Book Release Blitz for Sir, Yes Sir by L. L. Ash (GIVEAWAY)……

A man left bruised by war finds healing in a forbidden place when his best friend offers him a place to stay...and time with his sweet and enticing daughter.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Sir, Yes Sir by L. L. Ash, then add this emotionally intense tale to your bookshelf.  In honor of this older man/younger woman romance make sure to visit the link below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC along with some awesome goodies too!

Ashton

One single moment changed everything. After receiving life-altering injuries on my last operation, I was forced to retire early. What was I if not a Raider and a Marine? When my brother in arms Tommy (Gun) Blair offered his home up to me to finish my recovery, I snatched up the opportunity with both hands because I had nowhere else to go. Amidst all my calculations, however, I realized that I’d missed one significant detail. Freya, Tommy’s daughter. She’d been a kid last time I’d seen her. She was definitely NOT a kid anymore. Living up to her namesake, the daughter of my best friend was beautiful, sweet, and deadly. If Tommy knew the kinds of things running through my head, he’d kill me in my sleep with a rusty spoon. Didn’t matter though. The woman was temptation embodied, and despite all my training, discipline and control, she was the one weakness that I just couldn’t give up.
Freya
I’d never met a man like him. Ashton was solid, confident, rigid, and bold. He also had the body of a god. No joke. But I was just the kid of his best friend. Seeing a man as powerful as him bow to the agony of injuries and PTSD…it broke my heart. It also proved that he wasn’t just a fighting machine. When he started working at Dad’s dealership with us, I started to get to know the man instead of the legend, and I loved what I found. Good with his hands, and loyal to a fault, I fell so deep in love with him it’s almost disgusting. Too bad he was my father’s best friend and would never love me back.

EXCERPT:

“Sorry,” Freya said from...yep, the kitchen. “Mom’s been into that stuff ever since I can remember. She thinks that good thoughts and crystals can heal just about everything.”
“You don’t buy it?” I asked her.
She just blinked at me.
“She once tried healing my broken arm with obsidian and selenite. It took me two hours to convince my mom that a couple of pretty rocks weren’t going to reset my bones.” I whistled.
“How old were you?”
“Eight. Eight and a half, I think.”
Holy shit.
“Where was Tommy? Your dad, I mean.”
“Working. In Afghanistan, I think. He’d been gone for months before it happened. Mom always got super sucked into that stuff when he was away for a while.”
“I’m sorry, kid,” I told her, which made her bristle.
“I’m not a kid, you know that, don’t you, Ashton?”
Oh, I fucking knew it. I remembered the feel of her very grown-up breasts pressing against my chest while I was having a full on mental breakdown in the employee bathroom at work.
She’d never brought it up though. After Tommy had led me away, Freya never mentioned the incident again. Maybe she just wanted to forget the traumatizing moment, and I could respect that. I’d taken full advantage of her sympathetic and loving heart, and I knew it.
But I digress.
I didn't remember things being so bad. Tommy had mentioned that he’d needed to leave the Marines to be with his wife and daughter, but he’d never mentioned how bad it had evidently gotten. Had Freya been dealing with being the grown-up in the house ever since she was a kid? Maybe our pasts were more similar than I ever realized.
“You look like you’re thinking too hard,” Freya said as she dipped to look into the fridge for something.
Damn, that ass...
“I’m afraid that maybe your head will explode or something,” she mused.
I barked a rusty laugh, just as she stood and graced me with a grin over her shoulder. “You’re insane,” was the only comeback I had, because maybe she was right.
I was thinking way too hard about her and that peachy ass when I should’ve been focused on other things. “Is Tommy still at the dealership?”
She nodded, then slid over a beer to me.
“You know him. Workaholic.”
Yes, I did, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why. He had such an amazing life to come home to, why would he choose work over this?
I grunted instead of answering, but took the beer happily.
“So?” she asked after a minute. “You took the day to go to the base. How’d it go?”
I didn’t fucking answer. I didn’t want to.
Funny though, as it turned out, I didn’t need to.
“Oh...Ash...” she moaned, sadness and sympathy coloring her cheeks.
“Guess my nickname Citizen really matches now,” I grunted out, thinking it would be funny, but my voice cracked like a prepubescent boy, showing my emotions.
Freya came right around the counter and took me into her arms, beer and all where she squeezed me harder than anybody had ever hugged me before.
“You’ll be ok,” she muffled a whisper with her face in the crook of my neck and shoulder. “You’ve got us, and we’ll be your team.”
An unwelcome tear started slipping out of my eye, and I quickly tried sucking it back up before she could notice. But funny that, tears don’t suck back up like snot.
When she let me go, Freya looked into my face and lifted her hand, sweeping the trail of that singular tear away.
“You’ve got us,” she said, looking me right in the eyes. “If you need a wingman, I’m your girl. I’ll help get you laid and help you find a place when you’re ready. I’ll even watch sports with you, even though I hate everything other than hockey and MMA.”
I snorted a laugh, which made her sad lips turn into a small smile.
“I appreciate that,” I told her, pressing my palm to her cheek now. “But I’m ok. I don’t need a wingman. I can get laid all by myself. As for sports, what other real sports are there other than hockey and MMA?”
She snorted a laugh, legit making snot burst out of her nose, which made her cheeks flame with embarrassment.
I laughed too while she hurried away to the bathroom to get away from me. That girl was too much.
And fucking everything.

