#Blog Tour #Search for the House of Dreams by Alison Burke #Qand A with the author @rararesources18/6/2021
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Search for the House of Dreamsby by Alison Burke and thank you to Alison for today's Meet The Author: Q and A session! About the book: Search for the House of Dreams It is the year 1847 in the elegant city of Bath where 18yr old Genevre Stratton is treated more as a servant than a daughter in the elegant house where bills are not paid, and the rent is in arrears. Appalled by the dishonesty and overriding social ambition beneath her parents’ veneer of respectability, only her love for her younger brother and sisters keeps her there. Left to cope alone when their false world falls apart, she fights to keep her siblings together, until poverty forces her to yield them to the care of their half-brother, George Coleman. Handsome, wealthy and charismatic, he is the enemy who becomes her lover. To surrender all to her passionate desire for him, or to keep the independence of a new-found musical career on the London stage? This is her is her choice to make, until an unexpected call of duty takes her to Paris. Must the old, dark secrets she discovers there alter the course of her life forever? Purchase Links UK/ US Meet The Author: Alison Burke I was born in Lancashire and started my career by training as a State Registered general nurse. Later, I joined the army and became an officer in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. On a posting to Malaya, now Malaysia, I found my true love. This was an ideal setting for a marriage with young children, and now my memories are a wonderfully rich source of material for my writing. facebook / instagram / website .What is your personality type? I am an introvert who trained myself to be out going as a survival tactic, but being fond of my own company is useful as a writer. Why do you write? I like telling stories, to myself as well as other people. What book first inspired me? When I was eight and could still barely read, I struggled through The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton and realised that writers can make other worlds exist. What are your harmless indulgences? Chocolate (the darker the better), planting seeds and watching them grow (especially foxgloves) and black and white films from the 1930s and 40s. (Casablanca is a favourite). Why did you decide to self-publish? I tried the traditional routes into print with no success. Time was passing, better books than mine never got further than the agents slush pile and I really wanted someone to read what I’d written. It worked. If you get a poor review, how do you feel? Chastened, but you can’t please everybody and if a reader thinks their time and money has been wasted, they have a right to complain. ( as with any other purchase ) What inspired you to write ‘Search for the House of dreams’? Family secrets never be told, and an interest in the lives of women on the margins of society in 19th century England, plus a love of historical romance. What does literary success look like to you? It looks like people reading and enjoying the stories I have to tell. I also value the respect of my fellow writers. At least breaking even financially is important because this is the real world we’re living in. Thank you to Alison Burke for her fascinating answers! If you would like to find out what other bloggers thought of Search for the House of Dreams, here is the full blog tour schedule:
You Are Cordially Invited
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GIVEAWAY! Thankyou to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Blue Hawaiian by CarlaLuna and to Carla Luna for her wonderful guest post today! Guest post by Carla Luna, the author of Blue Hawaiian For me, reading is not only a delightful tonic, but a way to escape my surroundings. Not that I don’t enjoy my quiet hometown in Wisconsin, but I’ve always loved visiting new places via books. When I was younger, I imagined myself traveling through the wardrobe to visit Narnia or having adventures in Oz with Dorothy and Toto. As my reading choices matured, I still loved reading books that transported me to different countries, like twisty mysteries set in Morocco, historical dramas set in Paris, or gothic romances set in crumbling British castles. My love of exotic settings also influenced my decision to work in archaeology, which allowed me to travel a great deal. Even after I settled down and had children, I still loved traveling, and I tried to squeeze in a few trips every year to places in the U.S. and Canada. But in 2020, planning any kind of trip became impossible. Like so many people, I found myself housebound, frustrated, and anxious, with my “trips” limited to the occasional grocery store outing. So, what did I do? In the words of the musical Hamilton, “I wrote my way out.” Since I’d been temporarily laid off, I devoted most of my free time to writing a series of contemporary romantic comedies, all set at destination weddings. The first of these, Blue Hawaiian, was set at a wedding in Maui—a place I’d visited many years ago, on my honeymoon. While working on this book, I visited Maui “virtually” any