Book Blitz & Giveaway - One Hot Texas Summer by Nicole Flockton

One Hot Texas Summer

(Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

Author: Nicole Flockton

Published by: Tule Publishing

Publication Date: May 26th, 2020

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

She’s been fooled before by sweet words and hot kisses

Kelly Turner loves being a florist, and being asked to take the lead on the new site for the town’s festival is an honor. If only she didn’t have to work closely with the town player, Tate Prentice. After being burned once by a serial cheater, her inconvenient attraction toward Tate needs to be nipped in the bud.

Tate Prentice’s focus is on ensuring his father recovers fully from his stroke and making sure the family’s peach farm continues to thrive. When his brother nominates the farm to be the satellite site for the festival, he’s less than impressed. The only good thing is he’ll be working with Kelly – even though he knows she’ll never give him a second glance, not with his reputation.

The more time Kelly spends with Tate, the more she sees the man behind the reputation. Can she trust her instincts, or will her heart be broken once again?

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Right to Remain Silent by Anya Summers

The Right to Remain Silent

(Crescent City Kings #3)

Author: Anya Summers

Published by: Blushing Books Publications

Publication Date: April 23rd, 2020

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

He never expects to find her there…

Officer Quinten Blackthorne is working undercover to bring the Rudnikov Mob Empire to its knees. He never expects to find his best friend’s baby sister, Becca, in the center of a powder keg situation at the infamous mobster’s home. With her life on the line, he does the only thing he can think of to save her – he pretends that she’s his fiancée, who knows nothing of his clandestine activities with the criminal enterprise, and stands as her stalwart protector.

Forced into marriage…

But Quinten never expects the mob boss to force them into marriage at gunpoint as a test of loyalty. Not to mention, the idea of her belonging to him isn’t unappealing, nor is he as averse to the prospect as he lets on. Becca, with her sweet curves and take no prisoners attitude, fascinates him, stirs him, and leaves him craving her submission. Yet his past is fraught with broken dreams and death, so he uses his friendship with her brother as a shield against his yearning to claim her as his own.

Resistance is futile…

However, circumstances soon compel Becca and Quinten to become the most unlikely allies in a deadly game of deception. Now they must depend on one another for survival. As they race to unlock the keys to breaking the case, will Quinten be able to maintain his hands-off policy with Becca? Or will he surrender to the earth-shattering passion and turn their marriage of convenience into the real deal?

Publisher’s Note: This steamy friends to lovers romance contains elements of power exchange. While it’s the third in the Crescent City Kings series, it can be enjoyed independently.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Gladiator's Downfall by Kristen Banet

The Gladiator’s Downfall

(Age of the Andinna #1)
Author: Kristen Banet

Publication Date: December 14th, 2018

Genre: Adult Fantasy / Reverse Harem

Book Description:

Mave knows where she stands in life.

She’s an Andinna. A member of the winged, horned, and tailed warrior race that the Elvasi Empire defeated in the Hundred Year War and then enslaved. She’s a slave, and has been one for a thousand years, the personal property of the Empress of the Elvasi Empire, since the end of the War. She’s a gladiator, thrown onto the sands of the Colosseum to die, though it backfired on those who wanted her dead. She’s the Champion of the Colosseum, and has been for roughly nine hundred years.

All of these things have marked her as an outcast among her own people. Hated, distrusted, and despised, she knows the name of her people, but not much else.

But she knows where she stands. Keeping her head down and her blades sharp has carried her this far, and she refuses to acknowledge the deepest wishes she holds in her heart. Those will only get her killed.

Alone, she’s stood against everything they have ever thrown at her, refusing to give them what they want.

What Mave doesn’t know is that it’s all about to change.

Only 99¢ for a limited time!

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Cover Reveal - Eagles in Flight by Ramcy Diek

Eagles in Flight

Author: Ramcy Diek

Published by: Acorn Publishing

Publication Date: August 25th, 2020

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Emma’s life changes the day Ruben Templeton walks in and asks her out on a date. Over dinner, she’s a little disappointed when his best friend, Jesse Kimball, joins them. Jesse is a senator’s son who just announced his candidacy for mayor.

