Welcome to FAB Lovelies!

A Lifestyle blog that focuses on all things from fashion to beauty; fitness to weight loss; recipes to coupons; books to movies; travels to entertainment; and everything in between.

Thursday, December 31, 2020

The Calling by Branwen Oshea - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Branwen OShea will be awarding a prize pack of 1) One signed paperback,2) One Tote bag with the Finding Humanity Series logo (Savas' Compass)and 3) Two different bookmarks for The Calling, one signed by the author, to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Humanity’s wake-up call. Answer it or face extinction.

When Bleu’s little sister shows symptoms of the deadly Sickness, a strange vision directs him to leave humanity’s subterranean haven and seek the cure on Earth’s glacial surface. Joining the expedition team, Bleu expects extreme temperatures, not a surface ruled by ingenious predators.

Rana and her fellow star beings have co-existed with Earth’s top carnivores since the humans disappeared. But when her peers transform into Crowned Ones, the final stage of star being development, she fears remaining Uncrowned like her parents. To prove her worth, she undertakes a dangerous mission—contacting the hostile and nearly extinct humans.

But Rana’s plan backfires, and Bleu’s team retaliates. As war with the more advanced star being civilization looms, both Rana and Bleu separately seek a way to save their people.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

She knelt, and with trembling hands, she grabbed the extra piece of soaked wood. If she put one log in the back of the cave and kept one in the entrance, then maybe she’d be safe between them until daybreak. Of course, that assumed whatever predator lurked outside lost interest in her by daybreak.

Two fires were her best chance. Her only chance. She quickly placed the second piece of wood, filled its opening with tinder, and grabbed her stones.

The growling grew closer. At this rate, she’d never get the log lit in time. Her mind raced through possibilities, but they all required skills she lacked and ended with her death.

Wait. Furred ones sense energy. In desperation, she expanded her energy to appear larger and hoped her fake size might give the predator pause.

In this enlarged-energy state, she struck the flint and fire stone together. They sparked, but the log remained unlit. Long claws scraped against the floor. She peered up from the flint. The pale light of the first log reflected off two eyes.

About the Author:
As a young girl, Branwen wanted to become an ambassador for aliens. Since the aliens never hired her, she now writes about them.

Branwen OShea has a Bachelors in Biology from Colgate University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. She lives in Connecticut with her family and a menagerie of pets, and enjoys hiking, meditating, and star-gazing. Her previously published works include contributing to a nonfiction yoga book, wellness magazines, and her published science fiction novella, Silence of the Song Trees.

Website: http://www.branwenoshea.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/branwenoshea
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/branwenoshea
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/branwenoshea

Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/382LP7D

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.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

The Strong Within Us by J. A. Boulet - Book Tour - Book Sale - TWO!! Guest Posts - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host J. A. Boulet and her new book, “The Strong Within Us”!  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 $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with J. A. and to increase your chances of winning!

This eBook is on SALE on Kobo for ONLY $1.99 during the book tour!!!  See below for more details.

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

The Strong Within Us

by J. A. Boulet

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

GENRE: Historical Fiction

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

BLURB:

A struggle. A war. The past. Would you recover?

Nathan Olason picks up the pieces of his life in 1893 and becomes a devoted father and grandfather. Except something from his past is holding him back.

His grandson, Mike grows up in a loving family with Nath almost raising him as his own. Mike develops a passion for hunting and guns, while his family supports him with trepid hearts as WWI looms.

Nath feels helpless to stop this dangerous chain of events, as Mike announces that he is joining the Great War. Armed and deadly, Mike hones his marksmanship skills to a perfection not seen in any other soldier. He is taken on a wild ride of following his passions, courage and gruesome fighting, arriving at Vimy Ridge, France for the fight of his life.

Nath fearing the worst, flees to a place that he thought was his salvation; an old weathered cottage that holds the key to his future.

Follow in the footsteps of heroes.

Be vulnerable.

