11/02/2015 10:44
I love this series, and of course I couldn't resist a Halloween-themed mystery with a candy corn cupcake on the front!
I was so excited when Gina gave me an excerpt to run on my blog!
Get the latest Lacey Luzzi book HERE!
Blurb:
Trick or Traitor?
Haunted houses, candy, costumes...and a ghost. Once again, Lacey Luzzi hasn't signed up for any of it. Except the candy. But when Carlos corners her with a very special request, she can't bring herself to say no. With three days to Halloween, Lacey is drawn into a high stakes mission where she's forced to investigate those closest to her - and they don't like it.
However, Lacey doesn't have a choice. If she can't expose the traitor in time, the Luzzi Haunted House may take a turn from spooky, to downright scary.
Excerpt:
“Meg, there are children here,” I whispered, glancing around the Halloween costume store. “You’ll scare them.”
“C’mon, Lacey. The way you’re talking, Halloween is a kid’s holiday, which is just ridiculous.” Meg turned towards me, flaunting a mask with fangs as large as my forearm. “Relax.”
“It is a kid’s holiday.” I ducked down an aisle in the opposite direction, pretending we didn’t know each other.
Meg chased after me. She caught up and attempted to sink her fangs into my arm. “No, it’s not, that’s just marketing. Halloween is really an excuse for adults to dress up in redonkulous outfits and overdose on candy.”
The vampire before me – also known as Meg – was a former cop, as well as my best friend since childhood. Though I loved her to death, at the moment she had me wondering how close we were to getting arrested. It wasn’t the scary mask that had me nervous, or the strange clown wig plopped on her head. It wasn’t the fake blood she held in one hand, or the fake knife she brandished in the other.
No, it was the fact that Meg had decided to try on the sexy French maid outfit in the middle of the store, while mothers bustled by, doling out scathing looks like Twix Bars on October 31st.
“Oh Lacey, I don’t want to hear your lies.” Meg turned to me, extending her feather duster and tickling my nose. “You hoard candy worse than any child.”
“Not true.” I sneezed. “Not usually true.”
“I saw your stash last year, you little liar. You bought king-sized candy bars, Rolos, all sorts of delicious things. Then when kids came aknockin’ on your door, you put those treats back in the pantry and handed out pre-wrapped bags of carrots.”
“That’s not totally true. I threw some Smarties in with the carrots.” I tried hard to keep the guilt out of my expression. “The parents appreciated it, just not the kids.”
“Don’t try to pretend you’re doing a holy thing by giving out carrots; no parent likes getting veggies on Halloween.” Meg put a hand on her hip. “Every mom picks her favorite candy out of her kid’s bucket. How many do you think pick out the carrots?”
I shrugged.
“Your mom always took the Almond Joys from you,” Meg said. “But I think that’s only because she knew they were your least favorite. Remember that time when you were like, fifteen years old? She tried to steal one of your Twix bars and you burst into tears.”
I grabbed Meg’s arm and pulled her into a deserted aisle. “Yeah, yeah, Ms. Honesty. Like you haven’t nabbed your fair share of my goodies.”
“I’m not into Halloween for the candy.” Meg gestured to her curvy figure, focusing on the tiny little skirt that didn’t quite cover her spandex shorts. “I’m in it for the costumes. It’s a chance to look racy in public.”
“How about we race-ify you at home?” I squinted at her costume. “People are staring.”
“That’s the point, chickadee.”
I looked up at the ceiling, struggling to find a way out of the situation. We’d arrived at the costume store well over an hour ago, and by now we were on the verge of getting kicked out. The manager had walked by more times than I could count, though he seemed afraid to get too close to Meg. The French maid outfit didn’t do much to hide the gun she had holstered around her thigh.
“You could get in trouble for having a weapon in here, Meg,” I said, as she bent down to slip on a pair of clown shoes.
“I’m not concealing anything, am I?” Meg asked, gesturing to her legs. “I got a permit to carry, even if this gun is just borrowed from an old friend.”
“Are you calling the evidence locker an old friend, now?”
Meg didn’t answer. At least, she didn’t answer my question. “Or – I was also thinking I could be Jasmine. You could be Aladdin. I think we’d be a great combo.”