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AUTHOR INFO:

L.L. Ash is a Washington-born writer who has traveled and lived across the western coast of the US. Ash has been writing fiction since she was a pre-teen, and while her writing has improved since then, her love for literature has not changed.
Oftentimes you can find Ash reading an indie romance or enjoying a historical fiction. Dabbling in culinary arts and music, Ash has been an artist for decades but found her true love and passion in romances.

WEBSITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

**********GIVEAWAY**********

VISIT here FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A $25 AMAZON GC, ALONG WITH A SLEW OF OTHER GOODIES!  GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO ALL.  ENDS ON 4/29.

Book Cover Reveal for Servicemen of Blossom Springs Series by PJ Fiala…….

 Coming in 2024 is a gorgeous new series from PJ Fiala!  Readers will have reasons to rejoice with these suspenseful, small town romances featuring wounded warriors looking to start over.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of these covers, then start counting down the days until the Servicemen of Blossom Springs series by PJ Fiala hits bookshelves!

Blossom Springs became their sanctuary from the ravages of war. Love became their salvation.

USAT author PJ Fiala, brings you steamy, small-town romantic suspense stories, where outside forces threaten to ruin the peace and tranquility Blossom Springs was built on.

Three former military friends find their equilibrium when they change their lives and move to Blossom Springs. As these protectors find ways to heal themselves, they also meet the women who will challenge them in ways they never dreamed.

STEAMY NIGHTS

He's convinced he's discovered an ideal paradise.
She's certain she's found her new beginning...
Together, they must fight to keep their new dreams alive.
Sid Hoffman has suffered from PTSD since his time in Afghanistan. Inner peace has escaped him for years. Attending a bachelor party in Blossom Springs is a true awakening for him. Buying a garage and spending his days working with his hands has brought him more tranquility than he ever imagined.
Grace Murphy left an abusive relationship to follow her dream of owning short-term rentals. She's self-sufficient and ready to prove she has what it takes to build a thriving business and healthy life.
When outsiders roll into town and threaten their sanctuary, Sid and Grace join forces and fight to keep Blossom Springs the sanctuary they know it can be. Falling in love is the last thing these opposites were prepared for.

PRE-ORDER here.

SULTRY NIGHTS

He's finally free of his demons and is ready to start over by helping others. She's clawing her way back from a situation she never dreamed she’d be in. They must learn to fight together to rebuild their lives.
Through hard work and financial freedom, Quinn Kurtz has found a way to keep his PTSD at bay. He’s vowed to help fellow veterans combat their own demons by hiring them to work for his construction company.
Hanna Valentine was betrayed by a man she trusted and left with nothing. She gathered up her shattered pride and moved on to a cute little bungalow, where she is determined to recapture everything that was taken from her—one wall at a time, and all on her own.
Quinn and Hanna have no idea that their pasts are about to collide. The only way to keep from losing everything all over again is to trust each other. But, can a former warrior and a distrustful woman learn to fight their common enemy together, or will her inability to trust force them to go it alone?

PRE-ORDER here.

SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS

He’s navigating his way through his PTSD and has found a way to thrive.
She’s learning to harness her rage before it destroys everything important to her. Together they must channel their anger and distrust towards good.
Jace Marriott learned that owning his bar and keeping his mind busy are the secrets to preventing PTSD from ruining his life. Now that he’s found a sense of calm, outside forces threaten to steal it away from him.
Margo Price suffered an unimaginable loss, before being brought to her knees by an epic betrayal. Throwing herself into her real estate business is the only way she can move forward. Until she’s confronted by the one person who can destroy her new found peace of mind.
Jace and Margo meet and the attraction between them burns as bright and hot as a flame. Will they end up being burned, or will their Seductive Nights together be enough to combat the evil forces set out to destroy them.

PRE-ORDER here.

