Thursday, March 12, 2020

Blog Tour: A cowboy's Song



Title: A Cowboy's Song  (Redemption Ranch, #3) 
Author: Megan Ryder 
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Western, Cowboy Romance 
Release Date: March 12, 2020 



The lost boy…
Tyler “Ty” lost everything in a car accident when he was twelve, retreating into his shell so tightly that it took months for him to come out again. Music and the ranch saved him, and he will always be grateful to his foster family for saving his life. Now, with the ranch on financial tenterhooks, he wonders if he can use his music to contribute to the solution.
The country music star…
Piper Raines is the daughter of a legendary country music family. While her parents and brother are all famous, her attempt at an independent career went off the rails, and, with exhaustion and stress and bad press dogging her every step, she needs a place to recover. When Piper is invited to vacation at the ranch, Piper and Ty connect through horses and music. After a video duet of Piper and Ty goes viral, they’re invited to sing in Nashville, which also provides added pressure, stressing their new relationship.
Can they build a future on a shaky foundation?


 
Tweet: #BlogTour A Cowboy's Song By @MeganRyder1 Buy your copy of Redemption Ranch, #3 #books2read ttps://books2read.com/u/bP97Vj #CowboyRomance #WesternRomance #BAPpr #MeganRyder



The music continued in the background, a slow, love song from the past Piper had always loved. The sound of that song, the way the singers connected through their voices and words had always touched her heart. Somewhere deep inside, she had always longed to have someone sing with her, have that soul-deep connection like her parents, yet she never thought it would be possible. Earlier that evening, when Ty stood with her on stage, she finally thought she may have found that special person. Now, in his arms, she was even more sure that they had something. And he thought she was drunk. She opened her eyes and blinked a couple of times until she could focus on him. Maybe he was right. But it was so hard to care when she was so happy. Again, that could be the goofy juice talking, but she didn’t think so. She laid her head on Ty’s chest, feeling his heartbeat under her ear, and sighed. Ty’s arms tightened around her and his chin rested on her head. “You’ve gone over to the dark side,” he muttered. “I prefer to think of it as giving in to peer pressure, finally. What’s that cologne you’re wearing?” She rubbed her face against his shirt, trying to get closer. He groaned, put two fingers under her chin and lifted her face. “Stop doing that, Piper. You’ll regret it in the morning.” She cocked her head and pursed her lips. “I don’t think so. You tend to regret the things you don’t do more than the things you did. And there’s a lot of things I haven’t done because I’ve been too afraid to do them. Maybe I’m done being afraid.” “Alcohol will do that to you. Give you that illusion that you have nothing to fear, but when you wake up, you may think differently. Besides, what do you have to fear?” The music switched to a Dierks Bentley song that told her to get a little closer, and she tried, but honestly, she was as close as she could be without climbing him like a tree. So, she settled for pulling his head down a little closer, giving her the illusion they were alone on the dance floor, not surrounded by half the town. She tangled her fingers in the strands of hair that barely tickled the nape of his neck and tugged a little, loving the feel of his hair, clean and without all that product so many men liked to use nowadays, at least men she met. Ty was clean, neat, natural. “Piper? Are you with me, or have you drifted off again?” She grinned. “Just thinking.” “That’s what I was afraid of. When you think, I worry, darlin’. What were you thinking about? Things you’re afraid of?” He grinned at her, not appearing to be at all bothered by her tendency to drift off in the conversation and dwell in her own thoughts. He just patiently brought her back to their topic. “Fears, right? Maybe I’m afraid of being rejected if I do this.” She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, softly at first, tentatively. They had kissed before but hadn’t gone much further, and she wanted to make that next move, needed to show him that she wanted him for at least that night. His lips opened under hers, and his tongue stroked into her mouth, teasing her, tempting her to play. His arm drifted lower on her back to pull her tighter against his body; his other hand buried itself in her hair, to angle her head just right for his kiss, the kiss he now took over with ruthless intensity. She was powerless under his assault, his lips and tongue enticing her to higher levels of desire she had never felt before, and she met him stroke for stroke as she clutched at his shirt with her hands. Lust swept over her like a hurricane, something she had never felt before, had never understood, but now she knew what those country songs were all talking about, what she had been missing in her life. Ty lifted his head, breaking the kiss, and she gasped, reaching up for him, dazed, wanting more. But he shook his head, looking just as stunned as she was. As if from a distance, she heard laughter and a man’s voice. “Take it outside. Or better yet, take it home, brother.” She turned to see West and Tara next to them, amusement on their faces, tempered with concern. Piper blinked away the desire that had fogged her brain. What had she been thinking to basically attack Ty, in public no less? What if someone had been recording it? Before she could say anything more, Ty wrapped his arm around her waist, hauling her close, and nodded to West. “Can you grab our things?” “You got it.” And he headed straight for the door and into the cool evening. 