Would you recover?

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

EXCERPT ONE:

She was a stunning woman with beautiful long black hair, shockingly rare blue eyes and tanned skin. She was captivating and absolutely gorgeous. Ivan thought that he didn’t have a chance until he found out that she lived down by the pier with her father. He bought fish from her father regularly, trading vegetables and grains some days. Every time Ivan visited the large fishery at the pier, he was always scanning the crowd for the beautiful blue-eyed fisherman girl. He found out that she was almost the same age as himself; she was 18, and he was 19. How she had managed to remain single was something beyond his stretch of knowledge. Maybe she was too beautiful, he thought. No man was courageous enough to approach her. Until this day, he thought.

Ivan straightened his tie and proceeded to the fishery. He ran his fingers through his hair, adjusting his cowlick. The pesky tuft of hair at his crown annoyed him greatly. It seemed to have a mind of its own, especially in tense situations; it would stick up like a fork in a haystack. Otherwise, he thought that he was quite a handsome fellow, standing at six feet tall, slim but fit, with dark blonde hair, a young uneven beard and captivating green eyes. Women looked at him often, so he knew that he was attractive, but he still felt unsure of himself some days, especially around stunning women like her. Ivan pulled the door to the fishery open, unconsciously licking his hand and smoothing down the cowlick again as he stepped inside.

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

GUEST POST:

Five Reasons You Should Read My Book:

Okay here it goes, the FIVE reasons why you should go out right now and read my book (humour me, I can be funny sometimes):

1.)  It is well written, edited and researched thoroughly. I am a very picky reader, so naturally, I would expect the same quality of my own works.

2.)  It has awesome SEX in it! No further explanation necessary.

3.)  It has guns and violence. Like any gripping action movie, The Strong Within Us will grip you and keep you reading until 1 a.m.

4.)  You will form strong emotional attachments to the characters. You’ll be living their lives for a while and that’s what books are supposed to do, take you away from it all.

5.)  You will identify and relate to the characters on a level that might shake you to the core. It’s okay, you’ll survive but you might just be left with a renewed hope for survival. We all know because of Covid-19, a huge dose of hope would definitely help right now.

Now, what are you doing sitting around? Get out of here and pick up the book! It’ll hit your sweet spot!

*********

BONUS GUEST POST!!!:

Behind the Scenes, Things You Didn’t Know:

I spent weeks searching for a picture of the MKII rifle for the front cover. I checked online, military surplus stores and collectors; couldn’t find it anywhere.

A military store owner said, “Those rifles from WWI were sold or reused in WWII, most of them destroyed from overuse and it’s from 1917! The MKII’s are over a hundred years old! I wish you luck in finding it.”

After several weeks of failures, I called The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta and finally found an MKII!! I was granted special permission by Roy Boehli from The King’s Own Calgary Regiment Museum to take photographs of the weapon at all different angles. It was one of the most thrilling days of writing this book! I love my job!

I hope my book inspires you to be your own hero and walk the path less travelled. Thanks for reading and thanks to the hosts for having me!

This is a picture of when I used to travel! San Diego July 2019! My son and I rented beach cruiser bicycles instead of a car. It was awesome!

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

BOOK ONE – THE STRONG AMONGST US – PREVIOUS FAB STOP:

Did you know that J. A. Boulet was here in August featuring Book One, “The Strong Amongst Us,” in her latest Book Series, The Olason Chronicles?  Not only did she stop by to promote her book and share an exciting excerpt, but she also included an intriguing guest post about “Falling in Love with Characters.”

Check out J. A.’s previous stop on FAB to learn more about Book One “The Strong Amongst Us,” in her latest book series here:

https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-strong-amongst-us-by-j-boulet-book.html

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

AUTHOR BIO:

J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of The Olason Chronicles, a historical saga of war, courage, love and strength. The Strong Within Us Book 2 was released on Amazon November 11, 2020. J. A. Boulet was born and raised in Western Canada as a first generation Canadian from European descent. Her father was enlisted with the Hungarian military and fought bravely during the Hungarian Revolution, changing sides to stand up for what he believed in. He was granted asylum in Canada and built his family here.

