Posts Tagged ‘giveaway’



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Carved From Wood

by Brendan O’Meara

 

(Crafting Humanity, #2)
Publication date: June 6th 2024
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

James and his team head South after witnessing the BlankZone decimate the city of Midway. Their self-ascribed mission is to explore the most dangerous place on the planet – the new BlankZone border in the Southern Federation.

While conspiracies drive the narrative in the North, James and his team set out to learn about the Federation’s mysterious aggressors. Jump back into the adventure as James and his friends discover new families, build allies, and come face to face with the enemy threatening their existence. Secrets, lies, and manipulation are exposed as James gets closer than he ever imagined to their greatest threat.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Next up.

Stacie did not give anyone else the chance to go ahead of her and within seconds her back was against the wall next to Deck. Another sign from Deck signaled it was James’s turn to go.

Why the hell did I have to follow Stacie, he thought tensing his stomach muscles, crouching as low as his body would allow, and sprinting to the edge of the camp. His heartbeat remained taut while he walked the tightrope of slim shadows under the glare of the floodlights until he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Stacie. Deck signed to them:

You two get the intel. I’ll handle the rest of the team.

Stacie and James nodded in unison and walked to the edge of the tent. Stacie held up her hand to stop and in one swift motion brought it down. Time to move.

James followed her, sticking close to the shadows. They reached the front of the tent.

No sentry, thank God, James thought, and Stacie guided them farther into camp. They discovered a natural hiding place behind racks of ion shield emitters where they could regroup to locate intel. James scanned the tents. Deck wasn’t kidding about erring on the more side. Four barracks stood side by side on one half of the camp while the outer ring housed functional buildings indicated by their standard Federation insignias etched into the front flaps. Vehicles were lined up in an orderly fashion, their headlights gleaming in the dimmed lighting. Beyond the barracks lay a long flat strip of asphalt accompanied by a tower with a beacon alternating white and green flashes.

Do they have a runway? James thought, wondering how temporary this camp actually was.

He felt a tap on his arm and Stacie pointed at one of the tents. It looked like nothing at first, but when James looked closer, he saw the telltale generators stacked outside its doors likely there to fuel HOLO emitters. The front flap bore a compass rose with swords as the directional points indicating intelligence in Federation icons.

That’s where we need to start, James thought, scanning the area around the tent and evaluating their options to move closer.

Stacie placed her hand on top of one of the shield emitters and James knelt next to her ready to sprint when he was blinded by light accompanied by a loud CRACK.

James reacted, dropping flat behind the emitters. He reached out, finding Stacie’s shoulder, rolling her behind the shield with him. He regained his vision while purple and blue dots popped up in his sight line. He shifted another one of the emitters in front of him while Stacie grabbed the other, penning them inside the bunch. Overhead sirens blared and the shouts of a military camp coming to life roared around them.

Someone must have tripped an alarm. They woke up the entire camp.

His hands curled into fists and his leg muscles tensed ready to spring.

Stacie leaned over and whispered in his ear above the cacophony and chaos surrounding them, “We’re fucked.”

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About Author Brendan O’Meara:

Raised in White Plains, New York, Brendan O’Meara formed a love of stories and books from a young age. He has spent his free time over the last decade crafting his debut novel, Cut From Stone, book one in the Crafting Humanity series.

It began in Philadelphia where he attended college daydreaming about a dystopian reality. With a vivid imagination (as described by his middle school teachers) and a passion for adventure, Brendan’s novels will transport you to a different life and capture you from cover to cover.

Brendan lives in Washington, DC with his daughter, wife, and two dogs. You will find him on the weekends drinking a beer watching the Packers and Notre Dame football games. He is an avid reader with a specific interest in sci-fi, anything dystopian, fantasy, history, and all levels of fiction.

Brendan would love to hear from you, feel free to contact him any time at brendan.omeara@craftinghumanity.com.

Finally, visit craftinghumanity.com and sign up for our email lists for news, updates, and information on the rest of the Crafting Humanity series. We will not spam you!

Website / Goodreads / Bookbub / Twitter / Instagram

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Designs on Love

by Tomi Tabb

 

(Friends of the Unexpected Royals, #1)
Publication date: August 30th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Min grew up with dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, but fate had other plans for her.
Fresh out of the London School of Fashion, she’s set her sights on one goal: earning an internship at one of the most exclusive fashion houses in the country—the Clarissa Lee Atelier.

When a series of unfortunate events leads to an unexpected meet-cute with a tall, dark, and handsome royal guard, Min’s plans are suddenly turned upside down.

She never expected to end up with a date with a soldier named Sam instead of applying for her internship.

Despite the setback, it’s not long before Min is offered her shot at a dream design commission. This is everything she’s been working toward. Devoting all her time and energy to it should be a no brainer, except she’s started to fall for Sam, who’s also laser focused on advancing in the army while taking care of his sisters.

As they navigate their growing feelings for each other, Min finds herself at a crossroads. With their careers on the line, can Min and Sam find the time to get their happily ever after?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

We spend about an hour and a half wandering around the small space until we’re back to where we started. From the landing overlooking the main entrance, I take a few extra moments to soak in all that we’ve seen. I feel like I’m inside a Barbie Dream House.

