#Book Blitz #Seaspoken by Sarah Delena White #New Adult #Romance #Fantasy @Xpresso Book Tours13/11/2022
Seaspoken
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- Only 99c for a limited time! -- EXCERPT: “Do you really believe we’re doomed to fight each other?” “Yes.” A tear trickles down my cheek as I force the word out. Anything to keep him from taking one more step into the angry sea. The singer’s laugh rolls through the mist. “I don’t believe that. Our peoples used to be friends. Tell me from your heart—do you believe the One Who Is has destined us only for war?” The waves dance higher as his voice passes over them, and I shudder. The ocean is listening. The Seamother is listening. Depths take him, he’s going to get both of us killed if he doesn’t stop talking. I slip into the water, shifting back into my sea-dwelling form as I do. With a few flicks of my lithe tail, I speed through the shallows until I reach another large rock, this one only a few yards from the singer. I crouch behind it and speak in a whisper. “Please, leave before the Seamother hears you!” “My name is Keliveth. Keliveth Dalzana.” The singer’s simple words send ice through my veins. A Dalzana. A prophet of the elves, too powerful and dangerous to trust. And yet … this makes his claims about the Creator plausible. My head spins as I try to sort out what I dare believe about this man, and I say the first thing that comes to mind. “I didn’t want to know that.” I would rather have gone on thinking of him as the dream-singer. As someone who didn’t have to be my enemy. “Why not?” His voice is so earnest, so sincere, that it makes my next words all the more bitter. “Because someday soon I will meet you on the battlefield.” My voice quavers. “And when that happens, either you’ll die with my spear through your chest, or I’ll be turned to ash by your magic.” I pause, gulping back sudden tears. “It’s worse when you know the names of the ones you kill.” “Well, then, I guess you shouldn’t kill me.” I can almost hear a smile in his voice, and I clench my fists. Does he think I’m joking? “I’m leaving,” I snap. “Don’t follow. My people will spear you and shred you to pieces.” I push away from the rock, ready to swim back down to the palace and leave this absurd dream world behind. His voice cuts through the darkness again. “Tell me your name. Then I won’t be able to kill you either.” A pang shoots through my heart. If only it were that simple. A wave swells before me, rising so much higher than the rest of the breakers that the stone outcroppings that dot the shallows are buried. I grip the rock I hide behind as the water rushes over my head. All thoughts are chased away by the sight of the wave as it arcs above me and crests in glittering white foam. The Seamother has found me.
Giveaway! Just One Night
-- EXCERPT: I slid my hand to his nape, grasping him hard and bringing him flush with me. “Let’s go to bed.” Wide-eyed yet still possessing that air of arrogance that was a fucking turn-on, Madden shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He walked out of the bedroom, leaving me in the unusual position of feeling frustrated. Frowning, I slipped on my briefs and pants, and set off to track him down. The apartment was huge, at least five thousand square feet, and with a killer view. It made sense—if you had more money than God, you’d live in the closest thing to heaven. I saw him on the balcony, standing by the railing, and went to him. “It’s beautiful here. How old is this building?” He inched away from me. “About ten years. But this space wasn’t renovated until two years ago.” I’d read that his father died a couple of years earlier, so maybe that had something to do with the timing. What I didn’t know was why I bothered to ask him that, or anything else personal. It went against everything I stood for in my business: nothing personal, and certainly no in-depth questions about life. Kissing a client was a rarity, and yet I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. I wanted to plunge my tongue past those soft lips and battle with his. Feel his hot breath stutter in my ear. Jesus, get a grip. He’s no different from any other client. “Well, it’s beautiful. Shall we go inside?” I slid behind him and pressed my mouth to the pulse pounding at his throat. “Unless you want people to watch us.” He twisted away from me. “Look. My sister is crazy. This whole idea is. I’m fine as is. I’ll pay you whatever you were going to charge her, and you can leave. What do you want, a check or direct deposit to your account?” Madden pulled away and strode inside, leaving me to scramble after him. Dammit. I should say screw it and leave. I had my money already, so there was nothing to lose. Except knowing what it was like to fuck Madden Steele.