way I could—via YouTube videos, travel guides and DVDs, movies, blogs, and photos. Even if I couldn’t fly to Maui to conduct research first-hand, I could give myself a temporary respite from everyday life by making it the setting of my story. After I finished writing Blue Hawaiian, I wrote two more books—one set at an October wedding in Door County, Wisconsin (an area known for its fall foliage), and one set in California wine country at Christmas. Even though our family’s holidays in 2020 were very low-key, I was able to enjoy a Winter Wonderland-themed wedding extravaganza through my third book. It’s my fondest hope that when people read my books, they will feel transported, even if just for an evening, away from the cares and concerns of their homelife, and enjoy a virtual vacation. Blue Hawaiian The first rule of serving as the maid of honor at your perfect sister’s destination wedding? No mistakes. The second rule? No drama. For Jess Chavez, a week in Maui is hardly a dream vacation—not when her sister expects her to be the perfect maid of honor. Not only does Jess have to fake perfection, but she can’t let anyone know she’s unemployed and barely scraping by. Above all, she needs to steer clear of Connor Blackwood, the sexy groomsman who broke her heart five years ago. A family wedding offers Connor the ideal opportunity to convince everyone he’s no longer an irresponsible playboy. If they see he’s changed, they might support his decision to leave the family winery and strike out on his own. With so much at stake, the last thing he needs is an alluring distraction like Jess. When Jess and Connor end up together, exploring the island’s lush, tropical beauty, the sparks between them become impossible to ignore. Throwing caution to the wind, they decide to make their own rules. Five days of passion. No strings. No tears. No promises. What could possibly go wrong? Purchase Links UK/ US Author Bio Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her spoiled Siberian cat. Social Media Links – Website: www.carlalunabooks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/casacullen FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLunaAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlalunacullen/ Thank you for reading the post and thank you to Carla Luna for her guest post! Have a wonderful Wednesday! Wraith
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT: “Hey, Cal,” Dylan says from inside the car. open slit or the tinted window frame. I wonder if he’s still jet lagged from his arrival, or if he’s too lazy to get out of his seat. Kornelía motions for me to follow her to the trunk so I can store my bag and backpack. I keep hold of my violin case as I move to the vehicle’s far side. “Speaking of different,” she whispers, nodding towards the car. I quirk a brow, but she only shrugs one shoulder before opening the front door and sliding into her seat. I pause, taking another deep breath and pushing down the slight queasiness born from knowing this is the last stretch before camp is officially upon me. Then I open the car door and duck inside. The hired driver I’m guessing is a local starts the vehicle and heads away from the Ilulissat Airport. I settle into my seat before turning to Dylan—and promptly doing a double- take. Dylan Benowitz has always had a sickly, sallow complexion. But his skin looks nearly gray in the car’s interior light. The bags under his eyes have darkened, and there is a definite yellow tint to the whites. Combined with the disheveled, shaggy state of his dark hair, the discoloration makes him look like he’s contracted a fake illness only ever seen in the movies. “Hey,” he says again. His eyes are wary and expectant, like he knows what I’m about to say. “Are you… okay?” I ask, unable to refrain from posing the question I’m positive he’s heard many times since his arrival. “I’m not dying,” he mutters with a sigh. He scrapes his hair back, scratching his scalp. “Trust me. Between my mother and my stepmom, I’ve been to at least a dozen doctors over the last six months. Not to mention consultations with the rabbi. I’ve taken enough tests, I’m shocked I haven’t earned some kind of degree. My blood work checks out, my oxygen levels are ideal, and my liver function is fine.” He rolls his eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with me.” “Well that’s good, I guess,” I mumble. Dylan smiles, dropping his hands to his lap as Kornelía turns in her seat to face us. “I can still function, at least,” he says. “Unlike poor Korni.” I shift my gaze forward. “They still haven’t figured out what’s going on with your eyesight, then?” “Nope,” she says with another shrug. “According to tests, I’m fine too. Except my eyes keep getting worse. I never thought I’d miss my old glasses.” The slight release of tension offered by the open air dissolves as worry coils back around my chest. I didn’t expect to see my friends in such a bad state. I’ve talked to both Dylan and Kornelía over the last ten months, but our conversations didn’t prepare me for how they now appear. From the looks of it, our third summer with the Oracle of Senders isn’t off to a smashing start. “We’re all falling apart, aren’t we?” I muse.
