Under Control by Shannon Stacey
Series Boston Fire Series Genre Adult Contemporary Romance Publisher Carina Press Publication Date August 28, 2018
Meet the tough, dedicated men of BOSTON FIRE—and the women who turn their lives upside down.
When faced with the opportunity to change shifts while staying in the same house, veteran firefighter Derek Gilman jumps at the chance. His new schedule means not working Saturdays, which means more time to spend with his two kids. His divorce may have been amicable, but being a firefighter and a single dad is a lot to juggle. And when fate brings a gorgeous, wealthy woman into his life, he’s pretty sure he can’t handle more than he already is. Olivia McGovern loves plans. She planned to start her own business and planned its growth. It’s earning her seven figures now, but her personal life simply doesn’t exist. Getting trapped in a broken elevator figures in exactly nowhere, and freaking out in front of a sexy firefighter definitely isn’t on the agenda. Especially not one with two kids and an ex. What would have been a random incident with an attractive stranger becomes something more when a charity event brings them back together. They’re from different sides of the tracks, literally—with friends, family and careers to consider. But as Derek and Olivia are discovering, chemistry doesn’t allow for plans, and love doesn’t bother with logistics.
A woman stepped out of an office ahead and turned, walking ahead of him in the same direction. She was notable for two reasons. One, she wasn’t looking at a cell phone. That in itself was enough to make her stand out in this crowd.
But it was her looks that captured Derek’s attention. He only got a glimpse of her profile before she turned, but she had delicate features and dark blond hair drawn up off her neck in a loose bun. Her navy suit looked as if it had been tailored specifically for her body, and the coat flared slightly, accenting the curve of her hips. Her legs were long, and his gaze lingered on her calves before sliding up to the soft spots behind her knees that were playing peekaboo with the hem of her skirt. And he’d never realized how sexy the click of high heels on a marble tile floor could be. When he was a kid, he’d hated the sound because the high heels usually belonged to an angry teacher he was following down the hallway to the principal’s office. But following this woman as she walked down the hallway with long, confident strides was a hell of a lot more enjoyable. Of course, she reached the elevator just as the door opened and a man stepped out. Because he’d slowed to leave enough space to appreciate the view, Derek knew there was a good chance the door would close before he reached it and there was no way in hell he was taking the stairs if he didn’t have to. “Hold the door, please,” he called as the woman stepped in and pushed a button on the panel. She looked up at him and he saw the hesitation in her body language. She didn’t want to, but he watched the fact he was a firefighter register, plus it would be rude to pretend she hadn’t heard him after making eye contact. He smiled as she hit the button to hold the doors. “Thank you.” The button for the lobby was already lit, so he stepped back as the doors slid closed. She only nodded and pulled her phone out of the back pocket of the leather journal she was holding, which was stuffed with notebooks and paper from the looks of it. But Derek could see her reflection in the highly polished metal door and she was looking at him. And not a quick glance to make sure the stranger was staying on his own side, but a lingering look. He should say something, but he wasn’t sure what to say, since women wearing power suits in the Back Bay were way out of his league. The floors were ticking past like seconds on the clock, though, and he was running out of time. She was taking a step forward, probably in anticipation of reaching the lobby level soon, when there was a grinding sound and the elevator lurched to a stop. Off-balance, she stumbled and—thanks to good reflexes and maybe some good luck—he ended up with an armful of beautiful woman. Apparently he was getting an extension. She tilted her face up to him, and he saw the distress in her pretty greenish-blue eyes. “What’s happening?” “We stopped,” he said, hoping she’d find the obvious answer funny. In his experience, humor relaxed people. She didn’t even crack a smile, and he cleared his throat before continuing. “There are a few reasons it could happen, but the system probably has a problem or a malfunction somewhere and it shut the elevator down to be safe.” “This is not safe.” She wasn’t in a full-blown panic, but her anxiety practically crackled around her, and she was clutching his arm so tightly he could feel her grip through the heavy bunker coat. “And what do you mean by a malfunction? So something could be more wrong than the fact we’re not moving anymore?” “Everything’s fine.” He had to let his arms fall away from her as she backed away, wincing a little. “Are you hurt?” “No.” He wasn’t reassured by the quick way she said it, as if it was a reflex and maybe not the truth. He pulled out his phone to send a quick group text to Danny Walsh—Engine 59’s LT—and Rick Gullotti. Elevator’s stuck. Why? Then he peeled off the heavy coat and tossed it on the floor, dropping the helmet on top of it while she sent a text message of her own to somebody. “We’re okay in here. Just try to stay calm and we’ll be out in no time.” “Stay calm,” she muttered as her phone vibrated and she sent another text. “That’s easy for you to say. Being brave in the face of death is part of your job.” That was a little dramatic, but she wasn’t totally wrong. About his job, anyway. “You’re not facing death. I promise.” His phone vibrated with a response from Walsh. Working on it. Stand