Posts Tagged ‘giveaway’

John William And The Bandits Of Basswood ~ Blast and Giveaway

Posted: June 19, 2018 in Action/Adventure, Children's books, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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John William and the Bandits of Basswood by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows

John William Drake was born an explorer; just like many, many Drakes before him. His adventure really began with the discovery of an old book hidden in the ceiling of the Drake home, followed by the mysterious disappearance of his father. He lived everyday in misery until his twelfth birthday. A new friend gave him an invitation he could not turn down… follow me and change your destiny.
He never imagined being captured by bandits and taken to a ship riddled with river rats was part of his fate. Not just any bandits – the Bandits of Basswood; known to be a ruthless and wild crew of thieves. Trying to escape would be a ridiculous idea. No one has ever escaped and lived to tell about it. Uncovering traces of his missing father gave him hope and upped the stakes. John William was determined to get off the ship alive and search for the missing pieces of the puzzle. The chase out of Basswood was on. He took a chance to change his destiny and ended up on a wild ride to solve the most important mystery of his life.

AMAZON

Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Praise for the Book

“The imaginative world created by the author is especially fun. Some animals can talk (with attitude!), magic is in the air and emu-like creatures provide fast transportation. Yes, I realize this series is for children- and they can certainly read it. Just as soon as I’m finished.”

“A simple walk into the world of furry and fairy alike. Enjoyed the character building, as the young boy finds himself in a world with furry pirates, and a feisty fairy princess.”

“Love this book! Great kids book!”

Excerpt

Walking the Plank

“Stand up!” A bandit marched down the steps into the cabin. “You two are coming with me.” He dragged both of them up to the top.

“Just stay quiet. Let me handle this,” Ferdinand whispered.

John William nodded. He was too frightened to speak. The deck crawled with river pirates and bandits wearing sour, drunken scowls on their faces.

“Toss them overboard! We have no use for them now!” The bandits cheered as they pushed John William and Ferdinand onto a thick plank of wood sticking out over the side of the boat.

“Wait!” One of the river pirates stepped forward with his chest out. “That boy is the princess’s friend. He could be worth something, Victor,” he bellowed with an extra deep voice. He certainly looked tough enough – with a chiseled face, broad frame, and big muscles. Even his slicked back, pony-tailed hair looked strong to John William. He began to feel a glimmer of hope.

“Nonsense!” The stout, vicious looking badger pressed a blade into John William’s back. “Move, boy!” He let out a malicious laugh and glared at Ferdinand. “I love to cook hoppers. They make a tasty stew.” He moved the blade over to Ferdinand’s plump belly and rubbed the nub at the end of his wrist where a hand used to be along his whiskers. “Be careful. You don’t want to fall into this blade; it would make a terrible mess.”

John William inched forward, watching the rushing water beneath him. “This is the princess’s betrothed! They are to be married when they are old enough,” Ferdinand blurted. He squeezed his eyes shut as if he expected to be boiled in a fat river pirate’s stew at any moment.

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Author Elizabeth Bellows

Um, let’s see… when I was eight, I had a pet turkey. I used to take it with me on my very short lived paper route. Needless to say, I was terrible at delivering the paper. No one wanted a “Dollar Saver” with turkey poop splattered across the front page. Apparently that’s where the best coupons are.
Books… well, “Treasure Island” is a fantastic pirate tale. I love just about anything by Roald Dahl. I would also like to thank C.S Lewis for sending me on an unrelenting childhood quest for portals to amazing worlds (even in the most unpleasant locations, e.g… the older brother’s closet, etc…)
I love to write… these days sneaking away just to use the bathroom is hard enough. Finding a quiet moment alone with my laptop is impossible. I’ve developed a talent for making airplane noises out the side of my mouth for my son while squeezing in a paragraph or two.
I write fantasy stories for children. Yep – I am a HUGE fantasy geek. I can’t help myself! It’s too darn awesome to escape to another realm with sorcerers and wizards. The underlying theme in my stories is empowerment, self love, and living purposefully.
When football is on I turn into a different person. I may even use a curse word or two… or three. I enjoy running; which is a good thing because I need to do it in order to fit into my jeans.
I love to cook and really, really love to eat. I have a theory that avocados actually contain super powers and have the amazing ability to make any snack epic. I also love garlic… which, according to my loved ones, also has an unfortunate super power … the pungent breath-inator… or something of that nature.
Few things make me smile more than chocolate, cheese, and a good bottle of vino… AND, if the Chargers would make it to the Super Bowl again – just once:)

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 7/2/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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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Excerpt and Giveaway ~ In The Grip Of It by Sheena Kamal

Posted: June 18, 2018 in giveaways, thriller
Tags: , ,
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In The Grip Of It

by Sheena Kamal

on Tour June 1 – June 30, 2018

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Genre: Thriller
Published by: Witness Impulse
Publication Date: May 15th 2018
Number of Pages: 96
ISBN: 0062879324 (ISBN13: 9780062879325)
Series: Nora Watts #1.5
Grab Your Copy of In the Grip Of It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Synopsis

On a surveillance assignment for a child custody case, PI-in-training Nora Watts finds herself ensconced in a small farming community on a beautiful hippie island in the Pacific Northwest, a place with a reputation for being welcoming to outsiders. But when she arrives there, she discovers her welcome quickly wears thin. Perhaps too quickly.

Salt Spring Island, with a history as a refuge for African Americans fleeing the bonds of slavery, is not a place of refuge for her—and, she suspects, may not be for the people who live there, either.

As she investigates, nothing about this remote community seems to add up. It gets personal as Nora confronts her own complicated feelings toward her estranged daughter and becomes increasingly concerned about the child she’s been tasked to surveil. She discovers that small, idyllic communities can hide very big secrets.

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Check out the excerpt:

Last week a man came into our PI office, looked around the shabby interior, frowned, and said, “I must have gotten the address wrong.”

“Depends,” I replied. “What are you looking for?”

“An investigator.”

“Nope, you’re in the right place,” I said, looking at his nice suit, shiny shoes, and expensive watch.

“Are you sure? Maybe I should come back later.”

He was clearly trying to make a graceful exit. Before the man could leave, I got up from behind my desk and opened the door to Leo Krushnik’s office. “Leo, there’s someone here to see you.”

“Well,” said the man, who was hesitating behind me, “I’m not really sure that this is the right fit for me.” He was trying to be diplomatic about the condition of our office and what it might say about his own level of desperation that he was here, but we weren’t about to let a potential client go without a fight. His level of desperation was no match for ours.

Leo Krushnik, the head of our little operation, walked around his desk and beamed at the man. “We’re the right fit for anybody,” he said, grasping the man’s hand and giving it a firm shake. “We prefer to keep our overhead low so that we can offer competitive rates to people who need our services, regardless of their personal incomes. Please, have a seat.”