I didn’t have a ready response. I’d sort of want to do a couple dress-up with Anthony, if he’d do it. But now was not the time to argue. Meg had stuffed me into an Albert Einstein wig, a witch’s hat, and platform sandals a foot high. I wasn’t a quick runner normally, but I’d have a hard time racing a slug right now, and Meg had a gun. If I said no, it wouldn’t be a competition.
“What do you say, Aladdin?” Meg eyed a Pretty, Pretty Princess crown made of plastic. “I think I’d make an excellent Jasmine. Maybe Clay can be the Genie. We could do a three-way.”
“Let’s not reference Clay, Lacey, and three-way in the same sentence, please.” I choked back a gag at the thought of my sweet, awkward, computer genius cousin. “That’s just wrong.”
“Look at these pants, all see-through and billowing around. I’ll look fabulous.” Meg held up gauzy material that might be pants, and might be first aid supplies. To complete her Disney costume, she selected a light green, diamond-studded bra, holding it out for me to examine. “I’ll outshine all the other munchkins dressing up.”
“It’s not a competition.” I smiled at a mother pushing a stroller past us, eyeing Meg up and down with a confused expression.
“They’re just jealous,” Meg waved a hand.
“I don’t think that’s the case, but regardless, we have to swing by Nora’s house sometime today. We’ve been here so long my hair – my actual hair follicles – are sweating under this wig.”
“Use deodorant.”
“On my scalp?” I gestured towards the pile of costumes surrounding Meg. “Let’s pick a costume. Which one you want? Let’s get going.”
“You never confirmed if you’ll be my Aladdin.”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“You’re thinking of ditching me for Anthony.” Meg narrowed her eyes at me. “I can sense it.”
“No, I just haven’t picked out a costume.” Which was mostly true. I also hadn’t asked Anthony if he’d even be the second half of a costume with me, yet.
But I had, in secret, been putting together something he might agree to wear. It was a two-partner costume, and when I’d seen it done online, the photos looked adorable. Mine didn’t look quite as adorable as the pictures yet, since I was making it by hand, and art was not my forte. No, at present it looked more like a ball of garbage glued together, but there was still time.
“Fine, Disney themed it is,” Meg said, selecting the Jasmine costume and heading towards the register. “They don’t got a good Aladdin here, but I can make you one.”
“No, please don’t worry about it—”
“I’m not worried.” Meg grinned. “I love Halloween! Hopefully Clay will agree to be the Genie. Oh shoot, suppose I gotta get rid of this French maid thing, huh? Or maybe I can be Jasmine-the-French-Maid.”
“Let’s stick with just Jasmine.” I trailed behind Meg as she discarded one item of clothing after the other.
By the time she reached the checkout, she’d straightened her black halter top and adjusted a skirt over her spandi-shorts. Meanwhile, I retraced her steps and picked up the pieces of the maid outfit, stuffing them back into the bag, all the while thinking that Clay would be more likely to start dating a girl than he would be to dress up as a big, blue cartoon character.
About the Author:
Gina LaManna is the bestselling author of the Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries and the Misty Newman Mystery Series.
Fun facts about Gina: I love cappuccino foam and whipped cream. I would live off sprinkles if possible. I have one imaginary dog. Laughing is my favorite :)
10/25/2015 13:50
Enter below to win a CindaB Cross-Body Hipster handbag!
About clutch: a novel
clutch: a novel is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit romance chronicling the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer who compares her unsuccessful romantic relationships to styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks a lot of Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to discover the “Clutch” or someone she wants to hold onto.
Author Bio
In addition to clutch: a novel, Lisa Becker is the author of the Click Trilogy, a contemporary romance series comprised of Click: An Online Love Story, Double Click and Right Click. She’s written bylined articles about dating and relationships for “Cupid’s Pulse,” “The Perfect Soulmate,” “GalTime,” “Single Edition,” “Healthy B Daily” and “Chick Lit Central” among others. She lives in Manhattan Beach, California with her husband and two daughters. To learn more, visit www.lisawbecker.com.
Social Media Links for Lisa Becker
Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest | Web
Get Your Copy!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/clutch-novel-Lisa-Becker-ebook/dp/B015P09CBW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
10/25/2015 13:13
Excerpt and giveaway for
Monique McDonell's new novel
Any Way You Fight It
Buy links:
Blurb
Matchmaking came easily for Cherie . . . unless she was matching herself. A successful realtor, Cherie could sell a piece of property with ease, she could match up her friends with their perfect mates, but she couldn’t seem to find love for herself. Heck, even her seventy-five-year-old Nona was dating again! Cherie had the perfect love once, or so she had thought. But that was a long time ago, and yet, Luke was the standard by which she measured all potential mates.
