Archive for the ‘giveaways’ Category

In For Life by Elaine Alice Murphy

Posted: December 19, 2021 in giveaways, true crime
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In For Life

by Elaine Alice Murphy

Genre: True Crime, Nonfiction

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Recently, Newsweek, compiled a listing of the top true crime documentaries on Netflix. Trial 4 which tells the true story of Sean Ellis who was wrongfully convicted as a teenager in the murder of Boston police officer John J. Mulligan in 1993 was in the top five.

If you have not seen it, you must. It will bring you into a world that most of us never knew existed. It will make you angry and ask yourself that proverbial question, how can this happen in the United States of America?

Across eight episodes, the gripping documentary follows Ellis’ fight for freedom as he awaits a potential fourth trial and attempts to expose the systemic racism and corruption within the justice system which landed him in jail in the first place.

Enter Elaine Alice Murphy. While living and working in Montreal, she learned of the controversial Mulligan case and Sean’s conviction – and recognized him as her son’s childhood friend from their years in Massachusetts. Stricken to think that the gentle boy she remembered would die in prison an innocent man, she visited him, began researching his case, and committed to join his family and lawyers in a quest to free him. Murphy’s digging uncovered “game-changing” evidence of police corruption that had tainted Sean’s trial and resulted in his conviction being overturned in 2015.

Elaine has written a book, documenting her experiences not only through the trial and her connection to Mr. Ellis, but her own journey through a corrupt criminal justice system and recounts her horror at the vastly different Americas experienced by Sean and her own son growing up.

In For Life, will be released early next year. Distributed in North America and Internationally by Cardinal Publishing Group, her book will be available in bookstores and across all classes of trade as well as online and as an e-book on most platforms.

In For Life, A Journey into Murder, Corruption and Friendship, promises to be a bestselling, must read and perhaps one of the most important books on 2022.

“A remarkable story beautifully told … of what it takes to make the criminal legal system fair – dogged determination, years and years of work, and a clear-eyed vision of what is right, no matter what the cost.” – Honorable Nancy Gertner, retired judge, U.S. District Court, D. Mass.; senior lecturer, Harvard Law School

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Goodreads * Amazon

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Featured in the critically acclaimed Netflix Series “Trial 4”!

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Elaine Alice Murphy was born and raised in Massachusetts, and graduated from Boston College in 1967 with an honors degree in English and earned a master’s degree in human development from Harvard University in 1978. After a post-college year as a Pan Am flight attendant during which she flew in and out of war-torn Vietnam with U.S. troops, she spent a decade in education. She was an English teacher in Boston and then a program administrator for the Massachusetts Department of Education.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Return All ~ A Rebirth Comedy Romance by Eve Dangerfield

Posted: December 17, 2021 in comedy, Contemporary Romance, giveaways
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Return All
Eve Dangerfield
(Rebirth, #2)

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Publication date: December 14th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Hundreds of women have tried to win Derek over, but the only girl he’s loved is nowhere to be found…

Derek Hardiman has been crowned a football prodigy—but success came at the cost of his dorky high school sweetheart, Mara Temple. A decade after she left town, he still can’t imagine marrying someone who isn’t her…
Traveling for most of her twenties, Mara has returned home with a designer wardrobe, a sweet puppy, and a new last name. What better to keep her surly ex-boyfriend from recognizing her?

When Mara and Derek are thrown back into each other’s lives the obsession that began when they were teenagers returns in full force. Derek can hardly believe the goddess his once-awkward lover has become, and he’s determined to win her back. But Mara is determined not to give in to the hype surrounding her bachelor superstar ex. Unfortunately, Derek has always lived up to the hype. After all, a girl only has one daddy…

Should true love get a second chance?

Return All is a standalone second chance romance by critically acclaimed author Eve Dangerfield.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Derek moved toward her, getting bigger by the second. “Mara? Mara! It’s me!”

His eyes were wild, his face—his face looked different. His moustache was gone. Clean-shaven, he was more like the boy from school than ever, jogging toward her in a black hoodie as though this was Albury in 2011.

Mara lowered hands she hadn’t known she’d brought to her chest. “Hi.”

She said it so quietly he couldn’t have heard her, but his face lit up. Naked happiness so bright it was terrifying. She wanted to burrow into the ground like a scared rabbit.

Chase turned. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Derek didn’t even glance at him. His unworldly black eyes were locked on hers. Mara’s cunt contracted. He was going to pick her up. He was going to carry her away like a marauding conqueror. Then he didn’t. He pulled up, his body jolting. “Mara. I can’t believe it’s you.”

She stared up at him. Even in her fuchsia Attico pumps, she barely came to his shoulders. He’d grown since he was a teenager. Up close, his face was different too. There were lines around his eyes that weren’t visible in photos or on TV. Neither was the black stubble under his skin. The word rose unbidden, Daddy, and euphoria spread through Mara’s chest like honey.

“Hello? Asshole? Can you hear me?” Chase demanded.

Derek ignored him. His gaze dragged over her face, studying her as she studied him. She touched a hand to her lips. Had he noticed her injection? Her eyelashes? Her nose? The fact her ears no longer stuck out through her hair?

Then he shook his head. “You’re fucking stunning. You look so… I don’t know how to say it.”

Expensive. She looked expensive. Money had flowed into her life, glossing her rough parts, and buffing the bright places to a near-impossible shine. She looked like a rich girl. Mara stared at her toes. For years she’d dreamed of this moment, dreamed of him saying these things, but now he was here, and she wanted to hide.