by. The woman’s face was slightly flushed. “Shouldn’t you… I don’t know. Go up through the ceiling hatch and climb up the cable or something?” Derek managed—barely—not to laugh outright at her, but he couldn’t hold back a short chuckle. “I’m a firefighter, not John McClane.” “Who’s John McClane?” Oh, she did not just ask that. “The greatest action hero of all time? The guy from Die Hard?” “I’ve heard of those movies, but I’ve never seen any of them.” If he’d needed any more of a definitive sign this woman wasn’t his type, that was it. There were six movies, so she had to work at not seeing any of them. “You’re missing out. So, what’s your name?” “Olivia.” “Pretty name.” Classic and elegant, and it suited her. “I’m Derek.” “Can you pry open the doors?” she asked, clearly not in a place to be distracted by small talk. “With my bare hands?” He held them up, showing off his lack of tools. “I work out a little, but not that much.” Her gaze flicked over his body, and he stood up straighter and sucked in his gut. Not that there was much to suck in, but he wasn’t in his twenties anymore. Hell, he was barely still in his thirties. “You work out more than a little.” Her tone of voice made it sound like just an observation, but he didn’t miss her gaze lingering for a second on his chest or the way her eyebrow lifted as her mouth curved into a hint of a smile. She wasn’t flirting, but she liked what she saw and he’d take the win. He’d need all the ego boosting he could get once the other guys started giving him shit for having to rescue him from an elevator. Then she shifted her weight and, when she winced again, Derek gave her a stern look. “You’re hurt.” “No, I’m not. I twisted my ankle a little when the elevator stopped.” “You need to get those shoes off and let me look at it.” She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t care how nice this elevator is, I am not touching the floor with my bare feet.” Derek picked up his coat, letting the helmet roll free, and—with a flourish—spread it over the floor in front of her. “Your carpet, milady.”
Ever since I read my first book by Shannon Stacey she has been one of my top favorite authors. She engages my mind with the deep and raw emotions in the realistic, life-like romance stories about regular people with rambunctious yet loving families and all the mess that goes with living and loving fully with no reservations. There is humor, there are tears, there is heat, and there are sweet, swoon-worthy moments that makes me smile and sigh and be glad that I found her books in the first place.
Under Control is an ardent story that I easily related to. The past hurt and disappointments sometimes make us hold on to the little control we can actually have in life. Compromises are not always easy, the risks of trusting and loving with your whole heart can be scary, and veteran firefighter Derek Gilman and businesswoman Olivia McGovern learn their lessons the hard way. Derek and Olivia live in different worlds, on the opposite sides of the town. But it is not only the physical distance that is a challenge in their relationship, they seem to be the opposite in every possible way. Yet, the attraction between them is a sizzling, tangible force that keeps pulling them together, despite everything that is pulling them apart. I loved the energy between Olivia and Derek. I loved the honesty they shared, the connection between them had this aura of trust, flirtiness, and adoration that just pulled all the feels to the surface. I loved that Derek was such a loving, caring father and that the relationship between Olivia and his kids took time to develop, like it does in the real world, as well. I loved that while the story is realistic, it has that magical, whimsical wonder of falling in love, utterly, helplessly, and completely out of our control. Under Control was an unputdownable, emotional, intense, and fervent story that kept me up late at night. It is a story about family, second chances, giving up the tight hold of control we sometimes hang on to too long, learning to make compromises, and risking it all to fall utterly and completely in love. A wondrously enjoyable tale ~ Five Spoons Tour Wide GiveawayTo celebrate the release of UNDER CONTROL by Shannon Stacey, we’re giving away a $25 Amazon gift card! GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to internationally. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Carina Press. Giveaway ends 9/11/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
About Shannon StaceyNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author SHANNON STACEY lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
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The Real You
Only You Book 1
by RM Alexander
Genre: Romantic Suspense
"Movie Star Romance on a whole other level!"
Reeling from a nasty divorce, Paige Reed wants to move forward, and leave the past where it belongs - behind her. A spontaneous decision leads her to a location set for a movie where she meets sexy Hollywood insider, Kellen Richards.
Kellen's southern charm sweeps Paige off her feet, despite the hungry paparazzi watching in the background. But when a tragedy proves to be anything but accidental, he vows to protect Paige with every resource at his beck and call.
While Paige fights to find her place in his world, Kellen must engage in a lethal game of chess, their lives and blossoming love at stake.
What Readers are saying:
"Emotional roller coaster that took me along for the ride!"
"Heartbreaking yet uplifting!"
Nominated for 2017 Reader's Choice Award and 2018 Author Academy Award
Paige sauntered past tables of clinking silverware, murmurs and crunching fresh bread. Her stomach rolled. Full or not, she may have to indulge further. It'd been awhile since she had a dinner that tasted this good.
