Fabulous and Brunette: December 2019

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Finding Jackson by Anne Holster - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Anne Holster and her new book, “Finding Jackson”! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!! Also, come back daily to interact with Anne and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Finding Jackson

by Anne Holster

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GENRE: YA Romance

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BLURB:

It's 1977 - Star Wars is breaking records at the box office, Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run tour is taking the country by storm, and born-and-bred Jersey girl Annalise Keller has fallen in love for the first and last time. Hot and charismatic with dreams of making it as a rock star, Keith "Ace" Foxx is everything a teenage girl dreams of. He falls as hard for Anna as she does for him and the two decide to run off to California in search of his big break. Fate has other plans though, and several years and three kids later, Ace has traded in his guitar for a job at the local post office and Anna has become a symbol of all he has given up. Ace spends most nights at the local bar, trying to drink away his anger and resentment.

Flash forward a decade, and their youngest child, Jackson, is headed nowhere fast. In a life filled with meaningless jobs and too much partying, music is his only true escape from the pain of a childhood that abruptly ended one rainy night. The accident had destroyed his family and left him with a slew of unanswered questions.

Everything changes the night Jackson meets Leah. Shy and reserved, she doesn't smoke and barely drinks; she certainly doesn't put out. Not exactly the girl from the Bon Jovi videos he watched as a kid. Yet, before he knows it, she has become his world.

Then, just when it looks like his dreams might come true, betrayal and loss once again threaten everything he holds dear. As Jackson struggles to keep his world from spinning out of control, he knows one thing for sure, the choices he makes now will either be the start of a whole new life, or it just might be the end of him.

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EXCERPT TWO:

It was Halloween the first time I laid eyes on him. I’ll never forget it because Halloween had always been my favorite holiday, maybe because for some reason I was allowed to run wild. Things I’d never get away with were suddenly okay to do on Halloween. For instance, staying out after dark or eating candy before dinner, dressing inappropriately, and by inappropriately, I mean going out without a coat when the weather dipped below fifty degrees. Things you think are cool when you’re ten years old, which was how old I was that year. Most people may not clearly remember their tenth Halloween, but I do and with very good reason, because it was the day I fell in love. You might think it crazy for a fifth grader to arrive home after a night of trick-or-treating and announce that she’s in love and you probably wouldn’t be the only one, but that’s exactly what I did – and I was totally serious.

It was dusk, and the air was electric with excitement. It had been a lucrative afternoon and my three friends and I had split up just long enough to empty our bags of candy, grab something to eat, then regroup in an hour to hit the other side of town. Not wanting to waste any time I decided to cut through the woods by my house, something I didn’t usually do with darkness approaching. It was a fateful decision that would end up altering the course of my life.

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GUEST POST:

Top Ten List of Hunky Men

(In No Particular Order!)

1.) Charlie Hunnam

2.) Alexander Skarsgard

3.) Jonathan Rhys-Meyers

4.) Tyson Beckford

5.) David Beckham

6.) Brad Pitt

7.) Joe Manganiello

8.) Taye Diggs

9.) Mark Wahlberg

10.) Ryan Reynolds

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AUTHOR BIO:

Anne Holster resides in Northern New Jersey with her husband and two children. When she's not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis and reading angsty romance novels. She is currently working on her fourth book.

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CONNECT WITH ANNE:

Email:

anneholster.author@yahoo.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Anne-Holster-885353721587102

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anne-holster

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/finding-jackson-by-anne-holster

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13762475.Anne_Holster

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48643433-finding-jackson

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/39sa6mb

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2QBPLSG

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/358Hdbu

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Anne will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Jenna Jaxon and her new book, “Much Ado About a Widow”! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Jenna and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Much Ado About a Widow

by Jenna Jaxon

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:

Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father’s power…

Victory is sweet—but England’s triumph was Georgie’s rout. Now that she’s widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom… Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother’s rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she’s prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual…

St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid—and her little dog too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady’s entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all…

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EXCERPT TWO:

A key grated in the lock. Lulu growled and stalked toward it, the fur on her back rising straight up.

“Not yet, Lulu.” Georgie gathered the leash. “Don’t bite him quite yet.”