“Mara… where have you been, baby?”

It was such a huge question, tied off with such a ridiculous pet name, Mara didn’t know how to answer. “Around. I guess.”

Derek’s face sagged. “But—”

Chase stepped between them. “Maybe I should have made this clearer at our meeting, stay the fuck away from us. Now leave or I’ll call the police.”

“One minute, mate.” Derek sidestepped Chase. “Your hair. When did you grow out your hair?”

Mara almost laughed. “When I was twenty. Derek, what are you doing here? Is this about the house?”

“The house? The fucking house?”

He took a step toward her, and Chase moved across, blocking him. “Talk with your words, Hardiman.”

Derek scowled but took a step backward. “I’ve been looking for you for years. I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Mara felt a small streak of pride. She’d paid handsomely to keep her name out of Google search terms. It was nice to know it had worked. “I… got off social media.”

“Right.” Derek shoved his hands into his pockets. “Fuck. Well, I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry, for everything. I’m sorry we lost touch and…”

His words washed over Mara like dirty waves. So sorry. Lost touch. Baby. They meant nothing. They were just sounds crammed together. A woman in a gray coat ducked past them and she realised they were blocking the path. She turned her face away.

Chase glanced from her to Derek. “Okay, this has been sufficiently weird, but we need to get to work. Goodbye, Mr Hardiman. Don’t come here again.”

Chase slid his arm through hers and steered her around Derek and back toward HFA.

“Mara!”

Derek’s voice stirred waters deep inside her. Places she’d allowed to crumble in the darkness of her twenties. She turned and found him staring desperately after her.

“He’s gonna follow us,” Chase muttered. “Keep walking. We’ll go upstairs—”

“Mara!” Derek’s voice was clear, a king calling across his hall. “Mara, we’re not done.”

She stopped as though he’d commanded it and Derek’s legs ate up the ground between them. “You. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

She flushed, aware of Chase sputtering at her back. “Derek, I don’t know what to do.”

“So let me decide.”

Anger sizzled through her like hot oil. “Things aren’t the way they used to be.”

“Okay. I get that. You want me on my knees?”

“What?” she and Chase said together.

To her astonishment, Derek dropped like a stone onto the dirty footpath, cutting his height in half.

“For the love of Christ,” Chase groaned but Mara could only stare. Derek had always been unapologetic in his affection, but this was insane. He was a famous footballer and anyone could see him. How could he possibly be this desperate to speak to her? “Derek…”

“Give me your number.” He raised his tattooed palms as though in prayer. “Let me give you mine. I need to see you again.”

But you’re seeing me right now…

Chase touched her shoulder. “I’ll give you some privacy. But I’m right here.”

“Okay,” Mara whispered.

Derek watched Chase go, his gaze flicking back to hers as soon as he gauged Chase was far enough away.

“Baby,” his voice was gravel. “Baby, I want to kiss you. I am barely holding back right now.”

Mara knew that. She felt his energy vibrating out at her like orange heat. He wanted to snatch her up, crush her, take her down. Her body responded like warm paper desperate to curl into flame.

He smirked, so handsome, it almost stopped her heart. “It’s been too long, Little Miss.”

She stepped back. Little Miss. She called Pan that. But he had called her that. Not all the time. In bed. Pan. Pan was chewing away at Chase’s jumper upstairs. She needed to go to her. She needed to be with Pan. She took another step back. “I don’t know why you came, but I have to go.”

Derek stayed on his knees. “Give me your number. Or take mine. We’re not done, baby.”

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Author Eve Dangerfield

Eve Dangerfield has loved romance novels ever since she first swiped her grandmother’s paperbacks. Now she writes her own stories about complicated women and gorgeous-but-slightly-tortured men. Her work has been described as ‘genre-defying,’ ‘insanely hot’ and ‘the defibrillator contemporary romance needs right now’…and not just by herself or those who might need bone marrow…OTHER PEOPLE! She lives in Melbourne with her boy and a bunch of semi-dead plants. She can generally be found making a mess.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Lethal Assumptions ~ A C.O.P. On The Scene Mystery by Kassandra Lamb

Posted: December 17, 2021 in giveaways, Interview, Mystery
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Lethal Assumptions

The C.o.P. on the Scene Mysteries Book 1

by Kassandra Lamb

Genre: Crime Mystery

Judith Anderson’s no-nonsense attitude and confidence served her well in her climb to homicide lieutenant in the Baltimore County PD, but that confidence is shaken when she finds herself one step behind a serial killer—just eight days into her new job as Chief of Police in a small Florida city.

The first victim, a female college student, may be a case of wrong place, wrong time. But the bodies keep coming, with a mishmash of MOs, and the murders may be linked to various cases in nearby Jacksonville.

While Judith assumed the CoP job would be challenging, she’s finding it harder than she imagined to establish her authority without alienating and be more hands-on without micro-managing. Plus, evidence is stacking up that there’s a leak in her department.

Who can she trust? If she makes the wrong assumption, the wrong decision, it may be her last. In a race to save lives, she’ll draw on every talent and instinct that made her a star in Baltimore. But will it be enough this time?

Fans of JA Jance’s Sheriff Joanna Brady and JD Robb’s Eve Dallas will love this new female cop on the scene!

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Add to Goodreads

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

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Check out the related series here where Judith from Lethal Assumptions makes her first appearance in Police Protection!