J. A. Boulet was born many years later, raised with strong morals and values, which she stands behind to this day. She started writing poetry at the age of five and progressed to short stories and novels. She has a keen interest in settlers, healing, family bonds and military history. J. A. Boulet writes with a spine-tingling realism like none other, grabbing your emotions and refusing to let go. The Strong Within Us Book 2 will be the book you’ve been waiting for.

She currently lives in Canada with her two teenaged sons and a crested gecko named Mossio.

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

CONNECT WITH J. A.:

Website:

https://jaboulet.ca

Blog:

https://jaboulet.ca/entries

Email:

admin@jaboulet.ca

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/love_walk_life

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jabouletauthor

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/yl_CnBze4ds

Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/user/NormalFemale

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20412245.J_A_Boulet

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55856975-the-strong-within-us

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/32CvSRO

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

BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:

**The Strong Within Us eBook is on SALE on Kobo for ONLY $1.99 during the book tour!!!**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3aS7X6p

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/34PPTWT

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/38Pn8dU

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Strong-Within-Us-J-Boulet/dp/1777211239

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/Strong-Within-Us-J-Boulet/dp/1777211247

Amazon UK Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Within-Olason-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B08BJ1ZNK7

Amazon UK Paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Within-Us-Olason-Chronicles/dp/1777211239

Amazon UK Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Within-Us-Olason-Chronicles/dp/1777211247

Amazon AU Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Strong-Within-Olason-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B08BJ1ZNK7

Amazon AU Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Strong-Within-Us-2/dp/1777211239

Amazon AU Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Strong-Within-Us-2/dp/1777211247

Amazon FR Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.fr/Strong-Within-Olason-Chronicles-English-ebook/dp/B08BJ1ZNK7

Amazon FR Paperback:

https://www.amazon.fr/Strong-Within-Us-J-Boulet/dp/1777211239

Amazon FR Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.fr/Strong-Within-Us-J-Boulet/dp/1777211247

Amazon IT Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.it/Strong-Within-Olason-Chronicles-English-ebook/dp/B08BJ1ZNK7

Amazon IT Paperback:

https://www.amazon.it/Strong-Within-Us-2/dp/1777211239

Amazon IT Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.it/Strong-Within-Us-2/dp/1777211247

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-strong-within-us-j-a-boulet/1137976794?ean=9781777211226

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-strong-within-us-j-a-boulet/1137976794?ean=9781777211233

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-strong-within-us-j-a-boulet/1137976794?ean=9781777211240

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Strong-Within-Us-J-Boulet/9781777211233

The Book Depository Hardcover:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Strong-Within-Us-J-Boulet/9781777211240

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Strong-Within-Us/J-A-Boulet/9781777211233

BAM! Books-A-Million Hardcover:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Strong-Within-Us/J-A-Boulet/9781777211240

Chapters CA Hardcover:

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-strong-within-us/9781777211240-item.html

Kobo US eBook – ON SALE FOR USD $1.99!!!:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-strong-within-us

Kobo CA eBook – ON SALE FOR CAD $2.99!!!:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-strong-within-us

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

GIVEAWAY INFO:

J. A. will be awarding a $15 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.

Monday, December 28, 2020

Bolder Blindsided by Janice Tremayne - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Janice Tremayne will be awarding a paperback copy of the book (USA/UK) to two randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

An Australian alpine ghost town. A priest turned supernatural detective. A missing persons cold case. Will bolder track down the voracious demon?

When Detective Wellock hushers in Zack Bolder to investigate a missing person case in the Australian ghost town of Walhalla, they form the most formidable tag team of supernatural investigators, working for the police branch for unexplained crimes. Perched amongst the alpine area, this tourist backed ghost town is renowned for its gold mining past and stories of hardship, deprivation, and death. It becomes a perfect setting for an unexplained missing person's cold case.