Her dog stopped advancing on the door; however, the growling did not abate. Better be safe. She gathered Lulu into her arms. “I’ll give you the signal.”

The cabin door swung open, revealing Lord St. Just, an impossibly broad grin on his face. “Wait until I tell you what my men and I just did.”

“You don’t have to tell me, my lord. I already know.” Georgie glared at him and held Lulu tighter. The little animal was shaking, and Georgie was sure if she loosened her grip Lulu would launch herself at the unwary marquess. Serve him right too.

“You do?” He frowned and cocked his head, which made him look like a puzzled puppy. Lulu looked just like that whenever she was unhappy. But what did he have to be unhappy about? He was the one who had kidnapped her.

“You have set sail, my lord, with me and my maid aboard against our wills. Many sensible people call that kidnapping.” She’d always known this man was a pirate. In fact, she’d told her brother so. She handed Lulu to Clara before the dog could leap out of her arms and tear at his lordship’s throat. If anyone was going to attack the marquess, it would be Georgie herself. Plant him a facer and see how he liked being set upon.

“Oh.” The impossible man was all smiles again. “Yes, we had to put out or miss the evening tide.” His grin had returned, showing many straight, white teeth. “But we did manage to steal your trunks, Lady Georgina. If you will consider yourself abducted again, at least rejoice in the fact that you will have clean linen throughout the ordeal.”

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AUTHOR BIO:

Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.

She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can't stop.

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CONNECT WITH JENNA:

Blog:

https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com

Newsletter:

http://www.eepurl.com/bb29F5

Email:

https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/contact-me

Facebook Fan Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Jaxon/146857578723570

Facebook Personal Page:

https://www.facebook.com/jenna.jaxon

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/passionistimeless

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jenna-jaxon

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/much-ado-about-a-widow-by-jenna-jaxon

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4960704.Jenna_Jaxon

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45006275-much-ado-about-a-widow

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/2PNJP95

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2PSD9X2

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/2sr9MTV

Amazon Audiobook:

https://amzn.to/38K4eUS

Amazon Audio CD:

https://amzn.to/2swX4mk

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/much-ado-about-a-widow-jenna-jaxon/1131080248?ean=9781420149746

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/much-ado-about-a-widow-jenna-jaxon/1131080248?ean=9781420149739

Barnes and Noble Audio MP3 on CD:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/much-ado-about-a-widow-jenna-jaxon/1131080248?ean=9781690501145

Barnes and Noble Audio CD:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/much-ado-about-a-widow-jenna-jaxon/1131080248?ean=9781690501107

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/much-ado-about-a-widow-1

Kobo Audiobook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/much-ado-about-a-widow-2

Apple iBook eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/much-ado-about-a-widow/id1470626757

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jenna_Jaxon_Much_Ado_about_a_Widow?id=s7SPDwAAQBAJ

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Much-Ado-about-Widow-Jenna-Jaxon/9781420149739

The Book Depository Audio MP3 CD:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Much-ADO-about-Widow-Jenna-Jaxon/9781690501145

The Book Depository Audio CD:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Much-ADO-about-Widow-Jenna-Jaxon/9781690501107

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Much-ADO-about-Widow/Jenna-Jaxon/9781420149739

BAM! Books-A-Million Audio MP3 CD:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Much-ADO-about-Widow/Jenna-Jaxon/9781690501145

BAM! Books-A-Million Audio CD:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Much-ADO-about-Widow/Jenna-Jaxon/9781690501107

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Jenna will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, December 30, 2019

Murder: Double or Nothing: A Southern California Mystery by Lida Sideris - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Lida Sideris and her new book, “Murder: Double or Nothing”! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a copy of the featured book!! Also, come back daily to interact with Lida and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Please note that this giveaway is only available to US residents. Sorry INTL residents – please check out other giveaways on this blog.

Murder: Double or Nothing:

A Southern California Mystery

by Lida Sideris

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GENRE: Mystery

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BLURB:

Corrie Locke, newbie lawyer and daughter of a late, great PI, is learning the ropes at the Hollywood movie studio where she works--and where things are never what they seem. Life imitates art when a fictional murder attempt turns real--right before her eyes.