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An Interview with Kassandra Lamb, Author of the New Series, A C.o.P. on the Scene Mysteries

 

Welcome, Kassandra! First I’ve got to ask, what does the name of the series mean?

 

I debated long and hard about that, and asked for input from the other authors at misterio press.

 

I very much wanted to convey that this was a police procedural series. At first, I’d considered calling them police thrillers, but that implies a really, really rapid pace. The stories are definitely fast-paced, but they are also character-driven, so maybe not quite thriller pace.

 

The protagonist is a homicide lieutenant from Baltimore who takes a job as Chief of Police in a small Florida city. One of her reasons for making the move is that she’s tired of riding a desk. She figures that, in a small department, she can be more hands-on, i.e., go to the scenes of major crimes.

 

So C.o.P. means Chief of Police, but actually spells out the word cop. That, plus “on the Scene” seemed to best convey the theme of the series.

 

What inspired you to write this particular series?

 

Bottom line, I bore easily. I like a lot of variety in my life and in my writing.

 

Well, except for men… let me take a moment to reassure my husband of 45 years about that exception.

 

But in most things, I like variety. I’m an avid mystery reader, as well as a writer in that genre. So I love to explore the various subgenres of mysteries.

 

My first series, the Kate Huntington Mysteries, were traditional whodunnits with an amateur sleuth. But I had one book in that series that was more like a cozy and one that was definitely a thriller, complete with a ticking clock.

 

My second series, the Marcia Banks and Buddy Mysteries, are cozies (not quite finished that series).

 

So I felt the urge to try something different—police procedurals!

 

Tell us more about your main character in this series. Is she at all like you?

 

Heavens no! The main character that is most like me is Kate Huntington, in the first series. But even she is more patient and more consistently caring than I am. I like to think of her as my better self.

 

The protagonist in this new series, Judith Anderson, was a secondary character in the Kate books. She was the police detective who sometimes helped amateur sleuth Kate and sometimes was at odds with her.

 

Also, Kate is a psychotherapist, so at times Judith called on her as a consultant.

 

And in the new series, Judith occasionally calls Kate up from Florida, to pick her brain about cases.

 

Why is your first series set in Maryland, and the other two in Florida?

 

When I started writing the Kate Huntington Mysteries, I still lived in Maryland, where I grew up. But it wasn’t until my husband and I retired to Florida that I really had time to complete and polish the first few books in that series. So I set the rest of the series in Towson, Maryland as well, the county seat of Baltimore County, the county where I lived as a child and young adult.

 

Towson holds a special place in my heart because that is where I first taught psychology, at Towson University. That was my all-time favorite job. I loved the folks in the psych department, and I loved teaching there.

 

But I love living in Florida now. I started the second series after we moved there, so it seemed natural to set it in Florida. Also, it’s a lot easier to explore places where I want to have certain events happen when I live close by.

 

As for this new series, in Police Protection, the last book in the Kate series, Judith Anderson plays a key role, and she is getting a little fed up with the bureaucracy and politics of a big police department.

 

So I decided to move her to Florida, to a small force where she’s in charge. And after living in north central Florida for 17 years, I now know that area as well as I once knew Towson.

 

What are your plans for this new series?

 

With my first two series, with amateur sleuths, it was challenging to come up with plausible reasons why they would keep getting involved in murder investigations.

 

Well, the really cool thing about a police procedural series is that you don’t have to explain why the protagonist keeps tripping over dead bodies. So Judith will have a major homicide case every few months—as fast as I can write the stories!

 

Thanks, Kassandra, for meeting with me today. Best of luck with your new series.

 

Thank you for having me!

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The Kate Huntington Mystery Series

Start reading the series for FREE!

Amazon Series Page

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In her youth, Kassandra Lamb had two great passions—psychology and writing. Advised that writers need day jobs—and being partial to eating—she studied psychology. Her career as a psychotherapist and college professor taught her much about the dark side of human nature, but also much about resilience, perseverance, and the healing power of laughter. Now retired, she spends most of her time in an alternate universe populated by her fictional characters. The portal to this universe (aka her computer) is located in North Central Florida where her husband and dog catch occasional glimpses of her.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Their paths intersect….. The Abandoned by Jake Cavanah

Posted: December 16, 2021 in Contemporary Literature, giveaways
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This post is part of a virtual book tour The Abandoned organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Jake Cavanah will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Abandoned

by Jake Cavanah

Synopsis

Once an uninhabited island off the California coast, the government used Morple to quarantine minorities during the sonoravirus pandemic from 2030 to 2045. At its conclusion, Morple became the country’s fifty-first state. This is where sisters Robin Karros’ and Ariana Jackson’s tragic journey began. As two of the first children officials checked into and raised in a state-run program responsible for inflicting severe abuse on Morple’s youth, they shared hardships that strengthened their bond. After a social revolution put an end to the program and freed them, Robin and Ariana went their separate ways. Now that it is 2089 and each has achieved prosperity, their paths intersect after spending the latter portion of their lives apart. Even though it goes against protocol, Ariana reestablishes a relationship with her older sister and integrates with her family. In doing so, she risks her marriage and husband’s business interests, but it causes her to realize she must make up for her life’s biggest mistake. It soon becomes apparent the fate of Robin, Ariana, and others has been more intertwined than they ever could have imagined.

Amazon

Enjoy this peek inside:

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I included this excerpt because it reveals different characters and provides insight to how society is and to Ariana forging a relationship with her sister again.