GIVEAWAY! Strict Confidence
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GIVEAWAY! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting to participate in the blog tour for Shari Low's latest novel One Summer Sunrise. One Summer Sunrise As the sun rises on a hot summer’s day, four lives are about to be changed forever... Brand new from the bestselling author of What If?, What Now? and One Day In Summer. Today, Maisie McTeer decides to track down the ex who jilted her at the altar. Today, she’ll find out that revisiting the past can also rewrite her future. After losing her husband, Harriet Bassett can no longer bear her lonely life. Today, a familiar face in a crowd will spark a quest to discover if there’s something and someone worth living for. Scott and Kelly Bassett’s daughter is leaving home. Today, Scott plans to tell Kelly that he’s ending their marriage to pursue his rock and roll dreams. However, Kelly, has a bombshell of her own. How will Scott react to the news that a new arrival is on the way to fill their empty nest? Between sunrise and sunset, there’s love, heartbreak, laughter and tears, but who will find happiness at the end of the day? Purchase Link My thoughts: I am a big fan of Shari Low and her wonderful writing style. I really enjoyed her previous book One Day in Summer (you can find my review here), so when I found out that Shari has written the next book in the same format I was overjoyed. I was really glad to see a few familiar faces (Hope McTeer, Yvie Danton, Maisie) orhear about how the protagonists of the previous book were doing (Aggie and Aaron) and, of course, it was great to be back to the same location-Glasgow! As in the previous book, the events unfold over 24hours, but so many things happen to our protagonists that you can rest assured their lives will never be the same. 22 yar old Carny Bassett has just graduated and is organising a fundraiser for her alma mater, the drama department,which is always short on funds. The party is to take place on the grounds of Lomond Lake House, where co-incidentally Maisey McTeer's ex-fiance proposed to her and later left her at the altar. Of course,this is the last place she would like to return to,but her best friend goes into labour and Maisey has tosupervisethe catering at the event. In the meantime, Carny's parents Kelly and Scott are both contemplating some dramatic changes in their livesand their marriage. They got married at16 when Kelly found out she was pregnant and have always done their best to give Carny a stable family environment, but perhaps in doing so they have been neglecting their own feelings and dreams for too long. Our last protagonist Harriet is a lonely octogenarian who starts this day on the geriatric wardsupervised by YvieDalton who happens to have thebiggest heart in the world and... a couple tickets to Carny's fundraiser. Harriet's surname is Bassett- perhaps shecan find a lost relative or two on this summer day? The narrative structure is very clear and it is very easy to follow the events, even though there are alsoquite a few references to past events. I realy liked this format which shows how important it is to live your life to the fullest, but also be thoughtful, kind and take into consideration other people's needs especially since you aren't always aware of them when you make plans or introduce changes in your own life. There are some very important themes discussed in this book: doing the right thing foryour children or for your friends, loyalty and honesty in relationships, dreams and ambitions that we often sacrifice for the sake of stability. What touched me the most was Harriet's story, the moving description of her loneliness and the kindness of people around her who did appreciate Harriet and her lovely spirit. I found myself arguing with some of the character's decisions and the epilogue (Carson???), but I guess it's a great sign when you feel so involved in the book that you want to do that. Honourable mention t to Jane and Janice- Maisey's indomitable catering assistants- you had me in stitches with your banter! An enjoyable summer read with plenty of family drama- fans of Shari Low are going to be delighted. Looking forward to Shari's next book! Thank you to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel for letting me participate in this book tour. Author Bio: Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 