When Bolder realizes every demon has a weakness—it’s blindside, he confronts the demonic presence, head on for an ultimate encounter to save the town. As this evil entity is sly as a fox with more turns that a two-mile car racetrack, Bolder must be at his best to overcome the devil that has cursed the town since 1876.

Can Bolder uncover the curse that strangleholds the town and thrust out the evil entity before more innocent people go missing and suffer an imminent fate?

Bolder Blindsided is the first book of the Zack Bolder Supernatural Suspense Thriller Series. If you like a fast-moving, energetic, and nail-biting supernatural suspense thriller guaranteed to raise your heartbeat, then you will love this story by 2020 USA Readers' Favorite International Book Awards Finalist in Supernatural Fiction, Janice Tremayne.

Pick up your copy today and meet Zack Bolder!

Read an Excerpt:

The ghost wore a red-and-blue-checked shirt with suspended loose-fitted corduroy trousers, covered by an oversized sack coat and wavers for shoes—a type of waterproof gumboot. It had a white handkerchief tied around the neck and a broad felt hat. It peered with a skinny, sunken face, white and devoid of any existence. With an elongated nose and red bloodshot eyes—Gazza knew it was not from this world.

Gazza was a panderer, a good-looking guy that liked to mix with beautiful girls—he was not a fighter. And yet, he realized he was going to confront the most significant battle for his life. He stood firm, upright and arms folded—a natural reaction as his defence mechanism kicked into overdrive. But that could not hide his vulnerability as he trembled inside in fear for his life.

He continued flashing his torchlight at the phantasm circling him with prancing eyes, ready for its next move. Whatever happened to Jamie, I’m next, he thought.

The icy cold wind blew a gust across the mining shafts, and the moonlight made way for darkness as the clouds rolled in suffocating any virtue of hope. It was pitch black, and his torchlight was starting to fade slowly as the battery life dwindled. He tapped on his torch to get back the light he so desperately needed, but it was only temporary. The phantom continued circling and stomping on the hallowed turf, peering at him with penetrating eyes—ready to make its move. His phone torchlight was his next best thing, but that power source was also dwindling.

The phantom lifted a gold miner’s pickaxe and raised it into the air as a glitter of light reflected off the tips of the sharp end. Gazza instinctively covered his face by raising his right arm. The phantom came for him, and with an almighty swoop, the pickaxe fell on Gazza. He screamed for help, just like Jamie did—but no one was there to hear his final plight to the world. Had the demon murdered Gazza or taken him, prisoner?

About the Author:
Janice Tremayne is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning ghost and supernatural writer. Janice is a finalist in the Readers' Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in Fiction-Supernatural.

She is an emerging Australian author who lives with her family in Melbourne. Her recent publication, Haunting in Hartley, reached number one on the Amazon kindle ranking for Occult, Supernatural, and Ghosts and Haunted Houses categories, for hot new releases and bestsellers.

Janice is well-versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing ghost and supernatural novels for new adult readers.

The concept of writing the Haunting Clarisse series was spawned over a cup of coffee many years ago, and she has not looked back since. Her books contain heart-thumping, bone-chilling, and thought-provoking ghost and paranormal experiences that deliver a new twist to every tale.

Website: http://www.janicetremayne.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hauntingclarisse

Buy Links:

Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/38CIL12
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Bolder-Blindsided-Zack-Supernatural-Thriller-ebook/dp/B08J7V1S3K

Giveaway:

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.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Hungry Business: A Short Story by Maria DeBlassie - Book Tour - Book Sale - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Maria DeBlassie and her new book, “Hungry Business: A Short Story”!  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 an eBook copy of the featured book!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Maria and to increase your chances of winning!

This eBook is on SALE during the book tour for ONLY $0.99!!!  See below for more details.