LaVonte purchased the condo Ariana was staying in because he needed a place to stay when he would be in Morple on business. If she had it her way, he would have purchased a property in Costa Mor, but LaVonte argued it would draw too much attention. Ariana couldn’t argue against that. A fully tattooed Black man and his Latina wife would have turned heads in a neighborhood full of White families residing in mansions peering over the ocean from 150 feet up. Their Black security detail carrying Barrett REC7 rifles and Desert Eagles would distress the neighbors, too. Costa Mor residents relied on A.I. security systems, but LaVonte didn’t trust computers to protect him and his wife. Persuading him to let her go to Morple without security was a chore, but he eventually caved. Ariana insisted it would make fitting in more difficult, something she was already having trouble with. A concession she had to make in order to get LaVonte to agree to send her to Morple without any of his men was she was required to check in with him more often than she usually would.

Although Ariana’s preferred Morple home would’ve been in Costa Mor, there wasn’t much about the flat she could complain about. With five bedrooms and six bathrooms, it was bigger than most houses on the island. One of the ways Morple gentrified The District was by tearing down rundown apartments that were once homes to diswors who could no longer afford their rent-controlled rates. To replace those obsolete buildings, real estate developers built luxurious condos under the premise they would serve as second homes to executives who frequented Morple for business. The initiative worked, attracting billionaires from all over the country and world to invest in The District’s real estate. Since the state’s capital was now hosting the world’s one-percent community, it had to ensure it could provide entertainment so their stays were enjoyable. This led to the city’s uptick in fine dining establishments, legislators allocating more funding for infrastructure, the implementation of modern architecture, and creating a more attractive destination.

The Jackson’s condo was on the top floor of the city’s most expensive building, providing Ariana with a bird’s eye view of the city that raised her. All of the best restaurants to eat in The District were right below her, a quick jaunt from her building. The surrounding area demonstrated affluence, but as she lifted her gaze, she could see the neighborhoods where the people whose families had lived in Morple since its inception lived. Swiftly, development pushed them to the undesirable, underdeveloped outskirts of the city. After the next cycle of expansion, Ariana didn’t think they’d have anywhere to go. This contributed to her reason for moving out of Morple so quickly.

If Ariana couldn’t have a spot in Costa Mor, it would be this specific condo. She was so gung-ho about it because the vantage point gave her a view of Robin’s home, one within the boundaries of where The District’s wealthy residents called home. Until now, Ariana never expected to spend any time staying here, but knowing they owned property that could see her sister comforted her.

About Author Jake Cavanah:

Jake Cavanah is passionate about writing imaginative stories that include messages he wants readers to apply to their own lives, utilize to better understand others, or both. If after reading his work people find themselves more capable of seeing particular situations they encounter from another perspective, he accomplished his goal.

When Jake is not writing he is reading, golfing, playing tennis, cooking, or enjoying the company of his dogs Murphy and Sophie with his girlfriend Scout. Aside from becoming a full-time author, one of Jake’s main aspirations is to move to Oregon and start a family.

Website
Instagram
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LinkedIn
Goodreads

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Will they survive….. Behind The Mask by Thomas Grant Bruso

Posted: December 15, 2021 in giveaways, horror, Paranormal or fantasy
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This post is part of a virtual book tour for Behind The Mask organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thomas Grant Bruso will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Behind The Mask

by Thomas Grant Bruso

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Jesse has a babysitting gig at the Linderman’s house on Halloween. He loves watching Christie and Dylan and is thrilled to see them dressed up in cute, creative costumes. When he arrives at their house, Jesse knows it will be a fun-filled night of pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating.

But Jesse quickly realizes Halloween is not only about candy, pumpkins, and scary costumes. It’s known for tricks and ghoulish things and can bring out crazies. While trick-or-treating, he notices a strange person wearing a glow-in-the-dark mask watching him from the shadowy street.

The rest of the night turns into a cat-and-mouse game of survival. Strange things start to happen at the Linderman’s residence, setting Jesse on edge, making him apprehensive somebody might be taking the spirit of Halloween too far.

Will Jesse survive the things that go bump in the night, or will he become just another tall tale this Halloween?

Enjoy this peek inside:

I leaned my forehead against the doorframe and closed my eyes, waiting a beat. When I opened my eyes, I watched the vehicle reverse and slowly pull out into the street, braking for children running by. The headlights bounced up and down as the vehicle’s wheels rolled downhill along the raised trajectory of the driveway.

As I watched the car drive off, its red taillights blinking as if in warning, my chest tightened like a clenched fist for some indeterminate reason, and an uncomfortable heaviness settled inside me. I let the curtain fall from my slippery fingers back into position, and I leaned against the wall to catch my breath and bearings.

I climbed the stairs and relieved Christie, telling Dylan he had to dry off, dress, and get into bed. He turned on his brotherly charm and debated with me about bedtime. “Your mom and dad were strict about what time you had to be in bed,” I told him.

“Just go to bed, Dylan,” Christie yelled from her bedroom.

Dylan sat on the bathroom floor, pouting and wrapped in a towel, as I drained the tub and put away his toys. “I’ll read you a story before I turn out the light,” I said.

“Batman, please,” he begged.

“Dry off and get into your pajamas.”

He stood and stomped out of the room.

“Stop being a baby!” Christie yelled from down the hall.

“I ain’t a baby!” Dylan shot back.

“I’m not a baby,” his sister corrected him.