After matching her two best friends and watching them live their happily ever afters, Cherie decides it’s time to make a change and get back in the game. Now all she needs to do is balance what she wants (a Luke-alike) with the demands of her crazy Italian family (a good, Catholic Italian boy).
Just when she is ready to shake off her past and move forward, her past walks through the door of her favorite local pub with her best friends. Luke is back, looks better than ever, and still has eyes for Cherie. And Cherie can’t control the heat she still has for him. But as with most long-lost loves, he has a past as well, and that past just might prevent Cherie from finding her happiness despite what her Nona’s visions predict.
Can Cherie and Luke make peace with their pasts and look forward to a new life together? Or will this be the final good-bye?
Excerpt
Lucy called me the next day. I was unlocking the door to my office. I was juggling keys, a folder, a latte, and an open house sign but I still managed to take the call.
"What's up, buttercup?" I said.
"Not much . . ." I could visualize her on the other end in kitchen whites and a hairnet trying to come up with a witty reply. "You sound perky today. Piper said you were exhausted last night."
"I was. Still am, actually." That wasn't a lie. I barely slept, tossing and turning all night with sexy and angry thoughts about Luke. "Your call perked me right up. Oh yeah, and I'm about to down my third coffee."
"Oh, I hope you're okay."
"I'll be fine. What's happening there?"
"Well, you met the hottie corporate sent to help us with branding."
"Don't you have a fiancé already?" I tried not to let jealousy seep in. Keep it light, Cherie.
"A girl can look. Anyway, you don't have a fiancé . . ."
"Yeah, well, I don't want a fiancé, and even if I did, I wouldn't want that guy."
"He seems pretty cool."
"Not my type." I needed to shut this down. “Anyway, he's probably married. How long is your new eye candy in town anyway?"
“He’s not, married I mean. A week or two, but he'll be back and forth." Great. "Maybe you two could . . ."
"Thanks for pimping out your new colleague, but if I wanted a guy, I could find my own." I tried to sound haughty. "Anyway, Lucy, I have to run. I have about a million calls to return. "
I dropped my bundle, minus the coffee of course, on the office sofa and turned at the sound of the bell above my front door tinkling. There in resplendent glory -today in chinos and a white shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, offsetting a killer tan- was Luke.
"Not your type, huh?" he said, closing the space between us a little.
"First of all, don't you know it is rude to eavesdrop and second, definitely not."
"I used to be," he said, one hand shoved in his pocket and the other gesticulating.
"Well, we all used to be different, didn't we?"
"I bet we're not all that different, you know."
"That's hardly a ringing endorsement for either of us." I leaned back against the edge of my desk, using it to balance me, and took a long sip of my latte. Some days there just wasn't enough coffee in the world.
"I don't know, I thought we were decent kids back then . . ."
"Until at least one of us wasn't."
"And which one was that?" he asked as if he didn't know. The bastard.
"What brings you here, Luke? I kind of have a lot to get done today."
"I wanted to see you."
"You've seen me." I sounded like such a cold bitch. He would have no doubt that I had changed by the end of this conversation. It wasn't that I didn't want to be that sweet young girl again, but he'd changed me and anyway, I was not her. I was an independent thirty-year-old woman.
"And I wanted to say obviously I had no idea you had any connection to Piper, and I'm sorry we were both blindsided that way last night."
"It's okay. Small world and all that." I tried to take another sip of my coffee but, sadly, the well was dry.
"It was really nice to see you, Cherie. I've often wondered how you were, what you did . . ." his voice trailed away.
I wanted to say, Dude, you could have called or written or maybe not just vanished back then, but I didn't.
"You're obviously keeping well."
"Can't complain." He shoved his second hand in his pocket. "So, do you want to still act like we don't know each other? These are your friends; this is your life . . ."
That was nice at least. "I kind of assumed yes. Then again, I don't like lying to them . . ."
"How about I say that I realized I recognized you from the neighborhood? Nothing more."
"Okay, but they're pretty nosy, so if they wise up or it feels weird for me, I'll tell them, and I'll let you know. Lucy and Piper can keep a secret."