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

Hungry Business: A Short Story

by Maria DeBlassie

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

GENRE: Gothic, Horror (Cozy)

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

BLURB:

From the multi-award-winning author of Everyday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic & Daily Conjurings comes a cozy Gothic short story about searching for connection in a world that's forgotten the power of everyday magic.

Looking for love can be deadly...

You know how it goes.  You go out, hoping to meet someone.  You wade through your fair share of brainless automatons, lifeless bodies, and ravenous undead good at passing as human.

The more you go out, the less hope you feel and the colder your body gets.  But you keep at it.  All you need is one beating heart to match your own before yours stops pumping altogether.  How hard can it be to find one living, breathing human in a city full of bodies?

Dating.

It's hungry business.

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

EXCERPT ONE:

The things you do for love.

Like talking yourself into thinking that the lifeless body across the table from you has his own kind of charm. Surely his gray pallor is only a trick of the light.  His skeletal frame might even be considered athletic.  You try not to look at his chipped and bloodied fingernails as you force down your mediocre steak tartar.  Sadly, that room temperature appetizer will be the hottest thing on the menu tonight.

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

GUEST POST:

Finding Writing Inspiration in Everyday Life:

I love everyday life, corny as it sounds.  The magic of a Monday, the quiet bliss of an afternoon cup of tea, the illicit joy of reading late into the night…these are the simple pleasures that make life wonderful.  It’s easy to overlook them, get swept up in our to-do lists, but when we pause and take in the beauty around us, we remember to be more than that to-do list. We glean wisdom in the whispering trees and the synchronous happenings that punctuate our day.  We remember to dream.  And that kind of ordinary joy is pure magic.

It’s also the kind of magic that inspires all of my writing, from the cozy Gothic short stories like Hungry Business, to my first book, Everyday Enchantments, which is what I like to call my everyday magic manifesto.  You see, as a bruja, I believe in the power of the universe, the seen and the unseen, and the daily spells we cast without thinking—the wishes, thoughts, and actions we cast out into the world to bear fruit.  When we’re more intentional about this energy, we can direct it towards hope and healing.  I also hoard way too many mason jars, have my own witchy herb garden, deal the tarot, and know that storytelling is one of the deepest forms of magic.

All of that witchy know-how gets poured into my stories. Something as simple as a series of bad dates turns into the ordinary Gothic in my latest short story. The protagonist’s crisis is all the more terrifying for how relatable it is.  But there’s also more than a little magic in the form of hope.  The Gothic genre is all about facing the darkness so that we can see the light.

I write all sorts of things, from inspirational non-fiction, cozy Gothic stories, urban fantasy, and romance.  I find they all nourish one another.  My non-fiction books on everyday magic help me craft the enchanting worlds in my fiction and my genre stories guide me deeper into everyday conjuring for my life beyond the written word.  Storytelling will always be the deepest spellwork I do.  I work through stuff.  I allow myself to dream deeply.  I let go of old and worn narratives that no longer serve me.  I become the heroine of my own life in the pages of books—and extend that magic to my day in, day out life.

So get comfortable.  Put on a pot of tea and turn on those twinkle lights.  Settle in for an afternoon of deep reading and enjoy the creepy and strangely comforting world of Hungry Business.  Who knows what kind of magic it’ll offer up.

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

AUTHOR BIO:

Maria DeBlassie, Ph.D. is a native New Mexican mestiza blogger, award-winning writer, and award-winning educator living in the Land of Enchantment. Her first book, Everyday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic & Daily Conjurings (Moon Books 2018), and her ongoing blog, Enchantment Learning & Living are about everyday magic, ordinary gothic, and the life of a kitchen witch. When she is not practicing her own brand of brujeria, she’s reading, teaching, and writing about bodice rippers and things that go bump in the night.  She is forever looking for magic in her life and somehow always finding more than she thought was there. Find out more about Maria and conjuring everyday magic at www.mariadeblassie.com.