Twenty-seven-year-old Emma is surprised, but excited when it’s Jesse who calls her the next day instead of Ruben.

Jesse introduces Emma to a life with mansions, expensive cars, cocktail dresses, and status. It doesn’t take long for him to sweep her off her feet. He’s handsome and charming, making her feel like the center of his universe.

When Emma receives devastating news, Jesse asks her to marry him. From the moment she agrees, their relationship starts to deteriorate. Desperate to understand why her new husband is so cold and distant, she reaches out to him, only to be met by anger.

Hurt and confused, Emma turns to Ruben for advice.

Ruben suggests they give each other space for a few weeks. Weeks she can use to help him locate his younger brother Axel, who has gone missing. Emma agrees, and soon finds herself on a road trip across the country.

Will Emma and Jesse’s temporary separation clear the distance between them, or will she find love in the arms of another man?

About the Author

A long time ago, I fell in love with the United States while traveling around in an Oldsmobile station-wagon with my husband. We are both born and raised in the Netherlands.

Together, we eventually found our way to the Pacific Northwest, built up a business, and raised our two boys into amazing young adults with their own careers. During this time, I also made a slow transition from reader to writer of many different stories.

My multiple award winning debut novel "Storm at Keizer Manor" sets the bar high for my second novel, Eagles in Flight.

All my books are stand alone novels in different genres. You might be in for a surprise, or a disappointment.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Goodreads ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter ¦ Instagram ¦ Bookbub ¦ Newsletter

Cover Reveal Organised by:

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Fury of the Gods by Amy Braun

Fury of the Gods

(Areios Brothers #3)

Author: Amy Braun

Publication Date: May 26th, 2020

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Fate brings consequence.

Separated from his brother by curses and lies, Derek Areios is forced into hiding. With rogue goddesses on his side, he begins his search for the Mind of Cronus. But his plans come to a screeching halt when the Olympians send nightmarish warriors to hunt him. Creatures even the gods themselves fear.

Liam Areios, lost without his brother and trapped in service for the Olympians, continues the hunt for the Mind of Cronus. The remaining gods refuse to trust him—or any human—and Liam begins to see just how mad power has made them. Becoming entangled in the schemes of mortals and immortals, Liam will have to fight or lose everyone he loves.

Deadly monsters, betrayal, and pulse-pounding action fill the pages of the third novel in the AREIOS BROTHERS series.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

BOOK REVIEW: Born to be Different by John Ignatius Rigoli

Born to be Different

Author: John Ignatius Rigoli

Genre: Picture Book
Publication Date: 13 December 2018

Book Description:
Ollie didn’t know he was a big weirdo… not until the day other kids made fun of him.

Ollie went home and he put away his costumes. He put away his capes. He closed the door on the special world he created and said goodbye to all the friends only he could see. Ollie was going to be “normal” - no different than all the other kids in the world. No one would ever laugh at him again!

But Ollie had a problem. Ollie wasn’t LIKE all the other kids in the world. Ollie was born to be different!

And so were you.

"Born to be Different" is a love-letter from a doting grandfather to his beloved grandson - and a welcome reminder to all the kids in the world that being different is exactly what makes you so very special!

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

I picked this book up because of the title. I thought, "there must be something in here that everyone can relate to", so it should be a great book for kids and for the family as a whole. I won't lie. It didn't blow me away or connect with me on an emotional level, but I appreciated the intention and I loved the bright and colourful illustrations. I also loved the message from Ollie's grandfather and the way in which he approached the difficulties Ollie was facing.

The issue I had with this one is that there was no identifiable dilemma. The message may be lost on some children as they are unable to make comparisons and identify with the main character. People make fun of Ollie because he's different, but in what context is he different? He states: "My skin is different" and "My eyes are different", but in relation to whom? What is the actual issue Ollie is facing? Other than his grandfather, there were no verbal interactions between Ollie and anyone, and in the absence of relativity, it's difficult to connect with the story and its characters.

It's a good read, but it could have been better executed.

VERDICT

Award: Silver

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Source: Own copy

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Van Birch Incident by Marla Holt

The Van Birch Incident: A Rock Star Romance

(The Incident Series, #1)

Author: Marla Holt

Publication Date: May 21st, 2020

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Van Birch: Pop Star. A-list starlet. Off-limits.