The man sat, a little overwhelmed by Leo’s charm, which is considerable. That day Leo was dressed in linen pants and a simple cotton shirt, as a nod to the heat wave the city was experiencing. He could pull off this look as easily as he pulled off the lie about our rates. We keep our overhead low because this dump on Hastings Street, in the derelict Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, is all we can afford, but clients didn’t need to know that. And even I could admit that the “competitive rates” line sounded good—even true—coming from Leo.

“How can I help you?” Leo asked.

“My name is Ken Barnes, and I’m concerned about my son, Trevor. My ex-wife Cheyenne moved to Salt Spring last year with Trevor and I think she’s gotten into some kind of trouble there. She won’t bring him back to Vancouver and visitation has been difficult.”

Leo frowned. “Because they’re on an island?” Salt Spring wouldn’t be easy to ferry to and from on a regular basis.

“Yes, but that’s not the only reason. She keeps putting off my visits and it’s been difficult to arrange for Trevor to come into Vancouver. I think . . . I think she’s in some kind of cult, to be honest. They call it a commune, but you know those stories about Bountiful?”

“Yes,” said Leo. Everyone knew the stories about Bountiful, British Columbia, where fundamentalist polygamous communities live and proliferate seemingly freely.

“Well, I think it’s something like that. Cheyenne wants to be in some kind of crazy sex cult, sure. She’s not my wife anymore and I really don’t care what she does. But I’m fighting for custody of Trevor. I want him out of there.”

“And you need some ammo.” Leo looks up from his pad, where he’s been taking notes. “You’ve come to the right place, Ken. We’ve done surveillance work for many child-custody cases.” Another lie, but Ken didn’t notice. We’d only done a handful of those, but “many” is relative. “You understand that this won’t be cheap? We’ll have to get out to the island and spend some time gathering information.”

“That’s fine. There’s nothing I won’t pay to get my son out of there. Cheyenne, she . . . well, she struggled with depression and anxiety for years and she let a lot of toxic people into her life who fed on her struggles. It was like a sick downward spiral. When she started doing yoga and got certified as a teacher, I thought she’d changed. But I’m not sure anymore. I know this sounds terrible—I know it does—but I don’t trust her judgment about the people she lets into her life. Especially men.”

“She married you,” Leo said.

“I know, but this is the thing: it’s not about me and her anymore. We’re done. This is about Trevor—and me doing my part as a father, making sure he’s safe. That he has a good life. I just want results.”

“We can’t guarantee results.” This is the first time I’d spoken since the initial exchange. Ken Barnes’s startled gaze meets mine. He’d clearly forgotten I was there, which was not unusual. “Maybe it is a sex cult, maybe it isn’t. All we can do is take a look and document what we find.”

“I know that nothing is certain, but I know my son deserves a healthy, normal life. Whatever they’re doing on that island is not normal. It just isn’t. It’s one step away from homeschooling, and who’s to say they’re not making him do hard labor?”

What is normal, anyway? I didn’t ask Barnes for clarification. I just kept silent as Leo agreed to take his money in exchange for the work. Before he let Barnes go, he pulled him aside. “Nora’s right, Ken, about any sort of guarantee. But what I can say is that if there’s something to find, chances are we will get a sense of it.”

In the next few days, I started the file on Cheyenne Barnes and looked through the information Ken had provided us. “Cheyenne scrubbed her social-media profiles last year,” he explained to me, over the phone. “I thought she was punishing me by erasing the memories and keeping me away from what’s happening with my son, but now that I think about it, there’s something fishy about this whole thing.” So he kept saying.

Cheyenne is smiling in all the photos, and in every single one there is something wistful about her, a faraway look in her eyes. Something that suggests a romantic nature. She’s an instructor for hot yoga, which I thought was stretching for attractive people but later discovered is actually sweaty stretching. Who knew. She’d gone to Salt Spring Island two years ago to work at a yoga retreat and, according to Ken, never came back. She met a man there, a fellow yoga enthusiast, and rebuffed all of Ken’s attempts at reconciliation.

There is very little to be found on Cheyenne Barnes’s new man. He has no social-media profiles of his own, but I did find a picture of him on the Spring Love website. Some people are so attractive it’s almost surreal, and Vikram Sharma is one of them.

Excerpt from In the Grip Of It by Sheena Kamal. Copyright © 2018 by Sheena Kamal. Reproduced with permission from Witness Impulse. All rights reserved.

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About Author Sheena Kamal

SHEENA KAMAL holds an HBA in Political Science from the University of Toronto, and was awarded a TD Canada Trust scholarship for community leadership and activism around the issue of homelessness. Her debut novel, The Lost Ones, was inspired by this and by Kamal’s most recent work as a researcher into crime and investigative journalism for the film and television industry.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow The Tour HERE.

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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.

Author Q&A and Giveaway ~ A Taker Of Morrows by Stephen Paul Sayers

Posted: June 16, 2018 in Adult Fiction, giveaways, horror, Supernatural, thriller
Tags: , , , ,
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A Taker of Morrows
Stephen Paul Sayers
(Caretakers, #1)
Publication date: June 15th 2018
Genres: Adult, Horror, Supernatural, Thriller

RG Granville has his whole life in front of him…but only twenty-four hours to live it.

Beyond life’s boundaries, an enduring battle between good and evil determines the fate of earthly souls. Here, ‘caretakers’ guard and protect against the evil and vengeful ‘jumpers’ who slip back and forth between worlds to prey upon the living.

For one man, news of his impending demise sets off a deadly chain of events fueled by a jumper’s burning vengeance. Now he’s in a race against time to stop an unrelenting evil unleashed upon the earth. And if he’s to protect his family, and the world, he must breach the tenuous boundary between life and death to confront a killer—and a shocking secret from his long-buried past.

Goodreads / Amazon

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

“Hello, Robert.” The stranger advanced toward him. “You’re late.”

RG steadied himself against the entryway table as his heart lurched in his chest, the air thickening like a smothering rag over his face. With gradual boldness, he slid his arm against the wall and triggered the light switch. “What the hell—?”

“I feared we’d missed each other,” the man interrupted. “That would have been a shame. You see, we have a problem to discuss.” His face hardened as he stepped forward, shoes clicking on the hardwood floor.

RG’s pulse quickened. “Who are you?”

“I wish I didn’t have to be here, Robert.” The stranger unfolded his hands from behind his back and stepped forward, “but I have a job to do.”

As the man advanced, RG backpedaled, snatching the old-school, wooden baseball bat stashed behind the coat rack. He never imagined grabbing the lumber for anything other than Tuesday night softball, but now found himself flapping it back and forth in a hardwood batter’s box.