She edged to a long table dressed in flowers and several punch bowls full of pretty pink liquid. Picking a glass from the far end, Paige reached for the ladle of the closest crystal bowl. "Please, allow me." She glanced up, hand hovering above the silver ladle. "I, uh, thank you." Paige held a cup as Grey Richards poured the punch. "You and your friend were at the shoot today, right?" She nodded. "Yes, for a little while. During the car chase." "I remember. That's great. I love meeting my biggest fans." A soft smile dressed her lips. "I can't say I'm your biggest fan. I mean ... I ... I enjoy your movies, but ... I ..." The heat in her cheeks burned her flustered nerves. "I'm sorry, I ... " She took a sip of the punch. A polite retreat was all she needed. Grey laughed and tucked a hand in the tuxedo pants. The material flowed and hung, obviously not a rental. A man like him probably has a closet full of top of the line tuxedos, she thought. She didn't want to venture a guess at the price tag that came with each one. It was likely to be more than she'd make in a lifetime at her job. "Honesty. I like that. Don't get a lot of it where I come from." Paige kept her gaze trained on the cup, heat spreading like wildfire. He leaned back a little, gaze traveling up and down Paige's body, feet to head, and back again. Paige shifted her weight to one foot, then the other. "You're uncomfortable around me." She met the trademark gray-charcoal eyes. "I imagine you get that a lot." Steady in his stare, she felt like he was drinking her in. "What's your name?" She drew in a steadying breath. "Paige Reed." "Paige Reed." He watched her. "Paige Reed." He turned her name in the smooth steely voice every fan knew well. "Pretty name for a pretty lady." What a line. But he doesn't need practice with lines, she bet. She took a sip of punch, thankful the trumpeting thought didn't pass through her lips. "Thank you." "So," he said, taking a drink of punch, "what kind of movies do you enjoy if you're not my biggest fan?" She swallowed hard and coughed. "I didn't say I didn't like your movies." "No, of course, you didn't." He turned to the punch and poured a second cup, took a drink. "You wouldn't admit that much, would you? I ask again, what are your favorite movies? I bet you're a romance fan." "And if I am?" He chuckled, hand held up in retreat. "Nothing wrong with romance. I've been looking at a couple scripts myself, but nothing's come my way that has caught my attention. What's your favorite, if you had to choose?" " Pride and Prejudice. The one with Keira Knightley." He nodded. "Historical romance, huh?" Her turn to nod. "Good film. Good cast. And I bet you're wondering what the actors are like in real life?" She smiled and shrugged. "No. You wouldn't tell me even if I were, and really, I'm not a National Inquiry kind of girl anyway. They're just people, who happen to make good movies. And you, you're just another person who happens to make good movies." His smile widened. "I like that. And yet, when I first came over here, you struggled to talk to me. If I'm just another person, why was that?" She glanced over her shoulder to the table, where Lil stood, frozen and slackjawed. Paige giggled. "Something funny?" He glanced over her shoulder. "You're friend looks like she might be a National Inquiry kind of girl." Paige gritted her teeth. "My sister. She's a good person, who just might be one of your biggest fans. Are you that callous towards all your biggest fans?" "Oh, no. I didn't mean any offense." He shifted his weight. "I should let you get back to your sister. It's been interesting talking to you, Ms. Reed." He held out a hand. "Nice talking to you, Mr. Richards." Paige shook his hand, eyes widening as he brought the back of her hand to waiting lips, eyes trained on her. Wait. Men still do that? A quick goodbye and he disappeared into the crowd at the front of the room. Paige stood, hand hanging in the air, staring at his retreating figure
The Determined You
Only You Book 2
Heroes paint the big screen, but a violent opponent interferes with true love, driving one actor to prove he's more than a script.
Easy-going Lil Reed is like every red-blooded female would be: excited to meet her first Hollywood A-lister. After all, Grey Richards is the talk of the town. And she's the lucky one; his brother is marrying into her family. But Lil quickly learns an age-old lesson: be careful what you wish for. Grey is nothing like the charismatic and charming characters he portrays. This heartthrob is surly, arrogant, and completely closed off.
With no patience for gossip-reading fan girls, Grey is far from interested in the youngest Reed sister. And a guy like Grey would never date outside the elite Hollywood circles. That would be career suicide.
However, when there's a threat against the Reed sisters, Grey feels compelled to protect the spunky and adorable woman who somehow wiggled her way into his heart. With danger closing in, Grey must save the sisters and prove to Lil that there's more behind the glamour and glitz. But will she ignore the fake tabloids for a chance at real love?
The Perfect You
Only You Book 3
When Texas oil mixes with Hollywood wine, love must prove it's thicker than blood before a murderous adversary calls checkmate.
Determined to prove herself, Trinity Richards goes against her family's wishes and finally makes the move to Los Angeles. Knowing her brothers monitor every move gives Trinity the courage to fulfill her dreams. But now, her brothers' enemies have a new target: Her.