"I don't suppose you want to have dinner or a donut for old-time’s sake?"
"You know what, I really don't. It's nice to see you're happy and doing well, but . . ."
"Okay." He turned to leave. "As you wish."
He did not just quote the Princess Bride to me. Oh yes, he freaking did!
About the author – Monique McDonell
I am an Australian author who writes contemporary women's fiction including chick lit and romance. I live on Sydney's Northern Beaches with my husband and daughter, and despite my dog phobia, with a dog called Skip.
I have written all my life especially as a child when I loved to write short stories and poetry. At University I studied Creative Writing as part of my Communication degree. Afterwards I was busy working in public relations I didn't write for pleasure for quite a few years although I wrote many media releases, brochures and newsletters. (And I still do in my day-job!)
When I began to write again I noticed a trend - writing dark unhappy stories made me unhappy. So I made a decision to write a novel with a happy ending and I have been writing happy stories ever since.
I have been a member of the writing group The Writer’s Dozen for eight years. Our anthology Better Than Chocolate raised over $10,000 for the charity Room to Read and helped build a library in South East Asia. I am also a member of the Romance Writers of Australia. I was also had a piece in the Australian non-fiction book Copyfight in 2015.
I have written five stand-alone romantic comedies and three books in the Upper Crust Series; Any Way You Slice It, Any Way You Dream It and Any Way You Fight It.
To learn more about Monique McDonell and her upcoming books please visit her at www.moniquemcdonellauthor.com
Social Media Links:
10/22/2015 10:14
Deborah Nam-Krane's latest addition to her
NEW PIONEERS SERIES
is coming soon, and she's kicking off the party with a
massive giveaway!
Deb is giving away 5 (yes, 5!) $10 Amazon gift cards, free ebook copies of every book in her NEW PIONEERS SERIES, and several books by fellow authors (including this one!). I've read most of the ones she's giving away, and trust me, winning any one of them will be a treat.
Enter now--click the link below!
About Deborah Nam-Krane
Deborah Nam-Krane was born in New York, raised in Cambridge and educated in Boston. You're forgiven for assuming she's prejudiced toward anything city or urban. She's been writing in one way or another since she was eight years old (and telling stories well before that).
She first met some of the characters in The New Pioneers series when she was thirteen years old, but it took two decades- and a couple of other characters- to get the story just right.
Things you might want to know:
First crush: Peter Pan... until she realized he wasn't real. Then she moved onto Captain Kirk, then Mister Spock (and there she's stayed).
What makes her write: a character that needs to have his or her story told.
How much time does she spend writing: as much as possible! Sometimes one hour a day, sometimes four.
Inspired by: People she watches on the street, conversations she listens in on, current events and developments, a really great nonfiction book
Favorite author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Favorite book: Too many to choose from! But Lolita, The White Goddess, Sexual Personae and The Tenant At Wildfell Hall are definitely on the list.
Get all her books here:
https://www.amazon.com/Deborah-Nam-Krane/e/B00C45K4CI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1445527556&sr=8-1
Find out more about her upcoming release here:
https://writtenbydeb.blogspot.com/2015/10/newpioneersgiveaway.html
10/15/2015 06:51
Welcome author Suzanne Nicole on her CLP Blog Tour for UNRAVELLED IN NEW YORK!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway!
Sydney journalist Charli Cooper is making major changes in her life. She has no idea what destiny has in store for her as she moves half way around the world for a fresh start.
Jack Manning is everything Charli shouldn't want. He is arrogant, cocky and use to getting what he wants. He has no time to deal with an inexperienced journalist who has no idea of the New York social hierarchy.
As she unlocks the truth about Manning and his empire, she realises all is not as it seems and if she digs deep enough, she might just find the story she has been looking for. She has to make a decision between her ambition and her heart.
Will the secrets they both hold cause their delicately poised relationship to crumble?
Can one mistake unravel their lives?
Q & A with the author
What is the best dish you can cook?
I’m really not a great cook … I can re-heat anything really well though.
Can you fake any accents?
I think I can pull off a British accent, my children tell me otherwise.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can remember how to get back from a place once I’ve been there without using Sat-Nav.
What do you have in your pockets?
My phone – I feel lost without it.
Most hated chore on the household chore list?
Picking up clothes off the floor … drives me crazy!
Which bad habit drives you crazy?
My children stepping over clothes left on the bathroom floor.