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

CONNECT WITH MARIA:

Website:

https://www.mariadeblassie.com

Blog:

https://mariadeblassie.com/blog

Newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/8ac862263a14/everyday-magic-for-difficult-times-740068

LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/mdeblassie

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/EnchantmentLL

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/EnchantmentLL

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/mdeblassieell

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7rY-gLkSH-w8uuVyrhVALA

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17535853.Maria_DeBlassie

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55661408-hungry-business

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3akTC2m

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

BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:

**The Hungry Business: A Short Story eBook is on SALE during the book tour for ONLY $0.99!!!**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2KcQTNB

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hungry-Business-Short-Maria-DeBlassie-ebook/dp/B08L48MVHD

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

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Maria will be awarding an eBook copy of her featured book, “Hungry Business: A Short Story,” 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.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

A Song for Another Day by Maria Imbalzano - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Maria Imbalzano and her new book, “A Song for Another Day”!  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 $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Maria and to increase your chances of winning!

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

A Song for Another Day

by Maria Imbalzano

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

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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

BLURB:

Gigi Jenson, an up-and-coming Broadway star, finds herself in Willow Springs, Vermont, for the summer as director of their first annual community revue. This sleepy town is worlds away from her vibrant and beloved New York City, but the experience she’ll gain will be invaluable to her career.

Jason Simmons has lived in Willow Springs his entire life. Working several jobs while writing music, he yearns for a contract to record his songs. The one chance he had to make it in Nashville he blew due to stage fright.

When Jason volunteers to help Gigi with the revue, sparks ignite but their dreams are taking them in different directions. Will their love for each other ever guide them to the same path?

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

EXCERPT ONE:

His forehead furrowed. “I’m Jason Simmons. From the Deerbourne Inn. Why are you holding your shoe as if you’re about to fling it at me? I’m not late, am I?”

“No, you’re on time. I had to jump back when that black pickup came in for a crash landing, and my heel got caught in the pavers.” She inspected her ruined designer shoe, the leather pushed up like an accordion. “Great. Now I won’t be able to wear these unless I can find a shoe repair shop here.”

“Sorry to hear that.” His tone didn’t quite convey the required regret, but this heel disaster wasn’t his fault. He probably thought her reaction was a bit over the top for a strappy sandal.

She bent over and slipped on her wounded shoe, feeling the heat of chocolate brown eyes wandering over her body as she stood.

“Did you notice that he decorated your pants, too?”

Not the words she expected after being raked over with such intensity. Although, really. He was a stranger. A very handsome stranger with flashing mocha eyes and shaggy brown hair that had the easy look of being finger combed.

She looked down at her once-white silk pants, now dotted with various shades of mud. “Yes. It’s hard not to notice.”

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

MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book was such a fun, intriguing, captivating, enchanting, romantic, and entertaining read!!!

I could not put this book down – nor did I want to!!!

This is the second book I’ve had the privilege of reading from Maria Imbalzano.  Over this past summer I was introduced to Maria’s writing in “The Blueberry Swirl Waltz,” and I was quickly taken with the book.  So, when I saw she had a new book out I quickly pounced on the opportunity to read and review her latest book – and like before, I was not disappointed!!

There is so much to love about this book from Maria’s creative and unique storytelling that just completely immerses the reader into the story; her strongly developed characters that are not just relatable, but easy to connect with; and her ability to keep the story flowing at an exciting, intriguing pace that kept me fully engaged and entertained through the last page!!

I totally loved the main characters as they were realistic, relatable, likable, and genuine.  I really liked Gigi!  She was so easy to connect with and relate to!  She was smart, talented, gorgeous, stylish, elegant, ambitious, driven, caring, and compassionate.  I also really liked Jason.  He was sweet, kind, handsome, romantic, sincere, respectful, and gentle!  I really liked Gigi and Jason together!  Even though they both had quite a few differences – and hey opposites attract! – they just fit well together and brought out the best in each other.  They seemed to encourage and inspire each other and build each other up – isn’t that what we all want in a partner?!