Finding solace at the bottom of a bottle, Tim Rhodes is still struggling with his wife's death. Encountering the beautiful and assertive Trinity puts him on edge. After all, he has no intentions of ever falling in love again. Love only breeds pain--and too much of it. The last thing he needs is another woman in his life.
When Trinity's life is threatened, Tim's torn between his past and what could possibly be his future. Now, it's up to him to confront his demons and fight for the woman he wants. Can he bury his pain and save Trinity before it's too late?
RM Alexander is an author of romantic suspense. With driven characters who suffer the worst kinds of betrayals, RM's novels promise a good read with unexpected twists and turns.
When she's not writing, RM spends time with her husband and two children. She loves to travel, especially to Walt Disney World, and is addicted to orange juice and Ghiradelli chocolate. She is often found on Twitter and Facebook chatting with other authors and readers.
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The Illegitimate Duke by Sophie Barnes
Series Diamonds in the Rough Genre Adult Historical Romance Publisher Avon Books Publication Date August 28, 2018
United in a common cause…
Lady Juliette Matthews longs to be much more than just another pretty ornament in society. But using her recently acquired fortune to do some good is more complicated than she anticipated. Young ladies are not expected to risk their safety in helping the less fortunate. And the one gentleman who could help in her mission is stubborn, infernally handsome—and far too honorable to act on their mutual attraction. And in a desire impossible to deny… Florian Lowell has suddenly been made heir to the Duke of Redding—a far cry from his status as a dedicated physician. Yet even with his new role as the country’s most eligible bachelor, the beautiful, fearless Juliette is utterly beyond his reach. The scandalous circumstances of his birth would destroy both their reputations if they became known. But when a more urgent danger threatens Juliette’s life, Florian must gamble everything…including the heart only one woman can tame. “—I mean, to think we could be so lucky is almost too much,” one of the women on the other side of the screen was saying. “Our debuts looked positively dismal with no chance to snatch up a duke.” “Until now, that is,” the other woman said in a dreamy voice that made Juliette roll her eyes. She glanced at Vivien and had to force down a laugh. “Can you believe our good fortune?” the first woman said. “Well, he’s not a duke yet. Is he?” Juliette straightened and tilted her head. They were obviously talking about Florian Lowell, the physician Raphe had sent for when she’d been sick with the measles the previous year. News of his recent change in status had been the subject of great discussion at Huntley House the previous evening when Raphe had returned home with the announcement. Juliette still wasn’t sure she understood how the title or the inheritance had come about, but it did look as though Florian would one day outrank his older brother, Mr. Lowell, who was set to become Viscount Armswell one day. “Either way, I could easily get used to the idea of marrying Florian,” one of the women was saying. “He’s ever so handsome.” Both women burst into giggles. Muted whispers followed and then the sound of the door opening and closing plunged the room into silence. Juliette looked at Vivien and grinned. “Well, I wish them luck. In truth I don’t believe I’ve ever met a man more unapproachable than Florian.” “He does look rather starched,” Vivien muttered. She stood and adjusted her gown. “Mind you, I’ve only seen him once or twice, so I could be wrong.” “No. I don’t believe you are. In fact, my impression of him is not much different. He’s an excellent physician who seems to take his work very seriously. One cannot fault him for that, though I do wonder what it might be like to see him smile.” “Do you now?” Vivien asked with a smirk as the two returned to the hallway and started making their way back toward the ballroom. Juliette nudged her friend with her shoulder. “Oh, you know what I mean, Viv!” “All I know is that you wondering what it might be like to see him smile will likely pester you until you find a way to make it happen.” They entered the ballroom. “Of all the people I have ever known, none are as determined as you when you set your mind to something.” “Well I—” A wave of chatter cut Juliette’s thought process short. She glanced around, aware of the agitation rolling through the ballroom like tremors threatening to toss all the guests up into the air. “What on earth is going on?” “Look,” someone said as Juliette pushed her way between a few people, pulling Vivien along by her hand. “There he is,” another voice muttered. Shouldering her way past a cluster of women who craned their heads and stared toward the ballroom entrance, Juliette caught a sudden and very unexpected glimpse of the man she and Vivien had just been discussing. Florian. Her breath caught and her heart slammed hard against her chest. Because there he was and dear God if he didn’t look superb! Dressed in evening black, his copper streaked hair was neatly combed, though a single stray lock slashed roguishly across his brow. She’d never seen him like this before. The last time they’d met at a ball he’d been wearing an unremarkable suit cut from brown wool, if memory served. Now, however, he looked like the dukely title would fit him as well as the perfectly tailored jacket and trousers he wore. They seemed to accentuate his masculine physique in a way she’d never considered. It was almost as if his shoulders were broader, his build a little taller and . . . Juliette blinked. No. She would not be like all the other silly girls swarming toward him and vying for his attention. He was just a man, after all, even if he was capable of saving the sick and putting a broken body back together again, which was admittedly something to be admired. But that didn’t