous to love.

Navy SEAL Chris Daviani lost his arm in action. Project VIPER gave him a bionic one. Now he’s stronger, deadlier, and much too dangerous to even think about the shy genius who turned him into the military’s first super soldier.

He should focus on keeping her alive while she uncovers a dangerous threat to VIPER’s existence, not on drawing out the sultry woman she’s buried deep inside.

The flaw in his strategy? Underneath the science that’s made him a human weapon, he’s still a hot-blooded man.

She thinks the only thing desirable about her is her brain.

The men in Dr. Scarlett Kerrigan’s life have never valued more than her brilliant mind. The dark, intense SEAL is no exception. He needs her to save VIPER – and his career – but his scorching gaze makes her burn for the type of chemistry she didn’t learn in boarding school.

Problem is, her education didn’t cover how to guard her heart against a man who thinks his past has sentenced him to a life alone.

The solution? Even her brilliant mind can’t figure that out.

Buy Link: Amazon

ABOUT KRISTIE

Kristie WolfKristie Wolf, a rising star in the world of romantic suspense, weaves tales that ignite hearts and thrill readers.

Her passion for writing ignited during her teenage years, and now, in October 2023, she’s turning her lifelong dream into reality with the launch of “Too Dangerous to Love,” the first electrifying installment in the Project VIPER Series—a world where thrilling suspense meets scorching romance, featuring heroes as fierce as their love for the heroines. Keep your heart racing as you anticipate the arrival of “Too Lethal to Love,” the eagerly awaited second book in the Project VIPER Series, scheduled for release in Fall 2024.

Then, in February 2024, brace yourself for a plunge into the bone-chilling suspense of the “Blood Snow Series” with “Knife to the Heart,” the inaugural chapter in this gripping saga that promises to send shivers down your spine.

By day, Kristie navigates the complexities of government technology marketing, drawing inspiration from tech’s spectacular failures for her gripping plots. Her stories feature fearless heroes and strong heroines who conquer all obstacles.

Embark on Kristie’s journey into the world of romantic suspense, where love and danger intertwine in every page-turning adventure.

Follow Links:

Linktree: linktr.ee/kristiewolfromance
Website: kristiewolf.com
Facebook: @KristieAWolf
Instagram: @kristiewolf_author
Tiktok: @kristiewolfromance

SWEET SPOT by Cat Santos – Featured New Release

SweetSpota

SWEET SPOT

Cat Santos

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Santos SweetSpot

Cassie’s open to a summer fling.

Dev’s fallen first, and right into the deep end.

Can this single mom look past their age gap to finally get the steamy love she deserves?

Cassie feels like she’s already lived two full lives before she turned forty. She’s spent half her adult life being a young mom, and the other half building an art career she discovered later in life.

Finally feeling like she’s out of hustle mode, she’s ready for some me-time. That’s when she meets Dev, a young, hot florist only in town for the season. Sounds like the perfect summer treat. But after their first date, instead of finding a fling, she’s practically fallen in love with him. Could he possibly feel the same way?

Dev can’t seem to step in front of a woman without putting his foot in his mouth. Busily toiling away in a college lab for the last six years, instead of on the dating scene, he’s more in his head than not. Deciding to take an easy summer job at a small florist before his career starts, can he get out of his own way and let love in?



Welcome to the small town of Jacaranda Bay, where the doors are always open, cinnamon rolls are spicy, and everyone gets their happily-ever-after in the end.

More series set in this small town are Firefighters of Jacaranda Bay Series and The Unbuttoned Alpha Male Series.

 

Kindle and KU
Sweet Spot: Small Town Steamy Cinnamon Rolls
 

ABOUT CAT

CatSantos_headshotI write romance novels and spicy short stories to entertain and inspire.