https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Yj768NXWQHhvPSfWnG8T0?si=kmrJ7HggTVeKmD3lo3eoHw



Ever since Megan Ryder discovered Jude Deveraux and Judith McNaught while sneaking around the “forbidden” romance section of the library one day after school, she has been voraciously devouring romance novels of all types. Now a romance author in her own right, Megan pens sexy contemporary novels all about family and hot lovin’ with the boy next door. She lives in Connecticut, spending her days as a technical writer and her spare time divided between her addiction to knitting and reading.



 

   

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY 



Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Cover Reveal: Five First Dates


Surely having a brother’s-friend-with-benefits won’t hurt my search for Mr. Right.


Five First Dates, an all-new standalone brother's best friend rom com from New York Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy, is coming March 23rd and we have the amazing cover!



Every perfect rom-com has a twist that leads the heroine to her happily ever after.

Me? Somehow, in any room full of prince charmings, I always manage to find the one frog.

So this time, I’ve found my own twist. Four of my friends will each set me up. Four first dates. Four chances at my own happily-ever-after.

My brother’s best friend even offered to watch my baby while I’m out finding true love. 

Only Maddox has sure grown up since I saw him last. The guy next door now looks more like the guy on a magazine cover. He’s inked and sexy. Muscular. Utterly irresistible. And… big.

Surely having a brother’s-friend-with-benefits won’t hurt my search for Mr. Right.

Especially if he’s my fifth first date...



Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/334Q3HQ



Cover Designer: Hang Le



About Erin
USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over seventy-five novels and novellas in the romance and mystery genres. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, martinis, and Frank Sinatra. She lives with her renovation-addicted husband (he built her a bar, so it’s all good!) and their blended family of kids and rescue dogs.


Connect with Erin
Stay up to date with Erin by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2tYmOsP

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Spotlight: Flawless Foundations



 Born from money, Levi was destined to take over the family business. Emmy has always had a crush on her bestie’s big brother, but she hadn’t planned on shaking things up. When a kiss turns into more and a secret is being kept, can they build flawless foundations? Readers will fall in love with this best friend sibling romance from Lauren Helms. The 425 Madison series is back with season two and FLAWLESS FOUNDATIONS is now live!

Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited 

Goodreads ➝ http://bit.ly/FFLHGR

Levi
It's no secret I was born from money. And I'm destined to take over the family business, King Cosmetics when my father retires.

At least that was the plan. 

Until my father decided to impose some stupid rule about being married before I take the reigns. Everything I've worked for hangs in the balance and the future of the company is in jeopardy without a King behind the controls.  

I never considered Becca part of the plan for taking over, but when one kiss leads to so much more, I can't help but wonder if she's the answer to my problem.

Becca
There are two things I love - my beauty blog and Levi King. 

Coming from the same social circle has given me ample opportunity to crush on the next generation of King Cosmetics, but he made it clear a long time ago that I would never be anything more than "like family" to him.

Feeling the need for some serious changes in my life, I start shaking things up. 

It wasn't part of my plan to kiss Levi, but one kiss could never be enough. When that kiss turns into a relationship and I find out that Levi's been keeping a secret, I begin to question if our love affair was too good to be true.



Looks like we're about to find out if we can truly build flawless foundations for the rest of our lives. After all 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.



Excerpt 
copyright @ Lauren Helms 2020
"Em, is there anything at Envirogal open? I don't know, maybe in research and development?
Or even the finance department? Maybe it's time to put my degrees to use?"
She pops out her bottom lip. "I really don't think we have any openings that would fit what you're looking for or would enjoy. But I will definitely talk to HR on Monday." I deflate a little at her response. Damn it. She was a great resource in the field I would want to work in since I clearly have to work.
"Oh, you should talk to Levi. King Cos is always hiring. They are just so much bigger than Envirogal. I'm sure he'd be able to find you a great job!" She's all excited about the prospect, she's also completely unaware of my distaste for her brother, Levi King.
Well, if she is aware, she does a great job of ignoring it. Just the thought of her tall, slender, dark-haired, brown-eyed brother makes me twitchy. Then, of course, my next thought goes to the fact that he now lives just down the hall. Which means at any time, he could just show up. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that Emmy's relationship with her brother is stronger than ever. She deserves it since she has some of the worst parents, but I was as happy as a clam not seeing Levi on a regular basis.
I've known Levi King since I was a freckle-faced, braces-wearing preteen. We've always gotten along but were never friends. With him being two years older than us and seeing him being a nice big brother to Emmy, instead of an asshole like a lot of the other brothers in our social circle, I had it bad. My crush on him grew pretty quickly way back then. Unfortunately for me, that crush never really faded, but instead grew as the years went by. That is, until college.
It all ended one night in my Sophomore year. Emmy and I visited him at Harvard one weekend. He was a senior and surprisingly welcomed a visit from his sister. He took us out with a few of his friends to their local hang out and, well, let's just say I had a lot to drink. I decided