As this book is on the shorter side, and the story is fast paced, the two main characters do tend to fall for each other a bit quickly.  However, I felt that the author was still able to make their relationship convincing and believable.  I think the characters having gone through emotional, personal, and professional challenges while having their flaws and weaknesses exposed can really bond two people quickly.  And let’s not forget, these two characters are artists.  It’s been said that artists think and feel on a higher, more passionate level, so it makes sense that they would be the ones to fall in love quicker and harder.

One other note, I did feel that this book wasn’t necessarily heavy on the drama or conflict.  There are of course some stresses and pressures, but I honestly felt this book was more character driven.  The focus was more significantly placed on the character’s, their story, their struggles, their relationships, and their connections.  For me, this still absolutely worked!  I don’t always need a villain to hate or some giant conflict friction that is too quickly solved and impractically fixed.  I just enjoyed reading about these characters and getting caught up in their stories.

I think one of my favorite things about Maria’s writing is her brilliant capture of writing realistic characters with genuine, common, and legitimate flaws that face and overcome real challenges.  For example, Jason, having stage fright.  According to an article posted on verywellmind.com, as much as 77% of the population has some level of anxiety regarding public speaking.  I think this “flaw,” is something that many people will be able to connect with and relate to.  Furthermore, looking at Gigi’s dreams and passions – as a former young ballerina who also loved to dance it wasn’t hard finding common ground with her either.  Also, I really like that these “flaws,” or struggles that are common, can also be realistically and feasibly overcome or worked on over the course of the book.

I love being able to connect so effortlessly with Maria’s characters and easily find common ground with them.  It’s like I’m reading about my friends!!

The writing style is fluid, beautifully written, and at an exciting, fast pace.

This book was such a fun, quick, enjoyable read that kept this reader glued to the pages!!

There are some predictable scenes.  However, there are still a few very unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!

This book is Book 21 in the Deerbourne Inn Book Series.  It can be read as a standalone.  The Deerbourne Book Series is a collection of books based on the town of Willow Springs, Vermont with each book written by a different author.  Each book features new characters, story line, and plot points and can all be read in any order or as stand alone.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!  I think all contemporary romance fans and sweet romance 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.**

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

AUTHOR BIO:

Maria Imbalzano is a retired matrimonial lawyer who now writes full time. Instead of drafting motions, legal memoranda, and briefs, although fascinating, she now spends her days creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys through her contemporary romance novels.

In addition to writing fiction, Maria is on the Friends of Thomas Edison State University Foundation Committee and is still involved with Dress for Success Central Jersey, having been a founding Board member. She also serves on the finance committee for The Present Day Club. She has received the distinguished Family of Edison Award for her work with The Thomas Edison State University Foundation, the Iron Mike Professional Achievement Award from Trenton Catholic Academy and was inducted into the Italian American National Hall of Fame.

Her novel, “Unchained Memories,” won the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers’ Award and the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award. “Sworn to Forget,” the first of the four-book Sworn Sisters Series was a finalist for the illustrious RONE award as well as the Book Buyers Best Award.

Visit Maria at the links below!

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

CONNECT WITH MARIA:

Website:

https://mariaimbalzano.com

Blog:

https://mariaimbalzano.com/blog

Newsletter:

https://mariaimbalzano.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter

Email:

mimbalzano@aol.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MariaImbalzano

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-imbalzano

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-song-for-another-day-by-maria-imbalzano

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276749.Maria_Imbalzano

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55428983-a-song-for-another-day

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/2Z2B7IB

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

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3nByOXO

Apple Books eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-song-for-another-day/id1531645078

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-song-for-another-day-maria-imbalzano/1137661144

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Maria_Imbalzano_A_Song_for_Another_Day?id=umkCEAAAQBAJ

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-song-for-another-day

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

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Maria will be awarding a $20 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.