mean she would ever be able to look past his stern demeanor or want anything from him besides medical advice and possibly friendship. And yet, while she thought of all this, Florian’s head turned in her direction and his gaze locked with hers. The moment was fleeting, no more than a second perhaps, but it was exactly the right length of time required for Juliette’s pulse to leap and for an unfamiliar flutter to fill her stomach. She sucked in a breath and deliberately turned away. Fresh air was what she needed, that was all. The stuffy heat in the ballroom had obviously affected her senses. So with this in mind, she maneuvered her way toward the French doors and slipped out onto the terrace, breathing a sigh of relief as the cool night air cleared her head. Tour Wide GiveawayTo celebrate the release of THE ILLEGITIMATE DUKE by Sophie Barnes, we’re giving away a paperback bundle of The Most Unlikely Duke & The Duke of Her Desire! GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback bundle of A Most Unlikely Duke and The Duke of Her Desire by Sophie Barnes. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 9/7/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
About Sophie BarnesBorn in Denmark, SOPHIE BARNES spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian. But, most impressive of all, she’s been married to the same man three times-in three different countries and in three different dresses. When she’s not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. Visit Sophie Barnes at www.SophieBarnes.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter (@BarnesSophie). Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
In Gold Valley, Oregon, forbidden desire just might turn into the love of a lifetime…
When Lindy Parker lost her cheating husband, she gained a vineyard. She’ll do anything for Grassroots Winery, including teaming up with the hottest devil she knows, rancher Wyatt Dodge. Wyatt is her ex’s friend and has an ego as big as the bulls he rides. But in spite of that, disciplined Lindy has always wanted him… Lightning struck Wyatt Dodge the first time he saw Lindy Parker. But there were two problems with that: she was married to his friend, and Wyatt doesn’t do strings. But now Lindy is free, and the two of them can finally explore the heat that’s burned between them for so long. But can Lindy make this good time cowboy decide on forever?
With the perfect balance of fun banter and humor, deep emotions and life lesson and passionate romance the Good Time Cowboy shoots straight into the hearts of the readers and takes a fast hold. I absolutely adored this story, each moment of it, bringing up all the feels and emotions to the surface.
Lindy Parker and Wyatt Dodge have one of those connections that is tangible sizzling each time they just think of the other. The energy and attraction between them are palpable, undeniable, and fervent. They get each other, they recognize in the other the past hurt, disappointments, and heartache. There are moments between them that had me swooning hard and moments that brought tears to my eyes, there is an a-ha moment with Lindy that just blew me away, one of my favorite scenes in a book maybe ever. It just raddled me to the core. The family drama is heartbreaking. How the parents' choices shaped their children's lives even after childhood was long behind them, and still affected their decision making and even their happiness, was an eye-opening moment, so realistic and revealing. I have yet to read a book by the author that wouldn't have had me completely enamored. Maisey Yates writes about life and relationship in a way that readers all over the world can relate to the stories and reflect on them. She mixes deep emotions, life's struggles, humor, and romance in a perfect balance, always delivering the goods, leaving readers long for the next book. Thankfully, the wait is never that long. Good Time Cowboy was one of those stories that I have eagerly anticipated, and Lindy and Wyatt, they won my heart over ten-fold while they entertained and had me alternately laughing, swooning, and in tears holding my breath waiting to exhale. Absolutely a marvelous tale, just like all the other books in the series. ~ Five Spoons!
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world. Connect with Maisey Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Silver Dagger Book Tours is now 2 years old this month!
Believe it or not, Silver Dagger Book Tours was created and is mainly operated by just one person!
I used to be just an internet crawler looking for new books and giveaways and stumbled upon book tours. After indulging in many dozens of tours, I decided I'd like to try my hand at blogging in my spare time (with absolutely no blogging experience at all!) I was a book blogger for several companies (and still am) and stuck with it for over 3 years. In that time, I learned all the ropes and became a pretty efficient blogger, but there was still something missing- I wanted to make my posts stand out a bit! So, I started creating small graphics like “about the book” and the other standard graphics that you see in all my tours nowadays and started jazzing my posts up.
I became pregnant with my second child in the fall of 2015 and me and my hubby decided to try to purchase our first home finally, so I quit my waitressing job to pack up everything for the move and never looked back!
It took several months of trying to get the ball rolling and was quite difficult at first to get authors to tour with me. Thus, I had an idea to let everybody pay what they can comfortably afford instead of set rates as I thought what some other companies charged were just outrageous!
Since then, I have done over 1000 tours and worked with hundreds of amazing authors – many who come back for repeat tours! I have 2-3 tours kick off every weekday with occasional tours on the weekends and EVERY tour is required to have a giveaway so readers can gain a little something and have fun while they enjoy learning about new books.