Name one thing you consider yourself to be very good at.
Remembering names of people I’ve just met.
Name one thing you totally suck at.
Ball-sports … I am completely hopeless, like embarrassingly bad.
What is on your bedside table?
Piled high with books I want to read and a picture my youngest son made for me.
Are you a morning or night person?
A morning person, I think, well I wake up early, but I love lying in bed reading … hmm maybe I’m a night person?
What was the last thing you watched on TV?
Homelands … was seriously addicted to watching season 4.
What's your favorite holiday?
Going to the beach in summer and listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach – Just perfect!
Author Bio
With a passion for reading and writing Suzanne has been creating stories all her life through both her writing and dance teaching. Suzanne is a graduate from IMEB (Aus) and is a member of Romance Writers, Australia, she is also a qualified and registered dance and drama teacher. When she is not bombarding family and friends with story ideas she can be found in front of a class of students teaching dance or curled up with a good book. She loves romantic stories, angsty reads and dark-haired heroes. She also loves travelling, her recent highlights have been her trips to Los Angeles, New York and Boston and she dreams about going back there soon. Suzanne lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and three gorgeous boys.
Links
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Suzanne-Nicole-Author-1698891897005531/timeline/
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25863173-unravelled-in-new-york
Book Link **99 Cents During Tour!**
https://www.amazon.com/Unravelled-New-York-Suzanne-Nicole-ebook/dp/B010ZGGPMK
October 12 – Evocative Book Reviews
October 13 – Living Life With Joy – Q&A & Excerpt
October 14 – CDyess Writes – Excerpt
October 15 – Charline Ratcliff – QA&
October 15 – Caroline Fardig – Q&A
October 16 – Queen of All She Reads – Review
October 19 – Hey Said Renee – Review & Q&A
October 20 – Change the Word – Q&A
October 20 – myhomemadelibrary – Review & Excerpt
October 21 – I Love My Authors – Excerpt
October 21 – Hello Chick Lit – Q&A & Excerpt
October 22 – The Book Sirens – Excerpt
October 23 – Love For Books and Java – Review
October 26 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Q&A & Excerpt
October 26 – Polished and Bubbly – Review & Q&A
October 27 – Texas Book-a-Holic – Review
October 29 – The Phantom Paragrapher – Revie
October 30- Granny Loves to Read – Review & Excerpt
10/01/2015 19:30
When I heard the title to Randi M. Sherman's latest novel, THE TRUTH ABOUT CAROLINE, I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour!
Book Description
Honesty has always presented a problem for Caroline.
Manipulating situations and navigating around blunders and deceptions have become second nature to Caroline. She could justify every lie she has ever told, and any truth she ever stretched. Honesty and revealing secrets would only keep her from moving forward with her life. What good would it do anyhow?
Even all of those bad financial decisions, flawed relationships and questionable life choices seem like child’s play compared to being arrested for the solicitation of her husband’s murder, and what follows. Could someone figure out Caroline? And what would happen if someone did?
Q&A with Randi M. Sherman
What is the best dish you can cook?
Deconstructed eggplant parmesan
Can you fake any accents?
Yup - when I write, I often write accents into my books - and spell them phonetically - so I have to practice them out loud to figure out how they sound and how they might be spelled. My favorite - is Italian.
You wouldn't be caught dead, where?
A Justin Bieber concert
Do you have any hidden talents?
Many, but if I told you I'd have to kill you.
What do you have in your pockets?
Change from buying coffee
Most hated chore on the household chore list?
I don't know why - but it's emptying the dishwasher. I'd rather load dirty dishes in with the clean ones and run it all over again, than empty the thing
Which bad habit drives you crazy?
Gum chewing - drives me nuts especially when audio is involved.
Name one thing you consider yourself to be very good at.
Laughing and making other people laugh
Name one thing you totally suck at.
Being pushed around
What was least favorite job that you had?
Oh where do I start - any job where the word "methodology" is used.
What is on your bedside table?
A lamp, a clock and a bottle of Advil, and a coaster - because Im not allowed to put a glass directly on the wood. Rules are rules.
If you could play any instrument, which would you play?
Violin
Alcohol or coffee?
Kahlua
Are you a morning or night person?
Definitely a morning person.
Name a singer you can't stand the sound of.
Mariah Carey - mostly because she has been so overplayed
Name one thing you remember about your high school prom.