“Do you think you have enough inspiration to finish putting your portfolio together?” Liz asks, leaning against the stairwell railing.

“Actually, I have a small confession to make.” Heat sears through my cheeks.

Liz turns and studies me for a moment, her lips thin. “Min, don’t tell me . . . Have you scrapped everything you had and started again?”

I look away, bobbing my head up and down.

“Gah, you’re such a perfectionist.” She sighs. “I suppose that’s why we get on so well.”

“I think from what I’ve seen here today, I have enough ideas floating around my head to get started on a new collection.”

“And to finish it?”

“I’ll go to my usual place.”

“The National Portrait Gallery?” she asks.

“Uh-huh.”

We begin descending the stairs, staying to the right.

“Are you going to be able to finish before the deadline for the Clarissa Lee internship? It’s only two weeks away.”

I wave her off. “I have plenty of time. I can get it done.”

Liz mutters something under her breath that sounds like, “I hope so.”

“I will, I promise.”

Reaching into her pocket, she retrieves her phone. “I’ll set another reminder to myself to check in on you next week and the week after.”

“You’re the best. Have I ever told you that?”

She grins. “Yes, but not often enough.”

“Come on, let’s stop by the cafe and grab a tea before we head out. My treat.”

“How can I say no to that?”

We exit the exhibit to the main museum and walk toward the gift shop. A banner advertises a few exhibits coming to the museum later this spring. Liz grabs my sleeve and stops me in my tracks.

“Oy, Min, look, there’s an exhibit for the fiftieth anniversary of the Westminster Ballet in February. That looks like it’s right up your alley. Do you want to stop and book tickets for it while we’re here?”

I swallow hard as my stomach muscles clench. It’s been four years since I was fired from the LABT. I should be able to look at a dumb ol’ tutu and not become so emotional about it. But I can’t. Artum managed to ruin the one thing I loved. I may have moved to London, started a new career, and a new life, but I still can’t seem to let go of the past.

“No, I . . . I can’t,” I sputter.

Liz has never pushed me to talk about the past, but she knows that I used to dance professionally. As she reads my body language, her face softens. “Tea, then.”

Like a mother hen tucking me under her wing, she steers me toward the cafe and changes the subject. “Did I tell you that I have a few ideas for decorating my new flat? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.”

“OK,” I croak.

Liz starts on about her bedroom, but my mind is still stuck on Artum. Will I ever be free from him?

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About Author Tomi Tabb:

Tomi is a sweet romance author who enjoys writing feel-good stories with a heart.

Her first published novel, “Dancing With a Royal,” made its debut in 2020.

Outside of her day job, and attending grad school, Tomi enjoys figure skating and hunting for new pumpkin flavored foods. Her current favorite item is pumpkin spice Milano cookies.

Become a part of Tomi’s Treasured Community of readers by joining her newsletter or visiting her official website.

Website / Goodreads / TikTok / Instagram

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.



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The Kingdom of Shadows and Wolves

by Martha Sweeney

 

(Stardust & Shadows, #1)
Publication date: August 27th 2024
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Being raised by the viper who slaughtered my family, along with being beaten and berated by him for merely existing, takes a toll on my heart and soul. Uncle bears the crown, has changed the name of our kingdom Soare to Krigare, and desires more destruction throughout the Fae lands. While plotting his quest to rule all, I’m bartered to forge a union with Cysgod, a formidable ally and one who could ensure Uncle’s victory. King Caelum of Cysgod has a reputation that precedes him, defining him as a tyrant as well. He killed his father for the crown and is known to be just a ruthless and bloodthirsty as Uncle.

Just when I thought the Gods had forsaken me, as they did the Enkeli and Conroicht, my life turns upside down. While I fear my new king, he and his people see me as their queen. Though he does not punish me, I expect it nonetheless and flinch at his touch.

I may be rid of Uncle, but I doubt his hold on me is truly released. Does he plan to capture Cysgod from the inside, using me as his weapon, giving him the army he needs to take and conquer any kingdom? Is there a way to stop Uncle and seek revenge for the death of my kin?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Your name does not fit you, my soon-to-be King,” I state. “Your father surely didn’t expect his son who is named of the heavens, where our beloved Gods reside, to take his crown by force. Did you go rabid like the Conroicht? Perhaps he should have named you—”

His grip tightens around my fingers and I’m forced to stop speaking and walking when he does. I dare not look at him, knowing I have spoken out of turn.

There isn’t a sound other than his controlled breath in and out of his nostrils.

“I have heard the rumors, King Caelum.” My stare pierces the floor. “I know a wolf in a sheep’s hide even if that wolf is a kingdom away.”

“One would almost say the same of your beloved Uncle,” he jabs.

I snicker. “Beloved is a word that has never been used to describe him.”

A hand wraps around my throat and I’m pushed against the stone wall. “You know little of me, Princess Aurora. Mind your words or I will seek pleasure in punishing you.”

My chin raises. “You know little of me.”