Giveaway! #Book Blitz #The Wedding Laughbox by Julia Kent #Contemporary Romance @Xpresso Book Tours12/11/2022
The Wedding Laughbox
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Giveaway! Never Gonna Happen
-- EXCERPT: Aria took her turn next. When she immediately turned toward me and Peyton, my stomach dipped with dread. “York,” she smirked snidely. “Truth or dare?” “Uh…” Damn. I shrugged, not sure what would be worse from her. I ended up going with, “Truth,” only to hold my breath and hope she didn’t ask about why I’d really broken up with her. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings and admit that I just didn’t feel any sparks. But she glanced calculatingly between me and Peyton instead, then asked, “You two have known each other your whole lives, right?” I frowned in confusion. “Uh, yeah. That’s your question?” “No. My question is if you two have ever kissed before.” “What? No!” I frowned at her for wasting her truth question on that and then glanced toward Peyton, shaking my head to let her know my group of friends was clearly insane. She merely blushed and shrugged back. And Wes took his turn next in the game. “York!” he cheered. “Truth or dare?” “Seriously?” I threw up my hands. “Why is everyone picking on me all of the sudden?” “Truth or dare?” Wes repeated, lifting a challenging eyebrow. I didn’t like where Aria had been heading with her question about Peyton, so this time I said, “Dare.” Wes looked at me with victory, letting me know I’d chosen wrong, right before he said, “I dare you to kiss Peyton.”
Giveaway! #Book Blitz #Whiskey on our Shoes by Tonya Preece #New Adult #Romance @Xpresso Book Tours11/11/2022
Whiskey on Our Shoes
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: Eva’s POV Alex takes a step back toward the swinging kitchen doors and takes a phone from his pocket. Worried he’ll call the cops, I hop off the barstool and walk toward him, hands up to show I’m harmless. “I was kidding,” I say. He freezes, shoulders back. His chest is broad. A brick wall. That’s what running into him upstairs felt like. His arm had gone around me, strong and warm, pulling me out of the way and--whoa. Heat creeps into my cheeks, despite the coolness of the kitchen. Squelching the impulse to fan myself, I shift my focus to Alex’s face. There’s a spark in his deep blue eyes, like he caught me ogling him, and my whole face ignites. Damn fair skin. What the hell am I doing? This guy poses a threat to mine and Lor’s privacy. He could blab what happened here to everyone. So why am I thinking of his warm, spicy scent? I clear my throat. “We wouldn’t kill you. Right, Hector?” “You’re safe, man.” Hector hands us each a glass of tea. Alex’s posture relaxes some, but he doesn’t take a drink. He watches me sip mine. I switch from holding the glass with my left hand to my right and wonder if he noticed I don’t have a left index finger. If so, he’s hiding his reaction better than Nadine at ACR did. He pockets his phone. “Okay, what shouldn’t I have seen or heard?” “I’ll let her explain it,” I say as Jojo breezes back into the kitchen, NDA in hand. There are perks to having Lor’s personal assistant on the premises. “Have a seat, Alex.” She sets the papers on the bar. “This is a standard non-disclosure agreement. The band’s keeping DeLorean’s injuries private while he’s recovering.” Alex shrugs. “Fine. I won’t tell anyone. I don’t even have any idea what’s wrong with him.” Jojo hands him a pen. “Good. By signing this, you also agree to not mention anything of DeLorean having a sister.” “Why?” His eyes snap to me. “Don’t people know he has a sister?” “No,” Hector tells him. “She works hard to stay anonymous. You must forget everything about her.” His tough guy act warms my heart, but he’s no bigger than me, with not much more muscle. Alex, on the other hand is clearly shredded. “Don’t worry. I can keep a secret.” His eyes are full of understanding. “Great.” I gesture to the NDA. He breaks our gaze and reads it. And I mean, he really reads it, like word for word. Finally, he signs it and hands it to Jojo. “Thank you, sir,” she says. “Eva, will you see Alex to the door please?” A splash mark on his left boot catches my eye as we walk through the foyer. I point at the dark spot. “Oh no, some of the whiskey got on you. I can have Jojo arrange to replace them.” “No, it’s fine.” He stops at the door. “But maybe I could get your number?” From the way his Adam’s apple bobs with a swallow, I sense he surprised himself as much as me. “Um…” I’m tempted, but what is happening? He’s supposed to leave and forget me. I need to forget him. Our lives are so different. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea.” I open the door. Disappointment flickers in his eyes. He nods and goes past me, through the open door. Heading for the black truck, he puts his cowboy hat on and glances over his shoulder at me with what could only be described as a wistful smile. I almost grin back but decide not to encourage him.
