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THIS FAMILIAR HEART by Babette Fraser Hale – Book Blog Tour: Review
In this intimate rendering of a relationship, we learn how deceptive surface impressions can be.
Leon Hale, author of Bonney’s Place, was sixty years old, a “country boy” who wrote about rural Texans with humor and sensitivity in his popular column for The Houston Post and, later the Houston Chronicle. Babette Fraser at thirty-six was a child of privilege, a city girl educated abroad, struggling in her career while raising a young son. No one thought it could work.
Even Hale himself held serious doubts. But it did endure. The interior congruencies they discovered through a long and turbulent courtship knit them tightly together for the rest of his life.
And when he died during the Pandemic isolation period, searing levels of grief and doubt threatened Babette’s understanding of the partnership and marriage that had sustained her for forty years. Had he really been the person she thought he was? Had he kept secrets that would forever change her view of him?
In candid, evocative prose, she explores the distorted perceptions that often follow the death of a cherished spouse, and the loving resolution that allows life to go on.
The act of writing is both a disclosure and a construct.”
… a sort of other-worldly vibe that makes his presence in the room feel like kind of a gift.”
Then there was that electricity–what I call his ‘shimmer’.”
You’ll hurt for a while, but you’ll be all right.”
IT STARTED WITH A SECRET by Tif Marcelo – Featured New Release
IT STARTED WITH A SECRET
Spirit of the Shenandoah Book 1
by
Tif Marcelo
BLURB
When one unforgettable night…
Leads to a whole new life…
When Jared Sotheby arrives in Peak, Virginia, to search for his identity—and his Filipino roots—he doesn’t anticipate an instant connection with a stunning woman he meets on his first night in town. And he certainly doesn’t expect her to be managing the B & B owned by the biological family he’s searching for!
One passionate night aside, Matilda Matthews needs a cook, and Jared, a chef, needs a way in. She’ll give him the job if he keeps his identity a secret—for now. Their subterfuge quickly grows complicated as Jared yearns for a connection—not only with his family, but also with the once-bitten Matilda. But first he’ll have to convince her to let a younger man into her heart…
Buy links:
Tif’s Website
Amazon
Harlequin
ABOUT TIF
Tif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in Nursing and a Master’s in public administration. She believes and writes about the strength of families, the endurance of friendship, heartfelt romances, and is inspired daily by her own military hero husband and four children. She hosts The Stories to Love Podcast, and is the USA Today bestselling author of In a Book Club Far Away, Once Upon a Sunset, The Key to Happily Ever After, and the Journey to the Heart series.
Follow her here:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS – Pop-Up/Blog-Hop: Review and Giveaway
… how much cozy comfort there is to be found between the pages of a good book.”
If you have a book, you’re never alone.”
Everything comes back to love.”
… age never matters; these things are about bravery and heart.”
SHAHRAZAD’S GIFT by Gretchen McCullough – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway
THREE WINNERS:
Two winners receive paperbacks.
One winner receives the eBook of Shahrazad’s Gift.
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 4/12/24)
LOST & FOUND by Allegra Johnson – Featured New Release
LOST & FOUND
Allegra Johnson
BLURB
A love lost.
Hannah’s life has been less than ordinary. Found alone in a meadow as a child she spent her life wondering who she was and where she came from. When she goes looking for the answers she never expected to be sent back in time to a life she never knew existed.
A search for love.
Brom has spent the better part of his life searching for his betrothed who disappeared one night never to be seen again. On one such search, he finds Giles, and though not the person he’s looking for there’s something about him that Brom can’t walk away from.
A love found.
While on an errand for the May Day celebrations, Brom and Giles intercept a lost and confused Hannah along the way. Could this be the woman Brom has been looking for? Where has she been all this time? Why come back now, when Brom finally moved on?