King Caelum’s attention lowers from my face. My dagger, which was hidden against my thigh, is pressed against the bottom of his leather chest guard. A low chuckle reverberates from him.

“With the tip of my hand like so,” I state, lowering my wrist an inch. “I merely need to press up and I will wound you greatly.”

“Princess Aurora,” Kion chides, stepping closer.

King Caelum growls at the guard who backs down a second later. “I know more about you, my soon-to-be Queen of Cysgod than you realize.”

“Not enough to know that I was armed and—”

He snarls like the wolf he is which cuts me off. “Three punishments so far, Princess Aurora. The odds gain in my favor.”

“Three?” I scoff.

The fire in his eyes intensifies. “First, for calling me a coward. Second, for calling me a wolf. And now, the attempt on my life.”

“Your life?” I balk. “You and your guards outnumber me. If you wanted, I would be dead and my blade wouldn’t be where it is.”

“Precisely.” His grip tightens around my neck, his thumb pressing into the bottom of my chin. “You pose no threat to me.”

“That is what Uncle would wish you to believe,” I inform. “Who was kneeling to whom earlier today? Not one Krigare guard rose when either of us stood, not that they have ever risen for me other than to escort me somewhere.” A yelp rushes out of me when my weapon-wielding hand is pinned against the wall. My gaze darts to its proximity and I swallow the lump in my throat when I realize its tip is a mere inch from my eye.

A devious smirk tugs at his lips as King Caelum chuckles deeply. “I’ll very much enjoy the punishments you will receive from me when we are afforded the time.”

Indignantly, I reply, “I’m certain it won’t be worse than what Uncle has done to me.”

King Caelum releases me, returning my dagger to the inside of my left thigh. I’m speechless as his fingers graze my skin and linger longer than needed. Should he lift his fingers barely an inch, he will touch a place no Fae male has ever touched. “We shall see, Princess Aurora.”

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About Author Martha Sweeney:

Martha Sweeney is a BESTSELLING author who writes in a variety of genres: romance (contemporary, romcom, suspense, paranormal and historical), suspense, fantasy, thriller, coloring books, and soon, science fiction. She strives to push herself as a storyteller with each new tale and hopes to push her readers outside of their comfort zone whether it be genre or the stories themselves.

With a B.S. in Psychology, Martha utilizes her knowledge of human and animal behavior successfully in the business world and in her writing to present realistic characters and situations. She’s been creative since she was little, always drawing, coloring or making crafts, so her venture into being an author was a natural transition.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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Cayman Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery
by Stacy Wilder

CAYMAN CONUNDRUM BOOKS

Cayman Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery
Cozy M
4th in Series
Setting – Grand Cayman
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Hawk Press (June 29, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 225 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8990783102
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 225 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8985426694
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D8G8NJ2Z
Audiobook ASIN B0D5KPSC6M

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Sun-kissed sands and sinister secrets. A honeymoon in paradise turns perilous in this riveting seaside mystery.

A tropical vacation transforms into a web of danger and deception when an author and his manuscript vanish. Is his thriller about money laundering in the Caribbean too close to the truth?

With the stakes high and time ticking, Private Investigator Liz Adams and her new husband, Brad, along with their truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, partner with the local authorities to unravel a multitude of crimes. As they search for clues, the newlyweds explore the delights of the island, including a hunt for buried treasure.

Will they unearth the clues in time, or will the honeymoon end in heartbreak? Set against the backdrop of the stunning island of Grand Cayman, this cozy mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

About Stacy Wilder 

Stacy Wilder writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets.

Beyond writing, Stacy is deeply devoted to her faith, family, and her beloved Labradors. She is also enthusiastic about the causes she supports, the beauty of art, the serenity of the beach, and the joy of reading.

She and her husband live in Houston, TX with a totally spoiled Labrador named Eve. www.storystacy.com

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads / BookBub

Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKoboBookshop.org 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 19 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

August 20 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

August 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – PLAYLIST

August 23 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW

August 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

August 25 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE

August 27 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 28 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 29 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

August 30 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 31 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

September 1 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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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.

THE CADIEUX MURDERS
by R.J. Koreto
August 27, 2024 COVER REVEAL
Synopsis:
The Cadieux Murders by R.J. Koreto

The ink is still wet on the contract, but Wren Fontaine is already running into trouble as she renovates Cadieux House, a modernist masterpiece on Long Island’s exclusive Gold Coast. The home’s architect was the brilliant and eccentric Marius Cadieux, her father’s mentor, and Ezra doesn’t want Wren to change as much as a doorknob. And the home itself comes with a dark past: In 1955, it was the site of the never-solved murder of its owner, Dennis Blaine. Cadieux himself was alleged to be having an affair with Dennis’s wife, the stunningly beautiful Rebecca. It seems like yesterday’s headlines, but then someone starts killing people with a connection to the house. The home’s new owner—bestselling novelist Bronwyn Merrick—may be using the house to launch a fictionalized account of the 1955 crime. But someone may not want to her to. Just how far will Bronwyn’s armed bodyguard go to protect her?