with my liquid courage that I'd flirt a little. He flirted back, to my surprise and extreme excitement. Toward the end of the night, I thought I was actually getting somewhere. So, when I finally kissed him, I was in heaven. Until he pushed me away and told me I was drunk, and he'd never take advantage of a woman under the influence. Okay, so I can commend that. But drunk me just kept pushing until he delivered his final blow. "Becca, you're like a sister to me, nothing can ever happen between us."
Ouch. You know what's worse than being friend-zoned? Sister-zoned.
Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited 
About Lauren 
Lauren Helms has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. Lauren decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best--video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and joined NaNoWrimo and a month later, she had her first draft. 

Lauren Helms has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. Lauren decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best--video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and joined NaNoWrimo and a month later, she had her first draft. 


Goodreads ➝ http://bit.ly/GoodR_LH
Twitter ➝   http://bit.ly/Twitter_LH
Instagram ➝ http://bit.ly/Insta_LH







Book Blast: Murder at Eagle's Nest


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pat Duggan will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Murder at Eagle's Nest is a gentle mystery novel set in a peaceful vacation resort in Apalachicola on Florida's Forgotten Coast. The area is still reeling after Hurricane Michael made landfall only thirty-five miles to the west, on Mexico Beach. It uncovers fraud, driven by greed and arrogance. However, everything changes when a body is discovered. The police detective brought in from Tallahassee, quickly enlists the help of two women staying at the resort, who have unusual insight. They ultimately uncover critical evidence, which unmasks the perpetrator.

Read an Excerpt

s In the end, Michael made landfall on October 10th 2018 as the first category five hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland for more than twenty-five years. Its ‘bullseye’ was Mexico Beach, and the result was that much of this thriving little coastal town was almost completely destroyed. Several days after the storm, a worker in the nearby forest, found a weather station that had been blown inland by the storm. He was surprised to discover that the data was still intact, and it had recorded a 206mph wind gust before it was blown away and stopped recording.

The pier, had been the signature landmark in Mexico beach since 1967 and had provided a place for tourists to fish, or sit drinking a cup of coffee in the morning, or watch the sun set in the evening. Now it was completely gone, there was not even one wooden post sticking up out of the surf to show it had ever existed, except in the photographs and memories of generations of tourists. Most of the surrounding homes and condos had been reduced to rubble sitting on concrete foundations. Even the Federal government (FEMA) had declared the community as ‘wiped out’. The few homes that had survived were newer homes which had been built on stilts, but even those stood in varying degrees of disrepair with tattered siding and gaping holes in the roof. Everywhere you looked was destruction and devastation!

As Hurricane Michael swirled in the Gulf, Anna Kohl and Hazel Davies were a thousand miles north, safe in their home near Columbus, Ohio watching it on the news and praying for the people in the panhandle. Storms were always a time for prayer, but their prayers were intensified on this occasion as they had friends on the Forgotten Coast and only six months earlier, they had purchased a small condominium in Apalachicola as an investment and an occasional winter retreat. Their friends had evacuated ahead of the storm, so they were safe, but their homes and properties were still a cause for concern.

About the Author:
Originally from Manchester, England but moved to the U.S. over 30 years ago. I have an accounting background in both countries. Several years ago, I discovered an interest in writing. My two previous books, Finding God in an RV and The Power Within, document my spiritual journey. However, as a longtime lover of murder mysteries, with a passion to follow plots and figure out the perpetrator, it was time for a new direction. I decided to ‘try my hand’ at weaving my own story, and true to my character, I had to tie up all the loose ends. Murder at Eagles Nest is my first mystery novel, and I am already working on the next mystery for my amateur detectives, Hazel and Anna, to solve.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writesstoriesrealandimagined

Buy the book at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Eagles-Nest-Pat-Duggan/dp/1711002771/ref=sr_1_1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, March 9, 2020

VBT: The Prophecy


The Prophecy
by Erin Pemberton

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GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy

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BLURB:

In a land plagued by war, King Dorvin and Queen Shiara are expecting their first child. They are excited until the good fairies tell of a prophecy; that their daughter is the key to winning the war against the Shadow tribes. To protect her, mages of the kingdom create a tower to keep her and her guardian hidden until her eighteenth birthday. When Ella turns 18 she leaves the tower, only to find that her parents are dead and the Shadow tribes now control the kingdom. Trained as a warrior, and aided by the good fairies, Ella must now bring her subjects together and prepare for the final war.