I stepped out into the hall to referee their sibling mudslinging. “I can skip story time,” I said to both of them. “Is that what you want?”

A unison of “Nos!” shot out into the hall from their open bedroom doors, the only unanimous decision they’d made as brother and sister that night.

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I read to Christie, who couldn’t keep her eyes open for more than five minutes. I gave Dylan a glass of water and set it on his night table. I ran my hand through his floppy brown bangs that had been spared from the vomit, and he fell fast asleep from the steady, relaxing raking gestures of my hand in his hair.

As much I enjoyed story time with the kids, I couldn’t wait to delve into my quiet corner of the house with a cup of tea. I wanted to start on my homework, especially after Dylan’s stomach-churning episode.

I pulled the comforter up around his back and reached over to shut the lamp off. I left the Godzilla nightlight lit up across the room and cracked the door open ajar. I checked on Christie one last time before heading downstairs. I poked my head into her room to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. After I’d finished reading Dr. Seuss to her, she told me that she didn’t sleep well when her parents were not home.

I told her that I’d be downstairs, and if she woke up scared to come down, I’d fix her a glass of milk. She felt safer with the door wide open, she told me. I wished her goodnight and crept downstairs to the kitchen.

I microwaved a cup of water and brewed one of Mrs. Linderman’s decaf black tea bags for five minutes while I rummaged in my bookbag for my math homework. Before sitting at the kitchen table, I plated three chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Linderman’s fresh-baked stash.

I blew on the hot tendrils of steam wafting up from the teacup and dunked a cookie. My empty stomach growled at the aromatic chocolaty smell. I looked around the silent kitchen, chewing and dipping. Peace and quiet, finally, I thought, resting my elbows on the tabletop and sitting hunched forward under the yellow globe of light from the stained-glass ceiling lamp hanging overhead, savoring the deliciously sweet dessert.

Without Christie and Dylan talking and nagging and carrying on about something, I felt my thoughts winding down, the wheels in my mind slackening to the speed of a snail. My heightened anxieties dwindled like the setting sun. I worked on the half dozen Algebra questions for class, showing my work on separate pages in my notebook, and struggling with a few questions when a sound from outside jerked me out of my reverie.

I looked up and stared down the hall leading into the living room. Shadows danced beyond the drawn lace curtain on the front door. I thought I heard footsteps on the porch steps, but it was the wind tugging on the screen door, yanking it open, and slamming it against the side of the house.

I thought I had locked it.

About Author Thomas Grant Bruso:

Thomas Grant Bruso knew at an early age he wanted to be a writer. He has been a voracious reader of genre fiction since he was a kid.

His literary inspirations are Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Ellen Hart, Jim Grimsley, Karin Fossum, Joyce Carol Oates, and John Connolly.

Bruso loves animals, book-reading, writing fiction, prefers Sudoku to crossword puzzles.

In another life, he was a freelance writer and wrote for magazines and newspapers. In college, he was a winner for the Hermon H. Doh Sonnet Competition. Now, he writes and publishes fiction, and reviews books for his hometown newspaper, The Press Republican.

He lives in upstate New York.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

JMS Books

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Sunroofs And Shoelaces by Jaime L. Mathews ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: December 15, 2021 in giveaways
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Sunroofs and Shoeboxes tour banner

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Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Sunroofs and Shoeboxes by Jaime L. Mathews. In Sunroofs & Shoeboxes, Jaime L. Mathews compiles the nuggets of wisdom she has found in the commonplace, so you can do the same.

This blog tour is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours and the tour runs from 29 November till 19 December. You can see the tour schedule here.

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Sunroofs and Shoeboxes
By Jaime L. Mathews
Genre: Inspirational nonfiction
Release Date: 2 November, 2021

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Sunroofs and Shoeboxes book cover

Synopsis

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From the health benefits of opening the sunroof of your car and letting the sun in, to turning shoeboxes into treasure troves of memories to cherish, Jaime L. Mathews shows you the positive side in the things of every day life.

Seeing the beauty in the mundane goes a long way towards leading a happy life. But the daily practice of gratitude is a muscle that needs to be flexed regularly. Jaime teaches you to look at life with a brand new set of eyes, every day. Eventually, you won’t even need to think about it, and you will start to see opportunities in the biggest challenges, see the extraordinary in the most ordinary things, and your outlook on life will be changed for the better.

So flex those muscles now, and take a deep dive into the unbridled enthusiasm and contagious optimism of Jaime L. Mathews.

Links:
– Goodreads
– Bookbub
– Amazon
– B&N
– Bookdepository

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Introduction

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grat·i·tude. The dictionary defines gratitude as, “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.”

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When was the last time you heard someone say, “I am so grateful,” and actually mean it?

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When was the last time you felt grateful? Not just a time where you felt lucky, but a time where your whole body and mind felt genuinely grateful and blessed all at once.

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The word “grateful” is thrown around so much in our society. We send up our yogic prayer hand and bow our heads, which seems to have become the universal display of gratitude; much like the peace sign is the known signal of its meaning. But gratitude is a two-way street. It is not only the appreciation for the kindness shown to us; it is also the reciprocation of good to others. It is more than just giving thanks. It is returning that thanks so that others also have something to be thankful for. It is in these moments when we experience being grateful and in turn, our lives feel more fulfilled, healthier, and we ultimately feel happier.

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So, how do you start feeling genuinely grateful?