Buy Links:
Amazon Apple Barnes & Noble Books2Read Kobo Smashwords
ABOUT ALLEGRA
Allegra Johnson has been creating love stories and happy endings since 2017. While her focus is on Romance, she writes in multiple sub-genres and tropes. You may find Allegra fluttering around Romancelandia inventing new ways to procrastinate any mundane tasks she should be doing at the time.
Follow Allegra:
TO RESCUE A WITCH by Lisa A. Traugott – Pop-Up Blog-Hop: Special Feature
ABOUT ARCHITECTURE IN THE 1700s
By Lisa Traugott
Church
Did you know that back in colonial days, you would get a fine if you didn’t go to church? There was no separation of church and state back in those days. This is a picture of the church at Colonial Williamsburg and is the setting for one of the scenes in my novel.
Courthouse
Ever wonder what it was like to be an accused witch? This is the Courthouse, whipping post, pillory, and stocks in Colonial Williamsburg, where little Annaliese (the young protagonist) is from. Witchcraft accusations required examinations, trials, and often included punishments including execution.
Website ◆ Blog ◆ Facebook ◆ Amazon
Goodreads ◆ BookBub ◆ Instagram
Autographed paperback copies
of TO RESCUE A WITCH
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 03/29/24)
EARTHQUAKE ETHAN by R.L. Merrill – Featured New Release
EARTHQUAKE ETHAN
by
R.L. Merrill
BLURB
The Earth shook the morning actor Ethan Bradley arrived in Los Angeles looking for a second chance. He hoped his former producers Reese Matheson and Toby Griffiths meant it when they said to look them up if he were ever in LA because he had no other options. The pictures the paparazzi took at the wrap party for their London show made sure of that. What he wasn’t counting on was the reception he got from their manager, Arthur Frye. He was absolutely the kind of together guy Ethan wished would notice him, and for more than his pretty face and talent. Too bad Arthur only sees Ethan as a complication.
Arthur Frye has his hands full with his best clients—and best friends. The last thing he needs is another diva to care for, especially one who has a reputation for causing trouble. He has a strict rule against getting involved with the talent, no matter how pretty they are. Only Ethan Bradley shines for real, and when Arthur realizes his nice-guy innocence is genuine, he’s ready to do anything to help Ethan get his career back on track and get him out of LA. He’s too much of a temptation, and Arthur can’t afford to lose focus…not even for a chance at happiness for himself. Especially not when his star clients are about to risk their professional and personal happiness with their newest creation; a musical about two boys falling in love in the 1960s featuring music written by Reese’s grandfather, whose health is in decline.
Ethan Bradley shakes things up wherever he goes, and Arthur Frye is afraid he’ll be left in the wreckage if he gets too close. Can these two opposites find love on solid ground?
Forces of Nature Series: Talented men whose lives are natural disasters and the men who love them.
Buy Link: Amazon
EXCERPT
“So what’s been going on, Ethan? How did that Anna Kendrick movie turn out?”
Ethan dug deep for those acting chops. He had to play this cool.
Screw that, Ethan. It’s time to be honest.
“I hear it turned out great, but I, uh, was let go.”
“What?” Reese looked genuinely concerned. Thankfully. “What do you mean you were let go?”
“Um, so the producers thought the pictures would hurt the film…”
Reese cursed and looked away.
Arthur stared. And kind of smirked.
Ethan knew a lot of folks didn’t like him, and that was okay as long as he got work. He’d asked his acting coach once long ago why he seemed to face so much hostility from people he thought he’d been perfectly kind to and his coach told him, “Ethan, you’re beautiful. People can’t stand that. They will tear you down any chance they get, so you have to have thick skin if you’re in this business for any length of time.”
“And my manager dropped me.”
“Jeez, why?” Reese asked.
Ethan felt his jaw muscle twitch. “He said he didn’t represent artists who couldn’t handle themselves in a respectable manner.”
“Jesus,” Jude said and shook his head. He stood behind the recliner where Reese sat.
“How bad were these pictures?”