I should have worn a strapless bra.
What wa s the last thing you watched on TV?
Ray Donovan
What was the last photo you took on your phone?
I took a picture of Minnie, my 14 year old Chihuahua, who has one eye, she's deaf, has no teeth, her tongue hangs out and she is 5 full pounds of attitude. Shh - she doesn't know.
What's your favorite holiday?
Which one has the most carbohydrates?
When was the last time you fired a gun?
Never
Author Bio
With an eye for detail, an ear for well-tuned dialogue and an incredible grasp of the obvious, all honed while performing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles and improvisational theater in San Francisco, Sherman adds just enough bawdiness to deliver character-driven contemporary novels that will have the reader laughing, thinking and even connecting with the characters in her books.
Writing has been a part of Randi’s life since she was a teenager, one hundred and fifty thousand years ago. But being pragmatic and realizing that she preferred having an income, living indoors and eating regularly, she reluctantly put her dreams on hold and entered the corporate world, yet never left behind her sense of humor and creative storytelling ability, skills which were not always appreciated during budget and strategy meetings.
Now, after living indoors for a while and eating regularly, albeit too much, Randi has picked up her pen again and her third novel, THE TRUTH ABOUT CAROLINE is here. It is the continuation to her second novel CAROLINE STARTS OVER (2014). Randi's first book PAULA TAKES A RISK was released in 2012. Look for Randi's next novel THE LOBBY, Spring-ish 2016.
Randi lives in the California wine country. She would never claim to have a genius IQ, the body of a super model. However, she can spell “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Randi maintains a trim, well-toned body that is cleverly concealed beneath twenty pounds of soft protective layering and she has the appetite of a bird (vulture).
Things that Randi cannot live without: people to laugh with, her car horn, a gym membership where there are chubby women who break into a sweat while putting on a jog bra, wine, waist capes, and her wife, Carol.
Randi can live without: mean-spirited people, liver, left-overs, communal dressing rooms, tight underwear, and people who point.
Randi is five-foot-seven.
Links
https://www.randimshermanbooks.com
@RandiMSherman
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26036274-the-truth-about-caroline
09/22/2015 13:54
A JERSEY DREAMBOAT
is a new romantic comedy by my author friend
GEORGINA TROY!
Buy the Book!
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0114ZDCA4/
Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0114ZDCA4/
Accent Press: https://www.accentpress.co.uk/Contributor/19057/Georgina-Troy
A JERSEY DREAMBOAT (THE JERSEY SCENE BOOK 3)
Release Date: 4th September 2015
A Jersey Dreamboat is the third book in The Jersey Scene series.
Book Description:
Event planners Izzy and Jess are badly let down when a Jersey socialite hires them for the busiest weeks of the season and then cancels at the last minute, leaving the girls with no bookings and no money.
Feeling despondent, they try a night out to cheer themselves up, and meet the captivating, aristocratic Ed, who invites the two on a luxury yacht cruise to Nice, together with his two brothers. Romance builds through heady days of blue skies and warm seas, but when a last-minute wedding booking is offered, the girls must return to Jersey, and real life has to begin again … or has it?
About the Author:
Georgina Troy lives on the island of Jersey and can see the lights in France at night from her bedroom window. This isn't surprising as Jersey is only fifteen miles off the French coast. She lives near the sea; then again most people live fairly close to the sea in an island only nine by five miles in size. She's an impossible romantic and likes nothing more than creating gorgeous heroes. Her books are published by Accent Press.
Social Media:
Blog: https://georginatroy.blogspot.com/
Website: https://www.georginatroy.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeorginaTroy
09/14/2015 10:58
Random House just revealed the gorgeous
new cover for MUG SHOT, the second book
in my Java Jive series, coming this spring.
I love it!
09/09/2015 13:47
Congrats to Laura Chapman
on the release of FIRST & GOAL!
Set your lineups and pull out the old game tape—football is here. This year, you can experience fantasy football vicariously through (or commiserate with) Harper Duquaine in First & Goal by Laura Chapman.
What begins as a way to make nice with her new co-workers soon becomes an obsession for Harper as she navigates the ups and downs of managing a fantasy football team. Add in a pair of meddling brothers, a crew of quirky colleagues, and a league-mate who makes her toes curl, and Harper’s football season has plenty to keep her interested.