The man took another step. “Death has come for you,” he said, shaking his head, “and no Louisville Slugger will stop it.”

~~~~~

Q&A with Stephen Paul Sayers, author of A Taker of Morrows

 

Q: What’s your new novel, A Taker of Morrows, about?

A: It’s about a man who’s visited by a stranger, who tells him he’s got twenty-four hours to live. You see, deaths are scheduled and schedules must be kept. In his desperate attempt to stay alive, he discovers the world isn’t what he thought it was, that it’s actually a battleground between the forces of good and evil from the afterlife, a place where ‘caretakers’ protect earthly souls and ‘jumpers’ prey on them…and now he’s become the prey. And if he’s to keep himself and his family alive, he must straddle the boundary between worlds and face the secrets of his past.

In a broader sense, it’s really a story about the nature of life and death, and the eternal price paid for what we carry in our souls.

 

Q: What inspired you to be a writer?

A: I never set out to be a writer, but after a challenge from my daughter, Kaylee, I decided to write her a novel. I figured I’d write something for her, give it to her some holiday or birthday, and it would collect dust on her bookshelf. But when I started writing, a switch turned on inside me, something I’d never felt before, igniting a passion I didn’t know I had. It helped me finally figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up.

But more importantly, it has solidified a real bond between my daughter and me. She’s an amazing writer who has a full length novel under her belt at age seventeen. We now have this shared thing we do together. We talk about story ideas, read each other’s work. She gave me this great idea in A Taker of Morrows that became a key to the series in my opinion. So, she’s my inspiration.

 

Q: Why do you write in the genre that you do?

A: My brother and I watched horror movies all the time when we were kids. I think the 70s and 80s were a golden age of horror movies – and we got really into it. That’s also when I discovered Stephen King, and I read just about everything he wrote. That was my base, and no matter what different literary roads I may travel, I always veer back into the genre. Even the horror books I read today transport me back to childhood and reignite those feelings again.

 

Q: What do you enjoy reading and who are your favorite authors?

A: I have so many authors I love reading in so many genres. I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and Peter Straub, so I got a good horror base. I’m also a big fan of a new generation of horror writers, Joe Hill, Paul Cornell, J. Lincoln Fenn, and Paul Tremblay, so I definitely get my fill. I also love writers of suspense and thrillers, especially Jo Nesbo, Dennis LeHane and Randy Wayne White. I’ve recently discovered Melissa Lenhardt’s “Jack McBride” mystery series, which sort of borders on chick lit, and yet I really like it. So, bottom line, I read just about anything.

 

Q: What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

A: Horror and thriller fiction should be entertaining, number one. I want readers of my work to feel as if the time spent between the pages was a good investment. If they can escape from their world for a few hours, connect to my characters, and feel like they’ve made some friends they’re going to miss when they turn the final page, then I’ve done my job.

 

Q: On a lighter note, what are the top five things on your bucket list?

A: Hopefully, I’m not in ‘bucket list’ territory yet, but here goes:

  1. Cage dive with the Cape Cod great white sharks
  2. Stroll across the Abbey Road crosswalk
  3. Drive to Graceland in an RV
  4. Own a 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible
  5. Gain the advantage over my Gibson SG

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Author Stephen Paul Sayers

Stephen Paul Sayers grew up on the sands of Cape Cod and spent his first thirty-five years in New England before joining the University of Missouri as a research professor. When he’s not in his laboratory, he spends his time writing and devouring his favorite forms of genre fiction—horror, suspense, and thrillers. His short fiction has appeared in Unfading Daydream. A Taker of Morrows is his debut novel and the first in the planned Caretakers series.

Throughout his journey, he has accumulated five guitars, four herniated discs, three academic degrees, two dogs, and one wife, son, and daughter. He divides his time between Columbia, Missouri and Cape Cod writing and teaching.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

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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.

Golden Skies by Juan Zapata ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: June 15, 2018 in giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: , ,
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GOLDEN SKIES banner

Golden Skies

by Author Juan Zapata

GOLDEN SKIES cover

Pub. Date: June 12, 2018

Publisher: Owl Hollow Press

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

Synopsis

A man-god and his army of religious zealots swarmed the South nine years ago. As a child, Malik watched severed heads falling, blood spurting onto concrete, and his dear grandfather run through by a black sword.

But there’s peace…somewhere. At least that’s what Malik tells himself as his body is ripped apart by whips at a religious conversion camp. That’s what his best friend whispers as he frantically creates new force jetpacks to rescue Malik.

Yet when war bursts through the skies, and the sky troopers, assassins, and heroes fall—when the world comes crashing down—Malik Zzoha stands strong amidst the sands, infidel of the state number one.

Golden Skies is the first book in the The New Order trilogy.

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Check out the excerpt:

People on either side of us gave wary glances, whispering amongst themselves. Some recognized me as Mujadin’s son. Those that knew me wore sympathetic faces, for they knew I was nothing like the monster on that platform. I stared straight ahead. From our vantage point, it seemed as if we were on the other side of the world, yet my father’s stage towered straight above us in mere seconds. Guards delivered us to a concrete stairwell. Kafed and Eliza were forced to climb up first and were taken off to the side, close to my father. My father’s men pushed me toward the steps.

I turned back fiercely to the soldier behind me but came face to face with five assault rifles. I turned away and stormed up the steps, my body tense as a snake ready to spring, and stepped directly in front of my father.

Mujadin surveyed me keenly, his black eyes narrowed and calculating. He shook his head. “Your insolence never ceases to astound me, boy.”

“Your barbarity likewise.”

Vibrant pain bolted across my face as his fist connected, the force from the blow causing me to swing back and meet the concrete ground. I gritted my teeth, unsurprised. I expected nothing less from such a base man.

“You stupid ass! How dare you insult me? Have the fiends of this desert possessed you? Defiant, blasphemous child!”