I have an absolutely amazing group of bloggers that share my tours on their sites and really couldn't have gotten this far without their continued support and would like to thank each and every one of them! Ya'll are amazing! I also have two assistants that help me check links and keep up with blogger activity – Janet, who's been with me over a year, and Laurie, who is a new addition. Ya'll ladies are spectacular and I couldn't do it without you!
Absolutely everything else is completely run solely by me though and I really enjoy organizing tours and helping new authors get discovered. I don't discriminate and host ALL fictional genres in ALL age ranges as me and my bloggers have a broad range of readers that enjoy many different genres.
After two years of astronomical tours, I am going stronger than ever now and growing on a daily basis with plans to continue hosting tours for many many years!
If you are an author interested in booking a tour with me, you can see a general FAQ page and booking HERE!
If you are a blogger interested in joining some of my tours, you can see my current sign ups HERE!
And sign up for email invites HERE!
A third generation local of the historic town of Fredericksburg, TX, I was born and raised among the rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country where the beauty of the landscape is breathtaking and town is famous for the Main Street historic shopping district, the best peaches in the world, wildflowers and wine. I really can't imagine living anywhere else!
A country girl through and through, I grew up hunting, fishing and digging for Indian artifacts, all the while enjoying the many rivers and swimming holes around town. I'm a stay at home mom with three beautiful boys, ages 9, 2, and 1 that encompass my entire world!
A bookaholic from birth, I have always had a deep passion for reading and spend many late nights devouring books into the wee hours of the morning. My “real” book collection numbers over 3000 books and take up an entire small room in our house with custom bookshelves built by my husband that I call my “book cave”. I've been building this collection since my childhood and will keep on adding to it for the rest of my life. Of course, I also have a similar collection of ebooks as well as I finally went digital a few years ago.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing with my kids, doing DIY renovation projects with my husband, cooking, and relaxing on my back porch with a good cup of coffee while I watch the massive axis deer herd come through the yard.
Making Chase by Lauren Dane
Series Chase Brothers Genre Adult Contemporary Romance Publisher Carina Press Publication Date August 28, 2018
The Chase boys. Ridiculously hot and notoriously single.
All of Petal, Georgia, is waiting for the last Chase brother to fall. At least, that’s how it feels to firefighter Matt Chase, who’s getting a little anxious himself. His brothers have all found love—why hasn’t he? But fate, in the form of a curvaceous hairdresser, is about to change that. Salon owner Tate Murphy has come a long way from her trailer-park roots, taking care of her seven siblings along the way. Even though she’s put the past behind her, she knows someone like Matt Chase is way out of her league. But that doesn’t stop her from getting a good eyeful every chance she gets. When a car accident throws them together, Tate gets more than an eyeful—she gets the whole package. Not that she’s complaining. But when small-town bias and her own insecurities get in the way of their relationship, Matt will have to prove he doesn’t care where she came from…only where she goes. The Chase is on. One small town. Four hot brothers. And enough heat to burn up anyone who dares to get close. Don’t miss the other books in the series: Taking Chase, Giving Chase and Chased. Matt opened up the box and the heady scent of cookies greeted his senses. Mouth watering, he read the note, ascertained the cookies were from Tate, the woman he’d helped out earlier in the week after the car accident. He vaguely remembered her from school. Perhaps a year or so behind him, definitely not from his circle though. Knowing she wasn’t a terrorist, he gave in and shoved a chocolate chip cookie in his mouth. And moaned. Holy shit, that was the best thing he’d ever eaten, even better than Maggie or his momma’s cookies though he’d never admit it to them. An oatmeal cookie followed. Nope, that was the best cookie he’d ever eaten. Peanut butter chips in oatmeal cookies? Fabulous. Thank goodness she’d been okay after she’d gotten whacked by that car. The world couldn’t live without this cookie-baking goddess. Looking at the outside of the box, he realized the address was the beauty salon just across the way. He’d have to go and thank her in person. He’d saved some folks, helped at quite a few accidents and emergencies and fought fires in and around Petal for the last decade. Still, he could count the number of times he’d received a thank you note on one hand. It felt good to be appreciated. Finishing up in the late afternoon, Matt grabbed what was left of the cookies, knowing he’d have to work out extra after the dozen or so he’d scarfed down since the mail came. He’d had to hide them from the rest of the weenies at the station who’d have swiped them if they’d known. And with cookies as good as the last five in the box, he wasn’t gonna share. He’d never been inside the beauty salon though he’d seen it just about every day for years. He had a vague idea that the women in his life got their hair done there, but that was the extent of it. When he opened the door, the jingle of pretty wind chimes greeted him first, followed by the pleasing sound of feminine laughter. Oh how he loved the sound of a woman’s laugh. Smiling, he headed toward it. He saw her before she saw him. Her hair was the prettiest blonde he’d seen on a woman and unless he was mistaken, she came by it naturally. It hung in a high ponytail and still cascaded down her back in a long spiral curl. Those wide blue eyes of hers were set off by some floaty-looking blouse that was a sort of pinkish-orange. He was sure they had a name for it, women always had names for colors like that. He’d say that Nicholas had light green walls in his room but Maggie had told him they were sea-foam green. He’d just looked at his brother over her head and Kyle rolled his eyes back