20 novels, including One Day In Winter and With Or Without You and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow and her first title for Boldwood was My One Month Marriage in January 2020. Social Media Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharilowbooks Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharilow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharilowbooks/ Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/ShariLowNewsletter Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shari-low Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Monday! If you would like to find out what other bloggers thought of Shari Low's book, here is the full blog tour schedule:
Better Together in Boston
-- EXCERPT: “Would you like a drink of water?” he asked. “Or would you be more comfortable sitting on the chair over there?” He pointed to the window, next to which was a blue upholstered chair. “You’re my drink of water.” She pulled his head down to her. She kissed him, her lips soft, tongue plundering inside when he opened his mouth in shock. He needed to stop this, even as his body responded. Desire and honor warred with each other as heat bloomed. Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. She was sweet, tasting of champagne and grapes. Her perfume was elusive, but there, and he pulled her closer, breathing her in. A breathy moan made him pause. He couldn’t do this. Since she wasn’t thinking straight, one of them needed to. “Anna.” He groaned and unwrapped her arms from around his neck. “I think you’d be more comfortable over there.” He pointed to the chair. He’d certainly be less tempted. “No, I’d be more comfortable with you.” She pulled his shirt until he had no choice but to lean down. Her hair, thick and soft, had come undone. Despite his better judgment, he wrapped a curl around his finger, squeezed and released it, letting it slide against the back of his hand, feather-soft. “We can’t do this, Anna,” he whispered, even as he became hypersensitive to her touch. She pulled him close and once again, pressed her lips to his. He tried to push her away, grasping her by the shoulders, and for a moment, he thought he’d finally gotten through to her. She pulled back, before trailing kisses across his jaw and down his neck. With a half moan, half curse, he gave in.
GIVEAWAY! Rooster
Goodreads / Bookbub / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Changeling Press (save 20%) -- What reviewers are saying about Rooster … “This one was outrageously funny and so steamy it fogged my windows up!” – juliewinslett13 @ BookBub “I reckon this is the best yet, independent sassy heroine and sweet but alpha hero who both know what they want and need from each other.” – alicebason @ BookBub “This book was steamy and laugh out loud funny – Just the perfect combo!!!” – tanyakay28 @ BookBub “Lots of laughs, some drama, lots of sexy times” – nbenigno @ BookBub -- EXCERPT: The front door nearly rattled off the hinges when someone started pounding on it. If I hadn’t known King Kong was a fictional character, I’d think he was on my porch. What the hell? I narrowed my eyes in the direction of the front entry and went to answer it. It wasn’t like I knew anyone in town. I’d only been here a month, which made it doubtful I’d pissed anyone off — yet. I yanked it open, ready to tear into whoever was on the other side, but stopped and stared. The man arched his eyebrows and tipped his sunglasses down enough to peer over the top of them. God, why did I find that so sexy? He’d braced an arm against the doorframe and his muscles bulged. I licked my lips and tried to remember how to speak. As my gaze skimmed over him, it snagged on the black leather over his shoulders. Fuck. It was one of the bikers. Rooster – Devil’s Boneyard MC. “You going to let me in, a ghrá?” His voice sent chills down my spine and my nipples hardened against my thin tank. He smirked, clearly knowing the effect he had on me. Asshole. “I don’t let strangers into my home,” I said. I peered over his shoulder and saw another man on a motorcycle at the curb. It seemed only one of them wanted to come into the house. Thank goodness for small favors. He leaned in, the scent of cinnamon and cloves making me want to breathe in deep. “But we’re not strangers. You’re Twister’s niece, which makes you Devil’s Fury property. Since we consider them family, that makes you mine.”