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Best Selling Author, PJ Fiala, has independently published multiple romance novels over the years. Focusing primarily on romantic suspense, she weaves a little bit of reality with a little bit of make-believe to create stories with heat, heart and all the feels. PJ lives in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area but travels to destinations unknown via motorcycle. Spending time with her grandmother Ruth, in Kentucky has helped to mold PJ into a person who enjoys life on the farm as well as life in the burbs. But it was romance novels that took her to places she’d only dreamed of and solidified her love of all things romance and swoony. Her family keeps her feet on the ground when her mind travels too far from home, delivering both a reality check and a nudge to keep it real.

  WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  PINTEREST  |  TIKTOK  |  YOUTUBE  |  GOODREADS  |  BOOKBUB  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Book Release Blitz for Guarding Shadows by Aly Stiles & Hazel James (REVIEW).....

 Set in the world of the Save Me series comes this emotionally intense romance between a rockstar and a wounded warrior who doesn't know where his place in the world is...but maybe his heart will answer that question for him.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Guarding Shadows by Aly Stiles & Hazel James, along with my impressions of this fifth addition to the series, which will have you wanting to add it to your bookshelf!

An emotional rockstar and military romance that can be read as a standalone.

Her demon stalks her.

His demons haunt the shadows of his head.

Internet star turned rocker Quinn Wylder never asked to be famous. So when she starts receiving disturbing messages while on tour with her new band, her reluctant dream quickly becomes a nightmare.

Army veteran Tanner Clarke never asked to be medically retired. But when an injury and PTSD diagnosis force him out of service, he’s left lost and alone in a civilian world that doesn’t seem to have a place for him.

It was the perfect solution: the compassionate angel who needs security hiring the haunted warrior trained to protect. But the biggest battle they face may be one they never saw coming—guarding a body is nothing compared to protecting a heart.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

From the moment I picked up this book I was immediately swept up in an emotionally intense tale depicting the painful process of soldiers returning home, their lack of support and their feelings of being lost and alone in a country that forgets about them once their uniforms come off.  Add in a sassy and strong-willed songstress in need of protection and you end up with a suspenseful tale of opposites attracting, a tale full of heart and soul.

Tanner Clarke served his country with honor and dignity, put his life on the line for love of country, but his return home after being medically discharged has been anything but rewarding.  Having no support from his family, and having PTSD, has left him feeling isolated without a job and on the verge of being homeless.  I ached for Tanner and where he is at the start of this story as he's dejected and feeling at the end of his rope with nowhere to turn.  It's at this darkest moment that an angel comes into his life in the form of singer Quinn Wylder, a woman he met when he was in the military and who now offers him a home and a job.  It's a connection that changes both of their lives irrevocably, a connection that also pulled at my heartstrings in a tale of healing and support.  With a story that was realistically depicted, and sometimes hard to read, readers get to see that the return to civilian life isn't easy and without support it becomes heartbreaking.  Tanner's family is awful, never listening to him and blaming him for his PTSD.  There were times I wanted to smack them in fact, as his pain radiated off him in waves, and as he expressed some very dark thoughts at the start of the story. The lack of support from those who should've been the most supportive made me appreciate Quinn all the more.  She quickly became the lone light in his dark world, gave him unconditional support as he again put his life on the line for another to keep her safe from a stalker.  Tanner's a delicious hero, despite all his baggage.  At his core he's a caretaker, a man of honor who wears the creed of to protect and serve like a second skin.  He's a bit dark and gloomy, but when you're in need of protection, he's just what you need.  He's been drawn to Quinn since he last met her, but doesn't feel comfortable mixing business and pleasure since becoming her bodyguard.  You can't stop fate though and it's not long before their slow-burn romance gains strength.  Through heartfelt talks and their unwavering belief in each other, their connection grew as it warmed my heart.

Quinn Wylder is a wonderful heroine, one full of light with a kind heart, and she's just what Tanner's been missing since he returned home in a tale of opposites attracting. She loves music but hates being in the spotlight, especially with stalkers now crawling out of the woodwork as her band gains more notoriety.  Through their time together she gives Tanner the support that's been missing from his life and in turn he helps her believe more strongly in herself as her band gets more famous.  She also gives him moments of laughter that diminish the darkness in this empowering romance of starting over.

This is a powerful read, a gritty one too with flashes of much-appreciated humor, that pulled at my heartstrings from the first page to the last.  Tanner and Quinn are a wonderful couple whose slow-burn romance kept me glued to the pages in a tale of opposites attracting that had me rooting for these two every step of the way.  Their romance was immensely satisfying too as sweet and sensual moments were nicely balanced with the suspense of Quinn's stalker.  Quinn's bandmates were a nice addition too, providing a few moments of laughter along the way, and I'd love to see more of them in the future.  Once I turned the final page I felt happy seeing two people clearly meant to be find each other in a tale of unconditional support and healing and I definitely recommend it to readers looking for an epic love story!