As Wren untangles the threads, she finds they all lead back to the house. Rebecca apparently inspired the strange, yet alluring residence, and both the home and its mistress may have caused uncontrolled emotions that led to tragedy. Wren uses all her architectural skills to decipher the hidden message Cadieux cunningly wove into the home’s design. She must think back 20 years to when, as a little girl, she met Cadieux. Deeply impressed with Wren, he gave her a clue about the house—and his unusual friendship with Rebecca. With her girlfriend Hadley at her side, Wren eventually solves the mysteries of the home and the people who lived there, develops a grudging respect for modernist architecture—and learns something about the difference between love and obsession.

Don’t Miss The Previous Historic Homes Mysteries
The Greenleaf Murders

Book 1

Young architect Wren Fontaine lands her dream job: restoring Greenleaf House, New York’s finest Gilded-Age mansion, to its glory days. But old homes have old secrets: Stephen Greenleaf—heir to what’s left of his family’s legacy—refuses to reveal what his plans are once the renovation is completed. And still living in a corner of the home is Stephen’s 90-year-old Aunt Agnes who’s lost in the past, brooding over a long-forgotten scandal while watching Wren with mistrust. Wren’s job becomes more complex when a shady developer who was trying to acquire Greenleaf House is found murdered. And after breaking into a sealed attic, Wren finds a skeleton stuffed in a trunk. She soon realizes the two deaths, a century apart, are strangely related. Meanwhile, a distraction of a different kind appears in the form of her client’s niece, the beautiful and seductive Hadley Vanderwerf. As Wren gingerly approaches a romance, she finds that Hadley has her own secrets. Then a third murder occurs, and the introverted architect is forced to think about people, and about how ill-fated love affairs and obsessions continue to haunt the Greenleafs. In the end, Wren risks her own life to uncover a pair of murderers, separated by a century but connected by motive. She reveals an odd twist in the family tree that forever changes the lives of the Greenleafs, the people who served them, the mansion they all called home—and even Wren herself.

The Turnbull Murders

Book 2

Movie star Nicky Tallon selects architect Wren Fontaine to renovate Turnbull House, where he’ll be filming his next movie. Even to Wren, used to old homes, this one is special: a 200-year-old federal-style home on a private island in New York harbor, designed by the most celebrated architect of the day. But Turnbull House hides many secrets, such as the disappearance of the sea captain who built it. That’s just a historical curiosity, until a studio executive no one likes is killed. Wren just wants to keep her worksite safe, but then another murder occurs, and she starts noting eerie connections between the mysteries surrounding the Turnbull family and Nicky and his entourage. The handsome star seems to have two girlfriends, a childlike folk singer and a cynical fashion model. Meanwhile, renowned actress Veronica Selwyn renews a friendship with Wren’s father, which Wren finds more disturbing than she wants to admit. She concludes it’s time she and her girlfriend Hadley take the next step and find a place together, an exciting but stressful change. As the attacks continue, Wren realizes she will have to solve the mysteries surrounding Captain Turnbull and Nicky Tallon. Turnbull House speaks of order and harmony, and Wren must dig deep to see how the house has affected its owners, old and new. Fortunately for her, the eminently practical Hadley is by her side, pepper spray at the ready—because a frighteningly clever killer is about to find that Wren is getting too close to the horrific truth.

 

About Author R.J. Koreto:

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R.J. Koreto

Over the years, R.J. Koreto has been a magazine writer, website manager, textbook editor, novelist and merchant seaman. He was born and raised in New York City, graduated from Vassar College, and has wanted to be a writer since reading The Naked and the Dead. In addition to his novels, he has published short stories in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, the 2020 Bouchercon Anthology and Paranoia Blues: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Paul Simon. His current series features Wren Fontaine, an architect who finds mysteries in the historic homes she renovates. He and his wife have two grown daughters, and they divide their time between Rockland County, N.Y., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

Catch Up With R.J. Koreto: www.RJKoreto.com Goodreads BookBub – @rkoreto1 Instagram – @RJKoreto Threads – @RJKoreto Twitter/X – @RJKoreto Facebook – @RJKoreto

 

 

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The Summer of Love and Death by Marcy McCreary Banner

THE SUMMER OF LOVE AND DEATH
by Marcy McCreary
August 19 – September 13, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
A Ford Family Mystery

 

The summer of ’69: memorable for some, murder for others.

Detective Susan Ford and her new partner, Detective Jack Tomelli, are called to a crime scene at the local summer stock theater where they find the director of Murder on the Orient Express gruesomely murdered—naked, face caked in makeup, pillow at his feet, wrists and ankles bound by rope. When Susan describes the murder to her dad, retired detective Will Ford, he recognizes the MO of a 1969 serial killer . . . a case he worked fifty years ago. Will remembers a lot of things about that summer—the Woodstock Festival, the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Miracle Mets—yet he is fuzzy on the details of the decades-old case. But when Susan and Jack discover the old case files, his memories start trickling back. And with each old and new clue, Susan, Jack, and Will must narrow down the pool of suspects before the killer strikes again.