Clay Noble has spent the better part of a decade avoiding his taboo obsession: His stepsister Van. In love with her since the first time he’d heard her sing, even shipping himself off to the army couldn’t stop thoughts of her. Now that he’s lost everything in a tornado, he’s forced to move back in with the only family he has left, Van and her dad. Sleeping down the hall from her is forcing every unwanted impulse back to the surface.

Clay Noble: Gorgeous. Infuriating. Untouchable.

Everything Van touches turns to gold with a side of outrageous. When she accuses her manager of sexual assault, the public thinks it’s just another one of her publicity stunts and the backlash is brutal. Wounded, she dashes home to a tornado-devastated Wellville, Kansas to heal and help rebuild, even though the constant stream of social media doubts and threats won’t let her rest. But there’s another reason for her sleepless nights and fevered dreams. Clay is back, hotter than ever, and his lingering glances and stolen moments have her convinced the feelings she’s fought for so long may not be one sided after all.

******

The Van Birch Incident marries forbidden romance, bordering on taboo with a little danger and a guaranteed happily ever after, while exploring how social media and real life collide in a post #metoo world where the internet never sleeps.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Cover Reveal & Giveaway - The People We Meet Along The Way by Beth Rinyu

The People We Meet Along The Way

Author: Beth Rinyu

Publication Date: September 17th, 2020

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Designer: Amy Queau at QDesign

Book Description:

Would you be able to grant the same forgiveness to someone else that you’re so desperately seeking yourself?

Jillian O’Rourke’s marriage died long before her husband’s tragic accident. Years of battling with infertility and demanding careers melted their once solid relationship. Bearing the burden of guilt over his death, Jillian gets lost in despair and a series of what ifs. But one chance encounter with a stranger, changes everything. Now being faced with newfound knowledge and a painful decision, Jillian must push past her anger, learn to forgive and open her heart in ways she never could’ve imagined.  As she comes to grips with the devastation of her past, she learns to embrace the possibility of a future she never thought possible.  A bittersweet story of love, forgiveness, and the unexpected destiny that is sometimes handed to us in life from the people we meet along the way.

About the Author

Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed Creative Writing. There was always something about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen - or in today's world a touch of the keyboard. I love creating deep characters who you will love or love to hate.

My life is not as interesting as my books or the characters in them, but then again whose life is? My happy place is a seat by the ocean with my feet in the sand or on the busy streets of New York City. You will more than likely find one of these places as the setting for most of my books.

Author Links:

Amazon ¦ Blog ¦ Facebook ¦ Instagram ¦ Bookbub

***GIVEAWAY***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organised by:

Cover Reveal & Giveaway - Calla by Christina Bauer

Calla

(Pixieland Diaries #2)

Author: Christina Bauer

Publication Date: July 28th, 2020

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Book Description:

Book 2 of the Pixieland Diaries

Big news in Pixieland! The Blue Fairy is sending our fave pixie, Calla, and her crush, Dare, on a mini-quest. Unfortunately it’s an adventure that requires a lot of togetherness. We’re talking tons of touching, people.

Blue believes that since Calla and Dare are just friends, this situation shouldn’t be awkward.

It’s totally awkward.

***A 30,000+ word diary written by Calla***

“I absolutely love Christina Bauer’s style, full of action, intense scenes, and characters that will test one’s imaginations to the max!” – Tome Tender Book Blog

PIXIELAND DIARIES

1. Pixieland Diaries

2. Calla

3. Dare

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo ¦ Google Play

About the Author

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. The first three books in the series are now available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes.

Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!

Author Links:

Blog ¦ Website ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter ¦ Instagram ¦ LinkedIn

***GIVEAWAY***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organised by:

Book Blitz & Giveaway - All I Wanna Do Is You by Dylann Crush

All I Wanna Do Is You

Author: Dylann Crush

Publication Date: May 14th, 2020

Genre: Adult Comedy / Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Can he keep his hands off her cupcakes?

Reagan Campbell’s flight just got grounded. She’s planned her brother’s perfect wedding weekend down to the minute, but her checklist didn’t include running into the one guy she’s never been able to get over. Only two things stand between her and the Florida Keys: fifteen-hundred miles and the man who broke her heart.