Giveaway! First Strike
-- SNEAK PEEK: Stella STELLA JAYNE WALSH FROZE, the hair on the back of her neck rigid as her body reacted to the sense that someone was behind her. Relax, she thought. You know what to do. A creak in the floor gave the person away and Stella whipped around, snatched the man’s fingers, and bent them back on his hand. He cried out and fell back. She thrust her palm into his chest and, as he coughed, she sent him to the ground by kicking his legs out from under him. He grunted as he hit the floor, cringing from the pain. She pounced on top of him and punched him in the chest again. “Okay! Okay! Stop!” he shouted. “Stella, that’s great, no, I think you, yes—” said another man behind her. Her self-defense coach called to her, and his hands touched her arms. “Wow! Great job, Stella,” Brian said, “but what’s one thing we could have done differently here?” He turned to address the rest of the class as they stood in a circle around Stella and Dan. Brian pulled Dan up from the floor, and Dan shook his head as he massaged his sore fingers. Stella was about to apologize when her phone rang, calling to her from her bag on the bench next to the sparring area. It was the special ringtone for the hospital, Mercy General. “Hello,” Stella said. “Yeah, oh … okay. I’ll be right there.” When she hung up, she felt a touch on her arm. “It’s 2019, Stella. I can’t believe you still have a flip phone,” said her friend Sarah. “I know, but I only need it for actual phone calls, and I hate texting,” Stella said. She zipped up her winter jacket and brushed her hair out of her face. “You okay?” Sarah asked. “Yes, I’ve got to get into surgery, but other than that—” “No, I mean, you kind of pissed off Dan, I think.” They both glanced over their shoulders to see Dan scowling at them from the other side of the room. “He’ll be fine,” Stella said. “Are you sure you’re all right? It’s not been that long since the shooting.”
Giveaway!
My thoughts:
Honestly, this book was so much fun! Just plain, good fun! It isn't always easy to strike the right kind of balance between humour and action in a sci-fi book, but First Strike with its upbeat, tongue-in-cheek tone checked all the boxes for me. The main characters were adorably sweet: Stella, dedicated to her chosen medical field of saving lives in ER, Drew, whose optimism and open-mindedness is absolutely contageous, Rider with his tough ethical diemma, Zimmer, who, despite his best efforts, will never go unnoticed due to his sartorial choices and many others equally likeable- I loved them all! Even the main villain (or should I say villainess?) is memorable in her inexplicable love of everything related to one particular colour! There's an underlying message of cooperation, fairness and inclusion, and it is very refreshing to have strong female characters who aren't teenagers or young adults. The story is told in short and snappy chapters that take the reader on a space adventure where the main charcters have to quickly adjust to the new environment and make life-and-death decisions, following their instincts, moral compass and sometimes relying on luck. I wish the trading practices on Kodon were more unequivocally condemned and I wish we learnt more about the achenemy race's actions (not just their looks) to understand the situation, but I guess we will in the following books. If you're a fan of unusual superheroes and/or love Star Trek, don't miss this one! #Book Blitz #Let There Be Snow by Charlotte Rains Dixon #Holiday Romance @Xpresso Book Tours7/11/2022
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Let There Be Snow