My hands clenched. “But I’m no murderer, and I’m no savage, you pious moro—”

Mujadin struck my face again and seized me by the shirt, my eyes blurring with tears. “I do everything for Safad! In his name! Carrying out executions to lawbreakers is sanctified and holy. You will understand this, Malik. You will see his graceful light and be purified!”

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About Juan:

GOLDEN SKIES author

​I’m a presidential scholar, residential assistant, and senior at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University. I endeavor to become a police officer and join a federal agency in the future.

​When I’m not writing I like to play For Honor and pretend I’m a knight, laughing with happiness at my victories and then almost having aneurisms when defeated. Challenge me to a duel anytime 😀

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of GOLDEN SKIES, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow the tour:

Week One:

6/11/2018- Mythical Books– Guest Post

6/12/2018- Kati’s Bookaholic Rambling Reviews– Excerpt

6/13/2018- RhythmicBooktrovert– Spotlight

6/14/2018- BookHounds– Interview

6/15/2018- FUONLYKNEW– Spotlight

Week Two:

6/18/2018- Book-o-Craze– Excerpt

6/19/2018- Two Chicks on Books– Interview

6/20/2018- Parajunkee– Excerpt

6/21/2018- Sincerely Karen Jo– Excerpt

6/22/2018- Jaime’s World– 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.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Not For Me by Kat de Falla ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: June 14, 2018 in giveaways, Romance
Tags: , ,
50

NOT FOR ME banner

Not For Me

The Windy City Chronicles #1

by Kat de Falla

NOT FOR ME cover

Pub. Date: May 24, 2018

Publisher: Kat de Falla

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

Synopsis

Manda Wolfgram is a struggling literary agent who is looking for the perfect manuscript to land in her lap and the perfect man to land in her bed. When the sixth-floor hottie finally asks her out, she gets more than she bargained for. How can a girl wrap her brain around a Shakespearean actor who writes erotica?

Harry Sackes leads a double life: making a career as an author by day and dipping into the dark underworld of criminals at night. The moment he sees Manda in his twin brother’s arms, his whole life becomes his personal Shakespearean trag-comedy of mistaken identity and unrequited love in this fast-paced chick lit romance.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Women should meet men at balls, not bars.

The doors opened, jolting me from my British Renaissance daydream enough to step inside the claustrophobia-inducing metal box. The doors started to close when a series of rapid clicks and heavy footsteps pounded toward the elevator. A deep voice yelled, “Hi ya, George! Hey, can you hold the elevator?”

I knew that voice. Oh no!

With a jerk forward, I managed to hit the little button with two outward pointing arrows. A hand appeared in between the doors to stop them from shutting. The doors reopened. My throat seized shut, and time froze.

The sixth-floor hottie!

Every time we passed, I couldn’t form a coherent sentence. My brain cells deserted me when his male perfection entered my personal space. The last time we passed in the lobby, it was summer and Beefer sniffed his golden’s butt to my utter mortification. I think I mumbled “I’m sorry” and fled in horror.

Today I will form words!

Emboldened, I stood taller and began to formulate a witty question. My cheeks burned while I resisted the urge to gawk. He was bundled up in a winter coat and heavy boots, holding a bag of groceries and wearing an ushanka winter hat that covered most of his face. But it was him. I knew for sure because of the dog.

Instructing myself to take deep breaths, I vowed I’d say something funny and interesting. I was a literary agent for crying out loud! I lived in a world of words. But then I caught a whiff of him: masculine and heavy, like black pepper and tangerines with a splash of the fresh cool, Lake Michigan wind. After that, all words eluded me. Blank. I had nothing.

“Thanks for holding the door.” He spoke. To me. And in the most polite manner, his hint of a smile melting my insides like hot chocolate after a winter snowball fight.

The elevator slid shut. I stole a sideways glance, and his gray-green eyes locked on mine for a fraction of a second too long.

I jerked my head toward the front of the elevator again, swallowing copious amounts of saliva. Great, I’m about to drool over this guy for real!

He reached across and hit the buttons for the sixth and eighth floors. He raised one eyebrow. “Eight, right?”

I nodded like an idiot from my stupor, wishing I could channel chameleon superpowers and melt into the wall.

Hold up! He knows what floor I live on?

Trying to focus on something else, I watched his waggy-tailed golden retriever, who had pranced into the confined space and planted its furry backside right next to its owner.

He pulled a flask from his jacket and unscrewed the cap. After taking a swig, he held the bottle out to me.

I couldn’t do anything but give him a confused expression. The elevator stopped at four, but the hall was empty. I risked a look inside his paper bag. A stalk of celery was sticking out next to a nudie magazine. My precious sixth-floor hottie was hot all right…a hot mess.

“So no?” He calmly covered his flask and put it away. “Oh, Desdemona, if only she knew ‘I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking.’” He mumbled the whole thing while patting his dog on the head.

Who the heck was this guy? Quietly quoting Shakespeare but drinking from a flask in an elevator with a girlie magazine in his grocery bag? I mean, where was the guy I saw this summer out for a run? The guy whose T-shirt was sticking to him in all the right places? The guy with the defined shoulders and rippled abs that made me want to ski up and down their slopes?

“What’s your name, big guy?”

Beefer puffed out his chest to be macho and sat up nice and tall while the sixth-floor hottie scratched his chin.

“His name is Beefer,” I answered, realizing how uncool his name was compared to Othello’s Venetian debutante. “Desdemona?” I said it out loud because I still couldn’t believe it.

“Nobody gets the reference. No worries.”

The elevator opened on the sixth floor, and he stepped out.

“Shakespeare’s Othello,” I said without a moment’s hesitation. “I’m…I’m a literary agent.”

He turned quickly and stuck his hand in the other pocket of his coat. His eyes brightened, and one corner of his mouth lifted in a half smile as the door began to close. He stuck his arm inside, risking bodily injury, and the door shut on his outstretched hand.

He dropped something.

The door opened all the way back up as a safety precaution, and I bent down to pick up the piece of paper. Now it was my turn to force the elevator into an indecisive pattern. I stuck my head out into the hallway and followed the direction of Desdemona’s wagging tail. “Hey, you dropped this.”

“It’s for you. If you really like Shakespeare, come see me,” he stopped walking and looked over his shoulder.

I looked down to find a ticket for Romeo and Juliet at Navy Pier for today!