Zach Anderson has a score to settle with Senator Campbell. And running into his daughter, Reagan, gives him just the opportunity he needs. But it’ll take more than planes, trains, and automobiles to get her all the way to Florida in one piece. He might not be able to keep his hands off her cupcakes, but will he be able to keep his heart out of the way long enough to exact his revenge?

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Under the Willows by Pamela McCord

Under the Willows

Author: Pamela McCord

Published by: Acorn Publishing

Publication Date: May 15th, 2020

Genre: Adult / Mystery

Book Description:

After her husband is killed by a drunk driver, Kelly Harris and her son TJ move into a sprawling Victorian house in Ohio that her husband inherited from his grandmother. Dealing with her overwhelming grief is a struggle as she adjusts to life in a small town. And, just as she’s beginning to feel more comfortable, life takes another unexpected turn.

The Alexa unit in her son’s bedroom starts to cry, and a little girl’s voice comes out of it asking for help.

At first Kelly is unnerved by the presence of the voice. After ruling out all the other likely possibilities, she begins to put the pieces together, and suspects the girl is a ghost. Unwilling to be uprooted from another home, she decides to find out what the child wants. Maybe she can help.

Kelly isn’t the only one interested in the voice. Detective Rob Porter is investigating the disappearance of a child named Marilee. As the two cross paths, Porter is taken aback when Kelly’s ghost mentions Marilee’s name. In fact, the ghost says “Marilee’s with me.”

Whether that means the child is a ghost as well is a question Rob and Kelly hope to answer.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ iBooks

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Grave Humor by R.J. Blain

Grave Humor

(Magical Romantic Comedies #10)

Author: R.J. Blain

Publication Date: May 12th, 2020

Genre: Adult Comedy / Paranormal Romance

Book Description:

Most days, Anwen regrets working at a funeral home despite the good pay. With the residents no longer inclined to stay in their coffins where they belong, she’s got her hands full making sure everyone follows the rules:

In the funeral home, there is no screaming, no murdering, no mutilation, no possessions, no kidnappings, no resurrections, and no cursing of any type. Be quiet and stay polite.

The day Old Man McGregor decides to take a walk and disturbs her peace, Anwen learns there’s a lot more to the basement in the funeral home than a vampire and a handsome gentleman on ice.

If she’s not careful, she’ll learn first-hand why ‘eternally yours’ is the most potent of threats.

Warning: this novel contains romance, humor, bodies, shenanigans, and mythological puppies. Proceed with caution.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ Google Play ¦ Kobo

BOOK REVIEW: Revenge of the Elders of Zion by Dan Sofer

Revenge of the Elders of Zion

Author: Dan Sofer

Genre: NA Crime / Thriller / Satire

Publication Date: 12th May 2020

Book Description:

Haters destroyed his life. Will the Elders of Zion deliver vengeance?

"If you are a fan of dark humor, you will thoroughly enjoy this. 5 stars!" - Readers' Favorite

The world you know is a lie. Global events are controlled by the Elders of Zion. And David Zelig wants to join them. There's only one problem. The Elders of Zion doesn't exist. It never did. So David rolls his own secret society. But he's not the only covert vigilante group in town.

Dark forces are closing in on every side. The race for survival launches David and his friends from the skyscrapers of Manhattan through the secrets of Imperial Russia to an embarrassing relic from the dawn of Christianity.

Along the way, David will learn about hatred. He will learn about love. And he will discover a very unusual egg. The web of conspiracy he uncovers will boggle the mind.

As time runs out in this zany, high-octane, and deliciously dark comedy thriller, David will face a shocking possibility. Have his good intentions backfired, triggering the worst anti-Semitic attack on American soil ever?

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

I must admit, this isn't my usual read, so when the author invited me to read the book, I took a chance on it because I found the blurb inviting, and then I saw the cover a little later, which reignited my intrigue. After reading this book, I think I need to make more of an effort to start delving into this genre. It was not what I was expecting, in a good way.