at him. She was short. Like really short. And all curves. Her musical laughter cut off when she caught sight of him and then began to choke. Dropping his things on a nearby counter he rushed to her, concerned as she waved him off, her eyes widening as she backed away. “She’s all right,” one of the other women said. Tate recovered and turned a shade of red he was sure they had a name for too, but it was clear she’d either injured herself or was mortified. “Fuckety fuck,” she muttered as she tried to catch her breath. “Are you all right?” He touched her arm. Her blush deepened as she nodded, sending her ponytail swaying. “Fine. Um, can’t breathe and swallow at the same time. Apparently I forgot that.” He grinned. “I’m Matt Chase. I just wanted to come by to thank you for the cookies.” “Oh…oh, I’m glad you got them. I should have just brought them over but I didn’t know when I’d get the chance to get away and my family was sort of trying to steal them and if I hadn’t wrapped them up they’d have ended up at the University of Georgia with my kid brother and sister.” He couldn’t stop grinning. The woman was like one of those little dogs with all the energy. “It’s fine. They’re really good. Like criminally good. In fact, and if you repeat this, I’ll deny it, they’re the best cookies I’ve ever eaten. You missed your calling you know. You should have opened a bakery.” “Her cookies are a drop in the bucket. She makes a peach cobbler that’ll bring tears to your eyes and the most perfect scratch biscuit you ever tasted. That’s until you try her chicken paprika,” one of the women, clearly a relative, told him proudly. “Stop it now. I already said you could have Saturday off.” Tate winked and the other woman laughed. “Oh, my manners! I’m Tate Murphy. Aside from bleeding all over you the other day, I figure we haven’t been formally introduced.” He shook her hand, still wearing a stupid grin. “This is my sister Anne and the sister just younger than her, Beth.” He nodded to all of them and noted they all had the same nose but they were redheads with green eyes while Tate had blue eyes and blonde hair. She was also a lot shorter than the other sisters, who were at least five-seven or so. “Nice to meet you all. I think I know your brother Tim. He and I were just a year apart in school. We had a few classes together. Redhead right? Green eyes? Freckles?” “That’s our brother.” Tate grinned. “He’s a nice guy. Tell him I said hello. Well, I don’t want to keep you all. I just wanted to thank you for the cookies.” “Well, thank you for helping me. A few cookies are nothing in comparison.” He liked her smile. Wide, open. “I’ll see you around then.” And he realized that he’d never bumped into her at all around town. Which was sort of silly considering they worked right across the street from each other. “Night, Matt. Nice to meet you. Your mother talks about you all the time.” He stopped as he’d reached the door and heard her laugh. “You knew that’d get me, didn’t you?” he said, looking back over his shoulder at her. Her eyes widened in mock surprise. “Me? I have seen you naked though. With a cowboy hat on even.” He groaned, knowing the picture. His momma did love to show that picture of him at about eighteen months old, naked as a jaybird wearing a cowboy hat. “Are you imagining me naked now?” he teased back and she blushed bright red again. He toyed with asking her what women would call that shade of red but decided against it. He winked and waved. “See you around, Tate Murphy.” He whistled all the way to his truck.
The Chase brother series has made me fall in love with the effortlessly flowing writing of Lauren Dane, with the extended Chase family, and the wholesome, handsome, and charming brothers who fall hard, and love even harder, once they find their soul mates.
Matt might be the last single brother, but he is no different from the others when it comes to finding the right one. He takes one look at Tate and he only has eyes for her. I loved the energy, the connection, the chemistry between Matt and Tate. Even if the feelings are fast to develop, the relationship takes time to build up and find its rhythm. Tate and Matt are truly a perfect match for each other if the rest of the town would just realize it as well. My heart wept for Tate and her siblings because of the way some people in town were treating them. Tate is a beautiful, independent, and tough lady, she had to be to survive the way her parents treated her and her siblings. She is a generous soul, she takes care of the people around her, always puts others first, but she is no doormat, she can stand up for herself and protect herself when needed. Her difficult upbringing, the poor circumstances she was born into, and her curvy body gave fuel to some to mock her, bully her, trying to put a wedge into the relationship she was building with Matt. The drama and trouble seem to follow them on each step, but no matter how tough things get, Matt and Tate know what their heart's desire, and especially Matt is not willing to give up on the best thing ever happen to him. Making Chase is not only an emotional, passion-filled love story between Matt and Tate, it is the perfect ending for the series, a wrap up with the whole family, that will leave the readers smiling, satisfied with all the feels pouring out from the pages. Sexy, smart, and entertaining romance with lots of emotional depth and social issues that will make you check your own inner compass. Definitely a series I want to be revisiting again and again. ~ Five Spoons
Tour Wide GiveawayTo celebrate the release of MAKING CHASE by Lauren Dane, we’re giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner! GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to internationally. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Carina Press. Giveaway ends 9/3/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
About Lauren DaneThe story goes like this – While on pregnancy bed rest, LAUREN DANE had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back. Today Lauren is a New York Times bestselling author of over fifty novels and novellas across several genres. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
Tempted By Love by Jennifer Ryan
Series Montana Heat Genre Adult Contemporary Romance Publisher Avon Books Publication Date August 21, 2018
She was this Montana Man’s greatest temptation . . .