Reese looked at Ethan, his cheeks reddened, and then he reached for Jude’s hand.
“Well, you saw how Jada reacted.”
Jude rolled his eyes. “Yes, and? Her reactions obviously don’t hold a lot of weight with me. Are we talking blow jobs in public? Full frontal nudity?”
Reese barked out a laugh, seemingly relieved by Jude’s lack of concern.
“No, there was no nudity—”
“It was a drunken embrace,” Arthur interrupted. “It was easily misunderstood.”
Reese frowned at Arthur. “We were laughing, that’s all. And yes, we had our arms around each other, but—”
“It was my fault,” Ethan said. “I’m sorry the pictures caused problems for you.”
Reese shrugged. “Everything happens for a reason.” He smiled up at Jude and tugged his hand to pull him down for a kiss. Jude lost his balance a little and pulled away before Reese could deepen the kiss.
“You’re impossible,” Jude whispered, but he grinned. “I’m going to check on Grandpa.”
Ethan was glad to see Reese so happy. That was what mattered most. Any lingering crush Ethan had on the man was better off forgotten.
“That sucks about your manager,” Reese said. “Do you have any contacts here in the States? Anyone you’ve worked with?”
Ethan shook his head. “I only did the one Broadway show before I did Ruby. I went to London. I did the two movies before we did Ruby there, but that’s it. I had two film projects lined up and after the pictures came out, everything dried up. Look, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty or take small parts, I just want to work.” It hurt to smile, but damn he’d do it. “I need to work. Reese, you told me once that if I was ever in LA to look you up, that you’d hire me again, and I know it’s unprofessional to show up at your house, but I didn’t know how else to get ahold of you.”
“Calling his manager is usually a good way,” Arthur muttered.
“Arthur.” Reese admonished his manager. He was being so nice. Ethan felt even guiltier for being there. “What kind of work are you looking for?”
Ethan exhaled. “I’m literally up for anything: theater, film, voice work…I’ll do anything. I heard you had a new show—”
“Which we cast already,” Arthur said.
“Arthur!”
“Reese, can I speak to you for a moment?”
Reese and Arthur exchanged a long look and then Reese stood from the chair.
“Will you excuse us, please?” He held a hand out and gestured for Arthur to follow him out back.
Arthur gave Ethan an ugly look on the way out.
“I have never seen that man be nasty to anyone,” Jude said, his eyebrows raised. “And normally I don’t engage in gossip, but I’d love to hear just what happened in London.”
Ethan smiled. “The show was great. We had such a great cast. It was my first time onstage in London and the audience was so polite. But at the wrap party, we’d all been drinking, and I’m not much of a drinker. I remember Reese and I singing together, which was when the pictures were taken I think, and then I woke up with…well, anyway, they left and I was scheduled to start shooting the next week, which was the end of October? I’ve been trying to line up auditions on my own, but no one will speak to me after Randolph Winthorpe, my old agent, dropped me. I’ve never really worked in LA so I thought maybe I could have a fresh start here.” And if Jude kept being nice to him, Ethan was going to cry. It was that simple.
“I’m sure Reese and Arthur can figure something out. Would you excuse me? I need to get Mr. Matheson his medicine.”
Ethan faked another smile and then slumped back against the couch. Maybe he should have worn his suit, but it didn’t fit right anymore after he’d lost weight. He hadn’t been working out and he hadn’t eaten much.
This had been a mistake. Why did he have to come and disrupt someone else’s life because of his problems? He should just start hitting the job placement centers, maybe some temp work, or he could check with the carpenter’s union and see if they’d accept him since he’d been a member years ago back in Iowa, although he’d let his membership lapse.
If only he could have gone home…
ABOUT R.L.
Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky and relatable characters or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling, diverse, and inclusive stories that will stay with readers long after. Winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, Paranormal Romance Guild’s Best Rockstar Romance for You Can Do Magic, and Daphne DuMaurier finalist for Connection, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft, networking with fellow writers, and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after. You can find her connecting with readers on social media, advocating for America’s youth, cruising around town with Great Dane Velma, cuddling with twin black cat familiars Frankenstein and Dracula, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…
Connect with Ro at rlmerrillauthor.com, twitter.com/rlmerrillauthor, instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor, tiktok.com/rlmerrillauthor1342, or facebook.com/rowritesrocknromance.
EARTH EARLS ARE EASY by Catherine Stein – Featured New Release
EARTH EARLS ARE EASY
Lords of Dystopia Book1
Catherine Stein
BLURB
Even on Mars, opposites attract.
Wyatt Hartford, Earl of Windborne, spends his days running a smuggling operation under the noses of his political enemies. Twenty years prior, Wyatt and three other young, orphaned aristocrats fled war-and weather-ravaged Earth for the Martian city-state of Utopia. Now the four friends—nicknamed the Lords of Dystopia—use their money and influence to champion citizens’ rights and progressive reforms. To the downtrodden, they are leaders. To the noble scions of Queen Victoria’s empire, they are a threat.
Mercenary Nova Pratt likes her assignments—and her life—efficient, tidy, and uncomplicated. Her latest contract ought to be perfect: Find and arrest the smuggler known as the Viper. Lock up the bad guy and save the day. Her target is no hardened criminal, though. He’s a rainbows-and-sunshine chaos gremlin with a mischievous smile and hips that won’t stop swaying to chipper Earth-pop. Nova can’t look away.
Wyatt won’t let a surly, law-abiding merc derail his operation, even if her scowl and sharp commands make his blood run hot. When he uncovers a smuggling scheme far more nefarious than his own, he seizes the opportunity to point Nova at the real villains. It won’t be easy to work as reluctant allies while resisting their inconvenient attraction. But as political games turn deadly, these opposites must trust one another to fight for what’s right—by putting their lives and their hearts on the line.
Buy Links:
Universal Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play Apple Bookshop
ABOUT CATHERINE
Award-winning author Catherine Stein believes that everyone deserves love and that Happily Ever After has the power to help, to heal, and to comfort. She writes sassy, sexy romance set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Her books are full of action, adventure, magic, and fantastic technologies.
Catherine lives in Michigan with her husband and three rambunctious kids. She loves steampunk and Oxford commas, and can often be found dressed in Renaissance Festival clothing, drinking copious amounts of tea.
Connect with Catherine:
AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS by Kellye Abernathy – New Release Book Blitz
“This is a night for being brave.”
In the aftermath of a devastating sickness that shatters their close-knit beach town, six lonely kids are drawn together during the unpredictable autumn equinox. Among them are fourteen-year-old Lorelei, who yearns to be an oceanographer, and her peculiar younger brother, Tad, who possesses an otherworldly curiosity.
When Lorelei has a strange and almost deadly encounter in a sea cave, her loyal boyfriend, Casey, cannot reconcile her fantastical experience with the rational world. Condi, Lorelei’s best friend, understands ocean magic but isn’t free to share what she knows. Kait, a girl from Ireland, regrets her impulsive move to America-all because of an odd occurrence involving her deceased boyfriend’s lost surfboard. When tides turn and the moon shifts, Isaac, the new kid in town who despises the ocean, is forced to face the truth-a profound and powerful magic lives in the deep.
Guided by a wise surf master, mystical old women known as the Beachlings, and an open-hearted grandmother, six kids embark on transformative adventures that challenge their beliefs about possibilities and the intense nature of love.
Amethyst, The Shallows is the brand-new companion novel
to The Aquamarine Surfboard.
PRAISE FOR AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS “Amethyst, The Shallows‘ sensitive and potent prose stirs the reader, leaving a lasting impression. Although this novel is the second installment in a series, it stands strong independently, welcoming newcomers and returning readers alike.” —Literary Titan
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