My rating for this is an A.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

ALY STILES can be found here:  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  NEWSLETTER

HAZEL JAMES can be found here:  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  WEBSITE

Book Tour for My True Love by Melissa Foster (Review & GIVEAWAY)......

Fate's been unkind to two people who form an unforgettable connection in this emotionally intense tale of starting over and taking nothing for granted in a small town where everyone knows you...or thinks they do.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of My True Love by Melissa Foster, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!  In honor of this second installment in The Steeles At Silver Island series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win an electronic backlist title too!

Can a man who resents the hand he’s been dealt and a woman who spends her days grateful for every

little thing find true love in each other’s arms—or are their differences stronger than both of them? Find out in this funny, sexy, heartfelt romance, and fall in love with Grant and Jules on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, and midnight rendezvous.

Even war heroes need a little help sometimes...

After spending years fighting for his country and too damn long learning to navigate life with a prosthetic leg, Grant Silver returns to Silver Island to figure out a future he couldn’t fathom without fatigues and a gun in his hand. He’d almost forgotten how a man could suffocate from the warmth and caring community in which he’d grown up, and if that weren’t bad enough, his buddies’ beautiful and far-too-chipper younger sister won’t stop flitting into his life, trying to sprinkle happy dust everywhere she goes.

As a cancer survivor, Jules Steele knows better than to count on seeing tomorrow. She doesn't take a single moment for granted, and she isn’t about to let a man who used to be charming and full of life waste the future he’s been blessed with. She's determined to get through to him, even if it takes a few steamy kisses...

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (KINDLE)  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  PRINT COPY  | AMAZON (AUDIBLE)  |  iBOOKS (AUDIBLE)  |  AUDIBLE

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a quadriplegic I've always been drawn to stories with characters I can relate to, unconventional characters who've had life experiences like mine.  With its complex, emotionally bruised veteran, this is just such a story as the scars Grant carries run deep and are both seen and unseen by others.  Add in a heroine who's also been put through life's wringer and readers will find themselves captivated by this couple and rooting for them every step of the way to finally put their pasts behind them in order to embrace HEA.

Grant Silver's the town grump!  A veteran of war who returned home an amputee.  He's angry, bitter, with no idea of where to go or what to do...except continue to be angry and keep pushing everyone away.  The moment he locks eyes with Jules is the moment everything changes for him though in a journey that saw the walls around his heart collapse as he finally found a reason to start living.  Like the Grinch's heart that grew two sizes, so too does Grant's heart once the sunny and sweet Jules spends time with him.  Despite his brooding nature I absolutely loved Grant!  I could understand his anger and frustrations and just wanted to hug him for all he's felt.  Jules entering his life was therefore a godsend with their time together being richly rewarding and a healing balm to his soul.  Together they made me cry, smile, all while warming my heart.  Grant was always a hero in my eyes, but his time with Jules (and the embracing of life he engaged in with each turn of the page) showed an even more heroic man as he bravely worked through the harsh realities of being disabled.  They were a special couple and were the fuel driving this story to it's immensely satisfying conclusion.

Jules Steele has had her own traumatic life after her recent successful battle with cancer. Instead of dwelling on the negatives throughout her battle she focused on the positives, embracing life to the fullest and treating each day like it was her last in her triumphant battle.  Readers quickly discover that Jules has always had an attraction to Grant, so it pains her to see how hard he's struggling.  To help ease his pain she makes it her mission to make things better for him in sweet and heartwarming moments that slowly bring them closer together.  It becomes a journey that not only heals the heart but also heals the soul in a slow-burn romance that wrapped itself around me like a warm blanket.  Jules is an inspirational heroine, a sweet and supportive young woman everybody's drawn to for her outgoing nature.  That's not to say that she doesn't understand pain and sadness though after experiencing all that throughout her battle with cancer.  She's just chosen a different path, one of rising above all the past pain, which makes her just who Grant needs in their empowering journey to HEA.

From the first page to the last Ms. Foster has crafted a powerful story, one that pushed all my emotional buttons in presenting a journey of healing and self-acceptance.  With each turn of the page Ms. Foster dealt with issues of disability in a straightforward way, showing the reality of disability in life and in love.  She fully immersed me in the reality of this couple and had me finding my own connection to them through my own life experiences.  Along with this emotionally engaging main couple were the equally appealing denizens of Silver Island, a cast of secondary characters who were funny and supportive in their dealings with this pair.  They added color, a caring atmosphere, and a support system while acting as subtle matchmakers too.  On a whole this is the kind of book you wish everyone would read as it's a realistic and eye-opening journey of living with a disability/overcoming adversity.  It's an empowering read and a feel-good story that warms the heart and soul and I give a big high-five to Ms. Foster for crafting this epic love story!