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Within these pages, you are about to read nearly a year’s work of intentionally looking for health and gratitude in situations, scenarios, and during times when you might least expect it. Do you think it’s possible to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic and find something to be grateful for? Can you eat pizza and feel so good and healthy that Paleo diet followers everywhere would be utterly stumped? What about losing your pet? Can you be grateful when Fido goes missing? You can, because sometimes we have to go through a lot of gunk to be able to see the good. Each challenge or hardship offers a gift. The gift is being able to see new gold that you would have otherwise ignored. Remember, the good and the bad exist together. You cannot see one without the other.

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Sunroofs & Shoeboxes shares some (actually a lot of) stories that I hope will inspire you to know, feel, and then practice seeing that gratitude, which is one of the only things we can control in our lives. When we grab hold of what our mind thinks about, we empower ourselves to experience greater health, increased happiness, and gratefulness. Are you ready?

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About the Author:

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Jaime L. Mathews is the author of Sunroofs & Shoeboxes, a collection of the little nuggets of wisdom she has found in the little things of everyday life.

Educated as a journalist and an educator in holistic health, Jaime has had an eclectic career path which included journalism positions at the Orion and Natural Awakenings, being the wellness director of an exclusive fitness resort and the business owner of a hair salon and a fireplace retail store.

But between the many hats she has worn throughout her life, the one she is most proud of is that of mother and mentor to her little ones. Jaime, her husband, and their five children live on a farm in California.

Author links:
– Website
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Instagram

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Giveaway

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There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Sunroofs and Shoeboxes. Here are the prizes you can win:
– 5 winners will each win a paperback copy of Sunroofs and Shoeboxes (US Only)
– 10 winners will each win an ecopy of Sunroofs and Shoeboxes

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Christmas In The Highlands by Suzy Henderson ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: December 14, 2021 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: ,
2

Christmas in the Highlands
Suzy Henderson
Publication date: December 12th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When Niamh Macdonald’s world crumbles, her roots call her home.

A feel-good holiday romance set in the Scottish Highlands at Christmas.

When artist Niamh Macdonald uncovers her boyfriend’s affair, she leaves her job and city life behind and flees home to the sleepy hamlet of Arden in the Scottish Highlands. Having inherited her late grandmother’s cottage, she vows to make a fresh start and pursue her dream of a career as an artist.

Love is the furthest thing on her mind until she bumps into her old friend, Alex Mackenzie, heir to Arden Castle. Sparks fly between the pair but swiftly wane when Alex inadvertently scuppers Niamh’s business plans. Niamh retreats to consider her options.

Can she make her home in Arden and can she ever forgive Alex?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Arden

Niamh MacDonald was almost home. As she drove by fields and hedgerows, smoke rose in straggly lines from croft chimneys at the foot of the mountains. With her foot, she squeezed the brake pedal as she approached Loch Melfort, the ocean waters of which lay flat and still; lead-grey, reflecting the mountains and the blue cloudless sky. Cold, uninviting, yet the scene warmed her heart and a smile emerged on her lips for the first time since leaving Leeds.

The late autumn sunlight glared through the windscreen as she turned into the drive of her late grandmother’s cottage, Arden House. As she swung into the drive, she drove slowly over the rutted, stony tree-lined track now mostly covered with a fine carpet of grass. Above the towering pines, a buzzard glided through the infinite cloudless sky. She squinted into the light as she parked, casting a furtive glance at her gran’s old silver Range Rover that sat in the open fronted barn at the side of the house. Goodness, that wouldn’t start now. Was it even road worthy? Niamh huffed out a breath.

She clambered out of her black Honda CRV, her thighs tight, lower back aching from the long drive. She tugged her blue pinstriped shirt down and wiggled her hips as she hitched up her skinny black jeans. Thirty minutes away from Oban and she was in a remote haven surrounded by mountains, lochs, wildlife, and a castle. The local village housed one public inn, a village store and post office.

The wind puffed, shaking the boughs free of autumn’s leaves, sending them scuttling around her feet like confetti in hues of scarlet, gold, and amber. Suddenly, she felt the ache of loss and failure and sucked in a deep breath. All the dreams she’d had and clung to. She’d studied art at university, dreamt of holding extravagant exhibitions, travelling the world, painting her way, selling originals like hot cakes.

Reality was a harsh taskmaster. Working in pubs, supermarkets while painting in every spare minute and holding scrappy two-bit exhibitions in downtown art galleries which yielded minimal sales. Still, she’d tried her best and often told herself she needed to keep going. She remembered a rather crude expression of her grandmother’s, who often said, “In Churchill’s own words, keep buggering on.”

Niamh smiled, a pang nipping her heart. When she was fourteen, her parents died in a car accident, so she’d gone to live with Gran. The landscape of the Highlands inspired her over the years. The mountains and hills rose all around, their energy simmering in the air. Her heart bloomed. In Arden, she grieved, and later, fell in love for the first time.

On a grey drizzly day, descending from Glencoe, she’d slipped on loose scree and sprained her ankle. Her friend, Anna, didn’t know what to do. Niamh had insisted on getting to her feet and leaned on Anna for support. As she hobbled along, a young man emerged from the mist. Dark hair, coffee-bean eyes, with long lashes. Such a handsome face. ‘Do you need help?’ he said. Of course, Anna jumped at the offer, squealed like a little girl in delight whereas Niamh longed for the ground to swallow her whole, her cheeks burning as he gazed into her eyes. ‘I’m Alex,’ he said. ‘Here, put your arm round my shoulders.’ Then he slipped his arm around her waist before helping her down the mountain. Their friendship bloomed and matured like the fine rambling roses in Gran’s Garden. Niamh hid her growing attraction as they hung out together during school holidays and at weekends. Later, university beckoned for them both. Alex left for St Andrews and she to Leeds. They both promised they’d write, but that soon petered out.