~~~~~

About Kat:

NOT FOR ME author

Kat was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she learned to roller skate, ride a banana seat bike, and love Shakespeare. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is happily employed as a retail pharmacist. She is married to her soul mate, composer Lee de Falla and raising four kids together ala the Brady Bunch. The Seer’s Lover was Kat’s first book and she is working feverishly on four different series at the moment!

Register for her newsletter to learn about her upcoming projects  and find out about deals and giveaways at http://eepurl.com/MFZ55

Kat is so much an extravert that she has come full circle and enjoys her alone time as much as her social adventures. Connect with Kat (who does indeed love cats!)

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Details:

One lucky winner will receive a $25Amazon gift card, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Participants

Week One:

6/11/2018- Cindy’s Love of Books– Review

6/11/2018- To Be Read– Review

6/12/2018- Don’t Judge, Read– Review

6/12/2018- Eating Between the Lines Inc– Review

6/13/2018- The BookWorm Drinketh– Review

6/13/2018- Mythical Books– Guest Post

6/14/2018- The Layaway Dragon– Spotlight

6/14/2018- FUONLYKNEW– Spotlight

6/15/2018- The Book Girl– Review

6/15/2018- Lisa Loves Literature– Interview

Week Two:

6/18/2018- TheHufflepuffNerdette– Review

6/18/2018- Love in a time of Feminism– Excerpt

6/19/2018- BookHounds YA– Review

6/19/2018- Confessions of a YA Reader– Excerpt

6/20/2018- Wonder Struck– Spotlight

6/20/2018- A Gingerly Review– Excerpt

6/21/2018- Sweet Southern Home– Excerpt

6/21/2018- Two Chicks on Books– Interview

6/22/2018- Books a Plenty Book Reviews– Spotlight

6/22/2018- Parajunkee– Excerpt

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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.

Book Tour and Giveaway ~ Cusp Of Night by Mae Clair

Posted: June 14, 2018 in giveaways, suspense, thriller
Tags: , ,
28
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CUSP OF NIGHT
Hode’s Hill #1
by Mae Clair
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Pub Date: 6/12/2018
 
The truth hides in dark places…
Recently settled in Hode’s Hill,
Pennsylvania, Maya Sinclair is enthralled by the town’s folklore,
especially the legend about a centuries-old monster. A devil-like
creature with uncanny abilities responsible for several horrific
murders, the Fiend has evolved into the stuff of urban myth. But the
past lives again when Maya witnesses an assault during the annual
“Fiend Fest.” The victim is developer Leland Hode, patriarch of
the town’s most powerful family, and he was attacked by someone
dressed like the Fiend.
Compelled to discover who is behind the
attack and why, Maya uncovers a shortlist of enemies of the Hode
clan. The mystery deepens when she finds the journal of a late
nineteenth-century spiritualist who once lived in Maya’s house—a
woman whose ghost may still linger. Known as the Blue Lady of Hode’s
Hill due to a genetic condition, Lucinda Glass vanished without a
trace and was believed to be one of the Fiend’s tragic victims. The
disappearance of a young couple, combined with more sightings of the
monster, trigger Maya to join forces with Leland’s son Collin. But
the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she comes to a hidden
world of twisted secrets, insanity, and evil that refuses to die…
Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s
Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her
father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create
make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer
nights beneath the stars.
Mae loves creating character-driven
fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever
her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and
elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives
in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a
good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

~~~~~

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.

Where Have All The Elves Gone? ~ Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted: June 12, 2018 in giveaways, urban fantasy
Tags: , ,
31
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Where Have All the Elves Gone?
By Christian Warren Freed
Genre: Urban Fantasy
 
Everyone knows Elves don’t exist. Or do they? Daniel Thomas spent years
making a career of turning his imagination into the reality of best
selling fantasy novels. But times are tough. No one wants to read
about elves and dragons anymore. Daniel learns this firsthand when
his agent flatly says no to his latest and, what he deems, to be
greatest novel yet. Dissatisfied with the turn to zombies and vampire
lovers, he takes his manuscript and heads out to confront his agent. 

 

His world changes when he finds his agent dying on the floor of her
office. Too late to help, he watches as her dead body disintegrates
into a pile of ash and dust. Daniel doesn’t have time to ponder
what just happened as a band of assassins breaks in, forcing him to
flee to the Citadel and the home of the king of the high elves in
order to survive. Daniel soon discovers that all of the creatures he
once thought he imagined actually exist and are living among us. His
revelation comes at a price however, as he is drawn into a
murder-mystery that will push him to the edge of sanity and show him
things no human has witnessed in centuries. 
 
 
Christian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y. more years ago than he would like
to remember. After spending more than 20 years in the active duty US
Army he has turned his talents to writing. Since retiring, he has
gone on to publish 17 military fantasy and science fiction novels, as
well as his memoirs from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan. His first
published book (Hammers in the Wind) has been the #1 free book on
Kindle 4 times and he holds a fancy certificate from the L Ron
Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest.
Passionate about history, he combines his knowledge of the past with
modern military tactics to create an engaging, quasi-realistic world for the
readers. He graduated from Campbell University with a degree in
history and is pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in Military History
from Norwich University. He currently lives outside of Raleigh, N.C.
and devotes his time to writing, his family, and their two Bernese
Mountain Dogs. If you drive by you might just find him on the porch
with a cigar in one hand and a pen in the other.
 
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

~~~~~

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.

Book Tour Grand Finale and Giveaway ~ Miss White And The Seventh Heir

Posted: June 11, 2018 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: ,
6


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Miss White and the Seventh Heir
By Jennifer Faye

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch – Note from the Author

Hi. 🙂 Welcome to the blog tour for the second book in my ONCE UPON A FAIRYTALE duet. Trey and Sage’s story is loosely based on another of my favorite fairytales, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs…

Thoughts of a Blonde – Excerpt

ELSA WHITE STOOD before the window of her stylish Manhattan office adorned with black furnishings and gold trim. It wasn’t just any office building. It was a skyscraper owned by White Publishing. And Elsa’s office was on the top floor. She enjoyed looking down upon the rest of the world.

From her office window, the people below looked like peons—small and inconsequential. She smiled, knowing she was so much better than them. She had money, lots of money, and a powerful reach. She was forever finding ways to make her presence in publishing even greater—legal or illegal, it made no difference to her.

Jorie Loves A Story – Review

“The parts that make you smile the most is when each of them sees something that either humbles or surprises them about the other whilst finding that the longer they spend time with each other the more muddling things become as they are each spending an inordinate time contemplating each other!

…Faye loves to write strong heroines and heroes who are saving their own lives!”

It’s All About the Romance – Excerpt

Knock. Knock.

Sage stood and smoothed her navy skirt down over her thighs. She then ran a hand over her hair, making sure the long dark strands weren’t out of place. She didn’t know why she was making such a fuss. It wasn’t like she was the one being interviewed.

She came around her desk and opened the door. She had to crane her neck in order to smile up at him. From behind a pair of dark-rimmed glasses his dark gaze met hers, but she was unable to read anything in his eyes. A man of mystery. She was intrigued.

She held out her hand. “Hello. My name’s Sage White.”

Rockin’ Book Reviews – Review

“Although everybody knows the outcome of this tale, the characters are unique and the added twists” are engaging! It is a refreshing change to a well-read tale.

The characters are very real, the scenes easily visualized, and the adventure steadily increases and “draws the reader into the tale”.The Book Cover image and Title are both “well-fitted” to this story.

I offer a Five Stars rating.”

Andi’s Book Reviews – Excerpt

With evening setting in, Trey continued running—pushing himself. After bumping heads with Sage most of the afternoon, he was filled with pent-up energy. That woman was so frustrating and yet so enticing. He couldn’t decide whether he wanted to yell at her or pull her into his arms and kiss her.