My rating for this is an A.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women's fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa's fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, and the Wild Boys After Dark. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented.

Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa via:

NEWSLETTER  |  WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  FAN CLUB  |  TWITTER  |  PINTEREST  |  INSTAGRAM  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  BOOKBUB  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

 

**********GIVEAWAY**********

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Book Tour for Fighting the Fire by Laura Kaye (Review & GIVEAWAY)........

An ER nurse and a firefighter create sparks in this romance of frenemies to lovers, a tale full of witty banter and sexual tension.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Fighting the Fire by Laura Kaye, as well as getting my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this fourth installment in the Warrior Fight Club series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 3 signed copies of this book as well as having the chance to win a mystery box of swag with another signed copy of this book tucked inside too!

One night is never enough...

For firefighter Sean Riddick, Warrior Fight Club keeps the demons of his past at bay, even though it means seeing Daniela England. Her ball-busting sarcasm drives him nuts, and he knows he’s damaged goods anyway, but he can’t help but remember how good they were together that one time. Now he wants to take her to the mats no matter how much they go toe to toe.

ER nurse Daniela England has lost so much that she’s vowed never to need anyone again. Fight club helps her beat back her survivor’s guilt, but it means dealing with Riddick. The hot-but-infuriating firefighter is everything she wants to avoid, which is why their one-night stand was a mistake. Now she needs to keep her distance so it doesn’t happen again.

But when Dani witnesses Sean’s motorcycle accident, she steps up to help him recover. One on one, they get beneath all the snark and find a connection neither expected. As Sean heals, the sparks between them burst into red-hot passion—and ignite old wounds. Now there are fires all around—and they have to decide which they’ll fight and which they’ll let consume them.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO  |  GOOGLE PLAY

**FIND THE WARRIOR FIGHT CLUB SERIES ON GOODREADS here.**

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Ms. Kaye's Warrior Fight Club series comes to a rousing end with this emotional tale of two wounded warriors finding healing through their long-simmering attraction (leading to a one night stand) and a motorcycle accident he needs help recovering from!  Theirs is a journey that put them, and readers, through the wringer in a story that pulled at my heartstrings and brought a tear or two to my eye along the way. Aiding them in their journey was a cast of appealing secondary characters, ones seen in previous books, who are a supportive group with their subtle matchmaking ways and heartwarming words of wisdom.  Together they made this a powerful read that is an unforgettable entry in the series.

Daniela England is a nurse who lost her husband six years ago and has kept her heart closed off ever since.  The loss of her husband isn't the only thing weighing on her though as there's all the other soldiers she couldn't save who still haunt her today. Being a member of the fight club helps keep her demons at bay, but it also keeps her in view of a man who's gotten under her skin and won't let go.  Though she's scared of putting her heart on the line she's having trouble denying the attraction she has for him in a relationship full of push and pull moments that play out as the story progresses. Sean Riddick is a veteran too...and now a firefighter who finds himself constantly coming into contact with Dani.  His own difficult past has him concerned about his ability to make a future, a HEA with someone else, because of an abusive childhood and the loss of fellow soldiers over the years that has him feeling like a failure.  Being part of the fight club helps him work out some of his anger but it's the heartfelt talks he and Dani soon start engaging in once he starts his rehabilitation that finally puts them on the road to HEA and an ending that made me feel good.

On a whole this was a well-crafted romance, a slow-burn tale full of push/pull moments that made for a story teeming with sexual tension. Dani and Sean were crackling together in interactions that felt more like foreplay at times.  Balancing out the combustible moments between them were scenes of deep talks that had them laying their emotions bare and had me rooting for them from the first page to the last. Though this wasn't a unique storyline it was an emotionally engaging one that warmed my heart and captivated my soul through the power of love flowing between Dani and Sean.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Laura Kaye is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 books in contemporary, erotic, and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, and has sold nearly two million books in the U.S. alone. Laura grew up amid family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. A former college history professor, Laura also writes bestselling historical women's fiction as Laura Kamoie. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  READER GROUP  |  TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM |  FREE BOOKS

**********GIVEAWAY**********

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Book Spotlight on Deep River Promise by Jackie Ashenden (GIVEAWAY)......

Former friends find that life didn't go as they thought it would in this small town romance of second chances and starting over as their reunion has them finally dealing with their long-simmering feelings for each other.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Deep River Promise by Jackie Ashenden, then start counting down the days until this contemporary romance hits shelves on March 30th!  In honor of this second installment in the Alaska Homecoming series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 5 copies of the first book in this series too!