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Excerpt :

“You love her, don’t you?” Jack asked quietly, his eyes never leaving Erek’s.

“Does it matter? She and I can never be together.” The sadness of this truth rang through Erek, nearly making him fall to the floor and weep. He’d waited his whole life for her. “You love her as well.”

Jack nodded his head. “Where does that leave us? What are we going to do?”

Erek feeling more tired and older than his twenty-five years replied, “It leaves us fighting for the same thing. Once this is all over, we’ll figure out the rest. For right now, we need to be content that when one of us isn’t around watching over her, the other is.”

Jack ran a hand over his newly shaved head, his eyes turned to the floor and nodded.

Erek looked at him, seeing so much of himself in this man of light. The same eyes, the same stature, the same look. Even their movements and choice of haircuts were the same. Right down to the chin strap they both wore. Erek never thought of it before, but it were almost if they were the same man. “Do you think, if we lived in another world, that we might be the same person? Me being the darker side and you the lighter?”

Jack looked up at this, his eyes wide and his mouth set in a straight line. “I’ve thought it several times actually. There are times when I’m convinced I passed by a mirror when I see you.”

Erek nodded before turning back to look at the storm brewing. He heard Jack quietly head down the stairs, leaving him to his thoughts. Ella would be safe in Jack’s hands when Erek was no longer there to protect her. He was sure of it. If Jack felt anywhere close to the way he felt, Erek knew she would be loved the way she deserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Author Bio and Links:

I’m just a small town girl, living in Ohio and making up worlds for my characters to live in. A preschool teacher by day, I live with my amazing husband while dreaming of walking hand in hand with him on the beach just searching for seashells. Together, we have five incredible kids, who are starting to make their way in this world as they take on college, high school, and elementary school. I love Christmas, the beach, seashells, painting, reading anything fantasy related, and in my very little spare time, creating new worlds for others to enjoy. 


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Q and A with the Author:

*** Did you use any of your own experience as inspiration?
The only thing that I used in this story from my own life is my husband’s characteristics. Both my main male characters, Jack and Erek, are based off of my husband, Jason. I would watch some of his movements or mannerism during different times like when he was angry or tired and have Erek or Jack do the same thing. They even have his looks. Shaved head and a chin strap (it’s style for facial hair). Of course, now my husband has a full beard, but the story was finished by the time he grew that. The rest of the book is based loosely on Rapunzel.

*** On average, how long does the writing process take?
Because I have such a lack of time due to the fact that I love spending time with my husband, have five kids, and a full time job, with a couple of part time jobs on the side, it will sometimes take me a year or more to write a book. I just don’t have the time to do it and when I do have time, sometimes it’s just nice to sit and do nothing.

*** When did you realize you wanted a career in writing?
I don’t really see this as a career, but more of a hobby. Getting published was just something that was on my bucket list of things to do and that was added when I was in high school. I attempted to write a book then. It was a sad excuse of a story, but I was proud of it at the time. Now, I have it hidden away!

*** If you weren’t an author, what other career paths would you have taken?
I actually am a teacher who is in the process of becoming the preschool supervisor, which is kind of like a vice principal. But what I would really like to do is lounge on a beach some place and open an ice cream shop or something along those lines. Maybe I’ll take writing on full time then.

*** Out of the characters that you created, who is your favorite?
I love my main character Ella, but Erek is my favorite. He went against everything that made him, him and did what was right for the woman he loved.

*** What advice would you give to someone looking to be a writer?
It’s not easy and it’s a lot of work, before, during, and after. If you’re willing to put in the work and the time, it’s definitely worth it in the end.

*** What kind of research (if any) was required for any of your books?
Because my books are based on fantasy, I make the rules. I get to make up the worlds, the names, the moves, the magic, etc… For that reason, there really is no research needed on my end. I just go with the flow and the directions my characters lead me.

*** How long after you finish a book do you start another one?
I usually start coming up with ideas before I finish writing one. However, I won’t start writing a new one until I have completed and found a home for the previous book. I’m organized that way.
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Giveaway

Erin Pemberton will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.