Praise for The Summer of Love and Death:

“An old case has repercussions on a new copycat killing in this excellent police procedural. With juicy twists, an engaging cast, and an intriguing case that’s impossible to predict, The Summer of Love and Death is everything I want in a mystery. An addictive and entertaining ride!” ~ Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author “McCreary unspools a lot of threads in The Summer of Love and Death, then masterfully weaves them all together atop the Ford family’s compelling dynamic for an ending you won’t see coming. It’s a fun ride that kept me guessing the whole time!” ~ Tony Wirt, bestselling author of Just Stay Away “A compelling mystery that unfolds in two skillfully woven parallel narratives. McCreary pairs a haunting meditation on intergenerational trauma with an evocative rendering of that famous Summer of Love to deliver a suspenseful and deeply satisfying read.” ~ Lori Robbins, author of Murder in Fourth Position “In the summer of 1969, there was peace and love—but also a serial killer committing bizarre murders. When a copycat killing occurs at the local summer stock theatre, detective Susan Ford must call on her father’s memory of his 1969 investigation to help her solve the present-day murder. The Summer of Love and Death offers page-turning suspense of how the legacy of murder can continue, leaving more than death in its wake.” ~ Nina Wachsman, author of The Courtesan’s Secret “A fiendishly smart modern who-dunnit with clever characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing . . .” ~ Elise Hart Kipness, author of Lights Out

 

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery (Detective)

Published by: CamCat Books Publication Date: August 13, 2024 Number of Pages: 336 ISBN: 9780744310597 (ISBN10: 0744310598) Series: A Ford Family Mystery, #3 | A Stand-Alone Series

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Enjoy this peek inside:
You know that jittery, gut-roiling feeling you get when heading out on a blind date? That brew of nerves, anxiety, anticipation—plus a hint of dread. That pretty much summed up my morning. Today was the day, and standing at the front door, it finally hit me. I was no longer flying solo. A new partner was waiting for me down at the station. My fingers twitchy, I fumbled with the zipper of my yellow slicker as I stood in front of the framed poster—an illustration of a white dove perched on a blue guitar neck, gripped by ivory fingers against a bright red background—touting three days of peace and music. Usually, I paid it no mind. But today it captured my attention. A signal, perhaps, that everything would turn out just fine, like it did exactly fifty years ago when four hundred thousand idealistic hippies descended upon this town. A projected disaster that ended up being a glorious experience. The legendary summer of love. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair didn’t take place in Woodstock, New York. The residents of Woodstock were not keen on having the initially projected fifty thousand hippies traipsing through their town. The concert promoters eventually secured Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York—fifty-eight miles from Woodstock and six miles from where I live now. I was four at the time. I have no memory of it. Mom said I was sicker than sick that weekend. Ear infection. Fever escalating to 104 degrees. She tried to take me to a doctor, but the roads were clogged with festival revelers, so she had to postpone my appointment until Tuesday. But by then, the worst of it was over. Fifty years. Those teenagers were in their sixties and seventies now. The older ones in their eighties. How many of them were still idealistic? How many were still into peace, love, and understanding? How many “dropped out” and berated “the man,” only later to find themselves the beneficiaries of capitalism? Becoming “the man.” I leaned over slightly as I reached for the doorknob. The door swung open unexpectedly, smacking me in the forehead. “Whoa.” I ran my fingertips along my hairline. No bump. For now. “Sorry, babe.” Ray’s voice drew Moxie’s attention. Our thirteenyear-old lab mix moseyed into the foyer, tail in full swing. Moseying was really all Moxie could muster these days. “Didn’t realize you were standing there.” Ray had left the house an hour earlier. I peered over his shoulder at the running Jeep. “Forget something?” “Yeah. My wallet.” Ray stepped inside, dripping. Moxie stared up at him, waiting. He squatted and rubbed her ears. “Raining cats and dogs out there. No offense, Moxie.” He glanced up at the poster. “Just like fifty years ago.” He sighed. Ray’s parents were married at the festival by a traveling minister. One-year-old Ray in tow (earning him bragging rights as one of the youngest people to attend Woodstock). Tomorrow would have been their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Their death, at the hand of a drunk driver twelve years ago, spawned a program called Better Mad Than Sad—a class baked into the local drivers-ed curriculum that Ray (and the drunk driver’s girlfriend, Marisa) created ten years ago. Parents would join their kids for a fifty-minute session in which they pledged to pick up their kids or their kid’s friends, no questions asked, no judgment passed. Last month, Ray reached out to a few of his and his parents’ friends asking if they would be up for a “celebration of life” vigil at the Woodstock Festival site this evening. Nothing formal. Just twenty or so folks standing around, reminiscing and shooting the shit about his parents. Ray shook the rain off his jacket. “Met your new partner this morning.” “Yeah?” “He’s very good-looking.” He smirked, then added, “Movie-star good looking.” I leaned back and gave Ray the once-over. “I’m more into the rough-around-the-edges type.” “So I got nothing to worry about?” “Not as long as you treat me right.” I smiled coyly. I had been without an official partner for a little over a year, since July 2018. My ex-partner bought a small farm in Vermont. He told me not to take it personally, but he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I still wondered if I contributed to his anxiety in some small way. Then I got shot in the thigh that August. So hiring a new partner was put on hold. Upon my return to active duty in October of 2018, I was assigned an under-the-radar cold case with my dad brought on as consulting partner. By the time the Trudy Solomon case was resolved, in December 2018, Chief Eldridge still hadn’t found a suitable replacement. Small-town policing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So for the better part of 2019, it was just me and my shadow. Dad and Ray assisted on the Madison Garcia case, but the chief made it clear that protocol called for two detectives working a case, and my partnerless days were numbered. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I didn’t want a partner. I did. I just wished I had a say in who it was. *** Excerpt from The Summer of Love and Death by Marcy McCreary. Copyright 2024 by Marcy McCreary. Reproduced with permission from CamCat Books. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Marcy McCreary:

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Marcy McCreary

Marcy McCreary is the author of the Ford Family Mystery series. She graduated from George Washington University with a B.A. in American literature and political science and pursued a career in marketing and communications. She lives in Hull, MA with her husband, Lew.

Catch Up With Marcy McCreary: www.MarcyMcCreary.com Goodreads BookBub – @marcymccreary Instagram – @marcymccrearyauthor Threads – @marcymccrearyauthor Twitter/X – @mcmarcy Facebook – @marcymccrearywrites

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway! Click here to view THE SUMMER OF LOVE AND DEATH Tour Hosts

 

 

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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Husband Chair organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Nick Bannister will award a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

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

The Husband Chair

by Nick Bannister

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Genre: Humorous Fiction

Synopsis

Our hero: Bone tired. Lost. Desolate. A man pushed to the outer limits of his very being. His struggle: Satisfy the need to rest whilst still supporting his beloved in her hour of need.

While his wife negotiates a seemingly endless list of fashion stores in her quest for perfection, her loving husband must stave off the weariness that visits each partner in a shopping spree with their significant other.

Fighting hunger, rising frustration and the mental fatigue associated with tracking credit card usage, will he ever find peace? And honestly, can he just go and sit down for a minute…

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“Honey,” she pleads, “won’t you please take me shopping?”

While the chance for my tee time is steadily dropping.

Just imagine the noise, when I call up the boys,

And confess “I’m not coming” – oh, the shit I’ll be copping!

 

I hope she backs down, but my chances are bleak,

When I reasonably tell her, “We just went last week!”

But she fixes a stare with that world-famous glare,

As my fate is confirmed: back to The Husband Chair.

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About Author Nick Bannister:

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Nick Bannister: Nick & Terry are long-time friends & first-time author/illustrators. Each has their own vast experience with husband chairs, as both are happily married.

Both reside in Brisbane, Australia.

CONNECT WITH Nick Bannister:

Website / Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon AU / Indigo / Booktopia

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For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

 A tenacious TV reporter has 48 hours to illegally enter Cuba, find
her sister, and avenge her mámá. Don’t miss the
spine-tingling sequel to Emmy-award winning journalist Linda Hurtado
Bond’s immersive thriller, All The Broken Girls.

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All the Missing Girls

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by Linda Hurtado Bond

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Genre: Thriller, Suspense

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Once you enter their world, there is no escape…in this gripping and
undeniably chilling thriller from Emmy-award winning journalist Linda
Hurtado Bond.

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As a crime reporter for a Tampa TV news
station, Mari Alvarez knows when an investigation enters dangerous
territory. But with her estranged sister missing and almost no
information to go on, Mari can’t trust anyone but herself to find
the truth. Now she has just 48 hours to sneak into Cuba undetected,
track down her sister…and pray to her orisha that she’s not too
late.

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This is nothing like reporting in her neighborhood,
though–a place she knows like the back of her hand. In Havana she
has no contacts and only an ice-cold trail of cryptic clues. When
Detective Tony Garcia offers to help, Mari puts aside her instincts
and tries to let someone in. But soon they’re caught in a maze of
lies, deception, and an undercurrent of the island’s own
witchcraft, a sinister Brujería.

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Every lead draws Mari
further into this world of shadows, especially when her sister isn’t
the only young woman who’s gone missing. Each step pushes Mari and
Tony toward a revelation they never saw coming. And as they close in
on the horrifying truth, one thing becomes clear…no one will let
them leave Cuba alive.

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Amazon
* Apple
* B&N
* Google
* Kobo
* Entangled
Publishing
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Day One

 

One a.m.

Forty-seven hours left

Tony’s family farm

We tiptoe through a dimly lit garage. Enrique goes first, Orlando

second, his GoPro out and recording. I’m holding on to Orlando’s shirt. Tony walks

behind me. We lug our gear with us, so moving isn’t easy.

 

As we enter the house through the kitchen, I take note of one single

light bulb hanging without a cover from the ceiling. It sways as we pass, casting light in

waves across the bare cement walls.

 

Towels cover the windows, even though it’s still dark outside.

Enrique pulls back a sheet hanging over an open archway, and as

soon as we walk through, nervous energy embraces me. Candles burn in place of

lamps, and the glow illuminates eager faces. Almost a dozen of them.