He let out a frustrated groan as he slowed to a walk a block from his condo. The sooner he got the information he’d come to QTR for, the better. Ever since he’d stepped inside the office, everything had grown increasingly complicated.

The shrubbery next to him shook. He came to a stop. There was no wind to explain the sudden rush of motion. It was probably a squirrel. He was about to move on when he heard a high-pitched whine. Or was it a bark. Could there be a dog in there?

Bri’s Book Nook – Review

“The plot was fast moving and told from the POV of Trey, Sage, and Sage’s stepmother Elsa. . . . The world-building was also unique, as I found myself enjoying the description of the gala, the chateau, and even the office. This novel definitely didn’t just focus on the romance and forget the rest of the story. Everything flowed smoothly…

…For a short book, everything was done in a nice and orderly fashion. I had nothing to complain about.”

Stacking My Book Shelves! – Excerpt

“I’ve been waiting for you. I have news.” Sage stopped in her tracks. A ball of white fur was sticking out from under Trey’s arm. “What is that?”

He turned to her. His hair was scattered. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and his tie was stuffed in his pocket. “It’s more like who is this?”

She frowned at him. “I’m not playing games. Is that a dog?”

Trey nodded. “I can explain—”

“You can’t have a dog in here.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

Two Points of Interest – Review

“This modern-day retelling of Snow White was a fun read. Both Sage and Trey are dealing with their own issues with trust, parents, and “abandonment”. They have trouble trusting each other. . . . Overall, it was an enjoyable book and I can’t wait to read more books by the author.”

E-Romance News – Excerpt

“His name. We’ll call him Happy.”

“Really?” Trey’s gaze moved from Sage to the dog, whose tail picked up speed. “I guess it fits.” Staring at the dog, he asked, “Would you like the name Happy?”

Arf! Arf!

Sage laughed. “I think he agrees.”

Inside The Mind of an Avid Reader – Review

“This book is sweet and intriguing. I loved the journey of catching Elsa in her evil ways. This modern Day Snow White story is worth the couple hours it will take you to read it!”

Becky on Books – Excerpt

Trey laughed. “You had a pet rat?”

“What’s so funny about that?” she asked with a perfectly straight face.

He subdued his amusement. “Nothing. It’s just that you never cease to surprise me.”

“I also had fish, a bunny—” she paused as though to think about it “—a hamster and a guinea pig.”

“You had a very interesting childhood.”

He didn’t want to stop driving. This was the first time Sage had let down her guard with him and he liked it. She was a lot different outside the office—more relaxed and much more approachable.

Christian Chick’s Thoughts – Spotlight

underneath the covers – Excerpt

Sage pressed a hand to his arm. “Are you okay?”

Trey pushed away the troubling thoughts. “Of course. Why do you ask?”

“Because we’ve arrived at the hotel and you haven’t gotten out of the car.”

He glanced out the window at Cannes’ finest hotel. When he was a child he imagined this place was a palace and a rich king lived within its walls. Other times, he would pretend his father lived there, taking care of important business, and that one day he’d return home. But in truth, his father never stayed at this hotel that he knew of and his father never came home.

Trey choked down the unwanted rush of emotions. “I think I’m just tired. I can’t sleep on planes.”

Book by Book – Review

“If you’re in need of a fun, contemporary romance to read this summer, Jennifer Faye’s Miss White and the Seventh Heir could be the perfect choice for you. . . . Though it’s not entirely unpredictable, Miss White and the Seventh Heirkept me entertained from start to finish, and I enjoyed it.”

Wishful Endings – Review

“MISS WHITE AND THE SEVENTH HEIR is a modern twist on the classic fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It’s a light, fun romance with plenty of nods to the classic tale. For sweet romance readers who like their romance on the lighter side with a little heat, this one is for you.”

Simply Kelina – Review

“I loved how both Sage and Quentin have family issues they are working through, which in turn leads them to pushing away from each other. I also love how they meet at work. This was a really fun and fluffy read. It even involves something for our animal lovers.”

Teatime and Books – Excerpt

Her pulse quickened and she wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Before now, they’d always been at work where there was a constant string of people in and out of her office. There was no time for indulging in a kiss.

But tonight, all bets were off. She assured herself that exhaustion was playing with her mind. As she continued to stare at him, she knew she wasn’t alone with these wayward thoughts.

Bookworm Lisa – Review

“I loved that the characters are flawed and working to do and be better. This book is easy to read and enjoy. The romance isn’t rushed, it begins as a reluctant friendship. The friendship is one of the highlights of the book. The characters how that positive relationships lead to a happy and productive life.

I enjoyed my time in this book. I give it a high recommendation.”

Deal Sharing Aunt – Review

“What a great fairy tale retelling. There are so many retellings out there that it is hard for me to give any a 5, unless they truly deserve it. They have to be different, have their own plot, be in their own time period and still have all the original things I remember form the original tale. This story has all those things.”

Don’t forget to grab a free bookmark and enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…

Freebie

Grab a FREE Miss White and the Seventh Heir (Once Upon A Fairytale) Bookmark!
NOTE: A big apology but due to postal fees the freebies are only available to continental U.S. residents.

All you have to do is go to Jennifer’s Contact Page and let her know your physical mailing address.
NOTE: Please state the quantity you desire and which bookmarks/titles you are interested in.

And remember you can order extra to share with your favorite bookstore, library and family/friends. 🙂

Miss White and the Seventh Heir
(Once Upon a Fairytale #2)
By Jennifer Faye
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 256 pages
June 1st 2018 by Harlequin Romance
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble
Book Depository│Harlequin│iBooks│Kobo

A billionaire with a secret…

Can the truth lead to happily-ever-after?

In this Once Upon a Fairytale story, hardworking magazine editor Sage White’s just getting used to being in charge, so she’s alarmed to find sparks flying with her new assistant—the distractingly handsome Trey! Working together, they grow closer, but can their blossoming relationship survive when Sage learns that Trey is really Quentin Rousseau, seventh heir to the publishing empire—and her boss?

Other Books in the Series

Beauty and Her Boss
(Once Upon a Fairytale #1)
by Jennifer Faye
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 256 pages
March 1st 2018 by Harlequin Romance
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble
Book Depository│Harlequin│iBooks│Kobo

An innocent beauty, a scarred hero…

Could she be the one to open up his heart?

Handsome but guarded former Hollywood star Deacon Santoro prefers the confines of his mansion since an accident left him scarred both inside and out. But he promised to protect sparky beauty Gabrielle Dupre, his new PA. Can Gabrielle convince Deacon that love will give them the fairy-tale ending they deserve?