Alina Cooke—little sister of his two best friends—is the last woman DEA agent Jay Bennett should be waking up next to on the day of her brother’s wedding. But their powerful attraction ignited a powder keg of desire, and their once simple friendship has just become impossibly complicated. Alina’s always been steady, focused, and lived on the safe side of life. Jay is totally devoted to his dangerous job. She knows a future with him will be filled with worry that one day he won’t come home. She’s done it with her brothers. She’s not sure she can face that uncertainty with the man she loves. Yet being in his arms is a bad idea they keep repeating, again and again. When Alina is run off the road, Jay fears his job has made her a target. But the threat in Alina’s life is closer than they think. As the enemy gets more ruthless, Alina proves she’s no easy target and Jay will do anything to bring them down. Because surviving and being together is the only thing that matters. He woke up feeling…happy. The feeling felt strange because he’d gotten used to content. He wanted more of that surge of bliss that filled him when he woke up with this particular beauty in his arms. Clearly not going to happen, his emotions sank past content to weary resignation. She raked her fingers through her long hair. “I’m sorry, Jay. This is the last thing I expected to happen.” “Me, too. Believe me.” While he had a lot of regrets locked away in his soul, this wasn’t one of them. Memories of her he’d pull out and savor for a long time to come. Unforgettable, Alina, and what they shared last night, took up residence in the front of his mind and hunkered down for a long stay. He didn’t mind. He had too many bad things from his job that often peeked out and demanded his attention. Now, he had something really worth ruminating about day and night. An odd look came over Alina. One he couldn’t read, and he’d made a close study of her the last 24 hours. “I have to go.” “I already scouted it out. Your parents, the aunts, and most of the other guests are downstairs in the atrium and restaurant. Your brothers are probably in their rooms, Caden with his bride, Beck getting ready for later today. Hug the wall and they won’t see you walking past the overlooks. Take the stairs up to the next floor. There’s a small window in the exit door. Make sure no one is in the hallway before you step out. Your door is very close. No one should see you.” “I guess you’ve got practice sneaking women out of your room.” The flippant, bitter remark stung and left a painful pinch in his chest. “They usually stay for more, and I’m happy to give it to them,” he shot back. Though none of them ever stayed long, they didn’t sneak out in the morning like nothing happened and didn’t want to be seen with him. Maybe that last part wasn’t fair, but he didn’t like her making him feel that way. He got they needed to be discreet. He thought they’d be in on it together. This felt very much like she wanted to erase last night and him from her life. She stood perfectly still, her face blank, but her mind working behind her gray eyes that hinted toward blue unlike her two brothers. He couldn’t imagine what she was thinking, but she shifted from one foot to the next like she couldn’t wait to get out of here. He gave her an out because the need to touch her again grew with every second she stayed. “You’re late, sweetheart. Better get going before someone misses you.” He missed her already and didn’t like it one damn bit. Her full lips pressed together a split second before she turned for the door. If she meant to say something, she thought better of it. Unable to watch her leave, he turned to the windows and stared out at nothing but another lonely day and empty bed ahead of him. The door opened. He felt her hesitate and prayed she changed her mind and came back to him. For what, he didn’t know. She wasn’t for him. He stuffed his hands in his pockets so he didn’t turn and reach for her in some vain attempt to hold onto something neither of them were willing to bring into the light of day. He had no intention of ruining Beck’s wedding by giving him a reason to kill Jay today of all days. When the door closed and the emptiness of the room suffocated him, he told himself it was over, maybe not easy, but done. For the best. Right?
LINK TO THE BOOKS & SPOONS REVIEW HERE
Tour Wide GiveawayTo celebrate the release of TEMPTED BY LOVE by Jennifer Ryan, we’re giving away one paperback set of the Montana Heat series! GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback set of the Montana Heat series by Jennifer Ryan. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 9/3/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
About Jennifer RyanJENNIFER RYAN is the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted, McBride, and Montana Men series. She writes suspenseful contemporary romances with outrageous plot twists, deeply emotional love stories, high stakes and higher drama. Her stories are filled with love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever- after we all hope to find. Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
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