Coming home was the easy part. Facing her will take everything he’s got...

Silas Quinn hasn’t been back to Deep River, Alaska, in years, not since he joined the army. He left behind the best friend he’d ever had. But he knew Hope Dawson was meant for bigger things than Deep River—and he—had to offer. What he didn’t know was that when he left, he took Hope’s dreams right along with him...

Then tragedy strikes and sends Silas home, and the entire town is thrown into chaos when they learn what brought him back—he’s inherited ownership of the town and the newly discovered oil reserves under it!

Hope gave up on ever getting out of Deep River. Her mom needed her, then her grandfather died and left her the local hangout to run. Now Si is back in town, stirring up old feelings—including her anger at being left behind. His return brings Hope an offer that can change her life. Love, or adventure, are almost within reach—but she can’t have both...

EXCERPT:

Damon Fitzgerald woke with an excruciating headache and the sense that he was being stabbed slowly but relentlessly through one eye. The headache was familiar—usually a sign he’d imbibed a little too heavily the night before—but the stabbing sensation not so much.

Cautiously, he raised one hand to touch the eye currently being stabbed only to encounter his own eyelid. So. Not being stabbed then. That was a relief.

He was still a little disoriented though, and his mouth felt like the bottom of a birdcage, so it took him some time to realize that the stabbing sensation was coming from the sunlight shining through a gap in the curtains and straight into one eye.

Sun. He hadn’t seen the sun for at least three days, due to the weather being crap, which was strange for LA...

Which was when he remembered that he wasn’t in LA. He wasn’t even in Juneau, where he’d been for the last couple for weeks.

No, it was worse than that. Way worse.

He was in a room over the Happy Moose bar in a tiny, privately owned town called Deep River, smack bang in the middle of nowhere, Alaska. And he’d been stuck here for three days because the weather had been so bad he hadn’t been able to fly out.

Damon lay there for a moment as the realization settled through him, trying to reorient himself, because he’d definitely over imbibed the night before and this hangover had teeth. Then with a sudden start, he remembered that sun was a good thing.

Sun meant the weather was better, which in turn meant he could get the hell out of here and back to LA.

Rolling off the bed, he dragged himself over to the french doors that led onto the room’s tiny balcony, shoved them open, and stumbled out onto the balcony itself, just to check that the sun was real.

Sure enough, though it must have been early in the morning, the sun was actually shining, the sky a bright, almost painful blue, making the white caps of the mountains looming on all sides look extra white and extra sharp.

Ahead of him was the deep, rushing green of the river the town was named for. Deep River. It had been settled during the gold rush at the end of the nineteenth century by the West family, who’d bought the land Deep River sat on and leased out bits of it to anyone who wanted a place to call home. A quirky little town, as Damon had spent the last three days finding out.

Deep River consisted of a ramshackle series of buildings clustered on the side of the river, connected by a boardwalk that projected out over the water and a narrow street that ran behind the buildings on the land side. They were old, those buildings, the paint on them faded, the wood cracked and worn through long exposure to rain and sun and snow. Not as picture- postcard as the ones in Ketchikan to the south, but there was definitely a certain vintage charm to them. Like a group of elderly ladies whose beauty was a little faded and careworn, they still possessed the ghost of their stunning youth, a certain timeless magic that tugged at the heartstrings.

Houses very similar to those at the water’s edge were scattered up the hill behind the town, and there were a few more buildings along from the boardwalk, huddling against the hill’s side.

A set of wooden steps led down from the boardwalk to a dock where several fishing boats and trawlers were tied up, but since it was comparatively empty, most of the boats must have gone up the river to the sea for a day working the nets.

Damon took a deep breath and then another, the fresh bite of the air settling his headache and cooling his skin, waking him up. He wasn’t a small-town kind of guy, but there was something quite majestic about the mountains and the forested hills that loomed above him. Especially now the sun was shining. He’d complained about the rain the night before to one of the locals, who’d then informed him of Deep River’s average rainfall, which was some horrendous amount that sounded just wrong to someone from LA.

Still, it did explain the solid three-day downpour and made him feel lucky that it was a beautiful day now.

Movement below him caught his eye, and he glanced down at the boardwalk.

The kid was there again, skulking by the big wooden pole stuck in the boardwalk that had “Middle of Nowhere” painted down the side. A tall, gangly teenager dressed in jeans and a black hoodie.

He always seemed to be in Damon’s vicinity, and if Damon didn’t know any better, he’d say he was being followed.

Though surely it was a little too early in the morning for teenagers? Weren’t they supposed to sleep past twelve or something?