“Americano!” A one-armed man, in a faded Nike T-shirt and ripped jeans, pulls Tony in

with his stump and slaps him on the back with his good hand. “Americano!”

 

Tony gives a few pats but pulls away.

The Americano seems uncomfortable with raw emotion.

Similar greetings swirl around us, like an emotional tornado wanting

 

to suck Tony up.

 

They must all be relatives of his, crammed into this living room,

moving around so quickly, I can’t tell if the floor is shifting or it’s me. The heat and

humidity add to the feeling the room sways, like I’m riding waves.

 

Most of those gathered are older men, but there are two women, a

couple of teens, and one three-legged dog, an ugly, multicolored mutt with sad blue

eyes.

 

One of the women draws me into her arms, hugging me; Spanish

endearments roll into my ear. My heart swells in reaction to the smell of lavender on the

woman’s skin. The scent reminds me of my Abuela Bonita’s Violeta perfume. I squeeze

my eyes shut. I will not cry.

 

My clothes, moist from the five-hour boat ride from America, must

be dampening her dry clothes. I’m starting to tremble, so I don’t want to be held tightly. I

really need to pee, but I’m ashamed to ask, because Tony is busy being washed around

in this tsunami of a family reunion. Orlando is busy recording. All of that is more

important than my needs.

 

Tony hasn’t seen these family members since he left Cuba as a

baby. Twenty-eight years ago. It hits me—he, too, has lost family, if not to murder or

kidnapping, to separation by both water and politics.

 

The first time his mother invited me to dinner at her house in Tampa

a month ago, Tony didn’t eat, because he was too busy caring for his ninety-year-old

grandfather. Watching him feed the older man, stroking his hair, helping him to bed,

stirred something in me.

 

His grandfather must have meant a lot to the owners of this house,

too, because a painting of a younger version of him hangs on the living room wall. He’d

been a dissident, and because of a few rallies against Fidel Castro, he’d been arrested

and imprisoned. When he finally made it to America, his physical and mental state had

been damaged beyond repair. Tony became his caretaker, a constant reminder, he told

me, of Cuban suppression, imprisonment, and torture.

 

Tony’s temporal artery pulses. He didn’t come to Cuba only to help

me; he came for the revenge against those who wronged his family. And to save those

he could.

 

We stare at each other, no words needed.

His conflicted emotions weigh heavy in my chest. My heart aches. It

 

literally hurts. For him. For me. For us.

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Also by the Author: 

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All the Broken Girls

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Get it on Amazon

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 Linda Hurtado Bond is an award-winning journalist for Tampa’s Fox 13
by day and author of romantic thrillers by night. She has won 13 Emmy
awards, numerous Society of Professional Journalist and Associated
Press awards, as well as a Florida Bar and an Edward R. Murrow award.
A breast cancer survivor, she’s also active in the Tampa community
with The American Cancer Society, Hooked on Hope, and The Shoot for a
Cure, raising money and awareness any chance she gets. She’s the
mother of five, four athletes and an adopted son from Cuba. She has
passion for world travel, classic movies and solving a good mystery.

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Website
* Facebook *
X * 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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~~~~~

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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.

.

In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery)
by Cynthia Kuhn

 


In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (August 20, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639100709
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639100705
Digital https://amzn.to/3xRh1X8

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It’s the star-studded event of the season in Silvercrest, Colorado—but some of the guests might not make it to the last dance alive in the second charming installment of the Starlit Bookshop mysteries from Agatha Award-winning author Cynthia Kuhn.

Nestled on the banks of a breathtaking Rocky Mountain river and dotted with delightful boutiques and galleries, Silvercrest, Colorado, is a book lover’s paradise. Bookseller and literary event planner Emma Starrs is looking forward to attending the annual Silvercrest Library Gala, a glamorous evening with celebrities including the legendary Whitney Willton, currently on the hit crime show Chasers, and her niece, party-planner-to-the-stars Lyra Willton. Gala Week is full of exciting activities honoring both page and screen, and library board president Tabitha Baxter is basking in the glow of her successful launch—until Lyra is found dead.

With the gala only days away, the board asks Emma for help, despite Tabitha—her longstanding nemesis—bristling over the choice. Emma agrees, even though she is already in charge of a classic mystery panel at her family’s bookstore, Starlit Books, which turns out to have its own challenges. Meanwhile, Whitney, who is aware of Emma’s sleuthing skills, begs her to find the killer. The case grows more complex with the disappearance of several priceless objects, an attack on one of the attending celebrities, and other predicaments. Emma searches for clues while handling every unexpected twist and turn leading up to the extravagant affair. But when the guests step onto the red carpet, a killer still lurks in the shadows—and murder just might become the main event.

About Cynthia Kuhn

Cynthia Kuhn writes the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries, which focus on a bookseller solving crimes in an artistic mountain community, and the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries, featuring a professor-turned-amateur-sleuth. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Diabolical, Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Twitter/X

Purchase Links – AmazonB&N  – KoboBookshop.orgPenguinRandomHouse 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 20 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT  

August 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 21 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

August 22 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 22 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 23 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 24 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 24 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

August 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

August 26 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

August 27 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 28 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW

August 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 29 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

August 30 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

August 30 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 31 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW  

August 31 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

September 2 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Breaking the Ice

by Whitney Dineen

 

(Love on Thin Ice, #1)
Publication date: August 22nd 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

What do an entitled billionaire and small-town ice-skating coach have in common?