Hi! I’m a reader-turned-writer whose monthly book expenses rival my therapy bills. I’m a mom, a small business owner, and based on a popular definition of collecting over 1,000 books, am a library as well. My ENFJ mind thrived in my past career of event and wedding planning, and I’m happy to use all of my behind-the-scenes event shenanigans as laugh-out-loud moments for my delightfully unhinged characters doing their best while searching for their happily ever afters.

Expect open doors (lots of them), swoony scenes, and happily ever afters. The roller coaster of a ride is packed into a 90-minute steamy book you can read before bed, and again when you wake up in the morning.

SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING 90% DARK by Amber Royer – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

SOMETHING BORROWED,
SOMETHING 90% DARK
Bean to Bar Mysteries, #6
by
Amber Royer
Cozy Culinary Mystery
Publisher: Golden Tip Press
Date of Publication: September 12, 2023
Number of Pages: 288 pages 
Scroll down for a Giveaway!
Felicity Koerber’s bean-to-bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand is hosting the friends and family coming into town for her best friend Autumn’s wedding. As matron of honor, Felicity has a ton of tasks to complete – including making chocolates for the gift bags. She doesn’t have time to solve another murder. But when one of the bridesmaids becomes a prime suspect in the death of a visiting real estate agent, Felicity has to put her detecting skills to use again to keep the wedding plans from getting derailed.
She’s already nervous about the impending deadline she’s given herself to finally choose between her two love interests – and figuring out where life goes once she makes her choice. But add in a missing Pygmy goat and a new coffee shop that wants to partner with her, and she’s frazzled.
She begins to discover that not everything is as it seems among the wedding guests. Can she handle the wedding preparations, pull off turning her shop into a concert venue, and unmask the killer before anyone else dies?
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Y’all! It’s here! The highly-anticipated resolution to the love triangle is finally here! As she promised, Amber Royer made Felicity choose between Logan and Arlo and it’s the best decision ever. Those who have been reading my reviews know I used to root for the other team (see Out of Temper) but A Study In Chocolate and this latest book convinced me to switch sides. My Romance-loving heart totally approves of Felicity’s choice especially when his response to Felicity’s question “Why me, specifically?” is this quote:
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Because you are the sunlight.”
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Readers, I swooned. This guy needs Felicity in ways the other doesn’t. Felicity needs him too. For this romantic element alone, Something Borrowed deserves a high rating. And then there’s the rest of this extremely enjoyable story.
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… my confidence levels have changed.”
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I read this book in one sitting and I recommend other readers to do the same if they have time to spare. As I have come to expect with the Bean-to-Bar cozy mysteries, the action starts from the first page and doesn’t let up until the highly satisfactory ending. As usual, Felicity gets entangled in two separate investigations that involve her love interests and her ever-expanding network of friends. And, of course, there’s a classic novel that serves as inspiration for the murder mysteries – The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett.
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The various searches for a missing insurance investigator, missing pieces of jewelry, a kidnapped goat, and a killer on the loose happen amidst preparations for Felicity’s best friend Autumn’s wedding. Anyone who’s ever been involved in planning a wedding knows how time-consuming and stressful it can be so it’s amazing how expertly Ms. Royer wove in all the myriad details together.
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What’s also fantastic is the growth in Felicity’s character. She’s becoming more accepting of the amateur sleuth role that has been thrust upon her and has gained so much confidence from the experiences she’s been through. All the while continuing to learn about the craft and the business of chocolate-making.
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For its engaging storyline, fascinating characters, well-paced action, balance of angst and humor, and swoony romance, Something Borrowed, Something 90% Dark is my favorite of the series so far.
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Huge thanks to Lone Star Lit for allowing me to be part of this blog tour and to the publisher for providing me a copy to review.
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4 Four-half-stars
Amber Royer writes the Chocoverse comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series and the Bean to Bar Mysteries. She is also the author of Story Like a Journalist: A Workbook for Novelists, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach.
Amber and her husband live in the DFW Area, where you can often find them hiking or taking landscape/architecture/wildlife photographs. If you are very nice to Amber, she might make you cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes, of course! Amber blogs about creative writing technique and all things chocolate.
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Each receives an autographed paperback copy.
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THE KILLER ENIGMA by Breakfield and Burkey -Book Blitz & Giveaway

THE KILLER ENIGMA
Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles
Book 16
by BREAKFIELD & BURKEY
Cozy Mystery / Suspense / Cozy Mystery Series
Publisher: ICABOD Press
Coming August 19, 2023

Enough is Enough – JJ rumbled when the paparazzi invaded dinner.