The kid was looking straight at him, though he was too far away for Damon to see what expression was on his face. The fixed way the kid was staring was slightly unnerving.

A woman came suddenly into view. She had shoulder-length blond hair, and it was blowing around in the wind, a bright counterpoint to the plain jeans-and-T-shirt-combo she wore, a parka pulled on over the top, and she moved with great purpose to where the kid stood. She spoke to him a second and then turned her head, and Damon found himself under the intense scrutiny of two people.

His skin prickled, cool air moving across it. Moving everywhere across it.

Aw hell. He’d neglected to dress before stumbling out onto the balcony, and since he always slept naked...Yeah, no wonder both the woman and the kid were staring.

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AUTHOR INFO:

Jackie Ashenden has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. She used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to devote herself to the true love of her heart – writing romance. She particularly likes to write dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes and kick-ass heroines. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Book Spotlight on Somebody to Love by Sharon Sala (GIVEAWAY)....

Returning home unleashes a pile of emotions in this story of second chances set in a small town.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Somebody to Love by Sharon Sala, then add this tale of young love and forgiveness to your bookshelf.  In honor of this eleventh installment in the Blessings, Georgia series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 5 copies of the previous book in this series too!

Welcome to Blessings, Georgia! Whether you’ve lived here your whole life, you’re returning after years of being away, or you’re new in town, you’re sure to find the happy ending you’ve always been looking for.

Fifteen years ago, a family member stole the money Hunt Knox had saved for college, while three of his siblings and his father hid the truth and told him to get over it. Betrayed by their lies and thievery, Hunt joined the army and wound up flying Apache helicopters in Iraq. Now, he’s a chopper pilot for an oil company in Houston, Texas, his father has been dead for six years, and he’s finally returning home to Blessings at his mother’s dying request.

Ava Ridley, the little girl his mother used to babysit, has grown up and is a nurse at his mother’s bedside when he arrives. Ava is overjoyed to see him. She had a huge crush on him when she was young. And as the two spend more time together, Ava’s crush grows to be even more.

Through secrets, lies, family betrayal, and difficult choices, Hunt’s not sure he and Ava can ever make a home together in Blessings. Or if life will once again lead them onto different paths...?

EXCERPT:

Hunt rode across town, past the park, and then west down Peach Street to the little house at the end of the block. He’d seen this house a million times in his dreams, but it hadn’t looked sad and run-down like this.

A black pickup was parked beneath the carport, so he rolled up and parked beside it. He got the house key out of his pocket, but as he headed toward the back door, the hair stood up on the back of his neck. He didn’t believe in ghosts, but this house didn’t feel like it wanted him there. That was fair.

He didn’t want to be here, either, but a promise was a promise.

He unlocked the door and walked into the utility room just off the kitchen, turning on lights as he went. All of the furnishings were here. If it hadn’t been for the faint layer of dust all over everything, he could imagine his mom had just stepped out to run an errand and would be back soon.

There was a low spot in the middle of the kitchen floor—probably floor joist issues. The old hardwood flooring was scarred and worn, and the furniture was threadbare. The sight of this neglect made Hunt angry. How could his brothers and sisters let this happen? They were all right here in the same town together.

The year Hunt began high school, they’d remodeled the attic enough to call it a bedroom, and for the first time in his life, he’d had a room of his own. Curious to see what it looked like now, he went straight up the narrow stairwell at the end of the hall and opened the attic door. The single window was bare of curtains or shades, and the dust motes in the air stirred as he moved through the space now filled with boxes of old memories that should have been laid to rest years ago.

The bed he’d slept in was gone. The closet door was missing, the closet empty. Even the rod where his clothes used to hang was gone. It was as if they’d wiped away all memories of him. If only he’d been able to do the same.

He went back downstairs, glancing in his mother’s room and accepting it was the only one decent enough to sleep in, then began eyeing all of the things that needed repair.

He went back to the kitchen to check out the appliances. The burners on the gas stove lit, the oven came on. The dishwasher was clean, and the single glass in the top rack told him it had recently been in use and was likely in working condition—something he’d find out later.

The water pressure was good, and the washer and dryer appeared to be in working condition. The refrigerator was the newest appliance in the house, but nearly everything inside it needed to be thrown away. He didn’t know for sure how long his mother had been in the hospital, but the carton of milk was over a month out of date, and the single container of peach yogurt had long since expired.

The ice in the bin beneath the icemaker had all frozen together, which meant the electricity must have been off at one time long enough to melt it. Then when the power returned, it froze back. So he took the bin out and dumped the ice in the sink, then put it back beneath the icemaker to start making fresh ice, then dumped everything that was in the freezer and refrigerator into the garbage.