Ellie
My life is not turning out like I thought it would.

My mom’s arthritis has gotten so bad that I had to move in with her. I’m making ends meet by giving ice skating lessons at the arena in Maple Falls. I’d be in serious trouble had the Harts not given me that job.

Which makes it impossible to say no when they ask me to let Troy’s obnoxious billionaire brother stay in the cabin on my mom’s property during the charity hockey event they’re running.

Zach
First the tabloids call me out for being a cheapskate and then Yolanda Simms takes to national television to tell everyone what a vicious heartbreaker I am?

Yeah, my life has been better.

My brother thinks I can fix my bad press by coming to Maple Falls and donating big to his new charity endeavor. Too bad he didn’t mention the woman who owns the cottage I’ll be staying at hates me with a passion.

He also didn’t mention she’s everything I’ve ever looked for in a woman…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Zach

I’ve learned a lot of things from being a billionaire in my thirties, but so far, the most essential is that you can’t have thin skin. Everyone wants a piece of you and when you’re not giving them the time or attention they think they deserve, they set out to tear you down. Case in point, Yolanda Simms, the entertainment reporter for KBIZ and the most annoyingly fame-seeking woman it has ever been my displeasure to know.

Yolanda and I went out three times, which is a record for me as I barely have a minute for myself. Given my busy schedule, you might be wondering why I would spend my precious free time with such a person. When I first asked her out, I didn’t see her for who she truly was. I may have also had a hidden agenda.

I’d recently been called out by a national tabloid for not putting my money where my mouth was. As in, they didn’t think I donated enough to charity. And while supposedly no press is bad press, I really don’t like people thinking of me the way I was being portrayed.

I figured if I wined and dined Yolanda—who had previously flirted with me outrageously every time she saw me—she might spread the word that I was a decent guy. Self-serving? Yes. But I’m not the villain the press would have you think I am, and I wanted a chance to prove it.

Unfortunately, Yolanda got ahead of herself regarding our friendship and decided to announce on air that she and I were in an exclusive and committed relationship. As we had never so much as kissed, I took exception to her declaration.

“Zachary!” my assistant Anabelle yells out. Before I can ask her what she wants, she says, “Your brother is on line three.”

I have five brothers, so I ask, “Which one?”

Instead of answering, I overhear her tell someone else, “Mr. Hart has no comment on Ms. Simms’ allegations.” Great, another day fending off the aftermath of Yolanda’s interview on The View. She told Whoopi Goldberg I was an egomaniacal alpha-male.

I hesitantly reach over to the landline on my desk. “This is Zach.”

“Hey, big bro,” my younger twin says. In my mind’s eye, I see his lopsided grin, which, even though we’re fraternal twins, is remarkably like my own. MacElroy, aka Mac, is four minutes younger than me and has four times the personality. “It’s starting to look like you’re wading through a herd of cows in a rainy field.”

“What does that even mean, Mac?” My brother recently bought a sustainable farm in Oregon and his metaphors have taken on a rural sort of charm.

“Where there are cows there are cow pies. Need I explain that a rainy field full of heifers is full of wet …”

“Manure. Got it.” Gross.

“Why don’t you set the world straight and tell them the majority of your charitable donations are given anonymously?” he wants to know. The man definitely cuts to the chase.

“You do know the definition of anonymous, don’t you?” I condescendingly inquire.

“Yes, Zach. What I don’t know is why you don’t just come clean about what a good guy you are.”

“Because if I bragged about doing good deeds, they wouldn’t feel like good deeds,” I tell him for the hundredth time.

Shifting in my chair, I stare out of my home office window onto Wilshire Boulevard below. You’d think all the short skirts and tanned legs would be one of the benefits of living in Southern California. Yet no matter how good the view is, wealthy Beverly Hills women are not my type. They’re simply too high maintenance, not to mention too self-involved.

“I’m just saying…”

“Let it go, Mac.” Removing my feet from the edge of my giant mahogany desk, I ask, “Did you call for any other reason than to bust my butt about Yolanda? Because if not, I have work to do.”

“What are you buying today?” he wants to know. “Another office building? A high-rise? Malibu?” While I like to have a diversified financial portfolio, as a real estate developer, I am obviously partial to buying property.

“I’m giving a speech at Pepperdine,” I tell him. Tongue in cheek, I add, “I call it ‘One House, New House, Big House, You House.’”

“Ah yes, a nod to your childhood love of Dr. Seuss.” Releasing an exaggerated yawn, he asks, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re becoming kind of boring?”

You tell me that at least twice a week,” I remind him. “Now, why are you calling?”

Instead of putting me out of my misery, he wants to know, “When was the last time you strapped on a pair of skates and played a game?”

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About Author Whitney Dineen:

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries — not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

 

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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.