-- SNEAK PEEK: Two steps remaining, someone appeared at the bottom of the stairs and startled Dixie. Her foot slid and she missed the step, landing awkwardly in front of the human who stood waiting to walk up. The human who was a male in a brown wool coat dripping with water. The human who had rich brown eyes that smoldered as brightly as the tasting room fire, a graceful long nose, and a mouth that was now wreathed in an ear-to-ear smile. The human who had a thick head of chestnut hair, with one lock that fell over his forehead in a boyish way. The human who now reached out a hand to steady her and said, “Oh, I’m so sorry, I startled you. Are you okay?” He was tall, really tall. She batted away the comparison to Tate, who had been short, shorter than Dixie herself, and for whom Dixie was always slumping so as not to be taller. Beneath this man’s overcoat a starched light blue shirt draped his broad shoulders and chest in a perfect fit, and his tan slacks fell from his waist in a sleek line. He was ridiculously handsome. Stupidly handsome. Except then she realized. He was Jamie and Ernest’s next appointment. Most likely a rival candidate for the marketing director job. Her job. She shook off his hand. “I’m fine.” “You sure are,” he said. Oh, for God’s sake. Really? Had he really just said that? She rolled her eyes. But he still gazed down at her. “Really, really fine.” “What are you, a relic from the dark ages?” she snapped. This man was totally riling her, despite his good looks. Maybe even because of his good looks. His smile didn’t waver. “Just a man who appreciates the finer things in life.” “Me too, which doesn’t include jerky men.” Dixie moved to step around him. She had to get away from him. She was being rude, and that was unprofessional. If her bosses heard her, it would be another black mark against her. “Oh, don’t go without an introduction.” Unfortunately, his voice was as rich and deep as his eyes. He held out a hand. “Max. Max Pettigrew.” She sighed and shook his hand, then withdrew it as quickly as possible. “Dixie. Dixie Dunham. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” Luckily, Ernest’s voice called from the top of the staircase. “Oh, there you are, Max, you’re just in time.” “For what, the vampire ball?” Dixie asked. Damnit, she’d done it again. “Oh now, do we have to be so harsh?” The words came out of her mouth before she could stop herself. “Oh now, yes. Yes, we do.” She couldn’t help it. She’d had enough of men, especially those of the handsome, entitled, arrogant variety, to last her a lifetime. “We really do.” Footsteps sounded on the steps and Ernest called down. “You ready?” “I thought I was but now I’m not so sure,” Max said, then zeroed in on Dixie again. “I’ll have you know I’m attending the Christmas play that the Mapson twins are appearing in.” “Try not to spoil the holiday cheer. I’m outta here.” Dixie made her escape. “Was it something I said?” Max called after her. “Damn right,” Dixie muttered as she stomped away. Air, she needed air. “Taking a quick break,” she called to Kate, and grabbed her coat and Bo’s leash. Outside, the rain had stopped but judging by the black clouds along the western horizon, it looked to be a brief respite. She led Bo up the path that snaked alongside the vineyard plantings to the top of a small rise. For the moment she could catch a glimpse of the spectacular view from the winery—green rolling hills, many covered with now-brown vineyards, others featuring farmhouses snuggled into them. It was a view she never tired of, even if she did wish the green would turn to white once in a while. She inhaled the fresh Oregon air. Damnit, she’d done it again—gone apeshit irritable over nothing important, just a stupid man. Stupidly handsome man. She swatted the thought away. Dixie took another deep breath, trying to shake off the stress that her therapist said activated her PTSD. If one believed she had PTSD, which for sure Dixie didn’t. Nope, she wasn’t going there. Not a chance. No way. She’d tried, she really had, but Dixie couldn’t help thinking that all that psychological self-help crap was just mumbo jumbo. What she needed was some good old-fashioned revenge.