This new romantic comedy is now available from Marching Ink on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Join in the fun and cheer Harper on as she takes on the old boys club.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Then beat them.
About the Book
When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way).
Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.
With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
Now Available
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Marching Ink
Interview with Laura Chapman
You probably recognize Laura from before on my blog.
We're always trading interviews. She's a hoot!
What is the best dish you can cook?
I make a mean tofu/veggie stir fry. I grill the tofu for texture and substitute quinoa for rice to add extra nutritional value. I also just tried a cauliflower crust pizza recently, and it was super yummy. (I’m on a healthy eating kick right now if you can’t tell.)
Can you fake any accents?
Not very well, but I’ve been known to attempt British and Southern accents for fun.
You wouldn't be caught dead, where?
At a football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. I’d watch either team play if they were up against the Green Bay Packers.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I played the oboe in middle school and high school. I can also open a corked bottle of wine using a hanger or pen. It’s not a pretty process, but it gets the trick done.
What do you have in your pockets?
Nothing usually—I sit at my desk most of the day. But when I’m out and about, I usually have my iPhone stashed away.
Most hated chore on the household chore list?
I hate doing the dishes, which is why I tend to let them pile up in my sink until it reaches the point of disgusting. Someday I’ll break that habit.
Which bad habit drives you crazy?
People chewing with their mouths open or chomping/slurping loudly. I find it unappetizing, and I don’t do a very good job of hiding my disgust when people are doing it around me. I wrinkle my nose without even realizing!
Name one thing you consider yourself to be very good at.
I’m good at beginnings. I get really excited and can go from zero to one-hundred lightning flash. I also like to get other people excited about whatever it is I’m starting.
Name one thing you totally suck at.
By comparison, I suck at endings. Either I have trouble getting there or once I do, I don’t want to say good-bye.
What was least favorite job that you had?
I waited tables at a chain restaurant, and I hated almost every second. I was way too anxious of a person to go with the flow, and I was always worried my customers were mad at me.
What is on your bedside table?
A pile of library books (Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” Aziz Ansari’s “Modern Romance,” and Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew”) along with my Kindle, Nook, and phone charger. I do a lot of reading in bed.
If you could play any instrument, which would you play?
As I mentioned, I can play the oboe. I also played English horn, saxophone, piano, and percussion. I was a total band nerd in high school (said with respect and love).
If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be?
Ariel from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” I’ll forever consider Prince Eric to be one of the most handsome and charming of men, and I wouldn’t mind living in a modest castle on the beach with him. He also has a fantastic dog. Besides that I love Ariel’s sense of adventure, excitement for life, and desire to follow her dreams. I know there are plenty of reasons why her story isn’t super realistic (she’s a mermaid for one), but it will always be one of my favorites.
Alcohol or coffee?
Both. More specifically coffee from dawn until noon and alcohol any time after.
Are you a morning or night person?
I’m at my best in the morning if I can sleep until about seven. That makes it hard for me to be very productive with writing before work though I try. I get a good second wind in the evening, though, so I tend to do most of my writing and blogging then.
Name a singer you can't stand the sound of.
This is tough, because I kind of love everything. I like imitating singers when I play “American Idol” in the car, so I even like the obnoxious ones. But if I had to choose one, I’d probably say Chad Kroeger of Nickelback.
If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?
I wish I could say something like the trapeze, but I’m afraid of heights and have anxiety just watching the artists do their work. I’d be a clown to make people happy, but they freak me out. So instead I’ll channel Britney Spears and say “I’m like a ringleader, I call the shots.”
Name one thing you remember about your high school prom.
I actually went to five proms—three my junior year and two senior year. (You can see photos from those proms here. And yes, that’s my mom pinning the boutonniere on my date, because I was struggling with it.) My favorite memory was singing “Baby Got Back” at the Post Prom karaoke booth my senior year. It seemed like a good idea until I realized half of the audience consisted of my teachers and administrators. Figuring it was too late to change my mind, I owned the song and happily welcomed an impromptu dancer from the audience to the stage as you see pictured here.
What was the last thing you watched on TV?
I re-watched episodes from the past season of “The Mindy Project” in preparation for the launch of Season 4 on Hulu. I can’t even say how happy and relieved I was the show found a new home. Before that I binge-watched “Inside Amy Schumer.” Can you tell I’m a fan of fabulous, funny, and fierce women?
What was the last photo you took on your phone?