About the Author

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Google+│Pinterest│YouTube│Klout

Tour Giveaway

– 1 winner will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card, autographed copy of BEAUTY & HER BOSS (Once Upon a Fairytale, book 1), Lindt Lindor assorted chocolate truffles, Lindt Salted Caramel bar, Whoppers, Reese’s Pieces, candle, flower kit, book magnet, pen, and bookmarks
– US only
– Ends June 13th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grab Our Button!

~~~~~

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.

Book Tour Grand Finale and Giveaway ~ A Cowboy Of Convenience

Posted: June 9, 2018 in giveaways, Historical, Romance, Uncategorized
Tags: ,
4


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for

.
A Cowboy of Convenience

.
By Stacy Henrie

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch – Note from the Author

While A COWBOY OF CONVIENCE is my sixth Love Inspired Historical novel, it has the distinction of also being my first full-length marriage of convenience story—and my first book to feature dude ranching! I read about the history of dude ranches while trying to come up with the idea for this story and found it so fascinating I decided to make these ranches a central part of the plot and setting for my story…

The Power of Words – Review

“For sweet romance that entertains and inspires, Stacy Henrie is an excellent author, always consistent, and I’ve loved everyone of her books that I’ve read so far. The Sheridan Sweethearts series especially strikes a chord with me, and A Cowboy of Convenience has the perfect balance of rich characterization, historical detail, emotion, and inspiration.”

Kathryn Cooper Writes – Review

“I love this book! I felt the emotions of the characters as I went through the story with them. There were many different parts to the characters’ story that blended so well together. I happily woke up early in the morning just to read this book!..

If you enjoy reading romance that is clean and sweet then A Cowboy of Convenienceis the book for you! It is full of trials, sadness, joys, and love. It is another great Christian Love Inspired Historical read.”

Jen Around the World – Review

“I really loved this book. It is the first one I have read by author Stacy Henrie — and now, I cannot wait to read the other books in this series…

If you want a quick read (because I could not put this book down), be sure and grab a copy and enter the giveaway going on!”

Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Review

“Henrie has found her niche writing Westerns and this sweet historical romance is fantastic! The characters are so likable, hardworking, and have hardships to overcome, making them realistic…

These are the types of characters who come full circle and steal your heart in the process…”

Moments – Review & Excerpt

“This is such a sweet romance, clean and inspiring, which is the kind I enjoy reading! Stacy does a great job with writing about the characters and how their interactions and relationship grows and changes as the book progresses. Vienna and West are both characters whom are easy to connect with and love; I was rooting for them both immediately upon starting this book. I highly recommend this book and really this series!”

“Howdy, Sheriff. What can we do for you?”

“Howdy, McCall.” The sheriff smiled back. “I’m here to speak to Mrs. Howe.”

West glanced at her, his expression and honey-brown eyes as wary as the emotion now churning in Vienna’s stomach. “Everything all right?”

“Not to worry, son,” the sheriff said, turning back to her. “But I’m afraid I need to speak with Mrs. Howe in private.”

Among the Reads – Review

“Author Stacy Henrie sends him on a touching journey of learning the truth about who God is…

I loved the way that Vienna has grown from the last time we saw her in The Rancher’s Temporary Engagement…

Vienna’s daughter, Hattie, is too cute for words. I love that she has a doll named Hattie and wants to name a horse by her own name as well. West’s love for Hattie, and her love for “Daddy West” is so very sweet!”

Books n Baubles – Review

“I really loved this book, I honestly couldn’t put it down! I;ll be honest and say there were a couple times I wanted to smack either Vienna or Wes but I’m very happy with the way everything ended up. overall the characters were likable and I really felt like I was there on the ranch with them.”

Christian Chick’s Thoughts – Review

“Of course, there’s never any doubt that Vienna and West’s marriage of convenience will turn real, but in this case, the joy is in the journey. . . . As Vienna and West spend time together, their relationship grows into a deep friendship and then to love. So basically, this is both a marriage of convenience AND friends to lovers novel … what more could you ask for?”

Tell Tale Book Reviews – Review

“I really enjoyed A Cowboy Of Concenience, it gave me more pause to think than the average Love Inspired Historical, and I’d recommend it and Stacy Henrie’s previous books to anyone who enjoys Love Inspired Historical romances.”

cherylbbookblog – Review

“This is such a wonderful story. I loved reading Vienna’s and West’s story.”

Jorie Loves A Story – Review

“Henrie gives her readers a ready emotional connection to her characters – something I truly appreciate by any author, as it anchours you straight into the drama!..

She has a calmness in her words and I liked how she choose to phrase her narrative’s descriptions which both reflected the introspective nature of her story and the gentleness of an INSPY novel.”

Singing Librarian Books – Review

“Henrie’s story is filled with delightful and relatable characters, as she shows not only the struggles, but the life of hardworking people, and of course a sweet love story too that readers will find absolutely enjoyable…

…A heartwarming, inspiring, and entertaining story, readers will absolutely not want to put this charming and enchanting story down.”

Britt Reads Fiction – Review

“If you enjoy marriage of convenience stories, like I definitely do, then A Cowboy of Convenience is a sweet tale that you will want to pick up for yourself!..

…This was the first book that I have read by this author, but I look forward to reading more in the future.”

Book by Book – Excerpt

West threw another glance in the direction Vienna had gone on her walk. He’d wanted to press her for information about the sheriff’s news, but the pensive look on her pretty face when she’d exited the house had told him that she needed some time to herself first.

This undercurrent of protectiveness for Vienna wasn’t new, and it had only grown stronger when she’d come to live at the Running W three years ago—and then when West had learned her scoundrel of a husband was bound for prison. And now that protective instinct included taking care of her daughter whom he held firmly in place on the fence post next to him.

Rockin’ Book Reviews – Review

“This Historical Romance in the setting of the early West, will delight most any reader…

The characters are very endearing, the “Little House on the Prairie”-style drama is delightful. The scenes are portrayed well, they writing of the entire story was done well!”

Reading Is My SuperPower – Review

“If you love cowboys, marriages-of-convenience, friends-to-more and adorable little girls, then A Cowboy of Convenience should be a must-read for you! Henrie once again creates a story that is equal parts endearing and swoonworthy – with characters who quickly feel like friends. I’m sad to see this imprint closing, but i hope Henrie will bring us back to Sheridan at some point anyway – at least once more!”

Brooke Blogs – Review & Excerpt

“A Cowboy of Convenience by Stacy Henrie is an inspirational historical romance that had my heart pitter-pattering from the start…

If you like a sweet story with honorable characters, this is a perfect romance to enjoy.”

“Mommy, there’s a new horsie, and I want to name her Hattie. And my feet weren’t bein’ quiet so I had to shush them. Like this.” Vienna’s daughter repeated the shushing action, her narrowed gaze on her black shoes.

A faint smile lifted her mother’s lips. “That’s wonderful you’re learning to be quiet around the horses, Hattie.”

“Mr. West teached me.”

Vienna looked at West, a mixture of appreciation and regret in those beautiful green eyes. They reminded him of a pair of jade earrings his mother used to wear. The color of the stones mirrored the exact shade of Vienna’s eyes.

Remembrancy – Review

“Vienna Howe was introduced in Stacy Henrie’s The Rancher’s Temporary Engagement (see below for details on that read), and I really enjoyed getting to read her story…

Henry shares some history of the concept of a dude ranch in A Cowboy of Convenience, including those credited with starting the first one and a little history, but the meat of this story is in Vienna’s hidden strength and the push and pull between her and West. And of course, little Hattie who adds so much adorableness, you can’t help but grin when she steals a scene.”

Heidi Reads… – Review

“There is a wonderful sense of anticipation throughout the book as we wait for West and Vienna to work up the courage to share their deepening feelings with each other. This is a lovely marriage of convenience story because they are already good friends with each other and have several years of built up trust behind them. . . . I loved the setting and characters, especially cute Hattie and Vienna’s friend Maggy from the previous book in the series.”

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…

A Cowboy of Convenience
(Sheridan Sweethearts #2)
By Stacy Henrie
Inspirational Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 Pages
June 1st 2018 by Love Inspired Historical

Groom by Agreement

A real home–it’s what Vienna Howe dearly wants for her young daughter. Yet the ramshackle property she just inherited hardly qualifies. She can’t afford the repairs–until foreman West McCall suggests they start a dude ranch together. For propriety’s sake, they’ll need a marriage in name only…a practical solution for two wary hearts.

Years ago, West convinced Vienna to marry a man of means, never realizing how cruel her husband could be. Guilt-ridden, he intends to secure the lovely widow’s future. But despite his reluctance to get close to anyone, this union might do more than fix Vienna’s ranch. It could open the door to a warm, loving future…

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│iBooks│GooglePlay

Other Books in the Series

The Rancher’s Temporary Engagement
(Sheridan Sweethearts #1)
By Stacy Henrie
Inspirational Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 Pages
February 1st 2018 by Love Inspired Historical

Undercover Fiancée

The Pinkerton agent that Edward Kent hired is intelligent, capable—and unexpectedly female! Though shocked to learn that Maggy Worthing will be investigating the threats to his Wyoming horse ranch, Edward needs to find the culprit. And if that means a temporary engagement to give Maggy a cover story, he’ll play along with the feisty detective.

Maggy always gets her man—at least when it comes to solving crimes. The young widow refuses to marry again and land under another husband’s thumb. Unmasking Edward’s enemies will earn her a longed-for promotion…but the heart has its own mysteries. Could working together with the handsome English aristocrat spark a real and loving partnership?

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│iBooks│GooglePlay

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Stacy Henrie is the author of western romances and the Of Love and War series, which includes Hope at Dawn, a 2015 RITA Award finalist for excellence in romance. She was born and raised in the West, where she currently resides with her family. She enjoys reading, road trips, interior decorating, chocolate, and most of all, laughing with her husband and kids.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Pinterest

Tour Giveaway

– 1 winner will receive a $40 Amazon e-gift card (open internationally)
– 1 winner will receive a signed print copy of THE RANCER’S TEMPORARY ENAGEMENT (US only)
– Ends June 13th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grab Our Button!