The past eleven months had been bleak. Catching her partner, Tom, in a clinch with a younger woman at his office party a few months back was the icing on the cake. Afterwards, she discovered it wasn’t his first indiscretion. How could she have been so blind? Her bruised heart ached, but it would heal in Arden.

Author Suzy Henderson

Suzy Henderson is the author of The Beauty Shop, Madame Fiocca, and SPITFIRE, novels which are set during the turbulent times of World War Two.

Her debut novel, The Beauty Shop, was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion. It is based on the true story of pioneering plastic surgeon, Sir Archibald McIndoe, and the Guinea Pig Club – an exclusive club for RAF pilots and airmen who required plastic surgery as a result of their war injuries and were under the care of this enigmatic New Zealander.

Madame Fiocca is also based on a true story. This gripping adventure follows the tempestuous life of SOE heroine, Nancy Wake before and during the Second World War.

Suzy lives with her family on the edge of the Lake District, where she can be found rambling around lakes, country lanes or roaming the fells. Armed with a pen, a love of reading and a growing obsession with military and aviation history, she is often lost in the 1940s, writing historical fiction.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Lights Cameras Holidays by Rachelle Paige Campbell

Posted: December 14, 2021 in giveaways, Holidays, Romance
Tags: ,
1

 

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On Tour with Prism Book Tours

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Lights, Cameras, Holidays

 

(Finding New Hope #3)

 

By Rachelle Paige Campbell
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Contemporary Fiction, Holiday Romance
Paperback & ebook, 234 Pages
December 14, 2021 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
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Synopsis
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Actress Kara Kensington flies to New Hope, Wisconsin, where she’ll spend the winter holidays filming a movie. Her entire career depends on the success of the feel-good story based on her best friend’s life. To salvage her strained friendship with Dani, Kara asks the cute guy from the flight to act as her new boyfriend. But the longer she spends with him, the less she’s acting.

For Chef Scott Neil, his holidays aren’t only about family togetherness. He wants Aunt Shirley and Uncle Ted to retire. When he’s asked to fake a relationship with Kara, he agrees. As he gets drawn into Kara’s production, he questions what is real and what’s just for show. Only a fool would fall in love with America’s sweetheart.

(Affiliate links included.)
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Enjoy this peek inside:
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Leaning against the wall, she smiled. “Hi, Scott. Nice to see you again.”

“You, too.” He dragged a hand through his hair. Surrounded by scuffed walls and worn carpet, she glittered. She must have a reason for her costume and presence in the theater, and he interrupted her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to drag you away from the show.”

She shrugged. “It’s fine. The song is almost done. The cast has one last musical number before the finale.” She held out her arms and swayed side to side. “I’ll make my grand entrance.”

“Were they singing?”

Her mouth turned down.

Ask a stupid question… He dropped his fists into his pockets. “I mean were your friends on stage just now?” His voice cracked. “The ones from the love story you’re filming?”

“Oh, yeah.” She cleared her throat and rubbed together her palms. “You’re a good listener. Yep, Paul and Dani are performing.”

She sounded off. Not quite wistful, her strained words were tired. He shook his head. He knew her for only a few hours. How would he know the rhythm of her cadence or the subtleties in her expression through the thick layer of cosmetics? Because I’ve seen the real woman underneath the celebrity image. “We just finished, too.”

“We?”

“My aunt and uncle talked me into lending a hand in the kitchen. I made the cranberry sauce and decaf coffee.” He scanned the corridor. Could someone appear and save him from his misery? Why couldn’t he conduct a normal conversation?

Excerpted from Lights, Cameras, Holidays by Rachelle Paige Campbell, Copyright © 2021 by Rachelle Paige Campbell. Published by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

 

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Rachelle Paige Campbell writes contemporary romance filled with
heart and hope. No matter the location—big city, small town, or European
kingdom—her feel-good stories always end with a happily ever after.
She’s grateful for the support of her family, her robot floor cleaner,
and her reluctant writing partner (her dog).

 

Tour Schedule


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Tour Giveaway

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Five winners will receive an e-book of HOLIDAYS INC. by Rachelle Paige Campbell (US only)

Ends December 22, 2021

 


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Haunted Water ~ A McLaren Mystery by Jo A. Hiestand

Posted: December 13, 2021 in giveaways, Mystery
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Haunted Water organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Jo A. Hiestand will be giving away a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour and for more chances to win.

Haunted Water

by Jo A. Hiestand

 

 

GENRE: British mystery

Synopsis:

Cameron Rutter drowned two months ago in a lake on a Cheshire moor. Some say a morgen—a spirit who drags men to a watery grave—was responsible. Others say it was the phantom Grey Lady. The police say Gareth Gynne was the guilty one. Whoever—or whatever—killed Cameron needs to be sorted out. And ex-police detective Michael McLaren is asked to do just that.

McLaren’s not keen on delving into the mystery. The accused is the nephew of McLaren’s nemesis, Charlie Harvester. And if there’s one thing McLaren doesn’t want to do is to associate with another Harvester, no matter what generation he is.