The central heat and air were still working, and they looked newer than he remembered, which was good. There was a big job ahead of him to do this right, but in the long run, it would make a huge difference in the sale of the house. However, this task was going to take tools as well as supplies, so he went out back to the toolshed to see what, if anything, was left.

The light bulb was burned out in the shed, so he left the door open as he went in to look around, and it was just as he feared. There was nothing left in it but a couple of old hammers, a hand saw, and an old sack of roofing nails. Seeing the nails reminded him he needed to check on the condition of the roof as well. He could rent tools and hire help. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it was going to be a pain in the ass coping with his family while it happened.

He found a set of car keys hanging on a hook in the kitchen and guessed it was to the truck. If it ran, it would be handy to use while he was hauling stuff to the house to make repairs, so he went out to check. The insurance verification in the glove box was in Marjorie’s name. He turned the key to see if it would start, and the engine turned over immediately. So he locked the house and drove to the bed-and-breakfast to pack up his things and check out.

Bud was scanning Hunt’s card to pay for his room when Hunt thought about the locks he needed to change.

“Hey, Bud, is there still a locksmith here in town?”

“Yes, there sure is. Mills Locks, next door to Bloomer’s Hardware on Main Street. The owner’s name is Cecil, but everything is probably closed today.”

“Okay...I remember him,” Hunt said. “Thanks, and thank you for your hospitality,” he said, then carried his bag out to the truck. Out of curiosity, he drove straight to the locksmith, saw the Open sign on the door, and went inside.

The man at the counter looked up.

“Welcome to Mills Locks. I’m Cecil Mills. How can I help you?”

“I need a couple of new locks put on a house I’ll be remodeling. Would you be available to do that today?” “Yeah, sure. Here in town?” Cecil asked.

“Yes, where Marjorie Knox lived. I’m her oldest son, Hunt. I’m going to fix it up some before it’s put up

for sale.”

“Lived?”

Hunt nodded. “She passed away early this morning.”

Cecil frowned. “I hadn’t heard. I’m real sorry about that. I’m waiting on a customer who’s on the way in from his farm, but I can get away around noon, if you don’t mind me coming at your lunch hour.”

“I’m not on any schedule. You sure you’re okay working on New Year’s Day? It could wait until tomorrow,” Hunt said.

Cecil shrugged. “I’ve already been called out twice today for emergencies, and my wife is home and sick with the flu. I’d just as soon be here.”

“Then noon is fine. Do you know the address?” Hunt asked.

“It’s the last house on the right at the end of Peach Street, right?”

Hunt nodded. “Yeah. My Harley and her black pickup will be under the carport.”

“Then I’ll see you at noon.”

“Right,” Hunt said, and left the shop, then stopped by the grocery store. He was surprised to see that it was no longer a Piggly Wiggly, and had a new facade and a new name to go with it. The Crown.

Nobody recognized him, which made shopping easy, until he got up front to pay. The cashier who was

checking him out kept looking at him, and when he put his credit card in the reader, she finally spoke.

“You sure do look familiar. Are you from around here?” she asked.

Hunt nodded as he put his card back in his wallet. “I’m Hunt Knox. I used to sack groceries here back when it was still the Piggly Wiggly. You’re Millie, aren’t you?”

“Yes! I’m Millie Garner! I knew you looked familiar. I just heard about your mother’s passing. My sympathies to the family,” she said.

“Thanks,” he said, and began putting his bags back in the shopping cart.

“Do you plan on staying here?” she asked.

“Only long enough to fix up the family house so it can be sold at auction. I promised her I’d do that,” Hunt said, then walked out pushing the shopping cart.

By the time he got back to the house and unloaded the groceries, it was getting close to noon. He took off his jacket, then began emptying the sacks and putting up the things he’d just bought. By the time he was through, Cecil Mills was knocking on his door. He let Cecil in, and then pointed out the

locations where new locks were needed.

“There’s just the front door, and then a back door in the kitchen.”

Cecil nodded. “I’ll get those switched out for you and get both locks synced to open with one key. How

many keys are you going to want? It comes two keys to a set, so you’ll have four.”

“That’s plenty. I’ll be the only one using one here, but when it sells, then that will be handy for the new

owners.”

“Then I’ll get right to work,” Cecil said.

“Call out if you need me,” Hunt said, then took a notepad and a pen and started in the kitchen, making a list of the things that needed to be fixed.

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AUTHOR INFO:

Sharon Sala has 127 books and novellas in print. First published in 1991, she’s a RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, RT Career Achievement winner, National Reader’s Choice Award, Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence, Heart of Excellence Award, the Booksellers Best Award, RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and the Centennial Award for recognition of her 100th published novel. Her books are New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestsellers. She lives in Oklahoma.

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