Giveaway! From the blurb: In this Regency rom-com, when a Duke and a reporter team up to uncover his family’s secrets, their search brings up more than they bargained for—including their feelings for each other.Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that the two of them are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that their constant pithy barbs come from a shared disdain—not a hidden attraction. Diana loves the freedom of working at the newspaper too much to give it up for marriage, and Giles is happily married to his bachelor lifestyle. But they do have one thing in common—the secrets they can’t risk escaping. When Giles’ father, the curmudgeonly Duke of Harpenden unexpectedly turns up his toes, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes crawling out of the woodwork who knows the true circumstances of his only son's birth. As the threat of blackmail becomes real, Giles must uncover the truth of his parentage first, or else he and all those who depend upon him will be ruined—and dogged bloodhound Diana is his best hope at sniffing out the truth. As Giles and Diana dive into his family’s past, the attraction that the two of them insisted wasn’t there proves impossible to ignore. Soon, the future of the Sinclair estate isn’t the only thing on the line… Publication date: November 8, 2022 Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin Purchase My thoughts: If you'd asked me two years ago 'Contemporary or Regency?' I wouldn't have hesitated -'Contemporary, of course!', but then I discovered Virginia Heath and her delightful historical romcoms and learnt that they have everything a romance reader can wish for: entertaining storylines with the best tropes, funny, memorable characters, swoonworthy heroes and sassy heroines...and lots and lots of banter. No wonder I fell hook line and sinker for Minerva Merriwell and Hugh Standish in Never Fall for Your Fiancee, the first book in the Merriwell Sisters series, and now the wait is finally over and we have the second story where Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclaire get their happily-ever-after. If you remember these hilarious secondary characters from the first book, you already know they love nothing better than a bit of verbal sparring. Now that Giles' best friend Hugo is married to Diana's sister, these frenemies have grown even closer, although they are still long way from admitting how much they appreciate each other's company. Having had a very rough start in life, Diana is proud of having become one of the most sought-after reporters. Her scathing exposes make sure helpless victims of rich scoundrels get a chance for justice. When Giles' father suddenly passes away, the feelings of the new Duke of Harpenden aren't that straightforward. One thing he knows for sure, he needs answers to some questions buried in the past before someone uncovers the dirty secret of his illegitimate birth and uses it to ruin him and all the good he can finally do with the money he inherited from the old miser. But who can Giles trust in this delicate situation if not the belligerent, nitpicking 'grammarian' aka the Truth Hound Diana Merriwell? Yes, there's chemistry and sizzling attraction between the main characters, but there's so much more- trust, understanding and willingness to fight for each other's well-being and happiness. I love nothing more than a strong, independent female protagonist who will push the envelope and defy other people's expectations. All of this in deliciously entertaining, easy-to-read package (I love Virginia Heath's sense of humour and her writing style) and you have me reading until the small hours., wondering why on earth I thought Regency Romance can't be fun. Recommended? Sure! Now I can't wait for Virginia Heath to write the next story in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio – When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty-two books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiaheathwrites #Book Blitz #Things I should have said by Kelsey Humphreys #Romance #Romcom @Xpresso Book Tours1/11/2022
Things I Should Have Said
Giveaway! Happy Publication Day to Night, Forgotten, a new psychological thriller from Meghan Joyce Tozer! About the book: For fans of The Lovely Bones and The Push comes a deeply intense psychological thriller about a young woman who must cope with the aftermath of sexual assault. When Julie’s idyllic, happy life is upended by a sexual assault that results in a pregnancy, she can’t cope with anything—not the baby, not her mother-in-law’s constant presence in her home, not even her husband’s concern. Her marriage is forever changed. Her life is unrecognizable. Her only option is to put the broken pieces of that awful night together and finally come to terms with what happened to her . . . and why. 320 pages Release Date: November 1, 2022 Publisher: Wattpad Books Available for purchase from Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Books-A-Million, Kobo, Apple, your favorite US indie bookseller, or your favorite Canadian indie bookseller. About The Author
Meghan Joyce Tozer, a former lyric soprano and music historian, was born and raised outside Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard University and earning a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, she moved to San Francisco’s East Bay where she lives among the redwoods with her husband, their two young children, and their dog. Using the pen name Emily Lindin, in 2013 Meghan founded The UnSlut Project, an online community where survivors of sexual abuse find solidarity through personal story sharing. She is the author of UnSlut: A Diary and a Memoir (Lerner, 2015), director of UnSlut: A Documentary Film (2016), and has been a featured guest on ABC with Katie Couric, CNN, Deutsche Welle, Radio Ireland, The Doctors, Al Jazeera America, and NPR's Here and Now. |
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