David Zelig, the last heir of Zelig Pictures is down on his luck after being swindled out of his legacy by Preston Clancy, an anti-semist. Tired of of having to tolerate the misfortune of being jewish in New York City, David decides enough is enough. He wants to send a message to the world, one that will cease the maltreatment of the jewish community. He and his two best friends, Jordan Brody and Mitchell Joffe, start a secret organisation called the Trio. What starts off as an innocent mission to change the mindset of the world turns into a deadly battle between multiple secret societies, and the Trio find themselves in the middle of all the chaos. As if encountering these secret societies wasn't bad enough, the Trio are blackmailed by the FBI into infiltrating an organisation known as the Elders of Zion in order to gather intel. The Trio quickly learn that you can't trust anyone, not even those supposedly on the right side of the law.

This story was definitely interesting, albeit surreal at times, but it was nonetheless exciting. It put me in the mind of a recent show I started watching called Hunters, starring Al Pacino and Logan Lerman, about Nazi hunters out for justice, which was a lot more realistic in plot but similar in the overall agenda of the story. Despite the serious nature of the threat, I appreciated the light-hearted moments and the banter between the Trio. I don't usually tolerate nonsensical scenarios, but because I enjoyed the story so much and the adventure it took me on, it was easy to overlook the complete impossibilty of those unbelievable moments. I loved the characters. They were very engaging. The stoy had a more juvenile feel than I think the author had intended but that's what probably added to the nonchalant demeanour preserved by David throughout a majority of the book. I loved the fact that the book didn't take itself too seriously, a total contrast to the characters, which made it even more hilarious.

This book is non-stop action and dilemma from start to finish. A very good read indeed!

VERDICT

Award: Gold

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Source: Author

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Outfoxed by R.J. Blain

Outfoxed

(The Fox Witch, #1)

Author: R.J. Blain

Publication Date: November 3rd, 2020

Genre: Adult Paranormal / Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Death is a way of life outside of the safety of Inner Tulsa, and Jade means to keep flipping Mother Nature off until old age claims her. With one eye always on the sky, the last thing she needs is a pack of bounty hunters out for her living head. With no idea of why anyone would want her, her wits might keep her free, assuming she can resist the charming lures of Sandro, one of the men out to claim her as his own.

Left with the choice of being the evening snack of a tornado or taking shelter with the bounty hunter, she does what she does best: she lives on the edge.

Striking a bargain with the handsome bounty hunter buys her another day of life, but it also dumps her into the heart of a sinister plot, one meant to enslave the residents of the storm-tossed city—and the others brave and foolish enough to call the Alley home.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ Kobo ¦ Google Play

BOOK REVIEW: Ara the Star Engineer by Kamal Singh

Ara the Star Engineer

Author: Kamal Singh

Genre: Picture Book
Publication Date: 14 October 2018
Publisher: Page Two Books

Book Description:

This is a STEM book and more! An inspiring, inclusive, whimsical way to learn about computers and technology from real-life trailblazers.

Ara is a young girl who loves BIG numbers. She wants to count all the stars in the sky… but how? This is an upbeat adventure of Ara and her sidekick droid, DeeDee (“Beep!”). They use smarts and grit to solve a BIG problem and discover an amazing algorithm! A quest that takes them through a whirlwind of intriguing locations at Innovation Plex -- Data Centre, Ideas Lab, Coding Pods, and X-Space. Along the way, they encounter real-life women tech trailblazers of diverse backgrounds, including a Tenacious Troubleshooter, an Intrepid Innovator, a Code Commander, and a Prolific Problem Solver. They tinker-and-tailor, build-and-fail, launch-and-iterate, and in the end discover an amazing algorithm of success -- coding, courage, creativity, and collaboration (“Beeeeep!”).

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

A brave and budding young engineer ventures out to find with her droid, DeeDee, to find the answer for how to count all the stars in the universe. They head to Innovation Plex where Ara finds all the answers to set her on the path to victory.

While this wasn't the most entertaining and adrenaline-pumping read, it was most certainly an informative and fascinating adventure that those interested in engineering will devour with joy. I think the message may get lost with some kids as they try to wade through the techy aspect of the story, but this was a cute story on learning how to problem solve. Ara is a great role model for youths as she is full of determination, confidence and a will to succeed.

VERDICT

Award: Gold

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Source: Own copy