JJ and Jo realize privacy doesn’t exist for them. They return to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity. In Magnolia Bluff, no one suspects their fame.

They discount the status of urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. After all, a supermodel needs time and space to recharge between jobs. A geek wants time to adore his wife.

Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers? Will their desires get clouded by a hidden secret?

Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo take action to uncover the truth. Chief Tommy Jager likes them but feels they’re a lightning rod for trouble and disruption.

Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with fresh flowers on the gravestone.

Their friends are targets – Their dreams are broken – They must fight
Watch on YouTube
Charles Breakfield is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He also enjoys wine tastings, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.
Rox Burkey is a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments for customers worldwide with a focus on optimized customer experiences. She writes white papers and documents with a marked preference for fiction.
Together they create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, young and experienced adults, and bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today.
Series Social Media:
Rox Burkey Social Media:

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MUMENTOUS by Amy J. Schultz – Pop-Up Blog-Hop: Playlist and Giveaway

MUMENTOUS:
Original Photos and Mostly-True Stories about Football,
Glue Guns, Moms, and a Supersized High School Tradition
That Was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas
by
Amy J. Schultz
Nonfiction / Photo-Driven Memoir / Women’s History / Pop Culture / Texana
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Page Count: 178 pages
Publication Date: April 25, 2023
Scroll down for a giveaway!
The closest you’ll ever get to seeing someone actually wear their heart on their sleeve is in Texas, every fall, at the local high school homecoming game.
They’re called homecoming mums. They are as bodacious as football, as irresistible as a juicy rumor, and as deep as a momma’s love. Over a hundred years ago when the custom began, mum was short for chrysanthemum, a typical corsage that boys gave to girls before taking them to the big football game. But through the decades, mum went from a simple abbreviation to a complicated shorthand for an eye-popping tradition that’s as ingrained in the culture as it is confounding to outsiders.
Through her original photography and collection of stories from across and beyond the Lone Star State, Amy J. Schultz takes us deep in the heart of mum country. You’ll meet kids who wear them, parents who buy them, and critics who decry them as just another example of consumerism gone wild. But mostly, you’ll discover that just like every ritual which stands the test of time, someone is keeping the tradition alive. Someone like Mom.
Click to Purchase!

Playlist

Amy Schultz’s playlist to Mumentous

Mumentous playlist

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41 songs, 2 hours and 15 minutes for your listening pleasure

“Get Ready for This” by Champs United
“Get the Party Started” by P!nk
“Good Feeling” by Flo Rida
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams
“Cotton Eyed Joe” by Circus DJ’s
“We Are the Boys from Old Florida” by the Fightin’ Gator Marching Band
“The Victors” by The University of Michigan Marching Band
“Get Down Tonight” by Auburn University Marching Band
“Homecoming” by Hey Monday
“Mony Mony” by Billy Idol
“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Glee Cast
“Shiny Happy People” by R.E.M.
“Girl” by Beck
“Homegrown” by Zac Brown Band
“Hey Baby, Will You Be My Girl” by Aaron Foret
“Cheerleader”-Felix Jaehn Remix Radio Edit by OMI
“Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor’s version)” by Taylor Swift
“Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
“Bust a Move” by Young MC
“Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL COOL J
“Starships” by Nicki Minaj
“Vogue” by Madonna
“GIRL LIKE ME” by Black Eyed Peas, Shakira
“This Is What You Came For” by Calving Harris, Rihanna
“Gloria” by Laura Branigan
“We Are the Champions” by Queen
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Walk This Way” by Aerosmith
“Pump Up the Jam” by Technotronic
“Harlem Shake” by Baauer
“We Are Family—1995 Remaster” by Sister Sledge
“The Horse” by Auburn University Bands
“Drum It Out” by Brett Engel
“Eye of the Tiger” by Auburn University Bands
“Victorious” by Panic! At the Disco
“Firework” by Katy Perry
“Can’t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
“Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen
“Party Rock Anthem” by The Cheer Squad
“The Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga

Amy J. Schultz is an author and award-winning photographer who explores unique aspects of modern culture that hide in plain sight. When she isn’t talking about homecoming mums, Amy is writing, taking photos, working on other creative projects, traveling, snort-laughing, or vacuuming up dog fur.

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CODENAME CHARMING by Lucy Parker – Featured New Release

Following Battle Royal, beloved author Lucy Parker pens another delicious romantic comedy about a fake relationship between a grumpy royal bodyguard and the charming, sunny assistant who melts his cold, hard exterior.

Codename Charming Tropes

Codename Charming

LUCY PARKER

SYNOPSIS

Cover_Codename CharmingPetunia De Vere enjoys being the personal assistant to lovable, bumbling Johnny Marchmont. But the job has its share of challenges, including the royal’s giant, intimidating bodyguard, Matthias. Pet and Matthias are polar opposites—she’s spontaneous and enthusiastic, he’s rigid and stoic—but she can sense there’s something softer underneath that tough exterior…

For Matthias Vaughn, protecting others is the name of the game. But keeping his royal charge out of trouble is more difficult than he imagined because everywhere Johnny goes, calamity ensues, and his petite, bubbly assistant is often caught in the fray. Matthias hates the idea of Pet getting hurt and he’s determined to keep everyone safe, even if it means clashing with his adorable new coworker.

When a clumsy moment leads to a questionable tabloid photo, the press begins to speculate that Pet is romantically involved with Johnny. To put an end to the rumors, the royal PR team asks Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship and the two reluctantly agree. But as they spend more time together outside of work, they begin to wonder what real emotions this pretend connection might uncover. Especially when a passionate kiss leaves both of their heads spinning …

Buy Links:

Amazon – amazon.com/dp/B0BM9VMCWC
B & N – barnesandnoble.com/w/codename-charming-lucy-parker
Kobo – kobo.com/codename-charming

REVIEW

20230815_031508028_iOS

Quiet, super trope-y, and sweet, Lucy Parker’s newest release is sure to delight her fans. In Codename Charming, she employed a lot of themes I enjoy in a Romance novel — Beauty and the Beast, Opposites Attract, Grumpy/Sunshine, Workplace Romance (between equals), and Fake Dating. Throw in height difference and a little bit of a “fated mates” vibe and it’s hitting all my soft spots.

Life isn’t always easy … Neither is love. But they’re sure as hell worth fighting for.”

Pet and Matthias are so wonderful together all the way from Battle Royal that their attachment is truly believable despite the pretend beginning of their relationship. I love that they are both present in practically all the scenes in the book. The reader can really see the natural progression of their love story.

This book has Lucy’s signature wit and quirky characters, but perhaps it needs more of the first and less of the second. It could also use more humor and snappy banter and fewer subplots. While I like a slow burn, the pacing here could have been sped up a tad. I liked this story but it’s missing some of the verve that characterized Lucy’s earlier works. 

4 out of 5 stars

ABOUT LUCY

Lucy Parker author photo_Codename CharmingLucy Parker is an award-winning romance author who lives in New Zealand. A romance reader from a young age, she loves to write about people pursuing their dreams and falling hopelessly in love along the way—often with the last person they would expect! Her previous titles have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and Oprah Magazine, and were included in NPR’s Book Concierge for four consecutive years. 

Follow Links:

Twitter – @_lucyparker
Facebook – @LucyParkerAuthor
Instagram – @LucyParkerAuthor