GIVEAWAY! The Accidental Gatekeeper
-- EXCERPT: When all the good choices have disappeared faster than kids at chore time If eighteen was the age of exciting self-discovery, then forty-five was the weary age of having zero shits left to give. What did it matter if my husband of twenty years was rotting in federal jail? And that our chiropractic clinic had gone belly up, leaving me jobless? Or that my friends had turned from “we’ll help hide a body” to “we’ve got your back until the reporters hit our lawn?” I also didn’t care that the DEA had frozen our joint bank accounts and seized our assets. I never liked that ho use anyway. Homeless. Jobless. Friendless. Add in a pickup truck, beer, and an old dog and it would be the most pathetic country song played on the tiniest fiddle ever. I gritted my teeth as the wipers shrieked across the windshield. Nothing like driving through a late-October downpour to add to your misery, and the constantly patched roads in this part of Central Texas didn’t handle rain well. My phone rang with its cheerful tone that I kept forgetting to change. Sadie’s name lit up on the display, and I almost knocked it off the dashboard holder while hitting the speaker button. “Sadie? Is everything okay? How’s Laney?” I really hoped the trembling in my voice wasn’t audible. My daughter hadn’t spoken to me in two months, refusing to answer my calls or respond to my texts. Her girlfriend had even gone so far as to block me on her social media. “Mom? Where are you? God, this connection sucks.” Her voice had a recognizable anxious edge to it. I wanted to ask if she was taking her meds, but at twenty-one Sadie hated coddling. “Someone needs to talk to you.” “What?” I eased onto the shoulder of the road, then placed the truck into park. “Who?” “Mrs. Collins? Uh, Everly Collins? This is Sam Duncan, your husband’s attorney? We really must discuss your husband’s case.” I glanced at the clock on my dash: 10:33 p.m. Duncan was raking in some serious OT. “What the hell are you doing with my daughter?” “Mrs. Collins?” He lowered his voice. “I know you’ve been advised not to speak with me. But you really need to before certain other people do. We can meet anywhere you want.”
GIVEAWAY! Starfighter Command
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: I wiped my hands down my black pants, my palms suddenly damp. The elevator ride to the first floor felt like an eternity as I made my way to the public meeting room I’d instructed this Kassius Remeas be escorted to. My high heels clicked rhythmically against the hard floor and I straightened my suit jacket, buttoned up the two large black buttons as if I were putting on armor. I arrived to stare at the closed door, hand shaking as I lifted my knuckles to knock. Waited. Before I could knock again, the door opened, smacking against the wall and bouncing back a few inches. I jumped, startled. Then I stared. And stared. There, standing before me, was a really good likeness of Kass. Someone had gone all out. This guy had the same dark hair. The same crooked smile. The same small scar under his left eye. The same dark brown eyes. The same damn dimples that made him look like a mischief making, super-sexy space pirate. He was dressed head to toe in black, the cut and tailoring exactly matched the in-game uniforms of a Starfighter MCS, but he had no adornments or anything else that indicated he was in the military. Any military. And fool that I was, my gaze darted to his chest to look for the Starfighter insignia. Which was there. Black on black, but the damn swirl was there. I even recognized the buckles on his boots. What the hell? This space alien uniform was absurd. Laughable, which meant I was the brunt of the joke now for the half second my heart leapt and my body tightened as if he was real. Two heartbeats later the stupid organ ached ten times more than it had before as the leap of joy crashed back into the pit of despair. Because this man absolutely was Kassius Remeas, in the flesh. So, was this man a model? Maybe the game developer had placed him in front of a green screen and based the avatar of Kassius Remeas on this man. Maybe I was hallucinating and a pimply-faced teen with a half-grown mustache and gangly legs was staring back at me. Perhaps the stress of the job had finally sent my mental health into a tailspin. But I couldn’t tear my eyes off him. Fuck that, I couldn’t blink. Or breathe. “Mia Becker.” He didn’t say more but inspected me with the same intense scrutiny I gave him. I wasn’t going to call him Kass. It would hurt too much. Uttering that one syllable meant that I was buying into the entire joke. And I felt that it was all on me. Without tearing his eyes away, he pulled me into the room and pushed the door shut behind me. He even reached around me to turn the lock. The sounds of the reception desk, security checkpoints and scattered voices dropped away, making us very much alone. The room was sealed and searched every morning for surveillance equipment. The walls were thick and there were no windows. We were truly alone. I still didn’t speak and he narrowed his eyes. Then he closed the distance between us, gently placed his hands on each side of my head and kissed me. Scheisse. For a second I froze because a paid actor, or model–a complete stranger–was kissing me. With soft lips. With a need I felt seep through his fingers, his mouth. Every inch of him radiated with need. For me.
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