~~~~~

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.

One for your summer reading list ~ Beachboy Murder ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: June 8, 2018 in giveaways, Mystery
Tags: , ,
15

beach boy banner

This sounds like a fun one for the summer reading list.

The title and cover are so fun.

Be sure to check out the excerpt and teaser.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Beachboy Murder

A Gabby LeClair Aloha Lagoon Mystery

by Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens

beach boy cover

Genre: Mystery

Synopsis

Just as travel agent turned reluctant sleuth Gabby LeClair is starting to gain some of the Aloha spirit, a business consortium from Chicago breezes into the Aloha Lagoon resort and offers to buy her business. The offer is tempting…but so is hot helicopter pilot Rick Dawson, making it a difficult decision. One that becomes even more complicated when a dead body is discovered in Gabby’s backyard, and she’s suddenly thrust in the middle of a murder investigation!

The dead man is a former beachboy attendant from the island. With a trail of broken hearts—not to mention jealous rivals—leading up to the beachboy, Gabby tries to uncover just who had it in for the late lothario. Is the female of the species really more deadly than the male? Or has the beachboy scorned one too many women for some other man’s liking?

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Check out this peek inside:

Detective Ray wasn’t on my list of top guys on the island. I’d had a drawn-out encounter with him the summer before. He was brusque and all business when he was working. I’d never interacted with him socially, so as far as I knew that was the way he was all the time.

He touched the brim of his straw skimmer. If it had been any other man, I would’ve thought the gesture charming, but on just-the-facts-ma’am Detective Ray, it seemed a little rote.

“Good morning, Miss LeClair.”

“Detective.” I waited.

Her curiosity nearly a tangible entity, Janet stood so close behind me that if I’d moved I would have bumped into her.

“Detective?” Her voice rose in surprise, but for once there was no inflection of flirtation in it.

“What can I do for you this early, Detective Ray?” I asked.

His cop’s point of view took in both of us, and he touched his hat again. “I was just wondering, Miss LeClair,”—he paused, lifted his chin, and scratched under it—”if you”—he cast a speculative glance in Janet’s direction—”have anything to do with the dead body in your back yard.”

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About the Authors:

beach boy authors

The USA Today best-selling writing team of Sally J. Smith (right brain) and Jean Steffens (left brain) make up equal halves of one totally functional writer’s mind. Creative and intuitive and organized and systematic? What could be better than that?

The two desert dwellers work together side-by-side, literally finishing each other’s sentences, putting together their novels faster and more efficiently than they ever could individually.

When their heads aren’t together over a manuscript, you’ll find them with their families, at a movie, the mall, or out-to-lunch—in the food sense, not the spaced-out sense, well…most of the time. Their current series include Jordan Welsh Mysteries, Mystic Isle Mysteries, Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mysteries, Aloha Lagoon Gabby LeClair Mysteries, and Digby Sloan Mysteries.

Visit their website: http:www//smithandsteffens.com, look around, and sign up for their newsletter to receive a free short story. Jean and Sally love hearing from readers and always answer e-mails: smithandsteffens@cox.net.

 

Amazon Buy Link / Publisher Buy Link

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beach boy tease

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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