A selfie to see how my hair was holding up after being out in the rain. I always make sure to pout or do something interesting with my pose when I take this kind of selfies, because I’m ridiculous. I have way too many selfies on my phone. If anything happens to me, will one of you please delete most of them before the contents go public?
What's your favorite holiday?
I love the whole Christmas season, though it usually comes with a lot of nostalgia and sometimes sadness (especially when it’s over). But my favorite standalone holiday is the Fourth of July. I like watching fireworks, eating food, and spending time with my family, which the whole holiday encompasses. One of my favorite traditions includes watching the musical “1776” with my family.
When was the last time you fired a gun?
I’ve actually never fired a real gun. The closest I’ve come was paintball, and I last did that about 13 years ago in high school.
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, The Marrying Type, and Hard Hats and Doormats. Her work appears in Merry & Bright, A Kind of Mad Courage, and a forthcoming Christmas anthology from Marching Ink. A native Nebraskan, she loves Huskers and Packers football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Laura is currently in pursuit of a fantasy football championship while penning her next novel.
Connect with Laura
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | Blog | Website
09/09/2015 06:51
Welcome Isabella Louise Anderson
and CLP Blog Tours!
Today I'm reviewing THE RIGHT DESIGN
as part of Isabella's Blog Tour, and there's a giveaway, too!
Blurb
Do business and pleasure mix?
In the author's debut novel comes a story about picking up the pieces, letting go of the past, and finding love along the way--even if morals are tested!
Interior designer Carrie Newman could not have envisioned a more perfect life for herself. She had a great job doing what she loved, wonderful friends, and a close relationship with her sister and brother-in-law. Add in an amazing man who she’d hoped would soon become her husband, and her life was perfect. Until one devastating decision ruins her relationship and changes the course of her life.
Determined to make a new start, Carrie leaves Texas and heads to Palm Beach to pick up the pieces of her shattered and broken life. The last thing she expects is to find herself attracted to her first client at her new job--Brad Larson, who has proven himself time and time again to be caddish.
But there’s something beneath the surface of Brad’s arrogant exterior that keeps her craving more of him--something almost sweet that Carrie can’t seem to resist.
Is Carrie ready to take another chance on romance? And will this new design of her life prove to be the right one?
My Review
THE RIGHT DESIGN is a lovely contemporary romance with all the right elements--it's sweet, a little steamy, and there's plenty of girl power!
Main character Carrie comes home to find, instead of an engagement ring, her boyfriend cheating on her. She takes her dignity and relocates, striking out on her own. She gets a great job as an interior designer, and her first job is for a known playboy--although he's quite irresistible. Carrie doesn't want to jump into another relationship, but there's something about Brad that draws her to him.
Isabella delivers a delicious "will they or won't they" feeling throughout the story that won't let you put the book down. I love her vibrant descriptions of the decor Carrie is working on--the author has some cool fashion sense! It's well-written and a quick read, perfect for a day at the beach or snuggling by the fire on a lazy Saturday. I recommend THE RIGHT DESIGN to any romance fan!
Author Bio:
Isabella Louise Anderson grew up with a book in her hand, and to this day nothing has changed. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and has been featured on several blogs. While Isabella doesn't blog a lot, she focuses her time on featuring other writers, along with writing and editing.
She lives in Dallas with her husband and cat. She enjoys spicy Mexican food and drinking margaritas, and can be found spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Texas Rangers, and reading.
Isabella’s short story, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, was featured in Simon & Fig’s Christmas anthology, Merry & Bright, in November 2013. The Right Design is her first novel, and she is currently working on her next release.
Contact Links:
Website: https://www.isabellalouiseanderson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isabella-Louise-Anderson-Author/253277964716883
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chicklitgoddess/
Chick Lit Goddess: https://chicklitgoddess.com
Twitter (ILA): https://twitter.com/ILA121209
Twitter (CLG): https://twitter.com/ChickLitGoddess
Book Links:
Amazon - US: https://www.amazon.com/Right-Design-Isabella-Louise-Anderson-ebook/dp/B00IW8UFTS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Barnes & Noble (paperback and Nook): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-right-design-isabella-louise-anderson/1118887877?ean=9780991416707
Follow the rest of Isabella's Blog Tour here:
https://www.clpblogtours.com/2015/08/review-tour-right-design-by-isabella.html