With more than a little help from friends and a crazy movie legend, Corrie trips down a trail littered with wisecracks, mysterious messages, and marginally legal maneuvers to track down the killer. Meanwhile, clues keep disappearing and Corrie makes an enemy whose deadly tactics keep escalating. Will her impromptu sleuthing skills be enough to catch the mysterious assailant before he takes her down?

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EXCERPT ONE:

He pedaled the bicycle hard and fast down the narrow, deserted alley, stealing glances behind him. It was a late, warm Friday afternoon somewhere on the eastside of Los Angeles where police protection was scarce and hoodlums plentiful. Two and three story buildings huddled together on both sides of the rider. Graffiti stained the walls.

Hunched over the handlebars, the cyclist whizzed past a dented metal dumpster, unsettling newspapers and milk cartons pressed against a doorway. The collar of a gingham dress shirt stuck up beneath his red pullover and a backpack flopped behind him. Chuck Taylors clinched his nerdiness, as did the argyle socks. He looked fresh out of a computer lab, on his way to the library. There was nothing unusual about him, if you didn’t count the bulging eyes, gritted teeth and heavy panting. His expression belonged on a trapped animal.

A black sedan barreled around the corner, tires grinding and coughing up pieces of asphalt. Leaning his torso out of the passenger window, a muscular guy in a white T-shirt clutched a revolver. He aimed at the cyclist, fired three times and missed.

The rider angled around a corner and skidded to a stop. Dropping the bicycle on its side, he stumbled over the upturned wheel moments before the car crushed the bike beneath its fat tires, spitting out a tangle of metal and chrome. The car parked, and two thugs spilled out. They raced after the cyclist, guns drawn. The nerd careened toward the side of a brick building and jumped up, arms outstretched above his head. The silver cuff around his wrist glinted as he grabbed the bottom rung of a fire escape ladder, legs flailing wildly. The ladder creaked and swayed. He’d barely started the climb when the hoodlums fired. And missed again.

“Oh, brother,” I whispered.

The nerd scrambled onto a landing and dove through an open window.

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book was an intriguing, interesting, suspenseful, fun, and entertaining mystery read!

I love a good mystery book and this one certainly fit the bill!

I really enjoyed the main characters, Corrie and Michael. I really liked Corrie!! She was smart, tough, brave, sassy, caring, considerate, and determined. I also really enjoyed the flirty, witty banter between Corrie and Michael which certainly led to many LOL moments.

I also enjoyed the supporting characters. There were quite a few characters in this book, but each one felt important and unique to the story line.

I also really liked that this book takes place in the LA Area and the Hollywood Scene. It was fun having the glitz and glam of the Hollywood movie studio, where Corrie works, also play a significant role in the story. I love the LA/Hollywood theme that was featured and it was almost like another character in the book.

This book had so many exciting, intriguing, suspenseful, and thrilling moments that kept this reader on her toes!!!

I really enjoyed reading this book and could not wait to solve the case and find out who the assailant was!!

This book has exceptional mystery crime solving structure with enough clues and excitement to keep you guessing, but still practical and realistic.

This book has several components of a cozy, but still has enough of the mystery, suspense, and intrigue elements to stand on its own.

There were a few predictable scenes. However, there are still many unexpected twists and turns and misdirection’s that you won’t see coming!

This book has a creative story line with well executed plot points, excellent mystery thriller structured scenarios, fantastic writing style with detailed scenes, relatable characters, is fast paced, and keeps you fully engaged and entertained.

This book is book three in the Southern California Mysteries Book Series. It can be read as a standalone. I had not previously read the other two books in this series before reading this book and was not lost or confused while reading this book. However, there seems to be character and story line overlaps.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it! I think all mystery and suspense readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

Did you find this review helpful?

If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R12TP1MAB5H2SK

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AUTHOR BIO:

Lida Sideris' first stint after law school was a newbie lawyer's dream: working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio...kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke. Lida lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs and a flock of uppity chickens. She was one of two national winners of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award for her first book.

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CONNECT WITH LIDA:

Website:

http://www.lidasideris.com

Blog:

https://www.lidasideris.com/blog

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/lidasideris

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/lidasideris

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lida-sideris