Suspects and motives are as tangled as the mere grass. Did a villager kill Cameron, opposed to his crusade to keep the moor in its pristine state? Or did someone previously arrested by Cameron kill him in revenge?

Or was the morgen really responsible?

Can McLaren discover the killer, or will he too become a victim of the haunted water?

 

NOTE: The book is on sale for $0.99.

Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

McLaren glanced through the large windows consuming the front wall of the shop. “The mere’s where Cameron was found, correct?”

“Yes. Dwfn Mere.” He angled his head slightly, his eyebrow raised. “How’s your Welsh? You know what dwfn mere means?”

“Mere is pool or lake. Well, some small body of water like that. Dwfn throws me, I’ll admit.”

“Dwfn means deep.”

McLaren nodded. “Sounds intimidating. Deep pool.”

“At least the early residents thought so. But even if it’s not deep, it’s supposed to be haunted, which might be worse.”

“It does change the feelings, I agree. Haunted water versus deep water.” He eyed Gareth and his forehead wrinkled slightly. “Haunted by what?”

“A morgen.” Gareth screwed up the corner of his mouth, frowning. “I’ve always wondered if the villagers named the water first and then the morgen came along to live there, or if they encountered the morgen first and then figured she had to live in a deep lake to avoid scrutiny.” He seemed to force a smile, but McLaren detected a serious look in Gareth’s eyes.

“This is the first I’ve heard of the morgen. I didn’t know Heywood Heath was thought to have one.”

“Your knowledge of Welsh extends to morgens, then.”

“The female water spirit who drowns men.”

Gareth nodded. “I know how it sounds, but there are many people around here who swear the water is haunted. They won’t go near it.” The little remaining humor had gone from his face and voice. “Sometimes I think they’re right. I could almost swear she killed Cameron because I sure as hell didn’t.”

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Author Jo A. Hiestand:

Jo A. Hiestand grew up on regular doses of music, books, and Girl Scout camping. She gravitated toward writing in her post-high school years and finally did something sensible about it, graduating from Webster University with a BA degree in English and departmental honors. She writes two British mystery series—of which two books have garnered the prestigious N.N. Light’s Book Heaven ‘Best Mystery Novel’ two years straight. She also writes two Missouri-based mystery series that are grounded in places associated with her camping haunts. The camping is a thing of the past, for the most part, but the music stayed with her in the form of playing guitar and harpsichord, and singing in a folk group. Jo carves jack o’ lanterns badly; sings loudly; and loves barbecue sauce and ice cream (separately, not together), kilts (especially if men wear them), clouds and stormy skies, and the music of G.F. Handel. You can usually find her pulling mystery plots out of scenery—whether from photographs or the real thing.

Website / Amazon / B&N 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Soft Heart ~ A Celestial Mates Novel by Megan Slayer

Posted: December 13, 2021 in Fantasy, giveaways, Romance
Tags: , ,
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This post is part of a virtual book tour for Soft Heart organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Megan Slayer will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Soft Heart

by Megan Slayer

Synopsis

Can two broken souls be repaired with a lot of love and a little power from the gods?

Leto, the goddess of motherhood and womanly demure, wants to be anything but bashful. Working in Las Vegas in the music business has proven she can’t be coy if she has desires, but the man she loves isn’t available. What’s a goddess to do?

Help break a curse, that’s what.

Tommy has loved Leto since the day they met, but he never thought she’d want to be with him. He’s also got a girlfriend. When his girlfriend leaves him for his brother and curses him, it’s up to Leto and Tommy to admit their deepest desires—they want to be together.

There’s just the matter of breaking that pesky curse…

Check out this peek inside:

©Megan Slayer, 2021, All Rights Reserved

“Ha,” Missy said. “I curse you to stone.” She laughed and walked away with Duncan. “Jerk.”

She’d really done it—she’d left him for his brother. His stomach roiled. How could she be so cruel? She knew he and Duncan didn’t get along. How had his life fallen apart so fast?

He moved to push off the railing, but his limbs refused to cooperate. What? He tried to look at his hand, but he couldn’t lift his arm. “Leto.” He needed help. Was he having a stroke? “Leto.”

Could she hear him? Crap. Where was everyone? In the recording studio, in the sound-proof room…

Leto rushed out to the patio. “Tommy?” She spotted him and her eyes widened. “Oh, no.”

“What…?” His voice faded. No, no, no. Where had his voice gone and why in the hell couldn’t he move?

Leto patted her thigh and nodded. “This is bad. This is very bad.”

No kidding. Why wasn’t she calling someone? How about the ambulance? The guards? He tried to open his mouth, but he seemed frozen.

Leto trembled. “I’ll be right back.”

Call the medics, he wanted to scream. He glanced at his hand. His skin had turned ashen … like stone. Oh, crap. He must be dying. Why couldn’t he move? Missy hadn’t touched him, so she couldn’t have poisoned him. What was going on?

Leto returned a moment later with Hera.

“He’s been cursed. I know curses and this is a problem, but I don’t know how to fix it,” Leto said. “What do we do?”

Hera stroked his arm. He felt her, but also seemed like he was looking at himself without being in his body.

Hera sighed. “This appears to be a curse and he’s screwed.”

About Author Megan Slayer:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

Website / Newsletter / Blog / Facebook / Amazon / Bookbub 

Instagram /  Goodreads / Twitter

Purchase Links:

Amazon / Evernight / Smashwords / B&N / Kobo / iBooks

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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